Page 2

Chapter Two

Ronan

R onan took a few moments to make sure none of his irritation toward the beta couple next door showed on his face. His boys were getting older, and they picked up on that kind of negative energy these days.

The delicious aroma of baked mac ‘n cheese wafted through the kitchen as he opened the door from the garage. Niall’s specialty.

“Papa!” Three excited voices shouted from the table. The boys hunched over papers that Ronan leaned forward to examine. Garin and Kino appeared to be practicing their letters while Zayne drew pictures of …bushes?

“Look, Papa.” Zayne rose from his chair and threw his arms around Ronan’s leg. “I drew puppies!” Ah, puppies .

Garin studied his brother’s artwork. “They don’t look like puppies. More like brown blobs with eyeballs.”

Ronan raised his forehead at his son. Garin was the elder of his six-year-old twin alphas by ten minutes and had inherited both his parents’ boldest qualities. He was big and brawny like Ronan with the confident brashness that made Teal such a unique omega.

“Be nice to Zayne,” Kino admonished his twin before Ronan had a chance to. “It’s our job to take care of him, not hurt his feelings.” He turned to his younger brother. “I like your picture. Maybe if you drew on tails and bigger ears, it would be easier to tell they’re puppies.”

“That’s okay,” Zayne said, easygoing as always. “It can be a picture of blobs. I don’t care.”

Ronan smiled at Kino’s desire to protect, as well as Zayne’s happy obliviousness.

Kino approached life more softly than his twin and was less quick to anger, an alpha much like Ronan himself.

But he also displayed Teal’s humor and mischievousness, stepping naturally into the role of peacemaker among the three brothers.

Ronan took the drawing from his four-year-old's hand. “Well, whether it’s blobs or puppies, I think it belongs on the fridge.” He used a magnet to add the paper to dozens of others crowding the freezer door.

“I wasn’t trying to be mean,” Garin said to no one in particular. “I just know Zayne can draw gooder than that.”

“Better,” Ronan corrected gently. “And even if you are trying to help, you need to remember to be careful with your words.”

The small alpha looked like he might argue but ultimately nodded.

The twins did a great job watching out for Zayne, although Ronan had noticed recently that Garin seemed to be trying to toughen his little brother up.

It wasn’t easy for omegas in a world where many alphas and betas clung to outdated views.

Even at six, Garin and Kino had picked up on this and worried about how the rest of the world would treat their brother as he grew.

“Hey, Papa, Niall made mac ‘n cheese.” Kino shifted the conversation.

“I know. It smells delicious.” Ronan glanced around. “Where is Niall?”

“I’m here.” With a swish of his hips, the family’s beta nanny swept into the room. “I was getting a load of laundry in. Welcome home, Papa.” He waggled his eyebrows at Ronan above the boys’ heads.

Saucy, beautiful man. Even though months had passed since Niall last shared Ronan and Teal’s bed, he still flirted like he always had.

Good habits were tough to break.

“Little gents—” Niall held up an imaginary trumpet and made a da-da-da-duh sound to get Garin, Kino, and Zayne’s attention. “The time has come to clear the kitchen table and go wash up for dinner.”

“Yes, Niall.” The boys jumped up and made exaggerated saluting motions before dissolving into giggles and disappearing down the hall.

“Teal called and said he’d be home late tonight,” Niall told Ronan once they were alone.

“The Bannon case?”

“Yep.” Niall popped the p.

Ronan sighed. “At least it won’t be much longer.”

“And in the end, it’ll be worth it." The beta began wiping down the counters. "It’s pretty amazing he's arguing in High Court again.”

“True. Although not surprising considering how hard he's worked."

Niall nodded. “Teal is changing people’s minds about omegas. If my daddies were still alive, they’d be proud to tell everyone I work for him.”

“It’s daunting, though. All these long nights. Not to mention the press.”

Niall paused his movements. “That's why it's a good thing he has you. I doubt Teal would have gotten this far without such a supportive husband. Not many alphas could handle it.”

Ronan barked out a self-deprecating laugh. “I suppose.”

Niall walked over and reached for Ronan’s hair, tucking a dark brown curl behind one ear. “Never doubt it. Teal is very lucky to have you.”

Ronan’s breath caught as they locked eyes. Niall’s thumb lingered briefly against Ronan’s neck before he pulled away.

Stepping back, Niall clapped his hands in front of his waist. “Let me get this casserole out of the oven and we’ll be eating in a jiffy.”

Ronan nodded, sitting down at the table.

