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I glanced toward the doorway to the room where Chloe’s older brother had disappeared. “Oh,” I said, as it finally sank in. Then, I turned back to Trick. “But I can’t just sleep with her before Iknow.”
He only snorted. “How do you think any of these motherfuckers sitting around you right now were suretheyhad fallen?” Trick motioned around the room before he stopped, his finger aimed at JB. “Look at your own brother, for God’s sake. Do you think J was flat, forever in love with Teagan—ourTeagan—until he’d gotten a little forbidden taste first? Or that Parker was forever committed to Bella beforehand?”
I glanced at both men, only to see them duck their faces slightly in shame and discreetly clear their throats. Then I turned back to Trick. “But Beau was in love with Bentley before—”
“Beau’s a freak of nature,” Trick cut in. “Don’t look at Beau as an example foranything. And besides, I bet you a whole trunkful of money that he fell for her as hard as he did because hewantedto have sex with her more than he wanted his next breath.”
I glanced toward Beau. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to deny that, but then he shut his mouth, letting his silence be admission enough as he shrugged bashfully.
“Jesus,” I breathed, glancing around me. “You’re all just a bunch of horny jackasses.” Then I shook my head. “But I can’t do that to Chloe. What if it doesn’t work? It’d be a fucked-up mess beyond epic proportions. It wouldhurther. I refuse to do anything that could potentially hurt her. I’m trying to fall in love here and give her something she actually needs.Nothurt her.”
“But you’re a man,” Trick answered almost sympathetically. “You’re Luke. You need sex to get to where you want to be with her. You need to gothroughthe doorway.”
The others glanced away almost guiltily because they agreed with Trick.
“Are you serious?” I growled. “You pricks think he’s right?” When they said nothing, I shoved back my chair and stood, glaring at them. “You suck. Every single one of you sucks. Do you hear me? This isChloe! I’m not going to use her like that.”
JB looked up at me finally. “It’s not using her. Sex isn't just a good time; it’salsothe ultimate, physical expression of love, and it’s vital for the kind of relationship you want with her.”
“Moreover,” Trick added. “It’s vital for whatChloewants withyou.”
“Just try it…” Gracen encouraged, wincing even as he said it. “And you’ll see what we mean.”
“You haven’t tried it with someone you’ve had an emotional connection with before,” Parker added. “Trust me. It’s different.”
“You do think youcanbe with Chloe, don’t you?” JB asked, honestly looking a little worried.
“Yes!” I spat, sending him a glare. “Of course, Ican. She’s gorgeous and…” I flushed, not wanting to admit to these nosy motherfuckers how easily she could arouse me. “That’s…not the problem,” I finished moodily. “I just…I thought that—you know—thatpart of it would be more like getting dessert after I was a good boy and finished my supper and finally knew for certain I was in love. But you all are acting like it should be the main course.”
“Well…shouldn’t it?” Trick asked.
I lifted my brows because Ididlike the sound of sex being up there and important in a relationship.
I glanced at my guys. Then pointed a finger at them threateningly. “If this backfires, I’m blaming all you assholes. You got me?” Then I gripped my head as I realized, “Oh God. I’m going to seduce Chloe. Someone get me a damn drink.”
Trick scowled. “Hey! Why do you need to bedrunkto seduce her?”
“That’s not why!” I glared at him for such a stupid thought. Then I sniffed. “I need to get drunk so I can forget the fact that you told me to bang your sister.”
“I didn’t say that!” Trick yelled, starting to look freaked. “I would never say that.”
The others laughed, someone put a drink in my hand, and the night continued, mostly with Trick denying that he ever suggested that I do anythinguntowardwith Chloe while the rest of us got plowed together, making fun of him even more.
25CHLOE
It was after two in the morning, and I couldn’t sleep. It wasn’t because I was scared, either.
Reaching across the bed toward the other side—his side—I grabbed his pillow and yanked it close, burying my nose in it until I caught a hint of his smell.
With a relieved sigh, I hugged the pillow to me tight, even as I told myself to stop because I was going to wipe his scent away, but I just couldn’t help myself.
I missed Luke.
He hadn’t lied about checking in on me. He called and texted daily.Multipletimes a day. But I hadn’tseenhim in three days, and it was killing me.
Ugh. How had I let this happen again? Iknewbetter. I was just going to end up with a broken heart and crushed dreams all over again.
Why hadn’t I learned a single damn thing since I was fourteen years old?
