Page 118 of Trouble

He huffs, his breath clouding in front of him. “Fine. I’d really like it if my boyfriend and my girlfriend would spend Christmas Eve with me and my family. Does that work?”

Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk, I cup his face and rub my thumb against his lip like he always does to me. “Yeah, Chief. That works.”

“You two go get in the shower. I’ll get things ready,” Declan says the moment the door is shut behind us.

A thrill zips up my spine. He’s as anxiousto be together as I am, and I’m 100 percent on board with his command. We can play it slow another night.

It’s ridiculous how much it turns me on to see him so comfortable taking the lead even in Cade’s space. I shouldn’t be surprised. This is our dynamic. It feels like we’re all settling into who we were meant to be. With one another and on our own.

“You don’t want to join us?” Cade asks, though he’s already tugging me toward his bedroom.

“Just tell me where the lube and toys are, baby. I’ll meet you in there once I’ve got everything set up.”

With a shake of his head, Cade chuckles. “You just assume I’ve got it all.”

Declan strides across the room and cuffs his neck. “You’re my filthy boy,” he says, bringing their faces close together. “Of course you do.”

Cade’s breath hitches. “Top drawer. Left-hand side.”

With an arch of a brow, Declan drops a quick kiss to his lips. Then he gently pushes us toward the bedroom.

Cade’s apartment is sterile in comparison to Declan’s home. No wonder he spends his free weekends in Bristol. Though I’m sure Declan has more to do with that than how empty this place feels.

Cade’s shower isn’t quite as big as Declan’s, but there will still be plenty of space. Once he’s got the water going, he turns, his eyes warm as he studies me. “How are you feeling?”

My heart flips at the genuine affection in his tone. “I’m good. Really, really good.”

With a hand on my cheek, he pulls me in for a long kiss. It’s sweet, like coming home. “You know how much I missed you?” he murmurs, his lips brushing against mine.

“If it’s anything close to how much I missed you, then it had to be a whole lot.”

He smiles that easy smile of his, one dimple popping. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” I murmur, nuzzling into his neck.

“Do you know that I love you?” His words are so soft, I almost miss them.

Butterflies swarm my belly as his truth registers, their wings fluttering so violently I think they could carry me away. “I loveyou too.”

His eyes light up. “Yeah?”

“Yes, Cade. I’m in love with you.”

“I still can’t believe you’re both here.” He nips at my lip, his tone light. “Can’t believe we’re doing this. You’re the first person I’ve ever said that to, ya know? That I love you.”

Chest to chest, I tip my head back and study his face. “Really?”

He nods, eyes never leaving mine.

“But I’m not the first person you’ve ever loved.”

He averts his gaze, one side of his lips ticking up in a shy smile, and shakes his head. “No, I suppose that’s true. Though the feeling is different now.”

“It is different.” I lace my hands behind his neck. “You shouldn’t be afraid to tell him, though. He loves you too.”

Cade looks away, his breath stuttering. “Isn’t it too soon?”

“To tell the man you’ve always loved how you feel about him? Was it too soon for us?”

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