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“You okay?” Cody asked.
Oliver looked at him over the top of his glasses. “I’ve been better.”
Cody grinned. “You sound like yourself.”
Oliver tugged at one half of Cody’s torn t-shirt. “I see you’ve managed to expose yourself. Nicely done.”
“Yeah, you’re fine.” Cody said after a snort.
He helped Oliver to his feet then lightly held on to his shoulder until he got his balance back. Once he was stable, Oliver looked at him. “You came after me before you untied Demetrius?”
“Don’t get any fantasies spun up about it,” Cody said, walking off through the woods. “I just wanted to make sure you didn’t get lost on the way back.”
Oliver smiled as he followed Cody through the woods back to the clearing. Flames flickered along the skeleton like some kind of grisly campfire, the separated arm completely engulfed atop the torso. Katherine knelt beside Dave, unwinding the tape as he shouted questions at her. Demetrius struggled against his own bindings a short distance away, calling frantically for Cody.
“I’m here,” Cody said, rushing forward. “You’re okay. You’re safe.”
“What the fuck is going on?” Demetrius shouted. “Why am I hogtied?”
“Thought we’d try out something new before introducing it in the bedroom,” Cody said.
“What?” Demetrius exclaimed, his voice rising.
As Cody freed Demetrius, Oliver knelt beside Dave and assisted Katherine. Dave looked up at him, his expression wild with confusion and fear.
“What the fuck is going on?” Dave looked at Katherine then back to Oliver. “Who the hell is she, and why did she tie me up?”
“This is Katherine,” Oliver said, wincing in sympathy as he removed a strip of tape and pulled a patch of hair off Dave’s wrist along with it. “Sorry.”
“I’m so amped up I didn’t even feel that,” Dave said. “And you didn’t answer my questions.” He looked Oliver up and down. “Jesus Christ, what happened to you?”
“It’s all a very long story,” Oliver said.
“Shut the fuck up for a minute, and we’ll explain it to you both,” Cody said in an irritated tone.
Dave turned his head and his eyes widened even more. “What the fuck are you and Demetrius doing here?”
“Hello to you, too, brother,” Cody said with a tired grin. “Settle down and let us free you, then we’ll get you both caught up.”
“Why’s your shirt torn in half?” Dave said. “You can’t pull off that look any more.”
Cody scowled. “You’re obviously feeling better.”
Dave looked up at Oliver a moment, then lifted his head and peered around his raised legs. “Is that a campfire?”
“All in good time.” Oliver leaned down to stop his next question with a soft and tender kiss. “I love you, David Floyd Bower. With all my heart. And I’m so glad you’re back.”
Dave’s expression softened and he smiled shakily. “I love you, too.” Then he frowned. “Back? What do you mean? Where’d I go?”
“Floyd?” Katherine said with a snort.
“Don’t say another fucking word, Ollie,” Cody said in a warning tone.
But Oliver decided it was the perfect time for a bit of levity. Especially since it wouldn’t be at his expense. “Dave and Cody’s parents gave their five boys middle names based on musical groups from the 70s and 80s.”
“Oh really?” Katherine looked over her shoulder at Cody. “And yours would be?”
“Duran,” Oliver said before Cody could respond.
