Chess

by Sean Michael

They walked and talked, Jason telling stories about his clients at the university, about their autumn. Rook and Jason had come out to the cottage for Thanksgiving in October, but so much had happened, Jason had been lost in his books.

  It felt really good to be home, and this was home. The cottage was important to Knight’s work, he got and supported that, but this was home. It just wasn’t the same without all four of them together and it suited him to the ground that Knight knew that, too.

  “You want a shower, Bish, or should I start breakfast?” So gentle, that question.

  “Let’s go shower. I’m not really home until we’ve had our post-workout nookie.”

  And it was true. Jason was a part of being home as much as Rookie and Knight were.

  Thank God he had all three of them. Bringing Jason in a year ago had been a gamble, but it had more than paid off. He’d won this game. Hell, they all had.

  Epilogue

  Knight dozed on the hammock, the breeze keeping the day from being too warm. He loved it up here, especially during the dog days of August when the city dripped from the heat and humidity.

  Rook had threatened to come out today, spend the night. Play. It didn’t happen often—Knight was much more likely to go home and spend a few days, a few weeks. But it had been almost three months since he and Bishop had been back, and he shouldn’t have been surprised that Rookie was needing. They usually didn’t go so long without spending time at the house in town, but he’d been on a tear, painting after painting flowing from him like a waterfall. Bishop knew better than to suggest a road trip when that kind of magic was working its way through him.

  He heard the SUV coming up the drive and he grinned. Bishop had gone for supplies and he was counting on there being nuts and popcorn in amongst the groceries. Maybe some ice cream. Butter Pecan if he was really lucky and the store had been well-stocked.

  The louder than usual engine noise stopped and several car doors opened and closed. That had to be more than just the SUV then.

  “Hey,” Bishop called out. “Look what I found in the village.”

  “Did you discover the sweetest baby boy alive and a horndog of massive proportions?” He sat up, swaying dangerously for a second as he waved.

  Rook’s happy laughter told him he’d hit it in one and he debated getting out of the hammock before Rook got to him, but figured he was getting pounced either way and he might as well be horizontal for it.

  Sure enough, he’d barely laid back down when the swaying of the hammock tripled, Rook seeming not to have even looked before he’d leaped.

  “Rookie!” He grabbed hold, squeezed his eyes shut and went with it. They managed to not go head over heels and get dumped out, and the wild swinging stopped abruptly, heralding the arrival of Jason and Bishop.

  He would have said hello, but Rookie was busy devouring his mouth and who was he to put a stop to that? He just grinned as best he could with Rookie kissing him, and admired the two studs in the family.

  Despite the arrival of their lovers, Rook remained undistracted from his task, kissing him until he was dizzy, the welcome perfect and happy-making.

  Bishop said something about putting away the groceries, but Rook kept kissing and wriggling on him so Knight just waved a hand, then placed it on Rookie’s sweet ass. That prompted Rook to rock back into his palm, then forward against his package. Okay, this was why he usually didn’t go three months between visits home.

  “Missed you,” he muttered, whispering the words against Rook’s lips.

  “Yeah? Good. Because I missed you so much. I don’t like it when half my family is missing.” Rook stayed right where he was, sharing kiss after kiss with him, talking around the constant contact.

  “I was working hard. I can’t wait for you to see.” These paintings were stunning, if he did say so himself and his agent was going to be over the moon.

  “I want to. I bet they’re amazing. Will you be insulted if I want to share an orgasm first?” Rook met his gaze, nothing but love and lust and adoration there.

  “The paintings aren’t going anywhere.” And Knight wanted his Rookie, any way he could get him.

  “Neither am I.” Rook rubbed, their bodies moving together in the best way, an expression of pure bliss on the still young looking face.

  “Oh.” Knight spread as best he could, rocking his hips up and working his abs.

  “I like the extra movement from the hammock.” Rook licked at his lips, meeting his movements and lining up their cocks.

