Chapter 42

Winnie “I should probably head home,” I mumble in a tired voice. It’s already dark, and I can barely keep my eyes open. “I can come over tomorrow if you want me to, though.”

“Or you can stay the night,” Mark suggests. His arm brushes against my cheek as he moves to turn off the TV.

Damn it.

Why is he sitting so close?

I’ve been holding back from leaning against him for the past hour. It would be nice since I’m tired, and he is RIGHT there, but he is also shirtless for some reason.

It’s kind of making me keep my distance…

“Mhm, it would be nice if you stayed over,”

Jake says from the other side of the couch.

“Agreed,” Mark peers down at me. Unlike Tobias, the twins are blue-eyed and have darker hair. “We could have a sleepover party, like one of those we used to have in the past.”

“Sleepover party?” I repeat those words and glance between Mark and Jake in confusion. “You do realize we aren’t kids anymore, right? It would be weird if I stayed over!”

“Only if you made it weird,” Mark shrugs.

“Well…” maybe he is right? “I suppose I could take the guestroom.”

“Great,” Mark says. “We are also staying in the guest room since it’s the largest bed in the house.”

Do the twins share a bed? Hot. But that isn’t the point! “Oh, then I take the couch, I guess?”

“Nonsense,” Mark smiles at me. “You should be sharing the bed with us. It’s more comfortable than the couch.”

A short, unexpected laugh bursts from me.”

You’re both grown-ass men, and I’m a woman!”

“And?” Jake grunts. He is blinking as if he is failing to see the problem. “I don’t understand the issue.”

“I don’t see the issue here either,” Mark thoughtfully scratches himself under his chin. “We are childhood friends, and it’s not like you think of us as attractive or anything, right?”

I gulp but try not to let it show. The truth is that I’ve never thought of Mark and Jake as sexy, but it seems my body has decided to see them in a different light tonight.

They are both fine men. Tanned from the sun, and muscles for days. They are both drool-worthy, and something dark is gleaming in their eyes-something that looks like heat. It takes my breath away.

Surely I must be imagining it.

There is no way Mark and Jake want me. Yet they look at me like they want to slide their hands over my hot skin and kiss every inch of my body. My body hums at the thought, and the buzz grows louder the longer we remain motionless.

“I…” my heart is slamming against my ribcage. “I suppose one last sleepover would be nice, but it will be the last one!”

Mark and Jake exchange a look, and then they both stand up from the couch. I try not to stare at their abs. I’m not a pervert, I’m not a pervert-I repeat that mantra over and over again, but—

Oh my god.

They.

Are.

Ripped.

“Winnie?” Jake’s voice comes out strange and uneven. “Are you all right?”

“Yeah,” I breathe while staring at his happy trail that leads down into his sweat pants that are low on his hips.

“Are you sure?” Jake ask. “You seem… weird.

“She might be busy checking you out,” Mark teases, making me blink away from Jake.

I focus on Mark instead, about to quip back at him, but my comeback never comes. Instead, I’m busy staring at his v-lines.

My god, he is built. Did I enter a porno or something?!

Why have I never noticed Jake and Mark have such beautiful bodies before? I must have been blind or too interested in Andrew to pay attention. But Andrew rejected me to pursue Caroline, and now I’m SEEING the twins.

“Well, we don’t have time to stay here all night…” Jake bends down, and I shriek, then laugh in surprise when I’m lifted onto his shoulders.

“What are you doing?” I can’t help the goofy smile spreading over my lips. I’m unsure where to place my hands, but eventually, they wind up in Jake’s hair as he walks forward.

Ignoring the question, Jake says something else. “Remember when we won that chicken fight?”

“Oh, yeah, it was fun!” I smile at the memory.

“It sure was…..” Jake sounds nostalgic, and without thinking, I brush my fingers through his dark hair. He doesn’t mind.

His muscles move underneath me, shifting and bulging as he climbs the stairs. It sends shivers racing through me. Is it possible to get hot and bothered from being carried? Shit. I’ve never considered myself a sexual creature, but I am now.

I wish to lose my v-card. My friends all think I’ve already done it. Why? Because I’ve lied to some of them, said I’ve had sex, but in reality? I’ve never even touched a dick.

Jake sits down on the edge of the bed, and immediately, I’m lifted off him by a pair of strong hands-Mark.

He is kneeling in the bed and takes me to his lap. He is warm and solid.

I should probably point out it’s weird that I’m straddling him, but the words get lost in my mouth when his arms wrap tighter around me, holding me. It speeds up my pulse. We have hugged many times before, but it never felt like this.

Am I weird for not wanting it to be over?

Mark and Jake will sooner or later find partners, and I realize this would be inappropriate if they had a respective partner. Yet I don’t want the hug to end. My cheek is pressed to Mark’s chest, and I can hear his heart’s hurried, rhythmic beat.

How long will he let me stay like this?

I say nothing, thinking it might make the moment last, and then I shudder when Jake’s fingers run up my back, joining the part. “You’re wearing a lot of clothes…”

His warm hand prompts another shudder from me. The way Jake is stroking me is leaving me breathless. He moves in the bed, shifting his position to lie down, and Mark does the same.

