Chapter 29
JAYDEN
The Christmas tree has my entire attention while I wait for Finley and Eli to finish getting ready for the Christmas party.
The soft music playing in the background is a total contrast to the unsteady rhythm of my heart.
It’s not until now that the nerves are kicking in.
Wave upon wave of apprehension that’s squeezing around my lungs.
Lightly spinning the ornament Eli and I had commissioned for Finley, I slip my hands into the pockets of my slacks while I watch the glow of the birds turn about each other.
Graceful and effortless. A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth at the story Eli told me about the meaning of the birds, and a deep sense of satisfaction seeps into my bones at becoming a part of it.
That’s the three of us—no end, no beginning. An infinite cluster of want, need, love, lust, greed…
“Do you ever look without touching?” Eli’s finger stills the ornament as he reaches around me, part of his front pressing to my back.
The contact sets my pulse on fire.
Eli’s low chuckle tickles over the curve of my neck, and as I shiver deeper into him, he nuzzles into my shoulder. Like he did last night when I went to him.
I can’t stop thinking about the dark desperation etched on his face.
Turning on the spot, I take a slow glance over him until he’s face-to-face with me, biting his lip in that way that makes my mouth water.
The teal velvet of his dinner jacket makes his slicked-back, blond hair appear lighter and his eyes infinitely darker. Every line of his face is chiseled and so damn perfect that I can’t help but trace them with my fingertips. The soft skin against those carved angles always surprises me.
“I guess not,” he murmurs, tongue wetting his lower lip.
It takes all of my control not to give him what we both want right now. Because if I kiss him, we’re both leaving here looking a rumpled mess.
Lex sent an entire glam squad for Finley; showing up anything less than sharp will not play to his need of controlling tonight’s optics.
We’ve already dodged every lead-up event he pitched, and not one of us has posted anything regarding us to our social media like his team has been nagging us to.
At this point, he's probably chewing drywall. But Eli, Finley, and I are on the same page of how we’re navigating our relationship. To me, that’s all that truly matters.
Coming closer, Eli releases the one button closing my suit jacket. My eyes drop to his hands clasping the burgundy wool, tugging me all the way into him. He doesn’t hesitate pressing his lips to mine. Warm and wet and divine.
“Breathe, JJ,” he murmurs against my lips.
When he purposefully nips my lip, I suck in his cinnamon-mint breath, and it burns so good. There goes restraint.
My hand grips his face as his mouth finds mine with a hungry kiss. Every swirl of our tongues duels for control, for more, while his hot touch tightens on my waist.
Before long, we’re tangled in each other and gasping for breath when we reluctantly come up for air. His lips are a touch swollen from our frantic kiss, and a bashful smile quirks up one side. Threatening to stop my heart at the sight of it.
I don’t know how long we stand glued to the spot in silence, but it feels too good to pull away. Instead, I fix Eli’s crooked bowtie while he buttons up my jacket.
“About tonight,” I start the conversation I’ve been running through in my head since we booked the hotel suite for tonight.
“JJ, I’m okay with it. With anything you want to do. I trust you.” Eli’s hand molds to my face.
I know he means it. But… after last night, after seeing how low he was… I can never be the reason he hurts himself. Ever.
“I need to know that if you ever get overwhelmed and you can’t find the words or we’re in a situation where you can’t verbally tell me, you can communicate it to me in another way.”
“Like a secret code?” He’s smirking, but I can see the hidden worry in his eyes lift.
“Something like that.”
“You don’t have to do all of this for me. I can just take myself away.”
“No, I don’t want you to do that. Certainly don’t want you to be alone, ever… I want to be where you are. I want you to enjoy being with Fin and me.”
“I do.”
“In the heat of the moment, things can get rough and wild sometimes…”
Eli takes a step back; his shoulders hunch. “You don’t need to walk on eggshells around me. I don’t need special treatment.”
He’s so in his head. So focused on being the problem that he doesn’t see the reality of what I’m asking.
“I need the safety net for me, Eli. So that I know, no matter what, we can always communicate. It doesn’t have to be anything over the top. Just a sign… A touch even… Please, Sweetheart.”
Eli nods. “What’s the sign, JJ?”
“It’s got to be something you’ll always be comfortable doing.”
Soft eyes meet mine as he steps back into me. His clammy hand clasps around my wrist, and he taps the inside three times. “Is that okay?”
“If you’re sure you’ll be able to do it when you need to.”
“I like touching you, so… yeah, I’m sure.” After a beat, his other hand grasps my other wrist, and he brings my arms around him as he nuzzles into me. “I’m sorry I made that hard.”
