"Come here, Lucy... come to papa," I murmured, reaching out to the little tabby as I lay tangled between my girls, the air still heavy with warmth and the quiet aftermath of everything we'd just shared. My body felt spent and loose, skin still tingling, messy in the best way possible.
Lucy didn't hesitate—she leapt onto the bed and curled herself right into the middle of us, purring softly as if she belonged there all along. The bed was warm, crowded, safe, and perfect.
"So... what was it you had to take care of earlier, Elara?" I asked quietly, one hand absentmindedly stroking Lucy's fur while I rested my head against Elara's chest. Bella's fingers were still at my hip, kneading slow, soothing circles into muscles that definitely needed it.
Elara hummed, amused. "Just business," she said lightly, then flashed that familiar smirk down at me. "Good business. The kind you'll like."
I looked up at her, narrowing my eyes a little. That smile always meant something big—something I wouldn't see coming until it was already happening.
"Can I come with you next time?" I asked, my voice softer now. "I hate being alone. I don't want to be away from you two anymore." I hugged Lucy closer as if she agreed with me.
Elara laughed under her breath and brushed her thumb over my shoulder, firm and grounding. "Of course," she said. "No more secrets after this. I promise."
The way she said it sent a small shiver through me—but this time, it was comfort, not nerves.
"Hey, Noah," Elara said softly, her voice low and coaxing. "How would you feel about a little vacation? Just us—some quiet house in the middle of nowhere. No noise, no people. Just peace."
My heart practically jumped. That was my dream—had been for as long as I could remember.
"Fuck yes, Elara. Absolutely," I said without hesitation.
Lucy chose that moment to meow and hop onto Bella, curling up on her side like she owned the place. We all laughed, the sound easy and light.
"She's so cute," Bella sighed, running her fingers through Lucy's fur. "I can't wait for us to have kids someday."
The thought settled warmly in my chest. I wanted that too—more than I usually admitted out loud. The only thing that made me hesitate was timing. We weren't married yet, life was still moving fast... but still.
"Same," I murmured. "I wanna be a dad so badly."
I stretched and sat up a little, the sheets brushing against my legs. It was only eight, but my body felt heavy—content, tired, and hungry all at once.
Elara shifted closer and kissed my cheek, then my neck, slow and affectionate. "Just wait, baby," she whispered.
Her lips lingered there, soft and teasing, leaving warmth in their wake. I smiled to myself, feeling completely surrounded—by love, by comfort, by the quiet certainty that this life, messy as it was, was exactly where I belonged.
"Hey, can we grab some pizza from Prince Pizza?" Bella asked out of nowhere, her stomach growling loud enough to echo in the quiet room. Mine rumbled in response, like they were having their own damn conversation.
"Fuck, I'm craving a deep dish so bad right now. Guess we're doing a late-night pizza run!" She laughed, swinging her legs off the bed and standing up, still completely naked, not giving a single shit. Her skin caught the dim light, every curve on display as she stretched lazily.
"Damn, you're so fucking hot," I muttered, unable to keep the thought to myself as Elara pulled on a pair of tight grey jeans and a tank top, her movements casual but somehow still seductive.
"No, you're the hot one," she fired back with a smirk, her eyes glinting as she tossed me a quick wink. I felt my face heat up, a shy chuckle slipping out as I looked away for a second.
"Come on, Lucy, momma's hungry. We'll play more later," Bella said, her voice teasing as she climbed off the bed. She gently set Lucy down beside me, her fingers brushing against my arm in the process, sending a small jolt through me.
I couldn't peel my eyes off Bella as she sauntered across the room, grabbing a pair of black jeans and sliding them on, her hips swaying just enough to keep me hooked.
She tugged on a black top, then threw on that signature black leather jacket, the one that made her look like she could destroy anything.
"Fuck, Bella, I want you to break my neck," I blurted out, no filter, no shame, just raw need in my voice.
She turned, her gaze sharp and intense, stepping closer until she was looming over me. "No way, I'm not letting you die on me," she said, her tone dead serious, but there was a dark edge to it.
She leaned down, her lips crashing into mine in a fierce, hungry kiss that left me dizzy. Pulling back just enough to whisper against my mouth, she added, "I'll mark you up instead. Leave something to remember me by." Her breath was hot, her words dripping with promise.
