Miles breaks the news to me the next day. For the next two weeks, I’m going to have to work at least an extra hour every day. I agree. Just because I’m fucking my bosses doesn’t mean I’m going to let work slip. The job is the priority … I think.
As I watch the clock tick past five, I have to force myself to focus on emails instead of thinking about what I’m missing out on with Matthew.
It really is Matthew on my mind. Roman is wild and brings out a side of me I didn’t think I had, but Matthew accepts me as I am. He pushes me to be vulnerable, to share myself with him, to tell every secret and makes me feel a mix of peace and excitement that should be impossible.
Lately, it’s been Roman, Miles, Gunner, and Matthew. Holden got upset when I asked why he never took off his pants and Nick is so swamped with work, I don’t think he actually exists outside his office.
But I don’t really mind. Six is a lot. It’s hot, but a lot. Gunner is just as fun, but Miles is distracted. I can tell. He’s not nearly as enthusiastic. And he doesn’t share about his life. Ever. It’s a rule.
Matthew is a friend and a lover. He’s a whole lot and getting to be more important in my life every day. I rub the back of my neck and nearly face plant into the desk. Someone’s hand gets in the way.
“If you need some sense knocked into you, let me do that in a fun way,” Gunner says.
I smile up at him. “I thought you forgot all about me.”
“Impossible.” He picks me up and sets me on his lap. “I know you’re working, but I wanted to check on you. You hungry?”
“For what?” I steal his drink and take a burning gulp that wakes me up.
“I love how you hold your liquor.” He squeezes me and I feel a familiar hardness press against my ass.
“That’s what you like about me, huh?”
“Oh, I like plenty. Don’t you think otherwise.”
“You’d never let that happen.” I tug on his tie, wrapping my hand up in it until I kiss him hard and hungry. I pour every bit of lust rolling around in my head into his mouth. When I draw back we’re both panting. “But if I don’t get this done, I don’t go home.”
“Understood. I’ll leave you to it.” He stands and rubs down my back. “I’m still thinking of you.”
“It better be in a good way!”
“It’s in the best way,” He assures me.
Gunner walks out whistling. I make myself focus on the emails and get as much work done as I possibly can before I wrap up for the day. My eyes are a little blurry and I can definitely feel the exhaustion, but I put on a professional smile as I go to check in with Miles.
He’s on the phone. He sees me, looks at the time, and gives me a thumbs up to leave. I blow him a kiss and he winks at me, but then I head out. I appreciate that he can put business first.
Of course, I run into Matthew as I leave. He holds the door open for me, making me rush a little, and then walks me to my car.
“I can’t believe the long hours you guys pull every day.” I sigh.
“Less than when we were in the military. It’s a low standard, I know.” He teases.
“And it’s going to keep being this hectic with the expansion going on.” I nod to myself. “Well, I know I’ll be needed.”
“Would you still like me to come over tonight?”
I almost trip as he asks me. I assumed he’d say that because we both had to work over time, he wasn’t in the mood. Not to mention he had me yesterday … but we also had that almost too romantic conversation yesterday too.
“Yes. I would.” I sway towards him. “I really like spending time with you, so of course, I want you with me.”
He beams. I’m half convinced his smile could light up the world. He promises to come over shortly, he has to pick a few things up and I drive home trying to kill my smile.
As much as I feel like it’s wrong, it’s pretty obvious that I have a favorite. Matthew just gets me. We’re compatible and we talk more than the others and I do. I feel like he sees me as a real person, and appreciates me in totality.
Even if I’m on the moodier side of things, he’ll let me vent and then give his thoughts. Which I have snapped at him for, but after I snapped at him, we had a conversation about it – how he wants to help me fix problems because he knows I can.
Once home, I pull on a simple cotton and spandex dress that’s a light blue color, put the top half of my hair back, then set up a bunch of candles around the living room. I find the massage oil, clean up generally and look at my fridge for food.
“Dam. I forgot to get groceries,” I grumble.
I’ll blame the guys. They make my brain go mushy.
I start to call Matthew but hear a knock on the door. I walk over and see him there, looking comfortable and holding take-out. “Indian food?”
I groan. “You keep this up and I’m going to start thinking you’re perfect.”
He hands me a bouquet of flowers and kisses me softly as he walks in. We unpack the food and eat, both talking about our day, then I turn off almost all the lights and light the candles. Matthew catches me in his arms and pulls me back against him.
