Chapter Fourteen | Owen

The definition of slow was happening in the office today. I'd received a few calls first thing in the morning from people curious for me to value their homes before they decided if they'd like to sell them. After that—crickets. I was even missing Chad's practical jokes; I was so bored.

He'd kept his promise and stopped pranking me.

I tipped my chair back and called Ethan. It was the time of day he was usually in his office.

"Hey, how's your life churning today?" he answered.

"My day is churning into a bust."

"You've hit a dry spell?"

"Typical for February."

"Hey, Valentine's Day is coming up next week. Are you celebrating this year?"

I sighed. "I don't know. It falls on a Tuesday. Maybe Skylar has something planned for when he's back in town. I'm not sure. I feel strange asking."

I hadn't told Ethan the latest news yet. It's one of the reasons I was phoning him.

"Skylar told me he's in love with me."

Ethan emitted a quick gasp. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

"You're in love … the two of you."

"That would be how that works, yes."

"I don't get it. What happens now?"

"We enjoy each other. He's asked me to be his boyfriend."

"That sounds like you're in high school. "

I grunted. "You've all been there. Don't start in on me."

"Fine." Ethan paused. "I'm happy for you, Owen. You've spent your adult life looking for love and now you've found it. A bit unconventional but a loving partner nonetheless."

"I have other news." I chewed on my bottom lip. Ethan wasn't going to be as accepting of where Chad and I might be going. "Guess who I hung out with on Monday night?"

"You're going to make me guess? Then I'm guessing the queen."

I chuckled. "No, I hung out with Chad. We worked on my car together. I went out for dinner with him as well. We have more to talk about than I thought possible."

"Yeah, Noah told me he saw the two of you at the pub together."

"Skylar wants us to get along. Maybe more than get along."

"I'm sorry … what? He wants you to bang his husband?"

I frowned. "No, that's not it. He's thinking we'd make our relationship about more than sex."

"Let me get this right. He wants Chad to be your boyfriend too."

"Ultimately, I guess so."

"And how do you feel about that?"

I took a second because I wasn't entirely sure. "I think I'm open to it."

"Wow, you have strayed off the uptight, I want a husband rails."

"It all feels good so far. I'm happier than I've ever been in my life."

"Then I won't harass you. Enjoy whatever it is that you're doing but try not to get hurt. This all sounds like a recipe for disaster. I'd hate to see them couple off and leave you in the dirt."

"Skylar loves me. He wouldn't do that to me. "

"Are you sure? Tell me … does he love you as much as he loves his husband?"

My chest tightened. Ethan was right. We were newly in love. Skylar's feelings for me probably weren't anywhere near what he felt for Chad. "No, I can't see that he would."

"Well, I'm glad you're able to be realistic about your relationship with Skylar."

"I love him so much."

"And I love seeing you in love, but please try not to get any fanciful ideas about where your relationship is going. He's a married man. Dating his husband isn't going to make him any less married. It doesn't sound like you're headed for your white picket fence and two-point-five kids."

"Like you said, I'm being realistic. I'm going to soak in every minute Skylar can give me. I'm content with the two nights he spends with me. And the full day we enjoy together."

"As long as you're happy, I'm happy."

"Speaking of happy, I've been enjoying sketching, but I'm looking to do something more creative. Maybe with a bit of colour. I'd spray paint the side of a building if it wasn't illegal."

"What about the youth centre?"

I straightened up. "What do you mean? I'm not looking to run classes."

"No, I was thinking the walls in the hallways. They're plain old beige right now."

"Murals?" That was a really good idea.

"You could brighten the place up for the kids."

I nodded my head. "I like this idea. I'll phone Jamal and see what he thinks."

"Excellent. I'm excited."

I looked at the time on my computer. Ethan was just about to get his afternoon rush.

"You need to go," I said .

"Yeah, we're about to be inundated with parents getting their caffeine fix before they have to pick their kids up from school. I'll see you on Saturday night."

