by Sam Crescent
Throwing the rest of the cards down, I stood up. “I don’t want to play.” I moved toward the library window, pushing some of my hair out of my eyes. All I wanted was for Ashley to get here.
Caleb, River, Gael, and Vadik were out. All of them on the hunt for their fathers. Crude Hill wasn’t exactly a big town, but it sure had a lot of places to hide. They wanted me dead and from what little information I’d gotten, this went beyond ignoring their orders. I didn’t like it.
I hated that they were in danger because of me. Letting out a breath, I shoved my hands into my jeans and looked out across the gardens. The last seven years, I’d been able to come and go as I pleased. Now I’d been ordered to stay inside the house. The same house I’d nearly been killed inside.
“Where do you think they are?” I asked.
Out of all of the men in my life, Drake was the only one willing not to treat me like a baby, and he was the only one I wasn’t in a relationship with.
“If I was them, I’d go to a place I knew my sons wouldn’t look.”
I glanced back to see Drake shuffling the cards.
“Come on, I’ll let you win.”
“I don’t like cheating. I can play just as good as you.”
“Then prove it. Stop behaving like a girl.”
“You know, I don’t like you,” I said.
“Don’t care.”
I stepped toward the table and threw the cards across the room. “Now they’re shuffled.”
“You’re a child, you know that?”
I rolled my eyes. “I don’t need to be here.” I rushed toward the door, charged out, and ran down toward the door. I didn’t get far before Drake was on me, his arms around my body. He was too strong. Even as I wriggled, he didn’t let me go. “Get off me.”
“You’re being a very naughty girl and I’m growing tired of this.”
Before I knew what was happening, he had me thrown across his shoulder and he was carrying me upstairs. I didn’t think about safety as I punched his ass and the backs of his legs. At one point, I thought I even bit him.
For my trouble, he slapped me hard.
“I’m going to make them gut you. No one is going to ever recognize you, not even in hell. Let me go.”
I entered a room and within a matter of seconds, he had me tied to a bedpost. Then I felt something click around my neck.
“What the hell?”
Drake sighed. “I think the beating I’ll get for this is worth it.”
I glared at him. “You’re not funny.”
“I don’t claim to be funny, but you sure look sexy as fuck with my chains on you.” His arms were folded. “It’s a shame I don’t see you as anything more than a pain in the ass and my bosses’ woman. You look nice chained up.”
“You’re sick.” It gave me some relief knowing he wasn’t trying to get into my pants.
“No, I’m natural.”
I glared at him again but decided to look around the room. “Is this your room?”
“Yep. I live here with the bosses. I’m damn good at what I do. I do have my own place, but I don’t see a reason letting women think they have a chance with me other than a quick fuck.”
“You’re disgusting.”
He winked at me and for some reason, it pissed me off.
“They’re going to cut your balls off for this.”
“Probably, but when I tell them it was this or chasing you outside where all those nasty assassins are, I think this one will work. They don’t need to be worrying about you. While you’re with me, they’re focused on not dying.”
“The loyalty act is getting old. You’re not fooling me.”
“Good, I’m not trying to fool anyone.” He sighed and sat down in a chair. “Soon, your legs are going to get tired, and your arms. I’ve made sure you can’t move more than an inch. Not enough to sit or to get comfortable.”
“And woman want to do this for you?”
“I have all my women screaming in orgasms. Believe me, Emily, I know what I do brings women to their knees, and they’d gladly do whatever I ask them. I’m a master.”
“Why is your loyalty so real?” I wanted to trip him up and to find a weak spot. There was no way this man was loyal to mine. I just didn’t see it. I’d been out of the loop for a while, but that didn’t mean people changed so dramatically.
“You’re not very trusting.”
“High school.”
“I was there. What about it?” He pressed a palm to his mouth, faking a yawn.
“I remember what you were like. You were nothing but a tantruming baby.”
“So? You have yet to tell me something I don’t know.”
“Why are you suddenly their best friend?” I asked.
“I’ve told you the reason I am the way I am. You don’t believe me. I’m not going to keep justifying my existence in their world. I’ve done my time, proven myself. What about you?”
“What about me?”
“What exactly have you ever done to have the loyalty of those men? As far as I can tell, you’ve done fuck all.”
“Fuck you.”
“No thanks, sweetheart, you’re not my type.”
I wanted to throw something at him. He wasn’t wrong. My arms had already started to get tired and he was pissing me off. I had a feeling he was doing this on purpose. He liked to torture me.
“You’re a dick.”
He got up out of his chair. “Go on then, princess. Tell me what exactly it is you’ve done.”
I stared at him. “You don’t know what I did?”
“Enlighten me.”
“I killed for them. I saved Gael from death. That’s what I did.”
“And now?”
“Now, nothing has changed.”
“You’ve changed, Emily. You just can’t see it. You’re too blinded by your love to see how much you have, but whatever, it’s not my place to fix you. Are you hungry?”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“Is your stomach hurting and you need food?”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” I wanted to kill him. “I mean about me. What you said.”
“It’s not my place, and frankly, I don’t want to help you.”
