Chapter 681: Smoothing the path forward

Lucian remained seated in Gideon’s lap for a surprising amount of time. He seemed to be testing himself in a way, and Cass was impressed that he lasted as long as he did.

All the while, they kept discussing the topics that it felt like they may not have intentionally avoided, but the time had come to speak on it.

What they wanted to do in the future, what would it mean if things continued the way that they did. What they wanted. Serious topics that they had all been avoiding until now because they were all trying to live moment to moment. Cass in particular had realised that he’d made a lot of assumptions without asking them for their input, and once he started apologising for doing so, the three men apologised.

They never intended to make Cass feel bad. They never wanted to make him apologise for thinking of them and considering them. They liked that Cass was thinking of them, and including them, but they did admit that they wanted to be included in the plans going forward.

Cass thought that was reasonable, but Cass also knew himself. He would be...more open and honest to conversations as long as they understood he was fighting two natures, not just one. Cassian and Caspian were both solitary men, by choice and otherwise.

They had never really relied on others or opened up to others easily, so he asked them to be gentle with him if they caught him keeping things from them. It was not done maliciously or because he thought them incapable of trust. He was just...used to things on his own.

They didn’t even bat an eye at his words. The trio agreed easily, warmth in each of their gazes as they looked at him while he spoke. Cass felt flustered, but nodded, grateful.

They also spoke of things that the men would like, and if Edgar actually wanted his own office or not. They could forgo it, but Cass thought it was a waste. He didn’t think he was giving Edgar more than he deserved and if Lucian or Gideon helped Cass out as much as Edgar did, he would have suggested an office for them too.

Edgar seemed a little hesitant after that still, and it was Lucian who broke through to him.

"Eddie, for the love of the gods, stop being stubborn. Cass is a rich man who wants to pamper those he cares about. Are you going to deny him that right? Would you not do the same if the roles were reversed?" Lucian growled. "Altering one’s den to accommodate their mates is a wonderful and natural thing, to deny him this? Do you even love him?" Edgar was slack-jawed and horrified.

He began falling over himself, explaining that his feelings weren’t anything cheap, but that he was worried about the strain it would cause on Cass.

Cass stared at him, turned his gaze to the two men nearby, and gave a hearty laugh.

What strain? They were feeding him so well he was wearing his wife’s clothing. He couldn’t fit into his own anymore. A little space magic wasn’t going to hurt Cass in the slightest, and he wasn’t planning to magic up the furniture. He was planning to give Edgar the privilege to furnish his own space.

It was simple, in his mind, and after that...Edgar had no argument.

So, Cass did it. He made the first door leading from his office into Edgar’s new office with everyone in tow. They played around with the space until Edgar nearly sobbed that the space was too big. He didn’t need a huge place, not if they were going to use Cass’ office as their meeting space. Cass argued that he needed space to store his own things, like books or files and that any space that was his own should be large enough for a couch or too.

He was getting spoiled by how Cassian had designed his rooms.

Edgar and Cass bickered, while Gideon and Lucian stood by, both men smitten with the two before them. They were cute, so they didn’t interfere often, outside Gideon suggesting that they add a door to Edgar’s office along the hallway so that he could receive guests and deliveries without interrupting Cass.

Cass argued it was no trouble, but Edgar jumped on that. He wanted to be as little of a burden to Cass as possible. Cass didn’t consider it the same way, but he relented. He’d already been considering that, anyways, so it wasn’t a hard thing for him to do.

The door, when created, seemed to form between Cass’ office and the empty room next to it. Cass even crafted a plate with magic and put it on the door. It called it ’Eddie’s Office’ in fancy script. Edgar’s face was burning while Lucian reached for the smaller man and pulled him against his side, nuzzling him aggressively in joy.

"H-Hey!" Edgar protested, but with even Gideon grinning and Cass smiling softly, there was nothing Edgar could do in protest. He just...stood there and took it, much to his annoyance and everyone else’s amusement.

After that, the discussion about other little things, like changes to the rooms, began in earnest. Cass had told them his plans, but now that Edgar’s office had been created, and the bathroom was being modified, these conversations began in earnest.

