“Feel free to explore while I check how Riley is doing in the kitchen.”
Allen tugged the front of his shirt, forcing Jake to bend down or risk tearing the fabric. Allen’s mouth was on his the moment he was in reach, and Jake moaned softly when a tongue swept over his lip before he was pushed away.
“I’m serious, Mousey. Your dad has no idea what’s coming for him.”
No. He did not.
Jake grinned as he watched Allen take off into the penthouse, still moving slowly, but he seemed to have more energy now that he was in a new place. He waved at Riley and barely slowed to take his jacket off before he disappeared down the hall to the recreational area.
“I can’t believe he’s finally here,” Riley said in greeting when Jake joined him. “Do you have the chains secured to the bedpost correctly? Wouldn’t want him to weasel out of them.”
Jake smacked him on the back of his head and went to check on the turkey.
“I’m happy for you,” said Riley. “I know I’ve said that before, but you look so fucking happy with him that it’s tugging the heartstrings.”
Something in Riley’s tone alerted Jake to the hidden sadness behind his words, and he straightened and turned on his best friend. They knew each other too well after all these years, and even with Riley doing his best to minimize his feelings, Jake heard it.
Jake pulled Riley into a hug and tucked his head under his chin. “Not sure what’s up, but do you need me to ask Allen if his sister is single?”
He knew he had made the correct assumption when Riley grumbled and wrapped his arms around Jake, sighing into his chest.
Jake wished he could take away more of Riley’s loneliness, but he was only one person, and there was a lot of emptiness inhis heart to fill. Now that he had Allen, they could work together once Jake explained the situation, and maybethatwould be enough.
“Love you, man,” Riley said, squeezing him tighter.
“Love you too, Riles.”
Jake held the embrace until Riley was feeling better, and then backed away. The sadness was almost gone now, replaced by the familiar smile Riley always wore for him.
“So…did you guys have the sex?”
Jake chuckled and nodded, returning to the task of removing the turkey from the fridge where it was still sitting in the brine.
“Was it good?”
“Yes.”
“Are you boyfriends now?”
“Yes.”
“When is the wedding?”
“Soon.”
They were joking around, but Jake was half-serious about the wedding part.
“Holy shit!”
They both stopped as Allen came sprinting into the main area, eyes wide and shoulders heaving from his panting. He took one look at them before running down the other hall where the bedrooms and theatre were.
The penthouse was massive, and would take Allen an hour to fully explore, and that was without Jake showing him the hidden room that held all of his and Riley’s trophies.
“Holy shit!”
And again.
“Holyshit!”