Chapter 12
CHAPTER TWELVE
OREN
“Strip Uno? Are you fucking serious, Simon?” I said as I settled across from him on the floor, my palms digging into the ground for balance.
Liam was bright red, and for him, that said a lot. Normally always neutral and calm, it wasn’t like him to carry his emotions on his face. Though he was blushing, he still picked up the cards and situated himself next to Simon.
“Is that bitching I hear, Oren Valens?” Simon crooned, smirking as he glanced over at Thorne. “I figured that with your boyfriend—”
Cutting him off before he could continue, Matthew choked on his beer. “Fucking Christ.”
“I’m not bitching. I’m clearly looking out for Liam, who looks like he’s about to faint.”
“I’m fine,” he muttered, sipping on his drink to hide the stain of his cheeks. Everyone knew at this point who he liked, all except for the damn idiot who handed another set of Uno cards to Thorne.
Slouched, he happily took them, and I couldn’t stop staring at him. The white t-shirt he wore was a change of pace, and the fucking gray sweatpants? God smite me.
“I can’t help but wonder if Andrew Valens has gay-dar.” The words came from Thorne so easily, so lightly, that I became the one choking on my drink. “What?” He laughed, looking over at me.
“Gay-dar? Since when do you use words like that?” I teased, leaning against him enough that our arms brushed.
“Since always,” Matthew stated, the hand holding his whiskey glass pointing at the man we spoke of. “You just haven’t met the real Thorne Graves.”
“Hmm, I’d disagree,” I said as I discarded. “The real Thorne Graves is quite loud, very easily subdued, and oh, rather articulate in—”
Thorne inhaled a mouthful of bourbon, coughing as he struggled to gather his bearings. “That’s… Fuck. That’s… Enough.”
“Definitely not what you were pleading yesterday, but I get it,” I said with a shrug. “Gotta keep the image up.”
Liam coughed, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. There was no way in hell I wouldn’t pay for it later tonight, but I was hoping so. After all, he did say he’d chase me, devour me until I forgot my last name. So far, my last name has been on my mind more than anything.
“Fucking hell, Oren. Save it for later,” Matthew muttered, tossing a red four into the pile.
“Ah, fuck me,” Simon groaned, reaching for the stack of cards. After one retrieval, he was lucky enough to play again. “Do socks count as articles of clothing in this game? Some people say yes, others no, so I’m extending the query to the jury.”
“Let the rookie pick,” Liam said, chucking a red reverse card onto the pile as he bit his lip to keep from smiling.
“What the fuck, man!” Simon groaned, drawing two more cards before he was able to lay. “Anyone? Don’t all speak at once, I am just waiting to shed three pieces of clothing. No biggy.”
“I say no.” A wink tossed in Liam’s direction earned me a grin. “Feels like the easy way to do things, and you’re far from that, aren’t you, Simon?”
“That’s fucked, Valens, but fine. Suit yourself.” He took off his socks first, then raised his hands before tossing them aside. He removed his hat, shirt, and belt. “Happy?”
“It’ll do.” I shot a glance at Matthew, and he picked up on the vibe.
Simon was the target for this evening’s entertainment, and hell, Liam needed this. He refused to talk to anyone at the bars, because he was head over heels for a guy who was oblivious to his feelings. Maybe Simon just needed an extra-large shove in the right direction.
Thorne shook his head, laughing under his breath as he tossed out a +4, me his victim. “Oops?”
Glancing at the cards in my hand, I sighed. “Fuck, man, really?” Grabbing four more, I shuffled back. “What about shoes?”
“If socks don’t count, shoes don’t either, fucker.” Simon jeered.
“We’ll let it fly this time,” Liam lifted his brows as the man he fawned over shot him a look.
“What?! He’s the rookie!”
Discarding my shirt, I chucked it at Thorne, my belt sliding through the loops with ease as I set that beside me.
He bit his lip, watching my every movement as if he could fuck me with his eyes. The hunger there was intense, and part of me couldn’t help but wonder if he were to take me right now, what he’d do to me.
