Chapter 16
ROMAN
We lay in Bailey’s bed, tangled in a mess of sweat, cum, and limbs, and I don’t ever want this moment to end.
Jace’s hand is in mine, while Bailey lies on top of him.
They’re staring into each other's eyes, and for a minute, no one says a word. We’re all just soaking each other in and reveling in the moment we just spent together.
It was different this time.
There were no lies between us. No masks. We happened because we are in love, and I don’t give a fuck who knows it anymore.
Colton strokes my hair, his large bicep the perfect pillow, and I have never felt more content than I do in this moment.
“When I first laid eyes on you, I had to question everything about myself,” Jace says, stroking Bailey’s back.
Her wide, curious eyes gaze into his, and Colton shifts to press his body closer against me, listening intently.
“Back then, we hadn’t yet told each other how we felt, and as far as I knew, Roman was straight as fuck,” he says, and I scoff because the cum dripping from my ass would say otherwise.
“Yeah, none of us are straight,” Colton says, and we chuckle because he has worn his heart and his sexuality on his sleeve since we met him. “What?” he says, and, God, he’s fucking cute.
“But when I saw his stepsister, I was willing to throw hands for you,” he says, and Bailey is grinning from ear to ear.
“We all had the same reaction,” Colton adds, and it’s funny because I remember it differently.
“I remember you telling me that my new stepsister was fucking hot, and that I needed to lock it down before some other asshole in high school beat me to the punch.”
“Yeah, I was testing you. I wanted to see if you’d give me permission to date her. Bro code and all that,” Jace says, and Colton sits up, causing me to lose my pillow.
“We all wanted you, and pretty soon, we realized we were falling for each other. Still, you were always there. Tormenting us with your perfect smile and cute little laughs, until we decided that we needed to come clean to you. It was fucking torture watching you with other guys when all we wanted to do was keep you for ourselves. Even if your parents would have blown a fucking gasket,” Colton says, and we laugh because we picture what it was like back then.
Everything seemed less complicated, in the same way it always is when you’re younger.
Then, life happened. The Order happened, and our reality changed dramatically.
Bailey pushes herself off Jace and leaves the bed. We each wear puzzled expressions before she bends her perfect little ass and picks up my knife from the floor.
“Baby… What are you doing?” Colton says, his voice filled with unease. It seems our guy is still a little petrified of our girl.
“I want you to mark me. I want you to know there’s no one else I could ever want more than you three.” Bailey holds my knife, her eyes darting between the three of us, and fuck, I think she’s serious.
“Come here,” Jace says, and she does. She hands him the knife, her face glowing with pure excitement, and it only makes my pulse skyrocket. “Are you sure you want this?” Jace questions, and she nods. “Your words, baby girl.”
“I want you to mark me. I need this,” she whispers, her eyes steady, full of burning determination. He lifts her with one hand and gently places her on her back.
“You’re sure,” he questions again, and she smiles.
“As sure as I am of you three.” That must be enough for Jace, because he stands, walking over to retrieve a towel, before he kneels in front of her. He is as tall as I am, which means even on his knees, he’s towering over her.
“Hold her arms,” he says, and we do. I lean in and press a kiss to her lips, sliding my tongue into her mouth, as Jace presses the blade against her upper thigh. She tastes so fucking sweet, moaning into my mouth with each slice of skin, and before we’re ready to part, Jace is done.
We all look at the same time, and see the thin trail of blood dripping from the cut, one that spells Ours, and the smile that reaches all our mouths makes this feel real.
“Our own oath,” she says, rising from the bed, and I can’t explain the tightness that builds in my chest when Jace presses his lips to hers.
I love this woman, and I’ll never stop.
“Who wants hot chocolate?” Cole announces over the silence, and it’s so fucking random that we shake our heads.
“What? I’m thirsty, and it’s the holidays,” he shrugs, bending down to grab his sweatpants from the floor.
“I’d love hot chocolate! Do you want company?” Bailey says, moving across the room to look in the closet mirror, her eyes tracing her mark, and the pride in her expression fills me with warmth.
We’re messed up. Far as fuck from perfect, but we’re perfect for each other.
She disappears into her closet to get dressed, and Jace and I head to my room to do the same, when a loud crashing noise rips through the house like shattered glass, and we both freeze.
Trepidation coils around my heart like an ice-cold serpent, and when Jace’s wide eyes meet mine, our instincts are immediately on high alert.
“Cole,” he whispers, and within seconds, we move. Jace leaves the room in a blur, and I reach for my Glock in my nightstand, heart pounding in my ribs, before I’m hot on his heels.
When we reach the kitchen entrance, everything stops.
Colton stands beside the counter, his arms outstretched wide in surrender. The look on his face is one of pure fucking hatred, and when I round the doorway, my stomach drops.
There’s a gun pointed at his temple, and the person holding it is… Alice.
My stepmother.