There was no doubt.
Honestly, Ivan didn’t make them follow the Blackhawks in the house. They just didn’t want one of them to try to slip away. They were tricky.
REALLY.
TRICKY.
They’d been to that rodeo with Elizabeth and didn’t want to take a trip back there with any of the men.
“Don’t do anything I’m going to make you regret,” he said, making Chris laugh.
“Point made. Go.”
There was no way he was planning on slipping away. Chris was smart enough to know he was the weakest link, and if he was caught, Elizabeth would find his body—wrecked.
Devon Slater wanted to play with her, and that would do it. So, his job as someone who loved her was to keep her safe.
As soon as Gryphen walked away, he went inside the room, and Ethan had left a trail of clothing to the shower.
Picking them up, he followed that trail right to the man.
Ethan was in the master bath, showering away the stress, or trying to. He was standing there with the water pouring down his body, as he stood under the spray.
Someone was suffering and needed to be reassured. It was clear to Chris that he was doing battle with those demons. In order to love Ethan, you had to be well aware of what chased him.
Before he could say anything, the man went there.
“Did you lose the coin toss?” he asked.
That made Chris laugh.
“My love, seeing you in the shower in all of your naked glory is a victory each time. I’m surprised that I didn’t have to fight Gene or Callen for this one. I would have played dirty to get this view.”
Only, Ethan didn’t even smile. That told Chris all he needed to know.
Instead, Ethan glanced over.
“I’m struggling,” Ethan whispered, putting his faith in one of the men he loved.
Over the last year, he’d learned that if he needed them, he could reach out and they’d catch him in his freefall. All he had to do was be open and share what was happening inside of him.
So, he put his faith in Chris.
It wasn’t just Gene who loved him. Callen and Chris loved him, too.
Hearing that plea for help, the man knew what needed to be done.
It was shower time.
Chris pulled off his things, and he moved toward the man, joining him in the shower. When he did, Ethan practically melted into his body.
His arms went around him, and he locked himself to Chris in an attempt to ground himself. The last thing they all needed now was for him to fall apart.
So, he fought to stay together.
For.
All.
