Family Matters Read online

  “I love you too, Ty. Christ, I love you.”

  “Get dressed. We’ll be waiting.” Tyler found Nevvie in the living room, curled on the couch. She looked up. When he smiled she burst into relieved tears.

  He settled on the couch beside her and held her. “It’s going to be all right. He’s getting dressed, he’ll take care of a few things and then we’ll go get Adam. I’ll take him for a haircut and we’ll have lunch, right?”

  Her relieved sigh soothed his heart. “It’s going to be okay? He’s going to be okay?”

  “I think so. We all have a lot of healing to do.” He stroked her cheek. “I’m not going to collapse again, love.”

  “He told you that?”

  “I think you should have told me.”

  “Don’t change the subject.”

  “I don’t think he needs to give up his job. What can we do to make you feel better? If you wish to stay home, you can. You don’t have to work. I know you enjoy it, but we’re more than happy to keep you in the manner to which you’ve grown accustomed.”

  She’d die for his smile. “Let’s have a few months to settle into a routine. The BDA can stay here for the most part. He can’t drive yet anyway. Once he’s driving, I can switch out working from home. Okay?”

  “I daresay I do like that nickname.”

  “He’s our BDA.”

  Tyler nodded. “And I do so love him.”

  Thomas emerged from the bedroom twenty minutes later, dressed in loose, khaki slacks and a shirt he hadn’t buttoned yet, his surgical scars still angry pink welts across his torso. Nevvie had noticed some of his fine-motor skills were still a little slow or sloppy, sometimes both, which she suspected was why he hadn’t buttoned the shirt yet.

  But if he wanted help, he’d have to ask. She was done trying to guess what he wanted or needed.

  He carefully limped into the kitchen on his crutches, then leaned against the counter. He looked through at them. “Nev, where’s the number for the home health care place?”

  She’d asked him to do this, but the fact that he was meant he really wanted to try. “It’s in the front of my planner, there on the counter.”

  “Thanks, I see it.” He grabbed the phone and leafed through the pages while Tyler gripped her hand. Thomas dialed the number. Nevvie realized she’d been holding her breath.

  “Hi, yes, this is Thomas Kinsey. I’m supposed to have an appointment tomorrow with Jennifer…Right…Look, the bottom line is, I need to request a new therapist…No, she didn’t do anything wrong. The fact is I’m an asshole.” Nevvie tried to ignore Tyler’s amused snort next to her.

  “I made an ass out of myself…No, she was very professional. I have no complaints about her, seriously. I don’t want to get her in trouble…Honestly? I’d better tell you now, so you know up front. I’m in hot enough water here at home as it is. I’m polyamorous. I have a wife and a husband…That’s right…Well, I neglected to mention that to her up front and she drew a few wrong conclusions that I let her keep assuming…Yes, and she got a little freaked out, but it wasn’t her fault. And now my wife and my husband are pissed at me…Right. It’s not her fault I was a jerk, I’m just a brain damaged asshole right now.”

  Thomas laughed at something the person on the other end said. “Exactly. So if you could assign someone else to me, I can understand if they can’t make the Friday appointment and…Okay, great. Thank you. Same time on Monday? Wonderful.”

  He hung up and looked at Nevvie and Tyler, who still sat on the couch. “Okay?”

  Nevvie looked at Tyler, who nodded. She got up, walked into the kitchen and hugged him. “Very okay. Thank you.”

  He looked over her shoulder at Tyler, who agreed. “Very okay, love.”

  Thomas patted Nevvie on the back. “Okay, so the new era of glasnost is upon us.” He pointed at his shirt. “Can you please help me? I tried three fucking times to line up the buttons right and it’s not happening this morning. I’m tired of T-shirts. It’s why I’ve been stuck wearing the goddamn things. I’ve been too embarrassed to tell you guys I’ve had trouble.”

  She smiled, trying to fight her tears—good ones this time. “Of course I don’t mind.” She buttoned his shirt for him as he stared into her face.

  “I mean it, Nev. Whatever you want me to do, I’ll do it. I swear.”

  “Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

  Tyler joined them in the kitchen. For the first time in months, they formed their group hug.

