etch your name into me (because I want to know it)

rista in ditt namn på mig, för jag vill veta vad du heter

Xaden is surrounded by love.

It's still mind-blowing that he can have this. That in this chaos and darkness and hopelessness that is the war, that is his life, two someones have decided that he deserves their unconditional love.

He's never had this much love.

Xaden has been cared for all his childhood, yes. But his father was often gone on business and military matters. His mother's love turned out not to be love at all. His cousin and Garrick tried their very best, but their parents loved them, prioritized them as much as they could, so they never understood.

Something within the ruthless creature he became after the apostasy has always craved love, and he felt like it was already too much when Liam gave it to him in Tirvainne.

Now there's both Liam and Violet, on either side of him as he stares up at the ceiling of his room and wonders how this can be his life. Is it possible to be this happy, this at peace? Is it wrong of him to revel in this for a few more hours, and let the battle resume only when he exits his room?

He wants desperately to forget anything else exists beyond them.

They're sleeping soundly this early in the morning, unaware of Xaden's heart being so full it feels like it could burst.

Liam's leg is thrown over Xaden's hip, and his face is buried into the pillow. His broad back rises and falls steadily under Xaden's hand, the expanse of golden skin almost glowing in the soft light of morning. He's a long line of heat down Xaden's side, but even the fact that it's getting slightly overheated between them is not enough to make Xaden move.

Nothing is enough for that, right now.

Violet sleeps on her side, her face curled against Xaden's ribs. She's a restless sleeper sometimes, moving about, and finding that she's slipped a bit further down on the bed is no surprise. Xaden smiles fondly at the memories of all the weird positions they've found Violence in come morning. Her breath washes softly over his skin with each exhale, and he cards his hand slowly through her beautiful hair.

It won't wake her, not like Liam would the instant Xaden started stroking along his back. That’s why he refrains.

They're so different, all three of them, and yet they fit together so seamlessly. It's intimate to know so much about them, to be able to predict their reactions, to know their habits like they know his.

To know what pleases them, and what scares them.

To know that they always wait for him to come home.

Xaden's sleep is usually restless, broken up, and then he won’t catch any more when he’s properly awake. But right now he feels like if he closes his eyes, their steady breathing will lull him back to sleep.

So he does.

A few hours later, Xaden wakes to Liam, sitting down on the bed next to him and leaning against the headboard. He's clearly just returned from the bathroom, and Xaden blinks in surprise against the streams of bright sunshine from the window, rolling from his stomach onto his back. It's unlike him to not wake to movement.

Liam sends him a lazy grin from above, and Xaden feels his lips pull into a gentle smile. That’s a sight he loves waking up to.

Violet stirs slightly at Xaden flipping himself over. She is still lying on his other side, and he gathers her in. Sighing softly, she burrows closer, and her breathing evens out.

"Adorable," Liam mimes, his hand coming up to Xaden's head, scratching lightly at his scalp and running his fingers through Xaden's hair. It feels amazing, and Xaden groans slightly, tilting his head into the touch. They both look down at the indeed adorable sight of Violet, nestled safely in Xaden's arms.

"I love you." Xaden inserts no voice into the statement he aims at Liam, only movement of his lips and some air. He's been impatiently waiting to say it all night, to both his partners, spent hours ruminating on how lucky he is and came to the conclusion that there's nothing to be done for it except to love them endlessly and loudly. So he decided that the moment they woke, he'd tell them again.

This is the opposite of loud, but Liam understands him, and returns his sentiment in a quiet whisper.

The blonde bends down to kiss Xaden, a soft press of mouths. Liam's mouth is familiar ground, almost as familiar as Xaden's own, and Xaden loses himself in the kiss, teases those lips open slowly with his own, slides his tongue in to tangle with Liam's in a slow dance of dizzying strokes and caresses.

Liam's hand fists in Xaden's hair, but his lips stay soft and welcoming, so the kiss stays loving and adoring.

