December 17

CRIME:

Riptide - Cody/Nick/Murray

Authors: Arouette and Catyah
Title: It Must Have Been The Mistletoe
Date: 12/17/04
Fandom: Riptide/Crime
Pairing: Nick/Cody/Murray
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Some Christmas presents are more unexpected than others.
Disclaimer: They aren’t ours. If we knew who they belonged to, we’d beg for the series to come out on DVD.
Feedback address: riptide@popullus.net
Advertisement: Part of the SAC-2004 at:
http://www.kardasi.com/Advent/2004/SAC-2004.htm
Note: Our website can be found at http://riptide.popullus.net
Beta: Many thanks to the lovely, talented, and gracious Caro Dee, who rocks a hell of a lot.

Cody Allen stood in the main salon of his boat, the Riptide, frozen with indecision. In his hand, he held a small paper bag from a nearby florist.

Am I ready for something like this? This is a huge step. But, God, yes. It's now or never. The real question is, is NICK ready for this? We've both wanted this to happen for awhile, now.

The time was right. Murray was off at some all-day scientific conference, so he was out of the way, thank goodness. This was gonna be strange enough, without having the Boz walk into the middle of it. And Nick -- he was down in Murray's room, putting up those shelves that Murray had been asking about for the longest time.

We're alone. On the boat. I want this. He wants this. Now is our chance -- okay, move. Aw, shit.

He and Nick had been best friends ever since Vietnam. Even after Murray had joined the agency, he and Nick were still close. They'd just made room for the young scientist in their friendship, and tried not to exclude him. But there'd always be parts of their friendship that he wouldn't understand. This was a new part, but yeah -- innocent little Murray Bozinsky would never understand this.

The two of them had grown closer over the years, but lately things had begun to feel tense. Until the day they'd finally pushed each other over the edge, their tempers flaring into what could have been a huge friendship-destroying argument. Instead, they had realized it could change their lives in a thousand different ways.

'Damn it, Cody! How could you have read my private mail?' Nick had yelled.

'I don't know what the hell you’re talking about, Nick,' Cody had yelled back, furious at the unjust accusation

'Don’t you play stupid with me, you jerk!' Nick had told Cody later that he knew it was stupid of him to keep pushing…but he’d just had to know if Cody had read what he’d written to his friend in San Francisco…the one from their unit who’d gotten a dishonorable discharge for doing exactly what Nick wanted to do to Cody.

‘Who are you calling stupid, you idiot? If you weren't so stupid, you'd have realized by now that I'm in love with you --'

‘You did read it.' Nick said stonily, his face going white. ‘So, what, now you’re messing with me about it?”

'Nick,' Cody had told him, ‘I still have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.’

'Then what did you mean -- in love? With me? You mean --'

'You, too? Nick? Oh god.'

Staring silently at each other, they were both suddenly very glad that Murray had not been there to mediate this particular fight.

But we couldn't actually get up the nerve to *do* anything about it. We’d just look at each other at the breakfast table, and know. Or I'd be almost ready to fall asleep at night, and I'd look over to find Nick staring at me -- and damn it, one of us would blink, and we'd say 'good night' and roll over and go to sleep. I think this has been the longest week of my life. Well, it's time. It's now or never. I've just got to make my legs move. Just a few steps. Just to the top of the stairs. Well, damn.

All right. I love him. He loves me. I just have to convince myself that -- Cody pictured Nick's face. And those lips. Pressing against his mouth. And his hands. Moving down, and --

Cody stood at the top of the stairs, looking down at the door to Murray's room. A small anticipatory smile on his face, he reached into the bag and pulled out a sprig of mistletoe tied with a red ribbon. Holding it over his head, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Hey, down there! Come on up here, would you? I've got a surprise for you!"

Striking a pose that he hoped would not look too ridiculous, he kept his eyes squeezed shut and pursed his lips welcomingly. He fought back a smile as he heard the door open and tentative footsteps coming up the stairs.

Come on, beautiful. You know you want this as much as I do...

There was a pause, and then soft lips were pressing against his – but they were gone in a second. Shy, Nick? Cody thought with a smile. I’ll fix that! Reaching out, he grabbed Nick and pulled him back into a real kiss. He backed the other man up against the wall of the stairwell and proceeded to do everything in his power to kiss the daylights out of Nick.

He felt Nick shiver with surprise, but when Cody licked tentatively at his lips, his mouth opened eagerly and he allowed Cody to do whatever he wanted. Cody pressed Nick hard against the wall, and felt himself falling farther into the kiss. For some reason it had taken Nick a second to get into it, but now he was giving every bit as good as he was getting – a strong but gentle tongue was moving in Cody’s mouth, and there was something substantial poking at his hip.

Cody moaned and shifted position, to bring that wonderfully hard cock in line with his own, and thrust just a bit. The smell of aftershave mixed with arousal was going straight to his groin. Nick was obviously every bit as eager as he was for this, and Cody shook with arousal and relief.

The man in his arms moaned softly, almost inaudibly, and Cody set back to work trying to drive his best friend insane with lust. He ran one hand through Nick’s short hair, to massage at his scalp, and the other hand he used to encircle Nick’s thin waist and pull him closer.

Thin waist? That was just starting to register in Cody’s lust-fogged brain, when he heard Nick’s voice.

“Cody?”

Nick’s voice.

Nick’s voice.

But he had his tongue in Nick’s mouth...

And wasn’t that voice behind him?

Wha? thought Cody, and opened his eyes.

A fraction of a frozen second later, Murray Bozinsky, no longer being held tightly up against his previously-assumed-to-be-straight friend’s hard-on, hit the wall behind him with a muffled thud. Cody found himself looking into a pair of shocked brown eyes.

Cody’s cry of “Murray?!?” was drowned out by the Boz’s own disbelieving “What the hell was that?!?”

Cody looked from the stairwell into the salon, to see Nick standing there, a bag of supplies that he’d obviously just run out to buy in his arms.

Nick looked from one of them to the other, shocked. Both of his best friends were flushed, and their hair was mussed. Cody was hard as a rock, Nick noticed. Murray was breathing just a little heavily, and he was leaning up against the stairwell wall as if it was the only thing holding him off the ground. It was a good look for both of them. Unconsciously, he licked his lips, and watched Cody’s gaze follow his tongue carefully.

Looking down, he saw the mistletoe in Cody’s hand. And remembered the shelves he’d been putting up in Murray’s room – and that Murray was supposed to be away at a conference today. Cody had been out on an errand when Boz had come back with the news that the speaker he was going to see had cancelled. Murray held his glasses in his hand – which explained why that hadn’t tipped off Cody immediately.

Nick was a detective. That meant that he was good at putting clues together quickly. Cody must’ve decided this was the perfect time to make his move, he thought.

And then he dropped the bag.

And started to laugh, helplessly.

He couldn’t help it. It was just too damn funny. Cody must’ve called down and closed his eyes – Mr. Repressed couldn’t have done anything overt, like just asking me to kiss him. Poor Murray just walked right into it. Ohhhh God, what a mess. Although he had to give Cody points for thinking of the mistletoe.

The noise of the bag dropping, and Nick starting into what was obviously going to be a helpless laughing jag, broke the frozen standoff that the other two men were in.

“Murray, how could you! What were you thinking?” sputtered Cody, nearly apoplectic with humiliation. Bad enough he’d kissed the wrong guy – worse yet that it was Murray. But now to have Nick show up and laugh at him?

“ExCUSE me?” Murray answered incredulously. “How could I? You tell me this, Cody Allen, who was it that threw me up against the wall and stuck his tongue down my throat? Just what the hell is going on here, anyway?”

“I thought you were Nick!” Cody yelled without thinking.

