By the time Gage reached the front porch, Travis was already inside, walking through and flipping off all the lights as he went. Considering the time, Gage figured Kylie was passed out, perhaps on the sofa, where she generally napped on the nights they ended up coming home later than usual.
Gage dropped his keys and wallet on the table near the door, then flipped the deadbolt and set the security system. Though they didn’t have much crime in their small backwoods town, Kylie insisted on the extra measure but only because it would alert them if a door or window was opened. It wasn’t that she worried someone would come in, more so that a munchkin might get adventurous and attempt to slip outside to play in the backyard. After all, Kate had done it a couple of times when she was smaller.
Gage was staring down at his phone when he stepped into the living room, but that was as far as he made it before he was slammed up against the wall, the breath driven out of his lungs more from surprise than impact. His phone was plucked from his fingers and tossed to a chair.
“What are you doin’?” he asked Travis, keeping his voice low.
The man’s eyes were hot as coals as they scanned his face briefly.
“Takin’ what’s mine,” his husband whispered, then crushed his mouth to Gage’s.
Christ Almighty, the man could kiss. Gage still remembered the first time Travis had kissed him. Very similar to this, in fact. Travis had surprised him then and many times in the past six years since they’d succumbed to their desires.
“Where’s Kylie?” Gage asked, tilting his head to the side as Travis’s teeth scraped sensually across his flesh.
“Sleepin’.”
Which was the very reason Travis was molesting him in the living room. Had she been awake, Gage would’ve likely found the two of them on their bed, making out and waiting for him to join them. And while he loved those moments when the three of them came together, Gage couldn’t deny he enjoyed the one-on-one time he got with each of them. He had the best of both worlds with Kylie and Travis. His wife was a sensual lover while his husband was the take-charge kind.
And right now, Travis was in take mode.
When Travis’s mouth returned to his, Gage tugged at his T-shirt, desperate to get his hands on him. While he didn’t mind Travis taking charge, Gage damn sure wasn’t going to sit back and wait.
“Hold that thought,” Travis rasped as he pulled away.
Or maybe he was.
Travis nodded. “This way.”
Gage realized why Travis had jerked the reins: relocation.
They’d long ago learned that intimate moments required a bit of privacy. Hence the reason they’d closed off the formal living room, turning it into the adult playroom. Granted, it still looked like a living room with the couch and television, and sure, every now and again, the kiddos would chill in there and watch cartoons. But these days, the parents tended to sneak in there, close and lock the doors, and enjoy the pleasures they found in one another without the risk of a little one stumbling upon them.
When Gage stepped into the room, Travis closed the doors and flipped the lock before turning those intense blue-gray eyes on him once more. Gage backed up when Travis stalked him. His calves hit the edge of the sofa and he ass-planted in a hurry, bracing for the weight of his husband as Travis followed him down.
They shifted and moved until they were both laid out, chest to chest, mouth to mouth.
“I’ve been thinkin’ about this all day,” Travis whispered, pushing up to his knees and ripping off his T-shirt.
Gage struggled to do the same in his horizontal position. He’d barely managed to get his shirt over his head when Travis launched up off the couch, stripping off his boots and jeans in a mad rush. Before Gage could get his jeans unbuttoned, Travis was over him, one knee on the cushion beside Gage’s head, one foot on the floor as he guided his thick cock into Gage’s mouth.
“Ah, fuck yes,” Travis hissed.
As he sucked Travis deep, Gage watched his husband’s eyes roll back in his head, his pleasure evident, spurring Gage to work him over good.
Gage loved this side of Travis. The out-of-control side. It made its appearance less frequently these days, had been decreasing over the years, so he treasured the moments when Travis would let loose. There was no denying marriage and babies had changed all three of them, settled them as their family expanded, but underneath it all, Travis was still the same hungry beast he’d always been, and when Travis Walker wanted something, Kylie and Gage had learned to give in. After all, they reaped the benefits as well.
Travis groaned, his hips shifting forward and back as his cock tunneled in and out of Gage’s mouth. He sucked and licked, slowly chipping away at Travis’s restraint. It was a beautiful thing.
