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After yet another morning when Robby trudged into the ED in full sad puppy mode, still stung by Collins kicking him to the curb weeks ago, Jack finally snapped: "Okay, we both have the weekend off, you're coming out with me tonight."
Robby's melancholy receded as he frowned, the lines in his forehead crinkling. "What?"
Maybe it was Jack's exhaustion, but he had no patience for Robby playing dim. "You're coming out with me tonight," he repeated, slow, to really hit the insult. "To a bar. With other people. Where you will drink and make merry and not be this walking bruise."
"So you're ordering me to have fun," Robby said, a little dry, a little hint of the old Robby in it.
"Welcome to the conversation."
Robby tilted his head, a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Is this what you were like in the Army? Should I start saying, 'sir, yes, sir?'"
And that went straight through Jack, a tiny shiver of pleasure he fought not to show. "Well, well, finally some proper respect around here," he drawled, shooting him a superior look.
Robby actually smiled, like he couldn't not, then tried to hide it. "That, my friend, will be the day."
Jack scoffed to show what he thought of that, but then pinned Robby with a look. "Tonight. My place. 2100. Look pretty."
"Jesus, what kind of bar are you taking me to?" Robby muttered, but Jack was already walking away.
He needed some sleep.
***
Robby showed at 2100 on the dot because he knew all about Jack's feelings on punctuality. Even though he had keys to Jack's condo, he still knocked. When Jack opened the door, Robby waved to himself—black button-down, nice jeans, black boots, hot—and said, "Pretty enough for you?"
Jack made a show of checking him out—because it was funny, you see, friends could platonically joke about such things without descending into desperate yearning, that was absolutely what this was—and said, "You'll do."
He joined Robby in the hall, locking the door behind him. When he turned back, Robby was taking him in. "Lookin' good, man," he said, just so innocent and well-meaning that Jack actually had a moment of indignation that it wasn't anything more.
But he shoved that aside to smirk. "Damn right. When you've got the arms, you show them off." Jack had chosen a steel gray sweater that did just that, highlighting all the muscles in his arms and chest, paired with dark jeans and boots.
Robby made a face at him. "I hope you're not expecting to send me home with someone tonight because if I'm standing next to you, that's not gonna happen."
Jack just nodded sagely. "It's good you know your place."
It startled a laugh from Robby, who swiped at him playfully, Jack dodging like it was nothing. He just laughed and walked backwards down the hall, grinning at Robby. "Nah, man. I mean, if the opportunity presents itself, more power to you, but I just want you to relax and be a person for five minutes."
Something weary and heartbroken flashed over Robby's face before he wiped it away, shooting Jack an appreciative look. "Thanks, brother. I—it would be nice."
Jack just nodded and led them on.
***
Unlike Robby's assumption, the bar itself wasn't some exotic thing. It was just a decent joint that catered to professionals, neither too loud nor too expensive and, most importantly, was walking distance from Jack's condo.
When they walked in, Robby looked around approvingly and Jack felt something in his shoulders untense. "Grab a table, I'll get the first round."
"No hard liquor," Robby reminded because he was coming off shift and would be a mess on anything harder than beer.
"I know what you like," Jack shot back, favoring him with a come on sort of look.
Robby ducked his head like he should know better, then ambled off to a table. Jack ordered them beers and the fancy version of chicken tenders the bar served because Robby was going to realize he was hungry in about ten minutes and he needed the protein.
As he made his way back to Robby with their beers, Jack clocked a woman walking in—pretty, long chestnut hair, and a green dress that showed off her curves—heading for the bar. But he shook it off.
Robby was waiting.
***
"I probably shouldn't have, with my resident," Robby said, picking at the label on his beer. They were almost done with the first round, the chicken tenders a delicious memory, and Robby had finally started to relax. And, apparently, come to his senses.
"Yeah?" Jack said, keeping it neutral, giving Robby space to talk.
Robby nodded, running a hand over his beard. "It's weird now. She's careful—more careful, you know? By the book. Like she thinks I don't have her back."
Jack shrugged. "The book isn't always bad."
Robby looked at him askance. "Says the ER cowboy?" he asked, disbelief in his tone.
And yeah, Jack couldn't really disagree with that. "Sure, but I'm an attending. So're you. She's a resident who was sleeping with her boss. People find out, they'll shake a finger at you, say boys will be boys. But for her? That follows her forever."
Robby blinked at him, like he was startled by the detail there. "So you agree that I shouldn't have, with my resident," he said, slow.
Jack just drained his beer, saying nothing.
Which got to Robby. "Man, why didn't you say anything?"
"Gee, I dunno, because you were all hearts in your eyes and it was good to see you happy?" Jack offered, like duh. Robby had been, too, lit up with it in his quiet way. After all the sadness from Adamson's death, it was just a relief to see a bit of his friend back.
Plus, Jack would have felt like a total jerk telling Robby not to. Sure, it was the principle of the thing—an attending sleeping with their resident put them in an untenable position, as Collins now faced—but it would've felt self-serving given his stupid crush on Robby, that he just couldn't shake. Jack didn't think he'd make it all about him...but he also wasn't sure, so instead he'd said nothing. They were adults who could make their own mistakes.
Robby softened at his words, a little melancholy. "I was happy. It was good there. For a while." He promptly drained the rest of his beer.
"Yep. And now you gotta make sure you don't treat her different," Jack said, shooting him a meaningful look.
