Chapter 7

Delaney

“Have you been avoiding me, Jellyfish?” Owen’s deep, husky, teasing words tickle along my neck. I gasp, jumping in surprise before I spin around, hand over my heart.

“Owen!” I whisper his name like it’s something forbidden. He gives me a cocky smirk, waiting for my answer. Licking my lips, I clear my throat and demand my beating heart to relax. “No.” I look away, but he grabs my chin lightly, bringing my attention back to him.

“Don’t lie to me, Laney,” he says more seriously.

“Maybe a little bit, okay?” I sigh in defeat. “Coming here, finding out who you three are, and knowing you're all in the same house isn’t easy.”

“Why hasn’t it been easy, Laney?”

“Never mind.” I shake my head, really not wanting to do this right now. “I need to go make sure my mom doesn’t need any help.”

We’re at the reception hall for the rehearsal, and then we’re all heading out to have supper. Just me, my mom, my soon-to-be new stepdad, and his sons. First time we’ve all been together in two weeks.

Is my mom going to be able to tell something is up? She knows me better than anyone. That woman has some kind of sixth sense about anything involving me. It’s partly why I try to avoid the guys when she’s around.

“No,” he says the word gruffly. “You don’t get to push this away and act like it never happened.”

My eyes snap back to his angry ones, lips parting as my breath comes out in quick, short pants. I’m so damn confused now, even more so when he pulls me into a room.

“What are you doing?” I ask as he closes the door, letting the darkness surround us.

“We’re not leaving this room until you can be an adult and admit your feelings,” he growls.

When the lights flick on, Owen is there, his face close to mine. I suck in a breath, heart crashing in my chest like thunder. “What do you want me to say, Owen?” I whisper as my voice shakes.

“The truth,” he says firmly. “You want us, I can tell. You look at us like we’re your dirty little secret and you want another round. My brothers made their feelings for you known. Logan wants you, but he won’t take you because his life isn’t set up to make it happen any time soon. Elijah adores you, but he won’t risk anything that could make trouble for Dad. But me? I have a tendency to take what I want. Only thing is, I won’t push. I won’t force you. You want me, Laney, I’m here. If you want me to walk away, let me know. Don’t tell me it’s wrong, don’t tell me you don’t feel anything for me. Just be honest.”

Closing my eyes, I take a shuddering breath, trying to think about how to answer him. “I don’t regret the time we had.” I open my eyes. “It was one of the best nights of my life. And no, I can’t lie and say I don’t feel something for you because I do. All three of you. The thing is, we’re becoming a family tomorrow. What I feel could be intense sexual attraction, or it could be something more. But I can’t find out what it is because that would risk our parents’ happiness. And I don’t know the three of you well enough to know if that risk is worth it.” I cringe when I realize how that might have sounded. But he doesn’t look offended by my words, so I keep going. “My mom is my life. She raised me all on her own. She’s bent over backwards to make sure I was well-loved and taken care of. She sacrificed everything for me. For my happiness.” Tears sting the back of my eyes. I close them to take a grounding breath. When I open them again, Owen’s thumb brushes the corner of my eye. His touch is soft and tender. I hate it. This feels like a goodbye to something that never really got the chance to start. “And because of that, I will sacrifice what could have happened between us or one of your brothers.”

“All of us.”

“What?” My brows furrow.

“I love my brothers. If they cared about you deeply, I’d never take you away from them. So, if you were to choose one of us, you would have to choose all of us.”

I blink in shock at him. Is he for real right now? He’s telling me he would be willing to share me with his brothers? Who is Owen Cross?

“That doesn’t matter.” I shake my head. “Because what I’m trying to say is that nothing more than being friends can happen between us. I know it’s going to be hard, but we have to learn to get used to that and get along for our parents’ sake.”

“You want us. All of us.”

“Yes,” I breathe.

“But you won’t take us because you don’t want to risk your mother’s happiness.”

“Yes.” I nod. “She deserves this, and I’d never be able to live with myself if I was the reason it was ripped away from her.”

Owen nods, taking a breath. “I respect that, and I won’t push it. But here's the thing. You can look but not touch if that's what you need to tell yourself. You don’t have to act on your feelings, but you need to stop avoiding us, stop trying to convince yourself it’s wrong, or it should never have happened. Stop denying your attraction and feelings for us. I don’t like that it makes me feel like I’m some filthy little secret. We were all consenting adults, we had the right to do what we did. I understand nothing will happen if that’s your decision, but don’t act like it didn’t happen and don’t convince yourself you're wrong for what you feel. It just happens to be the right feelings at the wrong time.”

Does he not understand that I haven’t been avoiding him because I’m ashamed or regret what we did. They weren’t my dirty little secret. I’ve stayed away because when I’m around them, I can’t help but want them. But I won’t tell him that because it would only add to his case. “Okay.”

