Lucky wound his fingers into Ford’s hair and shivered at the graze of a warm hand sliding over his spine.A faint click had him opening his eyes to see Chase across the hallway, with a cigarette between his lips.
Chase pushed off the wall and crossed the corridor to join them.“Caroline started karaoke madness that has your papa and Pip over the moon.”He dipped his head to kiss Lucky’s cheek.The second Ford broke away to kiss Chase, he retreated a step and raised his cigarette.“I told them you’d run for the hills and we’d head off.”
While Ford took a drag of the cigarette, Chase took another step back toward the door leading to the rear staircase.“Wanna see the room I booked for us?”With another step, Chase struggled to hide his smile.“Four nights alone.No interruptions.No family.No obligations.Nothing but the three of us, in a suite, with a bed.”
Lucky practically shivered at the implications.He’d officially moved out of his parents’ house and into Ford’s apartment, since he’d been put on leave due to their bonding and Wynna was keeping Pip until next month, when they finally moved into their new house.Things were coming together, but four days of ignoring all their obligations and anything outside of one another sounded heavenly.So far getting time together with all three of them had been difficult.Lucky either got to enjoy time with Ford when they were home alone, or time with Chase on campus.There had seemed no in between as they planned the bonds and made the arrangements for his upcoming heat.
While he might not have started his first heat yet, the doctors were certain it would go to plan, as any other first heat.All Lucky had to hope for was to enjoy what physical contact they could share until that moment.If that meant a re-enactment of their weekend together, after the bonfire, he was more than willing.
Ford took one last drag of the cigarette.“You game, flower?”He stepped closer to place one hand on the wall above his shoulder, pinning him there, while absently handing the cigarette to Chase.
Being macho alpha would normally get him nowhere, but Lucky couldn’t resist his mate.He wasfinallybonded to his two alphas, and his hormones fluttered every time one of them stepped into his personal space.
Chase opened the door for them to step out, unhindered, then led the way upstairs.The effort, time and consideration he’d put into this?their bonds, the arrangements, where to commit themselves to each other, and the extra days in a hotel?had Lucky feeling blessed by Omha.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Two weeks later
Early May
Lucky
“Be safe and have fun,” his papa whispered and hugged Lucky tight.
“I will.”He held his papa longer than necessary, but no one cared.It would be his birthday a few minutes after midnight tonight, and they wanted to be at the resort before then, to give them time to settle in.
“Pip is crying and won’t speak to us.D’you wanna try?”Ford nodded towards the front door where Wynna stood, Pip hiding behind her legs.
It hurt Lucky’s heart, but he walked down the path, stopped steps from Wynna and sank to his knees.He wouldn’t force a hug or contact with a child who didn’t want it, no matter how badly he needed Pip to understand.“I wish with all my heart you could come with us, Pip, but you can’t.No one could take care of you, and I don’t want you being alone or feeling neglected.”
Pip peeked out behind Wynna’s legs.
“Am I not your imse?”Lucky swallowed his emotions and held his hand out.“Because you will always be my lyloo.”
Pip darted from behind Wynna to run into his arms.Lucky held him and breathed a sigh of relief as Pip whispered, “Come back for me.”
Closing his eyes, he held Pip tighter.“I promise.”Brushing dark hair from big eyes, he smiled.“I’ll keep in touch as often as I can.I don’t want to hurt you, but I might forget.”
Pip sniffed and swiped his sleeve under his nose.“Because of the heat.”
“Exactly.I can’t control it and even if Ireallywant to speak to you, I might forget.”
Ford crouched beside them and placed his hand on Pip’s back.“When we come back, you’ll stay with us for two weeks.”
Reminded of their compromise, Pip hugged Ford.“I’ll miss you,” he whispered, adding another weight to the strings he’d tied around Lucky’s heart.
“You don’t gotta miss us,” Ford reassured, tightening his hug as Chase appeared and raked fingers through Pip’s hair.“We ain’t gonna be gone long.Tiloo’s gonna take you to the park, bring you to spend time with Xavier,andNeko wants to take you to the cinema at the weekend.And you’ve got Lucky's wolf to look after you.”Breaking the hug to smile at the sweet boy, he let Lucky wipe away his tears.“You’re gonna be too busy to care ’bout us.We’re the ones gonna be wantin’ hugs from our lyloo.”
Pip raised his arms until Chase picked him up.While Pip sniffed into his shoulder, Chase met and held Lucky’s gaze, a frisson of emotion passing between them.
“I wish we could take you with us.”Chase released one hand to reach out in invitation.Lucky gratefully moved into his side, resting his head on his free shoulder to look into Pip’s tired, teary eyes.“One day you’ll understand.We don’t want to hurt you, but we have to do this if you want to come live with us.We can’t all live together if we’re not bonded and mated, do you understand?”
Pip nodded but didn’t let him go.
Afraid he wouldn’t leave if he didn’t go soon, Lucky stepped away and hugged Ford’s waist.“I don’t want to go.”He closed his eyes as a wave of comforting flare washed over him.Ford’s hand cupped his hair and he kissed his forehead.
Lifting his ORT badge?with Omha’s protective pouch attached?over his head, Ford undid the clasp and lifted Lucky’s hand to lay it safely over his palm.He reached behind Lucky’s neck and undid his flower pendant.Looping the chain through his necklace, he fastened it and left it pooled in Lucky’s palm.