Six months ago, Niall told Ronan and Teal that he and his new boyfriend had decided to be exclusive. Niall had continued as the household’s nanny, a position he’d held since the twins were born, but his occasional guest starring role in the husbands’ bed had ended.

But stopping their trysts hadn’t taken away Ronan’s desire for the beta. His fingers itched when he remembered the way it felt to grip Niall’s hips and sink into him, or to feed Teal his cock as Niall pumped in and out of his husband’s slick hole.

He suspected Niall also missed their fun times, based on the flirting and little touches he couldn’t seem to give up. But Ronan knew Niall would stay true to the word he’d given his boyfriend. Although decidedly playful, the beta was neither a liar nor a cheater.

Niall bent over to pull the mac ‘n cheese from the oven. Ronan found himself transfixed by the sight of the beta's round backside as he recalled running his hands over that smooth, taut skin.

He shook the thought away. They were fantastic memories, for him and for Teal. He’d hold on to them always. But his body needed to get the memo that those days were over.

***

The moon had risen high in the night sky by the time Teal’s car pulled into the driveway. Ronan sat up in bed and put the book he’d been reading on the nightstand, waiting in eager anticipation for his husband.

Niall had gone home hours ago, and the boys were asleep. Ronan heard the snick of their bedroom door as Teal went in to kiss them goodnight.

Finally, Teal walked into the bedroom, loosening his tie and making a beeline for the bed. Slightly encumbered by his well-tailored suit, he kneeled on the plush carpet next to Ronan before claiming his lips.

“I’m glad you waited up. I know you need to be at the job site early tomorrow and I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d gone to sleep.”

Ronan touched his husband’s cheek. “I don’t mind waiting. It’s not like I sleep very well when you’re gone anyway.”

“I’m sorry, my love.”

“I understand,” Ronan replied, tugging on his husband’s tie to bring their foreheads together. “I just miss you.”

“Me too.”

Ronan released the tie and Teal stood up to remove his clothing until he matched his husband’s naked state.

Ronan watched hungrily as Teal stepped away from the bed to tease him, running his hands seductively over his curves.

Teal was on the tall side but still had the narrow frame and high waist that all omegas possessed.

Ronan could not get enough of his husband’s softly rounded belly, which had grown more pronounced since the boys’ births.

He sat up further and pulled Teal to him, sucking a kiss into his abdomen.

The omega’s cock bounced. “How tired are you, alpha?”

Ronan pushed the blanket away and tugged Teal down against his broad chest. “Not nearly as tired as I was a minute ago, omega.” Ronan ran a palm across his husband’s back before moving it up to grip his closely-cut chestnut locks. His other hand ventured downward to dip a finger into Teal’s crease.

Teal chuckled and scooted up Ronan’s body until their faces aligned. “You’re a magician. I’ve only been home ten minutes and you’ve already got me wet and ready.”

Ronan pressed their lips together but let Teal take control of the kiss, enjoying the sensation of his husband moving confidently over his mouth. He had eight inches of height on Teal, and in this position, the omega’s rigid cock fit neatly in the crevice of Ronan’s rock-hard abs.

Teal whimpered as he chased his pleasure, gyrating his hips against Ronan's body.

“Put a finger in, my love."

Ronan’s shaft hardened further at the breathy plea. Complying quickly, he inserted a pointer into Teal’s passage. He teased around the rim for a minute before probing further, pressing rhythmically against the spot he knew would drive his husband wild.

Guttural moans filled the moonlit room. Skin slapped against skin. The honey lavender smell of Teal’s slick filled the air, the wetness dripping down his balls and onto Ronan’s stomach.

Ronan felt the protest of his own cock as it protruded untouched into the cool air. But he reveled in the delicious ache of being made to wait as he sought his husband’s pleasure.

Teal rubbed himself furiously on top of Ronan, completely caught up in his goal.

His slick leaked like a waterfall around where Ronan’s finger worked within him.

“Don’t stop,” the omega commanded, and Ronan smiled, knowing Teal was close.

With a cry of ecstasy, Teal tensed, and the hot splash of his release shot between them.

Ronan slowed the movement of his finger and eased it out of the omega’s hole, bringing it to his mouth to lick the slick off. Then he ran it through the white streaks of cum Teal had deposited on his chest before sucking that off as well.

Teal bit his bottom lip. “Truly, husband, there is no other alpha like you. To take such joy in your omega’s pleasure.”

Ronan winked. “Other alphas are missing out.” He swiped more of Teal’s cum from his chest and licked it off his thumb.