by A. T Brennan
Isaac laughed as he followed me out of the apartment, waiting as I locked the door for the last time before handing him the key to give to his brother.
“There are so many things I can say to that.”
“Shut up.” I punched his arm with a laugh. “Come on. Jonah should be home from work. I’m thinking he can help us wash up.”
“Oh hell yeah.” Isaac nodded. “And I think you’ve earned a little extra attention.”
“Think so?” I raised my eyebrow at him as we headed toward his car.
“Definitely.”
“Yay me.” I felt my face flush as I thought of all the things Jonah and Isaac could do to me in the shower.
* * * * *
We were late getting to the party.
Jonah had just gotten home when we arrived, and after Isaac had announced that we needed to clean up, Jonah had caught on to Isaac’s not-so-subtle hints.
Isaac had almost dragged me up to the master bathroom, and once we were inside he’d stripped me naked. Then he’d picked me up and set me on the counter to wait as he and Jonah had kissed and undressed each other.
Watching them together, their hands sliding over each other’s bodies, their lips and tongues tangling together was one of my favorite things to do. I’d had to stop stroking my dick when Isaac had dropped to his knees to suck Jonah off for a while.
Then they’d turned their attentions to me.
Jonah had pulled me off the counter, and bent me over as Isaac had slipped in front of me. With my mouth full of Isaac’s cock, Jonah had quickly prepped me with his fingers and then slipped inside me.
I loved being connected to them this way, with one in my mouth and the other filling me until they both came. It was one of my favorite positions, and my men loved it too.
Today, they’d had something else in mind.
Both men had taken turns, switching off as they’d fucked me through two orgasms before bending me over the counter so they could finish jerking each other off on my ass.
Showering after had been a feat of sheer will and determination. I’d been so spent and satisfied all I’d wanted to do was crawl into bed and snuggle with my men, but we had a party to get to.
Once we were clean and dressed Jonah had driven us over to the bar, and after some playful ribbing from Rhys about why we were late, we’d gotten our drinks and joined the others.
The first time I’d brought both men to work to meet my friends had been a little nerve-wracking. I’d already told them I was in a poly relationship and everyone had been cool about it, but I’d still worried they’d think it was weird when they saw us together.
I’d been wrong.
Everyone already knew Isaac and had met Jonah, and the transition from them being my friends to my boyfriends had been seamless. Everyone had welcomed them and they’d instantly become part of the family. Jonah and Layla had even signed up to take a cooking class together after becoming fast friends.
It was incredible, having everyone who meant something to me together, and I couldn’t imagine anything else making me this happy.
“I’m going to go look for that bottle of wine.” Blaze tore his eyes away from Galen’s and looked at Evan.
“Which bottle?” Even asked innocently, a smile on his lips.
“That bottle of pinot from last week. I think I put it in the wrong place and I don’t want to screw up the inventory.”
“Of course, that bottle.” Evan nodded, not bothering to cover up his grin. “By all means, don’t let me stop you from correcting an inventory error.”
Blaze’s cheeks flushed pink as he nodded and then caught Galen’s eye. “Help me find it?”
“Yeah. Sure.” Galen jumped up and the two of them headed to the back room.
As they passed me I gave Blaze an exaggerated wink, and laughed when he shot me a death glare. It didn’t quite have the same effect when his face was flaming red and I laughed harder.
“Real subtle.” Isaac chuckled as he stepped closer to me, his arm around my waist in a casual hold.
“Maybe we should go and check out some inventory one of these nights,” I suggested coyly as Jonah draped his arm over my shoulder and kissed the side of my head.
“One of these nights?” Jonah asked playfully.
“I’d say tonight, but you guys already fucked me within an inch of my life. I don’t think I’d survive round two.”
“I think you will.” Isaac leaned closer, his breath tickling my ear. “I think you’ll be begging for it by the time we get home.”
“I think he’s right. I know I can think of a few things we haven’t done to you yet today,” Jonah whispered in my other ear.
