Customer Satisfaction (7 page)

Chapter Five

A week and a half of group dating had left Byron feeling very uneasy about how much he actually liked it. When Fisher relaxed and was with the group, it was like old times only better. The exes had been avoiding each other more or less. Things were diffused by Lizzie and the Stinger brothers. Byron knew it’d come to a head at some point, and he dreaded the confrontation.

But now Lizzie was off with Zoe who was in labor. Standing around a hospital made no sense, so he and Fisher were hanging around the farm on the lazy Saturday. The brothers were on a conference call with an exterminator who had a massive bee hive about an hour east of Lucky Springs. Byron sat on the porch and looked out at the view.

He felt more at home here than in his apartment. Things were falling into place and Lizzie seemed content. Everyone was ignoring the only problem—Fisher. He played nice and went along with the group but then went home to his family to keep up appearances. Byron had handled then finally stopped taking calls from his ex-boyfriend’s family.

They felt as if they were his family too, but they wanted things to go back to the way they were. The two of them as the cute gay couple in the family—they’d been put in that box at eighteen. Fisher’s frustration with them was understandable, but he’d let it happen and never pushed back.

Going back wasn’t an option for him. A part of him even wanted to thank Fisher. His slip up pushed them all forward, and somehow they’d landed here. The Stingers were solid, and Lizzie had been drawn to them as well. Instead of recovering alone, they could talk it out and make more progress.

Fisher walked out onto the porch. “Any word from Lizzie?” he asked.

Byron checked his cell phone. “Nothing yet.”

Fisher sat next to him on the old wooden bench. “I think I should move out of my sister’s place. It’d make things a lot easier.”

Move in here? To his own apartment? Fisher making a decision of his own and taking responsibility thrilled Byron. He couldn’t wait to find out the plan. “You’ve got a good job and everything. You don’t need to be staying with family.”

“True, but I didn’t want to move into an apartment alone. I’d never hear the end of it. You know my mom or sisters would want me to move in with them. To save the rent and they have extra rooms. They mean well, but it’s as if they’ll never see me as an adult.” Fisher shrugged.

“You need to tune it out and do what you want. They fuss and boss you around because you listen to them.” Byron held back the full speech. He’d given it plenty of times. Fisher wanted to be the favorite. He was the baby and his mom plus all the sisters fawned over him.

“I want to move back in with you,” Fisher said.

Byron chuckled. “No. We’re not going backwards.”

“I know you’re still mad. I know I screwed up. Hell, you’re sleeping with both of the brothers now. We’re both with the Stinger brothers and Lizzie. Holding on to the past seems pointless.” Fisher pouted.

“You still screwed up. We talked about group dating. It’s open among the five of us. Other than the brothers, we didn’t want barriers within the group. No hang ups. You agreed to the rules and you know I won’t give you another chance.”

“I haven’t broken the rules. I know I’m on thin ice with you. Luke isn’t as sweet as Lizzie about things. Maybe she’s getting back at me somehow?” Fisher asked.

Byron looked at his cute but very self-involved ex-boyfriend. “She loves you as she loves all of us. Don’t twist this up into a revenge scheme in your mind. You need to get over yourself.”

“What?” Fisher scoffed.

“Your mom and sisters have spoiled your ass rotten, and you think everything is all about you. You probably think I started dating Luke to be near you.” Byron shook his head. “I didn’t. I always had a thing for him from way back in school. He was strong, smart, and on the football team. Now he’s a nice, normal, mature guy with a business and no hang-ups. I want Lizzie to be part of it because I love her and not having a woman around…it’s just not the same.”

“I know. But Lizzie could have any guy or guys in Lucky Springs. She went after the ones we were dating.” Fisher leaned back confidently.

“The Stingers flirted with her as soon as she moved here. We asked her out first, but Luke told me that was only because the brothers didn’t want to push things once they found out Ash was already dating friends of theirs. A small town like this complicates relationships. They didn’t want to pounce because of a friendship.” Byron didn’t begrudge the Stinger brothers. “Lizzie came to them.”

“I know. She was lonely. At least the group can’t get any bigger,” Fisher said.

