“You’re also the best,” Spike told Micah, all warm smiles. “I love you.”
Micah flushed. He was cute like that, too. “I—I can’t say much about love,” Micah began hesitantly, glancing at Spike, then Kai. “It’s really too soon.”
Disappointment twinged at Kai, confusing him—he didn’t love Micah, either. Just liked him a lot. “It’s fine.”
“As long as you let me love you,” Spike whispered, nuzzling Micah’s cheek. “I’m okay with that.”
Micah relaxed. Kai slipped his arm around Micah’s waist, leaning close. Sniffed at the fresh sweat and gardenia in Micah’s hair.
Over Micah’s shoulder, Spike met Kai’s gaze. “Something happened today,” Spike said, his gaze turning shrewd. “The Kai I know wouldn’t sniff at anyone’s hair.”
Kai froze, warmth rising to his cheeks. And Micah turned, meeting Kai’s eyes.
“I like you,” Kai blurted.
He couldn’t explain how right Micah felt in his arms. How good Micah smelled, how he itched to taste Micah. They hadn’t even spent that long together, just a whole lot of consultations, Micah walking to the office with him, patiently going over the class materials.
But Micah Davis was a good person, someone Kai respected. And Kai liked hearing him moan, he liked watching Micah smile.
That pile of romance novels he’d peeked into... Micah had been lonely. He’d cried and he’d needed, and Kai wanted to believe this could work out. He didn’t know how.
“You’re way out of my league,” Kai said. “Spike’s, too.”
Spike sagged. “You didn’t have to remind him, Kai.”
Kai huffed. “I’m just telling it like it is. I can’t even be your sugar brother right now. We’re both broke—”
Soft fingers pressed against Kai’s lips. “Shh,” Micah said. “Let’s not talk about money right now.”
“Then what’re we gonna talk about?” Kai asked.
“I like you, too,” Micah murmured.
Kai’s heart skipped a beat. He stared at Micah, disbelieving. “Me? Shouldn’t it be Spike?”
Micah glanced at Spike, blushing. “I like both of you.”
“Oh,” Kai said. But Micah had returned the kiss earlier today, he’d asked Kai to fuck him, and maybe... it wasn’t so unbelievable, after all.
Spike beamed. “Kiss him, Kai. Gently.”
Kai scowled. “I don’t need to be told that.”
“Yes, you do.” Spike grinned. “I remember the first time you kissed Micah. You went right in and tasted him.”
Kai blushed. Yeah, he wasn’t so great with this dating thing. But Micah just laughed, his gaze expectant, his body relaxed against Kai.
So Kai leaned in, wrapping his arms around his professor. Thought about Micah all vulnerable, Micah in class, his face lighting up when he talked about his molecules. I want him to be mine.
“Did I fuck you too hard?” Kai asked.
Micah smiled. “It was just right.”
“Even with your ass getting sore?” Kai wasn’t so sure. Sometimes, Micah seemed so fragile to him.
“It was entirely worth it,” Micah said, squeezing around Kai’s knot.
Pleasure whispered down his veins; Kai breathed out, pressing his forehead against Micah’s nape. Should’ve known you could withstand a whole lot. You’re strong like that.
He shifted Micah on his lap, so he could see more of Micah’s face. There was honesty in Micah’s eyes, and fondness. Kai’s breath stuck in his throat. He ran his thumb over Micah’s lip, touching its velvety softness.
Next to Spike, who was all warmth and affection, and next to Micah, who had gods knew how much experience, Kai felt... inadequate. He didn’t know what he could bring to Micah, that Spike hadn’t already.
But Micah cupped Kai’s jaw, tipping his face to offer his lips. Kai’s breath snagged. When he leaned in, their lips met in the lightest of kisses, an exchange of breath and warmth. It felt like a promise.
Micah sucked in a sharp breath. “I... thought you might not,” he said in an undertone, his eyes half-lidded. “When you kissed me in the office—”
“Kai kissed you?” Spike asked, his gaze turning sharp.
Kai blushed. “On impulse. ‘Cuz he was worrying too much.”
“You fell,” Micah said, frowning.
And now Spike was frowning, too.
“I’m fine,” Kai muttered. “I don’t need to be babied.”
