“Are you okay?” he asked in a hushed whisper.
A dull ache resided in my butt and thighs, but it would fade in time. I could have healed it with my energy, but I kind of liked the physical proof that Noel had been inside me. I relished the dull discomfort as I said, “I’m perfect.”
“We should get out of bed before Jai comes looking for us.”
I blushed. “He won’t. He knows… I don’t think he’ll interrupt.”
“Oh. You’re not good at blocking, huh?” He tugged playfully on my hair.
Shaking my head, I pecked the tip of his pale penis. “Whatever.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” he growled. “I don’t think I could get hard again even if I tried.”
I laughed into his groin, his soft, downy pubic hair tickling my nose. “Old man.”
“Fuck off,” he said with no real heat. “But I need to shower and get dressed. Jai and I are going to San Francisco. Remember?”
A sudden flash of jealousy speared through me, and Noel jolted beneath me like he’d felt it. “Sorry,” I muttered. “Um, yeah. Okay. I guess I forgot.”
“Are you—”
“No, it’s fine. I’m glad you two are doing something together.” I smiled up at him, but his eyes narrowed in disbelief.
“We can reschedule,” he offered, but I shook my head.
“No. Jai bought those tickets special for you. It’s okay.” Crawling up his body, I planted a kiss to his lips. “I promise. You and Jai, it’s okay. Better than okay.”
“I don’t know if it’s like that,” he dismissed. “It’s complicated.”
Sometimes, I was too insecure to see what was right in front of my nose. But I wasn’t the only one, apparently. Jai and Noel had been circling each other for centuries. Stupid men.
“You love each other. It can be that simple.” I brushed hair from his flushed cheek. “And it truly doesn’t bother me. I’m in love with three people. Do you really think I can’t understand that you love him too? That you have the capacity to love us both without compromising one of us?”
Noel’s blush deepened, the red creeping down his neck to paint his chest. “He’s my Other.”
“I’m not saying you guys have to, like, date or whatever. I’m just saying that you could, and it would be fine. You make each other happy, and I don’t want you to not be with Jai because you’re afraid of my reaction.” Running my fingers over his collarbones, I peeked up at him through my lashes. “I love you. I love Jai. And I know you both love me. As long as we can still”—I blushed red, refusing to look at him as I inspected the dip of his throat—“be together sometimes.”
Silence met my suggestive ultimatum, and I glanced up to ensure he wasn’t mad. Just the opposite. Noel was grinning dangerously. “Like last night? With all three of us?”
I wanted to melt into the bed, but I refused to look away from him. I didn’t have to be ashamed, not of this, not with them. So I nodded slowly. “Yeah. I mean, not always. It’s important to have time for just us two and time for just me and Jai. But sometimes, we could… you know.”
“Have a threesome?” he asked innocently, and my face baked from embarrassment.
“It was… nice,” I mumbled.
And Noel laughed. He pulled me down and kissed me. His lips whispered over mine as he said, “I promise that there’s nothing Jai and I enjoy more than having you stuck breathless and begging between us. But no matter what happens between me and my Other, you’re our priority. Okay?”
I nodded. “That’s… good.”
“But,” he said with a wicked smirk, “I’d be lying if I said I’m not looking forward to all the ways we can put your king-sized bed to good use.”
“I knew you bought me a big bed for a reason.” I poked his cheek as he cackled.
“Not all of our intentions were honorable, I’ll admit.” He nipped at my Adam’s apple, and I laughed. “I don’t know what’s going on between Jai and me. But whatever happens, you’re at the center of us.”
How had I gotten so lucky? I didn’t deserve them or their loyalty. But I was selfish.
“Cool.” I nuzzled his cheek, smiling as he sighed. “I’m gonna miss you today, though. I hate being away from you. Both of you.”
“It’s the bonds,” he said. “They will settle in time.”
“Yeah, I know. But I kind of don’t want them to. I always want to want you like this.” My hands pressed to his chest above his heart. It beat strong against my palm. The ribbon between us pulsed with warmth and calm and love, love, love.
“The bonds don’t make you want me. You want me, and the bond feeds off that and, to a certain extent, amplifies it.” His fingertips dragged over my shoulder and down my arm. “But even when the bonds settle, we’ll still want each other. I promise.”
“Even when I’m old and wrinkly?”
I screeched as Noel flipped me, rolling on top of me until he sat on my stomach. “You’re not going to get wrinkly. But if you ever did, I would still love you. I would still want you.” He leaned over me and kissed me. “Maybe we’ll have forever. Maybe we only have today. But however long I have you, I’m going to love you with everything I am.”
“Because you’re my Committed?” I said, tracing his jaw as his hair fell around us like a curtain.
“Yes,” he said, purple eyes shining. “And you’re mine.”
“Forever and always?” I whispered.
And he said, “Yes.”
Jai was waiting for us when Noel and I exited my bathroom after our shower. He sat on the messy bed in a pair of running shorts and nothing else. Noel hesitated, but I didn’t. I rushed him, throwing myself at him and upsetting his balance. He fell back on the bed, my mostly naked body smothering him.
“I missed you,” I said as I smooshed a kiss on his lips. He tasted salty. Like sweat. “Did you go for a run?”
“Well, both you and Noel are pretty shitty at blocking, so…”
Noel made a choking sound. “Hellfire, really?”
Jai chuckled and sat up, bringing me with him until I straddled his hips. The towel around my waist pooled on my thighs, no longer fastened. I didn’t bother fixing it, even when Noel sat down beside Jai, his towel tight on his hips.
“I didn’t realize we were… sorry.” Noel grimaced, but Jai waved him off.
“We had a threesome last night. I’m pretty sure we don’t have boundaries anymore.” Jai kissed my cheek as both Noel and I blushed. “Are you two… I mean, is everything okay?”
Noel and I exchanged a look, then we nodded. Noel said, “We had good sex, if that’s what you mean.”
And I squeaked like a mouse. “Oh my God, Noel!”
Jai rolled his eyes in exasperation. “That’s definitely not what I meant.”
With a tender smile, Noel leaned in a pecked Jai’s bearded cheek. “I know. And yeah, we’re good.”
“Good. Are you still up for San Fran?” He tucked a chunk of wet hair behind Noel’s ear. “It’s cool if you want to stay here with Riles. I get it.”