7. Daire’s parents suck…
7
DAIRE’S PARENTS SUCK…
Archer
My phone beeped. It was a text from Daire reminding the tenants of Sunshine Manor about the meeting on the roof. This was no welcome to the building barbecue or a weekly get together. He’d added the word “Urgent” at the end of the message. And based on the conversation with his parents and the disastrous water leak in my kitchen, I wasn’t looking forward to what he had to say.
And I was worried about Neil. He had a great set up here in his former school friend’s house. While I’d never witnessed him dealing with huge changes, I suspected it wouldn’t go over well based on my observations and also Daire making Ivor and me not tell him.
Ivor had a new part-time job with Ryder, but he’d already been teetering on the edge of poverty when he was working at his former job. He’d only survived because Daire was a softie and total pushover when it came to collecting Ivor’s rent. Him looking for a new place out in the big wide world, where cutthroat landlords bumped up their prices and expected students to cram six or more into a small apartment, would be impossible.
As I climbed the stairs, Micah’s scent assailed me. He must have been up on the rooftop patio already. Leaving my apartment, I’d peeked out the door, hoping to not bump into him. It’d been a few days since my drunken attempt to kiss him, and I hadn’t apologized. Not properly. I’d tried, but my leaking tap had interfered.
And if I was honest, I was avoiding him. I cringed every time I reran the scenario in my head of me on the couch pulling him toward me, puckering my lips, desperate for him to kiss me.
I pictured it from his point of view. An omega he hardly knew and one much younger than him, the stench of wine wafting off me as I slurred my words, my eyes unfocused and glassy. Had I been drooling? Maybe. Gross! He’d been a gentleman not taking advantage of me. But he was probably turned off and no more wanted to kiss me than smooch Daire.
But the longer I left not speaking to him, the more the shame festered inside me. The rooftop meeting wasn’t the place to grovel and say how sorry I was. Though an image popped into my head of me groveling, on my knees, him pulling his cock out of his pants. Me sucking it.
“Oh!” I squeaked as I got to the top of the stairs. Five heads turned toward me, and I did my best to avoid Micah’s gaze as I took my seat.
“Good, now we can start. This isn’t great news, I’m afraid,” Daire began.
“Is this about the rusted pipes?” Neil spoke up. “I’m guessing your parents aren’t too happy at having to replace them all.”
“That’s exactly it. They’ve been talking about selling Sunshine Manor, maybe even demolishing the building, as the land is valuable. But having to replace the pipes is expensive.” He held up his hand, as if anticipating what people were thinking—that they could afford it—and continued, “They say the outlay of the building far outweighs the rent coming in.”
I slid a glance at Neil. His puckered brow and clenched jaw along with the color draining from his cheeks didn’t need an explanation. Reaching out and squeezing his hand put a wan smile on his face.
Ivor was sweating buckets and wriggling in his seat, his hands fidgeting with the hair that constantly flopped over his brow. Ryder was staring at something in the distance, and when I plucked up the courage to peek at Micah, his unblinking gaze was fixed on Daire.
I spoke up. “I’d hate to see this place demolished. It’s such a beautiful old building and would look amazing if it was restored.”
“If you knew my parents, you’d understand they view real estate in terms of dollars and how much it appreciates. Character and charm are not part of their vocabulary.”
His words left a gaping silence as we all absorbed his words.
“They want to auction the place and need it spruced up for inspections.” His eyes met Micah’s. “But for very little cash.”
“I can help with that,” Micah said. “We can talk about what you need tomorrow.”
I studied my feet, not daring to look up and catch Micah’s gaze. His disembodied voice as he spoke to Daire had me wondering why he wasn’t reacting to the news. How could he be so lacking in emotion about having to leave his home? Okay, it was rented, but he’d lived here a while from what Neil had told me. And what of the bond he had with his friends?
Perhaps my lusting after him was misguided and he was just a cold and unfeeling ass. But one with a huge dick that I wanted pounding into me! Damn! Everything came back to the cock when I thought of Micah.
“Isn’t there any way you can change their mind?” Neil piped up, his anguished voice tugging at my heartstrings. “The thought of leaving here…” His voice cracked and his eyes welled up with tears. Ivor slung an arm around Neil’s shoulder and the touching gesture, despite his own anxiety, had me grateful I’d stumbled into these men’s lives and now counted them as friends.
“I tried, Neil. Really, I did. For weeks I pleaded and begged, but they won’t budge.”
I took a deep breath. While I didn’t have the immediate money concerns Ivor did or suffer from Neil’s emotional issues, finding a place I could afford would take time. Time I didn’t have as my vibrating phone in my pocket reminded me.
“Your pocket, Archer. It’s throbbing.”
I gulped and squeezed my eyes shut. Throbbing? Was he serious? Did he have to use that word? Now all eyes were on my nether region. Damn him. My dick, which was always standing at attention around Micah, was rubbing painfully against my jeans, and I hunched over, hoping no one would notice my arousal. “I put the phone on vibrate because you don’t like it when it purrs,” I hissed.
Shit! Now I’d F-ed things up by using purr, which was what I did in my dreams when Micah appeared naked before me. Purring, meowing, mewling. That was me when confronted by Micah and his cock.
