Chapter 15
Fifteen
THEO
My stomach is in knots as I leave the room, not going back to Colt, who is deep in conversation with some men I have seen around town.
River's words and coldness seep into my bones, and I do not know how to handle it.
The laughter and music from the party feel distant, muffled under the weight of disappointment pressing on my chest. I lean against the hallway wall, trying to steady my breath, but all I can think about is how upset he looks, disappointed even.
When Colt asked me to be his date for tonight, I was shocked but excited. I have never gone on a date before with a man, so this was something new for me; plus, I knew that River would be here.
My excitement built knowing that I would get to see him, but all I got from him was coldness—something that I found strange coming from his usual warm self.
The knots in the pit of my stomach hurt. I have never felt like this, and I am not sure I want to feel like this again. When my date ended with River, I thought we were on good terms; we have texted and bumped into each other.
This distant vibe I got from him has me confused.
Needing air, I slip out the back door. Stepping out onto the patio, which has a few heaters keeping the area relatively warm and a fire pit, I see there are items for guests to make s’mores.
Snow covers some of the ground around the patio, giving the garden a fairy winter wonderland look.
It is magical.
I touch the cold stone, needing it to cool my heated skin, but it also serves as a distraction from what River has me feeling. I need to clear my head before I go back inside and face Colt.
He is no doubt wondering where I am, since he told me to go to River and back, and that’s it. He did not want me or River far from him tonight. Colt ‘needs his boys close’ is what he told me when he picked me up earlier.
River’s actions and words bounce around my head. I keep thinking maybe I read our date wrong and he was just pitying me afterward, letting me down easy, but I did not take the social cues from him.
Fuck me, I fucked up again. Maybe I should just stick to dating one man at a time from now on.
Needing Colt’s touch to calm me, I turn around but stop short when I come face-to-face with River.
He is holding a glass of red wine and a bottle of beer. He says nothing at first, making my anxiety rocket to a point where I feel sick. Tucking my hands in my pockets, I hunch my shoulders—a usual defense mechanism of mine—which draws a frown from River.
“I, umm, I will leave you to enjoy the night,” I mumble, stepping toward him, aiming my feet for the door.
“Theo, wait.” His voice cuts off my steps.
His hand touches mine, making me shiver as the heat from him seeps into my cold skin. River steps closer to me, his body lining up with mine as I look into his eyes.
Remorse and something else calls to me.
“I am sorry for being a dick inside. My insecurities got the better of me and I took that out on you; I am sorry.”
“I am confused? You will need to tell me what I did to make you feel like this, River. Hurting or upsetting you is the last thing I want to do,” I say.
I think back to what I said to him, or did to him in the last few days that would make him unhappy with me, or if I did something to trigger these insecurities that he is talking about.
“You did nothing wrong, honey. It was all me.” He sighs, licking his lips with that sweet-looking lip gloss on.
Seeing lip gloss on men has never done it for me before, but seeing River’s lips glisten in the lighting out here makes me want to kiss it off him to see if it feels soft or sticky.
“Talk to me.” I take both of his hands, leading him to stand right underneath a patio heater.
The heat hits us immediately, and we both shiver then smile.
“My past is not pretty when it comes to home life and boys, then men. It was silly really, but seeing you walk in with Colt, looking like a perfect hot, cute couple, set a chain of feelings in my head that made me think that you were moving on without me. That I was not needed anymore.”
“Shit,” I mutter, my heart sinking.
We were planning on surprising him tonight; Colt wants us to spend the night together, looking at moving on to the next step of what we are building.
“It was never our intention to hurt you, babe.” I cup his smooth jaw, my thumb brushing just under the full bottom lip I want to suck on again.
Never in a million years would I have touched a man like this willingly this time last year, or last month even. Between spending time with Colt, and River, I have been reading romance books with three men together, and it has been an eye opener.
I came across one by an Australian author, who, by the way, has won me over for future books. Her book was based on three men, and it made me see that I could have that with Colt and River. It was not only about the exceedingly hot sex, but the connection and the relationship they built.
“We were going to surprise you tonight, maybe try to go to the next level in our relationship. I have gone on dates with both of you separately, but I want to spend time with you together. The three of us doing something, anything, together.”
“Anything?” He wiggles his eyebrows, making me laugh.
“This is all new to me, babe.”
“I like you calling me babe,” he interrupts.
“I am not this bold guy, River, but I am not going to lie and say that I do not like it, because I do. I seem to be finding myself, even if some things still scare the crap out of me.” Licking my lips, I drop my hands to his waist, pulling him to me.
He gasps, his eyes dilating in lust, and I did that.
This man wants me; this beautiful, sweet, and caring man wants me, and hell, my ego likes the boost.
“My job can be cutthroat. Some people will not think it, but it is. People will use anything they can to discredit you, even if your work shows your worth. I fucking hate it.” My anger starts to bubble, but now is not the time.
“Do not let Daddy hear you cussing.” He grins, making my cock twitch in my pants.
“Daddy loves us being bratty; it means he will get to spank us,” slips free, making my eyes widen in shock that I said that out loud.
River giggles. “That is something I am looking forward to.”
“Yeah.” I smirk.
“I want to see and feel you, Theo. I want to know what your skin feels like against mine, and the same with Colt. For years I have fantasized over that man, but now I get to have him and you as an added bonus.”
I can’t hold back anymore; I need to kiss him. My body is alight with desire to take him here and now.
His lips are warm, plump, and soft. Sliding my tongue over the crease of his lips, he opens for me, letting my tongue in to play with his and fuck, we play. Our tongues tangle with each other’s, savoring the kiss.
River’s hands move, one going to the back of my neck and holding me to him while we kiss, long and deep. The other hand slips under my sweater, and right now, I fucking hate the thin material of my shirt that is between his palm and my back.
My hands wander also: one on his delectable ass, that is like a tight bubble, and the other around his waist, keeping him against me.
Breaking the kiss, I lick my lips. River’s dark eyes track my tongue, biting his lip.
“You taste like candy canes,” I tell him.
“I like flavored lip gloss.”
“I do too, now.” He giggles at my reply.
Not wasting any more time, I lean in, kissing him again. I love the feel of his body against mine, even with our clothes on, which makes me believe that when the three of us get naked, it will be beyond wild. Scary as hell, but wild.
We get lost in the kiss, and with the Christmas music playing softly around us, and snow falling, it is a true Christmas evening. The only thing missing is Colt.
As if my body manifested him, a spike of excitement runs through me and I break the kiss. River smirks, looking behind me. Knowing who is there, I look over my shoulder to see Colt leaning against the door, arms crossed over his big chest and his ankles crossed. He looks like a freaking sex god.
“I see my boys have started without me,” he tuts, shaking his head as he starts walking toward us.
I forget the cold seeing him come to us while River is wrapped up in me, and my body is on fire.
Stopping right next to us, we both look up at him in anticipation of what he has to say. Excitement, desire, and anticipation course through me while waiting.
“I see a spanking for two naughty boys in their future. Next time, you will let me watch. Now come.”
He doesn’t wait for us to follow, he just walks back into the building, and like the lusting pair of naughty boys we are, we follow willingly to see what will happen next.