by Mia Moon
“Yes,” I said glancing at his hand over mine.
The waitress returned the check and Nathan released my hand to put away his credit card. Our date was coming to a close, but I was greedy. Why did it need to end? The time had flown.
We stood and walked outside, quiet and probably both wondering what would happen next. I turned, trying to figure out to the direction of my apartment. The restaurant was an elegant hole in the wall—something I didn’t know existed—and it felt like we’d made a dozen turns to get here.
I studied the buildings, trying to orient myself while thinking of an excuse to prolong the night. He slipped his arm around my back, under my coat, trapping me and pulling me close.
I searched his eyes. Was this a goodbye kiss? I wasn’t ready to call it a night.
“Would you like coffee?” I asked out of nowhere.
“I would love coffee,” he said with a dramatic emphasis on ‘love.’
“My place is a few blocks away. It’s not fancy,” I offered with a grin.
He glanced over my shoulder. “You live downtown?”
“Sort of. It’s more like a few blocks and a quick run across a busy intersection,” I admitted. “But I have whipped cream I can put on top of the coffee.”
“You had me at busy intersection,” he teased. “Why don’t I just drive us? I would never live it down if our date ended with us being run over.”
I pretended to think it over before saying, “Deal.”
He bent down and kissed my forehead. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered. Pressing his fingertips against my lower back he nudged me to walk with him, sending little waves of giddy anticipation through me.
I squirted a hefty dollop of whipped cream onto Nathan’s coffee as promised and presented it to him.
“Why do you have whipped cream?” he asked. “I swear no one keeps this stuff on hand at random.”
I bit my lip a moment while I topped my coffee with a fluffy white swirl. “Shots,” I admitted. “I read a book about a shot called a blowjob. It requires whipped cream and you’re supposed to do it with no hands.”
He stared at me, one brow arched.
“I’m serious, and it’s harder than it sounds. I nearly swallowed the shot glass.” I put the can down and shook my head. “Never again.”
“I have so many questions,” he said laughing.
As I sat next to him on the sofa, I feared that it would be awkward. I had a studio apartment and the bed loomed nearby. But something about his casual, sprawling limbs, his lazy grin and the way he glanced at me, calmed my nerves.
“You’re the first person I’ve had over,” I said as I realized it.
He took a drink of his coffee and wiped his lip off. “I feel honored.” He turned his head, taking the room in. He’d already complimented it, but now he seemed to scrutinize. “Not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?”
"Ah, you know. Girly things. Aren't women supposed to have curtains and art and, I dunno? Flowered sashes draped everywhere?"
My space was so bare it looked like I’d only lived there a week instead of two months, but I liked the Spartan look. “At first it was from being broke. Now it’s because it’s much easier to keep clean.”
He nodded and reached out to stroke my cheek. “Before I make an ass of myself, am I just here for coffee?”
I paused, both hands wrapped around my warm mug. It was a good question. “I wasn’t ready for the night to end,” I admitted. “But if it’s just about the coffee, is that okay?”
“Of course, it’s okay,” he scoffed. “I had a wonderful time with you.”
I felt my cheeks heating up and chugged my coffee to keep from saying something stupid. I wanted to snuggle with him on my couch. I wanted to bring him to my bed. I wanted — oh hell, I didn’t know what I wanted.
I drank some more. Nothing in my life had ever been more confusing than having such strong feelings for two different guys at once.
He took the mug from me, prying my trembling fingers from the ceramic. Wordlessly, I watched him set it down on my coffee table. It was for my own good. Clearly my panic was obvious. He turned sideways on the couch to face me.
Brushing his fingers through my hair he studied my face.
“You’re beautiful, you know that?”
I shook my head. I’d always had a difficult time with compliments.
He came close and I couldn’t do much but stare. His lips covered mine with a kiss firmer than I’d expected, hungrier than I could’ve imagined.
My heart pounded in my ears as I leaned into him, seeking more of his heat and urgency. His tongue tangled with mine, and his arms wrapped around me, encasing me, keeping me close.
He pulled back, just an inch, still close enough that his lips touched mine when he asked, “Too much?”
“No,” I promised. I was breathy and felt dizzy, and I wanted more.
My hands threaded through his thick and soft hair. We moved together, touching, holding, and between one blink and the next I was lying against the sofa arm and he was pressed against me, between my legs.
His hand roamed under my shirt, caressing the bare skin of my waist, then finding my breast. Goosebumps raced up my arms. I moaned against his mouth and squirmed, grinding against the thick bulge of his cock.
“I want to rip your clothes off and bury myself in you,” he whispered into my ear. “Can’t wait to find out how wet you are.”
My stomach quivered, and I had a passing thought that surely my ovaries had just exploded. Before tonight, I thought dirty talk was stupid, but damn, was I wrong. Nathan’s gruff voice could make anything sound sexy. He could read the phone book aloud and I would probably have an orgasm.
“Not tonight,” I managed to squeak out. I kissed him once more before pushing gently on his chest.
He stared down at me with a wicked grin. “Not tonight… but another night?”
I laughed and looked away, needing a break from his addictive sex appeal. “I’m sorry. I can’t think straight around you,” I breathed. “You’re—”
“Too much?” he finished.
