July 24

Loon Call Island, Lake Rosseau, Muskoka

"Come on, Elle. Trust me, I won't let you fall."

Hudson's voice is soft, measured, reassuring. He always talks like this when he's trying to convince me to do something crazy.

"I don't think I can do it, I'm going to hurt you." I'm standing, arms crossed on the edge of the water trampoline. Hudson is on his knees in front of me, hands gripping my hips, begging, with a huge grin on his face.

"When have I ever let you fall? Don't worry about me. Come on, you've got this. Just get a little momentum, then do the hand spring like I showed you. I'll catch you and lift you up. All you have to do is sit on my shoulders. You've done that part a thousand times."

He continues as I stand there, arms crossed over my chest, debating, "I really need to practice for the ski show, Elle. You're doing me a huge favour. Consider it payment, in full for the waterskiing lessons. I have taught you single handedly how to ski, after all."

I roll my eyes, feeling my resolve crumble. "Yes, Hudson. Adrian and Theo must both be figments of our shared imagination helping us out. Fine, fine, just don't push me. I'll try when I'm ready."

I tighten the strings of my rather flimsy bikini and pull my hair into a tighter knot. I hope everything stays put this time. I'm not sure if I can handle another embarrassing wardrobe malfunction. I know Hudson certainly can't.

Nothing quite like flashing your best friend, when your chest is directly in front of his face and you're upside down. He'd nearly dropped me then, barely recovering after a slight, surprised fumble as his hands had grabbed my ribs as I'd flailed down into his arms.

"Okay, here goes nothing. But we're starting from the top, basic stuff first, then we'll see about the other move."

"Deal! From the top then, Ellie." I don't miss the note of smug triumph in his voice.

Hudson moves behind me, counting quietly. I bounce lightly to his rhythm, letting him set the pace. I hold my breath for a moment as his hands close around my hips. I jump at the same time that he tosses me up high, into the air, twisting me as he releases his grip.

I keep my body flexed, like he taught me, spinning in the air, then pulling my legs in tight to fall neatly into Hudson's arms.

A rush of excitement bursts through me leaving me breathless and just a little dizzy.

"Let's build on that, Elle. Instead of tossing you horizontally, I'm going to toss you higher vertically, grab your ankles, even the bottom of your feet if I can manage."

We repeat the lift, only this time he catches my feet in his hands, lifting me above his head. I raise my arms in a wide 'V' and smiling when he tells me to, wobbling only a little. He pushes my feet up and I tumble down into his arms, squealing as I hit him at a funny angle, sending us both down in a tangled mass of arms and legs, laughing.

His eyes dart down my body, checking to make sure everything is in place with a blush. I immediately do the same, relieved when I'm still decent.

"That was my fault, Elle, sorry. I'll warn you next time, for the dismount."

After repeating those basic tricks with a few variations, the majority of them ending successfully, Hudson looks up at me as I sit on his shoulders.

"What do you think, give it a try?" He squats low, letting me bounce over his head and back onto the trampoline.

I know he's referring to the last trick that we've been working up to, which is a multi-step trick. I haven't exactly nailed it, in fact I chicken out each time we get to this point.

"Your funeral, Hudson." Here we go again.

I back up to the edge of the trampoline, gaging the distance again. At his nod, I spring forward onto my hands, but as usual I've misjudged the distance. My ankle smacks smartly into his cheek and he swears, catching my feet in his hands to lower me down to the trampoline, dropping to his knees beside me.

"Sorry, Hudson. Are you okay?" I scramble to my knees, grabbing his chin and turning his face to the side. A large red mark is blooming across his cheek and I bite my lip, instantly feeling guilty.

"It's fine. I'm fine. Let's go again. Not the first time that's happened, definitely won't be the last. Not at the rate you're going."

I sigh, knowing he's likely right.

This time, Hudson follows me to the side of the trampoline. "Stand here, Elle. On my count, okay?"

I wait for him to take his position. When he nods, I spring forward onto my hands and he grips my hips, lifting me above his head. I twist, keeping my body tensed, but pliant as he spins me in a circle above his head. I'm a little shaky but I manage to swing my legs down, sitting on his shoulders. His hands grip my feet, pushing up as I stand, boosting me lightly, just a little, so I land standing on his shoulders, his hands on my calves, gripping tightly.

Carefully, he reaches up to me and I take his hands, rolling forward to flip down. My elbow glances off his chin as I tumble down and I hear a muffled curse. I land on my feet though, stumbling only a little.

Hudson wraps his arm around my waist bouncing us around, whooping loudly. "That was so good, Ellie. So close, this time! Let's go again."

Hudson makes me practice this move and variations of it for nearly two hours. I'm totally fried by the time he's had enough.

"Come back to hang with Theo and I? Or do you have plans with Grey?" He looks away as he asks the last part.

"No plans with Greyson, he's hanging with Ryan tonight. I was thinking about calling Mads, but I'd rather hang with you, honestly."

