The Scorpion and the Scales // Chapter Three // PolyAU
Tropes and Tags: MF, MFM, MFMM, instalove, too much sex, tattooed musicians, polyverse, friends to lovers.
Content warning: 18+ only MDNI,PinV, PinA, oral (f!recieveing, m!recieving), threesomes, light BDSM, voyeurism, exhibitionism, partner sharing, jealousy, angst.
This work below is fictionalized ideas and stories involving real people but does not directly reflect their thoughts, feelings, or behaviors. Please keep in mind that this is a work of fiction.
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As I stand in line at the cozy coffee shop, I gaze up at the menu board, pretending I don't already know my order by heart. My phone pings in my pocket - a new text from Chris, sending a random musing about the sunny Florida weather. We've been texting for months now, and it still feels surreal. The morning after our chance encounter in his hotel, I was sure it had all been a dream...until his flirtatious text arrived later that day. I had to pinch myself when Noah slid into my DMs shortly after, smoothly asking for my number through their manager. I eagerly gave it to him, but later kicked myself for seeming overly eager. I should have played it cooler. But now, breathing in the aroma of fresh coffee on this crisp spring morning, I can't help but smile thinking back on it all.
I shuffle up to the counter, my wet boots squeaking on the tile floor. "Large latte please," I mumble through chattering teeth as I fish a few damp bills from my coat pocket. The barista nods and punches it in. I head over to the pickup counter, anxiously awaiting the hot drink to warm my frozen fingers.
Staring out the fogged up window at the gloomy gray sky, I snap a photo of the heavy rain clouds looming overhead. I quickly text it to Chris with the caption "Must be nice *sad emoji*". I wrap my hands around the steaming paper cup as soon as it's ready, letting the heat seep through my icy skin.
Opening a new thread I send the image to Noah, my response to him completely different. “Can’t wait to be in warmer weather. *sunglasses emoji* *palm trees*” smiling to myself as I pocket my phone and head to my car. Just as I hop into my drivers seat the message pings again. Chris.
Chris: Gonna meet me at the festival next week?
I feel my heart sink a little knowing I’m gonna have to say no. I’d promised Noah I’d come out and visit that week, it was a last minute plan and up until yesterday I wasn’t sure I was gonna go.
Eve: Sorry, can’t. I’ll be in LA next week.
I leaned back in my seat, lost in thought as I contemplated my relationship with Noah. He had been such a good friend these past few months, always there to listen and offer a kind word when I needed it. But was it more than that? Between all the playful banter and shameless flirting, it was hard to tell if he felt the same spark I did.
We had never actually met in person, besides that one night at the concert. So it was difficult to gauge whether he was genuinely flirting back, or just being friendly. I sighed, wondering if I should even continue pursuing this. Chris and I had something real, something solid. This thing with Noah, as fun as it was, might just be a fantasy.
I am pulled from my thoughts by Noah pinging my phone with a new message.
Noah: you got somewhere to crash when you visit?
Eve: I'm searching for hotels now.
Noah: Nah forget that. Come stay at my crib, we got extra rooms since some of the homies are outta town.
Eve: For real? You sure that's cool?
Noah: Hell yeah, it's chill. We got a house with spare bedrooms and if it becomes an issue I'll put you up in a hotel, no stress.
I smile to myself taking a sip of my latte before starting up my car and heading to work.
"What the hell, man?!" I shouted at Nick from across our living room. That sneaky bastard had swiped my phone while I was grabbing the pizza we just ordered. And when I saw that she finally texted back, I realized the dude had a whole conversation with her that I missed!
"Come on, bro. You know you've been crushing on this girl for months but haven't had the balls to make a real move," Nick said, flipping open the pizza box and piling up slices on his plate. "I was just helping my best bud out."
