Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
MILES
Miles barely slept, and by the time the sun was up, he knew there was no chanceof getting any more rest. After the aquarium, he and Emmett had lunch, held hands, and kissed once more in the driveway before going inside.
But as the door shut, the spell broke, and it was over. Reality had set in a little too hard, and instead of facing the choice Emmett was giving him, he escaped to the guest room with the little stuffed otter Emmett had bought him.
He curled up in bed and doom scrolled on his phone, then sent a couple of texts. One to Oliver that went unanswered, and one to Juno who said he’d get back to him soon, but he had a few things going on. And then he rotted.
Emmett brought him a sandwich and lingered, but when it was obvious Miles wasn’t going to invite him in, he smiled and dropped a kiss on his forehead, leaving him to his panicked thoughts.
He thought a long night’s sleep might help. He was wrong.
When he woke up, Miles was just as confused as ever, and he was a little terrified because he knew Cosimo had to be home by now, so he had to face the husband of the man he’d been making out with all day. The man he’d gone on a damn date with.
The man who said point blank that he wanted Miles.
What the fuck was this supposed to mean? Every fiber of his being said he wanted this—begged for more. He saw absolutely no reason at all to turn Emmett down. And yet, he didn’t know if this could last.
These were Selene’s parents after all. What the fuck was going to happen in the future when they reconciled? How could he look her in the eye knowing what he let those men do to him? Because if he cracked and gave in and said yes, he wanted to let them do everything .
He couldn’t keep hiding though. He needed to go out there like a grown adult and face them both.
Stretching his back, he pawed around in his bag for new batteries, then put his processors on and headed to the bathroom. He could only procrastinate for so long though. Face washed, teeth brushed, hair combed, he was ready to face the day.
It was finally time.
He was still in his pajamas, but he felt a little better—if not slightly delirious from over-sleeping—and headed toward the kitchen.
Miles caught the scent of coffee which set his mouth watering, and as he got closer, he could smell bacon cooking.His stomach gave a faint grumble, and he tried not to think about the fact that he hadn’t eaten properly since lunch the previous day.
Anxiety prickled along his spine, and he took a small breath before turning the corner.
The kitchen was bright and warm, and Emmett was at the stove, Cosimo sitting at the breakfast nook with the paper.He looked up at Miles with his usual not-quite smile as if to show everything was normal.
But God, was it?
“Morning,” Emmett said.
Miles tried not to wince.Both his processors seemed to be working fine which was good, but a little overwhelming after keeping them off most of the previous afternoon. And hearing voices first thing had always been hard on him.He tried for a smile as he rubbed at his temple.“Morning.”
Emmett studied him for a long moment, then pointed his spatula at the massive coffee machine.“Coffee or tea if you want it.Breakfast will be up shortly.”He stared at Miles for a second, like he was considering something.Then he said, “Go sit with Cosimo.”
Miles stiffened, but he began to move almost like he had no control.He felt Cosimo’s eyes on him, and Emmett’s shoulders were a little tense as he went back to his food.Was this some sort of test?To see what he’d tolerate?
Whatever it was, he was going to pass. He hadn’t had trouble following orders since his brief rebellious phase as a teenager.
Grabbing a mug from a wall rack, Miles filled his mug from the pot, then added cream and several sugars.He took a spoon from the little container filled with them, then walked over to the table and sat.
Cosimo stared at him from over his paper.
“I haven’t seen anyone read news like that in years,” he blurted.
“I’m old,” Cosimo said, his voice hoarse.
Miles wondered why he sounded like that. A gag? A dildo down his throat he was forced to suck until he couldn’t take it anymore? He went hot all over and shoved the thought aside because the last thing he needed was to get an inappropriate hard on right there.
Miles forced a small smile.“You’re not that old.”
Cosimo scoffed, but he was grinning as he went back to whatever article he was reading.The moment was quiet in the best way, and he shifted his chair over to sit in a patch of sun as he listened to the sound of Emmett cooking, and the occasional crinkling noise of Cosimo turning pages.
He liked this kind of silence.
The moment was broken not too long after with the appearance of plates.One was piled with scrambled eggs, the other with bacon, a third with fruit.Emmett handed out smaller ones to him and Miles, then he sat.
When Miles tried to reach for the serving spoon, Emmett cleared his throat, and Miles snatched his hand back.
“Eggs?” Emmett asked.
Cosimo made a warning noise, but Emmett ignored him.
“And how many pieces of bacon?”
Miles swallowed heavily.It was a test.“Yes, please.And three.”
Emmett nodded, then added a liberal scoop of eggs, then the bacon, and twice as much of the chopped melons and strawberries.“Fiber,” he said.
Cosimo choked on his coffee.
Miles was lost, but he decided to let this play out.In spite of his single moment of fear, he knew neither of these men were cruel.Whatever was happening, it wasn’t to torment him.He took the plate and pulled it close.
“Thank you,” he murmured.
