Changing Hearts Page 17

  Orgasm number two came fast and hard. He pulled out, just as the hand on the back of my head moved to free the cock from my mouth. I was spun around and then airborne. I slid down the cock I’d just been sucking. The guy in front of me moved in and cupped the back of my head to kiss me. Not to be outdone as the guy behind lifted me up and down on his length, he came in for a kiss. I traded kisses with the both of them for a time until the corners of two mouths pressed against mine as they claimed each other.

  “Ash, are you kissing me again?”

  That’s when I realized Sawyer was behind me. Ashton didn’t answer.

  Instead, he said, “I’m close.”

  Sawyer was damn strong. He didn’t seem to have a problem holding me up as Ashton’s cock slid up and down my belly.

  “So am I. Finish him, Shell, and I’ll finish you.”

  Ash stepped back. I didn’t think. I just bent forward and sucked him off. Somehow Sawyer didn’t miss a beat, pumping in harder now as I bounced on his dick.

  “I need to see this,” Sawyer said.

  The lights flipped on, blinding me. I closed my eyes and concentrated on hollowing my cheeks and not grazing my teeth on Ashton’s shaft.

  When we came, it took me by surprise. My mouth opened in a silent scream as I spasmed around Sawyer’s pulsing cock. Ashton’s come shot down my throat at the same time and I swallowed every last drop.

  I could barely stand when Sawyer set me on my feet.

  “Time to get wet.” Sawyer gave me a cheeky grin and moved to turn on the jets.

  Ashton herded me inside the walk-in shower as I truly understood the meaning of well fucked. I wasn’t sure I could take much more.

  I shouldn’t have thought that. As I faced a smug Sawyer, Ashton apparently had gotten to his knees. He spread my legs from behind and dived in to face fuck my pussy. Sawyer stepped forward like they’d choreographed that move a thousand times. He hiked up my leg to give Ashton more room.

  The warm water that sluiced over me went unnoticed as I felt another orgasm growing inside me.

  “Your pussy is so damn pretty,” Sawyer said, his other hand holding his cock. “Do you trust me?”

  I nodded in truth. He leaned in and slid his tongue across mine. Our mouths fitted as tightly as he did inside me as he plunged into my core; Ashton’s tongue remained close by. It was so overwhelming I couldn’t comprehend what was happening other than I liked it.

  The number of orgasms I had by the time we turned the water off numbered just shy of too many. We dried off with the towels that hung nearby. My legs were like Jell-O and it took the guys’ help for me to get dressed.

  “Don’t get weird about this, gorgeous, okay?” Sawyer stood waiting for my reply with one hand on the doorknob.

  I nodded, feeling high off sex or all the alcohol I’d consumed. They’d tasted of beer and tequila, which didn’t quite mingle with the vodka shots I’d had.

  “Shelly,” Sawyer added.

  I nodded again. Though when he opened the door, reality sank in. I’d fucked Sawyer and Ashton. Worse, Sawyer had never answered my question. Did he think he could have the both of us?

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  Sawyer

  I smiled as I stood staring at the stove. I had bacon and eggs cooking. YouTube made it look easy. I could do this shit.

  As expected, bacon brought my firecracker out of her room. She yawned as she came forward, looking sexy as fuck with her hair bound up messily on the top of her head. My cock started to swell in anticipation. When she reached the end of the island, resting her head in her hands, I bent down and kissed her lips.

  Sputtering, she said, “What was that?”

  “A kiss.” I grinned, very pleased with myself.

  “For what?”

  “Don’t be weird, firecracker.”

  “I’m not the one being weird. When have you ever randomly kissed me?”

  After David had fucked up. “The other day—”

  “That doesn’t count and you know what I mean.”

  I sighed. I’d hoped she would have just figured it out what yesterday meant and I wouldn’t have to spell it out to her. I hedged and said, “I’m making you breakfast.”

  She stood on her toes to see over to the stove.

  “You can cook?”

  I shrugged as her eyes turned to slits.

  “Seriously, Sawyer, what’s going on?”

  “Can’t I be nice?”

  “When have you been nice to me?”

  The ice cream the other day must not have counted.

  “When have you let me?”

  She shook her head and made a move to leave.

  I snagged her wrist. “I’m not sure how to do this.”

  “Do what?”

  I lifted her hand and kissed it. She continued to seem amazed by me.

  “I feel like I should have learned this in middle school.”

  “Learned what?

  Had my kiss thrown her? Or was I fucking this up?

  “How to ask you to be my girlfriend.”

  She started to giggle until she doubled over and pulled her hand free from mine.

  I muttered, “It’s not that funny.”

  “I’m not falling for that.” She circled a finger at me. “You almost had me.”

  When I didn’t laugh with her, hers began to die out. Smoke drifted in our direction and I turned back to the food.

  “Shit.” I’d grabbed the cast iron skillet I’d used for the bacon and seared my palm.

  I hissed and shook it as if that would stop the pain. Shelly handed me a towel and I used it to move the bacon from the fire. After getting that done, I tried to flip the egg, chef style, but the damn thing was stuck. Like a surgeon’s assistant, Shelly was ready with a spatula to hand me. I used it to scrape the egg off the bottom and flipped it over.

