Chapter 21 Jade
I’m so warm and comfortable that I don’t want to move.
Last night, I wasn’t in the best state of mind, but I’m pretty sure Zander brought me up to his room.
I just don’t recall anyone else being here with us.
Maybe I wasn’t paying attention, or maybe someone joined us after I was asleep.
Either way, I’m fine to stay right here all day.
I lay, enjoying the warmth from being sandwiched between them. Whoever is at my back shifts, and I feel their hard length pressing up against my ass a second before they drop a kiss on my neck, nuzzling into me.
Zander, if I had to guess. He’s always touchy, but late at night and early in the morning, it’s even more so.
“I was afraid I would wake up, and this would all be a dream.”
His words are soft and husky from sleep, his breath rolling across my skin with his lips hovering so close still.
“I don’t think I could survive you disappearing again, Doll,” he whispers before dropping his lips back to my neck, lazily kissing anywhere he can reach.
I’m pretty sure his words aren’t meant for me.
Just the ramblings of a psycho who’s half asleep, but they make me feel warm and happy.
He grinds into me again, and I can’t fight the smile that pulls at my lips as I’m pressed into whoever my human pillow is.
“Just because you missed her doesn’t mean you have to hump her like a dog in heat, Zan.” Trent’s voice startles me, and my eyes fly open. Of all the people I thought might be here with us, he wasn’t on the list. He didn’t seem like the type, not to mention most of the time, they hardly get along.
Sure as hell, I’m lying on his chest, his very bare chest, looking up into his bright blue eyes as he looks down at me.
“Wow, to shock the infamous Froggie, what an honor,” He teases with a smirk that seems so out of character, yet somehow fits him perfectly.
“She didn’t expect your prude ass to have the balls to be here,” Zander says with a chuckle, his lips a breath away from my ear before he nips at it playfully. That’s not exactly how I would have worded it, but he’s not wrong.
Trent shoots him a glare that only makes Zander laugh harder. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I offend the golden boy?” Zander teases him, and Trent’s eyes narrow in annoyance. It’s not funny, not really, but for some reason, I can’t stop the laugh that bursts from my lips at their back-and-forth.
A few weeks ago, they would have been at each other's throats. Zander rarely takes things seriously, hiding behind jokes and smart-ass comments, but this feels genuine. He’s not trying to get under Trent’s skin the way he usually does to push his buttons.
No, this is just him waking up, utterly relaxed.
Trent also doesn’t seem to take it as seriously as he might have before.
I’m not sure what shifted, but something did.
“Are we entertaining you?” Trent asks, his words full of sass, but the smile on his face lets me know he’s seconds from laughter himself.
Shaking my head, I look between them. “No, you guys seem to be having a moment, is all. Am I interrupting? I could go,” I say, half-heartedly attempting to sit up. I don’t get far, not that I thought I would, before both of their arms tighten around me, holding me in place.
“You're not going anywhere, Doll,” Zander tells me, lifting himself up to peer down at me. His eyes sparkle, and I know that look. It’s the same one he had all those nights ago when I walked around half-dressed.
Men have always looked at me with lust in their eyes, but it’s more than that with Zander. He doesn’t just want my body the way they did. Nobody has ever looked at me like that before him.
No, that’s a lie. One person did. I just didn’t understand it at the time. But I do now, or at least I think I do. I’m pretty sure I feel it, too, when I look at them.
Zander leans into me, his lips pressing against mine, and I open my mouth in invitation, greedy for more. Never one to refuse me, his tongue finds mine as he presses into me. I sigh at the feeling of him and being back here after so long.
Home.
“Do you have to make out literally on top of me?” Trent’s voice pulls me from my thoughts. Zander pulls back but doesn’t go far, just enough for him to glance up at Trent with a shit-eating grin that lets me know he did that on purpose.
“See, prude.”
“Shut up,” Trent hisses, shoving Zander’s shoulder. Zander barks a laugh as he falls back onto the bed behind me.
“Prove it then,” he challenges, and I feel Trent’s body go rigid beneath me.
“I... I’m not… What are we, five?” Trent stammers, looking like he wants to be just about anywhere but here.
Poor guy.
“You don’t have to do anything, Trent,” I assure him.
I don’t want him to feel pressured to do anything he doesn’t want to.
