Kai chuckled, wrapping his arm around Spike. “Yeah, if it weren’t for your hare-brained plan to go see Micah during his heat... This wouldn’t have happened.”
Micah laughed, hauling Spike down for a kiss. His lips were soft and sweet, but his smile was even sweeter. “I’ll forgive you,” Micah said. “But about those ten months of servitude...”
Kai barked a laugh, raking his fingers through Spike’s hair. Spike grinned, kissing Micah again. Then he kissed their baby, too.
“If that’s what you want,” Spike said, tracing his wrist down their daughter’s back, marking her.
Micah shook his head. “Nah. I don’t want a servant, Spike. I want an equal.”
And a warm, comforting weight settled in Spike’s chest. “Equals are good. I can do that. If you’re okay with occasional bouts of me being me.”
Micah smiled, and kissed him again. “You wouldn’t be Spike otherwise.” Then he fingered the ring on Spike’s hand, and Spike remembered Micah’s promise. Micah wanted to marry him and Kai. And that seemed like the most impossible dream coming true.
“Lenna,” Kai said suddenly, dragging his wrist down their baby’s side. “Her name. You didn’t pick one, did you?”
Micah laughed, tangling his fingers with Kai’s, dragging his own wrist down their baby so she smelled like all three of them. “We were waiting for you to arrive so we could decide on one. You like Lenna?”
“‘Brave and hardy,’” Spike said, dragging his wrist down Micah’s jaw. “I like it.”
Micah nodded, too. “That sounds like an excellent choice. Lenna.”
As though she heard her name, Lenna squirmed, giving a tiny mewl.
Kai smiled, wrapping his arms around all three of them. Then he kissed Lenna on her tiny ear, and looked at them in the eye. “You’re all mine,” Kai whispered. “I’m never letting any of you go.”
Micah beamed. Spike’s heart swelled.
After what they’d been through together, after their falls and their victories, something so innocent as the birth of their child—Spike was grateful to share this with Kai and Micah.
He wanted to stay by their sides. He wanted to grow old with them. He wanted to cherish every second, because the next moment would never be quite like this one—the present.
And regardless of what the future held, he was sure that it would be beautiful, because he had the very best people by his side.
“Welcome to the family, Lenna,” Spike murmured, wrapping his arms around Kai and Micah, holding them as close to himself as he could. “And welcome back, Kai. We’ve been waiting for both of you for the longest time.”
Epilogue
One year later
The moment the countdown hit 0:00, the arena exploded in a roar. Around, spectators leaped from their seats, cheering for the Colorado Whitecoats.
Micah remained seated, pressing his palms lightly over Lenna’s ears to shield her from the commotion. Lenna babbled, waving a French fry around.
At a year old, she was growing out of some of her clothes, her wavy brown hair tied up into ponytails, her teeth coming in. She was starting to look more like Spike than Micah, but Micah didn’t mind.
“You excited?” Spike asked, leaning forward to snag Lenna’s attention. “Daddy did real good with his game. Look. Do you see Daddy?”
Lenna peered at the big screens high above the arena. For a moment, the camera panned across the entire team. Then Kai jogged into view on the screen, and Lenna raised her hands, cheering. “Dada!”
Micah’s heart swelled. He was always glad when Lenna recognized Kai. Being a Colorado-based athlete meant that Kai wasn’t home five months in a year, and Kai had missed some of Lenna’s milestones because of that.
Micah and Spike had tried to make up for it over the video calls. More often than not, they had Lenna with them whenever they talked with Kai, so Kai had a chance to bond with her.
This wasn’t what Micah had anticipated when he’d first begun seeing Spike and Kai.
When he’d first conceived, he’d resigned himself to caring alone for his baby girl. But now that they’d all gotten together, the engagement rings on their fingers, Micah rarely ever felt alone anymore.
During game season, they’d fallen into a routine: Spike would sit out of Micah’s college classes on babysitting duty. When Micah had some spare time, he’d go over the classes with Spike privately, to make sure Spike wasn’t falling behind. Not that Spike really needed much help, when he was one of Micah’s best students.
