He clicked off the lamp, bathing the room in moonlight, and climbed into bed. Without saying another word, he stretched out behind her and gathered her against him, as if they were lovers who had slept this way for years. She couldn’t prevent the little sigh that passed her lips as his arms and heat enveloped her.
It was lovely and sexy and comforting.
Almost perfect.
The only other thing that would make it better would be to have a certain blond stretched out against her other side.
And that realization scared her more than anything had in a long, long time.
FOURTEEN
Jace stomped out of the bedroom, squinting through the bright morning light filling the living room. He’d woken up cold, alone, and pissed. Pissed that Evan wasn’t in bed next to him and really pissed that he cared.
He should’ve never given in to his need to claim her last night. She’d responded so well under his hand, thrived beneath the dominance like a daisy in sunshine. The rush he’d gotten from her reactions had left him reeling. So much so that he’d gone and dropped his guard without realizing it. He had joked around with her like he used to, had even wanted her to share his bed overnight, which was something he never did with anyone. He’d let himself feel something for her, goddammit.
Which is exactly why last night could never happen again. Even if the mere thought of having Evan all to himself for another round had his dick stiffening in his pajama pants. The only way he was touching her again was if Andre was there, too. End of story.
He glanced around the living room, his gaze landing on the couch, a pillow and blanket spread out on it. Oh, hell no. If Evan had slept on that hard sofa instead of waking him and admitting she wasn’t cool with sharing a bed, he was going to spank her ass. He’d told her he would take care of her this weekend. Why wouldn’t she let him?
But if she had slept out here, where the hell was she? He looked around the room again and noticed an abandoned glass of water on the dining room table.
Ah, fuck.
The answer hit him like a knee to the groin. He knew exactly where she was.
And he should be damn happy about it, but instead he had to breathe through a wave of anger he had no right to have. He’d set this up. Talked to Andre himself last night. Rolled out the goddamned red carpet. This is what needed to happen, right?
Unable to stop himself from confirming his suspicions, he crossed to the other side of the cabin until he was standing in front of Andre’s door. He probably should knock.
No, screw that. He needed to see the unedited version and get it through his thick skull that he had no claim to Evan. And she owed him no loyalty either. Gritting his teeth, he turned the knob and pushed open the door.
What lay inside wasn’t unexpected, but twisted him up just the same. The comforter was in a tangle, exposing Andre and Evan, both half-dressed and sound asleep. Evan’s shirt had ridden up, and Andre had a hand splayed possessively over her bare belly.
He blew out a breath.
So they’d fucked. Without him.
And then Evan had chosen to curl up with Andre for the night—a stranger to her—instead of with him. Well that was just fucking fine. Perfect.
Andre was the one who was better at the romantic, cuddling shit with women anyway. Shouldn’t Jace just leave him to it? Mr. Suave had probably murmured sweet words to Evan after they’d had sex. Told her how beautiful she was, how happy he was to be next to her. Kissed away her fear of the dark.
Bitterness burned at the back of Jace’s throat.
Whatever.
He resisted the inclination to slam the door and clicked it shut instead. So, problem solved. Let the two of them screw until the sun went down if they wanted. Because each time Jace knew Evan was with someone else, it would help him put another stone back into the foundation she’d rocked by stepping back into his life. Would remind him of what this was. And what it most definitely was not.
He made his way back to the kitchen and put on the coffee, planning to drink a cup on the back deck so he wouldn’t have to hear it if Evan and Andre did decide to have a little pre-breakfast action.
But before the coffee finished percolating, Andre shuffled into the kitchen, sniffing the air. “Mmm, coffee. Thanks, bro. I’ll take one sugar. And how ’bout some pancakes, too? I like mine in Mickey Mouse shapes.”
Jace shot him a deadly glare and shoved past him to grab mugs from the cabinet.
Andre smirked as he leaned against the counter. “What crawled up your ass?”
Jace grunted and turned his back to him to pour himself a cup, trying to get a hold on the jealousy, the anger, the frustration that he was feeling either of those things in the first place. “I’m fine. Just need some caffeine.”
“You and me both.” Andre pushed up from the counter as soon as Jace moved away from the coffeepot so he could get his own fix. “I barely slept last night.”