The difference was telling the longer it went on, and Kendrick acknowledged it, then set it aside, knowing one of these men wouldn’t trust the depth of Kendrick’s feelings…yet.
“Smell so good.” Rue buried his nose in Kendrick’s neck, who shuddered when, at the same time, he ran a proprietary hand over his ass.
“Are you done for the day?” rasped Monty, lips slick, eyes clouded with lust.
It took his brain a second to compute the question, getting a giggle from the sexy man who played with the hair at the nape of his neck.
“I wasn’t really working, just hanging. But Trey got annoyed with me, so I was just heading home to wait for you two.”
Rue took a step back at the sound of a door opening behind them, shoving his hands into his jeans pockets.
Kendrick glanced sideways in annoyance, witnessing Paddy’s gawping mouth. Clearly Rue hadn’t been quick enough.
“Paddy, meet Rue,”—he nodded towards Rue, who looked anything but comfortable—“and Monty.” He brought Monty around onto his hip, not considering putting him down. He didn’t care who knew about their relationship, regardless of the unorthodox nature of it. “Paddy’s one of our new bar staff,” he said, by way of introduction when Rue frowned at the very interested stare Paddy cast in their direction.
“Hey,” Monty murmured, barely looking at Paddy. “Our bags are inside. Ethan dropped us out front when we went by your place and found it empty.”
“Sorry, I was expectin’ you to call when you were headin’ my way.” Kendrick turned his attention to Rue. “Things go okay?”
“They went,” Rue replied cryptically, his troubled gaze remaining on Paddy, who watched them while holding onto a pair of bulging trash bags.
“Rue, you go grab the bags, and I’ll bring the truck round front,” said Kendrick, sensing Rue’s unease, but not knowing why.
Kendrick inclined his head at Paddy, suggesting he get on what he’d come to do. When Paddy moved, giving an awkward grin, Kendrick bent to collect his truck keys. Monty clung to him, and he chuckled when he had to adjust his balance to grab the keys.
“Miss me?”
“Can’t you tell?” An impish smile appeared before Monty kissed him softly. “We both did.”
He acknowledged what Monty was doing. Rue might never be as expressive as Monty and Kendrick was alright with that. Not everyone was comfortable showing their emotions, it was a fact of life.
Seconds later, Monty now in the back of the truck, Kendrick pulled in front of the bar where Rue stood at the curbside with a mountain of bags. Kendrick’s laughter boomed out. “What you got in there, the kitchen sink?”
What followed was a shy giggle and a sheepish look. “All my necessities for a long trip from home. The sink, I left behind,” Monty replied cheekily, getting out of the truck to help store the bags.
When they were all back in the truck, Kendrick spilled his surprise. “I’ve taken a couple of weeks of vacation time.” Heglanced sideways, scrutinizing Rue to gauge his reaction. He was the only one that worried him. Seeing nothing that suggested Rue was uncomfortable, Kendrick continued. “Thought it would be nice to spend some time getting to know each other without my late evening shifts getting in the way.”
“With everything we’ve done naked, I’d say we know each other pretty damn well.”
Monty came through the gap, the seatbelt straining. “Stop being obtuse, Rue.”
He kissed Kendrick on the shoulder when it seemed he couldn’t get any closer, grunting when the seatbelt made a noise of complaint at the abuse. He then looked at Rue, whose lips formed into a scowl. “Do you think we could take a few days' vacation, too?” he asked, seeming unphased by Rue’s reaction.
“We just got here,” Rue replied with a snap in his voice.
If Kendrick had to guess at Rue’s feelings in that moment, he would have said unimpressed, and possibly even unsure of his footing. Yet when he continued, there was enough sexual implication to his comment that they’d both have to be deaf and blind to miss it. “We’ll have this weekend, and many more, along with eveningsand the nights.”
Kendrick felt the tension that gathered in his neck and shoulders ease at Rue’s promise. “We will.”
If this was what kept Rue comfortable for now, then Kendrick would work with that. His gaze met Monty’s in the rearview mirror, and he gave him an intrigued wink.
A light appeared in those pale eyes that Kendrick was glad Rue didn’t see, suggesting they were going to war, and he had his battle plan already.
Bring it.
Chapter Twenty
Alphaholes
