The Stories We Whisper at Night

by Sky Corgan

  “Oh.” I try to regain my composure but fall flat. “Good for you,” is all I can come up with.

  Apparently, my reaction wasn't good enough. They look like they expect something more. I'm not sure where to go with this. Right now they're reminding me of a Craigslist ad, the creepy kind where you open it up and see dick pics. Did they come over to ask me for a threesome?

  “So you guys are bi?” I point at them, struggling to make conversation. What a weird thing to talk about the first time you meet someone.

  “No.” Devlin shakes his head. “Gareth and I are close but not that close,” he laughs. “We just like being involved with the same woman. You see, I'm in the military, which makes it hard to carry out a normal relationship since I get deployed every so often. Gareth tends to work long hours at the hospital. With the way our schedules are, it's hard to keep a woman happy when we date separately. Together, though, it works.

  “Plus, it's like a bonus for the woman. Two loving men. We're both financially stable and emotionally available. The woman we're with wants for nothing.”

  It does sound like a pretty sweet deal. They're both stupidly gorgeous. One is in the military, the other in the medical field. It's like a fetish fantasy times two. Still, if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

  “Um.” I look around nervously, feeling trapped.

  “I suppose you're wondering why I'm even telling you all of this.” Devlin glances down at his feet for a moment before his eyes meet mine.

  “Kinda.” I screw my face.

  “Well.” He rocks on his heels. “We saw your picture on the dating site. You're single. We're single. So I figured it wouldn't hurt to come over here and express interest.”

  Express interest. Really? They're actually interested in me. Both of them?

  “This is a lot to take in.” I rub the back of my neck.

  “Too much for you?” Devlin quirks an eyebrow, looking cocky.

  I roll my eyes, remembering their profile name. “Really?” I place a hand on my hip and tilt my head to the side.

  “Sorry. Had to,” he laughs but then quickly regains his composure. "How about this? Come over for dinner tonight. No strings attached. Say eightish? We'll cook for you. Gareth makes a mean steak. That is if you're not a vegetarian.” He cringes slightly as if he fears he made a mistake.

  “I'm not a vegetarian.” I giggle.

  He pulls his phone out of his pocket to check the time. “Awesome. Um, there's still some time between now and eight. I know this is all really sudden, so if you need to take some time to think about it, that's fine. If you don't find us attractive or aren't interested or don't think this is for you, then you don't have to show up. No hard feelings.” Devlin holds his hands up and takes a step back.

  “Alright.” I stare at him, still processing the offer.

  “Hopefully, we'll see you later.” He gives Gareth a gentle slap on the shoulder to get him moving.

  “We'll see.”

  “Bye.” Gareth waves at me awkwardly before they both turn away and head back towards their house.

  I stand there for several seconds watching them walk away while I slowly close the door. My eyes drift down to their butts. Devlin is in dark jeans and Gareth is wearing cut off shorts. I bet they both look amazing naked. I've already seen half of the package, and I can't deny that I want to see the rest. Still, this is absolutely insane.

  It's not until I close the door that I realize how rapidly my heart is beating. That entire conversation was incredibly surreal. Part of me doesn't even believe it happened.

  They came over not to introduce themselves but to hit on me. That's the real reason why they showed up. The thought makes my heart flutter.

  Two handsome men vying for my attention. Not vying. Sharing?

  How does that even work, I wonder.

  I exhale a long breath and go into my office to get on the computer. Gareth said that they're into polyamory, but I don't know much about it. The first thing that comes to mind is polygamy, specifically the shows on television where one guy has ten wives. Sister wives, I think they're called. However, Devlin said that they want to share one woman, not the other way around.

  From all of my research, it seems that polyamory is a loving relationship between multiple people. Does that mean that Devlin and Gareth love each other? It's still all a bit confusing to me. Maybe I'll ask more questions if I go over tonight.

  But that brings up the real question. Should I go over?

  I just met these guys, and I've learned from enough bad dates that it's never a good idea to go into the home of a strange guy when you don't know his intentions. Two men could be double trouble.

