Chapter 19 #2
I glance around at the silence. All the men’s eyes are pinging back and forth from Seth to me. Interesting. What does that mean? Could he be attracted to me? I took his clinging while we danced as a need to be comforted, but perhaps it was more.
The one-sided tension burst when Edmundo gathered Seth in his arms. “I’m so sorry, my friend. Are you okay?”
I’m silently begging him to let go of Seth. It’s irrational, but I don’t care. I feel like I’m the only one who should be holding him.
My breath let out when they finally let go.
“I’m fine. Seriously. It was pretty bad for a few days, but Calvin was there when I needed him.”
He looks at me again, and my heart races, filled with a weird sense of pride. “Well, you were there for me when I needed it,” I say.
Travis unexpectedly claps, startling me. Wild how I was able to tune out everyone but Seth. “Well, shall we begin playing, gentlemen?”
I sit down at the dining table, where there are snacks and a deck of cards with some poker chips. Seth sits next to me, and I’m immediately encapsulated by a new scent. It’s something spicy, yet light… peppery. It smells fucking divine.
I lean close to him and grin. “New cologne?”
His face blooms again, straight to his ears. “Uh, yep. It’s new. I was at the store, and a lady spritzed it on me.” He shrugs nonchalantly, or he tries to. His blushing is a dead giveaway. “I just liked it.”
“I love it.”
He smiles shyly, and I can’t take my eyes off that fucking dimple. “Yeah?”
“Yep. It suits you.”
“Thanks.”
Everyone is watching our interaction again, but I don’t give a damn. Seth has all my attention.
Once we finally get started, it’s been fun playing poker with these guys.
I thought there would only be talk about kids, and while they did, they also talked about all sorts of things, from business to current politics.
Meanwhile, I’ve been completely distracted by Seth and his fucking new cologne, forcing me to lose a few hands.
“How is Braeden adjusting to everything?” Reuben asks. “Life has got to be hard on him.”
“He’s doing okay, I think. He’s still grieving and adjusting, but from what I can tell, he’s a smart kid. I hope that once I get full custody of him, we can get settled down and comfortable.”
“It’s such a good thing you’re doing,” Paul says.
“Well, I don’t want to let my friends down, you know? It’s been an adjustment, and I’m at a loss as to what I’m doing half the time.”
Seth elbows me as he tosses a green chip into the pot. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re doing so well. Trust me.”
“I do… trust you, that is.” And I do. More than I’ve trusted anyone for a long time.
And there go those adorable cheek blotches. I swear to god, it’s going to be my life’s mission to make him perpetually blush.
I look around the table to see everyone watching our interaction once again.
They definitely know something that I don’t.
It only confirms for me that there’s more going on here than a friendship with Seth.
It’s not like he’s a closed book. Not like me.
Well, I’m not so closed whenever I’m around him.
Seth coughs, sets his cards face down on the table, and stands. “Does anyone need some water?”
Everyone raises their hands, and he heads off to the kitchen.
I grin and wink at the men, while Reuben and Travis give me a knowing smile. “I’ll help, Tiger.”
Seth doesn’t acknowledge me as I follow him into the kitchen.
I’m not quite sure what my plan is yet. Maybe I’m looking for his confirmation of what’s going on between us, if anything.
For the first time in years, I’d like to have something between me and someone else.
If it’s going to be anyone, it’d be Seth.
We’ve only gotten to seriously know each other in the past few weeks, though I’m comfortable around him. He’s not only attractive but safe.
When I step into the kitchen, I find him bent over, digging in the fridge, pulling out several bottles of water, and setting them onto the counter. I take a moment to admire his pert little ass.
Seth shuts the refrigerator door and starts gathering all the bottles.
While his back is turned to me, little knots of excitement dance around in my stomach.
I like the sensation, and it’s something I haven’t felt in a long fucking time.
I’m running on pure instinct when I press my body against his.
He freezes. Before he reacts, I lean close to his ear. “Are the new look and cologne for me, Tiger?”
To my fucking delight, his ears burn. Seth doesn’t deny it. In fact, he gives me a quick nod.
I can’t tell you the thrill that’s coursing through me right now.
“But… I know you don’t want to date. It’s cool. I just… I don’t know.” He sighs out that last part.