"Yup. See you then."

I closed the call and immediately phoned the youth centre.

"Rainbow Youth Centre. How may I help you?"

"Hey, Jamal, it's Owen."

"You looking to donate more money?" Jamal laughed. He wasn't serious about cold canvassing me for money. "The kids love that fun bedding."

"No, no money, but I have an idea I think the kids will get a kick out of."

"Pitch it to me."

"I want to paint murals in some of the hallways. I was thinking we could get the kids to come up with themes and maybe some image ideas. I'd take those and create full murals."

"Oh, my god … I love this idea. I didn't know you were artistic."

"I usually sketch nude men but I'm capable of expanding my repertoire. Ethan and I did art classes in high school. I was even featured at a local art gallery."

"You've talked to Ethan about it?"

"It was his idea."

"Then I'm going to trust him as a reference for your work. When should we start?"

"Have the kids start now. Once they're done, I'll draw up what I'll use to do the murals."

"This is exciting. I'll pick out which walls we want done. I'm thinking four of them. Is that too many for you to work on? We don't have to do that many."

"No, I can manage that. Just might take me a while with work and everything."

"Okay. I'll get the kids started. "

"Check in with me when they're done."

"Will do. Thank you, Owen. I really appreciate this."

"You're more than welcome. Talk soon."

I felt good after I ended the call. This project would stretch my artistic muscles. I hadn't played with paint since I was a teenager, but I remembered the basics when it came to murals. Ethan and I had created and painted a few at the school for the gymnasium.

I lifted my cup. I was out of coffee.

In the breakroom, I found Chad hovering near the coffee pot as it brewed a new pot. I nudged his shoulder with mine, prompting him to turn and smile at me.

"How's your day going?" he asked. "I'm about ready to leap off a cliff out of sheer boredom."

"Same."

"I nearly chewed off my arm, staving off my desire to prank you."

"I appreciate that you've backed off."

"Funny what love does."

Agreed.

I was considering dating my boyfriend's husband. I was yet to come to any decision about it. Spending those hours working on my car with Chad had been unexpectedly pleasant. There were a few times while we were crowded against one another that sparks had been flying.

We'd both chosen to ignore them. I was thankful for that.

I needed more time to think.

I also needed to see Chad again. "Are you busy tonight?"

"Nope. I'd planned a sad night of watching movies by myself."

"Do you want to come over? Work on the car then soak in the hot tub."

"That sounds perfect."

"Come over after dinner whenever you're ready. "

"Thanks." Chad's brown eyes studied my face, then he poured himself a cup of coffee. I felt a little shaky as he brushed past me and left the break room. I wasn't sure how long I could survive without touching him again. His lips on mine had been haunting my dreams.

Chad made his way to my place after I'd cleaned up my dinner dishes. I was in the garage when he arrived, pulling apart the carburetor for the Mustang. "Hey, can you do this? I have some wiring I was working on in the dash I'd like to get back to."

He removed his coat. He was wearing a tight white t-shirt that was very distracting. I admired a muscular man and Chad was all muscle. Broad chest and pumped-up biceps. Lean abs and hips. Thick thighs. And his ass. Don't even get me started on that. I wanted to take a bite out of it.

His jeans were hugging him in all the right places. And whatever he was hiding behind his fly looked ample and worthy of further attention. I had to tear my gaze away.

Chad caught me staring. He winked at me.

Jeezus.

I was actually considering dating Chad.

We only worked on my car for a couple of hours before we decided it was time to move to the hot tub. Chad had brought board shorts which I appreciated. No need to play with fire by leaping into the hot water in the nude. Even this state of undress was going to tempt me.

After changing and grabbing a couple of towels, we made our way outside and eased ourselves into the tub. Chad sat across from me, groaning with pleasure as the heat seeped into his bones.

