Redemption FinalWPF6 7 (14 page)

“I got exactly what I wanted from Uriah. Now go away.”

He signaled to the bartender to bring another shot, and
tried not to watch in the mirror as Diane made a hasty retreat.

After a minute, Patti leaned on his shoulder and wrapped a
strong arm around his waist. He was grateful that words between friends weren’t
always necessary. When he could speak around the lump in his throat, he kissed
the top of Patti’s head. “I'm heading back to Phoenix tonight, Red.”

“Not likely, Doc. There's no way I'm letting you get behind
the wheel of a car, tonight. You need to come home with me.”

Gabe’s laugh was bitter. “Patti, sweetheart…I guess you
haven't heard. According to what Mel told Diane this afternoon, I hit women
when I'm drunk. You sure as hell don't want be alone with me tonight because
I'm not half as drunk as I'm gonna be. You don't have to worry your pretty
little red head about me driving. Max and Marcus are on their way to come pick
me up. Those two are experts at pouring me into a bed. Now go away and leave me
alone.”

“Hey, Gabe, baby. What’s going on?” Max’s warm voice washed
over him, and a comforting arm wrapped around his shoulders.

“Hi Patti,” Marcus said. “We've got him from here. Thanks
for looking out for him. Come on, Gabe, we’ll take you home.” Marcus slapped a
bill on the counter to cover Gabe’s tab. Then the two men surrounded him and
they all began walking toward the door.

“I was so fucking close to having it all,” Gabe said to no
one in particular, as he staggered sideways into Max’s arms.

Chapter Thirteen

Six months later

“Gabe, you need to quit this moping around,” Max said.

Gabe looked up from his e-reader, surprised at Max’s words.
He hadn’t been moping.
Not exactly.
“What do you mean, Max? And I’m not
moping.” There wasn’t much he could do about the defensive tone of his voice.

Max laughed, drawing Marcus’s gaze from across the room.
“Okay. When was the last time you went on a date?”

“Just because I haven’t dated doesn’t mean I’m moping, Max.
I’ve had a lot on my mind the last few months.”

“I call bullshit—“

“He’s got a point, Gabe,” Jolynn interrupted Max.

Gabe sighed. It looked like these two planned a lecture for
the morning. It was really hard to argue with them since they’d been kind
enough to invite him for a lazy brunch at their house at Lake Pleasant. But damned
if he felt like having yet another discussion about his lack of a love life,
lack of direction, lack of motivation.

“Look…just because you found your happy-ever-after doesn’t
mean everyone gets the same chance. I did try—it didn’t work out. Besides, it’s
not like I’m hiding away. I’m at the club most nights.

Shaking his head before Jo could argue, he said, “I've
stayed with the program. I’m clean and sober. I’m still taking things one day
at a time. Don’t ask me for more than that right now. Maybe someday, but not
right now.”

“But that’s the point, isn’t it, Gabe?” Jolynn persisted.
“You never gave them a chance—”

“Jolynn.” Marcus’s voice was a velvet whip, commanding
immediate obedience. “You and Max go finish packing. Now. I’m going to speak
with Gabe, and I want everything in the car by the time I’m finished. Do I make
myself clear?”

Jo’s brows came together in a little frown, and Gabe could
see her practically vibrating with the need to argue. “Yes.” She bit off her
reply before she added the customary
Sir
expected from a sub responding
to an order. Her back was stiff as she left the room with Max.

Gabe waited a beat before he said anything. “She’s pissed.
What’s up with that? You don’t usually treat her like a sub publicly.”

“This isn’t public, it’s our home. There are some things
going on at work that have Jo feeling a little out of control. It’s my job to
help her regain her equilibrium. She and Max are fussing at you because they’re
both a little unsettled. I’ll take care of it.

“That still doesn’t answer the question about what to do
with you, Gabe. You know the three of us are exclusive, but if you think—”

Gabe barked out a laugh. “Marcus, you know I love you, and I
know you mean well, but I’ll be goddamned if you’re ever going to put one of
your damn paddles on me. Just because I like watching doesn’t mean I want to
play.”

Marcus grinned back. “I just thought I’d offer. You’re toppy
enough that I think I might enjoy the challenge. All right, since you won’t let
me help you, how about you help me?”

