A Total-E-Bound Publication
www.total-e-bound.com
En Prise
ISBN # 978-1-78184-245-4
©Copyright Sean Michael 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright February 2013
Edited by Stacey Birkel
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination
and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or
places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of
the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound
Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil
proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator
of the artwork.
Published in 2013 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL,
United Kingdom.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This
story has a heat rating of Total-e-melting and a sexometer of 3.
This story contains 102 pages, additionally there is also a free excerpt at the end of the book
containing 9 pages.
Book three in the Chess series
Just when things seem to be at their best, disaster strikes. Will all the men of Chess survive?
It’s the holiday season and Jason is having the best Christmas he can remember in a long
time. He’s in love with Rook and settling in with Bishop and Knight, figuring out where he
fits and learning to love their appetites. He might even be feeling like he belongs.
Holiday bliss is followed by disaster, though, when Knight is involved in an accident and
hospitalised. Will Jason, Bishop and Rook be able to rally around their lover and each other?
Or will the strains put on their relationship tear them all apart?
Follow the moves made by the men of Chess and find out…
Dedication
As always, for my readers.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Popsicle: Unilever PLC
McDonald’s: McDonald’s Corporation
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Tom of Finland: Tom of Finland Company
Kiss: The Hershey Company
Styrofoam: The Dow Chemical Company
Criminal Minds: CBS Television Studios
UFC: Zuffa, LLC
Tim Horton’s: Tim Horton’s Inc.
ChapStick: Pfizer, Inc.
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
6
Chapter One
That was the biggest tree he’d ever seen.
Jason stared at Bish and Rook. “You’re not serious, guys? It’s like…eighty feet tall.”
Two blond heads turned towards him, and suddenly he knew how Knight felt
sometimes, with people looking at him like he’d just spoilt a party.
Rook slinked over and wrapped around him, not caring that they were in the middle of
the tree lot. Rook never did and if people didn’t like it, they could lump it. “Don’t you like it?
It’ll fill the living room perfectly!”
Rook was so warm and Jason hated being the spoilsport, but sometimes he felt like he
had to be the voice of reason. “It’s huge. Knight said…”
Knight had thrown a fit about even leaving his studio. He’d been…almost ugly about
the whole holiday thing. Jason hated to give him more ammunition to make a fuss, especially
this time of year.
Bishop snorted. “Knight is being bitchy. He’ll get over it.”
Rook nodded and looked at Bishop. “He needs a spanking and a good hard fuck.”
“I know what he needs, Rookie. Don’t worry, he’ll be sweet for the holidays.” Bishop
sounded sure. Bishop always sounded sure.
Jason shivered, partially from excitement, partially from nerves. “I’ve never had a tree
so big. Are there enough decorations?”
“If there aren’t, we’ll buy more!” Rook squeezed him tight and beamed at him. He
swore he could feel Rook’s hard-on through the layers of their coats. He made a note—
Christmas made Rookie horny. Of course, everything else did—why not the holidays, too?
“Careful, he’ll bring even more perverted balls from work,” Bishop warned, giving him
a wink.
“Oh, God. Tell me there aren’t porny ornaments.” Why did he think it was a vain hope?
Rook let go of him to bounce. “There so are!”
“Oh, man…” He shuddered to think. “Tell me there are rainbow lights at least?”
Bishop chuckled. “There are. And it’s a huge tree, so if there’s anything you want on it
that we don’t have, all you need to do is speak up.”
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Sean Michael
7
Rook nodded and bounced some more. “I love Christmas!”
Rolling his eyes, Bishop teased, “You love every day, Rookie.”
“I do.” Rook grinned and winked at Jason, slipped a hand in his. “What’s not to love?”
he asked gently.
Jason couldn’t help his smile, at all. Rook was… How could anyone on earth not adore
this man? Rook was like Christmas every single day.
“Come on, I’ve already paid for this thing. Let’s drag it home.” Bishop got them
moving.
“How on earth are you ever going to get it anywhere?” Eighty feet tall, at least. It was
insane. He wasn’t sure it was going to even fit in the house. Sure, the ceilings were high, but
this tree was like the ones you put in front of a town hall or somewhere. Outside.
“We’ll tie it to the top of the car. No, Rookie, don’t unwrap it until we get home or it’ll
be impossible.” Bish growled a bit as Rook pouted, but Rook stopped trying to undo the
twine holding the tree branches against the trunk. “Jase, if you grab the bottom end, I’ll get
the top.”
“You got it.” Between him and Bishop, they could lift a lot of weight, easily.
They got the tree to the car and Rook grabbed a blanket from the trunk, laying it on the
roof so they could hoist the tree up there without scratching the shit out of the paint job.
There were bungee cords, too—it looked like Bishop had thought of everything—and in
short order, they had the tree affixed to the top of the car. The only drawback was they
couldn’t completely close the windows.
“See?” Rook made ‘ta da’ motions with his hands.
Jason stared at Rook. “It’s huge.” There was easily three feet of tree hanging over the
front and back of the car.
“I like my trees like I like my men.” Rook glanced down at Jason’s crotch and rubbed
against his hip. “Huge.”
Bishop laughed. “Get in the car, Rookie.”
Jason’s cheeks were burning, and he slipped into the car before his lover. Rookie sat
next to him, resting his hand on Jason’s thigh, squeezing as Bish started the engine and
headed carefully onto the road. It felt good—Rookie always did make him feel that way.
“I… Do you guys have a Christmas meal tradition?” He wasn’t sure he could cook a
fancy meal.
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Sean Michael
8
“Uh-oh.” That was from Bishop up front and Rook actually blushed.
He was given a sheepish smile, Rook drawing circles on his thigh with his fingers. “I’ve
screwed it up three years in a row and we’ve wound up at McDonald’s,” Rook admitted.
“Ew.” Jason wrinkled his nose. He couldn’t think of a worse Christmas dinner. Well,
besides none, of course. “We could plan, like, snacky foods all day. Chips and dips and
cheese and meat and lots of sweets?”
“Oh! Why did we never think of that?” Rook beamed at him like he’d just put the stars
in the sky.
“Because you always insisted we needed to have a proper Christmas dinner?”
suggested Bishop. Rook stuck his tongue out at the man.
Jason chuckled. “It just seems easier and less stressful.” And hard to screw up, really.
They just had to make sure they got everything they needed on the grocery list.
“It does!” Rook kissed him, nice and slow and long. “We do Chinese food while we
decorate.”
God, Chinese food was fattening. Jason was going to have to hit the gym a lot.
Rook’s fingers danced up his thigh again, and he could feel a deliberate intention
behind the motion this time. He parted his legs, the movement instinctive now. Rook
moaned softly, cupping his package just as the car came to a stop.
“Leave him alone, Rookie, I need his help getting the tree inside.”
Rook pouted, but his eyes were twinkling.
Bishop laughed, but shook his head. “Someone needs to put the stand up and stuff,
right?”
Rook gave Jason’s prick a quick squeeze. “Yeah, yeah. It’s too bad we can’t decorate
until tomorrow.”
“We need to let the branches fall.” Bishop turned off the engine and pulled on his
gloves.
“I know. I’m just in the mood tonight.”
“You’re always in the mood,” teased Bishop.
Jason leaned close and whispered, “I… I like it, that you are.”
He got one of those beaming smiles that always melted him. “Love you, honey.”
“Yeah?” He needed to hear that, over and over. It was so overwhelming, being here
with the three of them, and their need.
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
9
Rook pressed close, looking into his eyes. “I do. With all my heart.”
“Would you two stop it? We have a tree.” Bish looked so put out.
Rook bit his bottom lip and looked up at Jason from under his eyelashes, then started
giggling softly. His own laughter started about the same time as Bishop’s. They wound up
sitting in the car in the driveway, laughing their fool heads off.
“God, I love Christmas,” murmured Rook, setting them all back off again.
Jason hopped out of the car as the pizza guy pulled up and got out of his car, a pile of
six pizza boxes in his arms. He looked at Rook, who shrugged. “Knight.”
“Still, six seems a little more than a single man can eat.” You never knew with Knight,
though.
“Maybe he wants to start a new night before tree-decorating tradition,” Rook
suggested, going over to pay for the pizzas.
Bish snorted. “This is his ‘don’t be too pissed at me’ offering. I hope there’s an all-meat
pie or two in there.”
“You guys good with the tree?” Rook asked, arms full of pizza.
“We’ve got it.” Jason untied the base.
“Cool. I’ll get the door.” Rook laughed. “If I can without dropping the pizzas.”
“Ring the bell and make Knight help.” Bishop dealt with the bungee cords in the
middle and top end of the tree.
Rook hooted. “He won’t help.”
“Then I will have to spank him.” Bish winked at Rook, then turned to Jason. “You ready
with your end? Let’s lift it off on three.”
Rook moved to the front door, banging on it with his foot. “Oy! Knight! Open up.”
The door flew open to reveal the dark-haired artist standing there, nearly naked, pale,
covered in paint. “My pizzas.”
“Jesus, Knight, what if I’d been the pizza delivery guy? Not to mention you’re going to
catch your death.” Rook pushed Knight back into the house, the words fading as they
disappeared out of view.
Jason watched and shook his head. He’d seen this, though. He knew about this. Knight
was almost done with the big paintings he’d been working on for his latest showing. Soon
there would be a well-loved, wickedly naughty Knight looking to play.
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
10
“He’s got good timing. Rook’ll want us all to be at our best for the holidays.” Bishop
gave him a smile. “It’ll be really nice, having you here with us this year.”
They’d asked him, in early December, if he had family he wanted to go spend the
holidays with. Somehow, some way, Jason had discovered that this was his home. It was
unnerving. But it also meant this was where he wanted to be for the holidays.
Rook hopped out from the door just as they were getting the tree there. “I’ve cleared a
path!”
They hauled the huge tree in to discover the house was cleaned up. Knight had been
busy. He was currently opening beers and slicing pizza as Rook directed them over to the
corner by the front window where room had been made for the massive tree. Rook was
rocking on the balls of his feet, looking happy.
Knight looked at the tree, nodding. “Looks good. I’m heading downstairs.”
“You have to have pizza with us!” Rook went over to Knight, circling his arm around
that skinny waist.
Knight squeaked. “You’re cold!”
“And you’re warm and mostly naked. You know those are two of my favourite things.”
Rook kissed Knight, and it was so sexy, the way Rook tugged on Knight’s lower lip as he
ended the kiss. “At least have pizza with us.”
“I bought all our favourites. I’m starving,” Knight admitted.
Jason chuckled and helped Bish get the tree steady in its stand. Knight fascinated him—
the man was so fucking complicated.
“Is the tree ready?” Rook asked.
Bish finished cutting away the mess of twine holding the huge tree together and
nodded. “Yep. Just gotta let the branches fall.”
“Excellent. Let’s eat!” Rook sat on the couch and patted the cushions on either side of
him.
“I’ll grab plates and forks and napkins,” Jason offered.
Knight met his eyes. “Can you get some Cokes, baby boy?”
“I’ll give you a hand,” Bish suggested, sliding fingers on the small of Jason’s back. The
touch was solid, warm, and good enough it made Jason catch his breath.
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
11
They made their way to the kitchen, Bish’s hand on his back the whole way. His cock
firmed, ached a little. Bish wasn’t his lover, not like Rook was, but the man fucked like no
one else, was naturally so strong and always made him feel good.
He leaned up to pull plates out of the cupboard and when he he’d put them down on
the counter, Bish turned him and pressed up against him. His kisses were always head-on
and full. Jason grabbed Bishop’s arms, holding on as Bish bruised his lips.
The kiss went on until he felt dizzy, then Bishop backed off and gave him a lazy grin.
“Been wanting to do that since the tree lot.”
Jason felt his cheeks heat. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Bish took another kiss then grabbed napkins to go with his plates before going
to the fridge for the Cokes. “We should go back before Knight does something perverse with
the pizzas.”
“Uh. Ew.” That was the nastiest thing he’d ever heard. Ever. He was hoping Bishop was
joking.
“I know. He gets bored quickly, you know?” Bish gave him a wry grin as they
wandered back to the living room. “And I can’t reel him in until he’s done this set of
paintings or his agent will kill me. Hell, he will.” Knight didn’t paint because he wanted to—
he needed to.
“He’s done.” Rookie was grinning ear to ear. “Barbara came by today and picked them
up for framing.”
Knight was sitting on the sofa, wrapped in a blanket, looking on edge in the same way
Jason had seen him the last time he’d finished a new batch of paintings.
“Oh, fucking A.” Bish moved over to where Knight sat, pulling the artist into his lap.
“You better eat well, I’m gonna ride your ass but good.”
Rook held a hand out to Jason, the offer to sit next to him clear. Jason passed out plates,
tossed Bishop the TV remote, then settled next to Rook. Rook grabbed a piece of Jason’s
favourite—extra veggies, all dressed—and offered him a bite. He opened up, tickled that
Knight had remembered, that Rook had. These men… They knew him.
Rook stole a bite from his slice and settled against him. Jason let one arm oh so casually
drape over Rook’s shoulders. That earned him a pleased hum and when he finished his first
piece, Rook handed him a second and grabbed a piece of double cheese for himself. The
grease on that was amazing, but it never seemed to matter what Rook ate.
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
12
“So you’re really all done?” Bish asked Knight. “We’re going to have a quiet, intense
Christmas?”
“I’m done. Barb says they’re good.” Knight looked so young.
Rook grinned and nodded. “I liked these a lot, but I’m not the expert.”
Jason wasn’t an expert at all, and he wasn’t sure that he’d liked the paintings in
question. The ones that Knight did for sale were…uncomfortable.
“We can leave that up to Barb,” suggested Bish, snagging what had to be his fourth slice
of all-meat pizza. Someone was going to have to work out hard tomorrow morning.
Knight nodded, then shrugged and chewed on his thumbnail. “I don’t know. You think
there are enough of them?”
“Was Barb happy?” Bish asked. When Knight nodded, he added, “Well, there you go.
There were enough and they were just right. She’s a barracuda and isn’t afraid to let you
know when she’s not happy, so it’s a win.”
Jason ate another piece of pizza, frowning as the sky outside darkened quickly. “Is the
weather supposed to get bad?”
“Yeah, that was why we wanted to get the tree early.” Rook bounced up and looked
out. “It’s gonna blizzard all right.”
“There’s plenty of wood for the fireplace, and food.” Knight sounded pleased.
Jason still worried, though. “Do you have to go into the shop tomorrow, Rook?”
Rook owned a series of sex toy emporiums, but loved to work there and pretend he was
an employee. It was weird. Charming, but weird.
Rook shook his head. “I don’t usually go in around the holidays. The shop is too busy
and we have lots of staff for that.”
“Oh, good. I was going to offer to go in for you.” He didn’t want Rook out in bad
weather.
Knight snorted.
“I was.” He loved Rook, damn it.
Rook cuddled and brought his face down for a kiss. “So good to me, honey.”
Jason had to be. He was stupid about Rook.
Rook turned one kiss into two, then three, beginning to rub against him. Naked,
dressed, anywhere, anytime—Rook was ready to go at the drop of a hat. Jason thought
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
13
maybe it was like a disease or something, if a disease could be good. Because this was good…
Rook was so good.
Rook straddled him, hands cupping his face for yet another breath-stealing kiss.
“Let him finish his supper, Rookie.” Knight sounded amused.
“He’s finished. He only ever eats three slices at a time.” Rook, who knew him so well,
dived back in, taking his lips.
Bishop laughed, and Rook broke the kiss again. “And Knight’s finished, too. He’ll want
more later, but he had his two slices already, so go for it.”
Then Jason was being kissed again, Rook rubbing up against him.
“You’re such a girl, Rookie.” They had about a half a second’s warning before Knight
tackled Rook. Rook was pushed up hard against him.
“Knight!” Rook laughed. “My cock says I am so not a girl!”
“Our little wifey.” The words were teasing, but warm, and Knight started tickling him.
“Butthead,” Rook cried out, wriggling and writhing and laughing in Jason’s lap, their
cocks bumping and rubbing.
Knight winked at him over Rook’s shoulder. “Help me out, baby boy?”
“No way.” He wasn’t going to gang up on Rook, not ever. He did capture Rook’s hips,
though, keeping the man close as he moved.
“Spoilsport.” Knight laughed and straddled his lap, too, making a Rook sandwich.
He grinned at Knight. God, it was charming, to have the man laughing, playing with
them.
Rook moaned. “Oh, God. The two of you are making me hard.”
Knight snorted. “You’re always hard.”
Jason found himself somehow totally unable to argue with that.
Rook didn’t seem the least bit put out, though. “It’s part of my charm.”
Bishop laughed, sliding along the couch and wrapping long arms around the three of
them. “It is indeed, Rookie.”
They sat there together for a minute, everyone finding where they fitted. Bishop gave
him a look, checking to make sure he was okay with Rook and Knight’s combined weight,
then Bishop took his mouth. Bish kissed him like he had in the kitchen, storming his mouth,
stealing his breath away.
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Sean Michael
14
Rook moaned the moment they began to kiss and began to move, sliding against him,
making him harder despite the fact that they were still fully clothed. Not to be left out,
Knight tugged at his nipples through his T-shirt. He shivered and bucked up, bouncing into
Rook.
Rook’s moan sounded again, the wonderful man rolling and rocking harder.
“I swear, if you guys knock me off…” Knight’s growl was deep, rough.
Rook leaned his head back onto Knight’s shoulder. “Jason’s got you, K.”
Jason nodded. He wouldn’t let any of them fall.
“If we had less clothes, you could take me, K.” Rook dropped a hand as he spoke,
tugging at Jason’s jeans.
He gasped, hips rolling as Rook touched him. It still felt so weird, how fast things got
sexual, how easily something as simple as a meal could turn into an orgy. Bishop joined
Rook, getting both his and Rook’s pants open, pulling out his prick and pressing it together
with Rook’s.
Jason’s eyes crossed and he flailed a second, then grabbed Rook with one hand, Knight
with the other. “Oh, fuck.”
Bishop chuckled, but Rook just moaned.
“Help me get our Rookie’s jeans off, Knight. He needs your cock.”
“Can’t we take this to the big bed?” Jason asked. It wasn’t like the couch was a stranger
to their lovemaking, but with all four of them getting it on, the bed was so much more
comfortable.
“I like the way you think, Jase.” Bish gave him a grin, then helped Knight and Rook
climb off him.
Jason sat there, staring at them all for a minute. Crazy. The three of them made him
crazy.
Rook grabbed his hand, Knight the other and Bishop led the way to the master
bedroom. By the time the four of them tumbled onto the crazy-big bed, they were all naked,
hard and reaching for each other. He was face to face with Rook, Bishop’s solid body behind
him and Knight behind Rook.
“Bish is going to take you, Knight’s going to have me.” Rook sounded so excited. Like
they hadn’t done this a hundred times before.
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Sean Michael
15
That excitement, though—it was contagious. Rook’s prick—hard and dripping against
his belly—didn’t hurt, either. Rook settled them together, too, making sure they were
supporting each other, holding each other.
He knew when Knight started prepping Rook—could see it in his lover’s pretty eyes.
Then Bishop’s slick fingers pushed into him. He pushed forward, lips parted, Rook’s body
supporting him. Rook took his lips, tongue pushing into his mouth, fucking it. Rook’s kisses
made him dizzy and the fingers inside him pushed him hard, not giving him a chance to
adjust. Rook found his right nipple, sliding his fingers gently over it and making everything
else feel just a little bit more.
Knight moaned. “Fuck, Rookie, you’re like heaven inside.”
Rook pushed away from him, back into Knight, his moan pushing into Jason’s lips.
Bish was still touching Jason, two fingers becoming three, making his delts tense, his
shoulder rising from the bed.
Rook played with his nipple, pulling the little bit of flesh.” So pretty.” The little tug
zipped down his spine. Rook smiled and did it again, twisting a little this time. The touches
helped Jason to relax, to breathe and let Bish in.
“Fucking tight, baby boy.” Bish slid his hand along his arm, petting him as Rook
continued to make him dizzy with those kisses.
Knight wasn’t as patient, the man pushing into Rook’s body, humping up and making
Rook moan for him. Rook’s body rolled against his, Bish’s strength keeping him in place.
Knight met his eyes and winked. “Is Bish driving you crazy, man?”
“God, yes.” He nodded and licked his lips, just shuddering.
Rook laughed, the sound happy and breathless. “And you’re making me crazy, K. So
good.”
“You like the ring, Rookie?” Knight surged in again.
“Uh-huh. Yes. Yes.”
Jason groaned as the pressure inside him grew, Bishop managing to get a finger on his
guiche and rub it back and forth against his skin. He pushed closer to Rook. Like it was a
signal, Rook took his mouth again, tongue sliding on his.
Then Bishop’s cock spread him, the huge man covering his back.
“Mmm. All four of us together.” Rook rubbed noses with him. “We make magic.”
Knight chuckled. “We make porn.”
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Sean Michael
16
Jason couldn’t help but bristle. “It’s not porn.”
Rook beamed at him. “You’re absolutely right, honey. We make magic and we make
love and we are the luckiest men on earth.” The words were a little breathless, but they were
clear.
Bishop chuckled. “You’re not doing it right, Knight, if Rookie’s that coherent.”
“Hey!” Knight grinned wide. “You’ve got the cherry and he’s sober enough to argue
with me.”
“You guys are just going to have to try harder!” Rook crowed.
Jason groaned. Just what Bish needed. A challenge.
Laughing, Rook brought their mouths back together, the sound pushing into him,
filling him with Rook’s joy. He felt Bish pushing deeper inside him, filling his ass with
Bishop’s pleasure as the man reached for Knight.
“Together,” growled Bish, and suddenly Bishop and Knight were thrusting in tandem,
pushing him and Rook into each other.
Rook tangled their fingers together, their cocks rubbing almost painfully.
“Love you, honey,” Rook whispered, eyes on his.
“Yeah?” God, he wanted to believe that. Needed to.
“I do.” Rook kissed him again, stealing his breath, his sense.
Him, too. He was so in love with Rook it hurt.
He moaned softly and opened up, tongue sliding on Rook’s. Bish wrapped a hand
around his and Rook’s pricks, jacking them together as Bish and Knight found their rhythm,
fucking the two of them like there was no tomorrow. The huge bed groaned under their
weight, creaking for them.
All he could do was feel, with Rook’s sounds filling him as surely as Bish’s cock did.
Rook pushed closer, really humping against him, driving hard, and Jason grabbed Rook’s
hips.
“Fuck!” Rook cried out, heat splashing up over his belly.
“Fucking love that smell,” muttered Bishop, pushing into him.
Jason lost it next, moaning Rook’s name, ass gripping Bish’s fat prick.
“Yes!” Bishop’s triumphant shout shivered sensation down his spine. “You next,
Knight. Do it.”
“Pushy.” Knight’s head was on Rook’s shoulder.
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Sean Michael
17
“You fucking know it. Don’t make me tell you again, boy.” Bishop’s growl made Jason’s
prick jerk again.
Rook gasped as Knight bit him, but Jason would bet—good money, too—that Knight
came on command.
Sure enough, Rook shivered and murmured, “I feel that.”
