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His eyes reflected anger, but his voice sounded worried. Maybe he was right? Maybe she’s just too chicken to find the truth for fear of having to leave the quiet life and two men she’d found peace with.

Nick was on pins and needles waiting for his father to get back with Pepper. Her being out there alone without him or Ace wasn’t sitting well. He was afraid of having her out of his sight and something happening.

Her wounds were almost healed, just some minor bruising left, but the thought of her hurt and unable to stop it was weighing heavy on his mind.

“Dude, you’re worse than Mom was that night we went to Canyon Hot Springs for senior prom.” Ace’s laughter made him smile.

It was the year Nick had graduated high school. All their lives, they’d been best friends, and the small age gap hadn’t deterred him from inviting Ace to the exclusive senior event. Their moms had been pissed when they found out Ace, who was sixteen, was going to be around a bunch drunk girls heading off to college.

“Your mom was livid.” He recalled the phone call they had gotten when she found the note saying he’d gone with Nick. Their parents didn’t know then that they hadn’t been with a woman yet, nor that they wouldn’t be that evening. It wasn’t until two years later that they’d finally shared a woman and figured out what truly made them tick.

It was only weeks after that night that Ace’s folks had died, and his cousin had been devastated. Ace was never the same again after that. Nick always thought that was part of the reason he had such wanderlust. Seeming unable to settle down in one spot.

Which begged the question. “Are you staying, Ace?” His eyes met his companion as he waited for an answer.

“What do you mean?” Ace countered, but he had a feeling he knew.

“I mean, is this it? Are you staying here, or am I getting my hopes up of you finally settling down.” They weren’t normally so deep with their conversations, but Pepper presented a whole new world for them both. He didn’t want to get invested with her if Ace was just going to abandon them; ultimately, hurting any chance they would have together.

Without answering, Ace walked over to him. Gripping Nick’s shoulder, he said, “I’m ready, man. I wasn’t before. I needed to get some things out of my system, and I’m not even sure what it was. But, fuck, am I ready. And I think,” taking a breath, he looked out the window, a smile creeping on his face, “I think Pepper could be it. She could be ours.”

Before Nick had a chance to respond, the front door opened, letting in a cold breeze, a hyper dog, and a smiling, delighted Pepper. Her laughter akin to the tinkling of a wind chime. A sound he could definitely get used to as her grin beamed at him.

“Hi,” she murmured as he walked closer. He noticed her eyes were lighter, her smile genuine. Happiness radiated from her pores.

“Have fun?” he asked, helping her out of her coat.

“It’s so beautiful out here.” Her voice was wistful. “I don’t know how you ever leave the property.”

As she spun around to face him, Nick couldn’t help himself. Pulling her body into his, he slowly lowered his head to hers, intent on tasting her lips. Going slow enough that she knew his objective and had the choice to push him away. He was pleased when she sighed, closing her eyes.

As their lips touched, an ember burned bright inside of him, igniting a flame of need for her. When she moaned quietly against him, he deepened the kiss, sweeping his tongue into her mouth. Tasting. Devouring everything she would give him and more.

His hands swept up and down her back in a soothing motion, lulling her into compliance. Nibbling her bottom lip, she reached out with her tongue, lightly licking across his as well

. Silently begging for more.

He was all too happy to give it to her, too.

If only a throat clearing didn’t interrupt them. Followed by, “Get a room, will ya?”

Pulling away regretfully, he barked, “Go home, will ya?” to his father.

“And miss out on such a lovely dinner companion? Not a chance!” The old man’s laughter faded as he walked down the hall.

Gazing down at Pepper, he saw the blush lighting her cheeks from his dad’s comments. “I’ve been dying to do that,” he whispered in her ear, hoping to ease her embarrassment.

“You have?” She sounded genuinely stunned.

Kissing her cheek, lingering there, he told her in a voice only loud enough that she could hear, “So has Ace.”

Peeking over his shoulder at the aforementioned man, she darted a glance back at him, questions in her eyes. “We’ll have that talk real soon, baby,” he promised, letting her pull away.

She didn’t miss the longing on Ace’s face as she went to walk past him. Grabbing his hand, she stopped beside him, laying her head on his shoulder for a moment and taking a deep breath. As if to breathe him in.

“Promise?” she whispered aloud.

Running his hand through her hair, Ace replied, “When you’re ready,” as she walked away to her room.