I couldn't believe it. I mean I know we're close, but impersonating me to chat up my crush? Not cool. But he had a point - I should've made a move sooner instead of just flirting around. Still, not the right way to go about it. I grabbed a slice and sat down next to him, still pissed but hungry. We'd figure this out over pizza like we always did.
I was nervous about the whole thing at first. Sure, she'd been pretty, and yeah, I'd asked for her number, but I figured it would just be some crazy fan conversation. I'd change my number after and no harm done, right? But then we started talking and...she was actually fun to talk to. And somehow I found myself becoming attracted to her.
What would she think when she got here? There were no spare rooms - all the guys were already here, we fucking lived here. That meant she'd have to crash on the couch. Or in my room, as Nick suggested. He thought it would be a "good icebreaker" for us to share close quarters. I hadn't bothered to text Eve back and tell her it was Nick, not me, messaging her. But Nick promised he'd put her up in a hotel if she wasn't comfortable with the arrangements. I hoped he'd keep that promise if it came to it.
This whole situation had me feeling unsure, off-balance. But part of me was also intrigued to see what would unfold. I just hoped I wouldn't do anything to mess this up.
But then I stop and think for a second. A girl coming here? To my house? I haven't had that happen since...well, since the last one found my address and showed up unannounced. That's why I moved here in the first place - to get away from all that. What if this chick is just as psycho? I've seen Fatal Attraction, okay? I know how these things can go.
Suddenly I'm not so hungry anymore. Nick sees the look on my face and sits down next to me. We've been friends long enough that he can read my thoughts. "It'll be fine, man," he says. "She flirts with you all the time. Just be friends if you want. Or more than friends, I don't care. It's only a week - I'm sure you can handle it."
I know he's right. I just need to chill out and see how it goes. But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't at least a little bit nervous about what's coming.
I landed at the airport and did everything I could to delay leaving the terminal. I grabbed some overpriced lunch and wandered around aimlessly, trying to work up the nerve to actually go through with this. Noah had texted me his address right before I got on my flight back in Denver. Now I was just staring at it on my phone, wondering if I should put it into Uber or not. My heart was pounding. My stomach was doing backflips. Should I text him and say I landed? Should I ask if he still wanted me to come over? The fact that he gave me his address had to mean something, right? Ugh, I was so nervous I thought I might puke. But I knew I had to woman up and just go for it. I took a deep breath, requested the Uber, and tapped in his address with shaky fingers. Here goes nothing.
My heart was racing as my Uber pulled up to the curb. I had no idea what to expect when I entered the address into the app - all I knew was that I was heading to the Hollywood Hills to meet a potential new client.
As we wound through the hills, I pressed my forehead against the window and took it all in. The homes were magnificent - sprawling mansions tucked away on manicured properties. So different from the cramped apartments I was used to back in Colorado.
I breathed in deeply, but the smell of rain here was nothing like back home. There was a metallic edge to the air that left a bitter taste in my mouth.
We rounded a bend and the driver slowed. I clutched my bag, my palms growing sweaty. This was it. He pulled a U-turn and stopped in front of a house that looked like it cost more than I'd make in my lifetime.
My jaw dropped as I took in the immaculate home before me, with its pristine windows and crisp white walls. The red brick driveway was occupied by a couple of modest cars, typical for this ritzy neighborhood. I stepped out of the town car, murmuring thanks to the driver as he retrieved my bag from the trunk. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the imposing house. You can leave, I thought. Hop right back in the car and get out of here. But my feet carried me up the driveway, still gaping at the sheer size of the place. Movement in one of the windows made me freeze. What if I had the wrong address? How mortifying would that be? The front door opened and out stepped Nick, wearing a baseball cap, silver shorts and an anime shirt, no shoes. My heart pounded as I took a deep breath. Here goes nothing, I thought, as I approached the front steps.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Nick waiting for me on the porch, barefoot as always. "Hey Nick," I said with a smile. "Noah said you were expecting me."
"Yeah, it was my idea for you to crash here," he grinned. "Now get inside, it's freezing out here!"
