Page 29 of Between the Stacks

Scott’s sea glass eyes went wide. “No. I didn’t mean it that way. I wasn’t jealous or anything.”

“Of me or Jonesy?”

He chuckled. “Neither. What I meant is, you seem a bit... Frustrated. You know, uh...”

“For being so experienced, you sure do act like you have no clue what you’re doing,” I joked.

Scott rolled his eyes. “I’m trying to be polite. Look, if you’re ever feeling edgy or need help taking care of business. Cole and I are here for you, Lowe too. You just have to ask. We’re not dicks and if Jonesy comes back and finds out we left you pent up the whole time he was gone, he’d kick our asses.”

“So, Jonesy is the leader of this rag-tag group?” For the first time I felt like I was being let into their little family. Though, I had a sneaky suspicion the closeness they displayed here, didn’t translate in the real world. The house felt like a bubble. A place where no one knew what we did or didn’t do. Almost no sound passed through the walls. For all I knew, late at night they carried on wild orgies within the basement of the house.

“No, that’s Lowe. While Jonesy has the right type of personality, he shuts it off and gives over his control to Lowe. Who, if you haven’t realized, is a control freak. Maybe not about things here much but in the library and on the set, he’s strict.

“Interesting. I feel like I’m learning all the gossip.”

“Anyway, I wanted to check on you is all,” he said. “I’ll let you get back to studying.”

“So, about that helping hand,” I said, as he stood. “Can I collect any time?”

Scott stumbled over his words, lowering himself back to the bed. The puffs of air went with the frustrated little sounds he made. “Well, I mean... Sure.”

“Wait, did you come in here thinking I’d say no?” I stifled a laugh.

“Can’t blame me,” he said. “I know you fucked Cole, even though you won’t tell us. By the look on your face later that night along with his shit-eating grin, it was way too easy to figure out.”

I nodded. “Look, this is all so new. I know we’re not in a relationship, but you and Cole are. I’m not sure what the protocol is with this situation.”

“You have nothing to worry about where I’m concerned. We both like you. Have liked you since that first day in Statistics. I know this is different, but we’ll figure it out along the way. Sound fair?”

“Sounds fair,” I agreed.

“Now about the other.” Scott placed my hands on his shoulders before grabbing my hips and lifting me off the bed. “For this, I want you in my bed. I want Cole to smell you tonight.”

Wait. What? “I don’t understand.”

“I want your scent on our sheets. I want him to know you came in our bed. I want him so wild when he tries to find you, I’ll pounce.” Scott grinned. “You’ll see. He’ll go wild and out of his mind once he figures it out.”

“Okay,” I agreed.

“So, what can I do for you to relieve some of that built up tension? Hands, fingers, mouth, or cock? Those are your choices.” He gave me space to think. If anything, I liked that about them. All of them. Well, except for Lowe. He seemed to keep a professional distance with me, but I didn’t mind. Cooking breakfast with him. Spending the afternoon before the library closed helping him sort books and return them back to theshelves gave us ample time to get to know each other. “You’re thinking hard.”

“Sorry,” I muttered. “I kind of rambled in my head. Happens when I’m nervous.”

“Oh? Where did your mind wander?”

“Lowe,” I mumbled.

“Do you want him to join us?” Scott asked. His neutral tone unnerved me. I expected something. Anger or enthusiasm or somewhere between the two.

“I don’t know,” I said, shrugging. I haven’t ever explored a dynamic like this with another person present. The kiss was the first time I’d shared with two guys.

“Hold that thought.” He lifted his finger. “I’ll be right back.”

He stomped down the stairs to the first floor, and when he returned a few minutes later, Lowe was with him. He’d taken off his stuffy suit and wore a pair of lounge pants and his signature tank top. I often wondered over the last few weeks when he had time to work out. Although, considering he carried all those heavy books, he might not need to work out as often. Some of them had to weigh close to twenty pounds.

The older. The heavier.

When his gaze clashed with mine, I felt like he swallowed me whole, eating me up with those winter gray eyes. They reminded me of an early winter morning when the light filtered through the dreary sky, changing the colors of the clouds from black to a soft smoky gray and lavender of the coming snow.

---