  “Welcome back, love,” Tyler whispered. “It’s nice to finally have you home.”

  * * * *

  Nevvie insisted Thomas take the front seat. All the way to the office she rested her hand on his shoulder. There was still a lot of healing ahead for all of them, but Nevvie finally saw a marked change in Tommy’s demeanor from the past weeks. At the office they were swarmed by well-wishers, some who hadn’t seen their boss since his accident.

  Nevvie went to Maggie’s office to get Adam. She handed him over with a smile. “Thanks for the dose of reality. Two poopy diapers. Now I remember why I wanted my husband to get snipped after the twins.”

  She laughed. “Well, it’s not so bad in the grand scheme of things.”

  Maggie closed her office door. “Spill it. What happened?”

  Nevvie hesitated. Maggie was a good friend. She’d known Tommy since college and Nevvie didn’t want to say anything to make Maggie hate him—and Maggie would hate him for acting like he did, regardless of his reason.

  “Tommy and I had a fight, that’s all. We’ve kissed and made up. He’s going through a lot, and he sort of forgot he’s not in it alone. His new nickname is the Brain Damaged Asshole, if that means anything.”

  Maggie grinned. “Hell, I’ve been calling him that for years. Seriously, I’m glad y’all worked it out.”

  “Just a lot of stress.”

  “I don’t know how you’ve held it together, Nevvie. I really don’t. I’d be a basket case by now.”

  “I was.”

  Nevvie took Adam back to Tommy’s office and let him hold their son while she checked her messages and email. She took care of a few quick items then returned to Tommy’s office. “Do you two want to take him with you? Boys morning out?”

  Thomas smiled. “Can we?” He stared into his son’s eyes, then at Tyler. How could he have been so stupid? Adam was his son as much as he was Tyler’s.

  Brain Damaged Asshole.

  “Of course.” She transferred the car seat and they made arrangements to meet for lunch. Once the men were in the car with Adam securely fastened, Thomas patted Tyler’s thigh.

  “Thank you,” Thomas said.

  Tyler laced his fingers through Tom’s as he drove. “We’ve been blessed. Don’t ever forget that, love.” He squeezed Tom’s hand. “We are blessed.”

  Tyler had called ahead and made an appointment for Thomas with the stylist before they left the house. By the time they pulled into the restaurant parking lot, Nevvie was waiting for them. She smiled as she ran her hands through Tommy’s hair. The surgical scar on his scalp was barely noticeable. The stylist had done an excellent job of concealing it.

  “Much better.” You look like you again.

  “I’m starting to feel like me.”

  She kissed Tyler and unbuckled the baby. They ate a long, relaxed lunch. Later that afternoon, once they returned home, Thomas went to their bedroom to lie down and Tyler joined him. Nevvie called Eddie with an update.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah. But would you mind babysitting tonight?”

  “I thought you guys made up?”

  “Not Thomas. Adam.”

  She could almost hear Eddie’s smile. “Hell yes, we’ll babysit the Ant!”

  “I’ll bring him over around seven. Can you keep him until tomorrow evening around the same time? I think the three of us need some alone time.”

  “Sure thing.”

  She hung up, her plan already half-cemented in her mind. She ha
dn’t had time or opportunity to discuss it with Tyler, but knew he’d agree.

  Chapter Eighteen

  As promised, after his nap Thomas started making phone calls. An hour later he had an appointment set up with a counselor, but it wasn’t until the end of the next week. Nevvie didn’t care. Just the fact that he stuck to his word went a long way toward soothing her wounded heart.

  With the emotional events of the past twenty-four hours, by the time they ate dinner and cleaned up the kitchen they were too exhausted to do anything but sleep. The next morning, Thomas lay in bed and moped. He hated himself, felt guilty, and the fact that they so readily forgave him in some ways made him feel worse. He felt he deserved to suffer for what he’d put them through.

  After going out to the kitchen with Tyler to fix her coffee and tell him her plan, she returned to the bedroom. “How much longer do you act like this today, Tommy?” Nevvie asked.

  “How can you even stand to look at me?”

  His words stung, but she knew they weren’t meant for her. It was anger at his frustration over his physical condition and his own actions.