Sometimes, when they were both busy, they’d rig up a tablet in Lenna’s cot, and connect her to a call with Kai. Kai would watch over her, and call Spike or Micah if anything went wrong—not that they were more than a few rooms away from their daughter at any given time.
When the season ended, Kai would return home, freeing up their schedules some.
During those months, Spike attended Micah’s classes. Sometimes, Kai sat in on those classes with Lenna when she was in a quiet mood. Then they’d all go to lunch together, and it was the best thing in the world.
Now that the last game of the season was over, Micah couldn’t wait to bring Kai home with them.
The sports camera zoomed in on Kai on the big screens—Kai wasn’t looking at the camera, though. He was searching the crowd.
For his family.
Micah’s heart skipped. Spike stood and waved, and after a while, Kai waved back. Lenna giggled, waving, too.
“We’ll see him real soon,” Spike said, sitting back next to Micah in a puff of juniper. “You excited, Lenna? Daddy’s gonna have big hugs for you!”
Lenna babbled back at him.
“Here, why don’t you play Fly with her?” Micah handed Lenna to Spike. Spike obliged, and Lenna squealed as she went soaring up above the crowd, Spike’s grasp secure around her tiny body.
For all that Spike had been uncertain about being a dad, he’d taken to the role really well. Sometimes, Micah passed by the kitchen, only to pause when he found Spike curled around their daughter, feeding her cereal O’s, or helping to wash her hands at the sink.
Spike let her swoop down, then flew her high into the air again. Lenna shrieked. Micah checked his phone—there was a message from Kai. Meet me at the locker rooms in 15?
Micah answered, We’ll be there.
When Spike was done playing with Lenna, he sat back down with Micah, glancing at the time on his phone. They had another five minutes before they had to make their way downstairs.
Micah leaned into Spike’s warmth, smiling when Spike kissed his ear, then down his cheek, to his lips.
“Kai’s gonna want to celebrate,” Spike murmured against Micah’s lips. “They’ve won the G-league championships twice in a row, now. Can’t blame him if he wants to sow a few seeds.”
Micah blushed. He’d gladly take a few of Kai’s seeds, any day. “We’ll have to tire Lenna out a bit more, then,” Micah said, laughing. “She’d better fall into a deep sleep.”
“Yeah, she better,” Spike growled. “You’re gonna be screaming all night.”
Micah swallowed, warmth pooling between his legs. “Maybe a gag might be better.”
Spike slanted him a roguish grin. “Oh, yeah. Definitely. Except we love to hear you moan.”
Micah squirmed. “We really should get going. I’m going to wet my pants if you keep this up.”
“I have every intention of keeping you up.” Spike winked, and Micah slapped his ass.
They grabbed their travel bag, making their way down to the locker rooms. The crowd had cleared somewhat. Further in the depths of the arena, Spike turned them down a few corridors, into a quieter area where there were yells and laughter, and the crush of the crowd was all but nonexistent.
Kai was waiting next to a discreet gray door, his duffel bag at his feet. Micah’s heart skipped; Spike perked up.
“Took you long enough,” Kai grumbled, but he was grabbing Micah, sliding his tongue past Micah’s lips in a deep kiss. Micah groaned,
opening for him. This never got old.
They’d spent the past couple nights in Colorado relearning each other, and it was not enough. Five months of separation engraved a bone-deep ache in all of them, that two nights of touch wasn’t enough to sate.
“C’mon,” Kai growled, stroking down Micah’s back, squeezing his ass.
“Hey, don’t I get a Hello kiss?” Spike grinned.
Kai laughed, grabbing Spike by the nape and kissing him, too. Spike growled, biting down on Kai’s lower lip. Later tonight, when they’d worn Micah out, they’d go on a second round with each other, and maybe a third. That, too, hadn’t changed.
Lenna babbled. Kai hauled her into his arms, twirling with her in a circle. “How’s my favorite daughter?”
“Dada!” Lenna said, kicking her legs.
Kai beamed, then brought her down and hugged her close, their daughter tiny in his arms. Micah watched the way Kai gave Lenna his thumb to hold, and he admired the scattering of bite marks across Kai’s shoulders—most of them from Spike.