  “Uh-huh.” His balls drew up, his body beginning to ache. Rookie always knew exactly how to touch him to get him revved up. Or maybe it was that any touch from his horndog lover did it for him.

  Working a hand between their bodies, Rook opened his jeans, fingers rubbing and bumping against his cock. He moaned, his eyes rolling back in his head. Smiling against his mouth, Rook finally got him out, fingers long and hot as they felt him up. He’d know that touch anywhere.

  He heard Jason’s low cry from the porch and knew Bish was loving their baby boy. Welcoming Jason to the cottage in the best possible way.

  Rook explored the length of him, played with his head, taking his time. It made his breath catch, made him groan.

  “Missed this. You. Your cock. The way you love me.” Rook’s voice was thick with need.

  “Yeah?” It was good to hear, to know that Rook hadn’t replaced him.

  “God yes. I need my men. All three of you. I won’t do without you.” Rook fiddled with his cockhead as he spoke, index finger rubbing back and forth across Knight’s slit, making it ache.

  “N…no?” He groaned, his eyes rolling.

  “No. And three months is too long. It won’t happen again.” Rook pressed against his slit now, fingernail catching the very edge and making him cry out. Like that sound was what he was waiting for, Rook wriggled down, feet finding the ground, lips taking the head of his cock in.

  “Rookie!” Knight called out, his heart racing, his cock throbbing between Rook’s lips.

  Rook smiled around his cock, then began to suck, pulling more of his cock in. Fuck, Rook had always been good at this. Always.

  “Please! Rook, need you!”

  Nodding, Rook began to bob his head, lips sliding around his cock, tongue dragging along his most sensitive flesh. It was stunning and twice as good because it had been months since he’d had Rook’s mouth.

  He cried out, over and over, his fingers wrapping in the hammock strings, his whole body tight with need. Humming, Rook sent vibrations through his cock and they settled in his balls, lodging there and demanding his release.

  Knight shot, the sensation like coming home.

  Rook drank him down, every drop, then began to lick him, like he was a Popsicle or something. It made him shiver despite the warmth of the day.

  “Make me crazy, Rookie.”

  Those blue eyes smiled up at him, Rook looking like the cat who’d gotten the cream, which he basically had. “I try.”

  Knight reached out to stroke Rook’s face, to touch. He had missed them—both of them—so badly. “How long can you stay?”

  Rook nuzzled into his hand. “How long until you’re sick of us?”

  “I wasn’t sick of you two, Rookie. I needed out of the city. I needed the light here, the wind.” He hadn’t left Rook and Jase. He’d found his home. He needed Rook to understand that.

  Rook nodded, smiling softly. “I know that. If I thought you were trying to get away from us, I wouldn’t have bought the place next door.”

  “You…” Knight blinked, then looked back over his shoulder to where Jason and Bish were standing, sweaty and slick. “Bish, did you hear?”

  “I sure did.” Bish had a shit-eating grin on his face, and he shrugged when Knight narrowed his eyes. “A little bird might have mentioned to Rook that it was up for sale.”

  Rook laughed, the sound music to his ears. “More like big bird.” Rook kissed his hip. “I asked Bishop to keep his eye out for something close. I never e
xpected to get lucky enough that it would be the house literally next door.”

  “It’s a great place,” Jason said, his sweet face pink and pleased. “And we can have a huge shared yard.”

  “Oh, Rookie. Say it’s true.”

  Rook wriggled his way back up into Knight’s arms, looking over the moon. “It’s true. Jason’s setting up a practice in that town about a half hour away. They’ve got a little medical center and were thrilled to have a physical therapist interested in joining them.”

  “We’re going to have so much fun, guys, and I bet everyone starts eating better.” Jason sounded joyous as hell.

  Knight wrapped his arms around his lover, hugging hard. He wouldn’t cry, not for anything, but his voice broke when he whispered, “Thank you, Rookie.”

  Rook hugged back just as hard. “Anything for you.”

  “Anything for all of us. We’re a family and we needed to be closer.” Bish sounded so sure.

  Rook nodded, and Jason added, “Now it feels right again.”

