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“No, that’s okay. I’m Ava.” She shrugged, her own hands full with presents for her guys and the host. “I’d offer to help but…”
Levi grinned. “Come on in. Bryce is out back.” He led her through the comfortable family home, down a wide light-filled hallway, its walls jam-packed with family photos. She spotted a few of Bryce—geeky school photos and one proudly wearing his black, blue, and white rugby uniform. She would have loved to linger and look at the rest, but Levi walked on ahead, explaining that Cole was already there, but she wasn’t the last to arrive.
Double doors opened to the left into a large living room. A tree with its tip pressed against the ceiling was positioned in the centre of the window.
“Can I?” Ava motioned to it, and Levi nodded. “Wait, I’ve just placed you. You’re Bryce’s cousin, aren’t you? You used to have that TV show. I’ve listened to your podcast too. I loved the interview you did with the ship captain and his boyfriend. That was a cool episode.”
“Thank you, I appreciate it.” He smiled back and rocked on his heels, hands still clutching the bottles. It was as if he wanted to say something more but was hesitating. When he licked his lips, Ava braced herself. “Bryce mentioned you, too—”
“You’re here,” Bryce exclaimed, brushing past Levi and wrapping her up in a hug.
Ava melted into him. His big body surrounding hers was like coming home. He smiled, and the sun beamed, warmth filling her chest and spreading throughout. She held on just as tight, burying her face in the collar of Bryce’s red shirt and breathing him in. It had only been a few days, and they’d spoken every day since they’d parted, but damn, she’d missed him. When Bryce pulled back, Ava saw Cole leaning against the doorjamb.
“Cole!” Ava exclaimed and reached out, pulling him into their embrace without letting Bryce go.
“Hi, sexy,” he breathed, his voice a whisper in her ear. Cole pressed a kiss on the sensitive skin below, and shivers erupted all over her.
A throat cleared behind them and Levi smirked, motioning with the slightest tilt of his head to an older man with salt-and-pepper hair walking up the hall. Levi took his leave as Bryce slipped his hand into hers, his big paw gently clasping her fingers.
“Dad, this is Ava, my other friend who’s having lunch with us today.”
The man, who was, physically, about as different to Bryce as Ava could imagine, held out his hand and smiled. There was no doubt they were related, though. Bryce had his dad’s smile. It lit his entire face, the warmth he generated from it contagious.
“Nice to meet you, Ava. I’m Mal. Merry Christmas.”
“You too, Mal. Thanks for letting me join you. I hope it’s no bother that I’m here.”
“You’re welcome anytime. A friend of Bryce’s is a friend of ours too. Like I said to young Cole here, it’s not Christmas if you’re on your own, so we’re glad you could make it.” He turned to Bryce and added, “Uncle Max wanted to try the cider. Could you please bring a bottle out for him.”
“Sure.”
He pottered along the hall, disappearing through a door that could only lead to the garage. Bryce ushered them into another room, still clutching Ava’s hand. “Come in here.”
They were in the laundry and Bryce closed the door after Cole had slipped in behind her. Pulling Ava into his arms, Cole hooked a finger under her chin before pressing a kiss to her lips and teasing her mouth open with his tongue. Ava held him tight, reaching for Bryce too. She wanted each of them as fiercely as the other. There was no choosing between them. It was all or nothing, and she wasn’t settling until she had it all.
Stepping behind her, Bryce held her close and trailed a line of kisses up her throat. She gasped and threaded her fingers into his hair, holding him in place as Bryce grasped her breasts, flicking his thumb over her nipples while Cole kissed her breathless.
“Bryce—” The three of them froze, Bryce biting her lobe while Cole’s tongue remained in her mouth. Ava blinked her eyes open and shivered as her lovers pulled back, their heat disappearing and leaving her bereft.
“Mum!” Bryce squeaked, stepping in front of Ava to block his mum’s view. She fixed the straps of her gauzy singlet, straightening the rest of her clothes before touching Bryce’s waist. He shifted, and Ava came face to face with his mother.
Bryce had his dad’s smile, but otherwise he was his mum. She was tall and broad-shouldered, big-breasted, and her smile turned radiant. “Be a dear, Bryce, and pass me the drink your uncle is waiting on before he comes in here looking for it himself.” When Bryce went for the bottles stacked in ice in the sink, she turned her gaze to Ava and beamed wider. “You must be the lovely woman my son hasn’t stopped speaking about since he arrived home. Welcome, Ava.”
“Mum!”
“I’ll stop harassing your dates, Bryce, if you get me the drinks.”
He handed a few bottles to his mum and held open the door, as if begging her to exit.
“Thank you, dear.” She winked and chuckled when Bryce groaned. “When you’re ready, we’ll see you for lunch.”
“Fuck me,” Bryce hissed. “Why did I think this was a good idea?”
“I think they’re great,” Cole answered.
“So do I,” Ava added, brushing her thumb over Bryce’s flushed cheek.
He huffed out a laugh, looked away, and bit down on his lip. She loved the shy side of him. It was such a contrast from the way he threw himself at life full of sunshiny gusto and the unyielding force she’d discovered him to be while playing rugby.
