Clarisse hugged him. “Thank you, Master!”

Sully scratched the dog’s head. “I saw them in the pet store today when I was getting him more food and I thought we could use them.”

Mac laughed. “See, pet? I told you he’d be okay with Bart.”

She couldn’t pull her gaze away from Sully’s grey eyes. “I love you so much.”

He arched an eyebrow at her. “I love you, too.” He spanked her, once. “Why aren’t you naked?”

“Uh-oh,” Mac said from the bedroom doorway. He’d already stripped off his shirt. “I think you’re in trouble.”

She smiled. When she tried to stand, he pulled her back. “Missed you guys.”

“Missed you too, Master.”

He released her and did a mental countdown. One more week.

While she had talked to him several times for clarification about some of their terms, she’d expressed no desire to end or modify their relationship, except she constantly hinted at wishing the three months were up already.

* * *

Sully kissed Mac and Clarisse good-bye the next morning. “I need to run some errands,” he cryptically said. Mac had enough sense not to question him. Clarisse looked curious, but reined it in. He suspected she’d ask Mac for information as soon as he walked out the door.

In the Jag, Sully drove to a jeweler’s in Tarpon Springs before heading to Tad’s. He located Tad in a common room, arguing over a poker hand with a fellow resident.

When Tad spotted Sully, he raised his hand in greeting. “Probably a good thing you’re here. I’m about ready to break out the shootin’ irons on this varmint.”

“Fuck you, Moore,” the other elderly gent said.

Sully didn’t bother hiding his smile.

“Yeah, bet you’d like to fuck me more, Mickey.” He grabbed his crotch. “Go read your goddamned rule book and get back to me when you feel like playing honest.” He led Sully to his room.

“I thought you and Mickey were friends.”

Tad grinned. “Oh, we are. Same old bullshit every time. What’s up?” His face clouded. “Is Risse okay?”

“She’s fine.” Sully fought a bout of nerves. This plan seemed like a good and noble idea at the time, but now he wasn’t so sure. “I need to talk to you about something.”

Tad lowered himself to his sofa with a grunt. “Sure. What?”

Sully reached into his pocket and withdrew the ring box before he sat. He opened it and showed it to Tad.”

Tad smiled. “I love you, boy, but I’m not marryin’ you. Don’t think Mac would agree. Besides, you’re not my type and you’re too damn young for me.”

Sully laughed, then grew serious again. “I wanted to ask your permission to marry Clarisse.”

Tad stared at him for a long moment. “Risse?”

“Yes, sir.”

The older man blew out a long, haggard breath. “What happened with you and Mac?”

Sully reddened. Now for the hard part. “Well, see, that’s the thing.

We both love her.”

“Only one of you can marry her.”

Sully nodded.

Tad stared at the ring. “Mac’s okay with this?”

“It was his idea.”

“Well, fuck me. No shit?”

“No shit.”

“But do you love her?”

“As much as I love Mac. We both love her. I promise we’ll take good care of her.”

“I have no doubt you will.” Tad’s face broke into a lopsided grin.

“So she gets a two-fer-one deal?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

“She’s been kinda quiet on that topic lately. I was wondering what was going on.” He looked at the emerald and diamond ring. “It’s beautiful. Looks expensive.”

Sully closed the box and returned it to his pocket. “Yes.”

Tad smiled and stood. “Wait here.” He tottered into his bedroom and returned a moment later holding something. He handed it to Sully before he sat again. It was a beautiful engagement ring, rubies and diamonds in an antique setting. “That was my Karen’s ring,” he softly said. “I saved a long time to afford it.”

He held up his left hand, where he wore a wedding band on his left ring finger, and a more delicate mate to it on his pinky. “I’ll wear these until the day I die. Then Risse can have them and do what she wants with them. But I’d be honored if you’d give that one to her. I know Karen would have loved it.”

Sully slipped it into the ring box with the other for safe keeping.

“I’m the one who’s honored.” He smiled. “So does that mean you’re okay with this?”

“Hell yeah, I’m okay with it. Means she won’t be gallavantin’ all over the place and end up with some abusive jerk.” He grinned.

“Don’t worry, I won’t be asking to move in and cramp y’all’s style.”

* * *

The only problem Sully had with accepting the ring was that he’d promised Mac he could pick out his own ring for Clarisse. Now he had one ring too many. Clarisse was at the vet with Bart when Sully returned.

