He gathered his clothes, blushing when Valen and Harris helped pick his things up. Then they dressed, Valen wandering off to find some shorts.
It felt odd, too, having two alphas escort him to the door. Harris grabbed a set of keys from the doorframe and nodded toward a truck. “We’re taking the other car this time,” he said. “Damn parking lot speed bumps.”
Harris kissed Valen, an open-mouthed kiss that had just a brief touch of tongue, a familiar, see-you-later sort of kiss.
Envy whispered through Sam’s gut. Valen wasn’t his anymore. Valen had moved on, and found a life without Sam. What he and Harris had... Sam wished he had for himself.
As he walked down the driveway, Sam felt the prickle of a stare on him. He turned, found Valen watching him. His breath caught.
What did you do, when your heart still ached for your alpha after a decade?
Nothing, of course. Sam forced a smile, waved. Hurried after Harris, climbing into the truck.
As they pulled back from the driveway, Sam couldn’t shake the feeling that something had been set in motion, something that would change his life in the weeks to come.
He didn’t know what it was. Worse, he couldn’t prevent it at all.
5
Harris
The drive back to the grocery store was mostly silent. Harris watched Sam from the corner of his eye, breathing in his dahlia scent, and the remnants of sandalwood, oak, and musk on his skin.
An hour ago, when he’d driven to the store, he hadn’t imagined he’d be sending Sam Brentwood back, the bitter tang of Sam’s come in his mouth.
The sex had been good. Sam had come all over his hand, and Harris had tasted him. This was not something he’d forget anytime soon.
Sam cleared his throat, fiddling with the hem of his sweater. He was calmer now, sated, not squirming like before. “Um... thanks for tonight,” he said quietly.
“I should have mentioned Valen. I’m sorry.” After hearing Valen, then listening to Sam again... Sam’s voice really was soft. And Valen hadn’t had any problem hearing Sam.
Was Harris growing old, or had Valen naturally adjusted to his omega?
Sam rolled his shoulders. In the dimness of the truck, he looked small against the cushioned bench seat, the shadows from the streetlamps sliding over him.
Harris thought about reaching over, maybe holding his hand. He hadn’t cuddled with casuals he’d slept with before he met Valen, but Sam was different—Sam had been with Valen, and they’d all be seeing each other again.
Vaguely, Harris wondered how long Valen had been with Sam. They hadn’t seemed to hate each other at all, back at the mansion. Quite the contrary, when Valen had held Sam against himself, pressed his lips against Sam’s skin. And Sam had relaxed so easily against his ex.
Harris had realized that Valen still felt something for Sam. That with Sam in the picture, maybe his own relationship with Valen wouldn’t last.
It sent a bittersweet ache through his chest.
“Valen seems happy with you,” Sam blurted.
Harris blinked out of his thoughts. “You think so?”
Sam nodded, twisting his fingers together. “Yeah. I mean... I don’t know how long you’ve been together... but he really does look happy.”
Huh. Harris had thought Valen was dissatisfied, with the way Harris kept turning him down for anal. “Why do you say that?”
Sam rolled his shoulders. “The way he looks at you. You’ve seen him smile, right? That’s when he’s relaxed. He’s comfortable with you.”
And here Harris had thought Valen was just fooling around, being goofy. He hadn’t expected to learn about Valen from Valen’s ex. “Oh.”
“Have you... been together long?” Sam glanced at him, then looked away.
“Eight months. We met at the station.” Harris leaned back, checking his mirrors before changing lanes. “We’d been working together a few years, but I always thought of him as that annoying kid. Then he started getting on my nerves, and we started fighting, and one day Valen hauled me in and kissed me on the sucker. He’s insane, that kid.”
Sam laughed, his eyes bright. “He’s a lot younger than you.”
“He is.” There was that, too. Sam was Valen’s age. If Sam and Valen ever worked things out, they’d be a better match, for sure. “Sometimes I wonder if he’s gonna give me a heart attack.”
“I’m sure he doesn’t mean it.” Sam’s lips curved into a smile; his gaze turned faraway. “In any case, the both of you seem good together.”
What about you guys? Harris wanted to ask, but it wasn’t appropriate for him to. Not about a failed relationship.
Sam touched his belly, looking out the window. That set off a nagging little whisper at the back of Harris’ mind—Sam liked babies. Either he’d lost one, or he wanted one. Nicholas had touched his belly all the time, back when he’d been pregnant with Harris’ child.
Then he’d died, and Harris had wrecked his entire apartment, burned down the dresser full of baby clothes. The firefighters had been called in, and Harris had watched them, numb. A month and weeks of grief later, he’d gone to the station to apply for a job.
May as well save other people’s lives, since he’d had nothing else to live for.
Looking at Sam, Harris wondered if Sam was someone Valen cared enough about. If Valen hooked up with Sam... would it make Valen more cautious on their rescues?
They pulled up in front of the grocery store, with its warm fluorescent lights pouring out the glass doors. Sam flashed a brief smile. “Thanks for the ride.”
“Thank you,” Harris said. Caught Sam’s hand, pressed a kiss to his warm skin. “Get home safe.”
Sam flushed, all pretty, and Harris’ gaze lingered for a while. Couldn’t fault Valen for dating that kid. He’d felt good, squirming and moaning against them, and he seemed to have a good head on his shoulders.
Harris waited until Sam crossed the parking lot, climbing into a beat-up car.
He stepped on the gas and drove back across town, winding through the community gates, then the quiet streets he now called his home.
Valen
