“Oh.” What was I supposed to do? Ask him how? Tell him how sorry I was? Ask him if he was okay? Of course he wasn’t okay. Who would be when someone they cared about so much died so young?
He grasped my shoulders, turning me to face him. “Let’s get this back on track, sweetheart.” He brushed his lips over mine so gently the kiss was nothing but a whisper. A promise. Through a simple touch of his mouth against mine, I read his thoughts as though he’d said them aloud—he didn’t want to think about her.
Oli came over to us, hesitating at my side. He let out a gasp when Ren grabbed the collar of his T-shirt and yanked him forward so Ren could slant his mouth over Oli’s. Their kiss was different from ours. It was rough and angry and full of a spitting resentment that was sexy as hell. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from how Ren sucked the life out of Oli.
I could’ve watched them like this forever, and I would’ve, if something didn’t move out of the corner of my eye. I jumped, bumping into Ren’s shoulder, when something furry brushed my foot.
“Holy fuck! Rat!”
I was a big man, standing over six foot, but I was also a sane one who had a reasonable and healthy terror of rats. They were disease-ridden vermin, and if there was one thing I enjoyed being, it was alive. So, excuse me while I freaked out about a big-ass rat in Ren’s apartment. If I threw myself into Ren’s strong arms, then that was between me, him, and Oli.
Ren’s eyebrows reached for the top of his head and the corner of his mouth curved in amusement. He eyed the snow-white beast that had settled near his bookcase. “That’s Mr. Wiggles.”
“What?” I blinked at him, then atMr. Wiggles.“Why the fuck do you have a rat?”
Oli laughed in real delight, loud and refreshing. If I wasn’t so busy panicking, I might’ve thought it was the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard, but Mr. Fucking Wiggles was a nightmare.
Ren joined in with Oli’s laughter and dragged me against his chest. “Mr. Wiggles isn’t a rat. He’s a ferret.”
“What?” I blinked at him. I loved animals, they were the best, but when I thought about pets, I expected a dog or a cat or even a bird. Not a fucking ferret. “You have a rodent problem. Do you understand?”
“Ferrets are part of the weasel family, not rodents,” Oli said easily, shifting slowly toward the animal. He crouched, and Mr. Wiggles hopped his way closer to Oli. He leaned up into Oli’s palm, taking the pets Oli offered him.
“Fine. He has a weasel problem. Same thing.” I was ashamed to admit that I snuck behind Ren, using him as a shield. I melded my chest against his back and crouched, peeking over his shoulder at Oli and his newfound friend.
“I think he’s cute.” Oli dipped down to kiss therodenton its head, and I winced.
“Okay, why didn’t I see him the last time I was here?” I asked, eyeing the creature. I swore it was glaring at me. Its beady eyes narrowed to the size of pinpricks, teeth sharp as it snarled. Or maybe I was imagining the entire thing because it was a fucking rat and I hated them.
“He was at the animal daycare until I could get the place ferretproofed.” Ren grinned over his shoulder at me. Dickhead. Maybe I’d abstain from sex to teach him a lesson. Or fuck Oli instead while Ren whined. “I have a leash for him if you want to walk him.”
“Fuck off. I’ll putyouon a leash and walk you instead,” I muttered.
The comment made Oli throw his head back and laugh again, the sound bouncing around the living room in the most delightful way. My stomach turned to mush, all warm and melty, and despite the giant rat—okay,fine, ferret—in the room, my defenses lowered.
“He’ll be here when we’re done,” Ren said, and I realized he was talking to Oli, which was strange because his voice was gentler than usual. Maybe seeing Oli turn gooey over Mr. Fucking Wiggles did something to him.
Ren turned, and my attention slid to his face. I took in the angular cheeks and sharp hazel eyes, clouded with lust that worked its way through me until my knees went weak. One stare and I was ready to collapse. How pathetic.
“It’s your turn.” He licked across the seam of my lips without asking for entrance, but I opened them anyway because I wanted to taste him. He didn’t slide his tongue into my mouth, though, and I held back a pout. His fingers worked on the knot in my tie, loosening it. He grinned with feral intent that had my breath sawing in and out of my lungs nervously. I didn’t know what he was planning, but I had a feeling this would be a long night.
My cock twitched. Damn.
He tilted his head toward Oli, eyes gleaming. “Oliver, come here.”
“Hmm?” Oli finally tore his attention away from Mr. Fucking Wiggles—and yes, I would be calling him that for good—to look toward us. He stood, tongue swiping over his bottom lip.
“Come.” Ren wrapped his arm around my waist, palm pressed firmly against my hip as he guided me toward his room, and I let him. He snagged Oli’s hand. Whatever was about to happen, I was ready and soverywilling.
15
OLI
Ren practically dragged me into his room, his hand a vice on mine. I tried to shake him off, but he wouldn’t let go. He held on tight enough that a vein popped out on the back of his hand. I was fuming all over again by the time I finally tugged free. Who the hell did he think he was?
“You are the worst of the worst,” I snarled and kicked his ankle, but that backfired because it only hurt my toes.
Ren whirled to face me, the gleam in his eyes promising endless frustration. He took off his cap and tossed it into the hallway behind me. “If you hate being here so much, maybe you should run away. Poor scared little kitten, racing for the gutter where he belongs.” His mocking pout made me flinch.
