Page 23 of All Bets are Off

We all say goodnight and watch the two disappear into the foyer.

“Seems like a nice guy,” West says, stretching. “I think I’m going to go swim off some of that dinner. You want to join me?”

“No. I think I’ll shower and read for a while.”

We part at the stairs, and I continue up to my room, wondering if West will join me in bed tonight.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

West

Limbs loose and relaxed after a dozen laps in the pool, I head up the two flights of stairs to the top floor. Pausing outside Logan’s door, I notice the light is off. Logan must be asleep.

I could go in and sleep with him.

The idea is tempting. Sleeping together would be a normal next step in our new relationship. Hand on the doorknob, I hesitate.

Do I want to start this?If we start sleeping together every night, pretty soon everyone will know about us. Maybe it would be better to take things slower.

Stepping away from Logan’s door, I continue to my own.

Ten minutes later, I’m lying in my bed staring up at the ceiling, a breeze blowing in from the open balcony doors. Over the sound of the waves crashing rhythmically onto the shore, I can hear bursts of raucous teasing and laughter, along with the steadypopof a ping-pong ball smacking against paddles, from below my balcony, telling me the door to the rec room on the bottom floor must be open.

Rolling onto my side, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting it out slowly, allowing my mind to wander to earlier in the day and what Logan and I did together. Specifically, his mouth around my cock. Sighing, I reach between my legs and fondle my tightening balls. I still can’t believe I followed my impulse to…what?ClaimLogan? That’s certainly what it must have looked like when I jerked him away from Colt and dragged him to the side of the house for a kiss.God.I’m surprised Logan didn’t punch me.

But he didn’t. He kissed me back, and it felt…right.

How can that be? After all these years being nothing more than best friends, this physical thing should seem wrong. That’s what I can’t seem to get over. In every way but legally, Logan Fields is mybrother.I shouldn’t be turned on by him this way. Why did our relationship take this sudden turn?Whydid that foursome turn me on so damn much that I couldn’t stop thinking about Logan in that way?

My turn of thought has taken care of my erection, and I roll onto my back.

Was it really sudden? You’ve admired Logan physically in the past.

Frowning, I prop myself on my pillows.

Sure, I’ve noticed Logan—of course I have. It would be difficult not to after all the years serving together in the Marine Corps. He and I are built differently. He’s slighter, leaner, and therefore capable of running faster than I can with the added bulk of my big frame. He’s amazing at sprinting long distances, too, while I run out of steam after a mile or so. Of course I admire that, along with the way his lean waist fades into narrow hips and strong legs.

My mind instantly supplies me with a memory of Logan standing naked in the barracks’ showers, a dozen nude men around him, but my eyes pinned on the water running down the muscles and hollows of his body, down the crack of his round ass.

Okay, so maybe I occasionally shook hands with the milkman late at night to the thought of Logan while the rest of the barracks slept around me. Spending so much time around a mostly male unit, that wasn’t that odd of a thing to do. Was it? So, why didn’t I admit that to Logan when we were talking about it earlier? After the step I made today, why do I remain reticent about some things?

Maybe I should have joined Logan in his bed tonight. Didn’t I deny we were friends with benefits? We’re lovers now, so why am I lying here alone?

But I don’t get out of bed.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Logan

Five a.m. comes too soon, and I hit the gym downstairs before heading to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Glancing out the window, I notice the pink hue just beginning to spread over the horizon. Sidling up to Mal, who’s flipping pancakes at the stove, I pour myself a mug of coffee before joining the others in the dining room. I take a seat beside West, who’s alternately sipping coffee and taking voracious bites of pancakes and bacon. He never joined me in bed last night, and I’m trying not to take it personally.

“More pancakes anyone?” Mal asks, placing a plate loaded with them onto the table. “Dex?”

“I can’t eat another bite,” Dex says, holding up his hands in protest.

“West, Logan, I thought we’d sit down with Dex this morning and acquaint him with Falcon Security,” Jase tells us.

“Sounds good to me.” I reach for the plate of pancakes. Mouth full, West nods agreement.

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