GladYouCame (24 page)

“Then you really need to stay for a few days so we can catch
up.” Gareth hooked his thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to Crane. “Hear about
all the antics this one got into during college.”

Dade was glad to hear the trio had done so well for themselves
without him. Maybe he’d done a better job than he thought. They were all
productive, well-grounded members of society. Held steady jobs. Found their
place. Pride swelled within him, causing him to smile.

“I don’t have a game this weekend, so this is perfect
timing,” Jasper added. “What are you up to these days? Besides falling in
love.”

“I work for myself. Started a business that started to take
off a few years ago. Opened a workshop next to the house.” They crossed the
street and headed toward the high school. “What are you coaching, Jasper?”

“Basketball in the winter. Baseball in the spring.”

Brains and athleticism. Nice. “Patrick would probably love
to talk to you. He used to play. Shoulder got blown out before he could go
pro.” The same shoulder than he’d been shot in a few months ago. He’d recovered
well, and aside from an occasional wince or two, no one would ever know someone
had tried to take him down.

“Patrick? Is that your—”

“God, no.” Dade snorted at Gareth’s smile. “Business
partner. Patrick has a wife and a kid. Any of you guys have any kids yet?”

“None that I know of.” Crane slapped Dade on the back. “I’m
going to head back to shop. Tell Bullock I’m heading out for the day so his
plans to troll the bar for choice ass will have to wait until next weekend.
Meet you guys at Jasper’s house?”

Dade turned to Gareth who shrugged. “Been too busy trying to
get the coffee house off the ground to bother much with relationships. Jasper
is the only one of us who has a fighting chance right now. You?”

“Playing uncle to my friend’s kids is enough. Mal and Riley
are a handful, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. Another
friend just had twins, so there’s that to look forward to.” A sudden sense of
foreboding washed over Dade, smothering his good mood.

Jasper wrapped his hand around Dade’s forearm, pulling him
to a stop. “You’re worried because of Mom and Dad, aren’t you? We all turned
out fine, Dade. All thanks to you despite what you think.”

“Probably more due to luck than anything else. I didn’t know
what the hell I was doing.”

Gareth’s eyes shadowed. “You had to be mother, father
and
brother to us. You didn’t have the luxury of being a kid yourself. Don’t let
your past hinder your future, Dade, not if it’s something you truly want.”

Wise words from a wise soul. Something that caused Dade to
wonder who had truly raised who. He had a lot to learn from his brothers, and
was glad he’d decided to make them a part of this life once again.

The Ellingson brothers together again.

Dade was looking forward to one hell of a weekend.

Genevieve stretched her arms high overhead, feeling as
though every muscle in her back had been tied in a knot. The plane ride to
Hawaii had been longer than she’d expected, but damn if it hadn’t been nice
curled up against Tony for nine straight hours.

She didn’t normally travel well, especially on such a long
haul. But she’d settled down and gone to sleep as soon as the plane had taken
off from their layover in Atlanta. Maybe it because she knew what awaited them
on the opposite end of the journey. They were going to marry a man neither of
them had seen coming.

The weather on the island since they’d arrived yesterday had
been nothing short of remarkable. Certainly a drastic change from the barren
trees and brown grass back home. Everything on the island was lush and rich
with life. The air was filled with a special kind of energy she wished she
could bottle and take home.

“Ready?”

She spun at the sound of Tony’s voice. He’d chosen a black
shirt with small symbols in a repeating pattern reminiscent of the lines in
code from
The Matrix.
It hung open and was paired with black linen pants
that were slung low around his hips so she could see the line of fine red hair
arrowing down his abdomen.

“My geek.”

“My chef.” He gathered up the loose fabric of her dress,
pulling up the skirt until he’d exposed the round curve of her ass. He cupped
her, tugging her close as he brushed the tips of his fingers against the flared
base of the plug she’d inserted thirty minutes prior on Dade’s command. “Mmm,
and what a sweet ass this is.” He dipped his mouth to hers, capturing her in a
sweeping kiss that stole her breath. “Wonder if he knows how crazy this is
going to make me knowing you’re wearing this the whole time?”

“I believe that is his point. Let’s go get married, Mr.
Fitzgerald.”

Warm sand squished between her toes as they stepped out onto
the beach. The high sun heated her skin. The nervous energy that had plagued
her since she’d awakened a few hours ago vanished the moment they turned the
corner and found Dade standing near the water line. A warm, tropical breeze
blew through his dark hair, ruffling it.

He’d chosen to wear a light tan color—a contrast to the
black Tony had chosen. His shirt hung open as well, exposing the firm lines of
his abdomen.

More flesh to lick.

Her light and dark to cherish.

She walked with Tony, arm and arm, toward the man they both
loved.

“You both—so wonderful.” Dade leaned forward, pressing a
long kiss to each of their foreheads. “Thank you for agreeing to be mine.”

