Page 4 of Twice the Problems

“We’re all together.”

“Mmm. Goddamn. I’d buy a ticket to that show.”

He was about to get one. Dodge already steered them toward the dance floor and they fully intended to open Salem’s eyes and toy with his lust. The moment the music engulfed him, and they had Salem between them, it was as if everyone else vanished. Quest’s hips moved to the music. He held Salem’s waist. His thumbs found their way beneath his shirt, caressing the bare skin above the waistband of his pants. With his back braced against Dodge’s chest, Salem’s gaze never wavered from holding Quest’s stare. Dodge had his forearm across Salem’s sternum and his nose buried against the side of Salem’s neck. Smell was one of Dodge’sweaknesses. Touch was Quest’s, and Salem felt damn good beneath his hands, moving to the music.

Even in the low lighting, Quest saw the desire etching Salem’s every line. Maybe he would never admit it, even to himself, but Salem wanted them. Time slipped away as their bodies moved together. Then the music slowed and the space between them ceased to exist. Dodge and Quest kept Salem pinned between them. The loud music didn’t hide the way their breathing got more ragged by the second.

Quest touched his mouth to Salem’s ear. “See? Straight club. Gay club. It doesn’t matter where we go. It’llalways just be us. Are you ready to go home?”

He felt Salem nod.

Quest grabbed Salem’s hand and headed for the door. He dodged men without looking their way and played deaf all the way to the truck. Quest wasn’t joking. All hours of the day. Seven days a week. It was only the three of them. Salem had never asked why Quest drank so much or why Dodge continually got high. They had spent three years in hell, trying to find their footing while simultaneously knowing exactly where they were meant to be. It was frustrating and draining. Salem had the hardest shell ofanyone he had ever met. The time had come, though. Dodge’s patience was gone. Salem had to face the truth. It had always been them.

Salem couldn’t breathe. He needed space. The way Quest had stared at him on that dance floor and the way Dodge’s lips had kept skimming his neck. Damn. It was like ants crawled all over his skin, driving him crazy with the need to act. He just hadn’t decided what that action would be quite yet, but he knew damn well it would blow his life to pieces.

The ride home was made in silence. He might have run for the safety of his bedroom, if Dodge hadn’t started talking and acting as if nothing happened.

“Get your pajamas on and meet us in Quest’s room. It’s time to play Two Dares.”

“Oh, Jesus. Should I ask?”

Quest looked his way. A too-satisfied smile stretched his lips. “Probably, but you’re playing nonetheless. It’s our latest release.”

Fuck. Salem couldn’t say no. One reason the pair of stepsons had never left each other was they worked together. They createdcard games that were hugely successful. Most people thought they just partied on their inheritance. Truthfully, they had made a fortune by simply brainstorming together nonstop. They created various party games, drinking games, and even a few family-friendly ones. Two Dares didn’t sound like kids should be playing. Quest was right, though. No matter how badly Salem wanted to run, he wouldn’t. He would support his boys through every venture. They meant too much to him for him to ever let them down. If that meant gritting his teeth through their substantial charms, that was what he would do. Tomorrow, he would find a way to distance himself. Maybe he shouldjust fuck the sexy lawyer. That was all this was. He had gone too long without someone warming his bed. Now he desperately wanted to set his life on fire.

“All right. Give me a few.”

“Don’t take long. I’ll come after you. You’ll end up over my shoulder.”

“And across my lap,” Quest added to Dodge’s threat. His words were almost too quiet to understand.

Salem wasn’t sure if he hoped he’d heard correctly or not. Either way, he hurried to the safety of his bedroom and quickly found a pair of soft pajama pants and a T-shirt. Dodge one hundred percent would barge in and throw Salem over his shoulderif he didn’t get there as fast as Dodge expected. And Quest… well, Salem didn’t know about his warning.

Salem had to climb the stairs to the second floor of their three-story beach home to get to Quest’s bedroom. While JD had been a spry ninety, he still needed a main-floor master. Light flooded into the darkened hallway from Quest’s open bedroom door. He peeked inside. Dodge was on his side, wearing workout shorts and a tank top with armholes so wide, they showed off his chest. Quest sat on the other side of a box of cards on the bed. He was dressed the same. Salem ambled inside. Two headsturned his way. One blond and the other dark. Both had amazing eyes. Salem’s stomach quivered. Tonight wasn’t a good night for this. Then they smiled, equally excited to see him, and they became his puppies again. His favorite humans. Salem’s shoulders relaxed.

He climbed on the bed. “So, how does this work?”

Quest passed him a bottle of wine. “First, drink.”

Salem turned the bottle up and took a swig before passing it back. “That’s not good. Sounds like you think I’ll need fortification.”

Dodge laughed.

Quest set the bottle on the bedside table. “Nah. You just look like you need to loosen up a hair to enjoy yourself.”

Dodge spoke up. “For the game, you just draw a card and read aloud the two options. You have to do one. After you do, you put the card at the back of the deck. If you choose to do neither, you keep the card. The first person to keep three cards is out. So on and so forth until one player is left standing.”

That didn’t sound terrible. “Okay. Who goes first?”

“Whoever is oldest goes first.Then clockwise.”

As Quest answered, he drew a card. Technically, he was only three days older than Salem, but technical was what mattered in games. He read the card he held. “Take off your shirt and bra, if applicable, or ask the person on your left to describe their underwear.” Quest peeled off his shirt and tossed it on the floor.

Salem nearly groaned. Maybe this would be hell.

Dodge snickered. “It said ask. I didn’t have to tell you to meet the perimeter.”

Quest shrugged and put the card back. His expression stayed serious. “I already knowyou’re not wearing underwear. You never do. No need to go there.”