Chapter 3
Three
Kingston
Letting myself into Reed’s house with his keycode, I found him and Eloise curled up on opposite ends of the couch.
They weren’t touching. An entire barrier of throw pillows was wedged between them.
That was odd. Reed had been crushing on Eloise for a while.
Not that she would know, since it sometimes took him a while to get out of his shell.
Shaking Reed’s shoulder gently, I made sure not to shake the entire couch. He opened his eyes and blinked at me.
“Hey, sunshine.” I helped him sit up. “How’s your head?”
“Still attached,” he murmured. “What time is it?”
“Two in the morning. Come on. You’ll be grumpy as fuck if you sleep on your couch.”
“You didn’t have to check on me.”
“Yes, I did.” I helped him to his feet. “You can’t tell me you got hurt and not expect me to come over.”
“August was already here and did an assessment.”
“I know, and now I am. Does your head hurt?” I waited for him to start moving so I could observe the way he walked. Reed rubbed his head as he went to his room.
“Yes, but my current headache is from arguing with Eli most of the night.”
“What were you two arguing about?”
“Pick a topic,” he grumbled, staggering into his room.
I assisted him into bed before checking his eyes with a penlight I kept on me at all times. Feeling around the top and sides of his head for my own curiosity, I palpated gently and then dropped my hands. “Sounds like the two of you had a rough night.”
“She’s so stubborn. Feisty. Fiery. Worst of all? She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. She would flirt a little but then immediately sass me. Ugh!”
“So, it sounds like she likes you, but perhaps she has some other things that she’s dealing with.”
“Yeah,” he agreed. “I’m sure you’re right. I wanted her to sleep in my bed, but I couldn’t get the nerve to ask her. Not after I kissed her and she told me not to do it again. Even though it was the best kiss of my life. Maybe I’m just fucking lonely,” he rambled.
“I think you have a lot of things on your plate that you could use balancing.”
Reed tugged the covers over himself, but kept his eyes on me. His chest rose and fell as he laid there simply studying my face. I didn’t know if I’d upset him, or if he was feeling more lost.
“Yeah, well it’s not like I have someone to handle it.”
Rubbing my mouth, I thought very carefully about how to reply.
We had been friends most of our lives, we were not strangers.
But the way he said his last statement about not having anyone to handle his shit prickled my Daddy senses.
I let out a long breath. “Do you want someone to handle your plate?” I dropped my tone into that low husky growl that he’d admitted drove him wild.
“Don’t you dare,” he said, eyes narrowing. “I’m sure as hell not going to ask you to–”
“To what, Reed?” It sure seemed like he could use exactly my brand of care. I’d been looking for a partner, open to two, for more than a hot minute. Taking care of Reed was something I did naturally. Adding in a relationship and a dynamic wasn’t a huge leap.
“I don’t know, man,” he muttered.
“I’ll help Eloise to the guest room and be right back.” I offered him the chance to turn me down. “Is that okay?”
Reed regarded me for a few moments, likely trying to think through his sleep-addled brain. “Yeah, King. You should consider staying here. I mean since it’s late and you’re coming off a long shift.”
I was used to functioning like a zombie. “I’ll stay. Be back in a minute.”
“Hey, Eli.” I shook her shoulder gently, not wanting to startle her. She was wearing Reed’s clothes and looking adorable but uncomfortable the way she was scrunched into a ball. “Hey. You’ll be more comfortable in the guest room.”
“Mmm.” She rolled over.
“Your back will be so mad at you tomorrow.” Reed’s couch wasn’t stiff but she was in an odd position.
“I’m too tired,” she whined. “My hand is aching.”
I immediately went into EMT mode. "I’m sorry to hear that. Burns aren’t fun. Did you take an anti-inflammatory?”
Eloise glanced over her shoulder as if seeing me for the first time. Her gorgeous honey-brown eyes were hooded and thick with sleep. “Um, it was right after August left. I took two ibuprofen.”
I checked my phone because August had texted after he left the house.
We wanted to make sure the two of them were okay, especially Reed in case his head was worse than August initially thought.
“Let me get you another dose.” Leaving her on the couch, I found Reed’s bottle and returned with the pills and a bottle of water.
Opening them, I shook two out into my hand.
“You don’t need to take care of me,” she protested, but winced again. Her actions were not aligned with her words.
“Open your mouth.”
My tone seemed to break through her sleep-fog and she popped her mouth open obediently.
Assisting her though she didn’t really need my help, I fed her two pills.
She blinked once then accepted the water bottle and swallowed.
Good girl. It took restraint not to say it aloud, to praise her for something simple.
It felt like second nature to me, but I wasn’t sure Eli would appreciate it.
“Thank you, King.”
“You’re welcome. Come here. I’ll carry you.” Waiting patiently, I stood next to the couch. She let out a long breath and sat up, extending her arms. Small victory. I lifted her, scoping her against my chest.
“I’m not used to this,” she murmured.
“Which part?”
“All of it. It’s been a crazy sort of day.”
“Every day is a crazy day in Falcon Creek,” I said, turning into the guest room.
“You haven’t even been here that long and you’re right.”
“A decade isn’t long enough?” I asked, laughing.
“You know what I meant! I told you that I’m tired,” she said quietly.
I pulled back the sheets with one hand and lowered her to the mattress. “I don’t usually speak unless I’m right. There you go. A queen-size bed fit for a princess.”
“I’m not a princess, Kingston.”
I tucked her in and was happy to see her cuddle into the blankets.
We didn’t know each other that well, but I liked taking care of people that were important to me.
