9. Knox
Chapter 9
Knox
After taking a quick shower and drinking lots of water, Finn and Ryder climbed into my bed, still naked. We were all exhausted after the long day, from the party to the sex. Ryder and Finn swayed a little on their feet and yawned as I bathed them. They were so fucking adorable, and for now, they were all mine.
I sipped on more water as I watched them snuggle into each other after falling asleep, like a gravitational pull. The thick, cream-colored comforter and sheets only came up to their hips. Finn wasn’t that tan because he was a model, but he had more color than Ryder, their tones contrasting with each other.
Finn’s birthday couldn’t have gone better had we tried. We planned for months, having long conversations about what it would be like bringing a third man into our lives. We talked about fears and pros and cons. I’d been resistant at first, not wanting to share Finn, but now that we’d done it, it had been way better than I expected. I loved watching them together, not only sexually, but snuggled sweetly in my bed.
Fuck, Ryder was so reactionary and into it tonight. I wondered how much of that had to do with drinking and if he would feel the same in the morning. For now, he appeared eager for this. If doubts crept in, Finn would be there to talk with him and communicate.
I walked over to my side of the bed, set my glass of water on the nightstand, and sat down, resting a hand between them so I could lean over them. I ran gentle fingers through Ryder’s dark strands, pulling them away from his face. His brow furrowed, and he shifted a little, but he didn’t wake.
I leaned closer to him, pressing my nose onto his neck, inhaling my body wash that smelled like amber. I liked his citrus and cardamom scent on him better. The amber was too strong. I pressed a kiss to his cheek and sat up to do the same to Finn, but his eyes were open.
I smiled down at him and kissed his cheek, too. He smiled back and closed his eyes again, pressing his face closer to Ryder and draping a leg over his hip.
I shifted toward my side of the bed and slipped under the covers, placing my body flush against Ryder’s back. Then I reached over to rest my hand on Finn, just to touch him. It would be odd not to have him sleeping against me since he was always in my bed; unless he was traveling, doing a photoshoot, or working the runway, which was often. But tonight was about Ryder, his introduction into our world, and to show him he was cared for. That it wasn’t all about sex.
After a good yawn, I shut my eyes, and sleep finally found me.
The next morning, I sat by the large window, sipping coffee as the sun rose over the trees, sending shimmery, dappled light into my bedroom. But the boys kept pulling my attention instead. They were still sleeping, with Ryder spooning Finn, almost like they were magnetically drawn to each other. However, I woke up once last night with Ryder doing the same to me.
I was relieved there was no sense of jealousy. My confidence in and love for Finn were absolute. Just as he was always clear about his love for me. And I was as drawn to Ryder almost as much as Finn was.
I took a sip of coffee with a touch of cream and sugar as I kept watching them, looking beautiful, serene, and innocent. My thoughts soon turned morose, and not for the first time. I would be fifty next year. Eventually, I would be too old for Finn, who was vibrant at twenty-three. I did my best to stay fit and healthy, and while that could slow time a little, it didn’t stop it.
Finn had repeatedly told me he was mine forever, no matter our ages, but as I looked at the two boys, I realized Ryder would be perfect for Finn. They were much closer in age, with only a three-year age difference, rather than twenty-six. There would come a day I wouldn’t be able to give Finn what he needed sexually. That right there scared me. It wasn’t just about the age difference, but about losing him. That little thought niggled in the back of my mind, worrying he would grow bored with me because I was too old. Our relationship was about more than just sex, but it was a strong component of it. Finn was highly sexual, bringing it out of me.
That was another reason I wasn’t jealous of Ryder; because he would always be able to keep up with Finn, if he so wished. That didn’t mean he would stick around. This was only a trial basis.
Ryder was the first one to stir. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and yawned, then climbed out of bed to piss in the bathroom, not even noticing me yet. His pale bare ass was bubbly and cute. I couldn’t wait to put my hands on it again, perhaps find something to punish him for.
When I finished my coffee, I poured myself another from the pot sitting on the table. I grabbed a clean mug and poured one for Ryder, too.
He came out of the restroom, dressed in his underwear, leaving me slightly disappointed. I’d folded his clothes earlier and left them in the restroom for him. Regardless, I was fully dressed, so it made sense he would want clothes on.
“Did you sleep well?” I asked quietly so as not to wake Finn, who always needed his sleep. His job kept him sleepless and starving most of the time. It was irritating as fuck, and I kept telling him he didn’t need to work, but he insisted. Finn loved being a model—despite the hard work—and being independent, even if he lived with me. But I understood the need to make your own money.
“God, yes. I can’t remember when I’ve slept that well. Your bed is so comfortable. I’m not used to sleeping with people, but it was oddly comforting. Even better, I didn’t have any…”
“Have any what?”
