Chapter 15

Elijah

I’ve been awake for about an hour now, not daring to move. Delaney is sleeping next to me, her head on my chest, arm wrapped around my stomach, and her leg is dangerously close to the hard-on I’m sporting.

When I woke up, I found her clinging to me in her sleep. She looked so peaceful, so I didn’t want to move her, and I enjoy having her this close, touching me like this.

I’ve been going out of my mind with want for this girl, driving myself crazy with the need to be around her, just to catch a glimpse of her smile or a whiff of her scent.

Winter loves to tease me about how far gone I am for Delaney.

It’s not funny, though, I’m honestly getting a little concerned about it. She’s all I think about throughout the day. The only time I’m not thinking about her is in class. I’m glad she’s not in any of mine, or I’d fail. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on anything but her.

Maybe this is becoming a little unhealthy, but the fact is, she’s the only thing keeping me from drifting back into that little dark corner of my mind.

I don’t want to go back there, not when I’ve seen brightness and lived better.

My work and school schedule clashes with hers, so I haven’t had much time to spend with her.

That’s why when Logan mentioned she was coming with him to his first game of the season, an away game, I jumped on the chance to come too.

It’s not that I don’t like football, it’s just not my preferred sport. I’m baseball all the way. My brothers are the same; they don’t mind other sports but would rather watch the ones they play.

Sleeping in the same bed as her is sweet torture. Would it be weird of me to admit I may have stayed up a little while last night watching her sleep?

She passed out towards the end of the movie we were watching, curled up onto her side, her hands tucked under her pillow. She looked like a damn angel.

After Logan got up to feed and change Benny, he went to bed, leaving me to lay there and watch her.

I’m not sure when I managed to drift off to sleep, but my dreams were filled with her, as they always are.

“How bad do you have to pee?” Logan’s whispered voice has me jolting.

My head snaps over to find him watching me with an amused look.

“Really fucking bad,” I sigh.

“Not going to move, are you?” he chuckles.

“Nope.”

“I don’t blame you.” His eyes drift down to Laney, face going soft.

For someone who’s been so hell-bent on us staying just friends and putting anything romantic behind us, he sure does look at her like a man hopelessly in love.

Can’t blame him, I’m not any better.

They’ve gotten closer over the last week, and I’m jealous. I know I shouldn’t be because she’s exactly what Logan needs. She’s amazing with Benny, so sweet, kind, and loving. She’s helping my brother out when Owen and I can’t. And with Dad and Melissa busy preparing for their honeymoon before they left yesterday, Laney has been a lifesaver for Logan.

I know he’s so grateful for her. He hates asking for help, and I wish he didn’t. We love him and Benny, we want to help, to be there for him, and make his life a little bit easier.

No one asks for a baby mama from hell.

When he told me that Stacy lost her shit on Laney for no reason, I was pissed. I hate that woman. The way she treated Winter growing up was cruel. And, of course, not much could be done because no one wanted to get on her bad side, not when her dad is even more unstable than she is.

He feels like it’s his fault. I assured him it’s not because Stacy is the one to blame. She’s unstable, and I think that judge should be fired for letting her have any sort of custody.

Knowing she’s here makes me happy that I came. I’d never put my hands on a woman, but I’m sure as hell going to make sure she doesn’t put her hands on Laney again.

“How do we do it?” I ask him, his eyes flicking back up to mine.

“Do what?”

“Move on? Get over her? Because I don’t know if that’s going to be possible, at least not anytime soon.” If ever. “Not while we’re all living in the same house. I want her, Logan... so damn bad it hurts.”

His eyes drift back down to her. “So do I,” he whispers so low I almost miss it.

“Owen hasn’t given up; he’s just waiting, thinking someday soon she’s going to choose us.” I want her to. Weird as it might be, I don’t care if I have to share with my brothers. I’d rather share her than not have her at all.

“And what, we all play house? Fuck the same girl, build a life with her.” He shakes his head, moving to lay down on his back while looking up at the ceiling. “That's not reality, Eli. That's not how it works.”

On the other hand, for Logan, sharing is going to be something he’s going to need to work on.

No, he won’t because there’s nothing to share. Laney is of- limits.

Just because we haven’t moved on doesn’t mean she hasn’t.

I saw her neck and the hickeys left there. She was with someone only a week ago.

I’ve been driving myself mad , wondering who she was with. Was he better than me? Did she enjoy herself more? Is she over us? Is this guy going to become her new boyfriend?

Let’s just say I’ve been making myself sick over it.

“Dadadadada,” Benny starts to mumble from the crib. Logan sits up and smiles over at his son.

“Hey, little man. Good morning.” He gets up and goes over to Benny.

Laney stirs in my arms, groaning as she snuggles in deeper. My breath hitches, and my cock twitches as she practically grinds her core against my leg.

I watch as she slowly wakes up, blinking her sleepy eyes open. She looks a little disoriented, brows furrowing. Looking down, she tenses before her eyes flick up to mine, lips parting in shock.

“I’m so sorry.” I feel a wave of disappointment hit me as she detaches herself from me.

“Don’t be. You looked like you were having a good sleep, and I didn’t want to wake you.” I smile, moving to sit up while trying to ignore the fact that my cock is hard and my bladder is screaming at me.

