CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: KIT

KIT WENT back to his room and changed. Since it was just them, he damn sure wasn't wearing a normal bathing suit. Oh no. It was white and not lined.

Once he got wet, it'd be sheer, and his mates would get an eyeful.

He was looking forward to using the hot tub, but he also had an ulterior motive. One was that he intended to get some head tonight—he didn't think he was up to full-on sex—and the other was that he wanted Hudson to have a chance to talk to Connie.

Kit didn't know exactly what was going on with Hudson's mother, but whatever she'd said had not gone over well with Hudson. Maybe Kit was being self-centered, but the only thing he could think of that might have the woman up in arms was him.

From what he could tell, Hudson and Connie had an established relationship. The only new thing, or twist, was him. So what was her problem with him?

He wasn't stupid, of course. Connie hadn't come right out and said anything, but Kit was more than capable of reading between the lines. Hudson's mother was a traditionalist.

Now, how her traditional values applied to him? Kit wasn't sure, unless she had a problem with him being human. That made the most sense.

Kit blew out a breath. That could be a problem. Kit couldn't be changed into what they were—a dragon. So, he hadn't even gotten off the starting line yet, and he was already screwed. Did he doubt Hudson would defend him?

Absolutely not.

They'd just started on this journey together, but there wasn't a doubt in his mind that Hudson would stand up for him. So would Connie. Neither of them struck him as the type who'd take kindly to somebody ridiculing their mate. Actually, he was kinda worried about how Hudson would respond.

Yeah, this had the potential of becoming messy.

He piled his hair on top of his head and secured it. Last thing he wanted to do was get it wet when he was already tired. No way was he in the mood to deal with all that hair.

All he wanted was to chill out in the hot tub for a little while, then curl up with Connie and Hudson in bed and watch TV. Kit paused, folding up his clothes—he wanted to snuggle. While watching TV with Connie and Hudson. In their bed.

He glanced at the guest bed he'd been using. He couldn't see himself back in it. Nor did he want to see himself back in it, because that would mean he'd be in it alone, and he didn't want to be alone.

"Well, I guess I don't have to worry about them getting mad if I had gone back to my room."

Because he was not coming back here.

Was he moving too fast? Sometimes he questioned whether he was. The whole mate thing was kinda a mind fuck, not to mention coming into a relationship that had already been established between two of the three people.

But oddly enough, he didn't feel like an outsider. They were more than willing to include him in everything they did, and they were also okay with each of them spending time alone with Kit.

But here be dragons. And he was surrounded by a whole bunch of them.

The tentative bond that was forming between them fluttered in his chest, and he rested his hand over his heart. But that was proof right there that this was the right thing, wasn't it?

This wouldn't have formed if he hadn't wanted it—if they hadn't wanted it. If this was right, why was he worried about moving too fast? It was perfectly okay to date for months and even years. But other people jumped in feetfirst and were together for the rest of their lives.

There was no right or wrong way to do a relationship. Each person was different. He was happy, so why in the world was he even questioning this?

Oh, right. Hudson's mother. He was questioning his relationship because he was afraid she was questioning it. Well, screw her. If she didn't like him, that was her loss, because he was fan-fucking-tastic. Just ask anybody he knew.

Wrapping a towel around his waist, he slipped on his sandals and set off to Hudson's quarters. When he entered the living area, it was empty, but he could hear their voices outside by the pool, so he followed them.

For a moment, he admired the two males in front of him.

Hudson had braided his hair and then put it up in a bun. He wore a swimsuit that was almost the same color as his brown eyes and stood next to the hot tub, talking to Connie. Connie sat on the edge with his feet dangling in. Both had a glass of wine, and next to Connie was a third glass that Kit assumed was for him.

It would be like them to fix themselves something to drink and to bring his out with them. He licked his lips. Did all dragons look so damn good? Or was it just paranormals in general? He'd mentioned before that he had a fondness for redheads. And he liked his guys muscular without being beefcakes. Not that there was anything wrong with that, of course.

And although both of them were slightly taller, they didn't tower over him. He enjoyed being able to kiss his mates without feeling like he needed to climb them.

Connie's swimsuit was a light sky blue and was a little shorter than Hudson's. And tighter. Yum.

Kit jumped slightly when Connie and Hudson both turned their heads toward him, their gazes pinning him where he stood. Okay, damn, that was horror movie creep worthy.

Hudson inhaled while Connie took the most suggestive sip of a damn drink Kit had ever seen. Then Connie made a big show of licking his lips.

"Hey." Connie waved as Kit walked up. "I brought you out a glass of wine and…"

Kit dropped the towel and kicked off his sandals. "Thank you for that, sweetheart."

"Are those white?" Connie gulped. "Those are white, aren't they? You do know what happens when white material gets wet, right?"

Kit smirked. "I absolutely do."

"Oh." Connie stared. "Ohhhh."

Hudson snorted.

"Oh, come on." Connie growled as he rolled his eyes at Hudson. "They're going to be sheer. We're going to see every inch of his gorgeous dick, and he was in an accident this morning! That—"

"Was very much done on purpose. I may not be ready for sex, but I could handle getting my dick sucked if anyone was up to it." Kit almost laughed at how pointedly Connie was staring at his crotch.

Well, he had one dragon on board with his plans, if the low growls he heard coming from Connie were any indication.

"Um, Connie?"

"Huh?" Connie jerked his gaze away from Kit. "What?"

Even though it was dark, there was enough light around the pool area for Kit to see the sweet blush that covered Connie's cheeks.

"You're growling," Hudson said.

"Yeah, he is." And Kit was loving every second of it. It absolutely stroked his ego how they responded to him. Neither tried to hide how Kit affected them.

