Page 44 of Mutual Obsession (Rivals of Blackthorn #2)

I ’m not sure exactly what happened between Jake and Miles when I left the office the other night at the club, but things have definitely changed between them. They seem more at ease with each other, stealing glances and smiling more than before.

I’m desperate to know what happened, and even though we’re advocating for open communication to make this thing between us work, I think this is one of those scenarios where they’ll tell me when they’re ready for me to know. In the meantime, I’m using my overactive imagination.

Miles is still sleeping in my bed every night, almost like we’ve found this weird routine between us. Jake kisses me goodnight before going into his room, and he does the same in the morning.

Although Miles holds me in his arms every night, he never gives me more than a kiss on the cheek or forehead, not even if I try to capture his lips.

Not only am I confused, I’m becoming incredibly sexually frustrated, but I’m not sure what the hell to do about it. I’m the one who agreed to give him time, so I can hardly push him on it now. Though, that doesn’t mean I don’t want to—or that I’m not going to at least try to entice him.

Three nights after the fight, I have my first evening off in a while, and I plan to make it count. I’m not normally a forward, confident person, but as the saying goes: ‘If you don’t ask, you don’t get’.

I’m not planning to ask, per se. I’m planning to seduce them both until they’re so wound up they have to act.

We’ve agreed to order a pizza and watch a film, which is the perfect scenario for me to put my plan into action. So, after way too much planning, and lots of stern words to myself, I walk into the living room to meet the guys.

I’m wearing my shortest sleep shorts that stop high on my thighs, showing off the shape of my arse, and a tight black vest top.

It hugs my boobs so tightly, they’ll be able to tell I’m not wearing a bra.

If it were a lighter colour, they’d be able to see my nipples, but as it’s black, they can only see the outline of my hard buds poking through.

Both men are sitting on the sofa when I enter the living room, and they freeze when they catch sight of me. I can feel their hungry gazes raking over my body, heating a path with their eyes as they take in all of my exposed flesh. They’re making me feel naked, and extremely sexy.

Before any of us can say anything, the doorbell rings, shattering the tension that had been growing around us. It catches me off-guard so much I actually jump, my heart skipping before pounding rapidly to make up for it.

“That’ll be the pizza,” I say as I turn to go and answer the door.

I’ve not even made it a few steps before an arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back against a hard body. I turn to see Jake holding me, a dangerous glare on his face, as Miles rushes past us.

Miles has a stern expression and disapproving glare, too. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Jake growls against my ear. “You can’t answer the door dressed like that.”

“Why not?” I ask, feigning innocence.

Miles’ eyes narrow on me as Jake’s grip around my waist tightens, pulling me flush against him, so I can feel him getting harder against my back. His breath flutters against my ear, making me shiver.

“Because I’m not in the mood to dispose of a body when he goes all possessive arsehole on us and kills the delivery driver for looking at you for a little too long. But you knew that already, didn’t you, Gorgeous Girl?” Miles replies, his eyes assessing me.

Before I can respond, the doorbell rings again. “Hold that thought,” Miles says as he rushes off to answer the door.

He’s back a few minutes later with the pizza, but me and Jake are still in the same position, neither of us daring to move while he’s gone. Miles places the pizza on the table and walks over to us, his dark glare back again.

“You can answer now,” he tells me, and I have to force my brain to try and remember what his bloody question was.

“I-I… No, I—” I stutter, trying to find the right words.

Miles cuts me off with a laugh. “Tell me the truth, Gorgeous Girl, or I will punish you.”

I let out a huff, knowing he’ll be able to tell if I’m lying, so there really is no point.

Though, for a fraction of a second, I consider taking the punishment, as I’m really that desperate, but I push that thought away.

It’d be my luck he opts for orgasm denial as my punishment, and that might really kill me.

“Fine. I dressed like this because I wanted to drive you both as crazy as you do me. I mean, Jake, you kiss me every night and every morning, but that’s as far as it ever goes.

And you, Miles, you hold me and sleep with me each night, but other than the odd kiss on my forehead or cheek, you do nothing.

“I’m pretty sure you’re fooling around with each other, meaning I’m the one that’s feeling left out and frustrated.

