by Sam Crescent
They both turned to look at him. One dark set of eyes and the other hazel coloured, stared at him.
“Can I sit with you guys?” he asked.
He tensed, waiting for the rejection. If they sent him away he’d deserve it.
Gavin moved up a seat. “Take a seat,” he said.
The tension was thick. Landon signalled the waitress for coffee. “Have you ordered breakfast?” Landon asked. His stomach rumbled.
“Nope,” Gavin said, smiling.
Landon glanced over at Heidi. Her hands were underneath the table, but only moments earlier she’d been holding Gavin’s hand.
“I take it you didn’t like waking up alone?” she asked.
Heat filled his cheeks as he stared at her. She looked good with her hair tumbling down her shoulders. The dress she wore highlighted every curve and the swell of her breasts.
“I made a mistake,” he said.
Gavin cleared his throat. They both went silent as the waitress served coffee.
“None of us have eaten. I think the pancakes will be good.” She picked up the nearest menu. Landon stared at her, conscious of Gavin watching him. Turning to face the man at his side, he saw his jaw tense.
“I’m sorry.”
“I think the pancakes will be good.” Gavin winked at Heidi, repeating her, before he picked up the spare menu and started reading through what he wanted.
“Please, will you two listen to me?” Landon asked. He hated this. He hated being treated like he didn’t exist.
“We all need to eat, Landon,” Gavin said.
The waitress walked over stopping any conversation. Landon was thankful when Gavin ordered for him. The fact Gavin ordered for him had to mean something. He refused to accept they were over because of the mistake he’d made.
When the waitress was gone, Landon waited for them to start speaking again.
****
Gavin tightened his fist on his thigh. The desire to reach out and pull Landon to him was strong. When he’d seen Heidi outside of Luther’s place he’d been intrigued. He didn’t think Landon would let her out alone. Her apologies had been a shock to him, along with her word that she wouldn’t be with Landon without Gavin. She’d never meant to come between the two.
He fell in love with her in that moment. He’d never known a woman willing to give up a man for another man. She was willing to be with both of them, not one.
“I don’t have what it takes to give Landon everything he needs. He thinks he can live without you, Gavin, but I don’t think he can,” she said seconds before Landon stood by their table.
After the words he’d spoken the night they shared her, Gavin really thought their relationship was over. Seeing the guilt on Landon’s face made him doubt his earlier thoughts. The silence at the table was deafening.
“Well, this is truly awkward,” Heidi said, chuckling. The sound felt forced to Gavin.
“I’m sorry,” Landon said.
His blue eyes were filled with tears. Gavin looked down at the table. He couldn’t look at him in that moment. He’d give in to easily with those tears.
“What are you sorry for?” Heidi asked.
Landon licked his lip. The sight of his tongue reminded Gavin of more carnal memories. He recalled the feel of that tongue licking up and down his body. Landon was everything to him. Walking away wasn’t an option.
You can’t give in too easily after what he’s done.
“Everything. Waking up this morning was a realisation.”
“I’ve been in your life for a weekend, Landon. I love you, but picking me over Gavin was wrong,” she said.
He reached out to touch her. Heidi moved her hands away. “I don’t want you to touch me. I need you to listen to me and to Gavin.”
Her gaze turned to him. Gavin tensed waiting for her words. The respect he felt for her struck him in the chest.
“Gavin was there for you when I wasn’t. He deserves so much from you.”
“Can’t we just go back to how things were before I said the shit I said?” Landon asked.
“No,” Gavin said. “We can’t go back. Trust needs to be rebuilt.”
“Then come back to the ranch. I can’t handle that place without you being there. Please, both of you.”
Gavin watched the younger man look between them. The waitress brought their food before they could answer. Gavin ate the food without tasting a single bite. He didn’t know if it was appealing or if he was only going through the motions.
Once breakfast was finished Landon stood. “I’m going to give you two space. I’ll be around the square or keeping Luther company. Please, consider what I’ve said.”
Landon walked out of the diner. Gavin watched his movements. The desire to take him back home and strip him down was strong. He’d pummel the guy’s ass for what he’d put him through.
“You’ve got your stern face on. What are you thinking?” Heidi asked.
“I want to spank his ass. He didn’t have a clue what he was doing, and yet he opened his mouth.”
“And in opening his mouth, he broke your heart.”
Lifting his cup to his lips, Gavin stared at her over the rim. “You’re an observant little thing.”
“I’ve had my heart broken and know what it feels like to be trodden on by the person who’s supposed to love you.”
“Derek’s a prick.”
“Doesn’t mean he didn’t break my heart in the beginning,” she said.
He nodded. “I don’t get you. Other women would feel they’ve won some kind of competition. Landon picked you,” Gavin said. He couldn’t make sense of her decision to walk.
“For how long?” she asked, making him frown.
“I don’t know what you mean?”
“Landon needs a firm hand. You give him stability and balance in his world. I can’t give him that. I wouldn’t want to. That’s not the person I am.” She stopped to take a drink, glancing out of the window. “Landon thinks he can live without you. I’d give it a month before he started itching for what you can give him. I’m not strong enough to stand up against the man who treated me like shit.” She let out a laugh as tears filled her eyes.
