GARETH
“Things are going well though you could lay off of the creeping a bit. I think you're scaring her away.” I wait until Rose is the bathroom with the door closed before I speak. I gaze across the empty space at Devlin. He's still sitting with his arm lounged across the back of the sofa, looking pleased with himself as usual.
“They are going well. I think she might be the one.” His eyes stay fixed on the bathroom door.
“I think so too.” I nod, glancing down at my lap. My cock is rock hard, straining against my cutoffs. I've had an erection ever since the three of us came to sit together on the sofa—ever since I felt Rose's warm, milky white thigh press against mine. How could I not get turned on by being so close to such an amazing creature?
When she first came over, I was afraid that things would quickly fizzle out. She seemed timid, like she was entering into enemy territory. Devlin immediately poured her a glass of wine, though, and by the time she was halfway through it, we were all talking and laughing like we'd known each other for years. Everything just fell into place—felt so right. Since then, I've been obsessing over her smile, loving the sound of her laughter, watching her eyes shimmer. Of course, I've been noticing other parts of her too. The way her chest rises and falls when she breathes, the sway of her hips when she walks. I want her so badly that it almost hurts, but I know not to press her boundaries. More than anything, I don't want to scare her away. Devlin is taking a more aggressive approach.
“We can't fuck this up,” I tell him.
“We're not going to.” He doesn't even look at me.
“What you're thinking is going to happen tonight is not going to happen.” I raise an eyebrow at him in warning.
“Oh, yes it is. She's so close to caving.” A toothy grin spreads across his face.
“You're reading this wrong,” I sigh.
“I'm not. Trust me. I've got a plan.” His gaze finally leaves the door, and he leans forward to grab my nearly empty glass of wine from the coffee table.
“What plan?” I give him a quizzical look.
Without another word, he dumps the contents of the glass onto the front of my shirt.
I'm on my feet in an instant, my temper flaring. “What in the hell, man?”
“Take your shirt off.” Devlin quickly sets the glass back down.
The door to the bathroom opens, and I feel confused, rushed and a bit panicked.
Devlin shoots back into his seat like he never moved at all. He looks up at me, eyes wide while he mouths the words again. I'm not sure what his game plan is, but I decide to follow it, pulling my shirt off and tossing it onto the arm of the sofa before checking my chest to see how much of the wine seeped through onto my skin.
Rose walks out of the bathroom and pauses for a moment, standing there staring at me with a blank expression.
“Dude, you're such a klutz,” Devlin chastises me before turning his attention to Rose. “Look at this guy, spilling wine all over himself.”
It takes everything in me not to glare at him. He could have spilled wine on himself, but he didn't want to look clumsy. I'm not sure how he thinks that making me seem like a slob is going to charm Rose into wanting to be with us.
“Do you need a towel?” Her eyes shift toward the kitchen and her cheeks flush with color.
“Yeah, that would be great.” Devlin smiles at her.
As she diverts to the kitchen to rummage through the drawers for a towel, I look down at Devlin, completely befuddled about what's going on. The question is in my eyes, but he doesn't answer me. He keeps his focus on Rose, watching her as she moves.
She returns with a dishtowel, holding it out to me. I reach to take it, but Devlin stands and intervenes. For several seconds, the moment seems forced, probably because it is. He takes her hand with the towel in it and pulls her forward, wiping down my chest.
Our eyes lock, and warmth and desire pulse through me. I fear that she'll look away, but she doesn't. Her cheeks are rosy pink, but her gaze goes dark with secret yearnings.
Devlin pulls the towel from her hand, then he presses her palm onto my bare skin, over my heart. I wonder if she can feel how fiercely it's beating. I'm nervous but confident. This was the trap all along. We have her right where we want her. Now it's my job to seal the deal. The pressure is on. If I mess this up, it's all over.
I place my hand on top of hers, and Devlin withdraws his. My gaze falls to the fullness of Rose's lips. They're parted slightly, ready for my kiss. How I want to kiss her.
I hold my breath and lean in, half expecting her to pull away. It's such a delicate situation. Devlin might feel certain that she wants this, but I'm not.
As if reading my fear, Rose jerks her head back a little. A ball of snakes wind in my stomach, spitting their poison and filling me with the bile of reject. She turns and looks at Devlin. I watch him in my peripheral vision, trying to see their exchange. He simply nods. Then she returns her attention to me, and I know that the opportunity isn't lost.
I step in and slide a hand around the curvature of her hip, drawing her closer. Timidness returns to her eyes, but she doesn't pull away. When I lean in this time, there's no resistance. My lips meet hers, tasting their sweetness, and I know that we've won.