“Haydenis lucky,” Shane said. Hayden was his best friend and a wonderful father, but Jackie took care of about ninety-nine percent of everything that went on in that family.
“I like those kids,” Ilya said. “I can’t believe Hayden made them.”
“You’re great with kids.” Shane brushed their noses together, then kissed Ilya’s mouth. He tasted like the lemonade Shane had declined at the Pikes’ house but that Ilya had happily drank two glasses of. Shane guiltily enjoyed the taste now, sweet and tangy.
When they broke the kiss, Ilya said, “You will be a good dad.”
Shane rested his forehead on Ilya’s shoulder and smiled. “Not as good as you.”
Ilya huffed. “Not everything is a competition with us.”
“We’d find a way to make parenting a competition.”
Strong arms tightened around Shane. “No. It will be together. Peaceful.”
Shane, feeling brave, admitted, “There were moments today where I felt like I was looking into our future.”
Ilya pulled back to meet Shane’s gaze. “And it was okay?”
“It was amazing.”
Shane saw joy flash in Ilya’s eyes, and then he didn’t see anything because Ilya was kissing him thoroughly. Shane lost himself in it, enjoying the familiar but still exhilarating heat of Ilya’s mouth. Shane touched him everywhere: the rough scratch of Ilya’s ever-present stubble, the soft curls of his shaggy hair, the long line of his neck and the mounds of his muscular shoulders. He slid a hand up under Ilya’s T-shirt and glided his palm over Ilya’s abs, his perfect bellybutton, and the neat trail of hair beneath it. Then up to his broad chest, over his chest hairand stiff nipples, finally resting over his heart and his stupid bear tattoo.
“I love you,” Ilya murmured against Shane’s lips.
“I love you too.”
“But we are not having four children.”
Shane laughed. “God no. Of course not.”
“It would be too much. With the dogs.”
“Um. I think you mean cat.”
“I did not mean cat. Definitely not.”
“How many dogs exactly?”
“Some. Maybe one, to start. And then he needs a friend, so two. Maybe they don’t like each other so we get number three to be, um...”
“A mediator?”
“Okay. Maybe, yes.”
“And if they don’t like that one?”
“The fourth dog will—”
Shane stepped out of Ilya’s arms. “No.”
Ilya laughed. “One dog.”
“One dog,” Shane agreed.
“You will want more. Just wait.”
Just wait.The words rang in Shane’s ears as he made his way to the kitchen. He believed in their relationship, and was confident that they would have everything they wanted when the time was right. But sometimes he wished the right time was now.
