Unwrapped

And friends for a lifetime before that. Or at least it felt that way.

“You can give him my earned blowjobs so he feels better,” Tristan said in a somber voice.

“Keep it up and you’ll be blowing each other.”

“Some threat,” Matt said, his reward a thwap very close to his most prized possession. “Now that’s a threat.”

“Open the rest,” Tristan said, urging another bag on her.

By the time she’d opened the other bags and boxes, the pressure building behind her eyes had turned into a genuine ache. They’d given her clothes and books and a couple of her favorite movies. Each one had been chosen specifically for her. They weren’t generic things, but thoughtful, sweet gifts that made her chest burn with regret.

“What happened to certificates for the pizza joint and handwritten coupons for back rubs?” she said quietly, running her finger through the handle loop of the replacement cartoon coyote mug Tristan had rush ordered for her.

“Hey, my gifts were never that lame,” Tristan protested.

“No, they weren’t. When you remembered to buy me something and didn’t just spring for an extravagant meal instead.”

Instead of arguing, all three fell silent. And it didn’t take a genius to discern that their thoughts were probably running in similar circles.

“Maybe we finally figured out we couldn’t keep dicking around forever. Ever think of that?” Matt asked, sitting up next to her. He grabbed the box of earrings and held it out. “Put them on. Please.”

Please from Matt was a plea of the highest order. She couldn’t say no.

With fumbling fingers, she withdrew the earrings and slipped them on, their subtle weight on her ears pulling at her heart. Especially when Matt gathered her hair in his hands and lifted it to place a kiss on the back of her exposed neck. “Beautiful. They match your eyes. They were meant for you.”

That she didn’t cry would rank up there with the biggest victories of her life. “Matt,” she whispered. “I shouldn’t.”

“You should. You don’t want me to go back to talk to that cute salesgirl again, do you?”

If she was being fair to him, that wouldn’t matter. None of this would. He was just on loan to her for this weekend until the fairytale ended.

“No.” She turned and met his mouth fiercely with her own. Right now he belonged to her. And right now was all she could focus on unless she wanted to drown them both in her tears. “Thank you.”

“My turn.” Tristan nudged the robe at her.

She shrugged it on and pulled the soft, plush material around her with a purr of contentment. “Oh, God. This feels better than…”

Noticing both guys were studying her intently, she grinned. “My old robe.”

“Nice save.” Tristan started to pat her knee, but she grabbed his hand and brought it to her racing heart.

“Thank you. I love it.” He stuck out his lips and made her giggle. She leaned in and kissed him, sighing a little as she pulled away.

“Time for more cake,” Matt announced, climbing off the bed. Then he turned back with a lewd smile. “Wonder how it would taste from a different kind of dish?”

“Now that idea has possibilities,” Tristan said, rising.

She couldn’t stop the tingle that swept through her any more than she could resist their smiles. “I like mine on a stick, actually,” she said, darting past them out the door to the sounds of their laughter.

Chapter 10

Cait woke snuggled between them. Warm, comfortable, more content than she’d ever been, the advancing light of dawn seemed the cruelest joke of all.

They’d never gone on their date. And they’d only spent one full day together and part of another. Not enough time. Not nearly enough.

But now it was over.

She knew she couldn’t ask for more, that extending their weekend would only make it that much harder to separate later on. She had to focus on what was most important now, mainly all the work waiting for her back at the office. There was so much to do, and she’d had her fun. Now she had to concentrate on—