Logan opened the large refrigerator door and disappeared from sight. "Want a coke?"
Awkward, all right. "No thanks, I have water." Ben took a bite, slowly chewed, and savored the taste.
Logan reappeared and closed the fridge with his hip, holding a soda can in one hand and a slice of leftover pizza in the other. He ambled over and dropped in the other chair.
"How's Amber?"
A smile softened Logan's face. The guy was a complete goner over the girl. She is going to break his heart.
“I tucked her in bed. She's dead asleep. We wore her out.” As Logan took a pull of his soda, Ben drank water to wash down his sticky snack. Sirens from a passing police car broke the silence and faded as the car sped on. Typical city sounds and so different from the peace and quiet of his hometown. After polishing off his pizza slice and washing it down with more soda, Logan broke the silence. “She seemed to enjoy having us both?”
Ben grunted.
“I found it a total turn-on, to see you with her. To have her coming undone under us both. How about you?”
“Yeah. Well.” Ben stared at the ugly green refrigerator as if the appliance held some kind of wisdom for him. He crossed and uncrossed his legs and shifted in his chair. He gave Logan a sidelong glance and fixed his gaze on the mint monstrosity again. He wished he could withdraw from the conversation, but Logan and he needed to talk.
Ack. A slight shiver ran from the back of his neck to his tailbone and his scalp prickled. Man up, Quinn. Trying to slow his breathing, Ben rolled his shoulders. He opened his mouth. Closed it. Talking about anything out loud was hard, this... close to impossible. “Threesomes aren't really my thing.”
Logan slumped in his chair. “I figured you were going to say that.” His hand flexed around the soda can, creating a crumpling sound. “I know she didn't fake a thing this time, but I'm not sure I can keep her happy on my own.”
Ben swallowed as an uncomfortable lump formed in his throat. “I… I guess.” He manned up and met Logan's eyes. “You're right. She needs pain, which you're not willing to give.” He tossed back the rest of his water.
“So it seems, but there's more. You... mastered her—took total control. I'm not an alpha like you." Logan's can dented under loud protest. "Hell, I'm not even a beta." Logan rose and hurled the can in the bin with more force than necessary. With Logan's back turned to him, Ben could tell by the heaving of Logan's shoulders he was having a hard time controlling himself. Ben turned his attention to the peanut butter jar and stayed frozen in place.
Logan landed a hand on his shoulder, squeezed affectionately, and walked out. Ben watched his friend's retreating back. Ben hoped Logan would be okay. Apparently, the night had given his roommate a few insights.
Ben twirled the jar in his hands. This night had taught him some invaluable lessons, too.
One. He wasn't into one-night stands but dominating and hurting a woman was a total turn-on.
Two. He couldn't stand Amber, who was self-absorbed and callous like his mother.
Three. He was way too possessive to enjoy threesomes.
Chapter 4
The Revelation
May 11, the Ohio State University College of Medicine Library
On Monday afternoon, Ben tried to study but to no avail. He even moved to the library, his home too much of a reminder of what transpired between Logan, Amber, and himself last weekend.
Moving his head from side to side, Ben tried to alleviate the stiffness in his neck and jaw. He returned his attention to the books in front of him, the words making less and less sense the longer he stared.
Ben shook his head and tried to clear his mind.
A hand landed on his shoulder and only growing up with two brothers and a mischievous younger sister prevented Ben from hitting the roof—too many practical jokes in his youth to be startled easily. However, his heart rate had accelerated into the red zone, and his expression was probably murderous when he turned his head to check out the owner of the offending hand.
Logan let go of Ben's shoulder and held his hands up in mock surrender. "Sorry, didn't mean to freak you out."
Sure.
Ben would have reamed his ass, but for one they were in the library, for another he noticed a cute blonde half-hidden behind Logan. She stepped around Ben's roommate. “Hi, I'm Kendra.”
He inclined his head. “Kendra.”
Around them, students were making irritated hushing sounds, and Logan suggested, "Let's step outside for a moment."
