Guarding Their Valentine

by Penelope Wylde

  Pressed between my men, I turn to see my father by the office door beaming at me with an odd smile on his face.

  “Dad, I can explain,” I start with no real words backing up my claim. This is probably the last thing a father wants to hear from his daughter. That she’s in love with two men at once and wants them both more than life.

  “You don’t have to say a word, sweetheart. It’s in your eyes.”

  “Gentlemen,” all sweetness evaporates my dad’s voice, “care for her. She’s a sweet treasure you’ll never find again.”

  My father leaves, closing the door behind him.

  “Yes, she is,” they both say and I feel content. Happy that I found my forever even if I wasn’t trying.

  “Take me home. I think we have a lot to discuss.”

  Ash swings me up for a kiss and Noah steals me away for one of his own. I wrap my arms around his neck and rest my forehead on his.

  “Thank you,” I whisper.

  His chest rises and falls with a deep breath. “For what, princess?”

  “For keeping your promise and giving me something to live for outside of a computer screen and pain.”

  The smile he gives me feeds the warmth growing in me. “We should thank you. All we ever did was eat, sleep and breathe guns and bulletproof vests. We wanted more out of life and didn’t realize it until we saw your sweet face looking back at us. Besides, I haven’t truly kept my promise. Not yet.”

  I can’t wait to find out what he means by that.

  He places a tender kiss on my parted lips and I know it’s another promise of something much deeper to come.

  He tightens his hold and I feel safe, loved and desired by the two men I love most in this world.

  I wrap my legs around Ash’s waist as Noah leads us down the back stairwell and we slip away quietly.

  This is my new life. I’ll finish my code and probably start a new project right after that. I don’t ever see myself not working on one thing or another, but I also have them for however long we are gifted for and all the love I can handle and then some.

  A little over seventy-two hours ago I wanted nothing to do with life, content behind my screen clacking away at my keys and hiding behind my sorrow.

  I see that now.

  A little bit of love can go a long way in healing a wounded heart, and I know I’ll be okay with them at my side.

  I have what I need now. Love, a home to build, and maybe, just maybe, a family because life is nothing but an empty box without all three.

  Epilogue

  Valentina

  Valentine’s Day, two years later

  All our lives changed the second I fell into Noah’s arms two years ago today, and it’s never been the same since. And that truth makes me beam with happiness as I gather white and red roses from my tiny greenhouse my men built as a surprise last summer when we moved into our new home. A growing family needs more than a two-bedroom apartment and neither Ash nor Noah rested until they found the perfect place for us outside the city and closer to my parents. Who make it a habit of stopping in to see the grandkids on a regular basis.

  As for Thacker, that slimeball is serving a long stint for his white-collar crimes of embezzling and forgery of my brother’s signature on his faux contract.

  I smile at that little bit of karma coming back to bite him in the ass.

  Oh, that’s right. I forgot to mention, not only was he found guilty of armed robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, but he was also found guilty of fraud. Turns out, Thacker really meant it when he said he would stop at nothing to be number one in the tech world and security industry.

  Well, I guess he did make it to number one after all. Number one crook, that is. No one will deal with his company now, and Noah and Ash already have an offer submitted to buy the company out and dismantle it. All the monetary gain from Thacker’s company will used to find a cure of leukemia in my brother’s name.

  I turn the handle on the door to our new home and sigh with relief when the cold blast of air hits my heated skin. Being five months pregnant in the height of summer isn’t easy.

  I set my purse down on a small table by the door and place the fresh bouquet of flowers in a vase.

  Two years ago I saw my life filled with numbers, code, and heuristics. Endless nights of testing software over and over again with no end in sight. I finished my brother’s code and signed it over to my father’s security company, where I know it’s in safe hands. We split the royalties from the contracts we receive for installation and use funds from small mom and pop companies to larger companies like banks and automobile manufacturers. The public is safer because of my software and I finally have the money I need to start my nonprofit and help others.

