I'm being a dick. And not just an average sized dick. A giant dick that hurts people when they fuck with him.

Dane's next to me on the ski lift, being a trooper and participating in every challenge I keep bringing up.

He's my best friend and I trust that he'd never be with Charlie, so, I'm confused as to why I'm treating him like a dog jumping through hoops and running up ladders.

Not only do I trust Dane, I trust Charlie. I never would’ve started dating her if I didn't, but when I see his hands on her, see them laugh together, I hate it.

If only my mind could convince my ego that we don't need to be skiing down a hill at warp speed and cutting off our best friend to beat him to the bottom of the hill.

I stop my skis at the end of the hill, happy as shit I beat Dane. Especially since I wore those damn boxers with the elephant trunk pouch my dick goes through.

“You're a moron.” Charlie smacks me upside my head. “Did you think about Sydney when you were busy acting like a teenager?”

Her skis are off and her gloved hands are on her hips.

Dane laughs, skiing off to where Ava is waiting. Of course that bastard doesn't care.

“I was having fun,” I say with a shrug.

“You were being macho and trying to prove something to yourself, you know that right? If you want to keep racing Dane then go ahead, but let's write a quick living will so we know who you want to take in Sydney after you’re gone.”

She stomps away toward where her skis are sticking up in the snow by Ava.

Since I still have my skis on it only takes me a few seconds to catch up.

“What was that all about?” I ask when I reach her.

She doesn’t even turn to look at me. Instead, she takes her skis out of the snow, steps into them then uses her poles to propel her forward. Like the lovesick idiot I am, I follow behind her.

“Where are you guys going? I always follow through on my dares,” Dane calls out, but at this point, I don't care.

“Talk to me right now,” I say once I’ve caught up to her. Again.

She stops, slams her poles into the snow and lifts her goggles. “You talk. You're the loony toon who thinks I'd actually want Dane. Because yeah, Garrett, I pined away for you for years just to change course and go after your best friend once I have you.” Her attitude is snarky and angry and my dick hardens under all the layers of clothes.

“Listen, I know it's irrational and I wish like hell I didn't feel like I had to prove myself, but you guys are close and I hate it when he touches you.” My teeth clench and now my own poles are in the ground and I'm lifting my goggles to rest on top of my head.

“What the hell are you talking about? Am I being molested and don’t know it?” Her eyes scan the area around her and then she covers her body with her hands. Sarcastic as always.

I wish it wasn’t such a turn-on.

“You know what I mean. It’s just Dane being Dane, still…the headlocks, the noogies, the way he sometimes has to touch your hip to slide behind you at the bar.” My hands clench at my sides with every reminder of his hands on her body.

“You’ve been watching us?” she asks, the corners of her lips curling up.

“No.” I shake my head.

She smacks me in the stomach. “You do so. You've watched me all this time?”

“No,” I say the word, but my face loses the fight, and I roll my eyes the same way Syd has perfected. “A little.”

“More than a little.” She grins then steps out of her skis and rests them next to the fence we're near.

I wait for her to reach me, my heart beating and my palms clammy in my gloves.

“Admit it. You've been admiring all this time just like I have with you.” Her arms wrap around my stomach and I'm still shaking my head no. “No?” she asks, and I know this is the last time she'll ask me before she walks away.

“What do you want me to say?”

“I want you to admit it. I want you to apologize for being a stupid caveman and putting your life in danger in some crazy competition of male machoism.”

Her arms are still wrapped around me and even with our layers upon layers of clothes my body heats with her nearness.

“And if I admit it?”

“We'll go back to the cabin and I'll show you exactly why you have nothing to worry about.”

I blow out a breath, not used to putting myself out there this much. “Fine. Yes, I've watched you for a long time and I don't like the way Dane thinks he can put his hands on you. You’re mine now and I don't want to act like a Neanderthal, but I don’t want anyone else touching you.”

She smiles wider now, backing away from me. And then she turns around and positions her skis so she can step into them again. When I don't immediately follow, she glances over her shoulder, a flirtatious smile on her beautiful face. “Are you coming?” she asks in a tone an octave lower that tells me good things are coming my way.

“Hell yeah.” I follow her until we're near the exit and we hear an outpouring of laughter coming from behind us.

We look to where the voices are and low and behold there’s Dane, skiing down the double black diamond in a pair of thong panties.

“Should I cover my eyes?” Charlie kids next to me.

“Now that I see what he’s working with, I feel much better.”

