Customer Satisfaction (8 page)

“Harder.”

He flicked the other clamp. It took three times for him to make her come again.

“Shit!” Byron shouted.

“I want it!” Fisher demanded. “Come here.”

Byron dumped the used protection and jerked his cock in Fisher’s face. The cum spurted over everyone, and Damon moaned. Lizzie had yet to see Damon fully lose his control, but now he fucked Fisher harder.

Panting and moaning filled the room. Fisher lapped up Byron’s cum from his lips as he drove into Lizzie and found release. Then Damon lifted into Fisher’s ass until he hit orgasm. Now free, she slid over and knelt on the sofa. Sucking Luke’s member, she took her time. He deserved a powerful climax. His hand fisted in her hair and pulled her down farther and harder. After a few minutes, he pulled her back and slid his erection between her breasts.

She moved to fuck him that way, pressing the clamps together around his firm flesh. When he reached down and smacked her ass, he came. His hot cum on her body thrilled her, but what made it perfect was the knowledge that he liked the rough play as much as she did.

More rounds of sex later, they were sprawled in bed. This had to work. She’d never be able to choose among the men now. No doubt, Lizzie wanted to settle down. She didn’t need to have a baby right away, but she wanted a family that stuck together. Maybe it was just seeing Zoe and the baby with their four men that made it seem possible.

“The spring fest is this weekend. Stinger will have the usual booth?” Byron asked.

Luke nodded. “Of course. We do a good business.”

“Can I help?” Lizzie offered.

“You don’t have to do that. We can manage.” Damon winked at her.

“No, I want to. I love your honey, and the farm is so wonderful. I feel at home here. You guys need to enjoy the fest, too. I can take a turn at the booth, so you get a break.” Lizzie sat in Luke’s lap not willing to take no for an answer.

“We’d have to pay you,” Luke said.

“No, I won’t take money. I’m just helping out my boyfriends.” She folded her arms stubbornly.

“Most of the customers are women. Might not hurt to have a lady there to chat with. We’re not as good at small talk,” Damon said.

Luke rubbed her nipples, still slightly marked from the clamps. “I’ll find a way to repay you. But you have to do a good job. Sales isn’t easy.”

“Keeping the customer happy is my job.” She kissed him and then gave each of her other men the same treatment. Throwing herself into the positive future she saw felt good. Helping with Stingers’ business at the Spring Fest was a good start. The more they worked together and integrated their lives, the stronger they’d be.

Chapter Six

Damon admired Lizzie as she schmoozed old ladies and young behind the booth at the Spring Festival. She managed to convince them to grab some honey for summer baking and to sweeten iced tea. In a light purple dress, she complimented the yellow theme of the booth.

He dropped off a mini keg of iced tea with a straw in it for her. “Stay hydrated. It’s hot out here. Let us know when you need a break.”

“I’m not doing manual labor, Damon.” She kissed his cheek. “Where’s Luke?”

“Grabbing you some food.” Damon spotted Luke as he walked up behind Lizzie.

“Sneaky.” She smacked Luke as he hugged her and set down a container of spicy shrimp and fries. “Thanks.”

“Thank you for handling the booth. We’re not the best salesmen. Women like to chat with other women.”

“I’m sure the women all flock to you to flirt. Zoe could coach you in sales or come up with a marketing plan. She’s on maternity leave now, but she’ll be bored in a week or two,” Lizzie said.

“With a new baby, I doubt it.” Damon smiled.

“Zoe is fussing a lot, but she wants to keep her mind sharp. She’s recovered. Nothing keeps Zoe down for long. Can you believe she made me push back the baby shower three months? The girl is doing just fine.” Lizzie shrugged and grabbed a fry.

“She wants to enjoy it, and have everyone be settled in. It’ll be more fun when people can hold the baby and see her. What was the name again?” Luke asked.

“Poppy. Not sure exactly where that came from, but it’s cute. They should be around today, but they won’t stay long.” Lizzie sipped her tea.

Damon caught sight of Fisher and Byron walking up. That meant trouble or peace and by the tense look on Byron’s face, trouble it was. Damon and Luke both wanted Fisher and Byron to move in, along with Lizzie. It was too soon to ask, but that was the goal. Maybe if Fisher invested himself in the group, it’d be less stressful.

“Hi guys!” Lizzie said as Fisher and Byron walked up.

