Tobias stared at him. "You're in love, you idiot. It's supposed to feel like the rug has been ripped out from under you."
Bradford snorted. "Well, that's easy for you to say now that you're the expert on it. But I remember how your hands shook that night we talked at the bar."
"Ah, but that wasn't love, my darling. That was sheer terror. There's a difference. I didn't want a permanent sub, and he cried out to me like no one had since Phan." It hadn't been love, not then. Complete and utter lust, maybe, but not love. That waited at least a week to start sniffing around.
"Call it whatever you like." Bradford sighed, "I'd stop a little short of sheer terror, but fear wouldn't be far off."
"Want to know what got me past that?" Tobias asked him softly.
Bradford's eyes flicked up to meet his. "Yes."
"Noah. Trusting him to be party to it; letting him make his own choices within the boundaries of our agreement. I fulfilled every single promise I made him, and he gave me back tenfold what I'd expected." Tobias sat down and met Bradford's eyes. "Let him love you. Let him be what he has to be. It'll guide you both."
Bradford studied him a moment and then looked down at his hands. "Good advice. I'll try to do that."
"If you let him give to you... let him meet you halfway... it'll be amazing, Bradford. I promise you."
Bradford nodded. "Sounds so easy. Do you still feel like the floor is shifting or does that go away after a while?"
"It went away. And then Phantom... well. There are no rugs in our house. It's much safer that way." Tobias leaned back, looking for the bottle.
"Library cabinet." Bradford pointed. "So you're going to collar Phan?"
Tobias got up and walked to the cabinet. "Want one?"
"Oh, sure. When we're business partners though, we have got to watch this." He grinned.
Tobias laughed. "Call it our last fling." He poured two glasses and brought them back, passing Bradford his. "Yes," he said, slumping into his chair again. "I'm going to collar Phan. Part of it is that I really messed up lately; he's part of us, and he deserves more than a short contract. He's my boy, and I think we three all know it's long-term. But part of it is that I want to see him wearing my collar again."
"Nothing wrong with that." Bradford took his drink.
"No." Tobias sipped his drink and stared at the ceiling.
"What?"
"What what?"
"If there's nothing wrong with that, why are you studying my ceiling?"
"It's nice. White. Flat. Good workmanship. And there is nothing wrong with me collaring Phan. You should see the painting he's done of Noah. Stunning."
Bradford leaned forward. "You know, you and I would see a lot less of each other if we stopped hedging and denying things that we know the other one is going to make us talk about."
"Bastard," Tobias said mildly. "All right then. I think I might be a little jealous of them."
"You're serious?" Bradford asked with a raised eyebrow. "Of what exactly?"
"Of the way they are together, the easy way they have of just being. They're so affectionate -- don't get me wrong, it's wonderful, I like that. They're best friends. They're insanely hot for each other. They're just... right. And they're both mine, and they love each other and I should be happy, right? And mostly I am. But part of me wants to be in that, too. They hate my doorbell. They have in-jokes and pet names and more sex than I could hope to keep up with." He sighed and stared at the ceiling again. "I'm a sixteen-year-old girl wanting to be part of the in crowd."
Bradford shook his head. "Tobias, from what I've gathered you've been noticeably absent lately, right? So they've had lots of time to bond. Besides, what's stopping you from being in on it? Noah is in love with you. I'd bet money Phan is, too."
"Nothing's stopping it," Tobias agreed. "It's just time, I know that. But that's what's in my head, anyway -- I didn't promise it would make sense."
"And you're in love with Phan, too."
Tobias blinked and ran through the conversation. "Oddly, I don't remember saying anything like that," he observed.
"You're collaring him."
"So?"
"So you didn't collar Noah until you were in a well-established love affair. It's your pattern."
Tobias rolled his eyes. "We're in a well-established relationship. Again. It's the logical next step."
Bradford leaned back in his chair. "Mm. Logic. I see."
"Oh, shut up."
"You're irrationally jealous of your boys being free with each other, but you suddenly call on logic to defend your need to collar Phan?"
Tobias eyed him. "Yes? That doesn't mean that I'm in love with him. I care about him -- hell, I've never denied that. I love him, and that's not the same thing at all. How could I not love him? That doesn't mean I'm in love with him. I'm in love with Noah."
Bradford nodded. "And, logically, you can only be in love with one person."
