Page 144 of Hymns of the Broken
Sawyer giggles, rolling toward me, eyes still half-lidded and hazy. “Play nice, boys.”
“Sure, Hellcat,” I say, kissing her forehead. “But I can’t promise not to remind him every day for the rest of his life.”
Jasper rolls his eyes, but I see the ghost of a smile there. He stands, stretching, then helps her up—gentle for once, all those rough edges softened. I find her shirt on the floor and pull it over her head, stealing one last look at the bite marks I left on her shoulder.
“Bedtime?” she murmurs, voice small, vulnerable.
Jasper settles onto the king-sized bed with Sawyer, tucking her under the covers, wrapping an arm around her waist, protective as always. For a second, I stand there in the doorway, suddenly unsure.
“Where are you going?” Sawyer asks, blinking at me, hair wild against the pillow.
I clear my throat, scratching the back of my neck. “Uh… my room? Didn’t want to intrude on the honeymoon or whatever.”
She glances at Jasper, aquestion in her eyes. “You’re not staying?”
Jasper snorts, like it’s the stupidest thing he’s ever heard. “Seriously? I thought you’d fight as hard to sleep next to her as you did to feel her cum. Get your ass in here, Riot.”
Heat rushes up my neck, but I can’t hide my grin. “Yeah, well, I don’t snore, but you better keep your hands to yourself, Reign.”
I climb in on Sawyer’s other side, and she nestles right between us—warm, soft, and finally at peace. Jasper’s hand settles next to mine over her hip. For once, there’s no fighting. Just the three of us, tangled up in the dark, where we all belong.
Chapter 23
SAWYER
I wake slowly, wrapped in warmth and the tangle of heavy limbs. For one hazy moment, I think maybe I dreamed it all—until I feel Jasper’s breath on my shoulder, his arm a steel band across my waist, and Riot’s legs entwined with mine.
Sunlight cuts through the curtains, making dust shimmer in the air. Riot’s blonde hair tickles my cheek; he’s sprawled on his stomach, face buried in the pillow, mumbling something about coffee. Jasper stirs behind me, his hand flexing possessively on my hip.
I smile, letting myself enjoy it for once.
Jasper nuzzles into my neck, voice still rough with sleep. “Are you alive?”
“Barely,” I croak, the ache between my thighs a delicious reminder of everything that happened. “You two nearly killed me.”
Riot snorts, finally surfacing, blue eyes glittering with mischief. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”
I elbow him, but it just makes him laugh. He stretches, muscles flexing, then glances at Jasper. “Hey, Reign, are you still traumatized about our dicks touching?”
Jasper grumbles, but there’s no bite. “Shut up, Riot.”
Riot grins, wicked. “Bet you’re never gonna look at me the same way.”
Jasper lifts his head, eyes narrowed, but I can see the softness in his gaze as he looks at me. “For her, I’ll survive.”
I roll myeyes, cuddling closer. “If you two are done measuring egos, I’d like breakfast.”
Riot perks up. “Pancakes?”
Jasper tightens his hold on me, making a show of pulling me against his chest. “Not until I get five more minutes with her. I earned it.”
I laugh, melting between them, feeling the kind of safe that tastes like hope. Riot sighs, feigning dramatic heartbreak as he buries his face in my hair. “Fine, I’ll just starve right here. Don’t mind me.”
I reach behind, grabbing his hand, holding both of theirs at my waist. “You’re both ridiculous.”
Jasper kisses the shell of my ear. “And you love it.”
And as the morning sun spills over the three of us, I realize I do.
