Gnarly

by Mickie B. Ashling

  “Jesus, Javi,” Ed said, holding him so tight he could hardly breathe. “I thought you’d drowned.”

  “No way,” Javi said.

  Ed held him back and inspected him closely. “Are you really okay?”

  “I swallowed some water but puked it up again, so I’m all good.”

  “You’re smiling like a fucking lunatic! Did you actually have fun almost drowning?”

  Javi wrapped his arms around Ed and sagged against him. “I had a blast, Edu. Thank you for giving me this option.”

  “I would have never forgiven myself if you had drowned.”

  “The good news is that my prosthesis worked fine and our experiment worked. A saltwater appetizer is a small price to pay.”

  Ed continued to hold him close.

  “Hey,” Iker said, acknowledging them both. “Is he okay?”

  “His sense of humor seems to be working just fine.”

  “I think I aged about ten years,” Iker said.

  “Good,” Javi remarked. “That’ll bring you closer to our age so people won’t think Ed and I are taking advantage of you.”

  “The salt water pickled your brain,” Iker said. “And for the record, you’re not allowed to drown on my watch.”

  “I promise not to do that again.”

  “Swim?” Iker asked, looking surprised. “I thought you had fun?”

  “I meant almost drown,” Javi replied. “Now that I’ve dipped my toes and taken the baby steps like my good doctor recommended, you’ll have a hard time keeping me out of the water.”

  “You don’t go anywhere near the ocean without Iker,” Ed said. “Swear to me, Javi. I’m not spending the next three months worrying about you.”

  “I promise not to do anything dumb,” Javi said.

  “That’s debatable.”

  “I’ll be good, Edu, and I’ll bring Iker along if I decide to do this again. For now, let’s scratch this off the list of personal challenges. Are you satisfied?”

  “Very, thank you. Can we go home now?”

  “Me too?” Iker said.

  “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 23

  AFTER THE day’s excitement, the guys felt entitled to some debauchery, especially as Ed was leaving in a week. Iker offered to pick up some pizza after stopping at his place to shower and change. Ed suggested they pop in at the bar to let Patxi know what had transpired at the beach before the gossips had a chance to spin the incident into something catastrophic. Javi, being who he was, had always been subject to scrutiny, and the town had been eagerly awaiting his return to surfing. Javi would bet money that his father already knew and was either jubilant or worried sick.

  When he and Ed walked into the bar, Patxi was behind the counter getting ready for the six o’clock rush, which wasn’t for another hour. He took in their attire and nodded.

  “So it’s true? You actually got in the water?”

  “Yes,” Javi replied.

  “Someone told me you had to be rescued by a lifeguard,” Patxi said. He was drying glasses and putting them up on the rack above his head, acting like he didn’t have a care in the world, but the slight wobble of his lip gave him away.

  Javi quickly went around the counter and gave him a fierce hug. “Iker was beside me the entire time, and he was still dressed in his lifeguard suit. That’s probably why they assumed I had to be rescued.”

  “Did you swim?” Patxi asked, sounding more excited now that his fear had been assuaged.

  “Just a little,” Javi said. “I’ll do more next time, but it’ll probably be in a local pool until the weather improves.”

  “Did your fake foot work okay?”

  “It worked fine, but I’m thinking of upgrading in the future. Something with fins.”

  “Get out of here,” Patxi said, laughing.

  “No joke, Aita. Ed said they make them for people who swim a lot.”

  Patxi shook his head in disbelief. “What’ll they think of next?”

  “Wings?”

  “Right? So, what are your plans for tonight?”

  “Hang out at my place.”

  “Do you need anything?” Patxi asked. “I’m pretty well-stocked on beer if you want to take a few six-packs.”

  “That would save me a trip to the store,” Javi said gratefully.

  “How about food?”

  “Nah, Iker’s bringing pizza.”

  “You’ll be hungry by midnight,” Patxi scoffed.

  “Then we’ll stop in for some pintxos.”

  “Follow me, Edu,” Patxi said, leading the way into the back room where they kept the supplies.