Goddamn, I'd let these women destroy me in a heartbeat, and I wouldn't even care.
-
I let out a quiet sigh as I smoothed down the shirt I'd thrown on, following Bella and Elara toward the front door. Just as we reached the entryway, a loud snore cut through the house.
We all froze for half a second—then laughed. Liz was sprawled on the couch, mouth slightly open, snoring even louder than Elara ever did. It was honestly impressive.
"Poor mom," Bella said softly, shaking her head with a fond smile. "Work's been absolutely killing her."
She padded over and gently shook Liz's shoulder. "Mom... hey, wake up. We're going to get pizza." Like a switch had been flipped, Liz jolted upright, eyes suddenly wide and alert.
"Pizza?" she said instantly, sitting up straighter. "Oh hell yeah—get me Hawaiian, and some classic New York slices, and—"
"Mom," Bella laughed, lightly shaking her again as Liz started rambling like we were already placing the order. "We're still at Noah's."
Liz blinked a few times, the gears finally turning. "Oh... oh, right." She yawned deeply and stretched, rubbing her face before pushing herself up from the couch. "Yeah, okay. I'm awake now."
She shuffled after us toward the garage, still half-asleep but clearly motivated by the promise of food. Elara unlocked the Bentley, and we all piled in, settling into our seats as the engine hummed to life.
The night felt easy—quiet, warm, familiar. Pizza was on the way, everyone was together, and for once, nothing felt rushed.
Just another small, perfect moment before whatever came next.
The rich, savory aroma of pizza filled the car as we neared the parlor, teasing my senses and making my stomach growl louder with every passing second.
Now, on top of pizza, I was craving garlic bread—warm, buttery, with that sharp kick of garlic.
I couldn't help myself; I pulled out my phone and started scrolling through videos of pizzas being made, cheese stretching in slow motion, sauce simmering, crusts browning to perfection. If I was hungry before, now I was ravenous, practically dying to sink my teeth into a slice.
"I wonder how Noah's cum would taste with some pizza," Bella mused aloud, her tone casual and thoughtful, not a hint of embarrassment in her voice despite her mother sitting right beside her in the backseat.
I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in. "You're unreal, Bella. Where do you even come up with this stuff?" I managed to say, shaking my head as Elara maneuvered the car into the parking lot. She let out a soft chuckle herself, clearly amused by Bella's bold comment.
"Hey, don't act like it's a crazy idea," Bella shot back, turning to me with a playful smirk. "And don't laugh too hard, Elara. You're the one who said the same thing about hot dogs last week."
Elara's face froze for a split second before flattening into a forced, neutral expression, her hands tightening on the steering wheel.
I couldn't help it—I laughed even harder, nearly doubling over in my seat. These two were a riot, always catching me off guard with their wild, unfiltered banter.
"Yeah, yeah—alright, let's go eat," Elara said, shaking it off as she unbuckled.
Four seatbelts clicked free almost in perfect sync, followed by four doors opening and shutting one after another. The timing made me smile despite the nerves twisting in my stomach.
The restaurant glowed warmly against the dark street as we approached, Elara walking close at my side. The moment I realized how busy it was—way more people than I expected for a Tuesday night—my chest tightened.
Too loud. Too crowded.
"Hey," Elara murmured, sensing it immediately. Her fingers dug gently into my hip, grounding me. "Don't worry. Everything's gonna be okay. I promise."
"A-Alright..." I breathed out, forcing myself to keep moving.
We stepped inside, and I instantly felt it—the way heads turned, eyes lingering a second too long. It wasn't aggressive, but it was overwhelming, like I was suddenly on display. My shoulders tensed, and I stuck close to Bella and Liz.
"Go find us some seating with Bella and Liz," Elara said softly, already angling toward the counter. "I'll order lots."
I nodded and followed Bella and her mom toward a corner booth tucked away from the center of the restaurant. It felt quieter there, safer somehow. We slid into the seats, Bella and Liz across from me, leaving the spot beside me open for Elara when she came back.
I exhaled slowly, my hands resting on the table. I would've preferred both Elara and Bella beside me—but this was okay. This was manageable.
