Untamed (A Moretti Novel) (5 page)

Steve stepped into the living room and groaned.  “Oh surprise.  You know, we can upgrade to a three bedroom if you’re moving in, Merck.”

“If you’d just admit you’re in love with me, life would be so much easier.  I’ll move in but I’m not sleeping with you until you buy me dinner.  I’m not easy.  It will take some effort.”

Damien chuckled.  He had spent two hours with Kevin and
he was hilarious.  His quick wit had him laughing the entire time.  Lil had told him all about the group of friends that he had missed for the last fourteen years.  There were new additions and marriages and babies.  His mind spun.  The minute he heard he had saved Ryan’s life, he had a whole new respect for him.  And knowing his relationship with Lily had been more than just friendly made him even more confused. 

“You hear the interview?  It was crazy at the station.  The phone lit up the minute we
announced you.”  Steve threw Damien a bottle of water.  “Guess you’re a hit.  The song is really good, man.”

“What song?”  Kevin realized he knew nothing about the man that was sitting next to Lily on the floor.

“Damien is the lead singer of the band Liquid Regret.  You’ll know who they are soon enough.”  She leaned into him and smiled.  “They’re really good.”

“Congrats, man.”  Kevin stood and shook his hand.  “I’ve got to get home to the wife.  I’m sure she misses me by now.
Doll, I’ll see you on Monday.”

“I have some stuff for Andi.  I told her I would send her some stuff from the station for the pediatric floor.  I’ll walk you
out.”  Steve grabbed his keys and followed Kevin out the front door.

When the door shut, Damien turned his attention to Lily.  “Seems like a cool guy.”

“He is.”  She stretched her arms over her head.  “His wife is awesome.”

“And Steve?”
  Damien questioned.

“
He’s a cool guy too.”  She smiled.  “I’m really lucky to have the two of them.  I miss home like crazy but they keep me grounded.”

“You and Steve would make a good couple.  You should ask him out.”  Damien held his breath waiting for the answer.  Lily made him nervous.  He
couldn’t think straight with her around. 

“No.  He’s my best friend.  I need that more than I need to date someone.  It’s hard to find friends like him.  I wouldn’t risk it.”  Lily smiled down at him. 

“Would you be open to dating someone else then?”

“Are you asking me out, Damien?”  Lily laughed.

“Depends on what your answer would be.”  He reached out and took her hand. 

“Why don’t you ask me again tonight when you pick me up for dinner
?”

Steve paced the living room.  The minute Damien had arrived with flowers in his hand, he knew he was screwed.  Lily wasn’t his.  He knew that.  But his heart was pounding out of his chest waiting for her to get home.  It was hard to breathe and his stomach was in knots. 

Last night had been a shock.  Lily had been so open.  He had never been so turned on in his entire life.  Being with her had been so different than it had been with Amber.  She had no inhibitions at all.  She wasn’t nervous or ashamed.  She knew her body and what she liked.  He had dreamed of being with her but last night had proven that being with her in person was better than he ever imagined.  He had wanted to bury himself deep, to get lost in her body.  But it was Lily.  She was his best friend.  As amazing as it had been, he feared last night was a mistake.  They needed to talk.

And now she was out with Damien.  He growled.  He was burning up the living room carpet with his pacing.  This was ridiculous.  She was a single woman and Damien was an attractive guy.  He was the lead singer in the next big band.  Shit.  He was screwed. 

He heard voices at the front door and froze.  Two AM.  He crossed his arms over his chest as they came into the living room.  They both stopped and looked at him. Damien raised his eyebrows waiting for Steve to say something. 

Lily tilted her head to the side taking in the emotion written all over his face.  “Steve?”

“I need to talk to you.  Alone.”  He walked down the hall toward his bedroom.

Lily told Damien to pick out a movie and then she followed him to his room.  Steve was sitting on his bed, no expression on his face.  “Are you ok?”

“I don’t know.”  He blew out a breath.  “I think we need to talk about last night.”

Lily sat next to him and put her hand on his knee.  “I will talk about whatever you need to.  Just please don’t say it was a mistake.”

Steve ran his hands through his hair.  He took a deep breath, her scent surrounded him and he smiled.  “Not a mistake.  Just not sure what it was.”

“Steve.”  Lily turned to face him and took his hands.  “I think it was just two people giving each other what they needed.
  It was amazing.”

“I wanted to take it farther.  Jesus, Lil.  I wanted to do so much more.”  He brought his eyes back to hers.  “I still do.
  You’re my best friend and I can’t stop thinking about how good it would be.  And that would fuck everything up.”

“I need you in my life.  I
’ll never do anything to jeopardize our friendship.”  Lily giggled.  “But I wanted more too.”

Steve’s body instantly responded.  He closed his eyes.  “You better get back out there to Damien. 
Before I do something I’ll regret.”

