Unknown (Hooked Book 3) (14 page)

Ryan shifted even closer. His fingers brushed Malik’s free hand, as if he’d almost taken Malik’s hand in his before catching himself. He turned his head, meeting Malik’s gaze. Those green eyes, wow. They saw too much and stole too little—like everything he promised Malik and Logan with only his stare. Ryan’s tongue shot out, moistening his lips. Malik’s gaze locked on the motion. The muscles in his stomach clenched. Logan squeezed Malik’s hand. Malik glanced over. Logan’s eyes fixed upon Ryan’s mouth. His expression said Malik’s every thought.

The heat of Ryan’s body disappeared as he took a step away. “If he’s here to start shit, I’ll go distract him.” Ryan chuckled. It was dark and filled with promise, letting Malik know exactly how he planned to distract Xander.

“Like hell you will,” Malik barked, stopping Ryan before the man did something stupid. Ryan’s gaze shot Malik’s way before moving to Logan. The way his features went blank had Malik glancing Logan’s way. He saw everything he felt mirrored in Logan’s expression. He looked hurt and outraged. As Ryan stared at Logan, desperation rose in Malik’s chest. Ryan looked as if he didn’t know whether to laugh or scream. Malik got it. He felt the same. Why was Ryan so goddamn blind? No way in hell could they stand by while Ryan went after Xander as if they meant nothing to him. How could Ryan even consider it while he looked at Logan as if the man was the only source of oxygen left on the planet?

“It’s no big deal, guys,” Ryan said, infusing a hint of humor in his tone. There wasn’t an ounce of that particular emotion in his eyes, which hadn’t yet budged from Logan. “I’m single. No one gets hurt in this equation.”

Except they all did. Logan’s grip tightened on Malik’s hand. He knew Logan was right there with him on this. Ryan couldn’t do this. “I said no,” Malik said. Even he heard the finality in his tone.

“Y’all are so cute. You should just fuck and get it out of the way. Unless you already are, then kudos.”

As one, they turned at Jimmy’s speech. With his elbow braced against the wall and a bright yellow cup dangling from his fingers, Jimmy looked relaxed, as if he’d been there the whole time. Malik found his voice first.

“Are you drunk?”

A flash of perfect white teeth and dimples touched Jimmy’s features before disappearing. “Stone-cold sober. I just tend to say what I think, and, oh yeah—I’m not blind.”

“Seriously? Stone-cold, huh?” Malik said mocking him. “You haven’t been that since at least ‘05.”

With a chuckle, Jimmy straightened away from the wall. “Well, stone-cold might be a stretch. But you know what they say—a bottle of liquor a day keeps the demons at bay. Anyhow, y’all don’t need to worry over Xander. Looks like Holden’s got things covered.”

Malik’s gaze shot Holden’s way. He was gone. Searching the crowd for the blond troublemaker across the way, Malik spotted Holden pushing his way through the crowd toward him, obviously intent on taking care of things himself. “Don’t forget, Holden is dating the World’s Strongest Man. That takes spunk.”

“You sound sure he’ll win.”

At Logan’s observation, Jimmy’s gaze moved his way. He eyed Logan in a way that had Ryan shifting from foot to foot as if ready to step between them. Malik wasn’t sure why Jimmy always seemed to be searching for something when he looked at Logan, but it wasn’t entirely comfortable.

“Of course, he’ll win. It’s Sam. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

To Malik’s surprise, and considering Jimmy’s rude staring, Logan didn’t hesitate taking a step in Jimmy’s direction. “Sure thing.”

The pair stepped off to the side, getting swallowed up by the crowd. Malik couldn’t stop watching Ryan’s every reaction. A muscle jumped in Ryan’s jaw. Malik couldn’t tell if he was biting back words or pissed as hell. An unexpected pain slashed through Malik. Maybe they were wrong. Ryan didn’t deserve this. Malik understood Ryan’s position better than anyone. If he were a better person, he’d let the man go after Xander in any way he pleased. Xander was a fucking dick, but they couldn’t do this dance forever. Sometimes, when it came to Ryan, Malik hated himself a little. They weren’t just friends.

“Sam Wilson is one point away from taking the lead.”

