Helios Exposed (The Helios Chronicles Book 2)

by Tawa M. Witko

  25 Cause to Celebrate

  The day of the housewarming party was stressful, to say the least. Madison, being a perfectionist, wanted everything just right. Andrew had already headed over to Jayden’s to be out of the way. Madison didn’t mind in the slightest as he tended to get in the way. Callie, on the other hand, had been a Godsend. Not only did she enjoy parties in general but she was great company as well. She had been bouncing all over the place in her typical manner and finally just stopped.

  “Okay, I have to tell someone.”

  Madison stopped arranging the glassware and glanced at her. “What is going on with you anyway? You look like you're about to burst.”

  “I’m pregnant,” she whispered and covered her mouth immediately.

  “Oh my god, Callie.”

  Madison ran to her friend and pulled her into a hug. They hugged tightly for several minutes as Callie squealed in delight. Madison was ecstatic for her friend. She knew she had wanted to have a child again but Jayden hadn’t been ready after their miscarriage. The women pulled away from each other, but continued to hold hands.

  “We’d been trying for a few months now and,” she shook her head. “I didn’t want to tell anyone because, you know, then there’s all this pressure and people asking if we’re pregnant yet which just adds more stress and disappointment if we aren’t.”

  Madison nodded. “What did Jay say? I bet he was ecstatic!”

  She worried her lip in her mouth and shook her head. “I haven’t told him yet.”

  “Callie, girl, are you nuts! You have to tell him right away.”

  She nodded. “I was going to tell him this morning but he said he was gonna be with Andrew. I just couldn’t keep it inside anymore. Please don’t say anything.”

  “You have my word. When are you going to tell him?”

  “Tonight, after the party.”

  “Ya know, you should just tell him when he and Andrew get back. There’s no way you’re going to be able to keep a lid on this. He’s gonna know something is up.”

  “I thought of that. I’ve never been very good with secrets,” she laughed. “But I don’t want to ruin your housewarming party.”

  “Are you kidding me? This is the best news ever!”

  “Wow! The place looks amazing,” Jayden said, coming through the door with Andrew by his side.

  “I can’t believe you did all of this in the few hours I was gone,” Andrew added as he gave Madison a quick kiss on the cheek.

  “It’s amazing what I can accomplish without you distracting me with your sexiness.”

  He rolled his eyes as she swatted his behind. “Do you need me to do anything?”

  “No, but, Jayden why don’t you help Callie with that ribbon over there.”

  Jayden gave her a strange look. “You want me to help with… ribbon?”

  “Oh shhh and go help Callie.”

  He laughed and started over there. Callie looked to her as Madison nodded. “Come with me, Helios,” she said, tugging on his back pocket, preventing him from sitting down on the coach.

  “Okay,” he murmured as he righted himself and followed her into the kitchen. “What’s going on?”

  “Not for me to tell,” she said with a wink.

  He pulled her to him, his hands immediately went into her pants, touching her. She gasped and rested her head on his chest, watching as his fingers worked their magic. Just as soon as he started, he stopped and pulled his hand out. Her hand went to his, trying to get him to finish what he had started.

  “Tell me what’s going on first,” he stated with a grin at her flustered expression.

  She pushed him away playfully. “You’re just wrong, Helios.”

  She smiled and turned around, going to the counter to reorganize one of the platters of food. He came up behind her, kissing down her neck as his hand once again slipped inside her pants. She leaned her back against him, allowing him full access. It didn’t take long for her to find her release, not with Andrew’s expertise. Before they could think much further than their own desire for one another, they heard a scream in the front room. Madison smiled delightfully as she fixed herself.

  “Was that scream you’re doing?”

  “Not at all,” she laughed. “That was all on Jay.”

  “Guess what?” Jayden yelled as he entered the kitchen, but before anyone could answer he blurted out, “We’re pregnant!”

  “Congratulations, man,” Andrew said as he shook his hand.

  “You guys are gonna be great parents,” Madison said, hugging them simultaneously. “Oh my god, your dads are gonna flip,” she added with a laugh.

