Page 40 of True Blue

“No thanks,” he says, starting to walk toward his bedroom.

I step in his way. “I know you’re not using Janette to get back at me,” I say quickly. He glares at my chest, refusing to look up at my eyes but stops trying to get around me. “I’m sorry I accused you of that. It was stupid and I was hurt.”

He snorts, eyes finally coming up to mine again. “And what exactly did you have to be hurt about?” He folds his arms over his chest, leaning away from me. I search for my practiced speeches, coming up empty and just staring at him for far too long. He sighs, shoulders loosening as he pinches the bridge of his nose and closes his eyes. They flash open a moment later, hurt echoing in them as he asks me, “What do you want, Bentley?” He searches my face, adding, “Other than Janette clearly.”

“I want both of you,” I say, without thinking. He takes a step back, mouth popping open. “I think I always wanted both of you.” I think back to the night of the party when I couldn’t stop watching both of them play beer pong and spent the whole night rock hard in my jeans. I step back from him, shaking my head. “But I understand if you just want her. I saw the way you guys looked together at that event. It was stupid of me to think us fooling around one time meant anything more. I just wanted to tell you to hopefully clear the air so we could all still work together on the research project.”

Axel stands in the same spot, searching my face for a few moments while I grow uncomfortable. Maybe things have gotten too far out of hand. Maybe we can’t work together the way I thought we could if I gave them my blessing, heart cracking open at the idea of watching them grow closer while I sit on the sidelines. My eyes start to sting, and I dig my nails into my palms to try to stave off the feeling. “Anyways, that’s all I wanted to say. I’m sorry for everything, and I'll get out of the way if that’s what you want.” I start to walk around him, planning to hide in my bedroom and get myself back under control, but he steps in my path this time.

Anger lies in the lines of his face as he takes off his backpack and throws it across the room. The thud of it hitting the wall next to the TV distracts me for a moment as he points a finger at me, poking me in the chest. “Yousaid it didn’t mean anything. ‘What’s a blowjob between friends?’ remember? ‘No big deal’ you said. You're the one who said it didn’t mean anything,not me!” He shakes with anger, teeth gnashing together when he’s done.

I stare at him, remembering the words, but not understanding the context he’s given them. “I was psyching myself up,” I say finally, looking between each of his beautiful brown eyes. “I didn’t know if you were offering a random hookup or a chance to see if it could be more. And then after you were done, and our eyes met, I realizedIwanted more. That’s why I kissed you. That’s why I wanted to make you come too. That’s why I fucking pulled you into my bed and tried to sleep next to you!” I start yelling at the end, not really angry, but desperate for him to understand that he has it all wrong.

His eyes grow wide as I get every word out.

“And then I woke up and you were gone. And I thought maybe he’s just getting dressed or something. I wanted to go to breakfast and figure out where to go from here. I waited in the suite for you for hours. But you’re the one who ran away. You’re the one who avoided me for weeks after. So, yeah, I got mad, and I stupidly went out with Cassie. I'm sorry about that, but I thought you were cutting me out. And it fucking hurt.”

Axel steps back, head shaking as he stares at the ground. Minutes pass, my heart beat the only sound I can hear as I wait for him to say something. And then he starts laughing. My heart squelches in my chest, the pain leaving me breathless for a moment.

“So, we both thought the other didn’t care for weeks?” He keeps laughing, leaning back and holding his torso. The hurt leaking out of the hole in my chest starts to reverse itself back into a beating heart as his words take shape in my mind. I chuckle, watching him come down from his mania as I realize that we’ve both been idiots for a while.

“I’m sorry for avoiding you,” he says, stepping toward me. “I thought you were the one who didn’t want anything more and didn’t want to come off as clingy or annoying. I may have over-corrected.” He shrugs, but I can see the sincerity on his face.

“You think?” I raise an eyebrow and he starts to blush. “Maybe this time we communicate a bit more before jumping to conclusions.” I take another step forward, standing chest to chest with him now.

“This time?” he asks, eyes lingering on my mouth.

I smile and reach forward, burying my hand in his hair as I pull him forward and crush my mouth against his. He opens immediately with a groan, fisting the front of my shirt and pushing in closer. I wrap my other arm around his back as our tongues move against each other and his taste floods my senses. My hand lands on the small of his back, pushing our lower halves together so that he can feel how hard I am in my sweats. I feel his answering erection against my thigh, and move my hand lower, squeezing his ass through his pants.

“Fuck,” he sighs, breaking our kiss and tipping his head back as I pull on the hair at his nape. I trail my lips along his jaw, nipping with my teeth, while he grinds against my thigh, his own leg rubbing against the length of my cock.

I start licking down his throat when he starts shaking his head, panting and breathlessly uttering, “Wait.”

I stop, pulling back as he moves his hands to my shoulders.

“Wait,” he pants, bringing his head back down to look me in the eyes. “How does Janette fit into this?” He gestures between us, and my lust addled brain adds her short frame in between us, both of us working her over as she moans.

I shake my head, stepping back to give us each some more space. “I don’t know, exactly.” I run a hand through my hair, calming my breathing as I try to think clearly. “I think we’d need to ask her which of us she wants more. I don’t know how she’ll feel about the two of us together.” I gesture between us, feeling the soaring happiness of a moment ago start to take a nosedive.

“I might have told her we hooked up,” Axel says, rubbing the back of his head and looking at me sheepishly. “She told me you two kissed and thought I would be mad, so I offered her some information in return.” He shrugs and I wipe my palms on my sweats over my thighs to stop myself from reaching out for him again. “She said she was into the idea of the two of us together.”

My brain explodes, all thoughts dying in its wake as I stare at Axel. He chuckles, reading my blank look perfectly. “How do you feel about sharing? The idea of the two of you together turns me on, but I don’t think it’ll work if you’re not also interested.”

“Interested in what?” I say, thoughts still not coming in as I hear the words he is saying.

“Think about it, Bent. Does the idea of me and her together turn you on?”

His words conjure up the image of her pressed between the two of us again. This time I imagine Axel leaning down and kissing up the side of her neck as one of his hands inches down toward her center. My dick twitches in my pants and I say, “Yes,” before I even realize it.

Axel smiles widely. “I think we need to talk to our girl then,” he says. “Let’s go see if she’s home right now.” He turns toward the door, but I reach out and stop him by grabbing his shoulder.

“Janette tends to be skittish,” I say remembering the panicked look on her face as she ran away from me after our kiss. “I think we need to come up with a plan of attack before we just bombard her with this.”

Axel nods. “What do you have in mind?”

“You said the idea of the two of us together turns her on?” He nods. “And your sister’s her best friend?” He nods again, head tilting to the side a little. “Do you think she’d help us out with this?”

Axel snorts. “I think she’d practically hold Janette at gunpoint to get her to do this. She’s been bugging me to get Janette with either one of us since the start of the semester.” I nod, a plan forming in my head. “Why what are you thinking?”

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