"Oh, shut up." Tobias looked at the glass. "New stuff? I usually don't start repeating myself so soon."
"Top shelf. Oh, all right, far be it from me to tell you who you're in love with." Bradford smiled at Tobias. "Shall we drop it?"
"Please. And bury it. And never speak of it again. Shall we talk about.... oh, hell. What do I do with this now? Thank you ever so much, you bastard." Tobias frowned at the floor. "Damn."
"What is there to do?" Bradford tossed Tobias the cigarettes. "Phantom is your boy, he's living in your house with your lover who also loves him. I don't see the problem. Logic again?"
Tobias did not tell Bradford to shut up. He thought it very loudly, but he didn't say it. "I hope Noah sees it that way."
"Well, there's only one way to find that out."
"Ah, yes. 'Noah, I've just been informed by Bradford that I'm in love with Phan as well as you. How do you feel about that?' I can see it now."
Bradford laughed. "You are really something. It was the boy's idea to ask Phan in, he agreed to a contract alongside him, he's been fucking him while you're out delivering sheep. Give the boy a little credit."
"He hasn't fucked him," Tobias said. "He's not allowed. Though I did let Phan fuck Noah one night while I listened on the phone." He looked up and blinked. "Damn, this is good stuff."
"Like I said, top shelf. You'll be taking a cab home." Bradford grinned.
"Lord, yes. And soon, I think. Can we change the subject before I get hard, please?"
"Sure. How about a double ceremony?" Bradford swallowed down the rest of his drink.
"Oh, good idea. Noah can be the collar bearer." He grinned, warming to the idea. "Where should we do it?"
"I'd like to do it here, if you don't mind. And soon. Next weekend? The weekend after?"
"Jesus." Tobias thought about another drink. "Not much time for us to get cold feet. All right then, today is Tuesday, it'll take a few days to get the collars made... Saturday might be pushing it."
"Next weekend then. Say, seven o'clock, here. I'll make the arrangements, let me know who you'd like on the guest list."
Tobias nodded. "Luca, if they can come. The usual crowd from here." He grinned. "Phan's dad."
Bradford laughed. "Yeah, okay, and his therapist, too?"
"God, don't invite his father! But yes, Dr. Brewer might be nice," Tobias smiled and stood up. "Call me a cab. I have to go home. Now."
"We'll talk more later then, partner." Bradford stood up. "Come on out, Joe can call you a cab, you can wait at the bar."
"Got any of that lovely stuff out there?" Tobias asked with a smile. "A short one for the road... We really do have to stop doing this."
"You're a lightweight tonight, friend." Bradford led him out to the bar. "Joseph, Tobias needs a cab and no matter what he asks for, give him water."
"Yes, sir." Joe grinned and picked up the phone.
"He's a lying, pushy Top," Tobias informed Joe. "Except the part about the cab. I do need that."
"Pushy I'd believe," Joe said hanging up the phone. "About five minutes."
"Really, Tobias, have I ever lied to you?" Bradford grinned.
"Sadly, no. And look at the mess you've gotten me into," Tobias said mournfully, playing it up for Joe. "I'm ruining cuddle night by coming home early, you know."
"Somehow I have this feeling they'll be happy to see you."
"Depends what they're doing." Tobias looked around the bar and nodded to both Bradford and Joe. "Think I'll wait outside for that cab."
"All right, but Joe's going to be watching you. Don't you dare reach for those car keys." Bradford escorted him to the door.
"Please, I'm not that desperate to get laid."
"Oh, look. There it is." Bradford let go of his arm. "You okay on the steps?"
"It was one drink!" Tobias glared at him. "I am sober. I'm just in love and have that floor thing going on. Goodnight, Bradford, you bastard."
"Goodnight, friend." Bradford waved at him.
Tobias got home far earlier than he'd intended, and most of him was hoping that the boys had moved out of the living room for their cuddle so he could sneak in unnoticed. He unlocked the door quietly and slipped in, his eyes on the floor as he tried to walk on cat's feet.
No such luck. The house was dark except for the flicker of the television in the living room. There were sounds, but they were soft and difficult to identify. The floor creaked under his feet and Tobias froze.
"Did you hear something?"
"Shhhh!"
"Sorry."