“That’s my Knight.” Bish’s thrusts got harder, faster and he filled Jason with more heat.
Jason clung to Rook, his muscles trembling. Bishop nuzzled his neck, then leaned across
him to kiss Rook, then across Rook to kiss Knight. While they were kissing, Rook took Jason’s
mouth, his tongue soft, gentle, warm. Moaning into him, Rook slid warm fingers over his
chest, touching him.
They all eased into the sheets, Rook’s eyes widening as the light went off. Bishop patted
his ass gently and nuzzled his neck. “It’s all good.”
Knight groaned. “The wind sounds awful and it’ll be impossible to work downstairs.”
“You don’t need to work again until the New Year.” Rook sounded pleased about that.
“No, he doesn’t. We’re spending the next two weeks being lazy and fucking.” Bishop
tugged blankets over them, clearly unconcerned that they’d lost power.
Rook giggled, pushing back against Knight, then forward into him. “Sounds like the
best holiday ever.”
“Only you would think a huge winter storm meant the best holiday ever, Rookie.”
Knight laughed and it was okay. Right.
Jason thought maybe even honestly good.
He couldn’t wait to find out.
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Sean Michael
18
Chapter Two
Bishop frowned when he realised that Knight wasn’t with them and headed down the
hall to Knight’s studio. His artist wasn’t getting out of tree decorating. He could hear music,
driving and dark, and he shook his head. It was too cold down here to work and Knight
owed them his presence. They had a deal.
“Baby, you’re done working for the holidays.” He didn’t knock. He knocked when
Knight was working. Knight was off work until after New Year’s.
The scent of bleach hit him first, then his eyes began to sting. His lover was in the centre
of the room, half naked, hysterically scrubbing.
“Jesus, Knight.” He put his arm over his mouth as he moved in to where Knight was.
“I’m cleaning up the studio.”
Yeah, no kidding. He could smell that. “Gonna burn your lungs out. Put the lid on the
bleach, Knight. It’s tree-decorating time.”
“Already?” Knight looked at him, eyes bloodshot. “Did I miss lunch?”
“Yes and yes.” He shook his head, put the lid on the bleach and tightened it. He was
going to beat Knight’s ass. “Come on. You need a shower.” If only to get the fumes off so the
rest of them didn’t have to breathe them in.
“God, yes.” Knight was almost cheery.
Bish figured the bleach had made Knight high. He shook his head, tugging his lover
upstairs to the big bathroom with their four-man shower stall. Knight’s hands were red, raw,
almost blistered. It made him growl. “If you can’t stay out of the studio until the holidays are
over, I will cuff you to me.”
“Don’t threaten me, grumpy.”
“It wasn’t a threat—it was a promise.” It actually sounded like it could be a fun thing to
do. “And I only got grumpy when I was assaulted by bleach.” Okay, that and the sight of
Knight scrubbing until his hands were raw and his brain was bleached.
Knight’s eyes flashed. “I didn’t make you come down!”
“Hey.” He pulled Knight in and kissed the man hard—he wasn’t looking to make
Knight angry. “It’s the holidays. You’re supposed to be with us. That’s the deal.”
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19
“I know. I just… I’m restless.” Knight shrugged, but didn’t pull away. “The weather.”
“Well, you need to help with the decorations. Besides, you’ll enjoy watching Jason’s
face when Rookie pulls out the hanging penis ornaments.”
That grin came back, slow and wicked. “Yeah. Yeah, I’ll need my camera. What did you
get him?”
“Uh-uh. No telling until Christmas day.”
“I wouldn’t spoil the surprise.” No. No, Knight wouldn’t.
It was a surprise for all of them, though, so he couldn’t tell his Knight about the
matching leather jackets. “I know, but I want you to be surprised Christmas morning, too.”
He got the water going.
“I got him a computer. The one he has is old.”
Bishop smiled and gave Knight a hard kiss. His Knight was a good man. “He’s going to
love it.”
“I hope so.” Knight might not want to admit it, but he wanted Jason to like him, too.
And he cared for the kid.
Bish got them in the water and started washing his lover, hands mapping the lean, fine
body. He fucking loved this man. He pushed his fingers into Knight’s muscles, loving the
fine skin hard.
“Oh, Bish.” Knight hummed and stretched for him, relaxing almost immediately.
Really, if Knight had wanted attention, the man should have just asked for it instead of
turning cleaning into a cry for it.
He touched Knight everywhere, then got the soap and did it again, moving his fingers
slowly over Knight’s skin. Knight wiggled, pushed into each touch—less like the man was
trying to tempt him and more like his hands just felt too good not to respond to. Bish liked
that idea.
He was going to get them both off, then they’d go rescue Jason from Rook’s total
naughty tree-decorating enthusiasm.
Knight’s hands mapped his shoulders, his arms. “God, I need to draw you.”
He chuckled. Knight only asked for that weekly. “Anytime.” He took Knight’s mouth
and pushed the man up against the tile, letting Knight feel his need.
“Horny fucker.” Knight’s laughter made him grin.
“Takes one,” he muttered back, hand sliding behind Knight to grab his ass.
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Sean Michael
20
“Take me.” Knight’s teeth were on his earlobe, tugging hard.
He smacked Knight’s ass. “That’s the plan.”
And Knight had said he wouldn’t bottom while they had Jason. Bishop had known that
wouldn’t last. Hell, had it lasted a week? A day? Maybe a few hours. Knight might never let
Rook in, never let the kid in, but that sweet little hole was Bishop’s.
He slicked his fingers up with the lube they kept stocked in the shower and pushed two
into Knight.
“Yeah…” Knight rippled, arched and stretched right into him. He added another finger,
found Knight’s gland and pushed hard against it. “Bish!” Knight jerked, shivering for him.
“Right here, baby.” He pushed against Knight’s gland again.
Knight groaned, thighs spreading wide. Bishop let his fingers drop away, grabbed one
of Knight’s thighs and pulled it up over his hip.
“Fuck, Bish. You’re hotter and hotter, every damn day.”
Groaning at Knight’s words, Bish nudged the man’s hole and pushed in. That tiny
opening gripped his cock, squeezing all along his shaft. “Yes. Fuck. Knight.” He kept
pushing until his hips were pressed up tight against Knight’s ass.
“Uh-huh.” Knight nodded, arms clinging to him almost as tightly as that sweet hole
held his cock. “Knight.”
Bish laughed, the sound turning into a moan as he began thrusting. His lover’s ass was
heaven on earth—hot and tight, gripping him. “So fucking hot, Knight.”
Knight’s lips brushed his ear. “Fine motherfucker. Harder.”
“Fucking pushy bottom.” Still, he gave Knight exactly what they both needed.
“Not a bottom.” Knight bit his jaw.
He shoved in hard. “No, not at all.”
“Th…that’s right.” Knight threw his head back, throat working.
Bishop kept punching into the man’s ass. Such a fucking bottom. His fucking bottom.
He leaned in, teeth digging into Knight’s throat. He was going to leave a huge, lurid mark on
his Knight. Christmas fucking wrapping.
He felt his bite, all around his cock, too—Knight squeezing down hard at the touch of
his teeth. Oh, hell yes. He licked at the mark, thrusting in hard as he wrapped his hand
around Knight’s prick.
“Soon. Soon, Bish.” Good boy.
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21
He nodded. “Yeah, come on my cock. Fucking squeeze me.” He loved how he could
feel how his words affected Knight in the way Knight squeezed his cock.
“Come now.” He made his demand, knowing Knight would obey.
Sure as anything, seed sprayed over his fingers, Knight’s body fluttering around him.
He let himself go, coming deep inside Knight’s ass.
Knight moaned for him and snuggled in—sweet, melty artist now. He took another kiss
as he slid out of Knight’s body.
While cleaning them up, he kept Knight close, warm and easy in his skin. They slipped
into warm robes and went towards the living room where the tree decorating was going on,
music and laughter floating down the hall to them.
Or rather, where tree decorating wasn’t going on—Rook and Jason were dancing,
Jason’s buff body draped in bright green tinsel.
Bishop tried to fight it, even biting his lip, but it made him laugh.
Jason blushed, but Rook twirled their boy. “Isn’t he pretty?”
“Adorable.” Knight applauded.
“The two of you are a wet dream together.” Bishop pulled Knight into his arms and
waltzed the man into the room. Knight danced with him, his body responsive.
Rook gave him a grin. “We waited for you guys. You all need to see the penis
ornaments.”
“Are they circumcised?” Knight was such a jackass.
Rook laughed, clearly not about to let it bother him. “You’ll have to see for yourself.”
“I can’t believe someone makes penis ornaments.” Jason looked a little dumbfounded at
the thought, even though he’d been warned they were coming.
“Penises, boobs, naked people.” Rook grinned and bounced over to a box. “I only
brought home the penises, though. There’s six different ones and we have three of each.”
Jason was bright red, but he played along, bringing out boxes, following Rook’s
pointing finger.
“I like to buy a few new ones every year. Last year it was the glitter balls with Tom of
Finland drawings on them.”
Knight chuckled softly, and Bish pulled the man into his lap.
Rook opened the first box. “These are the new ones.” He took one out, the thing most
definitely a penis, complete with balls.
EN PRISE
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22
Bish snorted. There was white glittery jism painted at the tip.
“Aren’t they perfect?” Only their Rookie would think so. And only their Rookie would
not only mean it, but put them on the tree, too.
Knight nodded. “They’re fucking fabulous, Rookie.” The praise made Rook stop and
grin, looking so pleased.
Rook moved in and gave Knight a hard kiss. “You can put the first one on.”
“Mmm. I’m happy here, Rookie. Warm. Don’t make me move.” Knight’s hands
wrapped around Rook, drew him in.
Rook’s pout disappeared under the onslaught of Knight’s mouth. Knight’s ass snuggled
right into the curve of Bishop’s hips, and Knight moaned as Bishop’s heavy prick pressed
against his ass. Rook pushed against Knight and he took their combined weight easily.
Jason was standing across the room, watching them, his face still. Reaching out his
hand, Bishop crooked his fingers. Jason took a step forward, lips parting. Such a sweet sexy
baby. He was glad Jason was theirs.
Rook smiled. “He’s wearing a plug, for me.”
“That explains the extra sexy wiggle in your walk, Jase.” Bishop ran his hand up and
down Knight’s spine as he watched Jason moving.
“Mmm. Come here and let us see, Jason.” Knight sounded lazy and aroused, ready to
play with their boy.
Jason stepped forward again, still so shy. Rook went over and linked their arms
together, bringing Jason over and whispering in his ear. Jason blushed, but then turned and
bent over to show him and Knight his ass. The tinsel fell away easily, leaving Jason naked.
Rook’s fingers slid through Jason’s hair, over his skin. Knight’s lips quirked, then one long
finger traced the circle of the base, and Jason cried out.
Rook moaned, and his prick, already more than a little interested from his necking with
Knight, went full and hard, stretching up his belly. Bish watched as Knight slapped the little
plugged hole, making Jason twist.
“Oh, honey. That’s so sexy.” Rook’s prick rubbed along Jason’s cheek.
“He’s got a great ass,” murmured Bishop, “tight and hard.”
“You’re wonderful.” Rook stroked Jason’s cheek and Jason opened up, took Rook’s
prick right in.
“Such a very good boy,” Knight purred. “Hot little fuck.”
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Rook was the one who whimpered, though, hips beginning to move.
Knight slowly eased the plug halfway out, holding it at the widest point, stretching
Jason’s hole.
Rook whimpered. “Oh, fuck, I feel that.” The move had clearly affected Jason’s suction.
“It’s only little. After he’s made you come, let’s find a bigger one, play with our sweet
boy.” Knight’s words made Jason whimper, hands clenching on Rook’s skin.
“Oh, fuck, Knight… Jase. Jesus.” Rookie sounded totally out of his mind.
“Mmm. Maybe. First I want to play with his hole.”
Bishop chuckled and slapped Knight’s thigh lightly. “That was bad.”
Knight grinned at him, eyes dancing. “I know!” It was great when Knight was in such a
good mood.
Rook moaned loudly and Bishop looked up to watch Rook pump his hips hard, filling
Jason’s lips over and over. Knight twisted the little plug and Jason grunted, his lips
tightening as Rook cried out.
“Oh fuck, gonna!” Rook rocked a couple more times, then froze, his hips pushing deep.
Knight grinned. “Very nice, Rookie.”
Rook gave them a blissed-out smile, then he slid his long prick from Jason’s mouth and
bent to take a kiss. Knight pushed the plug back in, seated it firmly, which sent Jason into
Rook’s arms.
“I’ve got you, honey.” Rook held Jason, swaying with him again.
“Rook. Need you.”
Bish grinned. The kid was lost, totally in love with Rook. And Rook… Well, he loved
Jason like only Rook could love. It was a beautiful thing.
“Got me. I’m right here, honey.” Rook came and sat next to Bishop, pulling Jason along
and cuddling with him. Jason’s cock looked painfully hard, balls sac tight and drawn up.
Rook licked Jason’s ear. “You want my hand, my mouth or my ass, honey?”
Jason groaned, thighs parting, the look on his face one of pure need.
“My mouth?” Rook suggested, answering his own question. “I want to taste you.”
“Please. Oh, God. Please.”
Knight chuckled. “And a bigger plug, Rookie. Something heavy.”
“You get it—I’m busy.” Rookie grinned then swallowed up Jason’s prick. Jason arched
up, the huge muscles tensing, clenching. Fuck, that was hot.
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Bishop reached over and tweaked one of Jason’s nipples.
“Fuck…” Jason’s throat worked.
Rook’s head bobbed, giving it to Jason hard and fast.
Bishop could see Jason’s ass clenching and relaxing, working the plug. “Go get our
baby boy a bigger plug, Knight.”
Knight groaned. “Save my spot. Rook needs to get us all coffee.”
Rook pulled off long enough to mutter, “Rook’s a little busy,” before going back down
on Jason.
Knight’s laughter joined his, then his lover was heading off.
Bishop busied himself touching both of them. Rook was lighter, muscles tight and
rangy. Jason was stacked—a real stud. Rook was wide-eyed, staring up at Jason, swallowing
hard. Hungry boy. Bishop stood and, turning Jason’s head, he took a kiss. Jason moaned for
him, the sound desperate, hungry.
“Let him have you, Jason. You know he loves how you taste.”
He felt Jason shudder against him, reaching one hand for him. He kissed Jason again,
encouraging Jason’s pleasure as Rook’s head bobbed even faster. Rook swallowed
convulsively as Jason flushed, tightened and came. Rook kept sucking for a moment before
pulling off, mouth leaving Jason’s prick with a pop.
“Did I miss it?” Knight came in with a box of toys—big enough to make Rookie
applaud and Jason groan.
“Are we going to hang those on the tree?” Rook asked, already giggling.
“Not a chance. We’re going to play decorate the pretty stud.” Knight looked utterly
tickled.
“Mmm. That’s you, honey.” Rook gave Jason a sloppy kiss.
“Are there nipple clamps in there?” Bishop peered. Oh, cuffs.
“Mmm. Nipple clamps.” Rook sat back and stroked his own nipple rings.
“And a little chain to dangle from his piercing.” A tiny chain was held up, the gold
shimmering in the light.
“Oh, honey.” Rook nodded, and took the chain from him before slipping onto the floor
between Jason’s legs. “You do his nipples, Bish. I’ll decorate his guiche.”
“I’ll cuff his hands.” Knight drew the bulging arms up, baring Jason’s underarms. Oh,
Rook had been shaving.
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25
“God, you’re so pretty, honey.” Rook’s eyes were on Jason’s face, adoring their boy.
“I…”
Knight brushed one finger over Jason’s lips. “Don’t argue. Just play. We’re on
vacation.”
Bishop grinned and handed Knight one of the nipple clamps. The man could be
charming and sweet when he wanted.
“Thank you, stud.” Knight kissed him, then kissed Jason, hard enough that the kid
swayed.
Bishop worked one of Jason’s nipples to hardness, watching as Rookie rolled the kid’s
balls.
“They won’t hurt. They’ll ache so good.” Knight was murmuring the words, ramping
Jason up again, and Rook’s eyes met Bishop’s. Yeah, their Knight was in a good mood.
Rook licked at Jason’s balls then blew, teasing and loving on their boy. Jason moaned,
goosebumps rising up all over the kid’s skin. Then Rookie dived in, playing with the guiche
and God knew what all he was doing down there. Whatever it was, he and Knight took it as
their cue to get those pretty nipples clamped.
Jason’s cries filled the air, and he tugged at the cuffs. Bishop put the nipple clamp he
had on Jason, then pinched the other, getting it ready for Knight’s clamp. Knight leant down
and licked at his fingers then Jason’s nipple. Both he and Jason groaned and Bishop chuckled,
meeting Jason’s mouth.
Knight bit his fingers, and Bishop responded with fucking Jason’s lips with his tongue.
The clamp went on Bishop’s fingertip first and he flicked his fingers at Knight, his laughter
filling Jason’s mouth. Knight’s and Rook’s chuckles joined them.
He nipped at Jason’s lower lip. “You’re stunning, Jason.”
“I’m so out of my league with you guys.”
Bishop shook his head. No way. “You’re ours and your pleasure is ours.”
Knight nodded. “Just let us play.”
“We’re gonna make you feel so good.” Rook grinned up at Jason, then sat back on the
couch and moved Jason next to him. Bringing the long legs up over his shoulders, Rookie
dived in, tongue-fucking Jason’s hole.
Knight was picking out plugs. “Bish—the long glass one or the thick metal one?”
“The glass one is prettier.” Listen to him, he sounded like their Rookie.
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“It is!” Rook went back to tongue-fucking Jason as soon as he’d put his two cents in.
“Then we’ll start with that.” Knight grabbed it and showed it to Jason, whose eyes went
wide.
“Don’t worry, honey, I’ll get you good and wet,” Rook promised.
“We’ll slick it up, maybe with something that’ll heat a little,” Bishop suggested.
“Oh, we haven’t done that yet.” Rookie’s eyes shone and he leaned up to give Jason a
hard, eager kiss.
Bishop noticed that Rook still had the little weight and gold chain in his fist, Jason’s
guiche plain and unadorned. “You’re supposed to be attaching jewellery to that pretty little
ring behind his balls, Rookie.”
“Oh! Right.” Rook grinned, his eyes on Jason. “I got a bit distracted.”
“You? Never.” Knight teased, but Jason blushed dark, obviously caught.
Rook pushed in to take another kiss, then bent down between Jason’s thighs again,
carefully attaching the chain to Jason’s guiche, and a small, jewelled weight to the chain.
“Oh, fuck…” Jason’s hips bucked up, then settled back down. “Oh, fuck.”
“Can you feel it, honey?”
Bishop swatted Rookie’s ass. Of course Jason could feel it. There was a fucking weight
attached to his guiche. The man would have to be paralysed from the waist down not to feel
that and even then…
Knight handed the slickened dildo to him. “You want the honours, Bish?”
“I do.”
Rookie traded places with him, moving to the other end of the couch to cuddle Jason
while Bishop settled between Jason’s strong legs. Jason’s hole looked pink and slick, like it
was begging for a touch. He blew gently on it. Jason whimpered and spread, bending one
leg. Oh, sweet boy.
“That’s it, baby boy. Such a natural.” He kissed the inside of Jason’s thigh and placed
the plug at Jason’s tight little hole. He pushed the slightest bit, letting Jason’s natural motions
take the glass in. Bish thought maybe he’d fill Knight with the thick-thick one, the metal one.
“Look at that,” he murmured, all his attention on Jason right now.
Rook moaned at his words, leaning over as Bishop filled Jason with the plug.
“It’s going to fill you up, Jase.” Knight sounded altogether wicked.
“And then we’re going to fill you up, baby.” Bishop told Knight.
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“Oh, no. Then we’re going to watch Jason decorate the tree.”
“Oh yes, we are,” he countered as he settled the plug inside Jason. “And then we’re
going to watch you and Jason decorate the tree.”
“And me! I’ll even wear a plug if it’s the requirement.” Like their Rookie needed an
excuse to get in on the plug train.
“Perv.” Knight goosed Rook and the man squealed for them.
“The biggest one in the room, and that’s saying a lot with this group.” Bishop winked at
Jason. “Why don’t you choose a plug and put it in our Rookie?”
“Oh. I… Rook?”
Rook nodded, practically bouncing on the couch. “Yes, please, honey. I’ll be happy with
whatever you choose, but make it a big one?”
“Not this one.” Bishop pulled the fat, thick one out with his free hand. “Any other.” He
chuckled and hefted the plug in his hand. “That’s the one going into Knight.
“I said no. Fuck Jason with his or something.” Knight grabbed the slick and handed it
over to Jason. “I brought a pretty purple plug that’s almost soft inside.”
Rook moaned.
“I can fuck Jason and you at the same time—it’s why I have two hands. And let Jason
pick the plug he wants to use on Rookie.” He moved the glass cock inside Jason gently.
“Bossy old bitch.” Knight moved over on the other side of Jason, out of reach.
“Oh, you are cruising, Knight,” he growled softly, though there was no heat behind his
words and he didn’t speed his movements with the plug inside Jason. “And we were having
such a pleasant evening.”
“I am having a fabulous evening.” Knight smiled at him and winked. “Now, Jason, pay
attention and pick a plug.”
Jason’s eyes rolled, body tightening. “I… Okay. It’s hard to think.”
“Something’s hard all right,” Knight teased, nodding towards Jason’s renewed hard-on.
It was Rook that leant down, nuzzled Jason’s prick and lapped the tip. Then Rook
looked up at Jason from under his lashes. “Plug me, honey?”
“Never…never had a tree trimming like this.”
“No, we’re special.” Rook laughed and stood, bending over to present his ass.
“God, yes.” Jason’s body tensed, and Bishop almost lost his grip on the plug.
“Easy, baby boy.” He stroked Jason’s belly.
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“S…sorry. Sorry. He’s just…” Jason’s lips parted.
“Sexy, huh? And so happy to share it.” Bishop handed Jason the purple dildo. There
was no way Jason had enough brain to actually choose one from the three or four that were
still in the box Knight had brought out.
Knight moved beside Rook, spreading those pretty cheeks for Jason. Moaning softly,
Rook wiggled his ass as best he could.
“I’ll get him slick for you.” Bishop wetted two fingers on the hand not working the plug
inside Jason, and pushed them into Rook’s welcoming hole.
“Look at you, fucking two beautiful men.” Knight was watching, admiring.
Bishop grinned at Knight. “Come give me a kiss and we’ll make it three.”
“You don’t have that many hands.” Still, Knight came to him and pressed close.
He took Knight’s mouth, tongue-fucking those lips as surely as his hands fucked Jason
and Rook. Then his touch faltered, Knight stealing his focus for a moment. Rookie
whimpered, pushing back against his fingers.
He leaned his head back. “Sorry, Rookie. Knight’s got that mouth.”
“And they call me the slut.” Rookie laughed.
Knight winked. “Oh, totally.”
Rookie twisted and swatted Knight. Knight jumped on Rook, pulling him away from
Bish’s touch, tickling their sweet, happy lover. Rookie gave as good as he got, the two of
them horsing around together until Bishop cleared his throat.
