“Speaking of incredible … that kiss last night was pretty epic.” He set his hand on my shoulder so I couldn’t look away. His eyes were intense, like I remembered from the night before. “You are pretty epic.”
“You don’t even know me,” I said, scoffing at his words. I didn’t feel epic, not in that moment. In that moment I felt like a player. I wasn’t used to stringing guys along.
“I know that last night you spoke truth to me, about how you felt, and that was real and honest and beautiful,” he said.
He took hold of my waist and pulled me close. His mouth covered mine with the passion I’d felt coursing through him last night. He seemed to drink me in with his lips, his breath. He inhaled me, and I drew in what I could. His hands pulled me in closer, and a sigh escaped my lips. I couldn’t help it. I felt his cock so close to me, hard and wanting.
Wanting me.
My mind suddenly filled with longing, a different kind than Ashton had incited. Ashton was charming and eager, and when I was with him I felt free. But Jude brought out a rough and dirty and demanding kind of longing.
I pulled away, even though I didn’t want to, not in the slightest. But I knew this could all end really badly. I was several miles up a mountain with two near-strangers and I was picturing some brawling disaster.
Knowing I needed to stop this, I just blurted out what I’d held in for too long in one fell swoop.
“IhadsexwithAshton.”
He laughed, a really gentle laugh. One that I didn’t expect from a guy whose arms were covered in tattoos, whose face was filled with hard lines, whose emotions were so fierce.
“That is so not the reaction I expected,” I admitted.
“He told me last night, after I told him we kissed.” Seeing my eyes getting wide with concern, he added, “We weren’t disrespecting you, I swear. I told him about our kiss—how amazing you were—and then he felt like he needed to keep things honest. So he told me what you two had done.”
Mortified, I covered my face. “I should have said something earlier.”
“No, we agreed not to bring it up because we didn’t want to make you feel like you had to choose. We thought maybe things would naturally just go the way they ought.”
“Okay, can you just give me a chance to think things through? I feel like I’m in an awkward position here. I don’t want to come between friends.”
“Anything you want, Willow.”
And I believed him.Chapter NineteenI walked away and quickened my pace, wanting to pass Ashton, too. Seeing him on the trail, I gave a wave and told him I wanted to go a little faster, and that I’d meet up with him at the summit.
My lungs filled with the clean air, and I made up my mind as I walked. Sure, I wanted an adventure, wanted to mix things up in my personal life. I knew I had been moaning to myself that I needed a change, but causing drama between these two guys was not what I intended. They were way too kind, too sensitive, too generous to pick between.
It was just my luck that I would find two amazing men the exact same day, and they happened to be best friends.
Fuck. My. Life.
At the top, I got out my water bottle and sat on the trailhead, looking over the picturesque vista. There was nothing to complain about in this moment. I had all the opportunity in the world. Remembering the housekeeper job I’d seen posted in the general store, I thought maybe I could move here. Stay on this beautiful island and take a chance.
I heard the guys come up behind me, and I exhaled, feeling at peace.
“Hey, Willow,” Ashton said, sitting down next to me. He set his hand on my shoulder and gave my forehead a kiss.
“You made it.” Jude sat on the other side of me and gave my knee a squeeze.
Sitting in a row like this was the perfect time to tell them my decision. “You guys, I know you want me to make a choice, and I have.”
“Really?” Jude asked.
“Yeah, I decided I wouldn’t choose. I can’t come between two friends. So, I’m sorry, but I won’t pick.”
“Good,” Ashton said, setting his hand on my other knee. “We were hoping you’d say that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, shaking my head, trying to understand.
“We thought you would say you couldn’t pick, so we decided to make it easier for you,” Jude explained.
“I don’t follow…”
“You can have us both.” Ashton said, tucking a strand of my black hair behind my ear.
“We don’t want you to pick, we want you to have everything you want.” Jude leaned in and kissed my cheek softly, then continued to kiss my neck, his tongue licking my flesh as he moved his mouth, causing my skin to prick with excitement.