Chapter Text
This time, when I cross the threshold of their apartment, no part of me feels unsure, and I know exactly what I want. It's warm inside, soft music plays through the speakers as I toe off my shoes, Xaden takes my coat, and pours me a glass of wine. Liam is already hard at work in the kitchen; he makes dinner while Xaden and I serve as borderline helpless sous chefs. I sit on the counter swinging my legs, smiling and teasing as Liam moves around the kitchen with confidence and precision. Xaden follows his instructions when given, but takes every opportunity to tease me for not helping.
"Violence, you could put those hands to use chopping instead of feeling Liam up."
"You wouldn't be complaining if she were feeling you up."
We steal kisses as we work, hands straying and inciting. It's comforting, and natural, and feels like home.
Liam has me hold a plate covered in paper towels as he scoops cross sections of plantains out of a pan. I watch as he salts them, then uses a small cutting board to smash each of them flat and returns them to the pan. Xaden shoos him away after a moment, "I finished chopping, I can take over the tostones."
Tilting his chin up, Liam brushes a kiss to Xaden's cheek, smiling, and crosses the kitchen to gather the result of Xaden's labor. Xaden takes up the task beside me, smashing the rounds into flat discs, his arms flex with each motion, and it seems like second nature, the way he twists down with each press, placing them in the hot oil without hesitation.
"Where did you learn how to cook?" Xaden's movements tense for a moment, his wrist slipping so the pressure on the next one isn't quite even. He doesn't look at me, and I don't move from where I lean against the counter beside him, keeping my gaze steady.
"Liam and Bodhi were the ones in the kitchen with my aunt and my dad, learning their recipes." His expression is closed, but the look in Liam's eyes as he watches him is so full of affection and support, it's easy to know the grief he's attempting to conceal. "I'm grateful they were."
Liam interjects, and I can tell it's more for Xaden's sake than his own. "My house was lovely, but we didn't cook much, whereas at Xaden's there was always something on the stove." He shrugs. "I liked it, there's something nice about a home that smells like food. Where you're always offered a meal when you walk in. I'm 100% sure that's why he and Bo are so tall."
This draws a soft chuckle from the man in front of me, and Liam lets a gentle, victorious smile tug on his lips as he meets my eyes over Xaden's shoulder.
"Yeah, it was a nice way to grow up, and well, I learned mostly from Bodhi's mom, but then, after…from Liam and Bodhi." He risks a side-long glance at me. It's steely, and I don't know that many others would be able to see the vulnerability obscured behind glittering obsidian. Ignoring his attempt to brush it off, I step up into his space.
"Can you show me?"
His lips twist, and he draws me close, wrapping his arms around me. Now it's Xaden practically feeling me up as I stand between him and the counter, his hands over mine as we press the last few and place them in the pan.
The kitchen smells divine as I'm sent off to set the table, Xaden and Liam close behind me, carrying dishes laden with chicken and rice, beans, tostones, and a salad. Everything is delicious. Xaden watches as I polish off the plantains on my plate immediately, and wordlessly serves me some more. Salty and crispy on the edges, I eat maybe more than I should, but feel blissfully content.
Once our plates are clear, we stay seated around the table, working on a bottle of wine as we flirt and laugh. Liam tells stories of when they were young and asks about how I grew up. I talk about my dad, of going to school in the city, meeting Rhi, and loving the life I've built. The bottle gets finished, and my feet are tucked on Liam's lap, Xaden's hand on my thigh.
When we're apart, I'm tempted to want to quantify this relationship, figure out how to find the balance, but when we're together, it just fits. I'm still figuring out all my feelings; it's complicated, having built up Xaden so much in my mind over the past couple of years and then diving headfirst into this relationship.
Liam takes the final sip of his wine, and his tongue darts out to lick the red liquid from the edge of his lips. I track the motion and feel Xaden's hand flex around my thigh. We've been teasing each other all night, to the point that Xaden stopped throwing me smirks when he would feel my thighs clench beneath his hand.
By the time Xaden and I are clearing the table, our unspoken role as the people who hadn't cooked, I'm so worked up I nearly whimper when the seam of my jeans rubs against me. Xaden's hand had stayed firmly on my upper thigh throughout the meal, rubbing taunting circles against the thick fabric, Liam's fingers circling my ankle, driving me to the brink.