“All right, both of you—back here and assume the position and we’ll get everyone
plugged.”
“Go on, let your boy plug you.” Knight stayed over there. On the floor.
Bishop crooked his finger at Knight. “And you come over here and let me plug you.”
Knight shook his head. “I’m good.”
He growled softly. “I said come here.”
Rook moaned, “God, that’s hot.”
“Don’t make me come get you, Knight.” He spoke softly, his focus on his beautiful,
stubborn lover.
“You’re busy. Play with your boys.”
“Jason, put that plug into Rookie,” Bishop ordered before getting up and stalking
towards Knight.
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29
“Okay, Bish.” Good boy. Bishop could always count on Jason to follow directions.
Unlike his artist.
“Now, Bishop…” Knight backed away.
He kept going, eyes narrowing. “You’re not getting out of this.”
“We’ve already played our games.”
“We’ve only just started playing these particular reindeer games. All three of you are
going to be plugged. End of argument.” He loved this game with Knight, knew Knight loved
it, too. Craved it.
He pounced, pushing Knight up against the wall. Knight squeaked, tried to scoot away,
but Bish had him.
“You’re not going anywhere, baby.”
Rookie’s and Jason’s moans were a sexy soundtrack to their play.
“You bastard.” Knight’s cock was firming on his thigh.
“That’s me. Your favourite bastard,”
Knight smiled. “You know it.”
Bishop took a hard kiss, and started tugging Knight back to the couch.
Knight fought him, but it was for show, and Rook and Jason had been busy. Rook was
plugged now, and fucking Jason over and over with the plug they’d chosen for the kid.
Bishop dragged Knight right to the couch, sat and pulled his man down over his knees.
“Bish!” Oh, he loved the look of that ass over his lap. He smacked it. Twice.
“Fucker…” Knight bit his calf.
“Knight!” He laughed and smacked Knight’s ass twice more.
“No spanking.” Knight reached back, tried to cover his ass.
Bishop smacked that ass again. “No topping from the bottom.”
“I’m not on the bottom.”
“Semantics, lover.”
Knight wiggled, fighting him. Bishop held out one hand and Rookie leaned in, sucking
on his fingers. “Thanks, Rook.” He pulled his fingers out of Rook’s mouth and pushed them
into Knight’s body.
The tight hole fluttered around his touch.
“Mine,” he reminded Knight.
“Fuck… Bish…” Knight squeezed him tight.
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“No, I’m going to fuck Knight.” He grinned, pushing his fingers deep enough to brush
across Knight’s gland.
A dull flush climbed up Knight’s back.
“Gonna put my cum in you before I put in the plug, Knight.” He should have done it
from the start in the shower, but then he would have missed the way his words made Jason
and Rookie moan as much as they made Knight whimper with need.
“Bish. Oh, fuck…”
He kept working that flat spot, one hand on the small of Knight’s back. He could feel
his lover’s prick between his legs, the tip leaking and leaking. “Don’t you come, Knight. Hold
it. I know you can.”
He held out his hand imperiously and Rookie came through, handing over the lubed-
up plug he’d chosen. Bishop kept touching, kept Knight ramped up, driving his boy higher
and higher. When he was ready, he pushed the head of the plug against Knight’s hot hole.
Knight’s body clenched, tightened.
“Let it in, baby. You know you want it.”
“Bish…”
Stubborn man.
“Shut up and take the plug like the beautiful bottom you are.”
Knight moaned, but Bish knew the compliment had been heard, just like Knight knew
he’d meant it.
He pushed the tip into Knight’s body, then more. He eased the plug in, so slowly,
making Knight feel every second.
“It’s bigger than the one Jason’s got. It’s bigger than the one Rookie’s got. It’s the
biggest and the best for my Knight.” He added more lube, pressed it forward, then let it back
out a bit, teasing him.
He could do this all fucking night long, with the sounds and smells of Jason and
Rookie’s playing and loving just making everything that much better. Bending over, he
placed a kiss in the small of Knight’s back. Knight shivered for him, moaned deep in his
chest.
“Yeah. My sexy Knight in shining dildo.”
Knight’s head lifted. “Seriously?”
“What? It’s Christmas, and we’re having fun.”
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Those pretty, happy eyes glinted at him. “Are we?”
He pushed the plug in deep with a single thrust. “We are.”
Knight yelped and jerked, his entire body flushing a dark pink. Bishop tugged the plug
partway out and began fucking Knight with it again.
“Bishop…” Knight tried to pull his legs up, draw them in, but he couldn’t.
“Right here.” He found the right angle, pushing the plug in over and over.
When Knight got close, he slowed down, held the plug at its widest point. “I said I
wanted to fill you with my spunk, Knight, then plug you.”
Knight’s response was a wild, needy cry. He shifted Knight slowly, letting the plug
come out. Then he sat back and brought Knight to sit in his lap.
“Bish. Bishop, please.”
“Come here, baby.” He got everything lined up right and pulled Knight onto his prick.
“Bish!” Knight arched back, abs tight like a bow.
“Come on, ride me like I’m Santa and you’re one of my elves.”
Rookie cracked up beside him, and he reached out to lazily swat Rookie’s ass.
“Rook, love, please.” Jason sounded desperate, needy, and Bishop spared their muscle
man a glance. The man was bound—dripping, hard, and riding the plug.
Rook met his gaze, eyes shining and hot. Licking his lips, Rookie asked, “Bishop?”
He grinned and nodded. “Go ahead.”
When Rookie swooped down to swallow Jason whole, Bishop slammed up into Knight.
It was Jason who screamed, hips pumping up furiously, even as his Knight took Bishop in to
the root. He matched the kid’s rhythm, fucking Knight hard and fast. His lover was like a fire
around him as Bishop ploughed into him, driving hard.
He handed Knight the plug to free up his own hand and wrapped it around his lover’s
prick, jacking in time with his thrusts.
“Fuck. Fuck, harder. So fucking good.”
“Pushy man.” He slammed in harder, his fingers squeezing Knight’s prick.
“Yes. Yes, you make me need.” Knight’s head fell back, and he swallowed hard.
He turned his head, lips wrapping around Knight’s skin below his Adam’s apple. Talk
about making people need… His lover shook hard, and Jason cried out Rook’s name, over
and over—the four of them making the best music together, holiday or otherwise.
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“Come on, baby. Say my name.” Bishop growled out the words, thumb digging into the
head of Knight’s prick.
“Love… Mouse, please. Oh, fuck, Bish, more…”
He gave Knight more. He gave his lover everything.
His Knight came for him, crying out, sobbing for him, and Bishop knew he was the only
thing on earth his lover knew just then. He kept thrusting, pushing Knight through sweet
aftershocks.
He turned Knight, eased him back on the sofa and started thrusting, seeking his own
pleasure. Groaning, he sped his movements, fucking close. Knight looked at him, reached up
and cupped his cheek.
“Oh, fuck.” He thrust twice more and came, filling Knight up. He stayed close, kept
holding Knight’s gaze, both of them breathing together. “Gonna get that plug in you. Keep
my cum deep inside all night long.”
“Bishop…”
He noted that wasn’t a no.
“That’s right. Bishop’s gonna do that to you.”
Rook and Jason were curled together on the sofa, Rook murmuring and caressing,
bringing Jason down. Bishop smiled and grabbed the plug still clutched in Knight’s hand.
Knight’s body gripped him, body squeezing him tight, rippling around him and refusing to
let him go.
“You’re going to have to let me out.”
“Keeping you.”
“Yes.” He nodded his agreement. “You are. Gonna leave my spunk in you.”
Knight’s eyes closed, lips parting on a moan. Bishop got the plug re-lubed, then began
to pull out of Knight for real. Knight fought him, but that slick hole released his cock. He got
the plug pushed partway in before any of his cum could slide out of Knight’s body. Then he
slowly teased the rest of the metal in.
Knight whimpered, arching up and moaning for him.
“Such a sweet fucking ass, baby.” He pushed the rest of the plug in, letting it settle
properly.
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Knight shuddered, and he pulled Knight in, wrapped them in a blanket, protecting
them. Beside them Jason and Rook were murmuring quietly—sweet nothings and soft
laughter, from what he could hear.
The decorations were going to have to wait until they all found the energy and the
desire to move. They were probably going to have to wait until morning. It was a good thing
Chinese food warmed up well.
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Chapter Three
At four a.m., Rookie jacked himself off and managed to fall back to sleep again. At five,
he got up and had a nice long shower. At six, he made hot chocolate for everyone, brought it
into the living room and turned the lights on the tree on. He killed five minutes admiring all
the gifts under the tree then went to wake up his lovers.
It was Christmas Day! Hell, it was well after six a.m. on Christmas Day!
“Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!” He bounced onto the bed.
Jason moaned then grabbed him, saving him from Knight’s swat. “Merry Christmas.”
He beamed and kissed Jason. Hard. “Merry Christmas! There’s presents!”
“Are there? Are you sure?” Jason drew him in, lips near his ear. “Knight said if I don’t
keep you busy until seven, he’ll spank me.”
Rook giggled. “Honey, I’m not sure if that’s the proper incentive. It sounds sexy as
hell.”
Jason blinked at him. “Rook… Spanking? Me?”
Rook giggled. “You’d let me do it.”
“I love you.” Jason would let him do anything.
Humming, he kissed Jason, long and slow. “I love you, too,” he whispered. “And
you’re better than presents under the tree any day.”
“Oh.” His sweet lover’s eyes got all misty.
He kissed Jason, lying on the hard muscles and warm skin. Jason’s hands moved over
him, petting him, exploring every inch like the man was addicted. He knew the feeling. He
licked at Jason’s collarbone, pulling the salt and man flavour in. Jason’s breath caught, just
like it had the first time.
Moaning, he wrapped his mouth around Jason’s skin where neck met shoulder and
began to pull at it. His lover. God, Jason loved him so well. He was the luckiest man in the
world—it was almost like it was always Christmas for him. He stroked Jason’s sides,
enjoying the strong muscles moving beneath him.
Jason leaned up, lips brushing his ear. “I want to suck you.”
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Rook jerked and moaned. Like any sane man would say no to that. He honestly
couldn’t think of anything he wanted for Christmas more. “Yes, please.”
Jason shifted, sliding underneath him, turning around so that sweet mouth could pull
him in, Jason’s cock suddenly right there, level with Rook’s mouth.
“Fuck.” Rook automatically reached down to Jason’s head at his crotch, twisting his
fingers in the lovely long hair. Thank God their position had Jason’s cock close enough to
touch, to taste, to lap at the tip. Rook pressed his tongue into the little slit, wanting to feel
Jason moan around his own cock. He did, the sound soft, vibrating all around him. And that
made him moan, a nice little circle of pleasure and need forming through them.
Jason’s mouth was gentle against him, slowly building his need. He sucked at Jason’s
prick like it was the best fucking Popsicle in the world, the tip beginning to leak steadily,
drops flavouring his mouth. The whole thing was bone-meltingly slow and easy.
Rook had a new favourite tradition for Christmas morning.
He found Jason’s balls and rolled them gently. One of Jason’s fingers slipped into his
hole, touching him inside. He gasped around Jason’s prick and pushed back into the touch,
body wide awake, nerves beginning to sing. Those fingers aroused him, left him gasping,
aching for more.
“Honey,” he whimpered. “Making me crazy.” Then he went back to sucking.
Jason’s answer happened all around his cock. It made him bob his head faster, made
him suck harder.
They rolled, driving together, skin slapping. He grabbed hold of Jason’s ass, squeezing
hard. Jason’s fingertips nudged his gland. He cried out around Jason’s prick, spilling into his
honey’s mouth. Jason followed close behind, humming and taking his lips.
He swallowed it all down then spent some time cleaning Jason’s prick, licking and
sucking gently, loath to let go of his prize. Jason’s head was heavy on his thigh, lips on his
skin.
He reached down to touch Jason’s head, stroking his fingers through his hair. “Love
you, honey.”
Jason kissed the tip of his cock. “Merry Christmas.”
“Mmm. Yeah, it is. And hey!” Rook sat up and poked Knight. “Everybody wake up! It’s
Christmas and there’s presents!”
Knight groaned. “Go fuck Jase.”
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“We already had Merry Christmas blow jobs! They were fantastic. And now it’s time to
open presents. I could pounce on you!”
Knight moaned piteously. “Bish. Don’t let him pounce on me.”
Bishop groaned. “It can’t be morning already.”
“But it is! And there’s presents!” There were. A whole stack of them under the tree. He
nipped at Jason’s shoulder. “You’re getting up with me, right? We’ve had blow jobs. There’s
even hot chocolate, for fuck’s sake.”
“Ooh. Hot chocolate?” Jason grinned, eyes lit up. “God, yes. Come on. Let’s heat up the
pastries.”
He grinned, pleased at least someone was getting into the spirit. He knew Knight and
Bishop would get there eventually, but Rook had a terrible time waiting on Christmas
mornings. He always had. “I mean it, you guys—if you’re not out in the living room by the
time we’re there with hot chocolate and goodies, I’m coming to pounce.”
Knight groaned and pushed into Bishop’s arms for a kiss. Jason, though, tugged Rook
out of bed and grabbed a robe. Rook slipped into the warmth of his robe and let Jason lead
him into the living room. They grabbed the hot chocolate he’d left getting cold before going
to the kitchen.
“We have pastries for breakfast? I don’t remember buying them…” said Rook.
“I did.”
Oh, sweet man.
They opened the refrigerator and it was packed full of boxes. What the hell? “These can’t
all be pastries.” He looked at Jason.
Jason shook his head. “This is like…a catering company.”
Knight’s voice sounded. “You said you wanted munchies for all day. Ta da. Munchies.
And nobody has to actually make anything.”
“Oh…” Rook turned around and threw himself at Knight.
Knight caught him, kissed his temple. “Merry Christmas, Rookie.”
“Thanks, lover.” He beamed at Knight, then at Bishop as he wandered in.
“Someone said there were presents,” grumbled Bishop, but Rook knew he wasn’t as
grouchy as he was pretending to be.
Grinning, Rook grabbed hold of Jason’s hand and tugged him in so they could have a
group hug.
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“You’re amazing, Knight. It’s going to be an amazing day.”
Knight chuckled. “Of course it is. It’s our first Christmas together.”
“Come on. Let’s get some of this food out and the hot chocolate hot again so we can
open presents!”
Rook had to admit, he already had his arms full of everything he needed. The stuff
under the tree in pretty packaging was just icing on this most wonderful of cakes.
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Chapter Four
Knight leant back, laughing as Jason and Bish played with some first person shooter
game Santa had brought them. They’d been playing games the entire week since Christmas,
and Knight was pretty sure they’d still be playing as they rang in the New Year tonight.
Rookie was sleeping off a chocolate Kiss the size of a grapefruit, and Knight was reading.
He’d read two books already this holiday—one on colour theory and one on erotic gay
photographers. Now he was onto the novels.
Rook’s warm hands slid over Knight’s back and around him and he leaned his head on
Jason’s shoulder. “You sound happy.”
“Mmm. Good nap?” He leaned over and kissed Rook’s jaw.
Rook turned his face, kissing him back. “Uh-huh. You guys were gonna wake me before
midnight to say Happy New Year, right?”
“Mmm-hmm. Of course. The children are playing with their toy.” Honestly, he wasn’t
even sure what time it was now.
Rookie laughed. “They do love that stupid thing, don’t they?”
“Mmm-hmm. It’s the holiday season. It’s for playing.” And the weather had been
brutal—icy and bitter, not worth going out in. It made it nice to stay inside and be lazy, be
together. Have fun.
That had Rookie grinning evilly and snuggling close, moving against him. “Does that
mean you’ll play with me?”
“I was reading.” Still, he tossed his book aside and took a long, lazy kiss.
“You like the books.” Rookie beamed at him, clearly pleased, and shifted again, moving
to straddle his lap.
“I love the books.” He settled, wrapping his hands around Rook’s waist. “I’ll want to
paint you and Jason together, soon.”
“Next year.” Rook grinned—he’d been making the silly joke all week long.
Knight didn’t have the meanness in him to snarl, though, so he chuckled, goosed
Rookie and winked. Rookie laughed hard for him, all warm and wriggling.
“Little flirt.” He had his hands full of sweet, firm ass.
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“I always follow through, though.”
“You do that.” He squeezed that fine ass, hard.
Rookie squeaked for him, pushing close.
“Kiss me,” Knight demanded. He wanted to taste Rookie, to taste the happiness there.
His sweet lover obliged, lips pressing against his, then blooming open. The kiss was
gentle, almost sweet, and he luxuriated in it, in the laziness of it. Rookie slid his hands along
Knight’s shoulders then tweaked one of his nipple rings. He jerked and shivered. He couldn’t
help it.
“Mmm. Love how sensitive they make you.”
“They make me crazy.” They made him need.
“Uh-huh.” Rook tugged again.
“Don’t.” He covered Rook’s hand with his own.
Rookie tugged on his lower lip, not quite biting it. “I can feel how much you like it, K.”
The thing was, he didn’t want to like it. He wanted to be cool and calm like Bish.
“I like making you crazy, making you wild.” Rookie kept tugging and twisting, just his
right nipple ring.
“Easy.” He was starting to ache, to burn a little.
Rookie let go of his ring, then bent and took his whole nipple in, flipping his tongue at
the ring as he sucked.
“Oh. Oh, Rookie…” His eyelids went heavy, his thighs shaking.
Rook pushed the blanket aside, grabbing his cock and bringing it together with his own,
squeezing them. He covered them both, cocooning them in the dark softness. Rook hummed
around his nipple, working their cocks, jacking them both.
Knight stroked a line along Rook’s neck, across the man’s shoulders, exploring hot
spots. He could tell every time he hit one because Rook jerked and moaned and cried out for
him.
“So needy.”
Truth was, Rook made him happy.
“Need you, K. So bad.” Rook moved his hand faster, rubbing his thumb across the head
of their pricks.
“I’m here. Rookie. Damn. More.”
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Rook stopped stroking and concentrated on pressing into his slit, thumb sliding back
and forth, making it burn so good. The metal of his piercing moved through his flesh and he
groaned, eyes rolling. Oh fuck, that was hot.
Suddenly his mouth was covered by Rook’s, his sweet lover moaning into one kiss after
another. They rocked together, rubbing off, diving into the kisses. Nothing tasted as good as
his sweet Rookie.
The blanket around them disappeared, and he wrapped around Rook as Bishop
grinned down. Rook moaned, moving faster, kissing harder.
“You two are being naughty.” Bishop sounded altogether too smug, so Knight broke
the kiss to grab for the blanket and try to snatch it from those big hands.
As he and Bish fought over the blanket, Rook kept doing what he was doing, making
him feel so good. It gave Bish an advantage actually and Knight was thinking, not too
seriously, about complaining when Rook kissed him again, distracting him, making his eyes
cross.
Rook distracted him so well, he almost didn’t notice Bishop shifting them, spreading his
legs and tilting his ass up to expose him. No way he could miss that hard prick pushing at
him, though. He groaned, eyes popping wide as he stared at Rookie.
Rookie grinned at him, their pricks still in his hand. “And he said we were being
naughty.”
“He was busy playing with Jase.” So how could Bishop be here now, cock inside his
ass?
“Not playing anymore.” Those words were his only warning before Bish pulled mostly
out and thrust back in hard.
Knight’s eyes rolled back in his head and he grabbed at Rook. “Fuck.”
Rook laughed softly then moaned when Jason’s hand slid between them to take over
jacking them together.
“Look at you, getting all over us.” Knight thought the kid had come a long way. It was
hot.
“He knows it’s better to be with us than on his own playing games.” Rook beamed at
Jason, leaning in for a kiss.
“You’re better than any game, Rook.” God, the kid was stupid for Rook. Knight thought
it was sweet, actually.
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Rook answered the words with a kiss, one with lots of tongue. Meanwhile, Bishop just
kept fucking him, driving into Knight, over and over. Without warning, Rook grabbed the
back of his head and pulled him into the kiss with Jason. His tongue pushed in, sliding over
Jason’s soft, full lips. Rookie’s tongue teased his, hot strokes that encouraged his tongue-
fucking of Jason’s mouth.
And still Bish nailed him, driving into him like the man was a machine.
Between the kisses, Jason’s and Rook’s hands around his cock and Bishop’s amazing
cock banging him, Knight felt like he’d fucking died and gone to heaven. He rode hard, lost
in the pleasure, the fire-lit room seeming so hot now, so close.
“Get ready.” Bish’s voice was husky. “We go all together.”
Knight nodded and hoped to hell Rookie was getting Jason off.
Rookie made a noise into their three-way kiss that he could only assume was agreement
and Bishop slammed into him and shouted, “Come!”
Knight arched, heels digging into Bish’s hips as his balls emptied. More heat spread up
over his belly, and even more against his side. Bishop filled his ass with a groan.
“You’re beautiful.” Jason moaned the words, eyes closed.
“You are, K. Like magic.” Rook’s words came with a kiss to his cheek.
“You’re all come-addled.” He smiled, though, pleased.
Rook stuck his tongue out. “Doesn’t mean I’m wrong.”
Bish chuckled, moving that huge prick inside him. “You are the hardest person to
compliment, baby.”
Knight snorted. Compliments were unnecessary.
Bish goosed him, pinching the skin between his balls and his stretched hole, twisting
the ring.
“Fucker!”
Bish laughed. “Next time, take the compliment.”
Rook giggled, rubbing back against Bish. Knight rolled his eyes at them, stuck his
tongue out. It was Jason who grabbed onto it, though, sucking it into his mouth. His eyes
went wide. That surprised him, that eager initiative.
Rookie moaned. “So sexy, honey.”
Knight grabbed the back of Jason’s head, taking control of the kiss, fucking the man’s
lips. Rookie moaned again and Bishop started fucking him once more, like they hadn’t all
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just come. Crazy fucker. He bore down, squeezing Bish hard. That had Bishop groaning then
one of those big hands pushed between him and Rookie, tugging on his right nipple ring.
The sharp sting made him gasp, his fingers tangling, tugging Jase’s hair. Jase cried out into
his mouth and Rookie started moving again, rocking against him to match Bishop’s thrusts.
Crazy, the bunch of them. “Rookie, I want you to fuck him, hard.”
Bishop pushed into him with force. “You giving orders, Knight?”
“You know it.” He met that thrust, adding his strength to Bish’s.
“Not your job.” Bish pushed in even harder.
“Is too.” Oh, fuck that felt good. Deep.
“Nope. Mine.”
More hard, deep thrusts rocked him.
“Yours?” God, he was confused.
“My job.”
“Shut up. Rook—do it.” Rookie would listen to him.
Bishop growled and nailed his gland.
Rook laughed and kissed him, a little breathless. “I’m stuck between the two of you,
Knight.”
“Well…”
Bishop found a new rhythm, fucking him hard. Wait. Oh, fuck. So good. His Bish. Knight
was going out of his fucking mind, the room spinning around him. There were kisses, tugs to
his nipple rings, to his guiche, and Bishop kept banging at his gland. Knight couldn’t fucking
think. Couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t see. Everything built again, making him hard and his balls
ache all over again, like he hadn’t just come.
