CHAPTER 351: BREAKFAST AND A SHOW

Andrew’s eyes were swollen when he got up in the morning. So swollen that when Richard came downstairs after a night of drinking with Maxwell, his head in his hands, he burst out into laughter.

Andrew didn’t appreciate it, but he still slid the man his juice for breakfast and gave him a middle finger as well. Richard just grinned, shaking his head as he accepted the drink.

"Mind your own damn business." Andrew warned. "Or no fresh pastries." He threatened and Richard couldn’t stop his lips from curling up, but he held his hands up in defeat, clearly showing he was no threat. Andrew nodded, before sliding him a plate of food, and Richard smirked.

"So...did Maxwell make a fool out of you last night or something after I went to bed?" Richard asked after a long moment of silence. Andrew gave him another middle finger and Richard smiled down at his food.

"He didn’t make a fool out of me. I’m already a fool for him. That’s too easy." Andrew told the other man and Richard’s face turned up in disgust.

"Oh gross. Yuck. I didn’t need to know that." He said, poking at the food on his plate. Andrew was pretty sure the only reason he wasn’t eating like a starved animal was because of the hangover. Normally Richard couldn’t stop eating Andrew’s food.

"Well, don’t say shit like that and expect me to not play you in response." Andrew told him and Richard curled his top lip up, clearly displeased, before he took a bite of his food. Andrew was just working away, getting Maxwell’s food ready as well. He was planning to bring it to him in bed, waking up his sleeping beauty with a few kisses and some tea to help his hungover mind.

Andrew was lost in a few dreamy thoughts about Maxwell, his lover, when he heard Richard inhale sharply.

Andrew was turning on a dime, bracing for anything and everything, when he met Richard watching him, his cheeks warm.

"Oh, that’s fucking disgusting and weird." Richard said and Andrew blinked.

"What? What is?" He asked and Richard glanced at Andrew, then glanced away, his face going red and blotchy.

"I know I can’t tell you two not to do stuff in your own house, it’s your fucking house and it’s a privilege for me to be here, but I just hate how I can smell what you two are getting up to. How is that fucking normal? I feel like a damn pervert since I know what two smells mingled like yours mean." Andrew felt his face warm at Richard’s words.

Well, Maxwell was the one who told Andrew about Richard’s ask. He didn’t seem too upset about it, more like...weirded out? It wasn’t full disgust, since Richard was talking to him about it.

Richard would have been throwing up if it was actually disgust.

"Are you...okay? We’ll get back to that topic in a second, I just want to make sure you aren’t having a bad reaction to it, physically." Andrew asked, leaning forward, his hands on the counter. Richard looked very uncomfortable, shifting in his seat.

"I’m fine physically, Andrew. I’m not a damn prude, I just...it’s weird. I couldn’t smell someone before and know what they had been up to with someone else unless they were really fucking obvious about it." Richard told him and Andrew got it. He really did. He was lucky that most of the people who had been around when he had first manifested were mated.

In some sense, Andrew and Maxwell were the worst couple he could have stayed with in that regard. Even if Maxwell mated with Andrew, Richard would always be able to smell Andrew on Maxwell, not the other way around.

Andrew bowed his head for a second, thinking deeply. He let out a deep sigh for a second before he raised his gaze to Richard.

"Yeah. It is a strange thing to realise. I was lucky. There weren’t any non mated pairs around me when I first started out. I did have a run in with a couple that were in near heat and that set me off, but thankfully Max had hired some guards to follow me around. Well, his Dad did." Andrew said with a shrug and Richard’s eyes went wide. He adjusted his glasses and leaned in.

"What did you just say so casually? Guards? I know why you would need guards, but you’re being pretty damn dismissive of something I think would be a big deal. Someone recently manifested around people who were in heat? What the fuck?" Richard was speaking from the side of him that was a scientist, a Doctor at that. A man who knew what that kind of situation could mean for Andrew.

Andrew shrugged again. Partially because he knew it would bother the other man, and the other part was because he didn’t view it as a big deal anymore. He was fine now. Maxwell had saved him, as had the guards.

"I’m fine now, aren’t I?" Andrew said dryly and Richard’s gaze narrowed behind his glasses.