  Double trouble.

  A smirk crosses my face as I think of what that trouble that could be. One sucking on my nipples while the other rams his thick cock into me. Or maybe me on my hands and knees, sucking one of them off while the other takes me from behind. Just imaging the three of us writhing naked together on a bed is getting me all worked up. Their hands on me, groping me roughly. Their mouths kissing me. They're dicks fighting to get inside of me.

  No. I shake my head. I can't think like that. Meaningless sex will only make me feel horrible about myself. I've had the one-night stand experience, and it wasn't good. I don't want that again.

  Going over there could be nothing but bad news. Another mistake.

  I sigh, lifting my hand to look at my watch. As Devlin said, there's still plenty of time to decide.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  DEVLIN

  “That went well.” I lounge back on the sofa, pleased.

  “You really think so?” Gareth huffs.

  “I do.” I nod, a smirk creeping across my face as I think of how disheveled Rose looked. I can't help but wonder if she has any idea how sexy she is. Everything in me wanted to pull her hair out of that bun, watch it cascade over her shoulders, press her against the door and take her right there. Who cares if the whole neighborhood saw? It would be hot as hell.

  “You have high hopes, man.” Gareth is already in the kitchen getting everything prepared for dinner. He looks nervous, but he has no reason to be. I saw the flash of desire in Rose's eyes. She wanted him. She wanted us both.

  “What makes you say that?” I flip on the television, catching the tail end of the game I was watching earlier.

  “She looked freaked out,” stress is apparent in his voice.

  “You worry too much.” I roll my eyes at him even though he can't see it. He's always been the pessimist between us, constantly anticipating the worst case scenario.

  “I'm just telling you what I saw.” He pulls a bag of new potatoes out of the pantry and gets to work peeling them.

  “Did you see that her nipples were hard?”

  That shuts him up. I know he was looking. How could he not have been. She's got the most perfect set of tits ever.

  “She was also blushing,” I add.

  “She could have just been hot,” he mutters.

  “Hot for our cocks,” I snort.

  “So vulgar. I thought we weren't about that.”

  “We're not.” I don't even look at him. “But I'm keeping it real. I want to bury my dick in her. Bury my dick in her while you bury your dick in her.” I smirk at him. “Fill her so full that all she can do is moan in pleasure. See that pretty, little mouth in a permanent O.”

  “She does have nice breasts. And a pretty face. I hope she comes tonight.” He nods while he works.

  “Oh, she'll come. Again and again and again if we have anything to do with it.”

  “What happened to no strings attached?” Gareth quirks an eyebrow at me though he's grinning all the while.

  “You know I'm just playing.” I yawn. “We wouldn't want to scare her away. She is our neighbor, after all. If she's not up for what we have to offer, then that will be the end of it.”

  “And we'll know that if she comes over or not.” His eyes widen for effect.

  “Even if she co
mes over, it doesn't mean anything. Girls are flighty. Besides, we have no idea what her personality is like.” I screw my face.

  That has been an issue in the past. Some of the hottest girls are as dumb as a box of rocks. That hasn't kept me from fucking them, but it has definitely kept me from pursuing a relationship with them. Thankfully, Gareth and I have the same taste when it comes to intelligence. It's brains or get the fuck out.

  “Her personality is awkward. But I think it's kind of cute. Hopefully, she loosens up a bit when she's over.”

  “That's what wine is for.” I wait for a commercial before pulling myself off of the sofa to rummage through our wine cabinet. “What should we go with tonight?”

  “I'm thinking a merlot or cabernet sauvignon. It will pair well with the steaks.” Gareth glances at me over the kitchen island.

  “How about the Harlan Estate, Cabernet Sauvignon Double Magnum 2009?” I pull the bottle out and look at the label. “Double Magnum, like us,” I laugh.

  “This is a first date. We're not marrying the girl. Get the Robert Mondavi, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.”

