Chapter 25 #2
Once we’re inside, Chase closes the door behind us, and there we are. The three of us in Chase’s tiny studio, the morning bright outside the windows, the fridge humming in the little kitchen, and the sofa bed open with tangled sheets and pillows.
I look away quickly, trying to shove down my seriously overactive and prurient imagination
As I stand there like an idiot, Chase heads to the kitchen and unfastens the holster for his blade, then sets it on the kitchen counter.
By the table, Adric takes off his jacket and throws it casually over a chair before going to check out the clippings taped to Chase’s wall—news stories about various mare attacks, and most connected by colored string.
A set-up that Tia calls Conspiracy Theory Chic.
I stand there and try to decide if I’m a wimp, or if I really have the kind of courage both of these men are always telling me I have.
Granted, their encouragement has always been in another context, but right now—as I’m dancing around something that is either brilliant or stupid—I’ll take whatever courage I can get.
Thus bolstered, I head for Chase, then slide into his arms and kiss him long and deep. “Morning,” I whisper, then push gently back, my hand flat against his chest as I turn just enough to see that Adric’s watching, his attention on me rather than the colored string.
In for a penny.
And so I kiss Chase again.
He grins, but I also see the question in his eyes. “And good morning to you, too,” he says. Then adds, “Care to tell me what’s up?” because apparently he knows me well.
“I just—well, can I ask you something weird?”
“You can ask me anything.”
“Good. Great. Thanks.”
“Cora?”
I glance over my shoulder to where Adric stands, his attention now more on us than Chase’s wall art.
“It’s just—okay, the thing is—I mean…” I draw in another breath, then talk fast. “Do you feel anything now? From the bond with Adric, I mean.”
“From the bond?” he repeats.
“Yeah. I mean, I know you both feel it when we… I trail off with a little sideways nod of my head. “You know.”
“I do know,” he says, and I hear both heat and humor in his voice.
“Is it an all the time thing? Do you feel it now?”
He looks at me for a long beat. Then his eyes flick to where Adric is standing by the front window, watching us.
Chase looks back at me, then shrugs. “Mostly it’s quiet. He’s curious. And a bit envious. You came first to me. Plus, this place holds much of you,” he adds, and he’s right. I have textbooks here and clothes in a basket by the sofa.
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?”
I ignore the question, then turn to look at Adric. “Hi.”
His lips twitch. “Hello, Beloved.”
“I’m going to do something.”
He tilts his head in the way he does when he finds something intriguing. “By all means, Beloved,” he says, clearly fighting a laugh.
I leave Chase and cross to Adric, standing close and cupping my palm against his jaw.
“Tell me what you feel.”
“You,” he says, and some of that amusement fades as heat rises in those silver eyes.
I slide closer and kiss him, warm and deep, and in a heartbeat, I’m no longer running this show. Instead, his hand finds the small of my back, and he pulls me against him, fast and certain and hard, his want rising to meet my own.
I force myself to pull back, breathless. But I don’t move out of his arms.
“Chase,” I say, without looking. “Tell me.”
“Cora.” His voice is rough.
“Please,” I say, the word almost a whisper.
For a moment, I fear he won’t answer, then he says, “Want. Need. Desire.” And his voice is laced with all of that.
I’m breathing hard as I turn to look at him. “Does it feel good?”
His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, the world seems to stop breathing. Then he whispers, “Yeah. It’s pretty fucking good.”
I look back at Adric, and at the satisfied smile that he’s not even bothering to try to hide.
“Maybe we should check again,” I say, then kiss him once more, harder this time. His arm tightens around my back. The other hand slides up into my hair. And for just a second, I forget that we’re not alone.
And then—a second later—I remember it only too well when Chase comes up behind me, his hands settling on my hips as he pulls me back to him, and I feel the hard length of his erection against my lower back even as Adric pulls me in for a long, slow kiss that sends a whirlwind of want and need swirling through me.
I break the kiss, leaning back and breathing hard as I look into Adric’s eyes and see my own desire reflected right back at me.
“Chase,” I whisper as his hands slide around my hips, then tease open the button on my jeans. I gasp as his fingers slide the zipper down, then slip inside my panties to find me wet and teetering on the edge of desperation.
“Are we really doing this?” I murmur.
Chase’s lips are at my ear, and he whispers, “Is this what you want?”
I close my eyes. “Yes.”
“Then that’s my answer, too. Yes.”
The word hits me like a bolt of lightning, and I realize I’d been expecting him to say no while his brother jumped in with eager support.
“Oh,” I say, then add, “Good,” as I cup my hand over his, silently urging his fingers deeper inside me as I meet Adric’s eyes, his face now lit with both heat and amusement. “And you? Are you joining us?”
“I confess my brother has shocked me. I’m tempted to sit back and watch—and feel—the show.” His lips curve into a teasing smile. “Shall I do that, Beloved?”
I grab his collar and pull him close. “Don’t you dare,” I whisper, then kiss him.