My shoes were next, socks flying with them as I plopped down again. I grinned at Thorne, leaning over to whisper, “You did that on purpose, asshole.”
“Of course I did.”
Matt was next, tossing a blue card onto the pile after Thorne stated the color. He’d been so focused on me, he’d forgotten originally, but I didn’t blame him. I honestly couldn’t wait for the game to be over, and with the way he was already looking at me, fuck.
Liam put down a +2, glancing at Simon with a hint of mischief. Could he make it more obvious?
“Do you just want me nude?” Looking over at the man who’d hoped for his downfall, he shook his head.
“It’s a game. Don’t be a sore loser,” Liam said as he took another sip of whiskey.
“As if I have much more to lose,” Simon stated, looking down at his jeans and the pair of briefs sticking out just above them. “I’m going to be dick out, and the game will be over.”
“Damn, harsh,” Liam mused, and I bit my lip to keep from laughing. Dude was fucking drunk with a mission.
Glancing over at him, Simon shook his head. “You want me naked that bad? Fine. So be it.”
The subtle smirk on his lips had me questioning if he’d caught on to Liam’s advances, and the sluggishness with which he unbuttoned his pants only seemed to add to that curiosity. Once unzipped, his fingers dove beneath his waistband, and in one shove, he exposed himself completely to the group.
Thorne whistled. “Damn, alright.”
“Goddamn, Simon. You were hiding that under your briefs?” I jerked a thumb to Liam, who was tugging at his shirt, eyes wavering from the floor to Simon. “Seems more than one person is impressed.”
As if to retaliate for my teasing, Thorne tossed a +4 down, looking over at me. “Your turn, dove.”
I opened my mouth, but there was nothing to say. I’d lost. Standing, I turned around, undoing the button on my pants. If Thorne wanted a show, I wouldn’t give it to him.
Yanking them down, Simon let out a laugh as my bright pink briefs made their debut. I’d hoped not to show the group, but rather just Thorne; the motherfucker blew that plan out of the water. Unmistakable in white writing was the word ‘cake’ written on the back. I chucked those aside too.
“Aw,” Thorne crooned. “Did you wear those for me?”
Sitting back down, I crossed my arms over my chest. “No,” I grumbled, not enjoying the look of pure happiness on his face.
He leaned over, his lips brushing the shell of my ear before he nipped at it. “Liar.”
“Well, you’re just an asshole,” I countered, trying my best to keep from smirking. If he wanted to tease, he’d need to make it up to me.
“An asshole you rather enjoyed tasting,” he corrected.
“Oh, so the commander finally has jokes?” I bit my lip, flicking my gaze to the rest of the group. “Guess I’ll see what else I can pry from you before we leave.”
“As much as we’d love to keep hosting,” Matthew interrupted, gesturing between Simon and me. “We have two very sore losers, which means the game has concluded. Hell, it should have once Simon elected to show his cock to the world.”
“Okay, fuck you.”
Continuing with a smile, Matthew tossed a glance at Thorne. “And considering we have an early—”
“Yeah,” Thorne sighed, cutting him off before he could finish. “We do.”
“An early what?” I collected the cards, shuffling them once before handing them to Simon to put away.
“Nothing of pertinence. It doesn’t involve you.”
“Doesn’t involve me?” I flicked my gaze to him, not understanding the sudden shift in his demeanor. “Well, if it’s an early night, do you not want me to stay?” I muttered, pulling my clothes back on.
“I’ll have to rain check,” he replied, his gaze flashing with something unreadable.
Simon and Liam were talking behind me, but I was too focused on Thorne. “What the fuck? Why?” I adjusted my belt through the loops. “Was this just a game? All that shit you said during it?” He acted like he wanted me the whole night, and to blow me off after everything he’d done and said?
“It’s never been a game, Oren. You told me to play my part with your father; that is what I’m doing. I still have responsibilities to keep up with, a title to uphold.”
“Yeah, but my father isn’t here. I said to play the part to keep up appearances. There’s no one around except friends, so what title do you have to uphold here, right now?”