A bolt of desire shot up my spine and I bit back a moan as my dick twitched.
“Fuck.” I glanced between them, loving the looks of pure lust on their faces. “You’re killing me.”
“Good.” Isaac dropped a kiss on my lips and pulled back, his expression neutral and happy again.
Jonah didn’t say anything, he just kissed my temple and chuckled softly.
A few minutes later Blaze and Galen came out of the storeroom, looking disheveled and happy. Rhys and Tristan hooted as Zander gave the embarrassed men a high-five.
“I wonder who will be next?” I asked, smiling at everyone’s antics. “Blaze is getting married, I have you guys... it makes me wonder who’ll find love next.”
“Well, I know who’s going to be getting rings next.”
Isaac and I both turned to Jonah in surprise.
Because it was illegal to have two spouses we’d decided that marriage wasn’t something we wanted. There was no way two of us could commit to each other and leave the third out, so it wasn’t even a question. We’d danced around the idea of having a commitment ceremony at some point, but only as an arbitrary thought.
“Jonah?” I asked when he turned to catch Evan’s eye and then nodded.
“What’s...” Isaac trailed off when he saw Evan walking toward us with three ring boxes in his hands.
My heart sped up as I stared at first Evan, then Jonah.
“Babe?” Isaac asked as Jonah moved to stand in front of us. He took two of the boxes from Evan, and handed one to Isaac and I before taking the third for himself.
“Cody, Isaac,” Jonah started, and it was only then I noticed that everyone was watching us. “Every day that I have you in my life I’m a better man. You complete me in a way I never thought possible, and I love you more than words can say. We share our love, our lives, our home, and I would be honored if you’d wear these rings so we can carry a piece of that love even when we’re apart.”
Tears filled my eyes as I clutched the ring box in my hand.
“Yes!” Isaac’s excited voice rang out beside me, knocking me out of my momentary shock.
“Yes.” I nodded, my voice breaking with emotion.
Isaac and I launched ourselves at Jonah at the same time and he caught us with a laugh, his arms wrapping around our bodies. I lost track of who I was kissing at any given moment, until several people coughed, bringing us back to reality.
Sheepishly I stepped away and looked around the bar. Everyone was smiling at us, and when I caught Blaze’s eye, he winked.
“Did you know about this?” I asked as I sat back on my stool. “If not then I’m sorry we stole your thunder.”
“Jonah talked to us last night.” He nodded.
“I wanted your family here.” Jonah gave us a tender smile and then glanced over his shoulder.
I felt Isaac tense beside me, but before I could ask what was wrong Noah stepped out from behind Tristan and Rhys.
“Congratulations, big brother,” Noah said as he came over to give Isaac a big hug.
Isaac beamed and as everyone echoed their well wishes, I turned my attention to the ring box in my hand and opened it.
Inside was a beautiful white gold ring. It was simple and thin, but the band was slightly waved. I pulled the ring out and looked over at Isaac and Jonah. Th
ey were each holding an identical ring, only Isaac’s was a little bigger than mine, and Jonah’s was even bigger.
“I had them made.” Jonah held his ring out and motioned for us to put ours in his hand.
I watched as he dropped Isaac’s ring inside his, and then fit mine into Isaac’s before he carefully spun them until they lined up perfectly, like nesting dolls.
“Oh, Jonah.” Isaac breathed as he looked at them.
“They’re perfect.” I fought the tears welling up in my eyes and swallowed the happy sob that was rising in my throat.
“And I had them engraved.” Jonah handed us back our rings and I eagerly flipped it in my hand so I could look at the underside.
‘Three Hearts, One Love’
As I read the inscription I couldn’t stop a few of my tears from falling, and when Jonah took the ring from me and slipped it on my finger, giving me a kiss before doing the same for Isaac, I knew that I would never be alone again.
I had two men who loved me, who I loved more than anything, and I had a family. My days of being afraid and lonely were long gone, and everything I’d been through had brought me to this perfect moment.
Preview of Book 3 – Breaking Free
Chapter One
Zander
Ding.
