by Demi Donovan
I practically jump backwards out of Troy’s lap, standing up and backing away from the bench a couple of steps, holding my hands up.
“Okay,” I breathe heavily, and the twins watch me with wicked grins.
There’s pure lust in their eyes and I know if I said the word, they’d be all over me in a heartbeat. It’s really difficult not to say it when pure pleasure is so close that I can touch it.
“I think I need to go now,” I tell them, turning around before I can be sucked in by their stupid charming, sexy selves again.
“Don’t be a stranger,” Troy yells after me.
I wince a little at it. I want to turn around and run right back into his arms because I’m really curious if I can even fit that cock of his… And if he’s that big, Callum probably is too. I groan a little at the thought.
“Whatever you want, Lily,” Callum yells after me.
I glance over my shoulder and find the two of them lounging back on the bench, grinning.
They know I’m going to be back. And I wish I could argue with that.
For some crazy reason, I’m prepared to set my career and everything I’ve worked so hard for in danger because these men, these brothers, are doing something to me that I can’t explain.
Maybe it’s time to call Christine.
It’s a few hours later when I finally feel composed enough to talk to Christine. Meanwhile, I’ve masturbated twice, and seriously considered going to Austin’s bungalow to ask for a kiss from him as well, even if I’ve already gotten several.
Maybe it could be a daily thing?
“Hey,” I tell Christine with a smile as she pops up on FaceTime.
She’s home this time, in her bedroom, apparently getting ready to head out.
“Hey, stranger,” she says, applying mascara at the same time. “I thought you forgot about me.”
“I would never,” I gasp, feigning shock.
She doesn’t buy it.
“So tell me, who have you fucked?”
She gives me a look and I groan. I really should pick less attentive friends…
“No one,” I say mildly, and it’s mostly the truth.
“Lily…”
Christine’s tone is that of a scolding kindergarten teacher. I feel the tips of my ears turning scarlet and she can tell immediately that I’m not telling her the whole truth. I’d be a horrible poker player.
“Okay, okay. So I might have fucked someone a little,” I say, appalled that these words are coming out of my mouth.
“Who?! You have to tell me! Tell me now woman! You can’t be running around with Maxim’s Top 50 Hottest Men while I’m languishing here in Tinder hell!”
“Um…”
Christine’s eyes go wide and then a smile follows.
“You’ve done them all, haven’t you!? You dirty slut!”
She’s practically clapping her hands together in glee, obviously overjoyed that I’ve finally found the path to the slutty side.
“No, not entirely,” I rush to explain. “I mean… like… Callum fingered me and Troy sucked on my… anyway. Yeah. And Austin ate me out.”
I almost add “no big deal” to the end of that, but it sounds too ridiculous in my ears to utter out loud, so I don’t. Christine’s still staring at me with that face that would be best served on Christmas morning, opening up a million presents, not while discussing my sex life.
“I am so impressed. I never thought the day would come that I would have to bow down to you in that regard. All at the same time? How were they? Why no dicks? Is there something wrong with them? Oh, please don’t tell me there’s something wrong with the dicks!”
Her melodramatics make me burst out laughing and I’m pretty sure that’s exactly what she was after. A way for me to not take what’s happening so damn seriously.
I wish it were that easy all the time.
“We’re taking it slow,” I say, and that too sounds completely bonkers as I say it out loud.
Slow? With three men at the same time? Three brothers?
Yeah, I think there’s no such thing.
The expression on Christine’s face is saying pretty much the same.
“I kissed Austin and Callum today for the first time. We did the… the whatever the first day I got here. Austin found me later.”
“You mean when Callum and Troy came up behind you at the beach? Oh my god, I knew something was going to happen!” Christine squeals excitedly.
“And no, I don’t think there’s anything wrong with “the dicks”,” I say, using air quotes.
It does little to distract from the fact that I’m biting my lower lip, thinking about how big and hard Troy was. And Austin when we were making out… and Callum when he fingerfucked me…
Ugh, these men are going to be the end of me and I’m not even sure if I care.
“Okay, I believe you. Just remember to tell me everything when the next thing happens. I need to live vicariously through you,” Christine sighs, fixing her hair.
“Are you going out?” I ask, checking the time.
It should be too early for Christine to even be home from work, let alone heading out.
“Yeah, we’re going out with a couple girls from the office. You know how it is – Mallory’s out of the office so the rats are out to play.”
Christine rolls her eyes slightly at that.
“Wait, what? Where’s Mallory at?” I ask, surprised.
She was supposed to be tied down with big cases back in New York City. That was the reason why she handed the case over to me in the first place, or so I thought at least.
“Oh, you haven’t heard?” Christine asks, cocking a brow and stopping her preening for a moment. “She’s heading to Hawaii with Milan and Candice. They’re all coming.”
My heart drops. Mallory’s coming here? And Milan too?
Things have just gone from a little dicey to full-on dangerous. I was expecting Milan and possibly Candice to come after relaying Robert Stephenson’s message to them, but if they’re bringing Mallory too…
Shit.