  “I know,” Jayden grinned before turning to Callie. “We better tell them tonight. They know me too well. They’ll know I’m hiding something.”

  The four friends talked until it was time to set out the food. Madison was excited to have people see their place. She and Andrew had done it all together. Aside from her furniture, that is. Oh, she was sure that Andrew didn’t care what color they painted the walls but she made sure to get his input anyway. It was extremely important to her that he know that this was his house as much as it was hers. The only room that was yet to be completed was the spare room, the one that would be his art studio. He had been reluctant to do anything with it. She wasn’t sure why. He had just seemed hesitant. She hoped tonight would inspire him to rethink that stance.

  “I think your parents are here,” Andrew said when he heard a car door closing.

  Jayden took a peek out the kitchen window and nodded. “Yep, that’s them.

  “Why are they bringing a present?” Andrew asked curiously.

  Madison smiled and nudged him. “It’s customary for people to bring a gift to a housewarming party. It’s their welcoming gift.”

  Andrew nodded. He wasn’t aware of that and Madison, while seeming to know this little tidbit of information, had not relayed it to him. He hated the idea of people giving them things for the house, things that he should be able to provide. He pushed that thought out of his mind. He needed to hold it together, for Madison’s sake.

  “Come on, Helios, let’s welcome our guests.”

  They both got to the door just as the bell rang. Andrew opened it with a smile, seeing how excited Madison was. The Bennetts were dressed casually, both in jeans and t-shirts. They were carrying a large box, wrapped in bright colored paper with ribbon curled at the top.

  “Welcome,” Andrew said as he stepped aside so they could enter.

  “We hope you like it,” Liam said as he handed Andrew the large box.

  “I’m sure we will,” he replied.

  “Helios, just set it on the counter,” she said, directing him to the spot that didn’t have anything on it.

  Madison gave both men a hug as Elias handed her a bottle of wine. Madison smiled as she took it and brought it into the kitchen, briefly remembering when she had joked with Andrew about the wine cellar at the 21 Club in New York. She wondered if they actually had a wine cellar at their house. They always seemed to have wine readily available for whatever occasion arose. She grinned, placed it in a bucket, and set out her wine glasses just as Aaron and Olivia arrived with her grans.

  “Oh this is just lovely,” Olivia exclaimed as they entered.

  “Now that everyone is here,” Madison said as she hugged the three new arrivals. “Andrew and I will give everyone the grand tour.”

  “We’d love that,” Olivia smiled warmly.

  “Yes, especially since someone has been keeping her home a secret,” Grandmother Downing said as she eyed her granddaughter.

  Madison laughed as she linked arms with her. “I wanted everyone to see it at the same time.”

  Madison started walking them through the house while Andrew followed behind them silently. The floor plan was similar to Aaron and Olivia’s home but with a slightly bigger living room. Everyone commented about the decorations and how pretty everything looked. Andrew, oddly enough, felt happy about that. Everyone loved his h
ome and that filled him with pride. Madison stopped the tour at the one room that was decidedly empty.

  “This is going to be Andrew’s art studio.”

  Aaron stepped inside and smiled. “I can’t wait to see what you do with this room.”

  Andrew sighed. “Well, I haven’t really planned on anything yet but maybe eventually there will be something to look at in here.”

  Madison walked over to him and took his hand. “You are gonna fill this place with your art and it’s going to be fabulous.”

  He smiled and gently kissed her forehead. He loved that she believed so much in him but he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do. He had only ever sketched and that didn’t require an actual room. He was afraid she would be disappointed that he wasn’t as talented as she seemed to think he was. He turned to his friends and family, desperate for a distraction of some sort.

  “Is everyone hungry? We have a lot of food.”

  “Definitely!” Jayden replied, always in the mood to eat. He stepped out of the room as others followed him.