  As soon as the door swung shut, he seized Ed and wrapped him in a tight hug, thumping him on the back while saying thank you over and over.

  “Think nothing of it, Patxi.”

  “You’ve saved his life,” Patxi said emotionally. “If you hadn’t come back to San Sebastián, he’d still be in bed.”

  “I love him.”

  “Thank God.”

  Ed grinned. “I’m not sure what God has to do with it.”

  “He brought you here,” Patxi pronounced.

  “Whatever you say.”

  “I heard you were going back to Chicago soon.”

  “Yeah, I can’t put it off any longer.”

  Patxi looked serious. “Will you be back?”

  “I promise I’ll be here for the New Year’s celebration.”

  “See that you are,” Patxi said, frowning for effect.

  “Don’t worry,” Ed said. “Things are different this time.”

  Patxi bobbed his head and grabbed two six-packs. “Good. Take two more six-packs and let’s get out of here.”

  On their way home, several people stopped Javi, congratulating him for his successful day at the beach.

  “Sheesh,” Ed commented. “You can’t take a piss around here without the entire city being aware of it.”

  “It’s a small community, cariño, and people have known me since I was a kid.”

  “I better be on my best behavior, then,” Ed commented wryly. “Your father will gut me if I don’t come back.”

  “Did he threaten you?” Javi asked, amused.

  “He didn’t have to.”

  Javi was still laughing when they got into the elevator. Ed put the beer in the fridge and then followed Javi into the bedroom. He helped him remove the prosthesis, clean and dry the socket, put it back in the box, and acted as Javi’s crutch as they made their way into the bathroom.

  When Iker showed up, they were spread out on the sectional, beers in hand while porno streamed on the big screen.

  “Hey, not fair,” Iker said. “You started without me.”

  “No worries,” Ed said congenially. “We just turned on the show, but we’re too hungry to do anything about it. Let’s eat.”

  Iker had chosen three different toppings for the individualized pizzas, based on their requests. Chorizo for Javi, classic Margherita for Ed, and a meat-lovers for himself. They wolfed down their food, and after Iker had put the empty boxes in the trash, he rejoined them in the living room.

  Javi had his head on Ed’s lap, and the rest of him was stretched out on the sofa. Iker sat at the opposite end, closer to Javi’s feet.

  “I was wondering if you’d be interested in working at the bar now that your lifeguarding gig is over,” Javi began. “It’s about time Aita retires.”

  Iker turned to Javi in surprise. “What does Patxi think about this suggestion?”

  “I’m waiting for your reply before I broach the subject.”

  “What kind of salary are we talking about?”

  “Don’t worry about the money. You’ll make more than enough to live on.”

  Iker was silent for a while, and then he asked, “What about the surf shop?”

  “I’m not sure it’ll sustain us year-round,” Javi said. “We could make it a seasonal thing if the study comes back positive. Ed’s going to look into the numbers when he goes back to Chicago.”<
br />
  “I see,” Iker said quietly.

  “You don’t sound very enthusiastic,” Ed remarked.

  “It’s just that I wanted something of my own,” Iker said. “The bar belongs to the Elizaldes. I’ll always be an employee.”

  “Not necessarily,” Javi said.

  “How do you figure?” Iker asked.

  “My father has talked about selling before. He knows I’m not wholly invested in that place; on the other hand, I’d hate to see it fall into the hands of strangers. He might be open to the idea of selling you half ownership.”

  “Are you okay with that?” Iker asked, sounding a little more upbeat.

  “More than okay. I’m good with bartending and the PR stuff, but keeping the books and making sure we turn a profit isn’t my thing. Someone’s got to do it if we plan on sticking around.”

  “Then yes, I’m very interested. Will you talk to Patxi soon?”

  “Tomorrow,” Javi said. “Now, get naked so we can have some fun.”

  Iker grinned. “What did you have in mind?”

  In the weeks they’d been together, every variant on a three-way had been explored, except for one.

  Javi reached for Ed and pulled him down for a kiss. When they broke apart, he said, “I want to watch Iker fuck you.”

