Love Lessons (Brotherly Love Book 3) Read online

  Eli sighed. “Gray still hasn’t spoken to me. I know it’s only been a couple of days, but he won’t even look at me. He doesn’t react if I try to talk to him, and it’s just like I’m not there anymore. Like I don’t exist.”

  I shook my head before I walked to my window and feigned disinterest as I looked out. “I can’t say you deserve any more than that, though.”

  “But I want things back to the way they were.”

  I shrugged. Eli sounded like a petulant child. “Apparently Gray doesn’t want the same. This isn’t about you, Eli.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Roman.” Eli exploded in a burst of temper I hadn’t expected, and I spun to look at him.

  Security was down the hall, and they could be here within seconds.

  “I’m asking for your help.” His voice quieted. “I can’t lose Grady. I have to make things right with him.”

  “But why should I help you do that? It’s something you need to own and fix yourself. You have to mean it, Eli. Nothing I said to Grady as an apology from you would come from your heart. It would come from mine.” I still hadn’t heard him say anything that convinced me he deserved to reset everything. “And it’s perfectly clear you don’t value Grady’s friendship and certainly don’t value him as a person. You seem to have no respect for him at all.”

  “That’s not true,” he burst out. “Not true at all, and you have no right to say it.”

  I shrugged. His temper didn’t really bother me. I made my living by keeping a cool head. And if it came to it, and I needed to, I had no doubt I actually could beat the shit out of Eli.

  “I have every right to say it when all I’ve seen you do is torture Gray by flaunting your engagement to Benji in his face. You broke the news to him at his birthday celebration and then you asked him to be your best man. That would be forgivable if you didn’t know exactly how he felt about you at the time. But even you might hesitate to tell a lie that big, right, Eli? You’ve enjoyed making Gray miserable. What was it? Some sort of power trip for you?” I kept my voice measured, even though the memory of Eli’s behavior sent a hot burst of temper spiraling through me.

  “No. No. It’s not like that at all.” Eli waved his arms. “I don’t love Benji. The engagement is a sham.”

  I rocked back on my heels and hoped he hadn’t seen. “What?”

  “Benji’s father is a businessman in an area of business my father wants to move into.” He sneered at me. “You know how you CEOs are—always looking for the next deal, the next acquisition, the next power grab? Well, that’s what this marriage is. My dear old daddy’s next power play. He talked to Benji’s dad, and the next thing I know I’m being fitted for a suit.”

  “Okay.” I held my hands up. “But what the fuck does that have to do with me or Grady?” I almost couldn’t believe what I was hearing. And his little turn around certainly seemed convenient.

  “Because I’m trying to get you to see why I snapped at Gray.” Eli stuck his chin out. “I’m under a lot of pressure. I should have known you wouldn’t get it. My dad pushes me and pushes me to get a better job so I can prove I can provide for Benji.” He almost spat his fiancé’s name. “Benji doesn’t have a clue. He hasn’t needed to work a day in his life.”

  When he finished talking, his hair was a mess because he’d been scrubbing his hand through it, and his eyes had taken on a wide, bewildered look. I almost felt bad for him. He was just a guy way out of his depth.

  “Couldn’t you just have said no?” I dropped back into my seat and gestured vaguely at the chair across my desk in an invitation to sit. I wasn’t about to start offering the guy drinks, but he could sit down.

  He blushed, his cheeks burning a deep shade of red, and he looked at a fixed spot on my desk somewhere between us. “We’re in line to get a pretty big wedding gift if we stick it out for three years,” he admitted. He still didn’t look at me.

  Sweet Jesus. I sighed and let my head drop back. I wasn’t surprised. Not at all. It came as precisely no surprise that Eli Miller, a guy I’d known since prep school, was essentially willing to put himself up for sale for monetary gain.

  “I mean, I’m doing what I can. You believe me, right?” He shot a pleading glance my way. “It’s just that Benji and his father have expectations, but teachers don’t make a lot of money, and I’ve never been spoon-fed by my father.” He shot me a pointed look, his eyes narrow, and I barked out a laugh in response.

