CHAPTER 17
U zoth still couldn’t comprehend what had passed between him and Grady. And with Grady’s touches and kisses, Uzoth felt like his body had awakened after an age of hibernation. He’d forgotten what true pleasure felt like.
Afterwards, they’d gone out into the main room, and Grady had eaten and spoken with some of the others. But soon they’d retired to bed, and Uzoth and Grady had retired too.
“I’m sorry. I think I’m way too tired to get up to anything more tonight.” Grady gave him a weary smile and pulled down the sheets. “But I’m looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep with you.”
Uzoth stared at the bed. “You want me to sleep with you in your bed?”
“I know the bed isn’t big. So it’ll be a bit tight. We’ll have to be close.” Grady paused. “Where did you plan to sleep? Not out there in the snow, right? Not in this.”
Uzoth looked out the window. A blur of white existed beyond. “I do not sleep. When I sit and watch, I enter a lower level of awareness. It allows me to continue watching to some extent, but it conserves energy. It is not sleeping, however.”
“Oh. That’s right.” Grady scratched at his beard. “You told me about that. Then I suppose you don’t want to lay in the bed with me all night. I imagined it’d get pretty boring. You can?—”
“Perhaps I can lie with you,” Uzoth interrupted. Because although he would not sleep, the idea of lying beside Grady held so much appeal.
“You sure? It’s fine if you’d rather not.”
“I wish to lie beside you.” Uzoth yearned to. He took a step towards him. “I think that would be…extremely pleasant.”
“I think so too.” Grady smiled softly. Grady stripped to his undershorts and climbed in, looking at Uzoth expectantly. “But I won’t be offended if you get up during the night if you get bored.”
“I will not be bored lying next to you.” Uzoth could not fathom that occurring. He sat on the bed. It sank beneath his weight. “I have never lain in a bed before.” Uzoth swung his taloned feet up. They hung off the end.
He lay down on the mattress. “It is very soft.” His body pressed against Grady’s. They did not really fit on the small bed.
Grady chuckled. “I imagine it is much comfier than squatting on a rooftop in the snow.” Grady tugged the blankets over them.
“Yes. It is much comfier.”
Grady leaned over him and turned off the lantern. “Would it be all right if I…”
“If you what?”
“If I…cuddled with you?” Grady asked softly.
Uzoth’s throat tightened. “That would be more than fine, Grady.”
Grady lay down and snuggled close. He rested his head on Uzoth’s chest. After a moment, Uzoth wrapped an arm around Grady. Within a couple of minutes, Grady’s breathing deepened. A few minutes later, Grady began to snore.
Even if he could, Uzoth did not wish to sleep. He would not want to miss a single second of Grady asleep in his arms. He wanted to cherish every passing moment. After all, he had no idea how long Grady would want him around.
Unfortunately, during the night, they were woken by a commotion.
“Grady!” Lachlan screamed. And they raced to Lachlan’s room. It appeared that Kit, Lachlan’s familiar, was in fact a cat shifter, and he had shifted into his human form.
Lachlan stared at Kit in horror. Confusion and hurt radiated from Kit as he desperately tried to touch Lachlan. Whilst Grady tried to suggest Lachlan take Grady’s bed to sleep, Lachlan decided to share a room with Kit but not a bed.
Afterwards, they returned to Grady’s room. Grady paced and fretted.
“Bloody broomsticks! I’m just not sure what to do!” Grady said. “Should Kit even be sleeping in the same room as Lachlan? I mean, there are two beds, and it’s Lachlan’s choice, but…” He trailed off. “I just don’t know.”
Back and forth he strode across the small room.
“I am just sorry I cannot be of assistance in this situation.” Uzoth had no clue how to help Lachlan or Kit and thus could not help Grady. “It is beyond me.”
Grady gave a harsh laugh. “It is beyond me as well.”
“I do not think Kit is a threat to Lachlan’s safety.”