Xaden loses track of time kissing Liam, but when the man pulls back with a groan, that beautiful mouth is swollen with kisses, lips wet and tempting.

Liam's breath is slightly laboured, chest heaving as he lets his head thud back against the headboard, shaking his head in disbelief, like he can't believe this is real either. This little bubble they have is too good to be true. Xaden wishes they could stay in it forever, nonetheless.

But nature calls, and Xaden knows he needs to get up. Gathering Violet, he lifts her gently, blankets and all, and Liam's arms are open to receive her. She grumbles, blinking, and settles against Liam's chest, giving Xaden a mean side-eye before tucking her head against Liam's shoulder.

"It's morning, darling," Liam coos softly to her.

"No," Violet denies and closes her eyes again. Her angry little huff makes Liam shake with laughter.

"Yes it is, because we have things to do, remember?" Liam cajoles. “Plans.”

Xaden leaves them to it, slipping out of bed and into the bathroom. He needs a shower, and while he's loath to leave bed, Liam will have Violet up and ready for the day in no time. He's a master at manipulating the two of them into what he wants with smiles and gentle nudges. People easily underestimate the power Liam has, but with his easy charm, Xaden might believe he’s the most dangerous out of the three of them. You never see him coming. Xaden and Violet are blunt weapons in comparison, visible and unsubtle.

When Xaden re-enters their bedroom, after his shower, he sees that the two of them have gotten badly sidetracked.

Or, well, Liam's head between Violet's shaking legs while she whimpers softly, close to orgasm, isn't exactly a bad thing.

Nor unexpected, truly.

Xaden leans against the door-frame of the open door to the bathroom, and watches the show in front of him.

Violet's head is tossing restlessly, her face scrunched up in pleasure as Liam works magic with his tongue, large hands holding onto Violet's thighs, keeping them spread out for him. Her eyes are closed against the bliss, and her hair is unbound, spread out in a halo, just the way Xaden likes it. As Violet's fingers scrabble uselessly in the sheets, her moans pick up in volume.

Xaden smiles at the noises, at the way she's becoming more desperate but is still taking what Liam is giving her, like the good girl she is.

He admires the arch of her back, the pebbled peaks of her breasts, the way the muscles in her belly clench as Liam drives her higher. Admires the beautiful sight of Liam, concentrated on his task of pleasuring Violet, cock hanging heavy between his legs as he's bent down by the waist to keep his face where he wants it to be. They're both naked, and Liam's body is gorgeous in side profile, all long lines and contracting muscles, large and powerful compared to Violet's smaller, fine-boned frame.

Xaden is getting hard now, but that's unsurprising, given the sight in front of him. His lovers make him want them by just existing, let alone existing bare and intertwined, enjoying each other's bodies.

Clearly, Violet's been told to keep her hands away, otherwise they would already be in Liam's hair, urging him on. Liam can't praise her for that, so Xaden decides the task probably falls to him, now that he's here.

"You're being such a good girl for him, Violence," he tells her, letting the words caress her mind like a physical touch. Violet's eyes open and she gasps, her head turning to find him in the doorway. "Keeping your hands to yourself and letting him play. I love you."

The last sentence is perhaps incongruous with the rest of the words, but Xaden did promise himself to say it as soon as he saw Violet awake.

Pleasure sits like a warm weight in his abdomen, only increasing the longer he watches.

"Xaden!" Violet moans in surprise, and Liam lifts his head just long enough to grin mischievously at Xaden, lips wet, and then he's diving back in. "Oh, fuck, Liam, I'm going to–"

Xaden doesn't feel the need to interfere, because Liam is clearly set on driving Violet over the edge now. Her moans rise in pitch, and Xaden lets the towel around his waist drop. It's not exactly needed anyway.

Violet's eyes flare wide, watching as Xaden strokes himself a few times, groaning low with the pleasure of it. Shit, it's good, but he's always greedy for more, so he holds off, waits to see where this is going. If nothing else, perhaps Liam will want assistance after he's done with Violet.

