Following their exhaustive conversation, Nathan hugged Rayne tightly to him, her small body moulding perfectly to his, her heart thumping against his chest. He breathed in her warm, clean scent. "You know you mean everything to me, my little Rayne-drop? You're the most important person in my life." Edging back, he ran his thumbs across her cheeks. "Do you want me to be there when you speak with Jaxon?" He would offer his support in any capacity, they were afterall in this together.

Rayne shook her head. "No, I'd like to do it on my own. But thank you."

"I'm proud of you, sweetheart." Smiling down, he pressed his lips to hers, those sweet lips as always welcomed his advances. Nathan licked across her bottom lip. "Okay, good. But you have to promise me if you are pressured, or need to step away and re-think—that's exactly what you do. Don't worry what I or Jaxon will think. You only do what's best for you, what feels right. Understand?"

She shivered under the weight of his take charge tone. "Okay, I promise."

Nathan kissed the top of her head, still damp from the shower, her curls wild and untamed. "I'll take a shower, but I'll admit it's a pity I can't drag you with me. You look so goddamn sexy stood only in a towel."

Rayne felt his hardness pressed against her as she glanced down to see his erection riding up his stomach. She gulped. Perhaps her talk with Jaxon could wait as she looked back up to him to see a sinful smirk tempt her further.

"Only teasing." He kissed her nose. "Later, my dirty girl." Releasing his hold, he made his way to their bathroom. Rayne clenched her thighs as she watched him walk away, his firm butt as always, a delight to see.

Sighing, Rayne dropped her towel and slipped on her silk robe, too eager to fully dress.  She was ready to speak with Jaxon now, hoping he was awake.

~ ~

Tapping on their guest bedroom door, she waited, nervously rubbing her hand against the thin material.

Lifting a hand,  just about to knock again, the door opened to reveal Jaxon wearing only a pair of Nathan's jogging bottoms, hung low on his hip and chest bare, as well as his feet. His hair was wet, messy having not long showered and two days of stubble graced his jaw. Delicious came to mind as Rayne sucked in a breath, tensing. He was a work of art. Her eyes roamed, soaking in every swirl of the intricate markings, daring her eyes lower to the contour of his toned abs.  Mind empty, she remembered to breathe.

Jaxon pulled up straight; he hadn't expected to find a flushed, barely covered Rayne waiting on the other side. He assumed it would be Nate. His eyes raked over her, noting the short length of the silk slip she wore.  Clearly remembering what lay beneath that flimsy material.  "Hey, everything's okay?" He ran his hand across the back of his neck as he looked around her to see if Nate was close by, watching.

Rayne dragged her attention away from his chest, back to his eyes. "Err, yes. I—I'd like to—" Her throat dried.  She coughed to clear her throat. "Can we talk Jaxon, please?"

"Sure. Here, okay?" He looked over his shoulder, unsure if it was a good idea to have her here in his bedroom, but then again, this was hers and Nate's guest bedroom and she had more right to be there than he did.  Looking back, opening the door wider, her eyes showed no concern.

"Here's fine," she replied as Jaxon stepped aside to let her in, inhaling the sweet smell of her freshly washed hair as she walked into the bedroom. He noted the darker tone to those loose full curls, still damp from the shower. He forced his hand to remain at his side, tempted to wrap his fingers through it's thickness.

Closing the door behind her, he turned and waited. Silence hung heavy between them. "Where's Nate?" he asked to break the thickness of the air.

"Shower," she answered, internally counting to six. Having the conversation in her head was apparently easier than speaking.  Talk, say something!   She looked around the room, her eyes running over the crumpled sheets of his bed where he'd slept. She clenched her hands into fists resisting the urge to strip the sheets and remake the bed. Now now! She closed her eyes and counted. Feeling marginally calmer, routine be damned, she opened her eyes, hastily returning her attention to Jaxon.

Jaxon walked a few steps, closing the distance between them but not enough to scare her if she needed to leave.

"I've spoken to Nathan," she announced.

Jaxon released a puff of air as he ran his hand through his hair. Unsure if he wanted to ask the outcome of their conversation. If it had been a positive outcome, wouldn't Nathan talk to him first? Lay down the rules, being the control freak he was? Or was Rayne here to tell him he disgusted her, ask him to leave? "Are you...okay?"

