Page 53 of When We Collide

With a soft moan, Jeyla draws back from the kiss and gazes amorously into my eyes. “Shall we get our boy and go home, baby girl?” Her voice is full of hope and joy, mirroring the feelings that are bubbling up inside of me.

A smile tugs at the corners of my mouth as I nod in agreement. “Yes, let's go home, Captain.” Jeyla moves to my side as I wrap my arm around her shoulder, ignoring the sharp pain in my ribs. “But first, we’re going to the hospital to get you checked.”

“JJ, I’m fine, really.” I try to protest, but she cuts me off with a stern look.

“Dean?”

“Yeah?”

“Shut up,” Jeyla retorts playfully, but I don’t miss the hint of concern laced in her voice that makes me smile despite my injuries. We walk over to the main building where DJ is sleeping.

“Now, is that any way to treat and talk to yourherohusband?”

“Ex-husband.” I scoff, and using the hand draped across her shoulder I cup her chin, tip her head back and look down into her eyes when she adds, “We’re no longer married.”

“We’ll have to rectify that immediately then, wont we?” Jeyla’s brow goes up and the corner of her lip tips up in amusement.

“You think I’m marrying youagain?”

“As if you have any other choice. I will drag you down that aisle kicking and screaming if that’s what it takes.”

Jeyla’s green eyes narrow challengingly, “I would love to see you try, Captain.”

“And see you will, JJ.” I reply, grinning back at her smugly, to which she rolls her eyes with a shake of her head.

“God, I hate you.”

“And I love to hear it, baby girl.”

One week later…

“Fuck, JJ, grind down harder…” I groan gruffly, biting down on my lower lip. Jeyla doesn’t hesitate and follows my command. “Oh, yes, baby right fucking there…”

“Uhm… have you guys forgotten that you have guests over or would you like us to leave?” My eyes snap open and I glare at my twin sitting opposite me, her identical green eyes staring back at me in revulsion while she’s holding a bowl of ice cream.

“I have a stiff neck, what do you want from me?” I grumble, resting my head back against Jeyla’s chest as she continues to knead her thumbs into the column of my neck which has beenstiff and aching for days now, making it impossible for me to sleep.

Ashlyn sets her spoon down and leans forward. “I'd like for you to appreciate your massage in silence. Honestly, it feels like I'm watching the start of a low budget porn show over here.” Her words make me chuckle and I hear JJ join in behind me. It's a sound I've missed deeply for over a year.

But ever since our return, Jeyla and I haven't had a moment alone. Our house has been constantly filled with family; parents, siblings, even extended relatives once news broke that I was indeed alive. The house feels more like a bustling hive than a peaceful refuge with all the people coming in and out. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful to my family, my parents and Ash for checking in and wanting to spend time with us, but fuck me I just want some alone time with Jeyla and DJ.

The room feels emptier than ever before, void of Oscar's presence who we are used to having around as part of our little group. He’d moved out by the time we got back, and I can’t help but feel forlorn knowing how difficult this must be for him. Losing Jeyla is not something that is easy to get over... I should know, I’ve been where he is many times. I know how it feels loving her from afar. Jeyla misses him, too. Sometimes when she’s distracted doing something she’ll mistakenly call meOskie.

The tension is palpable between us. It feels like an elephant sucking the air out of the room whenever we’re together... which isn’t a whole lot since I’ve been back. I’ve been putting off having thatawkwardconversation with him, but I think it’s important that we do talk it out before it festers and becomes bigger than it really is. We are brothers after all.

The Oscar drama aside, I’ve been mostly stuck in bed resting while my ribs heal. Jeyla insisted I went to hospital and wouldn’t listen when I told her my ribs were likely just bruised. Of course, I was right and naturally I didn’t miss the opportunity to rub her pretty face in it.

There’s still so much that is up in the air and broken between us, and I’m hoping we can work it out and go back to being us. Our relationship is in a state of limbo. While it will be hard at first because Jeyla—as you would expect—still has her guard up, but I’m determined to penetrate those walls... and her. Fuck am I aching topenetrateher.

With my bruised ribs and things being so strained between us we haven’t done much but kiss a couple of times. We’re not even sleeping in the same bed at the moment. I’m in the guest room and she’s in her room, and it’s fucking killing me. I’m trying to respect her space and let her come to me, but I’m starting to get the impression she’s anxious over us being alone together. Without any imminent threats looming over us, everything feels a little too real. Too many unspoken words linger between us and we’re both hesitant to broach the subject in fear of where it will lead.

Jeyla’s hands move deliberately over my bare shoulders.

The struggle I feel on the daily to restrain myself from touching her whenever I want is almost unbearable. My hands ache to explore every inch of her sensational body. The urge to pin her against the nearest surface just to remind her how good we fit together consumes me. I can taste the heat between us, pulsing stronger with each passing moment we’re both fighting the pull. It’s starting to feel a lot like we’re back to how we used to be years ago, before we officially got together and was sneaking around, unable to keep our hands off each other.

Ahh, as exasperating as it was, I would give anything to go back to those days and relive it all over again with her.

“Hey, you okay?” Jeyla’s voice hums in my ear, pulling me from my thoughts. Lifting my gaze, I meet her inquisitive gaze and smile.

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