It had been the right decision to back off in order to keep the friendship. Other than David, Rig was the most important person in his life. He was impossible to shock, loyal to the bone, and Rory loved the man enough to give him what he needed, favor or no favor.
The idea that David had heard all the graphic details, had asked for them, was almost too much for Rory to process. “Why would you want to know about that?”
“Because it’s hot as fuck and it’s not your turn to ask a question,” Rig interrupted smoothly. “But that’s not how it started. David wanted to know how we were able to be friends after our short-lived hookup. He wanted to know why it seemed so easy for us, and not for the two of you.” He licked his lower lip, watching them. “You should answer that, Rory.”
Rory ran a hand through his hair, trying to think of what to say. “It’s not like it’s unheard of. Tasha and Jeremy used to have threesomes and they’re still best friends. Either that, or Stephen and Owen are way more open-minded as husbands than I ever imagined.”
Rig coughed lightly and reached for his drink. “Extreme truth time. We made the decision to pull back after our first Spring Break. The one where we met up with David and his new girlfriend at the beach and stayed in a rental together. She’d ditched him by nightfall because he was too damn excited to see you to give her the attention she wanted. I saw it then, and I understood what I was seeing. So, since I’d already made the decision to keep you, I was ready when you started backing off and willing to accept being just friends with occasional benefits.”
“Is that true? It was that Spring Break?” David asked.
But Rory’s head was swimming. He’d forgotten.
Rig hadn’t. Rig had seen everything. It was beyond disconcerting.
Rory scowled. “Why did you want to stay friends with such a stupid prick?”
“He’s high maintenance, I’ll give you that,” Rig told David, his gaze still resting on Rory. “But worth every bit of the effort. Plus, I love that prick, so keep the insults to a minimum.”
Rory covered his eyes. “I’m such an asshole.”
“No,” Rig corrected. “You’re my best friend and the Johnny Appleseed of Orgasms, as you’ve told me a thousand times. And on occasion you invite me along to spread that love, for which I am eternally grateful.”
He was acting like it was nothing, but Rory knew what kind of selfish bastard that made him. All the rules he’d put in place to resist his attraction to these two men—and their potential attraction to each other—his stubborn attempts to keep things the way they were, didn’t seem that clever now. They seemed juvenile. “Well, Johnny is retired, at least. I’m over the quantity phase of my sex life and moving into quality. I’ve officially turned over a new leaf.”
“Yeah, Jen mentioned your cleanse.” Rig sighed. “If it helps, you’re also one of the most loving men I’ve ever known.”
Rory sent him a suspicious glance. “I thought you were talking about me.”
“I am.”
“I could say the same thing.” David set his hand high on Rory’s thigh and he almost shot off the couch in reaction. Didn’t the guy fucking know erection etiquette? You didn’t touch a man with a raging hard-on unless you wanted to find yourself on your knees experiencing it first-hand. “You don’t give yourself enough credit, Roar.”
“I think we should go back to Essie’s sex cards.” Was his voice higher than normal? “That seems safer.”
Rig laughed. “No, this is really working for me. And it’s David’s turn to ask you a question.”
Motherfuckingshitdamnitno!
David squeezed once before letting go of Rory’s leg so he could breathe again. “Fair warning. My question has to do with that thing you never want to talk about.”
Sweet merciful Mary, make it stop.
“I know why you got the impulse to kiss me that night. I mean, I heard what your father said to you.”
He had? God, that had been a fucked-up situation. Rory had actually thought he could stop Elder from causing a scene and storming out during the reception. He didn’t want Uncle Shawn’s feelings to be hurt. But Elder’s youngest son was the last person he would ever listen to, and of course it had backfired. Spectacularly.
“I came so those reporters would leave me the hell alone. I came for my nephew’s political career. Stephen is making the Finn name something to be proud of, even if his brother is trying to steal the spotlight with this homo bullshit. You must be loving it though. All of them following your dainty lead and flaunting their private lives like it’s something to be proud of. Bringing up the past for no reason. I’m sick of being judged by my sons for not being soft enough. For not wanting to witness every minute of this freak show. You can’t shame me any more than you already have tonight. Any more than you have since you were born.”