Chapter 35
EVAN
Waking up in a bed next to Isaac is a first. The way he’s looking at me is startling.
“Where’s Deacon?” I ask.
“Working out. Cooking breakfast. Deacon things.”
“Do you know if he walked the dog?” I start to sit up, but my ass protests. Hissing, I take it slower until Isaac’s hand connects with my chest.
“The dog’s taken care of. Slow down.”
“I have things I need to take care of. In the bathroom.”
“Understood,” he tells me. “Just take your time getting there.”
I ease my way off the bed with my sweater still half on and my ass cheeks stuck together.
Taking a few steps toward the bathroom solves both problems, and I fling my sweater to the floor.
I guess that was the right wardrobe choice.
After a cursory glance at Deacon’s shower while I relieve myself, I decide to make the trek to my own room where I have everything I need to get back into working order.
Isaac is out of bed when I come out. He’s pulling on a pair of boxer briefs to cover his impressive morning wood.
“I’m gonna use my own bathroom,” I tell him.
“Need any help? I haven’t showered yet.”
Two seconds ago, I was the furthest thing from horny, but the suggestion of Isaac wet and naked with his hands on me…? “Sure,” I tell him. “But my ass is off limits until I say otherwise.”
“Just washing up, I swear.”
“Don’t swear.” I lead him down the hall to my room. When we pass the opening that leads to the living room and kitchen, I look around for Deacon. He’s on the bench press, one of the only pieces of equipment I let him keep when I moved in. That and the treadmill.
I wonder if Isaac and I should wait for him to be done then offer a group shower opportunity, but I have got to wash my ass among other things, so I decide not to bother him.
I feel like I made the right choice when I have every ounce of Isaac’s attention in the shower. I barely have to lift a finger. He washes my hair, scrubs my body, and even cleans out my hole with two gentle fingers while he kisses me under the spray of water.
It’s amazing. Best shower ever. If I doubted his feelings for me were real, it’s much harder to do that now.
To relieve our aching erections, he pins me to the wall, kissing me while he jerks our cocks together.
It doesn’t take much for me. Apparently I have a thing for the caretaking type, and by the time he’s got me squeaky clean, I’m so turned on I come in less than a minute of his hand working us.
For him, I get on my knees and finish him with my mouth even though he tries to tell me he’s fine with my hand.
With his cock filling my mouth and his cum sliding down my throat, I feel a hell of a lot more like I’ve earned him. Like he’s mine.
He drags me up from the floor and kisses me deeply. “I love you,” he says loudly enough for me to hear with the rushing water.
“Why did you lie to me?”
He pulls away to look me in the eyes. “About what?”
“Last night. Why did you say you and Deacon didn’t have sex?”
His eyes close. “I’m sorry. I have no idea. I mean—I didn’t want to upset you or tell Deacon’s business, but he asked me the same thing, and I realize I fucked up. I want this. So much, Evan. I’m scared of fucking it up.”
“Will you tell him about this?”
“I’ll do whatever it takes for us to trust each other. I’m sorry I lied. It won’t happen again.”
“Okay,” I whisper. “This is really what you want?”
He pushes my wet hair off my forehead. “You know the answer to that.”
I do. I have no doubt about the answer to that anymore.
He wants two men who couldn’t be more different but can’t stand the idea of letting him go.
Because that’s why I’m here, right? That’s why I’m entertaining the idea of a relationship I can barely wrap my brain around because Isaac is fucking worth it.
I’m just—not quite enough, I guess.
But I’m falling for him. Hard. I can’t help that. It was inevitable the moment I dropped my guard. “I want it to work, too.”
“Good.” He kisses me again. “That’s so good.”
I’ve never really thought of Isaac as cute before.
Sexy, yes. Powerful. Commanding. Intimidating.
Passionate. All those things for sure, but watching him try to pick out a head of lettuce or decide which kind of steak he wants—ribeye or New York strip—is fucking adorable.
He bites his nails. Okay, technically he’s not chewing on them, but he’s got the pad of his thumb between his teeth and a very concerned look on his face while the man behind the butcher counter waits for him to decide.
“You really don’t have a preference?” he asks me, briefly removing his thumb from his mouth.
I shrug. “Steak is steak.”
“It’s not, though.” He goes back to frowning at the meat case. “Deacon would have an opinion.”
“Ouch. Why don’t you ask him, then?”
He gives me an annoyed glance. “Do you like richer or leaner?”
“Leaner,” I say.
“That’s the strip. But it might come out drier.”
