Be nice...you had mentioned all night.

Be nice...you had mentioned all night.
Amara’s POV

The ride back to the house was… tense.

Caden’s fingers were still laced with mine in the front seat, his touch warm, grounding—but his jaw was tight. His golden eyes kept flicking to the rearview mirror, where Jaxon sat sprawled in the back, watching me with that infuriating, unreadable smirk.

The air in the car felt thick with everything unsaid.

I leaned my head against the window, trying to steady my heart. I could still feel the ghost of Ryder’s lips… and Caden’s. And the way Jaxon had looked at me before we left—like he was next.

This bond between the four of us—it wasn’t just complicated. It was dangerous.

“Amara,” Caden said suddenly, his voice low.

I turned to him. “Yeah?”

His gaze softened just slightly. “You okay?”

I nodded, but it was shaky. “I just… it’s a lot.”

He brought our joined hands to his lips, kissing my knuckles. “I get it. But we’re not going anywhere. Not Ryder. Not Jaxon. Not me.”

I glanced in the mirror, locking eyes with Jaxon. He tilted his head, his smirk dimming into something real—something that made my stomach flip.

When we got home, the moment the front door shut behind us, Jaxon cornered me.

“I’ve been patient,” he said, voice low and rough. “I’ve watched Ryder kiss you. Caden touch you. And I haven’t said a damn thing.”

I backed up until my shoulders hit the wall, heart pounding. “Jaxon—”

He stepped closer, crowding into my space, one hand bracing beside my head. His breath ghosted over my cheek. “But if I don’t kiss you right now, I swear I’ll lose my mind.”

I stared up at him, breath caught in my throat.

“Then do it,” I whispered.

And gods—he did.

His mouth crashed onto mine, fierce and hungry, like he had been holding it back for far too long. There was nothing gentle about Jaxon’s kiss—it was fire, frustration, and pure want wrapped in a growl.

I moaned into him, my hands fisting his shirt as he deepened it, his hand tangling in my hair. He kissed me like I was already his—like he didn’t care who else touched me, because in the end, I belonged to him too.

When he finally pulled back, his eyes were wild, his lips swollen.

“You’re mine too, Amara,” he rasped. “Don’t forget that.”

I didn’t trust myself to speak.

Because in that moment—I knew he was right.

I was theirs. All of them.

And somehow… I didn’t want to be anyone else’s.

I didn’t know how I made it to my room without collapsing.

My legs were shaky, my breath still uneven, and my heart?

It felt like it had splintered into three perfect, maddening pieces—each one belonging to them.

Jaxon’s kiss had left me reeling.

He hadn’t just kissed me. He’d claimed me—without permission, without hesitation, without fear. The taste of him still lingered on my lips, dark and wild and addictive. And I hated that part of me… wanted more.

The problem was… I felt the same when Ryder kissed me.

And when Caden touched me, I melted.

It wasn’t fair.

There was a soft knock on my door.

I knew who it was even before I opened it.

Ryder.

His storm-gray eyes were shadowed, tense. He looked like he was barely holding himself together.

“Can I come in?” he asked.

I nodded, stepping aside.

He didn’t say anything right away. Just paced. His fingers flexed and uncurled at his sides like he was waging a war inside his own head.

Then he stopped. Turned to face me.

“You kissed them,” he said, voice low.

I swallowed. “Yes.”

He gave a small nod, like he already knew. Like he just needed to hear it.

“I know you’re all mine,” he said. “But it doesn’t stop me from wanting you to be only mine.”

I stepped toward him. “Ryder—”

“I know I can’t demand that,” he cut in, softer now. “I know it doesn’t work that way. But when I saw Jaxon kiss you… and when I saw you with Caden…” He shook his head, eyes darkening. “I’ve never felt rage like that. Or jealousy. Or fear.”

That last word cracked something open inside me.

“Fear?” I asked.

He nodded. “That you’ll pick them. That you’ll give them parts of you I’ll never get to see.”

I stepped into his space, placing a hand against his chest. “You already have parts of me no one else does, Ryder.”

His breath hitched.

I rose to my toes, pressing my lips to his—soft, slow, reassuring. Not a claim. Not desperation. But a promise.

And Ryder—he kissed me back like he believed it. Like he needed it. His arms wrapped around me, pulling me into him, holding me like he was terrified of letting go.

We didn’t speak.

We didn’t need to.

That night, I slept curled in Ryder’s arms, my heart still aching with confusion… but wrapped in warmth and the haunting realization—

That I didn’t want to choose.

And deep down… I didn’t think I ever could.

I woke up wrapped in warmth. Ryder’s arms were snug around my waist, his face buried in the crook of my neck, his breath steady and slow against my skin.

For a moment, I just lay there, listening to the soft rhythm of his breathing, my fingers brushing over the scars on his arm—the ones he never talked about, but always seemed to carry like armor.

He looked so at peace. So unguarded.

I should’ve let him sleep.

But I shifted slightly, and his grip tightened instinctively, pulling me back against his chest.

“Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” he murmured, voice still rough with sleep.

I smiled softly, eyes closed. “School, remember?”

“Mmm. Screw school.” His lips pressed to my shoulder, sending little sparks through me. “Stay. Just a little longer.”

“Ryder…”

“Ten minutes.” He nuzzled into my neck. “Just ten.”

I laughed quietly, and it felt… easy. Light. Like we hadn’t been through all the pain and confusion lately. Like, in that small moment, the world outside didn’t exist.

Then I felt it—his hand sliding up my side, fingers brushing beneath the hem of my shirt. His lips trailed to my jaw, slow, deliberate.

“You keep touching me like that,” I whispered, “and we’re going to be late.”

He smirked, eyes still closed. “I’m okay with that.”

But a knock at the door ruined everything.

“Amara?” Jaxon’s voice. “You up? I made your favorite smoothie, and I swear Caden is trying to sabotage it with kale again—”

Ryder groaned and buried his face in the pillow. “Tell him if he comes in here, I’m knocking his perfect teeth out.”

I giggled and slid out of bed, tugging on my hoodie. “Be nice,” I teased. “You had me all night.”

Ryder watched me from beneath tousled hair, eyes dark. “And I’d have you every night if I could.”

My heart stuttered.

I didn’t reply. I just kissed his forehead, turned, and opened the door.

Jaxon stood there, smoothie in hand, eyes flickering between me and the rumpled bed behind me. His brow arched slightly.

“Good morning, sunshine,” he drawled.

I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth tugged into a smile. “You’re the worst.”

“Yet somehow still your favorite,” he shot back, handing me the smoothie.

Caden appeared behind him a second later, holding my bag, golden eyes unreadable. He said nothing—but the way his gaze lingered on me spoke volumes.

Three mates.

Three hearts.

One girl trying not to fall apart while falling for all of them.

And gods help me… I wanted every piece.