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can we always be this close?
"How are you feeling, Vi?" Liam asks as he flops down on his back beside her on her bed. It's a technical term – her bed – when in reality they're hopping around in each other's so often it makes little sense to call the three beds anything but theirs.
"Pretty terrible," she confesses. The first two days are always the worst – cramps, backache, nausea, lack of appetite, heavy bleeding. At least she's not prone to headaches or migraines. And on top of that, she's always fucking horny during those first few days, as if her body knows she would feel better after an orgasm. None of her previous partners have ever been of any help in that department, but Liam and Xaden aren't bothered.
"It's the only bleeding you do that's not a reason for us to be scared," Xaden had stated in no uncertain terms the first time her period hit, a few weeks into them exploring their relationship physically. Liam had nodded.
"If you think we're squeamish about a little blood, think again," he'd said.
It has been a revelation to have the two of them around. They interrogated her quite thoroughly at first, about her symptoms, her likes and dislikes, what helps. Then they tag-teamed the task in that seamless way that speaks of years of knowing each other. Sometimes, it makes Violet feel a bit insecure, but most of the time she just sits back and admires how well they know each other, how well they understand each other. Thinks quietly that one day, all three of them will be able to do that, if they just live that long.
Xaden and Liam are single-minded in ensuring her comfort. Violet always tries to return the favor, and she sees them treating each other the same way. So it's no real surprise that they supply her with pain medication and whatever foods she wants, that Xaden is more flexible with her training on the mat – she still has to train, but he's aware of her pain just like he always is, adjusting for it. That Liam stands behind or beside her at every chance he gets, his warm hands over her back or lower belly, the heat pleasant for her cramps. Her squad notices, and Liam sends them a friendly wink along with a quip of being on a mission to protect all men in the vicinity from Violet's hormones. Violet rolls her eyes as Ridoc and Sawyer fake running away. Rhiannon comments loudly that they should clearly also be showing this kind of devotion to their female friends.
And so Liam, Xaden and Violet remain secret from her friends for yet another day.
Now Xaden strides into her room without knocking – it's warded for the three of them – closing the door quickly on the empty hallway. His arrival interrupts what Violet was about to say to Liam, and Xaden sends her a glance, noticing the hot water bottle she's pressing against her tummy.
"Rough flight maneuvers today?" he guesses, grimacing, and then strips off his own leathers. The third years have been on an all-day training mission.
"Yeah," Liam answers. "And doubly so for Violet."
Violet sighs. The rush and endorphins from being in the air help somewhat, but tumbling around on Tairn's back isn't pleasant on a good day. One of her knees is aching worse than her abdomen is cramping, and that doesn't help either.
"Want a distraction?" Xaden offers, smirking at her as he turns to put his boots away. That expression on his face warms Violet's blood. Who is she kidding, she is lowkey horny just because of hormones already, and Liam's warm presence in her bed. Xaden seems exhausted, though – not really in the mood to play games.
"You don't look like–" Violet starts, and at the same time Liam says:
"I thought I told you not to–"
They stop, look at each other, and Violet raises an eye-brow, gesturing for Liam to go first. He turns back to Xaden, sends him a glare.
"I thought I told you not to do that with me. With us. Drop the act," Liam says sternly, and Xaden's shoulders slump, the smile dropping.
"Yeah," he says tiredly. "It's been a long day."
"Vi?" Liam encourages. She shakes off the dazed amazement at how quickly, with how few words, Liam changed Xaden from Wingleader to their lover, their partner, vulnerable for them.
"I was going to say that you don't look like you're in the mood," Violet explains. "But Liam said it better, anyway."
Xaden approaches them on the bed, cups her cheek and pulls her in for a soft, slow kiss, a greeting, before leaning over to do the same to Liam.
"How easily you two see through me," he mutters, kicking out of his pants as well and joining the tangle they make on Violet's smaller bed, laying face down between Violet and Liam, practically on top of them. "And I'm not saying I'm not in the mood. I just don't think I have the energy to run the show."
