BELLA
Miles breaks the news to me the next day. For the next two weeks, I’m going to have to work at least an extra hour every day. I agree. Just because I’m fucking my bosses doesn’t mean I’m going to let work slip. The job is the priority … I think.
As I watch the clock tick past five, I have to force myself to focus on emails instead of thinking about what I’m missing out on with Matthew.
It really is Matthew on my mind. Roman is wild and brings out a side of me I didn’t think I had, but Matthew accepts me as I am. He pushes me to be vulnerable, to share myself with him, to tell every secret and makes me feel a mix of peace and excitement that should be impossible.
Lately, it’s been Roman, Miles, Gunner, and Matthew. Holden got upset when I asked why he never took off his pants and Nick is so swamped with work, I don’t think he actually exists outside his office.
But I don’t really mind. Six is a lot. It’s hot, but a lot. Gunner is just as fun, but Miles is distracted. I can tell. He’s not nearly as enthusiastic. And he doesn’t share about his life. Ever. It’s a rule.
Matthew is a friend and a lover. He’s a whole lot and getting to be more important in my life every day. I rub the back of my neck and nearly face plant into the desk. Someone’s hand gets in the way.
“If you need some sense knocked into you, let me do that in a fun way,” Gunner says.
I smile up at him. “I thought you forgot all about me.”
“Impossible.” He picks me up and sets me on his lap. “I know you’re working, but I wanted to check on you. You hungry?”
“For what?” I steal his drink and take a burning gulp that wakes me up.
“I love how you hold your liquor.” He squeezes me and I feel a familiar hardness press against my ass.
“That’s what you like about me, huh?”
“Oh, I like plenty. Don’t you think otherwise.”
“You’d never let that happen.” I tug on his tie, wrapping my hand up in it until I kiss him hard and hungry. I pour every bit of lust rolling around in my head into his mouth. When I draw back we’re both panting. “But if I don’t get this done, I don’t go home.”
“Understood. I’ll leave you to it.” He stands and rubs down my back. “I’m still thinking of you.”
“It better be in a good way!”
“It’s in the best way,” He assures me.
Gunner walks out whistling. I make myself focus on the emails and get as much work done as I possibly can before I wrap up for the day. My eyes are a little blurry and I can definitely feel the exhaustion, but I put on a professional smile as I go to check in with Miles.
He’s on the phone. He sees me, looks at the time, and gives me a thumbs up to leave. I blow him a kiss and he winks at me, but then I head out. I appreciate that he can put business first.
Of course, I run into Matthew as I leave. He holds the door open for me, making me rush a little, and then walks me to my car.
“I can’t believe the long hours you guys pull every day.” I sigh.
“Less than when we were in the military. It’s a low standard, I know.” He teases.
“And it’s going to keep being this hectic with the expansion going on.” I nod to myself. “Well, I know I’ll be needed.”
“Would you still like me to come over tonight?”
I almost trip as he asks me. I assumed he’d say that because we both had to work over time, he wasn’t in the mood. Not to mention he had me yesterday … but we also had that almost too romantic conversation yesterday too.
“Yes. I would.” I sway towards him. “I really like spending time with you, so of course, I want you with me.”
He beams. I’m half convinced his smile could light up the world. He promises to come over shortly, he has to pick a few things up and I drive home trying to kill my smile.
As much as I feel like it’s wrong, it’s pretty obvious that I have a favorite. Matthew just gets me. We’re compatible and we talk more than the others and I do. I feel like he sees me as a real person, and appreciates me in totality.
Even if I’m on the moodier side of things, he’ll let me vent and then give his thoughts. Which I have snapped at him for, but after I snapped at him, we had a conversation about it – how he wants to help me fix problems because he knows I can.