Morning

Pain jolted me awake, a sharp sting blooming across my face. My nose throbbed, the pain insistent and unyielding. Groggy, I eased the offending hand away, its weight limp and heavy against my cheek. I turned, squinting through the dim morning light at the culprit. Chloe lay beside me, deep in the clutches of sleep, her lips slightly parted, each slow, steady breath a soft whisper in the quiet room.

Playing innocent.

The hope of drifting back to sleep dissolved with each throb of discomfort radiating from my nose. I propped myself up on one elbow, studying her. A cascade of dark hair spilled across her face, obscuring her features like a curtain. With careful fingers, I brushed the strands aside to reveal the gentle curves of her cheeks and the faint flutter of her eyelids as she wandered through whatever dreamworld held her captive. It was a familiar sight, yet one I appreciated. This was Chloe as the world saw her, without the wonderous Noise that made her... her.

I leaned back, resigning myself that I was awake now. The world beyond the window was stirring, pale light creeping through the curtains, casting faint patterns across the bed. It was then I realized the bed felt too empty, missing a specific source of warmth that had positioned herself on the other side of the petite brunette. I didn’t have to look far to find Alexis, her Noise a beacon in the placid silence. I could still see the remnants of Chloe’s Gift lingering from their shared connection last night.

Careful not to wake Chloe, I extracted myself from the bed and tossed on a pair of grey sweatpants. I needed a shower, the feel of last night lingering on my skin, but that could wait. Instead, I slipped out of the bedroom, closing the door behind me with a soft click, and joined Alexis in the kitchen. Her Noise rippled as she looked up, the smile on her face a thin veneer boosted by Chloe’s Gift and not quite matching the static buzz of anxiety she was feeling. Ignoring the flutter of her Noise, I leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead. There hadn’t been much thought behind it, simply something that felt right in the moment.

Her Noise bloomed in a startling rush of emotions—surprise, a flicker of warmth, sharp apprehension, confusion all tangled together. Curious how a simple act could cause such chaos within her considering all that we’d done the night before. A simple kiss caused more emotional response than a wild night in bed. Or perhaps it was the context: intimacy without the cover of dim lighting and passion. I gave her a moment to collect herself, turning my attention to a new goal.

“Morning,” I said as I followed my nose to the coffee Alexis had prepared. She mumbled a response before taking a sip from the mug in front of her. As I stirred in a splash of creamer, the liquid swirling into a soft caramel hue, I stole a glance at Alexis. She sat slumped at the table, utterly unconcerned with the chaos atop her head. A wild tangle of red curls seemed to defy gravity, springing out in every direction like a fiery blaze. Normally, such a disheveled state was a point of pride for her. It was an indication of a night well spent, a story she proudly owned. But today, her Noise felt muted beneath the surface anxiety, lacking its usual vibrant confidence.

My gaze drifted lower. She’d pilfered one my shirts, a habit she clearly had picked up from Chloe. The faded cotton hung loose on her frame, though it didn’t dwarf her the way it did our shared girlfriend. On Alexis, it was less tent and more relaxed comfort, the hem doing little to hide the dark lace edge of the panties she wore. It was hard to complain. She wore it better than I did. Better yet, it offered a conversation opportunity.

“I see you and Chloe share a penchant for raiding my wardrobe.” I **** a smile as I leaned against the counter. I had to admit, there was something appealing about the sight. I’d always noticed the shift in Chloe’s Noise when she claimed something of mine, a subtle hum of contentment. I wondered what drove Alexis to do the same since I had no reference for her Noise in this situation. Was it her testing the waters, or was this regular behavior for her? Did she have a whole host of men’s shirts tucked away like trophies of past conquests?

A sip from my steaming mug caused my face to twitch involuntarily, bitterness overwhelming my tongue. It was stronger than I was used to, so I took the liberty of drowning it with creamer, turning the liquid an even lighter shade of brown.

She flicked her eyes toward me, one brow arching slightly. “It’s comfortable,” she said, her voice lingering with sleep but carrying that dry edge she wielded so well. “Besides, you weren’t using it.” A playful spike flickered in her Noise, a brief flash of her usual self. She leaned forward with deliberate purpose, the loose collar of the shirt dipping just enough to hint she wore nothing beneath. A confident smirk curled her lips as she propped her chin on one palm. “Want it back?”