Mac immediately crossed his arms, his face dark. “What’s wrong?”

Sully showed him the ring box and explained. “I need to take the one back I picked out and get a refund or a credit toward the one you want to get her.”

Mac fingered the rings. “What’s wrong with this one? It’s beautiful.”

Sully took the box back. “Because I want you to pick a ring out for her.”

He pointed at the box. “I like that one.”

“Brant, I mean you need to go to the store and pick one out you want her to wear.”

He stepped forward. “Can we drop formal for a minute?”

Sully nodded.

Mac grabbed Sully’s hand and opened the ring box again. “Sul, I like the ring you picked out for her. It’s something I would have picked out. I’ll pick out my wedding band for her. I think she should wear Karen’s ring. It’s gorgeous.”

Sully studied him. “You’re not upset?”

Mac smiled. “No, I’m not upset, dude.”

“How about I let you pick out my wedding band for her to make up for it?”

“Jesus, Sul, quit worrying about it.”

“Okay, then at least go with me and give me your input. I’d feel better about it.”

Mac snorted. “You’re really worried about this, aren’t you?”

“Dammit, I want to be fair!”

Mac pulled Sully to him and kissed him, hard. “You are fair. Be honest. You’d whip my ass if I danced around an issue like this.”

He sighed and took a moment to compose his thoughts. “I don’t want you to hate me in a few years for being married to her and you aren’t.”

Mac rolled his eyes. “Fuck. Me.” He poked Sully in the chest.

“You, Master.” He pointed at himself. “Me, slave. Duh.”

“It’s not funny.”

“No, it’s not fucking funny. Jesus, Sul, grow a set for crying out loud!”

“How can you be so okay with this?”

Mac’s expression softened as he seemingly grasped the crux of Sully’s unease. “Because,” he said, his tone gentle, “you’re my Master, and I’m your slave. If you’ll recall, that’s the way I wanted it.

It’s still the way I want it. It’s the way I’ll always want it.”

“I couldn’t be as generous about this as you are.”

“I know you couldn’t.” He gently poked Sully in the chest again.

“That’s why you, Master. Me, slave.”

Sully stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter. He let Mac pull him close and wrap his arms around him as he rested his head on Mac’s chest. “What the hell would I do without you, Brant?”

Mac closed his eyes as he held Sully and rubbed his chin across the top of his head. “Let’s not ever find out, okay?”

* * *

The men took Clarisse out for a sunset beach picnic dinner at Howard Park on Thursday. Mac knew Sully would go first, as was his right. As they snuggled on the blanket, Clarisse between them, she stared out at the horizon.

“This is beautiful, guys.” Sully had told her it was a vanilla evening. “Thank you for doing this.”

Sully swallowed back his nerves and slipped the ring out of his pocket without her seeing it. He laced his fingers through hers and leaned in to kiss her. “Anything for you, you know that.”

“Just don’t ever get rid of me.”

“No chance.” He slipped the ring on her left hand. “I’m hoping you’ll be ours for life. If you’ll marry me.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at the ring. She threw her arms around his neck. “Yes!” she whispered. “For life.”

He smiled and kissed her, then pointed at Mac, who also wore a smile. He took her right hand in his and slipped the other ring on her finger. The emerald and diamond ring looked beautiful on her hand.

“Two hands, two husbands, two rings.” He folded his fingers around her hand. “If you’ll marry me, too.” He laughed. “Well, you know what I mean.”

Her eyes brimmed with happy tears. “Yes, I’ll marry you, too.”

He kissed her, then brushed her tears away. “For better, for worse, for boat rules?”

She laughed. “Yes, even for boat rules.” Mac had taken great pleasure enjoying her on the boat, although his catch yield had suffered as a result.

Sully changed position so he sat in front of both of them. He put an arm around each. “If you need more time, it’s okay. You can say so.”

She shook her head. “No. I don’t need any more time. I don’t want any more time.”

He caught her chin and tilted her face to his. “I can be a very harsh Master at times,” he dangerously growled. “Have you considered that?”

Her gaze never wavered. “But you’re always fair, Master.”

His lips curled into a smile as he kissed her. “Yes, sweetheart. I am always fair.”

“Then that’s all that matters.”

* * *

Bryan bought a disposable phone and called the PI he’d hired.