Page 25 of Toxic Devotion

“I like having you here so much,” Marco said, fingers trailing down Neil’s chest.

He felt a smile form on his lips. “I like it, too.”

He’d had a lucky break at work. He had been mostly stateside for the past few months. It meant that he’d not only got to spend more time with Marco, but he’d been able to follow Alicia in her pregnancy. Her due date was in less than two weeks, and she was big and swollen, forced to waddle around complaining about her belly being in the way. She looked radiant and though she’d hada few emotional breakdowns along the way, he knew she felt safe knowing they were there for her no matter what.

“How long can you stay?”

He shook his head. “I’m not sure.”

“I hate that,” Marco grumbled.

“The best part about leaving,” he said, nearly laughing at the dark glare Marco gave him, “is coming home to you.”

“Damn right it is,” Marco growled, that dark timbre making Neil shiver.

There was a rapid knock on the door and then came Alicia’s panicked voice.

“Are you two done yet because I’m pretty fucking sure I’m having this baby,” she yelled.

Neil snapped his head toward Marco, their gazes clashing.

“Oh shit,” Marco uttered.

“You’re gonna be an uncle,” Neil whispered, the words so foreign and yet so right on his lips.

Pride shone from Marco until it was replaced by panic when Alicia yelled at them to hurry the fuck up.

∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

He had Alicia’s hands in his as they sat on the couch, his eyes tracking Marco who was walking slowly back and forth in front of the living room windows, rocking the baby in his arms. Rome was at the door, having refused to leave them alone.

Marco whispered to the baby, then looked up, gaze locking on Neil who felt his lips quirk up at one corner. The love in Marco’s eyes had his heart doing weird but not unwelcome things in his chest.

His brows creased when Marco walked toward him. Marco grinned down at him and before he could refuse, he had a baby in his arms. He froze, muscles tensing as he stared down at the baby boy who was fast asleep.

Alicia’s chuckle had him looking at her out of the corner of his eyes, terrified that he’d wake the baby if he moved.

“He’s not a bomb, Neil,” Marco said, laughter in his voice. “You’re okay.”

He’d never held a baby before. He’d barely seen one up close before.

“I don’t want to hurt him,” he whispered, his voice rough.

“You won’t,” Alicia said, reaching over to brush her fingertips across her son’s forehead.

“I might.”

Fuck. He could feel the jitter of panic starting to set in.

A hand on his cheek made him suck in a trembling breath. He looked up at Marco, heart skipping a beat at the warm smile that met him.

He forced himself to look away from those gorgeous eyes and watched the baby. He was tiny and he still wasn’t convinced he wouldn’t hurt him. What if he held on too tight? What if he didn’t hold on tight enough and dropped him?

The baby blinked a few times and then his face scrunched up and a loud wail came out of him.

“Oh no.” Neil snapped his gaze onto Alicia, his body tight as a wire while the baby screamed at him. “Take him. Please take him.”

Alicia chuckled and lifted the baby out of his arms and into her own, rocking him while she began to sing a soft tune.

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