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The real struggle of writing smut is getting so turned on yourself you have to take breaks 🥴

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She's Theirs: Lust for Life

Title: Lust for Life

Summary:  Jake and Bradley make one of Nick's fantasies come true.

Word Count:  7,247

Warnings: Sex, p in v, double penetration, fingering, praise kink, sir kink, gag, mentions of cock warming role playing, oral f! receiving

Tags: Smut

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter 12. I decided since Nick had revealed some of her fantasies to Bradley and Jake that it was time one of them became reality.

Jake adjusted his naval top, pacing the living room. Bradley leaned back on the couch, arms crossed, smirking at Jake’s impatience.

“Nick, what’s taking so long?” Jake called out, his voice sharp but playful.

“Just one more second!” came her reply from the bedroom, muffled but teasing.

When the door finally swung open, Nick stepped out, her costume-store naval uniform fitting her perfectly. The crisp white fabric hugged her figure, the gold buttons gleaming under the light. She struck a playful pose, her grin wide and mischievous.

Jake froze mid-step, his jaw slack. Bradley sat up straighter, his smirk replaced by wide-eyed admiration.

“Whoa,” Jake managed, his voice barely above a whisper. “You look... incredible.”

Bradley let out a low whistle. “Nick, you didn’t just dress up—you nailed it. This is... wow.”

Nick laughed, her cheeks flushing. “Figured I’d join the ranks. Thought it’d make sex in the flight simulator more fun.”

Jake’s grin returned, his eyes sparkling. “Fun? You just made this fantasy a million times better.”

Bradley nodded, his gaze never leaving her. “When you mentioned dressing up I thought you meant just Jake and I.”

"What, and miss out on all the fun?" Nick twirled, the khaki fabric swishing around her thighs. "Besides, I've spent my entire life fighting against my father's legacy. Might as well try it on for a night."

Jake moved closer, his fingers reaching out to trace the gold buttons trailing down her chest. "Captain Mitchell's daughter in uniform. There's something deliciously wrong about this."

"That's kind of the point," Nick replied, catching his hand and guiding it lower. "The whole forbidden thing really does it for me. Besides, I grew up with these. Dad's closet was full of them."

Jake's eyes widened. "Wait, is that—"

"God, no," Nick laughed, reaching them. "Captain Mitchell would have a stroke if I borrowed one of his. This is from a costume shop in San Diego. The owner thought I was prepping for a Naval-themed bachelorette party."

Bradley stood, crossing the room with measured steps, his eyes dark with desire. "You know this isn't regulation," he said, tugging at the hem of her skirt, which was significantly shorter than any official uniform would allow.

"Court-martial me," she whispered, leaning into him.

Jake circled behind her, his breath hot against her neck. “Save that for flight the simulator Darlin'.”

Nick leaned into Bradley's touch, her smile turning wicked as she felt Jake press against her from behind. The sensation of being caught between them sent a delicious shiver down her spine.

"I think I'm outranked here," she murmured, tilting her head to allow Jake better access to her neck. "Two lieutenants against one civilian playing dress-up."

"Playing?" Jake's lips brushed her ear as his hands found her hips. "There's nothing playful about how good you look in that uniform, Mitchell."

Bradley's fingers traced the dark buttons of her shirt, his touch feather-light. "This is definitely a court-martial offense. Impersonating an officer..."

"What's the punishment?" Nick asked, her voice dropping to a husky whisper.

"Depends on the offense," Bradley replied, undoing the top button with careful precision so they could see more of her breasts. "And how...cooperative the offender is willing to be," Bradley finished, his voice dropping an octave as he undid another button.

Nick's breath hitched as Jake's hands slid from her hips to her waist, pulling her firmly against him. "I can be very cooperative," she whispered, "or not. Depending on what you're into tonight."

Jake chuckled against her neck, the vibration sending goosebumps across her skin. "I think we should start with an inspection. Make sure that uniform is up to code."

"It's definitely not," Nick replied, turning slightly to catch Jake's gaze. "The skirt's way too short, for starters."

"That's not a violation," Bradley said, his fingers continuing their slow descent down the row of buttons. "That's an improvement."

She giggled. “If we keep this up we'll never make it to the cockpit simulator. And if I remember correctly you both promised me you'd have sex with me in it. You know, so you could fulfill my teenage fantasy of having sex in a fighter jet?”

Jake's eyes darkened with desire as his hands tightened around her waist. "We never break a promise, do we, Bradley?"

"Never," Bradley confirmed.

“Then what are we waiting for boys?” She said as she re-buuttoned her dress top. “You can thoroughly inspect me when we get there.”

The flight simulator building was dark, illuminated only by the glow of emergency exit signs and the faint blue lights from equipment on standby. Nick led the way, keycard in hand, her brown uniform barely showing in the dim hallway.

"Remind me again how you got access to this place after hours?" Jake whispered, his hand possessively resting on the small of her back. He assumed he or Bradley would take care of it.

Nick flashed him a wicked smile over her shoulder. "I'm an aerospace engineer and sometimes I'm asked to look at other equipment on the base, this being one of them. So I have a legitimate reason to be here."

"There's nothing legitimate about what we're planning to do," Bradley murmured, his eyes darting to check each corridor before they proceeded.

"That's what makes it exciting," Nick replied, stopping at a heavy metal door marked 'Authorized Personnel Only.' She swiped her card and punched in a code. The door unlocked within seconds.

"Dad would kill me if he knew I was using my clearance for this," Nick whispered as the door slid open with a soft hiss. The simulator room was dimly lit, the massive cockpit replica dominating the center—a perfect reproduction of an F/A-18F Super Hornet, its metal shell gleaming under the ambient blue lights.

"What Captain Mitchell doesn't know won't hurt him," Jake said, his voice husky with anticipation. He ran his hand along the curved metal of the simulator. "Or us."

Bradley checked the door locks behind them, his movements precise. "We have two hours before the night security makes their rounds. Should be plenty of time."

Nick walked across the floor toward the simulator, her black heels clacking as she went."I've dreamed about this since I was seventeen," she confessed, trailing her fingers along the edge of the cockpit. "Being in here with a hot pilot."

"Just one?" Jake teased, coming up behind her and placing his hands on her hips. "Because now you're getting two."

"Well, the fantasy was a bit vague on the details back then," Nick replied with a smirk. "But reality has definitely improved upon it."

Bradley approached the simulator, examining it with appreciation. "This is the newest model. Dual cockpit, full motion capabilities." His eyes met Nick's, dark with promise. "Plenty of room for... creative positioning."

Nick smiled as she watched him eye the fighter jet. “So…since I'm a civilian and you two clearly out rank me, I think you'll both need to properly inspect me. Make sure I'm up to code and Navy standards.”

"Inspection first, then flight," Jake agreed, his voice dropping to a commanding tone that sent a delicious tremor through Nick's body. "Hands on the simulator, legs apart."

Nick complied, placing her palms flat against the cool metal of the cockpit, spreading her feet shoulder-width apart. The position made her short uniform skirt ride up even higher on her thighs, exactly as she'd intended.

Bradley moved behind her, his breath warm against her ear. "Stay still during inspection, Mitchell. Any movement will result in... disciplinary action."

"Yes, sir," she whispered, the formality sending a thrill through her that she had anticipated.

Jake circled around, eyeing her with predatory focus. "Uniform inspection begins now." His fingers traced the dark buttons of her Navy service shirt, deliberately lingering at each one. "Already found a violation. These buttons should be polished to a higher shine." His voice was low, authoritative.

"I'll have to remember that for next time," Nick breathed, fighting to stay still as Jake's fingers worked their way down to the hem of her skirt.

"Next violation," Bradley said, his hands sliding up her calves, "this skirt is approximately six inches shorter than regulation." His fingers continued their upward path, tracing the backs of her thighs. "Severe infraction."

Nick bit her lip, suppressing a moan. "What's the punishment for that, Lieutenant?"

Jake leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. "We'll get to that. Inspection isn't complete."

Bradley's hands reached the edge of her skirt, his touch teasing along the hemline. "I need to check if your undergarments are regulation as well."

"I highly doubt they are," Nick replied, knowing full well he'd find nothing when he checked under her skirt.

Bradley's breath caught as his fingers discovered what Nick already knew—she wasn't wearing anything under the short skirt. His hands stilled momentarily against her bare skin.

"Severe uniform violation detected," he said, voice rough with desire. "Lieutenant Seresin, please verify."

Jake's eyebrows shot up, his lips curving into another wolfish grin as he moved behind her. His fingers joined Bradley's, skimming along the curve of her ass.

"Confirmed," Jake said, his voice dropping to a growl. "No regulation undergarments whatsoever."

Nick shivered at their touch, still maintaining her position against the simulator. "I must have forgotten them," she said innocently, glancing over her shoulder with a smirk.

"Forgotten?" Jake's hand delivered a light, stinging slap to her exposed backside. "Or deliberately disobeyed protocol?”

Nick gasped at the sting of Jake's hand, her body arching instinctively.

"I think we have our answer," Bradley said, his voice thick with arousal as he watched her reaction. "Deliberate insubordination requires immediate correction."

"What's the protocol for that, Lieutenant Bradshaw?" Jake asked, his fingers tracing the pink mark he'd left on her skin.

Bradley moved closer, his chest pressing against Nick's back as he leaned in. "First, a thorough inspection must be completed. Then appropriate disciplinary measures can be determined."

Nick's heart raced, her breathing shallow as Bradley's hands slid around to unbutton her uniform top. Each button released sent a thrill of anticipation through her body. "Can you tell me what this thorough inspection entails sir?”

Jake's eyes darkened as he watched Bradley slowly expose Nick's skin, one button at a time. "It means we check every inch of you, Mitchell. Make sure you're... flight-worthy."

Bradley finished with the buttons, pushing the uniform top open to reveal Nick's bare breasts underneath. "Another uniform violation," he murmured, his hands cupping her breasts, thumbs brushing over her hardened nipples.

"I'm beginning to think you have no intention of following any regulations whatsoever," Jake said, his hand sliding beneath her skirt again, exploring higher this time.

Nick's breath hitched as she felt Jake's fingers trace the curve of her ass, dipping lower. "Maybe I just wanted to see what happens to bad officers," she whispered.

"You're not an officer," Bradley reminded her, his lips finding her neck. "You're a civilian in a costume who's in a lot of trouble."

"I'm definitely feeling the trouble part," Nick breathed, arching her back as Bradley's lips traced a path down her neck.

Jake's fingers continued their exploration, his touch becoming more deliberate as he found her wetness. "Flight suits are designed to handle moisture," he murmured against her ear, "but I don't think this is what the engineers had in mind."

Nick bit her lip to stifle a moan as Jake's fingers circled her clit with precise, teasing strokes. "Are you calling me wet, Lieutenant?"

"I'm calling you soaked," Jake corrected, sliding one finger inside her while maintaining the pressure with his thumb. "And completely unprepared for flight conditions."

Bradley's hands moved from her breasts to push the uniform top off her shoulders, leaving it hanging open. His fingers traced the curve of her spine, applying just enough pressure to make her arch further into Jake.

She let out a soft moan as Jake added a second finger, her hips instinctively rocking against his hand.

"Steady," Bradley whispered, his grip tightening on her hips. "You haven't been cleared for movement yet."

She stilled with effort, her breathing ragged. "Sorry, sir. It won't happen again."

"See that it doesn't," Jake said, withdrawing his fingers slowly, making her whimper at the loss. "I think it's time we moved this inspection into the cockpit, don't you, Lieutenant Bradshaw?"

Bradley nodded, his eyes dark with desire. "Definitely. I need to assess her flight posture."

Nick felt a rush of anticipation as Jake let the latter down. She climbed up and automatically noticed how the interior gleamed with switches, screens, and dual flight controls. It was smaller than an actual fighter jet cockpit, but still roomy enough for three people once you took out the dividing panel between the front and back seat.

Nick felt Jake's strong hands on her waist, guiding her into the cockpit. The simulator interior was compact but, with the center panel removed, provided just enough space for their intentions. The control panels glowed with soft blue light, casting intimate shadows across their faces.

"Front or back seat, Mitchell?" Jake asked, his voice husky with anticipation.

"Front," she replied, eyes gleaming. "I want the full view."

Bradley moved with practiced efficiency, adjusting settings on the external console. The simulator hummed to life around them, screens illuminating with standby patterns.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked, watching Bradley's fingers dance across the buttons.

"Setting the mood," he replied with a sly smile. "Low-level vibration sequence. Makes it feel like we're idling on the runway."

As if on cue, the simulator began to tremble subtly beneath them, a gentle vibration that Nick could feel resonating through the metal frame and into her body. She settled into the front seat, the cool leather against her bare skin sending a shiver up her spine.

"This is even better than I imagined," she breathed, running her hands over the control panel.

Jake climbed in behind her, positioning himself so she sat between his legs, her back against his chest. His hands slid around her waist, pulling her firmly against him. "You know," he murmured against her ear, "in actual flight training, the instructor sits back here. Has full control capabilities." His fingers traced up her ribs to cup her breasts. "Can override the pilot at any time."

Bradley joined them last, somehow managing to fold his tall frame into the limited space. He knelt before her, between her spread legs, his shoulders pressing against the illuminated panels on either side.

"How long have you been planning this?" Nick asked, her voice catching as Jake's fingers teased her nipples into hard peaks.

"Since you mentioned your fantasy," Bradley answered, his hands sliding up her thighs, pushing her skirt higher. "But the details... we improvised those."

The simulator's gentle vibration seemed to intensify as Jake's mouth found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. Nick moaned, her head falling back against his shoulder, giving him better access.

"Permission to proceed with the oral examination, Lieutenant Seresin?" Bradley asked, his eyes locked on Nick's as his thumbs traced tantalizing circles on her inner thighs.

"Permission granted, Lieutenant Bradshaw," Jake replied, his voice commanding despite its breathiness. "Thoroughly test all systems."

Nick's laughter dissolved into a sharp gasp as Bradley's mouth made contact with her slick heat. Her hands instinctively flew to the controls, gripping the yoke as if it might anchor her to reality.

"Easy there, Mitchell," Jake murmured against her neck, his hands still cupping her breasts. "You'll crash us before we even take off."

Bradley's tongue traced deliberate patterns against her, starting with slow, exploratory strokes that quickly built into more focused attention. The simulator's gentle vibration underneath only amplified every sensation, making Nick's thighs tremble on either side of Bradley's head.

"Oh my god," she breathed, her back arching. Jake took advantage of her position to pinch her nipples between his fingers, the slight pain mixing with pleasure in a way that made her cry out.

"Quiet, Mitchell," Jake commanded, his voice low and husky. “Or we will have to make you be quite.”

Nick bit her lip, trying to stifle her moans as Bradley's tongue worked magic between her thighs. The simulator's subtle vibrations combined with his skilled mouth were quickly pushing her toward the edge.

"I don't think I can stay quiet," she gasped, her hips beginning to rock against Bradley's face. "Not with what he's doing to me."

Jake's hand moved from her breast to her throat, applying just enough pressure to tilt her head back against his shoulder. "Then I guess we'll have to help you," he murmured, his lips brushing her ear. His other hand reached for something in his pocket.

Bradley looked up, his mouth still working against her, eyes dark with desire as Jake pulled out a small black tie from his pocket.

"Open," Jake commanded softly against her ear.

Nick parted her lips, her body trembling as Bradley's tongue continued its relentless assault on her senses. Jake slipped the tie between her teeth, tying it firmly behind her head.

"Now you can make all the noise you want," Jake murmured, his hand returning to her breast. "No one will hear you."

The makeshift gag transformed her moans into muffled whimpers as Bradley increased his pace, his tongue circling her clit with precision while his fingers teased her entrance. The simulator's vibrations seemed to intensify, or perhaps it was just her heightened awareness of every sensation.

Jake's hands returned to her breasts, rolling her nipples between his fingers as he rocked his hips against her back, letting her feel his hardness through his uniform pants.

The gag in her mouth amplified every feeling, compelling Nick to convey her pleasure through her body instead of her voice.

"You should see yourself," Jake whispered hotly against her ear, his fingers still working her nipples. "Captain Mitchell's proper daughter, gagged and spread open in a flight simulator, being devoured by a Navy pilot while another one watches." His teeth grazed her earlobe. "What would daddy say?"

The taboo of it sent another wave of heat through Nick's body. She arched against Jake's chest, her muffled cries growing more urgent.

"Check her readiness, Lieutenant Bradshaw," Jake ordered, his voice strained with his own desire as he continued to tease her nipples.

Bradley hummed his acknowledgment against her sensitive flesh, making her buck against his mouth. His fingers slid inside her, first one, then two, curling expertly to find the spot that made her eyes roll back. Her muffled cry of pleasure was barely audible over the hum of the simulator.

"All systems responsive, Lieutenant Seresin," Bradley reported, his lips glistening in the blue glow.

Nick moaned, trying to speak through the makeshift gag.

“What is it Darlin'?”

Nick's eyes pleaded above the gag, her body trembling between them as Bradley's fingers continued their skilled exploration. “Mhmm um.”

Jake chuckled low in his throat, his breath hot against her ear. "You want to come, Mitchell? Is that what you're trying to say?"

Nick nodded frantically, her eyes wide and pleading above the gag as Bradley's fingers maintained their rhythm inside her.

"I don't know," Jake mused, his voice teasing even as his grip on her tightened. "What do you think, Lieutenant Bradshaw? Has she earned it?"

Bradley looked up from between her legs, his expression serious despite the desire burning in his eyes. "She's still out of uniform. And impersonating an officer is a serious offense."

Nick made a desperate sound behind her gag, her hips bucking against Bradley's hand as he deliberately slowed his movements.

"True," Jake agreed, his fingers pinching her nipples just hard enough to make her gasp. "Maybe we should make her work for it."

Bradley's fingers slowed to an agonizing pace inside her, his thumb barely grazing her clit—enough to keep her on edge but not enough to push her over. "How do you suggest we do that, Lieutenant?"

Jake's free hand slid down Nick's stomach, joining Bradley's between her legs. "I suggest we test her control capabilities. See how long she can maintain her composure under... extreme conditions."

Nick let out a muffled whimper through the gag as Jake's fingers teased her clit, while Bradley's maintained their relentless rhythm within her. The combination of these sensations, along with the simulator's vibrations, had her quivering on the brink of climax.

"Peease I um ir.” She garbled out.

Jake's fingers paused their teasing circles. "What was that, Darlin’? I couldn't quite understand you."

Nick's desperate eyes locked with his, her chest heaving as Bradley momentarily stilled his fingers inside her.

"I think," Bradley said, looking up at her with heat in his gaze, "she's trying to say 'please let me sir.'"

Jake's wolfish grin returned as he pinched her clit. “Let you what?”

Nick nodded frantically, eyes pleading above the gag as her body trembled with need.

"Let you come?" Jake whispered against her ear, his voice a sensual command. "You need to earn it first."

Bradley withdrew his fingers slowly, making her whimper at the loss. He rose slightly, letting his thumb gently run across the gag. “You look so beautiful like this. And you love it don't you?”

Nick nodded again, her eyes half-lidded with desire as she pressed her face into Bradley's touch. The vibration of the simulator beneath them seemed to intensify, matching the trembling of her body.

Jake's hands slid to her waist, lifting her slightly. "Time to change positions for the next phase of training," he murmured, his voice thick with arousal. "Bradley, take the pilot's seat."

She whined through the tie, disappointed that she wasn't allowed to come.

With practiced efficiency that spoke of the countless times they had sex with Nick, Bradley slid into the front seat while Jake maneuvered Nick to face him. The cockpit's blue glow cast shadows across their faces, highlighting the intensity in their eyes.

"I think it's time we tested your landing capabilities," Jake said, his fingers working at his belt buckle.

Bradley settled into the seat, quickly unzipping his pants. "Bring her here," he commanded, his cock already hard and ready as he freed himself.

Nick nodded eagerly, her excitement visible despite the gag. Jake guided her forward as Bradley positioned himself, his cock standing at attention in the dim blue light of the cockpit.

"Easy now," Bradley murmured as Jake helped lower her onto him. "Nice and slow."

Nick moaned behind the gag as Bradley filled her, the sensation amplified by the simulator's persistent vibration. Her uniform skirt fanned out around her waist as she straddled him, her bare breasts gleaming with a light sheen of sweat in the blue glow of the controls.

"Perfect," Jake whispered, moving behind her. His hands traced down her spine, pushing the open uniform top further down her arms, restricting her movement slightly. "How does she feel, Lieutenant?"

"Tight," Bradley groaned, his hands gripping her hips as she adjusted to his size. "Hot. Perfect."

Nick's eyes rolled back as Bradley filled her completely, her moan muffled against the tie in her mouth. The simulator's gentle tremors sent waves of pleasure through her already sensitized body.

Jake pressed against her back, his chest warm against her spine. His hands slid around to cup her breasts as Bradley began to move beneath her, setting a slow, deliberate rhythm.

"You know what happens in fighter jets, Mitchell?" Jake whispered, his lips brushing her ear. "Double occupancy. Pilot and WSO, working in perfect harmony."

Bradley's hands tightened on her hips, guiding her movements as Jake reached between them. She felt something cool and slick against her most intimate place – Jake had somehow produced a small bottle of lube.

"Breathe," Jake instructed as his finger circled her entrance. "Just like we practiced at home."

Nick nodded, relaxing into the dual sensation as Jake's lubricated finger pressed slowly inside her. The fullness of Bradley beneath her combined with Jake's careful preparation sent waves of pleasure-pain through her body, making her moan deeply against the gag.

"That's it," Jake praised, working a second finger in alongside the first. "You're doing so well."

Bradley stilled his movements, allowing her to adjust to the new sensation. His hands caressed her thighs as he watched her face carefully, reading her reactions. "You good?" he asked, his voice strained with the effort of remaining still.

Nick nodded frantically, her eyes conveying what her gagged mouth couldn't—more, please more.

Jake scissored his fingers gently, preparing her thoroughly. "Almost ready for takeoff sweetheart," he murmured against her shoulder, placing open-mouthed kisses along her skin.

“Peease I um ir ee um.”

“Did you hear that Bradshaw? Our little civilian wants us to come. Isn't she sweet.”

She groaned, knowing full well Jake knew she was asking to come again. Not asking about them.

Nick's eyes narrowed above the gag, trying to communicate her frustration despite her compromised position. Jake chuckled against her neck, clearly enjoying her predicament.

"I think she's trying to correct you," Bradley observed, his hands stroking her thighs as he remained buried inside her. "But I'm not sure she's in a position to make demands."

Jake withdrew his fingers slowly, making her whimper at the momentary emptiness. She heard the sound of his zipper, then felt the blunt pressure of his cock against her.

"Now," Jake whispered against her ear, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that always made her shiver, "you're going to get exactly what you wanted. Both of us, at once, in a fighter jet. Just like your dirty little fantasy."

He pushed forward slowly, the pressure intense as he breached her. Nick's cry was muffled by tie.

“You like that don't you Darlin'? You like having your pussy completely full and not being able to speak?”

Nick nodded feverishly, her body trembling between them as Jake continued his slow, careful penetration. The sensation of being filled by both men simultaneously was overwhelming—exactly as she'd imagined in her most forbidden fantasies.

"Breathe," Bradley reminded her, his hands caressing her face, thumbs wiping away the tears of pleasure gathering at the corners of her eyes. "You're doing amazing."

Jake paused when he was fully seated, giving her time to adjust to the intense fullness.

The simulator's soft tremors coursed through all three of them, enhancing the experience with an extra dimension of feeling.

"God, you feel incredible," Jake groaned against her shoulder, his hands gripping her hips. "So tight with both of us inside you."

Bradley reached up to brush a strand of hair from her face, his expression tender despite the raw desire in his eyes. "Ready for us to move?"

Nick nodded, her eyes half-lidded with pleasure. The fullness of having both men inside her was overwhelming, stretching her almost to her limit.

"Start the engines," Jake commanded, his voice thick with desire.

Bradley reached over to the control panel, his movements causing him to shift inside her. Nick moaned behind her gag as he pressed a sequence of buttons. The simulator's vibrations intensified, creating a low, pulsing rhythm that reverberated through the metal frame and into their bodies.

"Perfect," Jake murmured, beginning to move with careful, shallow thrusts. "Time for takeoff."

They established a rhythm—Bradley thrusting up as Jake pulled back, then Jake pushing forward as Bradley withdrew—never leaving her empty, always keeping her full. The coordinated movement spoke of their experience together, of knowing exactly how to maximize her pleasure.

Nick's muffled cries grew louder than before. “Mhmm um ir ee um ow.”

Jake's breath was hot against her ear as he increased his pace. "What was that, Darlin’? You want to come for us?"

Nick nodded desperately, her body trembling between them as their synchronized thrusts pushed her closer to the edge.

"I think," Bradley said, his voice strained as he maintained the perfect rhythm, "she does."

Jake's hand slid around to find her clit, circling it with precise pressure that made her body jerk between them. "Is that it? You need to come?"

Nick nodded vigorously, tears of pleasure leaking from the corners of her eyes as the dual penetration and Jake's skilled fingers brought her to the precipice.

"Not yet," Jake commanded, slowing his movements while continuing to tease her clit. "We're still in the ascent phase. You know how dangerous it is to lose control during takeoff."

Nick whimpered against the gag, her body trembling with need as both men maintained their torturous rhythm—enough to keep her on the edge but not enough to push her over.

"Look at her," Bradley murmured, his eyes dark with desire as he gazed up at Nick's flushed face. "She's desperate for it."

"Good things come to those who wait," Jake replied, his fingers still circling her clit with maddening precision. "And we want it to be good for you, don't we, sweetheart?"

Nick nodded, her eyes pleading above the gag as she rocked between them, seeking the release they were denying her. “Es ir.”

Jake chuckled against her shoulder, his teeth grazing her skin. "'yes sir.' Such a good girl when you want something."

Bradley's hands tightened on her hips as their rhythm intensified.

The simulator's movement harmonized with their motions, generating an overwhelming sensation that left Nick teetering on the edge of oblivion.

"I think she's earned it," Bradley said, his voice strained as he looked up at her face contorted with desperate pleasure. "She's been very... cooperative."

"Has she?" Jake's fingers increased their pressure on her clit as he thrust deeper. "I suppose we could grant her request. After all, this is her fantasy."

Nick's muffled pleas grew more urgent as both men picked up their pace, their bodies moving in perfect harmony as they drove her toward the peak she so desperately sought.

Jake's lips brushed her ear, voice dropping to a whisper. "Ready for permission to come, Nick?"

She vigorously nodded.

Hangman admonished her. “I need words or you can't come.”

Nick made a frustrated sound behind the gag, but tried her best to speak. “An I um ir?”

Jake chuckled, his hot breath against her neck sending shivers down her spine. "Close enough." His fingers circled her clit with more purpose now. "Permission granted, sweetheart. Come for us."

As if her body had been waiting for those exact words, Nick's release crashed through her with devastating intensity. Her muffled scream vibrated against the gag as she convulsed between them, her inner muscles clenching rhythmically around both men. The simulator's persistent vibrations extended her orgasm, making her body shake uncontrollably.

Bradley groaned beneath her, his grip on her hips tightening as her climax triggered his own. "Fuck, Nick," he gasped, his hips jerking upward as he spilled inside her.

Jake held out longer, continuing to thrust through her orgasm, prolonging the waves of pleasure until she was whimpering with oversensitive.

“This gag was a good idea huh? You love hearing your muffled sounds as much as we do.”

Nick's body trembled as her muted sounds confirmed Jake's words. Her eyes, wild with pleasure, locked with his as her inner muscles continued to pulse around both men. The vibration of the simulator beneath them seemed to intensify every sensation, drawing out her orgasm until she thought she might break apart completely.

"She's still coming," Bradley observed, his voice strained as he fought to remain still inside her. His hands gripped her thighs, steadying her as aftershocks rippled through her body.

Jake maintained his rhythm, each thrust sending new waves of pleasure-pain through her oversensitive body. "That's it," he murmured against her ear, his voice rough with desire. "Take it all."

Nick's head fell forward against Jake's shoulder, her chest heaving with each breath as she road through her climax. The makeshift gag was soaked with her saliva, her muffled whimpers growing softer as the intensity began to subside.

Jake's movements became more focused, his rhythm faltering as he chased his own release. "Fuck," he groaned, his fingers digging into her hips as he thrust deeper. "Nick..."

With a final, powerful thrust, Jake buried himself completely, his body tensing against her back as his come joined Bradley’s. The sensation of both men coming inside her simultaneously sent another unexpected wave of pleasure through Nick's oversensitive body, making her jerk between them.

For several moments, they remained frozen in their intimate tableau, the only sounds their ragged breathing and the persistent hum of the simulator. Jake was the first to move,

Jake reached up and carefully untied the gag, pulling the damp cloth from Nick's mouth. She gasped as it came free, working her jaw as sensation returned.

"You okay?" he murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple.

"More than okay," Nick managed, her voice rough. "That was... beyond anything I imagined."

Bradley stroked her thigh, his touch soothing rather than arousing now. "You were amazing."

The simulator continued its gentle vibration beneath them, the blue glow of the control panels casting their bodies in ethereal light. Nick felt boneless between them, completely spent yet utterly satisfied.

"So," Jake said, his voice lighter now."how does the reality compare to the fantasy?"

"The fantasy didn't even come close," Nick replied, her voice still breathless. "Reality wins by a mile."

Jake carefully withdrew from her, making her wince slightly at the sudden emptiness. His hands were gentle as he helped her lift off Bradley, settling her between them in the cramped cockpit.

"Sorry," he murmured, noting her discomfort.

"Don't be," she said, leaning back against his chest. "It was worth it. I just hate when you both have to pull out of me. I love it when you fill me up.”

Bradley chuckled softly, tucking himself back into his pants before reaching out to stroke her cheek. "We'll have plenty of opportunities for that later."

“Promise? Because I think that's another fantasy for me. Cock warming.”

Jake's eyes darkened at her words, his hand coming up to brush her hair back. "Cock warming, huh? That's a new one."

"Not entirely new," Nick admitted, a blush spreading across her cheeks despite what they'd just done. "I've been thinking about it for a while. Being filled by one or both of you, just... staying there. No movement, no rush. Just connection."

Bradley's expression softened as he watched her face. "We can definitely explore that."

"Soon," she added, her eyes flickering between them. "Maybe tonight when we get back."

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder. "First, we need to get you cleaned up and out of here before security makes their rounds."

Nick sighed, reluctantly moving to adjust her disheveled uniform. "Right. Back to reality."

"Hey," Bradley said, catching her chin gently. "Reality isn't such a bad place when it includes all three of us, is it?"

Nick smiled, leaning into his touch. "No, it's pretty amazing actually."

Jake helped her button up her uniform top, his fingers lingering on each fastening. "Let's get you presentable, Short Stack. Can't have Captain Maverick's daughter caught looking thoroughly debauched in a multi-million dollar piece of equipment."

Nick laughed, the sound light and carefree in the intimate space of the cockpit. “I can dress myself you know.”

Jake's fingers paused on the buttons of Nick's uniform. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, I'm quite enjoying the reverse striptease."

Nick's laughter filled the cockpit, echoing softly in the enclosed space. The simulator had stopped vibrating, now just a quiet hum of standby systems around them.

"I guess there's something intimate about getting dressed together too," she admitted, watching his hands work their way up her uniform.

Bradley had already climbed out of the simulator and was straightening his own clothes, checking his watch. "We've got about twenty minutes before security makes their round."

"Plenty of time," Jake said, finishing the last button on Nick's uniform. He smoothed his hands over her shoulders, adjusting the fabric. "There. Almost respectable again."

Nick ran her fingers through her tousled hair, attempting to tame it. "Almost being the operative word.”

Jake's lips curved into a satisfied smirk as he watched her attempt to fix her hair. "The thoroughly-fucked look suits you, Mitchell."

"I bet it does," Nick replied, her voice still a little hoarse from her muffled screams. She climbed out of the simulator with Jake's steadying hand on her lower back, her legs slightly unsteady.

Bradley was already at the control panel, erasing all evidence of their presence and putting the dividing panel back in place. "System reset complete. No record of tonight's... flight simulation."

“Good then we can leave and go back to my place. And try that cock warming I mentioned. Unless you both would rather go home?”

Jake grinned, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "And miss trying something new? Not a chance."

Bradley finished wiping down the simulator controls and turned to her, his eyes dark with renewed interest. "Your place it is. I don't think we're done with you yet tonight."

Nick felt a delicious shiver run through her body despite her recent satisfaction. "Good, because I wasn't planning on sleeping much anyway."

Jake's hand found the small of her back as they made their way toward the exit. "You know, for someone who grew up fighting against her father's legacy, you seem pretty comfortable in that uniform."

"It's just a costume," Nick replied, smoothing down the skirt as they walked. "Besides, there's something thrilling about taking something that represents all his rules and structure and using it for something he'd absolutely disapprove of."

Bradley checked the hallway before they stepped out, ensuring the coast was clear. "I think that's the definition of rebellion," he said with a smile, holding the door for them.

Nick's heels clicked softly against the floor as they made their way through the darkened building. "Maybe. But it's more than that. It's about making something my own, you know? Taking control of the narrative."

Jake's arm slipped around her waist as they walked. "Well, you definitely took control tonight. Even with the gag."

They reached the exit, the cool night air a welcome relief against their heated skin as they stepped outside. Stars dotted the clear sky above the base, a reminder of why they all loved flight in the first place.

“I really loved that part. I know I briefly mentioned gags on our beach date but I'm glad you remembered. That little surprise was a huge turn on.”

Jake's smile turned wolfish as they walked toward the parking lot. "Hard to forget anything you say when it comes to what turns you on. We've been planning that little surprise since you mentioned it."

"The way your eyes looked above that gag," Bradley added, his voice dropping lower as they reached Nick's car. "That's an image I won't forget anytime soon."

Nick felt warmth bloom in her cheeks despite everything they'd just done. "I loved not being able to speak. Having to communicate with just my eyes and body."

"We noticed," Jake said, his hand sliding down to squeeze her ass through the short uniform skirt. "You were louder through that gag than you sometimes are without it."

“That's because someone kept trying to make me talk with it in my mouth.” She smiled.

Jake reached the car first, opening the passenger door with a flourish. "I enjoyed every muffled word," he said, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that sent shivers down Nick's spine. "Especially when you were begging."

"I wasn't begging," Nick protested, though her flushed cheeks betrayed her. "I was... requesting permission."

Bradley's laugh was low and warm as he slid into the backseat. "Is that what we're calling it now?"

Nick settled into the passenger seat, her body still humming with residual pleasure. Jake took the driver's seat, adjusting the mirror to catch Bradley's eyes in the reflection.

"So, Nick" Jake said casually as he started the engine, "Since you like gags so much maybe we'll have to pick out something more appropriate then an old tie of mine."

Nick's eyes widened at Jake's suggestion, a fresh wave of anticipation washing over her despite her still-sensitive body.

"Something more appropriate?" she asked, her voice husky as Jake pulled out of the parking lot, the base's security lights casting rhythmic patterns across their faces. "Like what exactly?"

Jake's smile was visible in the dim glow of the dashboard lights, predatory and pleased. "There are options. Proper ball gags, bit gags, ring gags... each with their own... benefits."

Bradley leaned forward from the backseat, his hand coming to rest on the back of Nick's neck, thumb tracing gentle circles that made her shiver. "Ring gags are particularly interesting. They keep your mouth open."

"For accessibility," Jake added, his eyes briefly meeting hers before returning to the road.

Nick swallowed hard, her mind racing with the implications. "I'd like to try them all," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "One at a time, of course."

"Of course," Bradley agreed, his hand still resting on her neck, a warm, possessive weight. "We have plenty of time to explore."

Jake navigated through the darkened streets, the base gradually disappearing behind them. "Starting tonight with cock warming," he reminded her, his voice dropping to that tone that always made her stomach flutter. "That's what you wanted, right?"

"Yes," Nick confirmed, shifting in her seat as anticipation built within her once more. "I want to feel one of you inside me, just... staying there. Connected."

Bradley's fingers trailed up into her hair, gently massaging her scalp. "And the other?"

Nick turned slightly to meet his gaze in the back seat. “I actually wanted to do it with both of you at the same time. But I don't know if it's physically possible to have you both in my vagina for that.”

Jake's eyes flickered to the rearview mirror, meeting Bradley's gaze with interest. "That's... ambitious," he said, his voice husky as he turned down the road toward Nick's apartment.

"Ambitious but not impossible," Bradley replied thoughtfully, his fingers still playing with Nick's hair. "With enough preparation and patience."

Nick's breath caught at their serious consideration of what had been a half-formed fantasy. "You think we could actually do that? Both of you... at the same time... in the same place?"

"It would take work," Jake said, his tone shifting to something more calculating, analytical. "Lots of preparation, stretching, relaxation."

"And trust," Bradley added, his hand sliding down to squeeze her shoulder gently. "Complete trust."

Nick nodded, her body already responding to the possibility. "I trust you both. Completely. But if I can't cock warm you both at once I understand. I just don't want either of you to feel left out. Plus I love the feel of both of you inside of me."

Jake pulled into the parking lot of Nick's apartment complex, the car's headlights sweeping across the familiar facade before going dark. The sudden silence as the engine died felt charged with possibility.

"We'd never feel left out watching you with the other," Jake said, unbuckling his seatbelt and turning to face her fully. "That's part of what makes this work between us."

Bradley leaned forward, his breath warm against her ear. "Besides, there are ways we can both be involved, even if only one of us is inside you."

Nick shivered at his words, her mind racing with possibilities. "Like what?"

Jake's smile was slow and deliberate in the dim glow of the parking lot lights. "Let's get inside, and we'll show you."

Taglist:

@meg626

@lunatygerqueen

@og-baby-ob14If

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

Amazon MGM Studios has confirmed what was reported last night: Twisters star Glen Powell is starring in a Ron Howard directed untitled firefighter film.The pitch came from Christina Hodson. Imagine Entertainment and Powell’s banner, Barnstorm, are producing. Howard knows something about firefighter movies: He directed the classic Backdraft.Hodson’s script follows disparate childhood friends, now elite firefighters, who must rekindle their fractured relationship when a series of deadly fires sweep across Texas.

[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

I hate heights too. I'd probably get part of the way up and pass out like Sheldon Cooper lmao. But ever since I knew my friend rock climbed I wanted to try it.

She's Theirs: Send Me On My Way

Title: Send Me On My Way 

Summary: Nick Jake and Bradley go on a rock climbing date..

Word Count:  4,072

Warnings: fluff, mostly PG

Tags: fluff 

Hey y'all! Here's chapter 11. There's no smut in this one, which is a little reprieve since the next couple of ones are very heavy on it. Also I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my late friend Johnny. It's because of him that I know anything about rock climbing.

The afternoon sun glinted off Jake's truck as it rolled up to the curb outside Nick’s apartment building. The glass doors at the entrance reflected the vibrant greens of the sidewalk trees, their shadows stretching long across the road. Bradley sat in the passenger seat, tapping his foot in a steady rhythm—his nerves simmering beneath his cool facade.

“You sure you’re good, Bradshaw?” Jake asked, smirking. “You’re practically wearing a hole in my floor mat.”

Bradley huffed out a laugh but didn’t meet Jake’s gaze. “She said rock climbing was her thing. Now I’m about to show her I climb as gracefully as a baby giraffe.” He tugged at his T-shirt, shifting in his seat.

Jake chuckled but let it slide as Nick appeared through the glass doors, her ponytail swaying as she jogged over, her smile lighting up the space between them. A duffel bag was slung effortlessly over her shoulder, and Bradley was out of the truck before Jake could even throw it into park.

“Hey, Nick,” Bradley said, his voice softening as he leaned in to greet her. Their lips met in a quick, warm kiss, her hand brushing his arm as she returned it without hesitation.

“Hey, Roo,” she teased, glancing at the truck. “Let me guess—middle seat for me, as usual?”

Bradley chuckled grabbing her bag and tossing it in the back of the truck. He opened the door wider. “It is the best seat in the truck.”

Nick slid into the middle with practiced ease, leaving just enough room for Bradley to hop in beside her. Once settled, she turned to Jake. “Hey, Jake,” she said warmly, her smile softening.

Jake tipped his chin. “Hey, darlin’.” Leaning in with easy familiarity, he pressed a brief, affectionate kiss to her lips, making her eyes sparkle even brighter.

“I’m excited to finally have people to go rock climbing with!” Nick exclaimed.

Jake pulled away from the curb, one hand on the wheel while the other rested casually on Nick’s knee. “I’m just here for moral support—and first aid if needed. Somebody’s gotta be ready when gravity reminds Rooster he’s not actually a bird.”

Nick laughed so hard her stomach ached.

Bradley narrowed his eyes at Jake, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his lack of real annoyance. “For someone who’s supposed to be providing moral support, you’re doing a terrible job.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Nick leaned into Bradley’s shoulder, her fingers intertwining with Jake’s on her knee. “I think he’s pretty supportive in his own special way.”

Jake winked at her in the rearview mirror. “See? She gets me.”

“But seriously, I think you’ll do great. And Jake and I will be more than happy to show you the ropes. Pun intended.” She smiled up at him.

Bradley groaned at the pun but couldn’t hide his grin. His arm slipped around Nick’s shoulders, fingers absently tracing patterns against her skin. “Yeah, well, I just hope those ropes are strong. I’m not exactly lightweight.”

“Trust me,” Nick replied, squeezing his thigh reassuringly. “The equipment can hold a tank. You’ll be fine.”

The truck pulled into the parking lot of Vertical Limits, a converted warehouse with a colorful climbing wall visible through its large windows. Nick was already unbuckling her seatbelt before the vehicle had fully stopped.

“Someone’s excited,” Jake observed, catching her eye in the rearview mirror with a fond smile.

“I’ve been climbing solo for months.” Nick practically bounced in her seat. “Do you know how hard it is to find reliable belay partners? Besides, I’ve been dying to see how good Jake is, knowing he climbs too.”

As they stepped out of the truck, the enormity of the gym became clear. The converted warehouse stretched upward, its walls towering at least forty feet high, dotted with colorful holds forming routes of varying difficulty. Through the windows, climbers traversed the walls like nimble spiders, some hanging precariously from overhangs.

Bradley swallowed hard, watching a climber make an impossible-looking leap between holds. “You do this for fun?”

“Don’t worry.” Nick caught his expression, sliding her hand into his. “I’ll start you on the beginner walls. We’ll take it nice and slow.”

Jake snorted. “That’s what she said.”

Nick swatted his arm playfully. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got?”

“Hey, I save my A-material for when I’m actually on the clock.” Jake grinned, grabbing their bags from the truck bed. He slung Nick’s over his shoulder with practiced ease.

As they entered the gym, the scent of chalk and exertion hung in the air. The space buzzed with energy—climbers calling encouragement to partners, bodies thudding onto crash pads, high-fives punctuating completed routes.

“Hey, Johnny!” Nick called to the bearded man behind the counter.

He looked up, spotting two regulars approaching. “Mitchell, Seresin. Didn’t know you two knew each other.”

Nick grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “We met recently. Johnny, this is Bradley—another friend of mine.”

Johnny’s eyes flickered with interest, lingering a beat too long on the trio’s closeness. “Nice to meet you, man. First-time climber?”

Bradley nodded, shaking his hand. “That obvious, huh?”

“The white-knuckle grip on your phone gave it away,” Johnny laughed. “Don’t worry—everyone starts somewhere. You’re in good hands with these two.”

Bradley caught the easy warmth of Johnny’s smile, and for a brief moment, the towering walls and unfamiliar challenges ahead didn’t seem quite as intimidating.

As they signed in and got fitted for harnesses and climbing shoes, Nick noticed Bradley’s gaze drifting toward the more advanced routes, where seasoned climbers tackled complex overhangs.

Falling in step beside him, she followed his gaze to a climber navigating an impossibly steep section, moving fluidly as if gravity were merely a suggestion.

“You okay, Roo?” she asked, her voice soft but steady. There was no teasing—just genuine concern. “You look… I don’t know. A little out of it.”

Bradley hesitated before letting out a small, self-conscious laugh. Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered, “Yeah, uh… I guess I’m just—” He paused, searching for the right words. “Look, you and Jake are both pros at this. You know the ropes—literally. And me? I’ll probably spend half the time figuring out how not to fall on my face.”

Nick stepped in front of him, gently placing a hand on his arm to stop him. “Bradley,” she said, her voice steady. “You know I don’t care if you’re an expert, right? I’m just glad you’re here.” Her smile widened, warm and reassuring. “And if you do fall on your face, I’ll patch you up, kiss your bruises better, and make sure you’re good as new.”

Her words coaxed a reluctant grin from Bradley, the tension in his shoulders easing as he met her eyes. “Yeah, I guess. I just don’t want to ruin the fun. You’re really into this, and if I—”

“You *could never* ruin the fun.” Nick cut him off gently but firmly. “And I mean it. Besides, I think it’s great you’re trying something new. If anything, I’ll be the one ruining the fun when I get too competitive and try to race Jake up the wall.”

Bradley finally laughed, his unease softening. “Okay, okay. You win. I’ll suck it up and give it a shot.”

“That’s all I ask.” Nick gave his arm a light squeeze before nudging him toward the gear station. “Now come on, let’s see how you handle the kiddie wall.”

“The kiddie wall?” Bradley raised an eyebrow, his pride momentarily wounded.

Jake clapped a hand on Bradley’s shoulder. “Don’t let the name fool you. Even the ‘kiddie wall’ has routes that’ll make your forearms burn.” He gestured to a nearby section, where the climbing surface was less intimidating but still challenging. “Besides, we all started there.”

Nick led them to the beginner area, where the walls were shorter and angled slightly inward, making it easier to stay on. She dropped her bag at a nearby bench and pulled out her climbing shoes.

“Alright, boys. I think it’s time to show Bradley how it’s done.”

She winked at him, earning a roll of his eyes—but also a smile.

Jake cracked his knuckles. “Alright, Mitchell, show us what you got.”

Nick grinned as she slipped on her climbing shoes, flexing her toes inside them before standing up. She grabbed a chalk bag from her duffel and secured it around her waist, dipping her hands in and clapping them together. A small cloud of white dust surrounded her fingers.

“Watch and learn, gentlemen,” she said, her playful confidence making Bradley’s stomach flutter.

She approached the wall, scanning the colorful holds with practiced eyes. Without hesitation, she reached up and gripped a bright blue hold, her muscles tensing as she pulled herself up and found footing on a yellow one near the floor. Her movements were fluid and graceful, each placement purposeful and precise.

Bradley watched, mesmerized by the way her body moved against the wall—each motion a testament to her strength and skill. There was something captivating about the way she navigated the route, making split-second decisions with ease. Her ponytail swung gently as she climbed higher, and he couldn’t help but admire the defined muscles in her arms and back, working in perfect harmony.

“Damn,” Bradley murmured, not realizing he’d spoken aloud until Jake chuckled beside him.

“Yeah, she’s something else,” Jake agreed, eyes fixed on Nick’s ascent, unmistakable pride in his voice. “Wait till we see her on the advanced walls. Bet it’ll be like watching poetry in motion.”

Nick turned at the top, her face flushed—not from exertion, but from sheer joy. “Your turn, Hangman!” she called before beginning her controlled descent.

Jake chuckled, already chalking up his hands. “Alright! Time to show you both how it’s done.”

Nick’s feet touched the ground, and she bounced over to Bradley, her eyes bright with adrenaline and excitement. Instinctively, she slipped her arm around his waist, leaning into him slightly.

“See? Not so scary, right?” she asked, her breath still coming a little quicker than normal.

Bradley’s arm found its way around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “Not scary for you, maybe,” he replied, but his voice held more admiration than anxiety. “That was... impressive.”

“Just wait.” Nick turned to watch Jake approach the wall. “He’s even better than me. Don’t tell him I said that, though.”

Jake stretched his arms overhead, muscles shifting beneath his fitted t-shirt. He approached the wall with his signature swagger—but as his hands touched the first holds, something in his demeanor changed. His movements became calculated and precise, each reach and step flowing into the next with hypnotic fluidity. His body twisted and contorted as he navigated the route, making the climb look effortless.

Bradley watched, transfixed. Jake’s cocky persona melted away on the wall, replaced by an intense focus that was somehow even more magnetic. His movements were powerful yet controlled, each hold conquered with practiced confidence.

“Told you,” Nick whispered, nudging Bradley gently. “He’s a natural.”

Jake reached the top in record time, flashing a triumphant grin before rappelling back with casual ease. As his feet touched the ground, he ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, the swagger returning to his stance. He nudged Bradley forward. “Go on, Rooster. Time to spread those wings.”

Bradley swallowed hard, eyes darting between the wall and his two companions. Their easy confidence made his stomach twist with admiration—and apprehension.

“You’ve got this,” Nick said, squeezing his arm reassuringly.

Bradley nodded, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants before reaching for the chalk bag.

Jake stepped closer, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “Hey, Bradshaw. Don’t overthink it. Your body knows more than your brain sometimes.”

Bradley took a deep breath, chalking his hands—perhaps more thoroughly than necessary. He studied the beginner route Nick and Jake had just climbed, a series of large green holds forming a relatively straight path upward.

His first few moves were tentative, his grip uncertain. Unlike Nick and Jake’s fluid motions, Bradley’s movements were stiff, his muscles tensed as he pulled himself up.

“That’s it,” Nick called. “Use your legs more than your arms—they’re stronger.”

Bradley adjusted, pushing with his legs as instructed. The change made an immediate difference, and he found himself climbing with slightly more confidence.

“Keep your hips close to the wall,” Jake added, catching the way Bradley was leaning back too far. “It’ll help with balance.”

