Page 35 of Petals of Blue, Part One (Wilted Duet #1)

Thirty

FELIX

I'm going to snap. All night long I tried to approach Blue at the club. Her friends kept getting in the way and shaking their heads at me. I'm their boss, so I could have demanded I see Blue. I didn't because manipulating the situation and using my position to force it won't win me brownie points.

We agreed to give Blue some space for a while because it was clear she needed time to think. She hasn't completely blocked us out of her life, which has allowed us to begin mending what we broke. I'm just getting antsy with only feeding her dinner at work.

I want more.

On the other hand, I'm so fucking horny I'm losing my mind.

I haven't so much as looked at another woman since I almost got to second base with Blue almost two months ago. I've been far too anxious to see her and fix things, so my priorities are fucked.

My poor dick is being neglected and, to top it off, Blue is always dressed is the most amazing outfits. She's toned, curvy, and my God, her hair is amazing.

Then there's Declan. I'm pissed off because there shouldn't be anything—zero vibes—between us. But ever since that morning in the coffee shop, there's more.

It's a mindfuck. I have Roman eyeing me left and right with threatening glares. Jared pokes at me, telling me I should figure my shit out constantly, and the man who's exciting me is avoiding me.

Declan's had the great excuse of a busy café in the morning and early afternoons when I'm free. Our work schedules make it impossible for me to see him, especially when he does everything in his power to run away from me.

Now it's Monday, and I know for a fact he won't be going into work today. Why? Because I lied and said I had to go in and do inventory this morning.

He's shown his patterns by not being wherever I am, so I'm forcing the issue now. We will talk this out.

The house has been quiet this morning with Jared at the high school today and Roman off stalking Blue. Or as he likes to call it, hanging around her apartment building in hopes of seeing her.

Poor guy is struggling. We're all worried that our efforts aren't appreciated. She hasn't told us to fuck off in a while, though, so that's a win.

I've been sitting at the kitchen island for about half an hour when I decide I've had enough. It's almost ten in the morning, and my anxiety is through the fucking roof. Declan and I need to sort this out right fucking now.

Swallowing the last sip of my black coffee, I stand and beg my heart to calm down. I am in control. Right? That's why I'm taking advantage of my lie so we can have this chat on my terms.

If I've learned anything about Declan's approach with me, it's that he will avoid it at all costs. And hide it too, obviously, because I had no fucking idea. Does that make me the bad guy?

Picking up my pace, I round the corner to the back hallway where Declan and Jared's rooms are. D's door is closed, so he must be asleep. Well, not for much longer.

I grip the handle and shove it open, my angst getting the best of me as I barrel through the door. "We need to talk," I demand, but I end up gasping on my words.

A strangled noise erupts from Declan just as his rock hard cock releases ropes and ropes of cum. Our eyes lock, his wide but full of pleasure, and I'd bet my ass that mine look similar.

Holy shit. Holy. Fucking. Shit.

"Fuck, Felix," Declan groans, his voice thick with a remaining moan. His hips buck one last time, and saliva pools in my mouth. I swear my dick jumps with his movement too.

My chest vibrates as if something inside of me is shifting with all the new possibilities before me. It's been a long damn time since I've fucked around with a man. But Declan looks like something else.

D is all man who looks ready for round two.

"Felix, don't," he mutters, but he doesn't cover himself.

I'm really not sure what he's saying no to, so I step toward him. Thinner than me, Declan looks a bit more cut and firm. I lick my lips, wanting to taste the divot between his six-pack. Christ, I don't even know what I came in here to say to him. I never decided how I felt.

Right now, with him naked like a fucking offering, I'm not sure there is any other choice I would consider.

"Felix, stop. Please. Not like this."

I halt, realizing I'm just about at the foot of the bed. His words make me pause and reassess. The look on his face, while still full of lust, has a fuckton of wariness now.

"Shit," I curse, dragging my hand through my hair. I turn away. I hear the bed move and fabric being tossed around, but I don't look. Holy shit, I just watched my friend orgasm and was prepared to lick the cum right from his stomach.

What is wrong with me? I've just ruined everything.

A firm hand on my bicep stops me, and I close my eyes, not willing to make him uncomfortable again. "Felix, it's okay."

I can't help my laugh. "It definitely was not okay."

"Can you look at me, please?"

"No." Although that might be the better option since I keep seeing his hot fucking body behind my eyelids. Fuck, he's burned into my brain.

He pushes me, bothering me just enough for my eyes to snap open and glare at him. Declan's grin is small, but it's there. The relief I feel is immense.

"Calm down, man. It's not a big deal."

The fuck did he just say to me? "Excuse me?"

He rolls his eyes, and the image of spanking his ass appears before I can stop it. "We've seen each other naked before. It's fine."

Ah, I see what he's doing. Running from me and his feelings like normal. "Don't. Don't fucking do that, D. I came in here to talk about your crush on me."

He hums but fails to mask the hurt in his gaze. In a pair of boxers and a black sweatshirt, he looks cuddly. I shake that thought away, feeling less and less in control by the moment.

"Exactly, Felix," he says sadly with that damn grin still in place. "It's my crush. No reason to bring you down with something one-sided."

Fuck no. Absolutely not. I advance on him and take satisfaction when his eyes widen. Chest to chest, I still have a few inches on him, so I use it to crowd his body with mine.

"What exactly do you think I almost did a moment ago, Declan?"

He gulps. "I—I don't—"

"No. Stop bullshitting. Tell me what you think I was going to do after you moaned my fucking name.

" I'm angry. Not with him, but with myself.

I'm so confused, yet my instincts aren't taking the hint to back off and reevaluate.

All I know is I need Declan to admit he saw me salivating for him and demand I admit my own feelings too.

"You looked like you were going to eat me."

He gasps as I grip his jaw. "Good job," I mumble and hold him a little tighter so he knows who's in charge. Control. "Now tell me why you asked me to stop when I know you want me too."

He gulps, and fuck me does it make my balls ache with the need to release. Preferably on or in him. "I didn't—I don't want this," he waves a hand in the minuscule space between us, "to only be about sex. I—Fuck, Felix. That's not all this is for me."

I narrow my eyes. "And who said it was only sexual for me?"

He snorts, the bastard. "I have nothing else to go on, asshole."

"Then let me talk," I snap.

He pushes me again. "You won't stop asking questions!"

"And you won't stop hiding from me!" I shake him a little, making our mouths brush ever so slightly. His breath hitches, and my lungs tighten. Or maybe that's my pants.

"What am I supposed to do?!" he retorts, and I'm ready to shout right back when a voice that absolutely should not be here interrupts.

"Next step would be kissing."

Blue.