“Knowing that you’re waiting here for me has been the light that kept me going every day.” He leaned forward and kissed my neck.
“We’re going to find a way to make this work. Don’t lose hope quite yet.” I moaned as he slid inside me and our bodies came together.
Connor started to thrust and I felt something different in the way he made love to me. It felt like he was savoring the moment. He truly did believe there was goodbye on the horizon. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I needed him as much as I needed Nate and Devlin. I had no idea how I would make it work, but hope wasn’t gone. All I could do in the moment was enjoy my time with Connor and show him how much I cared about him. He started to pick up the momentum with his thrusts and I moaned into his ear. The way he felt when he was inside me was enough to make the fireworks turn to a kaleidoscope of exploding colors in my head. His length caressed my g-spot, sending me into bliss fairly quickly. I bit down on his ear, kissed his neck, and held him so tight that my nails were digging into his back.
“You feel so amazing.” He groaned and shifted his weight so that he could thrust faster.
“So do you—I’ll never be ready to give this up.” I rolled my head back and gasped.
His hips moved quickly between my thighs and I felt the pressure build. He felt so good that I struggled with what was coming. We had been in a lover’s embrace every night since I came to New York and I didn’t know what the next day would hold. I tried to focus on the pleasure as his cock continued to penetrate me, but there was a lot of turmoil in my head. The uncertainty was distracting, but he overwhelmed it. The heat between our bodies was enough to start a fire on our skin. He slammed into me and my hips rose up to meet him. I needed his release. I needed my orgasm. They were the symbols of what we had and it was more powerful than anything the horizon could bring.
“You’re gonna make me cum.” I held him tight and whispered into his ear with a gasp.
“I’m so fucking close.” His grunt met my gasp and our words melded in the air.
My heart raced in my chest. The only thing more powerful than the beating inside me was the feeling of his heart beating against me. I spiraled towards bliss and his cock throbbed in unison with my pleasure. Euphoria filled the room as our words signaled the climax our bodies were closing in on. A hard thrust pushed me over the edge. I felt my pussy spasming on his dick and his grunts got more intense. He throbbed inside me, so close that I could taste his lust. Our lips met again and he started to erupt as they formed a perfect seal. Our tongues twisted together while our bodies writhed in passion. I felt the tenseness inside me release as he ejaculated. The two of us drifted into nirvana as our bodies started to relax.
“Don’t give up on this.” I squeezed his shoulders and wrapped my arms around his completely. “Not yet.”
“I trust you—you’ve been honest since the beginning. That’s more than I could have ever asked for.” He lightly kissed my forehead as he spoke.
We lay together with our fingers teasing flesh for a couple of hours before we finally finished our drinks and got some food. It wasn’t long until the passion erupted again and we decided to relocate to the bedroom. Our bodies chased bliss in the form of another beautiful climax before he drifted off to sleep. I still couldn’t find the respite I needed. I knew my inner chaos was related to Nate and Devlin. It was even more intense knowing they were in New York. The answer wasn’t clear, but somewhere in the midst of uncertainty was the clarity we all needed.
I have to go to them. We have to pull together if we’re going to find our future. Nate said he would be waiting on the other side of the abyss, but I don’t think he will be the only one. Three sets of arms reach out for me and I want them all.
17
Connor
It was hard to kiss Harmony goodbye when morning came and my daily grind started all over again. I had felt a semblance of peace in the midst and silenced my tortured thoughts for a week. She blew into my life like a tornado and kept me spinning until I saw reality rising up to meet me. I wasn’t sure I would survive the impact. I would land with a smile before the ground swallowed me whole, because the last moments had been perfect. Harmony was the one that got away—technically the one I ran from—and that part of my life finally had closure. I might have been able to fight harder if the inevitable wasn’t clawing at my soul, but my moment of peace was temporary. I saw that becoming more evident with each passing day.
“Mr. Vale?” A kind young man that worked in accounting approached me as I stepped off the elevator.
“Hey, Charles. What can I do for you?” I stopped and turned to face him.
“I was just wondering. I know we’re not doing very well right now, but if things turn around before the end of the year, is there still a chance we could get a bonus?” I saw hope in his eyes as he spoke.
“I wish I could tell you it’s guaranteed.” I sighed and saw the hope beginning to fade. “If things turn around, we should still be able to give out bonuses.”
“Okay.” A weak smile formed on his lips. “I was planning on buying my girlfriend an engagement ring with that bonus. After last year, I thought I might get even more this year.”
“It’s been a tough year.” I exhaled sharply. “You see the books, though, so you know that.”
“Yes.” He nodded slowly. “But we all have faith in you, Mr. Vance. We know you’re working hard to turn things around.”
“Thanks.” I smiled and pointed towards my office. “I guess I should get to it.”