“But you need to quit falling down,” Spike said, glowering.
Then he tackled Kai and Micah against the bed. The movement sent Kai’s knot jerking inside Micah; pleasure hummed through Kai’s body. They both groaned.
Spike braced his weight on the mattress, scowling at Kai. “Looks like I can’t keep an eye on you all by myself. Micah needs to keep an eye on you, too.”
Kai clicked his tongue. “I’m fine. Micah wanted to get all the ointments on me.”
“I was worried about you!” Micah looked adorable, frowning with his lips in a pout. Kai wanted to kiss that frown off his face. Make him smile.
So he leaned in, brushing his lips against Micah’s cheek, until he found the corner of Micah’s lips. The angle of their bodies made it difficult, but Micah smiled, leaning into the kiss.
Kai couldn’t help it. He slipped into Micah’s mouth, tasting him. Micah tasted like cinnamon tea, and cookies. And Kai claimed his mouth, growling.
It felt right, too, when Micah opened for him, licking back at Kai. Kai still hadn’t had enough of him.
Spike grinned inches away, his eyes so damn bright. “I told you, Kai would fall for you. Kai has always needed someone to protect.”
“I’m not in love,” Kai muttered, pulling away from Micah. He almost wanted his knot to recede, so he could move into a better position and kiss Micah more thoroughly. Learn his mouth. But Micah felt right in his arms, too. “I haven’t fallen for him.”
“Not yet, you haven’t,” Spike said.
“You probably shouldn’t say that,” Micah told them.
Spike kissed Micah on the lips. “Just you wait,” Spike said. “Months from now, you’re gonna look at me and say, ‘Spike, you were right.’”
“Smartass,” Kai said, slapping Spike’s thigh.
“Yeah, but you love me.” Spike grinned. He looked perfect, all happy like that. Kai wanted to keep Spike smiling forever. “And you love my ass.”
Kai rolled his eyes; Micah laughed.
“Mine,” Spike growled. “Both of you.”
And that... sounded good. Kai huffed, biting down his smile. “I guess we’re yours.”
Micah blushed, but he was smiling, too.
Spike leaned in, kissing Kai deeply. Then he kissed Micah just as fervently, dragging his wrists along their shoulders, leaving juniper on their skin. It felt like Kai was home, wearing Spike’s scent.
“Sleep with us tonight,” Spike murmured, meeting Micah’s eyes. “With Kai and I.”
Micah hesitated, glancing at the bedroom door. “But York...”
“We’ll deal with him,” Kai said. “Or you could return to your bed before he wakes. Either way.”
“You know you want to,” Spike whispered with a grin. “Kai and I get pretty hot. You won’t feel cold at all.”
Micah chewed on his lip. He had mentioned how cold his bed got at night, so Kai knew Micah was swayed, before he even said, “I guess I can stay a night.”
Spike wriggled. “Good.”
Kai relaxed against the pillows, one arm around Micah, the other on Spike’s waist. This... it was new. He’d never been in an actual relationship with one person, much less, two.
But he trusted Spike, and he liked Micah. And now that Micah was carrying their baby... it was better for Kai and Spike to stay close to him, so they could protect him if the need arose.
Every time Kai tried to imagine the life in Micah’s belly, though... he couldn’t. It was difficult to imagine a baby—their flesh and blood, someone that came from either h
im or Spike.
How could Kai even be a dad? What if he ruined his child, like how his own father had done?
What if Kai’s other dad had somehow been an abusive bastard, too, and Kai was somehow violent with his own baby?
I’d disappoint Micah so much. I can’t even trust myself.
That scared him. Kai wasn’t ready for the baby at all.
20
Micah
Micah woke on his side, sandwiched by two solid walls of heat.
At first, he didn’t know where he was, only that the scents were familiar—juniper, and elm. And so much old musk. Then he realized that there was a heavy warmth wrapped around his waist, and someone breathing hot puffs of air against his nape.
Micah cracked his eyes open, feeling out of place, but oddly comfortable. Safe. Then he found Kai—inches away, his strong chest rising and falling as he slept.
Kai was naked. Micah gulped, staring down the vast expanse of his skin—pecs, abs, strong thighs, and his bandaged ankle. This wasn’t a dream.
