Us

by Shaw Montgomery

  “Well, you said I wanted to be tied to the bed. I just said yes.” Internally, it’d been more like hell yeah, but I thought that’d been fairly obvious.

  Ryan snorted. “You practically melted into the floor. Maybe if you’re good, Dare will tie you up, and if I’m good, he’ll let me play with you while you’re stretched out on the bed.”

  Oh.

  I’d fantasized about being tied to that bed more times than I could count. I’d paid way too much for it because the first time I’d seen it, I’d known it was perfect. The idea that I was going to end up tied to it was overwhelming and incredible.

  Chuckling, Ryan leaned in and kissed my lips. “I know you’re turned on by the idea, but if you come now, I’m going to tell Dare.”

  I was harder than I should’ve been considering no one was touching my cock. “Snitch.”

  Ryan beamed. “Damn right, because it might get me a reward.”

  “Dare hasn’t said we couldn't…get off.” He’d threatened to make it a rule, but he’d said he wouldn’t do it until we had a chance to talk and discuss everyone’s needs.

  “But you want him to.”

  I played dumb. I wasn’t sure why. “Want him to what?”

  “Chicken.” But Ryan wasn’t upset. He just smiled. “You want him to tell us we can’t get off.”

  Ryan must have been feeling ridiculously horny because he kept going, leaning into my personal space and sending shivers down my spine. “You want him to control you…to control us. You like the idea of him keeping you hard and needy and not letting you come…of making me frustratingly aroused but not letting me get off either.”

  “Yes.” Hiding things from him…from them…was stupid. No matter how much my natural inclination was to keep shit to myself, I needed to share things with them or it would all fail. “I want him to control a lot.”

  “I know. I don’t think I need it as much, but I get that you do.” Ryan said it in his matter-of-fact way that I was starting to get used to.

  “You’ve thought about this for a long time too. Not like three people or me, but you’ve thought about giving up control for a long time.” He’d talked a little bit about the stuff he’d done with Ian, but he’d been vague. One day I wanted to know the rest of the story.

  “Yeah.” I knew by the foggy look in his eyes and the way he smiled that he was remembering back. I was too. “At first, he had this way of making it seem like all my idea.”

  Oh yes. “But then after a while the pretense wasn’t necessary and it was just him.”

  Ryan nodded. “Dare makes me feel the same but…more. With Ian, I knew it wasn’t going anywhere. He made that perfectly clear. But with Dare…”

  I nodded. “He’s like a force of nature.” Dare was an individual in the truest sense of the word.

  “And with him, I can see more than just having fun or experimenting like it was with Ian.” Ryan’s voice was more hesitant, like he wasn’t sure how I would react to it. “He’s…special.”

  “Me too. I like him.” It was my turn to start putting myself out there. “I like us with him. And I like how things have changed between us now that he’s…with us.”

  Ryan grinned. “So I shouldn’t have needed Dare to push me into kissing you?”

  I could feel the heat rising on my face. “No. You never need any excuse.”

  “I’m glad.” Ryan’s smile turned heated as he leaned in close, his intent clear. “I think every day should start with a good-morning kiss.”

  As his lips brushed mine, I whispered against them, “That’s a rule I could get used to.”

  ****

  Some of my coworkers thought the closing of the stock market meant their day had ended, but mine never stopped that early.

  Except today.

  If I wasn’t careful, between the research and growing my client list, my day could be never-ending. But when I’d first joined the company, one of the icons in the office who’d been in the business almost his entire life dropped dead at his desk of a heart attack.

  That’d been all the wake-up call I’d needed. I’d work hard and do my best, but I’d also make sure I had a life outside the office. So I went to the gym and tried to remember not to put too many hours in over the weekend, but I never left early during the week.

  Not until my not-just-roommate said our Dom wanted us to go on a date.

  When, after our long kisses in the kitchen, Ryan had said he wanted to take me out to dinner after work, I’d immediately said yes. Wednesday night wasn’t an ideal time, but with no meetings, it was doable.

  I wasn’t at the bottom of the ladder anymore, but as I stepped out of my shoebox office, it still felt like it. I just had to keep reminding myself I was out of the mass of other new brokers, and I was doing better every month. One day, I was going to have a big corner office and my own assistant instead of sharing one with several other brokers.

  “Sean? I’m heading out for the day. Thanks for your help earlier.” Sean was the only other out gay employee at the office, and it hadn’t taken a genius to guess that had been why he’d been assigned to me once I’d moved up. I wasn’t sure why the idiots in the back had decided it was a brilliant decision, but luckily enough, he’d worked out great.

  From our first handshake there’d been no sparks at all. It was perfect.

  He thought I was boring and that’s the way I wanted it. I’d never been in the closet at work, but I’d always kept my personal life private. So private, people had stopped asking me about dates and weekend plans after I’d worked there about six months.

  With anyone else he would have asked about their plans or teased them about flaking off early, but with me, he just nodded. I’d felt bad to begin with about keeping people at a distance, but after I’d overheard him talking about me in the breakroom one day I’d stopped feeling bad.

