Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
Bellamie
When I show up at their Airbnb, I’m shocked that Kace and Loren seem to have made peace. Then I notice the stick figure drawings hung on the wall. Definitely Loren’s doing, except for the messier drawings at the bottom of the pages. Did Kace do those?
I suppose it’s fair to use a K… Kace, Krampus… but not the nickname I most love for him. I resist changing the letters to Ds.
Wishing this felt a little less awkward, I carry the wild rice and mushroom casserole to the kitchen and put it in the fridge, then try to sound casual as I call out, “Remember how annoyed I used to get when you hung all of your thought processes in the hallways?”
“I hope that’s my biggest fault.”
I return to the room they’re in and stare at the sheet with Kace’s name atop a list that includes daycare. Crap! Loren doesn’t, or didn’t, know about my daycare plan. All he knows is what I’ve told our parents. “You still suck at drawing.”
“Damn, now I’m up to two faults.” Loren clears his throat. “But seriously Belle, Kace and I have thought this through.”
“You mean you made up?” I try to keep the situation light because the heaviness of what I think they’re about to ask me, based on the plans, is massive… in a good way. In a way that makes my dreams come true.
“We did,” Kace and Loren say at the same time. They step forward, one on either side of me, just like in the drawings.
I’m so shocked by the possibility of having them both, I resist taking their hands to denote my choice.
Loren says, “I’ve spent so long protecting you and putting my feelings aside because I didn’t want to hurt our family, that when Kace tried to open my eyes, I almost hurt the person that mattered the most. You.”
Kace goes next. “I thought he was just being the overprotective older brother. That he was hurt by my ability to just go for what I want. He got in my head when I thought he was stealing you from me. But I'm 100% over that.”
As a good Daddy would be. Gah! Now that I have both of them, I need to let that nickname go.
Loren adds. “We want to offer you what I think you went to the Christmas Cherry Auction for… a magical relationship where more than one guy is there for you because neither of them can bear the thought of making you choose. We’ll provide everything you ever need.”
I can’t speak. I can’t do anything. I’m waiting to wake up from the dream.
“Am I totally off track, Belle?” Concern has replaced Loren’s confidence. “I'm not used to jumping in without a plan, making myself vulnerable, but when I thought someone was going to win you in the auction, I broke.”
“Although he still loves a plan…” Kace motions to the wall. “And for once, I’m glad he took time to sort it all out for me, because when I saw him carry you out of the Aubergine Affair after the auction, I broke.”
“How… Weren’t you out of town?”
“I heard about the auction, put the pieces together, and drove back as fast as I could. I was heartbroken until you texted me the next morning.”
“But your Krampus tour points…”
“They don’t matter when it comes to you.”
Loren steps aside so I can see all of the options, then steps back in front of Plan D. “We want you to be happy. Hopefully with both of us.”
Kace taps Plan A. “But we’ll respect any choice you make.”
Why couldn’t Plan D, or Plan DD have been the one with us together? Definitely not a sticking point.
Loren continues, “Kace and I have committed to being open and talking about anything that comes up, because we're pretty sure we make the perfect trio.”
I look from Kace to Loren, their sincerity taking my attraction to each of them to a whole new level. Maybe I didn’t break the auction after all, but also, maybe I never needed it. Both of them wanted me before it. Neither of them were scared of the life I want.
“Are you serious? It's that easy?”
“Would you have questioned it if we’d won you together in the auction?”
“I guess not.”
Loren takes my hand. “I’m sure we’ll have some kinks to work–”
Kace chuckles and takes my other hand. “Figuratively and literally, since you like being tied up and spanked, and apparently want to be taken by two guys at the same time.”
I take a deep breath and consider the only thing holding me back from accepting their offer. “What about our parents? Are we going to tell them?”
“It’s up to you. And if we do, we’ll be here for each other regardless of how they feel. But if you want to keep us a secret from them, that’s fine too, at least for now.”
Secrets, ugh. I look at the chart where daycare is written. “About secrets… I’m not actually in school, Loren.”
“What? But Mom and Dad are paying for it!”
“I’ve been using a friend’s tuition and fees dollar amounts, and then saving the money Mom and Dad give me. And it seems you already know the next part… I was saving money to open a daycare, but all I really want to do is be a wife, a mother… raise a family.”
