Chapter 25 Luke
Luke
Last night was fucking long as hell. Thankfully, other than the knife that Onyx took in his leg and the bullet that grazed Stryker’s arm, no one else was hurt. But we now have one less wannabe gang on our turf selling drugs.
Doc asked me to stick around so we could talk when he was done. He’s still taking care of Stryker so I make my way to the kitchen for some coffee. The sun will be coming up soon, and I have an early client at the shop today. So no sleep for me.
I’ve just sat down at the table, mug in hand, lifting it to my lips when a very tired Doc strolls inside.
“Is there more?” he asks, a hopeful look in his eyes.
“Just brewed the pot. You’ll have the second cup.” I take a sip on mine, flinching when the hot liquid burns my tongue.
I sit and wait as he makes his own cup, then sits down across from me. He, unlike me, blows on his coffee first before taking a sip. “Fuck, that’s good,” he says, sitting the cup down in front of him, letting out a yawn as he runs his fingers through his hair.
“What did you need to talk to me about?” I ask, thinking out of everyone there could only be two people he’d be concerned with discussing with me. And one of them I could murder at the moment.
He doesn’t look me right in the face; instead, he keeps his head down as he runs a circle around the rim of his cup with his finger. He lets out a heavy sigh and glances up, locking eyes with me.
“I went to see Veronica last night.”
My stomach tightens. This could be good or bad. It all depends on how she took it. “Yeah? And how did it go?”
He nods then lets out a heavy exhale. “I was waiting at her apartment when she got off. I couldn’t wait any longer to talk to her. To let her know that I, that we,” he gestures between the two of us, “want to be with her.”
“And how did she take it? Is she still fighting it?”
“We ended up sleeping together.”
Holy shit.
Everything in me goes numb. Not from jealousy. But because Doc cracked her armor. It means we finally have a chance to prove to her that we could share her without conflict. I just wish that Hank would get his head out of his ass.
“That’s big. And how was she after?”
“She was good. I would still be with her if I didn’t get a fucking text to come do patch up jobs. Before I left I told her,” Doc continues, “that we both want her. No matter what’s going on with Hank. That we want her regardless.”
I swallow hard, lifting my hand to rub the back of my neck. “How… how did she take it?”
“She didn’t run,” he said with a small laugh. “She actually listened. And then I kissed her and she kissed me back. From there things escalated.”
“Fuck. That’s… good. It means we have a chance.”
“That’s not all. I told her that we were going to come by together later today and talk some more. Discuss our relationship.”
I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.
She didn’t push him away or tell him that we couldn’t come by.
This can really happen. I’m not going to lose the woman I’ve loved for longer than I’m willing to admit.
My brothers used to make fun of me because I didn’t sleep with the club girls, but I already knew I had the best woman out there. Vee.
“You okay?” he asks, lifting his cup to his mouth while taking another swallow.
I bite my lower lip, thinking before I speak.
Not wanting to risk saying something wrong that could cause strife between the two of us.
“Yeah. Honestly? I don’t want to lose her.
If there’s even a chance this could work with all of us then I want to try.
I’m tired of pretending I don’t want something more with her. Something permanent.”
I check the time on my watch, it’s fucking early as shit. But suddenly time doesn’t matter.
“Why wait?” I ask. “Let’s bring her breakfast.”
A huge grin crosses his face. “I’m in.”
“What the fuck we waitin’ on then?” I stand up, forgetting all about my coffee or bothering to clean it up. That’s what the club girls are for.
Doc takes his car while I take my bike and we head to Vee’s. He stops to get all of us breakfast while I head straight there with a promise not to head up to her apartment until he gets there.
By the time I reach her place my heart is pounding in my chest. I’ve never been this fucking nervous and excited at the same time. I park at the end of the building and take out my phone and scroll, anything to waste time. Doc wasn’t picking up anything big, just some donuts and coffee.
I’m about to say fuck it to waiting for Doc when I see him pulling in. I get off my bike and head over to him. When he gets out of the car he has a tray of coffee and a bag in hand.
“I’m surprised you weren’t already in her apartment,” he says with a laugh.
“Me too. Was just thinking about how I could slip up there and have her all to myself. But, I didn't think that would go over too well with us showing how we can share.” I wink at him.