  Before Noah and Ash, if you’d asked me about soul mates and love, I would have scoffed and returned my attention back to my keyboard.

  Not anymore.

  They not only gave me the best night of my life, but they also gifted me with so much more A chance at the happiness my parents have. Before them, my world consisted of long hours in front of the computer and no life outside of work. They changed that.

  Just as I did for them.

  Love could be painful. When I lost my twin brother to leukemia, I thought love betrayed me. We were so close in many ways and I felt like I had lost part of myself when they lowered him into the ground. I never thought I could feel whole again or connected to another human being again.

  They will never take the place of my brother, but my heart doesn’t feel so lonely anymore and I know my brother is smiling down on me from wherever he is at happy for me.

  Noah and Ash gave me a reason to open my heart and love again.

  And be loved.

  I pat my round belly and smile.

  In another four months we’ll welcome our second addition to our small family and I can’t wait. A Thanksgiving baby, and how fitting because I couldn’t be more thankful.

  I want to see the smiles on my men’s faces each morning when I wake snuggled between my soul mates. Who knew they could come in pairs. I’m just glad they were there to guard me.

  Now it’s my turn to guard our sweet treasures.

  “I love that look in your eye. It makes me anxious to knock you up again.”

  I laugh softly. “I’m not done with the second one, silly.”

  “I know. If you agree, I don’t want to wait long until we’re expecting again. I wonder how fast we can fill this home with little baby Valentinas.”

  “And little rowdy, brown-haired Noahs and Ashs creating all kinds of havoc.” I lean into Noah’s broad chest and settle my cheek against the hard lines and listen to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

  I sigh long and heavy. “Filling ten rooms up might be a challenge. Sure you have the stamina for all that work?” I tease, rubbing my belly with slow swirls.

  Noah grunts much like he did that first night I met him and his best friend. “Challenge accepted plus I have back up.” He laughs wickedly and winks at me. “You know, all this talk makes my mouth ache for something sweet. Maybe I should lay you out on the table and devour all your sweetness.”

  He hauls me up. I wrap my arms around his neck, leaning back to make room for my growing belly. Our firstborn, a girl, is with her grandparents and the momentary peace is nice.

  “What’s stopping you?”

  Noah walks us into the dining room and gently settles me on the large wooden table that sits twelve.

  “Good point.”

  He has my dress hiked up and my panties in his hand before I can protest.

  “Noah, the family is going to be here any minute.” I push at his shoulder but even I don’t believe my own protests.

  “Then we better be fast.” Ash waltzes in with an arm full of groceries for our family gathering wearing a big wolfish grin. He kisses my belly.

  Leaving a hand there he stands and presses his forehead against mine. “Didn’t I tell you I would keep my promise? That we would find
a way to mend your heart?”

  I nod. “You’ve both done that and more.”

  Valentines now and forever will be special in our home, so we invited close friends and family to join us. The men promised a low-key BBQ and hearty down-home food they grew up with. I didn’t care what was on the menu, but I couldn’t wait to see my dainty mother who couldn’t stand getting dirty bite into the messy ribs my men have planned.

  “What do you say we have dessert first?”

  Noah throws Ash a wicked smile and parts my legs with his broad shoulders. Ash doesn’t waste any time in removing the rest of my dress, leaving me fully naked for the two wolves at my table.

  Noah spreads my dress out behind me and lowers me to lie back. I turn my head and Ash is ready, knowing what I want.

  He grunts the second my tongue licks his fat cock head clean of the cum dripping out and I can feel my hot liquid wetting my soft folds for Noah.

  I groan around Ash’s thickness and he sinks in, nudging the back of my throat, and I swallow. A little trick he loves.

  “God, your mouth is my sweet heaven. That’s it, our beautiful queen, suck my big cock faster.”

  I cry out around his cock as Noah dives in for his taste of me. He sucks my clit, causing me to arch off the table.

