Page 17 of Until Beckett

“I was given an ultimatum and I left,” I declared in a deep tone.

“What kind of ultimatum?” Corey huskily asked.

“It was my career or you,” I whispered, stepping closer into his personal space. “It wasn’t even worth a second thought—you come first every time.”

“But—” Corey blurted out as I pinned him against the wall.

“Don’t you get it? This isn’t just a one-sided thing, Corey. I fucking want you.” I groaned as I licked my lips and watched his reaction intently. “I just need to know what’s going on in that pretty head of yours. Every. Single. Thought.” I emphasized the last words. “As I’ll happily reveal the list of what is running through my mind. It involves me, you, and no clothes.”

“Fuck, this isn’t a dream, is it?” He moaned loudly. “I’m not in Wisconsin. You’re my best friend, and you’ve just—”

“Corey, listen carefully to me. I fucking want you as mine. You hear that?Mine,” I growled out as Corey shuddered and pushed himself back against the wall, creating a slight bit of distance between us, as he started to deeply breathe in long, drawn-out breaths. “This is the moment you’re supposed to say something.”

“I’m scared. What if—” Corey gasped out. “This is so new, but my heart…” he whispered to me. “It tells me so much. It’s screaming at me.”

“What’s it saying?” I asked. My stomach swirled and an immediate feeling of dread overcame me. “I’m here.”

“It’s saying to take the leap and trust you.” Corey licked his lips and a small burst of air hit my lips from his. “That you’ll catch me and Mila.”

“I’ve always got you both.” I smiled as I closed the gap between us and gently placed a soft kiss on his lips before pulling back. “I’ll never let you fall. Not ever.”

TEN

COREY

I don’t know why I thought in my heart that Beckett wouldn’t try and follow me—naivety, maybe? I just couldn’t see him being okay with what I’d done that night, that his way of asking me if I was sure about what we were doing was him telling me that he wasn’t.

I never expected for my heart to explode at knowing he’d come for us both. He’d traveled here with not only the purpose to show me he wasn’t throwing away our friendship we’d built but also to declare he wanted me.

I couldn’t comprehend that.

I was just a widower, a dad to a little pink bundle, a friend. But could I be his lover?

That was something the two of us needed to delve into. The moment I saw him and heard what he’d done, the butterflies in my stomach took flight. The connection was definitely strong between us, but was that because of our friendship or what we’d been through since my loss?

I don’t know, but I guess I had to find out.

Mila decided she didn’t want to settle for Uncle Asher in the end and allow Beckett and I to continue our conversation much past our declarations of our feelings. I tried my best to comfort her, but it was as if she knew he was there. That she knew Beckett had come for not only me but her too. The moment she snuggled into his thick corded muscles, she instantly calmed down. She’d made her stance on what she wanted. Now I just had to make mine.

* * *

I wokebright and early the next morning to chattering voices in the kitchen. I wouldn’t lie and say I hadn’t snuck in and checked that Beckett had settled on the sofa all right after he’d placed Mila back down beside me in the early hours as I sat on the edge of the bed. I was torn in my heart, knowing I could have easily pulled him next to me in the bed and hoped he’d lie with me, but then wouldn’t I just be repeating what had happened in Wisconsin and not actually dealing with what was developing between the two of us?

I had to let him sleep alone.Ihad to sleep alone.

We could start looking at where we went next after we had a few hours of sleep.

“You should have told me that Beckett was coming.” November placed the dish full of pastries loudly on the kitchen table. “I could have hurt him this morning, do you know that Asher?”

“I didn’t expect you to wake up in the early hours,” he said apologetically as I stood in the doorway, watching the interaction as Beckett hurried around the little ones. “I know now that was a stupid thing to do, but when I got back into bed you looked so peaceful. So beautiful.” He wrapped his arms around her and spun her in his arms before placing a kiss to her lips. “I know how exhausted you were, and I was a selfish bastard. I’d never let you or our children come in harm’s way.”

“I know that.” She sighed, dropping her head on his shoulder. “I just should’ve been told. I panicked.” She whimpered slightly as her lip wobbled, and Asher instantly pulled her into his chest. “I—”

“I made an error. Can you forgive me?” Asher lifted her chin to make her look at him as I made my way over to Beckett and mouthed“good morning”to him. “I mean, I am handsome and sexy—”

“I’m sure I can find a way you can—” November smirked before turning to face the two of us. “Now, you two better have some breakfast and get ready. I want a bag sorted for Mila then—”

I looked between the two of them in confusion before Asher let out a wide smile at the both of us.

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