Chapter Twenty-Two
Gabe
About to enter the bedroom to check on why Mitch hadn’t returned, and worried Leo still felt ill, I gripped the handle to push the door open, then froze on hearing Leo’s groans. At first, I concluded he must be in pain, but soon worked out the exact opposite was true.
After a brief internal battle as to whether I should or shouldn’t look, I gave in and peered through the inch or so gap in the door to see Leo, naked, his strong arms clinging to Mitch while being leisurely jacked off. The sight of them both was erotic beyond belief. Probably because Mitch was fully clothed, so held all the power, and by the way Leo reacted to his touch, he held all the control too.
His unhurried motion, as if he had all the time in the world, didn’t surprise me. When not arguing, Mitch exuded calmness and a relaxed patience, and I often did a double take to ensure this was the same guy we met on the day we arrived.
My eyes stayed glued to his hand, his fingers gliding over Leo’s hard cock, sliding down the thick shaft, before returning to the head, slicking his fingers with the precum leaking from Leo’s slit before rolling his wrist around the tip, making Leo shudder every time he repeated the move.
I should leave them alone. I really should, but my feet refused to move away from the scene playing out in front of me, and with a bolt of shock, I realized I didn’t feel jealous in the least and only wished Mitch was naked, too, allowing me to watch them both working each other over.
This feeling was new. Even with my exes, I’d had a constant niggle of fear of being excluded. Whenever the three of us were having sex, I always felt like the odd one out. I don’t think they were even cognizant of their actions with each other, but I witnessed firsthand the extra gentle caresses or deeper kisses they gave each other and not me. I’d fought my insecurities, told myself to stop being an ass, but I never shook off the nagging awareness. Turns out, in the end, I was right.
But here, watching Mitch and Leo together, I felt included somehow, and considering how I’d reacted previously when I’d come out of the bathroom to find Leo in bed wrapped in Mitch’s arms, made my reaction now completely irrational. Maybe because I was only witnessing a sexual act, rather than an emotional one, my thinking was different. Then again, if I’m not in the room with them, how could I be a part of what they were doing? Perhaps a better way to think about it was that I didn’t feel excluded. I should have, but I didn’t.
It’s possible, now our earlier encounter had been allowed to settle in my mind, something had clicked inside me. Trust, maybe? Hmmm, probably not quite yet. Honesty seemed a better fit for my current way of thinking. Both of them were honest and upfront, and if I asked a question—well, at least one not discussing Mitch’s sale of the property or his dead wife or anything about Leo’s family relationships—I’d get a truthful answer.
Had I felt the same with Karl and David? That they’d been entirely honest with me or I with them? Had I inwardly tailored my responses to what they wanted to hear, or more importantly, to what I didn’t? I wasn’t sure. I needed to reexamine my interactions with them more deeply, to work out this possible new discovery regarding my past relationship.
Leo’s loud moan snapped me back to them in time to watch his whole body shake as he came, ropes of cum shooting from his cock all over Mitch’s fingers and jeans. I had to bite my tongue to prevent my own groan when Mitch raised his hand, licked his fingers clean, and kissed Leo.
Dirty fucker, but damn that was hot.
Palming my hard dick through my jeans, temptation nearly had me pulling myself out and jerking off right there, the urge to come so strong. Who knew I’d get off on being a voyeur? I determinedly stepped away from the door and headed through the living room and kitchen to the bathroom Leo and I shared, shutting the door behind me while rapidly unzipping my pants. I needed some type of release, or I’d drive myself crazy all night from being so fucking frustrated, and I was fast getting to the point of no return when one of them knocked on the bathroom door.
“Gabe? You in there?”
Mitch. Shit.
“Yeah. Give me a minute.”
“Okay, but I need the first aid kit from in there. The one in my bathroom has run out of the electrolyte sachets, so I need the ones from the vanity.”
Swallowing down a frustrated groan and rezipping my fly, I resigned myself to coping with blue balls for the time being. I hunted under the sink for the first aid kit and opened the door. Mitch had disappeared, so, willing my aching cock to calm down, I went to find him.
They were both seated on the couch, Leo already in a T-shirt and shorts, looking so much better than he had when we’d carried him to the cabin on the makeshift stretcher. His color had returned, and his hands were now a warm pink, instead of the unhealthy blue when we’d initially found him.