Liam strokes a hand up Xaden's back, then down to his ass. The movement clearly has some meaning, deliberate as Liam's hand lingers on the small of Xaden's back, above his boxers.
"Do you want me to?" Liam asks.
Xaden lifts his head, and Liam kisses him. Violet admires the sight of their mouths meeting gently, Liam's tongue teasing Xaden's mouth open. They kiss languidly, and that seems to be Xaden's answer, because Liam pulls back and smiles.
"Slow and nice today, huh, Xay?" he asks, and Xaden nods, closing his eyes in bliss as Liam rakes a hand through his hair. Violet tilts her head. Those two are speaking in their own language and she is trying to create a dictionary, so she observes them carefully, interested in the outcome. Violet loves puzzles and mysteries, and is always just as delighted when they give her clues to understanding them.
"Xaden wants me in him tonight, if that's alright with you, Vi?" Liam asks.
Oh. Now that makes sense, the way Xaden didn't answer or ask for it, but Liam clearly knew. If there's one thing Violet knows about Xaden, it's that he has a hard time letting people love him, care for him. She suspects it has something to do with what he's lived through in his life, but she doesn't want to pry.
"Yeah," she smiles, honored to be witnessing this. Liam has told her in confidence that Xaden rarely wants Liam to fuck him, but it happens. Sometimes they make love, sometimes it will be part of a game of power they play. Today it's clearly going to be about comfort, reassurance – a slow, lazy kind of pleasure. "I don't want anything in me today," she says, grimacing as another cramp is accompanied by a rush of blood. It's the kind of day when she doesn't even feel like using tampons, defaulting to pads as she usually does with a heavy bleeding and heavy cramps. She bleeds through too easily otherwise when being active.
Liam looks at her patiently, and Xaden turns his head to her as well, his eyes expectant. They want to know what she does want.
"I think I'll just watch, if that's alright?" Violet asks. "Maybe touch myself."
They hum in unison. She varies in her wants and needs from cycle to cycle on this count. Sometimes, she likes them helping her out, even if cleanup is messy. Sometimes, she doesn't want anything at all. Usually, like today, her own fingers are the best at quelling the arousal, bringing some blissful relief. Xaden and Liam don't shy away from her at this time of the month, just as they promised, but neither do they make a big deal about it, easily going along with her choices.
Backing herself up against the headboard, Violet strips off her corset and uniform pants, tossing the water bottle with them to the floor, settling in with only her panties on. Liam has taken the opportunity to rise and get undressed as well. Xaden is still on the bed, and he rolls towards her, kissing a line up her stomach and nuzzling against her breasts, teasing a sensitive nipple with the tip of his tongue. He is infinitely careful on her sore peak, and Violet gasps in pleasure.
"Gods, that feels good," she moans. He chuckles warmly against her skin.
"You excited to watch?" Xaden asks, looking up at her with his dark eyes, a glimmer of humor in them, as if he knows perfectly well how interested she is in getting to see him be the receiving party this time around.
"Yes," Violet breathes, but is uncertain how far to push. Xaden seems relaxed, comfortable with what's about to occur, but she can guess that for him it's still a vulnerable situation. He's rarely on completely equal footing with them in bed, always somehow in control. She doesn't doubt that will be the case today as well, but she doesn't want to make him uncomfortable.
"Watch his face as he slides into me," Xaden suggests, a wicked smile on his face, his voice low and gruff in anticipation. "The way he moans when he fucks me... Gods, Violet, I love listening to you both when you're in the throes of pleasure. Will you add your little whines and gasps to his?"
"Yes," Violet breathes, immediately drawn in by the dark, pleased note in his voice. "I will, if you want me to."
"Good girl," he murmurs, pressing one more gentle kiss to her breast as he moves to grab the lubricant from the bedside table.
"Are you going to do it, baby, or am I?" Xaden aims at Liam, his tone challenging – but not in that dark way he often utilizes in bed – and holds up the bottle.