"This was a good idea," he said. "Skylar and I need one of these. "

Chad was the first to mention Skylar. It felt as though that indicated he was a safe topic. I wanted to hear a few things from Chad's perspective. "How did you and Skylar meet?"

His eyebrows rose. "Um … we met on a gay dating app when he was at a pharmaceutical conference in Calgary. He was looking for a hookup to pass the time."

"Did you know right away … that there was more?"

"From the instant I saw him. My heart wouldn't calm down. He embodied everything I didn't know I was looking for in a man. The sex was amazing. The conversation even better. He has a way about him … that I'm sure you know about. He made me feel secure."

"I know that feeling."

Chad floated toward me. "I want you to know, I'm glad you found one another. I really am. And that you're in love. You've been good for Skylar."

The gorgeous man in my hot tub drifted closer. He placed his hands on my shoulders and dragged his legs forward and under him. And straddled my lap. He settled his ass on my thighs.

He stroked my cheek with his fingers. "I can't seem to stay away from you."

Against any kind of better judgement, I wrapped my arms around his waist and rested my hands on his ass. It was firm and round and fit perfectly in my palms.

"Can I kiss you again?" Chad whispered.

I simply nodded then shut my eyes, moaning as he closed his lips over mine. Our intimate need for one another didn't feel the least bit strange. I brushed my hands up his spine then fanned them out, finding his shoulder blades, and pulled him tighter to me.

He shifted closer. His cock was hard beneath his shorts and prodded my stomach. I groaned and deepened the kiss. His lips—his tongue … he was exquisite .

One hand on my face, his other wandered down my body. He palmed my stiff dick and used the heel of his hand to caress it while cupping my balls. I slipped my hands down his back and tucked them into the back of his shorts, staying in contact with his skin.

I clutched his ass cheeks and squeezed, then Chad moaned some kind of obscenity as I drifted and found his hole with my finger. He panted against my lips. "Maybe we should stop."

I retreated from his ass. I wasn't prepared to go further either.

"We've confirmed a truth," I said. "The attraction is there between us."

Chad laughed and climbed off my lap. The removal of his touch from my cock brought on a deep longing. The idea of having sex with Chad brought me intense pleasure.

No guilt.

Just pure pleasure.

"That's an understatement," he said.

I couldn't stop myself. I dragged my fingers along Chad's bottom lip. It was so soft and so damned kissable. "Maybe we should call it a night."

"Yeah, I like to be in bed by 9:30. And you're far too tempting."

I leaned in and stole another kiss. Chad raked his hand into my hair and crushed the hell out of my lips. His tongue made a full sweep and tangled with mine, fighting for dominance.

We were both breathing hard when we parted.

"I'm going to go." Chad lifted himself out of the hot tub. "I'll see myself out. Less dangerous that way. You stay here." He winked at me. "We'll do this again soon?"

"I'll let you know." I couldn't give him any more than that.

Not without talking to Skylar first .

My opportunity came on Thursday morning when Skylar showed up at my door laden with twelve long-stemmed red roses. No one had ever done that for me before. He'd been delayed coming back to Victoria. Two cancelled flights. A night spent sitting in the Calgary airport.

And yet, he'd taken the time to buy me flowers.

"I don't know what to say," I said as I took them. "These are beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you." Skylar wrapped an arm around my waist. "Happy Valentine's Day."

I grinned at him. "I suppose you're looking for a kiss."

He grabbed my ass. "I'm looking for much more than a kiss."

I waggled my eyebrows at him. "That door is always open."

Skylar laughed. "Are you referring to your ass as a door?"

"I certainly enjoy it when you come and go through it."

"Cheeky." He did his best not to crush the flowers as he kissed me. My heart nearly tore itself free of my chest to infuse itself into Skylar. My heart was entirely his.

He swung me free of his lips. "You're trying to distract me. I was hoping we could have breakfast together before we begin entertaining ourselves in the bedroom. Unless you have something you need to discuss. We can start there if you have something on your mind."

