Should he give them their presents today? Would he see them again before Christmas? Would he ever see them again? He hated not knowing where this was going or when it would end.
His phone rang, interrupting his overthinking.
It was Maggie.
“Hello?”
“Hey there. You ready for your date?”
“It’s not a date.”
She huffed. “Two men you’re involved with asked you to see a play with them. That is, in fact, a date.”
“No. Two men I’m casually sleeping with had an extra ticket and needed to give it to someone.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Maggie, I told you I can’t let myself start thinking—”
“You can give yourself permission to want something, to need something.”
No, he really couldn’t. “Not when the chances of having it are so small.”
“How do you know that?”
Maggie sounded so exasperated, but she just didn’t understand. “Because they’re together. They have been for years and…”
“And they date other people. You’re making assumptions about what they want.”
“How pathetic would it be for me to ask for more?”
She sighed. “Oh, J. I wish you saw how wonderful you are.”
“You make it sound like I have no self-esteem. I’m good at things, sex included.”
“TMI.”
“Ha! But I don’t want to set myself up for a broken heart.”
After a few seconds of silence, Maggie said, “You can’t know what they want if you don’t ask.”
“I—”
“Besides, you’re already setting yourself up. You fall fast and hard. It’s your nature.”
“But I swore I’d get better.”
Maggie made an annoyed sound. “There’s no better or worse. There are just many different kinds of relationships.”
“When you want a one-off and you fall in love in thirty seconds, it’s a problem. Trust me.”
“It can be, or it could be the perfect start to what you’ve always wanted.”
Jonathan glanced at the presents in their shiny silver paper. Could it?
“At least think about talking to them.”
“Fine. I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
He meant it; he really did. He should ask Ace and Gavin where they saw this going, but if they saw it going nowhere, he’d have to end it to protect what was left of his heart. So maybe not knowing for a little bit longer would be okay.
He took the presents and placed them under the tree. He’d see Ace and Gavin again, and if not, well, he could return the packages or keep them as a reminder not to jump in over his head before he knew what was in the water.
***
“That might be the best version of A Christmas Carol I’ve ever seen,” Jonathan said when the actors had finished their final bow. “I love how truly Victorian it felt.”
“Not much for modernizations?” Ace asked.
“I’m fine with them for some plays, but this one I want full-on Victorian goodness.”
“I agree,” Gavin said. “Spooky, foggy Christmas as Dickens meant it to be.”
Ace snorted.
“Didn’t you enjoy it?” Jonathan asked.
“I did, but I don’t think I feel the passion for it that you two do.”
“He’s not really a fan of Dickens,” Gavin said in a low voice as if announcing something truly tragic.
“Then why see the play?”
“Because he is,” Ace said, tilting his head toward Gavin. “And it’s a Christmas tradition. I used to go with my grandparents every year.”
“Ah. Traditions like that really do become ingrained.”
“Yeah, they do,” Gavin agreed.
“Making new ones can be nice too,” Ace said.
Jonathan couldn’t read his expression. It was almost wistful, but that wasn’t a word anyone would normally use to describe Ace.
“You mean like making cookies together even though you don’t usually want me in the kitchen?” Gavin asked.
“Yeah, like that.” Ace grimaced, but he looked like he was trying not to crack up.
Jonathan should have known they meant traditions for two, but for just a moment… No, stop thinking about anything but today.
“Anyway, I really enjoyed the play. Thanks again for inviting me.”
“Sure,” Gavin said. “I think it’s obvious we like spending time with you.”
Heat crept into Jonathan’s face. “Well, I know you enjoy…you know…but…” Damn, he was making a fool of himself.
Gavin smiled. “We enjoy you out of bed too.”
“You’re coming home with us,” Ace said.
Gavin slapped his arm. “You could ask, you know?”
They both looked at Jonathan. “I… Yeah, I’d like that.”
Gavin smiled and brushed a hand along his arm. “Good. We would too.”
***
When they were all three in Gavin and Ace’s house, Ace ushered them into the bedroom and turned J to face him.
“You said you might eventually let me restrain you. How are you feeling about that now?”
J’s eyes widened, and Ace very deliberately let his gaze drop to J’s crotch. Part of him was interested, at least.
“I…” J paused and licked his lips. “I think I’d like that.”
Ace smiled. “Good. You loved teasing Gavin while he watched us. Would you like to be the one forced to watch this time?”
J sank his teeth into his lower lip. “Um…yeah. That…that sounds hot.”
Gavin moved behind him, gripped his waist, and leaned in close. “I love the thought of you watching me and then fucking me afterward.”
J made a sound much like a whimper, and Ace’s cock liked it very much.
“Ever since you mentioned restraints”—Ace paused to nibble J’s neck—“I’ve been thinking about you with cuffs around your wrists.”
“He loves topping bossy guys.” Gavin spoke with his lips against J’s ear, but his gaze met Ace’s.
“I love topping you too,” Ace said, wanting to make sure Gavin never forgot that.
“I know.” Gavin waved away his comment. “But that is a thing for you.”
“Yeah, it kind of is.” He caught J’s gaze, loving the way his eyes widened.
