COLIN
Brandon stood quickly, awkwardly, his hands at his sides. He lowered his head.
"It's… it's not…"
"Not what it looks like?" Hunter shouted. "Are you shitting me? Was that what you were about to say?"
The big football player delivered a half-shrug that only pissed me off even more. "Fine," he said. "It was. But don't be mad. Honestly, it was just kissing…"
Just kissing.
I could feel the anger boiling over, the rage at having caught them like this. We had come home early because we felt bad for them. Wanted to spend a little bit of Halloween together with them, maybe celebrate a tiny bit before crashing out.
Instead we got this.
"We made a pact!" Hunter swore. "You agreed to this Brandon, we all did! Everyone—"
"Not everyone…"
Lily rose, and we all turned in her direction. She dusted herself off. Smoothed out her skirt, and shook out her long, teased-out hair.
Holy shit. As a sexy pirate she looked absolutely incredible.
"This doesn't involve you," Hunter snapped.
"It doesn't?" She let out a laugh that was half sarcasm, half disbelief. "I think it involves me very much."
Hunter paused, but only because he was taking her in. Sometime during the night our roommate had transformed from college professor into a very provocative, super-steamy swash buckler.
"The three of you run around here flirting with me all day and night," she began. "Shirtless, shortsless…" She paused for a moment, as if considering whether it was actually a word. "Whatever. My point is, the tension in this house has been building for a while. And no, I'm not innocent of it either. I'm one-hundred percent guilty of flirting back."
We paused, watching her stand there silhouetted by the fire. Was she swaying a little? Not much. But definitely a little.
"You're drunk," I said. The words came out more harshly than I meant them. "The two of you have been drinking, and Brandon's taking advantage of you."
"Not even close," said Lily. "I'm pleasantly buzzed, if anything. And how do you know I wasn't taking advantage of him?"
Brandon released a small chuckle. Hunter shot him the deadliest look I've ever seen, and he shut up immediately.
"I know you guys made some sort of secret agreement," Lily went on. "What did you call it… a pact? To not sleep with me?"
"To not do anything with you," I said. "To pretty much leave you alone. For our sanity and yours."
"My sanity?" She shook her head. "MY sanity…" she repeated.
"Look—"
"Do you have any idea what it's like," she cut Hunter off, "sharing a house with three incredible guys? Three beautiful guys who are not only hotter than hell, but also sweet to me? Caring for me? Kind? Considerate? Amazing?"
She stepped forward and put a finger on my chest. The orange glow of the fireplace set off the highlights of her hair. With the black boots and the fishnet stockings, she looked like a pirate goddess.
"You've held back," she said. "I know you have. I have too, on more than one occasion." She looked in a circle, gazing at each of us. "It's basic biology, really. We're attracted to each other. Only there are three of you… and only one of me."
She paused, and for a moment the only sound was the crackle of the dying fire. I thought about what she was saying. How difficult it would if the roles were reversed, to somehow maintain control.
"We thought you were studying," Hunter snarled, dragging out the last word. His voice was lower now, but still accusatory.
"We were. We did."
"And?"
"And after a few hours we needed a sanity ..break."
I had to laugh. "So you dressed like pirates and made out?"
"No," Brandon replied. "We dressed up like this and went trick-or-treating. We ran outside. Got some fresh air. Ate some candy…" He put his fist to his mouth and let out a belch. "Probably too much candy."
I was bitter. Worse than bitter! Maybe Lily's perspective I could somewhat understand, but Brandon had betrayed our trust. He'd broken the pact. He'd—
And you wouldn't?
The question dropped straight into my head, slapping me in the face with reality. It forced me to stop and think. Would I?
I thought about the night shattered my phone. The night Lily hadcome in to comfort me, and sat on my bed. Weren't the same feelings there? The same chemistry between us, as between her and Brandon?
You had an opportunity then. A shot. You never took it.
I gulped hard, trying to get past the sour taste in my mouth. Was this really the case? I missed my chance, and Brandon had taken his? And how many shots had Hunter had? Did he miss any… or just never took them?
"The three of you are like brothers," Claudia went on. "Tighter and closer than some of the real brothers I know. I'd never, ever want to come between you. And that's the only part of this that I regret."
