Picking up the abandoned stool, I decided to hit the man's head hard enough to render him unconscious since he could not see me from his position.
I just hoped I wouldn't miss.
Before I could move though, the door was pushed open wider and Cole barged inside, probably having heard the noise from the driveway.
"Christ. Jasper, get off him!" His eyes quickly took in the scene while he moved to push Jasper off before landing a hard punch on the man's face and then doing the same to his stomach.
My attacker must have realised he was outnumbered now because he shoved at Cole before getting to his feet and sprinting out the doorway. It was only then that I had the presence of mind to call an ambulance for Jasper who lay there gasping with a bleeding arm as Cole bent over to check on him.
***
"They'll get him, baby," Cole reassured me in his warm voice as he smoothed back the hair from my forehead. "Please don't be scared, okay. The alarm system is installed and I'll be awake the entire night checking on you."
I shook my head. "You don't have to do that," I said with a small frown.
It was late that evening and I was still shaken up from my encounter. I had lived alone for so long and nothing like this had ever happened to me. Nobody had ever attacked me, robbed me or tried to rape me. I shuddered at the thought and Cole pulled me in for a hug. His clean scent was comforting but he had stayed with me for far too long. I needed to be stronger than this.
The hospital had sent Jasper home hours ago after stitching him up and he was told to rest because of the injury. We had given our statements to the police, described the man as thoroughly as possible and remained in a state of heightened nervousness because he had not been caught yet and I was scared he might try this sort of thing again. I was scared of leaving the house. Period.
Cole had been with me since we got home while Jasper lay in bed, sleeping. They had given him a sedative for the pain.
"You need to go check on him," I reminded Cole and he sighed.
"Yeah. I'll come back later, okay. Will you be alright?"
I nodded and kissed him, my lips clinging to him desperately because I did not want him to leave. I didn't want to be alone tonight but Jasper needed him. He was winded after the fight and hurt. Someone had to be there with him tonight.
"I love you," I told Cole softly and he tightened his arms around me.
"You're safe," he whispered to me, kissing my hair. "You're safe now. I won't let anything like this happen again."
I let go of him because I knew he would not do it himself and gave him a gentle push. "Go be with Jasper."
Smiling a little, he squeezed my hand and backed away.
When he left, I sat up against the headboard, wrapped my arms around my knees and waited, trying not to remember the horrid details of this morning's attack. Shit. If Jasper had not been at home...
I started to cry again. It had been bad enough experiencing something like that and then having to relive it for the police. I did not want to keep thinking about it but nothing I did helped distract me. Every sound made me jump a little and look around the place to make sure the doors were locked and the windows closed properly.
Cole had even called a security systems company that same afternoon and had a house alarm installed just for me. So I could sleep better at night. But even if he did come back to sleep with me, I would be too worried about Jasper lying in the dark, injured and alone.
I squeezed my eyes shut because the pain and fear were too much for me to handle. And the guilt. He had gotten hurt because he had been trying to save me.
~~~
Cole
"Jasper? Here, drink this." I held the glass of water up to his lips and he groaned a little before lifting his head and taking some sips.
"Mother. Fucker," he growled as he scowled at me. "What did they give me? I can barely move."
His words slurred together due to the effects of the painkillers.
"It's fine. The cut was deep. You know that. The painkillers will help. Do you need anything else?" I asked, massaging his bicep. The one that was not injured, of course.
"Skye," he whispered sleepily.
I frowned at him. "What?"
He blinked at me and tried to sit up, wincing. "Is she okay?"
Clearing my throat, I put away the glass of water and nodded. "She's...she'll be fine." I could not bring myself to lie. She wasn't okay. Physically, yes but listening to her recount the incident to the police had sent a chill through my bones that still had not left me. A simmering rage. I wanted to kill that man for laying his hands on her. On my beautiful angel.
"Have they found him yet?" Jasper slurred, narrowing his eyes at me, echoing my thoughts.
I shook my head.
He cursed again. "Don't let her go anywhere alone," he told me.
I tucked my tongue in my cheek, wanting to make some comment about how I knew how to take care of my girlfriend but I kept quiet. He was the reason she was safe tonight.
And he...seemed to care for her now. He thought I wasn't aware. They both thought that. But the way Skye's curiosity peaked every day about my intimate relationship with Jasper and his softening attitude towards her was kind of hard to miss. Did they think I was stupid? That I wouldn't notice?
And last night... I didn't even want to analyse that particular scenario. The little moment between Jasper and Skye when he had come to kiss me goodnight on the couch.
I had woken up as soon as I felt Skye stirring above me and heard her whisper. Jasper had brought her a blanket since she was the one who would be cold as my body was protected by her warmth on top of mine. And his tone as he had replied to her sleepy mumblings had been so...affectionate.