“Just tell me. If not for me, then for them. Will that work?” I asked. I refused to beg him for help. I didn’t put it past him to try, though.
He stared at me for several seconds. “In high school, whatever you guys had, you knew it wasn’t going to last. Before it became anything real, you were gone. Now your men are kings, and they’re expecting you to be a queen. You know this life and you know that life. Which one do you want? We both know there’s only one outcome here. Will you hurt my boys, or make the sacrifice?”
He was gone and since I didn’t have a choice, I paused, shocked.
Drake was right. I knew the freedom of not being part of this world. Of not having assassins at my door. Of being completely free. Could I give up a life of safety to be with my men? Did I even want to?
Gael, Caleb, Vadik, and River, none of them could give this up. This was their life. I couldn’t ask them to, but did I want to be a queen of such an empire?
Chapter Twelve
Gael
I was tired.
Hungry.
Pissed off.
And thirsty for blood.
As I entered our house, the soldiers we’d put in place immediately disappeared. I paused as I heard soft music filtering the house.
Caleb, Vadik, and River stood frozen.
I couldn’t recall the last time I’d heard such soft and beautiful music. It was so sad and full of passion. Without going to get cleaned up, I followed the sound, opening doors to find the rooms empty.
The house was too fucking large. I hadn’t wanted to live in any of our fathers’ houses, but I knew the statement we were making was by far more important. Like now, we always had to consider our reputation.
I came to a stop with my friends and we looked into th
e main dining room that also had a dance floor and a piano. I stay perfectly still, watching as Drake played the tune and Emily sang as she danced around the dining room. There were no table or chairs since we’d had them removed. We didn’t intend to entertain and with each new threat happening, we didn’t want anything that could cause us a hindrance.
She spun around. I didn’t recognize the song, but it sounded so sad. Her voice wasn’t great, but she clearly didn’t care. Over and over, Drake played the same tune, and not once did Emily stop in her singing.
The last note was played and Emily came to a stop. Her head tilted to the sky, her hands clenched into fists. The silence almost heartbreaking after such beauty.
Caleb stepped into the room and the floor creaked.
Emily opened her eyes and spun around. The instant she saw us, she burst out laughing and rushed to all of us. Caleb got her first, lifting her up in his arms and spinning her around.
Drake put the lid down on the piano. “You didn’t find them?”
“No,” Caleb said.
Drake nodded. “You’re going to want to beat me up.”
“No,” Emily said. “They’re not. It’s all fine. Just a misunderstanding. Are you guys hungry?”
“Starved,” River said.
“Come on. Drake made us dinner earlier.” She rushed out of the room. Drake started to follow her, but I couldn’t help but grab his arm.
“No,” I said.
“What the hell are you telling me no to?” Drake asked. “You don’t want me to go and follow your woman? Don’t want me to cook?”
“You don’t get to fall in love with her.”
He threw his head back and laughed. I clenched my hand into a fist.
“I hate to break it to you, Gael. She’s not my type. I’m not in love with your woman, nor do I ever want your woman. Back in high school, I thought she had a stick up her ass. My feelings about her haven’t changed. I’ve got your guys’ backs, but it doesn’t mean I want to compete with my dick, got it?”
“Good. Make sure it stays that way.”
I let him go and followed close behind him. Emily was in the dining room. She’d laid out our plates for us. The food smelled good.
“Drake made pie. It’s really good.” She took a seat next to me as Vadik and River sat opposite. Caleb took the head of the table. After picking up my fork, I had a mouthful, and when that didn’t kill me I ate some more.
I stared at Drake.
“Well, if you don’t need me I’ll go and get some sleep.” He got to his feet and left.
Emily watched him go.
“If you want me to kill him, I will.”
“No, don’t be silly. He’s an ass, but he doesn’t deserve to die. Tell me how today went.”
I took another forkful of food. We hadn’t had a good day. First of all, at the edge of our property, one of our men had been held in a bear trap. There was a chance he might lose his leg, which pissed me off. Our men were dropping like flies.
Our fathers weren’t wasting a second in letting us know they were a threat.
“It’s going good,” Caleb said.
“Don’t do that. Don’t shut me out. I might be able to help.”
“The only way you can help us right now is by staying inside and not leaving this house,” Caleb said.
She tensed up. “I should have known you wouldn’t trust me with all of this.”
“Emily, I’m not being a dick to you. It’s dangerous.”
“And you think I don’t get that? I do. I promise I do.” She sighed and ran fingers through her hair. She looked pissed off.
Even though my hands were dirty, I took hold of hers, locking our fingers together, so she knew I was with her. I didn’t want to lose her.
She squeezed me back.
“It’s dangerous out there.” Crude Hill had always been filled with hell. Even the school. Our lives had only been worth as much as our parents were willing to sacrifice for it.
After running a hand down my face, I finished up the food and pushed my plate away.
“I’m going to take a shower.” I let go of Emily.
I hated this.
We’d built this empire, rivaling our fathers’, and now they had us chasing after them. Emily’s life was constantly in danger and it pissed me off.
I wasn’t a happy man.