“I don’t think he is either.” Grady sighed. He stopped pacing and stared at a spot on the wall. “Well, it’s not like we can do anything else tonight. I should probably just try to sleep. Although, I doubt I will.”
But Grady was wrong. When they returned to bed, Grady slept long and deep. No doubt he needed the rest.
Uzoth heard noises in the main room. Still, Grady slept. He slept, and Uzoth just lay there holding him, thinking himself the luckiest being in the world to be able to hold Grady and watch over him in his sleep.
“Shit. I slept late,” Grady mumbled as he woke late in the morning.
“The snowstorm still rages outside.” Uzoth stroked the soft skin of Grady’s arm. “I do not believe you can work today.”
“I should probably check on Lachlan.” Grady rose from his arms and climbed from the bed.
Uzoth missed his warm body resting against his.
“I will go and check on your other siblings,” Uzoth said. “I will ensure they are all well.”
Grady smiled. “Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Uzoth flew and checked on Lacy. Then he checked on Jack. He even knocked on the doors as Grady had suggested. He asked how they fared. He flew to Ordelia’s apartment last. A sense of satisfaction filled him at the knowledge that he was helping Grady.
It felt like his life once again had a purpose. And with that, his heart beat stronger in his chest. The strongest it had beaten in many years.
Uzoth stood in front of Ordelia’s door. He knocked. Uzoth stared at the door. Such a strange thing to knock instead of just waiting on rooftops.
The door opened, and Ordelia stood there. “Hello.”
“Good day, Ordelia. I am Uzoth. On behalf of Grady, I have come to check on you and your kin.” Uzoth bowed his head.
“Oh.” Ordelia gave a shocked laugh. “Grady sent you? In this weather?” She shook her head. “He shouldn’t be sending you out in this! Come in. Come in. It’s so cold.”
Uzoth stepped forward, and she closed the door. “Do not worry for me. I am used to the cold.”
“Yes. I believe I’ve seen you out in it before. Many times.” Ordelia tilted her head. “How do you know Grady?”
“I am his friend.”
“A friend, are you? Really?” Ordelia asked. “That’s so good. He could definitely use a friend. He hasn’t had one in years!”
“Neither have I.”
Ordelia smiled. “Well, I’m glad you have each other. Although, I’m still not loving him asking you to come out in this weather.” She tsked.
“I offered.” Uzoth did not want Ordelia to think poorly of Grady. “I am honoured to be able to perform this task for him.” Uzoth straightened his shoulders.
Ordelia’s eyes danced. “I see.”
“Are you, Ruthie, Michael, and Tony well?”
“We are. You can thank Grady for his concern. We are all doing fine,” Ordelia said.
“Grady will be pleased to hear that.” Uzoth turned towards the door.
“Do you want some tea or cake whilst you are here? I’ve got some soup on too.” She gestured into her home.
Uzoth shook his head. “I should return. Grady might worry if I am gone too long.” Like he had worried the previous day.
Ordelia laughed. “Yes. He does worry. But we must talk later. I’d like to learn all about Grady’s new friend, all right?”
“If you wish.” Uzoth inclined his head.
Ordelia grinned at him. “I’m truly glad Grady has you as a friend.”
“I am glad to have Grady as a friend.” Uzoth paused. The night before flashed before his eyes. The kisses, the touching, sleeping together in the bed. “He is an excellent friend.”
When he returned to the apartment, the needs of Grady’s family meant they did not spend any time alone that day. Although Uzoth did help Grady, Lachlan, Leo, and Jasper fix the bakery chimney.
At the end of the day, Grady yawned as they entered the bedroom. Uzoth assumed Grady would once again be too tired to engage in any sexual activities.
Honestly, Uzoth did not mind. He looked forward to holding Grady in his arms through the night once again. He’d been looking forward to it all day.
But then Grady turned towards him and smiled. “Pissing potions, today has dragged on! I’ve been thinking about you naked all day.” Then Grady stepped in close and reached for Uzoth.