Nicole Edwards - Travis

Kylie nodded and then took off, darting through the downstairs rooms and flipping switches before he even made it out the door.

They had cut it close because Travis was walking through the back door into the kitchen when Kylie came barreling into the room letting him know that she locked the front door and that there were headlights coming down the drive.

Gage was home.

Pulling her against him, he leaned against the counter in the total darkness and listened to the sound of her breathing while they waited for Gage to come inside.

♂♂

Gage parked his truck in the driveway and stared up at the big, empty house. There wasn’t a single light on to greet him. Not that it would’ve mattered because it wasn’t like there was anything inside for him to come home to anyway.

He’d spent the last three hours at Kaleb’s, having dinner and shooting the shit as though his life weren’t in a state of chaos that was so far out of hand, Gage didn’t even know where to begin to put it back together.

The only thing he had to look forward to was Kylie and Travis, and he hadn’t heard from either of them since early that morning. He figured Travis was working because he’d dropped him at his parents’ house that morning. After telling him he would help pull his truck out of the ditch they’d left it in, he’d been told Travis would get it taken care of.

As for Kylie, well Gage hadn’t talked to her although he had picked up his phone at least ten times wanting to call her. Figuring she might need some time to come to terms with what happened between the three of them last night, he had opted to give her space. Now he just wished she were there with him.

He got out of his truck and headed for the door, digging through the keys on his key ring to find the one that would open the door. As soon as he had the front door pushed open, Gage knew something was wrong. The house smelled different. He quickly reached in the waistband of his jeans and pulled out his gun, holding it at the ready.

Sure, call him paranoid, but he didn’t leave home without it. Ever. And now, he was grateful to have it on him. He slid his hand along the inside wall, trying to find the switch. There was a click and then the room lit up.

Holy… What the…

He was so shocked, he couldn’t even form complete sentences in his head. Shutting the door behind him, he moved to the next room, flipping on more lights as he went until he was standing in the living room. A room full of furniture. So much furniture, Gage wasn’t sure where it could’ve possibly come from.

The creak of the door leading from the dining room to the kitchen alerted him and out of habit, he pointed the gun in the direction of the sound, fully intending to confront the intruder.

“Hey, it’s just us,” Kylie said calmly as she moved into the dining room, Travis directly behind her.

He dropped his weapon down to his side and stared at them as they continued to come closer. Blinking rapidly, Gage swallowed the lump in his throat and refused to let his emotions get the best of him.

“You did this for me?” he asked Kylie as she stepped into his arms, wrapping hers around his waist.

“Actually no,” she said as she looked up at him. “He did.” She nodded her head in Travis' direction, and Gage looked over at the man.

He looked just as aloof and unaffected as he normally did, but there was something in his steely blue eyes that was different. His body language said one thing, but those eyes said something entirely different.

“Come on, I want to show you the rest.” Kylie took his hand and led him toward the stairs.

“Put the gun down, Gage.” Travis’ deep voice reflected the command he intended, but there was something gentler in his tone. Gage checked the safety and then put the gun down on the small ledge before following Kylie up the stairs.

With Kylie’s small, cool fingers linked in his, Gage allowed her to lead him through the upstairs rooms, each one containing some furniture. Not a lot, but enough that the house didn’t feel like it was just a shell with no guts.

The last room they came to was the one Kylie had mentioned would be the master bedroom. The light came on, and Gage’s jaw dropped. There in the center of the large room was a king sized bed. Not just a set of mattresses either. It was a four poster bed with two nightstands, lamps on each, as well as a large armoire and dresser on opposite walls.

“Mom and Dad wanted you to have something nice,” Travis said as he joined them in the room.

“This is –” more than he deserved. Gage couldn’t get the last part out as he stood rooted to the floor. Travis’ warm hand landed on his shoulder and he found himself swaying toward him.

“It’s exactly what you needed. Now, the next thing you need is a shower. Then we’ll get dinner.”

“I already ate at Kaleb’s,” Gage reminded them.

“Well, Kylie and I haven’t, so you’ll watch us eat. How’s that?”

