by DJ Jamison
Rory couldn’t muffle a snort, and Caleb’s eyes shot to his as he colored faintly. Caleb was too smooth to fumble for long. He stood and uncovered platters of food: clam chowder with fresh-baked crusty bread, a savory lobster pie, and Boston Cream Pie for dessert.
“Wow, that looks amazing,” Avery said. He was making no complaints about the food tonight.
“You spoil us,” Rory added. “Just the soup would have been enough.”
“Blame Anna. She spoils me, no how matter how I protest.”
Julien coughed. “Bullshit.”
Caleb raised his eyebrows at him, and Julien smiled cheekily. “You know you don’t protest too hard.”
“True,” Caleb said ruefully. “It’s tough to resist lobster pie.”
Once they’d all dished up and settled in to eat, Julien looked from Rory to Avery. “So, what’s your story?” he asked.
“You heard most of the phone call,” Rory said.
Julien waved a hand. “I know you’re staging some sort of engagement,” he said casually, as if it was something people did every day. “I want to know the real story.”
Avery cleared his throat. “Rory and I met in boarding school. We’ve known each other since we were fifteen. Caleb, too.”
“We didn’t exactly run in the same circles,” Caleb pointed out. “But Avery did find plenty of excuses to hang out near our room, didn’t he, Rory?”
Avery looked taken aback by the comment, his body stiffening.
Rory nudged his shoulder. “Avery, Caleb knows we hooked up back then. He’s always known.”
“Oh.” Avery didn’t seem to know where to look. He focused on his food, and Rory felt an overwhelming urge to reassure him.
“We can trust Caleb,” he said quietly, placing a hand on Avery’s leg under the table. “He’s kept this secret long enough, right?”
Avery’s thigh tensed under his hand, and the feel of those muscles bunching and releasing shot arousal through him. Dozens of sensual memories played through Rory’s mind: muscles rippling under his touch, the tensing of a man’s thighs as he rode Rory’s cock, the clench of a body nearing orgasm. Except now, Avery’s face was superimposed over all those other men’s, and it was almost enough to make Rory whimper with want.
He jerked his hand away, as if burned.
Julien watched the two of them intently. Then turned to Rory to ask, “Why would you put yourself through something like this after you saw what happened to us?”
“I’m sorry, but what did happen with you?” Avery asked. “Rory said you guys faked it, but you’re clearly married for real, so…”
“Caleb and Julien were a marriage of convenience,” Rory said.
Avery looked baffled. “Uh, like with lords and ladies when one has money and the other has a title?”
Caleb spluttered, but Julien laughed. “Replace the lady with another lord and it was very similar to that. I had the requisite name and Caleb had the island.”
“It’s a long story,” Caleb said. “The point is, we have some experience with a sudden engagement.”
“So, this wasn’t just about getting away to talk,” Avery accused Rory. “You set me up.”
Rory bit his bottom lip. “Only a little. Are you mad?”
Avery looked tense and uncomfortable. But after a moment, he let out a sigh. “No, of course not. I know I’ve been dragging my feet on this.”
“They can give us some guidance,” Rory said. “It doesn’t mean you have to do anything.”
“Yeah, I do,” Avery said in a resigned tone. “I can’t let my father control me forever.”
“I’ll drink to that,” Julien said. He could probably relate to Avery, Rory realized, given his ugly history with his own controlling father.
They raised their glasses, clinking them, and drank in solidarity.
“So, how far are you two going to take this?” Caleb asked. “My situation was desperate, and I had to get married.”
“This is just an engagement,” Rory said.
Just, as if it that wasn’t enough. Faking an engagement felt like no small task.
Together, he and Avery filled Caleb and Julien in on the full story behind their fake engagement.
“What the fuck?” Julien spat. “I thought we were past this kind of bullshit discrimination?”
Caleb rubbed Julien’s shoulder, but he looked just as concerned. “What are the odds it passes?”