Bradley grunted in acknowledgment, focused entirely on the next hold. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he reached the halfway point, his breathing growing more labored. He paused, arms trembling from the unfamiliar exertion.

“You’re doing great, Roo!” Nick called up. “You’re halfway there!”

The encouragement steadied him. Bradley took a deep breath, narrowing his focus on the next green hold. He reached for it, fingers curling around the textured surface with newfound determination.

“That’s it,” Jake nodded. “Now find your footing before you move again.”

Bradley searched for the next hold, testing its stability before trusting his weight to it. Slowly, his movements grew more assured.

When he finally reached the top, accomplishment surged through him. Looking down at Nick and Jake, their grins wide and proud, a surprising rush of satisfaction settled in his chest.

“Now touch the anchor and come back down,” Nick instructed, beaming up at him.

Bradley tapped the anchor at the top. The cool metal beneath his fingertips felt like a small but tangible reward. He took a moment to absorb the view.

“How do I...?” he started, suddenly uncertain. He hadn’t exactly paid attention to that part.

“Just lean back and walk your feet down the wall,” Jake called. “The rope’s got you.”

Bradley exhaled, forcing himself to trust the equipment. As he leaned back, the harness caught him, and he began his descent—awkwardly at first, then with growing ease.

When his feet touched the ground, Nick was at his side instantly, wrapping her arms around him in an exuberant hug. “You did it!” she exclaimed, eyes shining. “I knew you could!”

Bradley's arms instinctively encircled Nick’s waist, his chest still heaving slightly from exertion. The warmth of her body against his was a welcome reward, and he couldn't help but grin down at her. "It wasn't exactly graceful," he admitted, "but I made it."

"First climbs rarely are," Jake said, stepping closer to clap Bradley on the shoulder. His touch lingered—a subtle gesture of approval that sent a surprising wave of satisfaction through Bradley. "Not bad for a rookie, Bradshaw. You've got potential."

Nick pulled back just enough to look up at Bradley, her green eyes sparkling. "How did it feel? Getting to the top?"

Bradley considered the question, surprised to find he was already itching to try again. "It felt... good," he admitted, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Really good, actually. Like I conquered something."

Nick’s smile widened, and she pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "That's the feeling that gets you hooked. Trust me, it only gets better from here."

"Well, don't get too comfortable," Jake said, already chalking up his hands again. "We're just getting started."

Nick gestured toward a slightly more challenging wall nearby. "Ready to level up?"

Bradley flexed his hands, surprised by the pleasant burn in his forearms and the newfound eagerness coursing through him. "Let's do it."

As they moved to the new wall, Nick fell into step beside Bradley, her fingers brushing against his. "So, you're not regretting coming along anymore?"

"Definitely not," Bradley admitted, catching her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Though ask me again tomorrow when I can't lift my arms above my head."

Jake chuckled from behind them. "That's half the fun. Nothing says 'good workout' like not being able to wash your own hair the next day."

The next wall was taller, its routes more complex with fewer obvious holds. Nick studied it with her head tilted, mentally mapping potential paths before turning to Bradley.

"This one's a bit trickier," she explained, pointing to the routes marked with different colored tape. "The blue route is still beginner-friendly, but it'll challenge you more. You'll need to think about your next few moves, not just the immediate one."

Bradley nodded, studying the wall with newfound interest. The apprehension he'd felt earlier had transformed into something closer to anticipation. "I'll give it a shot."

"That's the spirit," Jake said, slapping Bradley’s back with perhaps more force than necessary. "Just don't expect to keep up with the pros yet."

Nick rolled her eyes at Jake’s comment but couldn’t suppress her smile. "Ignore him. Remember what we said about using your legs and keeping your hips close to the wall. Oh, and try to relax your grip a little—you'll tire out less quickly."

As Bradley approached the wall, he felt Nick watching him intently. He turned to her and saw her blush.

"Sorry, you just look hot when you're climbing," she admitted.

The unexpected compliment sent warmth spreading across Bradley’s chest, and he couldn't help but grin. "Maybe I should climb more often then."

Jake snorted. "Don't get cocky, Bradshaw. Looking hot and being good are two different things."

"Says the man who manages both," Nick quipped, giving Jake a playful wink before turning back to Bradley. "But seriously, you're doing great for a first-timer."

Bradley felt a small swell of pride at her words as he turned back to face the wall. He chalked his hands again, studying the blue route with newfound determination. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the first hold, finding it less awkward this time as his body began to understand the movements.

The route proved more challenging than the first, requiring more thought and strength. Bradley found himself pausing occasionally, searching for the next move while his muscles trembled with effort. He slipped a bit while moving to the next hold, but after a couple of deep breaths, he regained his composure and pushed on.

"Don't think too hard!" Nick called up, noticing his hesitation. "Sometimes you need to feel it rather than calculate it."

Bradley nodded tightly, focusing on the wall rather than the growing strain in his forearms. He pushed through the discomfort, finding a rhythm as he continued upward. When he finally reached the top, the satisfaction was even greater than before.

"Look at you go, Rooster!" Nick cheered as he touched the anchor point.

Jake crossed his arms, a begrudging smile tugging at his lips. "Not bad for a second climb."

As Bradley descended, he felt a new confidence flowing through him. Landing on the ground, he couldn't help but flex his fingers, feeling the pleasant burn of exertion.

"I can see why you two find this fun," he admitted, grinning.

Nick’s eyes sparkled. "I told you! Want to try something even harder?"

"How about I watch you and Jake for a bit? I’m sure there are more difficult walls you want to tackle."

Nick’s face lit up with excitement. "Perfect! There's this 5.10 route I've been dying to try." She turned to Jake with a competitive glint in her eye. "Race you to the top?"

Jake’s lips curled into that signature cocky smirk. "You sure you want to embarrass yourself like that, Mitchell?"

"Big talk from someone who's about to eat my chalk dust," Nick shot back, already moving toward a more advanced section of the gym.

Bradley followed them, intrigued by this new dynamic. The wall they approached was intimidating—nearly vertical with an overhang near the top and holds that looked barely large enough to grip. The route Nick had chosen was marked with red tape, the holds spaced far enough apart that even Bradley could tell it required significant strength and technique.

As they prepared, Bradley settled onto a nearby bench, secretly grateful for the break. His forearms were already protesting the unfamiliar exertion, a dull ache settling into muscles he hadn't known existed.

Nick and Jake approached the belay station, each checking the other’s harness and equipment with practiced efficiency. There was something intimate about the way they moved around each other, a silent communication born of trust and familiarity that made Bradley wonder if that’s how they looked when they were together.

"You're not going to distract me with those wandering hands, Seresin," Nick said, swatting Jake’s fingers away as he adjusted her harness a little too slowly.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," Jake replied with a wink. "Ready when you are, Mitchell."

They positioned themselves at the base of the wall, side by side at their respective routes. Johnny, the bearded owner from the front desk, approached to act as their belayer.

"Three, two, one—go!" Johnny called, and they were off, launching themselves at the wall with practiced precision.

Bradley watched, mesmerized, as Nick and Jake transformed before his eyes. The playful competition between them shifted into intense focus, their bodies moving with a fluidity that seemed almost choreographed. They ascended at nearly identical speeds, each finding creative solutions to the challenging route.

Nick's technique was elegant and efficient, her movements flowing together in a continuous sequence that made the difficult climb look deceptively simple. She anticipated each move several steps ahead, her body positioning itself perfectly before each reach.

Jake climbed with powerful dynamism, his strength allowing him to make explosive moves between distant holds. Where Nick would find creative foot placements to ease a difficult section, Jake would power through with sheer upper body strength.

They were neck and neck until the overhang, where Jake's longer reach gave him a slight advantage. He pulled ahead by mere seconds, slapping the anchor point with a triumphant whoop just before Nick reached it.

"Damn it!" Nick called out, her competitive frustration evident even as she laughed. "Two more inches of height and I would've had you."

"Excuses, excuses," Jake teased as they both began their descent. "Just admit it—I'm better."

"You're taller," Nick corrected, rappelling down with practiced ease. "There's a difference."

“And you're just a cute little short stack who happened to lose to her boyfriend.” Jake continued to tease.

Nick's eyes narrowed as she landed on the ground, unclipping from the rope with quick, practiced movements. "A short stack who's going to kick your ass on the next route." Her competitive smile was infectious, and Bradley couldn't help but grin as he watched the exchange.

"Oh yeah?" Jake challenged, his smirk widening as he too unclipped from his harness.

Bradley laughed, standing to meet her as she approached. "It was pretty close," he acknowledged, admiring the light sheen of sweat on her skin and the flush of exertion that colored her cheeks. "You both made it look easy."

Jake sauntered over, his harness already half-unbuckled. "Don't encourage her, Bradshaw. She's a sore loser."

"I am not," Nick protested, though her playful pout suggested otherwise. "I just like to win."

"That's the definition of a sore loser, darlin'," Jake replied, slowly bringing his hands to wrap around her hips.

Johnny shook his head with a laugh and walked back to the front desk.

Nick playfully squirmed away from Jake's grip, sticking her tongue out at him before turning to Bradley. "Ready to try another route?" she asked, her eyes bright with adrenaline. "Or are your arms about to fall off?"

Bradley flexed his hands, feeling the pleasant burn in his forearms. "They might fall off tomorrow, but I think I can manage one more."

"That's the spirit," Nick beamed, standing on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. The casual affection in public sent a warm flutter through his chest.

“How come he gets a kiss but with me you squirm away?” Jake questioned.

Nick rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Because," she said, stepping closer to Jake, "you were being smug about winning." Despite her words, she slid her hands up his chest and rose on her tiptoes, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips that left Jake momentarily speechless.

When she pulled away, Jake blinked, his cocky demeanor momentarily disrupted. "Well," he cleared his throat, "if that's my consolation prize for being smug, I'm going to be insufferable."

"Don't push your luck," Nick warned with a laugh, turning back to Bradley. "Come on, Roo. I've got the perfect route for you to try next."

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She's Theirs: Send Me On My Way

Title: Send Me On My Way 

Summary: Nick Jake and Bradley go on a rock climbing date..

Word Count:  4,072

Warnings: fluff, mostly PG

Tags: fluff 

Hey y'all! Here's chapter 11. There's no smut in this one, which is a little reprieve since the next couple of ones are very heavy on it. Also I'd like to dedicate this chapter to my late friend Johnny. It's because of him that I know anything about rock climbing.

The afternoon sun glinted off Jake's truck as it rolled up to the curb outside Nick’s apartment building. The glass doors at the entrance reflected the vibrant greens of the sidewalk trees, their shadows stretching long across the road. Bradley sat in the passenger seat, tapping his foot in a steady rhythm—his nerves simmering beneath his cool facade.

“You sure you’re good, Bradshaw?” Jake asked, smirking. “You’re practically wearing a hole in my floor mat.”

Bradley huffed out a laugh but didn’t meet Jake’s gaze. “She said rock climbing was her thing. Now I’m about to show her I climb as gracefully as a baby giraffe.” He tugged at his T-shirt, shifting in his seat.

Jake chuckled but let it slide as Nick appeared through the glass doors, her ponytail swaying as she jogged over, her smile lighting up the space between them. A duffel bag was slung effortlessly over her shoulder, and Bradley was out of the truck before Jake could even throw it into park.

“Hey, Nick,” Bradley said, his voice softening as he leaned in to greet her. Their lips met in a quick, warm kiss, her hand brushing his arm as she returned it without hesitation.

“Hey, Roo,” she teased, glancing at the truck. “Let me guess—middle seat for me, as usual?”

Bradley chuckled grabbing her bag and tossing it in the back of the truck. He opened the door wider. “It is the best seat in the truck.”

Nick slid into the middle with practiced ease, leaving just enough room for Bradley to hop in beside her. Once settled, she turned to Jake. “Hey, Jake,” she said warmly, her smile softening.

Jake tipped his chin. “Hey, darlin’.” Leaning in with easy familiarity, he pressed a brief, affectionate kiss to her lips, making her eyes sparkle even brighter.

“I’m excited to finally have people to go rock climbing with!” Nick exclaimed.

Jake pulled away from the curb, one hand on the wheel while the other rested casually on Nick’s knee. “I’m just here for moral support—and first aid if needed. Somebody’s gotta be ready when gravity reminds Rooster he’s not actually a bird.”

Nick laughed so hard her stomach ached.

Bradley narrowed his eyes at Jake, though the smirk tugging at his lips betrayed his lack of real annoyance. “For someone who’s supposed to be providing moral support, you’re doing a terrible job.”

“Oh, I don’t know.” Nick leaned into Bradley’s shoulder, her fingers intertwining with Jake’s on her knee. “I think he’s pretty supportive in his own special way.”

Jake winked at her in the rearview mirror. “See? She gets me.”

“But seriously, I think you’ll do great. And Jake and I will be more than happy to show you the ropes. Pun intended.” She smiled up at him.

Bradley groaned at the pun but couldn’t hide his grin. His arm slipped around Nick’s shoulders, fingers absently tracing patterns against her skin. “Yeah, well, I just hope those ropes are strong. I’m not exactly lightweight.”

“Trust me,” Nick replied, squeezing his thigh reassuringly. “The equipment can hold a tank. You’ll be fine.”

The truck pulled into the parking lot of Vertical Limits, a converted warehouse with a colorful climbing wall visible through its large windows. Nick was already unbuckling her seatbelt before the vehicle had fully stopped.

“Someone’s excited,” Jake observed, catching her eye in the rearview mirror with a fond smile.

“I’ve been climbing solo for months.” Nick practically bounced in her seat. “Do you know how hard it is to find reliable belay partners? Besides, I’ve been dying to see how good Jake is, knowing he climbs too.”

As they stepped out of the truck, the enormity of the gym became clear. The converted warehouse stretched upward, its walls towering at least forty feet high, dotted with colorful holds forming routes of varying difficulty. Through the windows, climbers traversed the walls like nimble spiders, some hanging precariously from overhangs.

Bradley swallowed hard, watching a climber make an impossible-looking leap between holds. “You do this for fun?”

“Don’t worry.” Nick caught his expression, sliding her hand into his. “I’ll start you on the beginner walls. We’ll take it nice and slow.”

Jake snorted. “That’s what she said.”

Nick swatted his arm playfully. “Really? That’s the best you’ve got?”

“Hey, I save my A-material for when I’m actually on the clock.” Jake grinned, grabbing their bags from the truck bed. He slung Nick’s over his shoulder with practiced ease.

As they entered the gym, the scent of chalk and exertion hung in the air. The space buzzed with energy—climbers calling encouragement to partners, bodies thudding onto crash pads, high-fives punctuating completed routes.

“Hey, Johnny!” Nick called to the bearded man behind the counter.

He looked up, spotting two regulars approaching. “Mitchell, Seresin. Didn’t know you two knew each other.”

Nick grinned, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “We met recently. Johnny, this is Bradley—another friend of mine.”

Johnny’s eyes flickered with interest, lingering a beat too long on the trio’s closeness. “Nice to meet you, man. First-time climber?”

Bradley nodded, shaking his hand. “That obvious, huh?”

“The white-knuckle grip on your phone gave it away,” Johnny laughed. “Don’t worry—everyone starts somewhere. You’re in good hands with these two.”

Bradley caught the easy warmth of Johnny’s smile, and for a brief moment, the towering walls and unfamiliar challenges ahead didn’t seem quite as intimidating.

As they signed in and got fitted for harnesses and climbing shoes, Nick noticed Bradley’s gaze drifting toward the more advanced routes, where seasoned climbers tackled complex overhangs.

Falling in step beside him, she followed his gaze to a climber navigating an impossibly steep section, moving fluidly as if gravity were merely a suggestion.

“You okay, Roo?” she asked, her voice soft but steady. There was no teasing—just genuine concern. “You look… I don’t know. A little out of it.”

Bradley hesitated before letting out a small, self-conscious laugh. Rubbing the back of his neck, he muttered, “Yeah, uh… I guess I’m just—” He paused, searching for the right words. “Look, you and Jake are both pros at this. You know the ropes—literally. And me? I’ll probably spend half the time figuring out how not to fall on my face.”

Nick stepped in front of him, gently placing a hand on his arm to stop him. “Bradley,” she said, her voice steady. “You know I don’t care if you’re an expert, right? I’m just glad you’re here.” Her smile widened, warm and reassuring. “And if you do fall on your face, I’ll patch you up, kiss your bruises better, and make sure you’re good as new.”

Her words coaxed a reluctant grin from Bradley, the tension in his shoulders easing as he met her eyes. “Yeah, I guess. I just don’t want to ruin the fun. You’re really into this, and if I—”

“You *could never* ruin the fun.” Nick cut him off gently but firmly. “And I mean it. Besides, I think it’s great you’re trying something new. If anything, I’ll be the one ruining the fun when I get too competitive and try to race Jake up the wall.”

Bradley finally laughed, his unease softening. “Okay, okay. You win. I’ll suck it up and give it a shot.”

“That’s all I ask.” Nick gave his arm a light squeeze before nudging him toward the gear station. “Now come on, let’s see how you handle the kiddie wall.”

“The kiddie wall?” Bradley raised an eyebrow, his pride momentarily wounded.

Jake clapped a hand on Bradley’s shoulder. “Don’t let the name fool you. Even the ‘kiddie wall’ has routes that’ll make your forearms burn.” He gestured to a nearby section, where the climbing surface was less intimidating but still challenging. “Besides, we all started there.”

Nick led them to the beginner area, where the walls were shorter and angled slightly inward, making it easier to stay on. She dropped her bag at a nearby bench and pulled out her climbing shoes.

“Alright, boys. I think it’s time to show Bradley how it’s done.”

She winked at him, earning a roll of his eyes—but also a smile.

Jake cracked his knuckles. “Alright, Mitchell, show us what you got.”

Nick grinned as she slipped on her climbing shoes, flexing her toes inside them before standing up. She grabbed a chalk bag from her duffel and secured it around her waist, dipping her hands in and clapping them together. A small cloud of white dust surrounded her fingers.

“Watch and learn, gentlemen,” she said, her playful confidence making Bradley’s stomach flutter.

She approached the wall, scanning the colorful holds with practiced eyes. Without hesitation, she reached up and gripped a bright blue hold, her muscles tensing as she pulled herself up and found footing on a yellow one near the floor. Her movements were fluid and graceful, each placement purposeful and precise.

Bradley watched, mesmerized by the way her body moved against the wall—each motion a testament to her strength and skill. There was something captivating about the way she navigated the route, making split-second decisions with ease. Her ponytail swung gently as she climbed higher, and he couldn’t help but admire the defined muscles in her arms and back, working in perfect harmony.

“Damn,” Bradley murmured, not realizing he’d spoken aloud until Jake chuckled beside him.

“Yeah, she’s something else,” Jake agreed, eyes fixed on Nick’s ascent, unmistakable pride in his voice. “Wait till we see her on the advanced walls. Bet it’ll be like watching poetry in motion.”

Nick turned at the top, her face flushed—not from exertion, but from sheer joy. “Your turn, Hangman!” she called before beginning her controlled descent.

Jake chuckled, already chalking up his hands. “Alright! Time to show you both how it’s done.”

Nick’s feet touched the ground, and she bounced over to Bradley, her eyes bright with adrenaline and excitement. Instinctively, she slipped her arm around his waist, leaning into him slightly.

“See? Not so scary, right?” she asked, her breath still coming a little quicker than normal.

Bradley’s arm found its way around her shoulders, pulling her closer. “Not scary for you, maybe,” he replied, but his voice held more admiration than anxiety. “That was... impressive.”

“Just wait.” Nick turned to watch Jake approach the wall. “He’s even better than me. Don’t tell him I said that, though.”

Jake stretched his arms overhead, muscles shifting beneath his fitted t-shirt. He approached the wall with his signature swagger—but as his hands touched the first holds, something in his demeanor changed. His movements became calculated and precise, each reach and step flowing into the next with hypnotic fluidity. His body twisted and contorted as he navigated the route, making the climb look effortless.

Bradley watched, transfixed. Jake’s cocky persona melted away on the wall, replaced by an intense focus that was somehow even more magnetic. His movements were powerful yet controlled, each hold conquered with practiced confidence.

“Told you,” Nick whispered, nudging Bradley gently. “He’s a natural.”

Jake reached the top in record time, flashing a triumphant grin before rappelling back with casual ease. As his feet touched the ground, he ran a hand through his slightly disheveled hair, the swagger returning to his stance. He nudged Bradley forward. “Go on, Rooster. Time to spread those wings.”

Bradley swallowed hard, eyes darting between the wall and his two companions. Their easy confidence made his stomach twist with admiration—and apprehension.

“You’ve got this,” Nick said, squeezing his arm reassuringly.

Bradley nodded, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants before reaching for the chalk bag.

Jake stepped closer, his voice dropping to a serious tone. “Hey, Bradshaw. Don’t overthink it. Your body knows more than your brain sometimes.”

Bradley took a deep breath, chalking his hands—perhaps more thoroughly than necessary. He studied the beginner route Nick and Jake had just climbed, a series of large green holds forming a relatively straight path upward.

His first few moves were tentative, his grip uncertain. Unlike Nick and Jake’s fluid motions, Bradley’s movements were stiff, his muscles tensed as he pulled himself up.

“That’s it,” Nick called. “Use your legs more than your arms—they’re stronger.”

Bradley adjusted, pushing with his legs as instructed. The change made an immediate difference, and he found himself climbing with slightly more confidence.

“Keep your hips close to the wall,” Jake added, catching the way Bradley was leaning back too far. “It’ll help with balance.”

Bradley grunted in acknowledgment, focused entirely on the next hold. Sweat beaded on his forehead as he reached the halfway point, his breathing growing more labored. He paused, arms trembling from the unfamiliar exertion.

“You’re doing great, Roo!” Nick called up. “You’re halfway there!”

The encouragement steadied him. Bradley took a deep breath, narrowing his focus on the next green hold. He reached for it, fingers curling around the textured surface with newfound determination.

“That’s it,” Jake nodded. “Now find your footing before you move again.”

Bradley searched for the next hold, testing its stability before trusting his weight to it. Slowly, his movements grew more assured.

When he finally reached the top, accomplishment surged through him. Looking down at Nick and Jake, their grins wide and proud, a surprising rush of satisfaction settled in his chest.

“Now touch the anchor and come back down,” Nick instructed, beaming up at him.

Bradley tapped the anchor at the top. The cool metal beneath his fingertips felt like a small but tangible reward. He took a moment to absorb the view.

“How do I...?” he started, suddenly uncertain. He hadn’t exactly paid attention to that part.

“Just lean back and walk your feet down the wall,” Jake called. “The rope’s got you.”

Bradley exhaled, forcing himself to trust the equipment. As he leaned back, the harness caught him, and he began his descent—awkwardly at first, then with growing ease.

When his feet touched the ground, Nick was at his side instantly, wrapping her arms around him in an exuberant hug. “You did it!” she exclaimed, eyes shining. “I knew you could!”

Bradley's arms instinctively encircled Nick’s waist, his chest still heaving slightly from exertion. The warmth of her body against his was a welcome reward, and he couldn't help but grin down at her. "It wasn't exactly graceful," he admitted, "but I made it."

"First climbs rarely are," Jake said, stepping closer to clap Bradley on the shoulder. His touch lingered—a subtle gesture of approval that sent a surprising wave of satisfaction through Bradley. "Not bad for a rookie, Bradshaw. You've got potential."

Nick pulled back just enough to look up at Bradley, her green eyes sparkling. "How did it feel? Getting to the top?"

Bradley considered the question, surprised to find he was already itching to try again. "It felt... good," he admitted, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Really good, actually. Like I conquered something."

Nick’s smile widened, and she pressed a quick kiss to his lips. "That's the feeling that gets you hooked. Trust me, it only gets better from here."

"Well, don't get too comfortable," Jake said, already chalking up his hands again. "We're just getting started."

Nick gestured toward a slightly more challenging wall nearby. "Ready to level up?"

Bradley flexed his hands, surprised by the pleasant burn in his forearms and the newfound eagerness coursing through him. "Let's do it."

As they moved to the new wall, Nick fell into step beside Bradley, her fingers brushing against his. "So, you're not regretting coming along anymore?"

"Definitely not," Bradley admitted, catching her hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "Though ask me again tomorrow when I can't lift my arms above my head."

Jake chuckled from behind them. "That's half the fun. Nothing says 'good workout' like not being able to wash your own hair the next day."

The next wall was taller, its routes more complex with fewer obvious holds. Nick studied it with her head tilted, mentally mapping potential paths before turning to Bradley.

"This one's a bit trickier," she explained, pointing to the routes marked with different colored tape. "The blue route is still beginner-friendly, but it'll challenge you more. You'll need to think about your next few moves, not just the immediate one."

Bradley nodded, studying the wall with newfound interest. The apprehension he'd felt earlier had transformed into something closer to anticipation. "I'll give it a shot."

"That's the spirit," Jake said, slapping Bradley’s back with perhaps more force than necessary. "Just don't expect to keep up with the pros yet."

Nick rolled her eyes at Jake’s comment but couldn’t suppress her smile. "Ignore him. Remember what we said about using your legs and keeping your hips close to the wall. Oh, and try to relax your grip a little—you'll tire out less quickly."

As Bradley approached the wall, he felt Nick watching him intently. He turned to her and saw her blush.

"Sorry, you just look hot when you're climbing," she admitted.

The unexpected compliment sent warmth spreading across Bradley’s chest, and he couldn't help but grin. "Maybe I should climb more often then."

Jake snorted. "Don't get cocky, Bradshaw. Looking hot and being good are two different things."

"Says the man who manages both," Nick quipped, giving Jake a playful wink before turning back to Bradley. "But seriously, you're doing great for a first-timer."

Bradley felt a small swell of pride at her words as he turned back to face the wall. He chalked his hands again, studying the blue route with newfound determination. Taking a deep breath, he reached for the first hold, finding it less awkward this time as his body began to understand the movements.

The route proved more challenging than the first, requiring more thought and strength. Bradley found himself pausing occasionally, searching for the next move while his muscles trembled with effort. He slipped a bit while moving to the next hold, but after a couple of deep breaths, he regained his composure and pushed on.

"Don't think too hard!" Nick called up, noticing his hesitation. "Sometimes you need to feel it rather than calculate it."

Bradley nodded tightly, focusing on the wall rather than the growing strain in his forearms. He pushed through the discomfort, finding a rhythm as he continued upward. When he finally reached the top, the satisfaction was even greater than before.

"Look at you go, Rooster!" Nick cheered as he touched the anchor point.

Jake crossed his arms, a begrudging smile tugging at his lips. "Not bad for a second climb."

As Bradley descended, he felt a new confidence flowing through him. Landing on the ground, he couldn't help but flex his fingers, feeling the pleasant burn of exertion.

"I can see why you two find this fun," he admitted, grinning.

Nick’s eyes sparkled. "I told you! Want to try something even harder?"

"How about I watch you and Jake for a bit? I’m sure there are more difficult walls you want to tackle."

Nick’s face lit up with excitement. "Perfect! There's this 5.10 route I've been dying to try." She turned to Jake with a competitive glint in her eye. "Race you to the top?"

Jake’s lips curled into that signature cocky smirk. "You sure you want to embarrass yourself like that, Mitchell?"

"Big talk from someone who's about to eat my chalk dust," Nick shot back, already moving toward a more advanced section of the gym.

Bradley followed them, intrigued by this new dynamic. The wall they approached was intimidating—nearly vertical with an overhang near the top and holds that looked barely large enough to grip. The route Nick had chosen was marked with red tape, the holds spaced far enough apart that even Bradley could tell it required significant strength and technique.

As they prepared, Bradley settled onto a nearby bench, secretly grateful for the break. His forearms were already protesting the unfamiliar exertion, a dull ache settling into muscles he hadn't known existed.

Nick and Jake approached the belay station, each checking the other’s harness and equipment with practiced efficiency. There was something intimate about the way they moved around each other, a silent communication born of trust and familiarity that made Bradley wonder if that’s how they looked when they were together.

"You're not going to distract me with those wandering hands, Seresin," Nick said, swatting Jake’s fingers away as he adjusted her harness a little too slowly.

"Can't blame a guy for trying," Jake replied with a wink. "Ready when you are, Mitchell."

They positioned themselves at the base of the wall, side by side at their respective routes. Johnny, the bearded owner from the front desk, approached to act as their belayer.

"Three, two, one—go!" Johnny called, and they were off, launching themselves at the wall with practiced precision.

Bradley watched, mesmerized, as Nick and Jake transformed before his eyes. The playful competition between them shifted into intense focus, their bodies moving with a fluidity that seemed almost choreographed. They ascended at nearly identical speeds, each finding creative solutions to the challenging route.

Nick's technique was elegant and efficient, her movements flowing together in a continuous sequence that made the difficult climb look deceptively simple. She anticipated each move several steps ahead, her body positioning itself perfectly before each reach.

Jake climbed with powerful dynamism, his strength allowing him to make explosive moves between distant holds. Where Nick would find creative foot placements to ease a difficult section, Jake would power through with sheer upper body strength.

They were neck and neck until the overhang, where Jake's longer reach gave him a slight advantage. He pulled ahead by mere seconds, slapping the anchor point with a triumphant whoop just before Nick reached it.

"Damn it!" Nick called out, her competitive frustration evident even as she laughed. "Two more inches of height and I would've had you."

"Excuses, excuses," Jake teased as they both began their descent. "Just admit it—I'm better."

"You're taller," Nick corrected, rappelling down with practiced ease. "There's a difference."

“And you're just a cute little short stack who happened to lose to her boyfriend.” Jake continued to tease.

Nick's eyes narrowed as she landed on the ground, unclipping from the rope with quick, practiced movements. "A short stack who's going to kick your ass on the next route." Her competitive smile was infectious, and Bradley couldn't help but grin as he watched the exchange.

"Oh yeah?" Jake challenged, his smirk widening as he too unclipped from his harness.

Bradley laughed, standing to meet her as she approached. "It was pretty close," he acknowledged, admiring the light sheen of sweat on her skin and the flush of exertion that colored her cheeks. "You both made it look easy."

Jake sauntered over, his harness already half-unbuckled. "Don't encourage her, Bradshaw. She's a sore loser."

"I am not," Nick protested, though her playful pout suggested otherwise. "I just like to win."

"That's the definition of a sore loser, darlin'," Jake replied, slowly bringing his hands to wrap around her hips.

Johnny shook his head with a laugh and walked back to the front desk.

Nick playfully squirmed away from Jake's grip, sticking her tongue out at him before turning to Bradley. "Ready to try another route?" she asked, her eyes bright with adrenaline. "Or are your arms about to fall off?"

Bradley flexed his hands, feeling the pleasant burn in his forearms. "They might fall off tomorrow, but I think I can manage one more."

"That's the spirit," Nick beamed, standing on her tiptoes to press a quick kiss to his lips. The casual affection in public sent a warm flutter through his chest.

“How come he gets a kiss but with me you squirm away?” Jake questioned.

Nick rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. "Because," she said, stepping closer to Jake, "you were being smug about winning." Despite her words, she slid her hands up his chest and rose on her tiptoes, pressing a lingering kiss to his lips that left Jake momentarily speechless.

When she pulled away, Jake blinked, his cocky demeanor momentarily disrupted. "Well," he cleared his throat, "if that's my consolation prize for being smug, I'm going to be insufferable."

"Don't push your luck," Nick warned with a laugh, turning back to Bradley. "Come on, Roo. I've got the perfect route for you to try next."

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

Maybe for Halloween? 🤭

She's Theirs: Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

Title: Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

Summary: Nick decides to make a fantasy of Jake's reality.

Word Count:  9,372

Warnings: p in v, fingering, m! receiving oral, dirty talk, f! receiving oral, praise kink, sir/master kink, sex tape, gagging

Tags: Smut 

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter 10. This chapter is based off of something I had Jake say in the previous chapter that he thought would be a turn-on. I started writing it one way and then it's just kind of had a life of its own and it became very, very, very smutty. So I hope y'all enjoy it and you don't find it too smutty. Though can you really take it too far with smut? Cuz I don't think so!

“Did Nick say anything about why she wanted my keys?” Jake asked as they walked off base, heading toward their cars.

“I know as much as you do, Hangman.”

“When I handed her my key, she had this mischievous look in her eyes.”

Bradley shot him a sideways glance. “Mischievous, huh? You better hope she’s not redecorating your bachelor pad with pink throw pillows.”

Jake scoffed. “She wouldn’t dare.” But a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. Nick Mitchell was unpredictable—that was part of what made her so damn intriguing. And dangerous. “Would she?”

Bradley laughed. “Well, she wanted us there, so I’m assuming it’s nothing bad.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure I trust your judgment when it comes to Nick,” Jake said, fishing his keys from his pocket. “One bat of those pretty green eyes, and you’re ready to cave to whatever she wants.”

“Oh, and you aren’t?”

Jake’s mouth twitched. “Not the point, Rooster.”

“Exactly the point,” Bradley countered, clapping Jake’s shoulder. “You’re just as whipped as I am.”

“I am not whipped,” Jake protested—though there was little conviction behind it. “I’m... accommodating.”

Bradley burst out laughing. “Right. Keep that energy when we get to your place.”

---

As they pulled up to the apartment, soft music drifted from behind the front door.

Jake hesitated, hand on the doorknob. “What the hell is she up to?”

The music grew louder as he pushed the door open—something sultry, its heavy bass thrumming through the floorboards.

“Nick?” Jake called out, stepping inside.

The lights were dimmed, candles flickering across various surfaces, their glow casting shifting shadows along the walls. His apartment’s familiar scent was now laced with something else—vanilla and spice.

“In here,” Nick’s voice called from the bedroom, teasing, playful.

Jake raised a brow at Bradley, who looked equally intrigued. “Well, this is definitely not pink throw pillows,” he muttered.

They made their way through the apartment, the music swelling as they neared the room. Once they entered the doorway they found Nick lying completely naked on Jake's bed.

Jake froze in the doorway, his breath catching in his throat. Bradley bumped into him from behind, then went equally still.

"Holy shit," Jake whispered, his eyes traveling over every inch of Nick's naked body, bathed in the golden glow of candlelight. Her dark hair spilled across his sheets like liquid silk, and that small wing tattoo on her wrist seemed to flutter as she moved her hand in a lazy gesture of welcome.

"Gentlemen," Nick purred, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "You're late."

Jake swallowed hard. "Traffic," he managed, his voice rough.

Bradley let out a low chuckle behind him. "If we'd known this was waiting, we would've broken several speed limits."

Nick stretched like a cat, utterly comfortable in her nakedness. "I figured after you both took care of me yesterday when I had sub-drop that you boys deserved a treat of sorts.”

Jake's mouth went dry as he watched her stretch, every muscle in her lithe body flexing with the movement. The candlelight cast shadows that accentuated the curves of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the toned planes of her stomach.

"A treat," he repeated, his voice coming out huskier than he intended. "Is that what we're calling this?"

"You can call it whatever you want," Nick replied, her lips curving into a smile that was equal parts invitation and challenge. "But I'd rather you stop talking and get over here."

Bradley moved first, stepping around Jake and shrugging off his jacket. "You don't have to ask me twice," he said, his eyes dark with desire as they locked onto Nick's.

“But before we get started I'm going to need something from you Jake. Your dog tags please.”

"My dog tags?" Jake's fingers instinctively went to the metal chain around his neck, the cool plates resting against his chest. "Why do you—" Then realization dawned, and a slow smile spread across his face. "Oh, I see. Someone's been thinking about our conversation."

Nick's eyes glittered dangerously in the candlelight. "You did say I'd look good wearing nothing but your tags, didn't you?"

Bradley's gaze darted between them. "When did this happen?"

"Last night," Jake said, already pulling the chain over his head. "When we were in the kitchen remember?"

Nick sat up slightly, the sheet falling away completely as she extended her hand. "I figured it was time to make your fantasy a reality, Lieutenant."

Jake approached the bed slowly, the tags dangling from his fingers. The metal caught the candlelight, sending small flashes across Nick's skin as he moved.

"You know what these mean, right?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave as he stood at the edge of the bed. "These aren't just for show."

Nick's eyes never left his as she reached for the tags. "I know exactly what they mean, Hangman."

Instead of handing them over, Jake pulled back slightly. "Turn around," he commanded softly.

A flash of surprise crossed Nick's face, quickly replaced by that familiar challenging smile. She turned, presenting her back to him, the curve of her spine creating shadows in the candlelight.

Jake lowered the chain over her head, his fingers deliberately grazing her neck as he positioned the tags. They fell between her shoulder blades, then slid forward as she turned back, resting between her perky breasts.

The metal was cold against her skin, making her nipples tighten visibly. Jake's gaze caught on the sight of his tags nestled between her breasts, his name pressed against her flesh. Something primal and possessive surged through him.

“How do I look Sir?”

"Perfect," he murmured, his thumb tracing the edge of the metal against her skin. "These mean you're mine," he whispered, just loud enough for Bradley to hear. "But I'm willing to share tonight."

Nick's lips curled into a satisfied smile as she reached up to finger the tags. "I've always liked wearing things that don't belong to me," she teased, her green eyes challenging him.

Bradley watched from where he stood, already unbuttoning his shirt. "Funny, I don't remember agreeing to be the audience," he said, his voice carrying a hint of the commanding presence he had in the cockpit.

"You're not," Nick assured him, her gaze sliding to him with equal heat. "But Jake gets to make the first move. His house, his tags."

She looked so gorgeous, so beautiful he felt a strong urge to take a picture of her. That way he'd never forget the way she looked.

Jake's gaze darkened as he continued to drink in the sight of her. "Stay right there," he said, his voice tight with restraint as he backed away, reaching for his phone out of his back pocket.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked, a flicker of curiosity crossing her features.

"Making sure I never forget this," Jake replied, holding up his phone. "You, wearing nothing but my tags."

Nick's lips curved into a slow, sensual smile as she leaned back against his pillows, one arm draped above her head in a pose that was both casual and deliberately seductive. The dog tags gleamed against her skin, catching the candlelight.

"Are you asking permission, Lieutenant?" she teased, her voice honeyed.

"No," Jake replied, his thumb hovering over the camera button. "I'm telling you I'm going to do it."

Bradley moved closer to the bed, his shirt now fully unbuttoned and hanging open. "If you're taking pictures, make sure they're for our eyes only, Hangman," he said, his tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

"Don't worry," Jake murmured, already framing the shot. "These aren't leaving this phone."

Nick arched her back slightly, the movement causing the dog tags to slide against her skin. "Maybe I want a copy too," she said, her eyes locked on Jake's as he captured the image. "A souvenir."

The camera clicked softly in the candlelit room. Jake looked at the screen, his jaw tightening at the perfection he'd captured—Nick sprawled across his sheets, her dark hair fanned out, his dog tags nestled between her breasts, her green eyes challenging the camera.

"Done?" Bradley asked.

“No he's not.” Nick said. If you're going to take photos then let's really take photos.”

Nick shifted on the bed, her movements fluid and confident. She rolled onto her stomach, looking over her shoulder with a half-smile that made Jake's heart stutter.

"How about this angle?" she asked, the dog tags now dangling from her neck, brushing against the sheets.

Jake's finger hovered over the camera button, transfixed. "It's perfect," he managed, his voice rough.

Bradley moved to the edge of the bed, his shirt now completely discarded. "Mind if I join this photoshoot?" he asked, his eyes never leaving Nick's form.

"You both should," Nick purred, reaching out to trace her fingers along Bradley's abs. "But those pants need to go first."

Bradley didn't hesitate, unbuckling his belt while Jake continued capturing images. The soft click of the camera punctuated the heavy bass of the music still playing in the background.

"How about we make this more interesting?" Nick suggested, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on one elbow. The dog tags slid across her collarbone, catching the light. "Bradley, come here."

Bradley approached, now wearing nothing but his boxers, the defined muscles of his torso taut with anticipation. Without hesitation, Nick reached up and pulled him down beside her on the bed.

"Jake," she called, her voice a sultry command. "Keep that camera ready."

Jake's finger hovered over the button as Nick guided Bradley's hand to her waist. The contrast of his tanned skin against her pale form was striking in the golden candlelight.

"You're playing with fire, Mitchell," Jake said, but there was heat rather than warning in his voice.

"Good thing I've never been afraid of getting burned," she replied, then turned her attention to Bradley.

Her fingers threaded through Bradley's hair, pulling him closer until their lips were mere inches apart. "Kiss me, Rooster," she whispered, loud enough for Jake to hear, her eyes flicking to the camera.

Bradley didn't need to be told twice. His mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss that had Nick moaning softly against his lips. Jake's breath hitched as he captured the moment—the curve of Nick's back, Bradley's hand splayed possessively across her hip, the dog tags caught between their bodies.

"Fuck," Jake muttered, his free hand adjusting himself through his pants. The sight of them together, on his bed, was more arousing than he'd anticipated.

Nick broke the kiss, her lips swollen and her eyes hazy with desire. "Your turn, Hangman," she said, extending her hand toward him. "I want pictures of you too."

Jake set his phone on the chest at the foot of his bed, angling it carefully. "I've got a better idea," he said, tapping the screen. "Timer. Now we can all be in the frame."

Nick's eyes widened with delight. "Always thinking, aren't you, Lieutenant Seresin?"

"Some might call it strategic planning," Jake replied, shrugging off his jacket before pulling his t-shirt over his head in one fluid motion.

Bradley watched as Jake approached the bed, muscles rippling under tanned skin. "Should we be concerned that he's enjoying the photography aspect a little too much?"

"These are for you too Rooster.”

Nick laughed, the sound warm and rich in the candlelit room. "I don't mind just as long as we get some shots that I would like.”

Jake's grin was wolfish as he settled onto the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. "And what kind of shots would you like, Darlin’?"

The camera timer beeped softly, counting down. Nick reached for Jake, drawing him closer until he was firmly against her side.

“I want your hand here.” She told him as she guided his to her breast. “And I want Bradley’s hand here.” She guided his hand to her crotch.

The camera timer beeped its final warning as Bradley's fingers slid between Nick's thighs, causing her breath to hitch. Jake's palm cupped her breast possessively, his thumb brushing over her nipple just as the camera clicked.

"Perfect," Nick breathed, arching into their touches.

"I think we need more than one shot," Jake murmured against her neck, his lips tracing a path up to her ear. He nipped at the sensitive skin, making her shiver. "What do you think, Rooster?"

Bradley's fingers moved in slow, teasing circles. "Definitely need a series," he agreed, his voice husky as he watched Nick's face. Her lips parted, eyes half-closed with pleasure.

Jake reached over to reset the timer on his phone, then returned his attention to Nick. "You look so fucking hot wearing my tags," he growled.

Nick's pulse quickened at Jake's possessive tone, the weight of his dog tags between her breasts suddenly more significant. She reached up to touch the metal, warm now from her skin.

"Then mark your territory, Hangman," she challenged, her voice a sultry whisper as Bradley's fingers continued their torturous exploration.

The camera timer beeped again, counting down. Jake's mouth descended on her neck, teeth grazing the sensitive spot below her ear. The sensation made her gasp, her body arching between them just as the camera captured the moment.

"God, you're responsive," Bradley murmured appreciatively, his fingers finding her slick heat. "Already so wet for us."

Nick's laugh turned into a moan as his touch grew bolder. "Did you expect anything less?" she managed, reaching down to guide his hand exactly where she wanted it.

Jake was going to reset the timer when he had a better idea.

"Forget the timer," Jake said, his voice thick with desire. He reached for his phone, switching it to video mode instead. "I want to capture every second of this."

Nick's eyes flashed with excitement as she watched him prop the phone against a lamp on the nightstand, angling it toward the bed. "You're full of surprises tonight, Lieutenant."

"You have no idea," Jake murmured, returning to the bed. His hands found her waist, thumbs pressing into the soft hollows of her hips. "Bradley, don't stop what you're doing."

Bradley's fingers continued their skilled exploration, drawing small gasps from Nick's parted lips. "Wasn't planning on it," he replied, his free hand sliding up to caress the side of her breast.

Nick arched into his touch, the dog tags sliding against her skin as she moved. "You were about to show me exactly what these tags mean," she reminded him, reaching for his belt buckle.

Jake's breath caught as her fingers worked his belt open. "They mean you're claimed," he growled, lowering his mouth to her breast

The hot press of Jake's mouth on her breast made Nick arch sharply, a gasp escaping her lips as his tongue circled her nipple. The dog tags clinked softly between them, the metal warming against her flushed skin.

"Claimed by both of us," Bradley corrected, his fingers finding a rhythm that had Nick's thighs tensing. His other hand tangled in her dark hair, tugging just enough to expose the column of her throat to Jake's hungry mouth.

"Is that right?" Nick managed between shallow breaths, her hands working Jake's zipper down with practiced ease. "I don't remember agreeing to that arrangement."

Jake lifted his head, his green eyes dark with desire. "You're wearing my tags while Rooster's fingers are inside you," he pointed out, his voice rough. "I'd say that's agreement enough."

Nick laughed, the sound dissolving into a moan as Bradley curled his fingers inside her. "Maybe I'm just borrowing them," she challenged, her hand slipping into Jake's pants to wrap around his length.

Jake hissed through his teeth, the sensation of her cool fingers against his hot skin sending a jolt through his system. "Borrowing implies returning," he said, his voice strained as she began to stroke him. "And I'm not sure I want these back now that they've been between these perfect tits."

Bradley watched them, his eyes dark with hunger as he continued his ministrations. "You two are going to kill me," he muttered, leaning down to capture Nick's mouth in a searing kiss.

Nick moaned against his lips, her body caught between their skilled hands. When Bradley pulled back, she was breathless, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Take off your pants, both of you," she commanded. "Now."

Neither man needed to be told twice. Jake stood first, shoving his pants and boxers down in one fluid motion before kicking them aside. Bradley followed suit, his eyes never leaving Nick's form as she watched them both with hungry appreciation.

"Much better," she purred, taking in the sight of them. "Now get back here."

Jake returned to the bed first, his hand sliding possessively along her thigh. “You’re making demands while wearing my tags,” he murmured, voice edged with amusement. “That’s not the deal.”

Nick tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “Oh? And what exactly is the deal, Lieutenant?”

Jake's hand moved to her breast tugging roughly at her nipples. “The deal is Bradley and I are in charge.”

Nick's eyes flashed with defiance even as her body arched into Jake's touch. "Is that so?" she challenged, the dog tags gleaming between her breasts as her chest rose and fell with quickening breaths.

"Absolutely," Jake confirmed, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that sent shivers down her spine. His fingers pinched her nipple slightly harder, drawing a gasp from her parted lips. "Those tags around your neck? They mean you follow our lead tonight."

Bradley settled back onto the bed, his strong hands gripping her thighs and spreading them wider. "And if you're very, very good," he added, his breath hot against her inner thigh, "we'll give you exactly what you need."

Nick's pulse raced as she looked between them—Jake's commanding presence at her side, Bradley poised between her legs. The weight of Jake's tags suddenly felt heavy against her skin. “And if I don't?”

Jake's smile was predatory as he lowered his mouth to her ear. "Then we stop," he whispered, his teeth grazing her earlobe. "And I take my tags back."

The thought sent an unexpected thrill through Nick's body. The idea of them stopping now, when her skin felt electric and her core ached with need, was unbearable.

"Fine," she conceded, the word barely audible. Then, seeing Jake's expectant expression, she added more clearly, "Yes, sir."

The effect of those two simple words was immediate. Jake's pupils dilated, and Bradley's grip on her thighs tightened.

"Good girl," Jake murmured, rewarding her with a deep kiss that left her gasping for air.

Bradley's mouth traced a teasing path along her inner thigh, deliberately avoiding where she wanted him most. “Tell us what you want.”

"What I want," Nick breathed, her voice catching as Bradley's lips inched closer to her center, "is for you to stop teasing and put your mouth on me."

Jake chuckled, his fingers tangling in her dark hair. "That sounded more like a demand than a request," he observed, giving her hair a gentle tug that made her gasp. "Try again."

Nick bit her lip, the dog tags shifting against her skin as she squirmed under Bradley's teasing touches. Her pride warred with her desire for a moment before she surrendered.

"Please," she whispered, her green eyes meeting Bradley's heated gaze. "Please put your mouth on me."

“When you address us you will address us properly. Is that understood Nick?” Jake asked.

Nick swallowed hard, a flush spreading across her chest that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with arousal. The power dynamic shifting between them sent a fresh wave of heat through her core.

"Yes, sir," she replied, the words coming easier than she'd expected. Her eyes locked with Bradley's as she added, "Please put your mouth on me... Master." She threw out without thinking.

Bradley's eyes darkened at the unexpected title, a visible shudder running through his powerful frame. He exchanged a look with Jake that crackled with intensity.

"Master?" Jake repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "That's new."

Nick felt a momentary flash of vulnerability, unsure if she'd crossed some line. But then Bradley's mouth descended on her center without warning, his tongue flat against her heat, any coherent thought scattered like ashes in the wind.

"Oh god," she gasped, her back arching off the bed.

Jake's hand tightened in her hair, angling her face toward him. "Watch your words carefully, Mitchell," he warned, though his eyes glinted with appreciation. "Once you give us that kind of power, we might not give it back."

Nick's response was lost in a moan as Bradley's tongue circled her clit with devastating precision. It took a moment but she finally found her words. “I don't want it back…Sir.”

Jake's breath caught, his grip on her hair tightening just a little more to send a delicious sting across her scalp. The raw honesty in her words seemed to strip away some of his carefully maintained control.

"Fuck," he muttered, his free hand moving to stroke himself as he watched her writhe under Bradley's skilled mouth. "You have no idea what you do to us, do you?"

Nick's answer dissolved into a keening moan as Bradley slipped two fingers inside her, curling them forward while his tongue continued its relentless assault. The dog tags clinked softly against her chest with each desperate arch of her body.

