Page 31 of The Mountain
“Hey.” Eddie sits up, teeth baring as he narrows his eyes at Matty. “She’s my girl too.”
“Not if you don’t look after her right, she’s not,” Matty argues, color rushing to his cheeks, pinking the tips of his ears. His hands are trembling, knuckles white as he grips the edge of the table.
“Hey.” Seth’s voice is soothing, gentle. “Easy. Nothing happened.”
Matty’s jaw ticks, his gaze never leaving Eddie. “I might be… inexperienced, or whatever… but I’m not an idiot,” he continues, ignoring Seth. “I know about STDs.”
“I don’t have a fucking STD,” Eddie retorts, sounding incensed. “Jesus, Matty. Chill out.”
“Guys.” Seth’s voice is harder now, an almost sharp bark that has me startling. “Enough.”
That seems to do the trick, and Matty blinks, then shakes his head. “Sorry. I’m sorry.” His expression softens, and he gives me a sheepish look. The angry flush that had spread across his cheeks deepens, and he ducks his head apologetically.
“You’re all good, mate.” Eddie leans across me and Seth, resting one hand awkwardly on Matty’s forearm. “No hard feelings. And, um, you’re right.” Eddie visibly winces. “Protection is important. Safety first. Got it.”
My lips part in surprise at Eddie’s quick capitulation. Until I remember the snowball. The way Eddie had scowled at me when I’d nearly crashed my car in the snow, when Matty had disappeared into the darkness of his thoughts. Eddie, with his hands around Matty’s as he placed that snowball in his hands.What can you feel, he’d asked, and I watched with silent fascination as he’d brought Matty back.
“Thanks, man.” Matty’s voice is thick with some undefinable emotion. “Appreciate it.” I get the feeling he’s talking about more than this.
Antoine clears his throat. “I was tested recently,” he offers, his cheeks darkening. He gives Liam a sidelong glance. “Well, before I came to the States…”
“Same,” Liam says. He gives a soft huff, then adds: “Probably should have mentioned that before we, um…”
“Nope. Nah-uh.” Eddie lifts both hands to his ears, shaking his head vehemently. “Don’t need to hear about it, thanks. Matty and I walked in on you guys once, and that was enough. You guys probably traumatized poor Matty for life, by the way.”
Matty shakes his head, giving Eddie a bemused smile. “I’m fine. It wasn’t a big deal.”
Liam smirks. “See, Eddie. Stop being such a prude.”
Eddie stammers out some indiscernible reply. Seth’s chest vibrates with silent laughter at my back, his arms tightening gently around me.
“Okay, okay.” Seth presses a kiss to the top of my head, and warmth floods through me. “So ground rules on protection, then? We should all get tested. And until then, we use condoms.” He pauses, then peels back to look at me. “Are you on birth control?”
“No,” I croak, shame prickling at the admission.
This had been one of the sticking points with Steve when we were dating. He’d said that condoms were uncomfortable, that they didn’t fit him right, that he was too big for them. At his insistence, I’d gone to the doctor and asked for birth control pills. I’d tried three different types before it became apparent that it just wasn’t for me.
Other girls don’t have a problem with it, he’d complained. You’re just overacting.
“They make me sick,” I say, worrying my lower lip. “At least, the ones I’ve tried do. But I could try others,” I add hurriedly, giving the guys around me a beseeching look. “I’m sure there’s some that might work…” They’re giving up a lot dating me, agreeing to be in this polyamorous relationship, especially if they aren’t able to date other girls. I don’t want to let them down.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” Eddie scowls, and I feel my stomach sink. “No way.” He shakes his head. “Why the fuckshould you try a bunch of drugs that are just going to make you feel like crap? That’s ridiculous.”
I blink at him in surprise. “You… you don’t want… but aren’t condoms uncomfortable?” I blurt out, my cheeks prickling.
Eddie scoffs. “No. You know what is uncomfortable though? Pushing a human being out of your vagina. Apparently. I mean, I don’t know that from experience, obviously. But I convinced my sister to let me be there for her birth, and let me tell you, that was some messed up shit.” He shudders.
A laugh bursts out of me, light and bubbling with relief. “You mean it? You don’t mind using condoms?” I look around at the other guys nervously.
Liam gives me a bemused look. “Love, I’m pretty sure fucking you with a condom on would be the furthest thing from uncomfortable.” His lips curl into a sly grin as he adds: “We could test it out, if you wanted.”
Heat rushes through me at his words, coiling low in my belly, making my head spin with the sudden surge of need. A small gasp escapes my lips, my thighs squeezing together, suddenly more aware than ever of Seth’s hard body beneath my own.
Seth hums in approval, adjusting himself beneath me. I start in surprise at the feel of him, at the unexpected hardness pressing against my thigh, and tilt my head up to give him a questioning look.
He shrugs, his cheeks flushing as he blinks down at me, pupils dilated. “It’s hot,” he murmurs, his breath hot against the top of my head. “The thought of you with them. I’m ace, and I’m not interested in having sex, but I still like…”
Eddie looks at Seth like he’s sprouted two heads. “Yeah. You mentioned that. But like, you really don’t like sex?” He gives a choked laugh, presses one hand over his mouth. “Sorry. I’m sorry. But… seriously?”
