James
One year later
“Ican’t findmy artbook!” Sadie calls out, jogging down the stairs.
We moved earlier this year into what was previously my sex house. I was able to get the kids transferred from their new base school so they could go to the one they’d started at, and initially, Colton had to drive them back and forth, Christine helping out when our schedules got in the way. But then Nash got his license in June, which makes things a lot easier, and this year, we pulled Sadie out of her school and enrolled her in an arts school closer to the house. It’s where her friend Destiny from her after-school program goes.
Hannah helped us find a good used car for Nash. He goes to the shop sometimes, and Hannah and Colton have been teaching him about mechanics, which he really enjoys.
“It’s in the kitchen,” Colton calls back.
“Thanks!” She grabs the artbook and stuffs it into her backpack, all ready for her sleepover with Destiny.
“Don’t forget, Tasha is picking you up from Destiny’s tomorrow,” I remind her. They’re going to lunch and shopping. She’s really taken Sadie under her wing, the two of them closer than I could have ever imagined. It’s importantthat she has that relationship and a connection to her Black culture, something we can’t give her.
“Yep.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket. “Oh, Destiny and her mom are here. Bye, James. Bye, Colton. Love you guys.”
“Love you too,” we both reply, then look at each other and smile.
When we first moved into the house, it was just me and the kids. Colton was here often, but we both thought it was important for the kids and me to have some time together first. He officially moved in three months ago, and it’s been everything I never thought I would have, everything I could ever want. Our family is complete, and I couldn’t be more thankful for them all.
“One down, one to go.” Colton playfully pumps his brows, and I know exactly what he means. While we’ve kept up our roles and the kink that’s so important to both of us, we don’t always have the space to play exactly how we like. Kink is and always will be a part of our lives, both in and out of the bedroom, but sometimes a guy just wants to be spanked and fucked without having to be quiet or worrying about anyone interrupting us. So the apartment is now the sex apartment, and we do have that—meeting there, even though we live together, which is strangely hot.
“I’m dying for it, Sir.”
“I know you are. Always my cock-hungry boy.”
I really, really am.
The past year has been full of challenges. For a time I worried I would lose my job, as we sorted through what it meant for Colton and me to be in a relationship, mostly because I’d been his professor. Our story had been that we started dating after he dropped my class, and they had no way to prove otherwise. Since he wasn’t in my department, therewasn’t much they could do. It was weird at first because everyone knew. They looked at me differently or, hell, maybe it had all been in my head, but things have calmed down now.
We also hired a lawyer to deal with Nash’s father, wanting to cover all our bases and do what we could to make sure Nash was where he belonged. We had to fly out to Oregon and meet up with him once, and that didn’t go well. Nash was angry and wanted nothing to do with the man who had known where he was most of his life but hadn’t been there for him. When we had our court date, his father didn’t show. When Rebecca got ahold of him, he said he was no longer interested, just like that, as if Nash was not his child, but something he could have or not have an interest in. He signed over his parental rights and I was awarded legal guardianship of the kids. They’re out of the foster care system now, just another way our family is complete. No one can take us away from each other.
“Sadie already left?” Nash says when he comes downstairs.
“Just a few minutes ago,” I reply. “Do you have your tickets?”
He chuckles. “Yes.”
“Did you make your bed?”
“Always.” He shakes his head.
“Joseph’s parents are driving, though, right?” He’s taking his car to Joseph’s place, and then they’re going to a basketball game and having a sleepover.
“Baby, we talked to them already. They’re driving.” Colton wraps his arms around me from behind.
“Just making sure.” You can never be too careful.
“It’s annoying, but I like that you care.” Nash gives me a small grin, one that’s special and between us. We get each other more now. The therapist has helped us grow a lot, and though he has more in common with Colton and they’rereally close in many ways, Nash and I have our own special relationship too.
“All right. I’m out of here,” Nash says.
“Text us when you get to Joseph’s,” Colton says, and I’m grateful he’s the obsessive parent this time.
“Will do,” Nash replies.
“Love you,” I say.
