Chapter 19
RIOT
Sawyer looks even more like temptation in the morning.
Sprawled across my chest, hair a mess, cheeks still pink from the way I wrecked her last night. She’s mine. All of her. For one night, at least. And, fuck if that doesn’t stir something ugly and hungry in me.
I’ve been awake for an hour. Maybe more, just watching her.
Watching the way her lashes twitch in her sleep, how her lips part with these little breathy sighs like she’s still dreaming of my hands on her.
I could get used to this.
She stirs, nose scrunching like she already knows I’m up to something. I smirk, brushing a knuckle down the curve of her jaw.
“Thought about waking you up the way demons do… real slow. Real dirty.”
Her lashes lift, eyes locking with mine—and goddamn, I swear the sun got jealous.
“Look who finally crawled out of the underworld,” I tease, voice gravel-thick.
She groans and buries her face in the pillow. “Are you seriously already awake?”
“I’ve been awake. You drool, by the way.” I smirk and tap my shoulder where she’d been using me as a pillow. “Kinda hot though.”
She swats at me, but I catch her wrist, twisting our fingers together because I can and because I want to. Her skin’s still warm, and my body’s still buzzing like I never came down.
“Jasper didn’t come in,” she says after a moment, quieter.
My jaw ticks, just for a second.
“Yeah. Shame,” I say lightly, even though I was hoping he would. Not for a fight. But to see what he missed. “Thought he might want to compare notes.”
Her cheeks flush, and I grin wider, loving how she squirms a little but doesn’t pull away.
“I meant what I said last night,” I add, voice serious, the weight creeping back into my chest. “You’re not a prize. Not a possession. But I’ll still fight like hell to keep you. Even if it’s from him.”
Her eyes go wide, caught between disbelief and something fragile that makes me want to protect and ruin her all at once.
“I’m glad,” she says.
“Anyway,” I grin, hand slipping under the blankets, right back to where I left off, “you want breakfast… or round two?”
She squeaks, slaps at my chest—but she’s laughing, eyes shining bright.
God, I hope Jasper’s still asleep.
Because I’m not done staking my claim.
SAWYER
The smell of bacon hits me before we even make it to the kitchen—crispy, greasy, and borderline magical after last night. I’m still warm all over, a little sore, and way too aware of Riot’s fingers laced through mine like he’s daring someone to try to pull us apart.
I don’t think he slept at all. I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed up staring at me all night.
As we pass through the back hallway, I catch a glimpse of Silas, Ash, and Jace already outside by the pool, lounging shirtless around the long table. Plates full of breakfast, sunglasses on, bare feet propped up like it’s just another day in paradise.
Macee’s out there too, sipping iced coffee like a queen, laughing at something Ash says. She throws a little wave when she sees me through the glass, but before I can even reach the back door, Riot tugs on my hand and spins me, pulling me flush against the kitchen counter.
“Riot,” I whisper, glancing toward the windows.
He doesn’t care. His palm flattens against the small of my back, the other gripping my hip as he leans in close, voice husky and full of heat.
“I’m not holding back in front of anybody. Not anymore. I want you, and I won’t hide it.”
My heart stutters, and I know he means it. Every word.
“I want you too.” I lean in to kiss him, soft at first… then deeper, like he’s the only thing that matters and I don’t care who’s watching either.
“Wow,” comes a rough voice from the doorway. “You two look awfully cheerful this morning.”
I pull away, breath caught somewhere between guilt and thrill.
Jasper stands there, arms crossed, dark eyes flicking from me to Riot. There’s a hint of amusement in his smirk, but he also looks on the edge of murder.
Riot just grins like he’s been waiting for this.
“We are,” he says casually. “Slept like a baby.”
“I bet you did,” Jasper mutters, stepping further into the room. His hand brushes my lower back when he gets close enough. “You coming to eat, Trouble? Or do I need to take my breakfast up against this counter?”
Riot doesn’t move. Doesn’t flinch. Just keeps his hands where they are—one on my waist, the other brushing my wrist like he owns it.
His eyes cut to Jasper with a spark of challenge.
“You eat her for breakfast, Reign, you’ll be eating me too.”
Jasper’s smirk doesn’t falter, but he rolls his eyes. “Well, I figured,” he says, dark amusement simmering under the surface. “Pretty sure the whole house heard her scream your name last night.”
He steps up behind me—opposite Riot—his chest brushing my shoulder as his hand trails down my side then dips lower, fingertips grazing my ankle.
I stiffen, breath caught in my throat.
Then, with a patience that feels like torture, Jasper drags his hand up the inside of my calf, the scrape of his calloused fingertips leaving goosebumps in their wake.
