Rule
Was this how Jinx felt when he watched me fuck Laikyn on the couch? Had he felt the same gut-wrenching pain that tore through my insides as I watched them sleeping?
As I stood in the doorway of Laikyn’s room, watching her and Jinx curled up together like lovers seeking comfort in their dreams, there was a churning in my gut. Every so often, it twisted, a dull-edged blade slicing but never enough to open me completely, only enough to cause more pain.
It was evident by their state of undress that they’d succumbed to exhaustion after taking their pleasure in one another. How or when this had come to be was anyone’s guess. Last night, after their make-out session on the couch, Laikyn had disappeared to her room without a word to me. Jinx hadn’t stuck around much longer after that, leaving me to wonder what had caused all the suffocating silence.
Now I had only more questions. Had this been their plan? Had they been looking for privacy?
Shockingly, that wasn’t the part that bothered me. Not really. I was the one who brought Jinx into this … marriage? Relationship? I wasn’t sure what to call it. It was supposed to be a temporary ruse to keep Laikyn occupied and safe until she could get her inheritance. Never mind that I hadn’t told her about it or that I’d been lying to her this entire time, letting her believe she owed me a debt. Truth is, she owed me nothing.
But maybe she should. If I treated her like a piece of property, perhaps she would stop burrowing under my skin. From the looks of it, it was already too late for Jinx. He appeared rather cozy curled up to her like that. Only once in all the years I’d known Jinx had we ended up in a similar situation. Not the first time we fucked, nor the twentieth. It hadn’t been until years later. After a heated night when we’d slaked our lust, finding solace in one another, I’d given myself free rein to imagine a life with him. It wasn’t intentional, but it had happened all the same. For ten minutes, I’d remained beside him, my arms around him as we fought to catch our breaths. Neither of us had moved, and for six hundred seconds, I’d felt more complete than I ever had before.
I was the one who put an end to it, getting out of bed and heading for the shower, refusing to let myself feel anything for anyone. Deep down, I knew it was a facade because I cared about Jinx. I’d cared about him before I went to prison and more so when I found him waiting for me the day I was released. I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without him.
As I watched them now, I was aware of that vicious ripping as that dull-edged blade sawed at me from the inside. It was jealousy trying to root its way through my guts. I was fucking jealous. Of him? Of her? Both? I didn’t know, and I didn’t fucking like it.
A soft whimper sounded, and I looked down to see Waldo staring up at me. It was time for his breakfast, and he wanted to ensure I knew that.
I nodded as I stepped back, intending to leave Jinx and Laikyn in peace.
My gaze swung over them one final time, and that was when I noticed Jinx was watching me. His eyes were open, but he hadn’t moved a muscle since I found them like this. How long had he been watching me? How much had he seen? Like it or not, Jinx knew me better than anyone. He could read me like a book, which was the very reason I kept him at arm’s length. It was easier that way. For everyone.
Without a word, I turned and headed for the kitchen.
An hour and a half later, after feeding Waldo, showering, and driving to work, I walked across the main floor toward my office. My footfalls were loud, gaining the attention of Rhyan, Willy, and Red Wally. They fell into step, eager to give me the morning update as they did every morning when I arrived.
“Where’s Jinx?” Rhyan asked, looking around as though I had the guy tucked in my fucking pocket.
“Give me updates,” I told her. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, and I didn’t give a shit where Jinx was at the moment.
“Well,” Rhyan drawled the word into far too many syllables. “We’ve got a new client.”
“Who?”
“Astrid Levington,” Rhyan stated.
She said the name as though I should know who that was. “Which means what to me?”
“The movie studio exec? She was in the news last year?”
Red Wally lifted a hand. “She’s the exec brought in to testify about that actor’s alleged sexual misconduct.”
Rhyan picked up the conversational ball. “She claimed she had no knowledge of any misconduct and had never had direct contact with him.”