"I do know that," Robby insisted, like he actually had thought about this.
Jack hoped so.
"Okay," Jack said, light. He knocked once on the table. "I'll get us round two."
With that, he was up and back to the bar, waving down the bartender and ordering the same. He looked back at Robby, picking at the label on his bottle again, energy down.
"Bold move. Wearing a wedding ring to a pickup bar," a voice drawled, turning Jack around.
It was the woman he'd clocked walking in, with the long chestnut hair. She was a little stunning up close, all high cheekbones and luminous skin, but also older than he'd thought, early 40s, probably, faint smile lines around her mouth. Knowing green eyes watched him, amused.
Jack looked down to his left hand, his dark ring there, as always. He shrugged and looked back to her. "Widower," he said, getting right to it.
Her amusement dropped in a blink, instantly replaced with a faint kind of horror, sympathy not far behind. "Well, now I look like the asshole."
Jack flashed a grin. "Better than me looking like the asshole?"
"For one of us," she shot back, dry as dust.
Jack laughed, simultaneously charmed...and disappointed. He was here with Robby, to cheer him up, for however much that was working. He couldn't go picking up hot women to ease his futile crush; then he'd really be the asshole.
Dammit.
Which was when the bartender reappeared, sliding his beers over. In the lull, the woman tipped her head, kind of self-aware as she offered, "Nikki."
"Jack," he said gamely, lingering. Even if it couldn't be more than this, he didn't need to be rude about it. And the interest was...nice.
"Well, Jack, I gotta say, you're not the kind of guy who frequents this bar."
Which was true, but now he was curious. "How's that?"
"You're too self-assured. For this is the land of narcissism and quiet desperation," she drawled, an amused lilt to it.
He waved a hand at her. "And yet."
"I'm a glutton for punishment," she deadpanned.
Jack smiled. "Oh, I'd know all about that."
Her eyes sharpened. "Intriguing."
That was more heavily flirtatious, so he figured it was time to give her the out. Jack shot her a regretful look. "Hate to say it, but I'm not what you're looking for. It's all trauma and workaholism over here, and down half a leg, to boot."
Nikki's eyes widened, surprised, but unlike so many others, she didn't go uncertain or uncomfortable. Instead her gaze dropped down his frame in interest, returning to his face with a shrug. "I'll refrain from saying, 'thank you for your service.'"
Jack couldn't help his laugh. That was exactly the right level of irreverent, but also evidence of someone who'd actually thought about it. You could only make that joke if you knew servicemembers got annoyed by that phrase, as meaningful as "thoughts and prayers." Most civilians wouldn't get that. Hell, most civilians couldn't list the countries where they'd spent 20 years at war, much less find them on a map. He eyed Nikki, knowing. "Military in the family?" he guessed.
"Brother's a proud member of the .7%, oorah," she said, toasting him with her drink, a short tumbler of something amber.
"Fuckin' jarheads," he shot back, half-affectionate, half-serious. "My condolences on your brother's emotional problems."
"The few, the proud, the desperately in need of therapy," she agreed with a little smile.
God dammit. Jack liked her. She was exactly the kind of distraction he went for. And they didn't come around very often.
"I know a good combat vet therapist if he needs one," Jack offered, light.
"Doing the lord's work over there," she teased. Then she studied him. "So why're you here, if not for this?" she asked, gesturing vaguely to the couples chatting each other up.
"Trying to cheer up a friend." Jack nodded back to Robby, still at their table across the bar, dark eyes watching them. At a glance Jack couldn't read his expression.
...huh.
Nikki looked over, smiled a little, then back to Jack. "Two handsome, distinguished gentlemen, my lucky night."
Jack refocused on her. That was interesting. "You're making an assumption with that gentleman bit."
"Isn't that the saying? An officer and a gentleman?" she shot back.
"Who said I was an officer?"
Nikki scoffed. "Please," she deadpanned, taking a sip of her drink, holding his eyes steadily.
Jack actually felt that look. She really was stunning.
So he spread his hands. "Guilty," he admitted, in an 'aw shucks' kind of way that he knew was entirely charming.
Nikki smiled like she knew what he was doing and was charmed anyway. "So why does your friend need to be cheered up?"
"Girlfriend dumped him," he said, shrugging a kind of, what are you gonna do?
She eyed him, knowing. "Did he deserve it?" she asked with that dry humor.
"A thousand percent. Traumatized workaholic over there. We're like a matched set."
Something like interest flashed across her expression. She sat back, eyeing him with those wide green eyes for a long moment. "You know the best way to get over someone," she drawled, a sexy note to it.
Get under someone else floated through Jack's mind automatically...and then he blinked. Wait, what? "Like I said, I'm rolling with him tonight," he said slowly, wondering if he was reading her right.
Nikki shot him a kind of get with the program look. "Not a dealbreaker," she offered with another toast, taking a sip.
And that sent a little zing straight through him, not just at the idea of getting to fuck her—because yes, please—but also the whole Robby part of it. Jack felt his heartrate tick up, the faint tang of adrenaline at the back of his throat. He could...test it out.
He shot a look back to Robby, rolling his empty bottle, somehow even more tragic than he had been, then turned back to Nikki. "Gimme a minute."
***
Jack took their warming drinks—they'd been sweating for a minute, oops—back to their table, depositing Robby's before him.