“Hi Lizzie, you look great.” Byron smiled at her.

“Thanks. What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.” Fisher shrugged.

“Liar. Do you think our relationship just disappeared? I know you better than that.” Lizzie leaned on Luke. “This could work so well if we stopped playing games and putting up walls.”

“I know. But we’re not the ones doing it.” Luke shared a look with Damon.

“She’s right. I think we need to have a little meeting.” Damon clapped a hand on either of Byron and Fisher’s shoulders. “Let’s go.”

“Hang on, I’ll get someone to cover the booth,” Lizzie said.

“No, I think this needs to be a men’s only conversation.” Luke headed around and led the way for the others.

Damon hung back and saw the flash of anger in her.

“I’m part of this family, too!” she snapped.

“You are. The most essential part. The part no one disagrees about.” Damn kissed her. “This is a talk about Fisher manning up and growing up. Having you there will only make him defensive. He’ll want to show off for you instead of learn.”

Her pouting lips said she didn’t quite buy it.

“Would you want me coming in and telling you how to handle Zoe’s new mom stuff or anything with your girlfriends?” he asked.

“That’s different. They’re just friends. I’m not in love with them. Sleeping with all of them.” She blushed.

“I know. But the gender dynamic is part of our core. We can try to evolve past the stereotypes and enlighten ourselves, but men will always be men. We compete with each other and show off for women without displaying any weakness. It’s part of our DNA. Just as women want to be found attractive. You want to be respected for your mind and talents, but that doesn’t mean you don’t want men to notice your physical beauty as well.” Damon kissed her nose and looked over his shoulder.

“You better go. You’re the most sensitive one there. Luke and Byron are very level headed and logical.” She nodded.

“Fisher is sensitive, but he hasn’t taken control of that yet. Don’t worry. Our little family isn’t a lost cause.” Damon waved and headed off for the men. On the way, he spotted Zoe and her guys with a baby stroller. The urge to have that for himself made Damon move faster.

* * * *

The four men who loved Lizzie had ice cold beers from one of the nearby booths that lined Main Street, Lucky Springs for every festival. The men sat around a picnic table. It’d been tensely quiet until Damon joined them. All or nothing, Byron had made his decision.

“Lizzie knows things aren’t quite right yet. We need to get this shit figured out before we lose her or the good thing we’ve got.” Damon sat down and sipped the beer they’d saved for him.

“I know.” Byron looked at Fisher. “We’ve been fighting about things. Partly because it’s stuff that happened before we were in this bigger group. I don’t know what the best answer is.”

“The past is the past, if you guys can work things out, that’s great. We know this is moving fast, but we want Lizzie and you guys. If we can all agree and get along, there’s a good chance we can be happy. All our needs can be met. Moving in would be the next step but we’re not trying to rush anyone,” Luke said.

“Moving into the farm?” Fisher shook his head.

“I want to. I like the farm better than an apartment.” Byron sat back. “I’m into this. I just have a hard time letting Fisher go.”

“Go? I’m going?” Fisher asked.

“He’s right. If you can’t or won’t move into the farm and get honest with your family, you’ll have to go. We’re not going to live in the shadows or hide from your family.” Damon patted Fisher’s hand.

“I did the right thing. I know you don’t believe me, but I broke things off with Lizzie and Byron because I couldn’t face that.” Fisher downed half his beer.

“Now you’re back with her again. This has been most of our fights.” Byron looked at Luke and Damon. “It’s not the new stuff, it’s the old stuff. Him cheating as an excuse to break up with me and Lizzie. I’m not quite over that choice yet.” Byron wanted to be, but Fisher chose the easy way instead of the right way.

“You have to grow up, Fisher,” Luke agreed.

“Fine. I’ll take over Byron’s apartment, and he can move in with you guys. Does that make you happy?” Fisher asked.

“And lie to your family that we’re living together instead of telling the truth? What’s so hard about telling them you like girls, too?” Byron marveled at how Fisher could find a way to wiggle out of any rough patch.

Fisher kept his voice low to avoid being overhead. “Now it’s not just women and men. Now it’s gone beyond that I’m bisexual, now it’s three men, not just one plus a woman.”

“As if we’re the only group in town.” Damon gestured to Ashley, Lizzie’s friend, and her four men a few tables away.

