by Amy Sumida
“No, wait.” I held out a hand, and Weston took it, slipping it into the V of his shirt. “I never said yes to this.”
“Are you saying no?” Ashton nuzzled my cheek and pressed against my side.
I could feel his erection against my thigh. Weston shoved my hand downward roughly, popping the buttons off his shirt, and I felt the sleek planes of his chest, hot beneath my palm.
“I ...”
“Yes?” Braxton's hand slid over my shoulder as he began nibbling my ear.
I moaned, closing my eyes and leaning back against Braxton. His hand continued across my chest and then delved down my bodice. I jerked as he tweaked my nipple.
“Shh,” Ashton murmured against my lips. “Just feel the pleasure.”
Then Ashton was kissing me, his talented tongue tangling with mine as his hips pressed forward. Braxton eased my breast free of my bodice and set his mouth to it, sucking hard on my nipple. Weston pressed in behind me, pulling up my skirts to slide his naked member between my ass cheeks. I sighed, letting Ashton explore my mouth as Weston angled himself between my thighs and began sliding against my opening.
I don't know how it happened. I had every intention of saying no, but suddenly, I was naked and spread across Weston's lap. His cock was rubbing against my waist as he angled my head back and my thighs apart. Braxton knelt on Weston's left, his member glistening with desire. He rubbed it across my lips as Ashton set his mouth to me below. I gasped in ecstasy and Braxton used the opportunity to slide his cock into my mouth.
God, it was amazing. Pure bliss. I sucked at Braxton as Ashton sucked at me, and then Weston lowered his mouth to my nipples and sucked me there as well. Hands roamed my hot skin; kneading and clawing. Cocks pressed at me everywhere and tongues lapped. I groaned, my head spinning.
Then Ashton slid into me.
I screamed in pleasure around Braxton's member. Weston moaned and pressed tighter to me, holding my legs open for Ashton. The tempo was a slow slide, but Ashton was close to coming when he'd begun, and the Prince didn't last long. Soon, he was tensing above me, spilling into me, and then rolling to the side.
“At last,” Weston declared as he slipped into Ashton's spot, never noticing how Ashton's eyes were focused on me as if I were the only thing in his world. “What a beautiful pussy.” Weston sank into me with one thrust and groaned. “Sweet mercy, she's so tight.”
“Her mouth is magic too!” Braxton declared.
Braxton's hands went to my breasts as his balls tightened against my face, and he cried out. I drank him down, and he too, rolled to the side, to stare at me with wide, adoring eyes.
“Oh, fuck,” Weston ground out as he pounded into me. “I've never felt so damn good. Look at me, Lily,” he demanded, and I looked up into his ivy eyes. “I want you to come with me.”
He reached between us and rubbed at me. I shivered and moaned, rushing toward the apex of desire.
“Now, Lily,” Weston growled and shoved deeper.
Rapture claimed me, and I screamed as it rocked through me. Then Weston groaned, shouted, and came with a violent shove, trembling over me with the aftershocks.
I caught my breath and stared at the men in horror. What the hell had I just done? I swore I wouldn't let this happen, and there I was, naked and ashamed. I could feel Weston slipping out of me, along with the proof that I had been well used. I pushed Weston off me, and he rolled to sit limply on the couch. I hurried into my dress as the men stared at me. Tears were already sliding down my cheeks, but I wiped at them angrily. I'd be damned if I let them see me cry.
“Yeah, you won,” I snapped. “Well done, boys. Revel in your prowess, but remember this when you lie in bed tonight; you could have had something real, but instead, you gave it up in exchange for one fuck.”
I yanked on my shoes and ran out the door.
“Lily!” Ashton shouted.
He was evidently the first to recover, but he was still naked. I had a head start on him as I ran through the ballroom amid the shocked gasps of the guests. I made it out to the steps and shouted for my carriage. The rabbit coachman pulled it up quickly, and I hurried down to meet them.