“I agree with that. We don’t need more. This is enough drama.” Byron saw the earnest smile on Fisher’s face. Maybe they did need the Stinger brothers? Fisher had good instincts but feared acting on them. It could be the right ending but a messed-up way to get there. Byron leaned in, wanting to kiss Fisher and reconnect. He longed to drag that guy into being a total man and cut those strings to Mommy, but Fisher had to do that himself.

Byron’s phone rang, and it was Lizzie. “Is she here?” he asked.

“Yep, cutest little girl ever. Six pounds even and twenty inches long. She’s a little small, so they’re keeping her for a few days. Zoe is exhausted.”

“I’d imagine. Congrats to the parents and the new aunts,” he said.

“Thanks. No name yet. I think there’s a debate going on.” Lizzie laughed. “I’ll call you later. Let the rest of the guys know?”

“Sure thing.” He disconnected. “Little girl, no name yet, six pounds.”

“That’s great. I wonder if Lizzie will have baby fever now.” Fisher asked.

Byron’s jaw clenched. That sort of commitment and domestic pressure could set Fisher back as if he were an alcoholic passing a bar. Was Fisher looking for a reason to run? Group love was okay but kids were too far? “You need to grow a pair. If you don’t want to be in the group, get the hell out.”

“What are you talking about? I was with Damon first.” Fisher stood up.

“You were with me first, then you cheated. You don’t want kids. You don’t want to tell your mommy you like girls and guys. Now you’re in a group thing, but you won’t spend the night. Go back in the closet and stay there.” Byron got up and headed for the door. He was done being Fisher’s crutch.

“No. You don’t get it. I didn’t want to hurt you or Lizzie, but I couldn’t handle the idea of settling down and kids. All that responsibility. When it was just the two of us it was easier.” Fisher shook his head. “It doesn’t seem so scary here.”

“Yet you don’t want her to have baby fever?” Byron rolled his eyes. “It might be soon to talk about that stuff but the bigger the group, the more easy-going you have to be. The more open and honest and flexible…those aren’t your strengths.”

“I miss you,” Fisher said.

Byron wanted to say he missed Fisher. “I really thought when we were together I was helping you to grow up. The fact that you’d cheat on me and Lizzie, just goes to show you weren’t maturing at all. I let you use me to have an adult life without real responsibility.”

“You know how hard it was on me to come out to my dad. My family.” Fisher’s body was a live wire of tension.

“I know. I was there. It was ten years ago, and you’re still scared of them! We all have to show our parents our true selves at some point. We aren’t clones of them. We aren’t always exactly what they wanted us or expected us to be. Some parents take it better than others. Tough. That’s life. You want to move away and screw all the men and women you want? Go. Mommy will never know. But you’re not moving in with me as a cover for being in a group relationship.” Byron went inside and slammed the door.

Luke and Damon walked out of the kitchen. “Is everything okay?” Luke asked.

“Fisher is trying his best to avoid growing up and reality.” Byron hugged Luke and Damon moved in and embraced Byron from the back.

“We heard some of it. You were strong. He needs to know we do love him and will be here,” Damon said.

“If he doesn’t want to be with us, we’ll find out.” Luke kissed Byron’s forehead.

“I don’t want him to hurt Lizzie.” It sounded so much better than admitting he still loved the immature bastard.

“Lizzie is a big girl. She can handle whatever comes. Don’t forget she bounced back pretty fast and came here. That’s what I love about her. She finds the new opportunity and jumps on it. She still loves Fisher, the same as you do. Time will heal things. I, for one, believe we are all meant to be together. It just isn’t an easy transition.” Damon let Byron go. “We made some lunch.”

“Sounds great. I got news on Zoe and the baby.” Byron followed them back into the kitchen. He was falling for the brothers and already loved Lizzie. This would work. Fisher or no Fisher, he found where he wanted to be and was going to make his home here.

* * * *

After dinner from the grill, Lizzie and the guys lounged on the couch. She’d never felt this right before in her life. All four of the men belonged with her. Luke’s level headed leadership made her feel as if things wouldn’t just spin out of control here. Damon was the heart, the non-judgmental one who empathized and tried to see everyone’s point of view. She wanted to be more like Damon at times. Byron was the boy-next-door who could charm her with a smile. He was as hurt as she was from Fisher’s behavior, but he understood the mistakes. Things were tense, but they were sticking around. Fisher could’ve left, but he was taking the blame. She had to admire that side of him. He also loved life and didn’t stress the way some people did. If he were just a little more serious and grown up, the tension might be good. They all made a real family.

