A couple of nights later, I opened the front door to a grinning Gamer. “Where are they?” he asked.

I snorted. “Hey, Lan, how are you, Lan? Good, Gamer, how about yourself?”

He rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, all that. Now, where are they?”

Laughing, I stepped back and let him in, then closed the door behind him. I followed when he made a beeline for the back sliding door. He quickly pulled it open. “I’m here, guys and girls. Your second daddy is here.” The dogs came barking and racing excitedly towards him. He greeted each one of them with a pat and cooed words, while I watched Easton walk our way from the back shed.

“Hi, Gamer.”

“Hey, how they been?”

Easton smiled softly. “Good.”

Gamer nodded. “So, what’s for dinner?” He straightened and crossed his arms over his chest, then glanced down at the dogs and squatted again, giving them more attention, which they lapped up.

“Steak, salad, and baked potatoes with chives and sour cream.”

His nose scrunched up when Easton mentioned salad, and I chuckled. “East made it. You’ll eat it, man.”

“Even the salad?” he questioned, like it wasn’t what I’d been talking about in the first place.

“Yep.”

“Fine. Need help with anythin’?” He may come across as a dick sometimes, but Gamer was a good brother. From what I’d heard around the Hawks MC compound, he’d had a shit life until he became a brother. Another thing I heard, and still couldn’t really believe because of how he was these days, but apparently, he’d been a brooding arsehole to start off with. Just went to show that people could change around the right group, and especially family.

“I’m about to grill the steaks, you can spend time with the mutts while I do it,” I suggested.

“Sounds good to me.”

Easton sidled up to my side and placed his hand on my back. “I’m going to check the potatoes and set the table.” He tilted his head back, and I leaned down and touched my mouth to his, smiling.

After Easton closed the door behind him, Gamer said quietly, “Used to have dogs when I was a kid. Instead of beating on me one night, my fuckin’ father lined up my dogs and shot them in the head for punishment because I didn’t take out the garbage. I had to bury them myself in the backyard.”

Holy fuck.

“Brother—”

He stood, shook his head, and said, “Appreciate Easton lettin’ me mind his house, bondin’ with his dogs, and you both givin’ me time in your lives. But if I’m intrudin’—”

“You’re not,” I stated. “You’re always welcome here, Gamer. Never doubt it.”

That type of shit would fuck anyone up. Hell, no wonder he didn’t have any pets of his own. To him, it’d be safer to make a connection with someone else’s pets. He probably thought if something happened to them, he wouldn’t be as affected, but he’d be wrong. Still, I wouldn’t tell him that.

His whole demeanour changed from serious to playful in a blink. “Cool. Say, do you think Talon will kill me if Nancy and I ever go on a date?”

Shaking my head, I chuckled and gave him the out he wanted, to change the subject. “Yeah, it’s possible.”

He nodded. “That’s what I was thinkin’.” He shrugged. “She’d be worth dying for though.”

“Brother, why her?”

He looked at me like I’d lost my head. “Have you not seen her? She’s fuckin’ stunnin’, and smart, and funny. My dick—”

“Do not finish that.”

He laughed. “Sure. You gonna grill those steaks or what?”

Shaking my head, I spotted Easton through the kitchen window just as Parker stepped up behind him. Shit, he’d told us he’d be staying at his place because the case he was working on was taking him into the night. Yet, there he was, startling Easton with a kiss to his neck.

Gamer went to turn, and I yelled, “Steaks. How do you like yours?”

Gamer’s brows shot up. “Wow, you’re suddenly excited about steaks. I’ll have mine medium.”

I nodded. “Right.” As I walked over to the barbeque, I noticed Easton and Parker were no longer in the window.

I watched Lan and Gamer through the kitchen window as I did some dishes. For a second, it had looked like the conversation turned serious, but they were back to smiles. Lan glanced my way, his eyes widened just as I felt heat at my back and lips on my neck.

Gasping, I spun and dragged Parker down to crouch on the floor.

Parker thinned his lips. “What’s wrong?”