“You’re screwing Nick?” Murray shot back. “Now there’s a news flash. When were you planning on telling me this? Oh wait, I know. ‘Never mind, Murray, you wouldn’t understand!’ So do the girls you’re dating know about this? Are you keeping this a secret from everybody, or is it just me?”

Nick, hearing the increasingly hostile tones of his two best friends’ voices, managed to get himself under control. “Whoa! Guys, stop it!” Geez, he thought, you could light a candle off Cody’s blush!

Murray and Cody both glared at him and opened their mouths to speak again. Cody beat Murray to the punch. “What the hell did you think you were doing, kissing me?”

“What the hell did I think? You really want to know, Cody? I’m down in my own room, minding my own damn business, and I hear a supposed friend of mine call down the stairs, ‘C’mon up here, I’ve got a surprise for you’. Okay, whatever, I’m in the middle of something, but I put it down, and head upstairs. You’re standing there at the top of the stairs, holding mistletoe above your head, eyes shut and lips puckered. Now tell me, Cody, what was I supposed to think? That you wanted to talk baseball? It’s not like you used any names – and this was my room you were calling down to.”

“Yeah, but you…y-you were supposed to be gone for the day. Nick was putting up those shelves, remember?” Cody stammered angrily.

“Oh, pardon me for not being psychic – and may I remind you that all I did was give you a quick peck on the lips. If you’d bothered to open your eyes at any point in time, you’ve have noticed just who the hell you were kissing!”

“Oh, don’t you even try that...”

“Hey, who threw who up against the wall? What was I supposed to do, bite your tongue off? You’re stronger than I am, Cody, and you’d taken me by surprise. And now this is supposed to be my fault?”

“Don’t play the poor abused victim with me, Bozinsky. You liked it! You were hard as a rock and moaning. I heard you!”

Murray was bright purple by this point, with anger or humiliation, neither man could tell. “Well, Cody,” he said after a long second, “pardon me for actually having a human reaction to the first time anyone’s kissed me in way too damn long. I apologize for stepping out of character and acting like a normal person. I guess you’ll have to bleach your lips now to disinfect them. But I really resent being dragged into this and then getting blamed for it, just because you couldn’t be bothered to go straight to Nick with your issues.”

“Dammit, Murray!” began Cody.

“Oh, go fuck yourself, Cody,” said Murray, roughly. Nick and Cody both blinked in shock at the sound of that coming from Murray. “Or go fuck Nick. I don’t care. Just leave me the hell alone.” Before they could recover, Murray had turned and walked back down the stairs to his room and slammed the door shut.

Cody and Nick turned and looked at each other in shock. Nick held up a hand to stop Cody from speaking. “I know. Your intentions were good, but you got embarrassed. You lost your temper. I do it too. You and I are still good, and we’ll work this all out somehow, okay?”

Cody was starting to look really miserable by this point. Nick knew he had to do something to fix it. “Cody?” he said gently, moving in closer to the blond man. “It was a good idea. Thank you for having the courage to make the next move – I’ve been too damn terrified I’d screw things up.”

“It just made a mess of everything,” replied Cody quietly. “I…I love you, Nick. I want you. Sheesh. You know, it was never this difficult with women.”

Nick grinned. “Tell me about it. Look, Code, I’ve wanted you for a long time, and loved you for even longer. Yeah, we’re both nervous as hell. We’re bound to be, because there’s so much at stake here. I love you too. Very much. And dammit,” he added with a smile, “I want my kiss.”

Cody looked up into pale blue eyes, so close to him, and felt a strong pair of arms go around him. God, yes, he thought, melting into the arms of the man he loved.

Seconds later, he dropped the mistletoe.

***
Jerks, thought Murray, lying on his bunk. Do you have to wave it in my face like that? He’d managed to get used to the sounds of them upstairs hanging out and having fun while he was down in his dark little room by himself with only a computer for company...but now they were making out in the friggin’ stairwell outside his door.

His cock, still as hard as it had been from the second Cody’s warm lips had first brushed his, throbbed with need. Great, he thought. Can I die now? Is it actually possible to die of embarrassment? Because if I survive this, I’ll know it’s not.

He just...couldn’t stop thinking about it. Cody’s hand stroking his hair. Those strong arms, holding him tighter than anyone ever had. That stiff cock grinding against his...he winced and tried again to get his overactive damn mind onto a different topic.

God...it’s been too long, he thought miserably. He heard a soft moan from the corridor outside, and had to bite his fist to keep from yelling at them to take it somewhere else. He couldn’t believe how good Cody had felt in his arms. And damn, the man could kiss.

***
Nick couldn’t stop smiling. God, he’d wanted Cody for an eternity. And now he had him. He could take him down to their room and make slow, gentle love to him until Cody couldn’t stand it anymore...and Murray wouldn’t even...fuck.

As they came up for air, Nick couldn’t help stealing a glance at the closed door next to them. Cody looked at Nick, a little concerned.

“Murray,” Nick said quietly.

“God, what a mess that was,” Cody replied. “I have to fix this first, Nick.”

“I know,” replied Nick. “You’re right, and I’ll help. Come on.” They walked the rest of the way down the stairs, and Cody knocked on the door to Murray’s room.
***
Murray’s first impulse was to tell them to go away and leave him alone, preferably forever. But they didn’t deserve that, and he knew it. No matter how upset he was, he knew that it hadn’t been entirely Cody’s fault, either.

“Come in,” he called, swinging his legs over the side of the bed as he sat up. He tried his best to keep his expression level as Cody and Nick walked into the room. But he could tell from the way that his cheeks were burning that he wasn’t doing a very good job of looking unaffected by everything.

Cody’s hair was tousled and his lips were swollen and red. Murray couldn’t help but react to that. Beautiful. My God, he’s beautiful. Why did I ever have to notice that in the first place?

“Mur...” Cody began, clearing his throat nervously. “Can we...talk about this?”

Murray opened his mouth to answer, but seemed to change his mind in midstream. He exhaled, and said simply, “Sure.”

“You mind?” Cody asked, indicating the desk chair. Murray turned his palm up, and Cody seated himself in the desk chair, while Nick came over to sit on the bed next to Murray.

“You okay, Boz?” asked Nick gently. Murray was dismayed to notice his body’s reaction to Nick’s voice, but managed a nod, anyway.

“Look, I...Murray. It wasn’t my intention –“

Murray interrupted him. “Yeah, I caught that,” he said, with a sardonic laugh. “Wasn’t really mine, either.”

“Dammit, Murray,” said Nick. Whatever else he was about to say was cut off by the look Murray shot him.

“Murray, I’m sorry,” said Cody. “Come on, talk to us here. Yeah, I made a stupid mistake. I apologize. And I was so embarrassed about it that I bit your head off about it afterwards.”

Murray held up a hand to stop him. “No, Cody. I was a jerk. I just...I don’t know what I was thinking. But I should have known better. You don’t need to apologize. I’m...” he sighed, and looked back down at the ground, having run out of things to say.

“For what it’s worth, Boz, you’re a pretty good kisser,” added Cody, trying to lighten the mood.

“Don’t you patronize me, Cody Allen.” said Murray icily, his head snapping up so he could glare at Cody. Both Cody and Nick stared at him in shock. “We both know you all but threw up once you figured out who you were kissing.”

“Murray!” Cody started to protest.

But Murray was just getting started. “Now you listen to me, damn it. You two are the best friends I’ve ever had. Despite the evidence to the contrary, I’m actually thrilled that you’ve found someone worthy of you. But I will not sit here and listen to you try to claim that you enjoyed kissing ‘geeky little Murray’ when you all but had a panic attack at the sight. If I disgust you, fine. Don’t rub my face in it, but don’t lie to me about it, either. Friends don’t do that, and frankly, I’m not fragile enough to need it.”

Cody was shocked speechless by Murray’s sudden outburst. Nick’s next words shocked him even more. “Mur, if Cody was so disgusted at the thought of kissing you, why was he hard?”

