Free Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft Page A

hands went to Tag’s hips, under his parka, pulling him closer.
    Tag’s arms wound around him, tight bands, and even though Ian knew they could never hold him in place, he liked to pretend. Tag had always been, hands down, one of the strongest men he’d ever met.
    “Please,” Tag groaned into his mouth, and Ian knew exactly what he wanted. He slid a hand down the back of Tag’s pants, cupped an ass cheek, and squeezed hard. “Please, Ian . . . you know what I want.”
    Tag gripped his shoulders fiercely as he teased, rubbing Tag’s perineum but not coming close to what Tag needed. Finally, he said, “Lube. We need lube,” after he broke the kiss, but Tag shook his head.
    “Make me come without it. You always could.”
    “Still can,” Ian promised, his hand inching toward Tag’s hole.
    “Really, Tag?” Justice’s voice was cool as it floated up from behind Ian, and Ian and Tag froze. “I know sleeping with the enemy sounds hot as a concept, but you’ve already been beyond burned—you’ve been thrown into the fire by him. And you escaped. Barely. And you’re so willing to throw it all away again for a quick lay?”

Yeah, it wasn’t that Justice hadn’t been expecting this, but actually seeing Tag and Ian wrapped around each other—with Tag clearly the aggressor—twisted white hot in Justice’s gut.
    Tag broke away from Ian, his cheeks burning. “Shut up, Justice.”
    “Why? ” Justice demanded. “Because it’s the truth? Because hearing it makes you think with your big head instead of your little one?” He laughed bitterly. “Ian’s playing you.”
    “He’s not,” Tag protested. “Not this time.”
    “But you know that he’s a merc for hire, yes? One of the most dangerous too?” Justice was making this shit up as he went along, but judging by Tag’s nonpoker face, he’d hit gold. “There’s a bounty out on his head.”
    “From ACRO?”
    “From ACRO, yes. I’m sure we’re not the only ones. He’s probably back working with Itor just so they’ll provide him protection.”
    “That’s not true,” Ian said tightly.
    “So what’s true, Ian?” Justice demanded. “You’re a merc Seducer, right?” Ian glanced at Tag before nodding. “This is really fucking perfect. Tag, move the fuck away from him.”
    “You’re not in charge here.”
    “You called me in. So, technically, I am in charge here, and the second I have a contact signal again, I’ll call ACRO for backup, and they’ll be here before anyone else. We can do this a lot of ways, but you’re not going to be happy with any of them. You only seem to be happy with this one.” He pointed at Ian. “And soon, he’ll be in jail.”
    “Ah, I see.” Ian smirked. ”You’re going to round me up and take me in?”
    Justice stared at him. “You’re pretty happy for a guy who’s going to be jailed for treason—or worse.” He spoke with equal cheerfulness, because he was going to bring in the Seducer with the bounty on his head and get some goddamned money out of the deal. Maybe a promotion.
    What about getting the guy? Because if Tag liked Ian better than him, then Justice definitely wasn’t getting the guy at all. And isn’t that what he really wanted?
    Tag held up his hands—a silent show of surrender? Or maybe he just wanted peace. Good luck with that. “I know what he did. I know what happened to me—trust me, I’ll never be able to erase it from my brain. But he came here to find me.”
    Incredulous, Justice stared. “He came here to take you back to Itor, Tag. Jesus.”
    “That’s not my intention,” Ian ground out.
    “Right. Forgive me if I don’t believe you.” Justice shook his head in disgust. “Guess you’ve made your decision. Hope you have a great life together.”
    He turned and walked out of the shed, and kept walking, trudging through the snow, even though Tag was calling to him, because fuck this. ACRO might want both of them, but he wouldn’t—couldn’t—do this himself. Let