  Ed’s facial expression didn’t change, but blood rushed to his groin and his cheeks felt like they were on fire. He glanced at Iker to see if he was on board with Javi’s suggestion and wasn’t surprised that he’d already stripped. His damn cock, easily eight inches and wrist thick, was fully engaged. Thick blue veins showed through the taut skin, and a fat pearl of precum oozed from his slit.

  Ed tried to swallow, but his throat wouldn’t cooperate. He’d also been clenching his ass, dreading the burn but craving it at the same time. Thoughts of being stretched by that magnificent cock made him a little light-headed.

  “I’m going to need more liquid courage,” Ed said gruffly, lifting the longneck to his lips and taking a long pull.

  “You want us to start?” Javi asked helpfully.

  Ed nodded.

  Javi stretched his hand toward Iker, who pulled him into a sitting position. Lifting off his T-shirt, he tossed it over the back of the sofa. His sweats came next, and that was a simple matter of raising his ass while Iker stuck his hands in the elastic band and yanked them off. Javi hadn’t bothered with underwear, anticipating the after-dinner entertainment.

  When Iker dipped his head and took Javi into his mouth, Ed’s groan was louder than Javi’s. He watched with rapt attention as Javi arched his back off the sofa while Iker swallowed him inch by inch. His cheeks hollowed out as he began sucking with more force, and Javi grabbed fistfuls of Iker’s long hair as the pressure increased. By then Ed had removed his own clothes and was stroking himself in tandem with Iker’s bobbing head. Javi let out a grunt and began fucking Iker’s mouth frantically as the younger man hummed with pleasure. Within minutes Javi shouted and convulsed as he shot down Iker’s throat.

  Ed banked his fear and moved closer. Javi had already pulled out, and Iker looked punch-drunk, overflow coating his lips. Ed kissed him, licking up the remnants of Javi’s cum while Iker shuddered uncontrollably.

  Javi regained his senses and reached for the box of condoms, pulling out two of them. He rolled one on Ed and the other on Iker as they continued to kiss. When the prep was done, he nudged them apart to allow everyone to get into position.

  Ed felt like he was sleepwalking, and if this was a dream, he hoped to never wake up. He knelt between Javi’s spread-apart thighs and positioned the head of his cock at Javi’s hole. They were at one end of the sofa.

  “Ready?”

  “Wait until Iker gets into position behind you,” Javi said.

  Iker was already standing on the floor behind Ed. That way Javi wouldn’t be crushed by their combined weight. He grabbed the lube from Javi’s outstretched hand and smeared a generous amount between Ed’s asscheeks. Javi had already slicked up, and the only thing left to do was smear some lube on Ed’s cock, let him sink into Javi, wait a second, and then Iker could enter Ed.

  The first part was easy. Javi was primed, loose, and receptive after the blowjob had rendered him boneless. Ed glided in easily and bent to kiss Javi.

  “It’s going to be okay,” Javi whispered, seeing the look of apprehension on Ed’s face. “Exhale the moment he starts to push.”

  Iker stepped closer to the edge of the sofa and placed both hands on Ed’s hips. Javi had to raise his hips slightly so Ed wouldn’t slip out when he moved to accommodate Iker. Javi used his hands to support his hips, since he didn’t have his prosthesis in place and balancing on one foot wasn’t comfortable.

  “Are we good?” Iker asked.

  “Go,” Javi said.

  “Ed?” Iker asked.

  “I’m ready.”

  Ed stopped thinking and let his body take over. Being buried deep within Javi was intensely pleasurable, but everything shifted when Iker began to push. Ed expected to be stretched beyond his comfort zone, but the guy had applied a ton of lube, and Ed followed Javi’s advice and released a long breath as Iker slowly slid past the tight ring of muscle. Ed stopped moving inside Javi, closed his eyes, and leaned his head back as he adjusted to the burn. The three of them took a minute to relax and get used to the feel of their bodies working with one another.