“He thought I was you, Nick!”

“Then why did he stay hard after he found out you weren’t? For that matter, it took him a while to catch on – and I’m not trying to insult you when I say that even with closed eyes and you not wearing your glasses, there’s still quite a few differences between us.”

Murray blinked at him, unsure of what to say to that.

“I...” said Cody. “Nick, I really did think he was you. I...Nick, I love you. I’m in love with you. I...”

“Nick,” said Murray when Cody’s voice failed him, “he’s right. He was nervous, he loves you, he had no reason to think anyone else was around...he felt what he wanted to feel. Don’t try to pin that on him. After all, I kissed him with my eyes wide open. Don’t...don’t do that to Cody.”

“I won’t, Mur. I know Cody wasn’t...and that you wouldn’t, either. I was just making a point. It’s gotta be easier than that to tell the difference between someone who disgusts you and someone you’re in love with.”

Cody blinked, confused at the turn this whole thing had taken.

Murray just stared at Nick, uncomprehending. He shook his head, faintly. “Nick,” he said quietly, “don’t...”

Nick knew he was pushing it, but he couldn’t stop himself. He’d never dreamed he might get a chance to have it all…hell, as far as he was concerned, finding out that Cody was in love with him had been miraculous enough. But there was such pain showing in Murray’s eyes. Murray was getting so upset over a stupid little mistake. Yeah, sure it had been awhile since Murray had gotten kissed. He had every right to be embarrassed, but...

Cody had said Murray had been hard. And Murray hadn’t denied it. Murray had said he’d kissed Cody with his eyes wide open.

That wasn’t something straight guys did. Not even the ones who hadn’t been kissed in awhile, and were painfully lacking in social skills.

Oh.

Yeah.

“Um, Murray? I don’t quite know how to put this, but I really am not trying to offend you,” Nick said tentatively.

Murray and Cody looked over at him, Cody questioningly, and Murray apprehensively.

“There aren’t any straight guys in this room right now, are there?” was what Nick finally decided on.

Cody’s eyes widened in shock as he realized what Nick was saying. Murray swallowed hard, but nevertheless managed to meet Nick’s eyes squarely as he replied, “Not unless there’s someone hiding under the bunk, Nick.”

“How long, Boz?” asked Nick, gently.

Murray grinned faintly and replied, “Long enough. I’m...well, I’m bi. I don’t much care what gender a person is. Usually it’s more women than men, but...hell, it’s easier to date girls.”

“I had no idea, Boz,” said Cody.

“Yeah, I know,” said Murray. “It’s not the sort of thing I want getting around, you know? Besides, no offense, guys, but if it weren’t for the fact that it was the two of you that took me out to lose my virginity, you’d probably both think I was totally asexual.”

Nick opened his mouth to contradict Murray, but shut it when he figured out that the little guy was right. He and Cody knew Murray dated occasionally – but they never did think that he might be out having sex.

Let alone sex with guys.

Nick shifted a little uncomfortably at the mental image he got from that, and tried to adjust himself without being obvious. He’d always felt guilty about the thoughts he’d had about Murray, and his favorite fantasy had suddenly become a hell of a lot more vivid.

In the meantime, Cody was speaking. "Boz, we never knew. We never even suspected. I mean..."

"You guys don't know everything about me. Not by a long shot. Just like I don't know everything about you. But can you blame me for not telling you? Can you see me facing you -- my completely straight, heterosexual roommates, who could have any woman that looks their way -- and coming out to you? I sure can't."

"Mur --"

"I didn't know whether you'd be horrified or hysterical, but I couldn't tell you that, any more than I could tell you that I love you, and -- ohshit."

"You love…which one?" Cody stammered.

"Murray?" Nick stared in wonderment at the look of horror and shame that raced across Murray's face before he ducked his head.

“Both,” Murray whispered, staring down at his hands.

He loves me? He loves us? Oh my god. I -- Nick's thoughts broke off abruptly as he took in Murray’s position, bent forward with his arms over his knees. There was nothing unusual about it...but Nick suddenly realized what Murray was probably hiding by hunching over like that. Both of us? Oh, damn, I’m having a wet dream.

Now here was a twist he’d tried not to even let himself hope for. Bad enough that he was in love with at least one of his best friends. But...Nick found himself reaching out to touch Murray's face and closing his eyes as he leaned in to --

"What do you think you're doing, Nick Ryder?" Murray asked frigidly.

Nick froze, his hand still on Murray’s face. He couldn't seem to get any words out from between his shaking lips. "I - I don't know, Murray," he managed.

"I don't need a consolation kiss from you! And I'm not exactly a test model for you, either! What do you think I am, an old junker in a used car lot?"

"What?"

"A car, to walk around and kick the tires -- maybe take it out for a test drive? And then turn around and go with the sportier model?" Murray gestured towards Cody. "My feelings are not a toy, Nick. Don't you kiss me just to find out if you're turned on by any man, to see if you're really gay, or if it's just Cody. Don't you do that to me, Nick. Don't you dare do that to me."

"I didn’t...Murray, I didn’t think that was what I was doing. I'm sorry, okay? Listen, I'm new to this! I don't know what to think anymore!" His hand stayed on Murray’s cheek.

Cody watched in silence. He was as confused as Nick seemed to be. But shouldn’t it bother me more to watch my...to watch Nick with another guy? This should hurt a lot more than it does, shouldn’t it? Is it because I don’t see Murray as a threat?

Or is it because I want to kiss them both again, and figure this is my best chance?

“That’s what it feels like,” answered Murray seriously, his guard completely down.

Nick realized his hand had been resting on Murray’s cheek longer than it should be, and brought it down. The three friends sat in the little room in silence. Cody finally dared to sneak a look over at Nick – who was already watching him, a worried expression on his face. Nick seemed almost to be…pushing at the whole situation. Cody knew Nick hadn’t misinterpreted what had happened up in the salon – he knew Cody had kissed Murray by mistake. But still he was pushing. Suddenly, it hit him.

Nick wants Murray. It was the only explanation for his behavior today. But he’s…well, he obviously wasn’t Cody’s, they hadn’t done anything yet. Wait a minute, though – sure, Nick hadn’t realized Murray was into guys. But he hadn’t realized that Cody was into him when he’d lost his temper and told Cody he loved him.

So which did he want? Cody looked back up carefully at Nick, who’d been watching him the entire time, love and concern warring for dominance on his face. Cody knew Nick too well not to realize what that look meant.

He loves me. He’s in love with me. Thank God, he thought with relief. And then Nick turned the same look on Murray, who was staring resolutely at the floor, and Cody finally understood.

He’s in love with both of us.

Cody thought hard about it. He knew he loved Nick. Knew he wanted Nick. In his life, on his boat, and, oh dear God, in his bed. He knew he loved Murray, too – his kind heart, his quick mind, his gentle and trusting nature. He’d never thought of Murray that way, though.

But that kiss had been nice. Really nice. Murray was responsive, and warm…and Cody hadn’t been lying about the kissing. But all three of us? Can that even work?

Oh hell, I’m hard again.

He looked up at Nick. Nick was watching him carefully, but his expression gave nothing away. Well, it’s up to me, then.

Cody cleared his throat. “Nick, I love you. Murray?” Murray looked up at him carefully, over the frames of his glasses. “Nick was trying to kiss you because he wanted to kiss you. Not as an experiment, or to mess with your head. He just wanted a kiss.”

Nick looked over at Cody, and the two of them shared one of those looks that Murray hated in his less charitable moments. It was a look that said, “I can see into your soul.” and “We don’t need any words between the two of us.”

No one had ever looked at Murray like that.

“Oh, for pity’s sake, Cody,” started Murray, visibly upset.