"I think she knows exactly what she does," Bradley murmured against her inner thigh, his breath hot on her sensitive skin. His eyes, dark with desire, flicked up to meet hers. "Don't you, Nick?"

She managed a breathless laugh that caused Bradley to remove his fingers and give her pussy a slap.

Nick gasped, her body jolting at the unexpected sting. The dog tags rattled against her chest, the sound mingling with her sharp intake of breath.

"Answer when you're spoken to," Bradley commanded, his voice carrying an edge she rarely heard outside the base or in the bedroom for that matter.

"Yes," she breathed, her eyes locking with his. "Yes, Master, I know exactly what I do to you both."

Jake's hand slid from her hair to her throat, his fingers applying just enough pressure to make her pulse quicken beneath his touch. "And you enjoy it, don't you? Having us wrapped around your finger while pretending to submit."

The accusation sent heat flooding through her body. There was truth in his words—she did delight in the power she held over them, even now, spread beneath them.

"Maybe," she admitted, her voice husky. "But I enjoy this more. The way you both take control." Her eyes darkened as she glanced between them. "The way you make me surrender Sir."

Bradley's fingers returned to her slick heat, the intrusion more demanding this time. "And do you surrender, Nick?" he asked, curling his fingers in a way that made her thighs tremble. "Or is this just another game?"

Jake's hand remained at her throat, his thumb tracing her racing pulse.

"It started as a game," she confessed, gasping as Bradley's fingers hit a spot that made stars burst behind her eyelids. "But now—fuck—now I don't know."

"Not good enough," Jake growled, his fingers tightening fractionally around her throat. "Yes or no, Mitchell. Do you surrender to us?"

Nick's pulse raced beneath his palm, her eyes wide and dark with desire. For a moment, she teetered on the precipice between her natural defiance and the overwhelming need consuming her body.

"Yes," she finally whispered, the word falling from her lips like a confession. "Yes, Master Jake. I surrender."

Something shifted in Jake's expression—a flash of vulnerability quickly masked by triumph. "Good girl," he murmured, rewarding her with a deep, claiming kiss that stole what little breath she had left.

Bradley's fingers continued their relentless assault, his rhythm increasing as he watched her come undone beneath them. "I think she deserves a reward for that admission, don't you, Hangman?"

Jake broke the kiss, his eyes dark and hungry as he looked down at Nick. The candlelight caught the sheen of sweat on her skin, highlighting the flush that had spread across her chest where his dog tags rested.

"I think you're right," Jake agreed, his voice rough with desire. "What did you have in mind?"

Bradley's fingers slowed their pace inside her, drawing a frustrated whimper from Nick's lips. "I think we should let her choose," he suggested, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. "Within reason, of course."

Jake's eyebrow arched as he looked down at Nick, his hand still resting possessively at her throat. "Hear that, Darlin’? You get to choose your reward. So what will it be?"

Nick's mind raced through possibilities, her body humming with need. The weight of both their gazes made her feel powerful even in her surrender. She reached up, fingers wrapping around Jake's wrist where his hand still rested at her throat.

"I want you both," she said, her voice husky with desire. "At the same time Sir."

Jake's pupils dilated, his grip on her throat tightening just enough to make her pulse quicken. "Be specific," he demanded. "How do you want us?"

Nick's tongue darted out to wet her lips, the dog tags shifting against her skin as she took a shaky breath. "I want you inside me, Sir," she said, her eyes locked with Jake's. Then she turned to Bradley, whose fingers were still buried inside her. "And I want to feel Master Bradley's cock in my mouth while you fuck me."

Bradley's breath hitched audibly, his fingers curling inside her involuntarily at her words. "Jesus, Nick," he muttered, his free hand stroking himself as he watched her face.

Jake's expression darkened with hunger as he released her throat, his hand sliding down to cup her breast possessively. “What do think Rooster? Has she been a good enough girl for that?”

Bradley withdrew his fingers slowly, making Nick whimper at the loss. He brought them to his mouth, tasting her as he considered Jake's question.

"I think she's earned it," he said, his voice rough with desire. "But she needs to remember who's in charge."

Jake nodded, his thumb brushing over Nick's nipple. "Hear that, Darlin’? You get what you want, but on our terms."

Nick's breath came in short gasps, her body thrumming with anticipation. "Yes, Sir. However you want me."

Jake nodded, shifting his position on the bed. "Roll over," he commanded, his hand caressing the curve of her hip. “On all fours.”

Nick complied immediately, her movements fluid and eager as she rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. The dog tags swung forward, dangling between her breasts as she positioned herself on the bed.

"Like this, Sir?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at Jake, her dark hair spilling down her back.

Jake's hand smoothed over the curve of her ass, appreciating the view. "Perfect," he murmured, his palm delivering a light smack that made her gasp. "Rooster, get up by the headboard."

Bradley moved into position, sitting with his back against the headboard, his cock standing proudly. Nick's gaze fixed on him, her lips parting in anticipation.

"Eyes hungry already?" Bradley teased, his hand reaching out to brush her cheek. "Show us how much you want this, Nick."

She leaned into his touch, turning her head to catch his thumb with her lips. "More than you can imagine, Master," she breathed, her voice husky with need.

Jake positioned himself behind her, his hands gripping her hips with bruising intensity. The dog tags swung beneath her with each movement, a constant reminder of her surrender to them both.

"Remember," Jake growled, one hand sliding up her spine to tangle in her hair, "we control the pace. You take what we give you. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Nick replied, her breath catching as she felt the blunt head of his cock pressing against her entrance.

Bradley's fingers threaded through her dark hair, guiding her mouth toward him. "Open," he commanded softly.

Nick's lips parted eagerly, her eyes locked on his as she took him into her mouth. The groan that escaped Bradley sent vibrations through the room, mixing with the low thrum of the forgotten music still playing in the background.

Behind her, Jake paused, his cock poised at her entrance. "Look at you," he murmured, admiring the curve of her spine, the sight of his dog tags swinging beneath her. "Taking orders so well now."

Without further warning, he thrust forward, burying himself inside her in one smooth motion. Nick moaned around Bradley's length, the sensation of being filled from behind sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body.

"Fuck," Jake hissed, his fingers digging into her hips. "So tight, Darlin'. You're loving this aren't you?”

Nick tried to pull back to answer, but Bradley's grip in her hair held her firmly in place, his length still filling her mouth. Her muffled moan vibrated against him, drawing a sharp inhale from his lips.

“Jake asked you a question.”

Nick hummed her affirmation around Bradley's cock, the sensation making him groan. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, communicating what her occupied mouth couldn't.

"I think that's a yes," Bradley translated, his thumb stroking her cheek as she hollowed it around him. "But you forgot your manners beautiful." He said still refusing to pull away.

Jake's hips stilled, his cock buried deep inside her. "That's right," he agreed, his fingers tracing the curve of her spine. "We can't have that, can we?"

He pulled out slowly, almost completely, before thrusting back in with deliberate force that pushed Nick forward on Bradley's length.

"Try again," Jake commanded, his voice thick with desire as he established a slow, punishing rhythm. "Are you loving this, Nick? Being filled from both ends? Being claimed by us both?"

Nick moaned around Bradley's cock, her eyes watering slightly as she tried to nod.

“Words Darlin’, I want words. Just because you're sucking cock doesn't mean you can't use your words.”

Bradley still wouldn't release her, forcing her to try and form words around his cock.

Nick moaned around Bradley's cock, trying to form words as he kept her firmly in place. The vibrations of her attempted speech sent shivers through his body.

"Mmm-hmm," she managed, the closest approximation to "yes sir" she could produce with her mouth full.

Bradley's fingers tightened in her hair, his eyes dark with approval. “I think we want to hear that again. Don't we Jake?” Her muffled sounds turning him on.

Jake's hips snapped forward, driving deeper into Nick. His hand twisted in her hair, yanking her head back just enough to make her gasp around Bradley's cock.

"Let me hear it, Mitchell," he demanded, his voice rough with desire. "Let me hear you try to say 'yes, sir' with that pretty mouth of yours stuffed full."

The dog tags swung wildly between her breasts as Nick's body rocked between them. She moaned, the sound wrapping around Bradley, her eyes watering slightly as she tried again.

"Mmm-hmmf, ffir," she managed, the garbled approximation drawing a satisfied groan from Bradley.

"Fuck, that's hot," Bradley muttered, his thumb wiping away a tear that had escaped the corner of her eye. "You're taking us so well, beautiful."

“You love that don't you? You love not being able to speak properly huh?” Hangman demanded to know.

Nick's approving moan reverberated along Bradley's shaft as Jake quickened his rhythm behind her. The dog tags clinked rhythmically against her chest with each thrust, a metallic counterpoint to the symphony of their shared breaths and moans.

"Look at you," Jake growled, his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to leave marks. "Taking us both so perfectly. I bet you've fantasized about this, haven't you? Being caught between us, unable to do anything but take what we give you."

Bradley's grip in her hair tightened as he guided her movements, controlling her pace on his cock. His other hand cupped her face, thumb stroking her stretched lips with reverence.

"She's close," he observed, feeling the tremors running through her body. "Aren't you, Nick?"

She tried to speak around his cock. "Mmm-hmm ffir," Nick hummed desperately around Bradley's length, her body trembling as Jake's thrusts grew more forceful. The dog tags swung wildly between her breasts, the cool metal occasionally brushing against her sensitive nipples and sending fresh jolts of pleasure through her system.

"Not yet," Jake commanded, his hand sliding from her hip to deliver a sharp smack to her ass. "You don't come until we say so."

Nick whimpered, the sound muffled by Bradley's cock as her body tightened around Jake. Bradley's eyes darkened at her reaction, his thumb continuing to trace her stretched lips.

"Look at her fighting it," Bradley murmured, his voice strained as he watched her struggle to obey. "She wants to be good for us, doesn't she?"

Jake leaned forward, his chest pressing against Nick's back as he reached around to grasp the dog tags hanging between her breasts. He gave them a gentle tug, the chain tightening against the back of her neck.

"These mean you obey," he growled into her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "You come when we say, not before. Understand?"

Nick's muffled whimper was answer enough she thought as she struggled to hold back the orgasm building inside her. Her thighs trembled with the effort, her body caught in the exquisite torture between pleasure and restraint. She was so close she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back.

Jake pulled on the dog tags again, the pressure against the back of Nick's neck intensifying. "I asked if you understand," he growled, punctuating his words with a particularly deep thrust that made her groan.

"Mmmff," Nick tried around Bradley's cock, her eyes watering with the strain of holding back her release. The dual sensation of being filled completely while being denied her orgasm was torture but torture she loved.

Bradley's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb wiping away another tear that had escaped. "I think she's enjoying this more than we are.”

The tremors in Nick's body intensified as Jake maintained his relentless pace. Her knees threatened to buckle, the only things keeping her upright were Bradley's firm grip in her hair and Jake's bruising hold on her hips.

She tried to ask if she could come, her eyes desperately pleading along with her muffled words.

"I think she's earned it," Bradley said, his voice strained as he watched Nick struggle to obey their command. His thumb traced her stretched lips with appreciation. "What do you think, Hangman?"

Jake's rhythm faltered momentarily as he considered, his fingers still wrapped around the chain of his dog tags. "You want to come, Mitchell?" he asked, his voice a dangerous purr against her ear.

Nick's desperate moan vibrated around Bradley's length, her eyes pleading as they locked with his.

"I don't know," Jake teased, his free hand sliding around to circle her clit with torturous precision. "You haven't exactly proven you can follow orders tonight."

Nick's eyes widened, a muffled sound of protest filling in around Bradley's cock as her body trembled on the edge of release.

Bradley's fingers tightened in her hair, his breathing ragged as he watched her struggle. "I think she's learned her lesson," he argued, his voice rough with desire. "Haven't you, beautiful?"

Nick nodded frantically, tears of frustration gathering at the corners of her eyes as Jake's fingers continued their relentless assault on her clit.

"Please," she tried to say around Bradley's length, the word coming out as nothing more than a desperate hum.

Jake's grip on the dog tags tightened, pulling them taut against the back of her neck. "You're lucky Bradley is willing to be so good to you."

He leaned closer, his chest pressing against her back as he whispered directly into her ear. "Come for us, Nick. Now."

The command broke the last of her restraint. Nick's body convulsed between them, her scream muffled around Bradley's cock as waves of pleasure crashed through her. Her inner walls clenched rhythmically around Jake, drawing a guttural groan from deep in his chest.

Bradley's head fell back against the headboard, his fingers tightening in her hair as her moans filtered in around him. "Fuck, that's it," he encouraged, his voice strained as he watched her fall apart. "Take what you need, beautiful."

Jake maintained his punishing pace through her orgasm, his own rapidly approaching. The sight of Nick coming undone between them, her body trembling and tensing as she rode wave after wave of pleasure, was almost enough to send him over the edge.

"Don't stop," Bradley commanded, his voice hoarse as he watched Nick's eyes roll back slightly. "Keep going until she's completely spent."

Jake's grip on the dog tags remained firm, using them to pull Nick back against him with each thrust. The metal chain bit into the nape of her neck, a sharp counterpoint to the overwhelming pleasure still pulsing through her body.

"You feel that?" Jake growled into her ear. "That's what happens when you're good for us."

Nick's muffled whimpers continued around Bradley's length, her body oversensitive but still hungrily accepting Jake's thrusts.

“Fuck I'm close.” Bradley rasped out.

The muscles in Bradley's thighs tensed as he neared his release, his grip tightening in Nick's hair. "Nick," he warned, his voice strained. "I'm going to—"

She responded by taking him deeper, her eyes locking with his in silent permission. The sight of her—face flushed, eyes watering, lips stretched around him while Jake's dog tags swung between her breasts—pushed him over the edge.

Bradley came with a guttural groan, his release flooding her mouth as his hips jerked forward. Nick swallowed around him, her throat working as she took everything he offered.

"Good girl," Bradley praised, his voice rough as he watched her, his thumb wiping a drop from the corner of her mouth. "So fucking perfect." He said as he pushed her forward so her lips were practically against his pelvic bone.

Behind her, Jake's rhythm faltered, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he neared his own orgasm

Bradley's release triggered a chain reaction. Jake's fingers dug into Nick's hips with bruising intensity, his other hand still gripping the dog tags tightly as his control finally shattered.

"Fuck, Nick," he growled, his voice breaking as he drove into her one final time.

His body tensed as he came, filling her with hot pulses that seemed to go on forever. The dog tags clinked against her skin as he collapsed forward, his chest pressing against her back, one arm wrapping around her waist to steady her, and his breath coming in harsh pants against her neck.

For a moment, they remained frozen in that tableau—Nick caught between them, her body trembling with aftershocks, Jake still buried deep inside her, his dog tags dangling between her breasts.

Bradley gently eased himself from Nick's mouth, his thumb tracing her swollen lips with tenderness. "Breathe, beautiful," he murmured, his fingers combing through her tangled hair as she gasped for air. “You were so good for us. I'm so proud of you.”

"Holy shit," Nick finally managed, her voice hoarse and raw. Her arms quivered with the effort of holding herself up.

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade, his breathing still uneven. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentler than she'd heard it all night.

"Better than okay," she replied, a breathless laugh escaping her. "Though I might collapse any second."

As if on cue, Jake carefully withdrew from her, earning a small whimper at the sudden emptiness. Strong hands caught her before she could collapse, easing her onto her side. The dog tags settled against her collarbone, warm from her flushed skin.

"Come here," Bradley murmured, pulling her up toward the pillows. She went willingly, her limbs heavy and pliant as she nestled between them. Jake stretched out on her other side, his hand settling possessively on her hip.

For several moments, the only sound in the room was their collective breathing gradually slowing to normal. The candles flickered, casting dancing shadows across their intertwined bodies.

Jake's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned. "Shit, the camera," he muttered, reluctantly pulling away from Nick's warm body.

"Still recording?" Bradley asked, his voice languid with satisfaction as he pulled Nick closer to his chest.

"Yeah," Jake confirmed, padding naked across the room to retrieve his phone. He stopped the recording with a tap, then returned to the bed, sliding in behind Nick so she was sandwiched between them once more. "That's going to be quite the home movie."

Nick laughed softly, the sound vibrating against Bradley's chest. "I expect a private screening," she murmured, reaching up to touch the silver tags, fingers tracing the embossed letters of Jake's name.

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his hand sliding possessively across her hip. "You earned it," he said, his voice softer than his usual cocky tone. "You were amazing.

She smiled taking in the way he looked post orgasm. With some reluctance she sat up and turned so she was facing Jake.

“Sit up please.”

His eyes crinkled in curiosity as he did what she asked.

Nick traced her fingers over his name on the dog tags one last time before she hesitantly removed the necklace. She draped the chain over Jake's head and gently kissed the nape of his neck where it rested. Her arms then possessively and tightly wrapped around his waist.

“Back where they belong.” She whispered.

Jake's eyes darkened as he felt the weight of the dog tags settle against his chest once more, still warm from Nick's skin. His hand came up to cover hers where it rested against his waist.

"For now," he said, his voice low and intimate. "But I think they looked pretty damn good on you, Mitchell."

Bradley watched them from his position on the bed, his expression thoughtful as he observed the exchange. "Symbolic," he commented, reaching out to trace his fingers along Nick's spine.

Nick shivered at his touch, her body still sensitive from their activities. "What is?" she asked, not releasing her hold on Jake.

"Giving them back," Bradley explained, shifting closer until his chest pressed against her back. "Taking them off rather than having them removed."

Jake's thumb stroked the inside of her wrist where the small wing tattoo rested. "You're still ours," he murmured, his voice carrying a possessiveness that made her pulse quicken. "Tags or no tags."

Nick felt Bradley's warmth against her back, Jake's solid presence in front of her. Sandwiched between them, she felt oddly secure, even as vulnerability threatened to overwhelm her. This was dangerous territory—far beyond the physical intimacy they'd just shared.

"Is that right?" she challenged, trying to maintain some semblance of her usual defiance. "I don't recall signing any ownership papers."

Jake's fingers curled around her wrist, drawing her attention back to him. His eyes, usually sharp with cocky self-assurance, held something deeper, more genuine.

He knew what she was doing. She had said something similar when they walked in the door.

"You didn't have to," he said simply. " “You were ours the moment we laid eyes on you at the Hard Deck. But wearing my tags makes it more real.”

Nick cocked her head. “How so?”

Jake turned in her arms to face her, his fingers traced the line of her jaw, his gaze intense. "Those tags represent who I am—not just my name, but what I stand for, what I've earned. When you wore them, you carried a piece of me against your skin So giving them to you..." He paused, searching for words that wouldn't sound too revealing. "It means something."

Bradley's hand settled on her hip, his touch grounding her between them. "What Jake's trying and failing to say," he interjected, his voice a low rumble against her back, "is that we don't just let anyone wear them."

Nick swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the weight of the moment. The playful energy that had surrounded their encounter was shifting into something more profound, and she wasn't entirely surprised she was ready for it.

"I see," Nick whispered, her voice unusually soft. The weight of their words settled over her like a physical presence. "Well now I feel like I wore them at an inappropriate time. They hold so much significance and I wore them during sex.”

Jake's fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "There's nothing inappropriate about it," he said firmly. "That's exactly when they should be worn—in moments of complete trust."

Bradley's arms tightened around her waist, his lips brushing the curve of her shoulder. "Those tags mean protection, loyalty, service," he murmured against her skin. "Everything we just shared."

Nick felt a flush spread across her cheeks that had nothing to do with their recent activities. "I just thought..." she began, then trailed off, uncharacteristically lost for words.

"You thought it was just a sexy prop?" Jake finished for her, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Maybe at first. But nothing between us stays simple for long, does it?"

Bradley hummed in agreement, his lips brushing the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. "It's actually an old military tradition," he murmured against her skin. "Giving your tags to someone you're... involved with."

"Is that what we are? Involved?" Nick asked, unable to keep the vulnerability from her voice. This was uncharted territory for her—not just the physical intimacy they'd shared, but the emotional undertow threatening to pull her under.

Jake's eyes held hers as he smiled. “Well you called us your boyfriends already so I'm going to say yes.”

Nick's gaze shifted between them."I almost forgot about that. Yesterday was a crazy day," she admitted, her voice softer than usual. The memory of them willing to be her boyfriends during her sub-drop yesterday flooded back, bringing heat to her cheeks.

"Well we didn't Nick," Jake murmured, his thumb tracing the curve of her lower lip. "Especially something like that."

Bradley's chest rumbled against her back as he chuckled. "You called us your boyfriends more than once, actually. You seemed quite insistent about it."

Nick buried her face against Jake's chest, the cool metal of his tags pressing against her forehead. "I was out of my mind," she protested.

“No you weren't. You were honest with what you wanted and so were we. And if yesterday's declarations weren't official enough for you, wearing my dog tags should be.”

Nick felt her breath catch in her throat, the intimacy of the moment suddenly overwhelming. The metal of Jake's tags continued to press against her forehead as she kept her face hidden against his chest, buying time while her thoughts raced.

"So that's it?" she finally asked, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "I wear your tags during sex and suddenly we're official?" She smiled.

Jake's fingers traced the line of her jaw, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Nothing's sudden about this, Mitchell. We've been circling each other for weeks."

Bradley's arms tightened around her waist, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "And it wasn't just the tags. It was you surrendering to us, trusting us to take care of you."

"And us trusting you enough to let you see us like this," Jake added, his usual cockiness nowhere to be found. "Raw and vulnerable.”

She pouted. “Well this all seems a little unfair. I want to do something that claims you both as mine.”

Jake's laugh vibrated through his chest, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Darlin', I think you've already staked your claim pretty thoroughly," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We're both completely at your mercy."

"That's not what I meant," Nick protested, pulling back slightly to look between them. "You have your dog tags, but I don't have anything tangible to mark you as mine."

Bradley's lips curved into a smile against her shoulder. "What did you have in mind? Want us to get matching tattoos with your name?"

"Don't tempt me," Nick replied, only half-joking. Her fingers traced the chain around Jake's neck, following it down to where the tags rested against His chest. "I just want something that says you're mine as clearly as those tags said I was yours."

Jake caught her hand, bringing it to his lips to press a soft kiss against her knuckles. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

Nick nodded, feeling oddly vulnerable. "I am."

Bradley and Jake exchanged a look over her shoulder, some unspoken communication passing between them.

"Well," Bradley said thoughtfully, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her hip, "there's always the traditional approach."

Nick turned slightly to face him. "Traditional?"

Jake's laugh was soft against her hair. "He means rings, Mitchell."

The word hung in the air between them, loaded with implications that made Nick's heart race. "Rings? Isn't that a bit... premature?"

"Not wedding rings," Bradley clarified, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Think of them more as promise rings. A symbol that we belong to each other."

“But won't people notice that you're both all of a sudden wearing the same kind of ring?”

Jake's lips quirked into a smile. "Let them notice," he said, his thumb tracing the inside of her wrist where her wing tattoo fluttered with her pulse. "Besides, we're pilots. People expect us to be a little superstitious, have our tokens and talismans."

"And if anyone asks directly," Bradley added, his breath warm against her neck, "we can always say they're friendship rings." His tone made it clear how ridiculous he found the concept.

Nick laughed despite herself, the sound soft in the candlelit room. "Friendship rings? Really? What are we, in middle school?"

"Hey, you're the one who wants to mark us as yours," Jake teased, his fingers threading through her hair. "Unless you'd prefer something more obvious. A collar, perhaps?"

The suggestion sent an unexpected thrill through Nick's body, her breath catching slightly. She recovered quickly and responded with, “I would assume the two of you would rather me in a collar.”

Bradley's fingers tightened on her hip, his breath catching audibly at her suggestion. "Now there's an image," he murmured, lips brushing against her shoulder.

Jake's eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he stared at her. "Is that something you'd be into?" he asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that sent shivers down her spine.

Nick felt heat rising to her cheeks, surprised by her own reaction to the idea. "I was joking," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. "Besides, we were talking about marking you two as mine, not the other way around."

Jake's thumb traced the line of her throat, his touch feather-light. "Who says we can't do both?" he suggested, his eyes never leaving hers. "You wear our collar, we wear your rings."

"Our collar," Bradley echoed, his voice thick with approval.

“I can't seriously wear a collar. I'm not a dog.” She laughed.

Jake's smile turned predatory, his fingers still tracing the delicate line of her throat. "No, you're certainly not a dog," he agreed, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that made her pulse quicken. "But a collar isn't always about ownership in the traditional sense. Sometimes it's about... belonging."

Bradley's lips traced a path along her shoulder, his words murmured against her skin. "It's a reminder—for you and for us—of what we share when we're alone."

"And it doesn't have to be obvious," Jake continued, his thumb pressing gently against the hollow of her throat. "It could be something subtle. A necklace, maybe."

Nick swallowed, feeling the slight pressure of Jake's thumb against her throat. The idea should have been ridiculous—a collar, really?—but there was something about it that sent heat pooling low in her belly. "And you'd both wear rings?" she asked, her voice huskier than she intended.

“We'll wear whatever you want us to wear Beautiful.”

"I like the idea of rings," she admitted softly, her fingers tracing the lines around Jake's ring finger. "Something that matches. Something only we understand the meaning of."

Jake caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "And the collar?" he asked, his voice low and intimate.

Nick felt heat rise to her cheeks. "I'm okay with it as long as it's not a real collar. Something I can wear whenever.”

Bradley's lips curved against her shoulder. "And who says you'd wear it all the time? Maybe just when we're alone... or when you need to remember your place."

Nick swallowed hard, her pulse quickening beneath Jake's fingertips. "My place?"

"Between us," Jake clarified, his thumb brushing the hollow of her throat. "Safe. Claimed."

"Speaking of places," Bradley murmured, glancing at the clock on Jake's nightstand, "it's getting late. We should probably clean up and get some rest. We all have places to be tomorrow."

Nick followed his gaze, surprised to see it was well past midnight. "Shit, I didn't realize how late it was."

Jake's arms tightened around her waist, reluctant to let her go. "Stay," he said, the word somewhere between a command and a request. "Both of you."

Bradley's eyebrow arched. "In this bed? The three of us?"

"Why not?" Jake challenged, his fingers tracing idle patterns on Nick's hip. "Unless you've got somewhere better to be, Rooster."

“The only place I need to be is with Nick.

Jake nodded in understanding. “What about you Darlin’? You wi-.”

"Yes." She interrupted.

Jake's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Eager, are we?"

"I just know what I want," Nick replied, settling more comfortably between them. The dog tags gleamed against Jake's chest in the candlelight, and she found herself reaching out to touch them again.

"And what you want is to be sandwiched between two pilots all night?" Bradley teased, his arm draping possessively over her stomach.

"Among other things," she admitted, a smile playing at her lips. "But right now, sleep sounds pretty good."

“Let me just go around the house and blow out all the candles and I'm yours.”

“Good. Because someone or someones promised me proper after care after sex from now on.” She reminded not just him but Bradley.

Jake's expression softened as he brushed a strand of hair from Nick's face. "We did promise that, didn't we?" He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before sliding out of bed. "Don't move. I'll be right back."

Nick watched as he padded naked around the apartment, extinguishing each candle. Starting with the living room then moving back to the bedroom. The golden light dimmed gradually, replaced by the softer glow of the moon through the curtains Bradley's arms tightened around her, his chest warm against her back.

"How are you feeling?" Bradley murmured against her ear, his hand tracing gentle circles on her hip.

"Good," Nick replied, surprised by how true it was. "Tired, but good." She turned slightly to face him. "No signs of sub-drop this time."

Bradley's lips curved into a smile. "That's because we're doing this right this time."

Jake returned with a bottle of water for Nick and Bradley.

Nick's mouth curved into a smile as she watched Jake return, his naked form silhouetted by the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Even now, with his cockiness momentarily softened, he moved with the confidence that had first drawn her eye.

"Drink up, Darlin'. You need to stay hydrated," he said, offering her a bottle of water.

"Yes, Sir," she replied with a playful glint in her eye, accepting the bottle. The cool liquid felt heavenly against her throat, raw from earlier activities. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was until the first sip.

Jake handed the second bottle to Bradley before turning off the music and sliding back into bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He settled on his side, facing Nick, his dog tags gleaming faintly in the darkness.

"Better?" he asked, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her hip.

"Much.”

“Good, now let's clean you up and get some sleep.”

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

She's Theirs: Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

Title: Wear My Ring Around Your Neck

Summary: Nick decides to make a fantasy of Jake's reality.

Word Count:  9,372

Warnings: p in v, fingering, m! receiving oral, dirty talk, f! receiving oral, praise kink, sir/master kink, sex tape, gagging

Tags: Smut 

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter 10. This chapter is based off of something I had Jake say in the previous chapter that he thought would be a turn-on. I started writing it one way and then it's just kind of had a life of its own and it became very, very, very smutty. So I hope y'all enjoy it and you don't find it too smutty. Though can you really take it too far with smut? Cuz I don't think so!

“Did Nick say anything about why she wanted my keys?” Jake asked as they walked off base, heading toward their cars.

“I know as much as you do, Hangman.”

“When I handed her my key, she had this mischievous look in her eyes.”

Bradley shot him a sideways glance. “Mischievous, huh? You better hope she’s not redecorating your bachelor pad with pink throw pillows.”

Jake scoffed. “She wouldn’t dare.” But a flicker of uncertainty crossed his face. Nick Mitchell was unpredictable—that was part of what made her so damn intriguing. And dangerous. “Would she?”

Bradley laughed. “Well, she wanted us there, so I’m assuming it’s nothing bad.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not sure I trust your judgment when it comes to Nick,” Jake said, fishing his keys from his pocket. “One bat of those pretty green eyes, and you’re ready to cave to whatever she wants.”

“Oh, and you aren’t?”

Jake’s mouth twitched. “Not the point, Rooster.”

“Exactly the point,” Bradley countered, clapping Jake’s shoulder. “You’re just as whipped as I am.”

“I am not whipped,” Jake protested—though there was little conviction behind it. “I’m... accommodating.”

Bradley burst out laughing. “Right. Keep that energy when we get to your place.”

---

As they pulled up to the apartment, soft music drifted from behind the front door.

Jake hesitated, hand on the doorknob. “What the hell is she up to?”

The music grew louder as he pushed the door open—something sultry, its heavy bass thrumming through the floorboards.

“Nick?” Jake called out, stepping inside.

The lights were dimmed, candles flickering across various surfaces, their glow casting shifting shadows along the walls. His apartment’s familiar scent was now laced with something else—vanilla and spice.

“In here,” Nick’s voice called from the bedroom, teasing, playful.

Jake raised a brow at Bradley, who looked equally intrigued. “Well, this is definitely not pink throw pillows,” he muttered.

They made their way through the apartment, the music swelling as they neared the room. Once they entered the doorway they found Nick lying completely naked on Jake's bed.

Jake froze in the doorway, his breath catching in his throat. Bradley bumped into him from behind, then went equally still.

"Holy shit," Jake whispered, his eyes traveling over every inch of Nick's naked body, bathed in the golden glow of candlelight. Her dark hair spilled across his sheets like liquid silk, and that small wing tattoo on her wrist seemed to flutter as she moved her hand in a lazy gesture of welcome.

"Gentlemen," Nick purred, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "You're late."

Jake swallowed hard. "Traffic," he managed, his voice rough.

Bradley let out a low chuckle behind him. "If we'd known this was waiting, we would've broken several speed limits."

Nick stretched like a cat, utterly comfortable in her nakedness. "I figured after you both took care of me yesterday when I had sub-drop that you boys deserved a treat of sorts.”

Jake's mouth went dry as he watched her stretch, every muscle in her lithe body flexing with the movement. The candlelight cast shadows that accentuated the curves of her breasts, the dip of her waist, the toned planes of her stomach.

"A treat," he repeated, his voice coming out huskier than he intended. "Is that what we're calling this?"

"You can call it whatever you want," Nick replied, her lips curving into a smile that was equal parts invitation and challenge. "But I'd rather you stop talking and get over here."

Bradley moved first, stepping around Jake and shrugging off his jacket. "You don't have to ask me twice," he said, his eyes dark with desire as they locked onto Nick's.

“But before we get started I'm going to need something from you Jake. Your dog tags please.”

"My dog tags?" Jake's fingers instinctively went to the metal chain around his neck, the cool plates resting against his chest. "Why do you—" Then realization dawned, and a slow smile spread across his face. "Oh, I see. Someone's been thinking about our conversation."

Nick's eyes glittered dangerously in the candlelight. "You did say I'd look good wearing nothing but your tags, didn't you?"

Bradley's gaze darted between them. "When did this happen?"

"Last night," Jake said, already pulling the chain over his head. "When we were in the kitchen remember?"

Nick sat up slightly, the sheet falling away completely as she extended her hand. "I figured it was time to make your fantasy a reality, Lieutenant."

Jake approached the bed slowly, the tags dangling from his fingers. The metal caught the candlelight, sending small flashes across Nick's skin as he moved.

"You know what these mean, right?" he asked, his voice dropping an octave as he stood at the edge of the bed. "These aren't just for show."

Nick's eyes never left his as she reached for the tags. "I know exactly what they mean, Hangman."

Instead of handing them over, Jake pulled back slightly. "Turn around," he commanded softly.

A flash of surprise crossed Nick's face, quickly replaced by that familiar challenging smile. She turned, presenting her back to him, the curve of her spine creating shadows in the candlelight.

Jake lowered the chain over her head, his fingers deliberately grazing her neck as he positioned the tags. They fell between her shoulder blades, then slid forward as she turned back, resting between her perky breasts.

The metal was cold against her skin, making her nipples tighten visibly. Jake's gaze caught on the sight of his tags nestled between her breasts, his name pressed against her flesh. Something primal and possessive surged through him.

“How do I look Sir?”

"Perfect," he murmured, his thumb tracing the edge of the metal against her skin. "These mean you're mine," he whispered, just loud enough for Bradley to hear. "But I'm willing to share tonight."

Nick's lips curled into a satisfied smile as she reached up to finger the tags. "I've always liked wearing things that don't belong to me," she teased, her green eyes challenging him.

Bradley watched from where he stood, already unbuttoning his shirt. "Funny, I don't remember agreeing to be the audience," he said, his voice carrying a hint of the commanding presence he had in the cockpit.

"You're not," Nick assured him, her gaze sliding to him with equal heat. "But Jake gets to make the first move. His house, his tags."

She looked so gorgeous, so beautiful he felt a strong urge to take a picture of her. That way he'd never forget the way she looked.

Jake's gaze darkened as he continued to drink in the sight of her. "Stay right there," he said, his voice tight with restraint as he backed away, reaching for his phone out of his back pocket.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked, a flicker of curiosity crossing her features.

"Making sure I never forget this," Jake replied, holding up his phone. "You, wearing nothing but my tags."

Nick's lips curved into a slow, sensual smile as she leaned back against his pillows, one arm draped above her head in a pose that was both casual and deliberately seductive. The dog tags gleamed against her skin, catching the candlelight.

"Are you asking permission, Lieutenant?" she teased, her voice honeyed.

"No," Jake replied, his thumb hovering over the camera button. "I'm telling you I'm going to do it."

Bradley moved closer to the bed, his shirt now fully unbuttoned and hanging open. "If you're taking pictures, make sure they're for our eyes only, Hangman," he said, his tone light but with an undercurrent of seriousness.

"Don't worry," Jake murmured, already framing the shot. "These aren't leaving this phone."

Nick arched her back slightly, the movement causing the dog tags to slide against her skin. "Maybe I want a copy too," she said, her eyes locked on Jake's as he captured the image. "A souvenir."

The camera clicked softly in the candlelit room. Jake looked at the screen, his jaw tightening at the perfection he'd captured—Nick sprawled across his sheets, her dark hair fanned out, his dog tags nestled between her breasts, her green eyes challenging the camera.

"Done?" Bradley asked.

“No he's not.” Nick said. If you're going to take photos then let's really take photos.”

Nick shifted on the bed, her movements fluid and confident. She rolled onto her stomach, looking over her shoulder with a half-smile that made Jake's heart stutter.

"How about this angle?" she asked, the dog tags now dangling from her neck, brushing against the sheets.

Jake's finger hovered over the camera button, transfixed. "It's perfect," he managed, his voice rough.

Bradley moved to the edge of the bed, his shirt now completely discarded. "Mind if I join this photoshoot?" he asked, his eyes never leaving Nick's form.

"You both should," Nick purred, reaching out to trace her fingers along Bradley's abs. "But those pants need to go first."

Bradley didn't hesitate, unbuckling his belt while Jake continued capturing images. The soft click of the camera punctuated the heavy bass of the music still playing in the background.

"How about we make this more interesting?" Nick suggested, rolling onto her side and propping herself up on one elbow. The dog tags slid across her collarbone, catching the light. "Bradley, come here."

Bradley approached, now wearing nothing but his boxers, the defined muscles of his torso taut with anticipation. Without hesitation, Nick reached up and pulled him down beside her on the bed.

"Jake," she called, her voice a sultry command. "Keep that camera ready."

Jake's finger hovered over the button as Nick guided Bradley's hand to her waist. The contrast of his tanned skin against her pale form was striking in the golden candlelight.

"You're playing with fire, Mitchell," Jake said, but there was heat rather than warning in his voice.

"Good thing I've never been afraid of getting burned," she replied, then turned her attention to Bradley.

Her fingers threaded through Bradley's hair, pulling him closer until their lips were mere inches apart. "Kiss me, Rooster," she whispered, loud enough for Jake to hear, her eyes flicking to the camera.

Bradley didn't need to be told twice. His mouth claimed hers in a hungry kiss that had Nick moaning softly against his lips. Jake's breath hitched as he captured the moment—the curve of Nick's back, Bradley's hand splayed possessively across her hip, the dog tags caught between their bodies.

"Fuck," Jake muttered, his free hand adjusting himself through his pants. The sight of them together, on his bed, was more arousing than he'd anticipated.

Nick broke the kiss, her lips swollen and her eyes hazy with desire. "Your turn, Hangman," she said, extending her hand toward him. "I want pictures of you too."

Jake set his phone on the chest at the foot of his bed, angling it carefully. "I've got a better idea," he said, tapping the screen. "Timer. Now we can all be in the frame."

Nick's eyes widened with delight. "Always thinking, aren't you, Lieutenant Seresin?"

"Some might call it strategic planning," Jake replied, shrugging off his jacket before pulling his t-shirt over his head in one fluid motion.

Bradley watched as Jake approached the bed, muscles rippling under tanned skin. "Should we be concerned that he's enjoying the photography aspect a little too much?"

"These are for you too Rooster.”

Nick laughed, the sound warm and rich in the candlelit room. "I don't mind just as long as we get some shots that I would like.”

Jake's grin was wolfish as he settled onto the bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. "And what kind of shots would you like, Darlin’?"

The camera timer beeped softly, counting down. Nick reached for Jake, drawing him closer until he was firmly against her side.

“I want your hand here.” She told him as she guided his to her breast. “And I want Bradley’s hand here.” She guided his hand to her crotch.

The camera timer beeped its final warning as Bradley's fingers slid between Nick's thighs, causing her breath to hitch. Jake's palm cupped her breast possessively, his thumb brushing over her nipple just as the camera clicked.

"Perfect," Nick breathed, arching into their touches.

"I think we need more than one shot," Jake murmured against her neck, his lips tracing a path up to her ear. He nipped at the sensitive skin, making her shiver. "What do you think, Rooster?"

Bradley's fingers moved in slow, teasing circles. "Definitely need a series," he agreed, his voice husky as he watched Nick's face. Her lips parted, eyes half-closed with pleasure.

Jake reached over to reset the timer on his phone, then returned his attention to Nick. "You look so fucking hot wearing my tags," he growled.

Nick's pulse quickened at Jake's possessive tone, the weight of his dog tags between her breasts suddenly more significant. She reached up to touch the metal, warm now from her skin.

"Then mark your territory, Hangman," she challenged, her voice a sultry whisper as Bradley's fingers continued their torturous exploration.

The camera timer beeped again, counting down. Jake's mouth descended on her neck, teeth grazing the sensitive spot below her ear. The sensation made her gasp, her body arching between them just as the camera captured the moment.

"God, you're responsive," Bradley murmured appreciatively, his fingers finding her slick heat. "Already so wet for us."

Nick's laugh turned into a moan as his touch grew bolder. "Did you expect anything less?" she managed, reaching down to guide his hand exactly where she wanted it.

Jake was going to reset the timer when he had a better idea.

"Forget the timer," Jake said, his voice thick with desire. He reached for his phone, switching it to video mode instead. "I want to capture every second of this."

Nick's eyes flashed with excitement as she watched him prop the phone against a lamp on the nightstand, angling it toward the bed. "You're full of surprises tonight, Lieutenant."

"You have no idea," Jake murmured, returning to the bed. His hands found her waist, thumbs pressing into the soft hollows of her hips. "Bradley, don't stop what you're doing."

Bradley's fingers continued their skilled exploration, drawing small gasps from Nick's parted lips. "Wasn't planning on it," he replied, his free hand sliding up to caress the side of her breast.

Nick arched into his touch, the dog tags sliding against her skin as she moved. "You were about to show me exactly what these tags mean," she reminded him, reaching for his belt buckle.

Jake's breath caught as her fingers worked his belt open. "They mean you're claimed," he growled, lowering his mouth to her breast

The hot press of Jake's mouth on her breast made Nick arch sharply, a gasp escaping her lips as his tongue circled her nipple. The dog tags clinked softly between them, the metal warming against her flushed skin.

"Claimed by both of us," Bradley corrected, his fingers finding a rhythm that had Nick's thighs tensing. His other hand tangled in her dark hair, tugging just enough to expose the column of her throat to Jake's hungry mouth.

"Is that right?" Nick managed between shallow breaths, her hands working Jake's zipper down with practiced ease. "I don't remember agreeing to that arrangement."

Jake lifted his head, his green eyes dark with desire. "You're wearing my tags while Rooster's fingers are inside you," he pointed out, his voice rough. "I'd say that's agreement enough."

Nick laughed, the sound dissolving into a moan as Bradley curled his fingers inside her. "Maybe I'm just borrowing them," she challenged, her hand slipping into Jake's pants to wrap around his length.

Jake hissed through his teeth, the sensation of her cool fingers against his hot skin sending a jolt through his system. "Borrowing implies returning," he said, his voice strained as she began to stroke him. "And I'm not sure I want these back now that they've been between these perfect tits."

Bradley watched them, his eyes dark with hunger as he continued his ministrations. "You two are going to kill me," he muttered, leaning down to capture Nick's mouth in a searing kiss.

Nick moaned against his lips, her body caught between their skilled hands. When Bradley pulled back, she was breathless, her green eyes gleaming with mischief. "Take off your pants, both of you," she commanded. "Now."

Neither man needed to be told twice. Jake stood first, shoving his pants and boxers down in one fluid motion before kicking them aside. Bradley followed suit, his eyes never leaving Nick's form as she watched them both with hungry appreciation.

"Much better," she purred, taking in the sight of them. "Now get back here."

Jake returned to the bed first, his hand sliding possessively along her thigh. “You’re making demands while wearing my tags,” he murmured, voice edged with amusement. “That’s not the deal.”

Nick tilted her head, eyes gleaming. “Oh? And what exactly is the deal, Lieutenant?”

Jake's hand moved to her breast tugging roughly at her nipples. “The deal is Bradley and I are in charge.”

Nick's eyes flashed with defiance even as her body arched into Jake's touch. "Is that so?" she challenged, the dog tags gleaming between her breasts as her chest rose and fell with quickening breaths.

"Absolutely," Jake confirmed, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that sent shivers down her spine. His fingers pinched her nipple slightly harder, drawing a gasp from her parted lips. "Those tags around your neck? They mean you follow our lead tonight."

Bradley settled back onto the bed, his strong hands gripping her thighs and spreading them wider. "And if you're very, very good," he added, his breath hot against her inner thigh, "we'll give you exactly what you need."

Nick's pulse raced as she looked between them—Jake's commanding presence at her side, Bradley poised between her legs. The weight of Jake's tags suddenly felt heavy against her skin. “And if I don't?”

Jake's smile was predatory as he lowered his mouth to her ear. "Then we stop," he whispered, his teeth grazing her earlobe. "And I take my tags back."

The thought sent an unexpected thrill through Nick's body. The idea of them stopping now, when her skin felt electric and her core ached with need, was unbearable.

"Fine," she conceded, the word barely audible. Then, seeing Jake's expectant expression, she added more clearly, "Yes, sir."

The effect of those two simple words was immediate. Jake's pupils dilated, and Bradley's grip on her thighs tightened.

"Good girl," Jake murmured, rewarding her with a deep kiss that left her gasping for air.

Bradley's mouth traced a teasing path along her inner thigh, deliberately avoiding where she wanted him most. “Tell us what you want.”

"What I want," Nick breathed, her voice catching as Bradley's lips inched closer to her center, "is for you to stop teasing and put your mouth on me."

Jake chuckled, his fingers tangling in her dark hair. "That sounded more like a demand than a request," he observed, giving her hair a gentle tug that made her gasp. "Try again."

Nick bit her lip, the dog tags shifting against her skin as she squirmed under Bradley's teasing touches. Her pride warred with her desire for a moment before she surrendered.

"Please," she whispered, her green eyes meeting Bradley's heated gaze. "Please put your mouth on me."

“When you address us you will address us properly. Is that understood Nick?” Jake asked.

Nick swallowed hard, a flush spreading across her chest that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with arousal. The power dynamic shifting between them sent a fresh wave of heat through her core.

"Yes, sir," she replied, the words coming easier than she'd expected. Her eyes locked with Bradley's as she added, "Please put your mouth on me... Master." She threw out without thinking.

Bradley's eyes darkened at the unexpected title, a visible shudder running through his powerful frame. He exchanged a look with Jake that crackled with intensity.

"Master?" Jake repeated, his voice low and dangerous. "That's new."

Nick felt a momentary flash of vulnerability, unsure if she'd crossed some line. But then Bradley's mouth descended on her center without warning, his tongue flat against her heat, any coherent thought scattered like ashes in the wind.

"Oh god," she gasped, her back arching off the bed.

Jake's hand tightened in her hair, angling her face toward him. "Watch your words carefully, Mitchell," he warned, though his eyes glinted with appreciation. "Once you give us that kind of power, we might not give it back."

Nick's response was lost in a moan as Bradley's tongue circled her clit with devastating precision. It took a moment but she finally found her words. “I don't want it back…Sir.”

Jake's breath caught, his grip on her hair tightening just a little more to send a delicious sting across her scalp. The raw honesty in her words seemed to strip away some of his carefully maintained control.

"Fuck," he muttered, his free hand moving to stroke himself as he watched her writhe under Bradley's skilled mouth. "You have no idea what you do to us, do you?"

Nick's answer dissolved into a keening moan as Bradley slipped two fingers inside her, curling them forward while his tongue continued its relentless assault. The dog tags clinked softly against her chest with each desperate arch of her body.

"I think she knows exactly what she does," Bradley murmured against her inner thigh, his breath hot on her sensitive skin. His eyes, dark with desire, flicked up to meet hers. "Don't you, Nick?"

She managed a breathless laugh that caused Bradley to remove his fingers and give her pussy a slap.

Nick gasped, her body jolting at the unexpected sting. The dog tags rattled against her chest, the sound mingling with her sharp intake of breath.

"Answer when you're spoken to," Bradley commanded, his voice carrying an edge she rarely heard outside the base or in the bedroom for that matter.

"Yes," she breathed, her eyes locking with his. "Yes, Master, I know exactly what I do to you both."

Jake's hand slid from her hair to her throat, his fingers applying just enough pressure to make her pulse quicken beneath his touch. "And you enjoy it, don't you? Having us wrapped around your finger while pretending to submit."

The accusation sent heat flooding through her body. There was truth in his words—she did delight in the power she held over them, even now, spread beneath them.

"Maybe," she admitted, her voice husky. "But I enjoy this more. The way you both take control." Her eyes darkened as she glanced between them. "The way you make me surrender Sir."

Bradley's fingers returned to her slick heat, the intrusion more demanding this time. "And do you surrender, Nick?" he asked, curling his fingers in a way that made her thighs tremble. "Or is this just another game?"

Jake's hand remained at her throat, his thumb tracing her racing pulse.

"It started as a game," she confessed, gasping as Bradley's fingers hit a spot that made stars burst behind her eyelids. "But now—fuck—now I don't know."

"Not good enough," Jake growled, his fingers tightening fractionally around her throat. "Yes or no, Mitchell. Do you surrender to us?"

Nick's pulse raced beneath his palm, her eyes wide and dark with desire. For a moment, she teetered on the precipice between her natural defiance and the overwhelming need consuming her body.

"Yes," she finally whispered, the word falling from her lips like a confession. "Yes, Master Jake. I surrender."

Something shifted in Jake's expression—a flash of vulnerability quickly masked by triumph. "Good girl," he murmured, rewarding her with a deep, claiming kiss that stole what little breath she had left.

Bradley's fingers continued their relentless assault, his rhythm increasing as he watched her come undone beneath them. "I think she deserves a reward for that admission, don't you, Hangman?"

Jake broke the kiss, his eyes dark and hungry as he looked down at Nick. The candlelight caught the sheen of sweat on her skin, highlighting the flush that had spread across her chest where his dog tags rested.

"I think you're right," Jake agreed, his voice rough with desire. "What did you have in mind?"

Bradley's fingers slowed their pace inside her, drawing a frustrated whimper from Nick's lips. "I think we should let her choose," he suggested, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. "Within reason, of course."

Jake's eyebrow arched as he looked down at Nick, his hand still resting possessively at her throat. "Hear that, Darlin’? You get to choose your reward. So what will it be?"

Nick's mind raced through possibilities, her body humming with need. The weight of both their gazes made her feel powerful even in her surrender. She reached up, fingers wrapping around Jake's wrist where his hand still rested at her throat.