I wasn’t sure why any of that mattered, but I indulged them anyway. “And now what?”
“She’s being blackmailed,” Willy offered, obviously feeling the need to confuse me more.
Of course she was. Because that was what happened when people lied. They set themselves up for extortion. If ever they learned not to lie, I would be out of a job.
“Who’s blackmailing her?”
“That’s what she wants us to find out.”
“What are they targeting her with?”
“Evidently, someone’s got photographs of them having coffee together a couple of years ago. Just two days after the first victim said he raped her.”
I hated these cases. I didn’t understand why people felt the need to lie about stupid shit. However, I’d been in this business long enough to know she hadn’t lied because she had coffee with the guy. No one would’ve given a shit. There was more to the story.
“Was the guy convicted?” I asked, glancing between them.
“No,” Rhyan said with a huff.
“Do you think he’s guilty?”
“Yeah.”
That made it even worse. Not so much for the woman being blackmailed. I didn’t give a shit about her. My job was to stop the blackmailer and to ensure nothing came to light. However, I didn’t take kindly to anyone taking from someone who didn’t give their explicit consent. I knew how the justice system worked, and too many times, it was in my favor. There was no justice for the victim, only a nice juicy cover-up for the guilty. Unfortunately, money and prestige trumped justice.
“There’s also a video,” Red Wally noted. “Of them … together … after they had coffee.”
I figured together was a euphemism for fucking. That made far more sense than a photograph of them chatting over a cup of joe. That was real leverage and clearly something this woman didn’t want to get out.
“Have you seen it?” I asked.
He shook his head.
“Rhyan? You think we should take this one?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“Why?”
“Easy money.”
I nodded. “Fine. But if you find any proof of that bastard doing what he was accused of doing, it better see the light of day.”
“It will,” she said firmly. “I assure you.”
“Good.” I glanced between them. “What else?”
“Nothing pressing on my end,” Willy said.
“I’m good,” Red Wally added.
I looked at Rhyan. I could tell she wanted to ask me what my problem was, but she knew better than to do so in present company. I wasn’t in the mood to hash out my feelings or any of that other emotional bullshit she claimed I needed to address directly.
She narrowed her eyes and hesitantly asked, “Is Jinx coming in today?”
“Don’t know. Ask him.”
With that, I turned my attention to my computer. I had shit to do, and it didn’t involve worrying about what Jinx or Laikyn were doing, but if I didn’t get busy, that was the only thing I would be thinking about.
* * *
Jinx
The moment Rule walked through the door, I knew he was in one of his moods.
I’d spent the better part of the day giving him space because if I confronted him about what he saw this morning, he would shrug and tell me he didn’t give a shit. He did. I knew it. He knew it. So, it was better for me to let him stew in his confusion for a little while.
As for Laikyn, she had surprised me this morning when she woke up and curled up against me. Part of me had expected her to come awake with regrets about last night. After all, she was married to Rule, and while this wasn’t a traditional situation we found ourselves in, what we’d done hadn’t exactly been something either of us should be proud of. Not where Rule was concerned, anyway.
Not that I regretted a second. I didn’t. I wouldn’t. Hell, I couldn’t because making love to Laikyn had been the most incredible moment of my entire existence. And that included the first time I was with Rule when I thought life couldn’t get any better than that. With Rule, sex was incredible. It was wild and unencumbered by emotional weight because we both put forth the effort to leave all feelings at the door. It wasn’t merely sex for me, but I pretended for his sake. I didn’t think it was for Rule, either, but he would never admit it.
“Where’s Laikyn?” Rule patted Waldo on the head when he greeted Rule at the back door.
I turned my attention from the television and nodded toward the small building that was now Laikyn’s art studio.
Rule stared into the night briefly before his gaze swung back to me. “Did you enjoy yourself last night?”
