Page 83 of Trouble

His lips cant up, and his eyes light up like a kid on Christmas morning. “Yeah?”

Sinking my teeth into my lip, I nod. “If I forget to say this later, thank you.”

Declan’s smile grows. “For what?”

“For letting me be here for this.” My throat tightens with emotion. “For taking a chance. I’m so proud of you.”

Rather than respond with words, he presses his lips to mine. Our tongues play and our hands wander, and just when my heart starts to pound and my body wants nothing more than to continue this until we’re fucking, Declan drops me onto the bed and pushes himself back. “I think you’ll reconsider that thank-you when you hear what I have planned.”

Cade walks out of the bathroom behind him, a towel wrapped around his waist.

Cocking a brow, I spread my legs, certain that one of them will take the hint and give me what I need.

With a smirk, Cade makes a beeline for me.

Declan turns and throws an arm out, smacking a palm to his chest and stopping him. For a moment, I don’t breathe, transfixed by the way the two of them watch one another. Cade’s chest rises and falls as his lips part, and Declan’s back ripples with tension. He’s standing in the middle of the room, naked, and for a moment, I think he might demand Cade drop to his knees and suck him off.

My blood ignites at the thought. I’m not sure anything could be more beautiful than watching Declan accept who he is while, at the same time, Cade getting everything he’s ever wanted.Declan.He is clearly the love of Cade’s life. For the moment, I won’t allow myself to worry about what that means for me.

When Declan finally speaks, I have to actively focus on breathing. “Last night, Melina helped me with my anxiety, and this morning, I woke up calm and feeling grounded.” He gives Cade a once-over, then slips the hand from Cade’s chest down his abdomen until it hovers justabove the knot in his towel. “But then you went and got me all worked up again by flirting with someone else at the bar.”

I smile at the memory of how jealous Declan got watching his best friend talking to another woman.

Cade licks his lips, his blue eyes wide. “I’m sorry,” he says, his tone sincere.

Declan lets out a caustic laugh, clearly not appeased by the simple apology. “You telling me you won’t do it again?”

I hold back a chuckle. We all know that asking Cade to stop flirting is like asking a snake to not shed its skin.

Cade shrugs.

“That’s what I thought.” Declan turns to me. “Andyou—I promised you that you would pay for that orgasm in the shower, didn’t I?”

Heart beating wildly at the prospect, I shift to my knees and nod eagerly.

He chuckles darkly. “So excited to be punished.”

“Are you going to tie me up?” I whisper as heat pools in my core.

Turning back to Cade, he replies, “No. I’m going to tie him up.”

With that simple phrase, all the air is sucked from the room. The image of the dark, broody man working meticulously with his rope while the lighter, brighter man is bound to his bed makes me dizzy with desire.

Declan tugs on the knot of Cade’s towel and lets it fall to the floor. “Does that work for you, baby? Can I tie you up?”

Cade stands before him, hard and breathing heavy.“Yes.”

Declan nods. “Lay next to Melina while I get the rope.” He looks at me, chin lifted high. “You. Stay just like you are, but face Cade. I want your hands on your thighs. No touching. Cade or yourself.”

I press my lips into a flat line to hold back a whimper. I have a feeling I know where this is going, and though I have no doubt that it will all be worth it, watching Declan tie Cade up—while they’re both naked—without at least touching myself is going to be incredibly difficult.

Sauntering to the bed, Cade mouths, “No tempting me, Trouble.”

He climbs onto the mattress, keeping plenty of space between us. Smart man. If he were any closer, I’d break the rule and kiss him.

Even if I can resist, I still long to check in with him. To splay my hands over his chest and feel his pounding heart, to press my lips to his and let him know that we’re in this together. We’re getting everything we want right now, and the experience is so much sweeter because Cade is at my side. He makes everything better with his smiles and laughter and his easy-going nature. Already, he owns my heart. Simply watching him get what he wants is enough to bring me a joy I’ve never known.

Despite those desires, it’s hard not to want to obey Declan. I want to give him the control he craves. The control he needs. I trust that he knows what we need and that he’ll give it to us. I have faith that he’ll figure out what it’ll take so we can all move forward together.

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