Ethan also made a lot of eyes at the man in general, Randy couldn’t help noticing.
Randy couldn’t fault his husband. Lance wasn’t hard to look at in the slightest. He was tall, blond, bright-eyed, and full of smiles, though Randy knew from experience if you poured one whiskey too many into him, shadows started to fall around the edges of Lance’s sunny disposition, letting you glimpse some of the darker edges of what he’d endured. Like Randy, he’d left home before he finished high school, though he was twenty-three now. If he stopped smiling and you caught him with one of those shadows, he could look as old as Ethan. But most of the time he did smile, and Randy got the sense that so long as the man could keep building himself a new family and sense of center, he would be all right.
The man did love to be flirted with, so when Randy came up to offer him his Randy trick or treat, he didn’t hold anything back. He tossed his Santa sack on top of the bar, leaned an elbow onto the rail, and gave Lance a heady wink. “Trick or treat, sugar. What’ll you have?”
Lance gave Randy a lingering once-over as he pulled a pint. “What are my options?”
Randy ran a thumb over his lip and lifted an eyebrow. “Well, for that menu, I’ve got to get clearance from the man upstairs. By that I mean my husband, of course. For you though, Lance, I will happily get clearance.”
He honestly thought they were still playing a game, but Lance’s teasing smile faded as he passed his customer the drink and came closer, leaning over to speak so only Randy could hear him. “Do you think…Ethan could be put on that menu too?”
Randy’s stomach fluttered, and with Lance this close, faint tendrils of desire teased him as well. The man was quite handsome. He hadn’t thought about Playtime with Bartender before, but he damn well was now. “He could be. I gotta tell you, though, I’m a selfish husband. If I negotiate this, I want to come along too.”
Lance gave Randy a come on look. “He wouldn’t do it if you weren’t there, which is part of the reason I respect him so much.” He was speaking in hushed tones, but there was no mistaking the rumble of want in his voice. “Obviously I’m not interested in getting in the way of the two of you. He’s just so hot.”
“Can’t say I disagree.” Randy tapped his fingers on top of the bar, trying to keep his cool. It was tough. This was a pretty thrilling development, but it had some red flags too. “He’s not going to like that you’re an employee.”
“I know. Trust me, I know. He’s so ethical. I love that about him, except for how it’s cock-blocking me. I’ve seen you two take guys away for threesomes before, and I’ve thought more than once about quitting my job so I could be one of them. You always look like you’re having such a good time, and so do the guys who go with you. I’ve had so many damn fantasies about going to bed with the two of you. I know exactly what I want from you both. It’s so unfair, though. I love this job, but I really want a chance to have your husband tell me to suck your dick.”
It was a good thing Randy was sitting, because that comment would have made his knees wobbly. “Are you trying to manipulate me into getting your way, young Lance?”
Lance raised his eyebrows innocently. “Why, is it working?”
Randy grunted and adjusted himself. “What if he says no—what if he tells you that you have to choose? What if you can’t have both? Which is more important to you?”
Lance sighed. “The job. I’m going to keep thinking about it, though.”
He was so earnest and determined, and clumsy in his attempts to be suave. Randy kind of loved the kid all the more for it. “I’ll talk to him. That’s all I can promise.”
“Well, that’s more than I honestly ever dreamed of, so thanks for the thrill. I won’t be sleeping tonight, for sure.”
“Why wait?” Randy pushed out of his seat and stood. “I’ll go ask him right now.”
Lance began to panic. “Now? I’m too nervous.”
“You think you’re going to be less nervous with age?” Randy waved at him as he headed out of the bar. “Back in two ticks. Hold that thought.”
He left Lance looking whey-faced, holding an empty glass.
Ethan was in his office as Randy had suspected he’d be, checking email. He glanced up when he saw Randy, then smiled and shut the laptop. “Hello there. How’s day one going? I heard you’ve been handing out the goodies. Having fun?”
