ROBBIE HIGHTAILED IT out of the bathroom as though his ass was on fire, and when he got to the living room, he propped a hand up on the wall and took in a breath.

Fuck. Fuck. That was… What the fuck was that? He’d gone in to give Priest his wine and flirt with him outrageously while he was in the bath, and two seconds in, his tongue got stuck, his voice got lost, and he was stripping and kneeling and washing the guy as though he lived to serve him—and shit, it’d been one of the hottest things ever.

“Robbie?”

Julien’s voice had Robbie raising his head.

“Everything okay, princesse?” Julien said as he walked around the island.

Robbie licked his suddenly dry lips and blinked, trying to shake himself out of whatever hypnotic daze Priest had him under, and when Julien reached him and took his hand, Robbie let him lead him across to the dining room table.

Julien didn’t blink at the fact Robbie was now minus his shirt as he pulled out a seat, and when Robbie sat down, Julien said, “I think it’s time for that wine now, oui?”

“Yes, please.”

“Very good. Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”

Robbie nodded, thinking that wouldn’t exactly be a problem, considering he could barely move his legs, and before he could overthink things, Julien was walking back with two glasses in hand.

“Here,” he said, and took the seat beside Robbie. “If it helps, I felt just as confused as you the first time I was with Priest.”

“Is it that obvious?” Robbie laughed. “Is he a fucking hypnotist or something?”

Julien leaned back in his chair and brought his glass to his lips. As he took a sip, Robbie placed a hand over his thumping heart.

“Feels like it, doesn’t it?”

“Yes,” Robbie said. “I gotta say, I’ve never been into being bossed around except with Log— Well, once before.” Robbie stopped, took another gulp of wine, and then met Julien’s eyes. “But two words out of his mouth and I was on my knees doing what he told me. No questions asked. How does he do that?”

Julien put his glass down and got to his feet. He hooked a finger under Robbie’s chin and tilted his head up. “Because he sees you, mon cher petit. He understands what you need from him. Didn’t I tell you so?” Julien straightened, winked at Robbie, and said, “Drink up and I’ll bring you another.”

No problem, Robbie thought as he drained the glass, and as he placed it on the table, he saw Priest walk out of the bedroom in a pair of loose black pants and not one other thing. Jesus, when he was like this, minus his suit, and prowling around like a tiger, Robbie found it difficult to look anywhere but at him just in case he pounced.

Robbie followed Priest’s path as he walked over to Julien, who was pouring sauce on the steaks, and when he stopped behind his husband, Priest kissed his cheek and Julien turned his head.

Words Robbie didn’t understand were exchanged, and then Priest picked up two plates and headed over. As Priest put one down in front of him, Robbie’s eyes travelled up his powerful body and he managed to say, “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Priest walked to the head of the table, pulled his chair out, and sat as Julien returned with his plate and a new bottle of wine. Once they were all seated, Robbie glanced at the two men on either end of the table, and then held his glass out to Julien, who started to laugh.

Julien refilled Robbie’s glass and then raised his own. “Here’s to a night for the senses. Délectons-nous de nourriture, de vin, et de tous les plaisirs de la chair jusqu’à ce que nous soyons trop épuisés et rassasiés les uns des autres pour bouger.”

“Allow me to translate.” Priest leaned over toward Robbie, who caught the scent of the soap he’d used to clean that muscled chest earlier. “Let us enjoy the food, wine, and all the pleasures of the flesh until we are too tired and drunk on each other to move.”

Robbie looked between the two of them and shook his head. “Who could say no to that?”

The three clinked their glasses and Julien said, “Many, I’m sure. But as long as it’s not you, princesse, I find I don’t care.”

* * *

AN AIR OF anticipation settled between them after that. Eyes darted from one to the other. Lips were licked as they each ate their meal. But clearly they were all thinking about other things in their mouths, and Julien could sense the waves of excitement—tinged with nerves—rolling off Robbie as he studied the food on his plate with great concentration.