  “Because I love you, you big dumb guy. If you think we’re going to quit loving you just because of this, you’re mistaken. Pissed? Yes. But we still love you.”

  Tyler walked in with the paper and two mugs of coffee. “I brought your coffee, Thomas.” He noted Nevvie’s expression and realized Thomas had awoken moody. “Ah, I see the grump is still in residence.”

  “Fuck you, Ty,” he muttered.

  Tyler smiled. “Well now, that sounds promising. Especially considering it’s been months since you’ve taken care of me properly.”

  Thomas closed his eyes, tried to ignore them.

  Nevvie pulled the covers down and off him. “Listen, buster, if you think we’re going to let you keep up the pity act, you’ve got another think coming.”

  Thomas reached for the covers. Nevvie grabbed his hand, pinned it to the bed. Unable to fight her he tried to pull free and then Tyler caught his other arm, pinning him spread-eagled to the mattress.

  “No you don’t, love,” Tyler whispered, running his tongue from his lover’s ear to the base of his throat.

  “Ty, don’t—” His protest was cut off by Nevvie’s lips on his, her tongue plunging and searching, refusing to let him pull away.

  After a long moment he quit fighting and responded. Only then did she sit up. “I think I have his attention, Master Tyler,” she said.

  Thomas moaned. His boxers instantly tented in response to her words.

  “You’ve still got the magic touch, love.” Tyler smiled and kissed Thomas. This time he eagerly responded, kissing Tyler back while Nevvie watched.

  “I love watching my masters kiss,” she murmured.

  Tyler kissed her. “Then look closely, love. You’ll see a lot more of it.” He kissed Thomas again and she pressed close, leaning in, kissing them both.

  Nevvie released Tom’s arm and crawled down the bed, where she carefully worked his boxers off, freeing his stiff cock. She knelt to the side, careful not to jostle his bad leg. “Master Tyler, may I suck Master Thomas’ cock?”

  Tyler winked. “Absolutely, my sweet little slave. I’m sure he needs some relief. It’s been many months.”

  She used just the tip of her tongue to tease him, slowly circling the head and around the ridge. She closed her eyes and stroked his sac and shaft with her hands as she wrapped her lips around him, using firm strokes of her tongue to draw long, low moans from deep within Tom.

  Tyler propped himself on one arm next to him. “How does our little slave feel, Thomas?”

  His eyes closed. “Damn, that’s good.”

  Tyler nibbled his ear, licking and kissing the sensitive spot on the side of his neck that always made him moan. “Do you want our little slave to make you come? She’s missed you very much. She’s been wanting to taste her master.”

  “Yeah.”

  Nevvie moaned around his cock, using firmer strokes and taking him deep into her mouth. It didn’t take long. He reached down, tangling his fingers in her hair as he thrust into her mouth while his climax took him. She waited until he finally softened before lifting her head with a smile.

  “Did my master enjoy that?” she whispered.

  He nodded. “Hell yes.”

  She met Tyler’s gaze and winked. “Will my master please make me come now?”

  Thomas opened his eyes and looked at her. “I’d love to watch him make you come, baby girl.”

  “Not Master Tyler,” she purred in her best slave girl voice. “You, Master.”

  He shook his head. “Sugar, I can’t.”

  Tyler kissed him again, then lifted Tom’s head and pulled the pillows out from under him. “Oh, yes you can. Get up here, Nevvie. Let’s see if Thomas still remembers how to use that sweet tongue of his.”

  She scrambled up the bed, turning so she could straddle Tommy’s face while she kissed his cock. Tyler switched position and kissed Nevvie, enjoyed watching her face as she closed her eyes and moaned when Thomas stroked her clit with his tongue.

  “Is he licking you, sweetheart?”

  “Oh, yeah,” she whispered, then went down on Thomas, trying to get him hard again.

  Tyler pushed in close, running his tongue along Tom’s sac, drawing aimless circles with his tongue across Tom’s inner thighs, making him moan.

  “Do you like that, Thomas?” he asked.

  His reply was muffled by Nevvie’s clit in his lips, but sounded affirmative.

  “Lick him well, angel,” Tyler whispered in her ear, holding her hair away from her face. Her eyes flicked toward him. He smiled. “That’s it, sweetheart. Suck our sweet Thomas,” he murmured, kissing her neck.

