Things are changing again for the foursome. Can they weather these changes as they do everything else—together?
Things are changing again for Bishop, Knight, Rook and Jason. Not only is Jason going back to school, but Knight has bought a cottage on a lake several hours away, and none of them are quite sure what it all means for their family of four.
As Knight loses himself in his art at the cottage and Jason begins the hard work needed to keep up with school, Rook and Bishop call each other often to stay in touch, but it isn’t the same thing as all four of them being together.
Could this be the beginning of two couples and the end of their foursome just when Jason was settling into being a part of this weird but wonderful family? Or will they find a way to make it work just like they have everything else?
Knight had bought a lake house.
Knight had bought a lake house.
Knight had bought a lake house.
READ MOREJason looked into his glass of bubbly, trying to process things. How big was the lake house? Who was going to live there? What did this mean for their family? What was the lake house for? Why hadn’t Knight said anything? Jase knew that Knight was impetuous and a little nuts and Jase knew that the accident had been brutal, the recovery harder, but… Knight had bought a lake house.
This on top of finding out, like ten minutes ago, that he’d been accepted to the physiotherapy program at the university. Knight had bought a lake house and Jason was going to be a student. Neither one seemed quite real, actually. Like someone was playing a big joke on them all, randomly throwing these new things at them to see how they coped. Except, unlike Knight’s accident, these were both good things, right? Well, his getting into the program definitely was. He’d just have to hope the other one was, too.
Rook was babbling away, but it didn’t quite sound natural and Jase wanted to give him a big hug and tell him everything was going to be okay. Luke, the piercer, was going to be ringing on the doorbell any second, too. They were going to give Knight his rings back. That’s what this evening was supposed to be about—a celebration of Knight’s recovery. And then his letter of acceptance had come. And Knight had bought a lake house. Just like that. Jase honestly didn’t quite know what to think.
“Okay, everyone. One glass of champagne and that’s it. Luke won’t do the piercings if he thinks we’re all drunk.” Bishop got them moving into the living room with its low lighting and the big, comfy couch that could—and often had—hold all four of them comfortably.
“Aren’t we just doing Knight?” Jase asked as he followed along, mind whirling about his acceptance letter, school, the lake house. It was like they were on one of those wheels you spun to see where it would stop, only they were just all going around and around and around in his head.
Knight shrugged. “I suppose it’s up to Rook, huh?”
That made Jason blink and focus on the task at hand—if Rook wanted more rings, they could discuss it.
“I don’t know. Tonight’s for Knight, right?” Rook’s hand slipped into his and it might have been Jason’s imagination, but it felt like Rook was holding on just a little bit tighter than usual.
“Right.” He leaned in, speaking just to Rook. “Knight bought a lake house?”
Rook shrugged. “I guess?” Then his lover gave him that smile he loved so much. “And you got into your program.”
“I did. Scary, huh? Me, going back to university. It’s the right decision, though.” He hoped.
“I’m so proud of you, honey. Like really.”
“Thank you.” He was a little proud of himself, to be honest.
Rook tugged his head down, giving him a good, hard kiss. The caress was delicious, sweet from the champagne, tickly almost.
The doorbell rang and Bishop chuckled. “I’ll get it.”
“Just ignore it.” Knight was laughing though, the man looking almost whole again. Almost.
“You’re getting my jewelry back, baby.” Bishop could growl when he wanted to.
“Maybe. If I feel like it.” It was clear Knight needed this, was relishing getting his rings back, despite any protests he might make.
“No maybes. No discussions.” Bishop shot the words back over his shoulder as he went to the door. “Luke! It’s so nice to see you.”
“Bish! Man! It’s been forever!” The big voice boomed in.
“Oh man, he makes my nipples tingle.” Rook pressed close to him.
Knowing Rook didn’t mean that Luke himself did it for him, Jase chuckled, pinched one nipple hard, then tugged on the ring there. Gasping, eyes going wide, Rook rubbed against him.
“Is that okay? Too hard?” Jason wasn’t into causing pain, but he knew Rook liked a firm touch sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time.
“No, honey, it was wonderful.” Rook’s grin was contagious. “Surprising but so good.”
“You two are gooey. Awful.” Knight was lounging on the sofa, watching them.
“Are you jealous?” Rook dragged Jason over to where Knight lounged on the couch and they sat on either side of him. “We can be gooey with you too.”
“Ew. No. Shoo.” There wasn’t any heat at all behind Knight’s words.
Rook leaned in and laid a sloppy kiss on Knight’s lips. Knight gagged and struggled, but he was laughing hard. He liked to pretend to be all hard and cold, but they all knew better. Especially when it came to Rook.
COLLAPSE