Nick held up a hand and shot a quick smile at Cody. “Got it. Love you too, Code.” Turning, he grabbed Murray’s arms and pounced.

Murray barely had time to register shock as the larger man pinned his arms, and then warm, gentle lips were on his for the second time in less than an hour, strong arms holding him tightly. He considered struggling...but it felt so damned good, he couldn’t convince his arms and legs to obey his orders.

An insistent tongue teased at his lips, and he opened them, wanting more. He wasn’t getting enough oxygen. He didn’t give a damn. Nick was kissing him, and it was even better than he had thought it would be.

Too soon it was over, and he found himself blinking confusedly at the man who, up until that moment, had been one of his best friends. “Why, Nick?”

Nick smiled sadly at him. “Because I love you too, Mur. And I needed to know if it was the same way I loved Cody.”

“And?” Murray asked, already knowing the answer.

Nick smiled at Cody, and turned back to Murray, who took a deep breath, and steeled himself for the rejection he knew was coming. At least Nick would be nice about it.

“I think I do,” Nick said with a smile.

Murray’s eyes darted over to Cody, and back to Nick. He must’ve missed something. “You...what?”

“I love you, Murray. And I love Cody. Only problem I see is where the hell we’re gonna find a bed big enough for all three of us.”

“I...Cody?”

“He said it himself, Boz,” said Cody with a smile. “Yeah, okay, at first I thought you were Nick, but...you are one hell of a kisser. And more importantly, you’re one third of the best damn friendship I’ve ever had, or will ever have. I’ve loved you for years. Not like that, but it had never occurred to me as an option. So look...Nick and I were going to try to see if we could make it work with the two of us. I don’t see why we can’t try it with the three of us.”

“Um,” said Murray, looking down at his hands again. “Okay.” Nick looked over at him, worried, until he realized Murray was starting to smile. Nick stood and took Cody’s hand in his, and touched Murray’s cheek again. Cody stood and moved closer to the two of them, and Murray’s eyes closed as he leaned into the caress.

Cody leaned in to kiss Nick. This was…this was good, he realized with dawning surprise. Turning, he took Murray’s hand. Murray stood and came willingly to his arms for another kiss. Cody felt strong arms encircle him from behind, and then Nick was pressing against his back. Murray moved in closer as well, and Cody was drowning in warmth.

As the kiss ended, Cody opened his eyes slowly to see Murray looking at him, a wondering expression on his face. Cody smiled and reached a trembling hand up to remove the slender man’s glasses. Murray smiled and shut his eyes briefly, swallowing hard as Cody took them and placed them on the computer desk, next to the keyboard.

Nick held Cody just a little tighter, and Cody leaned into it, grateful for the support. They all stood there a little awkwardly, none of them knowing quite what to do next. “So, um…” said Cody, “What…did you guys...” he sighed.

“What now?” Murray finished for him.

“Um, yeah,” said Cody.

“Well, um…” Murray looked down and to his right, and then looked up at Cody. Cody was struck by how…open Murray looked without his glasses. His pupils were so dilated that they looked almost black. “May I kiss you again?” Murray asked nervously.

“Um, sure,” said Cody. They were both shaking so hard that it took them a couple of false starts to get positioned, but soon they managed, and Cody was so distracted he didn’t notice Nick’s hands tugging at the hem of his shirt until Murray broke off kissing him long enough to help Nick finish pulling it off over his head. Strong hands kneaded at Cody’s shoulders, while gentle fingertips held his waist. Cody sighed and reached out to start unbuttoning Murray’s Oxford shirt.

Murray smiled at Cody and sighed happily. "I used to have dreams like this," he said. He reached out his hand to touch, but froze abruptly, looking uncertainly at the two beautiful men.

Cody took his hand without hesitation, smiling as he pressed Murray's hand against his chest. "Please do, Murray." Murray closed his eyes, smiling blissfully at the feel of the soft hair under his fingers.

Standing behind Cody, Nick smiled at them. With one hand he rubbed at Cody's shoulder, and reached out the other to stroke Murray's face. His smile widened into a grin as Murray purred from the depths of his throat. "Like that, do you, guys?"

Cody grinned disbelievingly. “Nick, he purrs!”

Nick and Murray both chuckled at that. “Only when I’m getting petted,” Murray cracked back, and then Cody was laughing, too. The shared laugh defused the tension, and they grew bolder with each other.

For several minutes, the three men touched and stroked each other, often trading smiles ranging from shy and appreciative to broad and feral. Finally, Nick paused, earning a brief moan of protest from Murray when his hand stopped moving.

"This is great, don't get me wrong. But --um-- what do we do next? I mean --" Nick's face colored slightly, embarrassed at his own uncertainty of the situation. I sure never had this problem with a woman, figuring out what happened next -- it just happened. But these guys are…guys.

Murray cleared his throat, seeing the confusion on both their faces. "Well -- I -- you know, I'm not exactly an expert, but --"

"Go ahead, Murray," Cody encouraged. "You at least have more -- well, experience than Nick or I do."

"Okay. Well, gee -- Cody seems to have the right idea," he said, smiling at the bare chest next to him. "Maybe we should all – you know, get undressed?"

Nick and Cody grinned together at the crimson blush spreading across his face.

"Good idea," Nick said, reaching for Cody's belt.

"Hey, wait up a second," Cody laughed as he turned around.

He and Nick immediately started a tug of war with each other’s clothing, each of them playfully trying to get the upper hand. With gentle kisses and touches, each of them tried to distract the other one enough to strip them.

Soon the two of them stood naked together in the middle of Murray's room, their clothes scattered across the floor. Each stared hungrily at the other's body. They'd certainly seen each other before, having shared a room, and before that, during the war, when personal privacy was almost unknown. But this was different.

Different but good, Cody thought. God, he's beautiful. And --

Nick's eyes shifted up and over Cody's shoulder, and a stricken expression appeared there, replacing the longing that had been there seconds before. Cody glanced back over his shoulder, and bit his lip anxiously, seeing Murray watching them both from the edge of his bed, still fully dressed except for a couple of buttons on his shirt.

"Murray…ah God, I'm sorry," Nick told him.

"What for?" Murray asked. "That was great! It was fun to watch, and besides -- it was really hot, too." Taking in their confused faces, he chuckled. "Guys, if it's going to be the three of us, and I hope it is, there's going to be times where one of us will have to sit back and watch, you know? I don't mind. That is, as long as I get to play, too."

"Absolutely," Cody nodded. "Of course you get to play, too. We'll trade off, okay? Make sure we all get to have fun.”

“Um, actually, guys?” Murray’s response was a little tentative. “I’ve been thinking…Nick said you two hadn’t started anything yet, but you’d been trying to, right?”

“Um…yeah,” said Cody. “We…figured it out a few days ago, but we hadn’t really done anything about it. Why?”

“Well…you two have been waiting awhile for this. I don’t want to horn in on your first time, you know? I would like to try for the three of us to be together – but I guess what I’m saying is that if you two want your first time to just be each other, you can always bring me in later. It’s okay with me,” Murray finished and waited for their answer.

Nick stayed silent, surprising Cody. Usually the darker haired man was the first to speak up in situations like this, but apparently this time it was up to him. Cody thought about it seriously. Up until an hour ago, Nick was all he wanted. He’d never even considered the possibility of Murray – but an hour ago, he’d never kissed Murray, either. And look how much fun that was, he thought. There was something wrong with the offer, he knew. Murray didn’t look hurt or worried – that wasn’t it. He wasn’t offering them an out, he was offering them a little privacy, and counting on them not to turn around and exclude him later. But there was still something off.

Cody remembered when Murray had first joined the agency. Cody and Nick had been best friends for years, and it had been strange incorporating a third roommate and partner – even though they’d always liked him. Gradually, they’d gotten used to having him there – until he finally had become as necessary to Cody as Nick was.

