Chapter Eleven

Sage

After another feast which I insisted on paying for—brunch at a restaurant on Shelter Island overlooking the scenic San Diego Harbor—we headed for Douglas’ abode.

He was a great driver, which I honestly had not expected from a twenty-something guy. He was easy on the brakes. He didn’t speed…much. And he signaled while changing lanes.

“Our omega is a keeper.” I whispered over my seat to Cas who sat in the back.

Cas frowned. “Huh?”

“Don’t tell him I said this, but he’s a great driver.”

“You guys know I can hear you, right?” Douglas asked.

We all laughed, which was a great stress reliever. Poor Douglas kept rapping his fingers on the steering wheel and jiggling his left leg. This trip so soon after meeting us was important to him.

As we turned onto a lovely, tree-lined residential street, Douglas’ eyes lit up. He kept biting back smiles as we turned into a double-wide driveway. His cheeks were pink with excitement.

As Cas and I got out of the car on the passenger side, I quickly whispered, “This is his heart and soul. We’re going to love it no matter what, right?”

Cas gave me a fast nod. “Certainly.”

I looked up at a big shade tree that covered much of the front yard. Two hummingbird feeders hung from a couple of lower branches. Two hummingbirds fed, wings moving too fast to see, one brown, and one with iridescent-green plumage.

The house itself was terribly cute, white with black trim and single story. A small porch led to a green front door.

The yard was a work in progress, mostly dirt around the tree. But someone had begun laying a brick pathway. It was almost done, and it curved beautifully through the plain landscape, red edged in pink.

“I’m almost done with that,” Douglas pointed out. “The plan is water conservation. It is California after all. Much of this dirt will be gravel and succulents with flower beds along the pathway and up against the front porch. No extra lawn to water.”

Douglas led us on the path to the porch and pointed upward. A string of icicle lights hung across the front.

“I want to do more Christmas decorating. Maybe a light tree or something in front here, but damn, have you guys seen how much those cost?” He chuckled, gesturing for us to walk up the steps in front of him.

“Wow. This is cute,” I said.

“Can’t wait to see inside.” Cas grabbed Douglas, who had his head down, still shy about the place. He spun him and kissed him.

Breathless from the kiss, and grinning now, Douglas said, “It’s not much yet, but I’m getting there.”

“Let’s see it now, please.” I jumped to the door and put my palm on the handle.

Douglas produced a ring with a gold key. “Old-fashioned key and everything.” His voice rose. Clearly, he enjoyed that key.

I stepped back and the door opened.

Everything smelled clean and fresh, a hint of pine and lemon. Before me was a small foyer. I could see directly into the living room, which was empty except for a big flat screen over the fireplace and an EZ-chair with a TV tray next to it. There was also a small Christmas tree in the corner. It needed a few more ornaments, but weirdly, it fit right in.

“I’m going to have the place rewired, so furniture is going to wait for a while.”

I moved forward, crossing the living room to the other side where a set of plate glass windows overlooked a surprisingly nice-sized backyard. “Hopefully, you have a bed.”

He laughed. “Yeah. The place has four bedrooms, if you can believe it.”

“What were you going to use four bedrooms for all by yourself?” Cas asked.

Douglas ticked them off on his fingers. “My bedroom. Office. Guest bedroom. And…man cave? Maybe?”

“I love it. Look at this yard.” I motioned to Cas.

Cas joined me by the windows. “That’s bigger than I would have expected. I love the pines along the back fence.”

“For a fixer-upper, this place is awfully tidy,” I observed.

“I just got new carpets and steam cleaned what could be saved,” Douglas said. “It required neatness.”

Cas snapped his fingers. “Damn. And I thought you were a clean freak. Those sorts turn me on.”

Douglas rolled his eyes. “I like a clean room, okay?”

Cas jogged toward him and grasped him by the shoulders. “Say that again, my love.”

“Are you going to be manhandling him all day, Cas?” I asked.

“Tell me you’re not aching to touch him again, Sage. Especially now that we’re captives of his reindeer nest.”

Douglas giggled as Cas kissed him loudly on the neck.

It was ridiculously saccharine. Grown men acting like kids. Captive of a reindeer nest? My cock hardened.

I walked across the clean carpet, feeling guilty that I hadn’t taken off my shoes. “Well?”

Douglas looked up at me. “Well, what?”

“Don’t keep me waiting. Where’s the bedroom?”

“Ah, I see how this is going.” Douglas tilted his head. “Right this way, my alpha prisoners.”

Cas playfully shoved me aside so he could go first.

Suddenly, Douglas ran back through the foyer. We both froze, watching him in confusion. He threw a dead bolt and turned. “Locking the door.”

Cas and I traded glances.

“Habit,” Douglas explained. “My herd was a rude bunch, always in everyone’s business.”

“We understand,” I said.

“I like privacy, too,” Cas said.

The primary bedroom was the most lived-in-looking room. Bed. Dresser. Open closet. A chair containing a jacket and a pair of sweats. There was a faux-fur rug at the base of the bed. A watercolor painting of pink lily pads with huge green leaves in a pond hung above the headboard.

Douglas pointed at it and shrugged. “The room needed brightening up. It was one of my best thrift store finds.”

“Love it,” Cas and I spoke at the same time.

“But best of all, Douglas, you love pillows.” I sat on the side of the bed and ran my hands over his triple-deep collection. “Me, too.”

With a beige and black spread, any color of pillow would match. Douglas had base pillows that matched the spread, but also pink, green, and blue ones of all sizes.

“Welcome to my nest,” Douglas said with a big grin.

“Let’s see what it feels like.” Cas sat on the other side of the bed, bouncing.

“Great, right?” I said to him.

“Like a big marshmallow I could curl into,” he replied.

“Glad you guys like my bed.” Douglas turned. “Now, on to the other rooms.”

Douglas started out the door. “Next down the hall is the small room I want to make into an office.”

Cas and I didn’t budge.

Douglas stuck his head around the doorframe. “Aren’t you guys coming?”

I shook my head. “I’m not leaving this bed.”

Cas leaned back against the pillows. “Me, either. I’m feeling waaaay too tired.”

I followed, flopping onto my back and rolling to the center of the bed.

One eyebrow rose on Douglas’ face. Then, he stepped back into the bedroom and shut the door behind him.

Together, Cas and I held out our arms to him.

Douglas fell into our embrace, muttering, “No one told me I would be bonded to two big alpha sex addicts.”

As we began undoing the buttons on his shirt, he started to giggle. “Not that I’m complaining.”

“Good.” I went for his waistband, peeling his fly back, tugging down pants and underwear together. His sweet hard cock bobbed up. “This doesn’t lie. You’ve been conniving to get us into your nest since we met.”

I leaned down and took his cock into my mouth.

Douglas threw his head back, moaning, as Cas tore the rest of his shirt from him. “Ahh, I guess I have.”