Middleman

by Jayne Rylon

  “Uh, not exactly. Kind of.” I shrug.

  “Are they trying to get you back?” He bites his lip.

  “Nothing like that.”

  “Then what?” he asks.

  I rub my palm over my face. “They want to talk to me about being a trainer, okay? I have to run over there quick and hear them out. Then I’ll politely decline. I’m coming right back. I swear.”

  “You won’t be tempted to leave again?” His worry improves my chances of talking them into letting me stay after this last bit of business is taken care of. The weak part of me, the one that has never wanted something as badly as I would like them in my life, urges me to test the waters.

  “Does that mean you’d be upset if I didn’t hang around?” I take a small step closer to him, definitely coming on to him.

  “You’re unbelievable.” He shocks the shit out of me when he puts his hands on my chest and shoves. “If you make the same fucking mistake you made before, there’s no undoing that. Haven’t you learned anything? It would kill Kaden if you left again right after he’s let you back in. Don’t do that to him. I love him too much to let you mess with him like that.”

  I hold his gaze. “I’m asking about you. Would you be relieved if I left so you could have him all to yourself again?”

  Rogan tries to evade my piercing stare. I won’t let him. I clasp his shoulders in my hands and force him to look at me. “You know I wouldn’t. I—I’m starting to have feelings for you too. Come back, Santiago, and I’ll beg Kaden to let us be together. The three of us. Fully this time. Not just you with him and him with me, but all of us. Together.”

  “I’d like that more than you know.” I can’t help but gather him in my arms. I didn’t mean to scare him. Once he’s there, it’s impossible not to steal a single perfect kiss.

  Our first kiss.

  I frame his face and hold him still as I direct the action. That way if Kaden objects, it’s entirely my fault. Our kiss is sweet and spicy, tender yet full of angst. It goes on forever. Finally, I nibble on his lower lip, then pull back just enough to make sure he understands what I’m about to say. “You’ve got to trust me, okay?”

  Rogan nods, if a little slower than I’d like.

  “Everything is going to be okay. I’m coming back and I will make this right for all three of us. I swear.”

  “What should I tell Kaden?” he wonders breathlessly.

  “Probably best if you stick with the lunch story. I’ve seen you dancing around that boardroom, remember? Your poker face is better than I’d prefer for one of my boyfriends. If…if that’s what we’re going to be. Just this once, use it to your advantage.”

  Rogan curses, then walks away. “You owe me one.”

  “I’ll make it up to you tonight.” I hope he can hear the sinful intent in that promise.

  I mean it exactly how it sounds.

  35

  Rogan

  “What do you mean he left?” Kaden practically shrieks at me as he waves a paintbrush in the air.

  “He went to pick up some Chinese food.”

  Kaden’s face falls. He throws a sheet over the painting he’s been working on. The one he won’t show me. Then he marches toward the hallway. “Bullshit.”

  How does he know?

  “Uh…”

  “Rogan, you might be able to fool some people. Not me. Where did he really go?” Figures I can’t sneak anything past him. He knows me too damn well.

  “To talk to his old bosses. To turn down a job as one of their trainers.”

  Kaden’s paintbrush snaps in half. Disgusted, he drops the pieces to the floor, splattering more paint over the concrete. To be honest, you can’t really tell among the layers of colorful drips surrounding his work area. “This is exactly why I didn’t want to fuck him again.”

  “Seriously? No one twisted your dick. You wanted to fuck him. You can lie to yourself, but you won’t lie to me.” I glare at his back.

  “No. I mean. Yes. I needed to do it. But I didn’t want to. Because I knew this would happen.”

  “He said he’s coming right back. He swore it.”

  “I don’t believe him.”

  I approach Kaden carefully and wrap my arms around him from behind. “Did he lie last time? No. He was upfront with you. Why assume differently now?”

  “Because his priorities haven’t changed. Saving the world comes before his own happiness. And ours.” He sounds like he might fall apart. Or start breaking more stuff. “They’ll convince him to go. Hell, he’s already gone. I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

  Holy fuck. Kaden is spiraling downward right in front of my eyes. If I ever needed confirmation that he’s madly in love with Santiago, here it is. The moment Santiago comes home, I need to talk to them both and convince them he should stay.

