Chapter Ten
Nix
Bouncing on his toes, Nix couldn’t contain his excitement.
Next to him, Evan carried the two bags of treats that Nix had baked and packaged.
Evan had insisted on carrying the heavy bags.
It was just something that Nix was getting used to.
It might only have been a few weeks since they’d officially been a couple, but his Daddy was so very predictable.
It was a miracle that Nix was able to talk Evan into this sneaky little trip.
Evan knocked on the door after Nix insisted on them ignoring the Do Not Disturb sign on the door handle. That obviously didn’t apply to him.
Come on! Come on! Answer the door! Nix danced as the door slowly opened. Then he scowled when he was not facing his little brother.
Vin’s eyes widened. He’d barely opened the door. Nix couldn’t see anything behind him. Like the vampire was hiding something from Nix.
“Where’s Aries?” Nix demanded. This was Aries’s hotel room. They were supposed to meet after the game later that night, but Nix couldn’t wait.
Vin glanced over his shoulder before looking back at Nix. “He’s—”
Nix didn’t want to hear it. Vin was obviously uncomfortable with Nix being there. That meant something fishy was going on. And Vin stood there in just a thin pair of gray sweatpants that didn’t leave much to the imagination. “Move!” Nix shoved Vin aside, running into the room.
Evan shouted his name. Vin tried to catch his arm. Nix would not be kept from his little bro.
He skidded to a stop in front of the large bed that dominated the room.
Aries was on top of the bedspread with bright marker pens all around him. That wasn’t what shocked Nix. It was the diaper, tight, short T-shirt, and pacifier in his mouth that had Nix nearly falling to his knees. “Aries?”
His little brother yanked the pacifier from his mouth as his cheeks turned fiery red.
Everything clicked into place.
Aries was a little. Which was actually perfect for his brother. Why hadn’t Nix thought about that before? Nix had spent time in BDSM clubs seeing and trying out all kinds of kinks.
Aries looked close to tears.
Well, Nix couldn’t have that. “You’re a little!” Nix announced cheerfully. “OMG! That is so cute.” He climbed onto the bed next to Aries. “You are so adorable. Are you coloring?” Nix didn’t see any books or paper on or near the bed.
Vin strode to the edge of the mattress, placing a hand on Aries’s shoulder. That was when Nix noticed that Vin’s black and gray tattoos were now more colorful than he remembered. “Yes, your brother is my boy.”
Nix grinned at Aries. “You should have told me! I would have brought toys instead of all the snacks I baked for you.”
“Treats?” Aries popped his head up.
“Apple fritters, apple pie, apple turnovers, and cinnamon apple bites. They’re fresh too. Still warm,” Nix responded.
Aries launched himself into Nix’s arms. “Really? You baked for me?”
“Of course.” Nix hugged his brother tight. “This is your first time in Florida. I had to make it special.”
Vin snorted. “He’s probably hoping you eat yourself into a coma so you are slower and he can beat you tonight.”
That wasn’t the worst idea. Nix looked at Vin and smirked. “I would never!”
“Pretty sure that was his plan the entire morning,” Evan tattled. “I’m used to my condo smelling like pumpkin but the apples did add a new enticing aroma.”
“Daddy!” Nix complained. “You have to be on my side. We’re on the same team.”
“Always.” Evan wrapped a hand around the back of his neck. “That doesn’t mean that I’ll go along with your crazy schemes. Not when you also pulled Lithis in with them.”
“But he could fly and get me the best apples!” Nix defended. “You refused.”
‘I have a game tonight,” Evan pointed out. “I can’t waste my energy flying around the country because you want to make your brother too fat to play.”
Aries giggled as he pulled away from the hug. He poked Nix in the stomach. “Dork.”
Nix caught Aries’s skinny finger. “I brought you treats, remember?”
Evan set the bags on the bed.
“Daddy? Please?” Aries looked up to Vin.
“One.” Vin held up a single finger.