  “You're so cheap.” I shake my head at him, putting the first bottle away to grab the less expensive one.

  “We don't even know if she likes red wine.” He empties the bowl of potato peelings into the trash.

  “I like red wine.” I stand with the bottle.

  “Well, if you're being selfish, then get whatever bottle you want. You shouldn't choose one just because it makes your dick sound bigger.” He smirks.

  I pretend to throw something at him, and he ducks, reminding me of a dog chasing after an imaginary ball. “I have nothing.” I hold up my free hand and chuckle at him.

  “You're a dick.” He glowers at me. “Are you going to help me with this or not? This dinner was your idea, after all.”

  “I am helping. I got the wine.” I place the bottle on the kitchen counter. He's not amused. “Fine, fine. I'll go start the grill.”

  “Please do. I don't want her thinking that I'm the bitch of this relationship.”

  “But you are the bitch of the relationship.” I smile at him over my shoulder as I head to the backyard to fire up the grill.

  It takes a while for my confidence to begin to falter. The more I replay the conversation with Rose over in my head, the more I worry that she won't show up. Gareth was right, she did seem a bit uncomfortable. And I did come on way too strong. Only time will tell, though, and we're no worse off than when we started if she doesn't show up. Still, I hope she does come. Gareth and I have been alone for far too long.

  I try not to think about it as I help Gareth set up for dinner. The mood shifts while we work. There's less ball busting and a lot more reflecting on the possible scenarios. If Rose doesn't show up tonight, we'll both be depressed. I imagine that we'll just eat dinner and then go out to a bar. If she does show up, though...who knows what the night will hold.

  The clock ticks down to eight o'clock. With all the preparations done, Gareth and I sit on the sofa. Waiting.

  The air is heavy as the minutes pass. 8:00 PM comes and goes, and a sick feeling balls in my stomach as the reality hits me that Rose might not come. At 8:10 PM, Gareth finally turns to me. “Should we eat?”

  My mouth is dry and there's a hollowness in my chest. I had really hoped this would work out. Instead, we just ended up making asses of ourselves. Gareth was right. We never should have gone over there.

  “Are you hungry?” I glance at him.

  He sighs. “Not really, but we should eat. I see a whole lot of alcohol in our future tonight.”

  “Alcohol and a one-night stand.” I force a grin.

  “I'm whatever at this point.” He pushes himself off of the sofa.

  I feel bad, like this was a bigger let down for him than it was for me. Of course, I'm disappointed too. But he has talked a whole lot about being lonely lately. I'm not sure how much longer this can go on before he surrenders to the idea of trying to find someone on his own. And we both know how that always turns out.

  “You made the right call on the Robert Mondavi, Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve.” I stand to go to the kitchen to find a corkscrew.

  When I'm halfway there, the doorbell rings. I quickly pull my phone out of my pocket to check the time. The display reads 8:13 PM. Still, I know it's her. Who else could it be?

  I turn to look at Gareth.

  He lets out a breathy laugh. “Maybe we weren't stood up after all.”

  “There's only one way to find out.” I half-walk, half-jog to the door. Before I open it, I plaster on my best confident smile. No hint of the doubt I had before is left on my face.

  Rose is standing there, looking sheepish and beautiful. Her dark hair is pulled back into a sleek ponytail. She's wearing a simple blue and white dress, but it's absolutely stunning on her, hugging all of her curves perfectly.

  “Sorry I'm late.” She holds her clutch in front of her, her voice mousey.

  “We were starting to worry you weren't going to show up,” Gareth calls over my shoulder.

  “Come in.” I step aside, ushering her in. As soon as her back is to me, my grin turns wolfish. The night is just about to begin.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  ROSE

  Delicious food, great wine, and devastatingly handsome men. What more could a girl want? Much more. More than she should. Desires completely fueled by the headiness of wine. Maybe not completely fueled, but the alcohol certainly didn't help to tame what was already there.