I laughed as I stepped into the pristine house. "This isn't cold to me, you California boys don't know what cold is!" I joked, slipping off my shoes by instinct.
The interior was super modern - all greys, browns and beiges, not what you'd expect from a heavy metal band's pad. To the right was a hallway and stairs, and just past the foyer was a huge living room with a white sectional facing a giant flatscreen over the fireplace. My eyes landed on the couch, where I saw another familiar face turn to look at me.
The sight of him took my breath away. He'd cut his hair even shorter than the last time I saw him, but he was still so tall - even barefoot, he towered over me. When he wrapped me in a hug, it felt awkward at first as we tried to figure out where to put our hands. But then I felt the strength of his arms around my waist as he playfully lifted me off the ground, making me giggle.
I could have stayed there forever, but he sent me down all to soon. Noah took my bag and reached for my hand, leading me upstairs. My heart raced at his touch. As we walked down the hall, he pointed out the different rooms, but I could barely focus. All I could think about was how close we were and the tingles running up my arm from his hand in mine.
When we got to the bedroom, he let me step inside first. It wasn't huge, but it was cozy and full of him. The unmade bed, the books and soda cans scattered around - it just felt so intimate being in his personal space. I caught a glimpse of his impressive gaming setup, but I was much more interested in taking in every detail of him. The way he smiled at me then, I thought my knees would give out. I don't know how I'll ever be able to concentrate with this gorgeous, sweet guy right down the hall. But I can't wait to try.
I took in Noah's room, still surprised that Nick had pulled a fast one on me and arranged for me to stay here. Clothes were strewn across the unmade bed where Noah had just dropped my bag. Posters for bands and anime littered the walls alongside framed vinyl records. It was such a guy's room.
"Sorry for the mess," Noah said, scratching his neck awkwardly. "I didn't have much time to clean up."
My heartbeat quickened being alone with him in his space. I crossed my arms, hoping he couldn't tell how nervous I was. Noah Sebastian's room. I was standing in Noah Sebastian's actual bedroom.
"Don't worry about it," I said, trying to sound casual. "I appreciate you letting me crash here this week."
"No problem," Noah replied. "I'll take the couch so you can have the bed."
"Oh, don't let me put you out, I can take the couch."
He ran his fingers through his hair. "You're not putting me out. More like Nick did."
I tilted my head, feigning innocence. "There a reason for that?" I glanced away, pretending to admire his book collection so he wouldn't see my blushing cheeks.
"Uh, nothing that I need to repeat," he mumbled awkwardly. I couldn't resist peeking up to gauge his reaction. But as our eyes met, mine wandered past him to the floor-to-ceiling windows framing the rolling hills and glittering cityscape beyond.
The sweeping view of the Hollywood Hills took my breath away. "Wow," I whispered, wandering over to the window for a closer look. Noah joined me, gesturing at the barely visible mountains peeking through the morning haze. "Nice, right? On a clear day you can see for miles."
I laughed and gave him a playful nudge. "C'mon, with all this smog? I've got you beat."
He raised an eyebrow, a smile tugging at his lips. "Oh really?"
"Mmhmm." I scrolled through my phone until I found the perfect photo. "Check this out."
It was a shot of Pikes Peak from my apartment window last February, covered in a pristine blanket of snow. I angled the screen towards Noah and watched his eyes widen.
"Now that's a view, sweetheart," he admitted with a chuckle. "Maybe I should reconsider."
I grinned, giving his arm a squeeze. "Told you. But don't worry..." I leaned in close, my voice dropping to a whisper. "You still have the better view right now."
Noah's POV
I could barely believe my eyes when she walked into my room and laid down on my bed. The hours melted away as we talked and laughed, her sweet voice soothing my nerves. Ordering takeout was an excuse to stay close, our legs touching as we watched trashy shows.
