Warrior's Craft Four Guys & A Witch (7 page)

“We can back you up, tell him what an idiot he is, missing out on a great guy.” Andy nudged DC playfully.

“Thanks, that’ll help.” DC shook his head. “Public confrontation isn’t going to work on Reed.”

Phoebe nodded. “You know him better than anyone, DC. You fell for him. So put it all out there, and see what happens. Reed has been pulling back, and it’s not going to help the spell. More importantly, it could ruin what we’re building. If you guys want to keep me around, that is.”

Jude and Andy exchanged a look, and Phoebe found herself in the middle of a spoon snuggle that made her melt. They held her tight and demanded nothing. “We’re not losing you. How many women could handle four men
and
demon battles? A sex drive like yours doesn’t happen every day.” Jude kissed the back of her neck.

DC leaned over and kissed her lips. “They’re right. You’re not the problem. It’s my fault for letting this drag on.”

“Don’t blame yourself. Reed’s a hard guy to talk to a lot of the time. Anything personal and he freaks.” Andy patted DC’s shoulder.

“He’s right. You go have it out with Reed. We’re going to have a reenergizing nap with our lady here. She’s not even strong enough yet to see if the demons moved on to a new place or stayed in that trashed house.” Jude waved DC away.

* * *

When Reed came home, DC was waiting for him at the kitchen table. The fear bubbled up again. During college, DC’d had his hopes. Afterward, he’d pushed it all away and focused on being friends, but the old feelings had never died.

“Where is everyone?” Reed asked.

“They’re up with Phoebe, resting.”

Reed’s eyebrow lifted.

“No, actually napping. We’re not sex addicts.” DC sorted through the lunches.

“I’ll take the lunches up.” Reed paused. “Are you okay?”

“We need to talk after you deliver the food.” DC grabbed a couple sodas and sat at the table.

DC took a deep breath. It was the longest five minutes of his life. It didn’t matter what Reed said, DC just had to get his stuff out. Then he’d walk away if he had to, go back to teaching and maybe get his Master’s. Education was safe, but he’d miss the danger and the feeling of helping others -- not to mention Phoebe, Andy, and Jude. It wasn’t fair, but life often wasn’t.

Reed walked back in and opened his lunch. “What’s going on? Jude’s jaw isn’t broken. They all looked content to me.”

“It’s not them. Why were you holding back earlier?” DC asked.

Reed’s handsome face scrunched. “She’s one woman. I’m not going to rush her or act like it’s a pile on.”

“It’s not like that and you know it. Half the time she’s starting stuff.” DC wasn’t taking any crap. Not today.

“Well, there’s only one of her. You guys play your way, but I’m not.” Reed shrugged. “Is she pissed?”

“No, it’s just… We can feel it. You’re pulling back, like it’s weird or something.” DC sipped his soda.

Reed pushed his lunch away. “I didn’t know you were into guys. I mean, in college maybe you played around: group, whatever. Okay. You liked the freaky girls. Those guys are into you. It’s weird. Couples fall in love. Not groups.”

“You think Phoebe doesn’t love all of us?”

“I think she does, but long term? I don’t know how it works. Andy and Jude are solid. If you want to play with them…” Reed’s eyes went cold. “It’s your ass, but will it work? You won’t want someone all to yourself? Special? We all had a thing for her. No one moved on it so we didn’t screw up our friendship. How can it work now?”

“It works. Or mostly it seems to with her. You’re the one making it weird.” DC sat back.

“Me? How?” Reed folded his arms.

DC felt the chill. “You’re holding back. I can feel it. Maybe you’re not comfortable with the group thing. You need to tell everyone then, so we can figure it out.”

Reed shook his head. “I can share. We may not have a traditional set up, but I’m not greedy.”

“So what is it?” DC asked.

“I’m fine. Maybe it’s how you guys see it? Because I’m not there doing guys with you? Don’t you have enough? A great girl and two hot guys to suck on aren’t enough for everyone?” Reed’s words cut but his demeanor never changed.

DC had seen this side of Reed, and he wasn’t going to be scared off. “Right. It’s not you. It’s me. Andy and Jude are great. I love them but it’s not the same. I wanted Phoebe as much as you did, and we have her, but we’re still not happy. I’m missing one thing.”

“Happy doesn’t matter. We’re doing the job, and now have a woman in the mix to help. It’s better. You want a fairy tale? It’s not in Detroit.” Reed stabbed his fork into his lunch and got up.

