Whenhe made his way back downstairs, he followed the way to the argument stillfanning flames near the front door. He stopped short as soon as he saw Blake’shand wrapped possessively around Ethan’s very naked bicep. His other hand waspressed flat against Ethan’s equally naked chest.
Beaugrowled, a sound that was low and menacing and uncontrollable. It wasapparently loud enough to catch Ethan’s attention even over Blake’s pleadingand begging. He tried desperately to ignore the feeling, that possessiveinstinct that had reared its ugly head. If he stayed, he would likely cause ascene, and that was the last thing he wanted. He just had to get out of there.
Unableto swallow past the lump in his throat, Beau couldn’t even come up with thewords to say goodbye. Making sure he made physical contact with Ethan as hebrushed past, he glanced back over his shoulder when he reached the door,wishing… shit, he didn’t even know what he wished for.
Hehad the door open and one foot out in the crisp night air before he heard Ethansay his name. With his stomach churning and his heart pounding, he turned toface him, scared of what the man might say. The next word out of Ethan’s mouthalmost had Beau’s knees buckling beneath him.
“Stay.”
Beauwanted to stay more than he wanted air, but he wasn’t sure whether Ethan wassaying that for his benefit or Blake’s. And truthfully, Beau didn’t want to getin the middle of this. The two of them needed to work through this or there wasno way Beau and Ethan could move forward.
Ifthat was the direction they were headed.
“I’llsee you in the morning,” Beau said quietly, forcing his legs to move. One footin front of the other. Repeat.
Hemanaged to make it to his truck without incident, but as soon as he was inside,the heater blasting, Beau sat in the darkness for several minutes, staring upat the closed front door to Ethan’s house. He couldn’t help but wonder whatthey were doing now. Was Blake still touching Ethan? Was Ethan angry that Beauhad left?
Knowinghe wouldn’t get the answers to any of his questions tonight, Beau put the truckin Reverse and backed out of the driveway.
Drivingaway was honestly the hardest thing Beau had ever had to do.
Chapter Eighteen
??
“Youneed to go,” Ethan said adamantly, his blood pressure soaring from the angerthat was building inside of him. Between Blake showing up and having thefucking nerve to use a key he’d clearly had made without Ethan’s knowledge andthen Beau walking out, he wasn’t so sure he wouldn’t lose his shit right thenand there.
“Iwant to talk.” Blake’s face showed absolutely no concern for the danger hemight actually be in if he continued to push.
Unableto control himself, Ethan got up in Blake’s face until they were nose to nose.He didn’t touch him otherwise, fearing what he might actually do if he releasedthe contempt he suddenly felt for this man. “You. Need. To. Fucking. Leave.” Hespelled it out as clearly as he could.
That’swhen Ethan’s world flipped upside down, and the anger erupted. When Blakegripped the back of Ethan’s neck and pulled him to him, their mouths pressingtogether, Ethan reacted in the only way he knew how. He shoved Blake. Hard.
“Don’tyou ever fucking do that again,” he warned, taking several steps back.
“Why?Because of Beau? Are you feeling guilty now?”
“Ihave nothing to feel guilty about,” Ethan yelled. “Whatever you thought therewas between us is over, Blake. Over.”
“No,it’s not,” Blake argued. “Not by a long shot. I love you, Ethan. I won’t letyou go.”
“Youdon’t have a choice,” Ethan said, taking a deep breath and trying to calm hisnerves. “I was never yours to begin with.”
“Thengive me another chance. It was a mistake. I shouldn’t have walked out. Ishouldn’t have quit. I’m only human, Ethan,” Blake pleaded. “One more chance.”
Notin this lifetime, Ethan thought to himself. There was no way he could go back.Not even if he wanted to. After what he’d shared with Beau that afternoon,Ethan wasn’t sure he’d ever be able to engage in meaningless sex ever again. Nineyears were a long time to go without that intense thrill of being with someonethat you cared about. He wasn’t making any promises, wasn’t going to get hishopes up, but what he felt with Beau… shit, what he felt when he was with Beautranscended anything he’d ever felt before. Even the naïve, young love he’dfelt for Gavin.
Theseconfusing emotions were enough to alter Ethan’s focus. To make him want thingshe swore he would never want again.
“Youlove me,” Blake said, taking a step closer.
“Inever loved you,” Ethan said, his voice much calmer than before. He didn’t wantto do this. He didn’t like confrontation, and he damn sure wasn’t the type ofperson who wanted to put someone in their place, but with Blake, it wasn’t likehe had much choice.
“Doyou think fucking Beau is going to fix you?” Blake said snidely.
Ethanflinched. He knew it wouldn’t take long for Blake to get nasty.
“Mypersonal life isn’t your business.” The statement wasn’t an effective argument,but Ethan didn’t want Blake talking about Beau.
