Chapter 14

Chapter

Fourteen

While Eden was becoming accustomed to the talents of Nico’s family, Nico was having a long chat with Matty. He’d discovered his friend at the Remington residence looking lost and troubled.

Matty explained, “I went to see Father Andrew at his office at the church, and he confirmed that he went with the intent to give my pa the last rites. He chastised me again for not going with him, of course. Anyway, he said he was all prepared to administer the last rites, but when he arrived at the clinic, my father was sitting up in bed happily drinking a cup of coffee and eating a piece of pie.”

“Why did Doc Louis think he was on death’s door then?” Nico asked with a frown. He’d never known Doc Louis to be so wrong about something, but he figured there was a first time for everything. He hoped Doc Louis wasn’t slipping in his old age. It wasn’t all that difficult to identify when a person who was already critical was about to pass.

“I guess my pa was unconscious and breathing irregularly, so Doc Louis sent for Father Andrew. While Father Andrew was on his way there, however, Pa woke up and looked a lot better. Father Andrew told me that Doc Louis said he’d never seen anything like it. Said Pa was asking for something to eat and drink. So Doc Louis poured him some coffee and gave him the pie from his own lunch. Then Father Andrew arrived, and Doc Louis told him Pa was looking well enough to go home the next day. Father Andrew said a prayer for him and headed back to his office. Father Andrew was even madder at me about that, saying I’d missed my chance to make amends with my pa for once and for all. An hour later, Doc Louis showed up at the church office and said the old man finished his food, lay back, and died. He never got last rites after all.”

“I’m sorry, Matty.”

“So am I. The mean old coot didn’t even get to repent or to be absolved.”

“I guess you have a funeral to plan now, don’t you?”

“I’m keeping it as simple as possible. I’ve made arrangements for tomorrow afternoon.”

“Is that why you didn’t come back to the house?”

“Only partly. It was more because Father Andrew and I got into a big argument. After he stormed out of his office saying he had better things to do than argue with a spoiled, ungrateful brat, I wasn’t feeling terribly sociable. I didn’t want to bring my troubles to your family dinner. So I came back here and tried unsuccessfully to sleep. When I couldn’t do that, I started cleaning up around the house. I’ve been up most of the night.”

“Matty, you know my parents and I wouldn’t have cared, no matter when you showed up or in what state. And Eden and I would like to be there for you when you need support. But what did you two argue about that put you in such a bad mood?”

“You can imagine. After he told me what a horrible son I was and how I should have been there for my father’s last moments alive no matter how he’d treated me, I offered to pay back the diocese for my tuition, and he wouldn’t hear of it. He said I have a much bigger debt to pay than the monetary investment they made in me.” Matty’s voice broke as he finished speaking.

“Matty, before we get into this any further, did you have anything to eat last night?”

“Oh, um, no.”

“And this morning?”

Matty shook his head.

“Come with me right now. We’re heading back to my parents’ house so we can feed you. I don’t want you making yourself sick. Let’s go. Or—wait a moment. Go pack up whatever belongings you need, and let’s get you out of this house for good. It can’t be healthy for you to be here right now alone. You need to be around the people who love you. My parents and Eden would never forgive me if I let you stay here alone.”

Matty could hardly disagree, and the thought of being around the people who were far more of a family to him than his own made his heart swell. He was also lightheaded with hunger.

On the way to the Stark-James estate, Matty explained more of his thinking. “If my father was that sick, even if he’d taken a turn for the better, I don’t understand why he wasn’t given last rites anyway. It was inevitable that he was going to die, and it’s not as if a priest can only give them one time if there’s been a misjudgment. There is something about this whole story that doesn’t add up.”

“I agree. I’ll have a chat with Doc Louis as soon as possible. Eating pie and then dying? I think I’ll ring him up and ask when we get home.”

They arrived at the Stark-James household. Matty had just stowed his meager belongings in Nico’s room when the ladies reappeared. Matty confirmed that his father had passed, so both Suzette and Eden smothered him in warm hugs.

“You are looking terribly gaunt, my sweet boy,” Suzette muttered as she patted his cheek. “We will take care of you.” Suzette then left to order up something substantial for Matty to eat.

Soon they were seated in the dining room where Suzette piled Matty’s plate with a huge amount of food and encouraged Eden to nibble on a few things because she too was looking pale.

Nico excused himself then and said, “I need to make a call to Doc Louis.”

While Matty stuffed his face like a starving man, Eden nibbled on some slices of ripe peach and a piece of sponge cake. No one spoke much because Matty was in such a feeding frenzy. The ladies thought they would let him be.

Nico returned in a few minutes with a strange look on his face. He poured himself some coffee from the sideboard and sat down with a plunk, saying, “Something isn’t right.”

Matty looked up from his food and raised his eyebrows.

“Father Andrew is lying.”

“Nico!” admonished Suzette.