  It's amazing how quickly awkwardness turned to comfort after a few glasses of red. For the most part, the guys have kept things casual. Over dinner, we talked about our jobs and backgrounds and all of the standard get-to-know-you stuff. Now the meal is over and I'm sandwiched between them on the sofa. And by sandwiched, I mean they're both sitting so close to me that I don't even have to put effort into keeping my legs shut. This should feel weird, but somehow it doesn't.

  There's a Vampire Diaries marathon playing on the television, and I can't help but wear a shit-eating grin. Either they're bisexual or they're watching this to please me. I'm going to take a guess that it's the latter of the two. Devlin acts far too manly to be into a show like this. Gareth seems more passive, going with the flow.

  If they're trying to impress me, the cooking and being gentlemen has done it. This is overkill. I probably just think that because I don't really like The Vampire Diaries, though. Since I'm not able to concentrate on the show due to lack of interest, it seems like all of the chemistry in the room has dried up. Now we're just sitting around, and nervousness is beginning to creep back in. I feel like I need to do something to keep it from turning into full-blown awkwardness.

  “So, are you guys sure you're not bisexual because I'm pretty sure no straight guy would watch this.” I swirl the wine in my glass before taking another sip. This is glass number two, and it's definitely helped to remove some of the filter between my mouth and my brain. I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Hopefully, I don't say something too offensive or stupid. That does seem to happen from time to time when I've been drinking.

  “I promise we're not.” Devlin reassures me.

  “Because if I read correctly, polyamory is a loving relationship between all people, which would have to mean that you two love each other.” I set my glass down on the coffee table, realizing I've had enough. My face flapping could potentially ruin this for me if I drink anymore.

  “We do love each other.” Devlin looks across me at Gareth. “Like best friends love each other. But we don't fuck each other.”

  That's too bad. It would be kinda hot if you did. I think it, but I dare not say it. I would not want them thinking that I'm weird or some pervert.

  “I don't get how that works. So like, does one of you watch while the other...does his thing?” I gesture between them.

  Devlin pushes himself away from the sofa slightly, leaning towards me. His smirk is absolutely devilish, making my pulse race as he crosses my personal space boun
dary. “Would you like for us to show you?”

  I'm so shocked by how suddenly the mood in the room has shifted that I feel paralyzed. I'm not afraid, more nervous. In the beat of a hummingbird's wings, things have gone from casual to sexual. Devlin looks like a predator eying prey, and I'm right in his crosshairs.

  My heart thumps in my chest as his face draws near to mine. With Gareth sitting so close to me, there's nowhere to escape to. This is exactly why I was reluctant to come over in the first place.

  Before Devlin's mouth has a chance to make contact with mine, I raise my hand, creating a barrier between us. “I don't do one-night stands.”

  He looks somewhat disappointed but doesn't pressure me further, resting back on the sofa. “Neither do we.”

  The playful atmosphere I was trying to create dissipates, and we're all seriousness. You couldn't cut the tension in the room with a knife. Part of me wants to leave, but a bigger part of me is stubborn. If I walk away now, I might be throwing away a great opportunity. An opportunity for what, though?

  “What would this be if not a one-night stand?” It feels like I'm just asking to be lied to. This is where they ply me with slick words. Say everything that needs to be said to get me into bed. Guys are good at that. It's like a game to them. And I bet that both Devlin and Gareth are great players.

  “We'd like a relationship, if things go well,” Gareth says, staring forward as if he's afraid to look at me.

  I'm surprised to hear him speak first. He's the strong, silent type. Shy and fairly reserved in comparison to his friend. Just from the way he acts, I'm inclined to believe that he's the most honest of the two as well.

  “It would actually be pretty convenient, if you think about it.” Devlin stretches and slips his arm around me. “I mean, you live right next door. We could see each other whenever we wanted to. It's not like distance would be an issue.

  “Gareth likes cooking, so you could come over for dinner several times a week. Or we could cook at your place. Do you like cooking?” He glances down at me.

  “Not particularly.” I feel almost bad admitting it, but cooking has never been my forte.