Chapter 27
AIDEN
A WEEK LATER
J ared’s poisoning had all of us on edge.
On the one hand, there was relief that Haley (Hannah) had been caught.
The police found a bottle of liquid pesticide in her hotel room, and she admitted to administering the poison to Jared’s and Darwin’s lunches. She also admitted that she’d been working with Seuter, and he’d paid her handsomely for her part.
Her father’s death had left her inconsolable, angry, and with enormous debt. She needed the money, and it was no hardship for Seuter to convince her that Jared’s lawsuit was another unfair Hollywood witch hunt.
Whatever her motives, she was behind bars for the foreseeable future.
But that didn’t mean Seuter was off the hook.
His lawyer denied the connection to Haley and the act of attempted murder.
But our investigator kept uncovering more details about how the two interacted.
We were building up a strong case and, judging by the number of times Seuter’s lawyers contacted me this past week, I had a feeling he was going to settle this lawsuit and soon.
Not surprisingly, there had been no further threats to Jared’s life.
With Haley in jail and the media hounding Seuter for answers, digging into his background at the studio and this case, it was all coming to a head.
I was hoping he would be charged in the attempt on Jared, but there was still the FBI investigation to consider.
If they offered Seuter a deal, everything else would be superseded.
Jared was understandably upset about Haley’s deception.
And Alex felt guilty at not having figured out who Haley really was in time.
Alex blamed himself for what had happened, but neither Jared nor I would let him go down that road.
The only one to blame here was Seuter. He was the puppet master.
I wanted him to pay badly for what he’d done to Jared. To Haley, too. She was also a victim of Seuter’s manipulation.
The only good thing to come out of that horrible day a week ago was that Jared, Alex, and I held tight to each other.
Jared’s bedroom became ours.
Every day we grew closer.
We shared meals, and stories, and laughter. We whispered secrets to each other at night after we’d reveled in each other’s bodies.
There were never enough kisses or touches. Every moment was more intense than the last.
It got so that I knew that my heart wasn’t my own anymore.
It belonged to them.
And it was entirely too natural for me to take the lead when it came to our triad.
I comforted them when they woke up with nightmares and held them until they fell back asleep in my arms.
I’d set up a video therapy session so we could discuss what had happened to Jared and how we were dealing with it. Talking helped.
By the end of the week, all three of us were feeling better. Secure that, together, we could handle whatever was coming our way.
But we knew that even when Seuter was out of our lives, we would still face challenges. Being a throuple wasn’t conventional, and I wondered how I was going to tell my law firm partners, let alone my parents, about my lovers.
My friends like Rafe already knew, so I wasn’t concerned about that.
Being gay and out was still a struggle, and having not one, but two partners?
It wasn’t going to be easy. But it was worth it.
I’d never loved or felt so loved in return…
“Morning,” Alex whispered in my ear as he snuggled in behind me.
I gave a huge sigh of contentment.
“Good morning. Did you manage to get some sleep?” I asked as I squeezed his arm.
“I did. Talking helped. Thank you, sweetheart,” he whispered and kissed my neck.
“What are you thanking me for, luv?” I asked.
“For taking care of me. Talking to me when the nightmares hit. For taking care of Jared. For loving us.”
The deep tenor of Alex’s voice in my ear, the feel of his body against mine, and the tender way he whispered the word ‘loving’ had my emotions rushing to the surface.
We still hadn’t said ‘I love you’ to each other but it was there in every touch and every look. Still, I knew that they needed to hear the words.
Alex, the courageous heart of us, had the bravery to broach the subject first.
I rolled over and faced him, running a hand over his sharp jawline and dark scruff. “It’s my pleasure. I…”
He jolted.
Then Jared’s head popped over Alex’s shoulder, his golden eyes filled with a happiness that was contagious.
“You’re not starting without me, are you?” Jared quipped, then gently bit Alex’s neck.
“You snooze, you lose,” I teased and kissed Alex.
Eventually, Alex leaned back with a smile and turned his head to kiss Jared. “I was thanking Aiden for taking care of us.”
I shook my head. “None of that is needed, not when I lo?—”
Those all-important words were interrupted by my mobile ringing.
“Who the fuck is calling me at this hour?” I grumbled and reached for the nightstand.
“Oh no,” I muttered as I looked at the caller ID.
“Who is it?” Alex asked.
“It’s my mother.”
“Oh shit,” Jared whispered and pulled the duvet over his head.
I tapped accept. “Why are you calling me so early?”
“Is that any way to speak to your mamma? I called you three nights ago, and you didn’t return my call. I’m so worried.”