The chances of hiding anything from Mallory are slim to none and that’s usually when I don’t even have anything to hide. I feel like I could be wearing a huge scarlet letter on my forehead for how hard it’s going to be for Mallory to figure out that something’s going on that probably shouldn’t be happening.
“They are?” I ask. “Do you know why?”
“Something about Milan wanting emotional support,” Christine says with a shrug. “They go way back with Mallory, apparently. They should be there late tomorrow or early the day after, I’m not sure. All I know is that Mallory headed out after the morning meeting and her assistant said that getting flights is difficult because the planes are mostly booked, so it’ll take a while.”
“Okay,” I mutter, nodding while my brain runs a million miles an hour.
“I hate to leave you but I’m running late for my endless Wednesday Happy Hour. Be bad, and don’t forget to call me, okay!?” Christine chides, before giving me a wave and ending the call.
I let my tablet drop as I stare at the ceiling above my bed.
This mess I’ve gotten myself into… it seems to be getting stickier and stickier.
Seventeen
Austin
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I ask.
My brothers are standing around, grinning like jack-o-lanterns. They would, of course.
“I’m sure,” my father announces, looking nonplussed about the whole thing. “Troy and Callum will take it easy on us, won’t you, boys?”
The twins nod like someone’s pulling on the string that ties their devious minds together. I take a soothing breath.
Flag football against two ex-NFL players with my extended family and my father’s colleagues isn’t exactly high on my list of Friday entertainment, but okay. I’ll manage. I’ll persevere.
And maybe it’ll help me think about something other than Lily’s hot little mouth for like half a fucking
second.
“Alright, but if anyone ends up with a broken clavicle, I’ll be sure to remind you that I told you so,” I say, which my father only meets with a chuckle.
Most everyone who’s supposed to get here for the ceremony has arrived and we’re just waiting on a few more stragglers. The ceremony isn’t supposed to be until Tuesday. Until then, it’s going to be general Stephenson kin horsing around, complete with commandeering a five-star resort and a private island. No biggie.
My father goes through the process of sorting everybody into teams and I end up on the opposing side of Callum and Troy.
Of course I do. Because that’s just my luck.
They’re grinning at me like they’re already picturing the many ways they’re intending to rip my head off, though this is supposed to be mostly no contact. I can bet my life and my credit line on the fact that it won’t end up like that.
“So, everybody ready?” Robert asks, receiving cheers in response.
We do this kind of a getaway once a year and some of the activities have become so culturally ingrained that we’re basically hardwired to enjoy them. I generally don’t mind. Any time with family is good time in my book.
Though this time there are, of course, some obstacles…
Dad lets his soon-to-be wife Andrea play ref for this game and I feel bad for her already. She’s a wispy, blonde little thing, with bright chestnut eyes and a lovely smile. I bet she’s even an adorable person, though that’s likely to change after my father gets through with her.
One thing’s clear though, she’s not ready to whistle a game between three incredibly competitive men. The rest of the field doesn’t even play into this.
Just as she’s about to blow the whistle to start the game, something catches my eye. Or someone, to be more precise. The whistle sounds and I end up standing there like an idiot, staring at Lily, who is quietly approaching the scene.
Everybody got the invite to join in on the activities. I’m not sure why I’m so shocked to see her. Regardless of that, the next moment I know, I’m lying on my back, with something to the tune of 250 pounds of pure muscle trying to introduce me to the core of the Earth. I wheeze as Troy jumps off of me, offering me a hand and giving me the fakest looking expression of worry I’ve ever seen.
“You okay? You just stopped right in front of me and I ran into you,” he says with a wink.
I huff something noncommittal at him, my eyes travelling back to Lily. She’s wearing a sundress and her hair is pulled back. She looks divine, as usual.
Even more so, probably, because I haven’t seen her in a few days.
Troy notices that I’m distracted and glances her way as well. Even having him look at her like that – like he’s really looking forward to owning her – sends me into a jealous rage.
“Boys, let’s keep this thing moving!” my father’s voice yells from somewhere in the background.
I shrug it off.
“Let’s play,” I say through my teeth, making note of where Lily’s sitting down to watch the game with some of the other onlookers.
“Will do,” Troy announces cheerily, getting into position again.
The next time the whistle sounds, I’m ready. The ball comes flying through the air towards me and I catch it, ducking past Troy as I take off. He’s really fucking fast but for once, I’m faster, just narrowly managing to escape his outstretched hand as he tries to take the flag from my belt.
“Fuck, yeah!” I roar as I reach the designated end zone, spiking the ball and launching into a completely unembarrassed victory dance.
Troy and Callum reach me at about the same time and I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so surprised. Of course, at the same time I’m still treating them to some sick moves.
“How does it feel getting licked by your “jogger” brother?” I taunt, pointing at both of them.
I know I’m going to pay for it later, but whatever. I’m allowed my moment of victorious gloating as far as I’m concerned.