“All kinds of it.” Randy sat on the corner of his desk and nudged Ethan’s thigh with his own. “Say. Question for you. Tell me how you feel about that new bartender. As in, how you feel about him.” He put a lewd emphasis on the word. “For the record, no cop-out answers. I’ve seen you eyeing his ass.”
Ethan threaded his fingers over his chest as he sat back in his chair. “He’s handsome, and yes, he has a quality backside. I won’t deny that. As for the man himself, I find him to be decent, pleasant to have around, and a valuable addition to our team.”
“What would you think about doing more than looking?”
Ethan went still and met Randy’s gaze carefully. “I think I don’t mix business and pleasure.”
Randy sat in the chair nearest Ethan’s desk, sprawling into the leather. “Here’s the thing, Slick. You’re not wrong to have those principles. I think nine times out of ten they’re good rules to live by.”
“But you think in this instance it’s a different situation. Why?”
“I’m not entirely sure, I’ll be honest. Something about the way he described how much he wanted this, mostly. I guess what I’m saying is it wouldn’t hurt to give him an interview before you reject him.”
Ethan pursed his lips. “I can’t say I’m impressed that he’s prioritizing getting laid over his job. This disappoints me a little. I thought better of him.”
“Oh, he made it clear if you made him choose, he’d come down on the side of the job, no contest.”
Ethan blinked, then sighed as he settled deeper into his chair. “Well. That’s something, I suppose. Though I still don’t know. He’s young, far younger than me, and he looks up to me as a kind of mentor. All reasons that, regardless of anything else, my answer should be no.”
Randy grunted. “There’s no law that says you can’t fuck an employee. It’s not smart as a general rule, but like I said, you give him a good grilling before you go anywhere. If you decide to go for it, you set firm boundaries. It could be okay. He’s the same damn age as Sam, and you fuck him without qualm. As for mentoring, you own a damn casino, not teach kindergarten.”
Ethan said nothing, only ran his long index finger over his upper lip. He had the same interested gaze as Lance did.
Randy went in for the kill, sliding back to his perch at the edge of the desk, placing a hand on Ethan’s arm, sliding a thumb beneath his husband’s sleeve to seek out his skin. “Let me bring him up to the office after his shift. You can ask him whatever you want. If you decide to bring up this potential arrangement, then that’s your call. If you don’t, you don’t.
Ethan glanced sideways at Randy. “Why are you pushing this so hard?”
“Because we haven’t had a new third in a while, and I had a feeling this could be interesting. I have even more of a feeling now that I’m looking at you. I love the way you get when you’re bossing another man around. It’s great when it’s me, but I enjoy being part of the team too. It’d be one thing if Mitch and Sam were around more, but they live too damn far away.” He grinned. “Besides. Lance really is hot.”
Ethan tapped his finger on his leg. “I’m not saying yes.” But Randy could tell by the dark light in Ethan’s gaze that he wasn’t saying no either.
Randy hummed to himself as he went back to the bar. Lance was still there and still blushing. He fidgeted as Randy approached. “Well?”
“Boss wants to chat with you in his office after your shift.” Randy winked.
“Fuck.” Lance threaded a hand through his hair and paced back and forth. He glanced at the clock. “Shit, my shift ends in twenty.”
Randy couldn’t guess
if Lance wanted his shift over sooner or later. He suspected maybe Lance didn’t know either. “Go up and talk with him the way you always do. This time I’m coming along. Maybe nothing will happen. Maybe something will. What you don’t need to do, though, is freak out. Ethan’s not that way, and you know it. The only way he’s going to let anything happen is if it’s right for everyone, and if it’s not, he’s going to act as if nobody ever brought it up.”
Lance nodded, but he also worried the edge of a bar towel, staring down at the rows of glasses glinting in the light. “It’s just…I mean, obviously I really want this. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’ve been fantasizing about this. But I also wasn’t lying when I said the job came first. I love my relationship with Mr. Ellison. I wouldn’t want to screw that up.”
“For what it’s worth, I understand the feeling is mutual.”
