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Daniel stretched, his legs moving across the bed, under and over Jack's, his arm sliding across his lover's back. Turning his head, he found Jack's eyes half-closed, watching him.

"Mornin'," he mumbled with a smile.

"Mornin' yourself," Jack answered, sliding his hand down Daniel's belly. "Hungry?"

Daniel smiled. "For coffee."

"Already done."

Daniel's eyes widened. "How? You haven't been out of bed."

"Says who?"

"Well," Daniel frowned, pushing up on his elbows. "You don't look it."

Jack grinned smugly, propping his head in his hand. "I made coffee half-asleep and came back to bed. So there's brew in the machine, waiting."

Daniel lunged, biting his lover's neck, making him laugh. "Thank you," he mumbled into him.

"Welcome. Now, let's grab a shower, clean up, pour some coffee, and go view the fallout."

Daniel's eyes widened. "Shit, I forgot."

"I did, too, till I was making the coffee." He rolled off the bed and stood up, scratching at his pubic hair. "They'd better be in bed."

Daniel sighed as he stood up, then spied the crumpled mess of towels on the floor. He gave Jack a soft, gentle smile as the man rounded the bed. Daniel reached out and grabbed his hand. "That was one hell of a damn time together last night."

Jack brought his lover's hand to his lips and kissed the fingers. "We have to try that again," Jack said, wanting to very much. He hadn't come like that in a while, either.

A spark showed in Daniel's eyes. "After Alex leaves, let's tell Jason. He's always wanted to know, and why we wouldn't talk too much about it. We can give him our modified version, complete with stage play." Daniel paused in front of his lover and ran a hand over Jack's cock. "He won't know what hit him."

Jack ran his hand down Daniel's stomach, finding something tacky; come that somehow hadn't dried. He cleared his throat and, overcome, kissed Daniel hard and long, making it last until they were both panting from it, swaying on their feet.

"Shower sounds good," Daniel suggested, biting at his collarbone and moving up his neck to his ear. "Sounds very good," he breathed, hitching when Jack brushed his hard cock with his hand.

"Let's go."

.

Jason started to wake from a strange dream about werewolves and blowjobs. Lots of growling, biting, and damn, but werewolves gave good head--once they learned to control their teeth, that is. The thought made Jason laugh, still half-asleep.

"What's funny?" asked Alex.

Jason stretched, arms already over his head as he tended to sleep that way, but he could only get half a stretch going. Alex was blocking the rest. Jason opened his eyes and pushed up with his elbows, peering down his body at Alex -- who lay between his legs.

"Alex, what the hell are you doing down there?"

"If you have to ask, I'm doin' it wrong."

"I'm not criticizing, trust me, but we should shower first. I stink."

"No, you don't," Alex said, nuzzling a thigh.

"Alex," Jason laughed, feeling a tingle run up through his balls. "C'mon now."

"Do you have to take a piss?"

"Um, no."

"Good."

"Why...ohhhh...um, never... mind."  With his hands in Alex's hair, Jason's cognitive function disintegrated as his eyes rolled back in his head.

.

Daniel made a shhhh gesture with his finger as they stepped through the front door. To their right, the bedroom door was wide open and it was quite clear that something was going on. When they risked a peek around the door frame, they caught the side view of what was definitely going on. The sight broadcast a very clear, very rapid, signal to their cocks.

Jason, on his back, eyes closed, neck arched. Alex was on his belly, lying between his legs, with his tongue busily doing wonderfully dirty things to their lover's ass. Jason's hands curled into tight fists on the bed sheets while Alex pushed against the backs of his thighs, thrusting his tongue slowly in and out of him. Jason was panting, making sounds both his lovers were very familiar with, and all the while, humming noises came from Alex's throat.

Daniel felt Jack's hand lace through his own and he squeezed. He mouthed the words, "Check out Alex," and let himself take a very good look at the man rimming their lover.

Jack looked his fill and, reluctantly, liked what he saw. Nicely built, with a broad chest, very little hair on him and what there was was blond. He had narrow hips and long legs and god, a nicely shaped small ass that moved with each thrust he made into the mattress.  Jack's hands twitched along with his dick.

Daniel noticed and abruptly grabbed Jack by the arm and headed back the way they came. Halfway there, between houses and on the stonework path, Daniel stopped, turned, and dropped to his knees, taking his own shorts down as he went. Pumping his cock with his right hand, his left took Jack's from his shorts and into his mouth, swallowing greedily.

"Fuck," Jack said tightly and grabbed Daniel's head for balance. "He's going to fuck him." Daniel made a humming noise of assent. "I imagined doing that... to him." Another, louder, agreement. "Bury myself in that small, tight ass."

Daniel groaned loudly around his fingers as he dipped them quickly into his mouth, getting them wet.

"Did we have a fucking clue this would happen?" Jack asked through a groan.

"No," Daniel breathed as he took Jack's cock back in his drooling, waiting mouth. He pushed his wet digits into his lover's ass for a deep and thorough exploration, and letting Jack take control of his mouth, Daniel quickly, urgently, pumped his cock with one hand and fucked Jack with the other. It was fast and it was amazing. When he came, Daniel moaned with desperate cries around Jack's cock and felt the hot spurts of release at the back of his throat. It had been a while since Jack had done that; come with him. God, this was glorious.

.

"Jesus," Jason kept repeating while Alex slid his fingers back and forth inside him. He kept pushing into them when they entered, wanting deeper penetration, impatient for the first feel of his cock. It was a strange thought. Alex's cock. He hadn't made the decision but it had been made for him. Alex had been deeply aroused after waking him from his strange dream, caused apparently by his actions. Jason was still trying to grasp that it had been Alex's tongue on him, in him, and that it was his caresses, not Daniel's, not Jack's, that stirred up the fire in his belly. That made him need.

The plans he'd half-drawn in his mind had been thrown out. Things that happened between him and Alex would be spontaneous, unplanned. He liked it unplanned anyway, but from Alex, it was somehow illicit, and therefore hotter. The man had surprised him, rimming him after going down on him. His techniques had been obviously inexperienced but not new; Jason could tell it was his first time for rimming a man, however. You could always tell, even with a new lover, when it was their first time for that particular skill. Jason had guided him, for a while. Then Alex had taken over, knowing what he wanted.

Right now, it was apparent that he needed to do a little soothing because Alex was much too wound up. Jason watched him kneel between his legs, hands shaky with the lube bottle, and he had to stop him for a moment. He sat up and took Alex's head between his hands and pulled him up and over him for a few long, gentling kisses. "Relax, Alex," he said after they broke apart.

"I'm trying," his lover replied with a laugh, dropping his forehead to Jason's chest. He started laughing even more. "I'm acting like a virgin."

"No, you're acting nervous," Jason corrected, hands smoothing down his back and over his ass, keeping the arousal alive. "You said you were with three guys, right?"

"Yeah, but..." Alex replied as he pushed back and rested his chin on Jason's stomach, aware of his weight.

"But?"

"Twice, really. Ophius was the only one who fucked me."

Jason stifled the grin he felt. "So I'll be the first human?"

Alex rolled his eyes at him and Jason let the grin appear. "Don't even go there."

"Sorry."

"You're not."

"I am, kind of," Jason told him, caressing his cheek with a finger. "But it's your first time with me."

That made Alex grin and Jason could feel him relax more.

"Now, hand me the lube," Jason asked, "And sit up here, on my chest."

Alex did as asked, his cock twitching in the vicinity of Jason's mouth and the strange smile that curled his lips upward. He expected Jason to lube him. What he didn't expect was the man to place his hands on his hips.

"It's suddenly occurred to me, Alex, that I've yet to taste you or have your cock in my mouth. Don't you think that's a bit criminal?"

Alex grinned a little, but his expression was not one of amusement.

"Grab the headboard," Jason told him, fingers tightening slightly.

"And then?" Alex breathed as he leaned forward--and looking down, found his cock hovering over Jason's face. "Oh."

Jason took a long swipe with his tongue, from base to head, and Alex shuddered through a moan. He wanted to play with him, tease him, but perhaps he could do that tomorrow. Right now, it was time to get down to business. Reaching up, he took Alex's right hand from the headboard and placed it at the back of his head, supporting him. "Hold me," he whispered before he took his cock into his mouth and sucked.

Alex nearly lost his balance, nearly choked Jason with his enthusiasm--making Jason laugh around his erection--but that was far outweighed by the feelings generated all over him as Jason regained control and forced Alex to work up a sweat, bringing him close to the edge twice before backing off.

"God, you're going to kill me," Alex said, eyes half-lidded in pleasure.

Jason moaned around him, forcing the most interesting sounds from Alex's throat. He was so consumed with the need to please and taste and own that he pulled Alex with him as he slid down a bit and promptly rolled them over, mouth still on his cock, still sucking and tasting and grazing his teeth along the head.

Alex began to thrash, begging Jason to make him come, having forgotten all about the fact that he had planned on fucking him. But that was what Jason wanted. He wanted him to forget, brought to a point where Jason would back off for the last time. Which was now, and he slowly moved away and sat back.

Alex pushed up on his elbows, cheeks flushed. "Jason, what's wrong?"

Jason slowly applied the oil to his fingers, then to Alex's cock, massaging him with slow, deliberate strokes. "I thought you wanted to fuck me, Alex?"

"I do but..." Alex answered, breath laboring. "God, you're such a tease."

"Then get down here and fuck me," Jason said, smiling knowingly, smugly, as his fingers slid over the man's chest and purposely twisted Alex's nipples with his oily fingers.

"Jason," Alex gasped in shock and lust as his hands went to his nipples and rubbed.

"How'd it feel?" Jason asked.

"It hurt," Alex frowned.

"Did it?" Jason asked purposely. "Did it really? Or is it just that you're not used to that? Aren't they warm now, almost hot?"

"Yeah, so?"

Jason reached out... carefully... and rubbed them with his palm. "Do they hurt?"

"Um..." Alex said, frowning in confusion. "No."

"How about now?" he asked, fingertips rubbing in circles. Alex hitched a breath in surprise. "Feels good, doesn't it?"

Alex had to admit that it did. "I've never had them twisted that hard."

"Hold still." Jason took the nubs between his fingers and twisted gently, pulling them outward. Stretched, he twisted more firmly and was rewarded with a gasp of surprised shock.

"Shit."

"Yes, now here it comes, so be prepared," but instead of twisting, he pinched them hard and Alex reflexively pulled out of his touch.

"Dammit, Jason."

Jason slid an arm around him and pulled him close, mouth going to each nipple, sucking and licking. "This feel better?"

Alex felt a strange tingling. "Yeah, but...softer, almost numb."

Jason smiled, fingers gently twisting a nipple, teasingly light. "This works so much better when you're... restrained."

It was suddenly hitting Alex just how in over his head he really was... at least where experience was concerned. Jack and Daniel had hinted at it, but... goddamn. He then remembered his casual handling of the restraints in the drawer. "Oh. Like those in the drawer?"

"Yes. What were you thinking, looking at them?"

Alex hesitated a moment, then said, "That I wondered if you used them. If you liked being tied down."

"I do," Jason said carefully, judging the reaction. Alex didn't answer but Jason felt the excitement under his hands, against his body. "Have you ever fantasized about being tied down like that? Used like that?" he asked, nuzzling under his ear. "Being controlled? Having things done to you?"

"Yes," Alex whispered harshly and the sound had Jason kissing him fiercely, holding him down for a second before turning them over and taking Alex's hands in his. He held his own hands to the mattress, getting Alex to push, to hold them there. Jason followed that by purposely lifting his legs, raising his knees, placing Alex in position.

Before Alex knew what was happening, Jason slipped one hand free and took hold of his slender, long cock, rubbing the head against his ass. Taking advantage of his wild mood, Jason whispered, "Inside me, Alex. Now."

"Oh god," Alex answered, closing his eyes.

"No, don't close your eyes!" Jason ordered, then more softly said, "I want you to look at me."

Without a word, Alex bit his lip, staring into Jason's face as he pushed into the tremendously tight heat that surrounded his cock.

Jason watched his eyes and hitched a breath as Alex took his first stroke, moaning in pleasure. He bit his lip again, grunting, asking, "Yes. Do it again."

Alex did so, laughing through the spiking pleasure.

Jason smiled through a shudder and said, "What's funny?"

"Nothing, it's just... I'm doing this. It's amazing."

"Not yet, but it will be," and Jason wrapped his legs high around his back and thrust upward, groaning and arching his back.

"Oh shit," Alex breathed, a full body shudder passing through him.

"Again, faster," Jason asked, flushed and needing more.

Alex damn near came from watching his face and feeling him clench around his cock. He moved faster, setting an easy rhythm, till Jason grabbed the bed sheets, fists clenched sharply. He spread his knees wider, raised up as much as he could, carrying Alex with him, shuddering when Alex touched his gland. "Hard, Alex. Please."

"You're sure?" Alex breathed, his hands rubbing Jason's back and waist.

"I need you, now take what you fucking want. Now."

Alex groaned and closed his eyes, allowing himself to feel and hear as he pulled back all the way.

"Now, dammit!" Jason begged.

The sound was suddenly music to Alex's ears. He got it. He didn't do as Jason asked, either. Not yet. "You're begging?" he asked, sliding back inside with excruciating slowness and then pulling back once more.

"Oh god," Jason groaned.

"You're begging me?" Alex asked and stroked slowly once more.

"Yes, yes, please."

Alex loved the sound, loved that he'd guessed right in where to take this. He sank his cock deep and rolled his hips, elated by the choked gasp from Jason's throat and the double-clench of his fists. He tried not to laugh at the reality of his fantasy coming true. He was making Jason writhe beneath him and it was so good. "You're so beautiful," he whispered, shocked at his words but knew they were true.

"Alex, please," Jason begged again, thrusting up quickly, frustrated that Alex was doing exactly what he wanted, yet loving that he was.

"Fine, but you won't be sitting comfortably for a while," Alex warned, and for a few minutes, leaned his weight against his legs and let his hips go, fucking him with quick, hard strokes, feeling triumph at the sounds of pleasure Jason made. He knew then that this was what Jason was trying to get him to do, to accept, to stop being so... careful.

He found it easy to alter his rhythm, slowing down, speeding up, to make long passes and deep grinds that rubbed his lover's gland without mercy. When the word lover finally sank in and hit him between the eyes, Alex was consumed by a lust he'd never allowed himself to experience and he slammed in, loving how Jason yelled, how his skin shone with sweat and how he... loved being fucked.

That thought forced Alex to give him everything and he aimed repeatedly for his lover's gland, screwing his hips, twisting, thrusts becoming shorter, harder, quicker, until he was banging him, pounding against his ass, his balls.

Jason then shocked Alex with the order, "Fucking own me!" and Alex held his breath and tried, going at him harder than he'd ever thought himself capable of doing.

"Do it! Oh god!" Jason gasped, nearly tearing the sheets, his legs now in mid-air to give Alex all the room he wanted. It became a secondary concern when Alex's hand was suddenly around his cock, his fist meeting the brutal abandon of his thrusts as they rocked the entire bed, the headboard now slamming into the wall. Jason arched back, yelling his name, cursing, coming in long and thick streams over his stomach, his chest. Eyes tightly shut.

Alex's gaze fixed on his own cock as he kept fucking him, loving how tightly Jason's muscles squeezed him. But he couldn't keep going much longer and the friction quickly forced his balls to tighten and draw up, making him yell Jason's name as he came.

Lying with him afterward, Alex wondered if anything was wrong, if he'd made a mistake. Jason was quiet, barely moving, but he held him firmly in his arms and his breathing seemed contented, easy.

"Are you okay?" Alex asked, breath misting Jason's throat.

Jason moved then, hand passing down Alex's back to his ass. "Fine. I dozed off, I think."

Alex smiled with astonishment and pushed up to look at him. "I put you to sleep?"

"Nothing like a damn good fuck to do that," Jason said, laughing as he pulled Alex down for a kiss.

.

Daniel was standing at the kitchen counter, trying to drink his third cup of coffee, but Jack was making it a little difficult. He smiled around his cup, not bothered too much after what they'd just done...prior to the second shower, that is. Behind him, Jack's arms tightened around his waist and instead of the nuzzling he'd been giving Daniel, he took the back of his left ear between his teeth and tugged.

With the mug still at his lips, Daniel reached back and tapped at Jack's chin. "Trying to drink my caffeine here," he reminded.

"Ah huh," Jack replied, not completely ignoring him.

"Jack, you're not planning to do that for an hour, are you? Recovery time, and all that?"

An hour? Jack asked silently, and bit down, making Daniel groan and set down his coffee cup. He turned in Jack's arms and gave him a reprimanding look which Jack responded to with a mischievous one.

"What?" he asked.

"What," Daniel mimicked, rolling his eyes.

Noise and motion to their left--they looked just in time to see Alex frozen in place just inside the kitchen entrance. His hair was still damp and he looked freshly shaven. The white, long-sleeved button-down shirt fell loosely over blue shorts that hugged his slim hips and long thighs. Jack idly wondered if the long shirts weren't worn for a particular reason.

Alex saw them briefly before they saw him and a sudden flurry of embarrassment and guilt swept through him. When their eyes turned to him, his guilt increased. "Sorry, should I, uh, come back later?"

"Don't be an idiot," Jack said with mock-scolding. He kissed Daniel quickly and stepped back. "Get in here. You're not interrupting."

Alex fidgeted as he walked further in, standing next to the table. He wondered if he should sit down but the smell of coffee distracted him.

Daniel carefully allowed himself to feel and was surprised by what he encountered. Underneath it all, he sensed that Alex was... happy. Daniel smiled, hesitantly, still not sure of his accuracy where his 'gift' was concerned. Like Jack, he made a quick inspection of Alex's appearance, but covered his curiosity better. He couldn't help but grin at the way Jack's long look was making Alex nervous and slapped his ass when it went on too long.

"Jack, stop it, you're embarrassing him."

Jack turned, his face averted from Alex, and gave Daniel a very quick, very dirty, secretive smile before assuming a different expression when he turned back.

