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“Look, just for the record? I never thought of you as just some guy who happened to be there. And I get that I drive you nuts and you’re a grouchy bastard, but I like having you around.”
She could be lost. There are tons of treacherous trails in those woods, and wild animals, and other hunters. It gets cold out. It’ll be night soon. Did she even think to bring a jacket? I mean . . . it’s nothing personal or anything. Obviously.
She’s . . . she’s one of those stupid words Jasper would use. A word like extraordinary. Sublime. Breathtaking.
“Just stay put. They have her. She’s safe.” “Yeah. Right. Like they won’t choose each other over her if it comes to it.”
If she’s not back by tomorrow I’m going after her, whatever any of them say. I’ll make sure she gets back to Bristlebrook and that every inch of her perfect little ass is safe—but then I’m done.
All I know is I’m done being the cast-off. The embarrassment. The rude, uneducated lowlife who’s going to fly off the handle. A risk to be managed. I’m tired of being feared and looked down on and knowing that, sooner or later, she’s going to start looking at me like that too. She’s got enough Prince Charmings here. Eden will get her fairy-tale ending—and I’ll go play the villain somewhere else.
“Stay still. This isn’t about you. You’re ours to suck and fuck and play with however we want.” “Our pretty slut.” Beau scrapes his teeth over my nipple, then turns his attention to the other one. “You’re doing so well, darlin’. Keep fucking his thigh, just like that.”
“You’ve been bad today, darlin’. You want to show us what a good girl you can be?”
“You like having my cock in your mouth? I’m going to spill inside you, darlin’, and you can have every drop. I’ll smear it all over your tongue so you can taste me all the way home.”
“I earned my punishment, sir. Please give it to me,” I murmur. “Let me show you I can be good.”
“I’m going to fuck your mouth now, darlin’, and I’m not gonna stop till you’ve taken every last drop.”
“You . . . want to end this?” he asks. “End . . . us?” They really are terrible listeners. I reach up and run my finger along his jaw, enjoying the scrape of his stubble. “Not even a little bit.” He relaxes, his breath rushing out. “Thank God, darlin’. I was really worried I was going to have to arrange a kidnapping for a second there.”
Lucky is so beautiful, and free, and I just laugh, you know? Every time I’m with him. And he really listens to me, for hours and hours he listens.”
“And Jayk, well, he pretends to be so brash. He even believes it, I think. But he’s patient—we took apart the washing machine together, even though I’m sure it took twice as long to have me there. He’s so smart, and he doesn’t give himself half as much credit as he deserves.
“You make me feel safe, and I’ve not felt that often. A few weeks ago, I didn’t think anyone could ever make me feel that way. I’ve been fighting my fear my whole life. Since coming to Bristlebrook, I’ve felt safe, and it’s given me the chance to think, really think, about what I want for myself for the first time ever. And I’m trusting you to listen to that.”
“So how exactly am I going to win alone time with you now? You’re going to have all of us fighting for your attention.”
“Hmm.” I pretend to consider that as his finger trails back down the curve of my breast. Breathlessly, I murmur, “I guess you’ll have to convince me that you’re worth my time.” His pretty hazel eyes widen in surprise, and he shoots me a cheeky grin. “Now I wonder how I’ll do that.”
“I hope you know you’re mine now, darlin’. Be prepared for everything that comes along with that.”
I think you’re fierce, and intelligent, and resourceful as anything—I was yours the minute you told us to run and save ourselves.” He rests his forehead against mine. “Take good care of me, sweetheart.” My lips curve up, and those lights in me turn star bright. “I promise.”
For now, I’m okay. He—they all—wanted to hurt us. He would have killed me, or taken me back to Sam, and I—” I cut off as Beau turns stiff as a board. “What?” I look at him. “What did I do?” Dom and Beau exchange a look loaded with meaning, and alarm skitters down my spine. Hard golden eyes impale me. “That name, Eden. Where did you hear that name?” “What name?” I stammer. “Sam? That’s their leader. He’s the one who almost caught me.”
“It means this trap wasn’t meant for us.” Dom looks away and slings his rifle over his shoulder. “It means Bristlebrook is under attack.”
No matter what constraints I put on myself, hearing charming, chattery Lucien become tongue-tied around me is one of my most secret delights. One that makes my dick stir and thicken instantly, every time.
My breath leaves me heavily, caught on the chest-twisting picture of Eden and Lucien working together in the kitchen to make something so sweet and personal just to make me happy. Just because I might like it.