Rory looked to Avery since he had far more experience with statehouse politics.
“It’s a bipartisan measure that looks good on its surface. The language that allows for discrimination is tucked into the middle, probably a concession to get all the votes they wanted. My father said it had support in both the House and Senate, so that’s not a good sign.”
“Fuck.”
“You can call your representative,” Avery added. “Tell them how opposed you are to that segment of the bill.”
“Oh, I will,” Caleb said grimly.
On that note, they decided to call it a night. But as Caleb was clearing the dishes back onto the cart, Julien took them aside. “Wear something nice tomorrow for your engagement photos.”
As he turned away, Avery huffed a small laugh. “Engagement photos? He doesn’t waste any time.”
“Is that okay?” Rory asked.
Avery nodded slowly. “I told you I would do this, and I will. Besides, seeing Julien and Caleb’s reaction to that bill? That’s the biggest reason to do this. I got hung up on selfishly wanting my father’s support, but there are more important things at stake.”
Rory reached out on impulse, taking hold of his hand and squeezing. “It’s not selfish to want your dad to support you.”
“Still,” Avery said quietly as he watched Caleb and Julien playfully banter while cleaning up, touching either other in small ways that telegraphed their love to the whole room. “It’s not only about me.”
Rory sighed. “No, it’s not. Or me.”
“So, this is what it’s like to be a soapbox warrior, huh?”
Rory chuckled. “Oh, honey, we’re about to step onto a lot more than a soapbox. We’re about to step right onto the stage itself. You have to be one hundred percent sure about all this, because there won’t be any going back.”
10
The next morning, Avery and Rory met the guys for breakfast before heading out to take engagement photos. Julien looked like an entirely different guy, dressed in jeans and a thick sweater with a professional camera bag he’d slung over his shoulder. Only his bright-teal wool coat spoke to his colorful personality.
“Julien’s taking the photos?” Avery had asked, surprised. “I thought he was a dance teacher.”
Caleb had grinned over his eggs Benedict. “Julien is a man of many talents.”
What he neglected to say was that Julien was also a cruel perfectionist who had no qualms about making Avery and Rory pose in the chilly winter air without coats and in positions that required Avery to do mathematical equations in his head to avoid getting a hard-on.
It was like one long edging session, with Rory in his arms, close and tantalizing, brushing against his chest and groin as Julien directed them to lean in, turn, shift an inch to the right, lift their chins or look into one another’s eyes.
That last one was the hardest. Avery’s heart raced whenever he looked into Rory’s eyes, and he felt as if Rory must see everything: how desperately he wanted to kiss him, how much he craved more than teasing touches, the yearning he felt for real connection with anyone, but especially with Rory.
A sharp wind rose off the ocean, whipping across the gazebo where they stood, and Rory shivered hard in Avery’s arms. He used it as an excuse to pull Rory a little closer, resisting his own shudder as their bodies pressed together.
“That’s good,” Julien said. The camera whirred as Julien took another shot. “Okay, let’s head back to the house. It’s getting too windy.”
Avery exhaled with relief. “So, we’re done?”
Avery couldn’t check his groan of dismay, and Julien laughed, the evil fucker. “We need some more casual photos you can use for social media,” he said as he packed up his camera, and they started back toward the house. “But I think we can take those inside. I would tell you guys to just take some selfies, but Caleb and I were horrible at it.”
He eyes took on a distant look. “Although,” he mused, “we did have a couple of great practice kisses in the process.” He grinned. “Maybe you two should try it.”
“We’ve had plenty of practice in the kissing department,” Rory reminded him.
“Oh? Do tell,” Julien said.
“We hooked up in high school, remember?”
Julien wrinkled his nose. “That was ages ago. You guys are different people now, don’t you think? I know Caleb was like a whole new man to me. I’d always found him attractive, don’t get me wrong. But we both grew up a lot in that twelve-year gap.”