A moment later, I’m sandwiched between them, and unexpected butterflies swarm me when I realize how intimate this is. It doesn’t feel friendly at all. Both of them are half-naked, for Christ’s sake!

“Umm, guys…” I try to sound as confident, cherry, and playful as I usually do. ”

Shouldn’t we put on a movie?”

“I’m pretty tired…” Jake murmurs, and I feel his warm breath hit my shirt as he breathes in and out.

“Me too…” Mark yawns and pulls me closer.

My nose gets buried in the cleft between his pecs. He smells like wood and leather, and the scent is addictive.

A smile spreads over my lips. I like this proximity, and I can’t help but reach out and touch Mark’s hip. His muscles flex and tense under my touch, yet I’m not called out, nor does he remove my hand. Oh boy, is he really giving me permission to touch him?

A thrill of excitement passes through me, and I stifle a laugh when Jake bumps me with his nose. “You really gonna sleep in all this?”

“You guys are wearing sweatpants!”

The twins share a chuckle, and I stare when they both sit up to pull down their sweatpants. Okay. I did NOT expect that to happen. Just what the heck is going on here?!

“Are you guys drunk?” I blurt out.

“Nope,” Mark lifts an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I don’t drink…” Jake mutters and places his hand on his chest. There is a slight color on his cheeks. “I’m trying to stay away from calories… for some reason, I put on pounds so easily… it’s embarrassing.”

“Trust me, you have nothing to be embarrassed over,” I’m taking off my clothes while talking because fuck it. “You’re hot and would be gorgeous even without your abs.”

To my surprise, the grumpy guy smiles faintly at that. He is sitting down and looking Gorgeous.

I frown at myself. I’m beyond confused today. Sure, Mark and Jake look good. Toned muscles in their bare arms, and they are both only wearing boxers. But they are my childhood friends, and even if I am suddenly interested now, I should settle for one!

Instead, I’m lusting after both, which is way, way inappropriate. Have I lost my goddamn mind?!

Yes, but… that knowledge doesn’t stop me from looking.

Fuck, they are cute. Mark is back to lying on his back. He is drawing soft circles over my thigh while Jake is sitting. His eyes are roaming over my face as if searching for something. I can’t help but admire his tan. It looks like he is months into a lazy summer.

I’m almost afraid to lose my shirt in front of two beautiful men, but I push courage into my veins, throwing it down on the floor.

Immediately, Jake’s attention lands on my breast, and even though I’m wearing a bra, I feel naked. At first, I’m nervous, but I feel powerful when I lift my gaze. Jake is staring at me like I’m the most beautiful woman in the world. It’s flattering and sends heat to my core.

“You’re…” he sucks air into his lungs, exhaling. “Beautiful.”

“You too,” I blurt out, and then I grimace. “I mean… you both are…” Jesus. I laugh at my stupidity.

“Okay… that wasn’t what I meant to say… my brain clearly isn’t working right now.”

Mark pokes my leg. When I glance down at him, he hides a smile against my thigh. I can feel it. “Do you mean that?”

I don’t want to lie. I can’t. “Yes… is that bad? “Am I slut for finding them both attractive? They are similar, so it makes sense. But they are entirely different people on the inside.

“It’s not bad,” Mark’s voice is rich but unsure. Like he is trying to figure out something while speaking to me, read my mind or something. “You want to see us?”

I freeze. “Excuse me?”

“Naked,” Jake says from his side of the bed. He is on his back too, and his thumbs are playing with the waistline of his boxers.

I can’t help but inhale sharply. My heart is going a mile per hour, Jake’s lips lift in a hesitant smile, and he delivers a look that says he is willing to show me anything. It’s playful and teasing. A lethal combination.

My tongue feels too heavy for my mouth. “I… “I let my gaze slide to Mark, who is smirking at me too. I swallow thickly. “What is going on here? Are you guys messing with me?”

“A little bit…” Mark’s teeth show in his smile. “Is that a bad thing?”

“Oh, so you openly admit you’re just messing around?” tears are burning in my eyes. “I guess I won’t be sleeping here after all,” I can’t get back into my clothes fast enough. Here I was, becoming hot and bothered, and these idiots were only fucking with me. “You have a good night.”

Jake sits up in alarm. “Wait, hold on. That’s not what he meant-”

“I can’t believe I fell for this. I should have sensed something was wrong when you said you usually share a bed-that’s weird as fuck!” I interrupt in a hurt tone.

Honestly, I don’t find it weird that they share a bed. I think it’s hot. And what they do is their business.

Also, twins can supposedly have a special connection to each other, but I’m mad and throwing insults.

Jake grimaces, and I glare at him. His facial expression is all I need to know. I walk to the door and don’t even bother to look at Mark. He must be wearing the same facial expression as Jake.

“Have a good night.”

With that, I leave the idiots alone and slam the door behind me. I don’t want to see them again, not for months, at least. Not after they humiliated me like this… ugh, I can’t believe they did this.