Page 47

“Because not telling you felt like keeping a secret. And because, well, because I didn’t walk away.”

Confusion passed through Niall’s features. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that when I heard what was happening, I didn’t immediately go back to my room.” Teal ran his index finger along the rim of his mug. “I sort of…listened.”

“Oh.” Niall leaned back in his chair.

“It was hot, Niall. I stood outside the doorway and heard you moaning and it reminded me of…other times. And it was such a fucking turn-on.”

“You listened to me and Jax having sex.”

Teal nodded, once, guiltily. “Even though my stomach was hurting, it still got me hard. I couldn’t help it. I…touched myself.”

“You jerked off?”

“More like stroked myself a few times. That’s what brought me back to the moment, made me realize it wasn’t right.

What I was doing, without you guys knowing.

I went upstairs before you…finished.” Teal’s neck felt like it was on fire.

“I know it was a violation, and you have my sincere apology. I won’t make excuses, but I’m at least half out of my mind with this tribunal, and I wasn’t thinking clearly.

Plus, I’ve been horny, since Sorcha’s heat.

Anyway, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. I hope you can forgive me.”

Niall sat up straighter and folded his arms across his chest. Teal prepared himself for the possibility that the beta would not accept his apology.

But then Niall’s expression dissolved into a knowing grin. “So, you’re telling me the thought of me and Jax fucking made you so horny, you felt compelled to touch yourself?”

“It wasn’t just thoughts, Niall. I stood in the hallway and listened .”

“Look, sweetheart. I can see why you thought this might be an issue, but c’mon.

It’s not like we’re strangers here. And you didn’t set out to be a voyeur.

Honestly, I’ve had a lot of less-than-clean thoughts about you and Ronan being with Sorcha during his heat.

If the roles last night had been reversed, if I’d gone upstairs to get something and heard the three of you having sex behind the bedroom door, you’d better fucking bet I would have listened.

And probably given my dick more than a few strokes. ”

“Really?”

“Tell me this, Teal. How does the thought of me listening to you and your partners make you feel?”

“It turns me on.”

“Exactly. Which is why you have nothing to apologize for about last night.”

Teal took in Niall’s words, along with the sincerity behind his snarky explanation.

Truth be told, if Teal thought Niall was outside his bedroom door listening to him and Ronan and Sorcha making love, he wouldn’t just think it was hot. He’d be opening the door and inviting Niall in. Heck, he’d be asking Niall to call down for Jax to join them too.

He shook his head, attempting to dislodge the errant thought.

What was happening to them all? He loved the idea of Niall and Jax supporting his family through the tribunal by moving in.

The daily firing line of protestors outside High Court was seriously testing his fortitude.

But maybe it was too much. If it was going to muddle things between the five of them.

Then again, this was just how Teal loved, how he was built. There was always room for more. Opening his heart to Sorcha had shone a light on all the love in his life that was his for the taking. Like a floodwall bursting.

Teal didn’t want to take anything for granted. If he’d learned anything over the past year assembling testimony from traumatized omegas, it was that having love in your life wasn’t a gimme, and not something to be treated lightly.

Niall sat still as a statue, waiting patiently as Teal wrestled with his thoughts.

The expression on the other man’s face told Teal that Niall had already formed his own conclusions, that the beta had also been thinking over some of these things.

Because of course he had. Niall was the caretaker of them all.

Teal raised his chin and stared at Niall plainly before asking, “You know, don’t you?”

“That you still love me? That you’re open to whatever develops? Of course. I love you too.”

Teal’s pulse sped up. “What happens next?”

“That’s the part I don’t know,” Niall replied cautiously. “I once told Jax I was satisfied with the way things were, that having more wasn’t worth causing him any pain.

“And now?”

“It’s still true. I’ve been satisfied every day since I met Jax. And I could be satisfied forever if things stay just as they are. But I also believe that, as long as there’s trust, there wouldn’t be pain…if we decided we wanted more .”

“And do you think there’s trust?”

Niall emitted a low chuckle. “When I ended things between us, I needed to leave, to go out into the world and find Jax, to find myself. You and Ronan needed the jolt that me leaving caused.”

“It made us understand better when Sorcha came along. We knew we needed to put ourselves out there. See things as they are.”

Niall eyed Teal directly. “And do you? See things as they are?”

The heartbeat hammering its way out of Teal’s chest signaled to him that he did.

He glanced at Niall’s captivating face, his strong, angular jaw and intense steely gaze.

He thought about how Niall’s uninhibited laughter softened his severe features, like a gift he only gave to those who made him smile.

“I see you,” Teal replied simply.

“And I see you.” Niall rose from his chair. “I’m going to go check on Sorcha and the kids.”

“Niall?”

“Yes?”

“You called me ‘sweetheart.’ That was the first time you’ve done that since…before.”

“Did I?”

With that enigmatic response, Niall left the room.

Teal smiled after him. He'd missed hearing the endearment on the beta's lips.

He needed to hear it again.