“I know, but there are still some conservative traditional families in Lucky Springs. We’re not all raised that it’s okay to hop in bed with four people or go to the sex parties.” Fisher folded his arms defiantly.

“If you don’t want to move in with us, fine. You need to keep your distance, in that case. If you see no future in this relationship then back away, so we don’t get hurt,” Damon said softly.

“Fine. So that’s how it is?” Fisher finished his beer and looked at Byron. “You’ve got at least a few months left on that lease. Why not sublet it to me and move your stuff into the bee farm? Why do you care if it’s a cop out or not? If we’re done, you’re not lying to my family. It’s my situation. Not your problem anymore. I’ll tell them you moved out,” Fisher said.

Byron felt the anger and pain from his ex. “Fine. You’re right there. I don’t care what your family knows or thinks. Of course, if they call me and ask if we’re together—I will tell them the truth.”

Fisher tensed but finally shrugged. “You do what you want. Being dumped by you will only make them feel sorry for me. But you’re right, it’s time I had my own place. Let’s go set up the sublet, and you can start packing. If you’re really sure you want to do this, that is.” Fisher stood up and headed for the cars.

“You don’t have to move in now. Don’t let Fisher throw ultimatums at you. He’s passive-aggressive crazy.” Luke shook his head.

“He feels as if he’s being singled out and attacked,” Damon said.

Byron saw both of their views. “Fisher is the only one making trouble now. He’s controlling the group by not fully participating and keeping his secrets. It’ll take more than a day to pack my stuff. Maybe a week or so to get packed and moved.”

“You can still stay with us, and we’ll help you work on it. Even if Fisher is there,” Luke said.

Byron shook his head. Ten years down the drain like this wouldn’t work. They’d started as a couple, and they needed to work through it that way. He had enabled Fisher during their time together, and now he had to be the one to stand firm. “Fisher and I have a lot of history and we need to work through it. Good or bad, we need the resolution. I’m going to take a week or two and sort stuff out with him while I pack. I need to figure out if that chapter of my life is totally closed off or if Fisher will make the right decision. I can’t give up on him yet.”

“Seems as if he’s made his decision.” Damon’s shoulders slumped.

“I’m sorry.” Byron kissed Damon’s cheek. “It’s more about the drama. He wants people to chase after him and give in.”

“So you’re going to do just that?” Luke asked.

“No. I’m going treat him as if he’s an adult and not my boyfriend for once. When it was just the two of us, it was like The Bird Cage, and I had to be Robin Williams. Fisher could fuss and carry on because I was there. Now things are different. They changed with Lizzie, and he never adjusted fully. So maybe he won’t fit in with us? He needs to see I don’t want to fit in with his game anymore. I want this. I just need to take care of my last relationship first. It was a sudden and odd breakup.”

“He should stay with the group and face it. Both of you should. We all need the truth. That breakup wasn’t all you think it was,” Damon said.

Byron smiled. “Don’t worry. Fisher was crying for help. Cheating was the easiest way to throw a major problem so he could be out. I’m really giving him what he wants finally. I love Lizzie for trying to make it work and grow the group. She tried to get us to all play nice and heal the past, but we can’t force each other to change.”

“It’s good to clean up the old mess. We’ll be waiting. It’ll probably be better without Fisher’s drama.” Luke nodded.

“Maybe,” Damon said.

“Thanks. I’ll be home soon. I won’t let him drag this out.” Byron left, hoping Lizzie wouldn’t forget about him or hate him for the choice. The Stinger brothers understood and wanted what was best for the group. Byron didn’t want to be a spare man. It wasn’t an easy choice.

* * * *

The next day, Lizzie was at home with the Stinger brothers. She hadn’t officially moved in, but she’d taken over some space, and they were planning a weekend to transfer her things. She was disappointed the other two hadn’t come back with them. However, Fisher’s trouble-making seemed to be a huge hurdle. If he wasn’t ready to get over it just yet, they had to accept it.

The fact that Byron was packing up to move in made her smile. Still part of her worried he’d give in and stay with Fisher instead of choosing them. She didn’t want to give up on Fisher either, but she wasn’t going to wait forever for her life to begin. The guys were on the phone with some bee emergency, so she wandered into the office and started straightening it up. Files were everywhere along with notes about office supplies that needed to be bought. She sat down and started making it a workable space again.