Love's Choices Read online

  “But we mated,” Alastair said as if making his point.

  “Except you weren’t then,” I countered. I shook my head again. “Even if we were dating, even if we weren’t exclusive, you don’t date them together. This one isn’t on me. You don’t date both guys on the same dates. I mean, we switch off mornings, but three of us aren’t fitting in a bed to sleep. That wasn’t on me. I passed out, and they started the trend.”

  “Okay, good points, totally fair,” Wally cut in when I started to get upset. “But you like them, right? I mean, you have fun, they’re good to you, or is it all back room, down and dirty sex?”

  I shook my head. “No, we goof around, they tease me, we have fun. But even the presents, Nero got me everything from the treats aisle that he wanted to try with me and eat off of me. It’s not like buying flowers for the date.”

  “Okay, my friends are idiots,” Alastair agreed. “I will say they’ve been arguing over you.”

  “Why?” I asked, my eyes going wide.

  “No, that’s for them to tell you,” Zibon interjected, and I gave him a hurt look. “Not fair to bring him in when they’re his friends, Verge.”

  “Fine, but he shouldn’t have started it then.”

  “I meant to show you they care for you more than a fling, but Zibon is right as always.”

  I sat with that as I finished one plate and moved to another. “Yeah, that’s fair. Okay.”

  “So do you want to date one of them? This William guy?” Mark asked gently.

  I opened my mouth and then closed it again. “I would hang with William, watch a movie and know it’s a date. He’s nice. I’m not saying Nero and Gaius aren’t, they are. They haven’t asked.”

  “Okay, assume all three of them came up to you tonight and asked,” he tried instead. “Who would you have said yes to? Would William be out then?”

  “Yeah, he’d be out then,” I confirmed but then had to think on the rest. Finally, I let out a growl. “You’re asking me to pick chocolate or cake, and I really like chocolate cake. They’re so different. I have no idea who I’d pick. Why should I pick when they came to me as a package deal? I’m having fun with what we’re doing. I like being with them both.”

  “That might still be an option, but you have to talk to them for that,” he answered. He studied me carefully and sighed. “Verge, do you want to date anyone, or do you just want to have fun?”

  That really stumped me. I mean, I got the point that things wouldn’t be all that different given where we were located. We couldn’t go to dinner and the movies, so really it was more the label… And stopping with the other one?

  “Not to make things more complicated, but William is not the only one interested in you, young Verge. You left an impression on all three of those men, and they have inquired about your single or taken status,” Alastair informed me.

  I frowned. “They didn’t ask me.”

  “No, they asked the men who invited them to your fantasy, checking if they were involved with you. Nero and Gaius both said yes.”

  I shot my friends a disbelieving look. How could they tell people I was off the market without asking me?

  “Rune’s right that ancients don’t get it, but it’s worth it because they go big and make up for it,” Zibon told me, shrugging when Alastair shot him a less-than-friendly look. “I’m not wrong. You guys grew up with the ‘intended’ tradition thing. We grew up passing notes in class asking to hang out after school as dates or sexting. I mean, it’s totally different.”

  “Fair enough,” Alastair sighed. “The question remains what do you want to do, Verge?”

  “No,” I argued, shaking my head. “They haven’t asked for anything. I’m not answering until they ask me. If they thought we were all dating, then they weren’t asking me to pick. If they want to ask me to date, then I’ll handle that. But they haven’t. Right now, they were stupid. I haven’t even answered William yet.”

  “Be careful, young Verge, we have other traditions too.”

  I wasn’t sure what that meant, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to know, either. I was confused enough already.

  3 ~ Gaius

  “You’re both idiots,” Alastair sighed as he sat down on the chair in Nero’s room. “He was clueless. I mean absolutely clueless either of you were really interested. He thought you were all having sexy playdates, and I can’t disagree with him. You approached him together. You have been doing everything with him together.”