“Nah. Looks better on you.” Her Noise rippled, a quick pulse of something warm and fleeting—happiness mixed with embarrassment?—but I held her gaze, trying to read her through more mundane cues. There was a nervous energy to her, subtle but unmistakable. Her fingers kept running over the edge of the mug. Her eyes darted away from mine, lingering on the coffee, the table, anywhere but me for too long. She was a woman who thrived on moving fast. The chase, the easy escape, but here, the stillness unnerved her. There was nothing to chase here, nothing to escape from without doing harm to what she was struggling to create.

Last night had obliterated the fragile pretense of our old dynamic with the subtlety of an action hero trying to be stealthy with guns blazing. No ****, no special occasion to hide behind—just the raw truth of what had shifted between us. For me, it was a glimpse of a future I could see myself enjoying. Alexis was still grappling with the new reality, her usual confidence tempered by something softer, more uncertain. An experienced stage actor finding themselves at home on stage, only to find the script wasn’t the one they knew.

Alexis was no stranger to mornings in someone else’s bed, but this was different. She wasn’t slinking out the door without a word, for one. She hadn’t even retreated to her own apartment next door. Instead, she stayed, rooted to the chair, her bare feet tucked under her, stealing sips of coffee and my clothes with **** nonchalance. Waiting.

I sipped at the coffee, allowing the silence to stretch. The kitchen was quiet, save for the faint hum of the fridge and the distant buzz of morning traffic filtering through cheap windows. Her Noise swelled, a mix of curiosity and caution, like she was testing the waters of this new dynamic. I didn’t push, didn’t ask the questions that hung unspoken between us.

“It feels weird,” she said finally, breaking the silence as she stared at her coffee. Her Noise tightened with the admission as she wrestled some of her emotions into a semblance of control. “Waking up and not immediately feeling the need to flee.”

“Good weird, or bad weird?”

She huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. “Just… weird. I’m not used to sticking around after. Sometimes I do, but not often. Best way to avoid the awkwardness is to… not be there.” Her shoulders sagged as she let out a long breath, staring down at her coffee. “Easier to just run from the consequences.”

“I’ve found they have a nasty habit of catching up, eventually.”

Some of that cocky confidence surfaced in the form of a smile. “You underestimate my sprinting ability.”

I shook my head, letting her words settle. “Consequences don’t always have to be bad, you know.”

“Yeah…” Her gaze drifted to the direction of my bedroom, where Chloe was still lost in blissful slumber.

I broke the silence that formed, shifting to a new topic. “How was it?” Alexis blinked a few times, giving me a perplexed look as she processed the shift in conversation. “You know, since we can actually remember it this time.”

Her Noise flared with a quick spike of surprise, followed by a ripple of amusement that didn’t quite mask the undercurrent of unease. She leaned back in her chair, one eyebrow arching as she regained her composure. “Straight to the point, huh?” she said, her voice laced with that familiar dry humor. “What, you fishing for a performance review?”

My voice was perfectly deadpan. “Would be nice to get a second opinion. I think my usual one is biased.”

Alexis’s laugh was sharp and sudden, cutting through the quiet kitchen like a spark. Her Noise danced with a burst of genuine amusement, though the edges of it still flickered with that nervous energy. She tapped her chin, feigning deep thought, but the playful glint in her eyes gave her away. “Eight out of ten. Points deducted for… let’s call it ‘pacing issues.’ Solid effort, though.”

I formed a frown, playing off her amusement. A teasing mood was better than an anxious one. “That’s hardly fair. I had to put in twice the work you did.”

She didn’t back down, leaning forward again. “Factoring in my Gift, I did twice that and you don’t hear me making excuses.”

I raised an eyebrow, crossing my arms with a mock scowl. “Oh, so now we’re playing the Gift card? That’s cheating. You can’t just flex your supernatural mojo and claim double credit.”

“Says the guy who’s literally reading my emotions right now.” She pointed a finger at me. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you glancing at my Noise, and I know for a fact you were using it last night to ‘assist.’”

“Actually, I didn’t.” She seemed surprised at that. “Your Gift made it… difficult. Between your Gift blending Chloe’s Noise with yours, and her Gift drowning you two in euphoria, I was functionally blind—Gift-wise, that is.” I **** a grin. “Fortunately, I had plenty of great scenery to admire.”

“Damn right.” There was some hesitation, a wave of nervousness spreading through her Noise. Her smile lost some of its intensity. “That’s… okay, right? I know you don’t always have the same desires as we do. I didn’t mess up anything for you, did I?”

