15. Luka
CHAPTER 15
LUKA
A quiet, reserved Phoenix scared me. A missing one who was supposed to be in bed sandwiched in between me and B made my heart stop as panic set in.
I understood why he was working so hard getting in contact with his father’s past associates and making allies with those who would share any negative experiences they had with Hale Aalto, but I drew the line at the constant dark splotches under his eyes and his obvious weight loss over the past few weeks.
So waking up and finding B in bed with me and Phoenix missing scared the shit out of me. I cursed as I threw the covers back and went searching for him.
I stomped down the stairs, ready for a confrontation, only to find him wrapped in a blanket on the couch, watching a baking show with the volume lowered. The dogs were curled up next to him, fast asleep, as Sunshine ran his fingers through Ruby’s coat.
When he heard me, he glanced up and smiled, loosening the tension in my body. I hadn’t realized how much I missed him until that instant.
Carried by my momentum, I scooped Phoenix into my arms and sat, holding him tight against my chest.
The dogs huffed, but headed toward their respective beds.
I could breathe, especially after B joined us a few minutes later and snuggled against us.
“My actions regarding my father have worried both of you, and for that, I’m sorry. But it’s done now. Last night, Detective Sandoval released the surveillance on the evening news and announced that they were aware of the person who hired them, but they would not reveal his name until the end of the investigation.
“I’m going to give an interview in the next couple of days, not so much to implicate him, but for viewers and jurors to correlate my face and name with Hale’s. Detective Sandoval wants the information about Hale hiring them to stay a secret until he can prove it. When he does, I’m done with him.”
I nodded, but B asked, “Did they arrest the assholes who broke into your bakery?”
“Yeah, but despite evidence against them, they’ve remained tightlipped about the entire thing. The detective and his team are looking into tracing the money they received. Yesterday, Detective Sandoval got a warrant for all of Hale’s financial affairs, including overseas accounts, and their financial crimes unit is picking over it.”
Despite the overwhelming sight of the bakery trashed in the early morning at the start of a new year, it’d been rather easy to set it back to rights. Word got around the neighborhood and while we were there, making lists of everything we needed to replace, people came in droves to help clean up the glass, repot plants, and show Phoenix their support.
Before long, the windows arrived to replace the broken ones. An order of utensils and the heavy-duty equipment such as the bakery display were on order and ready to be shipped, and Arthur purchased a cash register from an antique store he frequented.
We replaced the doors and windows with stronger, shatter-proof materials, and we made the alarm system, along with a panic button, operational on the day we received them from the manufacturer.
“Are you doing okay, Petal?”
I wasn’t sure what to expect, but when he laughed, I held him tighter, wondering if this was the one moment in time that broke him.
He wiped at his eyes and said, “Yeah, I’m fine because I understood, deep down, it was coming.”
Making room between us, I searched his face and asked, “What?”
A flash of hatred marred his beautiful face before it passed.
“He knows my weaknesses; who and what I love. At first, he gave us what he considers a warning; finding out where I lived and popping up here and then at your landscaping business to make his threats. But it was his underhanded ways, not his straightforward ones I was worried about. He’s a snake and will take any opportunity to get his way. I wasn’t sure in the direction he would take his revenge, but I should’ve known it was my bakery. He despises it and me.”
Neither of us could dispute how Hale felt about him, but I couldn’t keep silent.
“I should’ve said something earlier, but I loathe the way Hale has affected you. I recognize you have every right to fight back, but I…”
Phoenix cupped my cheek and gave me a tight smile.
“I know, lover. The depths of which I want Hale to suffer overtook my reason since I walked in on the catastrophe he caused. I want justice, but wishing bad things to happen to him makes me just like him, and that thought woke me out of a dead sleep. I’m nothing like him. And I am finished with letting his issues consume me. It’s affecting our relationship and I won’t allow it to continue any longer.”
His mouth brushed against mine, and when he sighed, relaxing against me, I devoured him.
When I pulled back to suck in a deep breath, Phoenix turned toward B and moaned into their caress as my heart swelled at the sight.
As the younger man leaned back against my shoulder, head tucked against my neck, I glanced at B and noticed his tranquil expression. He snagged a kiss from me, moaning when I was cheeky and sucked on his bottom lip, and smiled at him when he looked about ready to pounce on me.