  “Yeah. Yeah.” He stopped, then a wonderful thought occurred to him and he had to grin. “Does this mean we can get a four person hot tub now?”

  THE PIERCER’S GAME

  Book six in the Chess series

  Luke sees a lot in his job as a piercer, but for all that, he’s shy and lonely. Can live-in-the-moment Temple open his eyes to life’s pleasures?

  Luke’s a piercer and owns a successful business with his tattooing partner. Despite his job and his inked and pierced appearance, Luke is actually quite shy and lonely, not to mention inexperienced. An event from his past has left him unable to open up completely to anyone and it’s easier for him to just keep to himself.

  Temple is a cancer survivor, coming up on five years cancer free. He’s traveling across North America on the back of his motorcycle, just going where the wind blows him. Ever since first being diagnosed, he turned into a true believer of living in the moment.

  When Temple first turns up at Luke’s shop, Temple is immediately drawn to the quiet piercer. First he’s going to have to convince Luke that there’s something between them…then he’s going to have to work his way past Luke’s defenses.

  Dedication

  To all my readers who have embraced the Chess world, thank you for playing.

  Trademark Acknowledgements

  The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

  Twinkie: Apollo Global Management and C. Dean Metropoulos and Company

  iPod: Apple, Inc.

  Google: Google, Inc.

  Game of Thrones: George R.R. Martin, HBO

  March of the Penguins: Warner Independent Pictures

  Netflix: Netflix, Inc.

  Hulu: The Disney Company and 21st Century Fox

  Doc Martens: Dr. Martens

  Chapter One

  Luke finished doing his orders and the taxes, then rolled his head on his shoulders. Tired. He was tired and ready for a beer and a burger. He headed out of the little office he shared with Donny, waving at his best friend and partner as he passed by.

  “I’m going to bail. You need anything?”

  Donny shook his head. “No, I’ve only got another ten minutes or so left and Armen is picking me up. Turn the sign to closed, though, will you?”

  “Totally. See you tomorrow?”

  “Yeah. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” Donny winked at him.

  The bell over the door jangled as the door was opened, a tall, skinny, bald man in leather walking in.

  He and Donny looked at each other, wincing. No one was going to want to start something new this late in the evening.

  “I’ll handle it,” Luke offered. It was probably just a question anyway, right?

  He headed to the door, offered the dude a grin. “What can I do you for?”

  “I’d like a tattoo, I think. Are you the tattoo artist?” The man had a gravelly voice, like he’d swallowed glass or something, and his eyes were so brown. They seemed huge, too, probably because of the bald head.

  “No. I’m the piercer. Would you like to make an appointment?”

  “I’d like to talk to someone first. Can I talk to you?”

  Donny was swamped and about to leave anyway, Bill and KT were both working on big pieces that were going to take them until well past closing, so no one else was currently available. “Absolutely. Talk away.”

  Those brown eyes took him in. “Yeah, I think you can help me.”

  “Well, I’m the co-owner, so I hope so.” Just look at those pretty eyes. Luke could happily spend some time thus occupied.

  One big hand was held out to him. “Temple Garrison.”

  “Luke. Pleased.” He shook Temple’s hand, a jolt of electricity passing between them. Wow, he’d never felt anything like that.

  Temple’s nostrils flared. “Oh. Hi.”

  “Hi.” They were just standing there, holding hands like that zap had fused their flesh. “Jesus, sorry. Sorry, man.” He let his hand drop, feeling like a bit of an idiot.

  “No, no apologies necessary. You felt it too, eh?”

  “I…” What did he say to that? “How can I help you?”

  “There somewhere around here we can sit? Have a bite to eat?”

  “I…” Okay, that was odd. Intriguing, though. Surprisingly. “Jack’s Diner is two doors down.”

  Wait. Had he just agreed to eat with a stranger? At least it would be in public.

  Temple smiled, looking pleased as punch. “Okay, let’s do it.”

  “Let me grab my phone.” He headed to the office. “Going to Jack’s, having a bite with a customer.”

