‘So?’ Seth said, and, before Ryan had finished trying to squeeze a response from the end of his tongue, ‘I was over to see Evie this morning.’
‘At home?’
‘At work,’ Seth replied, and his crooked smile told Ryan that the relief showed on his face. ‘You do something you’re ashamed of the other night?’
Ryan started. Is that what he thought?
‘No, why would you think that?’
‘That’s the only reason I can think of why I haven’t had another invitation or even a hello. Either that or I’m a lousy lay, and we both know that’s not true.’
The remark was so absurd that Ryan couldn’t stop the laugh that chucked up from his guts. He shook his head and twisted his fingers together.
‘I’m not ashamed. I just think we need to put some space between us to process before having another sit-down.’
‘You mean space between me and Evie?’ Ryan started to protest, but Seth talked over him. ‘I’m not stupid, my friend. You didn’t want me there to begin with, and now that things have cooled off, you still don’t want me there.’
‘That’s not it, and that’s not fair. I’ve got nothing against you.’
‘I never said you did. It’s not about me. It’s about you thinking I’m interested in more than just getting off.’
Ryan pressed his lips together. It was bad enough he’d been through this once with Evie and her accusations. Here he was again, having to spin the tangle in his head into something that could be tied into a neat bow.
‘Don’t like that, do you?’ Seth chuckled and draped his arm over the back of the loveseat. ‘Can’t say I blame you, but it’s true. You think I want to get between you and Evie. I’m here to tell you that you’re not even close to the mark.’
‘Aren’t I?’ Ryan snapped. ‘You’re telling me you’ve never come sniffing around her?’
‘That’s your style, not mine.’
Counting to five with his tongue thrust against the roof of his mouth to keep back his curse, Ryan sat back. He had meant to mimic Seth’s expansive presence, but he just felt awkward, like a bird caught in a net.
‘I’m not trying to run you down, Ryan,’ Seth went on. ‘I know you and Evie spent a lot of time trying to find someone to play with, and I know how badly it went down on your first try. Then I come along and we just jump into bed together, no boundaries or ground rules. That shit can get real messy. I ought to know. I’ve been there before. Like I told Evie, Rita and I used to get “adventurous” ourselves and had a few near misses.
‘Speaking of which, I’ll tell you what I told Evie when I dropped in on her,’ he went on. ‘I’m not done being Rita’s husband yet. I don’t want in on your relationship. If I did, or if I wanted your girl, I wouldn’t go through you to get her. I’d go around you, and I’ve got no intention of doing so. So, let’s talk. I got the impression from Evie that it’s got to be between you and me, so there’s no need to have a round table at your place – assuming you want to go forward.’
As much as Ryan hated Seth’s bullish tone, he had to appreciate the matter-of-fact path the man had paved. He didn’t quite feel level yet, but he was willing to move forward one step at a time.
‘I do,’ he said, meeting Seth’s challenging gaze, ‘and so does Evie.’
‘Then what do you want?’
‘For one, I want you to get that there’s no room for another person in my relationship with Evie.’
‘Didn’t I just get through saying that?’
‘Yeah, but I want to make it clear that’s a hard line. Things can get complicated quickly.’
Seth shook his head. ‘Not with me. You’ll have to take my word for it, though. What else?’
‘You let Evie and me lead.’
This brought out a rasping laugh. ‘You sure about that? Seems like you and I were doing all the leading the other night, and she wasn’t doing any complaining. If you’re worried about me hurting Evie –’
‘I’m not,’ Ryan said, and meant it. He didn’t entirely trust Seth, but when it came to making sure Evie was comfortable he knew that Seth would go out of his way to make it happen. ‘What I mean is that, when you get right down to it, Evie calls the shots. She’s got to have a way to let you know when she’s had about enough, or too much already. You’ve got to pay attention to her even when you want to just go crazy. I know what to look for and you don’t, yet.’
‘Fair enough. What about you?’
