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hailthegodsong · 28 days ago

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MAYBE

One Shot ~ Sam Kiszka x Female Reader

Word Count: 17k +

A/N: This one shot was requested in October last year, so I'm so so sorry that it has taken so long to come out with. I also strayed from the ask dramatically, I hope you don't mind anon. Huge huge thanks to @hailtheaeon for being there to help me brainstorm in the process of writing this story <33

Summary: After years of struggling to move past the damage left by abusive relationships, you’ve built a life focused on safety— for yourself and your rescue dog, Bella, who carries her own scars. But when Sam's quiet kindness enters your life, the walls you’ve built start to crack. Even when fears and trauma threaten to push him away, Sam’s patience and understanding help you begin to heal. Maybe, just maybe, letting someone in doesn’t have to be a risk after all.

Content warnings: Trauma from domestic violence, descriptions of past verbal, emotional, and physical abuse, fear, anxiety, panic attack, trust issues, crying, swearing kissing.

🐾

The late afternoon sun cast golden hues over the grass that Bella ran across, her golden coat shining in the glow. This park was a quiet place, your sanctuary, where the world felt a little less sharp and the noise of your thoughts could settle. Bella, the dog you’d rescued from a local shelter just over a year ago padded beside you, her nose to the ground as she sniffed along the blades of grass and dirt below. She was your anchor, your constant companion, and a reflection of your own guarded— if not fearful nature.

Like you, she didn’t trust easily. You’d chosen her for that reason— a timid, gentle soul who had been hurt at the hands of another, just like you had. Someone who needed a safe space just as much as you did. A safe space from her fears of men. She had been rescued from neglect, and the bond you’d formed felt like a quiet understanding. You’d protect each other.

Today was supposed to be a peaceful outing, a routine part of your shared journey toward confidence. But as you strolled, you noticed a flash of movement. A dog— small, brindle, and full of energy— bounded toward you, stopping just short of your dog. Its tail wagged furiously, and it let out an excited little bark.

“Well, hello,” you murmured, crouching slightly, to show Bella that other dogs were safe. Your dog stiffened for a moment, but as the brindle one nudged her gently, Bellas tail gave a tentative wag. You blinked in surprise. That was… a quick turnaround. Bella was usually timid, cautious, and would hide behind your legs as you greeted other people, or other dogs.

Before you could process it, another dog approached— a darker one this time, bigger but just as lively. The two newcomers sniffed at your hands, tails wagging like flags in the wind, and you felt a small smile tug at your lips despite the suddenness of it all.

You glanced around the park, searching for an owner, but there was no one in sight— only you, Bella, and the two lost pups. The puppy had a collar, so you knelt and carefully checked for a tag. The name read Fox, and luckily, there was a phone number beneath it.

Your stomach twisted. Calling a stranger— a man, judging by the name scrawled on the back of the tag— made your pulse quicken. Sam, was the name. But Sam could be a woman's name too, couldn’t it? But it could also be a man, and the prospect of being alone out there with a man whom you didn't know frightened you to your core. Your hand tightened around your phone as you hesitated. What if it’s a trap? What if he’s someone you should fear? The thoughts came unbidden, unwelcome, but familiar.

You glanced back down at the dogs. They were sitting now, panting happily at your feet, and your own dog— your cautious, wary girl— was watching them with what looked like joy. You took a breath, pushed the fear aside just enough, and dialed.

The phone rang exactly twice before a man’s voice answered, slightly breathless. “Hello?”

“Hi,” you said, your voice more clipped than you intended. “I found your dog. Two, actually— Fox and another one… but I don’t know her name, she doesn’t have a collar.”

The relief in his voice was immediate and overwhelming. “Oh my God, thank you. I’ve been looking everywhere for them. Are they okay?”

“They’re fine,” you answered, glancing down at the dogs, who seemed completely unbothered by the situation. “We’re at the park with the walking trail and the big open field, near the creek. You can come pick them up.”

“Thank you so much,” he said again, his words tumbling out in a rush. “I’ll be there in ten minutes. I’m so sorry— they must have gotten out of the yard. Thank you, thank you.”

“No worries,” you forced out. “See you soon.” You hung up, still gripping the phone tightly. The rational part of you knew there was no reason to distrust him— he sounded genuinely relieved, even frantic— but the cautious part, the part shaped by years of bad experiences, kept your guard up.

You sat on a bench, watching as the three dogs sprawled out near your feet. Your dog rested her head on her paws, more relaxed than you’d seen her in a long time. It stirred something warm in your chest, seeing her so content in a place that wasn't the foot of your bed. Still, a knot of worry lingered. She’d never been good with men— you’d never been good with men— and the thought of one arriving soon made your shoulders tense.

Ten minutes felt like an eternity, but eventually, a figure appeared in the distance. He was tall, with long, dark, slightly unruly hair and a hurried stride. The moment the dogs spotted him, they were off like rockets, tails wagging furiously as they lept toward him.

He dropped to his knees, his laughter ringing out as they practically bowled him over. “Hey, hey— there you are,” he says, his voice warm and full of relief. “I was so worried about you two.”

Bella stood now too, her ears perked and her tail giving the smallest of wags. She looked at you, then back at him, as if asking permission.

You rose slowly, your pulse quickening. He stood as well, the two dogs happily circling his legs, and the smaller one jumping up at his calves for attention. His eyes met yours, and for a moment, you were struck by how kind they seemed.

“I can’t thank you enough,” he said, his voice earnest. “Fox is new, and she must’ve slipped out somehow. Rose must have followed her. I’ve been looking for them everywhere.”

“It’s no problem,” you assured, your voice softer than you expected. “They’re sweet dogs.”

As you spoke, Bella stepped closer to him, her nose twitching as she sniffed his ankle. He noticed and crouched slightly, holding out a hand. “And who’s this?”

“That’s Bella,” you said, quickly adding, “Um, maybe don’t— she’s not great with men. She’s a rescue.”

He pulled his hand back immediately, nodding in understanding. “Got it. Sorry about that.”

But to your shock, Bella didn’t shy away. Instead, she sniffed a little longer before her tail started wagging— a hesitant flick at first, then more assured. She stepped closer, nudging his hand with her nose.

He laughed softly, his voice gentle. “Well, hello there.” Although her advances were friendly, Sam still refrained from petting her, allowing her to feel him out herself. You stared, completely baffled. Bella didn’t do this. She didn’t trust men— not after everything she’d been through.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s gotten into her,” you said, your voice tinged with awe.

“It’s okay, I don’t mind,” he replied, his tone light. “Maybe it’s because I have long hair,” he joked, and you smiled softly at him.

Rose and Fox joined in, playfully bumping into your dog before breaking into a game of chase. They darted around your legs, tails wagging as they barked at one another and spun in dizzying circles.

Sam straightened, his smile soft. “Looks like they’ve gotten well acquainted.”

You laughed lightly, feeling a little of the tension drain from your shoulders. “Yeah. They clicked pretty fast.”

“I’m Sam, by the way,” he greeted, holding out his hand.

You hesitated for only a moment before taking it. “Nice to meet you,” you replied, the words feeling more natural than you’d expected. You introduced yourself too, watching as Sam's mouth grew into yet another gentle smile as you spoke. You pulled your hand away timidly, and turned back to your dogs, avoiding his gaze.

As the dogs played, you caught yourself smiling— not just at them, but at him too. He seemed kind, and he seemed to understand your need for silence. It was comfortable being around him.

Sam watched the dogs play, his face lit up with genuine joy. “I think they’ve already decided they’re best friends,” he commented with a soft laugh, glancing over at you. “Rose doesn’t usually warm up to other dogs this fast.”

You smiled, a little hesitant but unable to help the warmth spreading in your chest as you watched the three of them chase each other in joyful circles. “Same with her,” you admitted, nodding toward your dog, whose tail was wagging furiously as she bounded after Rose. “She’s usually... cautious, especially in new situations.”

Sam tilted his head, studying the dogs for a moment before meeting your eyes. “You’ve done a great job with her, though. She seems really happy.”

His words caught you off guard, and for a moment, you didn't know how to respond. Compliments always felt awkward, especially from strangers— especially from men. They were almost always ingenuine. A ruse to have you trust them— so that they could hurt you. But there was something disarming about the way Sam spoke, casual but earnest, like he really meant it.

“Thanks,” you managed, your voice soft. “It’s been a process, but... she’s worth it.”

Sam smiled sideways, and this time, it felt a little more personal, like he understood in a way that didn’t need further explanation. “I get that,” he started. “Rose was a rescue too. Took me a while to figure out her rhythm. And Fox... well, she’s still a work in progress.” He let out a boyish laugh. “But… I think we’re all a little rough around the edges, right?”

“Yeah, I guess we are.”

The conversation lulled, but it was another comfortable silence. The dogs continued their game of back and forth, weaving around the two of you with an almost choreographed grace. Bella, at one point, paused in need of a breath and trotted over to you. You bent slightly to give her a scratch behind the ear, her hand leaning into your touch, before you pulled away. Casually, she meandered over to Sam, her tail wagging slowly but surely. She nudged his hand again, and he remained mostly still, offering his hand carefully so as not to startle her.

Bella then turned, and leant her body weight against Sam's legs, watching as Fox and Rose continued their game of chase.

You watched, a mix of awe and confusion swirling inside you. “I’ve never seen her do that before,” you commented quietly. “She doesn’t trust men.”

Sam looked over to you, his expression unreadable for a moment before it softened again. “Well she’s very brave, for taking a chance on me.”

Before you could think of a response, Fox barked sharply, demanding his attention. He laughed and stepped back. Bella skirted away from him at the movement, jumpy still— almost as if she had remembered to be scared.

“Alright, alright, I’m coming,” Sam called, his voice light and teasing. He glanced back at you, his expression a mix of gratitude and something else you couldn’t quite place. “We should probably head home now. Thanks again, by the way. For calling me. And for... you know, everything.”

You nodded, a little flustered but managing a small smile. “It was no trouble. Really.”

“Well,” he said, taking a step back but clearly not wanting to leave just yet, “If you’re ever back at this park... maybe our dogs could have another playdate?”

The suggestion caught you off guard, but the nervous manner of his tone eased your anxiety. Instead, you actually found yourself nodding. “Yeah, maybe. They seem to like each other.”

“And maybe,” Sam added, grinning, “They could even convince us humans to talk again.”

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe,” you repeated, the word feeling like a tentative step forward.

As he walked away, his dogs trotting happily at his heels, Bella nudged your hand, looking up at you with a curious tilt of her head. You scratched behind her ears, still trying to process everything that just happened.

“Maybe,” you murmured again, this time to yourself.

🐾

The next few days were rather bland. You and Bella meandered around the house lazily, keeping each other company with cuddles on the couch and in bed.

You were confused, to say the least. Proud of yourself for spending so much time with Sam— and for being able to hold a conversation with him without breaking down into a panicked state, like you most often did when speaking to men, especially alone. But another part of you— the dark, afraid exterior you had put on to protect yourself— was ashamed. You’d experienced too much hurt to be naive. And letting yourself grow so fond of a man after only one introduction, solely based on a feeling you had, was utterly ridiculous.

You wanted to keep yourself indoors forever at the thought. The idea of curling yourself in your bedsheets and never remerging sounded more alluring with each day that passed. Alas, Bella was restless, and you knew you couldn't keep her cooped up and isolated with you, no matter how much you dreaded leaving the comfort of your home.

Getting up with a dramatic sigh, you showered, dressed, and made yourself look somewhat presentable, Bella excitedly trotting by your heels in anticipation as you got ready. You were soon out the door, as Bella gave a particularly harsh tug on the lead to get the walk started as you fumbled with your keys to lock the front door.

It wasn’t unusual for her to be excited for her walks, but this was different, and her enthusiasm didn't let up any further into the walk. Your whole body, slanted awkwardly in an attempt to control her pulling, lest you go flying face first into the concrete, was beginning to tire at her relentless eagerness.

“Bella, what has gotten into you?” you grunted as you feebly tried to control her near frantic pace.

Your question was answered when she turned a sharp, deliberate corner down the trail that led you to your local park. The same park where you had met Sam, and his dogs.

“Oh, Bella,” you cooed. Her happy little face looked up at you, tongue hanging out and tail thwacking your legs as it wagged uncontrollably.

You weren’t sure what to do. On one hand, you doubted he’d even be there again. He hadn’t even been there in the first place— had only come to pick up his dogs. But, strangely you weren’t opposed to seeing him again. His presence wasn’t forceful or uncomfortable in the slightest. Sam was easy to be with.

But the other part of you— the rational, protective part of your mind, reasoned with you through memory. You hadn’t been treated fairly by a man— ever. Did you really expect that to change now? You’d learnt your lessons, and promised to never put yourself back in a situation like that, ever again. Yet here you were, contemplating returning to an otherwise empty park in hopes to find yourself alone with a man you had quite literally just met.

Bella sat by your feet and whined, her paws pressing into the ground impatiently. Alas, be it naivety or some pathetic kind of hope, Sam didn’t make you feel scared. Not like other men did, at least. Sure you felt nervous, jittery, and a little guarded around him, but it was nothing compared to how you reacted to the presence of other men. No sweaty palms, erratic heart beats, panicked breathing, or racing thoughts. Just Sam, and the strangely peaceful air he had about him.

You sighed, “Alright then.” With that, Bella jumped from her spot, springing to her feet and tugging on the leash.

After battling her tugging for the next five minutes of the walk, you re-emerged in the park you had been at a few days prior. Bellas head, much like yours, was high, scanning the area in sight of any others— in sight of Sam.

“Get it Rose!”

Your head turned at the sound of his voice, echoing through the park as a familiar brindle dog whizzed passed you. There Sam stood, just off to the edge of the grass, a ball thrower in hand as he watched Rose chase his latest throw. Fox was by his feet, tugging on his maroon scarf which hung unevenly over his shoulders.

You couldn't help the small smile that tugged at your lips when you saw him, a big, cheesy smile stretched across his face. The smile turned to a frown when he felt the incessant tugging of his scarf slowly sliding off his shoulder, and he peered down to see Fox chewing at the threads.

“Fox!” he exclaimed, kneeling to take it from her mouth. “We’ve talked about this young lady. No chewing on Daddy’s clothes, that's what your toys are for, remember?” he explained as he pried her mouth open to snatch his scarf back.

You leaned down to unclip Bellas leash and in a flash she was bouncing off to greet them. Sam still hadn’t noticed your presence, and he startled slightly when Bella approached, dancing around his legs excitedly.

“Well hello there!” he greeted Bella as she pressed herself into his legs. His eyes quickly jumped up to see you walking towards him, his smile returning to his face at the sight of you. “You’re back,” he commented as he rose, and took a few tentative steps forward.

“I’m back,” you repeated, your voice kind, but a little timid. You continued to walk towards him until you stood only a couple of feet away. “Bella pulled pretty hard to come here today— couldn’t say no to that face,” you joked, gesturing to her slobbery, open mouthed smile.

Sam blinked, and opened his mouth to say something but hesitated. He seemed to think for a moment before he settled on, “Well good, I’m glad to see you again.” By now, Rose had come bouncing back, and was sniffing at Bella by your feet.

“Thanks… you too,” you replied, rather awkwardly you thought.

Sam gestured to the small bench beside you with his arm. “Shall we sit?”

You nodded, letting out a quiet breath as you moved toward the bench. Bella followed, although unclipped, her leash was tight in your grip as if it were the only thing keeping you steady. Sam sat last, leaving a respectable amount of space between you, like he somehow sensed you’d need it.

Okay, this is fine. He’s just a guy. Sitting on a bench. It’s fine.

“I didn’t think I’d see you again so soon,” Sam said, breaking the quiet. His tone was casual, but there was something genuine behind it, something that made your chest feel tight. Bella sniffed at his feet, her tail wagging like she’d known him for years instead of just one brief meeting. “Rose has been acting like a lovesick puppy since the last time we were here.”

You managed a small smile, glancing down at the two dogs. Rose’s tail wagged furiously as Bella sniffed at her face, the two of them falling into an easy rhythm. You envied that— how simple it was for them to just... connect. No overthinking. No fear.

Why couldn't you be like that? Why did this have to be so hard?

“I’m glad she dragged you out,” Sam added, leaning back slightly on the bench. His voice was light, but the way he said it— like he really meant it— made you glance at him. He caught your gaze for half a second before you looked away, your heart thudding too loudly in your chest.

“I almost didn’t come,” you admitted before you could stop yourself. Your gut twisted in embarrassment. Why did you have to say that?

“But you did,” he pointed out gently. “And I’m glad.”

You swallowed hard, your grip tightening on the leash. He was kind. Too kind. The way he looked at you, like he wasn’t in a rush or expecting anything from you, made something in your chest ache. It would’ve been easier if he was pushy, if he gave you a reason to shut down. But he wasn’t.

The silence stretched, and you could feel the familiar pull to retreat, to make an excuse and leave. But then Sam spoke again, his voice cutting through the fog in your head.

“You know,” he said carefully, “I’ve been meaning to try that little café down the street. The one with the uhhh…” he clicked his finger as he thought, willing the memory to existence, “What's it called? You know, the flower with the long stem and uhh…” He continued to click his fingers as he dropped his head into his other hand, rubbing at his brow bone as he tried to remember.

“Tulip?” you offered meekly.

“Yes!” he pointed at you, body straightening. “That big tulip artwork on the front window. Have you been? It looks nice,” he explained, hands gesturing in front of him as he described the art.

