Chapter Twenty-Seven
JAX
River takes Lily’s smaller hand in his and leads her out of the room as the rest of us trail behind.
“She looks tired,” I say to Tommy as we approach the stairs.
He glances at me and then back to her. “She’s not been sleeping. I think getting her out of the house to walk along the coast has been helping, though. Sea air seems to help her give into her body, and she tends to sleep better afterwards. But she’s also been waking throughout the night because of nightmares.”
The delicious aroma hits my senses as we reach the bottom of the stairs. We’ve eaten while Lily’s been gone, but it wasn’t from having an appetite as much as it was due to a necessity.
“That’s to be expected. I think until Mia is back and Richard is taken care of, she’s still in limbo. But I also know you’ve been doing everything to take good care of her.”
Tommy scrubs his palm over the back of his head, his cheeks heating.
“I told her,” he suddenly blurts out. “About being captured... Obviously, I didn’t go into detail, but I guess I wanted her to understand. For her to know I get it, you know? Even though it’s not the same, I know better than most about being trapped with your demons.”
I grab his shoulder, noting how he tenses for a beat before it passes. This is huge for him; besides us and his therapist, he’s never spoken to anyone, not even his family.
“I’m proud of you,” I reply. “I know how much courage that must have taken. I’m sure Lily appreciated you opening up to her, too.”
He swallows his emotions and gives a curt nod before clearing his throat.
“Come on, before River really does eat Lily instead.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”
Taking in my surroundings, I follow him to the kitchen where River is whispering to Lily with her back against the counter, his hands on her cheeks.
Elliot watches them with a small smile as he tips a bottle of beer to his lips, taking a swig.
“Thanks for cooking, Tommy. Smells amazing,” I say, grabbing one of the beers I presume is for me and twisting off the cap.
“No worries, but how about you guys make yourselves useful and set the table?” he asks, flicking River with the tea towel.
Lily giggles, she actually fucking giggles.
“Oh, you think that’s funny,” Rivers says, his hands moving to her sides, his intentions clear as Lily’s entire body stiffens.
I’m about to tell him to be careful of her ribs, but just as his fingers wiggle to tickle her, Lily turns away from him and rushes towards Elliot, smiling as he tugs her to his side.
River cocks his brow. “Oh, it’s like that, is it? Anyone would think you were trying to seduce me or something?” he says playfully, his eyes flicking between her and Elliot as she wraps her arm around Elliot’s back.Her cheeks take on a rosy quality and Elliot kisses thetop of her head .
“You’reinsatiable, Riv,” Elliot murmurs in response, Lily’s growing embarrassment palpable.
Tommy tosses the tea towel at his face. “Don’t forget her ribs are still healing.”
“I’m okay,” she replies softly. “They hardly hurt now.”
The fact she’s not entirely healed is all the reminder River needs as he saunters over to Lily and raises her chin with his finger. “No, it’s not okay. I’d never want to hurt you, Lily, ever.”
She looks up at him and grabs his wrist gently. “I know, and I’d tell you if you were, I promise.”
River studies her and eventually nods before leaning in for a kiss, reminding me of the one I just shared with her upstairs. Elliot still holds her to his side as he watches the exchange. It’s hard to ignore the sexual chemistry between the three of them. I can’t deny watching them with her brings out a side of me I never knew existed. Seeing her relax into him and lower her defences as River consumes her with a reverent kiss—one that promises so much more—is an aphrodisiac to my senses. Never would I have imagined something like this would affect me in such a visceral way. I want Lily to be treasured and treated the way she deserves. Worshipped, adored, loved.
I swallow that thought, take a swig of my beer and avert my eyes, only to find Tommy watching me as though he knows exactly what I’m thinking or, better still, what I’m feeling because I’m pretty damn sure that whatever this is, I’m not alone.
Lily is flustered by the time River eases out of the embrace, her cheeks positively glowing now. A look I’d rather see with her beneath me as I take her to new heights of pleasure, my name leaving her lips on a scream of satisfaction, but right now, we need to eat and let Lily know about Richard.
