I follow quickly behind him, not wanting the door to shut in my face, leaving me stranded outside. I stumble into Gio’s back, because he stopped just beyond the threshold, which means he’s blocking me from the door and the view. A rumble of voices on the other side of him tells me why. Damn him for being so tall. I can’t see over his shoulder. The voice has a low rumbling growl, which is strangely appealing.
“You must be our third. Hey, I’m Xavier, and that’s Tristan.”
“Hey, come in and put the box down. Do you have much stuff? We can give you a hand, and you’ll be done in no time.” Unlike the first voice, this one is more cheerful and welcoming, like he’s had a bowl of sugar. I wonder if he looks like the Labrador he sounds like.
“Hey, I’m Giovanni, but my friends call me Gio.”
“Are we going to be your friends then?” the rumbly voice asks, and I see Gio stiffen up in front of me.
“Well, I guess that remains to be seen, doesn’t it?” Gio blows off the guy’s intimidation tactics like it was nothing.
“Cut it out, X. You know it will be better for all of us if we’re friends. It makes living together for the next year easier for sure.” Tristan scolds his friend with a familiarity that comes from knowing each other for a long time.
“Can you decide if you’re going to fuck or fight now? Because this box is getting fucking heavy.” I push my brother forward, and when he moves, the two guys aren’t quick enough to hide their surprise.
ChapterNine
“Well, I vote for fuck if you’re offering,” the cheerful voice comments. I carry my box over to a nearby coffee table and lower it gently before groaning and straightening up. Stretching backwards to ease the ache in my back, I finally get a look at Gio’s new roommates.
I look at the one who just said that. Let me tell you, Lab boy looks nothing like a Labrador, and he looks nothing like a boy. He’s as tall as Gio is and filled out enough for me to know that he works out. He has tousled black hair and blue eyes that sparkle with amusement. His smile is white enough to rival Greg’s downstairs, but his holds a hint of mischief as opposed to Greg’s insincerity. He’s wearing ripped jeans and a black shirt, but his feet are bare. I’m not sure why that takes me by surprise, but there’s something comfortable about it.
I turn my attention to the other roommate, Mr. Rumbly. Now he looks exactly like he sounds. Similar in build to Tristan, Xavier is also wearing jeans and a T-shirt, but his arms are covered in tattoos, and he has piercings through his eyebrow and lip. He has dark brown hair and icy blue eyes, and he looks like he hasn’t shaved for a few days, but then he may leave it like that deliberately.
“Who’s your friend, Gio?” he asks with an arched eyebrow. I roll my eyes at the obvious cockiness that oozes out of these men. They project man whore status like the boys at my school and my brother. I had no reason to be worried, though maybe the elevator tech should oil the cables because there’s going to be a revolving door of women through this apartment.
“This is my sister, Tori,” Gio answers, introducing us, and I give them an awkward wave.
I can still feel their eyes on me, and it’s uncomfortable as fuck, but I refuse to show them that’s how I feel.
Gio clears his throat, and the guys stop their perusal of me. “Can you show me my room so we can grab the rest of my shit?” He sounds amused.
“Yeah, it’s just this way.” Xavier and Tristan both show Gio the way, and now that my attention isn’t on both of them, I take a look around the room. It’s a living area with a large couch in front of an extra-large TV, and behind it is a kitchen area with full amenities. There’s an island counter separating both areas with four stools at it. Everything looks fancy, and nothing like I thought a college dorm would look like. There’s a big picture window too, but I can’t see what the view is like from where I’m standing. I bet it’s like the lord of the manor overseeing his serfs from the tower high above them. Just what my brother needs, to be put on another pedestal.
I go to pick up my heavy box, but it’s not there. How did I miss one of the guys grabbing that? I head in the direction they went, curious as to what the rest of the dorm looks like. There’s a corridor with three doors leading off it—two on one side and one on the other. The voices are coming out of the single one.
“You have the one with the single en suite bathroom, and Tristan and I share on the other side,” I hear Xavier tell Gio.
“Yup, we’ve shared before, so it was a no-brainer to share again,” Tristan adds before going on. “So, Gio, is your sister single?”
Gio snorts. “Don’t even bother, man. Tori will chew you up and spit you out. I’m pretty sure she plays for the same team, but I’ve never actually asked her, and she’s never confirmed it. She’s never had a boyfriend and shows no interest in having one.” Fuck, my brother can be a real asshole, but it’s not usually aimed in my direction—though maybe he doesn’t realize what he just did.
I step into the doorway and cross my arms. “That’s because with your constant revolving door of skanks, there’s no room for me to have one of my own,” I drawl, even though I’m shaken on the inside. Gio pretty much echoed what Stacey said, but I also have a better idea of how I feel now. Even though what she did to me was horrific, and I’m still avoiding dealing with it, it did open my eyes to my sexuality. While I still find the men in front of me attractive, smoking hot in fact, I’m not sure if I want them sexually. Actually, I’m not sure if I’ll want anyone sexually for a while. Stacey took that away from me.
“But yes, Gio is right. I recently found myself in a situation where I discovered I like to eat pussy. Sorry about that. Shall we get the rest of his shit and then order a pizza or something?”
Fuck, it’s all I can do not to laugh when all three of their mouths drop open at my statement. Turning after my epic mic drop, I head toward the front door. Before I can get to it, a hand grabs me. Instinct has me reacting unconsciously, and before I know it, Tristan is flipping over my shoulder, and a loud thump echoes through the room as he lands flat on his back on the floor.
“Holy fuck,” he whispers, staring up at me with a look of awe. “Please marry me. It just so happens I like to eat pussy too, so we already have so much in common. I mean, I’m equal opportunity about what I put my mouth on, and dick is on my approved list too, but that doesn’t matter.”
“Get up, you idiot,” Xavier growls as he holds his hand out to his friend.
“What? I’ve never heard you complain about it. In fact, it’s usually, ‘Ahh, yes, Tris, that’s it,’ and more,” Tristan teases, and my eyes just about pop out of my head. Oh, so that’s what they meant about sharing. They are lovers. Well, I wouldn’t have called that. I mean, I know you can’t tell by appearances, but I would have pegged Xavier as one hundred percent hetero just from the little interaction we’ve had.
“Come on, let’s get the rest of Gio’s things so he can get settled in. Are you staying here tonight, man?” Xavier ignores his friend, and Gio shakes his head.
“No, I thought I’d take Tori out to dinner and have one more night at home.”
“I don’t want to go out. Can we just stay in?” I ask my brother quickly. I’m still not sure if Stacey has told anyone anything, and I don’t want to risk running into anyone. Gio lifts one eyebrow but doesn’t argue. He knows I’m more of a homebody than a party animal anyway.
