Dear Rose 3: Winter's Risk (6 page)

For now
. Who knew what might happen later? It might lead to a jumble of arms and legs and other good things to think about. But for right now, it would be separate but equal, which his other relationship had never had. Maybe that would help fix the issues. “Ayup. That’s the way I see it.”

Again, she seemed to contemplate her answer before she spoke. This wasn’t a woman who jumped into anything. He’d known that before but was seeing it in action here. Which made her talking to them all the more wonderful. It meant she had thought about her options and hadn’t gone off half-cocked. “I don’t have a problem with that, I guess.”

Quinn looked to Zach. “You okay with that arrangement?” He willed the man not to give in to any questions.

But, of course, Zach had to muddy things up. “Are you sure about this?” Zach turned to Josie. “You’re one hundred percent positive you can accept this? It’s unorthodox dating.”

“Course she isn’t totally convinced, numbnuts.” Quinn sent his gaze to heaven. What was the man thinking? Josie had agreed to give them what they both wanted. A woman and a man at the same time, just not in the same relationship. It was something a bi dreamed of. And Zach was trying to ruin it.

They both turned their attention on him, and neither gave happy vibes about his comment. Was it the nickname? Or were they pursuing explanations? He went with the latter.

“We haven’t tried
it
yet. She won’t know until she tries it.” Stating the obvious was for pussies, and apparently, Quinn had become one. “The only way to know for sure is to proceed.”

“I think I can be—happy.” She gripped the sides of her chair a little tighter. “I mean, like Quinn said, I don’t know. But I think that could work. I hadn’t known how to pick between you, and this way I wouldn’t have to. And you can both be bi, with a woman and a man.” She blew out a breath. “It could solve a lot of problems.”

And create some more.

Zach spoke up. “I was thinking along those lines. But something a little different.” Quinn had wondered if Zach had that in mind. He had a feeling Zach wanted to take this a step further.

“Which means you don’t get off easily either, though, cupcake.” He was on a roll with teasing names. He’d have to find ones that made them react more strongly. So far they weren’t even shooting him dirty looks, save for the one, and he wasn’t even sure it was about the name.

“What do you mean?” Now she gawked at him confused. “I don’t get off easily? About what?”

Zach remained quiet after his outburst. He was going to take a lot of reeling in. Good thing that Quinn knew how to fish. And he had a big dick. That always worked to get someone in the door.

“That won’t be the end of it if Zach has his way. That’s just the beginning to us, I think. There’s more. A lot more. But we’ll start out that way and go as slow as you need.” Which wouldn’t be slow at all if Quinn had his way.

She still seemed uncertain, as though she didn’t understand what he meant. And she probably didn’t.

Quinn knew Zach might bolt, because he was going to expose what Zach ultimately wanted. The man wasn’t stupid. Just unsure of his game.

Josie still wore a puzzled expression.

Both of them said, “Go on,” at the same time.

How nice they were in sync. “If we liked dating each other and the intimacy we have, then we eventually become a threesome. And not just in name. But in body.” He shook his leg out, as it was getting numb from close quarters. “And, yep, I do mean we all three get together. Physically. Emotionally. Body and soul. That’s what you had in mind, didn’t you, Zach?”

Josie’s eyes widened, and her mouth opened. “Quinn…” She clearly hadn’t expected that. “Can we do that?”

Zach turned away. He didn’t meet either gaze or reply to Quinn’s question, which was an answer in itself. He’d known what was coming, even if he wasn’t going to propose it himself. He didn’t seem upset by the suggestion. But he wasn’t jumping in either, probably because he didn’t think it could last.

“If we’re compatible, we can make that work. I know it will take some time to get there.” Quinn said the words firmly. “But I don’t want some half-assed attempt at being together. If we’re going to do this, we have to have it all out on the table. What we want. What we can’t handle. If there’s anything you can’t do, spit it out now. Otherwise we vow to eventually go for broke.”

“Threesomes can’t marry.” Zach met his gaze full-on then and blurted it out. “There’s no legal relationship for two guys and a girl.”

“Neither can fags marry here.” Yep, he’d used a derogatory term to make his point. Josie let out a gasp at that. “Last time I checked, sodomy was on the books in this state as an illegal activity. And lots of people who can marry never do. What’s your point?”