"Sorry, Alex. Coffee?" and he picked up the carafe.

"Please," Alex breathed in relief. Jack handed him one of two empty mugs sitting on the counter and Alex accepted it.

"Where's Jace?" Daniel asked as Alex fixed his coffee.

"Taking his shower. He had me wash up first."

"No sharing then?" Daniel started, and realized that Alex wasn't familiar with his brand of particular teasing. "Sorry, Alex. Aftersex humor runs rampant around here."

Alex's eyes widened in shock and Daniel felt the mental smack in the head from Jack. Dammit.

"What makes you think anything happened?" Alex asked.

Daniel tapped his own head. "The empathy. I can feel that you're happy. I'm assuming things worked out between you or you wouldn't be, right?"

"Yeah, things worked out."

"Great," Jack smiled, like a shark.

Alex flushed a bit as he looked over his shoulder, then turned, mug in hand, stirring the contents. He took a long drink, looking at both men over the rim. "Great coffee," he said, avoiding the answer to the question they weren't asking yet. Jason's lovers were damned nosy. Though for good reason. They were Jason's lovers.

"Thanks," Jack answered. "So... how'd it go?"

Alex's grin became a shade too serious. "My overhearing your conversation last night eventually achieved the desired result, if that was your intention, that is."  They tried to appear innocent but Alex agreed with Jason. What he'd overheard had been intentional and there was no use hedging about it.

Daniel stifled the grin and said, "You overheard us? Huh. I didn't even hear you come over last night."

"Stopped by for more popcorn," Alex informed them. Jack's expression was unreadable, which was annoying. Alex had come to expect that however; he could never read the man.

"You said eventually," Jack finally said. "That means what?"

"Well, after I got over the shock, I confronted him." He took a slow sip from the mug, watching them. When they didn't respond, but only glanced at each other, Alex went on. "After a little avoidance, I managed to get him to ask me the question... more or less." It was game-playing, but what the hell. They'd started it.

"He still wouldn't ask?" Jack asked, still giving away nothing as he and Daniel began to get things ready for breakfast.

Alex answered with a silent nod, then carefully said, "I kind of ambushed him and didn't really give him a chance to ask me properly."

Jack's smile was huge. "Attaboy."

"Jack," Daniel said, sort of scolding, except he was thinking the same thing.

"Except... that took a little doing. He got mad. At you two. Saw right through that overhearing business."

"Is he still?" Daniel cringed as he brought down two pans from the overhead carousel.

Alex grinned over a mouthful of coffee and swallowed. "Yeah, a little. But I think I nipped that in the butt... so to speak."

Jack and Daniel couldn't help the wide grins and soft laughter as they turned away. Alex had the distinct -- dreaded -- feeling that they knew what they'd been up to that morning. Jason's words about 'watching' came back to him but Alex told himself he was not going to ask unless they tortured him first. Which then brought him an image that he wished he'd had outside of their presence.

"So... what exactly happened, if you don't mind my asking?" Jack said as he busied himself with getting things out of the fridge. "I mean, after you confronted him."

Alex turned thoughtfully in the direction of the front door. "He found out that trying to keep me blissfully ignorant was a huge mistake because I'm neither blissful nor ignorant, and that keeping plans like that from me only managed to piss me off."

"Although, playing devil's advocate here, you wouldn't have been pissed off if you'd never have known," Daniel pointed out.

"I already knew something was off, Daniel," Alex told him honestly, finishing his cup and going over to refill it. "He was acting distant. It wasn't too overt or anything, but enough for me to notice. That he was doing it at all was getting on my nerves because it seemed as if he thought I was damned clueless." At their arched brows, he frowned. "I was, I admit, but I'm not completely stupid. I noticed and wondered what I'd done wrong."

"You didn't do anything wrong," Daniel told him firmly.

"I know that now. I just couldn't escape the feeling I was being punished for something I hadn't done. And Jason's treating me as if I were some teenager without a clue on handling my own feelings...well, that only made me madder."

"He didn't mean to hurt you, you know," Jack told him soberly. "I think he'd hoped to avoid that altogether."

"Yet once I found out, that hurt me, too," Alex confided. "I hate being kept out of a loop I'm supposed to be in on. Inviting me here and then not going through with the original intention? It set me on edge right away and it hurt to find that he thought I was some delicate flower."

"Alex, he doesn't see you that way," Daniel argued.

"Not any more, he doesn't," he murmured over his coffee cup, an enigmatic smile on his lips as he sipped. At that very moment, all he wanted to do was crawl back in bed and listen to Jason make more of those sounds. Just thinking of it made his dick itch.

Daniel exchanged a knowing wink with Jack and asked, pretending that he hadn't heard, "I'm sorry?"

Alex shook his head. "Nothing. It's okay now, of course, but I mean, c'mon, how would you feel?"

"Sometimes Jason needs a kick in the ass," Jack told him.

Alex nodded, agreeing. "But it's all over with and things are fine, I guess. So... can I help with anything?" he asked, gesturing at the food and pans.

"No, we got it," Jack told him with a grin. "Just have a seat."

Alex sat down at the table, his eyes fixing on a magazine.

Daniel breathed a slow sigh of relief. Perhaps a little teasing would be okay; find out how much Alex was willing to share. In the meantime, maybe Daniel could also figure out what the guilt was all about.

"So, Alex, can you tell us what else happened?" Daniel asked, stopping and giving Alex a long look.

Alex grinned into his mug, a finger playing at turning a page of the magazine. "The usual, I guess."

"Oh c'mon, you've gotta give us more than that," Jack said in a low, deep voice, turning to look from across the kitchen, giving Alex his full attention, pinning him with his gaze. He wanted to hear more, that was certain, but what he'd seen had aroused him more than he thought he would have been. Getting his rocks blown off by Daniel earlier had only fueled him to want more; to see more.  Alex looked a bit embarrassed but no more than Jack expected.

Alex finally said, "The usual. You know."

Jack's grin appeared, wolfish and predatory. "Top or bottom?"

Daniel looked over at him, brow raised. "Jack."

"What, I know you're curious."

"I am but...you know. It's between him and Jason."

Jack rolled his eyes and winked at Alex, saying, "He wants to know," and was thumped in the back for it. "So, top or bottom."

Alex was getting the hang of this. He liked the look of interest in Jack's eyes and continued to bait him back by refusing to answer, busying himself with sipping at his coffee to sort of hide the smile. This was fun.

.

As Jason dried his skin, he still felt the twinge of guilt for having Alex go up to the main house without him. He knew the man would likely get teased, but Jason needed to get a little alone time. He had to order his thoughts... his feelings, more specifically.

He loved what happened earlier, but he'd also faked being asleep. He'd wanted to snuggle with the man, to hold him and lay there napping all morning. But something inside told him, just as it had the night before, that it would be emotionally dangerous to do so. Soon after getting out of bed, he'd begun to feel guilty about it because the reality was... it was too damn late to avoid the danger. He was in it. Right up to his dick.

What he had to figure out now was how to handle it without getting all... possessive and over-protective. It was bad enough that he already felt it, but he had to try to ward it off, hence sending Alex up alone, showing himself that he could handle sending the man into the lion's den without wanting to rush up and 'rescue' him. Testing himself had never been a problem. This was just a little more difficult to manage.

Having Alex slide into him had been good. Damn good. It felt natural, like he belonged there, and stroking inside him was the most fantastic feeling of pleasure, the very same pleasure he felt with Daniel and Jack. Which scared him afterwards and started this introspection. Damn nuisance, his brain.

As he dressed, Jason came to realize that no matter how he felt, he had to live with it. The feelings would take time to deal with--in that time and living with them were the only solution. He could cut himself off, of course, but not without hurting Alex, or Daniel and Jack who hated it when he did that because it inevitably affected them, too.

Besides, Daniel would know. That damned empathy of his. Although Jason was finding out that he didn't mind it too much. It kept him in check after all.

As for Alex and what to do now...

Jason took a deep breath and told himself that he shouldn't be this excited in looking forward to more; to turning the tables. But he was. Oh boy, he was. Despite the misgivings and the fear, he felt good about what had happened so far. He felt damn good.

.

Alex heard singing, far away but coming closer. It was Jason. As he came closer to the front door, all three of them turned, sort of catching the tune.

When Jason entered the kitchen, he winked at Alex before purposely bypassing his lovers and grabbing himself a cup of coffee. "Alex, are they grilling you for details?"

"Jason, we're not grilling him," Daniel protested. "Alex, tell him we're not."

Alex grinned. "They're not, Jason. I'm no more than a fillet on the stove."

Daniel groaned. "Sell out."

Jason started snickering. "And it was such a nice morning, too."

Grinning, Jack turned back to the bowl he'd been cracking eggs into and sniffed dramatically. "You never sang after we did it."

Daniel started laughing, shaking his head. "Jack."

Jason gave Alex a sly look and the man blanched. "I never said," Alex started but Jason waved at him to calm down.

"He's teasing, Alex," he said, winking at him. Daniel walked up behind him and gave him a kiss on the neck and a rough slap on the ass. "Morning, Daniel," Jason said, turning.

"Morning," Daniel replied, leaning in to kiss him.

"Jack been like this since you woke up?"

"He made me coffee, so yeah," Daniel answered, then pulled Jason close and whispered in his ear. He didn't think it too rude in Alex's presence. For all the man knew, he was telling Jason something about Jack. "We went over to surprise you," he whispered, "and got one of our own."  Jason pulled back slowly, staring in his eyes, and felt himself getting hard. Daniel quickly added, "Not all of it, just the... beginning." He then suggestively touched the back of his front teeth with his tongue.

"Nice timing," Jason said, not bothering to whisper, "And quite interesting to hear you say that, considering what Alex told me he supposedly overheard last night."

Jason caught Jack looking over his shoulder and winked at him. "Didn't he, Jack? Hear something, I mean," and he walked across the kitchen and grabbed Jack's ass as he kissed his temple. "Want me to sing for you, sweetheart?"

Jack couldn't stop the grin and leaned over to kiss him back. "No, that's okay."

Tongue in cheek, Jason took his coffee and sat down next to Alex, grabbing an apple from the fruit bowl in the center of the table. Biting into it, he added, "Well, Jack, Daniel, that was a nice little set up." He gave Alex a long look.

"What?" Alex asked, grabbing a pear just to have something to do. "I said nothing."

"He didn't have the chance," Jack said. "You showed up before he could say anything."

"We're talking about what he overheard, not what he didn't say."

"Jason, are you really mad?" Daniel asked.

There was a short, uncomfortable silence, then Jason admitted, "Not really. I was, but I got over it the moment I felt something wet in my mouth." The wicked grin he aimed at Alex made the man blush and Jason laughed, putting an arm around his neck to kiss him.

"And there's no proof," Jack said, shaking his head. "They could be lying, Daniel, and we'd never know."

Jason let out a snort. "Do you guys want me to film everything so you won't have to ask next time?" He ignored Alex's gasp of surprise.

"You mean you didn't record it?" Jack asked, sniffing. "I'm disappointed in you, Jason."

"I..." and he nuzzled Alex's face, laughing still, "had my hands full."

Alex smacked him away. "Asshole."

"I'll remember next time, Jack," Jason told him.

"Jason, you guys are kidding right?" Alex asked, shoving at him when Jason tried to put his arm around him again.

"What? You don't want to do it for the camera?" Jason's smile was wolfish.

Alex stared at them and it dawned that they were yanking his chain. At least, they were where he was concerned. He blew out a breath. "You guys are fucking scary."

They started laughing and Jason finally grabbed hold of him and kissed him more deeply this time... right in front of them. "Of course, we are, Alex. We're insane."

Fighting off the weird feeling he was getting, Alex laughed instead. "You are."

As Daniel's laugh faded, he watched Jason and Alex's interaction carefully. Jack passed him on his way to the fridge and Daniel received a look before Jack glanced back at Jason and Alex. He saw the same arousal as earlier, just as there was in himself. This was... interesting.

.

After breakfast, Jason took Alex down to the beach for the rest of the morning and a little game playing, but not the sort of game playing Alex had expected. Rock finding. They shared the same interest in geology, and while a little monotonous sometimes, it was fun competing with him, spending time with him, doing nothing important.

Even so, Alex knew that Jason was killing time... planning something. He figured it probably had partly to do with why he'd sent him away so he could clean up alone. Alex was finding that being with this part of Jason was much more alluring than simply being his friend. While he'd have enjoyed his company anyway, there was an underlying restlessness that Alex liked. He contented himself with watching, passing the time with rocks and waiting. For now.

Jason was restless, as Alex surmised. He squatted down along the edge of the surf, picking up a tiny bit of quartz. He'd kept his hands to himself since coming down to the beach and that was mostly to tease himself, not Alex. He couldn't help but wonder when Jack and Daniel would be watching and the idea that they would, since they already had, wouldn't let his cock settle down. Jason was in a constant state of arousal, especially since Daniel had whispered in his ear--although he was quite willing to blame Alex for the rest of that arousal. He looked down the beach, watching his friend scan the sands, looking for a rock Jason hadn't found yet.

Jason wanted nothing more right then to leave, take him to bed, to lie next to... his lover... for the next two days. That's exactly what Alex was. He wasn't just a fantasy fuck. He was his close friend, his subordinate, his 2IC, and his lover--for now.

Dismissing the encroaching sadness, Jason forced himself to focus on the immediate future and smiled for the haphazard plans he'd made. They were only an outline, nothing elaborate. Just... seduction; making sure the lube was within reach. Anything else he'd leave to Alex's imagination. While Jason wanted bondage, that would have to wait. He'd keep dropping hints, but this was something for Alex, not just for himself.

Jason thought again how Alex had felt inside him and it made him shiver. Alex really knew how to fuck; he had a nicely shaped cock and excellent moves; Jason wasn't surprised. It did make him wonder, however, if Cari weren't clinically insane. Why the hell would she give that man up?

Jason watched Alex bend over to pick up something else and allowed himself to wallow in what he saw; specifically, the backs of Alex's thighs and the erotic play of his small, muscular ass. His eyes moved up the body, taking in the long waist and broad back and the way the muscles of his arms flexed. Alex wasn't overtly muscular, but he had rounded curves where they mattered. No sharp jutting of bone in the shoulders or collar which Jason felt looked ugly on a man, making him appear unfinished.

Alex's legs were a bit too thin, but they made up for that in strength, something Jason had experienced whenever they had sparred or wrestled--and most especially, yesterday. Just thinking how those legs would feel wrapped around him again made Jason feel his restlessness more keenly. It was time to stop putting it off, he told himself. He wanted to savor the time, stretch it out, not wanting it to be over, but...who was he kidding? He wanted him and he was tired of waiting.

Alex caught Jason watching him and with a smirk, he walked over. Jason removed his sunglasses, eyes traveling down, wishing Alex's long shirt tails didn't cover up so much.

Alex pointed upward. "Check it out."

Jason looked up, nodding at the cloud cover. "I know. I smelled it coming." A drop hit his hand and purposely looking at Alex, he licked it off. "I could use something to drink, you?"

"I could use one," Alex answered, seeing something behind Jason's eyes he couldn't identify but he liked. A lot.

Jason gave him a crooked grin and cocked his head to the right, in the direction of the buildings. "C'mon."

Rain started coming down more heavily and by the time they reached the deck and the path to the houses, it was coming down in sheets. Jason started laughing when Alex sputtered, shielding his eyes. "C'mon, let's make a run for it!" he suggested and without waiting for approval, grabbed his hand and took off.

They reached their bungalow's deck, drenched to the skin and hid under the wide overhang of the roof as they started for the front door. Alex suddenly stopped as his ears caught something he had thought he'd imagined.

"What?" Jason asked, turning.

Alex thumbed in the direction of the main bungalow. "Do you hear something?"

Jason cocked his head to focus his hearing. Music. Thematic music. He assumed a filthy grin and winked at Alex. "Oh yeah, I hear it."

"Is that what I think it is?" Alex asked, following him inside.

"Porn? Yeah, it's what you think it is," Jason answered, abruptly stripping off his wet clothes in the doorway.

Alex swallowed at the sight of him, his eyes inevitably traveling down. When he found Jason smirking at where he was looking, he cleared his throat and looked down at his own wet clothing, plucking it away from his skin. Jason was suddenly standing in front of him, fingers on his shirt buttons.

"Should probably get out of these wet clothes," Jason suggested as he unbuttoned his shirt. His face was tilted down as if he were focusing on the buttons, but looked up after a few seconds without lifting his head, eyes on Alex's, waiting.

"Probably."

"Thinking of anything interesting?"

"Perhaps."

"Care to share?"

"Perhaps," Alex repeated coyly, placing his hands over Jason's, guiding him. "Is there a reason they have the sound turned up? It's not like we can hear them from here."

Jason slipped the shirt off his shoulders, his hands moving slowly over wet skin. "C'mon, I'll show you."

.

If Alex thought he couldn't have heard Daniel and Jack, he would have found out otherwise had he remained outside; while neither he nor Jason had any intention of staying outside, Jack and Daniel had other plans.

They were currently on the back deck, naked, and very wet. Sex hadn't gone too far yet--they had been taking their time. Even after the downpour came. They refused to leave, both thinking it erotic, with the rain mixing with the sweat they had worked up. Their skin slid easily against each other, mixed with oil, perspiration, and water.

"You want to go in?" Daniel asked, uselessly licking his lips free of rain drops after breaking for air. He pushed up from his straddled position over Jack, trying to shield his face from the oncoming rain.

"No," Jack answered and rolled them over, the rain having made a cushion of softer protection over the hard wood. He kissed down Daniel's throat. "Do you?"

"No."

"Then turn over," he said against his skin, then added with a kiss, "You can ride me later."

"Only if you go easy on me," Daniel warned as Jack carefully guided him to his knees.

"Done," Jack said, placing a sucking kiss at the base of his spine. They were both so hard, the video so loud, and combined with the rain and the fact that Daniel already had been lubed--courtesy of a nice show for Jack--it was past time. Jack grabbed the nearby towel, now drenched, and placed it underneath Daniel's cock.

