~Chapter 22~
I wake up a little groggy but feeling, oddly, light. Stu knew most of what I shared but not all. I could tell he struggled with not knowing all the details. They all did. But, I’m also relieved none of them pushed for more. By the time I was done, I was well and truly exhausted. I don’t remember coming back to my room but judging by the view of the backyard, I somehow made it back.
My eyes snag on a tablet someone left behind. I live for music. In fact, my brain randomly sings at least once an hour while awake.
Not ready to face the guys after the info dump, I reach for the tablet and easily find the YouTube Music app. I giggle a little, seeing a list of the most recent plays and, whoever owns this tablet, is polyjamorous like I am. I like it.
Wanting to cleanse some of the overwhelming feelings flowing through my body, I click on Rhianna’s Stay before clicking the tablet screen off and setting it back down on the nightstand. Closing my eyes, I fall back against the bed, and let the lyrics flush my system.
Water drips down my cheeks and I take a stuttered breath knowing that I really need to let it all out.
I can’t believe I actually agreed to date them. Four of them! Four, what? Four boyfriends? Man friends? Ew, no.
I won’t lie, I’m shocked that they all truly want me. And, not just want me, they want to be with me. Or so they say.
Then, barely ten minutes later, I’m spilling my whole, traumatic, jacked-up life. Unfortunately, the meds had me passing out before any of them could do anything other than sit there in silent shock and stare at me like I was a fragile pane of glass standing before them.
Now, I’m nervous. Will they still want me? Now that they know how broken, how damaged I am?
A soft knock on the door causes me to jump. Pulling up the blankets, I quickly run my fingers through my hair and call out, “C-come in.”
Stu pokes his head in, his smile widening as he sees me awake. He looks like he’s showered recently. His skin looks brighter, and his piercings reflect the soft light emitting from the ceiling lights.
“Hey, beautiful,” I swear his smile grows and I can’t help but smile back at him.
“Hey.” Clearing my throat, I nervously look around, letting the soft side of my blanket ground me.
“Um, would you like to come in? I, uh, guess, maybe we should talk.”
With a subtle nod, he squeezes in, not letting the door open all the way, before quietly clicking it shut.
He turns around, slips his shoes off, then crawls onto the bed. A tingle tangles through my body and I shift a little. He’s so dang hot, it’s unreal.
Sliding in next to me, he props himself up on his left elbow, turns onto his side, and looks down at me like I’m something precious, something important, something worthy.
“So…you sure you want this? With me I mean? I’m a hot mess. I hate being vulnerable, I haven’t actually dated in, gosh, years, and I just, I don’t know how to do thi-”
Suddenly, Stu’s soft lips meet mine, effectively cutting my self-deprecating rant completely off.
This kiss isn’t like the one we shared earlier, or almost two weeks ago. It’s sweet, slow, explorative; like he’s trying to memorize every bump, groove, and sound created by his long, delicious tongue.
The dance between our tongues is erotic, familiar, and I’m having a hard time telling my pussy to back the fork off.
Stu groans into my mouth, and before I can take my next breath, he’s covering my body with his.
My legs spread to accommodate his size and I wrap my arms around his neck. Well, I do it as best as I can since I have a giant cast in my way. The good news is, Stu doesn’t seem to be bothered about it. Instead, he continues his slow, passionate exploration of my mouth. With one arm propped near my head, he takes the one that was caressing my cheek and slides it down my body; lightly trailing his fingers down my collarbone, traveling over my breast, and continuing downward.
With deft fingers, he tickles the bottom of my top. Releasing me from our kiss, he stares down at me, those cool, blue eyes piercing deep into my psyche.
“Beatrice,” My name sounds like a prayer and I know at the moment, I would gladly give this man everything he asks for.
“We should wait,” His voice is laced with disappointment and resignation. And I can’t help my response. The need pulsating through my body, soaking my panties, makes me want to have this moment with him. The moment I’ve been secretly dreaming about for years, but never allowed myself to hope for.
“Please, Stu. I need you.” I thrust my hips up to meet his pelvis and he groans out.
He answers my plea with a thrust of his own and I curse the layers of fabric between us.
His mischievous grin, and glint in his eye, tell me that he not only isn’t going to give me what I want, what I crave, but he’s enjoying my predicament way too much.
I growl out, throwing my head back and rolling my eyes toward the ceiling. “Wh-hy?” I whine petulantly.
His answering chuckle lights my nerves on fire and my pussy clenches with need.
Bending down, he lightly kisses my nose and smiles down while saying, “Not yet, not like this. But, soon. Promise.”
With a wink and another chaste kiss, his body heat disappears and I’m seconds away from throwing a full-body tantrum like a two-year-old.
“Jerkface,” I mumble under my breath. His answering laughter follows him around the room as he slides off the bed, pushes his feet into his shoes, and heads for the door.