  He hadn’t been mean. In fact, he’d said lots of nice things about my abilities and industry knowledge, but he’d also cheekily told one of the other admins that I was the most boring person he’d ever worked with.

  I had a feeling he’d meant the most boring gay guy he’d ever worked with, because I was not the least social or most awkward in the bunch. I was fairly normal. At least, at the office.

  My goal was to make a living, not make waves, and I didn’t regret that.

  I was proud of everything I’d accomplished, and that was what I wanted to be known for. Not like James, one of the other financial advisors who’d been hired around the same time I’d been. He was most famous around the office for the amount of time off he’d taken and the number of women he dated in a month.

  I’d take “boring” over that moron’s decisions any day.

  Sean finished typing something and pointed to a stack of papers. “I’ll have everything for the new clients set up tonight and on your desk tomorrow.”

  “Thanks.” I’d worked on some small investments for a funny lady who was almost ninety. I’d mainly done it because she’d been nice and I’d felt bad that her previous advisor hadn’t been much help to her. Once we’d gotten everything up and running and she’d seen her money start to grow, she’d started steadily sending all her friends in to meet with me.

  At the rate I was going, I was going to end up with a huge percentage of my clients being over eighty, but they were fun and I was starting to see my own income rise, which was nice as well.

  “Oh, and I added two more meetings next week to my calendar.” I gestured to the papers. “More friends who need second opinions.”

  Sean cracked a smile. “They’re easy to deal with on the phone, so I won’t complain.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Heading toward the front of the office, I mentally started my to-do list for the next day. Unfortunately, that didn’t keep my mind occupied for long.

  By the time I was out of the parking garage, I was back to thinking about our date…and what might happen after.

  I’d texted Dare for a few minutes at lunch. He’d been excited
for my date with Ryan, but had also hinted that dessert might be just as fun as dinner. Unfortunately, I hadn’t been able to get him to elaborate.

  Did dessert have something to do with Ryan and me, or was there something I was missing?

  Ryan had been the one to get the instructions and he was being just as cagey as Dare, so it was entirely possible. Considering I’d had a hard enough time just getting the name of the restaurant he wanted to meet at for dinner, I thought it was more than possible.

  Neither of us needed to be out crazy late, so we’d agreed to meet at a nice steak place just after work instead of having me come home and meet him there first. I thought Ryan was a bit frustrated that he wouldn’t get to drive me there like he’d pictured for what was probably our first date, but it made the most sense. He’d finally given in when I’d kissed him and told him that I’d do the same for any date because it was logical and it meant I’d have more time with him rather than driving around.

  The drive across town wasn’t long, but it gave me too much time to think. Everything was simpler when Ryan and Dare were with me. Just having Ryan with me in the kitchen made my nerves quiet. I liked it.

  I wasn’t having second thoughts about what we were doing or even issues about the practical part of it…I just wished I understood the boundaries. Ryan and I lived together but didn’t. We were friends but were dating. Where was the line between friendship and what we had now?

  Could I just walk in and ask to sleep with him for the night?

  Could I tell him I wanted to touch him more and explore his body?

  Could I tell him I wanted him to touch me?

  With other guys I’d dated, I’d always had to force myself to go through the motions of what I thought they’d wanted, but with Ryan, I wasn’t sure what to do. If we both wanted someone else to take charge we’d never get anywhere with just the two of us…but there were things I wanted.

  More kisses.

  To feel his arms wrapped around me while we lay down together.

  The list was endless, but I didn’t know how to get started. There wasn’t this need to put things off or go slow like there had been in the past. I wanted everything now, but I wasn’t sure how to go about getting it.

  But I was hoping that’s what Dare would take care of.

  He’d been clear that communication and honesty were the key to making us work. With the secrets out of the way, I was hoping he’d take things to the next level. I knew his answer would be that we needed to talk about what the next level should look like.

  But I was ready to make love to them…both of them.

  If there was something I wanted at work, I’d have gone for it. It was like the football field; everything else just fell away and it was easy to focus. There was nothing personal hanging around in my head and nothing I had to worry about other than studying and giving my best.

  It was easy.

  The rest of life wasn’t that easy.

  As I pulled into the parking lot and found a spot, I tried to push the thoughts away. “You are going to have fun on your date. That’s what matters now.”

  Pocketing the keys as I got out of the car and stood, I glanced around, trying to see Ryan’s car. When I found him, I had to laugh. He was leaning against the hood of his car doing his best eighties movie pose, trying to seem cool.

  He didn’t need to worry about how he looked for me. I didn’t need him cool…I just needed him.

  Chapter 13

  Ryan

  “All you need is a boom box or for me to be standing here in an ugly bridesmaid dress for the picture to be complete.” Scott’s grin said he found something funny, but I wasn’t sure what it was. I’d been struck by how sexy he looked in his suit, and I wasn’t sure what he was talking about.

  Had I missed part of the conversation?

  Had he always looked that hot when he went to work?

  It was no wonder all those little old ladies loved going to him. “What?”

  A boom box?

  Scott laughed. “You need to watch more movies.”

