I scooted back on the bed to lean against the headboard, and all three guys joined me, sitting on the opposite bed.
“Looks like the party moved from number twelve to number eleven,” Austin said. “So anyway, what’s on your mind? Are you trying to sort through something?”
I shrugged and smiled. “You know. Just thinking about life. Something we all do from time to time.”
I was not quite willing to share that I’d spent a good fifteen minutes masturbating in the shower.
“Are you sure?” he asked, reaching for my bare ankle.
Fuck if his hands weren’t toasty and warm.
“I am good. Honestly. You gave me the biggest orgasm I’ve had in like, well, a long time.”
I wasn’t going to tell them what my version of ‘a long time’ was. I didn’t want them to think I was a total loser, traveling unprepared into a blizzard, getting locked out of my motel room, all while going through the worst dry spell of my life.
“A woman as beautiful as you? That’s the best any guy has given you?” Austin looked at his friends, who seemed equally surprised.
Fuck that. I didn’t want anybody feeling sorry for me.
“Well, your fingers are exceptionally magical,” I said. “But the truth is, I’ve mostly followed the rules my entire life. You know, straight A’s, neighborhood babysitter, volunteer at senior center. The list goes on.’”
“Wow. We’ve got a bona fide Girl Scout on our hands!” Randy said.
“I didn’t even really let my hair down in college, either. Never got drunk with my dorm mates, never did a keg stand, never streaked across a quad.”
“All things that are massively overrated,” Austin said. “Although Tyler, weren’t you pretty good at keg stands back in the day?”
“I did okay,” he admitted, “but that’s probably why I came to you when it was time to look for investors in my winery. You were the one with your head down making money while I was acting like a fool.”
Austin’s hand slipped from my ankle up my calf a bit. I tried to ignore him but it was hard. And getting harder.
“I guess I just don’t take a lot of chances, aside from driving into a freaking storm, completely unprepared.”
They laughed at that one.
“I guess what I’m saying,” I said, hoping they wouldn’t get completely sick of my babbling, “is that I’d avoided taking chances until I found myself being kissed by a handsome stranger, whose friend later brought me to orgasm in front of his equally hot friends. And then, you know what I did? I left your room, got in the shower, and masturbated to a fantasy of the third guy.”
Randy perked up. “In the shower with me, huh?”
I nodded. “Yes. And I’m not ashamed of it, not one bit. It’s crazy but not shameful, especially the fact that sitting in this shitty motel as my sex drive kicks into overdrive is one of the oddest moments of my life.”
I was ranting, but I didn’t care. I needed to purge all of my thoughts, kind of like spring cleaning. When I finally finished my diatribe, my chest was heaving, my eyes wide, and I knew I was nearly yelling. If I were a pacer, I’d have already worn a little track in the crappy carpet of the room.
Instead, Austin looked at me with what appeared to be total respect and even a bit of admiration. “You know, Tyler was right. When I was in college, I put all my money into investing and learning because I knew I wanted to pay the cost up front so I could live better later on. So student wise, you and I were a lot the same, at least when it came to not doing stupid college shit. Admittedly, I got lucky, and my hard work paid off. But, Bee, I understand. Really, I do. It’s why I want to live my life as much as I can now. I’m thirty-two myself, and while I do keep it tight when it comes to my business, in the rest of my life I’ve vowed to not let a good opportunity pass me by again. It’s why when I saw you, half frozen and freaking out, I knew I wanted to get to know you.” He laughed while his hand tightened on my calf.
“I have an idea,” Randy said quietly, looking at me. “Bee… in this motel, right here tonight, you are safe. I swear on my life you are safe. Nothing you say, nothing you do, will hurt you or affect your life after we leave once the storm passes.”
The wind outside howled again, so loud it nearly threatened to drown out all sound in the room, as if the weather was protesting his words. The lights flickered, flashing on and off twice before steadying again, but Randy didn’t flinch. He just looked at me with those Captain America eyes, studying my face.
“Well, why not,” he said when the wind died down again, “choose tonight to break those rules you feel are holding you back. See if living your life without regrets, without playing it by the normal rules so much, might not be the freedom you’re looking for?”
“Looking for?”
“You don’t exactly sound like you’re happy with your life at the moment,” Austin said quietly. “Isn’t that right, Randy?”
“Definitely sounds like someone who needs to step outside the rules for a little bit,” he agreed. “Why not tonight, when there’s a safety net?”
“Step outside the rules?” I asked. “How?”
“That’s up to you,” Austin said, smiling, “but if you want my opinion, I’d love to see what you look like with those sweatpants off. You said you’d had thoughts about all of us. And I know I’m still having thoughts of you right this moment. I look at you, Bee, and I see a beautiful woman who currently has a vixen quality to her she doesn’t even recognize.”
I thought about it for a moment, realizing what was being offered. No constraints, no repercussions. Just… what might happen in these combined motel rooms tonight.
I looked at the three of them, and knew what I wanted. I knew what they wanted. Step outside myself and the rules, if just for one night. Why not?
I grinned, and nodded.
“In the other room though,” I said, pointing towards the connecting door. “Smells a little better over there.”
* * *