I held his stare for two heartbeats, letting him see my sincerity so he wouldn’t think I was being an asshole as I slowly nodded. I’d never enjoyed anything more, but I couldn’t relay that to him. Not without typing up a text message. And since Rule had ignored all the other text messages I’d sent him today, I wasn’t in the mood to waste any effort now.
“It was bound to happen sooner or later,” Rule said, his tone flat, devoid of emotion.
He turned on his heel and went back inside.
Before I realized what I was doing, I was on my feet, following behind him. Before he could get past the kitchen, I grabbed his arm and jerked, spinning him around. I grabbed his jaw and forced him to look at me, wanting to see the turbulence in his gaze. It was there, but it wasn’t the same as I was used to. This was real. Rule was hurting.
“Take care of her, Jinx,” he said softly, grabbing my wrist to pull my hand from his jaw. “She deserves you.”
Rule dropped my hand, but I didn’t let him walk away. I grabbed him again, this time shoving him up against the wall that separated the kitchen from the living room and acted as a support for the ceiling. Rule grunted, the torment in his gaze morphing into fury in a blink. Before he could launch into a tirade, I crushed my mouth to his, gripping the back of his neck so he couldn’t pull away.
His hands were on my hips, but he didn’t shove me. He pulled, bringing me closer as our tongues thrashed and our teeth clashed.
“I don’t want this,” Rule said between attempts to devour me. “I’ve never wanted this.”
I knew he was attempting to talk himself through the problem at hand. Which, if I had to guess, were his feelings for me and Laikyn. I couldn’t explain how it happened, but Laikyn’s presence had changed everything. There was something about her that simply clicked. For me. For Rule. She brought sunshine, burning off the dark clouds that we lived under. She was sassy and funny and not at all afraid to say what was on her mind. It worked for me in ways beauty alone could never do. Yeah, she was smoking hot, but couple that with her witty personality and she was utter perfection. I knew Rule saw it, too.
“I’m jealous,” Rule said, his teeth gritted as he grabbed me by the neck and stared at me. “Of you. Of her.”
Because I couldn’t fill in the blanks with questions or assumptions, Rule had always been the one to talk. He was very vocal when it was just me and him, and though he rarely delved into an emotional landfill like he was now, I’d always figured it was only a matter of time. He didn’t like to keep me guessing.
“Do I fit into this?” His voice was so low I only heard it because of our proximity.
I looked him in the eye and nodded.
“How?”
I kissed him, ensuring he understood I wanted him as much as I wanted Laikyn. Yes, I could imagine my life with one or the other because I was captivated by them both. But the two of them … at the same time … I couldn’t imagine a more perfect existence. And why the hell not? Why couldn’t we venture down that road? Laikyn and Rule complemented one another in so many ways. He was reason to her chaos. She was confidence to his reticence, energy to his restraint. Together, they were unstoppable. Together, they completed me.
Rule’s bewilderment gave way to need. He took control, owning me with his kiss. I found myself backed up to the kitchen island, the weight of him holding me there as his tongue plundered my mouth. I kissed him back, but I surrendered, letting him know that nothing had changed. We were still us. We always would be.
Finally, some of the tension in his body eased, and he released me, stepping back to look me in the eyes. I remained there for a moment until I was satisfied I’d relayed my intentions as best I could. He gave a quick nod, then turned and left the room. I expected to hear the garage door slam, but I heard footsteps on the stairs instead. He wasn’t leaving, he was going to his bedroom.
I returned to the couch on the patio, but I was no longer watching television. My thoughts had ventured down a dark and winding path. One that included the three of us. Together. In all ways that mattered.
* * *
Laikyn
With satisfaction emanating from every pore, I stepped back and studied the painting. I wasn’t sure I’d ever been more proud of something I’d created as I was this sunset. It spoke to me. Perhaps not because of the vivid colors of the sky, the shadows that darkened the depths of the water, or the white cresting the tips of the waves. Those brought it life and gave warmth to the image, but it was more than that.
