24. Jace
Chapter twenty-four
Jace
I blink slowly as the mattress shifts, so subtly I think I’m imagining it. My eyes drift closed again, the pull of sleep too tempting to ignore, but then it moves again, a firmer jolt, and I turn my head to locate the disruption.
Like a thief in the night, Kane’s stealing away, easing off the bed by degrees so he doesn’t wake us. “What’s the point in staying over if you’re going to sneak out?” My voice is thick with sleep.
“I wasn’t sneaking,” he whispers. “I just didn’t want to wake you both.”
Rolling my head to the side, I see Blake lying on the other side of the void next to me. The one Kane’s body filled a few seconds ago.
Stifling a yawn as he stretches his arms above his head Blake asks Kane, “Why are you getting dressed?”
“Brunch with Ally and her networking group.” He pulls a shirt over his head. “I have to go home to shower and then meet them at the restaurant. ”
Kane crawls onto the open space on the bed and leans over me, planting a quick kiss on my lips.
“Call us later?” I ask as he does the same to Blake.
“Okay.” He gives a little wink and slips out the door.
After a moment of silence, Blake asks, “Should we be worried that he bolted out of here?”
“I don’t think so. He kissed us goodbye.”
“True.” The mattress dips as he rolls to face me. “We didn’t talk to him about us.”
“I know.” I rub a hand over my face. “I wasn’t sure how to slow things down without hurting his feelings. He hasn’t taken charge like that before, and I didn’t want him to think I didn’t like it.”
“Trust me, I get it.” The hint of a smile passes over his lips as his eyes slowly close.
“He was incredible last night. So brave even though he was nervous. I promised myself no more sex until after we talked to him, but to walk in on that… You two were so hot together. I didn’t think it was possible to love either of you more, but after last night…
We need to talk to him. Today. Do you have anything going on? ”
“I need to talk to Axel, but Kane’s more important.”
“What do you have to talk to Axel about? Is something going on with the business?” There’s a hint of panic in his voice, like he’s expecting the ground to crumble beneath him since the foundation is still so fragile. I get that.
“Yes and no.” I roll to face him. “I’m still going to work with him, but I don’t want that to be my full-time gig.”
“You’re going back on the road?” Blake holds his breath.
“I’m actually hoping to be the resident expert for other riders who pass through. I could show people the best spots to film or do the filming myself. Summer and winter. If you’d show me those spots.”
“No more traveling?”
I grab his hand and hold it against my chest. “Not unless you’re with me. Kane, too.”
Blake’s hazel eyes gleam from beneath his disheveled hair. God, he’s gorgeous when he’s happy.
“You’re right, you know.” A smile plays on his lips. “This is going to work out.”
“What makes you say that?” Since I’m usually the one trying to convince him of that, I’m curious where this optimism is coming from.
“He’s falling in love with us.” Blake’s fingers trace the outline of my pec from underneath my palm.
“How can you tell?”
“His eyes. The way they focus on us when we’re together.”
As the guy who makes a living watching people through a lens, I’m used to spotting these things myself, and I hadn’t noticed.
“You mean while we’re having sex?”
He shakes his head slightly. “That’s not the only time, but that’s how I noticed it. He looks at you the same way you look at me. The same way I’m pretty sure I look at both of you…” he trails off.
“What are you saying?” I squeeze his hand.
“I’m in. I mean out. No more secrets or half-truths. I want a life with you. Both of you. I want to tell him I love you. And I love him.”
“You aren’t afraid he isn’t ready to hear that?”
“After last night…” Blake shakes his head firmly. “No.”
“You’re good with all of it, then? Not just admitting you’re gay but telling people you’re dating two men. Are you ready for that?”
“Are you?” he asks defensively.
“I didn’t grow up here. I don’t have roots here. You do.” I brush a wayward lock of hair away from his face. “You know I’m all in, but people here don’t know me from anyone. It won’t bother me if they don’t approve of my lifestyle.”
“Sorry.” Blake exhales heavily. “I didn’t mean to get defensive. It’s just that I am ready. And yeah, I know it’s possible that some people will take issue with it, and of course that’ll hurt. But not as much as missing out on a life with you and Kane. I love you.”
Up until the other day, no one had said that to me before. Now that I’ve heard it, I'm not sure I’ll ever get tired of it.
“I love you, too.”
Leaning forward, I press my lips to Blake’s, a soft, gentle confirmation that my life is bound to his from here forward. It’s not enough.
