Page 93 of Just Between Us

“Honestly, you three didn’t try that hard to hide it.” She waves a hand. “But what I’m trying to say is you being with them means you are now part of a small group of people Cole cares about which also means there is nothing he wouldn’t do to make sure you’re safe. You get what I’m saying?” she asks, her eyes trying to tell me something I think I understand.

I nod. It’s always been glaringly clear that he would never let anything terrible happen to Levi. Looking down at my bracelet, I know I have to believe it’s the same for me now too.

“He means well is all I’m saying,” Kez says after a moment. “But his family has always treated him like shit. Try to stay away from them if you can—especially Nick.”

“I haven’t had the pleasure,” I say.

“Good. Keep it that way,” she says before smiling brightly. “I’m happy you’re here, Kai. I’m happy you’re with them. I think you’re good for them.”

I match her as the sun sinks behind her, painting the sky an orange that matches her dress. “I think they are good for me too.”

And despite the palpable fear of losing them that sits in my gut, I let myself enjoy this.

Chapter Twenty-Six: Kai

I’m freshly showered, a plush robe wrapped around me. My skin buzzes with anticipation as I look over the balcony out onto the sea that twinkles with yacht lights and reflections from the hotels around. A soft breeze blows past, kissing my cheek. At some point during the night, Anant thought it was a good idea to go swimming and somehow managed to convince me to join. Despite it being warm outside, it’s still May and the water was freezing.

Cole emerges from our room onto the balcony, his hair still wet from the shower and framing his face. He’s shirtless, and I bite the corner of my lip, admiring his well-muscled torso that tapers into a perfect V.

“How is my birthday boy doing?” he asks, his hand grabbing my robe and pulling me flush against him.

Heat pools in the pit of my stomach. “Good,” I say quietly. “I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday. Thank you.” My lips meet his and he lets me kiss him, letting my tongue lick against his mouth begging for entrance.

“This is kind of familiar,” Levi’s voice comes up behind me.

I remember the first time we kissed at Anant’s party. So much has happened since that night. For one, I know they like me too, so I don’t hesitate to pull Cole into another kiss. Tonight, I have a goal, and I’m determined to pull it off.

I turn to look at Levi but he’s already right behind me, one hand reaching for my hips whilst another unties my robe. He slips it off me and I realise I’m stark naked on a balcony standing between them. I gasp quietly at the shock of the cool breeze against my skin. Luckily, we have no neighbours and we’re high enough that no one on the pavement below can see.

“Oh, Cole, Kai has a surprise for us,” Levi says as he moves the plug snugly sitting inside me, pulling it out slightly before pushing it in again. My knees buckle but Levi’s hand holds me firmly in place.

In front of me, Cole smiles wickedly, gripping my chin tightly between his thumb and index fingers so I look at him. “Is that why you took such a long shower? You were preparing yourself to get fucked?” he asks just as Levi withdraws the plug again and pushes it back in roughly.

“Fuck,” I hiss.

“Did you let yourself come too?” Cole asks.

A weird sense of shame washes over me because I know I shouldn’t, and I’m going to pay for it, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Answer me,” Cole says, still holding onto my chin. He’ll know if I lie so I nod quickly leaning into him, desperate to taste his lips again—maybe distract him but he doesn’t bite. He keeps me in place, eyes burning with the kind of dangerous desire I’m after.

Behind me, Levi tuts, and kisses the dip of my shoulder, sucking hard enough that I know there’ll be a mark there in the morning. “Seems like you’ve already had your fun without us,” he says.

Cole hums contemplatively, looking disappointed in me before he kisses the corner of my lips and I savour it because I have a feeling this is about as soft as he’s getting tonight.

“On your knees,” he whispers.

Months ago, that instruction made me bristle slightly, afraid of letting go and drowning in them but now, I kneel on the discarded robe easily, trying hard to ignore that I am fully naked and already hard on a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean.

Saliva floods my mouth, already trained to know what’s about to happen.

“You look so pretty like this,” Levi says, carding a hand through my hair and gripping it in a tight fist to make me look up at him. “Do you want this, baby?” he asks softly.

“Yes. Always,” I whisper, and his lips spread into that wicked smile again.

“Relax your throat for me.”

I do as I’m told. In the corner of my eye, I can see Cole disappear back into the hotel room, but I focus back on Levi who has my skin prickling with anticipation. There’s an edge to him that I’m addicted to. A tender dominance that makes me desperate to please him.

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