Grey's Gift (Hobson Hills)

by C. W. Gray

  Harper groaned. “Rue would love that.”

  “He loves languages.” Grey smiled. Abuela enjoyed teaching Rue new Spanish words and always told him stories about the small Argentinian town she’d been born in. His son soaked it all up like a sponge.

  “If you agree, then let’s do it,” Harper said. “I don’t want to hold our boy back just because we’ll miss him. I can’t believe he’s turning three in two weeks.”

  “At least, we have a couple more years with Auggie.” Grey’s younger son was just a little over six months.

  “So, I heard that Melinda Turbell sent you another offer,” Harper said suddenly.

  Grey frowned. How had Harper heard that? Grey hadn’t told anyone else about the offers. “How?”

  Harper winced and tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. “Elijah may have mentioned it. Melinda is a friend of his.”

  “Is that why she keeps e-mailing me? Is she doing Elijah a favor?”

  Harper rolled his eyes. “No. Elijah was raving about one of your books, and she asked about it. Then she wanted to know about the others. She really seems genuine.”

  Grey shrugged. “Elijah was friends with the last one too.”

  Harper growled. “Not anymore.”

  “Anyway, it doesn’t matter. I’m happy writing for just the family.”

  Harper squeezed his hand. “Hmm, okay. So, what kind of doughnut are you getting?”

  Grey gave his husband a confused look. “All the doughnuts. You know me, Harper. Why would you ask me to choose?”

  Harper watched Grey devour a plate of doughnuts. It really couldn’t be healthy for one person to eat that many doughnuts all at once, but he wasn’t stupid enough to say that aloud.

  Grey took a sip of his coffee. “So, you’re really not going to tell me what you’re up to in the barn?”

  Harper grinned. His omega looked adorably grumpy. “Not at all.”

  His favorite book by Grey was called Rue and Mr. Bear. It was a cute story about a little boy that meets an injured bear in the woods. After the boy helps the bear, they become best friends.

  With Shawn and Ernie’s help, Harper had dressed Rue, Auggie, and all their pets as characters from the book. Then they had taken a bunch of pictures.

  Even Ines, Grey’s abuela, had gotten involved and dressed like a park ranger. Rue had played the role of Rue, of course, and Auggie had gotten to play a friendly owl.

  Grey’s large Newfoundland, Chewie, hadn’t exactly enjoyed his role as the bear, and Tiny, their Maine Coon cat, had been forced into a wolf costume. Harper felt a little guilty for forcing the feline to play along.

  Opal, their smaller dog, and Butterball, their miniature pig, had been dressed as squirrels. Those two were so used to wearing pet costumes that they hadn’t blinked an eye. Harper’s two Shetland ponies, on the other hand, hadn’t wanted to wear deer costumes. They were work horses, not actors. The rabbits had the easiest role. They each had played the role of rabbit very well, no costumes needed.

  It had taken a lot of effort, but they had gotten several good pictures. Harper trusted Shawn to finish the job while he distracted Grey.

  “Grey, why won’t you let Melinda at least publish one of your books?” Harper couldn’t help but ask. “It would just be one, and you could see how it went before you put the rest out there.”

  Grey groaned. “You’ll think I’m stupid.”

  Harper scooted out of his seat and sat beside Grey, wrapping an arm around him. “That will never happen, sunshine.”

  “You’re so… you,” Grey said, waving his hand in the air. “You’re confident and comfortable in your own skin. I don’t know if you’ll understand it.”

  Harper shrugged. “You know that wasn’t always the case.”

  “Yeah, you’re right.” Grey propped his chin on his fist and started on another doughnut. “I’ve always played it safe, even before my family died. I never took many chances.”

  Harper smirked. “You took one on me, and we’re happy.”

  Grey laughed. “Yes, we are.” He looked thoughtful for a moment. “When I graduated college, I was so lucky to get the job I did. I like web design. It lets me be creative to a degree, and I make good money.”

  Harper sat up straight. “Like isn’t love.”

  Grey set his head on Harper’s shoulder, and Harper couldn’t resist kissing the top of his omega’s head.

  “I love making children’s books,” Grey whispered. “Right now, I can make them and no one judges if they’re good or bad. There’s no risk. I can always say it’s just a hobby.”

