Chapter Fifteen
Randy
The sun rose over the city the next morning the same as always. And as always, I greeted it on the roof, checking on the hives and giving a drink of water to the flowers and herbs and other plantings there. No matter what else the day held, starting it there put me on a good footing. Today, I was facing the day with only a couple of hours of sleep, having spent most of the night playing games on the video system I’d foolishly participated in purchasing. But watching Nixon let his guard down, watching his pleasure in letting us win...even if he probably thought we hadn’t caught on...made it worth almost any loss of sleep
Or dignity. Because before I figured out that we were being had by our wily omega, I discovered a competitive side that belied my laid-back persona. Lucky I’d avoided these games for so long. The sad truth was I liked playing them. Or maybe it wouldn’t have mattered before. I liked playing them with Titus and Nixon. I also liked eating with them, sleeping with them, driving with them...and just about anything else.
Soon, I hoped to like full-on mating action with them. I knew without a doubt I’d more than like it, but Titus and I had been afraid of pushing ourselves on Nixon when he’d been so ill. After watching him in his gamer guise, I felt fairly sure he was back to full strength and ready for anything.
I walked the path between two raised beds of herbs very popular in the restaurant, brushing my fingers over the delicate leaves of lavender and thyme to release the scent into the early morning air. I breathed deep, thinking of how everything we grew would contribute to the health of our hives as well as the success of the businesses various members of our clan operated. Honey bees were having some real troubles around the country. I’d read an article about it in an online magazine a few years before, and gotten the idea of our rooftop paradise. But, looking around at the blossoms opening up with the morning sun, I’d never imagined how much pleasure it would bring me.
Some late blackberries against the back wall caught my eye, and I grabbed a basket and half filled it before heading back down to the apartment. The large fragrant berries would be great on a Dutch baby pancake, one we could also drizzle with our very own honey. I headed downstairs planning a big breakfast for my mates. Titus had mentioned that he had a late start that day, too, so I spent the next hour beating eggs and frying bacon, waiting for the huge Dutch baby to inflate in the oven. And sipping coffee. Lots of coffee. After breakfast, I had some meetings with contractors and a couple of errands to run. I needed the caffeine.
“What smells so good?” Nixon wandered into the kitchen in jeans and bare feet. He was still too thin, but the hives were gone, and I thought he was beginning to fill out a little. A very welcome development. “Bacon!”
I chuckled, pulling the tray from the oven and forking the crispy slices onto a plate. “Have a slice if you want, but the pancake needs a few more minutes. Also, I want to wait for Titus.”
He covered a yawn before responding. “He’s in the shower, so he should be in here shortly.”
My mind flashed to all kinds of naughty places. I was meeting with the plumber today who would be installing a shower big enough for all three of us at once. A steam unit with multiple heads, two benches, and a few other extras that would make it the most luxurious in New Corbine.
“Isn’t that the funniest thing?” Nixon queried, drawing my attention back to the omega who, in addition to my future-tripping fantasies, was seated at the kitchen counter in all his glorious reality.
I busied myself dropping and picking up a spatula, rinsing it off in the sink, to hide that I hadn’t heard what he’d said, too busy picturing him naked and bent over the shower bench while… I shoved the thought to the back of my mind before I burned the eggs. Oh so casually, I asked, “Scrambled okay?” while proffering another strip of bacon. “I always like scrambled eggs with bacon.”
He took it and stuffed it in his mouth, giving a happy sigh. Swallowing, he grinned. “Sounds good. Before you guys came along, or I guess I came along to you, I hadn’t had a good meal in a long time. I swear I’m getting fat.”
Fat? “You have a long way to go before you qualify for an ounce overweight. Let me pour you a glass of juice while we wait for Titus.”
“No need to wait,” came our mate’s deep voice as he strode into the room, hair still damp from his shower. “I’m hungry enough to eat a bear.”
“I volunteer,” I told him with a wink. “You two help yourselves to juice while I get the rest on the table.”
Five minutes later, we were in our places, devouring the food, and talking as if we’d been together for years, instead of such a short time, but by the time the platters were empty and our tummies were full, I could no longer avoid the elephant in the room. With the sexual tension constantly humming between us, and our omega’s health restored, it was time to take the next step.
“Anyone want anything else?” I asked, stacking plates in front of me.
“No.” Nixon clamped his hand over a burp. “Excuse me. I’m stuffed. Were those berries from the roof?”
“Sure were.” I didn’t bother to hide my pride in our bounty. “I don’t grow enough for the restaurant or bakery. They are just for family, well for the clan. Did you like them?”
“Loved ’em,” Nixon said.
“So big and sweet,” Titus added. “Thank you for making breakfast. I think Nixon and I should do the cleanup.” He moved to stand, but I waved him back down.
“Thanks, but if you don’t mind, let’s talk first. My brothers are already at work and we have the place to ourselves, so I think we should discuss something important.”
Nixon’s brow wrinkled. Adorable. “Is anything wrong?”
I smiled at him. “Not a thing, our omega. I wanted to invite you both out on a date tonight, and wondered if you were free.”