“Well, no.” Ulric huffed. “Save for the time you spotted for me on the bench press—you damn near straddled my face. I could almost see your cock.”
“I’ll let you see it the next time,” Gage promised. “I’ll even let it drag all over your face.”
“Damn it,” Ulric groaned.
“Consider it a reward.” Gage scooped Ulric’s balls out of his pants, squeezing them. He angled Ulric’s length so it pointed straight ahead, pumping it nice and slow, in time with Ulric’s squats.
“You’ll drive me insane,” Ulric panted.
“Are you close?”
“No.”
“Guess I’ll have to try harder. I want your come spraying everywhere, babe. Have you seen that one video? Where some guy sits on an exercise machine handle, and he fucks himself on it? He came so many times. I want to do that to you.”
Someone shut a door loudly—Gage’s bedroom? A moment later, Wilkie stalked past the exercise room doorway, his face scrunched up, his gaze locked straight in front of him.
Had he heard their conversation? Gage bit down his grin. “Sorry, Wilkes.”
“Go away,” Wilkie said, halfway down the stairs.
Ulric winced. “Your poor brother.”
Gage just laughed. “Pros and cons of having siblings. You hate them and love them at the same time. But more love than hate.”
Then he thought about the twins Jesse was expecting, and he remembered the picture on his phone. And the surprise he still had for Ulric in the fridge.
“Here, set the barbell back,” Gage said.
Ulric replaced it on the rack; Gage pulled Ulric flush against himself, pumping his cock good and hard. UIric’s breath rushed out. “But the workout—”
“I have something better. C’mon.”
Gage worked him over, slipping his fingers between Ulric’s cheeks, teasing his hole. He pushed harder on it, he flicked his fist around Ulric’s tip, and Ulric tensed, riding the path to no return.
With a groan, he spilled hot into Gage’s palm, so fucking sexy that Gage wanted to pin him down, and ride him for a good long while. Instead, Gage licked Ulric’s bitter come off his hand. “Let’s get some dinner.”
“What about you?” Ulric tipped his head back against Gage’s shoulder, his eyes glazed over.
“Later. I’ve got some important stuff to show you.” Gage straightened Ulric’s clothing, tugging him out of the exercise room. They made their way down to the kitchen, where Wilkie was perched at the island counter, eating out of a can.
Ulric frowned. “Is that enough for you?”
Wilkie glanced up. “Yeah, I’ve been getting by on this. It’s pretty good.”
It was canned soup. Not a surprise to Gage, but Ulric frowned harder. “Are you sure?”
“I’ll make burgers,” Gage said, his heart swelling for Ulric. “Want one, Wilkes?”
Wilkie glanced at his phone, hesitating. “Nah.”
Had Mom sent him the news about the other bill? Gage should’ve told her not to. Damn it. “I’ll make you half a burger,” Gage said. “Eat that so you won’t get hungry tonight.”
He tucked the cake box deeper into the fridge so Ulric wouldn’t catch sight of it. Then, while he waited for the burgers to sizzle, Gage pulled out his phone.
He thought about showing Ulric the picture first, before reconsidering—would Ulric think Gage wanted him to have a baby? Gage decided it was safest to start the conversation with Wilkie, and see how Ulric responded.
“I bumped into my cousin today. Remember Jesse, Wilkes? He’s pregnant. Like, about-to-pop pregnant.”
Wilkie’s eyes nearly fell out of his head. “But he’s an alpha. How can he get pregnant?”
Ulric had been scrolling through something on his phone. He looked up, his attention snared. Gage showed Wilkie the picture of Jesse; Ulric padded closer, looking over Gage’s shoulder.
Ulric sucked in a sharp breath. “That’s... an alpha.”
“Yeah. Remember seeing him at the barbecue party?” Gage asked.
Ulric nodded. “He had his husband with him.”
For a second, his expression turned wistful. Then he looked down at his own belly. “How did he get pregnant?”
“He said he had an implanted uterus. Didn’t want to tell me how he’d gotten it, though.” Gage zoomed in on the biggest scar on Jesse’s abdomen. “But damn, look at that.”
He imagined being cut open, having an organ put inside his body. How did that even work? You’d probably have to slice apart the abs to fit the uterus in there, and then let the abs heal so they could support the weight of a baby. Not to mention all the physical therapy.
And this was Jesse’s second pregnancy. How did he even get a uterus to stick around for that long?
“So... so you want a baby?” Ulric asked, his voice slightly off.
Gage froze. Had he offended Ulric? “Do you want one?”
“No, I was just—Hypothetically speaking.”
Gage hadn’t thought that far yet. But maybe... “You didn’t answer my question. Is that something you want?”
Ulric squirmed, looking away. “I don’t know.”
To the side, Wilkie snorted, covering up his smile. “Yeah, you guys are just friends. You don’t need a baby. Yet.”
There was that, too. Gage went back to flip his burgers, wondering about Ulric’s blush. Did he, or did he not want a family? Or should Gage even be asking those questions?
“Oops,” Wilkie said. When Gage turned, Wilkie was behind him, handing his phone back. “Don’t leave your phone lying around.”
Gage glanced at his screen—the image had somehow changed to his mom’s photo of the new bill. Gage’s heart sank.
Even if he wanted a baby, he couldn’t afford it right now. He shoved the phone into his pocket, sighing.
“What’s wrong?” Ulric came up to him, touching Gage gingerly on the back.
“Nothing,” Gage said.
Ulric frowned. “Something upset you.”
Gage shook his head. “Nah. Just life.”
“I should just get a job,” Wilkie muttered.
“No,” Gage growled, turning. “Get your life back together first.”
But Wilkie scowled. “What, and let you shoulder all the bills?”
Gage froze. He glanced at Ulric, who had gone still. “No, we’ll talk about that later, Wilkes.”
“Why can’t we talk about it now?” Wilkie straightened his shoulders, pissed. “Debbie—”
Gage dropped the spatula and dragged him out of the kitchen, clapping his hand over Wilkie’s mouth. “Don’t mention it in front of Ulric,” he hissed, afraid that Ulric
