Page 168 of The Charlie Method

I give the man what he wants, riding him hard and fast, Beckett’s presence adding a whole other layer of heat to an already scorching encounter. Will trembles beneath me, eyes growing heavy-lidded, his control slipping as I push him closer to the edge.

“Don’t stop,” Beckett orders. “Make him come.”

And with that, Will lets go, coming with a low groan, arms locked tightly around me as he thrusts upward, filling me deep. We lie there tangled up for a while, requiring a long time to recover. So long that Beckett actually goes to the kitchen to make me some tea, and when he returns, I’mstilldraped over Will.

Eventually, I climb off the couch and search for my clothes, and the three of us settle in for the night. The guys put on a video game. I curl up next to Beckett, watching but not really paying attention to the zombie RPG on the screen. I’m so damn comfortable with these boys. Both of them. And it’s a damn good thing they don’t want me to choose between them, because I truly don’t think I can.

I spend the night in Will’s room, the way I always do. Beckett prefers to sleep alone, I’ve discovered. I suspect it’s simply another way to keep us at arm’s length, to never commit more than his body to this endeavor. Even getting him to share two sentences about his ex-girlfriend had been like pulling teeth. I’m still shocked he even admitted to writing letters to her after the breakup. He’s allergic to intimacy, and it’s starting to bother me a little, but I don’t want to push him because I know how much it sucks being pushed.

The next morning, I wake up to an SOS on my phone from my Little.

BLAKE:

Can we meet up ASAP? I just got kicked out of my dorm.

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

CHARLOTTE

The Method failed me

IMEETBLAKE ATDELLA’SDINER A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER. SHE’Swith Gigi and a platinum blond named Diana. Blake warned me ahead of time that Diana was recently assaulted by an ex—which sounds downright terrifying—so I’m able to mask my shock when I see the purple-and-black bruising on Diana’s face. Sounds like Diana and her boyfriend, Shane, had a tough winter. His father died. She was attacked. I can’t even imagine going through either of those events without having a breakdown.

“What happened?” I ask Blake as I slide into the booth beside her. “How did you get kicked out of Burton House? Is it a permanent thing?”

“According to them, yes,” she says flatly. “I’m not allowed to step foot in there except to pack up my stuff. Supervised. But my parents are going to speak to the dean.”

“Seriously, what the hell happened?”

She grits her teeth. “Isaac happened.”

Oh dear.

“We were hanging out in the common room last night, and he invited some of his football buddies to come by and watch the game with us. I wasn’t thrilled about the idea, but he promised me they’d behave.” Her blue eyes flash. “They didnotbehave. They totally trashed the place. I’m talking broken furniture, spilled drinks, stained carpets. One of the linesmen even kicked a hole in the wall. By accident, but still.”

Blake is usually cool and collected, but this morning, I hear the note of panic in her voice.

“That’s awful,” I exclaim. “What are you going to do?”

“My dad promised he’d take care of it, but the dean is out of town until Tuesday, so I’m homeless for the next few days.”

“You’re not homeless,” Diana assures her. “I told you, you can crash at my place until you figure it out. I’ll stay with Shane next door.”

At my blank look, Diana explains that she and her boyfriend are next-door neighbors at an apartment complex not far from here. Beckett told me the other day that Shane was back at Briar. He’d moved home for a short time after his father passed away to help his mom and sister, but he returned to Hastings after Diana’s attack. I have a feeling he won’t be leaving her side anytime soon. I’m discovering that hockey players are beyond protective.

“And if that doesn’t work out,” I tell Blake, “I’m sure Will and Beckett would be happy to let you stay in their spare room.”

“Speaking of Will…” Gigi eyes me over the rim of her coffee cup as she takes a long sip.

“What?” I say.

“A little birdie told us you’re dating Will.”

“The birdie’s name is Will,” Diana says, snorting.

Discomfort has me shifting in my seat. “Yeah? What else did he say?”

“That was it.” Diana rolls her eyes. “Which is why we’re fishing for details.”

---