Page 29 of Forbidden Desires

I nod, the knot in my chest loosening as I meet his concerned gaze. "Please."

Pete's hand squeezes mine gently. "Okay, baby. We're here, and we won't go anywhere."

They exchange a brief glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Then, without another word, Dexter kicks off his shoes and crawls into bed on one side of me. Pete follows suit, slipping under the covers on my other side.

The mattress dips under their weight, and the warmth of their bodies surrounds me, chasing away the lingering shadows of loneliness. Dexter tugs the blanket over all three of us, and Pete pulls me snugly against his chest.

My bed isn't really big enough for all of us, but I couldn't care less, because it just means we are closer.

A soft sigh escapes me as I sink deeper into the warmth of their embrace. For the first time in what feels like two years, I feel safe.

I know there’s still loads I need to tell them, and this is only the beginning for us, but for the first time since Pete stepped outof my life two years ago, I feel like true happiness is within my grasp.

I drift off to the steady rhythm of their breathing, my heart beating in time with theirs. And for a little while, all the worries—about the future, the secret I'm carrying, the fear of what comes next—fade into nothing.

Right here, wrapped up between them, everything feels exactly how it's meant to be.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Suzie

The first thing I notice as I drift awake is warmth—Dexter's powerful body curved protectively behind me, his arm wrapped around my waist, and Pete’s steady breath, soft and rhythmic, brushing across the back of my neck. I lie there, nestled between them, letting my eyes remain closed for a moment longer, savoring the sensation of safety and comfort their presence brings. Wrapped in their warmth, it feels like the world beyond this bed doesn’t exist, just the gentle rise and fall of their breathing surrounding me.

But then, an unwelcome wave of nausea creeps in, twisting my stomach in that familiar, irritating way. I take a shallow breath, silently begging my body to settle. This has been happening for a few mornings now—flickers of queasiness that rise and fall in unpredictable waves. I remind myself it’ll pass, that I just need to breathe, but my stomach tightens anyway. Pete shifts beside me, his arm sliding over my hip, pulling me closer. I tense up, hoping the movement won’t trigger another surge of nausea. I hold my breath, waiting... then exhale softly as the wave fades, leaving me grateful and relieved.

Pete’s voice breaks the quiet, still thick with sleep. “Morning, baby,” he murmurs, pressing a lazy kiss to my temple, his hand settling possessively on my hip. The touch is grounding, and I find myself relaxing into him, almost like his warmth alone could soothe me completely.

Dexter nuzzles against the back of my neck, his chuckle low and warm, vibrating through me in a way that feels like a reassuring hum. “Sleep okay, sunshine?” he asks, his voice tender.

“Better than I have in a long time,” I admit, my voice barely a whisper, softened by the gentle weight of honesty. And it’s true—I haven’t felt this content, this safe, in what feels like forever. But then, just beneath the surface, I can feel the unease I’ve been trying to bury. This secret of mine, as precious as it is, feels like an enormous, invisible weight pressing down on me, hovering like a shadow over this sweet, new connection we’re building.

This thing between us can’t just be about the baby. It has to be more than that. And I have to know if it is before I even think of letting them into that part of my life. It's insane how protective I've become over my little peanut in such a short time. Especially considering I haven't really made peace with its presence yet.

Pete’s hand slides down, resting lightly on my lower stomach in a way that makes my heart stutter in my chest. For a second, it’s as if he knows. That idea sends a fresh wave of nerves through me, and I force myself to remember he doesn’t—he can’t. It’s just a coincidence. But the little knot of worry tightens in my chest anyway.

“You okay?” Pete’s whisper is gentle, his lips grazing the edge of my ear, his touch and tone so full of care that it cracks something in me.

A flicker of panic rushes through me, and I manage to laugh, hoping it sounds convincing. “Guess I’m just not used to wakingup between two incredibly sexy men,” I tease, trying to keep things light.

Dexter’s fingers glide down my arm, each touch as steady and soothing as a heartbeat. “Something you think you could get used to?” he asks, voice warm with amusement but holding a soft undercurrent of something serious, something that feels achingly real.

My stomach does a tiny flip, and this time, the flutter isn’t just nerves but a spark of excitement and… hope. “Definitely,” I murmur, my voice a little more honest than I’d planned.

“Good,” Dexter replies, his breath grazing my skin before he claims my mouth in a soft, gentle kiss that has my pulse racing. “Then our plan is working. Step one: get our sunshine used to us so she misses us when we’re not here.”

His words, sweet as they are, bring reality rushing back, along with the reminder of how temporary all this might be. My body tenses, and I feel Dexter pull back slightly, concern shadowing his expression.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asks softly, his fingers brushing a tender line down my cheek.

“What… What are we going to do after your month here is up?” I force myself to ask, though the words come out fragile, almost breaking under the weight of my own uncertainty. The hint of hope I felt moments ago feels like it’s crumbling around me.

Pete tightens his hold on me, pressing a gentle kiss to the back of my neck. “That’s step two, baby,” he whispers, his voice a soft caress against my skin. “Figure out how to make this work. If it does…. maybe Dex and I can move here, and make this our base. Only if it’s what you want.”

I want to believe him, but my head swims with practicalities, each one screaming for attention. “But your jobs…” I trail off, myvoice small and weighed down by the reality of everything this would mean for them, for all of us.

Pete’s arms tighten, silencing my worries with the warmth of his touch. “That’s a worry for the future. Right now, we’ve got you right here in our arms. This perfect girl of ours. We can’t let anything take that away, not even our jobs. I gave you up once before. I'm not making that mistake again.”

I shake my head slightly, though it feels heavy with everything I haven’t said yet. “It’s not something we can ignore, though.” My words are soft, filled with an emotion that has been building, pressing against my heart for too long now. Especially if they ever… if they ever find out about the baby.

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