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“It must have been pretty cool, growing up with a scrapyard as your playground,” Axel said, as Carl slipped from the room to go change.

“Oh man, no jungle gym could beat it,” Scout said as he turned so only a few inches separated them.

Scout closed the distance, but it was Axel who reached for him and lightly stroked his cheek. “How’s your head feel?”

“Lucky there were no stitches or staples involved in this incident,” Scout admitted.

“I’m okay, seriously, like I told the doc this morning.

My ribs ache, but you heard him—nothing broken.

There’s a slight crack in one that will heal on its own, and I’ve got some bruises that are already hella spectacular and are only gonna look worse before they fade, but I’m good.

Lookin’ forward to introducing you to cheese dogs too. ”

“I’m glad you’re okay.”

“Me too. Would have sucked to be laid up in there still,” Scout admitted. “Was goin’ stir crazy with just the walls and TV to stare at.”

“Then let’s go stare at the beach,” Carl offered as he rejoined them.

When Axel went to lower his hand, Scout caught it and tugged him closer. “Don’t think that you really meant to ask how I was feelin', though. Think you wanted somethin’ else.”

Nodding, Axel gave in to his initial instinct, which was to kiss him.

The first brush of lips was like being smacked by a wave, especially when Scout deepened it, a low moan rumbling from his throat that Axel echoed as their lips parted and Scout’s tongue licked in, tasting, probing.

It lasted less than a minute, but when Axel stepped back, he could see the desire in Scout’s eyes as he flicked his tongue out, like he was searching for the lingering taste of Axel.

There was heat in Carl’s eyes when they turned towards them, the big man blocking the doorway when they headed his way.

Scout was slightly ahead of him, and he didn’t stop until he was pressed against him, Carl’s arm snaking out to tug him closer, until their bodies were flush, and Scout went up on tiptoe as Carl slammed their lips together.

There was no slow exploration here. He was hot and hungry, with Scout’s hand gripping Carl’s long midnight hair as he pushed him back against the doorframe as the kiss went on.

Axel’s cock was hard by the time they separated, and Scout reached back for him, catching his hand and tugging him forward as he slipped out from between Carl and Axel.

Axel’s gaze drifted to the tented front of Carl’s jeans; the bulge behind the zipper left him curious to see what he was packing.

Right now, he was more curious to see what it was like to kiss him.

They’d come close a few times, bumping into one another in the hall or moving around the kitchen.

But Carl had never pushed the issue, just like he wasn’t pushing now.

He welcomed Axel into his arms when Axel hurled himself at him, and lifted him, moving away from the wall so Axel could wrap his legs around his waist. Rough, possessive Carl gripped him, fingers digging into Axel’s ass as Axel tangled his fingers in Carl’s hair.

The silky cool feel of the strands left him longing to feel it on other parts of his body.

Hell, there were a lot of things he wanted in that moment, as their tongues clashed and Carl groaned and rocked their lower halves together.

A low moan escaped him, followed by a whine when Carl started to put him down.

He didn’t stop though, so Axel unwound his legs and allowed himself to be placed back on his feet.

“Trust me, we will revisit this moment many times over,” Carl promised, voice rough as he stared at him. “Remember what I said about not rushing. We’ll get where we’re meant to be.”

The big man even booped him on the nose at the end of his promise, which helped cool the eagerness some.

Blowing out a long breath, Axel stepped past him and headed for the rack by the door to pull his shoes on.

“We’ll have to see what else we can pick up, besides marshmallows and hot dogs,” Carl said a few minutes later, as they were finally headed down the stairs.

He carried an ice chest down to the little-used SUV he had stashed in the garage, the windows so dusty he had to hit them with a blast of washer fluid before he could see.

“What are the chances of me getting a beer?” Scout asked.

“Nil.”

“Hard cider?” he offered, that hopeful note back in his voice as he leaned between the seats.

“Not a chance. You heard what the doc said,” Carl declared. “Now put your seatbelt on.”

Scout sighed but did as he was told. “Man, I took that last pain pill over an hour ago.”

“Which means it will be in your system for at least five hours more,” Carl declared. “There will be no mixing pain pills with alcohol of any kind. That’s for your safety, okay?”

“Yeah,” Scout said, but his tone wasn’t grumpy or even moody, just accepting.

He seemed to forget all about wanting a beer when they reached the corner store and got a look at the new flavors of sparkling lemonade Axel had stocked earlier in the week. Scout grabbed three, while Axel headed for the pop, waving at Mrs. Martinez when she spotted them.

“Couldn’t stay away, even on your day off? I can put you to work if you’re bored.” She teased with a little wink.

“Just grabbing provisions on the way to the beach,” he called back.

“It’s a beautiful day to be out there,” she said. “You enjoy some of that sunshine for me.”

“Will do.”

A short time later they made it to the register, he and Scout falling in line behind Carl like little ducks, waiting to pay for the things they’d picked up.

The big man had grabbed three steaks and a container of potato salad, in addition to two packs of hotdogs and a bag of marshmallows.

He’d even picked up paper plates and a roll of paper towels, along with graham crackers and several chocolate bars, as well as some peanut butter cups.

“Put your stuff up here,” Creature told them, stepping aside so they could add their things to the counter.

“I can get…” Scout began, only to pause, blink, and then do as he was told without another word of protest.

Axel didn’t even try to protest after seeing the look Carl gave Scout.

He just placed the three lemonades and a big bag of white cheddar popcorn on the counter and stepped back so Carl could pay for everything once it had been rung up.

It was a little weird, after how long he’d been taking care of things for him and his old man, but it felt good too.

Despite being new to the club, he’d already come to have a base level of understanding about the type of relationship Carl was looking for and what it meant to the man to be able to take care of them.

Scout seemed to already know that, though Axel wondered how and planned to ask tonight when they were alone in their room.

For now, he was ready to enjoy time with them on the beach. Who knew what that would reveal about them, though he was damned eager to find out.