Chapter Thirty One
Rand
“Hey, come on in.” He kissed his sister on the cheek as she came into the loft, Connie right behind her, carrying two six-packs of craft beer. The Cowboys were playing and he, Rory, and Shannon had decided to have the girls as well as Frank and Taylor over to watch the game. It was their first get-together with friends and family since announcing their intent to become a throuple. In the two weeks since leaving the hospital, the two couples had been around to help with meals, grocery shopping, and cleaning, but this was their first official soiree.
“Claire, Con, hey!” Shannon ran over to hug each of them, the two women following him into the kitchen like a couple of excited puppies. They doted on the young man, his sister, and her girlfriend, and Rand couldn’t have been happier about it. Shannon’s youth and vibrancy pulled them in like moths to a flame.
Taylor came around the corner, and, seeing his best friend and the women buzzing around in the kitchen, he smiled and shook his head. “What are you guys making?” Taylor asked, stepping around Claire to open the fridge and grab four beers.
“Whatever it is, it smells wonderful. Thanks, babe.” Frank stopped at the table, waiting for his fiancé to pop the caps on the beers before grabbing two of them and a kiss, turning and going back to the living room where Rory and the football game were waiting.
“Sausage balls, stuffed artichokes, and seven-layer dip.” Shannon opened the oven to slide two trays in, the wonderful aromas tickling Rand’s nose. Never in a million years would he have thought he’d actually like artichokes, but the way Shannon prepared them with six different cheeses, Italian bread crumbs, and olive oil was actually delicious.
Claire carried a large bowl over to the island that sat between the kitchen and the door, placing the dip beside the chips and salsa. Rand walked over and pulled out one of the barstools he’d picked up on a whim earlier in the week to replace the flimsy ones that he didn’t think had ever been used, judging by the thick layer of dust on the seats. Shopping was definitely not a priority for Rand Davis—never had been—but he needed a dresser that would fit in the corner of the bedroom closet so that Shannon didn’t murder him in his sleep for leaving his clothes all over the floor. The sturdy chairs with black legs and comfortable red leather seats matched the subtle wood and stainless steel colors in the kitchen perfectly. “Maybe you should break that mess up.” Taylor pointed at the huddle in the corner by the fridge, Shannon, Claire, and Connie talking quietly and grinning.
Shaking his head, Rand took a swig from his bottle of beer. “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”
Taylor choked on his beer, sputtering and laughing. “Haven’t you heard? My monkeys fly.”
Rory came up behind him, leaning in for a quick kiss. Rand smiled, remembering his reference to the wicked witch while Rory was still in the hospital. Lord, had it only been a couple of weeks? It felt like years had gone by since the shooting. He glanced at the area over by the bathroom where Rory’s blood painted the floor that night, then at the section in the kitchen where Tuan’s lifeless body fell, a bullet in his brain compliments of Agent Connie Gonzales. They were lucky, truly, and Rand not only realized that, he thanked God for it. Losing Rory before he had the chance to love him would have been a travesty. He and the alluring agent still butted heads at times, and there were plenty of days when Rand couldn’t decide if he wanted to whip his ass or hold him down and kiss him until neither of them could breathe. That would probably never change, but as Rand liked to say, he was up for the challenge.
Shannon was different in so many ways. Agile and fierce, his dancing queen usually commanded all the attention in the room, which was perfectly fine with Rand. At times though, Shannon’s vulnerability clouded his eyes and slowed his movements. His young lover was like a flower: beautiful and brilliant but left on its own without tender love and care, it would wilt and wither away. Perhaps it was how different each of them was that solidified their partnership. Three men that consciously came together but were still individuals at the end of the day. Each of them loved the other differently, but it was still love—which was all that mattered.
“That’s a foul, and he’s holding. Come on, Ref, get your goddamn head in the game!” Frank shouted. Taylor rolled his eyes, standing and pushing his chair against the cabinet, heading into the living room.
***
The Cowboys lost, but the food was delicious, and it was nice to spend the day with their friends. After everyone was gone, Rand had to shove Shannon out of the kitchen so he could clean up. “You cooked, babe. Here, go sit with Ro and watch TV.” He handed Shannon two bottles of water and pushed him toward the living room. It didn’t take long to rinse and load the dishwasher, and he was quite proud of himself for cleaning the mess instead of making one for a change. Following the sounds of laughter, he came around the corner and stopped, watching Shannon and Rory kiss and pet each other. Whether it was a conscious decision on their part, he didn’t know, but the two of them had not doted on each other at all the past few weeks, not that he knew of. He was part of their relationship now, yes, but the foundation had been formed between Rory and Shannon and, quite frankly, encouraging them to continue to cultivate their bond could only strengthen the ties that bound the three of them together.
