Merry Measure - Lily Morton Page 0,61

I did my best,” I say. Jack pinches my hip, and I cover up my snort of laughter with a cough.

“Well, where is he?”

“Oh erm,” I try to think.

Tom makes a grumbling sound, ready to continue his inquisition, but suddenly the bedcovers heave and Jack sticks his head out. Tom jumps so high, his head is in danger of smashing the ceiling.

Jack reaches out to the switch by the bed and the light comes on. I study him with fascination. His cheeks are cherry-red, but he looks incredibly calm. “I’m here,” he says in an even tone. “Did you want something, Tom?”

There’s a too long and very protracted silence while we all stare at each other like we’re appearing in EastEnders and the end music is about to start. My brother makes a noise that sounds like a chicken being strangled—a mixture of a squawk and a groan.

“Oh my God,” Tom breathes. “What are you doing?”

“Making a cup of tea,” I can’t resist saying. “Isn’t this how you do it?”

“Oh my God,” Tom says again, completely ignoring me. His voice is rising, and he looks like he’s going to hyperventilate. “You … And you … Arlo … My brother. Oh, my God. You’ve taken advantage of my brother,” he finally manages, his voice high with indignation.

“I’m not fucking Scarlett O’Hara,” I observe, but Tom ignores me.

“We need to talk,” he says grimly to Jack. He gives a sort of growl and a last ferocious look at Jack before banging out of the room, leaving a dense silence behind him.

“Oh dear, that could have gone better,” Jack says. I glance up at the door, expecting someone else to rush through in order to award Jack for being the master of understatement.

I start to laugh. “I’m sorry,” I choke. “It’s not funny at all, but oh my God.” He watches me fall into hysterics, his head cocked to one side and a smile tugging at his lips. I take a deep breath and say, “He found you giving me a blowjob, so yes, I think you’re right. It probably wasn’t the most opportune time.” I press my hands to my flushed face. “I don’t think I’m ever going to stop blushing at this. I’ll be an old man with red cheeks.”

Jack climbs out of bed, and my eyes follow him as he crosses the room. Sue me. I’m only human, and Jack is a glorious sight naked, his olive skin marked with rough kisses and faint bruises from where my hands gripped too tight. His cock is long and nestled into the dark thatch of his pubes.

“Where are you going?” I ask as soon as my brain has rebooted.

“To find Tom. I need to talk to him.” He reaches down to pick up his jeans.

I struggle to sit up amongst the mountain of bedclothes. “Oh dear, is that wise right now?” I gasp. “He might hit you.”

“That’s very unlikely,” he says, pulling on his jeans. I note the lack of underwear with approval. “But he is furious and rightly so.”

“I’ll come with you,” I say, overwhelmed with possessive feelings. Tom might say something horrible to Jack that will hurt him.

“No,” he says, and I’m struck again by how calm he is. He’s just been found fucking his best friend’s brother, but instead of looking panicked and sick, he seems calm and resolved.

I stare at him, suddenly struck by something. “You didn’t stay hidden,” I say. He pulls his jumper and T-shirt on and looks at me in query. “You could have stayed unseen under the covers, and he’d have gone away none the wiser. Why didn’t you stay hidden?”

“I didn’t want to,” he says simply.

I gape at him, and he leans down and kisses me. “I’ll see you in a bit,” he says. “Okay?”

I nod, and he gives me a broad smile and leaves me alone in a rumpled bed that smells of him and me.

Fourteen

Jack

I find Tom sitting on a bench outside the hotel. He’s dressed in jeans and a T-shirt and is already attracting curious looks, as it’s freezing. He looks up as I walk towards him and gives me a ferocious glare. I ignore it and toss him his coat.

“Here,” I say. “You’ll freeze to death.”

“Where did you get this?”

“I stopped in at your room. I knew you’d make for outside. You always do that when you’re upset, and I also knew you’d forget your coat.” The reason for the upset looms up between us like a merry-eyed ghost,