There wasn’t really any one thing that pointed to something being amiss.

Not an ‘oh, this right here’ that Collin could look at and say was suspicious as he completed his daily sweep and tidy of the house, eyes straying to the clock above the stove every two minutes or so as he waited for the time to reach five. That time in particular because that meant they would be home soon.

Collin supposed he would try to get home around the same time if he could, that is if he actually worked away from home and didn’t complete all of his office things right from their couch in the living room; he didn’t usually even change out of his pajamas on most days.

Not that he minded, and Spencer and Ty definitely didn’t mind coming home to a clean house that smelled like gingerbread or peppermint or pine from scented candles or freshly baked cookies during the winter months. They loved seeing their little gift -as they called him- all soft around the edges in cozy sweaters and fluffy socks; eyes dazzling brighter than any star as he threw himself into their arms.

So no, nobody minded their arrangement in the slightest so it was all the more perplexing to Collin when the first of December hit and the whispering started.

The hushed tones murmured over his head when the two thought he was fast asleep between them and the suspiciously sweet smiles and pets he would receive when he would enter the room, the twinkle of mischief in Spencer’s eyes and the almost constipated look of unsure nervousness in Ty’s expression when Collin asked him what was going on.

Of course there had to be secrets, especially this time of the year with Christmas right around the corner but Collin still found himself quite put out when the two of them would come home and he would feel the conversation abruptly pivot to mundane, house, or work-related things that was surely a vast difference to what they were talking about before if the excited flush on their cheeks and sly, side glances they gave him were anything to go by.

Collin himself had secrets he wanted to keep at least until the 23rd, cardboard boxes ranging from small to ridiculously large hidden around the house in hopefully discreet areas, that was one of the number of nice things that came from Collin being home so much.

He didn’t have to worry about either Spencer or Ty going to the door to receive a delivery meant as a present for either of them.

That was the last thing Collin wanted, although he knew both of them would be lovely about it regardless, even if he knew Spencer would open it just to see what was inside and then pretend like he did nothing of the sort and even if Ty would open it completely by accident and then sulk guiltily around the house and shower Collin with little presents and treats until he felt he had appropriately atoned for his actions.

Collin oh so loved them.

But he just wasn’t sure about all the secrecy, what could be so big that he knew nothing of?

Yes, he’d done a little snooping just because the curiosity was killing him and found a few trinkets and gifts hidden around the house, Spencer had positively screeched at him when he found a hat that looked like a brown cartoonish puppy complete with long flaps at the sides that Collin could put his hands into so he could have ‘paws’. It ended well enough, the hat being put back underneath the mattress while Spencer and Collin occupied said mattress doing… activities. 

Ty was a bit better at hiding his gifts for the two of them, placing all of his carefully chosen presents and packing them into a box so he could seal them up and place them in the attic until Christmas came closer; they were kept there under strict penalty of unrestrained tickles that Spencer had assured him would lead to more bedroom activities. Collin had purposefully gotten caught once just to see what would happen and a long bout of tickling had ensued with no bedroom activities, pardon a very heavy cuddle and a great many kisses.

When asked, Spencer denied having ever promised such things with a wide grin that betrayed his words and had instead bundled the two of them close with an abundance of lingeringly sweet kisses of his own. Collin hadn’t been upset in the least with the outcome, although the threat of another tickle match made him give Ty’s box of surprises a large berth.

“Collin honey, we’re home!”

Not unlike a puppy, Collin was quick to perk up, lean the broom against the wall and rush out of the kitchen through the living room so he could throw himself into his boyfriend’s arms, happily nuzzling between the two and shivering slightly when snow chilled lips pressed against his cheeks and neck in quick, cooing succession.

“How was your day, Honey?”

Spencer asked like every other day, smiling like Collin was the best thing since hot cocoa as he shrugged out of his coat and boots, still holding Collin close and ruffling his hair affectionately once his gloves were off. Ty murmured a soft ‘I missed you, little gift’ in his ear as he pulled the two of them into a hug before grabbing a bag that Collin had missed spotting and quickly hustled to where the attic ladder was.

Drat, he had missed another opportunity to snoop under the pretense of not knowing he was snooping; who could be blamed for looking into a bag when it could have very well been groceries?

“Do you guys get to see the snow this afternoon? It was so pretty…”

Collin said in answer to Spencer’s question, the both of them gliding easily into the bedroom where both Spencer and Ty dressed down from work and Collin sat on the bed watching and chatting as they did; filling him in on his day as they filled him in on theirs.

It was a good, easy routine that they all fell into without hardship, Collin holding up a hanger for both of their ties and the two of them giving kisses in return for the preempted help.

Couple that with the soft Christmas music filtering in from the living room and any one of them would have called the moment perfect. It was perfect. More than any of them could have ever asked for.

“So, are you going to tell me what the secret is today?”

Collin asked for what had to have been the fourth time that week, expression purposefully innocent and just a touch pleading as he batted his lashes playfully at his partners, even going so far as to widening his eyes into what Spencer called his ‘puppy dog’ face.

“Nope!”

“Not just yet.”

And just like the last four times, the answer was still a resounding no.

--

“Collin, if you continue to press against me like that there will be actions taken until I’m comfortable again.”

Ty’s voice was husky and laced with sleep as it rumbled in Collin’s ear, Spencer still fast asleep beside them as the larger male’s hand slipped from Collin’s arm to his waist, then down to his hip and then lower still to rest on his upper thigh; suggestive but comfortable enough that it could just stay there instead of taking any further action forward.

Collin shifted his hips purposefully backward, twisting himself so Ty’s hand could slip between his thighs as his own fingers wandered freely across the other man’s chest and drifted steadily downward; eyes leisurely sliding back up to meet Tys with a blush he hoped the darkness hid.