At the announcement, Malik tore his gaze away from Ryan, and focused on the reason they were there. In truth, he still didn’t see a thing. His eyes refused to focus. Ryan hadn’t turned when Malik had. He stood with his back to the field as if mentally trying to force Malik’s gaze back to his. Malik caught sight of Logan pushing his way back through the crowd, wearing a bright smile. He picked up speed and tackled Ryan from behind. His arms encircled Ryan’s waist, squeezing.

“Oh my God, Ryan.” Logan practically bounced in place while still holding onto Ryan. “You are the best person on the planet. Have I told you how much I fucking love you? Jesus. Seriously.”

Logan’s happiness was catching. Ryan’s expression was priceless. He looked at if heaven kept him wrapped in its arms—like he couldn’t breathe through the longing for more. As much as Malik wanted to stare all day, curiosity got the better of him.

“What did I miss?”

Logan peeked around Ryan’s frame. Ryan lifted his arm, tucking Logan against his side, since Logan obviously had no intention of releasing Ryan any time soon. “Ryan got me a job working at Jimmy’s. Since Jimmy has a reliable woman, managing the place Friday through Sunday, he only needs me four days a week. The hours would be set, no overtime, and I would make more than I am River Night. How fucking awesome is that?”

As Logan continued talking a mile a minute, listing all the fantastic things Jimmy offered, Malik kept his gaze locked on Ryan. He looked like he was uncomfortable with taking the credit. Malik’s skin itched to act. His throat burned as he stared at Ryan. Logan and Malik had broken because they were both so intensely focused on the other, they couldn’t function. Even after Logan and Malik came together again, they had cracks and chips they spent too much time trying to fill with temporary glue. They had spots Malik didn’t know how to fix. Ryan squeezed into those spaces, cementing them. He made them whole in a new and better way. He saw the solutions they couldn’t and then made them happen. Malik didn’t know how they’d survived without him in their life.

Ryan’s eyes held a hint of pain with Logan holding him. His jaw still ticked, biting back words. Why couldn’t the man just say how he felt? Maybe then, they could fix him, the way he had done for Logan and Malik.

“Sam Wilson pulls out the win.”

The announcement shook them from the moment. Holden reappeared with Xander in tow. His happiness almost matched Logan’s. “Holy shit! Did y’all see it? He won.”

Xander looked proud, but held onto his reserve. Malik didn’t know what had gone down between Holden and him, but they’d obviously come to some sort of truce.

“Sam did great,” Logan said, obviously holding onto more brain cells than Malik. He craned his neck and eyed Xander at Holden’s back. “Hey there, Xander. It’s been a while.”

Xander nodded. His light blue gaze moved around the group, lingering on the way Logan held onto Ryan. “Hey, Logan. How have you been?”

Logan beamed. “Fantastic. Thanks for asking.”

Logan’s welcoming tone thawed Xander a hair. His features lost their confrontational edge. “We’re planning to meet in the hotel bar in two hours to celebrate. That should give Sam time to get through the after interviews and all the official red tape. Would the three of you care to meet us there?”

Malik didn’t miss the way Xander said “three” as if openly questioning Ryan’s position. Shit like that was—no doubt—keeping Ryan from saying all the things that needed to be said.

“Two hours,” Logan repeated. “Sounds great. I don’t know about everyone else, but after standing in this heat all day, I’m ready for a shower.”

At Logan’s observation, Xander finally smiled. It was a thing of beauty—straight white teeth and dimples. Too bad that smile masked a black heart. “Yeah. They always hold this at the hottest time of year. Luckily, it’s here this year. Last year, it was in Africa. Trust me, this is nothing compared to that shit.”

While Xander kept up the commentary on last year’s event, Malik’s gaze moved back to his men. Ryan’s fingers stroked Logan’s shoulder as Logan held onto his waist. Malik wondered if Ryan was even aware of the telling motion. Common sense said Malik should have felt everything he wasn’t. Shouldn’t he want Ryan’s blood? Instead, he wanted more. His breathing deepened as he watched them. Images of them together, accepting one another and him, floated through Malik’s head. He cared. It ran deeper than that. This was more. Logan’s gaze shifted, meeting his. His smile transformed, matching the way Malik felt. Time had long past when they should’ve talked about this. Someone should’ve said something—anything.

“I love you,” Logan mouthed, melting Malik’s heart. The three of them, they were blessed. It was time they embraced it.