“I’m not going to lie and say I'm not disappointed because I want you, Laney, and would love to see where things could go. But I will respect your decision.”

“Thank you.”

He steps closer to me, pushing me back against the wall. My eyes widen as I suck in a breath. “W-what are you doing?”

“Asking for one last taste,” he murmurs, dipping his head low. He brushes his lips against mine, and I can’t help the moan that slips free. “Can I have one last taste of you, Laney? Then I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

Is this really happening? This shouldn’t happen, not after everything we just agreed to. But I can’t find it in me to tell him no because I want this. One last moment with him before I have to force myself to be a good girl. I almost laugh at the idea.

“Yes,” it slips out before I can even think about it.

He closes the small space between us and kisses me. I whimper, grabbing his shirt with both hands and pull him closer as I press my lips against his harder.

When he growls, grabbing the back of my head and demanding I let him in, I part my lips, moaning in pleasure as his tongue slides in and over mine.

He kisses me until I’m dizzy, and the only thing holding me up is him.

The kiss ends far too soon, and I find myself chasing it, needing more of his lips. Panting, I open my eyes when he doesn’t say anything. But he’s not there. Then my eyes drop to where he’s kneeling before me on the ground. “O-Owen.” Is Owen really on his knees for me? Fuck.

He looks up at me with this devilish grin that turns my insides to jelly. “I said I wanted one last taste of you, Laney. But those aren’t the lips I had in mind.”

Owen

My cock is pressed painfully against my zipper, aching to come out and play. Only, that's not what's happening right now.

Delaney wants me, us. But she's too afraid of what's at risk. And I respect that, I get it. I know there's no amount of convincing I can do to get her to change her mind without risking her resenting me. No, she needs to learn to come to us when she’s ready.

She thinks she can just accept what we are to each other now and move on somehow. And it could be true. She could go to school and, much to my disappointment at the idea, she could find some other man and move on.

But I’ve got high hopes that being in the same house with us, going to school with us, and being around us all the time is going to show her she’s meant for us.

The thing about me is that I don’t care if she’s my stepsister. We’re not blood, and we didn’t grow up together, but we are consenting adults. And I know my dad better than she does.

She doesn’t understand just how different our family is. It doesn’t matter how much money we have or how powerful our family name might be, we’re not your typical wealthy family.

Also, she doesn’t understand just how obsessed I am with her. It’s borderline unhealthy. I haven’t felt like this about anyone in my life. After my past, I haven’t even allowed girls to get close to me. I’ve never trusted anyone enough.

Yet somehow, this beautiful stranger on the beach managed to make me throw everything out the window.

I knew she only wanted a night of fun, no strings attached. I was ready to give her that. She was exactly what I’d been needing but denying myself. Some fun with no downfall.

Boy, was I so fucking wrong.

There’s a downfall, only not the kind I’ve had before.

If Delaney is going to shut herself off to any possibilities of something happening between us, then I at least need to know what she tastes like, I might never get the chance again.

Her whole body shivers as I run my hands up her creamy legs. She leans back against the wall, her thighs parting for me like the good girl I know she can be.

“Owen.” This time, when she says my name, it’s more of a needy whimper.

“Tell me no, Laney,” I murmur, praying with everything in me that she doesn’t while also leaning in to kiss the inside of her thighs.

She sucks in a sharp breath. One of her hands finds my hair. The tips of her nails scrape against my skull as her fingers travel to the back of my head. She doesn’t pull me closer, but she doesn’t push me away either.

Skimming my lips along her inner thigh, I look up at her, finding her watching me with wide, wild eyes. She’s fucking gorgeous as she licks her lips.

I raise a brow pausing to give her a way out, a chance to say no.

When she doesn’t answer, I bite down on her soft flesh. Not enough to hurt, but enough to make her groan. I grin with a dark chuckle. Oh, my Jellyfish likes it a little rough. I’ll remember that one for later.

Slowly, I kiss my way up until she pushes my head between her legs, giving me the answer I’ve been waiting for.

I just hope she doesn’t regret this.

Lifting her dress up, I place my face against her pussy and inhale.

“Fucking hell,” I growl, my whole body shivering as my cock throbs with need. “You smell so fucking good. Look how wet you are for me, Laney. You’re soaked right through these pretty little panties.”

Her moans fill the small room as my mouth latches onto her clit through the fabric. I suck hard, making her gasp and her knees buckle a little.

Pinning her hips in place against the wall, I use my free hand to pull her panties down her legs, letting them fall around her ankles.

The lighting in here isn’t good, but there’s just enough to see her pussy glistening with her juices. My mouth waters to clean her up.

So, I do.

“Owen!” This time, she shouts my name as my tongue licks up her folds.

I groan as her flavor hits my tongue. “Better be a good girl and keep quiet, or someone’s going to find us in here,” I warn her.