You shook your head, “No, I haven’t been. But I’ve walked past it a few times— smells nice in there.”

Sam smiled, leaning forward slightly. “Maybe we could check it out together sometime. If you’re up for it.”

Your heart slammed against your ribs.

You looked at him, unsure what to say. The idea of sitting across from him, having a conversation in a quiet café, felt like a massive leap. You were not ready for this. You’d sworn off men— off dating. It hadn’t even been a question, you knew you weren’t mentally prepared to handle the things that came with being in a relationship— not now.

But at the same time, there was a tiny spark of something else— something that wanted to say yes. Would you ever be ready? Or would you spend the rest of your lonely life at home with Bella? Forced by the mental confines of your mind.

“I—uh...” You stumbled over your words, your brain fighting with itself. Say something. Say yes. He’s not going to wait forever.

“No pressure,” Sam added quickly, his tone easy. “It doesn’t have to be soon. Or ever, if.. you don't want to, or…you’re not comfortable, or… whatever.”

You exhaled shakily, gripping Bella’s leash like it was a lifeline. “No, I…” you sighed. “That sounds nice,” you said finally, your voice barely above a whisper.

Sam’s smile didn’t falter, and that surprised you. Most people would’ve pushed or tried to pin you down for a time. But not him. “Okay,” he said simply. “Whenever you’re free.”

You nodded, feeling a flicker of relief but also something else. Maybe you could do this. Maybe.

The dogs ran off again, chasing each other in lazy circles, and for the first time in a long time, you allowed yourself to believe that you could take a step forward. Even if it was small, even if it was terrifying, you wanted to try.

Sam's voice brought your gaze back to him again. “How about you give me your number and we can arrange a time that you’re free. Or— I mean, I can give you mine if that's better,” he shrugged, his speech beginning to turn more into a ramble than an offer. “That way you can, y’know, choose when— or if you’re free, or if you even want to do it, cause—”

“I do want to do it. Stop overthinking it,” you joked, though you knew he had every right to be worried. You had no idea how you were going to show up to this… date? Catchup? You weren't sure what it was, but the title didn't make the occasion any less daunting. Sam's happy grin encouraged your next words. “Do you have your phone on you? I can put my number into your contacts,” you suggested.

His eyebrows lifted as he nodded, “Yeah, yeah, for sure.” He awkwardly patted his pockets before finding his phone lost somewhere inside his coat. “Here y’go.”

Sam handed you his phone, an empty contact card open for you to put your details in. This was huge. You were willingly giving a man your phone number— a man you'd practically just met. Something tugged at whatever part of your brain was responsible for decision making persistently, willing you to question if what you were doing may be stupid. You knew it wasn't smart, not after what you’d been through— what you’d experienced with men. They always started off kind, you knew that. Yet there was something about Sam that you felt you could trust, and that frightened you the most.

As your fingers hesitated on the keyboard against his phone, you glanced down to where Bella settled by Sam's feet, staring off into the park and allowing Sam to lightly pet the middle of her back. You sighed, willing away the thoughts like they were just some annoying, unwelcomed pest, as you forced your fingers to tap the phone screen.

“Done.” You handed his phone back to him, fingers picking at your cuticles nervously as you watched him smile and type something into his phone. Your phone buzzed from your back pocket and you slid it out to see a text message: “Here's my number too :)”

The lightheartedness of the message made your lips twitch, the faintest hint of a smile pulling at the corners. You glanced at Sam who was still sitting beside you, leaning back against the wooden table, looking completely at ease.

You shifted awkwardly, fiddling with Bella’s leash, though she had sprawled out at Sam's feet, panting contentedly after her play. Sam didn’t seem to notice your nerves— or maybe he did, and he just chose not to draw attention to it. Either way, his relaxed energy made it hard to feel completely on edge.

“So,” Sam began, breaking the comfortable silence. “Is this Bella's favourite park, or…?”

You nodded, glancing at him briefly before looking away. “Yeah, usually. She likes how quiet it is.”

“Quiet’s good,” he agreed, his voice warm and easy. “I usually go to that busy dog park across the city when I get the chance. Rose and Fox like to drag me out of the house to get there.”

You chuckled softly, looking at Rose, who was now sprawled out a few feet away, eyes half-closed in the sunlight. “Looks like she’s not too demanding right now.”

“Yeah, don’t let that fool you,” Sam said, leaning toward you a little as he itched his forearm, his elbow brushing yours briefly. “Ten more minutes, and she’ll be up, trying to wrestle me or something. That girl hasn't known how to take it easy for her whole life,” he laughed.

You smiled faintly, your fingers tightening on Bella’s leash. It was strange, sitting here with someone you’d only just met. Normally, this would feel like too much— too close, too personal— but with Sam, it felt... manageable.

“Anyway,” he continued, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye, “I figured I’d send that text so you’ve got my number too. Just in case, y’know, Bella needs a playmate or something.”

You raised an eyebrow, your lips twitching again. “Just for our dogs, huh? Not for our coffee outing?”

Sam grinned, his shoulders shaking with a quiet laugh. “Fair point. I’m more of a sidekick in this operation. I let Fox and Rose do the heavy lifting.”

That small flicker of humor in your chest felt foreign but not unwelcome. There was no pressure to say anything. He wasn’t watching you, waiting for a response. Instead, he looked out at the park, his expression calm, like he was perfectly content to just be here.

“I don’t usually... give my number out,” you said suddenly, the words escaping before you could stop them.

Sam glanced at you, his brows lifting slightly, but he didn’t press. “Yeah? Well, I don’t usually ask for numbers in dog parks, so I guess we’re both a little out of our comfort zones.”

You snorted softly, shaking your head. “That’s... one way to look at it.”

He shifted slightly, his tone softening. “I get it, though. It’s not always easy to, uh... put yourself out there— socially, or otherwise.”

You glanced at him, feeling a pang of something— gratitude, maybe? He wasn’t prying. He wasn’t asking why or trying to dig into things you weren’t ready to share. He just... understood.

Bella nudged at your leg, and you reached down to scratch behind her ears, your fingers trembling slightly.

“You seem pretty good at it,” you murmured, almost to yourself.

Sam tilted his head, a small, almost self-deprecating smile on his lips. “You’d be surprised. I just talk a lot and hope something sticks.”

That earned a small laugh from you, and you saw his smile widen.

“Seriously, though,” he added, his voice dropping just a little, “We don’t have to do anything you’re not up for. I mean it.”

You nodded, swallowing hard. “I know.”

“Good,” he said, leaning back again, his shoes toeing into the dirt beneath him nervously. “But for the record, I think Rose, Fox and Bella would make a great tag team. So if you ever want to let them hang out again, just say the word.”

Just say the word. The offer was there, present for you to take at your own accord. It didn't press you, and it didn't make you feel like if you didn’t reach out, you were letting anybody down. It was comfortable— as was everything that Sam said. The casualness of his tone made it easier to breathe.

“Okay,” you said softly. Sam smiled, his eyes crinkling at the edges.

You glanced at your phone to check the time, a small pang of disappointment blooming in your chest. You hated that you had to leave. You wanted to stay— maybe not talk much, but just exist here with him, in the easy quiet of the park.

“I, uh, should probably head home,” you said reluctantly, rising to your feet. “I’ve got a meeting in thirty minutes.”

Sam’s brows lifted as he stood too, the easygoing smile on his face flickering with something softer. “Oh? Do you work from home?” he asked, as Bella jumped to her feet beside you, shaking out her coat.

“Yeah,” you nodded, clipping the leash onto her collar. “I don’t have to leave Bella alone for hours, so it works out.”

“Lucky Bella,” he said lightly, though his mouth stayed open, as if he wanted to keep talking— as if he didn't want the moment to end. He shook his head lightly before continuing, “Well, I’ll let you go. Don’t want you to be late or anything.”

You smiled, a small, genuine curve of your lips. “Thanks. I’ll, uh… I’ll text you,” you said, the words slipping out before you could second-guess them. The certainty in Sam’s returning smile made your chest flutter. Maybe saying it wasn’t such a bad thing.

“I’ll look forward to it,” he said warmly, his eyes meeting yours in a way that felt reassuring and kind.

You nodded, a little too quickly, gripping Bella’s leash tightly as if it could keep your nerves steady. “See you.”

“Bye,” he said, his voice lingering just a moment longer. He reached for Fox and Rose, gently holding them back as they strained toward Bella, their tails wagging wildly.

You gave a small, awkward wave before turning away, the crisp air filling your lungs as you and Bella walked toward the park gate.

As you reached the edge of the park, you couldn’t help glancing back. Sam was still standing there, a hand resting idly on Rose’s back, watching as you left. When your eyes met his, he raised a hand in a casual wave, his grin as easy as ever.

You turned back around quickly, your cheeks warming against the cold. Maybe this wasn’t as terrifying as it seemed. Maybe.

Bella tugged gently on the leash, grounding you as you crossed the street and started for home. Your phone buzzed in your pocket— a message from Sam. It was a photo of Fox and Rose, their ears pricked up and eyes fixed on the empty entrance of the park, as though they were waiting for you and Bella to return.

A second message followed right after: “Looks like they’re already missing you both.”

A smile tugged at your lips before you could stop it. It was a small gesture, but something about it made your chest feel a little lighter. You slipped your phone back into your pocket without responding, telling yourself you’d reply when you got home. Maybe you’d even send him a photo of Bella in return. Maybe you’d keep the conversation going.

For the first time in what felt like forever, the thought of staying connected didn’t seem so impossible. It felt… nice.

🐾

The coffee meet-up had gone so much better than you’d imagined, better than you had even allowed yourself to hope for. The worst part— unsurprisingly— had been the lead-up. You’d paced your apartment for what felt like hours, second-guessing every decision. Your mind raced with a thousand doubts: Was this smart? Was this too soon? Were you setting yourself up for heartbreak again? Bella sat patiently by the door, watching you with her big, soulful eyes, almost as if she were silently urging you to go, to just try.

You’d arrived at the café early, jittery from nerves and a lack of sleep. When Sam walked in, his warm smile immediately eased some of your tension. He looked genuinely happy to see you, like there was nowhere else he’d rather be. He’d waved and slid into the seat across from you, his presence grounding but not overbearing.

Conversation had flowed naturally, which surprised you. Sam had a way of filling the space between you without making it feel stifling. He’d asked about Bella, what you did for work, and even shared a funny story about Rose stealing one of his socks that morning. When the conversation lulled, as it inevitably did, Sam didn’t make it awkward. Instead, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze wandering to the people passing by outside the café window.

“See that guy?” he’d said, nodding toward a man hurriedly crossing the street with a mismatched pair of gloves, and a bright pink scarf. “What do you reckon? He’s either late for something important or has a really funky sense of style.”

You’d followed his gaze, smiling faintly. “Maybe both.”

And just like that, the quiet moments turned into a game of people-watching. Sam made up lighthearted stories about strangers, his voice calm and easy, and for the first time in a long time, you felt safe in someone else’s company. There was no pressure, no expectation— just two people sitting across from each other, sharing a moment.

By the time you’d parted ways, your nerves had transformed into optimism. You didn’t regret coming. In fact, you were already looking forward to seeing him again.

The next morning you saw him again at the park. You hadn’t planned to go at the same time, but there he was, with Rose and Fox bounding around in the grass. You’d exchanged a smile and a wave, and soon enough, it became a daily routine. Every morning, you’d take Bella to the park, secretly hoping he’d be there too. And every morning, Sam was.

One day, as you approached the park, you noticed him holding a cup of coffee, a familiar logo on the side. He smiled as he handed it to you, his expression a mix of shy and pleased.

“I, uh, noticed what you ordered the other day,” he said, scratching the back of his neck. “Thought you might like one this morning.”

You stared at the cup in your hands, warmth spreading from your fingertips to your chest. “Thank you,” you said softly, touched by the small but thoughtful gesture. From that day on, he always seemed to have a coffee ready for you. It wasn’t a grand gesture, but it meant more than he probably realized.

Still, as much as you looked forward to those mornings, your mind wasn’t entirely at ease. The scars of your past whispered doubts in the quiet moments. This is too good to be true. Men like this don’t stay this way. You’ve been here before. The memories of past relationships, of violence and betrayal, were like shadows you couldn’t shake.

But then there was Sam— patient, kind, and attentive in a way that felt entirely genuine. He didn’t push when you hesitated. He didn’t pry when you grew quiet. He just was.

When he invited you to a dinner at his house, casually mentioning that his brothers and their friends would be there, you froze. The thought of being in a group setting, of being in his home, felt like too much too soon. You’d declined, softly but firmly, and to your relief, Sam had taken it in stride.

“All good. Another time, maybe,” he’d said with a smile, as if to let you know the door was always open.

The refusal had felt good— not because you didn’t want to go, but because you were learning to set boundaries. You were opening yourself up, little by little, but you weren’t letting go of yourself in the process.

Throughout the week, Sam continued to send you pictures of Rose and Fox. They were always candid and endearing— Rose sprawled out on the couch, Fox sitting attentively by the window as if waiting for you and Bella. One evening, you found Bella lounging in her usual spot, her head tilted just so, and before you could overthink it, you snapped a picture and sent it to Sam.

“She says hi,” you’d typed, your heart fluttering as you hit send.

His reply had come almost instantly: “Tell her we say hi back. Same time tomorrow?”

You’d smiled, and without hesitation, replied: “Of course.”

🐾

A couple of days later, you found yourself bracing for a high-stakes work meeting with some of the most important executives in your company. Stress clung to you like a second skin, tightening your shoulders and quickening your breath. Your living room reflected your frayed state of mind— dog toys scattered across the floor, an abandoned mug of coffee perched precariously on the edge of the table, and a pile of laundry slumped in the corner, forgotten in your whirlwind of preparation.

You’d spent the entire morning darting between tasks: fussing with your hair, adjusting your blouse for the hundredth time, and sifting through the jumbled notes on your desk in a desperate attempt to find some semblance of order— despite the fact that the meeting started at noon. Bella had shadowed you every step of the way, her quiet presence an unspoken reminder of her unmet need for the walk she’d come to expect every morning.

Her brown eyes followed you as you paced the room, and when you finally sat down at your desk with a heavy sigh, she whined softly, settling herself at your feet.

“Bella, please,” you muttered, reaching down to give her a quick pat before returning to your computer screen. You flicked your eyes to the clock— thirty minutes until your call. The number pulsed in your mind like a ticking bomb, making your stomach twist.

Bella’s tail thumped against the floor, slow and deliberate, each wag a pointed reminder of her dissatisfaction. She huffed, letting out a low whimper, and you resisted the urge to groan. Normally, she’d be sprawled out in her favorite spot by now, worn out from a romp at the park. But today, skipping that routine had thrown her off entirely, and her restless energy was only adding to your own mounting tension.

“Bella,” you said again, your voice sharper this time, though guilt twisted in your chest. She wasn’t trying to annoy you— she just didn’t understand why things were different today. You ran a hand over your face, leaning back in your chair and staring at the ceiling.

Another loud whine that trailed off into a howl broke the silence, and you glanced down to see Bella staring up at you with wide, imploring eyes. She shifted closer, her tail wagging faster now, and let out a short, sharp bark.

“Okay, okay, I get it,” you muttered, your voice tight. “You’re stressed. Join the club.”

The tension in the room felt suffocating as Bella circled your chair, her nails clicking against the hardwood floor. You bent down again, this time stroking her fur more firmly in an attempt to calm her. But as soon as you pulled away, she was pacing again, her frustration palpable.

You checked the clock once more— twenty-five minutes now— and felt a rush of panic. This meeting was important, one you couldn’t afford to be distracted during. But how were you supposed to focus with Bella practically climbing the walls? You sighed, sitting back in your chair and opening your phone to check your emails.

Instead, you saw a new message from Sam. “Hey, no park today?” Attached was a photo of Rose and Fox, both sitting by the edge of the park, their ears pricked up like they were waiting for someone. He was still there, despite it being hours after you’d usually meet. Guilt twisted your gut.

You smiled despite yourself, typing a quick reply. “No park today :( I’ve got a busy afternoon of meetings and needed to prepare. I meant to let you know— sorry about that!”

His reply came almost instantly. “Ah okay, no worries! Good luck with your meetings :)”

Before you could put your phone down, Bella let out another pitiful whine, pacing back and forth near the door.

You replied. “Thanks. I think I’ll need it— Bella won’t stop whining and whimpering. I think she missed you guys. I don’t know what to do.”

Sam responded immediately. “Maybe just lock her in another room with some toys and treats?”

You sighed, wincing as Bella barked piercingly. “Can't. She’s got attachment anxiety. Starts to rip things up if she's left alone.”

You hit send, leaning back in your chair as Bella plopped down dramatically near the door, her eyes fixed on it like she was willing it to open, letting high pitched whines leave her throat.

A minute passed without a reply, and you were about to set your phone aside when it buzzed.

“I can come by and look after her for however long if you’d like? Take her out for a walk until your meeting is over?”

You stared at the message, your heart skipping a beat. He’s really offering to do this? The idea of letting someone into your space, even Sam, made you hesitate. But at the same time, you couldn’t deny how kind the offer was— or how badly you needed help right now.

You bit your lip as you replied. “Thanks Sam, but Bella doesn’t like being away from me. She gets really anxious.”

His reply came quickly. “I could just hang out with her in another room if you’d prefer? All good if not, of course, but the offer’s there.”

