by Christi Snow
Ryder threw up his hands with a laugh. “Okay, that’s it. I’ll meet you two at the car. Lock my door when you’re through groping.”
The sounds of low chuckles followed him out the door, but then things got noticeably quieter behind him. Ryder just shook his head.
Thank fuck he wasn’t the only person that would be on this flight with the two horny men. Seriously, he already knew way too much about their sex lives. Last year, he’d lived with the two of them for a few months after they’d first gotten together. He’d learned the hard way to listen at the door before stepping into any room in the house, including the laundry room and the garage. He was pretty sure they had christened every single room in Mac’s massive mansion.
They had been prepared, though. Condoms and lube had been stashed in every room in the house...something he’d also found out the hard way. Nothing like being excited to eat some leftover pizza and finding evidence in the utensil drawer that his brother and boyfriend sometimes got busy in front of the microwave. Eww.
But Ryder had taken that prep to heart for this trip and had made a drugstore run of his own, so he had supplies on hand.
Eventually, Mac and Tommy joined him in the hired car, and they made their way to the airport.
Their limo drove past the flight line guard after stopping and showing their IDs. It pulled right up to the rolling stairs nestled against the side of the corporate jet.
Ryder whistled. “Nice digs.”
Mac shrugged. “Hey, a guy only gets married once in his life, so some splurging is in order.” He winked salaciously at Tommy. “Wait until you see the hotel suites.”
“I can’t wait,” Tommy murmured. The two of them stayed back to supervise the limo driver unloading their luggage and participating in more PDAs.
Ryder shrugged on his backpack and headed up the stairs to the plane.
A flight steward greeted him, taking the camera backpack off his shoulder. “Welcome aboard. Would you like me to put this in an overhead compartment?” he asked with a polite, impersonal smile.
“Yes, that would be great.”
The attractive man nodded and turned to lift the bag into the storage by the door.
Ryder found himself looking at the guy’s very tight, high ass. Damn. For a fleeting moment, he wondered if the man was gay. That was a first for him. Interesting.
He turned to check out the plane and met Stig’s raised eyebrow. Ryder grinned at him, but instead of meeting his smile, Stig stared hard at the flight steward who had come up behind Ryder.
Ryder bit back his humor. This plan just might work. But before he could get caught up in all that, the luxurious décor of the airplane captured his attention. “Wow.”
He headed toward Stig as he sat with Emily in plush, white leather club chairs. He sat down in the chair between the two of them. “I don’t know if I can handle this kind of bourgeois mode of travel.” He trailed his hand over the supple leather. It had to be Italian, because it was buttery soft. “Damn, Mac went all out, didn’t he?”
“Thank fuck he made the New York Times bestseller list forty out of the last fifty-two weeks,” Emily said. As Mac’s agent/manager/best friend, she would definitely have a handle on how well Mac’s writing career was going. “Our boy’s bank account has to be weeping after this extravagance.”
Ryder hazarded another glance at Stig. The gallery owner had dressed to match the décor. He wore a bespoke suit most days for work, so Ryder was used to seeing him like this, but dressed like that in the midst of this over the top luxury? Ryder’s mouth watered.
Ryder distracted himself by watching the doorway. He wanted to see Tommy’s reaction to the plane. Tommy had dated Mac for almost a year now, so he had gotten somewhat used to the fact that Mac had money, but having grown up with a struggling, single mother, this was way beyond their normal experience.
“Forget him,” Stig growled, referring to the male flight attendant. “If you decide to explore this attraction for men, the only man in your bed will be me.”
“Hmm.” Ryder didn’t correct his assumption as he spoke in a low tone. “We’ll see.”
When Stig made an extremely unhappy sound under his breath, he bit the inside of his cheek. This was going to be fun. Jealous was a good look for Stig.
But before he could enjoy it anymore, the happy couple crossed the threshold of the plane. Tommy’s mouth dropped open as he stepped inside, and he did a full spin, taking in the half circle of leather chairs, the large, matching leather sofa, the big screen TV on the back wall, and the overall chrome and glitz of the entire interior.