Elliot pulls out a chair for Lily as River takes one of the chairs beside her, and I can’t help but scoff under my breath. It looks like I’ll grab the cutlery. I can’t even be mad. I knew he needed this, hell, we all did, but River was beginning to worry me; the longer he was away from her, the darker his thoughts seemed to become. When we sparred, I noticed he was barely reining in his suppressed anger, even though it’s likely towards me. I know he’s got my back, but we both know how fucked up this situation is. There was no winning scenario, and my sleeping with Lily drew out Richard and all his nefarious activities, which only got worse the more we dug.The fact he also has a thing for young boys, which Elliot discovered while making his way through all the files on Richard’s computer, makes my blood boil. Someone like him doesn’t deserve to breathe or have the security of four walls, which will depend on the juridical system and what term he will serve once his proclivities are brought to light.
I know I need to tell Lily everything, but not right now. For a few hours, I want to enjoy being in her company with some of the most important people in my life.
I don’t know if it’s the situation, but I swear this is the best damn lasagne I’ve ever eaten, but I’m pretty sure it’s more to do with the present company.
Lily sips her wine, her eyes darting at all of us before dipping to her lap. I’d love to know what thoughts are going through her pretty little head right now.
“Penny for them?” I ask, tipping the neck of my beer bottle towards Lily.
Her grey eyes jump to mine as her teeth dig into her bottom lip. “Hmm, nothing,” she replies, but it’s a lie. For someone who manages to put on such a facade, it’s impossible to ignore her tells that I’ve come to recognise, now I know her better. I know there’s still so much about her to learn, and I look forward to exploring everything about her. Watching her open up to us and letting go of her inhibitions shows us the temptress beneath her beautifully demure disposition.
“I don’t believe you,” I reply, watching as she fidgets in her seat. “But it’s all right. You won’t be able to hide from us forever. Eventually, you’ll tell us all your truths, inner desires, wants, and needs.”
Her mouth opens in an O and then closes like she doesn’t quite know how to respond to my words, and that’s okay. I wouldn’t have expected her to either.
But then, like the night in her bedroom, she surpasses my expectations with her words.
“What makes you think that?” she asks, causing the guys to fall quiet around the table, diverting their own conversations.
I want to tell her because she’s ours as much as we are hers, but I also don’t want to scare her away either, not when she’s slowly beginning to come out of her shell where we’re all concerned. The fact that we all kissed her in front of one another, except for Tommy, should be proof enough.
“Because you care about us as much as we care about you. Even though it may not be conventional or what society deems as acceptable, whatever this is, all of us with you, this connection,” I say, glancing at each of the guys at the table before my gaze returns to her. “You feel it, too.”
She considers my words for a moment. “I do... but isn’t it weird? Does it not bother any of you?”
River turns to face her. “Did it bother you when you caught me with Elliot?”
If I thought I’d seen her flushed before, it has nothing on her at this moment. I lean forward, eager to hear her response. Although, she finds it arousing as hell, if her physical reaction is anything to go by.
“No, of course not.” Her voice comes out deeper, sultry almost.
I internally groan, watching her pupils dilate, and I’m reminded of the same reaction when she had my cock in her mouth.
“Well, then, you have your answer. ”
She brings her glass of wine to her mouth, her lips closing around the rim before she tips it back and polishes it off with a wince.
“Easy, sweetheart,” Elliot says from her other side, removing the empty glass from her delicate fingers. “Pretty sure you shouldn’t be mixing alcohol with your pain meds.”
“It’s okay. I’m not taking anything, only the occasional Paracetamol and Ibuprofen,” she replies softly.
River plays with a lock of her hair, wrapping it around his finger.
“Hmm, still, I’d like to know you’re coherent for later,” he replies, his gaze locked on her face.
Her tongue darts out, swiping over her bottom lip, and he leans closer—like a sunflower drawn to the rising sun. Now more than ever, Tommy’s nickname for her makes even more sense. Not for the first time today, I watch as she kisses another man, and all it does is fuel my hunger, the need to take her, make her mine all over again.
When she finally eases out of the kiss, she stares at Elliot, tilting her head to the side. “Why do I feel like you’re trying to distract me from what’s really going on?” she asks, glancing at us all still seated at the table.She clears her throat. “Are you going to tell me?”
Elliot sighs and gently pulls her chin so she’s looking at him once more. “Firstly, kissing you would never be used as a tool or weapon to distract you, not like that—never like that. But you’re right. We do have some information. Jax,” he says, glancing in my direction.
I stand up, walk around to Lily, and hold out my hand.
“Come, let’s move somewhere more comfortable, and I’ll tell you everything.”