This was the part Ryan wasn’t prepared for. He had to admit that though when it came to treating Evie right he had full confidence in Seth, he wasn’t so sure the same applied to the two of them. The way Seth looked at him now made him feel like the wounded rabbit facing the hungry fox that already had a taste and wanted to finish the job.
‘I had no complaints,’ he muttered.
‘I did,’ Seth said, and his grin widened at Ryan’s surprised and affronted look. ‘I never had a chance to find out whether you’re as good at sucking my cock as Evie is.’
Ryan immediately lost his breath. ‘Not to be funny, but it never came up.’
‘You ever did it before?’
There was no point in denying it. He was too transparent for that. ‘I’ve only been on the receiving end of things.’
‘Let me guess: your university days.’
‘A few times. Another time on a hiking trip when I shared a tent.’
‘Never thought of reciprocating?’
‘Not with my mouth.’
Seth laughed. ‘Ah, so you’re more of a handjob kind of guy. What’s the story? Squeamish?’
‘It just never happened. I was never one to initiate things, and when it was over it was over.’
Seth held his silence, but his expression spoke volumes. In his dark eyes glittered a scheme that made the hairs on Ryan’s arms stand to attention. He held his breath, knowing what was coming next but unsure how it would arrive.
Without a word, Seth rose from his seat and planted his feet directly in front of Ryan, who longed to look away but couldn’t. Seth commanded his attention with a slight smirk and a tilt of one thick brow.
Ryan couldn’t tell whether he was being intimidated or Seth was merely stretching out the wait. His fingers twitched against his palm, suddenly itching to taste the cold metal of Seth’s belt buckle. He kept his hands tucked at his side and let out his breath with a quiet hiss.
‘Is the door locked?’ Seth finally asked.
‘Yes,’ Ryan croaked, though he wasn’t entirely sure he had turned the lock when they entered. It seemed so unimportant now that Seth unbuckled.
‘Good. You’re going to suck my cock for me, and then you’re going to go back to work.’
A burst of madness rattled a laugh from Ryan. ‘Talking to me like I talk to Evie doesn’t work on me.’
‘Your hard-on says otherwise.’
Seth shoved his jeans and jockeys down only far enough to release his cock. He didn’t touch himself. That dark column arced up, precome beading at the tip, inches from Ryan’s lips.
Hands on hips, Seth waited.
Panic gave his lust one last charge for domination, but it was no match. Ryan touched the tip of his tongue to his front teeth. The hedonist inside that had been unleashed last time cackled at his trepidation. He hadn’t been nervous about being fucked, but this…he worried he’d be terrible at it. It was one thing to offer your ass to be fucked, but this was another matter entirely.
‘Come on,’ Seth purred. He wrapped his hand around his shaft and gave himself a couple of brusque strokes, then slid his palm across Ryan’s hot neck. ‘Open up for me.’
With a moan, Ryan went forward and closed his mouth around Seth’s cock.
His whirring thoughts slowed as he puckered his lips. The taste of another man on his tongue entered his consciousness at a crawl. Seth exhibited no impatience as Ryan explored every inch with lips and tongue. The hand resting upon the back of Ryan’s neck remained still, keeping control with just the
slightest pressure.
As the need for his own release built, Ryan reached between his legs and pulled out his cock.
To have Evie there, his thoughts began as he ran his tongue along the underside, but he banished them as he grasped both himself and Seth. He wouldn’t think of Evie now, and how good it would feel to have her doing to him what he did to Seth. He would instead do what she would want from him, live in the moment and just feel the pulse of Seth’s arousal between his lips.
Using the same rhythm on his own body, Ryan jerked Seth as he took him into his mouth. Of all the words he had expected to describe sucking a cock, fun wasn’t one, but the word jumped out at him.
Fun. It almost brought up a laugh, but by the time the word reached his tongue it was nothing more than a spluttering moan.
He loved this as much as he loved going down on a woman. He loved the throb against his tongue as he took Seth deeper. He loved the heat of Seth’s body so close to his face, the tickle of dark curls brushing the tip of his nose and the moan that couldn’t be heard but felt as he sealed his mouth around that magnificent shaft and bobbed his head.