Julien had a point. Avery had already noticed that their dynamic was different than it’d been in boarding school. Rory was more settled in his life, less angry and rebellious. Avery was less entitled, he liked to think, even if he was still privileged. He was a cocky little jerk when he and Rory first met. By graduation, he’d lost his mother and his heart, but he’d still been so sure that Rory would remain his, would patiently wait for him. When he didn’t, it’d been a real wakeup call to Avery.
He didn’t actually get everything he wanted in life just because he wanted it. Which was something Rory had probably known all along.
“Do we get out of anymore photo shoots if we do selfies?” Avery asked.
“Nope,” Julien said cheerfully. “The point of your engagement is publicity, so the more photos you have the better. Your photos are going to be spread all over blogs and media sites, so we might as well make them good ones.”
Avery’s stomach clenched at the thought of all that attention. He might have signed on for this, but it wasn’t going to be pleasant to be under the microscope. They’d have to make sure their engagement was very, very convincing.
They parted ways to go slip into something more casual. In his bedroom, Avery eyed his bag, so very tempted to bring out something pretty, especially after seeing Julien own his own fashion tastes the night before. Avery would love wearing something so bright and shimmery, something that caressed his skin and made him feel beautiful and sensual. He understood why Julien dressed that way—at least he thought he did—because he wanted it for himself. To represent a bit of who he was inside on the outside.
His hand hovered for a long moment before he drew out a button-down shirt instead. These photos would go on social media for the world to see. He wasn’t ready to show that side of himself yet. He chose a light purple shirt, the closest he could bring himself to what he really wanted. The shade was softer than anything he wore on a daily basis. He paired it with gray slacks and restyled his wind-tossed hair.
When he made his way back downstairs, he paused across the room, watching Rory standing with Julien. They were deep in conversation, and Julien’s easy smile was gone from his face. Rory looked gorgeous, with his hair down around his face, softening his features, and a simple T-shirt clinging to his shoulders and chest.
As Avery hesitated, Rory and Julien hugged. Not a simple, friendly hug, but one more complex and full of emotion. As he watched, Caleb stepped up beside him.
“Thanks for hanging back. They needed a minute.”
Avery glanced sidelong at Caleb. “That doesn’t bother you?”
“Them hugging?” Caleb shook his head. “They’re friends, and sometimes Julien needs comfort and support from more than just me. Nothing wrong with that.”
“He looks upset,” Avery noted as Rory and Julien parted.
Rory wasn’t smiling either, but that wasn’t exactly unusual. Rory tended toward the serious. But when he did smile, damn, it was like the sun rising.
“We’ve been talking about starting a family,” Caleb said. “Hearing about this legislation… Well, it threw us for a loop. We thought we’d wait another couple of years, but now we’re wondering if we should start the process before the legislation can go into effect. We don’t want to rush in before we’re ready, but…”
“I’m sorry,” Avery said, though the words were inadequate. “I wish there was something I could do.”
“There is. You’re doing it,” Caleb said. “You and Rory are going to bring attention to this legislation, and I hope it makes a difference.”
“I can’t promise that it will.”
Caleb smiled wryly. “I know.” He gestured across the room. “They look settled. Go join them. We’ll have lunch in an hour, so this shouldn’t drag on too much longer.”
Avery took a breath, bracing himself for more temptation, and crossed the room.
“Took you long enough,” Rory teased. “Did you get lost?”
“Had to make sure I looked good for the camera,” Avery said. “Couldn’t let everyone wonder how I landed such a gorgeous fiancé.”
“Oh, smooth,” Julien said, his grin back on his face as if it’d never been gone. He retrieved his camera, fitting it with a new lens. “Let’s get busy. Stand in front of the fireplace. Rory, lean back against him. Avery, bring your right arm down and across his chest. Good, lower your lips to his ear, like you’re whispering sweet nothings.”
And so the torture began again. Rory shifted, rubbing against Avery’s cock, and he grabbed one of his hips in an iron grip. “Stop moving,” he whispered into Rory’s ear.