With his eyes fixated on his meal, it gave both Julien and Priest the opportunity to observe Robbie as much as they wanted, and it was clear he knew he was under scrutiny by the heat that tinged his face, chest, and neck—although that could also easily be the wine.

Taking pity on him, Julien decided to break the silence, because there was no way Priest would, and no matter how badly the two of them wanted Robbie, and he them, they weren’t going to get him—the real him—if he was a nervous wreck.

“How is your meal?” Julien asked, and Robbie glanced over at him as he chewed the mouthful he’d just popped between his lips. After he swallowed, Robbie grinned, and the expression reached his eyes.

“Wonderful. This is the best steak au poivre I’ve ever eaten.”

Julien chuckled, remembering their earlier conversation, and pointed his knife in Robbie’s direction. “Cheeky.”

Robbie blew him a kiss, clearly relaxing a little, and then cut off another piece of steak. “Why do you get to sit there fully dressed while the two of us have no shirt on?”

“Is that your way of telling me you want me to take off my shirt?” Julien asked.

“If it isn’t,” Priest said, “I’ll do it for you. Take off your shirt, Julien.”

Robbie looked at Priest, who took a sip of his wine, and when Julien pushed out from the table and stood, Robbie’s head whipped back around to him. “Oh, I like this game.”

Julien leaned down and kissed Robbie’s smiling lips. “Of course you do.”

“Julien,” Priest said, his voice soft but firm, telling Julien he wanted him to do as he was told.

Julien straightened, and with his eyes on his husband, he unbuttoned his shirt. As he shrugged out of it, Julien’s eyes shifted to Robbie, who’d stopped eating to watch, and once it was in his hand, he dropped it to the floor.

“Shit,” Robbie said, his eyes moving over Julien’s tattoos, and then he reached down to palm himself. “Priest said you might let me lick them if I ask nicely.”

“I just might…but not yet,” Julien said, and then winked as he retook his seat.

Robbie groaned in protest. “This is torture.”

“I promise you, it is not,” Priest said, and Robbie rolled his eyes.

“Not actual torture, but God. Next you’ll want to talk about the weather or my family.”

“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” Julien said, and Robbie’s mouth fell open. “We don’t know that much about you.”

“And you want to know now? I was kidding.”

“Humor us.”

“Well, can you at least put your shirt back on? Both of you. Then maybe my dick will stop aching.”

“No it won’t,” Priest said. “But this might keep your mind off it for a few minutes.”

“Fine.” Robbie let out a put-upon sigh. “I come from a big Italian family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. But they’re all slightly crazy.”

“Really?” Priest said, and when Julien’s eyes shifted to his husband, he noted that Priest had moved in a little closer, intrigued by this new piece of information.

“Yes,” Robbie said. “You already know I live with my nonna right now, and that’s because everyone else is too far out of town. But I’m one of four children, and the only boy.”

Julien laughed at that, and he caught Priest’s lips twitching.

“What?” Robbie said.

“That just explains so much, princesse,” Julien replied.

Robbie scrunched his nose up, and with his meal now done, he reached for his glass of wine. “Yeah, whatever. I love my sisters, and they love me. I mean, how could they not?”

“Indeed,” Priest said, and Julien wondered what was going on inside his head. Priest’s grey eyes were bright, alert, and he clearly wanted to know more. “Are you the youngest?”

“Second youngest. Felicity’s the baby and a total pain in the ass,” Robbie said, but his smile spoke of the affection he had for her. “What about you two? Brothers? Sisters?”

In an instant, Julien was hit with a barrage of images from out of nowhere. Flashing lights, screaming sirens, someone shouting—most likely him—and the comfort from a second ago got sucked up like a black hole had just opened over the top of him.

Julien’s mind started to whirl, his pulse started to race, and he felt as though someone had just reached inside his chest, taken a hold of his heart, and tightened their fist around it. He couldn’t breathe.