Pushing off the counter, I moved to sit next to her. She didn’t move as my hand reached out, open and waiting. Her eyes lingered on the offered hand. Like a shy puppy, she uncoiled one of her hands from the mug and took it. I said nothing at first, enjoying the warmth of her hand in mine. It was larger than Chloe’s, yet dwarfed by mine. “I enjoyed it a lot,” I said, trying to **** some level of emotion into my voice. “Not just physically, either. It was different—in a good way.”

Her shoulders deflated slightly as she let out a breath. “Thank god,” she whispered. She was staring at her hand engulfed in mine. “I enjoyed it, but that’s hardly a high bar to clear with me.” A nervous chuckle left her as she stared down at our joined hands. “Bonus: I think it is physically impossible to have bad sex with Chloe. Her Gift is…”

“Overwhelming?” I offered.

“Addicting.” Her gaze dropped as well as her voice. “Honestly, I’m glad I know I had these feelings for her before we had sex. It would make it difficult to know if I fell for her Gift, or her.” She sighed, hand slipping from mine as she leaned back and grabbed her mug once more. There was a distant look in her eyes, not focused on anything. “Shame her Gift only seems to trigger with guys. So unfair. I can’t get the same response. I’m good, but against her Gift?”

That took a moment to process. I knew the two had been intimate a few times, but had no idea Chloe’s Gift hadn’t been a part of that. “Really?”

Alexis shrugged, trying to project an air of nonchalance. “Oral doesn’t seem to trigger it.”

That was odd. I had plenty of experience saying otherwise. If anything, it was more intense than normal, always causing me several seconds of discomfort when her Gift hit climax.

I don’t know what gave it away, but a glance at Alexis revealed her giving me a suspicious look. “What?”

“You’re hiding something,” she said with a vague gesture in my direction.

“Not hiding anything. Just find it curious, since I never had any problem activating her Gift with oral.”

“Seriously?” I nodded, and a spike of irritation flared in Alexis’s Noise, jagged and sharp. “Come on! How is that fair? You can’t even enjoy it!” Her tone was heated, but the Noise told a different story. Frustration and annoyance, yes, but no real anger.

I tread carefully, not wanting to poke at something raw. With a half-smile and a deliberately light tone, I said, “Hmm. Looks like you’re stuck with me then if you want that bit of the Chloe Experience™. A burden, I know, but a sacrifice I’m willing to make for you.”

“Oh? Pretty sure there are plenty of hot guys out there willing to make the sacrifice. Don’t think you’re special or anything.” Her grin was playful, but it vanished the instant she registered her own words. Fear surged in her Noise, a cold, coiling thing. “That—I didn’t mean—”

My smile might have been ****, a shield for her sake, but it only seemed to deepen the chill in her Noise. “I know what you meant. It’s fine.” She looked away, her fingers twisting a strand of hair, and I let the silence stretch. If she wanted to dig into this, it had to be her choice.

“It’s frustrating.” Her voice was softer now, almost brittle, as she tucked stray hair behind her ear. “You two make it look so easy. Just being together, living in the moment. You know?”

“It didn’t happen overnight,” I said, trying to keep my voice gentle. “We’ve had time to figure it out.”

“Maybe.” She shook her head, like she was trying to dislodge a thought. “It feels like it should be easy. Just… enjoy it. Stop overthinking every damn thing. Am I doing this right? Is Jake okay with this? Does Chloe even like what I’m doing? What if I screw it up?” She slumped forward, forehead resting on her arm, voice muffled. “I didn’t think it’d be so hard to be… good. I’m trying, Jake.”

I reached out to touch her shoulder, a reflex, but stopped short, fingers hovering. It was something Chloe would like, but Alexis? I didn’t know. Intimacy was hard for her, or at least it was towards me. Was it because of her Gift? Always knowing what the other person felt, even on a surface level, meant a level of openness that would ease some social interactions. I was probably the only person she’d met where she had no idea where she stood.

My hand dropped back to the table, fingers curling into a fist. “Is that what’s bugging you?”

She lifted her head, pinning me with a look, her Noise swirling with exasperation. “Besides the obvious?” The evasion was clear, and her frown deepened.

“You gotta use your words. I can’t know unless you say it.” I said, leaning forward slightly as I tried some humor. “I’ve been trying to develop it, but alas, no mind reading yet.”

