“Yeah? Like what?”
William shrugged. “This and that.”
This was going to be a long night if I allowed them to carry the conversation. “So, Jeremy, you’re getting married soon, right? How are the wedding plans coming along?”
Jeremy had always liked to talk, just like Jace, and he launched into some of the details. Then I turned the conversation to Chicago’s best attractions. Jeremy tried to talk about the past, but I brought us back to the present by mentioning Beckett and segueing into our work together for Fresh Market. I saw Jeremy looking at the photos I’d used to decorate the condo, but he didn’t say anything about the lack of surfing pictures or the absence of pictures of Jace. Finally, it was late enough to go to bed. After a few awkward “Goodnights” and a strained hug, William and I went to my room. Jeremy went to the guest room.
I closed the door behind me and slumped against it. I had made it. Jeremy hadn’t said anything too revealing, and William had been polite enough, though he obviously wasn’t very happy about the situation. My shoulders felt like a wire was stretched taut between them. I was completely exhausted and just wanted to collapse on the bed. Something slinked along my waist, and I jumped.
“Did I scare you?” William asked. He’d wrapped his arms around me. After his lack of affection in the living room, I hadn’t been prepared for him to touch me.
“No. I mean, yes. A little.” I moved away, so on edge I knew I was hardly making sense. I tried to think what I needed to do and ended up pulling my clothes off and tugging on an old T-shirt and sweats. William stood across the room, one eyebrow raised.
“Interesting choice, but you won’t be needing that get-up tonight.”
Oh my God. He could not possibly want to do it—I was reverting back to my college mindset—with Jeremy in the guestroom. My condo wasn’t that big.
“William…” He crossed to me and took me in his arms, leaning down to kiss my neck. “I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“Give me a minute. You’ll change your mind.” His hands skimmed down my sides, then under my T-shirt to cup my breasts. I jumped back.
“William, we can’t do this,” I hissed.
He crossed his arms. “Why not?”
“He might hear.”
William reached for me again. “I’ll be very, very quiet.” He brushed a hand over my nipples. “I’ll keep my mouth occupied and yours too.” He took my hand and placed it on the front of his trousers. He was definitely hard and ready. I pulled my hand away and stepped back.
“You know I won’t be quiet enough.”
He shrugged. “So he hears. I don’t care.”
“I do.”
“Why? What difference does it make if he knows I fuck you, if he knows you like it when I fuck you? Maybe it will turn him on. We can all get off tonight.”
The idea of Jeremy hearing William and me having sex made my chest tighten. I just couldn’t do it. I’d never said no to him before, but I had to say it tonight. I had to have some sense of decency. He reached for me again, and I skipped back. “I don’t feel comfortable with Jeremy here.”
The tightness in William’s face seemed to relax slightly. “Then just let me hold you. Tonight…at my aunt and uncle’s house…showing you those pictures. I want to hold you.”
How could I resist that request? I wanted to hold him too. I wanted to keep the feeling of closeness we’d shared. “Alright.” I moved toward the bed, but he shook his head.
“You’re not wearing that.”
I rolled my eyes. “What does it matter what I wear? Nothing more than cuddling is going to happen.”
I watched as William began to remove his clothes, his powerful well-muscled body moving with an easy grace as he stripped. “Fine, but at least give me some little thrill. Take that off and let me feel you against me.”
I gave him a wary look. I wasn’t sure if I trusted him—or myself—if we were nude in bed together. But as he dropped his boxer briefs, I found myself pulling my T-shirt over my head. I wanted to feel his big hard body against mine. My breasts were achy and heavy in anticipation of rubbing against his chest, but I tamped that feeling down. Nothing was going to happen. I turned off the light, dropped my old sweats, and climbed naked into bed. A moment later, the mattress dipped, and William was beside me.
He gathered me in his arms and pulled me flush against him, my soft curves folding perfectly into his hard contours. His breath was soft and warm in my ear. “You feel so good.” I dropped my chin to his chest and sighed with pleasure. His hand brushed along my back, making me shiver slightly. But he didn’t attempt to touch me any more than that. There was just the hypnotic feel of his hand circling the sensitive flesh on my back.