I snag Ollie’s hand as he passes, and he pauses and looks down at me. The line of his jaw softens, and he gives me a slow, reluctant smile. He gives my fingers a little jiggle then releases my hand, heading to the bathroom.
I’m notsure what to make of his behavior, but Milo clears his throat the moment the door closes behind Ollie. “I forgot I needed to tell him something.” Milo’s off the bed and rushing to the door before anyone of us can object. It seemed like Ollie wanted a few minutes to himself, but who am I to interfere? They’ve been friends for years.
“That might not go the way he’s expecting,” Ares mutters under his breath.
“What do you mean?”
“Let’sjustsay Oliver didn’t like Milo’s response to your offer of bonding,” Ares answers. Reaching out one hand,he beckons me forward. “Let them work it out.”
Climbing over Dante’s thigh, I crawl up the bed to lie next to Ares. Dante is close behind and he curls his body around mine, becoming the big spoon as I settle my head on Ares’s torso, whose hand delves into my hair, massaging my scalp.
Ares stays in alounged seated position, so as I relax my head falls closer to his lap. Dragging in a deep settling breath I tell them both, “I already miss you guys and you haven’t even left yet.” The confession comes easily. I don’t have to worry they’ll think I’m being silly or dramatic. I know they’ll accept my feelings and probably feel similarly.
Dante tucks himself even closerto me,burrowing his face at the nape of my neck. His palm splayed wide, covering as much of my stomach as possible.
“We’ll do what me must, then come home to you,Cara.” Ares’ fingersstart pulling through my hair. A feeling of contentment settlesover me. I know they won’t be away any longer thanabsolutelynecessary. I let my eyes drift closed with that thought in mind.
Seconds later a crash from the bathroom jolts me from my relaxed state. I lift my head from Ares and look at the door, but Dante rasps, “It’s fine, don’t worry.” I strain to hear any more noises, but it’s quiet.
“I thought Olliewas going to take a shower, why is Milo still in there?”
“Milo has something he still needs to work through, so he and Ollie are talking.” Dante runs his hand from my stomach, up over my hip, and back. He’s trying to distract me, and damn it. It’s working. I let my head fall back against Ares as Dante’s hand continues to roam from just under my breasts, down past my belly button, and over my side and hip.
Every time his fingers get close to the apex of my thighs or the underside of my breasts, I hold my breath, thinking this time he’s going to go just alittle bit further. The cycle continues until I can’t focus on anything other than his hand. I make a fist, gatheringsome of the loose fabric of Ares’s sweatpants in my hand. I hadn’t realized it before, but my hand is high on his upper thigh, nearly as close to his center as Dante’s fingers are coming to mine.
Ares’s abdominals go rigid and I lift my head, looking up. I don’t know what he sees on my face, but he scoots down hastily and seals his mouth to mine.
I have a second of hesitation. Dante is right behind me, and I know he’s not sleeping. His hand has stopped moving, but he’s gripping the crest of my hip with rough fingers. Dante’s forehead slides down, touching just below my neck. He doesn’t pull away or say anything. His breathing is a little ragged, but that could just be my own.
Ares coaxes the kiss out of me. He runs his tongue over my bottom lip seductively, and pants a heavy minty breath into my mouth. I’m helpless to resist him, I never wanted to anyway. As soon as he knows he has me, he deepens the kiss. His tongue lapping into my mouth with long, steady strokes, brushing against mine.
The heat of Dante behind me sears into me. I can’t deny the excitement I feel being between them. Dante’s hand jerks my hips back and he grinds into me. He lets out a low rumbling sound that sounds like a warning.
Ares slows his kiss, and he nips my lips a few times in a warning all his own. I’m breathless when he finally pulls away. I almost tuck my face into his chest so he won’t see the effects his kiss and Dante’s nearness had on me, but I don’t. I open my eyes to find Ares staring at me with a look of hunger on his face that probably puts the lust on mine to shame.
Reaching forward, he cradles my jaw in his hand. “I’ll be back soon.” He drops a not so gentle kiss to my mouth unapologetically and pulls back. The promise in his voice is certain, so is the hint of what’s coming.
Dante doesn’t speak as Ares rolls onto his back. I curl into him with Dante still tightly wrapped around me. My heart is thrumming a steady beat in my chest. I slide my hand over Ares’s stomach and place my palm over his heart, feeling the rapid beat of his pulse under my hand. I’m definitely not the only one affected.
Ares flips the switch on the lamp next to his bed, plunging the room into darkness. I hadn’t plannedon going to bed so early, but I’m warm and comfortable, and my eyes drift shut as I nestle my cheek against Ares. I hate knowing he and Dante won’t be here with me tomorrow night. It’ll be the first time I haven’t slept next to Ares in weeks.
Sometime later,as I’m drifting in that in-between place of sleep and consciousness, the bathroom door opens. Milo comes out, and I see him briefly before the light coming from the bathroomis extinguished by the closing door. Adjusting my eyes to the darkness, I watch as he makes his way over to the far side of the bed, he dropsdownheavily and his head falls into his hands.
There’s an air of exhaustion hanging over his slumped shoulders. I think about pulling out from between Dante and Ares, but the sting of his bond refusal is too recent. I don’t know how to get closer to him. It feels like every time I think we mightbe breaking down the wall he’s built between us, something happens that has him pulling further away from me.
With a heavy sigh, Milo lifts his head and looks over his shoulder, and I slit my eyes, hoping he doesn’t catch me watching him. More carefully than I’d think possible, Milo picks up the pillow at the top of the bed and re-settles it near the edge. Without even removing his shirt, he lays on his back, his arms folded over his chest, hands tucked away. His eyes are wide, staring at the ceiling. Minutes pass and he doesn’t move a muscle, never once pulling the covers up as he lies there separated from me by a few feet, but he feels like he’s miles away.
The door to the bathroom opens again, and that’s when Milo closes his eyes, his breathing shallowing out. He’s pretending to be asleep now too. I watch Ollie as he nears the end of the bed; he doesn’t need the light to know Milo leftan empty space between himself and Dante.
Ollie climbs into bed from the bottom, making sure not to disturb his friend as he does. Once settled, he pulls the covers over himself and Milo before turning onto his side and facing Dante.
Ineed to have a talk with Ollie. With Ares and Dante leaving tomorrow morning, I’ll have plenty of time toget to the bottom of what’s going on between him and Milo.
Chapter 5
“We really need to go.” I’ve heard Dante and Ares mutter these words more times than I can count this morning. This time ithappens to be Dante, mumbling against my lips between light kisses.
“I know,” I tell him, but I don’t pull away.