Chapter 9

Logan waited until after Malik and he had both taken their showers and he heard the water running for Ryan’s before he allowed himself a second to think. Shirtless and sitting on the edge of the bed, Logan stared at the closed bathroom door, picturing what was happening on the other side. He could tell by the way the water splashed that Ryan stood beneath its stream. What was the man thinking about? Malik crawled onto the bed behind him before settling in with Logan between his legs. Logan didn’t hesitate leaning against his chest and into Malik’s waiting arms. He fit perfectly. This was his place—his home. A sigh of ecstasy left his lips as his back hit Malik’s bare chest. They were like two pieces of the same puzzle, snapping together. He couldn’t explain how he felt sitting there surrounded by Malik’s massive form—like the air was cleaner in his arms.

The sound of running water stopped. Logan’s mind shifted again. Ryan had seen his struggle and fixed his life by going to Jimmy. Jimmy’s offer was the answer to Logan’s prayers. He’d thought to quit River Night a thousand times, but he couldn’t. They worked with him when he needed three-day weekends for Malik’s fights and he made too much money to go back to the bottom of the totem pole somewhere else. Ryan had called in some sort of favor or worked magic, Logan wasn’t sure which. Either way, he’d given Logan an amazing gift—just as he’d given him back his husband. The way Ryan always stared at him… Logan didn’t know how to face that. That wasn’t entirely true. Logan knew exactly what went on behind Ryan’s heated glances. He didn’t know if he could give Ryan what he craved.

“What are we doing with Ryan?”

Logan squeezed the arms around his waist at Malik’s question. It was a valid one. This couldn’t go on forever. Neither of them had said the words, but that didn’t make the situation any less real. Still, Logan couldn’t think of anything to say. They’d been together a long time, and they’d proven nothing could break their love. This silent thing happening with Ryan was slowly becoming very real. They couldn’t ignore it forever. “You’re the greatest love of my life,” Logan said, because it needed to be said.

Malik’s lips brushed Logan’s nape. “You’re my everything.”

Logan’s eyes fell closed at the contact. Damn, he loved being kissed there. “I don’t like it when he hurts,” Logan said, admitting the one thing that sat heaviest on his chest. After all, someone needed to be the first to be honest.

“I know,” Malik said, shifting from Logan’s nape to the side of his neck.

“He jokes sometimes to hide it, and I want to make it stop.”

Malik’s tongue toyed with cords of Logan’s neck before moving to his shoulder, and hardening Logan’s dick. “You should. He wants you to make it stop.”

There it was. Someone had finally said it. There was no going back. Malik’s fingers worked the button loose on Logan’s jeans as he nipped at Logan’s neck. The bathroom door opened, and steam rolled out along with Ryan. A white hotel towel rode low on Ryan’s hips. His skin was flushed from his shower. Logan’s hunger doubled. Wanting Ryan had been a quiet, sneaky thing, invading his life. The man was just too damn good—always looking out for them. It had stolen away with something inside Logan while he hadn’t been looking.

“Whoa. Sorry, guys. Let me grab some clothes and I’ll give you some time alone.”

The laughter in Ryan’s tone was real, but brittle. Logan loved it and hated it. It was obvious he liked seeing Malik and Logan together, but it was equally obvious that he wanted it for himself. Logan needed to make everything right. He waved Ryan over.

“Come here first. I have something I need to say.”

As Ryan crossed the room, looking amused, Malik set his chin on Logan’s shoulder. He was like a lion—silently poised to attack. As soon Ryan was close enough for Logan to capture his hand, he did, towing the man between his knees before twining his fingers through both Ryan’s hands. He didn’t want him to get away.

“You’re amazing.”

Ryan smiled at the praise, but Logan wasn’t finished.

“Seriously. What you did for me today with Jimmy was one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. There aren’t enough thank yous in the world.”

Ryan’s smile faltered. “Anyone would’ve done the same.” He went to pull away. Logan held on.

“Maybe,” Logan agreed. “But they’re not you.”

*

As Ryan stared down at Logan, his mind screamed for him to run. Malik kissed Logan’s neck, and the flush on Logan’s cheeks deepened, making his blue eyes seem lighter. Ryan’s mouth went dry. Malik kneaded Logan’s erection through his jeans, as if Ryan wasn’t standing there. Logan’s lips parted on a pant. Ryan’s mouth chose that moment to go on autopilot, speaking with zero input from his brain.