Tying One On (4 page)

“Love you, too.”

Together, Ronan and Steve gazed down at Trista. She pumped Steve’s dick in one hand and used the other to assist her as she sucked on Ronan’s cock.

Ronan shivered. The taste of Steve’s kiss lingered on his lips. He needed to come. Sweet Jesus, he needed to come.

“Suck me into that pretty mouth,” Ronan grunted. “Oh fuck.” He pumped his hips and clutched a hank of her hair in his hand. At the same time, Steve pinched Ronan’s nipples, adding a new dimension of desire.

Steve growled. “Keep your hand on me.” He moved his torso in time with Ronan’s. “Gotta…come.” He doubled over and his seed spurted in a thick rope onto Trista’s shoulder. “Oh shit.”

Seeing his lover come apart was the last nudge Ronan needed to reach orgasm. He buried Trista’s nose in his pubic hairs and came. His sperm shot down her throat and he shuddered. He’d orgasmed hard plenty of times before, this time was different.

Ronan groaned. His now limp dick slipped from between her lips. He wobbled into the bedroom then sat down hard on the bed. He gasped for breath. “Damn.”

“Yeah, damn.” Steve climbed onto the mattress beside Ronan and planted a kiss on his lips. “We’ve got to do that so many more times.” He reached for Trista. “Join us?”

She sat on the floor at the foot of the bed and didn’t move. Didn’t she believe them? Didn’t she want to be with them? Did she want Chad instead? She hated Chad. Christ, he had too many irrational thoughts in his head. Ronan settled against Steve, finding solace in his lover’s warmth.

Trista shrugged then crawled into Steve’s embrace. She didn’t say a word as she cuddled to his side.

“One big, happy family.” Steve grasped Ronan’s hand and leaned against Trista. “Everything we want.”

The words sounded perfect. The concept suited Ronan, but He still felt uneasy. He pushed the doubt down deep in his gut. She wasn’t a prized horse they were buying. Trista was the other half of the love of his life. As soon as he came to terms with accepting what he wanted, he’d be fine. Perfect. But did he deserve perfect? He’d walked away from her. He’d broken her heart. He craved the both of them. He’d figure himself out—later.

Steve blew out a long breath. He and Ronan had plenty of sex, but the marathon session with Trista had him just about worn out—and they weren’t to the big show yet! He loved every moment of their time together. Hell, he loved both Trista and Ronan. He never thought he’d be able to think those words together. Trista should’ve been a faded memory and Ronan was about to become his husband. The threesome shouldn’t work out and yet it felt right.

Ronan disengaged from Trista and sat up. The bones in his back stuck out in the moonlight. He hunched over, both hands on his head then tugged his boxer shorts up past his hips. When he stood then left the room, Steve untangled from Trista and stepped into a pair of boxer shorts from the dresser. He followed his lover down the stairs and through the house to the main living space on the first floor.

“Hey you.” Steve eased up behind Ronan. “You left.”

“I did.” He placed his hands on Steve’s. “You know I love you, right?”

“Absolutely.” Steve rested his chin on Ronan’s shoulder. “And I love you.”

“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”

“What?” Steve let go of him and strode around Ronan. He didn’t understand Ronan. He’d heard the words and knew what they meant, but nothing made sense. They were good together. Adding Trista to the mix sweetened the dish. Besides, bringing her into their bed was Ronan’s idea.

“I’m…I’m not sure.” Ronan lowered his gaze.

“Not sure what’s not a good idea? Not sure you want to continue? What? You can’t leave me hanging like this and not say a Goddamned word.” Steve fought to keep his temper at bay. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m not sure we’ll get through this unscathed.” Ronan, his normally stoic man, bowed his head and clasped his hands.

“Unscathed?” Steve snapped. “This has to do with Trista, doesn’t it?” He hoped like hell she wouldn’t hear them talking. “You wanted to do this. You said we’d have a good time. You don’t waffle, but you sure are now. What the fuck is going on?” He never should’ve taken the heavy-handed approach, but shit. Ronan was the stronger of the two. “Explain everything.”

“Do we have to do this in our underwear?”

“Yes,” Steve growled. “We do.”

“Steve.”

“You’re not the one who waffles. That’s my job. If something is bothering you then we need to discuss it. I’m your partner, not your enemy. I care about you and need to know what the deal is.”