He loved how hard it made him, how easy it was to match the way he pumped his cock to the way he sucked Seth. He didn’t protest when Seth slid his fingers into his hair and pulled away so only the tip remained. He met the other man’s gaze as the sting against his scalp made his eyes water, and he wanted more.
Tilting his head back as he was wordlessly bidden, Ryan took as much as Seth gave. He’d never submitted like this to anyone before. Not like last time, when the charge moved through him between Evie’s body and Seth’s. This moment had none of the recklessness. There was just control, Ryan giving and Seth taking.
The fever came upon him fast as Seth plunged into his mouth again and again, not so rough as to choke but with stealthy strokes to keep Ryan delirious with the sense of having been made a plaything.
Ryan swept one hand around Seth and clenched the hard muscle he found, holding on as the madness took over.
He came first, pleasure gushing down his hand. At his groan, Seth drew back and uncorked from Ryan’s mouth, but held tight through the starburst that tore through Ryan’s entire body and flooded out of him in a slick river.
Insane and greedy, he rebelled. He wanted more, and gurgled around the thick flesh as it filled him again. His captor unleashed those primal sounds that had been so thrilling the last time and were just as exciting now, growls mingled with curses as he fucked Ryan’s mouth. Even at the mercy of his own orgasm, Seth remained in firm control. His grip unrelenting, he flooded the eager mouth before him, his seed running down Ryan’s chin.
All at once Seth seemed to deflate. The tempest in the room vanished and Seth dropped into the seat next to Ryan, who flopped back as he tried to catch his breath.
The buzz in his head abated and let in the sounds of the hospital, bringing with them the prick of panic that they had been heard.
But he was so tired, he couldn’t be bothered to worry. Instead, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and chuckled as he stood.
‘What’s so funny?’ Seth mumbled. He had his eyes closed as he rested his head against the back of the seat.
Ryan didn’t answer. He went into the little bathroom and quickly cleaned himself up. Miraculously there were no stains on his scrubs; he’d taken it all on his hand and his face.
After rinsing his mouth he emerged, unable to wipe the smile from his face.
‘So am I as good at sucking cock as Evie?’
Seth opened one eye and his laughter rolled across the room in a wave. ‘Close. You need practice.’
‘Is that right? I’ve probably got a chunk of my hair missing that says otherwise.’
‘That ain’t all you got.’ Seth opened up his arms to display what Ryan supposed to be the sorry state he was in. He looked as fantastic as Ryan felt, sprawled out with his jeans split open, his belly still damp and his cock resting limp against his abdomen.
‘I’m not telling her about this,’ Ryan said.
‘Still squeamish?’
The word didn’t sting like it did the last time. He tittered and kept his eyes on the other man as he rose and stretched. Disbelief passed through him as Seth tucked himself back in.
He just came in my mouth. Seth Axworthy just fucking came in my mouth.
He leaned in the bathroom doorway and let the thrill linger as he watched Seth scrub his hands. ‘I’ll tell her about it later. I want to see the surprise on her face when I do it in front of her for the first time.’
‘Yeah, that’ll get a reaction out of her.’ Seth laughed and shook his head, then met Ryan’s gaze in the mirror. ‘We good now?’
‘You know how stupid that question sounds?’
‘In all fairness, I thought we were good after the other night.’
Ryan shook his head. ‘Don’t start, OK? For once I’m not getting twisted up about this. Let me enjoy it, will you?’
Seth kept Ryan under his gaze as he dried his hands, then let out another deep laugh.
‘I take it I’ve got my second invitation, do I?’
Ryan chewed down his smirk. ‘That depends. You going to get on your knees for me?’
‘I think I just found out where Evie learned to be such a saucy bitch.’
‘That’s not an answer.’
Seth shouldered past Ryan and, without looking back, opened the door and called behind him, ‘Get me my second invitation and you’ll find out.’
