Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
That training session with the jump rope was brutal.
I stand in the kitchen, dressed in my usual workout attire—gray sweat shorts, white sneakers, and a red cap worn backward. Sweat still trickles down my chest, and I’m slightly out of breath. I’ve just finished my normal workout routine, though I pushed through much longer this time.
I needed the distraction.
With Xander’s and my room right next to Joshua’s, hearing her moan and come for him last night was the sweetest form of torture I’ve ever experienced. Xander thought it was funny to suck me off against the backdrop of her moans, intensifying the torment.
That knocked me out for a few hours, but as soon as I woke up, one of her whimpers played on repeat in my mind. I couldn’t stay in bed any longer, or I might have been tempted to go over to their room and ask her if she’d let me try to get one of those out of her myself.
Xander joins me downstairs and sits at the kitchen island while I make coffee for us. I’m handing him his mug with a smirk when Carolina comes into the kitchen.
“Good morning, kitten,” I greet with a genuine smile.
She rubs her eyes tiredly, coming over to the coffee machine. “Can I have one too, please?” she asks, and I oblige, pouring her a mug and stirring in some sugar.
As I turn to hand her the mug, I catch her gaze fixed on my chest, her eyes following a bead of sweat making its way down my abs. I can’t help but smirk, thoroughly enjoying her attention.
“Did you sleep all right?” I inquire, breaking the silence and handing her the mug.
Her eyes meet mine, and I notice a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she takes a sip. “Yes, thanks. You?” she responds, her voice soft and somewhat bashful.
I can’t resist the urge to tease her. “Oh, I bet Josh wore you out,” I say with a wink, fully aware that I’m pushing her buttons. Her frown is all too telling. “I was hoping we could continue our conversation, but you’d already left,” I add, taking a step closer.
In response, she takes a cautious step back, her expression growing serious. “About that…” she turns to Xander, her tone filled with remorse, “… I shouldn’t have kissed you, Xander. It was out of line.”
“I kissed you,” Xander grunts out.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m with Joshua. It shouldn’t have happened,” she says, clearly stressed. “I’m sorry I let it.”
I step closer to her, my tone reassuring. “Kitten, relax. It was just a little New Year’s kiss. I bet if you talked to Josh, he’d tell you it’s okay.”
She meets my gaze with a mixture of regret and remorse. “I did talk to him. He knows. I’m still sorry, though, and it won’t happen again.” Her gaze drops to her feet while she speaks. “I’m going to get ready at Sophia’s,” she adds softly, a hint of sadness in her tone. “Thanks for the coffee.”
As she starts to move away, I can’t help but reach out and gently grasp her arm, my heart heavy with uncertainty.
“Why does it feel like I am losing you when you’re not even mine?
” I ask, and even though I know I need to keep my emotions under control, my voice is a mixture of frustration and longing.
Her eyes dart between mine and then linger on my lips for a fleeting moment. But she quickly shakes her head, shifts her gaze to Xander, then gently pulls her arm free, her posture now defensive. “Have a nice day,” she murmurs, her words barely more than a whisper as she exits the kitchen.
Moments later, the front door opens and closes, leaving an unsettling silence in its wake.
“I love you, love, but that was just plain-ass stupid,” Xander says with a sigh.
I groan in frustration, letting my head fall back. “I know! Fuck, I just got nervous. She pushed me away just when I thought she was starting to see it too.”
“I get that you want this badly, but you need to give her time. You’re pushing too hard.
Josh is her first boyfriend. Everything is new to her.
And now we’re expecting her to be open to a very unconventional relationship?
You need to be patient. Don’t push too much, but also don’t retreat too far. Keep tension on the line.”
“Oh, so my babe’s a fishing expert now?” I tease.
“I end up watching too many damn documentaries while waiting for you at night,” he grumbles, making me laugh.
“But I’m serious. I would love to bend her over the island and fuck her silly too, but we’re not there yet.
This is our forever. There is no rush. I wanna take it slow with her.
I want to show her how much I want her, but let her set the pace and come around.
Make her want me so much that she takes the initiative. ”
“That sounds hot,” I muse.
“Oh, I know what’s hot,” he murmurs, standing to approach me from behind, then he reaches around, grabbing my crotch and pulling me close.
“Be a good boy, and don’t scare her off.
It’d be such a waste. I can’t shake the image of both of you kneeling in front of me, licking up my cock at the same time.
I really want that fantasy to become a reality, even if it means waiting a bit longer,” he whispers in my ear.
The mere thought makes me hard, and with his hand still on me, he can undoubtedly feel it. “You’d like that too, wouldn’t you?”
“I can go upstairs again for a few minutes if you guys are just about to start something,” Josh comments from the kitchen doorway.
Xander releases me and plants a kiss on my neck before stepping away. “No need. I was giving him a little reminder.”
Josh chuckles. “Of course.”
“Someone’s in a good mood today,” I observe, leaning back against the kitchen counter and sipping my coffee.
“I am,” he replies with a smile, getting some orange juice from the refrigerator.
My anxiety gets the better of me, and I can’t help but ask, “Did you talk to Carolina last night by any chance?” Even I can hear the unease in my tone.
He smiles, pouring himself a glass. “Some of what we did was talking.”
“Yes, you lucky bastard, we heard,” I retort, jealousy evident in my tone.
His eyes lock onto mine, and he chuckles. “You did?” The smile on his face remains unapologetic. “Sorry, not sorry. After years of hearing you two next door, it’s only fair.”
I decide to redirect the conversation back to the pressing matter. “Anyway, did you talk about the situation?”
“She mentioned that Xander kissed her and that you almost did,” he accuses, giving me a pointed look. “Didn’t I tell you both that it has to come from her?”
Choosing to sidestep his question, I ask, “What did you say to her?”
“I told her it’s okay if she has feelings for both of you, that she wouldn’t lose me over it, and that I’m open to exploring.” He shrugs nonchalantly.
That sounds good. “And?” I prompt, gesturing with my hand for him to keep talking.
He hesitates, biting his cheek, then reluctantly meets my gaze. “She told me she wanted only me, that it would be just the two of us.”
My skepticism creeps in, and I ask hesitantly, still not entirely convinced he’s all in with us, “Did you really tell her it would be okay?”
“Careful, Clay, I still have a scar on my back from your knife.” He glares at me, his tone turning cold.
I relent, frowning as I search his face. “Fine, I believe you.” Still, my doubts linger, and I can’t help but push it. “But she didn’t mean it, right? She was just scared?”
He shrugs. “I don’t know. It’s clear as day that she has feelings for both of you.
But just because she has those feelings doesn’t mean she’s ready for what you’re proposing.
She’s inexperienced, has trauma, and is fragile despite her tough exterior.
Give her time. I can’t make any promises.
And remember, this isn’t easy for me. It’s going to be an adjustment for us all that will require patience, something you lack.
I’ll remind her at every opportunity that she can have all of us.
But as I’ve said, the decision has to come from her, Clay. If she doesn’t want this—”
“Then it won’t happen,” I cut him off, finishing his sentence and nodding. The pang in my heart has me wincing just the same.
“I’m sorry,” Josh says sincerely, patting my shoulder.
“It’s okay. I’m going to take a shower,” I reply, placing my mug in the dishwasher and heading toward the hallway.
As I attempt to walk past Xander, he pulls me close, his lips sealing ours in a kiss. My poor, hurting heart flutters at the contact.
He nips my bottom lip, his voice a soft, teasing murmur as he speaks. “Patience, love. It might not be your strong suit, but what a chance to grow.”