"Oh thanks, how gallant of you."

"Not really," Jack grinned. "I just don't want you to get splinters in your dick."

Daniel started laughing.

"Lay down," Jack said, trying not to laugh and failing. Daniel, still snickering, laid his lower body down, upper body resting on his forearms. Jack slowly dropped down over him and--slipped, his full weight falling on him, making Daniel grunt through another round of laughter.

"Sorry," Jack said, laughing sheepishly.

Daniel couldn't stop laughing as he asked, "Bit slippery up there?"

"Ya think?" Jack asked, biting his neck. When Daniel started to spread his legs, Jack stopped him, placing his own outside of his.

"Oh, manly," Daniel said, aroused by it.

"Leverage, smart ass."

"On a wet deck?" Daniel asked, laughing even more as Jack rested his own forearms outside of Daniel's.

Jack's answer was to quickly position his cock and push, and Daniel's laughter subsided with an abrupt series of grunts. "God, I love those sounds you make," Jack said, pushing harder. Daniel's grunts only made his need climb and he pulled back and thrust, listening to the long groan of satisfaction that sent a nice shudder through his balls.  "God this feels weird," he said abruptly.

Daniel started laughing again. "Me being wet? You're kidding right? Showers or jacuzzi ring a bell?"

Jack bit his shoulder. "No, the shower raining on my ass." He pulled back and thrust again, though he had to go more slowly since the slickness of Daniel's skin mixed with the lube and didn't give him much maneuvering room.

"Feels okay to me," Daniel breathed. "I like the way you're sliding against me." He squirmed and Jack nearly slid off, grabbing a hip and shoulder to hold on.

"You did that on purpose," Jack said over the back of his ear and gave him a sharp thrust.

Daniel let out a satisfied grunt. "I'll keep doing it if I get results like that. Beside, I like the slide."

"Me, too. Weird, but nice."

"Ah, I'm so relieved," Daniel said sarcastically and was rewarded by a punishing thrust that was far from punishing. "If you keep doing that, there won't be any riding dessert later," Daniel sing-songed.

"Right now, I'm thinking you-inside-me for dessert."

Daniel let out a long groan as Jack kept thrusting, finally finding a rhythm. "I can live with that," he said breathlessly. "Fuck me faster."

"Ain't gonna happen."

"Jack."

"No front seat driving."

Daniel forgot all about laughing. He bit his lip and expressed himself instead through moans that matched Jack's very slow, deep pace.

.

Jason squatted in front of the entertainment center by the bed and pulled out a few DVDs in the storage cabinet there. He slid one in the player and turned on the TV. When the disc started to play, Jason fast-forwarded over the beginning.

Behind him, Alex stepped out of his shorts and moved to the dresser. "So what else have you in mind to do today?" he asked, picking out dry clothes.

"A few things," Jason answered. He stopped forwarding the video, pressed play, and turned up the sound.

The off-beat irregular music was of little notice behind the action onscreen. Alex felt it run over his skin and deep into his balls. His cock reacted to the grunts and cries, but more so to the slick sounds of fucking and the slapping of skin. He knew that Jason was behind him somewhere, maybe watching him for his reaction to the video, but Alex was suddenly hyperaware of his own nudity. He could also swear that Jason was now close by and just as he turned his head to have a look, a hand smoothed over his left hip and buttock, making him inhale sharply through his nose.

"Warn a guy," he breathed, feeling Jason's warm body press against his. He couldn't help but groan and lean into him, and hitched a quiet breath as he saw the bottle of lube placed on top of the dresser. Jason put his arms around him then, one hand on his chest, the other on his abdomen, stroking his skin in firm, seductive caresses. He breathed over Alex's left ear, his tongue sliding over the lobe and along the shell, moving back and underneath, heading for his jaw.

"I really don't think you'll be needing those clothes," he said, whispering it against the back of his jaw as he licked along the bone. His hands moved to the front of his hips, caressing indulgently before moving inward across his abdomen.

"No, probably not," Alex breathed, dropping the clothes and closing the drawer. He tensed with a groan as Jason's hands moved, seducing him unnecessarily. Alex was suddenly aware of how hard the man was, how his cock pointed downward deliberately against his ass. Alex couldn't stop the image of bending forward just enough to give Jason access, and bit his lip, reaching back with one hand to lace through his hair. "Jason, Jesus."

"How do you feel about the sound?" Jason asked, licking a path down the side of his neck.

"Fine," Alex said, except he wasn't paying attention. The sound from the porn was erotic, true enough, but it could have been silent in the room for all Alex would have noticed.

Jason cupped his chin with his right hand, lifting it up, his lips and tongue now traveling forward along his jaw before he turned Alex's face toward his own and captured his mouth, kissing him passionately. A gasp escaped through his nose when Jason's free hand circled his hip and slid down to the inner thigh, pulling it away from the other. Opening him.

"You feel so good," Jason said, breaking the kiss, biting his chin, his jaw, licking around his ear again before he changed sides and began again. "I want you."

Alex laughed nervously, his breath hitching. "I can feel that."

"Can you feel that, too?" Jason asked, rocking his hips, sliding his cock under Alex's balls and between his thighs.

"Yes," Alex replied, closing his eyes as he imagined being filled, his body's lust wanting it badly. Except for one thing, which he didn't want to bring up, spoil the moment. Jason would know once they'd started. "Ophius was the only one, Jason."

"I suspected," Jason said, mouth busy on his neck while both hands now moved down, avoiding his cock in a pure tease as they gripped Alex's inner thighs and pulled back. He rocked back and forth, his cock riding against Alex's skin, his balls.

"How?"

"You're very tense, Alex. After so many years of experience, I can tell why."

"Uh, right," Alex said softly.

Jason lowered his hips slightly, thrusting so that his cock slid easily between his lover's thighs. He knew he wasn't playing fair, teasing Alex like this, but he needed him to relax and open up to him. He reached out and took the lube, popping the cap. "I'm going to make sure you relax for me," he breathed, teeth grazing over the knob of his spine. He heard a gasping sound from Alex, which prompted the question, asked behind his ear. "Do you want me?"

"God, Jason," Alex said, dropping his head back on his shoulder, shuddering as Jason's cock pushed over his balls and against his perineum. He brought Jason's free hand to his cock. "Can't you tell?"

"You're ready then?" Jason asked, stroking the shaft with his fingertips.

Alex let a rude sound escape his throat which made Jason chuckle. "Stop and I'll probably kill you," he said when Jason's shaft rubbed just briefly over his hole. It felt so good. Everything did.

"You'd better be ready," Jason began, his voice rough and deep. "Ask me why, Alex." In front of him, Jason's arms surrounded him and he poured a lot of the gelled lube into his right palm.

"Why?" Alex breathed, watching both hands disappear, replaced by his own as he braced his hands on the edges of the dresser.

"I'll do whatever you want, after," he began as he spread the thick amount over Alex's hole, using his body to slick his own fingers. "Fuck you however you want," and he nudged Alex's feet apart gently, his finger teasing his hole. "But right now, I'm doing this my way. Slow and easy and good." He pushed his finger inside and the sensation was so arousing that Alex bucked backward, nearly impaling himself on his finger. "Slow and easy," Jason reminded.

Alex bit his lip, dropping his head back again. He knew how it would feel, that there'd be pain. "I want to feel it all, feel you." He turned his face to him, awkward as it was, so that he could get Jason to claim another kiss. He did, taking his mouth and kissing him hard and deep. Jason moved his finger slowly, and eventually Alex loosened and relaxed enough for Jason to insert two. Jason pushed, reaching for that hard little spot as he bent his fingertips down.

Alex's reaction was immediate. He broke the kiss with a surprised gasp, eyes wide, hands grabbing the edge of the dresser as his eyes stared into Jason's. He was speechless for the moment and Jason took advantage of it.

"I'm going to touch you here, better than this," and he rubbed more firmly, feeling Alex's legs shake. "Then I'll fuck you so hard. Tell me you want that."

"I want, I want," Alex breathed, "but if you don't get a move on, you'll make me come too soon."  Jason breathed a sound against his neck and forced another gasp from Alex's throat when he removed his fingers and placed the head of his cock there instead, not stopping, pushing firmly.

Alex knew it'd be different than Ophius and expected pain. What surprised him was that he didn't get it. Ophius had had small tricks that had made him feel nothing but pleasure. Jason had his version of it, and this time, Alex felt everything. Alex wouldn't call it pain; where he'd expected it, there was only fullness and burning. With it came the need for Jason to move.

"Okay?" Jason asked in a whisper.

"Yes," Alex answered, and a second later, his thoughts were just gone. Jason held his cock, pumping him in a slow rhythm that matched the rocking motion he set. He wasn't even thrusting yet and Alex was panting like he'd run a marathon. His skin tingled with pleasure he couldn't control, nor did he want to.

"Good, Jason," he panted. "So good," and he grabbed his hips and held on, fingers digging in, letting Jason know he was okay. So okay.

Jason growled against his ear, unable to help it. Alex was so damn hot, so damn tight, ass fitting perfectly between his hips. So soft, so hard; so there, waiting and taking and trying to rush him as Alex pushed back. Jason pulled back slowly, the groan he elicited was nothing compared to the guttural sound Alex made when he thrust back in.

"Again," Alex breathed. "God, again."

Another slow thrust, and Jason repeated them in a rhythm that drove both of them insane, wanting more, something higher, more acute, possibly on the threshold of pain. Jason couldn't allow that. Not yet. Instead, he decided a distraction would be good for both of them.

"Time for a fantasy story, don't you think?" Jason asked him, leaning in to bite his shoulder. "This has to be special."

"It already fucking is," Alex said, grabbing at the dresser again with one hand while he pulled at his lover's hip with the other.

Jason's breath against his neck moistened Alex's already sweating skin and he couldn't help but lick. "I want you on the bed," he said harshly, "and it's better to move now than later. Put your hands around my neck." Hands now at his waist, Jason held him as he took a slow, careful step back, pulling out.

Alex growled his disapproval. "Dammit, Jason. We need to be on wheels."

Jason laughed softly and pulled Alex against him, with him, as he moved him to the bed and gently pushed him face down over the foot. "Crawl up to the head."

Alex did so, and was going to turn over when Jason laid over him, placing more cool lube over his hole before pushing his hot cock back inside, each action quickly following the other. He let out a moan, feeling the new sensation of his heat sinking deep inside him. "Special," he repeated as Jason suddenly nuzzled him.

"Yes," Jason said, reaching over to grab the remote that lay on the bed. Muting the video, the only sound now was from the loud hum of rain on the roof and the deck. The air was thick with humidity and sweat as well as their own lust; it made Jason want Alex all the more and he surrounded him with his arms and legs, taking his hips back for a slow thrust that ended hard.

"Yes," Alex gasped as Jason touched his gland. Resting on his forearms, he pressed his forehead to the bed, panting harshly, breath hitching with each thrust that now ended with a hard push. He sought out Jason's hands, holding them firmly into the bed when he laced them together, palm to palm. He squeezed and said, "More, Jason."

"Remember what I said about a story?" Jason asked, teeth grazing the back of his neck and through his hair, biting down for a second when he reached the side of his neck.

"Yes."

"I fantasize this happening offworld. Me finding you on your stomach, naked, legs spread, while underneath, you jerk off." He moved his hips back slowly, his cock pulling out from Alex's ass. "I surprise you, lay over you just like this, push in just enough..." and he thrust carefully, his cockhead easily pushing past the puckered opening.

"Shit, Jason," Alex whispered, closing his eyes, rubbing his cock into the bed cover but trying not to let Jason slip out.

"I ask you if you want my cock," Jason said, pulling back enough to thrust in slow and deep.

"Yes, I want it," Alex rasped, spreading his knees as he lifted up enough to let Jason know what he wanted. As Jason increased his rhythm, Alex couldn't help calling out his name as he pushed back, trying to get to his knees.

"Jesus," Jason gasped, moving back, pulling Alex with him until they were both on hands and knees, his own body over Alex like a blanket. He readjusted his rhythm, watching Alex drop his head down as he fucked him harder, deeper, both hands braced outside of Alex's.

"Give it to me," Alex said breathlessly, loving the feel of him against his ass, his back. "Goddamn it, Jason, please."

"Damn sexy bastard," Jason whispered as he felt Alex convulse a little around his cock. "Jesus, yes. Come for me, Alex. Come for me." He adjusted to a harder rhythm and when Alex reached underneath to take his cock, he sped up until he was slapping hard against him, the sounds desperate, frantic.

"Yes," Alex cried repeatedly as he thrashed his head about, the pleasure thrumming his entire body so acutely he couldn't keep still. His hand moved in a blurring speed, squeezing the head on every pass and suddenly, the last pass over his gland as well as his cockhead was all that he needed. His orgasm shot through him like a flash, blinding him to everything but the pleasure, and he kept stroking himself, pulling every last bit from his body as Jason continued to fuck him.

Jason slowed down, gritting his teeth against the strangling grip around his cock. "Jesus-fuck, Alex!" he cried out, thrusting twice more before he was coming hard, spilling forever, emptying everything he had. He felt Alex shudder as he filled him, his come bathing his gland.

"Fuck," Alex croaked, dropping to the bed, sprawling bonelessly.

Jason let his cock slip free of him and lay down next to him, hand caressing his back, his ass, watching Alex through a haze of sleepy satisfaction as the man eventually rolled over.

"You okay?" Jason asked, teasing. He knew the man was fine, judging from the expression on his face.

Alex surprised him by grabbing him by the neck and yanking him forward, kissing him hard. "What do you think?" he answered afterward, pulling Jason against him as he fell back on the pillow, eyes closed, hand combing possessively through his hair.

Jason raised himself up, looking down at him, caressing his chin with a finger before he leaned down and kissed him again. "I think you're just fine."

Alex opened his eyes, grinning at the expression he thought he'd never see. "And you? How do you feel?"

"You were beautiful," Jason said, and waited for Alex to object. Except the man only smiled, closing his eyes again. Jason sighed contentedly against him and let himself doze this time.

.

Outside, Daniel and Jack were still making love, enjoying the slippery feel of each other's skin too much to bring it to an end. Neither cared about the rain that pelted down on them, they only cared about how their hands felt around their cocks, or how their cocks felt inside the other. They were now trading off, slowly fucking each other, taking their time, and it was Daniel who finally ended up with his cock inside of Jack when their lust finally reached the ending point.

Jack gripped the edge of the railing, teeth biting into his lip as he bent over and spread his legs, loving how Daniel felt against him, inside him. "Last time," he said, breathing hard, limbs and muscles tired.

"Yes," Daniel whispered, reaching around to take his cock in hand as he thrust. Unlike the other rhythms he'd used, this one was designed to end it and he moved quickly establishing continuously short, rapid strokes. He was almost too tired, too satisfied, enjoying how they'd simply played, not aiming for orgasm, just prolonging the pleasure, but the itch began to burn inside now, and the need began to take over, stalling any feeling of exhaustion. Jack's ass clenched against him convulsively and he gasped, trying to move faster, harder, jerking him with the same eager, desperate speed.

"Shit," Jack suddenly said, his balls drawing up tight as his orgasm took over, spreading a surprising amount of heat through his body, making him just as blind as Alex had been. He laughed suddenly when the thought came that he didn't want this to end.

"Jack, don't laugh," Daniel growled, trying not to laugh in return. He mouthed over his spine, gritting his teeth, his fingers digging into Jack's shoulder, clawing at him as he came. He continued thrusting; like Jack, not wanting it to end. Jack moaned, the vibration tickling his chest. Daniel figured his come had hit Jack's gland and growled at him when Jack ground back against him.

He waited a few moments, then pulled out slowly, turning Jack into his arms afterward, kissing him briefly. It was then that they became aware of the hardness of the rain and it quickly became annoying. It encouraged a sudden energy and they hurried inside. Their skin now cold, damp from rain that wasn't warm and from their cooling lust, Daniel dragged Jack, uncomplaining, into the shower with him to warm up and wash off.

As Daniel washed him, Jack suddenly leaned against the wall, wincing momentarily from the soreness after spending a long hour satisfying each other. "I don't think that deck was too clean, despite the rain."

Daniel nodded with exhausted agreement and after toweling each other half-dry, crawled into bed for a well-deserved nap.

.

Alex was acutely embarrassed when Jason grabbed his hand and held it as they walked through the main bungalow's front door. He pulled his hand abruptly from Jason's, trying not to be rude but it felt entirely too weird. Dinner the night before had been okay, and even breakfast that morning. But that had been... before.

Jason stopped, looking at Alex carefully, and let his own hand drop to his side, accepting what Alex wanted without asking for explanations. He did have an idea but it was only a guess. Perhaps it was one thing to fuck him, but to be fucked, and by him? Perhaps Alex was feeling as if he'd just led Jason to cheat on Jack and Daniel. It wasn't rational, and unfortunately, it was something he thought he'd felt earlier, but now he was more certain. He didn't want to admit it, but Alex was withdrawing, needing his own alone-time.

So Jason didn't ask, didn't question. But it still hurt.

Over breakfast, Daniel and Jack noticed, but said nothing. They'd prepared to tease them some but it was obvious that something was wrong, even that morning. Alex sounded okay, but Daniel felt the withdrawal this time--and he was now certain that what he'd felt this morning was guilt. He cast Jason a few questioning glances but it was easy to see that Jason wouldn't acknowledge it, acting as if he didn't give a damn, when Daniel knew that wasn't true.

After dinner, Alex gave the excuse that he'd wanted to take a walk and Jason let him go. By himself. When he went to the sink to help clean up the dishes, Jack came up and touched his back.

"What's going on?"

Jason shrugged. "Probably just the after-effects of getting fucked."

"He hated it?" Daniel asked, surprised.

"On the contrary. He's probably just feeling guilty."

"For what?" Jack asked.

"For... I don't know."

"Jason," Jack went on, "you let him go off like that. Why?"

Jason shook his head. "It's nothing. Too many emotions from something so intense, I guess. Nothing to worry about. It'll pass. Um, I need some air." He wiped his hands and left them standing there with their mouths agape.