Of course, Travis wasn’t a selfish lover, proving it when he pulled out of Gage’s mouth and roughly stripped off the remainder of Gage’s clothes. And when Travis’s blazing-hot lips wrapped around his cock, his hips shot upward, head fell back as undiluted ecstasy blazed through his bloodstream.
It took effort, but Gage managed to hang on, distracting himself at one point by reaching for the drawer on the coffee table. He retrieved the tube of lubricant, leaving the drawer haphazardly open as the pleasure threatened to overwhelm him.
Travis didn’t need directions, either. He released Gage’s cock from between his lips, then moved over him, relieving Gage of the lubricant before their mouths crushed together once again.
Gage ran his hands over the taut muscles of Travis’s back, pulling the man on top of him, relishing the weight, the warmth of the man he loved. He was vaguely aware of Travis shifting, his hand sliding between them, knew he was prepping his cock for entry.
Travis finally broke the seal on their mouths, pushing up to his knees. Gage didn’t wait for instructions, pulling his knees toward his chest and making himself vulnerable to the man he loved. A minute later, Travis was pushing in deep, filling Gage’s ass so perfectly. Their eyes met and held as Travis leaned over him, one hand braced on the back of the sofa, the other beside Gage’s head.
“Fuck, you feel good,” Travis said on a rough whisper.
Gage palmed his cock, stroking in the rhythm of Travis’s long, deep thrusts. In their younger days, they could’ve done this for hours. Now they were both working toward the same goal: release before interruption. It was inevitable that someone would need something during their few stolen moments. Either work or kiddos, something generally needed their attention, so efficiency had become necessary.
And that was exactly what they did now only without the frantic edge. Travis moved inside him, deep and slow, their eyes locked, a wealth of emotion silently spoken between them as their bodies sought the pleasure of the other.
“I love you,” Travis whispered.
Gage smiled. “Prove it.”
Travis’s eyes heated and then he gave Gage what he’d asked for, impaling him again and again, deeper, harder, faster. Gage was moaning softly, climbing that steep mountain until he was hanging on to the ragged edge by his fingernails.
“Come for me,” Travis urged, his voice a low growl.
Gage didn’t have to be told twice. He came, his cock jerking in his fist as Travis drove into him one final time and let himself go.
Chapter Two
Wednesday, December 11, 2019
“JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY, HOW DO YOU propose we explain to Zoey and V why the spa has no bookings for the week of Christmas?” Sawyer asked.
Travis sat behind his desk and stared at his brother. Sawyer was casually reclining on the black leather sofa, ankle crossed over his knee, his black Stetson dangling from his boot, one arm spanning the back of the sofa. Casual as you please, though his eyes said he was a bit nervous about the outcome of their new quest.
Since that was a damn good question, Travis could understand his reservations.
“We could just tell ’em we’re cuttin’ it to a skeleton crew for that week,” Kaleb suggested. “I doubt my wife’ll compl
ain that she gets to stay home with the kids.”
Sawyer laughed. “When are you gonna realize your wife goes to work to get away from those heathens?”
Being that Kaleb and Zoey had four kids, all barely a year apart, the oldest five, youngest two, there was no doubt Zoey sought an escape from time to time.
Kaleb grinned. “Yeah. You’re probably right.”
“Probably nothin’,” Sawyer countered. “I asked Kennedy why she was so happy about those CrossFit classes she goes to and she told me exactly that. She went so far as to tell me it relaxes her. And we’ve only got two.”
Kylie had mentioned the same thing to Travis. Ever since the woman had joined up with that cross-training shit, he had noticed she was smiling more. Stress relief, she called it. Travis had his own form of stress relief, and his husband and wife both participated as often as he could convince them.
His thoughts drifted to last night, having Gage beneath him…
“Travis?”
Jerking his attention from the gutter it was quickly shifting to, Travis looked at Kaleb. “Hmm?”
“Any suggestions?”
