Arden’s hand hovered in the air between them, his eyes huge.
“Well,” Jack said behind him, snaking an arm around Arden’s waist and snugging up behind him. “Isn’t this a pretty picture?”
Beckett had watched Jack’s approach, but Arden lurched with surprise when Jack spoke.
“Jack,” he said breathlessly. “Beckett’s here.”
A little bubble of something bright fizzed in his chest at the way Arden said his name.
It was going to be all right.
Everything was going to be all right.
“I see that, my darling.” Jack rested his chin on the top of Arden’s head and gazed levelly at Beckett, who gave him a cheeky grin in return.
Arden’s eyes widened further.
“I wasn’t going to let him actually know I was here until you and I had talked it over,” Beckett said to Jack. “Sorry.”
Arden made a cross little noise.
“Couldn’t stay away, hmm?” Jack said with a smile. “I understand the feeling.”
Arden patted Jack’s arm.
Jack slid a hand around Arden’s throat and tipped his chin up. “We are talking about you,” he whispered.
Arden’s lips parted in surprise.
Jack directed his attention to Beckett. “You see?”
At the arousing sight of Jack moving Arden as he pleased, dwarfing him like that, Beckett had risen up onto his knees. He was trembling, ready to stand, to go over there and crush Arden between them, and?—
Jack gave his head a tiny shake.
Beckett stilled.
“Really?” Arden said.
Beckett blew out a breath and dropped back to sitting on his heels. “Yeah.”
“I have to leave in a couple of hours,” Jack said to Beckett. “We’re taking a walk down to the beach first. Will you join us?”
“If His Grace—” Arden made that cross little noise again, and Beckett smoothly corrected, “—if Arden wants my company, then yes.”
“I do,” Arden said at once.
“Excellent,” Jack said.
“First, though, I’d like a moment alone with him.”
“With…? Sorry, with me or with Jack?” Arden said after a moment’s silence.
“You,” Beckett and Jack both said at the same time.
“All right,” he said with a hint of curiosity amid the unflattering reluctance.
“I’ll wait for you both at the gate,” Jack said.
