Chapter Three #3
Soren laughs against my lips. Skimming his hand through my hair, he raises his head. “That’ll be the house group chat. Gio said he’d add you once you got here.”
With unsteady hands, I grab my phone from my bag beside me, and he’s right.
The first message is from Gio, followed by the others chiming in with emojis, random memes, and a picture of a yellow bearded dragon from Remy, promising he’ll bring down Benny tomorrow to meet me.
It’s chaotic in the best way, and I love it.
Standing, Soren pulls me up with him. “We should get to the bar. Bax said he put our names on the list.”
“Let me get changed. I’ll meet you downstairs.”
He leaves me with a kiss pressed to the back of my hand. Blowing out a breath, I try to ignore all the overwhelm of the last several hours and just focus on changing clothes.
Soren meets me in the hall by the front door. He pulls a black wool coat from the closet and hands it to me. “This is one of mine, but it’s also yours for as long as you’re here.”
Being wrapped in it is like having his arms around me all the time.
When we arrive at the bar, the show is going on full-throttle.
Layne dances around the small stage, belting out lyrics.
Behind the drum kit, Bax thrashes away. The muscles in his arms bulge and flex with the rapid movements and sweat glistens his skin.
Gavin and Everett play at opposite ends of the stage, making love to the audience as well as the music, and send each other glances suggesting there is more to their relationship than merely being bandmates.
Soren’s body is warm pressed against mine, and he slides his arm around me like it’s the most natural move in the world. I like the security of his hold and the sensuality of his palm against my stomach and his breath in my ear.
We don’t have to wait long for Bax once the show ends.
He and the band immediately come into the crowd, meeting with fans.
I’m close to six-foot, and Soren has me beat by a couple of inches, but Bax towers over us both as well as most other people in the room so tracking him is easy.
He winds through the crowd, stopping to chat or shake hands with people along the way, but his destination is clear. Us.
My arms ache with how much I want to hug him, but nerves hold me back. I end up doing an awkward wave that ends with my arm hovering in the air for a beat too long, like I’m reaching for him after all. “Great show.”
“Thanks for coming.” He pulls me into his arms, wrapping me in a hug so fierce it steals my breath. “I can’t believe you’re living here now.”
“Same. It’s been an eventful day.” The world feels unsteady as he releases me, but focusing on him greeting Soren with the same tight embrace helps me recalibrate.
Bax slips between us and wraps his arms around our shoulders.
He’s warm and still a bit sweaty, smelling of musk and beer and faint traces of the warm spicy scent I remember from our time on the dance floor.
“We had a good crowd tonight. I wasn’t sure what we’d get with it being on a Wednesday, and announcing the surprise show only last week, but people showed up. ”
Soren pulls Bax in for a hug. “You rocked the hell out of this place. Thanks for putting us on the list. Let us buy you a drink.”
We end up with a line of shots and down them at the same time.
The alcohol burns and warms, hitting me fast. I can’t remember the last time I ate, so that’s probably not good, but as the crowd presses us closer together, the feel of Soren and Bax reminds me of being with them on the dance floor and our kisses leap to the forefront of my thoughts.
Music swells over us and I move to it, sliding between Bax and Soren, my gaze tracking between them. “I can’t believe I’m here with you both. That I can just reach out and touch you.”
“When we left the club the other night, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever see you again.” Bax tangles his hand with mine. “And now, here you are. Must be fate. Or Christmas coming early.”
“One of the two,” Soren says, wise as a sage, resting his hand on my hip. “Could be both.”
Being in their presence, I feel buzzed on more than alcohol. They light me up, like the colorful flashing bulbs on a Christmas tree. “Maybe it is.”
Heat glinting in hazel eyes that appear more brown than green in the lights, Bax cups my cheek in his other hand. His thumb traces the corner of my lips. “I’d like it if you two were my presents.”
Soren’s chest presses against my back as he slides his free hand up Bax’s arm, trapping me between them. Our position reminds me of when Soren was between Bax and me during our kisses on the dance floor last week.
Giving in to the pulsing current wrapping around us, dragging us closer together, I raise my head, turning so I catch Bax’s kiss and Soren’s at the same time.
I feel their smiles before I see them and while this isn’t the most effective way to explore each other’s mouths, I like it for the simple fact that it joins us at the same time.
Soren traces kisses across my cheek then moves to my neck while Bax claims my mouth.
He tilts my head to get a better angle and his tongue traces my bottom lip before lapping at the seam and demanding entrance.
On a groan, falling against Soren, I open for Bax, grasping the hand holding mine.
The music pulsing around us matches the beat in my blood.
Soren’s fingers flex on my hip and he groans in my ear. “My turn.”
Bax’s hand slides away from its place on my cheek. And when we raise our heads, he leans over my shoulder in a smooth move and meets Soren in a sexy, heated kiss.
The hold they have on each other and on me keeps us connected.
Soren’s hand on my chin urges me to turn my head. His eyes glittering, he lowers his head and kisses me. Soft and slow shifts into hard and deep while Bax’s hands trace over us.
Their kisses make my head spin in the best way.
I’m not sure what might happen next with us. Soren told me what he wants. Bax hasn’t. But it’s too soon to ask. I don’t want to do anything that might mess things up. I’m already anxious enough about what this next chapter in my hockey career could bring.
But for tonight, kissing and touching them, I’m happy to lose myself in the good feelings they bring out in me, and for once, just focus on right here, right now, and enjoying the presence of the two men with me.