Page 45 of Wicked Oath

“What are they doing?” Rogue asks as we stand on the front porch. They don’t know that we are here. It’s not like I’m trying to catch them doing something bad but seeing Jude’s reaction made me realize it is cruel for me to not let that develop. I don’tknow what that means for Laney and me, but if sharing her with Jude, or even the others, is what will make her happy, I’ll learn to accept it. I won’t know for sure what is happening there until I let that play out. I need to let her know that I want her to explore it, otherwise she will feel guilty. For all I know, it could just be that Jude is reacting to memories of Charlotte and Laney reacting to trauma in general. She’s never really been able to connect to people, so I could be wrong. I won’t know that unless I give them the opportunity to get down to the truth. They could kiss one time and realize theyarelike siblings, or they could kiss and that lead to Jude and me fucking her into a stupor.

“Laying in bed,” I say. “Jude is just stroking her hair and she’s fighting sleep.”

“She’s scared,” Knox says.

“Yeah,” I say. “I can’t hear what they are saying but I’m sure that’s why he’s laying with her.”

“Are we ignoring the fact that he’s in love with her?” Torch asks. “Does that not bother you?”

“Honestly,” I say. “No.”

“I’m not saying you should be mad, but why not?” Knox asks.

“She has been through so much and been hurt by so many people that she deserves all the love and comfort that she can get,” I say. “If I have to share her with anyone, I’d be happy for it to be Jude. There is no denying that he cares about her. I know you all do. The fact that he is fighting it so hard means herespects me. Watching them lay together… is it bad I am hoping they’ll fuck?”

“You want your best friend to fuck your wife while you watch?” Rogue asks.

“I don’t know,” I say. “I know I wanna join him.”

“Go up there and catch him like that. See what he does,” Torch says. “Jude is running off the memories of Charlotte. Get him to break and stop holding all that shit in, and you’ll know exactly how he feels.”

“I think the issue is going to be getting Laney to admit it,” I say.

“Oh… that’s simple,” Rogue laughs and I raise an eyebrow at him. “Dude… Just have Jude bring a girl around. Have her be all over him. Keep pushing it until she breaks and gets jealous. You think that girl could sit there and watch some girl take his cock down their throat?”

“No, she’ll probably hit her,” I laugh.

“Right, and when she gets mad, force her to explain why. She’ll snap eventually,” Knox adds.

“Gotta get Jude to realize I’m not going to kill him first,” I say. “I’m going to go up and make him melt down.”

“We will be here,” Knox laughs.

I quietly slip into the house and keep an eye on the camera as I go up the stairs. I stop outside of the door and wait for the perfect moment. He’s been inching closer. The moment he leans down, I open the door just as he kisses her forehead as she sleeps, but the moment he hears me, he slings himself out of the bed in a panic.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” he says quickly. “I shouldn’t have done that. Please don’t blame her. She’s sleeping. I’m so sorry, Talon. I’ll go. It’s not her fault. She was just scared. I got caught up in the moment. I would never—”

“Jude,” I say, but he continues his panicked word vomiting. “Jude!”

“I’m so sorry, Talon,” he says tearfully.

“Jude, buddy. Relax,” I say. “Why are you so panicked?”

“I… nothing. I’ll just go,” he says.

“Stop,” I say. “Tell me.”

“You’re going to kill me, Talon. You’ll blame her,” he objects.

“I’m not going to kill you and there is no blame to be given out,” I say.

“You don’t understand,” he says.

“Then explain it,” I counter.

“I’m in love with her,” he says quietly. “I don’t know when it happened. I would never act on it. I promise I won’t ever touch her again. I just got so scared…”

“You think I didn’t know?” I ask. “You think we don’t see the way you melt for that woman?”

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