Of course, Chad had already told him, but I had things I needed to work through after our make-out session in the hot tub. I needed Skylar's opinion about what I was feeling.

I led him into the living room.

"I'm anxious about bringing up the kiss Chad and I shared a few nights ago."

"I was told it was more than a kiss."

"Okay. Kissing and groping."

"And you both decided to stop. Why did you do that? "

Why?

That was easy. "Your and my love is still so new. I want to enjoy you without adding any extra complications. I don't think I'm ready to start dating Chad."

"How did making out with him make you feel?"

"Besides horny? I felt an emotional connection with him."

"And you don't want to explore that?"

"I never said that. I'm just not sure this is the right time."

"When would be the right time?"

My phone rang. It was a client. "I need to take this." I wandered toward the office as I answered the call. They were prepared to make an offer on a house I'd shown them last week. I gathered up the papers I would need, put them in my leather briefcase, and returned to the living room.

"I have to go," I said. "Will you be all right here on your own for a couple of hours?"

"I'm dying for a shower and a nap. I'll be fine." He opened his arms, and I wandered into them. I nuzzled his neck as he held me. I didn't want to leave him. I kissed his cheek.

"We can finish our conversation when I get back."

I knew Skylar wouldn't press me to decide about Chad, but I felt as though I needed to make a move one way or the other. Chad and I were on the cusp of something that might be incredible.

It was muscle memory that got me through presenting an offer and writing up the sales contract after we'd agreed on a price. My mind was distracted by the choice I needed to make.

When I got back to the house, I found Skylar asleep on the bed wearing nothing but a pair of purple short shorts. I stripped my shirt away and carefully crawled up the bed. His slow, nearly silent breathing didn't change. I straddled his shins and placed my hands to either side of his hips .

I inhaled the scent of him before I mouthed his soft cock through his shorts. He shifted his hips. I licked his stiffening shaft. It wasn't until I started to remove his shorts that he stirred awake.

"Shh," I whispered. "Close your eyes. Pretend you're still sleeping."

Skylar licked his lips and then obeyed my request. He was a dead weight as I slowly yanked his shorts off enough to expose his gorgeous dick. He was playing his part well and not moving.

I imagined he was truly asleep.

My cock throbbed, turned on by the story unfolding. With one gentle hand, I lifted his dick and sucked it into my mouth. I pumped it with my fist once it started to respond. Skylar emitted a quiet groan as I bobbed and increased the suction. A firm grip. I hummed as I held his cockhead between my lips and played my tongue around the ridge and across his pungent-tasting slit.

I cupped his balls then released his cock and sucked on each of his sacs. He shifted his legs. But not beyond the realm of someone sleeping. I returned to sucking his dick.

I was in my happy place.

The only warning I got was Skylar's abs tightening and the thickening pulse on my tongue. Then he shot me full of his warm cum. I swallowed and sucked until he put his hand on my head.

"Enough, bunny."

I kissed his abs then joined him up at the pillows. "That's one fantasy off my list."

Skylar chuckled. "You have a fantasy list?"

"A small one. You wouldn't be impressed by it."

"Feel free to share when you're ready. "

I cuddled close to him. "Sorry for waking you. I couldn't help myself." I traced my finger down his chest. I'd come to a decision. "I'll try it."

Skylar turned his head to look at me. "Try what?"

"Dating Chad."

My boyfriend rose onto one elbow and hovered above me. My boyfriend.

I hope I'm not making a mistake.

"Are you sure?" Skylar asked.

"I'm willing to see where it goes, my interest in Chad."

Skylar cupped my face and kissed my forehead. "I don't think you'll regret it. He's lovable once you get past the high energy. You complement one another that way. You'll calm him down."

"I'll take your word for it."

He laid back down and I tucked myself against his neck. As he held me, I couldn't ignore the image of Chad being there with us. Skylar in the middle, holding us both.

