Page 33 of Winter's End

He rubbed his hands down my shoulders and grinned. “I’ll recruit you to my team next round. Then I can play teacher.”

“I’ll role-play anytime you want, HB.” I licked my lips and winked suggestively. My sexy bartender’s pupils dilated; his gaze flooded with a possessive heat.

We’d definitely be exploringthatopportunity later.

“I thought I was your Hardy Boy?” Drew questioned as he plopped himself down in the seat next to Quick.

“Hottie Bartender,” I quipped, settling into Cam’s lap on the adjacent bench as he pulled me down into his arms. “I have two HB’s. I’m a lucky gal.”

Cam placed a gentle kiss at the crook of my neck; his soft sandalwood scent tickled my nostrils, reminding me he was finally holding me as his. I snuggled into his warmth, enjoying it thoroughly and freely, and watched Travis take another shot.

Quick muttered and Drew’s explosive laugh brought a smile to my own face. Despite our somber reality and shitty circumstances, this man had found happiness with us.

My best friend casually laid an arm across the back of Drew’s chair. It might have looked like a ‘man stretch’ to the untrained eye. Or it would have, if Shane hadn’t leaned over to bite the tip of Drew’s earlobe, then sucked it lightly into his mouth. It was a subtle move, hidden behind his long hair and the angle of Drew’s jaw, but we could see it. And the adorable flush that crept up Drew’s neck.

Fuck, the two of them were cute. Seeing them like this was so … hot. I was thrilled they weren’t trying to keep it a secret, owning their newfound feelings for each other.

I shifted in Cam’s arms and rubbed my thighs together to stop the newfound wetness from seeping through my panties. His pillowy lips nuzzled into my neck again, as if he knew what I was doing and was determined to get me as soaked as possible.

Travis finished his turn—another friggin’ strike—then watched Drew and Shane curiously as he sat next to us.

“Not to rain on this parade, but is this a thing now?” He waved his hands in Drew and Shane’s direction, breaking them out of their private moment.

Shane cocked an eyebrow at Drew, clearly signaling him to take the lead. Drew adopted a shy smile and turned in his seat to face us.

“Yeah, I think so.” He glanced back at Quick as if to confirm. “It was a little while in the making, and then it just kind of … happened.”

Shane wrapped his arms around Drew from behind and kissed the top of his rounded cheekbone in the most precious display of man-love. “I woke up the bisexual beast in Drew.” His devious smirk had me giggling when he pressed another kiss to Drew’s cheek.

Drew flushed a deeper shade of scarlet, but he didn’t deny the claim and his shy smile broadened into a sexy smirk of his own. “My type is ‘Shane,’ apparently. And Winter,” he blurted, as if leaving me out of this announcement would hurt my feelings.

It didn’t, and his feelings for Quick certainly didn’t, but I appreciated him wanting to include me all the same. If I had to share a man with anyone in the world, I’d want it to be with the man who held the other half of my heart.

“Congratulations, brother.” Another wide smile lit up Cam’s face as he reached out to fist-bump Drew. “Happy for you guys.”

Travis grinned and moved to do the same. “I could’ve called this one. You guys have had chemistry for ages. Welcome to the family, husband-brother.”

He stood and attempted to give Shane the bro slap-on-the-back hug, but he should have known better with Quick. Sure enough, he pulled Travis in for a tight, intentionally long, and awkward squeeze.

Travis laughed when Shane finally let him go. “Love you too, man.”

“Considering this new information, you guys can be a team next. Let’s see how you fare against Winter’s newfound skills.” Travis reset the pins and swept his arms out in front of him, like a circus showman.

“Care to place a wager? A bet for a strike? I want to explore this role-play idea …” He wriggled his eyebrows at me, his gaze hungry like a shark.

I put on my best sickly sweet falsetto voice and giggled girlishly.

“Why Dr. Balcom, I have no idea what you’d want to bet that for when it’s time for my examination.” I walked toward him with an exaggerated sway to my hips and reached for the bowling ball in his hands. The fly on his jeans expanded.

“New plan.” He lifted me up into his arms, throwing me over his shoulder. “We’ll see you guys back at the ranch.”

I laughed all the way down the hallway. Eventually, he put me down at the concession stand and we ordered fresh drinks for everyone. We walked back hand in hand, ready to play a new round and kick their asses.

And the role-play wasdefinitelystill on the table.

After another hour of bowling torture, I didnotget any better, but I got off on Travis’ fingers in the private back corner of the alley during another quick snack break.

We packed up to go our separate ways. I didn’t want to ruin the magic of the one night we had without the threat of our real lives over our heads, but I needed to get their thoughts on something.

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