Lance blushed and acted flustered through the rest of his shift, and then Randy led the man upstairs to Ethan’s office, herding him toward the elegant set of double doors. Normally Randy let himself in, but tonight he had Lance knock because it seemed a fun part of the game.
“Come in,” Ethan called.
Ethan was still behind his desk, fussing with his computer, and he spared the barest of glances as they entered, but Randy knew his husband was well aware of who had knocked—he must have been watching the cameras that told him who was coming up the stairs—and that he was in no way unaffected by the encounter ahead of him.
Lance, Randy doubted, noticed any of this. He was too busy tucking his hands behind his back, rounding his broad shoulders, and playing demure puppy. “Good evening, Mr. Ellison. I hope you’ve had a good day.”
Ethan closed his computer with a smile. “I have, in fact.”
Lance eased somewhat. “Did that deal you were worried about last week go through? The arrangement with the catering? I’ve been thinking about that ever since you told me about it the other day.”
“It did. Your suggestion for how to deal with them was helpful as well. I’m convinced it was part of the reason things went so smoothly.”
Lance beamed. “Really? Oh, I’m so glad.”
“You’re an asset to Herod’s. I’d like to move you into management as soon as it’s suitable, if you’re interested.”
“I’ll do whatever you want me to do, Mr. Ellison.” Lance flushed in pride and naked worship. His tongue stole out to wet his bottom lip. “Whatever you want, Mr. Ellison.”
Ethan’s gaze darkened, and the air became charged. Randy held his breath. Holy shit, go, Slick! But just when he thought Ethan might downshift into action, he pressed the button on his phone intercom instead.
“Sarah, would you please send up dinner for three from the restaurant?” As she replied with her efficient Yes, sir, Ethan kept his finger off the intercom. “Steak, chicken, or pasta, Lance?”
“Um, steak?” Lance said softly, then added, “Please.”
“How do you like it prepared?”
“Medium.”
Interesting. Randy hadn’t ever watched the two of them interact this directly. Lance was all cheeky and sparkles with Randy, but wow, he really was full-on puppy for Ethan, wasn’t he? That worried Randy a bit. He could see why his husband was concerned. Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all.
Though there had been that sexy come-on as well. Damn, this was a hard call. Randy was glad he wasn’t the one making it, though he felt bad now that he’d nudged Ethan into the position.
If his husband felt railroaded, he showed no signs. In fact, Ethan appeared quite relaxed as he pressed the button again to confirm their order. “Three New York strip dinners, two medium, one medium rare. Send an assortment of dressings with the salads, on the side. An extra basket of bread, please, and a bottle of that Shiraz we had last month. Oh, and three slices of chocolate cake and a carafe of coffee.”
“Right away, Mr. Ellison.”
“Thank you,” Lance said demurely.
Ethan waved this away and gestured to the couch as he rose. “Sit, please.”
Lance claimed one end of the sofa, Ethan the opposite side. Randy plunked down in a wingback chair across from them, settling in for the show. Until the food arrived, Ethan spoke to Lance about the most mundane topics in the world. They talked about the casino, how well Lance was adapting to life in Las Vegas, where he was staying, what he’d done with his friends recently—Ethan put them both at ease, cementing the relationship the two of them had.
It made Randy excited too, because something about the way Ethan kept talking made Randy sure this wasn’t simply idle chatter, that Ethan was leading Lance somewhere. Randy couldn’t wait to find out.
He got his first peek once the food arrived and they began to eat. Ethan had Randy pour the wine, giving everyone a half a glass, and before Lance could so much as pick up his, Ethan spoke.
“Regarding what Randy brought you up here to discuss—I want you to understand there is no need for anything to happen, that everything can continue to go on exactly as it is. If you decide you’d like to play some games with the two of us, this is a separate matter entirely and in no way affects your job or promotion, nor your friendship with me or Randy. At the same time, if you feel a relationship with us has made your position here awkward, I will help you find somewhere else to work. In short, you hold all the chips, Lance, and you alone decide how to spend them.”
