Chapter Five #2
Liam didn’t listen. “One minute I’m offering iced tea, the next you’re looking at me with those eyes—”
“What’s wrong with my eyes?” Teagan demanded.
“They’re beautiful. That’s the problem,” Liam replied.
Hayden couldn’t hold back the grin anymore. “Teag, we literally discussed Operation Seduction this morning. Remember? After I gave you a blowjob?”
Liam sucked in a sharp breath. “You sucked his cock after Aiden and I left?”
“Hush.” Hayden held up his hand. “One meltdown at a time.”
“You could’ve at least let me watch,” Liam grumbled, arms crossed.
Teagan blinked at Hayden. “Operation what now?”
“You said you were attracted to him. I said I was too. We agreed to explore it.” Hayden kept his voice patient even as amusement bubbled up. “Ring any bells? Or did Liam’s apparent basketball-palming technique fry your brain cells?”
“I was ambushed,” Liam said, humor threading through his voice. “Seduced by someone who looks innocent but kisses like he’s trying to steal souls. Never stood a chance.”
Something shifted in Hayden’s gut at the mental image of Teagan wrapped around Liam in that kitchen. Not jealousy—something hotter, hungrier. Without overthinking it, he rose to his feet and pulled Teagan up with him.
“Come here,” he murmured, cupping Teagan’s face with far less basketball-palming technique than Liam apparently possessed. Their mouths met in a kiss that started soft but quickly deepened when Teagan’s fingers twisted in Hayden’s shirt.
Breaking away before his brain completely checked out, Hayden turned Teagan toward Liam, keeping his hands on those narrow hips. “Now kiss him.”
“Hayden…” Teagan made a strangled sound.
“Trust me.” He pressed closer to Teagan’s back, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his breathing. “I want to see it.”
Teagan looked up at Liam, who hadn’t moved, clearly waiting for permission. The afternoon air hung thick between them, filled with pine and smoke and that electric something that had been building since last night.
“Okay,” Teagan whispered.
Liam stepped forward, one hand sliding to the back of Teagan’s neck while the other settled on his waist just above where Hayden’s hands rested. When their mouths met, Hayden felt Teagan’s whole body react—a full-body tremor that had nothing to do with fear and everything to do with want.
“Fuck, you look good like this,” Hayden murmured against Teagan’s ear, feeling him whimper into Liam’s mouth. “Sandwiched between us. Making those sounds.”
Teagan broke the kiss to gasp, “Not helping,” but his protest died when Liam’s mouth found his throat.
“Who said I was trying to help?” Hayden nipped at Teagan’s earlobe, drawing another of those little sounds that apparently drove Liam crazy. Good to know Hayden wasn’t the only one affected by Teagan’s kitten noises.
“You’re both awful,” Teagan managed, though his hands had found their way to Liam’s shoulders, fingers digging in. “Terrible. The worst.”
“Your corrupt lips say otherwise.” Liam’s hands dropped to grip Teagan’s ass, and with a flex of those ridiculous muscles, he lifted Teagan clean off the ground. Instinct made Teagan wrap his legs around Liam’s waist, a startled yelp escaping him.
Hayden’s mouth went dry at the sight. His boyfriend clinging to this mountain of a man, both of them breathing hard, Liam’s hands splayed possessively across Teagan’s backside.
“Still think we’re terrible?” Liam asked, voice rough enough to sand wood.
“Someone’s going to see,” Teagan managed between kisses, though he made no move to stop.
His expression held equal parts wonder and confusion, like he’d just discovered gravity worked sideways but wasn’t quite upset about it.
“Let them,” Liam growled, and the possessive note in his voice made Hayden’s knees go weak.
Teagan pulled back, looking thoroughly debauched—lips red and swollen, hair mussed, pupils blown wide with want. He blinked several times, as if coming out of a trance.
“Did we just...” Teagan looked between them, still held in Liam’s arms. “In the driveway? Where everyone could see?”
“Afraid so,” Hayden confirmed, unable to keep the satisfaction out of his voice.
Teagan dropped his forehead against Liam’s shoulder with a groan. “I can never show my face here again.”
