H e’d played at the same pub twice since the group of dickheads had nearly got their faces rearranged. He knew Levi still had doubts—it wasn’t surprising when he had so much on the line. But there was nothing more Connor could do than keep their relationship on the down low. He hated it, hated being the invisible one, the one who always had to step away, who had to resist kissing either of them, but there was no doubt he’d do it. When they were alone, there were no boundaries, no walls between them. In public, they didn’t have that luxury.
The day before had wiped Connor out. He’d finally finished prepping Lee’s bike and laid it all out on trolleys ready for the big reveal, then helped one of the mechanics finish the job they’d stopped to guide him. After that, he’d backed up a full day at the garage with a gig afterwards. He couldn’t wait to show the bike to Levi, to decide on a colour scheme and then reassemble it together, but it’d have to wait until late in the next week—Levi was travelling up to the Sunshine Coast to film crocodile wrangling at the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo. Until then, Connor had a couple of days off. Sunday nights free were a luxury he didn’t pass up when his boss offered them.
Rolling onto his back, Connor stretched and yawned. The bed to his left was cold—Katy was already up. Levi lay to his right fully dressed and smirking at him. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Connor laughed, his voice still raspy from sleep. “I’m hungry. Feed me.”
“In a minute.” Levi leaned down and kissed him. Warm skin against his, strong hands on his body made Connor hum, then grumble when Levi pulled back far too quickly. “Your cousin messaged you. Wanted to know if we’re still on for today.”
Connor smiled, excited about catching up with Ford again. He hadn’t seen him in a decade, well before Connor had joined the army. He was meeting Ford’s partner too—something he hadn’t expected, not only because Ford had prided himself on being single, but because according to the online gossip rags, his partner was a bloke. And not just any dude, but the Reef Reid, current World Champion of freestyle snowboarding.
“What time is it?” He pulled Levi down to him again and kissed him slowly, sucking on his bottom lip. Lee shifted his weight, climbing between Connor’s legs and wrapping him in his arms.
“Time for you to get up so we can go celebrate Nick’s birthday,” Levi murmured against his lips between kisses.
“In a minute.” Connor bit Levi’s throat gently, making the other man moan.
“Boys, as much as I wanna join you, get up.” Katy appeared next to them and smacked Levi’s arse playfully. Connor hadn’t even heard her coming, but without hesitation, Levi reached out to her, and pulled Katy onto the bed next to them.
“No,” she shrieked, laughing as Levi tickled her. “I’ve gotta get the cake to Nick and Em’s without anyone seeing it. We can’t be late.” Connor leaned over and kissed her like he’d done to Levi and sighed happily, a goofy love-struck smile plastered on his face.
“Come on, boo. Up you get before we’re so late we miss your cousin.” Katy smiled down at him, the warmth of her smile lighting him up. When she leaned over and kissed him, her soft lips made him want to wrap her up and keep her there forever—in a totally non-stalkerish, non-serial killer kind of way.
It didn’t take long for Connor to get ready—anything at Nick and Emma’s was always super casual, so he only needed to shower and toss on some boardies and a tee. His thongs were at the front door—not that he’d wear them when they were there. Bare feet were pretty much the norm too.
Eyeing Katy’s arse in her cut-off jean shorts as she bent over to strap on her sandals, Connor’s grin faded, his libido fighting with the knowledge he couldn’t do anything to reveal they were together. Nick and Emma knew, but if anyone else found out? No, distance was the name of the game.
Levi wrapping his arms around Connor from behind had him leaning into the other man. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking that I can’t touch either of you today. It’s gonna suck.” Connor sighed, and Levi held him closer.
“It will, but I’ll steal you away for a few. There’s no way I can go a day either, especially when I’m not gonna be here this week.” Levi nuzzled his back and dropped a kiss between his shoulder blades. Katy joined them, hugging Connor close.
“My brother will be there too.” The disapproval in Katy’s tone rang loud and clear. She and her brother, Jonathan, didn’t get along. Connor had always wanted a sibling, so he’d never understood how someone as loving as Katy could have it in her to avoid her brother like the plague, especially when she saw her parents regularly. But then he’d met Jonathan, and he understood why. The total opposite of Katy’s playful, laid-back feistiness, her brother was high-strung and critical of everything. Judgemental was his middle name. He had hoped they’d be able to put off the inevitable reunion a few more months, but Nick was big on family, and he’d insisted on inviting his other cousin to his party. So now, he not only had to keep his distance, but listen to Katy’s brother and his wife brag on about how wonderful their life was, and how he’d need to get himself a career so he could live the great Australian dream, whatever the hell that was supposed to be. If he asked Jonathan, his first suggestion would be to stop living in peoples’ spare rooms.
