Sam’s breath rushed from his lungs. It was special when Valen touched Sam. But Valen promising himself like this, his lips tender, his voice rumbling into Sam’s mouth... There was no way Sam could refuse him. No way Sam could fall out of love with him, because Sam...
Sam had always loved Valen, through the entire time they’d been apart.
He wound his fingers into Valen’s hair, pulling him close. “Gods, I—I love you, Valen,” Sam breathed, his heart pounding too loud.
Valen’s breath hitched. “You do?”
Sam nodded.
Valen kissed him then, hot and firm, sliding his tongue into Sam’s mouth.
Sam groaned. Then he froze, pulling away from Valen’s lips. “I taste like morning sickness,” he mumbled. “Don’t I?”
Valen stared at him. Growled. “Guess I taste you to make sure.”
He kissed Sam again, pulled Sam onto his lap. Water splashed against the sides of the tub. Sam yelped. He parted his legs, squirming when Valen slipped his fingers right against his hole.
“Tastes fine to me,” Valen murmured, circling Sam’s entrance. “I’d make you mine right here. Mark you and bond with you. Fill you with my seed.”
Sam groaned, rocking against him. “Be gentle,” he gasped. “I don’t want to hurt the baby.”
Valen stilled then, his breaths uneven against Sam’s throat. His touch slowed; he dragged his hands down Sam’s spine, touching his tailbone.
Sam winced. “It hurts there. I fell on it.”
Valen frowned. “Does anything else hurt?”
“Just my hands, I guess.” Sam squirmed, trying to ignore the musk that enveloped them both. His body thrummed with hunger, as though it had forgotten its fatigue.
“Let me see.” Valen slid his hands down Sam’s arms, checking for injuries. Then he lifted Sam’s hands out of the water, kissing the raw, scraped skin on his palms.
Sam held his breath. “Back when I... Back when I miscarried, I fell, too.”
Valen stiffened, his gaze flying up to meet Sam’s. “You fell?”
“In the tub. I slipped.” Sam shivered at the memory, hugging himself. “I hit my belly on the edge of the tub.”
“Gods, Sam.” Valen pulled him close, sliding his fingers into Sam’s hair.
For a long moment, they sat, neither speaking.
Then Valen pressed kisses down Sam’s neck, rubbing his back. “I won’t let you get hurt again.”
Sam laughed weakly. “You can’t be my bodyguard every minute of the day, Valen.”
Valen kissed down Sam’s chest, licking his nipple. “You’re carrying my baby. You’re my omega. Like hell I’m gonna put you in danger.”
“It’s safe in the restaurant.” Sam’s heart fluttered. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I’m always gonna worry,” Valen said, meeting Sam’s eyes. “If you’re not feeling well, then I’m gonna be there for you.”
Sam swallowed hard, his heart swelling.
Valen kissed the scent gland at the base of Sam’s throat, dragging his lips over that sensitive spot. “I want to mark you so damn badly.”
Sam shivered. He wasn’t sure they should bond right now, when Valen’s erection was nudging his belly. “I’m not thinking straight.”
“Me, neither.”
“Thought you guys were gonna bathe,” Harris said from the doorway. Sam jumped.
He met Harris’ eyes across the room, finding a tiny smile on Harris’ lips.
He’s thought about fucking me together with Valen.
That thought sent a thrill down Sam’s spine. He had no energy now, though, just racing thoughts and a hard cock.
Valen laughed. “I was gonna shampoo Sam’s hair. Guess I forgot.”
Harris rolled his eyes, stepping into the bathroom. “I canceled the card, Sam. Applied for a new one. There’s no need for you to worry.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’m sorry about the card.” In Valen’s arms, the bath water lapping at his skin, the robbery seemed like a distant memory.
“You don’t have to apologize.”
Then Harris stripped, too, his biceps flexing in the warm bathroom light. Sam’s cock nudged up against Valen’s abs. Valen smiled, turning to look. Then his smirk widened.
“Sam likes the looks of you, Big H,” Valen said.
“Oh?” Harris’ eyes flickered toward them, meeting Sam’s. Sam gulped, his heart thudding. Surely Valen wouldn’t tell on him.
“Yeah. His cock jumped when he saw you strip.”
Harris’ smile widened.
“Valen,” Sam yelped.
“Sorry.” Valen grinned. “Gotta share all the tasty tidbits about you. Like how good your cock tastes. And how wet Big H’s mouth will feel around it. He’ll suck you off three times in a row, and you’ll be drifting off in heaven somewhere. I swear it’s bliss.”
“Gods, V.” Harris rolled his eyes. He was smirking, though.
Sam’s face burned. “I-I was just gonna soap myself.”
“Fine.” Valen kissed Sam’s throat, then reached over, unplugging the bath. “You need to sleep, too. You have shadows under your eyes.”
Valen’s cock slid heavy against Sam’s ass, but he made no move to enter Sam. Instead, he raised his eyebrows at Harris. “I’m draining the bath. If you don’t get in here, the water’s gonna be all gone.”
“Could’ve told me earlier,” Harris rumbled. He climbed in, though, all bronzed skin, the hair at his groin a dark brown—probably what the shade of his head-hair used to be. Sam stared. Couldn’t help it. Then Harris glanced at their hips.
“We’re getting Sam into bed,” Valen said firmly. “He needs rest.”
“That works.” Harris flipped open the shampoo bottle. Sam slid off Valen’s lap, ducking his entire head underwater. It seemed such a waste, filling the tub only to drain it so quickly. But with the three of them in here...
“It’s a nice fit,” Valen said, as though he’d read Sam’s mind. Sam nodded, reaching for the shampoo bottle. Valen took the bottle from Harris’ hand, and squirted some into his palm. Returned it to Harris, out of Sam’s reach.
“Hey,” Sam said.
“Mine,” Valen growled, sliding his fingers into Sam’s hair. “Harris and I will wash you up.”
Sam stared at them both.
“What he said,” Harris murmured, his lips curving into a smile.
“You don’t have to.”
“On your knees,” Valen said, lifting Sam up by the arms. This brought his chest out of the warm water. Sam shivered, his nipples growing hard. Then Harris lathered a bar of soap in his hands,
