“Maybe an inclination from time to time, but never something I considered acting on, no. Why? Is that what this is?”
“I don’t knowwhatit is,” he admitted, keeping his voice low.
And that was the God’s honest truth. Logan couldn’t shake his newfound attraction to the man, sometimes to the point that it bothered him. He did not like the fact that Elijah was getting so much of his attention. In his thoughts, anyway. It pained him to think that anyone could come close to distracting him the way Sam did. The worst part was he didn’t know what to do about it.
“If you live in a perpetual state of denial, you’ll hate yourself,” Luke relayed. “Just own up to it. It’s the only way you’ll figure it out.”
“There’s nothing to own up to,” he lied.
“No?” Luke’s laugh was mocking. “Then quit eye-fucking the guy. Everyone can see it but you.”
Logan was about to launch into a tirade, to tell his brother to mind his own fucking business, but Luke leaned closer, met his gaze.
“I’m going to give you some sound advice,” Luke said sternly. “It was given to me by a major pain in my ass many years ago.”
“What’s that?”
“Fucking figure it out,” Luke said roughly.
Logan laughed as he remembered that conversation. It had taken place right after Luke had gone MIA for two months. His need to get away had been triggered by his first encounter with Cole and Sam together. Logan had been fed up with his brother’s diversion tactics and told him to figure his shit out and address the issue. That issue being Luke’s realization that he was bisexual and that what had transpired between him and Cole had only been the beginning.
“And if what I want fucks everything up?” Logan heard himself ask.
“Unfortunately, you won’t know until you try.”
Yeah. That was what he was afraid of.
***
For the past two weeks, Elijah hadbeen wondering whether Logan was purposely putting distance between them. Even more so since the night Elijah had put his reservations aside and made the first move, sucking Logan’s cock in their home gym. It had been both a shock and a disappointment that Logan hadn’t so much as mentioned it in passing. In fact, he’d go so far as to say the man was pretending it hadn’t happened at all.
And after today, he no longer wondered whether Logan was keeping him at arm’s length. He knew it was true, but he wasn’t sure what to do about it. Ever since the night he’d given Sam a vivid account of what had happened between him and Logan in the swimming pool, Logan had been taking small steps back, but until now, he hadn’t realized how awkward things were becoming.
“Where’s my lady?” Luke’s voice boomed across the water as he left Logan to join them. “And why aren’t we in the hot tub?”
“Hot tub!” Sierra shouted as she stood and headed toward the stairs. “Clothing prohibited,” she declared as Luke approached.
He stopped instantly, set his beer on the edge of the pool, then shoved down his shorts. A second later, they joined the pile of clothing that had been discarded a short time ago when Xander decided skinny-dipping was the next order of business.
For the first time since he’d met the man, Elijah found his gaze lingering briefly, checking him out from head to toe. He was the spitting image of his brother, despite a few differences that came with age and lifestyle choices. So why didn’t Elijah feel the same attraction to him that he did Logan? If it was merely about sex, wouldn’t he at least feel something? Even if it was because Luke reminded him of Logan?
“You coming?” Sam asked, pulling his attention away from Luke.
“After you,” he said with a smile.
As he got up to join everyone moving into the hot tub, Elijah’s gaze swung over to Logan, who was still sitting at the side of the pool, now all alone. He was tempted to drag the man into the water and force him to join in the festivities. The festivities that had taken a very carnal turn in the past half hour. Although they thought they were hiding it, Elijah was more than aware of the fact that Mercedes was currently sitting astride Xander’s dick while she did her best to pretend otherwise. Probably one of Xander’s many directives he gave his submissive on a daily basis.
“Who wants to play Truth or Dare?” Luke asked when he took a seat beside Cole at the same time Sierra perched herself on Cole’s lap.
Elijah was aware of the easy way Luke put his arm behind Cole’s back as he shifted closer, and he wondered whether that was something he would ever have with Logan. Granted, if they couldn’t get over their current hurdle, it wasn’t something that even mattered.
“I do!” Leah shouted, followed by a giggle.
Needless to say, the wine had been flowing, and the women had been on the receiving end.
“I’m in,” Sierra announced.
“Me, too!” Sam chimed in.