Lance’s hand shook as he picked up his glass and drank deeply. Now Randy knew both why Ethan had waited for the wine to drop this bomb and why Randy had only been allowed to give Lance half a glass.
“I…appreciate that.” Lance let out a shaky laugh. “It’s like I told Randy. I’m not going to be shy about it—I’m interested in you. Both of you, but especially you. It’s just…I hold you in such a high regard, and I value my position here. I wouldn’t want to mess anything up between us.” His cheeks stained with a blush. “That’s not me trying to butter you up either. I honestly mean that.”
Ethan regarded Lance carefully over the lip of his glass. “I appreciate that, and I assure you, it’s the only reason we’re having this conversation. This is new territory for me. Randy and I can find casual bed partners easily. I don’t want to jeopardize either our friendship or our working relationship. Despite what I said about helping you find a new position if this doesn’t work out, selfishly I would like to keep you around.” He sighed. “Though now I suspect I won’t be able to get this out of my mind if I refuse the idea out of hand, so I’m on my knees either way.”
Lance was beet red now. “I never meant to put you in such a position—”
Ethan held up a hand. “It’s fine. Please, dismiss it from your mind for the time being. I don’t want you upset.”
“Well, I don’t want you upset either.”
Randy took a slow drink of his wine to hide his smile. This was like watching Ethan with Sam, but it wasn’t exactly the same. It was exciting to see something new. Ethan was excellent with a third in their bed—or in the case of Sam and Mitch, four—and Ethan always led the game, but whatever this was with Lance had Ethan at his level best. Probably it was because the stakes were so high, with Lance being an employee. That was the thing with Ethan—he was better with pressure.
They continued to chat through the meal, Ethan lulling Lance back into dull conversation, but Randy could tell Lance had forgotten none of what Ethan had brought up before, that the bartender was hyperfocused on the idea of something happening, that he alone was the one who would decide if something would. Randy wanted to purr, the scene was so delicious.
Then, as they finished their dessert and settled into their coffee, things began to heat up.
“Randy,” Ethan said, addressing him for the first time since they’d begun eating dinner, “come join us on the couch.”
Randy did as he was instructed, easing himself between the two men as gently as possible. Lance flushed and sat rigid on the edge of the cushion.
Ethan pressed a hand on the man’s arm. �
��It’s all right.” He stilled and gave Lance a meaningful look. “Nothing is happening yet. I merely wanted Randy involved in the discussion from this point forward. Unless you already know you’d like to leave? Because you can. I’ll keep my word, as I promised you. Nothing will change, neither our friendship nor your employment.”
Lance’s gaze was heavy-lidded. “No, I want…” He licked his lips. “I don’t need to discuss anything. I want it.”
“We do need to discuss some things, if that’s the case. To start, I need you to state clearly, out loud, that you’re aware that what we do right now has nothing to do with your employment or advancement and never will.”
“I understand this has nothing to do with my job,” Lance repeated.
“Additionally, this is a bit of consensual fun between adults. I am happily partnered with Randy and he with me. Nothing we do tonight nor any night will change that fact. Do you understand?”
Lance nodded vigorously. “I absolutely understand. I would never come between the two of you. Well—I’d like to come between you, but only literally. Not figuratively.”
Randy laughed. “God, he’d be fun in bed with Sam.”
“Five of us in bed? I doubt we’d survive.” Ethan turned his attention back to Lance. “Finally, I need you to assure me you’ll alert me if we do something you don’t care for. For tonight we’ll keep things simple and no will suffice, but in the event we continue this in the future, you’ll need to select a safe word.”
Now Lance looked hungry. “I agree to all of this. I’m ready. Does this mean we’re starting? Oh my God. Are we starting?”
Ethan put a hand boldly on Lance’s thigh. “We’re starting.” Lance shut his eyes, but when Ethan withdrew from the couch to sit on a nearby chair, Lance opened them again, bereft.
The Twelve Days of Randy Page 5