Xaden wouldn't mind sinking to his knees this morning, worshiping Liam's cock while Violet obediently keeps Liam's hands behind his back in a loose grip, just enough to remind the blonde that he's at Xaden's mercy.

"Oh, oh," Violet's breathing stutters, her fingers grasping for the conduit she usually keeps on her bedside table – Liam and Xaden share the other – fingertips reaching it just in time. It's fascinating, watching the lightning light up the orb as Violet's body seizes up with pleasure, her hips jerking a few times against Liam's face. Her lips are open, rounded, her eyelids heavy with pleasure as she shatters for Liam.

"You're so beautiful when you come, Violet," Xaden murmurs, but his voice carries in the now quiet room. Violet moans weakly in response, pushing at Liam's head to signal that she's oversensitive. Liam sits back onto his heels, cock proudly rising against his stomach, and the smile on his lips is all satisfaction as he surveys the way Violet is limp before him, riding out the waves.

"Isn't she," Liam agrees, and those blue eyes turn to Xaden, raking over his form with familiar heat. Xaden cocks his head in challenge, saunters closer to stand by the bed, grabbing Liam by the chin and tilting his head back.

"I thought you had plans to get to today?" Xaden wonders idly, stroking along Liam's jawline and the saliva and slick that surrounds Liam's mouth, feeling the way Liam swallows under his hand. "But I'm not complaining."

Liam's smile is a wicked thing, his tongue darting out to clean his lips. "The plan was to show our appreciation for you."

"What a strange way to show that," Xaden taunts softly, darting a glance sideways at where Violet looks more aware now. "It looks to me like you were enjoying yourself, getting Violet off."

"Mhm, I was," Liam confirms, unrepentant, and Xaden can't help but bend down to kiss that bratty mouth, tasting Violet on Liam's lips. It's a short, hard kiss, to remind Liam of his place. "But look at her. She's all wet for you, spread out and ready to take your cock."

That is indeed the case.

“Ah, I see. A beautiful little thing for me to fuck however I like?”

Violet moans, but nods, her multicolored eyes locked on Xaden as he turns to her again.

“Want you to fuck me, Xaden,” she begs, spreading her legs wider for him. Liam chuckles, and Xaden grabs his cock in rebuke, silencing the mirth and turning it into a groan just with one harsh stroke up Liam’s length.

“Fuck, Xay–,” Liam moans, hand grabbing onto Xaden’s shoulder to keep his balance on his knees.

“And what about you, hmm?” Xaden asks, letting the dark curiosity he feels seep into his tone. His little darling menaces have cooked up a plan between them, but he’s not going to allow them to stay in control for long. Just long enough to figure out what they’ve got in mind before he thoroughly (ruins) them. “What will you do?”

“Don’t worry about me,” Liam manages to heave out as Xaden strokes him.

“I always worry about you,” Xaden murmurs, pressing a kiss to the corner of Liam’s mouth, open on a gasp. It’s perhaps a softer confession than he’d usually make, but Xaden’s been up most of the night, thinking about how precious the two of them are to him. “But you can watch, to begin with. You like that.”

Liam nods, and Xaden directs him to sit by Violet’s side. The two of them exchange a little conspiratorial look and Xaden almost wants to roll his eyes at them. As if convincing him to fuck them is ever difficult. But he must say he’s enjoying this seduction of theirs so far.

He enjoys it even more as he lowers himself onto Violet, kissing her as he lines himself up, but doesn’t push in. Instead, Xaden draws his cock up and down her slit, teasing her, coating himself in her wetness. It feels so fucking good, and the breathy moans she releases into his kiss, immediately swallowed by him, are even better.

“You want me to fuck you, sweet girl?” Xaden asks against her lips, and she nods eagerly, her hips canting up to meet his cock. “Impatient,” he chides, and her eyes shine with impertinence as she does it again. “Ah-ah, sweetheart. That’s not asking nicely. Maybe I won’t give it to you. Maybe I’ll fuck Liam instead.”

