by Ann Grech
He woke in the same position they’d fallen asleep in—Katy wrapped around his right side, and Connor on his left. With both of them lying on his arms and their legs thrown over his, he was pinned down, surrounded by them. He didn’t want it any other way, especially not when Connor’s hand migrated south and closed over his morning wood, making him suck in a breath. It turned into a hiss when Katy bit his nipple and cupped his balls.
TEN
Connor
H e’d played at the same pub twice since the group of dickheads had nearly got their faces rearranged. He knew Levi still had doubts—it wasn’t surprising when he had so much on the line. But there was nothing more Connor could do than keep their relationship on the down low. He hated it, hated being the invisible one, the one who always had to step away, who had to resist kissing either of them, but there was no doubt he’d do it. When they were alone, there were no boundaries, no walls between them. In public, they didn’t have that luxury.
The day before had wiped Connor out. He’d finally finished prepping Lee’s bike and laid it all out on trolleys ready for the big reveal, then helped one of the mechanics finish the job they’d stopped to guide him. After that, he’d backed up a full day at the garage with a gig afterwards. He couldn’t wait to show the bike to Levi, to decide on a colour scheme and then reassemble it together, but it’d have to wait until late in the next week—Levi was travelling up to the Sunshine Coast to film crocodile wrangling at the Irwin family’s Australia Zoo. Until then, Connor had a couple of days off. Sunday nights free were a luxury he didn’t pass up when his boss offered them.
Rolling onto his back, Connor stretched and yawned. The bed to his left was cold—Katy was already up. Levi lay to his right fully dressed and smirking at him. “Good morning, Sleeping Beauty.”
“Shut the fuck up.” Connor laughed, his voice still raspy from sleep. “I’m hungry. Feed me.”
“In a minute.” Levi leaned down and kissed him. Warm skin against his, strong hands on his body made Connor hum, then grumble when Levi pulled back far too quickly. “Your cousin messaged you. Wanted to know if we’re still on for today.”
Connor smiled, excited about catching up with Ford again. He hadn’t seen him in a decade, well before Connor had joined the army. He was meeting Ford’s partner too—something he hadn’t expected, not only because Ford had prided himself on being single, but because according to the online gossip rags, his partner was a bloke. And not just any dude, but the Reef Reid, current World Champion of freestyle snowboarding.
“What time is it?” He pulled Levi down to him again and kissed him slowly, sucking on his bottom lip. Lee shifted his weight, climbing between Connor’s legs and wrapping him in his arms.
“Time for you to get up so we can go celebrate Nick’s birthday,” Levi murmured against his lips between kisses.
“In a minute.” Connor bit Levi’s throat gently, making the other man moan.
“Boys, as much as I wanna join you, get up.” Katy appeared next to them and smacked Levi’s arse playfully. Connor hadn’t even heard her coming, but without hesitation, Levi reached out to her, and pulled Katy onto the bed next to them.
“No,” she shrieked, laughing as Levi tickled her. “I’ve gotta get the cake to Nick and Em’s without anyone seeing it. We can’t be late.” Connor leaned over and kissed her like he’d done to Levi and sighed happily, a goofy love-struck smile plastered on his face.
“Come on, boo. Up you get before we’re so late we miss your cousin.” Katy smiled down at him, the warmth of her smile lighting him up. When she leaned over and kissed him, her soft lips made him want to wrap her up and keep her there forever—in a totally non-stalkerish, non-serial killer kind of way.
It didn’t take long for Connor to get ready—anything at Nick and Emma’s was always super casual, so he only needed to shower and toss on some boardies and a tee. His thongs were at the front door—not that he’d wear them when they were there. Bare feet were pretty much the norm too.
Eyeing Katy’s arse in her cut-off jean shorts as she bent over to strap on her sandals, Connor’s grin faded, his libido fighting with the knowledge he couldn’t do anything to reveal they were together. Nick and Emma knew, but if anyone else found out? No, distance was the name of the game.
Levi wrapping his arms around Connor from behind had him leaning into the other man. “Hey, you okay?”
“Yeah, just thinking that I can’t touch either of you today. It’s gonna suck.” Connor sighed, and Levi held him closer.
