40. Wynn
WYNN
L eona’s back nestled against my front with her face pressed into Ciel’s chest. My arm coiled tightly around her waist. The two of them were in my bed, freshly showered. The curly ends of Ciel’s hair still clung to little drips of moisture.
Leona had passed out almost instantly. Even though nothing had happened in the shower, Ciel and I had taken great care to wash her body. She’d been woozy until we’d dressed her and tucked her in bed.
My cock had been achingly hard when we’d all watched Obi spank her.
I wanted to fuck her. I missed the feel of her skin, the smell of her sweat, the taste of her pussy. I missed her breathy moans in my ear and the way her eyes knit together when her orgasm crashed through her.
But I couldn’t have her, despite the way she looked at me—like she was begging. Not until I had wiped my laundry list of mistakes clean and redeemed myself. All I had done was make things worse.
While our plans with Max had left me feeling more determined, like we had a real path forward, I was still dead weight. Until I clearly made a difference, that feeling wouldn’t go away.
Ciel stared at me with ice in his eyes over her mess of red curls. Her soft breaths were the only sound in my room.
“Stop thinking stupid things,” he murmured. “I’m serious, Wynn.”
I almost smiled. He saw right through me. Maybe he always had, and Leona had simply given him the strength to speak his mind.
Not for the first time, I wished I could capture whatever change he seemed to have found and give it to myself. I knew how to fix things. I just needed the opportunity to do so. Maybe now, with the information Max gave us, that could change.
Once they both fell asleep, I planned to sneak out of bed, hop on my motorcycle, and head to the street corner where Orik Vokshi was dropped off previously.
There was likely a tunnel entrance there, and I intended to find it.
I couldn’t afford to take a night off. I needed to be out there, hunting them down.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I whispered back.
“You’re thinking some variation of ‘I’m not good enough,’ aren’t you?” His eyes were piercing, even in the dark of my room.
“No,” I lied.
He huffed a tiny, disbelieving breath. Leona stirred momentarily but tucked her head against his chest again.
“Then what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that I’ve always thought your eyes were stunning.” It was true. Ever since the first time Obi introduced us, I could never take my eyes off him.
A little pink blush colored his cheeks. “Liar.”
I smirked. If only he knew how much I thought about his eyes. “Go to sleep, Ciel.”
“You’re going to sneak out of the bed, aren’t you?” he asked, yawning.
“No. ”
“Stop lying to me. I hate it. I warned you not to do it again.” His hand found mine, gently pulling it from Leona’s waist. He wrapped our fingers together and pulled my hand closer to his chest. “Stay.”
I didn’t respond. I could only stare at how he held my hand against his heart, right next to Leona’s sleeping face.
“Please, Wynn.” His fingers tightened. “Just sleep with us. If you stay tonight, I promise I’ll help you tomorrow.”
The warmth of his hand reminded me of the warmth of his body pressed against mine.
I wanted them both. I knew that deep within my heart, I was made for them. Laying here together felt like the most natural thing in the world. We fit together like puzzle pieces.
“It would make me happy,” he breathed. “It would make her happy, too.”
I hadn’t felt happy in weeks, not since the morning we’d left the penthouse and I’d almost lost Leona forever.
That day, I’d felt like anything was possible in our future.
But now I could barely see a step in front of me.
Sitting down, not doing , not being consumed with getting rid of the Albanians, felt like a betrayal.
“You don’t have to do this alone,” Ciel continued. “Please. Neither of us could bear if you got hurt. Leona needs you. I need you.”
Would it be so bad to stay? If it would make them both happy?
That was all I ever wanted.
“Okay,” I murmured.
He closed his eyes, sighing in relief, then brought my fingers up to his lips and kissed the tips. My heart clenched painfully. “Thank you.”
I let go of his hand, cupping his cheek instead.
He didn’t move as my fingers traced the shape of his jaw.
My thumb brushed over his slight stubble, finding its way to the plumpness of his bottom lip.
His breathing hitched slightly, but he kept his eyes closed.
If he opened them now, the spell would break .
In the darkness of my room, with the two of them in my bed, something was happening.
For the first time in weeks, I felt the swirling tangle of emotions lodged underneath my sternum unravel. The tension in my shoulders loosened. I inhaled deeply, like I could finally breathe again after being trapped underwater.
My eyes closed. My hand found its way to the back of his head, and I left it there.
My fingers played with the fluffy edges of his hair, brushing against the back of his neck.
“I just want to make you happy.” I wasn’t even sure if the words carried sound.
He curled closer.
Tomorrow, we could follow up on Max’s leads.
Leona was still pressed between us, but when his arm found my waist over her body, I finally fell asleep.