An Unexpected Win (12 page)

trey pulled out and leaned down for a creamy kiss, sucking Carter’s tongue into his mouth. He caressed Carter’s bare chest, tweaking each nipple and rubbing over the skin lightly.

Carter sighed with pleasure. “Thank you,” he whispered when trey sat up.

His lover gazed at him. “Thank our Master. Any pleasure we have is because of him.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure about the ‘Master’ part.” He glanced at Hawk’s face, and his heart melted at the disapproval he saw there. He’d just been given an amazing gift. The least he could do was be appreciative. He cleared his throat. “Thank you, Master.”

Hawk smiled and eased his cock out.

Trey hurried to dispose of the used condom and clean each of them up.

Rising, Hawk instructed, “Get dressed and meet me in the front room. We need to talk.”

Carter glanced at Trey and they both gulped.

* * * *

Hawk donned his clothes and went to the kitchen for drinks. The hole in the wall was a stark reminder that Carter had made some progress, but he still had problems. He glanced around. Trey had said that the place was a sty. He must have worked hard to clean it up.

He poured three glasses of sparkling water and met them in the living room.

Trey appeared first, tucking in his shirt. “Master?” He eyed the floor and the sofa, questioning where he should sit.

“Role-play is over, love. Sit where you’re comfortable.”

“Thank you, Hawk.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. “That was incredible, by the way. You’re something else.”

He ran a hand through the short blond hair. “That was just the beginning, although I agree it went better than expected.” Pulling Trey close, he nabbed one more kiss.

Carter joined them. “You two want some privacy?”

He rolled his eyes. “Sit down. Have a drink.”

The man’s eyes lit up before he spotted the water. “Can I get a shot of something in that? I’m hurting a bit here.”

“Would you just sit down, please? Trey, you too.” Both men sat on the sofa and Hawk chose the chair facing them. “We’ve got some decisions to make.”

“Look.” Carter waved a hand. “Like I told you earlier, I needed the roll in the hay, but it didn’t mean anything. You need to go on back home. Take Trey, leave him, I don’t really care. But nothing’s changed.”

Trey looked hurt. “Carter, everything has changed. Didn’t you enjoy what we just did?”

“We fucked, kid. It wasn’t rocket science, it’s a primal need.”

“I think,” Hawk spoke loud and precisely to get their attention.

All gazes turned toward him.

“That you are the bullshitter of all bullshitters, Carter Perry. What happened in there meant something. And it showed us all a key factor that is very important.” He waited.

They watched his face.

“We’re good together. We share similar tastes, and we all want basically the same thing. I think we should make our arrangement permanent.”

“Permanent?” Trey’s expression matched one of Raphael’s angels. He seemed truly delighted by the prospect.

Carter’s face was less than joyful. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

Hawk called on his inner patience. “By that I mean I’d like you and Trey to move in with me. I know it would be a big adjustment, but my house is large enough for all of us. Each of you would have your own room, and plenty of space for all your things. Of course I’d hope most nights would be spent in
my
room. But that would be a matter of choice.”

“Leave my house?” Carter blinked.

Trey piped up, “We’re probably not going to be able to keep the house anyway, sweetie.”

Slamming his hand on the arm of the sofa, Carter shouted, “I’m not prepared to sell my home!”

Hawk raised a hand. “Of course you’re not. I wouldn’t expect you to do it right away. This is just a preliminary offer, up for discussion. And there is a caveat.”

Carter scowled. “I have to submit to you, right? I saw that coming a mile away.”

Hawk drummed his fingers on his knees, trying to remain cool and collected with Carter’s snippy tone. “I would never place a requirement like that on a relationship. BDSM is what it is. Participants either want to role-play, or they don’t. You’re fully aware that I’m a Dom and Trey enjoys submitting. Whatever develops between you and me will play out exactly as it’s supposed to. It might be a work in progress, taking its own time to develop naturally.”

Trey was beaming.

Carter stared at him like an alien from outer space. “Are you really this laid-back about everything? I’m not sure I buy it.”

He shrugged. “I’m not trying to sell it. Again, it is what it is.”

“So we do this, and a year down the line I decide I don’t like bowing and curtseying, and I want to be dominant again. What happens to us then? You say, ‘Oh sure, no problem’?”

