Things between Cane and I have changed. We have grown closer, and with that, I've come to trust him in a way I did not expect. Perhaps it is our soul bond. Or maybe our connection just muddles feelings. I can't help but feel like that was the case for Elias and me. And that is why I have held off on taking that last leap with Cane and inviting him inside of my body in the most intimate of ways.

He seems happy to accept whatever physical attention I give him. I haven't heard any complaints, which is good because I enjoy getting lost in the feeling of lust and not wracking my brain about what went wrong with Elias.

Everything was so complex with the other twin. I was learning about all the things I never knew existed. Even with all the overwhelming new truths, we were simple. Our connection was effortless. It only made sense that it would bloom into a romance that swept me off my feet. And if I'm being honest with myself, I miss what we had.

Cane nudges me with his elbow and tilts his head toward the television mounted above the fireplace. "Are you paying attention to this movie? You look like you're off in some deep thought. This was supposed to be a night of relaxing."

I look over at him and rest my head against his shoulder, settling in beside him. "I'm sorry. Honestly, I was thinking about how close you and I have gotten."

His hand moves to my upper thigh and his fingers curve around the inside. "Is that right? I find myself thinking about how close we've been as well. It's never close enough though, is it?"

I turn in toward him and rest my palm on his chest, running my finger between his pecs. "No, never quite close enough. But not only physically...I really trust you, Cane. And maybe I shouldn't be admitting that out loud, maybe it's silly, maybe my feelings are more in it than yours, but I—I mean, did you expect this?"

A faraway look crosses his face, and he goes silent. I wait with bated breath as he thinks, hoping he reciprocates a fraction of what I feel. "I didn't expect this, but I have to admit how thrilled I am that it has turned out this way." His grip on my thigh gets tighter as he faces me. With his other hand, he brushes my hair from my face. "This is more than I ever pictured happening between us."

Is that what I wanted him to say? Is that the same thing as having feelings for me? Or does he just like the physical part? Fuck's sake, I hate that I'm overthinking this right now because disappearing into these moments with Cane is what's kept my head above water. But as I've always known, physical acts for me don't come without feelings.

Especially when he's my soul-bonded mate.

Maybe this isn't the right thing to do, maybe I should just let it go and be in the moment, but I can't focus on him and enjoy this until I know.

"But do you feel something for me, Cane?"

"Of course I feel for you, Cordelia. I thought what we share goes without saying. It's the most intense feelings I've ever had for someone else."

The knot in my chest loosens at his words. They're not the same heartfelt words Elias once said to me, but on the other hand, where is Elias now?

That last thought pushes me forward and I shift on the couch, throwing one leg over either side of his lap, cradling his face in both hands. "It does go without saying. I—I'm just the kind of person who needs to hear it sometimes."

He smiles up at me, and I melt at all the pure charm in that one expression. "We might have a problem. I'm a man of action, Delia." He grips my hips and pulls me down until the apex of my legs meets the hard ridge of his cock.

I whimper and roll my hips over his erection, hissing as he lifts his ass off the couch to meet me. "Well, I don't really see that as a problem," I murmur, leaning in toward him and brushing my lips against his.

"I can say all those filthy words you want to hear when your mouth is busy. Does that count?"

I raise an eyebrow and lean back so I can see him. "Is that an invitation to suck your cock?"

"It's an open-ended invitation. Am I always welcome to help myself to this sexy body?" He bites his lip as he grinds into me, pulling a whimper from my mouth.

I don't know if he means this to be a serious question, if he's really asking for 24/7 consent to touch me, or if we're just being playful in the moment. I'm going to assume the latter; Cane has never touched me without consent. In fact, he's stopped things from going too far with us before when it would've been easy for him to take advantage of the situation.

So I decide to stop overthinking and just let go.

"Yes, Cane, please," I say, resting my forehead against his, loving the way his body feels against mine, even fully clothed.

He scoots down on the couch, taking me with him as he lays down. We end up with him on his back and me still straddling him. His hands roam under my sweater while his eyes remain fixated on my mouth. He doesn't need to say it. I know he is picturing sliding between my lips.

"Are you going to make good on your offer?" he asks.

"Are you going to make good on your end?" I shoot back.

Cane slides his hands under my leggings, running his palm over my ass. His fingers follow along the center of me until they toy at my entrance. "Have I ever disappointed you?"

I gasp and squirm under his touch. "Now that you mention it...no, you haven't. I don't see why you should start now."

And it's true. Not since we've become...whatever we are has he disappointed me. Actually, he's impressed me in more ways than one. And that's surprised the hell out of me.

"Kneel," he says with a tip of his chin, motioning to the space between his legs. "I want you naked."

I do as he commands and lift my shirt over my head. He follows my lead, removing his own. The playful back and forth of our flirtation is something I enjoy, but fuck, I'm ecstatic when he gives me a full view of his chest. He is slightly leaner than his brother, but his body is just as chiseled.