Connie ran his hands over his face, then picked up his wineglass and took a big gulp. He set it down and mock-glared at Kit. "Are you trying to kill me?"

Kit walked over, then bent down so he could nip Connie's bottom lip. "Only in good ways."

Connie returned the kiss as he adjusted his cock.

Standing, Kit slid his arm around Hudson's waist and kissed him also. Hudson immediately took over, thrusting his tongue into Kit's mouth. Someone was feeling frisky—yay—so Kit retaliated by sucking on it.

Hudson plastered one hand against Kit's neck, holding him still. His arm was wrapped around his waist, holding him hostage. With his free hand, Kit reached down and massaged Hudson's hardening cock.

A few seconds later, there was heat against his back as Connie pressed close to him. Hardness rubbed against his ass as Connie ground against him, and warm, moist air teased his ear as Connie rested his hands on Kit's hips.

When the need for air became too much, Kit broke the kiss and leaned back. "Can we pause the action for just a little bit? Just a bit. I really am stiff."

As much as he wanted to continue this, he also really wanted in that hot water.

"Me too," Connie muttered.

Snickering, Kit rested his head against Hudson's shoulder. He felt Hudson's chest move as he laughed.

Kit relaxed in his arms. If only he could freeze this moment in time. He was in both of his mates' arms, cuddled close. They held him as if he was their most precious treasure, and being dragons, that spoke volumes.

He was happy, content… and safe. In a short amount of time, these two men had become his home.

Hudson kissed Kit's forehead and released him. Connie helped Kit into the hot tub, and once he was sitting down, Hudson joined them and handed Kit his wineglass.

With a huge sigh, Kit leaned his head back. The water was just hot enough; the jets hit just hard enough. Hudson was across from him, so close enough he could extend his leg and run his toe up Hudson's leg.

Hudson grabbed his foot. Kit expected Hudson to tickle him or something, but what he did was much more diabolical—he massaged his arch.

Oh. Oh goodness, that was not fair at all. He was going to turn into a puddle of goo right there in the hot tub. He wasn't ashamed to admit the sound he made was full of neediness, either.

Leaning his head back, he stared up into the nighttime sky. Out there in the middle of nowhere, they had an unobstructed view of the stars. That was one thing he'd missed about where he grew up, because he certainly didn't have such a view from his apartment in San DeLain.

"What are you guys doing?"

"Hudson grabbed my foot and is massaging it," Kit said with a moan.

"He is good with his hands."

"I'll say." Kit lifted his head, picked up his wineglass, and took another swig.

"Give me your other foot, babe."

Kit happily complied. "The stars are beautiful, aren't they? You can't really see them in the city. I didn't realize how much I'd missed that, plus all the open space."

"There are some nice trails around here if you like to hike or jog," Connie said. "Would that be something you're interested in?"

"Absolutely." Kit glanced at Hudson. "What about you?"

"Connie is a lot more outdoorsy than me, but I wouldn't mind the three of us going on a hike and maybe having a picnic. But jogging? Not my cup. Dragons don't really need to exercise to stay in shape."

Kit stuck his tongue out at Hudson. "So, what? You're just born perfect?"

"Hatched. We're hatched."

Kit leaned his head back again. Wasn't that a trip? "Hatched. Okay, yeah, someone's going to have to explain to me how… that works."

"Simply put, a female will change into her natural form when the time is right and lay a clutch," Hudson said.

"A clutch can be anywhere from one to four eggs, although in the last couple hundred years, most females only have one egg," Connie said.

"Out of my clutch, only I survived," Hudson said. "There were two other eggs."

Kit didn't say anything, but suddenly he had a feeling he knew why Hudson's mother might be rather attached to her one and only son.

"I'm an only egg," Connie said.

"Only child too." Kit held his fist up so Connie could bump it.

Laughing, Connie fist-bumped him.

Kit took another big gulp of wine and then moaned again as Hudson worked on his foot.

He was kind of sad when Hudson finally stopped. He laid his head back again as he listened to the two of them talk. Hudson's voice was a little bit deeper and more growly. Connie's was lighter and more upbeat. Funny how their tones fit the two perfectly.

Kit drank his wine, enjoyed the hot bubbling water, and listened to his mates talk. He had a nice little buzz going, and he was definitely relaxed.

At some point Kit must've closed his eyes without realizing it, because he definitely jumped when Connie ran his hand up his leg.

"Sit on the side, babe."

"What?"

"Up."

It took a second, but Kit finally worked out what Connie wanted. He hoisted himself out and sat on the side of the hot tub, his legs dangling in the water. Heavy eyed, he watched as Connie moved between his legs.

He barely noticed that Hudson had climbed out of the hot tub.

"Lie back for me and lift your legs out of the water."

"Oh my damn." Kit had a pretty good idea of what Connie had in mind. At least, he hoped he did.

As soon as he was flat on his back, Hudson kneeled and helped him wiggle out of his swimsuit.

Yep, he definitely liked where this was going.

"Be right back," Hudson said, then kissed Kit roughly. He placed Kit's swimsuit off to the side. Aw, they didn't get the chance to even enjoy the see-through swimsuit.

But then again, they'd managed to get him completely naked.

Kit reclined on the concrete, staring at the sky. That position, flat on his back with his feet on the ground and knees bent, would give Connie the ideal view of his hole.

Connie kissed Kit's knee. "So sexy."

Kit opened his legs. The idea of presenting himself was fucking hot. The cool concrete around the pool contrasted with the heat of his body.

A few minutes later, Hudson returned and slipped back into the hot tub. Lifting his head, Kit watched as Hudson moved around behind Connie. He liked where this was going.

"Beautiful." Connie ran his hands up and down Kit's legs. "Such a perfect little hole. I can't wait to sink my dick in it."

Kit groaned. Maybe he wasn't as achy as he first thought.