“I’m sure it won’t.” If he’s this careful about making the decision, he probably cooks with a thermometer and several alarms set.
He orders the steaks and looks over at the produce section. “I might want to do Brussels sprouts instead of salad. Roasted?”
I give him an amused smile. “Sounds great.”
“What’s that look for?”
“When was the last time you cooked for anyone?”
“Besides my brother? I can’t remember.”
Today, after an uneventful day at work, Isaac wanted to leave early.
He offered to drive me home, but before we went inside, he decided he wanted to cook for me and Deacon, so I brought him to the nearest grocery store.
After a lazy, sexy Sunday where I got lots of kisses and BJs and three way fun that did not involve my ass, Deacon said he wanted to spend more time together, and Isaac agreed so fast, I didn’t have time to ask Deacon if everything was okay.
He’s been pretty quiet since the party. No less horny, but he’s retreated back into silent mode.
When he leaves me guessing about what he’s thinking, my brain runs wild.
Did I feel like I was intruding on their sex life when Deacon was prowling toward Isaac and I had to figure out what to do to make myself useful while they fucked last night?
Yes. Most of the feelings felt old and not relevant to the current situation.
Still, I kept having to remind myself it didn’t matter what I looked like.
That I could take a break and watch if I wanted.
That no one was going to push me away if I wanted a kiss because I was “ruining the shot” or whatever.
But again—the way they consume each other with their eyes and their mouths—it’s like they share a wavelength that I can see but not tap into.
I probably asked a dozen times if I was in the way, and each time, one of them only pulled me closer. This week will be good, I think. Finding a rhythm with Deacon and Isaac both in and out of the bedroom feels crucial, especially since we seem to have decided we’re doing this.
“Does shopping always stress you out this much?” I ask.
Isaac frowns at me. “I’m not stressed.”
“You look a little stressed.”
“Well, I don’t want it to suck.”
I give him a peck on the cheek. “It’ll be great.”
“Will you be able to keep Deacon out of the kitchen?” he asks.
“I doubt it. His two favorite things will be there. You and food.”
Isaac slides an arm around my waist and tucks me into his side. “Sounds like you’ll have to get creative.” His hand gives my ass a subtle squeeze. “One of his other favorite things.”
I roll my eyes as I fight the urge to cling to him. “Was that supposed to be romantic?”
“Just a point of fact.”
“I thought the point was to spend time together.”
“I don’t want him taking over the food. I want to do this for you guys.”
“Then I’ll see what I can do.”
Deacon and I have chemistry and good sex for sure, but whatever it is I see when he and Isaac are making out—it’s not there yet between me and Deacon. I figure I just need to give it time. Not everyone’s connection is instantaneous. Hunter and I were a slow burn, too.
I want Deacon like crazy, so I haven’t mentioned my concerns to him, but I can tell he’s not in love with me. Not the way he loves Isaac. Our dynamic is more—adventurous? Meaning I play the slut, and he plays the guy training my ass to take two dicks. We have yet to fuck in missionary.
“Wait.” Isaac pulls slightly away to look down at me. “Are you saying you’re so in love with me now you don’t even notice Deacon anymore?”
I laugh, but I also blush like an idiot in front of the butcher counter in the ridiculously expensive grocery store. “Hard not to notice him when he’s got his tongue down your throat.”
“Ohh…she’s got claws.”
I hug him. “Shut up.”
He presses several kisses to my neck as the steaks get wrapped. “Say it,” he says.
“You’re a psycho.”
“Translation, I love you, Isaac. Right?”
I let go of him and try not to let my smile break my face.
He grabs the steaks, puts them in the basket he’s holding, then grabs my hand to lead me back to the produce section where he exchanges his red-leaf lettuce for Brussels sprouts, individually selecting each and every one.
When I see Millie near the apples, I duck myself into Isaac’s side with no explanation, and he just holds me there.
If she can afford to shop here, she sure the fuck doesn’t need my help paying her vet bills, and I add it to my list of defenses in case she and I wind up in civil court over Manon’s litter.
Knowing she’s out and about, though, I’m able to take Apollo on a walk when we get back to the apartment without having to worry about her cornering me in the stairwell. As I’m heading back into the building, I run into Deacon going up the steps to the front door.
“Hey,” I say to him as he scratches Apollo beneath his chin.
“Hi. You’re home early. You hungry?”
“Isaac’s cooking. We got steaks.”
Deacon frowns, looking up at our apartment window. “Whose idea was that?”
“His,” I say.