Ronan sat on the arm of the overstuffed chair. He rested his elbows on his knees and bowed his head. The moonlight through the picture window threw odd shadows across his body.

“She’s in love with you. Still,” Ronan said, finally.

“So? She loves you, too.”

“Not the same way she cares about you.” Ronan looked up at Steve. “I can tell. When Trista is around you, she glows. She’s radiant. When the three of us are together, you and she become this little team. She complements you and I end up being the third wheel.”

“Fifth wheel, and you’re not.” Steve stared at his boyfriend. Ronan’s gruffness made sense, though. He battled to include her when he wasn’t sure how he felt. He wanted to be with her but needed her to want him in the same way. Steve patted the cushion of the chair then sat. “Come here.”

“I’m already beside you.”

“There’s the Ronan I know and love.” He tapped his thighs. “Please?”

Ronan tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, then scooted onto Steve’s lap. He groaned. “I’m not weak, you know.”

“Never said you were.” He ensnared Ronan in his embrace. “You’re so strong. You make the decision and stick with it. If there’s fall-out, you deal with it. Don’t question, just do. I love that about you.”

“Steve.”

“Let me finish.” He pressed his cheek to Ronan’s shoulder. “Trista is one of those decisions that felt good at the time, but you’re not sure was right. Compound the situation with me and our collective friendship and you’re thrown for a loop.”

Ronan sighed. “Pretty much.”

He’d made a breakthrough by getting Ronan to admit the truth. His heart swelled with love for his man. “Makes me fall even harder for you.”

“Why?” Ronan shifted in his seat and stared at Steve. “This whole thing is making me wimpy. I can’t think straight and I keep debating my decisions. I hate feeling this way. I need order and I need to know the outcome.”

“No one knows the outcome. Trista might decide you and I are full of shit and walk out the door.”

“Or you’ll admit you love her.”

“Do I detect jealousy?”

“Yes.” Ronan jumped up from his seat. “I’m jealous. I haven’t seen that sparkle in your eye in a long time. She shows up and everything is wonderful. Nothing makes sense.” He wiped his face with his hands. “I’m scared you’re going to realize I’m a shit and leave. I want us to get married and be together forever, but I know I’m not the forever kind of guy. I push away everything I want. I don’t want you to go, but I feel like I’m showing you the door.”

“That’s not like you.” After five years together, Steve knew Ronan pretty well. Hearing him admit to his limitations shocked him. He stood and snagged Ronan in his embrace. “Is that what happened with Trista? You freaked out and shoved her away only to realize she was someone special?”

“She’s special and I’m bisexual. She needs a more stable man than me.”

“Which is why she’s got you
and
me.” Steve hated being the strong one, but if it meant building up the fragile parts of Ronan’s ego, he’d be everything his lover needed. “I’m not going anywhere. The wedding will happen. If there’s an addition, then fine. If Trista decides in the morning that she’s had her fill of us, then so be it. You’ve got me for the long haul.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Yeah, but I love you too much to quit.” Steve kissed along Ronan’s temple to his mouth by way of his stubble-covered cheek. “Tell Trista how you feel. Show her you still care about her and are willing to do what she needs for this threesome to work. You said so yourself, we’re better when we’re together. Show us.”

Steve didn’t say anything else in order to give his lover space. His pep talk could be the nudge Ronan needed or a shove in the wrong direction.

Ronan straightened and wrapped his hand around the base of Steve’s skull. He massaged the soft spot at the top of Steve’s neck. “You’re right.”

“About?” Steve toyed with the thin patch of hairs between Ronan’s pecs. He didn’t care about the scars or Ronan’s demons. He loved his man too much to let the little things get in their way. But he also needed to understand Ronan.

“Splitting with Trista was the right thing to do. She led me to you and you showed me being different is what I need. I kept telling myself that tying another one on and making our twosome a threesome was wrong. I was the one who was wrong.” Ronan nodded then kissed Steve on the lips. His eyes twinkled in the low light. “Let’s make our girl truly ours.”

There was the man he’d fallen in love with. Steve tugged lightly on Ronan’s chest hair. He’d follow his boyfriend anywhere—especially if Trista was involved. “Absolutely.”