“Here.” I passed the kit to Mitch, who placed the plastic container on his lap, unclicked the catches, and lifted the lid to find what he needed. He pulled out a sachet, ripped it open, and emptied the contents in a glass of water. He swirled the contents around a few times before handing it to Leo, who dutifully swallowed the drink, offering a shy smile at the attention he received. The whole atmosphere smacked of routine and domesticity and freaked me the fuck out. We’d had sex once, twice for the other two, so we weren’t some cozy family settling down for the evening together.
Twitchy all of a sudden, I hovered awkwardly by the couch. Did I tell them I’d seen them or not? What would be gained if I did? I mean, I’m not their keeper, and we aren’t in a relationship. We’d had a quick suck and jerk-off session, nothing more, so why was I being so indecisive instead of my usual focused clear-headedness?
“I’ll go make dinner,” I said and left them to it, trying not to freak myself out at how easily we’d fallen into certain roles in such a short time. Not that I minded making us something to eat. I’d never win awards for my cooking, but my mamá had been determined all her children would be able to fend for themselves, which included learning how to cook. Plus, I enjoyed cooking. Creating something tasty out of a few basic ingredients calmed me and allowed me to forget what else I had going on to concentrate on the task at hand.
Opening the fridge, I grabbed a bottle of white wine, checked the label—hmmm, Chablis—perfect. Hopefully a drink would calm me down, as the ache in my balls from being denied their release had made me cranky. Unscrewing the top off the bottle, I poured a hefty glass and took a large gulp. Lightly oaked and buttery, the cold wine slipped down very nicely. I took another long drink and immediately my muscles began to relax.
“Are you keeping the wine all to yourself, or do the rest of us get any?” Mitch asked as he padded into the kitchen, his socked feet making hardly any sound on the hardwood floor.
“Sure. Help yourself.”
He did and poured one for Leo, too, though now he’d loaded up on painkillers, I wasn't sure alcohol was a good idea, but hey, he was old enough to decide for himself, right?
“I…um…wanted to…um…” Mitch ran a hand over his already scruffy hair.
I waited, eyebrow raised.
“Leo and I…um… We…um…” he trailed off.
“You and Leo what?”
He gulped in some air and then he hastily admitted, “I jerked him off in the bedroom.” I almost choked on my wine.
“I…um…wanted to tell you.”
Okay. “Why would you want to tell me what you and Leo get up to? We’re not dating. You two can do whatever you want.” Inwardly pleased he’d told me, I feigned indifference and nonchalantly shrugged his confession off. “Nothing to do with me.” But Mitch, astute as ever, wasn’t so easily appeased.
“I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.” His eyes focused intently on mine and the familiar frisson of need slid down my spine. It was uncanny how he did that to me. None of my previous partners, ex-boyfriends included, had made me feel so…important. I found the whole concept unnerving and scary yet thrilling all at the same time. “I want you as much as I want Leo.”
Holy fuck, what this guy does to me! My body broke out in goose bumps all over, the hairs on the back of my neck standing on end as his words did funny things to my heart.
He stepped closer and cupped my cheek. The heat from his touch making my skin burn and my belly flip-flop. “Do you want us, Gabriel?”
His deep voice, edged with a sensual undertone made my entire body tingle. My name was Gabe. Always Gabe, even to my family, so to hear my full name from his lips left me weak at the knees and desperate for air. I tried to speak, but the bowling ball-sized lump in my throat prevented any words from forming, so I forced a nod instead. When the corners of his mouth turned up in satisfaction, I let out the most pathetic whimper.
In that moment, he owned me. Totally fucking owned me and could have asked me absolutely anything, and I would have happily done whatever he wanted.
This was bad, really fucking bad. I was falling for him, hook, line, and sinker. Cold fear flooded my system at what this meant. I’d promised myself a hundred times over not to repeat my past mistakes, so I had to stop this before I got in too deep. But when he stepped closer, his big hand sliding around my neck, his breath on my face, I lost the fight.
“Good,” he whispered against my ear. “Because we’re going to have you, Gabriel, over and over and over.”
I shuddered at his words, as images of them taking turns fucking me flashed in front of my eyes. He moved away, allowing me to heave in some air, needing the oxygen to prevent me from passing out. Calmly picking up the two glasses of wine as he left, Mitch winked at me. The fucker knew exactly what he was doing to me.
Hands shaking, I brought my own glass to my lips and took a large gulp, letting the alcohol burn down my throat. Who the hell was this guy who’d only ever had sex with a woman before today, yet magically discovered every button to push and lever to pull to get both me and Leo eating out of his hand and sucking on his cock?
I was in so much trouble with these two men, so much trouble, and if I didn’t sort out an escape plan real quick, I’d be in for a huge fucking fall I’d possibly never recover from.
