Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
CALLIE
The crisp night air wraps around me as I pack away the last of the liquor.
Strings of twinkling lights crisscross overhead, competing with the stars that have decided to show up in full force tonight.
The summer festival is wrapping up, and half the crowd is three sheets to the wind, stumbling around like newborn foals trying to find their ride shares. Those Jager bombs are dangerous.
Mom waves at me from the edge of the green where she’s directing a couple who can’t seem to figure out which way is up, much less how to get an Uber. I lift my hand in acknowledgment.
Thank god it’s finally over.
An electric current skitters across my skin, and my body knows who is approaching before I even see them. Knox, Brax, and Jax stand shoulder to shoulder waiting for me, bathed in moonlight. I swear I’ve had this dream before.
My pulse quickens. They’ve always been beautiful men, but time has only enhanced what was already there.
Made them a little more rugged. Mountain men through and through.
Strong. Muscled. Knox stands slightly ahead, his posture rigid but commanding.
Jax’s easy smile is visible even from here.
And Brax, with his quieter intensity, has his hands tucked in his pockets, his gaze never leaving my face.
I take a step forward, like a magnet is drawing me in.
Each step feels like coming home. It’s as if the ground beneath my feet recognizes me, as if the very air around us remembers our laughter, our secrets, our bond.
The distance between us shrinks, and with it, the ten years I spent away.
Like my agreeing to come over tonight erased all that time.
How is it possible to feel so connected to people after so long? How can my body remember the exact way Brax’s eyes crinkle when he’s trying not to smile too big? How Knox’s jaw tightens when he’s holding something back? How Jax’s fingers tap against his thigh when he’s anxious?
There’s nothing I want more than for us to be together again, how it used to be.
Only not exactly how it used to be. My body wants a hell of a lot more than friendship, and judging by the way they drink me in, they’re thinking about being more than friends too.
I stop in front of them, crossing my arms and arching an eyebrow to mask the thundering of my heart.
“The three of you look like trouble,” I say, hoping to dispel the tension, but the way Jax’s lips kick up tells me I’m in for one hell of a night. My skin heats as thoughts of the four of us tangled together fill my head.
Relax, Callie. They want to hang out, not run a train.
“Trouble recognizes trouble, baby,” Jax murmurs, tugging me into his arms. He pins my front against his and gazes down at me. “God, you’re fucking gorgeous.”
The weight that’s been on my shoulders since I left Big Ridge falls away, like being in Jax’s arms was all I needed to chase away the stress, fear, and anxiety.
I should have known. They’ve always protected me, it’s part of why I came home after what Theo did, the only thing that made sense was coming back.
I only hope this dangerous game we’re playing doesn’t end up with us tearing each other apart.
Knox clears his throat. “Maybe we should head out?”
Jax glances around, wincing at the people milling about us, and murmurs an apology.
But this small town has already said enough about me. I’m done worrying what they think. I link my fingers with his to keep him from pulling all the way away. “It’s okay. Let them look.”
Jax grins at me. Brax takes my other hand, and Knox studies us, jealousy flashing in his gaze, but I don’t have three arms. He turns on his heel and leads us toward Jax’s pickup.
There’s a cab, and plenty of space for me in the back, but when Knox climbs into the passenger seat, I extract myself from the twins and catch his door before it can close.
Knox gazes down at me. “What are you doing, Callie?”
It’s a loaded question. Everything about Knox is heavier than the twins.
He was big enough to have his world shattered when his mom ran out.
With him, there’s more on the line, more at risk.
With Knox, it’s all or nothing. Every piece of him or none at all.
That challenge shines in his irises and I hold his stare as I step onto the running board.
“Taking my seat.”
He tips his head. “There’s room in the back.”
“I know.” I grab the oh shit bar but he catches my hip. My heart trips over itself.
“You’ll be safer in the back.”
Blood rushes through my ears. “Are you saying you can’t keep me safe?”
He narrows his eyes. “I can keep you safe.”
“Good.” I turn and drop into his lap, my back resting against his strong torso. I tip my neck to look up at him. “Don’t let me get hurt.”
He swallows, understands exactly what I mean, and nods. “I won’t.”
“I’m counting on you, Knox.”
His arms band around my waist. “I’m not letting go.”
Grinning, I glance at Jax as he climbs in. He’s smiling, not at all bothered by me sitting on his brother’s lap. Brax gets into the back and scoots to the middle, head popping up between the seats.
“This feels good, doesn’t it, Alley cat?”
My chest warms. “Yeah, it does.”
Jax pulls out of the parking lot and my pulse races alongside his truck as we wind through town, heading to their home. My belly warms and my core aches. I press my thighs together as discreetly as I can, relieving some of the pressure, and I sigh.
“Those noises you’re making are going to drive me crazy,” Knox murmurs in my ears.
It’s right about then I noticed something thick and hard nestled against my ass.
“Sorry,” I whisper.
His hand smooths over my stomach. “I’m not,” he says, nipping my ear and making me gasp.
“Knox.”
“Are you telling me to stop?” he asks.
Am I? I check with the twins, but Jax is driving, wholly unbothered, and Brax’s gaze takes in the flush of my cheeks as headlights flash past.
“No,” I tell Knox, holding Brax’s gaze.
Knox hums in approval and slides his hand down to cup me, grinding his palm against me. I release a small sound and Jax chuckles.
“You okay over there?” He hits the turn signal and glances over.
“I’m good,” I rasp as Knox rubs his hand in circles, palm dragging over my clothes and throbbing clit. Smirking, Jax turns onto the recently paved road that leads up to their cabin.
