Order (Tattoos and Ties Duet #2)(114)

Dev seemed to need Key’s friendship as much as Alec needed Key’s love. Alec was grateful Key had Dev. It had been Dev who hooked Key up with his first official custom bike restoration, and he’d just finished another one Dev had sent his way. Since that first bike, Key’s new business had taken off like crazy with projects scheduled out for the next eighteen months.

As Alec had predicted, he and Key spent most of their time in this enormous workshop, Key building bikes and Alec enjoying his favorite pastime, drooling over Key building bikes. He wasn’t complaining; he loved to watch Key do everything. They had also retained some of their old habits, like staying home a lot, and the always fun naked movie nights. Neither seemed to miss going out or having the public intrude on their sacred alone time, especially not after the long hours Alec spent working with Arik Layne Properties. The way he saw it, their time was their time. His time to be with Key.

“I thought you’d be a pussy,” Dev said, breaking the moment of silence, never stopping the movement of his hand.

Alec looked over at Key, waiting to see if his lover would defend his honor. He usually did, but this time Key only shrugged at him. “It’s fair. I wondered, too.”

“Thanks, guys. I’m not some pansy,” he said defensively.

“No, but you either love it or hate it.” Dev raised his head to give a nod to what Key had said.

“I don’t see myself getting a lot more, but it’s okay,” he replied, feeling somewhat pacified when Key squeezed his thigh again. Alec covered Key’s hand with his, clasping his long fingers as they shared a meaningful glance—they did that a lot these days. He and Key had really fallen into a happy place, something real and binding. Their smaller three-bedroom home was perfect for them. He wasn’t sure life could be better.

The security feed’s alarm chimed and all three men shifted their gazes to the monitor mounted in the corner of Key’s workshop. Nash came tearing in through the doggie door at about that same time, barking loudly to gain their attention.

He was such an odd dog. Nash was in warning mode. Their happy puppy seemed to innately understand Key was by far the bigger threat out of the bunch, so the warning came from Nash to Key, not Nash to the person who just pulled down their long driveway leading to their new farm-style home.

“It’s Blaine.” He recognized the top of his head as he stepped from the rental car.

“Did you know he was comin’?” Key asked, his guy tensing with uncertainty, instantly on guard.

“No, but I sent him a picture of the marriage license. I figured he’d show up sooner or later,” he explained.

“Do I need to split?” Dev asked, concern flashing in his eyes as he reached over to shut off the machine.

“Keep going. He’s cool, and it’ll take him time to find us,” he said, twisting his finger to give Dev better access. No way was he stopping until his entire finger matched Key’s.

“He won’t leave if you don’t answer the front door?” Key asked as the buzz of the tattoo machine came to life and echoed off the walls as Dev settled back in to his work.

“Oh no, things like manners never stop him,” he explained, getting a curious grunt from Dev.

Several minutes later, Blaine came closer to the shop door, no doubt lured all the way in by Nash. He would run out the doggie door, find Blaine, then scurry back to warn Key about the incoming intruder. They watched it all play out on the security monitors, the humor of the situation helping to relieve some of the tension that had suddenly formed between them. When Blaine came within feet of the shop door, Key patted his thighs, and the crazed dog jumped toward Key, landing on his lap, instantly curling up and settling down as if his job were complete.

“I’ve been searching for you,” Blaine said snippily, busting through the shop door like he owned the place. He had all sorts of accusation and attitude aimed at Alec. This was Key’s first time around Blaine since that first night they’d all met, because Blaine had decided to jet off for months at a time on some kind of fuck fest he called an enlightening-quest to help better find his inner self. Alec watched Key’s brows furrow as he shifted the hand on his thigh to the back of his chair, putting a protective arm around Alec.

Dev’s attention swung from Key toward Blaine, and he lifted his brow in amusement with just a hint of a smirk playing at the corner of his lips. This was going to be interesting, both Dev and Blaine were evenly matched in the sarcasm department.

“I know, we’ve been watching you.” Alec pointed to the security monitor, a curl tugging his lips as his friend looked up, shook his head, then turned back to him.

“Why didn’t you come get me?” Blaine asked incredulously as he stalked to the table, getting a good eyeful of what they were doing. Dev went right back to work, ignoring the newcomer’s intrusion. Blaine pointed an accusing finger toward Dev. “Is he even supposed to be here?”

“Do you fuckin’ see me here?” Dev quipped, never looking up from his work.

Alec laughed at the confusion coloring Blaine’s face. He seemed to be trying to understand Dev’s question and its obvious answer. When Key chuckled, Alec figured it was time to deal with the whole damn situation before it turned into a cock-measuring contest.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, nodding at the empty chair across from them so Blaine would sit and give the attitude a break.