“Thanks.” She smiles.

She’s sitting there in my shirt and boxers, hair rumpled from sleep, eyes still a little glossy.

Fucking hell, she looks gorgeous.

“I gotta pee,” I blurt, jumping from the bed and awkwardly trying to hide my erection as I take off towards the bathroom. Locking the door behind me, I head over and pause. Yeah, there's no way I’m going to be able to piss with this thing. Not unless I want it to spray all over the damn room.

“Fuck it,” I mutter, pulling my clothes off and getting into the shower. Yeah, I’m about to piss in the shower, don’t judge me.

Turning the water on, I get it nice and hot before stepping under the spray. I do my thing and let it wash down the drain.

Giving myself time to get rid of this damn hardon, I wash my hair and body. By the time I’m done, the damn thing is still there.

“Fucking hell,” I mutter, wrapping my hand around the base of my cock. There’s only one way to get rid of this thing. The same way I’ve been doing it every morning for over a month now.

I’m not used to this, always being so sexually charged.

Growing up, I thought I was broken because no man or woman made me feel anything... until him. Before Delaney, I’ve only been sexually attracted to one other person. I thought I might be gay. Until I met Delaney.

My head has been a mess for a long time now, and Prozac can’t fix this.

Maybe I’m Bi? Maybe I’m demisexual. I don’t know, and I don’t like not knowing. I hate feeling so lost, so confused.

I also fucking hate that the only two people I’ve ever felt anything for are people I can’t fucking have!

Closing my eyes, I put my arm against the shower wall and place my forehead against it.

My body tenses as I grip myself harder, stroking myself from root to tip. Biting my lip, Delaney pops into my mind. I imagine myself inside her again, her sweet moans as I thrust deep, her pussy clamped around my cock as I bring her pleasure. My lips wrapped around her peaked nipples, sucking them as I fuck into her.

My hand moves faster, my balls tingling, letting me know it isn’t going to take long before I’m cumming.

Chest heaving, I suck in a deep breath.

“Fuck, Laney,” I moan as I work myself harder, practically choking my cock.

In my mind, she’s close, her core quivering around my length. Then she’s cumming, squeezing, milking my dick, and demanding my cum.

Biting my arm, I let out a wounded sound as I cum hard, my body locking up. Thick long ropes of cum shoot out and spray the shower wall.

When I’m done, I stand there under the hot water, panting, as my body hums. It’s not enough, though; it’s never enough.

But it’s going to have to be because the idea of finding another woman to take care of these needs makes me want to puke, and my balls draw up into my body.

After I clean up the shower, I get out and dry off. Then I realize I didn’t bring a change of clothes with me because I didn’t think I was going to do what I just did.

Sighing, I wrap the towel around my waist and head out.

“Finally,” Laney groans. “I was about to find Justin’s room and demand to use his—” Her words cut off, eyes blinking as she stares at me. More like where the towel is hung low on my hips. Her eyes fill with heat. Dammit.

Well, I guess my new morning routine didn’t take care of my situation for very long. Clearing my throat, I move into the room and over to my bag.

“Sorry about that,” I tell her, my back to her. “I should have asked if anyone needed the bathroom before showering.”

“It’s okay,” she says slowly. “All good.” I hear the bathroom door shut a second later. Logan laughs.

“Dude, do not tell me you were in there doing what I think you were doing.”

“Fuck you.” I shoot him a glare.

Benny giggles, clapping his hands together as Logan shakes his head. “Uncle Eli is a naughty boy,” Logan coos in a baby voice.

“Don’t act like you don’t jack off to the thought of her. Winter told me what Laney told her.”

He shoots me a glare. “Fuck off.”

I grin. “Thought so.”

“One more night,” he sighs.

Yeah, sadly. One more night, and then I’m back to hardly seeing her and sleeping down the hall when all I want to do is have her in my bed, wrapped up in my arms.

Why is this my life? What did I do to deserve this? To have everything I want just out of reach.

It fucking sucks, I hate it, and I want it to change.

But for now, I’ll take what I can get.

Delaney

I should have known I’d end up cuddling with one of them. I mean, I was sleeping smack-dab in the middle of them both.

Needing some time alone, I sit on the toilet seat with my head in my hands.

It’s still hot in here, and the steam is keeping the room warm. Seeing Elijah with a towel wrapped around his hips, toned tattooed body on display, while a nice way to start the day, does nothing to help with the dirty thoughts playing in my mind.

Get a hold of yourself, Laney. They’re just guys.

Guys who have been inside you.

Stepbrothers, Laney, stepbrothers.

“Fuck.” I stand up and leave.

Thankfully, he’s dressed by the time I get out there. I, on the other hand, am not.

I can feel their eyes on me as I grab a change of clothes. When I’m done, it’s just Elijah and Benny.

“Where’s Logan?”

“He had to go meet the team. Something about a breakfast meeting and then ball stuff. He said he will see us after the game. So it looks like it’s me, you, and this little man.”

“Doesn’t sound like a bad day, does it?” I smile down at Benny, who’s strapped into his stroller. “Who’s hungry?”