“Fucking phone.”
I didn’t need to pick up my cell to know who was texting me. I wasn’t in the mood to answer, and belatedly wished I’d put the damn thing on silent when I’d gotten home.
Ding. Ding. Ding.
“Goddammit Rhys.” I grabbed my phone and flipped it over so I could see the screen. I’d been right. There were four new messages from Rhys, and that didn’t count the four he’d sent me over the last hour.
Ding. Ding.
With a muttered curse I opened the message thread. Rhys was nothing if not persistent, and if I didn’t answer the texts then I knew a phone call was next.
Dude! You’re 30 mins late!!!
Earth to Zander!!!
Quit ignoring me. I’m not giving up until you answer.
For fuck’s sake asshole. Your friends are celebrating something huge and you’re being a dick.
Those were the first messages. Now I was getting into the ones he’d decided to send in rapid fire. They were pictures.
There was one of Blaze and his new husband Galen, their arms wrapped around each other as they laughed about something and looking as happy as any newlyweds should.
The next one was of Cody and his boyfriends, Isaac and Jonah. Isaac was kissing Cody’s neck as Jonah had his arms wrapped around both of his men, and they too looked happy as fuck.
There were a selfie of Rhys holding a ridiculous pink drink with an umbrella and several mini swords holding cherries. He was giving the camera a pouty look, even though his blue eyes were sparkling.
He’d snapped a photo of Layla talking to a petite woman with black hair, each holding drinks in their hands and smiling flirtatiously. There was also one of the whole group taken with what suspiciously looked like a selfie stick.
The last picture was the one that made me feel like a complete douchebag. It was a group photo of everyone at The Den, the bar Rhys, Blaze, Cody, Layla and I worked at, along with our friend Tristan and our boss and the bar owner Evan.
We were all in the picture, including me, because it had been taken at the shift change, only minutes before we’d left to meet up at Chimera. It was the gay bar/club that had opened after Envy, a sleazy gay club with a bad reputation for drugs and illegal activities had been shut down.
Last Friday Blaze and Galen had surprised everyone by going to the courthouse and getting married. The only people who knew had been Layla and Evan because they’d stood witness, and after the quick ceremony Blaze had shown up for his shift absolutely glowing.
It was now Tuesday and Rhys had organized a belated bachelor party for the men at Chimera on our slowest night so most of us could attend. Evan and Tristan were working, which wasn’t a surprise. Tristan was a veteran who struggled with PTSD and would never be able to handle being in a club, even on a Tuesday night. It would be too loud and crowded for him. Evan hated clubs. I’d known him for almost ten years and it was no secret that he’d rather gargle with bleach than set foot inside a club.
I didn’t hate clubs. They were a good release when I was in the right mood, but tonight was not one of my better nights. I’d spent the entire day trying to psych myself up to go and celebrate with my friends, who if I wanted to be honest with myself, were family, but I couldn’t seem to get past my foul mood.
The idea of going out and being in a crowd of people listening to deafeningly loud music and dealing with flashing lights was bad enough. To be surrounded by people enjoying themselves while I was on the pity bus, made the outing seem downright unbearable.
Ding
Rolling my eyes I opened the newest text, then bit my lip as I read it.
I know what today is, and I’m sorry for pushing you. Come out, have a drink and see your friends. We love you, Z, and you need to be around people you love right now.
Rhys was notorious for having a sarcastic wit and a biting sense of humor, but he was also an incredibly caring man and picked up people’s moods better than most.
He was right. Sitting at home wallowing and thinking was going to drive me crazy. I might not enjoy it, but getting out and being around my friends would be therapeutic, and remind me that love still existed.
* * * * *
“You made it!”
It had taken me almost an hour to jump in a quick shower, change into some clubwear and get down to Chimera. I wasn’t feeling great, but the routine of getting ready had alleviated some of my earlier tension, and having a drunk Cody throw himself in my arms the moment I came up to where my friends were hanging out was pretty damn great too.