Levi drove as Katy balanced the box containing the cake on her knees and Connor sat in the back. He’d laughed when he’d first seen Katy’s creation. Nick was the eldest of the cousins, and apart from Mike who was a few weeks older, he was also the oldest in their group of friends. And apparently, at thirty-two Depends underwear and Viagra were critical. Katy’s recreation of both in the form of a two-tiered cake was pretty ingenious and about as photo-realistic as you could get when icing was involved.
Levi had managed to get the cake stored in the cupboard Emma had cleared for them when Nick barged into the kitchen. “Hey, guys. Didn’t realize you’d arrived. Come on out back. Con, you can put your guitar down anywhere and that beer’ll go in the Esky outside.”
Motioning for Emma to go first, Connor followed, Levi and Katy bringing up the rear. Most of the guests had already arrived. Mike and his kids, together with Nick’s brother Brett and his twins were in the pool, Jonathan and his wife, Elsie, sitting off to one side. There were a bunch of other people too. Connor didn’t know them, but they seemed friendly enough, raising their beers to him as he followed Emma out onto the deck. Lined up in the shade were some coolers filled with ice and bottles of drinks. “Pop your beer in there, Con.” Emma motioned to them. On his knees, he opened the six-packs they’d brought and shoved the bottles in the ice.
“I’ll get some music on, hey, babe?” Nick asked Emma, holding her close.
“I’ll do it, mate,” Levi replied. “You enjoy.”
“Cool. I’ll get the barbie started in a few. Might have a game of footy first though. You up for it?”
“Absolutely.” Katy grinned, making Connor shake his head and laugh.
“Great, I’ll grab the ball.”
Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” pumped out of the sound system Nick had hooked up outdoors. If the little old lady who lived next door to Nick wasn’t rocking out in the backyard with them, Connor would be worried she’d complain about the noise. Instead, Connor smiled and wandered across the grass to say hello to Cam and Maxi. But he was distracted by the sight on the other side of the fence. Soaking wet, two men hugged hard, totally oblivious to the world around them as they kissed each other like their lives depended on it. The blond one had his hands in the other’s long hair, while the darker-haired dude slid his into the taller one’s boardies. They were beautiful together, so fuckin’ passionate and full of life and love. Connor’s heart skidded to a halt as did his footsteps while he watched them. God, he longed for that—to be able to stand in the middle of the street with Levi and Katy and kiss the ever-loving-fuck out of them. He didn’t want to hide. He didn’t want to be their dirty little secret, but what could he do? It’d never change. And he knew that going into this thing with them. Didn’t mean he couldn’t wish for it all.
The men moved, turning towards them and Connor’s mouth dropped open. Holy shit. He grinned and jogged out of the gate, yelling out, “Ford, my man. That you?”
Connor watched his cousin break away reluctantly, but the smile he flashed at Connor let him know he hadn’t screwed up by interrupting them. “Connor, great to see you,” Ford greeted him, his British accent not as strong as the last time they’d spoken years ago.
“Likewise.” He grinned, so damn happy that his only family—well, the only one he wanted to see anyway—was standing before him. Ford stepped away from the man Connor recognized as Reef Reid and hugged him hard. “It’s been far too long.”
Taking the other man’s hand in his, Ford spoke again. “Sweet, this is my cousin, Connor O’Reilly. Con, my boyfriend, Reef Reid.”
Connor laughed when Reef shook his hand, staring between himself and Ford. They looked alike—even more so as they’d grown up. There was no mistaking they were related, even with the height difference between the two of them.
“Holy shit,” Katy breathed from behind them. “And you think Nick and I look alike. You guys could be twins.”
“Right?” Reef said to her smiling, as she hooked her arm through Connor’s. Having her there with him, showing him some affection—it filled him with a warmth that made the butterflies in his stomach flutter hard. He smiled down at her, knowing that the love he had for her was written all over his face. He wanted to pick her up and kiss her, love her, but he didn’t. Barely. Reef spoke again, and he looked at the other man, trying to dispel the image that had just popped into his mind of he, Levi, and Katy walking along the beach hand in hand.
“Good to meet you, Con.”
“I’m Katy, Con’s friend.” Connor flicked his gaze towards Katy again, and she instinctively leaned closer. The heat in her eyes was unmistakeable and, God, did Connor want to take her up on her invitation.
“Come inside and meet everyone,” Con murmured without being able to tear his eyes away from Katy. He motioned to the house he’d just come from and began walking.
