CHAPTER 19 #2
I fisted his steely length, then guided him inside me, sinking down on him.
“Fuck, baby,” Edge cried out, jerking me onto him, his cock bottoming out inside me.
He didn’t allow me to be in control for long, flipping our positions. Under him, I gave myself over to the pleasure. Edge drove into me, deep, frantic thrusts that had us both crying out as the pleasure took over.
My head tilted back when Cav’s hand curled around my breast, squeezing roughly as Edge drove me closer and closer to the brink. The pleasure was overwhelming, but I didn’t want it to end. Not yet.
“Jamie … baby … I won’t last. I need you to come for me, baby.”
His hips shot forward again and again, impaling me, driving me higher and higher.
“Edge … Cav … oh, God!” I screamed as my orgasm sent warm tingles through my body. I felt as though I was floating, every nerve sparking with an inexplicable feeling of satiation. It was more than I’d ever imagined, more than I ever thought I would experience.
It was then that I realized it was more than merely sex.
It was everything.
It was … love.
Several hours later, I was sitting in class, staring at the professor currently standing at a podium while discussing human sexuality. I was smiling, pretending to listen, when the only thing I could think about was everything that had happened last night.
It was like a revelation had taken place and not merely my own.
I’d seen a change in Cav and Edge, too. The three of us, having spent the past few weeks going back and forth, seemed to have been on the same page for the first time.
I wasn’t sure what had happened, or if it was simply meant to be, but all the tension had fled from my body.
I was sated for the first time, and it wasn’t sex that had done it.
Okay, maybe the sex got a little credit. Last night and this morning had been incredible; there was no denying that.
However, it didn’t compare to the feelings that coursed through me. I felt lighter, more at peace, and I had to think that was because I’d finally accepted what I felt for Cav and Edge.
“Earth to Jamie.”
I cleared the fog from my brain and glanced over to see Jonah staring at me, a goofy grin on his face.
“Class is dismissed,” he chuckled. “You wanna grab lunch?”
“Sure.” Feeling somewhat silly for having been caught up in my own thoughts, I packed my laptop into my bag, grabbed my cell phone, and followed Jonah out of the room.
“I am so ready for some time away from this place,” he grumbled as we headed toward the doors. “Did I mention I’ve got a date?”
I peered over at him. “Really?”
He chuckled. “Not with two hot Doms, but yeah. His name’s Charles. Tall, dark, and handsome.” Jonah swooned. “Met him at the gym.”
“Good for you,” I said, trying to bring my focus back to my friend.
“So, what’s got you drifting off into space today?”
I smiled. “Nothing.”
He fluttered his fingers. “You are the worst liar in the history of liars.”
“I am not.”
“You are.” He pushed the door open, held it for me. “Spill it, sista. What happened to put that glow on your face?”
I stared at my best friend. “I’m in love,” I blurted.
His eyes widened, and a slow smile spread across his face seconds before he threw his arms around me, jerking me toward him. “That is so fabulous!” Jonah pulled back, kept his hands on my arms. “The two Doms?”
“Of course.” I moved away, heading for the parking lot. “Who else would it be?”
“This is great!” he said as though it had happened to him. “Have you told Tiff yet?”
“Not yet.”
“We have to have a girls’ night.”
I laughed, the same as I always did when he called it that.
“Maybe we should go to dinner to celebrate,” he rambled. “Fancy restaurant.”
“Not necessary,” I said when we reached my car.
“Have you told them?”
“Told them what?” I asked as I started the engine.
“That you love them.”
I shook my head. “Of course not.”
“What?” He sounded appalled. “Why not?”
“It’s too soon.”
“Soon? Pfft. There’s no such thing as too soon. When you love someone, you have to shout it to the heavens.”
Deciding on tacos, I drove us to the restaurant near campus. “What if they don’t love me back? Wouldn’t I sound stupid?”
Jonah shifted to face me as I drove. “Why wouldn’t they love you back? You’re sweet, smart, funny. Not to mention beautiful.”
I blushed at the praise.
“Don’t you dare wait for them to tell you first,” he said with a huff.
I parked the car, peered over at him. “Why not?”
He shrugged but didn’t move to get out. “Because they could be waiting for you. Then you’ll all be putting off the inevitable. Just tell them. Rip off the Band-Aid quickly. Once it’s out there, you’ll feel better.”
For some reason, I got the feeling Jonah was talking more to himself than to me. I’d known he had been in love with his last boyfriend. As in love as Jonah could be, anyway. He seemed to fall fast and often. But that was part of his charm.
I, on the other hand, had never been in love before. I hadn’t even had a crush. So this was completely foreign to me.