“Hear me out, Maman. He’s telling a different story than what Doc Louis had to say, and I would trust Doc Louis with my life. Father Andrew has a possible ulterior motive, and it would not be the first time he’d bent the truth to suit himself. I don’t know why he told Matty that his pa didn’t receive last rites or some cock-and-bull story about getting better momentarily and then dropping dead. But he did say all of that. Doc Louis is on his way over right now to speak to Matty personally.” He looked at Matty. “He apologized for not reaching out to you sooner, but he had an emergency to deal with.”

“Thanks, Nico.”

“This is very strange. I’m glad your fathers are on their way home soon for lunch to hear this,” Suzette mused .

Doc Louis arrived at roughly the same time as Isaac and Walter, and soon Doc Louis’ story began to pour out as everyone had their noon meal—and Matty had dessert. “I summoned Father Andrew with instructions that Mr. Remington was about to breathe his last and to hurry. He took his time, however, and I thought he had ignored me, but he finally wandered in full of chit chat about the fine weather and whatnot. He did not seem to be trying to hurry at all. Finally, after I pointed out that Mr. Remington was barely breathing, he said some words over him in Latin that I did not understand. Mr. Remington passed away while the priest was praying. Was it last rites? I assume so. Why would he not give them to a man who was clearly dying? I have seen him do this with other terminal patients, and this didn’t seem to be anything different. I have just never seen him act so nonchalantly that he could not finish before the patient expired. Does that matter, Matty?”

“Technically, it does, but I guess it’s not crucial if he did his best. What was this business about my pa sitting up and eating a piece of pie from your lunch before he dropped dead?”

“What? I do not take pie into the clinic to eat. That is absurd. And the man’s heart was barely beating. He could not have sat up and eaten anything. What kind of nonsense is this?”

Isaac spoke up and asked, “Not to change the subject but, Matty, what are your feelings about taking your final vows? Do you actually want to become a priest?”

“I’m not sure, sir, that I know exactly what to do. Father Andrew has made it clear that he expects it of me. But deep in my heart, no. I do not want to be a priest for the rest of my life.” He looked at Nico and then at Eden. “I want to follow my heart for once, but I can’t find a way out of the snare I’m trapped in.”

“Well, that is simply wrong!” Walter spluttered. When Matty’s head jerked, he instantly clarified, “You need to make your own destiny, my boy. We’ll just have to work out a way for you to make Father Andrew see that he’s made a colossal mistake. And I do apologize if our previous efforts in getting you to safety had a deleterious effect on your life. It was our intent for you to spend a couple of years away at boarding school out of your father’s clutches, and then return here to live where you wanted—most likely with us—until you determined what you wanted to do. We never expected you to be hidden away in some remote seminary where you were forced into the priesthood against your will.” He looked around at his family. “We will need to form a united front and see to it that you get your way. Father Andrew doesn’t own you. That kind of nonsense was abolished many years ago.”

“I have offered to pay back the diocese, but he refused to let me, and besides, I don’t even know if I have any money.”

“Matty, don’t even dream about worrying about money,” Isaac assured him. “You have always been like part of this family, and we can help.”

“I can’t ask that of you.”

Nico spoke up, “You didn’t. We’ve had this conversation, Matty. You’re as good as part of this family, and we take care of our own.”

“Well, even if you paid the diocese and I could sell the house and pay you back, Father Andrew said he wouldn’t let that happen.”

“We shall see about that,” Walter said in a steely tone. “Father Andrew answers to the diocese—he doesn’t control them, so you ought to speak to them yourself.” He smiled gently. “Now why don’t the three of you all go lie down for a while? Eden is yawning, and Matty, you look like you haven’t slept in days. Everything will work itself out. Don’t worry.”

Doc Louis winked at Nico and said, “We will chat later about the clinic. You look like you could use a nap too, young man.”

“Yes sir.” Nico offered his hand to Eden, and they stood to go.

Matty turned around before exiting the dining room and said, “Once again, I can’t thank you enough. You all mean so much to me.”

As soon as they reached Nico’s room at the other end of the house, their lethargy dissipated, and clothes began to fall away. Nico nearly ripped off his own and then began to help Eden out of hers. Matty plopped himself into a chair and removed his shoes slowly as he watched the disrobing eagerly. Unbuttoning his shirt, he watched as Nico’s naked body gleamed in the filtered light that came through the curtains. His manhood stood out proud from his body as he assisted Eden out of one layer after another. When Eden stood before him unashamedly nude, Matty thought he might swallow his tongue. He’d never seen so much beautiful flesh all at once, and when both of them faced him, he began to shake.

“Stand up, Matty. Please,” she said.

Matty unbuttoned his trousers and stood, letting them sag around his hips.

Eden smiled at him and turned back to Nico. “I have no idea what to do, but I have a strong sense that Matty needs us to take care of him right now. Can you help me make him feel better?”

Nico groaned into her neck. “I love you so much, Eden. Of course. You’re fine with this?”

“Yes. Your mother and Marguerite convinced me that I would be a terribly lucky woman if I had the attention of the two of you. They did not have to spend too much time persuading me.”

“My mother told you that, eh?” Nico asked with a low laugh. “Interesting conversation, was it?”

“Most interesting. They offered to give specific advice should I ever want to talk, but so far it was just encouragement.”