“I don’t want to go anywhere.”

“Well, that’s good. Kylie bought out half of Walmart, so I think we can just stick around here for a while.” Travis paused. “Unless you’d rather be alone.”

Absolutely not. The last thing Gage wanted was to be alone. “No. I’m good. Y’all stay. And you’re right, I need a shower.”

Gage noticed his duffel bag was sitting on the dresser. Since that was all of the clothes he owned, he was grateful. Tomorrow he’d have to seek out a Laundromat or he’d be going naked soon, but until then, at least he had something to change into.

“We’ll be downstairs. Join us when you’re ready,” Travis told him as he and Kylie left the room.

Gage went through the motions, pulling out clean clothes and then going into the bathroom. The sight of the shower brought about a flood of memories from the last time they were there and some of his exhaustion disappeared. That and the fact there were toiletries, towels and even a small cabinet on the wall.

How had they had time to do all of this?

Figuring the only way he would get any answers would be to ask them, Gage twisted on the shower and stripped. As soon as the hot water pelted down on his tired, aching body he relaxed. He was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn’t even heard the bathroom door open. It wasn’t until Travis opened the shower door that he even realized he wasn’t alone.

“Kylie told me I stink,” Travis said deadpan.

“Seriously?” Gage couldn’t tear his eyes off of Travis’ naked body as he stepped inside the small shower stall with him.

“No, not really, but that’s what she meant.”

Gage laughed. A genuine laugh that started in his gut and lasted for at least ten seconds. That was about ten times longer than anything he’d experienced in the last few weeks. As soon as he stopped, Travis pushed him up against the tiled wall and cupped his face, holding him gently as their mouths pressed together.

This wasn’t the urgent, insistent kiss he was used to from Travis, but it was exactly what Gage needed. He let his hands roam over Travis’ slippery skin, trailing over his chest, his washboard stomach and then back up. His body was strong, muscular and so damn hard that Gage wanted to keep moving so he could memorize every contour.

“Turn around,” Travis pulled back, his arms still cupping his face briefly. There was a moment of uncertainty, but then Gage turned, loving the way Travis slid his palms over his skin, never breaking the contact until he reached for the soap sitting on the small dish inset in the tiled wall.

The next few minutes were spent with Travis soaping every inch of his skin. Although there was an intimate vibe, Gage found it intriguing that Travis kept things innocent. Well, that was until he used his soapy hands to stroke his cock until it throbbed and begged for release.

He didn’t get it though. And as soon as Gage was soaped and rinsed, he returned the favor, ensuring he got every crevice. They let the shower rain down on them, and Travis kissed him as though they had all the time in the world, never leading on that they would be taking this any further. At least not in the shower.

Gage wouldn’t say he wasn’t disappointed, but he was looking forward to later. After Travis and Kylie ate dinner.

As they both dried themselves, side by side in the small bathroom, Gage turned to Travis. “Thank you. You know, for everything.”

“No thanks necessary.” They shared another slow kiss before Travis left him alone once again. Wiping the condensation that fogged the mirror, Gage stood there and stared at his reflection.

It was safe to say, Gage was in way over his head.

♂♀♂

“Everything all right?” Kylie asked as soon as Travis returned, freshly showered and smiling. When he came up behind her and placed a soft kiss against her neck, she nestled into him briefly as she stirred the chili on the stove.

“We’re good.”

“Yes, you are,” she moaned as he continued to kiss her, heating up the kitchen more than the stove had already. “You smell good too.”

“Mmmm.” That was the only response she received and then Travis stepped away, pulling out plates and silverware and setting the small kitchen table like he was intimately familiar with domestic chores. Kylie wasn’t sure why she found that so damn sexy, but she did. He certainly didn’t seem like the type, but then again, there were plenty of things she’d learned about him lately that she never would’ve expected.

“Spaghetti and chili?” Gage’s voice sounded over her shoulder and Kylie smiled over at him. He too was fresh from the shower, his hair wet and sticking up in all directions. A very sexy, unkempt look that made her want to run her fingers through it just like he probably had.