Page 8 of Twice the Problems

He sounded so adorably confused and hurt. Quest chuckled. “They’re tears of happiness.” He kissed Dodge’s neck, trying to hide his expression. Quest was horrified. He hadn’t realized he was crying. Quest was supposed to be the older one. The stronger one. He rocked against Dodge again. Quest had to distract him. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed this.” He kept up the pace, savoring the friction. “You have no idea how many women I’ve chosen, only because I knew you’d share them with me. Just so I could be closer to you. You and Salem are my whole fucking world. I just haven’t known how to make you two see me.”

Dodge grabbed his hair again, forcing Quest to hold his stare as he lifted his hips and did his part to drive Quest crazy. He never looked away. Quest’s stomach muscles clenched. He was turned on and invested. Quest needed this. “I see you. It’s me I’ve never been able to look at too closely.”

Damn. That crushed Quest. He had known that, but he had been too scared of his own feelings and losing what they had built in this house to give Dodge what he needed. “I see you just fine and I promise you all there is to look at is pure beauty. Not just on the outside. Inside, where it matters, you’re so fucking stunning. You leave mespeechless. Always have.”

Using his strength against Quest, Dodge rolled. Dodge held their erections together and stroked. He kissed Quest like he wanted to consume him. Quest’s lust won. All talks of their past and relationship ended. Quest writhed against Dodge’s touch, riding his palm while savoring the way their erections felt against each other. There was so much love in his heart. Sometimes it had nowhere to go. His body wound tighter. Quest’s breathing turned more ragged. He fought his way toward the pleasure Dodge offered. Dodge didn’t tease. He worked and used Quest’s body like he couldn’t spit cum on him fast enough. His kiss showed a hunger that matched the way Quest starved.

Dodge cried out against Quest’s lips.

Quest lost his breath as the show of Dodge’s orgasm took him out. His body jerked when Dodge’s hot cum spilled over his crown. Then there was nothing but the ecstasy of pulsations that had him fucking Dodge’s hand, refusing to miss a single wave. This was love. Always had been. How could Salem resist them now that they knew exactly what they sought? They would be so fucking flawless.

Chapter Four

WhenSalemhadshownup at Tarek’s door before his scheduled lunch date with Shaw, he hadn’t known what he sought exactly. After two glasses of wine, his shoulders relaxed, but his tongue refused. Salem never knew how to talk about the things that mattered to him. He could be there for anyone and everyone else, but he had no idea how to be weak enough to be vulnerable.

“So… date number two with Shaw. That must be a record for you since JD passed. Sounds like you might actually like someone.”

Salem nodded. He started to say Shaw was stimulating. That wasn’t what happened. “Actually, I kind of ended up getting spit-roasted by Quest and Dodge last night. Then I had sex with Dodge in the shower this morning.” The confession burst from him, so deadpan and lifeless, that Tarek laughed.

A second passed and Tarek’s laughter died. “Wait. You’re serious.”

“Unfortunately.”

Tarek’s brow furrowed. “Why unfortunately? They’re both gorgeous, and the three of you have an amazing relationship.”

Salem tried to soften his tone so he didn’t sound like a lifeless robot. He couldn’t. “They’re JD’s sons.”

“Stepsons,” Tarek reminded him with a huff. “Former stepsons, at that. By two different wives. Both of which he was no longer married to by his death, obviously. All of that you know better than anyone, so be for real. Why are you upset?”

Fuck. Tarek knew he was upset. Salem had to fix that. He forced his shoulders torelax. “The three of us live together. They’re my people. Introducing sex can only destroy what we’ve built. But I can’t un-ring that bell, so I don’t know.”

Tarek blinked. “Did you actually come to me for advice? There’s no way Salem Rochester doesn’t know how to take control of a situation.”

Salem relaxed for real. Tarek was right. He would never give up enough control to anyone for this situation to be anything but handled. “You’re right. Thank you.”

Tarek blinked again and then again, obviously confused as hell. “I mean, okay. You’re welcome, I guess.”

Salem’s gaze moved over Tarek’s stylishly mussed dark hair and darkly lined eyes. He truly was a beauty. It had been easy to position Tarek into a comfortable life with an older man who worshiped the ground he walked on. He was Salem’s friend. Salem loved him. Tarek knew him almost as well as Quest and Dodge. If Tarek thought he could iron will his way out of this situation, then Salem could. This was why he had come here. His subconscious had known what to do and where to go.

Salem breathed easier. “Tell me about your life.”

Another loud laugh burst from Tarek. “Um.Okay. If you absolutely refuse to give me every juicy detail about last night, then I guess I don’t have a choice. Portland is making noises about early retirement and us enjoying a quiet life.”

“How do you feel about that?” Salem had to focus on someone else.

“Whatever makes him happy makes me happy. Seriously, Salem. You can talk to me about things.”

Salem nodded. “All right. I’ve already accepted a third date with Shaw.”

Tarek huffed. “I know. He called me after your coffee date the other day. How do Dodge and Quest feel about last night? Do they think this issomething casual everyone can forget happened?”

“It’s a society dinner.”

That seemed to distract Tarek from Salem’s bad decisions. “Wait. Really? You’re stepping foot back into society? Shaw didn’t tell me that.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t realize how against the community of arrogant bastards I am, but yes. It seems I’m stepping back into the vipers’ nest. Better that firing squad than the one at home.”

“Wow.” Tarek sat back, sinking into his expensive and comfy couch. He took a sip of wine whilestaring into space. “Wow,” he repeated after a moment. “That’s…”