The tip of his nose brushes my temple and slides down over my cheek before he presses a soft kiss to my jaw. “I think you’re magic, Bella.”
“Because of how I light candles?”
“Because of how I feel around you.” Another kiss, this one on my neck. “And because of who you are. So ambitious and determined. You don’t slack anywhere in your life and you know what you want.”
Except the things I want can be complicated. I love the thought of coming home to Matthew every day. I love the idea of us being like this. I would give up all the guys for him. He’s the best one for me. I know it.
But that doesn’t make it easy. What if that turns the others against him? What if it means I end up fired? Plus the move is coming up and I haven’t even decided if I’m going to go to New York. I want to, but if I’m not invited ….
If I am invited, will all six of them want me the same way?
“Bella.” Matthew hums against my throat. “You still with me?”
“Just thinking about the future.”
He smiles against my shoulder and guides me back tighter against him. “I think you might need the massage. You’re all tense now.”
I insist on giving him one first, as promised. Touching him shirtless is so familiar now, but I still marvel at the man. He’s gorgeous. Every bit of muscle, even the few scars on his back. I kiss one of them as I finish.
“Feels good,” He murmurs.
I lay down and let him massage me after taking off my dress and bra. Matthew sighs. “What in the future were you thinking about?”
“New York and you,” I admit simply.
“I’m sure Miles will ask you to come to New York based on your merit as an employee. You’ve made everything so easy and we all know that you’re simplifying our days a whole lot. It’s remarkable how much you get done.”
“Thank you.” I smile. “I’m glad that I’m worth more than a good lay.”
“A great lay,” He argues.
We both laugh and his hands soften over my lower back. “And me?”
“We’ve been on a lot of dates, Matthew.” I stare at my couch rather than him. “I think it’s obvious that I like you. And that we connect more than me and the others.”
“I’m glad you said it. I started thinking I was the only one feeling it.”
“You aren’t.” I assure him with a smile. “But I feel like that might complicate things more. I’m Miles’s sugar baby. Roman and gunner are still very … eager to be with me – sexually at least.”
“They are.” Matthew agrees. “And I’m okay with that … right now. I’m not jealous or anything like that, darling. I love seeing how you let yourself enjoy us without worrying or overthinking.”
I let him continue to knead my muscles until he gets to my thighs. I smirk. “Having fun down there?”
“You know I enjoy the view.” He kisses my lower back and I hum in my throat. “I enjoy all of you Bella. And you’re not the only one thinking about a future for us.”
Turning around, I drink Matthew in. His skin glistens slightly in the wavering light of the candles, and his smile is just as warm as the flames. I move towards him and kiss his neck before teasing him with a bite.
He hisses between his teeth as his arms wrap around me. I know it’s an immediate turn-on for him. I lick over the same spot. “Can you see us having a future together, outside the office?”
“Yes.” No hesitation, no hedging, just the best answer I could hope for. “We could dig into this more once we move.”
“And maybe instead of getting separate places when that time comes …” I trail off, making sure he knows where my head is at.
Matthew kisses me hungrily, his fingers sliding into my hair as he licks deep into my mouth. I’m dizzy and breathless when he draws back. I know my nipples are hard and I can feel how wet I am after just this little bit of teasing.
“I like that step.” He kisses me again, and again, and again.
It puts a stop to any additional conversation until after two rounds of sex that leave my legs like Jello. I wrap myself around Matthew, knowing he likes to be a little spoon even though he won’t say it. He pulls my thigh over his hip and strokes my skin lazily.
“Are you sure about just having me? I mean, you’ve gotten to have a man at your disposal whenever you want and I need to be sure that if we decide to be a real couple I’m enough for you.”
“You’re more than enough Matthew. Each one of you is special and different, but you’re the whole package for me. Gunner is good in bed and has great jokes. Roman is intimidating, but we have good chemistry. Miles matches me for sass. I feel like I barely know Holden and Nick even though we’ve spent plenty of time together. You have stood out since day one.”
He beams and makes me squeak as he kisses me again and again, his mouth trailing over my body until I forget everything but how good he makes me feel. Every night with him is ecstasy, even when we just sit on the couch talking and watching T.V. Let alone when we’re like this.
My back arches as he kisses me again and I see the future solidify in front of me. Me and Matthew, dating. Official, in a serious relationship. It blows my mind and pushes me over the edge into a spiraling orgasm that weakens my knees, my heart, and makes me think we could actually make this work.