As Nick was…it hit Cody like a thunderbolt.

“Nitwit,” he said fondly. “It’s a kind offer, Boz, but it’s not necessary. Like you said, there’ll be times when we pair off. But this is our first time. All three of us. Hey, Nick?" Cody turned to look at him, and was caught neatly in the warmth of a dazzling smile from Nick.

"Yeah?" Nick asked, as Cody melted.

"Doesn't Murray look a little -- overdressed?" Cody leered.

Nick laughed at the look in Murray's eyes. Did I ever imagine I'd see a look like that from him? Only in my dreams. Ohhhhh, yeah. "C'mere, Murray."

Playfully, Murray stepped backwards instead, smiling when they followed him, backing him quickly into a corner. Cody went to work pulling Murray's shirt out from his pants.

"Stop a second, man," Nick asked.

Murray shook his head. "Noooo. Cody, keep going. Please?" The slender man looked wonderingly at Nick. "Nick? Are you -- oh my god. Are you blushing? You are. God, Nick -- I -- you look beautiful when you blush."

Nick looked embarrassed, but continued on, his face a bright red. "I saw something in a movie, once. Murray, you mind if I try it? I always wanted to."

"Go ahead, Nick," Murray told him eagerly. "Whatever you want."

As Cody looked on in surprise, Nick came to stand before Murray, staring at him for a long moment before leaning in with hands and mouth to finish unfastening Murray’s shirt. As each new bit of skin was exposed, Nick licked and sucked on it, his mouth closely following the path of his hands.

Helplessly, Murray writhed against the wall behind him, reaching out to run his hands through Nick's dark hair. "God, Nick. Nick, that's -- oh my god, wonderful. You --"

"Wait," Cody asked in a strangled-sounding voice. "Stop."

"No," Murray moaned. "No, I --"

Nick paused briefly as Cody pulled Murray forward, and leaned back against the wall himself. "Stand here in front of me, Murray," he whispered. "You don't want to waste your writhing on a wall, do you?" The handsome blond held Murray's back against his chest, holding him around the waist so that he could feel Cody's hard cock pressing against him.

Murray moaned, leaning back. "Cody, yes. Nick? Nick, don't stop. Please, Nick?"

"God, the two of you are going to make me crazy," Nick said happily. "But what a wonderful way to go."

Nick continued on with what he was doing, winning a strangled shout from Murray when he took Murray’s zipper in his teeth and pulled it slowly down. Nick liked that reaction so much that he copied the move with the waistband of Murray’s underpants.

With Cody’s help, Nick soon had the smaller man stripped, occasionally pausing to enjoy the moans from both men standing before him. Murray's hands remained in constant motion, sometimes touching Nick's face and hair, sometimes reaching back to touch whichever parts of Cody were available, and sometimes touching himself, brushing across his own chest or erect cock.

Nick sat back on his heels, taking in the sight in front of him. Murray blushed a bit and looked a little uncomfortable at the scrutiny. Nick reached up and touched Murray’s side encouragingly. With a slow smile, he let his gaze wander all the way down and back up again. When his eyes met Murray’s, he grinned slowly and said, “Y’know, Murray, I’m never calling you ‘little guy’ again.” Nick’s smile only grew wider as his tactic worked and Murray cracked up, forgetting his self-consciousness.

Cody leaned forward to have a look for himself, and his eyes widened. With a smile, he told Murray, “He’s right, you know. Not bad, Mur.” With an appreciative stroke of Murray’s cock that made him moan, Cody went back to nibbling on Murray’s neck, rendering the other man incapable of making a response.

Nick took another minute to admire both men's bodies. "You're both beautiful, do you know that?"

"So are you," Cody told him, glancing down at him from the spot on Murray's neck that he was biting. Murray nodded, helpless in Cody's strong arms.

Nick's hand brushed down the length of Murray's cock and his smile widened at the soft moan that he got in return. "Murray?" he whispered. "May I?"

There was a momentary silence as Murray regained his breath enough to speak again. "Anything you want. Anything. Cody?"

"Yeah, Mur?"

"Hold me up, will you? I think this is gonna be really, really goo-ahhhhhhhhhhh." He gasped harshly as Nick leaned forward, taking him into his mouth.

"I've got you," said Cody breathlessly. "Have fun, guys. My turn, next." Despite his flippant words, Cody’s eyes were glued to the sight of Murray’s cock sliding in between Nick’s perfect lips.

“Oh God, yeah, Cody,” said Murray, writhing up against him. “Just wait ‘til we get you. Gonna make you feel so good. I’ve dreamed of sucking your cock for so long. Oh…oh God, Nick, yes! God, yes.”

Cody gasped hungrily, and pulled Murray closer. Murray couldn’t seem to keep still – which was fine by Cody, as the younger man’s ass was rubbing up against his straining cock as he writhed. Cody bent his head and used one hand to tease at Murray’s nipples. With his other hand, he reached out in front of him and caressed Nick’s temple with just his fingertips. Cody thrust his hips gently against Murray’s ass, and was intrigued and aroused when Murray started pushing back against him mindlessly.

As Cody’s fingertips touched him, Nick moaned softly around Murray’s cock. Nick had never gone down on a man before, but he was enjoying the hell out of his first time. Murray tasted faintly salty, but nice. The best part was watching his face and Cody’s as he worked. Murray’s eyes were tightly shut, and he was leaning up against Cody like Cody’s strong arms were the only thing keeping him from melting into the floor. Cody was watching Nick so hungrily that Nick couldn’t resist slowing down just a little to tease Cody. Like this, Code? You want me to suck you like this? I bet you taste just as good as Murray does…Murray’s thighs were shaking under Nick’s hands, and he stroked them gently. Oh yeah, Mur. You liiiike this. He ran gentle fingertips along Murray’s hipbone and down to his inner thigh, just to hear another soft gasp from him. Ohhh yeah, he thought, and sucked a little harder as Murray writhed.

“Ummm, Nick. Nick. Nick?” Murray was panting now. “Nick, h-hold on. Stop.”

Nick stopped immediately. “You okay, Boz?”

“Um. F-fine. But I…I didn’t want this to…I was…ohboy.” Murray looked down and flushed, confusing Nick.

“That close, huh?” asked Cody with a grin.

“Yeah,” Murray said quietly, starting to smile sheepishly.

Nick smiled and took a breath, as Cody looked down and said, “Way to go, Nick!”

Murray turned around with a look in his eyes that Cody could only describe as evil. “I’ll wipe that smirk right off your face, Cody. C’mere.”

Pulling free of Cody’s arms, Murray looked around and realized that the bed was too small for what he had in mind for Cody. Instead, he stretched out on the floor next to where Nick was kneeling, and beckoned Cody to join him.

Cody, intrigued, settled himself next to Murray as Nick looked on with a smile. Murray pulled a pillow off the bed and set it underneath Cody’s head as he encouraged the other man to lie back flat.

Murray leaned over him and tenderly brushed his fingertips over the other man’s jaw line. He smiled happily at Cody without saying a word, and leaned down to kiss him softly on the lips. Cody reached up to touch his face, and Murray caught his hand. “Let me,” he whispered. “I’ve wanted to do this for so long, Cody. Just let me make you feel good.”

Nick watched silently as Murray dropped gentle kisses on Cody’s lips and neck, his fingertips running along Cody’s collarbone. Cody sighed and his eyes shut as Murray worked his way slowly down the larger man’s body. Nick’s cock twitched as he watched his two best friends make slow and gentle love to each other.

Cody laid back and enjoyed the sensation. Murray’s tongue reached a nipple and teased it into hardness as Cody gasped and arched underneath him. A warm hand soothed him back down as that gentle tongue made its way to his other nipple, licking and sucking at it for awhile before heading back to the first one.

