Page 38 of Caged Heat

“It’s clear this isn’t going to work. But I won’t pick either of you over the other. I can’t.” Shaking my head, I held back my tears as my lip trembled. “Thank you for reminding me I was a woman. I’ll cherish every moment we’ve shared.”

“Why does it sound like you’re breaking up with us?” August demanded.

“Because I am. I thought the idea of us having dinner together was dumb, but the more I thought about it, the idea grew on me. I’ve loved getting to know you both separately, but I don’t want to live my life going from one date to the next and having to keep things hidden. This dinner showed me the possibility of having a future, and I realize now how much I wanted that. Since that can’t be, I won’t go back to living in the shadows, so I’ll end it now before any of us gets more invested, and you make me choose. I won’t do that. Actually, I’m choosing me. That’s my choice.”

I stood from the table, a tear escaping before I could stop it. “Please lock the door on your way out.” I turned and ran to my room, shutting the door behind me and locking it. I slid to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest as the tears fell.

Lots of loud noises sounded, followed by knocking and pleas to open up. When I didn’t respond, they finally left me alone, but I didn’t hear them actually leave until late into the evening. The whole time I sat on the floor, my back against the door, and cried until I no longer could.

When the room was pitch dark, I picked myself up and stood. My body protested from hours of sitting in the same position, but I ignored it. Cautiously, I opened the door, finding the rest of the house quiet and dark. Creeping down the hall, I peeked into each room, discovering them empty. When I reached the front, I looked out and didn’t spot either of their cars. Sadness mixed with relief filled me as I glanced at the table and the kitchen.

Everything had been cleared away, and a lone note was left on the island.

This isn’t over, dove.

That was where he was wrong.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

AUGUST

Despite my best efforts to avoid falling in love, I’d failed miserably regarding Nora. This past month had been, hands down, the best time of my life. Outside of feeling her beneath my fingers, of knowing how she sounded and looked when she came, the absolute best parts of my day had been spending time with her. I’d learn her likes and dislikes, how her nose scrunched up when she ate something sour, or how she laughed when she found something really funny.

I listened to her talk about her job, having no clue what it was about, but I loved watching her go on and on about something she felt so passionate about. But most of all, I loved how she felt snuggled against my body.

Her petite frame nestled perfectly in mine as I cuddled her, smelling her berry shampoo and mint toothpaste. I’d lie awake with her in my arms, watching her as she slept, and wondering how I got so lucky.

I hadn’t even sunk my cock in her yet; content with enjoying how beautiful she came as I brought her to orgasm after orgasm with her retellings of how her other lover touched her. I’d finally worked her open enough by increasing the size of dildos and was ready to take that next step with her.

But the one complication I’d never seen coming was Jackson.

The only other person outside of family I’d ever allowed myself to love. It wasn’t romantic, but I cared about him a great deal. He’d stepped into the role of best friend in some ways, having Brad’s lightness that balanced out my roughness. Despite being older, I never saw him as a son; the role of father was something I didn’t know how to be. Instead, I’d been his friend and confidant. I was the cool “uncle” more than anything, and when he wanted to learn how to fight, I was there to teach him. The kid had a bright future ahead of him, and I wanted nothing but the best for him.

So now, I didn’t know how to feel.

Could I give up my happiness for him? Should I walk away so they could be together? I knew she was the first woman he’d ever felt a genuine connection with, and I could understand why. Nora was extraordinary. It didn’t surprise me he had a thing for her. And despite the blunder I made, assuming he was friends with Mack, I could see why she’d fall for him, too.

Jackson was fun and pure light, the complete opposite of me. So how could she like both of us? Surely it meant one of us was just temporary?

But that didn’t seem to be Nora’s style, nor could I see her using Jackson to scratch an itch. So if it wasn’t him, did it mean I was the expendable one? It hurt to consider that all the moments between us weren’t real, but how else did it make sense?

Staring at the picture of us on my phone, I couldn’t help but run my thumb across the screen lovingly. No, what we had wasn’t fake either. I’d known Nora long enough to know she wasn’t the type of woman to lead men on, and the love and joy reflecting in her eyes at me in the picture were genuine. As were the emotions clearly written on my face.

So what did it mean? Could she care for both of us like she proclaimed?

“Oy, if you stare at that phone any longer, your face will get stuck like that, Uncle Gus-Gus. And let me be honest; it’s not a good look for you,” Steph said as she strolled into the office. She scrunched up her nose and frowned, stomping around the office like she was an ogre.

“Ha, ha. Very funny.” I turned the phone over and sat back in my chair, glaring at her to get to the point. Instead, she sat, throwing her legs over the end like she had all the time in the world.

“Guess who I’m seeing tonight?” she finally asked.

“I don’t care.” I shook my mouse and pretended to stare at the schedule.

“Hmm, I’m sure you do. Especially since you’ve been extra moody all week.”

“Nope.”

“Fine. You’re no fun. I’ll make sure to hook Eleanor up with all the guys who buy her drinks then. She’s gonna look so hot after our little shopping spree.” She hopped out of her chair and skipped to the door like she hadn’t just decimated my heart.

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