29. Wilder
Three days doesn’t seem like a long time, and it’s not in hindsight, it’s only seventy-two hours.
That’s two hundred fifty-nine thousand and two hundred seconds, and every single one of them is excruciating.
I knew sharing a room with Reed again was a bad idea, I’d done it before and barely survived.
And now? Now I feel like I’m slowly killing myself just to ease the aching need inside of me, because any scraps of self-control I had left are hanging on by a precarious thread.
One he tugs on every day with just the sight of his perfectly pretty face.
The worst part is that he doesn’t even realize he’s doing it, or maybe he does, I honestly can’t tell anymore.
What I do know is that somewhere between arriving at the lodge and waking up on the second morning, Reed stopped being just my PR assistant to everyone, and started becoming one of the guys.
It’s exactly the same routine as when my dad first hired him.
Sure Knox and Beck already knew him from school, but they quickly grew close with him, and don’t get me started on Matteo.
He may have flirted with him relentlessly at first, but he respects him just as much as he does any of us.
Now the same thing is happening here.
Casper started it of course, I don’t think my cousin has ever met a stranger in his life, he could make a friend out of anyone.
His good looks and charm tend to work on the majority, and given he is the polar opposite of his twin, he’s happy to welcome people in with open arms. The first morning after we arrived I found them at the kitchen island, drinking coffee that Bobby had made for them, and enthusiastically chatting about Casper’s stats back at The Academy.
Reed complimented him on his work ethic and his social media presence, and from that moment on, Casper basically adopted him.
By the second day they were playing chess together in front of the fireplace, while Knox and Beck yelled unhelpful advice from the couch.
Even Caden, who hates everyone but his brother, and sometimes Bobby, stopped watching him so carefully.
Which is basically a love declaration from him, and Reed not only noticed it, but seemed perplexed by it.
Still, despite that he looked both relaxed and comfortable, like he’d forgotten to be careful.
Every time someone included him in conversation, or asked him something personal, because they wanted to get to know him, not exploit him, he looked completely bewildered.
Like he couldn’t work out their angle, or why they even wanted him here.
And they do want him here. All I have heard is them singing his praises, telling me I have great taste, and that feeling in my chest gets worse every single time.
When I wake up on the third morning here, I find the bed beside me empty, which is unusual in itself.
I only seem to sleep well beside Reed, but I still usually wake up before him.
Throwing on some sweats, I go in search of him, and find him sitting at the kitchen island chatting quietly with Bobby.
It’s barely even 6:30 in the morning but here they are drinking coffee and discussing camera equipment.
“Oh that’s a great model, I like to use that for scenic photos, it’s no good for work, but still I have fun developing them in my darkroom.” Reed talks animatedly, the passion clear in his tone, and to my surprise Bobby listens intently.
“It’s one of my favorite cameras,” Bobby replies, taking a sip of his coffee, before his eyes flick up to meet mine.
"Since when do you know about cameras?" I ask, genuinely curious, and Reed looks up from his coffee now too.
“Since always,” Bobby shrugs, and I feel like a dick for not knowing that about him.
“How do you not know that?” Reed asks, and Bobby smirks, clearly enjoying the fact I have been called out.
“Don’t blame Wild, his self-inflated ego makes it hard for him to remember us lesser people exist. Isn’t that right, superstar?” Bobby drawls sarcastically, and Reed laughs at that. A full-on, genuine laugh that has his entire face lighting up, and it’s like a bolt of lightning to my heart.
“I seem to remember I was the one who saved your ass when that girl's boyfriend wanted to kill you after finding you in her bed,” I toss back, and he smiles at the memory like it’s a fond one.
“Who else was I going to call? Besides, she was worth it.”
They both go back to drinking their coffee and talking back and forth, and it isn’t long until the rest of the house starts waking up.
Once they do, we all head out for a run, to take in the sights and enjoy the quiet before all the chaos.
When we get back to the lodge, we shower and get changed, and then relax with some lunch.
It isn’t long until Casper gets bored, which should honestly be classified as a public safety hazard, especially when Knox and Beck are also involved.