"I bet if you said that with Maxy around, he’d have your fucking head." Richard said and Andrew flinched. He might be right about that, but the man was still asleep upstairs for now. Andrew let out a deep sigh, turning back to the food he was preparing.

"It’s worked out for the best. I learned my lesson, and I’m here now." Andrew said carefully, feeling the weight of Richard’s gaze on his face. "Anyway, I was saying all of this to say, if it’s a problem, just let us know. Last night was...we’ll be better about it. We don’t want to cause discomfort to you." Andrew told him seriously and Richard groaned. He placed his face in his hands again, shaking his head back and forth.

"It’s your damn house! I shouldn’t have even said anything in the first place!" Richard complained. "I was getting too big for my own head. Just do what you two want to do." Richard told him, and Andrew felt a very feline smile spread across his face. Richard gave him a weary look.

"Oh, you shouldn’t say that. I promise you." Andrew warned and the disgusted look was back on Richard’s face.

"Ew. Gross. That’s about as bad as Rose announcing that her and Jordan were trying for kids. I don’t need to know that shit. Keep that to yourselves. As far as I know, my parents went with IVF." There was no way that was the case, given how May and Ford looked at each other, but Andrew just chuckled. The smile on his lips felt good after the night he’d had. The pain he’d let go of.

"Well, I’ll at least make sure of one thing that will happen the longer you stay in our house. You’ll be desensitized to that kind of thing." Andrew said with a wicked grin. Richard scoffed loudly, like a damn teenager, and Andrew just shook his head. He grabbed the tray he’d been making, made gross noises at Richard who covered his ears, before heading off to wake his precious lover.

~

Maxwell was still well and truly asleep when Andrew pushed open the door carefully. That wasn’t a common thing, since Maxwell normally at least partially woke up when Andrew got up first. The alcohol had to really be playing a role here.

Andrew couldn’t help the smile that twisted his lips up as he closed the door behind him with his foot, and shuffled over to the bed. He placed the tray down on the end of the bed, away from Maxwell’s feet on Andrew’s side of the bed. It was a far enough distance that Andrew felt relatively safe putting it there. Then, he crept over to Maxwell’s side of the bed, reaching out to gently touch the sleeping, soft cheeks of the man sprawled out in their bed.

Maxwell was frowning in his sleep, his lips pushed out in a pout, and Andrew couldn’t help himself from touching the wrinkles in between his brows. Maxwell pouted more, making a cute little noise in protest.

"Maxy." Andrew said softly. "It’s morning. Time to wake, my love." Andrew called, watching as Maxwell’s shoulders rose and fell with a sigh, his pouty lips opening slightly, and he shifted on the bed.

Another groan of complaint, another cute little expression that made Andrew want to take photos of the man, only he’d left his phone downstairs.

Slowly, the man began to stir, and it felt like it took five full minutes before baby blue eyes peered up at him, dark with sleep, and blinking slowly without much recognition at first. When he finally realised who was waking him up, a beautiful, warm smile crossed his face.

It was a sleepy expression, but one that made Andrew’s chest fill with butterflies. He was so damn pretty.

"Good morning." Maxwell said, his voice gruff with sleep. Andrew sighed softly.

"Good morning. How are you feeling, Angel?" Andrew asked, bending down to press his lips quickly against the others. Maxwell didn’t make a sound of protest at that, instead sighing into the kiss. He rolled over onto his back after Andrew pulled away, raising his arms out from the blankets to stretch them above his head.

’You should have woken me up like that. I probably would have gotten up sooner." Maxwell told him and Andrew grinned. He always wondered what the man would say in the morning. "Mm. I feel a little groggy, but I’m okay. Is Richard up yet?" Maxwell asked, his brain waking up and Andrew laughed.

"Yeah, and he doesn’t appear as if he wants to be." Andrew told him. Andrew watched as a cunning smile crossed his lover’s face, before Maxwell schooled his expression.

"Oh no. How terrible." Maxwell feigned concern and Andrew burst into laughter.

"I made you breakfast in bed so you can just lounge, or watch me get dressed for work. Your choice." Andrew told him, and watched as a spark of interest ignited behind Maxwell’s eyes. Andrew was glad that the man was so obvious. It made him feel desired.

"Breakfast and a show? Andy, you shouldn’t have."