Kendrick slipped an arm over the back of the couch and laid his hand on Monty’s shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance.
“As I was saying,” Kendrick deepened his voice, adding a bite of authority. “We didn’t talk about expectations. Sex comes with them regardless of whether it’s just that. You two have had sex before last night.” It wasn’t a question.
“How do you know that?” Rue blustered, aiming an angry stare at Monty.
Kendrick squeezed his shoulder again when he went to move, just enough pressure to assure Monty he would handle this. “The ease with which you wrapped your body around Monty’s while you were sleeping. It reveals a level of intimacy that speaks of a shared past.”
A strangled, choking sound came from Rue, whose lips parted, yet he looked at a loss at how to respond with color riding across his cheekbones.
“I bridged a gap between you. Offering something you need, Rue, to allow you to feel able to connect with Monty.” He held up one finger and shook his head when he could see Rue was going to deny it. “No lies. They aren’t needed here. We are consenting adults who are old enough to admit what we want.What we need.”
This wasn’t quite the conversation he had considered they’d have, but Kendrick went with it when Monty relaxed against him once more and Rue moved to pace.
“I don’t… it isn’t…” Rue paused and flung his empty hand up. “What do you want from me?” he growled, teeth snapping.
“For you to be honest,” Monty answered when Kendrick waited.
“Honest about what?”
Monty shifted against Kendrick. “Why did you put distance between us after you came to my apartment?”
Kendrick, watching Rue closely, saw a flash of distress before it was gone. “I… you wanted to know about Drinkwater. I… comforted you after.”
Monty shot off the couch, his beer sloshing over the rim of the glass—not that he noticed as he slammed it down on the wood. “There was no talking first. You fucked me against the door fully dressed. Is that what you call comforting? I call that unrestrained passion. The seven rounds we went after that—what were those? You couldn’t keep your damn hands off me, so I call bullshit when Drinkwater wasn’t why you came to my place at fucking one-thirty in the morning.”
Kendrick lounged back and sipped his beer, letting it play out.
Rue’s glass joined Monty’s, and he towered over Monty, posturing aggressively. “Bullshit is thinking it was more than what it was.”
“And what was that?” Monty asked with a calmness that didn’t fool Kendrick one bit. The man was furious.
“Sex. A release of tension we both neededat the time.”
Monty’s chin poked out. “At the time.What the fuck was last night? Tell me that? If it was just sex, then why the hell are you hiding from what we did? Why won’t you talk to me like a normal human being, to clear the air? You’ve acted like I have the plague since that night, which suggests you have an issue!”
The challenge thrown down between them was for Rue to pick up. Kendrick wasn’t so sure he was ready to admit his reasons, which Kendrick suspected had a lot to do with how much Rue needed a third in his bed.
“What do you want?” he scowled darkly. “We fucked, we fucked again, that is it. It was nothing more than that.”
Didn’t Rue hear how unconvincing he was?
“You’re lying.” Monty unbuttoned his shirt, dragging it off, exposing his chest, the skin glowing like warm honey. He threw it on the floor, his hands going to the fly of his jeans.
“What… what are you doing!”
“What does it look like!” Monty sneered sexily at Rue. “I’m getting naked to ride Kendrick’s monster cock. It shouldn’t bother you. You aren’t interested in more. I am. I’ve tried to talk about it. Before and today, but you just keep shutting me down. Last night I thought with… what happened between the three of us… things could be different. If you can’t be honest, then I’m done.”
Jeans shoved down with his underwear, Monty’s dick was on display, hard and slick. His body was all smooth lines. Kendrick couldn’t breathe as he waited for Rue to make the next move.
The growl was threatening, as was the glint in the darkening eyes staring at Monty, drilling into him. Kendrick prepared to step between them.
“How the fuck do you tell someone that they aren’t fucking enough without hurting them? How? Tell me?” he rasped painfully, throwing a deadly look at Kendrick, holding him still. “He gives me something you can’t, that I need too. How many folks do you know that would be happy realizing that theyaren’t enough,” he snapped angrily, their noses nearly touching.
“Did I look upset last night? Did you even consider that I would be willing to try something unorthodox? To see if we could find a middle ground becauseyou are worth the effort?” Monty spoke so quietly, yet the impact of his confession had Rue blanch and pale.
“What…” he licked his lips. “What are you saying?” He sounded strained.
Monty shook his head, pointing a finger at Kendrick and then at Rue. “This. I want to try.I’m attracted to both of you. I know it will be difficult because we are here temporarily, but I want to try, however it works out.”
