Night Is Darkest

of your way.” The flare of jealousy overtaking him now that his rage had worn off sickened him. He couldn’t have his cake and eat it, too.
Could he? He’d banished Tyler from their home though it immediately felt foreign without the laughter and the easy camaraderie they shared. He knew exactly when their boyhood friendship had morphed into something deeper but, on that pivotal day, he never could have foreseen the lasting implications of such an innocent act. And, once he’d realized the dangerous lure, he’d shut the other man out of his sex life.
Of course, that hadn’t lasted long.
The dingy corridor of one of the seedier BDSM clubs they’d frequented in the early days popped into his mind. He’d never forget the things he’d driven Tyler to with his harsh words and lack of understanding. It had taken just that single glimpse—in the flashing multicolor lights that illuminated the secluded area in debauched freeze frames—of the man abusing Ty in full view of anyone who dared to look, to get him to capitulate to his friend’s plea for experimentation. As long as they were careful. Discreet.
Mason had fulfilled Ty’s darker desires. He just hadn’t realized that somewhere along the way, they’d become his own as well. He wasn’t gay, even thinking of himself as bi rankled since it’d only ever been Ty that attracted him, but he couldn’t deny he craved Tyler in the same primal way he hungered for Lacey.
Mason had thought he could push the other man away, though he knew he’d suffer for it. The power exchange, the rush, and the wild way he could let go with Ty had addicted him but Tyler’s patient, carefree love would be perfect for Lacey. He loved them both enough to be grateful they’d have each other. Neither would betray a bond this strong. Had he stolen years from them by being selfish, keeping Tyler separated from her in the name of her innocence?
He could only be sure of one thing anymore: he’d set the two people he loved most in the world on the path to happiness. If he made a clean break, they might have a chance at making it work.
“Wait, Mason.” Heat blossomed from the spot where Ty’s restraining hand rested. The same place Lacey had touched earlier. “I want you to take a look at this with me. I think I might have found something.”

Chapter Seven
As Lacey scrubbed the wall then swept the shattered bowl into the dustpan, she wondered what the guys were debating in the office but some part of her dreaded asking. She’d stalled facing them about as long as possible when Tyler appeared in the doorway.
“Are you okay?”
Hell no… Well, maybe just a little bit better. “Yeah, just finishing in here.”
“You up to hanging out for a few? We’d like to walk through this with you.”
“Sure.” She discarded the evidence of their indiscretion while she tried to ignore the ember of lust that had been smoldering in her belly since her shower—and the promise of more—had been interrupted.
Tyler caught her hand, tugged her close then enfolded her in his arms. When she burrowed into the taut muscles covered by thin cotton, he brushed a kiss over her temple then whispered in her ear. “You didn’t do anything wrong, little one. It’s nobody’s damn business what you do in your own home. Least of all his since he chooses not to join us.”
“I know.” She smiled up at him then sighed. “I just hate the distance I feel between us. I want things to be easy again.”
“If you’re tired or don’t want to deal with this shit, sneak upstairs to bed. I’ll come tuck you in after he goes.”
“Thanks, but I can handle it. I want to find out who this bitch is. Besides, I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep at this time of night anyway. I’ll wait until you can come entertain me.” She tossed him a wink.
“Did I tell you yet how amazing you are?”
“I’ll never get tired of hearing it.” She rose onto her tiptoes to peck his cheek before sauntering into the adjoining space.
Mason occupied more than half of the loveseat tucked along the inside wall next to the radiator with his masculine sprawl but, other than the desk chair where Ty had set up shop inspecting her computer, there weren’t any civilized options.
She refused to plop onto the floor like a vagabond just to avoid him. Instead, she squeezed in next to his splayed, muscular thigh, feeling awkward about where they touched for the first time in her life. She shifted until the arm of the sofa dug into her ribs but she managed to maintain a miniature rift between them. The insulation did nothing to block the alluring scent of his delicious woodsy cologne.
“Listen, Lacey…” He patted her knee then drew away as though unsure of what to do. “You know I’m no good at this emotional shit. So, I’ll just say this. I’m happy for you and Ty. You guys surprised me before, that’s all.”
It would have been impossible to speak around the band constricting her chest so, instead, she nodded.
Tyler cleared his throat to break the extended lull in the conversation. “I noticed when I was hooking up the call monitor that the house phone had been switched off. Were you getting a lot of calls today, little one?”
Grateful for something else to talk about, she nodded again. “Nothing ridiculous but, like I told Mason before, a bunch of reporters tried to get in touch not to mention all the people who just found out about Rob one way or the other.”
This time Mason’s hand entwined their fingers and stayed. The knot of tension unwound a bit when she relaxed, eliminating the artificial gap forcing them apart.
“It annoyed me after a while so I killed the ringer. But it really pissed me off when that shithead reporter crossed the line by infecting my comp with a virus because I wouldn’t answer