Her eyes go wide, darting to the door.

“Take these off,” I command, pulling her panties from around her feet. Balling them up in my hand, I reach up and shove them in her mouth and give her a wicked grin. “Better.”

Then I dive back between her legs and have my way with her like I’ve been thinking about every night since we met.

Delaney’s moans and whines are muffled by her panties as I feast on her cunt like it’s my last damn meal.

I feel like I’m coming undone. Every lap of my tongue and suck of her clit has me growing more and more wild. I want to make her scream, to shatter on my tongue. Then I want to pin her against this wall and rut into her like a savage.

She digs her nails into my skull, holding my head where she wants it as she shamelessly grinds her pussy against my face, riding me like she can’t get enough.

I fuck her with my tongue, thrusting it in and out of her slick opening, using my nose to rub against her clit.

More sounds of pleasure leave her as she throws her head back against the wall. Her chest heaves, and her nostrils flare as she struggles to catch her breath.

As much as I want to take my time with her, to savor every moment of this, I know I can’t.

It’s not going to take long before someone comes looking for us. She needs to cum soon, or we’re both going to be in big trouble. I knew doing this would be a risk; call me selfish, but I needed this. I may never get to touch her like this again, to taste her.

When she starts to fuck my face with her pussy, I know she’s close. Sucking her clit between my lips, I nibble, lick, and suck as I thrust two fingers into her.

A few seconds later, she’s screaming around the panties, only some of the sound muffled as she comes undone.

Her whole body shakes as her orgasm hits her hard. I watch in awe as she cums, soaking my face with her release. I continue to suck her clit as I fuck her with my fingers through her climax. She’s dripping down my hand now, and I’m ready to fucking blow in my jeans like some teenage boy.

Just as I pull away, licking my lips and removing my fingers, the closet door opens.

Panic fills my soul, and Laney turns to stone.

“What the fuck!” Logan’s harsh curse has me relaxing a little bit.

From the murderous look of shock and horror on his face, I’d say he’s pretty pissed.

“Hey, brother.” I grin. “Mind shutting the door? We’re a little busy.”

“Owen, what the fuck is this?” he snarls. If looks could kill, I’d be six feet under.

I wonder what it looks like to him? Standing there with me on my knees, my face dripping in Delaney’s cum. Her bent at the knees, slumped against the wall, hair wild and a mouth full of her own panties.

“What do you think it is?” I ask, getting to my feet.

“It’s not what it looks like,” Delaney says in a rush.

I turn to give her a glaring look, not too happy about her bullshit response.

“Okay, fine.” She sighs. “It is what it looks like.” Good girl.

“I thought we agreed, just friends,” Logan snaps. At me, not her.

“That was your idea. I never liked it from the start. But don’t worry.” I pat him on the shoulder. “Laney here has decided to keep the friends-only thing going. Gonna play the role of stepsister, aren't you, Laney?”

It’s her turn to glare. I step forward, leaning so that my lips are against her ear. “Remember what I said. Whenever you decide you want something more, I’m here. Until then...” I suck her earlobe into my mouth and bite down, loving the gasp that leaves her lips. “I’ll be such a good boy.”

I’m yanked away from Delaney and pulled out into the hall. Logan pushes me against the wall next to the closet door as it clicks shut.

“What is wrong with you!” Logan spits in my face.

“You need to calm the fuck down and get the fuck off me,” I growl, giving him a little push back. “It was one last time, Logan. One last time before our parents get married tomorrow. And don’t give me that look,” I scoff, shaking my head. “I know you want her. I know you wish you could have her, too.”

“Yes.” He lets out a harsh breath. “That much, I can admit. But it’s wrong. None of us should want her.”

“It’s not wrong.” I point in his face. “Don’t make it sound dirty. We’re fucking adults, Logan. We didn’t know who we were to each other when we met. And just because our parents are getting married doesn’t change that. As much as I don’t want to, I’ll back off because she wants me to. I’ll back off out of respect for you and Elijah. But know this, if there ever comes a day that she wants something more, you both better have your shit together and be ready to take that step, because I can’t have her unless you do.”

“What the hell does that mean?” he whispers harshly. “Nothing can ever happen between me and her.”

“I know you got screwed over badly by that bitch. And I feel for you, I do. I love Benny, and I will fight for that little man. But not all women are Stacy. So don’t shut down something good just because you're afraid to get hurt again.”

Delaney opens the door, gaining both of our attention. Her face is bright red. She only meets our eyes for a small second before rushing away.

“Now, if you don’t mind, I’m going to my car to jack off.”

I leave my brother gaping at me in shock as I head out to the parking lot. What does he expect? It’s not going to go away on its own. Not with Laney’s release still on my tongue and the sound of her moans echoing through my head.

Now I have to decide if what I just did was a good decision or if I just screwed myself over by having a piece of something I can’t ever have.