Stable Hill

by Jodi Payne

  “Yes.” Jesus. He jumped on that like he was drowning and those words were a life raft. “Please come over.”

  “Russ. It’s okay. But I don’t know Jeffrey at all, and the two of you apparently have an advantage on me.”

  He sighed. Of course that made sense. It felt like crap, but he needed to get over himself. “Sorry, but I feel like we have something.”

  “We have something.” Oscar’s tone was frank and reassuring. “Russ, we have something, I feel it. I think it’s important we explore it, because I think it could be really good. I hope you can understand that I need to figure out where I stand with Jeffrey.”

  God, why was he being such a baby about this? It was obvious enough to him that the three of them were something together too. “Yeah. Of course that’s fine. I have to tell you, though, Jeff’s hot as hell, but I don’t know him all that well either. Maybe after this, we could figure him out together?”

  Oscar laughed. “Sounds like fun.”

  He liked the laugh; it made him feel warmer. “Okay. Okay, good. So I’ll see you tomorrow night?”

  “Late. After dinner. The girls….”

  “It’s all good. See you then.”

  “Thanks, Russ. Good night.”

  “Night.”

  After supper, he did it; he moved his few things into the master bedroom. It took him all of fifteen minutes because he really didn’t have much to move—his guitar and his music, a stack of jeans and T-shirts, boots and coats, his very few pictures and possessions. When he was done, he looked around. You’d hardly even know he was there. His few things were practically lost in the big room.

  Chapter Thirteen

  OSCAR TAPPED on Rose’s bedroom door, even though the door was open. She was sitting at her little desk, writing something in a note card. “Rose?”

  She looked up from her card. “Hello, sweetheart.”

  “The girls are all in bed. I wanted to let you know I’m going out.”

  Rose arched one eyebrow at him, but her tone wasn’t at all judgmental. “Are you?”

  “I’m meeting Jeffrey.” That was scandalous enough and offered her plenty to chew on, being that this was the first time he’d done anything like this since Emmett passed away. She didn’t need all the details around the event yet.

  She smiled, the look both sweet and sentimental. “You deserve to have some fun. Just don’t stay out too late.”

  He ducked into her room long enough to kiss her on the cheek and give her hand a squeeze. “It will be late, but I’ll be home long before the girls are up. Call me if you need me.”

  “You won’t hear from me, dear.”

  “Thanks, Rose. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Go on now. Enjoy your date.”

  He nodded and texted Jeffrey on the way out to his car. Rose was a wise woman. She knew damn well this was a booty call and not a date. She might even remember how he and Emmett first started seeing each other in a similar fashion—stolen evenings after the girls were in bed. The big difference was the girls were younger then and had much earlier bedtimes. Leaving the house at nine o’clock was tough on a weeknight.

  Hauling his ass back home before sunrise wasn’t going to be a picnic either. But he needed to see Jeffrey. He needed what he sensed Jeffrey was capable of, what he’d learned from their long, intimate kiss. They both had a little push and pull in them, but tonight he wanted to be wanted. All of the care and touching the other day had been wonderful—the mouths, the hands. It had been the perfect new first experience for him. But it had opened up something in him, and he felt unable to deny himself now. He wanted to fuck. Hard.

  He shifted in the front seat of the minivan as he drove, giving his thickening cock more room, glad that the drive wasn’t a long one. He turned onto Jeffrey’s road and started looking for the complex. Jeffrey said he had a town house on a cul-de-sac, and even in the dark, Oscar found it easily. He pulled into one of the guest parking spaces across from Jeffrey’s front door.

  It was a nice brick-front town house, with white trim and black shutters, and when the door opened, he was going to say so, but Jeffrey hauled him inside and kissed him without letting him speak.

  The greeting was absolutely everything he wanted.

  He pushed Jeffrey against a wall and shoved his hands up under the man’s shirt. Jeffrey groaned and tugged on his waistband, pulling their hips together.

  “Yeah.” He leaned into Jeffrey and rubbed against a muscled thigh with a groan as he pinched one of Jeffrey’s nipples. Jeffrey hissed and thrust against his hip. It was beautiful.

  “Want you.”

  “Yes.”