  Nero shot me a less-than-friendly look. Yeah, yeah, he’d thought the same thing. Whatever. I did laugh, though, at how Alastair said he’d left the gathering of Verge and his friends to “handle matters,” as if Verge wouldn’t know he came right to us.

  “What about William?” Nero asked as he paced. “Does he like William?”

  “He said he’d go out on a date with the man, watch a movie, he was nice. But he said he liked you both better. He wouldn’t choose or come to a decision, adamant you haven’t asked him anything, so he shouldn’t have to. I will say he got distressed at having to choose. One of you is chocolate and the other cake, and he wants chocolate cake.”

  “That’s so him,” I chuckled, rubbing the back of my neck. “Which was why I said we should keep doing what we’re doing. Fine, clue in our sugar elf he’s ours, but he likes us both, so why change it?”

  “Because I want him in my bed every morning,” Nero snapped, Alastair giving him a shocked look. I had too when he’d said it to me earlier. It wasn’t like Nero to get attached or want such intimacy.

  I also didn’t want to give up my spot and be the one they played with while they dated.

  “I like him too,” I reminded Nero. “So we tell him we like him. We tell him it’s not just fun anymore.” He shot me another nasty look. “All three of those guys want him, and I don’t blame them, he’s awesome. So, your choice, but I’m not stepping aside.”

  “Neither am I.”

  “I suggest you not make him choose,” Alastair muttered, glancing between us. “It’s been two weeks. You could—”

  “Pot, kettle,” we both said at the same time.

  “No, not the same,” he argued as he shot to his feet. “I was watching Zibon for months. I knew his last name. Verge made some very good points like you guys didn’t ever ask his last name. So it was fast for Zibon, and fine, it went fast, but I knew him. I was checking out this camp and yes, fine, stalked him a bit, but knew him.”

  I bobbed my head, that was fair.

  “I know his last name,” Nero argued with a huff.

  Shit, I didn’t. I had no idea what Verge’s last name was. I just wanted him, not his background. I mean… Maybe I didn’t know what I meant or wanted.

  We agreed to meet Verge at his room with breakfast and ask to talk before we split for the night, Alastair saying he wanted his mate and inside his mate. Dick. I wanted inside Verge too.

  Instead, I took a cold shower and thought about what I really wanted. Yeah, I wanted to date him. I liked him.

  I slept like crap and wanted to smack Nero when he showed up with flowers along with the food he said he’d get, laying out quite the spread. Shit, and I just show up.

  Idiot.

  “Sleeping,” Verge grumbled as he opened the door after we knocked. He rubbed his eyes and glanced between us. “Yes?”

  Wow, we really did have to spell it out.

  “Could we talk, love?” Nero asked, smiling at him.

  “Do you have coffee? Do you mean talk, or talk like tell me what sex you want?”

  I chuckled. I really loved his sass. “There’s coffee, and we mean clothes on talk.”

  “Gimmie,” he mumbled, extending his hand. We both laughed, Nero handing him a to-go cup. He pushed the door open all the way. “Come in.”

  We did and got situated with some breakfast, Verge taking the bed, Nero the desk chair, and I leaned my butt on the window ledge.

  “We apologize for the miscommunication,” Nero started after Verge got a few sips of
coffee.

  “And for getting upset,” I added, giving Verge a smile that I really meant. “I was rude. I got upset you were entertaining the idea of dating someone else when I thought we were.”

  “Mistakes happen,” he forgave, glancing between us. “You got really mad, though. It was sort of scary.”

  “We’re ancient. We are scary,” I agreed, much to Nero’s disapproving look. “I’m not going to lie about that. We’d never hurt you, though. You know that, right?”

  “I think so, but I don’t really know you guys,” he answered, focusing on his plate. “I didn’t think it was fair to get mad without talking. I didn’t kiss William or anything. We were talking, and I was obviously confused.”

  “Yeah, we overreacted,” I agreed, and that seemed to appease him.

  “We would like to date you,” Nero pushed when the conversation didn’t continue.

  “Both of you? Like the three of us together?” he checked, glancing between us. “What were you fighting about?”