The people he cared about seemed to be spending a great deal of time crying in his presence. “Please don’t cry.”
“You know if it wasn’t for Derek moving another woman in to our place I’d probably still be married to him. I’d be cooking and cleaning and doing everything he told me to. I’m not dominant, and Landon needs dominance.” She took his hand stroking his knuckles. “I’m not stupid, Gavin. I understand needs and dominance. What I couldn’t understand is why you and Landon would want me to be part of your life. I’m not thin or beautiful. There is nothing striking about me. I’m a decent cook, but you’ve got the cooking covered.”
He heard the heartbreak in her voice. The sound broke his heart. Derek had broken down her walls leaving her hollow. “You’re a beautiful woman, Heidi. Inside and out. I don’t care about anything else. I adore your company. Landon always talked about you. I feel like I know you already.”
She laughed. “Landon does like to talk a lot.”
“He does, which brings us back to the original problem. What do we do?”
“We can’t leave him alone. He’ll go insane and do something reckless.”
Gavin had told her some of the stuff Landon had gotten up to after his parents died. She understood his out-of-control personality. Gavin didn’t want to leave him alone like that. Landon may have broken his heart, but he still loved him. That would never stop for him. There was no way he’d leave him or Heidi. The woman before him was working her magic on him as well.
****
Heidi had never known about Landon going off the deep end. She always felt her friend was in control. Learning about his spiral into drink, sex, and drugs scared her. Glancing out the window she saw Landon heading toward Luther. He’d circled the square.
“We can’t leave him alone,” she said. If they left hi
m alone he’d spiral out of control. She’d never seen his lack of control before. The thought of him hurting himself or doing something terrible scared her. He’d been the person she looked up to.
“Giving into his demands is not ideal either.”
“He needs you, Gavin, not me. You give him everything.”
“I don’t give him everything.” Gavin traced a pattern along her wrist. Warmth flooded her pussy at the contact.
“What don’t you give him?” she asked. His touch made it hard for her to concentrate.
“A pussy. I can’t give him a pussy, Heidi. Only you can give him that.”
She stared at his full lips, the same lips that had given her the first orgasm she’d experienced in years. Licking her lips, she dropped her gaze to stare at his hands. Memories of what those hands could do flooded her mind. They gave and took pleasure. She wanted those hands on her breasts stroking her body.
“He also loves you. Don’t think this is only about an organ. You mean the world to him. He talked constantly about you.”
“How can you cope being in the same room as me? I know you love him.”
“Landon never lied about you. He told me straight off you were the woman for him, and if you ever lost your dead beat of a husband then he’d do everything in his power to claim you as his.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Landon never stopped communicating with her even when she left Creek Valley.
“You’re too good for me,” she said.
“No. We’re good for each other, and together we’ll be good for him.”
He pointed in the direction Landon disappeared.
“What do you suggest?” she asked.
“We live with him, but sex and a relationship is off. We live together like three friends.”
“What about my house? I bought the place, and I want to live there.”
“Do you love your house more than Landon?” he asked.
She glared at him. Gavin knew the answer.
“Come on. I’m sure Luther is waiting for us to take Landon off his hands.”
Gavin threw down some bills. “What exactly do you do for a living?” he asked.
“I design websites and earn money through editing and stuff. I lost my job at the firm where I was working. I make enough to get me by. I don’t need riches or wealth. I’m content doing what I do. Landon did say you would need help settling your books. I do that as well.” She smiled recalling the work she could do.
“You’re a woman of many trades.” He took her hand. Together they walked over to the motor car repair shop. Luther glanced up. She saw the relief on his face.
“How are you doing?” she asked, smiling. The other man put her at ease with his easy charm. There was not any vile nastiness that reminded her of Derek. The men in Creek Valley knew how to be respectful.
“I’d be much better if I was left alone.” His gaze turned to Landon.
She chuckled. “Come on.”
Landon took her hand.
“Drive with Landon. I’ll take the truck and follow you to the ranch.”
“Are you sure?” she asked. She didn’t want to leave Gavin out.
He kissed her temple. “Don’t talk to him. Sit in silence or listen to the radio.”
She nodded. Landon opened the door for her. She climbed inside trying to ignore the flare of heat at his touch.
Landon climbed in the other side. He tried to talk on the drive back. Heidi cut him off and turned the radio on. Not talking to him was the hardest thing she’d ever done. She loved hearing him speak. She checked outside to make sure Gavin was following them back.
The music drowned everything out. The road was bumpy, and she held onto the handle bar above the door.
When he parked the car she climbed out waiting for Gavin to turn up.
His face was a mask. She couldn’t read his expression.
They walked into the house together. None of the ranch hands were present. Sunday was a day off. Gavin had explained some of the workings of the ranch to her. She’d been more interested in him and his relationship with Landon. She’d known the moment Landon woke up alone he’d think about what he’d done and said.
Heidi knew she couldn’t give him what he needed. Gavin’s domination was what he needed to keep him together. She’d seen the bliss on his face at the spanking he’d been given.