“Lily!” Ashton stood naked at the top of the steps, waving for me to stop.
“Son of a bitch,” I swore and tripped.
A shoe slipped off my foot.
“Damn it anyway,” I growled and limped into the carriage. “Go, go, go!” I pounded on the ceiling, and the carriage raced out of the castle gates.
“Lilly!” Braxton and Weston added their shouts to Ashton's. All three princes stood naked on the steps of their castle. “Come back!”
Chapter Five
“How did it go?” My mother asked brightly.
I stared at her blankly.
“Tell me what happened,” she said in a more moderate tone.
I told her, she fumed, and then she smiled.
“Well, they will pay for what they did to you, darling.” She smiled wickedly. “They already are.”
“How do you mean?”
“The enchantment, of course,” she huffed. “Were you not paying attention?”
I gave her another blank stare.
My dress was back to being rags, the coach was again a pumpkin, and my attendants were the animals they once were. It was all back to normal except for that damn glass slipper that gleamed up at me from my foot. I glowered down at it.
“Sorry, I lost the other one.” I waved at the slipper.
“I know.” She smiled wider. “It was another part of the enchantment; one I didn't tell you about because I knew it would upset you.”
“What did you do?” I growled.
“It was just a little frosting.” She waved her hand grandly. “They are restless now, sweetheart. All they will be able to think about is you. They shall know no peace until they stand in your presence and they will suffer until they wed you.”
“Right, I remember now.” A small seed of satisfaction was growing in my belly. It was nice to have a bit of revenge. “But I don't want to marry them, so I suppose they'll suffer forever.”
“Are you sure, darling?” My mother narrowed her eyes at me. “I sense an air of contentment rolling off your body. Although they seduced you brazenly, they did so well.”
“So what? It was just sex. I want love.”
“Child”–she rolled her eyes–“sometimes the order of things get mixed up, but for good reason. It would hardly do to marry a man and then discover that he just fumbles about in bed, never satisfying anyone but himself.”
I blinked at her.
“You know that they can give you pleasure,” she went on. “That's a good thing, my girl. And they even shared you–another good thing, especially where I'm from. Men can be so grasping, so possessive. That too, can be lovely. But, for our purposes, we want them to be able to share.”
“Why do we want that?”
“Because then, you will definitely rule the kingdom.” She rolled her eyes. “Please keep up, Madelyn. Three princes means that there are three possible heirs. Death comes at the most unlikely times, and should one of them die, the next in line would rule. By marrying all three, we insure that you will be queen, no matter what.”
“Devious.”
What was this feeling? Did I actually want to be queen? If I ruled, I could change all the licentiousness of court. I could change whatever I wanted. I could make my stepmother and stepsisters miserable. I could ...
“I don't want to marry men just for revenge,” I said firmly.
“Be honest with yourself, Maddie,” my mother chided. “You're angry now, but I saw your eyes light up when Ashton spoke to you. I saw the way you bantered with Weston and teased Braxton. You like these men.”
“Yeah, all right, maybe–wait! You saw? You were watching?” I nearly shouted.
“Well, I left before the more intimate moments.” She fluffed her hair. “But I'm sure they were lovely too.”
“Lovely ...” The memory of their hands and m
ouths on me returned, and I blushed. “It was... nice.”
Mother chortled.
I glowered.
“Let go of your pride for one moment, and consider what life would be like with those men as your husbands,” she said softly. “Imagine having their love and adoration. Imagine having their sex all for yourself.”
I blushed again.
“Yes, just as I thought.” She nodded. “Now, do you want to hear about the shoe?”
“I'm horrified to say this,” I huffed, “but yes, I do.”
“Good girl,” she said with a grin. “The glass slippers are connected by magic. Not only did they make you irresistible to your princes, but they were also my insurance so that if the men did give in to their lusts and set off my spell, they would not only pine for you, they would find you.”
“Huh?”