"I want you both," she said, her voice husky with desire. "At the same time Sir."

Jake's pupils dilated, his grip on her throat tightening just enough to make her pulse quicken. "Be specific," he demanded. "How do you want us?"

Nick's tongue darted out to wet her lips, the dog tags shifting against her skin as she took a shaky breath. "I want you inside me, Sir," she said, her eyes locked with Jake's. Then she turned to Bradley, whose fingers were still buried inside her. "And I want to feel Master Bradley's cock in my mouth while you fuck me."

Bradley's breath hitched audibly, his fingers curling inside her involuntarily at her words. "Jesus, Nick," he muttered, his free hand stroking himself as he watched her face.

Jake's expression darkened with hunger as he released her throat, his hand sliding down to cup her breast possessively. “What do think Rooster? Has she been a good enough girl for that?”

Bradley withdrew his fingers slowly, making Nick whimper at the loss. He brought them to his mouth, tasting her as he considered Jake's question.

"I think she's earned it," he said, his voice rough with desire. "But she needs to remember who's in charge."

Jake nodded, his thumb brushing over Nick's nipple. "Hear that, Darlin’? You get what you want, but on our terms."

Nick's breath came in short gasps, her body thrumming with anticipation. "Yes, Sir. However you want me."

Jake nodded, shifting his position on the bed. "Roll over," he commanded, his hand caressing the curve of her hip. “On all fours.”

Nick complied immediately, her movements fluid and eager as she rolled onto her stomach and pushed herself up onto her hands and knees. The dog tags swung forward, dangling between her breasts as she positioned herself on the bed.

"Like this, Sir?" she asked, looking over her shoulder at Jake, her dark hair spilling down her back.

Jake's hand smoothed over the curve of her ass, appreciating the view. "Perfect," he murmured, his palm delivering a light smack that made her gasp. "Rooster, get up by the headboard."

Bradley moved into position, sitting with his back against the headboard, his cock standing proudly. Nick's gaze fixed on him, her lips parting in anticipation.

"Eyes hungry already?" Bradley teased, his hand reaching out to brush her cheek. "Show us how much you want this, Nick."

She leaned into his touch, turning her head to catch his thumb with her lips. "More than you can imagine, Master," she breathed, her voice husky with need.

Jake positioned himself behind her, his hands gripping her hips with bruising intensity. The dog tags swung beneath her with each movement, a constant reminder of her surrender to them both.

"Remember," Jake growled, one hand sliding up her spine to tangle in her hair, "we control the pace. You take what we give you. Understood?"

"Yes, Sir," Nick replied, her breath catching as she felt the blunt head of his cock pressing against her entrance.

Bradley's fingers threaded through her dark hair, guiding her mouth toward him. "Open," he commanded softly.

Nick's lips parted eagerly, her eyes locked on his as she took him into her mouth. The groan that escaped Bradley sent vibrations through the room, mixing with the low thrum of the forgotten music still playing in the background.

Behind her, Jake paused, his cock poised at her entrance. "Look at you," he murmured, admiring the curve of her spine, the sight of his dog tags swinging beneath her. "Taking orders so well now."

Without further warning, he thrust forward, burying himself inside her in one smooth motion. Nick moaned around Bradley's length, the sensation of being filled from behind sending shockwaves of pleasure through her body.

"Fuck," Jake hissed, his fingers digging into her hips. "So tight, Darlin'. You're loving this aren't you?”

Nick tried to pull back to answer, but Bradley's grip in her hair held her firmly in place, his length still filling her mouth. Her muffled moan vibrated against him, drawing a sharp inhale from his lips.

“Jake asked you a question.”

Nick hummed her affirmation around Bradley's cock, the sensation making him groan. Her eyes flicked up to meet his, communicating what her occupied mouth couldn't.

"I think that's a yes," Bradley translated, his thumb stroking her cheek as she hollowed it around him. "But you forgot your manners beautiful." He said still refusing to pull away.

Jake's hips stilled, his cock buried deep inside her. "That's right," he agreed, his fingers tracing the curve of her spine. "We can't have that, can we?"

He pulled out slowly, almost completely, before thrusting back in with deliberate force that pushed Nick forward on Bradley's length.

"Try again," Jake commanded, his voice thick with desire as he established a slow, punishing rhythm. "Are you loving this, Nick? Being filled from both ends? Being claimed by us both?"

Nick moaned around Bradley's cock, her eyes watering slightly as she tried to nod.

“Words Darlin’, I want words. Just because you're sucking cock doesn't mean you can't use your words.”

Bradley still wouldn't release her, forcing her to try and form words around his cock.

Nick moaned around Bradley's cock, trying to form words as he kept her firmly in place. The vibrations of her attempted speech sent shivers through his body.

"Mmm-hmm," she managed, the closest approximation to "yes sir" she could produce with her mouth full.

Bradley's fingers tightened in her hair, his eyes dark with approval. “I think we want to hear that again. Don't we Jake?” Her muffled sounds turning him on.

Jake's hips snapped forward, driving deeper into Nick. His hand twisted in her hair, yanking her head back just enough to make her gasp around Bradley's cock.

"Let me hear it, Mitchell," he demanded, his voice rough with desire. "Let me hear you try to say 'yes, sir' with that pretty mouth of yours stuffed full."

The dog tags swung wildly between her breasts as Nick's body rocked between them. She moaned, the sound wrapping around Bradley, her eyes watering slightly as she tried again.

"Mmm-hmmf, ffir," she managed, the garbled approximation drawing a satisfied groan from Bradley.

"Fuck, that's hot," Bradley muttered, his thumb wiping away a tear that had escaped the corner of her eye. "You're taking us so well, beautiful."

“You love that don't you? You love not being able to speak properly huh?” Hangman demanded to know.

Nick's approving moan reverberated along Bradley's shaft as Jake quickened his rhythm behind her. The dog tags clinked rhythmically against her chest with each thrust, a metallic counterpoint to the symphony of their shared breaths and moans.

"Look at you," Jake growled, his fingers digging into her hips hard enough to leave marks. "Taking us both so perfectly. I bet you've fantasized about this, haven't you? Being caught between us, unable to do anything but take what we give you."

Bradley's grip in her hair tightened as he guided her movements, controlling her pace on his cock. His other hand cupped her face, thumb stroking her stretched lips with reverence.

"She's close," he observed, feeling the tremors running through her body. "Aren't you, Nick?"

She tried to speak around his cock. "Mmm-hmm ffir," Nick hummed desperately around Bradley's length, her body trembling as Jake's thrusts grew more forceful. The dog tags swung wildly between her breasts, the cool metal occasionally brushing against her sensitive nipples and sending fresh jolts of pleasure through her system.

"Not yet," Jake commanded, his hand sliding from her hip to deliver a sharp smack to her ass. "You don't come until we say so."

Nick whimpered, the sound muffled by Bradley's cock as her body tightened around Jake. Bradley's eyes darkened at her reaction, his thumb continuing to trace her stretched lips.

"Look at her fighting it," Bradley murmured, his voice strained as he watched her struggle to obey. "She wants to be good for us, doesn't she?"

Jake leaned forward, his chest pressing against Nick's back as he reached around to grasp the dog tags hanging between her breasts. He gave them a gentle tug, the chain tightening against the back of her neck.

"These mean you obey," he growled into her ear, his breath hot against her skin. "You come when we say, not before. Understand?"

Nick's muffled whimper was answer enough she thought as she struggled to hold back the orgasm building inside her. Her thighs trembled with the effort, her body caught in the exquisite torture between pleasure and restraint. She was so close she was afraid she wouldn't be able to hold back.

Jake pulled on the dog tags again, the pressure against the back of Nick's neck intensifying. "I asked if you understand," he growled, punctuating his words with a particularly deep thrust that made her groan.

"Mmmff," Nick tried around Bradley's cock, her eyes watering with the strain of holding back her release. The dual sensation of being filled completely while being denied her orgasm was torture but torture she loved.

Bradley's hand cupped her cheek, his thumb wiping away another tear that had escaped. "I think she's enjoying this more than we are.”

The tremors in Nick's body intensified as Jake maintained his relentless pace. Her knees threatened to buckle, the only things keeping her upright were Bradley's firm grip in her hair and Jake's bruising hold on her hips.

She tried to ask if she could come, her eyes desperately pleading along with her muffled words.

"I think she's earned it," Bradley said, his voice strained as he watched Nick struggle to obey their command. His thumb traced her stretched lips with appreciation. "What do you think, Hangman?"

Jake's rhythm faltered momentarily as he considered, his fingers still wrapped around the chain of his dog tags. "You want to come, Mitchell?" he asked, his voice a dangerous purr against her ear.

Nick's desperate moan vibrated around Bradley's length, her eyes pleading as they locked with his.

"I don't know," Jake teased, his free hand sliding around to circle her clit with torturous precision. "You haven't exactly proven you can follow orders tonight."

Nick's eyes widened, a muffled sound of protest filling in around Bradley's cock as her body trembled on the edge of release.

Bradley's fingers tightened in her hair, his breathing ragged as he watched her struggle. "I think she's learned her lesson," he argued, his voice rough with desire. "Haven't you, beautiful?"

Nick nodded frantically, tears of frustration gathering at the corners of her eyes as Jake's fingers continued their relentless assault on her clit.

"Please," she tried to say around Bradley's length, the word coming out as nothing more than a desperate hum.

Jake's grip on the dog tags tightened, pulling them taut against the back of her neck. "You're lucky Bradley is willing to be so good to you."

He leaned closer, his chest pressing against her back as he whispered directly into her ear. "Come for us, Nick. Now."

The command broke the last of her restraint. Nick's body convulsed between them, her scream muffled around Bradley's cock as waves of pleasure crashed through her. Her inner walls clenched rhythmically around Jake, drawing a guttural groan from deep in his chest.

Bradley's head fell back against the headboard, his fingers tightening in her hair as her moans filtered in around him. "Fuck, that's it," he encouraged, his voice strained as he watched her fall apart. "Take what you need, beautiful."

Jake maintained his punishing pace through her orgasm, his own rapidly approaching. The sight of Nick coming undone between them, her body trembling and tensing as she rode wave after wave of pleasure, was almost enough to send him over the edge.

"Don't stop," Bradley commanded, his voice hoarse as he watched Nick's eyes roll back slightly. "Keep going until she's completely spent."

Jake's grip on the dog tags remained firm, using them to pull Nick back against him with each thrust. The metal chain bit into the nape of her neck, a sharp counterpoint to the overwhelming pleasure still pulsing through her body.

"You feel that?" Jake growled into her ear. "That's what happens when you're good for us."

Nick's muffled whimpers continued around Bradley's length, her body oversensitive but still hungrily accepting Jake's thrusts.

“Fuck I'm close.” Bradley rasped out.

The muscles in Bradley's thighs tensed as he neared his release, his grip tightening in Nick's hair. "Nick," he warned, his voice strained. "I'm going to—"

She responded by taking him deeper, her eyes locking with his in silent permission. The sight of her—face flushed, eyes watering, lips stretched around him while Jake's dog tags swung between her breasts—pushed him over the edge.

Bradley came with a guttural groan, his release flooding her mouth as his hips jerked forward. Nick swallowed around him, her throat working as she took everything he offered.

"Good girl," Bradley praised, his voice rough as he watched her, his thumb wiping a drop from the corner of her mouth. "So fucking perfect." He said as he pushed her forward so her lips were practically against his pelvic bone.

Behind her, Jake's rhythm faltered, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he neared his own orgasm

Bradley's release triggered a chain reaction. Jake's fingers dug into Nick's hips with bruising intensity, his other hand still gripping the dog tags tightly as his control finally shattered.

"Fuck, Nick," he growled, his voice breaking as he drove into her one final time.

His body tensed as he came, filling her with hot pulses that seemed to go on forever. The dog tags clinked against her skin as he collapsed forward, his chest pressing against her back, one arm wrapping around her waist to steady her, and his breath coming in harsh pants against her neck.

For a moment, they remained frozen in that tableau—Nick caught between them, her body trembling with aftershocks, Jake still buried deep inside her, his dog tags dangling between her breasts.

Bradley gently eased himself from Nick's mouth, his thumb tracing her swollen lips with tenderness. "Breathe, beautiful," he murmured, his fingers combing through her tangled hair as she gasped for air. “You were so good for us. I'm so proud of you.”

"Holy shit," Nick finally managed, her voice hoarse and raw. Her arms quivered with the effort of holding herself up.

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder blade, his breathing still uneven. "You okay?" he asked, his voice gentler than she'd heard it all night.

"Better than okay," she replied, a breathless laugh escaping her. "Though I might collapse any second."

As if on cue, Jake carefully withdrew from her, earning a small whimper at the sudden emptiness. Strong hands caught her before she could collapse, easing her onto her side. The dog tags settled against her collarbone, warm from her flushed skin.

"Come here," Bradley murmured, pulling her up toward the pillows. She went willingly, her limbs heavy and pliant as she nestled between them. Jake stretched out on her other side, his hand settling possessively on her hip.

For several moments, the only sound in the room was their collective breathing gradually slowing to normal. The candles flickered, casting dancing shadows across their intertwined bodies.

Jake's eyes widened slightly as realization dawned. "Shit, the camera," he muttered, reluctantly pulling away from Nick's warm body.

"Still recording?" Bradley asked, his voice languid with satisfaction as he pulled Nick closer to his chest.

"Yeah," Jake confirmed, padding naked across the room to retrieve his phone. He stopped the recording with a tap, then returned to the bed, sliding in behind Nick so she was sandwiched between them once more. "That's going to be quite the home movie."

Nick laughed softly, the sound vibrating against Bradley's chest. "I expect a private screening," she murmured, reaching up to touch the silver tags, fingers tracing the embossed letters of Jake's name.

Jake pressed a kiss to her shoulder, his hand sliding possessively across her hip. "You earned it," he said, his voice softer than his usual cocky tone. "You were amazing.

She smiled taking in the way he looked post orgasm. With some reluctance she sat up and turned so she was facing Jake.

“Sit up please.”

His eyes crinkled in curiosity as he did what she asked.

Nick traced her fingers over his name on the dog tags one last time before she hesitantly removed the necklace. She draped the chain over Jake's head and gently kissed the nape of his neck where it rested. Her arms then possessively and tightly wrapped around his waist.

“Back where they belong.” She whispered.

Jake's eyes darkened as he felt the weight of the dog tags settle against his chest once more, still warm from Nick's skin. His hand came up to cover hers where it rested against his waist.

"For now," he said, his voice low and intimate. "But I think they looked pretty damn good on you, Mitchell."

Bradley watched them from his position on the bed, his expression thoughtful as he observed the exchange. "Symbolic," he commented, reaching out to trace his fingers along Nick's spine.

Nick shivered at his touch, her body still sensitive from their activities. "What is?" she asked, not releasing her hold on Jake.

"Giving them back," Bradley explained, shifting closer until his chest pressed against her back. "Taking them off rather than having them removed."

Jake's thumb stroked the inside of her wrist where the small wing tattoo rested. "You're still ours," he murmured, his voice carrying a possessiveness that made her pulse quicken. "Tags or no tags."

Nick felt Bradley's warmth against her back, Jake's solid presence in front of her. Sandwiched between them, she felt oddly secure, even as vulnerability threatened to overwhelm her. This was dangerous territory—far beyond the physical intimacy they'd just shared.

"Is that right?" she challenged, trying to maintain some semblance of her usual defiance. "I don't recall signing any ownership papers."

Jake's fingers curled around her wrist, drawing her attention back to him. His eyes, usually sharp with cocky self-assurance, held something deeper, more genuine.

He knew what she was doing. She had said something similar when they walked in the door.

"You didn't have to," he said simply. " “You were ours the moment we laid eyes on you at the Hard Deck. But wearing my tags makes it more real.”

Nick cocked her head. “How so?”

Jake turned in her arms to face her, his fingers traced the line of her jaw, his gaze intense. "Those tags represent who I am—not just my name, but what I stand for, what I've earned. When you wore them, you carried a piece of me against your skin So giving them to you..." He paused, searching for words that wouldn't sound too revealing. "It means something."

Bradley's hand settled on her hip, his touch grounding her between them. "What Jake's trying and failing to say," he interjected, his voice a low rumble against her back, "is that we don't just let anyone wear them."

Nick swallowed hard, suddenly aware of the weight of the moment. The playful energy that had surrounded their encounter was shifting into something more profound, and she wasn't entirely surprised she was ready for it.

"I see," Nick whispered, her voice unusually soft. The weight of their words settled over her like a physical presence. "Well now I feel like I wore them at an inappropriate time. They hold so much significance and I wore them during sex.”

Jake's fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. "There's nothing inappropriate about it," he said firmly. "That's exactly when they should be worn—in moments of complete trust."

Bradley's arms tightened around her waist, his lips brushing the curve of her shoulder. "Those tags mean protection, loyalty, service," he murmured against her skin. "Everything we just shared."

Nick felt a flush spread across her cheeks that had nothing to do with their recent activities. "I just thought..." she began, then trailed off, uncharacteristically lost for words.

"You thought it was just a sexy prop?" Jake finished for her, a knowing smile playing at his lips. "Maybe at first. But nothing between us stays simple for long, does it?"

Bradley hummed in agreement, his lips brushing the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder. "It's actually an old military tradition," he murmured against her skin. "Giving your tags to someone you're... involved with."

"Is that what we are? Involved?" Nick asked, unable to keep the vulnerability from her voice. This was uncharted territory for her—not just the physical intimacy they'd shared, but the emotional undertow threatening to pull her under.

Jake's eyes held hers as he smiled. “Well you called us your boyfriends already so I'm going to say yes.”

Nick's gaze shifted between them."I almost forgot about that. Yesterday was a crazy day," she admitted, her voice softer than usual. The memory of them willing to be her boyfriends during her sub-drop yesterday flooded back, bringing heat to her cheeks.

"Well we didn't Nick," Jake murmured, his thumb tracing the curve of her lower lip. "Especially something like that."

Bradley's chest rumbled against her back as he chuckled. "You called us your boyfriends more than once, actually. You seemed quite insistent about it."

Nick buried her face against Jake's chest, the cool metal of his tags pressing against her forehead. "I was out of my mind," she protested.

“No you weren't. You were honest with what you wanted and so were we. And if yesterday's declarations weren't official enough for you, wearing my dog tags should be.”

Nick felt her breath catch in her throat, the intimacy of the moment suddenly overwhelming. The metal of Jake's tags continued to press against her forehead as she kept her face hidden against his chest, buying time while her thoughts raced.

"So that's it?" she finally asked, pulling back just enough to meet his gaze. "I wear your tags during sex and suddenly we're official?" She smiled.

Jake's fingers traced the line of her jaw, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Nothing's sudden about this, Mitchell. We've been circling each other for weeks."

Bradley's arms tightened around her waist, his voice a low rumble against her ear. "And it wasn't just the tags. It was you surrendering to us, trusting us to take care of you."

"And us trusting you enough to let you see us like this," Jake added, his usual cockiness nowhere to be found. "Raw and vulnerable.”

She pouted. “Well this all seems a little unfair. I want to do something that claims you both as mine.”

Jake's laugh vibrated through his chest, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Darlin', I think you've already staked your claim pretty thoroughly," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "We're both completely at your mercy."

"That's not what I meant," Nick protested, pulling back slightly to look between them. "You have your dog tags, but I don't have anything tangible to mark you as mine."

Bradley's lips curved into a smile against her shoulder. "What did you have in mind? Want us to get matching tattoos with your name?"

"Don't tempt me," Nick replied, only half-joking. Her fingers traced the chain around Jake's neck, following it down to where the tags rested against His chest. "I just want something that says you're mine as clearly as those tags said I was yours."

Jake caught her hand, bringing it to his lips to press a soft kiss against her knuckles. "You're serious about this, aren't you?"

Nick nodded, feeling oddly vulnerable. "I am."

Bradley and Jake exchanged a look over her shoulder, some unspoken communication passing between them.

"Well," Bradley said thoughtfully, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her hip, "there's always the traditional approach."

Nick turned slightly to face him. "Traditional?"

Jake's laugh was soft against her hair. "He means rings, Mitchell."

The word hung in the air between them, loaded with implications that made Nick's heart race. "Rings? Isn't that a bit... premature?"

"Not wedding rings," Bradley clarified, his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Think of them more as promise rings. A symbol that we belong to each other."

“But won't people notice that you're both all of a sudden wearing the same kind of ring?”

Jake's lips quirked into a smile. "Let them notice," he said, his thumb tracing the inside of her wrist where her wing tattoo fluttered with her pulse. "Besides, we're pilots. People expect us to be a little superstitious, have our tokens and talismans."

"And if anyone asks directly," Bradley added, his breath warm against her neck, "we can always say they're friendship rings." His tone made it clear how ridiculous he found the concept.

Nick laughed despite herself, the sound soft in the candlelit room. "Friendship rings? Really? What are we, in middle school?"

"Hey, you're the one who wants to mark us as yours," Jake teased, his fingers threading through her hair. "Unless you'd prefer something more obvious. A collar, perhaps?"

The suggestion sent an unexpected thrill through Nick's body, her breath catching slightly. She recovered quickly and responded with, “I would assume the two of you would rather me in a collar.”

Bradley's fingers tightened on her hip, his breath catching audibly at her suggestion. "Now there's an image," he murmured, lips brushing against her shoulder.

Jake's eyes darkened, pupils dilating as he stared at her. "Is that something you'd be into?" he asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous register that sent shivers down her spine.

Nick felt heat rising to her cheeks, surprised by her own reaction to the idea. "I was joking," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. "Besides, we were talking about marking you two as mine, not the other way around."

Jake's thumb traced the line of her throat, his touch feather-light. "Who says we can't do both?" he suggested, his eyes never leaving hers. "You wear our collar, we wear your rings."

"Our collar," Bradley echoed, his voice thick with approval.

“I can't seriously wear a collar. I'm not a dog.” She laughed.

Jake's smile turned predatory, his fingers still tracing the delicate line of her throat. "No, you're certainly not a dog," he agreed, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that made her pulse quicken. "But a collar isn't always about ownership in the traditional sense. Sometimes it's about... belonging."

Bradley's lips traced a path along her shoulder, his words murmured against her skin. "It's a reminder—for you and for us—of what we share when we're alone."

"And it doesn't have to be obvious," Jake continued, his thumb pressing gently against the hollow of her throat. "It could be something subtle. A necklace, maybe."

Nick swallowed, feeling the slight pressure of Jake's thumb against her throat. The idea should have been ridiculous—a collar, really?—but there was something about it that sent heat pooling low in her belly. "And you'd both wear rings?" she asked, her voice huskier than she intended.

“We'll wear whatever you want us to wear Beautiful.”

"I like the idea of rings," she admitted softly, her fingers tracing the lines around Jake's ring finger. "Something that matches. Something only we understand the meaning of."

Jake caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "And the collar?" he asked, his voice low and intimate.

Nick felt heat rise to her cheeks. "I'm okay with it as long as it's not a real collar. Something I can wear whenever.”

Bradley's lips curved against her shoulder. "And who says you'd wear it all the time? Maybe just when we're alone... or when you need to remember your place."

Nick swallowed hard, her pulse quickening beneath Jake's fingertips. "My place?"

"Between us," Jake clarified, his thumb brushing the hollow of her throat. "Safe. Claimed."

"Speaking of places," Bradley murmured, glancing at the clock on Jake's nightstand, "it's getting late. We should probably clean up and get some rest. We all have places to be tomorrow."

Nick followed his gaze, surprised to see it was well past midnight. "Shit, I didn't realize how late it was."

Jake's arms tightened around her waist, reluctant to let her go. "Stay," he said, the word somewhere between a command and a request. "Both of you."

Bradley's eyebrow arched. "In this bed? The three of us?"

"Why not?" Jake challenged, his fingers tracing idle patterns on Nick's hip. "Unless you've got somewhere better to be, Rooster."

“The only place I need to be is with Nick.

Jake nodded in understanding. “What about you Darlin’? You wi-.”

"Yes." She interrupted.

Jake's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Eager, are we?"

"I just know what I want," Nick replied, settling more comfortably between them. The dog tags gleamed against Jake's chest in the candlelight, and she found herself reaching out to touch them again.

"And what you want is to be sandwiched between two pilots all night?" Bradley teased, his arm draping possessively over her stomach.

"Among other things," she admitted, a smile playing at her lips. "But right now, sleep sounds pretty good."

“Let me just go around the house and blow out all the candles and I'm yours.”

“Good. Because someone or someones promised me proper after care after sex from now on.” She reminded not just him but Bradley.

Jake's expression softened as he brushed a strand of hair from Nick's face. "We did promise that, didn't we?" He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before sliding out of bed. "Don't move. I'll be right back."

Nick watched as he padded naked around the apartment, extinguishing each candle. Starting with the living room then moving back to the bedroom. The golden light dimmed gradually, replaced by the softer glow of the moon through the curtains Bradley's arms tightened around her, his chest warm against her back.

"How are you feeling?" Bradley murmured against her ear, his hand tracing gentle circles on her hip.

"Good," Nick replied, surprised by how true it was. "Tired, but good." She turned slightly to face him. "No signs of sub-drop this time."

Bradley's lips curved into a smile. "That's because we're doing this right this time."

Jake returned with a bottle of water for Nick and Bradley.

Nick's mouth curved into a smile as she watched Jake return, his naked form silhouetted by the moonlight filtering through the curtains. Even now, with his cockiness momentarily softened, he moved with the confidence that had first drawn her eye.

"Drink up, Darlin'. You need to stay hydrated," he said, offering her a bottle of water.

"Yes, Sir," she replied with a playful glint in her eye, accepting the bottle. The cool liquid felt heavenly against her throat, raw from earlier activities. She hadn't realized how thirsty she was until the first sip.

Jake handed the second bottle to Bradley before turning off the music and sliding back into bed, the mattress dipping under his weight. He settled on his side, facing Nick, his dog tags gleaming faintly in the darkness.

"Better?" he asked, his fingers tracing idle patterns on her hip.

"Much.”

“Good, now let's clean you up and get some sleep.”

Taglist:

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@lunatygerqueen

@og-baby-ob14

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I live for your comments on my chapters!

I think you'll love the next one. I try to make everything have a purpose in my story. So if something pops up and you think "Hey could this be something? Or could this pop up later in the story?" Chances are it will!

My only thing now is deciding if the smut I'm starting to write is too smuty. I guess we shall see! 🤭

She's Theirs: By Your Side

Title: By Your Side

Summary: Nick experiences Sub-space for the first time.

Word Count:  12,310

Warnings: Sub-space, fluff, light flirting, some suggestive dirty talk. A teeny bit of praise kink if you squint.

Tags: fluff

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter nine. This chapter I feel is more emotional than some of the others. But I feel like it really moves the story along and further solidifies Nick, Jake, and Bradley's bond. If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. And if there's anything you'd like to see in the story don't hesitate to tell me. Maybe I'll be able to put it in!

Nick stared at the flight simulator data scrolling across her screen, the numbers blurring together like runway lights through fog. Last night with Jake and Bradley had been... transcendent. The way they all connected on a more deeper and romantic level.The way they made her feel so loved, so cherished, so safe. But now, sitting in her ergonomic chair at the Naval Air Systems Command facility, she felt hollowed out, a fighter jet running on fumes.

"Boss, these thrust calculations from Jones look off by at least three percent," One of her subordinates said, dropping a stack of papers on her desk.

"So fix them," she mumbled, reaching for her fourth coffee of the morning. Her hands trembled slightly, not from the caffeine but from the emotional crash that had been building since she'd woken up alone in her apartment. Jake and Bradley had needed to report early—some classified briefing they couldn't get out of. They both gave her kisses and told her to go back to sleep. She did but when she woke up her mood had only gotten worse.

“Are you okay Boss?” Her coworker asked out of concern.

"Fine, just tired," Nick replied, forcing authority into her voice. Her colleagues didn't need to know she'd spent half the night with her body tangled with two of Top Gun's finest pilots. "I'll look at the thrust data after I finish the stabilizer analysis."

She turned back to her screen, but her mind drifted to Bradley's hands, calloused yet gentle, holding her own soft ones. To Jake's mouth against her neck, whispering promises that had made her gasp and arch against him. To the way they'd taken care of her, the way they wiped her tears away when she became emotional.

Thinking back to last night and how vulnerable she became brought tears to her eyes. She tried to blink them away yet they still threatened to fall. Something had to be done to get her emotions in check.

Nick hastily dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, grateful that most of her team was focused on their own work in front of them. The vast room hummed with the sound of dozens of engineers working, the tap of keyboards, machines running, and low murmurs of technical discussion creating a white noise that usually soothed her. Today, it felt like static against her raw nerves.

She glanced at her phone, sitting face-down beside her keyboard. The device seemed to pulse with an energy of its own, a tether to the two men who had systematically dismantled her carefully constructed walls. Nick had always prided herself on her compartmentalization skills—it was what made her such an effective engineer. Emotion in one box, intellect in another, never the twain shall meet. But last night, those boxes had been thrown open, their contents scattered like clothes across her bedroom floor.

She knew they agreed to keep a healthy distance from each other on the base, as to not draw suspicion. But right now all she wanted was to be near them.

Without second guessing herself she turned her phone over and pulled up there group text.

Nick: Hey what are you guys doing?

A few minutes passed before Jake and only Jake responded.

Jake: Just some paperwork Darlin’.

Nick: Can we find a place on base to meet?

Jake: Is everything okay?”

Nick stared at Jake's message, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. Was everything okay? No. She felt like she was spiraling out of control, like a jet with compromised ailerons. But how could she explain that in a text?

Nick: I just need to see you both. Please.

She set the phone down and tried to focus on the stabilizer analysis again. Numbers and equations that normally made perfect sense to her now seemed like hieroglyphics. Her phone vibrated against the desk.

Jake: Maintenance hangar 4. 15 minutes. It's empty until 1400.

Nick felt a rush of relief so intense it made her dizzy. She quickly saved her work, smoothing down her navy-blue blouse as she stood.

"I need to check something in the test bay," she announced to no one in particular, grabbing her security badge and phone. "Back in thirty."

Once she stepped into the hallway, she nearly sprinted toward the hangar. Like Jake had said—the place was deserted.

The cavernous space of Hangar 4 swallowed her footsteps as she slipped inside. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the high windows, catching dust motes in golden beams that cut across the concrete floor. The massive doors were sealed, leaving the hangar in a strange limbo—not quite dark, not fully illuminated. A perfect metaphor for how she felt.

"Nick?"

Jake’s voice came from behind a partially disassembled F/A-18. He stepped into view, flight suit unzipped to his waist, white t-shirt underneath. His brown eyes swept over her, immediately registering her distress.

"Hey," she managed, her voice smaller than she intended.

"Is everything okay?"

Nick opened her mouth, but all that came out was a strangled sob.

Jake closed the distance in swift, unthinking steps, reaching her before she could fold in on herself completely. The scent of him wrapped around her—coffee whiskey and warm vanilla, rich and grounding, like late-night conversations and steady hands on cold mornings.

"I got you," he murmured against her hair, one hand cradling the back of her head. "What happened, darlin'?"

Nick clutched his flight suit, burying her face against the solid warmth of him. "I don't know what's wrong with me," she choked out. "I can't focus, I can't think straight. I keep thinking about last night, and—" She broke off, unable to articulate the storm inside her.

"Where's Bradley?" she whispered, hating how needy she sounded but unable to stop herself.

"I don't know. Haven’t seen him since our briefing this morning. Did he not respond to the group chat?" Jake’s thumbs brushed away her tears.

"No. Can you try him? I need both of you."

Jake nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket while keeping one arm firmly around her. "I'll call him."

The ringing echoed in the empty hangar, unanswered. After several rings, it went straight to voicemail.

Jake slipped the phone back into his pocket and guided her toward a small alcove where maintenance equipment was stored. He cleared space on a workbench and lifted her onto it, positioning himself between her knees, hands steady on her waist.

"He didn’t answer," Jake said as she sniffled. "Probably in a test flight." His thumbs made soothing circles on her hips. "He'll be here as soon as he can."

Nick nodded, trying to steady her breathing. The trembling wouldn't stop. She felt pathetic, falling apart like this—over what? A night of intimacy? What kind of aerospace engineer, what kind of Maverick’s daughter, unraveled because two men had shown her tenderness?

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is stupid. I shouldn’t have pulled you away from work."

Jake’s eyes narrowed. "Don't. Don't apologize for needing us." His voice was firm but gentle. "Talk to me, Nick. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

She inhaled shakily. "I woke up alone and I just… spiraled. Last night was…" She struggled as more tears spilled.

Jake sighed. "Do you know what sub-drop is?"

Nick nodded.

"I’ve read about it," she admitted, wiping at her eyes. "But I didn’t think… we weren’t even doing a scene. It wasn’t like that."

Jake’s expression softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "From what I read, it doesn’t have to be a formal scene, darlin'. Any intense emotional or physical experience can trigger it. And last night was pretty damn intense for all of us."

Nick leaned into his touch, craving the contact like oxygen. "I’ve never felt like this before. Like I’m coming apart at the seams."

"That’s because you’ve never let yourself be this vulnerable before," Jake said, his usual cocky grin momentarily replaced by something softer. "You let us see all of you last night, Nick. Not just the brilliant engineer or Maverick’s tough-as-nails daughter. The real you."

Fresh tears welled in her eyes. She lowered her head, a sob overtaking her.

Jake pulled her closer, pressing his forehead to hers. "Hey, hey… I’ve got you."

"It’s just—" Nick’s voice cracked. "I’m not supposed to be like this. I’ve always been independent, in control. And now I can’t even make it through a morning without falling apart because you two aren’t there."

Jake’s hands came up to cradle her face, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. "You know what I think? I think you’ve been in control for so damn long, you’ve forgotten what it feels like to let go. To trust someone else to catch you."

Nick closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. "It’s terrifying."

"Scarier than flying supersonic?" His voice

held a hint of teasing.

A small laugh escaped her. "Way scarier."

The hangar door creaked open, and they both froze. Nick's heart pounded against her ribs as she instinctively tried to pull away from Jake, but he held her firmly, his body shielding her from view.

"It's just me," Bradley’s deep voice called out, and Nick sagged with relief.

He appeared around the corner of the alcove, his face lined with concern. Still in his flight suit, his hair was slightly mussed, as though he’d been running his hands through it.

"I got your messages as soon as I finished my flight," he said, his eyes sweeping over Nick’s tear-stained face. "What’s wrong?"

Jake kept one arm around Nick’s waist. "Our girl’s having a rough morning."

"Sub-drop," Nick murmured, her voice small. "At least, that’s what Jake thinks is happening."

Understanding dawned on Bradley’s face.

Without hesitation, he stepped closer, settling at Nick’s other side. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a fresh tear.

"I should’ve checked in earlier," he said, his voice rough with regret. "We shouldn’t have left you alone this morning."

Nick leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from the warmth of his palm. "It’s not your fault. You had to report. I just… I didn’t expect to feel like this."

"Like what?" Bradley asked gently.

"Empty. Shaky. Like I’m free-falling without a parachute." Her voice trembled as fresh tears welled up. "I can’t focus on work. I can’t stop thinking about last night."

Jake and Bradley exchanged a look over her head, a silent conversation passing between them.

"Come here," Bradley murmured, guiding her off the workbench and into his arms. His broad chest was solid against her cheek, anchoring her. Jake moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist just below Bradley’s. She was completely sandwiched between them.

"We’ve got you," Bradley whispered against her hair. "You’re safe with us."

Nick closed her eyes, surrendering to their hold. The emotions she’d been trying to keep at bay surged forward, spilling out in uncontrolled sobs.

Bradley’s steady heartbeat thumped against her ear, while Jake’s breath warmed the back of her neck. Neither of them rushed her or hushed her tears. They simply held her, creating a cocoon of warmth and safety in the cold, echoing hangar.

"That’s it," Jake murmured, his lips brushing her hair. "Let it all out, darlin’."

As her crying ebbed, Nick became aware of Bradley’s hand making slow circles on her back, matching her breaths. Jake’s fingers traced soothing patterns along her hip, grounding her further in their presence.

"I don't understand why this is happening," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I've had sex before. I've had relationships. Why is this happening.” She asked, still finding fault with there earlier explanation.

"It's not just sex," Bradley said softly, his voice resonating through his chest against her ear. "What happened between us last night was more than physical."

Jake’s arms tightened around her waist. "We connected on a whole different level, Nick. All three of us."

She sniffled, her breathing still uneven. "I've never… felt so much at once."

"That's why you're crashing now," Bradley said, his fingers threading gently through her hair. "Your body flooded itself with dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline—and now those levels are dropping. Your system is trying to recalibrate."

Nick pulled back slightly, looking up at Bradley with red-rimmed eyes. "Is that the pilot talking, or did you actually research this?"

A faint smile touched his lips. "It was Jake actually. After you said you were into BDSM he did some research and passed it along to me.”

Nick blinked in surprise, turning slightly to glance at Jake over her shoulder. "You researched this? For me?"

Jake’s usual cocky smirk softened into something genuine. "Of course I did. The moment you mentioned it that first night, I wanted to know everything." His fingers traced a slow, reassuring path along her spine. "I wasn’t about to mess this up by being uninformed."

A fresh wave of emotion swelled inside her. These men—these impossibly strong, skilled pilots—had taken the time to understand what she needed before she even fully understood it herself.

"We both did," Bradley added, his deep voice rumbling against her. "Jake sent me articles about the lifestyle—sub-space, aftercare, sub-drop, all of it. We wanted to..."

"Be prepared," Nick finished for him.

He nodded. "For when you were ready."

Nick’s eyes welled up again. "That’s so sweet of you both."

"Shhh, it’s okay," Bradley murmured, pulling her closer.

Jake’s hands slid up from her waist to her shoulders, kneading gently at the tension there. "You need aftercare, darlin’. Even if we didn’t plan a formal scene, what happened between us was intense. We should’ve stayed with you longer this morning."

Nick swallowed hard, hating how right they both were, how much she needed this. "I've never let anyone see me like this before," she whispered.

"Like what?" Bradley asked, his fingers still threading through her hair.

"Weak. Needy." The words felt sharp against her throat.

Jake’s hands stilled on her shoulders. "Is that what you think this is? Weakness?"

She nodded against Bradley’s chest, unable to meet their eyes.

Bradley gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. His gaze was steady, filled with concern—and something deeper.

"This isn’t weakness, Nick. This is trust." His voice was quiet but unwavering. "Do you know how much strength it takes to let someone see you like this?"

Jake moved to her side, his hand resting protectively on her lower back.

"Most people spend their lives building walls, never letting anyone in. But you trusted us enough to let us see you."

Bradley’s presence against her chest was grounding. "Trust requires more strength than independence ever will."

"He’s right, darlin’," Jake added, his breath warm against her ear. "You think we don’t need this too? That we just walked away this morning and went about our day like nothing happened?"

"You didn’t?" Nick blinked away fresh tears.

"Hell no," Jake said fiercely. "I was distracted all morning. Couldn’t focus worth a damn during the briefing."

Bradley nodded. "I nearly botched a routine landing because I couldn’t stop thinking about you—about us."

Nick searched their faces for any hint of dishonesty but found none. "Really?"

"Really," Bradley confirmed, gently brushing away a tear. "I kept checking my phone between flights, worried about you. When I saw your messages, I told the flight instructor I had a family emergency."

Jake’s lips quirked up. "Which isn’t far from the truth, if you think about it."

The word _family_ lingered between them, heavy with implication. Warmth unfurled in her chest, pushing back against the hollow feeling that had threatened to swallow her whole.

"Family," Nick echoed softly, testing the word on her tongue. It felt right, even though what they shared was so new—so undefined.

Bradley tightened his arms around her. "Well, maybe not family exactly. More like—"

"Boyfriends and girlfriend?" she asked, hopeful.

Jake and Bradley exchanged a look over her head, another silent conversation.

"Is that what you want, darlin’?" Jake asked, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it. Gone was the cocky fighter pilot who strutted across the flight deck like he owned it.

Nick took a shaky breath. "I… I don’t know what this is between us. But I know I don’t want it to end."

Bradley cupped her face, his calloused thumb stroking her cheek. "Neither do we."

"So, you're both my boyfriends?"

Jake chuckled softly. "I think we’re a bit beyond conventional labels, but yeah—if that’s what you want to call it."

Bradley’s eyes softened. "Boyfriends. Partners. Whatever you want to call us, we’re yours, Nick."

The declaration settled something deep inside her, a restless part of her soul finally finding anchor. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Bradley’s chest, reaching back to grip Jake’s flight suit.

"I’ve never done this before—a relationship with two people. I don’t know the rules."

Jake caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "We’ll figure them out together. Make our own rules."

"Right now, though," Bradley said, voice gentle but firm, "we need to take care of you properly."

Nick nodded, suddenly aware of how drained she felt. The emotional storm had passed, leaving her exhausted but lighter somehow, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. "I'd love that, but we all have work to get back to."

Jake’s thumb traced the delicate bones of her wrist. "Work can wait. You're more important."

"I can't just disappear," Nick protested weakly, though the thought of returning to her desk and facing those thrust calculations made her stomach clench. "I told them I’d be back in thirty minutes."

Bradley reached for her phone. "Text your team. Tell them you’re consulting on a mechanical issue with the F/A-18s. It’ll buy us the rest of the afternoon."

Nick hesitated, torn between duty and the undeniable need for comfort. "I shouldn’t—"

"Nick," Jake said, gentle but firm. "You wouldn’t fly a jet with compromised systems. Don’t try to function when you’re emotionally depleted."

She relented, typing out a quick message to her team lead. When she finished, Bradley took her phone and slipped it into his flight suit pocket.

"What did you have in mind?" Nick asked, her voice small but steadier than before.

Jake’s smile was warm, lacking its usual edge of cockiness. "First, we’re getting you out of here."

"And we’re going to make sure you eat something," Bradley added, his arm still protective around her shoulders. "When’s the last time you had a real meal?"

Nick realized with a start that she’d skipped breakfast, too wound up to eat. "I… had coffee?"

Jake shook his head, exchanging a concerned look with Bradley. "That settles it. Food, hydration, rest, and touch," Bradley said softly. "Physical contact helps with the drop."

"Won’t it look suspicious if all of us leave?" Nick asked.

"I already told them I had a family emergency," Bradley said. "That’ll cover me."

Jake’s hand slid to the small of her back, his touch firm but gentle. "I have to meet with your dad and Cyclone, but as soon as that’s done, I’ll be out of here."

"So how about I take you back to your place, get some food and rest into you, and Jake meets up with us later?" Bradley offered.

Nick leaned into Bradley’s solid warmth, considering his suggestion. The thought of being alone again made her chest tighten, but having Bradley with her sounded like exactly what she needed.

"Okay," she whispered, nodding against his chest. "That sounds good."

Jake stepped closer, tilting her chin up with his finger. "I’ll be there as soon as I can, darlin’. I promise." His green eyes were intense, searching her face. "Two hours, tops."

Nick nodded, feeling steadier than she had all morning. "I’ll be okay. Bradley will take care of me."

"Damn right I will," Bradley affirmed, his arm tightening around her shoulders.

Jake leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The tenderness of it made her eyes sting with fresh tears. "No more crying," he murmured against her mouth. "I hate seeing you cry."

She sniffled and lowered her eyes. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be sorry," Bradley murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It’s not weakness to feel things deeply."

Jake reluctantly stepped back, his hand lingering on her arm. "I need to go before Cyclone sends out a search party, but I’ll be thinking about you both."

Nick watched as he straightened his flight suit, slipping back into his Hangman persona. But his eyes—soft when they met hers—betrayed the man beneath the callsign.

"Text me when you get to her place," Jake told Bradley.

Bradley nodded. "Will do."

Jake was about to turn away when Nick called his name. He paused as she detached herself from Bradley and rushed to wrap her arms around him.

"Thank you, Jake."

Jake closed his eyes as he held her, one hand cradling the back of her head. "Anytime, darlin’," he murmured against her hair. "That’s what boyfriends are for, right?"

The word sent a warm flutter through Nick’s chest. She pulled back just enough to look up at him, surprised to see vulnerability in his usually confident gaze. Rising onto her tiptoes, she kissed him again, pouring her gratitude into it.

When they separated, Jake’s eyes had darkened. He cleared his throat and glanced at Bradley. "Take care of our girl."

Bradley’s gaze softened, the weight of the moment settling over him. "You know I will."

With visible reluctance, Jake stepped away, his hand trailing down Nick’s arm until their fingertips parted. He gave her one last look before slipping out of the alcove, his footsteps echoing across the hangar floor.

Bradley sighed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Why don’t you grab your things? I’ll meet you at my car."

Nick nodded, drawing a deep breath. The emotional storm had passed, leaving her drained but somehow lighter. "Okay. Give me ten minutes."

Bradley’s hand cupped her cheek one last time. "I’ll be waiting. And Nick? It’s going to be alright."

She managed a wobbly smile before stepping back, straightening her blouse and running a hand through her disheveled hair. "I know. I know, and it’s all thanks to you and Jake."

Nick's apartment welcomed them with cool silence, the afternoon sun filtering through the partially drawn curtains. Bradley guided her inside with a steady hand at the small of her back, his presence solid and reassuring.

"Go change into something comfortable," he said, his voice low. "I'll make us something to eat."

Nick nodded, suddenly aware of how constricting her work clothes felt against her skin. She padded to her bedroom, the emotional exhaustion making her movements sluggish. After closing the door, she leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath.

Once she was out of her work clothes, she rifled through one of her drawers for something clean and soft to wear. Her fingers landed on Bradley's TOP GUN sweatshirt, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She had worn it after the rainstorm ruined their picnic, and the next morning, she had refused to take it off.

Nick slipped the sweatshirt over her head, inhaling the faint scent of Bradley that still clung to the fabric—a mix of clean laundry and the smoldering spice of his cologne, rich with black pepper, tobacco, and vanilla. It was sharp yet warm, unmistakably him, settling around her like an echo of his presence. The oversized garment swallowed her frame, the sleeves hanging past her fingertips. She paired it with soft sleep shorts and headed back to the kitchen, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floors.

Bradley stood at the stove, having shed his flight suit jacket, leaving him in a white T-shirt and uniform pants. The sight of him moving so effortlessly in her space sent a wave of warmth through her chest.

He turned at the sound of her approach, his eyes softening as they swept over her appearance. "Nice sweatshirt," he said, a small smile playing at his lips. "Looks better on you than it ever did on me."

Nick tugged at the hem self-consciously. "It's comfortable. And it smells like you."

Bradley's expression warmed further as he turned back to the stove. "I'm making grilled cheese and tomato soup. Nothing fancy, but it's comfort food."

Nick slid onto one of her kitchen barstools, watching his sure movements as he flipped a sandwich in the pan. There was something unexpectedly intimate about watching him here—not in the cockpit of a fighter jet, not suited up for training—but standing at her stove, completely at ease in her home.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "For being there for me today."

Bradley glanced over his shoulder, eyes steady. "You never have to thank me for that."

He slid the perfectly golden sandwich onto a plate and ladled steaming soup into a bowl beside it. After placing the meal in front of her, Bradley brushed a strand of hair from her face, his calloused fingers gentle against her skin.

"Eat," he encouraged, his voice soft but firm. "Your body needs fuel, especially after an emotional drop."

Nick picked up half the sandwich, suddenly aware of the hollow ache in her stomach. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the rich aroma of melted cheese and butter hit her senses. The first bite nearly made her moan.

Bradley moved around the kitchen with quiet efficiency, making his own sandwich and texting Jake as promised. Once his food was ready, he settled onto the barstool beside her, their knees touching.

"Better?" he asked after she'd eaten half the sandwich and several spoonfuls of soup.

Nick nodded around a bite of her sandwich. “Not one hundred percent, but definitely better.”

Bradley went to dunk his own sandwich in t

he hot soup when his phone vibrated.

Bradley checked his phone, a smile playing at his lips. "Jake’s getting ready to head into his meeting. Just wanted to see how you're doing before it starts."

"Tell him I'm okay," Nick said softly, watching Bradley’s fingers tap out a response. "Tell him I miss him."

Bradley’s smile deepened as he typed. "Already did."

They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the simple meal warming Nick from the inside out. With each bite, she felt more grounded, the shaky, hollow feeling gradually receding.

"I feel so stupid," she finally admitted, staring into her half-empty soup bowl. "Breaking down like that at work."

Bradley set down his spoon and turned to face her fully. "Nick, look at me."

She reluctantly raised her eyes to meet his.

"What happened today was a physical and emotional response to something intense and new. It wasn't weakness. It wasn't stupid." His voice was firm but gentle. "It was your body and mind processing everything that happened between us."

Nick swallowed a lump in her throat. "I just hate feeling like this. I used to get panic attacks a lot, and this felt very similar. I always felt ridiculous every time I got one."

Bradley’s expression softened, his brown eyes warming with understanding. "There’s nothing ridiculous about your body's natural responses. Panic attacks, sub-drop—they’re both physical reactions to emotional states."

He reached over, taking her hand in his. His thumb traced gentle circles against her palm, the callouses on his fingertips creating a delicious friction against her skin.

"You know what pilots learn in training?" he asked, his voice low. "That our bodies will react to stress whether we want them to or not. Fighting those responses only makes them worse."

Nick leaned into his touch. "So what do you do instead?"

"We acknowledge them. Accept them. Work with them instead of against them." Bradley’s fingers intertwined with hers. "The strongest pilots aren't the ones who never feel fear—they're the ones who feel it and fly anyway."

Something about his words resonated deep within her.

Bradley’s fingers tightened around hers. "When I get up in that cockpit, I feel afraid sometimes. So does Jake, though he’d probably rather crash than admit it."