  “I’m fine with the three of us, or both of us with you as we’ve been,” I quickly interjected before Nero could. “I like what we have. I just don’t want William or anyone else trying for you. We can play with them again, that’s fine, that was fun, but nothing more.”

  “I’m fine with Gaius joining us for sex, but we fought because I want you in my bed every morning. I like waking up to you,” Nero explained, smiling when Verge blushed.

  Gods, he was so cute. “So we’re officially asking you out. Is that something you’d accept?”

  “I don’t know,” he admitted, frowning. “I don’t like you guys fighting because of me. That’s not—you’re good friends. Friends for thousands of years. I don’t want to mess that up.”

  “You aren’t or won’t,” I assured him. “Brothers fight. If things ever changed and your heart belonged to Nero, it would not break us. He is my brother, and I would wish him all the happiness in the world.”

  “And I Gaius,” Nero added.

  “So you both want me to pick then?” he checked, glancing between us. “That’s the end goal you’re saying?”

  Unfortunately, we both had two different answers.

  “No,” I said.

  “Yes,” Nero answered.

  “Oh, sure, no wonder I had no fucking clue what was going on,” Verge drawled, and that was pretty fair.

  I held up my hand to Nero to hold off, which didn’t make him happy, and he growled. “I think you and I are talking about now, Verge. I like what we’re doing. I would like some alone time with you too. I’d like to watch a movie and hang out, but I love the sex we have, and it’s been making you very happy, right?”

  “Yes, of course,” he muttered and took a huge bite of his meal, blushing again.

  “Nero is talking long term. You can’t date two people forever. You date with the intent that you could mate that person one day. So that’s his answer. I get that too, but I’m not a long-term planner. We’ve been having fun a few weeks, and now we want to make it where that fun is officially just us. No Williams or anyone else. We’re dating you. Let’s go from there.”

  Nero actually shot me a relieved look when Verge visibly relaxed. Yeah, he better love me. He’d almost pushed himself out or Verge too far. Then again, that made me an idiot for saving him, but Verge liked us both. I liked the arrangement.

  “So how do we do this?” Verge asked, giving us a quick glance again. “Someone gets me Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and the other Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and we all get together on Sundays?”

  “No, nothing like that,” Nero chuckled easily, and I winced internally. He was up to something. “Gaius has to leave for Wyrok business later today, so have lunch with him if you want before he goes. No schedules, as you’re busy too and maybe might need a night off here and there.”

  “Okay, yeah, that sounds good,” Verge agreed.

  Nero continued though. “I was going to tell you last night that my meeting is about using my connections to get building supplies for the projects here, as we need them fast. I spoke with Alexander, and he agreed it would be a good learning experience for you as a new warrior to understand how we have to handle things. And you’d be safe with me. So if you’re fine with it, I’ll fly us to New Orleans for a day or two and handle that.”

  That fucking dick. Of all the places to take him, get Verge away from here and wine and dine him. Take him to gay strip clubs, which I doubted he’d ever been to before. Oh, I was going to beat Nero.

  Sure enough, Verge’s eyes went wide. “I’ve always wanted to go there. I was in the closet with my parents, I mean, I dated in college, a few dates after, but they didn’t know. They’d flip shits. I couldn’t ever explain taking a vacation or whatever. Yeah, totally, let’s go.” He nodded his head so fast I thought it might pop off. “I forgot Alexander knew about my business degree and that I worked in sales before coming here.”

  “I heard you say you thought finance classes were boring but liked the rest of your college,” Nero admitted, smiling like the cat that ate the canary. “We’ll handle business and have fun. Lots of fun to be had in New Orleans.”

  “You could use the break after being here so long and with all the pressures of becoming a warrior,” I interjected, wanting to show I could be supportive, not act like a jealous ass.

  Verge wasn’t fooled, though, glancing between us.

  “What about us all together? You both have said you like double stuffing me or taking me together. That’s the part I’m missing here.”

