“Which means it takes a man falling truly in love with five different women and remaining in love with all of them to gain the complete tattoo,” Brooke said, as if thinking out loud.
“Correct,” Sawyer said.
Suddenly, I knew where this was headed. “You think I can gain the mark?” I asked.
Peter turned to me and studied me appraisingly. “I could spend hours answering this question alone, but the long and short of it is, yes. I think you can. It takes a very special man with five extraordinary women to pull it off. It’s at the goddess’s discretion on who receives the mark. Just because Sawyer channels her doesn’t mean she’s obliged. She can see through a person’s facade and understand their true character.”
If what he said was true, then Peter Patlee was an honorable man. Time would tell.
“I’ll do it,” Sam said, volunteering. “I love Trap and he loves me.” She smiled at me sweetly and squeezed my hand. Sammie was a font of pure confidence. She was as sure of her feelings as the sun would rise in the east.
Peter looked at her affectionately. “I know you do. That’s why I invited you.”
“I love him too,” Brooke said, picking up my hand and squeezing it. “It just took me a long time to admit it.”
“Would the three of you be willing to enter the bond?” Peter asked, gazing between us.
“What does it entail?” I asked. “Besides the tattoo. What’s the ceremony like.”
Peter turned to Sawyer, and she perked up.
“There are two big conditions,” she said. “The bond requires extreme intimacy that takes place inside the ritual circle.”
“What do you mean extreme?” Brooke asked.
“I mean, that you and Trap would have intercourse during the ceremony.”
I grinned. “That doesn’t sound so bad.”
Brooke shot me an annoyed glance. “You would focus on the sex.”
“Potentially for hours,” Sawyer said.
My jaw dropped. “Oh,” I said. “I’m not sure if —”
Sawyer smiled and shook her head, cutting me off. “The goddess provides the stamina. I’m told it’s a religious experience.” She glanced at her father and back at me.
“Oh, I’m all in,” Sam said, sounding almost giddy. “I was born for this. I just know it.”
“And there’s another caveat,” Sawyer said, glancing between the women. “Before the ceremony begins, you must present yourself to the goddess in a fertile state.”
“As in ovulating?” Brooke asked.
“Ovulation isn’t necessary, but you can’t be on birth control or wear protection of any kind. The goddess rejects anyone who comes to the table willingly blocking the creation of a new life.”
“Oh,” Brooke said but didn’t look put off.
“Does the ritual involve orgasms?” Sam asked, drawing a glare from Brooke. “What? I want to know.”
Sawyer laughed. “Multiple. Many on both sides. Expect it.”
“I could get them pregnant,” I said.
Sawyer shrugged. “She isn’t the goddess of fertility for nothing.”
“Who would be there?” Brooke asked.
“Normally, it’s a priestess, like me, and the couple,” Sawyer said. “All three of us can’t wear clothing of any kind.”
The thought of feasting my eyes on Sawyer’s naked body turned my cock hard. “You’re okay with that?”
“During the ceremony, I’m really not there,” Sawyer said. “It’s the goddess, using my body as a vessel. She’s been known to sample the merchandise, if you know what I mean.”
“Explain,” Brooke said. “I think I know but, let’s make sure it’s clear.”
“It hasn’t happened to me,” Sawyer said. “But I’ve heard stories where the goddess turns the bonding into a threesome of sorts. The chances are slight, but it’s still a chance.”
“That’s hot,” Sam said, then seemed to remember Peter and her cheeks flushed. She turned to him and frowned. “Sorry. Ive got a big mouth.”
Peter laughed. “It’s okay, Samantha. May I call you that?”
She nodded. “You can call me that or Sam.” She smiled sweetly and squeezed my hand. “Sometimes Trap calls me Sammie and I love it.”
“Before any of this happens, we need a signed contract,” Bella said. “We will need to agree of specific details.”
“Of course,” Peter said. “As for the king’s treasure, it belongs to the people of Mexico and it’s beyond priceless. But that doesn’t mean we have to let it all go for free. We will split the fortune fifty-fifty.”
Bella’s eyes widened. “You’re willing to put that in writing?”
“I am,” Peter said. “The treasure isn’t about greed. It’s about love.” His eyes welled with tears and took on a glassy, faraway look. “Mr. Ashford, you don’t know how lucky you are.”
Brooke squeezed my hand and smiled at me. “I’ll do it if you will.”