He peered down at the blotter on his desk, scanned the information jotted across every single day leading up to Christmas. “We’re only shutting it down the two days before, the day of, and the two days after Christmas,” he mused, looking up at Kaleb then Sawyer. “We’ll just tell ’em we’re letting the employees celebrate with their families this year. Paid time off. No one’ll ask questions about that.”
Sawyer nodded his head, his lips pursed. “Could work, sure.”
The door to his office opened and Gage appeared, quickly scanning the other occupants before joining them.
“I need someone to get a combined list of everyone who’s invited to this shindig,” Gage said as he came over and perched on the corner of Travis’s desk. “I figure you’ll want me to reach out.”
“Express how important this is to keep from the wives and kids,” Travis told them. “I’d like them to be surprised if at all possible. I find out anyone leaks the information…”
Both Kaleb and Sawyer laughed.
“Oh, we know. Heads’ll roll.” Sawyer got to his feet. “I’d like you to include Jeff.”
Gage once again had his phone in his hands, likely adding Sawyer’s father-in-law to the list.
“Add Carl,” Kaleb said. “The old fart’ll get a kick out of it.”
“Got it,” Gage noted.
“Add Mack,” Travis told him. “But under no circumstance is that shithead kid of his invited.”
Travis normally didn’t target people, but Daniel Schwartz was quickly becoming a major pain in the ass. At every turn, Mack’s only child was attempting to direct Mack’s life, using his father’s love for him as a weapon. After Daniel had learned of Mack’s sexual orientation—his own mother had kept Mack’s secret for years, outing him when the boy turned eighteen—their relationship had been volatile, to say the least. After several years of keeping his distance from his father, looked as though Daniel was back, and of course, Mack was doing his best to get in the kid’s good graces. Unfortunately, that required him to upend his entire life and pretend to be someone he wasn’t. Travis didn’t approve, but he knew it was none of his damn business. Didn’t mean he had to be nice to the kid.
“I’ve also got Jared,” Gage told them. “If his sisters-in-law and their old man want to come, I assume that’s cool.”
Travis nodded.
“I asked Ethan to talk to Kaden and Keegan,” Gage continued.
“Invite Bristol,” Travis suggested. The daycare owner had become a part of the Walker family, and since she had no family, he hoped she’d join them.
“I thought you promised not to meddle in relationships anymore,” Kaleb teased.
“I’m not.” Not entirely, anyway.
“I heard a rumor that Gerald and Sue Ellen were comin’ down for Christmas. Probably need to reach out, get a head count if that’s the case,” Sawyer told Gage.
“Will do.”
Travis looked at Gage. “You got the Caines, Right?”
He gave a curt nod. “I do.”
Sawyer snapped his fingers. “Oh, and invite Greyson and Olivia.”
Considering Greyson was Sawyer’s best friend, Travis understood the request, so he nodded at Gage.
“What about Tavoularis?” Sawyer inquired, his eyes coming to rest on Travis.
“He’s goin’ to Dallas,” Travis told him, referring to Reese, the man who was running the show at Walker Demolition. “He’s already asked for the week off.”
“You’ve got Jaxson and CJ on there, yeah?” Kaleb asked.
More cousins, more invites.
“Do now,” Gage replied.
“I want you to figure out the food,” Travis told Kaleb.
“You know Mom’s gonna want to cook Christmas dinner.”
Yep, Travis expected as much. “But that’s the only time I want them to have to be in the kitchen. The plan’s to get them to relax, not work.”
Granted, that was easier said than done in the Walker clan.
“I’ll make sure the chefs are aware of what we need,” Kaleb confirmed. “You sure you don’t want one of them on staff for that week?”
Travis shook his head. “They deserve time off, too.”
“You can be in charge of decorations,” Travis told Sawyer. “Get Braydon and Brendon on board. We’ll all pitch in to decorate.”
“And when do you plan to do that?”
“After all the guests check out on Sunday morning. And I want Zane to handle the accommodations. Have him wrangle Oscar in if he needs to,” Travis said, referring to the hotel’s concierge. “I want the rooms decorated, too. Trees in every occupied room.”