It reminded me of Rule and the moment that led up to where we were now.
Of course, I wasn’t exactly sure where that was. My attempts to talk to him today had gone unanswered. Since that wasn’t unusual, I’d pretended not to worry. I refused to regret what happened with Jinx last night, but I would be the first to admit I hadn’t thought about Rule one single time. Not until this morning when I woke up, still in Jinx’s arms, wishing that Rule had been there, too. Not in Jinx’s place, but there with us.
It was crazy. I knew that. To think that I even deserved men like Rule or Jinx was absurd. And to fantasize that somehow this could turn into more with both of them … I was obviously losing my mind. It was one thing to have sex with them, to be shared between them, because sex had nothing to do with love. Yet, over the past month, I’d gotten quite comfortable with both of them.
Sighing, I pulled my smock off and draped it on the hook by the door. I took a few minutes to put away my paints and clean my brushes. I was stalling. I wasn’t sure whether Rule was home yet, but I hoped the longer I took, the more time he had to get here. I needed to talk to him about last night, to let him know that something had changed between me and Jinx. At least for me. I didn’t want Rule to see it on my face because I doubted I was capable of hiding it. Never had I experienced anything like that before. It had changed me, and there was no reason to pretend otherwise.
As I stood at the door, I glanced around the room, cataloging everything to ensure it was where it belonged. More stalling. And when I clicked off the light, I took a deep breath and opened the door. I pressed the button lock on the inside knob and double-checked that I had the key in my pocket before pulling the door closed.
I could do this. I could talk to Rule without trying to seduce him. Without trying to use sex to make a complicated situation … not complicated. And perhaps, between now and then, I could come up with the right words to tell Rule that I was in love with them both, although I’d promised it would never happen. Words that wouldn’t have him running for the hills or throwing an I told you so in my face.
Before I made it out of the small alcove that hid the door from the outdoor entertainment area, I heard voices. The only lights came from the house, spilling out over the outdoor living space. I stopped instantly, gripping the wall as my brain processed the scene before me. There weren’t multiple voices. Only one. One very dominant, very gravelly voice that trickled into the night, carried on a wave of lust.
Rule’s voice.
I sucked in a gasp when I realized I was watching Rule fucking Jinx.
Every inch of my skin flashed hot, and my core clenched tightly. Arousal flooded my system and caused my blood to rush loudly in my ears.
Jinx was standing on one foot, the other resting on the cushion, his hands curled over the back of the sofa as he leaned forward. Rule stood behind him, a hard grip on his waist as he railed him with punishing thrusts of his hips. I knew I should step back into the alcove, close my eyes, and block it out, but I couldn’t look away.
I heard the guttural growl of Rule’s voice, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I imagined a dozen dirty things coming out of his mouth, each one filthier than the one before.
No one can give you this. No one but me.
Is this what you want? My cock buried deep in your ass?
Take me, Jinx. Take every fucking inch.
My nipples were so tight they hurt, and my pussy clenched and released as though that might relieve the ache that built as I watched Rule fuck Jinx. But when Rule curled his hand around Jinx’s throat and pulled his head back as he rammed in harder and faster, I nearly came from the visual alone. Rule grunted and groaned, the sounds growing louder, drifting off into the night. Jinx grabbed his cock and began jerking roughly as Rule leaned in, his mouth close to Jinx’s ear.
Oh, how I wished I was close enough to hear what Rule was saying. What dirty words were causing Jinx’s body to draw up tight? Whatever he said, it triggered Jinx’s release because he came, his cock in his fist. A second later, Rule slammed into him one final time and roared his release to the heavens.
I did step back then, hiding in the alcove as I hugged the wall and hoped they hadn’t realized I’d been there. As hot as it was to witness, I had no business watching them. Not without their permission, anyway.
As I wrangled my breathing under control, I smiled, hoping that the next time, I would have their permission. Not only to watch but to participate.