Sensing his nervousness, stress leaked from her shoulders, relaxing her somewhat. "Strangely, I am. And for someone who struggles with change—this feels okay... scarily okay."

The beat of his heart went from a trot to a gallop. His nostrils flared. An urge to kiss her rose as quickly as his next words. "Do you want me, Rayne?"

Her eyes held his. Her next words would mean no going back. Only forward. Together. "I do, yes."

Jaxon's heart soared, the swell in his chest fit to burst. She wanted him! "Tell me why, why you want me."

Recalling her conversation with Nathan, he deserved her truth. "Last night."  She rubbed her finger against her thumb.  "No, even before last night." The flush to her cheeks deepened. "On the boat yesterday. In fact, even before that."  Goddamn it!   Why did she feel so flustered?  

She took a breath.  "I felt drawn to you, Jaxon. I had the same feeling when I first met Nathan. Intense is the only way I can best describe it."

Jaxon clenched his jaw, eager for her to continue, each word thickened the lump in his throat.

She inhaled another deep calming breath, stepping slightly to her left she paced six steps, turning again to retrace those six steps. Easier to talk if she didn't hold eye contact, pretend she was speaking only to herself.

Jaxon waited, following each step.

Rayne continued. "Then on the boat, I felt a closeness, a connection on a different level, not like the one I share with Nathan..." She stopped unsure if she was making sense.  Shaking her head, emotions had never been easy to express. "I've never been able to talk to people... easily. Nathan is the first person who's ever accepted me the way I am, but he doesn't know everything about me. And yesterday, you never judged me. In fact, you made me feel—" The right word was required to best describe the feeling.

"Safe." Closing her eyes, she remembered their time together on the boat.  Opening her eyes, she gazed into his warm brown ones.  "Yes, I felt safe with you yesterday."

Jaxon took half a step closer. "I will never judge you, Rayne. You will always be safe with me."

There were no lies or hesitation in his words. "What do you want, Jaxon?" Not solely accepting Nathan's declaration. She needed to hear him say it.

Jaxon's mind briefly flicked to Nicole. It was the first time she had invaded his thoughts since he'd woken. What did that tell him? He wanted change. He wanted Rayne. "You... us."

It freed an audible sigh of relief as the last of her worries eased away, but only replaced by another fear. "I've asked this of Nathan, and I need your honesty, Jaxon. If this is to move forward, to work. It requires open and honest communication, something I know I struggle with. And, I know that's a contradiction when I just told you moments ago, there are parts of me that Nathan and you don't know... yet. But I don't want there to be any jealousy between you and Nathan." She gathered her thoughts.

Rayne continued. "I am not sure if you can understand my feelings for you.  It sounds crazy to me." A smile ran across her lips. "I knew from the second Nathan laid his finger on my cheek that he was 'it' for me." Her smile faltered. "I won't head down this road if it will ruin your relationship. Your brothers and family's important and I'm well aware you went months hardly talking and my instinct tells me Nathan's hasn't divulged everything." She didn't want to ask, but did so anyway. "Was... the... was the reason Nicole, the woman you shared?"

His eyebrows lifted, surprised by Nate's disclosure of Nicole and Rayne's directness, normally so reserved, almost timid. "I admit, there was some jealousy I felt towards Nate, when we were all together. Nicole didn't share the same feelings for Nate and me. She always preferred him." It was hard to admit that fact, to open up. "And truthfully, it hurt." He rubbed his hand over his chin. "I don't expect you to feel for me, what you feel for Nate... yet. But in time it's what I hope for."

Rayne stepped forward, closing the distance to feel his heat warming her. Placing her small hand on his chest, moving it slowly to rest over his heart. His heartbeat raced identically to hers. "If you want to try this, Jaxon. Want me. Then I will give my all to you and Nathan. No favouring one over the other."

He believed her, almost to the point his legs felt weak. "I need to kiss you Rayne?" He craved the physical closeness, to kiss her, taste her. Which might appear odd, having seen her naked and made her come with his mouth only hours earlier.

A shiver ran across her skin. "I'd like that Jaxon."