“Anytime, you know that. You don’t even have to ask. I owe
you my life.”

“Don’t be a drama queen, Gabe. I helped you get into the
rehab program, but you’re the one who stuck it out. How long’s it been since
your last drink?”

 Gabe frowned then studied his watch as if thinking about
his answer. He knew how long it had been…they both knew. “Five months,
twenty-nine days, and about six hours. But who’s counting?” They shared a warm
smile. Then Gabe remembered that Marcus had asked for a favor. “So what is it I
can do for you, my friend?”

“Actually, I need you to stay here at the lake house this
weekend to watch Lucky.”

The golden retriever that Marcus had rescued lifted her head
at the sound of her name and gazed adoringly at her master.

“Can’t she come with me back to my place?” Gabe asked.

“Really? Your dinky apartment? Come on, Gabe. You haven’t
taken any time for yourself since the summer. I’m only talking a long weekend. You
told me when you agreed to brunch that you didn’t have any major plans. Hell,
you know you were going to be here most of the weekend anyway. We’re just
heading over to Las Vegas so Max can check out the new club that’s opening and
I can help Jo get her head on straight.

“Sure. It’s not like I have a life,” Gabe grumbled, not
upset in the least about spending the weekend out at the lake.

“Oh, hell. Get over yourself, will you?” Marcus laughed.
“It’s dog sitting for Christ’s sake. You need to go somewhere, take Lucky with
you. She loves the jeep. The fridge is stocked, the boat is gassed. You’d think
I was asking you to muck out stables.”

Gabe grinned back. “Yeah, trust me, it’s a real hardship.”
His face sobered. He knew they were all worried about him, but some things
couldn’t be helped. “I do miss them, Marcus.“

“I know. Have you ever thought—”

“No, they’re much better off together. Better without a
third.” He raised a hand to forestall Marcus’s objection. “I know, I know. The
three of you have made it work. But shit, Marcus, you and Max were always just
a matter of time. I always knew that, even if you two stubborn assholes didn’t.
And Jo? She fits you. You and Max have the club. You and Jo have the security
business…everything just fits together.”

“And what about Max and Jo? Your theory seems to be that
there has to be something special between each of the members of the threesome.
They didn’t have anything together when we started. It doesn’t all have to be
neat. But if you want something, you have to work for it,” Marcus said. The
frustration in his voice was clear enough.

Gabe sighed. “God, Marcus. Sometimes I wonder how you ever
managed to stay alive in your line of work. Max and Jo had you. They were
linked through their mutual submissive tendencies and through their love of
you.
You. All. Fit
.”

****

An hour later, Lucky’s tail thumping against the tile floor
was the first indication that his friends had returned unexpectedly. His hands
were too sticky with raw ground beef to answer the light tap, but the door wasn’t
locked. “Come on in, the door’s open. Not like it isn’t your place anyway.” He
turned back to his job and finished forming the final burger then slapped it
onto plate and put his hands under the warm water.

“What happened? Did Michael change his mind about letting
you use the plane? God you guys left enough food in the refrigerator for me to
have a party. Good thing you’re back; you can help me eat some of it.” He
finished washing his hands, grabbed a paper towel, and turned. His stomach
dropped. Framed in the doorway were the two people he never expected to see
again. 

“Uriah. Diane. What are you doing here?” He gave himself a
mental head slap. He knew exactly what they were doing here. “Let me guess,
Marcus called. Nosy bastard. He acted like it was his subs all up in my
business, but once a Dom always Dom. He thinks he needs to control everybody’s
life. Well, now that you’ve seen me you can just turn around and go home. You
see that I’m okay. I see that you’re okay. All’s well that ends well.” Gabe
knew he was babbling but he couldn’t seem to stop himself.

“Gabe? Don’t be mad at Marcus. We called him. Can we talk?”
Diane asked. 

That surprised him. “You called Marcus? Why?”

Uriah’s long black hair swung loose and partially hid his
face, as he remained in the living room, and squatted down on his haunches to
pet Lucky.
God, please…just one look at those dark eyes. Let me see that
Uriah is really okay.

When he realized Uriah wasn’t going to meet his eyes, Gabe
glanced at Diane who was apparently the spokesperson. It appeared as if she
would wait until he agreed they could talk. Best to get it over with. They
could all move on and everyone would leave him alone.

