Total pages in book: 105
Estimated words: 100301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100301 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
I pulled back and looked at him. I was pretty sure Ian had just admitted to being jealous of me, yeah, but maybe jealous of David too, because of me. But then, I could see it, because of our friendship. Ian had never shown any interest in me in other ways. I probably hadn’t in him either, and I was definitely attracted to him. I’d fuck him, no doubt there.
“You would never be left out, I can promise you. David would be all over you if you gave him the slightest indication you were interested in playing with him. And hell, he’d be crazy not to. You’re fucking gorgeous. And I’d love to hook up with you. Why did we never do the friends-with-benefits thing?”
Finley and I had considered it in the beginning when Aidan had wanted him to have every experience he desired.
“Holy shit.” Ian rubbed a hand over his face. “This is all a lot for me today. I feel like I stepped into an alternate universe, and I’m not sure I’m ready to explore it yet, so I think we need to get on topic.”
Oh yeah. I’d forgotten there had been a reason Ian called me over. “What is it?”
“There was a flood at my place a few days ago.”
“What?” I rushed out. “And you didn’t say anything? What the fuck, Ian.” I swatted his arm.
“Shit. Sorry. I did say I sucked at this and I’d try.”
“You think? I can’t believe you had a flood and didn’t tell me. Is that why you’re here?”
“Yeah. I was staying at a motel. Who knows when they’ll fix the apartment, and they didn’t have other units. Finley told Aidan, who called David, and…now I’m staying here. Not for sex. I didn’t want Finley to worry, so I came, and then David thought it was a good idea that I told you.”
I was hurt that Ian hadn’t told me about the flood earlier, and that he’d only called me over because David said to. He’d clearly been through a lot, though, so I let it go. “Wow. I’m sorry that happened, but I think it’ll work out well. David will take care of you.”
“I don’t need anyone to take care of me.”
“Neither do I. Neither does Finley. But it’s okay to want that. It’s okay not to, of course, but yeah, there’s nothing wrong with wanting it.” I might not have always known I was interested in this, but I was more and more confident that I desired it. Maybe it would fill in some of the missing pieces inside me.
“I didn’t mean to sound judgy.”
“It’s fine. And you staying here with David is too, and if you guys play, I’m okay with that. Just don’t leave me out, because that could be fun as fuck.” I waggled my eyebrows animatedly, trying to be lighthearted but also kind of serious. Threesomes were a blast.
Ian chuckled, then shook his head. “I’m not going to play with David. You’re sure you don’t care?”
“No, I don’t mind. You’re my friend. I want you safe. And I…well, I know you said there would be no sex with him, but if you needed something from him, if you decided you wanted that, I would be okay with it. Truly. I’m not in love with David.” Who better to share with than a friend?
“You’re a strange duck, man.”
“You sound eighty. Will you shut up and show me your room now? This is kind of badass.”
“Yeah, sure.” Ian stood, then held his hand out for me. I gave him mine in return, and he pulled me to my feet.
I followed him into the house and to the stairs. Holy fuck, he was living with David. That was so wild.
I hadn’t gone upstairs when I was here the other day, so my eyes were scanning it all. There were photos of two women—David’s mom and sister, I assumed.
Ian led me into a clean, sparse room with mint-green accents and a queen-size bed with a white headboard. There were a few bags on the floor, which I guessed held Ian’s things. “Look at you, Mr. Fancy,” I said as I sat on the bed.
“That’s so weird. I called David fancy too.” We both chuckled, and Ian settled on the mattress, his back to the headboard. “I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t feel like I deserve it, ya know?”
“What? Why wouldn’t you? Of course you deserve it. You’re a good person and an incredible friend.”
He hesitated, then asked, “Am I, though?”
“There isn’t anything you wouldn’t do for Finley.”
“Sometimes I made him feel bad for what he wanted from Aidan…and I’ve not been great to you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I swear you’re like a Dom sometimes. You take all the weight of the world on your own shoulders. So you’re not perfect. Who the fuck is? You’re still a good person, and you still deserve nice things.”