When no one came out to investigate, Tobias figured he had a pretty good shot at slipping past the living room door and into his room. Carefully, he made his way farther down the hall.
"Don't do it!" one of the boys whispered.
"She's gonna do it, they always do it."
"Are women really that stupid or is it just in the... OH MY GOD!" That was Noah's voice.
Phan screamed in response. "AHH!"
"Jesus, we told you not to do that, you idiot!"
"I told you she would." Phan seemed to be panting.
Tobias stopped in the doorway, too curious to keep on walking. Phan was in Noah's lap, and both of them were half covering their eyes and looking through their fingers at the television screen.
Really, it was impossible to resist. He waited as the music rose, the eerie and predictable soundtrack heightening the tension in the room as he crept forward. Just as the music reached its apex and Phan started to make high pitched "eeping" noises, Tobias put one hand on each of them, clasping their shoulders.
Phan screamed.
Tobias wasn't entirely sure what happened next. All of a sudden everyone was in motion, and Tobias hit the carpet behind the couch face down with one arm wrenched up behind his back.
"Get the light, Phan! Light!" Noah barked, planting a knee in Tobias' back to keep him down.
Tobias sighed, fighting the instinct to move; Noah would break his arm. "This really isn't my night," he said. "I hate Bradford."
"Oh, shit." Noah backed off quickly, letting Tobias' arm go and moving off him. He babbled in a panic as he tried to help Tobias up. "Are you all right? I'm so sorry, sir. You're home early; you scared the fuck out of me. I'm so sorry." He actually brushed off Tobias' pants and straightened his shirt. "Shit."
"I'm fine," Tobias assured him. "I still hate Bradford, though." He leaned forward and kissed Noah quickly, and then Phan, who was looking at him with wide eyes. "Goodnight, boys." He gathered his dignity around him and started walking back to his room.
"Whoa, have you been drinking? Why do you hate Bradford?" Noah trailed after him. "What happened? You smell like cigarettes, too. I thought you were just talking business? Do you need help?"
"I had one drink, one cigarette, I don't need help, and we talked business," Tobias rattled off. "Go finish your movie, sweetheart." He didn't want witnesses to the sulk he was planning on having, certainly not Noah and Phan. They'd never let him get away with it.
Noah lingered uncertainly in the doorway to the bedroom. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Tea, maybe? Did you get dinner? Maybe I could run a bath for you?"
"Noah," Tobias said softly. "Go enjoy your evening. It's everyone's night off. I'm sorry I scared the crap out of Phan; go love on him."
Noah nodded. "Yes, sir. All right," he said and backed out of the doorway before turning and heading back down the hall toward the living room.
Tobias sighed and scrubbed at his face. That hadn't gone particularly well. He stripped off his clothes with jerky movements and went to take a shower, hoping he'd feel a bit more settled afterward.
The shower helped, but he still felt embarrassed when he was done, a little stupid about scaring them that way. He made his way back to the bed, listening to the movie with half an ear as he climbed into bed. He lay there, wondering if he should read; it was early, and he'd more or less caught up on his sleep. He sighed again and closed his eyes.
The sounds and the light from the television ended abruptly. Moments later, he felt movement on either side of the bed and warm, naked boys cuddling up under the covers with him.
"We decided we don't need the rest of the night off, and neither do you, sir." Noah said softly.
He smiled, slipping his arms around them. "I didn't mean to interrupt," he said quietly.
"That was a hell of an interruption; Phan and I just spent the last ten minutes laughing about it. I didn't even hear you come in! Usually you ring that damn doorbell." Tobias could hear the laughter in his voice and sense him grinning even if he couldn't see him well in the dark.
"I was planning on sneaking past," Tobias admitted. "But when I saw you and realized it was a horror movie, I couldn't stop myself." Tobias felt himself start to smile. "Forgot you were a manly stud of a cop, though. Fatal flaw to the plan."
Phan giggled. "He's all manly stud, how you forgot is beyond me."
Noah chuckled. "Well, I had to look out for Phan, after all; he's such a delicate flower. Now you have certain proof that he's safe with me. Though if you hadn't been tipsy I doubt I'd have gotten you on the floor so fast. I don't believe you only had one drink."
"It was good stuff. Hey!" Tobias blinked as Phan crawled over him to get to Noah.
"I am not a flower, you brute!" Phan declared, pinning Noah down.
