Chapter 68
A noise in the other room made my eyes jump open. It was morning. Something had clanked? That didn't make any sense, but neither did my view. This was not my room. Those were not my curtains, because the window I had wasn't this big.
Then something shifted beside me with the softest, sweetest noise. I turned my head to find Cody snuggled up against my side. Her arms were curled up against her chest. Her blonde hair was wild and messy, spread out around her. The bare shoulder peeking out of the covers?
That proved it had not been a dream.
My lips curled and a sigh fell out. I kept it quiet, making sure I didn't wake her, but damn.
That had actually happened, and she was exactly the kind of woman I'd expected.
Part sweet and shy, part confident and aware of her own needs.
The mixture of those contradictions was what made this woman so addictive for me.
I wanted to see another layer peel back, learn a bit more about her.
But I'd never thought she'd drag me into her bed. That was what I'd tried to explain to her last night. I hadn't come back here for a fuck. I had a feeling Cody Jennings was not the kind of woman any sane man merely "fucked."
She was the kind we compared all the others against. Hell, she was the kind of person I compared myself against most days. The only problem was figuring out what came next.
Had I just been the night's bed warmer? Maybe a passing fancy? I could handle that - not like it, but handle it. I still wanted to be her friend, though. The trick would be proving that wasn't the creepy "nice guy" sort of friendship, but the honest kind built on respect.
And to do that, I needed to get the fuck out of her way.
So I carefully slid my arm away from hers. I shifted over slowly, making sure I didn't bump the mattress. Then I climbed out of the bed, found my jeans and underwear, and pulled those on. The rest of my shit got piled up in my arms.
I looked back one last time before slipping out and saw her reach out to the space I'd left.
Thankfully, the door didn't creak, but the moment I stepped through it, those subtle sounds stopped.
I caught movement at the edge of my vision and looked to see Tanner jerking away from J.D.
like they'd been caught doing something wrong.
Neither man was wearing a shirt. They were also behind that kitchen bar, which meant I couldn't see anything lower. For all I knew, they'd been about to do a little more than cuddle, and my dumb ass was right where I really didn't belong.
"Sorry," I said, heading over to the couch so I could get my boots on. "Carry on. Just pretend like I'm not here."
"But you are," Tanner said.
I made a noise which proved I knew that. "And my point is, it wouldn't be the first time I've seen you two going at it. If I have my way, it won't be the last - simply because you deserve to do it."
And I shoved my foot into a dirty sock. Yeah, not my favorite feeling, but thankfully I didn't have far to go. My boots came next, and I dropped my shirt down beside me, trying to decide if I should just bare-chest it down to my room or wear that shit.
"You're still wearing your riding shit from yesterday?" J.D. asked.
I huffed out a laugh. "Um, yeah. See, I'd planned on going back to my own room."
"So you fucked her," Tanner said, and there was something in his voice that made my heart pause.
I looked over to J.D., then back. "Uh, I was under the impression that was how your relationship worked?"
"It is," J.D. assured me.
I gestured toward Tanner. "He doesn't sound like he agrees."
"He," Tanner said, clearly meaning himself, "doesn't like the idea of being replaced, tends to think you big strong bull riders are more impressive, and has to remind himself that he was fucking someone else last night too."
"See?" J.D. said. "Ain't that hard, babe. Besides, she had fun, and she'll prolly tell you all about it later, since I know you think he's cute and all."
Nope, I was not touching that. I also wasn't going to blush or stammer about it. Right now, pretending like I hadn't heard it was the safest thing I could think of.
"And I just interrupted your cute and cuddly morning," I said. "Guys, I'm really feeling like the interloper here, and I'm sorry. Look, if I read that wrong..."
"Which part?" Tanner asked.
I tamped my second boot on, then stood. "The part where I came home with her.
The part where I thought it was ok. The bit where I made you jump away from your boyfriend like you'd been burned.
The bit where I was kinda hoping I wouldn't get my ass beat.
.." I pointed at J.D. "...because the last person he got pissed off at ended up with something like thirteen stitches. "
"And he still didn't learn shit," J.D. said as he crossed the room - proving he was wearing nothing but his underwear. "Catch." And he snagged something from the table and tossed it over.
My hands closed on soft cotton. My eyes saw black and pink. Confused, I uncrumpled the fabric to see one of Cody's branded shirts. My eyes narrowed, and I looked back to J.D.
"Ok?"
"I hadn't put it on yet, and that'll get you home," J.D. said. "Will also remind you that you survived. Not us, but her."
"And your hat's with the rest," Tanner said, pointing to the table against the wall meant for keys and shit.
There, the pattern was obvious. Black, straw, black, and then my grey. From the sizes, I knew Cody's was the one beside mine, and something about the sight made my mouth want to smile. The crazy bullfighter giving me bad vibes prevented it from happening.
"Tanner..." I tried, pausing to pull on the shirt.
"Look, I can only guess you're wearing as much as him.
I know I'm in the way, but there's one thing you need to know.
" I shoved the tail of this shirt down into the waistband of my jeans and secured the buckle.
"If you tell me to get, I'm gone. If you tell me to fuck off, I'll forget she exists. "
"Why?" Tanner asked.
"Because you could make sure I don't get out of the arena," I said.
"We both know it. One second's a real long time, and ten could cost me my life.
I also wouldn't like it so much the other way around.
Hell, I thought..." I shook my head, deciding I needed some damned coffee before I started running my mouth.
Might keep me from sticking my whole leg in it.
"Naw, finish that," J.D. demanded.
"I thought I'd have problems with the idea of her having two boyfriends already, ok? I figured that was too much for me."
"What changed your mind?" Tanner asked. "And the answer had better not be tequila."
