Lucan, and the firm hand on his shoulder was a comfort to Lucan, a quiet reminder that he wasn’t alone in this. Maz had as much skin in this game as Lucan did.
Rhene’s eyes went wide. “You’re okay with me kissing your… What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Sivney put a calming hand on Rhene’s arm. “It’s not what you think. Trust them.”
Rhene glared at him as if he couldn’t believe Sivney was saying that, then dragged a hand through his hair. “I think you’re all batshit crazy, but if this is what will make you happy, don’t ever say this alpha doesn’t know how to serve his people.” He shoved his chair back and gestured at Sando. “Come here, then. You want my kiss? You’re gonna have to come and get it.”
Lucan tensed, but Sando got up and walked over to Rhene, slightly shaking but oh-so brave. Rhene gently shook his head. “What am I gonna do with you?”
“Kiss me?” Sando whispered.
Rhene smiled. “Yeah.”
Lucan held his breath as the alpha bent in and placed his lips against Sando’s in a much softer and gentler kiss than Lucan had expected. Rhene kept his mouth closed and his eyes open, and Lucan’s heart filled with gratitude. Rhene was letting Sando set the pace. He was alert for even the slightest signal Sando wanted to stop. The alpha had his hands loosely on Sando’s shoulders but didn’t pull or pressure him in any way.
Sando opened his mouth, and Rhene waited a moment, then deepened the kiss. Seconds later, Sando leaned back, and Rhene let go, immediately raising his hands, signaling he wasn’t holding him. The kitchen was deadly quiet as everyone watched Sando, who stood there with shaking muscles and heated cheeks. “Thank you. That was…illuminating.”
“Yeah?” the alpha responded.
“Yes. You confirmed for me what I theorized already but needed to prove.”
“Which is what? Surely, now you can tell us all,” Rhene said.
Sando slowly turned around, a smile breaking free on his face as he stepped toward Lucan and Maz. Lucan had never seen him beam like that, so free and self-assured. Confident. He stopped right in front of them.
“I’m in love with both of you,” he said softly. “I thought so, but I needed to know for sure. Being with you makes me feel so much, both physically and emotionally, but I didn’t know if it was because of you…or because of me being inexperienced and new at this. I needed to know if kissing someone else or rather someone else kissing me would make me feel the same. But I felt nothing when Rhene kissed me. Nothing. It was pleasurable, but…” The softest sigh left his lips as he looked up at Maz and Lucan with eyes full of love. “…but not like how you make me feel.”
“Damn…” Rhene said with a sigh, but Lucan had only eyes for Sando.
“And I think you’re right that we’re fated mates. But I wanted to test that too to know for a fact that I didn’t feel obligated to be with you just because you guys told me you thought we should be together. But I believe it now. We’re together, the three of us, and I love you.”
Their kitten had come home. They’d set him free, and he’d come to them out of his own free will. “I’m crazy about you, Sando Melloni,” he said. “I love you more than words can express.”
“I love you so much, kitten,” Maz said.
Sando’s smile grew even wider. “I know. Lev and Sivney and Naran explained how they felt love, and it’s all you do for me. How you make sure I eat and drink and sleep enough. How you always focus on my pleasure when we have…sex. How you encourage me and take care of me and always want the best for me… You love me.”
Lucan’s heart sang, and he held out his arms. Sando stepped right into his embrace on one side and Maz on the other, and Lucan held on to his men, breathing them in. Maz sneaked his thumb between them and wiped Sando’s lips.
The omega frowned. “Why’d you do that?”
“Hell if I’m kissing you when you still have another’s man taste on your lips,” Maz growled. Then he claimed his mouth.
When he’d stepped into the kitchen, he could’ve eaten three bowls of soup, but now Maz was hungry for something else entirely. His men. Forgotten were all thoughts of food. All Maz could think of was that Sando was theirs. Finally.