“Like I’m beginning to worry about what kind of ‘roids you’re on,” Callum comments dryly, before smacking me on the shoulder and shooing me towards the rest of my team.
“You’re gonna pay for that,” Troy promises behind me.
I’m greeted like a hero as I return to the fold of my team. No one ever scores against the twins if they’re on the same team. We even had a rule against allowing them to be on the same side for years, but my dumb ass had to give into their complaining and lobby for dropping that regulation.
We’ve been paying for it ever since.
As we get into position again, I shoot a glance at Lily, finding her smiling. She looks like she’s having a good time, despite the fact that an elderly aunt of mine from Wisconsin is obviously trying to recruit her into a knitting cult. I can’t help but think that she belong here in this big, weird family.
Then the whistle sounds again and I have to focus real hard on not being ground into paste by my twin stepbrothers.
“You know, what you’re doing to yourself really isn’t healthy,” Callum comments at the end of the game.
I’ve received more flying tackles than any man should, and I’m not even in the NFL. Then again, it’s not like I didn’t know the extent of the twins’ payback when I robbed that first point from them.
“Yeah, sure,” I comment, cracking my jaw as the game has ended.
The rest of the family is lumbering off the field, no one having received any major injuries mostly due to the twins being entirely focused on taking me out. Despite that, or maybe thanks to that, we still managed to grab a few points and only ended up losing by… a really substantial margin.
Whatever. All in the name of fun, right?
Or at least that’s what I’ll tell anyone else who might ask. They don’t need to know that every loss is like getting stabbed with a hot poker in the ass.
I’m scuffed up a little, my knees having bruises on them and my jaw feeling slightly rattled from the last tackle – which Callum explained as an ‘accidental stumble’ by him that had to happen at his full speed. It’s like getting hit by a freight train that refuses to stop moving miles after it’s run over you, with you stuck in the damn grill.
It’s starting to get dark and everyone’s heading in to get ready for dinner. Dad loops his arm around Andrea and she giggles, throwing her head on his shoulder as they walk off the field side by side.
Maybe I should make an effort to get to know her, I think to myself.
Then again, if she’s still around in six months, I can just as well do it then.
By the time we’re done making sure that I haven’t lost the use of anything important, it’s just me, Callum and Troy on the field. And Lily’s sitting on the wooden bench, watching us.
“She’s still here,” I tell the twins softly as I look up.
I thought she’d be the first one out of here, considering how she’s been trying to avoid us at all cost.
She meets my gaze expectantly and I can tell from this distance that she’s nervous. Hell, her heart’s probably beating out of her chest. I can guess that by the way she’s nibbling on her lower lip like a nervous squirrel.
“Be nice,” I add to the twins, who have all now turned to consider Lily’s presence.
They seem as surprised as I am.
“We kissed her yesterday,” Troy mumbles, and I bristle at the thought but don’t say anything.
They should have told me sooner. Hell, we were playing pool for most of last night and they couldn’t find a moment to divulge that particular piece of information? Bullshit.
Still, in the name of everyone’s heads remaining on their shoulders, and maybe aided slightly by the fact that I’m winded after running for my life for the last hour or so, I decide to keep things civil. I can hash things out with Callum and Troy later, but right now it’s pretty obvious that Lily has something to tell the three of us.
In unison, we start towards her. I’m taking off my game belt and rolling it up
in one hand. As we pass by the bin with the rest of them, I toss mine in at the same time as Callum and Troy do. All three land together, right in the bullseye.
“Lily,” I say softly as we come up to her.
She stands up, her hands clasping together in front of her stomach. I know she’s doing it because she’s feeling uncertain, but what she doesn’t realize is that the same motion makes her push her tits together. Containing the growl of lust in my throat is an exercise in superior willpower on its own.
“Is something wrong?” Callum asks.
“I need to talk to all of you.”
Well, that can’t be good.
Eighteen
Lily
“Can we go somewhere more private?” I ask.
The three Stephenson brothers share quick glances, as if telepathically working out our possible exit strategies. They seem to come to a conclusion that satisfies all three of them.
One of these days, I’m going to have to ask how the hell they do that. I get the twins, but I’m not even sure if Austin’s aware that he’s in on it too. It’s like they have this magical little bubble of understanding where everything between them floats into place if they want it hard enough.
Sometimes it might take a little aggression, but the outcome is pretty much the same.
Callum’s the first one to leap into action.
“Sure,” he says, pointing back towards the resort. “We can go back to our bungalow. It’s the closest.”
He adds the last bit as if he’s rushing to explain his reasoning. I’d smile but I’m too nervous to do so. Being around these three gets me so rattled up that sometimes I’m surprised I have the presence of mind to still draw a breath or keep basic bodily functions, like walking, intact at all.
As I turn around, I feel a hand lightly resting on my lower back. I know it’s Austin from the touch without even having to think about it. It’s ingrained in me, my body responding to it with eager familiarity.
“Do you want to tell us what we’re in for?” Troy asks after a couple moments of quiet walking.