“Let’s go. We’re leaving.” He grunts before storming away.
“Wait,” I call, chasing after him. Turning back to Silla, I send her a helpless glance. “I’ll see you later, okay?”
“Go, go, go,” she replies. “But wait!” She grabs my arm and slides a card into my hand. “In case you want to bring them back here,” she says, nodding her head toward the room we just walked out of.
“Thanks,” I mutter, looking down at the matte black card in my hand.
Isabel is watching us, a notch of concern in her brow. Putting a hand on her back, I lead her toward where Hunter just disappeared. He’s already halfway out the door when we catch up to him.
“Will you slow down?” I snap, grabbing his arm.
“Deal’s off.” He grunts, pulling away.
“What?” Isabel and I reply in unison.
“Drake, you can’t be playing the field while we do this. It’s not fair to her.”
“I didn’t—"
“We both saw the way you were flirting with her. It was obvious.”
“I flirt with everyone, Hunter,” I argue. Why do I suddenly feel like I’m arguing with a jealous boyfriend instead of my best friend? “I didn’t sleep with anyone. I’m not that much of a whore.”
“I didn’t say you were a—" He’s struggling with his words now, clearly worked up, and I feel the card in my hand, squeezed so tightly, it’s left marks in my palm.
Forcing myself to swallow, I remember how perfect that room was. It had a chair in the corner and it was classy, not some sleazy hotel bed. And I’m really committed to this crazy idea, so here we go. No better time than the present.
I hold the card out to him. “She gave us a room. I haven’t done anything in it except talk to her. You can trust me. So…do we want to use it or not?”
Hunter’s eyes focus on the card I’m holding between us. Then, I glance sideways at Isabel, who’s standing silently next to her husband. She’s staring at the card too, like it’s going to explode or something.
It’s her who speaks first. “I’m ready.”
My heart beats a little faster. “I’m ready too.”
Then, she and I both stare at Hunter as we wait. And I watch as his jaw relaxes, his shoulders fall away from his ears, and the wrinkle between his eyebrows dissipates. Finally, he looks me in the eye as he responds, “I’m ready.”
* * *
There’s stilltension between us as I open the door to the room Silla and I were just in. Isabel walks in, tentatively glancing around and taking in the decor of the place, as if she’s trying to decide whether or not this is the kind of place she wants to have sex with just the second man in her entire life.
“It’s nice,” she whispers, looking around, and honestly, this is all a little too uncomfortable for me. Awkward sexual encounters really aren’t my style. If I were with a normal girl, I would just make things physical quickly to snuff out any of those pre-sex jitters. But that’s not exactly an option for us right now.
Hunter wants to watch, and in a way, I know he wants to sort of orchestrate it too. Or at least that’s what I gathered from last night. If we’re going to do this, it has to be on his terms. And to some degree Isabel’s. And then to a lesser degree, mine.
I’mstillshirtless from when Silla dragged me in here, so I toss my shirt on the dresser as I face Hunter. “What should we do now?”
He doesn’t answer as he continues to explore the room, opening drawers and cabinets to inspect what they have to offer. I notice the usual, condoms and lube and some basic toys like cuffs and pillows.
Then, he pulls open a cabinet and I’m surprised to see what looks like a stereo receiver. Even Hunter shares my expression of surprise. Then I realize that’s why it’s so awkward in here. We can’t hear the music from the main room, so it’s basically silent.
Hunter tries a couple knobs and buttons, and a moment later, music begins to play through the ceiling’s speakers. It takes me a few minutes to place the song, but when the singer chimes in, I immediately recognize it as “Stand by Me.” It’s a classic, romantic and sultry, and I glance at Isabel, who’s hovering nervously by the bed.
Hunter loosens his tie and then rolls up the sleeves of his shirt. Chin lifted, he watches me through his thick lashes as he says his next words as a command.
“Dance with my wife.”
Arousal goes off like an explosion inside me as I glance in Isabel’s direction. Without a word, I hold out a hand toward her.