  “I do watch movies.” Just not the ones he was watching, because I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “Never mind.” He shook his head as he stepped closer. “All you watch are explosions and idiots trying to save the world.”

  It was my turn to shake my head. “What other types of movies are there?”

  I was mostly kidding. He had a not-so-secret love affair with old movies. Everything from really classic…AKA really old…to newer classics from the eighties.

  Scott grinned and then leaned in to give me a kiss. No prompting required and barely a blush. “I think since you’re my boyfriend now I should get to pick the movies more often. I think that’s a rule or something.”

  I reached out to run a hand up his arm. “I think you’re making shit up.”

  “Possibly, but since we’re in a relationship where rules are the norm, there’s nothing to say I can’t make up another one.” His eyes danced with excitement and he leaned in closer to my touch.

  “I’m pretty sure I only agreed to rules about sex.” I was not the type of…sub who wanted rules about housework and things like that.

  He snickered. “So we’re trading sexual favors for movies?”

  I wasn’t sure if it was a question or a suggestion, but it would work for me. “Deal.”

  Scott let out a bark of laughter and shook his head. “I thought this was a date, not a negotiation.”

  “Why can’t it be both?” Leaning in, I gave him another quick kiss. I wasn’t sure if being able to touch him like that would ever get old, but I hoped not. “But you’re right. We’re supposed to have fun. I want to have fun with you.”

  He blushed slightly. “I’ve always had fun with you. This just makes it even better.”

  He was so sweet. “Me too.”

  Taking Scott’s hand, I pushed off the car and glanced toward the restaurant. “You ready for dinner?”

  “Starved. I didn’t get much time for lunch.” As he walked beside me toward the door, Scott brushed his arm against mine and smiled. “Some of my ladies came in because they had another friend who needed help.”

  The way he stressed “help” had me smiling. “I’m starting to think you’re just getting clients because those old ladies like the way you fill out that suit.”

  He blushed. “Some of my clients are married or men.”

  “You’re smart and good at your job, but that doesn’t mean you’re not eye candy to those old ladies. And no discriminating, those old guys might find you hot too. You never know.” I loved the way his blush deepened as he shook his head.

  “You’re insane.”

  “That doesn’t mean I’m wrong.” Then I grinned. “I have an idea. I say we let Dare decide. He hasn’t seen you all dressed up. We’ll see if he thinks you’re eye candy in this suit.”

  Scott shook his head again. “You’re crazy.”

  Before I could respond, he’d reached for the door. Deciding to behave in front of the group of people waiting for a table, I shrugged noncommittally as I stepped inside. “Thank you.”

  He whispered low as I walked in front of him. “I just want to see your ass when you go inside.”

  My bark of laughter had several people turning to look, and Scott just smirked. He might’ve never been the most outrageous person around, but something about opening up to Dare and me had helped him relax.

  With each hurdle, things got easier and came more naturally.

  When Dare had messaged me first thing asking me if I’d given Scott a sexy good-morning kiss yet, I’d been a little embarrassed to admit I wasn’t sure what he would think of it. We’d been friends for so long, moving fully into boyfriend mode seemed weird when we lived together.

  Dare had sent back a devil emoji and a laughing one and had given me a shove in the right direction, along with an order for us to have a date night. I’d been happy to comply with both instructions. So had Scott.

  As
we were seated and told our waiter would be with us shortly, I turned back to Scott. “I’m assuming you got the new clients you were talking about?”

  He lit up. “Yeah, it went really well. I’d always thought I’d focus on clients more my age since the fact that I’m not that old can work against me with older clients, but it’s working out a lot better than I expected. I like hearing their stories and they seem happy with me, so it seems to be a good fit.”

  “Is it something you’re going to work on developing? I mean, focusing on more mature clients?” I wasn’t a salesman by nature but it seemed like a good market if he could keep building it up.

  He glanced down at the menu before looking back up at me. “I think so.” He shrugged. “I need to figure out how to develop and then grow it but it’s working so far.”

  I grinned. “Because you’re hot.”

  He blushed and rolled his eyes, either not sure how to take the compliment or not sure if I was serious. “I’m pretty certain that’s not it.”

  Before I could go into exact detail about how right I was on that statement, the waiter approached the table. Ordering went smoothly and we got our food quickly. In fact, everything went smoothly. I’d never had a date like it.

  In the past, there had always been a level of uneasiness or just general wariness during a date. Even when the guy was nice and we seemed to click, there was always the idea in the back of my head that he wouldn’t understand.

  I’d known that I’d probably let a couple of great guys escape because of my own issues. I’d either not been ready to talk about it or I’d been skittish because of some vague comment about alpha guys. Big meant take-charge to a lot of people, and I’d never figured out how to change that perception.

  We’d both ordered steaks, and with the baked potatoes and sides mostly consumed I was starting to get full. “Did you get a chance to talk to Dare today?”

  Scott gave me a curious look. “Just a few texts, and they seemed deliberately vague.”

  I had to laugh; he was right. “Probably.”

  He waited a few seconds then shook his head. “Do you want to tell me why he was vague about our date tonight?”