24. Oliver
Chapter 24
After Jace and Aiden cleaned us up in the bath, they pampered us for hours. Massages, soothing lotion for Toby’s back, snacks in bed. You name it, they did it. Toby and I soaked it in the whole time, casually making out or just exploring each other’s body. These guys have taught me to love sex, but they’ve also taught me to enjoy intimacy. Last night, I slept sandwiched between Aiden and Toby while Jace slept behind him.
But this morning brings back the situation with Trent. I paid my retainer fee to Vince, which consisted of one dollar, so we could make it legal. Then he contacted Trent, which ended so badly that Vince called Jace mad as hell.
“This motherfucker wants a fight,” Vince relays over speakerphone. Jace has me in his lap in his office and pulls me closer. “He said he’s not going to let Oliver out of the contract unless you take him to court.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Jace replies. “What are our chances?”
“It depends. Given Oliver’s relationship with Aiden and Aiden’s past with Trent, the judge could see it as justified. But if Trent spins what happened and brings up the involvement you and Toby had with the situation, it could look more like retaliation.”
“He almost raped Aiden,” I respond.
“But you don’t have proof. I’m not saying that it’s right, but Aiden never reported what happened, so there’s no documentation.”
“What do you think we should do?” I ask.
“What I think you should do isn’t legal and, as your lawyer, I can’t condone criminal behavior. Let me put more pressure on him. I’ll come up with a counter suit to hopefully make him back down.”
“Thank you, Vince.”
“You can thank me by putting in a good word with Leland.”
“Are you guys serious about him? I know you and Zac have been together for a long time. I just don’t want Leland to get hurt when you realize a third isn’t what you want.”
Vince is quiet for a minute, and Jace gives me a smile, letting me know that everything is okay. I snuggle into his big chest, and he sighs, wrapping his arms around me.
“Do you remember the feeling you had when you first saw Toby again?”
“Yes.” Vince and Zac were there with him that day, and they know I freaked the hell out. “I ran away from him.”
Vince chuckles. “Yeah, but it wasn’t because you didn’t want to see him. I mean, the feeling you had when you realized he was right for you.”
“I do.”
“That’s how we felt the first time we saw Leland. We talk a lot of shit, and we pushed him because we knew he felt it too. He’s just scared. You have my word, we’ll take care of him.”
“I’ll talk to him, but I don’t know if it’ll do anything. I might have to set something up.”
“No, you will not,” Jace interrupts. “I told Vince to leave you out of it.”
“I think it will be good for Leland,” I argue.
“Yeah, Jace. It will be good for Leland,” Vince echoes, making me laugh.
“Vince,” Jace growls. “Stay focused on this contract. Not Leland’s ass.”
Vince scoffs. “I’m not just thinking about his ass. His cock was fucking fantastic too.” The line goes dead, and I start dying laughing.
Jace’s arms tighten around me, and that just makes it worse. I’m still laughing when Aiden walks into the office with his brow raised. “Are you okay, Darling?”
“He’s in trouble,” Jace answers.
“What else is new?” I chuckle and kiss Jace’s cheek. “But I really do think this is what Leland needs. He needs someone that will push him harder than I can to get out of his head. He needs an outlet.”
“And you think Vince and Zac can do that?” Jace asks, rubbing his thumb across my bottom lip. “You can’t make someone be gay.”
“No,” Aiden agrees. “But you can make them admit the truth. Trust me. I know.”
“You guys were so convinced he was straight,” Jace questions. “Now you’re admitting that Toby was right? We’ll never live this shit down.”
“Nope. Probably not. I’m not entirely convinced he’s gay or bi either,” I admit. “The night of the celebration could have just been the atmosphere.”
“I don’t think so, Angel. You were a little distracted so you didn’t see how Leland was leaning into Vince.”
“So, I have permission to set them up?”
Jace rolls his eyes. “Yes. But you need to remember you’re in the middle if things go bad.”
“I’m going to call him and see if he wants to hang out this evening, if that’s okay.”
“You never need permission to see your best friend, Angel. I think it will be good for both of you.”
With a plan in mind, I peck Jace’s lips and get up from his lap. On the way out of the room, I do the same to Aiden. I go upstairs, curl into Jace’s bed, and dial Leland.
“Hello?” he answers.
“Hey, you want to hang out tonight?”
“Hell yeah. What do you have in mind?”
“Something lowkey. There’s some things I want to talk to you about.”
“That sounds ominous,” Leland laughs. “Why don’t we just hang out at my apartment? I’m the only one here now.”
