Tigerlily walks into the bathroom, and the click of the door makes my heart race.
I turn to Callum and Zephyr, chest still heaving from what just happened, from having her in front of them like that.
“That was the first time I slept with her,” I say.
“What?” Callum’s voice cuts through the silence.
Zephyr doesn’t say anything. His jaw works but no words come out.
I run my hands through my hair, tugging at the roots until it hurts. “I can’t fucking do this with you two.”
“So what then?” Callum’s arms cross over his chest.
I shrug even though everything inside me is screaming. I can still smell her on my skin, still feel the ghost of her fingers digging into my shoulders, the way she deep-throated my dick.
“You’ll lose her,” Callum adds.
“No.” The word comes out sharp. “You two need to back off.”
“Dude.” Callum’s voice rises.
“That’s not what she wants,” Zephyr says.
“You can have her publicly, Jax.” Callum’s tone shifts, trying to be reasonable.
Zephyr and Callum look at each other, and it ticks me off. That silent communication, that fucking telepathy like I’m the odd one out, even though I’m fucking not.
“I agree.” Zephyr nods. “She’s yours in that way.”
I shake my head and mock, “In that way?What the fuck does that even mean?”
“I’m going to help her shower,” Callum says.
“You’re not.” My hand shoots out, grabbing his arm.
Callum ignores me and knocks on the door, shaking off my grip with ease. He turns to Zephyr and sighs.
Zephyr pats my back. “She’s made her choice clear.” He walks off.
The water shuts off in the bathroom, and my fingers tighten around my phone. I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, same spot I’ve been in for twenty minutes, listening to the murmur of Callum’s voice through the door. Too low to make out words. Too intimate to ignore.
When they finally emerge, Tigerlily’s wrapped in my towel. Her hair is slicked back from Callum’s hands and there’s a softness in her expression that makes my stomach turn.
“I’m going to make something to eat,” she says, not quite meeting my eyes.
I watch her walk out, Callum trailing behind her like a lost puppy who just found his way home.
Zephyr appears in the doorway, leaning against the frame. “You good?”
“Do I look good?”
“You look like you’re about to put your fist through a wall.”
I stand and prowl to the window. The morning light is too bright. I don’t say anything because with each passing minute, I get more fucking mad. This was never the plan. I never wanted to share her.
Zephyr pushes off the doorframe. “I care about her.” He looks down the hall and says, “Cal does too.”
And there it is. The impossible situation. The corner I’m backed into.