“We should go out,” Casper starts, looking immediately to his sidekicks for validation, and they are already smirking and nodding.
"No," Bobby replies immediately, knowing he will have to be on Cas watch as per Caden’s demands, but Casper ignores him.
"We're absolutely going out,” he confirms, getting excited, as Caden gives him a slight nod in permission.
"Please no,” Bobby tries again, no doubt sick of both twins after all these years by their side.
Casper points at him with glee. "You're coming."
"I'd rather die,” Bobby replies flatly.
Casper ignores him, naturally, which is how two hours later, I find myself stepping out of the bathroom dressed in a dark shirt and pants, ready to go out drinking.
Reed is sitting at the dresser trying to style his hair, but he doesn’t look impressed or overjoyed at the prospect of our evening plans.
I’m not stupid, I know why, and I also know it’s not something he needs to worry about here.
We’re hours away from where the EWC is taking place, and Caden told me this town is tight-knit and made to be a rich man’s playground.
Meaning no one here will care about who he is.
It’s what has me crossing the room, searching his suitcase for his makeup bag until I locate it, then moving until I can drop it on the desk in front of him. Reed startles slightly at my proximity, and then frowns at what I have placed in front of him, looking between me and it in confusion.
“What are you doing?” he asks, as I shove him a little, until there is room on the cushioned bench for me to straddle it beside him.
“I’m not doing anything, but you’re not leaving this room until you look more like yourself.”
“Wilder,” he starts, but I cut him off.
“Reed, we’re in the middle of nowhere, you’re safe here, so please, paint this pretty face in the way I know you’re desperate to,” I gently demand, searching his stare. “And if not for you, do it for me.”
I watch him think through every possible outcome for the evening, reminding me of Caden in a way, before he smiles softly.
Then I sit and watch as he excitedly pulls out all his products and starts decorating his beautiful face.
I learn what foundation and concealer are for, watch as he nearly pokes his eyes out with eyeliner, and he lets me pick the color of his eyeshadow for the night.
I choose black of course, which only makes his eyes pop, especially when he adds mascara to his lashes.
He finishes off the look with a dark red lipstick, and I subtly readjust myself as I think about smudging it with my cock.
“Better?” he asks when he’s done, turning his face from side to side so I can take in the full view, and fuck he’s so damn pretty.
“You look beautiful either way to me, Blue, but it’s better to see you smiling,” I reply honestly, and even the makeup can’t hide his blush.
Our stares linger for a moment, before I clear my throat.
“Now, let’s see what we can do about this outfit.
” I slide off the bench and move back to his suitcase so I can rifle through his clothes.
“Excuse me, what’s wrong with my outfit?” Reed asks, following me across the room, acting offended.
“Don’t insult me, Blue, we both know you’re dressed like a fucking business grad right now, and hating every second of it,” I scoff, flipping through his clothes and pulling out options.
“Wilder.” He says my name with resignation, that I know is just apprehension and nerves, but I ignore him and focus on finding him an outfit.
First I find the black lace top I bought him, then I spot the white silk shirt he wore for the club in Milan, and I know they will pair well together.
I pick a slim fit pair of black pants next, which aren’t the ideal choice, but will look good with what I have already chosen.
I can feel Reed watching me, but I keep my focus on the task at hand.
“Where’s the chain I got you, Blue?” I ask, and I feel him freeze beside me. Not that I can blame him, it’s the first time I am addressing the gifts, not buying them for any kind of recognition, but right now it’s the perfect thing to finish off the outfit.
Reed remains still for another second, before he moves until he is right beside me, leaning in to locate a zippered black pouch in the corner of his suitcase.
When he opens it, I spot the framed print and postcard sitting pristinely below the chain, as if he didn’t want to damage any of them.
He reaches in and plucks out the chain, and I don’t miss the slight trembling of his fingers as he goes to hand it to me.
“I don’t need it, Blue, you do,” I purr, nodding my head toward the bathroom, as I pick up the clothes and hand them to him. “Now go and get changed.”