6. Jax

Jax

I wake up with a jerk, but the arms around me are warm and familiar. For a long moment, I don't remember, and then it all comes back. Whatever nightmare I was having fades away, stolen by the realities of my life. I pry open my eyes and discover that I'm lying in Mason's arms. I have to stop thinking about him as Mason. He's Gideon. It's weird.

I had this crush on Mason growing up, and now I'm with him but not. It's Gideon I see. There's a complex crash of emotions inside me every time I think about it. Across the room, sleeping on a lounge, is Dane. His long legs barely fit, and he looks uncomfortable, but he had refused to leave or sleep on the bed.

Perhaps it's because of the tension between Dane and I. We never had that conversation last night. I need to fix things with him. That is becoming clear and urgent. I don't like being mad at him, and I really don't like him being distant with me.

I ease out of Gideon's arms and walk over to stand right next to the couch. He's so beautiful. The dark waves of his hair, the stubble on his cheeks, the line of his jaw, and his lips. So uniquely Dane.

"Are you just going to stare at me?"

My lips quirk. "Are you always going to be this surly?"

One of Danes' eyes open, taking my breath away. "I'm mad at you."

"I know. "

His arm wraps around the back of my knees and tugs. I fall forward, landing on top of him. I don't even think as I bury my face in his neck, sliding my legs over his until we are entwined together.

"Dane," I murmur, and it's such relief that it brings tears to my eyes.

His arms tighten around me. "Hey, it's okay, Jax. Really, we'll be okay."

I bury my face deeper in his neck and clutch at him. "I miss you, I miss you so much. Everything was so mixed up, I was trying to come back, to remember what was real. I just needed time."

Dane strokes my back and sits up. "Hey, I'd wait for you until forever. No more tears. We're here, we're alive, and it's going to be okay."

"In the darkness, when it was all numb, I kept seeing your face."

Dane murmurs something in my ear, but I don't hear it. He stands up with me and takes a few steps before I feel myself being laid on the bed. Another set of arms wrap around me from behind.

But Dane stays glued to me and slides onto the bed, still wrapped in me.

Hands slide over my body, and as the comfort pushes aside the sadness, warmth and then heat slides into my limbs. My lower stomach clenches, and I roll my hips restlessly against the two that are keeping me pinned.

"Please," I whimper. I force my eyes open, staring into Danes' almost black eyes. I roll my hips, and he hisses, his expression turning pained.

"Jax," he gasps, and his mouth finds my jaw, hot, wet. I arch and tilt my head back, giving him more room.

A hand runs up the back of my thigh, from my knee up to my ass and over my hips. I'm mesmerised by the soothing strokes so much that I gasp out loud as Gideon slams his hips into my ass.

I glance over my shoulder and find Gideon staring darkly at me.

"Stop teasing me," I growl.

Dane groans. But Gideon reaches down and yanks off my pants, returning and pressing a hot stick of flesh against my butt cheeks. I grind back against him, even as he lifts my leg and throws it over Dane's hips. My singlet is almost torn from me and flung across the room.

"You're going to take him, aren't you?" Gideon murmurs in my ear. "Make him sorry he sulked?"

I tilt my head back as he takes Danes' spot, and Danes' mouth treks downwards. I whimper when Dane gets to my breasts, flicking my nipples with his tongue before sucking with hot tugs.

"Fuck!" I cry out and wrap my arms around his head, holding him there. I'm so wet that I can feel it on my thighs. I'm so close that I think the slightest touch might send me over the edge. Yet they hold off, keeping me sandwiched between them, unable to move enough, keeping my hands busy. Their mouths and hands are everywhere, stroking and stirring the fire into an inferno.

"Please, I need you," I cry out.

"Yes. You need us. You need me," Dane snarls. He pushes me back, and I let out a squeak of surprise as I'm rolled into the cage of Gideon's arm as he rolls onto his back.

"Dane?" My uncertainty makes my voice quiver.

Gideon's hands hold my rib and hip, preventing me from moving, while Dane crawls up our bodies until he is hovering over me.

I blink in surprise, surely he's not going to, I think he is. A wave of heat burns up from my stomach and spreads across my body. Having one hold me still while the other takes what he needs is a fantasy I've not had in years. Dane leans down, his mouth taking mine, his tongue fucking into me. I wrap my arms around him and cry out into his mouth as Gideon's fingers sweep through my folds, grazing my clit .