"What the fuck was that all about?" Jack asked, too surprised to actually do anything about it. Yet.

"I think it's probably what Jason said, except that he's dismissing it too quickly. They're obviously feeling too much." He sighed. "We knew that might happen, especially with Alex."

Jack gave a squeeze to Daniel's shoulder, then drew him into his embrace, snuffling his hair. Daniel gripped his arms, feeling tense muscle. Like his own. He stepped away with a huge sigh, rubbing his hand along one of Jack's arms.

"I think they're both about to get their feelings stomped on," Jack told him. "At first I could see only Jason's feelings but now I'm...you know. Bad both ways."

Daniel gave him that pointed, knowing look with the hint of a grin, and rubbed his arm again. "You protective man, you."

Jack frowned at him chidingly. "Daniel, I'm not being protective."

"Yes, you are, and I'm feeling it, too. We don't want them feeling bad. Perhaps it's just too much, and perhaps it's simply inevitable."

Jack sighed. "Which means we get to sit back and watch the fall-out?"

"Yeah, maybe. Much as that sucks."

"No way," Jack said, shaking his head. He was getting an idea about how to fix it, though he was quite sure it was a bad one. "Let's wait a little while. If they haven't talked or fixed the problem, then I mean to do something about it."

"You can't get on Alex about this."

"I'm not going to, but I will alter his perception a little."

"Which is what worries me."

.

After sitting up by the cliffs for a while, watching the ocean break against the worn and carved rocks far to his left, Alex got up and headed back. He'd finally gotten over his attack of nerves and guilt and felt he could talk to Jason about it without coming off like an asshole.

Inside their bungalow, he found food dropped off in the kitchen, some on the counter, like wrapped bread, and other stuff in the fridge and freezer. He wondered if Jason put it there, and for what reason. It then hit him that maybe Jason planned on leaving him alone in reaction to what he'd done. When he glanced at the clock, he saw he'd been gone for a few hours and cringed.

Feeling guiltier now, he went to the bedroom and found it empty. He hadn't seen Jason outside so he went to the back of the main bungalow and descended the stairs to the gym. He wasn't there, either. He didn't want to bother Daniel or Jack just yet, especially if Jason was with them, so he went back to his own bungalow. He sat down on the bed and tried to watch some DVDs to pass the time, but just over two hours later, there was still no Jason.

Shutting off the DVD, Alex made his way through the dark to the main bungalow. In the bedroom, he heard a movie playing and Jack and Daniel talking, and hesitated as he walked in the house and knocked on the open bedroom door. He could clearly be seen from the bed so he wasn't surprising either of them, and was especially thankful that they were dressed. Glancing around, he didn't see Jason. Worry started to form a pit in his stomach.

Jack paused the DVD and tapped Daniel's knee, pointing out who was standing there.

"Alex," Daniel greeted.

From the doorway, Alex shifted uncomfortably. "Hi, sorry to bother you."

"You're not. Lose something?" Jack asked blandly.

"Jack," Daniel chided, tapping his knee in return.

Jack rolled his eyes and didn't bother to hide the sarcastic grin. "What's up, Alex?"

"I'm, um, looking for Jason."

"Well, he's not here," Jack said, sliding off the bed with Daniel and coming toward him.

"So you've not seen him?"

"No."

"Oh, okay, thanks." Alex turned to leave but Daniel called him back.

"When did you last see him?" he asked, getting a bad feeling from Alex.

"Dinner," came the guilty reply.

Their eyes were drawn to the clock. Dinner had been around 6. It was now 11. Daniel sighed. "Stay here. I'll go find him. Jack, do me a favor and don't harass Alex while I'm gone, fetching our wandering lover."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Jack said, and headed for the kitchen. "C'mon, Alex. Let's rustle up a late night snack."

Alex wasn't about to say he wasn't hungry. "Okay, sure."

Daniel headed down toward the dock. There were two places he could be, places where Daniel would choose to go if he wanted to be alone. The far end of the beach was likely to be too cold by now, so his second choice was the plane. Sure enough, he spotted him in the pilot's seat, caught by the moon. He went around and opened up the passenger door, startling Jason, though not a lot.

Daniel stared at him as Jason looked away, so he sighed and hoisted himself up and into the seat, closing the door behind him.

"What are you doing?"

"I needed time by myself, Daniel," Jason answered.

"For five hours?" Daniel asked, shifting around and leaning on his knees, facing Jason.

Jason shrugged, though he was alarmed at the fact that he'd been sitting here for five hours. "Didn't know it'd been that long."

"Alex is looking for you."

Jason shrugged again, and Daniel could feel the resignation. "I'll go talk to him when I'm up to it."

"You'll never be up to it at the rate you're going."

Jason finally looked at him, anger in his eyes. "What do you want me to say? I wish he'd never come here, Daniel. It was a big fucking mistake."

"That's what you think I want to hear but you don't wish that, Jason."

"It's what I just fucking said."

"And here we go with the fucking this and fucking that. You're full of it, and you can't lie so..."

Aggravatingly hard reminder, Jason thought, rubbing his eyes. "Shit, Daniel," he said, his voice much quieter, "why do you want me to say it? What's the point? Who's it going to serve?"

"You," Daniel said, reaching out and taking his near hand in both of his. "I know you feel a lot for him, and hate what he did earlier. I don't really get what he did. Is he scared?"

"He's feeling guilty, I think."

"Of?"

"Somehow making me cheat on you and Jack."

Daniel looked back in confusion. "But that's absurd."

"It's what I sense. It's not a phobic reaction, that's long since died when he accepted himself. I think he's feeling guilty for the cheating thing and--"

"You're not cheating!"

"I know that! He doesn't, apparently. If I'm right, he's also feeling guilty for his feelings, like I am. Ones he can't openly give, like I can't."

Daniel closed his eyes.

"I think he's realizing how much it sucks to have a lover he cares about and can't be with, openly or otherwise."

"And you?" Daniel asked. "What're you going through?"

"Daniel..."

"Yes, Jason, I want you to say it."

Jason sighed and said very quietly, "I don't want him to leave, Daniel, but..."

Daniel swallowed and asked, "But?"

Jason turned in his seat, swinging his legs carefully between the seats. Keeping Daniel's hand in his, he inched forward on the seat and reached out to touch his lover's face. "Do you know how much I love you?" he asked softly.

Daniel smiled ingenuously. "I have some idea."

Jason smiled back. "More than anything." He pulled Daniel to the edge of his seat and kissed him lightly, stopping Daniel from interrupting. "I appreciate you indulging me, but I don't need all my fantasies realized, even ones that are possible, like with Alex. I know that somewhere in this indulgence of yours is your own fantasy in wanting to watch me make it with another guy," and he grinned at Daniel knowingly, making him smile and nod with acknowledgment.

"But Alex is first and foremost, my friend. He's the guy I want taking over for me. He can't be my lover and it's another foolish, irresponsible fantasy of mine to have ever thought otherwise. And I did, Daniel. I thought that earlier today. But Alex's actions at dinner woke me up. We can't have it all." He laughed, a bit sadly. "I don't think we could deal with it, anyway."

Daniel sighed and hugged him. "Maybe I shouldn't want to give you everything but..." He pulled back. "Sometimes it's my selfish need to do it, and not just because I want you to feed my kinky fantasies."

Jason smiled as he looked down, eyes averted, but Daniel saw it anyway. He reached up and wiped at his right eyelashes with his thumb. "No, don't do that, Jason. You'll get me going. It'll be too easy, here by ourselves, with no one to see how much of a spectacle we're making of ourselves."

Jason laughed, nodding. "I know," and with a deep sigh, added, "C'mon. I may as well get this over with." He started to get up, but Daniel held him fast. "What?"

"You set things right with Alex, Jason. Don't just go back and listen and then stuff your feelings away."

"What're you saying?"

Daniel held his breath, then said, "I want you to kiss and make up."

"If that's not possible?"

"For whom?" Daniel asked. "Him or you?"

Jason didn't answer.

"Do you want to be with him?"

Jason sighed heavily. "You know the answer. Question is, why are you pushing? Do you want us together?" He couldn't ignore the deeper pit in his stomach any longer. "Is there another reason, perhaps? Like maybe you're setting me up in case something happens..."

Daniel kissed him, hard, remembering what Jason was like when he'd thought they were dead. He didn't want to leave Jason like that ever again. "I'm sorry," he whispered, revealing his feelings in the sound of the words. "I don't want you alone. If anything should ever happen, we need to have someone. The odds are fair it won't happen to all four of us at once."

"And if it should be you and me that buy it?" Jason had to say. "Jack wouldn't last, strong as the man is. He wouldn't go to Alex, Daniel. He wouldn't go to anyone."

Daniel knew what he meant but he had an answer. "If it ends up that way, then there's Adriann."

Jason blinked. "How can you be certain? Adriann's off pirating the universe free of Goa'uld."

Daniel had to smile at the term and the image it conjured. "Perhaps. But we're linked, he and I. Not thoughts across this distance but I think if he were to die, I'd feel it, and vice-versa. I think he'd feel yours, too. I know he'd come to Jack, try to heal him."

If it should come to that, Jason thought, Adriann would have his hands full. "This is why you're pushing us? Just in case? It's unfair to Alex. He needs to find his own life, his own partner, not hinge on what will probably never happen."

Daniel shrugged. "I know, but there'll be a bond between you. I don't want you alone."

Jason shook his head. "And you say Jack's over-protective. I won't be alone, Daniel. Adriann won't leave me alone if it should happen again... for real."

"But Alex--"

"Has to have his own life, Daniel."

Daniel sighed, accepting what Jason said. "But for now? Kiss and make up?"

Jason reluctantly nodded. "What about Jack? Does he agree with this reasoning of yours?"

Daniel cleared his throat. "We've talked about it, Jason. We just never talked about whom. I think he sees now that it's Alex. I know he likes him."

Jason's eyes narrowed doubtfully. "Likes him?"

Daniel smiled with sudden wickedness. "After seeing him between your legs? You should have heard how turned on he was."

Jason started to say something sarcastic to hide the arousal he felt, liking and not liking that idea, when Daniel suddenly groaned.

"What?"

"I just hope he hasn't scared or embarrassed Alex into hiding in your bedroom."

Jason's eyes widened. "You left him alone with Jack?"

"I told him not to harass him," Daniel added quickly, knowing damn well Jack wouldn't do a thing to harm Alex.

Jason laughed sadly. "Right, but did you tell him not to hurt him?"

Daniel gave him a sardonic grin. "It was implied."

"You know better than that, Daniel. C'mon, let's go stop him from doing anything to him."

On their way back, they were holding hands, and Jason suddenly stopped and pulled Daniel back to him. With arms around his waist, he asked, "I know you like watching, and so does Jack, but are you sure about him liking Alex--"

Daniel bit his lip teasingly. "Remember what I said about watching you this morning?"

"But he was with you and--"

"He likes watching you, Jason, no matter who he's with, no matter who you're with. Christ, Jason, haven't you figured that out yet?"

Jason blinked at him, open-mouthed and looked back at the house. "No, apparently I'm brain dead. Wish he'd tell me."

"I'll make sure he does," Daniel said, feeling something entirely arousing at the way Jason looked. "It was hot, you know, watching you two. Didn't watch the whole thing. Couldn't."

"Couldn't?" Jason asked, feeling the heat of Daniel's body suddenly.

"He was tonguing you, Jason," Daniel told him, pressing close, saying the words close to his lips. "That was so fucking hot, and I don't know how long Jack could have watched because I dragged him away, and halfway to the house..." and Daniel paused, touching Jason's groin, "I dropped to my knees, yanked down both our shorts and sucked. Him. Dry."

Jason couldn't move, trying to control himself, but his eyes were half-lidding. "Daniel, if you keep teasing me..."

Daniel laughed gently at Jason's expression, then cleared his throat, his cheeks flushing with arousal at both memories. "I'm sorry, but... I have to be honest with myself, with you. It wasn't what he was doing to you. It was the fact that it was him and he was doing it to you." He was going to say something else but Jason cut off his words with one long, passionate kiss... and a very good grip on his ass.

.

Jack had a thing about homemade fries. He wasn't about to throw some pre-made bits in the oven. Glancing at Alex, he decided that he wasn't about to let Alex sit at the table and watch--well, watch this, anyway. Stifling a chuckle, he handed him a chopping knife. "Here."

Alex took the knife and studied Jack as he rounded the other side of the butcher block. "If you expect me to open a vein, razors work better."

Jack rolled his eyes. "No, I want you to help me cut up these potatoes, but try not to bleed all over them," and he set about showing him how to cut them up.

Alex waited as they worked, expecting Jack to bitch at him, but he didn't. Instead, Jack was nice. Alex was a bit confused, but said nothing as they cut and sliced the potatoes in silence. He was worried about Jason, and about what he must think of him. And Jack and Daniel, for that matter.

After several minutes of silent observation as well as work, Jack finally had to say something. He set the knife down and gave Alex a curious stare. "Listen, it doesn't take a mind reader to know something happened. So what was it?"

Alex looked up, saw the intense worry in Jack's eyes, and grabbed the stool nearby and sat down. "I... I didn't mean to hurt him, Jack."

Jack looked at him blandly but he didn't feel that way in any way. "Is that what you did? Why he's pulled a disappearing act? He was defending you, you know."

Alex cringed. "Shit. There was nothing to defend. I was an asshole. What happened was that I had a stupid panic attack."

"About?"

He stared at his hands and abruptly got up and walked to the sink to wash them off. He couldn't look at Jack. He felt like a shit.

"About?" Jack repeated, going over to stand next to him.

"It's stupid. I shouldn't have panicked over something so stupid."

"What?" Jack said louder.

"He wanted to hold my hand," Alex blurted out, staring at his now-wet hands. "It felt too..."

Jack suddenly knew what was wrong. It hit him like all his sudden feelings or epiphanies did. His version of Daniel's empathy or Jason's intuition. Like a smack between the eyes. It had happened with Daniel when he'd realized what a fuck-up he'd been. Jack had never been good with introspection. He accepted what he had, went after what he could, and ignored the rest until he had to deal with it. Until his relationship with Jason. Daniel had made him think about his feelings.

This had as much to do with guilt as it did with what Alex was being forced to confront: to accept what he couldn't have, and Alex didn't like it. Jack had been afraid that this would happen, as had Jason and Daniel. They hadn't been fair on him and Jason had been right, damn him. This should never have happened but it was water over the bridge now.

"So basically, holding hands was too much like being together and you ran."

"You can see that?" Alex asked, going white as he turned and stared at him.

"Not criticizing, Alex, believe me. I can also see that you feel guilty, as if Jason's cheating on Daniel and me." The dumbfounded look, Jack decided, was not a good look on Alex. "It's not that hard to figure out, Alex. I can see it, Daniel can see it, and more importantly, so can Jason. You need to talk to us--well, Jason anyway. Hell, I had to learn how or Daniel wouldn't have stuck with me."

Jack's earlier idea altered slightly; it really was stupid, and insane. And above all, selfish. He should leave the situation alone but... he didn't want to. Nothing he did would really help, but maybe he could refocus it or ...something. It could, at least, diminish whatever guilt Alex was feeling, and whatever helped Alex, helped Jason. Jack genuinely wanted to help Alex... though he wasn't certain this was helping anyone but himself really. Daniel and Jason would either get annoyed or aroused, depending on how this went.

He waited until Alex was finished washing then washed his own hands. Tossing the paper towel away, he approached Alex's side of the island, where the man had returned.

"I feel so stupid," Alex said, glancing at him as he arranged potato slices on the pan Jack had set aside. "I didn't know I was that easy to read."

"Not normally, but since you've been here? Yeah, you're a little too... embarrassed." Jack shrugged. "We make you uncomfortable."

"No, no," Alex protested, shaking his head. "It's not that, it's just... I feel like an intruder, in every sense."

"Ah. Alex, look at me," Jack said, turning him to face him, keeping his hands on his shoulders.

Alex wanted to look away but something about Jack's eyes and the way he looked at you... "What is it? You can't make me feel any worse."

"I'm not trying to. Listen, I'm sorry this is freaking you out. None of us meant to hurt you, especially Jason."

"I'm not hurt by your actions, Jack. Just the situation sucks. I didn't believe, Jason. I never would have believed that I'd react so stupidly after..." He cleared his throat.

"After having sex with him?"

Alex was able to look away then. "Not me with him but..."

"Oh. Well, it's the general asinine consensus that men aren't supposed to get emotionally attached after having sex, but that's an opinion based on the straight world, not the gay one." Alex's browline rose. "In fact, it's quite another matter when someone's inside you, isn't it?"

Alex was suddenly both hot and cold; feverish. It lasted about five seconds before he got himself under control. A memory flash, feeling Jason inside him. God. The only answer to Jack's question was a nod. He couldn't say anything.

"You know what? I wasn't able to ignore him, either, even though I tried."

Alex gawked at the personal admission. He'd never have guessed this in a million years.

"I didn't love him at the beginning and he didn't love me," Jack went on. "Surprised that I'll talk to you about this?"

"You could say that," Alex said, breathing out a short laugh. "Why tell me anything?"

"You're in love with him," Jack said simply.

Alex looked down, shaking his head. There was nothing to say to that.

Jack shook him a little to get his attention. "Neither Jason nor I was ready for a three-way relationship. I don't think anyone is." Jack paused, unsure why he telling Alex any of this, but 'in for a penny'. He'd started this, he may as well have his say. "I didn't think so at the time, but in retrospect, it was easy for me to fall in love with him; didn't take long, amazingly enough. Usually does with me. I didn't fall for him because of Daniel, though that's what Jason thought at first and it took him a long time to believe me. I fell for him for who he is. I'll do anything for him, including... allowing him the freedom to be with you."