But then Priest spoke up, and like always, his voice pulled Julien back. Back from the bottomless pit he had once been so well acquainted with.

“Robert?”

Unaware of the landmine he’d just stepped on, Robbie looked at Priest, and Julien wanted to fall down on his knees and thank his husband for the distraction, but he was still trying to work out how to breathe.

Dieu, not now, Julien told himself as he balled his fists under the table.

“Are you done with your meal?” Priest said, his voice clear and concise, and Julien made it a point to concentrate on that.

“Yes.” Robbie’s breathy voice served to bring Julien’s focus around to the fine line of his torso, and the sight of his smooth skin effectively banished all of the other ugly images trying to resurface.

“Then stand and come over here. No more talking, until I say so,” Priest said, and as Robbie pushed back his chair and stood, Priest’s eyes found Julien’s.

The concern there was obvious, but as the memories receded, Julien inclined his head, letting his husband know: It’s okay. I’m okay. And he was.

But now, more than ever, he was ready for Priest to take over. For Priest to take the reins and lead them all where they would go, because ultimately that was far away from where Julien’s head had just been, and that was exactly where he wanted to be.

* * *

AS ROBBIE GOT to his feet and started toward him, Priest glanced at Julien to make sure he was back. That he was present in the dining room and not lost in that head of his. Their eyes met, Julien’s flashed a brilliant green, and he then aimed them at Robbie and nodded once. There. He was back and letting Priest know he was okay and it was time. They were finally going to make Robbie theirs.

When Robbie reached Priest’s side, he stopped there and waited as Priest laid his utensils on his plate and said, “Take off your pants.”

Without a word, Robbie’s hands moved to the button at his waist, and with a whoosh, the material left Robbie’s hips and headed south.

“Are you finished, mon amour?” Julien asked as he came up on the opposite side of the table to Robbie and pointed at Priest’s plate.

“With the food and wine, yes. It was delicious as always,” Priest said, and Julien leaned down and said against his lips, “Thank you,” and Priest knew he meant that for much more than the food.

As Julien cleared off the table and left to put the plates and glasses in the sink, Priest finally turned to the silent man standing beside him, and the sight that greeted him made Priest hungry all over again.

Robbie stood in nothing but a thin black scrap of material that was straining over his erection. His hands were balled into fists by his side, as though he were fighting the urge to stroke himself, and his breathing was coming in more rapid bursts the longer Priest looked at him.

Priest pushed his chair back from the end of the table, leaving enough space for a person to stand between him and it, and then gestured that Robbie should fill that space.

Without taking his eyes off Priest’s, Robbie walked to the spot that had been indicated, and Priest said, “Turn around and face Julien.”

At the order, Robbie’s eyes widened, as he seemed to realize that would mean turning his back on Priest. But then he slowly pivoted so he was looking up the dining table, that was now devoid of everything bar the tablecloth, two condoms, and a bottle of lube, and was staring at Julien, who was standing at the other end completely naked, with his beautiful cock in hand.

“Oh shit,” Robbie whispered, as Priest got to his feet.

“What did I say about talking?” Priest said, and Robbie’s entire body trembled at his question, making Priest’s cock harden, demanding it be freed from the pants he’d shoved it into after his bath.

“You said not to, but—” Robbie’s words cut off when Priest moved in close enough that the outline of his erection was pressed against Robbie’s bare ass cheeks.

“But what? I said not to, and you disobeyed.” Priest ran his finger up and down the thin strip covering Robbie’s hole, making him whimper. “Time to learn what happens when you do that. Bend over and brace your hands on the table, Robert.”

At Priest’s order, Julien pumped his cock up and down, and Robbie, ever so slowly, bent over as instructed. When he was in place, Priest put a hand on his lower back and then smoothed it over one of his creamy cheeks, and Robbie dropped his head forward and pushed his ass up a little higher.