When he smiled, she laughed and left the room.  He watched her go.  She had broken through the walls that guarded his heart and he felt the flutter that he had tried
so hard to push away.  He walked to the dresser and picked up Amber’s engagement ring.  Running his fingers over the diamond, he repeated the words that had become the only reality he knew.
No one can hurt you if you don’t let them in
.

Chapter 6

“Am I seeing things?  Steve Wainwright is working out in my gym and not across town with the hot roommate?”  Ryan laughed as he smacked him on the shoulder.  “Good to see you, man.”

“Good to see you too,
West.  The hot roommate has spent the past two weeks with the rock star boyfriend.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.  I know you had a thing for her.” 

“Nah. It’s cool.  It’s good to have Damien back.  They spent last week in Georgia so I’ve had the apartment to myself.  Soul possession of the remote control.  No make up all over the sink.”  Steve shook his head.  “We’re better off just friends.”

“Keep telling yourself that.  Friends don’t keep you warm at night.”  Ryan lifted one eye brow and smirked.

“Depends on how close a friend they are.”  Kevin interrupted and they both shook their heads.  “What?  She was my friend and she kept my bed warm.”

“Not helping, Merck.”  Steve stepped off the elliptical. 

“Dude, she’s one of my best friends too.  I think if you want her, it isn’t too late.  She likes Damien but I don’t think it’s as serious as you think it is.”  As Kevin walked away, he laughed.  “They came back early since tomorrow is your birthday.”

“What?”  Steve called after him but Kevin kept walking.  “Shit.”

“You leaving then?”  Ryan laughed as Steve shook his head yes.  “See you tomorrow night.  Get some sleep.  Guys night is going to be out of control.”

If being away from her the entire week was any indication of how screwed he was, Steve had no doubt that watching them together would be torture.  He had missed her.  His heart rate spiked every time she called.  He thought about her constantly.  Damien had gotten to meet her family after two weeks.  That screamed serious.  But what if Kevin was right
?  Was she not as serious about Damien as he thought?  He would not get in the way if they seemed solid.  He wouldn’t confuse her if he saw she really liked him.  All this worrying was making him feel sick.  There was only one way to find out the truth.  He grabbed his keys and headed out of the gym. 

“
Alright.  I’ll bite. What gives?”  Damien pulled Lily into his lap.  “Spill it.”

She smiled at him.  “Is this weird?  What we’re doing?”

“What are we doing?”  Damien’s smile fell.  “I thought we were having fun.”

“We are.”  Lily sighed.  “You’re ok with just this?  I know I told you I wasn’t ready for any intense relationship, but I never asked you what you wanted.”

“Baby, I’m fine with whatever you want.  I don’t want a serious thing right now.  Maybe never.  It’s not a hardship to be in bed with you every night.  You’re hot, you’re funny.  You’re great Lil.  I like you.”  Damien nibbled at her ear.  “Even if you do have that stupid mouth rule.”

“It is not a stupid rule.”  She snuggled into his chest.  “I just think a kiss is really intimate.  I know it may sound weird
after what happened in Georgia.  I’m not mad.  But, for me, a kiss is a really intense thing.  A kiss is full of feeling and it’s a way to tell someone that you love them.  I’ve only kissed two people.  Ever.  It’s serious to me.”

“And do I know either of these lucky men?”  Damien held her a little closer.

“No.”  She laughed.  “They were both back home.”

“Not even lover boy Merck?”  When her face scrunched up, he
shook smiled.  “Let’s make a deal so we can get that worry off your face.  If it’s weird that we may become just ‘friends with benefits’, we’ll talk to each other.  I’m not gonna lie to you.  I feel something for you.  I don’t know what it is.  I don’t usually over analyze anything so I’m going with the flow.  We go on the road in a couple weeks and it’s probably better if we keep things casual for now.  Agreed?”

She shook his hand. 
“Agreed.  After everything that happened, will you still be my midnight booty call?”

“I will be your anytime booty call.”
  Damien picked her up and was about to carry her to the bedroom when the front door opened.  “Shit.”

Steve threw his keys on the table in the foyer and stopped short when he looked up.  His eyes locked with a smiling Lily, currently being held by a very aggravated Damien. 

She jumped out of his arms and ran toward Steve.  “Hi.  I missed you so much.”  She threw her arms around him and giggled.  “It was hard to sleep without you snoring next to me.”

Steve laughed.  “I missed you too.”  Looking at Damien, he continued.  “Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“It’s cool.  She was wondering when you’d be home.  You two chat, I’ve got an early morning so I’m gonna head out to the hotel.”  He kissed Lily on the top of the head and smiled.  “I’ll see you on Sunday.  Be careful tomorrow night.  I’ve heard about those girl’s nights.  Call me if you need a ride home.”