  “I have no objection for the nights we’re together and in the mood for playing like that to invite Gaius if he’s free. I like seeing you come undone, love. It flat does it for me. I just don’t think we always have to all be attached at the hip. I like our morning showers and alone time. I’d like more of it.”

  “Okay, yeah, I’m cool with that,” he agreed, bobbing his head. “Sure, we’ll play things by ear and talk more instead of assuming.”

  “Sounds good,” I lied through my teeth. Nero’s way had me putting in a lot more work and most likely getting less—and less sex—out of it.

  “Come to think of it, it’s only a four-hour flight, so we could leave after lunch and get there to have some fun tonight if you wanted?” Nero asked Verge sweetly.

  If looks could kill, he’d be dead from the one I was giving him that he was blatantly ignoring.

  “Who says no to that?” Verge asked him, lighting up in a way that made me hard.

  “Send me some fun pictures while I’m off handling a cartel and getting us money to help our warriors,” I said, trying to keep the venom out of my tone.

  “You’re doing what?” Verge whispered, shooting me an impressed look.

  “I’ll tell you over lunch,” I answered, giving him a wink and wanting to stick my tongue out at Nero. Brat.

  “Do you want to have lunch in my room?” Verge asked me as we were wrapping up breakfast. “I mean, you were going to tell me Wyrok stuff, and we can hang here.”

  “Sounds great.” I gave him a quick kiss, noting Nero did as well before we left and got a thank you for the flowers, Nero taking the cart with us. I waited until we were down the hall a bit. “I’m going to pound you. New Orleans? Seriously? And flowers? We said breakfast.”

  “We did. It’s your own fault you didn’t think he was worth some effort,” he taunted. He ducked my side punch, tripping me with the cart. “We’ll send you pictures.”

  “You’re being selfish,” I fumed and stormed off. Verge liked being with both of us. Why was Nero risking blowing that up when we were having amazing sex because he wanted more sleepovers? It was stupid.

  I hurried to pack, annoyed as could be and needing to chill before my lunch with Verge or I would do nothing but push him away. He obviously didn’t like tempers or anger pointed at him. So I needed to chill.

  I ended up going outside and helping the pre-trans, loading up the saw with all the parts of trees to get some of the energy out.
They were grateful, and a few were cute, so that was always nice.

  And it won me points with Verge because he ended up seeing me do it when he came in with one of the last loads.

  “You ready for lunch?” he asked me with a smile.

  “I am now that you’re here,” I chuckled, leaning in and giving him a smacking kiss.

  “Goof.” He playfully shoved me away, but I saw the grin.

  We grabbed a bunch of sandwiches and drinks and headed to his room.

  “Tell me about the cartel,” he blurted when the door was closed, plopping on the bed and nodding for me to as well. “So Alastair admitted to us he uses his persuasion to dupe bad people and get money. Are you doing like that? Robbing rich criminals to help us and all vampires?”

  “Yeah, basically,” I admitted, floored he was so excited. “My gift, I believe you have one here like me who can project images?”

  “Yeah, Gilroy, but he doesn’t really talk about it. I think he has to touch people. Do you?”

  “You are so adorable when you’re excited,” I told him, my tone getting deep.

  “Oh, thanks.” He blushed, and I got hard again. I swear he just knew exactly what to do to turn me on.

  “I don’t have to touch people. I can show them from a bit of a distance, and there’s a bit of persuasion involved with the gift because they get influenced by it. Alastair is different. He could, well, he’s astoundingly powerful in it, as he practices and works at it.”

  “Will you show me?” he asked nervously. “I mean, show me how it works?”

  “Sure.” I shrugged. No big deal. I focused on him and smiled, showing him my memories of when we’d brought him out to the back of the camp. So he would think he was watching it all right then instead of me sitting here.

  “That’s what I looked like?” he panted, his chest moving faster. “Wow, that—wow. It’s like I’m there watching it.”

  “It’s easier to show what I’ve seen. That’s really just replaying something. Now, to show you something else, that’s harder. Especially if I’ve never seen it.”