Freedom (Featherstone Academy Series Book 5)

by KC Kean

  Sinking into the cushions, my eyes close on their own accord. “That sounds perfect, Maverick. Thank you.”

  Placing a kiss on my forehead, I feel him leave. I take a moment to focus on my breathing, reminding myself it was all a dream. Well, a nightmare alternative of what actually happened.

  Settling on A Cinderella Story, something light and funny, the complete opposite of what my own mind is conjuring up, I organize the blanket as Maverick steps back into the room with two hot chocolates.

  Taking my mug, I murmur my thanks as he gets comfortable beside me. I love how the silence that surrounds us sometimes is never uncomfortable or awkward. I can feel he wants to understand what I’m going through. But in true Maverick form, he surprises me again. Not steamrolling me into giving him what he wants.

  Resting my head on his shoulder, my eyes on the television, I find the courage to speak. “Will I ever get past this?”

  I feel him sigh as his hand finds my thigh, squeezing in comfort. “From what you were crying out in your sleep, I assume this has something to do with Frankie, and what happened at the warehouse?”

  “Yeah.” Clearing my throat, I lift my head to meet his gaze, and I see the rage in his eyes. Not at me, but at what I’m dealing with. Guilt. “Maverick, this isn’t your fault,” I say, cupping his chin.

  “Petal, it will always be my fault. You shouldn’t forgive me like this. You shouldn’t let me anywhere near you at all.”

  “Is that what you want?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest, but he shakes his head.

  “Even if it was, I need you more than the air I breathe, Jessica, and we both know I’m a selfish bastard.”

  I can see there will be no way of telling him any different. He doesn’t need my words to convince him, he needs my actions, and I’ll show him. What we have will not be tarnished by that night. I refuse to allow it.

  “I shot a man,” I whisper, feeling the most vulnerable I ever have. “Looked him straight in the eyes as I pulled the trigger, watching the life drain from him.”

  “And it lives on repeat in your mind,” Maverick finishes, and all I can do is nod. “You know I’ll never lie to you, petal. It’ll get easier over time, but the important part is that you learn to understand that you did it to survive. Because we both know, if you hadn’t pulled the trigger, then he would have, and we wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”

  I’m speechless at his words as he offers me a different view of the events in my head. His eyes search mine as his hand takes mine from his face, and he wraps it in both of his.

  “The first time I watched someone pull the trigger ruined my life.” His voice is barely a whisper as he looks down at our joined hands. “I’ve felt numb to it ever since.”

  Holy fuck. My heart hammers in my chest as I try to be patient, letting him find his own words instead of pushing for more. It’s hard because I never see the vulnerable side of Maverick. Never.

  “It was Thanksgiving, and I was fifteen. My parents were happy, or so they always seemed. Anyway, on that day, we were all in the kitchen, laughing and joking as my mom prepared the food, and I just stole everything as it came out of the oven.”

  I watch the way his lips lift at the corner, remembering the happiness, and my heart bleeds for him already.

  “That’s when it all went to shit,” he sniffs, his eyes flickering to mine for a moment before he continues. “June, the housekeeper, was shouting down the hallway to someone, saying they shouldn’t be in here, they had to leave. And it made us pause, until a woman walked in, rage in her eyes and a gun in her hand.”

  He pauses, and I can feel him vibrate with anger beneath me.

  “It’s okay, take your time,” I soothe, using my free hand to run my fingers through his hair.

  “My dad had been having an affair with this woman. She screamed about how he’d made her all of these promises, and she was done with the obstacles in the way.” Oh god, I’m scared for where this is going, feeling his pain run through my body. “My mom was standing by the stove, the turkey beside her, watching in shock as this woman waved her gun around, yelling at everyone.”

  Maverick’s eyes gloss over as the memories assault him all at once.

  “Then she stood there, in our kitchen, her gun aimed at my mom, and said ‘I love you’ to my dad as she pulled the trigger.”

  My chest feels tight, and my heart is split in two as I understand the man beside me on another level.

