Page 85 of Winning You

Frankie swallowed heavily, and when Lucas stood up, he didn’t stop him. But he felt a pulse of something like shame. Was Lucas embarrassed by him?

“This is a thing. He’s my boyfriend.”

Frankie felt that word almost physically. Boyfriend. He’d been someone’s husband once, but for some reason, being Lucas’s boyfriend felt more powerful. More important. He couldn’t hide his smile, and Gage’s eyes narrowed on him.

“I sincerely fucking hope you’re doing something about your brother’s shit-for-brains boyfriend.”

“Ex-boyfriend,” Frankie quickly corrected. “And we’re doing everything we can. After last night, I’m taking Fallon down to get a protective order while Charlie’s still in jail.”

Gage’s face did something complicated, and he cleared his throat. “Is he—ah. Was he hurt too?”

“No. They were able to stop Charlie before he got to Fallon,” Frankie said.

“Oh, thank god,” Gage breathed, then immediately looked ashamed. “I mean…I wish he had been stopped before he touched you. Not, like, thank god he only hit you. Fuck.”

“Gage,” Lucas said. He reached for his friend and tugged him in, knocking their foreheads together. The pose was intimate, and for a brief second, Frankie felt a possessive urge burst into life. But it faded quickly when he realized what it was.

They were family.

“I’m sorry,” Gage murmured.

Frankie stood up and hesitated before putting his arm on Gage’s. The other man startled, but he didn’t pull away. He huffed, then jerked his head, urging Frankie closer. Wrapping his arm around them both, Frankie rested his cheek against the back of Lucas’s head.

“This will be dealt with. Lucas is okay now, and Fallon is safe.”

“Dad’s coming to pick me up and take me to the station to talk to the detective,” Lucas said.

“Actually, that would be me,” Gage said softly. “I called him and said I was coming with. He tried to argue, but you know what a little stubborn bitch I can be.”

Lucas laughed as he pulled back and leaned into Frankie’s arms. “Yep. Oh, and by the way, this is a secret.”

Gage’s eyes went wide. “Dude, what?”

“Yeah. Don’t say anything.”

Gage whined loudly. “Fuck. I hate secrets. They fester, Lucas. They fester!”

Lucas smiled. “Cope.”

“Fuck you. I’m going to…” He stopped and looked at Frankie. “Can I go, uh…see if your brother’s okay?”

Frankie did better at hiding his grin. “I think he’d like that.”

Gage pinked around his ears and the apples of his cheeks, and he cleared his throat before nodding and turning to walk off. When the front door slammed, Lucas turned and slid his arms around Frankie’s waist.

“We need a do-over,” Lucas said.

“For…?”

“Dinner. Dating. Sex. We’re officially boyfriends…if that’s okay with you.” There was a note of uncertainty in his voice that Frankie hated. He didn’t want Lucas to be unsure about him ever. Not for a single second.

He took Lucas by the chin and laid a lush kiss on his mouth. “I’m whatever you want me to be, so long as I’m yours.”

“My poet.”

“My princess,” Frankie murmured back, kissing him until he was half-hard. He rocked against him once, then pulled back. “If today isn’t too much, then tonight. Fen is going to keep Elodie for one more night. I think Fallon might stay here again, but I doubt he’ll mind being alone at my place as long as I’m close by.”

“If he needs you?—”