17: SUGGESTIONS

DELILAH

“How do I look?” Seth muttered, straightening his bowtie once more, making me giggle.

“Stunning,” Cole said flatly, still frowning since he had returned to the house, seeing Seth and I together outside hugging. Part of me wondered if there had been a camera on the deck to see us so close to one another for a period of time. Cameras that I knew were in the house in certain common areas for security. Wondering if Cole had tried to pull up the footage, and then dismissing it as silly.

Seth had been more than supportive. Making me cocoa. Curling up next to him platonically as we talked about our pasts. A lot of which had to do with my mother’s southern ideals on a good woman that had my own poor father halfway to his grave already with drink. Not that he had really been overly present to begin with, though his god and religion would never allow him to actually leave my mother.

It was a breakdown that I hadn’t expected to happen—nor the conversation that had followed but a highly pleasant one that made me feel as close to Seth on a platonic level as a sexual one with Cole. Something that was starting to feel a little confusing to my emotions, that I knew would; thankfully be at rest after tonight.

Or so I hoped.

It was hard not to fall a little bit for two brothers so charming and attractive. Finally seeing within a short period of time why Jewel had attempted to conquer both men at once. Something that sounded too bold or even slightly possible to my sexual exposures in life. Even though there was a lot of porn, smut, and otherwise erotic oddities out there—thruples were people on paper I had only ever written to. Thruples, couples, and many others with sexual preferences that may sound slightly out there to normal people… yet somehow more functional than the modern relationship because of the communication and love these people had for one another. Though still not something I could wrap my mind around participating in myself.

I smiled brightly at Cole, trying to still be professional in front of his brother as I crossed my hands in front of me. “You also look quite dashing. Though I’m still confused why you went with a tie.”

Cole’s easy cocky smile returned as he straightened it, giving me a wink. “Distract from the tattoos.” I glanced down at his hand, laughing as I realized that it had indeed distracted me from his actual hand considering the color and the pattern.

“Should have thought of that before you got it done. Of course, if I had been here or you had returned my calls I would have said as much,” Seth replied, combing his hair in the mirror of Cole’s room.

Cole gave him the finger, rolling his eyes. “Thanks, mom, I’ll remember that when I’m fifty and it’s still not off. I do not regret a single one of the works of art on my body.”

“I thought you said you regretted the Spongebob and Patrick one,” I chimed in, folding my arms, only to realize what I had said, feeling like ice had been thrown over me. That had been a conversation in bed. A tattoo that was only seen under the clothing on his top right and left thigh.

Seth had known I was with his brother but I wasn’t sure if it was something they had spoken about to any lengths. Not to mention it felt like it was throwing it in Seth’s face, considering his declaration of feelings out in the woods. Saying something so casually was like setting off a bomb in the room.

“You think that one’s ugly?” Seth shot back to Cole before looking directly at me with a smile followed by a quick wink in the mirror. “You should see the one I have in near same area.”

My mouth hung open, waiting for Cole—or even Seth to say anything else. The words… hanging in the air like a strange informal invitation. One I wasn’t even sure how to read let alone respond to. Warmth flooded my cheeks as my eyes darted back and forth. Trying to decide if I had just imagined what he had said, with zero negative reactions from Cole. As if it were just another conversation.

The silence hanging.

“I’m… going to go get dressed.” My voice was several octaves too high, and I was already falling over my feet as I made my way to the door.

Cole’s eyebrows were up as if feigning innocent surprise. “Take your time, guests arrive in about thirty minutes, you’re welcome to join us at any point.”

His last words almost sounded like an innuendo, even though I knew very well they weren’t. Or thought they weren't until the way his eyes raked over me. That knowing look that already made need coil in my belly. The heat I saw reflected briefly in my glance at the mirror.

~Had the idea of his brother wanting me aroused him?~

As the door shut behind me, I began to shake my head, pushing the thought away. Biting my lower lip as I made my way to my room with hurried steps. Running my fingers through my hair once, twice—three times frantically before I finally made it to my room. Letting out a small loud sigh to think about what just happened.

HAD that just happened?

~Did I just manifest a small thought or desire about Seth for being kind and wanting more once Cole and I—~

~There was no way.~

~There was no way I could handle two men at once. Or that the small tiny desire to have what Jewel had made this come true.~

~I might hurt them. I might hurt them and I would end up breaking up the beautiful bromance. This wouldn’t work. It can’t. They’ll also get bored of me. They both have this strange romantic ideal about me because they… what, read a few articles?~

Could it work though?

~Even if it’s real and I tried and didn’t like it, or things didn’t work out what’s the worst? Just leave if I cause issues. This can be short term. Cole is supposed to be short term. Maybe Seth just wants to get his kicks in too. They’re rich maybe they just get off on that now…~

The last thought felt rotten, knowing that it was off color and didn’t fit either man correctly, hoping the night went by quickly.