Murray took his time on Cody, making the other man writhe and twist with need underneath him as Nick’s eyes got wider and wider. By the time Murray finally took enough of a break to look over at Nick, Nick’s eyes were wide, his pupils dilated, and his cock was standing straight out from his body, hard and proud and twitching in time with Nick’s heartbeat.

Murray wished idly that there were some way he could suck them both at the same time. As he watched the other man’s reaction hungrily, a drop of perspiration from Nick’s forehead worked its way down the side of Nick’s face, onto his collarbone, and into the dark forest of his chest hair – down, down, it kept going as Murray watched, and Murray wanted nothing more than to follow it with his tongue as far as it would go. Cody tasted…wonderful. Perfect. Nick would too, he just knew it.

A soft moan from Cody reminded Murray that he was neglecting someone. But first—“Want to help me out here, Nick?” he asked quietly.

“My pleasure,” Nick replied with a slow smile that made Murray grateful he was already lying down. If he’d been standing, his knees would have given out. Nick moved over to Cody’s other side, and then Cody was writhing helplessly as two sets of lips and two pairs of hands sought out every single sensitive area they could find. Watching each other carefully, they coordinated their efforts to drive Cody insane. Nick found a good spot at Cody’s hips, and Murray immediately took up the same spot on the other side, using teeth and tongue to make Cody yell.

Nick and Murray teased Cody until the blond was moving desperately underneath them and making inarticulate sounds. Murray worked his way slowly and steadily downwards, with one goal in mind.

“Unh! Oh God, guys, please!” Cody was starting to sound desperate, Murray thought with a smile. He traced a path with his tongue through honey golden hair, all the while brushing gentle fingertips up the insides of Cody’s thighs. Cody arched up underneath him and cried out, “Please!” and Murray had to grip the base of his own cock to keep himself from coming.

Never calling him repressed ever again, Murray thought – and took one slow, broad lick up the underside of the cock he’d been teasing. Cody yelled and began babbling – and Nick looked up to see just what the hell Murray had done to get that reaction. Murray couldn’t decide what he liked best – the taste of Cody on his tongue, Nick’s incredible blue eyes watching him with need, Cody’s appreciative thrashing, Nick’s fucking gorgeous cock, standing straight up and just fucking begging for a little of the same treatment Murray was giving Cody’s…it was damn near an embarrassment of riches, Murray thought happily. And they’re mine, all mine. He took Cody all the way into his mouth, needing more.

Murray did it again. And again. And again, as slowly as he could stand to. Cody was gone, babbling like a crazy man and moving desperately under the two of them. Nick smiled and moved down to join Murray at Cody’s groin. A hand fell on Murray’s shoulder, and he looked up to see Nick right there, with an evil grin on his face.

Within seconds, they were trading hot, hungry, open mouthed kisses around Cody’s leaking cock, lashing him with their tongues and lips while he whimpered helplessly and watched as his two partners worked him over, taking him to the brink of coming and then backing off slowly – only to do it to him all over again.

The last trace of smugness was well and truly gone from the wild-eyed man beneath them when Murray and Nick finally slowed down and started to taper off a bit. Cody lay there blinking at the ceiling for several long seconds, long enough that Nick was starting to get a little concerned.

“Wow,” he finally said. Murray and Nick snorted with laughter and swapped a grin. “Now what?”

Neither Nick nor Murray said anything for a second, and Cody looked up to see his two partners watching each other carefully, both of them, flushed with embarrassment and arousal. They turned in unison and looked hungrily at Cody, and his cock twitched in reaction. Nick cleared his throat once, then twice, and finally managed to speak.

“Well, I know what I’d like to do next, but I’m not real sure how to adapt it to three of us, and I don’t want to leave one of us out…” he started uncertainly.

There was silence in the room for a second – and then Cody had his breath taken away by a sudden mental image. Oh, that would work. Mmmm, yeah.
“I have an idea,” he said. “If we all want to do this – and can agree on details, I think I know what we can do.”

Murray and Nick looked up eagerly at that.

“First of all, Murray – top, or bottom?”

Murray took in a deep breath, and answered immediately. “I’m willing to do either, but tonight I think I’d prefer bottom.”

“Okay. Nick, same question.”

Nick looked a little embarrassed, but recovered quickly, “Same as Murray, but tonight I’d like to top.”

“Then we’re set,” Cody replied with a smile. “Gentlemen, if you’ll follow me?” With that, he stood up shakily, and offered each of his partners a hand. Murray took the opportunity to stare at the naked man in front of him. He’d always known Cody was hot…but damn, Cody was hot.

“But what about you, Cody?” Murray asked. Cody noticed with concern that Murray was looking a little pale. But then again, it looks like all of the blood in his body is in one spot – so he’s gonna be a little pale.

“I’ll get mine too, Boz, don’t you worry.” Cody smiled happily. “Now, what do we have that we can use for lube?”

“Just a second, I’ve got some,” said Nick, and turned to go. He was drawn up short by Cody’s voice behind him.

“Can you believe him, Murray? Hadn’t even kissed me, and he’s already bought lube. He must think I’m easy as hell.”

“Well, Cody,” replied Murray before Nick could defend himself, “seeing as how it barely took us a half an hour to get you naked after the first kiss, I could see where he’d have a point. You are pretty easy.”

“Oh really? Allow me to point out, Doctor Bozinsky, that I’m not the only naked one in this room,” said Cody.

Nick wasn’t too sure if they were kidding or not, especially when Murray came back with, “First, please don’t call me Doctor Bozinsky when we’re naked. It makes me feel like I’m doing something I shouldn’t with a student. Secondly, you’re damn right I’m easy, especially where the two of you are concerned. For all I know, this is a dream and I’m going to wake up any second. If I do, I want to make sure I at least get well and truly laid first.”

Snickering, Nick headed up the stairs at a run to fetch the lube he’d bought in the hopes he and Cody would one day need it. When he returned with it in hand he was greeted with a surprising sight. The two men were lying half on Murray’s bunk, with Murray flat on his back and Cody leaning over him, touching him gently. Nick watched in surprise as Cody held up a tube of the exact same kind of lubricant Nick carried in his hand.

Cody looked up at the sound of Nick’s entrance and grinned at the surprised look on his face. “Thirdly was ‘And thirdly, Nick’s not the only one on this boat the drugstore lady looks at funny.’ Murray had this in his nightstand. That’s what you get for tearing out of here so fast, Nick.” Murray moaned softly as Cody’s hand moved, and both Nick and Cody turned their attention to the slender scientist.

“Like that, do you, Murray?” asked Cody teasingly, repeating the action as Murray sighed.

“Mmm, yes,” Murray said softly, spreading his legs a little more. Nick smiled at the looks on both of their faces and reached down to brush Murray’s bangs off of his forehead.

Cody used one fingertip coated with the lube to circle the sensitive skin at his entrance and then pressed in slowly. All three of them held their breath for a seemingly endless second, until Murray relaxed just a little with a sigh. Cody pushed in a little farther, starting to work his finger just a little bit, and Murray’s breathing grew more rapid. Nick sat on the bed next to Murray and caressed his chest, helping the younger man get used to the intrusion.

Cody added a second finger after a minute or so, and reached as deeply as he could. This time, Murray cried out and arched upwards. Cody froze. Before he could ask Murray if he was okay, Murray’s eyes flew open and he said one word, “Again.”

Cody thrust his fingers back in once more, gently, and Murray twisted and gasped, “Oh, God, Cody, again!” His voice was all but cracking, and he looked desperate. Cody was starting to catch on that whatever was happening, it was good, and started up a steady rhythm with his fingers that had Murray sobbing and writhing.

Nick held on next to them, torn between deep arousal and…laughter, he realized. The two of them were incredibly beautiful together and he loved them both deeply – but Murray had the goofiest expression on his face that Nick had ever seen. He bit his lip frantically, trying to keep a straight face – now, he thought, would be a very bad time to laugh.