In truth, Dade had agreed to be theirs.

But she wasn’t going to argue the point. Not on their
wedding day.

They positioned her between them, holding her hands as the
trio approached the man who would preside over the ceremony. “Ready?” They
nodded as one, ready to spend the rest of their lives together.

“You’re gathered here today in a celebration of hope. Of
friendship. Of courage and most of all—of love. You forge a new path together.
A path yours to explore and conquer as you all see fit. And as you travel
through the years of your union, may you be blessed in matters of the heart.
Blessed to have each other within reach at all time. And blessed to have the
courage to accept the connection the three of you share.

“Anthony Wright Fitzgerald, Genevieve Marie Lambert
Fitzgerald and Dade Lee Ellingson, may your hands always be clasped in
friendship. And your hearts joined with a love that carries your spirits so you
know nothing but happiness from this day forth. I understand Dade has something
to say before we place the rings.”

Dade angled to face Genevieve, taking her hands and tangling
his fingers through hers. “Genevieve, you disarm me with your half smile. Your
charming way of forcing me to eat.” He released her hands, moving over. “And
you, Tony—you understand me. You get everything about me in a way no one ever
has. Force me to bring out a part of myself I thought was locked away forever.
You both do. Even on days when I’m barely holding on—you get me. And it that is
a quality I will always cherish.” He slipped his hand into his pocket, drawing
out three rings of platinum. He reached into his pocket again, pulling out two
chains with small Celtic knotwork triangle charms dangling from the end.

Dade took Genevieve’s hand, nestling the sparkling silver
circle above the band Tony had placed on her finger four years ago. She watched
as Dade took Tony’s hand next, placing the ring above the identical band Tony
wore.

Her fingers shook as she reached toward the single band left
in Dade’s outstretched hand, Tony’s hand cupping hers as they worked in tandem
to slip the ring into place on Dade’s finger. Emotion clogged Genevieve’s
throat. She had no idea how she was going to make it through the next ten
minutes without bawling.

The connection that existed between the trio swelled with
power and force, curving around their bodies in a reassuring embrace.

“There is a need inside me that you both fill. Each is
different and doesn’t have a definition I can label it with. If I wasn’t bound
by your love, I would be scared.” Dade paused, his throat working as he fought
back the tide of emotion. “For years I was empty. Kept myself distant from
those who cared about me because I didn’t know how to manage my love. But you,
both of you, showed me how great a gift love can be. You shattered my willpower
and made me believe in something I didn’t think would ever be possible. It is
an honor to pledge to share my love with both of you.”

The officiant nodded as Dade slipped back into place beside
Genevieve. “Tony?”

“I’m afraid I won’t be as eloquent at Dade. Or as well
spoken.” Tears streamed down Genevieve’s cheeks as Tony gathered their hands,
pulling their knot of fingers toward his mouth. He kissed their knuckles,
making eye contact with each of them as he did. “But here goes.”

Tony squeezed Genevieve’s hand once before releasing it. She
watched as he faced Dade fully, clasping his hand over their joined ones. “Life
always has a way of putting obstacles in front of you that you never see
coming. Sometimes you have only a split second to make a decision. To choose to
avoid the collision or barrel through and hope for the best. Then you have to
pick up the remains wherever they land. I tried to do everything I could to
select the right path. To contain what I was feeling whenever I was around you.
But you…you didn’t care. You got in my face. You forced me to deal. And made me
grow. You’ve made me into a better man, Dade. A better husband. A better friend
and lover. I can only hope that I am allowed to return that gift to you
someday.”

Tony took up Genevieve’s hands again. He was shaking. Good
to know she wasn’t the only one affected by his vows to Dade. “My treasure. You
are more special than I can put into words. Everything about you is everything
I am. That I could ever hope to be. You also pushed me. Made me deal when all I
wanted to do was make you happy. You are a patient soul, Genevieve. And I will
wake each morning from this day forward, swearing that I do not deserve you or
your love. But thanking whoever I need to that I have both of those things.”

Tony turned, taking up Dade’s hand again and pulling them
against his lips. “I feel as though I’ve done nothing to deserve either of you.
Thank you for being who you are, for being the best friends, companions and
lovers any man could ever ask for. It is an honor to pledge to share my love
with both of you.”

“And finally, Genevieve.”

She blew out a shaky breath, knowing it was her time. The
words she needed to say sat thick in her throat, forcing her to swallow a few
times before she found her courage. She was certain nothing she said would
match the oaths that had already been sworn, but she at least had to make an
effort. Clearing her throat, she gazed at the two men she loved so deeply.

They made a perfect picture that touched her heart.

They were hers.