You set your phone down, your thoughts spinning. Bella whined again, pacing back to your chair and pawing at your leg.

“Bella,” you scolded gently. “Quiet.” You stood and grabbed her bowl, filling it with a few treats in hopes of distracting her, but she barely glanced at it. She let out a sharp bark, scratching at the front door now.

“Bella! Stop!” you said, exasperated, but she wasn’t listening.

You glanced at the clock— twenty minutes until your call. Another bark echoed through the apartment, and you dropped your head into your hands. “Okay, okay!” you muttered, grabbing your phone and opening the messages again.

“Yeah, I might have to take you up on that offer, if you wouldn’t mind.”

His response came almost immediately. “Of course :) Do you mind if I bring the girls?”

You sighed in relief. “Of course not. I’ll text you my address. My call is in 20 minutes, though.”

“Perfect. I’ll be there in 10.”

You exhaled, tension leaving your shoulders as you sent him your address. Bella looked up at you expectantly, and you gave her a small smile. “Someone’s coming to rescue you, happy now?” She whined at your words, eyes looking to and from the door as she impatiently waited for you to take her out.

While you waited, you found yourself fidgeting with your reflection in the hallway mirror. It was ridiculous, really— the meeting with the board members hadn’t inspired this level of concern, but knowing Sam was on his way had you smoothing down your hair and adjusting the hem of your sweater like a teenager before prom.

“Get a grip,” you muttered under your breath, brushing an invisible speck of lint off your sleeve. Bella whined softly from her spot near the door, her tail wagging with anticipation. And now, you tried to focus on the sound of her impatience instead of the nervous fluttering in your stomach.

The sharp knock at the door made Bella erupt into a frenzy of barking, spinning in circles by your feet. You felt your heart jolt, but not from the noise. It was that brief, nagging moment of doubt— a voice in the back of your mind reminding you that you were about to let a man into your home.

For a split second, you froze, your hand hovering over the lock. But then Bella barked again, her paws scratching at the door in her impatience, and you shoved the thought aside. This was Sam. Sam, who brought coffee to the park every morning. Sam, who made you feel safe in a way you hadn’t in a long time. You took a breath and opened the door.

“Hey!” Sam greeted you, his smile warm and disarming.

The dogs went wild, Bella barking and wagging her tail like a propeller as Rose and Fox tugged excitedly on their leashes. The narrow entryway became a chaotic blur of wagging tails and happy whines as you tried to wrangle Bella away from the tangle of Sam’s dogs.

“Come in, quick,” you said, stepping aside to let them all in before the noise woke your neighbors. Bella followed Rose and Fox eagerly as they darted into the living room, their tails wagging in unison.

“You can take their leashes off,” you told Sam, watching as he crouched to unclip them. The dogs bounded off to explore, Bella right on their heels, and the house fell into an almost eerie quiet after the explosion of noise.

You turned back to Sam, who had straightened up and was now standing with his hands tucked casually into his coat pockets. His gaze lingered on you for a moment, his expression softening.

“You look nice,” he said, his voice warm but casual, as though it was just a simple observation and not a compliment that sent your pulse racing.

Your cheeks flushed, and you glanced down, brushing at your sweater even though you knew there was nothing on it. “Oh, uh… thanks. This meeting’s kind of a big deal.” Lie. You fixed your appearance for him. “Thank you for coming”

Sam’s smile widened, and he shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to help. Plus, I could hear Bella whining from the street.”

You laughed as you watched her whizz past you both into the living room, Rose and Fox hot on her heels.

“Where do you want me?” Sam asked, reminding you that you needed to get a move on if you wanted to make this meeting in time.

“Anywhere is fine. I’ll be in my little office so as long as Bella doesn't come in it’ll be fine. Though, I suspect she’ll be quiet now that you guys are here.”

Sam nodded and ran a hand through his hair, and you took a moment to admire how long and healthy it looked. You had to ask him what products he used to get it looking so shiny. “Does the living room sound okay?” he asked, gesturing to the couch. You cringed at the sight of the messy room.

“Yeah, of course. Sorry the place is such a mess. And help yourself to anything from the kitchen if you're hungry or thirsty. We have tea, too, if you'd like.”

Sam smiled as his gaze swept over your living room. “Alright, thanks. I'll go... gather the pack.”

You laughed softly, grateful for his ease. “Thanks. My meeting is until two, and I’ll have just a little bit of work to get through after that. Give me a shout if you need anything.”

With that, you headed back to your office, the door clicking gently behind you. As you settled into your chair and shuffled through your notes, the familiar sound of the kettle whistling from the kitchen reached your ears, accompanied by the rhythmic panting of the dogs as they sprawled in the living room. The noises were oddly comforting, grounding you in the moment.

Two minutes before your call was set to begin, the door to your office nudged open, creaking softly on its hinges. You glanced up, expecting Bella, but instead, there was Sam. He held a steaming mug of tea in his hand, hovering just inside the doorway, careful not to disrupt anything. His gaze darted to your screen, checking to see if you were on the call yet.

“Oh,” you said, pleasantly surprised. “Thank you so much. You really didn’t have to do that.”

Sam waved it off with an easy shrug, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Pfft, it’s nothing. Good luck with your call,” he said, holding up a thumbs-up.

You smiled, warmed by the gesture, and murmured your thanks again. He slipped out just as quietly as he’d entered, carefully shutting the door behind him.

The call, as expected, was long and dull— slides full of graphs, executives droning on about projections, and polite but strained small talk. Your attention kept drifting. Every so often, you’d hear faint noises from the next room— Sam’s voice, low and warm, talking to the dogs. You couldn’t make out the words, but the sound of his laughter reached you now and then, and it made you smile. You wished you were out there with him, soaking up his easy energy instead of slogging through a seemingly endless meeting.

When the call finally ended, and you’d rushed through whatever work you needed to do for the rest of the day, you exhaled a long sigh of relief and pushed yourself up from your chair, stretching your arms overhead. You made your way to the living room, the low hum of conversation growing clearer as you approached.

But as you rounded the corner, you stopped in your tracks.

The living room, which had been a mess of dog toys, cushions askew, and Bella’s fur tumbleweeds, was now spotless. The toys had been neatly piled in the corner, the couch cushions were fluffed and straightened, and even the coffee table had been wiped down. You glanced toward the kitchen and saw the dishes that had been piled in the sink were now washed and drying on the rack. The counters, which had been cluttered with remnants of your rushed breakfast, were clear.

Sam was crouched on the floor, tugging gently at a rope toy while Bella growled playfully. He looked up as your shadow crossed the room, his face lighting up with a grin. “Hey! Meeting over?”

Your heart squeezed at the sight of him so effortlessly at home. “Yeah,” you said, your voice soft. “Did you… clean up?”

He shrugged, standing and brushing his hands on his jeans. “Hope you don’t mind. I figured you had enough on your plate, and the dogs were napping.”

You blinked, momentarily stunned. “That’s… really sweet. Thank you.”

“It wasn’t trouble,” he insisted, his voice gentle but sincere. “I just wanted to make things easier for you.”

You hesitated, your heart stumbling over itself at his kindness. Before you could stop yourself, the words were tumbling out. “You know… you’ve already done so much, but if you don’t have plans, you could stay for dinner?”

Sam blinked, clearly caught off guard. “Oh, I wouldn’t want to impose—”

“You wouldn’t be,” you interrupted quickly, then added with a soft laugh, “Honestly, I’d love to make you dinner as a thank-you. You’ve helped so much today.” You glanced at your watch seeing it was just after three in the afternoon. “I know it’s still early but…” you shrugged.

His hesitation lingered for a moment, but then his lips curved into that easy smile. “If you’re sure, I’d like that. But only if I get to help.”

“Oh, you don’t have to—”

“Come on,” he interrupted, already heading toward the kitchen. “You’re doing me a favor by letting me stay. Let me at least chop something.”

You sighed with a sarcastic roll of your eyes. “Alright then, if you insist.”

Sam smiled cheekily and jumped from his spot on the couch to follow you to the kitchen. You'd decided on a simple pasta dish, and the kitchen quickly came alive with activity as you both worked side by side. Sam had insisted on chopping vegetables, though his knife skills left much to be desired.

“You know,” he said, holding up a piece of onion that was noticeably uneven, “I think I’m getting the hang of this.”

You raised an eyebrow, smirking as you took the cutting board from him. “Sure, if you were trying to invent abstract vegetable art.”

He laughed, leaning against the counter as he watched you take over. “I’ll have you know, my abstract art is highly sought after. Just wait till you see my tomato slicing.”

“God help me,” you teased, shaking your head.

The banter flowed easily between you as you moved around the kitchen. Sam stirred the sauce with dramatic flair, claiming he was a “culinary genius,” while you rolled your eyes and corrected his seasoning suggestions.

“You’re gonna regret doubting me when this sauce wins an award,” he said, tapping the spoon against the edge of the pot.

“Uh-huh,” you replied, turning to grab a pot for the pasta. “I’ll make sure to nominate it for Most Over-Seasoned Dish.”

“Rude,” he muttered, though he was grinning.

At one point, while you were boiling the pasta, Sam stepped behind you to grab plates from the cabinet. The brush of his arm against yours was fleeting, but it sent a jolt through you. You glanced at him, finding his focus entirely on the task at hand, as if he hadn’t noticed.

The domesticity of it all was surreal. You hadn’t had anyone in your kitchen like this in years— working together, laughing, existing in a space that felt so normal, yet so foreign to you.

Once the food was ready, you carried the plates while Sam grabbed the water glasses, and without much conversation, the two of you gravitated toward the couch. Somehow, eating there felt more natural than sitting stiffly at the dining table.

Sam handed you your plate before settling in beside you, leaving enough space between you to keep it comfortable. He looked around, scanning the small stack of DVDs you had near the TV. “Dinner and a movie,” he said, glancing at you with a grin. “You’ve officially spoiled me.”

You smiled softly, sitting down a little more cautiously than him, keeping a small gap between you. “And you can pick the movie, too.”

He raised his eyebrows. “Bold move, letting me choose. I’m warning you, I have excellent taste.”

“Let’s see how excellent it really is,” you teased, tucking your legs beneath you as you took a bite of your food.

Sam, however, froze after his first bite. His eyes widened, and he turned to you with an exaggerated look of awe. “Okay, what is this? Did you make a deal with the devil or something? This is incredible.”

You snorted, trying to hide your grin. “It’s just pasta, Sam.”

“No,” he insisted, pointing his fork at you dramatically. “This is art. It’s poetry. I didn’t even know food could taste like this.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“You’re keeping me fed. It’s only fair I hype you up. But you better give me the recipe before I leave tonight.”

Your cheeks warmed at his playful sincerity, and you ducked your head to take another bite, hoping he wouldn’t notice. The banter eased something in you, though— like you weren’t trying too hard, like you could just be in the moment with him.

Eventually, Sam settled on a movie, popping it into the player before sinking back into the couch with his plate. “Okay, so this one’s a classic,” he said, gesturing toward the TV. “If you hate it, I’ll take the blame, but I promise, it’s amazing.”

“I’m holding you to that,” you said, though your tone was lighter than before.

The movie started, and for a while, the focus shifted to the screen. You found yourself occasionally glancing at him out of the corner of your eye— his easy posture, the way he laughed a little too loudly at the jokes, the way he balanced his plate effortlessly while gesturing with his fork as if narrating the scenes. God, he was such a dork.

You seemed to gravitate towards one another as you settled into the couch, your dogs soon joining you as they lay on top of each other happily.

The movie continued to drone on in the background. At first, you’d tried to stay engaged, nodding along at the occasional joke Sam laughed at, but gradually, your attention began to wander. Your fingers toyed with the hem of your sweater, and your plate of half-eaten pasta sat forgotten on the coffee table.

It had been such a nice evening so far— surprisingly so. Sam had been kind, thoughtful, even funny in a way that made you feel at ease. But now, in the quiet comfort of your living room, with him sitting just a little too close, the questions started creeping in.

Why had you asked him to stay?

It had felt right in the moment, natural even. But now, the edges of doubt started to fray that confidence. You barely knew him. Sure, you’d seen him at the park almost every morning, but how much did you really know about him? Enough to invite him into your home? Enough to cook dinner together like… like this was normal?

Your fingers fidgeted against your lap as your chest tightened.

Sure, he seemed nice. But doesn’t it always start like that?

The thought hit you like a cold wave. Your mind turned back to memories you tried so hard to keep buried— moments you didn’t want to revisit but couldn’t stop from surfacing. The times when smiles and kind words turned into raised voices, sharp insults, slammed doors. Or worse.

Your breathing quickened as flashes of those memories filled your mind: the weight of someone’s anger looming over you, the sting of being told you weren’t enough, the fear of not knowing what would set him off next. The boundaries you’d built so carefully around yourself now felt perilously close to crumbling, all because you’d let one man in.

Your stomach twisted. What if this was a mistake? What if he was just better at hiding it than the others?

You glanced at Sam from the corner of your eye. He looked completely at ease, focused on the movie, his body relaxed against the couch. But that didn’t calm the growing unease in your chest. He was sitting close— too close. And while you knew it wasn’t threatening, the proximity still made you acutely aware of your vulnerability.

Your mind raced. You shouldn’t have asked him to stay. You shouldn’t have sent him your address. You shouldn’t—

Bella shifted from her spot on the floor, her soft snuffling breaking your spiraling thoughts. She curled up closer to Sam’s feet, her tail thumping lazily against the floor. He reached down to give her a gentle scratch behind the ears without breaking his attention from the screen.

Something about that small gesture grounded you for a moment. Your breath caught, and you tried to focus on it— on Bella, on the way Sam’s touch was calm and unassuming. And on the way Bella trusted him. But the unease lingered, creeping in at the edges.

This was too much. Too fast.

Your chest felt tight, and you didn’t know how you were going to make it through the rest of the movie. You wanted to get up, to create some space, to pull yourself out of this situation— but you didn’t want to draw attention to your panic. You didn’t want him to notice.

Sam noticed, of course. He always did. “You okay?” he asked, his tone casual, but his eyes searching.

“Yeah,” you said quickly, trying to sound convincing. “Just… full. Food coma incoming.”

He chuckled, not pressing the issue. “Understandable. I’d be out cold too if I wasn’t so invested in your reaction to this movie.”

You gave him a small smile, but your nerves didn’t completely ease. You shifted slightly, creating just enough space between you to make yourself feel a little safer.

The movie carried on, and so did your thoughts.

You were so lost in your thoughts that the sudden movement beside you felt like a thunderclap. Sam shifted forward on the couch to grab the remote, reaching toward the coffee table. The motion was quick, his hand brushing past yours as he grabbed the remote.

It was such a small movement, but with your mind racing the way it was, you knew anything could have set you off. You flinched, hard, instinctively pulling back as if you’d been burned. Your body reacted before your mind could catch up, muscles tensing and your breath hitching audibly.

The air between you shifted immediately. Sam froze, his hand hovering midair as his eyes snapped to yours. His brow furrowed with concern.

“Woah,” he said softly, his voice calm but tinged with worry. “What was that? Are you okay?”

You tried to force a laugh, to wave it off, but the sound that came out was shaky and unconvincing. “Yeah, sorry. Just… startled me.”

Sam didn’t look convinced. He set the remote down gently on the table and turned his full attention to you, his hands now resting loosely on his knees. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he said carefully, his tone deliberate and measured, as though he didn't want to push you further into discomfort.

You felt the heat rise in your cheeks, embarrassment mixing with the lingering panic in your chest. “It’s fine,” you mumbled, looking down at your lap. “I just… I don’t know. I guess I was in my own head.”

He nodded slowly, his gaze steady but soft. “Okay,” he said, leaving a pause for you to fill if you wanted to. When you didn’t, he added, “If I did something to make you uncomfortable, you can tell me. I’d never want to—” He stopped himself, his words trailing off, but the sincerity in his voice was unmistakable.

He sighed, and you listened awkwardly as the film continued to play in the background.

The tension in your chest loosened just a fraction at his words. He wasn’t pressing, wasn’t pushing for answers. He was simply… there. Present. And the way he sat, his posture open and relaxed, made it feel like the ball was entirely in your court.

“It’s not you,” you finally admitted, your voice quiet but steady. “I just… sometimes I get a little jumpy. It’s stupid.”

Sam shook his head immediately. “It’s not stupid.” He hesitated, glancing briefly at Bella, who was now watching the two of you with curious eyes. When he looked back at you, his voice was gentle but firm. “Whatever made you feel like that, it’s not stupid. And if there’s ever something I’m doing that doesn’t feel okay, just tell me. I mean it.”

The knot in your stomach unraveled just a bit more at his words. You nodded, not trusting yourself to say anything without your voice shaking. You bit your cheek as you felt your eyes fill to the brim with tears. God, this was so embarrassing.

Sam's features softened impossibly further, his hand lifting to reach you, but it hesitated in the air.

You quickly turned your head away, scratching the back of your head nervously as you blinked furiously, trying to will away your tears. “I’m sorry, I don’t—” You shook your head, wiping a hand over your face before you reluctantly faced Sam again. “I don’t know what's gotten into me.”

You did, but Sam didn’t need to know that. You pulled all your energy together to force the tears at bay, and returned your gaze to Sam.

Sam shifted slightly on the couch, his expression caught somewhere between concern and uncertainty. “Hey,” he said softly, his voice careful like he was walking a tightrope. “I don’t want to overstep or make you uncomfortable, but if there’s anything I can do... or if you just want me to shut up and leave you alone, I can do that too.”