“Want him to come for us, boys. Want him to scream.” Bishop was an asshole. A
beautiful, wonderful, studly asshole.
The three of them were making him crazy, and they didn’t stop, working every inch of
him. Knight arched, flailed some, trying to centre himself. They didn’t let up on him, though,
not for even a second.
“Fuck!”
Rookie took his mouth again, keeping him from saying another word.
Bishop drove the bus, pushing all of them, pushing him most of all. He was losing his
fucking mind.
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“Come on, baby. Want to feel you around my cock again.” Over all the insanity,
Bishop’s voice hit him. “Now, Knight.” That growl insisted, like Bishop was reaching right
inside him to pull the cum from him.
His body responded, called by a deep need to please, to hear his lover.
Bishop shouted as Knight came. “Yes! Knight! So fucking good!” More heat filled him.
Rook slid from atop him, pushing into Jason’s arms, and Knight reached for Bishop. His
lover was right there, still buried deep and now wrapping him in his strong arms. He hid his
face in Bishop’s throat.
“You’re so sexy when you give yourself to us.”
“Shh.” He didn’t want to think.
“Don’t shush me. It’s the truth.” Bish was always pushing, silly man. Sometimes he just
needed to hide. “Love you,” Bish murmured.
Knight hummed, nuzzling in. “Thank God.”
“Yeah.” Bish smiled.
“Oh my God! We almost missed midnight!” Rookie jumped up off the couch, running
for the tray of glasses and the champagne on ice next to the tree.
“You going to stay inside me for the New Year?” he whispered the words to Bishop,
wanting it so badly he would beg if he had to.
Bishop nodded, holding his gaze as Rookie hurriedly passed them all champagne
glasses and began to fill them.
“Oh, God. Nine! Eight!…”
All Knight could see was his Bish. “Happy New Year, Mouse.”
“Happy New Year, baby.”
Rookie’s shout of Happy New Year was cut short by the sound of kissing, and so was
anything else Knight might say as Bishop’s mouth descended on his.
Happy fucking New Year to them.
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Chapter Five
Christ, it was bitter. Not just snowy and cold, but frigid. They’d had a hard, early
winter and it wasn’t getting any better. Jason grabbed his sweatshirt and tugged it on over
his thermal, then went back to lifting.
Bishop joined him about fifteen minutes later, shaking himself and slapping his chest
and arms. “Shit, you should have turned up the heat, Jase.”
He nodded his good morning, or maybe an agreement. “Didn’t want to get too hot.”
Not that he thought that was going to happen at this point.
“Yeah, but this is wickedly cold.” Bishop nudged up the thermostat. “Hell, I didn’t
want to get out of bed this morning, truth be told.”
“Yeah. I saw Knight on his way out. He was going to run, then bring home coffees. He
looked tired.” Jason couldn’t believe Knight was running in this cold.
“Fuck. I thought he’d gone down to his studio. It’s too fucking cold to be running.”
Bishop pulled his cell out of his pocket and checked it.
Jason nodded. “I talked to him, but…” No one could make Knight do anything he
didn’t want to. Ever. It was a thing.
Bishop slipped his phone back into his pants and put both hands on Jason’s shoulders,
the touch warm. “But he’s a stubborn asshole who is going to catch his death of a cold one of
these days. Hopefully he’ll call when he gets too cold to continue and I’ll go pick him up.”
“He’ll call from the coffee shop, I bet.” Knight almost always did.
“Yeah.” Bishop chuckled and squeezed his shoulders. “He will.”
“You doing lower body today?” This was one of his favourite parts of the day. Working
out with Bishop fulfilled his need to teach, to train. It brought them together, too, in a way he
didn’t connect with anyone else.
“Yeah, it’s an easy day today.” Bishop grinned and settled on a piece of equipment. He
liked doing lower body workouts over upper body ones.
Jason nodded and started working again, eyes on Bish.
Bishop met his gaze, smiled. “You want something, baby boy?”
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His cheeks heated. “I was just admiring.” He was, though working out often led to
more. Okay, always did.
Bishop popped his pecs, gave Jason a wink. “Thank you.”
Jason chuckled, then settled into the hard lifting—head down, muscles warming up,
then heating up, then screaming as he worked hard.
It was Bishop’s hand on his back that caught his attention, made him stop. “Don’t
overdo it.”
“I…” He gulped in air, biceps convulsing. “I was in the zone, man.” He got that way
sometimes. It was good to have someone there to check him when he did.
Bishop helped him set the weights down then wrapped around behind him, his body
warm and solid. God, Bishop was like a blanket. He pushed close, humming.
“Turn up the heat next time. We don’t want you turning into an icicle.” The words
came with a kiss at the end, Bishop turning his head to the side and giving him a proper
good morning.
“I will.” He kissed Bishop back, the connection easy, lazy. Warm.
Bishop’s tongue played with his, one hand coming around to rub at his pecs. His
nipples were hard, peaked under his sweats. One was slightly swollen, where Rookie had
bitten him the night before, and Bish somehow knew, fingers lingering.
His lips parted, his tongue flicking out to wet them. Bishop pulled his tongue right in,
sucking on it. Oh, fuck yes. He dived into the kiss, hungry for Bish. Bish shifted them so they
were face to face, straddling the bench.
“H…hey. Hey.” This was so different. Knight made him nervous, Rook made him
stupid, and Bish… Bish just made him.
“Hey, baby boy.” Bish moved in for another kiss, filling his mouth with heat and
tongue and the flavour that belonged to Bish.
They were solid and sure together, leaning into each other as they touched. Bish pushed
his hands under his shirt, snaking up to slide over his nipples again. He grunted, his nips
drawing up tight, aching as they did, that one just zinging at every touch.
“So fucking solid.” Bish pressed lightly against his chest, palms moulding to his
muscles.
“Bishop!” Rook’s voice rang out, the sound unusual enough that they both turned
towards the door. “Bishop! I need you!”
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“That’s not Rookie’s sex call.” Bishop got up and high-tailed it from the room.
Jason followed at a run, both of them barrelling up the stairs. “Rook?”
“Bishop!” That was a scream. A scream.
They hit the door so hard it fell off the top hinges.
“Bishop!” Rook screamed again, standing in the middle of the bedroom, holding the
phone out towards them.
Oh, God. Oh, God. “Rook? Rook, what’s wrong, love?” Jason reached for Rook, but the
man pulled away, shoving the phone at Bish. Rook was white, knees beginning to buckle out
from under him as Bishop grabbed the phone.
“What’s wrong?” He moved slowly, touching Rook’s shoulder.
Rook looked at him. “Knight. I… Knight.”
“What’s wrong with Knight? He went running.” Jason didn’t understand.
Rook shook his head and waved at the phone. “Police.” Sagging against the wall, Rook
slid down it.
Oh God. Oh fuck. Oh God. Jason gathered Rook up, shook him a little bit. “Is he dead?”
“I… I… Don’t think so?” Rook’s pretty eyes were filling with ears.
“Okay, then. Get up. He’ll need us. If he’s not gone, he’ll need us.” Jason hugged Rook
tight and Rook clung to him.
“Jason.” Bishop’s voice snapped across the room like a whip. “Knight’s in the hospital.
He was hit by a snowplough. We have to go. Now.”
A snowplough. Fuck. The hospital. Fuck. Okay. Fuck. Okay, he had to get it together. Jason
shook himself. “Okay. I’ll get coats, wallets. Rook, you have to get dressed. Right now.”
Rook didn’t look like he understood, staring up at Jason, eyes swimming.
“Hey, Rookie.” Bishop growled. “Snap out of it. Knight needs you.”
Rook took a deep breath and looked at Jason. “You’re coming, too, right?”
“Of course I’m coming. I’m getting our shit together. Get dressed!” Was he coming?
They were f…family, damn it. Of course he was coming. Just try and stop him.
Bishop grabbed his shoulder, squeezed. “You good to drive, Jase?” He could see the
touch of desperation in Bishop’s eyes, the man working to keep it together.
“I am. Meet me at the back door in five.” He sprinted for the coat closet, grabbing keys
and coats, hats and mitts.
He’d get them to the hospital and they’d find out Knight was all right. They would.
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Chapter Six
Bishop strode up to the lady at the reception desk in Emergency. “I’m looking for
Christian Knight. He was brought in this morning.”
“Can I have your name, sir?”
“Bishop Dumont. I’m his emergency contact, his family.”
“Let me get you some information, sir.” She closed the window before walking away.
A snowplough. A fucking snowplough.
It seemed like forever before a doctor came to the door, opened it. “Mr Dumont?”
“Yes, that’s me. How is he? Can I see him?” Jason and Rook appeared at his side,
flanking him.
“Sir, he’s heading to surgery. The damage was…significant.”
What the fuck did that mean? Jason’s hand landed on his shoulder and Rookie’s hand
slid into his, squeezed.
He took a breath, letting them ground him, keep him from flying apart. “And that
means?”
“Both of his legs are broken. One arm. His pelvis. Right now our concern is internal
bleeding and brain damage. The prognosis right now is not good, sir.”
Everything went white and all sound disappeared under the ringing in his ears. Not
good. The prognosis is not good. The words sounded over and over in his head.
Rookie tugged on his hand. “Bishop? Bishop?”
He shook his head to clear it. Made himself breathe. “Can we see him?”
“One of you, just for a moment. We’re taking him up.”
“To surgery?” That was a good sign, wasn’t it? They were going to fix his lover, right?
“Yes. We have to stop the bleeding.”
“I want to see him.” It was more than that, though. He had to see Knight—had to.
“We’ll wait here for you,” Jason told him.
“But—” Rookie started.
Bishop cut his lover off. “Not now, Rookie.” He followed the doctor. “I need to see
him.”
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“Just this way, sir. It really does have to be just a short visit. We have to get him into the
OR immediately.”
“I know.” He had to see Knight, just in case… Even as he thought it, he shied away
from it.
He followed the doctor down a long hallway, stopping at a series of curtained-off
rooms. The doctor pointed him to the closest one. “The orderlies will be in for him in a few
minutes. We haven’t cleaned him up. You need to remember that. He’s unconscious, but he
might hear you.”
Bishop nodded and took a deep breath, pushed the curtain aside.
Knight looked…destroyed. The man’s face was bloody, swollen, the shapes under the
sheet unnatural.
“Fuck…” There was a chair and he grabbed it, managing to sink into it before he hit the
ground. He wasn’t sure if he could hold Knight’s hand—hell, he wasn’t even sure he could
find it. “Baby…”
The beeping on the heart rate monitor sped as he spoke.
“Can you hear me, Knight?” He touched his lover’s face, just gently with his fingertips.
“I’m here, baby. And I’ll be here when you wake up, after your surgery. You’re going to
wake up and be just fine. You hear me? That’s an order.”
“Sir, we have to take him. Now.”
The beeping was speeding, the sound urgent. Scary.
“I love you, Knight.” He let them push him out of the way. “I love you.”
The beeping hiccupped then flat-lined and they shoved him out of the way, taking
Knight and running.
Oh God. That sound was going to haunt him for the rest of his life.
Bishop knew he needed to be strong for Knight. He needed to be strong for his other
lovers. But he couldn’t do it right this second and he let himself lean against the wall and
shake.
He could be strong later.
* * * *
EN PRISE
Sean Michael
50
They’d been sitting in the waiting room in surgery for hours. Hours. Rook had freaked
out, he’d cried. He’d ranted about the danger of snowploughs and of running. Now he was
sitting there with his lovers, with his five hundredth cup of bad coffee, feeling like he was
going to throw up. Every passing minute made it that little bit harder to believe that
everything was going to be okay.
He was trying as hard as he could—he wanted to be strong for his lovers, especially
Bishop—but damn it, Knight was his lover, too, and he was devastated. Utterly devastated.
Out of all of them, he’d loved Knight first.
Bishop refused to talk about what Knight had looked like, just saying it was bad, but
the doctors would fix it. Rook was pretty sure Bishop hadn’t believed his own words.
Bishop’s eyes had looked so…so lost.
Jason was the one who was…like a robot. The man dealt with food and nurses, coffee
and making sure everyone had everything they needed. Barbara, Knight’s agent, had come
and gone again to deal with the press, with the cops.
They still weren’t even sure exactly what had happened, aside from the man versus
snowplough thing.
God. They were huge. And Knight wasn’t. Feeling more tears leaking from his eyes,
Rook slapped at his face.
“Rook, stop it.” Jason took his hand. “It’s good news that they haven’t come. That
means they’re still working on him.”
“You promise?” He squeezed Jason’s hand tight. Rook didn’t know what they’d have
done without him.
Bishop finally turned from where he was staring out of the window. “He’s right. No
news is good news.”
“Of course I’m right.” Jason was like an oasis, a calm steadiness in the centre of all this
insanity.
“I don’t know what I would have done without you, honey.” He leaned into Jason and
let that strength hold him.
Bishop paced across the room a couple of times before settling in front of the window
again, looking out at the snow.
The door opened. An exhausted looking man stood there. “Mr Dumont?”
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Bishop strode over immediately and Rook squeezed Jason’s hand as they followed,
standing at their lover’s side. He sent up a silent prayer, begging for Knight to be okay.
“He made it through the surgery. His liver was torn, one lung deflated. I removed a
foot of small intestine. The orthopaedic surgeon will be in tomorrow, to discuss his bone
issues. Right now, he’s not stable enough to deal with those problems.”
“He’s alive, though.” Rook couldn’t contain his words.
“Yes. Yes. He’s in serious condition, but he is stable.”
Rook sagged against Bishop, who wrapped one strong arm around him.
“Can we see him?” Bishop asked.
“He’s in recovery, and then they’ll move him to the ICU. One at a time and there are
clean protocols.”
“We’ll follow them. I want to sit with him overnight.”
Rook wasn’t sure if Bishop was telling the doctor, or him and Jason.
“That’s understandable. I’ll have a nurse come see you once he’s moved and settled.
She’ll show you to the Intensive Care family area.”
“Thank you. We appreciate the care you’re giving him.” Bishop’s voice sounded rough
and a single shiver went through Rook.
“He’s not out of the woods by far, but he’s doing better than he should be.” The doctor
shook each of their hands and headed off again.
Rook threw himself at Bishop and held on. Bishop wrapped around him, squeezed him
tight, but only for a second. “You two should…get lunch?”
Jason looked at his watch. “Yeah. Or supper. It’s almost five. What do you want and
we’ll get it.”
“What if the nurse comes while we’re away getting it? How is Bish going to find us?”
Rook tried not to panic at the thought of them being separated.
“He’ll text us.” Jason seemed so calm. “Or we’ll ask where the waiting area is. I’ve done
this before. I can handle it.”
“Oh. Oh, okay, that’ll work.” He hugged Bishop again. “What do you want us to bring
you?”
“I don’t care. I won’t taste anything.”
“Oh, Bish…” He hugged Bishop again. “Jason can go by himself. I’ll stay with you.”
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“No. No, we’ll be here a while—get out while you can.” Bishop looked over him to
Jason. “Eat at the restaurant. I want you two to get a break from this place for a while.”
Rook clung to Bishop for a moment. “I love you, Bishy.”
“I know, Rookie. I love you, too. He’s going to be okay, all right?”
Rook nodded. He had to believe that. He thought maybe Bishop needed him to believe
it.
“He is. It’ll suck. He’ll hurt and stuff, but he’ll make it.” Jason sounded so sure.
Rook nodded again and took Jason’s hand. “From your lips to God’s ears.”
“He will,” Jason insisted. “He made it through surgery.”
“Okay. Okay. We should go get food so Bishop doesn’t starve.” He gave Bishop another
kiss and let Jason lead him away.
Bishop would be okay while they were gone. It wasn’t like there were any snowploughs
in here.
“It’ll be okay.” Jason took him to the elevator and handed him his coat.
He took it, clutching it against his chest. “It’ll be okay,” he repeated.
Jason nodded, looking so sure, so solid. Was this his gentle lover?
“I’m so glad you’re here, honey.”
“I am, too. I’m sorry he got hurt.”
Rook nodded, clinging to Jason’s hand. “He has to get better.”
“Where do you want to eat?”
“Not at the cafeteria.” The food in hospital cafeterias always sucked for some reason.
And they smelt like antiseptic and sick people.
“There’s got to be something easy to walk to.”
Rook nodded at Jason’s words, but when they got to the doors and went to go out, he
hung back.
“What’s wrong, Rook?”
“There’s snowploughs out there.” The words shot out of him without thought and he
shook his head. “Maybe they’ve got muffins or something at the Timmy’s.” He knew there
was one in the hospital, Jason kept bringing them coffee from there. Timmy’s usually had
decent coffee, so how come the hospital Timmy’s coffee sucked as hard as the cafeteria coffee
did?
“There are always going to be snowploughs, Rook. It was an accident. Come on.”
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He looked at Jason, clinging to his lover’s hand. “You say it like it’s going to be easy.”
“Nothing is easy, Rook, but that’s the way it is.” Jason tugged him out into the snow.
He shivered and stayed close to Jason, trying not to let it freak him out.
“I have you. I won’t let things hurt you.”
“Thank you, honey. I believe you.” They stopped at the light at the corner and he rested
his head on Jason’s shoulder. God, he was tired. Utterly exhausted. Poor Knight. Poor Bish.
Poor him.
Jason led him to a little diner across from the hospital and told the waitress yes when
she asked if they wanted coffee. She poured it and left them with the menus. The words were
blurry with Rook’s tears, his heart just aching. “You pick something that looks good. Don’t
forget to get something to go for Bish.”
“I think I’m going to have a pot roast sandwich. Do you want a Philly cheesesteak?”
Jason asked.
“Sure. With fries. I want fries.” It didn’t seem real—they were sitting here ordering food
while Knight was in the hospital, held together by hope and a prayer.
“Oh, that sounds good.” Jason ordered, then leant back, looked at him. “Is there
someone we should call for Knight? Family?”
He shook his head. “Just Barbara. She’s the only family he’s got except us.” It was the
same for all of them. Even if in some cases it was because people were homophobic assholes.
“Okay. I just thought I’d ask.”
“You’re such a good man, honey.” He reached out and squeezed Jason’s hand. Jason
held on, rubbing his palm.
Their food came. Rook picked at his, but he really wasn’t very hungry. There was this
pain in his belly that he couldn’t shake.
“He’ll be okay, Rook. Bishop’s going to need us to help, a lot, especially when Knight
gets to come home.”
Rook nodded. “I won’t go back to work until he’s back to his old ornery self.” He was
lucky he was independently wealthy and had great staff at his store—he really didn’t need to
be there for things to run smoothly. He’d give up all that money, though, if it meant Knight
would be okay.
He looked at his French fries and started to cry, heart just broken. Jason sat there,
holding his hand, as solid as a rock.
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In the end, he managed a couple of fries and some of the meat out of his sandwich. He
couldn’t drink the coffee, though. He thought if he had any more coffee he’d throw up. He
might never drink it again.
When it felt like he wasn’t going to cry anymore, he looked at Jason. “We should take
Bish’s food to him. And see if they’ll let us see K yet.” He needed to see for himself that
Knight was still there.
“Sounds like a plan.” Jason ordered Bish a hamburger, fries and a huge Coke.
“Do you think he’ll eat it?” Rook didn’t know how Bish was keeping it together, but
Bish was. Better than him at least. He took a breath, held it a second. He needed to get it
together. He’d lost it for a while there, but now he’d had his turn and he had to be strong so
Bish and Jason had someone to lean on.
“No. But he needs it.”
“We’ll make him eat it.” He handed over some money when the waitress brought them
the takeout, and slipped into his coat. “I’m ready to go back.”
“Let’s go, then.” Jason took the food with one hand, his arm with the other.
They went out and he clung to Jason’s hand, telling himself over and over again that the
snowploughs weren’t going to hit him. It was ridiculous—that he was so worried, that now,
after living here his entire life, he was scared. He couldn’t help it, though. He was. Knight
had nearly been taken away from them by a snowplough and he was worried they were out
to get them all. He pushed the fear down, letting Jason’s hand give him strength.
Jason stopped him in the lobby. “Let’s text Bish, huh? See where he is?”
“Okay, sure.” Thank God for Jason. He didn’t know what they’d have done without his
honey here to be their rock.
“He says he’s in the third floor waiting room.”
“‘Kay.” He just kept hold of Jason’s hand and followed his lover.
They went up, and this waiting room was much nicer—a coffee pot, water, vending
machines, even a little refrigerator. Bishop was there, sitting, head in his hands.
Rook dropped Jason’s hand and went running over to Bishop. “What happened?”
“Nothing. Nothing, Rookie. My head’s fucking killing me.”
“Oh.” He kissed Bishop’s forehead. “We brought you food. You need to eat. And have
some aspirin or something.”
“Do you have any?”
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“Jason will get some.” He turned to Jason and mouthed “Please?” as he took the bag of
food. Jason handed him the Coke.
“Sure. I’ll head down to the gift shop.”
“Thanks, honey.” He squeezed Jason’s hand, then set the food out on the table in front
of Bishop. “The fries are really good.”
“Yeah?” Bish just stared.
“Yeah, sure.” He couldn’t actually remember if they were or not, but figured it didn’t
matter.
He opened the Styrofoam container and grabbed one, holding it up to Bish’s lips.
“He looks like shit.”
A shudder went through Rook, but he wrapped his hand around Bish’s arm. “He’s
going to be okay.”
Bishop nodded, looking heartbroken. “I know. He has to.”
“He does. He will be.” He pushed the burger into Bishop’s hand. “And now you have
to eat because he’s going to need us.”
Jason was right. They had to do normal things.
“Come on. You eat and when Jason gets back, I’ll go see Knight and then we’ll figure
out what to do, yeah?”
“Yeah. Yeah. Okay.” Bishop took a bite of the burger—listlessly, but he did eat.
Was this how he’d looked to Jason? He sighed and brushed Bishop’s hair to the side.
“We need to stay strong for him.” His Jason was so smart. So right and so brave.
Bish managed to eat about half of the burger before Jason came back, a bottle of pills in
one hand, and a bottle of water in the other. “Here you go. The ladies downstairs are very
nice.”
“Yeah? Cool.” He held out his hand and Jason sat next to Bish, getting a couple of pills
out and handing them over along with the water bottle.
Bish took the pills and drank half of the bottle in one go.
“Can Rook go see him?” Jason asked, and Rook blinked new tears back. His honey was
always looking out for him.
Bish nodded. “Only one at a time is allowed, but as long as we’re not in the way, they’ll
let me stay the night.”
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“Good.” Jason patted Bishop’s arm then squeezed it. “You’ll have to wash in the special
soap and stuff, Rook. I noticed instructions on the door to this wing.”
“Okay. You stay with Bishop and I’ll go see him.” Rook gave Bishop a kiss on the cheek,
then Jason.
Then he took a deep breath and went to see his lover.
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Chapter Seven
Jason fed them, made sure they slept, made sure they showered.
Knight never woke up. One surgery had turned into two, turned into four, turned into
six. It was insane. There had been yet another surgery this morning.
“Jason.” Bishop, looking utterly exhausted, touched his arm. “Take Rookie home, baby
boy. Put a smile on his face.”
“Are you sure? You don’t need us?”