Robby started in before Jack opened his mouth: "It's fine," he said, like he was trying to believe it. Which was just...so Robby. He would be the guy who tried not to begrudge Jack bailing to go fuck some rando when it was supposed to be a guys' night.
Not that Jack would ever do that to him.
"No, look—"
"Really, it's fine," Robby interrupted, lifting his beer in a toast. "Thanks for the drinks. Go have fun."
"Brother, you need to stop talking and start listening and also remember that I have the best ideas."
"You have insane ideas," Robby corrected, like he couldn't not.
"But the best ones," Jack agreed. He waved a hand vaguely behind him. "So that's Nikki, she's rad, and is all the way on board with the 'cheer Robby up' mission."
Robby blinked. And froze. And kind of...stared. "...what?" he finally asked, his voice wobbling a little.
"I told her I was rolling with you tonight in this post-breakup tragic figure thing you've got going on—"
He huffed adorably: "I am not a tragic figure—"
"Man, you're like something out of Les Mis right now," Jack drawled, flicking his eyes over him pointedly. "And look, I know Collins is one-of-a-kind and all, but it wasn't great at the end there," Robby took a breath to say something, so Jack held out a hand, "don't argue, you know I'm right. So I say we do something to slam you back in your body and remind you that good things exist and you should have them."
Robby just blinked at him, brown eyes wide and startled. "And your solution is we roll around in bed with a woman you just met. The three of us. Together," he added, like he wanted to be real clear on what they were talking about.
Jack flared his hands. "The best ideas," he agreed, nodding to hit the point. He ignored the pulse pulse pulse of his heart, at the interest already stirring within him at the fact that Robby wasn't saying no. He was clarifying, he was surprised...none of which was a no.
The fact that getting naked with Jack present was not an automatic no sent an odd kind of elation through him, energy humming under his skin. Jack had basically accepted that the little crush he was nursing was one-sided—Robby liked women, that was fine, hell, so did Jack; this wasn't unreasonable—but they'd also continued to have moments of weird tension that Jack didn't know what to do with. That made him think, maybe...
After another long moment, Robby took a sip of his beer. Then he shook his head in a kind of fuck it gesture and met Jack's eyes. "Do I get to meet her before committing to this?"
Jack grinned at him. Then rolled his eyes. "So old-fashioned."
As Robby scoffed, he shot a quick look back at Nikki, still at the bar, eyeing them with interest. At his tiny nod, she flashed a smile and stood, heading over.
"Evening, gentlemen," she drawled, a teasing lilt to her voice as she brushed her long hair over one shoulder.
Jack smiled. "There's that word again. Please." He got up and offered her his chair, shoving in beside Robby against the back wall. Robby was all warm heat against him, distracting. He didn't move away.
Nikki shot Robby a conspiratorial look as she sat. "Jack's trying to convince me he's some kind of devilish rogue."
Robby smiled despite himself. "It's going well, I see."
"When you turn down a sure thing to stick with your friend, it kind of undermines the vibe," she said, dry. Robby shot an unreadable look Jack's way, but then Nikki was holding out a hand. "Nikki."
Robby smiled at her, taking it. "Robby."
"Pleasure. So why'd you get dumped?" she asked lightly, a refreshing kind of straight-up that made Jack grin.
Even Robby huffed a laugh. "Oh, you know," he drawled, almost easy about it, the first time that had fucking happened, "too closed-off, I suppose."
Nikki just watched him, her green eyes seeming to see everything. "Are you?" she asked simply.
Robby's expression flickered, like he didn't expect this. "In some ways."
She sat back, hmming in thought. "Being self-aware of that probably made it worse," she mused. "Because it means you didn't want the relationship enough to change."
Jack sucked in a breath, feeling Robby go so very still beside him. "Jesus," Jack muttered.
Nikki regarded him, raising a perfect pointed eyebrow. "Am I wrong?"
"No," Robby said, voice rough. "That about sums it up."
She nodded, going thoughtful again. "Means it wasn't right, though. When you find the right person, you'll do anything to keep them."
Robby stared at her for a long moment...and then he drained his beer. Setting it aside, he looked to Jack. "Let's get out of here."
***
Which was how Jack found himself having the surreal experience of walking Robby and Nikki back to his place to go have sex with them.
He'd chosen the bar because it was nearby, so they didn't have to drive, and as they rode up the elevator in easy silence, Jack thanked his lucky stars that he did. His heart was going, senses alive, like he was about to run into a firefight, except there were no bullets or bad guys here. Except maybe his own traitorous desires.
But he wasn't thinking about that.
Jack let them in to his condo, hitting the lights and gesturing them in welcome. "Come on in. Anyone want anything?"
Nikki just dropped her purse on the bench inside the door and stepped close. "I can think of one or two things," she murmured, then leaned up to kiss him.
Hyper aware of Robby standing three feet away, Jack opened to it, deepening the kiss, his hands drifting to her waist. It was a good kiss, Nikki flicking her tongue to his teasingly, before pulling back with a tiny grin. Then she turned and moved to Robby—
And Jack could only watch Nikki lean up to kiss him, too. Robby was stiff at first, seeming aware of Jack's presence, but Nikki just pressed herself against him, kissing him deeper. Robby made a soft noise and sank into the kiss, one big hand tilting her head, one wrapping around her to pull her into his body.
Jack's breath caught, staring at the two of them twined together like that, so hot it was already breaking his brain a little bit.
