3. Rowan
When the doorbell rang the following evening, Rowan’s stomach churned. He wasn’t sure what to expect from the visit request from Bryan and Lev, but he would never deny them. Both he and Gary would support them regardless of what they said.
“Hey!” he said, gesturing for them to enter.
“Evening,” Bryan said, holding out a bottle of wine. “I bring refreshments.”
Rowan chuckled, taking it. “Should I be worried?” he said, repeating the same question from the night before.
Bryan winked. “Not at all.” He tugged on Lev’s hand, dragging him down the hallway to the living room where Gary waited.
Rowan closed the door, watching them go and wishing they would put him out of his misery. He hated waiting for stuff, but he could hardly order his friends to speak up. They’d tell them when they were ready. He stuck his head into the living room and held up the wine.
“Do you want this now or later?”
Bryan smirked. “Might as well open it now if that’s okay?” He glanced at Lev, who sat quietly on the sofa beside him.
Rowan tilted his head but said nothing, heading for the kitchen to uncork the bottle. He both was and wasn’t a fan of surprises, but he had to admit, their secrecy was unnerving him. Burning with the need to know what the visit was about, he grabbed four glasses and the bottle and headed to the living room.
“Liquid courage is here,” he said, and from the flinch Lev gave, he might’ve said the wrong thing.
Bryan slipped his arm around Lev’s shoulders, dragging him against his chest as if to hide the sudden movement as being anything but comfort. Rowan poured four glasses and handed one each to Bryan and Lev before passing one to Gary and settling beside him.
“Okay, so you’re worrying me now. Can I ask what this is about?” he said, sipping the delicious merlot.
Bryan glanced at Lev, who hid behind the wine glass. “We want to talk about a poly relationship.” He flexed his hand around his glass, and if Rowan had to guess, he would’ve cracked his knuckles if he had a spare hand. “With you. Both.”
Lev closed his eyes and tensed, even as Bryan ran his hand up and down his arm. Rowan’s stomach flipped, and he glanced at Gary, hoping he’d heard what he thought he’d heard. Gary met his gaze and nodded once, and Rowan exhaled, trying to bury his excitement.
“I thought you’d never ask,” Rowan said, finally acknowledging what he and Gary had spoken about many times—they couldn’t find the perfect match for their relationship because they’d already had it in Bryan and Lev. They just needed to wait for the right time to ask if Lev and Bryan were willing to give them a go. It seemed that the time had come.
Lev’s gaze flew up to his, and Rowan smiled. He put down his glass and rose, dropping to his knees in front of Lev. “I know it’s scary, Lev. But you’re in control. We’ve done this before, and we’ll help you with anything you need. But only if you’re sure this is what you want.”
Lev studied his face for a long time before looking at Bryan, who gave a small smile back. “It’s your choice, sweetheart. Always will be.”
Rowan watched Lev’s Adam’s apple bob several times, and then he turned back to Rowan, meeting his gaze. It was Rowan’s turn to feel nervous because he wanted this, wanted them, but he was scared he wasn’t enough for them. That he couldn’t?—
His mind blanked when Lev’s mouth met his, the softness of his lips pressing against Rowan’s sent tingles of electricity across his skin. Lev pulled back, and Rowan whimpered—fucking whimpered—trying not to grab him and never let him go. He licked his lips, tasting a hint of what must be Lev because he hadn’t drunk any wine before their kiss.
Their kiss.
Jesus. He needed more.
Lev glanced at Bryan again, but Rowan couldn’t take his gaze from Lev. Beautiful, handsome, pretty, gorgeous. Whatever adjective meant the same. But not just on the outside. He had so much to give everyone around him, and Rowan wanted to worship the ground he walked on.
He blinked a few times and turned to Bryan as a warmth nestled against his back. Gary nuzzled his face into Rowan’s neck while his body bracketed his own, legs on either side of his, arms sliding around his waist. He met Bryan’s gaze and watched his tongue swipe across his lower lip.