But it was too late. He was rising, pressing against Rory’s ass.
Rory rolled his eyes up toward him, smirking. Then, he deliberately rubbed his ass against him. Avery gasped in his ear.
“Jesus,” Julien said, cutting through the lust fog. “That’s hot. Keep it up.”
“That won’t be a problem,” Avery muttered, hard as steel from the teasing. Rory snickered, but gave his own gasp when Avery brushed his thumb over his nipple. “Two can play this game.”
“But there can only be one winner,” Rory said lightly.
“You sure about that?” Avery breathed, too turned on to filter himself. “Pretty sure we can both win if you meet me in my room when we’re done here.”
Rory stilled, going quiet. Avery’s heart thumped hard. He’d pushed too much.
“Never mind,” Avery said quietly, “that was out of line. Sorry.”
Rory tipped his head back, making eye contact. “It’s tempting, but…”
Avery swallowed hard. “Boundaries. I know.”
“How about a kiss, guys?” Julien’s voice broke through the sexual tension. “Just something chaste for the camera.”
Avery didn’t think he could take any more teasing, and he’d already pushed boundaries enough. If they kissed, he’d take it further than he should, too turned on to resist.
“Not this time,” Avery said before Rory could answer. “I don’t think we need it. Do you, Ror?”
Rory shook his head, looking almost disappointed. Had he wanted to kiss Avery as badly as Avery wanted to kiss him? He’d shut down Avery’s advances, but he had said he was tempted. Avery’s heart fluttered at the thought that Rory might be feeling the same desire he was, even if he was resisting.
“Avery’s right,” Rory said, stepping away and letting cool air sweep in to replace his body warmth. “We’ve got plenty to work with.”
“Okay,” Julien said without argument. “I’ll let you two relax a while before lunch. Then I thought we could all take a drive around the island. I want to show you the lighthouse.”
“Sounds good,” Rory said, and Avery nodded along on autopilot, though he was barely listening.
His arms felt empty without Rory inside them.
Rory rapped on Avery’s bedroom door, feeling that bit of vacation fatigue, tired but happy. He’d been to Bliss Island several times before
, but never like this, where Caleb and Julien treated him like a resort guest. Most of his visits had been short, casual stops during events or lounging around in Caleb and Julien’s quarters, drinking wine and watching television.
Today, though, the guys had taken turns dragging them around the island. Caleb had some office work, and Julien had a class to teach, but they’d made time to give Rory and Avery a full tour, taking them out to visit the horses, stop at the most scenic views around the island, and tour the lighthouse.
Whenever Julien was along, he took candid photos of them. “These can be titled the happy couple explores a possible wedding venue,” he joked.
“You don’t mind?” Rory had asked. “I don’t want to make trouble for Bliss.”
Julien waved a hand. “As far as we know, you are one hundred percent legitimate in your request to book Bliss for a wedding.”
“Still, we’re friends. It’ll look suspicious.”
“Let it.”
“Don’t you need to ask Caleb?” Avery asked, the poor, naïve man. He earned a narrow-eyed look from Julien.
“Actually, no. I know Caleb would be with me on this, and besides, I am a co-owner,” Julien said. “This isn’t his resort, it’s our resort.”
Avery fumbled out an apology, and Julien’s easy-going smile returned. “So anyway, about the lighthouse…”
The lighthouse was a bit of a passion project for Julien, they discovered. He took their photos in front of it, then led them inside and up a winding staircase.
“We had to relocate our groundskeeper to one of the cottages on the island,” Julien said as he led them to a display of photographs and letters that had been affixed to the wall. “This is my own personal exhibit.”
Behind the glass, a few aged photographs displayed a serious-looking man standing before the lighthouse with a name beneath it: Edison Crane. Beside the photograph was a letter that began with Dearest A and was signed simply E. Beneath that, another letter was addressed to E and signed A.
