Zinn’s brow furrowed only briefly. “Alright.”
As Valentin moved to follow Zinn upstairs, Calder grabbed his wrist and whispered into his ear. “I just want you to know that the things you need to say to Zinn are okay with me. They don’t take away from anything that’s happened. Then or now.”
Valentin dipped his chin, grateful that Calder understood.
Even with a new, better vision for the future, it wasn’t always easy letting go of the old one.
***
They set up the portable cribin Ryde’s room. Valentin watched as Zinn changed Lachie’s diaper and rocked him in his arms. As the baby’s eyes drifted closed, Valentin took him from Zinn and kissed his downy head.
“Goodnight, sweet little one,” Valentin said, placing him in the crib.
Zinn dimmed the lights and turned the dial on the miniature mobile until it began twirling and tinkling a melody.
As they looked down at Lachie, Valentin stood behind Zinn. He slid his arms around the omega’s slim waist and murmured into his ear, “This should have been us, years ago, with our baby.”
“I think about that…have thought about it…maybe more than I should,” Zinn replied, equally hushed. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you. Even for a minute.”
“It’s okay. A lot was taken from us, more than most people could understand, even though we’ve gained so much since then.”
Zinn turned in Valentin’s arms. “In another world, it’s us, and our baby, perhaps even more babies, and it’s enough. You were always enough, Valentin. Always. Just as Calder is now. Whatever happens next doesn’t change that.”
Valentin nodded, squeezing Zinn close to him. “I thank the stars every day for bringing Assa and Wes into my life. And I’ll be forever grateful Calder was there for you. But I spent years in prison dreaming of this. Holding you like this.”
“We were robbed of this.”
“We were. And it would have been perfect. Magical. I’m letting go of it now…the bitterness about the old dream.” He leaned down to take Zinn’s lips. “But I’m never letting go of you ever again.”
Zinn surprised him by deepening the kiss, aggressively tangling his tongue with Valentin’s like he’d been starving. Theman in his arms was so familiar, it brought tears to Valentin’s eyes.
They were interrupted by Decoy scurrying into the room, weaving himself between their legs.
“He always finds us,” Zinn said, wiping a tear from Valentin’s cheek.
Valentin pulled him closer and tipped their foreheads together. “I love you, Zinn.”
Zinn nipped Valentin’s chin. “Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Call me Zeller, one last time, and then after tonight…never again.”
Another tear escaped Valentin’s eye, traveling along the curve of his jaw before dropping between them. Lachie released a delicate snore as Decoy purred at their ankles.
“I love you, Zeller.”
“I love you too, alpha.”
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Zinn
Zinn and Valentin entered the bedroom to find Calder, Assa, and Wes lounging on the king-sized mattress, propped up against the headboard with pillows, lazily touching each other. They had removed everything but their underwear. Zinn was not surprised that Wes favored plain black boxer briefs, as Calder did, but Assa wore skimpy purple ones.
The sight of their bodies was nothing new. They’d been to the pool plenty of times together. But the idea that they were about to love each other with those bodies stoked a fire in Zinn.
His pulse quickened and he glanced sideways to see Valentin grinning. He had removed his shirt and socks and was working on unzipping his pants.