23. Lukas

I blink awake,my eyes adjusting to the dim light filtering through the curtains. Emma is draped across my chest, her silky hair fanned out across the pillow like a halo. She looks like a goddamn angel, all soft curves and smooth skin. I stroke a hand down her naked back, savoring the way she fits against me. Like two puzzle pieces snapping into place.

Alex is gone, his side of the bed empty and cool. Probably retreated back to his own room to give us some privacy. What a gentleman. I smirk to myself, remembering the way Emma writhed and moaned between us just a few hours ago, lost to pleasure as we worked her body in tandem. God, that was hot as hell.

I watch Emma as she sleeps, her dark lashes fluttering against her cheeks, lips parted slightly. The moonlight caresses her face, making her look ethereal, untouchable. A surge of unfamiliar emotion swells in my chest. Protectiveness, possessiveness. I want to pull her closer, shield her from the world, and never let go.

Fuck. What is this girl doing to me? I'm Lukas Dvorak. I don't cuddle, I don't stay the night, and I sure as shit don't catch feelings. Hit it and quit it, that's always been my style. Anything more is asking for trouble.

But with Emma, I don't know. Something about her pulls me in, makes me crave more than just her gorgeous body. Her passion, her spirit, the way she sees the best in everyone…in me. I'm so far out of my depth here it's not even funny.

I brush a lock of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear with uncharacteristic gentleness. She murmurs and nuzzles into my touch, still deep in slumber. My heart clenches almost painfully.

Christ. This girl could wreck me if I let her.

I need to get a grip, clear my head before I do something stupid. Like confess my undying devotion or ask her to have my babies. I'm losing it. Carefully, I extract myself from Emma's clinging embrace, sliding out of bed. She makes an adorable little noise of protest but doesn't wake. I can't resist dropping a soft kiss to her forehead before I go.

What the hell has gotten into me? I shake my head as I pad naked to the bathroom, running a hand through my messy hair. Must be the post-nut haze scrambling my brain. A few splashes of cold water on my face should do the trick, help me get my head on straight.

I bump into Alex in the hallway, nearly colliding as he emerges from the bathroom. He looks about as dazed as I feel.

"Hey," I say eloquently.

"Hey." He rubs the back of his neck, glancing towards my bedroom door. "How's Emma?"

"Still sleeping." I can't keep the tender note out of my voice. Pathetic.

Alex nods, understanding in his eyes. "That was…intense."

"No shit." I let out a quiet huff of laughter. Understatement of the century. "I gotta say, man, having you there, it really ratcheted things up to a whole new level."

A slow grin spreads across Alex's face. "Right? I had no idea sharing could be so hot. It's like everything I never knew I wanted."

"Exactly." I lean against the wall, mirroring his pose. "Emma's something else, isn't she? Special."

"She really is." Alex's expression goes soft, wistful almost. Oh hell. I know that look.

"You too, huh?"

He meets my gaze, not bothering to play dumb. "Yeah. I'm falling for her, Lukas. Hard."

I blow out a breath. "That makes two of us then." Saying it out loud is both terrifying and a relief.

"So what do we do?" Alex asks. "I mean, I don't think either of us wants this to be just a one-time thing…"

"Or even just sex," I add, the words feeling strange on my tongue. Look at me, ready to toss my bachelor ways in the trash. For a chick.

We're both silent for a moment, absorbing the magnitude of what we're confessing here in the wee hours, punch drunk on lust and something even headier. Something suspiciously like love.

"We date her. Together," Alex says finally, decisive. "Let's be honest, there's no way one of us backs off now. You and I both know that Ryan is probably already dating her properly. We should do the same. I think we can make this work, the three of us. If she's game."

My mind boggles a bit at the logistics but…he's not wrong. Walking away from Emma isn't an option. Not for me.

"Okay," I say, resolve hardening in my gut. "Okay, yeah. We do this. But we gotta do it right, have a real talk with her in the morning. Make sure she knows this isn't just an extended booty call."

Alex nods solemnly. "I'm all in if you are."

I clap him on the shoulder, sealing the deal. "Let's get our girl then. Together."

After the bathroom, I slip back into my room where Emma is still dead to the world, her hair a dark tangle on the pillow, one creamy shoulder peeking out from the rumpled sheets. I let loose a sigh. Damn, I'm in deep already.

Sliding under the covers, I press myself against the warm length of her back, draping an arm around her waist to pull her close. She stirs slightly, mumbling something unintelligible before burrowing deeper into my embrace. I bury my nose in her hair, breathing in the lingering scent of her shampoo and the unmistakable musk of sex. Of us.

As I lie there in the dark, the even cadence of her breathing tickling my neck, the doubts start to creep in. I'm Lukas Fucking Dvorak. I don't do relationships. I definitely don't do love. It's been my cardinal rule for years now—never let a person close enough to touch my heart.

Too messy, too complicated.

But Emma's different. Special. And not just because the sex is mind-meltingly phenomenal, though that certainly doesn't hurt. No, there's something about her that just fits. The way she sees through my bullshit, challenges me, makes me want to be better. The way her smile lights up her whole face, and I feel like the luckiest bastard alive to have put it there.

Fuck, I'm turning into such a sap. If the boys could hear my thoughts right now, I'd never live it down. But maybe that's just it—maybe I'm ready for more than just the next puck bunny, the next meaningless hookup.

Maybe I'm ready to risk it all—my heart, my pride, everything—for a shot at something real with Emma. And with Alex. This wonderful, weird, exhilarating thing blossoming between the three of us.

Tightening my arms around Emma's pliant body, I press a kiss to her shoulder and let my eyes drift closed. Tomorrow, we'll figure it all out together.

For tonight, I just want to savor this feeling, this moment. The moment I realized I might just be falling in love for the first time in my life.

And damned if it doesn't feel like flying and falling all at once, the greatest rush I've ever known.