But then Nikki was reaching back for him, without breaking the kiss, and Jack drifted over, taking her hand, letting her pull him close. He leaned in to kiss her neck, settling one hand on her hip, then hesitating—
Fuck it. He reached for Robby, too, getting a hand around to his lower back, anchoring the three of them together.
Robby broke the kiss, looking over at him, already flushed and breathless, his eyes dark, a question there. Jack just met his eyes and didn't pull away. Something flickered over Robby's face—
And then Nikki started nuzzling the hollow of Robby's throat. He tipped his head back and made a low noise...but he didn't push Jack away.
Jack breathed out on a rush. Because again, not a rejection.
While this may have been Nikki's idea, Jack was aware he was gonna have to drive the train a little bit. And he didn't want it to be one of those deals where they each took turns fucking Nikki and then they put it in the 'no homo' box that guys used to ignore shit and move the fuck on. He wanted to touch Robby.
Apparently Robby was willing to let him. To some extent. The idea slid through him, its own kind of high, everything seeming sharp and lit up.
Nikki was already busy unbuttoning Robby's shirt, kissing over his chest, fingers tangling in his Star of David necklace and tugging, getting Robby's attention so she could lean up to kiss him again. Jack admired that for a moment, the way Robby's mouth slid over hers, soft but thorough. Then he brushed Nikki's hair away from her nape and kissed there, sliding the hand he had on Robby's back under his shirt, teasing over skin already a little damp with sweat. Robby made some pleased noise into Nikki's mouth and Jack felt it go straight to his cock.
Nikki broke the kiss, already a little breathless. "Bedroom?"
Jack waved a hand in its direction and Nikki spun out of their hold, smiling at them coyly as she grabbed a fistful of Robby's shirt and Jack's sweater and towed them into the bedroom, Jack hitting the lights as they went.
She seemed to have correctly identified Robby as the reluctant one, so when she reached the bed, she stepped up to kiss him again, hands unbuttoning his shirt fully, then pushing it off. Jack pressed close against her back again, Nikki arching back against him, even as she regarded Robby.
Nikki laned in to nuzzle Robby's chest, carding through his chest hair, flecked with gray these days. "Look at him blush," she cooed, tracing light fingers over his spreading flush, Robby looking down, embarrassed. "So pretty."
Jack smiled, following Nikki's fingers with his own, scratching Robby's skin with blunt nails. Robby looked up in surprise, something almost shy appearing, before he leaned in to kiss Nikki again, soft and open.
She kissed him back for a moment, fingers toying with his beard, before she pulled back—
And spun in their arms, suddenly facing Jack, her mouth a little bruised, green eyes gleaming with desire. "Hi," she said, leaning up to kiss him now, slow and distracting.
Jack smiled slightly, charmed—she had to have done this before, good for her—and fell into it. He chased her mouth when she pulled away, latching onto her jaw when she laughed and tipped her head. She gripped his sweater and pulled it up, forcing him to break the kiss to let her strip it off. Jack promptly went for her mouth again—
She dodged him, running exploratory fingers over his shoulders, arms, chest. "Well. Someone kept up with his training," she muttered, appreciative.
Behind her, Robby's eyes took them in, gleaming. Jack had no idea what his expression meant...which was odd because he knew all Robby's expressions. But not this one.
Before he could follow that thought, Nikki was stepping close again, kissing him soft, then harder. He got a hand in her hair and tilted her head just right, tangling their tongues together. She kissed him for a moment, then turned her head to look back. "Robby, would you—" But Jack didn't follow what they were up to, kissing his way down her throat, getting a husky little moan in response.
Then she shifted away from him, Jack pulling back from her neck with a curious noise—
Which was when her dress dropped, leaving her in a pair of black lacy panties and nothing else.
...oh. That was what Robby was doing. Nikki leaned back against Robby's bare chest as he kissed over her shoulder, big hands tracing lightly over her full breasts, and Jack felt that, possibly the hottest thing he'd ever seen, right in front of him.
Nikki turned, leaning up for Robby's mouth again and Jack found himself pressing forward, fingers itching to touch. Her skin was smooth and warm against his fingertips, Jack sliding his hands all over her curves. He got a hand between her and Robby, rolling a nipple between his fingers. He could feel Robby's chest against the back of his hand, something insanely hot about just that in a way he couldn't name.
Jack kissed over her neck again, up to her jaw, even as he pressed his hand lower, between her legs, sliding into her panties where she was already wet. Nikki gasped and broke away from Robby's mouth. Robby swayed closer, following, connecting with Jack instead. Jack nuzzled into him, their mouths catching, holding still for an eternal moment—
Then Jack tilted his head and opened his mouth and Robby just melted into him. His beard was soft against Jack's face, his tongue brushing Jack's almost shyly and Jack got hit with a wave of lust so clear and intense it nearly bowled him over. Kissing Nikki was a pleasure; kissing Robby was unreal, desire like a thick fog stealing over him. Because Robby was kissing him back.
Jack felt Nikki bite at his neck. "Everyone needs to be a lot more naked," she said, her voice a wreck.
Robby laughed and pulled out of the kiss, turning back to her, lightly swatting at Jack's hand—still between her legs—so he could push her panties down. Nikki returned the favor, working at his belt and jeans, Robby kicking his shoes off.
Jack stood back to watch, his heart pounding oddly, part of him vaguely admiring the way the light flowed over their skin, but mostly still reeling from that kiss. That kiss that Robby was fully a part of and even now, seemed entirely unbothered by.
