On Point (Out of Uniform 3)

“For everything. For the way things have been between us—”

“Hey now. No deep talk.” Ben wasn’t about to let Maddox start putting his affairs in order or some such shit. “We’re getting through this. And there’s nothing wrong between us. Nothing.” He kept his voice firm.

Maddox nodded, but his eyes had a skeptical gleam to them, as if he didn’t have the energy to fight but wasn’t believing him either.

Ben led on, thoughts swimming. He’d lied to Maddox and that made sweat gather in the small of his back. He hadn’t lied about getting through this—his determination on that front wasn’t wavering—but about nothing being wrong between them. They both knew that nothing had been right since that second night with Canaan.

Four months ago

They didn’t speak much on the cab back to their place, Canaan sitting between them, a human buffer between Ben and the urge to throttle his best friend.

What was Maddox thinking? This was so far out of character for him that Ben was almost tempted to demand a substance screen. Almost. Because the darker part of him, the part he wasn’t terribly proud of, liked Maddox’s change of heart and wanted this. Wanted to give this to him, and as long as Maddox was sober and consenting, Ben didn’t want to spook him, didn’t want to stop and analyze why Maddox was suddenly so defiant.

Not that a deep conversation about Maddox’s innermost desires was exactly their jam and certainly not with Canaan present. Who knew, maybe Maddox was just super into the kid. Ben’s hands clenched. Okay, he didn’t like that either. Which wasn’t exactly the best way to go into a threesome—he’d been jealous before with Trey and that never ended well. And jealous with Maddox was beyond pointless. All he needed to focus on was whatever made Maddox happy.

And if this night, Canaan, and his own sorry self made Maddox happy, turned his crank, then Ben was going to do whatever it took to give him something memorable.

He unlocked the apartment, surveying for anything out of the ordinary, same as he always did, even if the caution felt laughable under the circumstances.

“Anyone want a drink?” he asked, holding the door for the other two.

“Nope.” Canaan grabbed Maddox’s hand, tugged him toward the living room, leaving Ben to follow.

Ben almost never missed Trey anymore, but he missed his host-with-the-most routine right then. Trey would know how to set a mood—would get the lighting just so, hand out the right drinks and get some background music on, all effortlessly. The jerk. Instead Ben was left to trail behind Maddox and Canaan, fumbling with the lights.

Not that Canaan seemed to require much mood setting, what with his winks and careless gestures, but Ben wanted this right for Maddox. Canaan pushed Maddox into the big leather easy chair that was Ben’s favorite spot for watching soccer on the flat screen TV and Maddox’s favorite spot for weekend naps.

We need two. Ben told that thought to go away, because furniture shopping would be an admission that this was more than temporary and was far, far more couple-y than he ever wanted to get again.

“What do you want?” Canaan asked Maddox. “I’m up for whatever, including doing you while Captain Grumpy over there watches.” He jerked a thumb in Ben’s direction. “But tell me what would turn you on.”

Hey now. Being in charge was supposed to be Ben’s role. But before he could open his mouth, Maddox cleared his throat, and Ben swallowed back his retort, wanting to know what Maddox really wanted.

“I’m not sure.” Maddox was lying, Ben knew him well enough to know what the nervous mumble meant. “Maybe surprise me?”

Ben leaned over the chair to put his lips next to Maddox’s ear. “Whatever you want. No judgment. This is all for you.”

“Wanna watch,” Maddox said softly. “Can I watch you get him off?”

“Absolutely.” Ben would rather do something directly for Maddox, but touching Canaan was hardly a hardship, and the idea of showing off for Maddox made his cock throb inside his black jeans.

Ben led Canaan to the couch, right in front of Maddox’s chair, and pulled him onto his lap. “Let’s give him a good show,” he growled in Canaan’s ear.

Canaan kissed him while grinding against him, enthusiastic kisses that Ben couldn’t help but return. Across the room, Maddox’s swift intake of breath said that he wasn’t immune to the display. Ben let Canaan kiss and rock against him a bit, running his hands up and down the slimmer man’s back. But it was hard to watch Maddox’s face this way, hard to make sure he was still enjoying things.

“Turn,” he ordered Canaan. “And lose the clothes.”

“Yes, sir, drill sergeant.” Canaan gave him a mock salute before tugging his tank top off and pushing his jeans and skimpy look-at-me red briefs down. Ben pulled off his own T-shirt, then had Canaan straddle him again, facing Maddox this time.