Common Areas, page 8
I could do this, again. I wanted to do this again.
All there was to do was to figure out the mechanics of pleasing them both at the same time. They were both so skilled in having me trembling at the edge. Patton pulled me away from Tyler, without pulling me off his cock, and tangle me up in another one of his sweet kisses. Tyler took the opportunity to take control then, thrusting up into me with enough force that the only thing that kept me from bouncing was Patton’s hold on me.
I didn’t stand a chance, the idea of being the model roommate was gone. There was no way I was going to come back from something like this.
14
I was wrapped up in a tangle of limbs, to the point I couldn’t figure out what arm belonged to who. But it was so comforting, even with the lack of space. I probably could have snoozed there for a while, given that I didn’t have any responsibilities outside of the house. For some reason, I still woke up like I was late for something.
I jerked a little and managed to sit up. Tyler’s arm tightened around me and Patton snorted before pressing into my back. Both didn’t seem to be interested in waking up or moving out of the cramped quarters of my bed.
Cramped, but comfortable.
Why did I wake up?
There was a vibrating noise, in a series of buzzes. My phone. I’d forgotten all about it.
I carefully found my way from between them and noticed my phone on the floor by the head of the bed. I picked it up and found a free spot to sit on. The number was unfamiliar, but it wasn’t the same as the one Jeff had last used to call me. It could be anyone.
I needed a job. I couldn't ignore every unfamiliar number that called me. That knowledge in mind was what led me to answer the phone.
“Hello?” I could hear my voice quiver.
“Ms. Farwell?” A peppy voice came through over the line, catching me off guard.
“This is she.” I didn’t bother to hide my surprise. I expected the worse when I answered.
“Hi there, I’m Brianne with Franklin and Wentworth,” she began pleasantly. “I’m calling in regard to your resume.”
I immediately straightened. “Hi there.” I ran my fingers through my hair, trying to tame it as if she could see me. It was a good thing she couldn’t, since I was in the nude with two men napping behind me in my bed. Maybe I was trying to not look or sound desperate.
“I have to say Mr. Franklin was very impressed with your cover letter,” she kept talking as if she hadn’t heard me speak. “And I was hoping we could set up an interview.”
“Well, that would be great.” I couldn’t help but beam. I hadn’t gotten a single call after all the emails and applications I’d sent out. I’d been considering applying to the fast-food joint down the street; I was that desperate.
“Right now the position in question is an administrative assistant,” she continued in a bubbly voice. “There are talks,” her voice went low as if she was being secretive, “about someone being made a partner in the coming weeks, so he’ll be needing a team. So, you would be working with someone that is stepping into a leadership position, and if you're interested, you would be aiding him as he adjusts to that.”
The way she spoke it was like I already had the job. My heartbeat picked up, and I went to my closet, looking at the little bit of clothing I had there. There wasn’t a lot of professional wear, but I could make this work. Once I had an income, I would be able to add to it.
“I’m flexible. If Mr. Franklin thinks I’m a fit for the job. I would love to meet him.”
“That’s great! How about I schedule you for a meeting let’s say…” she paused, and it was clear she was looking at something. I could hear the clacking of a keyboard. “Tuesday at nine? He’s got a meeting at ten, but I can make him have some room for an interview no problem.”
“Absolutely!” I grinned and turned back to the bed. I had the attention of both men, though they just gave me sleepy-eyed looks. “I’ll see you then.” I ended the call and at the askance look Patton gave me I sprang onto both of them, without a care as to where I landed. “I have a job interview!”
Life had decided to give me a break.
15
I’d been so excited by life kicking into gear and moving forward that I hadn’t considered the repercussions from what I’d done. I was too high on the easy-going path life had suddenly decided to take. I didn’t let myself get tripped up on the moment I had with two of the three men I live with. I was floating on the fact that opportunity had finally knocked.
The interview went so well. I got to meet the peppy Brianne, someone that looked to be just as she sounded. It was like as soon as she saw me walk into the office, something that was distinctly masculinely decorated in a lot of dark woods and earthy tones, that I was hired. Her bright blue eyes traveled my length, and she gave me a smile that I was sure had knocked the socks off of men her age; she was at least in her forties.
“You must be Ms. Farwell, just wait a moment and Allen will be right out to talk to you.”
It was like everything went fast forward from there. Allen Franklin was the current governing partner of the firm. He had to be in his mid-fifties but still managed to look attractive with his gray hair and well-groomed goatee. He sat behind a desk that made him appear to exude power. The questions he asked me were short and to the point, “I have a man that’s recently been promoted the partner. He’s not quite got his team set but Mrs. Andrews insists that you would be a good fit for his team. How do you feel about that?”
“I’m eager to work,” I admitted without thinking twice about it. “I don’t have any issues with starting from scratch. It sounds like the perfect opportunity to grow myself.” It sounded awkward to me, but what job interview didn’t come with fidgeting and stiff answers.