I nodded at her and then looked over at Sam. “Now it comes down to who’s first.” I turned to Peter. “I love both women and they love me back. Any advice on where to start?”
Peter frowned. “Love has no timeline. It can be just as strong in two people who have known each other for days as opposed to years.” He shrugged. “It’s up to you to decide.”
Sam and Brooke exchanged a long look, then Sammie picked up Brooke’s hand. “You should go first. You two have gone through hell to find each other. I don’t want to take that from you.” She smiled warmly. “You’re like a sister to me.” Her eyes glistened with tears. “I’ll go second.”
“You would do that?” Brooke asked as tears welled in her eyes, then trailed down her cheeks. “I really want to go first. And the thought of having a baby….” Her chin quivered, and she looked at over at me. “I would love that.”
“Good,” Sam said. “Because odds are he’ll knock us both up.”
“Not necessarily,” Peter said. “It’s up to the goddess.”
“Oh,” Sam said. “Well. That changes nothing for me. I’ll have lots of his babies, anyway.” She pulled Brooke into a hug and the two embraced. “You’ll join the first wife club.”
Brooke laughed and squeezed Sammie tight. “I love you.”
“I love you too,” Sam said and sat back with tears in her eyes.
I turned my gaze to Sawyer. “When and where?”
Sawyer turned to Brooke “When did you take your last birth control pill?”
“This morning,” Brooke said.
“It’s important not to take any more. Two nights from now,” Sawyer said. “The first wife’s tomb is under my dad’s house. I’ll give you the address.”
“You built your house on top of the tomb?” I asked.
“To protect and preserve the history,” Peter said. “The tomb is in our courtyard. It’s not desecrated. We hold great reverence for the goddess and the king’s wives.”
“I’ll draw up the paperwork,” Bella said. “If we can get it signed before the ritual ceremony, then we’ve got ourselves a deal.”
Chapter 13
During the limo ride home from the ball, Sam went on and on about the bonding ceremony, remembering a hundred questions she wished she asked. Brooke stayed quiet for most of the trip, holding my hand while she gazed out the window. She was lost in thought, but a slight smile of contentment stayed with her, putting me at ease.
Bella committed to working through the various contracts we would need to solidify our deal with Peter. She promised to send something out to us tomorrow. Her drive to secure the best deal overshadowed the faint disappointment lurking in her eyes.
The limo arrived at Bella’s house first. She said her goodbyes, hugging Sam and Brooke while giving me a sweet kiss on the cheek. With a last wave, she climbed out and shut the door behind her.
The car door had barely shut before Sam turned to us. “She wants in.”
“As in she wants in the family?” Brooke asked.
“Yup,” Sam said.
“It’s just a feeling, but I’m usually right about these things.”
“So she didn’t tell you,” I said.
“She didn’t have to,” Sam said. “It was written all over her face. She still loves you, Trap. I’m sure of it.”
I had no reason to doubt her and every reason to confirm her suspicions. But I had more immediate concerns, such as a bonding ceremony with Brooke in two days. I squeezed Brooke’s hand. “What about you? You’ve been awfully quiet during the ride home.”
Brooke shrugged. “I’m at peace.” A smile crept up her face. “It feels good.”
“No more angst,” Sam said. “But you can’t live alone once you’re married to Trap.”
“I’ve thought about that,” Brooke said. “For now, I’ll keep the apartment, but I’ll spend my nights with you.” She gazed at me, her eyes warm and considering. “If you don’t mind.”
I chuckled. “With three of us in that bed every night, we really need to find a bigger a bed, a bigger boat, or both.”
“I’ll handle the bed,” Sam said. “You two focus on the ceremony.”
“There’s another issue the three of us should discuss,” I said.
Brooke and Sam gazed at me expectantly.
“I’m supposed to take Maria out for her birthday in a couple of weeks. I made that date before we all became so close. Odds are I’ll be married to both of you by then, and I don’t feel right taking her out. But then again, if I’m supposed to woo five wives, then we should talk about how to handle this.”
“There’s nothing to discuss,” Brooke said. “You need to take her out and while you’re at it, make dates with Bella and Hazel.”
“I wouldn’t be opposed to swimming in the Sawyer pool,” Sam said. “She’s really pretty.”
“Won’t it bother either of you?” I asked, glancing between them. “Because the thought of another man ever touching either of you makes me physically ill.”