  “Jesus, those lips look sinful wrapped around my dick.”

  “Suck him harder, baby,” Noah dips a finger into my core and I clench, feeling my orgasm build.

  Ash grips the back of my head in his hand and pumps, long deep strokes. “Don’t stop now, but your parents just pulled into the driveway.”

  My heart stutters and adrenaline jolts through my veins. I can’t tell if it’s from the rapidly gaining orgasm that is about to hit me because of Noah and Ash’s filthy talk or the possibilities of getting caught.

  “Drink me, baby.”

  Noah wraps his lips around my clit and sucks hard as Ash throws his head back and shoots his hot cum into my waiting mouth. I swallow as fast as he fills me back up.

  I hear the hiss of Noah’s zipper and he is filling my slick, dripping wet channel with his throbbing cock in one hard thrust. My orgasm shatters through me and I take the rest of Ash down my throat.

  “Again,” I beg, wanting another hit of the drug they’ve gotten me addicted to.

  Clutching them close, I wrap my legs around Noah and he presses a thumb to my clit and I come undone all over again. Electricity shoots through my body and I melt under their touches. It doesn’t take Noah long to find his release and he falls over me, minding my growing bump.

  His chest rises and falls with every deep breath and they both help me to my feet.

  Both come in for a quick kiss. “You better run upstairs and fix yourself, sweetheart. You look like a sex kitten with those sweetly fucked lips all red and pouty.”

  I dash upstairs as fast as I can given my size before I hear them greet my parents and the happy squeal of a little girl hugging her daddies.

  A feeling of satisfaction comes over me as I shower and rejoin my family downstairs. Not because of the fabulous heart-stopping, soul-stopping sex, but because none of us were looking for love or a happily ever after but that is exactly what we found in each other.

  The End

  Chapter One

  Allison

  “You know what you have to do. Here’s the invitation. I’ll be back in two hours.”

  My uncle shoves a white envelope into my hand. I clench my fingers around the smooth folded paper and stiffen as his hot breath brushes against my cheek as he leans closer.

  “You better have what I need by that time.”

  Lumps of air stick in my throat as I swallow and the tight remnants of pain from my uncle’s grip around my tender throat when I dared refuse this task a mere hours before serve as a good reminder of the debt I owe him.

  I tried to refuse being involved in this little scheme of his, tried to walk away, but the massive, well-built man kept in good shape and has a good two-hundred pounds on me.

  I raise a hand to my throat. I paid for my disobedience and have the bruises to prove it.

  Slowly he reaches across the small space between us and rests a hand on my thigh and I gulp in air as his grip tightens, making my skin crawl. It takes effort to keep the fear from my eyes and voice as I push out an answer. “Yes, sir.”

  I know what he wants to hear and if the past six years has taught me anything it’s to keep a barrier between my thoughts and the words I actually speak in front of him.

  I fold my hands in my lap and keep my head down. Another gesture I know he expects from me. I’ve learned the hard way tonight fighting back will only earn me his disdain and a swift backhand, or worse.

  When I was younger, he could be nice but as I grew and matured so did his temper. Or I wizened up and realized the ugly truth.

  Either way, I don’t know how someone so handsome and distinguished on the outside can be so ugly and bitter on the inside. Most days I planned my day around avoiding any contact with my mother’s older, corrupt, sleazy brother. Which is easy when you live in a fifteen-bedroom mansion with countless nooks and rooms to get lost in.

  William reclines in the plush leather of his beloved Cadillac which he cherishes more than his fourth wife and gives a deep grunt of approval when I don’t make a sound to challenge him.

  “Good girl,” he responds, giving my bare thigh a squeeze and a pat. “You learn quickly, like your mother. You have one shot, little girl. Don’t let me down.” His hand travels up my bare arm to my neck where he pushes aside my hair. “You understand the consequences. Do things right and after tonight things will change for you. You’ll be of age and I’ll make sure there will be a place for you with me when I’m the new CEO of Savage Ink.”