"I'll do it," Liam replies eagerly, a warm smile on his face, snatching it as Xaden lies down on his side, facing Violet. Liam's already slicking up his fingers, and Xaden tugs lazily on his own cock, watching Violet with half-lidded eyes.
"Come kiss me while he preps me, Violence," he requests, and she turns to face him, rolling onto her left side and closer so she can meet him in a slow, hot, kiss. Xaden moans into her mouth as Liam slides a finger inside him, parting for a moment to instruct Liam, "A bit harder, love, don't be so gentle," and then returns to Violet's mouth.
Violet has always loved seeing them together, and this is no exception. Her right hand creeps steadily down her own stomach, down into her panties, and Xaden chuckles warmly when he notices, his breath hitching on a small gasp as Liam moves his fingers. Liam doesn’t ask if Xaden’s alright, doesn’t check in the way Violet is used to Xaden checking in on Liam. She wonders if that is because Liam knows Xaden doesn’t want to answer those kinds of questions, or if they’ve simply done this enough times that Liam knows exactly what Xaden likes.
Something must show on her face, contemplation or curiosity.
“Don’t worry, baby, Liam knows I’ll tell him what I want him to do,” Xaden soothes Violet in a whisper, and she wonders for a second if her glass face is always going to give away her thoughts to him. “Besides, he’s always way too careful.”
That last part is said louder, and Liam rolls his eyes fondly behind Xaden, winking at Violet as he clearly takes the instruction.
“Liam does take good care of us,” Violet whispers back, continuing their intimate discussion as if there was no interruption.
“Mhm, sweet girl,” Xaden agrees, and fuck if that low, rich tone curling around the nickname – one in stark contrast to his other favourite for her, Violence – doesn’t do things to her. She likes being both sweet and violent for him, for them. “Liam hasn’t taken your ass, yet, has he?”
That startles a moan out of Violet. Xaden’s lips curve into a sinful smile, his voice dropping even lower, and Violet can’t help but touch herself. “He is going to,” Xaden promises darkly, and shit, his words are so filthy. “And then you’ll know how good it is to have his long, careful fingers prepping you before he slides in. He likes taking me slow, or lets me set the rhythm, but I bet he’d take you hard if you wanted him to. Or if I wanted him to.”
“Fuck, Xaden–” Liam groans behind Xaden. “You can’t say things like that when I’m trying to stop myself from coming the second I’m inside you.”
Xaden smirks at Violet, a co-conspirator, and she aims a wicked one at Liam in turn.
“Have you told him how it feels to fuck my ass?” she asks Xaden casually, and his hips stutter a bit at whatever Liam is doing, but it doesn’t distract him from their teasing. “Told him how you opened me up?”
“No,” Xaden smirks, “but maybe I should. Maybe I should tell him how tight you were around me, how you squealed when I pushed in. How you looked with your ass in the air, taking my thrusts so well– Fuck, Liam!”
Xaden’s body jerks, and Liam smiles behind him like the cat that got the cream. “There we go,” he says, payback and amusement in his tone, and continues hitting whatever spot he’s aiming for. Xaden breathes through it, his beautiful mouth slightly open and slack with pleasure as Liam continues opening him up. “Think you can tease me like that for free, Xaden?” Liam inquires mildly. “Think again.”
Xaden’s eyes open, and the look he sends Violet is clear: your move.
Violet drags her finger against the side of her clit, lets out the moan that rises, and perhaps exaggerates it a bit, because she can’t help herself. This is soft, and hot, and loving, and fun. Liam’s eyes flash to hers, running down her body to the hand working inside her panties, and she knows she has his attention. Time to go for the kill, Violet thinks, and smiles innocently at him, rolling more onto her back so her left hand is free to stretch up and past Xaden’s head. Liam kisses the fingers she splays out in invitation.