"So ready," Gideon murmurs. "Dane, make this sexy woman yours."

Dane growls into my mouth, sounding annoyed at the interruption.

"Now or I will," Gideon growls.

Dane hisses but pulls back and reaches between us. He guides his cock to my entrance and slowly breaches me. Another whimper slips out, but Gideon soothes me with a long stroke down my side.

Dane pants as he slowly seats himself fully inside me.

"God, you're so tight, so hot." He says the words like he's in pain.

I need him to move. My body clenches around him, and he groans, but his response is to pull out and surge back in, and this time, we both groan. He moves slowly and deeply in and out of me. The sounds of our panting moans and our skin hitting skin is a symphony that drives my arousal higher. The only world that exists is the pleasure in my body and between my legs.

Gideon strokes his hand down and glides his fingers over my clit, again and again. It doesn't occur to me to find this strange. Dane thrusts faster, his movements becoming choppy. They hold me still. I'm barely aware of the pain as Gideon holds my legs apart, and Dane squeezes our threaded fingers. Pain is pleasure and pleasure is pain.

I scream as my orgasm rips through me. The wave of it seems to go on forever. My muscles clench over and over, curling my toes. Dane thrusts harder and stiffens, emptying himself into me.

He holds himself above me, sweat on his brow, and staring at me like he's never seen me before. I search his blue eyes. This man stayed for two months while I was in a cage like an animal.

He's perfect, I can't imagine life without him now.

It takes me a moment, but I reach up and cup his cheek. "What's wrong? "

"You're perfect." He echoes my unsaid words back at me.

The tension is so thick, I smile and force a laugh. "Of course, I am. I'm Jax Shade."

He huffs a laugh and pulls out, which causes me to wince. Gideon snuffles into my neck, and I giggle, sliding off him and turning so I can wrap myself in him.

"Do you want to…" I ask hesitantly. I'm such a bitch, but there's a tiny part of me that still feels hesitant about Mason/Gideon.

He shakes his head. "We can wait. I can wait."

I frown, but the truth is, I'm relieved, and I appreciate his thoughtfulness. Still, a little part of those words sting.

He rolls over the top of me, and I spread my legs instinctively. He grinds himself against me.

"I want you. I want you now. I want you all the time. But we can go a bit slower. It's important because it will be our first time. I want no doubts."

I glance sideways at Dane and lean close to Gideon. "He just fucked me on you. I think we're past doubts."

Dane snickers. "I did do that."

"And it was so hot." Gideon rolls his eyes and grinds in again, causing that familiar heat to reignite. "I think he did it to punish me."

"And you're okay with that?"

"Better than okay." He leans down and presses our lips together, giving me the sweetest kiss imaginable. "Best punishment ever. I vote we do it again tomorrow. This time, perhaps we can convince Rafe to join us."

I shake my head as he rolls off me, he grabs my hips, pulling me onto my side, and gives my ass a quick tap.

"Get up, get dressed."

I flush, trying to hide the fact that the tap just got me in the mood to crawl back into bed, not out of it .

"Where is Rafe?" I ask.

"He left early this morning." Gideon leans close to me while I pull on a pair of jeans. "Need a third? Two not enough?"

I turn bright red and lift my chin. "That's exactly right. You're all mine. And those are mine." I point to his crotch.

Gideon grabs my wrist and pulls me to him. "No, when you say that next time, say it with confidence. Like this. Those cocks are mine. Those guys are mine, and own it. Because it's true, and you don't need to wonder. We are yours."

I stare at him and then stand up on my tiptoes and lean in to kiss him. "I love you, G."

He bites my lower lip and then sucks on it before letting go and, with a look of pure frustration, steps back. "I love you. I adore you. I'm yours. Always and forever, J."

"Are you two done?" Dane asks.

I jerk, grab a shirt, and slide it over my head. "I'm ready."

He glares, but when I approach, he takes my hand gently, and I see his expression lighten as he leads me out of the room.

"Rafe sent me a text not long ago, but the detectives are on their way here." I slide to a stop, staring at Dane with panic.

"Why? What? Did something happen? Why didn't you tell me?"

Dane looks away and refuses to meet my eyes. "I just did. And, yeah, something happened, I don't know what, but they will be here any minute now, and they want to talk to you."