“But—” Aries pushed out his bottom lip.
Nix was impressed. That was a very good pout. He wanted to take credit for that. Nix was the best at batting his eyelashes and pouting. Aries had to have learned that from him.
Vin shook his head. “One. I’ll get some napkins.”
“What are you doing here?” Aries asked as he tried to sneakily pull the bags closer.
“I couldn’t wait until after the game!” Nix wailed dramatically. “I miss you.”
Aries grinned. “I miss you too. It’s cool that we get to spend the night after the game. We aren’t flying to New Jersey until the morning.”
Nix rolled onto his stomach with his feet in the air. “Aren’t away games the worst. I hate flying to them.”
“At least the rooms are nice.” Aries moved to copy Nix’s position so they were face to face. It was how they lay when they would stay up late talking when they were supposed to be asleep.
“Don’t you get your own room?” Nix asked.
Aries rolled his eyes. “You know I do.”
“And yet here I find Vin nearly naked in your room.”
“He was napping before tonight’s game,” Aries told him.
“And you were coloring him,” Nix pointed out.
Aries’s face flushed again. “He lets me do that.”
“Cool!” Nix nodded.
“You really don’t care that I’m…a little?” Aries asked quietly.
Nix didn’t know why he was whispering. Both Vin and Evan would hear him. Plus, with two overprotective Daddies in the room, there wasn’t anything getting past them. “I think it’s awesome!”
Aries darted his gaze across the room where Vin and Evan stood talking. “And are you too?”
“A little?” Nix shook his head. “Nah.”
“But you called Evan Daddy,” Aries said.
Had he? When it was just him and Evan, Nix often used that honorific. That was who Evan was to him. “He is my Daddy and I’m his boy. But I’m not little. Just submissive.”
“Okay,” Aries said. “Now both you and Gem know.”
Nix gasped. “You told Gem before me! But I’m the cool brother.”
“I didn’t tell him. He showed up at my apartment unexpectedly,” Aries responded.
“Yes, it seems like a thing your family does.” Vin brought over two plates and forks. “And don’t think I can’t see you trying to open that bag, little one.”
Aries huffed and handed the bags over. “Sorry.”
So cute! Nix watched Vin and Aries as Vin pulled out the food and picked the biggest apple fritter, placing it on a plate. He passed the plate and fork to Aries then kissed the top of his head.
Nix glanced over at Evan, who was smiling at him.
Even though it had been Nix that had insisted that they come over, Nix had the feeling that Evan already had an idea about what type of relationship Vin and Aries engaged in. He’d make Evan pay for keeping that little secret later. It was good that Nix found out what Aries had been hiding.
Nix was already the best big brother ever and now he could be a big-big brother to Aries’s little side. He could buy him toys and stuffies and so much. Christmas was going to be awesome. Oh! That reminded him.
“So,” Nix drawled. “Christmas in the Colorado mountains.”
“What?” Aries asked around a mouthful.
“No talking with your mouth full,” Vin said from a chair beside the bed. Evan was across from him, frowning at Nix.
“What?” Nix grinned. “I didn’t do anything.”
“You have your scheming look on your face,” Evan replied.
“Christmas!” Nix exclaimed. “I can buy Aries toys. All the toys!”
“No,” Vin and Evan said at the same time.
“Yay!” Aries clapped his hands, showering them and in the bed in crumbs.
“Ugh!” Nix shoved Aries’s shoulder.
“Sorry!” Aries said then stuffed more fritter in his mouth.
“So many toys,” Nix repeated.
“Boy,” Evan growled.
Nix cackled.
“At least the third one is normal,” Vin said. “I think.”
Nix caught Aries’s gaze and winked. These guys had no idea what was buried deep inside Gem. He might be uptight, stern, and hated fun, but when Gem got an idea in his head, he could be so damn stubborn. Gem was the triplet that the world really needed to worry about.
In his opinion Evan and Vin were getting the easy out. Aries and he were cute and fun.