In a loud enough voice that Cam and Maxi, Nick and Emma and Levi would hear—the closest group to the back gate—Connor called out, “Guys, meet Ford, my cousin, and his partner, Reef. They’re here from Kiwiland for a few weeks.” Turning to Ford and Reef, he grinned. “We’ll test ya on names later, but the only other person you really need to know is Levi, my best mate and Katy’s partner.” Connor motioned to Levi who sauntered towards them. Connor bit his lip to stop the appreciative hum escaping just as Katy tightened her grip on his arm. Levi was effortlessly gorgeous—ripped muscles, dark blond hair, and smooth golden skin that he wanted to lick.
“Damn, you’re all freaking beautiful,” Reef muttered under his breath, making Levi break out in a laugh as he held out his hand in greeting.
“G’day, Reef. Hey, Ford, nice to meet you. Nick, Katy’s cousin, is gonna throw some burgers on the barbie in a few. Beer’s in the Eskies over there. Chuck yours in there too, if you like.” Levi motioned to the coolers lined up in the shade. “We’re about to play a game of footy. You guys in?”
Reef’s wicked grin at Ford, and Ford’s smile back was contagious. Levi tossed an arm around Connor’s shoulders and squeezed him tight for the briefest of moments before ripping his singlet off and carelessly tossing it onto the grass. Connor almost swallowed his tongue watching the other man jog out the gate.
“Looks like I’m playing against him then, huh?” Katy mumbled. Connor paused and looked down at her before barking out a laugh when she flicked her shirt.
“I’d pay good money to watch you play skins, Cupcake,” he teased.
“Shut up, doofus.” She nudged him and reached down to slip off her sandals before shouting, “Okay, boys, let’s do this.”
Connor followed her in a daze out the gate and onto the sand. Ten of them—five on each side—were lining up to play, Mike in the centre holding the ball. Placing it on the ground, he used his foot to roll it back into Levi’s waiting hands, and the scrambling began. Katy ran behind him as Connor charged for Levi, readying to tackle him. The ball was passed away and Connor diverted, running for one of the other players. Sand flew in the air as they sprinted across it, racing after a ball being tossed between players. Wind in his face, salt in the air, his heart beating hard as he pumped his legs fast, Connor grinned. This was life. Friends and family, having fun. This is what he’d been defending, sacrificing those years for. The war wasn’t over—hell, it’d probably continue for decades as the world tried to rid itself of those crazy bastards—but Connor wanted to live. He wanted to love.
Reaching long, Levi got his fingers on the ball, barely three feet from the makeshift try line. It was a shoe-in that he’d cross the line, but it didn’t stop Connor going in for the tackle. Bending, he wrapped his hands around Levi’s middle and let his weight drop, pulling the other man down with him. Levi slammed the ball down on the ground and yelled out in triumph.
“Lucky pass,” Connor muttered as he stood and dusted himself off.
“Superior skill, babe.” Levi slapped his arse and winked at him before sauntering off back to the middle of the field. The few people around him didn’t bat an eyelid, but Connor’s skin prickled in awareness. Blowing out a breath, he picked up the ball and kicked it toward his team’s try line, aiming for Nick’s outstretched hands. The other man caught it easily and passed it to Katy, who tucked it under her arm and sprinted. She was small but fast. Dodging the bodies of the men hurling themselves at her, she crossed the line and planted the ball down, arms raised in victory as she shook her cute little arse.
Soon they had Cam and Maxi, and two people who he learned were Emma’s sister-in-law and her PA, join them on the makeshift field. There were a few tries The King would be proud of, but the rest were disastrous. And the plays? God awful. But it was hella fun. Sweaty, out of breath and covered in sand, Connor needed water, so he was relieved when Nick called a time-out. Making their way back through to the yard, Connor brushed off all the dry sand he could, before stripping off his shirt and standing under the outdoor shower to rinse off the rest.
“So how’re you settling in since you’ve been back?” Ford asked him as Connor handed them both a bottle of water from the Eskies.
“Yeah, good.” Connor nodded, smiling as they stood in the sun to dry off. “I’ve got regular gigs at a couple of pubs and cafes a few nights a week. I’m living with Katy and Lee, and that’s working out great.”
“And Lee’s the same Levi who you’ve been friends with since you were a kid?” Ford queried.
“Yeah. We’ve been mates since we were five.” Connor looked over his shoulder at his lover and smiled, Levi grinning back. Steering the conversation away from himself, he asked the two of them, “Ford said you two met on the slopes. How’d that happen?”
A longing filled him when Ford wrapped his arms around Reef from behind and pulled the man back against him. Nuzzling their heads together when Reef turned side-on, the snowboarder smiled. “He was my heli-skiing guide when I holidayed in New Zealand. We got stuck in a snowstorm while we were on the slopes and we camped out in a ranger’s hut for a few days while the blizzard passed. Then this one got hit by an avalanche and the rest is history.”