I bit my lip. He knew exactly was he was doing. I looked back at him, and he drowned me in his eyes. Holding my stare, he rolled his hips against my core, reminding me of the potential for hours of carnal delights.
“You’re killing me,” I whispered.
“No, you’re killing me. I’m good at waiting, but you make it painful,” he replied. He pushed himself off me, eyes twinkling and smirk cocky.
“We’ve known each other three days.” I rolled my eyes and laughed. “Men are so dramatic.”
“It’s been way more than three days since I last fucked,” he corrected. “But okay.”
I knew my cheeks were bright red and I stood, fanning my face. Inside, my stomach flipped at the idea that he hadn’t been screwing everything in sight.
“This is what I meant before. You are not like most IT guys I’ve met.”
He sighed and rose. “Yeah. And you’re not like anyone I’ve ever met.” He stood close to me, looking down and playing with an flyaway lock of my hair. “When do I get to see you again?”
“I don’t know… It’ll take me a few days to get a feel for my new work schedule.”
He kissed my forehead. “Okay. I won’t crowd you, but I’m not going to let you forget about me.”
“Forget about you? On what universe?” I asked in disbelief. “Have you seen you?”
He growled. “You are going to make me too full of myself.” He went to the door and grabbed his coat off the hook. “I should go. If I don’t leave now someone will have to come pry us apart.”
I met him at the door and he placed another kiss on my forehead.
“What are you doing this weekend? Can I call you if I get bored?” he asked pulling the door open.
I hesitated. If we were going to date again, he’d have to know about Ken. I wouldn’t keep hiding it. “Actually, I sort of have a date with
Ken Sunday,” I said carefully. “So…”
“Ah.” He ran a hand through his hair. “If I know him… wear cute socks.”
“Hunh?”
He leaned over and scooped me up for a quick, smoldering kiss that left me standing on my tiptoes. As he released me he licked my lips. “You taste so fucking sweet. I can’t wait to taste more of you. I’ll text you, ‘kay?”
He turned and ambled down the stairs. I shut my door and placed my back to it, feeling like I'd melted into a little warm puddle of lust and confusion. I guess I was in the clear. You go, Violet, I thought. Two smokin’ hot guys and you get to date them both.
I cheered internally until I realized that eventually I’d have to choose.
And what was that comment about Ken and the cute socks? Stockings? Lingerie? Athletic socks? What did he mean? How crazy.
I laughed out loud and made a beeline for the whipped cream, squirting a dollop into my mouth right from the can.
Chapter Seven
Alex held a branch up and out of the way, letting me step through, though it required brushing against his broad chest. I moved past him slowly, aware of the way his brown eyes followed me. He was protective, even if there was nothing dangerous about this trail. At least not that I knew of.
“Is the trail supposed to be overgrown like this?” I asked. “We’ve been walking forever, and it seems to just get more closed off.”
Josh walked close behind me, his hand lightly on my arm to guide me through the brush. They'd been like this the entire way, helping me manage an adventure at a state park near Denver that was a little out of my comfort zone. But it was turning out awesome, I thought. Nature was all around us, and the fresh, spring smell of pine trees rejuvenated me.
I needed to get out more.
“Eh,” he said. “Actually, this isn’t one of the established trails. It’s one we’ve sort of made ourselves.”
I frowned. “Are you allowed to do that?”
"This entire area is open for camping, so we're not disturbing anything," Alex clarified. "We come out here all the time, just not usually with a pretty girl like you."
I’d only been hiking a few times in my life, but I already knew I loved it. Sadly, my legs weren’t having fun. My own fault, for living behind a desk.
Alex moved ahead, and I followed. The thought of breaking the law wasn’t exciting to me, but I trusted that they weren’t just placating me. There was a semi-visible path worn beneath us, even if the trees and bushes didn’t seem to want to let us travel it easily.
“You said this circles around, right?” I asked trying not to huff and puff.
“Yup. And we’re about to come to why we usually break away from the mail trail,” Alex said over his shoulder.
“And what’s that?”
Josh held my hand, helping me jump across a tiny trickle of water that looked like a creek for ants. “You should hear it.”
I stopped talking and tried to listen past our footsteps. After a minute I heard something, but I wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe falling water? I squinted and tried to see what was ahead of us.
My foot slipped on a patch of mud and Alex steadied me as I almost slid down the side. “Whoa,” I gasped. “Thanks.”
“You need some hiking boots,” Josh commented.
They turned to the right and went down a slope. I followed, sliding the entire way but managing to remain upright. “I thought cross-trainers could do everything,” I muttered. “The last thing I want in my life is another pair of shoes.”
Alex chuckled, but at that moment, I realized the sound of rushing water had become louder. I could see it now through the trees ahead of us—a waterfall. I walked past the guys, no longer needing to be guided.
I stopped at the edge of the small lake and gaped in awe. I had no idea there were waterfalls out here, much less ones where there weren’t dozens of people taking pictures. How could something this unbelievably gorgeous be so hidden?