“Too bad,” Liam said, still holding him like he weighed nothing. “Because you’re both invited back tomorrow. And the day after that. And basically every day until you get sick of me.”
Looking at the way Teagan relaxed in Liam’s hold, at the contentment settling over his boyfriend’s features, despite his embarrassment, Hayden doubted that would happen anytime soon.
* * * *
The yard had transformed into an impromptu dining room, everyone perched on folding chairs with plates balanced precariously on knees and drinks nestled in the grass.
Hayden sank his teeth into his burger and couldn't suppress a groan of pleasure as juices ran down his wrist. He’d been worried about the food, but everything exceeded expectations.
Well, almost everything. When no one was watching, he palmed the rubbery deviled eggs from his plate and buried them beneath napkins in the trash.
Better to spare the feelings of whoever had massacred those eggs.
Liam sat on Hayden’s left, plate bowing under a precarious mountain of food that defied physics.
On the other side of Liam sat Teagan, who’d shocked Hayden by returning for seconds. The same Teagan who typically pushed food around his plate like a suspicious TSA inspector. Yet here he was, demolishing another burger with enthusiasm. Had his boyfriend developed a hollow leg since breakfast?
Liam washed his food down with a long drink of his iced tea.
Hayden had noticed that not a drop of alcohol was anywhere to be found.
Which was strange since he noticed a lot of guys from the bar last night.
He even recognized Preston, who’d come into Frosty Pine an hour after Hayden and Teagan, throwing on a half-apron, ready to work.
From across the yard, Preston’s voice carried over the chatter. “How were those eggs, Hayden? My own recipe.”
Jalen, seated nearby, caught Hayden's eye with a subtle head shake that spoke volumes. If only Hayden knew what that meant.
“Delicious,” Hayden lied, his broad smile hurting his cheeks.
“Your pants are on fire,” Liam said under his breath, lips twitching with suppressed laughter.
“Shut up or you’re eating the rest of them,” Hayden whispered back.
Before Hayden could take another bite of his burger, Preston materialized before them, deviled egg platter balanced on his palm like an offering. With ceremonial precision, he deposited two more pale yellow monstrosities onto Hayden’s plate with serving tongs.
Fuck.
“That’s... thoughtful,” Hayden managed, eyeing the distant trash can longingly. He glanced up to find what felt like every man at the cookout watching him, like they were waiting for him to brave the culinary disaster.
In a desperate move, Hayden forced himself to sneeze. His plate tumbled dramatically, his perfect burger making the ultimate sacrifice as it face-planted into the grass, baked beans creating abstract art across his jeans.
“Smooth,” Liam murmured then announced loudly, “That sucks.”
So did his performance.
“Don’t worry.” Preston patted Hayden’s shoulder. “I’ll make sure to send some home with you.”
Glancing around, Hayden spotted men quietly snickering. Everyone except Zeppelin, who seemed really into his ribeye, his plate conveniently lacking eggs.
“Thanks,” Hayden grumbled, appetite suddenly gone.
Liam set his empty plate aside with a satisfied sigh. The mountain of food had vanished with surprising speed. Did he have a bottomless gut?
“The sun is already setting," he said, nodding toward the purpling sky. “Those mountain roads aren’t something you want to tackle in the dark.”
“I can handle driving after sunset.” Hayden flicked some beans from his pant leg.
Liam shook his head. "Not these switchbacks. You’ve got options. Crash here or let me drive you both home.”
“Then how would you get back?” Hayden glanced up, eyebrow lifting. “Maybe have Aiden follow us so you’ll have a ride.”
“You’d make us brave those death-trap curves twice?” Liam pressed his hand to his chest, expression wounded. “And here I thought you actually liked me.”
From the other side of Liam, Teagan leaned forward, eyes meeting Hayden’s with unmistakable uncertainty.
The kissing had been one thing, but overnight was clearly another matter entirely. They needed to talk, just the two of them, before any decisions were made.
Standing, Hayden grabbed Teagan’s hand. “We’ll be right back,” he said to Liam.
The guy had the nerve to wink. Did Liam know how sexy he was when he did that? With a shake of his head, Hayden led his boyfriend out of earshot.
“I don’t know if I’m ready for that kind of…” Teagan gestured toward Liam, who was trying, and failing, to look as if he wasn’t listening. Thankfully they were too far away for him to hear them.
