"Hey mate, you coming out with us tonight?" Drew asked Stephen.

"No, Ah think Ah am going to go back to the hotel."

"What is up with you? Every night you don't want to go have a pint with us, you just say you're shattered, and go back to the room and have a drink ."

"Ah just don't feel like going out, fella."

"Whatever, Ste. When you decide to tell me what is going on, I'll listen."

"Yeah, cheers." Stephen walked off to his rental car and headed back to the hotel. Drew shook his head and went to join Heath and the other guys.

"Ste not coming again, man?" Heath asked.

"Apparently not. He is acting very shifty. I don't know what the hell is problem is. Been that way this whole stretch. He needs to find him a lassie and have a shag. Might improve his mood."

"Definitely. Well, to hell with it. More booze for us. Come on." The guys piled into the rental car and drove to a local bar. Drew was really starting to wonder about Stephen. He didn't tell Heath, but Stephen hadn't been the same since he confessed his feelings for Rhonda to him. Drew was hoping that didn't have anything to do with it, but he had a bad feeling that it did. He was trying to be optimistic that Stephen wouldn't act on it. He was his best friend, and didn't want to be put in the middle of him and Stu.

Back at the hotel, Stephen got undressed and took a beer out of the fridge. He sat back on the bed and pulled his DVD player out. His "home movies" DVD was still in the player from last night. He really enjoyed watching Stu and Rhonda having sex, mostly imagining it was him instead. He could close his eyes and remember how she felt when he was inside her, how her mouth felt around his cock, how she screamed his name.

He settled into bed and got comfortable. He put in the headphones and started the movie. He was already getting hard, just thinking about Rhonda. As the video played, he became more aroused and slowly started to stroke his cock to complete erection. He took his time, massaging the head and gripping the shaft tightly. As he watched them having sex, his eyes slipped shut, listening to her moaning and envisioned it was him making her squeal. He jerked his cock faster until he finally came, his body weakly collapsing against the bed. He finished the video before turning it off and climbing under the covers.

Back in Tampa, Rhonda finally decided to tell Stu her news. "Well, I have a job interview in the morning."

He sat up "you do?"

"Yeah."

"Where?"

"At the Radisson."

"Rhonda, I told you that you didn't have to get a job right now" he huffed.

"I know, but that was a month ago. I don't like not having a job and not paying my own way. My savings are about depleted and I need to work. I don't want to sponge off of you. I don't feel right doing that."

Stu sighed. "Okay, I guess I understand. I just like having you here with me. I don't want to be alone all day."

"I know, but it will only be eight hours a day, assuming I get the job. It pays better than my old job and has better benefits. Besides, I need to feel that sense of accomplishment I get from working. We will still have time to spend together, and I will still go with you to your rehab appointments. The job is for second shift so I will also still be able to warm your bed at night."

He smiled "that's good then. If this is what you want, I am good with it, love."

"Thanks, Stu." She leaned back into his chest, relieved that he took it better than she thought he would. She really didn't like feeling like a kept woman and was looking forward to working again.

The next morning, Drew pounded on Stephen's door, trying to wake him up. "Mate, we're going to be late for our flight. Open up!" he yelled through the door. Stephen opened the door, still groggy.

'"Okay fella, ya don't have to yell. Ah just need to get dressed and finish packing. Won't be a tick. Come on in and sit down fer a minute."

Drew heaved a deep breath and sat down in the chair. He watched as Stephen grabbed his things and threw them in the suitcase. He grabbed the DVD player and placed it on top of the clothes. Drew looked around but didn't see any movie cases. His eyebrow raised "hey mate, you brought your DVD player?"

Stephen cleared his throat "yeah, Ah did."

"Well, what were you watching last night then?"

"Eh? Oh, nothing. Brought it just in case."

Drew looked suspiciously at him "yeah, then why is it plugged up?"

"Why are yeh giving me the third degree, mate? What does it matter to yeh? Mind yer business." Stephen snapped at Drew, getting annoyed with his questions.

Drew threw his hands up "whoa mate. Calm down. I was just asking. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning. Damn."