We both laugh and head inside. But a part of me deep down inside wonders if I can share. Can I watch her being with someone else? Or is this doomed before it ever starts? I shake it off, trying to get rid of the thought.
When we get to her apartment, I knock on her door loudly. And wait. Then again. Still nothing.
“She’s probably asleep. I umm…have a key,” Doc says, and I raise my eye in question of just how he obtained a key.
“She gave it to me when I was taking care of Hank while he was staying here. In case she wasn’t at home. Or an emergency. I never gave it back.”
“She’d kill us if we just walked in,” I add, but then maybe she wouldn’t. I lift my hand and knock one more time.
“I’m fucking coming,” she screams from the other side.
We hear the lock, then the door opens, and she's standing before us. Her hair is tangled from sleep, eyes heavy, but she’s still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
“Don’t open the door if you don’t know who's on the other side,” I say, a little harsher than I intend. But all I can see is her opening the door to someone who means to hurt her.
“I looked through the damn peephole,” she snaps back at me, and damn if it doesn’t make my cock stir.
“Good morning,” Doc says, a little too chipper as he holds up the container of coffee and bag of sweets. “We bring gifts.”
She switches her gaze between the two of us. “What are you doing here?”
“I told you that Luke and I were coming by to talk to you about us,” Doc says.
“I… I thought you meant later.” She shakes her head but steps back so we can come inside.
“We couldn’t wait,” Doc says as she shuts the door. We head to the couch, each taking a seat on an end, leaving the spot between us for her. “Come join us.” He pats his hand on the cushion beside him, then passes out the coffee and pastries while she sits down.
I pick up the coffee and take a sip, letting it ground me as Vee leans forward, picking up her pastry, breaking off a piece and offering it to me with a playful glint in her eye. I don’t hesitate and take the offered morsel straight from her hand with my mouth.
“So talk,” she says, her voice scratchy.
“We both want you,” Doc says softly, his voice rock steady. “Luke and I didn’t want to wait to show you that we can share. That we are ready to take this step with you together.”
Vee looks at Doc before shifting her gaze over to me, her fingers brushing against mine where they rest on the cushion. I nod, confirming that everything he’s saying is true. Doc and I’ve talked about it, but being here in person, sharing it with Vee, is totally different.
“Are you sure that the two of you can share?” she asks, and I can hear the uncertainty in her voice. “You weren't sure before that you could share, Luke. I don’t want you to feel like you have to do it.”
I pause, and think about my answer. Honesty was something that Doc and I had agreed to have from the beginning.
And I owe that to Vee. I reach out, taking her hand in mine, angling my body toward her.
“Am I a hundred percent sure? No,” I admit, my voice low, and my vulnerability on full display.
“But I want to try. I mean really give it a try with the three of us.”
A flicker of concern flashes in her dark brown eyes. “But what if you can't?”
“Then I can move forward with no regrets. Losing you, not trying, would be the greatest regret of my life. I'd rather know than not,” I reply, squeezing her hand tightly, lacing our fingers together.
“The only way we know is by trying it,” Doc says, a smile on his face.
I don’t know what takes over me, but seeing her there, her eyes so full of hope, her pouty lips, I can’t wait a second longer. I reach out, cupping her face in my hands and kiss her. It’s soft and gentle. But so familiar.
I catch Doc moving closer to her out of the corner of my eye.
When we pull apart, her lips are swollen, her face flushed.
Doc takes hold of her chin, cradling it as he turns her face toward him.
And he kisses her. She melts into his touch and I expect to feel jealousy, anger.
But I don’t. All I feel is an arousal building within me.
Happiness that he can make her just as happy as I do.
She and Doc break their kiss, and he angles her head back toward me. My hand slides to her waist, as our lips meet again with a deeper, more passionate kiss. Her tongue brushing mine briefly before pulling away.
Doc reaches out, placing his hand on her thigh, squeezing gently.
“See, Veronica. We can share and play nice,” he says, his voice husky with need.
Doc leans in to her, burying his head in her neck as he kisses the tender flesh, his hand moving to her arm as his fingertips glide up her skin. I join in, my palm cupping her breast through her thin pajama top, my thumb circling lazily over her hardening nipple.
And that’s what we do for the next thirty minutes. And it is perfect.
Sharing is something I can definitely do.