  “For fuck’s sake, Eli. Is that seriously how you think I grew up? With my Dad paving my way for me and providing everything I needed at all times?”

  He shrugged. “You never wanted for anything at school. And if you did, it always arrived overnight priority delivery.” He pushed his hair back from his face as some of his familiar confidence and swagger returned.

  I knew contrite, verging on humble Eli had been too good to last.

  “And you had to know everyone at Elsdon wanted to be your friend because you were loaded. We could all see the dollar signs in your eyes.” He finished on almost a sneer, and I wondered at what point I’d finally have had enough and throw him out.

  Probably not until I’d handed him his ass. I stood, making it clear I was pretty much done, then I ticked off my points on my fingers as I spoke. “One, you won’t ever get me to apologize for having a father who showed his love for me through his wealth. Two, I’ve thought about it, and I’m not helping you out with your issues with Gray. You’ve fucked this one up all on your own, and you can stay on your own in the shit, my friend.” I added the last two words with a smile. Probably would have clapped him on the shoulder, too, if I could bear to touch him.

  Eli stood as well, and he puffed up his chest like he thought an animalistic display of aggression would mean something while he was standing in my office in the business with my name and that I was CEO for. He was truly something else. I smiled. Some of us were a little bit special, though.

  “I don’t know what Gray sees in you.” He shot that at me like it was the worst insult he could think of.

  “I’m glad.” I didn’t intend this dickwad to have the last word. “Because I can tell you have a really shitty judge of character.”

  In the end, I showed Eli out myself. I didn’t need security to exercise any muscle that I could show for myself. And I needed to show Eli that I was in charge.

  Then I put his little visit out of my head. I had a date with Grady to focus on. A real one this time, and after so much time longing for this chance—my chance—I wasn’t about to screw it up.

  I’d offered him his choice of where he wanted to go, and he opted for my place. So I clocked off work early, practically slid down the stair rail all the way down to the ground floor, and pretty much skipped to my car.

  I drummed my fingers on the steering wheel, anxiety getting the better of me as I thought about seeing Gray again. I wanted to do everything I could to make him happy.

  When I arrived at home, I almost didn’t know what to do first. I had food to prepare—well, where preparation involved reheating the store-bought food items I’d remembered were Grady’s favorites at prep school. I hoped my plan for dinner didn’t go wrong. It had seemed cute when I thought of it. I also wanted to throw myself into the shower and get changed.

  I set the table and laid out the plates, the cutlery, fake rose petals over the tablecloth and candles for the middle. Then I headed to the bathroom, stepped into the shower, and soaped myself up.

  The combination of thoughts of Gray and my hand gliding over my body caught the attention of my dick. It pulsed a little and swelled until it jutted out from my body. And I wanted to touch it so bad. I wanted to stroke it until I came all over the wall while I thought of Grady and his beautiful cock. But I didn’t. I wanted to…save myself sounded weird, but it was accurate. I wanted to save myself to actually be with Grady.

  He had a beautiful mouth, too, and I wanted to kiss it again. And again. And some more after that. I stretched then soaped again, paying particular att
ention to the inside of my thigh. Close to my needy cock but not so close I wasn’t still saving myself and okay, so my wrist accidentally nudged it a couple of times, which sent a burst of adrenaline through me, but those light teases didn’t really count.

  I switched the water all the way to cold and shouted my frustration as it rained down on me in tiny, painful needles. But it settled my body enough that I could step out and walk around my house without my cock pointing the direction with every step.

  When Gray knocked on the door, I was dry, dressed, and stood at my stove stirring the mac ‘n’ cheese. But when I invited him in, my first thought was to hell with the mac ‘n’ cheese. I would have let it burn into a congealed mess in the bottom of a ruined pan. I wanted to just skip dinner and devour him. Nice and slowly.

  “Hey.” Gray stepped inside, and I drew him close for a kiss. He laughed against my mouth. “Dessert first?”