  “Sometimes, it’s worth it to take a chance,” Harper said. “When I started selling my furniture, I was afraid no one would buy it. I put my soul into building things, and, to most people, it’s just a chair or a table.”

  “Your work is art,” Grey said, growling. “Anyone who doesn’t appreciate that is an idiot.”

  Harper hid his grin. He loved it when his cute omega got growly. “It was hard at first to put it out there. Then Dr. Grover came by and ordered a custom-sized bedframe.”

  Grey snickered. “For him and his two ladies.”

  Harper laughed. “Yeah. I prefer to think he’s using that bed for innocent snuggling.”

  Grey laughed so hard he almost choked on a piece of doughnut. Harper patted his back and waited until the man was composed.

  “When he saw what I created, Doc was really impressed. That made me feel so damn good, Grey. Of course, not everyone loves my work and not everyone will love your books. Someone will though. Our family does, that’s for sure, but there’s a kid out there that will read about Rue and Mr. Bear and fall in love. Their imagination will let them go along on Rue’s adventures, and there’s no telling where it will take them. That’s what your books will do. All you have to do is take a chance.”

  Grey buried his face against Harper’s shoulder. “I love you, Harper Wilson.”

  “I love you too, sunshine.”

  Grey’s head shot up, and he glared at the man a few tables down from them. “Isn’t that Luke Jennings?”

  Harper looked over his shoulder. “Looks like it. Oh, damn. Is he on a date? I thought he was seeing Justin’s brother Griff.” The couple leaned in close and kissed. Yeah, Luke and the woman were definitely on a date.

  “That asshole,” Grey hissed. “Let’s kick his butt.”

  Harper patted Grey’s back. “Hold on, sunshine. Luke isn’t the type to cheat on someone. Let’s go ask Jackson. Griff and he are good friends.”

  Grey huffed, then stuffed the last doughnut in his mouth while Harper cleaned their table. Jackson worked at The Book Worm, right next door.

  The young omega was ringing up a customer at the register when they approached. Jackson looked a bit like his papa, but his dark green eyes and freckles came from his father. Luckily, Harper knew that was all Jackson got from his alphahole father.

  Jackson looked up, grinning. “Hey, you two.”

  Grey leaned against the counter once the customer left. “Jackson, is Griff dating Luke Jennings?”

  Jackson scrunched his nose. “Uh, no.”

  Harper breathed a sigh of relief. He really didn’t want to have to kick someone’s ass today. He knew that if he didn’t defend Griff’s honor, Grey would.

  Grey tilted his head, eyes confused. “Really? Abel said he saw those two kissing at the pub.”

  Jackson blushed. “Geez, talk about small town life, right?”

  Harper snorted. “Privacy is just a myth, Jackson. You’ve lived here long enough to know that.”

  Jackson grinned and leaned toward Grey. “Luke and Griff really are just friends. We all hang out. Griff and he fooled around a little, but Luke met a girl named Britney and is crazy about her.”

  Grey pursed his lips. “Oh. Well, he’s on a date with someone now.”

  Jackson’s eyes lit up. “Really?” He rushed to the doorway to Honey Buns and looked inside. “That’s her! That’s Britney. Aww, don’t th
ey look cute together? I’m taking pictures and sending them to Griff. We’ve been trying to get Luke to make a move for weeks.”

  Grey looked a little sad. “So no broken-hearted Griff? What about you?”

  Jackson rolled his eyes and went back to the register. “No, dork. I’m never trusting anyone with my heart. There are too many assholes out there.”

  Harper bit his lip. He could have sworn he’d seen something in Jackson’s eyes when he’d spoken with a certain alpha at Grammy’s Sunday breakfasts.

  Grey tugged on his arm. “Has enough time passed for us to go home?”

  Harper checked his watch. “Yep. Let’s go, sunshine. I need to hug Auggie.”

  David and Sawyer

  “Penelope, don’t chew on Chunky’s tail,” David said, snapping a quick picture of his youngest daughter. She wore rabbit ears and a cute knitted rabbit costume. All of the animals and kids were dressed like rabbits. David’s favorite book by Grey was about a family of rabbits that moved from the country to the city.

