Chapter 40
ARDEN
Arden woke up in a thorough tangle of arms and legs.
Jack was on his back, body spread wide and open, taking up the middle of the bed. Beckett lay on his side, a possessive thigh slung over Jack’s and his head resting on Jack’s bicep.
As for Arden, he’d clearly been trying to lie on top of both of them at once.
His upper body lay crosswise on Jack’s chest, facing Beckett. He had one hand tucked under Jack’s shoulder, and the other—oh dear—he must have been reaching for Beckett’s arse and who could blame him but since it was out of reach, he’d settled for the thigh Beckett had hooked over Jack.
He adjusted his position slowly, not wanting to disturb them. Pulling his legs in, he rearranged his arms to prop himself up on Jack’s chest and rest a hand over his heart. Closing his eyes, he tuned into the steady, strong beat.
He’d imagined this. So many times.
He’d spent years dreaming of a future with Jack, all the while knowing it was impossible.
He’d pretended that he could learn to be witty and clever and bold, and become the sort of omega Jack would be proud to have stand by his side.
He’d pretended that he could change enough, if he just tried, and Jack would see it, and start to want him back, even though he was an omega.
And they’d marry and live happily ever after.
He’d never imagined that Jack would want him as he was. That they’d still marry and live happily ever after. And that they’d share a lover.
Jack’s heart skipped a beat and Arden’s eyes popped open.
Jack was awake. Watching him.
He looked so smug about finding Arden lying on top of him, visibly mooning, that Arden pinched his nipple.
Jack didn’t react, other than to catch Arden’s hand. He drew it to his mouth, turned it, and placed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. His lips were soft, reverent, and he wouldn’t let Arden look away as he simply held them there, feeling Arden’s pulse.
Arden hummed, then guiltily glanced at Beckett, not wanting to—
Beckett was watching him as well.
Not as familiar, these eyes, sharp even moments after waking, but just as beloved.
And wicked, Arden registered a second too late.
Beckett lunged up, snatched him around the waist, and hauled him off and over Jack to wedge him between them. Beckett scooted up behind him and spooned him firmly.
Arden yelped then laughed, flinging an arm over Jack’s torso and trying to grapple himself out, even though this was exactly where he wanted to be.
“No you don’t,” Beckett grumbled, his voice thrillingly rough with sleep and rumbling into Arden’s back, making him shiver. “Stop your fidgeting. Some of us are trying to sleep.”
Arden did as he was told and relaxed in Beckett’s arms, getting a nibble at the back of his neck as a reward. Jack tipped his head on the pillow to gaze down at the pair of them. His chest expanded in a deep, deep breath, and he sighed it out.
“Mighty pleased with yourself, aren’t you?” Beckett said.
“Mhm,” Jack said, letting his eyes drift closed. “I have good reason to be.” He flexed the arm Beckett was still lying on, curling them both closer. “I’m in bed with my omega husband and our alpha lover. There cannot be a happier man in the world.”
Beckett didn’t say anything to that. Arden couldn’t conjure a response, either. He settled for stroking Jack’s broad chest. Jack fell back asleep under his petting. Arden did his best to hold still and not fidget, knowing that Jack was exhausted, but he was terrible at it.
Eventually, he felt the mattress behind him dip as Beckett shifted. He whispered into Arden’s ear, “Shh,” and eased him gently away from Jack.
Last night, Arden had deposited his robe on one of the chairs by the window.
He tiptoed over to pull it on and belt it firmly.
Beckett followed him, and there was a brief scuffle at the door as Arden tried to prevent Beckett from strutting out naked, in case there was someone to see, while Beckett, covered in bite marks and a few bruises and…
and stuff…smiled down at him and refused.
Beckett would have won anyway, but before he overpowered Arden’s little fit and wrestled him out of the door, a pillow was winged across the room, making them both jump when it bounced off Beckett’s shoulder.
“I’ll be down for breakfast,” Jack said. “Have mercy on me and leave me to my sleep.”
“Right you are,” Beckett said, snaked an arm around Arden’s waist, and hustled him out of the room.
“Oh, but…” It didn’t seem right to leave without saying something. He had taken Jack’s virginity, after all. “I love you!” he called out as Beckett tried to shut the door behind them.
Jack laughed. “I love you,” he called back. “And you,” he added for Beckett, who grunted in response, lifted Arden off his feet with the arm around his waist, and pulled the door shut behind them.
“Oh, yes.” Arden smiled up at Beckett as he set him on his feet. “I love you, too.” He patted Beckett’s chest and hurried off in the direction of his bedchamber.
He didn’t realise what he’d done until he was in his chamber and heading for the dressing room, making plans to call for buckets and buckets of hot water for an indulgent bath.
When he did realise, he stopped suddenly.
He’d told Beckett he loved him.
And Beckett…
Beckett was behind him.
Arden turned and stared up at him. He fisted his hands and tipped his chin. He wasn’t going to take it back. Well, he would if Beckett insisted, but…he loved him.
He scowled at Beckett’s blank face. “I love you,” he said.
“Good.”
Arden nodded, not expecting anything in response, and turned back to his dressing room.
Beckett caught his hand to hold him in place. He stepped up, closing the distance between them. “You should know it already, but something tells me you don’t. I love you, my omega.”