  For their sakes. And mine.

  I can’t bear to watch either of them tormented like this.

  “Well, isn’t this a quaint scene?” The hair on the back of my neck stands up in response to the familiar and very out of place voice. It doesn’t belong here in this new world I’m building for myself.

  “Ronaldo?” When I turn, it’s to stare down the barrel of a gun. What the fuck? How did he get in? Santiago would never have left without double and triple checking that the locks were set. But when I look, the front door of the gallery is standing ajar. Why didn’t we at least hear those cute bells Kaden had hanging on the front door?

  “Hello again, my dear.”

  Kaden steps in front of me. Despite my attempts to shove him out of the line of fire, he won’t budge. “There’s money in the safe. Let me get you some so you can buy a one-way ticket out of here. Away from the fuck-ton of trouble you’re going to be in if you hang around.”

  I don’t even try to stop him. Money is nothing compared to Kaden’s safety.

  “No thanks.” Ronaldo grins. “I’d much rather take you. You’re worth a hell of a lot more to Rogan than whatever you have on hand. Besides, I might get a few decent fucks out of the deal. I always did like the way you looked on Cortez’s arm.”

  He waves the gun toward the door. No one moves.

  “If you don’t start walking, I’m going to put a hole in your boyfriend. Shame, too, since Rogan’s pretty damn good at taking it up the ass himself.”

  Kaden growls. I put my hand on his shoulder to keep him from lunging at Ronaldo, who’s clearly escalated from douchebag to psycho.

  “I know what you like better,” I try. “Take me instead. Kaden has access to my accounts. He’ll do whatever you ask and I’ll keep you entertained in the meantime.”

  Kaden whips around to glare at me. “Like fucking hell you will.”

  “Sorry, Rogan. Those days are over. I was bored of you anyway. Need to shake it up a little.” Ronaldo wiggles the gun at Kaden, making me terrified he’s going to shoot him by accident, if not on purpose. “Let’s go. Now. Before Cortez gets back.”

  “Too late, fuckface.” Santiago comes barreling through the door along with a second man, who’s dressed entirely in black. I only catch a glimpse of him. What I do see is James Bond-worthy. If I wasn’t terrified for Kaden and Santiago’s safety, I might have appreciated him more.

  It’s over before it begins.

  Ronaldo’s gun is skidding across the floor. Santiago’s backup lifts it between gloved fingers and drops it in a plastic bag. In the two seconds it takes him to wrap it up, Santiago has Ronaldo slammed to the ground with his arms behind his back.

  His treatment is rougher than entirely necessary. He glances at me. Without him saying a word, I understand that’s payback for my broken arm.

  “Cortez, I called this in to the cops. Here’s the gun. I’ve emailed you the recordings of this shitbag’s attempted kidnapping. That should do it, right?” the man in black asks.

  “Yeah, get out of here before they show up and you have to explain where you came from. Appreciate it.”

  “Any time. We’ll miss you. You were one of the best. I’
m glad this is working out for you. Remy would be too.”

  “Thanks. Someday you’ll also be on the other side of it,” Santiago says to his friend. I’m sure that no matter how hard we try, Kaden and I will never fully understand the second life he’s lived away from here and the petty troubles we think of as major problems.

  He’s a true hero. And so is this man.

  Well, the man who was just here. I blinked, and he’s gone.

  Ronaldo thrashes wildly. Santiago holds him with one hand.

  “I’ve tracked down and destroyed international most-wanted criminals. If you think I’m going to let a miserable little shit like you threaten, intimidate, or hurt my boyfriends in any way, you’re even more insane than I thought.” He warps into full-on protector mode, snarling at Ronaldo. “You’re going away for a while. When that time is up, if you ever dare come near them again, you will die a painful death before you vanish. I promise you that.”

  Ronaldo stills. A puddle grows beneath him as he pisses himself.

