30. Everest

CHAPTER THIRTY

Everest

“Rhys… I’m trying to study.”

A low chuckle emerges from underneath the blanket, the hot breath of it skating up my cock. It’s taking all my willpower to keep my textbook open when all I want to do is chuck it at the wall and bury myself under the covers with Rhys.

His head pops out, a devilish smirk on his lips as he walks his fingers up my stomach. “You’re the one who decided to study in bed.”

“Because you wouldn’t let me get out,” I say with an eye roll.

He doesn’t look at all sorry as he shrugs. “It’s my day off, and I wanted to spend my day naked with you.”

My stomach flutters at his confession. He’s been doing that more lately over the last couple of days. He’s given me little compliments, sweet words that make me flush. With every secret, it’s like he’s giving parts of himself to me. I love it and eat it all up. I’m growing greedy for his praise and attention. All the things he’s saying and the way he’s acting have me thinking that maybe we’re more than just friends. But I don’t dare say anything, too afraid he won’t feel the same way.

I run my fingers through his hair, smiling as his thick glasses slide down his nose. “I really do need to study,” I say regretfully.

He sighs but nods, then gets out from underneath the covers to sit up next to me. “Fine. Did you want to go see a movie tonight?”

I open my mouth to answer, but my phone buzzes on the nightstand. Grabbing it, I look at my messages, smiling when I see that it’s Knox. I’ve been so caught up with Rhys that I haven’t had any time to spend with my friend. I feel like shit about that and quickly text him back when he asks what I’m doing tonight. Rhys doesn’t look at my phone, but his stare on my profile lets me know that he’s curious and trying to hide it.

“It’s just Knox.”

He stiffens, his jaw clenched tight. “What does he want?”

“Calm down,” I chuckle, soothing him with a kiss on his cheek before showing him my phone. “He decided to throw a party tonight.”

“That’s nice,” he grunts, even though it seems like he thinks anything but that. “Are you going?”

Do I particularly want to give up my Rhys-filled day? Not really, but Knox is my closest friend, and I’m sure he wants me there. “Yeah. I know you’re not a huge fan?—”

“That’s an understatement.”

“But maybe you want to come with me?”

He thinks it over for a second before nodding. “Sure. Why not?”

“Maybe you can even invite your coworkers,” I suggest, trying to sweeten the deal.

He raises his eyebrows. “Do you realize what you’re offering?”

“Knox said to invite whoever,” I say. When he doesn’t immediately answer, I lean into his side and start nibbling on his neck. “Yeah?”

He huffs. “Fine. I’ll text in the group chat.”

I plop a fat kiss on his cheek. “Thank you— Ah!”

I’m caught off guard when I’m suddenly shoved onto my back. He has this predatory gaze in his eyes as he runs his hands up and down my sides.

“I know how you can thank me.” He wraps a hand around my cock, and I groan. “Let me get this gorgeous dick in my mouth.”

“Oh, fuck,” I moan, throwing my head back as he disappears back under the covers.

Yeah, screw homework.

While Knox’s one-bedroom apartment is large, it feels like there are far too many people in here. I don’t know who most of them are, probably randoms who Knox knows through his line of work. As his closest friend, I know he doesn’t hang out with many people, choosing to be alone instead.

The party is in full swing by the time we get to the apartment. Rhys and I would have gotten here earlier if we’d decided to take separate showers. Worth it, though. Rhys looks sexy as hell in a plain black shirt and jeans, complete with his backwards baseball cap that always makes me drool. It’s a true hardship to keep my hands to myself. We haven’t defined…whatever this is and him saying that he wanted to have people hearing us fuck in the heat of the moment doesn’t constitute an answer.

“How long do we have to stay?” he asks, narrowing his eyes at a drunk girl who nearly spills her drink on him.

I shrug. “We can leave when it’s over? I know Knox would like it if I stayed until the end.” His jaw clenches as he levels me with a look I don’t understand. “What?”

He bites his bottom lip, looking around the apartment before dragging me to the corner. Stepping in front of me, he blocks my view of the living room. He seems pissed. “Do you miss him?”

I raise an eyebrow. “What?”

“Do you…” He lets out a deep breath, almost reluctant to continue. “Do you ever think of him?”

“He’s my best friend.”

“Do you ever think of him as more?”

I’m actually shocked. Rhys is a lot of things, but insecure isn’t one of them. He knows about my past with Knox and made it clear that wasn’t happening anymore, but I didn’t think he legitimately worried about it.

I know I said I didn’t want to cross the line by touching him, but I can’t help it. Raising my hands, I cup his face, smiling sweetly and with comfort. “Do you mean do I think about him late at night when I’m alone? Do I try to stay awake because I’d rather be with him than dream?”

His eyes widen. “Ev…”

“Does just the thought of him make my heart race? Do I constantly crave his kisses?” I drop my forehead against his. “Because I feel all that with you, Rhys. Always. All the time. So, no, I don’t miss him, and I don’t think about him like that. You take up all the space.”

I’m not expecting it when he crashes his mouth onto mine, immediately aiming to consume me, to which I easily yield. He pulls away only when we’re breathless, dropping a smattering of feather-light kisses over my lips as he speaks against them.

“God, I hate you sometimes,” he mumbles. I open my mouth, confused as to what he means, but he cuts me off before I can even start. “Because if I take up all the space, you take up all the air until there’s nothing left. Until I’m choking—dying—because of you.”

I don’t know how to respond to that or even how to take it. All I know is that his confession makes me wish we were the only two in the room—in the world—so I could get lost in him and live forever in this moment.

But I hesitate. Still. Not because I’m afraid he’ll hurt me again, but because I’m afraid I’ll lose this fragile something we’ve created.

“It’s you, baby.” He breathes in deeply, placing his hands on the wall on either side of me, caging me in. “Fucking hell, Everest. It’s you.”

And then he’s kissing me again, his hands running greedily across my body. He shows me what he means, and the intensity is something I’ve never felt before. It’s sudden, an onslaught of raw emotion, more than I thought the two of us would ever experience.

I don’t know what it means. I don’t know if we’re just caught up in the lust and the thrill, or if this is real. But I don’t care because it feels real.

But I need to hear it. I need to know. I need all of him and I want him to need all of me.

With all the courage I can muster, I break apart from him and recklessly put the ball in his court. “What is this?”

He chuckles and rubs his thumb against my cheek. “Will knowing make you happy?”

“Yes.”

“Boyfriends,” he whispers, testing the word on his tongue. “Does that sound good?”

I said he takes up all the space and now I’m overflowing with him. Every memory I have of Rhys merges and collides until the mosaic clears and all I see is who he is now.

Mine.

“Yes.” I’m smiling so widely, I feel it splitting my space. “That’s… Yes.”

“Good,” he says, looking so…happy as he pecks my cheek and ruffles my hair fondly. “Told you I always win.”

I roll my eyes and give him a playful shove. “Oh, fuck you.”

“Maybe later?”

That leaves my mouth hanging wide open. He doesn’t mean…

“Let me get you a drink.” He smirks like he knows what I’m thinking, but this evil fucker just winks at me.

“We’re not done talking about this,” I say, pouting as he takes my hand and pulls me away from the wall.

“Sure.” He snorts, throwing a sultry look over his shoulder that doesn’t help the hard-on I’m sporting. Bringing our interlocked hands up to his lips, he kisses the tips of my fingers. “Come on.”

And he doesn’t let go the entire night.