He grins at me, "Cool. I have some of the fruit wine you like, the Wild Vines stuff, or ginger beer."

"Race you to the dock?" I smile as I get ready to dive in.

"Loser cooks?"

"Why would I want you to cook? I'm much better. Loser does dishes, winner cooks, and picks dinner."

We dive off the trampoline together, and I swim hard for the dock. Despite his superior size, Hudson and I are normally well matched swimming. I slap my hand on the dock a full stroke ahead of him, and he laughs as he surfaces. "You part mermaid? You've got the hair and the...", He breaks off mid sentence, flushing. "Well, you've got the hair."

He pulls himself up onto the dock, leaning down to pull me up behind him. A sharp whistle breaks through the trees and I look up to see Theo waving from the top of the path from his place.

"Another race?" Hudson's eyebrow lifts in a cocky challenge. His grin is quick and sure.

I shake my head this time. "No shoes, the path is too hard on my bare feet."

Hudson's grin widens just before he tosses me over his shoulder and lopes up the hill while I bounce along gracelessly, pressing my hands to his back to find some stability. "One of these days I'm going to be sick on one of you, and it will serve you right."

He dumps me unceremoniously onto the soft cushions of the lounge chair and I flip my wet hair out of my face, scowling at him. A fluffy towel hits me in the chest as Theo drops down beside me. "Honestly, why do I put up with you monsters?"

"Because you love us, Ellie." A warm, dry arm curls over my shoulders and I smile sweetly up at Theo.

"Be a sweetie, Theo, come a little closer, I'm freezing."

Happy to oblige, he slides even closer to me, "Always happy to have a willing woman in my arms, sugar."

He shifts to wrap his other arm around my waist, rubbing my towel wrapped body briskly. Perfect. Leaning into him and batting my eyelashes just a little, I slowly reach up to gather my long, heavy wet hair, wringing it out directly over his lap.

"What the-"

Hudson's laugh booms out, echoing lightly over the calm water. "Sucker. Can't believe you fell for it."

"Honestly, Hudson. You fall for it more often than not, too. You boys are no match for me, not with your ingrained chivalry and complete inability to resist a damsel in distress or discomfort."

Both boys lunge towards me and I skirt around the lounge chair quickly, trying to find my escape. Knowing it's hopeless, but not willing to give up, I kick the backrest down and leap onto the lounger, scrambling to the other end in a bid for escape.

I'm too slow though, Theo snatches me mid leap, just as I'm about to jump off, swinging me in wide circles as I laugh. I drop my head back onto his shoulder, smiling up at him until Hudson grabs my ankles. "Don't make the cook angry boys, or I'll only make vegetarian dinner this evening. Steamed tofu and sprout salads for everyone."

I have so many weapons in my arsenal when it comes to my boys. They don't stand a chance.

Together, they cart me into the kitchen like a sack of potatoes, swinging me in their shared grip and dropping me down gently on the cool stone tiles, before grabbing a couple beers from the fridge. "There you go, pretty lady, back where you belong." Theo winks at me, even as I roll my eyes.

"Want a beer, Ellie? Or some of that wine?"

"I'll have wine, thanks, Hudson."

Opening the fridge, I take quick stock of the situation for dinner. "Looks like we've got a few steaks here for you boys. If you do them on the grill, you can toss a few slices of squash and cauliflower on for me. I'll whip up a quick Caesar salad, and bake some potatoes, sound okay?"

Theo pats his stomach in anticipation. "Dibs on grill duty."

"I'm already on clean up, so that works." At Theo's raised eyebrow, Hudson grins, shrugging, "Lost a race against Elle."

By the time Hudson finishes cleaning up after dinner, I'm a little tipsy from the strawberry wine I've been drinking all night. I'm wearing an old shirt of his that comes nearly to my knees. We're twisted sideways across his bed, all three of us, arms and legs overlapping. I can tell Hudson is nearly ready to drop, his eyelids drooping further with every minute that passes.

Theo is sprawled across Hudson's bed on his stomach, wearing a pair of Hudson's cotton shorts, watching The Day after Tomorrow intently.

Trying to move as little as possible, I pull the sheet up over Hudson's bare chest, I turn the bedside light off, wiggling down carefully, a little closer to Theo.

I roll over onto my back, turning my head to watch him.

Hudson shifts momentarily, his head moving to rest comfortably on my thigh, one arm hooking around my leg. I stifle a giggle. He's always been a snuggler. He could sleep in a single bed with two people the way he wraps himself around a person and hangs tight.

Focusing on Theo, I subtly try to grab his attention. "Have you seen this movie already?"

"Yup. You?"

"Yes."

Is it weird to ask Theo about boys? I'd usually ask Hudson, but I don't know how much experience he has in this area.

"Can I ask you something?"

Theo rolls onto his side, propping his head up and leaning on his elbow. He grins when he sees Hudson lightly snoring away, wrapped around my leg. "Sure, shoot."

