Page 103 of Rebel

Trav is behind me. I feel the heat of his body, and I tremble as his hands land on my hips. With gentle movements, he tugs off my shirt, dropping it to the floor. He unclasps my bra next, and I let that fall. All of their eyes on me, watching with desire and anger.

Their emotions coat my skin with each look, until I feel more vulnerable and raw than I ever have.

“Pants,” Trav murmurs.

He’s letting me choose, so I find my courage and push my jeans and underwear down, kicking them off. Now I stand naked, shivering and wet, my hair a knotted mess across my shoulders.

My every flaw is exposed.

Kolton holds out his hand, and I almost run to him, laying my hand in his. He tugs me into his side and wraps me in his arms before he leads me upstairs. I expect to go to my room, but he surprises me when he guides me to his and straight to his bathroom, where he turns on the taps of his huge sunken tub.

Rubbing my arms for me, he smiles sadly. “It’s going to be okay.”

My eyes start to burn, and I try to swallow back my tears, but when he holds me tighter, they fall. “Is it?” I whisper. “What if I ruined everything?”

“No such thing,” he promises, kissing my head. “Most would call me ruined, but not you. We are all broken things, Beck Danvers, or whoever you are.” He winks. “It doesn’t mean we don’t deserve to be loved and given second chances. If forgiveness were easy, everyone would do it.”

“He’s right,” Chase calls.

I turn to see him watching us, and with a flirty grin, he reaches behind him and tugs off his shirt. “I need to wash off the stench of booze.”

“And the lipstick marks,” I remind him, hating the jealousy in my tone. I know why he did it. It doesn’t mean it didn’t hurt, though, but I deserve it. Besides, there isn’t any lipstick on his lips or below the top of his chest, as if he couldn’t bear it.

He doesn’t stop until he’s before me. “I wanted to make you jealous and prove to myself that you cared. Maybe it’s a fucked-up thing to say, but seeing you jealous over them? It was fucking bliss.” He leans in and kisses me softly. “But I never let them kiss my lips. They are yours, pretty girl, and would have been for the rest of my life, even if we never came back together. You have stolen them, and they are yours, as am I.”

He moves past me, stripping off the rest of his clothes and climbing into the tub, sinking in with a sigh.

Chase is a conundrum—soft, hard, cold, and warm. To everyone else, he’s a womanizing asshole, but to me, this is the real him. He held my hand when I was scared and vowed silly promises I know he will keep. This is the real Chase, and I fall a little more in love with him.

Trav hurries into the room and plunges into the bath. As he resurfaces, he slicks his hair back. “Fuck, I’m cold.”

Chase kicks him. “Keep your hands to yourself.”

“You’re just too pretty,” Trav teases, and I smile, glad we can joke around after the shit show of a night we had.

Kolton shuts the door, and it feels like my secrets, truths, and questions all hover outside. Everything we need to talk about waits for us out there in the darkened hallway, but in here, we are free for a moment.

“Get in, baby.” Kolton kisses my shoulder. “I’ll grab some towels and be back.”

Nodding, I climb in and sit a little way away from them, but with a roll of his eyes, Trav grabs me and throws me between them. Our legs and arms tangle, and they warm me along with the water.

Kolton puts some towels down and then hesitates, so I hold out my hand, and he strips and climbs in with us. Bubbles expand as the water fills the tub.

I glance between them as they watch me.

“Can we forget everything else just for a minute? Can we forget that I fucked up and just enjoy this?”

It’s selfish, I know.

“For you?” Chase murmurs. “We’d do anything.”

I swallow hard, looking between them. “Then let me be selfish one more time. Fuck me. Remind me we are here and we are together. Remind me what it feels like to be alive again. Remind me I’m yours and you are mine, even if it’s just for now. Wash it all away, even if you are still angry, and love me through it.”

They share a look, and for a moment, I worry I’ve gone too far. I can’t seem to stop being selfish with them, but then they reach for me, answering with their bodies. They might be hurt and angry, but they still want me.

That gives me hope—hope we might make it through this.

I close my eyes, and I let them have me, the warm water chasing away the chill as I’m tugged between them. Mouths slide possessively across my skin, and talented fingers trace my sides until I gasp, relishing their caresses.

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