Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
EBONY
Ishift on the sofa, tucking my sock-clad feet under me as my core aches with the memory of Cooper and Caleb.
My mind a mess of new emotions as flashes of last night assault my brain.
Assault is the wrong word; caress feels more apt.
I want an instant replay, and I have done since the second I woke up this morning alone in my bed wearing the t-shirt of Caleb’s that still carries his scent, my body hungry for more of their twisted brand of revenge.
The dull ache that lingers in my stiff limbs doesn’t hurt.
I smile at the reminder of Cooper’s deft fingers as he wound my body so beautifully in rope as though I was an exhibit to be valued, appreciated, adored.
The carnality of what we shared feels like a live wire buzzing around my body, each stretch making me groan as the reanimation of how they roughly played with my body hits me again.
Dazed, they took their time to release me, rough hands massaging my reddened skin, the earthy herbal scent of the arnica cream filling my nose even now.
They had brought me home to my apartment, apparently already aware that Megan had planned to stay at Mateo’s.
They bathed me, taking their time as Cooper washed down every inch of my body with a soothing lavender wash as Caleb worked his fingers through my waves, lathering up the honey and almond scented shampoo until I was as clean as I was ever going to be.
I had protested briefly, still a little dazed as though I had dropped a few too many edibles thinking they were sweets, because I didn’t want to remove the scent of them both from my skin.
I wanted to bask in the warmth of their touch as their aftershave and natural musk clung to my body.
The flannel stained with the black eyeliner whiskers that had pretty much been destroyed as I sweated in the throes of our rope play sat on the edge of the sink as Caleb checked over every inch of my face, his muddy green eyes heavy with conflicting emotions concentrating anywhere but into mine.
They bundled me up into one of Megan’s obscenely expensive towels and fed me chocolate to make sure my sugar levels evened out as they helped me into bed.
For the first time in such a long time I was treated like a princess by two unhinged cowboys with sinfully sweet mouths and tentative touches.
I fought the pull of my heavy eyelids as sleep threatened to take me away.
“You don’t have to, I can,” my statement doesn’t have a chance to fully form before Caleb strokes his thumb over my lips to silence me.”
‘We look after what’s ours, Dove,” Caleb states as he pulls my covers up around my ears.
“Now shut up before I spank you relentlessly and tie you to your bed.’
Cooper Xavier Knox - a master of words.
“What’s got you smiling like you’ve just found your clit for the first time?
” The scream I make sounds like it’s been pulled from a horror movie as I simultaneously also almost choke on my own tongue.
I hadn’t even heard Megan enter. She lets a paper bag filled to the brim with popcorn, chocolate, and a bottle of wine fall onto the sofa beside me, heading to the kitchen to find a couple of glasses in the cupboard; she comes back with two mugs, and I decide I like this vibe better.
“So, spill.”
“Nothing to spill, consider me spill-less.”
She eyes me warily, trying to pull my secrets from me. “You’re lying. You’ve had sex. Good sex if that wicked grin is anything to go by.”
“I did not!” I protest a little too enthusiastically.
“Liar. When, where, who? And don’t scrimp on the details. Mateo and I had a little fight. He had this call from his dad, something about his mum probably, and he just lashed out.”
“But you still stayed the night?”
“Calmed him down with a very enthusiastic blow job; the ache was worth it.” She grins, tugging at her chin as she licks her lips.
“Do you want to talk about the fight?”
She settles on the sofa beside me and opens her mouth to vent. Snapping it shut as her eyes fly wide open, she hisses, “Devil woman—I can’t believe I almost fell for that. You are trying to distract me. It must be good if you’re willing to sit here and listen to me moan for the next hour.”
“I sort of ran into a couple of guys I used to know.”
“Ran into their cocks more like it; that blush is starting to creep down and cover your chest. I may not know much, Ebony, but I know sex. Two guys, huh? I’m here for it.” Her smile twists, and a belly laugh explodes up through my chest. “Students?”
“No.”
“Teachers?”
“Ewww.”
Her lips part to offer me another option, but my desire to vocalize what happened last night, to make sure I don’t try and convince myself it was all a figment of my imagination, has me butting in.
“Cowboys. Somewhat crazy, circus performer cowboys.”
“I knew they were making eyes at you. I said to Mateo on the drive home, if you didn’t go home with them, you weren’t the little whore I admired so much.”
I chuckle, my brows pinched.
“I mean whore with the most love and care in the most supportive, feminist way possible. You’ve been moping around here for far too long. You deserved some fun. You were in need of some dick.”
“Well, I certainly got that.”
She squeals as she shakes me by the shoulders. I wince, and she stops dead, tugging up the short sleeve of Caleb’s t-shirt.
“Ropes were a part of the fun,” I add before she can panic.
“Cowboys, tied up with rope, two dicks—how does it feel to be God’s favourite?”
“Pretty fucking sore, and for the purpose of future conversations about my love life, they’re twin cowboys, and they are both pierced.
” I laugh as she shakes me violently, uncaring of my taut muscles now.
We fall back against the sofa, the laughter dying out and welcoming the soft thrumming beat of my heart as she beams across at me.
I pull out the bottle of wine and fill our mugs.
“So tell me, rope bunny, why do I sense a but coming?”
“I hurt them, before they came back here to Hells Haven. Some bad shit went down, and it’s my fault they were sent away.
” My lungs deflate, and a tear tracks down over my cheek as I unburden myself with the secret I’ve held onto for so long.
I feel safe here with Megan in this small apartment that actually feels like a happy home.
She makes it easy to trust her, to loosen the straps of the weight of the past that has latched itself to my shoulders.
“Are you going to see them again.” Her innocent question deserves an honest answer, but I feel tongue tied.
“I don’t know. So much has happened between us. Maybe it was nothing.”
“I have a date in mind if you’re up for broadening your horizons.”
“Any guy would have a lot to live up to. I mean, last night was pretty fucking amazing. But maybe it was just a one-time thing.” I sigh with relief that I’ve expelled my truth. Knowing that it isn’t just an internal thought now, I’ve sent the idea of the Knox brothers taking me out into the world.
I want them. Fuck, I’ve never wanted something more. But deep down, I don’t know if Caleb will ever be able to push aside the demons that separate us.