Bishop hadn’t gone home, not yet. Not once. They’d brought in food for him, changes of
clothing, soap so he could clean up. Bishop hadn’t stepped foot from the hospital ever since
Knight had been admitted.
“I do. I need you two to be my normal. I need that smile of Rookie’s, but it’s been
looking so shaky, so thin.”
“He’s scared.” They all were scared.
“I know, because I’m fucking terrified. I can’t lose them both, though. Go love on him,
make him sleep, bring him back a little more his old self tomorrow. Do that for me?” Bishop’s
voice was husky and tired.
“I promise.” Jason would do anything for these men. Anything.
Bishop pressed their foreheads together and kissed him, just once, hard. “Thank you,
Jason. We couldn’t survive this without you.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He met Bishop’s eyes. “I’ll bring you breakfast in the
morning.”
“I’ll be here.” Bishop managed a wink for him, a smile. Then he turned to Rook. “Come
on, Rookie. Jason’s taking you home. Make sure he brings something yummy with him for
my breakfast tomorrow morning, ’kay?”
“But—”
“No buts. Knight needs you well rested because he’s going to be a bear when he wakes
up.”
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“Come home, love? Please? We could have a shower together.” Jason tried not to worry
about how long since they’d done that—just showered together. They could do that. And
more. Touch each other…sleep…
“Okay, okay. Bishop, I’m taking tomorrow night’s shift, though. You haven’t had a
chance to sleep at home yet.”
“We’ll see. Go on, guys.”
Jason took Rook’s hand and tugged him up.
Rook squeezed Bishop’s hand, then let himself be led away. “He needs to go home
tomorrow, honey. It’s not right that you and I get to go home and he never does.”
They stopped at the elevator and Rook leaned against him. He held Rook. “We’ll get
him home, let him rest.”
Knight didn’t seem like he was going to wake up, though. It was scary. So he got why
Bishop didn’t want to leave.
Rookie sighed. “I just want Knight to come home.”
“Me too, Rook.” He wanted things to go back to normal.
Rook leaned up and kissed him and their elevator came. They went in and he pressed
the button to the ground floor.
“Did you want to stop and eat or just head home?”
“Let’s just go home, honey. We can make a sandwich or something, right?” Rook
sounded so tired, so…worn thin.
“Hell, yes. Or I can cook some eggs and toast?” He missed cooking.
“Oh, that actually sounds good.” Rook sounded surprised by the words.
“I know, huh?” They flagged down a cab, leaving Bish the car, just in case, and hopped
in.
Rook leaned against him after he’d told the driver where they were going. “I don’t
think I’ve been hungry since it happened.”
“This has been hard. Really.” He held Rook’s hand. “I want him to wake up.”
Rook nodded, squeezing his hand. “You’ve been so good to us. I really don’t know
what we’d have done without you. Truly.”
“I’m glad I could be here to help.” It was true.
“Me, too.”
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They fell into silence and he thought maybe Rook had dozed off until they turned into
the driveway and he leant forward to pay the cabbie.
“We’re home, man.” They headed in, the place seeming so cold and quiet. It hardly felt
like anyone lived there anymore. God knew, they were at the hospital all the time, so it
wasn’t surprising.
Rook went over to the thermostat and turned it up, just kind of wandering after that
until they wound up in the kitchen. “I guess we should eat?”
“I’ll start some eggs and toast. You start the kettle?” He went to the fridge and dug out
eggs.
“Yeah, I can manage the kettle.” Rook gave him a small half-smile and grabbed the
kettle, filling it at the sink.
Jason put the toast in, then turned on some music. Rook came over and wrapped
around him from behind, leaned against him.
“Hey, love.” He reached back and patted Rook’s hip.
“Tell me again everything is going to be okay?”
“Everything is going to be okay.” He wasn’t sure if he believed it. Knight needed to
wake up before he was really solid on the words. He wasn’t going to tell Rook that, though.
Rook took a deep breath and sighed. “Okay. I believe you.”
“Good.” He cracked the eggs into the pan.
Rook squeezed him, then went and got the cups down and opened the box of tea.
Supper was simple—quiet, but it was nice to sit together, to just eat and be together. Rook
helped him with the dishes after, then wandered again, looking lost.
“Do you want to take a bath? Watch TV?” Something?
“Oh, a bath… Will you come in with me?”
“Absolutely. That sounds like a decadence, doesn’t it?”
“It does.” Rook pushed close, holding on.
He wrapped one arm around Rookie, heading towards the bathroom they used most
often—the big one with the four person shower and the huge tub. The whole house just
felt…unlived in.
Rook let him start the tub filling, let him get everything ready. He turned some music
on, got undressed then got towels and washcloths. He encouraged Rook to get undressed
and get into the tub.
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Rook held out a hand. “You’re coming in with me, right?”
“I promise. I want a beer, though. You?”
“Sure, whatever you want.”
“I want a cold beer and a hot bath.”
“Do you want me to get it for you?” Rook climbed out of the tub, dripping on the floor.
“Nope. I’m going. Breathe, Rook, huh? You’re scaring me a little.”
Rook met his gaze, eyes wide. “What?”
“You’re so disconnected. Just stop. Breathe. I’m here. You’re here. We’re together. Be
here with me.” Please.
“Honey?” Rook reached for him.
Jason opened his arms, tears surprisingly close. These guys were his family now, too.
Rook pushed into his arms, wet and shivering. Jason held on, burying his face in Rook’s hair,
his nose full of Rook’s scent. Rook’s shoulders shook.
“I’ve got you.” He did, and he’d hold on.
“Don’t let go. Please, honey.”
“I won’t. I promise.” Jason never wanted to let go.
Rook looked up at him, eyes swimming with tears, and brought their lips together.
Jason cupped Rookie’s head and took a slow, easy kiss, loving this man with all he was. A
sob filled his mouth. Rook’s arms went around his shoulders, his lover holding on like he
was a lifeline. He held on, rocking Rook, focusing. They could do this.
Rook sucked on his tongue, moaning around it.
“Bathtub.” They could cuddle, stay warm, make love.
“It’s right there.” That was almost a twinkle in Rook’s eyes. Almost.
“Uh-huh. The water’s warm.”
“Okay.” Rook let him go enough that they could both climb into the tub.
Rook ended up in his lap, in his arms, holding on. Melting against him, Rook took one
kiss after another, mouth clinging to his. It was almost easy—to relax, to focus on Rook and
float and taste and feel.
Rook began to feed him moans, sweet and soft, almost tentative. He encouraged them,
encouraged the need. He wanted his lover.
He felt Rook’s prick begin to firm up against him and Rook gasped, “Jason!”
“Yes. Yes, lover. Please.”
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“Oh, God. Honey,” Rook sobbed, diving into another kiss, this one needy.
Jason groaned, tugging Rook in, fucking the sweet lips with all he had. Please. Please,
Rook. Come back to me. He hated that Knight was hurt, but…he needed Rook.
Rook clung to him, his hips stuttering against Jason’s belly like he had forgotten how to
make love. Jason backed off a little, focusing on touching, letting Rook feel things that were
good. Sweet moans pushed into his mouth, Rook’s fingers sliding on his shoulders, tracing
his collarbones.
Oh. Oh, hell yes. It felt so good, knowing he was doing this right, making Rook happy.
Rook shifted, legs coming around his waist in the water, their pricks bumping and
rubbing.
“Love you.” He pushed the words into Rook’s kiss, into those warm lips.
“Yes. Oh, God, Jason, I love you.” Rook moved closer, hips beginning to find a rhythm
now, rubbing them together.
They both worked it, rocking—the water splashing over the sides of the tub. There
would be a mess, but Jason didn’t care.
Rook pushed his fingers between them, finding his nipples and tweaking them. The
little sting was perfect and he gasped, hips rolling hard.
“Fuck. Yes, honey.” Rook met his eyes, passion there, shining for him as Rook pinched
again.
“Yes. Yes, please.” He’d never asked for it before. Not like this. He was begging for it,
begging for it like it was his life.
“Want you so bad.” Rook shook his head. “No. Not want—need. Need you so bad.”
“I’m yours.” Surely Rook knew that.
Rook’s mouth descended on his again, Rook driving their bodies together now, hard
and sure. Jason’s hands were fastened on Rook’s ass, squeezing, using his strength to
encourage more, faster. Rook started tongue-fucking his mouth, matching the movements of
Rook’s hips and driving them higher.
His knees bent, cradling Rook, letting their cocks have more friction.
“Jason!” Rook cried out his name, eyes going wide as he shook, and Jason felt Rook’s
spunk against him before the water stole it away.
“I have you. I do.” He groaned, hips moving restlessly, his balls aching.
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Rook collapsed against him, hand stealing between them to wrap around his prick and
pull.
“Oh, God.” His eyes crossed, his throat working convulsively.
“I have you.” Rook’s thumb brushed over his tip.
“Uh-huh.” Please. Please.
Leaning in, Rook wrapped his right nipple in heat, lips tugging lightly on it. That was
all he needed to pull him over, let him come and come, crying out Rook’s name. Slowing his
fingers, but not letting go, Rook melted against him, his breath warm against his neck.
Oh, better. For the first time in days, Jason felt like he could breathe. Rook found his
hand, twining their fingers together, body heavy and easy on his.
“Hey.” He kissed Rook’s temple.
“Mmm. Oh, I could just fall asleep right here, honey.” Rook sounded half asleep
already.
“Let’s go to bed, so we can be together.” And not wake up half frozen to death.
“Okay, honey.” Rook nuzzled into his neck.
He stood and lifted Rook, grabbed the towels and wrapped them both up.
“So strong.” Rook kissed his right nipple.
“It’s what I’m good at.”
“Oh, you’re good at a whole lot more, honey.”
“I’m glad you think so.”
“I know so.” Rook bit his chest.
“You bit me!” Jason burst out laughing—real, honest, deep laughter.
Rook giggled softly and grabbed hold of his shoulders, holding onto him.
“Come on. Let’s go to your bed.” He liked Rook’s room. It was smaller, cosy and warm.
“Yeah. I don’t want to go to the big bedroom.” Rook shuddered and pressed closer.
“No. We’ll talk about how we’ll make things easier for him when it’s closer to Knight
coming home.” If he ever does. He tried not to feel like a traitor, thinking that. If only the man
would wake up.
“We’ll make sure it’s as easy as possible for him.”
“Of course.” They tumbled into Rook’s bed, both of them snuggling into the covers,
cuddling close.
Rook nuzzled him. “Love you, honey.”
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“I love you, Rook. Honest.”
Rook drew back, looking into his eyes. “I know, Jase.”
“I… It’s not just the job. It hasn’t been. Not for a long time.”
“For me, either, honey. Hell, I don’t think it has been for Bishop and Knight, either. You
belong here with us—you’re family.”
“I want to be.” He wanted to be with them. For real.
“You are. You’ve proved that.” Rook settled with him, stroking his belly.
He hoped so. He didn’t have anything else to offer.
“You’re so warm,” murmured Rook.
“I have you. I can’t be cold.” God, that was stupid.
Rook giggled softly and pushed closer. “I like that.”
“Thanks, Rookie.” He kissed the top of Rook’s head. “You want to watch TV a while?”
“Sure.” Rook kissed his chest. “I’m easy, as long as we can do it together.”
Jason stretched, found the remote and handed it over. “Find something mindless.”
“Yes, boss.” Rook gave him a little wink, a wiggle.
“Turkey.” He held Rook close.
“Your turkey.”
“Yes, thank God.”
Rook clicked through the channels, settling on a rerun of Criminal Minds. It wasn’t long
after that his arms were full of sleeping man.
He knew it was awful—he knew it—but he thanked God it hadn’t been Rook.
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Chapter Eight
Bishop waited patiently for the nurses to finish with Knight then slipped back into the
room, taking up residence in the sleeping chair by Knight’s bed. He didn’t know why they
called it a sleeping chair—he sure hadn’t done any sleeping in it. Not to speak of, anyway.
He looked over at Knight. “You need to wake up, baby. I mean it now—need to.”
One of the surgeries for relieving pressure had necessitated the doctors shaving a spot
in his lovely dark hair. Knight was shrinking, dissolving before his eyes. It was killing him
inside.
He grabbed one of the books about art that Jason had brought in and started reading it
out loud. They’d told him hearing his voice would help. He was pretty sure he didn’t believe
that anymore.
Maybe he should read horror, porn—something less boring. Porn just might do it. He
gave a short bark of cheerless laughter. Maybe he ought to just climb into bed and order
Knight to wake the fuck up and stop scaring them.
“We brought you pasta and salad, Bish.”
He jerked around, startled—he hadn’t heard them come in—and nodded at Jason and
Rookie. “Thanks.” He didn’t feel like eating.
They had both been going home at night, and it was helping. Rook looked less
panicked, more hopeful. More like himself. Bishop needed that. If Knight wasn’t going to
wake up, he needed Rookie to be Rookie and not some pale imitation of the real thing.
Rook came and knelt in front of him, hands on his legs. “You look like shit.”
He didn’t even have it in him to protest or grouse at Rook over the insult. “I feel like
shit, Rookie.”
Rook’s soft hand slid over his cheek. “So let Jason take you home and feed you. You can
take a nap, breathe non-hospital air for a little bit.”
“No. I can’t. What if he wakes up and I’m not here?” He wasn’t leaving. He couldn’t.
Period.
“I’ll be here, Bish. And I’ll call you right away and tell him how you’ve been here all
along. Please,” Rookie pleaded. “You’re looking like a ghost.”
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“Come on. We can work out. Eat. Watch UFC.” Jason was so fucking earnest.
“Please,” Rook begged him. “Two hours. Just go for two hours. I swear I’ll take care of
Knight while you’re gone. I won’t leave his side. At all. For anything.”
He sighed, looked at Knight who was just there—still, silent. Pale. A shadow of himself.
“Look, if he wakes up while you’re gone, it’s still a good thing, right?” Rook nudged
him and he actually chuckled.
He gave in. “Okay, okay. Two hours.”
“Come on. Let’s go.” Jason smiled at him, took his arm.
He looked at Rookie. “You need to go to the bathroom or anything before we go?”
Rook rolled his eyes. “Just go. I won’t abandon our K.”
“All right, all right.” He finally let Jason lead him out.
“Did you want your food?” Jason looked back at him. “I have to tell you, Rook picked it
out. It was…interesting.”
“Have we got something decent at home?” At least Rook hadn’t made it.
“I have stuff for hot roast beef sandwiches.”
Bishop’s stomach actually rumbled. “Then let’s leave the pasta in the garbage, huh?”
“You got it.”
Jason seemed to know where they were going and soon they were out of the doors, and
fuck, it was bitterly cold, sharp enough to steal his breath.
“I almost forgot it was winter.” He did his coat up to the throat and dug his fingers into
his pockets as Jason hailed them a cab. He wasn’t sure why they were leaving the car in the
parking lot for whoever stayed behind—it was costing them a fortune.
“I know. It’s weird, huh? That hospital is like the place that time forgot.”
He snorted. “Yeah, that’s a good description.”
The days had kind of just faded one into the other. He wasn’t even sure exactly how
long it had been since…since it had started.
Jason didn’t bullshit, didn’t tell him everything was going to be fine. The man stood
with him, talked about nothing at all—the weather, people. Just a quiet steady patter that he
could hear, but not listen to.
They got into their taxi and Jason gave the address before going back to talking to him.
It lasted through the whole cab ride, then, suddenly, they were home.
He stood there and looked at it. He didn’t want to go in.
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“Come on. We’ll go in the front.” Bishop knew Jason was just trying to make it so that
they didn’t have to go by the studio. Jason unlocked the door and tugged him. “Come on.
You’ll feel better after food.”
He wasn’t convinced he’d ever feel better again, but he followed Jason nonetheless.
Now that he was here, he might as well try.
The house didn’t feel weird. It was just home. Quiet, but home. He perched on a bar
stool as Jason wandered around, getting bread and meat and cheese out. He thought he
could eat. He couldn’t at the hospital, but maybe here he’d be able to. He got a glass of milk
and a piece of cheese to nibble on. It actually sat decently on his stomach.
“You’re going to spoil your lunch.” Jason gave him a wink.
He snorted and held his glass out to Jason, who refilled it. “That sandwich ready yet?”
“They’re better heated up. You want chips?”
“Sure.” He was suddenly starving.
“We have salt and vinegar, plain, and sour cream and onion.”
He made a face. “You let Rookie go grocery shopping. I’ll have the plain.”
“I did.” Jason grinned. “I promise to grab barbecue ones next time.”
“You better. I count on you to have my back.” As soon as the words left his mouth,
Bishop realised how true they were.
“I do.” Jason’s words were soft, quiet, and so serious.
He nodded. Yeah. Yeah, Jason did. “I know.”
“Good.” The timer dinged. Jason plated the two sandwiches and sat across from him.
“This looks good, man.” He meant it, too. It looked and smelt good and his stomach
was eager for food for the first time in weeks.
“I’m getting better.”
“Baby boy, you were better than any of us when you walked in the door.”
Jason gave him a pleased, warm grin. “Thanks, man. I appreciate it. Eat.”
“Yes, boss.” He gave Jason a wink and took a bite, his stomach actually growling as
soon as the food hit his taste buds.
It was a damned fine sandwich and they sat and ate—no stress, no drama. Just two
dudes munching. It was what he needed. Well, what he needed was his Knight to fucking
wake up, but this worked for now.
He helped Jason clean up, then sort of wandered, at a loss again. What now?
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“Bish?” At the sound, he turned to Jason. “You want to go spar a little? Work off some
stress?”
That actually sounded good. “Yeah. Yeah, okay. Let’s do it.”
“Cool.” Jason gave him a smile.
Bishop thought, maybe, Jason needed this too. Hell, the kid was used to working out for
hours with him and since Knight had been hit by the fucking snowplough, everything had
stopped. Everything.
They changed into their shorts and T-shirts and headed down to the workout room.
Jase handed him boxing gloves, head protection, and turned on some driving music. “No
face hits, okay? Rook freaks.”
He chuckled. Rook did. It was probably better not to, anyway. He had a feeling they
both might be hitting pretty hard.
He suited up and they started circling, jabbing lightly, barely pushing, tapping each
other as they warmed up. He started landing slightly harder punches, his breath huffing out
of him with his hits. Jason took them and responded, letting the exchanges slowly build.
Fuck. Fuck, he needed this. He needed this.
He kept his blows confined to Jason’s upper chest and arms. The huge, solid muscles
could take it, so when the blows intensified, Jason didn’t back away. Bishop started hitting in
earnest, Jason’s blows rocking him in return. It felt fucking good and he slammed a little
harder, harsh grunts coming from him.
Jason pushed back, forcing him to sweat, to ache, to give more. He stopped thinking
and just kept hitting, pushing. If tears mingled with the sweat, so be it. He was busy.
They went at it until he was exhausted, until his whole body followed through on the
hits, making him stumble against Jason. He was caught in strong arms, given a safe place to
fall. He panted, his breaths tearing out of him as he let Jason support him.
Jason didn’t say a word, that strong heart beating against him. He closed his eyes and
breathed, just breathed.
The pain wasn’t gone—in fact, he thought he’d hurt a little bit forever—but it was
survivable. He hoped. God, he was exhausted.
“You want the shower?”
“Fuck, yeah.” He wasn’t sure he could stand, but with Jason helping he managed.
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Jason got him under the water, the heat banging down on him. He leaned, barely
noticing as Jason washed him. God, the water felt good. When was the last time he’d been
clean?
His hair was soaped, scalp scrubbed, those fingers digging in. He actually moaned,
hands landing on Jason’s hips.
“I got you.”
“You do.”
Jason really did.
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Chapter Nine
Rook chattered away to Knight, talking about nothing and everything. When he ran out
of things to say, he started recounting the last movie he’d seen—coma patients could hear
you and it was supposed to help, right?
Knight was so still, so pale, and the doctors kept looking more and more worried. Rook
was clinging to the fact that Knight had to wake up because they needed him. And they did,
damn it.
“K? We need you to wake up now, okay? I mean really, really.”
Bishop was going to lose his goddamn mind. Like really. He was more sure of it every
day. So Knight had to wake up.
He found Knight’s hand and wrapped his around it. Knight’s hand was so cold. “Need
you, K. You’re a part of us.”
He thought, maybe, Knight’s fingers twitched. Maybe.
“That’s right. You have to come back to us. You have to.”
Bishop and Jason came in, a Tim Horton’s box and three coffees in their hands.
“Oh, put that near Knight—he loves coffee.” Maybe the smell would help. After all, the
man practically lived on it some days.
Jason nodded. “How is he?”
“I think his fingers moved. Just a bit, but there was a twitch.” He was trying to be casual
about it because he couldn’t be a hundred per cent sure he’d actually felt it.
Bish came over. “His fingers moved?”
“I swear, Bish, they did.” At least he prayed it had been more than just wishful, needful
thinking. He was still clutching Knight’s hand, wanting it to happen again. “I told him he
had to wake up because we need him.”
The long fingers moved. He felt it. And this time he was sure. He gasped. “Bish! Grab
his other hand!” This hand was his, he wasn’t letting go. “You heard that, didn’t you, K? You
heard it when I said we need you. It’s true, too, we do.”
Bishop growled low. “Knight. If you’re in there, you’d better fucking let me know.”
Jason blinked as he came over and put the doughnuts down. “Should I get the doctor?”
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“I don’t know, honey—I think so. Yes. Come on, K. Do it again. We’re all here and
there’s coffee and we need you. I need you.”
Those fingers twitched again and this time Bishop looked over at him, eyes fucking
huge. “Rookie…”
Oh, fuck yes. Yes. It wasn’t just him. This was really happening.
He laughed softly. “Oh, God. It’s real. His fingers moved! You moved, K! You moved.”
“Is he waking up?” Jason looked from Knight to Rook to Bishop.
Rook looked up at Knight’s face. It looked the same, pale and not lifelike at all. But
those fingers moved again and Rook had to blink back sudden tears.
“He has to be— He’s moving.”
Bishop leant down, whispering in Knight’s ear, the big man’s shoulders hitching.
Knight’s heart monitor sped, the beeps going faster.
Jason whispered, “He hears Bish.”
Rook nodded, head bobbing rapidly. “Keep going, Bish. Keep talking to him.”
One of the nurses came in, looking at the monitors. “Oh, it looks like someone’s trying
to wake up. I’ll call Dr Auguste.”
He felt the laughter trying to bubble up out of him. “Come on, Knight. Come back to
us.”
Knight moaned. Actually moaned.
“Guys, I’m going to need room in here.” The doctor came in, offered them a smile.
“No.” Rook shook his head. “We can’t go. He’s waking up—we need to be here for
him.”
Bish grunted and Rook knew it meant Bish was agreeing with him.
“I’m sorry, but I need to make sure he’s not hurting. You can come back in a few
minutes.”
Bish growled, but then nodded. “Okay, guys, come on, let’s give the doctor some
room.” Bish headed out and Rook and Jase followed.
Rook grabbed both their hands in his. “Bish—he’s waking up!”
“He is. I want to be in there.”
“Me too. Me too.” He clung to Bishop’s and Jason’s hands. “I can’t stand just standing
here, waiting.”
“We have to. We have to so we can go back in.” Jason squeezed his fingers.