  When I was done, at least nothing had a char.

  “Smoky fried eggs and extra crispy bacon,” I announced.

  Shelly came over and gave my back a rub. “Not too bad for your first time.”

  “Does that mean you’ll be my girlfriend?”

  She stopped, but didn’t remove her hand. “You’re serious?”

  “Serious enough to try and make hollandaise sauce.”

  I cast a glance at the bowl.

  “You were going to make eggs Benedict?”

  “That was the plan. I gave up when the sauce didn’t work out.”

  She captured my face to press a lingering kiss to my lips.

  “Is that a yes?”

  Smiling, she said, “No.”

  “Why? Because of last night?”

  “Partly?”

  “I thought we promised no regrets.”

  She glanced away. “I don’t exactly regret it. But how would it work? I don’t think I’m up for that again.”

  “You didn’t enjoy it?”

  “I did. But Ashton.” She glanced away again. “I don’t want him to get hurt. And as much as I like him, I don’t see myself in a relationship with two guys.”

  It was my turn to laugh. “Me neither. It’s just you and me, babe.”

  “And Ashton?”

  “He knows that was just a one-time thing.”

  “Does he? He kissed you.”

  I sighed and gazed up at the ceiling.

  “Don’t, Sawyer. He has feelings for you whether you want to accept it or not.”

  Her pleading tone brought my gaze down to meet hers.

  “Did that weird you out? The kiss?”

  She looked mildly uncomfortable.

  “You didn’t say anything to him.”

  The idea that Ash’s kiss might blow my chance with her started to irritate me. “I didn’t want to ruin the moment.”

  I willed her to see the truth in my statement.

  “Does he often kiss you?”

  “No…not really. It’s complicated.”

  There was so much I couldn’t tell her because it wasn’t my story. If it’d been any other
guy, that kiss would have started a fight. But it was Ash and I knew what he’d been through.

  “I get it. I know how he feels about you and I can’t be with you knowing that he’ll be hurt.”

  “So that’s it?”

  “No.” She kissed me again. “You need to work it out with Ashton. You need to be sure it’s me you want and not him.”

  “Why is everyone pushing me to Ash like I don’t know my own mind?”

  It was really starting to piss me off.

  She searched my eyes. “No one is pushing you. Maybe we are all just sensitive to Ashton. Have you ever considered that maybe you’re giving him hope?”

  No, it hadn’t. But the doorbell rang, leaving me to think more about what she said.

  Chance came down the stairs and opened the door before either of us could. Brie strolled in. Not wanting to talk about Ash, I feigned shock to tease Brie.

  “You didn’t play house last night.”

  Brie rolled her eyes. “We didn’t want to make you envious. I know how much it bothers you to hear us.”

  “Actually—” Shelly kicked me. “Ouch.” Apparently, she didn’t want me to finish my sentence.

  “Are you ready?” Shelly asked Brie.

  “What are you two up to?” I asked, reaching down to rub my leg.

  “A social experiment for my research paper,” Brie piped in.

  “You’re going like that?” I aimed my gaze at Shelly.

  “It’s hot today.”

  “Yeah, and so will be every guy on campus if you leave in that.”

  Her tank and shorts barely covered anything and she was already tiny.

  “You’re cute when you’re jealous.” She pinched my cheek.

  Brie’s brows arched while Chance grinned.

  “You and Shell?” Chance asked. “Can’t say I didn’t expect that.”

  Everyone got quiet and I looked up to see Ash coming downstairs.

  “I’ll see you later, handsome,” Brie said.

  “Thanks. You should tell Chance something too.”

  Chance caught me in the temple.

  “Ow. What the hell? Why does everyone feel the need to hit me?”

  The girls laughed before saying good morning and goodbye to Ash. He sat at the counter next to where Chance stood.

  “Breakfast?” Ash asked.

  I looked down at the uneaten food and remembered that Shelly hadn’t eaten. I’d been downstairs a while before she’d come out of her room. I couldn’t be certain about the conclusions I was drawing. I made a mental note to do some research later.

  I turned my attention back to Ash. “Do you want any?”

  Both guys aimed furtive glances at my offerings.

  “Café?” Chance offered.

  Ash nodded. “You in?”

  I eyed my food one last time. “Yeah, I’m in.”

  We left the food where it was and drove over to campus. After breakfast, Chance wanted to go find Brie.

  “Pussy,” I yelled after him.

  He turned and flipped me off.

  I chuckled. “I love giving him a hard time.”

  When Ash didn’t answer, I began with, “So, last night.”

  “What about it?”

  “It can’t happen again.”

  It was true Ash and I shared, but I never intended to share Shelly despite what she thought.

  “When does it ever happen more than once?”

  “This is different. She’s different.” I took a moment before I just spat it out no matter how corny it sounded. “I asked her to be my girl.”

  Although he didn’t break his stride, his widened eyes betrayed his feelings. “And how did that go for you?”

  “She’s worried about your feelings.”

  “When have you ever cared about my feelings?”

  His backhanded response made me stop and face him. We were at the edge of the quad, halfway to the parking lot. I didn’t worry about who would overhear us.