  “My father gunned her down as I caught my mother’s falling body, and I vowed right then and there that I would never love anyone. Not a soul because look what it did to my parents. It either makes you angry enough to kill, or you end up dead because of it.”

  “Oh, Maverick,” I whisper, tears streaming down my face.

  “But everything is different with you, Jessica. Everything. You don’t sway from who you are or what you believe in.” His rich green eyes search mine, a single tear breaking loose. "You are perfect for me. I saw that. I saw it from the beginning. I was just too scared to believe it. But seeing how perfect you were, made me love you, Jessica. So much. But, you know how selfish I am, and seeing you affected like this, by doing what you had to do to survive. A little broken from something you had to do, it makes you not so perfect anymore, and it makes me love you even more.”

  I stare into his eyes as his words rip me to shreds and piece me back together again all at once. My heart thumps in my chest as I rest my forehead against his.

  “I love you, Maverick. With all that I am, I love you.”

  “I love you, Petal.”

  Maybe as individuals, we are a little bit broken, but together, we are whole.

  Jess

  Dropping Kai to the mat, I bounce back on my feet, a huge grin on my face. I feel lighter. I’m sure my nightmares won’t be gone forever, but hearing Maverick’s story changed my internal struggles a little.

  Everything from here can only go up. It’s the only direction I will allow myself to believe in.

  Now, I understand why Maverick continued to push me away when we first met, and especially why he struggled to say those three pretty words to me at Christmas.

  My green-eyed, tormented soul loves me. Me. Jessica Watson – Gibbs, Paul, Morgan? Whoever the fuck I am.

  Now, I have the love of the three most important guys of my life, and it just so happens to be one of their birthdays today. I’m ready to get back and give him the treat I mentioned to Maverick and West.

  “Okay, fuckers, lesson’s over. Piss off and get out of my sight,” he grunts, and even that puts a smile on my face.

  I hold my hand out, pretending to assist Kai to his feet, even though he’s capable of doing it all by himself. The class disperses around us, and I stand back, waiting for my guy.

  Spotting Maverick’s bottle of water on the bleachers, I head in that direction, flipping the cap off and taking a sip. I see a few girls whispering as they leave the hall, glancing over in my direction, and I desperately want to tell them to fuck off. But Luna will be back in here defending me in seconds, and I just don’t have time for that in my schedule today.

  There are more important things to be thinking about, like cock.

  “What are you thinking about, petal?” Maverick asks, strolling towards me with that sexy swagger he always has.

  “Aiden’s birthday gift,” I respond honestly, and the grin on his lips is lethal, sending a shiver down my spine.

  “Are you sure the gift is for him? Or you?” He probes as the birthday boy makes himself known.

  “Whatever you’re saying to make her face light up like that is hot as fuck,” Aiden sings, making Maverick roll his eyes.

  “It can be for all of us,” I murmur in response just as Aiden wraps his arms around me, twirling me in the air.

  “What can be for all of us?” Aiden asks, his hands moving to grope my ass.

  “Your birthday present,” I whisper in his ear, making him pause.

  “And what might that be?�
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  “How about we head back to my room and we can show you?”

  Aiden holds me tighter as I watch Maverick adjust himself through his shorts.

  “Can’t I have it now?” Aiden pouts, and before I can respond, I hear a door slam shut from behind me.

  “Would you look at that, petal? All four of us, together,” Maverick murmurs, and my brow wrinkles in confusion. It’s the end of the day, why aren’t we just going home?

  “West, tell Jess a fantasy,” Maverick calls out as Aiden turns with me in his arms, allowing me to track his movements. One by one, he starts to lock the doors around the room, and my heart rate picks up.

  I can’t see West, but I hear him come closer.

  “Well, since you made us watch that series about the girl in Paris, I’m keen on an Eiffel Tower.” I whip around to look at him as he high-fives Aiden. Fuckers.

  “Jess, what’s a fantasy for you?” Maverick calls out, locking the door that leads to the medical center, and I shake my head.

  “I already told you what it was,” I mumble.

  “But you didn’t tell Aiden, and it’s his birthday after all.”

  I hide my head in Aiden’s neck, suddenly feeling shy now there’s a spotlight on me.