Alex colored then and tried to step away but Jack wouldn't let him. "Just... listen. I don't expect you to understand or accept what I'm saying. You're not used to this... sort of thing... whatever it is. We are. Adriann's a good example." Jack was then aware of how... alive the man felt under his hands; aware of the heat coming from him, and the arousal he was feeling because of it. The man's flushed cheeks were a strange turn-on, but still, something he was beginning to accept without questioning it to death. "It is different with you, between you and Jason. I can see why... he loves you."

Alex didn't understand why he didn't want Jack holding him, not until Jack refused to let him go. Arousal, deep and raw, began to flow through him like a wildfire. At Jack's last words, he realized that the man was actually flirting with him. It wasn't anything like before. That was teasing. This... wasn't.

Jack seized the moment. His right hand moved with confidence up Alex's arm to his shoulder and behind his neck. He held him without holding him, and felt Alex tense in shock and surprise when he pulled him in and firmly... kissed him. Alex's curved lips were warm, sensuous, and inviting, and Jack kissed him a little harder, parting his lips to incite Alex to open his. There was a sound, like a sigh of want, as Alex opened to him, and Jack slipped his tongue into his mouth and deepened the kiss. In the back of his mind, there was amusement; Alex wasn't allowing himself to respond. He was frozen in surprise.

At first, Alex brought both hands up to push Jack away but they stopped, hovering uselessly in the air. He was confused, arousal telling him to kiss back and guilt that he was somehow cheating on Jason. Jack was kissing him, and his eyes were closed. It went on for five seconds, ten, fifteen, and when Jack opened his mouth, Alex couldn't help but reflexively opened his--then Jack's tongue was in his mouth and Alex was aware, absently, that his left hand had dropped to the butcher block, clutching then crushing potatoes in his hand.

A shrill voice inside his mind was telling him to respond, to give in, to give it back ten fold, to just feel, but he wasn't used to doing that, and he certainly couldn't make himself believe that Jack O'Neill was kissing him. Indecision warred and the clear victor was fear. Just as suddenly as Jack had kissed him, he let him go and took a step back. He was rubbing his lips together, looking at Alex's as if he were making another decision. Still Alex couldn't move... except for what his hand was doing to the potato slices.

"Nice," Jack said with a charmingly smug smile.

Alex's wide eyes felt the heat as his cheeks burned with desire and shock. His mouth remained open and he stared numbly at Jack's. What the hell was the matter with him? He loved Jason, didn't he? He wanted only Jason ten minutes ago but... now...

"Holy shit," Alex whispered.

"Is that a compliment or a curse?" Jack asked, his grin widening.

"Why?"

"Because I wanted to. And because I can. And because I wanted you to stop feeling guilty over something that doesn't exist. If Daniel lays one on you will that make it worse or better?"

"Daniel?" Alex whispered. He felt like Alice down the rabbit hole.

"Do me a favor?"

Alex's befuddled mind could only imagine what and it went straight into the gutter. Take off his clothes? Sure, no problem. Lie down on the table? Sure, no problem. Drop to his knees? No problem. Kiss him again? No fucking problem.

"What?"

"Make up with Jason."

Sudden movement caused Alex to push aside the mixture of disappointment and elation as he jumped and stepped back with even more guilt. He also noted that Jack didn't look at all guilty.

Jack knew he shouldn't find this amusing, but he couldn't help it. The interruption was Daniel and Jason coming through the side doors.

One look at Alex's stunned face and Jason turned to Jack with a suspicious expression. "What'd you say... or do?"

"Jason, it's nothing, I'm fine," Alex answered quickly, finally coming out of his shock to register that Jason was there.

"C'mon," Jason said, narrowing his eyes. "We'll be back, guys. Just gonna have a chat in the bedroom."

"Jason?" Jack said, the question there but unasked.

Jason paused mid-step and gave Jack a long look. "I'm okay, Jack." He glanced at Daniel, then deliberately took Alex by the hand and led him toward the bedroom.

After they left, Daniel pointedly made a quick study of Jack's face and bit the side of his lip and smiled.

Jack caught the look. "What?"

"You've been a very, very bad boy, haven't you, Jack? Tell me, what was the point in kissing him?"

"How do you know..." Jack started to say but he'd kissed Alex deeply. There was obvious evidence. "Are you mad?" he tested. "I can't tell." He couldn't either and it was frustrating.

Daniel snorted, "No, just answer the question."

"It'll sound stupid, but... I wanted to."

"It doesn't sound stupid," Daniel said, remembering their reactions this morning. "Is that the only reason?"

"And maybe it might make him feel less guilty. I think it's made it worse."

Daniel waved that away. "Jason'll fix that." He fixed a leer on Jack, however. "But that was awfully twisted of you, even if I can see why you did it."

"Hmmm. Well, bet that as it may, I haven't figured out how to solve the other problem."

"And that would be?"

"How to keep Alex from feeling abandoned."

Daniel nodded. "Me, neither."

Jack grimaced. "Jason was right."

"He was, and we're assholes."

"Well-intentioned assholes," Jack amended.

"Road to hell, et cetera."

"Yeah, at least."

They both sighed, then Daniel reached up and brushed Jack's lips with his thumb. "One thing's for certain though."

"What's that?"

"If you tried to seduce him right now, I believe you'd get a shocked but very willing lover." Daniel's lips quirked with more amusement and love. "Not that I blame him one damn bit." Jack's reaction made the amusement increase and he laughed. Jack simply didn't recognize his gift for seducing others, and boy, the man had a gift.

"How do you figure?" Jack asked.

"You made him hard, Jack. That man walked out of here with a huge hard-on."

Jack was speechless and embarrassed for about five seconds. His expression became teasing. "Nice of you to notice."

"Ah huh. Stop trying to get around me," he said, making Jack laugh. "So why weren't you looking down?"

"I was too busy staring at his mouth. Nice lips, nice kisser. He'd be better if he..."

"If he... what?" Daniel asked.

"Kissed back," Jack answered, licking his lips.

"He didn't kiss you back?"

"No, he went into shock and stayed there. In fact, his only response was 'Holy Shit' and 'why', if I remember correctly."

Daniel liked this better and better. "Huh. Well, kiss him again and I'll bet you he'll respond."

"Not likely to happen, me kissing him again, I mean."

"Hands didn't travel anywhere?"

"Should they have?" Jack baited, and Daniel grabbed his ass and pulled him in, kissing him deeply, forcing Jack to break away for air. He rubbed against him. "You feel jealous, Daniel."

Daniel tried to hide the grin but knew Jack saw it anyway. "Just claiming my territory, a trait you're very familiar with by the way."

"That so?"

"Mmm hmmm," Daniel told him, adding, "which I feel needs to be reaffirmed," and he kissed Jack again, pushing him back with his own body until Jack hit a solid wall. "So, just what did you think, kissing him? Be very careful with your answer."

"That..." Jack started, grinning madly as he prepared for attack, "it was interesting?"

"How interesting?" Daniel asked as his hand slid down Jack's body to find out. "This interesting?"

"Bastard," Jack said gruffly as he pushed into Daniel's hand.

"I can't believe you kissed him," Daniel said with a mischievous grin. "Next thing you know, you'll be asking to fuck him."

Jack didn't reply. He couldn't. Well, not with Daniel's tongue down his throat. What amused Jack was that Daniel had inadvertently aroused himself by the words.

.

Jason let Alex's hand go as he closed the door behind him, then placed his hands on his hips and stared at him. Alex ran his hands through his hair and walked away from him, shaking his head. "I can't believe..."

Jason wanted to ask, but the smudged look of Alex's lips was a dead give away. "So... he kissed you."

Alex let out a small, hysterical laugh as he turned to face him. "We were talking... about you... and I was standing there. He started to actually um...flirt with me... and he just..."

Jason grinned at Alex's state of shock and felt guilty for finding it funny. Like Jack had thought earlier, Jason was used to being startled like that, used to acting in response. Alex wasn't, not by a long shot. Dismissing that discussion for later, Jason's next thought was why. There was always a reason, and in Jason's experiences with Jack, kissing someone who wasn't his lover wasn't a case of 'just because'. Well, mostly. It was easy to see why Jack would do that, but the man never did anything without quickly thinking through the angles, no matter how flip or sudden his decisions appeared to anyone else.

He turned his attention back on Alex and found him frowning at him. "What?"

"This doesn't bother you," Alex said, realizing that with almost as much shock.

"Um, no," Jason answered, disconcerted by Alex's obvious reaction. "Does it really bother you that much that I'm not jealous or upset?"

Alex turned away, thinking. Did it bother him? Yes, he had to say it did. "Why doesn't it bother you?" he asked finally, avoiding answering the obvious.

With a deep sigh, Jason said, "Because I know him. He did it for a reason, not out of any urge to shock you or play any games. Even if the only reason was just because he wanted to, I don't think I should feel jealous for that. Should I be? Would it make you feel better if I were?"

"Well..." Alex started, even more confused. "Um, yeah, I guess. I don't know. It's just weird that you don't seem to be."

"I can't say I'm never jealous, Alex, but right now, no, I'm not. I'm wondering why he did it, and I'm wondering why you're this upset about it."

"I'm not upset."

Jason gave him a challenging look. "Yes, Alex, you are. It's kind of..." and he grinned mischievously, "a bit amusing."

"Amusing?" Alex asked, starting to feel defensive.

"Yeah." Jason deliberately looked down his body, then up. "Your reaction to his kissing you isn't exactly a mystery."

Alex turned around, wishing his dick would calm down. "I couldn't help that."

Jason had to bite his lips to keep from further antagonizing the man with another laugh. "Like I said last night, Alex, he often gets me worked up like that." He paused, walking around him to see Alex's face, but Alex kept turning away from him. Finally Jason stopped and decided to goad. "He kisses good, doesn't he?"

"Jason!" Alex dissembled, not answering, which only made things worse because he sensed that Jason was gearing up for a major tease. "You should be jealous."

"I'm not."

"I know."

"And you're angry with me, and angry at yourself for being so turned on. You shouldn't be, and there's no need to feel guilty about it, either."

"I'm not--" Alex protested as he swung round to confront Jason but Jason suddenly yanked him in his arms and was kissing the hell out of him. Alex didn't hesitate with him and responded with fierce hunger, using the desire Jack had worked up within him.

He was suddenly aware of being pushed backward... and backward... and all his mind could scream was Yes! There was a closing of a door and he knew he was in the bathroom, pressed against the wall, and Jason's hand was in his shorts, stroking him quick and rough. He broke the kiss, needing to breath, needing to feel, and offered his throat long after Jason was biting every inch of it.

"You love this," Jason whispered harshly in his ear as he stroked with one hand and explored with the other. He could feel the tension and repressed lust and it made him work all the harder at releasing it. "And you loved it when he kissed you, loved feeling his tongue in your mouth."

"Yes," Alex answered automatically, thrusting into Jason's hand as he pushed his own shorts down noticing absently how Jason didn't seem interested in his own pleasure, intent only on giving Alex his. Selfishly, Alex let Jason do what he wanted.

"You want more, too, don't you?" Jason pushed, stroking faster when Alex answered Yes. "Want him to fuck you, too, don't you?" He felt Alex tense, knowing he was rejecting the question, but Jason made him admit it. "Don't you?" he said, pumping harder, twisting, thumb riding the head.

"Fuck!" Alex whispered, the ache and need clear in his voice.

"You want to feel his cock stroking your ass," Jason provoked and received a raspy groan in response. With an abrupt need, Jason slid down his body and when his knees reached the floor, Alex's cock was in his mouth. His hand slid behind at the same moment, finger sliding effortlessly between his cleft and into his ass.

Alex's cry combined with the painful twisting of his fingers in Jason's hair, and Jason was only encouraged further. He fucked him rough and dirty with his finger while he swallowed the orgasm from Alex's body. His lover shouted as he came, frantically scrambling to keep his feet while his hips uncontrollably thrust his cock down Jason's throat.

Jason milked his lover, not pulling away until Alex's cock began to soften, and after bringing his shorts back up, he pulled Alex down to him. He nuzzled him, kissed him, and held him in his arms, waiting for Alex to speak.

"Why'd you do that?" Alex asked finally, his voice soft, sounding more awed than sated.

Jason smiled against his cheek. "Because you wanted it, needed it, and I loved doing it. Any other silly questions?"

"No," Alex replied with a sheepish laugh.

"What did Jack tell you after kissed you?" Jason suddenly asked.

"He wanted me to stop feeling guilty."

That's what Jason thought. "And?"

"I did," Alex replied, though there was still a twinge left over.

"Good." He added after a second, "I should've gone after you when you left."

Alex shrugged. "Done and dusted, Jason. You were right and I was wrong."

Jason sighed again, this time with futility. "No. Neither of us were wrong. I had my fears about what would happen between us. We feel a lot more than we thought we would. There's no harm there really but it caused you to panic and for that, I'm very sorry." Alex tried to contradict him but Jason shushed him with a soft kiss. While he hated having to suggest it, he had no choice. "We can stop this right now, if you want, before it goes any further. No recriminations or blame."

"Do you want to?" Alex evaded, stiffening in his arms.

"Alex, don't do that. This is your decision, not mine."

Alex took perhaps thirty seconds to think it over. "It's both, Jason. What happened is between us both. It also can't be undone nor do I want it to be. I don't want to stop, but the problem is, I don't want to stop being with you after I leave. I know that's what you were afraid of, what they were afraid of. It'll be hard, Jason, but I can do it. It'll just take time."

"Why were you so adamant that it wouldn't happen? What changed?"

Alex closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and said it. "At the risk of sounding like a stereotype, it changed the minute I felt you inside me."

Jason's cheeks actually flushed this time. He understood how Alex felt, but he was more experienced in dealing with it. He held him tighter, rubbing his back.

"Should've kept my mouth shut," Alex suddenly said.

"Never hold back with me, Alex. We're friends, always."

"Even if..."

"Even if. We'll deal."

"We?"

"We. It's not just you, Alex."

"Oh," Alex whispered.

With a sigh, Jason's thoughts suddenly returned to the kiss and Alex's reaction. Correction. Reactions. He gave Alex a knowing grin. "So... about that kiss."

Alex laughed nervously, surprised and strangely aroused by Jason's interest. "What about it?"

"Tell me about it."

Alex realized that Jason actually wanted to know; he wasn't just teasing or playing with him. "I just stood there and let him kiss me," and he laughed again, this time derisively, "I can't believe how I reacted, Jason."

"Getting a hard-on from Jack kissing you is normal, Alex," he said with amusement.

"It wasn't that."

"Shock is normal, too."

"Yeah, except I stood there like a fucking 16 year old virgin girl." He pulled away a bit and showed Jason exactly what Jack did. Exactly. When Jason's arms started to go around him and he started to kiss him back, Alex let go. "See, that's what I should've done, but I didn't. I just fucking stood there." He shook his head in disgust. "I can't believe I just froze like that."

Jason closed his eyes for a second, remembering how his first kiss with Jack sent his toes curling under him. He opened his eyes, lifted Alex's chin and kissed him lightly. "The first time Jack kissed me wasn't Jack's idea. At least with you, it was."

Alex frowned. "Wasn't his idea?"

Jason sighed. "Daniel did it, directed it. He wanted us to kiss because Jack had kissed him when we were missing off-world."

Alex groaned, remembering that awful headache when he'd awoken in the infirmary. "Oh yeah, I remember that. Jack came down and wheeled you out of the ward to go visit Daniel."

Jason frowned. "You were in the next ward over. How'd you know that?"

"I'd asked Doctor Fraiser where you were and she told me."

"Oh. Well, anyway, that night was Daniel's birthday and since I was already turned on by the idea of being with Jack, I kissed him first. Or rather, I led the kiss. Jack kissed me back and when he did..." Jason smiled. "I kind of forgot for a few moments that Daniel was there." He shook it off and tried to be more serious... sort of. "Point is... Jack can muddle anyone's mind so stop worrying how much you froze up. If..."

Jason had to stop his motor mouth and abruptly stopped talking. He was so used to spilling his ideas to Daniel and Jack. Alex wasn't them and he had to stop treating him as if he were.

"If what?"

"Nothing," Jason lied, smiling at him. "Lost my train of thought, thinking about back then. As I was saying, Jack can muddle anyone's mind. The man has a talent for seduction when he wants to use it. When he kisses you, all you want to do is feel and it takes a while to remember to give back."

"You didn't freeze up, Jason," Alex said with self-disgust.

"Alex, how many men have you kissed? How much experience do you have in situations like that?"

Alex rolled his eyes, conceding. "Okay, little point there."

"Exactly. Stop beating yourself up. Now, one more question."

Alex took in a deep breath. "Hit me."

Jason smiled at him and removed his fingers from his chin, tracing a line down his throat, over his chest, his abdomen.

"Would you like to do something with him?"

Alex swallowed in surprise. "Jason, you can't ask me... I mean, why would you... I mean... Oh shit, what does it matter? He kissed me. I didn't ask him to fuck me." Thoughts matched words and his cheeks flushed again. It made him feel like an idiot. "Dammit."

Jason kissed him again, more firmly, and when he broke away, he said, "Never mind, Alex. I'm sorry."

Alex swallowed again, still feeling surprise. "Don't, Jason. It's okay." He paused for a minute, then asked, "The idea gets you off, doesn't it?"

Jason nodded slowly, "Except it's not why I asked."

"Why did you?"

Jason looked into his eyes, not answering right away. "Because I sensed there was something unfinished that you wanted from him."

"Maybe," Alex conceded.

"Maybe... what?"

"Maybe I wanted the chance to kiss him back."

Jason couldn't help it and grinned wickedly. "That's all?"

Alex didn't answer him. Instead, he kissed Jason as thoroughly as he could manage.

When they broke apart and stood up, Alex suddenly announced, "When we get over to our bungalow, we'll need to shower."

Jason frowned comically as he sniffed his underarms. "I don't smell." He leaned in and inhaled, then said more seductively, "You don't, either."

Alex pushed at him. "I had potato starch on my hands and clothes. And now, it's all over you."

"Oh," Jason said, biting his lip. "S'okay. I'd love to share a shower though so don't even think about going it alone." The meaning was implicit and Alex grinned knowingly.

"Deal."

"C'mon. Let's go make home fries."

