Harris sighed, his lips curving into a smile. He was handsome, and kind, and Sam’s heart thudded. Being in the tub with Valen was exhilarating. Having Harris here, too?
Valen pressed his palm to Sam’s chest, murmuring, “Do you want him here? Or you’d rather not?”
There was no way Sam was intruding on private time between Valen and Harris. “I—I don’t mind if both of you were here.”
He blushed. Harris had a tiny smile on his lips. “Fine, I’ll be back. Just need to cancel that card first.”
Valen rumbled his approval. Sam watched as Harris disappeared from the doorway, then groaned. “He didn’t cancel it?”
“He was too busy pacing,” Valen said, reaching for the shampoo bottle.
“And... and you?”
Valen snorted. “Well, I was gonna run out and get you anyway. Harris stopped me. Said we needed to give you space.”
“You didn’t have to,” Sam mumbled, touching his belly.
“How’s the baby?” Valen whispered behind him.
Sam hesitated. Now that he was calmer, he was certain that his baby would be okay.
Valen sucked in a sharp breath. “You said he didn’t hurt you.”
“I fell. Not—not on my belly. Just on my butt.” Sam turned to face Valen, tucking his face into Valen’s shoulder. “It should be fine.”
“Does your belly hurt?”
Sam shook his head. “I was just... I was scared I hurt the baby.”
Valen hugged him tightly. “If anything hurts, we’ll go to the doctor immediately.”
“You care so much.”
“You’re mine,” Valen whispered, sliding his hand down Sam’s chest, to his belly. “I want you to be my omega.”
Sam’s stomach swooped.
“Do you want that?” Valen whispered, nipping at Sam’s ear.
It was such a big decision. Valen hadn’t been able to commit in the past.
And yet... Valen had welcomed Sam back with open arms. He’d promised Sam safety. With every touch, Sam remembered the devotion Valen once had for him, the unwavering love.
His chest ached for it.
“Only if—if I don’t come between you and Harris,” Sam said. “I don’t want to destroy what the two of you have.”
“You’re welcome here,” Valen murmured. He kissed Sam’s cheek, then down his jaw. “You’re important to me, Sam. I’m—I’m sorry about the past. I promise I’m not leaving you again.”
That made Sam’s chest squeeze tight. “What about Harris?”
“Harris is fine with it.”
That was hard to believe. “He’s so generous,” Sam mumbled, turning so he could nuzzle Valen’s shoulder. “I can’t believe he gave me that card, and he’s letting me stay here, and the baby...”
“I love him,” Valen whispered. Sam held his breath. “And I love you, too. Just as much.”
Sam’s heart stumbled. Valen loved him? “O-oh.”
It was a lot to comprehend. Valen loving him. Valen loving Harris. And the three of them together...
“What—what does this make us?” Sam asked.
“I don’t know. But if you fell in love with him, too, I don’t mind that at all.”
Sam leaned back, staring into Valen’s russet eyes. There was honesty there, and fondness. Valen smiled, tracing his thumb over Sam’s lips.
“Harris asked if he could be the baby’s dad,” Sam said. Didn’t know what to do about Valen loving him—Valen had a better relationship with Harris. But maybe it didn’t matter, if Valen loved them both.
“Yeah, he’s talked to me about that, too,” Valen said, running his palm down Sam’s abdomen. His touch tickled. “I think he’ll be a better dad than I ever could, you know. He seems the dad type.”
That made Sam smile. “He does.”
“So I don’t mind if he wants to be a dad,” Valen said. “He’s good for you. And the baby.”
“You keep saying that.” Sam peered at Valen, the bath water lapping against his chest. “Don’t you want him for yourself?”
At that, Valen’s smile faded. “I don’t think Harris loves me.”
Sam held his breath, his heart aching at the look in Valen’s eyes. Did Harris really not love this man? “Gods, Valen.”
Valen shrugged. “I’m just a stupid kid,” he said. “Harris has everything. The mansion, the nice car, the ranks at the station. Honestly? I can see you falling for him. He’ll give you everything you need.”
And there was hurt in those eyes, too. As though Valen thought Sam would leave him for Harris.
“No,” Sam whispered, horrified. “I’m not taking him away from you. It’s either you both, or neither.”
Valen cracked a smile, relief darting through his eyes. “So you’ll be mine, then?”
Sitting against Valen, with the rain pattering against the window panes, Sam relaxed. “I don’t... don’t know how things are going with Harris. I don’t think I love him yet.”
“He likes the way you look,” Valen said. “I told him I want you in our bed. He seemed to like the idea.”
“Really?”
Valen dragged his hands down Sam’s sides, pressing soft kisses down his jaw. “Yeah. I want you between me and him. And I want to fuck you when he fucks me. And I want me and him to suck you until you come.”
It was one thing for Valen to want that. But Harris, imagining it too?
“Gods,” Sam whispered, covering his cheeks. “You said that to him?”
“He called me a horndog.” Valen nipped Sam’s shoulder. “But yes.”
“He liked it?”
“Yes.”
So maybe the idea made Sam half-hard. That wasn’t what he’d had in mind, moving into Harris’ mansion. Or maybe it was. “I-I, uh.”
Valen slid his hand down Sam’s belly, between his legs. “You like it, huh?”
Sam’s cock jerked against his palm. “I need to think about it,” Sam said, really so he could lock himself away in his room, and jack off to all those images. “Gods.”
“It’s okay,” Valen murmured against Sam’s skin, his breath warm. “We’ll wait.”
“We should, uh, talk about something else,” Sam said. “Like the baby.”
Valen’s smile slipped. “I’ve been reading articles on babies. It’s... a lot of commitment.”
There was that, too. Couldn’t fault Valen for hesitating. Sam nodded, tracing his fingers down Valen’s biceps. “That’s okay. It was my fault. I don’t expect you to be respo—”
“My baby,” he growled, kissing Sam on the lips. “I’ll