  “Ah, ah, ah. You do not get to hide away from the birthday boy, beautiful,” Aiden teases, and I force myself to lean back so I can meet his eyes.

  “I want to see you with Maverick again. If, you know, that’s something…”

  His hands grip me tighter as his lips crush mine, stopping my speech. I moan as he grazes his teeth along my bottom lip.

  “Why? If this is because you think you’re not enough, that’s—”

  “No. God, no, Aid.” Staring deep into his mesmerizing grey eyes, I stroke the back of his neck. “I know I’m enough. You’ve never acted in any other way, but seeing you two in Maverick’s apartment… it was magic. I don’t want you to suppress that side of you when there is room to explore within us.”

  Oh my gosh, I feel so stupid. Maybe he doesn’t even want anything like that to happen. I’m projecting my desires onto him, and that’s not fair.

  “I’m sor—”

  His lips meet mine again, only sweeter this time as he trails his tongue along my lips.

  “You are something else. You know that, Jess?” He murmurs against my lips, and my worry slips away.

  “Aiden, tell Jess a fantasy,” Maverick repeats again, only this time he’s standing right behind me.

  “Well, since she likes so much man-on-man action, I want to be fucked while my beautiful is too.” Holy. Fucking. Shit. That sounds so good, I can’t stop my hips from grinding up against Aiden a little.

  “And you?” I ask, my lips brushing against Aiden’s. “What do you desire, Maverick Miller?” I purr, like some sultry queen, and I have no idea where the confidence comes from.

  Maverick stands with his chest against my back, I watch as West steps in close behind Aiden too, my pulse pumping in my neck.

  “I want to see you blossom beneath us, petal.”

  “I made sure everyone was gone before I locked the main door, Jess. Say the word, and we’ll give you and Aiden all the fantasies right now,” West whispers bringing his lips close to mine, and I nod.

  “I want everything with you.”

  Aiden

  Holy mother of god, how did I get this lucky?

  If you’d have asked me at the start of the school year if I could see myself settling down with someone, multiple someones, I’d have told you no way in hell. But this is exactly where I’m meant to be.

  Jessica Watson is my damn life, holding her close to me like this, chest to chest, I’m not sure whose heart is beating faster.

  She loves me. Not only does she love me, but Jess also loves me enough not to conceal parts of myself. I could honestly spend the rest of my life without dick, but the way her eyes light up with the thought of it lets me know it’s not something that will ever come between us.

  West is pressed to my back, his sole focus on Jess’s lips as Maverick grinds into Jess, one hand on her waist and the other on mine, connecting us all.

  I watch as he trails his lips down Jess’s neck, holding my gaze as she shivers between us, and my dick pulses in my shorts. I hadn’t had a lesson while Jess had combat, so I’d decided to go for a swim, and I’m glad I did.

  Jess moans by my ear, and I’m desperate for more. Slowly lowering my hands down her thighs, she drops her legs, standing on her tiptoes as she struggles to reach West’s mouth.

  Dropping to my knees, I have to squeeze my cock tight as I watch Jess’s hands tangle in Maverick’s hair as West leans down to devour her lips.

  While they hold her attention, I slowly drag my fingers up her thighs until I reach her waistband. Dragging her shorts down her legs, my jaw drops when I see the thin scrap of material covering her pussy. Pale pink lace should not look this wicked.

  Encouraging her to step out of her shorts, I discard them, not caring where they land as I drag the pad of my tongue over the lace covering her clit, and she groans against West’s lips. I love being able to elicit those noises from her.

  Wanting more, I graze my teeth against the material, nibbling at her sensitive spot and her legs buckle beneath her before Maverick catches her. It still isn’t enough. Pulling on the thin floss holding the thong together I tear it from her skin, revealing her pretty pink sex, and my mouth is on her in an instant.

  Teasing my tongue against her slit, I thrust two fingers inside of her, and I groan at how wet she is.

  “Please, lay me down. I can’t stand,” Jess stammers, making me grin as they gently lay her on the mat beneath us.