“Have a seat,” he invited. He moved from the kitchen to the
large living room with the glassed-in wall overlooking the lake. There was a
lot of beautiful scenery straight ahead, he didn’t have to look at her, but he
couldn’t help himself. The golden tan of summer had faded, but she looked fit
and strong, except for the hint of dark circles under her beautiful eyes.

“So, how’ve you been?” he asked, keeping his voice casual.
After all, they were just barely acquaintances, not even old friends.

“We’ve been good,” Diane said. Uriah’s head snapped up and
he looked at Diane a moment before his gaze slid to Gabe and then back down up
the dog. He still didn’t say anything. “How about you?” Diane asked.

“Good.”
Dear God, could this be any more awkward?
“Look, I’m sure you want to know if I’m still drinking. I’m not. I got
treatment this time and didn’t try to do it myself. I’ve been sober for six
months. Is there anything else you want to know? Because otherwise, I really
don’t know why you’re here.”

With all the force of coiled steel spring under too much
pressure for far too long, Uriah sprung from his crouched position and slammed
into Gabe with a full body tackle. The two of them crashed to the floor, and
Gabe found himself pinned underneath the big man.

Ooompf.
The wind went out of him, but before he could
suck it back in, hands gripped the sides of his head and his mouth was
plundered. He struggled against the weight of the younger man, against the lack
of oxygen to his brain, against the feelings that were overwhelming him.

When the dampness touched his face and Uriah’s chest spasmed
against his, the realization that Uriah was crying hit Gabe like a hard slap.
His arms went around the other man, and he held him closer, crooning against
the hot, wet cheek. Diane joined them on the floor, wrapping her arms around
both of them. Gabe felt as if he was suddenly holding on for his life.

****

Diane didn’t know where to put the feelings that were
flooding through her. Part of her was angry.
A big part.
They were going
to have to talk about that. Gabe had hurt them. Especially Uriah, who had gone
through hell wondering what he’d done wrong. She knew he had nightmares and when
he cried out in his sleep it was Gabe’s name that he called. It broke her heart
to see Uriah so sad. Finally, after months of wondering, she’d decided they
needed a permanent resolution. She’d tracked Gabe down through his medical
practice and the club in Phoenix where he said he’d worked.

Surprisingly, when she talked to the manager, Max, she found
out he knew all about their brief trial at a threesome. In fact, Max had been
quite chatty on the topic. He’d put her in touch with his partner, Marcus, and
the three of them had worked out a strategy. Maybe Gabe would walk away from
them again, but at least this time he was going to have to look them in the
face to say goodbye.

Diane was shaken from her thoughts when her hair was grabbed
at the nape of her neck and she was pulled down over the top of Uriah. Then
Gabe’s mouth was on hers, his kiss hard, his tongue pressing at the seam of her
lips. She opened and sucked his tongue inside her mouth. When Uriah joined, it
turned into a messy, hot three-way kiss. Diane wanted to lose herself in it,
wanted to surrender to the feelings between them. Instead, she pulled back.

“Gabe, we need to talk, first,” she said.

Uriah made a noise deep in his throat that could best be
described as a growl.

Gabe leaned his head back as far as he could, which wasn’t
far considering he still had Uriah on top of him. “Yes, I suppose we do.”

Diane pushed herself to her feet and looked down at the two
men. Her heart squeezed when Uriah cupped Gabe’s face in his hands and pressed
a long, slow kiss against their lover’s mouth. Then Uriah got to his feet, held
out his hand to Gabe and pulled the other man up. She looked around the room
and decided the couch was as good as any place for them to talk. She led the
way and managed to put Uriah in the middle.

“So, who wants to start?” she asked.

“That would be me,” Gabe said. He looked toward the large
windows, as if the lake view held the script for what he wanted to say. Finally,
he inhaled deeply and started. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry that I’m a drunk. I’m
sorry I hurt you. I’m sorry I didn’t say goodbye.”

Taking Uriah’s hand in his, he pressed a kiss to the other
man’s open palm before threading their fingers together. “Uriah, there is
nothing I can ever say…nothing I can ever do to make up for leaving you alone
when Patti arrested you. It was inexcusable.”