Tommy turned to Mac, standing behind him, and he shook his head. “Mac, this is too much, but I love it. Wow. Thank you.”
They kissed. Emily sighed from her seat beside Ryder and grabbed his hand. “Right now, it’s romantic. I’m guessing in another hour I’ll feel a bit ill with all the romantic bullshit, but for now, I’m happy for them.”
“Maybe we should cool it at least for takeoff.” Mac looked over Tommy’s shoulder with a smirk and a wink. “We can’t have our guests leaving before we even take off. Come on.” Mac pulled Tommy to the sofa.
Both Stig and Emily stood to greet the couple. Ryder stayed seated and watched the group dynamic. Emily was blonde, slim, and put together in that way women with money had. If he didn’t know better, he’d guess she spent most her days at the spa rather than wheeling and dealing with hard-nosed publishing giants.
Her tall stiletto heels made her as tall as Tommy, and the spikes on those things would probably cause a TSA-level incident if she were traveling commercial. They could definitely qualify as a deadly weapon. But she stood on them without a single wobble or wince. It was an impressive skill.
Stig stood back while Emily effused over the couple, waiting his turn. From this angle, Ryder could see that Stig’s jaw was clenched. Why? He’d like to think it was lingering jealousy over the flight attendant, but the more likely culprit was jealousy over the whole reason for this trip. It was no secret among any of them that Stig hadn’t handled his breakup with Mac well. Ryder had hoped he’d recovered from that, but maybe not. Now that knot of jealousy settled in Ryder’s gut, and he didn’t like it. Not one little bit.
Stig turned and caught Ryder watching him. Stig smiled and winked at him, a cocky action that fit the man who he’d had gotten to know the last few weeks. That eased a little of the tightness in his chest.
Before Stig could engage with Tommy and Mac, the flight attendant came back to the cabin. “If everyone will sit down, the pilot would like to begin taxiing. Once we take off, I’ll open the champagne.”
Stig and Emily sat back in the chairs flanking him. Stig subtly ran his hand across Ryder’s arm as he fastened his seatbelt. If anyone had been watching, they couldn’t have missed the deliberate motion, but no one paid them any mind. Ryder met Stig’s dark eyes, and his mouth went dry. Damn. His jeans were suddenly uncomfortably tight. It was going to be a long flight.
Thirty minutes later, they were at cruising altitude. Champagne had been drunk, although Ryder had passed. He wouldn’t do anything this trip that might jeopardize his physical abilities. Emily had slipped on a pair of sunglasses and drifted off to sleep. Mac and Tommy had mysteriously disappeared, and the flight attendant was in the kitchen area doing...something.
“You doing okay?” Stig asked.
Ryder hated that his physical limitations had been so present over the last few weeks that Stig’s first thought when it came to him was how he felt. “Yeah, I’m feeling really good. Ready to get there.” He watched Stig. “I’m looking forward to tomorrow after the wedding.”
Stig just nodded and looked out the window.
***
Stig
They disembarked from the plane, and Stig clenched his jaw as the flirty flight attendant gave Ryder’s arm an extra squeeze.
“It was very nice taking care of you today. Enjoy your stay in Vegas.” The attendant winked at Ryder. “I’m supposed to be o
n the crew for your return flight. I look forward to seeing you again.”
Ryder’s eyes widened comically. He must have finally got that the man was hitting on him, even though he’d had been eye-fucking the attendant earlier like he was the last man on Earth. “Um, thanks. We’ll...um...see you in a couple of days.”
Oh, holy hell. Ryder had no game at all when it came to sexual interactions. But that didn’t seem to put the attendant off at all. Stig proprietarily placed his hand at the small of Ryder’s back and scowled at the slut with a clear message of mine, stay away.
The attendant’s eyes widened in surprise, and he gave a subtle nod.
Luckily, Mac and Tommy were in a sexed-out haze after their “visit” to the back of the plane. Thank fuck, plane engines were loud. Mac had never been a quiet lover, and Stig doubted that had changed. While he liked the two men together, he sure as hell didn’t want to listen to them have sex.
