Room at the Top (41 page)

Austin didn’t like the sound of that, and apparently neither did Jay because he felt Jay’s hand slip into his as they sank down into chairs and waited.

Liam sat down too, and leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. “A few days ago, I was offered a job on the West Coast.”

There was a sharp inhale from Jay, and Jay’s hand tightened on Austin’s. “Liam,” Jay said shakily. “Sir.”

“I haven’t finished,” Liam said, frowning. “I spent a fair amount of time considering the offer. It’s a very good one, by the way. It would mean a 50 percent increase in my salary.”

Austin could tell he was hyperventilating. He was getting light-headed and trying not to freak out even though he knew this had been a bad idea, it had been a terrible idea, all of it. Why had he taken a chance like this, to get close to someone who would just end up leaving him? Of course, it was a lot of money, and of course Liam would want a better-paying job if it was possible—

“There were a host of excellent reasons to take it—and only two reasons not to.” Liam pointed his finger at Austin and then Jay. “You and you. I could leave my home and this place without looking back, but you two… I love you too much to give you up.” He glanced down at the table, frowning, which gave Austin the chance to breathe, in and out, the dizziness increasing. He couldn’t process what Liam had said. His mind was telling him it was good news, but his body was locked into panic mode and he couldn’t break free.

“Austin, if you pass out when I’m being as romantic as it’s possible for me to get, I’ll give Jay every one of your spankings for the next month.”

Okay, that helped. Austin ducked his head just long enough to clear it and felt his heartbeat slow and then steady. Jay released his hand and put his arm around him in a hug that Austin leaned into, grateful for the support.

“So that’s, like, your way of telling us you mean it,” Jay said. “Because we do too—love you, I mean. And we’re serious about it.”

“I mean it,” Liam said. “I’m serious.”

“So are we.” Austin’s voice was unsteady, but he was determined. “We’re kind of—I mean, this is kind of—”

“Amazing,” Jay said.

“Well, give yourselves some time to get used to the idea, if that’s what you need to absorb how, er, amazing it is.” Liam was smiling, his gaze moving from Jay’s to Austin’s and back again. He turned his hands palm-up on the table, extending them. Without hesitating, Austin slipped his hand into Liam’s and saw Jay do the same. When Jay’s free hand found his, they were linked, a circle of three.

The two hands he held were both warm, both strong, but he could’ve told them apart in the dark, and not only because the feel of Jay’s was so familiar. The clasp of Liam’s hand was possessive, firm, and Austin closed his eyes for a moment, enjoying the sensation of being held safely.

“I’m not planning to move in or ask you to live with me anytime soon,” Liam said, a hint of apology in his voice. “The first is impractical—there’s just no space—and I don’t think the second option would work just at the moment for any of us.”

“It’d be kind of hard to explain to people,” Jay said with a flash of practicality. “Austin’s mom would freak, and if your kids come to visit and we’re living there calling you
Sir
and saying
ow
every time we sit down because you’ve spanked us or fucked us raw the night before…kinda awkward.”

Liam winced. “I wasn’t going to put it quite like that, but yes, I imagine it would be.”

“It
will
change things, though.” Austin wasn’t sure why he was insisting, but it felt like it
should
change their lives that they were in love. That was what love did.

Liam gave him an understanding look. “You want it to change things, don’t you? Well, I never took advantage of being able to date other people, though I appreciated that you were willing to agree to that at the time, but that’s out of the question now, if that helps.” He turned his wrist to glance at his watch without letting go of Jay’s hand, and he grimaced. “This is really the worst possible time for us to be having this conversation. I’ve got a nine o’clock meeting, and unless every light between here and my office is on green, I’m going to be late.”

“We can talk about it later. You should go,” Jay said. “It’s really important not to be late for work,” he added virtuously. “I keep telling Austin that.”

“Sir? If I begged you really nicely on my knees, would you spank him for me?” Austin asked, glaring at Jay.

“I’d spank him for all three of us,” Liam said. “And I’d enjoy it just as much as both of you. Speaking of which, I have a late conference call this evening, so I won’t be around, but what about tomorrow night at my place? Eight o’clock?”

Austin frowned. “Tomorrow’s Wednesday.”

“True,” Liam said. “But I thought we’d agreed that things are changing?” His eyes were alight with something Austin had never seen in them before, something that had Austin standing when Liam did and moving forward into his arms to kiss him. Liam’s mouth was warm; it tasted different from Jay’s, but no less sweet.

“Tomorrow night,” Jay agreed, and they both trailed after Liam to the door and watched as Liam hefted his bags and stepped out onto the landing.

Austin, overwhelmed, managed to speak Liam’s name. Liam turned, an eyebrow lifted, and Austin couldn’t choke out anything else. Instead he did what came so naturally. He sank onto his knees, hands behind his back, and looked at Liam with all the love and admiration and gratitude in his heart. Beside Liam, Jay was smiling like the sun coming out, bright and all-encompassing.

Austin Fisher was on his knees, and he’d never been happier.

Loose Id Titles by Jane Davitt & Alexa Snow

Accidentally in Love

Bound and Determined

Room at the Top

Truthful Change

The LAYING A GHOST Series

Laying a Ghost

Giving Up the Ghost

Waking the Dead

About the Authors

Jane Davitt

Jane Davitt is English, and has been living in Canada with her husband, two children, and two cats, since 1997. Writing and reading are her main occupations but if she ever had any spare time she might spend it gardening, walking, or doing cross stitch.

Jane has been writing since 2005 and wishes she'd started earlier. She is a huge fan of SF, fantasy, erotica, and mystery novels and has a tendency to get addicted to TV shows that get cancelled all too soon.

She owns over 4,000 books, rarely gives any away (but is happy to loan them), and is of the firm opinion that there is no such thing as 'too many books'.

Alexa Snow

Alexa Snow is an emotional person who appreciates practicality in others. She's prone to crying at inconvenient times, drinking too much coffee, and staying up too late playing with words (either reading or writing.) A background of schooling she wasn't all that interested in resulted in a Bachelor's degree in Sociology and a vague sense of wasted time. Alexa lives in a tiny, ancient house in New England with her husband, young son, and two little-old-lady cats.