“Four years ago, when Tony and I swore vows to one another,
I would have never guessed I needed more in my life. But because of you both,
I’ve learned that I am surrounded by such a passionate and unbreakable
love—mine for you, yours for me and yours for each other—that I am complete. I
thank the stars the two of you found me, that we found each other and that we
have allowed ourselves to surrender to love. It is an honor to pledge to share
my love with both of you.”

Dade’s hands were warm against her skin as he clipped the
necklace around her throat. “This collar will serve as a binding agreement
between us as Dominant and submissive. It will also serve as a visible reminder
of our pledge should you ever need reassurance when I am not by your side.” He
turned, reciting the same words to Tony as he secured the collar into place.
Dade placed his hand over her heart, and then did the same to Tony. “Let these
collars stand as a sign of my love and devotion to you both as my lovers and my
submissives. My husband and my wife.”

They faced the officiant once again, who smiled warmly at
the trio. “You may now kiss your partners.”

* * * * *

Dade stared at the hand-painted sign over the door, feeling
a tight knot form in his chest. The formal opening ceremony wouldn’t be
conducted until next week. His brothers would be there. So would extended
family. Most of the town would be too. Tonight was for those people he called
his family now. The friends who had helped him pick up the pieces of his life.
Pieces he didn’t realize existed. Or needed mending.

They all had a hand in this place and despite everything,
the town had embraced the change. They hadn’t truly lost a place to bigotry and
close-mindedness, they’d gained a new home for those who couldn’t always help
themselves.

While they’d been tossing around ideas, Patrick had
purchased the surrounding land and warehouses that had been damaged in the
fire. The vacant lot next door had been changed into something truly remarkable.
A playground for kids. A safe haven where twenty-four hour child care would be
offered for parents who couldn’t take care of their kids alone.

The sanctuary Dade and his brothers never had.

The playground and child-care center had been his specific
request when the group had drawn up their wish lists. A woman’s shelter had
been Ryan’s. Substance abuse clinic Elena’s. And, lastly, Patrick’s
determination to open an anger management counseling office.

Now the once quiet corner of Gatlin Falls that had once
housed their secret BDSM warehouse would serve as a place of hope and refuge
for those in need. Always available no matter the time of day or year. And no
one would ever be turned away because of their inability to pay.

Out of tragedy had come hope.

Someone squeezed his hand and he turned to find Genevieve
had arrived. She’d chosen a simple white dress for the evening, low cut enough
for him to see the sumptuous curves of her breasts. The collar he’d presented
to her only a week ago hung between those breasts, the light from the nearby
gas lamps sparking against the silver.

“Hey there, handsome.” She pressed her mouth against his,
soft and warm. He was immediately drawn into the emotions she invoked deep
inside him. The week in Hawaii had passed too quickly. Feeling as though it had
ended before it began. But as lost as the trio had become in one another, the
reality several businesses would only function for so long without them had
prevailed.

“You clean up nicely.” The last time he’d seen her had been
when she’d been frantically running around prepping for the dinner a few hours
prior. Her need to have everything perfect was just one of her charming
qualities. The fact she found it within her hear to love him in return,
another. “Where’s the husband?”

“Already inside.” He tucked her hand in the crook of his
elbow. As they started walking forward, she pointed toward the building. “I
took the tour earlier today when the deliveries were made. Everything looks
gorgeous. Just like it should. I’m just sorry I never got to see the original
building as anything more than a party venue.”

“I’m not.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Why is that? Have secrets you don’t
want us to know about?”

“You and Tony have given me a new start. Bringing the two of
you to my room at the warehouse would have been…less fulfilling than I would
have cared for. The three of us were never here for a reason. And I’d like to
think those reasons are what led us to where we are today.”

“And there’s the philosophical man I know and love.”

Everyone had already arrived by the time they stepped
through the door. A long table had been set up in the center of the main common
area. Tomorrow, they’d move in the furniture, electronic equipment, reception
desk and office furniture. And open the doors to the public for the very first
time.

Food had already been piled high on another nearby table,
waiting to be devoured by the guests in attendance. A huge Christmas tree stood
in the corner with an assortment of couches and loveseats around it, waiting
for the inevitable rush that would come when everyone started opening presents.

“Unca Dade!” A high pitched squeal made him wince as Malcolm
launched himself through the air toward him. He caught the squealing toddler,
spinning him around a few times so the dark cape attached to his shirt rippled
in the air.

“Hey, Batman. Keeping everyone in line like a good superhero?”

“Uh huh. Pretty lady.”

“Yes, she is.”

Genevieve leaned forward to press a kiss to Mal’s flushed
cheek. “You’re not so bad yourself. You’re going to take care of that new baby
sister your mommy has growing in her belly, aren’t you?”

“You too! You too!” Mal clapped his hand over his mouth. “Uh
oh.” He leaned toward Dade, to whisper in his ear. “I not supposed to tell.
Pretty lady be mad at Batman.”