11. Ready Action #3
His eyebrows lift, and I know he is probably taking this conversation entirely too seriously. While all of us in this polycule prioritize consent, he always has a triple check on it.
“What’s that?”
I slide my hand from Cami’s cheek to the side of her neck, feeling her pulse jump beneath my thumb.
Her eyes stay on mine as I answer, “What happens when we disagree about who knows her better?”
Cami makes a tiny sound.
Ronan goes very still.
An almost evil light flashes in his eyes as he grins.
“That,” he says, voice dropping into the same register as mine, “sounds dangerously like a challenge.”
My attention stays on Cami as I respond, “Maybe it is.”
Her lips part before she swallows. “So this… this is really what we’re doing?” she asks, her voice has a rasp to it.
I look over her shoulder to Ronan, directing the answer to him. “Unless you’re worried.”
His laugh is quiet. “Not even remotely.”
“Good.”
Cami turns slightly, pointing between us. “Okay, I just want it officially noted that I am very in favor of whatever weird male posturing this is becoming.”
“It isn’t posturing,” Ronan says.
“It’s absolutely posturing,” I counter.
Cami looks delighted.
And just like that, the last of the awkwardness is gone.
Not because Ronan took control—because I did.
Somehow we found the thing maybe we didn’t know we needed—a game.
“He thinks he knows you better than I do,” Ronan says to Cami, but his eyes are on me.
“I’ve known her body a hell of a lot longer.”
“That’s not what I said.”
I laugh under my breath and turn Cami in my arms until her back rests against my chest.
“No,” I admit. “I think we know different things.”
Approval flashes in Ronan’s eyes as they move to Cami. “I know what she looks like when she’s already decided to give me something, but is waiting for me to make her.”
Cami’s breath catches.
Well, fuck. I feel that reaction everywhere she’s pressed against me.
The smug asshole smiles. “Your turn.”
I look down at her.
There are a dozen answers I could give him. I know when she’s lying about being tired and when she’s pretending something doesn’t hurt. I know the difference between angry silence and scared silence. I know when she wants reassurance and when reassurance will only piss her off.
And… I know exactly what she’s wanting right now.
I slide one hand up her stomach, stopping at the base of her throat as I bend toward her ear.
“I know when she’s trying not to react because she thinks it’ll encourage me.”
My hand settles lightly against the sides of her neck—I can feel her pulse quicken beneath my thumb and fingers.
Her head tips back against my shoulder.
Ronan’s gaze sharpens as his nostrils flare.
I smile. “See?”
“Cocky asshole,” Cami mutters.
Pressing a kiss to her temple, I ask, “Am I wrong?”
“No.”
Ronan laughs, and her attention starts to drift to him, but both my hands—on her waist and throat—tighten.
“Eyes on me.” The words come out before I think about them.
Cami meets my eyes and freezes.
Ronan freezes too.
For one strange second, I’m probably the most surprised person in the room.
Then, my grip loosens as Cami turns to face me fully.
Her smile is gone, but it’s not because anything is wrong.
Something hot and startling settles low in my belly.
I’m not sure I’ve ever watched Cami respond to my voice like that.
Ronan’s eyes meet mine.
His eyebrows lift, and he gives me the smallest fucking smile.
Both of my hands slide and settle at Cami’s waist as I draw my attention fully back to her.
“Still green?”
“So fucking green.”
“Good,” I respond, and then my mouth is on hers.
I don’t give her the slow, familiar version of me this time. Breaking the kiss, I crowd her backward—toward Ronan.
When her back hits his chest, Cami makes a startled sound as his hands graze up her arms to steady her. Ronan’s expression flashes with the same heat I’m feeling.
For one suspended second, she’s caught between us, my hands firm at her waist, and Ronan’s hands bracketing her arms.
Then her back settles against his chest.
The expressions on their faces said neither of them expected me to do that.
I grin, looking between them. “What?”
Ronan’s hands remain carefully in place. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit.”
His smile widens. “You appear to be enjoying yourself, that’s all.”
Cami laughs breathlessly, and the sound vibrates through all three of us.
My hands stay on her—one at her jaw and the other at her waist—while my body presses into hers.
Ronan’s hands start to roam. Down her arms, then to her sides, and back up the ladder of her ribs, grazing her breasts.
His eyes meet mine again.
There is a challenge there.
Not over her. Not you versus me. More like… You wanted to play, let’s play.
Ronan leans closer to her ear. “Griffin thinks he knows what you need.”
Her breathing changes slightly.
I tighten my hand at her jaw.
“He usually does,” she manages to breathe out.
That makes me smile. “Usually?”
Ronan laughs.
Cami takes a deep breath. “Oh, fuck you both.”
I laugh against her cheek.
Ronan’s voice is still low as his mouth drops to her ear. “That is, quite literally, the plan.”