Page 29 of Twisted Trails (Rogue Riders Duet #2)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Alaina

The Kaiserschmarrn is warm and sweet, fluffy like clouds soaked in vanilla, and somehow, Piper managed to make it in a frying pan that is older than most of us.

I sit at the table with her on one side and Mason on the other, chewing slowly as I rub my neck. There’s a hickey there, one of many .

Luc went feral in the lavender field. When I caught my reflection the next morning, marked collarbone to ribs with purple-red declarations, my only thought was, is he an animal?

The answer is yes , but he’s my animal, and I don’t regret a damn second of it.

I scrape up the last bit of caramelized edge, chasing it across my plate before leaning back with a satisfied sigh. Piper made magic, real magic. Even Mason looks like he’s actually enjoying himself, his face relaxed, shoulders loose, and when I glance over, he’s already smiling at me.

And just like that, butterflies take off in my chest again, flapping straight up into my throat. It’s ridiculous how easy it is for him to make me nervous with just a look, considering he can calm me just as easily with another.

Our lips touched yesterday.

And I know he didn’t want that, it was an accident, or rather, Luc being a menace, but here he is, close enough that I can smell him—pine, cold air, and something that reminds me of moss after rain—and my stupid lips remember the feel of his all too well.

I shift in my seat, pressing my palm over the fading mark on my neck again, but it doesn’t help. My gaze goes to Luc, who is busy charming the life out of Piper.

He’s got one leg kicked out, elbow on the table, grinning like sin as he says, “You should be grateful , you know. It’s just because I like you that I’m letting you put some aside for Otis and Dane. Tough luck when they sleep in.”

Piper rolls her eyes. “If you don’t save at least a little for Jim and élise, I swear?—”

“Fine, fine.” Luc pulls his hands up like he’s surrendering. “You guilted me with the parents. That’s cruel.”

I smile faintly, even as something sharp slices through my chest.

Because everyone is here.

Dane. Piper. Otis. Jim. élise. Luc. Even Mason.

But not Finn.

And I hate how fast the ache takes over.

The grief, guilt, and longing all mixed into one unspoken mess because I can’t stop thinking about him either.

About how he was there at the hospital, because apparently, Luc made him come in to get tested with us.

I only saw him for maybe a split second, but when he looked at me, the look in his eyes wasn’t anger. It was agony .

Is he still hurting from the punch?

Of course he is, Dane broke his fucking nose.

But what if he thought I asked Luc to make him go ?

That I didn’t trust him? That I thought he’d…

Fuck. I hate that it bothers me.

It shouldn’t. He was just as reckless as I was. Neither of us were thinking straight. But still, he bothers me.

Always has.

Even now, with Luc being everything I’ve wanted and needed sitting right here , kissing me, biting me, loving me loud.

The test results came in this morning, and everyone is fine, which should be the end of it, but it’s not, because while I’m sitting here full of sugar and warmth, touching the marks Luc left behind, trying not to get high off the way Mason smells, all I can think is, Why does everything with Finn still hurt like this?

A hand comes from my left and tilts my chin toward it. I blink, startled, and look up into Mason’s dark brown eyes. His fingers are warm against my skin, and he’s searching my face like I just said something without speaking. My heart stutters, and the space between us shrinks into nothing.

“You’ve got some powdered sugar on your cheek, Bambi,” he murmurs, sounding amused.

I open my mouth to respond, but then, out of nowhere, Luc is behind Mason. He leans over, his breath hot against my cheek. “I’ve got that for you,” Luc murmurs, and then he licks me.

Right across the spot next to my mouth where Mason was looking, like I’m the last bite of dessert he refuses to let go to waste.

My breath catches—no, punches right out of my lungs—because Mason is still holding my chin, and I can’t look away from him while Luc’s tongue is on me.

Mason’s eyes go even darker, and my thighs press together instinctively, my whole body suddenly humming with awareness. Luc kisses the spot he just licked before stepping back with a wicked grin, but Mason doesn’t let go of me.

His gaze is still locked on mine, and I can’t breathe, can’t think, because they’re both looking at me now like I’m something they’re about to eat.

In the best way.

My bottom lip slips between my teeth out of reflex, because what the hell else am I supposed to do when my entire body just short-circuited ?

Mason lifts his thumb and brushes it along my bottom lip. Then he presses just enough to pull it free from my teeth. My breath catches in my throat, and heat floods me while my nipples tighten under my hoodie, and I swear I can feel my heartbeat between my legs.