  Soon everyone was eating and enjoying fellowship with one another. In the middle of it all, Elias rose to go get the wine. Liam followed him and they proceeded to pour the wine in the glasses provided and bring them over. Everyone took one, including Callie. Madison eyed her and she simply shrugged as Aaron stood up and raised his glass.

  “To Andrew and Madison. As you embark on this journey together, may you always remember to fill your home with love and compassion and… understanding.”

  Madison and Andrew smiled at one another as they all took a sip, Callie a miniscule amount. Liam watched her and Jayden speculatively. He could tell they were hiding something but wasn’t entirely sure what. Jayden looked his way and gave that mischievous smile that made Liam certain that he was keeping something from them.

  “When do we get to see all the presents?” Grans asked.

  “Now seems like a good time,” Olivia agreed.

  Madison laughed. “Okay, okay. Andrew, can you grab the boxes?”

  He nodded and rose to get them. There were several of various sizes that he brought over and set on the coffee table in front of Madison. He waited a moment, expecting her to start opening them but instead she motioned towards him and then them. He thought it odd and shrugged before picking one up, handing it to her.

  “You open it, baby.”

  He shrugged once more and started unwrapping the gift that the Bennetts had brought. His brows furrowed in surprise when he saw that the large box contained several types of drawing pencils, along with a few artist boards and sketch pads. He looked up in confusion seeing Madison’s widening smile. She quickly grabbed another box and handed it to him. That one also included art supplies and pencils, and then another and finally Aaron and Olivia’s gift which when he opened it contained a photograph of an artist’s stool and several nice easels.

  “What’s going on?” he finally asked confused.

  Liam pulled out his invitation and handed it to Andrew. He had seen the invitation before but this looked different. On it, Madison had hand written a note to people. Our home is well stocked, we only request your presence, but if you would like to bring a gift, the only room that is not furnished is Andrew’s art studio. He turned to her in shock.

  “I knew you were hesitant about the studio, Helios. I wasn’t sure about what but I thought maybe some inspiration was in order.”

  Aaron rose and squeezed his shoulder. “I’m going to bring your things in.”

  Andrew sat there in surprise. Madison never ceased to amaze him. Her generosity and larger than life heart consistently set his mind ablaze. Jayden grinned at his friend and grabbed his parents’ large box, bringing it to the art room. Madison nodded towards the Bennetts who quickly exited the house and brought in a large artist table that Madison had bought and stored at their home. Andrew stared as everyone started bringing everything in the room, asking where he wanted things. He took a deep breath and started directing people. By the time they were all done, the room looked like a bona fide art studio, awaiting its master.

  “Now this is an art studio,” Jayden said proudly as he slapped Andrew on the shoulder.

  He nodded as he looked around. People started exiting the room to go back and eat and talk and, of course, to give Andrew and Madison some privacy. Madison watched him stare at everything, and as she started to walk towards the door as well, he grabbed her and pulled her to him. She immediately wrapped her arm around his waist as he buried his head in her hair.

  “I can’t believe you arranged for all of this,” Andrew said, trying to mask the emotions he was feeling.

  “I can’t believe I was able to keep the whole thing a secret for so long. I almost told you so many times,” she giggled as she wrapped her arms around him tighter.

  “It’s perfect, Madison.” He pulled away from her slightly and cupped her cheek. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Helios.”

  “Come on, let’s go mingle with our friends.”

  She nodded and the two walked out to the living room just in time to see Liam and Elias rush to Callie and Jayden. Both men looked insanely happy as they hugged them both. Callie was nodding and crying as everyone offered their congratulations to the expectant couple.

  “Looks like we missed the big announcement,” Andrew stated as they watched the scene before them.

  “Good thing we already knew, huh?”

  Andrew nodded. “So what’s all the commotion? Someone pregnant or what?” he asked as they stepped up to their friends.

  “Oh, someone has jokes,” Jayden said laughing.

