13. Lev
ONE YEAR LATER
“Seriously, The Matrix again?” Bryan complained, shoving a handful of popcorn into Rowan’s mouth.
Lev laughed, nearly falling off where he lay with his head on Bryan’s lap. His stomach was full of Indian takeaway, and he was so bloody happy.
Over the past year, their quad relationship had grown in strength, and what they’d lost in family and friends had been more than made up by love and commitment, followed by new friends. Rowan’s and Lev’s parents had disowned them both, and Bryan’s weren’t speaking to them but hadn’t outright cut ties. It was only Gary’s family who had stood by them, and the support they received from them was more than enough to make up for the rest of the shitty parents.
That night, they were celebrating again, but this time, they were celebrating moving in together. They had been talking about it for several months, and whereas Gary and Rowan had wanted to sell both houses and buy something new for them, Bryan and Lev had disagreed, saying they loved Gary and Rowan’s house and it was silly to sell that when they only needed to sell one. It had taken a while before Gary and Rowan had understood they meant it. The location and size of the house were perfect, and they didn’t need anything more.
Well, except for a bigger bed, but they’d bought that months prior. They’d had no choice because they’d broken the other one. A custom-made bed was delivered a month later.
“You should be used to this by now,” Gary said. “How many years has this been the movie he’s picked?”
“I know, but come on!” Bryan slumped back on the sofa, a vision of put out.
“He’ll make it up to you later,” Lev said with a wink.
Bryan opened his mouth and paused before saying, “Okay.”
They all burst out laughing at Bryan’s quick acquiescence and settled down to watch the movie. They had also purchased a new sofa, a corner leather suite, which meant it was easier for them to sit together. Bryan and Gary usually sat upright at a right angle to each other, and Lev and Rowan lay with their heads on their laps. Hands and feet tangled, making it a perfect end to their days.
Lev had been one hundred per cent content with his marriage to Bryan, but he had never expected to feel the same but on a bigger scale when there were more people in the relationship. He’d been wrong, and his heart must’ve been the size of the planet with how much he loved the three of them.
They’d spoken about marriage over recent weeks, but none of them had felt the need to change that aspect. They were content with their marriages to remain as they were, not only because they couldn’t marry as a quad but because they didn’t need a certificate and celebration to show they were committed to each other. They showed that every day in everything they did.
After cleaning up their dishes and switching everything off downstairs, they headed for bed. Lev and Rowan had grabbed the guest bathroom as their own, and Gary and Bryan used the en suite. There was no hope of making a shower big enough for the four of them, although Lev did have designs on possibly making a wet room with two shower heads, which might make things easier. But for now, they had their routines.
Once showered, Lev and Rowan ran and jumped into bed, snuggling while waiting for the other two.
“Happy?” Rowan asked.
Lev grinned. “More than.” He kissed him, a slow, leisurely exploration, which sent his arousal higher with each passing of his tongue.
“Mmm,” Rowan said, sliding his fingers into Lev’s hair.
“Started without us again, I see,” Gary said, tutting.
The bed bounced, and Lev giggled, breaking the kiss when Gary pressed a kiss to his shoulder.
“Who could resist that?” he said, gesturing at Rowan, who had turned to kiss Bryan when Lev had let him go.
“I agree,” Gary murmured, skimming his fingers across Lev’s cheek and lowering his head for a kiss.
Something they always did was make sure they each connected with the other person at bedtime. Sometimes, it was a kiss. Sometimes, it was making love. Sometimes, it was holding hands. But there was something for each of them whenever they were together. And when life threw them a curveball and one or more were away from home, phone or video calls were a must. As they’d said from the very beginning, communication was key, and each of them wanted that connection, that reaffirmation that they were all in it together.
Lev’s eyelids fluttered closed as Gary’s fingers played with his hair, and he sighed. There was nothing he ever wanted to change about how his life was right then.
Life was perfect.