  I drew away. “I’ve made way too much effort on dinner to skip to dessert.” But my cock stirred in my pants, making its appetite known.

  I took Gray’s hand and walked him to my dining room. “Ta-da!” I swept my arm wide in the direction of my table.

  “Beautiful.” And he laughed as he took in the rose petals and the candles, and the plate piled with Twinkies. “Are we literally just having dessert, though?”

  I groaned. “Only you, Grady Caldwell, would look at a plate of Twinkies and think dessert.”

  He winked. “You know it.”

  I laughed. I did know it. And I also knew his student fondness for mac ‘n’ cheese dinner, ramen noodles, chocolate pudding, and wafers and custard. I had all of them ready to serve to him.

  I just hoped he understood why the food mattered. Aside from the fact I’d had about forty-five minutes to get everything ready after work. My anxiety returned. I’d thought the college food was cute, but maybe Grady would hate it.

  I bit my lip as I watched him. “Take a seat. I’ll bring the rest out to you.”

  He sat obediently and looked at me with expectation. “I can’t wait.”

  When I brought out the bowl of steaming orange pasta, he laughed.

  “Just like Mama used to make,” he teased and kissed his fingers in a chef’s kiss of perfection. “I can’t believe you remembered.”

  I smiled as relief flowed through me. “Of course I did.” I’d loved him even then. “Did you have a good day?”

  He grinned slowly. “I sure did. I signed my contract with the university.”

  “That’s great.” I reached for his hand. “I’m so proud of you. You saw what you wanted, you went for it, and you took it.” I looked him directly in the eye. “You’re amazing with everything you’ve achieved. And so brave.”

  Suddenly, I wanted to be that brave. I got out of my seat and went around the table to him then drew him to standing. I kissed his lips, almost nervous. But it was time for me to be really brave, step out of my comfort zone, and take what I wanted.

  “Gray?”

  He looked at me.

  “I want you naked in my bed.”

  15

  Grady

  Somehow, we made it to Rome’s bedroom, even though he barely removed his lips from mine as we bumped from inconvenient wall to ill-placed end table and nearly every doorframe on the way.

  I took uncoordinated panting breaths as his tongue slid into my mouth and his hands untucked my T-shirt.

  “Are you okay?”

  I loved the gold flecks in his hazel eyes, and they always seemed more prominent when he was concerned about me.

  My chest rose and fell with a mixture of desire and anxiety. “This is going to change everything.” I avoided looking at the bed.

  It seemed so big and comfortable… and exciting. I stifled a shiver of need.

  He cupped my face, his hands gentle. “Gray, everything changed the second I found out what you look like when you come.”

  My legs weakened at the memory of my cock in his hands and the seductive tone of his voice. I wanted this man. Rome had always fascinated me. He was a very attractive guy, and his confidence and his capability genuinely oozed into something I found really sexy.

  I traced my fingers down his chest and decided not to hold back anymore. “I want you, Rome. I want you inside me.” I hesitated and bit my lip, but there seemed no point in hiding anything anymore. “I think I’ve always found you attractive. But I never followed that because you wouldn’t have looked twice at me.”

  He froze, his eyes widening—caught somewhere between disbelief and regret. “Why would you possibly think I wouldn’t be interested in you?” His voice took on an almost breathy quality.

  “Because you were so cool in school. Everyone either wanted to be you or fuck you when we graduated. You could have had anybody.”

  He shook his head slowly but didn’t say anything.

  “I wouldn’t have had a chance.” I chuckled but Rome’s mouth on mine cut me off, silencing me.

  His soft lips slid easily into position, caressing mine, and his tongue touched mine in a tender, passionate kiss. He nibbled my lip before soothing it with his tongue and I gasped into his mouth, drawing my breath directly from him.

  His kisses turned more heated, drawing a moan from me, and he finished by pressing a frenzy to my cheeks, my forehead, my neck, everywhere, and I laughed.

  “You were wrong,” he murmured, his voice urgent. “You had the biggest chance. Almost the only one. It’s still you, Gray, and I’m going to show you just how wrong you were. Let me show you how much I’ve wanted you. For years.”

