Our Love Story

But when I finish explaining about what happened earlier with Jordan, the guys don’t think it’s sad at all.

“I’m gonna fucking kill that guy,” Ethan says.

For a man who seems so reserved, it’s surprising to see the flood of emotions filling his face.

“Exactly,” Noah agrees. “What a fucking asshole. He can’t get away with this. We’ve got to call the cops right now.” He reaches for his phone but stops when he notices I’ve started crying.

“I’m sorry,” Noah says. “Did I say something wrong?”

Enzo shakes his head. “You didn’t do anything wrong, Noah. We should call the cops. The police force here isn’t like it is in the States, but yeah, we should still try.”

Noah winces. “I hate that I made you cry.”

Enzo shakes his head again before brushing away a tear on my cheek. “You didn’t make her cry, Noah. That guy Jordan did.” Turning, he hands me a tissue, and whispers, “I can only imagine, bella, the hell he put you through. We’ll make sure you’re safe tonight.”

Enzo is clearly the most romantic man of the bunch, and I melt under his tender touch as he wipes away my tears.

But when I look up I see that Mason’s face is written in pain. “I can’t believe he did that to you, someone as beautiful, someone as sweet, someone as innocent...as you... I can’t even imagine.”

I feel my face flush, no longer in tears. The response from these four men makes me feel understood.

“What I can’t believe,” Ethan says, his eyes narrowed. “Is that he would take something as precious as your virginity and treat it as if he owns it. What a fucking sadist.”

I look over at Ethan, my eyes softening, appreciating the way he got to the heart of the issue so quickly.

“I should’ve never led him to believe I would sleep with him,” I say between bites. “I think he expected it. Like he felt I owed it to him. We had been dating for a month, but I’d never really dated before him. Maybe I was wrong to think a man would want to be with me even if sex was off the table.”

Noah swallows hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he absorbs my words.

“The fact is, going on this trip with him should’ve been a gift enough. Girl, you know what? Fifteen minutes together and already I can see you’re way too good for a guy like that. Probably too good for any of us, even.”

All four of the guys nodded in agreement.

“Well, I’m going to go call the cops, see what I can do. Then I’ll look online to see when the embassy opens tomorrow, all right?” Ethan says, taking control.

I nod, grateful that he’s able and willing to take the lead right now.

Mason takes the dishes and begins to load the dishwasher, and I can see that having a nurturing spirit is what compels him. It may be what brought him to me in the first place. He knew I needed someone to take care of me tonight, and he took me home and made sure I was safe.

When Noah and Enzo leave the room, I’m left with Mason.

I let him know how much I appreciate what he did tonight.

“It’s nothing, Chloe, anyone would do that.”

I shake my head. “Not anyone. Not Jordan.”

“Let’s not talk about him anymore tonight,” Mason says, walking toward me. I get off the stool and help him finish load the dishwasher. When he closes it, I find myself standing right next to him. There’s hardly any space between us at all, and in the narrow gap heat flows between us. All I have ever wanted was a man who was able to take care of me, and Mason is all of that and more.

“Thank you, Mason, for bringing me here,” I tell him, licking my lips. The space between my legs grows wet as I stare at him, realizing how strong and ripped he really is. His entire body is one chiseled muscle, the same way his friends are.

They’re more than extreme athletes, they are extreme men.

Built men.

And I am all alone with them.

“So, you’re okay with staying here tonight?” he asks. My back is against the counter and he puts an arm on either side of me. Pinning me in.

I’m not afraid though. In fact, I like being between his two arms, and with a flash of embarrassment, I realize I wouldn’t mind being between something else of his.

“What are you thinking?” he asks, looking at me with a smile on his face.

I shake my head, embarrassed at the idea.

I may be a virgin, but I’ve thought about having sex plenty of times.

After all, I spent a lot of nights alone in a campus dorm imagining sharing a bed with someone else. There have been so many nights I wish someone would wrap me in their arms and keep me warm.