Page 12

Many times over the years, Rain had forgotten what it was like to love dancing.

Every time, Kylo had given that back to him.

He twirled around the kitchen with Kylo until they were both too dizzy to stand and laughing too hard to breathe.

Then he threw Kylo a tea party. While Rain didn’t have any Little tendencies, he didn’t judge anyone who did, and it was nice enjoying something simplistic.

Plus, the entire setup of tiny teacups and cookies made Kylo smile, and that meant everything to him.

“Is Austen completely moved in yet? I figured he must be, since Daddy said we can play whenever he does his blood pressure thing every three months. Austen used to come to us, but Daddy feels guilty for taking too much of his time away from you.”

Rain smiled and hung on every word. In Beau’s care, Kylo thrived.

He was fully himself at all times, dressed like a schoolgirl and beaming with happiness.

Rain might think it odd, considering he loved one of the most dangerous men alive, but so too did Austen.

Since Rain knew the terrible things he would do to keep Austen safe and happy, he assumed Beau was the same for Kylo. Even killers loved something.

“Yeah. It’s been a slow process since we needed to convert one of our supply buildings into a surgical center.

Austen is still seeing most patients at his house until the new place is finished.

Of course, you’ll always be welcome here.

” Rain bit his bottom lip. He knew he could talk to Kylo about anything.

Always had. Sometimes Rain hated his thoughts. “I feel guilty.”

Kylo’s sweet blue eyes looked so untainted by life as he stared at Rain, giving his full attention. “Why?” He picked up a cookie and nibbled it like a rat while he waited for Rain to respond.

Rain shook his head and fought a smile. God, the precious innocence.

He knew exactly what Beau saw in Kylo. Kylo was probably the purest air he had ever breathed.

“I’m not sure Austen wanted this. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s happy to move in together.

But I think he had a very different picture in mind for our future.

Not giving up everything to live with a gaggle of idiots.

” Rain glanced over to tell Edge no offense, but the guy stared so intently at Kylo’s personal guard, Mickey, that Rain doubted he had heard.

In fact, Rain didn’t even know why he hung out in the kitchen with them.

Kylo wasn’t his friend. He just sat at the table as if he couldn’t trust Kylo or Mickey, which was dumb.

Rain shook his head and focused on Kylo again. “Someone broke into his home and tried to kill us. That forced his hand. I know he didn’t want this.” The more Rain talked, the surer he became. This wasn’t the life he would have chosen for them.

Kylo made a dismissive gesture. “Austen and I are a lot alike. We both spent our lives alone. Just like he lived alone before you, I lived completely alone before Beau. Now I live in a house full of guards. They’re not idiots, though.

Maybe that’s the difference?” Kylo shook his head and waved his arms, as if wiping away his entire speech.

“Anyhow, I won’t lie and say it didn’t take time to get used to someone being around every corner, but—for me—it’s nice.

I hated the emptiness. Austen does too. We talked about it once.

His career has isolated him in a lot of ways.

Plus, he loves you way more than any amount of privacy. ”

“Not to mention you have your own space. It’s not like he can’t get away from us.”

At Edge’s interjection, Mickey shot him an irritated look. “You should stay out of it. If Austen ends up having a problem living here, it’ll be because you’re obviously an overbearing person. It’s my job to be here. You’re choosing nosiness.”

Rain looked between them.

Kylo gnawed another cookie, looking unbothered.

Something wasn’t right. As far as he knew, the pair had never met before today. Yet Mickey already had Edge pegged. Granted, he felt responsible for them and that was why he was so overprotective, but Mickey shouldn’t be so sure in the opinion.

Rain motioned between them. “What’s going on here?”

Kylo kicked his feet like a kid whose feet wouldn’t touch the floor. “Mickey is still upset over Edge kidnapping him.” He focused on Edge. “I’m not really happy about it either. He’s my favorite.”

A blinding smile exploded across Mickey’s face.

Rain was confused as fuck.

Edge looked incredibly uncomfortable. “I’m pretty sure I apologized.” The grumbled words had a hint of horror creeping through Rain.

“What did you do?”

Everyone ignored Rain’s horrified-sounding question.

Mickey was focused on Edge with laughing eyes, but Rain saw the danger hidden beneath.