So you can hardly blame me for wanting to do something.

” As soon as I start, the words just tumble out.

I have so much more that’s about to spill out, so I’m pleased when Jake cuts in.

“You sleep together every night?” Jake doesn’t hide the hurt in his voice, and my stomach drops as guilt overwhelms me.

Miles lets out a loud groan as he shakes his head. “I think we have a major communication breakdown here, and if we don’t get it sorted, this will never work between us. We have to be open and honest with each other.”

My stomach flips, and for a moment, I consider not saying what’s on my mind, but that sort of goes against everything he just said. So I take a deep breath and let it out.

“Is there something between us then? I’ve been waiting, giving you time to come around.

We’ve all just been going with the flow, but I’m not sure that’s working.

I’ve been going crazy thinking something is going on between the two of you, and it’s not out of jealousy.

It’s because I’m not included. I’m terrified you’ve decided to be together without me, as you liked each other long before I ever came along. ”

Jake’s hold on me tightens, his thumb rubbing reassuring circles against my stomach, as he presses a gentle kiss against my neck. Miles closes the distance between us, stopping when he’s right in front of me.

There’s a pain in his eyes that I hate seeing, but when he rests his hand on my face, his thumb stroking over my cheek, I’m relieved to see the smile he gives me.

“We never wanted you to feel like that, Gorgeous Girl.”

“We’re nothing without you,” Jake adds.

His voice against my ear sends a shudder down my spine, and for the first time in days, I feel like I can really breathe.

Miles lets out another sigh, looking a little deflated as he stares at me with his beautiful blue eyes.

“Part of this is my fault. I’ve been letting my body and my heart guide me in the moment, but then my own insecurities get into my head, and that’s prevented me from communicating properly with you both. So why don’t we do that now?”

Miles takes hold of my hand and starts leading me over to the couch. Jake doesn’t let go of me, allowing himself to be pulled along with us.

When I go to sit, Jake picks me up and sits first, pulling me onto his lap. He wraps his arms around me again, snuggling his face into the crook of my neck, making me feel warm and safe.

Miles sits beside us, a small smile on his face when he sees how comfortable we are. At first, there’s silence, as if we’re each waiting for someone else to start. Ever the grown-up of the group, Miles clears his throat to speak first.

“I’ve been spending time with each of you, working on the issues I need to overcome from the past. As you know, my insecurities won’t go away overnight, but I am trying to build trust with you both.”

Initially, he addresses both of us, his bright-blue eyes flicking between us as he speaks. Then he pauses, pulls in a breath, and turns to Jake.

“Jake, I’ve been sleeping in Dee’s room since she moved in because she has nightmares. That first night, her screaming woke me up, and I rushed in to check on her. I stayed, as it was the only way she’d be able to get back to sleep. The second night, the same thing happened.

“When I’m with her, she’s able to sleep without nightmares disturbing her, so I kept joining her each night after that. It’s not something we discussed. I just went to her every night, wanting to help in any way I could.”

Jake groans loudly beside my ear, and I turn to see him roughly dragging one of his hands through his dirty-blond hair, pulling on the ends slightly in frustration. When his gaze meets mine, he looks almost like he’s in pain.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were having nightmares, Baby? I could have helped.”

The flutters in my stomach almost turn into a tornado when he calls me baby , while the rest of my body floods with embarrassment at him learning how weak I am. My cheeks flush and I drop my gaze, unable to bear the way he’s staring at me.

“I would have told you, but our time together gave me the opportunity to talk to Miles, and we really needed that. We talked about our past, and we both explained our sides of the story, helping each other understand why things happened the way that they did. I didn’t want to lose that,” I admit, hoping like hell Jake doesn’t take my admission the wrong way.

When his lips tip up into an understanding smile, I breathe a sigh of relief. “That’s fair,” he says, pressing a kiss to my neck that makes me shiver.

Miles agrees with me. “I’m grateful that it gave us the time to talk, too.

It certainly helped me understand a little more, and it’s the reason I decided to give you a second chance.

But I am sorry I didn’t communicate that properly.

Honestly, I only recently decided that I was going to try and leave the past where it belongs, and I didn’t know how to bring it up. ”