Just waking up here with them is enough for me.
I don’t need anything else from them. Not that I wouldn’t take it if they gave it to me.
I totally would. But I’d rather get to that when he’s comfortable, not because Zander is teasing him.
“No!” he shouts, cringing and smacking a hand over his face with a groan. “Sorry, I didn't mean to yell.”
“I just. I mean...” he trails off with a groan, his cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink as he tries to get his thoughts together.
I want to comfort him, but I’m pretty sure I’ll just make it worse if I try.
Instead, I fold my arms across his chest and rest my chin on my hands, letting him work through it.
“I’m not a prude,” he insists, glaring at Zander, who still lies on the pillow watching us with a wicked smirk. Zander winks at him, and Trent rolls his eyes before he turns back to me.
“I just didn't want to rush you. I wasn’t even sure you would want me in bed with you guys. These last few weeks have been a lot, and yesterday didn’t really make anything better.
But I had to make sure you were okay, and Zander insisted it would be fine.
I wasn’t trying to suffocate you or be overbearing or come onto you when so much other stuff—”
I press my finger to his lips, stopping his rambling. He snaps his mouth closed as he squints up at me, concern written all over his face.
“I’m happy you stayed,” I tell him, and his eyes widen.
He’s adorable, really, but the fact that he’s a cop when he seems so oblivious is kind of crazy.
“I like you, Trent. If you want to lie in bed with me or kiss me, that’s fine.
I trust you, and I’m okay with whatever you want, when you want it, whatever your pace might be,” I tell him, watching his face to make sure he’s really understanding my words.
“Don’t let Zander get under your skin. He just likes to start shit.
He was hesitant at first, too.” Trent’s eyes dart away, and I know that’s what this is about.
He’s not a prude. He’s just worried about me.
Leaning over his chest, I get in his face, making him look at me again so that he can hopefully see the truth in what I’m about to tell him.
“I’m not fragile. I won’t break, and I won’t let you push me to something I’m uncomfortable with if that’s what you're worried about. I know none of you would ever put me in danger. I’ve never really had anyone who cared before Kratos, and even with him, I didn’t understand the feeling.
These last few weeks proved how far you all would go, and you never asked anything of me, didn’t expect anything or want more than to keep me safe. ”
His eyes widen, and I know deep down that it’s true even without them confirming it.
They showed me, and that’s so much harder than just saying something.
My safety was their top priority. They care about me.
And I think I’m past the point of denying that they mean something to me as well.
All of them, no matter how crazy that might be.
I watch as the look in his eyes changes, taking on a harder edge, but it’s not anger. It’s desire. I’ve seen this look from him a few times now, but usually, he’s quick to mask it. With the exception of the day we baked, he’s been very careful.
His eyes dart down to my lips, and I can’t help but tease him just a little. I watch his eyes track my tongue as I lick my lower lip before sinking my teeth into it. He moves forward, almost as if in a trance, unable to look away, and I stay completely still, letting him come to me.
He smells sweet most of the time, reminding me of the delicious treats we baked together. That sweet scent is still there, but there’s also a hint of something else. Something deeper that reminds me of Jake.
I’m not sure what it is, but I like it. I’ll have to ask him later, though. Right now, I just need him to touch me before I lose my mind.
Trent’s lips brush against mine, almost tentatively at first, as if to test what I said.
I press forward slightly, just enough to kiss him back, but it seems like it's all the encouragement he needs. His arm that still rests around my waist tightens, pulling me further up his chest so that we are no longer straining to reach each other. His tongue traces the line of my lower lip just like mine did, as if asking permission, and I’m quick to grant him access.
He’s so sweet, gentle, and caring. So unlike what I’m used to, both in the rings and in Vengeance, hell, even in life—but I don’t think that's all there is to him.
There's a darker side of Trent, just like the rest of the guys.
I saw it the first day when he stood toe-to-toe with them, and I can feel it in how he holds me right now.
Our gentle kissing quickly turns into something deeper, something needy, but I let him stay in control.
I can’t hold back the little whine that leaves my lips as he presses up into me, and I feel his cock harden beneath me.
I wasn’t kidding when I said I would take whatever he gave me earlier, but, fuck, a girl can only hope that’s on the table.