Seth [+ 2nd draft 02]

I struggled with Ethan's front door as I juggled two iced coffees, a box of cupcake muffin hybrids, and my 'seen-better-days' imitation Coach purse. An eight-hour shift from hell, courtesy of The Coffee Barn, and that mighty doorknob was two seconds away from taking me out.

"Pft. I might just let it," I mumbled before giving in and tapping my aching foot against the door.

It swung open instantly, and there stood Seth, the fit model with permanently bronzed skin, thanks to his Italian and Greek heritage, cerulean blue 'fuck-me' bedroom eyes, and medium length hair so black it almost had a blue sheen. He wore a pristine white polo shirt, barely hiding the tribal art tattoo that curled at the base of his throat, and light gray sweats. Draw-string sweat pants were his go-to when he wasn't in public.

I swallowed and offered him a timid smile. "Hey. I got you an iced coffee," I said, holding the cups out to him.

Seth took them but didn't say anything, which was unusual. Whether it was teasing me mercilessly, making gutter worthy jokes, telling stories about his Mafia involved family, or snarky remarks at something stupid I'd said he always had something to say.

So when his silence continued and his head tilted to the side as he eyed me I knew Ethan had already told him what I wanted. I bit my bottom lip at the realization, pausing as I noticed Seth's eyes zoning in on the movement. My heart fluttered and I could feel the heat filling my cheeks. It was fairly cold outside, so my cheeks were already chapped and probably pink, but where my apartment was on the wrong side of town and lacked everything, Ethan's was the exact opposite. So the heating in the building had already started bringing my body to a normal temperature and I wasn't so sure I'd be able to hide my blush for much longer.

"He told you?"

Seth neither confirmed nor denied it, but his lingering gaze down the front of my body told me the truth. I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as I stepped inside, trying not to bump into his front as he stood immobile in the same spot. I shucked my shoes off, careful the movement didn't upset the contents in the box I held, and wiggled out of my red plaid fleeced jacket I'd found for practically free at a local Goodwill.

"What's in the box?" he asked, stepping closer towards me.

I glanced up warily and turned my body away from him so I could hide my treasure. "It's not for you. You and Ethan got an iced coffee."

"Okay, but what is it?" His hand darted out to try and grab it from me, forcing his chest closer to my face so that I got a whiff of pine and sandalwood. One of these days I planned on smuggling his and Ethan's cologne so I could spray my lumpy bed pillows with it. Where Seth smelled like spice, Ethan smelled like sugar, well specifically honeysuckle and fresh cotton, which to me was the equivalent of sugar. It was one other way they offset each other so well.

Resisting the urge to bury my nose in him, I danced out of his reach and held the green box to my chest, desperately trying to keep the gold-dusted chocolate ganache on my hybrid cupcake muffins from pressing into the top of the clear film.

"I'm not sharing with you!"

He paused and glanced down at me. When I'd first met Seth, about three years ago, I'd been intimidated by him, mostly due to his height, numerous tattoos, and strange scars that littered his torso. He easily was half a foot taller than Ethan and Ethan was just passing six feet. There I was, Miss Short Stuff, at a solid five four. I got over it, but now, with him towering over me, I remembered my hesitance at that first meeting.

"But you expect me to share with you?"

My mouth dropped open and I stilled. I knew Seth would eventually plow into the topic. It was just his way, but I hadn't expected it to be over my dessert. "That's different!" I cried out.

The corner of his mouth curled upwards into a smirk. "Is it now? Care to enlighten me then."

I frowned and bit my lip as I thought about it. "Well—"

He raised a black eyebrow and folded his arms across his wide chest. "Yes?"

"You're not the only one that has to share in that instance."

"Oh," he managed around a chuckle. "Okay." He stepped away from me and made a wide gesture with both of his hands towards the living room.

I lifted my head, squared my shoulders, and pushed my chest out. My show of defiance only made him laugh harder. I was used to this type of ribbing from him. He was always trying to take my food, something he thinks is just so hilarious because I react to it, but he didn't know the reason behind my actions. It wasn't the first foster home I'd been in where they treated the kids like trash. I had plenty of instances after my biological parents died in that crash, but it was only after my adopted parents --both of whom I thoroughly adored--bit the bullet, and before Ethan's parents could legally swoop in and save me, that I experienced what true, gut gnawing, hunger felt like. That foster 'hell' thought it was okay to feed the children as sparingly as possible.

