No, heneededsomeone to take care of him for a change. Both of them did, but I was certain Zach would fight tooth and nail. He despised anything that he thought made him look weak and seemed to go out of his way to prove his heterosexuality.
At least, he thought he did, but I’d seen him look at me the same way Daniel was now; like he wanted to eat me alive. It was a horrible idea, but I was determined to figure out how to get him over whatever bullshit filled his head. The moment he gave into his baser desires, I had a feeling his entire life was going to change.
The guys in the suite liked to give me a hard time because of how often I sat back and watched what was going on around me. They’d given me the nickname, The Professor, and swore I was using them for some sort of research project. They weren’t far off. While there would never be papers written about these men, I had always enjoyed watching people and trying to figure out what made them tick, and living with two kinky couples, a man who refused to put a label on his sexuality, one who was doing everything in his power to ignore his, and a roommate who had no clue what he’d been thrown into, was like crack to me.
Zach and Daniel wanted one another but were too stubborn to admit it. It hadn’t taken a genius to figure out Zach was scared shitless to be true to himself, but I couldn’t figure out why Daniel held back. From what I’d heard from my brother and Jayden, the two of them had quite the adventurous sex life together last year. Together. And yet, they couldn’t bring themselves to take that step without a third in between them.
And I was just stupid enough to be the guy who was willing to fall on that sword and be that third if need be. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t get anything out of it. Even if it meant eventually having to walk away, it would be worth the orgasms and satisfaction of helping them get over themselves.
Some people like to talk about kids going off to college and fucking everything with a heartbeat. While that held a certain appeal, it wasn't my style. Part of what kept me from exploring my sexuality sooner, was the fact I enjoyed feeling an emotional bond to those around me. I didn't want meaningless sex for the sake of getting off. But with Zach and Daniel, there would be a connection, even if it was only platonic. Whether they realize that or not, they were two halves of a whole.
“You want another?” I asked, turning back to the counter before I did something stupid, like kiss him until we were both breathless. I hadn’t been lying when I told him I was disappointed in the lack of liquor in the suite. So far, the college experience was falling flat of what I’d hoped for. After I conned someone into running to the store for me, I’d play bartender for the night and get everyone to loosen up. For now, I’d be cool if I hadn’t spooked him. I handed him the two pint glasses and pulled another out of the cabinet. “Fill those with ice.”
“Yes, sir.” He gave me a mock salute.
He couldn’t keep saying shit like that.
But he didn’t know what he was doing.
My parents thought I’d insisted on coming to Annandale for school to be close to Chase. That wasn’t totally off-base, but things would have been so much simpler if they hadn’t insisted on me sharing a suite with him. I stuck out like a sore thumb because I was, by far, the youngest guy in the building.
The truth was, I wanted to be here because I knew this was where I would find what I needed. Them giving me Chase’s old laptop when he graduated was both a blessing and a curse. It was horrible because I’d learned things about my brother I never wanted to know, but his search history had led to a bit of self-discovery for me.
I didn’t want the same things as him. In fact, I wanted the exact opposite. Sort of. I was pretty sure I wasn’t a Daddy. I didn’t want someone utterly reliant on me for everything, but it was hard to deny how I felt when I imagined having a man’s pleasure in my control.
I paused, taking a few deep breaths as I reminded myself that he hadn’t meant anything by the quip. Ihadbeen a bit bossy. That was all.
“So, what are you making next?” I jumped, regretting my frayed nerves when I crashed against his solid chest. I groaned when his fingers curled around my hip. And he was smooth. He didn’t make a big deal of it as his thumb slipped under the hem of my shirt. When he asked his next question, he was close enough I felt his warm breath ghosting over my skin. “Is this a problem?”
“It’s a horrible idea,” I warned him.
“You didn’t answer my question.” He pressed his chest against my back. “Tell me you’re not as turned on as I am.”
I wouldn’t lie to him, but I also couldn’t make the next move. My body tensed when he pressed his erection against my ass.Thatwas one way to dampen the mood. I’d had guys in the past tell me it made me a colossal asshole, but I had zero desire to be on the receiving end. When I was with a man,Iwas the one calling the shots.
Daniel misread my distress and backed away, hands in the air. “Sorry. Fuck. I’d blame the alcohol, but we both know that’s a crock of shit.”
I spun around, clamping my fingers around Daniel’s wrist. Telling him why I wouldn’t fool around with him wasn’t an option. My dick was pleading with me to spin around and shove him to his knees, but if and when we were together, it only felt right for there to be another person here. This wouldn’t work otherwise. If Daniel and I started getting close, I knew Zach enough to know that he would run. It would also destroy the tentative friendship we’d been building by working together, and that would make like shit at home and at the restaurant.
“Wait,” I pleaded. It wasn’t his fault; I was the one who’d taunted him first. The first time I’d seen Daniel, I’d tripped over my feet and nearly dropped the boxes I’d been carrying to my room. I hadn’t realized abs like his existed without airbrushing, especially on someone who wasn’t ripped all over. His body was slender, but without an ounce of fat. That night, I’d jerked off while imagining what the valleys in his torso tasted like when he came back from the gym. After watching the two of them together, I told myself I wouldn’t be a third wheel, but tonight I felt my resolve shattering. “You didn’t freak me out.”
“Sure as fuck could have fooled me,” Daniel scoffed as he yanked his hand free. “Look, forget about it. I obviously misread your motivations.”
“You didn’t.” I turned back to the bottles. It was easier if I didn’t look at him. “You’re hot, but I meant it when I said this would be a mistake.”
I was no man’s stand-in. If and when Daniel gave himself to me, he’d know I was the one luring him over the edge. And no matter how much I fantasized about the different ways I could make him beg, his heart belonged to someone else.
“Yeah, you’re probably right.” Daniel released an audible sigh. I expected him to flee, so I was surprised when he stepped up next to me. “So, how d'you learn to make drinks?”
I shrugged. “Our parents didn’t like the littler kids watching TV, so when I was babysitting, I’d wind up watching shit on my phone. Fell down a rabbit hole one night and got curious. Picked the lock on the cabinet at home and the rest is history.”
“From the bits I’ve heard about your family, I’m surprised they kept alcohol in the house.” Daniel cringed once the words were out, as if he hadn’t meant to say that.
I chuckled because a lot of people had weird assumptions about our family. And, I mean, they weren’t totally unfounded. My parents were…odd, to say the very least. It used to bother me when little assholes at school picked on us for being the weird kids, but I no longer gave a shit what people thought. “It’s not like we were raised in a religious cult or anything. Our parents definitely sheltered us, but that was more because they didn’t want us rotting our brains. And with Chase, we all knew he was different, and they worried about him being out on his own where they couldn’t protect him. They’d lose their fucking minds if they knew the half of it.”
Now it was my turn to wince. I wasn’t sure how much Chase had shared with his roommates, and he’d probably die of embarrassment if he knew I’d snooped through his search history. It had been…enlightening. And I’d kick the shit out of anyone who made him feel bad about who he was. Chase was thriving now that he and Jayden were together. I was happy for him. Spending time with the two of them over the summer showed me that maybe I could find that for myself.
“Don’t worry, I think I know what you mean,” Daniel reassured me. He laughed and shook his head. “Man, I’m not sure you understand what a weird group of guys you’ve gotten yourself mixed up with. But I get the impression you’re open-minded enough you’re not going to be scared away.”
