Ransome nodded. “Thinking about redoing the bathroom, too?”
Justin grinned widely. “That’s just the kind of thinking I like, Ransome. She’d love a bigger bathroom with new fixtures. But that’s not what I’m talking about either.”
“What else would you give her?”
“What she deserves. What she’s wanted for a long time.” Justin waited for the words to sink in and looked to the left, at Val, and then to the right at Ransome. He turned his attention back to the hastily made bed and waited. In his peripheral vision, he saw the men react at nearly the same time.
Predictably, Val spoke first. He sounded hoarse. “You’re shitting me.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Ransome asked. His eyes widened as Justin nodded. Ransome looked across him at Val. He leaned forward and braced his hands on the footboard.
Justin tapped his chest, feeling the coming apology from his very core. “I’m sorry I cut you out when we were eighteen. I knew what you were feeling and I thought only of what I wanted. Once she was mine I didn’t want to lose her.”
“We didn’t know how sharing worked at the time. No precedents for that had been set,” Ransome replied.
Nodding, Val said, “For all we know, Justin, if we’d agreed to share, as young as we were and without any good examples, it’s likely that we would’ve fucked the whole thing up and ruined your chances at what has undeniably been a beautiful marriage.”
With a shrug, Justin said, “Maybe. Who knows? But I’m sorry I cut you out, regardless of any probable outcomes—”
Val cut him off. “Are you doing this just to make Charity happy? What about you? Long term, if this fucks things up between us, or makes Charity wind up hating all of us, it’s not worth it—”
“I want it, for her, but also for us. Your lives have been too complicated for any kind of long-term relationships so you deserve this, too. And I can’t stand for her to see another friend find complete happiness in a ménage and know she’s wondering how it might’ve been between us.” He backed up half a step and clasped their shoulders so they turned to him. “I want this. I trust the two of you like brothers. I know you’d never do anything to hurt Charity. That’s why I know this can work. Do I have to even ask if it’s something you still want?”
“You know it is,” Ransome replied. “I’d crawl through red-hot coals for that woman.”
Val said, “Name the time when you want to tell her. I’ll be there. Do anything she wants.” He frowned at his booted feet for a second and then added, “You’re not the least bit worried that we’d try to get even with you or cut you out?”
Justin was glad he’d brought up the issue because he was sure they’d wonder later. “Like I said, you’d never do anything to hurt Charity and you know that games like that would hurt her. Plus,” he said with a chuckle, “She’d never allow it.”
“Cocky bastard,” Ransome replied with a smile.
Relieved, Justin said, “I’m glad we talked and I wish we’d done it sooner. I don’t want to just jump into it, though. I told her I was planning a new role-playing scene. That will be my opportunity to press the issue with her.”
“Role-playing, huh?” Val said with a smirk.
Justin nodded. “She loves role-playing. We’ve had some really hot, crazy moments together.”
“What? You dress up like a caveman and have your way with her?”
Justin smirked back. “Yup. Fucked her by an open fire on the floor of a cave once. She loved it. Her favorite is my Marauding Viking, though.”
Val gaped. “What the fuck?” Ransome lifted an eyebrow and grinned.
Justin nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t make you guys dress up…this time. I just want to use it as an opener. She’s already anticipating it. Next time, you’ll be in full character and costume. That would be fun. Give her three Marauding Vikings.”
“You mean you dress up and everything?”
“Sometimes but it’s not necessary. What gets her so hot is that I spring it on her when she least expects it.”
“Springing it on her doesn’t piss her off?”
“Having a hot, turned-on man ready to fuck her brains out piss her off? Not likely. Later on ask her to tell you about a hot encounter we shared in Grace’s pantry a couple of summers ago. And I wasn’t in costume then, either. She has a wicked imagination and I love fanning her fire.”
Crossing his arms over his chest, Val said, “I’ll wear a horned helmet if that makes her happy.”