Sobering thoughts could bite my ass. I was truly tired of them creeping into my daily life activities and a marathon of sex might just fix that problem. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from grinning like a loon as I took closer steps to the living room, but Seth's hands wrapped around my upper arms, pulling my back against his chest. He leaned down closer, so close I could feel his coffee-scented breath ruffling my hair and caressing the auricle of my ear.

"Are you sure you want to do this, Cassie?" His whispered words made me shiver as I watched the back of Ethan's head bob enthusiastically as he played some 'shoot-em-up' game on his game console. I settled into his chest, letting my eyes shut briefly at the contact of his muscular pectorals against me.

"Yes."

+++++_+

Chapter 2 [2nd draft]: You're not the Yoda of sex!

I'm in heaven. Foot-rub heaven.

Seth was on the floor, my leg settled in his lap as he thrust his thumb along the arch of my foot. After an eight hour shift at The Coffee Barn, I purred like a cat, pointing my toes, and arching my back at the attention. I snuggled down into the suede couch at Ethan's, sinking further into the cushions, and flung an arm across my brow, humming my pleasure.

"I'll totally pop your cherry for you, Cassie," Seth said as he applied more pressure to my heel.

"A little to the left," I mumbled and lifted my arm to peek at Ethan to see his reaction.

He was scowling at Seth and cradling the cup of iced coffee I'd brought him. "Babe, your predictability could get boring."

Seth raised an eyebrow. "I'm predictable? That's not what you said last night!"

Ethan pointed at me, completely ignoring his taunt. "She knew you'd say that. Hell, I knew you'd say it." His shoulders lifted as he inhaled and exhaled.

Only Ethan could make breathing look sexy, I thought, pretending to hide my eyes beneath my arm again, but really my eyes morphed into a hawk because I didn't want to miss a thing.

"Gorgeous, you just know me in and out," Seth said with a saucy wink. His cerulean blue eyes sparkled with mischief and he gave a sexy smirk as he reached over to rub up Ethan's thigh.

I nudged at his stilled hand with my ankle. "Just because you're groping Ethan doesn't mean you get to stop rubbing my foot," I said.

"I'll bet she's a wild cat in bed," Seth said. He had one hand still on Ethan's thigh, but the hand that had been rubbing my foot slide up my bare leg.

I smacked at his wandering hand. "Don't be dirty."

Seth snorted. "Says the girl that wants to be deflowered."

"And what I don't understand is why? Stay a virgin," Ethan said, crossing a leg over his knee, effectively blocking Seth's hand. "Once you lose it, it's gone and you can't get it back."

He was twenty-one, a whopping one year older than me, and he was talking like he was a knowledgeable old man? I wasn't asking him to do this because he was an expert. I was asking because I felt safe with him and telling me to not lose my virginity wasn't going to change my mind.

"Well, thank you, Yoda, for that insightful speech. Are you a virgin, Ethan?" I raised an eyebrow and folded my arms across my chest.

"No."

"Are you sexually active?"

Ethan's face flushed—God, he's cute. He raised his iced coffee to his lips and took a sip before speaking. "Yes."

"Daily, in fact... sometimes three times a day. In the bathroom, on the bed, in the kitchen... on the kitchen," Seth said, his grin widening with every lip nibble or nervous hand that swept through Ethan's hair. "You know, he's a screamer, Cass?"

"So you've informed me, multiple times. Just last week," I said dully.

It was true. Seth was all about the 'shock' factor and if he could put someone in an uncomfortable position he'd do it every time. Seth's frequent conversations about their sex life could have been half of the trigger to what made me notice a glistening wet Ethan that day. They're both drool-worthy, no one would deny that, but the idea that it had been Seth's fault from the beginning was there.

Why wasn't he rubbing my foot anymore? I scowled at him

"Seth, please!" I cried out, once again nudging his fingers with the tips of my toes. His large hand immediately started again.

"The point is Cassie right now. Not our sex life," Ethan said, a deep growl rumbling in his chest. "By the way," he kicked at Seth with his foot, "I want to talk to you about that!"

"About what?" Seth asked.

"About how much information you share with Cassie. Why do you do that?"

Seth smirked. "Next time I do it, be sure to watch her face."

I frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"

Seth raised an eyebrow and tilted his head. "Has anyone ever told you your lips were made to be wrapped around a cock?"

Ethan gasped and turned his head towards me looking scandalized. "Didn't you tell me the other day that Brett said something like that to you?"

I nodded and frowned deeper. "Yeah. He did."

"That's because I'm the one that brought it to his attention," Seth said with a chuckle.

"Did you now? And why were you talking to Brett again? And about 'cocks' no less?" Ethan asked.