“It's a trail, dear girl,” she huffed. “One shoe leads to the other. The slipper fell from your foot on purpose, so that the princes would have a tether. All they have to do is follow the slipper's lead, and they shall find you.”
“Great.” I rolled my eyes. “They'll find Madelyn the scullery maid, not Duchess Lily.”
“Yes, that was sweet dear–using my name,” my mother smiled. “But I'm sure they've realized by now that you gave them an alias. They're already searching for you, you realize?”
“Already?” I stared at the palace, still lit with the gleaming lights of the ball. We were standing in the garden, the pumpkin still sitting on the ground before us. “I've only just left.”
“And you caused quite the stir.” She laughed. “Those princes, running out after you in the nude, will never be forgotten. The whole court is atwitter.”
“Wonderful.” I sighed and looked down at myself.
“Yes, I know how you appear, sweetheart.” She smiled wider. “But that works in your favor.”
“Excuse me?”
“You're beautiful, Daughter,” she said gently. “I know you don't realize this, but you're a lovely woman. How could you not be,” she teased as she patted her hair. “But your beauty is hidden beneath rags and ashes. Those princes have lived their whole lives consumed with pleasure and beauty. They need something more than a pretty girl. They need to fall in love with you despite your outward appearance. My enchantment will keep them returning to you until they see the beauty of your heart.”
“Not likely,” I huffed.
“Then they will never be happy.” She shrugged. “But I think you're not giving them enough credit. They have been raised to be as they are, but beneath that hedonism lies three hearts longing for love. When you laid your curse upon them–”
“I laid what now?” I gaped at her.
“Your curse.” She blinked at me in surprise. “Didn't you know that you worked your first spell tonight?”
“No. What are you talking about?”
“The curse, darling.” She sighed deeply. “That bit about when they lie in bed this night, they'll know they gave up something real.”
“Oh,” I whispered. “I did feel a little tingle when I said it.”
“That was your magic coming to life!” She exclaimed excitedly. “Oh, darling, I'm so delighted and proud. You will rule the kingdom with magic and wisdom.”
I scowled at her as I recalled what I said. “So, they'll know they lost something real. That doesn't make them regret it.”
“Ah, that's what I was about to say next; that you've opened their eyes at last.” She nodded. “They have finally been shown what they were missing, and it has amped up my enchantment considerably. They are nearly mad with wanting of you.”
“Cease,” I huffed. “They are not.”
“Look you there.” She pointed back to the road that led to the castle, where a line of torches was winding down it. “They are off on the hunt for their Lily.” She giggled. “I just love that you gave them my name, dear.”
“I've missed you, Mother,” I whispered.
“Oh, sweetheart”–she pulled me into a hug–“I've missed you too.”
“I don't know if I can face them again,” I mumbled into her hair.
“You're brave, and strong, and wise, Madelyn.” She pulled back to look me in the eyes. “They will be the luckiest of men to have you for their wife.”
“The King and Queen will never allow them to marry one woman.” I shook my head.
“Let me handle the King and Queen.” She smirked. “You just take care of their sons.”
“They will never associate me with the woman they met tonight.”
“Have a little faith, Maddie.” She kissed my cheek. “Just hide in these rags a little longer, and they will prove themselves to you. Then you'll be able to see the men they can be, and perhaps you will love them as much as they'll love you.”
Chapter Six
Being so close to the castle, our manor was one of the first the search party approached. My throat closed up as I saw them riding up the road to me; the three princes in disheveled elegance. They were as gorgeous as ever, perhaps more so, with their wild hair and wilder eyes. They reined in their horses before me; their eyes coasting over me and dismissing me immediately. I smirked; yep, just as I predicted.
“You there,” Prince Ashton called to me. “Have you seen a carriage pass by tonight?”
“No, Your Highness,” I said.
Ashton frowned, blinked, and then looked back at me. He dismounted and walked over.
“Do I know you?” He asked me.