Micah’s heart stuttered. How did I get into Kai’s bed?
The arm around his waist tightened. Micah looked down, and realized that it wasn’t Kai’s arm wrapped around him. Spike.
Warm skin brushed against his back—so much skin. Micah was naked. So was Spike.
And the events of last night crashed back into him. Kai going into a rut. Kai bending Micah over, his fingers inside Micah’s ass. Kai fucking him into the bed, Micah coming all over Spike’s abs.
The memory sent Micah’s blood swooping. He gulped, his ass aching sweetly. Gods, I slept with Kai last night. And Spike watched me come.
Micah ran his hand over his belly, staring at the mottled, angry scars.
In the sunlight filtering through the curtains, Micah’s scars stood out against his pale skin, spanning his entire right side. Kai had seen all of him. Maybe it was because he was in a rut, or because he’d slept with Micah before, but he hadn’t seemed to mind the scars. Spike, too.
Last night, with Kai, and every other night with Spike... Micah had forgotten about how he looked. He’d felt wanted. Desired. Like he was just another ordinary person, and it had been wonderful.
When Spike and Kai woke... would the magic fade? Or would they still want Micah in their bed, scars and bald spots and all?
I shouldn’t stick around to find out.
Micah fumbled to sit up, his legs bumping into Kai’s, his ass grinding against Spike’s hips. For all that they were sleeping in a queen-sized bed, Kai and Spike had left him a sliver of mattress a foot wide. They weren’t even occupying the sides of the bed.
Instead, they’d crowded around Micah, and Micah hadn’t even realized that they’d been sleeping without a blanket on. It was winter.
Micah eased further down the mattress, jumping when Spike’s arm tightened around his waist.
“Morning, sleepy,” Spike mumbled, dragging Micah back up. “Sorry. I scared you?”
“I was surprised,” Micah said, his cheeks hot. He hadn’t meant to wake Spike.
Except Spike slid his palm against Micah’s chest, pulling him close. “Stay. Haven’t kissed you enough.”
Micah’s skin tingled with longing. And Spike kissed his nape, his chest pressed against Micah’s back, his nose dragging down Micah’s shoulder. “Mm, you smell so good.”
He brushed his fingers down Micah’s chest, touching Micah’s nipples. They tightened under his attention; Micah blushed.
Spike rubbed his wrist all over Micah’s skin, from his collarbones to his thighs, and everything in between. “Mine,” Spike said, slinging his leg over Micah’s hip. “All mine.”
Micah gulped, his heart pattering. And now he didn’t want to leave, not when Spike wanted him this much.
In front of him, Kai stirred. I like you, Kai had said last night.
Yesterday was the first time Kai had voluntarily kissed him. He could always change his mind today.
Micah held his breath when Kai’s eyelids fluttered open. Kai blinked, surprise flickering through his eyes. Then he seemed to remember last night, too.
“Hey,” Kai rumbled, his gaze raking down Micah’s chest.
Micah’s body prickled; he reached up to cover his scars. There was so much of it, though, more than he could hide.
“Isn’t he beautiful?” Spike said into Micah’s hair. “Mark him, Kai. Otherwise Micah’ll just smell like me.”
Kai paused, glancing at where Micah tried to hide himself. Then he took Micah’s hands, pulling them away from Micah’s chest. “Can’t mark him if he’s trying to cover his scars.”
Micah whimpered when Kai looked at his naked chest, his heart squeezing tight. He’s going to be repulsed now. Just like everyone else.
But Kai leaned in, pressing their foreheads together. He smelled like elm and morning breath, and he caught Micah’s hip, squeezing him lightly.
“I’ve told you before, the scars don’t bother me,” Kai said, his voice rough with sleep.
“They bother me.” Micah bit his lip. “Every time I look at myself... that’s what I see. I’m not beautiful like you or Spike.”
Kai brushed his fingers through Micah’s hair. Then he slanted his lips, and kissed Micah slow and sweet.
“I also told you, I’m here,” Kai murmured.
Micah’s breath hitched. He’s staying? “But—but the scars...”
“They’re not new to me. At least, the ones on your face and arm. I saw them when Spike first pointed you out some years back.” Kai traced the tip of his tongue along Micah’s lip. “He’s really not kidding when he says he’s been looking out for you, you know. We’ve followed you home a couple times.”
