Three's A Crowd. (Now Published On Amazon)

Chapter Thirty Nine.

Jasper

My stomach growled to remind me that food was long overdue. Leaning forward, I grabbed a slice of pizza and took a huge bite out of it. Mmm. It was pretty good. A little cold now but oh well...I wasn't really in the mood to complain.

"Want me to warm that up for you?" Cole asked me as he settled next to me with a cold beer which Skye had bought for herself a few days ago.

I shook my head and looked pointedly at the beer in his hand.

Cole shrugged and took a swig. "I figured what the hell," he murmured with a grimace. "Green tea can only relieve so much stress."

A chuckle escaped me and I took another bite of my pizza before leaning back and pressing play on the movie. About half an hour passed as we sat in silence. Not awkward silence. It was pleasant and reminded me of those good old days when we were happy and there had been no barriers between us.

"Oh that's sick," Cole muttered as a particularly disturbing scene with Joker and Batgirl played out.

I was on my fifth slice of pizza by then.

"She recovers," I replied as I watched the movie intently even though this was like the third time I had played it. "Sort of."

"What exactly does he do to her?" Cole asked in a disgusted tone.

"Takes her photos and shows them to her father," I answered absently, grabbing his beer and taking a sip.

Cole immediately snatched the bottle from me. "No drinking," he snapped at me.

I sighed. "Relax. It was just a sip. I haven't had a drink in months."

He frowned at me. "I don't care. No alcohol means no alcohol."

I smirked at his serious tone. "Sorry, Mom," I quipped and he just looked away.

My family in London had no idea about my stroke. I had forbidden Cole to tell anyone. I didn't want other people feeling sorry for me and making a huge fuss regarding what was and was not best for me. If my parents found out, they would cause a ruckus, demanding that I join them in London so they could care for me themselves.

But I didn't need any of that. All I needed was right here under this roof with me. I just had to meet them halfway. A text pinged on Cole's phone and he checked it before letting out a rough breath.

"What's up?" I asked him.

He shook his head, tapping on his phone. "Francesco can't make it tomorrow," he murmured. "Some family emergency. I'm just going to let Armaan know I'll be taking the day off."

I didn't say anything. He didn't have to stay at home for me. I was fine. I really was. But a part of me wanted him to. Not to take care of me. But because I thought he could use a day off. The fact that he never once asked me if I was okay to remain with Skye made me feel even better. That was an option but after our last fight, he was not going to push her on me.

"I love you."

Cole froze for a few seconds before glancing up at me warily.

I grinned at him. "What?"

He cleared his throat before pocketing his phone. "What is going on with you tonight?" he asked me.

My hand went up to his neck and I let my fingers trail over his collarbone. "What do you mean?" I asked in a low and seductive tone.

Cole swallowed hard. "Wells-"

I didn't give him a chance to say anything more as I leaned forward and kissed him. I tasted his mouth after three whole months and it drove me wild. A barrage of emotions flooded through me and this time, I didn't block them out. I just let myself feel everything. And it was incredible.

Cole kissed me back just as eagerly, burying his fingers in my hair and groaning against my mouth, his body hard and straining against mine.

I pulled back abruptly, my hands clasping his shoulders, our breaths heavy as they mingled together.

"I love you," I told him again firmly. "And I'm sorry. I know I haven't been good to you when you've been taking such good care of me these past three months. I have no excuse."

Cole let out a short laugh and his eyes glistened with moisture. "Well fuck, Jasper," he breathed out jerkily. "This is the last thing I expected when I came home tonight but...I'm just so happy. I love you too. I fucking missed you so much. I know it's been so hard for you but...God...it's been hard for me too watching you like that, fearing you'd never get well."

He kissed me again and I let him, forgetting everything else for a long time as we embraced on the couch. I was happy too. So damn happy.

"I can walk," I whispered in his ear suddenly.

Cole drew back and blinked at me, glasses askew and lips swollen. "You're kidding me," he whispered back in awe.

I shook my head, my expression blank. "Skye knows."

Inhaling slowly, Cole turned away, burying his fingers in his hair with his elbows resting on his knees as he bent forward. "Wow...no wonder she was so mad at you," he bit out harshly. "She knew you were deceiving me and she wanted you to stop."

I spent a few seconds studying the exposed waistband of his boxers where his t-shirt had ridden up before answering.

"I'm going to make it up to you. Both of you," I promised huskily. "Tonight."

He straightened and looked at me seriously. "Believe me, Jasper. I couldn't be happier to know that you're better now. Fuck, it's what I've been praying for for months. But...why didn't you just tell me?"

I pursed my lips. "I was trying to prove a point," I declared without remorse.

My boyfriend let out a huge, resigned sigh. "Did you succeed?" he asked me in a flat tone. "What, was it payback for what I put you through?"

Reaching out, I adjusted his glasses some more. "Have I ever fucked you with your glasses on?"

He looked at me blankly. We both knew I had. The very first time he had worn one and showed up on a date. Cole had started to have eyesight problems a couple of weeks after we had gotten together. It had turned me on like crazy. The glasses. Not the eyesight problem.

"Jasper-"

"I know, I know. I'm an asshole," I cut in lazily. And I was. It was no secret. But I was willing to make up for my assholery. Starting now. "I apologised, didn't I?" My gaze flicked over to Skye's bedroom door then. "You want to go in first or should I?"

He shot me an incredulous look. "That's how you're planning to make it up to her? By suggesting we take turns? Jesus. I'm going to bed."

He got up then and started to head off to the bedroom.

"Come on, Sawyer," I called out with a chuckle. "I'm pretty sure she won't mind as long as I give a hundred percent."

He snorted. "Be my guest, Wells. If you can get her to forgive you and let you in her bed tonight, I guarantee I will join you."

He closed the bedroom door with a click while I smirked and turned back to the TV. I didn't think Cole believed I would actually go through with it, that I was capable of breaking that final barrier and allowing myself to engage in any kind of intimacy with Skye or with him. He thought I was teasing.

I took a fortifying breath. I wasn't faking the sex thing. But if I could push myself to do everything else, I was sure I could do this too. I just needed something to feed on. A fantasy maybe. Something raw and primitive that appealed to the animal inside me. Something that brought me roaring and screaming back to life once more.

My gaze landed on the panties Skye had refused to take earlier and I sucked in my bottom lip through my teeth. Hmm. Desperate times and all...

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