  “That’s bullshit.”

  “Now that she wants you to talk to me, you will?”

  “We’ve talked.”

  “Not about—”

  “You kissing me? That has to stop.”

  “No, but we can start there. You never stop me.”

  “That’s because I never know it’s you until you stop.”

  “What does that tell you?”

  “It tells me that a mouth is like a hole. In the dark, they are all the same.”

  “Speaking of—”

  “Ash, don’t go there.”

  “Why? It happened.”

  “It shouldn’t have.”

  “Because you are ashamed?”

  “Yes,” I shouted and caught myself. The shock on his face at my honesty had me lowering my voice. “But not because of the reasons you’re thinking. I was supposed to protect you, not use you like that asshole.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Look, I’m not gay, okay? If I were, I wouldn’t care who knew it. But I’m not.”

  He opened his mouth.

  “I’m not bi, either. It happened. I thought you were…Anyway, it doesn’t matter. It was a mistake.” When he finally met my gaze, I added, “You aren’t gay, either. Last night should have reminded you of that. You can’t let the past shape your future. Besides, what guy have you kissed other than me?”

  When he didn’t protest, I laughed, hoping we could finally go back to the way things were. But he continued to glance nervously around.

  “You have?” I asked.

  “No, this guy, he…”

  “He kissed you,” I supplied.

  He nodded.

  “And?”

  “I don’t know. He took me by surprise.”

  “What did you do?” I chuckled, imagining him.

  “I punched him.”

  When I bellowed out a laugh, Ash finally smiled.

  “See?” I could barely speak. “You aren’t bi, either.”

  I slung an arm over his shoulder. “Now the next step is admitting that you enjoy all things pussy.”

  Ash just shook his head. I considered it progress. However, when we got to the parking lot two guys got out of a car. One pointed at Ash.

  “Are you the asshole who hit my brother?”

  THIRTY-NINE

  Ashton

  I recognized the distress on Kent’s face. In unspoken words, he pleaded for me not to give the reason why I’d hit him.

  “Dude!” Sawyer got between me and Kent’s brother.

  I stepped to the side, not needing his protection. “It was an accident. I thought he was someone else.” Sawyer glared at me. I added, “I’m sorry.”

  “And you think that’s it? Do you know who my mother is?”

  Lance turned out to be one of those types who liked to use his family’s name as some kind of weapon. I felt sorry for Kent, who looked like a scared rabbit. At the moment, he didn’t appear to be the type to make a move on anyone. Yet he had.

  Sawyer apparently knew them. “She’s the U.S. Attorney General. Do you know who his father is?”

  Inwardly I cringed that he was about to announce this. Sawyer was good at the who’s dick is bigger game.

  “Who?” Lance challenged.

  “Speaker of the House and third in line of presidential succession. Your mother is what? Seventh in line.” Lance was cowed. “So, accept his apology and move on.”

  “We could file charges,” he tried.

  Kent interrupted his brother. “We won’t be. Leave it, Lance. I can take care of myself.”

  Lance glanced around as if trying to decide what to do.

  “I’m sorry,” I repeated.

  Kent glanced at Sawyer. “I see you found your friend.”

  I nodded and he corralled his brother to walk toward the quad.

  Sawyer eyed me, waiting for answers, but I said nothing.

  After we got in the car, he said, “If you want to talk about it—”

  “I don’t.”

  “Yeah, whatever you wa
nt.”

  “Not exactly true, is it?” Seeing Kent only reminded me of Sawyer’s earlier chat. “You know what? You should go find your girl.”

  “Ash.”

  I almost gave into his pleading tone.

  “No, you should go tell her we talked and I’m fine with everything.”

  I got out of the car.

  “Don’t do this, brother.”

  I leaned down to meet his gaze. “I just want to be alone. Is that okay? I promise I won’t move out again.” Though I wanted to.

  There was pain in Sawyer’s face, but it couldn’t be helped. We’d finally had the talk we’d both been avoiding. Taking the advice from one of my therapist visits, I knew only time could help.

  FORTY

  Shelly

  Sawyer’s morose attitude put a damper on everything. He’d come to watch us play a game of volleyball on the quad that Brie organized. Her experiment pitted a team of men against women who were equal in body size. As Sawyer leaned on one of the planted trees that lined the perimeter, I felt his eyes on me.

  When it was over, I walked his way. I worried at first when his signature smile was missing. However, the ache between my legs was real and he noticed. That made his lips curl seductively. When I reached him, he pulled me close and kissed me. There was fire in it, but it lacked something. I couldn’t ignore the frown he’d been sporting the entire time he’d watched me.

  “What’s wrong? You can’t be jealous. Those guys have nothing on you.”

  I hoped for a smile by playing on his ego. Instead, he looked off into the distance.

  “Ash?” I asked.

  He agreed. How could either of us be happy if Ashton was miserable?

  “It didn’t go well?”

  He shrugged. “It did. It’s just…”

  “What happened?” I prodded.

  “He says he’s cool with it, with us. Something else happened, though. I don’t know.”

  “Are you okay with it?”

  Had that something else been his conflict over Ashton?