Nick’s lips quirked up slightly. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

"The point is," Bradley continued, "we don’t overcome fear by pretending it doesn’t exist. We acknowledge it, respect it, and then make it work for us instead of against us." His thumb traced the delicate bones of her wrist. "Same goes for what you're feeling now."

Nick stared at their intertwined hands, processing his words. "So I should just... accept that I had an emotional crash?"

"Accept it. Understand it." Bradley’s voice was steady, reassuring. "And know that Jake and I are here to help you through it."

She nodded slowly, finishing the last of her soup. "That was perfect. Thank you."

He smiled. "What would you like to do now? I can run you a hot bath, set up the hot tub, or tuck you into bed with some TV."

Nick considered his suggestions, the warmth of the food in her belly making her realize just how physically and emotionally drained she truly was.

"A bath sounds amazing, but..." she hesitated, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"But?" Bradley prompted gently.

"Would you join me?" The vulnerability in her voice was unmistakable. "I don’t want to be alone right now."

Bradley’s gaze grew tender as he reached for her hand, squeezing gently instead of tucking her hair away. "Of course I will."

He stood, gathering their empty plates and placing them in the sink before leading her toward the bathroom. Nick let him guide her, watching as he moved with practiced efficiency, turning on the faucet and testing the temperature with his wrist.

"Do you have any bath salts or oils?" he asked, glancing around the ne

at bathroom.

Nick pointed to a cabinet beside the sink.

Bradley opened the cabinet, revealing a small collection of bath products. He selected a bottle of lavender bath oil, pouring a generous amount into the running water. The scent immediately filled the bathroom—herbal, calming, familiar.

"Lavender helps with stress," he said, catching her questioning look. "My mother used to swear by it."

Nick smiled softly at this glimpse into his life. "Your mom sounds smart."

"She was," Bradley said simply, a flicker of old grief passing across his features before he turned back to the filling tub.

The intimacy of the moment struck Nick—not the physical closeness they were about to share, but this quiet emotional openness. Bradley rarely spoke of his family, of the mother he'd lost too young and the father whose shadow still loomed large over both their lives.

Steam curled into the air as Bradley turned to her. "May I?"

Nick nodded, lifting her arms slightly as Bradley’s hands found the hem of his sweatshirt. He pulled it over her head with gentle efficiency, his gaze steady. There was nothing heated in his expression—just tenderness, quiet care, something that made her chest tighten.

Instead of tucking her hair behind her ear, Bradley smoothed his palm down her arm, reassuring in its warmth.

When his fingers brushed against the waistband of her sleep shorts, Nick caught her breath. Bradley paused, his eyes searching her face.

"Is this okay?" he asked, his voice low.

"Yes," she whispered, trusting him completely. "It's okay."

He slowly slid the shorts down her legs, his touch reverent. When she stood before him in just her underwear, Bradley pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"You're beautiful," he murmured against her skin.

Nick's eyes stung with unexpected tears. Not from embarrassment or vulnerability, but from the simple, honest care in his voice. Bradley seemed to notice, his thumbs gently wiping away the moisture before it could fall.

"No more tears today," he said softly, echoing Jake's earlier words.

Nick nodded, reaching for the hem of his t-shirt. "Your turn."

Bradley allowed her to undress him, standing still as her fingers worked at removing his clothing. Unlike their passionate encounter the night before, this disrobing was unhurried, tender. When they both stood naked, Bradley tested the water once more before stepping into the tub and holding out his hand to help her in.

She took his hand and let him help her into the tub. Once her feet were firmly in the water they both sat down, letting the warmth envelope them.

"This is nice," Nick murmured, her head resting against his shoulder.

Bradley's hands moved in slow, soothing circles across her shoulders, his thumbs working at the knots of tension there. "You're carrying a lot of stress here," he observed, his touch gentle but firm.

Nick closed her eyes, surrendering to his ministrations. "Hazard of the job. Staring at screens, blueprints, and leaning over engines all day."

"Hmm," Bradley hummed against her hair, his breath warm against her ear. "And the emotional crash probably didn't help."

She sighed, sinking deeper into the water. "No, it didn't."

Bradley's hands continued their gentle exploration, working down her arms, then back up to her shoulders. His touch was therapeutic rather than sexual, focused entirely on her comfort and relaxation.

"You know," he said softly, "what happened between us last night wasn't just physical for me and Jake."

Nick's eyes remained closed, but she tilted her head slightly, listening.

"I've never experienced anything like that before," Bradley continued, his voice low and intimate in the steamy bathroom. "Not just the sex, though that was... incredible. But the connection. The three of us together."

Nick felt a flutter in her chest at his words. "Me neither," she admitted. "It was like... like flying, but better."

Bradley chuckled softly, the sound rumbling through his chest against her back. "Better than any flight I've been on that's for sure.”

Nick laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension that had lingered around her all day. "That's saying something, coming from one of Top Gun's finest."

Bradley pressed a kiss to her damp shoulder, his lips lingering against her skin. "I mean it, Nick. What we have—what we're building together—it's special."

The sincerity in his voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Nick leaned back further into his embrace, letting the water lap gently around them. For several minutes, they simply existed together in comfortable silence, the only sounds the occasional drip from the faucet and their synchronized breathing.

"Bradley?" Nick finally whispered, her voice barely audible over the quiet splashing of the water.

"Hmm?" His fingers traced lazy patterns along her upper arms.

"I'm scared." The admission fell from her lips before she could reconsider it.

“About what beautiful?”

Nick swallowed hard, gathering her courage. "About this. Us. What happens when everyone finds out? What happens when my father discovers I'm dating not one, but two of his pilots?" She shifted slightly to look up at Bradley's face. "What if it interferes with your careers? With my job?"

Bradley's arms tightened around her, his expression thoughtful. "Those are valid concerns," he said, his voice low and steady. "But we'll figure it out together."

"My dad would lose his mind," Nick whispered. "He's always been so protective, and this... this would be beyond anything he could have imagined for me."

Bradley's thumb traced gentle circles on her shoulder. "Mav loves you. It might take time, but he'd come around."

"And what about the Navy? The fraternization rules—"

"Technically," Bradley interrupted gently, "you're not apart of the Navy. And Jake and I aren’t dating each other. We’re just dating you.”

Nick considered Bradley’s words, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully. "So... just to make sure I understand—we're not two separate relationships happening at the same time. This is something different. Something that's ours."

Bradley met her gaze, his expression steady. "Exactly. It’s not about being separate. It’s about the three of us building something together."

The water lapped gently around them as Nick let his words settle. "And you two are okay with… sharing me?"

Bradley’s grip on her tightened slightly, reassuring. "It’s not about sharing, Nick. It’s about us being what each other needs. Jake and I—our connection is different. Not romantic, not sexual. But we trust each other, and we’re both committed to this."

Nick tilted her head, watching him carefully. "So you’re... becoming friends?"

Bradley huffed a quiet laugh. "I don’t know if I’d go that far."

Nick smirked. "You sure about that? Because from where I’m sitting, you seem like friends."

Bradley's lips curved against her temple in a slow smile. "Maybe you're right. Maybe this thing with you is changing everything."

Nick felt a flutter in her chest. "And what exactly is this?"

Bradley’s voice softened, his thumb tracing lazy circles against her damp skin. "It’s something that matters. Something worth protecting, worth caring for. Something worth fighting for."

The sincerity in Bradley’s voice made Nick’s throat tighten. She turned in his arms, water sloshing gently over the edge of the tub as she shifted to face him. His brown eyes were warm, open—revealing a vulnerability she rarely glimpsed beneath his composed exterior.

"I feel the same way about both of you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it terrifies me how quickly this happened. How intense it feels."

Bradley brushed his thumb across her cheek, his touch grounding. "Some things don’t follow a timeline, Nick. What we have... it may have happened fast, but that doesn’t make it any less real."

Nick leaned into his touch, the warm water enveloping them like a cocoon. It made voicing her deepest fears easier. "What if I’m not enough? For both of you?"

Bradley’s expression softened, his gaze never wavering. "That’s not possible. You’re more than enough."

"But what if—"

"Nick," Bradley interrupted gently, his hands framing her face. "The way you connect with each of us is unique. What you share with Jake isn’t the same as what you share with me, and that’s exactly how it should be. You don’t have to be everything to everyone."

She closed her eyes, letting his words settle. "And what if it all falls apart? What if we can’t make it work?"

"Then we’ll face that together too." Bradley’s voice was steady, grounding. "But I believe this—us—is worth the risk."

Nick searched his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity. Slowly, she nodded, allowing herself to believe in the possibility of them—this unconventional trio navigating uncharted waters together.

"The water’s getting cold," she murmured, suddenly aware of the dropping temperature.

Bradley pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Let’s get you dried off and into bed. You need rest."

The water was indeed cooling, breaking the spell of their intimate conversation. Bradley stood first, water streaming down his muscular frame as he reached for a towel. He wrapped it around his waist before grabbing another and holding it open for Nick.

"Come here," he said softly.

Nick rose from the bath, suddenly feeling shy despite their intimacy the night before. This vulnerability was different—emotional rather than physical. Bradley enveloped her in the towel, his movements gentle as he patted her skin dry.

"Let me take care of you," he murmured, running the soft fabric over her shoulders and down her arms.

Nick allowed herself to be tended to, Bradley's careful ministrations soothing something deep within her. When he'd dried her thoroughly, he reached for his discarded sweatshirt.

"Arms up," he instructed softly.

Bradley's hands were gentle as he guided the sweatshirt down over her body, the soft fabric falling to mid-thigh. The tenderness in his movements made Nick's heart constrict. This wasn't the rushed passion of last night, but something equally intimate—a quiet demonstration of care that spoke volumes.

"Better?" he asked, his voice low.

Nick nodded, suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. The emotional rollercoaster of the day, combined with the warmth of the bath, had drained what little energy she had left. Bradley seemed to notice, his arm coming around her waist to steady her.

"Let’s get you to bed," he said softly, guiding her toward the bedroom.

The cool sheets welcomed Nick as Bradley helped her settle in. She expected him to join her, but instead, he tucked the comforter around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Aren’t you going to lay in bed and watch TV with me?" she all but pouted.

Bradley’s expression softened at her tone. "Of course I am. I just need to grab my phone, see if Jake messaged us."

He disappeared briefly, returning with his phone in hand. After quickly checking the screen, his expression warmed. "Jake’s meeting is running longer than expected. He says to tell you he’ll be here as soon as he can escape Cyclone’s clutches."

Nick smiled sleepily, lifting the comforter in invitation. Bradley slid in beside her, now wearing only his boxers. The heat of his body immediately warmed the space as he reached for the remote on her nightstand.

"What do you want to watch?" he asked, his arm coming around her shoulders.

Nick nestled against his side, her head finding the perfect spot on his chest where she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She watched as he scrolled the guide, speaking up when he landed on a show she liked. "I love The Big Bang Theory. Can we watch that?"

Bradley smiled, clicking on the episode. "Sure."

Nick snuggled closer as the familiar theme song played, the warmth of Bradley’s body and the soothing hum of the sitcom lulling her into a state of peaceful relaxation. His fingers traced lazy patterns on her shoulder through the sweatshirt, each touch grounding her further.

"Thank you," she murmured against his chest, her eyelids growing heavy.

"For what?" Bradley’s voice rumbled beneath her ear.

"For today. For understanding. For being exactly what I needed." Nick’s words were slightly slurred with approaching sleep.

Bradley pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You never have to thank me for that."

She fought to keep her eyes open, wanting to savor this moment of perfect contentment, but the emotional exhaustion of the day was catching up with her. The last thing she remembered before drifting off was the steady sound of Bradley’s heartbeat beneath her cheek and his voice softly humming along with the TV theme song. His fingers continued their gentle exploration, tracing idle patterns across her arm and back. The sensation was both comforting and intimate, lulling her deeper into relaxation.

"Sleep if you need to," Bradley murmured, his lips brushing against her hair. "I’ll be right here when you wake up."

Nick wanted to respond, to thank him again for his unwavering support, but exhaustion pulled her under. Her breathing deepened as she surrendered to sleep, secure in Bradley’s protective embrace.

She drifted through layers of consciousness, vaguely aware of Bradley adjusting the blankets around her, of his phone vibrating with incoming messages, of his voice—low and soothing—as he spoke to someone, presumably Jake. The familiar sounds anchored her as she floated into a peaceful slumber.

The soft click of the front door roused Bradley from his thoughts. He glanced up from the living room, where he’d been quietly unpacking the last of Nick’s boxes while she slept, to see Jake entering the apartment. Jake had changed into civilian clothes—dark jeans and a fitted white Henley—with his Wayfarers perched atop his head.

"How is she?" Jake asked immediately, his voice low as he set his keys on the counter.

Bradley nodded toward the bedroom. "Sleeping. She was wiped."

Jake’s usual cocky demeanor had softened, concern flickering in the lines around his eyes as he peered through the partially open bedroom door. "Has she been out the whole time?"

"Pretty much," Bradley confirmed, folding the empty cardboard box and setting it aside. "She crashed right after our bath."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Bath, huh?"

Bradley shot him a look. "Not that kind of bath, Hangman."

Jake smirked but shook his head. "Sorry—force of habit." He reached up, pulled his sunglasses from his head, and set them down next to his keys before running a hand through his hair. The casual gesture did little to mask his concern. "How bad was she when you got here?"

"Better than at the hangar," Bradley said, moving to the fridge and pulling out two beers. He offered one to Jake, who accepted with a nod. "The food and bath helped. She opened up about some of her fears."

Jake twisted off the bottle cap and took a long pull. "Fears about us? About this… thing between the three of us?"

Bradley leaned against the counter, nodding. "Mostly about her dad finding out. And how it could affect our careers."

"Valid concerns," Jake admitted, his tone unusually serious. "What did you tell her?"

"That we’d figure it out together." Bradley’s gaze met Jake’s over the rim of his beer bottle. "That this is worth it."

A slow smile tugged at the corner of Jake’s mouth—nothing cocky, just something real. "Good answer."

He took another swig of beer before setting the bottle down and heading for the bedroom doorway. "I’m gonna check on her."

Jake moved quietly into the room, his footsteps barely audible on the carpet. Nick lay curled on her side, her face peaceful in sleep, Bradley’s oversized TOP GUN sweatshirt swallowing her petite frame. Like this, she looked younger, vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be when awake.

He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her. His hand hovered over her shoulder before brushing a strand of hair from her face with unexpected tenderness. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment before pulling back—but Nick stirred just as he moved to stand.

"Jake?" she murmured, voice thick with sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, slowly focusing on his face.

"Hey, darlin'," he said softly, his usual swagger replaced by something gentler. "Didn’t mean to wake you."

She reached for his hand, fingers curling around his. "You’re here."

Jake’s smile warmed. "Course I am. Told you I’d come as soon as I could."

Nick shifted, making room for him on the bed. "How was your meeting with my dad?"

"Boring as hell," Jake admitted. "Cyclone wanted to go over new protocols for a possible mission. Even Mav looked like he wanted to bolt."

"Sounds awful," she slurred.

"Go back to sleep," he murmured. "We’ll wake you when it’s dinner time."

Nick stared at Jake through half-lidded eyes, her exhaustion winning out. "Mkay," she whispered, drifting off once more.

Jake watched her sleep, her features relaxing as unconsciousness reclaimed her. He stayed there for a long moment, simply observing—the way her lashes fanned across her cheeks, the steady rise and fall of her breath. Something unfamiliar tightened in his chest—an emotion he wasn’t quite ready to name.

When he finally returned to the kitchen, Bradley was leaning against the counter, nursing his beer with a thoughtful expression.

"Still out?" Bradley asked.

Jake nodded, retrieving his own beer. "Like a light. Woke up for a second, but crashed again." He took a long pull from the bottle. "Never seen her like this."

Bradley exhaled, rolling the bottle between his palms. "Sub-drop hits everyone differently, I guess. I never even heard of it until you sent me that article." He took a sip. "Today was the first time I actually saw it happen."

"Me too."

Jake settled onto one of the barstools, his usual swagger momentarily set aside. "You know, when I first met Nick, I thought she’d be just another conquest. A challenge." He shook his head, a rueful smile playing at his lips. "I had no idea…"

"That she’d get under your skin?" Bradley finished, his expression knowing.

"Yeah." Jake ran a hand through his dark hair. "Or that I’d be sharing her with you, of all people."

Bradley raised an eyebrow. "Having second thoughts?"

"Hell no," Jake replied without hesitation. "What we have… it works. I don’t know how, but somehow it just does."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the refrigerator, TV, and Nick’s steady breathing the only sounds filling the apartment. Despite their initial rivalry, despite the unconventional nature of their situation, they had become close. Maybe even friends, though neither would say it outright.

Jake’s gaze drifted toward the bedroom door. "What do you think about ordering dinner? She’ll probably be hungry when she wakes up."

Bradley nodded, setting his beer down. "Good idea. Thai? She mentioned liking that place on Third Street."

"Perfect." Jake pulled out his phone and started scrolling through a delivery app. "Pad Thai for her, green curry for me, and…" he glanced up at Bradley. "What about you?"

"Red curry, extra spicy," Bradley supplied.

Jake’s lips quirked up in a half-smile. "Should’ve guessed. Always gotta one-up me, don’t you, Rooster?"

There was no bite to the words, just the familiar rhythm of their banter. Bradley shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. "Not everything’s a competition, Hangman."

"Says the guy ordering his food as a test of endurance," Jake muttered, his eyes still on his phone as he placed the order. "Food will be here in forty-five minutes."

Bradley finished his beer and set the empty bottle on the counter. "Should we wake her when it gets here?"

Jake glanced toward the bedroom, his expression softening. "Let’s see how deeply she’s sleeping. If she’s still out, we can always reheat it for her later."

He stood, stretching his tall frame. Bradley’s gaze flicked toward him briefly, noting the effortless strength in his movements. For a moment, neither spoke, something unspoken settling in the space between them. They were different in nearly every way—Jake with his cocky confidence and impulsiveness, Bradley with his steady pragmatism and careful thought. Yet somehow, they had landed in the same place.

"I never thought I’d say this," Jake admitted, his voice quieter, "but I’m glad you’re here, Rooster. For her. She needs both of us."

Bradley nodded, a flicker of surprise passing over his features at Jake’s sincerity. "She does. In different ways, but yeah… she needs us both."

Jake exhaled slowly. "When I saw her crying in that hangar today… I’ve never felt so damn helpless."

"I know," Bradley said quietly. "That’s why we need to be better prepared next time. Make sure she never crashes that hard again."

Jake met Bradley’s gaze, something unspoken settling into place between them. "Agreed. Whatever she needs, whenever she needs it."

Bradley extended his hand, the gesture simple but weighted. "Partners?"

Jake grasped it firmly, his green eyes steady. "Partners."

The word lingered between them, carrying more weight than either had expected. Not just partners in caring for Nick—but in figuring out what this meant for all of them.

The moment was interrupted by a soft sound from the bedroom. Both men turned as Nick appeared, Bradley's oversized sweatshirt hanging to mid-thigh, her dark hair tousled from sleep. She blinked in the kitchen light, looking between them with groggy curiosity.

"Hey," she murmured, her voice still husky. "What are you two plotting?"

Jake's trademark smirk returned as he released Bradley's hand. "Just ordering dinner, darlin’. Thai food from that place you like."

Nick padded barefoot into the kitchen, drawn by the casual domesticity of the scene—her two pilots, relaxed and chatting as if they'd been doing this forever.

Jake sat back down and patted his lap. "Come here, sleeping beauty."

A sleepy smile curved her lips as she crossed to him, letting Jake pull her onto his lap. She settled against his chest, legs draped across his thighs, and sighed as his arms wrapped securely around her waist.

"How are you feeling?" Bradley asked, standing beside them, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

Nick leaned into his touch while remaining nestled in Jake’s embrace. "Better." She looked between them, her expression soft with gratitude. "I really mean it—thank you both."

Jake pressed a kiss to her temple. "No thanks needed, darlin’. That’s why we’re here."

Nick traced a lazy pattern on Jake’s sleeve, voice tinged with curiosity. "Did you two have a heart-to-heart while I was sleeping?"

Jake chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest against her. "Something like that."

"We've come to an understanding," Bradley added, his hand still resting on her shoulder.

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

"Not at all," Jake assured her, arms tightening slightly around her waist. "Just making sure we're on the same page about taking care of you."

"I don’t need to be taken care of," Nick muttered, though there was no bite to her words.

Bradley brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression soft. "Everyone does sometimes. Even the strongest people."

"Especially the strongest people," Jake added, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Because they’re usually the last ones to admit it."

Nick looked between them, these two men who had somehow become her anchors. The day’s emotional turbulence had stripped away her usual walls, leaving her too raw for pretense.

"I’m not used to this," she admitted quietly. "Letting people see me when I’m not… together."

Jake’s thumb traced small circles against her hip. "Well, get used to it, darlin’. Because we’re not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

Bradley knelt before her, taking her hands in his. "Promise," he echoed, his voice steady. His dark eyes held hers, something in them making her breath catch. "You don’t have to be strong all the time, Nick. Not with us."

Jake tightened his hold around her waist, his chest solid against her back. "What he said," he murmured against her hair. "We’ve got you."

Nick felt a prickle of tears—not the overwhelming storm from earlier, but something gentler, warmer. She blinked them away, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I guess you’re stuck with me then," she said softly.

"Wouldn’t have it any other way," Jake replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

The warmth in their voices settled around her like a security blanket, replacing the hollow ache that had consumed her earlier.

"So," she said, clearing her throat, "you ordered Thai?"

"From that place on Third you like," Jake confirmed, fingers tracing idle patterns against her hip. "Should be here in about half an hour."

"Perfect," Nick murmured, leaning back against Jake while keeping her hands linked with Bradley's. "I'm starving."

Bradley smiled, giving her hands a gentle squeeze before rising to his feet. "Good. You need to eat."

"Yes, sir," she teased, some of her usual spark returning.

Jake chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest against her back. "There she is. Our girl’s coming back to us."

"All thanks to you two."

Jake kept his arm around Nick's waist, his fingers playing idly with the hem of the oversized sweatshirt she wore. "You know, that's becoming my favorite look on you," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "Bradley's clothes, bed-head, and that sleepy smile."

Nick felt a blush creep up her neck. "I must look a mess."

"You look perfect," Bradley countered, leaning against the counter as he watched them, his gaze warm and appreciative.

Jake nodded, his hand sliding to her thigh, just below the sweatshirt’s hem. The touch was possessive but gentle, his thumb tracing small circles against her skin. "Exactly what I was thinking."

Nick smirked, tilting her head slightly. "I bet I’d look just as good in something you own."

Jake’s eyes flickered with interest, the corner of his mouth tugging into a familiar smirk. "Darlin', you’d look incredible in anything of mine." His fingers traced higher on her thigh, just beneath the sweatshirt's hem. "Though I gotta admit, seeing you in nothing but my dog tags would be something else."

Nick's breath caught at the image, heat blooming low in her belly despite her lingering exhaustion. Bradley watched them, his expression warming as he observed their interaction.

"I think that could be arranged," Nick replied, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. The emotional rawness from earlier was receding, replaced by the comfort of their easy banter.

Bradley moved to the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water. He uncapped it and handed it to Nick. "Which we can save for another night. Tonight should be all of us, especially you relaxing."

Nick accepted the water gratefully, taking a long sip. The cool liquid soothed her throat, reminding her how dehydrated the emotional day had left her.

"You're right," she admitted, leaning back against Jake's solid chest. "I don't think I have the energy for anything more strenuous than eating Thai food and watching a movie."

Jake's arms tightened around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Whatever you need, darlin'. We're just happy to be here with you."

The sincerity in his voice, so different from his usual cockiness, made something warm unwind in Nick's chest. She glanced at Bradley, finding the same genuine care reflected in his steady gaze.

"How about we move this to the couch?" Bradley suggested, nodding toward the living room. "More comfortable than kitchen stools."

Jake stood with Nick still in his arms, lifting her effortlessly as she let out a surprised squeak. "Show-off," she mumbled against his neck, though she made no move to protest as he carried her to the living room.

"You love it," Jake replied, his voice warm with affection as he settled onto the couch with Nick in his lap.

Bradley followed, carrying Nick's water and his own. He sat beside them, close enough that his thigh pressed against Jake's, Nick's bare feet naturally coming to rest in his lap. Without thinking, his fingers began to massage her arches, drawing a contented sigh from her lips.

"That feels amazing," she murmured, her body gradually relaxing further between the two men.

Jake's arms remained securely around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder as Bradley continued the gentle foot massage. The three of them fit together with surprising ease.

“I never realized til now what tiny feet you have.”

Nick wiggled her toes under Bradley's touch, a small smile playing at her lips. "Are you saying I have dainty feet, Rooster?"

Bradley's fingers worked magic on her arches, his touch firm yet gentle. "I'm saying they're perfectly proportioned to the rest of you."

Jake nuzzled against her neck, his breath warm against her skin. "Everything about you is perfect, darlin'."

Nick rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress the warmth spreading through her chest at their words. "You two are incorrigible."

"Big word for someone who just woke up," Jake teased, his lips brushing against her pulse point.

The doorbell rang, interrupting their moment of domestic tranquility. Bradley gave her foot one final squeeze before standing. "That'll be dinner."

Nick made to move from Jake's lap, but his arms tightened around her waist, keeping her firmly in place.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jake murmured against her ear, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

"To get plates?" she offered, though she made no real effort to escape his embrace.

"Bradley's got it," Jake said, pressing a soft kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear. "Your job right now is to stay right here and keep letting us take care of you."

Nick relaxed back against Jake, watching as Bradley paid for their food and brought the fragrant bags to the coffee table. There was something mesmerizing about seeing these two skilled pilots—men trained for precision and control—engaged in something as simple as unpacking dinner.

Bradley opened the containers, releasing the spicy-sweet aroma of Thai food into the room.

He went to hand Nick her meal, but Jake took it instead, flicking open the container and grabbing a fork.

"What are you—"

"Open," Jake interrupted, his tone casual but firm.

Nick blinked at his sudden command, but the tenderness in his expression made her comply. She opened her mouth, and Jake carefully fed her a bite of pad Thai. The flavors exploded on her tongue—sweet, salty, tangy, with just enough warmth to settle deep in her chest.

"Good?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

Nick nodded, swallowing before speaking. "Perfect." A blush crept up her cheeks as she glanced between Jake and Bradley. "But I can feed myself, you know."

Bradley settled beside them, opening his own container of red curry. "We know," he said simply. "But tonight is about taking care of you."

Jake offered her another bite, which she accepted with less hesitation. There was something unexpectedly comforting about being fed this way, cradled in Jake’s lap while Bradley sat close enough that his presence grounded her.

"But what about your food? Won't it get cold?"

Jake chuckled, taking a bite of his own curry before offering Nick another forkful of pad Thai. "I can multitask, darlin'."

Bradley watched them with a soft expression, his usual intensity mellowed in the relaxed atmosphere. "We both can."

Nick accepted the next bite, gradually surrendering to their care. The Thai food was exactly what she needed—warm, flavorful, soothing. The three of them ate in companionable silence, the only sounds their quiet appreciation of the meal and the occasional clink of utensils against containers.

"This is nice," Nick finally murmured, leaning back against Jake’s chest. "Weird, but nice."

"Weird how?" Bradley asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nick gestured vaguely with her hand. "Being fed like I’m a toddler."

Jake chuckled, the vibration rumbling through his chest against her back. "Not like a toddler, darlin'. Like someone precious."

"Someone who deserves to be taken care of," Bradley added, his gaze warm as it met hers.

Nick felt her cheeks flush at their words. She’d always prided herself on her independence, on never needing anyone. But here, nestled between these two men, she found herself surrendering to their care with surprising ease.

"I’m not used to this," she admitted softly, accepting another bite from Jake. "Being the one who needs taking care of."

"Get used to it," Jake murmured against her hair. "Because we’re not stopping anytime soon."

Bradley reached over, his hand finding hers. "Not ever, if we have anything to say about it."

The simple declaration settled something in Nick’s chest, and again she wanted to tell them she loved them. But just like last night, she kept it to herself.

Nick’s heart skipped a beat at Bradley’s words. The intensity in his eyes matched the quiet certainty in his voice. She glanced back at Jake, finding the same conviction in his expression, though tempered with his characteristic playfulness.

"So this is really happening," she said softly, more statement than question. "The three of us."

Jake’s arm tightened around her waist. "Oh, it’s happening, darlin'. Has been since that first night."

Bradley nodded, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her palm. "I think we all knew it then, even if we couldn’t name it yet."

Nick took another bite of pad Thai, using the moment to collect her thoughts. The emotional rollercoaster of the day had left her raw, exposed in ways she rarely allowed herself to be. Yet here, nestled between these two men, she felt strangely protected.

“Do you want anymore?” Jake asked.

Nick shook her head, setting the half-empty container on the coffee table. "No, I'm full. Thank you."

Jake pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips lingering against her skin. "Good girl."

The simple praise sent a warm flutter through her chest, different from the heated desire his words usually evoked. This was comfort, security—a feeling of being treasured.

Bradley finished his curry and set the container aside, his hand returning to rest on her ankle. His thumb traced idle patterns against her skin as he watched her with those steady brown eyes.

"What do you want to do now?" Jake asked, his voice low and gentle. "We could watch TV, or just talk, or if you're still tired..."

Nick considered the options, acutely aware of the warmth of Jake’s chest against her back and Bradley’s steady hand resting near her ankle. The emotional exhaustion had faded, replaced by a comfortable relaxation.

"We could watch the Dodgers game in bed," she suggested, settling deeper into Jake’s lap. The storm had passed, leaving behind a peaceful calm that felt both foreign and familiar.

"You heard the lady," Jake said to Bradley, his voice warm with affection. "Dodgers in bed it is."

Bradley gathered their empty containers, clearing the coffee table with efficient movements. "I’ll clean up dinner while you two get settled."

Jake tightened his arms around her waist. "Ready for bed, darlin’?" he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

Nick nodded, allowing him to lift her effortlessly.

Jake carried Nick to the bedroom, her arms looped around his neck. The intimacy of the gesture wasn’t lost on her—this cocky pilot, known for his swagger and bravado, cradling her with such quiet tenderness.

"You don’t have to carry me everywhere, you know," she murmured, though she made no move to pull away.

Jake’s lips curved into that familiar half-smile as he set her down gently on the bed. "Maybe I just like having you in my arms, Mitchell."

There was something in his voice—a vulnerability beneath the teasing tone—that made Nick’s heart flutter. She watched as he moved around her room with unexpected familiarity, finding the remote and fluffing pillows against the headboard with one hand while the other rested lightly at her side.

Jake adjusted the pillows behind her, movements careful and deliberate. "Comfortable?"

Nick nodded, pulling Bradley’s sweatshirt down over her thighs as she leaned back against the headboard. "Perfect."

Jake's eyes darkened as they swept over her, taking in the sight of her bare legs and tousled hair. "You have no idea what you do to me, looking like that."

Before Nick could respond, Bradley appeared in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. He was dressed casually in a t-shirt and boxers, his gaze sweeping over them. "Everything okay in here?"

"Better than okay," Jake replied, his eyes still on Nick. He straightened, moving to the other side of the bed. "Our girl's all settled in."

"I just need my boys to cuddle me."

Bradley's expression softened at her words. In three easy strides, he crossed the room and settled onto the bed beside her, the mattress dipping under his weight. Jake was already kicking off his shoes and shucking his jeans, leaving him in a fitted henley and boxer briefs.

"Your boys, huh?" Jake repeated, a pleased grin spreading across his face as he slid under the covers on her other side. "I like the sound of that."

Nick found herself enveloped between them—Bradley's steady warmth on her left, Jake's lean strength on her right. She sighed as Bradley reached for the remote, finding the Dodgers game already in the bottom of the first inning.

"Who's winning?" Jake asked, his arm sliding around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Dodgers up by two," Bradley replied, his hand closing gently over Nick’s, holding it against his chest.

Nick nestled between them, the familiar hum of the baseball game creating a comforting backdrop to the quiet intimacy of the moment. Bradley's thumb traced lazy circles on the back of her hand while Jake’s fingers idly played with the hem of her sweatshirt. The ease of it struck her—how quickly they'd fallen into this pattern of casual touch and shared space.

"This is nice," she murmured, her head finding the perfect spot against Jake’s shoulder.

"Mmm," Jake agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Though I never pegged you for a baseball fan, Mitchell."

Nick smiled, watching as the Dodgers' pitcher struck out another batter. "My dad and I used to watch games together when I was growing up. It was our thing, especially after my parents divorced."

Bradley's grip on her hand tightened slightly. "Maverick doesn’t strike me as a baseball fan."

"Oh, trust me, he is. Whenever the Dodgers needed some extra luck, he'd bring out his lucky bat."

"His lucky bat?" Jake laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest against her. "Captain Mitchell had a lucky bat? Now that’s something I never expected."

Nick smiled at the memory, sinking deeper into the comfort of their embrace. "It was an old wooden thing from when he played in high school. He’d wave it around during crucial plays, convinced it channeled good energy to the team."

Bradley’s thumb kept tracing soft patterns against her knuckles. "Did it work?"

"Sometimes," Nick said with a quiet laugh. "But I think it was more about us believing it worked. Those were some of my favorite memories with him—just the two of us, eating hot dogs and waving that ridiculous bat around."

Jake’s arm tightened slightly around her waist. "You two really are close, huh?"

"We are. Not that my mom and I aren’t, but I was always a daddy’s girl," Nick admitted, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Even when he was deployed, he’d send me postcards from every port. Sometimes just a line or two, but I kept every single one."

Bradley’s expression softened as he listened. "That explains a lot about you."

Nick turned slightly to face him. "What do you mean?"

"Your determination. Your loyalty." Bradley’s voice was gentle. "The way you never back down from a challenge."

Jake’s fingers traced idle patterns near her hip. "And your stubbornness," he added with a

smirk. "Definitely got that from Maverick."

Nick jabbed Jake playfully with her elbow. "Watch it, Hangman."

"He's not wrong," Bradley added with a smirk.

Nick scoffed. "He's going to kill you both when he finds out about this, you know."

Jake chuckled, though a flicker of genuine concern passed beneath his bravado. "Worth it."

"Absolutely worth it," Bradley agreed, his voice steady.

Nick lifted her chin. "Well, if he or anyone tries anything, I'll protect you both."

Jake laughed, eyes crinkling with amusement. "You'll protect us? From Maverick? That's adorable, darlin'."

Nick narrowed her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "I'll have you know, I can be very intimidating when I want to be."

Bradley’s arm curved around her shoulders, pulling her in. "Of course you are, baby."

Nick huffed, a petulant frown crossing her face. "Okay, so maybe I couldn't physically intimidate him. But I have other weapons in my arsenal."

Jake arched a brow, clearly intrigued. "Do tell, darlin'."

"Emotional manipulation," Nick said, her grin mischievous. "I've been wrapping my father around my little finger since I was born. One tearful 'Daddy, please,' and he melts like ice cream in July."

Bradley chuckled. "I can actually see that working. The man who never backs down from anything, completely defenseless against his daughter's tears."

"It's my superpower," Nick confirmed, nestling deeper between them. On the television, the Dodgers scored another run, but none of them were paying much attention anymore.

Jake stifled a yawn, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. "Sorry," he murmured. "That meeting with Cyclone and your dad drained me."

Nick studied his face, noting the faint shadows beneath his eyes. "You're tired. Both of you probably are after dealing with me all day."

Bradley’s fingers threaded through her hair, his touch soothing. "We're fine. Tonight is about you."

"No," Nick said firmly, surprising both men with the sudden authority in her voice. "Tonight is about us. All of us." She shifted, pulling the blankets higher around them. "You’ve both been taking care of me all day. Let me take care of you now."

Jake shook his head. "I'm fine, darlin'."

"No, you’re not," Nick countered. "You should get some rest."

Jake looked ready to protest, but Nick pressed a finger to his lips. "No arguments. You’ve been up since dawn, had a full day of flying, sat through hours of meetings with my father and Cyclone, then rushed over here to take care of me. You’re exhausted."

The gentle authority in her voice seemed to catch Jake off guard. He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.

"Yes, ma'am," he murmured, a tired smile playing at his lips.

Nick reached for the remote, lowering the volume on the game. She adjusted, making herself the center point between them, and guided Jake’s head to her shoulder.

"Rest," she murmured, her fingers threading through his dark hair. "I’ve got you now."

Jake’s resistance crumbled under her touch. With a soft sigh, he nestled against her, his arm still draped protectively across her waist. Bradley watched them with warm eyes, his own exhaustion becoming more evident as he allowed himself to relax.

"You too," Nick told him, extending her other arm in invitation.

Bradley hesitated only briefly before settling against her other side, his head finding the perfect spot on her shoulder. The weight of both men against her was comforting rather than overwhelming, their solid warmth anchoring her in a way she’d never experienced before.

Nick pressed a gentle kiss to each of their foreheads, a tender gesture that felt both new and strangely familiar. "Sleep," she whispered, fingers tracing soothing patterns through their hair. "Let me take care of my boys for a change."

Jake mumbled something against her neck, already drifting off. Bradley lasted a bit longer, his hand still holding hers, but soon his breathing deepened as well. Nick found herself the only one awake, cradled between these two men who had shown her such unwavering tenderness throughout the day.

The baseball game continued on the television, the distant cheers and the announcer’s low commentary creating a soft backdrop. But instead of watching the game, she found herself watching them.

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Thank you so much!!!!!!

If only Jake and Bradley were real right?

She's Theirs: Like Lover's Do

Title: Like Lover's Do

Summary: Nick rewards the boys for their hard work.

Word Count:  5,703

Warnings: flirting, massages, p in v, talk of a dead parent, oral f! receiving

Tags: Smut

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter eight. I want to dedicate this chapter to my friend Johnny. He was a supporter of everything I wrote and I know if he were still here he'd be supportive of this. The smut in this one is more subdued but I still think y'all will enjoy it. If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. And if there's anything you'd like to see in the story don't hesitate to ask me. Maybe I'll be able to put in!

Jake’s eyes darkened as he tracked Nick’s movement toward the bedroom. “Well, that’s an invitation I won’t refuse,” he said, exchanging a heated glance with Bradley before following her.

Bradley lingered for a moment, carefully lifting Lieutenant Goose from the arm of the couch. With a small, private smile, he placed the worn stuffed animal on the hallway bookshelf, deliberately facing it away from the bedroom door. “Guard duty,” he murmured before slipping inside.

Nick was already lighting a few candles on her dresser, their warm glow softening the room’s angles. The quiet tenderness of the gesture wasn’t lost on either man.

“Is this what you had in mind?” Bradley hesitated, his voice unusually gentle as he closed the door behind him.

Nick turned to face them both, suddenly feeling vulnerable in a way only they seemed to bring out in her.

“Not entirely,” she said, pressing a few buttons on her phone. Romantic music hummed from the speakers by her TV. “Could you both remove your shirts and lie down on the bed on your stomachs?”

Jake and Bradley exchanged curious glances, silently wondering what she had planned.

“Giving orders now, Mitchell?” Jake’s voice carried that familiar teasing lilt, but he was already pulling his shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his abdomen and chest. The candlelight threw soft shadows across every defined plane of his body.

“I’m intrigued,” Bradley said quietly, his gaze fixed on Nick’s face as he deliberately unbuttoned his shirt. Each movement was careful, measured—so different from Jake’s casual confidence.

Nick smiled, anticipation flickering behind her eyes. “On your stomachs,” she repeated softly.

Jake raised an eyebrow but complied, stretching out on the left side of Nick’s bed with his arms folded under his chin. “Should I be worried or excited?” His voice was muffled slightly against his forearm.

Bradley followed suit, settling on the right side of the bed, his broader shoulders and back a striking contrast to Jake’s leaner frame. Unlike Jake, he remained silent, watching Nick’s movements with quiet intensity.

Nick walked to her dresser and pulled out a small bottle. “You’ve both been carrying boxes all day. I thought you might like a massage.”

“A massage?” Jake perked up, turning his head to watch her approach. “I take back every snarky thing I’ve said about you today.”

Bradley’s lips curved in a small smile. “That’s... unexpectedly thoughtful.”

“You both took care of me today. You take care of me every day we’re together. Now let me take care of you.”

Nick climbed onto the bed, settling on her knees between them. She warmed the oil between her palms before placing her hands on Jake’s shoulders.

“Jesus,” Jake groaned as her fingers found a knot beneath his left shoulder blade. “That feels incredible.”

Nick smiled, working her thumbs in slow circles against the tense muscle. “You’re carrying a lot of tension here,” she murmured, applying gentle pressure until the knot began to release. “No wonder you’re always so wound up.”

“I’m not wound up,” Jake protested weakly, his words dissolving into another appreciative groan as her hands moved lower down his spine.

“Yes, you are,” Nick murmured, focusing on Jake’s sides. “Relax for me.”

“I’ll try,” Jake murmured, his voice softening as he surrendered to her touch. His usual sharp edges seemed to melt beneath her fingers, revealing a vulnerability he rarely showed.

Nick worked methodically across his back, feeling the taut muscles gradually release under her hands. When she reached the small of his back, Jake let out a sound that was half-groan, half-sigh—so unguarded it made something in her chest tighten.

“You’re good at this,” he murmured, his voice huskier than usual. “Really good.”

“Years of engineering,” she replied softly. “Understanding how things work, where pressure needs to be applied.” She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss between his shoulder blades, tasting the salt on his skin. “How’s that feel?”

“Like I might never move again,” Jake admitted, his body fully relaxed.

Nick smiled, giving his back one last sweep of her hands before shifting her focus to Bradley. He’d been watching her with hooded eyes, his expression unreadable in the candlelight.

“Your turn,” she murmured, warming more oil between her palms.

When her hands first made contact with Bradley’s skin, she felt the faintest tensing before he consciously relaxed under her touch. Where Jake had been all immediate responses and verbal appreciation, Bradley was quieter, his reactions more subtle—a measured breath, the almost imperceptible shift of muscle beneath her fingers.

“You’re even tighter than he is,” she observed, working at a stubborn knot beneath his right shoulder. “Do you ever actually relax?”

“Not often,” Bradley admitted, his voice a low rumble. “Force of habit.”

Nick worked silently, focusing on the tension woven into his body. His shoulders were like steel beneath her hands—years of military precision and self-control physically manifested. The tight muscles in his arms, the rigid line of his spine. Unlike Jake, who had surrendered easily, Bradley’s release came gradually, in careful increments. It was like watching a fortress lower its defenses one wall at a time.

“That’s it,” she murmured encouragingly as she felt a particularly stubborn knot finally give way. “Let go for me.”

Bradley made a soft sound—not quite a moan, but close—as her thumbs worked along either side of his spine. The trust implicit in his slow surrender affected her more than she’d anticipated. This man, always so controlled, was allowing himself to be vulnerable with her.

Jake had turned his head, watching them, his expression unusually soft in the candlelight. “She’s good, isn’t she,” he observed quietly.

Bradley's only response was a low hum of agreement as Nick's hands moved down his back, carefully finding and releasing tension he hadn't even realized he was carrying. The soft music, the warm candlelight, and Nick's gentle but confident touch created an atmosphere unlike anything they'd shared before.

“I think you missed your calling,” Bradley finally murmured, his voice deeper than usual. “Should’ve been a massage therapist instead of an engineer.”

Nick smiled, her hands slowing as she reached the small of his back. “And miss out on designing the next generation of fighter jets? Not a chance.” She leaned down, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades, just as she had with Jake. “Besides, my services are exclusive to you two.”

Jake rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow to watch them. “Lucky us,” he said, his usual cockiness softened into something more genuine.

Nick finished Bradley’s massage, noting how both men had melted into her mattress, their usual intensity momentarily subdued. She hadn’t planned for the evening to end with deep conversation and back rubs, but something about finding Lieutenant Goose had shifted the energy between them—making space for a gentleness they rarely allowed themselves.

“How do you feel?” she asked, wiping her hands on a small towel.

Bradley turned his head, his brown eyes warm in the candlelight. “Thank you,” he said simply, but the words carried weight.

Nick felt a sudden rush of affection for both of them—these complicated, confident men who flew fighter jets and carried the weight of the world on their shoulders, now utterly relaxed in her bed. She'd expected their arrangement to be about physical release, about the thrill of forbidden pleasure. She hadn't expected moments like this—quiet intimacy that reached beyond the physical.

“You’re welcome,” she said softly. “But there’s no need to thank me. I—” Nick immediately paused when she felt the big L word threaten to fall out of her mouth. Where it had come from, she wasn’t sure; she just knew it was too soon to blurt out. Instead, she said, “I really care about you both.”

Jake’s eyes softened in a way Nick rarely saw, while Bradley’s gaze held hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. The candlelight flickered across their faces, casting shadows that somehow made this moment feel even more intimate.

“We care about you too,” Jake said, reaching out to take her hand. The usual playfulness in his voice had given way to something deeper, more sincere. “More than I expected to.”

Bradley pushed himself up slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Come here,” he said softly, holding out his hand.

Nick moved between them, settling on the bed as both men shifted to make room. Jake’s arm curved around her waist while Bradley’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining.

“This isn’t what I thought we’d be doing tonight,” Jake admitted with a small laugh. “I had plans involving that diary and considerably less clothing.”

Nick smiled, pushing away the momentary panic. It was too soon for those words, too complicated. Their arrangement was already unconventional enough without adding declarations that might upset the delicate balance they had built.

"The night's still young," she replied, squeezing Bradley's hand while leaning slightly into Jake's embrace. "And I did promise you sexual favors."

Jake’s arm tightened around her waist. “You did,” he agreed, his voice dropping to that low register that always sent shivers down her spine. “But this was… nice. Unexpected.”

“Nice?” Nick raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “I give mind-blowing massages, and the best you can come up with is ‘nice’?”

Bradley’s thumb traced small circles against her palm. “What Jake means is that we didn’t expect this level of… care.”

The word hung in the air between them—simple, yet profound. Care. Beneath the desire, beneath the complicated dynamics, that’s what this was. They cared for each other in ways that defied easy definition.

“Well,” Nick said, her voice soft in the candlelit room, “get used to it. I don’t do anything halfway.”

Jake’s lips curved into a smile as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. “We’re figuring that out.”

For a moment, they remained like that, connected in quiet acknowledgment of what they’d found together. Outside, the world continued—with its rules and expectations, their careers and responsibilities—but here, in the warm glow of her bedroom, there was only this strange, beautiful thing they had created.

Bradley was the first to move, shifting to face her more fully. The ease from the massage faded, replaced by a steadier intensity. His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing gently across her lower lip.

“Thank you,” he said again, his voice low and intimate. “Not just for the massage.”

Nick leaned into his touch, her heart racing despite the gentleness of the moment. “For what, then?”

“For Lieutenant Goose,” he replied simply. “For keeping that connection to my dad all these years. For sharing it with me.”

Jake’s arm remained around her waist, his body warm against her side as he watched them. For once, he didn’t interrupt or make a joke—he seemed to understand the importance of this exchange.

“Your dad was special to me,” Nick said softly. “Even though I never met him.”

Bradley’s expression shifted, vulnerability flickering across his face in a way Nick had never seen before. The candlelight caught in his brown eyes, turning them into pools of melted chocolate. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, his usual measured composure dissolving into quiet emotion.

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to know him,” Bradley finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Through other people’s stories, through old photographs, through the legacy he left behind. But sometimes it feels like chasing a ghost.”

Nick watched as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in the shadowed hollow of his throat. His hand remained warm against her cheek, his calloused thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone with unexpected gentleness.

“But the way you talk about him—” Bradley continued, his eyes never leaving hers. “It’s different somehow. Like you knew him as a person, not just the legend everyone else talks about.”

Jake’s arm tightened slightly around Nick’s waist—a silent show of support as he witnessed this rare moment of vulnerability from Bradley.

“You look just like him, you know. Right down to this cute mustache.” She giggled, her fingers gently grazing the facial hair.

Bradley’s lips curved in a small smile beneath her touch. “So I’ve been told.”

“It’s more than just looks, though,” Nick continued softly. “The way you analyze everything, how you’re always three steps ahead… My dad used to say your father could predict what the enemy would do before they even knew themselves.”

Jake watched them silently, his usual instinct to fill every space with words or humor momentarily subdued. His hand traced slow circles against Nick’s hip, grounding her between them.

“I wish…” Bradley started, then stopped himself, shaking his head slightly.

“What?” Nick prompted gently.

“I wish I could remember more about him,” Bradley admitted, his voice rougher than usual. “I have these fragments—the sound of his laugh, the way he’d carry me on his shoulders. But they’re fading.”

Nick’s heart ached for him. Without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed him, slow and deliberate, an unspoken reassurance wrapped in intimacy.

Bradley responded immediately, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers. The kiss was different from their usual heated exchanges—slower, deeper, laden with emotion neither of them had expected to share. His hand slid from her cheek to cradle the back of her head, fingers threading through her dark hair as he drew her closer.

Jake remained quiet beside them, his arm still around Nick's waist. When she finally pulled back from Bradley, breathless and flushed, she turned to find Jake watching them with an expression that surprised her—not jealousy, but something closer to tenderness.

"Come here," Jake murmured, and Nick turned in his arms, meeting his kiss with equal emotion. Where Bradley's kiss had been measured and deep, Jake's held a restrained passion that made her heart race. His hand cupped her face with unexpected gentleness, his usual cockiness replaced by something more vulnerable.

When they separated Nick placed her hand on Jake's heart as she turned to Bradley. The beating between her fingers grounding her.

“Make love to me.”

Bradley's eyes darkened at her words, while Jake's breath caught audibly. The request—so simple yet profound—hung in the candlelit air between them. This wasn't about fulfilling fantasies from her diary or collecting on promised sexual favors. It was something deeper, something they hadn't explicitly acknowledged before.