Emily, on the other hand, was fully aware of everything happening around her. She chuckled under her breath behind him. He turned around to look at her. She glanced down pointedly at Stig’s hand still on Ryder’s back.
So sue him. He liked it there, and it gave him an extra reassurance that Ryder wouldn’t stumble on the way to the waiting limo. It was simply a safety precaution.
She raised an eyebrow in challenge, and he could hear her unspoken words. Liar. That touch was so much more than just support. It was everything. Everything he wanted but couldn’t have. Everything forbidden. But yet, he still couldn’t manage to convince himself to pull his hand away. It felt too right being there at the small of Ryder’s back.
But then they were at the air stairs, and he had no choice. The Vegas heat hit him with a shock. While Stig knew it would be warmer in Vegas, he still hadn’t expected it. He shed his suit coat. The limo waited for them at the base, and within a few minutes, they had all piled in and were on the way into the city.
Stig tried to ignore the scent of sex wafting off Mac and Tommy. Hell, with the looks they kept giving one another, the rest of them in the limo were lucky not to be getting a show right now.
“So, what’s the agenda?” Stig asked.
Mac finally pulled his gaze from Tommy’s to look at him in confusion. When Mac didn’t say anything, he sighed. “Are we going to have to separate the two of you until the wedding? Sex is addling your brain.” He shook his head at the two men.
Tommy blushed, but Mac shrugged, not embarrassed in the least. “Hey, what do you expect? We’re getting married.” Mac spread his palm high on Tommy’s thigh, and Tommy visibly stiffened, his reaction filled with arousal and the promise of sex.
“The rest of us don’t need the influx of pheromones, though,” Emily said drolly. “In fact, it’s really kind of mean to rub our faces in the fact that we aren’t having sex like some people.” She waved her hand in the direction of the happy couple. “So back to Stig’s original point. What’s the plan? Because right now, you two need a shower, so I hope the hotel is first.”
Tommy sat up and pulled Mac’s hand off his thigh, threading their fingers together. “Sorry. Yes, we’re going to check into our hotel.” He glanced down at his watch. “We have an appointment at the tailor’s for our tux alterations in an hour and a half. You plan to shop while we’re doing that, right?” Tommy focused his attention on Emily.
“Yes, I brought a dress that will work, but I might find something better. I’m willing to at least try.”
“Your sacrifice is duly noted,” Mac said facetiously. “I know how hard it is on you to shop.” He looked pointedly at her head-to-toe designer attire.
Emily nodded. “It is difficult, especially when you’re footing the bill.” She winked at him.
Ryder had been suspiciously quiet during the exchange, although Stig had been very aware of the heat coming off the man to his side. He glanced over at him now. Ryder met his gaze with a half smile.
“Do you have anything to add to this?” Stig asked him.
Ryder shook his head. “Nope. As long as I don’t have to hear about my brother’s sex life anymore, I’m good with going along with whatever you all decide.”
The limo halted in the circle drive of a massive, sky rise hotel. The five of them slid out of the back.
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” Emily said as she shrugged out of her suit jacket to reveal a lacy camisole underneath. “Maybe I should start wintering in Vegas. This is much better than snow and sleet.”
“But who would ride my ass to keep me on track with my deadlines?” Mac asked.
Emily laughed as Tommy grabbed said ass. “I think your fiancé wants to claim that job.”
Mac smiled and kissed Tommy again. “Unfortunately, he’s a bad influence when it comes to my ass and staying on deadline.”
“Awe, come on,” Ryder whined. “I didn’t sign up for this trip so I could be informed non-stop about my brother’s sex life. No more sex talk from the two of you.” He pointed at the two men.
“Sorry, Ry.” Tommy looked chagrined, but if anything, he appeared cozier as he stepped into Mac’s hold. “Let’s go get everyone checked in.”
Mac and Tommy went inside to check them in while the other three of them watched the bellhops and limo driver get their luggage out of the trunk. Ryder gazed around the opulent entrance with a bit of awe.
Stig stepped over to him. “You’ve never been to Vegas, have you?”
