Chapter 25

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WARD

WARD RACED about his apartment, patting his pockets as he went. Damn. Wallet! He went back to the bedroom and snatched his wallet off the nightstand, flipping it open to check the contents as he hurried to the front door.

The sight of the lube packet made him blush.

After not being able to have sex in February, Skylar had shown up to their next appointment with a handful of lube packets. He'd stuffed some into Ward's pockets and told him to hang onto them. Just in case. If they had another night when he was too sore for intercourse, Skylar said he'd insist that Ward use his ass instead. That he'd beg if he had to. The boy said he wanted Ward inside him, any way they could manage.

They hadn't needed the lube yet, but Ward still carried a packet with him. He considered taking it out. It wasn't like there was going to be any chance of sleeping with Skylar while the boy was in town with the Pratts, but something stopped him. Maybe some tiny shred of hope that, somehow, they could steal a few moments in private.

Though, with Charlie present, Ward wasn't sure how that was going to work.

Unless…

Ward bit off a curse and shoved the thought aside before it could take shape. Every time he'd gone to visit Charlie after being with Skylar, Ward had struggled with arousal. It didn't even matter if Skylar had wrung him utterly dry with two—or even three—mind-blowing orgasms. Having Charlie in his lap brought the need right back.

It hadn't been easy, trying to hide his erections while holding Charlie. In fact, he was pretty sure he'd failed. The boy had to have felt it, pressing against his backside as he sat, curled up in Ward's arms. Charlie hadn't said anything, though.

But hadn't there been a moment when Charlie got a little too quiet? A little too still? Ward wasn't sure if that meant Charlie liked it but was too embarrassed to say anything. Or maybe Charlie didn't like it?

Yet the boy hadn't pulled away.

“Geez,” Ward muttered, scrubbing a hand over his face. He looked down at his wallet again. It was getting far too easy to picture needing that little packet of lube. To picture having Charlie in his arms, but without any clothes on.

Even better if Skylar was with them, too.

Ward blew out a heavy breath. What he should do was leave the packet behind and not get his hopes up. Instead, he left it where it was and stuffed the wallet into the back pocket of his jeans. He pulled on his boots, then straightened up and took a slow, deep breath. It would be hours before he got to see the boys, and he had work to do in the meantime. He needed to focus.

Ward grabbed his keys, locked his apartment, and got into his truck. He turned north on Spring Street and followed it up to 24 th , then headed over to the fairgrounds. The large property at 24 th and Riverside featured the California Mid-State Fair every summer, but it also hosted the Paso Robles Wine Festival's Grand Tasting each year. Ward parked his truck, entered the facility through the vendor entrance, then went to find John.

The man was already there, of course. Ward jumped in and helped with the final setup of their tent, putting out display bottles, brochures, and business cards.

They were in the midst of it when Theo, their tasting room manager, arrived to help. The man had the swagger of recent sex written all over him. So did John, for that matter.

How Ward envied them! And not just for the sex. Both men were in strong, committed relationships: John with Adam, and Theo with his boy, Haven. Then of course there was their boss, Everett, who was married to Morgan. Not to mention Everett's brother and his men, plus the foursome over at Living in Zin. Ward shook his head. So many happy relationships all around him. He wanted one for himself more than anything.

But he had to put those thoughts aside as the crowds descended upon them.

Theirs was a popular winery, so the three of them were busy all day, pouring wine and answering questions. Ward saw a lot of strangers—their town really was growing, besides all the people who had come to stay just for this event—but he also saw plenty of friends, acquaintances, and fellows in the industry. They mingled and chatted with other winemakers, vineyard owners, and the people who ran the warehouse that distributed many of the local wines. The constant flow of bodies left no room for anything else.

Until a familiar voice cut through all the other noise.

“Ward?”

Ward looked up and nearly dropped the bottle he held. He caught it just in time, taking a moment to make sure he hadn't spilled anything on himself, then looked again. Oh shit . “Kelly,” he gasped.