Another shrug was all he could offer. “It depends, Carter. If by that time things are going well and we all love each other as much as I think we’re going to, we’ll work it out. If you’re not happy, maybe you’ll leave. If Trey’s not happy, he could leave. I can’t, in any possible scenario, imagine that’s going to happen. But life’s not certain. Sometimes we have to roll with the punches.”

“What’s the caveat?” Trey’s voice was a mere whisper.

Hawk gazed at him. The man wanted what he was offering so badly he could taste it.
That’s okay, baby. I want it too.
But they had to take care of business. “My one condition is for Carter.”

“Of fucking course it is.” Carter gave an exaggerated eye roll.

“Look at me,” Hawk snapped.

Carter obliged.

“Now, look at Trey.”

He did as directed, then glanced away.

“Look at him!” Hawk shouted, getting all their attention. “See the bruises? You did that to him. I won’t let you do that ever again.”

Carter’s shoulders began to shake. He buried his face in his hands. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry!”

Hawk dropped to one knee in front of him. “I could be in love with you three ways to Sunday, but if you ever raise a hand to him again, it’ll only take minutes to toss your ass out the back door.”

“I won’t! I swear I won’t!” Sobs racked his shoulders.

“Good intentions are like wispy little puffs of smoke. It doesn’t take much for them to disappear.”

Carter looked up at him. “What can I do to convince you? Swear it? Cross my heart and hope to die?”

Hawk grabbed his hands. “I think you’ve done enough of that today. You need help, baby. The kind of help that’s way beyond me and Trey, no matter how much we care for you. I want you to check yourself into rehab for at least thirty days.”

His jaw fell open. “Thirty days? You can’t be serious!”

“I’ve never been more serious about anything in my life. If the counselors there say you’re okay after a month, you can come home. But there’ll be no backsliding. I won’t have it.”

Carter’s face twisted into a snarl. “Why should I give a shit what you’ll have or won’t have? You may think you own my slave, but you don’t own me.”

He squeezed the man’s hands firmly. “I don’t own anyone. I love Trey, and he loves me. Because of him, I’m extending this offer to you. If you don’t take it, well, that’s your choice. Trey will have a decision to make. I really don’t want to put him in that position. We could have it all, Carter. It would mean some work. Things wouldn’t be all flowers and candy, right from the get-go. But if we managed to get through some hurdles and found our way together, I truly believe it could be something totally amazing.” He kissed the backs of Carter’s hands.

Trey placed one hand on Carter’s knee.

Hawk looked at him. His expression was still so damned hopeful. It made him want to cry.

Carter glanced at Trey then focused on Hawk. “I know I need some help. I have some…issues…with alcohol and anger management. I get that. But honest to God, I’m scared. Scared to stay, because deep down I know things can’t go on the way they have been. Scared to go, because I don’t know if I can do this on my own.”

“You won’t be on your own,” both Hawk and Trey told him. They smiled at each other, and when they turned back to Carter, he was smiling too.

“Where would I go?”

“I’ll make some calls, and find the best possible placement for you.”

Carter shook his head. “I can’t afford the best. Might have to settle for second best, or less.”

“You won’t be paying for it. I’ve got it under control. And don’t worry about your bills. Trey knows what needs to be done, right? He’s got the authority to pay everything?”

“Of course. He just doesn’t have the money.”

“He does now. I’m going to help you, Carter. We’re going to get through this together.”

He was sniffling again. “So when I come out, I won’t find that you’ve sold all my shit and the two of you moved away?”

Trey placed his forehead against Carter’s temple. “We’ll visit you as often as we can, or we’ll talk on the phone. I’ll hold down the fort here, and I promise I won’t sell anything. Except maybe that stupid ‘Dogs Playing Poker’ felt painting. I’ve always hated that.”

Carter chuckled through his tears. “Nah, that’s going in the front room at Hawk’s house.”

Hawk wrapped his arms around both men. “Wherever you want it to go, love. It’s going to be your house, too.”

* * * *

Trey bounded into the living room of his new home, lovingly christened
Casa Nighthawk,
two weeks later. “Hey! I got an email from Carter. He can have visitors this weekend.”

