Page 96 of Damian & Jun, Episodes 13-16

“We both know I will.” Damian put the pants down and came over to Jun, pulling him close by his waist. “After I catch you, you won’t need much.”

Jun flushed and looked down, which meant he was seeing Damian’s hands around his waist. And that did not help his fantasies subside at all.

“Need to talk about it, wolfling?”

Jun leaned in. “Scared. Nervous. Want it. Also…gah, what are you going to do to me? I know you’re going to embarrass me. I always end up becoming another person, once you, well, catch me.”

Damian cradled Jun close. “And I always bring you back. You’re my wolfling. As much as I love you as my pet, I love my wolf too.”

Jun bit Damian lightly. “Don’t forget it.”

“You won’t let me.” Damian kissed Jun’s forehead. “Would you rather I pack for you?”

“Please.”

“Then don’t look. Go get Artemis ready too, and help Émeric.”

“All right. I haven’t done my skin care stuff or….”

“I’ll get it. Go.” Damian palmed Jun’s rear and squeezed a handful. “Just take Bear and Téméraire with you and get them down to the car with Artemis.”

“Can I pack my own tags?”

“Yes, you can do that.”

Jun left the closet area and went to his personal space. He opened the lid on the green velvet case where he kept all the tags Damian collected for him. His favorite was the one Damian had gifted him when they’d come back from Seoul, a long dangle, with a butterfly cut from jade at the top and a wire outline of a stick figure man hanging below it. It was a beautiful representation of the story his mother had told him, in the same materials as the last gift she’d given him.

Beside the tags was the jade buddha he’d carried so long. He didn’t wear it anymore. Something had settled. Before, it had never left his body because nothing was safe. Leaving it in his room now was an act of trust, one he took with pride. He had a home. The doors and the locks meant something. He could put his precious items down and know when he came back, they would still be there.

His fingers trailed over the buddha and his lips pulled wide in a smile. The surfaces were a bit smooth from all the times he’d clutched the little figure over the years. But it was still clearly defined.

He didn’t want to wear the jade butterfly tag while being chased though, just in case it got lost. He chose a smaller one, just a stud, that he used for working out, and kept the bright blue and silver one he was already wearing. The rest would be there when he came home again.

This trip was just for the men of The Residency. And Artemis. Though she would probably sleep through half of it.

The past was precious, but it was going to be the past, at least for the next few days. He was in the present now.

He touched the jade buddha one more time, whispered a blessing, and closed the case.

Damian

Dinner at the Estate that night was a simple affair Émeric had brought with them. They sat in the sunken breakfast nook, the glass ceiling showing the night sky above, and ate in quiet starlight.

“Collin, in preparation for tomorrow, I’d like you to rest away from Émeric and I tonight.” Richard said. “You can stay with Jun, if you like and he wants.”

Damian nodded to Jun. “Take my bedroom.”

“You still want us to spend tonight apart, too?” Jun asked.

Damian nodded.

“Together?” Jun asked, glancing at Collin.

Collin blinked and turned towards Richard, uncertain.

“Rest with the wolfling, Kitten,” Émeric said, a bit of gentle encouragement in his voice. “You’ll both be very focused on your dominants tomorrow. So have some time together tonight.”

“Take a bath, relax,” Damian said. “There’s bath bombs in the cabinet.”