“So Zoe’s new baby made me think…” She watched Fisher and Byron glance at each other.

“About what?” Damon asked.

“About how much work a family as this takes. None of us will be perfect all the time. Just as if we ever wanted to have children, they’ll make mistakes, too. If we can’t forgive and move on, this won’t work. I’ll have bad days, too.” She shrugged. “We have to learn from our missteps and move on.”

“You won’t cheat,” Byron said.

“No, but there are other things that can hurt feelings. If we judge each other harshly and don’t listen, we’re doomed.” She stretched.

“She’s right,” Byron said and looked at Fisher.

“She is. It’s just hard to change everything at once when you’re afraid of losing it.” Fisher sighed.

She smiled as the love made her feel certain. Fisher and Byron were still working on their issues. Not touching each other. She’d heard about the fight and the tension. Yet Fisher was still here. They had to work out their issues between them. She might be part of what happened, but everyone in the family had to relate to everyone else and find their peace. They had history, and she didn’t want healing the relationship to fall on her or Damon’s shoulders.

Fisher sat alone in the chair while Byron sat between Damon and Luke. She was snuggled on Byron. She waved at Fisher to come and sit on Damon’s lap. He wouldn’t object to that.

With a grin, Fisher moved over and sat on his new boyfriend’s lap. The men kissed while she freed Fisher’s cock from his fly. She licked it until it stiffened, then she grabbed Byron’s head and led him down.

Byron didn’t resist and sucked Fisher’s cock. Forgiveness? Love? Sex? She didn’t care why, she only cared that they grew closer so her hopes wouldn’t be dashed. Fisher tried to move away, but Damon held him.

“They still love you. They always have. Lizzie is right; we’re all meant to be together. You need to trust we’ll be here.” Damon kissed Fisher and held him tight.

Luke pulled Lizzie away from the mix, and she didn’t object. He had her clothes off quickly and led her behind the couch. He pressed her breasts to the top of the sofa, where Damon and Fisher could pinch and nibble. Fucking or spanking? She waited eagerly for either—or both.

His hand landed on her ass, and she moaned. “Please, more.”

Without stopping, Luke gave her three more on each cheek and pulled her to stand straight. “I got a present for you. If you’re good.”

“I get to watch you four?” she asked.

“You’re watching three now,” Damon said.

“No one is naked but me.” She pouted.

Byron paused, and the trio stripped down for her. Luke returned with lube, protection, and a little black box. Damon put on a condom, lubed Fisher’s ass and pulled him down hard. Byron sucked one cock and went lower to adore two sets of balls as Fisher rode the younger Stinger brother.

Luke opened the box, and she saw the clamps. Her nipples tightened at the thought. “Thank you.”

“Nothing too rough.” He attached one then the other.

Her body tingled with excitement. All her focus centered on her nipples, but her pussy was slick and her body eager. “Please fuck me.”

He shook his head. “Go suck on Byron.”

Not willing to test Luke after she’d just gotten a great gift, she went. It was hardly a punishment to suck his thick cock. She knelt and worked Byron slowly.

“She needs more,” Byron said.

He grabbed a condom and slid it on Fisher. Then Byron picked Lizzie up and settled her onto Fisher’s erection. Damon’s strong hands helped her find balance. Then Byron rubbed lube on her ass. She looked at Luke for disapproval, but he smirked.

“I want to see those clamps bounce,” Luke said.

She wanted to feel it! Byron stood behind her and eased into her rougher than he ever had. “So good!” she gasped.

“Ride them!” Luke said.

“What about you?” She shook her head.

Luke sat on the back of the couch and pulled her head down. She sucked his shaft and rode the others. It wasn’t the easiest position in the world, like kinky Twister, but she loved the feelings from every direction. This was better than her dreams—three hard cocks, clamps on her nipples, and an orgasm building deep in her body.

She heard moaning and looked back. Byron and Fisher were kissing over her shoulder.

“Like it?” Luke asked.

“Love it!” She answered before sucking his balls.

He flicked her clamps, and the spark of pain and pleasure traveled straight down her body to her cunt. The release hit her hard, but the men held her until she recovered. Smiling up at Luke, she bit her lip. Then she had to say it.