Chapter Five

Trista counted the swirls on the ceiling. She’d heard every word between Ronan and Steve. Well, all of the words they’d said loud enough for anyone within a mile radius to hear. They weren’t sure about her. Ronan saw her as the other woman. Steve wanted them to form a permanent triad. Knowing she’d hurt Ronan’s feelings cut her to the marrow. She’d loved him even when he’d dumped her. Now she understood why he acted like an asshole. Was he still trying to protect her? Did she want him to? Chad wasn’t a great guy, but he wasn’t a threat. Hell, he was in the past.

The sound of their voices grew louder as the men headed back to the bedroom. She weighed her options. She could pretend she’d been asleep and hadn’t heard anything—except the knowledge would eat her alive. She could confront them and risk the friendship. But screwing around with them changed their platonic relationship to something more. She clutched the sheet.

“Guys, I get it. This was a one time—well, two-time thing.” She scooted to the side of the bed and covered her nude body with the sheet. “I’m okay with it. Really.”

“Tris—wait.” Steve stopped her.

His eyebrows knotted. She knew that look—the I’ve-got-to-let-her-down-easy look.

“It’s fine. Really.” She needed to find her clothes. Trista wriggled from his grasp and stood. “You two belong together. I’m the ex that should’ve taken the high road and left you alone.”

“No. You’re not.” Ronan snagged her in his embrace. He pinned her between his body and Steve’s legs. Instead of hiding or averting his gaze, he stared into her eyes. “I’m in love with Steve, yes. He and I are going to get married. It won’t be legal since Ohio doesn’t accept us yet, but we will. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to be left out.”

She shook her head. “I’m not going to marry you.” She wasn’t sure where that line of thinking came from. “I mean, I’m not going to be anyone’s beard.”

“Beard?” Ronan caged her in his arms and walked her to the bed. He didn’t sit, just pressed his body to her hip. “Trista, we want you to be our third. I’m shitty at explaining my feelings. Passion is a fucked up thing for me. I freak out when I tell someone the truth, especially when I know they won’t like it. Most people can’t handle my asshole attitude. You were different. I lied to you about who I was and proved I shouldn’t be trusted, but you did trust me. You and Steve made me realize I didn’t need to hide. I’m sure as hell going to do whatever it takes to keep you in our arms and away from a jerk like Chad. You’re ours.”

Trista toyed with his fingers. She wasn’t sure what to say. Their friendship happened because she couldn’t let go of the men she cared about. Hearing Ronan pour out his heart shocked her. He truly didn’t talk about his emotions. The more he talked, the more she cared about him.

“Being with Steve is good. The best. But we both knew something was missing.” Ronan squeezed her tight. “You.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, sweetheart.” Steve stood and eased up beside her on the other side. “You’re the glue holding us together.”

“I thought it was cum.” Okay, so that was a horrible joke, but what else could she say?

“That, too.” Ronan smiled and kissed her temple.

Her heart just about stopped. She missed seeing him happy. That was the Ronan she loved.

“I don’t understand what changed.” She draped one arm around each man. “Why now?”

“I needed to hear from Steve that he felt the same way about you as I do.” Ronan brushed her hair from her neck and nipped at her throat. “I needed him to say he loved me with or without you.”

“I do,” Steve murmured in her other ear.

“But we both love you. When Steve said we weren’t the same without you around, I understood. I regretted leaving you and doing so because I never felt what we had was finished. There was more than just a spark between us. With you both in my arms, the spark is a gigantic flame. I know this is crazy, but I’d like us to give this threesome a shot.”

Good thing they were standing. Her wobbly legs wouldn’t hold her up much longer. “But what about the wedding?”

“What about it?” Steve kissed her bare shoulder. “It’s a matter of how big the wedding party will be—two or three. I love you, Tris. I have since we dated. I love Ronan, too.”

Ronan slipped the sheet from her body and eased his fingers across her belly. “I’m head over heels for Steve and I want to explore the depths of my feelings for you.”

“You’re both crazy.” She moaned. “Very crazy.”

“About you,” Steve said. He sat on the bed and nuzzled her breast. “The horses, the ranch…it’s all not the same without you. We need you. I need you.”

“I need you, too,” Ronan said and turned her around. He sat beside Steve and rubbed his cheek on her other breast. “And right now, we want to make love to you.”

She knew exactly how she ended up in the middle, but she never expected her wildest dreams to come true twice in one night. Ronan snaked one hand between her thighs. He brushed his thumb across her clit.