He recognized why Beau had chosen him for Kylo.

Mickey would do terrible things for Kylo, but he still had love in him.

Rain wondered if they were about to get a good look at his bad side.

“I’m certain you didn’t. Maybe you apologized to Beau, but you didn’t say it to me. ”

Edge held his stare. He looked at Mickey in a way Rain had only seen him look at one other person before. “I’m sorry.”

“Not even making excuses, huh?”

Rain couldn’t look away from the exchange.

“No excuses. I’m sorry.”

Mickey nodded. “Fair enough.” He poured more tea into Kylo’s tiny teacup.

Edge never stopped watching his every move.

Rain forgot to ask why in the hell Edge had kidnapped Mickey or when any of this happened. His throat swelled. He genuinely hoped Edge didn’t get hurt. Edge’s sanity wouldn’t survive that kind of blow. Hatred of love was all Edge knew.

“Anyhow, my point was, you make Austen happy,” Kylo said, acting as if Mickey and Edge’s exchange never happened.

“That outweighs everything else. And honestly, it’s not like you could truly live alone.

It’s like Beau and me. He’s too big of a target.

You are too. You might as well live with people you love instead of strangers you’ve hired.

” He flashed Mickey a smile. “I couldn’t imagine my life without our boys. ”

Despite everything, Rain smiled at Mickey getting called a boy.

They were probably close to being the same age.

His humor over the situation died as quickly as it hit.

Austen wasn’t Kylo, and Rain’s family weren’t Kylo’s guards.

His family had done nothing to ingratiate themselves.

Austen would likely be done with him in less than three months.

Austen appeared with Shadow at his side.

They were laughing loudly as they appeared in the doorway.

Henry and Beau were right behind them. Beau didn’t stand a chance of reaching his husband first. Shadow spotted Kylo and squealed like a child before launching himself in Kylo’s direction.

The three of them had been in several performances together.

Everyone loved Kylo. Rain watched them hug and talk animatedly.

He looked Beau’s way, checking for any signs of jealousy.

Beau merely looked like an indulgent father.

Henry leaned his shoulder against the doorframe and stood watch.

Rain’s gaze slid to Austen when Austen didn’t immediately come to him.

He had stopped and spoke with Mickey. They smiled like they were good friends.

That was not what caught and held his attention, though.

Rain had been so focused on his thoughts and Shadow’s reaction to seeing Kylo.

He hadn’t noticed Field being dragged along on Austen’s leg—like a little kid, begging for attention.

Austen stood at Edge’s back with his hands resting on Edge’s shoulders.

Occasionally, he squeezed. Each time he did, Edge smiled even as he never looked away from Mickey.

Austen was older than everyone in their family.

He was like the loving father they’d never had.

Austen sighed loudly, snapping Rain from his trance of studying every detail. “For fuck’s sake. It’s in our bedroom. Go get what you want, and I’ll pick some more up later.”

Field popped from the floor. “Yes! You’re the best.” He kissed Austen’s cheek and was out of the room like a shot. Austen pinched the spot between his eyes, but his smile spoke volumes. He was happy here. Kylo was right. Austen’s life had been lonely. Rain had everything to offer him.

Austen dropped his hand and focused on Rain. “We’ll have to go on a road trip later to grab some more of that organic peanut butter from that little local business two towns over.”

“Get two jars,” Field said around a spoon as he strolled into the kitchen. He had Austen’s peanut butter jar clutched to his chest like it was gold.

Henry snorted.

Field shot him a flirtatious smile. “What? Are you jealous of my spoon?”

Austen shook his head. His gaze never wavered from Rain. “I might have to buy that goddamn organic store with the way Field eats.”

“Can we, Daddy?”

Rain bit his bottom lip at Field’s question. Austen looked like a man in love with his life.

Kylo linked fingers with Rain beneath the table and squeezed. His eyes stung as it hit him how beautiful his life was now. He one hundred percent didn’t deserve it. Rain would take it nonetheless.

Austen stocked the cabinets in the small kitchen inside their bedroom.

They had bought more things during their shopping trip than Austen intended.

Luckily, more than half of it had been for the boys.

Their personal kitchen cabinets weren’t that big.

