Chapter 11
The threesome decided to take the day off from their "home business" to make themselves seen around the community. Catherine had told them that both of the murdered threesomes had not only been regulars at various swinger parties, but they had also made their relationships obvious in their communities.
Dangling her Camaro's keys tantalizingly up for the men to see, Tracy proclaimed, "First one to catch me gets to drive!" She then turned and bolted out the front door.
After looking at each other in shock for a second, Nick and Greg tore out the door after her.
The Camaro and Nick's F150 were both in the driveway, while Greg's Dodge Charger was parked on the street.
Both men skidded to a stop at the edge of the driveway, looking around for Tracy.
A wide grin on his face, Nick made a gesture with his right hand, indicating that Greg should go around the back of the Camaro. Nick went around the front, as they flanked Tracy, trapping her between the Camaro and the truck.
Tracy sprang up from where she'd been crouched against the passenger side door of her car. "Hey! No fair! You weren't supposed to work together!" she laughed.
Nick and Greg were quickly closing with her, so Tracy made an effort to dodge past Greg.
Greg was ready, though, throwing his hands up to either side of him. Tracy turned and rushed Nick, ducking under his upraised hands. She wasn't quite quick enough. Nick got his hands on her waist, and he lifted her clear off the ground.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Nick laughed, as his arms fully wrapped around her, pulling her back against his chest.
Tracy giggled mischievously and reached behind her. Her hand found the crotch of Nick's jeans, and she rubbed her hand across the denim. Her smile widened when her action was rewarded.
"Now who's not playing fair!" Nick hissed in her ear, as he pulled her more tightly against him. His breath began to come in quick, ragged gasps.
Greg reached them just then, and he triumphantly pulled the keys from Tracy's other hand.
A couple of houses over, one of the homeowner's was out watering his flowers. Hearing the commotion, he'd turned to watch their antics. Greg noticed him watching, just as he took the car keys. Leaning in toward Tracy and Nick, he whispered, "We've got an audience," then took Tracy's face in his hands and kissed her.
Seeing that the nosy neighbor was indeed still watching, Greg pulled Tracy to the side, so he could step in closer to Nick.
Nick put his left hand around Greg's waist, his right still around Tracy. Greg pressed himself up against Nick, leaving neither of them any doubts about the other's arousal. Nick kissed Greg, then took a step back breathlessly.
Tracy's heart soared, and she nearly moaned her own desire aloud at seeing the two men she loved so casually touching and kissing each other. Giggling, she whispered huskily, "That is a turn on!" She smiled lovingly at them both. "We better go, though. We have a long day of being seen ahead of us."
The men uncomfortably shifted their jeans, trying unsuccessfully to ease the pressure, before they all climbed into the Camaro, Greg in the driver's seat.
And Tracy was right about it being a long day. By the time they returned to the house to get ready for the party, all three were wound tight with sexual tension from the little touches and kisses they'd shared while out in public.
They'd gone to a local park, where they'd walked, held hands, and talked. Then they'd gone to the mall, window shopping.
At the mall, Greg had insisted on going in the book store, where he purchased several books he'd been wanting. Nick had wanted to ask his friend how he could read mystery novels with the job they did, but couldn't risk blowing their cover.
At Spencer's Gifts, Tracy had gotten a gleam in her eye and pulled the two men into the store, saying, "We need a few 'supplies.'"
In the back of the store, in the eighteen plus only section, Tracy looked over the assortment of massage oils and other adult products.
Looking at each man, she said, "What's your favorite flavor?" Tracy reached for a bottle of chocolate flavored oil. Then Greg tentatively reached up and chose a bottle. Nick chose one more boldly.
While the clerk – a young man of perhaps twenty-five – rang up their purchases, he eyed Nick and Greg appreciatively.
Tracy made him blush when she playfully growled, "Mental hands off! They're mine!" It was a struggle for her to keep the comment as light as she had. Inside, she was fighting back a raving lunatic of jealous rage. She wanted to launch herself across the counter at the man and gouge his eyes out for looking at Greg and Nick that way.
As they left the store, a punk with a mohawk sneered, "Hey, Baby! Roll with me! I'm man enough that I'll be all you need!" He eyed her up and down suggestively. He looked at Nick and Greg with hate and disgust.
Nick, his temper always near the surface, took a step toward the punk, hands curling into fists, "Apologize and I won't have to break your arm!"
Greg put his hand on Nick's tense forearm, as Nick used his other hand to push Tracy behind them. "Nick, don't! It's not worth it! Remember what happened last time?" There hadn't been a last time for them, but Catherine had said that both threesomes had been involved in altercations similar to this one in the days leading up to their deaths, and Greg was hoping to remind Nick and himself of that fact. He found himself wanting to help Nick wipe the leer off the punk's face. Greg had always had more control of his temper than Nick, but he now found himself close to losing control.
The punk's friends were drawing near, preparing to help if it came to blows. Nick's hand itched to reach back for his sidearm, but of course – and this was probably a very good thing right now – since he was undercover, he didn't have it.
Finally, Nick blinked, and forced his fists to loosen. "You're right, as always, Greg!" Nick put his arm around the other man's waist, and reached behind him for Tracy's hand. His eyes dared the punk to do something about it.
The punks just watched in disgust.
"We'll let security know that we felt threatened, and we won't be back if the riffraff isn't cleared out!"
The threesome left, walking briskly back to Tracy's Camaro.
Greg had given Nick the keys earlier. Nick put his trembling hands on the steering wheel. He gripped it hard enough to turn his knuckles white, and took a shuddering breath. "I wanted to rip his face off!" he burst out in an odd combination of incredulity and rage. "Not for what he said, but for how he looked at you, at both of you!"
"I wanted to help you. It was a struggle not to round on that asshole and pop him right in the kisser!" Greg agreed with the older CSI.
Nick looked over at Greg, his rage subsiding. The incredulity stayed firmly in place, as he said, "Greg Sanders, ready to beat someone up? Never happen!"
Greg defended himself, "Yes! I would!"
Nick finally relaxed, as a laugh bubbled out of him. The tension left the car, and Nick pulled out of the parking lot, heading towards their last destination of the day before going back to the house.
They made a quick job of grocery shipping by splitting up the list three ways.
Then they were back at the house, and it was Greg's turn to fix dinner.
"You sure you want me cooking?" Greg asked.
Tracy and Nick were both sitting at the table, their laptops in front of them. Tracy was playing a game of Suduko, but Nick was working on case paperwork.
"What do you know how to cook?" Tracy asked, pausing her game to look at the blond haired CSI.
Nick laughed, "Probably just variations on Ramen noodles."
Greg gave him a pained look, and shot back, "And how many days a week do you have pancakes for breakfast, and lunch, and dinner?"
Tracy snickered, causing both men to look at her, and simultaneously shout, "What!"
"You two are cute when you bicker!" her eyes twinkled, reassuring both men that it was said with affection.
Standing up, Tracy said, "I'll teach you how to make my mom's famous Toss-It-Together casserole." She rattled off a list of ingredients, and Greg started pulling them out of the fridge and cabinets.
"Why's it called Toss-It-Together casserole?" Greg asked, as Tracy showed him how to cut the carrots.
"Because you can use just about anything you have on hand, and for the most part, you just toss it together in the casserole dish and bake it. It's the perfect dish when you don't know what else to make."
