Page 21 of Hacker Beloved

"With her, things feel right, but before this goes much further, we need to have a long talk with her. Explain our life…" CJ blew out his breath. "But at the same time, how do you expect someone to become serious after two days?"

"We have to keep that in mind. The first test to see if she runs will be tomorrow when she meets Kat."

CJ chuckled and said, "Kat is already obsessed with her. The only people I've met who don't like Kat are dead or in jail. Everyone else wants to be around her."

"Because they want to see what she will do next. Normally I don't mind her antics, but with you and Zayla with me in the field tomorrow, I'm going to be stressed."

"Well, now you know how I feel every time you have to go dark for a mission."

CJ's fingers fell to my zipper, and I snatched his hand.

"Neither of us are going to have relief until we are with Zayla," I said, my words firm.

"You can't be serious," CJ groaned.

"Believe me, I want nothing more than to slide my cock into your mouth…" I paused. "But I don't want Zayla to hear us and feel left out or that she will never be a part of us. We have to walk a fine line here, and if that means some cold showers. Then that is what we need to do."

CJ stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. "You're right. But I want to go on record. If my cock falls off, it's your fault."

For the next hour, CJ and I worked in the kitchen, cooking steaks and potatoes. Most nights at home, we made dinner together. It wasn’t uncommon for my other brother Alex and his wife Bridget, along with their kids, to show up right when we put food on the table.

As we finished plating the food, Zayla walked into the kitchen and offered to help. CJ wrapped her in a hug and placed a kiss on her cheek. When he released her, I was surprised she came over to me and wrapped her arms around my waist. I wasn’t about to waste the opportunity. I pressed my lips to hers for a quick kiss and then pulled back, her cheeks were slightly pink.

“I could get used to that welcoming,” I said as I carried two of the plates to the table. “Did you get your episode posted?”

“Yes.”

For the next hour we sat around the table, and Zayla filled us in with how she picked which cases to use in her podcast. We hadn’t realized she’d gotten a tip from a fan about her current case. In the morning, I made a note to look further into the person.

After dinner, satiated and content, we settled onto the couch, a cozy blanket enveloping the three of us. The flickering light from the TV cast a gentle glow, creating an ambiance of comfort and relaxation. We chose a romantic comedy, a lighthearted escape from the realities of life.

As the movie unfolded, Zayla nestled against me, her head finding a comfortable spot against my shoulder. CJ stretched out, his legs becoming a makeshift footrest for Zayla legs. We formed a perfect trio, connected both physically and emotionally, as we surrendered to the allure of the film.

I placed my arm on the back of the couch with my hand resting on CJ’s shoulder. He glanced over and smiled. At that moment, he looked so carefree, and I’d missed that about our relationship. We had dove so far into our work that I think we forgot the importance of ourselves.

As the movie reached its heartwarming climax, Zayla's eyelids became heavy, and her breathing grew slow and steady. I glanced at her peaceful face, a soft smile tugging at the corners of my lips. CJ and I exchanged a knowing look, appreciating the preciousness of this moment.

Zayla’s eyes opened when the credits rolled. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“Let’s head to bed,” CJ said.

The three of us stood and headed down the hall. Zayla stopped in her footsteps. “Is it okay if I sleep with you guys again?”

Her voice was almost a whisper.

“I already assumed you were. If you don’t want to, we aren’t going to force you.”

She nodded and headed for her own room, and my heart dropped for a second. CJ went to open his mouth, and I shook my head. When we reached our room, I pulled him into a hug. “We can’t force her.”

“It’s just I thought...” his words trailed off.

“Me too.”

CJ disappeared into the bathroom, and I stripped out of my clothes. I slipped into another pair of shorts. When I turned to head to the bathroom, Zayla pushed through the door. She’d changed into a pair of skimpy pink shorts and a very thin white tank top. Her hard nipples poked through the fabric.

“You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

She scrunched her brows together. “What? I don’t understand.”

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