Page 9 of Double Dare

I take the coffee, grateful she always knows who needs what and when they need it. “He will be. I’m trying to convince him to talk to you and Corbin.” I wish I could tell her everything. I wish Dom was ready to accept her selfless help.

“Thanks, honey. Thanks for being there for him.” She squeezes my hand, giving me a motherly look. “Everything okay with Jed and Kade? They won’t leave each other’s side, but they constantly look seconds away from snapping at each other.”

I chug the coffee to chase away the guilt. “Something changed in our dynamic the other night, and now we’re all confused about how to feel.” I sigh, frustrated with myself more than anyone. “I’m sorry I get between them.” I never meant to. Still don’t want to, but something is happening, and it involves all three of us.

Rayne strokes my cheek, wiping away a tear I wasn’t prepared to let fall. “You bring them closer together. It’s their own feelings that get between them. Yes, this situation is…unique, but the love between all three of you means you’ll somehow pull through it with dignity and respect. They both love ya, honey, and you love them, too. And even though they won’t admit it, they love each other most of all,” she laughs. “They just suck at feeling it.”

That’s the damn truth. “Where are they?”

“They got back from snowmobiling and crashed in the basement.” She slides a bottle of whiskey across the table. “Go wake their asses up, Lake. Make them talk with words instead of fists.” She winks. “And if there’s anything I can do for Dom, let me know. Even behind his back.” She smiles.

“I will. Promise. Thank you, Rayne.”

I take the whiskey and head to the basement, wondering if drunk words are any better than fists when it comes to communication efforts. I guess I’m going to find out.

I find them both asleep on the same couch—opposite ends. Heads on the armrests and legs all jumbled up, fighting for space in the middle. They really have grown closer lately, even if they handle that closeness with equal parts respect and aggression. I sit on the coffee table, looking at them without them knowing.

They look so much alike it isn’t even funny. Jed is lean and toned, having that fighter’s body bred for speed and stamina, where Kade is tall and lean, with definition but not bulk. They have the same emerald green eyes, messy dark hair, and features that are a mix between their mom and dad. Sexy. Both really fucking sexy. It’s their energy that’s the most different.

Energy and personality. Jed being athletic, and Kade being artistic. They share the same cocky attitude, crude mouths and Dare grin, but the meaning behind those emotions and expressions differ.

To have this conversation with them, I’m going to have to speak their language. Banter, challenges, thrills and passive-aggressive insults. Here we go.

“It’s almost ten,” I say from the table right in front of the couch. “You two need to get up so I’m not awake all night.”

They both groan, stretching and moving without opening their eyes.

Kade grins with his eyes closed. “Fuck off and let me finish my dream, Bossy. You were just about to—”

“Like fuck she was.” Jed kicks him. “Where have you been all day, love?” He reaches for me, but I swat his hand away, making him laugh as he protests. He flips onto his back, a hard and obvious bulge in his pants, motioning to it as an invitation to just hop right the fuck on.

Tempting. But we need to hash this shit out.

Kade scoffs. “Do not tell me you’ve been sporting wood this close to me. Fuck off with that shit, Jed.”

“Check your own dick before you call me a perv.” Jed kicks him again.

Kade’s hand lands on his crotch, and a sinister smirk spreads across his lips when he finds himself in the same predicament. Pathetic. Both of them.

“Sit up. I brought whiskey, and we’re talking.”

They both whine about the conversation as I tug their hands and force them into sitting positions.

“We already hashed it out, Lake. Don’t make us talk about it again.” Jed touches the cut on his brow that never heals.

“And?” I look between the two of them.

Shrugs. All they give me are shrugs.

“Exactly. We’re talking.” I hand them both a shot of whiskey.

Chapter 5

When Laken gets into a ‘take no shit’ attitude, my dick gets hard. I can’t even help it. To see her tiny body all poised and ready to wreak havoc and her turquoise eyes glaring with a weight so heavy my chest gets tight, my dick responds. Sue me.

Sitting on the coffee table in front of us, hair all fucked up, eyes as deep as the lakes they represent, shrouded in an aura of pure power, and dressed in black tights and a hoodie, I ready myself for her reprimands. I take a quick sec to get smug about her wearing my hoodie like it’s some caveman ownership claim I have on her that Kade doesn’t, and I wait. I wait for her to punish us. I mean me.

“Why are you making us talk about this shit, Bossy? It’s fine.” Kade cracks his neck, looking at her with a lowered head so he doesn’t have to face the full brunt of her. Pussy can’t handle her glare.

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