Kai had come a long way, too. Sometimes, when Micah left Lenna alone on a video call with Kai, he’d come back to see Kai looking at their daughter, his expression all soft. Or, during the times Kai was home, he’d murmur softly to Lenna, tapping her nose, making funny faces at her so she’d laugh.
“You’re a great dad, you know,” Micah said to Kai and Spike. “Both of you.”
They stared at him, and Kai shrugged, looking away. “I’m just being me.”
Spike snorted. “Yeah, that coming from the guy who didn’t have a dad. Well, that’s me, too. But at least I’m not pretending about it.”
Kai punched Spike’s arm lightly, and Spike punched him back. They wore identical grins on their faces.
“I’m just proud of you,” Micah said.
Their chests swelled, and Spike stepped back, kissing Micah soundly on the lips. Kai just looked at the floor, but he was still smiling.
“Did I mention? I was picked for the NBA draft,” Kai said slowly. “They just announced it today.”
Spike’s eyes grew round. Being drafted into the major league was a big thing. “So, are you gonna accept?”
Kai glanced at Lenna in his arms, then at Spike, and Micah. “Nah. I turned it down.”
Micah had heard Kai speak about the insane wages in the major leagues. Kai had been given the opportunity to command that kind of pay, and he’d declined it. “Why?” Micah asked, out of curiosity.
Kai gave a lopsided smile. “The major league seasons are eight months. G-league is five, and that’s already my limit. I have a family to get home to.”
“Aw, Kai.” Spike’s gaze burned. “I love you so fucking much.”
Micah’s heart thumped for both of them. He couldn’t help the smile splitting his face. “So do I,” Micah said, stepping close to kiss Kai on the shoulder. Kai just grinned at all of them.
On occasion, Micah had wondered if it was the right choice, encouraging Kai to play professionally. But Kai was making his decision now, he was balancing his family and his career in his own way. Most of all, Kai was happy. And Spike encouraged Kai’s decision, too.
Micah was proud of them for it.
* * *
The wedding took place in autumn, when the leaves were a medley of reds and yellows, and the temperatures had mellowed to a faint chill in the dewy mornings.
Pale yellow chairs had been lined up in front of an intricate gazebo by the lake, tied together with lush, royal blue ribbons, and decorated with miniature bouquets. Guests mingled, children laughed, and alphas exchanged shoulder punches.
Micah stood with Spike and Kai, Lenna toddling around in a summer-yellow suit, complete with a tiny shirt and tie.
At fourteen months, she was developing an affinity for walking—most days, she followed Kai, Micah, or Spike around the apartment, curious eyes studying everything they did.
In no time, their baby girl would grow up, and get into more mischief. York had been the same at her age.
“Ready?” Kai murmured, rubbing Micah’s knuckles with his thumb.
“I think Micah’s been ready for this his whole life.” Spike grinned. “We didn’t even spend any time deciding on anything, Micah just told the planner, and boom, it’s all here.”
Micah laughed, his cheeks warming. “I spent a while planning my dream wedding.”
After they’d asked where they should hold the wedding, and Micah had begun to describe the seasons and colors and decorations, Spike and Kai had given him full reign on all the decisions. The look on their faces had been priceless.
“And it’s perfect, right?” Spike asked, looking seriously at him. “Or I’ll hunt down that planner—”
“You’re gonna stay here and make it better,” Kai said, elbowing his brother. “Actually, get him into bed and he’ll have no complaints.”
Micah laughed, shaking his head. “You guys.”
“Yeah, we’re impossible.” Spike grinned, wrapping his arm around Kai’s waist. With his other hand, he pulled Micah close.
Spike and Kai had been a lot more open about their relationship ever since the proposal. Not that most people around them cared, since Kai was no longer studying at the college. With time, the students had forgotten that Spike even had a stepbrother.
“Micah,” someone said behind him.
Levi stood with Cole, giving a small wave. Micah perked up, stepping over to pull them both into a hug.
“I’m so happy for you,” Levi said effusively, his eyes sparkling. He smelled like jasmine and honey. “I’ve always wanted you to find someone. And this is even better—you found two someones.”
“I hope you know that you’re a hundred percent forgiven,” Micah said, meeting Levi’s eyes.