“My point is, what kind of a relationship can the three of us have? It wouldn’t be the ideal.”

“So? We could have a fucking fine relationship. We could all walk away tomorrow. Have you seen the percentage of divorces lately? Just because you get married doesn’t make it perfect.” About time Zach learned it wasn’t a flawless world. Quinn had always known that.

“I know that,” Zach snapped, but Quinn had his doubts. “But fags”—Josie gasped again—“will get a chance to marry long before polyandry becomes something legal. I can use that word too, though it’s base.”

“And it got my point across. That’s what people who make those laws think about gays.” He’d heard that term all his life. And heard people use “It’s so gay” as an insult too many times to count. “My use shows that we know all about how they think.” And he knew what others thought about bis and relationships with more than two people. Didn’t mean he cared. But he at least wasn’t surprised by anything. “She and I could marry. You and I can’t marry. The three of us couldn’t legally commit in any system in America. But who the fuck needs to if
we
are committed to each other? We could have a ceremony that means something to
us
if that’s what we want to do.” He shook his head. “Fuck the lawmakers and their fucking rules.” Repetition that should happen more often when it came to love between consenting adults and crimes that were only sanctioned by an unforgiving morality.

“You think that will happen?” Josie’s voice was low. “That we can all be together?” She sounded unsure of herself.

“Who knows? We may never reach that point.” Quinn reached over to squeeze her hand. “We play it by ear, and if we get there, we get there. If we don’t, we keep things at a level we can all deal with.”

“So where do we go from here?” Zach hunched over, not at his full height. That he wasn’t running away was something. But it would take work and finesse. Something Quinn wasn’t great at. He hoped Josie was. “What’s next?”

“We go on a first date. You and me, Army Man.” He rubbed his hands together, then angled to stare seriously at Josie. “Both of us have already been out with you for the first time. You keep dating us like you have been. With one major exception.”

Josie appeared skeptical. “What’s what?”

“You fuck us like bunnies.” And that ended the meeting.

* * * *

Quinn checked his appearance in the mirror by the door again. It had only been about a minute since the last time. Thankfully, he hadn’t grown horns or developed a big zit since the last time he’d seen his reflection. Although horns would be pretty cool… He was ready early for Zach’s arrival. A miracle.

And he couldn’t sit still.

Zach had sounded nervous when Quinn had called him earlier. He’d gotten Zach’s number from Josie. Because in order to date, he needed to contact Zach.

“Hey, it’s Quinn.”

“Yes.” A slight cough. “How are you?”

“Great.”

Awkward silence. Then they’d set a day and time to go out and gotten off the phone as quickly as possible.

They hadn’t even talked about what they were going to do. And it was fucking early to be hitting a club. Zach didn’t ask for his address. Quinn assumed he’d be getting it from Josie as Quinn had done with the phone number.

But what if he hadn’t? What if he wasn’t going to show? After all, it was obvious Zach was the reluctant one. Quinn hadn’t quite figured out why yet unless it was because Zach had been burned so many fucking times. Maybe he’d said he’d date Quinn to get them off his back and had no intention of ever following through. Maybe Zach was right now sitting at home alone playing some sort of elaborate game.

The man’s muscular naked back.

Quinn’s own mouth crept down centimeter by centimeter until he reached Zach’s hole and swirled his tongue around it. He’d dip in ever so slowly as his hand came up to fondle Zach’s heavy cock. He’d noticed Zach’s erection a few times under jeans. The man was ginormous.

Focus.

They had to get through a date first.

Maybe they’d hang out.

Maybe they’d go out to dinner.

Maybe they’d bang each other over and over again until neither one of them could walk straight.

Stranger things had happened.

A knock nearly made Quinn jump off the floor, as he was standing by the door, still checking his appearance.

Five minutes before seven.

Had to be Zach.

Quinn swung the door open. “Welcome to my humble abode.”

Zach smiled and sauntered in. No other word for what he did. It was more a swagger than a plain walk. He moved like a predator rather than prey. He no doubt liked it when someone ran from him… “Nice.” He surveyed the living room.