Brett was the type of guy that didn't care if he got it from a dog just so long as he was getting some —guys, girls, threesomes, moresomes— the drunker the better, party type of guy.

"He's right, Cass. Stay a virgin," Seth said, trying to change the subject. His sarcasm let me know he was on my side though.

"Smooth, Seth. Real smooth," I said, nudging his hand with my foot again. "Would you stop stopping? I'm in pain here!"

"I've always loved the way you beg me!" He grabbed my big toe and wiggled it.

"And what makes you two think you're qualified to tell me to stay a virgin or not? Just because you've had sex, doesn't mean you're the Yoda of it," I said.

Seth glanced at me, raising an eyebrow and turned to Ethan. It was a 'you handle this' look and I knew that I'd said something they both disagreed with.

Oh, joy. Seth, you traitor!

Ethan didn't seem to have a problem answering either as he shifted on the couch and settled against my shoulder, dropping his head next to mine. "You're right, it doesn't mean I'm 'Yoda' of sex, but I've had it, unlike you. So I know what you're asking for, something you don't fully understand. Not to mention, you're a girl. I've never had sex with a girl, but it's clear the first time for a girl versus a guy is completely different."

I frowned, ignoring most of what he said except for the part about not having sex with a girl. "How did you know you were gay if you've never had sex with a girl?" I asked. I didn't want to deviate too much from the main topic, but it niggled my curiosity bone.

Seth chuckled. "First of all, how do you know you're straight if you've never had sex with a guy? Are you battin' for girls town and don't even know it? Probably not. Plus, he's on the football team, Cass."

That wasn't really an answer.

I shrugged. "So? Lots of guys are."

Seth turned, lifted his arms up to rest over my bare thighs, and stared at me pointedly. "Think about it, hon. He's popular, he looks like a fucking sex god, he hasn't come out yet, and therefore cheerleaders are bouncing around in his face with those tight little outfits. When a male has no reaction to that but has to run into the restroom when the guys are changing in the locker room because he gets a boner, well that's a pretty damn big sign."

"That happened once and it was before you," Ethan said, his shoulders stiffening.

"You never told me about that." I scowled, drawing back my elbow to land a gentle blow to his midriff. His surprised grunt in my ear sent tingles down my spine.

"Hey," he grumbled, rubbing his stomach.

"Why didn't you ever tell me? We've been friends since kindergarten and I thought we told each other everything." I wasn't terribly upset about it, but it seemed like an important event in his life that I should've known about. He turned so that he was facing the side of my head, his body leaning towards me.

"If you remember, I didn't actually come out to you until I was fifteen. That happened when I was thirteen. Besides, you know how my family is."

I frowned. I did know how his family was and it had always been a sore spot for him. Honestly, I think if he told them he was gay they'd be fine with it, but I could see why he'd be hesitant to say anything. At his family cookouts, the guys wrestled. They called each other 'fags' and 'pussies' and went out of their way to make people laugh or feel uncomfortable. They did it with innuendoes or just a plain old beat down, but it was always in good fun. No one ever complained, except for the females when they got too rowdy. His family was all about sports too. Hunting, fishing, real manly men stuff, as I'd heard Ethan's Uncle Ted refer to them on occasion.

"They love you, Ethan, and you know what your dad would say if he found out? That he still loved you and how you got your jollies off was your business," I said, wanting to reassure him.

Seth snickered. "I'd imagine he'd want to have the talk with me too."

"The talk?" I asked curiously.

"Where he threatens me with a shovel? I'll bet he'd even pull out all the stops and include your Uncle Ted too."

I snorted and nodded enthusiastically. "He would."

"It took me fifteen years to come out to you, Cass, and you're my person. My family is just a different story," Ethan said, sounding tired and defeated.

My heart clenched at the Grey's Anatomy reference. It was another thing Ethan was 'in the closet' about. He was a Grey's Anatomy junkie. The three of us would have a crash course marathon of the last season just before the new season came out so we would be up-to-date on everything that happened. Of course, Ethan usually watched every season before that crash marathon.

"So you knew you were gay before you were born?" I asked skeptically.

Ethan shrugged. "I knew something was different when I was old enough to understand."

I pushed my bottom lip out in a pout, deciding to finally let him know his previous comment got to me. I twisted my upper body enough to reach for him, pulling him tightly to my chest. "You're my person too," I said, letting my voice crack with emotion as my arms wrapped around his neck. "That's why I want you to do this for me."

His strong arms wrapped around me but his shoulders slumped. "I love you, Cassie, and in a perfect world, I wouldn't be gay. You'd be my soul mate," he whispered into my neck. "It's just not a perfect world, but I'll try-"

"It's a perfect world because you're in it," I said back.