He’d heard about the avalanche, knew that Ford was injured, but not too seriously. “So what, cabin fever?” Connor teased his cousin.
“Hey, don’t knock the D until you’ve tried it.” Ford gave as good as he got, making Connor choke on his drink, but his demeanour had changed on a dime, becoming defensive, and maybe a little aggressive. “Dude, if you’ve got a problem—”
Connor held up his hand, halting Ford in his tracks. The other man had tensed, the opposite of what Connor wanted. “Mate,” he whispered, grabbing Ford’s arm and dragging him away from the others into a more private nook in the yard. Reef followed, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ford, clearly backing his lover up. “I’m bi, you don’t need to convince me. I’m not judging you, dammit.” Connor scrubbed his face and looked around. “But keep it to yourself. Not many people in this crowd know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Do Katy and Levi know? You’re not hiding from them, are you?” Ford asked, concerned.
“Yeah, they know.” Connor let out a breath. “Can I ask you a question, Reef? About when you came out?”
“Sure, anything.”
“Why’d you do it when you did? Why not earlier? Or not at all? Why not keep your relationship a secret?”
Reef smiled, his dimples showing, and Ford nuzzled closer. “No, I’d done enough hiding.” He paused and looked at Ford, the love in his gaze palpable. “And we were ready to move on.” Reef pressed a soft kiss on his man and turned back to Connor. “I’m actually surprised we didn’t get outed earlier.”
“You wanna come out, Con?” Ford asked him gently, then shook his head. “Sucks that we even have to do that. Straight people don’t have to make some grand announcement, but apparently, the rest of us do or we’re closet cases. And it happens every time you meet someone new.” Reef stroked his fingers through Ford’s hair, comforting him without even realizing it. God, Connor wanted what they had—so much so it hurt—but fuck, that was so damn selfish. Why couldn’t he be satisfied with what he had? Levi wasn’t hiding him because he was ashamed of him; it was because the world wouldn’t understand and Levi would lose everything he’d worked for. Connor got it. He agreed that Levi didn’t have much of a choice. But it still hurt.
He shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. “Nah, no point. It’s just hard, ya know? Our relationship is everything to us, so we’re good there, but I hate hiding. I wish we could be more, put it out there, but it’s just not possible.”
“He must be pretty special for you to protect him like this,” Reef added.
“Without a doubt.” Connor smiled sadly. He didn’t want to kill the mood. This was supposed to be a party, and instead, he was being a sad sack.
“Let him know you’ll be there when he is. It’s the only thing you can do if you aren’t prepared to walk away.”
“Yeah, I will. Thanks, guys.” He smiled at them, this time not having to force its genuineness. “If you’ll excuse me for a minute, I’m gonna help get the barbie started. I’m starvin’. I’ll be back in a bit.” He capped his empty bottle and tossed it in the makeshift recycling bin before heading inside.
His heart pounding, Connor closed the bathroom door behind him and splashed water on his face. Resting his hands on the sink, he looked at his reflection in the mirror. Messy curls, suntanned skin, a tattoo on his arm that curled up and over his bare shoulder, a short beard and dark eyes stared back at him. Get it together, mate. Seeing Ford and Reef together had made him yearn for a relationship like theirs with Katy and Levi. They were so open and loving, so uncaring of what the judgement of others held. And there was judgement. Jonathan and Elsie had stared at them, their disgust evident in their turned-up lips and exaggerated shudders when they hugged or kissed. Another reason to hate the stuck-up couple.
The door opening startled him until he saw Levi’s reflection in the mirror as he entered and closed the door without a word. Connor turned to face him, ready to explain. He was sure Levi would know. He always did.
Instead, he crowded Connor, pushing him back against the sink and stepping between his spread legs. “Please talk to me,” he whispered. “You’re miserable.”
“We can’t change it. I want what they have, but I’ll settle for it in private.” Levi sighed at Connor’s words and closed the distance between them, brushing their lips together.
“I dunno what else to do.” The sadness in Levi’s eyes tore at Connor’s heart. His man was hurting just as much as he was. No doubt Katy was going through the same thing too. He cupped Levi’s face, warm, smooth skin against his cool hands. They gravitated towards each other, their lips touching, gently at first. Need overcame him, and Connor deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue into Levi’s open mouth. The taste of Levi’s drink—whiskey, dry, and lime—and that unique Levi flavour burst onto his tongue, making Connor moan. He wanted this man, yearned for him. Needed him closer. Moving his hands down his boyfriend’s firm body, Connor brushed his fingers over Levi’s nipples making the other man gasp.
