38. Cole
Cole
“So I have a bit of news,” I say, after I’ve cleared our plates into the kitchen. Freddie and Sloane both look up at me expectantly. “Jessie has put me in touch with a gallerist she knows, and they’re potentially interested in showing some of my paintings. In an exhibition.”
Both of them react instantly – Freddie jumping up from the sofa and pulling me into a rib-crushing hug, while Sloane wraps her arms around the both of us.
“Cole, that’s incredible!” she practically shouts, warmth lighting her grey-blue eyes.
“I’m so proud of you, mate,” Freddie agrees, pulling back from our hug to clap a hand on my shoulder. “This is huge!”
“Well, I’m not counting any chickens yet. But it’s nice to have eggs, I guess.”
“They’d be mad not to show your work. Do you know which pieces? Can we go look?” Sloane’s gaze flicks over to my studio door and I nod.
“Of course. There is nowhere off-limits to you, firecracker. Or you, pretty boy.” I glance at Freddie and I swear he blushes just a tiny bit. Interesting .
Sloane grabs my hand and pulls me over to the studio. The smell of paint washes over us as she pushes the door open. I lean over to throw the lights on and Sloane squeals as she spots my work-in-progress on the easel. It’s got a lot of black and red in it, with accents of gold.
“Oh, this one is stunning,” she breathes, staring at it reverently.
I rub the back of my neck as I take in the sight of her absorbing the texture and detailing of the piece.
I can’t say that it’s not a turn on having her admire my work.
Especially given this piece was inspired by her – though she doesn’t know that.
I wanted something that would express her sensuality, but also the darkness that I see lingering around the edges of her expressions. I know Freddie sees it too.
He comes up to stand next to us, and surprises me by snaking an arm around my waist and resting his head on my shoulder.
I go still for a moment as he just stands there looking at my painting, then I wrap an arm around his shoulders and give him a squeeze.
Then Sloane leans her head on my other shoulder and we’re suddenly all standing together, my arms around them both, as we look at the painting.
I feel a peace wash over me that I’ve never known before, and I know in this moment, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I love them. Both of them.
I am so far gone that I would burn the world down just to keep them safe. I love Freddie’s stupid jokes and his giant heart. I love Sloane’s big, beautiful personality every bit as much as I love that soft, vulnerable creature within her. I love them.
I’m in love with them.
The thought radiates through me, and for a moment all I feel is the warmth of it. The realisation feels like stepping out of the plane when you’re on holiday and being hit with a wall of heat. I know that I can’t tell either of them yet. It’s too new, too fragile.
And I don’t want Freddie to run a fucking mile.
But my God it feels so right .
“I think this one might be my joint favourite,” says Sloane, breaking the spell somewhat.
“Oh yeah? Joint with which one?” I cast my eyes around the room.
“The teal one,” she says, gesturing at it. “Something about that one calls to me.”
“You can have it if you want,” I offer.
“What! No way. This belongs in a gallery. And then ideally on the wall of someone who will pay you a million dollars for it.”
“It’s not worth a million dollars.”
“It could be!” she protests. “Don’t give it away. It’s precious. Maybe even priceless.”
“We’ll see. I’ll let the gallerist decide which – if any – he wants.
” I shrug. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but Jessie’s message implied her friend was very interested in the pieces she showed him on her phone.
I still can’t believe she strong-armed me into sending the photos of them to her but she’s a difficult person to say no to.
“Well, if she gets one, I want one,” Freddie butts in, and I smile.
“I don’t know if you can afford me,” I say with a wink, and he gasps in faux outrage.
“Depends on what currency you accept,” he challenges back, a tiny edge of heat in his voice.
“I’m open to negotiation,” I say, my voice a tad gravelly. I see Sloane glance between us out of the corner of my eye, but my gaze is locked on Freddie.
“I… I would be open to trying a few… currencies,” he says, voice soft. There’s a touch of fear in his eyes, and my own widen at what he’s implying.
“We can try new currencies anytime you like,” I reply, searching his face. He swallows, and I track the movement in his throat. “Trying something out doesn’t mean you have to commit to it.”
His gaze drops to my mouth and back up in an instant, and I swear to God my heart stops. He then looks to Sloane.
“Is this ok?” It comes out in a whisper and my stomach flips. He’s being so unbelievably brave right now, and I know I’m going to hold him through whatever this is, even if it puts my heart through a mangle. She nods, eyes a tiny bit glassy, but her smile is encouraging.
He steps forward then, into my space. I’m pretty sure I’ve stopped breathing. His gaze is unblinking as we stand mere inches apart. His tongue darts out to wet his bottom lip and my cock twitches. I force myself to stand still, even when every atom in my body is screaming to pull him into me.
I have to let Freddie come to me on his own terms.
I see a shiver run through his body just before he leans in and softly presses his lips to mine.
It’s tentative, shy. I match his tempo, but I can’t resist opening for him slightly, and as his tongue sweeps in, my control snaps.
My hands are suddenly in his hair, and he fucking whimpers as I dominate the kiss.
I’m slightly taller than him, which makes it easy for me to own him in the moment.
He relaxes as I tilt his head to get better access, his tongue meeting mine stroke for stroke.
My hands rove across the firm muscles of his back as I pull him closer, and I feel a spear of pure joy go right through my heart as I realise he’s hard too.
He pauses for a moment but doesn’t pull away, resting his forehead on mine as we both catch our breath. I bring a hand up to his face, tracing a thumb across his cheekbone as he takes half a step back.