“What about the roads?” Hayden asked. “We got lost twice during the day. What if we get lost in the dark and make a wrong turn, then we’re careening off the side of a cliff to our deaths?”
Teagan twisted his lips to the side, giving Hayden a knowing look. “Why not add a fiery explosion followed by an alien invasion?”
Hayden felt his cheeks heat up. “That obvious?”
“Any more transparent and you’d be made of glass.” Teagan crossed his arms, gazing past Hayden, his brows furrowed. “What if he wants to have sex? Then what? I mean he’s a great kisser, though not better than you, but isn’t this going too fast?”
“You’re right.” Hayden’s shoulders slumped. “It’s just that…” He waved his hand at his chest. “Do you feel it in here?”
Teagan took his time thinking about the question.
“From the moment we parked at Frothy Pine,” he admitted.
“I was about to follow right behind you, but I felt like I was being sucked into his orbit. What do you think that means? Don’t you find it weird we’re both frothing at the mouth over a complete stranger? ”
Honestly, Hayden hadn’t given it much thought. Once Teagan had agreed to see where things would lead, Hayden had been all gung-ho to find out. “I mean he is hot.”
“Hayden.” Teagan sighed. “Be serious. Even now, I have an overwhelming urge to run back to him and crawl into his lap. That’s not normal.” He glanced toward the grass. “What does that say about us if I’m this attracted to him?”
“Hey.” Hayden slid his finger under Teagan’s chin, lifting his boyfriend’s head until they were staring into each other’s eyes.
“Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever make me stop loving you, Teag. You think I would throw away twenty years with you over some super-gorgeous guy with a body I want to sink my teeth into?”
Teagan gaped at him and then snickered. “You’ve got to kiss him. It’s an experience that’ll stay with you forever. Or at least for a few hours.”
Hayden glanced back. Liam had his head turned, but saw the smirk on the guy’s face. No way he could hear them. The music might’ve been turned down, but there was still plenty of chatter to drown out their conversation. Plus, they were a good thirty feet away.
“So, what’re we gonna do?” Hayden asked when he turned back to Teagan. “Stay here, let Liam drive us home, or insist Aiden follow him for a ride back?”
“There’s a lot of people here.” Teagan dug his fingers into Hayden’s bicep as his gaze darted around the yard. “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather go home.”
Two decades of friendship had taught Hayden when not to push. As tempting as Liam’s offer was, Hayden wouldn’t sacrifice Teagan’s well-being, knowing his boyfriend was already at his limit.
If Liam was genuinely interested in them, he’d respect their pace.
“I’ll let him know we’re taking a raincheck.” He gently pried Teagan’s fingers from his arm.
“You’re disappointed, aren’t you?” Teagan’s voice was small.
“Not even a little bit.” Hayden softly smiled. “Actually, I’m proud of you.”
Teagan scoffed, the toe of his shoe rolling around a small pebble. “For what? Being a wet noodle?”
“Wet blanket is the expression.” Hayden chuckled as he stepped closer, his hands finding Teagan’s waist.
“And no. You came to the cookout. After everything that happened last year, you still showed up. That matters.”
Teagan caught Hayden’s sleeve as he started to pull away. “Wait.” His chest rose with a deep breath. “Liam can...” He cleared his throat. “Let him drive us.”
“You sure about that?” Hayden searched his face for any indication this wasn’t really what he wanted.
It hadn’t even been a full year since his attack.
He’d been honest when he said he was proud of Teagan for agreeing to even come here.
If Teagan needed to retreat and process today’s events, Hayden was okay with that.
“Not remotely,” Teagan admitted, shoulders squaring despite the tremor in his voice. “But I can’t keep hiding behind what happened. This box I’ve built, we’ve built… I can feel it suffocating us. For the first time in ages, I felt normal today. Like I wasn’t hiding but actually thriving.”
Hayden kissed him then, right there in the open, not caring who saw. He was done pretending they were just roommates, done concealing what they meant to each other.
This was their chance at something new. A step they both needed to take, out of their comfortable isolation and toward something they could embrace together.
And if that something included Liam, they would embrace him too.