Emmett caught his gaze, then tipped his fingers from his chin to sign, ‘Thank you.’
Miles flushed.“I know that one.I know some of the basics, remember?”He showed them his small lexicon.
Yes, no, thank you, you’re welcome, help, sorry, how are you.
He could order coffee in sign if he needed to and find the bathroom.
He added jellyfish at the end to make Emmett smile.
“I really do plan to learn,” he said as he picked up his fork, watching Emmett fill his plate.
“I just need to focus on my dissertation right now.And then, you know, getting a job so I never have to be homeless again.”
Emmett made a quiet noise of protest, but Miles appreciated that he didn’t argue with the statement.He was staying here, but he was homeless. Technically.“Okay,” he said after a heavy sigh.“Let’s eat.”
Cosimo eventually folded his paper and helped himself, and while there wasn’t conversation between them, Miles still felt like he was part of something.He liked it.Probably a little too much.He caught Emmett’s eye several times, and with each approving nod from the man, Miles blushed harder.
He polished off his plate, then almost preened when Emmett leaned in to take it and murmured, “Good boy.”
Miles's entire body twitched. Fuck. Did he really just...?
Cosimo was watching like a hawk, and when Emmett returned to sit, he cleared his throat.“Enough beating around the bush. Rip the Band-Aid off.”
Miles stiffened, but Emmett just rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest as he looked over at his husband.“Fine.You want to start?”
“I think that’s on you, Sir,” Cosimo answered.
It was nothing like how Cosimo had used sir before, but there was still an air of deference in it that made Miles tremble all over.He was looking at Emmett, but he could feel Cosimo staring at him. He was being studied.
“My darling, bratty husband,” Emmett said quietly, “and I had a long conversation last night, and he thinks the way I handled yesterday wasn’t the best choice.”
Miles stared between them both, then said, “I don’t know what you mean. I…well. You said it was a date. You said it wasn’t cheating.”
“It was,” Emmett said. “And it wasn’t.”
“It wasn’t cheating,” Cosimo added, like he wanted to be sure Miles understood it came from both of them.
Emmett took a fortifying breath. “I should have been more clear about what I wanted from you.”
“Just you?” Miles asked.
“In this case, yes,” Emmett answered. The fact that Cosimo didn’t look bothered set Miles a little at ease. But not completely. “Mo and I have experimented with adding a third person to our dynamic. A permanent partner. Someone we hoped would someday become another spouse.”
Miles felt like he’d been knocked off his feet. “Oh.”
“Obviously it never worked out. That lifestyle isn’t for everyone. Older men tend not to have the patience or stamina. Younger men tend to get bored.”
Miles cleared his throat. “Okay, but I’m still kind of lost.”
“You’re avoiding the words, amore,” Cosimo pointed out.
Emmett gave him a dark look, and Cosimo’s jaw snapped shut, but his eyes remained defiant. After a beat, Emmett groaned and said, “There’s something I’d like to ask you now that I know it’s something you want.”
Miles’s throat went a little hot and he cleared it.“Ah.Okay. Go for it.”
Emmett licked his lips.“Mo and I have talked about something like this before.It never worked out, but—”He stopped, and Miles tried to follow his thread, but he was lost.
“Emmett,” Cosimo said, very quietly, “you’re still stalling. Just ask him. He’s not going to get angry.”
Of course he wasn’t. They could ask him to strip down and sit on the roof and make bird noises, and he’d probably do it just to show his appreciation for everything they’d done for him.
Emmett’s cheeks pinked.“Right, yep.Sorry.”He took a breath and turned toward Miles fully.
“First of all, staying here is not contingent on whether or not you say yes.I want to make sure you understand that first.You are welcome here for as long as you want.Stay until you graduate.Stay longer.We don’t care. ”
Miles wanted to tell him that he might regret that, but it felt rude.But no one ever really wanted him to stay.The only reason Selene had kept him around was because he cleaned, cooked, and drove her everywhere.
“Miles?” Emmett pressed.
He snapped out of his thoughts.“Yes.Okay.Thank you.”
Emmett’s eyes narrowed but not like he was angry.
He studied Miles for a long second.“Secondly, we’re not going into our usual twenty-four-seven dynamic for Mo’s vacation, even with your very kind offer to take a step back.
Neither of us were really in the headspace for it after the whole thing with Selene. ”
Miles stiffened, and Emmet looked immediately apologetic, but he didn’t take it back.
“But he and I are okay with what happened the night before.With moments when he needs to be brought to a quiet space,” Emmett said. “We’re okay with you being here for it—so long as you are.”
“Yeah,” Miles said slowly.“I told you I was fine with?—”
“Let him finish,” Cosimo cut in.“Please.”
Emmett bit his lower lip.“We also think that you’d…that it might be…”He fumbled with his words and swallowed heavily.“That if I offered to be your Daddy, you might say yes.”
Miles blinked, then the room began to spin, and the next thing he knew, he was on the ground.