It was very arousing, watching the two of them move together, Shannon sliding into the space between Rory’s legs when Rory grabbed his ass and jerked his body closer. Rand’s dick was hard just from watching, listening to the sounds they made. Rubbing his palm over the bulge in his pants, he groaned, drawing the attention of the two men on the couch making out like teenagers. “No, don’t stop. I want to watch,” he told Shannon when he sat back on his knees.
“Join us, then.” Shannon’s tone was sultry and inviting, but Rand wanted them to enjoy each other, to remember how much they loved each other before he became part of the equation. It was important and vital that Shannon and Rory know that he didn’t mind.
Reaching for the hem of the shirt he was wearing, he lifted it over his head and tossed it onto the floor, then unbuttoned and lowered the zipper on his cargo shorts. “Another time.” Rand let the material fall—thankful that he’d decided to go commando that morning—stepping out of them as he moved over to one of the chairs, sitting down and fisting his painfully hard erection. “It’s very stimulating, watching the two of you. Just because there are now three of us doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy each other, pleasure one another.”
Shannon followed the movement of Rand’s hand, licking his lips and swallowing hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Are you s-sure?” the adorable blond stuttered. Rand nodded, licking the palm of his left hand so he could add some moisture to his stiff prick. “Holy shit, Rand, I want to ride that.” Shannon groaned, his usually higher pitched tone dropping several octaves.
“Oh no, not tonight, babe.” Rory reached for Shannon, pulling him back down for a scorching kiss. It was so fucking sexy that it curled Rand’s toes, and he was on the other side of the room. It wasn’t surprising that Shannon moaned and squirmed in Rory’s arms. “Tonight this ass is mine. I need you to get lube, and get naked, and not necessarily in that order.”
Shannon was up off the couch and running to the bedroom, dashing back a few seconds later with a familiar tube in his hand. Tossing the bottle onto Rory’s chest, he tore at the buttons on the shirt he was wearing, intent on getting naked, fast. “Stop.” Rand didn’t shout, but his tone left no room for argument. “Slowly, Shan, slowly.” Turning to face him, Shannon cocked his head to one side and smiled seductively, popping one button, then the next, moving at a more leisurely pace, a slight flush painting his usually gorgeous, pale skin. Turning around, Shannon looked over his shoulder and winked at Rand before dropping his pants and bending over, giving him his first glimpse of a perfectly tight, rounded ass and a hole that was begging to be kissed, licked, and laved at. Rand was starting to question his choice to simply sit back and watch.
Rory was struggling to get his pants off, his bare chest already glistening with a thin sheen of sweat. “Here, let me help.” Shannon’s laugh was melodic. Apparently tired of the pace, Shannon jerked Rory’s shorts and briefs off, dropping them on the floor by the couch.
Attention homed in on the two cocks kissing and sliding together, Rand blinked when he heard the snick of the lube cap being popped open. He watched with bated breath as Rory slid one lube-slicked finger inside Shannon’s passage, and then a second, the most erotic moans and whimpers falling from his lips. Lord, but he wanted to swallow those noises as he feasted on Shannon’s mouth. “Fuck, enough prep, babe. I’m gonna come, and I really wanna come on your dick.” Shannon trembled, reaching back and grabbing Rory’s wrist.
Straddling Rory’s lap, Shannon lifted up, the head of Rory’s cock inches from entering him when Rand had an idea. “Wait, help him sit up, Shan. I want to watch his thick cock as it fills you. I want to watch you ride him.” Just the thought made his balls tingle, and he had to squeeze them to stop from coming right then and there.
“Your wish is my command.” Shannon stood and helped Rory sit up, stuffing a couple of pillows behind him before climbing into his lap. Fucking hell, who knew voyeurism could be so goddamn arousing? He was a gay man, so it was a given that he’d watched his fair share of gay porn, but it was wildly different. Watching strangers on a screen and watching the men he was falling hard for were worlds apart. Rand couldn’t remember a time in his life when he’d been more turned-on than he was right then, watching Rory slowly slide into Shannon’s body, the younger man’s hole stretching to accommodate Rory’s girth. Slowing his strokes to keep time with Rory’s thrusts, Rand scooted a little farther down in the chair, spreading his legs wide so he could play with his balls. They were heavy and sensitive, so he concentrated on his length instead.
