I’d been surprised when I’d slept like the dead. Only when I woke, I felt heavy and hotter than normal. Slowly, I opened my eyes, only for my drowsiness to evaporate immediately from my senses.

My body locked.

Locked tight.

That was because I had a body lying on half of me.

Holy fuck.

Jesus Christ.

Cue my damned heart noticing as it started to race.

Cue my damned breath to pick up, and my gut to tumble around like I was on a fucking roller coaster.

I didn’t move anything but to peek out the corner of my eyes to see Easton’s face near mine. His chin rested on the top of my shoulder, and he was asleep. Jesus, he smelled good. Had this always been his scent? I hadn’t noticed… so why was my damn nose noticing now? Why was my body liking his heat glued to my side?

It didn’t.

I didn’t.

It was all in my messed-up head after what happened. I peeked at him again; he still slept.

Thank fuck.

Using my free hand—well it wasn’t so free, but curled around Easton’s wrist where his arm rested on my chest, while the other was under Easton’s neck and flat on the bed—I unclenched my fingers from his wrist and slowly slid it down. I felt the bed and discovered I was on the very edge. Easton had moved in his sleep and moved far.

Right into my space.

What could I do?

Shit, I should have set the alarm or something.

Hell no, that wouldn’t do. If we woke up at the same time, it’d be awkward. He’d probably choke on words as he tried to apologise.

I’d just started to relax a little when he stretched.

He bloody stretched. His arm glided across my chest to land on the other side, and then he hugged me closer to him.

There went my body’s reaction again.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

He slid his leg up from my thigh to my hip, and his knee grazed my already hard cock.

It was hard because it was morning wood.

Every guy got morning wood.

It was natural.

It wasn’t hard and reacting to Easton.

Think, man, think.

His stretching could mean he was close to waking, so I had to do something. If I climbed out and ran, then it’d be worse because he’d know, and he’d feel like shit.

Goddamn it. Sucking in a breath, I relaxed my body.

I wouldn’t be the first to wake.

Easton stretched again.

I made sure I regulated my breathing, closed my eyes, and turned my head away from him a bit.

Another stretch and then he froze.

Tits on a whale. I was lying on Parker.

I was snuggled up to annoying, angry Parker.

What in the world was I doing half on Parker?

He wasn’t awake. Thank the high heaven for small favours. But it meant I somehow had to get off him without him waking and thinking I’d been trying to jump him or make a move in some way.

When I shared a bed, I usually gravitated towards them. I should have warned Parker. No, I should have slept on the carpeted floor.

God, this would be so awkward if he woke.

I had to move. Slide away without… wait a second, was that his dick near my knee?

His hard dick near my knee?

Forget it, Easton. It doesn’t mean anything. I have a boner…. Oh no, I have a boner resting against his side.

I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed he didn’t wake and feel my boner.

Hang on. I had to stop freaking out.

No, no, no. Do not start to sweat. Was I panting on him? Oh fuck, was his hair moving because I was panting?

Get off, get off, get off, Easton.

My skin touched his. My body pressed against his.

Darn, he was good-looking.

Jesus, it isn’t time to stare, Easton. Move. Besides, you have to get back to Lan, though Lan certainly doesn’t mind staring at Parker, and it’s not like I can blame him. He’s worth looking at. If only he wasn’t a jerk sometimes.

Hold it. I seriously had to stop thinking about it and get my arse into gear.

Slowly and oh so very gently, I shifted back inch by inch, until I had enough space between us where I could put my hand, the one that was on the other side of his chest. His wide hard chest. I begged to Karma and Fate and anyone else who’d listen that as I moved my arm from his chest, he didn’t wake… and he didn’t.

Yes, baby Jesus.

I sighed. Then I realised it blew his hair over his face more and that could cause an itch.

Shit, fuck, shit a darn dinosaur.

Instead of moving more out of the bed. I slid my hand up from under the sheets, hooked his hair with a finger and dragged it from his face. When he twitched, I froze. Even stopped breathing.

I would not get caught close to Parker. He’d probably either beat me senseless, throw me around the room, or yell in my face. Damn, the last one could happen no matter. He liked to yell and growl, and he looked good doing it.

Bloody stop.

I placed my hand between us again. Then I lifted my knee and leg away from his nice-sized hard dick before I pushed down so I could shift my body back more and more.

When I was finally on my side of the bed, I sucked in a big breath because I hadn’t breathed until I’d been in the clear. I felt a little lightheaded from it too.

Unfortunately, I didn’t realise how far I’d moved over until I went to roll to my back to sneak out and tumbled to the floor with flailing arms and all.

When I smashed down, knocking the wind out of me, I groaned.

I lay there trying to breathe when a face popped over the edge.

Whoa.

I’d never seen Parker half awake, hair everywhere with a smirk on his lips. He looked amazing.

His lips moved. I blinked slowly up at him. “Huh?”

He snorted. “I asked if you were okay.”

He pushed back as I started to sit up. My back and side ached, but other than that, I was fine. “Yes, I’m okay. Uh, sorry to, um, wake you like that.”

“It’s fine.” He rolled back over to his side with grace and then got out of bed to stretch.

Look away, Easton.

But I couldn’t. His body, like Lan’s, was a work of art.

“Easton?” Parker clipped.

I jumped. “Sorry?”

