Joaquin grins with me, then his eyes go serious again, and he touches his forehead to mine. “You can't ever do that again. You’re too important to me. It would kill me to lose you just as I'm finally finding you.”
I bite my lip, and we share a kiss before I remember that I haven't brushed my teeth yet. I put up my finger. “Hold that thought.”
Just as I grab my toothbrush and begin going at it, I notice Warwick in the mirror. His mouth is downturned, and he's working his jaw like maybe he's trying to avoid crying.
“Wick?” I mumble through my toothbrush and an excessive amount of foam.
“I don’t know where I am with you two.”
“What?” I ask, confused. “What do you mean?”
“It’s just…I see the way you are together and didn’t realize how serious you two are. If I'm in the way or whatever…” He starts to leave, and I roll my eyes. Still brushing my teeth with one hand, I grab him with the other.
Joaquin stands in front of the door, crossing his arms. I finish brushing my teeth, my grip on Warwick not budging a single inch. I spit and rinse and then turn to face him.
“It's not fun when you're the jealous one, is it?” I ask, pushing my belly up against him.
He narrows his eyes at me. “Not jealous.”
Joaquin, his arm still crossed over his chest, barks out a laugh. “Bullshit.”
“I'm not jealous. I just don’t want to be in the way. If y’all are gonna be all over each other, then it's awkward for me.”
I just shake my head, catching Joaquin’s eye. “He's a hopeless case.”
Joaquin nods in agreement, then pulls Wick in for a blistering kiss. Pulling away, he knocks his forehead on Wick’s. “I thought you were smarter than that. Did we not just out our relationship to my son yesterday?”
Wick shrugs, and honestly, I kinda wanna beat the man about the face and neck. Grabbing his collar, I push him against Joaquin, and I go in for a kiss that I hope tells him everything he needs to hear.
He seems hesitant, which I find hilarious, but then somewhere along the line, he begins kissing me back. I come up for air and see Joaquin kissing the back of Wick’s neck, thrusting against his ass.
“Wick, darling,” he whispers roughly, “if you see the two of us together, know that we are not complete.”
Warwick sniffs as he leans back into the affection. Joaquin and I exchange a glance, and we flank him like they did me last night. We both put a hand on his chest, and each kiss a cheek. I get a little creative and trail kisses down his neck to his sharp collarbones and Joaquin follows suit.
Wick lowers his head, his chest expanding and contracting rapidly. Joaquin and I weave our arms around him, squeezing him tight as teardrops hit his chest.
“I know you miss her. I know she was the great love of your life. But let us love you. Please. It's all either of us can think about,” Joaquin says, looking straight at me.
I snuggle against Wick’s shoulder. “We’re not trying to replace her, promise. But everything I know about the woman tells me she wouldn't want you denying yourself in favor of grief.”
“I'm never not gonna grieve her,” he chokes out. “There's always going to be a part of me missing. A Renée-shaped hole right in the middle of my soul.”
“Of course, baby,” I say, cupping his chin and turning his face to me. I give him a light kiss on the lips. “We’ll never tell you that it’s wrong to grieve. We’re saying that you can share it with us, and we’ll love you through it. Let us in so we can love all the parts of you. Including your grief.”
Joaquin turns Wick’s face toward him. “Especially your grief.” He gives him the sweetest kiss, and it fills my chest with light and warmth. “Will you give it a try?”
Wick shakes his head, “I don’t want to hurt like this anymore. I don't want to feel so lonely. I know I'm stubborn…”
Joaquin and I snort, and Wick grumbles but pulls us both in tighter. “I know I've been stubborn, but after yesterday…I don't want to be stupid. I know I can't replace her, and maybe what I just needed all along was two people. Someone to care for,” he says, kissing me, “and someone to care for me.” He kisses Joaquin.
Joaquin grins. “I want nothing more than to care for the two of you. To be challenged by someone,” he says, looking at Wick. “And to have someone remind me how important joy is.” He kisses my forehead.
I respond with a grin. “Fuck, I'm just greedy. Two sexy older men? Please and thank you.”
They chuckle and then somehow collude to push me up against the bathroom wall, Wick attacking my lips and Joaquin on his knees sucking down my clean, wet cock.
I’m practically melting against the wall when Abel walks in, scratching his belly before nearly tripping over himself.