“Ashton, we don't have time for this,” Prince Weston growled. “Lily could be miles away by now.”
I lifted a brow at that and smirked. Mother was also right; they were obsessed.
“You find that amusing?” Ashton asked me. “That we pursue a woman?”
“Oh yes,” I purred, and he gave a start.
“Who are you?”
“I am Madelyn. I live here.”
“You live here?” Weston had come close enough to feel a little of the peace that Mother's spell ensured that they felt around me. His face relaxed, and he also got off his horse. “What do you mean by that?”
“What else could one mean by that?” I shot back.
“It's an odd phrasing, coming from a servant. More like something a noble would say,” Braxton growled impatiently. But then his horse brought him close enough to me, and he too went quiet. He slid off his horse and came over to stand with his brothers. “You remind me of someone.”
“Do I?” I asked, not giving them any more.
Let them work for it.
“You're certain that you saw no one passing by recently?” Ashton asked. “We met a woman tonight, a very special woman, and she ran off without telling us who she truly was?”
“And what do you mean by that?” I asked. “You don't know her name? Not truly?”
“We know her name,” Braxton huffed, “we're just not sure if it's her real name. No one else seems to know a Duchess Lily. Do you?”
“A long time ago, there was a Duchess Lily who lived in this very house,” I whispered.
The men drew closer.
“Here?” Weston asked. “What happened to her?”
“She disappeared one day,” I said. “My father told me that she was a fairy, and she had to go home.”
“A fairy?” Weston's eyes went wide, and then he cursed under his breath. “Did we sleep with a fairy tonight?”
“You slept with her?” I asked him, starting to enjoy the game. “I thought you had just met her?”
“We did.” Ashton was looking at me strangely. “And we were cads; we seduced her, despite her protests.”
“That sounds like rape, Your Highness.” I leveled my stare on him, and he flinched.
“No,” he protested. “I've never taken an unwilling woman in all of my life, and I never shall.”
“She was willing,” Braxton added. “But we may have manipulated her into it.”
“That does not sound honorable,” I chided him.
Braxton's eye
s went wide, and I noticed his attendants looking nervous.
“You dare to tell me what is honorable?” Braxton asked, but with little heat.
“Someone should,” I said. “From what I've heard of your exploits, someone should have told you long ago that such behavior is unfitting of a prince.”
“She has fire, this one,” Weston edged closer. “What was your name again?”
“See?” I huffed. “You can't even remember a name you heard mere moments ago because I'm not beautiful enough for you to take note of.”
Weston gaped at me.
“Who said that you're not beautiful?” Ashton was looking closer at me, and he lifted his hand to brush away a smudge of dirt from my cheek. “I think your beauty lies hidden, little Madelyn. You've masked it on purpose.”
I pulled back, surprising him again.
“And you three only notice obvious beauty,” I huffed. “You need something primped and polished before you know its worth. What kind of man is that? Who can't see beyond the surface of things? It's not a man who should rule a kingdom, is it?”
The men all gaped at me.
“Goodnight, Your Highnesses,” I said primly. “I wish you luck in finding your missing flower.”
I hurried into the house, my single slipper clicking on the pavement. As soon as I closed the door behind me, I breathed a sigh of relief and reached down to remove the slipper. I smiled at it and tucked it into the pocket of my apron.
“Maybe they are worth the effort.”
Chapter Seven
“Did you see her face when she ran from the castle?” Ava asked her sister. “I wonder what they did to her.”
“I wonder what she did to them,” Hazel huffed, “to get them to go chasing after her naked.”
“All three of them,” Kaylee said with a note of wonder. “And they're still searching for her.”
“I heard that the princes didn't return home until early this morning, looking weary and sad,” Hazel added. “Sad! Those men have never been sad a day in their lives.”
“Hush!” My stepmother said. “Don't you see? This is our opportunity. If they don't know who this woman is, she could be anyone. She could be one of you.”