Page 83 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. Two
Oliver is in the middle of telling a childhood story Wren hasn’t heard yet when Elliot and I lock gazes. We’ve heard it multiple times from his mom, which is how we know he’s telling a slightly altered version.
“… and then, afterfifteen minutesof looking for Maria,I finally gave up. After that, she won every time I was it, and I still don’t know where the hiding spot is.”
“You’re leaving out a detail,” Elliot says. “A very important detail.”
Oliver can’t hide his smile. “No, I’m not.”
“If Irecall,” I say, “there was a bet attached to that game.”
Wren gasps excitedly. “Ooohhh! High stakes?”
Elliot chuckles. “Very.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Oliver says on a laugh.
Batting her eyelashes at him, Wren clasps her hands together. “Please tell me?”
He leans in and kisses her. “Fuck, how can I say no to those pretty eyes? But you have to promise not to laugh.”
“Promise,” she whispers, grinning.
“If I won the game of hide and seek, Maria had to do my chores for two days. If I lost…” Oliver lets out an embarrassed groan. “If I lost, I had to take a shot of the hottest hot sauce Maria could find.”
Wren is biting her lip so hard I’m afraid she’s going to make herself bleed. Her eyes are full of light as she does her best to contain her amusement.
“You said you wouldn’t laugh.” Oliver pokes her shoulder.
“I’m not laughing,” she squeaks out, but there are tears in her eyes from holding back. “Why did you bet something sopainful?”
“I was confident I’d win! And after that, I was confident I’d never stop shitting my guts out.”
Wren cringes. “Oh god.”
“Never touched hot sauce since,” Oliver says.
“And Maria has never let him live it down,” I add in. Keeping a firm hold on Wren with one arm, I reach over and grab Oliver’s jaw. I pull him in for a quick kiss, noting that he doesn’t resist at all.
After that, we don’t stay in the hot tub for much longer. Once I’m dried off and fully clothed, I head to the kitchen to find a snack. I was so focused on work that I didn’t think to eat at all.
Oliver and Wren are still on the balcony. I find Elliot by the fridge, pulling a couple things out.
“You hungry too?” I ask.
“Not really. This is for you.”
“Oh. You didn’t have to—”
“Drink your water. You didn’t touch it all evening.”
Igrab my glass from the table and take a few sips. As Elliot works, I watch him, trying to gauge his mood. He doesn’t look upset, but something is definitely wrong.
After a few minutes, Elliot sets a plate on the table, and we both sit. Only once I’ve started eating does he quietly say, “We need you.”
“I know.”
Tiredly, he shakes his head. “I don’t want to lose you because of this.”
“You’re not going to.”