DC stood and blocked his path. “No. We’re going to talk about this. I’m not delusional. It might be all on my side, but you have to hear it.”

“Hear what?” Reed backed up to the counter and tried to avoid eye contact.

“I thought it was just a college crush. Playing with Andy and Jude made me see that bisexuality was real, and I was into it. But I’ve never gone the easy route. The guys who were into me weren’t who I wanted.” DC was used to the agony of the hard road, but blurting it out at Reed would mean he’d shut down.

“Andy and Jude aren’t hot enough for you? You want to troll the gay bars for younger hotter guys? We can use all the fighters you want, but I’m not letting Phoebe be used like that.” Reed held his ground.

“No! Damn it, I don’t want any other guys. I want you. I know you’ve never shown any interest -- and it might all be in my head -- but we clicked in college. Not like anyone else. You might think it’s friendship, but it’s more on my end.” DC stepped back. “I’m not going to make it hell, but Phoebe said at the beginning, if we’re not honest and open the spell won’t connect us as well. I could be the one holding it all back, because I can’t tell you I’m in love with you as much as I love Phoebe.”

Reed’s face went blank and hard with control, as if he was taking a blow to the gut and not flinching. The relief DC felt was short lived. He waited for a real reaction.

“Andy and Jude aren’t enough?” Reed asked.

“It’s not about them. It’s different. What we have is deeper than what I have with them. Friendship and sex is fine but it’s not the same. You can tell me it’s all on my side and to get the hell out, but if you do -- I won’t come back.” DC hadn’t told the others but he couldn’t play games. He and Reed were blunt with each other, and DC wasn’t going to torture himself by living with Reed and the pain.

Reed shook his head. “How can you do this to me? To the group? After all these years?”

“You didn’t know? You didn’t feel it?” DC couldn’t believe it.

“I thought Andy and Jude were looking at me. Like we all look at women. You’re going to ruin everything? I can’t do this without you.” Reed kicked a kitchen chair.

“This isn’t about the group or the mission. Stop putting up walls and think about it.” DC put his hands up. “You know what? You’re right. If you don’t feel it, you don’t. If saying I love you doesn’t make you think or pause or feel at all -- I don’t want you. It’s all in my head.”

DC turned and headed toward the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Reed asked.

“Packing up my things and saying good-bye. I can’t handle it. And I’m your weakest link anyway.” He held up his healing arm. “You’ll be stronger without me.”

* * *

For a few minutes, Reed stood frozen in the kitchen. DC had done the unthinkable. Bailing on the group? The pain hit Reed in the chest. It wouldn’t work better. It wouldn’t work at all!

Storming up the stairs, he pushed DC into his bedroom and locked the door behind them. “You can’t leave, you coward. You can’t quit on this. You’re the brains. We need you.”

DC shrugged and grabbed his suitcase from the closet. “Keep blaming everyone else, Reed. You had a messed up childhood, poor you. I know you got the abuse, and then yanked between strict religious obedience and the pagan side. That’s why I let all this slide for so long. That’s my bad for letting you use it.”

“Use it?” Reed wanted to hit DC and do other things. “Use it? I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.”

“It’s an excuse for not letting people in.” DC dumped a drawer full of clothes in his suitcase.

“Phoebe.” Reed felt his control slipping. The edge was coming up on him, and he couldn’t jump or fly. “I love her.”

“So do I. That’s not the problem. Are you really so locked down you don’t get it?” DC paused his packing. “Back in college, I wasn’t the only one. Andy and Jude thought you and I would be a couple. Part of them inviting me into that group thing was to see if I liked both. We were such good friends, and they thought you were into me. Maybe it’d make you jealous or get some interest. I trusted their instincts. They know gay men. Immature college crap, maybe, but it felt good. If I’m wrong, tell me.”

Reed leaned on the door. DC couldn’t go. It just couldn’t happen. “I had an uncle who was gay. My dad found out and refused to talk to him. Ever. My mother couldn’t see her brother.”

“Your dad is an asshole. How many times have you told me that? You feel guilty because you can’t live up to everyone’s expectations, but that’s because you know they’re wrong. So you just go be miserable. Enjoy the suffering, and try to please everyone but yourself. I’m done.” DC opened his closet and yanked clothes off hangers.

In the years they’d known each other, Reed had seen DC lose his temper so rarely it was like a nightmare. DC was the rock. They could all think Reed was the tough one, but DC was the core to Reed. The longing he’d shut down so hard forced its way to the top.