*
“That—” Leo said, pushing his plate away and cradling his stomach. “—was amazing.” He let out a contented groan. “Nothing is ever gonna beat the taste of your lasagna.” He patted his belly a few times. “I’ll be as big as a house by the time I leave here if I’m not careful.”
Talking of which…
“When will we be leaving, exactly?” I aimed my question at Mitch. “Because on Saturday we were only supposed to be here for a few days. It’s now Monday and we’ve not been given any update as to what’s going on. Are the bridge repairs close to being completed?”
At least he had the decency to look apologetic.
I raised an eyebrow and waited.
Casting a glance at Leo, I fully expected to see a question on his face too, but guilt also marred his expression.
I smelled a rat. “We were never getting out of here in a few days, were we?”
Silence.
My temper started to build at their lack of response. They’d known all along we’d be here longer than the weekend and deliberately hadn’t told me. In fact, they’d lied about it from the start.
If they’d lied about us being rescued, what else were they keeping from me?
So much for Mitch not wanting any fucking secrets between us.
“How long?” I ground out.
“Another three days, at least, maybe more.” Mitch finally replied. “Depending on any additional snowfall we get.”
“So, what are you telling me is we’re gonna be stuck here for another week? I’ll still be here on Christmas Eve?”
No, no, no. The last thing I wanted to do was spend Christmas Eve in anyone’s company. Christmas Day, I’d be with Mason and Ash, and the guys, if they made the trip up from the city. But Christmas Eve was meant to be my own private pity party. I’d planned on getting up late and working out in my home gym until I dropped, before eating my body weight in junk food and watching a few sci-fi movies, while generally feeling sorry for myself. But mostly, I wanted to get completely and utterly wasted before three o’clock to forget the day’s significance and exactly how unimportant and how totally irrelevant my life and my feelings were to the two people I’d been in love with.
The two people who were now able to legally marry, be husband and husband, rather than have a blessing because the law didn’t allow the three of us to legally commit to marriage.
No way. No. Fucking. Way.
Fuck that, and fuck them.
Throwing my napkin down on the table and pushing back my chair, I grabbed the nearly full bottle of wine and took a long swig. May as well start getting plastered straight away.
“No fucking secrets,” I threw at Mitch. “You’re so full of shit.” I turned to include Leo. “Both of you.” Disgusted, I stalked out of the kitchen and into the living room, shoved my feet into my boots, grabbed a coat, Leo’s car keys, and left those lying fuckers behind.
Once again in the only place I felt safe, away from them and their lies, I locked the doors, started the vehicle, and turned on the heat and the music. Cranking the volume knob until the music blared so loud the windows rattled, I tried to block them and everything else out.
“Fucking secrets,” I grumbled, placing the neck of the bottle against my lips, and let the wine fall into my mouth. Fucking assholes .
I heard the loud bang on the window even over the music. “Get out of the car, Gabe,” Mitch demanded.
“Fuck off.”
So I’d been relegated to Gabe again? I ignored him. Childish, maybe, but the last person I wanted to see was the man who’d given me the slightest ray of hope for things I shouldn’t fucking want.
Bastard.
“Stop acting like a fucking child and open the door.”
Jesus, was he a mind reader now too?
I took another swig of wine. “Go away, you fucking liar.”
Another couple of bangs on the glass. “Open the goddamn door, Gabriel.” I hated the fact that him saying my full name sent the same damn shivers down my spine. “I want to apologize. Again. And I can’t do that properly if I can’t see you. So open the door, and come inside. It’s freezing out here, but I’m not leaving without you.”
I wanted to scream in frustration at his ability to appeal directly to my conscience. His stubbornness would keep him out in the cold all night long, but I’d be damned if I was going to be the guy to let his balls, or any other appendage for that matter, freeze and drop off.
Cutting the engine also cut the radio and left behind an overpowering silence. Unlocking and throwing open the door, I didn’t care if he stood in the way and got hit or not, I shot out of what had fast become my second home and, ignoring him completely, stomped my way across the yard and onto the porch, instantly annoyed at the welcome heat and comfort the homey cabin provided when I entered. I cursed under my breath. This place wasn't my home, for fuck’s sake—it was my prison.
Flopping down into the leather wingback, as no way did I want any chance of him sitting too near me, I glowered at him as he came in behind me and calmly took off his jacket and boots and sat down on the couch.
I took another swig of wine from the bottle. “So apologies,” I spat. “Again.”