A flicker of amusement danced through her Noise, faint and fleeting. “I love Chloe. I do. And you’re… you’re great, Jake. But I’ve never done this—being tied down. Two people, that’s it. I’m used to flings. No strings or deep emotions. Just doing what I feel like at the time. And now I’m supposed to be all in, and it’s like I’m losing part of myself. That part of me is bad.”

Her Noise was a tangle—fear, longing, a restless energy that pulsed like a caged bird. I leaned back, giving her space. “You feel trapped.”

She flinched, then nodded, eyes dropping to the table. “Yeah. And I hate that I feel that way. I don’t want to hurt you. Or Chloe. But sometimes I just… I miss being me.”

“You don’t have to be anyone but you.”

There was a weariness in her eyes. “I thought that this would be enough. But I’m just... not wired this way. Being with the two of you? Wonderful. Addictive, even. Not just the great sex—and it is great. The comfort, playfulness, Chloe...” her voice softened with warmth at her name. “But there’s also this restless need, a scratching in the back of my mind. I keep telling myself it will be enough, to give it time. I just don’t know if I can turn that part of myself off. Every time Victoria mentions going out, I refuse. Not because she’s looking for a wild time, but because I know I can’t trust myself. Once I put myself in that situation, surrounded by the attention, the thrill of it all...”

Her Noise spiked, a jagged pulse of shame. I leaned forward, elbows on the table, careful to keep my movements slow. “You’re not betraying us by wanting that. We didn’t set hard lines when we started this for a reason. You know where I stand. Long-term, I’d like us to settle, mostly just us three. But I’m not here to chain you down if that’s not something you want right now. Chloe… I don’t know if she’s the type for wild nights out, but she’s not naive. She’d want you to talk to her about this.”

“I know.” She reached for her mug, taking a long sip, eyes cast downward. “But then she’ll tell me to go. Hell, she would probably even join me if I pushed. That’s how she is. But I know she wouldn’t enjoy it—not like me. In the moment, sure, but I know she would feel guilty about it because it wasn’t you. Fuck, she feels it when it is just her and me. That isn’t fair to her. Or you.”

I leaned back, giving her space to breathe, my hands rested loose on the table as I looked down at my fingers. “You won’t break anything by being honest. You might if you keep pretending you’re someone you’re not. I want you to be happy. We both do.” I tilted my head, letting a faint smile tug at my lips. “Chloe’s not going to love you less for needing something she doesn’t. And me? I’m not exactly the jealous type.”

Her eyes lifted, meeting mine, a glimmer of uncertainty still swimming there. “How can you be okay with this? With me?”

“I’m a patient man.” The memory of yesterday caused her face to flush slightly. “It also helps that sex doesn’t mean the same thing to me as it does to you and Chloe. Intimacy is what’s important to me. Sex can be an avenue for that, but it doesn’t always have to be.” This time, I did reach over, letting my hand rest on her arm. “This isn’t a race, Alexis. There isn’t a deadline that has to be met. We’ve barely been at this a month. Whatever you want, whatever you need right now, you’re not going to scare us away by being honest. I doubt a wild night or three is going to screw things up. We can be adult about this. And who knows, maybe over time, you won’t have those urges.” I pulled back, not wanting to overstay my welcome. “But we will never work if we aren’t honest with each other and try to hide how we feel.”

She gave me a long, searching look, her lips pressed tightly together. Her Noise was a roil of emotions, a storm I couldn’t navigate. Finally, she sighed, deflating a little. “Ugh. I hate you. Why do you have to sound so damn mature and reasonable? I’m the older one here. No wonder you creep Natalie out.” Her head tilted, tossing me a grin. “Thanks. I’m not used to spilling my guts and all that shit. I suppose it helps.” She took a breath and sat up straighter. “I’ll try harder to be honest. I really, really want to be the person you—both of you—want me to be. But... I’m not there yet. I promise, I’ll work on it. For all of us.”

About to respond, a new Noise distracted me. My head naturally swung towards it. “Chloe’s awake.”

“That’s not super creepy or anything.” The smile took the bite out of the words.

