The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 05

The Best Mate He Trusted Wanted Me More Chapter 05

And then I saw something ridiculous.

Rowan had one hand over half his face while the other half burned scarlet.

Julian, barely conscious and hanging off Rowan’s arm, stumbled into mine.

“Clara. Hold me.”

I’d never seen Julian this wasted. Smirking, I pulled his head against my chest.

Rowan’s hand was finally free, but he didn’t cover his face anymore.

Watching Julian cling to me like a koala made his expression darken.

“Is this how you always act when no one’s watching? You treat him like a needy pet?”

The reader feed chimed in.

“Rowan is losing it. He’s mad because nobody’s treating him like that.”

I thought he was way too invested. I barely looked up.

“Still here?”

Rowan gritted his teeth, his face red, and physically peeled Julian off me.

“Julian. Get it together. She walks around like this every day. No wonder you’re in deep.”

He shook him.

Julian was already wasted. He collapsed like a ragdoll.

The reader feed was dying.

“He’s insulting her morals and complimenting her body in the same breath. Pick a lane.”

“This whole ‘saving my best friend’ act sounds suspiciously personal. And yes, we saw his fingers linger when he brushed her skin.”

“Somebody check his nose. He keeps telling Julian to walk away, but he’s clearly mad Julian gets to come home to this.”

I blinked.

Something red trickled from Rowan’s nose.

The room went dead silent.

Julian was shoved into my arms. Rowan clamped a hand over his nose and bolted for the bathroom.

I clicked my tongue and glanced down at my dress.

This was too much for him?

It was just a silk slip. Barely showed anything.

The reader feed was having a field day as I helped Julian to the bedroom, threw on a robe, and went back to the living room.

Rowan finally emerged.

“I’m just dehydrated lately.”

I didn’t call him out. I only pointed at the door.

“Leave. If you ever get him this drunk again, I’ll drag you up Ben Nevis myself.”

He was visibly furious.

He pointed at me, but before he could speak, the bedroom door flew open.

We both turned.

Julian stood there in the outfit, swaying, unsteady, heading straight for me.

“Why did you leave me alone in the bedroom? Is it because I’m not wearing it right? Are you mad?”

He could barely walk, but his words were sharp.

And he completely ignored the other man in the room.

I swallowed hard.

Rowan was shell-shocked.

Then he exploded.

“Are you seriously making my best friend dress up like that for you? You… you…”

I was too distracted to deal with him.

I’d begged Julian for months to wear that outfit.

I shoved Rowan out, locked the door, and turned around.

“You’re wearing it wrong. Let me help you take it off and show you how.”

Whatever he’d been drinking was a miracle.

I was buying a case tomorrow.

Julian was burning up.

That faint beauty mark under his left eye peeked out when he frowned: cold, dangerous, and irresistible.

I traced his face.

He caught my hand and pressed it to his chest.

“Clara. Rowan said I should stay away from you. That you’d ruin me.”

His eyes were hazy, but his hands kept moving.

“But I’ve tried not to want you this much. I can’t help it.”

I pulled him closer.

“Then don’t. Give me everything.”

The reader feed was cackling.

“You keep listening to your best friend and keep getting wrecked.”

“Everyone wants Clara to ruin them. Let’s be honest. Rowan’s probably scratching at the door, and you’re still debating self-control.”

I woke up the next morning with my entire body aching.