“First, you can’t just sneak up on me like that. I could have hurt you.” He laughed, but then I covered his mouth with my hand. “Second, Gamer’s here for dinner. Didn’t you remember or see his bike out front?”

His tired eyes snapped closed. “Fuck,” he clipped and opened his eyes. “I’ve been doin’ long hours. I thought it was Lan’s ride over here and fuckin’ forgot about Gamer. Been buggered, just wanted to come here, spend time with you both and crash.”

My heart swelled and warmth flowed through my chest.

He was busy, but he wanted to see us. Wanted to spend time with us.

Hearing it was like—as pathetic as it sounded—like cupids singing a sweet harmony.

“Why are you blushin’?” Parker asked and smirked.

“It wasn’t a dirty thought,” I blurted.

His smirk morphed into a wide grin. “Doesn’t matter what it was. I just know it’d be about me in some way or Lan, and I like that.” He glanced away, as if his admission surprised him, but then looked back to me and took my hand in his before standing. He ran his thumb over my wrist before dropping my hand and stepping back. “Think there’ll be enough food for me?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“Good, I’m starved, but then I’ll have to crash…” He looked outside to see Gamer standing with the dogs surrounding him while he talked to Lan. “Shit. Guess I’ll have to head to my apartment after all.”

“No,” I yelled. The men outside looked towards the window. Gamer lifted his chin to Parker in greeting, which Parker returned. I lowered my voice and said, “I mean, he might leave early, and then you can just sleep here. You shouldn’t really be driving while you’re so tired. It’s not safe.”

He faced me again. His bloodshot, exhausted eyes roamed slowly over me, stopping on my lips. “Want to kiss you,” he admitted.

I glanced out the window to find Lan and Gamer busy talking again. I grabbed Parker’s wrist and pulled him out of the kitchen and just inside the hall where Gamer couldn’t see. I turned, and told him, “You can’t say things like that, all cute like, and not actually end up doing it.”

He smiled lazily. His hand threaded around the back of my neck and he pulled me close. His other hand went to my waist, just above my hip, while I rested my hands on his chest. His heart beat fast under my touch.

Parker leaned in close to me so our lips brushed. There he said, “Like that you want my kiss as much as I want to give it, East.”

“Do you?” I whispered, meeting his gaze.

“Oh yeah,” he growled low, and then crushed his mouth to mine. I melted against him, and yielded to his lips, his tongue, and then groaned as he kissed me like he hadn’t done it in years. As I slid my hands up and curled my arms around his neck, his hand on my waist drifted down to cup my arse. He dragged me close to rub his erection against mine.

Unfortunately, that was when we heard the back door open.

We pulled apart, and I panted, trying to catch my breath.

“Where’s the guys?” Gamer asked.

Parker and I stared at each other, breathing hard. I placed my hand against my chest and sucked in a deep breath. Then I made sure my tee covered my hard-on and whispered, “Follow my lead.”

“East—” Parker clipped low.

A little too late to stop me though because my mouth was already open and I said, “So that’s the type of mattress you should buy.” I rounded the hall and waved awkwardly at Lan and Gamer.

Lan dropped his head back, eyes to the ceiling, and I caught his lips twitching while Gamer stared at me strangely. There was a long sigh behind me, and I sensed Parker step up to my side, only I didn’t look. He huffed, then replied, “Yeah, looks good. Dinner ready?”

Lan tilted his head back and nodded. “Sure is.”

“What type of mattress is it?” Gamer asked as Parker and I approached the table I’d already set out. I stumbled and gripped the back of a chair.

“Ah….”

Lan coughed over his laugh. “It’s a Luxury DreamCloud one.”

“Yes,” I said and pointed to Lan. “Brain fart for a second there since it was only moments ago I told Parker the brand.”

“Babe,” Lan called. “The potatoes.”

“Right. Forgot them, I’ll go get them.” I raced over and grabbed the bowl, busying myself so I didn’t stuff anything else up.

Turning with the bowl clutched to the front of me, I caught Parker walk around the table to sit next to Lan because Gamer was already sitting on my side. I also saw the way Parker’s hand trailed over Lan’s back discreetly before he sat down. I spun my gaze to Gamer. Had he seen?