When night fell, everything changed. She emerged from the bathroom in those tiny black shorts, her endless legs on full display. I tried not to stare as she slid under the covers beside me. My heart pounded as I turned down the lights, bathing us in a soft purple glow. Part of me wanted to reach out and touch her, but I held back, not wanting to ruin our friendship.
She protested as I lowered the curtains, craving the city lights. I wanted to give her anything she desired in that moment. With her lying there, looking like a dream, it took all my willpower to keep things platonic. But I knew if I made a move, crossed that line, there would be no going back.
“You wanna go to the beach tomorrow?” The sound of her voice pulled me back from my wandering thoughts. Was she seriously asking about the beach right now? It's the middle of March - there's no way it's warm enough yet.
"It's still freezing out," I replied, sitting up quickly. Was she crazy or just messing with me?
"The forecast says 75 degrees tomorrow. Perfect beach weather!"
I scoffed. "Yeah, maybe if you're a polar bear. No way is 75 warm enough for the beach."
She rolled onto her side, propping herself up on her elbow. "Says who?" she challenged with a smirk.
"Says anyone with common sense. Go ahead and freeze if you want, but don't expect me to join your little arctic adventure," I quipped back.
She pouted playfully. "But I got a cute new bikini just to take Insta pics in! You're really gonna deprive me of that?"
I shuddered as my eyes traced over her. The way her tank top had slipped just enough to tease me, her creamy bare legs stretched out so close... Focus, man.
"You can take poolside pictures instead," I suggested, struggling to keep my voice steady.
She crossed her arms with an exaggerated frown. The way it pushed her chest up towards me did nothing to tame my thoughts.
"No fair," she whined.
What's not fair is you still being dressed, I thought. I bit my cheek to keep from saying it out loud.
"Never said I was fair," I quipped, patting her thigh twice before standing up. "I need a snack. Be right back."
Her laughter followed me out of the room. "Always with the song lyrics, huh?"
I hurried down the stairs, trying not to look at the guys playing video games as I made my way to the kitchen. My heart was pounding as I grabbed a couple bags of gushers and a gatorade. I couldn't believe I was about to be alone with her again.
When I got back to my room, there she was. Sitting on her knees, clutching a pillow to her chest, biting her lip. God, she looked so cute like that. I wanted to kiss her so badly.
"You look deep in thought," I said, cursing myself for sounding so lame. I sat on the edge of the bed and tried to play it cool as I finished off a pack of gushers.
"Just tired I guess," she said. I could tell she was lying but I didn't want to push her.
"You bite your lower lip when you're tired?" I asked. Smooth, real smooth. I couldn't stop staring at her mouth.
"This is your first time really hanging out with me. You don't know everything about me yet," she replied.
As she brought her knees to her chest, I felt my heart sink. She was closing herself off from me. I wanted so badly to wrap my arms around her, but I was too scared to make a move. There were so many things I wanted to say, but the words got stuck in my throat. I had to play this cool if I didn't want to mess this up.
“Why did Nick want me to sleep in your room?” her question cuts the air like a knife.
I didn't want to admit it, but I couldn't get her question out of my head. The truth was, Nick knew me too well. He could see right through my nonchalant attitude to the longing underneath. Ever since she walked into my life, I've been drawn to her - her quick wit, her magnetic energy, the way her eyes light up when she laughs.
I took a deep breath to steady my nerves before responding. "Nick thinks I need some female companionship. He suggested you might be interested." I paused, heart pounding, worried I'd revealed too much. Her joke about professionals made me smile, but I couldn't hide the vulnerability in my eyes.
I busied myself tidying the nightstand, needing a distraction from the growing tension between us. But I couldn't resist asking the real question: "Do you want to?" I held my breath, knowing everything would change based on her answer. Part of me was terrified, but an even bigger part was thrilled by the possibilities her reply might bring. I could no longer deny my feelings; all I could do was put myself out there and hope she felt the same spark I did.
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