“You’re right.” Reed exhaled loudly. “My dad screwed up my life, my mother’s, and my whole family. If Nana wasn’t a secret pagan, I swear I’d be as much of a jerk as Dad was.”

DC shook his head. “No, you wouldn’t. You’re not. You’re worried about Phoebe and saving people dumb enough to go into a demon dive bar. You’re good, Reed. You deserve to be happy, but you won’t believe it.”

Reed couldn’t figure out what to say. His emotions welled up, and he had no voice.

“Or maybe I’m just not who will make you happy. Either way, it’s the same result for me.” DC zipped his bag. “Andy can send me the rest.”

“No!” Reed stepped up as his brain gave up the fight. “You’re not leaving. You’re not wrong.”

“I’m not debating with you, Reed. No more arguing or excuses. You’ll feel better. One less guy so you won’t feel like Phoebe is being overwhelmed. I won’t be staring at you. We’ll both be better off.” DC looked for his shoes.

Reed laughed. “Phoebe loves all of it. She can take care of herself, and no one here would push her or take advantage. I know that, okay? I know. It just feels like I need to protect all of you. It’s dangerous enough work without adding new elements.”

“Do what you want.” DC shoved his feet in his shoes and reached for the bag.

The idea of DC leaving erased all the nonsense Reed had used before. All those excuses that made it easier to stay in the safe zone. Shoving the bag out of DC’s hand and onto the floor, Reed got in DC’s face, so close he could smell DC’s unique scent. Old books and the leathery cologne DC favored.

“What? You want me to fight you?” DC stood his ground.

“No. Never.” Reed grabbed DC’s face with both hands and kissed him. Hard.

When DC tried to back up or move, Reed refused to let go. Finally DC pulled Reed in, and the fear evaporated. The kiss deepened, and Reed tasted DC’s tongue as their noses bumped.

“I’m sorry.” Reed held onto DC and kissed him again.

“You’re shaking.” DC curled his arms around Reed. “The world didn’t end.”

Smiling, Reed opened his eyes and saw DC’s glasses had fogged up. “You know me better than I know myself.”

“That’s love. Phoebe knows us better too. I don’t think she’d mind if we spent a little one-on-one time here.” DC eased Reed onto the bed.

Pulling off his shirt, Reed couldn’t believe what he’d done or what it meant. “You don’t think she’ll mind being with two gay couples? I mean, we’re with her too. I don’t want her to feel left out.”

DC laughed as he stripped off his clothes and kicked his shoes under the bed. “You worry so much, no wonder you never had any time for me. Stop it. We’ll make sure Phoebe is never left out of anything. I bet she’s having fun with Andy and Jude right now.”

Staring at DC’s naked body, Reed couldn’t think. Reed ran his hands over DC’s chest. “You’re right. We’ll be good to her and each other.”

“I want to hear it.” DC straddled Reed’s lap.

“I love you. Hell, I always have. Damn it, I didn’t want to lose you -- hurt you. That’s all I’ve been doing for years, hurting us both.” Reed ran his tongue over DC’s chest and up his neck.

“You can’t deny it. I want you to prove it now.” DC opened Reed’s fly and tugged his pants and briefs all the way off.

“I will. Get over here.” Reed reached for DC.

DC was reaching into his nightstand drawer. Reed’s cock tightened at the sight of the condoms and lube packets DC tossed on the bed. All of it. He’d get everything he’d ever dreamed of and refused to allow himself with the one man he wanted.

Reed pushed DC down, sucking DC’s cock. DC lifted for more and Reed savored the way DC’s cock throbbed for relief. DC flipped over and took Reed’s cock. Instead of fighting for control, Reed stretched out on the bed and watched DC. The feel of DC’s tongue and the confidence in his touch collapsed the final barriers of Reed’s resistance.

“Fuck me,” Reed said.

DC paused and then nipped at Reed’s sac. “You know how long I’ve wanted to hear that from you?”

Nodding, Reed pulled DC’s head back down to suck more. When DC kept going down, Reed gasped. DC had Reed’s whole cock down his throat. Fucking DC’s mouth sent Reed over fast. He came in DC’s mouth like it was his first blow job. Reed groaned, the pleasure knocking him back on the bed.

“My turn.” Reed reached for DC’s cock.

“No. Still mine.” DC turned Reed onto his stomach. “You asked for it.”

As naturally as bringing Phoebe into their lives, Reed got onto his knees and lifted his ass.

“Is this why you were holding back with the group?” DC lubed Reed’s ass. DC’s touch was strong and shameless, everything Reed needed and had never admitted except in his darkest fantasies.