I shift slightly in my seat, trying to breathe, trying to think, but all I can focus on is the way Mason’s eyes linger on my mouth, and the fact that Luc is still watching with that devilish curve to his lips, like he knows.

My gaze flicks from Mason’s mouth to Luc’s and back again.

I’m so fucked.

Luc stretches behind Mason and smirks like he knows exactly what he just did to my body chemistry. “Come on, Mase, let’s do the dishes. The lady cooked.”

Piper raises a brow from across the table. “ Yes , that’s literally the minimum. ”

“I can help,” I say quickly, already moving to stand. “I didn’t cook?—”

Luc places a firm hand on my shoulder and pushes me right back into my seat. Then he presses a quick, warm kiss to my lips. It leaves a flutter in my chest even though it barely lasts a second.

“You rest. We’ve got this.”

He and Mason start clearing the table, passing plates and moving around each other like they’ve done this a dozen times, and I just sit there, watching.

Because holy hell .

They’re adorable .

I bet Mason doesn’t even realize he’s smiling, that small, rare curve of his mouth that slips out when Luc leans too close or nudges him with a hip.

He blushes when Luc kisses his cheek, face flushing all the way to his ears, and he tries to brush it off with a mutter and a shoulder bump that makes Luc grin like he’s just won something.

It’s like watching two storms settle into each other’s orbit.

And it hits me, deep in the center of my chest, a slow, curling ache that’s equal parts want and need .

I’m not jealous of Mason having this closeness with Luc, I’m jealous of what Luc gets from Mason.

Those soft smiles, shy glances, and the way Mason relaxes into Luc’s touch without even seeming to realize he’s doing it.

I want that.

Not instead of Luc or anything else.

I just want all of it.

Everything Mason is giving, everything I’ve only gotten pieces of.

When the fuck did I get this selfish?

Piper nudges me with her elbow.

I blink, pulled back to earth. “What’s up?”

“Come on.” She tilts her head toward the door. “Let’s go for a walk.”

I nod, grateful for the excuse to stand, to move, to breathe .

“Okay.” I throw one last glance at the boys as I follow her out.

We step outside, and the fresh air wraps around us like a breath I didn’t know I needed. The house quiets behind us, the muffled sound of clattering dishes and low voices fading into the rustle of wind through trees.

I shove my hands into the sleeves of Luc’s hoodie, which I may or may not have stolen this morning. Sue me.

“Where are Dane and Otis anyway?” I ask, kicking at a stone on the path.

“Dane’s still sleeping, and I bet Otis is too. élise and Jim went out for a walk earlier.”

“So, you know Dane’s still sleeping because you guys shared a bed or?—”

“Shut up,” Piper snaps without heat.

I snicker. “So you two are a thing now?”

She stops walking, turns to face me fully, and for the briefest moment, she’s looking almost nervous. “I’m in a relationship with your brother. Is that okay?”

“ Yes! ” I squeal, lunging forward to throw my arms around her, cringing a little when that jolts my fingers. “Yes, that’s more than okay. I’m so excited. You have my blessing for marriage. Kids. Grandkids. All of it.”

“Stop that shit.” She groans, laughing. “It just came together yesterday , okay?”

“Yes, and I gave you my blessing for the full generational package. ”

Piper shoves my shoulder. “You’re unbelievable, you know that?”

I shrug with a grin and start walking again. “So, how did that happen?”

“I don’t know. It just happened, but it feels right.”

I reach out to grab her hand and squeeze it. “I’m so happy for you guys.”

“Thanks.” She smiles at me and squeezes my hand back before she lets go of me. “But the more interesting thing is, what’s going on with you ? Because it looks like you’ve got two guys falling all over themselves for you. I mean, Delacroix is nothing new, but I didn’t know Payne was in on it.”

I laugh. “They’re not falling all over themselves for me. They fall over themselves, period.”

“I gathered that part, but I thought it was like a three-way thing. Like a happy little polycule.”

“Polycule?” I repeat, snorting. “What’s that?”

“Poly…” she explains, “… is when you have more than one lover, and they all know about it and agree. And sometimes they love each other too. Like Mason and Luc.”

“Oh.” I blink.

Is that what we are?

The thought settles in my chest like warm honey. A little messy, but right.

I think about yesterday and how we went for a ride on the motocross bikes.

The warmth. The touches. The quiet glances. If we could have that, it would be a freaking dream, but no matter how much I’d like that, it’s not like that.

“We’re not all together. I’m with Luc, and Luc is with Mason.”

Piper quirks a brow. “So Delacroix’s the main character again, huh?”

I laugh. “It’s not like that.”