Page 7 of Twice the Problems


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Salem swiped his lips across Dodge’s mouth. “Exactly. This isn’t a competition. It’s three pieces of one soul finding each other.”

Goddamn. Dodge flew to his feet, holding Salem’s weight. He braced him against the wall and fucked him the way he had always wanted. Dodge didn’t think. He acted. Even though it was Salem, he became the person who fucked anyone else. Dodge took his pleasure while following Salem’s cues. If he moaned, Dodge leaned into that angle. Everything felt good to him. He couldn’t be disappointed, but he also knew he wouldn’t let Salem down. Salem believed in him and loved him. That was all he needed to let go and enjoy their time. When Salem’s cum hit his chest, a roar of possessiveness and satisfaction filled his head.

The way Salem’s body felt—the heat. The way he tried sucking him deeper. Dodge had never experienced anything so powerful. He knew that was because his heart was all the way in, but the ecstasy nearly unglued his mind. He chanted Salem’s name against his throat as he filled Salem with cum. It felt like a claiming, butDodge knew it wasn’t. Salem still held something back from him. He felt it all hours of the day. There was some part of Salem they couldn’t reach. Until they did, Salem would never agree to be theirs.

With a towel wrapped around his waist, Quest ambled from the bathroom into the bedroom. He found Dodge nude on his knees, picking up the box of cards that had spilled everywhere during lastnight’s encounter.

“I planned to do that when I got out of the shower.”

Dodge looked up. His sweet, hazel eyes locked on to Quest. Quest’s heart skipped a beat. Dodge smiled. “Hey. It’s no big deal. I came in here to get it.”

Quest’s gaze swept Dodge’s nude body. “Is that what you came here to do?”

Dodge blushed. “I was on my way to my bedroom. I forgot to get dressed.” Quest’s heart had never stood a chance. Not from day one.

Quest plopped down on the bed and stretched out. He opened his arms to Dodge.

With a huge grin, Dodge crawled into Quest’s embrace. He snuggled against Quest’s chest.

Quest took a deep breath. “You smell like him—like whatever product he uses or whatever. You know what I mean.”

“I think we pushed too hard, too fast. He left. Practically ran from the house.”

He wasn’t surprised. “I think three years is a long enough wait. It’ll be okay.”

“He cried. Last night,” Dodge explained unnecessarily.Quest had been there.

“You remember what it was like. When no one has ever loved you, it’s hard. He’s not like us. For someone like him, this whole thing will be even harder to swallow.”

Silence stretched between them.

Dodge cleared his throat. “This whole thing. What is that exactly?”

God. Quest had been waiting for Dodge to ask that for a long time. He knew Dodge had to come to him. Too much had happened to Dodge. His incredibly sweet nature had been more than abused. Dodge had to be the one to choose. “It’s always been us, babe. I’ve just been waiting for you to bedone with playing. You’re owed that freedom.”

Dodge shifted, as if getting more comfortable. “One morning, like three months after Dad died, we woke up and Salem had cooked breakfast. I know he’s always done that, but it just hit me from nowhere. He made this a home. I mean, I get that JD indulged us, but this was different. Salem glued us together. I know I don’t make sense.”

A lump grew in Quest’s throat. “You make perfect sense. JD loved us, but his love language was money. It’s like we needed a steadiness or something like that.” He chuckled. “I guess I’m the one who doesn’t make sense now.”

Dodge’s hand moved across Quest’s stomach, stroking him. “Nah. I get you, but I forgot my point. That’s the day I knew I wanted it to be just us. The three of us.” He plucked at Quest’s towel nervously. Dodge cleared his throat again. Quest practically felt how uncomfortable this conversation was for him. “It’s been really hard watching you both choose everyone but me.”

Quest rolled, pinning Dodge beneath him. Dodge looked every bit as vulnerable as he sounded. “I’d never choose anyone over you. Why in the fuck do you think I drink so much? I fucking hate seeing Salem and you choosingeveryone but me. From day one, I was more than willing to be only yours.”

Dodge looked sad rather than reassured. “I just thought you didn’t want me anymore.”

“How could you think I don’t want you?” Quest shifted positions, ensuring Dodge couldn’t miss his erection. Even Quest heard the rage in his voice. Quest realized he had lost his towel in the fracas when it sank in there was nothing between them.

Dodge stroked his ass. “I love you.”

Quest softened immediately. He couldn’t explain it, but he loved the sound of Dodge’s voice. His shoulders relaxed at just the sound, much lesswhile saying those words with their nude bodies molded together. “I love you too. Seriously, though. How could you think I don’t want you?”

The sweetest shrug came from beneath him. He watched Dodge turn adorably shy. Quest knew most people never saw the real Dodge. They saw an overly confident beauty. It was a facade. While Dodge was definitely flawless, he was still the same painfully broken boy Quest met nearly a decade ago. He counted on Quest. “Like Salem pointed out last night, you never dated any other men. I thought… well, you know what I thought.”

He did, and it broke his heart. Quest lowered his head and kissed Dodge, lightly swiping his lips across Dodge’s before moving to kiss his cheek. “I more than want you. I want it to be just us. The three of us, exactly as fate intended.” He licked Dodge’s collarbone. “I’m sorry I’ve failed you. Tell me how I can fix it?” He sucked Dodge’s nipple, listening to the way his breathing turned ragged. Quest softened his voice even more, luring Dodge from the shell he hid in when he was embarrassed to talk about something. “Tell me how I could’ve made you see the way I die a little each night you’re not sleeping beside me.”

Dodge snagged his hair and pulled, dragging Quest’s mouth back to his. He dove inside. His tongue fought Quest for control. Quest’s throat swelled even as his hips automatically rolled. Their erections enjoyed the friction while their mouths played. Everything in Quest’s chest hurt even as his body burned. His eyes stung. He wanted this life so goddamn badly and it was like he was invisible. Quest tried so hard to give this household all the love he had, and he swore no one noticed how badly he needed to be loved too.

Dodge swiped Quest’s face. “Why in the fuck are you crying? Why am I makingeveryone cry?”