22. Jenson
Jenson
T he three of us exchange glances. It’s after eleven.
This is it. Every discussion, every tick on that form, every interaction we’ve had with Briar has led us here.
But it’s still her decision. If the door is locked, we’ll retreat, and that will be the end of it.
The end of her, here at Ravenfall with us.
My shoulders tense at the thought. But my fears are unfounded.
She took the medication.
It’s my first thought as the doorknob twists beneath my grip. It opens silently, and River and Kai follow me inside.
The three of us spread out without speaking, each of us silently drinking her in. Briar’s chest rises and falls in the soft light of the amber glass lamp beside the bed, the glow illuminating the faint sheen of her golden skin against the sheets. The emerald-green silky sleepwear set she’s chosen from the selection glimmers like the real thing, offering me yet another image I know I’ll be considering often.
I want to see her draped in emeralds and nothing else. In an emerald fucking crown, the jewels nestled against her dark hair.
She looks like a queen, and yet so fucking innocent at the same time. There’s a slight rosiness to her cheeks, the room warm enough that one lithe golden leg is wrapped around the outside of the sheets, already tangled.
My fist curls to stop me reaching out as I take in the way her dark hair fans out against the pillow, silky strands perfectly tousled. Exactly how I imagined her.
Better.
It’s an effort to wrest my eyes away, but I look at the camera in the corner of the room. A small red light blinks back at me. Tomorrow morning, she’ll wake and watch this back. Watch us, with her.
She has nothing to be concerned about. But the words slip out, wanting to give her that reassurance, remembering that small, whispered worry the first time we met. “You look fucking perfect in our bed, Briar Rose. Better than I could have imagined.”
There’s a hoarseness to my voice that I didn’t expect, and River murmurs his agreement. Even Kai makes a noise, the sound pulled from deep in his throat.
They take the chairs set out, our plans already agreed and shaped by Briar’s preferences.
One at a time, for this first time. A little crossover, but not much.
And in this moment, I’m fucking grateful for it. Grateful to be the man who gets to touch her first. I throw a smirk over my shoulder, and River rolls his eyes at me. “Possessive bastard.”
Yes. It sends a small slither of worry down my spine, but I shove it away as I approach her. Her skin is warm to the touch, silky smooth as I press my fingers to her pulse and check the steadiness.
“She’s alright?”
I nod in response to River’s question. Our little acquisition is fine. Her dose was perfectly calculated, her breathing even as I stand over her, debating my options.
She’s spread out before me like a buffet. And I get to decide where to start.
I get to touch her however I want, without fear . Knowing that no hands will reach for me. No cold lips will press to mine—
My eyes catch on her face, sliding away before they move back. Carefully, I brush my fingers down her cheek. Run them over her lips, tracing the plumpness before slipping my thumb inside. Her mouth is hot and damp, and my breathing speeds up as I watch my fingers disappear inside before I pull them out and repeat the action.
For the first time, I wonder if perhaps I’d be able to handle Briar kissing me.
But that’s not a thought for now.
All the while, she lays there. Unaware. Helpless. Vulnerable.
And in this moment, all fucking mine.
My cock turns to fucking stone, even as the trust she’s placed in us threatens to overwhelm me.
We’re all here. River and Kai will step in if it looks like I’ll break any boundaries, even unintentionally.
I move to the bottom of the bed before climbing on. Taking my time, I nudge her onto her back, listening to her steady breathing as I reach out and run a finger down her throat, between her breasts. Her nipples peak beneath the fabric as I brush the pads of my fingers over them. Hard little nubs, her body betraying her even in sleep.
My groan vibrates against her skin as I lean down and suck one into my mouth through the green silk, running my teeth over it until it’s completely stiff and I move to the other.