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Rook knew Jason was right, but it didn’t mean he liked it.
Bishop let go of his hand and started pacing, muttering under his breath, eyes shooting
back to Knight’s room.
“This is worse than when he first went into surgery.” Rook started biting at his lower
lip.
“No, it’s not,” Bishop countered as he looked over at him, eyebrow arched. “I was
afraid he was going to die then.”
“Point.” Rook sighed. “It’s hard, though.” Waiting. The hope right there, just out of
reach at the moment.
“Yeah.”
The doctor came out, came to them. “He’s trying to regain consciousness. His vitals are
stronger today. I’m going to suggest you take turns speaking to him.”
“We can do that.” Rook could talk. He could talk forever if he had to.
Bishop nodded. “Is it good?”
Dr Auguste nodded, clapped Bishop on the arm. “Yes. God, yes. He has to start coming
back.”
“Can we all go in?” Rook was ready to go right now and talk and talk until Knight got
so sick of his babble he popped up in that bed and told him to shut the fuck up already. But
they’d only been allowed to all go in since they’d moved Knight from the ICU, and he didn’t
know if the procedure was going to change now that Knight was waking up for them.
The doctor nodded, then winked. “I fully expect to throw everyone out to let him sleep,
soon.”
“Like to see you try,” muttered Bishop.
“Thank you, Doctor,” Rook said loudly, hoping to cover for Bishop—better the doctors
didn’t know so they couldn’t make Bishop leave. Rook didn’t want Knight left alone, either.
They headed in. Knight’s right hand was opening and closing over and over. Rook got
there first, wrapping his hand with Knight’s, tears streaming down his face. He didn’t even
know why he was crying.
Bishop went around to the other side, taking Knight’s other hand.
“Okay. I know you’re in there. You come home to me. I need you, you son of a bitch.
You wake up and talk to me.”
That hand squeezed, relaxed, squeezed again.
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Now Rook was laughing and crying. God, he was a mess. Knight would hate that.
Knight didn’t like it when he was sad. He sniffed and cleared his throat. “Bish is right. We
need you to get up now. We’re lopsided without you.”
Jason sat at the end of the bed, fingers massaging Knight’s feet. “You two drink your
coffees before they get cold.”
Rook’d totally forgotten about the coffee, but there it was, on the little rolling table that
Knight had never used. Yet. He was waking up now and would need it. Rook passed one to
Bishop and grabbed his own. “Thanks, honey.” Jason was so good to them.
Bishop tried to let go of Knight’s hand, to fix the lid on his cup, but Knight held on,
clung to Bish. They all looked, stunned. Oh, God.
“You know what you want, don’t you, K?” He took some deep breaths, refusing to cry
anymore, but this was amazingly good, God damn it, and he’d cried enough over the will he
ever wake up? parts.
Bishop nodded and just held on. “Okay. Okay, I’m not going anywhere. You have me.”
Jason kept rubbing, working Knight’s feet and the long toes curled. Knight liked that.
“Keep that up, honey—he’s liking it.” Rook squeezed the hand he held. “You come
back to us, K. We’re all here for you.”
“Yep. Give me a doughnut, Rookie.” Bishop looked energised, fierce. “Wake up,
Knight. I want to see your eyes.”
Rook grinned at Bishop as he handed over the doughnut. “I want to hear him bitching.”
“I want to see him paint.”
He shot Jason a warm smile. “Yeah. That’ll be amazing, huh?”
“God, yes.” Jason grinned at him, looking relaxed.
Rook could feel the excitement zinging through him and he turned his attention back to
Knight. “We’ve each got favourite things about you. You wake up and we’ll tell you how
great you are. I know you’d like that.”
Knight’s forehead wrinkled and the man seemed to try to talk around the tube in his
mouth.
“You don’t need to talk,” Bishop told him. “Just listen and open those fucking eyes,
baby.”
The heart rate monitor sped again and Rook knew Knight was there.
“I’ll turn the lights down, Knight. Make it easier.” Jason moved over to the door.
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“Thanks, Jase.” Rook beamed at his lover, just so happy that Knight was waking up,
that they were getting their family back.
The lights dimmed and, just like magic, the dark eyelashes moved. Rookie bit his lower
lip and put everything he had into willing Knight to open those eyes.
“Come on, Knight. Open them up.” Bishop sounded fierce.
God, he couldn’t breathe. “Come on, come on. Don’t be such a drama queen.”
Jason snorted, then cracked up.
Bishop rolled his eyes, but then chuckled. “You’re a nut-job, Rookie.”
“I’m your nut-jo— Oh, my God. Knight.”
Knight’s eyes were open.
“Look!”
Bishop laughed. “There you are, baby. Welcome back.”
Oh, fuck, Rook was going to start crying again. He squeezed Knight’s hand as tight as
he could. Knight blinked and moaned softly around the tubes.
Rook reached over and rang the bell for the nurse. “I’m getting someone to come see if
they can take those awful tubes out, K.”
Bishop was just staring at Knight like he was going to keep their lover there and awake
and aware by sheer force of will. Knight held on, then a single tear escaped, and Bish wiped
it off.
It was amazing what a difference it made just having those eyes open. Oh, Knight still
looked like shit, but at least he looked like live shit, now.
“We’re going to get you comfortable. I’m right here, and I’m not leaving.” Bishop
looked serious as a heart attack.
The nurse came in. “You guys— Oh! You’re awake, Mr Knight. Let me get the doctor
and see if we can’t get that tube out of you.”
Jason touched his arm. “They’re going to ask us to leave again, Rook.”
He nodded, glad that Bishop was on the other side of Knight, the side farthest from the
door and around the bed. “Don’t let them chase you away, Bish.” He was terrified Knight
would disappear into his own head again if they all left.
Bish growled. “I’m not going anywhere.”
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He nodded. Good. He wasn’t leaving till they told him he had to, but it would be easier
knowing Knight wouldn’t be alone. He looked at Knight. “I love you, huh? You came back to
us.”
Knight blinked at him. That was a yes blink. An I heard you blink. He was sure of it.
Rook nodded and squeezed Knight’s hand again.
“All right.” That was the doctor’s voice and, sure enough, he started shooing them out.
“I’ll be back, I promise.” He squeezed Knight’s hand one last time and let Jason tug him
out.
He held close the image of those eyes staring at him. Their Knight was coming back to
them.
Thank every fucking major and minor deity out there.
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Chapter Ten
The dreams were wild, intense, constant…and Knight couldn’t wake up.
He knew they were dreams, because his Bishop wasn’t there, his studio wasn’t there,
and he didn’t live without those. Rookie, either. Even Jase. His life. He knew. Still, he
couldn’t wake up, and he wanted to.
“You’ve got to wake up again, Knight. I’m not letting you go back to sleep forever on
us.”
He frowned. Bish? Mouse? Is that you?
“Don’t you frown at me. I’m the one sitting here waiting for you to be awake again.
And I’m tired of it. I need you—we all do.”
Oh.
Oh, Bish.
It was real.
Wake up.
Wake up.
Wake up.
Warmth slid against his cheek. “I know you’re in there, baby. You showed us that this
morning. Now wake the fuck up.”
He turned towards the heat, mouth moving. “Mouse.”
“You fucking know it. I am right goddamned here. All you have to do to prove it is
open your eyes.”
Something warm brushed his lips.
He hummed and opened his eyes, blinking slowly. Whoa. Bright.
The light suddenly got dimmer and Bishop’s face appeared in his field of vision.
“Mouse.” Oh, it was real.
Bishop grinned at him. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“You.” He swallowed. “I was dreaming.”
“Yeah? About me?” Bish kept touching him.
“No.” No. Bish hadn’t been there.
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“Well, I’m here in real life. I’m here when you’re awake.”
“Good. Here?”
“The hospital. Do you remember the snowplough?”
“The what?” He was so confused.
“It’s okay. Maybe it’s better you don’t remember what happened.”
A panic started building inside him and he tried to sit up. Pain shot through him, his
muscles screaming, and he cried out.
“Shh. Hey, hey. Take it easy. You just stay still, baby.” Bishop cupped his face and
stared into his eyes.
“Help me. I need…” Where was he?
“I’ve got ice chips I can feed you. But you’ve been out of it for a long time.”
He looked around. They weren’t home. He wasn’t home. He… “I can’t.”
“You’re at the hospital. You were hurt.”
“I thought maybe someone was awake in here.” The voice was female, overly cheerful.
“I…”
She came over, her scrubs a dark blue, her eyes brown. “Breathe. You’re in the hospital.
You’ve been badly injured and in a coma, but you’re recovering.”
“Bish?”
“Yeah, what she said. Hospital. It was bad there for a while, but you’re awake now.”
“Home.” He couldn’t hold his head up. So tired.
“Soon, baby. You’ve got to get better first.”
“Home.”
The woman messed with something in his IV, and the pain backed off, the room distant
and soft.
“We’ll get you there, I promise. You have to get well first.” Bishop held his hand, and
he fought the dreams, the darkness. It was so close.
“I’m going to stay with you until we can take you home. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Promise? You promise?”
“I swear to fucking God, Knight.”
“Bish? Bish? The nurse said he was awake again.” Oh, that sounded like Rookie.
He blinked, tried to focus. “Rookie.”
“Oh, K!” Rook’s beaming face came into his field of vision.
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So dizzy. So much. His head felt all spinny. Rook kissed him carefully.
“I can’t…” Heavy. His eyelids were so heavy.
“Oh, I missed your awakeness, didn’t I?”
He heard Bishop’s laughter. “He talked to me. Talked to me, Rookie. Did you want to
kiss him hello, Jase, before he’s asleep?”
“I do.” The kid’s face appeared, and his forehead was kissed. “Hey, Knight.”
“Kiddo.”
“Welcome back.”
“Mouse. Tired.” He was so tired.
“You can sleep, baby. But you have to wake up again soon.”
Good. Good. Sleep. Knight winced, the dreams swallowing him alive.
* * * *
It was another six hours before Knight woke up again, but Bish didn’t care. He rode
those six hours on the most amazing high. Every now and then he’d look over at Rookie or
Jase and grin like a fool at them. They always grinned back.
And here Knight was again, those dark eyes staring up at him.
“Hey, baby. Welcome back.”
“Mouse.” Knight blinked, frowning.
“Right here.” He stroked Knight’s cheek, needing the connection. He figured Knight
needed it, too.
“Was dreaming.” Knight reached for him.
“I know.” He grabbed Knight’s hands, twining their fingers together. “Did you dream
of me this time?”
“No. You aren’t there.”
“Then you need to change your dreams.” He kissed Knight softly, the poor lips all
chapped, even though Rookie’d been ChapSticking them every day. “You thirsty? There’s ice
chips.”
“Uh-huh.” The casts and tubes and shit were maddening, but those long fingers held
onto him.
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He reached over and grabbed an ice chip, bringing it to Knight’s mouth and rubbing it
across Knight’s lips. Knight shivered, lips parting, tongue flicking at the ice. For a while there
he’d thought he’d never see Knight awake—really alive—again. He took in a shuddering
breath and fed the ice chip into Knight’s mouth.
“Want to go home.”
“Yeah, I hear that. I want to go home, too.”
“Now?”
“We can’t, baby. You’re hooked up to too many wires.”
Knight didn’t seem to understand how hurt he was, how fucked up this was. Maybe it
was the drugs and maybe it was for the best. Time enough for him to realise it when he was
feeling better.
“Wires.” Knight shook his head. “I have work to do.”
“You’re in the hospital, Knight. You have to get better before you can work.” Bishop
didn’t see why they couldn’t bring in a sketchbook. He wasn’t sure how it was going to work
with the casts and stuff, though…
He didn’t know much of anything yet. The doctors hadn’t even said how long things
were going to take to heal now that Knight was back in the land of the living. Things had had
weeks and weeks to start healing already, though. Right?
He rubbed his face. Knight was awake, there with them. That’s all that counted right
now. Hell, ever. The rest was details.
Details and how to get Knight well enough to be home.
Rookie and Jason came in, carrying more coffee. This would be the last coffee run until
morning, but he didn’t care—he wasn’t leaving Knight’s side.
“How’s he do— Oh! You’re awake again!” Rookie bounded over to Knight’s side and
kissed him.
Knight blinked, stared at Rook. “Home.”
“No, you’re at the hospital, K. You got hurt.” Rook kissed Knight again. “Soon, though.
Right, Bish?”
He glared at Rookie. “We have to see what the doctor says.” He was not making
promises he had no idea if he could keep.
Rook wriggled and ducked his head. “I know, sorry. I just want him home.”
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“It’s going to be a long time, guys.” Jason’s voice was soft, hands on Knight’s feet again.
“But at least you have a professional trainer with physio experience.”
Bishop focused on the positive first. “That’s right. I’d forgotten that. It’ll be good to
know he’s in hands I trust.” Now to address what he really didn’t want to hear. “Define a
long time.”
“Well, he’s got to be able to sit up on his own, eat, use the facilities. He’s not even
drinking water yet.”
Bishop nodded, but didn’t say anything. What was he supposed to say? He was just
happy Knight was awake now—he wasn’t going to let frustrations ruin how good it was to
see those eyes looking at him.
“So, like, weeks?” Rook asked.
Jason nodded, but said, “It depends on him.”
Rook’s chin went up. “And us—we’ll make sure he works hard.”
Knight was dozing again, but it was light, quiet.
“At least he’s awake, right?” Rook looked like he didn’t know if he was supposed to be
happy or worried or upset.
Bish reached across Knight and held onto Rookie’s hand. “Yeah, and that’s a very good
thing. He’s not dying on us. Everything else we can handle.”
“He’s actually doing good, I think.” Jason shrugged. “He doesn’t have pneumonia and
he knows us. Knows who he is.”
He smiled at Jason. “Thank you.” He really didn’t know how he’d have handled this
without his lovers. He liked to think he was strong, but this was… This was a lot.
“We’ll need to talk to the doctors, once he’s really healing—get things moving. See what
we need at the house.” It was good to have someone who knew what questions they needed
to be asking.
“Can you make us a list, Jase? Of what we need to ask the doctors, what we’ll need at
the house—that kind of thing?”
“Sure, Bish. No problem.” God, he couldn’t believe how…necessary Jason had become.
“Thanks, baby boy.” He rubbed his face, the adrenaline from Knight being awake
beginning to fade.
Jason came to him, hands landing on his shoulders, the big, strong fingers digging in.
“Oh, God, that’s good.” He took a deep breath and let his head drop.
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“Jason has the best hands,” murmured Rookie.
“He’s incredibly tense. That’s got to hurt.”
“I didn’t realise till you started,” Bishop admitted.
“Hopefully, it’ll help now.” Jason kissed his head.
“Yeah, yeah. It feels great.”
Rook’s hand slid across the back of his for a moment. “You wanna go home and get
showered, Bish?”
“No. No. I won’t leave him, not now.”
“But he’s out of the woods now and just went to sleep. It might be hours before he’s
awake again.”
“Or minutes.” He wasn’t leaving.
“Bish, come on. Jase, help me out here.”
“I can stay. You and Rook could go eat.” Those hands just kept moving.
“That’s a great idea, honey. Isn’t that a good idea, Bishop? Come have food with me, a
shower, clean clothes…”
He shook his head. He didn’t think he could go.
“Mouse.” Knight twisted, moaning. “Bish.”
He grabbed hold of Knight’s hand, holding on tight. “Right here, baby. Right fucking
here.” He shot Rook a look. “And I’m not going anywhere.”
Rook sighed and nodded. “Yeah, I can see that.”
“I promised him.”
“You have to take care of yourself too, though, if you’re going to take care of him. You
keep massaging, Jason. I’m going to go get Bish a sandwich or something.”
“Yeah. And some water. He needs something non-caffeinated.”
“Okay.” Rookie leaned over Knight’s body and kissed Bish. Surprisingly hard.
Bishop blinked, grabbed his lover—his oldest friend—and kissed him back. Rook
sobbed into his mouth and the kiss deepened, right there over Knight’s body, with their
Jason right there next to them.
Oh fuck. Maybe for the first time, he thought this was going to be okay.
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Chapter Eleven
Jason leaned against the wall, closed his eyes and counted to twenty. Then he counted
again. Knight had been awake for two weeks now. Two weeks was enough to start asking
questions, start fighting the nurses, start panicking about the casts.
Bishop was snarling, Rookie was hysterical and he was going to die from exhaustion.
A cup went flying across the room. “I said I want coffee.”
“You can’t have coffee! It’s not allowed.” Rookie was near tears again.
“I said coffee!” Knight was evil. Pure, uncontrolled evil, and Jason was afraid he was
beginning to hate the man.
“Stop it,” growled Bishop. “I know you’re hurting and frustrated, but that doesn’t mean
you can take it out on us.”
Knight opened his mouth to scream and Jason shocked himself by stepping up to the
bed, slapping a hand over Knight’s lips. “No. Grow up, you spoilt asshole. You’re not the
only person alive.”
Oh, God.
Everyone froze and looked at him, staring.
He sucked in a deep breath. “It’s true. Knight, you have to stop fighting us and fight
with us. Then we can take you home.”
Rook came and stood next to him. “He’s right, K. We want you home with us and you
need to follow doctors’ orders so that can happen.”
Knight’s lips moved and Jason uncovered them. “I’m going to fire you.”
Jason chuckled, but the sound was weak. “I don’t think you can anymore.”
“No.” Bishop’s words were soft. “You can’t fire family.”
“I hate this place.” Knight was back to whining. “I want to go home.”
Jason nodded. “I hear you. So make them send you home. Do the exercises. Eat. Gain
the five fucking pounds. Piss on your own.”
“We’ll help you,” Rook promised.
“Every fucking step of the way,” added Bishop.
Knight glared at him. “You look like shit, baby boy.”
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“I feel like shit.” He winked. He was so tired.
“We’re just so worried about you, K.” Rook’s hand slid on Jason’s spine, warming him.
He nodded but moved away again. He knew Knight needed Bishop and Rook. He was
there for support.
Rook followed him, hand going to his back again. “You need a break, honey?”
“I’m okay.”
“Bishop’s gonna stay with Knight for his physio today. Take me home?”
“Sure. Sure, come on.” He gathered his coat and Rook’s, just going on pure adrenaline.
Rook took his hand, leading him to the elevator, then down and out before hailing them
a cab.
“What do you want me to make you for supper?” Was it even suppertime?
“Maybe I should make you something for a change.”
Jason nodded, a little dazed. “I can do it.”
“My cooking’s not that bad. Well, not always.” Rook gave him a wink.
“You do fine.”
Rook put them in the taxi and Jason dozed off almost immediately.
In no time at all, Rook was shaking him awake. “We’re home, honey.”
Had he missed the entire cab ride from the hospital? It looked like maybe he had. “Oh.
Oh, okay. Yeah. Food.” So fucking tired.
“I had the driver take us through the drive-through at Timmy’s. That way you don’t
have to cook and yet I won’t poison you.” Rook paid the driver and grabbed the bags,
pulling him out of the cab and into the house.
“I never said you’d poison me!”
Rook stopped inside the door and looked at him like he’d lost his mind. “I was teasing
you, honey.”
“Oh.” Oh, God. “Sorry.”
Rook leaned up and brought their mouths together, breathing into his lips, then kissing
him. He kissed Rook back, catching himself leaning hard. The bags of food dropped and
Rook wrapped his arms around him.
“I’m sorry.” He kissed Rook, over and over.
“What for?”
“Yelling at Knight.”
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Rook bit his lower lip. “Maybe he kind of needed it.” Rook glanced up from under thick
lashes. “He was being a butthead.”
“He needed to stop.”
“He did. You might have to do it again.” Rook grinned and held him tight. “Eating or
bed?”
“I don’t care.” He just wanted to breathe.
“Then come to bed and let me love you.” Rook pushed close. “I need to love on you.”
He found himself near tears, just overwhelmed. Rook kissed him again, then grabbed
his hand and led him down the hall. They went to Rookie’s room—their room, really, now—
and Rook eased his coat off.
Then his lover began on his buttons, moving slowly, carefully, fingers dragging over his
skin as it was revealed.
“Rook, I… I’m tired.” Really. Bone deep.
“Let me take care of you.”
He nodded, moved into Rook’s hands. “Just for a minute?”
“For as long as it takes, honey.” Rook shoved him back onto the bed.
He bounced, his muscles surprisingly sore. Rook peeled his shirt off and knelt between
his legs. He sat, stupidly staring at Rook. Rook smiled up at him, sliding fingers along his
waistband.
His belly tightened, and he moaned. “Love…”
Nodding, Rook started to open his top button, pull down the zipper. He wasn’t hard—
not at all—but Rook’s hands were warm and gentle. His prick was carefully taken out and he
was encouraged to lift his ass up as Rook pulled his pants down.
Rook made a sweet, soft sound, like the man was just stunned, like Rook hadn’t seen
him over and over. A soft kiss was pressed to his belly, then his right thigh. It was like little
bursts of heat, of electricity. His right hip was next, then his left nipple.
“Oh, honey, you’re so beautiful.”
“I remember the first time we did this.” He’d been so scared.
Rook gave him a coy look from under those blond lashes. “You do?”
“I do. I was petrified and you made me feel so loved.”
“I knew you belonged with us—I just needed to convince you.”
“You did. I almost died of embarrassment.” He hadn’t even known he was gay.
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“Oh, I’m glad you didn’t.” Rook kissed the tip of his cock.
He moaned, that little kiss making his toes curl. Rook’s breath was hot, gentle on his
most sensitive skin.
“Rook, I… Oh, love.” He leant back on the bed.
“Mmm. Love you, honey.” Rook rubbed his cheek along Jason’s slowly growing prick.
Rook’s hands moved over his skin, slid over his thighs, the touch like a balm. The tip of
his prick was kissed again, and Rook pushed his tongue against Jason’s slit.
“Oh.” He rolled his hips, his toes curling with the pressure.
More hot breath blew over his prick, then Rook closed his lips over the head. He sighed,
spread, moaned. Fingers tracing over his skin, Rook kept sucking, slowly taking more and
more of his prick in. His cock filled slowly, the pleasure sweet as honey, swelling inside him.
He felt Rook’s moan all around his prick.
“Rookie…” He arched up, moving languidly.
Rook hummed again, more vibrations going through his flesh. Rook’s hands were
encouraging him to relax, to melt down into the bed. To let Rook love him. The suction was
good and strong, Rook’s head bobbing slowly, keeping even his arousal easy.
One finger slipped inside him, a soft touch to his gland making him groan, the sound
rumbling in his chest. That touch came again, and his balls were fondled, caressed so
carefully.
“Oh, please. Don’t stop.” He didn’t want it to ever stop.
Rook shook his head, then took him in deep and swallowed around his cock. It jerked
and he came, the orgasm seeming to go on and on. Rookie sucked all through it—his hands
warm and good, his mouth like a slice of heaven.
He melted down into the sheets, his entire focus on the care Rook was giving him. His
prick was finally let go, Rook licking it clean.
“Love.” So much.
“Love you, Jason.” Rook began to kiss his way up Jason’s body, from his cock, up over
his belly, chest, to his throat.
He patted Rook clumsily. Rook turned and kissed his palm before lying next to him
with one leg thrown over him.