But Murray caught him anyway. Nick had closed his eyes briefly when an especially comical moan had almost broken him – and opened them back up to find big brown eyes looking right at him with pleasure, need, and amusement showing in them.

“Just you…mmm…wait until one of us does this to you, Nick Ryder, and we’ll see who looks--oh GOD, Cody--silly then. I…oh hell, Cody, don’t stop!”

“Relax, Boz,” Cody said as Nick finally gave in and laughed. “It’s just time to take it to the next step. Scoot down a little, would you?”

Murray swallowed whatever he’d been about to say, and moved so that his hips were at the edge of the bed, legs spread as wide as he could comfortably get them. Cody stood and moved around to kneel on the bed, pushing Murray’s thighs up and outward. He used the lubricant liberally on his cock and positioned himself carefully. Nick watched in awe as Cody took Murray slowly, stopping every couple of seconds to make sure that Murray was okay.

Nick had never seen Murray’s eyes go that wide. Murray was obviously fighting to keep his breathing even as Cody entered him. It must’ve been awhile since he’s done this, Nick thought. But Murray was obviously okay – just very, very quiet and still. Finally, Cody was in all of the way, face to face with Murray, Murray’s ankles locked behind Cody.

“Now,” said Cody after a long moment. ”It’s my turn.” He handed Nick the lube and leaned forward.

Nick didn’t quite catch it at first, until he heard Murray’s awed murmur of “Cody, you are a genius. That is a great idea!”

Nick’s hands started shaking so hard he almost dropped the lube. All three of us. Oh yes. Yes, exactly.

He stood and reached for Cody’s ass, massaging the muscles there carefully as Cody sighed. With shaking hands he mimicked what he’d seen Cody doing to Murray – first one fingertip, circling around Cody’s entrance until Cody sighed and pushed back a little – causing an answering gasp from Murray, Nick noted with a smile, then a little bit of pressure. Then a little more pressure, and a lot of the lube, and Nick was massaging Cody from the inside, as Cody sighed and started to open up to him.

Murray lay underneath Cody, trying to control his shaking. Cody was inside of him. It felt weird – but good, weird. He could see every reaction on Cody’s face, as Nick touched him. Why the hell he hadn’t come about an hour ago, Murray had no idea. This was absolutely, no doubt about it, the hottest thing that he had ever felt or seen. Two absolutely gorgeous men that he was desperately in love with were going to fuck him.

Murray knew it was greedy of him, but he couldn’t help but wish that they’d both take him, one right after the other. But then how in hell would I decide which one I wanted first? No, Cody’s right, this is better. Nick hit Cody’s prostate, and Cody moaned and twitched in surprise, which caused Murray to gasp breathlessly with pleasure. Cody seemed to have lost his voice entirely, so Murray called up to Nick, “Nick? Do that to him again.”

Nick did, and Cody’s eyes flew open in surprise as pleasure hit him again. Murray touched the side of his face with a wicked smile, which quickly grew surprised as Cody bucked involuntarily under the sensation, making Murray writhe under him in turn.

He noticed after a few minutes that Cody seemed to be shaking. “Cody? You okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” said Cody, sounding a little strained.

“Should I stop?” Nick asked from above them both.

“No!” Cody replied immediately.

“Wait a second, Nick,” said Murray. “I know what the problem is. Cody –“ Murray’s voice faded to a murmur.

“No, because I’d hurt you, Mur.”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Murray immediately came back with, sounding a little annoyed. “I’m not fragile. Now come here.”

Cody sighed and gingerly lowered himself so that his weight was resting on Murray instead of on his hands – and Nick realized that the full body shakes Cody had been having were his arms threatening to give out.

As Cody lowered himself, pushing farther into Murray and covering him completely, Murray sighed and reached around Cody to stroke his back. Now Nick could see Murray’s face over Cody’s shoulder – and not only did the smaller man look unhurt, he looked blissfully happy. Reassured that everyone was all right, and with even better access than he’d had before, Nick went back to what he was doing.

He noticed something odd as he did. He couldn’t see Cody’s face, although he could feel and hear the other man’s reactions, and gauge what he liked. But he could see Murray’s face, and Murray seemed to be reacting to what Nick was doing to Cody, too. Nick's cock throbbed as he realized that in that position, Murray would feel every stroke of Nick into Cody's body as well. All three of us.

And then it was time.

Nick coated his overheated cock liberally with the cool lubricant, and pressed gently against Cody’s opening. Cody took in a deep breath, moved his knees farther apart on the bed, and tried to relax as he was taken for the first time ever. Murray rubbed at Cody’s shoulders and murmured soothingly, occasionally turning his head to kiss Cody’s cheek and nuzzle at his ear.

Tight. And warm. Perfect.

Cody.

Oh God, wanted this, wanted you for so long.

And then he was in. He could feel Cody’s perfect ass up against his hips. Against his balls. All three of them froze for just a second.

“You guys ready?” Nick gasped hoarsely

“Yes.” The whispered reply came from both Cody and Murray at the same time.

Nick waited until he couldn’t stand it any longer, wanting this one moment to last him the rest of his life.

And then he moved. Slowly in and out, giving Cody time to get accustomed to him. After a minute or so, Cody started to move as well, rhythmically pushing against him and pulling away, and Murray’s moans joined the chorus of Nick’s and Cody’s.

He wanted hard and fast. Wanted to fuck both of these men until they couldn’t walk straight. But it was Cody’s first time, and there was an awful lot of weight on top of Murray.

Better keep it slow this time. Show them both how much he loved them. Take his time and drive them both insane with pleasure.

He heard Murray’s voice, as if from far off. “Cody? Do you th-think…that is, I…h-harder?”

He could hear the smile in Cody’s voice as Cody passed the message on. “Hey, Nick? Murray’s saying you fuck like a girl.”

Okay. Fuck gentle. Nick sped up, catching Murray in mid-protest.

“I did not say tha…oh YES God YES like that, just like that, yeah, that’s perfect…”

Cody would have laughed, but he was too busy moaning, pushing back into one lover, who was hitting a spot with every stroke that felt like fireworks going off in the pleasure center of his brain, and pushing forward into the tight heat of his other lover. He couldn’t decide which sensation was better – but with slick skin sliding all over his body, and pleasure coming at him from so many different directions, he didn’t care.

Nick smiled and kept going. He’d worried about Murray on the bottom of the pile like that – but the Bozinsky Hallelujah Chorus that was still going on had him convinced that Murray was perfectly fine with a little roughness. He felt himself getting close, and tightened his grip on Cody’s shoulders warningly.

And the son of a bitch squeezed him on the next few strokes. Nick lost it totally, and came with a yell muffled at the last minute by Cody’s shoulder.

***

When Nick lost control of the rhythm, Cody thrust his hips back, keeping it going as Nick’s orgasm took him over and keeping Nick coming for just as long as he could.

As Nick stopped jerking helplessly and pulled out, Cody felt a brief pang at the loss, but his own rapidly approaching orgasm was distracting him. Pushing himself back up on his arms as Nick staggered over to sit next to them, Cody looked down at Murray.

Face flushed, eyes glazed, hands tightly wrapped in the sheets on either side of him when they weren’t stroking whatever part of Cody they could reach – Murray was somewhere over the rainbow, and it looked like a nice place to be.

Innocent, my Aunt Sally, thought Cody. This was a side of Murray he’d never even imagined existed – but Cody was starting to realize he wanted to see it a lot more often.

Cody shifted his weight to one hand and snaked the other one in between them to reach Murray’s cock. He stroked it tenderly. Murray’s eyes flew open again and he started babbling as Cody simultaneously stroked and fucked him. Nick reached out and petted both men as they sped towards completion. Any spot he could reach from his exhausted sprawl next to them, he played with. A few surprised moans and gasps let him know that his efforts were not going unappreciated.

