My blood ran cold as Travis met my stare over her head. “It won’t this time.” I stated firmly. Assuring her of our commitment. “We’re here. We have you.”
“It’s not that simple,” She looked from him to me. “I have the kids to think about.”
“We.” Travis said firmly with a scowl. “We have your kids to think about. We knew your dynamic when we each made ourmove on you, Shade. We know you’re a package deal, you’re not alone anymore.”
“Look around you, baby,” I said, motioning to the home Travis wouldn’t even think of moving into until he had a family. A house big enough for everyone. “Don’t fight what’s already in motion. Let us take care of you.”
“I don’t know how,” She whispered. “It’s been so long.”
“Start with this,” I leaned in and kissed her, instantly welcoming her whimpers as she deepened it like the adrenaline and stress of the night was trying to seep out of her through our kiss. “Good girl.”
It wasn’t frantic, or greedy, it wasn’t even powerful. It was soft, but needy, filled with silent desire and a connection I couldn’t label. Because if I did, I might put a name on it I wasn’t ready to scare her away with yet.
I kissed her back, my hand sliding to her jaw. That was when Travis leaned in, his lips brushing over her temple and down to her neck. She gasped, and I smiled as he chuckled, pulling his teeth back far enough to show me the bite he gave her.
“Monster,” She moaned, dragging her nails over his scalp and leading his mouth back to the spot where her neck met her shoulder, and he did it again, this time she moaned and rocked forward like she needed something between her thighs.
I met Travis’s gaze, and he held mine as he kissed his way up her neck while she nuzzled into mine. “Bite her again,” I demanded, and my best friend pulled her jersey to the side and latched down on her shoulder and then sucked on it, leaving a hickey in the center of his teeth marks. “That’s so hot.”
“You like him branding me?” She teased, pushing her icy hands up under my shirt to my abs.
“I do.” I replied, and Travis ran his hands over her hips and ass, hugged tightly in her dark blue jeans.
“Maybe I’ll tattoo my name on your ass cheek and then the whole world will know you belong to me,” He threatened, shaking the thick flesh with a growl. “Damn, my cock just jumped at the idea.”
She purred as I pulled my shirt off over my head so she could nuzzle in against my bare chest, “What about you, Sunshine? Will you tattoo my name on your skin somewhere if I ask really nicely?”
“I don’t have any ink,” I said and nibbled on her finger when she ran her fingers across my jaw. “But I’m not opposed to the idea of your name being my first.”
“Damn,” She moaned, and then shifted, throwing her leg over mine and straddling me. “I like that idea. A lot.”
Fear.
Adrenaline.
Exhaustion.
Burn out.
All of those emotions had rushed through my body earlier, consuming me and threatening to pull me back under, into that black void I sank into after Toby was born. Yet straddling Eli’slap, with Travis’s hands tracing every inch of my body from beside me, I couldn’t feel anything but need.
It was like my body instantly let go of everything else when they touched me, and all I was left with was a physical cry for more.
I should have been worrying about every single possible thing that could go wrong, knowing that my past was back to haunt me. But I couldn’t.
Not when they were so effectively committing themselves to me.
To my kids.
To make this a real-life fairy tale.
“You don’t have to be strong anymore,” Eli urged, clued in to how my body and brain were battling each other, even as I rocked in his lap, teasing us both.
“I don’t know how not to be.”
“Let us show you.” Travis said, voice tender, as he stood up and pulled my shirt up over my head until I sat in Eli’s lap in just my lace bralette and jeans.
And then Eli’s lips were on mine again, deeper, more urgently as Travis’s strong hands massaged my shoulders from behind.