We’ve only been together, alone, a handful of times since Kane came into the picture, and while I wouldn’t trade our time with him for anything, the truth is I’m holding back a little when Kane is around.
I know the goal is to love each other freely and do what feels right in the moment—hell that was my idea—and I think once everything is out in the open that will happen.
But since it’s not, I’ve been conscious of not focusing too much on Blake, and I can’t deny that I’ve missed being able to taste him freely.
Tilting my head to the side I coax his lips apart, straining to get our mouths as close as possible.
“More,” he groans into me.
Scooting closer, I press our dicks together and wrap my hand around them, stroking rhythmically as our tongues wrestle for dominance. It’s not rough, though not gentle either. His morning shadow scrapes across my skin as his needy lips devour mine, which sets my body on fire.
Breaking away, I rub my jaw against his. “I love the way your stubble feels on my skin.”
“I love the way your cock feels next to mine,” he growls .
“Me, too.” I contract my hand as I slide it over us. “Need you, Blake. I need to be inside you.”
He rolls away and retrieves the lube from the nightstand, tossing it to me as he positions himself on his hands and knees.
“Condom,” I grunt as my slippery fingers play with his hole.
“We used them all last night.” He looks at me over his shoulder. “And I want you bare.”
The air gets sucked out of my lungs as my hand stills against his opening, the magnitude of his words seeping into my soul.
“On your back,” I say softly, pulling away to give him room to flip over. “I want to see you while I’m inside you.”
Our eyes meet and lock, an unspoken promise passing between us. Then he shifts so he’s lying on his back, pulling his knees to his chest as he opens himself to me.
Though we’ve done this before—not just sex but sex in this position—there’s something symbolic about it today.
He’s opening himself to me completely, physically and emotionally, which makes this moment more meaningful than any of the other times we’ve come together.
This is the start of a new chapter for both of us.
One he’s willingly embracing after years of hesitation and uncertainty, and I love him for it.
Coating my dick with the lube I press gently forward, holding my breath until I’m fully seated. When we’re joined completely, I find Blake’s eyes and exhale as I start to thrust, holding his gaze in mine.
The slide of his skin on mine, the pressure of his walls contracting around me is the most delicious friction, begging me to move faster. Harder. But I want to savor this. Savor him.
Leaning forward I pin his arms to the bed above him, linking our fingers together. Face to face, lips mere inches apart, I plead. “Tell me again. ”
“I love you.”
“Again.” I thrust, slow and deep.
“I love you.”
A loud gasp has both our heads turning toward the door to find Kane, mouth hanging open, wide eyes glued to our naked bodies. Our joined naked bodies.
I never understood the expression ‘time stands still’ until this moment, where it does in fact seem to freeze as we all process what we’re seeing. Then Kane’s jaw starts to move, his voice only coming out after several false starts.
“My… I forgot my…” He blinks and spins around, disappearing from sight. Searing hot pain ripples through my chest and settles in my gut, like a knife ripping out my soul and leaving me just a hollow shell. Fuck ! Without taking a moment to question my actions I pull out of Blake and race after him.
“Wait,” I cry. “Kane, wait.”
“Sorry. I’m sorry.” He races toward the door. “I shouldn’t have come in without knocking.”
Catching him by the arm I spin him around to face me. “You belong here. You don’t have to knock.”
He gives me a once over, gesturing to my still hard cock. “Clearly, that’s not true.”
Blake comes running into the room clad only in his boxers, holding a pair out to me. Instead of taking them, I wrap both hands around Kane’s arms. Pulse throbbing in my chest, I strain to keep my voice level. “It is true, sweetheart. You belong right here. With us.”
He lifts his arm at the elbow, trying to point to Blake. “He just said he loves you. That’s a pretty clear sign that I... Oh wow.” He blinks rapidly, eyes darting between us. “How did I not see this before? ”
“See what?” Blake’s sun-kissed skin looks pasty, his body so still I almost wonder if he’s breathing.
“You live together. We never go into Jace’s room because…” He gapes at me. “I just thought… Oh God, it’s yours. Both of yours. You two are together, and I’m just…” He spins away from my grasp and throws open the front door.
“That’s not what this is,” I call after him.
Blake snaps out of his stupor, barreling outside behind him with me hot on his heels. “You don’t understand, let us explain.”
“Please, Kane,” I plead. “You’ve got the wrong idea. Come back inside.”
“What did I get wrong?” He spins to face us so fast I crash into Blake when he stops short. “Are you two not together?”
Blake’s eyes dart to mine. “We are, but…”