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Chapter Four

Niall

N iall waved to some parents as he waited in the pickup line at Garin and Kino’s school. The omega daddies he ran into were especially effusive in their hellos. They knew who he worked for. Ronan, the progressive alpha, and Teal, who was paving the way for future generations of omega professionals.

Zayne held his hand in a tight grip as they watched the older children exit the building. “Niley, you know I wanna go to school too,” he said longingly. “Kino’s been teaching me numbers.”

Niall smiled down at the only person he’d ever allow to address him as ‘Niley.’

“I know you do, little gent. That’s why you and I read every day and practice writing your letters. So you’ll be ready for kindergarten next year.”

“I guess.” Zayne gazed wistfully at the red brick building with colorful art projects taped up in the windows.

Unfortunately, public schools only provided Pre-K for alphas and betas. Ronan and Teal had tried to enroll Zayne in a private program, but he would have been the only omega, and putting their four-year-old at the mercy of the judgmental parents of other students hadn’t seemed wise.

That was the type of institutionalized bias against omegas Teal fought so hard against as a lawyer. Just as Ronan’s hiring of omegas for physically-demanding jobs subverted long-held norms.

They were an incredible pair. If it weren’t for that, Niall would have left his position the moment Jax asked to be exclusive.

Because being around the husbands without being able to touch them felt like torture sometimes.

He loved Jax. He truly did. Eight months ago, he’d crashed into Jax’s cart at the grocery store.

They’d laughed and apologized in unison before Niall looked up into the most intense blue eyes he’d ever seen.

The proverbial thunderbolt hit him. He ran into Jax a second time as they reached for the same red bell pepper, then again when Jax grabbed a box of cereal off a tall shelf for him.

When they ended up next to each other in the check-out line, they’d exchanged numbers and arranged a coffee date.

By the time Jax followed him to his car to help him unload his groceries into the trunk, Niall knew he would fall in love with the other beta.

Two months later, when they’d decided to be exclusive two months later, Niall was honest with Jax about the fact that he’d never been in a monogamous relationship.

But he hadn’t revealed his intimate activities with Ronan and Teal. It didn’t seem necessary to relay those details because, from the day he’d met Jax, he’d stayed clear of the couple’s bed. Since Niall was still the boys’ nanny, he didn’t want to cause Jax undue concern.

Niall believed he and Jax were building a solid future.

They were both twenty-eight and had interests and life goals in common.

Importantly, they shared the same progressive beliefs about society and omega rights.

The only thing they’d had to slightly compromise on was in the bedroom.

While Niall didn’t feel like anything was missing from their sex life, he sometimes wished Jax was amenable to playing with others.

Jax agreed to think about it, but also said he’d never been comfortable with non-monogamy.

And if that was what Jax needed, Niall would give it to him.

Because he’d never loved anyone the way he loved Jax.

But his commitment to fidelity didn’t stop Niall’s attraction to Ronan and Teal.

Or erase the memories. Niall still felt the strength of their connection, built through years of conversation and pleasure and trust, and he knew the couple did too.

Sometimes he thought if Jax could see them together, he would understand.

For some couples, being with others didn’t diminish the love. It enhanced it.

Niall’s sexual relationship with the husbands hadn’t been cheap or tawdry. Ronan and Teal had been clear that they weren’t seeking a permanent third, and even more clear that their arrangement could never be out in the open.

Beginning shortly after Zayne’s birth, their affair hadn’t been only about getting off. It had been about meeting all their needs. They were complicated men, with complex desires. Being together in pairs, or usually as a threesome, fulfilled each of them in different ways.

For a long time, it had suited Niall. He’d been twenty-two when he began working for Ronan and Teal, carefree and not ready to be tied down.

Once they started sleeping together, he’d gotten to have mind-blowing sex with beautiful, amazing men, and feel like part of a loving family, all without having to make a lifelong commitment.

When he met Jax, Niall was ready for that type of relationship, mature enough to be accountable to a partner.

Jax was someone he could be affectionate with in public, someone he could grow with, maybe even have children of his own with someday.

They were creating a life together, and if his continuing attraction to the husbands buzzed like a pesky gnat in the background, he could live with it.

Since he couldn’t have both, he’d chosen the man who could offer him tomorrow. And he had no regrets.

Jax had recently broached the topic of moving in together.

Niall wasn’t the McGinns’ live-in nanny.

Even though he occasionally spent the night at their house, he’d always kept his own apartment.

But lately he’d been spending most nights at Jax’s, and paying rent for a place he rarely saw didn’t make much sense.

Perhaps living with Jax would help dull his recollections of being with Ronan and Teal. Of how good they’d been together in bed.

Niall felt guilty whenever the unbidden memories surfaced. Ronan’s thick alpha cock hitting his sweet spot just right. Teal holding Niall to his chest as the omega came deep inside of him.

Or maybe the beta’s true guilt arose from not wanting to forget those things.

Niall shook his head resignedly as Garin and Kino bounced out of the school building.

***

Two hours later, Niall supervised the three boys in the giant upstairs bathroom tub as they splashed in the bubbles. Even Garin, who fancied himself more grown-up than his brothers, giggled as he played with the toy ships and washable tile markers Niall had put out for them.

Niall must have missed the sound of the garage door opening because he glanced up with surprise to find Ronan and Teal leaning against the doorframe, grinning at their children’s antics. Breaking with what had become the norm over the past few weeks, they’d both arrived home before dinnertime.