He closed the distance between them, crowding her small body with his much larger one. The pull he felt towards her, to surround himself, almost submerge himself, was like nothing he'd experienced. And apparently, she wanted him too. Surreal didn't come close. This was new for him. Shifting closer, she looked up until their eyes met. He saw exactly what he needed to see—desire, desire for him.  Running a hand up and round the back of her neck, loving the feel of soft skin beneath his fingers. "You are so beautiful." Her beauty as natural as the surrounding air.

He adored watching her cheeks ripen. The simplest of touch or words would spark a flare of innocence. Her long lashes fluttered as her chest rose and fell with hastened breaths. Distracted he could see her nipples peeking through the material of her silky robe, he hardened on instinct, just as her nearness heightened everything around him, inside him.

Leaning down, his mouth a fraction away from hers. The heat of her breath - minty, teased him. He craved those lips, full, sweet, made for kissing, sucking—tempted to take a bite.  Closer, he brushed their lips together as her mouth parted.

Fucking hell.  He swore he felt electrified.  Swallowing, wanting their first kiss to me memorable. Nate would often tease him about being the more romantic between the two of them. But he understood the importance of memories. Memories bound people together, carried them when times were tough. He needed her to remember their first kiss.

Rayne's tongue crested her lip, innocently brushing his lip, sending a bolt of sparks down to his dick, now fully erect.  When she released a breathy sigh, that was his undoing. He pressed their lips together; firm yet gentle, needing her to know it was him kissing her—not Nate.  He required her full attention and would settle for nothing less.

Her hands crept up his arms, and he wondered if she could hear his heart as it pumped his blood fiercely through his head, his temple throbbing.

Rayne kissed him, eager for more, up on her tiptoes to get closer. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth, teasing, tasting every inch. It was challenging not to hoist her up and take her to his bed. Instead, his free hand moved down to squeeze her small waist, digging in so not to give in to his primal urges fuelling the surging blood to his needy dick.

The kiss was perfect, beyond memorable as he slowed and pulled back a little, nipping and sucking her bottom lip before pulling away. He was almost out of breath.

"Perfect," she whispered, her cheeks a whole new shade of pink.

Jaxon released his hold from the around the back of her neck, running the pad of his thumb across her flushed, full lips. "You're Perfect," he corrected.

Her tongue swiped out to lick the end of his thumb. He stilled his movements as she parted her lips further and sucked his thumb into her mouth. His eyes narrowed, darkening, and his cock twitched in anticipation of being where his thumb occupied.

"I'd be careful little one... teasing me," his tone husky.

The tone of his voice sparked a ripple of elation as Rayne released his thumb, his erection lengthened against her tummy. "Or what?" Her grey eyes darkened with mischief.

Or what indeed? Was she flirting, wanting more from him? "This."    Placing both hands firmly on her ass he hoisted her up, as her legs wrapped themselves around him without hesitation.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, little one." Rayne giggled as he walked them to the bed and dropped them both down together, ensuring he didn't squish her beneath him.

"Jaxon."

To hear her say his name with such need, removed all worries that she would want Nate more than him. His lips crashed into hers.

She kissed him back, his tongue swarming her mouth, dominating hers. Every inch of her wanted this man, ached for him, just as she needed Nathan. The idea of being with both of them thrilled her more than she knew it should.  It wasn't normal—But then again, when had she ever been normal?  And both wanted her... wanted her!

Rayne promised herself she would love and cherish both in return. Ensuring neither one felt more loved than the other.  What should have been impossible, was suddenly possible, her heart was opening and giving itself freely to both these men.

Running her hands ran over his shoulders; hot skin burned beneath her fingers. Almost breathless, Jaxon's kiss was heart stopping.

A low rumble in his chest, he pushed her deeper into the bed. His hand pulling at the flimsy material between them, a rush of exhilaration set his body on fire as he felt skin on skin, each burning for the other.

Jaxon's hand ran down along the side of her bare breast, cupping to push her breast up, then he rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb, tugging harder—giving her what she needed.

Rayne moaned into his mouth, whimpering as her breasts felt swollen and heavy. Pleasure swallowed her nipple tingling as the twist of pain made her shudder. Breaking their kiss, he shifted to the side, still rolling her nipple as he kissed over her jaw, down her throat, nipping at the hot flesh as she murmured for him not to stop.