“It will, but I’ll steal you away for a few. There’s no way I can go a day either, especially when I’m not gonna be here this week.” Levi nuzzled his back and dropped a kiss between his shoulder blades. Katy joined them, hugging Connor close.
“My brother will be there too.” The disapproval in Katy’s tone rang loud and clear. She and her brother, Jonathan, didn’t get along. Connor had always wanted a sibling, so he’d never understood how someone as loving as Katy could have it in her to avoid her brother like the plague, especially when she saw her parents regularly. But then he’d met Jonathan, and he understood why. The total opposite of Katy’s playful, laid-back feistiness, her brother was high-strung and critical of everything. Judgemental was his middle name. He had hoped they’d be able to put off the inevitable reunion a few more months, but Nick was big on family, and he’d insisted on inviting his other cousin to his party. So now, he not only had to keep his distance, but listen to Katy’s brother and his wife brag on about how wonderful their life was, and how he’d need to get himself a career so he could live the great Australian dream, whatever the hell that was supposed to be. If he asked Jonathan, his first suggestion would be to stop living in peoples’ spare rooms.
Levi drove as Katy balanced the box containing the cake on her knees and Connor sat in the back. He’d laughed when he’d first seen Katy’s creation. Nick was the eldest of the cousins, and apart from Mike who was a few weeks older, he was also the oldest in their group of friends. And apparently, at thirty-two Depends underwear and Viagra were critical. Katy’s recreation of both in the form of a two-tiered cake was pretty ingenious and about as photo-realistic as you could get when icing was involved.
Levi had managed to get the cake stored in the cupboard Emma had cleared for them when Nick barged into the kitchen. “Hey, guys. Didn’t realize you’d arrived. Come on out back. Con, you can put your guitar down anywhere and that beer’ll go in the Esky outside.”
Motioning for Emma to go first, Connor followed, Levi and Katy bringing up the rear. Most of the guests had already arrived. Mike and his kids, together with Nick’s brother Brett and his twins were in the pool, Jonathan and his wife, Elsie, sitting off to one side. There were a bunch of other people too. Connor didn’t know them, but they seemed friendly enough, raising their beers to him as he followed Emma out onto the deck. Lined up in the shade were some coolers filled with ice and bottles of drinks. “Pop your beer in there, Con.” Emma motioned to them. On his knees, he opened the six-packs they’d brought and shoved the bottles in the ice.
“I’ll get some music on, hey, babe?” Nick asked Emma, holding her close.
“I’ll do it, mate,” Levi replied. “You enjoy.”
“Cool. I’ll get the barbie started in a few. Might have a game of footy first though. You up for it?”
“Absolutely.” Katy grinned, making Connor shake his head and laugh.
“Great, I’ll grab the ball.”
Flo Rida’s “Good Feeling” pumped out of the sound system Nick had hooked up outdoors. If the little old lady who lived next door to Nick wasn’t rocking out in the backyard with them, Connor would be worried she’d complain about the noise. Instead, Connor smiled and wandered across the grass to say hello to Cam and Maxi. But he was distracted by the sight on the other side of the fence. Soaking wet, two men hugged hard, totally oblivious to the world around them as they kissed each other like their lives depended on it. The blond one had his hands in the o
ther’s long hair, while the darker-haired dude slid his into the taller one’s boardies. They were beautiful together, so fuckin’ passionate and full of life and love. Connor’s heart skidded to a halt as did his footsteps while he watched them. God, he longed for that—to be able to stand in the middle of the street with Levi and Katy and kiss the ever-loving-fuck out of them. He didn’t want to hide. He didn’t want to be their dirty little secret, but what could he do? It’d never change. And he knew that going into this thing with them. Didn’t mean he couldn’t wish for it all.
The men moved, turning towards them and Connor’s mouth dropped open. Holy shit. He grinned and jogged out of the gate, yelling out, “Ford, my man. That you?”
Connor watched his cousin break away reluctantly, but the smile he flashed at Connor let him know he hadn’t screwed up by interrupting them. “Connor, great to see you,” Ford greeted him, his British accent not as strong as the last time they’d spoken years ago.
“Likewise.” He grinned, so damn happy that his only family—well, the only one he wanted to see anyway—was standing before him. Ford stepped away from the man Connor recognized as Reef Reid and hugged him hard. “It’s been far too long.”
