Page 17 of Rules Of Our Own

“Right!” Piper joins in. “Like, I’m going to need a fan over here. That was hot.”

I glance over to where Alex and River now stand, and I can feel my cheeks warm. Sidney squeezes my arm. “Relax, see where things go.”

Relax…ha. Does she even know me? I haven’t relaxed in years. “I’ll try.”

She grins. “You better.”

We spend the next several hours soaking up the sun before shifting to mingling around a few tables once the sun settles, taking the scorching heat with it. After a few more drinks that seem to magically appear, I’m feeling pleasantly buzzed and sway on my feet to the music.

I watch where Sidney stands tucked into Jax’s side, and Piper leans her head back against Lucas’s chest as they chat in a group. I’m so happy for them, but a teensy part of me feels empty that I don’t have that same easiness in my life. They’re all so sure of each other. Like it’s fate that they met.

Goosebumps freckle my skin when the breeze picks up, and I rub my palms over my arms. Large hands cover mine before wrapping around me, and a chin settles on the top of my head. Alex’s chest rumbles against my back. “You look cold.”

If I was cold a second ago, I’m not now. I should pull away, but I let the steady buzz from the alcohol mix with his calming scent and rest my weight into him. A quiet voice at the back of my head tells me I wouldn’t be doing this if I were sober, but the tipsy part of me doesn’t care.

I’ve missed the way Alex’s arms feel around me, and for once, I don’t question it.

Jax walks up to us. “So, did you confirm your cat sitter’s still alive?” He smirks. “Do we need to start calling hospitals to find the missing body?”

“I called. She’s fine. He’s not going to bite the hand that feeds him.”

“Somehow, I seriously doubt that,” Jax responds.

Jax and Alex carry on a conversation that I can’t even begin to process as Alex’s heat soaks into my spine. He’s treating this like it’s absolutely normal to hold me instead of the complete opposite. I don’t bother fighting it. Instead, I take another drink.

I’ll worry tomorrow.

My gaze travels, looking for River, only to find him already looking at me from where he’s speaking with Lucas and Piper. Even from fifteen feet away, I can see his eyes are hooded, and the muscle in his jaw clenches. He doesn’t look away, and the weight of it has me leaning harder into Alex. His arms tighten around my stomach, and he dips his head into the crook of my neck, sending shivers through me. He chuckles low, the sensation vibrating against my back. “You like him watching you, don’t you, Kitten?”

I bite my lip, relaxing further into him.

“I’m going to go find Sid.” Jax’s low voice cuts in, and my gaze flies up to where he is smirking at us.

If I wasn’t so buzzed, I’d definitely be embarrassed.

“You do that,” Alex replies playfully, not bothering to deny the tension happening.

Jax has barely left before River moves. His steps are slow and calculated as he practically stalks this way.

“Relax.” Alex nuzzles my neck, speaking directly into my ear. His hands splay until they cover me from ribs to waist, and the feel of his rough calluses against my bare skin has heat flooding my core. His grip tightens, pulling a low moan from my lips, and he stiffens behind me before pulling me back against him so I can feel his hard cock against my ass.

By the time River joins us, my thoughts are barely coherent. I tilt my head back as he looms in front of us, so close his chest grazes my arms I’d subconsciously wrapped around Alex’s. A voice screams in the back of my head that this is exactly what tore us apart the last time. But even in my tipsy state, I can tell something’s changed. Neither guy seems to mind the other’s presence.

Oh my God. Are they on the same page?

Dark eyes meet mine, sucking me under, and I reach out, wrapping my hand around River’s neck, no longer in control of my body.

“Mia, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to strip off that pretty little bikini and take you right fucking here.” River sounds serious, and suddenly, I don’t care about anything besides having him inside me.

Both of them.

“Promise?” Any attempt to be seductive is ruined by my hiccup.

River searches my eyes, which are already going fuzzy as the full force of the alcohol I’ve consumed hits me. He cups my cheek in one hand, lifting my jaw upward as he drops his mouth so close it grazes mine. “Ask us again tomorrow, and we’re yours.”

CHAPTER9

MIA

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