"And if they're um, busy?"

"We'll turn around and leave. Unless you'd like to watch?"

Alex wished fervently that Jason would stop doing that and that he'd stop making him fucking blush. "Maybe later," he said facetiously, though part of him wasn't kidding. He wondered then if Jason guessed that.

.

Daniel and Jack were busy with the potatoes, not each other, and Jason gave Alex a wink, receiving a glare in return which made him grin in victory. Turning his attention back to the kitchen, and his lovers, Jason recognized the disheveled look.

"So, is there enough?"

"Of what?" Jack asked, licking salt off his thumb pad. When his eyes traveled to Alex, Jason walked behind him and slapped his ass.

"Behave."

Jack grinned wider, eyes on Daniel. "Where's the fun in that?"

Alex went round to stand next to Daniel as standing next to Jack was doing fluttery things to his stomach. He wanted to leave and take that shower, with perhaps a few filthy suggestions from Jason in his ear. Clearing his throat, he raised his gaze to Daniel's and when the man looked at him, Alex was glad to note that he returned his enigmatic grin without blushing.

"You okay?" Daniel asked.

"Fine."

"So we heard," Jack said and received another slap on the ass.

Daniel looked up, exchanging smirks with Jason. "Perhaps I need to chain him to the bed for a while."

Jason groaned. "Daniel, don't make me miss out."

With a purposely filthy expression, Daniel gave Alex a wink. "Just because Jason's with you, doesn't mean he's missing anything."

The allusion was not lost on Alex and he allowed a smile, thinking about what he said.

.

After the snacks were baked and divided, Jason handed Alex their share, including the condiments they didn't have in their own fridge. "I'll be there in a minute, Alex. I just need a word."

Alex nodded, wanting to ask if anything was wrong but didn't dare. "Sure," he said lightly. "'Night, Jack, Daniel," and walked out without a look back. He couldn't really take another teasing look from Jack. He'd been hard for the last half-hour.

Turning to his lovers, Jason folded his arms and gave Jack a focused look. "Okay, Jack, out with it."

"What'd I do?" Jack said, exchanging a hopeful glance in Daniel's direction but was met with a smirk instead. "Traitor," he mumbled.

"What's on your mind, Jack?" Daniel asked, pretending he hadn't heard.

"Who said anything was on my mind?" Jack contradicted, but he knew he wasn't fooling them.

"You two," Jason said, shaking his head.

Daniel looked at him and was going to say, "What'd I do?" just like Jack, but that would've been silly. Instead, he shrugged and went around the island, taking Jason's hand. "Alex is a little more open than he was, but I thought I'd help in case you want to do anything... adventurous tomorrow."

"There's always tonight."

Jack glanced at the clock. "It's just after 1 in the morning, Jace."

"And that's stopped us... when?" Jason asked.

"Good point," Jack replied, meaning never mind.

"So, what's on your mind, Jack?" Daniel repeated.

Jack did have an idea and he got it watching Alex; the operative word being 'watch'. Problem was, he felt as if the idea was something he shouldn't have and hated that. The idea had more to do with indulging himself and throwing caution to the wind. He was tired of hiding his feelings and thoughts while they were here, and unfortunately, Alex had been forcing him to do just that.

"It's serious, but not serious serious," he said, carefully selecting his words.

Daniel and Jason looked at each other, shaking their heads. Jack meant his feelings. "Jack," Daniel started, "when are you going to accept that your feelings in anything are serious?"

"Daniel--"

"Jack, they're serious to me and Jason if not to yourself. Get over it."

Jack made a growling sound. "Fine. May I continue?" he asked. He should have avoided the 'serious' thing. He knew better.

Jason rolled his eyes and Daniel gestured. "Let us have it."

Jack cleared his throat, deciding to just say it. "Since Alex has been here, I've been having to hide my feelings." They frowned in confusion and Jack cringed. "Sorry, that's probably too vague. I mean that since planning this vacation, I've been in the mood every damn day and since we've been here, I've had a great time. But because Alex is here, I'm suddenly having to hide my feelings again. It's my vacation, too, and if he doesn't like the flirting, too bad. I'm not apologizing for it, Jason."

"I don't expect or want you to," Jason told him. "Neither does he. He's not a prude, Jack. He's just not used to this. I never, ever expect you to hide who you are."

Jack knew he was being more ornery than he needed to be but he was making a point. He could see his lovers understood that. "We're here specifically to do whatever the hell we want, and we're suddenly put on hold for three days. I hate that, gentlemen."

He was greeted with guilty looks. Both Daniel and Jason had been covering for Alex, because he wasn't part of their relationship, and Jack was right. They'd been holding back, not doing whatever the hell they wanted to, going against what they were on the island for.

Jason sighed. "He's got one more day, so it's time to let Alex know that he can do whatever the hell he wants, too." He took Jack's hand in his. "Sorry. I didn't have a problem with you kissing Alex, you know. Or anything else, either. I kind of thought you'd prefer to keep things separate. Sorry."

"Don't be, Jace," Jack told him. "I'm just saying that starting now, there shouldn't be anymore hiding. If we're fucking in the living room, he can watch or leave or go in the kitchen, I don't care, but I'm no longer keeping my shit hidden." He gave Daniel a very direct look. "That includes fucking on the deck in the middle of a rain storm," and he winked at Jason, who grinned with pleasant surprise.

"Daniel and I went out back instead of remaining out front where we had been and we moved because Alex was down on the beach with you. I didn't question it then, too used to being careful, but I don't want this to be a repetition of our home life. I want this vacation to be different. No more careful, guys, not with Alex, not when Stef shows up. Agreed?"

"Agreed," his lovers answered in stereo, making him grin.

"Always nice to know we're on the same page," he quipped.

"What do you want to do, Jack?" Jason asked slowly. It had to do with Alex one way or another.

"Have you ever told Alex that we like to watch each other?" Jack asked.

Jason and Daniel exchanged looks, their mouths twitching.

"I've mentioned it, but not in a serious way. I've hinted that you would, given the opportunity." He let his mouth turn up in amusement.

"Okay, well..." Jack looked at Daniel, then back at Jason. "If you're not opposed..."

"I'm not," Jason answered, feeling that warm flush spread over his inner thighs.

"And you ask Alex and he's not opposed, then leave your bedroom door open. If he is, then close it. That way... I'll know."

"We'll know," Daniel corrected, starting to like the idea. "But how will Alex react?"

"I don't think he'd object... but from what I've been able to tell with him, he's not ready for overt watching. No standing in front of the bed and watching, in other words," he said with a big grin. "But considering that he's open to ideas more than he was yesterday..."

"Is he?" Jack asked.

Daniel didn't fight back the evil smile. "Because you kissed him no doubt."

"You heard him earlier, I take it?" Jason asked.

They nodded with a grin and Daniel nudged Jack. "Told you he'd fix it."

"Hush," Jack warned, making Daniel stick his tongue between his teeth to keep from laughing.

"Let me just say that Jack was the topic when I forced that shout from him."

Jack's eyes darkened. "Really." It wasn't a question.

"Really. I'll just have the gauze curtains down, which you can still see through."

Jack cleared his throat, actually liking this idea more and more.

Jason grinned and kissing him lightly. "I think this will work... especially considering how hard you made him... twice." He abruptly cupped and squeezed Jack's cock, making the man bite his lip through a filthy, smug grin.

"Is that so?" Jack asked facetiously.

Jason gave Daniel a kiss and walked away. Over his shoulder, he said, "You're not the only one who wants this."

After he left, Daniel picked up their share of fries and walked to the bedroom, Jack following. "Think we could put off eating these for a while?"

Jack grinned as he purposely reached around him and picked up a fry. "We can reheat what's left," he said, eating it. "Why don't we work ourselves up first and give Jason a chance to do the same to Alex."

"It never takes Jason long to do that," Daniel reminded him.

"True."

.

Standing by the dresser, Alex glanced at Jason as the man undressed for the shower and thought about the reason he'd been invited there and the hints he'd taken from both Daniel and Jack. Including the more subtle ones. His hard-on hadn't gone down much, either.

"Alex, something on your mind?" Jason asked, knowing damn well there was.

"You could say that," Alex replied and with a deep breath, he purposely stopped thinking and checking his feelings. It wasn't easy to let go, to let himself think of his sexual needs and wants and nothing else. But he was beginning to see why Jason, Jack, and Daniel took this vacation. The feelings he allowed were freeing in a way he liked. A lot.

He still wasn't used to it, though, so his actions, new and nearly over-exciting, had him shaking a little as he walked slowly to the chiffonier and opened it up to finally look at what was inside. If he was here to play, that's exactly what he should be doing. He knew about some of the kink toys, though he'd never used much except for scarves for tying up. Opening a shallow drawer on the left, he held his breath at the array of different dildos.

"Enlighten me?" Jason asked, walking up behind him. Naked. When Alex looked over his shoulder, Jason saw the dilated pupils. "Find something?"

"I'm... looking for..."  Swallowing back his hesitation, he pulled out a purple dildo, one with well-defined corkscrew ridges and a bent, narrow tip. "Something like this."

Jason held his breath as he took it from him, saying nothing. "Have you ever used one before?"

Alex shook his head as he opened the top of the large drawers and without looking, picked up the set of restraints he'd found the night before. He held them up. "Haven't ever used these before, either." He met Jason's darkening gaze. "But it's time." He brushed purposely against Jason as he took the restraints to the bed and dropped them on the pillow. "These are for me, Jace."

Jason felt his cock harden quickly as he watched Alex strip off his clothes. "You're sure?"

"Quite sure," he said and walked toward him without embarrassment.

Jason held out his hand. "Tell me."

Alex took his hand and led him to the bathroom. He turned on the shower, then pulled Jason inside, not wasting time and kissing him deeply. When he broke for air, he said, "I want to wash you, I want you to wash me, then I want you to use this..." and he lifted Jason's hand holding the dildo, "and get me ready."

"For?" Jason breathed. He knew what for, but he wanted to hear Alex say it. Alex grinned at him seductively so Alex knew, too. "I want you to tie me to the bed and fuck me."

"Face up or face down?" Jason breathed.

Alex turned on the water, testing it. "Face up. I want to see you this time."

Pulling them under the water, Jason teased him, sliding the tip of the dildo over his chest and down his body. "Alex, I need to ask you something. A favor."

"Ask."

"Would it bother you if Jack and Daniel watched us?"

Alex felt a shudder wrack through him. "Watched you fuck me?"

"Yes, from the doorway," he said, drawing the length of the dildo over his lover's shaft. "We could have the curtains drawn so we're partially obscured."

"And?" Alex asked, knowing Jason well enough to know there was an 'and'.

"I want them to watch us," he said huskily, and at Alex's strange expression, he added, "It would be hot as hell and... I think Jack wants to watch you."

Alex closed his eyes and brought the dildo to his ass with obvious impatience. "Open me," he whispered and Jason kissed him into the wall.

.

Daniel thrust upward, aching with the need to come but Jack wouldn't let him. His mouth surrounded his cock easily, sucking him again and again, backing off just before orgasm. "Bastard," he said, groaning as Jack removed his fingers.

"I think you're ready," Jack teased, though he himself had been ready since he'd thought of watching Jason and Alex.

"Way past ready," Daniel answered, and rolled off the bed, taking Jack by the hand and dragging him behind him.

.

Breathing hard, body sweating, Alex felt like a quivering mess as he tried to move the restraints buckled around his wrists. They felt nothing like scarves. Nothing. Despite the obvious difference, he felt secured, almost free in a way.

Jason hadn't wasted any time tying him to the bed, pushing up his legs, biting along the backs of his thighs, rimming him. He'd taken an awfully--wonderfully--long time doing that before kneeling between his legs and sheathing his cock inside him. It had been easier than before and the preparation Jason had given him was solely responsible.

Alex was as relaxed as he could be while his body was tense and rigid with pleasure. The sensation of being tied up with Jason's cock inside him was fucking astounding. He felt free to buck and squirm, tease Jason by making him work to hold him down as he tried to thrust.

As he was doing now. "Alex, you're being very bad," Jason warned through a devilish smile. "I'll have to pin you down."

Alex's eyes dilated even more as they half-lidded. "Think you can?" he dared, breathing hard.

Jason only smiled as he held Alex's thighs in the crooks of his arms and made one long thrust. Watching Alex bite his lip was heaven. "Try your teasing now," Jason dared, and when Alex bucked, he only drove Jason's cock deeper, and when he squirmed, the same thing happened again. Jason started to laugh softly. "Keep doing that, Alex. You'll save me the work."

Alex groaned. "Bastard. If it's work you want, you can go home."

Jason laughed again and bent over, pushing his cock deeper as he laid down and kissed him. "How do you feel?" he asked, softly biting his chin.

"Good," Alex breathed. "So fucking good."

"Now you know why I like it."

"I want to do this to you tomorrow."

"Already planned, Alex," Jason said as he moved to his lips. "Already planned."

Alex moved again and found that no matter what he really did, he could only move his body with Jason's, and his cock moved only when Jason wanted and not before. It was so damn good and Alex wanted it to last forever.

"God, you're gorgeous," Jason said, thrusting slow as he recognized the complete surrender of Alex's body as well as his mind.

"God, Jason," Alex breathed. "Feels so damn good."

"If you like this, you'll love the rest," Jason said, the tone hinting at something, and Alex's brow furrowed with the unspoken question... until he realized that the dark blur to his right was moving. He finally looked over, having ignored everything but Jason.

Through the Egyptian gauze, his eyes locked on the slightly obscured and very recognizable forms of Daniel and Jack. Naked Daniel and Jack.

"Oh god," he breathed, barely audible. Both men held onto the door frame over their heads, and Daniel was standing in front of Jack, legs spread. He was moving backward while Jack moved forward and Alex was suddenly aware of their breathing. They were fucking. In front of him. Watching Jason fuck him. And their rhythms were matching.

Alex couldn't take his eyes from them. "Oh god, Jason," he whispered. "Fuck me."

Jason smiled and closed his eyes, letting his head drop back, thrusting just a little harder, loving how Alex made those little sounds. After a minute, he asked, "They're gorgeous, aren't they?"

Alex swallowed hard. "Yes."

"You like them watching you." Not a question.

"Fuck yes," Alex whispered, amazed, bewildered, stunned. He did like it, and most especially because Jack was watching him.

"It's time to give them a show, make them come. Make you come," Jason whispered darkly and suddenly sped up his thrusts, slamming inside him, rudely--beautifully--bringing Alex's attention back to him.

"God, yes!" Alex shouted, pulling at his restraints. He kept an eye on Jack and Daniel, and finally focused on Jack. He was fucking gorgeous, sexy, and Alex's body tensed. He felt his orgasm approach, the pleasure drawn acutely with the knowledge that Jack's eyes were on him, that the sounds from the doorway were partly his.

Alex thought that Jack could, perhaps, be watching just him. He went with it and the fantasy thought that came was rough and dark and forbidden. Jack wanted to fuck him and was fucking him, through Daniel. Jason's slick hardness moving back and forth inside him was suddenly Jack's and the idea that it was Jack hit Alex so forcefully that he threw back his head and came for years.

"Oh god, yes!" Jason breathed, dropping his head back, looking over at his lovers, gasping through the blinding orgasm that took over his body as he released into Alex, shot after shot. "Jesus."

Jack lost it. Watching them come was just it and he grabbed Daniel by the top of his shoulders and fucked him hard and fast, loving how Daniel's hands slid down the sides of the door frame, holding on as he dropped his head down and let it happen, encouraging Jack with these noises that said, "More."

Daniel couldn't see a damn thing; only white light as the orgasm shook him apart. He let his cry of pleasure echo as he came hard, clamping down on Jack.

Jack closed his eyes and let the speed and intensity of his orgasm take over everything. He grabbed Daniel around his waist, around his neck, fingers lacing through sweat-damp hair as he turned his face to him and kissed him deeply, loving the way Daniel moaned into his throat.

On the bed, Jason let Alex's legs down and unstrapped his wrists, leaving the restraints in place on the headboard. He laid carefully over him, kissing him lightly. Alex was nearly in a doze already. Jason looked over in the doorway and found his lovers on their knees, Jack's arms holding Daniel practically in his lap. Smiling at them through the gauze, he felt sated and spent; he slid off Alex and fell asleep, wondering if they wanted to watch the reverse happen tomorrow.

.

The next day was a strange day, Daniel thought. Breakfast had been fine, filled mostly with looks and a lot of lounging about. The night before had been thrilling, one of their best yet on the island, and the change between them and Alex had been expected, at least by him. They were introspective but also, just taking it easy. It was... comfortable, and Daniel let it be. Anything that came to mind was safe to say and Jack, at least, wasn't tense any longer, afraid of holding back. Alex, Daniel felt, was another matter. While he was more relaxed, there was something still so uneasy about him. Whatever it was, he hoped Alex would let them help.

At lunch, around two in the afternoon, Daniel had decided that a picnic on the living room floor in Jason and Alex's bungalow was the thing to get everyone, not just Alex, more relaxed. It was raining again, so while it stormed outside, the four of them sat on the floor and talked. About the fetish room.

Just before lunch, at Daniel's suggestion, they'd gone in and looked around, checking out the toys and the furniture. Daniel had made a point of including Alex, purposely choosing this time to 'broaden his horizons' and get the man to relax a little more. Even though Alex was familiar with the language and names and items, Daniel could tell he'd found the room fascinating. His reactions to newer things had been similar to their own, and for that, he had been relieved, as had Jason. There'd been the inevitable sexual tension in the air, but Daniel hadn't sensed anything unusual.

Alex hadn't either, for that matter, and for that, he'd been thankful. Being around Jack was comfortable now, though Alex still felt sexual excitement every time the man drew near. It had a lot to do with his feelings that had made Jack part of his private fantasy, but Alex no longer blushed every time Jack looked his way, or pointed out something rather erotic, like an exotic toy.