Time seemed frozen as I stared, stunned at the natural beauty of the waterfall. It was something I'd only seen in movies or on television. Cautiously, I walked the bank and tried to peer as far down as I could to see where the water flowed from the lake, how it branched into the creeks we'd traveled beside.
“And this is where we break and rest,” Josh announced. He stopped behind me and I watched him sling his backpack to the ground.
“How is there no one else here?” I wondered aloud.
“It’s chilly,” Alex pointed out. “But also, there’s another fall further down that’s easier to get to.”
“We get our own private waterfall to sit next to.” I sucked in a deep breath. It even smelled fresher here. Like pine trees. Even though it was chilly, it was manageable. And the cool breeze felt good on my sweaty skin. “Awesome.”
Probably because of the beauty that surrounded us, my tired legs seemed almost refreshed. That didn’t stop me from collapsing on the blanket Josh spread on the ground, though. The sun warmed my face, and I looked around for the guys.
Alex squatted by the water, dipping his hand in. Josh sat next to me and drank from his water bottle.
Something about being away from the busy city and work made me feel free and giddy. “I really appreciate this. I needed to get away, and I didn’t even realize it.”
"Happy to help," Josh said with a grin.
I stared at the water churning white bubbles into the lake. We sat in silence for minutes, enjoying the peace. It was almost spiritual, the stillness of everything but the water. Alex came and sat on the edge of the blanket.
“What are you thinking?” he asked.
The moment had made me too relaxed, and I said the first thing that came to my mind, a question I had been holding and saving for the perfect subtle moment. “Have you guys ever had a woman come between you?”
My tact was completely missing, but it was out there, and they’d both heard it.
“Often, but not as often as I’d like,” Alex teased.
Josh laughed, and I covered my face, hiding my red cheeks. Alex was good for twisting my words, and I’d stepped into that one.
“I’m sorry,” I groaned. “I’m an idiot.”
Alex scooted closer to me and patted my leg. “You asked.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“We know,” Josh said handing me a bottle of water. “And to answer, no. We’ve never had a relationship come between any of us.”
I took the water and sipped it, feeling some of the redness leave my face. “Really? You guys have been friends forever and nothing?”
“We don’t date much,” Alex admitted.
“But look at you. I mean… why not? You’re pretty much masters at flirting.”
Josh shrugged and leaned back, staring past me. “We don’t date often, and if we want something, we don’t need to flirt—”
“They just land in our laps,” Alex finished. “And usually squirm.”
My lips formed a small ‘oh.’ It made sense. I giggled.
“It’s not easy finding the right girl,” Josh said seriously. “It’s not a glamorous life to try to maneuver around our schedules.”
I nodded. After all, wasn’t that my potential issue with getting serious with Ken?
“Yeah,” Alex said slowly. “We’ve really just always wanted a girl like you.”
“Like me?”
“You fit in really well, and you aren’t trying to impress anyone. That’s not common at all—you get us guys together and we’re intimidating, we get it,” Josh added. “You’re just yourself.”
I chuckled. “Yeah. Foot in mouth awkward.”
“It’s cute,” Alex said. “And honestly, it’s nice that you aren’t obsessed with the game.”
“Why wouldn’t you want that? I thought that would be the dream.” I capped the water I was holding and set it aside. “Someone that’s interested what you’re into.”
“Someone who likes to trip through the mud is great, but someone who just loo
ks at us as players and only wants to talk stats or strategy—that gets old fast,” Josh said. “Puck bunnies hold no appeal.”
“Puck bunnies?” My brows knit together.
“Women who want to screw hockey players. Groupies.” Alex rolled his eyes.
I scowled, staring at the splashing water. “I’m the furthest thing from a puck bunny.”
“And that’s why we adore you,” said Josh.
Adore. No one had ever said that to me. This could be romantic, I mused. It was sweet of them to bring me out here, especially since they’d practically had to carry me half of the way.
Not that being lifted over muddy rocks by two hulking sexy men was a downfall in my book. I could get used to it. They both looked over me with more caring than I thought I’d warranted since we were almost strangers.
A jolt of awareness made my skin prickle. I sat up straight and glanced from Alex to Josh. “Wait… is this a date?”
Josh smirked, and Alex gave me a wide grin.
“And that’s the other thing,” Alex said. “You’re so open and innocent, you never even suspected a thing.”
My jaw fell. “Wh—” I took a breath. “What? Wait… and both of you? All of you?”
It felt like forever had passed, but it was probably just a few seconds. Leave it to me to be on a strange double-date and not realize it. Obtuse, slow, clueless—those were the words that came to mind.
“Are you upset?” Josh asked finally.
I shook my head. When I’d gotten dressed this morning, I’d considered it as a possibility that all four liked me, but dismissed the thought just as quickly.
After all, it was me, Violet. Geeky Violet. Shy Violet.
But now that it was out in the open, here next to this amazing waterfall that was something out of a postcard, I couldn’t remember the last time I’d found someone I could relate to and be myself around.
Now I had four amazing men that all wanted to spend time with me. Whose every little subtle action indicated a deep sense of caring. A willingness to commit. Kindness.
“I’m not upset… unless this is a game. It’s not… I mean, it’s not a competition?” I asked fearing the answer.