Page 1 of You're Ours

ChapterOne

TYLER

Whose bright idea was it to have a work event with no food?

Tyler glared daggers at the paltry bowl of peanuts in front of him and took another sip of his third beer in as many hours. As if to further taunt him on this crappy evening, his phone buzzed again. He’d programmed it to have different text tones and vibration sequences for each app, and this was the third Grindr notification.

He could be dick-deep in someone, double-fisting a beer and a slice of pizza, but no. He was here, bored out of his skull, waiting for their CEO to finish his speech.

Tyler’s phone buzzed again, this time from Tinder, and his empty stomach tied in a knot. He was getting too old for this. That’s what everyone said: his mother, his sister, his sister’s wife, and even his two-year-old niece. The few friends he had also said that, on the rare occasion they grabbed a beer or caught a game together anymore. Most of his friends were coupled up, married, or somehow otherwise engaged.

Tyler respected it—and even celebrated it–for most of his friends, especially for his sister and her amazing wife. He just didn’t know if all that was right for him. His past three partners sure hadn’t thought it was.

Speaking of marriage, Tyler spotted his work husband across the room, and that knot in his belly released. He usually wasn’t so hard to spot, given his height and shock of black hair, but Tyler hadn’t exactly been looking. He’d spent the better part of the morning in a team meeting with Jackson, so it wasn't like he needed to bother the other man on what was supposed to be their Friday evening.

Jackson hadn’t spotted him yet. His head was bent as he listened to something a much shorter man from Human Resources said to him. His face was set in a polite mask as his dark eyes slowly swept over the room. Even from across the room, Tyler could see his five-o’clock-shadow. It highlighted his sharp jaw, and not for the first time that day, Tyler let his eyes trace the shape of Jackson’s lips. They pulled into a slight frown as Jackson bent his head closer to the other man. Tyler considered looking away, but it was either Jackson or the offensive bowl of peanuts, so he kept his eyes fixed on his much more pleasing-to-look-at coworker.

He could tell the exact moment Jackson spotted him because his face lit up in a way that always made something inside Tyler move. It wasn’t in his stomach—or his dick, which is where he would have expected it, given how damn attractive Jackson was. No, it was somewhere in his chest. Not his heart, because that had definitely never happened to him before, but a spot right below his rib cage, like something was sticking and catching there anytime they were near each other.

That spot began to flutter as Jackson turned towards him, but the CEO bid them goodnight, and the room broke out into polite applause. Tyler took that as his opportunity to escape and slipped out of the large conference center, heading back to his office to get his things.

A few minutes later, he got back in the elevator, pretty confident he’d be able to make a quick escape. Unfortunately, as if to further test his patience, the elevator stopped on the conference center floor. The doors opened, revealing a bedraggled-looking Jackson, and that blasted fluttering started up again.

“You heading out?” Jackson asked as he stepped inside and glanced at the lit-up L button. He pressed the G button and came to stand right next to Tyler. Their shoulders brushed as the elevator began its descent again.

“Yeah, I desperately need some food.” Tyler almost added that he needed to check his myriad dating apps as well, but he decided to keep that to himself. “Where is my beloved work husband’s husband? Did he somehow get a pass on that enthralling event?”

Jackson’s husband, Sky, worked in the marketing department and was the life of every event he attended. Tyler definitely would’ve noticed if he’d been there.

“He did, actually. He’s been pulling all-nighters to launch a big campaign, and it finally went live yesterday. Thankfully, his director let him have a pass today.” Jackson’s brow furrowed as they passed between floors ten and nine but smoothed out by the time they passed floor eight. “I’m actually going to meet him for dinner, and I’m sure you’d be welcome to join. Did you take the train in? There’s a stop right by the restaurant. I could drop you off at it afterward.”

Tyler’s phone buzzed again, and he decided to hell with all his unread messages. “Yeah, actually, if it’s not too much trouble, that sounds great.”

The drive to the restaurant took twenty minutes in the evening traffic and reiterated for Tyler why he preferred the train. They chatted amiably about work in the accounting department. Jackson had been at the company several years longer than Tyler. He was a Controller I while Tyler was a Controller II. It was why he affectionately referred to Jackson as “boss” whenever he could, just to rile him up.

Jackson smoothly pulled the car into a curb spot right in front of the restaurant. Before Tyler could comment on how finding parking was nothing short of a miracle, Jackson got out of the car, a concerned look on his face. Tyler hustled after him, unsure what had caused the shift.

They found Sky standing in front of the door in a pink fur coat, looking pissed. Tyler took a step back as Jackson stepped forward. He’d never seen these two fight before, and he didn’t really want to start now.

As a couple, they seemed to have it all: the high-paying jobs, the nice cars, the gorgeous house–which Tyler had seen at last year’s team Christmas party–and each other. Jackson was level-headed, always quick to diffuse tense situations with his logic and intelligence, while Sky was equally intelligent but preferred wit and charm.

True to form, they both fell into their roles perfectly as Jackson reached for Sky, who practically flung himself into his husband’s arms.

“I had to put on pants to come out into this hellacious tundra, only to find the restaurant is closed, and you’re late!” Sky complained. He peered around Jackson at Tyler and flashed him a quick smile. “Oh, but you come bearing gifts. Hi, Ty, it’s good to see you.” He turned his face back up to glare at Jackson. “Now you’re going to have to buy me pizza with every topping I want to make it up to me.” Without another word, Sky turned on his heel and marched off.

Jackson let out a soft huff as he beeped the car locks. He then followed Sky away from the car.

Tyler’s heart sank; it seemed their evening had come to an abrupt end. He reached into his back pocket to pull out his phone. Maybe he could check Grindr and see if any of those messengers were nearby–

“Come on, Ty!” Sky yelled from half a block away. “It’s just up the block, and Jackson owesyouevery topping you want, too, for dragging you all the way out here,”

Jackson shook his head again, but when he turned to look at Tyler expectantly, that damn fluttering came back with a vengeance.

* * *

Tyler hadn’t realized when Sky was talking about pizza, he’d meant delivery. That was how Tyler found himself standing shoulder to shoulder with Jackson, pulling plates and cups down from their cupboards.

When they’d arrived at the condo, Sky had disappeared into the bedroom to submit their orders. Unsure what to do in the couple’s space, Tyler had obediently followed Jackson into the kitchen and offered to help. There wasn’t much to do to prepare for pizza, though, so once the table was set, he accepted a beer and picked up the conversation on their most recent audit from where they’d left off in the car.

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