Chapter Twelve
‘So is it official?’ Greg asked.
Evie pursed her lips as she rolled the dice. She had been expecting this conversation to begin at any moment and had considered taking bets with Ryan as to who would be the one to bring it up. She would have lost. Ryan would have said Greg and spent the night gloating. Evie’s money would have been on Greg’s wife, Rosie.
‘Is what official?’ she asked, but her attempt to play it coy was met with a groan.
‘Don’t even start, my dear woman. You and Ryan, strolling in here like the next super couple.’
Evie laughed and stamped her game piece across the board. ‘We’re not a super couple, but we are…couple-ish.’
Greg raised a brow. ‘How long has it been?’
‘You know how long it’s been. Now would you roll the dice so I can beat your ass?’
Greg and Rosie had lived in one of the townhouses across from Winsloe Court and had first been friends with Ryan. Before they moved to the suburbs, there had been many nights on the stoop with the couple or at the pub around the corner. They’d left the neighbourhood shortly before Ryan and Evie had become more than friends, and were in a constant state of giddiness and I-told-you-so remarks.
Chuckling, Greg took the dice from her and dropped it on to the tabletop. ‘I’m just asking as an interested observer.’
Evie wondered what her interested observer would think if he knew they’d spent the previous night in a sweat-soaked tangle with Seth.
‘You know, ever since you moved out here you’re getting pretty pushy with your single friends.’
‘Couple-ish friends, according to you.’ He reached the finish line and sat back with a gloat plastered over his face. ‘What was that about beating my ass?’
‘Don’t get cocky. This is just a game of chance. When we get to the trivia, you’ll be begging me for mercy.’ She twisted around to look out of the kitchen window. Rosie and Ryan were having a drink on the deck and they were all smiles, which suggested that Ryan had yet to be subjected to the same interrogation.
Greg gave her a kick beneath the table and brought her attention back to him, and his eyes crinkled behind his square glasses. ‘Ryan can be a little bit much at times.’
Startled, Evie could only gape back at him for a moment before her tongue loosened. ‘Why would you say that?’
‘You’ve got a frazzled look.’
‘I thought I looked nice. I did my nails and everything.’ She narrowed her eyes. ‘Have
you and Ryan been having girl talk?’
‘I’m trying to talk seriously to you,’ he said gently, then leaned forward with his hands clasped together. ‘Ryan can be a bit of a wingnut, but he’s a good guy if you don’t let him drive you up the wall. I don’t want to talk about his past history, but before you came along there were some real drama queens who breezed through and couldn’t hack how serious he could get. Guy never likes to make a move until he’s sure things are going to go his way.’
‘Believe me, I know that.’
More than you know.
‘So what’s the point of all this?’
‘It’s just that I think you’re both made for one another.’ His smile widened as her face grew hot. ‘I’d hate to see you get too worked up trying to figure out what’s in his head.’
Evie returned his smile. ‘Greg, I appreciate your concern but Ryan and I are doing fine. We’re both adults who can handle things like grown-ups.’
‘Hey, I’m in his corner but I wouldn’t give him that much credit.’
Evie narrowed her eyes. ‘You’re making me wonder what you would tell Ryan about me if he was sitting here.’
‘The truth: that you sell hard drugs behind the building.’
‘Everyone knows that, Greg. That’s how we met, remember?’
He flicked the game piece at her, then rose as Ryan and Rosie entered the kitchen.
‘Who won?’ Ryan asked.
‘I don’t want to talk about it,’ Evie replied.
He bent down to give Evie a peck on the cheek. Even though this wasn’t the first time he had been affectionate with her in front of them, glances were exchanged between husband and wife and Evie’s blush returned.
‘I say we do this in the living room,’ Rosie said as she went into the fridge. She produced a four-pack of beer and a bottle of terrible wine she’d split with Evie. ‘Regular trivia or movie trivia?’
Ryan cast his vote. ‘Movie. I always feel stupid for not knowing the capital of Greenland.’
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