He nodded, his brows drawing together. “Can I ask about the big gap of unemployment?”
I took a breath, it was a question I should have been anticipating. Honestly, what interviewer wouldn’t ask an applicant that? I didn’t bother to hide my grimace, “I was in an abusive relationship. I didn’t realize it at the time. One of the things he demanded was I stay home. To make him happy, I quit my job.”
Mr. Franklin looked up from the folder in front of him, his brows up. “Oh?” He looked a little shaken, then nodded. “It’s a good thing that you got out. This…” he took a moment to write down something on a post-it before he passed it to me. “This is what I would be able to offer you. This is for your first ninety days on the job. After that, and an evaluation, we can talk about a larger salary.”
I blinked at him then looked at the paper in front of me. I nearly choked on my saliva. It was more than enough for me to get a place of my own. A small place, probably smaller than the bedroom I had now, but still I could be on my own. The chances of me finding something else with a starting salary this high was slim.
I didn’t feel bad in the least for accepting it and was told that I started on Monday. I figured that gave me more than enough time to figure out professional looks with what little wardrobe I had until I got that first precious paycheck.
When I got home, both Patton and Tyler were on the couch. They seemed engrossed in a game and didn’t notice me come in the house. Boys.
“I got a job!” I sang out, practically bubbling over with excitement. I was fully prepared to maul them both where they sat.
They both looked up at me before reacting. Patton dropped the remote and chucked his headset. He was up and had me in his arms in a minute. “That’s fantastic!” He gave me a little swing around before turning to the other man. “Good reason to celebrate. Maybe you’ll do more than Chinese?”
“Mr. Chen’s egg rolls are heavenly, you’re gonna apologize for that blasphemy when I call him to make our order.” He sniffed like he was truly offended as he pulled his phone out. “Or no eggrolls for you,” he grumbled as he started the call.
It was hard to not be amused by their banter, but I felt like the only course of action I could take was to walk away. I needed to get changed out of the slacks and blouse I was wearing before I took the chance in ruining them over dinner. I barely had time to redress before there was a knocking at my door. I didn’t get the chance to speak, the knocking was just a courtesy it seemed as Tyler opened the door and came right in.
“Oh no,” he sounded as if he was genuinely apologetic. “Don’t get dressed on my account. I just wanted to check to make sure Lo Mein and Sesame Chicken were okay with you?”
“Is that all you usually get?” I tugged my shirt down to see him eyeing me. “Nothing more adventurous?”
“I can be as adventurous as you want me to, Puddin’.” He grinned at me. “But when it comes to food, I am a creature of habit. I don’t play games with my gut.”
“Oh, so you don’t like to take risks?” I turned to lean against my closet door. There could be the assumption as to why he was here in my room, and I found myself eyeing him. The only real objection I could think of was that I didn’t know when Chase would be home.
“Don’t ask questions like that unless you’re ready to throw down.” His voice deepened an octave. “I doubt with Patton being home I’d get the opportunity for some one-on-one time with you, but I have no qualms against bending you over and showing you what kind of risks I like to take.”
I could only imagine what he had in mind, Tyler wasn’t shy. I felt my mouth go dry at the thought, it could be anything where he was concerned. “Chase will be getting home soon, I’m sure,” I deflected and tried my best to not feel as if he had put me on the spot. I couldn’t stop myself from fidgeting with the hem of my shirt. “I know… what happened was good, but I’m not willing to put a roof over my head at risk.”
Tyler stood still, his brows drawn together. Then he made a noise and closed the distance between us. He took a hold of my shoulders, “Don’t think he’d kick you.”
“You know what I came from, or you at least have an idea,” I objected. “I am not in a position of power. I just got a job, I can’t immediately start supporting myself outside of this opportunity I currently have.”
“I wouldn’t let him do that,” he snapped suddenly.
“We.” Patton caught both of our attention from the doorway. “We wouldn’t let that happen.” His arms were folded over his chest and he looked just as irritated as Tyler did. “All that said,” he released a breath, “Chase isn’t the type of guy.”
“He’s not.” Tyler let go of me, but he didn’t step away from me. He looked to the other man then back to me. “If you’re worried about it, come clean. Let him know that we coerced you--”
“No.” I glared at him then shot one at Patton, too. “I’m not going to tell him you coerced me. You gave me every opportunity to stop it. I didn’t. I wanted it. I’d like to have the choice as to who I have sex with and when it happens.” I huffed. “I’ve had enough of my body being a plaything for someone else without getting anything out of it. But I’m only willing to risk so much.”
