Her lips press into a thin line as a look of uncertainty colors her features. Oh no, Isabel. Please don’t waver. Please, please, please.
“What’s that look for?” I ask, feeling myself deflate.
“Are you saying no because you don’t want to…or because you think it’s wrong?”
Holy shit. If the earth could just swallow me up right now, that’d be fucking great.
“Does it matter?” I ask.
“Yes. It matters to me.” She’s so perfect, so gracious and delicate and wonderful, and it would be too easy for a man to take advantage of Isabel, a thought that makes me see red, because she’s the last person on earth to deserve that. So admitting to her how badly I want her feels just as harmful as lying and saying that I don’t.
But something is calling me to tell her how I really feel, to make sure she knows that my resistance to this ridiculous idea has nothing to do with her.
Hunter put me in this position, and I hate him for it.
“Isabel, I’m saying no to Hunter because jeopardizing our friendship and your marriage is the last thing on earth I’d ever want to do.” I take a big inhale, sealing my fate to hell as I continue, “But if you’re asking if I’d ever want what he’s asking for, the answer is unconditionally, enthusiastically…yes.”
Her breath hitches as she gazes up at me, wide green eyes and gentle lips parted. I shouldn’t be this close to her or even talking to her like this, but Hunter did this. Hunter brought it up and forced us into this conversation.
“Really?” she whispers.
I take a small step forward until the knuckles of her hand holding up her towel are brushed up against my abs as I lean down until my mouth is closer to her ear. “Really.”
Maybe I’m more drunk than I thought. Because I would never do this. I would never do this. But I still have the image of her perfect body in my head, and I need her to know that I’m not going to agree to this, but it’s not because she doesn’t turn me on.
Drifting a hand to her lower back, pressing gently against the fabric of the towel, I pull her closer until the aching stiffness in my pants is wedged between us, so she can feel how true my words are.
It’s a violation. I know that. But again…it’s Hunter’s fault. He opened Pandora’s box and this relationship between Isabel and me was purely platonic and innocent until he flipped the lock open and unleashed it all, so now we’re swimming in evil, sexual tension and possibility.
She gasps at the feel of my erection against her stomach, leaning in just enough for me to know she’s not cowering in fear.
Then we both pull away. And that’s the end of it. Turning away from each other, we both take a moment to catch our breaths and steady our beating hearts.
With her back to me, she mumbles, “I know you’re afraid of jeopardizing our friendship, but I’m afraid if we don’t do this, I’m jeopardizing my marriage.”
“Isabel, you should never feel pressured into doing something—"
“I’m not pressured, Drake. I feel…the same way you do.”
I turn away again. That wasn’t exactly something I needed to know. Now I have to live with that knowledge and I have a feeling it’s going to haunt me for a while.
“But I’m also afraid that my husband wants something I can’t give him.”
“Then, say no,” I argue, finding space between us again as I lean against the counter, fighting the urge to go to her like before.
“That’s not— It’s not important. My point is that it’s just sex. I trust you, and I don’t think Hunter is asking for anything we wouldn’t all benefit from.”
Benefit from? Is she serious? I’m not looking to benefit from anything. I feel like I’m the only sane person in the group right now. And I really can’t believe I’m about to be the only one turning down sex.
“What if it drives him crazy? What if he sees me with you and hates me forever? What if he takes it out on you?”
Her shoulders soften as she gazes up at me. “That won’t happen. You know Hunter as well as I do, and he doesn’t do things on impulse. He’s looked out for me since the day we met and he’s looked after you even longer.”
“I can’t believe you’re considering this. Isabel, think about this.”
“I have, Drake. I know it will change everything between us, but…what if things between us are ready for a change?”
She’s not making any sense. But I don’t have any more time to argue because a moment later, the hotel door opens, and Hunter enters with two big bags of food. He pauses a few steps in, when he sees me standing in the kitchen opposite his wife in nothing but a towel.