  “What? Why?” Donny demanded.

  “He asked.”

  Donny gave him a glare. “A repeat customer?”

  “No.”

  Donny sighed, rubbed his face. “You’d better be careful.”

  “I’ll have my phone, man.” And Jack’s was practically next door and there was that whole ‘in public’ thing. Still, Don was a good guy. A genuinely good guy.

  “Okay.” Donny repeated it, “Okay. You’re a grown man.”

  “I know, right? Weird.” He gave Donny a smile and headed back out, turned the sign around on the door. “You ready, man?”

  Temple straightened from where he’d been leaning against the counter. “I am.”

  “Cool. It’s a decent place—burgers, fries, pancakes.”

  “They do a salad?”

  “I’m sure they do.” Even if Luke thought a salad was a weird choice for a tall, bald guy dressed all in leather, he tried not to make judgments like that, but this guy screamed biker and he had yet to meet one who was into salads.

  “Cool.” Temple walked along next to him, long legs just eating up the pavement.

  The walk didn’t take long enough to even talk, the well-lit diner inviting in the late summer night.

  “Oh, this is nice.” Temple looked around as they went in. “Vibe’s very much a neighborhood place.”

  “Yeah, we’re in here all the time.” Luke waved at Marci. “Hey, lady. Two please.”

  “Iced coffee?” she asked as she grabbed a couple of menus.

  “Yeah.” Luke loved that she always knew. Iced coffee in the summer, latte in the winter.

  Temple cleared his throat. “Just water for me, please.”

  “Absolutely.” She sat them and handed over the menus, offering them a smile. “Two waters and an iced coffee, coming up.”

  “Thank you.” Temple gave her a smile before turning that smile on him.

  Luke added his thanks and turned back to Temple. “So. Are you looking for ink?”

  “I am. I have a milestone coming up to mark and today seemed like the right time to stop and look into getting it.”

  “Excellent.” He knew styles and temperaments, he could help out with steering Temple toward the right artist.

  “I wanted to talk to the artist, though. Tell them my
story, see what they think. The universe guided me here, so the right guy must be here.”

  “Oh, I understand that.” Not Donny. Absolutely not Donny. Maybe KT. Probably him over Bill.

  “Of course, maybe it was just leading me to you.” Offering him another smile, Temple touched the back of Luke’s hand, his finger dragging along it and leaving tingles behind.

  Luke tried to ignore the sensations and focus on what they were talking about. “I don’t ink people, honey. I’m a piercer.”

  “I didn’t mean as a tattoo artist.”

  Okay… What did that mean? “I don’t follow.”

  “You didn’t feel that spark?” Temple asked. “When we met? When we touched?”

  “You know I did. Static. Chemistry.” Something. He didn’t know the scientific explanation, but he was sure there was one.

  Temple smiled. “A promise of something deeper.”

  The drinks showed up just then. “Are you ready to order?” Marci asked as she set them down on the table.

  “I’m sorry, I haven’t looked yet.” Grinning, Temple opened the menu.

  “I’ll come back. No problem.”

  Luke didn’t have to look, so he just sipped his coffee, watching Temple. The guy perused the menu and when he closed it, Marci came back.

  “I’ll have the mixed salad, please. No dressing, no cheese.” Temple handed his menu back to her.

  A dry salad. God. Okay. He handed his own menu back, too. “Pancakes for me, honey.”

  “You got it.” She smiled warmly before heading back to the kitchen.

  “So what exactly does being a piercer mean you do, Luke?” Temple asked, those brown eyes warm as Temple looked at him like he was fascinating.

  “Today? Paperwork. Usually I do piercings—nipples, tongues, cocks, lips, whatever. I specialize in house calls.”

  “House call piercings,” Temple said the words slowly, like he was testing them. “That’s kind of amazing.”

  “You’d be surprised how many people like doing it in the privacy of their homes.” Who liked fucking immediately after and trusted him to give them their privacy and make a quick and quiet exit once he was done with his needles.