“Honestly, I would have never guessed Noah was his boyfriend,” I go on, brow furrowing. “He just doesn’t strike me as Gabriel’s type.”
“Not sure Gabriel has a type.” Elijah sighs, tossing back the rest of his bourbon. He sets the glass aside and rests a hand on my knee.
I roll my eyes. “What I mean is, Noah’s nothing like you.”
He chuckles, thumb tracing lazy circles around my kneecap. “As I said—Gabriel doesn’t have a type. He’s vers.”
“Seriously?” I sit up straighter, eyebrows raised, leaning forward like I need to hear it again just to make sure I heard right.
“Yep. Just so happens he enjoys toppingandbottoming.”
I let that sink in for a minute, then give him a pointed look. “Hmm… interesting. Because if I recall correctly, you told me that youonlytop? In fact, you said you never let Gabriel fuck you—your words,” I add, holding my hands up, having a “gotcha” moment.
He strokes the scruff on his chin. “That’s right. Gabriel has never fucked me. But…”
His hand slips from my knee to the back of his head, fingers pressing in like he’s trying to buy time.
“But fucking what, Elijah?” I plant my feet on the floor, irritation rising—not just at his hesitation, but at the constant buzzing of my phone. And the way everything suddenly feels off.
He exhales. “I let him fuck other men.”
“You what?”
The words knock the air out of me. My mouth opens, then shuts, then opens again, but he cuts in before I can speak.
“Look, it’s not something we advertise, and I’d appreciate you keeping this between us.”
I stare at him, heart pounding. “So what—you’re telling me you had an open marriage?” My voice cracks, sharp with disbelief. “What the fuck, Elijah?”
“Not quite.” He exhales, placing his hand back on my leg. “Gabriel’s a fantastic bottom. He enjoys it immensely. But he also likes to top. I never wanted to take that away from him. So… occasionally, we’d invite another man into our bed. Just a fuck. That’s all it ever was.”
I push his hand off my thigh, but he catches my wrist before I can pull away.
“I know what you’re thinking, Alex,” he says quickly, eyes searching mine. “But Gabriel is incredibly faithful. His love runs deep. He’s one of the most affectionate people I know. Trust me—he wouldn’t have gone looking if I hadn’t offered it.”
“Like youofferedNoah to me?” I snap, the pieces falling together, bitter and sharp.
He threads his fingers through mine like it’ll soften the blow. “Gabriel will be good to Noah. I can promise you that.”
I yank my hand back. “So we’re avoiding the question?”
The buzzing of my phone gives me an out. I grab it, this time welcoming the interruption.
A text lights up on the screen.
I need you.
I’m at Gravity.
“Who is it?” Elijah asks, tilting his head back against the sofa.
“My agent,” I lie, powering down my phone. If Noah needs someone, he can call his goddamn versatile boyfriend.
I shoot up from the couch a little too fast and shove the phone deep into my pocket, like I’m trying to bury the whole moment with it.
“You’re in charge of finding a restaurant,” I say, brushing off the tension like it never happened. “Somewhere romantic. I need to be spoiled tonight.”
Leaning over, I press a kiss to his cheek.
