Page 74 of B is for Beg

“You obviously don’t have one fixed idea of beauty,” I point out. “Cal and I couldn’t be more different.”

“Physically, maybe, but you’re both smart and fun to be around. You’re both caring but also firm. You’re both creative and self-assured. You’re both beautiful people. And yeah, I’m physically attracted to you both as well.”

“Handy,” Cal says.

Blake chuckles and presses his cheek against Cal’s knee. “Yeah, it is. What about you two?”

“I’m gay,” Cal says. “I’ve never even so much as looked at a woman that way.”

“You photograph women all the time, don’t you?” Blake asks.

“Yes, but I can make a woman look and feel beautiful in a photo without being romantically or sexually attracted to her.”

“True. What about you, Daddy?”

“Also gay. I did kiss a girl once, though. It was one of those exploratory moments. We were best friends, and I was pretty confused about whether I liked boys or not, so she suggested we should kiss.”

“How was it?” Cal asks.

“Terrible. There was no spark, and I didn’t massively enjoy it. Nor did she.”

Blake winces. “Were you still friends after?”

“Yes. Neither of us took it to heart. She’s happily married now, and she and her wife have adopted a little boy.”

“Did she know that she was queer when you kissed?”

I laugh. “No. She figured it out at university.” I motion to the TV. “This trip down memory lane isn’t helping us choose something to watch.”

“I like learning more about you,” Blake says.

Cal runs his hand through Blake’s hair. “Me too. Action? Or a superhero movie?”

“Superhero movie,” Blake says.

Cal selects the most recent film that’s available to watch free on Sky. “I’m going to need you to come up here, princess. I can’t snuggle you when you’re on the floor.”

We shuffle apart to give Blake room to squeeze between us. It’s a tight fit, as the sofa is really only meant for two, but Blake doesn’t seem to mind. Cal and I loop our arms over his shoulders, which means we get to hug Blake and touch each other too.

For a while, Blake rests his head on my shoulder and lays a hand on each of our thighs. I spend as much time surreptitiously glancing at the two men beside me as I do watching the film. I love the way the flicker from the screen reflects onto their skin, staining Blake’s with colour and creating rivers of light over Cal’s.

About a quarter of the way through the movie, after we’ve all finished our beers and Blake’s dropped the bottles into the recycling, he lies down across us. He rests his head on his hand over my lap and his legs over Cal’s. He seems to be completely relaxed, like he knows he belongs with us. I stroke his shoulder and put my other hand on Cal’s thigh. He nudges Blake’s jeans up so he can stroke Blake’s ankles. He puts his other hand over mine, squeezing gently.

I sort of wish we could fool around at least a little. There’s been no sign of Lexi, so she must be fast asleep. I don’t suggest it. I don’t want Blake to feel uncomfortable in his own home, and it’s clear that he’s eager to follow the rules he and his brothers have agreed on.

It’s almost eleven when the film ends. We all stretch and yawn. Blake turns onto his back and runs his fingers over my cheek and jaw.

“This has been really nice,” he whispers before sitting up to kiss me softly.

I wrap my arm around his back and squash him against my chest, hungrily claiming his mouth for more than a sweet kiss. He groans as my tongue runs over his. I tug his T-shirt up, exposing a couple of inches of his torso, which I stroke. The moment I release him, Cal pulls Blake fully onto his lap and kisses him just as dirtily. I watch, licking the taste of Blake from my lips. Then Cal leans across to me, and we do battle with our tongues.

“Hmm, that was probably naughty,” Cal says.

“It’s okay,” Blake says. “But we shouldn’t go any further than kissing.”

“Then we’d better stop kissing, princess, because you and Gabe are hard men to resist.”

“We should probably go if we’re going to get home before the trains stop,” I say. Not that I want to. I’d love to take them both up to Blake’s room and spend the night here. Just sleeping together would be fine, but I doubt it’s a possibility. “Unless your brother is likely to walk in the door any moment? Then we’ll wait and whisk you away with us.”