Page 10 of Love and Chaos

He caught his laugh and jerked his gun up and scoured the room. “Where’s West?”

“No! No! You’re done. West couldn’t make it. He and Prince Jin sent a birthday gift.” Max loudly and awkwardly clomped across the floor in chunk-heel sandals. His poofy dress swished around him. “Prince Jin wanted to take part, but West refused to allow him to be shot with a paintball, so West stayed behind at the palace with his fiancé. They created a video for you.” Max held up his phone and pushed play on a video of Prince Jin and West seated next to each other.

“Happy Birthday, Edison!” Prince Jin greeted. “I am so sorry we could not be there to participate in your birthday present. We hope you had a wonderful time.”

West snorted. “He’s probably glad I’m not there. I would have shot his ass before he could even get on that boat.”

Ed smirked and nodded at the video. That was so very true. West was great in close-quarters combat, but he was absolutely lethal from a distance.

Jin’s lips twitched as if he were fighting a chuckle and continued. “Since we couldn’t be there, we have sent along a different birthday present. A week-long reservation has been made for you and Max at Oasis.”

“It’s an amazing spa. They’re going to pamper you until you forget how to move,” West chimed in.

“Fuck, yeah!” Max crowed, and Ed agreed completely. A week away being pampered with his boyfriend sounded like heaven.

“Happy birthday, Edison!” Jin said.

“Happy birthday, big guy. See you soon,” West finished, and the video ended.

Ed then turned his attention back to his pink and grinning boyfriend.

“You rescued me,” Max announced.

Ed tossed his gun onto the bed and wrapped his arms around Max, getting the smaller man to squeak. “I will always rescue you. Of course, this explains why you weren’t answering your phone.”

Max looped his arms behind Ed’s neck and stole a quick kiss. “Sorry about that. It was killing me not to have my phone on, but Charlie was sure I’d ruin the surprise with my big mouth. Did you love it? Tell me you loved it, because I put on a dress for you, Ed. I’m not a dress kind of guy.”

“I loved everything about it.” Ed hugged his lover again. Max wasn’t a dress guy. He wasn’t even a suit-and-tie guy. He was more of a cargo pants and old T-shirt guy, and Ed loved it about him. Max was no-frills, rational, and logical. Perfect for him in every way. “Whose idea was it?”

“Mine,” Max said with the biggest smile. Ed’s heart swelled, and he had no choice—he had to kiss Max until he was breathless. His boyfriend knew him so very well.

“Wow.” Max exhaled. “As much as I don’t want to share the credit after a kiss like that, I have to admit that Charlie had a big helping hand in the planning since he knows about all this espionage shit.”

“I figured, and I’m not kissing Charlie. Only you.”

“Good.” Max tightened his arms, pulling Ed in for another kiss. “I was afraid that you were getting bored with not being able to do sneaky spy things. I also asked the guys if you ever had the chance to save a princess. He said no, and that led me here.” Max held out his arms, putting himself on display. “Every hero needs a chance to rescue the princess.”

Ed’s eyes burned, and his throat tightened a little. “The only thing I want now is to be your hero. The princesses of the world will have to look out for themselves.”

“I like this plan. But first, we need to go somewhere and get me out of this dress.”

Ed chuckled, clearing away the clog in his throat. “That is an excellent idea.”

Even after giving up a life of espionage, chasing kidnappers, and threatening extortionists, Max always made sure his life was never boring, and Ed was more than happy to follow his crazy archeologist professor anywhere.

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR!: A WESTIN & PRINCE JIN SHORT STORY

Jin frowned.

Where was his fiancé?

Today was the day. Not only was it the eve of the lunar new year, but today was going to mark the very first occasion where he stepped out in public as Westin’s fiancé.

Naturally, there were some grumbling voices about how Jin had chosen an outsider, but most people were supportive of Westin. Especially after it had been “leaked” that West had risked his life to protect Jin during the assassination attempt.

Prior to now, they’d been permitted to make public appearances together, but they hadn’t been allowed to do little things like hold hands.

Tonight was different. The Jin royal family would be at the grand festivities in the capital, and West would be his fiancé. That meant he could claim a kiss in front of all the world as the clock struck midnight.