Gideon didn’t feel like he needed much. Not because he didn’t want to be included, but because he already had a shed downstairs off of the training area where he could store his weapons and other armaments so he didn’t need a space up here. If anything, he just wanted a chair in the bedroom where he could do some light reading in the morning.

That could easily be arranged and Cass was happy that he was offering something that Cass could do for him instead of turning him down. Lucian might have been a deciding force behind that, since he was hovering over the men ready to argue with anyone if they didn’t give an answer.

Which only made it funnier when it came to his turn and he had nothing to give. He was fine with how they were living now. He had a bigger bed where he could cuddle his mates, he was already in the process of changing the bathroom so that they could all bathe in comfort, he didn’t need clothes like Cass and the others did. He might tease them and say that he wanted stuff, but he already felt included in this shared space.

Cass was pissed at him, annoyed that he was making it harder for Cass to ’reward’ him like he’d said with Edgar and Gideon. So, he threw out random suggestions. A stronger headboard, toys, access to the gardens, larger windows. Anything that would make the dragon more comfortable in his rooms.

Lucian hadn’t considered that Cass was willing to change so many things to accommodate him, and he seemed to positively glow when Cass suggested anything, though he was particularly interested in what Cass meant by toys.

That was Cass’ downfall.

He then had to go on and explain what he meant by toys, and then had to explain further about what types there were because they were not a common thing in this world.

Out of everyone, Edgar was the one who seemed to have an easier grasp of what Cass was speaking about, but as Cass explained specific toys, Edgar only grew more fascinated. He knew of a couple of the things that Cass was speaking about and was able to offer an equivalent in this world, but some?

There was nothing.

Manacles weren’t exactly as comfortable as handcuffs, after all. Edgar did say that they often used other sturdy materials and the like, but when Cass brought up lingerie, that was not understood in the same way that Cass did.

Cass had to sit down as he explained everything, his face burning since he didn’t have as much of an understanding of the topic as he was making it out he did. After all, he’d been a virgin in his other world and hadn’t really looked into what that would be for a man in his world. Why the hell would he? If he didn’t have a partner, who the hell would he be wearing it for?

The men seemed greatly disappointed to hear it, but as Cass explained that lace was often involved when it came to the skimpy garments that others wore to seduce their husbands and wives, they were very interested.

Cass could smell danger on the horizon, but it was a bed of his own making. He did make it clear that he was in no state to be buying outfits, especially ones that took as much care and dedication that lace did. He didn’t know much about the items lace was turned into, but he did remember what industrialisation did to the lace industry as a whole and knew that it was hard labour before that.

He’d gone to school at the very least.

The three men agreed. No outfits for Cass while his body was still in flux. That did not soothe his worries and from the mischievous grins on their faces, he knew that he had every right to be worried. The men were not going to make this easier for him.

However, Lucian did come to decide on something he wanted.

He wanted better sheets, fireproof ones if possible, and a new headboard made from something more sturdy. He didn’t want to break it, especially if they were going to be dealing with his half-shifted form on a semi-regular basis. He was stronger, faster and harder. He didn’t want the bed to break out from under them, or he wanted several back ups in case that did happen.

It was an embarrassing thing to remind Cass about, and even Edgar looked a little flustered, but it was also completely reasonable for him to ask for. He did also ask for the doors and things to be replaced or engraved with magic for noise cancelling purposes. He also suggested the same for when they modified the chambers they were planning to gift Sam and Byron as well.

That led easily into them going back to the office and going over the layouts of the other rooms and how they wanted to arrange them for Sam and Byron’s den. It was a productive day, and a sweet one since Cass got to spend it with the men that he cared about and it finally felt like they were all on the same page.

Cass was happy with the outcome, and could tell that the others were, as well. Cass also got to add his own stars to the chart as well, grinning happily as Lucian laughed. They also penned in Edgar’s office, much to Edgar’s dismay.

Cass was not about to let the others christen that room without him, that was for sure.