He didn't want to stop. His solid length pressed against her thigh.

Without command Rayne pulled up one leg, letting it fall to the side, offering herself up to him. Her sex throbbed, aching for contact. "I need you, Jaxon."

His heart stuttered as his head lifted. "Say that—say it again."

Her eyes held his. "I need you, Jaxon."

"Show me."

Rayne ran her hand up his arm, up his neck and into his thick hair. Pulling her towards him she raised her head and met him halfway, her lips parted and kissed him, sucking, biting, tangling with his tongue. Pulling back, she sucked in his bottom lip before releasing, eyes wide and sparkling, pleased by her own boldness.

Dropping her head to quilt beneath her, she met his eyes; dark and fiery.

Jaxon burned all over for the woman beneath him, small she may be, but his desire for her was bigger than anything he'd ever felt. His hand roamed over her smooth skin.

"Will I be the only woman in your life Jaxon?"

He pulled back.  Honesty and trust were important to Jaxon. "I will never touch another woman; as long as you want me."

Rayne smiled, a brief nod of head as she bit into her bottom lip "Show me."  Her eyes challenging his, to watch his top lip curl into a smirk.

"Happily."  Running his hand further down, he cupped her pussy before slipping in a finger.  Fuck!   She was soaking. His thumb flicked over her clit. Leaning down he captured her mouth, thrusting his tongue deep inside her mouth whilst increasing the pressure on the hard swollen nub.

Separating lips to hear her whimper at the loss of contact. He edged back to observe her.  Hair fanned out, cheeks a deep plum shade, with lips swollen. He'd seen nothing more beautiful as her eyelids fluttered open, those grey beauties shimmering with need... for him.

Rayne lifted her hips as he thrust, curling his finger deeper, faster, tapping her g-spot as her walls gripped him tightly. Damn did she feel hot, but she needed more. "More Jaxon."

Her needy tone captivated him. And fuck was she hot, wet and tight. He wanted nothing more than to fuck her, spread her hips wide and sink his cock so far inside her, she wouldn't remember anyone else but him.

But what would Nate want him to do? He knew. Nathan's need to control, to watch. He swallowed down the hard lump as his hardness pressed firmly into her thigh.

Holding her eyes, he inserted another finger and slowly worked both of them together inside her, alternating between scissoring and curling his fingers as Rayne pushed from beneath him. She looked so fucking sexy in that moment, surrendering herself—to him.

Building up speed as she rode his fingers, he applied pressure to her clit, his thumb relentlessly circling.  Each moan from her sweet mouth was almost his undoing.

"I want you to soak my hand, Rayne, come for me when I tell you."

Her eyes met his. "Yes, yes Jaxon."

"Do it now, Rayne. Come now!"

She almost howled as she chanted out his name on a cry, clenching around him, swamping his hand with her juices.  Just watching and listening almost had him blowing his load.

Shifting himself swiftly, he yanked open her trembling thighs and moved down to fasten his mouth over her sex and drank every drop her body freely relinquished.

Rayne continued to come against his mouth, and Jaxon couldn't get enough as he thrust his tongue deep inside her as she gripped his hair.

Lapping until satisfied, he climbed back up her small body,  grabbing her small wrists, pinning them above her head as his head dropped and ravaged her mouth. "Taste yourself on me. How delicious you are. I could eat you all fucking day."

Her tongue licked across his lips, breath hot and heavy as her orgasm subsided.

"Perfect." Licking across her lips.  "You are perfect Rayne, never debate me on that."

Twice now he'd made her come and although lightheaded she wanted this to go both ways. "What about you Jaxon, what can I do for you? Please let me touch you."

Nate popped back into his thoughts. "No, not yet.  You've done more than enough for me Rayne.  You feeling good, makes me feel fucking amazing." It wasn't a lie. And without a doubt, he would do anything for this woman.

He captured her lips, silencing her thoughts. He would have her though, soon...very soon.

~  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A/N:  Today I started posting the next book two in the Gifted series, it wont interfere with the posting of this or Bittersweet. As always thanks for taking the time to read, means a lot.  Chrissy 😘