Richard sat taller. “I'm reluctant to mention it. It's not always what guys at the club are looking for. Not when playing in a threesome.”
Matthew rolled onto his stomach and stared at him.
Richard reached out and cupped Matthew's cheek in his hand. “I think you might agree. I like your eagerness, your curiosity. You hold nothing back. I worry you're too young.” He glanced around the room before his gaze settled back on Matthew. “Three men— won't be easy. I don't want to see you get hurt.”
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know that. It's who I am. I worry, especially about those who mean something to me.”
Matthew rose onto his elbows. “I mean something to you?”
“You're starting to. Both of you.” Richard looked to me. “You'll want to get dressed and run out of the room the minute I mention my idea. I don't want to see you leave before you give us a chance.”
I did want to get the hell out, and he hadn't given any details.
“I'd like to see you,” he said, “outside of the club. I'd like to see if we can be more than what we have been.”
Matthew's mouth gaped open. He bounced onto his knees, his head tilting, his wavy hair falling over one eye. “Are you asking us out? Both of us?”
Meeting at the club again— I might have agreed to that. But a goddamn date?
I leaped off the bed before Richard finished his nod.
“Dammit.” He scrambled to the edge of the bed.
I threw my pants on, shirt and shoes in hand, and bolted for the door. He grabbed my arm and shoved me against the wall.
“How well I know you already.” His voice was full of mockery. Yet, there was fear in his eyes, and the look enticed me. The man didn't want me to leave.
I tossed the reaction aside. “Let me go.” I shook my arm free.
“But I don't think you want me to.”
“You have no idea what I want.”
“I think I do. If you'll give me a chance to show you.”
Matthew placed a hand on my shoulder. “Give us both a chance.”
“Then you'll agree?” Richard asked him.
“I'll try it.”
“That's all I'm asking for.” He kissed the younger man.
I didn't bother to hide the shock from my face. “You said you didn't want a relationship.”
“I know what I said. I wanted to avoid getting close to anyone again. Three nights with the two of you, and I can't avoid it any longer.” He spoke the last of his words to the floor. “I don't do well alone.”
“You lied.”
“No! I came back to the club the second night to find someone else, to get you out of my head. It took me all of two seconds when I saw you to realize I didn't want anyone else. And I sure didn't want to see either of you walk upstairs with other guys.”
I turned away. I didn't want him to see it'd been the same for me.
“But now,” he said, “I wish to explore what we're doing here. See if we can make this more than sex at the club.”
Matthew lowered his head to where his chin rested upon his chest. “It's been fun, the club, the guys, you two, but I don't want it to always be like this.”
Richard lifted the man's face. “I know.” He caressed Matthew's cheek. With his large hands he could be gentle, tender, and could give so much in a caring touch. Even if I'd wanted to, I had no idea how to give that to someone.
Richard pulled the smaller man into his arms until Matthew's head lay on his chest. I stared at them, uncertain for a moment what was odd about their posture. I focused in on every point where their bodies touched.
Hugging. With no intention of it becoming anything more.
Richard reached for me with his other hand. I flinched. Fucking, sucking, getting off in any way he wanted— even kissing and touching— was one thing. I couldn't let him hold me.
His arm fell to his side. “I want us to get to know each other and explore our wants and needs together.”
I stared at the arm he had draped over Matthew's shoulders. “Three guys can't— ”
“Look at me.”
I took a deep breath and lifted my gaze to his.
“They can. We can. I like you both. I want to get to know you. I want to see if what I've been feeling could be something.”
“I told you I don't... I don't do this.” I let my head fall back to the wall behind me. “I keep trying to figure out what it is about you two that's better than the men I was with the week before and the ones the week before that.”
“It just is. We all feel it.”
Matthew nodded.
Richard's gaze scanned mine.
“Can I think it over?” Shit. What was I going to agree to?
“Of course. Take some time. We can meet up again. But I won't sleep with you again until you decide.” He spoke the words with kindness despite the statement they made. “I'm not going to keep having sex with you. Not when it's going to start meaning something to me and not to you.”
“We go on a date or the fucking's off limits?”
“Yes. I want you, Luke. All of you.”
He stepped back and let go of Matthew in the process. The smaller man watched Richard pull away from him, his large eyes confused, lost. Would he keep away from Matthew if I didn't agree?
I reached out. My hand found Richard's hip with no hesitation. Even with my mind protesting what it could all mean, I tugged him to me.
An open palm hit the wall beside my ear as he pressed in close. The scent of sweat and cum and his musky cologne overpowered me.
“Or maybe you can answer now? Can you give it a try, Luke?”
My fingers dug into his hip. I tried to settle on one rational reason why I shouldn't agree. The reasons would come later, of course,