“Damn, you’re sensitive there.” Connor smirked against the other man’s lips and laughed when Levi bit him. Slipping his fingers under the other man’s shirt, he hummed when the firm muscle quivered under his light touch. Warm, silky smooth skin met his fingertips and Connor was suddenly ravenous. He needed a taste of him. Needed everything. Grasping the bottom of his shirt, Connor ripped it off Levi, bringing them chest to chest.
He kissed him hard, their tongues tangling together as Levi yanked Connor’s boardies down as far as they would go before stepping back and falling to his knees. Levi licked his lips, and Connor nearly came on the spot. Damn. Levi nudged his legs closer together and slipped Connor’s shorts down to his ankles. He sucked in a breath when Levi’s warm palms skirted up his legs and around to his arse pulling him forward until he buried his face in the crease between Connor’s leg and his pubes. He ran his fingers through Levi’s hair, watching as the other man mouthed his abs. When Levi licked up his length, Connor let his head fall back and he moaned. He shuddered, his hips thrusting forward of their own volition when Levi closed his mouth around his shaft and sucked. Over and over again until Connor couldn’t stand it any longer. He was riding the edge, so damn close to coming. Tightening his fingers in Levi’s hair, Connor moaned incoherently trying to pull back. He didn’t want to come yet. He didn’t want it to end.
Then Levi’s mouth was on his, kissing him. Ravaging him. His hands on Connor’s back, he held him close. Con reached between them and grasped their shafts, fisting them together.
The door slammed open, and he froze. Levi did too. Oh fuck. He dared not open his eyes, but he didn’t need to. He knew that voice anywhere. “What the…?”
Katy had just sat down with Ford and Reef when the words, “You cheating piece of shit,” rang out. She stiffened, her heart sinking. Like a house of cards, she could see everything toppling down around her, bursting the little bubble of blissful happiness she, Levi, and Con had been living in.
Her brother was angry, and that was never good. He reacted like a cut snake whenever someone ticked him off. And by the one-sided shouting coming from inside the house, Katy knew it had to be that he’d walked in on Levi and Con.
“What the?” Ford asked, confused.
Katy pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead. “It’s Jonathan. Sorry, guys, I need to get in there.”
“Yeah, sure,” Reef said, standing and taking Katy’s bottle of beer from her. She wiped her suddenly sweaty palms on her jean shorts and headed inside. But she wasn’t alone. Elsie was already rushing in there too, her long white linen vest and loose skirt billowing behind her. Emma too. Katy followed third, the sounds of the insults being hurled by Jonathan getting louder and louder, and not just because she was getting closer. He was ranting, giving a sermon that he didn’t really believe. Or maybe he did. He’d always been a judgemental prick, being homophobic wouldn’t be a stretch.
When she stepped around the corner, Katy skidded to a halt. In the bathroom stood Con and Levi, and just outside the door was Jonathan. Con was struggling to pull his still-wet boardies up but they were tangled, his shirt balled up next to the sink. Levi was fully dressed but flustered as hell. Trying to calm her brother, Levi placed a hand on Jonathan’s arm, but Jonathan jerked it away. “Get the fuck off me, you—” he shouted, stopping abruptly when Con sidestepped Levi, getting in Jonathan’s face.
“Watch it, mate,” he growled, standing over him with fists clenched. Audible gasps of shock sounded from the onlookers gathered around them. Time slowed, the rushing in her ears too loud to hear her sister-in-law’s shocked screech when she realized what was going on. And then it sped up again, the force of Elsie’s disgust hitting her like a slap to the face.
“Or you’ll do what, faggot? You make me sick.” Seeing he had a crowd gathered, Jonathan almost preened. It made her nauseous. “Kaitlin, do you know why you haven’t got a proposal yet? Why he’s been stringing you on for so many years? He’s cheating on you. With him.” Jonathan pointed to Con, looking at him like shit on the bottom of a shoe. “Another five minutes and one of them would have been bent over taking it up the arse.” The hatred in his tone, the accusation, had tears welling in her eyes. His words were like the stab of a knife, wounding her and drawing out the pain with each one, killing a piece of her one jab at a time. “See what you’ve done? You’ve broken her heart. You’re disgusting, both of you.”
Con staggered back like he’d been struck, Levi catching him in his arms. Her eyes connected with theirs and the heartbreak in each of their gazes eviscerated her. They didn’t deserve her brother’s wrath. She had to fix this. She had to make him stop. Katy wiped her tears and stepped forward, wanting to go to them. Only a few feet separated them, but it could have been the entire Pacific Ocean. Jonathan blocked her way, and cool bony fingers snaked around Katy’s bicep, pulling her back. She looked to the side and met Elsie’s haughty stare. That bitch always thought she was better than everyone and she was in her element now. Katy shook the other woman off, anger pulsing through her at their interference and judgement.