  Jeffrey placed hands on Oscar’s chest and leveraged him backward a couple of steps, pushing fingers up under his shirt to pinch one of his nipples. “Take your shirt off.”

  Oscar lifted it off over his head, then took another kiss as his fingers found Jeffrey’s oxford, opening one button after another. Jeffrey tore Oscar’s jeans open and pulled his cock and balls out with both hands, making him ache as Jeffrey stroked him with hot fingers.

  “Fuck.”

  “Hot.” Jeffrey let him go and slid a hand from Oscar’s belly down into his curls, fingers combing through his sensitive expanse of fur.

  Oscar smiled against Jeffrey’s lips. He’d always loved it when men appreciated his body hair, and it was even more satisfying now, knowing it had gone somewhat salt-and-pepper of late and Jeffrey seemed into it anyway. He was still coming to terms with looking older but still not really feeling it.

  Jeffrey grunted and shoved Oscar’s hand against his crotch, moaning softly.

  “Mmm. Yeah. I got you.” Oscar took it slow with Jeffrey’s fly, forcing patience that Jeffrey didn’t seem to actually have. Jeffrey arched and rolled those narrow hips until that cock was finally free, and he gave his lover what the man was after. The groan was delicious, and he stroked Jeffrey through it, slipping a thumb over the tip.

  Jeffrey pressed his face into Oscar’s neck and thrust slowly into Oscar’s hand. “Fuck.”

  He took Jeffrey by the jaw, and they kissed again, deep and hard and long. They touched and stroked each other until they were desperate, both of them panting and wanting. When Jeffrey pulled back and looked at him with those deep dark eyes, Oscar’s patience dissolved.

  “Please, Jeffrey. I need you.”

  Jeffrey groaned and started moving them toward the stairs. “Oscar.”

  Oscar nodded and went up, holding his jeans up with one hand, then slipped them off along with his shoes at the top of the stairs. Their eyes locked, Jeffrey stalking him, backing him into the bedroom. Jesus. Russ was right; Jeffrey was hotter than hell.

  Jeffrey undressed as Oscar climbed up on the bed.

  “Uh-uh.” Jeffrey put a hand on Oscar’s hip and pushed him over, off his hands and knees. “On your back. Want to see you.”

  He didn’t argue and kept his eyes on Jeffrey, who was rolling on a rubber as Oscar got comfortable on his back. Jeffrey pushed one of his knees up and pressed slippery fingers against his hole. “How long…?”

  “Over three years.”

  “Sorry to…. I just want—”

  “I know. Thank you for asking.” He hadn’t been fucked since the last time his husband had been able to do that, maybe a year before Emmett died. Maybe longer. It had been forever.

  He wasn’t embarrassed; he appreciated the question. He wanted it now, though. Like he’d wanted nothing else for ages. “Please.”

  Jeffrey slipped a finger into him slowly. Oscar reached down and tugged on his cock, remembering, relaxing, and moments later Jeffrey added a second finger. He moaned.

  “You like that. Your body remembers, right? Feels good?”

  “So good.”

  Jeffrey took his time, stretching and lubing him up, teasing and making him want even more. “I’ll make sure it’s good for you.”

  “Want you, Jeffrey.”

  “You’re ready? You’re sure?”

 
“I’m sure.”

  Please. Fuck. Don’t make me wait any longer.

  Jeffrey slipped his fingers away, and Oscar arched, begging for a moment because he felt so empty.

  “Right here.” The hot tip of Jeffrey’s cock nudged at him, the pressure so sweet.

  “Yeah. Fuck, yeah.”

  “Mm. Tight, Oscar. Jesus.” Jeffrey sank slowly into him. Beautifully, achingly slow.

  Oscar sighed and moaned, his legs falling open and his eyes squeezing closed as he centered all his attention on the stretch and burn where they were joined.

  “Breathe,” Jeffrey reminded him.

  He took a breath, then let it out in a long hiss. “Oh God.”

  “Okay?”

  “Yes. Fuck, Jeffrey. Just right.”

  “That’s it.”

  He felt Jeffrey’s balls slap against him and the heat of their skin so close together made him sigh.

  “Oh, that’s pretty, Oscar. I’m going to take such good care of you.”