Nope, he was looking at me with a smirk to his lips. Did he know Parker and I had just been kissing?

Slap a dick, had I screwed things up for us already?

Slowly, I made my way over to the table and sat down, hoping I could refrain from acting like an idiot for a while longer.

Later, as I lay in bed, I rolled towards Easton, who still sat up in the middle of the bed with a book and a book light shining down on his pages.

He glanced down. “Sorry, am I disturbing you?”

“No,” I bit out. “But I want you to tell me what you’re thinkin’.”

“How do you—”

On the other side of Easton, Lan sighed long and loud. “That’s how.” He lifted his head and got to his elbow.

Easton winced. “Sorry.”

“What’s wrong, East?” Lan asked.

“I like this,” he whispered.

“What?” I queried.

“This. Us. All three of us. The connection we have started, how it’s not only about the hot sex, the very hot sex, but the times we share together. The small touches, the kisses, the talking, hugging. All of it, and I don’t want to be the one to stuff it up.”

I knew what he’d been thinking, of his actions around Gamer, wondering if he gave away our relationship. The thought of Gamer knowing kind of twisted my gut. I wasn’t ready for people to know. However, Gamer was one person. It wasn’t like he’d just talk shit about us anyway so in that moment, I relaxed from the thought. Instead, I knew I wanted, no I had to, reassure Easton because even if he had slipped and blurted out about us, I wouldn’t blame him. It’d just mean he hadn’t thought in that moment because he was happy with what we had. I couldn’t blame him for being himself.

Reaching back, I felt for the cord and switched on the bedside lamp. Then I took his book, turned off his book light, and put it on the bedside table. “Come here,” I ordered, while tugging on his arm. He slid down to lie between us.

I also got to my elbow to loom over him. I shared a soft smile with Lan. I had to agree with Easton. This was what I wanted. Both of them. I couldn’t imagine not being able to share moments like this with them.

With the sheet down to our waists, I watched as I slid my hand to Easton’s stomach. It clenched under my touch. I grinned, glancing up to him. “Nothing you do or say could ruin what’s buildin’ between us. You don’t need to worry. Okay?”

“But—”

“No,” I stated. “No buts. Not allowin’ them.”

Lan chuckled. His hand came down over mine and I gripped it. We stared at each other and I told him, “I like this a hell’va lot. I won’t let little shit get in the way.” Meaning, if it came down to it, I wouldn’t care too much if people found out, but I still wanted to take things slowly. Get us sorted, even though I already guessed this would last between us because I wouldn’t want it any other way. Then I’d tell the damn world about us without a care so long as I knew they’d be with me.

“I know.” Lan nodded.

I looked down to Easton. “Yeah?” I asked.

“Yes.” He smiled. He wrapped his hands around Lan’s and mine. I dropped my gaze and looked at our joined hands. My gut rolled in a good way from what I saw. Hell, I liked being with them, liked sharing the same bed, and having them close.

Yeah, I already wanted this to last a fucking long time.

“Can we get some sleep now?” I asked teasingly.

Easton rolled his eyes. “Fine.”

Smiling, I leaned in and kissed his chest, then his chin, and finally his mouth. After I knew he was breathless, I pulled back and turned to Lan. He moved in over Easton a little and met my lips with his. When I felt Easton tuck my hair behind my ear, I shifted back with a final peck to Lan’s lips.

“I thought you wanted to sleep,” Easton said with a smirk.

“It’s overrated anyway,” I replied, my gaze on his mouth.

“Nah-uh. You’re too tired for my liking.”

“East’s right, you need more sleep and I know if we start we won’t stop.” Lan flopped down, curling closer to Easton. But we both knew it’d change through the night and somehow Easton would be over both of us in one way or another. Not that it bothered me.

Sighing, yet still smiling, I switched off the lamp and lay back down. I took hold of Lan’s hand and again, Easton’s wrapped around both ours. I pulled them up over Easton’s heart and that was how eventually we all fell asleep.

To a lot of guys it would be a cheesy, sappy action, but in that moment, to me, it was everything right.