  He dropped his head to my neck and sucked the skin there. My cock hardened instantly, almost painful in its arousal. I couldn’t control my breathing and I sucked in a breath, panting it back out. Pushing my fingers through his hair, I sighed my satisfaction.

  This felt completely right.

  “I’m going to make you come,” I whispered, and Rome stilled, every muscle frozen.

  Then he turned to me, eyes full of need.

  I reached between us and brushed my hand over the bulge in his pants. “Hello,” I whispered.

  He closed his eyes, and I wrapped my fingers around him, squeezing gently.

  “There are too many clothes in the way.” I unfastened his pants, worked my hand into his underwear and touched the soft skin of his dick.

  The moment my fingers grazed across him, he groaned, and his hips bucked toward me.

  “Steady.” I grinned. “We have the rest of the night.” I sank to my knees and ran my tongue up the underside of his cock.

  He steadied himself with his hands in my hair, and power spread through me. This confident, successful man was completely at my mercy. I smiled and opened my mouth, taking the head past my lips.

  Rome’s hands tightened in my hair, sending prickles across my scalp as I took his cock as deep as I could, swirling my tongue over him. I bobbed my head slowly, easing him in and out, feeling him slide past my lips. As his breathing rate increased, so did my movements.

  “Grady,” he groaned. “Grady…you have to stop. You’re making me want to come right away.”

  I met his gaze, and my lips stretched into an awkward smile. “Mmm,” I hummed over him. This level of control thrilled me, and I lapped my tongue over him again.

  He jumped back. “No more… No more. I won’t last.”

  I listed an eyebrow. “Really.”

  “It’s just, I’ve waited so long.” His tone turned confessional.

  I stood and pressed myself against him. “I don’t want to waste that lovely hard-on in my mouth, anyway. There are other places I want you to be.”

  He made a strangled sound and his mouth crushed mine again, his tongue exploring the inside of my mouth.

  I fingered the hem of my T-shirt. “I feel a little overdressed,” I gasped when we parted, both breathing heavily.

  He nodded, and dragged his shirt over his head, losing a button or two on the way. Then he pushed his pants down and off, undressing himself u
ntil he stood completely naked in front of me.

  I feasted my eyes on muscles I hadn’t imagined, and my mouth almost watered at the abs I wanted to trace with my tongue.

  His eyes blazed. “Now you really are overdressed,” he murmured as he stalked toward me, and the tables had suddenly turned.

  “Is this a power grab?” I teased him.

  “Absolutely.”

  “A confidant man is very sexy,” I told him as I backed away, prolonging the game.

  “Behave yourself, Grady.” His eyes never left mine.

  “Or what?” I taunted.

  “Or the next time you visit my office at nighttime, I might need to introduce you to my board table.”

  I shivered at the thought, and my cock pulsed. I reached for it and cupped it.

  “Mine,” Rome growled as he watched me stroke myself over my pants.

  “If you want it, come and get it.” I pushed my pants off, and my cock bobbed toward him, almost asking directly for his touch.

  I took my T-shirt off and we stood naked before each other. Rome stopped stalking me and opened his arms. I stepped into them and pressed close against the heat of his skin. As he kissed me, his hands rested on my ass, and his cock ground against mine. He parted my ass cheeks and the tip of his finger probed my hole. I widened my stance, welcoming him.

  He lifted his head. “Get on the bed.”

  I did as he asked, and he opened the drawer of his side table and took out a small bottle of lube. He lubed his fingers and leaned over me, licking straight into my mouth. I met him with my own tongue, and he sank against me as his mouth possessed mine and his finger returned to my hole, probing and stretching.

  Working my hand between us, I grasped our cocks and began a smooth stroke, pressing them together in my hand. I reached for the lube, discarded on the bedsheet next to me, and pumped some into my hand before returning my attention to our cocks.

  He lifted his head, breaking our feverish kiss. “Are you ready?” He licked my tongue again.