But it didn’t bother Jax. Because he no longer felt outside of it. He’d hoped to come away from the day with a better understanding of Niall’s relationship with the couple. He hadn’t anticipated being brought into the fold.
Now he saw that this up-close view had been an initiation into their world. Unintended or not.
He had no other recourse but to enjoy getting to know Ronan, to joke around with Teal. To learn more about each of the boys and be proud of the important role Niall played in their lives. He especially liked that last part, since the adorable little guys hadalready captured his heart. His tattoos awed the twins, and they asked a lot of smart questions about the beta neighborhoods. At one point, tiny Zayne crawled into his lap with a book.
If the husbands had been worried that Jax and Niall’s relationship might mean Niall leaving their lives, now the opposite was clear. Jax would be absorbed into their family, not pull Niall away from it.
The rhythmic tapping of Sorcha’s foot bouncing against the cement drew Jax out of his thoughts as the five men sat at the table.
The younger omega sat between the two betas. He darted furtive looks at the husbands and smiled shyly at the children. Niall patted Sorcha’s knee, offering what reassurance he could. The delicate man blushed at Niall’s touch, crimson cheeks highlighted by his white-gold hair.
Jax imagined Sorcha was experiencing the same thing as him. The feeling that he had a place here, even if he wasn’t sure how to navigate it yet.
What was it Niall said months ago? That the people he loved never left his heart, that his heart just got bigger. Jax felt that now. There was justmorein the air. More love, more admiration, more respect, more friendship, more laughter.
An infinity of possibilities.
And now Jax was in the heart of it. Making it bigger. Making itmore. So was Sorcha.
Jax turned to the young omega. “I’d love to hear about your furniture making.”
Sorcha hesitantly spoke about his latest projects while Jax listened attentively. Teal left the table to assemble the sundae bar and Ronan began cleaning the grill. Seeing that his boyfriend had Sorcha well-engaged, Niall gathered up the boys to wash their hands.
Once the others were out of earshot, Jax confided in Sorcha, “This is the first day I’ve spent a lot of time with Ronan and Teal. They’re really great.”
Sorcha watched Ronan with reverence. “I can’t believe they’re my neighbors,” he whispered. “Ronan is such an amazing alpha and, of course, the entire state knows about Teal. But even though I’m younger and basically nobody from nowhere, they always treat me like I’m important.”
Jax felt a wave of compassion for the omega. “You are important, Sorcha. And it’s obvious Ronan and Teal care about you in a way that goes beyond being neighbors.” Sorcha stared at the ground and Jax deftly returned to his original thought. “Like I said, I’m glad I came today. Happy I met you, too. Now I see why my boyfriend loves working for the family so much.”
“Yeah, Niall really loves the McGinns,” Sorcha said before slapping a hand over his mouth. “Uh…sorry, I meant he loves the boys, not, like, Ronan and Teal… I mean, he loves them too, probably—obviously—but just like a normal amount, not like extra love or anything…” Sorcha’s neck flushed. He exhaled. “I’ll stop talking now.”
Jax surmised Sorcha had guessed Niall’s history with the couple. “Niall definitely loves Ronan and Teal,” Jax said slowly. “They wereespecially closebefore he met me.” He kept his gaze level to make sure the red-cheeked omega understood him.
“Oh,” Sorcha replied. He bit his bottom lip and waited a few beats before asking in a hushed tone, “You don’t mind that they were ‘especially close?’”
“No.”
The omega appeared bewildered. Jax thought it might shock Sorcha to learn that, not only did Jax not mind the couple’s past with Niall, he was increasingly open to a broader idea of what their relationship could be in the future.
Jax watched his boyfriend march the boys to the folding table. Ronan came up behind Niall and absently rested a hand on his back, as though he’d done it so many times he didn’t even realize it was happening.
And Jax couldn’t stop his imagination. He was helpless to do anything other than picture the alpha’s strong, capable hands doingother thingsto Niall. Had those powerful hands massaged the fleshy cheeks of Niall’s ass? Had he penetrated Niall’s passage with those thick fingers? Had he kissed him with that pouty mouth, or run his stubbly jaw along the sensitive insides of Niall’s thighs? And where had Teal fit into this? Had Niall fucked the omega? Or had the omega fucked him? Had Niall tasted his omega slick? What did it taste like? Had Ronan fucked them both, one after the other? Jax imagined the big alpha watching Niall fuck Teal, before jacking himself and covering the two men in his cum… Fuck. Where had that very-specific thought come from?
Jax couldn’t stop the scorching images from forming in his head. All triggered by witnessing one friendly touch of Ronan’s hand on Niall’s back.
Things had changed for him. Jax knew it when he’d spoken with Niall, knew it when he realized making Niall happy was a million times more important than possessing him. He didn’t want to possess Niall. He didn’t want to put any limits on their love.
Within the tight confines of his jeans, Jax’s cock plumped. He shifted awkwardly in his seat. Sorcha didn’t notice because his eyes were also fixed on Ronan and Niall. Jax noticed the young omega stared not only at the alpha, but at Jax’s boyfriend as well.
Jax huffed a laugh. Was there something in the water in this duplex?
The laugh caught Sorcha’s attention. “What?” he asked, as Teal came out with paper towels and a jar of cherries.
“Nothing,” Jax said.
Zayne skipped over and tugged Jax with one hand and Sorcha with the other. “C’mon Sor-ca and Jaxey. Make a sundae.”
“YeahJaxey,” Niall teased.