"She was completely sober," I promised. "I was legal to drive."
"So?" Tanner pressed.
"I don't know," I admitted. "It was a million little things.
The smell of her shampoo, the way she looks a little terrifying when she's with J.D.
How she's made pink into a fire color, not a girly one.
It was also seeing the rage on her face when someone hurt one of her guys. " And I tilted my head toward J.D.
"And you aren't one of her guys," Tanner pointed out. "Or is that what you're trying to do? Hoping to take Ty's place?"
"That's not my call."
And finally, Tanner showed a little smile. His eyes jumped over to J.D., and he nodded. "He might not be scared of you, but I'm pretty sure he is of me. I also think he's being honest."
"I'm good with it," J.D. said.
"Same," Tanner agreed, all of that defensiveness gone as if it had never been there. But then he smirked at me. "And I'm asking her all about it. Details, Jake. You know, like condoms."
"Yep," I said. "Used one. Know better. Not in trouble for that."
"Then you're not in trouble," Tanner assured me. "Also, her shirt looks good on you."
"Hers?" I asked, aware the fit was snug, but I didn't think this was Cody-sized.
"Mine, but of hers," J.D. clarified. "And keep that. Shit, let her see you in it and you might get a repeat. Just know I ain't backin' off, and he isn't either."
"Didn't think you would," I promised. "And to be fair, I didn't think anything would happen between us. I hold no expectations that she and I are anything more than friends."
"You're more," J.D. told me.
"But if you hurt her?" Tanner said. "I will break your legs. Now, I don't mean the normal stuff. I mean the kind of hurting you should know better than to do."
"Like Ty?" I asked.
"He only got pushed around a little," Tanner promised. "But if you treat her the way Jaxon did J.D.? Yeah, that's crossing a line."
"I'm not that dumb," I promised.
So he made his way around the kitchen bar and offered his hand. "Since we're sleeping with the same woman, Jake, welcome to the family."
Like J.D., he was only wearing underwear.
Unlike J.D., Tanner had a build I hadn't expected.
He looked like he could match me in a fight, even though he was the smaller of us.
His muscles were the real type, not the pretty type.
The sort a man earned by doing more than merely pulling himself back down on a bull.
But I took his hand and shook, pretty sure I was sealing some sort of deal. I wasn't sure if it was with the devil, but even if it was, I had a feeling it'd be worth it.
"Just tell me if the rules change, ok? Because I honestly don't want to get between the three of you. Looks like a damned good deal. I also know she won't pick me if ultimatums are thrown around."
"And she's still not ours," J.D. reminded me. "Jake, she needs to experience a few things. She deserves that. We ain't gonna stop her, neither."
"We're going to cheer her on," Tanner said. "And because of that, she will always come back to us. There's a lesson there, Jake. Learn it."
"Yes, sir," I said. "I also don't know if she ate last night. I mean, just so you two know." And I stepped toward the door. "I'll see you three at the arena. And J.D.? Today will be better. I'll make sure of it."
"Already did by kissin' Ty," he called after me. "And you're a chickenshit for runnin' before she's up, but I'll let you have it."
I chuckled. "I am. Mostly because I want her to have some space to talk to you two. Otherwise, I promise I'd stay. And no, I'm not doing that for you. It's because I think she needs the talk."
Then I left. Yeah, I may have hurried a bit, and my balls were definitely hiding right now, but no one else needed to know that. Those two? They came across all nice and sweet, but I'd been in the Tough Enough series long enough to know better.
And yet I still liked them. I respected the shit out of both of them, but my head was still spinning. I'd just slept with J.D.'s girl. I'd let Tanner's throw me into her bed. I'd crossed so many lines, I should be scratching my rides and heading for the hills - but those three didn't work that way.
Yeah, I wanted to say it didn't make sense - but those were the rules I'd been raised with.
They were the same ones that said I needed to find a placid wife to cook my dinner, and that Cody needed to keep her legs together until she was ready to have some babies.
They were the sort of thing that had everyone in the Pbr rushing to live just a little bit before the lives we were excited about ended and the adult responsibilities took over.
They were the box that suffocated us into obedience, and somehow, they had shattered it.
I wanted some of that, but right now, I needed to focus on getting my ass ready to ride. And thinking of that, I pulled out my phone and checked for messages, remembering how this had gone last time. Sure enough, there was a text - or eight - from Ty waiting.
Ty:
Hey, let me know when you get this.
Ty:
Shit, you still with Cody?
Ty:
So, guess that wasn't just a polite trip home, huh? ;) How'd it go?
Ty:
Jake, we need to talk.
Ty:
Ok, that sounds wrong. I mean about riding.
Ty:
Not riding, actually.
Ty:
I need help with J.D. and Cody.
Ty:
Fuck it. Call me when you get this. Don't tell them. Trust me, it's a good thing.
I read that just as the elevator arrived. Stepping on, I pressed the button for my floor, then pulled up Ty's number, waiting until the doors opened again before tapping the button and walking up the hall. He answered on the second ring.
"What?"
"You said to call," I reminded him.
He groaned. "Fuck. That was last night. Is either Cody or J.D. beside you?"
"I'm almost to my room."
"Which means you fucked her," he grumbled. "Asshole." Then he made a sound I was pretty sure should've been a laugh if he was more awake. "Well, we need to keep them from finding out we're striking again."
"And why don't we want them to find out?" I asked, wondering what the hell was going on this time.
"Because they're going to win," he explained. "And we both know they won't ride if they realize we're throwing our scores to pick the winners."
"Yeah..." Because he wasn't wrong, but how the fuck had he managed to make that happen? "I need to know more. Wake up and get to my room. I need a shower, so you got twenty minutes."
"I'll be there," he agreed - then simply hung up.