“Um… I’m okay with my wrists being cuffed, but I’m not sure—”
“We aren’t going to do anything you aren’t comfortable with,” Ace assured him. “If you change your mind, this can wait or never happen at all.”
“No, I… I want this. I just don’t want to be fully restrained like Gavin was.”
Ace leaned in and kissed him then. J seemed startled at first. Then he opened to the kiss, sliding his tongue along Ace’s, shivering when Ace sucked his bottom lip. By the time Ace pulled back, he no longer saw any of the tension J had been holding in his shoulders.
“Strip and get on the bed,” Ace said, voice low. J nodded as he began to undo the buttons on his shirt. “Gavin, you strip too, and then get the cuffs.”
“Yes,” Gavin said. “I’m so ready.”
Ace watched as J quickly divested himself of his clothes. He’d enjoyed the times he and Gavin had brought another man to bed, but none of those experiences had ever been this hot. J meshed with them so well—his desires, the way he seemed to know exactly what each of them liked, and the fact that he was easy to talk to. Usually things felt a bit awkward with another man in bed, especially post-sex, but with J, they’d all clicked immediately.
When J had stretched out on his back, Ace raked his gaze over him, knowing J was watching.
“I could get very used to seeing you like this.”
“Yeah?” J asked.
Ace nodded as he took the cuffs from Gavin and laid a heavy hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “On your knees. Right here.” He pointed to the floor near the end of the bed, where J would easily be able to watch. Gavin obeyed. He
even clasped his hands behind his back. “Damn, it’s hot seeing you like that.”
“Yeah, it is,” J agreed.
Ace pulled one of J’s arms up and fastened one of the cuffs around his wrist. “You okay? That’s not too tight, is it?”
J swallowed hard. “Um…”
“Look at me,” Ace insisted. J did. His eyes were dark, his pupils dilated. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Yes, I… I like it, but I always want to struggle.”
“It’s fine with me if you do, but I need to know if you really want to get free. Do you have a safe word?”
“Nothing fancy. I just use ‘red.’”
“Okay, say it if you want me to release you.”
J nodded, and Ace cuffed his other wrist.
“Okay?”
J licked his lips. “Yeah.”
“Good. Now I want you to keep your eyes on me and Gavin while he sucks my cock.”
J made a sound between a sigh and a whimper.
“I want you to imagine it’s you he’s sucking. Think about how good his mouth feels wrapped around your cock, how he can take you all the way down.”
“Fuck.”
Ace glanced down and smiled. J’s cock was already dripping precome onto his stomach. “It won’t be easy to wait until I’m done with him, will it?”
“N-no.”
“But you will,” Ace purred. “Because you don’t have a choice.”
J groaned. “Gavin’s right. You’re an evil bastard.”
“That I am.”
Ace pulled his sweater over his head and tossed it on a chair. Then he unbuckled his pants and shoved them and his briefs to the floor. Once he was completely naked, he walked over to Gavin and stood just in front of him, his cock almost touching Gavin’s face. Gavin held his position and gazed up.
“You want this, don’t you?” Ace stroked his cock. “You want to suck it. You want me to come down your throat.”
Gavin nodded. “Yes. Please.”
“Open up.” Gavin did, and Ace pushed into his mouth.
The heat of Gavin’s mouth felt so good, and after so much time together, he knew exactly what Ace needed. He glanced over at J. He was watching them, but Ace couldn’t read the expression on his face.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. Just… Yes.”
Ace accepted his answer and pushed deeper into Gavin, holding his head and forcing him to take the entire length. When he knew Gavin was desperate for air, he pulled back. “Fuck, that’s hot.”
“More,” Gavin begged.
Ace thrust harder this time. Gavin sputtered, but he didn’t pull away.
“Relax and take it,” Ace demanded. He worked himself in and out with long, careful thrusts.
A rattling sound broke his concentration, and he glanced at the bed. J was pulling on his bonds hard. He looked afraid.
“J?”
“I… Red. I want to stop.”
Ace raced to the bed and undid the cuffs as fast as he could.
Gavin joined him and helped J sit up. “Do you need something? Are you okay?” Gavin sounded as upset as J did.
“I… No… I’m sorry.” He looked away.
Ace was leery of reaching for him when he seemed so spooked, but he wanted—needed—to know what was wrong.
“I’m sorry if I pushed you,” he said. “Please tell us what’s wrong.”
“It’s not you. I thought I would like it, but…”
“Talk to us,” Gavin said. “We want to understand so we don’t—”
“It’s the way you looked together, so in sync, such a perfect couple, and I…I felt left out.”
His words cut right through Ace. That was the last thing he’d meant to do, but now he could see why the whole setup had been a bad idea. He laid a hand on J’s shoulder. J didn’t pull away, so Ace stroked his back.
“Can I hold you?” Gavin asked.
“I should probably just go.” J sounded achingly sad.
“Please don’t,” Ace said. “We didn’t mean to hurt you. We both want you.”
Gavin opened his arms, and J let him pull him in. He laid his head on Gavin’s shoulder.
