“What?” Scott said again, definitely sounding too defensive even to his own ears this time.
“Outspoken about being a top,” Will said. “You bristled every time someone suggested you bottom.”
“People can change their minds.”
“They can,” Will agreed, his tone very mild. “Did you?”
Scott grimaced. He hated how well Will knew him. “Not really,” he admitted reluctantly. “He’s the exception for me. I can’t imagine letting anyone else do it to me. But he—he’s different.”
“I’m starting to get that,” Will said, his voice full of dry humor. “I’m surprised you haven’t told me yet that he’s the One.”
Scott pursed his lips tightly. “He isn’t,” he bit off. “We’re just friends.”
Silence fell over the line again. “Okay,nowI’m getting a bit worried,” Will said. “You’re letting him fuck you—something completely unprecedented for you—and you’re worried that he doesn’t want you as much as you want him, but you still say he isn’t the One? What happened to my cousin and who are you?”
“Oh, fuck you,” Scott said without much heat. “It isn’t funny.”
“It isn’t,” Will said, the amusement gone from his voice. “I’m really a bit worried now. It isn’t like you at all.”
Scott plopped down onto his couch and stared at the opposite wall without really seeing it.
“I have it under control,” he said, hating how unconvincing his voice sounded.He had it under control. Hedid.
Scott ended up video calling Cam half an hour later.
The fact that he wasvideocalling him was a little cringe, to be honest. Scott rarely called people, much less video calledthem. Texting was his default, like it was for most people these days. Will and Cam were pretty much the only people he ever called, but with Cam... Scott wanted to see him, too.
God, that was so damn cringe.
“Hey,” Scott drawled with a helpless smile when Cam’s face appeared on the screen.
“Hi, Scotty,” Cam said, smiling back. The camera was shaking in his hand, and it took Scott a moment to realize Cam was running on a treadmill.
“Turn it off. You’ll trip and hurt yourself,” Scott said with a frown, his eyes roaming over Cam’s mouthwateringly handsome, scruffy face. A bead of sweat glistened on Cam’s forehead, and Scott had to wet his suddenly dry lips. Until Cam, he’d never really understood the appeal of a grimy, sweaty man, but now, just looking at Cam and his strong, sweat-dampened body made heat coil low in his stomach. He wanted to pull Cam through the screen and get him on top of him.
“I can multitask,” Cam said, maintaining his steady pace. He didn’t even sound breathless, the asshole. Then again, Scott knew firsthand just how good his stamina was.
Cam’s lips twitched. “Did you want something, or is this a social call?”
Scott tried hard not to blush at the reference to the last time Scott had called him—he’d been super horny and wanted Cam to talk to him while he jerked off. It had been one of the most bizarre phone sex experiences of his life—Cam hadn’t even talked dirty to him, but just hearing his voice had been enough. It had been pretty mortifying, all in all. But very, very hot.
Scott cleared his throat slightly. “There will be a gala on Tuesday to celebrate the official opening of the European branch. Will you come?”
Cam’s dark eyes flashed with humor. “It’s not exactly my scene, sorry. And you know I have a sponsor thing in Brazil this weekend, I probably won’t even be back by Tuesday anyway.”
Scott pouted. “Oh, come on.”
“Stop making that face.” Cam laughed, his fingertips touching the screen. “You look ridiculous.”
“Come on, you attend fancy galas and parties all the time!”
“Only when I have to,” Cam said, snorting. “I definitely don’t go to them voluntarily.”
Scott sighed, his shoulders slumping. “Fine.” He would have loved to have Cam there, but he didn’t want him tosuffer through a social event for his sake.
He felt Cam’s gaze on him, steady and assessing. “Are you nervous? About the branch opening?”
Scott shrugged, putting on a nonchalant look. “Of course not. I’ve got it.”
