Page 106 of Bonus Game
Kingston held out his fist, and Allen grinned, reaching across the table to bump it.
Riley had been stunned into a stuttering silence, so Allen continued without the confirmation. “On top of that, we enjoy each other’s company. Obviously, we all need time apart to grow into our relationships, so we shouldn’t jump into moving in together?—”
“Wait!” Riley threw his hands in the air. “Ally, wait a second. You’ve thought about living together?”
Allen blew him a kiss like the cheeky brat he was. “Have you seen the size of our bed? There’s plenty of room for you boys, and meals and sex would be included in the bundle.”
Kingston seemed content with the direction the conversation was going because he began to eat his steak and ignore them. Jake followed his example because he needed to do something with his hands, and he had faith that Allen had everything handled.
“And Jake is…really okay with all of it?” Riley asked, refusing to meet Jake’s eyes like he was worried it might send him into a jealous rage.
If it were anyone else, Jake would have been disgusted by the thought of someone touching Allen. But this wasn’t anyone else; this was Riley. Jake trusted Riley with his life, and he trusted him to respect and care for Allen in the same way he did.
Thinking of Kingston and Allen also didn’t trigger any jealousy or stranger danger. Sometimes Jake had a sense for people he knew he could trust in a compatible way that wouldn’t cause him anxiety, and Kingston was one of them. He enjoyed caring for Kingston in the same way he enjoyed caring for Allen, so having two people in his life to dote on was a plus.
Jakedidagree that they shouldn’t move in together until the four of them had time to settle into their relationships, but he would give them a year and then move their stuff into his penthouse if he had to.
“Don’t make that face,” Riley said, pointing his fork at Jake’s nose. “I know that goddamn look in your eyes. I saw it when you were stalking Allen.”
Allen chuckled around his mouthful of pasta. “You mean the serial killer look that says you’ll be kidnapped and chained to the bed and never allowed to leave the penthouse? Good luck, Riles.”
It was true that Riley had never suffered the full force of Jake’s determination once he had a goal in mind, but he and Kingston would learn that it was easier to give in soon enough.
Because, as crazy as it sounded, the thought of having a relationship with Riley, Kingston and Allen felt right in a way that left Jake buzzing with happiness. He didn’t care how different it was, as long as it worked for them. Who gave a fuck about what others thought?
Jake had been called different and strange all of his life, so he saw no need to force himself into social norms that would never fit him. He hadn’t done so before, and he had no intention of starting now.
“Everyone eat, and we’ll talk more later,” Allen ordered, looking pointedly at Riley, who was playing with his salad. “The faster we finish, the faster we can go to the rink.”
All attention snapped toward Allen, and Jake was so surprised that he nearly dropped his fork.
“You mean—” Jake swallowed to wet his suddenly dry mouth, “You’re going to skate with us?”
“That depends on Riley and his impending mental breakdown,” said Allen.
Kingston took possession of Riley’s wrist and lifted the forkful of food he had been holding to his mouth, unceremoniously shoving it inside. “Eat, jackass. I need to see Allen skate like I need fucking oxygen to breathe.”
Riley’s reply was muffled through his chewing, but Jake could see the spark returning to his blue-green eyes. If there was one thing they could all agree on, it was the primal need to see Allen gear up and shoot pucks.
“See, told you the dinner request was suspicious,” Allen said, bumping shoulders with Jake. “My intuition never fails me.”
Jake shrugged. “You probably thought they were going to say something about being boyfriends. I saw how wide your eyes were when Riley was propositioning us.”
Allen gave an indignant grunt and stole a piece of Jake’s broccoli. “Whatever. You’re lucky you’re cute.”
Cute was the word Jake typically used to describe Allen, but he learned very quickly that his pretty boyfriend was anythingbutcute when you put a stick in his hands and sent him on the ice.
Allen was thirty years old and hadn’t played hockey since he was a kid, but the man was a fucking menace once they were geared up and fair game for bruising hits.
“Valero! Control your fucking hamster before I?—”
A loud crash rang through the boards, followed by Kingston’s cursing and Allen’s cackling laughter. Jake swerved and saw the aftermath of Allen checking Kingston into the boards, and the scattered remains of the younger man’s ego on the ice around him.
Jake had been half-heartedly fighting Riley for the puck in the other corner, but now they were both still as Allen skated over to them, panting through his chuckles.
“Ouch, fuck. I’m way too old and out of shape for this,” Allen said, grimacing. “And these panties are so far up my fucking ass that I feel like I’m choking on them.”
Riley made a strangled sound beside him, and Jake agreed.