  She moaned, shifting her hips against Tom’s face.

  Tyler pressed his lips to her ear and breathed, “Don’t let him come, my sweet little slave. Let him make you come, then we’re going to get down to the business of making you a mommy again, aren’t we?”

  She moaned again. The sensation around his cock made Thomas moan. Which in turn made her squirm harder against him and she cried out, his erection popping free from her lips as she came.

  Tyler held her, murmuring in her ear, “That’s it, sweetheart, come for me, come for him, my beautiful angel.”

  When she crested the final wave she kissed him deeply then carefully rolled off Thomas. Tyler took Tom’s stiff shaft in his hand, keeping him hard. “Do you want to come again, lover?” Tyler asked.

  Thomas’ eyes were closed. He nodded. “Yeah. God, yeah.”

  “Well then, it’s about time you stop loafing around and work for it, isn’t it?”

  “What?”

  “Thomas, sit up.”

  Nevvie met Tyler’s gaze and winked. Tyler helped his lover sit up and changed position, sitting behind him, supporting him, his knees bent. Thomas closed his eyes and leaned back against Tyler’s chest as Nevvie carefully straddled his lap and faced him. She used Tyler’s knees for balance and support and kissed Thomas.

  “I’m going to fuck you, Master. I’ve missed my master’s cock.” With that she slowly sank his full length inside her, pausing to subtly adjust position and shift her weight.

  Then Thomas realized something. “Wait, Nev, are you back on the Pill?”

  “Shh,” the other two said at the same time. Nevvie kissed him while Tyler trailed gentle love bites across Tom’s shoulder. He relaxed in their arms.

  “We promised our angel anything she wants,” Tyler murmured in his ear. “She wants another baby.”

  He shivered in their arms, his hands coming to rest on her hips. “Okay,” he said.

  Using slow, careful strokes, Nevvie made sure to keep her weight off him and his bad leg. As he drew closer to climaxing she reached behind her, between his legs, found his sac and stroked it.

  Tyler ran his tongue along his lover’s neck. “Fuck her, fuck our beautiful wife,” he murmured in his ear.

  As Tom’s finge
rs tightened on her hips she sped up her strokes, recognizing how close he was. She leaned in and nipped his lower lip. “Fuck me, Tommy,” she said. “Come for me.”

  He cried out, his hands on her hips forcing her hard against him as he came. Tyler wrapped his arms around them, holding them, meeting Nevvie’s gaze.

  Thomas rested his head on Tyler’s shoulder, his eyes closed. A tear squeezed out from under his eyelid and ran down his cheek as he nuzzled Tyler’s cheek. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

  Tyler held him tightly while Nevvie wrapped her arms around them and he cried in their arms.

  After Thomas finally composed himself, Nevvie sat back.

  “Did you enjoy that, love?” Tyler asked, kissing him.

  “Yes.”

  Nevvie kissed the base of his throat, tracing the hollow with her tongue. “Are you done fighting us?”

  He lifted his head. “You’re sure you want this, sugar?”

  “Absolutely. Don’t you?”

  “A little late to ask me now, don’t you think?” But he smiled.

  Tyler carefully extricated himself from behind his lover. “Do you mind if I take our girl into the shower with me? I need to get ready for my cardiac rehab.”

  Thomas laughed. “I think you could have a good cardiac rehab right now, if you want.”

  Tyler grinned. He caressed Tom’s jaw, his fingers lingering on his chin. “I do want it, but I also don’t want to shake the bed and hurt you. It’s all right if you want to say no.”

  Thomas kissed him. “Of course it’s okay.” He crooked his finger at Nevvie, who leaned in for her own kiss. “Go give the evil genius a good lathering, sugar. I expect a hot sponge bath of my own later.”

  “I think I like this naughty nurse gig. Might be as fun as being a little slave girl.”

  Both men groaned.

  Tyler carefully got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. Nevvie joined him a few minutes later, closing the door behind her before grabbing him and kissing him, hard and deep.

  “What’s that for?”

  She whispered, her mouth by his ear. “Master Thomas made sure I was warmed up for you.”