  The gleam in his eye and the way he drew out his last thought while patting my thigh again made my stomach quiver in disgust.

  God help me.

  I wanted no part of any of his schemes and as far away as possible from this man. I force myself not to shiver from the inappropriate tone and insinuations I’d have to be an idiot not to understand.

  “Yes, sir,” I force myself to say and hope it’s the only answer he’s looking for because it’s all I have to give. It takes steel nerves not to smack his hand away and jerk out of his reach. At the risk of earning a bloody lip or worse, I remain still despite the chills running through my body.

  The car cruises to a slow stop and I pop the door open before the parking attendant has a chance to make it to my door. “I know what I need to do, Uncle. I’ll do what has to be done,” I say before shutting the door to whatever he was about to say. I turn as his car pulls away and climb the expansive white staircase that leads to a castle straight out of some fanciful fairytale.

  White lights are woven into a magical net of twinkling stars cast across the covered entrance as my heels sink into a lush black carpet beneath my feet.

  The contrast between light and dark leave me in awe as I make my way up the stairs.

  At the door I hand over the invitation with a smile for the man who welcomes me to Savage Inks Annual Christmas Gala and walk through an elegant arched entry trimmed with fresh garland and more tiny white lights.

  Magical comes to mind and I can’t help but feel nostalgic for the warmth of unmade memories I wish my childhood provided.

  My body stiffens for a moment. Old memories surface and beat back the child-like fantasies I cooked up in my head to mentally escape the crowded shelters and dingy apartments my mom scored for us on cold winter nights after a little time in the back room with one man or another.

  I shake off the stench of the past and let the warmth of the foyer envelop me and remember why I’m here in the first place. I follow the few guests who arrived with me through an ample hall truly decked out for the Christmas festivities, and I can’t help but smile just a little. Someone loves this time of year and it shows in every candle, gleaming chandeliers, and dozens of glittering trees.

  As I mingle with
the guests and follow the gathering crowd toward the ballroom the frilly ruffles outlining my neckline tickle the sensitive skin of my neck, and I tug at the annoying fringe, ready to rip the damn thing off.

  My hand stops mid-tug as I take in the other guests.

  Okaaayy. This wasn’t like any party I’d ever been to. The invitation said costume party and my weasel of an uncle made sure to pick the sluttiest one available.

  At least I fit in.

  Chiseled muscle, bronzed skin, and supple legs are all on display from the various festive costumes. There are more sexy Santas and dolled-up busty elves than I’ve ever seen in one place. My eyes skim through the half-naked crowd, taking it all in.

  It’s a wonder they didn’t card me at the door with the going-ons I witnessed.

  “Hey, sweetheart.”

  A lithe blonde walked by on stilettoes that made her legs look like they never ended. My gaze travels up the length of her body and lands on a set of green eyes a similar shade to mine.

  “Here, you look like you could use this more than me.”

  The blonde winks at me and passes me a glass of champagne before walking off.

  “Thank you,” I whisper as her male companion takes his eyes off my breasts long enough to give me a smile.

  She was right.

  I sip at the bubbly liquid and sigh inwardly as the light alcohol soothes my frazzled nerves.

  Among the party-goers are men three times my age who don’t hide the fact that they are caressing my ample curves over their wives’ heads, clearly fucking me with their eyes.

  I scrunch my nose and scowl when I recognize a few from business functions my uncle hosted at his home, others are new-to-me faces.

  I tug at the hem of my skirt, but not too hard or my breasts will slip from their silky confinement. It was a constant battle of lesser of two evils.

  How the hell did I get myself into this mess? Oh right, by being the good girl. I followed the rules and here I am. A pawn in someone else’s game.

  After my mother died and I landed with my only living relative, I worked my ass off to earn a scholarship to Brown University because I promised myself I would never end up like her—a drug addict running from one fix to another, one man’s bed to another.