“Kaitlin—” Elsie started.
“Stop it. Both of you just stop.” Katy held her hands up, her tone hard as she spoke. She was done with pussy-footing around. The cat was apparently out of the bag anyway, so she was dealing with this shit head on. How dare they judge her men? How dare they judge her?
“Kaitlin, you’re coming home with us. There’s no need for you to see them anymore. I can take care of getting you moved out, getting you your fair share of the house.”
Katy blinked, unbelieving of what she’d just heard. “What?” she spat back, her voice rising indignantly.
“Jonathan, why don’t you calm down,” Emma spoke from behind, always the peacekeeper. “You don’t know what’s going on here, and I think you need to leave judgement out of it. Let them explain.”
“Butt out, Emma. This is between us. Family. Not you.”
“Emma is my family,” Con said stubbornly, his arms crossed over his chest, looking deadly. Unsuccessfully trying to pull him back, Levi wrapped an arm around Con’s middle and used his bodyweight to shift him. Even outside of Jonathan’s personal space, Con was imposing. “Watch how you speak to her.”
Stepping closer to Con, Emma squeezed his forearm, smiling at him, before turning her attention back to Katy’s brother. “You’re right, Jonathan. This is something you should speak with these guys about, but first I think you need to leave. You can come back and talk once you’ve had a chance to calm down.”
“You think you can kick me out when my sister is here?” Jonathan’s eyes flashed angrily. He was like a raging bull, ready to charge. “I’m not leaving her so she can be taken advantage of.”
“My wife asked you to leave,” Nick snarled, suddenly standing beside Katy. “Now do it.”
“Nick, you have no idea what’s happening here.” Jonathan’s tone morphed instantly from angry and aggressive to placating, then again forceful when he continued. “I’m not in the wrong. I just walked in on those two”—he pointed with his thumb over his shoulder at Con and Levi—“half naked in the bathroom. They’re cheating on her. Together.” Jonathan paused his accusations and faced Con. “You’re a disgrace to this country. Terrorists shoulda killed you when they had the chance.”
Katy watched everything like it was in slow motion: Levi wheeling around, his hand curling into a fist, the other reaching for Jonathan’s shirt, murderous intent darkening his face, Con throwing himself at Levi, wrestling him back and away from her brother, Katy herself instinctively moving forward, the roar she let rip drowning out the animalistic growl coming from Levi. And suddenly she stopped moving, hauled back again by strong arms, pinning her against a thick body. Powerless, frustration welled in her as Con wrestled Levi back, pulling him away from the piece-of-shit-for-a-human former brother. Katy twisted, trying to break free, but the arms pinning her tightened, holding her fast. “No, Katy,” Ford whispered in her ear. “He’s not worth it. Trust me, he’s not.”
No one was holding Nick back. He’d pinned Jonathan to the wall with fists balled in his shirt. The always smiling, always laughing Nick was gone, and in his place a dominating and downright scary man stood. Her brother visibly withered when, in a deathly calm tone, Nick spoke. “You have no idea how fucking wrong you are, Jonathan. Get the fuck out before you say something else you’ll regret. You’re no longer welcome here.” Nick pulled him away from the wall then immediately slammed him back against it before letting Jonathan go. He didn’t move though, still towering over her much shorter brother. With barely a couple of inches between their chests, it was a picture of opposites—Nick’s long body hard from the workout regime Mike had him on and Jonathan standing half a head shorter, his middle rounder.
Elsie gasped in horror at Nick’s move, while Katy silently dared Jonathan to push his luck again. One more crack and she wasn’t sure Con would be able to hold Levi back. One more crack and he’d probably find himself on the receiving end of her fist too.
But Jonathan wasn’t entirely stupid. Unfortunately. Straightening his shirt and stepping out of Nick’s immediate reach he shook his head. “Come on Elsie, Kaitlin, we’re leaving.” Turning to Nick he added, “I don’t believe you’d side with them.”
Ford’s arms around her didn’t loosen, and Reef was shielding her with his body too, putting as much distance as possible between her and her sibling. For that, Katy was grateful. But it wasn’t necessary, she wasn’t leaving with him. “I’m not going anywhere, Jonathan. I’m staying here with my family. My guys.”
“You knew about this?” Elsie asked, shocked and completely appalled. When understanding dawned, she added incredulously, “You’re fucking both of them. You slut.”