"Well, you know I know that you're fairly active with girls."

His eyebrow lifts, and a crooked smile touches his lips. "You finally ready to admit I've got you all hot and bothered, sugar?" He winks at me, chuckling when my jaw drops.

"No!" I close my eyes, composing myself, trying to fight back embarrassment. "I'm serious, Theo. I need help, with Greyson."

"Yeah, I don't exactly go both ways, there, Ellie. You know better than most that I prefer two ladies for a threesome, not another guy. Although for you? I find I'm not entirely closed off to the idea." A devilish smile spreads across his face, and I can see now, so clearly how the girls trip over themselves to be close to him.

"Theo! Stop it, just for once can you be straight with me?" I whisper shout at him, so I don't wake Hudson up. I feel my entire body flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry, Elle. It's just too easy with you sometimes. I'm all ears. Cross my heart."

Sighing, I look back up at the ceiling. "The thing is, Greyson always pushes me away, or pulls away when things start to get interesting. I feel like there's so much more, but he's so determined not to take things any further. I just want to know what comes next."

Theo frowns at me, considering. "Well, have you ever had sex before?"

I turn my head sharply towards him, "Theo, literally a month ago, neither you or Hudson thought I'd been kissed, so no, of course not."

His soft chuckle tickles my cheek as he flops down, muffling his laughter in the blanket. "True, I forgot about that." He pushes himself up, flopping on his back and turning his head to me, his shoulder bumping mine casually. "The thing is Elle, you don't need to rush things to make a relationship work, you get me? If you're really sure you want it to be him, then cool, but you've got time. From his side, he probably doesn't want to come across as pressuring you, or rushing things. I don't know, he doesn't really talk about this stuff with me. I wouldn't worry, you're smokin' hot, just the right amount of sweet, and so freakin' innocent. It's a deadly combo. Trust me, he wants you. It's written all over his face. But I'm sure you know by now there are other things you can enjoy, before you take that step."

I look at him, curiosity piqued. "Like what?"

"You mean Grey hasn't..." Theo clears his throat. "He really hasn't done anything other than kiss you?"

I shake my head.

"Well, God, Ellie, I wasn't really expecting you to be that, well, inexperienced since you've been dating him for almost two months, and after last summer. Um, what do you know?"

I sigh, "Not much, to be honest. The girls and I talk a little, Mads is probably the most experienced, but she makes it all sound so complicated. Jules is pretty tight lipped about her fling with Hudson, which I get. It's all a bit intimidating. I read Cosmo, some romance novels, so I guess there's that. Then there's all that stuff about bases, but that seems to have some contradictory information going around, depending who you ask, and I never really got baseball, so..."

Theo groans. "Careful of your expectations, there Elle. Judy Bloom and Nora Roberts can only prepare you for so much. Cosmo might have you covered though. Just don't forget it's not all about the 'ten ways to rock his world', he has to rock yours too. And trust me, there are more than ten ways. Okay, basics first. Do you know what an orgasm is?"

I giggle and nod, I've read about them, learned about them in health class and sex ed. I've never had one, at least I don't think I have. The tension leaves my body and I relax, glad I asked Theo.

"Well, there are lots of ways to have those, that don't involve sex. You can have those with a partner, or on your own. You should try that first, on your own. Figure out what you like, if you know what I mean. Of course, I'd be happy to show you..." He lets the suggestion hang, wiggling his eyebrows at me.

"Okay. Right now?"

His face flushes and he coughs, "Wait, what?"

Giggling, I take pity on him, enjoying his reaction to my teasing. "Just kidding, calling your bluff. Thanks for the offer though," I bat my eyelashes at him dramatically, "you're such a gentleman, so selfless."

Theo tosses a pillow at me, "Brat."

"Shhh, careful. Don't wake Hudson up." I lean up, checking on him, but he's still snoring lightly against the bare skin of my leg.

"What does an orgasm feel like? Wait, nevermind, I kind of want that to be a surprise." I wrack my brain, thinking of all the things I want to know, and decide to start general, work my way to the specifics. "Tell me more about this other stuff, Theo. Theoretically, I kind of know the drill, I think, then what I've read, but tell me about it from your perspective. Do you mind? You know more about this than anyone else I know, anyone else I feel comfortable asking."

"I feel guilty just thinking about it in the same room as you. Promise not to tell anyone about this, Elle?"

"Cross my heart." I watch him carefully, waiting, excited to learn more, curious, wondering how I can convince Greyson to let me explore these new possibilities.

Sighing, Theo closes his eyes. "I'm so going to regret this."

- - - 

Elle is so at ease with Hudson and Theo. For all his teasing, Theo's a total softie. 

She used to be this way around Greyson, too, but he shook her confidence, that's for sure. 

Who is your favorite of the boys so far? Greyson, Hudson, or Theo? (Or maybe Liam, Ry? Although they're more from Greyson's circle!)

Join me in the comments, consider voting if you like the story so far! 

Xx Toria