  And then they got down to business and began to fuck in earnest. Ed started first, sliding in and out of Javi, which caused his own ass to move up and down Iker’s length. They fell right in sync, and soon they were pumping back and forth like they were one perfectly oiled piece of machinery.

  “Fuck, yeah,” Javi shouted triumphantly.

  “Jesus Christ,” Ed moaned, completely blown away by the dueling sensations. If he died right then, it would be a glorious way to go.

  “Ed,” Iker groaned from somewhere behind him. He was trying to nibble on Ed’s earlobe and bending over like a pretzel to do it, all the while thrusting in and out of him like a piston.

  “Guys, I’m gonna come,” Ed said in warning. Javi moaned and clamped inner muscles tightly around Ed’s cock, spurting cum in between their stomachs as he got off on Ed’s urgency. Ed couldn’t hold back after that, and he shuddered in Javi’s arms while Iker began thrusting wildly, grazing Ed’s prostate several times as he blew his load.

  Ed felt like he was riding tandem on a ten-foot wave, only they were a triad instead of a duo, going higher and higher until they could touch the sky. The pleasure was so intense he thought he’d pass out, but he hung on, clinging to his partners all the way to the finish. He sprawled on top of Javi after he came, and Iker joined them on the sofa. His smoldering body heat wrapped around them like a beach towel.

  “I love you,” Javi said.

  “Same here,” Ed replied.

  “Me too,” Iker said in a low voice. “You guys are the best.”

  Chicago, Illinois: December 2016

  Chapter 24

  ED TOOK one last look around his house to make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. Christmas ornaments and lights were boxed and put away for another year, the tree dutifully curbed for garbage pickup tomorrow. He’d packed whatever leftovers Aiden and Avery had requested to take back to college and the rest had been thrown out, along with the entire contents of his refrigerator. He was going to be gone for six weeks and didn’t relish the thought of coming back to a penicillin patch in his kitchen or fridge.

  December twenty-fifth had crept up on him with hardly any warning. After his return from San Sebastián in October, Ed had immediately booked his return flight. He’d be leaving O’Hare on the thirtieth of December, arrive in Madrid on the thirty-first and, after a two-hour layover, catch the commuter flight to San Sebastián the same day. If all went according to plan, he’d be back with his men in time for happy hour. When church bells rang at midnight, as they did every day on the hour, Javi and Iker would be in his arms to bring in 2017.

  Back in O
ctober he’d hit the ground running, catching up with work obligations and familial duties. The boys had come home for Thanksgiving, and they’d spent the day at Ed’s parents’ home. His mother and father had taken back the herculean task of hosting Thanksgiving dinner after Carol’s death, knowing Ed didn’t have the time or the enthusiasm to prepare a family holiday when one of their members had so recently passed. Thinking of their grandsons making do with pizza or Chinese food on such an iconic day made the elderly couple cringe. Ed had gladly given back the reins, especially when his father let it slip that they’d hired a cook to prepare the food.

  Christmas had come up during the meal, and it would have been the perfect time for Ed to announce his plans to return to Spain for another six weeks at the end of December. However, it would have opened up a discussion on the whys and wherefores, and he wasn’t prepared to deal with any of it. Not until he’d had a chance to explain everything to his boys first.

  Javi and Iker texted every day to keep him tethered to his other life, but as October turned to November, Ed started getting cold feet, which was exactly why he’d booked the nonrefundable ticket immediately. He knew he’d waver, not because he doubted his feelings for Javi and Iker, but he didn’t want his family to think he’d switched sides due to depression. Worse than that would be the disappointment on their faces when he explained his feelings had nothing to do with Carol’s death and everything to do with his newly discovered bisexuality. He’d always done the expected, been the dutiful son and father for as long as he could remember. Making such a radical change this late in life might be impossible to justify without a brilliant plan. And he was fresh out of ideas.

  In the interim, he’d hired a business consultant to work on a feasibility study for a surf shop in San Sebastián. If the numbers looked good, he’d take it another step, draw up an official business plan and fund the venture, giving all three of them equal shares. They could pay him back once the business got going. It would be a nice Christmas gift if he could pull it off in time.