Spike froze behind Micah. “Kai,” he hissed. “You weren’t supposed to tell him!”
Micah tried to wrap his mind around that. Kai had seen his scars, too. And maybe he vaguely remembered a couple of teenagers trailing after him, over the years. One of them had picked up an orange that had rolled out of his bag, but Micah couldn’t remember the boys clearly.
“You told him my secrets,” Kai said dryly to Spike. “Yours is fair game.”
Spike growled, leaning up to glower at Kai over Micah’s shoulder. Then he flipped Kai off, too. Kai rolled his eyes.
Micah tried not to smile. “So... you’ve followed me home. And I never knew.”
“Well, not all the way up to your apartment,” Spike mumbled. “Just to the building. But Kai always dragged me off before I could go say hi. He said I was gonna knock all your groceries out of your hands.”
“Yeah, you wanted to give him a tackle hug,” Kai said. “I don’t think he’d appreciate it.”
Micah stared. And wondered how much else he didn’t know about Kai and Spike, how long they’d been watching out for him.
It felt as though he’d had a couple of guardian angels for a long time, and he was only realizing it now.
“I... would not have minded a hug,” Micah said, rolling onto his back so he could see Spike, too. “That was really sweet of both of you.”
“I could give you another hug,” Spike said brightly.
Kai kissed Micah’s jaw, glancing sidelong at his brother. “There was the time your washer broke down—”
Spike looked at Kai in horror. “No, you aren’t telling him that.”
Kai continued anyway, “You went to that coin laundry place, and you were doing your laundry there. Spike stole one of your briefs when you weren’t looking. It’s still his most prized possession.”
“My...” Spike had stolen his underwear? Micah stared, trying to remember if he’d seen anyone lurking around his dirty laundry. Then he imagined Spike sniffing at the briefs, bringing it home like a treasure. It was... flattering, in an odd sort of way.
“Kai!” Spike glowered. He clambered over Micah and tackled Kai into the bed, straddling Kai’s hips. “You dirty bastard!”
“You started it.” Kai looked pointedly at him.
Spike growled. Then he grabbed
Kai’s hair and hauled him up, kissing him roughly on the mouth. Kai rumbled, kissing back just as viciously. It was all teeth and tongue, and Micah stared as Kai bit into Spike’s lip, so blood welled up on his skin.
“That’s payback,” Kai murmured, licking up Spike’s blood.
Spike huffed, sucking Kai’s lip into his mouth. “Yeah, you love me anyway.” A flush spread through his face. “That makes up for everything.”
Kai didn’t voice an answer, but his slow smile said more than any words would.
Watching them, Micah envied the bond Kai and Spike shared. The easygoing friendship, the years-long devotion, the casual intimacy. Spike and Kai felt... complete. Like they belonged together. And Micah didn’t know how or where he fitted in with them.
As though they heard his thoughts, Kai and Spike glanced over, two pairs of intent gazes raking down Micah’s body, and back up to his eyes.
“You haven’t marked Micah yet,” Spike said. “You better hurry before I claim all of him.”
“Like you don’t want to share him,” Kai said, pushing Spike off himself. “I’d mark him if you get your heavy ass off me.”
“You like my heavy ass,” Spike said, wriggling. Then he paused. “You know, someday, we should both do that bar dance for Micah. The Santa hat one.”
Kai raised an eyebrow, glancing at Micah. “You mean... the one that someone recorded, and Micah watched.”
Micah’s face burned. That was three weeks ago. “H-how did you hear about that?”
“York said it.” Spike grinned. “Is it really true? You liked my dance?”
He snapped his hips, his cock flipping up. Micah stared.
“Yeah, he likes it,” Kai said, smirking. “Maybe we should.”
“You guys,” Micah choked, embarrassed.
Spike returned to Micah’s other side. Before Micah could protest, Kai leaned in, capturing Micah’s lips in a deep kiss. It sent tingles down Micah’s body; his toes curled, his spine arched.
“Very nice,” Spike purred. “You made Micah’s cock twitch.”
Kai growled. Then he stroked his wrist down Micah’s neck, across his shoulder and down his chest, and now Micah smelled like elm, too.
His Two Alphas Page 20