  I glance over at Kaden, who is staring. Not at Ronaldo, but at Santiago.

  I nudge him in the ribs with my elbow. “That was hot, huh? How he called us his boyfriends? Plural. Sssssssss.”

  Santiago wings an incredulous glance over his shoulder. “Guys, not now.”

  Yet it’s perfect timing. He’s here. We’re safe and free to share this life—one we’ve all struggled for in some way—with each other. Kaden gapes at me. Then we both crack up, unfazed by Ronaldo or his presence here today.

  Nothing is going to split us apart. I think, finally, we’re sure of that.

  I hold my hand out to Kaden. He takes it, linking his fingers with mine.

  “The three of you?” Ronaldo’s bug-eyed stare flies between us, or as much of us as he can see with his face smashed against the concrete. I smile and flash a thumbs up.

  Santiago shuts me down. “Don’t antagonize him.”

  Fine, I’ll behave. Or maybe not, if it means he’ll punish me later while Kaden lets me suck his cock.

  Santiago fists the back of Ronaldo’s shirt and lifts the guy from the ground. The wail of sirens are approaching, so he shoves his captive toward the door and doesn’t catch him when he trips and falls.

  “Hey.” Kaden steps over and puts his hand on Cortez’s shoulder. “That’s not necessary. Don’t get yourself in trouble. We’re better than him.”

  Cortez hauls Ronaldo up and snarls right in his face. “They are better than that. I’m not. Don’t forget it, either. I have no qualms about ripping your dick off with my bare hands and stuffing it down your throat so you can’t ever screw over another innocent man again.”

  The full-on glare of Cortez’s angry eyes must be enough to get his point across. Ronaldo whimpers and flinches.

  “In fact, I think it’s best if you move to another city once you’re out of the system. Somewhere far away from here.” Cortez takes a step forward and Ronaldo scurries backward. I don’t blame him.

  He dusts himself off, minus that giant wet spot on the front of his pants, then attempts one final show of bravado. “I hear there are lots of rich gay guys down in Key West. I’ve always wanted to live somewhere warm, by the beach.”

  That last bit is a barb for me. I know he’s thinking of the house I used to love so much. The one he stole from me. Little does he know that I’ve moved on. Into the place I was always meant to be.

  Kaden takes my hand and squeezes it.

  “I’d rather live somewhere that’s warm inside, from the love of the people who make it a home.” Santiago shrugs as if it’s an offhanded statement. But when he glances over at Kaden and me, I know he means it for us. He’s planning on sticking around and figuring things out.

  I know it. From the enormous smile on Kaden’s face, he knows it too.

  If I hadn’t already started to fall for Santiago, that would have done the trick. Anyone who can put that look of sheer euphoria on my boyfriend’s face is a keeper.

  Santiago fists Ronaldo’s collar and leads him outside to the police.

  36

  Kaden

  I thought the amount of paperwork we had to fill out after Ronaldo broke Rogan’s arm was ridiculous. The barrage of reports, signatures, photographs, interviews, and various other red tape required when someone tries to kidnap you borders on obscene.

  Rogan and I are finished long before Cortez, though. The authorities have a lot of additional questions for him, most of which he’s not permitted to answer.

  While we wait for the authorities to quit badgering him for saving our lives, I wander into my studio. I can’t stop myself from reaching for a paintbrush. Not when the image I want to bring to life is now so clear in my mind. I don’t care who is in our house, who might see.

  This is my truth and I’m no longer ashamed of it.

  I won’t deny it, especially not to myself.

  The only people whose opinions matter to me are Rogan’s and Cortez’s. Both of them are banned from my studio until my masterpiece is complete.

  It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever created. There isn’t anything I’d alter.

  I put down my brushes and palette then stand back and admire what I’ve done. It’s perfect. For the first time in my life, I wouldn’t change a single detail.

  Smiling, I leave it to dry and rejoin the circus still ongoing in our kitchen. At least the crowd has thinned out. It seems like officials are packing their things and scattering.

