Page 57 of The Hearts We Fumble
“I can see how fuckin’ wet you are for me. Your thighs are coated in it,” Zane murmurs, his voice thick with hunger.
My breath stutters, my pulse hammering in my ears. I shift, widening my legs just a little more, desperate for him.
Zane groans, the sound rough and needy, as he unbuttons his jeans, the slow drag of his zipper filling the quiet space between us.
And then—BANG, BANG.
Two heavy knocks against the front door.
“What the fuck,” Zane hisses, his head snapping toward the sound. He exhales sharply, yanking his jeans back up and fastening them in record time before striding out of the room.
I don’t have time to think before I hear his hushed, irritated voice from the entryway.
“It’s your fuckin’ brother.”
Oh, shit.
Panic surges through me, my body going rigid. What the hell is Colter doing here?
I scramble, pressing myself against the dresser, my chest rising and falling in frantic breaths as the deadbolt clicks.
“What’s up?” Zane asks, somehow managing to sound completely unaffected—like he wasn’t just about to bury himself inside me.
“Did you forget I was coming by?” Colter asks, his tone casual and oblivious.
“Oh shit. Yeah, my bad. Totally forgot about that,” Zane lies smoothly. “Hang on, give me a second.”
I hear Colter chuckle, his footsteps echoing against the tile as he steps inside.
Zane rushes back into the bedroom, his movements quick and precise as he yanks open his top dresser drawer. He rummages around before pulling out a small velvet box—one that looks suspiciously like a jewelry box.
I mouth, “What is that?”
Zane barely spares me a glance, holding up a single finger, silently telling me to wait. Then he’s gone again, slipping back into the living room.
My heart pounds as I strain to listen.
“Thanks again for holding this for me,” Colter says. “With Ava staying over at my place, I was worried she might find it, and I didn’t want to spoil it for her.”
My eyes widen.Oh my God.
“It’s no problem, man,” Zane replies. “Anytime. You know that.”
A beat of silence. Then the distinct clap of hands—followed by their signature bro hug, one I’ve seen them do a hundred times before.
I sag against the dresser, pressing a hand to my chest, my heart still racing.
Colter has no idea I’m here. No idea what I was just doing with his best friend.
And if he ever finds out?
We’re both so screwed.
“I’m taking her out to dinner tonight for our anniversary, so I wanted it to be a surprise,” Colter says, his voice full of excitement. “I don’t think she has a clue what I have planned.”
Zane hums, the sound casual. “That’s awesome, man. I’m excited for you. You’ll have to let me know how it goes.”
He’s too much of a nice guy to push Colter out the door, but I can hear the restraint in his tone. Like he’s itching to get rid of him. Like he’s just as on edge as I am, standing here completely naked, still aching with need.
