One of which is sitting on the bed, looking fucking delectable with his black T-shirt stretched tight over his broad shoulders, thick chest and bulging biceps. I wonder how good those muscles would feel against my naked flesh as he pinned me against the wall with my legs wrapped around his waist while he drives his cock…
Fuck. Shower, now!
I tear my gaze away from him, shake away my dirty thoughts, and hurry to the bathroom. I grab my rucksack on the way before shutting the door between myself and my inevitable heartbreak. Because that’s what will happen if I fuck Alex, or any of them. I’ll get attached, they’llrealise I’m broken and not good enough for them and they’ll leave. Just like every man before them.
With the flames of my arousal doused by those cheery thoughts, I shower and change into clean clothes. I then take advantage of the tub to wash my dirty clothes before hanging them on the clothes horse that every hotel just seems to have. By the time I step out of the bathroom, I’m exhausted and ready to collapse onto the bed.
Alex is sitting right where I left him, still lost in thought as he stares at the ugly carpet beneath our feet with a frown on his face.
“Hey, bathroom’s free,” I tell him as I pad over to the other bed.
He grunts but doesn’t move.
My brow furrows as I sit on the bed and look at him. “Everything okay?” Something big must be bothering him because he’s usually pretty friendly and talkative.
His baby blue eyes bounce from the floor to me and then back down again. “Yeah, fine.”
I cock an eyebrow. “That’s the least finefineI’ve ever heard.”
He just grunts again.
“Is there a reason you’re trying to channel your inner Rhys?” I wait for him to react, but he doesn’t. Not even a lip twitch. Damn. Something mustreallybe bugging him.
I should leave it alone. Nothing good will come from me entrenching myself deeper with these men, but I hate seeing Alex like this. The usual spark is gone from his eyes and he looks fucking miserable.
Dammit. I shift on the bed and move closer until I’m able to take one of his hands in mine. “Alex, you can talk to me.”
He frowns down at our joined hands and for a moment, I wonder if he’s going to snatch it back. But he doesn’t and looks up to meet my eyes. “Why did you choose him?”
I blink. “Choose him?” That’s not where I thought this was going to go.
“You chose Theo over Rhys and me.”
Ah, fuck. This isn’t a conversation I want to have, even though I knew it was coming the second I asked Theo.
“Do you like him more than me and Rhys? Is that it?”
I wince at the hurt in his voice. “No, Alex. It’s not like that.” And it’s then that I realise how fucked I am. I’m developing feelings for all three of them. Which is the opposite of what I want because if I can’t handle one man breaking my heart, three will obliterate me.
Especiallyif they expect me to choose.
“What’s it like then, Ollie? Because from where I’m sitting, you trusted Theo over me.”
“It’s just pretend. A fake relationship that will end the moment we leave this place. It means nothing.”
“That doesn’t answer my question. Why him?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. He was just there, and I figured he’d be the least likely to ask questions and just go with it.”
Alex eyes me, almost like he’s trying to sniff out the nonexistent lie in my words. “It’s not because you want him?”
“No. I only like him as a friend.”Lie.“In fact, I value all three of you as my friends.”Another lie.
“I see.” There’s a pause. “And if I want more than friendship?”
This conversation is quickly skirting into dangerous territory.
“Then I can’t help you.” The words taste like ash in my mouth, but it’s for the best. It won’t end well for any of us if we go down that road, so I’m stopping it before any of us get hurt.