“Did that earn me a painting?” he jokes, but his voice is raspy. His eyes are frantically bouncing between mine as I give him my most reassuring smile.
“What’s mine is yours,” I say back, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Boys,” comes Sloane’s voice, breaking the spell. “Either we all go to bed right now or you guys accept that I’m going to start masturbating in the studio while you two make out.”
That startles a laugh out of me, and Freddie gives her a roguish grin, though I notice the blush rising in his cheeks.
“We better do as the lady says,” I say, threading my fingers through his and pulling him in the direction of my bedroom.
Freddie Lane, holding my hand.
Sloane follows, and we tumble onto the bed in a tangle of limbs, clothing flying everywhere – before I sit up and call a time out.
“I know we’ve been talking in code, but I want to have a proper conversation before we get fully naked.” I hold up my hand and they both pause their frantic undressing and look at me.
“Oh God,” Freddie groans, grabbing a pillow and pretending to smother himself. “Another pre-event briefing.” Sloane snorts, but nods, and I continue.
“That kiss was phenomenal,” I say, summoning every ounce of courage I’ve got. If he rejects me now, I’ll deal with it. “And if that’s all this is, that’s absolutely fine. But if you want to explore, then I’ll be led by you. Do you want that?”
I level my gaze at Freddie as all the humour on his face dies and he nibbles his lip. After a pause, he nods.
“I need words, Freddie.”
“Yes, I want to… explore.”
“Ok,” I say, nodding as my heart goes ballistic in my chest. “We’ll operate a red, amber, green system, ok? Red is stop, amber is slow down, green is go.”
“Ok,” he says, giving me a small smile.
“Same goes for you, firecracker. Ok?”
“Yes, daddy,” she replies, giving me an evil smile.
“Stop that, brat,” I reply, but I can’t help the smile that curves my lips.
“Can we get naked now, please? I’m going to die if I don’t come soon.” Freddie’s pleas are music to my ears.
“Same,” agrees Sloane, pulling her top off. I groan as a red lace bra comes into view. Within seconds, we’re all completely naked. Freddie and I are both hard as steel.
“What now?” Freddie says, looking between us. Historically, sex has all been hinged around Sloane. Now the logistics feel… less clear. But, thankfully, our girl takes the lead.
“Now, we make you come,” she says, pushing Freddie down onto his back. She glances over at me and looks pointedly at his cock, raising her eyebrows at me. I nod, our silent conversation making perfect sense as we both lean down and simultaneously run a tongue up either side of Freddie’s shaft.
“ Fuck !” he says, hips jerking as his hands fly up to his face. He looks down at us, eyes wide as we pause, either side of his cock.
“Colour?” I ask.
“Green. So much fucking green.” He drops his head back onto the pillow and we lick again, this time taking turns to swirl our tongues around the head of his cock. He groans, hips bucking as I find that sensitive spot on the underside.
“Fuck, Cole,” he mutters, and my stomach flips to hear him say my name. Every fibre of my being is screaming with joy as we continue to torture him with our tongues, a string of nonsense coming from his mouth as we wind him up closer and closer to the peak.
I can feel he’s close when I pull away, seizing the opportunity to kiss Sloane. Freddie groans in frustration, his eyes locked on our messy kiss right over his pretty cock.
“Please,” he says, voice hoarse.
I feel Sloane smile against my lips, and I pull back a bit to look down at Freddie. I’ve never seen him look so desperate. The sight of him hovering on the edge sends a bolt of undiluted lust up my spine. I swear I could come from just this.
Sloane sits back on her heels and gestures for me to continue. I see what she’s doing – she’s offering for me to be the one who finishes him off. And I love her even more for it. Because she knows that we’re through the looking glass now, and there’s likely no going back.
I bring my mouth back to Freddie’s cock and drop down so he hits the back of my throat.
“ Jesus fuck !” he shouts, as I work my mouth up and down, tongue vigorously massaging as I go. He’s panting now, his hips rising and falling as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself. Suddenly, his hands are in my hair, tugging at the roots, and I know he’s lost it. He’s right on the brink.
“I’m gonna come,” he says, panic in his voice. I nod, moaning around his cock to show it’s ok.
“Colour, Freddie?” Sloane’s voice interrupts.
“Green! Green! Gre—fffffuck,” Freddie manages to get the colour out before he tenses and I feel his release hit the back of my throat.
I stay still for a beat, gently swirling my tongue as he rides out his orgasm.
Then he jerks as everything becomes too sensitive.
I swallow, sitting back on my heels as I lock eyes with Sloane.
Her eyes are shining – she knows she’s just witnessed something special. After all, we’ve both had our first times with the same sex. This is Freddie’s first proper dabble into something new.
She leans over and kisses me again, her tongue languidly stroking my bottom lip until I open and we share the taste of Freddie between us.
“I think I’ve died,” comes a hoarse voice from below us.
“That would be awkward,” Sloane laughs, leaning down to sweep an errant curl off Freddie’s forehead.
“Seriously. There are no words.”
He’s blinking up at the ceiling. We don’t press anything, we just give him time.
Sloane and I exchange another look, then she lies down with him, tucking her head into the nook of his shoulder.
I duck out into the kitchen to get everyone some water, and by the time I come back, they’re both fast asleep.
I pull the duvet over both of them and then dig out some sweats from my drawer.
Freddie might need a good night’s sleep to recover. I need to paint.