“Dax and I met a few years back because of the work we’re doing. The group I work for sought a way to get inside the corruption happening in Harrison, and Dax gave us that opportunity through Trevainne. When I was originally assigned, I was like Cas; a bodyguard, an observer, hired muscle. Dax was going through a loss…”
“Celeste?”
“Yeah. It messed him up for lots of reasons, and I couldn’t just stand by and watch as this young man, not much younger than myself, totally fell apart. I made it my mission to refocus him, to give him something to fight for, and it worked…maybe a little too well. We grew to like each other as friends, brothers even. We learned each other’s secrets and kept each other’s confidences.” The scent of lime and aniseed fills the space around us as I fight not to give in to the moan building in my throat. Who knew having your hair washed by someone else felt this good? I can’t even remember the last time Mum washed my hair, let alone a stranger or a future lover.
Shit, what was he saying?Lovers…Dax.
“So not lovers, but something just as close?” I clarify.
“Yeah. You should know we’ve shared women before. Rarely, and only in a one-night stand capacity,” he confesses, halting mid-massage.
“I’m not a first then?”
“Does that bother you?”
I don’t even have to think about it. “No. I’m neither naïve nor selfish enough to think you’ve both been celibate or, um…vanilla…before me. The suggestion of us all being involved together would never have come up otherwise. I’m hoping earlier experiences mean you’ll both have some idea of how this works.”
“Or not,” he grunts, returning to run his fingers through the strands of my hair.
“What do you mean?”
“There’ve never been feelings involved before. Until recently, I wasn’t sure Dax even knew what feelings were, to be honest.”
“Do you mean after Celeste?”
“No. Even with her. Before her…whatever.”
“Then I guess we’ll have to figure those out together,” I suggest around a smile.
“So, you’re in?” he asks, as though it’s that simple. Perhaps it is?
“I’m in,” I agree. “I just need to check with Dax to be sure he’s in too.”
“Good idea. We should probably all sit down and do the adult thing,” Aiden grumbles playfully. As though putting the three of us in a room isn’t the best idea I’ve heard this morning.
“Talk it out?” I ask.
“Fuck it out,” he fires back, kissing my shoulder.
I laugh as Aiden spins me around to rinse my hair. His smile mirrors mine as the water cascades down my back. He looks down, and his brows furrow as the dye discolours the water running around our feet.
My head keeps tripping over something he said before. About this being a job. What happens when his job is done? Is this all temporary?
I don’t want to ask, but I need to know before I get too involved and things get complicated. “What happens when your mission is done? Will you leave? Move on?”
“Now if that isn’t the question I ask myself all the damn time.” He laughs, but it sounds harsh. “I’m the team lead and in charge of this operation. There’s enough work here to last a lifetime, but if I’m reassigned…”
“You’ll have to go?”
“Even then, Tiger, I don’t think I could…this is home now. Dax is home.”
I let the conversation go and pick up the shower gel. I hand it to Aiden and smile. “I’d better put you to work. I wouldn’t want you slacking.”
He chuckles as I turn away again, and he gets busy scrubbing my back while I work on my front. We stay silent, and the task is all work without play. Aiden’s honesty gives us both a lot to think about.
*
“If I weren’t already dressed, I’d have joined you,” Dax’s voice grumbles from the open doorway. In his hands are a mug of coffee and a bacon sandwich. “You clearly don’t know how to make the best of that shower without me.” He turns and strides back into the bedroom, giving me the chance to grab a towel and for Aiden to fix a sheepish look upon his face.