“Where are your roommates?”
“They all moved out.”
I frown at that. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to worry you. Money is a little tight, but I’m fine.”
“Leland…” I sigh.
“Seriously, this is why I didn’t tell you. I’m looking for a second job, and everything will work out. What time do you want to come over?”
I decide to let it go for now and talk to him about it later. Leland is the best at sweeping things under the rug until they get too big to deal with. “I’ll come over around 6. Do you want me to bring dinner?”
“Bring chinese, and I’ll suck your dick.” We both go quiet, and Leland laughs. “Okay. That might not work as a joke anymore. I’ll see you then.”
The line goes dead, and I shake my head. Leland’s always joked about sucking my dick, and I always brushed it off as him being funny. But was it? Or was he projecting?
I’m determined to find out tonight.
Just like I suspected, Jace made me take the car and Cass. Even though I hate making Cass wait in the car the whole time, I feel better having him close. Plus, Cass insists that he doesn’t mind. Jace went ahead and ordered chinese food to be delivered so it’s ready when I get there.
I knock once on Leland’s door and push it open. I’m early, but he said he wasn’t doing anything. I kick my shoes off and follow the smell of the food to the kitchen. I hear something coming from the back of the apartment, toward Leland’s room, and it sounds like he’s in pain.
I rush back there and push his bedroom door open and stop dead in my tracks. Leland is leaning against the headboard, stroking his cock like his life depends on it, but that’s not what gives me pause. It’s what’s playing on his TV. I look at the gay porn he’s watching and back to him. He hasn’t even realized that I’m here, too lost to his pleasure. I quietly shut the door behind me, trying to contain the laugh that wants to burst out of me.
I go back to the living room and wait until the sound of the TV cuts off. I quietly open the front door and shut it harder than necessary. “Leland!” I call out, still trying not to giggle like a schoolgirl that I busted my straight best friend jacking off to gay porn. “I’m here!”
“Oh! I’ll be out in a minute.”
I go back into the kitchen and start pulling containers from the bag. Leland walks in minutes later, and I can’t even look him in the eye. “I’m early. Sorry.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m starving.” I wonder why?
“I’m pretty sure Jace ordered one of everything.”
“I can tell,” Leland laughs. “Why is your face so red?”
I bite my lip and focus on finding some paper plates. I pull them from the cabinet and set them on the container. “The walk up the stairs got me.”
“You go forty rounds with three dudes, and the stairs almost took you out?”
I finally turn to look at him, and I can’t hold it back. “I know what you were doing.” Leland raises a brow, and I gesture toward his room. “Just now. I walked in on you. I’m sorry.” Leland’s mouth forms an ‘O’ and I can’t keep the laughter in anymore. I lose it, almost doubling over. “I’m sorry,” I gasp. “I’m not laughing at you. I’m laughing at the situation.”
Leland starts loading food onto his plate, but I can see the heat creeping into his face. “So, you saw what I was watching?”
“Yes. But it isn’t a big deal.”
Leland jerks his head to follow him to the living room after I get some food. We get comfortable on the couch with our feet propped on the coffee table. We eat in silence so I can give Leland a chance to get his thoughts together. When he’s done, he sets his plate on the coffee table.
“I can’t stop thinking about that night.” That gets my attention, and I turn on the couch to face him. “Just…everything about it. I’ve never looked at a guy in a sexual way. But something about Vince touching me broke something. I’ve tried to watch straight or lesbian porn, and it does absolutely nothing for me anymore. I decided to try gay porn, and well, you saw what happened. And that was way too much information.”
“Shut up.” I pull my legs onto the couch and push his thigh. “We’ve always been able to talk about these things, and after the party that night, I feel like we’re even closer. Are you thinking about just that night or Vince?”
“Vince and Zac. Vince might have been the one touching me, but Zac was watching the whole time. Which was hot as fuck.”
“Then why don’t you call them? I have permission to give you their numbers.”
Leland shakes his head. “I don’t think I’m ready for that.”
“Why not? I’m not pushing, but if you’re thinking about them, maybe you’re just scared to admit what you want. I can tell you with certainty they’ve been thinking about you. If they aren’t texting the guys to ask about you, they’re asking me.”
“I’m not looking for something serious. Maybe I’ll just find some random guy to fool around with.” Leland shrugs. “Get it out of my system. Too bad you’re wifed up, or I’d be seducing you.”
“I don’t think finding some random guy is a good idea. Trust me, from experience it doesn’t always end up good, especially for your first time.” I clear my throat and already feel my face turning red for what I’m about to ask next. “Have you thought about, you know, using other things on yourself?”