She was important by association, especially since Reed had been talking about her non-stop since they met. “You deserve a good night’s sleep.”
“I appreciate it, and yeah, everyone does.” Her voice was thick with sleep making her even more adorable.
“I grabbed you a few extra packets of burn gel from my kit and put them next to your purse.” August had given me a quick rundown earlier in case anything escalated with them. Luckily it hadn’t.
“I appreciate it. Thank you for thinking of me.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Get some sleep.” I patted her arm and shut the door.
“Night, King.”
“Sweet dreams.”
Strutting along the hallway, I returned to Reed’s bedroom. Typically when I stayed over, I slept in the guest room, but I’d just put Eli in there. Stripping out of my sweats and t-shirt left me in silky black boxer-briefs. I climbed into the bed, looking over at Reed.
“She hates me.” He sighed.
“Nobody hates you.” I dismissed his statement.
“I kissed her.”
I pushed away the need for sleep. He clearly had something to get off his chest. “You kissed her and she rejected you?”
“Well, sort of. After I kissed her, she told me not to kiss her again. Then we got into a really deep discussion about her past. She shared some traumatic shit that I don’t think she’s ever told anyone.
” He swallowed hard. “So, she trusts me on some level. But she keeps saying she doesn’t want anything to do with me. ”
“So, maybe bumping your head was the silver lining you didn’t know you were looking for. It gave you and Eli a chance to spend time together. Give her time. She’ll eventually come around as long as you honor her boundaries.”
Reed rolled over and wound up closer to me. I didn’t have any problems with the lack of distance, but his eyes were locked on mine. I wondered if he needed something more.
“Did you have any interesting calls tonight, King?”
“Always,” I answered, allowing him to change the subject.
“Never a boring night out in Autumn Brook. There’s a brand-new pool hall that opened, Brookside Ballers.
Anyhow, it had its first official fight.
I handed out a lot of ice packs and one guy needed stitches but instead of us transporting him, his buddy brought him to urgent care. ”
“Brookside Ballers sounds like a strip club.”
“There’s a male revue in the back room.”
“What?”
“Every room becomes a male revue if I’m dancing.
They had great music,” I said chuckling.
I had been an exotic dancer while I was studying to become a paramedic.
I didn’t need the money. My parents never made me want for anything, but I’d been determined to make my own way.
It was something Eloise and I had in common.
Reed had taken the path of least resistance by allowing his parents to send him to whatever college they wanted but it left him unfulfilled.
Had he followed his dreams instead of theirs, he might not be overworking.
A private financial tech consultant made bank on paper, but it left him isolated.
It’s not like he went to an office and networked in person.
“If you start dancing on my bed, King, I won’t be throwing twenties at you.”
“Nah, I’d expect a fifty at least.”
“You’re in some mood.” Reed leaned on one elbow.
“So are you.” I tousled his hair gently. “What’s the matter? Being around Eli all night left you a little pent-up? I can give you a hand job before you go to sleep.”
Reed’s eyebrows hit his hairline. “You haven’t touched me like that in years. Don’t offer unless you’re sincere.”
“I was trying to get you in a better state of mind to go to sleep. But I’m always happy to lend a hand.
” I shrugged, trying not to make a big deal out of it.
We had fooled around before, but had never been in a relationship.
Reed hadn’t been taking time for self-care; I’d be willing to bet self-pleasure wasn’t on his radar either, and suddenly I wanted to be the one to help him with both.
“I know how to get myself off, King,” he snapped defensively.
“But you haven’t been doing that, have you? Nope.” I answered my own question. “You’ve been overworking. Burying yourself in spreadsheets and five-year plans to keep your mind occupied.”
He snorted in reply. We had always been open and honest with each other except lately he’d been bottling himself up and not sharing. I leaned forward wanting to make sure he understood me when he jerked back.
“You’re wound so freaking tight. Do you want a release? Best-friend privilege.”
“Sounds like you’re a little pent-up too if you want to get me off and then have me return the favor,” he whispered.
I hadn’t hinted at a mutual release, but I was open-minded. “Oh yeah? You want to do something about it?”
“Fucking tease,” he said, his eyes narrowing.
“Don’t call me names or I’ll leave you so hard you’ll be begging for me to play with you.” I had half a mind to shut his mouth by kissing him senseless. Though it was late and he’d probably have more questions and become more stressed if I acted on my thoughts.
“You wish.”
I gave him a stern look. “Try me.”
Reed shut his mouth and seemed content to lay next to me.
Rubbing his head, I felt some of the tension leave his body.
He had openly been bratting, something he didn’t usually do.
My thoughts returned to the same place they had been drifting to about wanting two partners.
Two submissives to worship in the bedroom.
Eloise was sweet and sassy. Plus, she’d trusted me enough to let me help her.
It left me satisfied. Taking care of others was something I’d always done naturally and one of the reasons I’d become a medic.
But my past shit reared its ugly head whenever I found myself in a relationship. Underneath my cocky exterior I had insecurities that I didn’t openly share. I had yet to find a partner who trusted me the way I longed for. If only I could get Reed out of his shell and agreeing to a relationship.
“Have you ever thought about being in a throuple?” I asked suddenly, because I had to know.
I was met with gentle snores. Either I’d bored Reed to sleep, or he finally felt safe enough to let go of whatever pressure had been mounting inside him.
I hoped it was the latter. I had a feeling my brain was about to keep me awake with endless possibilities involving my best friend and the gorgeous, sassy blonde asleep in the other room.