27. Ayla
27
AYLA
T he warm water cascades over my hands as I scrub the porcelain plates, but my mind is far from the sink full of soapy dishes. Teller’s words echo through my thoughts, ricocheting off the corners of my consciousness. “We’d be fine sharing you,” he had said, his voice low and earnest. The implications send a shiver down my spine.
I pause, letting a dish slip back into the suds with a soft splash. My heart races as I consider what it would mean to be with all three brothers. Clay’s strong arms, Kip’s playful smile, Teller’s intense gaze - they each ignite something different within me. A longing, a desire I’ve never known before.
But doubt creeps in, as insidious as Lila’s cutting accusations. “You’re nothing but a whore, Ayla,” she had sneered. Her words had stung, leaving invisible scars I still carry.
Am I a bad person for wanting them all? For imagining their hands on my skin, their lips trailing kisses down my neck? I grip the edge of the sink, my knuckles turning white. I can’t deny the pull I feel towards each of them, the way my body responds to their presence.
Yet Lila’s voice persists, taunting me. Perhaps she was right all along. Maybe I am no better than she claimed, a wanton woman with no shame. I close my eyes, trying to push away the self-doubt that threatens to consume me.
Strong arms snake around my waist, and I nearly leap out of my skin, the plate in my hand clattering into the sink. Heart pounding, I whirl around to find Clay’s concerned face mere inches from mine.
“Whoa there, jumpy,” he says, his brows knitting together. “You okay?”
“Yeah, sorry,” I mumble, heat rushing to my cheeks. “I was just... lost in thought.”
Clay’s eyes soften, and he nods, his hands still resting on my hips. “I get it.” His proximity, the warmth of his body, it’s all too much.
“I just checked on Piper,” he says, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “She’s so close to rolling over. Can you believe how fast she’s growing up?”
“It’s incredible,” I agree, forcing a smile. But my mind is elsewhere, still trapped in the memory of last night’s revelation. Do they even remember what they said, or was it just the alcohol talking?
Clay’s thumb traces small circles on my hip, sending shivers down my spine. “Ayla,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough. “About last night...”
I freeze, my breath catching in my throat. This is it, the moment of truth. Will he brush it off as a drunken mistake, or will he stand by his words?
His eyes bore into mine, searching, probing. “What Teller said is true…we are willing to share you.”
Relief floods through me, followed by a fresh wave of uncertainty. “But... how would it even work? Won’t people talk?”
Clay shakes his head, a wry smile on his lips. “Let them talk. You’re a grown woman, Ayla. You can make your own choices.”
Can I really do this, give myself to not one, but three men? The thought is as thrilling as it is terrifying, a leap into the unknown.
But as Clay pulls me closer, his lips brushing against my forehead, I feel a flicker of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I can find acceptance, even love, in the arms of these men.
Warmth radiates from Clay’s broad chest as he holds me close, his arms a steadying presence amidst the whirlwind of my thoughts. The scent of his cologne, a blend of spice and wood, envelops me, and for a moment, I allow myself to simply be.
“What if I’m not enough?” The words slip out, barely a whisper against the fabric of his shirt.
Clay’s fingers find my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze. “Ayla, you are more than enough. You’re everything we could ever want or need.”
His words wash over me, a balm to the insecurities that plague my mind. I search his eyes, looking for any hint of deception, but all I find is sincerity and a depth of emotion that steals my breath.
“But what about Piper? And your jobs? I don’t want to complicate things...” My voice trails off, the doubts still lingering.
Clay’s thumb brushes over my cheek, a feather-light touch that sends shivers down my spine. “You could never complicate things. You’ve brought so much light into our lives, Ayla. Piper adores you, and we... we can’t imagine our lives without you.”
His words are like a key, unlocking the cage of fear that has held my heart captive for so long. I feel the walls crumbling, brick by brick, as the realization of what he’s offering sinks in.
A chance at happiness, at a family. A place to belong.
A place that isn’t toxic.
I lean into his touch, my eyes fluttering closed as I savor the moment. “I want this, Clay. I want you, all of you. But I’m scared...”
“I know, baby, but you have to trust us.” His lips brush against my forehead, a promise sealed with a kiss.
I gaze into Clay’s warm eyes, finding solace in their depths. His strong arms encircle my waist, pulling me closer until our bodies are flush against each other. The heat of his skin seeps through the thin fabric of my shirt, igniting a fire within me.
“Clay,” I whisper, my voice barely audible over the pounding of my heart. “I don’t know how this is going to work, but I trust you. I trust all of you.”
His lips curve into a smile, a smile that makes my knees go weak. “That’s all we need, Ayla. We’ll figure out the rest together.”
