Chapter 11

5 years ago…

Mo

"Just do it."

My teammate gives me a shrug before turning his attention back to the naked girls. The blonde watches us with her hands on her voluptuous hips while the redhead smiles at us coyly.

"Come on, boys. You know the deal: If you make out, we make out."

The alcohol buzzing through my veins is so strong at this point, I can't remember either of their names.

Not that they seem to mind.

Brett, another freshman on the lacrosse team, takes a step towards me and I hold up a hand to stop him.

"Take another step and I'll deck you."

This isn't our first foursome together, so he knows the rules by now. Brett comes off straight as an arrow, but rumour has it he enjoys hitting up the gay club outside of Taber during his spare time.

And that is something I want no part of.

I shudder, thinking about what my father would have to say if he heard I made out with another man. Even if it was for the sake of watching two attractive women get each other off, Jonathan would pop an ulcer if he ever caught wind of this.

Hell, he might even cut me off.

The thought sobers me enough to give Brett another glare before turning to the girls, "Sorry ladies, that's not on the table."

"What a shame. We were just starting to have some fun."

The redhead leans down and plants a kiss on the blonde's neck. The blonde moans, reaching out to stroke the other girl's pointed nipples. I chuckle, watching Brett start to drool. I'm just getting into it myself when the redhead pulls back with a wink.

"The real fun begins after you kiss."

Brett whips his head in my direction but I stand firm, "Not going to happen."

"Dude, stop being a pussy."

The blonde smirks, "What's wrong big boy? Is the almighty Mo not confident enough to kiss his teammate on the lips?"

O'Briens don't run from our problems. We face them head on.

The loop pounds through my drunken haze as I narrow my eyes at her. My father taught me to never back down from a challenge, but he sure as hell didn't tell me that it was normal to kiss another man.

Grinding my teeth together, I march over and grab Brett by the back of the neck. He stumbles as I yank him closer, his large hands grabbing ahold of my shoulders as I bring our lips together. Brett's scruff rubs my cheek and I grimace, waiting for the disgust to hit me.

But it never does.

His hand snakes its way up to my jaw, roughly tilting my head for a better angle. I let him, not because I enjoy being submissive but because I am too shocked by the lust exploding through my body to do anything but kiss him back.

Brett eventually breaks the kiss and turns his attention back to the girls. With a happy squeal, the blonde latches herself onto her friend and they pick up right where they left off. I'm left standing off to the side, shaking, as Brett joins the girls in a sloppy threesome.

The room spins with alcohol and fear, my desire to join the lacrosse bunnies completely gone. I watch as my teammate sinks himself into the redhead, her exaggerated moan making me cringe. The blonde is busy getting herself off as she watches them, but even that doesn't stir the slightest interest in me.

Because for the first time ever, it's not the girls I'm watching.

It's my male teammate.

1 year ago…

"What brings you to town?"

The blonde Adonis grins at me, his sharp cheekbones and full lips ensuring my attention stays entirely on him.

"Picking up my sister for winter break."

I throw back the shot, savouring the burn it leaves behind. It's been a while since I've been to Lifestyle, but nothing has changed. The base is still loud enough to cause permanent hearing damage and the VIP section is still dark enough to find fleeting pleasure.

Which is exactly what I'm here for.

"How long are you in town?"

Interest gleams in those gorgeous brown eyes as Carter does an unsubtle scan of my body. It doesn't bother me in the slightest considering I did the same thing to him a few minutes ago.

"Just one night." His grin widens and I feel my own lips pull into a smirk, "So you better make it count."

"Good thing I'm more of a show than a tell kind of guy."

I snort at the terrible pickup line and look out over the railing to the drunken mass moving on the dance floor. The urge to join them creeps in but I force myself to turn back to the hard body beside me.

"I hope your moves are better than your lines. Otherwise we will both be disappointed."

Carter laughs and the low sound heightens my buzz. My freshman year was spent fucking every girl I came across, but it wasn't until that night with Brett that I realized there was so much more satisfaction to be had with men.

My father taught me raw masculinity was the greatest power a man could have. Turns out, that remains true in the bedroom as well.

A large hand trails down my back and my dick thickens in response.

"Why don't we test out that theory?" His breath is warm in my ear and I grin, motioning towards the overpriced rooms kept especially for this reason.

"After you."

Grinning, Carter turns and heads over to the bouncer while I take one last scan of the dance floor below. The blasting music tugs at my consciousness, a memory slipping past the carefully constructed barriers.

"Mom! Look, I think I'm dancing."

Flailing my arms in the air, I do my best to follow the graceful rhythm of my mother's body. My baby sister is strapped to her chest, her tiny blue eyes filled with joy as mother twirls around the room.

"Dancing isn't about thinking, Mo. It's about feeling."

I let out a shriek of laughter when she takes my hand and spins me around.

"What do you feel when you're dancing, mom?" Swaying my hips, I stumble a couple steps before my mother helps me rebalance.

She smiles, "Dancing has always been where I find peace. Whether it's been a good day or a bad day, everything is better when I'm dancing."

I frown, coming to a stop, "I don't understand."

Mother laughs, taking my hands and pulling me close, "There are some things in life you will never understand, Mo. Just remember to make time for the things that bring you peace. Whether that's dancing or skiing or something else completely – find that thing that helps you escape and hold on to it."

Wrapping my arms around her legs, I bury my face in mother's flowing dress.

"But how will I know when I've found it?"

Mother bends down and plants a kiss on my cheek, "You'll know because you won't think. You'll feel."

I blink back to present when the room flashes purple and a Latin beat kicks in. Shrieks rise up from the crowd below and I feel the energy seep into my bones.

A tall, lean Latino catches my eye and I turn to see him hop up on the bar and begin to move. The cheers grow louder as his hips twist and turn without any hint of hesitation. I watch him with interest, my earlier arousal growing with the fluidity of his movements.

Feeling my stare, the handsome man glances up and meets my eyes. He grins, blowing me a kiss before hopping off the bar and disappearing into the pulsing crowd.

I squint, trying to find him again, but it's no use.

"Cold feet already?"

Carter's voice fills my ear and the spark of lust returns.

"Just making sure you were ready to give me a show."

Feeling lighter than I have in weeks, I turn and give him a genuine smile, "Lead the way."