AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Just think how insufferable he’d be if he were good at baking too.”
Alex held up a fist, and I bumped it just as Lio returned to the crime scene.
“Go ahead and yuck it up, guys,” Lio said. “I’ll make you suffer even more when the Monopoly board comes out.” He stopped before me, planted a kiss on my lips, and ruffled Alex’s hair. Guess I had my answer about when we would tell Alex about us. And in case his son missed the first kiss, Lio came in for a second one that lingered longer. Lio’s dark eyes were a riot of emotion when he pulled back.
I looked over at Alex and caught him smirking. “So what do I call you now?” he asked.
“I got dibs on Daddy,” Lio said, waggling his brows.
“Gross,” Alex said, staring daggers at Lio.
“How about we stick with Abe?” I suggested.
Alex forced his gaze away from Lio’s to meet mine. “Works for me.”
The doorbell rang, and Alex latched onto the excuse to exit the room. I tugged Lio around the corner and pressed him up against the wall. “Someone’s feeling frisky tonight,” I said.
“You have no idea,” Lio said, sounding as desperate as I felt. We texted and talked daily, but this was the first chance I’d had to kiss him since we’d reluctantly parted ways on Sunday. “Christ, I need you.”
I started to respond, but Alex breezed into the room carrying takeout bags from his favorite Indian restaurant.
“Should I go to my room?” he suggested.
“No,” I said, ruffling his hair.
I wasn’t even sure how a love I’d carried in my heart for decades could feel so new and all consuming, but it was, and I needed to rein myself in. I kissed Lio’s lips briefly and retrieved silverware and napkins while Alex unpacked the bags. My favorite thing about eating with Alex and Lio was their sense of adventure. I’d never tried Indian food until they’d introduced me to it, and it had become my favorite. I wasn’t as brave with the spices as they were, sticking with butter chicken, korma, or tandoori chicken while they preferred curries and dishes that made their eyes sweat and their noses run.
Alex checked the contents of a container and passed it to Lio. “Here’s your butter chicken, Dad.”
I arched a brow. “No pork vindaloo tonight?” I asked Lio. He smiled ruefully and shook his head. Alex handed me a container of tandoori chicken before opening the final container and inhaled deeply. “What did you get?”
“Rista,” he said dreamily.
The remaining containers held naan and cumin rice, which Alex carried out onto the patio along with his meal.
“Why’d you go so light on the spices?” I asked Lio as I retrieved two beers from the refrigerator.
He quirked a brow. “Spicy food and anal sex aren’t a good mix.” He glanced toward the door to make sure we were still alone, then he slid his hand down to grip my dick through my jeans. “I have big plans for this later.”
“Yeah? Feel like testing out the integrity of your bed?”
Lio’s smile was slow and delicious. “I already double-checked the bolts and rails and scooted my headboard away from the wall a little.”
“I’m that much of a sure thing, huh?” I asked. Lio’s beautiful brown eyes darkened with doubt, and I wanted to kick myself. I crowded into his space, pressed him against the cabinet, and devoured his lips until the tension melted from his body. Once I rendered him breathless, I ended the kiss but kept his body pinned. “I am a sure thing. I wouldn’t leave your bed until Sunday night if it was up to me.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to take my food to my room?” Alex yelled from the patio. “I mean, I’m out here eating my birthday dinner all by myself while you guys have a make-out sesh in the kitchen.”
I quirked a brow. “What’s a sesh?”
Lio laughed and poked his head out the open patio door. “Maybe a little louder, Alex, so the people across the Wilmington River can hear you too.” He ducked back in and shook his head as he met my gaze. “Sesh is short for session. I figured you stayed current with the kids’ lingo since you’re in charge of the state’s Explorer program.”
I snorted as I grabbed my food and beer. “That one hasn’t come up yet.”
Alex was halfway through his meal when we sat across from him at the patio table. His cheeks were flushed, his eyes were watery, and he sniffled every few seconds. “This dinner is epic.”
“It’s a shame Eric couldn’t join us,” Lio said.
Alex shrugged, but I saw the light in his eyes dim. He and Eric had been best friends and practically inseparable since kindergarten. Had they gotten into a fight, or were they starting to grow apart? I looked at Lio, whose frown indicated he noticed Alex’s reaction.