Seth cleared his throat and made a thumping noise against his chest. "You know, you're lucky shit like that doesn't piss me off anymore."

Feeling guilty, I pulled away. "Sorry."

In the beginning of Seth and Ethan's relationship, Seth had expressed some agitation when Ethan and I spoke to each other that way. I thought, until that day, that the way we spoke to each other was natural. I tried to distance myself out of respect for their relationship, but we all ended up being miserable, and luckily it was Seth that realized it. Seth sat me down and told me how sorry he was, that if he didn't like Ethan so much it wouldn't have bothered him. After that, the three of us became inseparable, and Seth warmed up to me fast. Seth mentioning that it used to tick him off made me feel even guiltier for making this request, but I could never trust anyone else as much as I trusted them.

Seth reached over and smacked the side of my upper thigh, causing me to squeal as the sting knocked me out of my thoughts. "Just the way you two are. I've gotten used to it. Now, let's get back on topic... sex!"

There was such seriousness to his voice that I pulled back from Ethan, resting my hands on either side of my hips. The pause that followed had me biting my bottom lip before lifting my hands and rubbing my thighs vigorously. The tension thickened as the topic of the conversation switched. I swallowed as I shifted against Ethan once again and inhaled sharply. I was turned just enough towards him that I could feel the tip of my breast brushing against his arm and every time I moved, chills shot through my body.

Gawd, I'm so dirty but talk about a crowd-pleaser.

I didn't even care that Seth had stopped rubbing my aching feet anymore and it seemed like the perfect time to ask again. "So will you?" I asked. "I mean, Seth seems to be okay with it?" I raised an eyebrow in Seth's direction, his nod confirmed it, but the indecision in Ethan's face as he glanced at Seth made my stomach hurt.

Ethan cleared his throat and bowed his head, sliding his hands up my calf, kneading gently. "I knew you were serious, but I think it's only now just sinking in."

Seth completely stopped rubbing my calf in favor of sliding his roughened fingers further up towards my thigh. My breath caught and my eyes widened as I followed his movements. "You both know I'm not completely turned off by girls," Seth added.

I held my breath at the sudden heat coursing through my stomach as Seth continued to rub in circles, going higher because I failed to stop him. I cleared my throat and paused, briefly closing my eyes as he got closer to my inner thigh. "I-I didn't know that," I whispered, wishing I could take a huge gulp of water.

"Really?" he asked with surprise. "No wonder you let me touch you so casually."

This was casual? Good lord! Now I want to know what un-casual is... I trembled with anticipation. I was being flayed alive and it was Seth's ever creeping hand doing it. My thighs slapped together, holding him still.

And it was no wonder I'd always felt regret when he stopped touching me on those 'casual' touching days. He had been trying to arouse me on purpose or at least cop a feel. I meant to let that accusation known, but the words stayed wedged in my thoughts.

"I just thought I was in a lucky situation where my boyfriend didn't care when I felt up his female best friend who, surprisingly, also didn't care. I lost my virginity to a female, just so we're all clear."

"I knew this, but where are you going with it?" Ethan asked. I felt him shift beside me, but couldn't bring myself to open my eyes wide enough to see what caused the movement.

How could anyone's brain function at a time like this anyhow? I let out an unintentional whimper as his fingertips wiggled through my clamped thighs and slipped underneath the material of my shorts.

"I'll let this happen, but only if I'm there. In fact, I want to be involved, but seeing as it's your first time and all, Cass, I would understand if you just wanted it to be Ethan," Seth said with a raspy voice.

Ethan released a breath I hadn't realized he'd been holding. My eyes popped open and I lifted my heavy-lidded gaze up to his flushed face. "What?" he asked.

He had to have known it was going this way! Seth must've said that for Ethan's benefit.

"What would be really hot is if while he popped your cherry I could fuck him from behind," Seth said in a partial joking tone. He pushed off the floor to sit on my other side, the side Ethan wasn't occupying.

My heart fluttered. I swallowed, wiggling between them both as chills ran through me. He was just as close now, almost plastered to my back and Ethan to my front, and I knew I would die from sensation overload. My skin was prickling with every breath, every shifting body part against me. I was far too sensitive and my dreams had nothing on the reality. If I died now I could consider myself almost lucky.

"Well, Cass? Would you mind?" Seth asked.

My reaction was slightly sluggish given the situation I found myself in, but since it had been something I'd thought about before it didn't take much longer to respond, "Didn't I make it clear already? Of course, I don't mind!"