Before he looked away, I caught his lips twitching. “Gonna go get my shit.”

Standing, I nodded, then asked, “Do you know what time it is?”

“Just after midday.”

I chuckled, stretching myself with my eyes closed. When I opened them, Parker had been looking away. “How do you know the time? It that some detective thing?”

He glanced back with a deadpanned look and pointed at the bedside table behind me—where a digital alarm clock sat. Heck, I hadn’t even noticed it.

“We’ll shower, grab some food. You can spend some time with Jewel before we hit it.”

We’ll grab a shower. Did he mean together?

“Sure,” I said in a near squeak. Then for added measure, I gave him a double thumbs-up. His brow rose, just the one, and then I saw a small grin before he shook his head and walked out.

I thumped my palm against my forehead and groaned.

Placing my hands on my hips, I glanced down at the bed. Parker and I had been in there together.

I had to tell Lan.

It was the right thing to do.

Reaching for my phone, I’d hit dial when Parker was back at my opened door, sticking his head in.

“Do you know where the bathroom is?”

I nodded. “Yes.”

His lips thinned, but they wobbled a second like he was fighting not to smile. Why was he smiling more?

Maybe he was finding me humorous.

Maybe he was getting used to me.

Which meant great things for Lan and me.

At least then there’d be no tension at work between them.

It was too early to be thinking. I mean, of course he liked me a little to be able to help me out and then sleep in the same bed last night. He wouldn’t do it if he hated me or if he didn’t like I was gay.

“Easton?”

I jolted. “Sorry?”

He chuckled, then sobered. “Bathroom?”

“Right.” I nodded, stood, and walked over to the door. He didn’t move back much, but I used the space he gave me. Leaning out, I lifted my arm; it brushed against his stomach. I pointed down the hall, and whispered, “Second last door.”

“Thanks,” he said, and his breath washed over my hair.

I gulped and nodded.

My dick started to thicken.

No, no, no. Stand down, soldier.

This was wrong. So wrong. I shouldn’t have been getting aroused by Parker. Not when I had Lan…. Crap, big mistake thinking of Lan. My dick thickened some more. I pressed myself against the doorframe.

“So, yeah, down there. Second door from the end.” I pointed again. “That way. Enjoy. Get clean.” I shook my head at my own idiocy and then banged it against the doorframe while willing my dick to deflate.

“You all right?” Parker asked.

“Dandy.” I nodded, then reached out behind Parker and pushed him. He didn’t move. The prick. “Off you go. Then I can have one after you. Leave some hot water for me.”

Stop mentioning the shower, dickhead.

All I could think was both of us in there, and I felt guilty for it because Lan wasn’t here.

Fuck, now I pictured Lan and Parker in the shower together.

“Ah, okay. Bye.” I stepped back, shut the door hard and leaned against it.

Something in my hand knocked against my thigh. I glanced down as I brought my hand up.

It was my phone.

My phone where I had just pressed in Lan’s number before Parker popped his head in.

Oh shit.

With a shaky hand, I brought my phone up to my ear. “H-hello?”

A deep chuckle sounded into my ear.

I blanched. “Lan,” I whispered.

“Yeah, East.”

“How much did you hear?”

“You stumbling over your words.”

He wouldn’t remember.

He wouldn’t.

“What I wanna know is what got you flustered to begin with.”

“What?” I yelled, then laughed. “I don’t—”

“From what I remember, you’re that way when you’re attracted to someone, like you’d been with me, or as things progressed with us, you were that way when you had dirty thoughts.”

Crap.

“Lan—”

“What were you thinkin’, East?” His voice had dipped even lower, like each time he was turned on. No way.

“You like I had dirty thoughts?”

He chuckled. “So you did?”

“Um.” Fuck it. Honesty was the best policy. “Yes. About him in the shower, and then I felt guilty about it and thought of you, which didn’t go well because then I thought of you and him in the shower. I got hard. Had to hide it, and now I feel bad because I’d looked at Parker the way I did. He even slept in my bed last night because I couldn’t sleep, I’d been freaking out and was pacing. He heard, came over, and told me in his grumpy way to get in bed.” I sucked in a deep breath. “He also kissed me when he thought I was shot. But I think that had to do with the moment. He was freaking out I was wounded badly. Maybe he thought you would have kicked his arse. So he grabbed me and kissed me. It wasn’t a passionate kiss or anything. No tongue either. It was more a ‘glad you’re alive’ kiss.”

Silence.

With my fisted hand, I thumped it against my head over and over.

Stupid, stupid idiot.

“I’m sorry. I know none of it should have happened, because you and I—”

“East,” Lan called loudly.

“Yes?”

“Calm down.”

After another deep breath, I said, “Okay.” At least I’d try; my organ in my chest wasn’t doing too well.

“Don’t stress about you and me. I know where we’re at. I also know I kissed Parker and you’re not grillin’ my chops about it. You know I’m attracted to him. He’s like that, gets under your skin without even really knowing he’s there. I get it. Don’t worry, okay?”

“I can’t wait to be home,” I said. Lan Davis just knew what to say to put me at ease. The man was amazing.

“Why’s that?”

“I’d like to kiss you.”

“Fuck,” he groaned. “I’d like that as well.”

“See you this afternoon.”

“Looking forward to it.”