Quinn had picked up his place. He usually had papers and clothes strewn around. Those had been hidden in the spare room. He lived in the Fan, an older neighborhood that had a lot of rentals to support a local university. Where Quinn lived had a lot of old houses that had been turned into duplexes. He was on the bottom floor and another apartment was above him, currently occupied by a university student. The place had wooden floors and bathroom fixtures that were older than Quinn. He liked it better than Josie’s suburbia apartment, where every room resembled the other, except maybe flipped. The Fan had character, and the rent was a fuck of a lot cheaper because it catered to students. Which was why Quinn lived there. “Thanks.” He shut the door behind Zach.

“I guess we should talk about what we’re doing tonight.” Zach turned to face him and went directly to the point. His gaze drifted down Quinn’s body almost like a touch.

Quinn felt that hot, hungry look and shivered. His cock hung heavy, swelling under his tight pants. He swallowed, his throat dry. “I’m easy.” In more ways than one. Would answering
fucking
be a little too soon? Probably. Though he was ready to speed up the process between Josie, Zach, and him. He wanted to get to the good stuff. Only, as usual, he had to wait. The story of his life.

He contented himself with checking out Zach. Zach wore a brown suede coat and jeans. His blue shirt was buttoned from the second button to his waist. That little expanse of chest, for some reason, further revved Quinn’s motor. It was all about what he couldn’t see. And what he could see was delectable. Muscles and long limbs. Zach had a chest that made Quinn want to curl up in his arms and be held. Against that body. Naked.

“I can’t stay out that late.” Zach looked apologetic then, not an expression Quinn would have expected from him. “I have to get up in the morning at six thirty to be at work.”

“What do you do?” Small talk might help Quinn get to know Zach and learn what made him tick. That would help him get this relationship off the ground. Lots of details had been hashed out with Josie already. His and Zach’s relationship was behind the ball on this one. Being behind the ball would be a good thing. With his mouth about to close around it…

“I’m an IT consultant and work on computer systems at my own office. I studied it after I left the military. The office is…small, but it’s a great place to go think, because it’s quiet. I work for several local companies.”

Boy, Zach didn’t have the appearance of any computer nerd Quinn had ever met. “You were army, weren’t you?” He’d been calling Zach “Army Man,” and Zach hadn’t corrected him, so he assumed he had the division right.

“Yes.”

“Where were you stationed?” That would tell him a lot about Zach without Zach having to say many words. Likely the best way to pick up on things.

“Germany. Then Afghanistan.” Zach said the words with little emotion. Seemed to be talking about anything other than having seen combat.

Because if he’d been in Afghanistan, he more than likely had. Quinn nodded to show he’d heard. “Did you like the army?”

Zach gaped at him as though he’d grown three heads, a look Quinn was accustomed to being on the receiving end of, though why that question would elicit that response, he didn’t know. Maybe it was because Zach assumed everyone would like the army? “I guess. It gave me the education I wanted.” He still seemed a little puzzled. Certainly not a usual guise for him.

“So you figure out the dreaded machines. The dreaded fucking machines. The ones that piss me off regularly.” All Quinn had to do was touch one, and it seemed to go squirrely. It was a gift.

“Yes. I keep them from taking over the world. So Arnold Schwarzenegger doesn’t have to track down anyone by looking in the phone book.”

Quinn immediately starting doing a line from the film, and they both laughed at their
Terminator
references.

It was the most Zach had ever said. At least to him directly. And Quinn got the allusion Zach had been trying to make. For once, being a movie aficionado had worked out. Before, it had just gotten Quinn snobby turned-up noses from literary elites.

“So besides dancing for Rose, what do you do?” Zach fiddled with his jacket. Considering the heat was on because it had been cold lately, he was probably hot.

“I’m a weekday assistant manager at a local grocery store.” Quinn eyed Zach. “You can take your coat off. Until we know what we’re doing.”
Fuck, you could take everything off.

Zach slid off his coat, his muscles rippling with the effort. “Thanks. So you keep the killer tomatoes from attacking?” He grinned, and it lit his whole face.

“Oh my God, no one knows that movie. Are you a film buff?”
Attack of the Killer Tomatoes
was not well-respected cinema. But it was fun on a campy horrific scale.