Page 8 of Brandishing Beginnings

I stopped in my tracks on the stairs. “What?”

“Keep moving, they’re watching.” Both of us picked up our pace and headed toward Kara’s apartment. “Yes, they usually share a girl amongst the three of them.”

“Hot damn.” My heart was pounding, and my breath quickened.

“Come on, inside.” Kara opened the apartment door and led the way inside.

Lita was just setting out the brownies I had brought, along with a tray of cookies and a pumpkin pie. After I shed my coat and kicked off my shoes again, I had to excuse myself to the bathroom. I had a lot to wrap my head around, the idea of being with three men was insane, wasn’t it? Kara didn’t seem bothered by any of it, not the idea of her brother with me or the idea of me with three guys.

It was all happening too quickly. I barely knew these dudes and they were all over me. I took my time in the bathroom, wishing I had my phone to at least occupy my thoughts, or fucking text Terri, but Marcos still had the device, and I didn’t know how I was going to attempt to get that back.

I waited until after I heard the apartment door open and close, and Marcos started a conversation with his mother, before I finally washed my hands, checked that my dirty blond curls were in place, and left the bathroom. As soon as I walked into the living room, the eyes of all three men were on me again. I ignored them and headed straight for the table.

“Dude, are these caramel brownies? They look fucking awesome,” Kara grinned, meeting my eye.

I was grateful for the distraction and smiled easily. “Yes. I need like four and a huge glass of milk.”

“Milk, coming right up.” Lita grinned, immediately walking into the kitchen.

“I can get it,” I offered, not wanting Lita to wait on me.

“Sit, sit. I’ve got it.” Lita waved me off.

“We watching a movie?” Nico asked, moving toward the TV.

“Yeah! We gotta watch Encino Man,” Marcos said.

I settled back at the table and helped myself to a slice of pumpkin pie and a brownie, not giving a damn about the calories I was about to consume. Jason took a seat next to me, and his foot immediately slid against mine—so that’s who my mystery footsie partner was.

“You want whip cream?” Jason asked, his voice low as he leaned over and spoke into my ear, his breath hot against my skin.

I turned my head ever to look at him, our faces inches apart. His eyes were a such a clear light gray color that was utterly beautiful.His gaze was intense as he took me in. The room around us melted away as I spoke softly. “I love whip cream.”

A playful grin tugged at his lips.

“Maya, you good with Encino Man?” Marcos called from the living room area.

Glancing away from Jason’s smoldering stare, I turned to find Marcos and Nico waiting expectantly. “Old school Brendan Fraiser? Plus, Sean Astin? Hell yeah, I’m there.”

“Let me guess, you’re a Lord of the Rings fan?” Nico smirked from across the room. “Samwise for the win?”

I laughed and shook my head. “Huge Lord of the Rings fan, but no, my favorite in Lord of the Rings will always be Aragorn. Nothing hotter than a man in leather.”

All three of them smiled dangerously, like they shared the same secret. “Is that so?” Jason murmured.

I turned my head back to him, ignoring Marcos’s and Nico’s knowing grins, and turned to find Jason’s face even closer than before. I gasped, realizing his lips were less than inch from mine.

His gray eyes darkened as they darted between mine.

Was this really happening right now?

“Alright!” Kara called out from the kitchen. “I’ve got milk with a side of sexual tension!”

I jumped back from Jason. “Fuck my life.” I groaned and shook my head.

Kara laughed and I could feel the heat spreading across my face and neck as I blushed deeply.

I shook it off, ignoring the men in the room as Lita and Kara settled around the table again. I took a bite of my brownie and moaned. “Fuck, that’s good.”

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