  Jeffrey was getting off on this “first time in a long time” thing, and Oscar loved it. Nothing wrong with that; he was too. Eventually, though, he needed more. He moaned and rocked, and Jeffrey smiled at him.

  They moved together, humping at first, and then Jeffrey hooked strong arms around both of his thighs, lifting them slightly, starting to thrust. He threw his arms out, gripping the sheets as Jeffrey forced grunts and groans from him, and he let himself go. He let go of all conscious decisions and went with what his body wanted. It was so right. It was exactly what he—

  “Oh fuck!” He shouted, shocked, as Jeffrey gripped him, milking his erection and he started to rise fast, his cock hard and heavy and his balls beginning to ache.

  “Yeah,” Jeffrey panted, flushed now, a light sweat on his forehead. So hot.

  “More.”

  “Oscar—”

  “More!” he demanded.

  Jeffrey growled like an animal and gritted his teeth, his thrusts going deep and hard as they lost their rhythm.

  The next few minutes were full of sound—filthy words, grunts and moans, cursing and begging. By the time he felt the urgent need spiraling in him, he was damp and trembling, panting hard, and Jeffrey seemed somewhere well beyond the moon. Oscar was rocked by the sudden force of his orgasm, and he bucked, his hips lifting higher off the bed. Jeffrey howled and took him by the hips, fingers bruising his skin, and slammed into his ass with a loose, wild motion. Oscar watched as Jeffrey gave it up with a cry that sounded like gratitude, and a beautiful grimace on his face.

  “Fuck, Jeffrey.”

  Jeffrey shuddered again and gulped air, dropping down to rest that damp forehead in the center of his chest. “Yeah.”

  He slid his hands gently over Jeffrey’s back and shoulders, still catching his breath as well.

  “Jesus Christ, Oscar.”

  Oh. Jeffrey sounded pretty shattered. “You were amazing. You’re gorgeous.”

  “I fucking lost it. I don’t…. I mean… are you okay?”

  “Perfect.” It was everything Oscar needed—wild and wonderful, so fucking good. “Are you?”

  “No. I’m a disaster, and it’s fucking great. I think I forgot my name there for a while. Good thing you kept moaning it.” Laughing softly, Jeffrey disposed of the condom and climbed into bed beside him.

  “Ha. I would have liked to hear mine, but I think you lost the power of speech.” He hooked an arm around Jeffrey and pulled him in.

  They lay there for a bit, breathing, recovering, relaxing in each other’s arms. Jeffrey combed curious fingers through the hair on his chest. “You’re going a little white, stud.”

  “You’ll get there. I bet I have at least ten years on you.”

  “No way.” Jeffrey laughed at him. “Come on, five at most.”

  “What are we betting?”

  “What? Wait, you actually want to wager?”

  “Yes. Because I’m going to win.” He was incredibly flattered that Jeffrey thought he was under forty, though. “I bet that I’m more than ten years older than you are. How about….”

  “Wine?”

  “Dinner. With Russ.”

  “Dinner and wine with Russ,” Jeffrey said, and they shook on it. “So how ancient are you?”

  “Shut up!” He reached over and pinched one of Jeffrey’s nipples, making the man recoil, wincing.

  “Ow! Jesus.”

  “How old do you think I am?”

  “Hmmm.” Jeffrey tilted his head one way and then the other. “Well? Thirty-five maybe. Maybe thirty-seven, but that’s it.”

  Nice. “I am forty-five.” He grinned like a cat in cream, he felt so smug.

  Jeffrey truly looked stunned. “No, you’re not.”

  “I am! And I’m getting free dinner, aren’t I?”

  Jeffrey sighed. “Yes. I’m thirty-one.”

  “Oh, wow. I’m robbing the cradle.” He snorted.

  “No, that would be Russ.”

  He knew that. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know by how much. Russ looked like a baby. He was pretty sure Russ wasn’t one, but the guy really looked it. “So, he’s…?”

  “Twenty-eight.”

  He laughed. “Oh God. I’m horrible. I’m going to hell.” Seventeen years. He was seventeen years older than Russ. What was he thinking?

  “What? Shit, if that raunchy last half hour doesn’t send you to hell, Russ isn’t going to be a problem.”

  He sighed. “I hope not.”

