Page 57 of Harmless Scandals

"I just realized that I was in love with her last night."

Adam blinked. "You just realized that?"

Mick looked at him. "Yeah. What, you knew before I did?"

Adam chuckled. "Listen, you have always been obtuse but never to that extent."

"I didn't expect it to change so much."

The annoyance in Mick’s voice almost made Adam smile. "What the hell are you talking about?"

Again, hesitation. "It's not just us. It's been us for so long, and I thought that was what I wanted."

"I thought that was your plan all along. You wanted a permanent woman in our bed."

"I didn't plan for this, okay?" He got up and started to pace. "I didn't expect that I wouldn't just want you in bed with me. It was like we were missing a part of ourselves when we were on the job. She wasn't there and while we were together, it wasn't the same."

Adam smiled and leaned back in his chair. "So, you realize now that this is a big deal. You didn't before."

"I did. It's just that, I didn't think she would matter so fucking much in just a few weeks. I can't even think of what it was like before her. I don't want to."

"And that's why I didn't want to do it in the beginning."

Mick stopped his pacing. "What?"

"I knew it would change everything. Good and bad. I also knew there was a chance that all of us could end up hurt in the end. Long term threesomes are not always easy to deal with."

Mick shoved both of his hands through his blond hair. It was nice to see him so frustrated. Ninety percent of the time, Adam was the one who suffered. He often found himself at odds with everything his lover wanted to do. Every now and then, Mick had to deal with the situation, and it was gratifying that Adam got a chance to witness it.

"So, what do we do?"

"What do you mean? Because you're feeling vulnerable you're worried?"

"I..." he fell silent.

"Exactly. Think of it from her perspective. We've had a relationship for years. She's the one taking the chance."

A noise sounded behind him and he turned to find Serenity watching them through the screen door. She was wearing one of their white dress shirts and probably nothing else. Her hair was a tangle of curls over her shoulders.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but you two were being so loud.”

One glance in Mick’s direction told Adam he wasn’t ready to cover for them. So, he turned back to Serenity with a smile.

“No worries, love. You were the topic of discussion.”

She blinked. “That’s honest.”

“Why lie? You heard us. Get a cup of coffee and join us.”

She held up her hand to show she already had one. He motioned with his head.

She joined them, but she didn’t hurry. When she reached them on the lanai, she stood apart from them. Adam didn’t like that. If they were going to move on to a more established relationship, they were one unit. Not just them and her.

He stood, grabbed her hand, pulling her closer to him. Sitting back down, he said, “Sit down.”

She moved to the other seat that Mick had just vacated. They needed another seat.

“No, over here.” He patted his lap, then smiled up at her. Part of her stiffness seemed to dissolve, then she did as he requested.

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