"Are you sure?" Jake asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as his hand covered hers where it rested against his heart.

Nick nodded, suddenly feeling vulnerable yet completely certain. "I want to feel both of you. Not just physically."

Bradley moved closer, his hand sliding warm and steady along her arm. "We've never really done it that way before," he said softly. "It's always been..."

"More about the physical," Nick finished for him. "I know. But tonight feels different."

Jake's eyes met Bradley's over her shoulder, that silent communication passing between them again.

"Different is good," Jake murmured, leaning in to kiss her neck with unusual tenderness. "Different is very good."

Bradley's hands found the hem of her shirt, his movements deliberate as he slowly lifted it. Unlike their usual frantic undressing, each touch now felt purposeful, reverent. "May I?" he asked, his voice low.

Nick nodded, raising her arms to allow him to pull the shirt over her head. The cool air against her skin made her shiver slightly, but the heat from their bodies on either side of her quickly chased away the chill.

Jake's fingers traced along her collarbone, down to the edge of her bra. "You're beautiful," he said simply, the usual clever remarks absent from his voice.

Bradley unhooked her bra with practiced ease, sliding the straps down her arms. His eyes never left hers as he discarded the garment

Nick drew a shaky breath as they each touched her with a tenderness that made her heart ache. Jake's mouth found the curve of her neck, his usual impatience tempered into slow, deliberate kisses that trailed heat across her skin. Bradley's hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples with a gentleness that somehow aroused her more than their typically urgent caresses.

"Let us take care of you," Bradley murmured against her ear, his voice deeper than usual.

Jake's hands worked at the button of her jeans, unhurried yet purposeful. "The way you took care of us," he added, his voice softly spoke.

Nick lifted her hips, allowing Jake to slide her jeans down her legs. Bradley supported her weight as they worked together to undress her, their movements synchronized with the ease of two men who had been sharing the same woman.

Jake's fingers traced along her hip, down to the edge of her panties. "You're beautiful," he said simply, the usual clever remarks absent from his voice.

"Thank you," Nick whispered, suddenly shy despite all they'd shared before. This felt different—the way they were looking at her, touching her, as if she were precious rather than just desirable.

Bradley's hands slid down her sides, his touch reverent as his fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties. He paused, his eyes meeting hers in silent question. When she nodded, he slowly dragged the fabric down her legs, leaving her completely bare between them.

"God, look at you," Jake breathed, his eyes traveling over her body with an appreciation that went beyond mere lust. He leaned in to kiss her, his lips soft against hers, his hand cradling her face with unexpected tenderness.

As they kissed, Nick felt Bradley's weight shift on the bed. His hands gently parted her thighs, and then his mouth was on her—warm and wet, his tongue making a slow, path along her center. Nick gasped into Jake's mouth, her body arching at the dual sensation.

Jake swallowed her gasp, deepening the kiss as Bradley's tongue circled her most sensitive spot with maddening precision. This wasn't their usual frantic pace—Bradley was taking his time, savoring her as if they had all night, all the time in the world.

"That's it," Jake murmured against her lips when she broke the kiss to catch her breath. "Let us make you feel good."

Nick's head fell back against Jake's shoulder, her body caught between them—Jake's solid chest supporting her from behind while Bradley's broad shoulders pushed her thighs wider. The candlelight cast their shadows against the wall, the three of them merged into one flickering silhouette.

"Bradley," she gasped as his tongue flattened against her, the pressure exactly where she needed it most. Her fingers threaded through his short hair, not guiding but connecting, feeling the subtle movements of his head as he worked. Her other hand reached out seeking his own.

Bradley's fingers interlaced with hers, squeezing gently as his mouth continued its exquisite torture. The unexpected tenderness of the gesture—holding her hand while pleasuring her—filling Nick with a warmth so profound it felt like being completely seen, completely held.

"You taste so good," Bradley murmured against her, the vibration of his words sending shivers through her core. "I could do this all night."

“Please do.” She hummed.

Jake chuckled against her neck, the sound vibrating through her skin as his hands cupped her breasts, thumbs circling her nipples with just enough pressure to make her gasp. "So responsive," he murmured appreciatively as she arched into his touch. "Always so perfect for us."

Bradley lifted his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers from between her thighs. The sight of him there, his lips glistening, his gaze dark with desire, sent a fresh wave of heat through her body.

"I love watching your face when you're like this," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. "So open, so honest."

Jake's mouth found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, his teeth grazing lightly against her skin. "No walls, no barriers," he added, his voice a warm rumble against her ear. "Just you."

"Tell us what you want," he said, his voice a low rumble that she felt as much as heard. "How do you want us to love you?"

The word hung in the air between them—love—not sex or fucking, but love. Nick's breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering against her ribs. Only moments ago the word love threatened to fall from her lips. She was close to telling them she loved them but she stopped herself.

Nick's heart raced as the word echoed in the candlelit room. Her body was alight with sensation—Bradley between her thighs, Jake's strong presence at her back—but it was that simple word that made her mood change. Suddenly she had the urge to have Bradley's lips on her own.

"I want to kiss you first," Nick whispered to Bradley, tugging gently at his hand. "Come up here."

Bradley rose from between her legs, his movements fluid as he moved up her body. His eyes—dark with desire but soft with something deeper—held hers as he settled beside her. Jake shifted slightly to make room, his arm still curved protectively around her waist.

When Bradley's lips met hers, Nick tasted herself on his tongue—salt and sweetness mingling with the unique flavor of him. The kiss was unhurried yet intense, his hand cradling her face with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

When Bradley finally broke the kiss, Nick turned her head to find Jake's mouth, needing to connect with him equally. His kiss was different—where Bradley's had been deep and consuming, Jake's was playful yet tender, his tongue teasing against hers.

She felt herself melting between them, cradled in their warmth as they exchanged kisses that gradually grew deeper, more passionate. Bradley's hands stroked down her sides while Jake's fingers traced patterns across her collarbone, each touch reverent.

Nick's fingers found the waistband of Bradley's pants, fumbling slightly with the button. "Too many clothes," she murmured against his lips. "I want to feel you both."

Bradley helped her, shucking his pants and underwear with efficient movements. Jake followed suit, briefly separating from her to remove his remaining clothes before returning to press against her back, his arousal evident against her skin.

The feeling of being sandwiched between their naked bodies—Bradley's broader, more solid frame in front of her, Jake's leaner, wiry strength behind—made Nick's heart race with anticipation. This wasn't their first time together, but something about tonight felt like uncharted territory.

"How do you want us?" Bradley asked, his voice husky as his hand traced the curve of her hip.

Nick considered for a moment, then turned to face Jake, her back now to Bradley. "Like this," she murmured, reaching up to touch Jake's face. "I want you to watch while Bradley and I make love."

Jake's eyes darkened as he nodded. "I'd like that," he said, his voice lower than usual.

Bradley moved so he was hovering over Nick's body, his weight supported on his forearms as he gazed down at her. The candlelight caught the planes of his face, shadowing his features in a way that made him look almost vulnerable. He lowered his head to kiss her, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers.

"Like this?" he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

Nick nodded, her hands sliding up his arms to his shoulders, feeling the solid strength of him. "Just like this."

Jake shifted to lie beside them, his head propped on one hand as he watched. His other hand trailed lightly along Nick's side, a point of contact that connected all three of them.

"Tell me what else you need," Bradley said softly, his eyes never leaving hers as he positioned himself between her thighs.

"You," Nick whispered, suddenly overwhelmed by the intensity in Bradley's eyes. "Just you."

Bradley entered her with exquisite slowness, his gaze locked with hers as he filled her completely. Nick gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders as her body adjusted to him. This wasn't their usual urgent coupling—Bradley moved with deliberate care, each thrust measured and deep.

Jake watched them with darkened eyes, his hand stroking Nick's hair back from her face. "Beautiful," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her temple. "You're both so beautiful together."

Nick turned her head to capture Jake's lips, moaning into his mouth as Bradley established a steady rhythm. The dual sensations—Bradley moving inside her while Jake's tongue explored her mouth—sent waves of pleasure coursing through her body.

Bradley dipped his head to kiss her neck, his breathing ragged.

She reached out for both his hands, wanting to be even closer to him.

As Nick's fingers intertwined with Bradley's, she felt a connection deeper than the physical joining of their bodies. Their palms pressed together, his larger hands engulfing hers as he continued his measured thrusts. Jake's lips traced a path from her mouth to her jaw, then down the column of her throat, his presence a constant reminder that this wasn't just about her and Bradley—it was about all three of them.

"Look at me," Bradley murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "I want to see you."

Nick's eyes locked with his, unable to look away from the intensity she found there. In the candlelight, his brown eyes had darkened to amber, reflecting not just desire but something that made her heart stutter in her chest.

"You feel incredible," he whispered, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist where their hands remained joined. "So perfect."

Jake's hand gently cradled her face, turning her toward him slightly. "Let me see you too," he murmured, his green eyes dark with desire and something else—something that mirrored what she saw in Bradley's gaze.

Nick felt herself caught between their gazes, completely exposed in a way that went beyond physical nakedness. Bradley's rhythm remained steady, each thrust sending waves of pleasure radiating through her body, but it was the way they were looking at her that threatened to undo her completely.

"I never expected this," she whispered, the words escaping before she could stop them. "Never expected you. Either of you."

Bradley's hands tightened around hers, his movements becoming slightly more urgent. "None of us did," he replied, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining control. "But here we are."

"And here we'll stay," Jake added, his voice unusually solemn as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "As long as you want us."

The simple promise, delivered without Jake's usual bravado, made Nick's eyes sting with unexpected tears. Bradley noticed immediately, his rhythm faltering as concern crossed his features.

"Are you okay?" he asked, starting to pull back.

"Don't stop," Nick whispered, tightening her grip on his hands. "I'm fine. Better than fine."

Jake's thumb gently caught a tear as it escaped down her cheek. "Then why the tears, Darlin’?"

Nick swallowed hard, unable to articulate the overwhelming emotions flooding through her. "It's just... intense," she managed, looking between them both. "Being with you like this. Feeling this way."

Bradley understood without her having to explain further. He moved his head so it was aligned with her own and gently kissed the spot where one of her tears had fallen.

Nick felt herself melt under Bradley's tender gesture, his lips warm against her cheek where tears had fallen. The raw intimacy of the moment—being joined physically while emotionally so exposed—left her breathless.

"I've got you," Bradley murmured, his forehead pressing against hers as he continued his measured movements. "We've got you."

Jake's hand stroked her hair, his touch anchoring her as emotions and sensations threatened to overwhelm. "Always," he added, the single word carrying unexpected weight.

Nick turned to capture Jake's lips in a desperate kiss, needing to connect with him while Bradley moved inside her. Jake responded with matching intensity,

his typical playfulness transforming into something more profound and primal.

"Bradley," she gasped, breaking away from Jake's mouth as pleasure began to coil tighter in her core. "I'm getting close."

Bradley's rhythm changed subtly, his thrusts deeper and more purposeful as he maintained his gaze on her face. "Let go," he encouraged, his voice a low rumble. "I want to see you come apart."

Jake's hand slid down her body, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves where she and Bradley were joined. His fingers circled with practiced skill, adding another layer of sensation that made Nick's breath catch.

"That's it," Jake murmured, watching her intently as his fingers worked in tandem with Bradley's thrusts. "Let us take you there."

Nick felt herself balanced on the edge, suspended between them as pleasure built to an almost unbearable intensity. Bradley's hands tightened around hers, his breathing becoming more ragged as he fought to maintain control.

"I'm right there with you," Bradley whispered, his voice strained. "Come for us, Nick."

The sound of her name on his lips, coupled with Jake's skilled fingers and his perfect rhythm, sent Nick spiraling over the edge. Her back arched as pleasure crashed through her in waves, her body clenching around Bradley as she cried out. The intensity of her release caught her by surprise, tears springing to her eyes again as emotion and sensation merged into something overwhelming.

Bradley followed her moments later, his control finally breaking as he thrust deeply, his hands gripping hers tightly as he found his release. His face was transformed in the candlelight, all his usual guardedness stripped away to reveal raw vulnerability and devotion.

Jake's fingers slowed as they both rode out their pleasure, his gaze intense as he watched them. When Bradley finally collapsed forward, careful to brace his weight on his forearms he noticed the the stream of tears falling down her face.

Bradley’s face tightened with concern as he noticed her tears. "Nick," he breathed. "Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head quickly, unable to speak as emotion constricted her throat. How could she explain that these weren’t tears of pain, but something far more complicated—something that both terrified and exhilarated her?

Jake moved closer, his touch feather-light as he wiped away a tear with his thumb. "Talk to us, Sweetheart," he murmured, his usual cockiness absent. "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

Nick drew a shaky breath, hands still entwined with Bradley’s as he remained inside her. "I just... I didn’t expect to feel this much," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s overwhelming."

Her voice steadied as she continued, "I feel safe. Seen. Like I don’t have to be anything other than exactly who I am."

Bradley’s expression softened. He lowered himself, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "You don’t," he murmured. "Not with us."

Jake’s hand cupped her cheek, gently turning her toward him. "Never with us," he agreed, his teasing absent for once. "We want you exactly as you are."

Another tear escaped as Nick absorbed the depth of their acceptance. Bradley carefully withdrew, settling beside her. Without a word, both men shifted, cradling her between them—Bradley's warmth at her back, Jake’s arms around her from the front.

She nestled deeper into their embrace. "Sorry for getting emotional," she whispered. "Not very sexy of me."

Jake exhaled a quiet laugh against her hair. "Are you kidding? That was the sexiest thing I've ever seen."

“But I didn't even pleasure you Jake. I'm sorry if you give me a second I'll b-.”

"Shh," Jake silenced her with a gentle finger against her lips. "Tonight isn't about keeping score or making sure everyone gets off. It's about connection."

Bradley's arm tightened around her waist, his chest solid and warm against her back. "He's right. Some nights are about wild, passionate sex where everyone comes multiple times. And some nights..." his voice softened, "some nights are about something deeper."

Nick felt fresh tears threatening at their understanding. These men—so different, yet somehow perfectly complementary—continued to surprise her. The Jake she’d first met would have cracked a crude joke to defuse the emotion; the Bradley she’d initially encountered would have kept his careful distance instead of holding her so tenderly.

"When did you two get so wise?" she asked, her voice still slightly watery despite her attempt at lightness.

Jake chuckled, the sound a low vibration against her collarbone where his lips rested. "I’ve always been wise, Mitchell. I just disguise it under a carefully crafted veneer of arrogance and killer abs."

Bradley huffed a laugh against her hair. "And I learned from watching my mother pick up the pieces after my dad died. Some moments need to be honored, not rushed through."

Nick closed her eyes, absorbing their warmth from both sides. Candlelight flickered against her lids, casting the room in a soft, amber glow. Lieutenant Goose might be standing guard in the hallway, but here, in her bed, she felt more protected than she had in years.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Both of you. For today, for finding Lieutenant Goose, for... this."

Bradley pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you for letting us in."

The words threatened to spill from her lips again, but she forced them back down, releasing them only as silent tears. "I really care about you both..." she finally admitted.

Jake’s hand moved to stroke her hair, his touch surprisingly gentle. "We care about you too," he murmured, his voice stripped of its usual edge. "More than I expected to."

"More than any of us expected," Bradley agreed, his breath warm against her neck.

Nick felt herself drifting, lulled by the security of their embrace and the quiet intensity of the evening. Her eyelids grew heavy as Jake’s fingers traced a soothing path through her hair.

"Stay," she whispered, already half-asleep. "Both of you. Stay the night."

"Wild horses couldn’t drag me away," Jake murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Bradley’s arm tightened slightly around her waist. "I’m not going anywhere."

As sleep claimed her, Nick’s last conscious thought was how lucky she was to have found Jake and Bradley.

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

Feel free to comment on this with your thoughts! I'd love to hear where everyone draws the line if there is even a line!

I'm writing some some smut for my story and it's getting very graphic. So now it's got me questioning something.

Feel free to comment on this with your thoughts on the subject! I'd love to hear where everyone draws the line!

[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

I'm writing some smut for my story and it's getting very graphic. So now it's got me questioning something.

Feel free to comment on this with your thoughts on the subject! I'd love to hear where everyone draws the line!

[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

She's Theirs: By Your Side

Title: By Your Side

Summary: Nick experiences Sub-space for the first time.

Word Count:  12,310

Warnings: Sub-space, fluff, light flirting, some suggestive dirty talk. A teeny bit of praise kink if you squint.

Tags: fluff

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter nine. This chapter I feel is more emotional than some of the others. But I feel like it really moves the story along and further solidifies Nick, Jake, and Bradley's bond. If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. And if there's anything you'd like to see in the story don't hesitate to tell me. Maybe I'll be able to put it in!

Nick stared at the flight simulator data scrolling across her screen, the numbers blurring together like runway lights through fog. Last night with Jake and Bradley had been... transcendent. The way they all connected on a more deeper and romantic level.The way they made her feel so loved, so cherished, so safe. But now, sitting in her ergonomic chair at the Naval Air Systems Command facility, she felt hollowed out, a fighter jet running on fumes.

"Boss, these thrust calculations from Jones look off by at least three percent," One of her subordinates said, dropping a stack of papers on her desk.

"So fix them," she mumbled, reaching for her fourth coffee of the morning. Her hands trembled slightly, not from the caffeine but from the emotional crash that had been building since she'd woken up alone in her apartment. Jake and Bradley had needed to report early—some classified briefing they couldn't get out of. They both gave her kisses and told her to go back to sleep. She did but when she woke up her mood had only gotten worse.

“Are you okay Boss?” Her coworker asked out of concern.

"Fine, just tired," Nick replied, forcing authority into her voice. Her colleagues didn't need to know she'd spent half the night with her body tangled with two of Top Gun's finest pilots. "I'll look at the thrust data after I finish the stabilizer analysis."

She turned back to her screen, but her mind drifted to Bradley's hands, calloused yet gentle, holding her own soft ones. To Jake's mouth against her neck, whispering promises that had made her gasp and arch against him. To the way they'd taken care of her, the way they wiped her tears away when she became emotional.

Thinking back to last night and how vulnerable she became brought tears to her eyes. She tried to blink them away yet they still threatened to fall. Something had to be done to get her emotions in check.

Nick hastily dabbed at her eyes with her sleeve, grateful that most of her team was focused on their own work in front of them. The vast room hummed with the sound of dozens of engineers working, the tap of keyboards, machines running, and low murmurs of technical discussion creating a white noise that usually soothed her. Today, it felt like static against her raw nerves.

She glanced at her phone, sitting face-down beside her keyboard. The device seemed to pulse with an energy of its own, a tether to the two men who had systematically dismantled her carefully constructed walls. Nick had always prided herself on her compartmentalization skills—it was what made her such an effective engineer. Emotion in one box, intellect in another, never the twain shall meet. But last night, those boxes had been thrown open, their contents scattered like clothes across her bedroom floor.

She knew they agreed to keep a healthy distance from each other on the base, as to not draw suspicion. But right now all she wanted was to be near them.

Without second guessing herself she turned her phone over and pulled up there group text.

Nick: Hey what are you guys doing?

A few minutes passed before Jake and only Jake responded.

Jake: Just some paperwork Darlin’.

Nick: Can we find a place on base to meet?

Jake: Is everything okay?”

Nick stared at Jake's message, her thumb hovering over the keyboard. Was everything okay? No. She felt like she was spiraling out of control, like a jet with compromised ailerons. But how could she explain that in a text?

Nick: I just need to see you both. Please.

She set the phone down and tried to focus on the stabilizer analysis again. Numbers and equations that normally made perfect sense to her now seemed like hieroglyphics. Her phone vibrated against the desk.

Jake: Maintenance hangar 4. 15 minutes. It's empty until 1400.

Nick felt a rush of relief so intense it made her dizzy. She quickly saved her work, smoothing down her navy-blue blouse as she stood.

"I need to check something in the test bay," she announced to no one in particular, grabbing her security badge and phone. "Back in thirty."

Once she stepped into the hallway, she nearly sprinted toward the hangar. Like Jake had said—the place was deserted.

The cavernous space of Hangar 4 swallowed her footsteps as she slipped inside. Afternoon sunlight streamed through the high windows, catching dust motes in golden beams that cut across the concrete floor. The massive doors were sealed, leaving the hangar in a strange limbo—not quite dark, not fully illuminated. A perfect metaphor for how she felt.

"Nick?"

Jake’s voice came from behind a partially disassembled F/A-18. He stepped into view, flight suit unzipped to his waist, white t-shirt underneath. His brown eyes swept over her, immediately registering her distress.

"Hey," she managed, her voice smaller than she intended.

"Is everything okay?"

Nick opened her mouth, but all that came out was a strangled sob.

Jake closed the distance in swift, unthinking steps, reaching her before she could fold in on herself completely. The scent of him wrapped around her—coffee whiskey and warm vanilla, rich and grounding, like late-night conversations and steady hands on cold mornings.

"I got you," he murmured against her hair, one hand cradling the back of her head. "What happened, darlin'?"

Nick clutched his flight suit, burying her face against the solid warmth of him. "I don't know what's wrong with me," she choked out. "I can't focus, I can't think straight. I keep thinking about last night, and—" She broke off, unable to articulate the storm inside her.

"Where's Bradley?" she whispered, hating how needy she sounded but unable to stop herself.

"I don't know. Haven’t seen him since our briefing this morning. Did he not respond to the group chat?" Jake’s thumbs brushed away her tears.

"No. Can you try him? I need both of you."

Jake nodded, pulling his phone from his pocket while keeping one arm firmly around her. "I'll call him."

The ringing echoed in the empty hangar, unanswered. After several rings, it went straight to voicemail.

Jake slipped the phone back into his pocket and guided her toward a small alcove where maintenance equipment was stored. He cleared space on a workbench and lifted her onto it, positioning himself between her knees, hands steady on her waist.

"He didn’t answer," Jake said as she sniffled. "Probably in a test flight." His thumbs made soothing circles on her hips. "He'll be here as soon as he can."

Nick nodded, trying to steady her breathing. The trembling wouldn't stop. She felt pathetic, falling apart like this—over what? A night of intimacy? What kind of aerospace engineer, what kind of Maverick’s daughter, unraveled because two men had shown her tenderness?

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "This is stupid. I shouldn’t have pulled you away from work."

Jake’s eyes narrowed. "Don't. Don't apologize for needing us." His voice was firm but gentle. "Talk to me, Nick. What's going on in that pretty head of yours?"

She inhaled shakily. "I woke up alone and I just… spiraled. Last night was…" She struggled as more tears spilled.

Jake sighed. "Do you know what sub-drop is?"

Nick nodded.

"I’ve read about it," she admitted, wiping at her eyes. "But I didn’t think… we weren’t even doing a scene. It wasn’t like that."

Jake’s expression softened as he tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "From what I read, it doesn’t have to be a formal scene, darlin'. Any intense emotional or physical experience can trigger it. And last night was pretty damn intense for all of us."

Nick leaned into his touch, craving the contact like oxygen. "I’ve never felt like this before. Like I’m coming apart at the seams."

"That’s because you’ve never let yourself be this vulnerable before," Jake said, his usual cocky grin momentarily replaced by something softer. "You let us see all of you last night, Nick. Not just the brilliant engineer or Maverick’s tough-as-nails daughter. The real you."

Fresh tears welled in her eyes. She lowered her head, a sob overtaking her.

Jake pulled her closer, pressing his forehead to hers. "Hey, hey… I’ve got you."

"It’s just—" Nick’s voice cracked. "I’m not supposed to be like this. I’ve always been independent, in control. And now I can’t even make it through a morning without falling apart because you two aren’t there."

Jake’s hands came up to cradle her face, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. "You know what I think? I think you’ve been in control for so damn long, you’ve forgotten what it feels like to let go. To trust someone else to catch you."

Nick closed her eyes, leaning into his touch. "It’s terrifying."

"Scarier than flying supersonic?" His voice

held a hint of teasing.

A small laugh escaped her. "Way scarier."

The hangar door creaked open, and they both froze. Nick's heart pounded against her ribs as she instinctively tried to pull away from Jake, but he held her firmly, his body shielding her from view.

"It's just me," Bradley’s deep voice called out, and Nick sagged with relief.

He appeared around the corner of the alcove, his face lined with concern. Still in his flight suit, his hair was slightly mussed, as though he’d been running his hands through it.

"I got your messages as soon as I finished my flight," he said, his eyes sweeping over Nick’s tear-stained face. "What’s wrong?"

Jake kept one arm around Nick’s waist. "Our girl’s having a rough morning."

"Sub-drop," Nick murmured, her voice small. "At least, that’s what Jake thinks is happening."

Understanding dawned on Bradley’s face.

Without hesitation, he stepped closer, settling at Nick’s other side. His hand cupped her cheek, thumb brushing away a fresh tear.

"I should’ve checked in earlier," he said, his voice rough with regret. "We shouldn’t have left you alone this morning."

Nick leaned into his touch, drawing comfort from the warmth of his palm. "It’s not your fault. You had to report. I just… I didn’t expect to feel like this."

"Like what?" Bradley asked gently.

"Empty. Shaky. Like I’m free-falling without a parachute." Her voice trembled as fresh tears welled up. "I can’t focus on work. I can’t stop thinking about last night."

Jake and Bradley exchanged a look over her head, a silent conversation passing between them.

"Come here," Bradley murmured, guiding her off the workbench and into his arms. His broad chest was solid against her cheek, anchoring her. Jake moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist just below Bradley’s. She was completely sandwiched between them.

"We’ve got you," Bradley whispered against her hair. "You’re safe with us."

Nick closed her eyes, surrendering to their hold. The emotions she’d been trying to keep at bay surged forward, spilling out in uncontrolled sobs.

Bradley’s steady heartbeat thumped against her ear, while Jake’s breath warmed the back of her neck. Neither of them rushed her or hushed her tears. They simply held her, creating a cocoon of warmth and safety in the cold, echoing hangar.

"That’s it," Jake murmured, his lips brushing her hair. "Let it all out, darlin’."

As her crying ebbed, Nick became aware of Bradley’s hand making slow circles on her back, matching her breaths. Jake’s fingers traced soothing patterns along her hip, grounding her further in their presence.

"I don't understand why this is happening," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "I've had sex before. I've had relationships. Why is this happening.” She asked, still finding fault with there earlier explanation.

"It's not just sex," Bradley said softly, his voice resonating through his chest against her ear. "What happened between us last night was more than physical."

Jake’s arms tightened around her waist. "We connected on a whole different level, Nick. All three of us."

She sniffled, her breathing still uneven. "I've never… felt so much at once."

"That's why you're crashing now," Bradley said, his fingers threading gently through her hair. "Your body flooded itself with dopamine, oxytocin, adrenaline—and now those levels are dropping. Your system is trying to recalibrate."

Nick pulled back slightly, looking up at Bradley with red-rimmed eyes. "Is that the pilot talking, or did you actually research this?"

A faint smile touched his lips. "It was Jake actually. After you said you were into BDSM he did some research and passed it along to me.”

Nick blinked in surprise, turning slightly to glance at Jake over her shoulder. "You researched this? For me?"

Jake’s usual cocky smirk softened into something genuine. "Of course I did. The moment you mentioned it that first night, I wanted to know everything." His fingers traced a slow, reassuring path along her spine. "I wasn’t about to mess this up by being uninformed."

A fresh wave of emotion swelled inside her. These men—these impossibly strong, skilled pilots—had taken the time to understand what she needed before she even fully understood it herself.

"We both did," Bradley added, his deep voice rumbling against her. "Jake sent me articles about the lifestyle—sub-space, aftercare, sub-drop, all of it. We wanted to..."

"Be prepared," Nick finished for him.

He nodded. "For when you were ready."

Nick’s eyes welled up again. "That’s so sweet of you both."

"Shhh, it’s okay," Bradley murmured, pulling her closer.

Jake’s hands slid up from her waist to her shoulders, kneading gently at the tension there. "You need aftercare, darlin’. Even if we didn’t plan a formal scene, what happened between us was intense. We should’ve stayed with you longer this morning."

Nick swallowed hard, hating how right they both were, how much she needed this. "I've never let anyone see me like this before," she whispered.

"Like what?" Bradley asked, his fingers still threading through her hair.

"Weak. Needy." The words felt sharp against her throat.

Jake’s hands stilled on her shoulders. "Is that what you think this is? Weakness?"

She nodded against Bradley’s chest, unable to meet their eyes.

Bradley gently tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. His gaze was steady, filled with concern—and something deeper.

"This isn’t weakness, Nick. This is trust." His voice was quiet but unwavering. "Do you know how much strength it takes to let someone see you like this?"

Jake moved to her side, his hand resting protectively on her lower back.

"Most people spend their lives building walls, never letting anyone in. But you trusted us enough to let us see you."

Bradley’s presence against her chest was grounding. "Trust requires more strength than independence ever will."

"He’s right, darlin’," Jake added, his breath warm against her ear. "You think we don’t need this too? That we just walked away this morning and went about our day like nothing happened?"

"You didn’t?" Nick blinked away fresh tears.

"Hell no," Jake said fiercely. "I was distracted all morning. Couldn’t focus worth a damn during the briefing."

Bradley nodded. "I nearly botched a routine landing because I couldn’t stop thinking about you—about us."

Nick searched their faces for any hint of dishonesty but found none. "Really?"

"Really," Bradley confirmed, gently brushing away a tear. "I kept checking my phone between flights, worried about you. When I saw your messages, I told the flight instructor I had a family emergency."

Jake’s lips quirked up. "Which isn’t far from the truth, if you think about it."

The word _family_ lingered between them, heavy with implication. Warmth unfurled in her chest, pushing back against the hollow feeling that had threatened to swallow her whole.

"Family," Nick echoed softly, testing the word on her tongue. It felt right, even though what they shared was so new—so undefined.

Bradley tightened his arms around her. "Well, maybe not family exactly. More like—"

"Boyfriends and girlfriend?" she asked, hopeful.

Jake and Bradley exchanged a look over her head, another silent conversation.

"Is that what you want, darlin’?" Jake asked, his voice softer than she’d ever heard it. Gone was the cocky fighter pilot who strutted across the flight deck like he owned it.

Nick took a shaky breath. "I… I don’t know what this is between us. But I know I don’t want it to end."

Bradley cupped her face, his calloused thumb stroking her cheek. "Neither do we."

"So, you're both my boyfriends?"

Jake chuckled softly. "I think we’re a bit beyond conventional labels, but yeah—if that’s what you want to call it."

Bradley’s eyes softened. "Boyfriends. Partners. Whatever you want to call us, we’re yours, Nick."

The declaration settled something deep inside her, a restless part of her soul finally finding anchor. She leaned forward, pressing her forehead against Bradley’s chest, reaching back to grip Jake’s flight suit.

"I’ve never done this before—a relationship with two people. I don’t know the rules."

Jake caught her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. "We’ll figure them out together. Make our own rules."

"Right now, though," Bradley said, voice gentle but firm, "we need to take care of you properly."

Nick nodded, suddenly aware of how drained she felt. The emotional storm had passed, leaving her exhausted but lighter somehow, as if a weight had been lifted from her chest. "I'd love that, but we all have work to get back to."

Jake’s thumb traced the delicate bones of her wrist. "Work can wait. You're more important."

"I can't just disappear," Nick protested weakly, though the thought of returning to her desk and facing those thrust calculations made her stomach clench. "I told them I’d be back in thirty minutes."

Bradley reached for her phone. "Text your team. Tell them you’re consulting on a mechanical issue with the F/A-18s. It’ll buy us the rest of the afternoon."

Nick hesitated, torn between duty and the undeniable need for comfort. "I shouldn’t—"

"Nick," Jake said, gentle but firm. "You wouldn’t fly a jet with compromised systems. Don’t try to function when you’re emotionally depleted."

She relented, typing out a quick message to her team lead. When she finished, Bradley took her phone and slipped it into his flight suit pocket.

"What did you have in mind?" Nick asked, her voice small but steadier than before.

Jake’s smile was warm, lacking its usual edge of cockiness. "First, we’re getting you out of here."

"And we’re going to make sure you eat something," Bradley added, his arm still protective around her shoulders. "When’s the last time you had a real meal?"

Nick realized with a start that she’d skipped breakfast, too wound up to eat. "I… had coffee?"

Jake shook his head, exchanging a concerned look with Bradley. "That settles it. Food, hydration, rest, and touch," Bradley said softly. "Physical contact helps with the drop."

"Won’t it look suspicious if all of us leave?" Nick asked.

"I already told them I had a family emergency," Bradley said. "That’ll cover me."

Jake’s hand slid to the small of her back, his touch firm but gentle. "I have to meet with your dad and Cyclone, but as soon as that’s done, I’ll be out of here."

"So how about I take you back to your place, get some food and rest into you, and Jake meets up with us later?" Bradley offered.

Nick leaned into Bradley’s solid warmth, considering his suggestion. The thought of being alone again made her chest tighten, but having Bradley with her sounded like exactly what she needed.

"Okay," she whispered, nodding against his chest. "That sounds good."

Jake stepped closer, tilting her chin up with his finger. "I’ll be there as soon as I can, darlin’. I promise." His green eyes were intense, searching her face. "Two hours, tops."

Nick nodded, feeling steadier than she had all morning. "I’ll be okay. Bradley will take care of me."

"Damn right I will," Bradley affirmed, his arm tightening around her shoulders.

Jake leaned in, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The tenderness of it made her eyes sting with fresh tears. "No more crying," he murmured against her mouth. "I hate seeing you cry."

She sniffled and lowered her eyes. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be sorry," Bradley murmured, pressing a kiss to her temple. "It’s not weakness to feel things deeply."

Jake reluctantly stepped back, his hand lingering on her arm. "I need to go before Cyclone sends out a search party, but I’ll be thinking about you both."

Nick watched as he straightened his flight suit, slipping back into his Hangman persona. But his eyes—soft when they met hers—betrayed the man beneath the callsign.

"Text me when you get to her place," Jake told Bradley.

Bradley nodded. "Will do."

Jake was about to turn away when Nick called his name. He paused as she detached herself from Bradley and rushed to wrap her arms around him.

"Thank you, Jake."

Jake closed his eyes as he held her, one hand cradling the back of her head. "Anytime, darlin’," he murmured against her hair. "That’s what boyfriends are for, right?"

The word sent a warm flutter through Nick’s chest. She pulled back just enough to look up at him, surprised to see vulnerability in his usually confident gaze. Rising onto her tiptoes, she kissed him again, pouring her gratitude into it.

When they separated, Jake’s eyes had darkened. He cleared his throat and glanced at Bradley. "Take care of our girl."

Bradley’s gaze softened, the weight of the moment settling over him. "You know I will."

With visible reluctance, Jake stepped away, his hand trailing down Nick’s arm until their fingertips parted. He gave her one last look before slipping out of the alcove, his footsteps echoing across the hangar floor.

Bradley sighed, wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Why don’t you grab your things? I’ll meet you at my car."

Nick nodded, drawing a deep breath. The emotional storm had passed, leaving her drained but somehow lighter. "Okay. Give me ten minutes."

Bradley’s hand cupped her cheek one last time. "I’ll be waiting. And Nick? It’s going to be alright."

She managed a wobbly smile before stepping back, straightening her blouse and running a hand through her disheveled hair. "I know. I know, and it’s all thanks to you and Jake."

Nick's apartment welcomed them with cool silence, the afternoon sun filtering through the partially drawn curtains. Bradley guided her inside with a steady hand at the small of her back, his presence solid and reassuring.

"Go change into something comfortable," he said, his voice low. "I'll make us something to eat."

Nick nodded, suddenly aware of how constricting her work clothes felt against her skin. She padded to her bedroom, the emotional exhaustion making her movements sluggish. After closing the door, she leaned against it for a moment, taking a deep breath.

Once she was out of her work clothes, she rifled through one of her drawers for something clean and soft to wear. Her fingers landed on Bradley's TOP GUN sweatshirt, and a small smile tugged at her lips. She had worn it after the rainstorm ruined their picnic, and the next morning, she had refused to take it off.

Nick slipped the sweatshirt over her head, inhaling the faint scent of Bradley that still clung to the fabric—a mix of clean laundry and the smoldering spice of his cologne, rich with black pepper, tobacco, and vanilla. It was sharp yet warm, unmistakably him, settling around her like an echo of his presence. The oversized garment swallowed her frame, the sleeves hanging past her fingertips. She paired it with soft sleep shorts and headed back to the kitchen, her bare feet silent against the hardwood floors.

Bradley stood at the stove, having shed his flight suit jacket, leaving him in a white T-shirt and uniform pants. The sight of him moving so effortlessly in her space sent a wave of warmth through her chest.

He turned at the sound of her approach, his eyes softening as they swept over her appearance. "Nice sweatshirt," he said, a small smile playing at his lips. "Looks better on you than it ever did on me."

Nick tugged at the hem self-consciously. "It's comfortable. And it smells like you."

Bradley's expression warmed further as he turned back to the stove. "I'm making grilled cheese and tomato soup. Nothing fancy, but it's comfort food."

Nick slid onto one of her kitchen barstools, watching his sure movements as he flipped a sandwich in the pan. There was something unexpectedly intimate about watching him here—not in the cockpit of a fighter jet, not suited up for training—but standing at her stove, completely at ease in her home.

"Thank you," she said quietly. "For being there for me today."

Bradley glanced over his shoulder, eyes steady. "You never have to thank me for that."

He slid the perfectly golden sandwich onto a plate and ladled steaming soup into a bowl beside it. After placing the meal in front of her, Bradley brushed a strand of hair from her face, his calloused fingers gentle against her skin.

"Eat," he encouraged, his voice soft but firm. "Your body needs fuel, especially after an emotional drop."

Nick picked up half the sandwich, suddenly aware of the hollow ache in her stomach. She hadn't realized how hungry she was until the rich aroma of melted cheese and butter hit her senses. The first bite nearly made her moan.

Bradley moved around the kitchen with quiet efficiency, making his own sandwich and texting Jake as promised. Once his food was ready, he settled onto the barstool beside her, their knees touching.

"Better?" he asked after she'd eaten half the sandwich and several spoonfuls of soup.

Nick nodded around a bite of her sandwich. “Not one hundred percent, but definitely better.”

Bradley went to dunk his own sandwich in t

he hot soup when his phone vibrated.

Bradley checked his phone, a smile playing at his lips. "Jake’s getting ready to head into his meeting. Just wanted to see how you're doing before it starts."

"Tell him I'm okay," Nick said softly, watching Bradley’s fingers tap out a response. "Tell him I miss him."

Bradley’s smile deepened as he typed. "Already did."

They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes, the simple meal warming Nick from the inside out. With each bite, she felt more grounded, the shaky, hollow feeling gradually receding.

"I feel so stupid," she finally admitted, staring into her half-empty soup bowl. "Breaking down like that at work."

Bradley set down his spoon and turned to face her fully. "Nick, look at me."

She reluctantly raised her eyes to meet his.

"What happened today was a physical and emotional response to something intense and new. It wasn't weakness. It wasn't stupid." His voice was firm but gentle. "It was your body and mind processing everything that happened between us."

Nick swallowed a lump in her throat. "I just hate feeling like this. I used to get panic attacks a lot, and this felt very similar. I always felt ridiculous every time I got one."

Bradley’s expression softened, his brown eyes warming with understanding. "There’s nothing ridiculous about your body's natural responses. Panic attacks, sub-drop—they’re both physical reactions to emotional states."

He reached over, taking her hand in his. His thumb traced gentle circles against her palm, the callouses on his fingertips creating a delicious friction against her skin.

"You know what pilots learn in training?" he asked, his voice low. "That our bodies will react to stress whether we want them to or not. Fighting those responses only makes them worse."

Nick leaned into his touch. "So what do you do instead?"

"We acknowledge them. Accept them. Work with them instead of against them." Bradley’s fingers intertwined with hers. "The strongest pilots aren't the ones who never feel fear—they're the ones who feel it and fly anyway."

Something about his words resonated deep within her.

Bradley’s fingers tightened around hers. "When I get up in that cockpit, I feel afraid sometimes. So does Jake, though he’d probably rather crash than admit it."

Nick’s lips quirked up slightly. "Yeah, that sounds like him."

"The point is," Bradley continued, "we don’t overcome fear by pretending it doesn’t exist. We acknowledge it, respect it, and then make it work for us instead of against us." His thumb traced the delicate bones of her wrist. "Same goes for what you're feeling now."

Nick stared at their intertwined hands, processing his words. "So I should just... accept that I had an emotional crash?"

"Accept it. Understand it." Bradley’s voice was steady, reassuring. "And know that Jake and I are here to help you through it."

She nodded slowly, finishing the last of her soup. "That was perfect. Thank you."

He smiled. "What would you like to do now? I can run you a hot bath, set up the hot tub, or tuck you into bed with some TV."

Nick considered his suggestions, the warmth of the food in her belly making her realize just how physically and emotionally drained she truly was.

"A bath sounds amazing, but..." she hesitated, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"But?" Bradley prompted gently.

"Would you join me?" The vulnerability in her voice was unmistakable. "I don’t want to be alone right now."

Bradley’s gaze grew tender as he reached for her hand, squeezing gently instead of tucking her hair away. "Of course I will."

He stood, gathering their empty plates and placing them in the sink before leading her toward the bathroom. Nick let him guide her, watching as he moved with practiced efficiency, turning on the faucet and testing the temperature with his wrist.

"Do you have any bath salts or oils?" he asked, glancing around the ne

at bathroom.

Nick pointed to a cabinet beside the sink.

Bradley opened the cabinet, revealing a small collection of bath products. He selected a bottle of lavender bath oil, pouring a generous amount into the running water. The scent immediately filled the bathroom—herbal, calming, familiar.

"Lavender helps with stress," he said, catching her questioning look. "My mother used to swear by it."

Nick smiled softly at this glimpse into his life. "Your mom sounds smart."

"She was," Bradley said simply, a flicker of old grief passing across his features before he turned back to the filling tub.

The intimacy of the moment struck Nick—not the physical closeness they were about to share, but this quiet emotional openness. Bradley rarely spoke of his family, of the mother he'd lost too young and the father whose shadow still loomed large over both their lives.

Steam curled into the air as Bradley turned to her. "May I?"

Nick nodded, lifting her arms slightly as Bradley’s hands found the hem of his sweatshirt. He pulled it over her head with gentle efficiency, his gaze steady. There was nothing heated in his expression—just tenderness, quiet care, something that made her chest tighten.

Instead of tucking her hair behind her ear, Bradley smoothed his palm down her arm, reassuring in its warmth.

When his fingers brushed against the waistband of her sleep shorts, Nick caught her breath. Bradley paused, his eyes searching her face.

"Is this okay?" he asked, his voice low.

"Yes," she whispered, trusting him completely. "It's okay."

He slowly slid the shorts down her legs, his touch reverent. When she stood before him in just her underwear, Bradley pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

"You're beautiful," he murmured against her skin.

Nick's eyes stung with unexpected tears. Not from embarrassment or vulnerability, but from the simple, honest care in his voice. Bradley seemed to notice, his thumbs gently wiping away the moisture before it could fall.

"No more tears today," he said softly, echoing Jake's earlier words.

Nick nodded, reaching for the hem of his t-shirt. "Your turn."

Bradley allowed her to undress him, standing still as her fingers worked at removing his clothing. Unlike their passionate encounter the night before, this disrobing was unhurried, tender. When they both stood naked, Bradley tested the water once more before stepping into the tub and holding out his hand to help her in.

She took his hand and let him help her into the tub. Once her feet were firmly in the water they both sat down, letting the warmth envelope them.

"This is nice," Nick murmured, her head resting against his shoulder.

Bradley's hands moved in slow, soothing circles across her shoulders, his thumbs working at the knots of tension there. "You're carrying a lot of stress here," he observed, his touch gentle but firm.

Nick closed her eyes, surrendering to his ministrations. "Hazard of the job. Staring at screens, blueprints, and leaning over engines all day."

"Hmm," Bradley hummed against her hair, his breath warm against her ear. "And the emotional crash probably didn't help."

She sighed, sinking deeper into the water. "No, it didn't."

Bradley's hands continued their gentle exploration, working down her arms, then back up to her shoulders. His touch was therapeutic rather than sexual, focused entirely on her comfort and relaxation.

"You know," he said softly, "what happened between us last night wasn't just physical for me and Jake."

Nick's eyes remained closed, but she tilted her head slightly, listening.

"I've never experienced anything like that before," Bradley continued, his voice low and intimate in the steamy bathroom. "Not just the sex, though that was... incredible. But the connection. The three of us together."

Nick felt a flutter in her chest at his words. "Me neither," she admitted. "It was like... like flying, but better."

Bradley chuckled softly, the sound rumbling through his chest against her back. "Better than any flight I've been on that's for sure.”

Nick laughed softly, the sound breaking the tension that had lingered around her all day. "That's saying something, coming from one of Top Gun's finest."

Bradley pressed a kiss to her damp shoulder, his lips lingering against her skin. "I mean it, Nick. What we have—what we're building together—it's special."

The sincerity in his voice wrapped around her like a warm blanket. Nick leaned back further into his embrace, letting the water lap gently around them. For several minutes, they simply existed together in comfortable silence, the only sounds the occasional drip from the faucet and their synchronized breathing.

"Bradley?" Nick finally whispered, her voice barely audible over the quiet splashing of the water.

"Hmm?" His fingers traced lazy patterns along her upper arms.

"I'm scared." The admission fell from her lips before she could reconsider it.

“About what beautiful?”

Nick swallowed hard, gathering her courage. "About this. Us. What happens when everyone finds out? What happens when my father discovers I'm dating not one, but two of his pilots?" She shifted slightly to look up at Bradley's face. "What if it interferes with your careers? With my job?"

Bradley's arms tightened around her, his expression thoughtful. "Those are valid concerns," he said, his voice low and steady. "But we'll figure it out together."

"My dad would lose his mind," Nick whispered. "He's always been so protective, and this... this would be beyond anything he could have imagined for me."

Bradley's thumb traced gentle circles on her shoulder. "Mav loves you. It might take time, but he'd come around."

"And what about the Navy? The fraternization rules—"

"Technically," Bradley interrupted gently, "you're not apart of the Navy. And Jake and I aren’t dating each other. We’re just dating you.”

Nick considered Bradley’s words, chewing her bottom lip thoughtfully. "So... just to make sure I understand—we're not two separate relationships happening at the same time. This is something different. Something that's ours."

Bradley met her gaze, his expression steady. "Exactly. It’s not about being separate. It’s about the three of us building something together."

The water lapped gently around them as Nick let his words settle. "And you two are okay with… sharing me?"

Bradley’s grip on her tightened slightly, reassuring. "It’s not about sharing, Nick. It’s about us being what each other needs. Jake and I—our connection is different. Not romantic, not sexual. But we trust each other, and we’re both committed to this."

Nick tilted her head, watching him carefully. "So you’re... becoming friends?"

Bradley huffed a quiet laugh. "I don’t know if I’d go that far."

Nick smirked. "You sure about that? Because from where I’m sitting, you seem like friends."

Bradley's lips curved against her temple in a slow smile. "Maybe you're right. Maybe this thing with you is changing everything."

Nick felt a flutter in her chest. "And what exactly is this?"

Bradley’s voice softened, his thumb tracing lazy circles against her damp skin. "It’s something that matters. Something worth protecting, worth caring for. Something worth fighting for."

The sincerity in Bradley’s voice made Nick’s throat tighten. She turned in his arms, water sloshing gently over the edge of the tub as she shifted to face him. His brown eyes were warm, open—revealing a vulnerability she rarely glimpsed beneath his composed exterior.

"I feel the same way about both of you," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "And it terrifies me how quickly this happened. How intense it feels."

Bradley brushed his thumb across her cheek, his touch grounding. "Some things don’t follow a timeline, Nick. What we have... it may have happened fast, but that doesn’t make it any less real."

Nick leaned into his touch, the warm water enveloping them like a cocoon. It made voicing her deepest fears easier. "What if I’m not enough? For both of you?"

Bradley’s expression softened, his gaze never wavering. "That’s not possible. You’re more than enough."

"But what if—"

"Nick," Bradley interrupted gently, his hands framing her face. "The way you connect with each of us is unique. What you share with Jake isn’t the same as what you share with me, and that’s exactly how it should be. You don’t have to be everything to everyone."

She closed her eyes, letting his words settle. "And what if it all falls apart? What if we can’t make it work?"

"Then we’ll face that together too." Bradley’s voice was steady, grounding. "But I believe this—us—is worth the risk."

Nick searched his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity. Slowly, she nodded, allowing herself to believe in the possibility of them—this unconventional trio navigating uncharted waters together.

"The water’s getting cold," she murmured, suddenly aware of the dropping temperature.

Bradley pressed a soft kiss to her forehead. "Let’s get you dried off and into bed. You need rest."

The water was indeed cooling, breaking the spell of their intimate conversation. Bradley stood first, water streaming down his muscular frame as he reached for a towel. He wrapped it around his waist before grabbing another and holding it open for Nick.

"Come here," he said softly.

Nick rose from the bath, suddenly feeling shy despite their intimacy the night before. This vulnerability was different—emotional rather than physical. Bradley enveloped her in the towel, his movements gentle as he patted her skin dry.

"Let me take care of you," he murmured, running the soft fabric over her shoulders and down her arms.

Nick allowed herself to be tended to, Bradley's careful ministrations soothing something deep within her. When he'd dried her thoroughly, he reached for his discarded sweatshirt.

"Arms up," he instructed softly.