  “Daddy, hungry.” Phinn looked like a sad rabbit. His lip trembled, and one rabbit ear drooped down to cover his eyes.

  “Seriously, Dad. It’s been hours. I don’t think Elijah meant for us to perfectly enact the whole book in a photoshoot.” David’s eldest kid, Sadie, tugged at her rabbit sweater. “You promised us pizza.”

  “Pizza,” Penelope and Phinn yelled together.

  Sawyer, David’s husband, glared at Sadie. “You know better than to say that word.”

  Sadie smirked, then shrugged. “Oops.”

  “Dad,” Ryder said. “Who makes the better rabbit, Chunky or Cadbury?”

  Sawyer laughed. “I think Cadbury wins this one, since he’s actually a rabbit.”

  Harry covered the rabbit’s long ears. “Dad, don’t say that. Cadbury is a cat like Chunky, remember? Be respectful.”

  Sawyer gave their son a serious look, eyes twinkling. “You’re right. I’m so sorry.”

  David hid his smile. “Babe, fix Mo’s ears.” The Border Collie’s rabbit ears were slipping off his head. The dog gave him an unamused look. “I’m sorry, Mo. One more shoot and we’ll go get dinner.”

  “Pwomise?” Phinn had the most pitiful puppy dog eyes in the world.

  “I promise.” David fixed his camera and quickly ran through the last scene in the book.

  As soon as he set his phone down, his kids made a break for it, pulling off rabbit ears and tossing them aside.

  “I’ll order the pizza,” Sawyer said, kissing David’s cheek.

  David watched his man go, admiring Sawyer’s nice firm ass.

  Sadie elbowed him in the side. “You two are disgusting.”

  David made a face and slipped his heels off before pulling Sadie to the couch. “Are you forgetting I caught you and Garrett the Hottie making out in the driveway Saturday night?”

  Sadie leaned down and picked up Daisy. “Okay, okay. You didn’t tell Dad, did you?”

  David smoothed a hand over his short hair. “Of course I did. Then I talked him out of going to the poor boy’s house and murdering him. You should bring Garrett over for dinner.”

  Sadie groaned. “It’s not like that. We like each other, but it’s senior year. It would be stupid to start something right now. He’s going to a school in Colorado, and I’m doing University of Maine.”

  David leaned his arm on the back of the couch. “That’s no reason not to date.”

  Sadie made a face. “Marsha Dixon said as soon as she turns eighteen, she and Todd are getting married. She’s had a boyfriend constantly since she turned thirteen. I don’t want to be like that. I’m good on my own. If I meet someone at school next year, then okay, just not right now.”

  David sighed. “Okay. I won’t push you since you’re being all sensible and shit. You need to tell Marsha that eighteen is too young to get married.”

  Sadie shrugged. “It’s seems natural for her. All her life, she’s dreamed of being someone’s girlfriend or wife.”

  “Hmm,” David said, trying not to judge. He reminded himself that every person was different. “How are your duel enrollment classes going?”

  “Statistics is just fine, but English is boring. It’s just about writing papers.”

  “Count yourself lucky and hope it doesn’t get more difficult.” David reached out and tugged a strand of her long hair. “Thank you for doing the photoshoot.”

  Sadie grinned. “Grey will love it. I hope this gift works. His books are so good, and the world needs to see them.”

  “I agree,” Sawyer said, dropping into the seat beside David. “Pizza will be here soon.”

  Ryder groaned and sat in one of the chairs near the window, Phinn in his lap. “Chunky likes his costume. He won’t take it off.”

  “This is why I’m only taking Mo with me when I move out next year,” Sadie said, sniffing. “My dog is smart enough to know costumes are stupid.”

  Ryder laughed. “You’re taking Mo because you can’t live without him. Plus, Daisy is my cat, Chunky is Harry’s, and Cadbury is Dad’s.”

  Sawyer groaned and hid his face against David’s shoulder. “Can we please not talk about Sadie moving out?”

  David chuckled. Sadie had decided to get an apartment close to the university with a few of her friends. Thankfully, her college fund would allow her to live off-campus and commute.

  Sadie smacked her dad’s knee. “Give me a few years and I’ll be graduating and becoming a nurse. Then what will you do, Dad?”