"Ah just don't like being interrogated like Ah broke the law, when Ah just got out of bed."

"Fine. I won't ask again."

"Great. Now can Ah finish packing in peace?"

Drew shot him a look and leaned back in the chair, with his arms folded over his chest. He wondered what his problem was and why he was so defensive. If he was watching a porno, he couldn't figure why Stephen would hide that. He couldn't figure out what his best friend's problem was.

Stephen got done getting his stuff together and quickly got dressed, following Drew downstairs. They turned their keys in and headed to the airport. He was very distant, causing Drew to really worry about what was really going on with him.

Once they were on the plane, Drew decided to just change the subject and talk about something else. "So Stu texted me last night. Rhonda has a job interview today."

Stephen's ear perked up "she does?"

"Yeah, apparently at the Radisson a few miles from the house. I don't think he is very keen on it, but he can't stop her."

"No, he can't. Is that all he said?" he asked with a smile.

"Yes, that was about it. Why?"

"No reason. Just was wondering if he and Rhonda are still getting on well."

"You know they are, Ste. You need to put that out of your mind, whatever you are thinking. You should have made your move sooner, but you didn't so now you just have to deal with it. Suck it up."

"Ah haven't done anything, Andrew" he said angrily. "But Ah can't help how Ah feel. She is lovely, and sexy. Ah keep thinking about those nights with her and wish Ah would have made a move."

"See? This is what I mean. Don't even think about it. Look, you are both my mates, so don't make me have to choose between you. Don't fuck this up for him."

"Don't worry about it. Yeh aren't going to have to choose. But if Rhonda wants me instead, are yeh going to support me or be an ass?'

"Well, if, and that is a big damn if, she chooses to be with you, I will still be your friend, but don't expect Stu to be okay with it. And don't put me in the middle."

"No problem. We'll just see who she wants."

"Now what does that mean?"

"What Ah said. We'll see who she decides she wants." Drew had a bad feeling that Stephen was up to something but didn't want to press the issue. He just hoped he didn't stir up trouble.

A couple of hours later, Rhonda went for her interview. She looked at her phone and there was a text from Stephen wishing her good luck. She smiled but wondered how he knew about it. She reasoned that Stu must have told him. When she made it back home, Stu was waiting for her. "So how did it go, love?"

"I think it went really well. The manager was very nice, and seemed impressed with my qualifications. She said she would let me know by the end of the day."

"I'm glad for you. I hope you get it."

"Thanks. I am glad you aren't upset with me."

"No. Of course not. I do get it and I don't want you to be uncomfortable here."

"I appreciate you being so understanding. You are a good guy."

He grinned at her "well, I'm not always." He winked at her and she started laughing.

"No, not always, but I really like it when you are bad."

Later that evening, Rhonda got a call back from the manager letting her know she got the job. Stu took her out to dinner to celebrate. After dinner, they got back home and sent a text to Drew and Stephen letting them know she got the job as well.

Stu led her down to the bedroom "so why don't you let me give you my special 'congratulations' massage?"

She chuckled "a congratulations massage? I like the sound of that."

He smiled wickedly "you will like the feel of it even better. Why don't you lie down?"

She stripped and lay down on the bed. He grabbed the vanilla massage oil from the bedside table. He slipped his clothes off as well and sat down on the bed beside her. He softly rubbed her shoulders and down her back. He massaged the oil into her buttocks and down her legs. She was getting very hot with his touch. She closed her eyes, enjoying the attention, until she heard his deep voice rumbling against her neck. "Roll over."

She did as he wanted and rolled to her back. He took her nipple into his mouth while he caressed the other breast. He kissed down her abdomen before resting between her legs. He wedged his shoulders between her thighs, softly lapping at her folds and nipping at her clit. He slipped two fingers inside her, curling them to reach her G-spot. He soon had her reaching her climax, tugging at his hair. He smirked up at her "you think you can handle more, love?"

She nodded and breathlessly answered "oh, yes."

