Page 10 of Risky Taste
Having Kurt’s brother on staff helped get me a room with only four guys rather than the usual eight but fuck I can’t do it anymore.
“Can’t sleep either?”
I look over to my right as I exit the room, Declan leaning against the wall, clad only in a pair of loose sweats. He’s always been carefree like that, the fucker waltzing around barefoot at camp like he owns the desert. Trust that man to get you through any kind of disaster though. His aim is impeccable and his split-second reactions have saved my ass a time or two. However, his snarky ass sets people off because they can’t vibe with it.
He can make a joke about someone’s mother while chucking a knife half a mile and hitting a bull’s eye. He is insane but he’s family.
“No,” I finally reply, taking up space beside him. I squint at his lips, frowning when a small white stub comes into view. “You can’t fucking smoke in here.”
He chuckles. “I’m not.” He begins chewing the thing and pulls out another before handing it to me. “Just candy but it makes me feel badass. Even better in the winter when I can pretend I’m actually smoking.” He pretends to blow out smoke, chuckling at his own damn joke.
That doesn’t even make any sense. Declan doesn’t have a problem smoking and I’m pretty sure he hasn’t ever smoked a cigarette before. I push his hand away, staring at the opposite wall, just content to be back. The eerie chill of the hallway sendsshivers down my back as we stand there. Of course, until Declan just has to start talking again.
“So… Noah grew up.”
My face warms at that, remembering the moments I spent in his bedroom earlier this evening. We don’t know each other like we used to. It’s been nearly a decade since college and yet, he’s never really left my thoughts. He’s patched me up a few times before the last deployment and after learning he had gotten married, I stuffed away the lingering feelings. However, in his room, I could see the demons he was trying to fight, and even if I didn’t know why, I could see that he was losing control.
“So?” I know my late response is cause for concern because Declan peers over at me, waiting for more information. I share everything with my team, well,almosteverything. Spending twenty-four hours a day for three years with three other guys has brought us together in a way that most families would be jealous of, however, there are some things I keep to myself.
Like the pain on Noah’s face as he stared at the empty glass, testing himself during a battle that he didn’t need to have.
“It was like pulling teeth. Something’s going on. I know that. You know that. Hell, Sebastian knows that. Kurt’s the only one who’s dumb enough not to know or ask if he even did.” I run a hand down my face, a groan following the gesture. “I’m not sure what I expected when we got back but I thought I dealt with the feelings. And yet, it’s like we’re back in college all over again, those bright brown eyes and that charming smile he’d always give us like he was tempting us on purpose.”
Declan grins, his mind most likely going back to the first night we spent together, a rather drunken one that ended with the three of us in bed together. I hadn’t been surprised and strangely enough, I wasn’t even jealous. Almost getting caught though had been terrifying.
***
The morning after a party is always the worst, but somehow I don’t even fucking care because I am wrapped around the sweetest, most precious guy on the entire fucking campus. Unfortunately, I’d die if his brother found out. We haven’t even fucked; the body on the opposite side of Noah is the one who did all the hard work.
I only slipped in hours later, needing a place to rest my head, and was enthusiastically invited to make a man sandwich. I’m pretty sure I kissed Noah at some point, his soft lips against mine, his body molded against every ridge of my body until the only thing I wanted was to hold him forever.
My alarm goes off, and I silence it, wanting a few more minutes of peace until a call comes through. And then a text. And then another. Grunting, I look at the screen and then freak out a little, frantically shoving Declan curled up against Noah’s back.
“Fuck, we gotta go.”
He groans. “What the fuck for? Thought I might get some more time in.” His lips dip to Noah’s neck, the guy arching just slightly. Fuck, he’s adorable.
“Not happening. Kurt’s on his way to the dorms.”
We had all ended up at the local university, and Declan and I have both pledged to the same fraternity as Noah. It splits up our time a bit, but Kurt is still our best friend. He expects that we take care of Noah, but in no circumstances would he be okay with this current arrangement. The brothers are just a few years apart, but that has kind of been an unspoken rule—stay away from Noah.
Unfortunately, a mixture of drinks and Noah’s sexy little pout had us pouncing. He didn’t mind it yesterday and there was no way I was giving up the chance. But now that my head’s clear,I realize that none of us have been smart about our choices. I look down at Noah between us, the guy growing a little uneasy.
“Kurt’s coming? You have to go… if he finds you here—”
I know this moment isn’t going to happen again as he climbs over me and stumbles his way to his dresser, slipping a pair of pants on. With a sigh, I dress as well, Declan taking his sweet time before meandering over to Noah and stealing another kiss. It’s slow and sweet and I don’t miss the way Noah chases Declan’s touch.
“What was that for?” he asks.
Declan smiles, pressing another kiss to Noah’s forehead. “Just so you don’t forget me.”
***
We had been halfway down the first flight of stairs when we ran into Kurt, the man joking that we don’t have to rush. He brought up Noah and we expertly maneuvered him to the diner across the street from campus, telling him that breakfast was on us. It had been a close call but one we’ve never brought up again.
Until now.
And after seeing Noah last night, it brought up some of those lingering feelings. Though, I am pretty sure he doesn’t remember that night or has blocked it out of his mind.