“Let’s call Tiff,” Jonah suggested with a grin. “See what she thinks you should do.” He pulled out his cell phone.
I put my hand on his arm. “How about we get through the day, make plans for our girls’ night, and I’ll tell her then.”
Jonah pouted but met my gaze. “Why?”
I shrugged. “Doesn’t feel the right time to tell her.”
His frown turned upside down. “You want to tell them first, huh?”
A smile formed, and I nodded, not even realizing until that moment that I did. I wanted Edge and Cav to know how I felt before the rest of the world did.
Which meant I had until this weekend to share the news.
For whatever reason, the thought made my stomach churn.
And not in a good way.
CAV
“What’s up?” I said by way of greeting when Edge called me late Wednesday night.
“You at your hotel?”
“Yeah. Flipping through channels,” I admitted, “bored clean outta my mind.”
“I’m coming over.”
“You bringing dinner?” I asked, still staring at the toothpaste commercial on the screen. “’Cause there’s no way I can cook.”
“Chinese,” he said.
“What’re you waitin’ for then?” I joked.
A knock sounded, and I laughed, disconnecting the call and opening the door.
There, in all his handsome glory, was Edge, carrying a plastic bag and a six-pack of beer.
He stepped inside, paused, his eyes scanning the small room. It was just as the housekeepers had left it, in perfect order. “Jesus, Cav. Couldn’t clean up for company?”
I gave him a light shove, closed the door behind him. “I have to get my own place.”
“Well, why don’t we eat, and we’ll figure it out.”
My eyebrows rose as he moved toward the small round table near the window. “Seriously? You wanna help me look for a place?”
He set the food down, glanced back at the bed over his shoulder. “No, not really. But I’m here. So, why not?”
“Glutton for punishment,” I told him as I joined him.
For the next few minutes, we ate dinner while perched on the edge of the mattress, eyes fixed on some cop drama on the television. I was so deep in thought, trying to figure out where I should put down roots, I didn’t hear Edge’s question.
“What was that?” I asked, turning toward him.
“I love you.”
Okay, so that wasn’t a question.
Unable to form words, I set my food down on the dresser, stared at him. “Repeat that.”
His expression was stony, a hint of fear glittering in his eyes. “I love you.”
I inhaled sharply, realizing I’d been holding my breath.
“Cav?” Edge’s voice dropped low. “Say something. Please.”
I couldn’t say anything. Words still wouldn’t form, so I took his food from his hand, set it on the dresser beside mine, then reached for him. I took his mouth roughly, my emotions coalescing in that one kiss.
His arms came around me, a signal for my body to soften, my chest to expand. My heart slammed hard against my ribs. I didn’t stop kissing him, even as he took over, controlling my mouth as he backed me against the dresser.
Edge pulled back, his hands cupping my face as he stared into my eyes. “You don’t have to say it back,” he finally said. “I just needed you to know how I felt.”
“I love you, too,” I whispered. “Always have. Always will.”
He visibly relaxed then, his hands becoming gentler as he pulled me into him again. My arms went around his neck as we fell into one another, physically and emotionally.
The firestorm of emotion took a little time to settle as we feasted on one another. When it did, I didn’t feel as though I was standing. More like walking on a cloud.
Reality sank back in when I caught sight of the hotel room.
“It’s still here,” I told him.
“What’s that?”
“This crappy hotel room.”
Edge laughed. “Yes. It’s still here.”
We both reached for our beers, took long pulls from the bottle. My mind whirled with new sensations, peace, love. Belonging.
I sighed. “I guess—”
“Move in with me,” Edge blurted.
Peering over at him, I grinned. “I mean, I get that it’s nothing fancy, but…”
Edge laughed. “I’m serious. Move in with me. We’ll get a bigger apartment. There’s a penthouse available.”
His words were said in such a rush, I could tell he wasn’t thinking as he spoke.
“A penthouse?”
“For sale in my building,” he clarified. “We can buy it, have it redone.”
“Redone?”
“Yeah.” He smiled sheepishly. “I figure if Jamie’s gonna move in with us, we’ll need more closet space. Maybe an office for her to study in.”
My heart damn near came out of my throat. “The three of us? Move in together?”
Edge’s eyes dropped to the dresser. “You’re right. It’s impulsive. Stupid suggestion. Forget I—”
I reached for him then, jerked him close, and held on. “It’s a brilliant idea,” I whispered against his ear. “Let’s buy a penthouse apartment, move in together.”
Edge hugged me, his cheek against mine, and I felt his sigh, the weight that fell from his shoulders. The man was being spontaneous, and I realized how much it was costing him.