I'm loading the dishwasher when I hear a groan. My head snaps up to find Liam pressing Xaden against the kitchen cabinets, kissing him hungrily. One hand tugs at his thick black curls, the other lifting his shirt, Liam's pale hand wrapped around the curve of Xaden's waist. I watch in a trance as Xaden's hands move to cup Liam's face, drawing him closer as he kisses back with the same ferocity Liam seems to have pinned him with. Between one breath and the next, Xaden flips them, and Liam's whimper as his back hits the cabinet sends heat straight to my core. Xaden's body is taut and powerful, ready to snap, as he scoops his hands under Liam's thighs, lifting him to bracket him between the wall and his body.
"Fuck." Liam's voice is wrecked as Xaden's mouth moves to clamp on his neck, his eyes flutter, and he reaches out a hand to me when he catches my gaze. Without hesitation, I cross the room, and Liam's hand pulls me against him, claiming my mouth with his own as Xaden marks his neck.
"You ready to ask for what you want, Violence?" Xaden's lips drag across Liam's skin as he asks it, still pressing him into the cabinet. I smirk as I nod, reaching around to circle his waist.
"You gave me some wonderful ideas the other night."
When he pulls away, his lips are plush and pink from his attention to Liam's neck. They both watch me with hooded eyes. Xaden lets Liam down, and his hand is warm around mine as he leads me to the bedroom, Liam trailing behind, flicking off the lights as we go.
Their room is dimly lit, the bed enormous. Which I suppose makes sense, since it seems every man Garrick knows is over 6 feet. Xaden's eyes dance as he leads me deeper into the room, a wry smirk in place, "birth control?"
I can't help but laugh. "IUD, copper, I've had it two years, no surprise pregnancy this time."
Xaden's gaze on me stays steady, neither showing relief nor disappointment. His fingertips drag along the strip of skin at my waist, peaking out above my jeans.
"Condoms? We've both been tested and are clean, but it's up to Vi." I drag my teeth across my lip.
"I'm clean, and if both of you are, well, we're planning on long-term and committed, so…"
"Yes, we are." Xaden tugs me close and brushes his lips across my jaw before pulling back and raising a brow. He's insufferable and stubborn, I huff an exasperated sigh, but my lips curl up as I tell him what I want them to do to me.
"I liked the idea of both of you taking turns…and I'd also really like to watch whatever you like to do to each other." Xaden smiles, running the pads of his fingers gently up my arm, tilting his head, he studies me, eyes darting over my shoulder to watch Liam as well.
Stepping back from me as he gives the order. "Strip."
I follow Xaden's command until I stand bare in front of them. Everything we've done together is erotic, but there's something especially thrilling about being on display for them both like this, while they're still fully clothed. Liam's eyes consume every inch of my skin, sparkling in the dim light of the room. Xaden watches me like he's calculating something, but there's a flickering ember behind the observation, threatening to burn me.
In sync, they turn to flash each other a heated look before prowling toward me. Xaden's hands are gentle on my skin as he cups my face, drawing me up for a kiss. Liam's body presses into my back, his hands palming my ass while his mouth explores my neck. It's all-consuming, the way they make me feel.
Xaden's lips are gentle as they brush mine with his next words. "It isn't fair that Liam hasn't tasted you yet." Liam hums his agreement against my throat. I'm walked back until Xaden can guide me onto the bed, and climbs over me, forcing me to shuffle high up on the mattress. Pressing a light kiss to my lips, he pulls back with a grin.
"On your knees, Violence."
He shifts off the bed and looks at me, naked and kneeling, my legs parted just as he instructed. He tears his gaze away to smile at Liam, dragging his lips to his before giving him orders, tilting his head towards me as he does.
"Now, I want to watch Violet ride your face."
I watch his eyes darken with the request, eyes darting over to focus on me. Liam tugs off his shirt, then settles on the bed, shifting back so his head rests between my knees. I can feel my body shaking with anticipation, so keyed up from barely being touched, just looked at, and talked about.
"Come here, Vi," and suddenly his big hands are wrapped around my hips, warm biceps bracketing my thighs as he drags me down against him. My knees splay out, and I gasp as he licks a long stripe across my entrance, humming against me in satisfaction as I twitch.
I'm looking down the length of his body, spread out before me, Xaden at the foot of the bed, eyes devouring the scene we must make. Gracefully, he drops to the mattress and crawls up the length of Liam's torso until he can kiss his way up mine. Lips and teeth grazing and exploring every inch of my belly and up to my breasts, nipping and teasing my nipples as I grind against Liam's face. I reach for him with my free hand, my teeth grazing my lower lip as I try to swallow the sounds spilling from my lips.
"Please."
