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“You don’t always have to be the strong one, you know. I’m tougher than I look.”
Priest didn’t doubt that for a second. If there was one thing he knew about Robbie, it was that he had no problem fighting for what he believed in. He’d been on the receiving end of his wrath several times, and Priest could only imagine how spectacular he would be in full-on protective mode.
“Plus,” Robbie said, “whether you’re strong or not? There’s no one Julien loves more.”
“You’re right,” Priest said, as he got to his feet and crossed over to his men. When he crouched down in front of them, he trailed his fingers along Robbie’s jaw and then cradled his cheek in his palm. “But there’s someone he’s starting to love just as much. Someone we both are.”
Robbie’s lips parted on a soft gasp, shock entering his eyes as they stared at one another and Priest said, “I’m not sure you understand just how much you mean to us, Robert. How much having you here this weekend means to him. I don’t think I’ve told you that before, but I love how you are with him. You understand what he needs when he needs it, and every time you give it, I find myself trying to work out exactly what we need to do to make this—to make you—permanent in our lives.”
Priest traced his thumb over Robbie’s lips, memorizing their shape and texture, and then he leaned in and kissed them. “Somewhere in these past few months, I lost my mind over you, Robert Bianchi. It’s only now that my heart’s beginning to catch up.”
ROBBIE WASN’T SURE how much more his heart could take tonight.
Never could he have imagined Priest saying what he had just said, but as he sat there with Julien’s head in his lap and Priest’s mouth inches from his own, Robbie found himself moving forward to run his fingers over the scruff he loved.
A rumbling purr left Priest’s throat, as Robbie returned the kiss, and then he traced his lower lip with the tip of his tongue.
“Sweetheart…” Priest said, but Robbie just shut his eyes and reveled in the feelings coursing through him as Priest took his face in both hands and angled his head to deepen the connection.
Robbie sighed and let him in. God, was it possible to feel so much in one night and have your heart not fly apart? But as he sank into the kiss, Robbie let himself go. He let himself fly all the way up into the damn clouds. He’d already lost the battle with Julien, and when Priest raised his head, Robbie knew he’d just lost it there too. His heart no longer belonged to him. Each of these men now held a piece of it.
“If we’re being honest…” Robbie said, and gnawed on the inside of his cheek.
“Yes?”
“I kind of lost my mind the first time you called me sweetheart in Logan’s office.”
A roguish grin tipped the corner of Priest’s lips, making Robbie’s heart thump a little harder. “You hated me.”
“Well, yeah,” Robbie said. “But I couldn’t stop thinking about you either. Apparently you have that effect on people.”
“Only the ones who count,” Priest said, as his eyes shifted to Julien and he ran the back of his fingers down his cheek. “This might seem like an odd question with everything that happened today, but are you happy, Robert?”
“Happy?” Robbie said, and when Priest raised his head, it was clear he was serious. This question and answer was important to him, and Robbie replied the same way Priest once had to a question of his: “Be more specific.”
“Are you happy with us? With this relationship of ours.”
Robbie was floored by the vulnerability in that question, by the doubt behind those words. He’d always assumed that he was the one constantly freaking out that he wasn’t what they were looking for. But as Priest remained crouched opposite him, his eyes glued to Robbie’s, it was clear this was something that weighed heavily on his mind.
Robbie licked at his suddenly dry lips. “Yes, I’m happy with us. Actually,” Robbie said, and felt a silly grin hit his lips, “I kind of love us.”
“Oh?”
Robbie nodded and felt the devil on his shoulder as he said, “What’s not to love? Julien cooks, you worry about the important stuff, and I make everything sparkle.” That elusive smile of Priest’s lit his face, and Robbie added, “I also love that I can do that.”
“What?”
“Make you smile. It’s so rare that it feels like a major accomplishment when it happens.”
Robbie watched as the smile immediately left Priest’s face and his usual stoic expression returned.
“I suppose you’re right,” Priest said, as he straightened to his full height. “It’s not something I’ve done much of until the past eight years.”
Robbie craned his head up and watched as Priest slipped his hands into his pockets, removing himself from any kind of comfort, from any more moments of weakness. “Why?”