I press into Knox’s touch.
He hums in approval. “Our girl is responsive,” he tells his brothers, fingers pressing against me. “Wet.” He grinds the heel of his palm against me. I bite back a moan. “Needy,” he practically growls.
“Yes,” I rasp. Not ashamed to admit it.
“Fuck, it’s hard to drive with you making those sounds.” Jax races up their long driveway, throwing the truck into park. He and Brax hop out and come around to the passenger side. Opening the door for me and Knox, who is still working circles around my clit.
“Knox,” I breathe.
“Go on in,” he tells his brothers, cupping one of my breasts and pinching my nipple. My lips part in delight.
“I need to finish what I started,” he growls.
The twins trade a look, but nod. Their heated gazes find mine. “Don’t take long,” Jax warns.
“She won’t,” Knox says confidently, lips coasting over my throat. The twins head into the house and Knox groans against my skin. “You’re already ready, aren’t you, baby?”
I bite my lip and nod, moaning when he slips his hand under my dress and into my underwear, rough fingers sliding through my slit. My pulse drums in my ears.
“Fuuuuck, Callie. All this for me?”
“Please.”.
He hums. “I like when you beg me like that,” he admits. He traces over my clit in torturously slow circles. I roll my hips, trying to hurry him along. “Say it again.”
“Knox, please,” I rasp.
“Is this pretty pussy aching for me?” He pushes two fingers into me.
“God yes.” The stretch is delicious, and I shamelessly rock into his touch, desperate for more. “Please,” I say again.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” he confesses, voice rough with emotion. “To have you right like this.” His fingers pump faster and harder, curling against my g-spot. The pads of his fingers drag over that spot as he teases my clit. “Fucking drenched for me.”
It’s not enough. I want more. I’ve wanted more of him for years and I’m done waiting.
“Stop!”
He slides his digits out of me. “Callie, I’m sor—”
“Shh,” I murmur, turning around before he can react. His gaze searches mine, questioning. “You know I always wanted you.” My hands settle on the band of his jeans. “You have no idea how many nights I dreamed of this.”
In the dim light cast by the lamp in the driveway, I see his throat bob nervously.
I lean in, capturing his lips, flicking the button of his jeans open.
He groans into my mouth as I wrap my fingers around his thick length.
He pushes my underwear down. Smoothing my thumb over his tip, I break the kiss, resting my forehead against his.
He holds my dress up and together we watch as I position myself, trading breaths.
My heart thunders in my chest as he presses inside me.
Our gazes collide as I sink onto his dick.
The stretch makes my breath catch, and I struggle to breathe as I adjust to his girth.
Knox is big and being on top is almost too much to handle.
“Fuck you’re beautiful.”
“You’re only saying that because you’re inside me,” I say with a grin, rocking my hips.
He chokes on his next words.
“Cat got your tongue?” I tease, flexing around him.
“Fuuuuuck, you’re going to make me come too soon.”
I go to say something snarky again but he catches my throat with his hand and narrows his eyes.
“Shut up and ride me, baby.”
“Well, since you asked so nicely,” I murmur.
My hips rock all while Knox keeps a firm grip on my neck.
He watches me with rapt attention, as if this is his favorite thing, and I revel in it, dropping my head back.
There’s not a lot of room in the truck, so I end up grinding against him with him deep inside me.
Soon enough, I’m panting, struggling to keep a steady pace.
“You feel so fucking good,” he growls. “Squeezing me tight.” He thrusts his hips up to meet mine, dragging a moan out of me.
“Knox,” I rasp.
“I’ve got you, baby.” His thumb coasts over my clit while his other hand flexes around my throat. “I want you to come with me, Callie, can you do that?”
“Yessss,” I hiss as he traces circles around the bundle of nerves.
“That’s my girl. Look at how pretty you are impaled on my dick.”
Heat spreads from my core and I whimper as he relentlessly teases my clit, hips rocking to meet mine, taking over when I start to slow down, forcing my body down his length. “That’s it, baby, right like that,” he rasps as my walls flutter around his cock.
“Please.” I’m so overcome with potent need that my voice is scarcely a whisper. Every inch of my skin vibrates with pleasure. My hands clutch his shoulders, and I roll my hips to meet his thrusts as he tweaks my clit again.
Every single touch is like a match striking.
I’d gladly burn if it means his hands never leave my body.
Knox is as addictive as I thought he would be, and when his gaze shifts from my body to meet mine, that fire in his eyes flaring just for me, I fall into the sensations and the world fades away as he takes me higher and higher.
Knox doesn’t gently guide me to my climax.
He drags me kicking and screaming. Giving me what I don’t think I can handle, but euphoria pours through me.
A drug injected straight into my veins by the man I’ve craved since I was a teenager.
Pleasure like I’ve never known before at the hands of a man who has the power to break me.
But as he carries me through the orgasm, gaze locked on mine, I swear I see him vow to keep me safe.
To protect me in all the ways he failed to before.
My lips part on a scream that’s sure to terrify the local wildlife, but none of that matters with Knox.
His mouth slams into mine, devouring my cries as he starts to pulse inside me.
His moan rumbles in his throat and he rasps my name, thrusting up one last time as he releases inside of me.
He holds himself deep as he paints my walls, kissing me fiercely as I gasp at the sensation, swallowing every embarrassing sound and keeping them all to himself.
Maybe I’m a sucker. A love sick fool, but I can’t help picturing me with the three of them, living out a happily ever after that’s too delusional to come true.
One can dream, though.