32. Ani
Ani
I t’s late. But none of us are sleeping except for Mae. It took us a while to get her to sleep, but a hot bath and some chamomile tea with extra honey finally did the trick.
We’re in Boone’s bed and Finn is curled around my right side, his hand resting over my stomach.
I can almost hear him counting the rise and fall of each breath.
Jonah is on my left, forehead pressed to my shoulder, his arm slung across my shoulders.
Boone is standing up next to the window, peering out into the darkness.
I haven’t spoken since the sheriff left.
I don’t know if I remember how.
No one asked me to explain what happened. No one voiced what would’ve happened if Boone hadn’t been there to fire that warning shot. They know.
It would be so nice if we could just pretend everything is fine, that we’re past the worst of it and the danger has retreated back into the trees.
But it hasn’t. I can still feel the danger. It's sitting on my chest like an elephant.
So, we don’t speak. But they don’t stop touching me either.
Today was too close. And that’s what keeps me awake while they rest against me, doing their best to keep me safe.
Because I’m not just afraid of what could happen to me anymore.
I’m more afraid of what will happen to them if I stay.
Finn presses his lips to the top of my shoulder. Jonah slides his hand across my stomach. Boone joins us on the bed, kneeling near the bottom of the mattress watching things unfold.
Finn sits up and lifts my shirt. He slides it up slowly, fingers dragging warm over my skin. He pulls it up over my head and tosses it aside, then kisses me softly.
“You scared the hell out of me today,” he says.
“I know.”
His mouth brushes mine again, then my jaw, then the hollow of my throat. He trails lower, kissing across my collarbone, over my bra.
He unclasps my bra with a quiet flick of his fingers and slides the straps down my arms. His lips are soft on my nipples before he sucks one into his mouth.
I shudder and feel a strong pull down low.
Boone’s hands find me. One stays planted on my thigh, the other spread low across my stomach. He doesn’t speak, but his touch tells me everything. He’s claiming me even though he lets Finn move first.
Jonah’s fingers trail down my arm as he waits his turn.
Finn kisses lower, mouth brushing the underside of my breast, then lower still. He presses kisses to my stomach, to each hipbone. Then he nudges my legs apart with a soft squeeze to my thighs.
He leans in and kisses the top of my thigh. When he finally lands between my legs, he breathes in my scent. His fingers part me gently, and his tongue moves in slow, tender strokes.
Boone’s hand tightens on my stomach. Jonah brushes hair from my face as he kisses my temple. I turn into him instinctively, head tilted into the comfort of his touch while Finn worships my aching pussy.
“You taste so fucking good,” Finn says softly before he dives back in.
I gasp when he sucks gently on my clit. My hips rise, and he groans like he can’t get enough. Boone slides his hand up to my breast and cups it, thumb brushing my nipple until it tightens under his touch.
I don’t know where to put my hands.
I want to touch all of them.
I want to feel everything.
Jonah seems to read my mind. He threads our fingers together and brings my hand to his chest, pressing it over his heart.
“I’m here,” he whispers. “We all are. No one’s letting you go.”
Tears sting behind my eyes.
Finn’s tongue works faster, circling, sucking, dragging moans from deep inside me. My body tightens. I’m close—so close. It’s all so good. Their hands, their mouths, the heat in Finn’s voice when he whispers, “That’s it. Just like that, baby.”
I come with a cry, legs shaking, body arching as pleasure takes me to the highest high.
Finn doesn't stop. He eases me through it, licking me gently, mouth soft now as he kisses the inside of my thigh.
“You are everything,” he says. “Everything.”
He kisses his way up my body, up my stomach and chest, until he’s hovering over me. He presses his forehead to mine. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He reaches down and slides his cock against me, dragging it through the wet heat of my folds. He presses in slowly. My breath catches, and his lips catch mine.
His hands cradle my face as he rocks into me.
“I’ve got you,” he whispers. “I’ve always got you.”
He kisses me through every thrust. He’s not just chasing pleasure—he’s pouring something into me with every movement. His hand cradles the back of my head. His other palm slides down to my waist, anchoring me beneath him.
I reach for his shoulders, fingers digging in as he rocks deeper. My body is still trembling from my orgasm, but he’s not backing down. He’s not letting go until he’s given me everything.
“I love you so fucking much,” he says.
His hips jerk, rhythm faltering. I know he’s close. His eyes close tight before opening and looking directly into mine.
“Come inside me,” I whisper.
His whole body shudders.
He buries himself deep and groans against my mouth, cock pulsing as he explodes. His chest presses to mine. I feel his heartbeat as if it’s my own.
When he finally stills, he kisses me again. Then he eases out of me, touching my cheek with shaking fingers.
Jonah’s hand is already on my thigh.