In a moment, his mouth is on mine, his hips rocking into Liam's, and I tug at his shirt, tired of fabric between us. Our kiss is frantic, as I moan into him, breathless from the way Liam's tongue flicks across my clit, making my thighs twitch around him. Xaden pulls away and indulges my silent request, shucking off his shirt and tossing it aside. I whimper when he crawls back on top of us, the warm, smooth skin of his chest enticing against my sensitive nipples.
I can only indulge in it for a breath. Because then, with a smirk, he reaches down to palm Liam through his pants, making him groan into my clit, the vibration of his pleasure rippling through me.
"Fuck Xaden." Keening as his long, graceful fingers undo Liam's pants and tug them down his hips, I clench at the sight of just how hard he is from eating me out. How much he wants me. Us. It makes me want to return the favor, wrap my lips around his perfect pink tip, and see how much of him I can take. But my torso isn't long enough, and Xaden beats me to it.
Eyes locked on mine, he lowers to wrap his lips around Liam's cock.
Fingers digging deep into my flesh, Liam whimpers against my core, his hips jerking, desperate to thrust up into Xaden's mouth. With a scolding sound, muffled by Liam's cock, Xaden throws his forearm across Liam's waist to hold him down. His other hand teasing where I can't see.
Bracing myself on Liam's chest, unable to stay upright without support, I watch, captivated by the sight of Xaden's lips stretched around Liam. Whose tongue fucks me languidly. He hikes up my hips and suctions his lips around my clit, his nose teasing my entrance, and I'm not sure how he's able to breathe, but he doesn't seem to mind. Humming and moaning against me, his hands reach around to palm and knead my ass.
My hips roll and spasm as I try to catch my breath, my muscles clenching and flexing as pleasure builds in my abdomen. Xaden's eyes are locked on my chest, where my breasts bounce and sway with every motion. He shifts the arm lying across Liam's belly to reach out for me as he steadily bobs up and down on Liam.
"Fuck," he pinches my nipple, and I let out the curse with a breathy exhale. "I—"
I swallow hard, catching my breath. "I think I could come just watching the two of you, fuck. Liam, Xaden looks so pretty, and your tongue feels so fucking good inside me. I—" Xaden's fingers slide up to trace the seam of my lips. In a mindless motion, I lick, then suck them into my mouth, until his fingertips graze the back of my throat. I hear him groan around Liam, watch his hips roll, grinding into the mattress.
Liam's teeth graze my clit, and then he clamps his lips around it to suck, pulsing his tongue across the bud of nerves until I shatter. Crying out around Xaden's fingers, whimpering as Liam's mouth fucks me through the crashing waves of pleasure. His hips twitch, and I can feel him moaning and gasping against my puffy skin as he comes down Xaden's throat. Dark onyx eyes watch me as Xaden sucks Liam through before pulling off him with a soft pop.
Using the fingers hooked behind my jaw, Xaden drags me down as he rises on his other hand, then shifts to cup my face just before crashing our lips together. His mouth is warm and salty, his tongue languid as it slides along mine, and I shudder with the overwhelming sensation of being claimed by them, taken care of, and shared. The taste of Liam on his tongue makes me whimper, and I'm filled with a deep affection for these two men.
Xaden guides us down, and I settle, straddling Liam's chest, his heart beating against my thigh, his skin sticking to mine and covered in a light sheen of sweat. He and I lay, sated and wrung out, his hands running over my ass, soothing my muscles sprawled across his chest. I watch as Xaden kisses the seam of Liam's thigh, nose brushing blond curls. He moves to his hip bones, the ridges of his abdomen, his belly button, before his face is level with mine again. After a silent question in his eyes, I tilt my face to capture his lips. I had thought this would feel complicated, confusing, and in some ways it does, but more than anything, it feels right.
"What about you?" I lean back just enough to ask the words against his lips, teasing the sensitive skin as I speak.
"Oh, Violence, we are just getting started."
"Thank fuck." And I lick my way behind his teeth, relishing in the growl he lets escape, the slide of our tongues, and the way he wraps his arms around me.
In a frankly hot display of strength, he lifts me off Liam and tosses me down on the bed before dragging me across it until my ass practically hangs off the edge of the mattress. His broad frame looms over me, Liam still blissed out and sprawled at my side.
Xaden's full attention is on me, spread out before him, catching my breath. I can barely keep my eyes open to watch him slowly peel off his pants and step out of his underwear, revealing every taut, sinful inch of his gorgeous, warm brown skin. Lazily, he strokes himself as he watches me through hooded eyes. His cock is long, and hard, and perfectly curved. I remember him being perfect, but fuck, my memory didn't do him justice.