"Ohhhhh, God. Yes. God, Cody, harder. Please? Harder, harder, yesssss." Cody couldn’t tell if Murray meant his hand or his cock, so he sped up both and used more force, driving him and Murray over the edge within seconds of each other. They were both relatively quiet through their orgasms – just an abbreviated wild moan from Cody and a silent scream from Murray marked the moment it occurred.

Nick reached out to help Cody collapse someplace that wouldn’t cut off Murray’s breathing, and all three men lay sprawled half on, half off the little bunk, getting their breath back.

“Wow,” said Cody, finally.

A happy little “Mm,” was Murray’s brilliant contribution. Nick just grinned. Damn, that’d been a good idea.

“So, everybody okay?” Nick asked after a minute.

“Great!” replied Cody, not moving.

“Yeah, same,” said Murray, blinking up at the ceiling.

“Everybody done?” Nick asked.

“Worn out. You two are gonna kill me,” said Cody.

“Stick a fork in me!” said Murray, cheerfully.

“You know, the time to tell us you had a bizarre thing for kitchen implements was beforehand, Murray,” said Cody.

“Fork you, Cody,” replied Murray, as Nick cracked up.

But Cody wasn’t done yet. “Nick just did, thank you. You can have next go, though, if you’d like.” Nick laughed even harder as Murray and Cody traded grins.

“I thought that was awesome,” said Nick once he’d gotten his breath back.

“Yeah,” agreed Murray, “it was pretty good for the first time.”

"Well, it's different being with a guy, you know? But we'll get better at it as we go along, you know?" said Cody, sounding a bit uncertain.

Murray sounded startled as he said, "No, I meant me. I've never -- you know."

"Wait a minute, Murray. I don't get it. What do you mean, you've never
-- I thought you said you'd done this before. That you were experienced? I thought..." Both Nick and Cody traded looks with each other before looking back down at Murray, who was looking up at the ceiling, apparently unconcerned.

"No, I said I had some experience. But I've never done that before. I’ve been with guys – kissed, made out, even gone down on some, and had them do it to me, too. But I never – fucked a guy. Or been fucked, before. ” Murray’s tone was matter of fact.

“Murray!” protested Cody. “You should have told us that was your first time!”

“Why?” asked Murray simply. “So we could all be even more nervous than we already were? I knew you wouldn’t hurt me.”

“We’d have been gentler with you, Mur,” said Nick, quietly.

“That’s not possible, Nick,” said Murray with a smile, reaching out to touch his cheek. “You already were being gentle with Cody, and with me. And let’s not forget that it was your first time, and Cody’s – and that I’m the idiot who kept yelling ‘Harder! Harder!’”

“Geez. I thought the good thing about sex with guys was that you didn’t have to lie around and talk about feelings afterwards,” Cody complained.

Nick and Murray cracked up and all three of them maneuvered a little closer to each other.

“Fine, Cody,” teased Nick. “You go to sleep, and Murray and I will talk about feelings. And then, when talking about feelings turns into a second round, we’ll go someplace else and let you have your sleep, you poor, exhausted, old man.”

Murray tried his best to muffle his laugh as Cody flipped Nick off. Nick grinned happily at Cody for a second, and turned back to Murray. “You did want to do that tonight, right, Boz?”

“For goodness’ sake, Nick!” said Murray, looking surprised. “Of course! I’d never done that - but I always wanted someone to make love to me like that. It just...well. And now I've had it. And I loved it. I want it again. But if this doesn’t work out, at least I've …and it was with the two of you. Thank you. Thank you for making my first time…well, even better than my fantasies. And quit worrying, okay? I’m not gonna break."

“I love you, Nick,” said Cody, “and I love you too, Murray.”

“Thought you didn’t want to talk about feelings, Cody?” Nick interjected. Murray snickered as Cody aimed a mock swat at his head.

“That needed saying. And so does this. Mur, we are going to do that again. And next time, I’m going to tease you the way you and Nick teased me tonight. You will be begging by the time I’m done, I promise.”

“Wow, he’s full of himself, isn’t he, Nick?” asked Murray with a grin, and a happy shiver that both men noticed.

“Full of something,” Nick replied.

Cody pulled the two of them closer and grinned. “So, I’m hungry. Whose turn is it to cook dinner?” He actually had the temerity to look surprised when Nick and Murray pounced him.

**

A week and a half later, with the Christmas season in full swing, Nick was starting to believe that this might just shape up into a decent Christmas. Yeah, he was coming down with his annual Christmas cold, and Murray was doing his Christmas thing – but this year, it didn’t seem so hard to take.

Plus, Nick had hit on the perfect way to make Murray stop singing Christmas carols when he got too annoying. And wonder of wonders, Murray didn’t seem to mind a bit.

Geez. If someone had told me this time last year that I’d celebrate this Christmas with not one, but two male lovers – a preppy Robert Redford look-alike and a computer geek complete with pocket protector, at that, I’d have suggested they get their head examined. But damn, this feels…right.

Sneezing or not, Nick just couldn’t stop grinning. Hadn’t been able to since that day the three of them had made love for the first time. Not that that was a problem, really.

Just then, Cody came back in from his early morning errand carrying a paper bag.

“What’s that, Cody? More Christmas presents?” asked Nick.

“Nope,” said Cody with a grin. “Something better.” He disappeared without another word down into the stateroom the two of them – and more often than not these days, the three of them shared. Nick could hear hammering on the walls.

Murray came up the stairs from the computer room carrying his coffee mug. “What on Earth?” he asked Nick.

“Cody’s being mysterious again,” Nick said, a little annoyed.

Murray immediately perked up and looked interested. “Ooh! Really? Boss!”

“Murray! What the…” Nick was confused.

“Oh, come on, Nick – you know as well as I do that the last time Cody was ‘being mysterious’, you and I both ended up covered in chocolate syrup.” Nick was amused to notice that Murray was actually trying to check his hair and straighten his shirt out, all without letting go of the coffee mug.

“Yeah, I remember. I also remember how long it took me to wash the rest of that stuff out of my chest hair afterwards – Cody’s eyes are bigger than his stomach.”

Before Murray could answer that, Cody came back up the stairs, still carrying the bag. He smiled and headed down into the computer room, all without saying a word. As Nick and Murray traded glances, the hammering started back up again. A minute or so later, Cody came back out, still with the bag, and climbed on top of the breakfast table.

From the bag he took out a small twig with leaves on it. “More mistletoe, Cody?” asked Nick, confused.

“Yeah,” said Cody. “I’m putting it up everywhere I can think of.”

“Why?” asked Murray.

“So that you two goofballs know exactly where I’m coming from,” replied Cody with a grin. “I expect kisses from both of you. A lot of them. And I expect them daily until the mistletoe dies.”

Nick watched, still a little confused. Murray looked a little pale. Reaching into the bag, the slender scientist picked up one of the branches to inspect it. He turned it over in his hand. Almost as if he’s trying to see how fresh it is, Nick thought. Looks like he’s trying to figure out how long until it dies.

“Cody?” asked Murray, sounding truly confused now. “This one is plastic.”

“They’re all plastic, Murray,” replied Cody patiently.

Nick caught on, and lifted his coffee mug to his lips, watching Murray carefully. He wanted to see Murray’s face when it sunk in.

“But then they won’t d…oh.” A small, sweet smile began to light up Murray’s face as the meaning of what Cody had said hit him. As Cody turned to hang another piece of plastic mistletoe, Nick could see an answering grin on Cody’s face as well.

Leave it to Cody to know just what to do there, Nick thought contentedly. Murray was still frozen in place, grinning like a maniac. Like me for the past week or so, thought Nick.

“Merry Christmas, guys,” said Nick, happily.

***

END