“Aspen.” Fallon’s confused voice made me pause. He panted, breath catching. “Are you going to join us?”
I glanced over my shoulder at him, chest aching as I shook my head. “I’m too tired tonight.” Forcing a smile, I winked at him. “You enjoy yourself, boy. Make sure Cillian fucks you hard.”
I forced myself to walk through the door, into the house, and up the stairs to the shared bathroom. I stripped my clothes, stepped into the white porcelain tub, and closed the curtain, then turned the knob to steaming hot and started the shower. The water burned my skin as it pounded down onto my shoulders. I closed my eyes and sighed, tipping my head back into the water.
My muscles stung, but not as much as my heart. It felt like a mess that I’d created, but Cillian and I were never great at this emotional bullshit. If we wanted to fix this, though, one of us needed to step up... and fast.
* * *
We spent a week doing our own thing. It was awkward with Cillian avoiding me, and I swore the others noticed. Rowen’s birthday was in a few days, and I knew for a fact that Vail had gotten him something awesome. Hopefully that would be enough to cool down some of the tension.
Cillian had taken Fallon out to the garage to train with him first thing this morning, and instead of going out there to check on them, I rested on the couch with Rowen’s tablet, researching my favorite knives as I considered buying more. The house was quiet, with Vail reading. It was unusual, and I didn’t enjoy the silence. If Cillian and I weren’t at odds, I probably would’ve been out in the garage with them, helping Fallon train.
“Hey.” Rowen’s voice cut through the silence of the living room, and I glanced up at him with a nod.
It wasn’t often we talked, mostly because we didn’t have a lot in common besides Cillian and Vail, but I didn’t mind Rowen. He was smart and practical, and he balanced Cillian’s desire for unnecessary violence.
He rubbed his abs over the top of his black T-shirt and sighed. Like everyone else in the house, he could tell something was going on with me and Cillian, but if anyone understood, it was him. Cillian made it his mission in life to not get along with Rowen. “Vail and I are going to get something to eat. Want to come for a drive?”
“You’re not cooking?” I straightened and laid his tablet on the couch. Rowen wasn’t the biggest fan of restaurants and preferred to make our meals whenever possible.
“Nah. I thought while those two wee fools are out there in the garage, the three of us could go do something and get out of their hair.” Rowen offered me a grin and shrugged. “Ye know, they’re right into it. It’s foreplay or somethin’.”
Laughing, I stood and stretched, my shirt riding up with the action. Rowen’s gaze darted down to my exposed skin, eyes flashing with an interest that had me curious, but I ignored it. Right now, I had enough issues with Cillian; I didn’t need to add another man into the mix. “You have no idea. I’m almost afraid Cillian’s gonna break Fallon.”
Rowen snorted. “I wouldn’t bet on it. Fallon’s got stones.”
I let my arms fall to my sides and chuckled, walking toward where he stood in the threshold between the living room and hallway, and stopped when I was in front of him. I towered over him, and he tipped his head back to look up at me. Warmth filled his stare, and he cocked his head. Rowen wasn’t the type to feel threatened around someone larger than him, and he had more dominance and confidence than people, especially Cillian, gave him credit for. He didn’tneedto act like an asshole to gain control of a situation.
“Where’s Vail?” I stepped in closer, and he stayed still, not backing away. I didn’t know what I was doing orwhyI was doing it, but a spark of something sizzled on my fingertips, and I got the urge to reach out and card my fingers through his red hair.
I didn’t.
Our relationship revolved around the other guys. We barely talked, and when we did, it was about Vail or Fallon or even Cillian. They were the only common denominators in our lives.
“He’ll be down soon. He said something about finishing a chapter.” Rowen’s tongue darted across his bottom lip, and I followed the path it took with my gaze.
I frowned in thought. Was I attracted to Rowen? Maybe. He was handsome, and someone being fuckable had been the only requirement for me to take an interest before I’d met Vail and Fallon and... Cillian.
We stared at each other for a long moment, and I considered his appearance. Even though Cillian and I had been with a lot of guys, I couldn’t remember if we’d ever slept with a redhead. I’d always put the avoidance down to Cillian not wanting to fuck someone who reminded him of Rowen.
It made sense.
Rowen leaned closer, and I thought he was going to make the first move and kiss me, but the sound of Vail’s loud steps on the stairs had him jumping away from me and straightening while his face flushed. He gave me a confused smile.
“Are ye ready, angel?” Rowen called, throwing the question over his shoulder as Vail came into sight, an open book still clutched in his hands.
Vail hummed in answer, and I laughed. His attention was caught by whatever he was reading, and he would’ve bumped into the wall if Rowen hadn’t shot forward to grab him by the shoulders. Vail glanced up in surprise, as though just realizing where he was, and grinned at me. His reading glasses made him even more adorable, which should be impossible. He wasn’t wearing a suit today, but that hadn’t stopped him from dressing up in black pants and a white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. “Are you coming with us, Aspen?”
“I was hoping to, yeah. That all right?” I opened my arms and laughed again when Vail tossed the book and his reading glasses at Rowen’s chest for Rowen to hold before bolting forward and throwing himself at me. I grabbed him around the middle and dragged him in for a hard kiss. He tasted like the key lime coconut patties I’d brought home, and the sweetness fit him perfectly. I pushed my tongue into his mouth and licked every inch of him that I could until he was humping against my leg with pretty groans.
Rowen scoffed. “No sex. We’re going to get lunch.”
When Vail broke away from me, he batted his long blond lashes in a dazed stare and a smile slid across his flushed lips. “I missed you. I know you’ve been home for a week, but I feel like it will take a year to get over you being gone. Fuck me later? I want to feel your dick stretch me out.”
I kissed him again as an answer, and he groaned, rocking his hardening dick against my thigh. I squeezed his asscheeks and winked when I drew away. “Let’s not keep the wee redhead waiting.”
Rowen rolled his eyes and grinned. “Theweeredhead has a name and a talent as a rifleman. Push me, see what happens.”
