28. Madden

28

Madden

M ovies don't interest me much, although I don't mind sitting through one with Cin. He tends to pick the most moronic movies, with loud explosions and zero plot. I'd rather watch a documentary or read a book.

I've noticed Tessa likes to read, too. I saw her the other day checking out the books on the shelf in the living room. Most of them are military thrillers and history books, so I doubted they were of any interest to her.

The military has always been my passion, which is why I joined when I was barely out of high school. My parents thought I was nuts. My sister did too.

Not me.

For many years, I loved my job, even when it was hell on earth in a war zone. Until the day when my luck ran out. I haven't forgotten the searing heat and stench of burning flesh.

After that, things were not the same. My commanding officer ruled I wasn't fit to be in charge of my unit. The psychologist I'd been seeing since the incident agreed, and not long after the army discharged me on medical grounds.

Cin followed a year later when his contract ended.

I watch him out of the corner of my eye as the movie plays out. It appears to be some kind of psychological horror based on a Stephen King novel. I can tell from the tight expression on Cin's face that he's not enjoying it at all.

It's kinda funny. The idiot is a real pussy when it comes to scary movies. Some guy in our unit decided he'd watch one of the Saw movies while we were between missions in Afghanistan.

Cin screamed like a girl at the first major scare. The guys gave him a lot of shit about that.

I flick away from Cin and watch Tessa for a moment. She appears engrossed in the plot, and for the first time all week, the pinch between her eyebrows has smoothed away.

She looks younger when she's not stressed or scowling. She's a gorgeous woman regardless, but I like this version of her more.

My mind drifts off on a tangent while the woman on the screen slowly but surely loses her ever-loving mind. I idly wonder what delicious noises Tessa would make with her red hair splayed out across my pillow and her thighs clamped around my head.

I figure I'm safe with my thoughts because the lights are dim, but I must be telegraphing something because when I look up, Cin is watching me, not the TV. I catch his smirk and realize a little too late that I better grab a cushion for my lap because, apparently, I can't control my dick.

He reaches for some popcorn at the exact same time as Tessa does and their hands touch for a moment before she pulls back. I picture them both on their knees, mouths open, ready to please me.

It's an intoxicating fantasy. Cin knows how to please me. He is a good little sub. I'm not so sure Tessa would step into that role. She doesn't seem like the submissive type, but I could be wrong.

"Would you like some chocolate?" Cin leans toward Tessa, distracting her from the movie.

"Erm, yeah."

"Fetch me a beer," I tell him when he stands. It might help distract me from my lewd thoughts.

"Me too," Tessa says.

Cin returns a few moments later with some chocolate and three beers. I swallow a few mouthfuls and then my eye catches on the way his throat bobs as he takes a drink of his beer.

It's been too long since we fucked. He's hinted at joining me a few times, but I've refused. I'd rather not indulge while Tessa's here. The walls aren't that thick, and she might be shocked if she discovers that we have a non-platonic friendship.

Or maybe not.

I suspect she knows. Cin's hardly discreet when he flirts. The guy's all high-octane charm and inappropriate banter.

Tessa isn't immune to him, even if she pretends to be. She's watching him now while he drinks his beer and makes a game of throwing popcorn up and catching it between his lush lips.

The movie plays out on screen but none of us are watching it. Both she and I are more interested in Cin. And the fucker knows it.

He rests the half-empty bottle of beer against his thigh, rubbing this thumb across the rim. It's a deliberately provocative gesture. One designed to turn me on.

"Cin," I growl in a low voice. Tessa's gaze snaps away from Cin and over to me. I note how flushed her cheeks are, and the way she sub-consciously rubs her thighs together, like she's seeking relief.

"Yes, Daddy?" he mocks, licking his lips suggestively.

"You're playing a dangerous game."

"Am I?"

Tessa watches both of us, unsure of what she's witnessing. I half expect her to bolt from the room when Cin stalks over and drops to his knees before me.

"Are you going to punish me?" he rasps, hopefully.

"I don't know. What do you think, Tessa?" I ask. "Does he deserve to be punished?"

"I...I..." she sucks in a shaky breath and rubs her thighs together again. Cin half turns toward her and smirks, but just as he opens his mouth to say something, the baby monitor lights up and we all hear Harry whimper.

"I have to..." Tessa jumps up, knocking the popcorn flying. Kernels scatter all over the floor and she freezes. "Shit."

"It's fine. Go check on Harry." She flies out of the room like her ass is on fire, leaving Cin with a rueful expression on his face and me with a hard-on that just won't quit.

"Well, shit," he says.