  Her eyes are wild, tendrils of red hair loose around her face, and her cheeks are flushed. She is just so damn beautiful. My beautiful.

  “This isn’t supposed to be about me, Aid,” she murmurs, glancing down at me as I hover between her legs, continuing to work her over.

  “It will always be about you, beautiful,” I murmur, teasing her clit with my tongue as I do, and she throws her head back with pleasure.

  My movements pause when a hand strokes down my spine, making me shiver. Fuck.

  “Let me taste her, Aiden,” Maverick murmurs, and I relent, leaning back on my knees to let him see how wet she is. But it surprises me when he brings his lips to mine, tasting her on my tongue instead.

  “Oh, fuck,” Jess moans, her pussy tightening around my fingers still inside of her. Oh, fuck is right.

  How can such an arrogant asshole have such soft fucking lips? How does that even make sense in any universe? It’s a complete contrast to kissing Jess, his stubble for one, but the way he holds my waist and throat at the same time, I understand the power he has. Dominating yet caring in the sense that he knows exactly what he’s doing.

  Hot. As. Fuck.

  “T-shirt off,” Jess mutters, and I release Maverick’s mouth to find her on her knees before me, hands under my top, wanting to lift it over my head.

  Discarding the top, I notice she has nothing on, West too, as he sits right behind her, his hands exploring every inch of her skin.

  “How is this supposed to work?” I ask, and West grins at me over Jess’s shoulder, nodding at the duffel bag beside us.

  Oh my god. They did not bring a bag full of fucking supplies.

  “Jess already had everything back at her room ready, we just brought it over,” Maverick murmurs in my ear, and I want to jizz in my pants right now. “Let’s give her a show, Aiden.”

  A show I can do.

  Standing, I drop my shorts, squeezing the end of my cock, precum smearing against the veins of my length, and Jess’s eyes are locked on what I’m doing.

  I feel Maverick’s bare skin to my back as he leans in, wrapping his hand around my cock with me. I rock up into his fist, his callous fingers adding extra friction, and I groan at the feeling.

  My eyes fall closed as I get lost in his touch, only to shoot back open again as lips wrap
around the tip of my cock. Watching Jess lick my cock as it’s covered by Maverick’s hand has me ready to explode, until West pulls her back into him.

  “Aiden wants a show too, sunshine, and you’re gonna make him cum too quickly if you carry on,” he whispers with a grin, and he’s not fucking wrong.

  Cool fingers glide over the globes of my ass, and the anticipation is killing me. Goosebumps rise at Maverick’s touch as Jess watches every movement.

  “Don’t stretch me too much, I love the tight burn.”

  “Fuck,” Maverick grunts in response, and I’m glad I can get under his skin.

  West lays flat on his back, legs straight in front of him as he places Jess in his lap, but still facing our direction.

  “I want you bare, Jess. Is that okay?” West asks, and I watch a smirk take over her lips. I watch her eyes light up as she slowly sinks down on his thick length.

  Holy fuck.

  West hisses, feeling every inch of her pussy bare is a totally different world, and the perfect O on his lips shows how much he likes it.

  “Reverse cowgirl suits you, petal,” Maverick murmurs as he pushes past the tight muscle at my entrance, and I fall forward putting myself on my hands and knees.

  My head hangs between my shoulders as I let the sensation wash over me. He doesn’t pause to let me adjust, just how I like it, pushing another digit inside of me, and my cock strains with need as he hits my prostate with precision.

  “Fuck me, Jess. His fingers are like magnets for exactly where you want them,” I groan, and she giggles, making me lift my gaze to watch her ride West right in front of me.

  “Right? But his cock is fire, Aid, I swear.” She winks just as West thrusts up into her and her head falls back on a moan.

  Slipping his fingers from my ass, I hiss at the emptiness, but Maverick is back at my entrance within seconds, more lube covering his cock as he lines himself up, and I spread my thighs a little wider.

  Slowly thrusting inside of me, I can feel my face turning red as the pain and pleasure mix together. I know the pleasure will turn into enhanced pleasure in a matter of strokes, and I love every drag of his cock inside of me.