Anchor

Part 15 - Fun and games

    In a fit of rage, Stellan charged at Ben. I half expected it and after the fight the two had earlier, I was determined to prevent a repeat. I jumped from the counter and ran the opposite way around the kitchen island and intercepted him as he made it to Ben who hadn't moved an inch. He got the reaction he wanted and he looked proud of it. I threw my arms up at Stellan, my back facing Ben, and attempted to calm him. "Enough, please. Look at me." I pressed my hands to his cheeks, the stubble rough against my palms. "Look at me." His jaw clenched and his eyes darkened, he wanted to attack and had every right to but it wouldn't help anything, he needed to cool off. 

    His eyes dropped to mine as I pulled his face downwards. A rabid dog stared back at me with furrowed brows and gritted teeth. Softly I traced my thumbs over his cheeks. He closed his eyes tight and I stepped closer into him, "breathe," I spoke calmly, barely a whisper. When his eyes flickered open, the anger had dissipated marginally. I traced my finger over the swelling around his eye and his hand wrapped around my wrist, holding me in place. I sucked in a breath making him flash me a boyish smile. For a split second, it was just him and me, and damn it felt good.

    "Shots, anyone?" Gavin moved to the table and set down tiny glasses that were strategically placed between his stubby fingers.

    "Please," I called over, not dropping my gaze from Stellan. His grip on my wrist loosened and his thumb brushed over my pulse. I would have enjoyed it more had it not been for my racing heart. Damn my body for giving me away. 

    Ben sighed behind me and moved to the cupboard grabbing two more bottles and placing them next to the glasses on the table before taking a seat. I dropped my hand and followed suit, sitting across from him, not wanting a repeat of what happened at breakfast. 

    "Count me in." Stellan said as he walked over and sat in the chair beside me, much to Ben's annoyance.

    "You put down five glasses, mate and it's safe to say Jo is too tired to be joining us, probably feeling a little drained you know." The word 'drained' dragged out as he took another jab at Stellan. And seeing him tense up I placed my hand on his knee under the table. It shouldn't be so one sided with us, he had been there for me when I needed him and I wanted to show him that he could lean on me too. With Ben, I liked him and loathed him but the snakey moves he was using on Stellan pushed me further towards the latter. 

    A large hand covered mine and I turned to see a smirk form and disappear just as quickly. If I blinked I would have missed it. "Nah, man. Jule is upstairs washing Pete's brain from his hair. He's gonna want a drink when he's done." Thank you, Gavin. I finally have a name for no named guy. Not that I was planning on talking to him, it gave me chills thinking about it. 

    As the glasses were filled and slid across the table, we all silently swallowed the first shot. This was becoming a frequent pastime, one that I'd allow my liver to scold me for later. 

    Three shots down and the conversation was flowing. Gavin was in the middle of recounting how him and Otto were celebrating seeing in the millennium at their old house in Spain when they got so high that Otto became so paranoid about Y2K that he thought the fridge wanted to kill him... so he burnt the house down.

    "To this day I regret not watching that fridges face as I killed him before he could kill me." We all followed the voice as Otto strolled in. Whatever he worked as seemed the complete opposite to what the Gavin and Jule did, I half expected him to walk in with a head in his hands. 

    "Joining us for a drink, mate?" 

    Otto picked up one of the bottles from the table. "As much as you'd need me here to make you guys look good, I have a guest..." Shouting followed him as his footsteps moved back into the hall. 

    "Is it Garret? No, wait - whatshisface? f**k! Did you bring Ian home with you?" Gavin sounded like a child - albeit a slightly intoxicated one. Otto was silent as he turned the corner but a second later his head popped back into the kitchen, "Ian said you hit the nail on the head. And now I'm gonna go and get that head." 

    "I swear he gets more action than me," Gavin laughed. 

    "Doesn't everyone?" I joked, the alcohol taking over. The room erupted in laughter and even Jule flashed his pearly whites as he entered the kitchen. Guess I froze hell over with my comedic skills. Gavin put his hands up in surrender and I walked around the table to him. I wrapped my arms around his wide shoulders and planted a kiss on his cheek. "I'm kidding," I slurred. 

    "I'll keep taking the insults if I get more of this after," he gestured to the lacklustre hug I was giving him and I squeezed harder. "That's the most action you'll see for the foreseeable future," Ben chided, smirking as he pulled my arm away from Gavin making me stumble backwards. That was his plan though as he caught me in his arms and pulled me down to his lap. I gasped, feeling the growing erection in his shorts. He caught me off guard, that's for sure. Our bare legs rubbed against each other and I swallowed almost too loudly.

    "Actually," I stood, sliding over his manhood seductively on my way up, "I prefer my seat over there." His hands slid down my arms as I sauntered back to my seat. I didn't bother to look at his reaction, I knew it would be more satisfying having him think I didn't care. And I was right. 

    I sat back next to Stellan with Jule taking the seat next to mine. Gavin let out a loud "Oooh" at Ben's expense, at which point my smile spread so much that my cheeks ached. Jule grabbed the bottle from the table and poured himself a glass. Then to my surprise he topped mine up too. His sole focus was on the liquid courage he poured from the bottle, not once wavering from the contents. Responding with a smile to him, I managed to get a small nod back. It was more than I expected from him and I would take it as progress I guess. 

    "Hmm, how I sincerely doubt that, sweetness." Ben looked over my body and I shivered. It wasn't intentional but the s****l attraction between us was palpable. I clenched my thighs together just to stop the tingling feeling he caused downstairs. I don't doubt he didn't notice me shifting under his gaze. "Let's play a game," he said now leaning his elbows on the table.

    "What are we, thirteen?" Stellan grunted, swirling the little amount of liquid in his glass around in his hand. Something had changed in his attitude. I was sure that he had calmed down from Ben and his previous remarks but it seemed I was back to square one with him. 

    "Don't be a p***y, Stell. It's just a bit of fun. Besides, Kitty doesn't know much about us lot. What better way to get the ball rolling by playing two truths and a lie. Or is there something you don't want her to find out about you?" I wanted to know more about them. Especially if I were to be staying with them, it made sense. Only tonight I found out they all went way back, including Stellan. And that Otto was gay, or bi? And I secretly wanted to be a part of that, I wanted to be included for once.