“Oh, he felt so good, Liam,” she says, shoots him a considering look. “But you would know. You know how big he feels, how his cock just forces you open and wide, how he drives in like he owns you…” She takes a steadying breath, her pleasure rising both from the teasing, the view they’re providing her with, and her own fingers. “Fuck, Liam, I want to know what you feel like in my ass. Do you fuck it like you fuck my–”
Liam bites down on the fingers she has trailing his mouth, not enough to hurt, but enough to silence her.
“Don’t think you should challenge me, either, Violet,” he says, something foreboding and dark sneaking into his tone. “I’m just as capable as Xaden at pinning you down and taking you however I like. Maybe he’ll tan your ass red, before I take it? That would be a sight.”
Shit, now the tables have turned.
Xaden laughs. “My violent bedmates,” he says. “How much I’ll enjoy making that reality sometime, Violet.” Violet closes her eyes, blushes at the image they’re painting. Xaden, bending her over and landing those large, powerful hands on her in stinging swats. Liam, forcing her down onto the bed, opening her up and pressing in, fucking her– “Oh, look at her, Liam,” Xaden says lazily. “Look at how much she enjoys the thought.”
“You’re both terrible,” Violet informs them haughtily, and they laugh, abandoning the teasing as Liam starts going at Xaden in earnest, opening him up properly, Xaden’s hand shooting out to grip Violet’s thigh. His hand splays possessively over her skin as Liam pulls back, slicks himself up. Violet is almost holding her breath, her pleasure spiralling higher as she watches and touches herself.
“Come on, Liam,” Xaden beckons softly, and Liam wraps an arm around Xaden’s waist as his hips roll forward. Violet can’t see from here, but she can read the signs in their bodies as Liam enters, as Xaden smiles a private, inward smile in satisfaction.
"Xay," Liam says, his tone awestruck and his mouth open in pleasure as he moans, thrusts slowly deeper into Xaden. Just like Xaden said, his face is a picture of bliss. It’s sending tingles down Violet’s spine, to watch Liam enjoy himself.
"Mhm, that feels good, baby," Xaden murmurs, and Violet moves, traces the fingers of her left hand over Xaden's cheekbone, watches his eyelids flutter as Liam's hips still, buried as deep as he can go. "You're not going to last long, are you?"
It's a gentle, loving tease.
"No," Liam sighs happily, the hand around Xaden's midsection tightening, leverage for Liam's slow thrust as he starts moving. Xaden gasps quietly, his face calm and tender as he leans into Violet's hand.
"Xaden, can I–" Liam's breath catches on the next thrust in, still slow and precise. A smooth glide in and out.
"Yes," Xaden groans, and his hand that is closest to the mattress is already shifting, grabbing his own cock. Violet makes tighter circles around her clit at the sight, unable to keep from gasping.
“Fuck,” Liam moans, followed by more inarticulate noises. Xaden’s left hand falls back from Violet’s thigh to Liam’s hip, guiding him into a faster pace. It’s so sexy, the way Liam is enjoying being inside Xaden, the way Xaden moves with him, the way they intertwine, pale and tawny hands slipping over each other’s skin for purchase. Liam’s hand rises in response to rest over Xaden’s heart, and Violet feels the urge to move her smaller one there, too. Liam cranes his neck, meets her eyes, and his large hand traps hers underneath, against Xaden’s beating heart.
It’s frightfully intimate, and Xaden’s eyes fly open on a groan – when had they slipped closed? – as he in turn meets Violet’s stare with intensity.
“You are so precious to me,” Xaden says, his voice low and even despite the way Liam is increasing the power of his strokes into Xaden, the way their hips move and fuck Xaden’s cock into his own fist. “Both of you.”
From Xaden, that’s almost a declaration of love, Violet understands with dawning wonder. It’s not the words, not yet, but they’re not far behind. He’s letting himself love her like he loves Liam, is placing them on the same, equal ground.
She can’t stop the gasps from spilling from her lips anymore. Her finger works furiously in her panties, bringing her closer to the edge as Liam pants against the back of Xaden’s neck, moans into the rebellion relic there as his thrusts turn more frantic. Xaden chuckles, low and breathless, and looks so damned pleased. That’s a true, satisfied smirk on his face now. She wants to wipe it off him, a violent urge to make him lose some of that control he maintains even when they’re clearly making love, not fucking.