“Every room.” Kaleb whistled. “Travis’s motto: go big or go home.”
Travis wanted the kids to be surrounded by the sights and sounds of Christmas.
“You want me to see if Beau can help out?” Sawyer asked.
Travis shook his head. “That man spends his days caring for triplets. We’ll let it be a surprise for him, too. He deserves it.”
“Do I have a budget for decorations?” Sawyer asked.
Travis leaned back in his chair. “Spare no expense, but don’t be stupid about it.”
His brother grinned. “Unlimited funds. Yeah, I’d say this is gonna be a kick-ass vacation.”
That was Travis’s plan and he knew with his brothers’ help, they’d make it happen.
*
AS ZANE DROVE FROM THE RESORT BACK to his house, he found himself smiling. Then again, that was a frequent occurrence for him. Getting home to his wife and boys had been the highlight of every day. Not that he didn’t enjoy his job. How could he not? But it didn’t hold a candle to how good it felt to be home with them.
He parked his truck behind V’s Ford Expedition, snatched his phone from the center console, and hopped out. He launched himself over the two steps leading to the porch, then paused a second to calm himself. Never knew what he’d find on the other side of that door, and the last thing he wanted to do was cause chaos.
With a deep breath, he reached for the knob, turned it, then stepped into the darkened interior.
He set his coat on the hat rack, pulled his jacket off and hung it on the hook on the wall, then deposited his keys in the clear crystal bowl on the shelf up high. They’d had to resort to that earlier this year, back when Asher turned two. The kid had found it fascinating to steal the car keys and make the horns honk using the key fob.
“Hey, baby,” Zane greeted V when he joined her in the living room.
His beautiful wife was sitting on the sofa, Dustin swaddled in a blue blanket, tucked securely in her arms. Zane smiled as he stared down at the sweet boy.
“How’d he do today?” he asked, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb him.
“Perfect. Where’re the other rug rats?”
Zane shifted his attention to her. “Kaleb inv
ited Reid to spend the night. Sawyer has Asher, and Brendon’s keeping Theo.”
“That’s awfully generous of them.”
Not to mention necessary. Being that V and Dustin had only been home for two days, Zane had hoped she’d get as much sleep as possible. He didn’t mind getting up with Dustin during the night, but it became something else entirely when the baby woke up the other boys, as they’d learned with Theo. A midnight feeding could turn into a playdate, and Zane was hoping for a couple of days without it.
Granted, he would miss those rug rats like crazy.
Funny, before V, Zane had never figured he was the settling-down type, but the woman had knocked him for a loop, and he’d fallen fast. Now, six years later, he had four healthy boys and the most beautiful wife on the planet. Couldn’t ask for more than that.
“You wanna hold him?”
Zane grinned wide. Of course he did.
Moving around the sofa, he eased down beside V and took the tiny bundle from her arms, cradling Dustin against his chest. He tossed his other arm over V’s shoulders and pulled her into him. He stared at the television, though he wasn’t seeing what was on the screen. No, his mind was on the Christmas vacation Travis had come up with and all the boxes that had to be checked before it could happen.
While he’d been skeptical, Zane had to admit, the idea was brilliant. Plus, he knew his oldest brother. Travis would put together a shindig to rival all. He could already picture Reid, Asher, and Theo running amok, the grandparents nearby, cousins all around them. He figured by the time it was over, they’d likely need a real vacation, but he didn’t mind.
Now the question was, could they pull it off?
“What are you thinkin’ about?” V asked, her voice raspy, as though she was drifting in and out of sleep.
“Christmas,” he admitted, keeping to the truth as much as he could.
“It’s not far off, huh?”
“It’ll be here before you know it.” He pressed his lips to V’s forehead. “When’s the last time he ate?”
“He’ll be waking up any minute now.”
“Why don’t you go take a nap in the bedroom. At least until dinner. I’ll feed him, then get you up in a couple of hours. How’s Salisbury steak and mashed potatoes sound?”
A Coyote Ridge Christmas (The Walkers of Coyote Ridge, 7) Page 2
