Page 74 of My Brother's Teammates

“What kind of knife is that?” His words dance across the skin where my neck meets my shoulder, sending shivers skating down my spine.

“Nakiri. It’s got a blunt front end and a flat-profiled blade. Perfect for clean cuts with every stroke. The blade also makes food transfer easier.” I demonstrate on the cutting board in front of me as he braces my hips against him with both hands.

“I love it when you get kitchen nerdy.” He nips at my neck. When he steals a couple of carrot batons, I smack his knuckles. “Spank me harder.” His voice is light with mirth, but part of me wonders if he’s into that. Is he?

Fuck. My mouth dries up. Am I?

Sure, in the past, I’ve given girls a well-placed smack in the bedroom, but what if he’s into spanking? I really should have asked him more questions. What am I supposed to do as a bisexual man?

He squeezes my ass with both hands. “Be right back.”

I get lost in the veggies—washing, peeling, and cutting. So lost, I’m not sure how much time has passed, or how long he’s been standing three feet from me, giving me that cute lopsided grin of his and waiting for me to notice his presence.

“Are you watching me?” I toss everything in a bowl and shake my head with a laugh. “Stalker.”

“You get so into it when you cook. I could’ve been back here jerking off, and you wouldn’t have noticed.”

Oh. I would’ve definitely noticed that.

He has something in his hand, and I’m a little disappointed that it isn’t his cock. But then again, I did tell him we needed to get dinner done before Charlotte came home.

When he spies my attention on the item, he holds it out to me.

Budding Attraction, Divorced Men’s Club book three.

Huh. Seems it’s a book by someone called Saxon James, and if the muscular man posing on the cover is any indication, it’s not just any book. It’s a romance.

I turn the book over in my hand. The pages are a little crinkled, telling me Mateo has likely read this book. But why give it to me? He’s the romance reader.

“It’s the most authentic bi-awakening story I’ve ever read.” His cheeks turn a dark shade of pink as his gaze flits to the floor. “Orson’s a widower who owns the local flower shop, and he falls for a dynamic dude with ink. I…” He pauses and rubs the back of his neck. “I thought you might like it.”

Is Mateo…embarrassed? Shy? It can’t be. Not our dynamo our cocky, outgoing, fearless friend. He’s never quiet, but he’s also never really been the thoughtful one, and he put a lot of it into this gift.

He studies my face, waiting in heavy silence as I watch him. I’m not sure he’s even breathing. From the sincerity in his eyes, it took a lot for him to share this with me.

“Thank you,” I manage, clearing my throat and hugging it to my chest. “I can’t wait to read it. I’ve never read a book like this before.”

He tucks his hands into his back pockets and rocks back on his heels. He’s so fucking cute when he’s nervous. “If you want to buddy read…” He shrugs. “I wouldn’t mind reading it again. I have it downloaded on my Kindle.”

He’s trying to downplay it, brush it off like it’s no big deal, but flashes of his head on my lap on the couch as we read the book together makes my heart swell. And maybe, just maybe, this means he wants something more than a casual fuck. Because that’s what this is, right? We’re putting more than our entire friendship on the line if this doesn’t work out.

There’s no way I skate on the ice with him if things go wrong. There’s no way I can go back to watching him pick up women at the bar and pretend everything is perfectly normal. Not after the moments we’ve shared. Not when I know exactly how his bedazzled cock feels in my hand, not when I’ll spend the whole time wishing he was taking me home and seeing how many rungs of his ladder he can bury inside my body.

“I’d love that, Teo.” I brush my fingers across his cheek, enjoying the way his breath catches as I tuck his long blond hair behind his ear. “I’d really love that.”

He bites the inside of his cheek, then nods. He’s already wearing a short-sleeved shirt, but he pretends to roll up his sleeves all the same. “Put me to work, Chef.” He claps his hands. “We need to get this show on the road.”

Twenty minutes later, cooking is in full flow, and Mateo’s serenading me, singing into a wooden spoon that he can buy himself flowers. His Miley Cyrus impression isn’t half bad, but when Jace and Harrison stroll into the kitchen, the color drains from his face and all the levity from the room is swallowed up in an instant.

“Hey,” I croak out, while Mateo turns down the music.

Harrison looks at all the food prepped. “Having a dinner party?”

Mateo cracks a grin, but it doesn’t reach his eyes, and his face is still pale. “You know me, fill me from the toes up.” He pats his stomach. “What are you guys doing here?” His question is aimed more at Jace, but Harrison answers as Jace dips down the hall into his room.

“Bright spark there forgot his phone. Apparently he couldn’t go to dinner without it.” His questioning eyes rest heavily on Mateo and I. “Is he seeing someone? Relationships are the only reason that asshole’s ever stuck to his phone.”

Both Mateo and I slowly shake our heads. This is a conversation Jace needs to have with Harrison, and I’m not going to be the one to ruin their friendship.

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