Page 30 of Crush & Byte
Byte slid down to lie beside me, propping himself on one elbow to look down at my face.On my other side, Crush mirrored his position, creating a cocoon of warm male bodies around my smaller frame.
Without speaking, they seemed to organize themselves around me.Byte pulled me against him so I was draped over his chest.Crush moved closer to me so I felt the heat from his body at my back.He rested his hand on my back at my waist, stroking my sensitive skin.One heavy thigh slid between mine.I figured it was Byte’s, but exhaustion made it impossible to know for sure.Or even care about it, really.It should have felt crowded, overwhelming, but instead, it was perfect, puzzle pieces snapping together.
“Comfortable?”Crush murmured against my ear, his breath warm on my neck.
I nodded, too content for words.The combined heat from their bodies soon seeped into my tired muscles and I lay nestled securely between them.
“Go to sleep, honey,” Crush murmured, pressing a kiss to the back of my neck.“We’ll be here when you wake up.”
“Promise?”I asked, already feeling myself drifting toward sleep, my body exhausted from our activities and the emotional revelations of the day.
“Promise,” both men answered in unison, their voices blending into a harmony that followed me down into dreams.
As consciousness slipped away, a profound sense of peace settled over me.For the first time in my life, I’d found my reason to stay.Two reasons.And as unconventional as it might be, this was where I belonged.
Chapter Eleven
River
I woke to warmth surrounding me, nestled against something solid and comforting.Opening my eyes, I found myself curled against Crush’s chest, his arm draped possessively around me.The steady rhythm of his breathing told me he was still asleep, yet he held me tightly as if afraid I’d slip away from him.Memories of last night flooded back.The storm, our confessions, Byte’s mouth on me, Crush exploring every inch of my body with his hands and mouth.
Heat rushed to my cheeks even as a smile tugged at my lips.Looking back, I wasn’t even certain how the stupid storm factored into the whole situation, but if I was in this position with these two incredible men because the Pacific decided to throw the coast a dick punch, I’d never complain.In fact, I could smell how clean the air was after all the wind and rain.Literally and figuratively a brand-new day.A fresh start.
Maybe my feelings made me a fool, but waking up this morning in Crush’s arms after the explosive night before, after sleeping with both men in an intimate embrace, everything combined to give me hope for a future I’d never even dreamt could have been possible for someone like me.A nomad.Damaged and unable to form personal attachments for as many intentional reasons as unintentional.I protected myself with solitude.If I didn’t care about anyone, my heart couldn’t be hurt.
Crush’s arm tightened around my midsection when I shifted.The grip was secure, proprietary even, but so gentle compared to the overwhelming force he could wield.His hand splayed across my bare stomach just below my ribs, fingers hooked loosely so I could have wiggled away if I wanted.I didn’t want to.If anything, I wanted to burrow deeper against him, let him hide me from the rest of the world for as long as possible.With Byte here with us.
Yep.I was likely going to hell.But I was taking these men and this opportunity with both hands and defending it to the death.Or until they decided they no longer wanted me with them.I’d deal with the fallout when it happened, but I wasn’t missing out on these feelings and sensations because I was afraid.I was many things, but I wasn’t a coward.
I reached for Byte, but was met only by cool sheets.Byte must have been up for some time.
I could hear faint noises from downstairs -- cabinet doors opening, the soft clatter of a pan being set on the stovetop, a low hum of what I realized was Byte singing quietly to himself.The song was unrecognizable, but the sound made my chest go warm and fluttery.I wasn’t used to people being near when I woke up, and the idea of someone making me breakfast instead of grabbing a protein bar on my way out the door made me a little dizzy with happiness.
Sunlight streamed in through the windows above the loft, golden and filtered through a lingering haze of moisture left by the storm.In its glow, the tangle of messy sheets and the man next to me took on a storybook quality.My arms and legs felt heavy, sore in the best way.For once, I didn’t mind the lingering ache.
Crush’s breathing shifted.I could sense him waking up and turned slightly so I was on my back so I could see him.His fingers flexed against my belly, the scrape of his chin rough against my neck as he nuzzled the sensitive skin just below my jaw.He made a noise low in his chest, not quite a word.I rolled onto my back, pushing my hair out of my eyes, and found him blinking at me with a soft, lazy smile that didn’t fit the man’s usual hard-ass exterior at all.
“Good morning,” I whispered, afraid to break the spell.
His eyes, still heavy with sleep, slid over my face and down to my bare shoulders.The corner of his mouth ticked up.“Mornin’, baby.”God, his voice husky from sleep was the sexiest thing I’d ever heard.He said the words like I belonged to him.It should have terrified me, but it sent a pleasant, tingly ripple of happiness through my insides.
“You gonna let me go?”I teased him, trying to wiggle away just to see if he’d let me go.
“Never,” he rumbled.But he loosened his grip and propped himself on one elbow, surveying me like he’d just found a hundred-dollar bill in a parking lot and couldn’t believe his luck.
We stared at each other for a long moment, the kind that would have felt awkward with anyone else.With Crush, it felt content.We didn’t need to fill the silence or fall on each other and fuck like rabbits.We simply enjoyed the few moments alone together.
Finally, he reached over and trailed the back of his knuckles down my cheek.His hands were large and sure, but he touched me like I was the finest spun glass.“How you feelin’?”
I stretched, feeling every sweet, lingering ache in my body.“Sore and exhausted.In the best way.”I knew my smile was wide and excited.“After the most wonderful night.I don’t want to miss a second of whatever happens today.”
He stroked my cheek before leaning in to kiss me gently.God, I loved kissing!I never had before but with these two men the sensations were overwhelmingly delightful.“Not a chance, baby.You won’t miss a second because we won’t let you.We don’t want to miss a thing either.”
“We should probably go down and see what your brother’s cooking up,” I said, though I made no move to actually get out of bed.“It smells amazing.”
Crush ran his hand down my side, fingers tracing the curve of my hip.“He’s showing off for you.Byte’s scrambled eggs are legendary, but he usually can’t be bothered to cook them for anyone but himself.”
I giggled softly.“Good to know I rate high enough for Byte’s legendary eggs.”