This could not be happening. I wasn't ready to deal with this shit. I simply was not ready and tonight was not the best time to bring it up, anyway so I leaned in to kiss Jasper's dry, cracked lips and ran my fingers through his hair.
"Get some rest, Wells," I said quietly.
He was as stubborn as always. "Cole, I have a shoot to prepare for. The gig is tomorrow morning. You need to give me something to fight the drowsiness. And bring me my laptop."
I raised my eyebrows at him. Usually, I did as he asked me to because Jasper knew what he was doing most of the time and I hardly felt the need to argue but this was stupid.
"You're not working, Jasper. For God's sake, just take a break. I need to check on Skye."
He opened his mouth to argue, closed it again and licked his lips. Then he looked at the door and said, "Hmm. You should do that. I'll be fine. You stay with her. I'll yell if I need anything."
As I moved to stand, something gave me pause and I looked down at my boyfriend suspiciously. "You are going back to sleep, right?" I asked him.
He nodded with a blank expression. "Of course."
I pursed my lips. The fucker did not fool me with that innocent tone. I knew him too well.
I sighed. "Jasper. You lost so much blood just hours ago," I reminded him sternly. "You need to rest up."
"Hey, guys."
We both glanced up at Skye who stood in the open doorway to our room and regarded us with a thoughtful expression.
"Is Jasper giving you trouble, honey?" she asked me in a soft voice.
Jasper rolled his eyes at her question while I gave her a miserable look. I felt torn. Jasper was definitely not going to listen to me and rest like he was supposed to and Skye was still freaked out so I felt bad about leaving her alone.
She smiled at me a little and shifted on the spot. "Is it okay if I come in?"
I held my breath. I actually stopped breathing for a few seconds when I realised she had never stepped inside this room before. It was kind of like crossing a line. This bedroom belonged to Jasper and I. It was the only place in this entire house where we could have privacy. It wasn't as though I minded her presence. It was just that inviting her in meant...something. I wasn't sure what.
Sensing my hesitation, Skye let out a sigh
and turned to leave.
"Wait, Skye."
Truth be told, I was exhausted. I had been running around for hours, literally, since this morning and then trying to take care of everything since the attack. Now I felt like splitting myself in two.
I couldn't be in both places at once. I couldn't leave either of them alone. So I did the only logical thing there was and blocked my mind against the implications of my actions.
"Get in bed," I told her and she stared at me in disbelief.
"Huh?"
Her gaze darted to Jasper and then to me nervously.
I licked my lips and patted the spot on the other side of me. "You can sleep here with me while I see to this asshole," I explained, glancing at Jasper who gave nothing of his thoughts away from his expression. "Is it alright with you? I don't want her to be alone. It's just sleeping."
He shrugged. That was all. A shrug followed by a slight wince when he moved his arm.
Awesome. When I needed him to say something regarding her, that was the one time he decided to keep his mouth shut.
"Come on, baby," I said to Skye with a pleading expression. "I'm so fucking tired. I need a break too."
She stepped into the room, keeping her eyes averted from mine and quietly slipped into bed beside me, her slender back to us. I exhaled in relief, thankful that there had been no drama preceding this little change and peeled off my t-shirt and jeans before sliding down in the middle of the bed.
Jasper looked at me for a while. I could tell he was itching to grab his laptop and do something with it but he refrained in order to let me have my peace. Letting out a rough breath, he slowly reclined against the pillows and closed his eyes.
Silence fell in the room. Awkward, tense silence. Our breathing was all there was to hear. I turned to my side and placed an arm around Skye's waist, spooning her from behind.
"You okay?" I asked in a whisper.
She placed her arm over mine and snuggled closer. "Mmm. Thank you."
I nuzzled her ear and reached out an arm to switch off the bedside lamp, holding her close, all the time aware of Jasper's strong presence next to me...feeling like his eyes were no longer closed but now fixed on the two of us, even in the dark.
~~~
Chapter 23
Jasper
"You look troubled," I commented as Cole drove me to work the next morning after having dropped Skye off at her client's place.
His brow was furrowed as he looked at the road. He had insisted on driving us both and had asked to be called again so he would be able to pick us up from work when we were done. It was ridiculous. My arm was still hurting but it was going to heal and I had hired an assistant for the shoot today to help me out. I could drive just fine with one hand but I didn't argue. My boyfriend looked stressed. In fact, he was the definition of stress right now and making sure I did not add to it was my top priority at the moment.
"You want a quickie?" I asked him just to mess with him a little when he did not respond to my statement.
He snorted and shook his head, still not saying anything.