Moving up, I use my time wisely, exploring every inch of her skin with my lips the way I’ve thought about for days. Planned out with military precision, not to waste a second, or an inch. The hollow of her throat has the faintest taste of salt, and I drink it down like the greedy fucker I am, my hand sliding down to her hip and gripping the top of her thigh. My hips thrust against the soft barrier of her underwear, and I push onto my knees, sliding my sweatpants down and shifting until I can kick them off onto the floor.
My eyes raise up to the camera as I grip my cock and stroke it. Once, twice, kneeling over Briar like a man ready to worship.
It’s easier, with her asleep. The memories stay back as my breathing speeds up, and I tug on the ribbon holding the material in place over her breasts. “Prettiest gift I ever saw.”
River groans. “You’re killing us.”
My smirk grows as I push the green away, her breasts falling easily into my hand as I grip them. Her nipples graze my palm as I run my hands over them reverently, leaning in to brush a kiss over each.
My eyes flick to her face. But she’s still sleeping, blissfully unaware as I trail my fingers down her stomach. Lower, pushing the silk down with my hand until soaking wet curls meet my touch.
Heaven.
Briar’s warm, wet cunt is heaven under my hands as I spread my palm out, covering her entirely and grounding my palm against her clit.
The small, breathy noise has all of us freezing. My hand stills as she twists her head before settling back down.
I knew it could happen. But having her react to me, to my fucking touch, even in sleep? I tug her underwear down in the next moment, almost tearing it in my impatience as I yank it off and push her legs open.
My lips curl up. “If only you could see what I see. Our Briar has a perfect little pink slit.”
I tug on a curl. “And pretty little dark curls.”
Two groans are my only response. I don’t bother looking over my shoulder, the low sounds and heavy breathing telling me that both River and Kai are working their cocks as they watch us.
Sitting back, I take her in, her legs spread wide and pussy glistening. Every part of her body relaxed.
I haven’t been with a woman like this, facing her, since—
I cut the thought off. There’s no space for her here. Not with Briar occupying every cell, burrowing her way into my chest.
I want her with an urgency that borders on desperation. With a need that pushes me to pin her down, to wrap my hands into that perfect fucking hair and lose myself in her, to give myself to her in a way that I’ve never permitted any woman to take no matter how much they tried.
Pushing her thighs further apart, I settle down between them, my eyes closing as my cock slides against her entrance. It’s not enough.
I want to brand her with my touch. Feel every flawless inch of her against me. So I spread myself against her, slowly lowering until my body is pressed against warm, supple skin. My legs over hers, pinning her down. Her breasts, soft and warm against my stomach. And I twine my hands into hers, pushing them over her head and using my lower arms to brace us both. Revelling in the feel of her fingers entwined with me.
When I look up, the second red light peers back at me, just to the right of her bedside table. Below it, a small microphone picks up my murmured words, so low that even River and Kai don’t hear them.
But she will.
I drop my head to whisper, knowing she’ll hear it tomorrow. “You ever thought I didn’t want you?”
We’re perfectly lined up. My cock throbs, almost painful as I nudge forward, slipping inside just an inch as I inhale sharply.
And then I thrust into her, pushing myself deep into her body – and fuck, but she’s so fucking tight. “I can’t fucking sleep for thinking of you, Briar Rose. Can’t eat, can’t fucking breathe without you invading my mind. Thinking about this exact moment. How you’d feel stretched around my cock.”
I pull out and thrust again, my hands tightening on her wrists. “Even if you were awake right now, I wouldn’t let you move. I’d pin you down, just like this, and make you feel every fucking inch of what you do to me.”
Again, her body tight and soft and giving beneath me, making my head spin. “You’ve taken over my fucking head. Once isn’t going to be enough—,”
I cut the words off, my throat tightening as I flex my hips, pushing them into her, losing myself in her.
I was already lost to her before I set foot inside this room.
I stare down at Briar’s peaceful expression, watching the way she rolls with my movement and almost willing her to wake up. My voice lowers further until it’s almost a snarl. “If you woke up right now and pleaded with me to let you go, I wouldn’t. Couldn’t if I tried. You’re a fucking addiction, and you’re in my fucking veins.”