Taking the other man’s hand in his, Ford spoke again. “Sweet, this is my cousin, Connor O’Reilly. Con, my boyfriend, Reef Reid.”
Connor laughed when Reef shook his hand, staring between himself and Ford. They looked alike—even more so as they’d grown up. There was no mistaking they were related, even with the height difference between the two of them.
“Holy shit,” Katy breathed from behind them. “And you think Nick and I look alike. You guys could be twins.”
“Right?” Reef said to her smiling, as she hooked her arm through Connor’s. Having her there with him, showing him some affection—it filled him with a warmth that made the butterflies in his stomach flutter hard. He smiled down at her, knowing that the love he had for her was written all over his face. He wanted to pick her up and kiss her, love her, but he didn’t. Barely. Reef spoke again, and he looked at the other man, trying to dispel the image that had just popped into his mind of he, Levi, and Katy walking along the beach hand in hand.
“Good to meet you, Con.”
“I’m Katy, Con’s friend.” Connor flicked his gaze towards Katy again, and she instinctively leaned closer. The heat in her eyes was unmistakeable and, God, did Connor want to take her up on her invitation.
“Come inside and meet everyone,” Con murmured without being able to tear his eyes away from Katy. He motioned to the house he’d just come from and began walking.
In a loud enough voice that Cam and Maxi, Nick and Emma and Levi would hear—the closest group to the back gate—Connor called out, “Guys, meet Ford, my cousin, and his partner, Reef. They’re here from Kiwiland for a few weeks.” Turning to Ford and Reef, he grinned. “We’ll test ya on names later, but the only other person you really need to know is Levi, my best mate and Katy’s partner.” Connor motioned to Levi who sauntered towards them. Connor bit his lip to stop the appreciative hum escaping just as Katy tightened her grip on his arm. Levi was effortlessly gorgeous—ripped muscles, dark blond hair, and smooth golden skin that he wanted to lick.
“Damn, you’re all freaking beautiful,” Reef muttered under his breath, making Levi break out in a laugh as he held out his hand in greeting.
“G’day, Reef. Hey, Ford, nice to meet you. Nick, Katy’s cousin, is gonna throw some burgers on the barbie in a few. Beer’s in the Eskies over there. Chuck yours in there too, if you like.” Levi motioned to the coolers lined up in the shade. “We’re about to play a game of footy. You guys in?”
Reef’s wicked grin at Ford, and Ford’s smile back was contagious. Levi tossed an arm around Connor’s shoulders and squeezed him tight for the briefest of moments before ripping his singlet off and carelessly tossing it onto the grass. Connor almost swallowed his tongue watching the other man jog out the gate.
“Looks like I’m playing against him then, huh?” Katy mumbled. Connor paused and looked down at her before barking out a laugh when she flicked her shirt.
“I’d pay good money to watch you play skins, Cupcake,” he teased.
“Shut up, doofus.” She nudged him and reached down to slip off her sandals before shouting, “Okay, boys, let’s do this.”
Connor followed her in a daze out the gate and onto the sand. Ten of them—five on each side—were lining up to play, Mike in the centre holding the ball. Placing it on the ground, he used his foot to roll it back into Levi’s waiting hands, and the scrambling began. Katy ran behind him as Connor charged for Levi, readying to tackle him. The ball was passed away and Connor diverted, running for one of the other players. Sand flew in the air as they sprinted across it, racing after a ball being tossed between players. Wind in his face, salt in the air, his heart beating hard as he pumped his legs fast, Connor grinned. This was life. Friends and family, having fun. This is what he’d been defending, sacrificing those years for. The war wasn’t over—hell, it’d probably continue for decades as the world tried to rid itself of those crazy bastards—but Connor wanted to live. He wanted to love.
Reaching long, Levi got his fingers on the ball, barely three feet from the makeshift try line. It was a shoe-in that he’d cross the line, but it didn’t stop Connor going in for the tackle. Bending, he wrapped his hands around Levi’s middle and let his weight drop, pulling the other man down with him. Levi slammed the ball down on the ground and yelled out in triumph.