“Don’t apologize, Sweetheart. I get it.” Tightening my arms around him, I press a kiss to his cheek and just hold him, allowing the worry weighing me down to roll off me.
The soft Christmas music continues playing in the background. I don't know who rocks who first, but that’s how we’re tangled together when Finley appears. Standing in the opening to the hallway with a timid smile, palms smoothing over her lilac sequined hips.
“Holy…” The rest dies in my throat.
Eli spins, sucking in a gasp. “Shit.”
“Mhmm…” I nod, lifting my stare from the lilac feather trim skimming her thighs all the way up the tight body of the dress to the feather trim at the top, skimming the swell of her full tits.
Fuck me, she’s so goddamn gorgeous. Her curves are soft and toned. Legs go on for days and days. And in those high heels, with the gold leather cords wrapped around her ankles, they’re killer.
“Do you like it?” Fin asks, pausing in front of us.
“You look…” Eli hums, sliding a glossy wave off her face to reveal the gold-and-pearl hoops I bought her.
“Wow.”
“Yeah,” he adds, trailing a crooked finger along the bottom of her jaw, lifting her gaze to ours. “Wow.”
Bright blue eyes dance between mine and Eli’s. “It’s kind of short, and—”
“Sexy,” Eli says quickly.
Every time he says that word, something in me detonates.
“It’s… You’re… Maaan, Lucky…” I grip her hip and pull her into us. “The dress, the heels, the earrings… It’s all perfect.”
“I love the earrings,” she sings, nose scrunching. I dip to kiss her, and she leans back. “No lipstick smudging until after the photos.”
She air-kisses both index fingers and presses one to my lips, one to Eli’s. Even with minimal makeup, her liner makes those baby blues glass-bright.
“Are you teasing us, or is that an actual rule?” Eli nips her finger.
“Not my rule.”
“Fuck it, then.” He bands an arm around her waist, yanking her flush to us. He hovers a breath from her mouth. “Unless you don’t want it, Fin, I’m going to kiss you.”
“I want it. I always wan—” He silences her with a hard kiss.
Sucking her lip into his mouth without any trepidation, he groans long and low. The sound vibrates through me, straight to my aching cock.
Goddamn.
I could listen to him devour her all night.
When her hand clutches the hem of my jacket, I step behind her, sandwiching her between Eli and me.
Right where she belongs.
I don’t know what they’re doing to me. I’ve never been this hot, this off-balance.
I grip her wrist tightly where she’s still holding my jacket behind her back, and press my body deep into hers.
Fuck, her ass fits perfectly to my groin. Suddenly, I can’t wait for the party to be over so we can go to our suite and I can make good on the promise I made her in Florida—to own every last part of her.
“Oh my God, yes,” she moans, head falling to my chest while Eli kisses down her neck. The sight of him loving on her ratchets my heartbeat into a bruise.
“Do it, Eli,” she breathes, shivering when he licks that spot behind her ear. “Please, Love… Mark me.”
She grinds back on my cock, clawing her nails into my thigh. My fingers trail over sequins and feathers to warm skin. When I grip the fleshy part of her thigh, she twists into my neck as Eli sucks her soft flesh.
“JJ… Yes. Yes…” My fingertips skim the apex of her thighs, teasing.
Meanwhile, Eli pulls away from her with a loud pop. Before Finley or I can follow his lead, he lifts her up over his shoulder and grabs my hand, guiding me with him toward the couch. He sits her on the back, parting her legs while tugging me between them.
“Mark her, Jayden. Make sure everyone can see who this angel belongs to.” The order is gruff and raw, pulling me to my knees before the words truly sink in.
I hike the feathery hem of Finley’s dress higher and latch onto her creamy, velvety skin. Biting and sucking on her flesh while he caresses a long, thick finger along my jaw. From below my ear to where my chin is pressed deep into her thigh.
The taste of her, combined with the feel of his touch, is fucking nirvana.
“Now…” Eli grips the back of my neck and pulls my mouth off our girl with a pop. “Now, you’re not just perfect, Fin. You’re fucking divine. Don’t you think, JJ?”
I glance up at him. Relishing the pleased smirk on his lips with a grin of my own. I fucking love it. The confidence that’s blossoming in him is sexy as hell.
Pride warms through me at the realization that I’ve played a part in that.
No matter what else I achieve in this life, this will be the pièce de résistance. Seeing Eli and Finley’s confidence flourish fills me with more joy than I have ever known.
It’s by far the most addictive feeling, and even though I’m on my knees at their feet, I feel like the most powerful asshole in the whole goddamn universe.
***