“Mm… we could…”

He whispered, hoping that the suggestion in his words would be understood so he didn’t have to say it. He’d already almost reached the limit of courage he had just by initiating, Ty would understand, right?

“...could what, Sweetheart?”

Came Ty’s much more awake response, voice kept at a deliberately low timber that made something delicious tremble in Collin’s stomach. The teasing, knowing tone of his voice making a very indignant huff blow across Ty’s chin as Collin ducked his head and nipped at the other man’s shoulder petulantly, appreciating the skin accessible to him since Ty slept in only a loose pair of pants and a tank top. 

“You… you know…”

He whispered back, giving Ty’s side a poke that didn’t even make him twitch apart from the small upward movement around his lips, a small breath of silence occurring before he leaned down and pressed his lips against Collins, hand finding the smaller man’s waist so he could pull them close together in a languid, lingering kiss.

Collin sighed against him softly, letting himself be pulled close as they began to press and grind against each other, not pausing in their kisses as they slowly worked toward their mutual release. It was a gradual process without much movement apart from their hips, an occasional soft moan or whimper from Collin when Ty would press especially nice against him before his breath caught and they spilled against each other and over Ty’s hand since he had reached down and begun to stroke the both of them together.

Ty finished a moment after, a low grunt of pleasure along with a satisfied expression washing over his features as Collin watched with rapt attention, leaning close so they could kiss one last time before Collin felt himself drift off to sleep.

He was clean when he awoke, mostly anyway apart from a little bit of residual sticky that a shower would easily wash away. Ty was most likely in the garage on the treadmill and Collin could hear the shower going meaning that’s where Spencer was.

He crawled out of bed with a yawn, pulling his pajamas off as he went and tossing them into the hamper before stepping in with Spencer and fidgeting only slightly when the water hit his sleep warmed skin; Spencer always took showers too cold for Collin’s taste, but then again Collin loved to be especially hot.

“G’morning.”

He said softly, wrapping his arms around Spencer’s middle and happily plastering himself close so he could leech heat from the other’s skin; completely happy and content under the spray with one of the men he loved.

“Good morning, Sweet Thing!”

Spencer said cheerily back, much too awake for someone who had just woken up and stumbled to the shower in Collin’s opinion. The fingers carded fondly through his damp hair were definitely appreciated though.

“You two have fun last night, hmm?”

He asked with a hum, squirting some shampoo into his hand and lathering it through Collin’s hair after he turned, letting the only slightly smaller male rest comfortably against his chest as his finger’s massaged over his scalp.

Collin hummed, almost purred contentedly as he leaned up into the shampooing and ‘mhm’ed in affirmation, keeping his eyes and mouth closed so stray suds didn’t fall in; trusting and knowing that Spencer would completely take care of him.

The process was repeated for conditioner, and after that was rinsed from Collin’s hair he took it upon himself to soap the both of them up much to Spencer's delight, lots of soft touching and murmured praise filled with words that made Spencer’s eyes go softly fond and caused Collin’s cheek color pink.

“Could I join you two?”

Came a voice from just beyond the shower door, both Spencer and Collin smiling at one another in mutual agreement as they both simultaneously called out.

“Of course, Darling!”

“Yes please!”

Which devolved into some quiet laughs and more smiles being traded as they shuffled around so Ty could fit under the spray alongside them. The Master bathroom was large enough for the three of them to shower comfortably although elbows bumped and there was plenty of skin-on-skin contact when more than one of them was using the shower at a time; whether the contact was purposeful or accidental was another matter entirely.

“Are you going to tell me what the secret is today?”

Collin asked as he stepped to the side, letting Ty wash the suds from his hair and lathering up his palms once again so he could slide his hands smoothly over the expanse of the man’s back under the pretense of a good washing.

They all would frequently find ways to touch each other, a hand on another’s waist or a simple lean to the side so their shoulders were gently aligned; anything so there was a point of contact when there could be. A perfect trio of tactile perfection. Not one ever feeling like they were overstepping since permission was always asked and the one craved touch as much as the other.

That’s why Collin wasn’t worried about whatever this secret was, he knew it was simply a surprise and that he would find out eventually, it was only a matter of time and waiting.

He just didn’t want to wait.

“Mm…”

Spencer made an over-dramatized humming noise, pausing in washing to let his gaze meet Tys briefly before shaking his head firmly.

“Mmmm nope! Not yet.”

“But-!”

“Not yet.”

Ty reaffirmed, slipping his arm around Collin’s middle and smiling fondly as the younger male squeaked with surprise and tried to wiggle away playfully once he understood what was happening. Ty didn’t let him go, bringing him out from under the spray and pressing him against the wall so their lips could meet in a soft, lingering, toothpaste mint flavored kiss.

Collin arched a little, trying to get away from the chilled tile the shower walls were made from and only succeeding in pressing closer to Ty, which neither of them complained about.

Spencer stepped up beside them and stole the remainder of Collin’s breath when Ty and he finally separated, a small gasp dragging past both of their lips as Collin’s breathing went a little ragged.

“You up for a little fun, Honey?”

Spencer queried, easily pulling Collin out from under Ty and mirroring the position they had been in earlier, Collin now pinned underneath him while they kissed leisurely.

“He might be tired, considering he fell right to sleep after coming last night.”

Spencer and Ty both laughed much to Collin’s extreme embarrassment, a pout scrunching up his features as his cheeks turned red; an action for which both of them paid for by way of cupping water in his palms and splashing it at them.

They all laughed after that, the three of them crowding close and trading a great many more kisses as fingers and lips wandered where they may, moan and soft sighs of pleasure intermingling with the laughs as the water was shut off so their bill didn’t spike and the mirror steamed up due to other things apart from bathing.