The Chase

“I just told you why.”

“I get putting her needs above our own. But if we’re going to spend the rest of our lives with—”

“There’s no guarantee of that.”

Frustration rang in Beck’s sigh. “But if there was, would you want kids then?”

Seth clenched his jaw. “We’d have to discuss having a family with her. Right now, I’m not in a hurry.”

A mumbled curse rolled off Beck’s lips. “Fine. We’ll talk to her about getting on the pill.”

“Can’t you just write her a script?”

“I could.” Beck shrugged. “But I’d feel better if she got checked out by an ob-gyn. I doubt she’s ever had an exam since she’s never been sexually active.”

That gave Seth pause. “I didn’t think about that.”

“I’ll get Heavenly an appointment once we discuss this with her. It is her body.”

“That you were all too willing to impregnate three minutes ago.”

“Bite me.” Beck growled. “I’m not going to apologize for wanting a family with our girl.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t. But talking about kids now is pointless.” Seth quickly switched his focus to the crazy LA traffic. “While we’re at it, there’s something you and I need to work out PDQ. That text you sent me last night about macking on Heavenly? It got me thinking… We both keep some weird hours. What happens when one of us is working and the other is home alone with her?”

Beck fell silent for several long seconds. “A month ago, I would have ordered some cock cages, but—”

“Fuck that. I’m not wearing a gates of hell for you or anybody.”

“Me, either. But I get where you’re going.” Beck grimaced. “It sucks.”

“Pretty much. And I have to be honest... If I was alone with her and she wanted me, I wouldn’t refuse her.”

“I wouldn’t, either,” Beck admitted. “And why should she have to wait because we can’t get our shit square?”

“Yep. I’m not jealous, per se…” Seth was past that now.

“Me, either. But?”

“Liam and Hammer struggled early in their relationship with Raine because they worried she would play favorites or pit one against the other.”

“That was in their heads.”

Seth disagreed. “For Liam, it felt real. Raine had been in love with Hammer for years. Liam had only known her for a few months. Until the three of them worked it out, he often felt like he was playing second fiddle.”

“But they’ve kept harmony by having a strictly open-door, open-relationship policy, at least from what Hammer has told me,” Beck said. “Raine agrees to give them equal attention, and neither gives the other shit about being with her.”

“That solution sounds most practical and makes the most sense.” Seth peered over at him. “But those guys have a decade of friendship and trust between them.”

He and Beck didn’t.

“Then you and I will have to keep talking until we find what works for us.” Beck shrugged. “Pranks aside, I’d like to think we can be reasonable.”

“I hope so. Can you be with Heavenly without unloading your sadist shit on her? She’s not a masochist. And she doesn’t need to be hurt more.”

The doctor bristled. “For a smart guy, you can be really stupid. Did you ever stop to think that my ‘sadist shit’ might help her process her grief?”

What if the surgeon had a fucking point?