I felt Bella's hand slide over mine, her fingers warm as her thumb brushed slow, steady circles against my skin. It was small, subtle—something no one else would notice—but it cut through the noise and chatter of the parlor instantly.
"I'm here... don't worry," she murmured.
My shoulders loosened almost on instinct. The buzzing anxiety dulled, fading into the background like static turning down.
I blinked a couple of times, grounding myself, and before I even realized it, a slice of pizza sat in front of me on a flimsy white paper plate. Steam curled faintly off the cheese, the smell rich and comforting—grease, tomato sauce, baked dough. My stomach growled softly in approval.
"Noah, pass me the chili please," Liz said.
I reached for the shaker and slid it across the table to her. Without hesitation, she absolutely drowned her barbecue chicken slice in red chili flakes, shaking them on like she was seasoning an entire pot instead of a single slice. By the time she stopped, the pizza was barely visible beneath the pile.
I stared. "Are you... sure you can eat that?"
She didn't even answer—just nodded confidently and took a massive bite, unfazed, chewing like this was completely normal.
"Mom's always been insane with spicy food," Bella said casually, already halfway through a three-meat slice she was demolishing at an impressive speed.
Elara and I ate much slower by comparison, taking our time. I savored each bite—the crunch of the crust, the stretch of the cheese, the warmth settling in my chest. Between Bella's quiet presence beside me and the familiar comfort of food, the chaos of the restaurant finally felt distant.
Just as I lifted the slice for another bite, the door chimed and a couple walked in. My hand froze midair.
My eyes widened before I could stop myself.
"Holy shit, Elara..." I murmured, nudging her knee lightly under the table and tilting my head just enough to point him out without being obvious. "That's the Pepsi boy..."
My stomach twisted in a way I couldn't quite name. Part disbelief, part irritation—old anger surfacing before I could push it back down. I couldn't believe the cops hadn't done a damn thing with my report. Typical. Completely useless.
But as I kept watching, something felt... off. Not wrong—just different.
The woman with him was the same muscular woman, built like she could snap someone in half if she wanted to—but the way she held him didn't match the image burned into my head from before. Her arm rested around his back, pulling him in close, protective rather than possessive.
"Come on, baby," she said softly, guiding him toward the counter.
There was no tension in his posture like before. No flinch. He leaned into her easily, like it was second nature. Comfortable. Safe.
I didn't know how to feel. I exhaled slowly, the tightness in my chest easing despite myself.
"They're happy," Elara said quietly between bites, as if she'd read my thoughts.
Liz and Bella didn't even look up, too focused on their food to notice the moment playing out across the room.
"Huh... I guess so," I replied, finally taking a bite of my slice.
The anger I'd felt dulled, replaced by something closer to acceptance. Whatever had happened before, it didn't look like he was being hurt now. And for once, that was enough.
"Hey Noah... you know what they call cheese in Paris?" Bella asked suddenly, chewing on a slice of barbecue pizza like she'd just uncovered the meaning of life itself.
I chuckled, shaking my head. "No, enlighten me."
"Le fromage," she declared proudly, immediately following it up by taking an enormous bite and nearly finishing the entire slice in one go, leaving only the crust behind like evidence of a crime.
I smiled at her, amused. "That's... interesting."
Bella had been dropping little facts like that more often lately, random bits of knowledge she seemed very pleased with. Maybe she thought it made her look smarter. She already was, just not in the traditional, bookish way—Bella was clever with her hands, her instincts, her emotions. The kind of smart you couldn't really teach.
I reached for another slice—my fourth—and realized I could probably keep going. The warmth of the place, the sound of chatter around us, the comfort of having them here with me... everything felt right. Full. Easy.
Life was perfect in moments like this.
And yet, one thought lingered quietly in the back of my mind.
Marriage.
The word alone made my chest feel tight. What would happen if I brought it up? Would they laugh it off? Get uncomfortable? Or would their faces light up the way I secretly hoped they would?
I exhaled softly and pushed the thought aside.
That was a question for another time.
Right now, all I wanted was pizza, laughter, and this moment—sitting here with my ladies, pretending the world didn't exist outside these walls.