Secret Cravings(22)

She took another bite of her apple and chewed. “Really?”

“I know you’re hurt with your lovers kicking you out, but I don’t think we made any promises when we got together last night.”

“This is crap.”

“Nichole, what did you think was going to happen?” Luke was tired of being forced into relationships, bribed to give head or made to feel guilty and generally treated like dirt. He couldn’t take demands and drama anymore.

“Never mind. I need to leave.” Nichole tossed the apple in the trash and pulled on her clothes. She looked back over her shoulder, her face blank.

“Nichole, you don’t have to leave. I’m not kicking you out, but I’m also not going to live with drama. I made no promises except to have fun.”

She turned to face him, anger and defeat playing across her face. “I can’t do a relationship right now. I thought being with the two of you would make me feel better, but it didn’t. Sure, the sex was good, but I want more.”

“I can’t give more.” Luke felt like a heel saying it, but it was true. He was too tied up in Bryan right now, not her.

She pushed the button for the elevator and the doors slid open. Nichole stepped in and shot him a sad smile. “I guess it just wasn’t meant to be. You are just another pretty face. I guess I don’t rate highly enough for you.”

Luke sucked in a quick breath. Her statement was like a slap in his face. Luke froze, unable to speak as the doors slid closed and the elevator began its descent. His shoulders sagged and pain knifed into his side. Fuck, no one wanted him. Bryan would probably leave him too. Maybe he should go wake the dude up and kick him out. Bringing them up to his home had been a mistake.



* * * *



Bryan had rolled into a ball after sex and pretended to sleep. Shit, quit talking about the baby. That part of his life had ended and he would never see Michael again. There wasn’t any way for him to change losing the baby, and telling his new lovers about his past had only brought up painful memories.

Luke and Nichole left the room and shut the door behind them. He turned on his side and stared out of the window. New York woke up slowly on the weekends. Soon the streets would be crowded with tourists and city dwellers. The energy and throngs of people had kept him from going crazy. If he stayed busy enough, he would eventually forget about Michael’s sweet kisses, bright eyes and funny laughter.

He should go out there and face the music, but he didn’t want their pity. Nichole’s problem weighed on his mind and he had sympathy for the girl, but losing Michael had cut him to the core, leaving him unable to take on anyone else’s problems.

Hell, Luke must think they were losers. Both of them had been tossed out of relationships. Bryan rolled off the bed and realised he’d dropped his clothes in the other room. He’d have to brave Luke’s and Nichole’s stares in order to get dressed and leave.

He would shower first, then he would go. His broken heart held all of his focus as he stepped into the shower and turned the spray on. The icy water soon turned warm. He lathered up and rinsed his hair. Mindlessly, he ran the bar of soap over his body.

He washed the soap off his face and turned around to find Luke standing on the other side of the glass door. Bryan had been so involved in the shower he hadn’t heard the bathroom door open or close. Luke held up a cup of dark liquid, then placed the mug on the bathroom countertop.

Bryan thought he would leave, but he didn’t. Instead, Luke leaned up against the counter, crossed his legs and arms, and watched Bryan finish his shower.

Bryan cut the water and pulled a towel from the rack, his thoughts firing rapidly and confusing the hell out of him. Should he go, or stay? He didn’t know. He dried off his hair and body, not bothering to wrap the towel around his waist. Luke had already seen everything—so what if he looked at Bryan’s dick again?

“I brought you some coffee.”

“Thanks.” Bryan grabbed the cup and took a sip. “Yum, brewed to perfection and smooth too.” He wanted to take the words back, say something smarter, but he felt so strange. Luke didn’t stare at him but he also didn’t keep his eyes averted. The man was a serious turn-on, but Bryan didn’t want that right now. His emotions weren’t in the right place.

“Nichole left,” Luke said.

“What? When?”

“Just a few minutes ago.”

“But she didn’t even say goodbye.”

Luke turned to face him and slid one hand down Bryan’s side. His touch warmed Bryan and filled him with pleasure, leaving him feeling as though they’d been together for a long time. But they hadn’t been together that long, and this was the first time he’d been with a guy in ages. It was comfortable and strange all at once.