“You’re so close, Vi,” he says, voice rough with lust. “Gods, the two of you. Your little noises haunt my dreams.”
“This is going to haunt my dreams,” Violet shoots back. “Liam fucking you,” and she’s so breathless she has to stick to short sentences. “And you watching me.” She moans then. “The two of you together– so beautiful.”
“Knew you’d enjoy it,” Xaden smiles, his face giving no signs to his approaching end, but the pace he’s setting on his cock is a dead giveaway. “Let go, baby,” he murmurs to Liam over his shoulder. “I can feel that you want to.”
“Xaden–” Liam groans, and Violet thinks he comes, but she can’t be sure, because her eyes are slipping closed, the mental image of the two of them hovering behind her eyelids as her body seizes up, so close to the end.
“Sweet girl,” Xaden’s lilting voice fills her ears, the filthy sound of his hand getting himself off loud amidst their laboured breathing. “Your turn.” As if he’s only waiting for her before he lets himself go.
Violet shatters.
She remains present enough to hear Liam’s quiet encouragements to Xaden, to hear you fucking– Xaden, want you to feel so good– and Xaden’s groan as his self-control finally slips.
Violet moves first this time, a rarity. She leans over and kisses both of them softly on the foreheads, smiling at the way they’re all entangled now, limp and sweaty and gorgeous. Sated and calm. She hands them some rags to clean up with – a staple in her room at this point – and wipes her fingers carefully. It’s not enough, and she gets redressed into her corset and pants quickly, sheathing a few daggers before heading to the washroom to clean up for the night.
Liam and Xaden are still in place when she returns, and she takes the pain tonic on her bedside table, undresses, and cuddles up to them. Xaden’s arms are warm and strong, his heartbeat now steady. She knows he’ll leave under the cover of darkness – he rarely sleeps well and he’s got an early morning meeting that he refuses to let disturb Liam and Violet’s rest – but for now, he’s here. Liam will remain through the night, she suspects.
“Comfortable?” Xaden asks her, and she nods. His arms tighten.
“Took the edge off the pain until the tonic kicks in,” Violet mutters, and tucks her sore knee close to him, resting it on a warm, naked thigh. She’ll need to rewrap it in the morning.
“Good,” Liam hums behind Xaden. “And you, Xaden? Was that what you needed?”
Xaden is quiet for a moment. Liam nudges his nose into Xaden’s shoulder, as if reminding him that it’s alright to not be alright when it’s just the three of them. Violet wonders if this is perhaps the most vulnerable she’s ever seen Xaden – even more than when he and Liam were spilling secrets to her.
“Yes,” Xaden says finally, and his voice isn’t quiet. It’s level, certain. “Though all I really needed was the two of you, though the sex was a nice bonus.” There’s some humor in his voice. Liam lets out an amused huff, the hand he has on Xaden’s hip nudging Xaden playfully, accidentally getting Violet as well. She giggles, then hides her smile in Xaden’s chest.
“I’m serious, Xaden,” Liam says, and her giggles taper off. “You are ruthless, and you are strong, and we all know you need to be in control at all times, for your own sake. But the mask you show the world, the Quadrant? We don’t need that bullshit. Yes, it’s a fucking turn on to watch you eviscerate any enemies, anyone who looks at you or us wrong, but it’s a gift to be allowed to see beyond that. And you like giving us gifts.”
Well, Violet thinks, that is certainly true.
“You’ve made your point, Liam,” Xaden snarks, but he sounds fond when he continues. “I’ll try to do better for you.”
Violet nods, and chimes in lightly, “And if you don’t, we’ll bully you until you do.”
“Damn right,” Liam answers.
Violet feels Xaden shake his head above her, probably in exasperation, but his hand comes up to cradle the back of her neck and she can feel him press back into Liam’s body.
“Menaces, the two of you,” Xaden mutters.