Page 80

Lucas

“Do you think he’ll be done soon?” Haven asks from where she’s cocooned in a hammock on Colton’s back porch.

“Not sure,” I answer honestly. “Sometimes these meetings take a long time.”

She sighs, and it sounds more disappointed than frustrated. “I’m worried he’s going to work himself to death.”

“He won’t, doll,” Xander says. “He just needs to find a balance, that’s all.”

It’s been two weeks since we got Haven back. Her anxiety has calmed significantly, to the point where she doesn’t need all three of us with her anymore. She still can’t be alone, but she did perfectly fine when it was just her and Xander here yesterday. It’s a huge improvement, one that I know has taken a lot of work on her part to get to.

“Things will even out on their own,” I add. “He has to put in a lot of work up front so he can establish himself as the head of the Rooks. He has to prove that he’s committed.”

At that, Haven pushes herself into a sitting position. Her purple hair falls over her shoulders, catching the sunlight. When she told us that Isaiah made her cut it, she couldn’t stop crying. The next day, Athelia came over with hair dye and determination in her eyes, and they dyed all of Haven’s hair the same shade of dark purple that it was before.

“But he is committed,” Haven says.

“We know that.” Xander gestures between the three of us. “But there are still some people who’re uneasy about someone so young leading the organization.”

“Well, they’re stupid for thinking that, and if Colton doesn’t start balancing things, I’m going to force him to.”

I grin. Haven has gotten a lot of her fire back, especially in the past week. She still falls into flashbacks and panic attacks more than she used to, but those are slowing as well. Someday soon, I’m hoping I’ll be able to hear her laugh and know it’s completely genuine.

“Yeah?” Xander asks, tone teasing. “How’re you gonna do that? Gonna pick him up and carry him out of his office when you think he’s worked enough for the day?”

“I don’t need to,” she says, her smile smug. “I’ll ask Lucas to do it for me.”

“Ask Lucas to do what?” Colton asks as he steps onto the porch.

Haven springs up and practically falls out of the hammock on her way to him. The cuts on her feet have healed, as have her bruises. It’s nice to watch her move around without seeing her wince every few seconds.

“You’re done?” Haven asks.

“Mmhmm.”

Slipping her arms around Colton’s neck, she pulls him down for a kiss. He grabs her ass and hoists her up until she wraps her legs around his torso. As Colton carries Haven over to the chaise lounge, the kiss deepens, turning slow and languid.

“You’re killing me, angel,” Colton groans against her mouth.

That doesn’t stop her. As Colton sits so Haven is straddling his lap, she runs her fingers through his hair. Turns out, it’s one of his weaknesses. The moment she starts playing with it, he folds, and our girl has learned to exploit that.

Beside me, Xander leans forward. He’s watches them with rapt attention. None of us have gone further than kissing with Haven, despite her begging. I understand why she wants it, but I’m not willing to risk hurting her more.

Months ago, I probably would’ve been on board. Xander and Colton definitely would’ve been. But things have changed. We’ve changed. I want to protect Haven—not just her body, but her heart, too.

I’m not sure how much longer we can hold out, though. She wants this, and I haven’t forgotten what she told us all those months ago. This is her body. She knows what she wants—what she can handle. I don’t want to take away her agency. I just don’t want to accidentally go too far, either.

“Haven,” Colton grits out.

I turn my attention back to them to find Haven kissing Colton’s neck. He’s not doing much to stop her, though. In fact, he tips his head back to give her easier access. When she grinds her hips against his, he grabs on to her waist, not to stop her but to egg her on.

“Fuck,” Xander mutters. “What I’d give to be him right now.”

“You say that like she didn’t make out with both of us for twenty minutes when we first came out here.”

“Yeah, but that was, like, a half hour ago.” His eyes turn dark with hunger. “Just look at her. Tell me you don’t feel the same.”

“You know I do.”

In her little black sundress and with her purple hair falling down her back, she looks like she’s something straight out of a dream. I want her body against mine while she’s moaning against my lips. Even better, I want her trapped in between me and Xander while we overstimulate her until she cries.