  Sawyer smiled softly. “Be proud as hell. We have good kids.”

  “That we do,” David agreed.

  Harry chased a giggling Penelope into the living room. “Pizza, pizza, pizza, pizza.”

  David smiled. Maybe he should have fed them before the photoshoot.

  Sawyer closed the door to the twins’ bedroom as quietly as he could. His sock-covered feet were almost silent as he made his way down the hall, checking on each of the kids along the way.

  Ryder was propped up, reading a book with Daisy curled beside him. Harry was already asleep, snoring softly against Chunky’s fur. Sadie was typing something into her phone, earbuds nestled in her ears. Mo slept on his back at the foot of her bed.

  Sawyer didn’t want to think about Sadie going away next year. She was so beautiful and sweet. He didn’t want the world to have a chance at hurting her.

  He opened the door to his and David’s room. His beta husband was sprawled on his stomach, feet in the air. Light glinted off his bright red toe nails.

  David looked over his shoulder. “Are we going to talk about Jill?”

  Sawyer sighed and flopped onto the bed next to him. “Do you really think she’ll come?”

  David nodded. “I do. She doesn’t make empty promises, and she really wants us all to meet the new husband.”

  Sawyer rubbed his face. Jill called weekly to talk to the kids and stayed updated on their lives. She also contributed to all of their college funds and paid child support. Despite all of that, she struggled to really connect with the kids.

  Ryder and Harry didn’t seem to mind. They liked talking to her, but they had no trouble hanging up the phone. Sadie, on the other hand, still barely spoke to her mother.

  “What about Sadie’s graduation?” Sawyer would much rather Jill come for that than for Christmas.

  “She says she wants to do both.” David propped his head on his fist. “I don’t think she’s going to come for Christmas every year or anything, but she really does want the kids to meet Jean Luc. I do, however, think she’ll come to each of their high school graduations. Probably college graduations too.”

  “I just don’t want her to say she’ll come, then not come.”

  “I know what you mean,” David said, rolling on top of him. “I don’t want the kids to get their feelings hurt either.”

  “She is careful about what she says,” Sawyer said slowly, running his hands over David’s generous ass.

  David kissed him, tongue pushing
past his lips. Sawyer’s dick went from soft to hard in thirty seconds. David spread his legs and straddled Sawyer’s lap, pressing their erections together.

  “I love you,” David whispered against his mouth. “Forget everything else and fuck me into the mattress.”

  Sawyer moaned and rolled David beneath him, pressing kisses along his husband’s neck and chest. “Fuck, I love your taste.”

  Sawyer took his time, nibbling every inch of David’s delicious skin. He made his way slowly down his body, licking, kissing, and biting until his man was writhing beneath him.

  Finally, Sawyer pumped David’s dick and licked the tip. David grabbed his head and lifted his hips, making Sawyer smile. He swallowed the tip of his husband’s dick and slowly slid his mouth down as far as it could go.

  After a few minutes of stretching and lube, Sawyer slid inside David, relishing the tight heat of his ass. He went slow, hands gripping David’s hips as he pushed in, then slid out, over and over again.

  David pulled him down for a kiss, mouth panting against his. “You feel so fucking good inside me.”

  Sawyer started moving faster, pressing his forehead to David’s. The moved together perfectly, bodies fitting just right against each other’s. David came all over Sawyer’s hand, and Sawyer couldn’t hold out any longer. He shuddered and came.

  They watched one another as they caught their breath. This was the part Sawyer liked best. The way David watched him made him feel as if he could fly.

  The next morning, Sawyer dropped the kids off at school and stopped by Honey Buns for coffee. Zoe Wilson owned the place and was a queen as far as Sawyer was concerned.

  “Hey, handsome,” the lovely woman said. “You want your usual?”

  He smiled. “Please.”

  As Zoe worked on his coffee, he noticed her shoulders were stiff and her face looked strained. “What’s wrong, Zo?”

  She put the two drinks in a small carrier and bagged up a few pieces of biscotti before answering him. “It’s Gib’s mother. She won’t take his calls and avoids him anytime we see her in public. He tried going to her house yesterday, and she wouldn’t let him in.”