Ace slid from the bed long enough to dim the lights. Then he snuggled against J’s back and pulled the covers over them.
“We don’t have to do anything but this,” he said.
Gavin hugged J tighter. “That’s right.”
“But this isn’t what you—”
Ace shook his head. “It doesn’t matter what we originally wanted. This is what you need now.”
“We want you here, with us. We didn’t mean…” Gavin’s words trailed off, and Ace thought he saw the sheen of tears in his eyes. Please don’t let this night end in disaster.
“I feel like I fucked everything up.” J’s voice was barely a whisper.
“No. Doing something you weren’t comfortable with would’ve fucked this up. Telling us how you felt was perfect.”
Ace wrapped his arms around both J and Gavin and held them tightly.
“Thank you,” J said.
Gavin kissed J’s head, and Ace stroked Gavin’s arm. “I love you,” he mouthed, and Gavin smiled.
“What time do you need to leave in the morning to get back to your apartment and be at work on time?” Ace asked.
“I… Are you sure it’s okay for me to stay?”
“We want you to stay,” Gavin said.
“Six thirty. That should give me enough time.”
Ace set the alarm on his phone. “There. Now relax. We’re right here.”
Before long, both J and Gavin had drifted to sleep, but Ace stayed awake for a long time, thinking about exactly where they were all headed.
CHAPTER SEVEN
When the alarm went off the next morning, Gavin was disoriented at first. Then he realized the body he was wrapped around was Jonathan. Ace wasn’t in bed. He often woke up early, though, so that wasn’t unusual. Gavin lay still and listened. Ah, yes, he could hear sounds that indicated Ace was in the kitchen, hopefully cooking breakfast.
He shook Jonathan gently. “Time to wake up?”
“W-what?”
“It’s Monday, and we’ve got to get you fed and off to your apartment.”
“Ugh.”
Gavin nodded. “Yeah. Take your shower in here. I’ll grab my things and use the guest one.”
“No, you don’t have to—”
Gavin kissed the top of his head. “I insist.”
Jonathan smiled at him sleepily. “Thanks.” It was all Gavin could do not to reach for him and make them both late.
By the time he and Jonathan were showered and dressed—Gavin in a suit and Jonathan in what he’d worn the night before—Ace had a frittata ready to feed them.
“You didn’t have to make breakfast,” Jonathan said.
Ace gave him a quick kiss. “I wanted to. I wasn’t going to send you off hungry.”
Gavin loved watching the two of them. He hoped everything was okay between them now. The night before he’d been scared Jonathan would walk away and not come back.
Ace set plates down in front of them, then joined them at the table.
When they’d almost finished eating, Ace reached for Jonathan’s hand. “I want to apologize again for not thinking how last night might make you feel. If you need to talk more… If you’re still…”
Jonathan smiled. “Thank you. I didn’t know it would make me feel that way either. I’m fine now. I promise.”
Gavin took hold of Ace’s hand. “We care about you, and we want to see you again.” He hoped he hadn’t gone too far in saying that. He glanced at Ace, but he was watching Jonathan.
“We’re having a Christmas party next Saturday,” Ace said. “We want you to come.”
Jonathan frowned. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, me meeting your friends and all.”
Ace looked at Gavin, and Gavin nodded, hoping he understood the unspoken question.
“Most of the f
riends who’ll be there know we see other people,” Ace said. “And the ones who don’t…” He shrugged. “They can think whatever they want about us.”
“What should they think? What is that exactly?” Jonathan looked from one of them to the other.
Gavin’s heart pounded so hard, he thought he might pass out. He wasn’t ready to answer that question.
Ace spoke first. “A lot more than three guys trying to spice up their sex lives. Other than that, I’m not sure any of us have decided.”
“I didn’t mean to push. I don’t really need an answer, but—”
“No,” Gavin said. “It’s a good question. We need to talk.”
“But not now.” Ace let go of Jonathan’s hand and pushed his chair back from the table. “We don’t want to make you late for work.”
Jonathan nodded. “We probably all need to think about it, but the party…”
“There’ll be lots of cookies,” Gavin said. He wasn’t sure why it mattered so much that Jonathan be there, but it did.
“You could come over early and help us bake,” Ace added.
“Yeah?” Jonathan asked.
Ace nodded.
Jonathan still looked a bit unsure but finally said, “Your kitchen is so much nicer than the one at my apartment, and I’d love to bake with you.”
Gavin punched Ace’s arm. “He wants you for your mixer.” He looked at Jonathan and held his hand to his mouth like he was telling a secret. “That happens a lot.”
Jonathan laughed, his tension seeming to ease. “Okay, I’ll come.”
“Good.”
They walked Jonathan to the door, and he gave each of them a hug before he left.
“We need to talk,” Ace said.
Gavin nodded. “After work?”
“Yeah, because you’re about to be late.”
“Shit!” Gavin grabbed his briefcase and was out the door in time to see Jonathan’s car as it turned the corner.
***
That night, Gavin was home before Ace, which was rare. He changed out of his suit and poured himself a glass of Scotch. A few moments later, he heard Ace’s truck pull into the driveway, so he poured one for Ace too.
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