“Oh, big difference,” Bowen says, chuckling.
“What’s that like?” Thorne asks.
“Like dating any man, really, but I’ve always been very attracted to people who do whatever the fuck makes them happy, especially in spite of what society thinks they should do. Men in makeup and skirts do it for me.”
“Noted,” Bowen says, still grinning.
“I’m also rather fond of lumber-snacks. Case in point.”
“Whew,” Hawthorne says, dramatically wiping his brow. “Wasn’t sure I could pull off those heels.”
We all laugh as Dre returns with a bottle of Platinum Patron and three shot glasses. We drink several rounds, chatting about the clientele and the club itself.
“Can we dance?” I ask.
Bowen nods, clearly already feeling the effects of the alcohol.
“You go first. I’ll watch our table,” Thorne says.
I start to argue, but Bowen is already up and dragging me toward the dance floor. Fortunately, it’s right in front of where we’re sitting, so we can still see Thorne.
The song is fast, but Bowen wraps himself around me like it’s a ballad. “I’m so happy,” he drawls, the shots making his speech slower than usual. “I have you, and I have Thorne.”
“Yes, you do.” I steal a kiss, lingering on his sweet mouth and swaying us to the music. My cock is already primed and ready for some action I pray happens later, but right now, holding Bowen in my arms is pretty damn sweet.
We twist around, eyeing Hawthorne as he fends off men coming to talk to him.
“We shouldn’t leave a man that pretty unattended.”
Bowen snorts. “Truth. Worth losing the table to keep him with us.”
“I agree.”
Before we can go get him, though, he stands, following a man to the dance floor, clutching our bottle. Bowen goes still in my arms, watching his best friend dance and chat with someone else. I don’t think this is an outcome he was prepared for.
“You okay, Bow?”
He turns to face me. “Yeah. I guess.”
“He’s just dancing.”
“Yeah.”
I do my best to distract Bowen by pulling him closer and nuzzling his neck. He laughs a bit, intentionally humping into me. I respond by sliding my hand to his ass and squeezing it as he moans.
“Do you want to get fucked tonight, Bow?”
He whimpers, nodding at me with heavy eyes.
“By who? Me or Thorne?”
“Yes. Is yes an option?”
“Mm, baby, you do love some dick, don’t you? Your appetite turns me on.”
“Your dick turns me on.” He licks up my lips. “I want to be used. I want you to hold me down while Thorne destroys me, and just when I think I can’t take anymore, you’ll take over and ruin what’s left.”
“Jesus, Bow.” I bring his hand to my bulge. “Look what you do to me.”
“Let’s get tested soon. I need to feel your cum inside of me.”
“Damn, yes, let’s make that happen. Let’s get Thorne over here with us.”
“Please.”
We turn around, searching the floor for him, finding him back at the table, swigging straight from the bottle, and glaring. Oh shit. Something went wrong.
Chapter Seventeen
Hawthorne
Bowen and Aldis head back in my direction, but my mood is fucked up. I just don’t know why. I was having fun dancing, then the guy offered to blow me, and it was like being doused in cold water.
“Hey,” Bowen says, swaying slightly as he sits next to me. “You okay?”
“Yep.” I drink more tequila. “Have fun dancing?” Damn, that sounded harsher than I meant to.
“We wanted you to dance with us too.”
I sort of scoff, but Aldis puts his hand on my knee. “What’s wrong, Thorne?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. The guy I was dancing with was cool, then out of nowhere, he offered to blow me in the bathroom.”
Bowen growls in response. “Did you want to?”
“No.” I twist my hand through Aldis’s, feeling weirdly comforted. “I’m fine.”
“Do you want to dance with me?” Bowen asks.
“Go,” Aldis says. “I’ll watch the table.”
We stand and walk out together. Bowen moves into my arms. “It’s just new. That’s all.”
I nod, searching his eyes. I feel off. Like something in me shifted. Watching Bowen and Aldis dance made my chest ache in a way I’ve never felt. How can you be so happy for someone and, at the same time, want to hoard them? Fuck. How can I feel that exact same thing about two different people? This is so confusing.
“Hey,” Bowen says, cupping my face. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out. Together. I love you, Thorne. Don’t bail on me now.”
“I’m not going to. Never.”
“And Aldis?”
I turn to find him watching us from the table. He lifts a shot glass toward us and smiles.
“Same,” I reply. “I’m in.”
“Too soon for a gay club?”
“That’s not it either, Bow. I don’t know. My head is swirling.”
He kisses me, slow and lingering, melting my insides and calming my mind. “Don’t think so hard,” he whispers on my lips.
“I’m trying.”
By the time the dance is done, it’s obvious Bowen is too. Aldis and I exchange glances and make our way to the door. We have an Uber called to be on the safe side. Bowen leans on Aldis in the backseat, and that strange jumbled feeling pulls at my stomach again. Whatever it is, I want it to go away.
At home, we help Bowen undress before doing the same and climbing in bed next to him. Aldis holds my gaze. I can see questions in them that I don’t have answers to, but fortunately, he seems to know.
“It’s gonna be fine,” he whispers. “We’ll figure it out.”
Somehow, I believe him.
Aldis and I slip out of the house early to avoid waking Bowen. It’s been a few days since our major relationship talk, and while Aldis hasn’t officially started his trial move-in, he’s been with us every night. It’s all going well, but there’s some unnamed emotion clawing at my stomach since our night at the club, and I don’t know what to do about it.
Aldis drives us to the gym, both of us silent. It’s damn early, but I think there’s more simmering here than just grogginess. When we park, he casts a simple smile toward me and slaps my thigh.
“Ready for me to kick your ass?”
I scoff. “Don’t you mean am I ready to kick your ass?”
“I said what I said.” He winks, chuckling.
Twenty minutes later, we’ve got our gear on and start working our way up the advanced wall. At first, my mind clears of all thoughts while I focus on my climb, but it doesn’t take long before everything rushes back in.
I grunt my way up as visions from the last few days flood my mind—Aldis and Bowen speaking softly in the hallway, finding them kissing in the kitchen while the coffee brewed, all the shared glances and affectionate gestures, the way they danced together at the club. Bowen hasn’t told me he loves me once since Aldis has been with us. Like a cold bucket of water, I realize the feeling that’s been gnawing at me is none other than jealousy.