“Really?” he asks, his eyes widening. Not in surprise so much as delight. Maybe a little bashful, too, with the pretty pink tinge on his cheeks.
Oscar nods. He’s still lying on the bed, so he reaches up to touch Ruby’s cheek. Maybe he wants to feel his pink skin. “How do you feel about that?”
“I’ve never dated two people before,” he admits. “Maybe it’ll be complicated?”
“I think it’ll be less complicated because the two people you’re seeing are married,” I say, smiling. “But since we’re talking about this, I want you to know that this isn’t dependent on you seeing Oscar too. You don’thaveto see us both. You understand that, right? If you and Oscar turn out to not hit it off romantically, that’s okay. That doesn’t affect you and me.”
“Doesn’t it?” Ruby’s eyebrows knit together.
“I need you to get along andat leastbe friendly. Remember, I said I won’t live two separate lives. That’s not fair to anyone involved. But no, you don’t have to date us both,” I assure him.
Ruby studies us for a minute before nodding. “I guess maybe I need some guidance in this, but I definitely want to give this a try.”
“Good,” I say and pull him down to lie between me and Oscar again. “Okay, so there’s one more subject I kind of want to talk about because it’ll be important as we progress.”
“What’s that?” Ruby asks.
“Sex.”
He laughs. “Okay. Shoot.”
“I only bottom. I love my dick touched, sucked, rubbed, and teased, but I’m not much of a top. It’s worked out amazingly well with Oscar since he’s only a top. So… I’m curious to know where you stand.”
“A verse would suit you best,” he notes.
“You as you are suits us best,” Oscar corrects.
Ruby turns his face into my shoulder, burying his smile. I can feel it fade though. A minute passes. “So… I haven’t bottomed in over a year. Unsurprisingly, sex was one of the ways Trevor—my abusive ex—controlled me. I—” His voice cuts off, and he takes a breath. “I don’t actually want to talk about it,” he mutters, “but yeah. I haven’t bottomed since. It feels too… vulnerable. I’ve only topped.”
“That’s okay,” Oscar says. “I know a hundred ways to make a man orgasm that don’t include penetration.”
Ruby shivers, laughing. “Good to know.”
Oscar touches his shoulder and gently rolls Ruby onto his back. “I want to make two things very clear. One, you need to tell us how you feel—regarding anything and everything, butespeciallysex. Okay?”
Ruby nods. “Okay.”
“Two, we’re all about consent. The second you say no, everything stops. Period. I don’t care if one of us is in the middle of an orgasm. It stops. Understand? No means no, and we take that very seriously.”
Ruby takes a breath and nods again. His voice is quieter when he answers. “Yes.”
It makes my stomach churn. Anger floods me for a second. I’d really like to find this Trevor guy, tie him to the soccer field, and let my team use him as target practice.
Instead, I roll to my side and press a kiss to Ruby’s cheek. I don’t say anything at all about Trevor.
“Thanks,” Ruby says with a shy smile.
Oscar gently moves his hair from his forehead. “I’m sorry that you’ve been subject to an abusive man, Ruby. I know we can’t erase that time in your life, but I can promise you that you’ll know nothing but kindness, consideration, and love with us.”
Once again, Ruby inhales. His breath is shaky as he smiles at Oscar. “Thank you. You’re already the best guys I’ve ever met. I’m not sure you can get any better.”
I chuckle. “Sweetheart, that sounds like a challenge. Be prepared to be swept off your feet.”
“For the rest of your life, if you’ll let us,” Oscar adds.
Ruby brings a hand up to his face. I feel a tear trickle down to my lips where they’re pressed against the side of his head. He takes a few calming breaths.
The knocking on our door breaks the moment, which is probably good. Ruby needs a break from all the heaviness that this conversation unexpectedly took on. Oscar kisses Ruby’s cheek and excuses himself to answer the door.