“That is…you’re very kind. You don’t have to…and I know you like me now.”
“You know that,” Beckett said flatly.
“Yes. I don’t expect you to—”
“Fucking expect it, Arden.”
Arden couldn’t help twitching at Beckett’s intensity. He quickly threw his arms around Beckett’s waist, to make it clear he wasn’t afraid. Just startled.
Beckett heaved him off his feet again, dragging him up his body until they were eye to eye. “Expect it,” he said firmly. “Demand it. Demand of me whatever you will. Gods help me, I’ll see that you get it, if it’s in my power.” His eyes flashed with amusement. “If it’s not, I’ll make Jack get it.”
Arden stroked his shoulders soothingly. “I don’t want—”
Beckett shook him a little, and Arden kicked out with a huff. He squirmed.
“Stop that, you little ferret,” Beckett said.
“Put me down.”
Beckett did at once. “Arden,” he said, almost cajolingly.
They stared at each other. Arden laid a hand on Beckett’s chest. Deliberately, he slid it over until he was cupping Beckett’s heart, as he had cupped Jack’s. He tilted his head. It beat the same way; steady. Strong.
“We’ve moved on, haven’t we?” Beckett asked. “From that first time? The second?”
“Yes,” Arden said.
“Good.” Beckett leaned down and brushed his warm lips over Arden’s. “That’s good. Let’s keep moving forward, yes?”
“Yes,” Arden said. “Of course.”
Beckett’s eyes creased at the corners. “Do you know what I mean by that?”
Arden leaned his body fully against Beckett’s and twined his arms around Beckett’s neck. “No,” he said, smiling up at him sunnily.
“Gods.” Beckett blew out a breath of exasperation. “You can’t just agree with me.”
“Whatever you say.”
“Arden, you—oh, very amusing.” He got him in the ribs for that. Arden twisted in his hold but Beckett held on. “I love you. Not like I love Jack, mind.”
Oh. That hurt. Arden’s arms around him spasmed. Instead of letting go, for some reason he held tighter.
“Ask me why,” Beckett whispered.
“I…no. I don’t think I shall.” Excellent. Excellent. His voice wasn’t trembling at all. Eye contact was beyond him, but he was sure that he sounded positively calm. Relaxed, even.
Excellent.
“Why, Beckett, don’t you love me like Jack?”
Arden leaned back in Beckett’s encircling arms to stare up at him, appalled. “My voice,” he said indignantly, “is not that high-pitched. Or that shrill.”
Beckett kissed his nose. “Whatever you say.”
“Ugh. It is not. Beckett. It isn’t.”
He shook his head, cleared his throat theatrically, and gave it another shot. “Why don’t you—”
“Fine. Why don’t you love me like Jack?” He snapped his mouth shut as soon as the words had escaped him.
Beckett kissed his nose again in reward.
Arden tipped his chin up and bit Beckett’s lip quickly.
“Yeah,” Beckett said, holding his jaw for another, more lingering kiss.
“I can’t love you like Jack. How can I?” He turned his hand to run the back of his fingers slowly along Arden’s jaw, from his chin to his ear and back again.
“I love Jack for all that he is. And I ain’t talkin’ about him being an alpha, neither.
He is…” Beckett broke off and smiled at the floor with a small shake of his head.
Arden’s hands on Beckett flexed and he sighed in agreement. “He truly is.”
Beckett laughed, cheeks pink. “He truly is. And I love you for what you are, Arden.” He leaned in and said confidingly, as if it was a secret, “I ain’t talkin’ about you being an omega.”
“What…” Arden shifted from one foot to the other. “Um. What am I, then?” He shot Beckett a look from under his lashes.
“A little flirt.”
Arden gasped. “I am not!”
Beckett hummed. “Sweet.”
Arden scowled.
“Sweet and soft. Dreamy and romantic.”
Arden bared his teeth, but it was half-hearted.
…he wasn’t wrong.
“Whimsical,” Beckett said. “Silly.”
“Now look here,” Arden said, and poked him in the chest with a stiff finger.
Beckett caught his wrist, drew Arden’s hand behind his own back, and nudged him in between Beckett’s slightly spread legs, arching subtly over him.
Arden sputtered into silence, lips parted as he gazed up at Beckett.
“Adorable. Gentle.” He rubbed a thumb over Arden’s chin, over his pouting bottom lip. He sighed. “So gentle as you are, pet. Never known a soul like it.”
Arden shivered.
“I love you for these things. I’ll love you for even more as we move on, all three of us together, and I learn you better.” He leaned down and said against Arden’s mouth, “You are, after all, the easiest man in the world to love.”
That hadn’t been Arden’s experience of life so far. When Beckett said it, though, he believed it.
He believed that they were going to be happy, the three of them:
Jack, sleeping in his bed, exhausted from the burden of his station, and from setting it aside to ride and join his lovers.
Beckett, determined to boss Arden about and make sure he got what he—Arden—wanted.
And him, Arden. An omega who was in his thirties and only just beginning to realise what happiness could mean. That it was in his grasp.
That all he had to do was reach out, be brave, and take it.
He slipped his free hand into Beckett’s, and held on.