Because...what?
But then he got distracted by Nikki shoving Robby's jeans down, revealing even more pale skin, Nikki pressing herself against him with a wanting sort of noise. Robby traced those hands all over her as he turned and nudged her back toward the bed, Nikki moving with him, scooting back onto his bed, Robby following.
Jack couldn't help but stare as Robby crawled between her legs and draped himself over her, so careful not to crush her, kissing her mouth for long, lush moments, then down her chin, her neck, mouthing her breasts, before moving lower. Nikki got a hand in his hair, making turned-on noises as he went, but then her eyes focused on Jack, stuck staring at them because he couldn't get over how hot it was to watch Robby with her, all long-limbed and naked, moving with the grace and confidence of long assurance.
"Jack," Nikki said, breathy and wanting.
It snapped him out of it, Jack focusing on his own clothes as he moved to the bed. He got the prosthetic off first, then shucked his jeans and underwear, turning back—
To find Robby buried between her thighs like he lived there, one hand holding her hips down as he methodically ate her out, Nikki's head thrown back, chest heaving, mouth open in pleasure. The sight zinged through him, buzzing under his skin; of course Robby would take his time.
Jack moved to them, crawling over to take Nikki's mouth, pressing warm against her side, his cock snug against her, sending heat through him he ignored. He deliberately nudged his good leg against Robby, who nudged back and didn't move away. It spread more warmth through him, beyond the pleasure of Nikki's mouth, kissing him back desperately.
He pulled back on a knowing smile. "Robby making you feel good, Nik?"
"Fuck, I'm so close," she panted, her eyes fluttering.
Jack leaned down to mouth over her breast, running a hand from there to her stomach to the back of Robby's head. "Hear that, Robby?" he asked against her skin.
Robby's head pressed back a little, like a kind of acknowledgment, then he moaned against her—
And her whole body went rigid. "Fuck," she cried out, curling up as much as she could with both Robby and Jack pressing her down, shaking underneath them as she came, her expression just gone.
Robby worked her through it, Nikki mewling a little and scrubbing over his hair, like it was too much. After a long breathless moment, she slumped back, released from the thrall of pleasure, Robby kissing way up over her hip, forehead sweaty, hair a mess. Jack's cock was so hard against her he had no doubt he could get himself off with a few thrusts, so he pushed himself away.
"I want a taste," he decided, leaning down. He grabbed the back of Robby's neck and angled his head up. Robby's eyes widened a little as Jack leaned in—
But he opened his mouth against Jack's, sharing her taste, Robby's tongue curling against his without hesitation. Jack groaned and licked the taste out of his mouth—there was nothing like a woman's desire, but sampled off Robby's tongue...he had no words.
A warm hand trailed over his body, curling over his stump, and Jack pulled back on a gasp, realizing that was Robby touching him, light but not hesitant, something like a question in his eyes. He was all bare skin, cock hard against his thigh, an image so impossible it rocked through Jack, desire like he couldn't even comprehend, his mind wiped clean.
Then Nikki was there, kissing over Jack's shoulder, one finger trailing down over his leg to join Robby's, still over his stump. "Anything to know here?" she asked, pleasure in her voice, but also refreshingly matter-of-fact.
Jack pulled himself from his stupor. "No," he said, hearing how low and gravelly his voice was. Turned on, just like his very hard cock, thick against his hip.
"Good," she said. "Because I want a taste, too." Then she leaned over his shoulder to kiss Robby, licking her own taste from his mouth, crawling over him as she pushed Robby onto his back.
They all got tangled up then, Jack rolling away on a laugh, giving Nikki space to sprawl over Robby, kissing from his mouth down his chest. She turned her head to shoot a wicked grin to Jack. "He's still blushing." She dropped her mouth back to Robby's chest, sucking on a nipple, making him gasp, so Jack moved in to join her, starting higher, at Robby's shoulder.
Robby stroked over his back as he trailed his mouth over Robby's chest, fingers so soft, the whisper of that stealing through Jack. He and Nikki kissed their way down Robby's body, Robby shifting underneath them, turned on and restless with it. Jack pressed firm hands to his chest and thigh, and Robby subsided with a little huff. Jack just shot him a quelling look, then dropped his mouth to Robby's stomach again, his sharp inhale going straight to Jack's cock.
At Robby's strangled noise, Jack looked down, finding Nikki mouthing Robby's rather impressive cock, loose and open, more a tease than anything. Robby's eyes were wide and glassy, turned on, and the satisfaction of that curled through Jack, nothing he could control.
He flashed Robby a smug look and pinned Robby's hip in place, then he leaned down to Nikki, finding her mouth to kiss her. Nikki made a delighted noise and kissed him back, their tongues deliberately tangling around the head of Robby's cock.
"Holy fuck," Robby breathed, a hand suddenly gripping Jack's curls, not trying to move him, just hanging on. He and Nikki made out just like that, around Robby's cock, sharing the taste of him, his sounds getting increasingly desperate. Then Jack started kissing his way down, tiny licks down the shaft to the base—
And then lower, rolling Robby's balls, taking one in his mouth—
The hand fisted in Jack's hair, Robby crying out, "Fuck, please, you gotta—I can't—"
It made Jack pull back, finding Nikki mouthing the head of his cock again, her cheeks hollowed prettily. Robby had his other hand in her hair, the muscles of his arms and chest standing out as he tried to hang onto his control. It was a good look for him.
