As Lucian showed himself down the hall and disappeared into the living room, Marcus tugged on Sterling’s sleeve and heldhimback.
“So what is it exactly that you’re doing with two young men in your penthouse?” Marcus looked at him suspiciously. “Don’t tell me that the rumors were true. You don’t have an actual harem,doyou?”
“Only onweekends.”
Marcus rolled his eyes, and Sterlinglaughed.
“No. It’s… a long story, but the gist of itis,I—”
“Lucian!” The overjoyed shout cut through their conversation. Sterling had never heard Gabriel talk any louder than a mumble, and found his unrestrained enthusiasmsurprising.
Marcus chuckled. “Well, it looks like my boy and your boy are gettingalong.”
“Gabriel isn’t my boy,” Sterling clarified. “Adrianis.”
“So, is ‘the gist of it’ going to explain why you’re letting someone that manipulative into your life?” Marcus’ tone wasn’t overly harsh, but Sterling noted the difference all the same. “You know the things he did to Lucian, don’t you? Someone has to have told youbynow.”
“I’m aware. On the night it happened, I found Adrian on his phone outside your play room.” Sterling looked Marcus over, waiting to see any signs of hostility in his eyes or sudden tension as his muscles tightened. So far, there was nothing. “I gave him a choice in order to see if he would be repentant, and he was, so I gave him a warning. If I ever catch him bending the rules again, he’ll have his membership permanently revoked—just as I gave you and Lucian a second chance. It onlyseemedfair.”
“We, technically, didn’t break any rules.” Marcus’ face was unreadable. The attorney in him shonethrough.
“And you haven’t been back to The Shepherd, either.” Sterling held firm. On one hand, he knew that Marcus’ disdain was valid. On the other, Adrian was the father of his child, and Sterling would not see his name dragged through the mud. “Adrian hasn’t returned to The Shepherd since you left. I’m not sure he’s planning to go backatall.”
“Because he’s your boy now?” Marcus fixed him with ascrupulouslook.
“Because he’s the father of my child.” Sterling didn’t allow his expression to waver, even as Marcus’ eyes widened with shock. “I’m doing everything I can to keep my familytogether.”
“Shit, Sterling… I didn’t know.” Marcus looked divided. “You weren’t seeing him before, were you? For as long as he was at The Shepherd, I never saw him settle down for long. You weren’t together this whole time,wereyou?”
Sterling shook his head. “It’s still new. Why don’t we meet up for beer one night and we can talk about what happened in closer detail? Right now I want to make sure our boys don’t tear each other’sthroatsout.”
“Probably a good idea.” Marcus glanced down the hall. “I don’t hear a death match underway, so I’m taking it as agoodsign.”
Sterling laughed and took the first step forward, leading the way. “Then let’s make sure it staysthatway.”
* * *
There wasno death match when Sterling and Marcus stepped into the living room, but the tension in the air when Sterling stepped into the room was thick. Lucian had taken a seat by the corner of the couch, and Gabriel had curled up on top of him, happier than Sterling could ever recall seeing him before. Lucian had wrapped an arm loosely around Gabriel’s waist, but as Gabriel cuddled up to his chest, Lucian peered over his shoulder to glare at Adrian, who was seated in the armchair on the other side of the coffeetable.
Adrianglaredback.
For someone who’d claimed he wanted to apologize, Adrian wasn’t doing a good job at breakingtheice.
Gabriel lifted his head when Sterling entered the room, and he glanced beyond Sterling to Marcus. A shy, flushed look consumed him, and he pulled away from Lucian a little as if he was nervous of overstepping hisboundaries.
“Hello,” Gabriel said in a smallvoice.
“Hi.” Marcus stood beside Sterling, folding an arm to rest on the top of Adrian’s armchair. “I’m Marcus, Lucian’s boyfriend. Lucian says that you’re an old friendofhis?”
“Mm.” Gabriel glanced away. “Somethinglikethat.”
While they spoke, Sterling took the opportunity to watch Adrian. From his position behind the armchair, he couldn’t see much of Adrian’s face, but he could read his body. It was clear that Adrian didn’t want to be there—he was on edge, ready to spring up at a moment’s notice. Every now and then, he shifted in his seat as if he couldn’t get comfortable. Arms crossed over his stomach, he closed himself off to theconversation.
He was here for Gabriel, and although he was bitter about Lucian, he kept the peace for hisbrother’ssake.
Sterling found itadmirable.
Adrian’s quills were out, his walls were up, and his tongue undoubtedly longed to lash out and attack those he thought had wronged him, but for his family, he put those feelings aside. More than once, Adrian had expressed his apprehension about being a bad parent because he was a bad person, but Sterling didn’t think that was the case at all. The fact that Adrian had the willpower to hold back on his emotions for the sake of someone he loved proved that he would be an excellentfather.