Skylar and I had enjoyed a leisurely lunch at the airport. He'd spoken to Chad during their days and nights together. Chad was on board to try dating me. I wasn't sure where we should start.

"Are you okay?" Ethan put his hand on my shoulder. Tonight was the meeting of the Salish Sea Society and Ethan had come into the snug while I was deep in thought.

The other two were still behind the bar. Not sure why I hadn't told Ethan about this last night during our movie night. It was possible I needed some more time to process.

"Chad and I have decided to start dating."

Ethan sat and pulled his chair close to me. "That's huge."

"We worked on my car some more last week and made out in my hot tub. Both those things solidified my decision after thinking it through. It's not just physical. All though, that is a big part."

"You like him."

"Starting too. There's a hidden charm to him that is captivating."

"You're uncovering a guy apart from the practical jokes."

I nodded but didn't comment. Liam and Noah had joined us. I was prepared to share some of what was going on. But I didn't want to start us out. "Have you got any news, Ethan?"

Ethan shuffled his chair back into place. "We finished the stock photo shoot. It was a lot of fun. I got to work with two really hot guys." He whipped out his phone. I'd already seen them. I'd shown them to Skylar. Ethan looked completely comfortable posing with other men.

Some of the poses were simple couples' stuff. Hugging, gazing at one another, and kissing. Some were more suggestive. Two men in bed. Three men in bed. Three men in an embrace.

Seeing those last two sets of images, the three men together, brought out feelings in me I was unaware were buried deep in my wants and needs colour palette.

"This is a whole new angle to your modeling," Liam said as he perused the photos on Ethan's phone. "Daniel doesn't get weirded out with you getting all sexy and kissing these guys?"

"No." Ethan poured himself a pint. "Would Jamal?"

Liam wrinkled his nose, his brow furrowed. "Not sure he'd be all for it."

"That's too bad. I showed Carlos a picture of you, and he salivated."

"I'm not having photos taken of me," Liam replied. "I'm past all that now."

"I never thought you'd get to that place, Liam," I said. "And I'm sorry for thinking that. I didn't assign enough worth to you, and I feel bad for ever thinking that way. "

"Thank you," Liam said. "But to be fair, I didn't assign much worth to myself either."

"Love showed you the way to wholeness."

"It has a way of doing that," Noah responded.

"I know," I replied. "I've been feeling that myself." I looked up at Liam and Noah. "Skylar and I are in love. And Chad and I have been hanging out … and making out."

There. That was the full story.

Liam and Noah were silent. Liam set his glass down but didn't move his hand away from it. Just clutched it as he stared at me. "Owen … I'm speechless. This is not what you wanted for every damned year I've known you. What happened to finding a husband?"

"That got derailed when I fell in love with Skylar."

"And he loves you too," Noah said to clarify.

"Yes, and before you get ahead of yourselves, we don't know what any of this is going to look like yet. Right now, I have a boyfriend, and I've decided to date his husband."

"And, I'm assuming, this is something Skylar wants," Noah said.

I swept my glass across the worn wood of the table. "It's something we all want." I looked straight at Ethan. He would know better than anyone. "Do you think it's some kind of kink?"

"That you're interested in two guys?" Ethan shook his head. "I don't think so."

"Do you want it to be a kink?" Liam asked. "Is that important to you?"

I frowned. "No, of course not."

"Then, I think it's simply an arrangement that works for the three of you."

I lifted my pint glass. "I'll keep you guys in the loop." And I would. I needed my friends to help me navigate this change in my life. They would always be there for me .

Noah shared that they had a court date. We all entered the date into our calendars. There would be no stopping us from being in that gallery to watch the adoptions go through.

There had been numerous milestones in our lives. We were in the age of partners, marriage, and children. I'd joined them in some ways. For the first time ever—I was in love.

Deep, unfathomable love.

And my love for one incredible man had led me to consider another.

For years I thought I wanted something so different from this.

But I'd been wrong.

This … I wanted this.