“I want to change my surname,” Phoenix mumbled.
Not going to lie, my eyes almost boggled out of my head as my gaze shot up and I noticed B’s matching expression. Joy, hopefulness, along with a dreamlike quality I identified with. I tamped down my excitement until I heard what he had to say.
“To what, Sunshine?”
He gripped my shirt, and I knew his thoughts ran along the same lines, but it took him a few minutes to get it out.
“I know we can’t get married, which I don’t mind because I’d never pictured it for myself. But it would be nice, having our relationship defined, all without being the center of attention for an afternoon.”
Because he’d been up for a few hours before us, it wasn’t surprising to find him sagging against me, listening to my heartbeat, gripping B’s hand as though we were going to walk out of his life.
Yeah, there was no chance of that.
B pulled out his phone, which surprised me, because I was the one who researched our crazy ideas.
“Would you like Kavka-Horváth or the other way around?”
Sunshine mumbled, “Phoenix Kavka-Horváth. I like it. Do you sign it with that little mark each time?”
I chuckled at that. “You can’t even make out his given name most times. Forget about figuring out whether he has an umlaut over the letter. He missed his calling as a doctor with how terrible his handwriting turns out.”
Coming back with sass he learned from our Sunshine, B responded, “It’s all part of the plan. Besides, I text or type. Why do I need to learn how to sign my name?”
“So people can recognize our commitment that binds us together when we get a joint bank account or when I draw up the papers for you two to be co-owners of the bakery.”
That bit of news made both of us pause.
“How long have you wanted this, Sunshine?”
He shrugged his shoulders and turned onto his back in order to see both of us.
“Since the night of our first date, but it’s been rolling around in my brain more and more since Christmas. I recognize it’s been several months since the start of us, but who else, apart from the two of you, knows me so well? I realize you want to say Arthur, and you’re right in a way. He’s my best friend, but you two are my future and I want to share everything I have with the both of you.”
Before either of us could utter a word, he continued.
“But unlike my friendships, you two are the only ones I need close to me, whether in good times or bad. I love the thrill I get when Luka barges into the bakery, searching for me as though I might go missing at any moment. And after you scoop me in your arms, I smile when Burton makes a B-Line for the hazelnut and dark chocolate croissants, the recipe I perfected because of his suggestions. I make sure there are at least two every afternoon, despite them being the most popular pastry in the bakery.
“But the little things are the moments I remember and crave the most. Nights cuddled on the couch, watching another movie one of us hasn’t seen yet. I mean, come on, who hasn’t seen The Goonies .”
Luka shrugged and said, “Hey, stop picking on me. I was five when it released. And when did you see it, B? I don’t remember you talking about it.”
B shrugged. “It was a college party and my date decided her ex-boyfriend was preferable to me, so I went home and it was on TV. Why? Did you wonder if it was under nefarious circumstances?”
“Ah, it sucks she dumped you at the party… you know what? Never mind, these jealous feelings can go fuck themselves. She didn’t deserve you.” Phoenix crossed his arms over his chest and pouted.
Both of us laughed at his cute skulk.
“So there’s no chance you want to hear?—”
A hand came up and covered my mouth, making the laugh come out as a huff as I took in Phoenix’s disgruntled expression. I moved his hand away from my mouth, slid my fingers through his hair, and brought him into a kiss that left me aching. As he panted, B buried his face against my neck, nipping a path until he reached my mouth.
My dick was throbbing, making Phoenix moan as he shifted his hips, rubbing our dicks together. I hauled B closer until our mouths fused.
“Why is being hard and aching a constant around you two? I forgot what we were talking about.”
“Because I’m a touch gremlin who needs constant reassurance from our connection that you want me and will continue to want me,” Phoenix said.
“That will never change,” B reassured.
“What will both of your parents say if I hyphenate your names and take them as my own?”
I scoffed. “If our parents haven’t proven time and time again you’re their favorite, then their words ‘oh, there’s our son,’ as they greet and hug you first, watch them rush you downtown to figure out the fastest way to make your idea a reality. But you aren’t alone in this. I’m planning on making the change, too.”
B nodded. “Yep, I’m in. I suggest we don’t tell the parents until after, as a surprise.”
“Yeah, no, that’s not happening, because this affects them too and they should get to express their opinion,” Phoenix said.