He would let me take him to his knees and fuck his pretty mouth until I came down his throat and he would say nothing but thank you. I could pull him into my lap and just hold him, for hours, and he would stay there happily.
I want to claim them both, to demand their affection and tangle the three of us into such a knot that none of us could ever be unsnarled. I want to undo my hard work, unswear my vows, and abandon my resolution to leave them unbroken.
“Your creativity is a little frightening sometimes, you know that?” I know that I want to press him into the wall and choke his laughter with my tongue.
I tortured him until tears tracked down that cheeky, bratty face and his dimples tucked themselves away in apology. Until he was unbearably hard, throbbing, and mindless with the need to come. Until he apologized, and begged me so sweetly, and my raging fear slaked itself in his torment. The grateful little whimper he gave when I finally allowed him release has gotten me off more nights than I can count. The way he snuggled into my side as I tended him afterwards . .
“She tasted like she wanted me.” Releasing his wrist, I catch his shirt and tug, so he’s forced to bend down further over me. “Tell me how wet she was.” Stroking down his cheek with my other hand, I ask, “Did she soak that beard of yours?” Lucien shivers, but he traps my eyes. “Over and over.”
“She wrapped her legs around my ears and grinded on my tongue. She begged me for more. She begged for my cock.”
“Her mouth was incredible, she let me use it twice.” Of course she did. Lucien has a beautiful cock; she should worship it. But only when I say she can.
“Was it me jerking off that gorgeous cock of yours that made you think I wasn’t interested in men? Or me oiling you up and having you parade around as my most exquisite furniture?” That was a particularly weak day for me. “Or was it the way I bent you over to see how you would take that hook up that pretty ass of yours?” I shake my head, disbelieving. “No. I wouldn’t change a thing about you, Lucien.”
“God damn it, Jasper, can’t you see that I’m in love with you? I’d give you anything, everything you ask for. You want me too. I know you do. You have to.” “And what about Eden? You want her, don’t you?” I snap, pushing out of the chair. “So? I want you both. We could all have each other.
She’s gorgeous and funny and smart and she tastes like a dream. With her, I can finally breathe again in a way I never could before, not even with you.
I just kept thinking how much I wanted you there with us, taking both of us for yourself. I want her. I might even need her in a way you can never give me, but I need you too. I need you to take control. I need to see her make you come. She should be there next to me, both of us kneeling for you, and—”
My Eden, crawling on her knees to me. Rewarding her with Lucien’s cock. Both of them, mine, to pet and hold and shatter as I like.
We made it work right up until . . .” My voice catches, nervousness closing my airways. I gather myself and continue, “Right up until I met someone. A young soldier who changed everything.”
“Who wouldn’t have been in awe, meeting Lucien? A soldier who had moved through the ranks at near record speed. A young man who, while a confident bisexual, was also a conflicted, submissive-leaning switch with heavy masochistic tendencies. It was like seeing a notice for my own demise. He was to be under my care as a high-priority patient—and I was madly, urgently attracted to him.”
“This boy was a cruel joke on me—both on my marriage, and on my profession. It was beyond absurd. Me, a thirty-five-year-old happily married man, an experienced psychologist, lusting after a twenty-one-year-old patient.
I have to admit in the most shadowy recesses of my heart, that he is perfect. This gorgeous, likable man whose masochism rides him as deeply as my sadism does me. Whose mischievous spirit is so enduring and bright, he’s impossible not to love.
you are still too young, you are still my patient, and I still have an ethical responsibility toward you. I’ve been a mentor and a guide to you, and you have confused those feelings with a crush. It would be wrong to take advantage of those feelings.”
Survival tip #336 Don’t ever underestimate the bravery of a woman who looks at you with stars in her eyes.
You’re the best friend I ever had, the best friend I ever could have had. I know the last while has been rough between us, and I’m sorry about that. I never should have let anyone get between us, and I ain’t proud I let my jealousy get the better of me. I just . . . I want you to be happy, Dom. You deserve it all.”
“You take care of our girl, okay? ’Cause that’s what she is, even if your stubborn ass wants to take its sweet time admitting that.”
“Take care of yourself, too, Dom. I love you.”
Survival tip #178 Kisses are better than oxygen. No, Beau, it’s a good tip, don’t take my—
“Eden’s missing,” Jayk bursts out, and I recognize the agitation for what it is. Fear. “And we think they took her.”
“Well, hello, sweetheart,” Sam croons. “I think it’s about time you came with me.”