Ryder shook his head. “No, and I totally want to do the tourist thing and pull out my camera to start capturing images.”
Stig laughed. “For you, that’s not a tourist thing, but an art thing. There’s a difference, so I say do it. No one in this group will have an issue with it.”
Ryder focused on Stig. “Seriously? You think it’d be okay?”
“I know it would.”
Ryder dug into his camera bag and wandered off, shooting the details of the hotel. Stig loved watching him move when he had a camera in his hand. He was so sure and confident behind the lens.
“Be careful,” Emily whispered. “Your crush is showing.”
Stig considered it for a moment, worried about Ryder’s older, protective brother catching on, but Tommy and Mac were so caught up in one another, they could have an earthquake and they probably wouldn’t notice.
“Not that I blame you.” Emily put her hand on her hip while she focused on Ryder. “He’s a beautiful specimen. Too bad he’s too young for me.”
Stig snorted. “You’re what? Maybe thirty?”
She sighed. “I do love it when you flatter me so needlessly. Sure, we can go with that number.”
Stig had no idea how old she really was, but he’d guess it to be close to his age. Another reason he needed to stay away from Ryder, because she was right. Ryder needed someone closer to his own age.
But Emily might make a good partner in this quest. She was at least straight, and her being female might help him on his mission. “I’ve promised to help him find a woman on this trip. Think you might be interested in helping me?”
She turned to face him fully now, her expression drawn into a deep frown. “What? I know what I said, but I was just kidding. I thought...” She tilted her head at him. “I could have sworn,” she said slowly as if not sure what she could say. “I thought there were some certain vibes between the two of you. What do you mean, find him a woman? He looks at you like he wants to eat you up. Why aren’t you giving him the spoon?”
Stig’s body tensed at the hope of those words, but that’s all they were...words. He shook his head. “No, he’s inexperienced, doesn’t know what he wants. He’s straight. I’m just pushing him gently in the right direction.”
Her scowl deepened even farther. “That sounds extremely judgmental and homophobic of you. Hell, Stig, why can’t he be interested in you? I know Mac did a number on you, but you’re a great catch. Ryder could do a lot worse.”
“No.” He slashed his hand in the air. “You’re not getting it.”
“Obviou
sly not. Maybe you should explain it to me.”
He glanced around to make sure Ryder was out of earshot. He’d stepped out from under the portico. The sunlight threaded through his blond hair and highlighted the strong muscles of his arms. In the desert heat, Ryder had stripped down to just his T-shirt, leaving Stig’s mouth watering.
Emily snorted at his obvious distraction. “I’m not seeing anything to explain why you’re not hitting that. You obviously want him.”
Stig pushed down the panic trying to worm its way through his gut. His resistance was already at an all-time low. He couldn’t listen to Emily pushing him toward what he wanted so much.
“Yes, I do, but more than that.” Stig swallowed against the lump in his throat. “I care about him. I’m pretty sure he’s very inexperienced if not a complete virgin. He’s just horny and needs an outlet. I’ll find him a woman on this trip, it will all straighten out in his mind, and we can settle back into being friends.”
“You’re an idiot.” Emily shook her head, her mouth pressed into a firm line. “Just because he doesn’t have experience doesn’t mean that he doesn’t know what he wants and feels for you. And if you’re underestimating him so much then you’re right, you’re not the right guy for him. He’d be better off finding someone else, and you’ll be in for a shock when you find him on the arm of another man.”
Nausea churned in Stig’s stomach at the thought. No, he couldn’t see Ryder with another man. He could barely imagine him with a woman, but to see Ryder with a man would kill him.
At that moment, Ryder turned toward the two of them with a huge smile. There was so much life and buoyancy in that expression, it lit him up inside. Was Emily right? Could he be misjudging this situation that badly?
Ryder began walking toward them. He had his cane, but was barely using it today. Stig couldn’t remember a time when Ryder had appeared to feel this good. He hoped the good health lasted through the whole weekend. But again, it made him wonder about that clinic in St. Louis. Was it possible to help Ryder feel this good all the time?