I said my thoughts aloud, “If we’re integrating our lives, then we need to meet with our accountant and fiduciary to see how to combine everything. Retirement, our businesses, the house, since we are sharing everything.”
“Ugh, you two work that out. It seems so adult and I’m not dealing with any of that. Tell me where to sign and I’ll do it, but count me out for those meetings. I love you two, but adulting sucks, so no thanks,” B sighed, slumping against the couch and leaning his head against my shoulder.
“You’re in more meetings than me.”
“Yeah, but do I pay attention? Sometimes. Do I want to be there? No.”
Phoenix kissed B, and when he leaned back, he cuddled his head against my shoulder. We soon fell asleep, and I dreamt about the certain future with Phoenix and Burton.
***
When I woke three hours later, I found Phoenix curled in my lap with his head nestled into B’s stomach. Both of them sound asleep.
For several minutes, I basked in the closeness we shared, until my stomach rumbled. It occurred to me we’d eaten nothing since dinner the night before and slept most of the morning. The idea of a full English breakfast with a few substitutions sounded good, and I knew Sunshine loved to try new foods.
As I stood with Phoenix in my arms, B blinked open his eyes and looked at the sweet bundle in my arms and laid out on the couch. I settled the younger man in front of him, who snuggled in close to B, before I covered them with the blanket.
Satisfied when their breathing deepened, I headed toward the kitchen after a quick detour and started the kettle boiling for the coffee before raiding the refrigerator.
A dozen eggs; B preferred sunny-side, while Phoenix liked a soft scramble. I then laid out smoked bacon, opened a can of baked beans, set out whole cherry tomatoes and mushrooms to roast, forming the breakfast sausage, and slicing the honey-oatmeal bread to round out the buffet. As the bacon and the vegetables roasted in the oven, I started cracking the eggs, leaving four behind for B, as I added heavy cream and whisked the remaining eight.
Other than the setback on New Year’s, I’d succeeded with putting weight on our younger lover, who, before we’d moved him in, had horrible eating habits.
Rather than make himself a proper meal, he ate sweets and often skipped lunch. After work, he napped before busying himself with his plants.
Which was why during the work week B and I would bring him lunch as we spent an hour together with Phoenix, making sure he ate his fill. On the weekends, I found the familiar desire to find new recipes for us to try while having plenty of food on hand to satisfy any cravings.
It wasn’t unknown for a visitor to drop by, especially to see Phoenix, and for the first time in his young life, affection wasn’t something he needed to earn.
Familiar skinny arms wrapped around my waist as he pressed his cheek to the middle of my back, and I inhaled. I loved him and his scent of cinnamon and sunshine.
A smile bloomed on my face, which I found familiar in the last several months. I wouldn’t have described myself as stoic as B had, but before the three of us made it official, there weren’t a lot of bright moments in my day where I’d experienced a surge of happiness knowing I was right where I needed to be. But with Phoenix in our lives, the glowing feeling never left.
“I’m sorry I woke you up so early,” the younger man whispered in deference to B, still sacked out on the couch. But I knew he wouldn’t last long asleep without Phoenix plastered against him.
I turned in his arms and cupped his face, pressing a soft kiss to his lips and indulging in his taste. The soft sigh that washed over my lips when we broke off to catch our breaths brought contentment and desire rushing to the surface.
My voice was gruff when I spoke.
“You never have to be sorry. B and I, without fail, will worry about you and your mental health. And I know, although you’ve had Arthur in your life to fight for you when you needed it, B and I have your back, no matter what.”
There was a loud groan followed by a clipped curse and both of us laughed at the sound, signaling B was awake, but he wasn’t happy about it.
I slid my tongue over Phoenix’s bottom lip and swallowed his moan, loving the way his body became lax in my arms as he trusted me with his entire being. Soon both of us were breathless, and I was aching as the timer rang.
“Is the bacon burning?” B croaked.
“Shit!”
But I checked the oven to find perfectly cooked, crispy bacon. Ready to rebuke B’s claim, I turned and glared over my shoulder to see B picking Phoenix up and taking his mouth with a deep kiss.
I shook my head, but joy surged through me.
Although we should have stepped in and helped Phoenix with his plan against his father, I held back with my offer because it was something we knew he might want to handle on his own, forgetting we were together and a three-man team.
From this moment on, I vowed to open up to both of them and step in when either of my men had a problem.