“Fucking hell.” He ran a hand down his face, shaking his head. “I have shit I have to do tomorrow, per your father, Oren. Could you, for once in your life, not make shit difficult?”
“So? You had shit to do yesterday as well, but that didn’t stop you from letting me in.” I plastered my hand against my chest, my breathing heightening. “If it was a one-night thing, fucking tell me, and I’ll leave. Sorry if this became difficult.”
“It wasn’t a one-night stand,” he practically growled, his fingers curling around my bicep with nearly enough force to bruise. “Why do you always have to question me? My loyalty? My truthfulness? My feelings? Am I nothing but a joke to you? Not worth believing?”
“Because you’re not acting like you! You’re acting like you’re trying to discard me, and well, shit, if I’m so difficult, maybe I should go fuck someone else. You’re the first person I’ve ever opened up to, and you’re too busy?”
His eyes flashed, hurt crawling across his golden irises. Loosening his hold, he stepped away from me. “If you want to go fuck someone else, by all means, Oren, go right ahead.”
“So that’s it? You’re not… You’re not even going to fight for me?”
“LIKE YOU’LL LISTEN TO ME!” His temperament snapped, his yell echoing off the surrounding walls. “I can fight, and fight, and fight for you, Oren, but if you wish to do something, I will never be able to stop you.”
“So I can do whatever as long as it’s not with you, right? Because my wish was to stay with you tonight, but it seems…” I trailed off, clenching my teeth. “It doesn’t matter. I’d hate to take up more of your evening, Commander. You have an early morning after all.”
“Oren, stop.” He reached for me. “That’s not what I meant.”
I stepped back on instinct, tears already threatening to fall. “I… I’m too drunk for this shit,” I settled on. “Hope your morning goes pleasantly.”
“Oren!” His fingers curled around my wrist. “God. Fuck. Just stay here.”
“Why? Because I have to almost fucking cry for you to pay attention to me? To hear what I’ve been trying to say?”
I was glad the room was empty as I hurled the thoughts muddying my mind.
He was the first person I’d ever been this open and honest with.
Usually, I’d have already left at the first sign of conflict, but he was different.
For the first fucking time, I wanted this to work…
I wanted us to work, and I’d never committed myself to anyone before.
But if he was going to toss me back and forth constantly, I couldn’t do it. I needed stability. I needed someone to be there constantly for me. I deserved it, didn’t I?
“No, Oren.” Pulling me toward him, he placed a hand on the back of my head. “You don’t have to cry to get me to listen. I’m sorry. I just… Fuck. I don’t have an excuse. What I said was never coming from a place of not wanting you. I do want you. I want us.”
I wrapped my arms around him, burying my head in his chest. “I hate you, you know? You say the perfect shit to make me forgive you.”
“I’m sorry… Please, if there’s one thing you believe. Let it be that…”
“Fine,” I said, muffled by his shirt. “I’m tired. Can we just go to bed?”
The alcohol was making me sleepy, and honestly, I’d grown tired of the conversation.
I’d get more information from him in the morning, but right now?
Right now, I just wanted him to hold me…
to make me forget how fucked up we were together.
How much, despite its challenges, I might actually love the fucker.
“As you wish,” he whispered against my head, kissing it once before he lowered himself. His arm swept my legs from beneath me as he pulled me into his chest, holding me as he walked toward his bedroom.
“You’re lucky I drank tonight, because this shit would’ve never happened,” I said as he carried me to the bed. “I prefer my feet on the ground.”
“Then I’ll take the luck I was granted.” Lowering me, my back met his comforter. “If it means I get to keep you, I’ll take whatever the fuck you’ll give me.”
I nestled my head against the crook of his neck, breathing in the familiar scent I’d grown to crave in the short time I’d known him. “Keep saying phrases like this, and I’ll give you anything.”
It’s funny. For how tall he was, I fit perfectly in his arms, another box to fill… but when was the last time I’d checked one off? Somehow, the system I’d created had been forgotten once I’d let myself feel—let myself experience what people said home felt like.
Could home be a person? I wasn’t sure, but I’d never felt more secure, safer, more understood than with him.