“You don’t need to change for me. Ever. I like you exactly the way you are. Although I love your new cologne, enough for me to start dating again.”
He cranes his head to look back at me. He’s gripping the counter like his life depends on it, but I can’t read what’s on his face. Seth hasn’t pushed me away yet, so I take it to the next level.
“Will you let me kiss you?” I ask him. If he lets me, from here on out, everything will be about consent and communication after what happened to him. “Or do you want me to step back?”
“Kiss me,” he whispers. “Please.”
“Oh, I like this begging thing.”
He huffs at me before I spin him around, press up against him again, and gently cup his jaw. His hands rest on my waist as he looks expectantly at me.
“You sure you want this, Tiger?” Before he can answer, I press a kiss to one cheek. “Going once…” Then I press a kiss to his other cheek. “Going twice…”
I’m hovering over his lips, his breath puffing against my face. “Yes, I’m sure.”
While still holding his chin and being careful not to touch his throat, I lean forward to kiss him. His eyes slide closed, while I keep mine open to experience every reaction from him. I have no idea why I’m so into getting responses out of him. I just am.
He holds his breath, and his fingers dig into my sides, waiting for me to make my move.
And I do. As soon as my lips land on his, a groan escapes him.
I swallow the sound and deepen the kiss, controlling it, owning him.
Fuck, I want to do naughty things to him.
In time. First, to give him a little of the vanilla that he enjoys so much, but I have a feeling he’d love to submit to someone he trusts.
I tilt my head, and he tilts his when I swipe my tongue over his mouth. He opens up, and I thrust my tongue inside. He tastes slightly of beer, and his scent overwhelms me. It’s like this new cologne is filled with pheromones or something.
The fact that my body tingles and reacts is a good sign that I’m on board. I have to be. Seth isn’t the fuck and go home type. He’s the steady boyfriend type. The marriage type.
When I pull away, we’re both breathing heavily. “You okay?” I ask him. His lips are glistening with our mingled saliva, and his blue eyes are blown black.
His response is to grab me by my head and pull me into another heated kiss. This time, he controls the show, and I’m fucking here for it.
My cock is hard as hell, and I’m going to have to rub one out when I get home tonight. I press it against him, so he knows how turned on I am. He does the same in response. This time it’s me groaning.
“A-hem,” someone says behind us. Seth and I break apart instantly and look at the interloper who broke up our fun. We find Paul, with folded arms, leaning in the doorjamb, grinning like he’s just won the last cookie in the jar. “We were just wondering where the water went off to.”
Seth points to him and scoffs. “You’re being nosy, is what you are.”
Paul shrugs, still grinning. “Guilty as charged.”
Seth gathers all the bottles into his arms, not letting me help him, and walks out of the kitchen. And though I can’t see it, I know he’s blushing fiercely.
After making some comfortable adjustments, I shove my hands into my pockets and meander my way toward the dining room before Paul stops me. “Be good to him, okay?”
“I wouldn’t dream of hurting him.”
“Yeah, but you two weren’t getting along at first.”
“Heard about that, did you? That’s something I’ve tried to remedy. We’ve had some good talks. I have the utmost respect for Seth.”
“That’s all we ask. Welcome to Royal Dads.”
“Thanks.”
After the game, I drove Braeden and me home. I swear to god, my lips are still tingling with a phantom kiss.
“How did it go tonight?” I ask him.
“Fine.”
“Is Fern nice?”
“Yeah, she’s super nice.”
“Did you play any games?”
“We played Fortnite. She’s so good at it.”
We drive on in silence for a bit before I broach the next subject. “Remember when I said nothing is going on between Seth and me?”
“Yeah, I know you two like each other. An idiot could see that.”
I burst out laughing, not only because he’s said more than three words to me, but he’s fucking insightful as hell. “Yeah, I’m a bit slow on the uptake.”
“Obviously.”
He smirks at me before looking out the window again, so I know he’s only teasing me. That’s a good sign, right? He trusts me enough to snark around with.
“Are you okay with Seth and me dating?”
“Yeah, he’s really nice.”
“Good.”
I’m not expecting him to talk anymore, but then he says, to my surprise, “So are you.”
My heart explodes into a million pieces in the best possible fucking way.