Chapter 18 #2
Bryce and I walked toward him as he lifted pot lids, tossed stir fry and checked on a rice cooker.
Hunter turned to us both. His smile said he was happy to have an extra guest for dinner, though as he faced the cooking food again, he teased from the side of his mouth.
“You’re lucky I made plenty, Mr. Big Shot.
What’s the matter, run out of food stamps? ”
Chuckling, Bryce threw his jacket over one of the sofas, petting Carrot as she lazed in a curled ball on a fancy armchair. “I’ll return the favor soon enough. Just let me know when you want me to cook here again. You know I love to.”
The back of Hunter’s head bobbed. “I’ll be taking you up on that. And I want those pricey steaks again.”
Bryce shrugged. “Good choice,” he said as I sneaked behind Hunter, squeezing his bicep as it bulged from under his T-shirt. Hunter paused and leaned down for me to peck him on his cheek.
“What are you cooking? Smells amazing.” I gave Hunter another squeeze before walking the few steps over to Carrot to giver her an ear and chin rub.
Hunter pointed to each dish on the cooker as he described them. “Got jumbo Bengal prawns in a Sri Lankan yellow curry, mild, cause not everyone’s a fire elemental. Jasmine rice. Bok Choi and garlic stir fry. And the biggest prawn crackers this side of Beijing.”
It all smelled and looked so good. Despite his smiles, I hoped I hadn’t offended Hunter though, by bringing Bryce back for what had clearly been intended to be a dinner for two.
He answered my worries with a casual point to a far cupboard, saying playfully, “The big shot has to set the table. When you invite yourself to dinner, you got to work for your food around here.”
Bryce smiled, nodded and got to it. Setting the table carefully and elegantly, adding another few candles and lighting them with his fingers.
“What can I do?” I asked, not wanting to feel like a third wheel.
Hunter plucked off an oven glove, cupped my cheek and kissed me briefly, but tenderly. “You can go keep Carrot company until it’s time to eat. Go on, go put your feet up.”
So, ambling over, easing Carrot up and into my arms, I pressed my face against her warm fur and cradled her on the couch until the food was ready, resting my feet on the coffee table while the men got dinner ready. God, I was spoiled.
We all sat down and had one of the best home-cooked Asian meals ever. The prawns were delicious. The flavors so delicate, the rice extra fluffy. This really had been my lucky day for wonderful food.
After dinner, Hunter pulled me down onto a couch and I snuggled into him. Bryce sat in the corner of the opposite couch and pointed to a tall, ornate liquor bottle on the counter. “What’s that?”
“Scottish raspberry gin,” Hunter replied. “Sounds not too great, but I had a shot earlier and believe me—”
“Pour me a large one?” Bryce said in a rush, his face betraying an entrenched nervousness.
Hunter stood, plucked the cork from its top and poured a solid two fingers into a crystal tumbler, doing the same for himself. He held up the bottle. “Serenity?”
I shook my head. I was stuffed with food and relaxed enough as it was, with Carrot curled and purring on my lap.
Handing the drink to Bryce, Hunter sat back down beside me and Carrot, petting her head as he took a couple of small mouthfuls of the liquor. The tart aroma of fresh raspberries drifted toward me as he sipped.
“Something on your mind?” Hunter asked Bryce. “Seemed like you needed that drink.” He nodded at the already half-empty glass.
Bryce guzzled the remaining gin and sat forward, perching on the edge of his couch. “Look, I can see you guys have something going on”—he glanced at where Hunter had rested his hand on my thigh—“and I think that’s great, I’m really happy for both of you, but…”
He brushed his hands over his head, ruffling his perfectly combed hair. He sighed, staring down at his feet, before asking Hunter an unexpected question that shocked me, “All jokes aside, do you love me, Hunter?”
Hunter grinned and opened his mouth as if to reply with a quip, but he swallowed and stopped himself. “I do. I think you know that. Why are you asking?” His face turned mischievous. “You’re not about to propose, are you?”
That broke the tension and Bryce laughed. “No, I’d prefer my partner’s biceps to be smaller than my own, thank you. That wasn’t why I was asking.”
Not wanting to interfere in their moment, I petted Carrot and stayed quiet.
Hunter finished his own drink and clunked the tumbler down on the coffee table. “So, since you’re clear how I feel about you, and you don’t want to marry me, what are you getting at?”
Bryce ignored Hunter’s question for a second and looked over at me, his gaze glazed and focused. “Serenity, today, when you steadied me, to stop me tripping over that cable”—he drew in a deep shaky breath—“our skin touched.”