It was still oddly nice, though. Austen felt like they had their own tiny apartment where Rain couldn’t hide.

He had to stay under Austen’s feet. Austen loved having Rain beneath him.

“If you keep spoiling Field, he might chain himself to your leg. He’s clingy like that.”

Austen laughed at the image Rain painted. “Meh. I get the feeling no one has ever spoiled these boys. A little won’t hurt.”

Rain’s arms encircled him. He pressed his lips against the spot between Austen’s shoulder blades. Austen froze and savored the moment.

“It’s so sexy when you act all daddy-like.”

Austen couldn’t stop smiling. He hadn’t known so much happiness existed before Rain.

His joy spread to everything, even the dumbasses he never expected to forgive.

They were all young and only had each other.

He had spent a lot of time with Edge, building the surgical center.

The insight into their lives was eye-opening as they had grown closer.

Austen understood now why they acted rashly when it came to their little chosen family.

That was all any of them had to lose. Austen enjoyed showing them kindness.

It was obvious they needed an adultier adult in their lives to curb their recklessness. It was also more than that.

“Maybe my motives are selfish. I’ve had no one to spoil over the years.” He shrugged. “Truthfully, before you and with my parents gone, I’ve had no one period. It’s been nice having a family.”

Rain’s hold tightened. “They love you.”

A lump formed in Austen’s throat unexpectedly.

It was odd to go from an empty life and home to constantly surrounded.

“I love you.” They had only been together six months, but half a year felt like half a lifetime to Austen.

That’s how certain he was that he had found his place.

His home. He never wanted to be anywhere else.

Rain stuck his arms beneath Austen’s shirt—like he needed to be skin on skin. “I’d do a lot of crazy shit to keep you.”

“Same.” Even Austen heard how breathless he sounded. He loved every second of being held by Rain.

“That night you caught me in your bedroom wasn’t the first night I broke in to watch you sleep.”

A bark of surprised laughter burst from Austen.

Every day, Rain made him realize how insane they were because he loved everything about this crazy ride.

“That’s okay. I used to sit and watch the theater so I could see you go inside for every performance.

It was only a few seconds of watching you when you thought no one looked, but I lived for those moments. ”

He felt Rain smile against his spine. “I knew you were there.”

Austen spun. “Are you joking?”

Rain’s gorgeous smile spoke volumes. He was serious. “Do you honestly think it took me that long to get out of my car and to the door every single night?”

Austen shrugged. “You always had a lot of shit to carry in.” Austen hesitated.

In the end, he no longer cared how he looked.

“I thought several times about using that as an excuse to talk to you. All I had to do was pretend to see you unexpectedly and then offer to help.” Austen shook his head, laughing at his own ridiculousness.

“You really make me act ways I never have before, and I have zero regrets.”

“We should get married.”

Austen had never been taken off guard so quickly. His brain suffered a rapid secession of misfires. And still he responded so fast, Rain had barely finished saying the words. “Yes. We should.”

They stared at each other. Time ticked by with no meaning. It was as if they equally savored the miracle they had received in each other.

Finally, a smile exploded across Rain’s face. “I should’ve asked in some crazy way that would have you questioning your sanity about saying yes.”

Austen shrugged. “You still could. I’d still say yes.”

Rain drew him down for a kiss. His lips swiped Austen’s. “Best I save a little madness for after we’re married. I’d hate to become tiresome.”

“Married? You two are getting married? Hey, Rain and Austen are getting married!” Field shouted the words down the stairs. “We get to keep Daddy.”

A stampede of boots sounded on the steps.

Austen chuckled against Rain’s lips. “We have to get a better lock for that door.”

Rain smiled, still trying to steal kisses. “It wouldn’t matter. There’s no lock they can’t pick.”

Austen pressed his forehead against Rain’s and stared into the eyes of the man he loved.

They stole a moment of silent celebration between them before the brat brigade crashed their way into the room.

Austen understood his life would always be this way now.

He had traded peace for this craziness. Austen had also traded the emptiest of quiet and bottomless loneliness.

In return, he got the most blindingly beautiful love he had ever seen and a houseful of happiness.

He definitely came out the winner in this deal.

Keep your eye out for the next Killers Inc., Edge.