It wasn’t long before Chloe shuffled in, rubbing sleep from her eyes. Her hair was a wild tangle spilling over her face and my shirt hung loose on her, grazing mid-thigh. The bare curve of her legs, the soft tilt of her neck, that drowsy, unguarded look—it was effortlessly captivating. I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Alexis’s Noise flickered with a quiet admiration, warm and fleeting. “Two people in bed, and I still wake up alone,” Chloe grumbled, her voice thick with mock indignation. She paused, squinting as her gaze flicked between us, sharp despite the lingering haze of sleep. I could almost see the gears turning, chasing away the last wisps of her dreams.

She drifted toward Alexis first, leaning in for a soft, lingering kiss before pulling back with a sleepy smile. I stayed quiet, watching as she sauntered over and promptly claimed my lap as her throne. With a contented sigh, she took my arms, wrapping them around her waist like a seatbelt and melted against me, her warmth seeping through the fabric of my shirt.

“Hey!” Alexis pouted, crossing her arms with exaggerated offense. “Why’s he getting morning cuddles?”

Chloe tilted her head back, her grin impish as her eyes met mine. Her fingers grazed my cheek, tracing the line of my jaw, and her Noise hummed with a bright, playful mischief threaded through deep contentment—though I did have to dig to get past the euphoria of her Gift. She was up to something, no question. “Because,” she said, her voice dripping with honeyed sweetness, “he’s gonna make us breakfast.” She blinked up at me, wide-eyed and theatrical, then pressed a quick kiss to my chin. “Aren’t you, dear?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is that how this works?”

“Mhmm.” She nodded sagely, her tone teasing. “Last night was exhausting for me, and I deserve breakfast for all my hard work.” Her giggles spilled out as she peppered my jaw with soft kisses, each one lighter than the last. “Right? _Right? _Feed me. Feeeed. Meeeee.”

The warmth in her Noise was a furnace. Contentment, security, joy—it poured from her, a deep comforting blanket thrown over me. My arms tightened, pulling her closer as I buried my nose against her shoulder, breathing her in. I huffed, feigning ****. “Fine. I suppose I can whip up some—”

“Pancakes,” she cut in, her seduction act vanishing as she twisted to stare at me upside-down, eyes wide and eager.

“...Pancakes. Exactly what I was going to say.”

She patted my cheek with a fond smirk, then hopped off my lap with a bounce. Her steps had a playful sway as she sashayed over to Alexis, promptly making herself at home in her lap. Chloe wiggled until she was nestled just right, her back pressed against Alexis’s chest. Alexis’ smile was soft, her Noise a gentle swirl of warmth and quiet awe as she wrapped her arms around our girlfriend, resting her chin on Chloe’s shoulder. “See?” Chloe declared, smug and proud. “That’s how it’s done.”

Alexis snorted, her lips brushing Chloe’s neck in a tender nuzzle. “Guess I’ve got a lot to learn.”

“You’ll get there,” Chloe said, voice bright and full of confidence. “I happen to be the foremost expert on speaking Jake. Give me a month or two, and he’ll be wrapped around your finger.”

Pressing her lips against Chloe’s ear, she whispered something I couldn’t hear. No idea what it was, but it caused the girl’s face to go red.

The room settled into a quiet deep and comforting. Alexis’s Noise still hummed with a restless undercurrent, but it had softened now, soothed by Chloe’s easy affection and the unspoken promise that there would be time to figure things out.

I watched them. Chloe’s head rested against Alexis’s shoulder, her breathing slow and steady, while Alexis’s fingers traced absent, looping patterns along her arm. It was a good moment, peaceful. Their Noise shimmered around them, a gentle radiance, warm and intertwined.

Alexis was using her Gift. The way their presence blended wasn’t like last night’s overwhelming fusion. Now, they were distinct yet harmonious, like two voices weaving into a duet rather than losing themselves in the same song.

I pushed back my chair, standing with a stretch. “Alright, pancake duty calls. You two behave while I’m slaving away.”

Chloe gasped, clutching Alexis dramatically. “Us? Misbehave? Never.”

Alexis’s laugh was low, her eyes catching mine with a flicker of gratitude. “No promises,” she said, her tone light but Noise steady, like a tide finding its rhythm.

I shook my head as I headed for the stove. The clatter of pans and the hum of their quiet conversation filled the air behind me, a small, fragile thing we were building together. It wasn’t perfect—not yet. Alexis was still wrestling with a heart that refused to settle, and Chloe’s boundless love carried its own weight. But as I pulled out the pancake mix and carefully measured out portions, the warmth of their laughter lingered.

We didn’t have to be perfect. We just had to be us.