Hunter had relaxed a bit. I could tell because the big vein in his neck was no longer visible. He was still angry though.
"We ditched a very cool party for the two of you," he said sharply. "We came home because we felt bad."
Lily shrugged. "That only shows me the bond you have together. How close you've all becom—"
"No," Hunter jumped in. "Not just Brandon." He looked her straight in the eye. "We came home for you Lily's face softened. I watched as she removed the red bandana and slowly ran a hand through her hair. Pushing it back over one shoulder, she looked stunningly beautiful.
"You guys did more than just take me in," she said. "This place… it's a home to me now. You've made me feel wanted here, even loved." She inhaled, then let out a wistful sigh. "More so than anywhere else."
It was crazy, how much I wanted her. How much I hated Brandon for possessing her… even for the briefest of moments. I could still picture his hands on her body. His mouth, locked against hers…
"You took me in," Lily went on. "Gave me something wonderful. Something like a family…"
We stood in a rough semi-circle, while Lily walked between us. Her legs looked magnificent with every step. She went to me, then Brandon, then Hunter again. I could feel their eyes, resting heavily on her every movement. I knew she could too.
"I don't think you're mad that Brandon kissed me," she said suddenly. "I think you're mad because it's not even."
She approached Hunter, and I saw him stiffen. Unfortunately for him Lily saw it too. She smiled wickedly.
"You want things even," she said, her voice going soft and feminine.
She stood on her toes. Placed her hand on his chest…
"You want things equal."
She leaned in and kissed him.
I watched it unfold slowly, like some sort of dream sequence. Something that couldn't be controlled, only watched and admired. Lily's lips pressed against Hunter's, her jaw rotating sensuously as she took great personal pleasure in drinking him in. And Hunter…
Hunter kissed her back.
I couldn't believe it. Neither could Brandon. We gaped at each other as Hunter's arms slid around her, pulling her in, bringing her body against his as they continued kissing and touching each other. He even started playing with her asscheeks
Holy shit…
His hands were on Lily's hips, his fingers flexing. And through it all, their long, slow, sensual kiss… mouths fully locked together as they breathed each other in.
When it was finished she stepped back, almost stumbling in her boots. Her expression was trance-like. Very far away.
"God, I wanted that."
My heart was racing as she turned to face me. Her smile was nefarious and alluring… all at the same time.
I was stunned. Speechless. Powerless to move. All I could do is watch as she strutted my way, crossing thigh over lovely thigh.
"And I've wanted to do this for a long time too."
Lily reached up, and her hands cradled my face. I bent down for her, and my whole body shivered as she pressed her mouth against mine.
Oh… oh wow. She smells so good even after there is faint smell of alcohol her smell is best.
It was like slipping into euphoria. Her lips were sweet and wonderful, and tasted vaguely of rum. Our tongues met, and somehow they danced together like they'd been doing it all along. We kissed like lovers who'd shared a thousand lifetimes, and who hadn't seen each other in a thousand more.
All rational thought faded away. Carley, school, this whole big mess — everything, including the jealousy and even the heat I'd felt at watching her kiss Brandon and Hunter. All of it was gone in a instant, leaving me only to bask in the pure rapture of kissing this beautiful creature. This girl — no, this woman — who I had wanted for so long.
I was shaken awake by gentle laughter as Lily finally pulled back. The others were staring, and even clearing their throats. Apparently we have been kissing longer than the both of them combined.
"Easy there Romeo," Brandon quipped.
I was still in shock. Still reeling from the experience of kissing someone new, someone so gorgeous and utterly perfect. But I was also relieved. Relieved that Brandon could laugh again. Relieved that Hunter was no longer furious with him… or at least, a lot less mad than before.
"There," said Lily at last. She looked pointedly at each of us in turn. "All settled up."
The room fell silent again as she slipped past us. All three of us watched wordlessly as she made her way up the staircase.
"Good night boys," she said, not even looking over her shoulder. "If we need to, we can talk more about this in the morning."
We watched her until she was gone, then turned to face each other. For the first time in history, all three of us were speechless.
"We're going to need to discuss this," I said at last. "Aren't we?"
My two fraternity brothers stared back at me. Eventually, they nodded.
"Oh yeah."