Chapter 9
Nine
THEO
Pulling my coat tighter around my neck, then tugging on my beanie, I walk down Main Street, taking everything in. The snow on the sidewalk, the Christmas lights, and decorations, it's genuinely like a Christmas village. You can smell the pine, cinnamon, and peppermint in the air, and I love it.
It makes me not want to leave in the new year.
Thoughts of both Colt and River crash into my mind, and I wince. Thinking about how I reacted yesterday, when I ran like a chicken, not wanting to deal with a real-life, adult situation.
I would not be surprised if neither of them talk to me again. It was childish to run, but I could not wrap my head around what they were both insinuating.
Being gay does not mean that you cannot be a virgin; believe me, I am one. No man has ever had me trust him enough to let him fuck me. Foreplay has always been something for a fleeting moment, but I have never enjoyed it.
Maybe I am the problem, and I do not know what I am doing. To ease my tension, I jerk my dick alone in my bedroom, or in the shower, but having both Colt and River touch me, had my balls aching beyond relief, and my dick leaking.
I think that scared me, and I did what I always do. I ran.
Fuck my life with a candy cane.
No other man has ever made me feel that hot and flustered. It caught me off guard but in an odd way, I felt safe with them, like I knew deep down that they would not touch me without consent, and they would be gentle with me.
The way Colt looked me in the eyes, and the way River touched me, I felt oddly cherished.
How can that be?
Stopping at the pop-up ice rink concession stand, I order myself a mint hot chocolate and a puff pastry orange chocolate Christmas tree on a stick. I thank the young girl serving and walk over to a bench and take a seat, watching the town folk skate around the makeshift ice rink.
Since Patty is with her friends at the knitting club, I get a few hours to myself, so I thought I would spend some time taking in all the festivities around town. I especially love the drive-in movie theater that has been set up; I need to make sure that I stop there one night.
“Theo?”
Hearing my name, I look to the side, and my heart skips a beat seeing River walking toward me.
He is dressed in black boots, black jeans, and a long red winter coat, his hair under a beanie. He looks good, his cheeks red from the cold.
“River,” I greet back, wincing at how low my voice comes out.
“Do you mind if I sit?” I shake my head, sipping my hot drink.
“Oh, that smells yummy. Let me go get something, then I will be right back. You will be here when I get back, right?” I nod my head, and the smile he gives me makes my heart skip happily against my rib cage.
I watch as he smiles at the young girl serving people; they laugh, and I smile with them, seeing how happy and carefree he is. He is so handsome, and any man would be lucky to have him for a partner.
Thinking of River with another man makes my stomach tighten, but then I see him with Colt and the tension leaves me.
Why? I am not sure what is happening to me. It is like Silverpine brought me here to confuse me; on the other hand, it has also shown me what living is really about.
“God, that tastes so good.” A moan sounds from my left and I see that River has rejoined me.
The sounds he makes go straight to my blue balls and believe me, they are not blue from the cold.
“Yeah, they make good hot cocoa,” I murmur.
“Theo, I am glad that I bumped into you. I wanted to check on you after what happened the other night. I would have texted, but I do not have your number.”
His body is angled so he is facing me, his crossed legs touching me slightly. Just having him this close brings back what feelings I had rushing through me the night at the bar.
“I am okay.” I remove my glove, showing him the clean bandages that Patty put on me.
She made me go to the clinic to get checked out, and thankfully Colt was right; I did not need stitches. Her face lit up when she heard that it was Colt and River who took care of me, but thankfully she did not press as to why I was with them.
I am not ready to explain what we were doing. Hell, I am not sure what we were doing. It is still all so freaking confusing.
“That is good news, but I am not talking about that injury, handsome.” I look him in the eye and see warmth.
Sipping my hot drink, I take my time thinking over what happened that night. I am not very good with words, which is why I code and make games for a living.
Being socially awkward is something I have struggled with, yet since being here, I have felt more open than I have in a long time. Maybe it’s the way River looks at me, or maybe it is Colt. I’m still not sure how to talk about what happened, but I know that I have to.