Katy smiled. She couldn’t help it. She wanted to cackle insanely and sing “nah nah nah nah nah.” Dance a jig even. She might have been going slightly insane. Elsie huffed disbelievingly and turned on her heels, following Jonathan out the house. The front door slammed and Katy flinched, the sound ricocheting in the silence. The smile slipped off her face and her bravado from a moment earlier left her in a rush. Ford was no longer hugging her, but she didn’t want that anyway. She wanted her guys. Nick was between them, and he stopped her before she could rush into their arms. “Go upstairs into our bedroom if you want. You can talk up there and no one will interrupt you. Stay as long as you need.” He squeezed her arm and Emma smiled, nodding in encouragement as they followed the others out into the late afternoon sunshine, leaving her alone with Levi and Con.
“Sugar, I’m sorry—” Levi started.
“Don’t,” she replied, resting her face on his chest and wrapping an arm around his waist. His furiously beating heart was a testament to the anger boiling inside him, the tenseness in his body not having dissipated. She laid a kiss on his chest, grateful that he hadn’t hurt himself knocking Jonathan’s block off. “Don’t ever apologize to me for loving each other. That arsehole…” Katy blew out a breath, trying to calm herself down. It was done now. She was done with him. No matter what he said or did, she no longer had a brother. There was no way she’d stand for him treating either—all—of them the way he had. “His opinion means nothing. I don’t give a fuck about what either of them said.” Katy reached up and cupped Con’s cheek. “They’re meaningless. But you? You’re everything to us.” She dropped her hand, wrapping both arms around their waists and stepped in close to them, tears welling in her eyes. The anger and frustration, the sorrow for the words spoken to Con were overwhelming. She wanted to protect them, to wrap them in her arms and hold on tight. She wanted nothing more than to make this right. Through a half sob, half laugh she added, “But seriously, lock the fucking door.” Connor huffed out a humourless laugh and held her tighter, Levi doing the same while she regathered herself. Their touch—as simple as stroking her hair and kissing her temple was—was comfort. It was home.
“I’m sorry. God, they were so mean,” she whispered, biting back a fresh wave of tears. They’d tried to hide it, tried to keep what they had between them and now it was out there in front of a whole party of people. “What the hell are we supposed to do now?”
“Now we go outside and fess up, I s’pose.” Levi shrugged, trying but failing to hide his nerves. “Maybe eat some cake?”
Katy tilted her face to look at him, and Levi captured her lips in the most innocent of kisses. Squeezing him tightly, she turned to Con, waiting for his opinion, “I’ll do whatever you want, Cupcake.”
She nodded, a smile stretching her lips. “I could do cake. And beer.”
“Cake and beer it is.” Taking their hands in hers, Katy led them through the house and out back.
Ford held out a beer, Reef handing them two more. Katy took one and smiled at him before turning her gaze to the rest of the group sitting down around the fire pit. “I guess we, um, have some explaining to do.”
“No. You don’t,” Nick replied, standing up and moving over to her. “You don’t need to justify yourselves to us. All you need to know is that we love you guys. You’re our family, and we’ll stand by you no matter what.” Hearing those heartfelt words filled her heart with happiness and love—for Nick and Emma who were more family to her than Jonathan ever was, or would be. She hugged Nick hard. His acceptance of them, and the knowledge that at least one person in her family didn’t judge them, meant the world.
“We need a toast,” Cam called out. “To love and threesomes… And Nicky’s birthday. Happy birthday, mate.”
A chorus of, “Here, here,” and, “Cheers,” rang out around the crowd.
There was a bit of shuffling and a space large enough for them opened up. Con dropped her hand and stepped away. Confused, she turned to follow him, realizing what he was going for—his guitar. It was never far away from him.
Levi sat down and pulled her onto his lap while Con made himself comfortable next to them. Joining hands with Con, Katy smiled and snuggled into Levi’s broad chest. Warmth and love surrounded her, her heart full to overflowing. “How did I get so damn lucky?” she murmured. “I love you.”
Con pressed his lips against hers and Levi kissed her temple softly, his stubble brushing against her cheek, before he turned his face and pressed his mouth to Con’s. “And we love you.” Con smiled at her, the crooked grin lighting up his face, his eyes sparkling. It had the butterflies in Katy’s belly fluttering.
After settling back, sitting cross legged on the cushions surrounding the fire pit, Con repositioned his guitar on his lap and started strumming.
“Miley,” Lexi, Mike’s little girl squealed. She’d been quiet until then, resting her head on her father’s lap. She was adorable, long dark hair in pigtails swaying wildly as she snapped up. Lanky and in love with everything netball, Lexi could recite the stats of every player in her favourite teams. She was rarely out of her netball uniform too, the short yellow and green dress part of her daily wear.