It’s an empty threat today. He’s barely holding onto his control, so ready to sink into her silky warmth, but Violet doesn’t know that. He’s left her wanting before, and she clearly fears it now, because her begging is honest and immediate.

“Please, I’m sorry! May I have your cock, please?”

“Better,” he muses. “And you’ll take it however I want to give it to you?”

“Yes,” Violet breathes, and she’s so godsdamned beautiful spread out beneath him. Fuck, how he loves her.

Xaden rewards her with his cock, slowly, because he’s far too on edge just from watching the two of them and engaging in this playful banter. She’s hot and tight, so wet he sinks in without resistance, and her moan is music to his ears.

Liam strokes his hand along Violet’s thigh, then along Xaden’s. Xaden begins taking Violet with long, lingering strokes, making sure she feels every inch, angling her hips better so he can aim for her sweet spot, the one that makes her gasp in pleasure so sharp it seems almost painful.

“Gods, I love watching you fuck her, Xaden,” Liam groans from the side. “The way she surrenders to you, the way you own her, just like you do me when you fuck me…”

The words are oil on an already burning flame, and Xaden concentrates on clinging to his control, on keeping his thrusts hard but measured. It’s not time to let go yet, no matter how much he wants to fuck hard into Violet and reach his own end. The teasing pleasure, the way he’s hanging on the edge to keep pleasuring Violet – it’s so good, so satisfying.

“So perfect, Violence, you feel so fucking good around me–”

Her small hand comes up between them, settling on his heart, the other looping around his neck as she begs him with her eyes to bend down and kiss her. Xaden does, kisses her as senseless as he possibly can while the clutch of her body and the way she lets him plunder her mouth without resistance is driving him senseless. Liam moves closer, his body pressing in on their sides, his lips finding Xaden’s shoulder, kissing a warm and wet path over it.

Their attention – loving and soft – is heady, better than any drug, and while Xaden is seemingly the one setting the pace, he knows he’s truly outmatched.

Today, he doesn’t mind in the slightest.

Violet must notice how close he is, how the way his heart is full of them translates directly to his quickly rising pleasure, because the hand she has around his neck slips down to between their bodies, seeking out her own clit. Xaden allows it, because he’s so fucking on edge that any faster, any more, anything they do next might set him off.

And fuck, he wants to feel her flutter around his cock before he comes.

“Will you come on my cock, sweet girl?” he asks, breathless but demanding, and Violet nods against his lips, her moans broken and hitching in time with Xaden’s thrusts.

Oh, he loves making her feel good, and she feels so fucking amazing around him…

Her hand over his heart is tracing a short line, back and forth, and Xaden curses out loud as he realizes she’s tracing the scar he has there, the one he took to claim responsibility for her. The one that is uniquely hers.

“Fuck, Vi,” he groans. “If you don’t stop reminding me that I’ve got you etched on my body forever, I’ll come before I get you there.”

“Almost there–,” Violet groans, “–anyway.”

Liam’s kisses have moved down Xaden’s back, staying easily on track even on a moving target as Xaden can’t stop himself from fucking in harder, faster, deeper into the heat and warmth of Violet’s body. Moans spill from her throat and he groans as she traces the scar again, never stopping even as he feels her start to come around him, clenching down.

“You’ve got both of us etched into your body forever,” Liam whispers against his skin, and Xaden realizes Liam is mouthing at the scar he’s claimed as his. That Violet is tracing the promise Xaden’s made for her life, while Liam is kissing the one Xaden’s made for Liam’s life.

That they’re both irrevocably written into his skin, just as they are written into his soul.

“Ah, mine, you’re ours, Xaden–”, Violet gasps, and she’s coming now, her body trembling as she clenches down on Xaden, turning what was already fucking heaven into a bliss he can’t stop himself from tumbling into. “I love you!”

Her voice in his head is a scream, her nails digging sharply into his skin over his heart. Lighting crackles outside, followed by a boom of thunder.