Sam and Brooke glanced at each other, shrugged, and turned back to me.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Brooke said. “And I’m the jealous type.” She titled her head and furrowed her brow. “I can’t explain it. Like I said before, this feels… right.”
“You know where I stand,” Sam said. “The more the merrier. Why stop at five?” She giggled, leaned forward, and kissed me on the lips. “But you are the only man I want.” She sighed happily and sat back. “Are we good?”
“We’re good,” I said. “As long as you two don’t mind getting knocked up. That’s kind of a big deal.”
“I hope it happens,” Brooke said, and her eyes went misty with tears.
“It’s a little sooner than I expected,” Sam said. “But if it does, I will totally rock motherhood.”
I laughed. “Okay then. It’s settled. We’re doing this.”
Chapter 14
Two nights later, Brooke and I rolled up to the security gate outside Peter Patlee’s seaside mansion. I stopped the truck, put it in park, and turned to Brooke. “You’re sure about this?”
Moonlight cast Brooke’s beautiful face in a silvery sheen, and her moist lips glistened. She smiled at me warmly, her expression serene. “Yes. Are you?” She wore a plain black t-shirt and a pair of her favorite jean shorts. Her hair, loose and shiny, fell straight back over her shoulders.
“God, you’re beautiful.” I leaned over and kissed her softly on the lips and my cock reacted, bulging in my pants while Brooke leaned in to deepen our lip lock.
She nibbled on my lower lip and parted her lips. Our tongues flashed together before she let out a slight moan and broke it off. “Maybe it wasn’t a good idea to cut off the sex cold turkey,” she said breathlessly. “I’m ready to jump out of my skin.”
“I tried to tell you.” I reached down and shifted my cock in my jeans. “According to Sawyer, we don’t need to worry about my stamina.”
“Okay. You were right. Just hit the doorbell thingy and let’s go.” She shifted in her seat and adjusted her t-shirt before checking her face in the mirror.
I rolled down the truck window and buzzed the intercom.
A few seconds later, a familiar female voice came on. “Hi guys. Come on in.” It was Sawyer and a second later, the gates rolled open.
I pulled the truck through the gates and we rolled up the driveway past the tennis courts and a garden that looked like it belonged in a magazine. The mansion was sprawling and set on one of the few hills in the area.
“It’s so pretty,” Brooke said as she stared out the window. “Do you think Peter will let us come back to see the place during the day?”
“I’m sure he would,” I said. We had formally signed the contracts that morning, with Bella handling the entire matter electronically. If there was a treasure that Peter and I discovered, we would split it fifty-fifty.
I parked in a wide circular driveway outside the front door and killed the engine. I turned to Brooke. “Baby, let’s get hitched.”
She laughed and rolled her eyes. “Come on Romeo. Let’s see what this is about.”
We left the truck behind and held hands as we ascended the wide granite steps that led to the front door.
Before we could ring the bell, the front door swung open and Sawyer appeared in the vestibule, looking far more casual than I had ever seen her.
The exotic brunette wore her hair back in a loose ponytail and had on minimal makeup. She wore a tight pink tank top and a pair of tight black shorts that looked like she might have just come from the gym. Unlike the last two times we met, she looked much closer to her age without the fancy clothes, jewelry, and makeup.
Her body looked straight out of a fitness magazine. She had a medium-sized chest, but her tits were perky and full. Her hips were lean and her ass was firm and small, much like Sam’s. Her golden legs were long and athletically trim, and her fingers and toes were polished to a pink glossy sheen.
“You look so pretty,” Brooke said as we stepped in through the doorway.
Sawyer laughed. “Hardly, but thank you. I figured if we’re going to get naked I might as well be comfortable.”
My cheeks turned warmed, and I averted my gaze. I felt like a pervert checking out another woman while I held my bride’s hand. “Is your father here?” I asked.
Sawyer shook her head. “He cleared the whole house. It’s just you guys and me for as long as it takes.”
“I’m really nervous,” Brooke said.
“It’s totally natural,” Sawyer said. “To be honest, I am too. This is the first time I’ve performed the ceremony for anyone but my dad.”
I tried to imagine Sawyer getting naked in front of her father but didn’t dwell on it long. That wasn’t an image I wanted rumbling around in my head. “That makes three of us,” I said. “I’ve never conversed with a goddess.”
“You’ll have to tell me what she says. I kind of go away during the whole thing. She comes to get me when it’s all done.”
“That’s so bizarre,” Brooke said, and we all laughed nervously.
First Wife Club Page 13