  I sit at the table for nearly another hour before it’s just me and Rogan.

  We’re both impatiently waiting for Cortez.

  Holding hands, we don’t say anything as if we both understand it’s not right to talk about our future until the other person it concerns rejoins us. If he does.

  When the backdoor opens and he strides inside, we perk up. He seems to do the same when he spots us. Until he comes nearer and shuffles from foot to foot. “It’s done.”

  “Thank you,” Rogan says softly.

  “I guess that’s it then.” Cortez says, “Give me a few minutes to collect my stuff and I’ll get out of your hair.”

  I don’t expect him to move in or declare his undying love after having been gone so long and only knowing Rogan for a few weeks. But something else. Anything else would have been nice.

  My worst fears are coming true. The things we shared today didn’t mean as much to him as they did to me. Or Rogan.

  Rogan calls him on it. “Are you joking? You’re not even going to have dinner with us so we can talk this out?”

  “If I don’t leave soon, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to go at all,” Cortez admits, flicking his gaze between us.

  Rogan looks at me. “Is that a problem? I think he should stay.”

  “Like for dinner, or the night, or more…” I know which option I would vote for.

  “A lot more.” Rogan squeezes my hand. “And I don’t only mean sex. You two already know you work together as a couple, and I feel like Santiago and I could, too. I didn’t really get the chance to be with him fully this morning, but I’d like to see where that could take us. You know, if it wasn’t chain fucking—or chain loving, rather—from him to you to me. What if it was about the three of us, in every combination?”

  My heart trips in my chest. “Would you really be into that? Not only for me, but because you want it too?”

  Rogan nods. Then he turns to Cortez. I see the heat in their gazes as they exchange a poignant stare. “Do you?”

  “I honestly can’t believe you’re asking. Either of you. Both of you.” He rubs his chest, and not over one of his scars this time. Over the healthy part of him that hopefully we’ve touched and encouraged to regenerate, healing old wounds.

  “So that’s a yes, then?” I prod, unable to wait another second for his answer.

  “Not just a regular yes, but a hell yes. Get over here. Both of you.”

  We hurry to his side. He whoops and squashes us to his mammoth chest. One arm around me and the oth
er around Rogan. Rogan and I exchange a private smile and a quick kiss, which soon becomes a not-so-quick kiss.

  “That’s right. I think this calls for a celebration, boys.” Cortez puts one hand on each of our heads and directs our making out. Once we’ve had our fill, he takes his. First he kisses the shit out of me.

  Then he eyes Rogan.

  It occurs to me that we’ve already had a threesome, but they’ve never even tasted each other’s lips.

  “I want to watch your first kiss,” I tease Rogan. “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about what it would be like if he wrapped his hands around your neck and hauled you up against his body, which is so much thicker and more muscular than mine.”

  Rogan whimpers.

  Cortez chuckles at Rogan’s distress, then admits, “I sort of stole a taste before I left earlier. May I kiss him again, Kaden? Properly this time.”

  I’ve never heard him ask for permission like that before. He’s asking me not as his sub or even a peer. He’s asking me, as Rogan’s top. It shocks and thrills me.

  “Yes, but not here. If we don’t take this show into the bedroom, someone’s going to end up with bruised knees from fucking on the floor.”

  “Nice thinking ahead.” Cortez grins. Then he reaches for me and tosses me over his shoulder. I’m certain that if he were up to full strength, he’d put Rogan over the other. For now, he claps one hand over my ass and leaves that up to me.

  “Rogan, stay with us.”

  “I plan on it.” He sticks close on Cortez’s heels as we march to our room. I’m so grateful that Rogan had insisted on the largest damn mattress known to man. I have a feeling we’re going to need all the space we can get. Today, and every day from now on.

  Cortez tosses me onto the bed then gestures to my clothes. “You’re wearing too much.”

  The three of us practically rip off our shirts and jeans, flinging them every which way. I put my hand on my cock and stroke slowly as Rogan and Cortez come together for the very first time. Hey, I say it doesn’t count unless I get to watch.