He nudged Nikki, who pulled off with an indulgent sort of air. Jack leaned in to kiss her, nipping at her bottom lip before pulling back to find her eyes. "I think he's full up on teasing."
She stroked his cock lightly, hmming as it twitched at her touch. "But such fun."
"You'll get no argument from me." He propped his chin on Robby's thigh, watching her. "What're you in the mood for?"
Nikki looked up at Robby, measuring. "I want to ride him," she decided, meeting Jack's eyes.
"Robby, you good with that?" Jack asked, lifting his head to check.
Robby was already halfway gone, his cock at full mast, a light sheen of sweat over his skin, Robby holding entirely still, like the very movement of the air might send him over. "If I last that long," he gritted out, taking even breaths.
Nikki laughed. "Such fun," she said, crawling up to kiss him.
Jack admired their mouths moving together for a moment, Nikki kindly holding herself above his body, all arched curves. Beautiful.
Then Jack pulled himself from the image and reached to the bedside drawer, pulling out condoms and tearing into one. He rolled it on Robby quickly, looking up at his gasp.
Robby panted against Nikki's mouth. "Christ, Jack."
"I'm trying to help you out," Jack shot back with an unrepentant grin.
"You two," Nikki said, amused and fond as she swung a leg over Robby, positioning herself.
Robby reached to help, but Nikki just said, "I got it," as she grasped his cock, lined him up, and sank all the way down.
The low noise Robby made at the back of his throat was a thing of beauty, Jack's own cock pulsing at the sound of it. Nikki gave herself a moment, rotating her hips. "You feel good," she said, low and dark. Then she rose up and sank back down with a satisfied moan.
Robby's hands flew to her hips, his mouth open, a little bit of shine there as he panted for air. Jack pushed himself up so he could kneel pressed up against Nikki's back, mouth going to her shoulder as she moved on Robby, his cock sliding against her ass every time she levered herself up and then sank back down, lighting up sparks in his vision. Jack kissed his way up her shoulder to her neck to her jaw, getting a hand around to turn her head so he could kiss her properly.
Her mouth was open against his, wet and slack, the two of them half-kissing, half-breathing. Jack glanced down at Robby—
Who stared up at them, eyes a storm, sweat shiny on his skin, hands gripped around Nikki's hips like that was the only thing keeping him tethered.
Jack held his gaze as he sent a hand wandering down Nikki's body—sliding over to tweak a nipple, tracing her bellybutton, then down between her legs. He carded through the hair there, teasing her slick folds, delicately working her clit, just light, feeling her trembling against him. Then he pushed his hand down further, to where Robby entered her, pressing against his cock as Nikki sank down onto him, over and over again, everything slippery and hot.
Robby made an indescribable noise, like he was lost, as Nikki moved faster, their breaths loud in the air. The room smelled like them now, like sex, going right to Jack's head.
He pressed his palm over her clit as his fingers dragged over Robby's cock, both of them moaning, shaking. "That's it," he crooned into Nikki's ear, kissing her neck, but holding Robby's gaze. His eyes were glassy and dark, ecstasy written all over his face, so vulnerable it was a little hard to look at, even as Jack couldn't look away.
He massaged over Nikki's clit, feeling her choke and tense as her second orgasm swept her. Robby made some desperate noise, expression shattering as he followed her, jerking his hips up into her as he came in long pulses, eyes gone far-off, like he was seeing the infinite.
Jack's cock jerked against Nikki's ass, leaking, so far past turned on he didn't know which way was up. He pulled back a little as Nikki subsided, sinking heavy onto Robby, who was still and panting beneath her.
Knowing he wasn't gonna last much longer himself, Jack grabbed a condom and rolled it on. He gripped Nikki's hips and lifted her up, Robby gasping as she slid off his cock.
"What?" she asked, breathless, but Jack just tilted her hips back, lined himself up, and slid inside her.
The momentum pushed her forward, Nikki catching herself on the headboard with an, "Oh, fuck."
Her body was still fluttering from her orgasm, hot and slick, and Jack made a satisfied noise as he kissed her ear. "Let's see how high I can take you," he rumbled, pulling out and thrusting in, pleasure lighting him up.
Nikki made some impossibly hot noise and thrust back against him, still braced against the headboard. Beneath her, Robby watched with wide eyes, something startled in his gaze.
So Jack just fucked her like that, gripping her hips, loving the wet slap of skin on skin as he thrust into her, Nikki's little sounds of pleasure the soundtrack to Jack holding Robby's eyes.
After a few frozen moments, Robby swallowed hard, seeming to gather himself. He looked down at his body, then grimaced as he handled the condom, tying it off and tossing it in the trash by the bed.
Then he lifted his eyes, pausing at the sight of Jack watching him, fucking Nikki in earnest, still crouched over him. Something flickered over his expression—
And then Robby levered himself up to sitting, pressing his hand between Nikki's legs. Jack felt her gasp as he thrust in, felt how her inner walls gripped him. Of course Robby was good with his hands.
Robby found her mouth, kissing her as he touched her until she couldn't anymore, until she broke off to gasp, leaning her forehead to his shoulder. Robby just cradled the back of her head and said, "So good. Gonna come for me?" But he held Jack's eyes as he said it, his gaze focused, like a physical caress.
Something exploded in Jack's brain, fucking into Nikki's glorious wet heat, but trapped in Robby's eyes, unable to breathe.
