Page 8 of The Third Wheel
As we finished packing up our lunch, Colby and Gunnar headed into the shower building to change into swimsuits, and when they came out, I realized that Nori was so fucking right. I was so damn lucky. I watched them walk towards me, first my ruggedly handsome husband, with his pierced nipples, muscular body and sexy tattoos, then the golden boy, Colby. Fuck, Colby's body was insane. I'd always thought he was a bit on the slim side, but under those clothes, he was cut to perfection, with an eight pack and several large, sexy tattoos, including an intricate dragon that wrapped around his shoulder and upper arm.
He caught me looking and bit his lower lip, a sparkle in his bright hazel eyes.
"Let's do this." I cleared my throat, forcing my mouth shut. "I'm ready to swim! Lead the way." And walking behind them was a treat, noticing the way Gunnar's swim trunks clung to his thick,muscled legs and the way Colby's board shorts hugged his round ass as they walked ahead of me. I pinched my arm, trying to suppress a surge of desire. Fuck, I needed to do something other than leer at my men.
No, not my men. My man and my friend.
"Race you to the water!" I shouted, darting ahead of them, desperate to get away from their combined effect on me. I knew from the past year and a half of playing with Gunnar that I was a certified slut, but not this much of a slut. Fuck.
I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, feeling the warm sand beneath my feet turn cooler and wet near the water's edge. With a cry of exhilaration, I splashed out a couple of feet, then dove headfirst into the refreshing embrace of the lake, letting the cool water envelop me. I surfaced a little way out, shaking my head and running my hands through my wet hair.
I turned and saw Gunnar and Colby standing at the water's edge, their eyes pinned on me, their mouths agape. I splashed water towards Gunnar. "Get in! It's lovely. Can we swim across to that dune?" I pointed across the lake, to where a massive dune pushed into the dense vegetation at the edge of the water. A few kids were playing on this beach, but the beach formed by the dune was empty.
On second thought, perhaps I shouldn't be alone with Gunnar and Colby.
A smiling Colby dove in after me. Gunnar was still standing by the side, hesitating for some reason.
"Come on in, the water's perfect!" I called out to him.
"Alright, alright." He was smiling as he waded in after me, groaning as the cool water reached his thighs. I splashed water at Colby, and he growled and used both hands to scoop up a big wave that sprayed over me and Gunnar both.
The sound of our laughter filled the air as we engaged in a friendly water fight, our inhibitions melting away under the warm sun, until Colby grabbed me and threw me in. I came up sputtering and lunged at him with a laughing growl.
"Alright, you two, break it up." Gunnar said, his voice deep and commanding, though there was a hint of amusement in his tone. He waded closer to us, finally letting go of his reservations and joining in on the fun. I noticed my husband's rare glimpse of vulnerability shining through his tough exterior, which only made me love him more.
"Come on, Gunnar," Colby teased, grinning as he splashed water at my husband. "Don't be such a grump."
"Grump?" Gunnar raised an eyebrow, the corner of his mouth pulling into a smirk. "I'll show you grump."
As our laughter mingled together, I found myself stealing glances at both men, my heart pounding with excitement over the possibilities that lay before us. My eyes flicked betweenColby's lean, muscular frame and Gunnar's powerful build, feeling a heat rising within me that had nothing to do with the sun.
I caught Gunnar looking at Colby's body, his blue eyes lingering on the other man for a moment longer than necessary. Not for the first time, I wondered if my husband might be bisexual. It wasn't something we'd ever discussed, and I wasn't sure why he never mentioned it to me. Perhaps he simply figured it never mattered. Except this time, he was looking at my best friend.
Colby
Gunnar dove for Miraand scooped her against him, giving her a rough, possessive kiss. I didn't blame him — Mira was stunning in the sexiest thing I'd ever seen her wear. I wanted to kiss her, too. But my chest ached as I watched the way her body responded to his, the way they got lost in each other for a moment.
Gunnar broke the kiss, lifting her and tossing her into the water with a laugh. Her outraged scream made me smile, but then I remembered who I was watching, and the smiled faded.
"I didn't know you were capable of loosening up. Isn't playing in the water too dorky for your alpha-hole persona?" I taunted Gunnar as I splashed him with water.
"Fuck off, Colby," Gunnar said, moving towards me, a wicked grin on his face. I couldn't tell if he was pissed off or joking.
"Right back at you." As he got closer, invaded my personal space, I scooped up water in my hands and dumped it on his head. And I had the strangest urge to touch him, to press myself against him.
In a violent way, of course.
Gunnar's eyes narrowed. "You think you're so much better than me, don't you? Just because you're her best friend?" he accused, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You think you know her?"
"Maybe I do. I understand her in ways you could never — you don't share her love for books, or her interests." I shot back, knowing full well that I was poking the bear. But I couldn't help it; there was something thrilling about pushing him to the edge, watching his control slip away.
Gunnar's breaking point came suddenly. With a growl, he shoved me hard, causing us both to lose our balance and stumble into the water. The shock of the cold liquid enveloped my body, but it did little to dampen the heat of my anger.
"Are you trying to prove something, Gunnar?" I sputtered, wiping the water from my face as I struggled to regain my footing. My heart pounded, and I realized that this wasn't just about our petty argument—it was about power, and who held it.
"Get off your high horse, Colby," Gunnar said, his gaze locked on mine, unyielding. "You're not as perfect as you think you are."
"Neither are you." As we stared each other down, the water lapping at our skin, our desires and emotions began to blur, and I struggled to remember why we were even fighting. Hadn't we just been having fun a moment ago?