He climbed on top of her, kissing her gently and staring into her eyes as he filled her. She gripped his back and wrapped her legs around him, bringing him as close to her as she could. He tenderly made love to her, a stark contrast to his usual rough and dominating performance. But tonight was about her, and he needed her to know how much she meant to him, and it wasn't just sex between them.

Two days later, Rhonda had her first evening shift at work. Stu dropped her off and kissed her goodbye. A few hours into her shift, she was surprised when Stephen showed up. He walked up to the front desk, holding a bouquet of flowers and balloons. Rhonda couldn't help but smile at him as she stepped from behind the counter. He handed them to her and kissed her on the cheek. "These are fer yeh, love. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Ste! They are beautiful, but you didn't have to do all this."

"No worries. Ah'm glad yeh like them. Can yeh take a quick break and let me buy yeh a soda?" he asked her with a cheeky smile.

"Um sure." She turned to her coworker Jen and told her she was going to take a break. She nodded and Stephen offered her his arm, and led her down the hall to the hotel bar. They sat down on the stools and Stephen ordered them both a Coke. They talked about the last road trip and he told her some stories about when he was younger back in Ireland. He had her laughing, glad she was comfortable around him. After they finished their drink, he walked her back towards the lobby. He stopped before they reached their destination and she turned around.

"Why are you stopping?" she asked him.

He brushed her hair back out of her eyes and stroked her cheek. He slipped his hand to the back of her neck and lowered his lips to meet hers. She brought her hands to his chest to push him away, but he took her hands and pressed them to the wall behind her. She bit his lip and he jerked back. She slapped him hard, right across the face.

"What the fuck are you doing? Have you lost your damn mind?"

"Why did yeh slap me?"

"Uh, because you just kissed me. Why would you do that?"

"Ah thought yeh would like it. Ah thought yeh like men who take charge. Ah mean, yeh like it when Stu..."

"Whoa! Stu is different. He is my boyfriend."

"He wasn't always. Isn't that what turned yeh on? Him being so forward and dominating?"

"You are an asshole. Don't ever fucking touch me again. And I am going to tell Stu what you did, and you can explain this to him."

"No, don't."

"Oh you don't want him to punch you in the nose?"

"Yeh really want to upset him like that, eh? Yeh reckon he will think yeh didn't want me to kiss yeh? Ah mean, after all, yeh are a woman of loose morals and yeh fucked me and Drew both too, after fucking him before yeh even had a date. Before yehs even had a real conversation."

"You son of a bitch!" She went to slap him again but he grabbed her hand. He forced her back against the wall and leaned his face right to hers.

"Don't try to play a hard ass with me, lass. Yeh will get more than yeh bargained for. Yer lucky Ah don't just take what Ah want right here." She could feel his erection pressing into her stomach and suddenly she was scared. She went to scream and he covered her mouth with his hand. "Shhh, no, don't scream. Who would believe yeh anyway. Yer just a slag."

She had fire in her eyes, and couldn't believe Stephen would act this way. She had to admit he had caught her off guard. When he heard someone coming, he let her go. She grabbed her wrist and saw the red marks from him holding her tightly. "You just stay away from me."

"Well, that will be hard to do, seeing as we live in the same house. Yeh will come to me soon enough." He blew her a kiss and winked before walking out, leaving her standing there still stunned.

She went back to work and had to try and calm herself down. She was still shaking, but knew she had to keep it together until she got home. She thought about what he said, and was afraid of how Stu would react. Especially since his ex had cheated on him. She decided she had better keep it to herself and hope Stephen didn't try anything else.

One the way home, Stephen was fuming. He couldn't believe she didn't want him. He went in the house and slammed the door before storming down the hall. Stu yelled after him "what the hell is your problem, mate?"

Drew looked over at Stu and replied "he has been acting like a proper nutter lately. I don't know what the hell his problem is."

In his room, Stephen decided he would get even with both of them. 'Ah may not have been the best IT person around, but Ah did learn a few things.' He took the DVD out and put it in the computer, taking his time and converting the file into one he could watch on the laptop. 'Let's just see how strong yer relationship really is.' He pulled up YouTube as an evil smile crossed his lips.