If she was honest with herself, she needed the domination. The reason she’d stayed with Derek for so long was because of the way he’d ordered her around. She liked being told what to do. Heidi didn’t like the way in which he’d dealt with her. The lack of respect and overall cruelty unnerved her. Everything else she’d been happy with.
They could be Gavin’s submissives. She’d gladly serve both men if they gave her the pleasure they offered her the other day.
She sat down in the sofa. “We’ll stay. Gavin and I will stay in this house with you.”
Landon let out a sigh of relief.
“But not in the way it was,” Gavin said.
“What do you mean?” Landon looked between them. She saw the flash of panic in his eyes.
“We’ll be together in this house, but none of us will be in a relationship. You’ve ruined our trust, Landon, and you’ve got to earn it back.”
“This is up to you, Landon,” she said. “You can have us here, but you’ve got to earn back both of our trusts, Gavin’s especially.”
Chapter Seven
Landon accepted their offer. There wasn’t much else he could say. If he disagreed with them then they’d walk out of his house and life. He couldn’t handle them walking away from him. He’d been mistaken when he picked between them.
You fucked up big time.
Heidi and Gavin kept to their word. They didn’t change their relationship. Gavin stayed in the spare bedroom. There was no romantic touching among any of them. They watched movies, ate food together, and visited Heidi’s house. The renovations were complete. He feared the moment she moved in. With her at home she kept Gavin there. He knew in his heart that Gavin’s feelings for Heidi were growing. The two spent a great deal of time together. They cooked together.
He didn’t feel excluded. Watching the two together gave him peace. With them being part of his life was enough. In the small hours he missed Gavin’s thick arms wrapped around him. The commanding touch of his lover was what he yearned for the most. Closing his eyes, Landon listened to them in the kitchen. The house was quiet apart from their laughter. He’d overslept.
Before he knew it two weeks had passed without any change. He rubbed his arms listening to them downstairs.
Throwing the blanket off his body, Landon made his way down to the kitchen. Heidi was covered in flour, and so was Gavin. He’d never seen Gavin smile with such easy abandon. Glancing down the length of Gavin’s body he saw the outline of his cock. The older man was aroused.
Leaning against the doorframe he watched the two laughing and giggling. Gavin was tickling Heidi as she tried to fight to get away.
“This is not very hygienic,” she said.
Landon chuckled. She said that to get the tickling to stop.
Their gazes turned to him.
“How come no one woke me?” he asked.
The smile fell from Gavin’s lips.
“We came in to see you. You were sleeping like a baby. We thought we’d leave you. It’s Sunday after all. No one needs you,” Heidi said. “Cookie?”
She held up a tray of cookies. Landon shook his head.
Gavin handed him a coffee. Their fingers touched. He held his breath looking at the other man. Gavin didn’t appear affected by the touch.
“Thanks.”
He grabbed the paper, sitting down at the table, and he hoped they’d continue to have their fun.
You were a selfish dick. You’re only getting what you deserve.
Biting his lip, Landon tried to stem the flow of tears. He pushed the pain of his situation to the back of his mind. It wouldn’t do for hi
m to lose control.
“You need to tell him,” Gavin said.
“Tell me what?” Landon didn’t look in their direction. If he saw them now he’d lose it. His emotions were held together by a tiny thread. Seeing them together only served as a reminder of what he’d lost.
“Erm, I was thinking about moving to my house. It’s only a thirty minute drive away. I bought the place, and I think I should use it.”
Landon shook his head. “No, please don’t. Not yet.” Closing the paper, he moved toward her. He went down on his knees wrapping his arms around her waist. “Please, I’m sorry. Don’t leave me. Us.”
He pressed his face against the flesh of her stomach.
“Landon, stop.”
She pushed at his shoulder, but he refused to budge. He couldn’t lose her.
“I’m sorry. What more can I say?” he asked.
“This isn’t about that.”
“It’s not? Then why do I feel like this? Why do I feel like you’re pulling away from me?” Landon kissed her stomach running his hands up her thighs. “Please, I’ll do anything.”
“Stop, Landon.”
He paused on her thighs at the sound of Gavin’s voice.
“I’ll stay,” Heidi said. “I’ll stay for a little longer.” She touched his head stroking his hair.
With her small touch, Landon hated himself. He was blackmailing her into staying with him. She shouldn’t have to worry about him.
She went down on her knees before him. “I’ll stay.”
Her arms moved around him. Wrapping his arms around her body, Landon inhaled her feminine, sweet scent.
“Thank you. I’m not ready for you to leave me.”
I’ll never be ready for you to leave.
Closing his eyes, Landon held onto her for several minutes longer. When Gavin cleared his throat, he left to go upstairs. Pausing at the door he turned back to them. Heidi knelt on the floor next to Gavin.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I made a mistake. I love both of you, and if you asked me to pick between you, I couldn’t.” He stared into Gavin’s eyes. “I love you with my whole heart as my friend, lover, and my Master. I’ll do anything to please you. I don’t even understand why I said what I said. I was scared you wouldn’t love her and force me to give her up. I can’t live without the two of you. I need you both.”
