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“You just made the deadline,” River teased.
“The deadline?” Bel said as he closed the door behind him.
“Mmhmm…you had another minute, and Wyatt was going to track you down, toss you over his shoulder, and bring you to bed,” River said. The seriousness in his voice was at odds with the wide grin on his face.
“I haven’t checked on your brother’s security. I wasn’t sure how well you were protected from the sun,” Wyatt added.
Warmth spread through Bel’s chest at his lover’s concern. “When it comes to protection from the sun, Marcus’s house is similar to what was in mine, though his seems easier to override from the inside.” He tapped his index finger on his lower lip for a second as he thought about it and then tucked it away. “Something to keep in mind when I rebuild, I guess.”
He walked to the dresser and toed off his shoes while undoing his bow tie. In the mirror over the dresser, he could see River push into a sitting position near the center of the bed, watching as Bel slowly pulled off his clothes. It was an intoxicating thrill to have two sets of eyes following his every move, hints of hunger playing in their depths, but there was also worry there. And maybe some curiosity.
“Are you planning to rebuild your house in the same spot? The exact same house?” River asked.
“I would like to. I guess the location partially depends on the outcome of our fight with Albert. Even if we get rid of him, the local pack might not care to have me living so close to their land.” Bel paused as he pulled off his shirt and neatly folded it up before placing it on the dresser. It wasn’t overly dirty, and he’d have to make it stretch until replacements arrived. “As for the house, I did like it a lot. I’d spent the better part of a decade designing it and really didn’t get to live in it long enough to enjoy all its features.” He smirked at River. “Though the escape route out of the lab was getting a significant workout.”
River threw up his hands and Wyatt chuckled. “Wyatt was telling me about that ladder into the abyss. Apparently, I passed out on the way down, and I really don’t remember it.”
“Did you have any other secret escape hatches or hidden panels?” Wyatt asked.
“There were a couple of other weapons stashes. I wanted to put an escape route from the master bedroom to the hidden garage, but the architect and I couldn’t get everything to line up properly.”
Shucking his pants and socks, Bel crawled into the bed, wearing only his black boxer briefs. River surprised him by moving to the opposite side so that Bel was positioned between him and Wyatt.
“Of course, since I’m rebuilding, it would make sense to take the opportunity to make some changes to the plans.” Bel used the distraction of climbing under the blankets and getting settled against the pillows as a chance to order his thoughts. Was it too much pressure to bring up that he would like their input on the house? Would they prefer it if he found somewhere else to build the house?
But would those questions put too much pressure on Wyatt and River?
Sure, they spoke about forever and how they belonged to each other, but those words were spoken under the belief that Wyatt and River would never be able to make a home with other wolves again.
Wyatt’s low laugh sent butterflies into flight in Bel’s stomach. “You are thinking very hard about something, Bel. Tell us.”
Bel nodded. Wyatt was right. They were supposed to be open and honest with each other. “I was thinking…that I’d like yours and River’s input on the new house. Was there anything you’d like to add or change? But then, I was worried that would put pressure on you to stay with me.”
“Pressure? We want to stay with you,” River quickly said. “We love you.”
Bel reached out and touched River’s cheek. “And I love you both. I want you to stay with me forever. But what about the pack?”
“What about them? We’re outcasts.”
“You don’t have to be if Wyatt beats Albert in a fair fight. Wouldn’t that make Wyatt the alpha? You could then both stay with the pack.”
River’s entire body tensed, and his wide eyes darted over Bel’s shoulder to look at Wyatt. Bel didn’t doubt that they’d talked about just that dilemma between themselves, and River’s expression left Bel feeling that they hadn’t come to a clear decision about what would happen after Wyatt beat Albert.
“We’re not leaving you, Bel,” River said, but he was staring at Wyatt as if daring the larger man to contradict him.
“We love you,” Wyatt added.
“It’s not about love. It’s about having the life you want. The one you need.” Bel grabbed one of Wyatt’s hands and one of River’s. “I want you with me always. I will always love you, but I also want you happy. If that means living among your own kind, so be it. And if it means living with me, that’s wonderful too.”