I made a face. “I thought it was just your glove I caught. Are you—”
He waved an impatient backhand. Not in a rude way, but it was clear he had a truth that needed spilling. “I told Monique that. She didn’t need to know. But we touched. I felt the warmth of your skin on mine. It was something I’ll never forget. For as long as I live.”
Hunter sighed, stood and brought the gin bottle to Bryce. He plucked its cork and refilled Bryce’s glass then did the same for his. “Bryce, you said she touched you. Was there an ambulance involved? Doctors? Morphine injections?”
Bryce gulped the drink, shaking his head. “None of that.” His eyes delved into mine. “Just pleasure. Warmth and softness from your hand. I’ve never felt anything like it before.”
I had to interject. “We really touched skin? Are you sure? Your condition. I thought—”
“I thought so too. I’ve been thinking all my life this would never happen, believe me.”
“So, we definitely touched? But I felt nothing. Just, well”—it was my turn to be embarrassed—“I was just reacting on instinct. It all happened so quick.”
“Trust me, we touched. I’ll never forget the feeling until my dying day. I was expecting all hell to break loose. For me to have an invisible elephant sitting on my chest, and for you to be screaming.”
“But nothing happened,” Hunter joined in, his tone slightly skeptical.
Bryce nodded. “Nothing. I felt intense pleasure. Not pain. And I know you and Serenity are getting closer, but I think I might need Serenity. She’s…
she’s just the only person who can make me feel the way I do.
It’s not just her touching my skin. I’m falling for her.
” Bryce drained the gin, clinking it gently down.
“I bet you want to punch my lights out now, right, Hunter?”
Ever stoic, calm, Hunter shook his head.
“If you got touched painlessly for the first time in your life, and maybe—maybe—Serenity is the only one who can do that, then don’t worry, I get it.
” He petted Carrot’s head. “Besides, if I punched your lights out, the touch would have me in the ER bed beside you, remember?”
They both laughed. I felt myself scowling.
Guys and their stupid macho humor. This was serious, and I was more concerned about the truth of the matter.
Not to mention the fact Bryce had just declared his romantic interest in me.
I mean, it was hardly the worst thing a girl could hear.
But it conflicted with what I’d promised Hunter and that bothered me a lot.
It was one thing to have a crush on Bryce while starting up a relationship with Hunter. It was another thing to act on it.
I mean, a girl was always expected to choose, eventually, right?
I looked at Hunter. There was only one way to be sure about this touch business. “I could… try touching him again, so there’s no uncertainty?”
Hunter nodded. “Makes sense.” He looked over at Bryce.
“You up for this? I’ve got a bag of Carolina Reaper peppers in the fridge, can’t get much stronger if you need them for pain, but this has to be on you.
” Hunter looked at me. “And you. If Bryce’s mistaken, you’ll need an ambulance, morphine injections, the lot. ”
Seeing the years of pent-up sorrow and loneliness on Bryce’s face, and how sure he sounded about what had happened earlier, I’d made up my mind.
Remembering how he’d been looking at me earlier this afternoon only encouraged me too, though I felt bad thinking that while sitting next to Hunter.
“I want to do it. At least try. So you really don’t mind, Hunter? ”
“No.” He gave me a soft look that seemed to convey a lot more than just acceptance about this experiment. “Both of you are the most important people in my life right now. If everyone’s willing to accept the risks, I want this for both of you, to have answers.”
Saying nothing, Bryce undid his cufflinks on his left arm and rolled up his shirt sleeve to the top. “Go on then. Let’s find out if I’m delusional or not.”
Gently lifting Carrot onto Hunter’s lap, I walked across the room, pausing. “Are you sure? I keep remembering that night in the club…”
Bryce’s voice was shaky but his words were confident. “It’ll be okay. Just take hold of my bare arm with your hands. Please.”
I reached out, my palms inching closer, my breathing heavy and heart thumping. Then I decided to go for it, clasping my hands around his arm tightly, so there could be no mistake, no misunderstanding.
And there was no pain. My hands were gripped on his bare skin and there was nothing. No agony, no terror. Just a man’s warm, toned arm.
I stood there for a moment, in silence, touching his smooth skin. His eyes were closed as if he’d been injected with a euphoric drug. He let out a low moan.
Then, still grasping Bryce, I turned to look at Hunter. His eyes and mouth were agape.
Bryce had been right.
And now I had two men staring at me with curiosity and heat in their eyes.