“You in?” Rowan whispered to him, and they both glanced at Lev, who took his time looking at each of them.
“Kiss him,” Lev said to Bryan, and Rowan’s heart skipped.
Bryan raised his eyebrows to Gary, who grabbed Rowan’s jaw and held it steady, giving his permission and being part of it as well. Rowan gripped Lev’s hand, and when Bryan’s mouth touched his, all four of them were linked in some way. Bryan pressed a little closer, and Rowan’s eyelids fluttered closed. Then he was gone again. Rowan’s eyes snapped open, and he groaned as he saw Bryan grab the back of Gary’s head and fuse their lips.
“Fuck,” Rowan said, his cock pulsing at the sight. He turned to Lev, who stared at Bryan and Gary with his mouth open. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Lev blinked at him and nodded. “I don’t want this to ruin anything,” he muttered.
Gary pulled back, dropping another peck on Bryan’s lips before facing Lev. “You won’t. Even if you say no—at any point during this—we’ll still be here. Still friends. Whatever you need.”
Rowan slid his fingers into Lev’s hair and drew him forward, but at the last moment, instead of kissing him, he moved so Gary could reach. Lev’s eyes widened, and he resisted. At least until he checked in with both Bryan and Rowan, both of whom smiled and nodded. Lev’s breathing increased, but he didn’t resist as Gary brushed his fingertips across his cheek and lips before leaning closer and pressing their mouths together.
Rowan’s dick reacted as hard as it had when Gary and Bryan kissed and when he and Lev had. If he wasn’t careful, it would all be over sooner than he wanted. Lev gripped Gary’s wrist and opened to him, groaning when Gary licked into his mouth—Rowan knew what he’d done because he could see it from close up and fuck was it hot.
They were both panting when they pulled back, and Gary brushed his thumb over Lev’s lips before staring at Rowan with pupil-blown eyes. Rowan slammed their mouths together and opened immediately for Gary’s exploration. He tasted slightly different from usual, but Rowan loved it. He grazed his teeth over Gary’s lip and received a growl in response. Rowan smiled and pulled back.
“Shall we tell them?” he whispered, knowing Lev and Bryan would hear.
Gary’s mouth twitched, but he nodded. “We need to talk before this goes any further, anyway.”
Rowan pecked Gary’s lips and faced their best friends. “We’ve wanted this for a while.” Lev gasped, and Rowan tightened his hold on his hand. “We would never pressure you. That’s why we never said anything.” He glanced at Gary. “We tried to find the missing piece of our puzzle.” He gestured to him and Gary. “But no one fit right. It wasn’t until Gary pointed out that we already had the missing pieces that we realised how futile our search was.”
“What if we’d never said anything?” Lev asked.
Rowan smiled. “Then we would’ve been perfectly content having you as best friends. And we still will if you figure out this isn’t what you want.”
Lev exhaled. “So far…” He swallowed hard, sharing another glance with Bryan. “So far, it’s amazing.”
Rowan’s heart raced, and he couldn’t help the giddy squeak he let out as he pulled Lev into his arms for a hug. Lev chuckled in his ear, and it settled some of Rowan’s nerves. They would still be friends no matter what happened, but he had to hope this was something Lev wanted for longer than that night.
“Let’s finish our drink and order some food,” Gary said, rising from their tangle of limbs. “We can clear the air before this goes any further. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
Bryan nodded. “I agree. Lev?”
Lev brushed his fingertips over his lips, a small smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Huh?”
Bryan chuckled and kissed Lev’s cheek. “Food? Wine? Words?”
Lev blushed but backhanded Bryan’s chest. “Shut up. Yes, yes, and yes.”
Rowan reluctantly rose and settled back on the sofa with Gary, though he wanted to twine himself around Lev so he would hopefully not change his mind. He couldn’t do that, though. It needed to be his own decision, and although he was there and willing, everyone needed to be certain because, despite their words to the contrary, it could go horribly wrong.