My pulse hammers as he keeps going until his palm finds the curve at the top of my thigh.
Right where the ghost of his touch from last night still lingers like a brand.
“Jasper…” My voice is a whisper, barely there. A warning. A plea. I don’t even know.
His mouth dips to my ear, lips grazing the shell.
“Did he make you feel good, baby?” he murmurs, voice all gravel and sin. “Did he make you feel wanted…the way I make you feel wanted?”
Riot’s hand tightens at my waist, his palm spreading wider like he’s staking a claim of his own, but he doesn’t move.
Neither of them does.
I’m pinned between them now—Jasper’s hand gripping my thigh, Riot’s fingers pressing firm and warm across my stomach.
And I’m trembling.
From heat. From nerves. From the sheer weight of them, both of them, like the air’s been sucked out of the kitchen.
Riot lowers his voice, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. His tone his a dark purr, a taunt meant for both of us. “She liked it. Enjoyed begging for it. For me. But don’t worry, Jasper…”
He shifts just enough to press me tighter between them. “…I’m sure she’ll moan just as sweet for you.”
Jasper’s fingers flex against my thigh like he’s deciding just how far he’s willing to go right here in the kitchen. His jaw ticks, his breath is steady but sharp, like a man on edge.
Then—his hand slides up, a slow trail over the curve of my hip, over my ribs, grazing just under the side of my breast before climbing higher. Every inch he claims feels like a promise, like a threat I want to give in to.
When his palm cups my jaw, his thumb skimming the corner of my mouth, I forget how to breathe…and then he kisses me.
Claiming me.
It’s deep and rough, a kiss that leaves no space between us, no doubt about what he wants. My knees weaken, and Riot’s hand tightens on my stomach like he’s keeping me from falling, his breath hot against my neck as Jasper devours me.
His mouth brushes mine once—then again, deeper. Tongue teasing the seam of my lips, tasting last night on my tongue. Riot’s breath fans hot against my neck, still unmoving, still watching. Like he’s waiting for his turn.
When Jasper pulls back, I’m flushed and dizzy between them, throat tight with need I don’t even know how to voice.
He smiles, wicked and satisfied, then backs away.
“Let’s not keep them waiting,” he murmurs, nodding toward the backyard. “Wouldn’t want to be rude.”
Riot leans in, pressing one last kiss to my jaw before grabbing my hand. I follow, pretending my legs aren’t trembling, pretending I don’t already know I’d let them both ruin me if they asked.
The door to the back patio slides open, and sunlight floods in like it’s been waiting for this moment too.
Outside, laughter erupts from the pool. Ash is cannon balling off the deep end while Macee yells something about getting her hair wet.
Jace is pouring orange juice straight into a wine glass, as if it were champagne.
Silas, shirtless and sunburned, raises a brow as we step outside like he knows what kind of morning it’s been.
And I do what I never thought I’d do in a moment like this.
I smile.
Still dizzy. Still branded from the inside out, but smiling.
Ash is already halfway through yelling at Silas by the time we step outside.
“You could’ve warned me it was freezing, you prick!”
Silas doesn’t even blink. “You cannon balled into my existence, Ash. I feel like we’re even. Also, it’s like, 90 degree water. Stop being a pussy.”
Macee’s perched on a lounge chair in her oversized sunglasses and black bikini, sipping from a wine glass like it’s brunch at a five-star hotel. “If any of you splash me, I will literally summon your ex-girlfriends like demons from the underworld.”
Jace pauses mid-bite of a donut. “Damn, that’s hot. Marry me. Or curse me. Either’s fine.”
I snort just as Riot drops onto a lounger beside me and tugs me into his lap without asking.
Not that I’m complaining. I like that he’s not even pretending to share anymore.
Jasper takes the seat next to us, long legs stretched out, a bottle of water in hand like he’s decided to cosplay as the composed one.
Macee raises a brow, eyes flicking between the three of us.
“Well, well, well,” she drawls. “If it isn’t my best friend living the enemies-to-lovers-to-poly-dilemma fantasy. Should I be worried about getting replaced?”
I roll my eyes, but I’m smiling. “Relax, you’re the emotionally stable one. They wouldn’t survive you.”
Ash grins at her. “You trying to test that theory, Blondie?”
Macee eyes him over her sunglasses. “You’re cute. In a wet rat kind of way.”
“Ouch,” Ash mutters, holding his chest. “I think I need CPR.”
Jace leans over toward her. “He’ll be fine. Verbal abuse is basically foreplay to him.”
Silas just mutters, “You’re all idiots,” and keeps eating his bacon like it’s the only thing keeping him grounded.