“Sleep now, okay?”
“Stay?”
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“Just try and make me leave.”
He shook his head. “Never.”
“I’d never go, either.” Rook leaned up and brought their mouths together, the kiss soft
and sweet. He could taste himself, salty and bitter, on Rook’s lips. Then Rook settled against
him again, warm and good and right.
Jason held on, letting sleep pull him right in. He couldn’t have fought it if he’d wanted
to. And with Rook in his arms, he didn’t want to.
* * * *
Rook woke up, still fully dressed and curled up with Jason. It disoriented him for a
minute until he remembered coming home and blowing Jason. Fuck, that had been sweet.
Almost like everything was normal.
It was getting closer, though, every day. The doctors wanted Knight up and moving
now, wanted him to start relearning how to function. Soon they’d have Knight home. He
couldn’t wait. He was desperate for things to be normal again.
Jason wrapped one arm around him, pulled him close. He snuggled in, wishing he was
naked, but not so much that he was willing to wake up Jason to get there.
“Mmm. Rookie. Love.” Jason stretched under him.
“Shh. It’s okay. You can sleep some more.”
“‘Kay. Everyone okay?”
“Everyone’s fine, honey.” So good to them.
“Good.” Jason pushed close, started snoring, and Rook heard the front door open and
close.
He popped up in bed—someone was in the house!
“Rookie? It’s just me, man.” Bishop’s voice floated up. “I needed a break.”
“Oh!” He slipped out of bed and headed for Bishop. “Everything okay?”
Bishop looked at him, nodded. “He’s just so pissed off, Rookie. So fucking mean and
bitchy and I was going to beat him.”
He went over and wrapped Bishop in a hug. “He needs you to fuck him through the
mattress.”
“He needs me to beat his ass until he screams.”
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“We’ll get him home and you can do that.” He rubbed their cheeks together.
“I hope so.” Bishop hugged him. “The doctors just told me to go, come home, let them
do physio.”
“It’s okay to need a break, Bish.” He held on, both taking and giving support.
“I do. I need a shower, Rookie.”
“Come on, I’ll wash your back.” It felt good to be useful, to be able to give Jason and
now Bish support and love.
Bishop grunted, nodded, and they headed to the big bathroom. If Jase woke up, the
man could find them. He got the water at Bish’s favourite temperature, and drew his lover
in.
Bishop came to him, arms wrapped around him, holding on. He leaned his head on
Bishop’s shoulder, let the water pour down over them. Fingers sliding over his back, Bishop
stroked him. His cock stirred, a soft sob trying to break loose. How long had it been?
Bishop hummed for him, patting his butt. He pushed back into the touch, moaning
softly. Bishop didn’t say anything, just handed him the soap so they could start washing each
other. It was like a meditation, running his soapy hands over Bish’s skin. Bishop’s fingers
moved over him, too, washing his hair, loving on him.
Oh God. Oh God. Oh God. It had been weeks—months—since they’d both been home at
the same time. The touches made him whimper and press closer. Bishop kissed him, slow
and lazy, like the man was tasting him. Moaning, he opened up for Bish, offering everything
he was.
“God, Rookie. It’s been forever, man. I miss you.”
“Forever and a day.” He slid his hands over Bish’s chest, exploring the beautiful
muscles.
“Horndog.” Bishop actually smiled against his lips, and Rook got another flash of hope.
“That’s why you love me, huh?” He knew it was more than that, but he was beginning
to feel good enough to tease.
“Yep.” Bishop teased back, his eyes twinkling.
Actually laughing at that, Rook pushed up close and brought their mouths together. He
wanted to lose himself in Bishop’s kisses. Bishop leant back against the tile, and they grinned
at each other. Rook thought Bishop looked like he had aged ten years. Crazy. Thank God
they had each other.
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Then they were kissing and everything else fell away.
It wasn’t super-hot or anything, but it was good and comforting and they were
laughing together, chuckling softly. He rubbed softly against Bishop, enjoying the easy
thrum of arousal, the togetherness. Bishop got them lined up, moving slow and easy,
humming deep in his chest.
Wrapping his arms around Bish’s head, Rook shared one kiss after another with Bishop.
Oh, this was good and just what he needed.
The steam filled the air, left things looking otherworldly, mystical.
Bishop reached down and wrapped their pricks together, moving almost gently as he
squeezed their cocks.
“Love you, Bish. Missed this.”
Bishop nodded and smiled.
Rook didn’t want it to end. He just wanted to float here in the mist and the warmth and
pleasure. It felt good, knowing Bish felt the same.
The pleasure built slowly, becoming more necessary.
“Feels good, Rookie. Close.”
“Yeah. Yeah, me too.” He tugged on Bish’s lower lip.
Bishop’s hand rolled his balls, pulled them.
“Bish!” He gasped and spread a little wider, leaned a little harder on his lover.
“Uh-huh. Come on.” Bish’s hips were rolling now, fucking against him.
He let Bish support and drive him, sending them both closer and closer. “Oh fuck, now,
Bish, now!”
“Now.” His butt was palmed, squeezed, Bish groaning.
He gave himself up to his lover’s demand, spunk pouring out of him. Bishop groaned,
the water sluicing their spunk away.
He kissed Bishop, long and lazily.
“Mmm. I don’t suppose there’s food here?”
“There is. Jason’s been taking good care of us.” In fact, when he turned the water off, he
smelt bacon frying. “Oh, there he is, doing it again.”
“He’s a good kid.” Bishop grabbed a towel, handed it over.
“He’s a good man,” Rook said softly.
Bish looked at him and nodded. “He is.”
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He pressed in for a kiss, then began drying Bish down. “Breakfast for you and then a
nap.”
“Yeah. And I need to check my emails, return to the land of the living.”
“The land of the living.” Rook repeated the words, let them sink in. “I like the sound of
that. And we’ll drag Knight right along with us.”
“Yes. I just need a few hours to get my patience back.”
Rook nodded. He got that. And Bish, more than any of them, had been there for Knight,
twenty-four-seven…and had borne the brunt of Knight’s growling and grumping, anger and
frustration.
“He never did do anything easy,” he pointed out. “Why should this be different?”
“It isn’t. He’s scared. More scared than I’ve ever seen him.” Bish still looked so tired.
“Of what? He’s going to get better!”
“I know, Rook, but everything hurts right now, everything’s different, and he’s just
scared. You know him. You remember when he broke his wrist in college? He cried for three
weeks and then tried to set the trash dumpster on fire.”
“Yeah, I remember.” He sighed. “I’d take it from him if I could.”
“We all would, but we can’t, so we change with him.” Bishop met his eyes. “He’ll never
be the same—neither will we.”
“As long as we’re all together, Bish, I can handle anything.” His lovers made him
strong—all three of them.
“I know.” Bish kissed his forehead. “I smell eggs and toast, too. Go get dressed.”
“You too.” He squeezed Bishop’s hand. “I love you, Bish.”
“I know, Rookie.”
“Good.” He took one last look at Bish in all his naked glory, then headed for his
bedroom to get some clothes on before he went in search of Jason and their breakfast.
Things were going to be all right. How could he not believe that with Jason and Bishop
in his corner? And all three of them in Knight’s?
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Chapter Twelve
Knight wanted to go home. Everyone hated him. Everyone. The doctors thought he was
lazy. The nurses frowned at him. Bishop was avoiding him. He needed out.
The door to his room opened and Rook came in, giving him a warm smile. “You’re
awake!”
“Yeah. Hey.”
Rook came and sat on the edge of the bed, fingers sliding along his. Then Rookie leaned
in and pressed their mouths lightly together. “How’re you doing today, K?”
“I’m tired. You?” Tired. Sad. Lost. Lonely.
“I miss you. So much.” Rook stroked his cheeks, fingers warm as they lingered on his
skin.
“I hate it here. They’re talking about a ‘facility’. Is that like a home?” Rook would tell
him, right? If he was going to be stuck in some nursing home forever?
“I want to bring you home, but they said that if you don’t do the physio work you need
to here, they’re going to have to transfer you somewhere.” Rook squeezed his hand. “Please,
Knight. Do the physio—cooperate with them so you can come home.”
“I’m trying. It’s all so frustrating. I just want to paint, and these casts! Can’t you get me
some paper? Pencils? Something?”
“What happened to the sketchbook Jason brought in last week? I mean, of course I can
if the other one got…lost.”
“You mean stolen? Sold? Taken to the papers? I’m not stupid. Barbara came by. Two of
my sketches are on the market.”
“I meant lost as in you chucked it across the room at a nurse, actually.”
“Fuck off.” So he had a few temper tantrums. He was always being interrupted, always
being poked and prodded and touched without his permission. No one let him sleep.
“I will not!” Rook glared at him. “I know you’re hurting and I know you’re frustrated,
but you keep taking everything out on everyone around, trying to make us all leave so you
can scream and rage in peace, and I won’t go.” Rook could shout when he wanted to. “I love
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you, damn it, and I’m trying to help you. Everyone here is trying to help you, so let us
already!”
“Go away, Rook. Just go. Go back to your pretty boy who isn’t broken. You three don’t
need me.”
Rook stamped his foot. “Don’t you dare! Don’t you dare suggest we don’t love the fuck
out of you. All three of us. You think we don’t? Someone has been with you twenty-four-
seven since you first came out of surgery. You can feel sorry for yourself all you want, but do
not even for one second suggest that we aren’t all hurting right along with you.”
He stared at Rook. God, he loved them. “Stop using logic, you asshole. I’m trying to
have a snit!”
“Enough with the snits—I swear if you put half as much energy into getting better
you’d be home already.” Rook blew out a breath and sat back down next to him. “There’s a
hole in my heart, K, and it’s shaped just like you.”
“I am trying.” He pulled into himself, telling himself that he wasn’t hurt. Maybe he was
just lazy. Maybe he was a fucker who deserved to be here, hurting. Who knew? Maybe he
was a whiny asshole. Hell, he knew that. At least before, he’d been a fabulously talented
asshole. Fuck.
“Don’t do that.” Rook stroked his forehead. “Don’t do whatever it is that’s going on in
your head right now. I’m right here—talk to me. You know I’ll tell you like it is.”
“I just want my life back. All of it. I’m tired, all the time.”
“It’s going to take time, K. I know you don’t want to hear that, but you were in a coma
for, like, ever. And a day.”
“I don’t want to hear that. I don’t want to do this.”
“Well, the alternative sucks big huge rocks, K. Big, dry, dusty, sharp rocks.” Rook
looked ready to stamp his foot again.
“What if I never get better?”
“You will, you stubborn fuck,” Giada’s voice rang out, his physical therapist coming in.
“I got you an easel in the training room. Paints, too. Privacy. All you have to do is walk a
little.”
“You see?” Rook poked him. “You can throw yourself a pity party, but we’re going to
poop on it.” Rook tilted his head. “Okay, I think that came out all wrong!”
Giada looked at Rook. “You guys are gross. Really.”
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Rook went rather pink in the face and he shook his head. “I didn’t mean it how it
sounded, honest.”
Knight wasn’t sure he could remember Rook ever being honestly embarrassed.
“Don’t let her get to you, Rookie. I heard her fart the other day and she didn’t even
blush.”
“Fuck off, butthead.” Giada gave him the finger.
Rookie giggled for him and fuck, the sound was so sweet it made him ache.
“I guess I’m going downstairs with psycho-bitch for her to torture me.”
“I’ll go get you a sketchbook while you’re gone,” Rook offered. “You want pencils,
coloured pencils, markers?”
“I want coloured pencils. Good ones. Heavy paper.”
“You got it.” Rook kissed the corner of his mouth and held his gaze. “Love you, K.
Don’t you forget it.”
Knight sighed, flipped Rook off, then looked at Giada. “Let’s go. I’m tired of the
assholes here.”
Rook stuck out his tongue.
He winked. He wanted to go home. Or somewhere not here. Anywhere.
Rook touched his cheek again. “Soon, K, yeah? Before you know it we’ll get you sprung
and you’ll be stuck with us twenty-four-seven.”
“I hope so.”
He really did.
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Chapter Thirteen
Jason looked at Bish. “You want the hospital bed in your room or his?” This whole
bringing Knight home thing was going to be insane. Wonderful, but insane. They were
fucking lucky they had money or things would be even harder.
“Hmm…” Bish looked off into the distance. “The big bedroom. I’d say mine, but he
needs to know we’re all there for him, that him being home is good for all of us. We’ll
rearrange the room enough so it can go on my side of the bed.”
“Are you sure?” If it was him, he’d want to be with Rook most of the time.
Bish rubbed his face. “I want to be selfish and say put him in my room, but I don’t want
you and Rook to feel shut out.”
Jason looked down, then looked up again. “You know, if it was me, I wouldn’t want to
be beside all of us. When we’re together, we should be in bed, together. When he needs real
rest, he needs you. That’s the way it’s always worked before.”
Bish gave him a smile. “You know, in the time you’ve been with us, you’ve really made
your place here with us. I don’t think we would have made it through this without you.”
“You would have, but I’m glad I was here.” Because this was his home. It wasn’t what
he’d thought it would be, or even what he’d hoped, but it was home and he loved them all.
“Me, too.” Bish tugged him over, bringing their mouths together for a Bishop take-no-
prisoners special.
Oh. Wow. He swayed a little, shaking in Bish’s arms, holding on tight. The kiss went on
and on, stealing his breath.
They were both blinking, not quite steady, as their lips parted. “Hey.”
“Hey, baby boy.” Bishop leaned their foreheads together. “That was… Yeah.” He was
given a grin.
Jason grinned back, feeling like a big idiot. “So, I was talking to Rook and, if you don’t
mind, I thought we could let Knight have my room as a studio. I don’t sleep there.” He
stayed with Rook.
“Oh, wow. That would be amazing—I was worrying about having to get a ramp in to
the split level where it is.”
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“Well, this would be right across the hall. Easy if he’s tired. No falling. Good light, I
think?” It seemed light enough for him, anyway. There were lots of windows. And they
could always move Knight’s studio back to where it had been once the man was back to
tackling stairs and shit.
Bish nodded. “I’m sure he’ll find something to bitch about, but he’ll be happy with it.
Touched even that you gave up your room for him. I am, too, Jason.” He was pulled in for a
hug this time, Bish holding on for a moment.
“If I need it, I’ll get it back.” He was going to have to start doing something with
himself, make money somehow. Contributing.
“Yeah. Soon as you need it.” Bish looked like he didn’t think that was going to happen
any time soon.
He grinned. “I have the downstairs gym, Bish. Rook doesn’t like to sleep alone.”
“I am well aware of that about our sweet Rookie.” Bishop chuckled.
“Are you? Are you sure?”
That had Bishop laughing harder. “He doesn’t make it very clear, does he?”
“Nope. Rook is subtle. Subt. Tle.” He gave Bishop a wink.
Bish had to reach out and prop himself up against the wall he was laughing so hard.
“What’s funny?” Rookie popped in, grinning, and Jason almost died.
“Knight’s coming home soon.” Bishop opened his arms and Rookie bounded right over,
grabbing a hug.
Rook squeezed Bish tight, then came to him.
“I have something to ask, Rook.”
Rook blinked at him. “What’s up, honey?”
“Can I move into your room, let Knight have mine as a studio for now?”
“Oh, what a wonderful idea!” Rook grinned. “You never sleep in your room anyway.”
“I know, but I’ll need room for my clothes, too.”
Rook whapped his arm. “I am not a clothes horse—there’s plenty of room.”
“Are you sure?” He winked, then nodded. “Let’s go guys. We only have a couple of
days to get ready for Knight to come home.”
Bishop snorted. “Listen to our bossy baby boy.”
“Mmm.” Rook rubbed up against him. “I think I like it.”
Jason smiled. “I hope so. I’m not going to let Knight fire me.”
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Rook shook his head. “You can’t be fired from family, honey.”
Bishop chuckled. “No, you can’t.”
“You’re right.” He met Bish’s eyes. “Now, we’ve got to move beds, clean closets…”
“Well, I did want to get back into working out again…”
Rookie pouted at them. “It’s been a long time since it’s been all three of us here and
awake.”
“A long time? Are you sure?” God, it felt good, to play a little bit, to breathe.
“It’s been forever.” Rook put an arm around him and the other around Bishop, drawing
them all in close.
Bishop shook his head. “He’s irresistible. You know that, Jase.”
“I know. I sort of like it.”
Rookie laughed and, God, how long had it been since they’d heard that laugh?
“Somebody’d better kiss me then. Right now.”
Jason looked at Bishop, who nodded, then he took his kiss, long and steady, happy.
Rook melted against him, mouth opening to invite him in. He hummed and leaned in,
tongue pushing in. Oh, chocolate. Someone had been sneaking treats. Yummy.
Bishop’s arms went around them both, bringing them tighter together as he devoured
Rook’s mouth. As he feasted.
“Mmm. You’re getting good at that, baby boy,” Bishop growled his in ear. “I’m
impressed.”
“Always been good at it. Now he’s devastating.” Rook dived in for another kiss before
Jase could answer either of them.
Bish moved behind him, hands on his hips, body moving against his ass. Moaning,
Rook managed to match the motion against front of him. Oh, damn. Damn. He moaned,
cupping the back of Rook’s head.
Rook whimpered into his mouth, hands clinging to his shoulders now. “Bed,”
whispered Rook, eyes dark with arousal.
“Uh-huh.” He nodded, stepped them towards the big bed. “Want you, love.”
“Yes, please. Oh, God, please.” Rook moved eagerly, letting him move them until they
hit the mattress. Then Rook flopped back onto it, arms and legs spread. “Come and get me.”
Bishop chuckled. “Lose the clothes, Rookie.” Then Jason’s sweater was tugged right off,
Bishop’s fingers hot against his skin.
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“I can do that.” Rook proved it by wriggling out of his clothes faster than Jason would
have thought possible, making him laugh. Bishop’s chuckles sounded right there with his.
“God, he’s magical.” Jason meant it, too.
“That’s our Rookie. There’s nobody like him anywhere.” Bishop’s words blew across
his cheek, his lover’s hands on his belly, teasing their way down to his waistband. Rookie
grinned at them, writhing enticingly on the bed. Jason sucked in, let Bish have him.
“You’re both so hot together.” Rook rolled and lay on his stomach, chin in his hands,
elbows on the edge of the bed. It put his mouth right at Jason’s crotch. “Feed him to me,
Bish?”
“Mmm. Yes.” Bishop worked his belt off, undid the top button on his jeans, then, oh so
slowly, pulled down his zipper.
Rookie moaned. “Hurry.”
“Oh, fuck.” Jason’s eyes burned a little, watching that mouth and Bish’s dark, solid
hand.
Bishop fished his prick out—he was already three-quarters hard and heading quickly to
full-on rock solid. Rook moaned again, opening his mouth as Bishop rubbed his prick against
the pretty lips.
“Don’t move now, baby boy. Let us do this.”
He nodded at Bishop’s words. God yes.
Rook licked the tip of his cock, tongue slapping lightly at his slit. Bishop moved his
prick forward and back, Rook sucking and licking whatever he could reach. Goosebumps
covered Jason, and his lips parted. Bishop teased him like crazy, hips pushing him forward
so the whole head of his cock went into Rook’s mouth, then pulling him back again so the air
cooled his skin.
“Guys. Oh, please. So good.”
He felt Bishop’s smile against his neck, Rook’s around his prick. Then Rook pointed his
tongue and when Bishop pushed them forward, the tip of it pushed into his slit. Jason
arched, pushing against Bishop. He had to move. Had to. Oh, God.
“Fuck, Rookie, that’s sexy.” Bishop nuzzled his temple. “Pretty baby—Rookie, work the
tip. Make him ache.”
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Rookie followed Bishop’s order, tongue pushing into his slit again and again. Bishop
massaged his shaft, and the joint sensations made him grit his teeth, his cock aching. Then
Rook started humming.
“Jesus. Jesus. Rook. Love.” He looked back at Bish, eyes rolling back in his head.
“Keep going, Rookie—you’re blowing his mind.”
Rook hummed again, fucking his slit with that hot tongue, and he was going to lose his
mind. Right here. Right now. Bishop fed his cock in deeper, and Rook swallowed around him.
“Close.” Needing. Please.
Rook sucked him harder.
“Give it to him, Jason. Let him have your spunk.”
Jason shorted out, sobbing out his need, just burning between them. Bishop shoved
against him, pushing his prick deep into Rook’s throat. Rookie swallowed around him,
vibrating and moaning. He came and came, entire body shuddering. Fuck. Fuck, so good.
Rook swallowed him down like he was the best treat ever, taking it all in. Then came
obscene slurping noises as Rook cleaned his cock. Bishop held his weight, even as his knees
went wobbly.
“God, you taste so good, honey.”
“That was… Rook. Wow.”
Rook laughed rolling and lying back. “My turn!”
Jason leant down, face nuzzling Rook’s belly, and he felt Bishop’s hands at his ass,
spreading him.
“Mmm. Are we going to make a Jason sandwich?” Rook asked, fingers sliding through
his hair.
It was easy to hear Bishop’s soft laugh even as Rook encouraged him to lap at Rook’s
cock. Bishop’s thumbs pressed against his hole. He clenched, bent further, and spread. Those
thumbs pushed into him as Rook’s hard prick rubbed against his cheek.
Groaning, Jason turned his head, opened his mouth and let his tongue drag on Rook’s
cock. Rook moaned, his fingers sliding through Jason’s hair, not quite tugging. He took a
deep, deep breath as Bish spread him, then he sucked Rook in.
“Honey!” Rook shouted out, bucked up into his mouth.
“Good job, baby boy.” Bishop’s thumbs pushed in deep.
He swallowed, went up on tiptoe. Oh, God. Please. Yes. More…
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Rook whimpered as he swallowed and Bishop played with his hole, one thumb sliding
out, then the other, then one at a time going back in. Bish could make his body sing. The man
knew how to make his hole the centre of his pleasure. That was when Bishop went for the
gold, thumbs holding him open so the man’s hot tongue could lick at him.
He cried out around Rook’s cock, entire body shuddering. Rook jerked backward on the
bed, and he was grateful, climbing up after Rook and shaking as Bishop followed him onto
the bed as well. Bishop went back to fucking him with that tongue, hot and wet and making
him fly.
Rook’s hands got his head moving again, and they had him, caught between them.
Tongue and cock filled him, drove him. He groaned and sucked, his prick swelling, going
heavy between his thighs.
“Oh, God, it’s so good, honey. So good.”
He nodded, taking Rook’s cock into his throat, swallowing hard.
“Fuck!” Rook cried out, digging his fingers into his skull.
Bishop’s thumbs and tongue disappeared, but he wasn’t empty for long before Bishop’s
hard, thick prick pushed into him. They found their rhythm, hard and fast, taking him
together, making him theirs. All that was missing was Knight.
“Hot baby boy.” Bishop’s hands grabbed at his hips, pulling him back into the thrusts.
“Yes. Yes, my Jase. Please, lover. More.” Rook was wild under him.
“Suck him good, Jase.” Bishop’s voice had gone rough, dragging over his nerves.
He nodded, sucking hard, pulling with all he could.
“Bish…” Rook was gasping. “His cock.”
