Page 31 of When You Became Mine

Hampton nodded beside him. “Yeah, up your sleeve and down your pants.”

I groaned. “God, Hampton, do you think about anything else?”

He lifted a shoulder. “Well, I used to. Until I met this guy.”

“What can I say”—Smith waggled his brows—“I’m a man of many talents.”

I laughed. But when Smith took Hampton’s hand in his, warmth filled my chest and I settled back into the massage chair.

I’d liked Smith from the moment Hampton had brought him home. There was just something about him that was so charming, right from the start. We hadn’t been able to spend a lot of time together, with our conflicting schedules, but any time we’d gotten together, it had been easy and fun. Just the way it was with Hampton and me.

It had been a blow when he had announced they’d eloped, though. And I’d been resentful at first. But now, seeing them together, matching wedding bands sparkling in the soft lighting, fingers linked together, I knew this was exactly what Hampton needed.

And, if I was being honest with myself, it was probably what I needed too. I would have forever been his roommate otherwise. Content to live in my comfortable world, with the man who would never love me the way I had once hoped.

“You know, I was really upset when you guys eloped—”

“Aw, Pip—” Hampton interrupted, but stopped speaking when I held up a hand.

“I was upset, yes. But now…I see that it was good. And not just for you two. It was good for me too.” I cleared my throat, swallowing the emotion that was threatening to make me cry.

Hampton untangled his fingers from his husband’s and leaned over to me, grabbing my hand and squeezing hard. “I love you so much,” he whispered fiercely. “I always have. And dammit, I always will. You’ve always been my other half. And nothing will change that.”

His words broke the dam that had been holding back the moisture and tears rolled down my face.

I knew his words were true. He did love me. As much as I loved him. Our relationship wouldn’t ever change, but instead, it would evolve.

With my free hand, I swiped the tears from my face and laughed. “Not your other half. Your partner in crime. Smith here is your other half. Love you, Hammy.” I looked over his shoulder at where Smith sat, a soft smile on his face as he watched our exchange, and raised my voice. “Love you too, Smith.”

“Right back atcha,” Smith chirped.

I sucked in a cleansing breath. “Okay, enough mush.”

Hampton nodded and leaned back into his seat, resuming his hold on Smith’s hand. “So, Pip, how’s it going with my big brother?”

I raised my arms over my head to stretch. “God, I don’t freaking know! One day he’s hot, one day he’s cold. I swear, I don’t know what it is I’m doing to make him mad sometimes.”

Hampton laughed. “I doubt you’re doing anything at all.”

“He spends all day in his work cave. Literally, I peeked in there once, and it was like something out of a movie.”

Smith leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “What do you mean?”

I shrugged. “Computer monitors everywhere.”

“What did you say he does again?” he asked, still studying me intently.

“I dunno. Something to do with security. He’s a computer geek. Always has been.”

Hampton chimed in, “Yeah, he was recruited by the company he works for before he’d even graduated college.”

“Ah,” Smith muttered, leaning back in his seat. “I don’t think he cares for me.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked.

He inspected his fingernails as he replied, “Just a feeling I get.”

Hampton laughed. “He doesn’t like anyone, honey. Well, except Pippie here.”

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