Page 50 of Wicked Oath

“Stop it,” I say as I step backward.

“No. Say it. If you don’t want anyone else touching me, who can? You want me to just sit around and watch Talon fuck you and I just get to jerk off? Hmm?”

“Stop,” I say.

“Say it, Delaney.”

“Shut up!” I say louder.

“Who?” he yells at me, getting in my face.

“Me, goddamn it!” I scream at him.

My mouth snaps shut, and my eyes go wide at the realization. I didn’t understand why I was so angry but I want that to be me. Not Heather. Not some other woman. I want to be that for him. For Talon. Poor Talon. He’s right behind me and heard it. Everyone did.

I try to turn and run, but Jude grabs me by the face and kisses me hard. I relax and kiss him back for just long enough that the guilt can sink in and I start to cry. He lets me pull away and I evade Talon and slip past him. I don’t get more than two steps out the door before Talon grabs me and gently pushes me back against the building. My brain is clouded with panic, fully convinced this is the moment I’ll push him too far and get hurt.I know in my heart he won’t, but it doesn’t stop my body from automatically reacting. I slip out of his hold and immediately turn to go to the vehicle, but Jude grabs me.

“Stop. Please stop,” I say tearfully.

“No, Laney. We are talking about this,” he says gently. “I’m going to say something, and I just want you to listen, okay?” he asks.

“Please, Jude,” I whimper when he takes my face between his hands. I don’t have the energy to pull away because it feels to fucking nice to be comforted by him.

“I love you, Delaney,” he says.

“No,” I cry, sniffling and hiccupping as I try to regain control over my emotions.

“I do, sweetheart. I love you and Talon knows. Okay? He knows and he isn’t mad,” he says as he wipes the tears from my face. “No matter what your trauma is trying to convince you of right now, no one is going to hurt you, Delaney. No one is going to hurt me. I am coming to terms with this and so is he.”

“Why did you do all of that then?” I ask quietly.

“Because you are a stubborn little shit and would have spent the rest of your life torturing yourself to prevent hurting anyone,” he says. “You would willingly sacrifice yourself for the sake of those you care about, and we won’t contribute to your pain.”

“May I?” Rogue says, and Jude nods. Rogue turns me to face him, and I sigh when he grins at me. “Why are you calling him Jude?”

“Because that’s his name,” I sniffle.

“Why don’t you call me Chris then?” he asks. “I don’t think you even know Knox’s real name. It’s Adam, by the way. Have you ever called Torch Tony before?”

“It’s not the same,” I whisper.

“Why?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Why do you not call Talon by Hawk?”

“Because I prefer Talon,” I say.

“Why, Laney? Why Jude and Talon over Viper and Hawk?”

“Because saying their real names feels more…”

“Intimate?” he asks when I stop talking. I nod and drop my head, but he lifts my chin. “When did you realize?”

“When she got in his lap,” I whisper.

“We have all sat here for two months and watched you two get closer and closer,” Rogue says. “I haven’t seen Jude happier than when he is with you. When you are around him, you light up just like you do with Talon.”

“Talon is my husband,” I say. I try to pull away from him, but Talon grabs my waist as he steps behind me.

“I know he is your husband, but that doesn’t mean you can’t love both of them,” he says.

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