I need to man up and explain my worries.
River shifts, brushing his knee against mine, and the contact grounds me.
“You know, you don’t have to say anything you don’t want.
I know that that night was confusing for you,” he says, his voice soft but firm.
“I hope that I can clear any worries that you might have. Talk to me, Theo. If this does not develop into more, I can hope that we can be friends.”
“Develop into more?” He nods with a sweet smile.
“I like you, Theo, and I think that you like me too. But we cannot forget Colt; he is like this big tattooed badass man between us, or over us.” He winks this time, and I can’t stop myself from smiling.
“I am not good with social things. I get flustered.” He nods, grinning. “My love life, or the lack thereof, has been a struggle for me in the past. What men have given me attention only want me for my money or my connections.”
River frowns at me, then it clocks what I just said. My eyes widen in shock and a little bit of fear, hoping that River does not fall into the group of men who are only after one thing.
“I am not sure what you mean by that, but that is your story to tell when you trust me enough.” He takes my empty hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
“Thank you.”
“For one, I am glad that you have no love life right now, because believe me, Theo honey, I think that it would put Colt in a really bad mood if he found out that you were being picked by someone else who is not him.” He lowers his voice. “Or me.”
I choke on my saliva at his words, making him cackle like a witch.
“I know you feel this connection between us, Theo. When all three of us touched, it sparked a deep ember that will bring us into the fire that is Colt Woods. That man will show us what it is like to be cherished, to be left panting and satisfied.” His eyes glaze over in lust and damn, I am halfway there with him.
“I need to be honest with you, Theo. I am going to go all alpha on you now, instead of being a flirt, and say fuck me, I like my name on your lips.” His voice drops an octave, and I shiver.
“River.” A strange sound comes from me when I say his name.
Between him and Colt, my balls are going to be permanently blue and my cheeks pink.
He inches closer, the heat from his hand like a soothing balm on me.
“Go on a date with me.”
My eyes flash wide, and he giggles, licking his lips before he speaks again.
“I know this is going fast, but, honey, when you feel something, I believe that you have to act on it, or you will lose it forever. No point wasting what could be a fabulous thing.”
“A date?”
“Yes, a date.”
The look on his face warms me all over. He makes me feel things that I have not felt before.
We have only just met, but there is something there. No clue what it is, but he makes me feel wanted, and stirs feelings I never thought I would get to feel.
I think it might be Silverpine that makes me want to feel bold, so I agree but with some conditions. My father would be pissed if he found out that River paid for anything on our date.
“Okay, but it comes with conditions.”
Arching a perfectly sculpted eyebrow, he grins. “Oh, I cannot wait to hear this, honey.” He leans in. “Hit me.”
Smiling, I inch closer, feeling his warm breath on my face.
“I pick you up and I pay.”
A look of joy and mischief reflects in his gaze as he grins at me.
“These conditions are something I will except; that gives me more time to look pretty for you. I think we should seal the deal with these conditions, Theo, honey.” He bites his lip, and I fight back a moan seeing his teeth sink into the lip that is glossy and smells like strawberry.
Feeling the boldness grow in me and determined to take it while I can, I inch even closer, our lips a breath apart.
“Seal it how?” I know how; I just need him to take the lead on this part.
I may be feeling bold and filled with false courage, but this part makes me nervous.
He doesn’t leave me waiting when he presses his lips to mine. It is not gentle but not hard either; it is just right. Neither of us open our mouths, but I feel the kiss to my bones.
“Need to keep things PG-13 when in public but get me behind closed doors and I will show you what I can do with my mouth.”
Smiling, I feel the heat flood my cheeks, but my heart is happy and excited.
“Add your number into my cell.” He hands me a phone in a red case with sparkles all over it.
I text myself so I have his number, and he gets to his feet.
“I will text you the details of our date. I will see you soon, honey.” He winks and turns on his heels, walking away.
Once he is out of sight, I finish my drink, thinking over what the hell just happened.
Time will tell how this plays out, and how Colt will fit into all of this. My stomach knots at the thought of Colt, the intense man who sets my body on fire.