"You're not very interested in having sex with me these days, are you?" I pointed out dryly. "Decided you like her pussy better than my dick now?"
He let out a tsk tsk sound and frowned at me. "Jasper. Let's not do this right now. Please. I love your dick. I always will," he promised, reaching out to stroke me over my jeans for emphasis.
It turned me on instantly.
"Pull over," I ordered him when said dick jerked in my pants at his touch. It was true we had not been having much sex these past several days except for our passionate reunion that night when I had returned from London and I wanted to fix that. Immediately.
"Wells. You're going to be late," Cole reminded me.
"Pull the fuck over. Right now."
He glanced at me a few times, saw the seriousness on my face and the hunger and complied, driving to a supermarket parking lot which thankfully wasn't that crowded.
I snapped my seatbelt open and he did the same, pushing his seat back to fumble with my zipper. "You're crazy, you know that?"
Good thing he took the day off today to play chaperone and chauffeur both. He wanted to be at my beck and call and I needed to come so bad.
"Shut up and take my cock in your mouth," I ordered, reclining in my seat as my erection sprang free and he bent forward.
I watched his dark head crowding my lap and let out a sigh of pleasure. Yes. Yes. This is exactly what I needed after the whole disaster of the previous day and then watching him wrapped around Skye all fucking night. It was like they had been glued together. Except that instead of the familiar jealousy, I just felt excluded.
He sucked me so good and I ran my fingers through his thick strands, fisting them. Closing my eyes, I gave in to the sensation and leaned my head back. A sudden vision of blue eyes and blonde hair filled my brain. As though she was right there next to me, wrapping her soft arms around my neck and kissing me with her pink, luscious lips.
"Fuck," I groaned and the fantasy made my explosion all the more blinding as I thrust my hips forward and let Cole swallow my load. "Baby. Oh, that's so good," I panted.
He straightened and wiped his mouth before smiling at me a little, his face flushed and eyes slumberous. "Still think I'm not into dick anymore?" he asked me cheekily.
I laughed and wiped the sweat off my face before moving in on him, kneading his hard cock through his fly as I took his mouth. My eyes were closed again and my mind conjured her up once more, just to feel that illicit thrill. She was watching me as I took out my boyfriend's cock and stroked it with my palm. Cole's back arched at my rough, urgent stroking and he looked down at where my hand was gripping him.
See how much he likes my touch, Skye, I taunted her in my fantasy. I can bring him to his knees in just a few seconds.
She smiles at me and leans forward to lick the side of Cole's jaw, wearing something skimpy and sexy, her cleavage pushing into Cole's arm.
So can I, she tells me with a sexy confidence, bending forward and dropping her head to swirl her tongue over the head of his erection making him groan.
"Shit," I cursed, growing hard again and Cole jerked his hips into my hand greedily.
"Jasper. Please. I need to come," he begged me with a grunt and I snapped out of my thoughts and bent to take him in my mouth, sucking him off with a ferocity that made him cry out.
"Fuck, Jasper!" he bit out and gripped my good arm with his hand. "Yes! Come on. I'm so close. I'm so fucking close, baby."
I made a sound of pleasure and increased my speed, massaging his balls in the process. He tensed for a second and then his warm goodness was flowing into my mouth, giving me the high I needed. Damn. I loved this guy so much. So much. And when he lost control for me, it was the best feeling in the world.
We took a minute to pull ourselves together, straightening our clothes and finger-combing our hair.
"You're getting fucked tonight," I informed him as he started the car back up again. "I want to hear your needy voice begging me to make you come again."
He licked his lips and smirked at me. "Okay, boss" he quipped smartly and backed out of the parking lot.
Skye can sleep with us again if she wants, I wanted to add but wisely refrained from doing so. The little minx was growing on me. Day by day, she became more special, more beautiful in my eyes. The look in her eyes told me she would not mind getting in on the action at all but it was not that simple.
Cole had no idea what the hell was going on with me and Skye and he would blow his top off if he came to find out. Just like the photo incident. I couldn't risk revealing how much I was warming up to the idea of a threesome now. I almost came in my pants again just thinking about it. This was wrong. This was so wrong. And complicated as fuck.
~~~
Chapter 24
Skye
I shivered as the wind grew cold and blustery, checking my phone only to realise so much time had passed since Cole, Jasper and I h
ad arrived at the beach in Finale Ligure that Saturday afternoon.
It had been two weeks since the incident where an intruder had invaded our apartment, molested me and assaulted Jasper. Three days after that, the police had arrested a suspect and I picked him out of a line-up. It was a relief to know he was finally caught although Cole still watched me like a hawk in order to make sure something like that never happened again.
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