Hawk smiled. “Wonderful. What else did he say? How’s he doing?”

“Not much. He only had a few minutes’ use of the shared computer. But he seemed okay.”

“His counselors tell me he’s doing great. He managed to nip the alcohol problem before it really took hold. We’ll need to be careful, though. We don’t want him to get complacent and fall back into old habits.”

He sat on the arm of Hawk’s chair. “I can’t help thinking that once the stress is off he’s going to do so much better. When he finds out everything you’ve done for him—”

Hawk clasped his hand. “We mustn’t tell him right away. I don’t want to overwhelm him. When he gets home, we’ll let things come out slow and easy. Right?”

He leaned down and rubbed their noses together. “I can do slow and easy. You’re the one who favors hard and fast.”

Hawk grabbed him and drew Trey onto his lap. “Tell me you don’t love it.” He nuzzled his neck. “Tell me you don’t love me.”

He smiled up at the man of his dreams. “Now that would be a lie, wouldn’t it? I promised not to lie. Unless… Where did you put that hairbrush?”

* * * *

Trey was elated to visit Carter after two weeks in the posh rehab center. Hawk had found a good one, and it was only a couple of hours from home. They drove there on Saturday and waited in the sitting room for Carter to come down.

He entered hesitantly, but other than seeming slightly nervous, Trey thought he looked good. His eyes were clear and he was clean-shaven. “Wow, look at you!” He rose to give Carter a hug.

Carter hugged him back, then pulled away, rubbing his chin. “A little better than the last time you saw me?”

Hawk stepped forward. “I don’t know. I rather liked the three-day beard growth. We may have to experiment with that.” His eyes twinkled as he gave Carter a hug.

Carter looked sheepish, but returned the embrace. “We may. What the hell.”

They sat and talked about the weather and the food at the center. Conversation was strained and Trey could see that Carter was uncomfortable.

Hawk finally asked, “Would you two like some time alone? I can go return some phone calls.”

Carter nodded. “That would be great. Thank you, Hawk.”

“We’ll see you in a couple of weeks, okay?” His smile was genuine.

“You bet.” Carter watched him leave, then turned to Trey. “So how are you, really?”

Trey couldn’t keep from beaming. “I’m great. Really, really happy.”

“You could tone it down a little for my sake, kid.”

He realized what he’d implied and the smile drained from his face.

Carter touched his hand. “I was just kidding. I’m glad you’re happy. I’m sorry
I
couldn’t make you feel that way, but I’m pleased you found someone who could.”

Trey frowned. “You don’t get it, do you? I’m not just happy because of Hawk. I’m excited that you’re getting better and are going to come home soon. I miss you, baby.”

“Home.” He snorted. “Where exactly is home?”

Trey squeezed his hand. “You’re going to love it. We’ve got a pool and a hot tub, and by God, Carter, we’ve got a man who wants nothing more than to give us joy and pleasure. Think about that when you’re feeling sorry for what you’ve lost. Hawk is the real deal. What you see is what you get. It’s amazing and wonderful and you’re going to love it as much as I do.”

“Love him, you mean.”

“And you. I love you both.”

“Nice words.” Carter glanced away.

Trey exhaled, deciding to broach a subject he’d been thinking about. “Why didn’t we get married?”

Carter turned back, his expression confused. “What?”

“When the state ruled that we could, why did we never choose to marry? I’m asking you, Carter.”

“I don’t know. Never thought of it, I guess.”

“I thought of it. I thought of it a lot. But something didn’t feel exactly right. You didn’t want a partner, you were happy with me as your submissive, weren’t you?”

He scowled. “I gave you a nice life! And I didn’t treat you poorly.”

“I know that. I’m not talking about the phony story I made up for Hawk that first night. We didn’t do TPE, but you felt that way inside, didn’t you? You were the star, in the spotlight, and I worked for you, doing whatever you told me to.”

“I did not!”

“I think you did. It’s okay, Carter, because I allowed it. But Hawk is different. He was a star of sorts, too. But he makes me feel like he’s my partner and equal in every way. And it’s only when I agree to role-play that the D/s starts. If I don’t want it, we don’t do it. It’s my choice, and that’s a gift that he’s given me. In return, I give my submission to him.”