“Look, little gents,” Niall said to the boys. “Papa and Daddy are home.”

“Hi Daddy! Hi Papa!” Kino cried enthusiastically, a change from his usual quiet mode. “See my name? I drew it on the wall.”

“I drew mine too,” Garin chimed in.

“I have a ship,” Zayne said, dipping the toy in and out of the water.

“It’s nice to see you boys having fun.” Ronan grinned.

“But, Papa, can we stay in the bath a little longer?” Zayne held up his hands. “We just got in and I want to have raisin fingers.”

“Yes, of course,” Ronan answered. “You can stay in there until your pointers and pinkies are all shriveled, as long as it’s okay with Niall.”

“Fine by me,” Niall said. “There’s spaghetti warming on the stove, and salad in the fridge. It just needs dressing.”

“I can do that,” Teal said. He leaned down to Niall’s ear. “Thank you. You’re the best.”

A shiver traveled down Niall’s spine at the innocuous words.

Teal had such a sexy, raspy voice. Not to mention how well he wore his fitted black suit.

And then there was Ronan, with his worn-in jeans, flannel button-down, and work boots.

He personified the fantasy of hot construction worker .

Both men seemed unconcerned with the water splashing their clothes as they crowded into the bathroom to kiss their sons’ heads.

Niall exhaled as the husbands retreated into the hallway.

Maybe he did need to leave his job. He loved the boys like his own and admired their parents, but was it fair to Jax for Niall to stay when he lusted after his employers? Even knowing he’d never act on the attraction.

His knees ached from squatting next to the tub. He stood and leaned against the wall, hearing low murmuring from the primary bedroom next to the bathroom. Niall made out the conversation as Teal and Ronan spoke on the other side of the door, which they’d left cracked.

“…I meant to tell you yesterday, but you got home late and then we got distracted.” The overt innuendo in Ronan’s voice came through. Niall shuddered, imagining the late-night distraction that had kept the husbands from talking.

Their words grew muffled again before Niall heard Teal. “…And he seemed okay, but it’s concerning that his uncle flew into that much of a rage over something so silly.”

Niall realized they were discussing Sorcha.

“Agreed," Ronan said gravely. "It's unfortunate Dale and Abe don’t treat him very well, even though he’s their family.”

There were a few moments of quiet before Teal spoke. “You feel it too, don’t you?” he asked gently. “The pull toward Sorcha?”

After a pause, the alpha replied, “Yeah… I’m not sure exactly what’s going on. It’s never happened with another omega.” Ronan waited another beat before continuing, “The last thing I want to do is hurt you or cause you distress. You know I can…control myself.”

The silence lingered. Niall wished he could see the two men’s faces. How strong was Ronan’s attraction to Sorcha? What did it mean? Had his admission caused the pain to Teal he’d hoped to avoid?

The omega’s next words answered that question.

“Oh, my love,” Teal said reflectively. “I think it’s normal to be attracted to other people. Like we talked about last night. Every time I see Niall, I still feel like I want to throw him down and maul him.”

Such a brash omega. Niall smiled at Teal’s words as they lit him up inside. Even if he couldn’t be with the couple anymore, it felt good to know he was missed. He probably shouldn’t be eavesdropping, either, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

“It doesn’t hurt me,” Teal went on. “Because I feel it too. There’s something different about Sorcha. Something that makes me want to protect him.”

Another few seconds of quiet passed before Ronan’s low voice asked, “Are you saying you’re… drawn to him? To another omega?”

“I’m not entirely certain. That would be…new…for me. But after talking to him today, I think so.”

“Thank you for being honest.”

Teal tittered. “I could say the same to you.”

The distinct sound of Ronan and Teal kissing filled Niall with a deep sense of nostalgia. And longing.

“We’re a pair, aren’t we?” Ronan groaned. “What are we going to do?”

“About Sorcha?”

“Mm-hmm.”

“What can we do? We need to keep an eye on him and his uncles, to make sure they don’t let loose on him. If it seems unsafe and we need to step in, we will.”

“And the rest of it?” Ronan asked. “The pull ?”

“We can keep an eye on that too. Like you said last night, it’s been eight months since Niall ended things, and six since he told us how serious he was about Jax. We’re both still missing that, mourning it. There’s no rush. Let’s just see how things develop.”

Stepping away from the door, Niall lowered himself to the edge of the tub. He didn’t want to hear any more, didn’t want to feel the pain—or the joy—of knowing the couple still desired him. He didn’t want to hear how Ronan and Teal now felt pulled toward Sorcha.

Niall had wondered earlier if he should leave this job to protect what he had with Jax. Now he saw he might need to leave it for a different reason. It would be brutal to watch Ronan and Teal invite someone else into their bed. Would the little omega next door be his replacement?

Niall knew he shouldn’t be jealous of Sorcha. He liked the young man and shared the husbands’ urge to protect him from his uncles. If Ronan, Teal, and Sorcha could find happiness together, he didn’t begrudge them that.

After helping the boys from the tub, Niall used a towel to play tug-of-war with the twins while Zayne applauded in delight. Watching Garin and Kino make careful parts in their hair, Niall couldn’t help but feel like he belonged in this family.

As more than the nanny.

But he also loved Jax. And he knew in his heart that they belonged together too.