He watches me as I discard the rest of my clothes. My nipples harden from the chill in the air and goosebumps rise on my arms and legs. A part of me wants to cover myself, but another more wicked part wants him to take his fill of me.

Cane pats his chest with a sly grin. "Come and sit, coelhinha."

I chew my bottom lip, suddenly extremely nervous. This is as intimate as the two of us have ever been. He's never seen me fully naked, except for that night in the playroom, and even then it was just a silhouette. I've certainly never seen him in all his glory, and fuck, is it something to see.

But I push past my nerves and do as he asks, my heart hammering against my ribcage. It calms me just a bit to feel that he's having the same issue as I lower myself to his chest.

"No, no. Back to me. You made me an offer I plan to cash in on as I fulfill my end of this bargain."

I didn't know it was possible for someone's skin to burn from embarrassment, but that seems to be the case for me.

"Cane—"

"You told me I could help myself to you and this is what I want. Now turn. Bring your ass toward me as you take my cock."

Oh, oh my. I never even did this with—nope. No. Stop. That's done. He's not coming back, Cordelia. He's not coming for you. You're lucky you have another mate who cares about you. Stop pining over someone who doesn't give a shit.

I take the advice from that annoying voice in the back of my mind for once and do as he says, waiting for that moment when I feel his mouth against the place I crave him the most.

The further I scoot back, the better grip I can get on his cock. As soon as I can, I take it in my hand, gripping it at the base and sliding my hand up and down, pumping him a few times.

"I've thought about your hands on me all day," Cane says between long licks along my seam.

His encouragement has me doubling my efforts and taking him in my mouth. Cane was right when he said he has never left me wanting, but it's been a moment since I've found my release. Days of pent-up sexual frustration have me racing to bring us both what we need.

"Fuck," he groans against my clit, and I grind harder against him, a little nervous because I don't know how he'll react to me putting all my weight on his face.

But it seems to please him because he makes a contented sound and reaches up to grip my thighs, pulling me closer. I let out a puff of air through my nose and suck him harder, taking him all the way to the back of my throat, gagging on his length. I don't even have to pretend for his benefit.

A finger slides inside of me as Cane's mouth continues licking and sucking me. It has been too long since I felt like this. Touching myself has never compared to the skilled hand of another.

I release Cane from my mouth when he hits a spot that seems to connect with every feel-good nerve ending in my body. "Fuck. Right there. Keep doing that and I promise I'll come for you."

His cock throbs with my praise. I take him to the back of my throat, with the intent of coming with him in my mouth.

"Fuck, fuck," he pants, the sucking subsiding as he inches closer to his release. His fingers stay inside me, but become clumsier, as though he's so distracted by what I'm doing that he can't stay focused. He laps at my clit lazily, and while it's sexy, it doesn't give the energy he just had, and I slide further and further away from ecstasy.

But that's okay, I'll get there again. I get it; it's hard for me to focus on more than one thing at a time too, especially when one of the things is making me feel like I'm about to take flight into outer space.

So I keep swirling my tongue around his shaft, sucking up to the tip and back down, stimulating whatever doesn't fit into my mouth with my hand. I want to make him feel good. I want his praise before he makes me unravel with his devil tongue.

He slides his hand up my spine and curls his fingers around my hair. I gag as he pushes down while pumping his hips. Normally I would find the move sexy. He loves what I'm doing to him so much that he wants more. But a sinking feeling sits low in my stomach as I'm forgotten.

"That's it, Delia. Take it all."

There is no slowing down, no warning. He explodes in my mouth, flooding it with the salty taste of him. I tilt my head back and choke down his release. Desperate for my own, I glance back at him with fluttering lashes and a cheeky smile.

"Fuck. That was good," he says, draping his forearm over his eyes as he catches his breath. He brushes my hair down my back and taps my ass cheek. "Good job."

Good....job? Good job?! What in the actual fuck?

Suddenly, the position I'm in is all but humiliating, and I spin around to face him, giving him a chance to either reword what he just said to me or keep pleasuring me. One or the other because I am feeling just a little bit used at the moment.

When he doesn't move or say anything else, I lay my palms on his chest and say, "Um, Cane?"

"Hm?"

"Aren't you...forgetting something?"

He lifts his arm and his eyes dart around. There is no question in my mind; he is completely clueless. "Do you want to go clean up together?"

Zeus's beard. "No, it's okay," I say, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from bursting into tears, hysterical laughter, or both. "I can handle it on my own." I crawl off his lap and bend over to get my clothes off the floor, feeling completely humiliated and used. How the hell did this happen? How did we go from talking about how much I trusted him and the feelings we have for each other to...this?

I turn to leave and he grabs my wrist. "Hey, Cordelia. Thank you. You have no idea how badly I needed that."

With a nod and a fake smile on my face, I say, "You're welcome."

I just wish I was giving him the same show of gratitude.