“Tell me you want this,” Colton says, and I realize Haven has moved his hands to her shoulders, slowly helping him pull the straps of her dress down her arms. “Hav-Haven, promise me.”

“I promise,” she says softly. “I don’t want him to be the last person who touched me like this. I need it. I need you.”

Colton stares at her for a few seconds, seemingly paralyzed. His eyes flit up to her face, and then he gives in. He yanks her dress down the rest of the way and dives in. Haven cries out when he sucks one of her nipples into his mouth.

When her head falls back, I can’t take it anymore. I’m standing next to her in a split second, fisting the hair at the base of her neck. I keep my grip gentle as I lean down and seal my mouth to hers in a searing kiss.

Haven melts, and when Xander moves to her other side and rolls her free nipple between his fingers, she gasps.

“Is this why you were so impatient for Colton to come outside?” Xander teases. “Couldn’t wait for all three of us to have our hands on you?”

I don’t let Haven reply. My other hand is wrapped around her throat in a possessive grip, and my tongue is sliding over hers. She’s turned pliant under our touches, completely willing to let us have our way with her.

“You want more?” Colton asks.

When Haven nods breathlessly, he smirks and slides his hand into her panties. Haven lets out a sharp exhale against my mouth when he finds her clit. I pull back to watch her eyes widen, and then I lean into her again. My lips move against hers in a slow, dominating kiss that she falls into without hesitation.

All the attention is on Haven, just as it should be. I want her to feel all of us, to know that we have her. This is a huge step, one that could trigger a flood of horrifying memories, and I don’t want that.

“I love you, little fawn,” I whisper against Haven’s lips.

When she looks up at me with those soft brown eyes of hers, I smile. There isn’t any fear in her expression. Only trust and a nonverbal reciprocation of what I just said to her.

“So fuckin’ pretty,” I mutter before kissing again.

As Colton fingers her and Xander sucks on her nipples, I eat up Haven’s moans. Even though it’s only been a couple weeks, I’ve missed seeing Haven like this. I’ve craved her, and not being able to have her has only made the need worse.

So I squeeze the sides of her neck until her eyes go unfocused from the sensations paired with the lack of blood flow to her brain. When I ease up, her lips part on a surprised gasp.

“I’m coming. Oh my god, Colt.”

We all watch as Haven tumbles into her orgasm. Her head tips back, and her eyes slide shut for the briefest of moments. But when Xander leans down and goes back to sucking her nipples, they fly open again.

“Xan!” Her back arches into him as she cries out.

It’s such a captivating sight that I can’t stop myself from kissing her again. She sobs against my mouth as neither Xander nor Colton let up.

“Lift yourself up a couple inches, angel,” Colton says, and the moment she does, he slips his fingers into her. “Such a good girl. Tell me how this feels.”

“Fuck,” she gasps. “God, please don’t stop. Please.”

It’s not a direct answer to Colton’s question, but he doesn’t push her, so it must be good enough for him. He curls his fingers into her, watching as her eyes roll back into her head.

“Play with her clit,” Colton commands.

I’m not sure if he’s talking to me or Xander, but I shove my hand into Haven’s panties before he has a chance to. Xander shoots me a playful glare, but I lean over Haven to kiss him, and when I straighten, he doesn’t look as pissed.

“Luc,” Haven gasps when my fingers slide over her clit.

“I love how wet you are for us, little fawn.” I kiss her temple. “You’ve got no idea how hard it makes me.”

With a whimper, Haven glances longingly at where my cock is straining against my pants. I still have a hand in her hair, so I tug it until she’s looking up at me instead.

“You’re perfect,” I tell her softly. “You know that?”

Our girl blushes. When she tries to look away, I capture her mouth in a kiss that washes away every ounce of her bashfulness. She arches upward, trying to get more of me, and I’m happy to give it to her. My tongue slips into her mouth, and she sucks on it with a wanton moan.