I shift and sit up to lean on my hands so that I can get a better view of him. His eyes blaze as he looks at me, his cock now an inch away from my mouth. All I can think of is that I barely remember the weight of him. Keeping my eyes on his, I lean forward until I can press a kiss to his tip. He gently rocks against my lips, parting them slightly, asking permission. I smile, and in one motion, lick down his length, then take three inches of him in my mouth, bobbing and sucking slightly.
"Fuck."
I hum in satisfaction at the way the muscles of his abdomen tense and flex with my ministrations, the drawn expression on his face. His lips parting, his mouth slack as he looks down at me, to where he disappears between my lips. Hands weave through my hair, and I feel him tugging out the pins that keep my braid around my head, until the rope of hair falls heavy on my back, his fingers warm against my scalp. One of his thumbs drifts to brush the hollow of my cheek, the other my temple as he lets me control the pace. Every few strokes, his hips twitch and roll as he shallowly thrusts into my mouth, each time I take him a little deeper. There's no way I can swallow all of him right now, maybe with practice. I'd certainly like to try, but before I can test my limit, he pulls me off, pushing me down on the bed.
"I might lose my mind if I can't get inside you in the next 5 minutes." And I can't help but agree, already turned on again from having him in my mouth.
One hand splayed across my belly, the other circling his cock, he teases my slit. Dragging his tip through my folds until he notches in the first inch, making my muscles immediately clamp down hard.
"Holy fuck, Vi."
I'm breathless, my chest heaving as I try to focus on relaxing for him. His head hangs down for a moment before he seems to gather himself as well and rocks slightly, easing in. An inhuman sound is ripped from my throat, the pressure on my belly creating the most amazing sensation. He releases himself and shifts his thumb to tease my clit, rubbing precise circles as he rolls his hips, pushing in another inch.
"Fuck I missed you." His voice is low and ragged, and I whimper at the admission, because fuck if I didn't miss him too.
I reach up, trying to grab any part of him he'll allow. I tangle my fingers in his hair, and he indulges me, dropping to join our lips as he continues to ease into me. "I missed you, too." For a moment, our lips battle as he slowly works me up until I'm panting into his mouth, and he pulls away again for better leverage.
"That's it, Vi, open up for me." I let my legs fall slack on the bed, trying to focus on relaxing. "Fuck you're doing so well. So wet and tight, so perfect for me and Li." My hands scramble at his shoulder as I try to drag him against me again, needing every possible point of contact. I feel a weight shift beside me as the bed dips for Liam, his warm hand moving to cup my breast, pinching my nipple tight in the way that drove me wild the other night.
"You both look so fucking beautiful together." His breath ghosts across my skin before he sucks a mark on the side of my breast. Burrowing a hand in my hair, he lifts his face, still teasing my sensitive peaks. "All spread out for us, taking Xaden's cock like you were made for it, sweet thing. I want to watch him make you come."
Then his lips are on mine, and Xaden is rocking in another inch, the stretch is divine, and I can't believe it when he continues to stroke deeper. I know he's big, but I'd forgotten just how fucking perfect he feels. When he bottoms out, I sigh into Liam's mouth, my whole body flexing and tightening around Xaden.
Liam's lips tug away for a moment, his voice soft enough that it's only for me. "He always fills me up well, and he's so good at hitting the perfect spot until I come.
Then he's moving, and I'm lost. One hand keeps me pressed down, the other holds the crook of my knee as he thrusts, setting a mind-blowing pace, grinding against my clit with every stroke. He slows, pulling almost entirely out with each stroke, shifting to press my knees down against the bed.
"Open your eyes, it's Liam's turn."
Fluttering my lashes, I look up to see Liam behind him, his hand circling the base of Xaden's cock as he gently pulls out of me. I whimper, and my walls flutter at the loss, and at the sight of Xaden, naked and leaning back against Liam as he strokes him. Stepping to the side, Xaden holds my leg up and open for Liam as he steps up so his hips are flush against my ass, his hard cock resting on my belly. Then, in one sinful stroke, he eases back and thrusts in. He's almost as long as Xaden, and maybe a little thicker, and I gasp at the sudden intrusion, immediately trying to wrap my legs to keep him deep.
"Fuck Li, so good." My chest feels hot, and I run my hands across the bedspread, desperate to find something to hold onto. He takes my leg from Xaden and rolls his hips, hitting the same spot inside me that has me squirming. Xaden understands my silent request, gripping my hand in his, pressing it down against the bed.
