Page 79 of Trouble

When I return, they’re both still quiet.

Annoyed, I huff. Why must I explain myself to everyone? Why can’t they just get it without so many goddamn words?

“Do the rules from last night still apply?” I ask.

Their looks are dubious. Okay, then. Looks like I’ll have to spell it all out.

“The honesty. The trust. You’ll tell me if you’re uncomfortable. If you don’t want to do something. Stop means stop. I can handle it if this is all too much for you.” I look from Melina to Cade. “Or if you’ve changed your minds.”

Melina’s shoulders relax, and she breaks into a wide smile. “Oh, he thought you’d forgotten about his promise to kiss you in the time between when we left him at the bar and when he got here.”

I roll my eyes. She’s teasing me. But I’m grateful she dumbed it down and laid it out in plain language. Because sometime in the thirty minutes we were apart, my mind spun out, and I began questioning everything that happened while we were in that bar.

Though I’m not questioning whether I want to do it.

I know exactly what I want.That hasn’t changed since I opened up to Melina about it.

But am I ready for what this all means?

Are they ready? Are we ready?

My heart pounds loudly in my ears. Crossing this line with Melina is one thing, but crossing it with Cade? We’ve got to be damn sure we’re ready for the fallout.

I’m not willing to risk our friendship.

“I promise I’ll tell you how I feel.” Cade’s eyes are bright with intensity. I find myself stepping closer to him, and he lifts his chin up, holding my gaze before adding, “And there isnothingyou could do that would make me say stop.”

My cock jumps at the confidence in his tone and the implication in his words.

Any doubt I may have harbored about my attraction to my best friend goes out the window in that moment, leaving room for thoughts about all the very filthy things I’d like to do to him. The way I want to use his body. I could never treat Melina like that, but Cade—fuck, Cade is so filthy, he would probably love it.

“Good.”I pull out the chair and settle in for dinner.

“Good?” Melina questions, her eyes dancing and a smile playing at her lips.

“Eat. Both of you.” I look from her to Cade. “You’ll need your energy for what I’ve got planned.”

CHAPTER 34

Cade

Despite our decades-long friendship,I still don’t know how to read Declan. Not in certain situations. But our girl can. Thank fuck, because the two of us are pretty terrible at this whole communication thing.

I never would have guessed Declan was nervous. Or insecure.

But as we finish dinner, I can’t help but replay a comment Melina made about Declan using the ropes to ease his anxiety.

He’s always been quiet, and the broodiness set in when we were in college. So I’ve always just accepted that it’s who he is. Is it possible that he’s broody and quiet because he’s anxious? Because he doesn’t always know what to say?

I guess I’ve noticed that when he’s in control, when he’s comfortable, he’s more open. At least with me.

Mel seems to know what he needs without words, though.

Surprisingly, their connection doesn’t make me jealous. I’m thankful for it. Because around her, he’s comfortable enough to accept the man he truly is, and apparently that man wants to kiss me.

So yeah, I’m not jealous at all. I’m fucking ecstatic about the possibility of learning more about my best friend.

“I’ll clean up. You two go get in my shower.”