Page 117 of Tangled Hearts

“Fuck,” he mutters. “Oh holy fuck.” Then he’s coming too. Unlike me, he stays quiet, gasping and breathing hard, but still more quiet than I was. He strokes us until we’re both soft and I’m squirming in his lap.

He lets out a soft laugh. “How are you always talking me into risky sex, doll?”

I shrug, giving him a smirk. “I don’t know. Just good like that.” I reach over to grab the tissues off my end table. It’s not an ideal thing to clean us up with, but it’ll work in a pinch.

“Dammit, doll. You got cum all over my shirt. Now what am I supposed to do? Go out and face your dads like this?”

I look down at his shirt and burst out laughing. Damn, I really did. “I have one of Beck’s in my closet here you can wear.”

He rolls his eyes, huffing. “Eli, that’s almost worse, but okay.”

Once we’re cleaned and in fresh clothes, we step out of the room and into the hall. It’s quiet. I think The Dads are still in bed. Not that I can blame them. “Hey,” I say, turning to Nic. “What did you mean about climbing into bed with my dads?”

He chuckles. “Beck told me I should have come home with you all last night and I made a comment about how he’d have both of us in his bed. He said it wouldn’t be the first time he had one of us brothers in his bed.”

That makes me giggle. “Fair. Wanna go, then?”

Nic raises an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“It’s been a long day. Today and yesterday and last night.” Nic nods. “Let’s go cuddle with The Dads. And we can go home tonight.”

“I can’t just climb into bed with your parents, Eli.”

“Wrong.” I narrow my eyes at him. “Beck literally said you could. Plus, I think they probably need it as much as we do. Roman had…” I blow out a breath. “Fuck, I think he had a worse night than I did.”

Nic sighs. “Okay, fine. But if they turn me away, I’m gonna be sad.”

He says the words jokingly, but they land like a brick in my chest because I’m pretty sure he’s not joking. I raise on my toes to kiss him. “They won’t turn you away,” I whisper against his mouth, then I take his hand and lead him down the hall.

I push open the door to their room. Beck’s on his side of the bed and Roman’s in the middle, curled into Beck like he’s the only thing in the world. My heart squeezes. “Eli,” Nic whispers, hesitating.

Beck raises a hand in the air, waving us on. “Come on, boys.”

I tug on Nic’s hand and he follows me to the bed. I climb in, lifting the blanket for him to join me. After a second, he finally does, sliding in behind me.

When I get settled, Roman adjusts, turning around and facing me. He looks fucking exhausted and sad and worried, but his lips turn up in a little smile. “You get your powers of persuasion from that one,” he murmurs, tilting his head back to Beck.

Nic clears his throat. “I should go.”

“Don’t you fucking dare,” Beck says, raising his head to look at us. “You’re both exactly where you need to be. Now shut up.” He locks eyes with Nic. “I’m not afraid to go back to prison, Nic. Don’t try me.”

Nic inhales sharply, and Roman laughs. “You’ve never been to prison.”

I grin, my heart swelling with love.

Beck hums. “And why is that, beautiful?”

Roman ignores him, instead raising up to look at Nic. “He’s never been to prison.”

Beck playfully shoves Roman’s head down, then drops a kiss to his forehead. He eyes Nic over my shoulder, giving him a big smile. “I haven’t been to prison because my dad’s the chief of police, Nic. You’d be surprised by what I can get away with.”

Nic lets out a startled laugh. “Okay, okay, message received. Loud and clear.”

Roman meets my eyes and grins. I smile back, and when he lifts his hand, I twine my fingers through his.

Nic wraps an arm around me, snuggling against me and letting out a long breath.

“Hey, Eli?” Beck asks, settling back against Roman with a sigh.