"You feel amazing, Violet, fuck baby. Don't worry, we'll fuck you till you come at least another two times."
I can't seem to keep my eyes open as Liam thrusts into me, praise spilling from his lips. When I do blink them open, I get to watch as Xaden kisses Liam's neck, pinches his nipples, and bites his shoulder. Liam's lips are parted in a silent moan, his eyelashes teasing his cheeks, his fingers digging dimples into my thighs. When Xaden bites down hard, Liam's eyes fly open and meet mine.
He thrusts deep, making my whole body jerk, my breasts bouncing with the motion, and I whimper. "So fucking pretty, taking what we give you."
The next time my lids flit open its Xaden above me, Liam licking into his mouth, fingers tangled in his hair, tugging so hard his pace stutters. I'm captivated as I watch them, desperate to wrap my legs around one of them, draw them closer. Xaden's hand is firm around my thigh, pressing it down to the bed, holding me wide open. When he pulls out, I barely have time to whimper before he's guiding Liam inside me, murmuring in his ear as he bottoms out, sending waves of pleasure up my spine. My legs spasm in their grasp, and I squirm, grinding against him, chasing friction as I screw my eyes shut, too overwhelmed to hold them open. My skin is hot as I writhe beneath them, no longer sure whose touching me, whose fucking me, just indulging in the bliss of their attention.
The steady pleasure building at the base of my spine starts to become too much, and I'm gasping as I shatter, blinking up into Xaden's eyes as I clamp down around him, Liam teasing my clit. His fingers dig into my skin as his thrusts become less controlled, and my walls continue to flutter around him
"Fucking perfect." Xaden groans, and his hips stutter as he spills into me. I think back to nearly 5 years ago, to a night both just like this and nothing like this, and I feel an overwhelming wave of emotion. His body rests on mine as he comes down, and I practically drag his face to mine, claiming his lips with a fierceness I'm not sure how to name.
"You are mine. You are both mine." I press the words into his lips with my own, not even sure that the growl of them is at all intelligible. But something deep within me feels as much a need to lay claim to him as he does me. He meets my desperation, and I wonder if he was also brought back to the last time we lay like this, bracing his hands around my hips. He rolls us to the side, keeping himself inside me as he continues to return my frantic kisses. The sensation makes me chuckle until I'm giggling against his mouth, hyper aware of where he's softening inside me.
I feel the bed dip behind me as Liam curls his body around mine, and Xaden shifts his lips to his. I lay between them, catching my breath, Xaden inside me, watching as they kiss above me, Liam hard and grinding into my back. Eventually, Xaden eases out of me, gazing down with an adoration I'm still not quite sure what to do with yet. Liam drags a finger along the slopes of my side, stopping to splay his hand across my hip.
"Can you take one more?" I nod as Xaden tenderly brushes some of my hair from my face. He rises to stalk around to the other side of the bed. "Give her a break while I open you up, Li."
Liam's hips shift against mine, but he heeds Xaden's instructions, simply running his hands over my skin, soothing and gentle, only occasionally tweaking a nipple or squeezing my ass. His breathing comes faster across my skin as Xaden works his fingers into Liam's hole. He talks him through it, praising him, telling him how hot he is, how good he is.
My head lolls to the side, watching Liam's face as Xaden teases him open. He's so pretty. As I come back to myself, I shift, easing onto my back, stretching my spine and my arms. Xaden's eyes study me over Liam's shoulder, his arm moving and flexing as he gently fucks him with his fingers.
"How do you feel, Violence?"
"Lovely, you've both taken really good care of me." I smile softly at him, and some of the concern in his eyes seems to ebb.
"How would you like it if I fucked Liam while he fucked you?" Liam groans, his teeth dragging across my shoulder, and I can't help the soft chuckle that escapes my lips.
I grab Liam's face and tilt him so I can look in his eyes; they're clouded with pleasure, his body at Xaden's mercy. "You want that baby?" His pupils blow wider at the use of the endearment, and I have to rub my thighs to relieve some of the desire slowly building again. My thumb teases his lip, and he kisses it as he nods, whimpering as Xaden's arm flexes and twists.
"I think we'd really like that. How do you want me, Liam?" He thrusts gently against my ass as Xaden smirks down at me from behind him.
"On your knees again, Vi, you too." His hand playfully smacks Liam's ass. We both comply, Liam shifting to kneel behind me as I get onto my hands and knees.