“Got it covered, Rookie.” Bishop’s hand grabbed hold of him, stroked him.
His eyes crossed, his toes curled and he buried his nose in Rook’s curls.
“Oh, Fuck. Fuck. Soon.” Rook sounded close to the edge.
He pulled hard, nudging Rook’s balls.
“Jase!” Rook shouted his name, shooting deep into his throat.
Jase swallowed, over and over, drinking Rook down.
Rook finally melted into the mattress, body going lax beneath him. “Oh, honey. So
good.”
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Bishop wasn’t melted, though. The man pounded his ass, took him, drove him towards
Rook. The hand around his prick was rough, hard, working him as much as that cock in his
ass. Rook wrapped around him, kissed him as he moaned.
“Come on, Jason. You’re next.” Bishop thrust faster, harder.
Next? He’d already come so hard. Bish, though, was pegging his gland, over and over,
driving into him.
Rook’s hand joined Bish’s on his cock. “Come on, honey. You know he won’t come until
you do.”
“St-stubborn.” Oh, God. More.
“Uh-huh. He is. And hot.” Rook looked past him, grinning at Bishop, who was still
reaming his gland.
“And really hung, don’t forget that, Rookie.”
Rook laughed, hand stuttering over Jason’s prick as he did. “Hung like a horse, Bishie.”
“You know it.” Bishop slammed into him and he gasped, arms shaking hard as he
came, hard enough that it burned.
Rookie moaned like it was him who’d come and Bishop shouted, filling him with
spunk.
Bishop landed on him, he landed on Rook, and Rook grunted.
“No falling asleep,” Rookie demanded.
He faked a snore, went boneless and heavier. Rook squealed, the sound half laughter.
Bishop started laughing, which made him heavier, too.
The laughter got a little hysterical—it had been too loud, too stressed there for too
long—then Bishop swatted his ass. “Come on. We have work to do.”
Rook stretched beneath him as Bishop got up, then hugged him hard and kissed him.
“Love you, Rook.” He kissed the tip of Rook’s nose.
Rook licked his lips, then squeezed him again. “So you’re moving into my room, huh?”
“I am. Permanently. That cool?”
Rook shook his head. “Cool doesn’t even begin to cover it, honey.”
Bishop’s voice floated in. “Get your asses up. Sex time is over.”
Jason rolled his eyes and shook his head. “I think he’s ready for Knight to come home.”
Rookie nodded. “Me too, honey. Me too.”
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“Yeah. It’s time.” He stood up, headed to get cleaned up. “You’d better clean me a
drawer or two.”
“Or our clothes could mingle”—Rook waited till he looked up—“like we do.”
“Now that sounds sticky.”
They looked at each other, then they cracked up, laughing together, hard.
Time to bring Knight home.
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100
Chapter Fourteen
Bish had a spring in his step as he walked down the hospital corridor. They were
bringing Knight home today. Bringing his baby home.
He pushed into the room. “Morning, baby.”
“Hey.” Knight was sitting in a wheelchair, wrapped in a heavy robe, staring out of the
window. He needed a shave, a haircut—a long bath.
“You ready to get sprung today?”
“I think so. They said you were bringing clothes.” Knight didn’t sound particularly
excited.
“Rookie’s got them. He and the kid are looking for a spot for the car. The nurses
warned me it might take a while to get all the paperwork signed and stuff.”
“Okay.” Knight had stopped screaming at people, had put his head down and started
working to get out of here. Bishop kind of suspected the words ‘nursing home’ had scared
the man into compliance, but he didn’t care what had done it. What mattered was that
Knight could come home, that real healing could begin.
They could be a family again.
He went over and leaned against the window sill. “The kid insisted we stop at Z’va
before coming.” He knew how much his Knight missed his coffee.
“Yeah?” Dark eyes met his. “Is there one for me?”
“Like I would have mentioned it if there wasn’t. They’re bringing them up, too.”
“Oh, good.” Knight actually gave him a grin. “I’m ready to get out of here.”
“Maybe as much as I’m ready to bring you home.” It was stunning, how much he
missed having Knight at home. He even missed the man’s outrageous tantrums. Sure, Knight
had been throwing them here at the hospital, but it just wasn’t the same.
“Maybe.” Knight had soft casts on, but the tubes were all out as well as the stitches.
Now there was just pale, scarred, skinny skin.
“Did someone order coffee?” Rookie came in, followed by Jason with the tray of coffees
and the bag of fresh croissants.
“Smells good.”
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Jason picked one out. “This is a Peppermint Delite.” Jase had insisted that Knight’s
belly needed decaf and milk and sugar and easy and if Knight didn’t know that, no one
would be the wiser.
“Isn’t that fun?” Rook giggled and perched on Knight’s knees. “This good, K?”
Knight nodded, and Bish could see the effort, how Rook made sure not to put too much
weight on the man’s legs.
Rook gave Knight a light kiss.
Knight took the coffee, sipped. “Oh, God. That’s good.”
“I have sweats for you, too. Nice and soft.” Rook stood and opened his bag, revealing
Knight’s clothes. “I’ll help you get them on.” Rook managed to make everything sound like a
come-on. It was a gift.
Knight nodded. “They smell like home.”
“Yeah, they do, don’t they? We’ll get you showered once you’re home. Wash off the
hospital.” Rook started working Knight out of his robe.
Jason took the coffee and set it aside, then started packing up the few personal effects
Knight still had here.
“Mmm. There’s my man,” murmured Rook, fingers sliding on Knight’s chest.
“Mine.” Bishop smiled to ease the sound of the words, but there they were. Knight was
his and he was going to be careful with him.
“Ours.” Rook gave him a knowing grin. “We’re going to have to have another piercing
party.”
“Yeah.” He hated that they’d removed all the rings, but it was what it was. One day,
they could all hold Knight as they were pierced again.
Rook bent and kissed Knight’s left nipple. “I can’t wait to have you home, K. I mean,
seriously—it hasn’t been home without you.”
“I’m cold, Rook.” Knight looked so tired.
“Your sweats are nice and warm.” Rook slid the sweatshirt over Knight’s head, then
started carefully getting his arms in.
Jason watched, his eyes on Knight, judging the man’s strength, wellness. It was one of
the reasons he felt comfortable bringing Knight home—they had someone who knew what
he was doing on their side.
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Rookie kept chatting, making the fact that it was taking forever to get Knight dressed
seem unimportant. Knight was panting at the end of it, but the man was dressed. He settled
back and began eating breakfast. Rook handed Bishop a croissant, looking pleased with
himself.
“I’m not—”
Rook’s finger pressed against his lips. “Shut up and eat.”
“It smells good.” Bishop finished one, then ate a second one. They were good.
“Mr I’m Not Hungry.” Rook stuck out his tongue.
Bishop stuck his own back out, feeling good.
The nurse came in with a huge sheaf of papers, a bag of medication, and an utterly
satisfied look on her face. “Looks like the discharge papers came through.”
“Wooo!” Rook cheered—very loudly.
Everyone looked at Rook, and they all cracked up, laughter filling the room.
“Show us what we have to sign, lady, and we’ll get him out of your hair.” He was so
ready.
“I just need your signature here and here. Do you understand how the meds work and
that you have to get him to his doctor and physio?”
Bishop nodded. “Yeah, we’ve got everything covered. The house is ready to have
Knight back.”
“Excellent.”
He signed what he needed to, grateful as fuck that he could, legally, then he looked at
his Knight. “You ready?”
“Please.”
“Guys?”
Rook and Jason nodded, their Rookie all but fucking hitting the ceiling, he was
bouncing so hard.
He grabbed the handles at the back of Knight’s wheelchair.
“Good. Let’s go home.”
Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:
Chess: Opening Moves
Sean Michael
Excerpt
Chapter One
Rook bounced as they headed towards the Z’va coffee house, walking between Knight
and Bishop, his two favourite people in all the world. “He was a stud, Knight. He really
was.”
“I told you.” Knight winked at him, goosed him gently. “O ye of little faith and large
penis.”
He jumped at the goosing and rounded on Knight, his ire fading as he played the words
back. “His was pretty impressive, too. You think it was just a shower? Or a grower, too?”
“That I don’t know. He’s never sprung wood in class.” Knight winked.
“That’s a damn shame.” Rook stepped back between them and looped a hand each
through Knight’s and Bishop’s arms. He loved touching them. Hell, he loved them, plain and
simple. “So. I know I’m not the only one who wants to do him six ways to Sunday.”
Bish snorted. “Or get done by him.”
“Sure. I’m easy.” He was. As both his lovers well knew.
“He might say no… You do realise this, dear boys.” Knight could be such a turd.
“You wouldn’t have suggested it if you believed that.”
Knight nodded, hips bumping his. “He’s got a great ass and the rumours are he’s
unattached. A little gym bunny.”
“I didn’t get a good look at his ass, but the rest of him was vavavavoom!”
“I saw his ass,” put in Bishop. “It was great.”
“I need a cup of coffee. I told him where we’d be. We’re sticking with the original plan,
boys?”
They’d made similar offers before—four times. No one’d ever said yes. Of course,
Knight hadn’t picked before.
A boy. A man. A lover. Someone for them to play with at will. They’d started talking
about it late one night—the three of them naked and lazy, sprawled. Knight had been teasing
Bish about getting a houseboy, someone they could touch, drive crazy. Boss around a little.
Play with.
That had been Knight’s phrase. Play with.
Rook nodded eagerly and Bishop grunted an affirmative.
Rook tried not to get excited, but damn. It wasn’t easy.
They piled into the shop, waved at Rick and Les. “The usual, boys?”
“Please. You and Bish go sit, I’ll get it.” He pulled his wallet out and sauntered up to
the counter.
Rick grinned at him and Les made the black coffee, the mocha latte, and the triple
espresso with a shot of caramel. “We haven’t seen you three in almost a week. I was going to
send a search party.”
“If you promise it’ll be full of studs, it’ll be another week before we’re back.”
“Shit, I can’t afford that! Knight keeps me in business!”
He pouted. “Too bad. I guess we’ll have to keep finding our own studs.”
He handed over a twenty and waved away the offered change. Grabbing the tray, he
headed to the table Knight and Bishop had chosen. Knight was straddling a chair backwards,
Bishop’s hands on his lean shoulders, rubbing hard. Knight looked tired, but each touch
seemed to make that sexy body to relax. Rook licked his lips. Who needed a search party of
hotties when he had his two very own personal studs to love on?
The look on Knight’s face was pure bliss—lips parted, surrounded by goatee and
moustache, the hair black as pitch.
“No orgasming in the coffee shop—they’ll throw us out again,” Rook teased, putting
their coffees down on the table.
“Shh. He’s rubbing. Don’t distract him.”
He grinned at Bishop, who just smiled back. “I’ll do you when we get home.”
It was probably for the best—he’d never met a massage he didn’t want to turn into
more. Especially when Bish was the one dishing out the massage—you could feel the love in
every touch.
Knight moaned, the sound like liquid sex. “Bish has the best hands.”
“He does.” Rook was getting hard. Between the look on Knight’s face and the memories
of what exactly those hands could get up to…
He sat down and pulled his chair up to the table. Bish could make you beg, make you
scream, make you hurt in ways that felt so fucking good after… And after… He never ever
doubted that Bish loved him.
He tried not to whimper—he already had a reputation for being easy, so the last thing
he needed was to get all hot and bothered by memories.
Knight met his gaze, near-black eyes dazed. “Tell me when you see him.”
Not if.
When.
That had him even more jazzed. Knight really believed this guy was going to show up,
was going to at least listen to their proposition. He bit his lower lip and nodded, eyes going
automatically to the door.
Bishop was murmuring softly to Knight. Rook couldn’t hear the words, but it didn’t
matter. He knew the tone, knew the need. Knew that, no matter what the stud said to their
offer, Knight was going to get worked over tonight and he was going to get to enjoy all the
benefits.
Fuck, his life was good.
He took a sip of his espresso, humming at the sweetness of the caramel.
One eye half on the door, he gave most of his attention to his lovers.
Knight’s high cheekbones were painted a rosy red, his eyes closed. The man had the
longest damn eyelashes he’d ever seen. Ever.
Rook wished, all of a sudden, that they were at home. Oh, he wanted to meet the stud,
to make the offer and have it accepted, but he also wanted to pounce, to suck Knight’s cock
and then do whatever Bish ordered him to do. He wanted to hear Knight beg, to see Bish in
those tight leather pants, in the black leather gloves…
His cock pushed hard against his jeans and he barely bit back a moan. Bish gave him a
knowing, loving look, hazel eyes hooded.
He barely saw Bish’s tongue flick out, touch Knight’s ear.
He licked his lips, ready to leap up and suggest they go home, when the door opened
and the stud from the art class walked in.
“Psst. Guys. Look.” He nodded in the direction of the door.
Bish backed off, and Knight’s eyes opened. “Go ask the pretty boy what he wants to
drink, Rook-love. Then bring him over.”
“Anything for my Knight.” He let his hand trail along Knight’s shoulders before he
went over to the cutie.
“Hey there. What can I get you?”
“I don’t drink coffee. A small non-fat chai, please?” The guy pulled out a wrinkled five
from his pocket.
Rook wrapped his fingers over the hand with the five. “I’ve got it, sugar. Why don’t
you go sit with Knight and Bishop?” He nodded towards his lovers.
“Knight and Bishop. Those are cool names.”
“Yeah, they’re cool guys, too. I’m Rook, by the way.” He held out his hand.
“Jason Myer.” The handshake was firm, strong.
“Hi, Jason, it’s great to meet you.” He waved at the guys behind the counter. “Large
non-fat chai for my friend, please.”
It felt good when Jason relaxed a little bit, took a deep breath. “Thank you. I… You’re
not in the drawing class, huh?”
“Hell, no. I can’t even draw stick figures!” He laughed, paid for Jason’s drink and
grabbed four of the café’s huge cookies at the same time.
“Me neither. I’m a personal trainer, not an artist.”
“Oh, cool! Bish is at the gym a lot.” He grinned and patted his belly. “I’m there just
enough.”
Jason smiled back at him and…whoa. Yeah. That was why Knight’d picked him.
Yummy.
Bish was going to eat this one alive.
He gave Jason his best flirty look, grabbed the guy’s drink and led him over to Knight
and Bish. “Guys, this is Jason Myer—personal trainer and studly model.”
“Hey, stud. Have a seat. You like my portrait?” Knight wasn’t looking all dazed now—
no, the man was sharp and on fire.
“It was… I thought I should return it.”
“Oh, honey, why would you do that?” Rook frowned.
“It’s very…personal, and she said it was worth something, that you were there just to
observe.”
Knight waved one hand. “Nonsense. I drew it for you.”
“There you go.” Rook waited for Jason to sit in the booth and then slipped in beside
him, sitting close. “It’s yours.”
Jason looked at Rook wide-eyed, then wrapped his hands around his mug. “So, your
note said something about a job?”
Rook and Bish both looked at Knight, grinning. Rook even bounced in place a little.
“Yeah. I overheard your conversation about your situation at the gym and the boys and
I are interested in hiring someone.”
Jason’s head tilted. “As a trainer?”
“Not precisely, no, although training is very much involved.”
Bish smiled. “Yes, training is important. Are you good at taking orders, Jason?”
“I follow directions really well. I didn’t lose my clients because I’m bad at my job. I just
can’t compete with the big houses, price-wise.”
“That sucks.” Rook put his hand on Jason’s thigh and squeezed, giving him a
sympathetic look.
Those big muscles leapt and jerked. “Thank you. So…what are you hiring for?”
Knight looked over, grinned and winked. “We want someone to play with. For a year.”
“Wh…what? Play?”
Look at that shocked, innocent face. Rook was going to cream his jeans.
Knight’s smile went purely wicked. “Yes, dear boy. Play. Hard.”
Rook squeezed Jason’s thigh again. “One year with us and you’ll be set for life.”
“Play… You mean… You’re talking about sex, right? But…I’m not gay. I don’t do men.”
Rook could answer that one easily. “Oh, honey, that’s okay. You don’t have to do any of
us—we’ll be doing you.”
Bish chuckled. “We might let you do Rook a time or two. He likes it. A lot.”
“This is true.” Knight leaned across the table, met Jason’s eyes. “Look, you don’t have to
decide tonight. I have a contract drawn up—no permanent damage, no permanent marks
unless you agree in writing, one year’s service. We provide room and board, and you get a
cool half a million at the end of the contract. All you have to do is exactly what we want for
three hundred and sixty-five days.”
Jason looked like he was going to pass out.
Rook put his arm around Jason’s shoulders. “Drink your chai. Have a cookie.”
Jason’s fingers were actually shaking, but the man picked the mug up and drank deep.
There was an electricity about this one, a spark.
Rook was beginning to believe.
“All your needs would be taken care of for a whole year. There’s an amazing gym so
you would still be able to work out, a pool in the backyard. And the house…” Rook smiled. It
was his baby. “It’s a beaut, if I do say so myself.”
“But…I don’t. I’m not gay. Don’t you get it? I couldn’t…perform.”
Knight chuckled. “Wanna bet?”
Rook patted the thigh his hand still rested on. “It wouldn’t be a condition of you taking
the job. You don’t need to come at all.”
Bishop grinned, and even Rook had to admit it was a bit of an evil smile. “But you
would.”
“No. I don’t…”
“Look, think about it. Sleep on it. Come over tomorrow and, if you don’t get off, you’ll
know.” Knight’s voice was rich as velvet.
“We’ll pay generously for your time, just to give it a try.” Money wasn’t an object. Rook
had more than he knew what to do with.
Knight gently tossed a thumb drive across the table. “There’s a contract on it. Take a
look when you get home.”
“I… You… But…”
Jesus, that was cute.
Rook leaned in to speak quietly near Jason’s ear. “What does it hurt to look at it? You’ll
see it’s more than fair, and then you’ll come over and spend the afternoon as a trial run.”
“How…how will I contact you?” He could smell Jason—the man smelt like heaven.
Rook grabbed a napkin and held his hand out to Knight, who gave him a charcoal
pencil. He wrote down his cell phone number.
“I… You’re serious? You’re not like…axe murderers?”
“Do we look like axe murderers?” Bishop asked.
Rook giggled.
Bishop shot him a look. “Aside from him, that is.”
Rook stuck his tongue out.
Knight held out a business card. “This is my lawyer, Hannah. Look her up. Call her. She
drew up the papers. She’ll vouch for us.”
It was a positive thing that Jason took the card.
Rook offered him the cookie again. “Have something to eat, get your blood sugar up.”
He stroked Jason’s thigh some more. Such a pretty boy.
He couldn’t help but notice that Jason didn’t pull away. Not queer? Bullshit. Not
experienced, sure. Scared, absolutely…but so turned on.
He met Bishop’s eyes, the look there telling him Bish saw it, too.
The pretty boy nibbled at his cookie and Knight picked up his cup, finishing his coffee
and heading up for another. “Anyone else need a refill?”
They all declined, Rook laughing. “The stuff flows in the man’s veins,” he told Jason.
“He’s very intense.”
The kid had no idea.
“Yeah, you know…artistic temperament and all that. He’s worth every quirk, though.”
Rook wouldn’t trade Knight for anything.
Jason sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. “Artists can be something, I guess.”
“I’m a sex-toy shop worker, if it makes you feel better.” He also owned the place, but he
didn’t usually share that. Or the size of his inheritance. The size of his prick, on the other
hand…
“No shit?” Jason grinned. “I don’t suppose you’d put a word in with your manager, if
this doesn’t work out?”
“Trust me, honey, this pays way better. Has better perks, too.”
“I just…” Jason blushed dark and Rook could suddenly see him, bound and bare,
arched, begging to be fucked…filled. “Why me?”
Knight sat down, cup in hand. “You’re pretty, innocent, and you have a great ass.”
Ah, Mr Romance…
“We all like you—we agreed on you. That doesn’t happen that often.”
“You’ve hired someone before?”
“Oh, no. We have interviewed a man or two, though.”
“No one said yes?”
“No one was a perfect fit. You, though…” He gave the man his best smile. It was a very
good smile—sexy, earnest, come-hither. Knight told him all the time.
“I’m…”
Rook licked his lips and Jason blinked, eyes on his mouth. Shit yes. The man was totally
interested, deny it as much as he liked. “You’re perfect for each of us, for all of us.”
“I should go.” Jason licked his own lips, the pink tongue slipping out, mimicking
Rook’s motion.
“If you want. Or you could stay a little longer and tell us about yourself.”
“I’m a personal trainer. I’ve been here in Toronto for about eighteen months. I’m
beginning to understand why they said it was hard to find your way here.”
Knight’s head tilted. “Girlfriend?”
Jason shook his head.
Knight arched an eyebrow. “Why not?”
“I’m focused on my career.” Uh-huh. Jason just didn’t like girls. He wasn’t queer,
though, nope, not him.
Rook bit back his chuckle.
“It’s an expensive place to live, especially if you’re working for yourself.”
“Yeah.” That frown was back again, that worry.
“Hey, Jason. It’s okay, yeah? This is a really good deal and we’re good people. We can
help you.”
“If you were shitty people, you wouldn’t tell me up front.”
That made Knight laugh. “Absolutely true. That’s why we’re meeting you here, in
public, in a place where people obviously know us.”
“Yeah. We could leave so you could go talk to Rich and Les.”
“In fact you should go talk to them,” Bish added. “We’re legit, which means we’re not
afraid to have you check us out.”
Knight nodded. “We’re honest—we’re in the community. We just want someone to play
with for a year. It’s a fantasy life.”
Jason looked a little stunned. “I’ll look over the paperwork, think about it.”
“Thanks, honey, that’s all we’re asking for.” Rook bounced a little and pushed the
napkin with his cell phone number at Jason. “And you call me if you have any questions,
okay? Any questions at all.”
Knight stood, stretched, went up on his toes. “Let’s go, boys. It’s getting late.” Then
those black, black eyes met Jason’s. “Think about it. We’ll blow your mind.”
“And the rest of you.” Rook added, winking.
He got up and went to stand with Knight—Bish joining them, putting an arm around
both their shoulders.
They walked out, waving to the boys on the way. As the door shut behind them, Knight
sighed. “Can somebody take me home now and fuck me?”
“Bish can. I want your cock down my throat.” Rook’s own cock was already pulling a
major happy just at the thought.
“Bishop has evil in his eyes.” Knight grinned. “You think the stud-boy will call?”
“I hope so. He’d be something else.”
“Yeah. Come on, you two hooligans. Let’s go.”
“Yeah, we got a date with our naked bodies.”
Knight’s laugh echoed all the way down the street.
About the Author
Often referred to as ‘Space Cowboy’ and ‘Gangsta of Love’ while still striving for the
moniker of ‘Maurice’, Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his
immense gourd collection and fantasising about one day retiring on a small secluded
island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage
gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-
bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channelling the long lost spirit of John Wayne
and singing along with the soundtrack to Chicago.
A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the
advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.
Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty
bodies together to see if they spark.
Sean loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and
author biography at
Also by Sean Michael
Total-E-Bound Publishing
www.total-e-bound.com
Take a look at our exciting range of literagasmic™
erotic romance titles and discover pure quality
at Total-E-Bound.
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