Alex knew it was confidence that was responsible and once he'd allowed himself to relax around Jack and Daniel and let time take care of itself, Alex had told any remaining private inhibitions to fuck off. He liked being confident and comfortable and knew that the reason for it was that they weren't judging him. It was important. While Jason had never judged him, Alex's feelings for him had predisposed Jason's lovers to watch, to judge him, but that was what Alex expected. What he hadn't realized yet was that they weren't judging him anymore.

As he sat with them on the floor and watched Jack, Jason and Daniel share some private joke where Daniel was then teased, Alex's thoughts of judgment led him to wishing he had circumstances like theirs. No family. With Jason, none that judged, as Alex had learned about Jason's sister, Lysa.

The holiday season next week left Alex's stomach queasy but for once, it wasn't as bad as usual. He wasn't going home, despite what he'd told Jason and everyone else. While Jack and Daniel's families were gone and Jason had a sister and grandfather who loved him, Alex came from a family he couldn't trust, and above all, didn't love. He felt a social responsibility, but other than that, he'd never spoken about them truthfully and all Jason had learned about them was a lie. It was hard to love people who were hateful, phobic bigots. It was harder to accept it from family and all the harder to realize that betrayal was commonplace.

Ironic. He could one day tell them about the Stargate Program, but while he stayed in the Air Force, he could never tell them about his change of sexuality because they could leak the information. While he'd never tell them out of love or a willingness to share, he did want to throw it in their face one day. All of them.

Alex knew then that no matter what he felt after he left here and went home, no matter how much he'd miss being with Jason, being included with them meant more to him than any relationship. He'd never had this before. He was accepted and with their acceptance came his own, even in three days. It was this self-acceptance that was the more significant and it would make up for any loss he'd feel; nothing would take away the acceptance he felt now. Nothing. It was like looking at a new world.

"You're getting Jason's disease, Alex," Jack said, sitting down next to him, handing him a new beer.

Alex took it from him in surprise. He hadn't even asked. "Thanks," he said, still distracted, and looked at Jack in a slightly different way than last night... though it had nothing to do with sex. That part remained the same, of course, but this time, it was respect and something else. Not gratitude. Something else. He couldn't define it. Not yet, anyway. He felt that way about Daniel, too.

"Huh?" Alex asked, when someone called his name. Around him, three men were chuckling.

"Your mind is wandering," Jason told him, pushing at one of his crossed knees.

Daniel saw him hesitate as he nodded. "Can you share?"

Alex shook his head. "I don't want to change the subject. I prefer to talk about the stuff in the room. A lot more interesting."

"Not so interesting to keep you from wandering though, is it?" Jack asked, sipping his beer.

"It is, it's just..."

"You're not used to talking openly, are you?" Daniel asked, sensing something like relief from the man but underneath it there was something else... sadness maybe. He wanted to understand where Alex was coming from, or at least, where Alex's mind was. Alex glanced at him then looked down at the newly made fries on his plate and his half-eaten sandwich. Watching Alex drink deeply from his beer bottle, Daniel looked at his lovers quickly and felt concern from them.

"Want to talk about it?" Jack offered as he recrossed his legs, rubbing his knees absently. Having had Thor heal them a few years ago was a blessing in many, many ways, this being one of them.

Jason reached over and rubbed Jack's closest knee affectionately, catching the unspoken body language. Jack still flinched, even when there wasn't any pain. Catching Alex's thoughtful expression, he slid an encouraging hand over the man's arm. Alex looked up at him from the bottle he was holding, giving Jason a futile look.

"You know how most of my family is?" Alex asked him.

Jason made a small, distasteful grimace, nodding.

With a deep breath, Alex plucked up all the courage he had left. "I lied about them, Jace."

"In what way?" Jason asked, frowning in concern. He looked at his lovers and explained, "Apart from Alex's grandmother, he comes from a family who're judgmental."

"Jace, narrow-minded bigots is the nicest way of putting who they really are."

Jason glanced at his lovers then back at Alex. "But you... well... um... okay. I'm... sorry you thought you had to lie about that." He was confused now and a little hurt, but the hurt he could push aside.

Jack had a feeling however... "Pretty much KKK members, right?"

Alex rolled his eyes. "Except they live in the northeast. My Grandma Wagner is the only one of my family, on either side, who isn't a blind follower of Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and Adolph Hitler."

Everyone was stunned but Jason was the most. The stories he'd heard... everything Alex had said... He didn't just not like his family, he was ashamed of them. To lie, to cover up... "Why didn't you just say they were dead?"

"Because you do my performance reviews, Jason. You'd have known otherwise in my personnel file."

"I don't dig unless there's a reason, Alex. Unless you come at me with an axe, I still won't."

Alex looked at him sheepishly. "I'm sorry but I just..." He looked at Jason's lovers and asked, "You guys know what it's like to have loving families growing up?"

Jack nodded, as did Daniel, even though Daniel's memories were scattered between his biological family and his adopted one, including memories of Nick.

"I don't. One of those major dysfunctional families. The point I'm trying to make... badly... is the reason I was so far away for a few minutes there was because this..." and he gestured at the three men and their surroundings, "... is the one time I've actually felt accepted. I'll admit that I've some inhibitions. I've never been comfortable with being able to talk about them, never mind finding out how to get rid of them. Not till I got here and... last night was the first time... I've never...um..." He looked at Jason, hoping the man would read his mind and say it for him because he couldn't seem to find the words.

"Been restrained?" Daniel offered, sensing the emotion if not the words in his head. He couldn't blame Alex for the arousal he felt or the embarrassment in sharing that arousal with more than one other person. Daniel still felt intense arousal when he remembered what he'd watched.

Alex swallowed hard and said, "Yeah. I mean, um...Cari and I...you know, just mild stuff with scarves..." He fought off the blush and felt relief when it worked.

"How did you like being tied down?" Jack asked him quietly, making sure he didn't sound as if he were cornering the man for details. Although that was part of it, Jack's objective was to try and teach Alex to open up, just as Daniel and Jason had done for him; the problem lay in wanting to. That was all that had kept Jack from learning how to communicate without feeling he was giving something up of himself. Being involved with Special Operations certainly hadn't helped. Working in secret wasn't exactly an aid.

For Alex, it was the first openly-spoken reference to the night before and Alex became embarrassed, feeling a blush that wouldn't go away. And the day had been going so well. He knew what Jack was getting at and tried to think about his answer instead of remembering that Jack had watched him... come. He cleared his throat, laughing self-deprecatingly. "Can't seem to get rid of the blushing, can I?" He took a deep breath and said, "Other than it surprised the hell out of me in how good it felt, it felt very selfish."

Jason had the urge to push aside the plates and pull the man down for a searing kiss. Instead he asked, "Why?"

"Because I let someone else--you--do everything while I did nothing."

Jason nodded along with his lovers, then pushed aside the plates and moved closer so he could take Alex's hand. Daniel moved with him and their little circle became a lot smaller. "That's the purpose of it, Alex. To let go, to give up control and let someone else take over. A lot of people in power positions feel the need to do just that. The pressure of command, for instance," and he winked at Jack.

Alex looked at Jack in surprise, followed by desire, and looked away as if he was being rude. He felt Jack's hand on him then.

"What?" Jack asked.

Alex shook his head. The image that had come to him was highly erotic and somehow intrusive on Jack's privacy. "Um, nothing," he said quickly, trying to come up with an excuse. "Just surprised that you'd like being tied down because of what Jason said."

Daniel tilted his head, staring at him. Alex wasn't lying, but it wasn't the reason for the look at Jack. He hid the smile, understanding what the man was feeling. He wanted Jack and wouldn't allow himself to admit it. Daniel knew that feeling very, very well. He cleared his throat. "We've explored our kinks, Alex, because we're lucky enough to have partners who've indulged us, sharing those desires. If there's anything you'd like us to explore with you," and he gestured at himself and Jack, "feel free to ask."

Jason was suddenly so proud of Daniel for asking something so open, so... free of any jealousy or restriction. He cleared his throat and swallowed down the rush of desire, but the words weren't stopped from rushing out of his mouth. "Daniel... you've no idea how badly I want to fuck you right now."

Alex choked on his swallow of beer and began coughing, making Daniel and Jack grin madly while Jason slapped his back.

"Sorry, Alex," he said, but he wasn't really. He looked at Jack and mouthed, "You too," while Alex was busy thumping his chest to get the residue of beer out of his lungs.

Under control finally, Alex shot Jason a dirty look before fixing his gaze on Daniel and Jack and managing not to be embarrassed by the offer. "Thanks, Daniel, Jack, but I don't think we've enough time for me to... for that to, um... this is your vacation, not mine. I go home tomorrow... with one hell of a good memory, so thanks for... you know."

"You're welcome," Daniel said, and Jack's simple grin echoed his sentiments silently.

Jason, however, was confused. "Wait, you mean... you're not going to your family's for..." He stopped and cringed. No, of course not. Not any more. "Shit, Alex, why didn't you just say?"

Alex closed his eyes and grimaced. "Because I hate explaining. People look at you with pity in their eyes when they find out you're staying home for Christmas and they know you live alone. I also couldn't tolerate Jason's mother henning me all over the place so..."

"Hey, I do not..." Jason began but stopped himself. He did mother hen Alex. "Shit." Daniel and Jack started to snigger because they sympathized with Alex. Jason pointed at them in self-defense. "Don't even look at me like that. You're worse than I am." Refocusing, he turned to Alex. "Nice deflection, asshole, but it didn't work."

When Jason cast a careful glance at his lovers and was about to open his mouth, Alex surprised him with a sudden hand over his mouth.

"No, Jason," Alex said flatly. "Appreciated, but I'm going home."

Jason stared at him as he pulled his hand away. He didn't have a choice but to accept Alex's wish. "If you change your mind--"

"I know. Thanks."

"Who wants another beer?" Jack asked, taking advantage of the ensuing silence to fetch another.

"None for me, thanks," Alex replied, but Jason got up to get another.

Daniel got up with them and waved his empty wine glass at Alex. "Something else maybe?"

"Frankly, I'd rather have tequila, lime, and salt," Alex murmured, looking around to see if he'd missed the bar anywhere.

"You want to get drunk?" Jason asked in surprise.

Alex drew his knees up, resting his arms over them, swinging the half-empty bottle. "No, not really. I'm feeling a little out of sorts. You won't say it, Jason, but I may as well. I don't want to leave, but I have to. It's not really a good idea for this to go on more than... well, necessary." He suddenly got up and downed his beer, tossing it in the trash. "Well, time to tap the leg. Also known as taking a leak. Be right back."

He sauntered off into the bedroom as if nothing were wrong but Daniel felt it clear as day. "He's very good at deflecting."

"It's understandable," Jack replied thoughtfully.

"I know," Jason sighed. "He was... happy for a while. Now he's not. I shouldn't have--"

"I don't think so," Jack contradicted, covering Jason's mouth as Alex had.

Jason turned his face away, pulling Jack's hand from his mouth. "Maybe I'll just have a talk with him," Jason said solemnly as he turned, but Jack held his arm.

"Would it be okay if I did?"

Jason felt a smidgen of irrational possessiveness and hated it. "Why?"

Jack shrugged. "Several reasons." He took Jason's hand and kissed the palm. "Let me?"

Without thinking, Jason nodded, trying to push away that possessive twinge even more. What the hell was the matter with him, he thought.

Daniel saw something behind Jack's eyes that had a lot to do with concern but perhaps more with want. He felt the desire filling him, warring with his own particular possessiveness. Something would happen between Jack and Alex if he and Jason would just... let it. He took Jason's other hand, forcing him to meet his gaze. "Alex is here to experience his own fantasies so we should let him. We're here to do the same, yes?"

Jason swallowed, agreeing. If they were willing to let him go, to have something with Alex, then he had to let Jack go, too. And Daniel, for that matter. He returned the kiss to Jack's palm. "Just... behave."

Jack gave him a wicked grin. "Now why would I want to do that?" He felt that particular butterfly feeling in his stomach. Excitement and apprehension, both. His lovers helped lessen it though. "Thanks."

"You have ten minutes," Jason said, winking, and it somehow made him feel better. Turning to leave, he squeezed Daniel's hand tighter but Jack's was suddenly on his shoulder, holding them both back.

"Stay." He wanted them there.

"Sure?" Jason asked, coloring slightly and he didn't know why. Yet.

Jack looked for understanding and found it, but he also saw confusion. "I think... I just want to see what this is I'm feeling. It's probably just attraction, lust, and perhaps it's just that with Alex, but I have to know. And so do you."

Jason and Daniel agreed, but Daniel grabbed the waist band of Jack's shorts, just under his navel, and tugged slightly. "Even lust is a good enough reason right now, Jack. Do what you feel. You know why you have to try."

Jack did. Exploration; ridding of doubts and hidden desires. When they went home, their minds would be as clear as they could get them. All of them knew that things could end in an instant, and it was better to take advantage now than regret they hadn't later. Especially if things went bad. It was always the matter in knowing a guy named Justin Case.

Jason watched Jack disappear through the bedroom threshold and turned to Daniel. He didn't want to think. "I'm sorry," he said very quietly so his voice wouldn't travel.

"For?" Daniel asked, matching his lover's voice.

"What just happened. You felt it, I know you did, and I'm sorry. I've no idea where that jealousy came from, Daniel, but I do know I won't allow it to stay."

Daniel breathed in deeply and pulled Jason into his arms. His lover wouldn't even look at him so he lifted his chin and made him. "For all intents and purposes, you pretty much consider Alex yours. A kiss is just a kiss, an erotic game, but knowing Jack wants to take it further stepped on your territory and you weren't expecting that."

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Were you?"

"Don't turn this on me."

"You're involved, Daniel, don't make like you aren't," Jason said with a tired sigh.

"Okay, no, I didn't expect him to come right out and ask, but the point you're missing is that he asked. He thinks Alex is yours. I'm frankly astounded at the both of you, treating Alex like he's got no say in the matter."

It was harsh and it hit Jason between the eyes and beneath his balls. He groaned in disgust and tried to turn away, to pull from Daniel's grasp, but his lover wouldn't allow it. "God, we did do that, didn't we? What the hell is going on with me?"

"You're in another triangle, that's what," Daniel said with bemusement. He had to laugh at the perplexed look on Jason's face, and asked dryly, "Tell me, Jason, should I feel left out that Alex doesn't want me, too?"

Jason stared at him, surprised, then the words hit home and a grin slowly formed. "Don't be an idiot."

"Then perhaps this is something we should turn to our advantage. Jack didn't want us to go. I think it might be good to get rid of those feelings if you..." He left the sentence unfinished, hoping Jason would finish it himself.

Jason swallowed, his cock stiffening as his thoughts formed a coherent idea. Watch. And perform. It might also get Alex off if he saw Jason from... another angle. Jason's grin widened. "A little exhibitionism goes well with voyeurism, don't you think?"

Daniel tucked a fingertip behind Jason's front teeth and pulled him in. "I think."

.

Alex leaned over the sink on his forearms, his face wet as he splashed it with cold water. He had to get a grip on his feelings. He had to. He didn't want to leave, and it wasn't just because of Jason, and no matter what, he couldn't let them know--

Jack cleared his throat as he crossed his arms and leaned in the doorway. He couldn't help but grin when Alex straightened in alarm, staring at him like a deer in the headlights.

"Jack!" he said, swallowing hard. "Scared me."

"Sorry," Jack said softly, but he wasn't.

"I'm just about done. I'll be out of your way in a sec," he said quickly and reached for the hand towel.

Jack stopped him, his hand coming down over Alex's on top of the towel bar. "No, finish up. I'm not in any hurry."

Alex slowly withdrew his hand, wondering if it was his imagination that Jack's fingers had purposely skimmed over the back of his hand as he pulled back. "Oh, um, you don't need to go then?"

Jack shook his head. "Not yet, but I probably should," and he stepped around Alex and pointedly whipped himself out. He was only half hard and knew damn well that in doing this, he'd probably get a lot harder. Best to take a piss while he could do it easily.

Alex's mouth went dry and he looked away, grabbing the towel anyway and drying his face, his back to Jack. "You um, aren't too modest, are you?"

Jack grinned, looking down Alex's back and specifically at his ass. He loved that wide shoulder-small ass look. Daniel had it, though his hips weren't quite as narrow. Jason didn't have it at all, but he had a small waist Jack loved to hold.

"It doesn't do to stay modest in the military, and in Special Ops. After nearly thirty years, one loses the modesty. Although I'm not quite ready to traipse down the corridors of the SGC in my birthday suit." He could see the side of Alex's face creasing in a smile. "As for you..." Jack went on, flushing and covering back up--hopefully not for long.

Alex turned, glancing at him carefully as he returned the towel to the wooden bar. "Yeah, I've only been in for ten years so..." He wasn't sure this was a fruitful... conversation topic and started to think of a topic change but Jack's question put a stop to that.

"Question is, how are you feeling about modesty right now?" Jack watched the man swallow again and gave him his most charming smile as he extended his hand. "Bathrooms are nice, but let's continue this discussion out here, shall we?"

Alex's mouth felt even drier. Against his better, or worse, judgment, he took Jack's hand and felt the electric current run up his arm. He felt an ache run through his body, as if his bones were complaining about gravity. So not a good thought.

Jack felt the surge of desire run up his own arm and straight down his spine. His cock began to fill rapidly, but he ignored it. He wanted to do something different and it occurred to him that this was different. It had been a long, long time since he'd actively pursued and seduced someone, having always flirted at it instead, keeping out of reach. Except for the kiss in Daniel's office a few years before. Daniel had hunted, and caught, him soon after, though. It wasn't the same.

Jack liked that it wasn't the same. It couldn't be.

He led Alex to the middle of the room, feeling him tug a little in resistance. Jack refused to let him go, however, but instead of drawing him in his arms, he pulled Alex in front of him, having him face the bedroom doorway. They were far enough away not to be able to see through it to the living room, but the door was wide open.

Jack let go of Alex's hand and transferred both of his to the man's shoulders. "Modesty is something we should forget about for the time being," he said, his hands moving ever so slightly in a form of caress. He could feel Alex practically vibrating under his hands. He liked that.