Leland gives me a surprised look. “Are you talking about toys?”
“Yes.”
“I wouldn’t even know where to start.”
“I’ll send you some links to good ones, and then we’ll pretend we never had this conversation.”
“I’m fine with it. You’re the one that’s turning red.”
“Shut up,” I grouch, cursing my easily embarrassed self. “Will you at least give Vince and Zac a chance? Let them take you to dinner or something. They aren’t going to force you into doing anything you don’t want to.”
“I know that,” Leland says quietly. “As weird as it is, I was comfortable with Vince. It was just the feelings afterward that fucked me up. I’ll think about it. Deal?”
“Deal.”
“I know we said we were staying in tonight, but they just opened up this little pub downtown. It’s pretty nice. Want to check it out and get a drink?”
“We have to take my bodyguard with me,” I say. I fill Leland in about what’s been going on with Trent, and his face reddens with anger.
“What the fuck? You can’t work with him. Fuck that asshole. I’m surprised the guys haven’t killed him yet.”
“They want to. Trust me.” I pull out my phone and send a quick message to the guys in our group chat.
Oliver: Going for a drink with Leland. I promise to take Cass.
Jace: Be careful, Angel. I’m just finishing up work at the office. Have fun. I love you.
Aiden: Drink one for me, Darling. I love you.
Toby: Don’t let anyone flirt. I’ll gut someone. I love you the most.
Even as I laugh at Toby’s message, my heart feels like it’s going to burst. I can’t believe this is my life now.
Leland goes to put on some clothes, and within fifteen minutes, we’re sliding into the backseat of the car. Leland sighs as he settles into the soft leather. “I could get used to this.”
“Hook up with Vince and Zac and you could have this all the time,” I joke.
“For real? Hell yeah.” I know Leland is joking that this would be the decision maker, but I can see the longing in his eyes. He just needs to admit to himself that they’ll be perfect for him.
Leland and I start joking about me being spoiled. Cass slows the car down, informing us there’s a wreck ahead with police directing traffic. I look out the window as we pass by, and it takes me a minute to remember Jace drove to the office today, and my heart falls to my stomach.
“That’s Jace’s car!” I’m already shoving the door open before he comes to a complete stop. I would recognize his Maserati anywhere, even in the mangled mess it’s in. I run over, only to be stopped by a firefighter. “That’s my fiance!”
“It’s not safe. Stay back.”
Leland and Cass jog up behind me, and Cass sucks in a breath. The car smashed into a power pole, and they’re using the jaws of life to cut him out. Leland wraps his arms around me, and I feel the tears falling down my face. When they finally pull him free to put him on the gurney, I start fighting Leland’s hold.
“JACE!”
“Please let him ride in the ambulance,” Leland asks the firefighter. He reluctantly nods and steps out of the way.
I run up to the ambulance when they’re loading him and climb in behind the paramedic. “Stay over there,” he says, pointing to the far side.
I want nothing more than to grab Jace’s hand, but I nod instead. He has blood all over his face, and he’s way too still. The paramedic gets him hooked up to a heart machine and starts checking him over. Someone shuts the door and knocks on it to let them know they can move. The ambulance lurches and, with sirens blaring, we start racing to the hospital.
“What’s his name?”
“Jace Masters,” I answer, my voice shaking. “Is he going to be okay?”
“Mr. Masters? Can you open your eyes for me?” The paramedic pulls Jace’s eyelid up and moves a flashlight across. “Mr. Masters? Can you hear me?” Jace doesn’t move at all, and I have to bite my lip to keep from losing my shit. There’s too much blood, and he’s way too still.
The machine makes a funny noise, and then it starts making one long beep.
“We’re losing him! Step on it!” No. No. NO. NO. NO. NO!
The paramedic cuts Jace’s shirt open and slaps pads on his chest. He grabs two paddles, rubs them together, and yells, “Clear.” Watching Jace’s body jump from the shock is all I can take. Tears are freely falling down my face, and I keep repeating over and over for them to save him. He does this several times before setting them to the side and climbing onto the gurney. He starts doing chest compressions, and I move over to grab Jace’s hand, squeezing. It’s cold to the touch and limp in my hand.
“Jace,” I whisper, kissing his bloody knuckles. “You can’t leave me now. I love you so much. Please come back to me.”
I listen to the paramedic count the chest compressions, but the noise on the machine never changes. I hear the driver talking over the walkie telling someone that they should be prepared for a trauma, but it’s most likely a DOA.
Dead on arrival.