Colton and I keep working her while Xander plays with her nipples. After a minute, Colton tries to readjust his hand, but there isn’t enough room. With a frustrated grunt, he rips her panties off her body and tosses them aside. Haven gasps at the sound of the fabric ripping, but my lips are already on hers again.

“There.” He slips two fingers inside her again. “Much better.”

“Oh, god.” She grabs at Xander until she has a firm grip on his arm. Her other hand finds Colton’s shoulder. “Wait! Colt—Colt, god, you’re gonna make me squirt.”

“That’s the idea, yeah.”

I add a little more pressure to Haven’s clit as I stroke it in tight circles. Between that and whatever Colton does with his fingers, Haven goes slack in our arms. Her lips brush against mine as her head falls back.

A fire lights in Colton’s eyes when she cries out. “Yeah, that’s it. Make a mess all over my fingers.”

I glance down just in time to see liquid gush onto Colton’s hand. Xander swears under his breath, and I realize he’s watching, too.

“Don’t stop, angel. Be a good girl for us.”

Haven is squirming, but Colton isn’t showing any signs of stopping, and neither am I. When she squirts again, it’s with a scream, and I realize she’s coming, too.

Watching Haven lose herself in the euphoria of surrendering herself eases some of the tension I’ve been carrying for weeks. This isn’t just a physical release for her. It’s an emotional one, too. She’s setting herself free from the protective cage she locked herself in when Isaiah took her. She’s reclaiming her body, and I’m honored that she’s letting us help her.

“Lucas,” Haven chokes out. “Luc, s-stop.”

I slow my hand, but Colton only goes harder. With a shocked moan, Haven sways to the side until she’s leaning into me. I hold her steady, dropping a kiss to the top of her head as I do.

“One more time,” Colton says. “I know you have it in you.”

Haven sobs as she squirts again, soaking Colton’s shorts. The sight of it makes me want to rip this dress off her, pin her to the floor, and fuck her until she’s squirting like that all over my cock. I feel practically feral with need over it, but I keep myself contained. This is about Haven, not me.

When Colton finally stops, he stares down at his crotch. Based on the way Haven bites the inside of her cheek, I think she’s worried he’ll be disgusted, but instead he looks up at her and grins.

“Knew you could do it.” He kisses her, and his lips move against hers softly, reverently. “That was beautiful, angel.”

“More.” Haven palms Colton’s cock through his shorts. “I want all of you.”

“No.” Colton is panting, and it looks like it’s taking all his willpower and then some to push her hand away. “Not yet.”

I’m sure she’s about to protest, but after a second of indecision, she nods.

“You’re probably right,” she admits. “I just…”

“We miss it, too, doll.” Xander fixes her dress so she’s covered again. “But our priority is keeping you safe. From others, from us, and from yourself.”

That makes her go soft, and she pulls him in for a kiss. When he leans back, Haven’s eyes are glassy.

Hoping it’ll give her some sort of comfort, I slide my hand up and down her back. “How’re you feeling?”

“Good,” she whispers, but a tear falls onto her cheek.

Colton frowns, and his clean hand comes up to thumb it away. “You’re crying.”

“They’re good tears,” she croaks out. “I—I just don’t know what I’d do without you three. God, I’d be dead without you. I love you. All of you.” She makes sure to glance at me, and then at Xander, before returning her gaze back to Colton. “Thank you.”

Frowning, Colton shakes his head. “You don’t have to thank us.”

“You saved me,” she says as another tear falls. “You may have broken me, but you kept your promise. You three put me back together, and you’re doing it again now. I… I’d be lost without you.”

“Pretty sure we’d be lost without you, too, doll,” Xander says. He nudges her chin so she’s looking at him. “And we love you, too.”

Haven glances between the three of us again, and despite her tears, there’s hope in her eyes. She even smiles a little.

We’re still a long, long way off from her full recovery, but I can see it. With every improvement, no matter how small, a little more life returns to Haven’s eyes. Slowly, she’s finding her way back to herself—back to us. And with every day, she moves a little further away from Cornerstone’s reach.