  “Hey.” Jeffrey sat up on one elbow and leaned over him. “Age means nothing, except when you have sexy silver hair. What happened the other day was fantastic.”

  “It was incredible. But to be honest, it was also confusing.” He wanted to just accept that it was what it was, like Russ had. Be open. Have it all figured out. He didn’t want it to be complicated. And this time with Jeffrey was both helping and making it harder for him to think clearly.

  “I’ve been with multiples before, but not in this kind of context. I’ve never thought about having a relationship like this before. You’re something, Oscar. I… I’m really drawn to you. I don’t know what that means yet, but it’s not common for me.”

  “I’m….” He shrugged. “Not sure what I am.”

  “Still figuring it out?”

  “Still figuring it out, yes. Trying to understand what I’m feeling, what I want. Whether I’m really ready for any of it.”

  “Well, did this feel good?”

  “This felt amazing.” Oscar kissed Jeffrey lightly, enjoying their connection. “Amazing.”

  “So don’t overthink it for now.”

  That was too simple. “I’m trying to be fair, is all.”

  “Which would be overthinking.” Jeffrey patted his cheek playfully.

  “Except that I’m here with you right now, and Russ—”

  “Russ is in love with you, I think.”

  He swallowed and shook his head. Part of him knew that, but he wasn’t ready to think too hard about it. “Shit. You see what I mean?”

  “No, Oscar. You’re still overthinking. None of us signed a contract the other day. No one made any promises to anyone else. We had sex together, all of us. It was just sex, you know? Could it turn into something else? Who knows? But you’re here in my bed even though you know Russ has a thing for you. I assume that’s because you wanted something specific from me that you didn’t think you could get from him.”

  “You’re right. And I got it.” He smiled, following the line of Jeffrey’s jaw with one finger.

  Jeffrey laughed. “Glad I could help. Now stop thinking so hard about us. Russ and I both know you have a lot to work through emotionally. You would, even if there was only one of us.”

  “How do you—you talked about me?”

  “Sure. Yes. After you left, we did talk about you. And we talked about each other a little and what we wanted. We were as surprised as you were by what went down.”

  “But you two already have a history.”

  Je
ffrey nodded. “Russ told you. I’m glad. It’s totally physical, though. Or… well, it was until…. Things feel different with you in the mix.”

  “Oh ho! Now who is overthinking things?”

  Jeffrey laughed. “I never claimed not to be a hypocrite.”

  “Russ knows I’m here, by the way. I called him.”

  The look on Jeffrey’s face was hard to read, but Oscar thought he seemed pleased. “Yeah?”

  “Yes. I didn’t think it was right to… to do this behind his back. So I called him and told him I was coming over here. He was okay about it. I don’t think he was thrilled. He and I made plans for tomorrow night.”

  “Oh, perfect. Good.” Jeffrey didn’t seem to have any issues with that at all. It was amazing how different they all were. “So, then, why don’t we all plan something together for the weekend?”

  “Plan something?” Plan something like what? A three-way booty call?

  “Dinner.”

  “Like a date?” A group date. Huh.

  “Sure. You won the wager, remember?”

  “Dinner and wine with Russ. Right.” This was all so totally new to him. Of course they should have a date. It still felt so strange, though.

  “So, Saturday? I’ll tell Russ.”

  “I’ll have to check with Rose.” He thought about it. Emily would be out with Brian—or inside with Brian—God, please, Emmett, watch over her—and Sophie could spend the night with her friend Leslie, so if Rose could stay with the twins, then it could work. Or… wait. He needed to check the calendar, because Saturday might be Sophie’s choir concert and he couldn’t miss—

  “Oscar.”

  “Huh?”

  “Over here.”

  He blinked at Jeffrey. “Sorry.”

  “There you are. Where did you go?”

  He snorted. “Uh, Rose, babysitters, the house calendar, um… Brian. Going out for an evening is complicated.”

  Jeffrey shook his head. “Which is why you had to come over here so late.”

  “I wanted them to be in bed. I didn’t think I should be explaining anything to them yet. And I will have to leave pretty soon too.”

  “Sure, so you’re there when they get up. I get it. You’re a good dad. I don’t know how I’d handle all those kids, especially on your own.”