Noah let himself be pinned, though Tobias knew he was hardly helpless. "Brute? I'm no brute, I'll have you know. Okay, I'm sorry. You're a delicate fairy. Better?"
Phan tried to snarl, but he wound up giggling. "Careful, or I'll wave my wand at you."
Tobias laughed and moved over a little, giving them room. This threatened to be entertaining, but the chance of getting squished was high.
Noah leaned up and licked Phan's nose. "For a fairy you have a very impressive wand."
"I know," Phan said, looking smug. "Wanna touch it?"
Tobias grinned and rolled on his side, so he could watch.
"I don't know, are you going to turn me into a toad or something?" Noah reached a hand down and slid his fingers around Phan's dick. "Jesus, are you ever not hard?" Noah laughed.
Tobias watched Noah's hand and Phan's cock, his own erection firming up fairly rapidly. Pretty boys playing with each other; sometimes he had to just wonder what lucky star he'd been born under.
Phan sighed and shook his head. "In a bed with you and Sir? Not hardly." He pushed through Noah's fingers slowly. "Oh, yeah. Like that."
"I should hope by now I know how you like it," Noah purred at him. He leaned up and kissed Phan, holding his hand more or less in place so Phan could fuck his fist.
Tobias reached over and tugged Noah's nipple ring, watching as Phan rocked slowly.
Noah hissed. "Oh, God, yes, sir," he whispered, falling back into the pillows. "Yes, please."
Tobias looked at Phan's cock, the hard shaft getting harder. It was a thing of beauty, really, and Noah's hand touched Phan expertly. A bead of fluid formed at the head and Tobias licked his lips, content to watch for a while longer. He hummed and pulled on Noah's ring again. Phan's breath was coming quicker, though he kept his thrusts steady and slow, drawing it out. Tobias watched his skin start to flush, his chest growing pink as his blood ran faster. "Beautiful," Tobias whispered. "So pretty." He leaned over and kissed Noah, pushing his tongue deep.
Noah moaned into his mouth, opening wide to let Tobias in. His free hand moved around him and tangled and tugged at the hair at the back of Tobias' head, and he groaned, sucking on Tobias' tongue greedily.
Phan moaned. "So hot," he said, sounding choked. "God, Noah. Sir." He moaned again and Tobias pulled on Noah's ring, fucking his boy's mouth with his tongue.
Noah was fairly motionless, well pinned between Phan's weight and Tobias' attentions to his ring and his mouth. He moaned and hummed around Tobias' tongue, but wasn't able to get out anything coherent. He was hungry, though, sucking and scrubbing Tobias' tongue with his own.
Tobias could hear Phan begin to pant, his motions starting to rock them all as he moved over Noah. With a groan, Tobias pulled away from Noah's mouth and dove for the nipple ring, licking around it before he headed farther down.
He heard a gasp, but couldn't tell if it was Noah or Phan as he licked his way down Noah's chest and stomach. When he lapped over Noah's fingers though, and licked the head of Phan's cock, he knew Phan's cry.
"Oh, God! Sir!"
Tobias made an encouraging noise and opened his mouth, letting Noah guide Phan's cock in.
"Oh, yeah." Noah's fingers let go as Phan pushed into Tobias' mouth, and he moved sideways, getting out of their way and allowing Tobias easier access to Phan's cock.
"So hot, sir." Noah groaned and then his sounds and Phan's were muffled in what had to be a kiss. It wasn't long-lasting though, as Phan's harsh pants returned quickly. "Suck him hard, sir. Listen to him, you're making him crazy. He loves this." Noah's voice sounded tight and husky, and he kept his fingers in Tobias' hair.
Tobias moaned, almost smiling around Phan's cock, the taste rich and heady, flowing freely as he licked and sucked. He took Phan in, let him thrust into his throat for a moment before holding onto his hips and taking charge. He moved on the bed to get a better angle, then started bobbing, twisting his head from side to side.
"Oh, God, oh, God," Phan said hoarsely. "Sir!"
Tobias felt the head of Phan's cock swell and quickly tugged the boy's balls, hard. Not yet. He moaned again and let Phan slip from his mouth, waiting until Phan's urgency had passed before licking and slurping his way down the shaft to lick Phan's balls.
"Yeah, oh, God, yes," Phan babbled. "Noah, oh, shit, look!"
