Page 19 of Twice the Problems

Then he had been thrown in Quest’s path. The very thought of being told to seduce a man nearly sent him off a cliff, except Quest was unlike anyone Dodge had ever met. He was kind. It was beyond obvious he had never been chased so hard by another guy. The affection that grew between them felt a hell of a lot like something he had never had. Something pure. Quest didn’t take the bait in the way Dodge expected. He loved Dodge for real without the sex and games. It wouldhave been the straw that broke him for Quest to learn why Dodge had thrown himself at Quest. That was why he had been honest. Also, he had just needed help. He had known all the way to his soul that Quest would free him. Dodge didn’t know how to say no to his mom. She had too many ways to manipulate him. He had been right. Quest had freed him. But, sometimes, Dodge wondered if it cost Quest his soul. For a few years, Dodge wondered if that was why Quest didn’t love him the way he used to. Now Dodge realized it was him who stood between them. He had crawled inside his head and forgotten how to let anyone love him. Dodge had been set on ruining himself because he didn’tdeserve love. Salem was the same. He lived in his head, guiltily believing he wasn’t worthy of this beautiful relationship. The three of them so desperately needed one another. So again, Dodge had bared his soul to save someone. He needed to rescue Salem the way Quest had done for him.

The shaking in his stomach didn’t ease until they were nude under the blankets and holding each other. Salem scratched their heads. Dodge listened to him breathe.

“So how did dinner go?” Quest’s question had them suddenly laughing, wiping away the dark cloudhanging over them.

“Honestly, it was better than you’d think. I was seated next to Prince Noir and his husband. They salvaged the night by sweeping me away.”

“Yeah. JD liked Noir a lot. The feeling always looked mutual. Noir used to be kind of intimidating and scary to be around until he married Lazarus.”

“Now Lazarus is the terrifying one,” Dodge added, throwing in his two cents.

Salem chuckled. The sound warmed Dodge’s chest. A tangle of legs and feet played, making Dodge smile. He couldn’t stay quiet.

“I’ve been in love with both of you for a really long time. I honestly can’t imagine a life without you. Can we please stop with the push and pull? I don’t know about you two, but I’m exhausted. Life has made me tired. This is the only peace I have.” He lifted onto his elbow and held Salem’s stare. “When you told us to move our stuff in here, I thought we were finally settled. Now, there’s a niggle of fear scratching at the back of my brain again because it’s like we’re never completely established. It’s like I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop all the time and I hate it.”

Salem took a visibly deep breath before slowlyblowing it out. “I’m sorry I made you two feel as if you’re anything less than my entire world. Even though I really hate when people say it’s me, not you, it was me. Not you. I’m determined now, though, and I have a pretty strong spine, so you don’t have to worry. One way or another, I will make us work and we’ll be happy, because you two are all that holds me together. I won’t lose you.”

Quest kissed Salem’s cheek. “We believe in you.”

Love filled Dodge’s chest as he stared down at his beautiful men. His eyes stung. He couldn’t believe this was real. “I love you both so much.” Even he heard the way he struggled not to cry.

Two sets of gorgeous eyes focused on him, looking concerned. “I love you too.” The simultaneously spoken words of affection had Dodge struggling even harder. He had to stop before he fell apart. Unfortunately, he gasped for air and realized too late he was already too far gone. Quest and Salem sat up.

Salem eyed him, looking ready to jump in, however needed. “Tell me what to do.”

“Take a breath. You’re holding your breath.”

Dodge did as Quest demanded. His head cleared. Quest was a little more used to Dodge’spanic attacks than Salem. Still, they always made him feel dumb. A lot of things made him feel stupid, but his own body betraying him was a new level.

“Sorry.” He took a shaky breath. “You two should kiss or something to distract me.”

Quest and Salem exchanged a glance. Salem smirked. They looked his way and all thoughts of coming unglued vanished. He needed whatever they had planned for him.

Salem couldn’t explain what happened after his argument with Shaw.He hated when people shouted. Between Shaw’s anger, drunken state, and hateful words, Salem had broken. He had already been under the stress of feeling like he would lose Quest and Dodge any second. Having Shaw confirm his fears—that he was too cold to love—had just been the final straw. There was no way he could have anticipated Dodge and Quest’s reaction or confessions. While Salem had known JD married their mothers to have the sons he wanted, he hadn’t known how much he had saved them from. Salem should have, though. That was who JD had been. He rescued people who had no chance of saving themselves. Now, Salem felt atpeace in a way he couldn’t recall feeling. Even when he had gone to live with his grandfather, Salem had lived in constant fear of being sent back to his parents. The only time in his life he had felt secure was the three years before his first night with Quest and Dodge. That night had upended him and sent him spiraling. Once again, he had been that kid who knew nothing but fear and pain. Salem saw the truth now. That night changed nothing. Not really. They weren’t hiding any longer, but the love was untouchable. Unshakable. If anything, they were stronger.

The neediness in Dodge’s eyes called to him. So did the helplessness inQuest’s gaze. This was his comfort zone. He could be the glue that held everyone else together.

“Come here.” Salem drew them closer. He kissed each one, taking his time and showing his love. “Let’s go.”

Dodge and Quest looked confused as Salem climbed from the bed. Salem didn’t stop. He opened the French doors that led outside to their pool on the beach. Perfect landscaping gave them privacy, but the sound of crashing waves still drowned out all other sounds. He felt the guys’ stares upon him as he walked into the pool, nude and ready to play. The boys needed some fun. Being this serious all the time wasn’tlike them and couldn’t be good for their mental health. Two huge bodies cannon-balled into the water, soaking him. They both came up laughing while Salem fought to wipe the water from his eyes. The laughter that filled the air was like a healing balm on his heart. Dodge and Quest didn’t stop chasing and dunking him until he cried for mercy. Then he found himself sitting in the hot tub between them with someone’s hand on his dick and someone fingering his ass. Salem couldn’t say who did what because he was too busy jacking two cocks and fighting two tongues. They moved leisurely. There was no hurry. They had the rest of their lives. Salem couldn’t believe how quickly he went fromscared to sure of them. This was real. Always had been. They would grow old together, living and loving until they died. The whispered “I love yous” were as endless as they were breathless. When Salem came, he saw their entire beautiful future unfold before his eyes. He sent a prayer of thanks to JD in heaven. Salem knew who he owed for this flawless life. He never forgot it.

Chapter Seven

Thesmellofbaconand coffee had Shaw sitting up in an unfamiliar bed. He blinked at his surroundings until horror washed over him, along with last night’s memories. He covered his eyes. Horrified didn’t begin to cover how he felt. Embarrassed was in there a lot too. He had really shown out and poured his anger on the wrong person. Still, Salem had saved him from driving home.

He grabbed his phone to check the time. He had missed over half a dozen texts. Shaw opened his messages.

Joesph:As much as I know I’ll regret this, I shouldn’t have let you get in your car drunk. Let me know when you get home.

Joesph:Please don’t make me come check on you.

Joesph:It would be great if you’d just put me out of my misery.

Joesph:Really starting to worry.

Joesph:If this is some way to punish me, I get it, but fuck. This is just cruel. I’d never letyou worry like this.

Joesph:Damn it. I’m coming to check on you. You’d better stop me before I leave because God help you if I drive all the way across town and you’re fine.