He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. “It’s nothing. I… just feel rested. Thank you.”
“Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, please. Thank you, sir.”
I passed the full mug to him, and he poured enough cream in it to turn it white, then added four teaspoons of sugar. Jesus. I chuckled inwardly. Then he took a tentative sip, testing the heat level.
“You don’t have to call me sir outside the bedroom.”
He looked at me over his mug, his hazel eyes sparkling like gems in the morning light. “I want to.”
My smile turned crooked. “Does that mean you have no second thoughts about last night?”
“I keep thinking I should, but… no, I really enjoyed it. It was definitely enlightening, and I did things I didn’t even know I could do.” His laugh was self-deprecating as he stared out the window. “It’s exactly what I need.”
“How so?”
He shrugged again. “To… explore, I mean.”
I understood that part, but he was also lying. Why?
“Ryder,” I said his name in a firm tone, yet soft enough not to wake Finn, so I could get his attention. “What did we talk about last night regarding communication? This won’t work if you’re going to lie.”
His cheeks pinked, and he winced. “Yeah… caught me. It’s…” He sighed and ran a hand through his wrecked hair from sleep. “Can I just not talk about it? It’s not that I’m trying to lie to you or hide things… I just want to forget. Would that be okay?”
“If the truth comes out, will it cause problems for Finn and me?”
His eyes grew wide, and he shook his head. “Oh, no… nothing like that. It’s just deeply personal is all. It will all catch up to me eventually, but I’m just…”
“Keeping it at bay for now?”
“Yeah, exactly.”
“Okay. That’s fine for now. But just know that Finn and I aren’t just here for you sexually. If you need to talk, we can listen.”
“Thanks, sir. I appreciate that.”
Finn and I sat in my office with the monitor on so we could watch Ryder work, serving drinks. I sipped some scotch as Finn sucked on one of his favorite lollipops.
As much as I wanted to be out there on the floor, staring at him or chatting, I had to be careful. Engaging in sexual conduct with one of my employees was against my own business rule, and my observant manager, Silas, would take note. But so far, Ryder had been perfect enough to break it. Regardless, no one could find out.
My bartender moved about the space with ease and grace, chatting it up with patrons and always wearing a pleasant smile. He was attractive enough that he kept the people flirting with him—men and women alike—resulting in higher tips.
Ryder was a quick learner, only having worked at a bar in some Podunk town, but he wanted to succeed here, so he strived to be the best. At least he had some formal training, too.
“So, what’s the plan, Father? I can see those gears running in your head, thinking about the next time Ryder comes to us again.”
I chuckled. “As are you.”
“It’s been two weeks, and he’s really opened up to us, but I want to see what else he’s willing to do with us.”
I nodded and took a sip of my drink, feeling the burn going down. “I have a feeling he’ll go quite far with us. He’s more than eager, which is a pleasant surprise.”
“Do you want me to call him back here when he goes on break?”
“Possibly.”
I gave the staff a thirty-minute break only on busy nights. If it were slower, they could have forty-five minutes. What could we do in that time span? Generally, Finn would suck me off, or vice versa. Perhaps I could have both boys do an oral sandwich where they both use their mouths on my cock to get me off.
But watching Ryder suddenly fumble, before dropping and shattering one of my Waterford crystal glasses on the floor, I had a new idea.
“I see that twinkle in your eye,” Finn said, laughing. “You’re going to punish him, aren’t you?”
“That I am. Everyone who works here knows not to break the expensive glasses. This is the perfect time to introduce him to a sore ass while he works.”
“And what if he likes it?”
“What if he does?”
Finn laughed again. “He may break more things to be punished. Kind of how I push your buttons now and again to feel your hand marking my ass.”
I huffed. “All the more reason… I’ll be right back.” I left my office and headed onto the club floor. The music pounded into my very soul. The DJ was expensive, but talented. He could get the crowd on the dance floor and gyrate as if they were at an orgy rather than a nightclub.
I walked up to Joy, one of our other bartenders, and leaned in closely. “Please take over for Ryder for a moment,” I yelled over the music.
“Uh-oh. I warned him about breaking things. Go easy on the poor guy, yeah? He’s a great bartender, and he’s very sweet, unlike the rest of DC.”
“I don’t like my expensive things broken. He’s only going to get a reminder of that.”
She rolled her eyes and went about her business. Joy had been with me from the beginning, so she pushed her boundaries with me a little.
I headed over to Ryder, who had his back to me, after just finishing cleaning up the shattered glass. When he turned around, he jumped a little.
“Oh, god. I’m so sorry, sir. My fingers were wet, and I thought I had it, but…”
“Come with me, please. Joy is taking over for you for a bit.”
Ryder’s shoulders sagged, but he acquiesced, stepping out from behind the bar and following me back to my office.
This was going to be short, sweet, and fun.