My back arched, and my ass on display, I keen when I feel Liam's tip nudge my entrance. When he strokes all the way in, I collapse, my face pressed to the mattress, my body sore and tender, but still desperate for them. Liam gently smacks my ass, bouncing it extra with each thrust, and they both groan, filling me with pleasure at the sound. I roll my hips higher, seeking more friction. A hand wraps around my braid, tugging lightly, and I feel the plait slowly coming undone. Liam's hands drift over every curve of my body, his thrusts shallow, as they're dictated by Xaden's. His voice is wrecked behind me, babbling and moaning as Xaden fucks him into me. I want to see it, I want to see them.
As if he can read my mind, Xaden's voice cuts through the haze of pleasure, rough and raw. "Vi, flip over, I want to see your face while we fuck you."
Liam gently eases out of me, and his big hands try to help me reposition, though his face is twisted in pleasure as Xaden has only picked up his pace, not eased it. I shift, hiking up my knees and spreading myself in front of them. I watch for a moment, in rapt fascination as Xaden kisses up the length of Liam's neck, his hips thrusting, Liam seemingly only held up by Xaden's strong arms. The look on Liam's face is pure bliss, eyes closed, lips raw, breathing ragged.
"Don't leave our girl empty, Liam, be a good boy." He groans above me, his whole body shuddering and his cock twitching at the words. "Go on, be good for me, Liam, me and Vi, fill her up with your pretty cock."
This time, we both seem to lose ourselves at Xaden's words, but Liam follows instructions as Xaden eases his pace just enough for Liam to line himself up and bottom out with Xaden's next thrust. I can't fathom what Liam must be feeling, but I'm filled with warmth at the complete euphoria on his face, the expression of being entirely lost in sensation.
"How are you?" Xaden's voice is a rough growl that leaves my skin feeling tight.
"I'm— close Xae." Liam's words are interrupted by his gasps.
"Violet?" I hum and smile, because it's all I can manage, and I'm not even sure that I could come again; I'm just happy to help them feel good.
Xaden maintains his pace, but weaves his hand through Liam's thick blond strands and tugs, pulling his body back and away from mine, though still keeping us joined. Liam cries out, a tone of ecstasy coating it, and his whole body tenses as Xaden continues to fuck him. His hipbones bounce against my thighs, and his hands dig into my waist.
With a gasp, he blinks his eyes open, bright blue piercing my own, and I feel as he comes, filling me and groaning in pleasure, his pace never easing as Xaden's doesn't change. He collapses back against Xaden, still holding me close against him, sheathed deep.
"Fuck baby, your ass is so tight. So pretty. You did so well, keeping Vi nice and full. Do you want me to come?" Liam nods into his shoulder, and I'm enchanted by their dynamic. Liam, broad and strong, nuzzling into Xaden's neck as he falls apart. His fingers stray down to where we're joined, the mess of our come, and Xaden's, slick around us. He teases the base of his cock, then presses his thumb against my clit, rubbing tight circles as Xaden bends him over and fucks him mercilessly. Liam's softening inside me, but his fingers and the sight before me have me crying out in pleasure along with Xaden when we both come.
My body is spent, and I'm not sure where it ends, and theirs begin as we lie in a mess of sweaty sticky limbs. Lips brush against my skin, fingers trace my joints, and I feel entirely at peace. After a while, I feel the cool breeze of fresh air, and Xaden wraps his hands around mine and tugs me up to stand in front of him. I let out a sound of protest and sway like a ragdoll, and he simply laughs into my hair.
"Come on, you'll be happier in the morning if you let me clean you up."
I don't fight him because he's right. I watch in the bathroom mirror as he brushes out the tangles of my hair, before tenderly weaving the strands into two loose braids that reach just below my breasts. His movements are practiced and natural. I think of the way his gaze often lingers on my hair when it's out, and I absently wonder how much power it holds as he reverently weaves the plaits.
I shoo him out after, and clean myself up. When I re-enter the bedroom, I pause for a moment to lean against the doorframe, watching where they lie intertwined, whispering softly. Liam chuckles, and Xaden reaches up to brush a strand of hair from his face, and I am filled with an unnameable affection for each of them. An all-encompassing warmth that feels a lot like love.
Terrifying, but something I think I could get used to. After a moment, I move across the room to join them in bed. Liam smiles and tugs me down, settling my body between theirs so that I am surrounded by them. It's something I'm sure I would have once found suffocating, but now, I'm not sure how I ever lived without it.
I drift asleep, blanketed in only their arms and legs, feeling safer and warmer than I have in years.