He hadn't seen her in months. Not since before Vaughn mentioned her coming into the shop back in December. And the last time had been just a glimpse at a distance, the two of them catching one another's glance before quickly turning away and heading in opposite directions.

Kelly tucked a lock of brown hair behind her ear. She blushed and tipped her head down, then looked up at Ward from under her eyelashes. “Hi,” she said breathlessly.

“Hi,” Ward automatically replied.

Kelly shifted her stance. “I wasn't sure whether to come over here or not.” She paused. “It's been a while.”

“Yeah.”

Kelly eyed him expectantly, like she was waiting for Ward to say something. After a moment, she shook her head and smiled. “You look good.”

“So do you,” Ward replied. It was the truth, after all. Kelly was a beautiful woman, with a heart-shaped face and her feminine, willowy figure. There was a time when that summer dress would have had Ward hustling her away from the crowds so they could be alone. But as he stood there, taking in the sight of her, he realized what he felt.

Nothing.

No attraction. No desire. Even the pain of her betrayal was muted, buried under something much stronger. Much more powerful.

Geez . He was so completely head-over-heels for two beautiful boys, the feeling simply eclipsed everything else.

That in itself was cause for concern, especially with Kelly right in front of him, a startling reminder of the past. Every time he'd started to give his heart to someone, he'd had it broken.

“I…uh,” Kelly went on, interrupting his thoughts. “I've been meaning to call you.” She paused. “Did Vaughn tell you I'd asked about you?”

“He did.”

Kelly studied his eyes for a moment, then gave a slow nod. “But you didn't call me,” she said, almost sounding like she was talking to herself. “I guess I shouldn't be surprised.”

No shit . She'd left him at the altar, after all. Why would he want to set himself up for that kind of heartbreak again?

Although, wasn't he doing that now? Letting himself get caught up in his attraction to Skylar and Charlie? Ward wasn't sure he could make himself walk away from all that temptation, though.

After a moment of silence, Kelly said, “I wish…” She trailed off, then shook her head. Just as she opened her mouth to say something else, someone called her name.

“Kelly! Over here. Come see this.”

Kelly waved at the person—one of her long-time girlfriends, it looked like—then turned back to Ward. She gave him a shy smile. “It was good seeing you.”

Ward managed a nod in response.

Kelly waited for a moment, then shook her head again and walked away.

Ward watched her go, wondering what she'd expected of him. It was like she'd been waiting for him to say something. But what? When he lost sight of her in the crowd, he shook off the thought. It didn't matter. Kelly was his past.

But did he have a chance for a future? Not with Kelly, of course. But with someone else? Maybe even two someones? Did he even dare consider it, let alone hope for it?

Ward kept that thought in the back of his mind as he finished out the afternoon, helping John and Theo tend to all the festival-goers who stopped by their tent. When the Grand Tasting ended, they quickly got everything torn down and returned to the winery. With that done, Ward had just enough time to get back across town and all the way out to Living in Zin.

Tomorrow, Beau and his men would be hosting their annual End of Wine Fest barbecue, to which Ward was invited. But he'd also been asked to join them for dinner that night. It meant another chance to see the boys. He couldn't pass that up.

Ward found the parking lot nearly full when he arrived. Geez . Just how big was this dinner? He let himself into the house and found a crowd of people all spread out through the sitting room and the tasting room beyond. Not as many people as the party last year, but it was close.

He spotted Skylar almost right away. The boy was impossible to miss. Skylar sat at the piano, playing quietly, a soft, almost sad smile on his face.

Ward looked for Charlie, but there was no sign of the boy anywhere.

So he headed straight for the piano.

Skylar idly glanced around as he played. He spotted Ward and gave a start, missing a note. It was obvious even to Ward's untrained ears. But the boy picked right back up and kept playing, staring up at Ward with restrained hunger all over his face.

“Hey,” Ward murmured. His heart thumped wildly in his chest. Fuck . Weeks between visits with the boy was far too long. It took everything Ward had to keep his hands to himself. All he wanted was to drag Skylar upstairs and lock them away in a room, forgetting the world for a while.