You shook your head quickly, your breath hitching as you fought back the lump in your throat. “No, it’s not you,” you repeated, your voice strained. “I just... I’m a mess right now. You don't need to do anything.”

Sam tilted his head, studying you for a moment before he spoke. “I want to, though. Because I care,” he said simply, shrugging like it was the most natural thing in the world. His gaze flicked over your closed-off body language, the way your arms were wrapped tightly around yourself, and you could see the hesitation in him. He didn’t want to push.

He sighed softly, glancing down at Rose and Fox, who were curled up near his feet. “Maybe I should get going,” he said carefully, testing the waters. “It’s late anyway, and these two need their beauty sleep.” He smiled faintly, gesturing toward his dogs, but his eyes stayed on you, gauging your reaction.

Your heart twisted at his words, and you bit your lip instinctively, and your voice came out quiet and unsure. “I’m sorry.”

Sam hesitated, his lips pressing into a thin line before he offered you a small, understanding smile. “No, it’s alright,” he said gently. “I can see you need some time to yourself. And that’s okay. I get it.” His tone was so soft, so genuine, that it made your chest ache.

You couldn’t bring yourself to argue. You just nodded, your voice caught somewhere in your throat as you stood to walk him to the door. Bella followed silently at your side, her usual energy replaced with a quiet understanding of the tension in the room.

Sam gathered Rose and Fox, leashing them up before turning back to you. “Thank you for tonight,” he said, his voice warm despite the weight in the air. “Dinner was amazing. And... I hope you’ll text me if you need anything, alright?”

You nodded again, barely able to meet his eyes. “Thanks, Sam. I will.”

With that, he gave you a faint smile, one last glance that lingered a second too long before he opened the door and stepped out into the night. As soon as the door clicked shut, you let out a shaky breath, your legs giving out as you slid down the wall, burying your face in your hands.

The tears came fast and heavy, spilling over like a dam had finally broken inside you. It felt like you cried for hours, each sob pulling from a deep well of pain and frustration you’d kept buried for far too long. You hated this— hated the way your trauma had its claws in every part of your life, ruining even the good things you tried so desperately to hold onto. You wanted to be normal, to feel normal. But instead, you felt broken, incapable of letting anyone in without breaking apart.

Your phone buzzed on the floor beside you, and you wiped at your tear-streaked face as you reached for it, your vision blurry as you unlocked the screen.

It was Sam. “Thank you for dinner tonight. I had a great time. I’m sorry if I upset you.”

The knot in your chest tightened at his words. Even now, he was worried about you, trying to make sure you were okay when he didn’t have to. You stared at the message for a long moment, your fingers hovering over the keyboard as fresh tears blurred your vision.

🐾

The next morning, sunlight streamed through your curtains, far brighter than it should have been. You groaned, sitting up in bed as Bella stretched out beside you, her tail thumping against the blankets. Reaching for your phone, you squinted at the time and felt a pang of guilt hit your chest.

It was late. Too late. You’d missed the park. Again.

“Bella,” you murmured, the sound more like a frustrated groan than anything, rubbing your face as the weight of your restless night settled on your shoulders. Her ears perked up at her name, and she let out a soft, hopeful bark, her eyes darting to the door. She didn’t understand why you hadn’t gotten up earlier, why your routine had been thrown off, but she still looked at you like she trusted you to make it right.

Your thoughts immediately flicked to Sam. He’d probably been at the park with Rose and Fox, glancing toward the entrance like he always did. Waiting. And you hadn’t shown up. Guilt twisted in your chest, but it wasn’t just about missing the park. It was the reason you’d overslept.

The dream— no, the memory— had dragged you back into the dark. It had been so vivid, so real. His voice still echoed in your mind, sharp and cutting, a hand falling down to strike you. It wasn’t the worst memory you’d ever had, but it reminded you of everything. The fear. The helplessness. The suffocating feeling of never being safe, no matter what you did.

And then there was last night— flinching at Sam. The look on his face when you pulled away. The ache in your chest knowing it had nothing to do with him and everything to do with what had been done to you.

You sighed, staring at Bella as she sat at your feet, her tail wagging cautiously, as though trying to coax you into feeling better.

“I know, girl,” you whispered, reaching down to scratch behind her ears. “We’ll go tomorrow.”

But tomorrow wasn’t really what weighed on you. It was the thought of Sam. The thought of how kind and patient he’d been. And the fear that you’d ruined whatever fragile thing was starting to grow between you two.

You weren’t going to let it happen again.

Your past— the yelling, the broken glass, the bruises you’d hidden under long sleeves— had taken so much from you already. But it wasn’t going to take this. It wasn’t going to take Sam. You refused to let those men, those memories, ruin something good. You weren't going to let them continue to control you.

As you made your way to the kitchen, Bella trailing at your heels, you resolved to text him. To explain, even if it felt awkward or difficult. You couldn’t let the silence between you grow. But before you could, your phone buzzed on the counter. Picking it up, you saw Sam’s name lighting up the screen, and your heart gave an involuntary jolt.

The text read: “Hey, just wanted to check in. Missed you guys at the park this morning. Everything okay?”

You stared at the message for a long moment before typing out a reply. “Hey, yeah, I’m okay. Just overslept, sorry.”

His reply came almost instantly: “Not a worry :) I hope you got some rest at least. The girls missed Bella.”

You smiled softly, though a flicker of nerves still lingered before recycling. “I did, thanks.”

Before you could overthink it, another message popped up: “I was thinking, I’ve been working on this recipe, and I might need some help. You know, use your culinary skills and all. Also could use someone to taste-test it and tell me if it’s edible.”

You blinked at the screen, reading it twice. Your heart gave a small flutter, but you couldn’t tell if it was from nerves or something softer.

Another message popped up: “No pressure, though. If you’re busy or not feeling it, totally fine. Just thought it might be nice.”

He was careful. You could tell he was trying not to push after last night, and the effort didn’t go unnoticed. Your chest tightened, but not in a bad way. You stared at the message, torn. Dinner. At his place. Alone. The idea felt heavy, but not because of Sam— because of you. Still, you didn’t want to let fear win again. And besides, the way he framed it felt low stakes, almost casual.

Before you could overthink it, another message arrived: “Also, Rose has been stealing things off the counter lately, and I could really use some advice before she eats something she shouldn’t.”

That made you smile, your fingers hovering over the keyboard as Bella nudged your leg.

“Okay”, you finally typed. “But I’m not an expert, so no promises about Rose.”

The reply came almost instantly: “You’ll do better than me. Friday night? Around 7?”

“Yeah, that works,” you wrote, your pulse quickening.

Sam followed up quickly: “Great. If you change your mind, don’t feel bad, just let me know.”

“I’ll be there,” you replied, before you could talk yourself out of it.

His final message was simple, but it made you smile again: “Looking forward to seeing you. And Bella too, of course. She’s my secret weapon to keep Rose and Fox in line.”

You set the phone down, exhaling slowly. Bella wagged her tail, watching you like she knew something important had just happened.

“I guess we’re going to Sam’s on Friday,” you murmured to her.

Bella’s tail thumped harder, and you reached down to scratch behind her ears. Nerves churned in your stomach, but there was something else there too. Something steadier. A kind of strength in the fact that you knew you were growing. You were leaving that shit behind you.

Though, the doubts were still there, lingering just beneath the surface like they always were. As you stared at Sam’s text, you tried to push them down. You wanted to move on. You wanted to reclaim the part of your life that felt stolen. Dinner with Sam was a step forward. It wasn’t a declaration of trust or a promise to let your guard down completely, but it was something. Besides, Sam had never given you a reason to fear him. If anything, he’d gone out of his way to make you feel safe. You reminded yourself of his soft patience, his quick smile, the way he’d thanked you for dinner even after you’d practically fallen apart the night before. If anyone deserved a little faith, it was him.

The next few mornings at the park felt like an unspoken agreement to ease the tension. Sam didn’t mention your flinch or your teary goodbye. He treated you just the same as always— grinning as you approached, offering Bella a warm hello, and making little jokes as the dogs ran wild. It was comforting in a way, like he knew you needed the space to find your footing again.

By the time the evening of the dinner rolled around, you’d talked yourself into believing this was a good thing. A normal thing. Still, nerves clawed at your stomach as you approached Sam’s place. Bella trotted at your side, oblivious to your inner turmoil, but her calm presence grounded you just enough to knock on the door.

Sam answered almost immediately, his face lighting up when he saw you. “Hey, you made it,” he said warmly, stepping aside to let you in.

“Yeah,” you replied, your voice a little quieter than you wanted it to be. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Sam offered a small shrug, like it wasn’t a big deal. “Of course. And thanks for bringing Bella. The girls will be happy to see her.”

As you stepped inside, you glanced around nervously. His house was cozy, filled with warm light and signs of life— a guitar leaning against the wall, a piano tucked into the far corner and a few books stacked on the coffee table, and a faint smell of something savory coming from the kitchen.

“You can let her off the leash if you want,” Sam said, gesturing toward Bella, who was already sniffing around curiously. “The girls are in the backyard. She can join them whenever.”

“Okay,” you said, unclipping her leash. Bella wagged her tail, giving you a reassuring glance before trotting off to explore.

“Dinner’s going to take a little while,” Sam said, nodding toward the kitchen. “Hope you’re ready to help, because I’m not exactly known for my cooking skills.”

You let out a nervous laugh, following him toward the kitchen. “Should I be worried?”

“Probably,” he teased, opening the fridge to pull out some ingredients. “Honestly, I need you to save me here. If you leave me to it, we’re eating charred chicken and plain rice.”

You couldn’t help but smile as you reached for a cutting board. “Good thing I’m here, then.”

“Exactly,” he said, smirking as he handed you a knife. “I knew you’d make this work.”

The lightness of his tone started to ease the tension in your chest. As you chopped vegetables and Sam worked beside you— throwing in exaggerated instructions and grinning every time he “consulted” you— it felt easy. Comfortable, even. You found yourself laughing more than you thought you would, and when Sam tasted the sauce you made and dramatically declared it “life-changing,” you couldn’t help but roll your eyes.

“You’re ridiculous,” you said, shaking your head.

“Ridiculously lucky to have you helping me,” he shot back, his grin boyish and teasing. You looked back at the chopping board with a hint of a blush.

As the minutes ticked by, it became painfully clear that Sam and the sauce were not meant to be. He stirred it with all the confidence of a man who thought he knew what he was doing, but the sizzling sounds and occasional splatters told a very different story.

“Sam,” you said slowly, watching as he aggressively poked at the bubbling liquid with a wooden spoon, “what exactly are you doing?”

He glanced at you, utterly unbothered by the chaos he was creating. “Improvising,” he replied with a grin, giving the sauce an extra stir that sent a small splash onto the counter.

You raised an eyebrow, crossing your arms. “It looks more like you’re waging war on it.”

“I’m adding character,” he said, feigning offense as he swirled the spoon around dramatically. “This is what chefs do— they experiment.”

“Chefs don’t usually burn the sauce, though,” you teased, leaning over to sniff the air. “Seriously, is that… smoke?”

He froze, his grin faltering as he gave the pot a closer look. “Okay, maybe it’s a little toasted. That’s a flavor profile, right?”

“Not when it smells like a campfire,” you shot back, stepping in to gently nudge him aside. “Alright, sauce master, let’s trade. I’ll handle this before it becomes a kitchen emergency.”

Sam relinquished the spoon with a mock pout, stepping back to let you take over. “Fine,” he said, throwing his hands up in mock surrender. “But only because I don’t want to deprive you of the joy of saving dinner.”

“Oh, how selfless of you,” you replied dryly, shooting him a playful glare before turning your attention to salvaging the sauce.

From behind you, Sam muttered something about being unappreciated, but when you glanced over your shoulder, you caught him grinning as he began chopping vegetables with exaggerated precision, clearly unbothered by his failed attempt at culinary greatness.

“You know,” he said, watching you expertly stir the sauce, “I think this is your master plan—let me screw something up so you can come in and save the day.”

“Obviously,” you quipped, shaking your head. “I mean, what better way to assert dominance in the kitchen than by rescuing dinner from your reckless hands?”

As you got started on stirring the sauce, Sam opened a cabinet and frowned. “Forgot the thyme. Again. Be right back— got some in the garden.”

You blinked, surprised. “You have a garden?”

“Don’t sound so shocked,” he shot back with a grin, grabbing the back door handle. “I’m full of surprises.”

You snorted. “What’s next? A compost bin?”

“Mock me all you want,” he called over his shoulder as he stepped outside. “But when this thyme makes you cry over how good this sauce tastes, you’ll owe me an apology!”

As Sam slipped out the back door to grab herbs from his garden, the house fell silent, save for the faint shuffle of the dog's paws as they followed him to the window, tails wagging lazily. You stood in the kitchen, absently wiping your palms on a tea towel. It was strange how quiet everything felt without Sam’s warm, easy presence nearby.

You glanced at the knife you’d been using earlier, resting precariously close to the edge of the counter. Muttering under your breath, you reached out to adjust it. As you stretched to grab the handle, your wrist brushed the corner of a wine glass that had been drying by the side of the sink.

Time seemed to slow as the glass tipped, wobbling once before gravity claimed it. It slipped from the counter and plummeted to the floor, shattering with a deafening crash.

The sound tore through the stillness like a gunshot. Instantly, your chest tightened, your breath catching as your heart began to race. It was so loud. So, so loud. And there was glass everywhere. Shit, shit, shit, shit. The sharp, crystalline sound echoed in your ears, and your mind reeled.

For a moment, you froze, staring at the shards scattered across the floor, gleaming like jagged little stars. Your vision blurred, and the kitchen around you seemed to waver, the walls closing in as a familiar, suffocating sense of dread washed over you.

The world around you dissolved into a haze. The glass wasn’t just glass anymore— it was every slammed door, every smashed object that had signaled danger in the past. Your pulse roared in your ears, drowning out any rational thoughts. Your hands shook as you instinctively dropped to your knees, fumbling for the larger shards, desperate to clean it up before Sam came back inside.

“Oh God, oh God,” you whispered frantically, your voice trembling. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh God.”

The words tumbled out in a panicked, incoherent mess as your hands worked faster, clutching at the broken pieces, heedless of the sharp edges biting into your fingertips. The sting barely registered; all you could think about was fixing it, making it right, undoing the mistake.

Bella barked once, and you wondered briefly if it was at Sam, but you hardly noticed. Your breathing grew shallow and uneven, your chest heaving as you fought to keep the panic at bay.

The back door swung open with a creak, and Sam’s voice called out, worriedly, “Hey, what was that? Are you okay?”

He stepped inside, his gaze falling to the scene before him. You were kneeling on the floor, your shoulders hunched and trembling, surrounded by a sea of broken glass.

“Whoa, whoa, hey,” he said quickly, his voice softening as he set the herbs on the counter. “What happened? Are you okay?”

You couldn’t look at him. You couldn’t do anything but mumble a frantic stream of apologies. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to— I’ll fix it, I’ll clean it up, I promise. I’ll—”

“Hey,” Sam interrupted gently, crouching down a safe distance away. His tone was calm, careful, like he was trying not to spook a skittish animal. “It’s okay. Don’t worry about it. Just stop for a second, okay? You’re gonna hurt yourself.”

You shook your head, your hands still trembling as you tried to pick up another shard. “I have to clean it up. I— I can’t leave it like this. I didn’t mean to—”

“Stop,” Sam said more firmly this time, his hand hovering near yours but not touching. “Please. Just stop.”

His voice cut through the haze, grounding you for a moment. Your hands faltered, falling still as you finally looked up at him. His face was open, his brow furrowed with concern. He wasn’t angry. He wasn’t upset.

“Let me handle it,” he said softly, holding your gaze. “You don’t have to do this. Just… take a breath for me, okay?”

You shook your head, fresh tears spilling over. “I ruined everything—”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” he said, cutting you off again. “Hey, listen to me. It’s fine. Really. I don’t care about the glass. I care about you.”

His words hit you like a lifeline, cutting through the spiral of panic just enough for you to take a shaky breath.

You bit your lip, wiping at your face as you tried to pull yourself together. “I’m sorry,” you whispered again.

“Don’t be,” he said simply, without a hint of frustration or condescension. “It’s okay.”

Tears streamed down your cheeks as you nodded, your chest heaving as you tried to follow his instructions. Your hands hovered over the shards for a moment longer before you finally let the glass clatter to the floor, your hands falling limply into your lap.

“That’s it,” Sam murmured, his voice low and soothing. He crouched in front of you, his hands hovering just over yours, hesitant. “Can I—?” he started to ask, and when you gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, he gently wrapped his fingers over your hand. His touch was careful, deliberate, as if he knew the wrong move might send you spiraling further.

His thumbs brushed over your knuckles, his touch warm and grounding. “Okay,” he said softly, his eyes fixed on yours, kind and steady. “Let’s just breathe together. You’re safe. Right here, you’re safe.”

You tried to focus on his words, but your chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself, your lungs refusing to fill properly. Your breaths came quick and shallow, each one catching like it wasn’t enough.

“In through your nose,” Sam coaxed, his voice a quiet anchor in the chaos. He exaggerated the motion, inhaling deeply, slow and steady, his shoulders rising just enough for you to notice. “Like this. Just follow me.”