“The ladies know what they’re talking about, I’m sure.” Nico turned back to Matty and helped divest him of the rest of his clothes. “Isn’t our man beautiful, Eden?” He grinned at her. “Kiss him, please.”

As soon as Eden’s lips found Matty’s, he sought her breast with one hand and reached around to grasp her buttock with the other, groaning with pleasure the whole time. Nico stepped behind Matty and stroked his body all over. Then he reached around Matty for Eden’s hand and placed it on Matty’s stiff cock. She hummed a pleasant little sound as Nico encouraged her hand to stroke Matty’s length in tandem with his hand. His own cock was notched between Matty’s buttocks where he stroked up and down rhythmically. Matty’s breath sped up. “Not so tired now, are you?” Nico teased.

Matty smiled. He released Eden’s mouth and said, “I know I shouldn’t be doing this, but I find I’m powerless to stop.” Then he lowered his lips to her breast. He began to swirl her nipple with his tongue and then nipped her a few times. Eden firmed up her grasp on his cock.

Whispering into Matty’s ear, Nico asked, “You’ve never tasted a woman, have you? It gives Eden extreme pleasure to be on the receiving end of that, and it’s terribly exciting to do.”

Matty straightened up and said, “Show me.”

Eden lay down and patted the bed next to her. “Come lie next to me, Matty.” She opened her legs, making room for Nico who immediately took advantage of her position. He reached between her legs and groaned .

“She’s already so wet and anxious for us, Matty. Give me your hand.” Together their fingers probed her, and Nico showed Matty how to make swirling motions around her clit. He then told Matty, “Keep fucking her with your fingers while I do this with my mouth, and you’ll see our beautiful Eden come apart with profound pleasure.”

It only took a minute or two. Eden began squirming and panting as Matty’s two fingers probed in and out and Nico sucked and licked at her pleasure center. When her moans grew louder, Nico pulled back and told Matty, “Suck on this little nub right here. She’ll love it.”

Matty leaned in and did as he was told. He’d given Nico this kind of pleasure many times, so he figured he’d use his mouth in roughly the same way. A moment later he was supremely gratified to watch Eden climax.

She grasped both of the men and let out a long cry of bliss as she toppled over the edge of sublime sensation. Nico and Matty grinned at each other.

“Now put your cock in her. She’ll love that as well,” Nico commanded. “I’ll take care of you at the same time.”

“You mean…?”

Nico nodded to him.

“I thought I might never get to experience that again.” Matty shivered with anticipation and lowered himself into Eden’s body. She helped guide him in as his eyes grew wide. “Oh my God. This must be heaven.” Eden’s wet warmth engulfed his cock, and he realized this couldn’t possibly compare to the feeling of his or Nico’s hand stroking him. That was pleasure, but this was perfection. It was a gift. He had to hold himself still for a moment just to appreciate the sensation.

Eden smiled and whispered, “Oh, Matty, you feel so perfect.” She pulled him down for a kiss.

Nico picked up a towel and a small cruet of oil someone had left on the bedside table. Apparently, his parents wanted to ensure everyone’s comfort. He took a moment to appreciate the beauty of his lovers making love to one another, and the vision of them made him incredibly hard. Carefully, he drizzled some oil into his hand and coated his own cock with it, then gently began to oil Matty’s backside. He kissed Matty’s buttocks and slowly penetrated him, first with one and then two of his oily fingers.

With his chest heaving, Matty made an ungodly sound that emanated from deep within him as Nico’s stiff cock breached his hole. Both men let out matching groans of pleasure as Nico entered and retreated in small increments.

When Matty felt relaxed enough, Nico grabbed his hips and plunged into him to the hilt. Matty’s head jerked back with his eyes closed in concentration. “This is incredible!” he cried. “I’m making love to both of you at the same time.”

Nico took over the tempo as he pumped in and out of Matty, causing Matty to drive in and out of Eden at the same pace. He then released Matty’s hip with one hand and reached for Eden’s clit. In moments, she was shuddering through another climax, causing ripples of pleasure to pour through Matty as her muscles contracted around him. Harder and harder, Nico pounded into Matty from behind until Matty couldn’t take the pleasure anymore. He growled and spilled his seed into Eden. Then Nico changed his angle, hitting something special inside of him, and Matty howled as another wave of extreme pleasure overtook his senses. He nearly collapsed onto Eden, but Nico grabbed both Matty’s hips again and drilled him, grinding against his butt, as Nico let out a nearly primal moan and emptied himself into Matty.

Eden watched all of this with a beautiful smile gracing her lovely face. “You’re both incredible,” she whispered. “My heart has never felt this full.”

As they all flopped down beside one another, legs and arms jumbled together, Matty said, “If I ever had a thought about spending the rest of my life celibate, that notion is definitely banished now. Thank you both for your love.”

“You have it forever, you know,” Nico murmured against Matty’s throat.

Eden curled up even closer to him and fell asleep. Matty was close behind.

Nico took a moment to wipe things up with the towel and then pulled the bedclothes over them and also went to sleep. His last conscious thought was, “Finally!”