“Mine,” Liam whispers into Xaden’s back and drags blunt teeth down his own scar. “Look at the way you’ve claimed us permanently. And we claim you in return. Ours.”

And Xaden’s control shatters.

He comes, hips snapping sharply into Violet, caught between her hand on his heart and Liam’s mouth on his back – they’ve surrounded him from both sides, and they’re absolutely right.

Both his front and his back are marked with love for them.

It doesn’t matter that he took the scar for Liam before he truly knew him, long before he loved him, because in the years after Xaden was marred with it, Liam has claimed it as a mark of love.

And the one for Violet, taken in a moment of fear and panic, unsure if she’d survive the poisoned venin blade – that one he did deliberately for love.

He’s never regretted either of the scars.

Right now, as he is consumed by waves of pleasure between the two people he loves, Xaden wonders if there is a limit to happiness, or to love. He thinks he will never reach it when it comes to Violet and Liam.

Liam strokes his back with a gentle hand, the other caressing Violet’s cheek, and Xaden kisses her nose, causing her to giggle as he pulls out carefully.

“Washcloth?” he rasps, but Violet shakes her head lightly, closing her eyes for a moment.

“No,” she denies. “Want to feel you dripping out of me while I watch you fuck Liam.”

Oh, is that what will happen?

“Is that so?” Xaden asks Liam, and gets a mischievous smile in return. “Violet wasn’t the only gift for me today, I presume?”

“No,” Liam shakes his head, and he’s already got a vial of lube in his hands, the insolent brat. “Want you to have me too.”

“You’ll have to wait a few minutes,” Xaden warns. “You can use those to be good, and finger yourself open for me. That may lessen your punishment later for making plans without my input.”

“I’ll do it,” Violet volunteers immediately. “Besides, I’m pretty sure he fingered himself open this morning before we even woke up.”

“That desperate, are you, Mairi?” Xaden sends Liam a considering look. This was indeed very pre-planned then. But he’s in a mellow mood today, not feeling the urgent need to punish Liam for putting plans into action without Xaden’s approval. As Liam turns onto all fours, Violet shifting to sit up and move behind him, Xaden lets his eyes wander their forms.

Liam’s back arches with a groan as Violet gets some slicked up fingers inside him. It’s a sort of mirror image from earlier – Violet preparing Liam to take Xaden’s cock in turn.

And it won’t take long for him to be fully hard again, not with the way Liam groans, the way Violet twists her wrist and furrows her brow in concentration, all caught up in stretching Liam out. Not with the tempting idea of gathering some of that come dripping down Violet’s thighs – hers and Xaden’s intermingled – to coat himself with, before he pushes into Liam.

And a few minutes later, Xaden does exactly that.

He’s got Liam lying on his side in front of him, that spectacular ass against his groin as he pushes in deep and slow, makes Liam cry out from the stretch and fullness. Violet clings to Xaden’s back this time, kissing his neck and shoulders. She’s got one arm wrapped around Xaden’s waist, just staying close as he enjoys taking Liam apart with sharp, precise thrusts.

Liam is a mess, groaning and writhing on Xaden’s cock. He's being fucked into at the same time as Xaden wraps his hand around Liam’s length so that each thrust fucks Liam’s cock forward into Xaden’s fist.

It’s hard and demanding, but Xaden whispers his praise into Liam’s neck, whispers how much he loves him, and it's a juxtaposition of rough and loving. Violet joins in, adding her own words of love for them both and Liam tumbles quickly.

Xaden follows soon after, groaning into Liam’s hair.

While their bodies cool, the three of them whisper I love you in a seemingly never ending circle as hands stroke any skin they can find. It goes on until Violet breaks into giggles on probably the fifteenth repetition of the words, and Liam and Xaden tackle her into the bed playfully for being the loser in this game of theirs.

They’re a mess of limbs and come and sweat and Violet’s hair is getting into everyone’s mouths, but the moment is perfect.

Xaden is surrounded by love.