I turn my head to find him watching me. His hand slides down my side, past my hip, then back up again. His touch is reverent, reassuring.
“I need to feel you,” he says. “Please.”
I reach for him. He rises over me, shifting between my thighs with the same fluid control he always has. His cock is already hard, already slick with precum. He lines up and pushes in slowly, sinking deep with a low groan.
I gasp as my body stretches around him.
“Holy fuck,” he murmurs.
He starts to move. His rhythm is smooth at first. He grits his teeth as he thrusts deeper, sliding a hand under my back to hold me flush to him. His lips drag across my throat. His breath is hot and broken.
“I thought I lost you,” he whispers. “I thought—fuck—I thought we were too late.”
“You weren’t,” I say. “You’re here. I’m here.”
He kisses me again, deeper now. His hips move faster. My nails dig into his arms as his control slips, every thrust deeper than the last. I wrap my legs around his waist and pull him in harder. He groans, mouth dropping to my shoulder.
My whole body tightens around him.
“Jonah—”
I come again—shaking, breath caught in my throat. He follows seconds later, burying himself deep with a ragged cry as he comes inside me, his body going taut above mine.
Boone is still kneeling at the edge of the bed, watching.
His eyes are so dark with need. He reaches out and curls his fingers around my ankle, dragging me toward him.
Jonah lets me go, slipping out of me and shifting to the side.
Boone pulls me down the mattress and flips me over. I gasp as he presses my chest into the sheets, his hand sliding up all the way to the back of my neck.
“Hold still,” he growls.
“Yes, Daddy.”
“You’ve been a good girl tonight,” he says, voice low. “But I need you to take me.”
He spreads my legs and slides his cock through the lips of my pussy—wet with everything the four of us have shared. He’s rough from the start. My cry is muffled by the pillow, but I arch into it, give him everything.
“This pussy’s mine,” he snarls.
“Yes—Daddy—yours?—”
“Are you going to come like a good girl?”
“Yes—please?—”
“You want Daddy to fill you up?”
“Please,” I beg. “Please, I need it—I need you ?—”
His rhythm falters. Just slightly. Just long enough for me to feel the tremor underneath all that control. Then he growls into my ear.
“Say it again.”
“I need you.”
He fucks me harder, every thrust brutal and possessive. His hand slides down and finds my clit, rubbing it with rough precision.
“Come for me,” he growls. “Come on Daddy’s cock.”
I shatter.
My orgasm rips through me like lightning, my body locking up around him as I sob into the pillow. Boone thrusts once more and then comes with a guttural curse, his cock moving deep inside me as he holds me there.
He doesn’t pull out.
He just lowers us both to the mattress and wraps himself around me until his body is on top of mine. His breath is still ragged in my ear.
No one moves.
One by one my men start to fall asleep. But, not me. I can’t even manage to close my eyes.
Jonah snores lightly, breath steady and warm against the back of my neck. Finn murmurs something I can’t make out—words half-formed, caught in a dream. Boone doesn’t move at all. His arm is heavy across my waist, body curved behind mine like a shield.
I should feel safe.
But I lie there wide-eyed, staring into the dark.
They almost took me today.
And worse—Mae could’ve been caught up in it.
That thought burrows deep. It makes my stomach twist and my throat burn. I keep seeing her face when I told her to run. I keep hearing her footsteps pounding down the path. My mind won’t stop replaying every second between the moment I heard that voice and the moment the gunshot broke the air.
If Boone hadn’t come out when he did…
I squeeze my eyes shut but it doesn’t help.
This—this closeness, this love—it’s everything I ever wanted. But it’s dangerous. It makes me a liability. I’m not just risking my own life anymore. I’m risking theirs. Theirs and Mae’s. And that’s not something I can live with.
I move a little bit.
Boone’s arm slides off my waist. He adjusts but doesn’t wake.
So, I keep going. I move silently, inch by inch, slipping from the tangle of limbs and blankets without making a sound. The floor is cold beneath my feet. My clothes are folded on the chair in the corner. I dress quickly, fingers trembling as I pull on my jeans, my hoodie.
I grab my small bag from the closet and pack only what I need. My phone stays on the dresser.
Then I open the drawer by the bed and find paper and a pen. My hands shake as I sit down at the desk.
I don’t know what to say.
There aren’t enough words.
So I keep it simple.
You’ve given me everything.
So, I’m giving you everything in return.
I won’t be the reason you lose this life you’ve worked so hard for.
I sign my name at the bottom and leave it on the desk. Then I walk back to the bed. Miraculously, they are all still asleep. I look at each one of them, trying to memorize their faces.
Then I turn.
And walk out the door.
There is no other choice. I have to do this to protect the people I love.