Fingers dragged against his cock—that was Robby, using his move against him—and it ignited a pleasure that rushed down his spine, his orgasm gathering there, too good. Then the fingers were gone and Jack gasped at the loss, only for Nikki to gasp as Robby touched her—
"Come for me, baby," Robby said into her ear, low and filthy, but really speaking to Jack.
Nikki cried out and bit Robby's shoulder as her whole body shuddered, gripping tight around Jack's cock—
But Jack was already coming, jerking in short, sharp thrusts, the orgasm scraping him raw, fire searing through him in the dark burn of Robby's unwavering gaze. His vision blanked, nothing but a high ringing in his ears, like the echo after a bomb blast, for once a good thing, the bliss going on and on.
Then Jack was slammed back into his body, reality rushing over him, trembling with the aftershocks of possibly the best orgasm of his life. He just stayed like that, panting, trying to reel himself in and get some control as Robby stared at him, locked in, Nikki draped over him. Too many feelings crashed through him—the high of the sex, the closeness of being trapped in Robby's gaze, uncertainty as to what the fuck that even was.
But it couldn't last. He started to soften and promptly pulled out, Nikki making a soft noise as he took care of the condom. When he turned back, she had tipped over onto her side, Robby tugging the covers from under her so they could actually get in bed. He kissed her softly, brushing her hair out of her face.
Jack crawled to her other side, kissing her shoulder to get her attention. She lifted her head to look at him, heavy-lidded, drunk on pleasure. "How're you?" he asked, stroking soft fingers over her cheek.
"Such a gentleman," she drawled, a tease. Then she stretched out, brushing her body against his with a satisfied sigh. She reached out to lay a hand on Robby's chest, something fond in it. "I'll be passing out now," she said to no one in particular.
"Yeah," Jack agreed, already feeling the gathering dark.
The last thing he heard was Robby huffing a soft laugh.
***
Jack was roused by someone getting up from bed, squinting in the dark. Robby must have turned off the lights. But from the shape moving, he could tell that it was Nikki, making her exit.
Beside him, Robby was wrapped in the sheets, breathing deep and even. And Jack...didn't even know what to do with that, so he set it aside, sliding out of bed and grabbing his jeans, then his crutches, following after Nikki.
Out in the living area, she turned, her dress only half-zipped, rocking the most obvious sex hair he'd ever seen. She smiled at sight of him, tipping her head, not even a little embarrassed about sneaking out. "I figured I'd get out of your way."
"You're welcome to stay," he said, shooting her a warm look.
"Nah, you two should talk."
Jack felt the smile slide off his face. "You think?"
Nikki raised an eyebrow at him. "You don't?" she challenged.
He just nodded, accepting that. She might have a point. "So I didn't—I hope that wasn't shitty of us. That wasn't how I thought it'd go," he said, trying to explain. Even though he couldn't explain it himself.
Something in her face softened. She moved to him, laying a reassuring hand on his chest. "Jack, I just wanted a ride. If it happened to come through you two fucking out whatever your deal is, fine by me."
He blinked, surprised she'd be so direct about it. But then, maybe he shouldn't be. "Was it that obvious?"
She went fond. "From jump." At his surprised look, her expression went pointed: "You turned down a sure thing to stick with your friend. Nobody does that."
"Some do," he argued, weak.
"No straight man ever," she disagreed. "So don't worry about me. I got what I wanted." Then she went teasing: "Now can I say, 'thank you for your service?'"
"I'll take that," he murmured, leaning in for a kiss. Not sexual, just appreciative.
She smiled into it, trailing admiring fingers over his arm. "If you guys ever want another ride, come find me."
And with one more smile, she was out the door.
Jack just sighed, taking in the still condo. The echoes of great sex were still working their way through his system, tiredness sweeping over him. He headed back into his room—
And pulled up short at the threshold. Robby was still there, exactly where he'd left him, naked in Jack's bed.
What. the fuck.
He moved quietly, grabbing a pair of sweatpants and returning to bed. He swapped his jeans for those, then crawled under the covers and slumped into his pillow. He'd figure out everything else in the morning.
***
Early, Jack stirred at movement, feeling a body get out of bed—
And then he snapped awake. Robby.
Jack swallowed against the thing suddenly hurting in his throat. This would be Robby making his escape then. And that was...well, that was fine. They both probably needed time to think. Jack certainly did. He still couldn't quite grasp that that had happened, that Robby had touched him, kissed him back—
But not really, he realized. Robby had responded to Jack; he hadn't started anything himself. He'd probably just lost himself in the moment, throwing himself into the pleasure of it, nothing more. It didn't mean anything.
No matter what Jack imagined.
So Jack stayed still, listening as Robby quietly gathered up his clothes, then walked out, softly closing the bedroom door behind him.
The sting surprised him. After all, he'd known it was all him. Robby went for women, always had, a serial monogamist whose kind eyes and steady nature were like catnip for any woman with a lick of sense. Jack knew that. He'd known his little crush was futile and one-sided, that Robby would end up with a woman like Collins, someone poised and brilliant and beautiful. This was just...a one-off. Mourning the end of his thing with Collins, maybe, a wild tumble to kick him out of his rut. And that was good, actually. That was what Jack had wanted. Cheer him up, get him focused on the future again, not on what he'd lost. He should count that as a victory.
He just didn't know why it felt like such a failure.