“Enough of the throbbing and purring,” Daire said through a broad smirk. My eyes flicked toward him as he paused and let the words hover in the air. “I’ve got beer.”
Kill me now!
He handed cold bottles to everyone as Ryder stood up. “I’ve got an announcement.”
Micah and Daire groaned, but I wanted to hug Ryder for taking the attention off my crotch.
“Kellan and I are thinking about getting back together,” Ryder informed us.
“Oh man! Why do you do this to yourself?” Micah’s outburst drew Ryder’s brows together.
“And you care because?” Ryder snapped back.
“Well, let me think about it. Oh, I’ve got it. Because I like you, you freaking idiot. And I hate that you’ve had your heart broken.”
This wasn't a conversation I could join, so I listened to the back and forth between Ryder and Micah while crossing and uncrossing my legs. No matter what I did, my erection was painful, and I winced as I tried to get comfortable.
“None of us is perfect, Micah,” Ryder said. “Just because Kellan…”
Daire interjected. “He stuck his dick into anything that moved.” He shrugged as annoyance clouded Ryder’s face. “Just saying.”
“You have no proof of that,” Ryder argued.
“I have eyes,” Daire continued.
“You’d need to call the exterminators for his cock before you let it inside you,” Micah spat out .
Everyone grimaced. Even my wolf was Ewww ! And Neil protested, “Thanks for that Micah. Now my dinner wants to reappear.”
Daire raised a brow and shared a glance with Ryder. My mind went over what Micah had said. He was an alpha and so was Ryder, and he was talking about an omega’s dick being put… Oh, ohhh! I took a swig of my beer as my thoughts raced. Damn that unicorn shifter. The idea that he was comfortable being fucked by an omega had me adjusting my dick yet again and wishing I’d worn sweats, not jeans.
I’d never had sex with an alpha who was comfortable enough to do the whole role reversal thing. And he’d said it so matter-of-factly.
Hot , my wolf panted.
He spoke the truth. Sweat trickled down my spine as slick coated my ass.
“You deserve so much better, Ryder,” Ivor said.
Daire slapped the stag shifter on the back. “He’s right. You do.”
“You wanna hear some home truths?” Micah asked.
“No!” everyone but me shouted. My mind was occupied by a vision of me slapping Micah’s ass before sliding my length into his tight hole and him yelling, “Fuck me, Archer.”
“Well, too late. I’m going to tell you anyway, because as your friend, I care what happens to you,” Micah said. Daire groaned while Ryder took another sip of beer. “You don’t want to admit you fucked up by letting that SOB into your life.”
“But I love him,” Ryder moaned through clenched teeth.
“Okay, enough,” Daire yelled. “You’ve said your piece, Micah, now let’s enjoy our beer and each other’s company.”
A hand patted my shoulder. “I know the idea of leaving is hard, Archer. I can’t say exactly what you’re thinking but your face is telling me you’re conflicted.” Yikes, I couldn’t admit I was picturing me pounding into Micah. And true, I was confused about whether to have Micah on his back or on all fours, his ass shoved high in the air. Maybe both ways. First with him on hands and knees. No, wait, I’d need to see his face as I thrust into him. Then he could fuck me.
Neil rubbed his shoulder against mine, pulling me back to reality. Him consoling me when his problems loomed larger than mine was so touching my eyes filled with tears, and I gave him a peck on the cheek. “I’m fine. Disappointed that we have to leave Sunshine Manor, but there’s no need to worry about me.”
Micah and Daire gravitated to Ryder as Ivor leaned toward me and Neil. “I have an idea,” he said. “What do you think of the… three of us sharing a place?” He was prepared for rejection, his bottom lip trembling.
“I’d love that,” Neil confessed as tears spilled over his cheeks. “Leaving Sunshine Manor and with me doing the work I do, I don’t know where I’d go.”
Ivor may have hit on the perfect solution. The three of us, each with our own particular needs, sharing an apartment, strengthening our friendship, and supporting one another was an excellent idea .
But it came with a slice of disappointment and sadness. Not living opposite a unicorn shifter, one with a tantalizing scent who I wanted to get to know. Not just in bed. I lifted my head and caught Micah’s eye, his expression unfathomable.
Look away, I told myself.
No, don’t , my wolf interjected.
And when I should have averted my eyes and chatted to my two future roommates, my gaze dipped to his crotch. Why? How was it that I couldn't control myself around this guy?
I know . My wolf thought he had all the answers.
Unless my eyes deceived me, my neighbor, the unicorn shifter, he of the intoxicating aroma, was sporting a hard-on. “Maybe he’s thinking about me.” That was my fantasy taking over. Me believing he wanted me as much as I wanted him.
“Who?” Neil asked.
“Huh?”
“You mentioned someone thinking of you,” Neil added.
Oops! I’d said that out loud. My cheeks burned as I fibbed to Neil and Ivor. “Oh, just thinking about some guy at work. We’ve been making eyes at one another across the office.”
Once more my eyes wandered to Micah. He leveled a glowering look in my direction. Had he heard my lie? Fuck, fuckety fuck!