“I’m sorry. There’s nothing to worry about. Jared and Alex and I have been…busy.”
“Busy shagging,” Alex whispered, and Jared chuckled, the sound dirty and delicious.
I threw my pillow at them.
“Who is that laughing?”
“That was me. Sorry.”
I cleared my throat and got out of bed, heading for the bathroom.
Away from the troublemakers.
“I’ve extended my stay, so I’ll be here another two weeks. I can’t leave them yet. I mean him, my client. It’s a long story. You may have seen the news about the lawsuit.”
The media hadn’t latched on to Jared’s poisoning yet, or Haley and her connection to Seuter, but it was only a matter of time.
“I did. That’s why I’m worried about you. You were stressed the last time we talked. Poor Jared. Is he all right? Are you taking good care of him?”
I let out a strangled groan as I banged my forehead against the bathroom door.
Was I taking care of him? I was doing my bloody best.
Even though my law school ethics professor would have my balls strung up for getting involved with a client.
“I am. Alex is here too, he’s Jared’s bodyguard. They’re who I’m with. I mean, I’m staying with them. Together. We’re staying on board a ship. You remember Now, Voyager ?”
Christ, I was babbling like a twit. A barrister tangled up in his words. Ugh.
“I remember. The Carters threw that fabulous New Year’s Eve party.”
“Rowan lent the ship to Jared while he’s here filming. To give him privacy.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re there and taking care of him, and Alex too. I was just concerned because you didn’t return my call.”
“I’m sorry, Mamma. There’s been a lot happening the past week. Someone tried to hurt Jared. They poisoned him.”
I could hear my mother’s gasp on the other end. Then I gave her the story of what had happened.
“He’s all right now but he was shaken, physically and mentally. And Alex felt guilty that this woman fooled them, and, yeah. I’ve been spending all my time with him and Alex.”
“You like him more than a client?”
Oh God.
“It’s not just that—” I paused.
“You can tell me anything, amore. You know that.”
“I shouldn’t say anything but I’m in a relationship with them. Jared and Alex.”
The silence on the other end of the line had me holding my breath.
Until I heard my mother giggling.
What the fuck?
“What is so bloody funny?”
“Only you, amore. You never take the easy way in life.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means you are unique. And so is your love life. You are, how do say, in a ménage?”
My face was on fire. “No. We’re a throuple. We’re all three of us together. In an exclusive relationship. It isn’t just a sexual thing.”
“See, what did I tell you? When you least expect it, bam, amore finds you. Did you fall like a stone?”
“Yes, and I’ve yet to stand up.”
“Good! Papà and I will fly out there to meet them.”
“Whoa, what are you talking about?”
“I need to meet these men. To see if they are good enough for my only child. We fly out and stay with you, yes? I need a vacation. I’ve never been to Thailand.”
“Ah, no. That’s utterly ridiculous. You can’t come here! Maybe in a few months’ time we’ll all meet up in London, and then?—”
“That is too long. I will not wait. Now, how are you eating on board?” My mother asked, changing the topic. “Are you being fed enough? I can give the cook a break if they need it.”
“Chef Lisette is amazing. I’ve probably gained ten pounds. And you are not coming here, or taking over the kitchen.”
“We will see you in a few days. Ciao, bello.”
“Mamma, you can’t?—”
I was talking to dead air.
“Fuck!” I yelled and slammed my phone down on the counter. Then I headed for the shower, turning the water on as hot as it would go.
There was a knock on the door as I stepped under the spray. “It’s all right, come in.”
Alex and Jared joined me in the shower.
“Is everything okay?” Alex asked.
He grabbed the loofah and bodywash and began to scrub me down. Jared reached for the shampoo and washed my hair.
I was used to looking after them, but I did enjoy it when they returned the favor.
Who was I kidding? I loved it so much I moaned out loud like the needy bitch I was. And I made no apologies for it.
“I told my mother about us,” I admitted as I rinsed the shampoo off.
“And?” Jared asked as he lathered up his own hair. He paused and looked at me, that cute wrinkle in his forehead appearing.
“She’s flying out here to meet you. She wants to make sure you’re both good enough for me.”
The bottle of bodywash squirted out of Alex’s grip and hit the floor with a resounding splash. “You’re joking.”
“I think so? She wouldn’t do that, would she?” I asked myself out loud as I turned around and finished rinsing. “No. It has to be a joke.”
Once I was done, I turned to find Jared and Alex kissing. Watching them together had my heart racing and my dick hard.
Then I thought about my mother’s potential appearance.
Sexy shower time was over before it began.