After going to my bedroom, I went straight to the bathroom, stripping off my clothes and stepping beneath the cold bathroom spray. I tilted my head back, letting out a sigh as the water cascaded all over my body.
This was what I wanted.
Eyes closed, I sensed her.
I didn’t know how I could, but I knew the moment she entered my bathroom, then my shower. I turned to watch her. She was naked. Her hands were crossed over her chest, trying to hide those glorious tits from me.
“I thought you could use some company.”
As I held my hand out, she took it and came closer to me. Body to body, I pressed my face against her neck, breathing her in. She was the only woman I wanted. The instant I held her, the beast within me calmed. She was here, flesh and blood, and we were going to protect her. I did believe that.
Her fingers teased at the base of my neck.
“I’m here, Gael.”
“I love you, Emily.”
She pulled back, staring into my eyes. “I love you too. So much it scares me. I don’t … what if I’m not good enough for you? What if you do all of this and I can’t, I can’t be the woman you want?”
“Not going to happen.”
She went to protest and I silenced her with a kiss.
Both of her arms went around the back of my neck. Sliding my hands down to her ass, I cupped the flesh, hearing her moan. My cock was already rock-hard and I wanted inside her. Spinning her around to the wall, I lifted her, using the wall as leverage to keep her in place. I reached between us, gripping my cock, lining it up at her entrance, and sank her onto my length. Her cries filled the air as I started to fuck her.
I went slow, feeling every inch of her cunt wrapped around my cock, but when I couldn’t wait another moment, I fucked her harder. The angle was all wrong. Pulling out, I spun her around so she was bent over. Holding on to her hips, I found my way back inside her and wildly drove inside her, fucking her harder than ever before.
“Fuck, Emily. You have no idea what you do to me.”
“I’m getting an idea.”
Over and over, I pounded her pussy, taking what I wanted.
Just as my orgasm started to take over, I remembered I hadn’t brought her to orgasm. I held her tightly against me as I spilled within her walls. With my cock still balls deep inside her, I reached between her thighs and stroked her clit, feeling her pussy tighten around me.
I wanted to lick her pussy, but I also didn’t want to stop since I loved how she responded to being on my cock.
Over and over, I teased her clit, drawing her closer to her orgasm. When she went over, I closed my eyes, basking in the tightness wrapped around my dick. This was what I loved, and I wasn’t going to give it up, not for a second. She was perfect in every single way. Our dads had better watch out, because I was coming for them.
****
Caleb
I didn’t expect to find Emily in her bedroom, but there she was, sitting in the middle of her bed, book in hand. She’d followed Gael, so I thought she’d be with him.
“Hey,” she said.
“Hey. Ashley and Earl should be here tomorrow.”
“Great.”
“You’re not with Gael?”
“I…” She frowned. “I don’t exactly know how all of this works. I’m kind of new to more than one boyfriend. I don’t want to upset anyone.” She ran fingers through her still damp hair. “You all know that I’ve had sex with you. Admitted I love River and Gael, and now you.”
“You love me?”
She laughed. “Yes, I love you. I love you all. And Vadik. When I woke up seven years ago, I hated that I wou
ldn’t get the chance to tell you all that I loved you. I promised myself if I ever got the chance to tell you all how I felt, I’d take it. Only, it came and went, and I didn’t take it. I do love you all. This is so fucked up.”
I closed the door and moved toward the bed, sitting on the edge. “Why is it?”
“Because it is. How is it going to work? We haven’t even talked about protection and we’ve had sex. Each time we have sex, the risk of having a baby is higher. How is that going to work?”
“Isn’t it working now?”
“You’re all going to share me and I get passed around while you all have sex with me?” she asked.
“You only go with the four of us. It’s not like I’m going to let the soldiers have a chance at you.”
She wrinkled her nose. “But what happens when you get bored? Or I get tired? Or you don’t want to wait your turn?”
“Em, you’re overthinking all of this.”
“Am I? You guys are willing to share, but what if one of you takes me more than the other?” She blew out a breath. “I think I’m giving myself a headache.”
“We don’t want rules or charts, Em. I don’t want to start putting dates down on a calendar of who can get you when. That’s not going to work. We all want you.”
“And if you want me at the same time?”
“I had no problem watching you with Gael. I like to watch.”
Her frown deepened. “And when it no longer works?”
I moved a little closer so I could tuck a stray curl behind her ear. “It’s going to work.”
“But what if it doesn’t?”
“It won’t not work, purely because you’ve got all of us working together. We’re going to make this happen, Em.”
She licked her lips. “I’m sorry. You’ve probably got more important information to deal with, don’t you?”
“I don’t mind. It’s nice not thinking about all the other stuff.”
Emily took my hand, locking our fingers together. “Everyone looks to you, don’t they? You can’t take a step back.”
“I wouldn’t want to. Every empire needs a leader. That’s me. I know how to listen to my friends.”
She nodded. “You can’t find your fathers.”
“No.” I blew out a breath. “I don’t know where to fucking look. It pisses me off. I’ve tried all the motels and hotels. They’re going to want somewhere comfortable to gain their strength back.”