You tried, your breaths hitching at first, but he stayed with you. His eyes didn’t leave yours— not for a second. They weren’t impatient or searching for the right thing to say. They were just… there, holding you in place like a tether.

“That’s it,” he encouraged when you managed even a fraction of a steady inhale. “Now out through your mouth. Slow, like this,” he demonstrated again, his exhale controlled and quiet, and you mirrored it as best you could.

Your hands trembled under his, and he squeezed them gently, his thumbs never stopping their slow, soothing rhythm. “You’re okay,” he said, his tone so soft, so certain, it almost broke something inside you.

Your chest still felt tight, but the air was coming a little easier now, your breaths slowing in uneven increments. Your vision, blurry from tears and panic, began to clear, and you could see the worry etched into his face, the way his brow furrowed just slightly.

“You’re doing so good,” he said, his voice steady, never wavering. “Just keep going. One breath at a time.”

You nodded weakly, tears spilling over despite your efforts to keep them at bay. A shaky sob broke free, and you quickly turned your head, ashamed, but Sam’s grip on your hands tightened, grounding you.

“Hey,” he said softly, pulling your gaze back to him. “It’s okay. You don’t have to hide. Not from me.”

His words hit like a gentle wave, washing over the raw edges of your panic. You blinked rapidly, trying to pull yourself together, but his unwavering presence made it harder to keep the walls up.

“I’m sorry,” you managed, your voice barely above a whisper.

“Don’t,” he said immediately, his tone firm but gentle. “You don’t have to be sorry for anything. I promise.”

His words wrapped around you like a safety net, and though the panic hadn’t completely left, it was no longer suffocating. Slowly, your breathing evened out, the shaking in your hands subsiding under the warmth of his.

Sam stayed there, crouched in front of you, never rushing, never looking away. His kind eyes softened further when you finally met them fully, your body still trembling slightly but no longer on the edge of breaking apart.

“There you are,” he said quietly, a small, relieved smile pulling at his lips.

Sam waited until he was sure you wouldn’t move before he stood, grabbing the broom and dustpan from a nearby corner. As he swept up the broken glass, he spoke gently, his tone casual but soothing. “I broke my favorite coffee mug last week. Sent coffee everywhere. It was a disaster.”

His attempt to lighten the mood made something stir in your chest— something that felt like gratitude, even if it was buried under layers of shame and panic.

Once the glass was gone and the floor was safe again, Sam turned back to you. “C’mon,” he said softly, holding out a hand to help you up. “Let’s sit down for a minute, yeah?”

You stared at the hand extended toward you for a few long beats, your eyes fixed on his fingers as if they were foreign objects. It wasn’t just a hand— it was trust, it was care, it was safety, and yet all you could feel in that moment was a deep, gnawing hesitation. Your chest still felt tight, your heart racing as echoes of past moments flooded your mind.

The trembling in your hands betrayed you, but Sam didn’t push. He didn’t frown or look impatient. His hand remained steady, palm open, an unspoken reassurance that the choice was entirely yours.

His voice was soft, cutting through the storm in your head like a lifeline. “It’s okay. Take your time.”

That was all it took for something to shift. You blinked, the edges of your vision clearing as you finally looked up at him. His expression wasn’t pitying, wasn’t concerned in a way that made you feel small— it was just patient. Steady. Kind.

Your fingers twitched at your sides before you finally reached out, your hand trembling as it found his. His grip was gentle but firm, warm in a way that made your chest ache with a mix of relief and vulnerability. He didn’t pull you up too quickly or make a big deal of it. He just guided you to your feet, his other hand hovering nearby as if ready to catch you should you falter.

“There you go,” he said quietly, his tone light yet soothing, as if you’d just accomplished something monumental. And, in a way, you had.

Your legs felt shaky as you stood, and when Sam gently guided you to the couch, you didn’t resist. Hearing the commotion, Bella, Rose and Fox had joined you both, sniffing carefully at you, no doubt smelling the anxiety in the air.

Sam guided you gently to the couch, his hand never leaving yours until you were seated. The soft cushions welcomed you, but your body remained stiff, your shoulders drawn tight as though bracing for impact. He sat beside you, his eyes scanning your face carefully. His hands rested on his knees, open and unassuming, making no move to invade your space further.

“I didn’t mean to freak out like that,” you murmured, your voice barely audible.

Sam's movements were slow and deliberate as he nodded. “I know. But something tells me this wasn’t just about the wine glass.” He hesitated, his gaze softening as he shifted to sit beside you on the couch, leaving a comfortable distance between you. “Do you want to talk about it? If you don’t, that’s okay. But if you do… I’m here. No judgment.”

You swallowed hard, your fingers fidgeting with the hem of your shirt. “It’s a long story,” you said quietly, your words a little rushed, almost as though you were trying to dismiss the idea altogether. “It doesn’t really matter.”

“It matters,” Sam countered gently. “You matter. But I won’t push you. We can just sit here if that’s what you need.”

His words felt like an anchor in a storm. He wasn’t pressuring you, wasn’t prying— he was just there, a steady presence that made you feel like maybe, just maybe, you could let some of the weight go. You drew in a shaky breath, staring down at your hands as the words started to form in your throat.

“It’s not pretty,” you warned, your voice trembling. “It’s… it’s a lot.”

Sam nodded, his expression unwavering. “I can handle a lot.”

You hesitated, the weight of Sam’s steady, concerned gaze almost too much to bear. You’d never been good at this— letting someone in, being vulnerable. But here he was, sitting so close you could feel his warmth, his eyes searching yours like he genuinely wanted to understand. It felt impossible to explain everything, but you knew if you didn’t at least try, the moment would pass, and the weight you carried would stay right where it always had— on your shoulders alone.

You took a deep breath, trying to steady the tremor in your voice. “It’s… it’s not an easy thing to talk about,” you began, staring down at your hands, which were clenched tightly in your lap. “I’ve never really told anyone before.”

Sam leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees. His voice was gentle but firm. “You don’t have to tell me if you’re not ready. But if you want to, I’m here. I want to listen.”

The sincerity in his words made your throat tighten. You swallowed hard, forcing yourself to continue. “I’ve… been in bad relationships. Really bad ones.” Your voice wavered, and you paused, your fingers digging into your palms as if the pressure could keep you grounded.

Sam didn’t say anything, but you felt the shift in his posture, the subtle way he straightened like he was bracing himself for whatever you were about to say.

“It started off so small,” you whispered, the words tumbling out before you could stop them. “Little things, you know? Like comments about how I dressed, or what I did. Controlling stuff. But it didn’t stay that way. It got worse— way worse.”

You glanced up at him briefly, and the look on his face made your stomach twist. His brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line, and his eyes… God, his eyes were filled with something you couldn’t quite place. Anger? Sadness? Maybe both.

“Soon it wasn’t just words,” you continued, your voice barely audible now. “There were… fights. Things thrown at me. And sometimes it wasn’t just things— sometimes it was…” You trailed off, your throat tightening painfully as the memories threatened to overwhelm you.

Sam’s jaw tightened, and his hands flexed where they rested on his knees, but he didn’t interrupt.

“They’d hurt me,” you finally forced out, the words feeling sharp and jagged in your throat. “Physically. Emotionally. In ways I didn’t even realize until it was too late. And I let it happen because… because I thought it was normal. Or that it would stop if I was better.”

Sams broke your train of thoughts, his voice slightly croaky. “‘They’?” He swallowed.

You felt a tear slip down your cheek, and you wiped it away quickly, angry at yourself for falling apart like this. “It happened twice. Got away from one abuser just to get into a relationship with another.” You chuckled humorlessly, “I was young, and stupid.” There was a long beat of silence, your uneven breaths and Sam's anchoring, steady ones the only sound in the room. “Even now, I… I can’t stop expecting someone to yell, or grab me, or…” You shook your head, unable to finish the sentence.

Sam exhaled softly, the sound filled with a quiet frustration that wasn’t aimed at you. “I’m so sorry,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “I can’t imagine… I can’t even begin to imagine what that was like for you.”

You shrugged, your shoulders hunched. “I got out. That’s all that matters, right? I should just be over it by now.”

“No,” Sam said firmly, his tone so sudden and certain that it startled you. You looked up at him, surprised by the intensity in his expression. “That’s not how it works. What they did to you— it doesn’t just go away. And it’s not your fault that it doesn’t. None of it was your fault.”

His words hit you like a physical blow, and before you realized what you were doing, you leaned into him, your body tilting toward his as if seeking comfort. You rested your head on his slim shoulder. He didn’t move, didn’t pull back or hesitate, just stayed perfectly still, letting you make the decision to close the distance.

“I hate how much power they still have over me,” you whispered, your voice trembling. “I hate that I can’t even break a stupid glass without falling apart.”

Sam shook his head, his hand lifting hesitantly before settling lightly on your arm. His touch was warm and steady, grounding you in a way you didn’t expect. “You’re not falling apart,” he said softly. “You’re still here. So strong, and brave, for trusting me.”

You let out a bitter laugh, the sound catching in your throat. “It doesn’t feel like strength. It feels like I’m barely holding on most days.”

Sam’s grip on your arm tightened just slightly, his thumb brushing against your skin in a way that was both comforting and careful. “Help me ease the burden? Maybe you are holding on. But I can help you carry some of your weight.”

You blinked back tears, the warmth of his touch and the sincerity in his voice making it harder to keep your defenses up. “Why are you so nice to me?”

He smiled faintly, the corners of his mouth tugging upward in a way that softened his entire face. “Because I care about you. And I hate that anyone ever made you feel like you weren’t worth caring about.”

His words shattered something inside you, and before you could stop yourself, you let out a soft, broken sob. Sam’s hand moved to your back, his palm resting there lightly.

“And,” he added cautiously, his voice quiet, “I really, really like you.”

You lifted your head to stare at him, the words hanging in the air like they’d been suspended just for you. A part of you wanted to shy away, to laugh it off, to hide behind that defense you’d built so carefully. But his eyes— those warm, steady eyes— kept you anchored. He wasn’t taking the words back. He wasn’t looking away.

When he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost cautious. His hand moved up your arm in a featherlight touch. “Don’t feel like you have to say anything,” he murmured, his thumb brushing just slightly against your sleeve. “And I’m sorry if… if that wasn’t the right time. I just—” He exhaled, his lips twitching in a nervous half-smile. “I just want to be here for you.”

You dropped your gaze to your hands, fidgeting with your fingers, trying to steady the racing in your chest. When you glanced back up, your eyes moved over him with quiet curiosity, as if seeing him for the first time. The faint scruff lining his jaw, the soft mustache that twitched just slightly when he breathed, the way his brows dipped, like he was bracing himself for you to pull away. And those eyes. God, those eyes.

“Sam,” you whispered, your voice barely above a breath. Your hand moved almost without thought, finding the solid warmth of his forearm.

His gaze flicked down to where your fingers rested before returning to yours, his brows lifting just slightly. “Yeah?” His voice was soft, but there was something raw in it, something that made your chest ache.

You leaned in a fraction, testing the space between you. Your heart hammered, but you couldn’t stop yourself. “Kiss me, please,” you murmured. The words felt foreign but right, trembling as they left your lips.

His breath caught. You could see it, feel it. His hand shifted slightly, his thumb brushing over your knuckles. “Are you sure?” he asked, his voice low and deliberate, like he was giving you every chance to back away.

You nodded, your body moving closer, instinct overriding fear. “Yes.”

Sam exhaled, his lips parting slightly as he leaned in, closing the distance. The first press of his lips against yours was gentle, impossibly tender, like he was holding back everything he wanted to give. His hand moved to your face, his fingers warm and steady as they cradled your jaw, grounding you.

The kiss deepened just slightly, enough to make your breath hitch, enough to remind you of just how good it felt to do this, with someone you liked— someone that made you feel safe. His other hand slipped down to yours, fingers intertwining in a way that made you feel tethered, present. His thumb brushed softly over your skin.

When he pulled back, it was slow, deliberate, his forehead resting against yours like he couldn’t bring himself to let you go just yet. His breathing was steady, calming, and you let yourself match it, your chest rising and falling in sync with his.

“I’ll make sure you feel safe,” he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. His hand lingered at your jaw, his thumb brushing a tear you didn’t even realize had fallen. “Every day, if you let me.”

You let out a shaky breath, your eyes closing as the weight of his words settled over you. They weren’t just pretty promises; you could feel the truth in them, in him. Slowly, you opened your eyes and nodded, your lips curving into the smallest, most vulnerable smile.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, you believed him. Or, at the very least, you wanted to try. Maybe this could work.

🐾

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tearsofcaravel · 2 years ago

Text

Chemistry: Part 3

Jake x Danny x (F) Reader

Word Count: 13.3k

Warnings: 18+, This is a slash fic! Oral (f & m) receiving, fingering, handjobs, spanking, unprotected penetrative and anal sex, dirty talk,

Summary: After the previous nights events, its time to lay things out in the open. Smut smut smut.

Part 1

Part 2

Y/n POV

Jake, Danny, and yourself spent the night out at some local bar. Along with Josh and Sam of course, but the only ones that you could focus on happened to be Jake and Danny. You each spent the evening shamelessly flirting with one another.

After what happened in Danny’s dressing room your mind was clouded completely, not only with inappropriate thoughts, but how this would change things. There was a clear tension between you. The tension was mostly sexual, but you knew each of you were a bit nervous about how this would affect your friendship and what it all meant. It was a lot to process. You knew you had to talk to Jake before anything else happened.

You woke up the next morning in your hotel room with a slight pounding in your head. Jake was still sound asleep next to you. It was still pretty early, you were probably the first awake for the day. The only plans for the day were to explore the different city. You decided to go out and get you both some breakfast from a bakery you had seen just down the street from where you were staying.

You took the time to drag your short trip out. You wanted a clear mind when you talked to Jake about everything. You knew for a fact it was what you both wanted, and you were almost certain that Danny felt the same way. You just didn’t want any risk for a miscommunication on a topic this serious. You just wanted to lay everything out on the table with Jake and then the three of you could sit down and discuss matters.

When you walked through the hotel doors you were so deep in your own little world that you ran smack into someone. Thankfully they were paying attention and grabbed your arm before you hit the ground. You began apologizing profusely when you looked up to see the person that you had collided with was in fact Danny. He still had a loose grip on your arm.

“Are you okay there Y/n?” he said with a grin on his face.

“Yeah yeah, sorry Danny I wasn’t paying attention,” you said trying to hide your embarrassment.

“I was uh, I was hoping to talk to you and Jake today maybe?” Danny stuttered.

“I was thinking the same thing. Maybe we can get lunch a little later, just the three of us?” you said.

“Sounds good, I’ll see you guys in a bit then,” Danny said as he walked off.

He was acting weird. He seemed nervous, a little off maybe. Maybe he was just hungover, not fully awake yet. Something was definitely different. He never looked you in the eye. Maybe he didn’t feel the way that you and Jake did. Had you been reading it wrong this whole time? You definitely had to talk to Jake before lunch and get your own feelings sorted out in this short time.

When you got back to your room Jake had just stirred awake. He was still laying groggy in bed. He sat up when you brought over breakfast. “Goodmorning Doll.”

“Goodmorning Jakey,” you said as you plopped down next to him. You both desperately needed some food in your systems.

Neither of you spoke much until you were done eating. You figured now was a better time than any. “So babe, I think we should probably talk,” you began.

He didn’t say a word, just nodded nervously and let you continue.

“There’s a few things that we definitely should go over for sure, but this is a bit of a deep conversation we need to really get into okay? Danny asked me this morning if the three of us could talk together and I wanted you and I to talk beforehand to be sure that we were on the same page.”

“I agree babe, you want to go first?” Jake asked. You knew he was nervous and just wanted to understand how you felt about everything.

“I think that it has been made clear that there is a sexual attraction between the three of us. But I also think that it is more than that. I believe that there are emotions involved as well. I think we all have feelings for each other,” you scooted closer to him to rest your hand on his leg.

“These things don’t really have to be complicated as long as we get everything out in the open in the beginning and set some ground rules,” you paused to give him a chance to speak.

“I agree, I think that it’s more than sexual. I think there are feelings involved at this point. I honestly never would have admitted it or acted on it until you brought it up,” Jake said. He paused to gather his thoughts. He seemed so anxious about everything.

“I’m really sorry about last night.. It just happened, we just-,”

You cut him off, “No, no Jake I’m not mad about last night, really I’m not. It happened fast I get it, plus it was very fun. There’s nothing to be sorry for, but this is why if we are going to pursue this that ground rules need to be set and we all need to be on the same page about everything.”

He brought his hand to meet yours and you gave it a reassuring squeeze to let him know everything really was okay.

You both sat in silence for a few minutes to think about what your next steps were going to be. You knew that Jake was yours and you his. You had no reason to feel insecure or jealous. Especially not since the way that you had been included. They had no intention of leaving you out of whatever this was.

“I care about the both of you. I have feelings for the both of you. I didn’t realize or even really understand how I actually felt about Danny. After last night though, I do have feelings for him. I think that he feels the same way,” Jake blurted out, with a slight blush of his cheeks.

“Jake, I think that I have feelings for Danny too. More than just sexual feelings. Last night made me see that too. I think that what happened last night was the beginning of something much more than just fooling around. So this lunch with Danny, I mean I’m pretty certain that he has the same feelings as we do. We should just be honest with him about how we feel and what we want out of this.”

“What exactly are we saying that we want from all of this?” he asked curiously.

“For the three of us to be together, in a relationship,” you said with a giggle.

Jake reached over and gave you a reassuring kiss. You knew that this was the right thing. This was what you both wanted.

Danny POV

You were a ball of nerves and anxiety. You kept thinking about how awkward you were this morning with Y/n. You just didn’t know if it was the same for them as it was for you. That’s exactly why you just had to talk to them as soon as possible. You had a feeling that they felt the same way as you, that they wanted more just like you. You just had to be honest about how you were feeling.

Jake had sent you some restaurant that they had found and said to meet them there. Of course you got there about thirty minutes earlier than they said, so naturally you were the first to arrive. You were just so nervous that you left way earlier than planned. You paced back and forth outside of the restaurant gathering your thoughts.

Getting there so early gave you enough time to get into your own head and begin to make yourself panic. When they got there everything was business as usual. You were all sharing looks and smiles at one another.

Finally, Y/n had the guts to speak on the matter first. ‘Thank goodness.’ you thought to yourself. You knew that you nor Jake would speak up first. You could always count on her to speak her mind.

“I think we each know why we wanted to talk in private today. I know we are all a little, maybe a lot nervous to actually talk about it together. I think it is just best to be honest, we’re all friends, we all care about each other no matter what,” Y/n said so confidently. You just adored her confidence.

You and Jake were still silent. Y/n gave you a few minutes to clear your head and prepare whatever you had to say. When neither you or Jake still spoke she started again.

“Okay I can see that you’re both nervous, it’s okay really. On that note I can speak first if you guys would like?” she quizzed.

You and Jake slowly and nervously nodded at her, thrilled that she was taking the reins.

“So Danny, Jake and I talked a little bit this morning. We just laid it all out, how we both felt, what we thought, etc. I’m just going to speak for myself though, we will each get a turn to say what we feel. I do have feelings for you, more than sexual feelings. Last night I realized that I really do care for you and that I’m attracted to you. I have feelings for you both. I think that this could turn into more, like a relationship.” Y/n directed her statement more towards you.

Jake started right after, “I don’t know that I can say it in as many words as Y/n, but I'll do my best. Danny I also have feelings for you, more than just being attracted to you. Like Y/n said, I also think that this could be a real relationship between the three of us. I deeply care for the both of you.”

You watched as Jake took Y/n’s hand under the table. It was so odd to see him nervous, he was always so confident in everything that he did. Especially when it came down to his true emotions.

They were both staring at you, waiting for you to speak your mind. It was your turn now, no going back. You felt much better after hearing how they felt, and knowing that they felt the same way. It made your confession all the easier.

“In the spirit of honesty, I can say that I’ve had feelings for you both for a bit now, more than just sexual attraction. I just wasn’t sure if this was something that I should admit. I could see this being a serious relationship between the three of us. I’ve been so nervous about how to go about this, but after hearing that you both feel the same I feel much better now,” you said, finally feeling like you could take a deep breath now.

A huge weight had been lifted from your chest after your confessions. The three of you sat in silence for a few moments once again, just to process it all.

“It is a lot to process. I think that we all feel much better now getting things out in the open and knowing we each feel the same way. Being on the same page is a huge first step. It’s all new territory for each of us. I would like to say that I think it is important that some ground rules be set,” Y/n spoke with her confident tone.

You all agreed to this and enjoyed the rest of your lunch. You knew where you stood with them now. You spent the rest of your afternoon by joining Sam and Josh touring the city. The five of you wandered around small shops and sightseeing areas.

The entire time Jake and Y/n would send a sweet smile or wink your way. You knew that you were right, this was turning into more.

Jake POV

That whole conversation went much smoother than you could have hoped. You had a good feeling about it to begin with, but after the three of you talked any and all nerves you had seemed to melt away. The two people that you cared about the most felt the same way about you. What a relief.

Of course there were still a few things to discuss and figure out. You wanted to make Danny feel included, you wanted him to be a part of this relationship. It would be difficult to navigate at first. You and Y/n had a home together. How would he fit into your bubble? You each had to figure out a way that you could all blend and function together for this to work. You would each have to put in the effort to make sure that no one felt left out.

You felt free, relief, happiness. You thought it would be weird, hearing your girlfriend admit that she has feelings for your best friend, him having feelings for the both of you as well. You thought you would feel guilty about having feelings for him. You felt the complete opposite.

You thought after the conversation there would be awkwardness or weirdness. Instead, everything felt right, just the way it was supposed to be. You pondered on your love triangle for the rest of the day.

The next day Sam and Josh had some interviews that would end up taking all day to do. You wanted to stay in for the day, but of course Y/n was up bright and early ready to explore some more of the city.

You had both agreed since Sam and Josh would be gone that today would be the perfect day to spend just the three of you. You needed some alone time together to get your bearings on things.

It would be the first time you would have an outing as a throuple. You hadn’t exactly labeled anything yet, it wasn’t a date. It was something of a test run you guessed. The three of you had spent many times alone throughout the years, but this was new territory, different. You were just as excited as you were nervous.

You called Danny to meet in your room to start your day. Y/n could see the anxiety that you felt. She placed her delicate hands on your face, lightly brushing a few loose strands of hair behind your ear. “I know that you’re a bit nervous, but it’s just me and Danny. We’ve been hanging out alone for years. I know that this is new and different, I’m a little nervous too. I’m sure even Danny is as well, but we both care about you. You know if your feelings change that’s okay, we would understand. We just have to go about this with an open and honest policy. Everything will work out, I’m sure of it.”

She always knew exactly what to say and you knew that she was right, as usual. Just then you heard a light tap on the door. You, almost too quickly, whipped the door open to find a tall, dark haired man standing before you. He nervously chewed his bottom lip, “You uh gonna invite me in?”

You had been so distracted with how delectable he looked that you had just left him out in the open. “Of course, of course. Come on in Danny.”

He sauntered in swiftly, confidently. You knew he was just as nervous as you, but trying hard to cover that up. You were shocked with electricity when his hand just slightly brushed yours as he walked by.

“Hello Y/n, you both are looking lovely this morning,” Danny slyly said to you both with a blush on his face.

“Hm, ever the flirt Danny. So boys, what are we thinking today?” Y/n spoke, clearly happy that Danny was calming the nerves you each felt. He could flirt his way out of anything, you were sure of that.

You finally spoke, “I was just thinking about taking it slow today, with all of this newness. Just a few tourist things around town, nothing too crazy.”

“I agree Jake, Danny how does that sound?” Y/n said.

“I think that sounds great. I’m excited to start this, but if I’m honest a bit nervous,” Danny said.

“I think we’re all a bit nervous. This doesn’t have to be like our first date. I also think at some point today we should discuss those ground rules among other things ya know? Not to pressure or rush things, I just want us all to be in a comfortable state with all of this and to know where we all stand,” Y/n spoke with her confident tone.

You loved that about her. No matter how nervous she was in a situation, she always knew how to control the situation in the best way. She made sure to ease everyone else, as well as speak her mind. That is one of the things that made you so sure that this relationship between you three would work very well.

Y/n’s comment had gotten you excited that within the next few days you would be having your first date. Your heart jumped when the words left her mouth. You couldn’t wait.

You spent the day getting street food, exploring little shops, and sightseeing. You weren’t all sure about the physical aspect of things, how to hold hands, or kiss. The flirting came naturally it seemed. You all talked just like normal, like three best friends who had feelings for each other.

Once it got late you decided you should all be treated to a nice dinner. You sat down at your table, Y/n next to you and Danny across. After a few drinks you were brave enough to slowly stretch your legs out to rub against Danny’s, which he welcomed eagerly.

Y/n POV

The day went very smoothly. It was incredibly eye opening to see each of you in this new element. It meant the world to you to see your boys so happy. To know how they felt for you and each other.

At dinner you noticed that you had all calmed down a tremendous amount. You had found a nice flow to everything. You even noticed that Jake had a newfound confidence and was rubbing against Danny’s leg under the table and in turn Danny had begun rubbing the opposite leg against yours. You knew there would be no issues with anyone feeling left out. They made sure of that.

“I’m thinking now would be a good time to talk about these ground rules, if you guys are up for it?” you spoke.

They both nodded their heads in agreement, of course letting start off the conversation.

“So feel free to speak your minds please, this is the only way that this will work. I guess I'll just jump right into things. How do you feel about fucking when one of us isn’t there?”

They both chuckled and Danny spoke, “I’m okay with that if you are.”

“I think so too sweetheart,” Jake said.

“I’m good with it too, as long as we communicate. I would like to know about it, but of course things do happen. What about Josh and Sam? How do we go about being openly together? Or is this something that we’re keeping to ourselves?” you said.

“You know that Josh picks up on these things, he would figure it out pretty quick. Sam is pretty oblivious. He wouldn’t figure it out for a while atleast. I don’t think that it’s necessarily their business, but I don’t think that I want to hide this,” Jake blushed.

Danny agreed, as did you.

“So I feel like I should bring this up. Like I told Jake earlier, I’m not at all mad that you guys did something without me, but I would like to know how I fit into this? We all admitted to having feelings for each other, so I know how you feel. I just wonder if this is just a Jake and Danny thing?” you said.

You felt almost silly asking. They had both just admitted how they felt for you and that they both wanted you included. You weren’t at all the jealous type, you just wanted some clarity, or maybe some reassurance on the matter. You wanted to be a part of this, that you were sure of. You knew Jake loved you, you knew where he stood. And Danny wasn’t one to lie or not speak his true feelings on something this serious.

Everything was happening quickly. None of you had really had time to process everything. But still, the feelings were there. You knew you would all regret it if you didn’t give this a shot. Even though it was early, you just had a feeling that this was very real. That this was the beginning of a very serious relationship.

As you watched the handsome men in front of you, you could see the wheels turning in their minds. They were trying to figure out their places just like you, trying to figure out what to say and do. They were trying to read each other.

“No baby, no, this is an all of us thing for sure. It just sort of happened…” Jake trailed off.

“Really Y/n, it did just happen and you made it much better by joining in. I know that I have real feelings for you. I want the both of you. I know this may be a bit tricky at first trying to figure out our dynamic. I really do think we can make this work, I want to make this work…” Danny said certainly, but nervously.

The reassurance from them both made you feel much better. It made you feel certain about the whole thing.

“Uhm, one more thing I think. I know this is early of course, not to jump the gun. But you guys live together, have a place, a home. Not right away of course, but what about me staying over sometimes or things like that?” Danny said cautiously.

You and Jake shared a nervous, but excited look. Jake tapped your thigh happily. You knew exactly what his answer was.

“Like you said not right away, while we get our footing on the relationship. But I think we would both like for you to stay the night sometimes, and maybe even something more permanent in the future. I mean you stay over a lot anyways, this would just come with a few perks,” you flirted.

Danny looked more than happy with your answer. You were all giddy over everything.

“Oh wait wait, one more thing, again. So are you uhm, my boyfriends now? I mean how are we going about labels?” you chuckled at your own question.

“We don’t have to do labels. It’s not necessary, but I like them. I think that I have a boyfriend and a girlfriend,” Jake said smiling.

Danny took Jake and your hands carefully, “I like the idea of calling you my boyfriend and girlfriend.”

“If you guys ever want to bring anything up, please do. But I think that it’s safe to say that we covered basically everything,” You said very happily.

You ended the night with a newfound confidence. You all felt a sense of peace and excitement. You had each found your place. You toasted your boyfriends to your newfound relationship.

Danny POV

Your heart was racing. Your palms were clammy. You were filled with joy and happiness. You were understanding your own feelings now. It was like this was the missing piece to the puzzle. You felt whole.

You couldn’t wipe the smile off of your face. You felt a spark you had never felt before while holding Y/n and Jake’s hands. This is how things were always meant to be.

Jake shot a wink to Y/n and licked his lips, “Sooo, what do you guys say we continue this celebration back at the hotel?”

“I think that is a wonderful idea,” you said. Y/n squeezed your hand, showing that was exactly what she wanted too.

Your heart was fluttering all around. At first you honestly thought that things would be weird. They were your best friends after all, but they were more than comfortable. It just felt right.

You were also thrilled at how blunt Y/n could be. It made the conversation that you thought would be uncomfortable flow easily.

The three of you walked down the street holding hands, with Y/n in the middle. You all made it back to Y/n and Jake’s room later that night. You felt like you truly fit with them. They welcomed you into their relationship with open arms. Which now was your relationship.

You walked in and Jake immediately fixed the three of you a drink from the mini bar. If you were being honest you needed it for your nerves. You were no longer nervous about the relationship side of things, and you could tell that neither were they. But you could tell now the tension was sexual.

You and Jake had done a little exploring. This was very new to the both of you. You had never been with a man until Jake.

The three of you sat on the couch in the suite. You talked and flirted playfully for a while. You sat in between them for a change. Normally it was Y/n who sat in the middle when it was just the three of you.

Y/n delicately placed her silky smooth legs over your lap to show her comfort. Jake gently placed his hand on your thigh, rubbing his fingers slowly in circles. You could feel your cheeks begin to turn into a crimson red. You knew this was Y/n’s way of comforting all of you.

You had wondered who would make the first move, and you figured that it would probably be her. You and Jake had proved to be a bit shy when making first moves. She waited a few minutes to feel you out. You were just about to place a hand on her legs when she took them away. You didn’t have enough time to be disappointed before she swooped over you. Her knees dipped onto each side of you on the couch. She was straddling your lap perfectly.

Her sudden take on authority lit you up. Jake had a smug look of pride across his face, like he knew something that you didn’t, but you were surely about to find out. To anyone else Y/n came across as a sweet but shy woman. But to those who knew her, she was a ball of light and joy, she was someone who took charge in situations.

This Y/n however is one that you haven’t met yet, one that you weren’t even aware existed, but you were about to be formally introduced. Her breathing was a bit heavier now and her eyes were darker as they glared into you. All of her attention was focused solely on you now.

Her attention made you feel like you were the only person in the world. She seductively licked her lips and cupped your face. Her other hand swept some loose strands of hair behind your ear, twirling it around her fingers playfully. Scratching her fingernails on the back of your neck, sending chills down your spine.

She lightly lifted your chin up, bringing you eye to eye. You caught a hint of mischief on her face. She leaned forward and pressed her lips to yours. You let out a breath that you didn’t even know you had been holding. The kiss was captivating, her lips were pillowy soft. You kissed her back gently, not being able to hold back the smile against her lips.

She pulled back, seemingly reluctant, “Hi Danny.”

“Hi Y/n, I’ve been wanting to do that for ages” you both giggled.

You felt Jake’s hand move farther up your thigh teasingly, giving you a gentle squeeze. Y/n showed her authority again, “Come here baby.” You watched as she cupped Jake’s face just as she had yours, pulling him into a searing kiss. She lightly began to grind onto your lap, showing you both equal attention.

“I’m almost jealous that you got to taste him without me Jakey, he’s so sweet. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind replaying the night events for me,” she said toying with you both.

With her still on your lap grinding, Jake smiled sweetly at you both. He seemed to enjoy the show she was putting on for you. He leaned forward meeting your lips with his in a soft kiss. Jake quickly deepened the kiss, swiping his tongue over your bottom lip. You happily invited him in. He groaned lowly into your mouth.

Y/n attached her lips to your exposed neck. You were shocked at the sudden contact and moaned directly into Jake’s mouth. This only provoked them even more.

Jake pulled away from the kiss reluctantly. Both of them paused their actions for some reassurance. They were very considerate with every move they made. They made sure everyone was feeling safe and comfortable. You felt such a strong sense of adoration for them both. After making sure you were all still on the same page, it was right back to business.

Y/n addressed you both in a sultry tone. Her voice was tearing you and Jake to pieces and she had hardly laid a hand on either of you. “I want both of you. But I want Danny first since you had him first last time. If you want that of course Danny?”

“Oh fuck yeah.. Mhm,” You responded pathetically. She was unraveling you quicker than you had expected.

She was wearing a light green sundress, leaving you to want more. Everything that you had imagined was coming to life, but so much better than you could have ever dreamed up. Between you and Jake you had each side of her dress bunched up at her thighs. She leaned back to capture Jake’s lips. This movement gave you just enough sight to see the damp spot that had started to form between her legs.

Jake pulled from the kiss to catch where your eyes were staring. When Y/n noticed she leaned back just a little further and spread her legs a bit more. She knew exactly what she was doing to you and it was working.

You glanced over to Jake one more time, looking for any indication that your invitation had been rescinded. He grabbed your calloused hand that was previously intertwined with his and placed it directly onto her soaked center.

“My god, you’re so wet. Is this all for us?” you said wide eyed.

She responded by grinding onto your hand. It took everything in you not to rip off of her clothing and take her right there. But you wanted to drag this out. You wanted this to last as long as you could make it. You planned on taking your time with them both, and they clearly had the same idea.

You could feel your hard on straining against your jeans and you knew she felt it too, the way that she was grinding down on you. The attention from them both was overwhelming in the best way. You had never experienced anything like this.

Jake POV

Y/n was reveling in this. She was toying with the both of you, playing a game that you knew oh so well. But Danny seemed to be shocked by her behavior, but he clearly loved it. You had watched his sweet and flirting demeanor change in the blink of an eye to lustful and needy.

You watched happily as your girlfriend played with your new boyfriend. Your lips were attached to Danny’s neck, his skin was sweet and soft against your tongue. One hand on Danny’s hand, pressed into Y/n’s center, the other running under the hem of his shirt. His skin was burning hot. You and Danny waited patiently for Y/n to show her next move. She was getting a read on Danny, seeing how long it would take for him to break.

You thought maybe the first few times that you were together it would prove to be a challenge. That you would struggle to all be attentive to one another or someone would feel left out. You’d barely gotten started and that was clearly not going to be the case.

You watched in awe as Y/n continued to seduce you and Danny. Even though that wasn’t necessary, you had both been practically drooling over her all day.

“Feel her, she wants you inside of her. I know you’re dying to please her,” you cooed into Danny’s ear.

He let out a moan as he dove his hand smoothly into her soaked panties.

Y/n POV

You wanted them both to take you. You loved toying with them, you were overstimulated in the best way and you had barely been touched.

Danny slid into your panties effortlessly. Running his fingers through your folds a few times to gather your slick. He worked into you gently at first, welcoming the sting of his thick fingers stretching you out, finding your sweet spots. A whimper fell from your lips when Jake began circling his fingers slowly over your clit, spreading you open to give his boyfriend more access to you. Danny continued to fuck into you with you still on his lap, while Jake started to put on a show of his own for you.

“You’re fucking her so good. The noises she’s making are all for us, those beautiful sounds. Making our girl feel so good. Don’t stop, keep giving it to her,” Jake said as he brought his lips to Danny’s. He was actively trying to challenge his focus. To see just how long he could fuck you while entertaining Jake.

Hearing those words again in such a setting made your heart and your cunt flutter. ‘Our girl’. This was something you were easily getting used to.

Jake removed his hand from your soaked cunt and brought them to Danny’s kiss swollen lips. He rubbed your slick over his lips slowly like a lipgloss. “Open, eyes on her,” Jake instructed.

Danny obliged this request with no hesitation, his eyes darting to catch yours. Jake swirled his slick covered fingers over Danny’s tongue. “Doesn’t she taste so sweet, so divine Danny, taste her,” Jake commanded.

“Don’t we feel so good sweet dove? Hm?” Jake said bringing his fingers once again to circle your clit, but this time with determination.

“Let’s make her cum, just like this on your lap, with our fingers. Make a mess of our girl,” Jake continued on.

You let out the most pathetic whimper. The sounds of your heavy breathing and slick noises echoed through the room.

“Yeah baby? You like that, our fingers fucking you? You want to be a good girl for us and let us take care of you?” Danny caught on, finally playing the long game with you both. Jake’s fingers were quickly added into you alongside Danny’s, while still circling your clit.

“Look at Danny while you cum, I want him to see that beautiful face, can you do that?” Jake ordered.

“Yes-fuck, Yes Sir, just like that..” you barely said over your own moans.

You were thrown into your first orgasm, Danny's eyes boaring directly into yours. He hardly blinked in fear of missing a moment. You fought to keep your eyes open and on him. The sounds of their voices could have simply sent you over. You came hard, squeezing around their fingers with your cunt. Your entire body was tingling. They were both groaning right with you.

“You were right, she does make the most beautiful face when she cums,” Danny said to Jake.

They slowly slid out of you. You winced at the loss of contact. Your mind was fuzzy but focused.

“I think we should move this party somewhere a bit more comfortable,” you suggested.

Still straddling Danny’s lap, he swept you up as if you were a feather, wrapping your legs around his waist, and laid you gently onto the bed. With an open hand he guided Jake along with you.

They both seemed to loom over you, you suddenly felt so small beneath them. You could see them both straining against their jeans. You sat up onto your knees on the mattress. You took your hands to both of them, slowly palming them over their pants. After a few moments, you decided they were deserving of some relief.

You undid Danny’s jeans first, pulling them down his waist to his ankles. Doing Jake the same way. They both stood before you in their boxers, as they removed their shirts. They watched you articulately, not wanting to make the wrong move. You pulled their boxers down to their ankles, instructing them to remove them completely. They couldn’t let you be the only one still dressed, they dipped down and pulled your dress over your head, leaving you only in your tiny soaked thong.

You spit into each of your palms and grasped their lengths. You began to slowly jerk them. They both let out a groan from the sudden contact. You took extra time to admire Danny, to take in every inch. The other night with Jake you hadn’t been focused enough to take in all of the details. He was glowing, his muscles flexing almost identically to Jake’s when you made certain movements. You took mental notes of his tiny whimpers that he tried to hold in from you.

While you stroked them, Danny reached for Jake to pull him into a kiss. It was different from the others that they had shared, this one was deep and meaningful, intimate. You knew that they were falling apart right before your eyes, they were holding onto each other in hopes of hiding this from you. But you knew Jake all too well and you were figuring out Danny faster by the moment. They were giving away far more than they realized.

You took Danny into your mouth while he was distracted from Jake’s. Giving him kitten licks at first, licking up and down his shaft. This clearly took him by surprise by the gasp he let out straight into Jake’s mouth. You savored his taste, tucking this moment into the back of your mind for later. You started by slowly taking him inch by inch, then suddenly taking him fully down your throat.

You kept your eyes open and directly on Danny’s. He seemed in awe of you, seeing you in this new light. You could see him struggling to keep his own eyes open, they were hooded and dark, but he didn’t want to miss a moment of this.

His knees threatened to buckle out from under him. He grabbed Jake’s shoulder and the back of your head as an anchor. You heard Jake chuckle and you felt his hand join Danny’s on your head. Gathering up your hair into a ponytail and helping Danny guide you along.

Jake used this to his own advantage and pulled you off of Danny and onto him. You mimicked the same motions as you had with Danny onto Jake’s length. You felt Danny’s hand stay on your head as he guided you just as Jake had onto him.

“Doesn’t her mouth feel so good around you, like velvet. You’re taking us both so well darling,” Jaked egged you both on.

You hummed around them adding to the pleasure. The tears began streaming down your reddened cheeks. In an act of intimacy Jake swiped them away lovingly.

The moans pouring from their depths were orgasmic. They were like beautiful melodies mixed together.

“Are you trying to make us cum already? Naughty girl, that just won’t do,” Danny spoke in a deep tone.

“No, not quite yet. There’s still so much fun to be had. I’m just getting started,” you said just barely stroking them now.

“Whose cock do you want first, hm?” Jake asked, already knowing your answer.

You stopped all movements and gave them both your sweetest doe eyes. Jake knew exactly what you wanted without you speaking a word.

You sat up and wrapped your arms around Danny’s torso and led him down on top of you. You laid perfectly in the center of the bed. He wasn’t expecting you to take him like this, he had a look of surprise and excitement on his face. He caught your swollen lips in a heated kiss. His hair cascaded around you as he looked into your eyes caringly.

He carefully began trailing sloppy kisses down your body. He wrapped his lips around one of your hardened nipples sucking lightly. He brought his hand up to gently massage the other. He licked a stripe from your chest to right above your center. He paused to catch his breath. He peppered kisses up and down your inner thighs. Finally making his way to your aching cunt. Even though you’d already been offered some relief it wasn’t enough for all that your boyfriends were making you feel.

Jake had taken this as a sign to watch the events unfold before him. He always did enjoy a good show and you knew he didn’t want to miss a second. He sat directly beside you on the bed. You looked over to him to see him lazily stroking himself and watching every movement that Danny made with your body.

He had a new look on his face now, one that you weren’t familiar with. But you knew it was a look of happiness and joy. He was happy to be sharing this intimate time with you both.

You could feel Danny’s warm breath on your center now. He was eager to dive into you. He licked a slow stripe up your cunt, making sure to capture all of your taste. He lapped at you causing pornographic moans to erupt from your throat. He was rutting his hips down onto the bed below you. He had made himself at home in between your thighs. He was showing you all that he had to offer. Which was clearly exceptional.

His nose rubbed against your clit perfectly as his tongue swirled around you. You grabbed his hair roughly and began to grind onto his face. He didn’t care how hard you pulled his hair or even about breathing, you were sure you were smothering him. But he took it willingly.

He threw you straight into your second orgasm with no warning. He worked you through it effortlessly. Jake grunted words of encouragement at you both, proud of the way that Danny had unraveled you. Watching as your legs shook around Danny’s face and you praised him for it.

Danny was glowing as he emerged from your center and made his way back to your lips. You and Jake simultaneously licked his face clean from the mess you had made.

“You were so good for her, she came so hard on your face,” Jake continued to praise him.

“Hm Jake, we should reward him don’t you think?” you said.

Jake shook his head eagerly. You sat up swiftly swapping places with Danny. He sat up halfway in the middle of the bed. Still glowing, but curious as to what you had in mind. Jake was waiting to follow your lead.

“I told you that we were only just getting started,” you winked at them.

You imitated the same kisses down Danny’s body as he had you. Once you got to his cock, you motioned for Jake to join you. He moved down with you cautiously. Together you licked up his shaft, causing Danny to groan deeply. He was surprised at your boldness.

You and Jake took turns teasing and tasting him, dipping down to his hole every so often to spark his interest. Danny’s hands were gripping the sheets so roughly you thought they may rip. You halted all contact with Danny and brought Jake’s swollen lips to yours for a deep kiss.

“I need you, please, something…anything,” Danny pleaded to you.

You instructed Jake to stop and take his place. Danny reluctantly stopped and followed your orders. You knew you had to enjoy your time in charge. Once they got a bit more comfortable in this setting they would ruin you and you would happily let them. Your chances to be in charge in the bedroom would be few and far in between.

“It’s Jake’s turn to be rewarded. He’s been so patient,” you cooed to Danny.

Jake laid out in the middle of the bed. You and Danny placed directly in between his thighs. You mimicked the same moves on Jake as you had Danny. Danny had taken from your own boldness and dipped between down to his hole. Neither of the men were used to this yet, but very clearly enjoyed the act. He swirled his tongue around teasingly while you worked his hard cock with your mouth. Jake’s eyes were rolled to the back of his head at this point.

You could feel the mess that your cunt was making running down your thighs from these sinful acts. You had never been so aroused. The adrenaline was pumping furiously through your veins.

You knew they couldn’t take much more and if you were honest neither could you.

“I want you inside of me,” you said, directing towards both of them, lifting your head up from Jake’s center.

“Who baby, who do you want? You know we both want you,” Danny said, pausing his actions.

“Both, I need the both of you inside of me. Take turns, at the same time, just fuck me,” you said sitting up, waiting for one of them to make the next move now.

You had to give up some of your control now, but not all. You made sure they knew that. You wanted to see how they would run things. They were both full of confidence now, all the nerves had melted away hours ago. You had guided them this far.

As they sat up, you once again laid out in the center of the bed. You could practically hear their hearts pounding out of their chests. Their eyes heavy, faces red, a light sheen of sweat lined their torsos. They looked beautiful in this element. You could get used to this view.

Danny grabbed Jake by the throat and licked up and down his neck. Jake let out the most beautiful moan you had ever heard. He threw his head back and fell into Danny’s arms. You could watch them like this forever if you had the chance.

You had gotten so aroused by the act that you started to rub up and down your own body, your cunt was begging for contact. Danny pulled away releasing Jake’s throat, tugging his bottom lip in between his teeth. He turned his attention to you. He moved into a comfortable spot between your legs, spreading them to make room for his body.

“You said you wanted to take Danny first sweetheart, gonna be good for him?” Jake slurred into the shell of your ear.

Danny smirked at you, grabbing his length and running it through your folds, coating him in your slick. He entered your hole gently at first, giving you time to adjust to his size. You welcomed the stretch he gave you. He buried himself in you in one swift move.

You noted how different he felt from Jake. They were about the same size, but Danny felt thicker, he was hitting different spots. You couldn’t take your eyes off of him. The way that his muscles flexed and the faces that he made while plunging into you. He wasn’t gentle for long before fucking you wildly.

Jake was taunting you with his words and it was working like a charm. He was praising Danny for how well he was fucking into you. But he didn’t let Danny have you to himself for too long, just long enough to let you feel each other privately.

Jake and Danny were speaking to each other without words. You would’ve caught onto what they were planning, but you were far too indulged in trying to hold your eyes open so you wouldn’t miss Danny’s performance. Danny flipped you over expertly without ever removing himself from you.

He pulled you into the straddling position, your thighs sticking to his hips. He looked up at you with doe eyes. You felt the weight shift on the mattress behind you as Jake situated himself.

Jake pulled your back flush with his torso. He wrapped a hand around your throat, you could hear the smile he was wearing as he spoke, “Are you going to be a good girl and take us both? You think you can handle that?”

“Y-Yes..”

His hand met your ass sharply reminding you that it was his turn to be in charge.

“Yes Sir,” you quickly corrected, even though you loved being corrected.

Jake pushed you back down with force, Danny quickly catching you and holding you up. Your body was quickly turning to jello. The sweet, shy boys who entered this room were long gone. Jake pulled your ass up for better access. He rutted against you a few times teasingly.

You took the time to admire how Danny looked below you. You planted your lips firmly on Danny’s in an open mouth kiss. You heard Jake spit into his palm and rub his length. He slid in ever so slowly. His cock rubbing against Danny’s, causing Danny to groan into your mouth. His hands squeezed from their place on your thighs, letting you know how good it felt.

Your brain short circuited. This pain was nothing like you had ever felt before, the stretch of both of their cocks inside of your cunt. It was electrifying.

You clamped your eyes shut and let out a deep breath. Jake leaned forward and placed small kisses down your spine. He moved up farther pushing into you even deeper, pulling Danny up to him kissing him sloppily. As they were both inside of you, your head in the crook of Danny’s neck, you admired where you were now. Sandwiched between them in ecstasy.

You watched as a string of saliva still connected their mouths when Jake pulled away. Moving to kiss you in the same manner as he had Danny. You peeped your eyes open to see Danny admiring you.

“I love you,” Jake whispered into your ear. He always said that just before he was rough with you. You shuddered knowing what was coming next.

Jake fell back to his place behind you and began fucking you softly and slowly. Danny didn’t move at first in fear of hurting you. Jake only gave you a minute to adjust to the feeling.

Danny began fucking up into you. He started slowly just as Jake did, but once Jake picked up the pace Danny caught on. They started to pound you brutally.

You were screaming both of their names like a prayer. You didn’t care about the neighbors or anyone hearing you. That was the last thing on your mind. Your nails were buried in Danny’s chest, leaving red marks in their wake, like artwork. His own hands lifting your hips up and down onto their cocks. Jake’s hands halfway holding Danny’s and your hips. The grip that they had on your hips was certain to leave bruises. A sweet reminder you would be looking forward to seeing tomorrow.

You felt the grip loosen slightly when Jake reached between your and Danny’s body to stimulate your clit. It took moments for you to come undone around them. Your cunt squeezed around their cocks buried inside of you. They fucked you right through your third orgasm, never slowing down once. You were on the verge of overstimulation, but you didn’t care.

You knew that your boyfriends had stamina. From the way they performed on stage, from your own experience with Jake in the bedroom. But it seemed like there was no end in sight and you were happy with that. You would let them play with you and each other as long as they liked.

You were a whimpering mess, hardly able to hold your eyes open or even hold yourself up.

“I think we wore her out. Is that all you can take, baby?” Danny taunted.

“I guess me and Danny can finish by ourselves if you can’t take anymore,” Jake played along, knowing this would only rile you back up. He knew you wouldn’t tap out.

“Is that all you can give me?” you played back.

“Greedy little thing hm,” Danny groaned.

Jake slid out of you while Danny flipped you over onto your back again. He only removed himself from you for a moment, plunging right back in. His arms on either side of your body, holding himself up.

Jake played out the same movements with Danny he did with you. He pulled him back by his throat, his back was flush with Jake’s torso. Danny had paused his movements with you while Jake had his fun.

“You want me to fuck you now?” Jake said as he rutted into Danny’s ass.

“God yes,” Danny breathed out eagerly.

You were just as desperate as Danny was, it was all over his face.

“You want me to fuck you right into her tight cunt?” Jake said as his hands roamed Danny’s body.

You reached over to the hotel nightstand fumbling around, while they were distracted. While shopping today you had wondered upon a little sex shop. The boys had gotten distracted down the street so you snuck off by yourself. You had purchased a bottle of strawberry lube, you knew it would come in handy.

You silently thanked yourself while presenting it to the boys. Their eyes lit up and they both smiled. Jake looked between the two of you and took the small bottle with nervous hands.

You heard the ‘pop’ sound of the lid opening. Danny leaned back down to you, giving Jake better access. You began tracing your fingers along his back. You could hear the wet noises as Jake slicked up his cock. “Are you ready for me?” Jake asked.

“Yes,” Danny hardly spoke.

Jake slid a lubed up finger inside of Danny’s hole. Danny noticeably tensed up at the new feeling. “Just relax, I’ve got you,” Jake said, while massaging his ass.

At the sound of Jake’s voice Danny almost immediately relaxed into him. Jake slid in and out a few more times, adding more fingers as he went. Jake was giving every bit of his attention to Danny’s pleasure and comfort. While Danny groped at your skin, sucking at your nipples, trying to figure out where to put his focus.

Once Danny gave the okay, Jake removed his fingers and grabbed his cock. He jerked himself a few times, slapping it against Danny’s entrance. Jake pushed the head of his cock slowly into his hole, letting Danny get used to the stretch before fully bottoming out in him.

They groaned almost in sync with each other. Both sets of eyes fully blown out and rolling into the back of their heads. Danny burying his head into the crook of your neck, biting the sensitive skin. His cock twitching inside of you. With Danny’s head to the side, you had a perfect view of Jake now. The way that he looked buried inside of Danny, the pleasure that covered his face. His muscles flexing and eyes wide. His jaw was hung open. He waited a few minutes to move an inch.

The sound of Jake fucking into Danny was causing arousal to pool in between your thighs. The harder that Jake slammed into Danny, the deeper he was pushing into you. Your legs were spread wide open. It didn’t take long to find a rhythm that worked between the three of you. Once Danny had found his own rhythm he began backing into Jake and pounding into you.

No one spoke for a while. It was all whimpers and pornographic moans, the pleasure that you each were feeling was insane.

“Danny, baby, fuck you’re so tight,” Jaked breathed out.

“You both feel so fucking good,” Danny respsonded.

Jake had a rough grip around Danny’s hips, pushing deeper into him with every stroke. In return slamming Danny harder into you.

“I don’t think I can last much longer, I need to cum. Please let me cum…” Danny cried out to you both.

Danny’s eyes pleaded with you for his release. You knew by the look on Jake’s face he was fighting his own ending, his hips were faltering their pace. You wrapped your legs around Danny’s waist, “Cum in me, fill me up baby.”

Within seconds of your own plea you were unraveled. Danny had covered your chest in purple marks, his own moans shook your body. You felt him coat your walls in his thick release, twitching inside of you, crying out. Jake fucked him through his orgasm wildly, you knew he was trying to hold off a bit longer. But the sight of you and Danny cumming sent him over. He coated the walls of Danny’s tight hole.

When Jake pulled from Danny they both let out a hiss. Danny finally found the strength to pull out of you. You whimpered from the loss of him. You and Danny both having cum dripping from you. You both were a whimpering mess.

The three of you laid tangled up and out of breath. You were still in the middle of them, they both had a leg draped over you, holding hands over your stomach. Exhausted from your dirty dance in the sheets. You couldn’t help but blush and giggle. It was everything and more than you had hoped.

As exhausted as you were, the adrenaline was still coursing through you. You felt relaxed and happy. You wanted to savor this moment for as long as you could.

“That was fucking amazing,” you finally broke the silence. They both hummed in unison.

You moved to place a kiss on Jake’s plump lips. You heard Danny whimper from behind you. You turned over to do the same to him. You sunk back to your place in between them. Jake sat up slightly to kiss Danny next, sweet and gentle. Both of them blushing, as if they hadn’t just been deep inside of one another.

Jake was the first to move, bringing you and Danny a warm washcloth. Knowing that neither of you had the intention of moving for a while. He cleaned you both off caringly.

The three of you scooted yourselves under the covers and fell sound asleep not long after. All of you being drained physically. You had stayed tangled up all night long.

Danny POV

You woke up the next morning in the same position that you had drifted off in. You took a deep breath into your lungs and your senses were filled with Jake and Y/n. Your head nuzzled in Y/n’s neck, a leg draped over her body, and your hand intertwined with Jake’s.

They were both still asleep, their chests slowly rising and falling. The morning light was beginning to peek through the curtains, adding a slight glow to their bare skin. You took this time to admire how peaceful they looked. You also took this time to gather your thoughts of the past two days' events.

Within the recent days you had finally admitted not only to yourself, but to your best friends that you had feelings for them. As much reassurance as they had both given you, you still couldn’t help but worry that they would wake up and have regrets. You hoped they still felt the same way when they opened their eyes this morning.

You now found yourself tangled in the sheets with them, as their boyfriend. You could have stayed like this with them forever, but of course you had a full schedule for today. You felt Y/n begin to stir awake, her eyes slowly peeking open and meeting yours. You couldn’t help but smile at her. She looked so delighted to see you.

“Good Morning boyfriend,” she giggled and squeezed your hand.

“Well good morning girlfriend,” you replied.

It felt so right to be here with them like this, domestic even. She rolled completely over to you, snuggling up to your chest and met her lips to yours. Your movement must have woken Jake up. You glanced over to see him rolling towards you and Y/n. His eyes were only halfway open, but a grin spread across his face.

He sat up slightly and kissed Y/n on the cheek, greeting her for the morning. Then turning his attention to you as Y/n had, repeating her actions.

“Good Morning boyfriend,” Jake said blushing and kissing you lightly.

“Good Morning boyfriend,” you repeated back.

The phrase just sounded right. Their actions had whipped the fear from your mind immediately. You couldn’t control the smile on your face. You stayed in your own bubble for a few minutes longer. Of course someone began pounding on the door, bringing you back to reality.

You all stared at each other, maybe a hint of nervousness behind your eyes. You had all agreed that you weren’t hiding this, but it was a bit soon. When no one moved to answer the door you heard Josh’s voice, “Rise and shine! The bus will be here in the next thirty minutes guys!”

“Okay, we’ll be down soon,” Jake yelled back, never moving from the bed.

All of you were still unclothed, nothing but the sheets covering you. You all reluctantly dragged yourselves from the bed. Jake was the first to get up, you couldn’t help but gawk at his naked form. You heard the shower water begin to run as he disappeared into the hot steam.

Y/n caught your stare, “Why don’t we join him?”

The hotel shower allowed just enough space for the three of you. You and Y/n entered on either side of Jake. You pressed to his back and Y/n to his front as you let the warm water soak your bodies.

Your sore muscles thanked you. Your hands ran along the length of Jake’s body. He leaned his head back onto your chest. You looked over him to see Y/n stroking his cock. You wrapped one hand around his throat and one around waist to hold him steady. She was pumping him furiously.

You sucked at the skin on his shoulder. You and Y/n coaxed him along eagerly. You watched her grope at herself with her free hand. She had purple marks down her front and her hips slightly bruised. You took pride in admiring your artwork. Her eyes stayed on yours, she wanted you to see the way she unraveled him.

You could feel Jake’s muscles tightening underneath you. His eyes were clamped shut and his forehead creased together. You added a little more pressure around his throat and lifted his head up a bit. “Watch her. Watch her while she makes you cum for us,” you demanded.

You watched as he struggled to keep his eyes open and on her. But he followed your instructions like he was told. He held onto you tightly. He groaned and his hips bucked up wildly as he spilled into Y/n’s hand and her stomach.

She brought a finger to her mouth, groaning and licking it clean. You brought your hand to her stomach and swiped up the rest of Jake’s mess. You mimicked her movements by licking your hand clean. “You taste so good babe. You did so good for us,” you said.

After your shower you were left with little time to get ready. The three of you were rushing around to get dressed. You threw on last night's clothes and kissed them both swiftly. You made your way back to your own room.

You noted that your bed was still perfectly made. Your room looked as if you had hardly been there. You wondered if this was how it would be from now on.

You met everyone else downstairs. “Where have you been all night?” Sam quizzed you.

“I was in bed, what do you mean?” you said, seeing Jake look at you happily.

“I came by twice and called you to see if you wanted to go out? You never answered,” he snipped back.

“Oh uh, I must’ve been in a deep sleep,” you said lying through your teeth.

The day was busy, as it usually was before a show. You still found the time to sneak looks and touches at Jake when you could. The day went by quickly and on schedule.

The show went without a hitch. You and Jake were completely in sync with one another. Everything was falling into place.

Y/N POV

It had been one month since you had entered your throuple of a relationship. You had been able to stay with them on tour. Your job had been able to secure you a position of working from home, or in this case the road. But at least this meant that you would be able to spend more time with your boyfriends.

You couldn’t keep your hands off of one another. You were growing a bit nervous. There was a break coming up in the tour soon. This meant that you would be going back to your shared home with Jake. You were thrilled about the break and time off. You had missed your home.

Danny had his own home, only a few minutes away from yours. You had discussed the living situation a few times, but never dug too deep. Things would flow naturally you figured. It was still very early in the relationship. But still you didn’t want Danny to feel left out.

You wanted him there with you and Jake. You wanted him to be there for all of the moments. You had worried that you would miss alone time with Jake, but that didn’t last very long. You had all become attached at the hip.

Being so attached to one another you hadn’t been with Danny alone, nor Jake with Danny alone. All of your dates had been shared, the mind blowing sex, even sleeping. Danny had rarely stayed in his own room.

You had managed to keep the relationship to yourselves for over a month. It wasn’t intentional, there just hadn’t truly been the right time. You still hadn’t been hiding it however, no one had really caught on. Everyone was so busy all of the time, but it was nice to stay in your bubble. You all found it sexy to have this secret.

You figured your bubble would soon be popped with the off time coming up. You would be spending time together more often and in a different setting. They would definitely catch on soon enough.

After the final show of the tour you were headed home. Danny opted to go to his own home. He wanted to get settled in and had a few things to tend to.

You and Jake got yourselves settled in quickly. It had been so long since you had been alone together. It was different, it felt normal since you were home. But you knew that both you and Jake were missing your other half.

You ordered in and watched a short movie. Before long you had decided to take a bath together. You soaked together in silence. You were both so exhausted you climbed into bed and fell sound asleep.

The next day you woke up close to lunch time, Jake was still asleep peacefully next to you. You had thought you heard something, but the house was quiet. You were almost back asleep when you heard it again, much more clear this time. Jake was having a dream, a sex dream at that.

His brows were furrowed and his hips were rutting lightly into you. He groaned and softly whispered Danny’s name. A smile spread across your face. You knew after last night that he missed him. You had both been living comfortably with Danny as a big part of your live’s.

You didn’t feel so bad about waking him from his dream. His whimpers and whispers had caused a wave of excitement to your center. You rolled him onto his back and straddled him. You grasped his hard cock and sank down onto him.

His eyes shot open, he hissed through his teeth. Once he was fully awake he began pounding into you. You knew this was exactly what he needed. His hand collided with your ass hard.

He brutally slammed into you, he was certainly not going to last long. The dream had already gotten him halfway there. “You miss Danny hm?” you spoke.

He didn’t respond with words. He flipped you over roughly, pushing your legs behind your head. The new angle caused you to cry out from the pleasure. You squeezed around his cock. “Fill me up baby, just like you do Danny,” you moaned.

Your words sent him over into a wild orgasm. His release coated your cunt. “Goodmorning love,” he said, pulling from you.

“Sounded like an interesting dream that I interrupted,” you said.

You had decided to have a lazy day. Since it was already past lunch time now, the day was halfway over. You showered and took your cozy places on the couch. You didn’t plan on seeing anyone for the day.

Oddly enough neither of you had heard from Danny. Maybe he wanted some alone time or was even still sleeping. Later in the evening you realized that neither of you had eaten. Your stomach growled loudly. At that exact moment your doorbell rang.

You hadn’t bothered even getting dressed today. You had on an oversized t-shirt that came to your knees and that was all. Jake was only wearing boxers. You had taken this lazy day to a new level. You cracked open the door, given your state of undress, and revealed Danny standing there with two boxes of pizza.

It’s like he read your mind. You and Jake had been silently hoping that you would hear from him soon. “Gonna invite me in Y/n, or just leave me out in the cold?” he joked.

You opened the door wide enough for him to enter. “Who is it?” Jake asked.

Danny placed the food in front of Jake on the couch. “Oh, hey Danny,” Jake said nervously.

Danny leaned down and kissed him softly. You brought in plates and drinks to the living room. You squeezed in between the boys on the couch. Danny leaned in to kiss you sweetly. You immediately blushed. You had missed him more than you thought and it had only been a day.

You spent the evening cuddled up on the couch. No one really talked, you simply sat in comfort. You had truthfully forgotten about how little clothing that you were wearing. The blankets had kept you covered. You were reminded when Danny moved his hand further up your thigh. When he realized there was nothing there but your naked skin he looked down at you with a devilish grin.

He never said a word, he just began rubbing slow circles around your clit. It took him only moments to have you squirming under his touch. He moved his fingers to your soaked entrance, you felt his breath catch in his throat, a small groan was let out. He plunged them into you. You could hear your own wet sounds over the movie playing right in front of you.

You gripped his arm tightly in an attempt to ground yourself. You looked up to find his attention still on the movie. He knew exactly what he was doing to you. You looked over to find Jake’s eyes on you.

“Danny I think she missed you today,” Jake said playfully.

Now Danny’s attention was on you. “Is that true love? Couldn’t even go a day without me?” he toyed with you.

“I might have missed you, just a little,” you confessed.

“From the way your pussy feels, I would say it’s more than just a little,” Danny said.

Your cheeks turned bright red. He was right. Your cunt gave you away instantly. You took another glance over at Jake to see him palming himself over his boxers. Danny removed his fingers from you and dropped to his knees below the couch. He sat directly in front of your needy cunt.

He didn’t waste any time though, he dove right into you. He made a mess of you in no time. He had clearly missed you just as much. He had you seeing stars and calling out for him in minutes. He firmly placed his palms on your thighs to hold you steady.

You gripped Jake’s cock and lazily. Danny made sure to put all of your focus on your pleasure. He swirled his tongue around your clit, forcing cries from you with every move.

After a little play time you all sat foggy minded on the couch. A few minutes of relaxing and Danny spoke, “Well I guess I should be going then.”

Jake looked at you with worry as if to say ‘don’t let him go’.

“You’re leaving already?” you said.

“Yeah I guess so, it’s getting late,” he said, hardly looking at either of you.

“You could just stay, if you wanted I mean,” you said touching his arm.

“Oh, uh, yeah sure. I just wasn’t sure that you guys wanted that,” Danny said, clearly nervous.

“Danny, of course you can stay. We missed you last night and today. We were worried when we didn’t hear from you at all,” you said reassuringly.

“I just didn’t want to intrude or seem overbearing,” he said, still not looking at either of you.

“We’re in a relationship now. There isn’t anything for you to intrude on. We want you here with us,” you said cupping his cheek.

His demeanor changed immediately. His eyes lit up. “I want to be here with you guys too. Our first real sleepover!”

After your talk you went to bed. Danny slept in the middle this time, you and Jake snuggled up on either side of him. It was the first time he had stayed at your home like this. You could tell how happy it made the three of you to be like this.

The next day you woke up around lunch again. You peeped over to see Jake sleeping deeply and Danny just waking up with you.

“Goodmorning beautiful,” Danny whispered, kissing you on the lips.

“Want to go make some breakfast? I’m starving,” you replied. You both got up quietly and made your way to the kitchen. You slipped on yesterday's oversized shirt and a pair of panties. Danny had on a pair of Jake’s boxers. He insisted that he cook for you. So you sat at the bar and talked a little while he did so.

You weren’t ashamed to say that you had hardly heard a word that he spoke. He was standing there cooking for you and Jake, in basically no clothing. He looked so pretty like this. It was definitely something that you hoped you witnessed more often.

You considered waking Jake up, but you figured just to let him catch up on some sleep. This was also a good time as any to have some one on one time with Danny. After you ate you laid together on the couch.

He massaged your scalp, tugging at your hair the way he had learned you liked. His hands began to roam up and down your half naked body. Until they found their way to the hem of your shirt, he lifted it over your head. He wrapped a hand around the back of your neck and pulled you into an open mouthed kiss. Your tongues fighting for dominance.

His heavy eyes found your bare chest. He scooped up your breasts, gently massaging them. He wrapped his lips around your right nipple, biting down softly. The sensation caused you to cry out for him.

You had no clue what came over him, but you liked it. He ripped your soaked panties from your body. The fabric shredding to pieces. This sparked something in you. You pulled his boxers off in one move. He kicked them to the side quickly.

“Danny, I need you to fuck me,” you moaned into his mouth.

He ran the head of his weeping cock through your folds a few times before burying himself deep inside of you. He was fucking you rougher than he ever had, which was certainly saying something. He had your hands pinned above your head, your legs up in the air, spread fully for him.

You were sure you would wake Jake up from the pornographic sounds that you were both letting out. Danny pulled out of you and when you protested his actions he delivered a sharp smack to your cunt and another to your ass.

You moaned and begged for more. “Oh my girl likes the pain huh?” he played.

This only spurred him on further. He plunged back into you. The sounds of your now sweaty skin smacking together echoed through the house. He brought his fingers to your mouth and instructed you to open. You obeyed his every request happily. Once he was satisfied he brought them to your clit, rubbing fast circles around it.

“Danny, I’m gonna cum, please,” you cried.

“Then be a good girl and let go for me. I’ve got you,” he said.

Your entire body convulsed around him. Your legs trembled and you moaned in pleasure, he didn’t slow down at all. As soon as he fucked you through it he flipped you over onto all fours. Your ass was in the air, your face was buried into the couch pillows.

He propped one leg up and grabbed your hips and pounded into you. Your eyes clamped shut, you were beyond overstimulated. You had never seen Danny like this. You were sure that you had red handprints covering your ass. He grabbed your hair and pulled you up to his chest. His other arm wrapping around your torso and snaking down to your clit. He rubbed fast circles again. “I’m so close Y/n, cum for me. I know you can,” he groaned into your ear.

You came hard together. His cock twitching and emptying inside of your cunt was the most euphoric feeling as you came around him. He didn’t pull out of you. He sat down onto the couch and guided you to straddle him.

You sat for a few moments in silence. Both of you with the after sex glow coating you. You and Danny’s mess leaking from you. You reached down and collected a few drops of your mess, bringing it to both of your lips. You both released a groan, “Danny we taste so sweet together.”

“Fuck Y/n, that was amazing,” he said brushing your hair back.

Before you could speak back you heard the front door burst open. Weird, you never saw Jake come through the living room. He certainly would have joined or at least watched if that was the case.

You heard a voice similar to Jake’s booming through the house. Only it wasn’t Jake.

To be continued…

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