Chapter 27 #2
Although… Perhaps he can provide me with a copy of it to share with the boys. With their consent, we could allow Hunter to view it as well—
“There are cameras everywhere. Except in the bathrooms and bedrooms.” His confirmation snaps me out of the fantasy forming in my head.
Bloody hell.
I already know the answer, because I saw it mounted in the corner with my own eyes, but I ask anyway. “In the gym?”
He nods, unabashedly maintaining eye contact. Bold choice now that I know he’s seen Levi make a sloppy fucking meal out of my cock.
“Butler’s pantry?”
That one elicits a grimace. “Yes, but I’ve taken that one offline for the foreseeable future.”
“Meaning?”
He shrugs. “The threats to our safety via the pantry are minimal. It has no external entrance or exit. It does, however, make an excellent hideaway, as many have discovered. I could cope when it was members of my cohort or yours. But when Mrs. Lansbury and Gerald started making use of the space—”
“I knew it!” I laugh, allowing myself to revel in the much-needed moment of levity.
Kylian glowers and shakes his head, clearly not sharing in the amusement.
“It’s a fair assumption that being able to contribute would not increase your odds of impregnating Hunter in a statistically significant way if you’re not the first or second man to shoot his shot. Still no pun intended.”
Steepling my fingers once more, I let his words fully take root in my mind.
“What is the benefit of her being pregnant with your child first?” he asks.
I consider it. The benefit? There is no benefit. There’s longing, of course, but it’s informed by my possessive nature and instinctive dominance. I may like the idea, but that does not mean it’s in the highest service of our cohort.
“There’s no real benefit, I suppose.”
He hums. “Would there be a benefit if she carried Garrett Reed Ferguson the Third’s child first? Levi’s or Sione’s?”
Emotion snags me by the shirt collar and squeezes like a vise. They would all benefit in some way.
For Garrett, there would be healing. He and Hunter suffered a joint loss. Although he wasn’t privy to it for far too long, that does not invalidate his grief.
Levi could experience the sort of bonding and gentleness all humans deserve. During his formative years, he did not have loving parents or unconditional support. We all strive to give him that now. The presence of a child he fathered would only add to his sense of security and stability.
For Sione, there would be a deeper sense of belonging.
His connection to our cohort is the most fragile, both because of his late arrival and his sexuality.
I never want him to feel as though his role in our family unit isn’t as significant simply because he does not desire physical intimacy with anyone other than Hunter.
A child made in his mold could close the loop for him.
For each of them—for any of them—the outcome would be nothing short of beautiful.
I can picture it. Envision their happiness. If I close my eyes and let my mind wander, I swear I can even feel the joy and happiness we’ll all share when each of them fathers a child.
Hunter will be pregnant with my child someday. For now, it must be one of them.
“Thank you,” I say, sincerity dripping from the two simple words as my mind swirls with all the tasks I need to complete and words I need to say to my counterparts.
With a renewed sense of urgency, I rise to my feet. “I’ll be busy for the next twenty-four to forty-eight hours. If you need me, please text.” With that, I stride out of the office and pull out my phone.
I open the text thread the guys and I use and shoot off a message.
Spence: I owe each of you apologies, and I owe the group my repentance for my behavior over the last few days. But time is of the essence.
I’m in.
Let’s make it special. Meet me on the upper deck in an hour so we can discuss and make preparations for tomorrow night.
With a smirk, I hit Send.
We’re doing this. We’re really fucking doing this.
I travel only a few steps toward the primary bedroom before I nearly smack into Garrett.
Startled, I jolt back, noting that he’s holding his phone in his hand as well.
With a cautious up and down, he tips his chin and smirks. “Got your text.”
Right. I was fully prepared to start scheming about how to impregnate our girl. I didn’t expect to be presented with the opportunity to make good on my promised apology. No matter. He deserves it. This has been a long time coming for the both of us.
“I want to wait for the others to fully discuss our strategy,” I explain. “But first…”
I lean forward incrementally, making my intention clear. When he does not flinch or pull back, I wrap my arms around him and pull his chest against mine.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper gruffly into his ear.
His body stiffens, but I hold on, desperate for him to hear me out and understand the gravitas of my sincerity. “Out of all that I must atone for and everyone I need to apologize to, you, Garrett Reed, are my top priority.”
Pulling back, I hold on to his shoulders.
He doesn’t turn his head or shy away.
“From the moment I arrived here in the States, I’ve viewed you as an adversary.
I knew the power you held over our girl; I understood the connection you shared, the mutual loss you endured, and the significance of your relationship as one another’s first. Those were all points I could never compete with. ”
“Spence, I—”
“Please let me get this out,” I insist. Sighing, I drop my arms.
“When I arrived in the US, I never imagined we’d end up here.
Loving the same people. Committed to a life that will always be intertwined.
My love for Hunter, and now for Levi, is stronger than all the misplaced, envy-inspired animosity I harbored toward you.
I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to come around and to attempt to explain my heart.
It’s only recently that I’ve come to accept that this can and will work.
That you and I are not in competition with one another.
We are, quite literally, playing on the same team.
I know your affections are tailored specifically to Hunter and Levi.
But I need you to know this—through loving them, I’ve grown to love you, too.
You complete this family, Garrett. You are essential to our cohort’s longevity and happiness.
As such, I’ll do everything in my power to support you, cherish you, and champion you, for all the rest of our days. ”
Garrett stares at me, wide-eyed. “Damn,” he eventually says. “That was—”
“Surprisingly insightful and intimate?” I suggest.
He laughs, clapping me on the back playfully. “I was going to say pompous and overdramatic, but sure. Your way works, too.”
I can’t fight the grin daring to emerge from his jibe. I hope to gods we never lose this—the playfulness and verbal sparring. There’s no one else who gives quite as good as Garrett when it comes to retorts and banter.
His face smooths out, and he nods. “Thank you for saying all that.”
“Please don’t thank me. This conversation is long overdue. Forgive me,” I beseech, searching his face and hoping like hell he sees the sincerity in my eyes.
“Consider yourself absolved.”
I snicker. He’s mocking me, I know. But his reassurance is appreciated all the same.
“Thank you.” I wrap him in another hug.
I don’t bother warning him that I won’t always get this right. We’ll both fumble along the way. Sharing partners is bound to have its ups and downs. But I’m fully committed to doing this with them, and with him. Today. Tomorrow. Forever, if they’ll have me.
“Thank you,” I whisper once more, before cuffing the back of his neck and squeezing. “Now, let’s find the others and figure out exactly how we’re going to impregnate our girl, shall we?”