“You know this one, hey?” Con grinned at her.
“Every word,” Mike moaned. Katy couldn’t help but laugh. She’d been exactly like that growing up. When she loved a song, she’d learn every word of it, playing it endlessly until the next one piqued her interest and she’d move onto that.
Con sang. The lyrics resonated within her—being free and loving life on a perfect beach was apropos, poignant as they sat there on that cool autumn night, the waves crashing in the distance. She watched the flames dance in the shallow iron pit on the deck while the sun set. Early evening was upon them, and Con’s deeper voice, mixed with Lexi’s sweet alto created a bubble around them, winding romance through the air.
“Sing us a classic, Con,” Maxi asked when he’d strummed the last note. He nodded thoughtfully for a moment and then sung the slow opening of INXS’s “Never Tear Us Apart.” Katy loved the song, loved the imagery of a man finding love and no matter what intervened—worlds colliding, a thousand years passing, absolute chaos—he’d never let them be torn apart. Katy was swaying in Levi’s arms, humming along, when Nick stood and held his hand out to Emma, dancing slowly with her in the dying sunlight of the day. Reef and Ford were soon up too, Ford’s front to Reef’s back as they swayed as one, Ford holding Reef tight.
Con followed, standing up and walking around the couples, stepping over outstretched legs and coming before her and Levi again. Holding out his hand, he helped Katy up. “Dance with our man, Cupcake,” he murmured, before pressing a lingering kiss to her lips. Katy sighed, all the happy feels coursing through her veins when Levi took her into his arms, and they watched Con sing the rest of the song. She was enraptured, so damn lucky to have not one, but two men who loved as hard as Levi and Con. They gave everything to her, to each other—all of their hearts.
“D’ya know this one?” Con asked as he bent and fished a pic out of his guitar case. “Stupid question, everyone knows this one.”
Katy was preoccupied, staring at his arse and long, strong legs as he bent. Damn. What a view. Katy giggled at Levi’s rumbling groan and snorted out a laugh when Con stood back up and winked at her.
“You shit,” she playfully chastised him. “You’re torturing the poor guy.”
“Eh, I try.” Connor shrugged, and using the pic, strummed the unforgettable first strains of The Kinks’ “All Day and All of the Night.” Cheers went up through the group and with all of them standing and dancing, they shout-sang the lyrics. Wildly out of tune, they were all laughing and jumping around as Con continued to play. It was freeing, the weight of her brother’s vitriol being shaken off all their shoulders. Katy’s heart was light, love and laughter in her soul. Spinning around, Katy raised her arms above her head and belted out the lyrics. They totally described how much she wanted her men—she was insatiable around them. She twirled in Levi’s arms, laughing when he dipped her low. God, she’d needed this, needed to be able to show the world just how much they meant to her.
Only a short song, it ended quickly, but Katy wasn’t disappointed. Con took her hand in his and kissed her fingertips, his other hand wrapping around Levi’s neck and pressing their foreheads together. Breathing hard, Con crushed their lips together. It was quick, but scorching hot, melting Katy’s insides. He grinned wickedly at both of them and strummed down the strings, stopping to adjust the tension on a couple. While he did that, he began singing. He got three words in and she knew it was “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran. Katy looked around her. All the couples were cuddled together. Levi’s warmth pressed against her, his strong arms cradling her as she rested her head on his shoulder. Katy smiled at Jaxon, Mike’s youngest, as he looked around disgusted at all the people surrounding him, none of whom would throw the footy to him. Spinning it on his finger, he huffed out an exaggerated sigh and rolled his eyes. Katy pointed to him and Levi murmured, “Poor lil’ dude.”
“I’m gonna play with him. Why don’t you dance with Connor?” Levi’s hum was all the confirmation she needed. Katy stepped out of his embrace and held out her hands to Jax. His little face lit up like he’d won the lotto. Catching the ball he threw to her, she snapped her gaze to her men when the music abruptly stopped.
“Nick, get a radio on,” Levi’s low voice rang out clearly among the quiet group. “I wanna dance with my man.” Katy smiled and tossed the footy back to Jax, all the time watching as Levi held the neck of Con’s guitar and lifted it over his head, setting it against the wall. When Levi stepped into Con’s arms, they melted together, holding tight while they joined their lips in another scorching kiss. Right then, she wanted Con to have Levi more than anything. She was so ridiculously happy, so damn ecstatic that her guys could finally love each other in the open. She knew how hard it was for Con to be kept hidden, even if he wouldn’t admit it to them. Katy couldn’t help her goofy smile and the giddy happiness at full bloom in her.