Page 28 of Just Bromantically Invested

Madden flicks me a cheeky look. “It’s weird. You dating. I don’t think you’ve done that since we moved here.”

“Well, neither have you.”

“Yeah, but I’m good with where I’m at.”

“Who says I’m not?” The need to be defensive takes over before I can think through the words.

“Ah, you? The other night.”

He’s got me there.

“And in the interest of helping,” he continues, “I’ve cast my net wide.”

“Your … net?”

“Yup.” Madden’s blue eyes are shining proudly as he turns to me. “I’ve got some dates lined up for you.”

It takes me way too long to understand what he’s saying. “You’ve got dates for me?”

“Yes. Since things with Lana didn’t hit right off, I reached out to a few people.” He elbows me. “Told them what a hottie you are. How you give the best massages, have your own place, are a bit of a neat freak?—”

“I’m not a neat freak.”

“You installed hooks by your door so I could hang up my clothes instead of setting them—folded, by the way—on your coffee table.”

Shit. He has a point. “Fine. I’m alittlebit neat.”

“Uh-huh.” Madden pats me condescendingly on the thigh, sending a zap into my gut.

I flinch away from his touch, and it catches us both off guard.

He turns to me, eyebrows at his hairline. “You okay, dude?”

“Yeah. Sorry. Thought I saw a bee.”

He obviously doesn’t believe me, but what am I supposed to say? I wasn’t expecting you to touch me, and when you did, because I’m naked, my body got you mixed up with a woman?

No, thank you.

“Wanna go for a swim?” I blurt to take the scrutiny away. The beach isn’t a great one; barely anyone swims here, but there’s water, and if we ignore all the algae, there’s nothing to worry about.

“Sure.” There’s still suspicion in his voice, but he follows me over the sand and out into the water.

It’s a hot day, and the water feels fucking amazing, so it’s easy enough to push our conversation to the back of my mind. Dates? No, thank you. But I can deal with that later. All I want right now is to dunk my best friend until he can’t breathe and then have him return the favor.

No drama. No overthinking. Just him and me, being completely us.

He gets me first though.

Arms close around my waist, and I’m dragged under frombehind. The water flows over my face, dulling the sounds from shore, and even though Madden lets go almost instantly, I still get that brush of skin on skin.

Of his chest skimming my back, his thighs brushing my ass, and his … well, in the water, there’s no controlling that thing, and I swear his dick grazes my lower back.

I’ve seen it a million times, but I’ve never actually touched it.

Apparently, my body is way past confused at this point because it’s enough to send blood to my cock. The whole thing freaks me the fuck out.

Sure, it’s not a full-fledged boner, but even getting a semi over my best friend’s dick is out of left field.

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