Page 92 of Alpha for Four

Niall’s brow furrowed and his fingers froze on Jax’s shoulders. Of all the things his boyfriend could have told him, he never would have guessed that. “What do you mean?”

Jax swiveled the chair around and tugged Niall down into his lap.

“A few days ago, the first day of the tribunal, Ronan came in here.” Jax raked his fingers through Niall’s hair. “I think he’d just been talking to you in the kitchen.”

Niall’s cheeks heated recalling the long hug he and Ronan had shared that day. “Okay.”

“I’m pretty sure he was trying to put me at ease, you know, make me feel welcome by coming in to say hello or whatever.”

“That sounds like something Ronan would do.”

“Right. But then he got kind of close—”

“Close?”

“Yeah, like, he sat on the desk, sort of leaning in while I was sitting on the chair.”

“Alright.” Niall licked his lips. “This sounds hot.”

Jax hmphed. “I’m being serious. He was staring at me and telling me how I fit in with the family. And it just got sort of…heavy. He even used his…voice…to make sure I understood.”

Niall waited for Jax to continue. When he didn’t, Niall prodded, “Is that everything?”

“I know it sounds crazy. I mean, he had a thing with you, and now he and Teal have Sorcha. But I don’t think I imagined it, him looking at me like I was a popsicle on a hot day.”

Niall looped his arms around Jax’s back. “Babe, you are such a humble guy. Of course Ronan’s going to look at you like that. Besides the fact that you’re gorgeous, you just upended your whole life to help him and his family get through a tough time. Naturally he’sintrigued. And so is his inner alpha. Being in a relationship isn’t going to stop him from noticing you. Or even feeling desire. It doesn’t mean anyone has to act on anything, right?”

“I suppose not.”

“Then there’s no need to overthink it.”

“Really?”

“Really.” Niall raised an eyebrow. “We can’t always control what we desire. The best we can do is be honest about it.”

Jax still looked disquieted. That must have been someheavymoment, Niall thought.

He’d been onto something when he’d thought of this as ahorny household. Truthfully, it was simply a loving one. Over the past few months, the five men had shown many times over how much they cared for one another.

Years ago, there was Ronan and Teal. Then Niall joined their household, and occasionally, their bed. The husbands met Sorcha, their shy neighbor. Niall met Jax and left the couple’s bed. Now Sorcha was in Ronan and Teal’s bed, and Niall and Jax lived in their house. Like pieces of a puzzle.

Snapping together to form a complete picture.

Niall saw now that the changes probably weren’t going to stop. Was he the only one with an inkling where this might be headed? Jax was so conflicted about hisheavyinteraction with Ronan. His boyfriend wasn’t ready to think beyond today yet. Maybe Niall wasn’t either.

And that was fine. There was a lot going on. No need to push. Things had a way of working themselves out naturally.

“These are crowded quarters,” Niall said. “And I’m betting the type of close moment you shared with Ronan is going to happen again. With Teal or Sorcha even. And that’s okay. As long as we’re honest.”

Jax stayed quiet for a long stretch. “I love you, Nigh,” he said. “Now more than ever.”

“Back at you, Babe. And tonight, after everyone’s asleep, I’m going to show you just how much.”

Jax’s eyes went wide. “Here? In this house?”

Niall placed a soft kiss on his boyfriend’s lips, reveling in their sweet softness. “Of course here. This is where we live.”

“Only temporarily.”

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