And then his lips are on mine, soft and gentle at first, as if he’s asking for permission. I melt into the kiss, my fingers threading through his hair, pulling him closer. His tongue swipes across my bottom lip, seeking entrance, and I part my lips eagerly, allowing him to deepen the kiss.
It’s electric, the way his tongue dances with mine, exploring every inch of my mouth. I can taste the faint hint of coffee on his breath, mixed with something uniquely Clay. It’s intoxicating, and I find myself craving more.
Our kisses grow more heated, more urgent as if we’re trying to pour every ounce of pent-up desire into each other. His hands roam over my back, my hips, leaving trails of fire in their wake. I arch into his touch, a soft moan escaping my lips.
Lost in the kiss, I barely register Clay’s strong arms wrapping around my waist, lifting me effortlessly onto the kitchen counter. The cool marble seeps through my thin cotton shorts, but the heat of Clay’s body pressed against mine quickly chases away any chill.
He settles between my legs, his hands gripping my hips as he kisses me harder, more insistently. I loop my arms around his neck, pulling him closer, wanting to feel every inch of him against me.
Clay’s hands slide down to my thighs, his fingers digging into my flesh as he pulls me flush against him. I gasp into his mouth, my body responding to his touch like kindling to a flame.
He breaks the kiss, trailing his lips along my jaw, down the column of my neck. I tilt my head back, giving him better access, my fingers threading through his short, dark hair.
“Kip and Teller told me they kissed you,” Clay murmurs against my skin, his breath hot and tantalizing. “I couldn’t stop thinking about it, imagining how your lips would feel against mine.”
A blush rises to my cheeks, embarrassment and desire warring within me.
I can’t believe they told him, that they’re all talking about me like this.
As if sensing my discomfort, Clay pulls back, his eyes finding mine. “Don’t be embarrassed, Ayla. I just wanted my turn, too. I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I first saw you.”
Before I can respond, he captures my lips once more, kissing me with a fervor that steals my breath and erases any coherent thought from my mind. His hands roam over my body, squeezing and caressing, leaving me aching for more.
A question burns in my mind, and I pull back just enough to whisper against Clay’s lips, “Have you ever shared a woman before? Or am I... special?”
Clay’s eyes soften, and he cups my face in his large, calloused hands. “You’re special, Ayla. So damn special. We’d never do this for anyone else but you? You’re perfect for our little family.”
His words send a rush of warmth through me, and I lean into his touch, savoring the feeling of being wanted, cherished.
I never imagined I could have this, that I could be part of something so unconventional yet so right.
Clay’s lips trail along my jaw, down the column of my neck, each kiss a searing brand against my skin. I tilt my head back, giving him better access, a soft moan escaping me as he finds a particularly sensitive spot.
“Is this what you want, Ayla?” he murmurs, his teeth grazing my earlobe. “Do you want us? All of us?”
The question hangs in the air, heavy with promise and possibility. I know there’s no going back from this, that saying yes will change everything. But as I look into Clay’s eyes, dark with desire and something deeper, I realize I’ve never wanted anything more.
“Yes,” I breathe, my heart hammering in my chest. “I want all of you. I want this.”
A slow, satisfied smile spreads across Clay’s face, and he kisses me again, deep and possessive. “Good,” he growls against my lips. “Because we want you, too. So fucking much.”
His words ignite a fire in my veins, and I surrender to the passion consuming us both, letting it carry me away to a place where nothing exists but the two of us, lost in each other, ready to embrace the future that awaits.
Clay pulls away, and I can’t help the small sound of protest that escapes me. His lips quirk up in a knowing smirk, his hands still resting on my hips.
“I have a half day today,” he says, his voice rough with desire. “But I’ll be back later. Try not to have too much fun with Teller and Kip while I’m gone.”
There’s a playful glint in his eye, a teasing lilt to his words that sends a shiver down my spine. The thought of being alone with Teller and Kip, of exploring this new dynamic between us, is both thrilling and terrifying.
Clay steps back, and I immediately miss the warmth of his touch. He gives me one last heated look before turning and walking away, leaving me breathless and aching for more.
I watch him disappear down the hall, my heart beating faster than it ever has.
I’ve just agreed to be in a relationship with three men. Three best friends. My three bosses.
It’s insane, reckless, completely out of character for me. But as I touch my fingers to my lips, still tingling from Clay’s kisses, I can’t bring myself to regret it.
I think of Teller, with his quiet intensity and soulful eyes. Of Kip, with his easy charm and infectious smile. And of Clay, with his commanding presence and unwavering confidence.
Three very different men, each with their own unique pull on my heart. The thought of being with all of them, of sharing myself in a way I never have before, is dizzying. Exhilarating.
I don’t know how this is going to work, and I don’t care. All I know is that I want it to.