Page 63 of Inked Daddies

But the peace is a lie. She is not telling me the whole truth of what is on her mind, and I will not force it from her. A woman is allowed to have secrets, just as a man has stories he may not share right now. Her secrets are merely one more thing for me to discover about her. And I intend to.

26

MARIE

When Hugo’sknuckles brush against my cheek as we kiss, my heart squeezes. I love them, but I’m not ready to say it out loud. I can’t. Not when a bigger secret looms in the back of my mind.

I’m pregnant. And I can’t say that right now. I can’t drop that bomb while two thirds of them are asleep, and I can’t single out Hugo to hear it first. That would feel…wrong.

So the two truths remain locked inside, coiled in my chest. A gun ready to go off.

Hugo breaks the silence, voice low and cultured in that accent of his. “You’re not here, Marie,” he observes quietly, head tilted. “Would you prefer to talk?”

I swallow, glancing out the window. Anywhere but his searching green eyes. “Yeah. I think I need that.”

Hugo sits back. I’m not sure when we moved from the huge ottoman to the even bigger couch, but here we are. My body still tingles with aftershocks from everything we shared earlier—my muscles are pleasantly sore, skin sensitive. The memory of all four of us tangling together sets off a flutter of warmth in mybelly. Yet worry for what comes next—the future, my father, this entire arrangement—simmers under the surface.

Hugo’s presence is…calming, in a way. He is unshakable. No matter the situation, Hugo is calm, cool, and collected. It’s not a mask, either. He was the same way the night Crow attacked me. I wonder what it’s like to be that serene.

He murmurs something in French—perhaps a soft question. I don’t quite catch the words, but the tone is kind, a gentle coaxing. I want to pour out my fears, but I’ve already told him what I can. The truth is, his answers, though soothing at the time, open up so many more questions about how this relationship can function in the real world.

What will people say about us? How will it affect my father’s church or their clientele? What will my boss say?

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg of problems, because the biggest one has taken root inside of me. But I hold that back.

“I’m just overwhelmed,” I admit. “This is all so new. And…so intense.”

Hugo nods, crossing one ankle over the other in a casual motion. “I know. It’s a significant step, letting yourself be with three men, especially men like us.” His lips twitch in a slight smile. “We’re a handful individually, let alone collectively.”

I snort quietly. “That’s an understatement. I just keep thinking…how do we keep it from falling apart? I mean, just that I can’t…figure out how to handle it all at once. What if it’s all too big, too complicated?”

He’s silent for a moment, regarding me with those intelligent eyes. “Life is rarely simple, especially for us,” he says. “If we want this enough, we’ll find a way.”

A comfortable lull settles. I exhale the tension in my chest. “Thanks,” I say softly. “I appreciate you letting me talk without freaking out.”

He shrugs with a refined grace. “I’m not known for freaking out, love.”

I smile, hugging the blanket to me. “How did you decide this was the life you wanted?”

“I met them. We clicked into place. No regrets. Though sometimes I question my sanity when Trick does something rash.”

A faint laugh bubbles up from me. “Yeah, he’s the biggest handful out of the three of you.”

“Come now, love. I’m the biggesthandful.”

I snort another laugh and rest my chin on my knees, letting the conversation wash over me like a balm. “Thank you for making me feel safe. For letting me talk things out without judging me. You make me feel like…like I don’t have to hide who I am. Or what I want.”

“Speaking of what you want,” he says softly, “is there anything else you need tonight? We’re here for you, Marie.”

A wave of longing ripples through me. This arrangement of ours might be new, but the sense of belonging I feel is stronger than any fleeting doubt.

“I, um…” I start, but I can’t voice the big secret. Instead, I close my eyes, letting out a trembling exhale. “I just want to be sure we can hold it together. That we can handle whatever my father or the town or anyone else throws at us.”

Hugo’s lips quirk. “Don’t underestimate us. Or you, for that matter. You’re stronger than you realize.”

If only he knew about the baby. If only I had the courage to reveal it. But not now. The moment is too delicate. Instead, I shift forward, pressing a soft kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

He cups my jaw gently, eyes darkening. “Of course.”

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