Page 132 of Bonds of Fate

Gideon watches as Nix checks on Luca, who has Grayson’s cock in his mouth. Luca is lying flat on the couch, eyes closed, cock warming the alpha, who is typing on his phone with one hand and running the other through Luca’s hair. Both look content.

Gideon runs his hand over the top of Nix’s head. “I’ll find you some of Luca’s workout gear and meet you in the gym in ten.”

“Okay.” He kisses Gideon’s nose. “I think I should kiss you now because I’m guessing I might not want to later, eh?”

Laughter bubbles up before Gideon can stop it.

Nix is probably right.

Plans are already forming—he’s going to poke the wolf, push a few buttons, and maybe run Nix a bit ragged.

“Probably.” Anticipation coils in his chest. He’d expected a rough kiss, a clash of dominance to set the tone for the next few hours.

But instead, Nix meets his eyes, leans in, and presses the softest kiss to Gideon’s lips. “Love you, and thank you for doing this. I know you didn’t want to, but–”

“Nix. Stop. I am going to say this one time—I would like it if you would let me do this instead of you. I can’t lie to you about that.”

Nix interrupts, a frown between his eyes, as he twists his hands in front of him.“You just said you would—”

“You didn’t let me finish. I said I would like for you to let me end Hayes, and if you change your mind—right until the last minute—I will gladly take your place.Enthusiastically.But if what you need is for me to teach you, then that’s what I am going to do. But…”

“But what?”

“But this is going to hurt, kitten. You can’t win against him if you aren’t willing to be hurt or be willing to hurt someone. Can you do that? Can you give me everything?” Gideon hopes Nix knows he means every bit of hatred, every bit of darkness, every bit of who he was last night fighting for his—and Luca’s—life.

“I will. I will give you everything so you can teach me to do what I need to do. I can do it.” Nix tilts his chin up. Nix meets his eyes then with determination, and there is fire there.

Gideon’s bond twists in his chest, and for a single second, he sees a flash of iridescent silver-white out of the corner of his eye. Huh. “Alright. The gym in ten. Go, see your soulmate.”

“Soulmate?” He looks over at Grayson, who is looking back. “Whoa, do you think so? You’re not joking? Like you and Luca?”

“Mmm. Let him tell you, though, eh? But I think so. Go! You’re down to nine minutes.” Gideon gives him a bit of a butt-smack, and when he shivers, Gideon thinks he might have to have that detailed ‘play’ talk sooner rather than later.

“I’m going!” Nix is beside Grayson on the couch, rubbing noses and listening to Grayson while he runs his fingers absently through Luca’s hair. There’s a sudden outburst when Nix says, “Yes!” and then they’re kissing like Nix isn’t down to six minutes.

Gideon grabs two water bottles and heads back toward the laundry room, where he finds a pair of Luca’s shorts, dusty and folded up on a shelf above the dryer. He adds a tank top from Finn’s pile and heads into the gym.

When Nix finally gets there with twenty seconds to spare, Gideon tosses him the clothing. “Don’t want to ruin your cute shirt.”

“We should get you one. You could wear aHe’s My Babyt-shirt, too. Oooh, I have a better idea. I wanted to get Jamie one that says,He’s my Daddy.Maybe that would suit you–” Nix quickly pulls his t-shirt off, folds it nicely, and pulls on the shorts. They’re too big, but hopefully, a few more cinnamon buns and they’ll be a perfect fit.

“Nope. Don’t even say it. There is only one daddy in this house, and it sure as fuck isn’t me.”

Speaking of Jay, Gideon checks the clock on the wall and sees it’s only just past 8:00 AM. Hopefully, Jay will sleep in today. Something tells him that having Jay present might not go well at all. Gideon does not want an audience for this, especially a grumpy, protective enigma.

Or three.

Rowan is not a morning person, thank the Goddess.

“Okay, Mom.” Nix can’t even say it with a straight face, and he laughs, big and loud.

Gideon is not having any of that sass today. “Why, you little shit.” Gideon charges Nix and takes them to the floor. He doesn’t pull up and lets Nix take the brunt of the impact.

Gideon isn’t disappointed at all when Nix tries to throw him off because he’s ready. He’s got his hand on Nix’s wrists and his thighs locked on his legs.

“Come on, kitten, you can do better than this. I heard you threw Ro off and made him chase you.” Gideon doesn’t transmit his intentions–because Hayes sure as fuck won’t–and Nix bucks and twists.

Gideon is genuinely confused. This isn’t the same boy who was throwing hands down in arm-wrestling contests.

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