The moment Lila called him sexy and reassured him with “You aren’t going anywhere, mister,” it strokes his ego, giving him a little boost, he smirked and shot her a look like "D-mn right I’m not.” But that feeling was short-lived the second she leaned into John, kissing and nibbling at his neck.
That would mess with him. Not enough to make him stop, not enough to make him reconsider, but enough for that sharp edge of something, not quite jealousy, but something close, to cut through the drunken haze again. He wanted this, he really did, but watching her be so naturally wrapped up in John, so unbothered, would still sting in a way he wasn’t sure how to handle. It wasn’t just that she wanted John, it was that, in moments like this, he wasn’t sure if he was enough.
Still, he didn’t say anything. He pushed through, throwing out the locker room idea, keeping things moving forward. Owen, tipsy and riding the high of the night, would not let John’s sigh slide, not a chance. His smirk flickered into something sharper, something amused but laced with a challenge.
“Oh, I’m sorry, princess,” he drawled, giving John’s wrist a little tug like he was reeling him back in. “Did you want a candlelit dinner and some rose petals? Maybe a silk-sheeted king-size to go with it?”
He stepped in closer, leaning in just enough to invade John’s space, his lips quirking as he glanced up at him. “C’mon, I don’t hear you complaining when you’re gettin’ all cozy with her,” he nodded toward Lila with a playful glance, “but now you’re picky about location? Cute.”
And just to mess with him further, he tilted his head slightly and let his thumb lazily drag over John’s wrist before flashing him a smug grin. “But hey, if you wanna sit this one out…” He let the words linger before raising a brow. “Didn’t think so.”
Then they made their way over and came the kisses. Kissing John first wasn’t just about making a statement, it was about proving something, to himself, to both of them. But it was Lila’s reaction that really hit him. The way she watched him, the way she let him guide her down and then melted into his touch. When he spun her, heard that little giggle, when she moaned against his lips, it was intoxicating. It reminded him of exactly why he was here, why he was doing this.
And when she laced her fingers with John’s while still tangled up in Owen, that was the moment he felt something shift. It was all becoming so real. However, he wasn’t backing out. As he was expressing this to Lila, the second he saw her expression drop, that little flash of sadness in her eyes, it made his stomach twist. He hadn’t meant it like that. He wasn’t backing out. He wasn’t about to let this spiral into something heavy.
However when he continued talking and when she relaxed, when she felt it, when her whole body seemed to shiver from the words, he knew she got it. That was enough. For now.
As she turned back to John, wrapping herself around him, Owen let out a breath and focused on unlocking the door. His fingers fumbled a bit, both from the alcohol and the emotions still running too d-mn high. But as he glanced back, taking in the sight of Lila practically draped over John, he smirked to himself. Yeah, this was definitely going to be one hell of a night.
As Owen got in and led them toward the gym’s locker room, his mind was still buzzing from the alcohol, the heat between them, and his need to keep things moving. But beneath that, there was also a bit of foresight in him. While everyone else had been caught up in the chaos of their flirtations, Owen had been one step ahead. A few sly texts earlier in the evening from as far back as he left the toilets with John, just in case the night would progress this way, had ensured that when they arrived, the locker room was more than just cold tile and stale gym smelly air.
There were candles set up in the corners, their soft glow creating a surprisingly intimate atmosphere in the otherwise stark space. The scent of lavender and vanilla lingered in the air, adding warmth to the coolness of the room. Scattered across the floor were a few soft, comfy blankets and plush pillows, artfully arranged to create cozy spots for sitting or lying down. Owen had used his connections and arranged it all, knowing that the last thing he wanted was for the night to feel too impersonal.
It wasn’t just about having a space to go further with Lila and John, it was about making sure it felt… right. The right kind of energy. The kind of place where they could lose themselves and forget the world.
As they walked inside, Owen paused just inside the door, taking a moment to look around with a quiet satisfaction. “So, what do you think?” he said, a teasing glint in his eye. “Better than the stinky gym locker room you had in mind, huh?” He winked at John.
He moved swiftly toward the center of the room, his steps purposeful. “So, now that we’re here…” Owen’s voice dropped lower, eyes locking on both of them as if to remind them of exactly why they were there. His gaze flicked between Lila and John, a fire burning in his chest. “Let’s not waste any more time.”
In one fluid motion, Owen closed the distance between them. He didn’t wait for them to speak, didn’t give them the chance to back out. He pulled Lila into him, his hands wrapping around her waist, the alcohol only adding to his need to feel her, to be with her. Before she could even process what was happening, he kissed her fiercely, his lips demanding, his touch urgent.
The sharp edge of doubt that had cut through him earlier, the worry that he wasn’t enough, that he was on the outside looking in, it had sucked. And he refused to let either of them feel that way now. This wasn’t just about proving something anymore. It was about the three of them, together. So as soon as he kissed Lila, as soon as she melted against him, he didn’t let himself get lost in just her. His hand reached for John too, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt, pulling him in, making sure he felt this just as much. Owen wasn’t going to leave anyone on the sidelines.
He wasn’t worried about how things might play out; he was in control of this moment. His lips moved against hers with a fire that was impossible to ignore, his hands roaming to her back as he pressed her against him. Just as he was about to push further, to lose himself entirely, he pulled back briefly to meet Lila’s gaze, his forehead resting against hers. “You wanted this,” he breathed, his voice husky with desire, “and now we’ve got it. All of it.”
He kissed her once more, and when he pulled away from Lila, breathless, his lips were already quirking into a smirk as he turned to John. “Don’t think I forgot about you,” he murmured, his voice low, teasing, before he kissed him just as deeply. It wasn’t rushed, wasn’t just for show, it was deliberate. He wanted John to feel it, to know he was just as wanted, just as much a part of this.
And when he finally pulled back, he took a breath, his gaze flicking between the two of them. His hands didn’t leave them, one still holding Lila close, the other resting against John’s chest, fingers lightly tracing the fabric there. He could feel both their heartbeats, could feel the electricity between them, and it sent a thrill through him.
Owen’s smirk deepened as his gaze flickered between the two of them. He was still riding the high of their kisses, the way they melted into each other, but there was something else now, an idea forming, something that would make sure neither of them felt left out.
His hand slid from John’s chest, drifting back to Lila’s waist as he leaned in close, voice low and teasing. “Y’know…” he started, fingers tracing slow circles against her hip, “I was thinking… maybe we should take care of him first.”
His eyes met Lila’s, watching her reaction to the suggestion, then flicked back to John, drinking in the way he stood there, watching them. Owen grinned. “What do you say, babe?” His fingers ghosted along the hem of John’s shirt, not lifting it just yet, just playing with the fabric, teasing. “Think he’s been wearing too much for too long?”
He shot John a look, half amusement, half challenge, his smirk laced with something warmer, something deeper. He glanced back at Lila, making sure she was right there with him. “If you’re down, let’s help him out, together.” Sure Owen might be acting quite dominant, underneath that bravado, he knew Lila called all the shots.
Owen’s smirk softened just a little as he glanced between them, a flicker of something more than just mischief behind his eyes. This was new for him. Wanting John, touching him, kissing him, all of it. And yeah, he was confident, he was cocky, but deep down, there was still that uncertainty, that hesitation that he wasn’t used to feeling.
With Lila here, it was different. She was his anchor, his comfort, the one person who made him feel like he couldn’t mess this up. If they did this together, if he could watch her, follow her lead a little, it would take the pressure off. He could ease into it without overthinking, without letting that small, nagging fear creep in.
