Page 68 of Piece Us Together
“I can do that,” Maison interrupts. “Nolan’s kind of terrible at it.”
“Um, rude!” Nolan pouts, then smiles. “But also true. I could find us something to watch?”
“Actually, why don’t you go back and grab one of the pillows from the bedroom? There’s a throw blanket on the chair in there that you can also bring.” I let myself look at Maison, since hetechnically invited my attention by speaking. “I’d appreciate it if you built us the fire, thank you.”
His only response is a slight nod of his head before he moves to the fireplace and the log stack beside it. I should be grabbing extra blankets from the linen closet in the hall, but there’s not enough strength in the world for me to look away when that man bends over, my sweatpants stretched taut around his ass.God, what I wouldn’t give to fuck him just once.
Actually, no. Not once. Maybe once would kill me. I don’t think I could survive having to walk away from him after he gave me everything.
Nolan catches me spying, coming to a stop by my side with a pillow and blanket in his arms. He leans his head closer to my shoulder and whispers, “Great ass, hey?”
I chuckle. “The two of you have a matching set, it seems.”
“Mines all natural. He has to work out. Just saying.”
“I wouldn’t mind watching him work out,” I admit with a smirk.
“Oh, it’s a whole show, trust me.”
“I can hear you,” Maison grumbles as he arranges the logs inside the fireplace. He’s making a tent-like structure.
I tilt my head, very impressed. “Were you a boy scout?”
“Just a soldier.” He pauses, his hand stretched out for some kindling. He didn’t mean to share that. I can see it in the way his shoulders shudder with his sharp breath.
“You wear dog tags, Maison,” I say gently. “It wasn’t a secret.”
His fingers curl against open air before he seems to reset himself. He tosses a handful of kindling into the fire before standing and wiping his hands against each other. His eyes dart around, going nowhere near me or even Nolan. “We’ll need some newspaper or something. And a lighter.”
“I’ve got both. I’ll grab them.” I gesture to Nolan. “If you’d like, you can get comfortable on the floor, there. Kneel on yourcushion and use the pillow to rest against the front of the chair so you’re more comfortable. That blanket can be yours. Or you can sit on the couch with Maison. The choice is yours. No rules, today.”
“Can he—” Maison stops himself, his hands fisted at his sides. He looks at the couch before meeting my eyes. There’s something hard in his gaze at first, almost challenging, before it dissolves and his expression shifts and I’m suddenly looking at the same vulnerable man he keeps fighting so hard to hide from me. “Can the two of us sit on the couch and he kneel on the floor between us? Or maybe—could he sit? Between us? But on the cushion? So he’s not kneeling?”
It takes just about all of my self-control to keep my face from showing my surprise. “I’d like that, yes. If you want to, Nolan?”
He looks like we just offered him the world on a silver platter. “Yes. Please.”
“Okay. Same instructions, but centered on the floor in front of the couch, and sit comfortably.”
“Yes, sir.” He flashes Maison a bright grin before hurrying over to the couch. Maison steps forward, grabbing the coffee table and gently moving it so there’s more room for Nolan. He gives Nolan a surprising grin after, his cheeks flushing when they lock eyes.
I leave them behind, that ache from before returning with a vengeance. My hands tremble a little as I grab some newspaper and my long-neck lighter. I have it under control by the time I get back to them, though. Enough to hand Maison the requested items without him being able to see any issue. Two of his fingertips brush across my knuckles when he takes them. It’s such a small thing, really, but it’s the first time Maison has ever touched me and that has my head going a little fuzzy.
Get it the fuck together, Hunter.
I take a breath and turn to Nolan, smiling down at him where he has himself settled on his cushion, the blanket draped over his lap. I can tell by the way his legs are outlined beneath the fabric that he’s sitting cross-legged. I’ll allow it for now, but not for the whole day. He’ll need breaks to stretch his legs. Knowing that settles me. It’s an objective, a thing to keep in mind. It’s a responsibility as his dom.ThatI can handle.Thatdoesn’t make me feel like I can’t breathe.
I sit on the left side of the couch, my hand going right to Nolan’s hair. He hums and sways toward my knee as I start running fingers through his blond mess of locks.
“You’re so good for me, darling,” I tell him, smiling when he shivers at the words. “Can you hand me my mug?”
He perks right up, pleased to be given a task. He partially turns when he hands me my coffee. It’s just enough to give me a glimpse of his shy smile. “Here you go, sir.”
“Thank you.” I lean down without thinking, stopping short at the last second to place a kiss to the center of his forehead instead of where my brain wanted me to go.Jesus, what’s with these two fucking my head up?
When I sit back, my eyes find Maison. He’s staring right at me, the fire slowly growing behind him. I swallow hard. He parts his lips, chest rising, then shakes his head and comes to sit at the opposite end of the couch. “Fire should be good, it just needs a few minutes to catch.”
“Thank you.” I grab the remote with my free hand, pointedly not looking at either of them now. I even take a sip of my coffee.That’s nonchalant, right?I’m totally nonchalant. Like…the nonchalant-est. “What should we watch?”