Levi glanced briefly at the scars on Micah’s face, hesitating. That house fire would always remain a painful memory for Micah, Levi, and Cole. Micah would always wear those scars.
But he’d been bonded with Spike and Kai for more than a year, now. Some days, it seemed that all Spike and Kai did was fall deeper in love with Micah, bum leg or otherwise.
“I’m beautiful,” Micah said quietly, smiling. “The scars won’t change that.”
Delight gleamed in Levi’s eyes. He grew tearful, and Cole bowed his head
“Congrats,” Levi whispered in Micah’s ear, hugging him tight. “I’m so happy.”
“Go sit yourself down,” Micah whispered back. “And congrats.”
Levi stiffened. He was still early into the pregnancy—it wasn’t showing yet. Micah leaned away, looking into Levi’s eyes. Levi had suffered a string of miscarriages in the past. Whether this one would be successful remained to be seen, but Micah was surprised that Levi was going through with it anyway.
Cole hefted their only child, Bryce, into his arms. Bryce was two, an intelligent boy who watched the birds twittering around them. “We’re hoping it’ll go well,” Cole said, sliding his arm around Levi’s waist. “It was Levi’s decision, though.”
“I want to believe that it’ll be successful.” Levi gave Micah a brave smile. Micah sent all the positive energy in the world his way.
“We’ll all love you no matter what,” Micah told Levi, squeezing his shoulder. “Especially Cole.”
Levi smiled crookedly. He hugged Micah again, then retreated to join the rest of the guests.
Micah recognized plenty of guests—there were more he knew, than those he didn’t. People like Dale, Micah’s former coworker, and his alpha Greg. Greg had become college president. Dale would be returning to the college as a professor.
There was Micah’s other former coworker, Ian McMillan, his alpha Brad, and their two children. Ian wasn’t returning to the college, but he looked happy.
Brad exchanged a fist bump with Cole—they were both firefighters. Funny how everyone seemed to know each other here.
Then there was Spike and Kai’s mom, Natalie, some of Kai’s college basketball friends, and even Perry Larkin, the robotics professo
r Micah and Spike had bumped into.
Nearby, June sat with her omega, Cher, and their toddler. In the next row, there was Wy and Raph from Wy’s Drive-In, the pair of stepbrothers who had gotten married.
With them sat Sam, the drive-in’s chef, and his two alphas. Kai and Spike had invited the trio—it was Sam who had given Kai and Spike tips on getting legally married in Texas.
Earlier this week, Micah had flown to Texas with Kai and Spike, and he’d been one of their witnesses when they signed that certificate. Even now, it was still a bit of a shock to Kai and Spike that they were legally married.
“If you’re ready, the ceremony will start soon,” the wedding planner’s assistant whispered.
Micah’s heart skipped. He exchanged looks with Kai and Spike—both of them nodded.
“See you at the end of the aisle,” Kai murmured, his gaze sweeping down Micah’s body, then back up to meet his eyes.
“Maybe run down the aisle,” Spike added with a grin. “Then we can get this over with and go home and... consummate our union.”
Kai laughed; Micah chuckled. That hadn’t changed, either.
Spike handed Lenna to Micah, and Micah held their squirming daughter as his alphas stepped down the aisle. Kai and Spike were both dressed in suits—Kai’s a darker blue, Spike’s one shade lighter.
They were both beautiful. As their hands brushed, Micah saw their fingers tangle, pulling tight. Then the brothers exchanged a warm look, and Micah was so damn happy for Spike and Kai. They’d come a long way.
York stepped up to Micah, wriggling his fingers at his little sister. Lenna reached out to grab him. “Ready, Dad?”
The guests were seated by this point. Soft music began to play, and the audience turned to look expectantly at Micah. So Micah set Lenna down on the carpet, pointing her toward Kai and Spike.
“Papa,” she said, eager to race forward. “Dada!”
Micah’s heart filled with love. Lenna was perfect, all lively and full of energy. Like her name, she was strong, resilient. Micah gave her a light push. “Go to Daddy and Papa,” Micah said. “They’re waiting for you!”
His Two Alphas Page 41