  Andrew and Madison hugged their friends and, once again, congratulated them on the pregnancy. The rest of the evening turned into pregnancy tales as Liam and Elias discussed Jayden’s birth with everyone. It was entertaining, to say the least, albeit also a bit strange. Apparently, the Bennetts had tried to adopt, and even attempted surrogacy, but were denied because they were gay. Disheartened, Liam’s twin sister, Amelia, volunteered to be their surrogate. Madison was in her element listening to tales of a younger Liam and Elias as they went through the whole pregnancy ordeal and Andrew knew inherently that he would be hearing about this for a very long time.

  ~*~

  The weeks following Jayden and Callie’s announcement were a little rocky at first. Not for Madison and Andrew, of course, but for their friends. There had been many conversations amongst them in regards to the circumstances that were unfolding. A few days after the pregnancy announcement, Jayden’s parents sat both Jayden and Callie down to discuss options. The Bennetts firmly believed that it was in Jayden and Callie’s best interest that they have their own place and, as such, had actually purchased a small three-bedroom starter home a few miles away from them. Granted, while this was a nice gesture, Jayden had been furious, feeling that his parents had overstepped. He had protested vehemently, but in the end it had been Callie who put her foot down. She too felt they should have their own place. She wanted their child to have his or her own room, something that she hadn’t had as a child. Not being able to deny Callie this extraordinary gift, he agreed to at least look at the place.

  Callie had immediately fallen in love with the home, and in spite of Jayden’s protests, he loved it as well. So that being said, six weeks after Andrew and Madison moved into their new home, Jayden and Callie moved into theirs. Their home was not near Andrew or Madison, but it was close to Jayden’s parents, which made it a tad easier for Jayden to leave them. He had suffered very little anxiety and worry, and had even joked with Andrew that apparently it was time he grew up and acted like an adult. Andrew had laughed, but he understood why it had always been hard for Jayden to leave his parents. While the house was not very close to Callie’s mom, it was close enough for her to have the support she needed. All in all, it was good for everyone involved.

  26Christmas Cheer

  Andrew walked towards the bedroom to see if Madison was ready to leave. They were sup
posed to be at the Bennetts in thirty minutes and he hated to be late. Too many years in the system had him accustomed to routines and schedules. As he entered their room, he was not prepared for what he saw. Madison was lying on the bed in nothing but her pink lace panties. He smirked and involuntarily licked his lips as he pulled his shirt up and over his head, stopping at the foot of the bed to unbutton his jeans. Madison rose from her position and sat up on her knees to watch him disrobe before her.

  “Helios,” she whispered as her arms outstretched for him.

  He didn’t hesitate. He would never deny her anything, especially when it involved him getting to bury himself deep inside her. In one move he was on the bed, mimicking her position. Her mouth parted as he approached her. His handsome face often stunned her, it was never just his fine features, but the deepness reflected in his eyes that always took her breath away. The minute he was in range, her mouth found his. She knew they would be late, but she didn’t care, she needed him. Their kiss intensified, as it always seemed to do.

  “Turn around, Madison,” Andrew said roughly.

  Madison didn’t hesitate as she repositioned herself so that her back was now flush against his bare chest. His mouth moved to her neck as he kissed and sucked her flesh between his teeth. His hand gently moved up her rib cage, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake, until he was lightly caressing her collarbone. Meanwhile, he allowed his other hand to travel down her body, slipping into her lace panties.

  “Helios, oh god, baby,” Madison moaned in delight.

  “Do you like that?” he asked as his tongue moved languidly up her neck to circle her earlobe.

  Madison’s body trembled as his fingers teased her. She parted her mouth to answer his question but all that escaped was a whimpered moan. As he kissed along her shoulder, he increased his ministrations. She was ready to ignite and he knew it. She moved her hands behind her body and began squeezing his thighs tightly.

  “Andrew, please,” Madison screamed out, ravenous for him.

  Andrew removed his hand from her underwear as he pushed her forward. She quickly tilted her head so she could see him. She always needed to see him. He was magnificent. His toned abs and defined pecs hidden under ink, ink that masked a life he should have never had to live, a life that still, on occasion, haunted him. When her eyes moved up to meet his, she found him watching her, his eyes exponentially darker.