I wore a liar’s smile. I carried a fool’s hope. I was a total fucking fraud. I had no idea how to turn things around at Vale Investments. Every day that I tried was another exercise in futility. With Harmony’s departure approaching, it was finally time to make things right. I would meet the other two guys she cared about. I wasn’t meeting them because I had any significant thoughts about winning her away from them or even trying. I just wanted to make sure they cared about her because they would have to take care of Harmony when I was gone.
She deserves it. She’s a saint.
I wished I could hit the reset button and go back to college. I wished I had never come back to New York and saw all the people that relied on me. If the company went bankrupt due to my negligence and I never saw what was at stake, I might have slept with something that resembled peace in my dreams. Instead, I was staring at a nightmare in every direction. I worked through the day, made the same bad choices I usually did because research didn’t equal intuition, and prepared to go home for the night. It might be the very last time Harmony’s beautiful smile was waiting on me. I intended to savor the last few moments that belonged to us. The other side of it was scarier than what I had to face when it was over.
“Nate!” Harmony pulled away from my hand and hugged a large tattooed stranger in front of me.
“No hug for me?” A tall stranger with dark, intense eyes glared at the exchange.
“Of course I’ve got one for you.” She broke her embrace and he took her in his arms. “Devlin—Nate. I’d like you to meet Connor.”
The ride to the restaurant had felt like a trip to the gallows. The brief trip to paradise had been a dream come true with the woman that got away, but it was coming to an end. She wasn’t mine to hold forever. She was my brief distraction and those that had stepped in and taken her heart before I got the chance were not going to let her go. I understood it. It was why I had to meet them. I would have switched places with either of them, even if the dark fantasies she had were a bit more than I thought I would enjoy. I found myself feeling like the odd man out as she reconnected with her past lovers, even when she introduced me. I could see apprehension in their eyes. In a way, that was a good thing. They at least cared about her enough to proceed with caution when they met me.
“This is going to be awkward, isn’t it?” Harmony looked at the three of us.
“Let’s try to make it less awkward.” Nate smiled. “I think some drinks would help.”
; “Absolutely.” Devlin nodded quickly.
“That’s one thing I can agree on—hopefully the first of many.” I motioned to our waitress.
Harmony booked a private room for us at the back of the restaurant. It worked out well, considering the situation. The waitress brought our drinks fairly quickly. Nate went for a beer, Devlin asked for Scotch whiskey, and I had vodka. Harmony had been drinking vodka with me for the last week, but she went with a martini. Once our drinks were served, I decided to share my story with the group. Harmony had already shared their story with me, so I figured it was a good place to start. They listened intently, but Nate seemed to be confused by the whole thing. Devlin paid careful attention, leaning in and tilting his head. When I got to the part about my father’s trust and the way it was set up, he had a perplexed look on his face.
“That’s an interesting predicament.” He shook his head and sighed. “I’ve heard of a trust set up like that before.”
“You have?” I raised my eyebrows in surprise.
“Yes.” He nodded. “I did a consultation for a man from Italy that was trying to find a loophole in a bloodline-trust.”
“A bloodline-trust?” I tilted my head to the side.
“They date back to Victorian times. They were originally set up as a way to protect families that had considerable wealth. They protected direct heirs from claims by those that married into the family, especially when women didn’t have as many rights as they do now. A bloodline-trust would ensure that the assets were protected in the event of a divorce, or a scoundrel that simply married someone for their money. Most notably, they were designed to make sure the male heirs in the bloodline always got the money. Society has evolved a lot since then, so most of them are rather obsolete these days. They’re not difficult to challenge in a court if nobody else is staking a claim.” He lifted his drink and sipped it.
“You seem to know a lot about this…” I stared at Devlin suspiciously. “What is that you do exactly?”
“I’m a contract lawyer.” He chuckled. “I used to be one of the best, but these days I generally just do consultations.”
“Wait.” Harmony put her hand on the table. “That’s it!”
“What?” Nate looked at her with a blank stare.
“This is why Angelina brought us together.” Her voice lifted and she had a hint of excitement. “This is it! Connor’s life is tied to this trust. Devlin, you can fix this, right?”
“Well, don’t get excited quite yet.” Devlin shook his head rapidly. “A bloodline-trust is almost impossible to break. The guy I helped before spent a lot of money for my services, but in the end, we didn’t find a conventional solution that would allow him to break it.”
“Yeah.” I exhaled sharply and reached for my drink. “I’ve had the best contract lawyers in New York look at the trust. There’s no way out of it as long as I draw breath.”
“Hold on now.” Devlin smiled. “I said almost impossible. If you’ve got some time tomorrow, I’d love to get a crack at it. My ego took a hit when I had to give up on the last one. I’d love a shot at redemption.”
“See!” Harmony’s voice got excited again. “It isn’t completely impossible.”
“Well, Devlin.” I sipped my vodka. “The one thing I have is time—actually, it’s all I have at this point, even if the clock is ticking away.”
“You’re very important to Harmony, which makes you important to me. I’ll do anything I can to help you—no charge.” Devlin smiled again and sipped his Scotch.