I can’t stop, the admissions spilling out of me as I pin her hips and fuck her pliant, helpless body, my hips rolling against hers. There’s no lie in my words. I’m already addicted to her, to the feel of her body beneath mine, to the sound of her breathing and the faint scent of raspberries in her hair. “Even if you begged, I wouldn’t let you go. I’d keep your wrists pinned, just like this, and you’d take every inch of me. I wouldn’t stop until you were screaming my name.”
My pace slows, my release threatening too soon. “I’m not done with you yet. Not nearly. Maybe you’ll wake up tomorrow and your wrists will be tied, just like this. And we’ll have this conversation again.”
One hand releases her wrist, reaching for her thigh and pushing it up, the angle taking me deeper into her body. “Or maybe I’ll check the form for body modifications. Because if you did check that box, Briar Rose, maybe you’ll be waking up with a pretty collar of my name tattooed across your neck after all.”
My pulse races at the thought of it. Of my name, branded across her neck for the whole world to see.
Mine.
It’s enough to fucking catapult me off the edge. My shout is more of a roar as I thrust once, twice, my release spilling into her pussy and filling it as I pant, trying to drag oxygen into closed lungs even as savage satisfaction floods my veins at the thought of her filled with me.
Leaning on one elbow, I stay buried inside her as I gather up her hair in my fist, looping my hand around it before glancing down at her face. “Next time, I’m going last. And I’m going to prop up your hips with a pillow and leave you full of my cum, so when you wake up I’m still a fucking part of you.”
My mouth hovers over hers, dangerously close, before I hesitate.
I nearly did it. Without even thinking. Without the memories surging in.
But I can’t. And not just because of Katherine.
She’s not mine.
All of this… it’s an act. A game that will end when she leaves us.
It has to be.
But it feels like razors in my chest to pull back from her, to unpeel our sticky bodies. Her pussy is swollen and full, my cum leaking out in sheer perfection, and I take a moment to drag my fingers through. Gathering it up, I reach for her mouth and slide my fingers inside.
A spark of worry lights inside me before her throat works, reflexes kicking in as she swallows. I do it twice more before I glance up to River where he’s standing next to me, raising my eyebrow in challenge.
He shakes his head, but there’s relief on his face as he takes me in. “Fucking caveman.”
Gently pulling my clean fingers from her mouth, I run my hand through Briar’s hair one more time, surprisingly reluctant to leave her. “You were right. About this working.”
I had no issues with facing her, touching her, lacing my hands with hers. A sleeping, defenceless Briar is no threat to the demons that lurk inside my head.
Taking the warm washcloth from his hand, I clean her up with careful strokes, running my fingers through the tangles of her hair again. “Is there a brush in here?”
“You want to brush her hair?” River grins, but he turns to look. “Look at you, acting all gentlemanly. Almost as if you care about her.”
I frown. “It falls under the aftercare section.”
And she ticked the box. I wonder if she did it after my frantic call. Petrified that she might cut her hair before I had chance to truly appreciate it.
He tosses me a brush, and I lift Briar until her cheek rests against my shoulder so I can run the thick brush through her dark tangles. “Whatever you say.”
I lay her back in the bed, settling the sheets around her so she looks undisturbed. Aside from her flushed cheeks, there’s nothing to show what just happened.
Nothing to show I was ever inside her.
And I fucking hate it.
Kai, his eyes lidded as he lounges in the chair, doesn’t bother signing. I can read the question well enough. “I’m fine. I’ll be back in a minute. Carry on without me.”
The door closes behind me, leaving me alone in the hallway before he can respond. Leaning back, I run my hands over my face. I’m not sure I can watch her with someone else and not be a part of it. Not even the men I consider closer than brothers.
Not have her close. Not have her under me, buried inside her. Owning her.
Fuck.