Bradley's hands were gentle as he guided the sweatshirt down over her body, the soft fabric falling to mid-thigh. The tenderness in his movements made Nick's heart constrict. This wasn't the rushed passion of last night, but something equally intimate—a quiet demonstration of care that spoke volumes.

"Better?" he asked, his voice low.

Nick nodded, suddenly overwhelmed by exhaustion. The emotional rollercoaster of the day, combined with the warmth of the bath, had drained what little energy she had left. Bradley seemed to notice, his arm coming around her waist to steady her.

"Let’s get you to bed," he said softly, guiding her toward the bedroom.

The cool sheets welcomed Nick as Bradley helped her settle in. She expected him to join her, but instead, he tucked the comforter around her and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Aren’t you going to lay in bed and watch TV with me?" she all but pouted.

Bradley’s expression softened at her tone. "Of course I am. I just need to grab my phone, see if Jake messaged us."

He disappeared briefly, returning with his phone in hand. After quickly checking the screen, his expression warmed. "Jake’s meeting is running longer than expected. He says to tell you he’ll be here as soon as he can escape Cyclone’s clutches."

Nick smiled sleepily, lifting the comforter in invitation. Bradley slid in beside her, now wearing only his boxers. The heat of his body immediately warmed the space as he reached for the remote on her nightstand.

"What do you want to watch?" he asked, his arm coming around her shoulders.

Nick nestled against his side, her head finding the perfect spot on his chest where she could hear the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. She watched as he scrolled the guide, speaking up when he landed on a show she liked. "I love The Big Bang Theory. Can we watch that?"

Bradley smiled, clicking on the episode. "Sure."

Nick snuggled closer as the familiar theme song played, the warmth of Bradley’s body and the soothing hum of the sitcom lulling her into a state of peaceful relaxation. His fingers traced lazy patterns on her shoulder through the sweatshirt, each touch grounding her further.

"Thank you," she murmured against his chest, her eyelids growing heavy.

"For what?" Bradley’s voice rumbled beneath her ear.

"For today. For understanding. For being exactly what I needed." Nick’s words were slightly slurred with approaching sleep.

Bradley pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "You never have to thank me for that."

She fought to keep her eyes open, wanting to savor this moment of perfect contentment, but the emotional exhaustion of the day was catching up with her. The last thing she remembered before drifting off was the steady sound of Bradley’s heartbeat beneath her cheek and his voice softly humming along with the TV theme song. His fingers continued their gentle exploration, tracing idle patterns across her arm and back. The sensation was both comforting and intimate, lulling her deeper into relaxation.

"Sleep if you need to," Bradley murmured, his lips brushing against her hair. "I’ll be right here when you wake up."

Nick wanted to respond, to thank him again for his unwavering support, but exhaustion pulled her under. Her breathing deepened as she surrendered to sleep, secure in Bradley’s protective embrace.

She drifted through layers of consciousness, vaguely aware of Bradley adjusting the blankets around her, of his phone vibrating with incoming messages, of his voice—low and soothing—as he spoke to someone, presumably Jake. The familiar sounds anchored her as she floated into a peaceful slumber.

The soft click of the front door roused Bradley from his thoughts. He glanced up from the living room, where he’d been quietly unpacking the last of Nick’s boxes while she slept, to see Jake entering the apartment. Jake had changed into civilian clothes—dark jeans and a fitted white Henley—with his Wayfarers perched atop his head.

"How is she?" Jake asked immediately, his voice low as he set his keys on the counter.

Bradley nodded toward the bedroom. "Sleeping. She was wiped."

Jake’s usual cocky demeanor had softened, concern flickering in the lines around his eyes as he peered through the partially open bedroom door. "Has she been out the whole time?"

"Pretty much," Bradley confirmed, folding the empty cardboard box and setting it aside. "She crashed right after our bath."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Bath, huh?"

Bradley shot him a look. "Not that kind of bath, Hangman."

Jake smirked but shook his head. "Sorry—force of habit." He reached up, pulled his sunglasses from his head, and set them down next to his keys before running a hand through his hair. The casual gesture did little to mask his concern. "How bad was she when you got here?"

"Better than at the hangar," Bradley said, moving to the fridge and pulling out two beers. He offered one to Jake, who accepted with a nod. "The food and bath helped. She opened up about some of her fears."

Jake twisted off the bottle cap and took a long pull. "Fears about us? About this… thing between the three of us?"

Bradley leaned against the counter, nodding. "Mostly about her dad finding out. And how it could affect our careers."

"Valid concerns," Jake admitted, his tone unusually serious. "What did you tell her?"

"That we’d figure it out together." Bradley’s gaze met Jake’s over the rim of his beer bottle. "That this is worth it."

A slow smile tugged at the corner of Jake’s mouth—nothing cocky, just something real. "Good answer."

He took another swig of beer before setting the bottle down and heading for the bedroom doorway. "I’m gonna check on her."

Jake moved quietly into the room, his footsteps barely audible on the carpet. Nick lay curled on her side, her face peaceful in sleep, Bradley’s oversized TOP GUN sweatshirt swallowing her petite frame. Like this, she looked younger, vulnerable in a way she rarely allowed herself to be when awake.

He lowered himself onto the edge of the bed, careful not to disturb her. His hand hovered over her shoulder before brushing a strand of hair from her face with unexpected tenderness. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, lingering for a moment before pulling back—but Nick stirred just as he moved to stand.

"Jake?" she murmured, voice thick with sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, slowly focusing on his face.

"Hey, darlin'," he said softly, his usual swagger replaced by something gentler. "Didn’t mean to wake you."

She reached for his hand, fingers curling around his. "You’re here."

Jake’s smile warmed. "Course I am. Told you I’d come as soon as I could."

Nick shifted, making room for him on the bed. "How was your meeting with my dad?"

"Boring as hell," Jake admitted. "Cyclone wanted to go over new protocols for a possible mission. Even Mav looked like he wanted to bolt."

"Sounds awful," she slurred.

"Go back to sleep," he murmured. "We’ll wake you when it’s dinner time."

Nick stared at Jake through half-lidded eyes, her exhaustion winning out. "Mkay," she whispered, drifting off once more.

Jake watched her sleep, her features relaxing as unconsciousness reclaimed her. He stayed there for a long moment, simply observing—the way her lashes fanned across her cheeks, the steady rise and fall of her breath. Something unfamiliar tightened in his chest—an emotion he wasn’t quite ready to name.

When he finally returned to the kitchen, Bradley was leaning against the counter, nursing his beer with a thoughtful expression.

"Still out?" Bradley asked.

Jake nodded, retrieving his own beer. "Like a light. Woke up for a second, but crashed again." He took a long pull from the bottle. "Never seen her like this."

Bradley exhaled, rolling the bottle between his palms. "Sub-drop hits everyone differently, I guess. I never even heard of it until you sent me that article." He took a sip. "Today was the first time I actually saw it happen."

"Me too."

Jake settled onto one of the barstools, his usual swagger momentarily set aside. "You know, when I first met Nick, I thought she’d be just another conquest. A challenge." He shook his head, a rueful smile playing at his lips. "I had no idea…"

"That she’d get under your skin?" Bradley finished, his expression knowing.

"Yeah." Jake ran a hand through his dark hair. "Or that I’d be sharing her with you, of all people."

Bradley raised an eyebrow. "Having second thoughts?"

"Hell no," Jake replied without hesitation. "What we have… it works. I don’t know how, but somehow it just does."

They fell into a comfortable silence, the hum of the refrigerator, TV, and Nick’s steady breathing the only sounds filling the apartment. Despite their initial rivalry, despite the unconventional nature of their situation, they had become close. Maybe even friends, though neither would say it outright.

Jake’s gaze drifted toward the bedroom door. "What do you think about ordering dinner? She’ll probably be hungry when she wakes up."

Bradley nodded, setting his beer down. "Good idea. Thai? She mentioned liking that place on Third Street."

"Perfect." Jake pulled out his phone and started scrolling through a delivery app. "Pad Thai for her, green curry for me, and…" he glanced up at Bradley. "What about you?"

"Red curry, extra spicy," Bradley supplied.

Jake’s lips quirked up in a half-smile. "Should’ve guessed. Always gotta one-up me, don’t you, Rooster?"

There was no bite to the words, just the familiar rhythm of their banter. Bradley shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips. "Not everything’s a competition, Hangman."

"Says the guy ordering his food as a test of endurance," Jake muttered, his eyes still on his phone as he placed the order. "Food will be here in forty-five minutes."

Bradley finished his beer and set the empty bottle on the counter. "Should we wake her when it gets here?"

Jake glanced toward the bedroom, his expression softening. "Let’s see how deeply she’s sleeping. If she’s still out, we can always reheat it for her later."

He stood, stretching his tall frame. Bradley’s gaze flicked toward him briefly, noting the effortless strength in his movements. For a moment, neither spoke, something unspoken settling in the space between them. They were different in nearly every way—Jake with his cocky confidence and impulsiveness, Bradley with his steady pragmatism and careful thought. Yet somehow, they had landed in the same place.

"I never thought I’d say this," Jake admitted, his voice quieter, "but I’m glad you’re here, Rooster. For her. She needs both of us."

Bradley nodded, a flicker of surprise passing over his features at Jake’s sincerity. "She does. In different ways, but yeah… she needs us both."

Jake exhaled slowly. "When I saw her crying in that hangar today… I’ve never felt so damn helpless."

"I know," Bradley said quietly. "That’s why we need to be better prepared next time. Make sure she never crashes that hard again."

Jake met Bradley’s gaze, something unspoken settling into place between them. "Agreed. Whatever she needs, whenever she needs it."

Bradley extended his hand, the gesture simple but weighted. "Partners?"

Jake grasped it firmly, his green eyes steady. "Partners."

The word lingered between them, carrying more weight than either had expected. Not just partners in caring for Nick—but in figuring out what this meant for all of them.

The moment was interrupted by a soft sound from the bedroom. Both men turned as Nick appeared, Bradley's oversized sweatshirt hanging to mid-thigh, her dark hair tousled from sleep. She blinked in the kitchen light, looking between them with groggy curiosity.

"Hey," she murmured, her voice still husky. "What are you two plotting?"

Jake's trademark smirk returned as he released Bradley's hand. "Just ordering dinner, darlin’. Thai food from that place you like."

Nick padded barefoot into the kitchen, drawn by the casual domesticity of the scene—her two pilots, relaxed and chatting as if they'd been doing this forever.

Jake sat back down and patted his lap. "Come here, sleeping beauty."

A sleepy smile curved her lips as she crossed to him, letting Jake pull her onto his lap. She settled against his chest, legs draped across his thighs, and sighed as his arms wrapped securely around her waist.

"How are you feeling?" Bradley asked, standing beside them, his hand resting gently on her shoulder.

Nick leaned into his touch while remaining nestled in Jake’s embrace. "Better." She looked between them, her expression soft with gratitude. "I really mean it—thank you both."

Jake pressed a kiss to her temple. "No thanks needed, darlin’. That’s why we’re here."

Nick traced a lazy pattern on Jake’s sleeve, voice tinged with curiosity. "Did you two have a heart-to-heart while I was sleeping?"

Jake chuckled, the sound vibrating through his chest against her. "Something like that."

"We've come to an understanding," Bradley added, his hand still resting on her shoulder.

Nick raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

"Not at all," Jake assured her, arms tightening slightly around her waist. "Just making sure we're on the same page about taking care of you."

"I don’t need to be taken care of," Nick muttered, though there was no bite to her words.

Bradley brushed a strand of hair from her face, his expression soft. "Everyone does sometimes. Even the strongest people."

"Especially the strongest people," Jake added, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "Because they’re usually the last ones to admit it."

Nick looked between them, these two men who had somehow become her anchors. The day’s emotional turbulence had stripped away her usual walls, leaving her too raw for pretense.

"I’m not used to this," she admitted quietly. "Letting people see me when I’m not… together."

Jake’s thumb traced small circles against her hip. "Well, get used to it, darlin’. Because we’re not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

Bradley knelt before her, taking her hands in his. "Promise," he echoed, his voice steady. His dark eyes held hers, something in them making her breath catch. "You don’t have to be strong all the time, Nick. Not with us."

Jake tightened his hold around her waist, his chest solid against her back. "What he said," he murmured against her hair. "We’ve got you."

Nick felt a prickle of tears—not the overwhelming storm from earlier, but something gentler, warmer. She blinked them away, a small smile tugging at her lips.

"I guess you’re stuck with me then," she said softly.

"Wouldn’t have it any other way," Jake replied, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.

The warmth in their voices settled around her like a security blanket, replacing the hollow ache that had consumed her earlier.

"So," she said, clearing her throat, "you ordered Thai?"

"From that place on Third you like," Jake confirmed, fingers tracing idle patterns against her hip. "Should be here in about half an hour."

"Perfect," Nick murmured, leaning back against Jake while keeping her hands linked with Bradley's. "I'm starving."

Bradley smiled, giving her hands a gentle squeeze before rising to his feet. "Good. You need to eat."

"Yes, sir," she teased, some of her usual spark returning.

Jake chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest against her back. "There she is. Our girl’s coming back to us."

"All thanks to you two."

Jake kept his arm around Nick's waist, his fingers playing idly with the hem of the oversized sweatshirt she wore. "You know, that's becoming my favorite look on you," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "Bradley's clothes, bed-head, and that sleepy smile."

Nick felt a blush creep up her neck. "I must look a mess."

"You look perfect," Bradley countered, leaning against the counter as he watched them, his gaze warm and appreciative.

Jake nodded, his hand sliding to her thigh, just below the sweatshirt’s hem. The touch was possessive but gentle, his thumb tracing small circles against her skin. "Exactly what I was thinking."

Nick smirked, tilting her head slightly. "I bet I’d look just as good in something you own."

Jake’s eyes flickered with interest, the corner of his mouth tugging into a familiar smirk. "Darlin', you’d look incredible in anything of mine." His fingers traced higher on her thigh, just beneath the sweatshirt's hem. "Though I gotta admit, seeing you in nothing but my dog tags would be something else."

Nick's breath caught at the image, heat blooming low in her belly despite her lingering exhaustion. Bradley watched them, his expression warming as he observed their interaction.

"I think that could be arranged," Nick replied, her voice taking on a teasing lilt. The emotional rawness from earlier was receding, replaced by the comfort of their easy banter.

Bradley moved to the refrigerator, pulling out a bottle of water. He uncapped it and handed it to Nick. "Which we can save for another night. Tonight should be all of us, especially you relaxing."

Nick accepted the water gratefully, taking a long sip. The cool liquid soothed her throat, reminding her how dehydrated the emotional day had left her.

"You're right," she admitted, leaning back against Jake's solid chest. "I don't think I have the energy for anything more strenuous than eating Thai food and watching a movie."

Jake's arms tightened around her, his chin resting on her shoulder. "Whatever you need, darlin'. We're just happy to be here with you."

The sincerity in his voice, so different from his usual cockiness, made something warm unwind in Nick's chest. She glanced at Bradley, finding the same genuine care reflected in his steady gaze.

"How about we move this to the couch?" Bradley suggested, nodding toward the living room. "More comfortable than kitchen stools."

Jake stood with Nick still in his arms, lifting her effortlessly as she let out a surprised squeak. "Show-off," she mumbled against his neck, though she made no move to protest as he carried her to the living room.

"You love it," Jake replied, his voice warm with affection as he settled onto the couch with Nick in his lap.

Bradley followed, carrying Nick's water and his own. He sat beside them, close enough that his thigh pressed against Jake's, Nick's bare feet naturally coming to rest in his lap. Without thinking, his fingers began to massage her arches, drawing a contented sigh from her lips.

"That feels amazing," she murmured, her body gradually relaxing further between the two men.

Jake's arms remained securely around her waist, his chin resting on her shoulder as Bradley continued the gentle foot massage. The three of them fit together with surprising ease.

“I never realized til now what tiny feet you have.”

Nick wiggled her toes under Bradley's touch, a small smile playing at her lips. "Are you saying I have dainty feet, Rooster?"

Bradley's fingers worked magic on her arches, his touch firm yet gentle. "I'm saying they're perfectly proportioned to the rest of you."

Jake nuzzled against her neck, his breath warm against her skin. "Everything about you is perfect, darlin'."

Nick rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress the warmth spreading through her chest at their words. "You two are incorrigible."

"Big word for someone who just woke up," Jake teased, his lips brushing against her pulse point.

The doorbell rang, interrupting their moment of domestic tranquility. Bradley gave her foot one final squeeze before standing. "That'll be dinner."

Nick made to move from Jake's lap, but his arms tightened around her waist, keeping her firmly in place.

"Where do you think you're going?" Jake murmured against her ear, his voice a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine.

"To get plates?" she offered, though she made no real effort to escape his embrace.

"Bradley's got it," Jake said, pressing a soft kiss to the sensitive spot just below her ear. "Your job right now is to stay right here and keep letting us take care of you."

Nick relaxed back against Jake, watching as Bradley paid for their food and brought the fragrant bags to the coffee table. There was something mesmerizing about seeing these two skilled pilots—men trained for precision and control—engaged in something as simple as unpacking dinner.

Bradley opened the containers, releasing the spicy-sweet aroma of Thai food into the room.

He went to hand Nick her meal, but Jake took it instead, flicking open the container and grabbing a fork.

"What are you—"

"Open," Jake interrupted, his tone casual but firm.

Nick blinked at his sudden command, but the tenderness in his expression made her comply. She opened her mouth, and Jake carefully fed her a bite of pad Thai. The flavors exploded on her tongue—sweet, salty, tangy, with just enough warmth to settle deep in her chest.

"Good?" he asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle.

Nick nodded, swallowing before speaking. "Perfect." A blush crept up her cheeks as she glanced between Jake and Bradley. "But I can feed myself, you know."

Bradley settled beside them, opening his own container of red curry. "We know," he said simply. "But tonight is about taking care of you."

Jake offered her another bite, which she accepted with less hesitation. There was something unexpectedly comforting about being fed this way, cradled in Jake’s lap while Bradley sat close enough that his presence grounded her.

"But what about your food? Won't it get cold?"

Jake chuckled, taking a bite of his own curry before offering Nick another forkful of pad Thai. "I can multitask, darlin'."

Bradley watched them with a soft expression, his usual intensity mellowed in the relaxed atmosphere. "We both can."

Nick accepted the next bite, gradually surrendering to their care. The Thai food was exactly what she needed—warm, flavorful, soothing. The three of them ate in companionable silence, the only sounds their quiet appreciation of the meal and the occasional clink of utensils against containers.

"This is nice," Nick finally murmured, leaning back against Jake’s chest. "Weird, but nice."

"Weird how?" Bradley asked, raising an eyebrow.

Nick gestured vaguely with her hand. "Being fed like I’m a toddler."

Jake chuckled, the vibration rumbling through his chest against her back. "Not like a toddler, darlin'. Like someone precious."

"Someone who deserves to be taken care of," Bradley added, his gaze warm as it met hers.

Nick felt her cheeks flush at their words. She’d always prided herself on her independence, on never needing anyone. But here, nestled between these two men, she found herself surrendering to their care with surprising ease.

"I’m not used to this," she admitted softly, accepting another bite from Jake. "Being the one who needs taking care of."

"Get used to it," Jake murmured against her hair. "Because we’re not stopping anytime soon."

Bradley reached over, his hand finding hers. "Not ever, if we have anything to say about it."

The simple declaration settled something in Nick’s chest, and again she wanted to tell them she loved them. But just like last night, she kept it to herself.

Nick’s heart skipped a beat at Bradley’s words. The intensity in his eyes matched the quiet certainty in his voice. She glanced back at Jake, finding the same conviction in his expression, though tempered with his characteristic playfulness.

"So this is really happening," she said softly, more statement than question. "The three of us."

Jake’s arm tightened around her waist. "Oh, it’s happening, darlin'. Has been since that first night."

Bradley nodded, his thumb tracing gentle circles on her palm. "I think we all knew it then, even if we couldn’t name it yet."

Nick took another bite of pad Thai, using the moment to collect her thoughts. The emotional rollercoaster of the day had left her raw, exposed in ways she rarely allowed herself to be. Yet here, nestled between these two men, she felt strangely protected.

“Do you want anymore?” Jake asked.

Nick shook her head, setting the half-empty container on the coffee table. "No, I'm full. Thank you."

Jake pressed a kiss to her temple, his lips lingering against her skin. "Good girl."

The simple praise sent a warm flutter through her chest, different from the heated desire his words usually evoked. This was comfort, security—a feeling of being treasured.

Bradley finished his curry and set the container aside, his hand returning to rest on her ankle. His thumb traced idle patterns against her skin as he watched her with those steady brown eyes.

"What do you want to do now?" Jake asked, his voice low and gentle. "We could watch TV, or just talk, or if you're still tired..."

Nick considered the options, acutely aware of the warmth of Jake’s chest against her back and Bradley’s steady hand resting near her ankle. The emotional exhaustion had faded, replaced by a comfortable relaxation.

"We could watch the Dodgers game in bed," she suggested, settling deeper into Jake’s lap. The storm had passed, leaving behind a peaceful calm that felt both foreign and familiar.

"You heard the lady," Jake said to Bradley, his voice warm with affection. "Dodgers in bed it is."

Bradley gathered their empty containers, clearing the coffee table with efficient movements. "I’ll clean up dinner while you two get settled."

Jake tightened his arms around her waist. "Ready for bed, darlin’?" he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.

Nick nodded, allowing him to lift her effortlessly.

Jake carried Nick to the bedroom, her arms looped around his neck. The intimacy of the gesture wasn’t lost on her—this cocky pilot, known for his swagger and bravado, cradling her with such quiet tenderness.

"You don’t have to carry me everywhere, you know," she murmured, though she made no move to pull away.

Jake’s lips curved into that familiar half-smile as he set her down gently on the bed. "Maybe I just like having you in my arms, Mitchell."

There was something in his voice—a vulnerability beneath the teasing tone—that made Nick’s heart flutter. She watched as he moved around her room with unexpected familiarity, finding the remote and fluffing pillows against the headboard with one hand while the other rested lightly at her side.

Jake adjusted the pillows behind her, movements careful and deliberate. "Comfortable?"

Nick nodded, pulling Bradley’s sweatshirt down over her thighs as she leaned back against the headboard. "Perfect."

Jake's eyes darkened as they swept over her, taking in the sight of her bare legs and tousled hair. "You have no idea what you do to me, looking like that."

Before Nick could respond, Bradley appeared in the doorway, his tall frame filling the space. He was dressed casually in a t-shirt and boxers, his gaze sweeping over them. "Everything okay in here?"

"Better than okay," Jake replied, his eyes still on Nick. He straightened, moving to the other side of the bed. "Our girl's all settled in."

"I just need my boys to cuddle me."

Bradley's expression softened at her words. In three easy strides, he crossed the room and settled onto the bed beside her, the mattress dipping under his weight. Jake was already kicking off his shoes and shucking his jeans, leaving him in a fitted henley and boxer briefs.

"Your boys, huh?" Jake repeated, a pleased grin spreading across his face as he slid under the covers on her other side. "I like the sound of that."

Nick found herself enveloped between them—Bradley's steady warmth on her left, Jake's lean strength on her right. She sighed as Bradley reached for the remote, finding the Dodgers game already in the bottom of the first inning.

"Who's winning?" Jake asked, his arm sliding around her waist, pulling her closer.

"Dodgers up by two," Bradley replied, his hand closing gently over Nick’s, holding it against his chest.

Nick nestled between them, the familiar hum of the baseball game creating a comforting backdrop to the quiet intimacy of the moment. Bradley's thumb traced lazy circles on the back of her hand while Jake’s fingers idly played with the hem of her sweatshirt. The ease of it struck her—how quickly they'd fallen into this pattern of casual touch and shared space.

"This is nice," she murmured, her head finding the perfect spot against Jake’s shoulder.

"Mmm," Jake agreed, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Though I never pegged you for a baseball fan, Mitchell."

Nick smiled, watching as the Dodgers' pitcher struck out another batter. "My dad and I used to watch games together when I was growing up. It was our thing, especially after my parents divorced."

Bradley's grip on her hand tightened slightly. "Maverick doesn’t strike me as a baseball fan."

"Oh, trust me, he is. Whenever the Dodgers needed some extra luck, he'd bring out his lucky bat."

"His lucky bat?" Jake laughed, the sound rumbling through his chest against her. "Captain Mitchell had a lucky bat? Now that’s something I never expected."

Nick smiled at the memory, sinking deeper into the comfort of their embrace. "It was an old wooden thing from when he played in high school. He’d wave it around during crucial plays, convinced it channeled good energy to the team."

Bradley’s thumb kept tracing soft patterns against her knuckles. "Did it work?"

"Sometimes," Nick said with a quiet laugh. "But I think it was more about us believing it worked. Those were some of my favorite memories with him—just the two of us, eating hot dogs and waving that ridiculous bat around."

Jake’s arm tightened slightly around her waist. "You two really are close, huh?"

"We are. Not that my mom and I aren’t, but I was always a daddy’s girl," Nick admitted, a hint of a smile playing at her lips. "Even when he was deployed, he’d send me postcards from every port. Sometimes just a line or two, but I kept every single one."

Bradley’s expression softened as he listened. "That explains a lot about you."

Nick turned slightly to face him. "What do you mean?"

"Your determination. Your loyalty." Bradley’s voice was gentle. "The way you never back down from a challenge."

Jake’s fingers traced idle patterns near her hip. "And your stubbornness," he added with a

smirk. "Definitely got that from Maverick."

Nick jabbed Jake playfully with her elbow. "Watch it, Hangman."

"He's not wrong," Bradley added with a smirk.

Nick scoffed. "He's going to kill you both when he finds out about this, you know."

Jake chuckled, though a flicker of genuine concern passed beneath his bravado. "Worth it."

"Absolutely worth it," Bradley agreed, his voice steady.

Nick lifted her chin. "Well, if he or anyone tries anything, I'll protect you both."

Jake laughed, eyes crinkling with amusement. "You'll protect us? From Maverick? That's adorable, darlin'."

Nick narrowed her eyes, though the smile tugging at her lips betrayed her. "I'll have you know, I can be very intimidating when I want to be."

Bradley’s arm curved around her shoulders, pulling her in. "Of course you are, baby."

Nick huffed, a petulant frown crossing her face. "Okay, so maybe I couldn't physically intimidate him. But I have other weapons in my arsenal."

Jake arched a brow, clearly intrigued. "Do tell, darlin'."

"Emotional manipulation," Nick said, her grin mischievous. "I've been wrapping my father around my little finger since I was born. One tearful 'Daddy, please,' and he melts like ice cream in July."

Bradley chuckled. "I can actually see that working. The man who never backs down from anything, completely defenseless against his daughter's tears."

"It's my superpower," Nick confirmed, nestling deeper between them. On the television, the Dodgers scored another run, but none of them were paying much attention anymore.

Jake stifled a yawn, covering his mouth with the back of his hand. "Sorry," he murmured. "That meeting with Cyclone and your dad drained me."

Nick studied his face, noting the faint shadows beneath his eyes. "You're tired. Both of you probably are after dealing with me all day."

Bradley’s fingers threaded through her hair, his touch soothing. "We're fine. Tonight is about you."

"No," Nick said firmly, surprising both men with the sudden authority in her voice. "Tonight is about us. All of us." She shifted, pulling the blankets higher around them. "You’ve both been taking care of me all day. Let me take care of you now."

Jake shook his head. "I'm fine, darlin'."

"No, you’re not," Nick countered. "You should get some rest."

Jake looked ready to protest, but Nick pressed a finger to his lips. "No arguments. You’ve been up since dawn, had a full day of flying, sat through hours of meetings with my father and Cyclone, then rushed over here to take care of me. You’re exhausted."

The gentle authority in her voice seemed to catch Jake off guard. He caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm.

"Yes, ma'am," he murmured, a tired smile playing at his lips.

Nick reached for the remote, lowering the volume on the game. She adjusted, making herself the center point between them, and guided Jake’s head to her shoulder.

"Rest," she murmured, her fingers threading through his dark hair. "I’ve got you now."

Jake’s resistance crumbled under her touch. With a soft sigh, he nestled against her, his arm still draped protectively across her waist. Bradley watched them with warm eyes, his own exhaustion becoming more evident as he allowed himself to relax.

"You too," Nick told him, extending her other arm in invitation.

Bradley hesitated only briefly before settling against her other side, his head finding the perfect spot on her shoulder. The weight of both men against her was comforting rather than overwhelming, their solid warmth anchoring her in a way she’d never experienced before.

Nick pressed a gentle kiss to each of their foreheads, a tender gesture that felt both new and strangely familiar. "Sleep," she whispered, fingers tracing soothing patterns through their hair. "Let me take care of my boys for a change."

Jake mumbled something against her neck, already drifting off. Bradley lasted a bit longer, his hand still holding hers, but soon his breathing deepened as well. Nick found herself the only one awake, cradled between these two men who had shown her such unwavering tenderness throughout the day.

The baseball game continued on the television, the distant cheers and the announcer’s low commentary creating a soft backdrop. But instead of watching the game, she found herself watching them.

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

Rooster and Hangman Stretch Bracelets!

Decided to make some Hangman and Rooster stretch bracelets. I'm thinking of adding them to my site or my Etsy. ♥️

Also just realized that Rooster and Hangman are both 7 letters.

[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

When I was looking up photos to get an idea of what the goose would look like I was almost tempted to get one for myself. But I have a beanie baby ladybug named Lucky who's very territorial and wouldn't be happy if I added another stuffed animal to the mix. lol

She's Theirs: Something Just Like This

Title: Something Just Like This

Summary: Jake and Bradley help Nick unpack boxes from her childhood.

Word Count:  8,145

Warnings: flirting, light drinking, talks of sex and sexual fantasies, talk of a dead parent, fluff

Tags: fluff 

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter seven. This chapter is mostly fluff with some sexy talk mixed along with some emotional stuff. A little bit of everything! If you'd like to be tagged in future updates please let me know!

When her mom mentioned she would be sending over some of her belongings, Nick hadn’t anticipated receiving the entire contents of her childhood basement.

She sighed as the last box was stacked against the wall where the mail was delivered. Just as she was signing the delivery form, she spotted Jake and Bradley walking through the front door of the apartment building.

"Crap," she muttered, hastily thrusting the clipboard back at the courier.

When she’d asked them if they’d help with some boxes her mom was sending, she didn’t realize just how many. Now, standing in front of an overwhelming mountain of cardboard, she suddenly felt guilty for dragging them into this. Even though they’d agreed willingly, neither of them had known just how big of a task they were signing up for.

"Need some help?" Jake’s voice carried that familiar cocky lilt as he took in the scene, an arched brow lifting in amusement. He exchanged a glance with Bradley—silent understanding passing between them.

"I swear it wasn’t supposed to be this many," she explained, pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Apparently, my mom interpreted ‘some belongings’ as ‘everything I’ve ever owned since birth.’"

Bradley stepped forward, already assessing the situation with the precise, methodical approach of a pilot. "We’ll need multiple trips. How many floors up are you again? Six, right?"

"Six." She winced, waiting for them to reconsider.

Instead, Jake rolled up his sleeves, revealing tanned forearms. "Good thing I didn’t skip arm day this week." He flashed his perfect pearly whites.

“Are you sure you’re still okay doing this? You didn’t sign up for this many boxes.”

"What, you think this scares us?" Jake grinned, already hoisting a particularly large box with exaggerated ease. "This is nothing compared to hauling equipment on the carrier."

Bradley gave her a reassuring nod, his brown eyes warm. "It’s fine. We’ve got nowhere to be."

She watched as they coordinated effortlessly, Bradley methodically stacking the smaller boxes while Jake tackled the heavier ones. The seamless efficiency between them spoke of countless hours working in tight cockpits, where communication had to be instinctive.

"Sixth floor, a billion boxes," Jake fake-groaned as he balanced two at once. "You’re lucky you’re cute."

"Shut up, Hangman," Bradley muttered, but there was no heat behind his words.

“I really am sorry. I won’t make you carry all of them—I’ll carry some too.” She reached for a box, but Bradley stopped her with a firm hand on her shoulder.

"No, you don’t," he said, shaking his head. "We’ve got this handled."

"But I feel terrible—"

"Consider it our cardio for the day," Jake interjected, shifting the weight of his boxes with a smirk. "Besides, I need to show Rooster here how it’s done. He’s been slacking on his training."

Bradley rolled his eyes. "Says the guy who complained about muscle soreness for three days after our last PT session."

"That was strategic whining to lower your expectations," Jake retorted with a wink in her direction. "Always keep ‘em guessing."

As they started up the stairs, she couldn’t help noticing the play of muscles beneath Bradley’s fitted t-shirt as he navigated the narrow stairwell. Jake, for all his bravado, moved with the same fluid grace that made him so lethal in the air. They worked in tandem, their competitive nature turning the mundane task into an unspoken contest.

"So what’s actually in these boxes?" Bradley asked between floors five and six, his breathing controlled despite the exertion.

"God knows. Probably every macaroni art project I ever made, knowing my mom." She fumbled with her keys as they reached her door. "She’s been threatening to ‘declutter’ for years. I only asked her to send me the boxes I couldn’t bring when I moved—I wasn’t expecting this."

Once the door opened, she stepped aside, letting both men in.

"Well, I’m sure she meant well," Bradley offered.

"Are you sure you don’t want to use the elevator? It might be easier than lugging all these up the stairs."

"Nah, this is working just fine, darlin’," Jake responded.

"Working fine for who?" she asked, eyeing the sweat beading along Jake’s hairline.

"For you," he shot back with that infuriating smirk. "Front-row tickets to the gun show."

Bradley set his boxes down carefully in her living room, his movements deliberate. "Ignore him. He thinks everything is an opportunity to show off."

"Only when there’s someone worth showing off for," Jake replied, walking over to press a quick kiss to Nick’s cheek.

Her skin tingled where his lips brushed against it—a casual intimacy that still made her pulse quicken. She stepped back, flustered, catching the fleeting glance Bradley gave before turning his attention to the stack of boxes.

"Careful, Hangman," she recovered with a smirk. "Your ego’s showing again."

"Among other things," Jake murmured low enough that only she could hear, his eyes darkening briefly before he turned toward the door. "Round two. Let’s go, Rooster."

The next hour passed in a blur of cardboard and testosterone. By the time the last box was hauled upstairs, her living room had transformed into a chaotic labyrinth of her past. Both men were sweating freely now, their shirts clinging to their bodies in ways that made maintaining eye contact increasingly difficult.

"I've got beer if you guys want one," Nick offered.

"Hell yes," Jake groaned, collapsing onto her couch with exaggerated dramatics and throwing an arm over his eyes. "I think I’ve earned at least a six-pack after that workout."

"You and Bradley earned more than that. I believe I promised my boys sexual favors for helping me out," Nick teased, flashing them a smirk. "So, whatever you want tonight, I’m your girl."

Bradley's head snapped up, his eyes widening slightly before he schooled his expression. "You don’t have to—"

"Speak for yourself, Rooster," Jake cut in, suddenly energized as he sat upright. His grin turned predatory, eyes glinting with mischief. "I’m definitely collecting on that debt."

Nick laughed, a mix of nerves and amusement bubbling in her voice as she made her way to the refrigerator. "Let me at least get you those beers first. I do have some manners."

"Nick, I hope you don’t think we agreed to this just because you offered us sex," Bradley said, watching her carefully. "I mean, that was a nice bonus, but we mainly did it because we wanted to help."

"That, and we've had no trouble getting you into bed so far," Jake added with a wink. "If not tonight, there’s always tomorrow."

Nick rolled her eyes, handing them each a cold beer. "Humble as always, Hangman."

"Why be humble when I’m this good?" Jake quipped, taking a long pull from his bottle, his throat working as he swallowed.

Bradley accepted his beer with a quiet nod.

"So," Jake gestured toward the towering maze of cardboard with his bottle, "are we tackling this disaster or what?"

"God, no," Nick laughed, settling comfortably into Jake’s arms on the couch. "That’s a problem for Future Nick. Present Nick has done enough adulting for one day."

Bradley perched on the edge of her coffee table, his knees barely brushing hers. "You should at least tackle some of it. Between the three of us, we could knock out a good chunk in no time."

"I have a better idea," Nick said, reaching for Jake’s beer, taking a sip before handing it back. "Let’s play a game."

Jake’s eyes lit up with interest. "What kind of game?"

"How about this—for every box I open and unpack, one of you has to remove an article of clothing. And for every box you two unpack, I have to remove one." Nick leaned forward, her gaze challenging them both. "Might make unpacking a little more... motivating."

Bradley shifted on the coffee table, his brown eyes darkening slightly. "That's one way to get the job done."

"Oh, I'm in," Jake said, already standing and stretching his arms overhead, deliberately revealing a strip of toned abdomen as his shirt rode up. "But I’m adding a rule—whoever finds the most embarrassing item in a box gets to make the other two do whatever they want."

Nick felt warmth spread across her skin. "Define ‘whatever.’"

"Let’s say I find the most embarrassing thing," Jake said, eyes glinting with mischief. "And I want to dig into that treasure trove of sins you keep hidden under your bed. Whatever I pick out, we have to use. No except

ions."

“So if you find a vibrator and want to use it on me…?”

"Then Bradley and I get to use it on you," Jake stated matter-of-factly.

Nick swallowed hard, her green eyes darting between the two men. The tension in the room shifted from playful to electric in an instant.

"I'm game if you both are," she said, trying to keep her voice steady despite the heat building low in her belly. "But I think we all know who's going to win this."

Bradley stood, setting his beer down with deliberate precision. "Don't be so sure about that," he said, his normally reserved demeanor giving way to something darker, more intense. "I've always been good at finding what others miss."

"Big talk from the guy who couldn't find his own car keys yesterday," Jake teased, already moving toward the nearest box. He pulled a pocket knife from his jeans, flipping it open in a smooth, fluid motion.

Nick grabbed a box labeled "HIGH SCHOOL" in her mother's neat handwriting. "This one has potential for maximum embarrassment," she said, slicing through the tape. "Fair warning—I was a very dramatic teenager."

Jake was already wrist-deep in his own box, pulling out what appeared to be elementary school art projects. "Oh hell yes," he crowed, holding up a misshapen clay figure. "What the hell is this supposed to be?"

Nick groaned, recognizing it immediately. "It's supposed to be a fighter jet. I made it in third grade."

Bradley leaned over, examining it with mock seriousness. "The aerodynamics are... questionable."

"That's definitely embarrassing, but I'm not calling it yet," Jake said, setting the clay monstrosity aside. "I feel like there's gold in these boxes."

Nick continued unpacking photo albums and notebooks, relieved that nothing too mortifying had surfaced yet. After emptying her box completely, she clapped her hands together.

"One box down," she announced triumphantly, gesturing at the men. "Time to pay up, boys."

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Bradley suggested, his expression serious despite the ridiculous scenario.

"Fine," Jake huffed, holding out his fist. They counted to three, Jake throwing scissors to Bradley's paper.

"Damn it," Bradley muttered, hesitating only briefly before removing his watch and setting it carefully on the coffee table.

"That's cheating!" Nick protested.

"You said an article of clothing," Bradley replied, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "You didn't specify what kind."

"Technicality," Jake scoffed. "But I respect the strategy. Keep that up, Rooster, and we'll have our girl naked in no time."

Nick rolled her eyes and moved to another box while the two men exchanged smirks. This one was unmarked, and she tore into it with curiosity. Inside were high school yearbooks, certificates, and beneath them, a small locked diary with a faded pink cover.

"Oh no," she muttered, recognizing it immediately.

Jake’s predatory instincts kicked in at her reaction. "What have we here?" he asked, sliding closer with feigned nonchalance.

"Nothing," Nick said too quickly, shoving the diary deeper into the box, but Bradley was faster. His long arm darted past her, plucking it from her grasp.

"Property of Nichole Mitchell," he read aloud, turning it over in his hands. "Age 16. Private. Do NOT read or DIE."

"Give that back!" Nick lunged for it, but Bradley held it just out of reach.

"Looks like we found our winner," Jake announced, his grin widening as he moved closer to Bradley. "The question is, does it have a lock? And if so, where's the key?"

Nick's cheeks flushed crimson. "You wouldn't dare."

Bradley examined the small diary, running his thumb along the tarnished metal clasp. "It does have a lock. But it looks pretty flimsy."

"I can pick that in ten seconds," Jake offered, reaching for his pocket knife again.

"No!" Nick made another grab for the diary, but this time Jake caught her wrist, his grip firm yet careful.

"Rules are rules, Mitchell," he murmured, his voice dropping to that low register that always made her stomach flip. "You agreed to the game."

Bradley's eyes met hers—playful yet questioning. It was that look that made her say to hell with it. Still, she had to at least put on the charade of resistance.

"Fine," Nick huffed, crossing her arms. "But I get to decide how we handle whatever embarrassing teenage angst you find in there."

"Deal," Jake said, already working the lock with the tip of his knife. The small mechanism gave way with a satisfying click.

"Told you. Ten seconds," he boasted, handing the diary to Bradley with exaggerated ceremony. "You do the honors, Rooster."

Bradley hesitated, his fingers tracing the worn edges of the diary. "You sure about this?" he asked Nick, his voice quieter than Jake’s.

Something in his consideration made her soften. "Just... don't judge teenage me too harshly."

Bradley nodded and flipped to a random page, his eyes scanning the looping handwriting. His expression remained neutral until suddenly his eyebrows shot up, and a flush crept up his neck.

"Well damn.Looks like our little Nick had quite the imagination," Bradley said, his voice husky. He cleared his throat before reading: "Today I dreamt about Commander Ellis again. I know he's my dad's friend and like twice my age, but there's something about a man in uniform giving orders that makes me— feel things I can't explain. I woke up all hot and bothered and had to take care of myself in the shower. I imagined him telling me exactly what to do, how to touch myself, not letting me finish until I begged..." Bradley's voice trailed off, his eyes darkening as he looked up at Nick.

Nick’s face burned with a mix of mortification and lingering heat. "I told you I was dramatic," she managed, trying to sound casual despite her racing pulse.

Jake had gone unusually quiet, his gaze intense as it locked onto her. "So you've always had a thing for authority figures, huh?" His voice was rougher than usual. "Men who tell you what to do?"

"It was just a stupid teenage fantasy," Nick protested weakly.

"Doesn't sound stupid to me," Bradley murmured, flipping through more pages. "Sounds like you."

"Yeah, but it was Commander Ellis."

Bradley's cheeks darkened as the name sank in. Jake, on the other hand, burst into laughter so hard he doubled over. "Wait—not Commander Ellis? Seriously? As in, I-brought-donuts-for-the-whole-squadron Commander Ellis?"

Nick's face was on fire as she snatched the diary from Bradley’s grasp and slammed it shut. "Shut up!" she hissed, tucking it back into the box. "He was hot for an older guy, okay? Let me live!"

Jake wiped the tears from his eyes, still gasping between laughs. "Oh man, this is gold. I know he's my dad's friend and twice my age." He adopted a breathy, high-pitched voice. "We need to read more."

Before Nick could react, Jake snatched the diary from the box, his eyes gleaming with wicked delight.

"Give that back!" Nick lunged for it, but Jake dodged easily, holding it above his head with a triumphant grin.

"Not so fast," he teased, flipping to another page. "I believe we had a deal. Most embarrassing item means we get to choose what happens next."

Bradley stepped closer, mischief lighting up his expression. "Jake’s right, beautiful."

"Oh, this is even better," Jake interrupted, eyes widening as he scanned the page. "Listen to this gem: I had that dream again where I'm in the backseat of a fighter jet with two pilots taking me up. They don't speak, just communicate with looks, knowing exactly what the other is thinking. One is wild and reckless, the other steady and controlled, but together they..." Jake's voice dropped an octave, "'...they take me higher than any jet could fly.”

"Jesus Christ," Nick muttered, burying her face in her hands. "I'm going to kill my mother for sending this."

Jake’s eyes gleamed with amusement as he looked up from the diary. "So, you've always had a thing for pilots, huh? Especially two of them?"

Bradley stepped in closer, his normally reserved demeanor shifting into something more assured. "Sounds like teenage Nick was pretty insightful," he said, his voice dropping slightly.

"It was just a stupid fantasy," Nick protested weakly, but the warmth spreading through her body betrayed her words.

"Was it?" Jake challenged, stepping toward her. "Because it sounds a lot like our current... arrangement."

Bradley circled around until Nick was caught between them, not quite touching her but close enough that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. "I think we've found our winner.”

“I think we need to at least read one more entry. See what other dirty fantasies you might have had.”

"Absolutely not," Nick protested, but there was a breathless quality to her voice that betrayed her. Her body hummed with anticipation as Jake flipped through more pages, his eyes scanning hungrily.

"Hold up," Jake said, his expression shifting from teasing to something darker. "Here's a good one: I don't know why I keep imagining being told what to do. Dad would be horrified. Good girls don't think about being pinned down, about having their choices taken away in the bedroom. But I can't stop fantasizing about strong hands holding me in place while I—"

"Okay, that's enough," Nick interrupted, her cheeks burning. She reached for the diary again, but this time Bradley caught her wrist, his grip firm but gentle.

"I don't think so," he murmured, his brown eyes intense. "Keep reading Hangman."

Jake's eyes met Bradley's over Nick's head, that silent communication passing between them again. He cleared his throat and continued reading, his voice dropping to a husky timbre.

"—while I beg them to let me come. I want to be good, to follow orders, to please them so much they can't help but reward me. Is that messed up? To want someone else to take control when I fight so hard to maintain it everywhere else?"

Nick’s breath caught as Jake snapped the diary shut. The air in the apartment thickened, charged with something electric. Bradley’s hand remained wrapped around her wrist, his thumb tracing slow circles against her pulse point.

"Nick," Jake said, setting the diary aside with deliberate care. He stepped closer, cupping her cheek with his hand. "There is nothing wrong with that. Absolutely nothing."

Nick swallowed hard, caught in the intensity of Jake’s gaze. His touch was warm against her skin—unexpectedly gentle for someone who carried himself with such cocky confidence.

"I was sixteen," she whispered, clinging to some semblance of dignity. "Everyone has embarrassing fantasies at that age."

"Except these don’t sound embarrassing," Bradley murmured from behind her, his breath warm against her neck. "They sound honest."

Jake’s thumb skimmed across her lower lip, his eyes following the movement. "And remarkably specific. Two pilots, huh? One wild, one controlled?"

A shiver ran through her as the accuracy of her teenage prophecy sank in. Bradley’s hand slid from her wrist up her arm, leaving a trail of goosebumps in its wake.

"So," Jake continued, his voice dropping to that commanding tone that made her knees weak, "Since we kind of won… what do you say we unpack a few more boxes and then get to that promise of sexual favors?”

Nick felt a delicious tension coil inside her as Jake’s words hung in the charged air between them. Bradley’s presence at her back was solid and warm, his breathing steady against her neck.

"I think that can be arranged," she managed, her voice huskier than intended. "But I believe you two have more unpacking to do than I do." She gestured to their half-filled boxes, then to her empty one.

Jake’s eyes darkened with intrigue. "Oh, we’ll unpack these boxes. And then we’ll unpack all those fantasies hiding in that pretty head of yours."

She tried to maintain her composure, but the way they were looking at her—Jake with his sharp, assessing gaze, Bradley with his quiet, burning focus—made her pulse race.

"Starting with the fighter jet fantasy," Bradley murmured against her ear, sending shivers down her spine. "Two pilots taking you higher than any jet could fly."

"I was sixteen," she protested weakly. "It was stupid."

"It was definitely not stupid, darlin’," Bradley countered, his voice like smooth gravel. "In fact, maybe we could make it a reality for you."

"Wait—say what?"

Jake’s grin turned wolfish as he leaned closer. "I mean, we’re pilots, aren’t we? And we do have access to a simulator."

Nick’s eyes widened. "You can’t be serious."

"Dead serious," Bradley confirmed, his tone low and measured. "Base is quiet on Sunday nights. Security’s minimal in the training wing."

"You two would risk your careers just to fulfill my teenage fantasy?" Nick asked, unable to hide the tremor in her voice.

Jake laughed, the sound rich and confident. "Risk is literally in our job description, Mitchell. Besides," he added, his fingers trailing lightly down her neck, "the thought of you sandwiched between us in that tight cockpit... worth it."

"We wouldn’t actually fly," Bradley clarified, ever the voice of reason even as his hands settled firmly on her hips. "Just the simulator."

"All the visuals, none of the court-martial," he finished, his thumbs pressing slow, deliberate circles against her hip bones.

Nick felt dizzy with possibility, her body responding to their proximity with embarrassing eagerness. "You’re both insane," she whispered, though there was no conviction behind it.

"Maybe," Jake agreed, threading his fingers through her hair as he tipped her head back to meet his gaze. "But you like that about us."

The truth of it hung in the space between them. She did like it—their confidence, their skill, their willingness to push boundaries. Just like in the air, they were fearless on the ground too.

"We should finish these boxes first," she said weakly, grasping for the last remnants of responsibility.

Jake laughed, low and knowing. "Well, obviously we’re not going to the simulator now. That’s something that needs to be planned out. But mark my words, darlin’, we will do it."

"So that means we're back to unpacking," Nick said, trying to regain some control of the situation—though her voice betrayed her.

"Unpacking," Jake echoed, fingers still tangled in her hair. "Right."

She shook her head. "I can't believe you’d both do this for me. I dated a guy once who wouldn’t even pick me up a coffee while he was already getting himself one."

Jake’s eyes darkened as he tugged gently at her hair, tilting her face up to his. "Then you’ve been dating the wrong men."

"Clearly," she breathed, unable to look away from the intensity in his gaze.

Bradley’s hands tightened slightly on her hips. "Some things are worth the risk," he murmured against her ear. "Some people are worth the effort."

