AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“No, you haven’t.” Cassie ran her fingers through his hair, her touch soothing the broken pieces within him. “But you need to let go of this obsession you have with fulfilling a promise you made before we even really knew each other. I’m poly and I’ll always be poly. Being in a monogamous relationship doesn’t change that, just like you’re pan and will always be pan despite being in a hetero relationship.” Cassie hooked her finger under his chin and lifted his face to hers. “If we find someone tomorrow, or in ten years and we fall in love with them, then great. But let’s not push ourselves to do something we might regret just to prove a label we already know is true.”
“You don’t want to join?”
“No. I don’t want to ruin what we have.” She cupped his face and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear. “Do you?”
Jake shook his head. “Not really. I want to want to, if that makes sense, and I love being able to give you what you need or want. So, if this is it, I’ll be here in a heartbeat. But can I see myself down on the pool deck? Or in any of those role playrooms coming onto someone to get my dick sucked? Or get someone else off? No, I don’t think so. Not when I haven’t even thought of another person apart from you and Phoenix like that in years.”
“Oh, Jake.” Cassie pressed her lips to his in a sweet kiss. It was comfort and love, and he sank into her embrace.
“Why am I broken, Cass? Why couldn’t I move on when he could do it so easily?”
She shook her head. “If you’re broken, then so am I. I’ve never wanted anyone else since the two of you either.”
“Let’s get out of here.” Cassie nodded, and Jake stood, holding his hand out to her. They left the room hand in hand, the weight on Jake’s chest lighter. He knew they were making the right decision.
“We’ll go tell Adelaide our decision before we go. Maybe we can grab a drink at the bar too.”
“Sounds good.”
Cassidy squeezed his hand, and they stepped into the lift together. When it opened on the ground floor, the hum of conversation greeted them. There were a lot more people mingling now, drinking and flirting. Even though everyone was there with one aim, no one seemed to be in a rush to get up or downstairs. They seemed content to enjoy the buzz in the room.
Once again, they spotted Adelaide quickly. Dressed in dark clothes, her pink hair made her stand out, despite sitting alone at a table in the corner. Moving over to join her, Jake asked, “Can I get you a drink?”
“A Sprite would be great, thank you.”
“Usual, babe?” Cassie nodded and smiled as she slid onto the chair opposite their host.
Jake walked to the bar and scanned the shelves for the gin Cassie was partial to. His eyes landed on a shock of coal-coloured hair, and Jake raked his gaze down the man’s body. He wore the same uniform as the other staff, his clothes fitting him like a glove. The brocade vest highlighted his broad shoulders and tapered to a slim waist, framing a perfect arse, hugged by a set of dress pants that were tailored to perfection. Jake swallowed, adjusting himself as he closed the distance between the high-topped tables and the bar. Damn, the closer he got, the finer the man was.
His hair was short but looked like it was growing out from a closely cropped cut. The strip of skin between his hair and shirt was bronze, and as he shifted, reaching up to take down a bottle of Jack, Jake got a glimpse of stubbled cheeks.
The man turned.
Jake’s steps stuttered to a stop.
He opened his mouth to speak. Nothing came.
Rushing sounded in his ears.
He sucked in a breath, suddenly lightheaded.
On wobbly knees, he stumbled forward, reaching for the bar.
Their eyes met. Recognition, then shock flittered across the familiar face.
Jake watched in slow motion as the bottle of Absolut slipped out of his hand. It fell, the corner hitting the floor first.
It shattered, the sound ringing out.
“Phoenix, what the hell?” a man boomed. There was anger in his tone and Phoenix flinched.
A form moved into Jake’s peripheral vision, but he couldn’t look away from Phoenix. The man he’d dreamed of endlessly stuttered, “Ah. Um.”
“It’s you,” Jake breathed, finally finding his words, before the man who’d spoken before cursed again. Without a word, Phoenix turned and strode away.
Jake blinked. A different man stood across from him. This one wore a scowl, his receding auburn hair so different from Phoenix’s. He was older too—mid-fifties at a guess. Had Jake just imagined the whole exchange? Was Phoenix really there? “What’ll you have?”
“The bottle.” Jake motioned to the floor and handed over his card.