“Lucky pass,” Connor muttered as he stood and dusted himself off.
“Superior skill, babe.” Levi slapped his arse and winked at him before sauntering off back to the middle of the field. The few people around him didn’t bat an eyelid, but Connor’s skin prickled in awareness. Blowing out a breath, he picked up the ball and kicked it toward his team’s try line, aiming for Nick’s outstretched hands. The other man caught it easily and passed it to Katy, who tucked it under her arm and sprinted. She was small but fast. Dodging the bodies of the men hurling themselves at her, she crossed the line and planted the ball down, arms raised in victory as she shook her cute little arse.
Soon they had Cam and Maxi, and two people who he learned were Emma’s sister-in-law and her PA, join them on the makeshift field. There were a few tries The King would be proud of, but the rest were disastrous. And the plays? God awful. But it was hella fun. Sweaty, out of breath and covered in sand, Connor needed water, so he was relieved when Nick called a time-out. Making their way back through to the yard, Connor brushed off all the dry sand he could, before stripping off his shirt and standing under the outdoor shower to rinse off the rest.
“So how’re you settling in since you’ve been back?” Ford asked him as Connor handed them both a bottle of water from the Eskies.
“Yeah, good.” Connor nodded, smiling as they stood in the sun to dry off. “I’ve got regular gigs at a couple of pubs and cafes a few nights a week. I’m living with Katy and Lee, and that’s working out great.”
“And Lee’s the same Levi who you’ve been friends with since you were a kid?” Ford queried.
“Yeah. We’ve been mates since we were five.” Connor looked over his shoulder at his lover and smiled, Levi grinning back. Steering the conversation away from himself, he asked the two of them, “Ford said you two met on the slopes. How’d that happen?”
A longing filled him when Ford wrapped his arms around Reef from behind and pulled the man back against him. Nuzzling their heads together when Reef turned side-on, the snowboarder smiled. “He was my heli-skiing guide when I holidayed in New Zealand. We got stuck in a snowstorm while we were on the slopes and we camped out in a ranger’s hut for a few days while the blizzard passed. Then this one got hit by an avalanche and the rest is history.”
He’d heard about the avalanche, knew that Ford was injured, but not too seriously. “So what, cabin fever?” Connor teased his cousin.
“Hey, don’t knock the D until you’ve trie
d it.” Ford gave as good as he got, making Connor choke on his drink, but his demeanour had changed on a dime, becoming defensive, and maybe a little aggressive. “Dude, if you’ve got a problem—”
Connor held up his hand, halting Ford in his tracks. The other man had tensed, the opposite of what Connor wanted. “Mate,” he whispered, grabbing Ford’s arm and dragging him away from the others into a more private nook in the yard. Reef followed, standing shoulder to shoulder with Ford, clearly backing his lover up. “I’m bi, you don’t need to convince me. I’m not judging you, dammit.” Connor scrubbed his face and looked around. “But keep it to yourself. Not many people in this crowd know, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
“Do Katy and Levi know? You’re not hiding from them, are you?” Ford asked, concerned.
“Yeah, they know.” Connor let out a breath. “Can I ask you a question, Reef? About when you came out?”
“Sure, anything.”
“Why’d you do it when you did? Why not earlier? Or not at all? Why not keep your relationship a secret?”
Reef smiled, his dimples showing, and Ford nuzzled closer. “No, I’d done enough hiding.” He paused and looked at Ford, the love in his gaze palpable. “And we were ready to move on.” Reef pressed a soft kiss on his man and turned back to Connor. “I’m actually surprised we didn’t get outed earlier.”
“You wanna come out, Con?” Ford asked him gently, then shook his head. “Sucks that we even have to do that. Straight people don’t have to make some grand announcement, but apparently, the rest of us do or we’re closet cases. And it happens every time you meet someone new.” Reef stroked his fingers through Ford’s hair, comforting him without even realizing it. God, Connor wanted what they had—so much so it hurt—but fuck, that was so damn selfish. Why couldn’t he be satisfied with what he had? Levi wasn’t hiding him because he was ashamed of him; it was because the world wouldn’t understand and Levi would lose everything he’d worked for. Connor got it. He agreed that Levi didn’t have much of a choice. But it still hurt.