Ever After Awaits (Layla) novel Chapter 34

Chapter 34: Layla POV

Monday morning unfolds with a rare, fragile calm, a quiet reprieve from the storm of the weekend. By the time I drag myself downstairs, still bleary–eyed from a restless night, Michael has already left for the office. My mom is still cocooned in her bedroom, hadn’t woken up yet. The house is silent, save for the soft hum of the refrigerator and the distant chirping of birds outside. Small miracles, I guess, that I don’t have to navigate their questions or forced cheer this morning.

When I eventually got home last night, and being true to her word, Moira was waiting for me. The sight of her in the dim glow of the kitchen, stirring a steaming mug of hot cocoa topped with a generous handful of mini marshmallows, was like a balm to my frayed nerves. She sat with me while we enjoyed our drinks, not pushing me for answers or an explanation. That meant more to me than she could ever have known. Just having her next to me, knowing she’s there for me, ready to listen whenever I am, soothed the last of my haggard soul.

The guys have been suspiciously quiet, but I suspect Moira might have something to do with that. She probably asked them to give me space till I was ready.

The thing is, though, I’m not sure when that’ll be. My feelings are raw and brittle right now. And, if they decide to pity me or attempt to “fix” my problems, I might step back from them completely. I don’t need saving, I don’t need their platitudes about how “it’ll all be okay“, and I don’t need them to coddie me because they think I might break.

For now, though, I’m stuck in a holding pattern, waiting to see what they’ll do next. That will determine how they’ll feature in my future.

My first two classes of the day pass in a blur, the professors‘ voices a steady drone that keeps my mind from wandering too far. By the time I settle into a corner of the student center with a quick lunch–a slightly soggy turkey sandwich and a gloriously strong coffee that burns my tongue just right–the events of last night have been pushed to the back of my mind, a problem to be dealt with later. I spread out my morning’s class notes on the table, the pages filled with my hurried scrawl, and let the familiar rhythm of studying anchor me.

–

With a few hours before my next class, I decide to get a head start on a new assignment handed out in my sociology class this morning. It chance to kil two birds with one stone make progress and keep my thoughts from spiraling. I pull out my laptop, the screen casting a soft glow as I dive into a rob hole of online articles. My fingers fly across the keyboard, outlining a draft concept for the assignment, pulling quotes from scholarly journals, and e referencing sources to support my hypothesis. The world around me fades, the chatter of students, the clatter of trays, the faint indie music playing student center’s speakers, all of it blurs into white noise as I lose myself in the work.

I feel someone take the seat to my left, and two more burly bodies slide onto the seat on the other side of the table.

“Good morning, Sunshine,” Cade’s smooth voice whispers in my ear while his sandalwood and freshly cut grass aroma envelops me like a warm hug.

Deciding to ignore last night’s events, at least for now, I tilt my head in his direction and realize he leaned over so close when he spoke in my ear, that our noses are almost touching.

I’m momentarily stunned to realize that even though his eyes are predominantly light blue, navy blue encircles his pupil before it gradually bleeds into the lighter shade. It’s mesmerizing.

“Hey,” I breathe as my heart stutters, and a sudden urge overcomes me to lean over and taste his lips.

Cade must pick up on my internal thoughts, because the next thing I know he’s leaning closer as he says, “I’m going to kiss you now Layla.”

Before I can object (not that I would have – I’m not stupid), his soft lips touch mine in a tentative kiss. The effect is immediate and my whole body sags into him, almost as if it instinctively knows that Cade is our safe place. Or at least, one of them.

His right arm slips around my back, his hand instinctively going to my hip, and then he tugs me closer to him. Not in an obscene way, just enough that my whole torso is now melded to the side of his. And honestly, I’m here for it.

Our kisses, this one and the previous few we’ve shared have never gone further than being a sensual glide of one pair of lips tasting and exploring the other. But when he slides his tongue over my bottom lip, subtly requesting entrance to my mouth, I give it to him without hesitation.

His tongue slowly makes a sensual circle inside my mouth before it retracts, but I’m having none of that and my tongue instinctively chases his back into his mouth. This makes him groan softly and my core tightens at the knowledge that I caused that reaction in him.

A throat clears and makes us come to our senses. We slowly pull apart, but our gaze is still locked, drowning in the emotion swirling in the other’s eyes.

We slowly turn toward where the interruption came from, and I suddenly realize we completely forgot about Hunter and Al’s presence on the other side of

the table.

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Chapter 34: Layla POV

The lascivious smile on Hunter’s face, coupled with both of them adjusting themselves below the table, has my cheeks instantly burning up.

“Now that was hot as fuck,” Hunter declares and winks at me.

“I second that motion,” Al says, shifting his leg under the table to play footsy with me, Some people would find it childish, but I think it’s incredibly swert

Somewhere during our lip–lock, my left hand drifted to Cade’s upper thigh and go far.

my right one gripped the front of his t–shirt as if I was reluctant to let him

I lean back to create much–needed space between us, but he has other ideas. Slipping his other hand over mine where it rests on his chest, he leans in and places a chaste kiss below my ear. The shudder the small act causes is immediate and evident to everyone at our table.

“How’s our girl feeling today?” Cade speaks close to my ear but still loud enough that the other two can hear what he says.

“Your girl?” I ask incredulously but not hating the idea.

If you had asked me three months ago if I would ever entertain the idea of being interested in more than one guy, simultaneously, while all the men involved knew about each other and encouraged the arrangement, I would have asked you if you were delusional.

But after meeting these three men, building separate but significant connections with each of them, while also being attracted to them sexually, has m me way more susceptible to the idea.

“Yes, Cupcake,” AJ pipes up as Cade runs his nose along my neck, causing goosebumps to pebble

my skin.

“Qurs.”

The intensity with which he says that one word, has my insides melting and my core warming up. My rational mind is telling me that we shouldn’t be having this discussion here much less should Cade be seducing my body with his featherlight touches. But my body is screaming at me not to move an inch. And who am I to disobey her?

Hunter’s molasses–like voice pours over me next, “Only if you want Beautiful. But be assured, we’re completely on board if you want to explore being with all three of us.”

During Hunter’s declaration, Cade started placing soft kisses behind my ear and in the crook of my neck causing AJ’s pupils to dilate the desire he’s trying to tamp down at what he’s looking at.

Their words, actions, and touches make it difficult for me to think straight. But honestly, I don’t want to be rational anymore.

–

a clear indication of

I don’t want to be the one who’s cautious and has difficulty stepping out of their comfort zone anymore. The one who rarely experiences new things because she’s fearful of what others might think of her. The one who’s still a virgin because the idea of being vulnerable with a man seemed less of a risk than possibly having your heart broken.

Fuck it. I’m ready to start living my life.

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