Loren nods along. “Interesting.” Then he gets excited and heads to the easel, writing something across the top of the empty page. “That’s the best plan ever. And we might not have time to waste. Let’s set rules, expectations… whatever you need to make this work.”
I drag Kace to the easel, pluck the marker from Loren’s hand, set it on the tray, then lace my fingers with each of theirs. “The only thing I need to make this work is the two of you.”
Kace embraces me from the side, kissing the top of my head.
Loren is slower. “Wait, this means… we're doing it?
Kace turns me into his chest as Loren joins the hug from behind me.
I’m trapped between the warmth of their bodies–exactly where I want to be.
The hardness of their cocks pressing into me brings up the big question that could change everything. Should I bring up the possibility that I could be pregnant? Surely they’re okay with that? But this is all so new.
“Loren and I have something for you.” Kace steps back and looks at Loren’s waist.
“More than these lovely diagrams?” Nervousness wavers my voice.
Loren reaches into his pocket and pulls out a ring. It takes me a second to process it.
“Is that Grandma's ring?” My hand extends but I stop short.
He nods. “This is our commitment to you, and we plan to get another band made.”
Kace adds, “We want you to know this isn't a cheap thrill. This is a promise that we’re both willing to commit to you forever.”
I pull my hand back and set it on my belly. “What if forever has already started?”
Their answers are jumbled over each other, but it’s clear they both accept the possibility. My heart is so full right now, I don't have room for anyone or anything else except them. Or maybe it’s full because the family I’ve always wanted to raise has already started.
When I hold my hand out, it’s shaking this time.
Kace adds his hand to Loren’s and together, they slide the ring onto my finger, and continue the motion, pulling me into a group hug.
“I love you, Belle,” Loren says.
“Same here, Bellie, I love you. You’re the only naughty girl for me.”
“Hold on.” Loren’s laugh breaks the intimacy. “Bellie… that’s such a weird nickname.”
“Nicknames just sort of happen.” Kace winks at me.
Is he going to bring up what I called him?
Loren’s mouth opens. I think he’s going to ask what that means, but I’m not sure he’s ready to hear me call his best friend Daddy.
I cover by saying, “I think it's cute, but I have to admit, I wondered where you got it, too.”
“It's short for belly mama.” He touches his hand to my belly. “From the first moment I laid eyes on you, I wanted to pump you full of babies and keep your belly swollen.”
My heart flutters, and I pretend it could be the fluttery little kicks of a baby growing in me, my worry relenting momentarily. “The first moment? When you were Krampus?”
“That’s the one.” Kace takes both of my hands, holding my wrists together. “When you let me bind you, I knew you were mine. But you were Loren’s sister and I thought fate had played an evil trick–giving you to me, then taking you away.”
Loren puts his hands on ours. “And when I saw the look on your face, up there on stage with Kace, bound in his rope, I knew my plan to keep my distance from you was falling apart.”
I turn my hands so I can hold theirs. “Looks like it did.”
Before I get too lost in this potential happily ever after, the nagging worry demands to be heard. “And both of you are okay if I’m already pregnant?”
Their hugs nearly crush me.
“Eek!”
Giving me just enough room to breathe, Kace says, “I’d like to increase the odds I’m the dad.”
“Only if you promise to tie me up and spank me first.”
“I plan on being in on that,” Loren says.
“Just a second.” Kace grabs a bag from under the Christmas tree and sleigh bells clank as he pulls a rope out. “Just your wrists?”
“All of me.” My body tingles with anticipation. This is so not how I thought the day was going to end.
“Are you sure?” Kace grabs more rope.
“I loved being at your mercy.” I don’t bring up the dressing room. It’s probably best to let Loren think I mean the way I was only bound at the festival, for now.
Loren looks concerned. “You better teach me how to do this, Kace.”
Kace motions down the hall. “Let’s head to the bedroom.”
I don’t move. The sparkling lights of the Christmas tree are far more exciting than the lights in a bedroom. I want to be lost in the magic–in the spirit of getting the best gift ever. I tease, “Since when does Krampus–”
“Grab something padded, Loren, maybe a bedspread. And hurry, because this naughty girl needs an ass-whooping.”
Loren slaps my butt, gives me a kiss, then heads for the bedroom, but not before I see how hard his cock is straining against his jeans.
I’m being hoisted over Kace’s shoulder, “Daddy–” The nickname flies out of my mouth. Did Loren hear?