Oh fuck. Dellan closed his eyes and enjoyed the image in Rael’s head, the three of them locked together in a chain, Dellan rocking between them, all of them covered in a light sheen of sweat.
Okay, you need to stop that right now. I’ve only got so much willpower, you know? Horvan kissed Dellan on the mouth. So we’re all going to curl up and go to sleep. Got it?
Rael was shaking with laughter. Yes, Mama Bear.
Dellan bit his lip. Mama Bear? He had to fight hard not to react.
Horvan let out a low growl. I am gonna fucking kill Crank for that.
Not right now you’re not. Dellan pulled the sheets over them and snuggled down between his mates. They hooked their legs over his, joining hands on his belly. Their breath stirred his hair and their bodies warmed his.
It was the perfect way to sleep.
“I COULD eat a mountain of bacon and a ton of home fries this morning,” Dellan announced as they sat down to eat breakfast.
Crank snorted. “Gee, I wonder why?”
“Crank.” Roadkill’s voice held a note of warning.
He arched his eyebrows. “Don’t give me that, not when you’re thinking exactly the same thing.” Crank gave a gleeful grin. “I’m surprised the whole cabin wasn’t rocking.” Beside him, Hashtag snickered.
Ignore him. Don’t give him any ammunition, Rael advised.
Dellan had no intention of responding. He helped himself to more eggs and dug in. That had been the best sleep of his life. He’d awoken early, feeling rested and buzzing with energy.
Enough energy that for the first time since his release, he wanted to play.
“Being serious for a minute?” Crank took a slurp of his coffee. “Maybe we should, you know, leave.”
Horvan frowned. “Who’s ‘we’?”
“Me and these two.” Crank gestured to Roadkill and Hashtag.
“Why? Is there someplace you have to be?” Horvan inquired.
“Well, no, but—”
“Besides, I thought you wanted to be there when we confront Anson,” Rael observed. He peered intently at Crank. “You do want to be part of that, right?”
“Sure, but….” Crank pushed his plate away. “Look, it occurred to me we might be… in the way, y’know?” He coughed.
Horvan smiled. “Oh, I see.” Rael chuckled.
“Okay, you can stop that right now. You’re not in the way,” Dellan assured him.
Crank’s eyes gleamed. “Oh, cool. Are we talking an orgy, then?” He glared when a chorus of “Crank!” filled the air. “What? Like you wouldn’t wanna piece of that?”
“I swear, you are the gayest straight guy I ever met,” Roadkill declared, rolling his eyes.
“Doc, do you want to leave too?” Dellan didn’t want to be an imposition.
The doc smiled. “Believe it or not, I’m enjoying being here. It’s been a while since I got to spend time with these guys, and it’s great to catch up. Not to mention, it’s peaceful here. At my age, you need all the restful moments you can get.”
Something the doc said struck a chord. “How did you all meet?” Dellan inquired.
“When I was on active service. I met Horvan first. He was still green, bless him, but he learned fast. Then as we met in various combat zones, I was introduced to these three.” Doc smiled. “Once met, never forgotten.”
Crank preened until Hashtag hit him upside the head. Crank glared at him. “Hey, what the fuck was that for?”
“Because you needed a wallop, that’s why.”
“By the way, Rael, I looked you up,” Doc said quietly. When Rael gave him an inquiring glance, he smiled again. “I’ve seen your pictures. Excellent stuff. I particularly liked the article on the mating habits of the condor. How on earth did you get those photos?”
“Would you believe hanging upside down from a cliff for two hours?”
Dellan gaped. “Seriously?”
Doc laughed. “Now I know there’s something in this mates business. You and Horvan are a perfect match. He’s an adrenaline junkie.”
“But I’m not,” Dellan commented. Where do I fit in?
Before either of his mates could react, Doc spoke up. “You’re their anchor. You are what grounds them. Their work takes them away from home, but you are what will draw them back.”
“How can you know that?” Dellan demanded. “You’ve only just met me.”
“But you told me everything I needed to know when you shared why Tom Prescott had left the company to you and not Anson.”
Dellan shook his head. “You can’t know I’m perfect for them based on only that.”
Crank and Roadkill got up from the table, and Hashtag cleared away the dishes. Doc refilled Dellan’s coffee mug, then leaned back in his chair, regarding him with a speculative gaze.
“Tell me something. One of the biggest debates going on now concerns the price of medicines. Your company could have been making billions more, yet when you took on the company, you kept your prices low. Tell me why.”
Dellan didn’t have to think about it. “Tom told me we were there to help people. To do what we could to make their lives better. We weren’t going to profit from illness.”
“So when you took over the company….”
“I believe the same as he did. I won’t gouge people who are trying to survive.”
Don nodded slowly. “And you still think you’re not the one who can care for two men like Rael and Horvan here? They go out and have to deal with dangerous assignments, but with you to come home to, I guarantee neither of them will be taking nearly as many risks.”
Horvan huffed. “You got that right.” Rael nodded.
“Now wait a minute.” Dellan stared at them. “You make people’s lives better too. I don’t want you to give that up. None of us should change who we are at the core.”
“I agree,” Doc said at once. “But that’s why you three will have to be open and honest with one another.”
Rael chuckled. “We can all read the others’ thoughts, Doc. I don’t think we can get much more open than that.”
Doc’s chuckle echoed his. “After all my years dealing with people who aren’t going to make it, let me tell you one thing. Those with the biggest fears find ways to hide things from those they love.” He shook his head. “Don’t do that. Be there for each other. Be open and honest. So what if you’re mates, bound together by fate? That’s the easy part.” His eyes twinkled. “Not screwing it up? That’s all on the three of you.”
Dellan regarded Doc with interest. “You seem to know a lot about my company.”
“When I did a search on Rael last night?” Doc grinned. “I looked you up too.”
Dellan folded his arms. “I’m sure that as soon as I was out of the picture, my beloved half brother raised prices.”
“Actually, he didn’t,” Rael said quickly. “He believes, like Tom did, that meds shouldn’t cost the earth. He told me that much himself.”
“Being ethical hasn’t done him any harm,” Doc added. “The company has gone from strength to strength during the last year.”