Page 36 of Cueball & Double-Z (Alpha’s Rejects #5)

When I leaned in, my palms resting on his chest, he didn’t hold me back.

And though he tried to show nothing on his face, I didn’t miss the hard swallow or his amber eyes pinned on my lips.

He hadn’t been kissed in a long time, except for Gio attacking his face earlier, which had been very spontaneous, so I needed to be careful despite him telling me it was okay .

I stood on my tippy toes, tilted my head, and landed on his mouth with mine. When our lips parted and we started to kiss, I swallowed his quiet groan before quickly pulling back to make sure he was okay.

“I’m fine, Cole,” Marco whispered. “That was nice.”

Then I glanced at Gio to make sure he was okay, too.

“I’m fine, too. It’s… hot. I should be jealous, and I’d been before, but…” He scratched his head and shrugged. “I don’t know.”

Marco then reached for Gio’s face, forking his fingers through his hair like he’d done with me earlier. “You’re not anymore because you’re a part of this, too.”

Marco let go of Gio and suddenly wrapped me in his arms as he devoured my mouth, controlling my every movement.

It was my turn to groan as he owned me. His tongue still tasted like bourbon, and he smelled like his woodsy body wash.

It was a heady combination. We came up for air, and just when I wanted to go back at it, Marco tugged on the collar of Gio’s shirt to pull him forward and kissed him, too.

God, Marco was right. They were beautiful together. The way they consumed each other was hot.

When they came up for air, Marco pulled away and gave Gio a hard stare. “No more hiding feelings, understood? That goes for me, too.”

Gio quickly nodded, looking up with wide eyes. “Yeah.”

‘Definitely,’ I signed.

Marco stood straight and glanced at his bed. “We’re going to need a bigger bed.” Gio and I both snorted a laugh at that. “We’re going to have to cram into this queen until then because I need you both with me. Maybe holding you will quell the impending nightmares I know are coming tonight.”

“I think I can speak on behalf of myself and Cole here that we’re fine being pressed close together with you. We always sleep practically on top of each other.”

“I know. I’ve watched you.” Marco huffed a laugh at us. “You oblivious idiots.”

My face pinked, and so did Gio’s. We had been idiots.

I was very happy with this plan, lying in the middle of the bed, desperately wanting to be a sandwich. To be smooshed between them as we slept. If Marco had nightmares, I’d be there to rub his head. He liked that. I’d done it before, and it calmed him down.

I stripped out of my jeans and slid underneath the cool sheets and comforter.

Gio also removed his jeans and climbed into the bed on one side as Marco lay on the other.

The bigger man rolled onto his side, rested his heavy arm across me, and reached for Gio, making sure he touched us both.

God, he was perfect. Did he have flaws? A lot of them.

We all did. But he was so big and beautiful, making sure he treated us equally.

Gio also held me, his fingers clinging to Marco’s T-shirt as if Marco would somehow disappear.

Then he pressed his nose to my neck, his warm breath comforting.

We slept like that often. I lay there, completely in my happy place, smiling now that I was surrounded by comfort, warmth, and two beautiful men.

The next morning, I woke up to find Marco and Gio not in bed. I must have been really out not to notice. I climbed out of bed and padded out of the room to find them. They were both sitting in the kitchen on the stools, sipping their coffee, and scrolling through their phones.

Marco’s eyes were a bit swollen. No doubt he was really tired. He’d definitely had a couple of nightmares, but I was there to soothe him back to sleep by rubbing his head. It worked well.

When they looked up, I waved and smiled at them.

“Morning,” Marco said. “There’s some coffee for you. Get some caffeine in you, then we’ll sit and talk.”

‘Are you sure you’re ready? You had a rough night,’ I signed before stepping into the kitchen and pouring myself a cup of coffee into the clean mug waiting for me on the counter.

“I’m sure. I’m tired, but I’m much better than I was last night. Besides, the conversation doesn’t have to be long. Just communication and ground rules. As long as you two are still on board.”

“I am. Definitely,” Gio said. “Cole?”

I stood in front of them and nodded before taking a sip from my mug .

Marco stood, taking his mug with him as he walked into the living room. “Let’s talk here. It’s more comfortable.”

Marco and Gio sat on the couch, and I sat between them.

“First rule. No jealousy. If anyone here is jealous, this thing will end before it begins.” Marco gave Gio a pointed look for confirmation. Apparently, he’d been jealous all that time, and I hadn’t even noticed. Looking back, I’d seen it, assuming he’d been angry and irritable.

“No jealousy,” Gio quickly agreed. “I’ll tell you if I feel anything.”

Marco gave him a curt nod. “Good. I trust you. Next, communication. We need to communicate everything—from sex, needs, stress, frustration… all of it. This goes for me, too. I’ve been a horrible communicator for years.

No more hiding feelings. No more hiding pain.

If we want to work out, we have to be open with each other.

We have to know where each of us stands. ”

Gio took a sip of his coffee before nodding. “I’ll try. I’m pretty bad at it, too.”

“We need to trust each other to listen. Really listen.”

I nodded, agreeing with all of it so far.

“Questions so far?” Marco asked us.

I had none. I had no idea what this all meant or how it was going to work, since I’d never been in a relationship before.

Gio shook his head. “Not so far, but honestly, this is the first time I’ve wanted something like this, so I don’t really know what to expect.”

Marco smiled at him and reached for his face, pulling away a curtain of bangs.

“That’s a good start and an honest admission.

” He chugged back the rest of his coffee and set the mug down on the table.

“Lots of people make their polyamorous relationships different to suit them, but it’s all communicated beforehand.

What I would like to see is a relationship with both of you that flourishes full of love and communication.

This isn’t just about sex. I don’t want temporary. ”

I quickly signed that I agreed with that.

Gio wrapped an arm around me and pulled me onto his lap. I swore I smiled like a nut. “That’s what I want.”

“Then we’re on the same page with that. Good. Last, this isn’t some hierarchy. ”

“What do you mean?” Gio asked.

“I may be a lot older and bigger, but this will be an equal relationship in the bedroom and out of it. Everyone has an equal say. I’m not the boss.

You’re not the boss of me or each other.

But in the bedroom… sometimes I might come across as controlling, but if that’s not something you like, then we’ll talk about it. ”

Gio and I definitely agreed to that. All my brain could think of was Marco controlling us. Hot .

We talked for another hour about everything and what we wanted. The longer we talked, the clearer the picture of what it was going to look like became. It was pretty damn amazing, actually. The talk left no room for doubt or uncertainty.

God, this was going to be good. I couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen.