Chapter 10: Chapter 10

JASMINE

Erik’s voice was heavy with longing, but there was more to it. It was layered with hesitation, worry, and a fervor that set my heart pounding. He was so close that our breaths were intermingling, yet his eyes held a storm.

The attraction between us was palpable, but there was something else in his gaze—an unspoken fear, as if he were scared to cross a line that couldn’t be uncrossed. His hand was near my waist, but he didn’t touch me. Instead, his eyes were scanning mine, searching for something—maybe reassurance, maybe certainty, or perhaps permission.

I felt conflicted. My body was yearning for his touch, for the connection we both desired, but my mind was whispering that maybe it wasn’t the right time. Not yet. I gasped for breath, unable to respond for a moment. I saw the flicker of doubt in his eyes—he was waiting, but it was more than that.

He was wrestling with his desire for me and his respect for the boundaries he thought we should have.

“I…” My voice wavered, and the hesitation hung heavy in the air between us. The words were stuck somewhere between my mind and my heart, and I couldn’t force them out.

His fingers lightly grazed my skin, gentle and cautious, as if he were dipping his toes in the water. I felt a shiver run through me, but instead of plunging in as I expected, he pulled back. His lips parted slightly, and I saw it—the control, the restraint.

His jaw tightened as if he were suppressing a surge of emotion. “Jasmine…” His voice was low, raw. “I need to know that you’re ready for this.” The words were gruff, but behind them was the real question: ~Am I ready for this?~

Erik had always been brave, even audacious. But now, he was exposed. His defenses, the ones he kept so high, were falling apart in front of me. This wasn’t just about physical attraction for him. It was everything.

“Erik…,” I murmured, my voice shaking as I reached out, placing my hand on his chest. His heart was pounding under my fingertips, strong and steady, but the rest of him was slightly trembling under my touch. “I don’t know if it’s the right moment… for all of it.”

His eyes darkened for a moment, a flash of disappointment visible, but then something else replaced it—understanding. And that was what shattered me. The fact that he understood, even when he desired me as much as I desired him. And Goddess, how I desired him.

“I’ll wait,” he murmured, his voice raspy. “We’ll have all the time in the world, Jasmine. I want this to be right. For you. For us.”

That promise… It wasn’t just about this moment. It was about everything. It was about the four of us. I felt my heart expand, my chest constricting with overwhelming love. The Erik I had known before would have never said those words.

He would have rushed in, eager to take what he wanted. But now, he was holding back—for me.

“You’re the one saying that?” I couldn’t help but tease, though my voice was soft, filled with gratitude.

He gave me a small, crooked smile, though his eyes still held the weight of everything we hadn’t yet said. “Yeah, well… sometimes even I can be patient.”

I smiled up at him, my fingers tracing the line of his jaw. “Thank you,” I whispered, knowing that those two words couldn’t begin to express what I felt for him in that moment.

He brushed his lips against mine, soft and sweet this time—no urgency, just a lingering promise. A promise of something more, when the time was right.

***

As we walked into the dining room, the morning light filtered through the windows, casting a warm glow over the table. The scent of fresh pancakes filled the air, but my thoughts were still tangled in Erik’s restraint from earlier.

The connection I had with him felt even stronger now—like a thread that bound us but wasn’t yet fully pulled tight. But that thread wasn’t just between me and Erik. It was there with Sebastian and Aaron too. I could feel it, that unspoken bond, that strange and wonderful connection between all four of us.

Each of them carried something different, something essential, and it was only together that I felt whole. The moment Sebastian’s eyes landed on me, his lips curved into a smile. It was warm, inviting, with a hint of playfulness dancing in his eyes.

“I had them whip up your favorite,” he said, nodding toward the pancakes. His voice was casual, but his gaze…his gaze was layered with a knowing depth that suggested he was holding back.

Aaron’s eyes met mine. His question seemed innocent. “Did you sleep well?” Yet, it sent my heart into a frantic rhythm. The fear of them discovering that I had spent the night in Erik’s room was overwhelming. The fear of their reactions was paralyzing.

I swallowed hard, my breath hitching, and a shiver coursed down my spine. My heart skipped a beat. A whirlwind of thoughts stormed through my mind as I glanced between Aaron and Sebastian, my cheeks heating up. Did they know? Had Erik spilled the beans?

I was at a loss for words, but Sebastian broke the silence before I had to.

“Hey, we know you spent the night with Erik,” Sebastian said, but I didn’t allow myself to feel relieved—not just yet.

“You know?” My voice trembled as I studied their faces, trying to read their emotions and sense through our bond if everything was all right. My heart pounded faster, and I turned to Erik, who gave me a subtle nod, his gaze soft yet piercing. They all knew.

“Yes. Did you get any sleep? We were concerned,” Sebastian concluded, pulling out a chair for me.

I nodded. “Yes, I finally got some sleep.” Then his words registered. “Wait, did you guys discuss it?”

I looked at all three of them, and they smiled—the most heartwarming smiles I’d ever seen.

“We talked.” Aaron’s voice was more solemn now, yet still gentle. “The three of us. We’ve had…discussions about you. About this. About how we’re going to navigate this.”

I blinked, absorbing his words. They had been talking about me—about us—behind my back. The realization struck me, and for a moment, I was unsure how to feel about it. But then…

“We’ve all noticed you’ve been having a hard time,” Sebastian said gently, his eyes sweeping over my face with sincere concern. “Last night…it was obvious you weren’t sleeping well.”

“And we didn’t want you to face it alone,” Erik chimed in, his hand lightly brushing mine. His touch was soothing, but his words carried a weight. “We all care about you, Jasmine. And we’re in this together. That means if something’s wrong, we’ll figure it out—together.”

My chest constricted, but it wasn’t anxiety. It was something else. The gravity of their words, their concern, enveloped me like a protective blanket.

They had talked. Without me. But instead of feeling excluded, I realized…they had done it for me.

“I…I couldn’t sleep, but I didn’t think you’d be okay with it,” I murmured, still unsure. There was no jealousy in their eyes, no resentment.

Aaron’s smile softened. “It’s okay, Jasmine, and if we’re going to make this work, we have to communicate—all of us.”

My chest tightened again, but this time it was relief, not fear. They understood. They were on the same wavelength.

“So we are making this work?” My words were barely audible, laced with a hint of fear of their response.

Aaron and Erik nodded. Sebastian was the one who responded.

“We are making this work.” His words were soothing, healing.

They all smiled—three stunning smiles, each one distinct, but all radiating the same love, the same acceptance.

Tears welled up in my eyes as I took my seat. I wanted to say something, but there were no words to express what I felt—just gratitude.

It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t easy. But in that moment, I knew that we could make this work.