Jack tried to go back to sleep, tossing and turning, but it was no use, something aching in his chest. So finally he sighed and sat up. Giving up. Might as well face the day.
He sucked in a steeling breath—
Wait, was that coffee?
Confused, Jack grabbed his crutches and headed out to the living area—
Only to pull up short at sight of Robby in his kitchen. He'd thrown on his jeans and the black button-down, though he hadn't buttoned that, his chest peeking through, hair a mess as he poured two cups from Jack's admittedly indulgent coffee maker.
...what?
Robby heard him and looked over, raising a mug in his direction. "Black," he said, setting it on the low L-shaped counter, letting Jack come get it. He moved to the fridge, pulling out the milk, then grabbing the sugar from the cupboard, moving around his kitchen like he knew it as well as Jack did. He might.
Jack gave in to whatever this was, figuring that caffeinating was probably the best course of action. He moved over to the low counter and propped his crutches there, then sat back on it, taking a sip of coffee.
Robby finished stirring an ungodly amount of sugar into his, leaning back against the far counter and regarding Jack evenly, taking a sip. He didn't say anything.
"You're still here," Jack said, all he could think.
"After a night like that, you think I wouldn't be?" Robby shot back, the subtlest hint of offense in it. Which, yeah, that was probably a little insulting, all things considered.
"I wouldn't begrudge you space," Jack said, quiet.
"Is that what you wanted?" Robby asked, watching him so steadily. Jack couldn't get a read on him, this not going at all like he thought it might. Robby wasn't backing down, wasn't freaking out, he was just calm. ED calm, shitstorm calm, like everything was chaos and so he would be the center of stillness.
Which, honestly, didn't bode well.
"Maybe," Jack finally admitted. Because he didn't know what to do here.
Robby nodded at that, taking a sip of coffee. "Sorry. Not on offer." Jack tipped his head, getting that. Robby read it, because of course he did, going softer. "What was your plan here?"
Jack snorted and gulped his coffee, too hot. "Calling it a plan is being too kind."
But Robby pressed it. "Nikki suggested a tumble and what? The adrenaline junkie side of you got a hit and decided to have some fun?"
"Hey," Jack said, a little offended. "No, she floated it and I thought, well, maybe I'd see if our vibe was actually something."
Robby blinked, like Jack had surprised him with that. His expression flickered, something like disbelief shining through. "...oh."
"And look, I'm sorry if that was pushing it. I know you date women. I get it." So if they could just skip to the end of this rejection, that would be awesome.
But Robby was staring at him like he didn't even know who Jack was. "Not exclusively," he finally said, halting.
Jack frowned, confused. "What?"
"I don't exclusively date women," he clarified, still watching Jack, something dawning in his face.
"But...what?" Jack asked again. Because never in all the years that Jack had known him had Robby talked about men. Not once.
Wait, what was he saying?
"You flirt with everyone," Robby said, faint, like that made any sort of sense. "You flirt with Dana. You flirt with Garcia, who is actively repulsed by anyone of the male persuasion."
Jack still wasn't following. "I mean, yeah," he said, because obviously he did, what was the point here?
Robby waved his hands sharply, nearly spilling his coffee. "I didn't think you were serious."
"About Garcia? No, that's just to get her going."
"No, Jack, about me. When you flirt with me, I didn't think you were serious," Robby said, like he couldn't believe he had to spell it out.
"What does that matter?"
"For fuck's sake," Robby muttered, setting his coffee down with a crack, liquid spilling out. He took the three steps to get to Jack and then he was there, cupping his face and leaning down to kiss him.
Jack breathed in, the shock of it freezing him, a sense of unreality slamming down around him. Because...what? This wasn't some roundabout way of moving past it?
...Robby was kissing him?
That thought had enough punch to knock him out of his stupor, Jack opening his mouth and kissing Robby back. He tasted like coffee, kissing Jack with something like frustration. Then he pulled back, looking at Jack like he didn't make sense. "You couldn't just ask me out?"
Jack just stared back, hardly able to believe this was happening. Robby wanted him? "You couldn't drop a male pronoun into the tales of your romantic failures?"
"Oh, like you did?" Robby challenged.
"I've been flirting with you for literal years, asshole," Jack shot back, going heated now, because had this been on offer the whole time?
Robby made a hungry noise and kissed him again, something claiming in it, like this was his now. When he pulled back, he stayed close, panting a little. "Please tell me you apologized to Nikki for working out our issues through her."
Jack swallowed, a little breathless. "I talked to her about it, she's cool. She says find her if we ever want another ride."
Robby leaned in and took his mouth again, fierce. "Not gonna happen," he mumbled against Jack's lips, "because I. Don't. Share," he said, punctuating each with a sharp kiss.
"Copy that," Jack muttered, satisfaction sliding through him as he leaned up for more. But then he paused and pulled back to look at Robby. "Though you realize that's kinda ironic given how this started."
Robby went faintly despairing. "We're never gonna live this down," he realized. "Fucking years and we couldn't buy a clue."
Jack couldn't help himself. "Okay, staking my claim: I fixed this shit."
"And once again, I cannot tell if you're being serious," Robby said, shaking his head.
"C'mon, man, you gotta admit it now. I have the best ideas."
Robby started to say something...and then stilled, something terribly fond flashing over his face. He gripped the back of Jack's neck, bringing their foreheads together, breathing out slowly. "Yeah, Jack. You really do."
***
Fin. Feedback is adored.