The sincerity in his voice made something in her chest constrict. These two men—so different, yet somehow perfectly complementary—had crashed into her life with all the subtlety of the jets they flew, and she’d been in free fall ever since.

"So," Jake said, releasing her hair to trace a finger along her jawline, "back to these boxes?"

Nick swallowed hard. "Back to the boxes."

"Agreed," Bradley replied.

He was the first to move, turning his attention back to the box he’d originally been working on. After realizing it was mostly just her college textbooks, he set it aside and grabbed another—this one much lighter. He tore into it with ease, uncovering a pile of stuffed animals.

"This box looks like it’s just stuffed animals," he remarked, pulling out a gray plushie with an orange beak.

As soon as Nick saw it, she squealed with delight and rushed over to Bradley. "You found Lieutenant Goose!"

Bradley couldn't help but smile as Nick practically snatched the worn stuffed animal from his hands, cradling it with unexpected tenderness. The juxtaposition of the fierce, sharp-witted engineer he knew and the woman holding a childhood toy was both endearing and oddly disarming.

"Lieutenant Goose?" Jake echoed, abandoning his own box to investigate. "You named your stuffed duck after a military rank?"

"He’s not a duck, he’s a goose," Nick corrected, running her fingers over the faded fabric. "And yes, I did. My dad gave him to me when I was six, right before his first long deployment. I decided to name him after Bradley's dad. I thought it would make my dad happy."

The teasing smirk on Jake’s face softened as he watched Nick cradle the stuffed animal. Bradley had gone completely still, his expression unreadable.

"After my dad?" Bradley finally asked, his voice carefully neutral.

Nick glanced up, suddenly aware of the weight of what she’d revealed. "I... yeah. My dad used to tell me stories about him all the time. I thought he was the greatest pilot who ever lived. Six-year-old me thought naming a goose after him was the height of cleverness." She hesitated, then added more softly, "I'm sorry if that's weird."

Bradley’s expression flickered—something vulnerable surfacing before he masked it. "It’s not weird," he said quietly. "It’s... actually kind of sweet."

Bradley stared at the worn stuffed animal, his throat suddenly tight. The faded gray stuffed animal with its orange beak had clearly been loved fiercely—its fabric thin in places, the sewn-on tag practically nonexistent now, the wings slightly misshapen from years of being clutched in small arms. This wasn’t just any childhood memento; it was a tangible connection to his father, preserved through all these years by the daughter of his dad’s best friend.

"You really kept it all this time?" Bradley asked, his voice rougher than he intended.

Nick nodded, suddenly self-conscious as she stroked the goose’s worn head. "He went everywhere with me until I was about fifteen. Then he became more of a guardian for my bedroom." She gave a small laugh. "Dad used to say Lieutenant Goose was watching over me when he couldn’t be there."

Bradley stood silent for a few moments, as if processing everything she had said. He looked like he wanted to speak but instead caught her completely off guard—pulling her into his arms.

Nick felt herself enveloped in Bradley’s strong embrace, the stuffed goose pressed between them. For a moment, she was too surprised to react—Bradley was usually the more restrained of the two men, less physically demonstrative than Jake. But there was something raw and genuine in the way he held her now, his arms solid around her back, his face briefly buried in her hair.

"Thank you," he whispered against her ear, his voice thick with emotion. "For keeping a piece of him alive all these years."

Nick pulled back slightly to look up at Bradley, still cradling Lieutenant Goose between them. "Your dad was a hero to me long before I understood what that really meant. I used to make my dad tell me the same stories about him over and over until he’d groan and say, 'Nick, don’t you want to hear about someone else for a change?'"

Jake watched them from a few feet away, his usual cocky demeanor softened by the unexpected intimacy of the moment. He ran a hand through his hair, giving them space while still remaining close enough to be part of it.

"I wish I'd known him better," Bradley said quietly, his fingers absently tracing small circles against the small of her back. "Sometimes I feel like I know him more through other people's stories than my own memories."

Nick nodded, understanding in her green eyes. "That's why I kept asking for the stories. They made him real to me—more than just a name or a photograph." She looked down at the worn stuffed animal. "Lieutenant Goose helped me feel connected to both our dads when they were away. It was like having a piece of both of them with me."

Bradley's eyes softened in a way she rarely saw. His usual controlled demeanor had given way to something more vulnerable, more open.

Jake moved closer, placing a hand on Bradley's shoulder. "Your old man would be proud of you, Rooster," he said, his voice uncharacteristically gentle. "You know that, right?"

Bradley nodded, a barely perceptible movement. "Sometimes I know it. Other times..."

"Other times you wonder if you're living up to the legend," Nick finished for him, understanding completely.

"Yeah," Bradley admitted, his voice rough. "Exactly that."

"I get it," Nick said, still holding Lieutenant Goose between them. "Trust me, I understand better than most what it's like living in the shadow of a legend."

Jake squeezed Bradley's shoulder once before dropping his hand. "For what it's worth, you both do a pretty damn good job of it." His voice carried none of its usual cockiness. "Better than I would."

Nick smiled up at Bradley, reaching to touch his face. "Maybe we should form a support group. Children of Aviation Legends Anonymous."

Bradley's laugh was soft but genuine, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "First meeting can be in the simulator on Sunday."

"Now you're talking," Jake said, his familiar grin returning. "But until then..." He gestured at the boxes still surrounding them. "I say we put some of these away and find a proper place for this guy." He eyed the goose. "I'm thinking in your bedroom, where you can keep him close."

Nick felt a smile tug at her lips despite the emotion tightening her chest. "I think he'd like that," she said, her fingers still gentle on the worn plush. "He's always been a good guardian."

"Guardian, huh?" Jake’s brow quirked upward, his natural playfulness returning. "Does that mean he'll be watching us when we—"

"Jake!" Bradley cut him off with a warning look, though his lips twitched with suppressed amusement.

"What? I'm just saying we might need to turn him around if things get heated. Don't want to corrupt Lieutenant Goose's innocent eyes." Jake winked at Nick, who couldn't help laughing.

Bradley rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress his own smile. "Show some respect, Hangman. That’s Lieutenant Goose you're talking about."

The three of them laughed, the earlier emotional intensity softening into something warmer, more comfortable. Nick carefully placed Lieutenant Goose on the coffee table while they returned to the task of unpacking.

For the next hour, they worked through boxes with surprising efficiency. Despite their earlier game, they focused on actually getting things organized—Jake's competitive nature driving him to unpack faster than Bradley, who methodically sorted items into neat piles.

Once most of the boxes were empty, Nick flopped down on the couch with a huff. "I think that's enough for today. Who's up for beer and Chinese food?"

"Chinese food sounds amazing," Jake replied, collapsing dramatically beside her on the couch and draping an arm around her shoulders. "I worked up an appetite hauling your entire childhood up six flights of stairs."

Bradley closed the final box he'd been organizing and joined them, sitting on Nick's other side. "I could eat," he agreed, his thigh pressing warmly against hers.

Nick leaned her head against Jake's shoulder, feeling the pleasant weight of exhaustion after a productive day. "I still can't believe you guys helped me with all this. And I really can't believe my mom sent Lieutenant Goose."

"Speaking of," Jake said, reaching across to grab the stuffed animal from the coffee table where they'd temporarily placed him. He examined it with exaggerated seriousness. "Have we officially decided where this distinguished officer should be stationed?"

"Definitely the bedroom," Nick replied without hesitation. "He can keep me company when you two don't stay over."

"Well, maybe we should stay over more often," Jake suggested, his fingers idly tracing patterns on her shoulder. "Can't have Lieutenant Goose getting all the quality time."

"Jealous of a stuffed animal, Hangman?" Bradley smirked, reaching past Nick to flick Jake's ear.

"Damn right I am," Jake replied, ducking away from Bradley's hand. "This little guy got to sleep with her for what, fifteen years? I've got some catching up to do."

Nick laughed, the sound warm and genuine as she took Lieutenant Goose from Jake's hands. "Don't worry, he's very good at sharing." She paused, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Unlike some pilots I know."

"I share," Jake protested, his hand sliding down to rest possessively on her hip. "I share you with Rooster, but that's where I draw the line."

“Mhmm.” Nick grabbed her phone, tapping away on the screen with purpose. “So is that Chinese place near the Hard Deck any good? If so, I'll order from there.”

"They have the best lo mein in the state," Jake confirmed, leaning over to peek at her phone. "Get the dumplings too—they're incredible."

Bradley nodded in agreement. "And their kung pao chicken is perfect."

"Sounds like you two have spent plenty of nights ordering takeout together," Nick teased, scrolling through the menu. "Cute."

“We'd all have late nights on base. So someone in our squadron would order Chinese or some other form of takeout. Never let Bob order for you. He eats like a picky five-year-old."

"Well, we'll definitely need to order more than enough," Nick said, tapping items on her phone screen. "After all this work, I bet you boys are starving."

"Starving is an understatement." Jake exhaled heavily and stretched his arms overhead, shaking out the exhaustion. "Pretty sure I burned off breakfast, lunch, and possibly yesterday’s dinner carrying your life story up those stairs."

Bradley leaned back, his arm casually draping behind Nick on the couch. "Order whatever you like. We can always eat leftovers tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, huh?" Nick glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "Pretty confident you're staying the night, Rooster?"

"Just being practical," Bradley replied, but the corner of his mouth twitched upward. "Besides, someone needs to help you organize the rest of those boxes."

Jake snorted. “He just wants to find more of your diaries.”

"You two are terrible," Nick laughed, but there was no heat in her words as she finished placing their order. "Food will be here in forty-five minutes."

"Perfect," Jake murmured, shifting closer on the couch. His fingers trailed up her arm, leaving goosebumps in their wake.

She set her phone down and nestled deeper into the couch between them, feeling the solid warmth of their bodies on either side. Lieutenant Goose sat perched on her lap, his worn fabric a comforting reminder of childhood security.

"So," Jake said, his fingers playing with a strand of her hair, "I feel a little left out. You and Bradley bonded over your favorite childhood stuffed animal. What about me? What can we bond over?"

Nick pretended to consider this seriously, tapping her chin. "Well, we could bond over your massive ego, but I'm not sure there's room for both of us in that relationship."

Jake laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Ouch! Wounded by the woman I carried boxes for."

"Fine," Nick relented, turning slightly to face him. "What was your favorite toy growing up, Hangman? And don't say women, or I swear I'll kick you out."

Bradley snorted, clearly enjoying Jake being put on the spot.

"For your information," Jake said, feigning offense, "I was really into football. I'm still a big Texas Longhorns fan."

"I never would have guessed that," Nick said.

"Anyway," Jake continued, "my prized possession was this signed football my dad got me for my tenth birthday. Signed by the entire Longhorns team that year." His eyes softened with the memory. "I used to have it on my nightstand until my mom made me put it in a display case."

Nick's expression warmed. "That's actually really sweet, Hangman."

"Don't sound so surprised," Jake protested, but his tone remained light. "Maybe I can share my love of college football with you?"

"I'd like that," Nick smiled, genuinely touched by this glimpse into Jake's past. "Although, I must warn you—I get a little crazy when I watch sports. I'm the type that yells at the TV and jumps up and down when my teams score."

"I can't wait to see that," Jake grinned, his eyes lighting up. "A woman after my own heart. Bradley here watches games like he's studying for an exam."

"I analyze the strategy," Bradley defended himself, shifting slightly to better engage them both. "Some of us like to appreciate the tactical elements."

"Some of us like to have fun," Jake countered, winking at Nick. "You and I can yell at the TV together while Professor Bradshaw here takes notes."

Nick laughed. "I love the way you two verbally spar—it's adorable."

Jake raised an eyebrow. "Adorable? I was going for devastatingly charming and intensely masculine, but I'll take adorable."

Nick shifted subtly, nestling more firmly between them. The boxes surrounding her had transformed the apartment from a sparse new space to something that felt like home—her past mingling with her present in a way that felt right somehow.

"So," she said, absentmindedly stroking Lieutenant Goose's worn head, "what should we do while we wait for the food?"

Jake's expression turned immediately suggestive. "I can think of several activities that would pass the time pleasantly."

"I bet you can," Nick replied dryly. "I'm serious though. Aside from sex, what should we do?" She wanted to save that for later in the night.

Bradley leaned forward, his eyes catching on the diary still sitting on the coffee table. "We could read more about your teenage fantasies," he suggested, his voice lower than usual.

Jake's eyes lit up. "Now there's an idea I can get behind."

Nick groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Haven't I been embarrassed enough for one day?"

"Not even close," Jake grinned, already reaching for the diary. "Besides, we won the game, remember? Most embarrassing item found means we get to choose what happens next."

"I thought what happened next was Chinese food," Nick protested weakly.

"Food is still forty minutes away," Bradley pointed out, his hand coming to rest on her knee. "Plenty of time to explore the inner workings of teenage Nick's mind."

Jake flipped through the pages, his expression gleeful. "Here's another good one: Dad took me to the air show today. I couldn't stop staring at the pilots in their flight suits. There's something about the way they carry themselves, like they know exactly how capable they are. One of them caught me looking and winked at me. I nearly died. Later, I dreamed he pulled me into one of the hangars and pressed me against the wall, his flight suit half unzipped, dog tags hanging between us as he kissed me until I couldn't breathe. I woke up so frustrated I had to—"

"Okay, that's enough!" Nick lunged for the diary, her cheeks blazing.

Bradley caught her around the waist, pulling her back against his chest with surprising strength, his mustache tickling the back of her neck. "Not so fast," he murmured against her ear. "I think we're just getting to the good stuff."

She laughed, trying to squirm away. "Why would you even want to read this? It's so cringeworthy."

"Because it's fascinating," Jake replied, holding the diary just out of her reach. "Getting a glimpse inside your head before we knew you." His eyes darkened as they met hers. "Finding out you've always had the same fantasies that we're now making reality."

Nick stilled in Bradley's hold, her breath catching at the intensity in Jake’s gaze. Bradley’s arms remained firm around her waist, his chest solid and steady behind her.

"It’s like you were dreaming about us before you even met us," Bradley murmured, his lips brushing the sensitive spot just below her ear. "Fantasizing about pilots who would take control, push your boundaries."

"Pure coincidence," Nick managed, though her voice lacked conviction.

Jake’s smile turned slow and knowing as he set the diary down and moved closer. "I don’t believe in coincidence, Mitchell. I believe in destiny." He reached out and took her hand in his, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "If you really want us to stop reading it, we will. But I like the idea of finding out your fantasies."

Nick relaxed against Bradley’s chest, letting out a slow breath. "Fine. Read it if you must, but don’t say I didn’t warn you."

Jake pressed a quick kiss to her lips before grabbing the diary again and settling in beside her and Bradley.

Flipping through a few more pages, his smug grin softened as he scanned the entries. "You really did have a thing for pilots, didn’t you?" he murmured, his voice losing its teasing edge. "Listen to this—"Sometimes I worry I'll never find someone who understands both sides of me—the part that wants to be in control and the part that desperately wants to surrender it."

Bradley's arms tightened slightly around her waist, his breath warm against her neck. "That just made you real," he murmured.

Nick felt something shift in the atmosphere, the playful teasing giving way to something deeper. Jake looked up from the diary, his usual cockiness replaced with an unexpected tenderness that made her heart stutter.

"You found us," Jake said simply, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. "Or we found you."

Nick swallowed hard, caught between them both physically and emotionally. It was one thing to share her body with these two men, but sharing the vulnerable thoughts of her teenage self felt infinitely more intimate.

"I didn't expect this," she admitted softly. "Any of this. When I got the job here, the last thing I was looking for was... whatever this is between us."

Bradley's chin rested lightly on her shoulder, his voice a deep rumble against her back. "Life has a way of giving you what you need instead of what you're looking for."

Jake closed the diary and set it aside, his expression unusually solemn. "I wasn't looking for this either," he admitted, gesturing between the three of them. "Wasn't looking for anything serious at all, if we're being honest."

"And now?" Nick asked quietly, her heart hammering in her chest.

Jake's eyes met hers, then Bradley's. "Now I can't imagine not having this. Whatever 'this' is."

Bradley's arms remained secure around her waist, his presence steady and grounding behind her. "We don't need to define it," he said, his voice low against her ear. "Not if you're not ready."

Nick felt a rush of gratitude for his understanding. This thing between them—this unexpected, complicated, thrilling connection—defied conventional labels. It was too new, too precious to box in with words that might only limit what it could become.

"I like what we have," she said finally, her voice soft but steady. "I like that it doesn't fit neatly into any category."

Jake reached for her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. "Me too," he said simply, and the sincerity in his voice made her chest tighten.

Bradley pressed a gentle kiss to her shoulder. "Same here."

They sat like that for a moment, the three of them connected in this quiet acknowledgment of what they'd found together. Nick held Lieutenant Goose in her lap with her free hand, this tangible piece of her past now witnessing her present.

The buzzer for the apartment building interrupted the moment, its harsh sound making Nick start slightly in Bradley's arms.

"That would be the food," she said, reluctantly untangling herself from them. "Perfect timing as always."

"I'll get it," Jake offered, already on his feet. "You two stay put."

As Jake disappeared to retrieve their dinner, Bradley loosened his hold but didn't release her completely. Nick turned slightly in his arms to face him, struck by the warmth in his usually guarded expression.

"You okay?" she asked softly. "Finding Lieutenant Goose must have brought up a lot."

Bradley nodded, his thumb tracing small circles on her hip. "It did, but in a good way. Sometimes it feels like my dad is just this... legend that everyone knows better than I do. Seeing that you kept something somehow connected to him all these years—it makes him feel more real somehow."

Nick reached up to touch his face, her fingers gentle against his smooth cheek. "He was human. Extraordinary, but human. My dad used to tell me stories about how your dad would sing these ridiculous made-up songs when they were on long flights together. How he kept a picture of you in his helmet that he'd touch before every mission."

Bradley's eyes softened, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't know that."

"There's probably a lot of stories you haven't heard," she said. "My dad has a million of them. Maybe... maybe the ones I remember I can tell you."

Before Bradley could respond, Jake returned with several bags of food, the rich aroma of Chinese spices filling the apartment. "Dinner is served," he announced, setting the bags on the coffee table with a flourish.

Nick couldn't help smiling as Jake began unpacking the containers with the enthusiasm of a kid at Christmas. The moment with Bradley wasn't forgotten, just set aside as the three of them shifted back into an easier dynamic.

"This smells amazing," she said, reaching for the carton of lo mein Jake had recommended. "I'm suddenly starving."

"Manual labor will do that to you," Jake replied, already opening several containers and arranging them on the coffee table. "Especially when you're mostly supervising while we do all the heavy lifting."

"Hey! I unpacked plenty of boxes," Nick protested, accepting the pair of chopsticks Bradley handed her.

"True," Bradley conceded, his lips quirking in a small smile. "Though you did seem to find all the lightest ones."

"I can't help it if those just happened to be the boxes I grabbed," she retorted, twirling noodles around her chopsticks. "Besides, I had to supervise to make sure you two didn't break anything valuable."

"Like Lieutenant Goose," Jake nodded solemnly toward the stuffed animal now perched on the arm of the couch. "Very important officer, that one."

Bradley chuckled, the sound warming Nick from the inside out. It was rare to hear him laugh so freely.

For the next half hour, they ate and talked, sharing stories about their childhoods between bites of dumplings and kung pao chicken. Jake dramatically recounted his glory days on the football field, while Bradley spoke more quietly about his mother and their life after his father died. Nick found herself telling them about growing up as a military brat, constantly moving from base to base, Lieutenant Goose her most consistent companion.

Nick stretched with a satisfied hum, rolling her shoulders back as she sank deeper into the couch. "Definitely tomorrow. I think we've all earned a break for tonight."

Jake's eyes darkened as they followed the movement, his earlier playfulness shifting into something more focused. "A break, huh? Any particular activities you had in mind?"

"I don't know," Nick said innocently, stretching again, her muscles relaxing into the cushions. "I think I owe you boys something for all your hard work today."

Bradley finished stacking the containers and turned toward her, his brown eyes warming. "I seem to recall something about sexual favors being promised."

"Did I say that?" Nick teased, enjoying the way both men were now watching her every movement. "My memory's a little fuzzy."

Jake moved closer, his knee pressing against hers on the couch. "Allow me to refresh it for you," he murmured, his voice dropping to that low register that always made her stomach flip. "You specifically mentioned that we'd earned, and I quote, 'whatever we want.'"

“Oh that! What if I told you that I had an idea for what I wanted to do? Could we maybe do that instead?”

"Depends on what you have in mind," Jake replied, his voice a low rumble as his hand came to rest on her thigh. "But I'm intrigued."

Bradley's eyebrow arched slightly, his expression curious. "What are you thinking?"

Nick bit her lower lip, suddenly feeling a flutter of nervousness. After the day they had Nick wasn't quite ready to explore her fantasies depicted in her diary. Instead she wanted to try something more tame. More on the side of making love then having sex.

“Why don't you join me in the bedroom to find out?”

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[isthiscoinsidenceorasign]

She's Theirs: Like Lover's Do

Title: Like Lover's Do

Summary: Nick rewards the boys for their hard work.

Word Count:  5,703

Warnings: flirting, massages, p in v, talk of a dead parent, oral f! receiving

Tags: Smut

Author Notes: Hey y'all! Here's chapter eight. I want to dedicate this chapter to my friend Johnny. He was a supporter of everything I wrote and I know if he were still here he'd be supportive of this. The smut in this one is more subdued but I still think y'all will enjoy it. If you'd like to be tagged in future chapters let me know. And if there's anything you'd like to see in the story don't hesitate to ask me. Maybe I'll be able to put in!

Jake’s eyes darkened as he tracked Nick’s movement toward the bedroom. “Well, that’s an invitation I won’t refuse,” he said, exchanging a heated glance with Bradley before following her.

Bradley lingered for a moment, carefully lifting Lieutenant Goose from the arm of the couch. With a small, private smile, he placed the worn stuffed animal on the hallway bookshelf, deliberately facing it away from the bedroom door. “Guard duty,” he murmured before slipping inside.

Nick was already lighting a few candles on her dresser, their warm glow softening the room’s angles. The quiet tenderness of the gesture wasn’t lost on either man.

“Is this what you had in mind?” Bradley hesitated, his voice unusually gentle as he closed the door behind him.

Nick turned to face them both, suddenly feeling vulnerable in a way only they seemed to bring out in her.

“Not entirely,” she said, pressing a few buttons on her phone. Romantic music hummed from the speakers by her TV. “Could you both remove your shirts and lie down on the bed on your stomachs?”

Jake and Bradley exchanged curious glances, silently wondering what she had planned.

“Giving orders now, Mitchell?” Jake’s voice carried that familiar teasing lilt, but he was already pulling his shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his abdomen and chest. The candlelight threw soft shadows across every defined plane of his body.

“I’m intrigued,” Bradley said quietly, his gaze fixed on Nick’s face as he deliberately unbuttoned his shirt. Each movement was careful, measured—so different from Jake’s casual confidence.

Nick smiled, anticipation flickering behind her eyes. “On your stomachs,” she repeated softly.

Jake raised an eyebrow but complied, stretching out on the left side of Nick’s bed with his arms folded under his chin. “Should I be worried or excited?” His voice was muffled slightly against his forearm.

Bradley followed suit, settling on the right side of the bed, his broader shoulders and back a striking contrast to Jake’s leaner frame. Unlike Jake, he remained silent, watching Nick’s movements with quiet intensity.

Nick walked to her dresser and pulled out a small bottle. “You’ve both been carrying boxes all day. I thought you might like a massage.”

“A massage?” Jake perked up, turning his head to watch her approach. “I take back every snarky thing I’ve said about you today.”

Bradley’s lips curved in a small smile. “That’s... unexpectedly thoughtful.”

“You both took care of me today. You take care of me every day we’re together. Now let me take care of you.”

Nick climbed onto the bed, settling on her knees between them. She warmed the oil between her palms before placing her hands on Jake’s shoulders.

“Jesus,” Jake groaned as her fingers found a knot beneath his left shoulder blade. “That feels incredible.”

Nick smiled, working her thumbs in slow circles against the tense muscle. “You’re carrying a lot of tension here,” she murmured, applying gentle pressure until the knot began to release. “No wonder you’re always so wound up.”

“I’m not wound up,” Jake protested weakly, his words dissolving into another appreciative groan as her hands moved lower down his spine.

“Yes, you are,” Nick murmured, focusing on Jake’s sides. “Relax for me.”

“I’ll try,” Jake murmured, his voice softening as he surrendered to her touch. His usual sharp edges seemed to melt beneath her fingers, revealing a vulnerability he rarely showed.

Nick worked methodically across his back, feeling the taut muscles gradually release under her hands. When she reached the small of his back, Jake let out a sound that was half-groan, half-sigh—so unguarded it made something in her chest tighten.

“You’re good at this,” he murmured, his voice huskier than usual. “Really good.”

“Years of engineering,” she replied softly. “Understanding how things work, where pressure needs to be applied.” She leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss between his shoulder blades, tasting the salt on his skin. “How’s that feel?”

“Like I might never move again,” Jake admitted, his body fully relaxed.

Nick smiled, giving his back one last sweep of her hands before shifting her focus to Bradley. He’d been watching her with hooded eyes, his expression unreadable in the candlelight.

“Your turn,” she murmured, warming more oil between her palms.

When her hands first made contact with Bradley’s skin, she felt the faintest tensing before he consciously relaxed under her touch. Where Jake had been all immediate responses and verbal appreciation, Bradley was quieter, his reactions more subtle—a measured breath, the almost imperceptible shift of muscle beneath her fingers.

“You’re even tighter than he is,” she observed, working at a stubborn knot beneath his right shoulder. “Do you ever actually relax?”

“Not often,” Bradley admitted, his voice a low rumble. “Force of habit.”

Nick worked silently, focusing on the tension woven into his body. His shoulders were like steel beneath her hands—years of military precision and self-control physically manifested. The tight muscles in his arms, the rigid line of his spine. Unlike Jake, who had surrendered easily, Bradley’s release came gradually, in careful increments. It was like watching a fortress lower its defenses one wall at a time.

“That’s it,” she murmured encouragingly as she felt a particularly stubborn knot finally give way. “Let go for me.”

Bradley made a soft sound—not quite a moan, but close—as her thumbs worked along either side of his spine. The trust implicit in his slow surrender affected her more than she’d anticipated. This man, always so controlled, was allowing himself to be vulnerable with her.

Jake had turned his head, watching them, his expression unusually soft in the candlelight. “She’s good, isn’t she,” he observed quietly.

Bradley's only response was a low hum of agreement as Nick's hands moved down his back, carefully finding and releasing tension he hadn't even realized he was carrying. The soft music, the warm candlelight, and Nick's gentle but confident touch created an atmosphere unlike anything they'd shared before.

“I think you missed your calling,” Bradley finally murmured, his voice deeper than usual. “Should’ve been a massage therapist instead of an engineer.”

Nick smiled, her hands slowing as she reached the small of his back. “And miss out on designing the next generation of fighter jets? Not a chance.” She leaned down, pressing a kiss between his shoulder blades, just as she had with Jake. “Besides, my services are exclusive to you two.”

Jake rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow to watch them. “Lucky us,” he said, his usual cockiness softened into something more genuine.

Nick finished Bradley’s massage, noting how both men had melted into her mattress, their usual intensity momentarily subdued. She hadn’t planned for the evening to end with deep conversation and back rubs, but something about finding Lieutenant Goose had shifted the energy between them—making space for a gentleness they rarely allowed themselves.

“How do you feel?” she asked, wiping her hands on a small towel.

Bradley turned his head, his brown eyes warm in the candlelight. “Thank you,” he said simply, but the words carried weight.

Nick felt a sudden rush of affection for both of them—these complicated, confident men who flew fighter jets and carried the weight of the world on their shoulders, now utterly relaxed in her bed. She'd expected their arrangement to be about physical release, about the thrill of forbidden pleasure. She hadn't expected moments like this—quiet intimacy that reached beyond the physical.

“You’re welcome,” she said softly. “But there’s no need to thank me. I—” Nick immediately paused when she felt the big L word threaten to fall out of her mouth. Where it had come from, she wasn’t sure; she just knew it was too soon to blurt out. Instead, she said, “I really care about you both.”

Jake’s eyes softened in a way Nick rarely saw, while Bradley’s gaze held hers with an intensity that made her breath catch. The candlelight flickered across their faces, casting shadows that somehow made this moment feel even more intimate.

“We care about you too,” Jake said, reaching out to take her hand. The usual playfulness in his voice had given way to something deeper, more sincere. “More than I expected to.”

Bradley pushed himself up slightly, his eyes never leaving hers. “Come here,” he said softly, holding out his hand.

Nick moved between them, settling on the bed as both men shifted to make room. Jake’s arm curved around her waist while Bradley’s hand found hers, their fingers intertwining.

“This isn’t what I thought we’d be doing tonight,” Jake admitted with a small laugh. “I had plans involving that diary and considerably less clothing.”

Nick smiled, pushing away the momentary panic. It was too soon for those words, too complicated. Their arrangement was already unconventional enough without adding declarations that might upset the delicate balance they had built.

"The night's still young," she replied, squeezing Bradley's hand while leaning slightly into Jake's embrace. "And I did promise you sexual favors."

Jake’s arm tightened around her waist. “You did,” he agreed, his voice dropping to that low register that always sent shivers down her spine. “But this was… nice. Unexpected.”

“Nice?” Nick raised an eyebrow, feigning offense. “I give mind-blowing massages, and the best you can come up with is ‘nice’?”

Bradley’s thumb traced small circles against her palm. “What Jake means is that we didn’t expect this level of… care.”

The word hung in the air between them—simple, yet profound. Care. Beneath the desire, beneath the complicated dynamics, that’s what this was. They cared for each other in ways that defied easy definition.

“Well,” Nick said, her voice soft in the candlelit room, “get used to it. I don’t do anything halfway.”

Jake’s lips curved into a smile as he leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her temple. “We’re figuring that out.”

For a moment, they remained like that, connected in quiet acknowledgment of what they’d found together. Outside, the world continued—with its rules and expectations, their careers and responsibilities—but here, in the warm glow of her bedroom, there was only this strange, beautiful thing they had created.

Bradley was the first to move, shifting to face her more fully. The ease from the massage faded, replaced by a steadier intensity. His hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb brushing gently across her lower lip.

“Thank you,” he said again, his voice low and intimate. “Not just for the massage.”

Nick leaned into his touch, her heart racing despite the gentleness of the moment. “For what, then?”

“For Lieutenant Goose,” he replied simply. “For keeping that connection to my dad all these years. For sharing it with me.”

Jake’s arm remained around her waist, his body warm against her side as he watched them. For once, he didn’t interrupt or make a joke—he seemed to understand the importance of this exchange.

“Your dad was special to me,” Nick said softly. “Even though I never met him.”

Bradley’s expression shifted, vulnerability flickering across his face in a way Nick had never seen before. The candlelight caught in his brown eyes, turning them into pools of melted chocolate. For a moment, he seemed at a loss for words, his usual measured composure dissolving into quiet emotion.

“I’ve spent my whole life trying to know him,” Bradley finally said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Through other people’s stories, through old photographs, through the legacy he left behind. But sometimes it feels like chasing a ghost.”

Nick watched as he swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in the shadowed hollow of his throat. His hand remained warm against her cheek, his calloused thumb tracing the curve of her cheekbone with unexpected gentleness.

“But the way you talk about him—” Bradley continued, his eyes never leaving hers. “It’s different somehow. Like you knew him as a person, not just the legend everyone else talks about.”

Jake’s arm tightened slightly around Nick’s waist—a silent show of support as he witnessed this rare moment of vulnerability from Bradley.

“You look just like him, you know. Right down to this cute mustache.” She giggled, her fingers gently grazing the facial hair.

Bradley’s lips curved in a small smile beneath her touch. “So I’ve been told.”

“It’s more than just looks, though,” Nick continued softly. “The way you analyze everything, how you’re always three steps ahead… My dad used to say your father could predict what the enemy would do before they even knew themselves.”

Jake watched them silently, his usual instinct to fill every space with words or humor momentarily subdued. His hand traced slow circles against Nick’s hip, grounding her between them.

“I wish…” Bradley started, then stopped himself, shaking his head slightly.

“What?” Nick prompted gently.

“I wish I could remember more about him,” Bradley admitted, his voice rougher than usual. “I have these fragments—the sound of his laugh, the way he’d carry me on his shoulders. But they’re fading.”

Nick’s heart ached for him. Without thinking, she leaned forward and kissed him, slow and deliberate, an unspoken reassurance wrapped in intimacy.

Bradley responded immediately, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers. The kiss was different from their usual heated exchanges—slower, deeper, laden with emotion neither of them had expected to share. His hand slid from her cheek to cradle the back of her head, fingers threading through her dark hair as he drew her closer.

Jake remained quiet beside them, his arm still around Nick's waist. When she finally pulled back from Bradley, breathless and flushed, she turned to find Jake watching them with an expression that surprised her—not jealousy, but something closer to tenderness.

"Come here," Jake murmured, and Nick turned in his arms, meeting his kiss with equal emotion. Where Bradley's kiss had been measured and deep, Jake's held a restrained passion that made her heart race. His hand cupped her face with unexpected gentleness, his usual cockiness replaced by something more vulnerable.

When they separated Nick placed her hand on Jake's heart as she turned to Bradley. The beating between her fingers grounding her.

“Make love to me.”

Bradley's eyes darkened at her words, while Jake's breath caught audibly. The request—so simple yet profound—hung in the candlelit air between them. This wasn't about fulfilling fantasies from her diary or collecting on promised sexual favors. It was something deeper, something they hadn't explicitly acknowledged before.

"Are you sure?" Jake asked, his voice uncharacteristically gentle as his hand covered hers where it rested against his heart.

Nick nodded, suddenly feeling vulnerable yet completely certain. "I want to feel both of you. Not just physically."

Bradley moved closer, his hand sliding warm and steady along her arm. "We've never really done it that way before," he said softly. "It's always been..."

"More about the physical," Nick finished for him. "I know. But tonight feels different."

Jake's eyes met Bradley's over her shoulder, that silent communication passing between them again.

"Different is good," Jake murmured, leaning in to kiss her neck with unusual tenderness. "Different is very good."

Bradley's hands found the hem of her shirt, his movements deliberate as he slowly lifted it. Unlike their usual frantic undressing, each touch now felt purposeful, reverent. "May I?" he asked, his voice low.

Nick nodded, raising her arms to allow him to pull the shirt over her head. The cool air against her skin made her shiver slightly, but the heat from their bodies on either side of her quickly chased away the chill.

Jake's fingers traced along her collarbone, down to the edge of her bra. "You're beautiful," he said simply, the usual clever remarks absent from his voice.

Bradley unhooked her bra with practiced ease, sliding the straps down her arms. His eyes never left hers as he discarded the garment

Nick drew a shaky breath as they each touched her with a tenderness that made her heart ache. Jake's mouth found the curve of her neck, his usual impatience tempered into slow, deliberate kisses that trailed heat across her skin. Bradley's hands cupped her breasts, his thumbs brushing over her nipples with a gentleness that somehow aroused her more than their typically urgent caresses.

"Let us take care of you," Bradley murmured against her ear, his voice deeper than usual.

Jake's hands worked at the button of her jeans, unhurried yet purposeful. "The way you took care of us," he added, his voice softly spoke.

Nick lifted her hips, allowing Jake to slide her jeans down her legs. Bradley supported her weight as they worked together to undress her, their movements synchronized with the ease of two men who had been sharing the same woman.

Jake's fingers traced along her hip, down to the edge of her panties. "You're beautiful," he said simply, the usual clever remarks absent from his voice.

"Thank you," Nick whispered, suddenly shy despite all they'd shared before. This felt different—the way they were looking at her, touching her, as if she were precious rather than just desirable.

Bradley's hands slid down her sides, his touch reverent as his fingers hooked into the waistband of her panties. He paused, his eyes meeting hers in silent question. When she nodded, he slowly dragged the fabric down her legs, leaving her completely bare between them.

"God, look at you," Jake breathed, his eyes traveling over her body with an appreciation that went beyond mere lust. He leaned in to kiss her, his lips soft against hers, his hand cradling her face with unexpected tenderness.

As they kissed, Nick felt Bradley's weight shift on the bed. His hands gently parted her thighs, and then his mouth was on her—warm and wet, his tongue making a slow, path along her center. Nick gasped into Jake's mouth, her body arching at the dual sensation.

Jake swallowed her gasp, deepening the kiss as Bradley's tongue circled her most sensitive spot with maddening precision. This wasn't their usual frantic pace—Bradley was taking his time, savoring her as if they had all night, all the time in the world.

"That's it," Jake murmured against her lips when she broke the kiss to catch her breath. "Let us make you feel good."

Nick's head fell back against Jake's shoulder, her body caught between them—Jake's solid chest supporting her from behind while Bradley's broad shoulders pushed her thighs wider. The candlelight cast their shadows against the wall, the three of them merged into one flickering silhouette.

"Bradley," she gasped as his tongue flattened against her, the pressure exactly where she needed it most. Her fingers threaded through his short hair, not guiding but connecting, feeling the subtle movements of his head as he worked. Her other hand reached out seeking his own.

Bradley's fingers interlaced with hers, squeezing gently as his mouth continued its exquisite torture. The unexpected tenderness of the gesture—holding her hand while pleasuring her—filling Nick with a warmth so profound it felt like being completely seen, completely held.

"You taste so good," Bradley murmured against her, the vibration of his words sending shivers through her core. "I could do this all night."

“Please do.” She hummed.

Jake chuckled against her neck, the sound vibrating through her skin as his hands cupped her breasts, thumbs circling her nipples with just enough pressure to make her gasp. "So responsive," he murmured appreciatively as she arched into his touch. "Always so perfect for us."

Bradley lifted his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers from between her thighs. The sight of him there, his lips glistening, his gaze dark with desire, sent a fresh wave of heat through her body.

"I love watching your face when you're like this," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her inner thigh. "So open, so honest."

Jake's mouth found the sensitive spot where her neck met her shoulder, his teeth grazing lightly against her skin. "No walls, no barriers," he added, his voice a warm rumble against her ear. "Just you."

"Tell us what you want," he said, his voice a low rumble that she felt as much as heard. "How do you want us to love you?"

The word hung in the air between them—love—not sex or fucking, but love. Nick's breath caught in her throat, her heart hammering against her ribs. Only moments ago the word love threatened to fall from her lips. She was close to telling them she loved them but she stopped herself.

Nick's heart raced as the word echoed in the candlelit room. Her body was alight with sensation—Bradley between her thighs, Jake's strong presence at her back—but it was that simple word that made her mood change. Suddenly she had the urge to have Bradley's lips on her own.

"I want to kiss you first," Nick whispered to Bradley, tugging gently at his hand. "Come up here."

Bradley rose from between her legs, his movements fluid as he moved up her body. His eyes—dark with desire but soft with something deeper—held hers as he settled beside her. Jake shifted slightly to make room, his arm still curved protectively around her waist.

When Bradley's lips met hers, Nick tasted herself on his tongue—salt and sweetness mingling with the unique flavor of him. The kiss was unhurried yet intense, his hand cradling her face with a tenderness that made her heart ache.

When Bradley finally broke the kiss, Nick turned her head to find Jake's mouth, needing to connect with him equally. His kiss was different—where Bradley's had been deep and consuming, Jake's was playful yet tender, his tongue teasing against hers.

She felt herself melting between them, cradled in their warmth as they exchanged kisses that gradually grew deeper, more passionate. Bradley's hands stroked down her sides while Jake's fingers traced patterns across her collarbone, each touch reverent.

Nick's fingers found the waistband of Bradley's pants, fumbling slightly with the button. "Too many clothes," she murmured against his lips. "I want to feel you both."

Bradley helped her, shucking his pants and underwear with efficient movements. Jake followed suit, briefly separating from her to remove his remaining clothes before returning to press against her back, his arousal evident against her skin.

The feeling of being sandwiched between their naked bodies—Bradley's broader, more solid frame in front of her, Jake's leaner, wiry strength behind—made Nick's heart race with anticipation. This wasn't their first time together, but something about tonight felt like uncharted territory.

"How do you want us?" Bradley asked, his voice husky as his hand traced the curve of her hip.

Nick considered for a moment, then turned to face Jake, her back now to Bradley. "Like this," she murmured, reaching up to touch Jake's face. "I want you to watch while Bradley and I make love."

Jake's eyes darkened as he nodded. "I'd like that," he said, his voice lower than usual.

Bradley moved so he was hovering over Nick's body, his weight supported on his forearms as he gazed down at her. The candlelight caught the planes of his face, shadowing his features in a way that made him look almost vulnerable. He lowered his head to kiss her, his lips gentle yet insistent against hers.

"Like this?" he murmured, his voice rough with desire.

Nick nodded, her hands sliding up his arms to his shoulders, feeling the solid strength of him. "Just like this."

Jake shifted to lie beside them, his head propped on one hand as he watched. His other hand trailed lightly along Nick's side, a point of contact that connected all three of them.

"Tell me what else you need," Bradley said softly, his eyes never leaving hers as he positioned himself between her thighs.

"You," Nick whispered, suddenly overwhelmed by the intensity in Bradley's eyes. "Just you."

Bradley entered her with exquisite slowness, his gaze locked with hers as he filled her completely. Nick gasped, her fingers digging into his shoulders as her body adjusted to him. This wasn't their usual urgent coupling—Bradley moved with deliberate care, each thrust measured and deep.

Jake watched them with darkened eyes, his hand stroking Nick's hair back from her face. "Beautiful," he murmured, leaning in to kiss her temple. "You're both so beautiful together."

Nick turned her head to capture Jake's lips, moaning into his mouth as Bradley established a steady rhythm. The dual sensations—Bradley moving inside her while Jake's tongue explored her mouth—sent waves of pleasure coursing through her body.

Bradley dipped his head to kiss her neck, his breathing ragged.

She reached out for both his hands, wanting to be even closer to him.

As Nick's fingers intertwined with Bradley's, she felt a connection deeper than the physical joining of their bodies. Their palms pressed together, his larger hands engulfing hers as he continued his measured thrusts. Jake's lips traced a path from her mouth to her jaw, then down the column of her throat, his presence a constant reminder that this wasn't just about her and Bradley—it was about all three of them.

"Look at me," Bradley murmured, his voice rough with emotion. "I want to see you."

Nick's eyes locked with his, unable to look away from the intensity she found there. In the candlelight, his brown eyes had darkened to amber, reflecting not just desire but something that made her heart stutter in her chest.

"You feel incredible," he whispered, his thumb stroking the inside of her wrist where their hands remained joined. "So perfect."

Jake's hand gently cradled her face, turning her toward him slightly. "Let me see you too," he murmured, his green eyes dark with desire and something else—something that mirrored what she saw in Bradley's gaze.

Nick felt herself caught between their gazes, completely exposed in a way that went beyond physical nakedness. Bradley's rhythm remained steady, each thrust sending waves of pleasure radiating through her body, but it was the way they were looking at her that threatened to undo her completely.

"I never expected this," she whispered, the words escaping before she could stop them. "Never expected you. Either of you."

Bradley's hands tightened around hers, his movements becoming slightly more urgent. "None of us did," he replied, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining control. "But here we are."

"And here we'll stay," Jake added, his voice unusually solemn as he brushed a strand of hair from her face. "As long as you want us."

The simple promise, delivered without Jake's usual bravado, made Nick's eyes sting with unexpected tears. Bradley noticed immediately, his rhythm faltering as concern crossed his features.

"Are you okay?" he asked, starting to pull back.

"Don't stop," Nick whispered, tightening her grip on his hands. "I'm fine. Better than fine."

Jake's thumb gently caught a tear as it escaped down her cheek. "Then why the tears, Darlin’?"

Nick swallowed hard, unable to articulate the overwhelming emotions flooding through her. "It's just... intense," she managed, looking between them both. "Being with you like this. Feeling this way."

Bradley understood without her having to explain further. He moved his head so it was aligned with her own and gently kissed the spot where one of her tears had fallen.

Nick felt herself melt under Bradley's tender gesture, his lips warm against her cheek where tears had fallen. The raw intimacy of the moment—being joined physically while emotionally so exposed—left her breathless.

"I've got you," Bradley murmured, his forehead pressing against hers as he continued his measured movements. "We've got you."

Jake's hand stroked her hair, his touch anchoring her as emotions and sensations threatened to overwhelm. "Always," he added, the single word carrying unexpected weight.

Nick turned to capture Jake's lips in a desperate kiss, needing to connect with him while Bradley moved inside her. Jake responded with matching intensity,

his typical playfulness transforming into something more profound and primal.

"Bradley," she gasped, breaking away from Jake's mouth as pleasure began to coil tighter in her core. "I'm getting close."

Bradley's rhythm changed subtly, his thrusts deeper and more purposeful as he maintained his gaze on her face. "Let go," he encouraged, his voice a low rumble. "I want to see you come apart."

Jake's hand slid down her body, finding the sensitive bundle of nerves where she and Bradley were joined. His fingers circled with practiced skill, adding another layer of sensation that made Nick's breath catch.

"That's it," Jake murmured, watching her intently as his fingers worked in tandem with Bradley's thrusts. "Let us take you there."

Nick felt herself balanced on the edge, suspended between them as pleasure built to an almost unbearable intensity. Bradley's hands tightened around hers, his breathing becoming more ragged as he fought to maintain control.

"I'm right there with you," Bradley whispered, his voice strained. "Come for us, Nick."

The sound of her name on his lips, coupled with Jake's skilled fingers and his perfect rhythm, sent Nick spiraling over the edge. Her back arched as pleasure crashed through her in waves, her body clenching around Bradley as she cried out. The intensity of her release caught her by surprise, tears springing to her eyes again as emotion and sensation merged into something overwhelming.

Bradley followed her moments later, his control finally breaking as he thrust deeply, his hands gripping hers tightly as he found his release. His face was transformed in the candlelight, all his usual guardedness stripped away to reveal raw vulnerability and devotion.

Jake's fingers slowed as they both rode out their pleasure, his gaze intense as he watched them. When Bradley finally collapsed forward, careful to brace his weight on his forearms he noticed the the stream of tears falling down her face.

Bradley’s face tightened with concern as he noticed her tears. "Nick," he breathed. "Did I hurt you?"

She shook her head quickly, unable to speak as emotion constricted her throat. How could she explain that these weren’t tears of pain, but something far more complicated—something that both terrified and exhilarated her?

Jake moved closer, his touch feather-light as he wiped away a tear with his thumb. "Talk to us, Sweetheart," he murmured, his usual cockiness absent. "What’s going on in that head of yours?"

Nick drew a shaky breath, hands still entwined with Bradley’s as he remained inside her. "I just... I didn’t expect to feel this much," she finally managed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It’s overwhelming."

Her voice steadied as she continued, "I feel safe. Seen. Like I don’t have to be anything other than exactly who I am."

Bradley’s expression softened. He lowered himself, pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "You don’t," he murmured. "Not with us."

Jake’s hand cupped her cheek, gently turning her toward him. "Never with us," he agreed, his teasing absent for once. "We want you exactly as you are."

Another tear escaped as Nick absorbed the depth of their acceptance. Bradley carefully withdrew, settling beside her. Without a word, both men shifted, cradling her between them—Bradley's warmth at her back, Jake’s arms around her from the front.

She nestled deeper into their embrace. "Sorry for getting emotional," she whispered. "Not very sexy of me."

Jake exhaled a quiet laugh against her hair. "Are you kidding? That was the sexiest thing I've ever seen."

“But I didn't even pleasure you Jake. I'm sorry if you give me a second I'll b-.”

"Shh," Jake silenced her with a gentle finger against her lips. "Tonight isn't about keeping score or making sure everyone gets off. It's about connection."

Bradley's arm tightened around her waist, his chest solid and warm against her back. "He's right. Some nights are about wild, passionate sex where everyone comes multiple times. And some nights..." his voice softened, "some nights are about something deeper."

Nick felt fresh tears threatening at their understanding. These men—so different, yet somehow perfectly complementary—continued to surprise her. The Jake she’d first met would have cracked a crude joke to defuse the emotion; the Bradley she’d initially encountered would have kept his careful distance instead of holding her so tenderly.

"When did you two get so wise?" she asked, her voice still slightly watery despite her attempt at lightness.

Jake chuckled, the sound a low vibration against her collarbone where his lips rested. "I’ve always been wise, Mitchell. I just disguise it under a carefully crafted veneer of arrogance and killer abs."

Bradley huffed a laugh against her hair. "And I learned from watching my mother pick up the pieces after my dad died. Some moments need to be honored, not rushed through."

Nick closed her eyes, absorbing their warmth from both sides. Candlelight flickered against her lids, casting the room in a soft, amber glow. Lieutenant Goose might be standing guard in the hallway, but here, in her bed, she felt more protected than she had in years.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Both of you. For today, for finding Lieutenant Goose, for... this."

Bradley pressed a lingering kiss to the top of her head. "Thank you for letting us in."

The words threatened to spill from her lips again, but she forced them back down, releasing them only as silent tears. "I really care about you both..." she finally admitted.

Jake’s hand moved to stroke her hair, his touch surprisingly gentle. "We care about you too," he murmured, his voice stripped of its usual edge. "More than I expected to."

"More than any of us expected," Bradley agreed, his breath warm against her neck.

Nick felt herself drifting, lulled by the security of their embrace and the quiet intensity of the evening. Her eyelids grew heavy as Jake’s fingers traced a soothing path through her hair.

"Stay," she whispered, already half-asleep. "Both of you. Stay the night."

"Wild horses couldn’t drag me away," Jake murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

Bradley’s arm tightened slightly around her waist. "I’m not going anywhere."

As sleep claimed her, Nick’s last conscious thought was how lucky she was to have found Jake and Bradley.

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