“So you’re the only one without a family.” Ali sounded sad for him.
“I want something a little different than a traditional family.”
“Such as?” Ali prompted. Sam cuddled closer to Ali as he closed his hand around my bicep.
“Something like this. I’d like to have something like this.”
I was a bit surprised that Sam so candidly shared so much about his family and what he wanted. Maybe it wasn’t that I was surprised by him talking about it, but more so about what he wanted.
“I think I could handle that,” Ali added. “What do you think, Josh?” she asked and nudged me with her foot.
“I could easily handle it.”
“Good. Because I want to keep the two of you safe and with me.”
I wasn’t allowing the thoughts that I was only a third wheel into my head. I wasn’t that guy anymore. And what we’d shared together didn’t feel like it was just a fling or random sex. At least, I didn’t feel like it was, for some reason. Something with Sam and Ali might be possible.
“Goodnight, you two,” Sam said quietly.
“Night, Master,” I said with a smile.
Not only was my love for Ali growing, but my love for Sam was right there with it.
16
Sam
One month later
The three ofus had fallen into an easy pattern. I was happy that Ali and Josh hadn’t given me any problems with wanting to keep them here with me and safe. Local police were still looking for Shane, unfortunately, and I refused to let these two out of my sight. I’d gone back to Josh’s house with him twice a week to check on things, and then we’d take a different route home in case anyone was following us.
I had spoken to Garrett every few days, and he’d said they were still looking for Shane. I thought it was actually a little out of the norm for the FBI to search for him, and I didn’t feel like they were searching out of a favor to me or because Garrett and I were friends. I had a feeling there was more of a criminal record or background on Shane; one that Garrett either couldn’t share or wasn’t sharing with me.
Twice a week, Garrett brought Salem over. Ali and Salem would spend the day together, and if Josh wasn’t working, the three of them would go have coffee at one of Andrew’s places. Ali had yet to go back to work at Oxygen. I didn’t think she’d want to stay away permanently, but time would tell. I thought she was still adjusting to the idea of the three of us. Josh had been climbing the walls to get back to work and out on the ocean again. We came up with a part-time solution with him working three days a week, and he’d been happy and content with that.
My heart had grown attached to both Ali and Josh. Each of them had their own specific needs, and I endeavored each day to make sure I gave each of them some undivided attention. Josh was really starting to come out of his shell. He was louder and more vocal during sex, and I was working with him on letting himself enjoy sex. I’d been working with him on not looking away from us when he comes. He’d been using sex to punish himself for being with his teacher the afternoon his sister took her life. Josh had trained himself not to enjoy the intimacy and the physical and emotional feelings associated with it. But he was starting to come around. There was a chance that our relationship was the first for him where he’d felt accepted and loved, therefore he was able to let himself go more. I was still working on it with him, but Josh listened well, and I could see he wanted to change and let go of his past.
Ali was used to having to fight for attention. She had been surrounded by brothers, and from what she had explained, she often had to act out to get any attention. I was starting to wonder how much of Ali truly was masochistic and how much of that was her saying, and even believing, that she needed pain. If she said she was a masochist, therefore she believed it and owned it merely for the attention from sadists. One particular, most desirable sadist came to mind. Authentic masochists were a rare find in the first place, and maybe her ploy all along was that she knew James was a sadist, and she could grab his attention. It was clear that she had wanted him at one point. From what I’d discovered, Ali comes just fine without pain or any humiliation. I didn’t notice that her orgasms were any stronger or more intense when pain or humiliation were involved.
She was absolutely stunning when she smiled and laughed. With her and Josh, it was constant laughter. They’d reminded me that while working at the hospital had been fulfilling for me, I’d been missing out on my own desires. Being with them definitely fulfilled the need to nurture and give love to them.
Ali’s jokes and backhanded compliments had been much calmer and tamer toward Josh, which had been great. Josh was so attentive with Ali. And just when I thought he was the alpha sub, Ali would show that she just might be the alpha sub. She always laid between us at night, and Josh made sure she was covered up and comfortable. I’d started to see that Josh truly loved her, as I did. Each time he vocalized it, she shot him a death stare. They joked about it, but it was obvious Josh was a bit hurt by his love sentiment not being returned.
Last night was Ali’s night to clean up the kitchen after dinner, and I used the time to talk to her about her feelings for Josh. I told her if she didn’t love him the same way that he loved her, that was fine, but I wanted her to stop making jokes about it. I explained that her jokes and denying that he loved her poked fun at his feelings and made him feel as though they weren’t valid. Ali admitted the reasons for her jokes were because she didn’t feel like he could actually love her. It seemed as though I still had some work to do with these two. Both of them had some underlying issues with confidence.
After being up late last night and enjoying one another’s bodies, the three of us had slept in this morning. Tonight was the collaring party for Brandon. James said that Brandon had no idea he was going to officially be collared tonight. He was a good kid, and from what James had said, Brandon was definitely perfect for him.
I was pretty sure Josh would be fine. Josh wasn’t a lover of James’, even though he had been under James’ care for many years. They would remain friends, for sure. I had hoped that Ali would be okay as well, especially with her seeing James collar Brandon. I didn’t have to remind them to behave themselves tonight, but it was on the tip of my tongue as we drove over to James’ place. It would have been for Ali’s benefit mostly because when her real emotions started to become overwhelming, the jokes and sarcastic jabs started to come out. And I didn’t want anything to disrupt or cast a shadow over James and Brandon’s special night.
As planned, we arrived early to help James set up before the guests would arrive. James put Josh in charge of the grill, which he loved. James said that Josh was one of the best grill masters around. James went inside to help Brandon and Ali in the kitchen, so I took a few steps closer to Josh.
“So, you’re a grill master, huh?” I questioned teasingly.
Josh nodded and grinned, making me smile.
“You’re the Master, though,” Josh said with a playful gleam in his eyes while concentrating on the grill.
I put my hand on the back of his neck and jostled him a little until he looked at me.