One Gem was more comfortable with his new team, in the league, he would be plotting world domination. Nix was glad he’d have a front row seat.
Glancing over at Evan, Nix was also grateful that Evan would be by his side to witness the chaos.
Evan turned his head and their gazes met.
Nix licked his lips as he admired Evan’s strong form in the hotel’s low light.
Since they had a game that night Nix hadn’t gotten to come the night before or that morning. No matter how much he had teased Evan.
Lifting a brow Evan sent Nix a knowing smirk.
Damn, Nix needed a distraction. He picked up an orange marker. “Can I color your Daddy?”
“No!” Aries smacked the marker out of his hand. “Don’t even think about it!”
“Fine,” Nix whined. He never got to have fun. Although the markers did remind Nix of something he’d seen online once. A sex painting kit. Now that had possibilities.
“I’ll scratch your eyes out of your head if you even look at Vin,” Aries threatened.
Huh? Nix had to pull his thoughts away from sex with Evan back to his brother. Aries was glaring at him. Possessive and violent little shit, wasn’t he? “I was just kidding! I’m not going to draw on your man. I do have manners.”
Aries snorted. “When did that happen?”
Since Evan had made him promise to be good or they’d go back to Evan’s condo where Nix would be put in the corner. “Hey!” Distraction was the best method of avoiding admitting that. “Want to shift?”
“Yes!” Aries said as he sat up quickly. “Daddy! Can me and Nix shift?”
“Of course, little one,” Vin replied. “Do you need anything?”
“Apples!” Aries shouted.
“I’m good,” Nix said as he whipped off his shirt.
“What are you doing?” Evan questioned as he stepped in front of Nix where he knelt on the bed.
“Getting naked,” Nix said. The duh was implied. “So we can shift.”
“Oh, right.” Evan rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m taking Aries to the bathroom to undress and shift. We’ll be right back,” Vin said as he passed while carrying Aries.
Nix stared at him until the bathroom door closed behind the couple. “What’s wrong?” Evan hadn’t seen Nix shift before. Was that the issue.
“Nothing boy.” Leaning over Evan kissed him. “You started taking your clothes off and my dragon nearly broke to the surface.”
“I have to undress to shift,” Nix reminded him.
“Shift. Right.”
“Wait!” Nix held the hand up still holding his t-shirt. “You said you weren’t a shifter. But you can turn into your dragon?”
“I have two forms,” Evan said. “Mu human form and my dragon.”
Okay, that was pretty much the same as shifting, right? “But you don’t shift?” he asked again.
“I chose what form I want to present,” Evan said.
“Oh!” Nix was still confused.
“I don’t have to get naked. If I wanted to show my dragon form, I just would.”
“Like magic?” Nix asked in wonder. That was so cool!
“There is much magic connected with my species,” Evan confirmed.
“I want to see your dragon!” Nix demanded.
“Soon,” Evan promised. “I’m too big to show you’re here.”
“Fine.” Nix dropped his shirt on the bed. “I still have to get naked though.”
Evan nodded. “Just not in front of anyone else.”
“I’ll agree to that” Nix told him. “If you make me a promise.”
“And what would that be?”
“Feed me pumpkin seeds? Hand feed me I mean,” Nix replied with a grin. “In my shifted form.”
Evan returned his smile. “It would be my pleasure.”
Nix leaped off the bed before attacking the button on his zipper. “This is going to be awesome!”
“I can’t wait to see you,” Evan said. He started to fold Nix’s clothes as Nix dropped them to the carpet. Such a Daddy. Nix’s Daddy.
“And I’m way cuter in my shifted form that Aries,” Nix said.
“Of course you are,” Evan agreed like a good Daddy.
Yep! This was going to be so much fun! Nix hadn’t shifted with one of his brothers in forever. “Be prepared to be wowed!”
“You wow me everyday boy,” Evan told him.
Best Daddy Ever!