“Oh God, Rory, baby, so close.” Shannon picked up the pace, his back bowing as his cries grew louder with each plunge. Rory looked around the lithe body in his lap, locking eyes with Rand. Pupils shot, nothing but a thin line of green circling black orbs, he held Rand’s gaze for a few seconds before his eyes drifted downward. Slamming his cock into Shannon’s welcoming body, Rory was fixated on Rand fisting his dick. When Shannon came a few seconds later, a flurry of shouts and curses, Rory claimed his lips with a demanding kiss before breaking away and looking over at him again. Somehow, he managed to hold his orgasm at bay until Rory drove up into Shannon one last time and froze, head back, eyes closed, and he spilled his seed in the body wrapped around him.
All it took was three firm strokes, and Rand was coming so hard his vision blurred. “Fucking hell, that was amazing.” He panted, trying to catch his breath.
Shannon chuckled. “Next time I ride you, and Rory gets to watch.”
Rory was lying sideways on the couch, his good arm under the weight of his body. “As long as I get a shot in the saddle somewhere along the way, I’m down for whatever.” He winced, bucking Shannon off his lap so he could roll over onto his back.
Grabbing his discarded shirt, Rand cleaned the spunk off his stomach and quickly pulled his shorts on. Still a bit light-headed, he walked around the coffee table on jelly legs, squatting and cleaning Shannon’s seed off Rory with the shirt. “Here, let’s get you in bed, so you can take a pill and I can dress your wound.”
“It hurts like a motherfucker.” Rory hissed when Rand lifted him off the couch. “But it was so worth it.” He laughed, but there was no humor in the sound.
Pushing the bedroom door open with his foot, Rand walked around the bed and sat Rory down then flipped the lamp on. Trailing his fingers up Rory’s arm to the bandage covering his shoulder, he gently pulled the gauze away so he could thoroughly check the wound. “Shan, sweetie, where are the supplies for his aftercare?”
“In the drawer right there.” Shannon pointed to the bedside table. “You’re worrying me, Rand. Is everything okay?” Shannon was on his knees, peering over Rand’s shoulder, grabbing Rory’s hand.
Smiling, Rand leaned back and kissed Shannon. “He’s fine…don’t you worry. I just think that the healing process is taking longer than I would like. Maybe it’s the antibiotics they’re giving you, Rory. I’ll call the doctor tomorrow and ask him to reevaluate.” Before he was discharged, Rory added him and Shannon to his HIPAA release, so that the doctor and physical therapist could talk to them about his care as well.
Leaning back against the headboard, eyes closed, Rory held still while Rand cleaned the stitches and dressed the wound. “There you go…all better.” Rand kissed him, just a quick peck, before shoving the supplies back into the drawer.
“Will you stay with us tonight, Rand? Please?” Shannon smiled over at him, reaching for his hand. They’d shared something new that night, become more intimate and secure in the relationship. Continuing to refuse to sleep in the same bed with them, regardless of the reason, seemed selfish somehow.
“Okay,” Rand agreed.
Shannon climbed out of bed, disappearing down the hall. “Where’s he going?” Rand asked.
Rory reached for him, cupping his face, rubbing a thumb over Rand’s top lip. “It’s his thing. He checks all the doors and windows, makes sure everything is off, and grabs us each a bottle of water.” Rory glanced over his shoulder. “I’m hoping now that the ghosts of the past have all been exorcised, he’ll be able to let go of the fear he carries around.”
“Hey.” He stretched out on the bed beside Rory, trailing his fingers along the length of the tantalizing man’s arm. “Being cautious is never a bad thing. Maybe we can let him keep worrying about keeping us safe.” Grinning, he leaned over and tasted Rory’s lips. A gasp pulled them apart.
“Jesus, you two are fucking hot.” Shannon flipped the ceiling fan on, setting the water on the bedside table before climbing under the sheet, sliding into the small space between Rand and Rory.
It had been a long day and they were all tired, especially Rory. It wasn’t long before he and Shannon fell asleep. Rand propped himself up on one arm, watching the two men for how long, he didn’t know. Shannon resembled an angel, his blond hair iridescent in the moonlight streaming through the window. Bathed in shadows, Rory’s features were sharper, more angular, his long black hair spread over the pillow like the wings of a raven. Simply put, they were breathtaking. How lucky was he that he got to call the two beautiful men in this bed his, that he got to love them?
The fact that he’d fallen for Shannon and Rory didn’t terrify him as it once would have. After the implosion of his relationship with Grant, Rand swore he’d never allow himself to get close enough to another man, to open his heart and take a chance on getting it broken again. This time it felt different, right…complete.