Page 206 of Break the Ice
Her gaze flicks between our faces on the screen. “I want you here,” she breathes, folding over the counter like the want is heavy.
Even across a grainy phone lens, I see the dip of her blouse, a glimpse of red lace underwear, and the way it sets off her skin. She’s never worn anything like that; I love that she is—for herself—and that I get to witness it.
I glance at Jayden. He’s already looking at me, a bare, unguarded smile tugging at his mouth like he knows exactly what I’m thinking and agrees. My fingers curl over the cushion between us, the heat of his arm within reach. I don’t pull away when his knuckles brush mine; the contact steadies me instead of spiking panic.
“We want you with us too,” he says, swallowing.
His fingers ghost mine again, deliberately checking in.
“Just because you’re not here doesn’t mean we can’t make you feel good,” he tells her, then cuts his eyes to me and leaves the next step in my hands.
Pushing down the twist of nerves that assaults me, I tell her, “Take off your clothes, Finley.”
“Elijah,” she falters, dropping her gaze to the counter so her face is hidden from view. “I can’t. I’mbleeding.”
“It’s just blood,” Jayden says. “Biology.”
“You’re perfect,” I assure her.
She’s searching between Jayden and I, when he suggests, “If it bothers you, there’s always the bath.”
Her demeanor freezes, as soon as he utters the words. I wish I was there to remind her that she doesn’t have to be afraid of the water.
Instead, I tell her, “Take off your clothes and get in the shower.”
The breath I didn’t know I was holding escapes me in a hiss when she props the phone on the counter. Finley angles it just right so we can see her before she starts on the buttons of her blouse, the soft underlighting throwing curves and shadows over every move. The puffy sleeves slide down her arms until the fabric puddles at her feet.
“Fuck me,” Jayden mutters, his voice low, reverent, when the bra comes into view.
Flesh-colored cups with big red flowers, cut so low they barely hide anything at all.
“So damn pretty,” he says, the words rougher now.
Finley bites at her smile but doesn’t hide from the camera. Her eyes lock on ours, steady and sure, even though her hands tremble as she peels her jeans down over her hips. The denim slides slow over long legs until she’s left standing in just the bra and a matching scrap of lace below, one large, embroidered flower resting right where my thoughts go dark.
“Spin,” Jayden orders.
Her pause lasts only a heartbeat before she turns, giving us the back view, the thong cutting a teasing line across the perfect curve of her ass.
We both groan.
“Bathroom,” Jayden rasps, his grip yanking tight at the waistband of his shorts like it’s the only thing keeping him tethered. The moment she steps into the ensuite, he instructs her, “Run the water and get naked.”
Jayden mutes the call, finally looking at me. “You good?”
I let the question sit. My whole life has been a list of no’s—lines I wouldn’t cross, things I wouldn’t let myself want. But right now, everything in me is ayes.
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m good.”
“You sure? Because if this gets to be too much, I can step out. This has to be for you too, Eli. Not just for Fin. Not just for me.”
I meet his eyes, steady. “Stay,” I tell him.
We’re not touching, but his thigh presses into the cushion next to mine, close enough that the heat from him buzzes along my skin. He lifts the phone again as the water starts to run, steam rising in the frame.
Finley comes back into view, bare shoulders glistening, hair curling against her damp neck as she tests the spray with one small hand.
“If you’re sure…”
