Chapter Nineteen
Edwin
At first, I thought I was waking up from one of my many dreams about Cliff and Brax, but I quickly figured out that it wasn’t a dream…that last night had been real, and the arms wrapped around me belonged to the two men who had decided I was now theirs.
I’d never been one to spend the night, even when I had a semi-regular partner. I always liked to go back to my own bed and be with my own things. Even now, I didn’t want to leave this bed for anything. I wanted to stay with them, snuggled and close.
Last night had been such a ride from finally saying all the things I’d needed to but hadn’t been able to form the words for, to spending a little time at their house, to getting naked and having all sorts of fun. No wonder I thought it was a dream. Whose little life was this? Certainly not mine.
Except it was.
“Do you need me to move?” Cliff asked. When I turned my head, I saw he was looking at me, a sweet smile on his face.
I wanted to say no, but… “Maybe so I can sneak away for just a minute, and I’ll be right back.”
“Of course.” He kissed my forehead then climbed out of his side of the bed, and I did as well. “Don’t worry about Brax. He won’t stir until we wake him up.”
I ran to the bathroom to take care of business, and, when I climbed back into the bed, Cliff was in his original spot, with Brax snuggled into his side.
“He migrated over when you left. You might have to go to the other side.”
“I can do that.” I climbed in and put my arm around Brax so that it was resting on Cliff, too.
“Go back to sleep. There’s no rush today,” Daddy said.
“Okay.” I thought it might be difficult to go back to sleep, especially knowing there were two hot men in bed with me, but I found myself slipping completely asleep without a single speck of the ceiling counted.
The next time I woke, it was only Brax and me. This time, he was facing me, his cheek snuggled against my chest, his breathing not quite even. He was awake.
“Did I wake you up?” I asked.
“No, I’ve been awake since I smelled the bacon.”
I took in a deep breath. “Oh, there is bacon. I love bacon.”
“That’s because you’re smart. Should we take a shower before breakfast?”
“Sure. You can go first?” I was fine staying warm in bed a tad longer.
He pulled back. “Let me ask again…shall we take a shower together before breakfast?”
“Oh. I like your idea better.”
Their shower was nice, much nicer than the one at the Little House, which was dated, and we both fit in comfortably. I started by washing his back then felt a moment of worry.
“Will Daddy care that we’re doing this?” I didn’t want to end such an amazing time together with pissing Cliff off.
“No, he absolutely will not. But we can call him in here if you’re worried.”
“I’m not worried, exactly—”
Before I could finish the thought, he was calling out, “Daddy!” And then Cliff came in, an apron on and, from the looks of it, nothing else.
“Did you run out of shampoo?”
“No, I was just reassuring Edwin that you don’t mind that we’re showering together.”
“Why would I?” He looked legit confused.
“I don’t know. Because we’re all dating each other.”
“And that doesn’t mean we have to do everything together, although, if you want me in there, I’d be glad—”
Brax cut him off. “Your job is to make bacon.”
“Yes, sir.” Daddy chuckled. “You two enjoy your shower. I am going to make bacon.” And away he went.
I stood there staring at Brax who was now staring back. “What? Like…bacon’s a food group.”
“I’m not arguing there.” I just shook my head. “Never mind. Let’s get showered quickly because…bacon.”
Our shower, in fact, was not quick. We used it as an excuse to explore every inch of each other.
When hunger finally called for food, we threw on some clothes and headed into the kitchen.
There, Daddy Cliff had not only made bacon but little teeny-tiny pancakes, scrambled eggs, and cinnamon rolls, the kind that come in a can.
People could look down on them all they wanted, but I thought were by far the most delicious cinnamon rolls in existence.
“I didn’t know if you wanted a divided plate or a circle plate.” Daddy held up the two options.
“Divided.” There was no question to it, especially if we were having pancakes. I didn’t need my syrup touching my bacon. No, thank you.
“Me too, Daddy.”
Brax grabbed a plastic cup of orange juice from the counter. “Did you want this kind of cup, or do you want a sippy cup or a big glass?”
“This kind’s good.”
It was interesting, because right now, he was taking care of me, but that night at karaoke, I’d been taking care of him.
Was that how it would go, us taking turns being like a second daddy in charge?
Or maybe I was already reading way too much into every tiny thing. That latter was more likely the answer.
Daddy served up our food, keeping the syrup in its own little divided section and not touching anything else. I didn’t pretend to be polite and use a fork and knife. I picked up my pancakes, dipped them in syrup, and ate them with abandon.
“These are so good.” My mouth was full. I. Did. Not. Care.
“You’re eating them wrong.” Brax broke off a piece of bacon, placed it on his pancake, folded the pancake in half, then dunked the whole thing in syrup. “This is how you eat it.” He took a bite with a lot of “yums” as he chewed and swallowed it.
“I think you’re wrong. You’ve got syrup all over your face.” I pointed to where a drop of syrup lived.
“Oh no.” He tapped his cheek. “If only there was someone who could kiss it off.”
Daddy looked to me. “Rock, paper, scissors?”
I laughed.
“I’ll call it,” Brax said. “One, two, three, shoot.”
My hand automatically went to paper, which covered Daddy’s rock. I leaned in, licked the drop of syrup just below Brax’s lip, then swiped my tongue across his bottom lip before kissing him. I sat back in my chair.
“Guess I’ll have to go in and see if you did your job correctly.” Daddy leaned in. It was so hot watching him do exactly as I had, licking, then kissing Brax. “What do you think? Do you think I got it all?”
“I got all of his but, oops, I have a syrup on my lip too. Rock paper scissors?” I was so down for this game.
Brax and Daddy held out their hands, ready to battle over who got to kiss me. So much fun.