“Sorry it took so long,” I said in his ear as I hugged him back.
Six months ago Cody had been a scared and nervous twenty-one year old who could barely look strangers in the eye, and couldn’t handle being touched. Now he was a vivacious and outgoing twenty-two year old who embraced every aspect of life. His energy was infectious, and I was so fucking happy he’d found peace and broken free of his past.
I knew his boyfriends had played a big part in helping him heal from a childhood filled with sexual abuse, and I loved having the new and improved Cody around.
“No excuses, just dancing and drinking!” Cody gave me a smacking kiss on the cheek before letting go of me, only to be scooped up into Isaac’s arms.
“Hey, Zander,” Isaac greeted loudly so his voice carried over the music.
I waved my greeting since I didn’t feel like shouting, and laughed when Jonah came up behind both men and grabbed them in a big hug.
“Dancing time!” Cody exclaimed, shimmying his ass as he looked back at his men.
Jonah winked at me and swept his men out onto the dance floor as I chuckled. They were an unusual combination, but they were perfect together.
Cody was on the smaller side at five-nine and slender. With his blond hair and bright blue eyes he looked young and a little delicate. That was normally my type to the letter, but Cody was like a little brother to me and there’d never been anything sexual between us.
Isaac was a bit taller, and definitely broader. With his dark brown hair and eyes, not to mention his youthful beauty, he was also incredibly good-looking. He and Cody had been best friends for over a year before they started dating, and while it had been obvious to the rest of us that they had feelings for each other, it had taken Jonah to come into their lives before they could admit it.
Jonah was definitely not my type, but I could appreciate how handsome he was. He too had dark brown hair and eyes, but he was six-one and broad. He was also a decade older than Cody and seven years older than Isaac, but they fit perfectly together. After their engagement a few months ago, I couldn’t help wondering if a commitment ceremony was on the horizon.
“Mr. and Mr. Wells,” I
greeted with a grin as Blaze and Galen came back from dancing. They were both sweating and grinning, and sober.
As an alcoholic Blaze didn’t drink, and from what I could tell, Galen kept his drinking to a minimum around him. I didn’t know if it was in solidarity with Blaze or because he wasn’t a big drinker, but it was wonderful he was so understanding and supportive of his husband.
Blaze was another one who’d changed for the better when he’d found love. I’d known him for three years now, and while he’d always been happy and kind, before Galen had come into his life the spark that was so uniquely ‘Blaze’ had barely been a flicker.
At twenty-four Blaze was the second youngest at the bar, and from the moment I’d met him I’d felt a kinship with him that made me extremely protective of him. Blaze had struggled and suffered in his past, but Galen had helped him see that his time on the streets and the things he’d had to do to survive didn’t define him as a person. Blaze had helped Galen break free from his oppressive and emotionally abusive family.
Blaze reminded me of a wild child, in his looks at least. He wore his light brown hair so it brushed his shoulders, and he had a three quarter sleeve tribal tattoo on his right arm, and several more adorning his chest and sides. He also had his nipples pierced. Galen, on the other hand, was as clean cut as they came with his stylish brown hair, dark blue eyes and classic good looks, not to mention his charm and confidence.
“How are you doing tonight? You didn’t have to come if it’s too hard,” Blaze said in my ear as he pulled me into a hug.
If anyone understood painful anniversaries, it was Blaze.
“I’m okay. Took a little bit of prodding but I feel better already,” I answered honestly as I squeezed him back.
Just then the music changed from thumping house music to a pumping dance song, and the lights dimmed. Blaze pulled away and winked before turning toward the back of the club.
“What the fuck?” I asked Rhys as he came up to where I was standing with Blaze and Galen.
“I hope you brought a lot of singles.” Rhys grinned and pressed a cup of what looked like fruit punch in my hand.
“Go-go dancers?” I asked, taking the drink and looking out over the dance floor. It wasn’t until several spotlights lit up and illuminated a stage on the far side of the dance floor, not to mention several raised platforms near the bar and DJ booth that I realized what Rhys meant.