He turns to look at me over his shoulder, smirks, and says, “Naughty girl. I came to see if you’re awake. Boss Man talked to HQ and has something to tell you.” I narrow my eyes and glare at him because the laughter in his eyes means he’s enjoying my little predicament all too much.
Reaching down, he not-so-subtly adjusts himself before winking at me. “You’re not the only one Queen Bea. Now, get your beautiful ass up out of bed and come to the living room. Do you need help or you got it?”
“I’ve got it. Besides, I’m mad at you.” I pout and am suddenly aware that I’m usually not this playful with others. It’s nice, actually. He cackles and I throw a pillow at him.
And, just like before, he closes the door just before the pillow can connect and his laughter bounces down the hall as he walks away.
Ten minutes later, I’ve turned the tablet off, used the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and re-tied my hair up into a messy bun.
Stepping into the living room, I officially take in the surroundings. There’s a battleship grey wall that the 70-inch TV sits against. The entertainment center is sleek, black, and boring, yet modern-looking. Strangely, it kind of matches the house. Greys and creams decorate the rest of the space, including the kitchen.
Two large maroon recliners sit diagonally towards the TV and are on opposite sides of a large, dark grey sectional that would easily fit 8 people. The strangest thing is the space still appears huge. Which, I mean, with four guys brooding around, I’m sure they need.
To my left, near the opening of the hallway I just walked out of, is a set of stairs. Just beyond that is a ginormous floor-to-ceiling sliding door overlooking the beautiful backyard. The front door appears to be on the other side of the living room, near another set of stairs. Geez, this place is massive.
The men in question begin walking into the living room with large trays of food and enough drinks to hydrate an army.
Charlie’s face falls when he sees me and he freezes on sight. Danny almost runs into him and Even barely misses the backup by stepping around the other two. He, quite gracefully, trips, stumbles, dances around, then rights himself long enough to slide his huge tray of chicken piccata on the table. One lone caper bounces off the tray and he curses it out. “Stupid, piece of shit. You just couldn’t stay on could ya? Trying to impress the pretty girl and you just had to dive-bomb the floor, didn’t ya?”
I can’t freakin’ help it, I crack up laughing.
His head snaps toward me and I see his face pale enough behind his beautiful beard that I laugh harder. Charlie’s still standing in the kitchen archway, seemingly dumbstruck, and Danny’s cackling behind him.
Stu peers around Danny, raises a brow, and scans the room. Once he spots me, I see his cheeks lift with a smile. “Hey, beautiful! Fancy seeing you here.”
Danny’s eyes leak from laughter, causing me to crack up even harder.
After another minute, Danny and my laughter dies out and I watch as Stu shoves him aside, hands filled with beers, and swaggers over to me. His pink hair flops over his forehead as he approaches me. Then, he gives me the most toe-curling, drive-by kiss that leaves me reaching out for him as he cockily meanders over to the table to deposit the drinks.
Danny playfully shoves Charlie out of the way, which causes him to blink a few times before coughing a little and then moving briskly toward the table. Danny slides a tray filled with 10 different cheeses and a pile of strawberries dumped in the middle. Charlie’s bowl is piled high with fettuccini. He steals a noodle, slurps it up, and swipes a beer before walking over to the far recliner and plopping into it.
Danny and Even grab a paper plate from a stack I hadn’t noticed before, and pile them high with food.
Stu looks over at me and tilts his head. “Come on, Bea. Time to eat. I know you only ate half of your sandwich earlier. Tonight, we’re having a movie and picnic night. Whatcha’ want on your plate?”
Danny pops up quickly from where he was bent over the table and declares, “I’ve got it! I already loaded you up. Pretty flowers need their vitamins and plenty of energy.” He smiles so wide I can’t tell if it’s cute or creepy, but his eyes gleam with excitement so I return his smile with a murmured, “Thank you.”
Even piles up another plate of food, passes it to Danny, and the two of them sit on the end of the sectional furthest away from Charlie. Stu makes a plate before plopping into the remaining recliner; stretching out across the arms instead of using the actual footrest.
I stand there, awkwardly for a moment, before Danny pats the huge area of the sectional next to him. Tipping my lips in a small smirk, I put my head down and quickly make my way over to sit just as Charlie clears his throat.
“Please, eat. And, um, before we turn on the movie, we have an offer for you.” I look between him and the others, trying to gauge their reactions, or any hint of what they may be about to drop in my lap. Unfortunately, they’re all very good at wearing masks of indifference and my anxiety ratchets up.
“O-Ok.” I stutter, nodding my head in acquiescence.
For the next fifteen minutes, Charlie explains the phone call he had with HQ. I’m given strict instructions to think about it, not give an immediate decision, before Danny pushes play on Couple’s Retreat.
And for the next two hours, I don’t think about my answer; or my predicament. For once, I sit back, enjoy my food with amazing, hot, funny, smart men, and lose myself in the hilarity that is Vince Vaugh and Jon Favreau.