Chapter Thirty Seven #3
“You’re mine,” I say it simply because it is simple.
Rhys studies me for a long moment, searching my face like the answer might be hidden there.
Then his hand reaches up to cup my cheek, and he kisses me, deeply and unguarded.
His kiss says everything he’s still learning how to believe, the clash of our mouths and tongues colliding.
I melt into him, into the man beneath the reputation and the scars, the one who’s been quietly asking to be seen all along.
When he pulls back, his head dips, and I pretend not to notice the glimmer in his eyes or the faint tremor in his fingers where they rest against my skin. He recovers in an instant, far too practiced to let an emotional moment taint what’s happening here.
“Do you know what’s weird?” he asks, the trace of a disbelieving smile playing about his lips. “I kinda like sharing you with Clayton. Only with Clayton,” Rhys is quick to catch himself, a serious glint alighting in his blue eyes. I laugh, brushing my nose against his.
“You and Clayton are it for me.”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Clay says, returning to our side.
Sitting on the coffee table, dressed in his cargo pants only, he holds out a damp cloth and pries my leg off Rhys.
I lie there, watching Clay carefully clean between my thighs, wiping away our mess.
Tracing his arm with my fingers, I’m filled with warmth, the love I’m harboring struggling to stay contained.
Opening my mouth, I’m cut off by the click of the door closing and approaching footsteps.
We all shoot upright, Rhys’ hands snapping out to cover my breasts while Clay holds the cloth over my pussy.
“Oh, for the love of Christ!” Eddy Mclean hollers, slapping a hand over his eyes. “They said you’d be gone by now.”
“Who said that?” My eyes widen. Clay reaches back to grab my clothes, hastily helping me to dress while Eddy turns away.
“Whoever’s paying my way now,” he calls back.
“I’m here for an end-of-tenancy clean. Get it ready for the next load of assholes who don’t know how to use a trash can or change a sheet.
” I know that dig is directed at Rhys, but I take offense anyway.
With my bra clipped in place and t-shirt dragged over my head, I’m tugging on my leggings when I realize Rhys isn’t rushing.
He’s sitting on the sofa, stark naked and picking at his cuticles.
“Rhys,” I drawl, standing before him once dressed. Clay steps to my side, also fully dressed, his arms crossed while he assesses Rhys. “What’s going on?”
Rhys’ blue eyes raise, far too calm and collected for the bombshell that’s just been dropped. He definitely knows something. Pushing to his feet, Rhys stands butt-naked in his living area and rolls his neck.
“We’re moving to a quad dorm across campus,” he shrugs to hide the slight blush that coats his cheeks.
Eddy turns back, presuming we’re decent and then cries out when he discovers that not all of us are.
Slapping his hands on his thighs, Eddy dismisses himself, heading deeper into the house.
My attention returns to Rhys, who has had the good grace to pull on his boxers at least.
“My parents aren’t the only ones who wanted a fresh start. We’re going to do it properly this time. Real students, new dorms. I’ll carry my own backpack and everything.”
For a heartbeat, I just stand there, suspended in the aftershock of his words, like my brain needs a second to catch up with my heart.
A fresh start for all of us? The simplicity of it knocks the air from my lungs.
That’s all I wanted, all I came to Waversea for.
A chance to wipe the slate clean, except this time, I get to do it with two men who love me.
The idea blooms in my chest so fast it almost hurts, warmth spreading through me until I’m grinning like an idiot, tears threatening for no reason other than the fact that I’m so unbelievably happy.
“Rhys…” I breathe, the sound of his name light and airy. “I love that! Why didn’t you say something?” Rushing forward, I fly into his arms. He sweeps me off the floor, gripping me closer than ever before.
“I just wanted one last good memory in this house,” he says, and something in my chest twists fondly.
I get it now. This frat house was never a home to Rhys, but we built some memories, some better than others.
We fell in love here, but we also broke apart here.
A new beginning is needed for all of us.
“Good looking out,” Clay nods his head to Rhys, tapping a hand on his shoulder.
For the first time that I’ve seen, Rhys doesn’t try to shrug him off.
“Although, we could have saved dealing with your blue balls for christening our new pad.” The boys share a mischievous little smirk that says, "We'll be doing that anyway. "
“Yeah, well,” Rhys grunts. “I just wanted to give Mclean something to remember me by.”
“Yeah, thanks a lot. Really appreciate it,” a disgruntled yell comes from the kitchen, heavily laced with sarcasm. I laugh before I can stop myself, the sound spilling out free and unguarded, echoing through a house that no longer feels like a battleground.
“I need to pack!” I smack his shoulders lightly.
Rhys puts me down, a light laugh leaving his throat.
Clay is quick to sweep me up, pinning me into his side and placing a kiss on my head.
I beam up into his onyx eyes, into Rhys’ piercing blue ones, relishing being held safely between them.
The soreness between my legs gives way to the elation bursting through my being.
Rhys has given us so much more than just new living quarters.
He’s given us all the promise of a future we always thought would be just out of reach.