Alex closed his eyes for a few seconds, wondering what the hell was going on. His cock was hard now from the touch of those warm hands on his shoulders and Jack's breath on the back of his head, his neck, made him shiver. He had to answer him, say something. He only hoped that it didn't sound stupid.

"Jack, what's--" he started to ask.

"Shhh. Listen," Jack told him, leaning down a bit to whisper, his lips hovering provocatively over Alex's ear.

Alex couldn't hear anything but his own rapid heartbeat and Jack's voice; couldn't feel anything but Jack's hands and the heat from his body behind him as he just barely brushed against him.

"I don't hear anything," Alex whispered.

"You don't?" Jack asked. He could, of course, since he was in tune with his lovers and knew their sounds, even when they were quiet. There was the rustle of skin, of soft breathing, of deep kisses and quiet moans. Sounds that would increase in volume soon enough.

Jack stepped to the side and took Alex's hand again. Pretending to be sneaking up on his lovers, he put a finger over his lips and led Alex to the doorway, then pointed as he placed the man in front of him again. They were at an angle, viewing the living room more directly, and Jack felt Alex inhale.

.

Having stripped of their clothes, Jason reclined against the low couch that faced the bedroom and watched Daniel kneel in front of him, pushing his legs apart. He couldn't keep his hands from Daniel's body and they skimmed over his warm, smooth arms and chest. Reaching down with one hand, he curled his fingers around his cock, loving how Daniel bit his lip and breathed through a small moan as Jason stroked him.

Daniel looked at Jason's cock, lying fat and heavy on his abdomen, and a lusty grin formed as he took it in hand to match the strokes he was receiving. "I think I should taste you," he whispered, "get you harder, then maybe I should fuck you. What do you think?"

Jason felt the lust inside him rise uncontrollably. He blinked slowly, an old code of theirs meaning I love you. "I think you should do whatever the hell you want."

.

It was perfect, Jack thought. Alex was watching Daniel go down on Jason; watching him tease and get him harder. He knew that Alex hadn't missed the lube on the couch next to them, or that underneath Jason were a few towels placed there to protect the couch. It meant that they weren't going to move, or stop, and that they'd get messy.

Jack didn't want to stop watching them, either. He loved the fact that a huge benefit to his three-way relationship was in being able to watch his lovers whenever they made love. It was incredible. Like now. He could feel Alex breathing harder, amused at Alex's contradicting emotions as he stared and watched, then looked away, repeatedly. Jack finally stopped him, his hands moving up to cradle his jaws, forcing him to look straight ahead.

"Allow yourself to watch, Alex," he whispered. "There's no harm done and they don't mind. Jason likes me to watch him, and he'll like you to watch him, too."

"And you?" Alex asked, his hands white-knuckling the door frame in front of him. "What do you want?"

Jack paused, then breathed against the back of his ear. "You." At the inhale from Alex, and the fact that the man tensed but didn't move away, Jack slid his hands down his shoulders, over his back and around to his chest. His touch was firm but not rough. Soothing, seductive. He let his hands feel the hard muscle and equally hard nipples through Alex's shirt. He was so warm underneath and Jack couldn't get enough. His fingers touched buttons, opening them, moving down, careful to only hint at touching below the waist. Shirt undone, he pushed it aside and felt for skin.

Alex's hands gripped the door frame harder and his breathing intensified. He was caught between the sight before him and the fact that Jack was seducing him from behind. He wanted to focus on just one thing but couldn't. Daniel had finished sucking Jason and had the lube in his hands, squirting the slick stuff onto his fingers and over Jason's ass which now rested just past the edge of the sofa. On the floor, he realized that Daniel knelt on even more towels.

Fuzzing his view, unintentionally or not, were Jack's hands, grazing his nipples, caressing his stomach... slowly moving lower. When Daniel's fingers entered Jason, Jack's fingers slid inside the waistband of his shorts and inched them down, over his hips, catching his cock and making it spring back up. No doubt remained as to his state of arousal, and the moment Jack's fingers skimmed his cock, he had to see for himself what Jack's state was.

He turned away from the scene he wanted to watch to the end, but he had to see. His eyes were drawn down and the clear outline of Jack's cock was his answer. He reached out tentatively and stopped, looking up.

Jack wanted to give permission, to have Alex undress him, but he was too hard, and the situation was too hot. He threw off his shirt and pushed off his shorts with expert quickness. Standing before Alex now, his cock jutting out, angry-red and swollen, his gaze practically dared Alex to his knees, but before the man could do anything other than stare with a matching lust, Jack pulled him, still mostly clothed, against him and kissed him into next week.

Alex's arms went around him this time, fingers digging into his shoulders and back, clawing for purchase, clawing with need. Jack reached between with one hand and pushed Alex's shorts off his thighs, the shirt off his shoulders, and Alex moaned when his damp skin met Jack's. He rubbed against him in a frantic effort to feel everything he could but Jack's hands slowed him down.

"I want you," Jack whispered, biting along Alex's jaw, softly at first, then harder, more insistently, winding him up. "When Daniel fucks Jason, I want to be fucking you."

Lust drove Alex to act and he kissed Jack back, harder, with more demand. Saying 'yes'. He started to break away, thinking of lube, but when Jack pulled them down to their knees, hands on him everywhere, teeth over his collarbone, Alex spied the bottle on the floor. He gasped when he felt the cool lube and Jack's fingers, and dropped his back, spreading his knees as wide as he could, giving Jack access; giving Jack everything.

.

Through half-lidded eyes, Jason watched the nude figures of Jack and Alex in the bedroom doorway. Part of him wanted to chuckle with amusement, thinking the doorway a favored spot now, but most of him wanted Daniel, and wanted Alex and Jack to watch him with Daniel. But he wanted Daniel to watch them in return and before Daniel could think of entering him, Jason pushed Daniel's mouth from his navel and the ring he'd remembered to place there--that Alex hadn't seen or tasted, which left one more new thing to do.

"The coffee table," he told Daniel, sitting up, kissing him feverishly, quickly. The sweat was forming over Daniel's upper lip and Jason took a moment to lick, moaning at the salty, spicy taste.

Daniel knew what he meant and could hear the breathing and the gasps before he turned from Jason's kisses to look. The towels on the couch were quickly transferred and he arranged Jason onto his stomach, spreading his knees; without a word of warning, knowing exactly how Jason would want this, he sheathed himself inside, moving deeply in one stroke, and at the last, thrusting very hard--groin-to-ass, and Jason clenched around him. Fuck that felt good.

Jason grabbed the edge of the narrow table, arms bent against his ribs, grunting with pleasure as Daniel twisted slightly at the last and glanced off his gland. Looking up in time, he caught Alex on his knees with Jack behind him, lubing his fingers. When Alex lifted his head, their eyes met and held. Jason breathed through the first real thrust, loving the sounds Alex made when Jack's fingers entered him, and he let himself wallow in lust and pleasure as Daniel pulled back and sent him into the stratosphere.

.

Jack was far past ready and feeling a shiver over both of them, he cautiously slid his finger inside. The tightness that met him had him groaning with Alex, only his was in an effort not to come at the thought of his cock surrounded by such a grip. "Relax," he whispered against his lover's ear, shivering again at the name. Alex breathed slowly, shakily, faint sounds coming from his throat, whimpers of need and want.

It was almost too much, Jack thought, as he moved his finger back and forth, trying to twist. The position wasn't helping. "Grab both frames," he whispered, taking hold of Alex's hip so their bodies were perfectly framed in the doorway. Alex planted both hands against the wide frame, knuckles white with strain. "Okay?" Jack asked, feeling Alex loosen a little, breathing harder.

"Yes," Alex answered, dropping his head down, then lifting it back up, eyes on Jason as their lovers watched, mostly consumed in their own pleasure. In a way, Daniel was every bit Alex's lover as they were now.

"Another now," Jack told him and slid two fingers in, finding it harder to manage. God, he was going to be tight, and kneeling like this so they could watch Jason and Daniel was going to prove difficult. But Jack knew that once inside him, all thoughts of difficulty would be replaced with incessant need.

Jack reached around him, hand leaving Alex's hip, and took his cock in hand, stroking slowly, loving how hot and heavy he felt in his fist. Sounds merged with feeling and thought, and Jack was suddenly aware of the slickness of their skin. He hadn't done much but the lust throughout their bodies brought the sheen to the surface. It would sting Alex, pushing inside, and probably hurt as well since Jack was bigger, but Alex was moving his hips now, fucking Jack's fingers, his fist, his rocking broadcasting what he wanted.

Jack slowly withdrew his fingers and with one hand, lubed his cock more than he normally would have. He stroked Alex harder, massaging his shaft, listening to the sounds he made, knowing how he was getting off on his touch as well as the sounds Jason and Daniel were making. Just as Jack was. He nudged Alex with his cockhead, rubbing, warning in a way, and with his free hand now around his waist, pushed inside.

Alex's legs shook and he spread them wider, trying to accommodate the thickness moving slowly inside. He was no longer quiet, no longer focused on listening to Daniel and Jason. All he felt as his eyes remained locked with Jason's, was Jack's cock burning a path inside his ass. His gasp of surprise was broken and hitched and he grabbed onto the door frame, pushing against it, holding himself up when all he wanted to do was drop down and fucking take it. He heard Jack ask if he was okay and he nodded absently, lost in the incredible feeling of heat.

Jack's hand around his cock slowed but didn't leave him, and his other hand now caressed his stomach, his pecs and nipples. When Jack was deep inside and pulled back to thrust, the sensation of movement made him cry out and he realized it was Jack's name. Intuitively or not, Jack didn't stop. He moved slowly, carefully, but didn't stop, and for that, Alex was grateful. He was sure he'd kill him if he stopped.

Although those thoughts were nothing once Jack touched his gland. He held his body tightly to him, undulating, rocking, creating a dance-like rhythm with his body and hips that drove Alex insane. He didn't want to wait, needing to come, but Jack felt so damn good and Jason and Daniel looked so damn good that he wished it didn't have to end.

Alex's body remained tight around Jack's cock and he knew that the moment he sped up, all bets would be off. It wouldn't take long to come and what he wanted more than anything was to make the man scream. Perhaps he could try not to do that to himself, though. Holding on, kissing and biting along Alex's neck and shoulder, Jack... let go.

Hard.

After a minute, Alex was yelling, scratching at the paint, body trembling as he came; Jack shut his eyes against the tight, constricting hold around his cock and pushed Alex down, the last thrusts made in rapid succession as he held onto his shoulders and just... fucked him. He heard his name on Alex's lips, on Daniel's, with Jason telling him to fuck Alex hard, to come, and come he did, knowing his lovers came with him soon after.

~

Alex said his goodbyes to Jack and Daniel quickly. He hated goodbyes in general, and right now, he hated them intensely. He hugged them both, finding himself speechless again when they hugged him back. He got into the plane, buckling up, and looked away, unable to watch them any more.

Jason waved to his lovers from his pilot's seat, concern in his eyes as he taxied the plane around for take off; he knew they were watching, waiting till the plane was out of sight. They were so damned protective, and they'd developed a bond with Alex the day before that had them feeling that protective twice over.

"You can always change your mind, right now, Alex," he said, but the man was adamant about leaving. Discussed last night and again that morning, Jason understood why, and tried to place his mind on other things so he wouldn't have to think and dwell on his own reasons for wanting Alex to stay.

He was grateful for the private goodbye, that Jack had stayed behind. It was going to be hard, even for the short 'goodbye' he had planned before Alex caught his flight. It would be different when he got home, but judging from Alex's behavior, thankfully not too different. The man was more relaxed, more at peace, and he'd stopped blushing altogether. He was sad, though, and Jason wished more than ever that he'd been a better liar. Unfortunately, he hadn't a goddamn clue if that was good or bad.

.

Watching the plane take off, Jack and Daniel exchanged a single glance on the way back to the bungalow. There was a silent agreement and understanding and Daniel could feel the emotions from Jack to confirm it.

Alex needed to be addressed after they returned home. They'd see how things went. There was no regret from either of them about what they'd experienced with Alex the day before; they'd left Jason alone with him all that morning after breakfast. They were quite satisfied with all that had happened over the last few days, and strangely, they weren't of the same opinion as Jason. They were glad that something had been done. It was just that something else needed to be done as well. When they got home.

There was no question that a closer bond had been forged with Alex. The problem that awaited was not a matter of support but advisability. Their jobs, their hazards, everything would be the same, except they now had to worry about Alex, and Jason's feelings for the man. While he and Jack had had fun, and actually liked the man, Jason loved him. He and Jack now had to gauge how far to go--if they wanted to give Jason the freedom to find out how much he wanted to be with Alex.

If they decided to, the question, more to the point, would be in how to do that without messing up their own relationship. It might not be possible, probably wasn't possible, but they loved Jason too much not to try to figure it out. It was going to make for one long damn discussion later. If it became necessary at all. Only time would tell once they were back 'in the world.' And the decision would be Jason's. And Alex's. The man was very likely to put on a brave front and reject anything altogether. Daniel didn't think it probable though. He wouldn't hurt Jason again.

Returning to the house, Daniel set aside the issues of Alex and home and thought of more immediate concerns instead. He poured himself a glass of wine and watched Jack clean the outdoor grill, knowing the man was now thinking of Stef. Cleaning always gave Jack something to do while he thought over the things on his mind. This time, it was Stef, and Daniel still hadn't a clue how heavy the issues were, never mind what they were.

Deeply buried fears was likely one issue, thoughts of Iraq, of a bond Jack formed with Stef as he'd helped him, even if the help had been emotional and mental, not physical. Daniel had a feeling it might be all three this time and part of him wanted that.

While Jack's healing of his past had resulted in no more nightmares, Daniel knew damn well that he had some personal demons to sort out, even where Stef was concerned. Jack's newly discovered kink might or might not help. However, Daniel had a feeling that Jack would find a way to understand that kink through Stef. From what Daniel understood, Stef was an expert reader of people, as any good Dom should be. He hoped Jack was right, and hoped that whatever happened, it brought Jack some peace. Even, Daniel thought with amusement, if Stef had to strap him down and...

"What'cha thinking about?" Jack asked from behind, making Daniel jump slightly.

Annoyed that he hadn't noticed Jack moving in on him--and taking strategic advantage of it--Daniel turned round, backhanding him across the chest and stepping away. He thought his scowl was a nice touch but apparently Jack wasn't in the mood to notice or care. The filthy look on his lover's face, however, was something Daniel couldn't miss. It strangely matched Jack's clothes, dirty with soot and ash.

"Well?" Jack asked, advancing.

Daniel continued to back up, glancing at the scraper in his lover's hand before shooting Jack challenging look. "You and Stef."

"Me and Stef, huh?"

"Yeah, you and Stef."

"What about me and Stef?"

"Nothing... much," he said, smiling into his glass.

"You're thinking entirely too much, Daniel," Jack told him.

"Maybe. We'll see when Stef gets here what exactly qualifies as too much."

Jack set the scraper down and took off the apron he'd put on. "I could show you," he said, taking another step toward him.

Daniel set his wine glass on the counter and retreated, his hand going up to warn him off. "Jack, don't you dare. You're dirty."

"I know that."

"From the grill," he emphasized with a laugh.

"I know that, too. And now, you're going to get dirty." He lunged, Daniel yelped and ran, and the pursuit ended behind the house, with Daniel on his back in the grass, laughing, trying to dodge Jack's hands until he felt Jack's cock hardening against him. At that moment, he stopped resisting and started teasing, aided by Jack's hands that were no longer teasing him but instead were at his hips, pulling down their shorts.

The lust was lightning quick and Daniel pulled Jack's mouth to his, kissing hungrily, deeply, assisting with one hand while he held Jack by the neck with the other.

Their shorts were halfway down their thighs and a sharp wave of pleasure zipped through Daniel when Jack laid on top of him, weight settling down, and rocked his hips into him, rubbing cock against cock. The friction was damn good.

"Yes, more," Daniel mumbled before kissing him again, harder. Rougher.

Jack met it eagerly; his hands, long since cleaned from soot by the grass and Daniel's now dirty clothing, roamed Daniel's body with firm caresses, molding skin and muscle to his will, churning up his lover's desire as well as his own. Daniel's hands became frantic as they suddenly began pushing their shorts further down until his squirming allowed him to get one leg free.

"Yes," he said, the urgent tone grating against Jack's ear as he wrapped his legs around his waist, thrusting up again and again.

Wild, Jack thought as he thrust back, grinding with a quick, insistent rhythm. His thumbs pressed through the fabric of Daniel's t-shirt, rubbing the nipples in hard, vicious circles, loving how Daniel's reaction was to thrash and buck beneath him.

What surprised him was Daniel's hand around his cock, pumping him, pushing it down, rubbing the head against his hole. Before Jack had a second to think, the pre-come he'd leaked was lubing the skin, the opening, and hot desire flooded him as Daniel maneuvered his cockhead, pushing, pulling, body frantic for fucking. Jack kept rocking, thrusting, going with it, taking what Daniel demanded, surprise greeting him as he slid, rough and hot and dry, inside the tight hole.

"Fuck yes!" Daniel panted, head thrown back as both hands clamped on Jack's ass, guiding his rhythm with feverish thrusts and grinds.

"Jesus!" Jack whispered hoarsely and fucked him hard and quick. In only a matter of seconds, Daniel was coming, muscles squeezing his cock, making Jack follow him off that cliff. God, he loved this man.

They were sore and stiff when they separated, yet sated and happy when they reached the jacuzzi and settled into its warm depths, the soothing oil serving as a tonic to body and mind.

"Should've waited till Jason got back," Daniel said softly as he leaned against Jack's chest, "but I couldn't, not with you playing dirty."

Jack smiled against his hair and slid his hand down to Daniel's cock. "We'll love him when he gets back."

Daniel nodded, suddenly reminded of what Jason's mood was likely to be when he got back. "He'll need it, to remind him that we love him, want him, and aren't letting him go."

"Exactly what I was thinking."

Daniel turned his head and kissed the arm over his chest. "I know."

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