“Well I’m thoroughly confused.” Nate shrugged. “This sounds like Greek to me. If there’s a skull to crack, I’m your man, but if there’s paperwork—yeah, that isn’t my style.”
We continued talking as we drank and once our food was served, we nibbled on it as we shared stories. There was a lot more passion in Nate’s story when it came from him instead of secondhand from Harmony. Devlin was fairly open about the lifestyle he lived, even when some of the details made Harmony blush. I could see that desire simmering beneath the surface of her eyes. She definitely needed what Devlin offered. Our conversation was an eye-opening experience for me, and when the food was done, I had something inside of me that I hadn’t felt in a long time—hope.
Is there really an answer out there somewhere? Is it possible that the mysterious Angelina pulled us all together for a reason?
18
Harmony
Something magical seemed to be happening between the four of us as we shared drinks, a meal, and the complications that guided our lives. The elephant in the room really hadn’t been addressed, but I felt like it was stomping in the shadows and begging to be noticed. I had feelings for all three men. I had no idea how I would ever end up with just one of them. It was confusing and toyed with my thoughts. Conventional logic had always guided my life. I was supposed to grow up, meet the love of my life, get married, and raise a beautiful family. The situation I found myself in spat in the face of that conventional logic. I found myself drawn in three directions at once.
Do they see it? They can’t be blind to it.
Nate was the one that started everything. He found himself at Angelina’s club in the wake of tragedy and she wanted to help him. He needed more than just love, although he didn’t see it in the beginning. The real closure came with his father and he was ready to move on from it. The relationship might never be perfect, but he had seen the transformation love brought. He wasn’t running from Bakersfield anymore. He was chasing what he wanted. The only reason he was there was because he still did want me. His perspective might have been changed, but he had clearly bonded with Devlin during the week that I had been away. That might be more important than what we had if the thoughts in my head were going to be realized.
How could I lose a man like that? He carried my torch for so long, even if the fire dulled after he left Bakersfield.
Devlin was the true personification of my dark fantasy. I couldn’t run from that. Nate and Connor would never be able to satisfy the craving. Angelina saw that when she sent me to him. It was more than just an urge. It was a piece of who I was. He could take me places that I didn’t dare to go on my own. A small taste of his brand of dominance had made my submissive desires flourish. He had seen that glimmer when we talked online. The awakening had barely been a tease and I couldn’t ignore that side of myself. I needed him in my life, even if I could never live the lifestyle completely.
He needs it too—he’s sought the perfect balance his whole life and now it’s in front of us.
Connor was complicated. I couldn’t abandon him until we found a solution, and after spending a week with him, I wasn’t sure I could ever separate myself from him fully. There would always be a part of me that wondered what would have happened between us had tragedy not separated our love before it began. With all of his complications, he was the glue that would bond us. Nate’s torch, Devlin’s darkness, and Connor’s future. All were intertwined in Angelina’s game. I was not going to let it end until I walked every road. Those roads had finally came together and it was up to me to make sure they didn’t fork again.
This is the beginning—this dinner—this meeting. Now we figure out where it goes from here, and we do it together.
“How would the three of you feel about carrying on this conversation somewhere a little more… private?” I looked around the table and smiled.
“We’re already in a private room.” Connor raised his eyebrows in confusion.
“Yes, but what I have in mind requires more than a thin room divider hiding us from the world.” I scooted closer to him. “Somewhere like… your bedroom.”
“All of us?” He looked at me in shock.
“Is that a problem?” I tilted my head to the side. “It might be fun.”
“Fuck…” Nate exhaled quickly.
“This could be an interesting night.” Devlin chuckled and nodded. “I don’t have a problem with it.”
“I know what I want.” Nate shrugged. “If this is
where the road leads, then I say we walk it together.”
“I don’t know…” Connor’s eyes continued to reflect confusion. “I liked having you all to myself, even if I knew it wasn’t going to last forever.”
“Maybe it can last forever.” I reach over and took his hand. “It doesn’t have to be complicated. We can just see where it goes.”
Connor was apprehensive, but he agreed. The four of us went back to his apartment. I knew what was going to happen when the door closed. I believe he did too, even if he went for a drink once we were inside his apartment. Nate pulled me close for a kiss. It was like a memory, even though we had only been separated for a week. Devlin’s lips were on my neck while Nate forced his tongue into my mouth. I cast a quick glance to Connor and saw that he was watching intently. There was no reason to hold back. If we were going to be united, it had to be his choice. I moaned when Devlin started pulling my dress up my hips. His kiss got harsher and he pulled them close to my ear.
“I believe you promised that you wouldn’t abandon me the last time you were across my knee.” His tone got a little firmer. “Yet you left me for a week, without even saying goodbye.”
“Yeah.” Nate pulled back from our kiss. “You just vanished.”
“I had a good reason.” I looked over at Connor.
“That doesn’t change things.” Devlin squeezed my ass and slid his hands into my panties. “I believe you need a good hard spanking before you get the pleasure you crave.”
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