“Baby," Tyler's lips pulled to one side as he grinned, “every time you’re with one of us, or both of us, you’re going to get something out of it.” He nodded his head towards the door, “If you’re asking for us to fuck you to the point you can’t move afterward, we’re good for it.” He knocked his hand against Patton’s chest. “You hear that? Gotta make sure you fuck her brains out the next opportunity you get.”
“We can tell Chase,” Patton offered like he was ignoring Tyler’s ribbing. “He told us not to do it, we should catch his grief. Not you. It's my fault it happened at all. Let us own up to it.”
I could only see how that would go. I shook my head and decided to put my foot down. “If you bring it up, it won’t happen again.” I looked from one man to the other, hoping that my face showed just how serious I was. “This is non-negotiable.”
They exchanged a look, then Tyler nodded and shoved past Patton to get out of the room. Patton, on the other hand, grimaced at me. “If that’s what you want.” Then he, too, walked out of my bedroom.
It left my stomach twisted up in a knot. Did that mean anything with either or both of them wasn’t going to happen again?
16
Any sort of celebration of my employment was sober and slightly uncomfortable. We played pool, or I tried, while Tyler and Patton played a real game for who would clean the upstairs bathroom. Fairly sure that Patton and I were both hustled, so we decided to split the cleaning duties. I took the shower, and he took the toilet; he was being kind by volunteering to do the dirty work. I thought it might have been because he felt bad.
Chase came in, grabbed a cartoon of take out, and disappeared into the kitchen. He didn’t bother to interact with us more than that. It was discerning considering he had talked about taking me to the gun range. Maybe this mood of his was going to spoil that idea.
I wasn’t sad about it.
But, when Saturday rolled around, I was rudely awakened by a loud knocking at my door. “Farwell wake up.” Chase’s voice sounded muffled, but still managed to have that bark to it when he was making a demand.
My eyes burned a little as I forced them open, telling me it was far too early for me to be up. I opened the door and didn’t bother to rein in the need to just glare at him. “What?” Manners weren’t something that came this early without coffee.
He stopped, mouth slightly open as he eyed me up and down. A quick glance down showed that I was just in an oversized shirt. At least it came down to mid-thigh so there wasn’t much for him to see. He cleared his throat and continued as if he wasn’t disturbed by my bedraggled state, “We have a date. Get dressed, I’ll make coffee.”
“What?” I repeated I couldn’t make sense of his words.
“Date.” He gave me a slight smirk that made the usual hard lines of his face soften, giving him an almost boyish look. “We gotta get there early otherwise everyone is gonna think I got shit aim.” He turned away to saunter into the kitchen.
The first thought I had was to just go back to bed, but I was awake enough to be curious as to what he was after. He hadn’t mentioned a date before. The only way to find out what he was talking about was to get dressed.
I kept it simple, I went upstairs to tend to the regular morning things and to make sure I wasn’t as ghastly as I felt. I was so grateful for the scent of coffee, it probably kept me from falling down the stairs. I floated into the kitchen, trying my hair up into a messy bun.
“It really had to be this early?” I couldn’t keep the whine from my voice.
Chase was standing at the island, sipping at a cup. It seemed patronizing to me that he looked unperturbed by the fact that we were up early. A glance towards the front of the house showed that it was still dark.
“I get up this early every morning for work,” he said into his cup. “Getting up this early on a day off isn’t that big of a deal.” He turned to the cabinets and pulled out another mug. He took the time to fill it before setting it on the other side of the island. “Besides, if you’re going back to work you’re going to have to stop living like Tyler and wake up like the rest of us.”
“He’s a bad influence,” I grumbled as I picked up the mug. It didn’t matter that it was black, at least not at this moment. I took a cautious sip of the extra bitter liquid and then groaned as it seemed to bleed life into me.
Chase chuckled, “You can say that again.”
“So…” I took another sip of coffee and I felt the need to mold it into something that tasted better. I went on the hunt for sugar and creamer. “Date?”
He shrugged a little, not looking at me. “Bad joke, didn’t really think it through. Hurry and we can get breakfast on the way.” He raised an eyebrow at the offer, adding curiosity to my sleepiness.
“So, breakfast then what?”
“Gun range,” he said matter-of-factly. I blanched and it must have been obvious because he made a noise. “There are guns in this house. It's better to know how to use them to defend yourself than it is to not know how to use them and hurt yourself, or someone else.” He sat down his mug in the sink and seemed to have decided that he was ready to go. “I thought it might be empowering given where you came from.”
I hesitated before I decided to speak my mind, “It feels like you’re trying to manipulate me.”
He paused on his way down the hall before turning to look at me. “Not really, at least not negatively.” He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans. “If you can see us for what we are, how’d you get shacked up with a guy that put his hands on you?”
That hurt a little, and I didn’t bother to try to cover the fact. “I guess some people are better at hiding what they are than others.” I didn’t want to go with him now. “Some people don’t show that they’re an asshole when you first meet them.”