And Charlie, too .

“What are you playing?” he blurted out. The piece was beautiful, but somehow achingly sad.

Skylar paused, a look coming over his face like he hadn't even realized what he was playing. “Uh, it's 'Two Beds and a Coffee Machine' by Savage Garden.”

Ward shook his head. He'd never heard of that one. “Where's Charlie?”

“Upstairs,” Skylar replied as he transitioned to a new piece, this one noticeably more cheerful. He managed to quickly wave a hand without really interrupting whatever he was playing. “This dinner kind of exploded. It was apparently supposed to just be Beau and his men, plus the Pratts and Beau's parents. But then Ryder's family got invited to join, and some more of Beau's extended family.” He paused, dancing his fingers across the keys. “Charlie needed a break. Especially because tomorrow is going to be worse.”

“Ah.” Poor boy . Ward glanced upward, itching to hold Charlie, to help quiet the noise.

“You could take him a drink,” Skylar suggested.

“Charlie drinks?”

“On occasion. He doesn't always like the way it makes him feel, but sometimes it helps him relax.”

Ward shrugged. He supposed Skylar would know best, considering how long the two boys had been friends. “Be right back.” He headed for the bar and shook hands with Beau.

“I am so glad that you could join us,” the Frenchman said with a beaming smile. He paused, eyeing Ward. “Sauvignon blanc?”

“Yeah. How'd you know?”

Beau grinned and whisked down a bottle in response. He poured a glass for Ward, then grabbed a bottle of the Vista Robles grenache. “For your boy there,” he said, nodding towards Skylar.

Ward felt himself blush. He nearly argued that Skylar wasn't his boy—despite how much he wanted that very thing—but the bottle reminded him of the first appointment he'd had with Skylar. Of the story Skylar had made up about how they met. “Why the grenache?”

“It is his drink,” Beau replied. “I know these things.”

Ward glanced at Skylar. “And what about Charlie?”

Beau chuckled. “Charlie is a prosecco.”

Ward thought about that, then barked out a laugh. The sparkling, bubbly wine made Ward think of Charlie's innocent joy, his bouncing exuberance, even his dry literalness. “Yeah, I can see that.”

“Here.” Beau poured a glass of prosecco and pushed it across the counter, next to Skylar's grenache. “Why not take that up to him and check on the boy while you are at it, non ?”

Ward felt himself blushing again, but he took the glasses all the same. How could he deny himself a chance to see the boy?

Once Skylar finished the piece he was playing, Ward handed over his grenache. “You wanna come check on Charlie with me?”

Skylar ducked his head and sipped his wine, looking like he was buying himself a moment. But why? Ward was about to ask when Skylar looked up and said, “Okay. Yeah.” The boy stepped away from the piano and headed for the foyer.

Ward's heart rate picked up when they reached the stairs, remembering the way the two of them had collided right there back in December. Skylar must have been thinking the same thing. The boy paused there, just long enough to give Ward a heated look, before he turned away and began to climb.

They headed down the hallway, passing doors to either side. A sign graced each one, naming the rooms. Cabernet. Moscato. Pinot. They stopped at a door labeled Viognier . Skylar pulled out a key and slipped it into the lock, but he knocked before turning it.

“Charlie?” Skylar called. “I'm coming in.” He turned the key. “Ward's here, too.”

Footsteps raced across the room.

Skylar waited another second before he turned the handle and opened the door.

There stood Charlie, rocking on his feet, glancing from Skylar to Ward and back. He let out a little whine, rocking faster.

“Here,” Skylar said. He stepped just inside the room, set down his wine glass, and took off his shoes.

Ward quickly followed suit. He set his boots next to the wall, then moved aside so they could shut the door.

The soft sound of the latch clicking into place was suddenly loud in the otherwise silent room.

Ward let out a shuddering breath, looking at the gorgeous boys in front of him, realizing the three of them were alone. Locked away from the world. Both Skylar and Charlie looked at him with open hunger on their faces.

Oh hell . Ward had a feeling something was about to explode.