“I am loving your penchant for skimpy underwear, Robert. This thong is particularly arousing. Spread your legs,” Priest said, his voice gruff, his arousal like a beast clawing at him to get free and attack that which was in front of him, and once Robbie had widened his stance, Priest slowly raised his hand, and then landed a cracking smack on his ass.

Robbie cursed, the blow smarting enough to have him glaring back at Priest.

“I can’t tell you how long I’ve wanted to do that.”

“Fuck y—” The second smack had Robbie gripping the tablecloth and Priest looking up to meet Julien’s eyes, and the lust swirling there told Priest that the second this flimsy material was removed from Robbie’s body, things were going to get fucking crazy.

“From here on out,” Priest said as he ran his palm up Robbie’s back, “if you misbehave or mouth off to me, I’m going to take your pants off and smack your very fine little ass wherever we may be. Do you understand?”

Priest trailed his fingers back down Robbie’s spine, and then slipped one under the material dividing his ass.

“Yes,” Robbie said, panting, and Priest began to run his finger up and down, tugging on the strip, causing the front of the material to massage against Robbie’s erection.

Robbie rocked back toward him, trying to get closer, trying to get more of anything to relieve his ache, but that wasn’t about to happen. Not just yet.

Priest removed his finger and fitted his covered cock back against Robbie, who made a mewling sound of pleasure. Robbie’s fingers flexed around the tablecloth as Priest crowded down over him, aligning his stomach, abdomen, and chest along Robbie’s naked back, and when he was in place, Priest wrapped an arm around Robbie to tilt his chin up so he was looking directly at Julien.

“Do you remember our date last week?” Priest said. “I believe Julien told you one of his favorite things to do. Do you remember what it was?”

Robbie squirmed in response, letting Priest know Robbie was more than aware of what he was speaking of.

“Yes? Good. Because I’m going to drag this tiny little thong off your ass, and then he’s going to come over here, eat you for dessert, and then fuck you so this tight little hole is ready for what I’m going to give it.”

Julien cursed as he punched his hips forward in eager agreement with Priest’s words, and Robbie moaned.

Priest then let Robbie go and moved back from his body. He ran his palms over the soft, pale skin of Robbie’s sides until he hooked his fingers in the elastic at his hips and then dragged it over his ass, down his legs, and to his ankles.

When Priest was kneeling on the floor at Robbie’s feet, he said, “Lift,” and tapped Robbie’s right leg, and Robbie obeyed. Fuck, Priest needed to get his hands off Robbie now, before he took him with no preparation at all. He glanced up at the picture before him. A fully naked Robbie, who was bent at the waist with his hands planted firmly on their dining room table—and he looked fucking delectable.

Patience, Priest reminded himself. Your patience will be rewarded.

“Julien,” Priest said, as he rose to his feet. “Viens ici.”

As Julien walked down the side of the table, he picked up one of the condoms, and Robbie’s head turned to follow his approach until Julien was out of sight. Priest grazed a finger across Robbie’s red ass cheek, making him jump, as Julien’s eyes roved over the exquisite man splayed out on their dining room table.

“He looks spectacular like this, doesn’t he?” Priest asked.

“Oui,” Julien said, as Priest took the condom from him and tore it open with his teeth. “He does.”

“Mmm,” Priest said, and brushed his mouth across Julien’s lips. “I want to watch you two fuck.”

When Julien’s lips parted against his on a groan, Priest reached for Julien’s cock and rolled the condom on. Then he started to work it. “Show Robert how talented this mouth and cock are, and then I’ll show him how talented mine are.”

Priest grabbed the back of Julien’s neck and shoved his tongue deep inside his mouth in a brutal kiss full of raging desire, and Julien returned it, his teeth scraping Priest’s lip, his hands gripping Priest’s biceps so hard his blunt nails were leaving marks, and finally, when he tore his mouth free, Julien said, “Go. Take your seat. It’s time I kneeled for our princesse.”