"Oh, I see, baby, I see. You're beautiful. You both are. Sir has a wicked tongue." Tobias could feel him moving around on the bed, but it wasn't until he felt hot breath on his chest that he realized what he was up to. Noah moved over him and licked and teased and bit at his nipples and chest, working his way lower.
He shuddered, spreading his legs to give Noah some room. "Come on, pet," he said, licking at Phan. "Suck me." He growled and took Phan back into his mouth, sucking hard.
Phan cried out, his hands sliding through Tobias' hair. "Fuck, yes. Oh, God, yes!" He thrust hard, pushing against Tobias' grip on his hips.
"Can't wait." Noah lapped at his balls and then up his length. He took Tobias in shallowly at first, wrapping warm fingers around his shaft and giving it a squeeze. He bathed the head of Tobias' cock with his tongue and slid the tip along its groove.
Groaning, Tobias thrust gently, slower than Phan was fucking his mouth. Phan was close, and Tobias wasn't going to stop him again; he'd let him come, let him watch Noah suck, and then see what else they could get up to. If nothing else, there was an endless supply of lube and a lot of toys around.
Phan babbled and Tobias moaned again, Noah driving him slowly crazy. He started losing his rhythm on Phan, who didn't seem to care, crying out and pushing into his throat, babbling about how good they looked, how good it felt. Tobias shuddered again and let go of Phan's hips, sliding a hand under his ass to tease his hole.
"Fuck!" Phan screamed. "Coming, sir!" And he did, his prick rigid and then throbbing as Tobias swallowed everything Phan had to give him.
Noah made a growling sound as Phan came, and he let go of Tobias cock to swallow him deep instead, sucking hard and picking up a strong rhythm. His fingers moved to Tobias' ass and teased, sliding over his cheeks, over his hole, caressing muscle and sensitive skin.
Tobias growled right back, his hands holding Noah's head still as he thrust rapidly into Noah's mouth. "Do it," he said roughly. "Take it, pet."
Noah let him thrust, opening his throat for Tobias and bracing himself on the bed. He took Tobias' cock over and over, swallowing and scraping his tongue along the shaft. He tried to make sounds but most were cut off as Tobias prick slid down the back of his throat. With his free hand, Noah's thumb pressed and teased and rubbed along Tobias' hole.
Tobias let his head fall back as he got lost in the sensations. He could hear Phan whimpering softly beside him and he reached out, pulling him close enough to kiss. Phan tasted wonderful, like Noah's kisses, like popcorn and Coke, like sex.
Groaning again, Tobias shuddered, his legs spreading farther. "Close," he whispered into Phan's mouth. "Oh, God, he's good at this."
Phan nodded, licking at his lips. "I know it."
Without warning Noah shoved a dry finger into Tobias' ass. He seemed to increase his efforts, too, sucking harder and letting Tobias thrust deeper down his throat.
"Noah!" Tobias arched his back, his ass clamping down on the finger as he started to shoot. He tore his mouth away from Phan's and cried out again, his legs trembling as he came hard.
"Oh, yeah," Phan breathed. "He's good at that."
Tobias gasped and panted, his body relaxing little by little. "I think he earned something special," he said to Phan, trying to get Noah to come up and kiss him.
"You think?" Noah said still lapping at Tobias' cock and balls. He finally allowed Tobias to drag him up his body and kissed him hard. "I wasn't trying to earn anything; that was just for you."
Tobias shrugged. "Night off. Not everything has to be just for me, pet. Why can't it be about the three of us?"
"It can. It will be. It was about you that time because I wanted it to be. It was how I chose to spend my night off. Don't be so grouchy." Noah grinned and kissed him again.
"I'm not grouchy, I'm horny." Tobias grinned and rolled on top of Noah, then smirked at Phan. "Want more?"
Phan nodded frantically. "Oh, yeah. Whatever you're offering."
"See?" he said to Noah. "I want more. Phan wants more. And you? Are you ready to be a little selfish? I think Phan's got another couple of goes in him, and I'll be ready for another round in a while. Let's play, love." He winked and rocked his hips, Noah's erection sliding along his skin.
"I could handle some selfish," Noah said after a moan. "I could definitely handle some selfish." He reached up and ran his fingers along Tobias' jaw, behind his ear and then down his neck to his shoulder. "Touch me."