Charlie laughs and we race each other back to the cabin.

I should open up more often if this is always going to be the payback.

* * *

My back crashes down onto the bed and Charlie falls on top of me.

“Are you convinced?” She stares up at me with her chin resting on her hands on my stomach.

“Yep, we’re solid now.”

She slides to my side and I cradle her in my arm as her fingers run up and down my chest, playing with the small amount of chest hair I have.

“Now that the whole jealousy thing is out of the way, I think it's safe to say we both feel strongly about one another.” There's some hesitancy in her voice.

I pull her closer and kiss the top of her head. “I think it's safe to say that.”

“Then can I ask you a question in the interest of full disclosure?”

My stomach clenches so tight, you'd think I ate a five-hour-old hot dog at the convenience store.

She sits up, grabbing a hold of my shirt on the edge of the bed and tossing it over her head.

“We don't need to get dressed. I'm sure Dane's in a cell somewhere.”

Usually she'd laugh, but this time she doesn't. Instead, she crosses her legs and plays with the hem of my shirt.

“Charlie, what’s on your mind?” I ask, sliding up to rest my back against the headboard.

“We never really talked about the vasectomy thing.”

I blink a couple of times. Of all the things I thought she’d say, this wasn’t it.

“Okay…”

“Do you not want to have any more kids?”

Funny all these weeks we’ve been together this topic didn't even surface in my mind, but I can see now that she’s been giving it some thought and that she might have a problem.

Before I can even respond she starts rattling on…

“I mean, I do want to have kids some day. I understand why you might not, and I'm totally cool with adoption or a sperm bank or something, but I don't see my future without them. And if we're getting more serious—”

I press my finger to her rambling lips.

“I understand that you want to have kids. Hell, I'd have ten more Sydney's.”

She’s still focused on the hem of my shirt as she folds it and fists it within her fingers.

“When I got a vasectomy, it was out of self-preservation. I wanted to make sure what happened to me with Melissa wouldn't happen again. It was a hasty decision. But if this goes further and we reach that point in our relationship, I'm definitely up for us having kids. Adoption sounds awesome.”

She grins and I dip my head to see hers. “So, you're willing to have more kids if we work out?”

I laugh. “Yeah, I am. I love being a dad, Charlie and I think you'll make a great mom.”

I don’t bother to question why I’m not freaked out about having this conversation with her. I guess on some level I knew I’d have to have it with any woman I was serious with.

“Oh, I'm so happy! I had no idea how to bring that up to you.” She tackles me to the bed and sprinkles my face with kisses. “Thanks for being a jealous idiot.”

I tilt my head. “Am I supposed to say you’re welcome?”

Her hand slides down my body and she fists my already hard cock.

“Ready for round two? Especially after you froze me out last night?” She shakes her head at my jealous idiocy.

I flip her over and she squeals. “I have nowhere I’d rather be.”

* * *

The next morning, I sneak out of the bedroom to grab some food to bring up to Charlie. I'm walking down the open hallway on the second story, which allows me to see the entire downstairs.

Vance is in a pair of low slung pajama pants at the door lip-locked with a blonde. I wondered what happened to him yesterday. Mystery solved.

Trying to not be noticed, I quietly walk into the kitchen and open the fridge and grab the carton of eggs.

“Hey.” Dane opens up the French doors from the patio and I jump. The carton of eggs drops from my hands and cracks echoes through the cabin.

“Jesus, man.”

“You broke all the eggs.”

I pick up the eggs and open them up, finding none salvageable.

“Only because you surprised me.” I dump them in the trashcan. “Guess we're going out for breakfast.”

“Ava and I are heading out early today since you hogged all my time yesterday.” He sits down at the kitchen table.

“Sorry about that.” I fill a cup of coffee and lean on the counter behind me.

“We good?” he asks and from his somber tone he knows exactly what was up with me yesterday.

“Yeah, we're good.”

He smiles and I remember him skiing down the hill in a pair of thong underwear.

“I can't believe you followed through on the bet.”

He stands pushing in his chair. “I always pay my debts. Now, I talked with Ava and I know you said we're good, but I want you to know, I understand. I wouldn't want you touching my girl, so,” he raises his hands in the air. “These will stay in my pockets from now on.”

“Thanks.” I could say it doesn't bother me as much anymore now that Charlie and I have discussed it, that I feel secure in our relationship, but truth is, I’m accepting of my caveman status and I don't want him touching her.

I don't want anyone else touching what’s finally mine.