Ethan shook his head and guided Jayson over to the easy chair where he dropped into it sideways. Chase followed, stumbling only slightly, and collapsed onto the couch next to Sabrina.
“Hi,” he said with a silly grin.
Sabrina wrinkled her nose at the scent of beer on his breath. “Have a good time?”
“Yup.” He gave her a lopsided grin which made her giggle.
“You’re drunk.”
“Yup.” He leaned back and put his feet on the table in front of him, glancing at the flatscreen on the wall. “You went on without me?”
“You’ve seen it.”
“Ooh!” Jayson exclaimed. “Is this the one where her friend gets involved and dies?”
“Jayson!” Sabrina yelled and threw a pillow at him. “I haven’t seen this yet!”
Jayson erupted into a fit of laughter as the pillow hit him in the nose and Sabrina crossed her arms and huffed. “Well, I guess I know what’s gonna happen now,” she grumbled, shooting Jayson a dirty look.
He shrugged, waving his hands in the air.
She sighed and curled up against Chase, stretching her feet to press against Ethan, and hit play on the remote.
Sabrina relaxed and Chase looked down to find her breathing deeply with her eyes closed. He smiled and his chest warmed. He loved it when she fell asleep in his arms. It didn’t happen a lot. Yet.
He gently pulled the remote from her hand and paused the show before tossing it to Ethan. He moved to pick her up to take her to bed, but Ethan put his hand on his arm.
“Are you sober enough to not drop her?”
Chase chuckled. “More than him.” He nodded to Jayson who shot him a dirty look. “Lightweight.”
Ethan sighed and moved Sabrina’s feet off his lap before standing and picking her up effortlessly. Chase stood and followed him, stumbling and thinking Ethan had been right to take Sabrina from him. He pulled back the blankets and Ethan set her gently on the bed, brushing her hair away from her face before stepping back. Chase couldn’t help but notice the soft expression on his friend’s face.
Ethan caught him watching him and lifted his chin. “I’d never do anything to get in between you two.”
“I know.” Chase covered her up and kissed her forehead. “I trust you without reservation.”
Ethan gave a stiff nod and walked out of the room.
Chase stared at the open doorway for a long minute, his mind drifting to the conversation he’d had with Richard earlier in the day. Richard was thrilled at Sabrina’s choice but warned Chase her passions had likely become unharnessed at the Gathering and would need sexual release sooner than later. There was nothing Richard could do to help this time.
All afternoon, Chase had been trying to figure out a way to help Sabrina until they were married, and a solution had just sprung to mind. But was it a good idea?
“Ethan.” Chase stood and stumbled after him.
Ethan stopped but didn’t turn around. “Yeah?”
Chase closed Sabrina’s door softly behind him. How do I ask him something like this? He glanced at the closed door. “I—” Fuck. He was out of his fucking mind. “Remember when Richard told her she could go insane if she didn’t have sex?”
“Yeah.”
“Richard thinks her needs may kick up now that she’s experienced her true self.”
“Okay.”
Chase sighed. “You know I can’t touch her.”
Silence.
Chase put his hand on the wall to keep steady.
Ethan spun around, eyes wide. “Are you saying what I think you’re saying?”
He nodded.
Ethan looked at Sabrina’s door then back at Chase. He pursed his lips. “You’re drunk.”
“I am.”
“That’s the reason you’re asking.”
“I’ve been trying to figure out what to do all afternoon.”
“This is the best you came up with?”
Chase gave a helpless gesture. “Maybe the alcohol is giving me the balls to ask.”
Ethan pressed his lips together. “I can’t believe you’re asking me to fuck your fiancée.”
“I—”
“You know how I feel and you’re asking me to do that?” He balled his fists and looked up at the ceiling.
“It’s why I’m asking,” Chase said softly.
Ethan’s head dropped, and he stared incredulously at Chase. “You can’t be serious.”
“If she doesn’t get what she needs, she’ll go insane. You know that.”
“What about Jayson?”
Chase shook his head. “He’s already having a hard time getting over her.”
“You think it’d be easier for me?”
Chase closed his eyes and leaned against the wall. It wasn’t fair to ask Ethan this. Although, it wasn’t unheard of for wives of Elders to have lovers. He opened his eyes. “Ethan, I wouldn’t stop you from being with her if—”
“It would be more than that and you know it.”
“If I was going to share her with anyone, it’d be you.”
Ethan frowned. “You’re fucking drunk.”
“I know.” Chase rubbed his face. Why had he thought this would be a good idea? He should have just asked Richard to step in.
Ethan stared at him, hazel eyes wide and his hands in tight fists. “You’re asking me to be her surrogate lover until you can do it. You’re asking me to be you until you can do it yourself.”
Chase’s shoulder’s slumped. “Forget it. I shouldn’t have asked.” He closed his eyes and ran his hands over his face. “That was fucked up of me.”
“As long as you realize it.”
Chase slid his hand along the wall as he headed back to the living room. He’d call Richard in the morning and—
“But I know why you did.”
Chase turned at Ethan’s softened voice.
Ethan leaned against the wall across from Chase and crossed his arms. “You’re right. She’s gonna need help and I’m the logical person to do it.”
Chase frowned. “What?”
“Jayson’s too smitten by her. Richard’s too fucking far away to be here for her. Who else is there?”
“Ethan, I—”
“No. I get it.” He sighed. “Can I try getting creative before resorting to full-on sex? I feel like I can handle it as long as I don’t have to cross that line.”
Chase stared. “Are you sure?”
“No. But keeping some sort of boundary has worked for you and me. Why wouldn’t it with Sabrina?”
“What if she needs more?” Chase asked quietly.
Ethan swallowed. “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.”
Arguing would do no good and might push him over the edge. “Okay.”
Ethan gave a tight smile. “When are you getting married?”
“Richard said they’d extend the deadline a week or two once we’re engaged since there isn’t time before the end of the year.”
“Okay.” He closed his eyes and sighed, then he shook his head and gave a bitter laugh. “Now I’m fucking horny. If you weren’t drunk, I’d go to the Manor and use the girls there.” He glanced at his bedroom door and then at Sabrina’s. “Guess my hand’ll get a workout tonight.”