Page 105 of Remnants
“No.” Heated breath warms the top of my head as Jackson replies behind me.
My eyelids are heavy when I try to drag them open. I could probably sleep for several more hours, but the insistent need to pee is what forces me up. A golden brown and tattooed chest greets me when I finally manage to open my eyes. It shifts forward and back, the bed creaking beneath Kellan’s weight as he tries to get comfortable with a frustrated growl.
His body is curved along the edge of the bed to fit lengthwise, one arm curled under his head and his other hand covering my bare thigh. Jackson is wrapped around me from behind, one leg tucked between mine and his arms holding me against his chest. I’m in only my bra and underwear.
“You woke her,” Jack remarks softly. To anyone else, it mightsound like a simple observation, but to me, I can feel the dark accusation in the coolness of his tone.
Kellan looks down, his roguish grin splitting his face when he sees me looking back. “Well, hello, beautiful,” he drawls, blue-green eyes sparkling with mirth. His hand squeezes my thigh before his thumb lazily circles my skin, stirring heat at my core. “Sleep well?”
“Mm...” I hum, and I’m held so tightly to Jack that the vibrations in my chest echo in his. I turn my head as much as I can to see him, angling my body until I find he’s just as undressed as Kellan is, wearing only boxer briefs. It’s so rare to see him without clothes, to see the tattoos that are always hidden on his chest and arms.
I flick my eyes up to his, and my heart misses a beat.
Fuck, what did I miss?
I scramble to remember what happened before I fell asleep. What happened last that could have stirred his darkness, roused his anger to such a degree?
I remember going to rescue Tinsley. And then…and then…
Caves. Zombies.
Royce.
Whipping back to Kellan, I reach for his face as I recall what I’d done to it. All the pain I’d inflicted on him. “I’m so sorry.”
He grabs my hand and kisses the palm. “You have nothing to be sorry for. It wasn’t you.” His gaze jumps over me to Jack. “Nothing you did under that dickhead’s control is your fault.” There’s a long pause, like there’s a silent battle of wills happening above me, before Kell continues. “I, on the other hand, can’t claim that when I bashed Jack’s head into the cliff.”
A huff of air hits my hair. “I would’ve done the same.”
Kell’s grin sharpens. “I knew you wouldn’t mind. Though I’m glad I didn’t accidentally kill you. It was close.”
Wait.
“What?!” I demand, yanking my hand from his to beat his chest. “What do you mean, it was close? Why would it ever beclose?!”
Kellan has the humility to look embarrassed as he strokes his hand over his mouth and beard. “I almost lost it for a second. Thankfully, I caught myself in time when I remembered who I was attacking.”
I jab him with a stiff finger in the kidney, then cringe when it hits nothing but pure muscle. “If I ever hear any of you gettingcloseto killing one of us again, accident or not, I’ll rip off your balls,” I snarl at him, and the motherfucker laughs.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
A knock rattles the door. “You guys up?” Dane calls behind it. “Food’s almost ready. Come eat.”
That simple reminder is all it takes for my body to reinforce everything it needs right now. Pee. Shower. Food.
As wonderful as it is being sandwiched between these two, and how much I’d like to start something else, those three necessities are calling my name more. I wiggle in Jackson’s grip, and he easily frees me to slip from his arms and crawl off the side of the bed.
Kellan stands and stretches, groaning loud enough I’m sure the entire Loft can hear him. “Well, guess I’ll go shower and then see what he cooked up.” He rubs his hand over his stomach as he leaves the room.
I check in with Jack, whose eyes are latched on to mine as he sitsupright. His sapphire stare drags down my body, setting my skin on fire beneath that look, even though I’m sure he’s merely confirming I’m fully healed. I turn my back to him when he reaches my feet, still watching him over my shoulder as his gaze traces up my back, catching on the spot where he’d buried one of his knives.
I rub the spot to break his stare. “It’s all healed, Jack. I promise.” I move in front of him and capture his face in my hands. “It wasn’t you. And I’m okay.”
His hand hooks my nape, crushing our lips together in a torrent of need that I can feel all the way to my toes. His kiss is all-consuming. Deep. Demanding. And suddenly, I’m flipped back on the bed, Jackson’s body covering mine as he pushes for more. Takes more. His hips pin me to the bed, the hardening length of his dick unmistakable. I wrap my legs around him automatically, my core grinding against him as I succumb to his unexpected avarice. To the obsession I can taste on his tongue, feel in the strength of his grip.
I want to give him everything and more. Remind him that I’m still here. Let him use my body until there’s no doubt left in his mind that I’m here with him.
That’s what I really, really want.
