You like him. You like them.
Oh fuck.
Oh fuck.
There would be no mixing business with pleasure, Samantha. You’re here for the weekend. That’s it. That’s what we all agreed to. It’s not like I could date them. I mean…I can’t…right?
Oh my god. Why did I even pause on that thought?
Dating four guys at the same time is only for reality television shows that hand out roses, and romance novels. Not real life. A few days ago I was having a small panic attack over the idea of sleeping with them but now I’m going to date them? Yeah, right.
But therein lies the problem. It’s only been three days, and the bar for men has already been moved to an Olympics kind of high. Like the kind of high you see and think, “Yeah, someone might die making it over that bar.”
God, I can’t like them this way. Because what the hell am I going to do after I leave? Redo my Tinder profile to say: Must-have—friends I can fuck and who like to cook for me. Will also let me talk endlessly about how I’d redo their kitchen layout. Bonus if you have shitty taste in movies but are willing to sit through cheesy romantic comedies debating the reality of character career choices. And please have excellently timed water jet skills in the Jacuzzi.
And make me laugh, feel worshipped and play with locks of my hair like Alec is doing right now as he stares down at me.
Shit. No. Once the roads are clear, we will go our separate ways, sexually speaking. Oh Jesus, how am I going to work with them again?
I’m so fucked. Or maybe it’s fine…yeah, it’ll be fine. Sucking off all a guy’s friends automatically excludes you from being his plus-one…two, three, and four. But choosing paint colors is fine. Until it’s not.
This is the worst. I mean, what did I even think could happen? That I’d put the guys in my calendar like the moon cycles? Reed’s dick is waning while Jace’s is waxing? Whatever the fuck that means.
But then again, I guess I could take a dick break for my period during the blood moon. Eww, Jesus, why am I like this? This is no time for humor. I’m literally trying to figure out how to polyamory with four dudes who just wanted to fuck me for a weekend.
How fucking starved was my pussy? One dirty dip, and she’s a crack whore.
Crack is wack. Whitney said so. I’ve got to get my shit together. Maybe first I should stop pretending that this is all about sex. It may have started that way, but I fear I’ve caught an STD of the heart, and no amount of penicillin will cure it.
My eyes search Alec’s, my mouth tipping up into a grin entertained by my rambling thoughts as he sweeps my hair behind my ear before pressing a kiss to my forehead.
“I don’t even want to ask what you’re thinking, do I?” I bite my lip. Shaking my head as he adds, “Come on.”
I tug his hand, still following. “Are you going to tell me what we’re doing, or am I supposed to guess?”
He just grins, walking toward Jace’s room. So I tug his hand again.
“I thought we were recreating last night. Doesn’t that mean we should wake everyone up?”
“This is just for us.” He smiles back over his shoulder before leading me straight into the bedroom.
My brows furrow, clumsy words tumbling out.
“Wait, why are we in Jace’s room? And more importantly, are we allowed to do this?”
Alec shuts the door behind us, pausing for a moment, tilting his head.
“He has the best view…and do what, exactly?”
My eyes widen, trying to make him catch on. But he just raises his brows.
“You know…” I lower my voice for whatever reason. “Have sex without the others. Is that, like, breaching our contract?”
“I don’t remember signing anything.”
Jerk. He’s teasing, but my question is valid. My hand darts out, wrapped in a handful of the blanket as I playfully push his chest.
“Come on. You know what I mean.”
He takes my hands, leaning down and kissing me before speaking.
“We’ve never done this, sweetheart…spent more than one night with a woman. We barely know the women we—” I feel the frown, so I know he sees it. But he smirks. “Let’s just say that this—our time here with you—is unexplored territory.”
Why is my heart beating so fast? And why am I about to say the thing I know better than to say? Still, I don’t even try to stop the words from tumbling out.
“Do you wish we could explore it, though?”
That question reeks of complication and a foregone conclusion of a no, but I don’t take it back.
I think it’s because the way he’s looking at me makes me want to know if he likes me the way I like him. Kind of like when you’re in middle school, and you let your friend concoct a note to pass with boxes to check for yes and no.
Check yes, Alec.
Alec looks back over his shoulder, and my eyes drop to his cheek, noticing the streak of light spreading across it.
“Yeah,” he whispers, pulling me against him, turning us toward the window as the room illuminates with the most vibrant pinks and oranges as the sunrise makes its grand entrance. “I do, Samantha.”
twenty-three
“Merry eve of Christmas Eve, baby.”
“Why are you up…blocking the door, Reed?” I say with a grin walking out of the bathroom.
I’d taken a shower after my much-needed and very long nap this afternoon—which he is partially at fault for, seeing as how they revel in exhausting me. But last I left him, he was still lying on the bed. Asleep next to me.
He smirks, crossing his arms and leaning back against the heavy oak door.
“Because there’s something we don’t want you to see yet. And now that you’re finally awake, we can do the loud parts.” He rolls his eyes for added humor, saying, “Obviously. Now be good and cooperate, sunshine.”
I scowl, but he motions toward the bed. “Let’s put on one of those dumpster-fire movies you like so much.”
“That you like too,” I shoot back, dropping my towel and watching him bite his lip. But I pretend to be unaffected as I throw on yet another T-shirt as I add, “I saw you browsing when I got out of the shower.”
Reed smirks. “I was looking for porn. I figured we could find more kinky revelry you might like.”
I squint my eyes just as the sounds of banging echo from the living room. He just shrugs and winks. So I pad across the carpet quickly toward him. Completely unable to hide my smile.
“Reed,” I whine in only the cutest way. “Tell me what’s going on, and I’ll be your best friend.”
He chuckles. “I already have three.” I scowl, but he taps my nose. “Look at you, a fiend for ruining surprises.” His head tilts to the side. “You could always try to beat it out of me.”
I laugh because he adjusts himself as he says it. His eyes drop down my body as he goes to grab for me, but I take a step back, staying just out of reach.
“Naughty girl,” he croons. “If you want out, you’ll have to barter for your freedom.”
Our eyes are connected as I swallow hard because Reed is just so fucking Reed.
“Oh, cut to the chase. What do you want?” I whisper, body almost vibrating with anticipation.