Gideon lets out a growl that startles a maid. She gives us a wide-eyed look and bolts for safer waters. I take the marble stairs two at a time, almost falling when I see Descario with her arms crossed over her chest.

"Detective!" I say with an unhappy smile. "Here I was, hoping we could never see each other again."

"You and me both. Shade or are you Blackwell today?" Descario glares at me like I'm filth on the bottom of her shoe .

I reach her and glance past her to nod at Wayland.

"Shade. I'm Jax Shade. We've had this discussion many times."

"Blackwell, we're just tying up some loose ends, and we wondered if we could have a word," Descario says with a smirk.

"Not without her family present," my father booms and stalks towards us from the back end of the house.

Descario glares at the marble floor. I can see her mouth twisting, she wants to argue. I can see it there on her face, but it's Eddie Harmon. Good fucking luck.

Richard leans against the wall with his arms folded and a folder in his hands. He looks bored.

"Astaire Jagger was reported missing five days ago."

I stiffen, and it takes everything in me to hide any further reactions. Astaire? The bouncer from Red Shard. The older man who was one of the nicest people I've ever met. He was sweet and protective, and I'd had a soft spot for him. He was as far as friends go in Hurricane, one of mine.

Gideon wraps his hand around mine. They know how much Astaire meant to me.

"Jagger? He was a good man. Obviously, you're thinking something bad happened to him because it's you two. I hope you aren't thinking Jax is involved," Eddie snarls. "I'd hate to inform my lawyers that you're back here making more accusations without evidence."

"Oh, no, we know Blackwell isn't involved. She's been in this house, and we've had people watching her."

I cringe and reach out, placing a hand on my father's arm. "It's okay, Dad, I'd rather they did that and know for certain."

"The thing is, we don't believe Astaire's disappearance had anything to do with all this, but the timing is off. It is suspicious."

"He probably went into the off limits district, down to Dead City. That hell hole needs to be bulldozed. "

I whip my head around and see Jeraldine descending the stairs like a queen, her head in the air, the air of disdain making me instantly feel on edge. She shrugs a delicate shoulder and crosses to stand beside Eddie. "Some of the locals like to explore. There's all these rumours of treasure and lost wealth. Nonsense, but it doesn't stop people from vanishing."

Descario nods her head respectfully. She's clearly a little in awe of my step-mother. But then again, most people are. Jeraldine looks like royalty. "Indeed. We have looked and found evidence that supports that theory."

Jeraldine lifts a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "So, why then, are you here harassing my family?"

Descario opens her mouth, but Wayland leans close and whispers something. She looks up, her eyes flinty with frustration. "All right, we're going to go. And, ummm…I guess this is goodbye, Blackwell."

"You're leaving?" I ask with surprise. I want to stop her. They can't leave. Louis is still here!

"Yes, we've been reassigned, and this case is over."

I blink. I don't know if I like not having the detectives here. Having them gone will be a relief for me, but for everyone else? And I don't want to jinx them leaving, so I just nod and swallow hard while I try to smile.

"Right, well, I guess that's it. Let's go, Wayland."

"Mr Harmon, Mrs Harmon, Mason, Dane," Waylands' cold eyes land on me, and I suppress the urge to shiver. "Jackie."

"It's Jax," I shoot back with a growl.

Rafe sneaks in the front door and watches us with a shuttered expression that makes him feel so very far away.

They might be leaving, but they don't for one second believe this is over or that I'm not involved. I clench my teeth as they disappear .

"Excellent. That's one less problem." Jeraldine studies me for a long minute. "Are you returning home or planning to stay here?"

I feel like I've been slapped.

"Jeraldine!" Eddie snaps.

"We're going to stay at Danes' house," I pipe up, feeling a chill go through me. Whatever truce had been called between Jeraldine and I is obviously over and done with.

I look up at Gideon in Mason's body. "I love you. Come with me?" It's a soft plea, completely theatrical, but said with all the truth I have.

"Of course."

Eddie sighs and comes over to clap Mason on the shoulder. "I'm going to miss you around here, but I can't say we didn't expect and hope it would happen one day."

The words burn into my soul, making guilt bubble up thickly, but I manage to smile at Gideon, who shakes my father's hand while he promises to look after me while he's wearing Mason's skin.