by Opal Carew
He pulled up to the gate and lowered his window.
“Can I help you?” the guard asked.
“Tell Donald Bordeaux that Ian Steele is here, and he’d better let us in. Now.”
The guard’s eyes widened at the mention of Ian’s name, and he scrambled back to the phone. Ian rolled up his window and put his hands on the steering wheel, gripping it like a lifeline.
“It’s good to have your name sometimes,” Rafe said, though Ian could hear and sense the underlying anger and fear.
“My name fucks us over more times than it helps it seems, but I’m done worrying about what others think. This man is going to know he crossed the wrong family, the wrong people. Then we’re going to go to Sassy, get down on our knees, and beg for her to come back because I’m through waiting.”
Rafe snorted. “Sounds like a plan. Easy. Concise. And full of what-the-fuck.”
The gate opened and Ian pulled through. A butler walked out of the front door and nodded toward them as Ian parked in front of the colossal house. Where Ian had chosen to live in a modest loft and was planning on buying a bigger home for the three of them, Donald’s home was a fucking monstrosity that screamed wealth and privilege.
Just one more thing Ian couldn’t stand about the bastard.
The place dripped money yet looked cheap at the same time. Sassy had more class in her little finger than the entire place and the people who lived there combined.
Ian and Rafe walked through the place and Ian had to grin at what they were wearing. Instead of his usual suit, he had on jeans and a t-shirt while Rafe still had his work coveralls on. Their current wardrobe choices weren’t particularly power-driven, but they would work for what Ian had in mind.
He could pull off power and absolute control in a suit at the drop of a hat, but even in the jeans and t-shirt, he managed to convey a dangerous anger and the power to back it up.
He left no doubt that he would obliterate the man who tried to crush his own daughter.
“Well, good afternoon, Ian. I wondered when you’d drop by for a visit.” Donald walked through the archway into the foyer and blinked at their attire before looking like he flicked them off like a piece of lint.
Good.
Bordeaux had made the first mistake in a power play, underestimating your opponent.
“You’re a fucking asshole,” Ian growled.
Donald’s perfect eyebrow rose. “Such an attitude from a man who is standing in my home in ragged clothes beside a man who must be your mechanic. Or is that your lover?”
“Stop it with the archetypes,” Ian spat. “You leaked Sassy’s name to the press.”
Though it wasn’t a question, Donald answered anyway. “That little bitch thought she could come back to New Orleans and defile our name? Fuck her.”
Ian’s body moved before his brain could engage. His fist slammed into the bastard’s face and Donald went down hard.
“Well, I could have done that,” Rafe said dryly.
Ian shrugged. “You get the next one.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“You bastard!” Donald scrambled to his feet, clutching his obviously broken, very bloody nose. “You’ll pay for that.”
“No, I won’t. You’ll back off from Sassy. You’ll publish a detailed retraction and an apology. You’ll stay away from Sassy, Rafe, and me. You’ll stay away from the families we’ve made. You will back the fuck off.”
“And just why do you think I’ll do that?”
Ian leaned in so he was inches from Donald’s face. “Because while you have a few dollars, I have billions. While you have some power in New Orleans, I have more everywhere else. And even if my relationship takes me out of the forefront of my company, I still have everything else. You have nothing. You come at me and what’s mine again, and I. Will. Destroy. You. Utterly, and thoroughly.
Donald paled a bit, the truth hitting home.
Rafe slid up to Ian’s side and gripped the man’s chin with bruising force. “And what Ian can’t get to, I can. You think I’m gutter trash? You haven’t got the first clue, asshat.”
“Oh, and for the record, Sassy’s been here all along. Your daughter has hidden in her own city for over ten fucking years and you never noticed until you thought it could help your masquerade as the poor victim. Well fuck you and fuck the morals you think you have. Stay away from her or I’ll hunt you down like the swine you are.”
“Do you get us?” Rafe asked and Donald nodded.
Ian pushed the man away then strode out of the house. “You drive to Sassy’s. I need to make a few calls.” He’d ensure Sassy’s future regardless of cost or consequence. He had the money, the privilege, and the connections. He’d just make a few calls to those he worked with and they’d have so many eyes on Donald, he wouldn’t be able to scratch his ass without an audience.
Sassy was more important than anything he could ever lose.
“You really think she’ll be there?” Rafe asked as they drove.
Ian ran a hand through his hair. “It’s a place to start. I’m not giving up until we find her.”
“No shit,” Rafe snorted. “I can’t believe you punched her dad. She’s gonna be pissed.”
“No, she’s going to be annoyed she missed it.”
“That’s what I meant.”
Ian smiled and put his hand on Rafe’s knee, needing the connection. God, Sassy had walked out on them. With everything that had happened, it still hadn’t clicked that she’d left them.
They parked at Sassy’s place and got out. They each had a key and rather than knock and wait for her to not answer, they walked in, unprepared for the sight that greeted them.
Sassy sat in the middle of her L-shaped couch, her face pale, tear stains on her cheeks, her eyes vacant.
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” Ian whispered, then hurried to her.
She just looked at him and closed her eyes. “I ran away. How stupid am I?”
Rafe came to her other side and pulled them both close. “That’s not stupid.”
“It was a knee jerk reaction apparently, and then I spent the day crying and wanting my boyfriends. God, I’m a fucking teenager.”
Ian took Sassy’s chin between his fingers and forced her gaze to his. “Stop it. You’re not a teenager. You’re allowed to cry and fight and act however the hell you want when someone who you are supposed to trust, someone who is supposed to love you betrays you.”
She licked her lips and pulled back. “So it was my father then? I didn’t figure it out until after I left you.”
“Honey, you were thinking about the pain and others, not about who could have caused it,” Rafe said. “You aren’t required to be all things to all people all at once.”
“What did you do?” Sassy asked.
Ian blushed. “Uh…”
“Oh my God. You went to him? Without me?”
Rafe glared at Ian but Ian knew he’d have to roll with it. “Yes, this first time. Next time we go over there to confront him, you’ll lead the charge. I promise we didn’t go over there to act like Neanderthals.”
Rafe coughed.
Sassy looked between them and then at Ian’s swollen knuckles. “You hit him. Didn’t you? Oh, my God! I missed it!” She punched him in the shoulder, and Ian was relieved to see the color back in her face. “I can’t believe I missed Ian Steele punching my dad.”
“I’ll do it again just so you can watch.”
Sassy smiled like he hoped she would and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down for a kiss. He obliged, missing the feel of her beneath him. She pulled away and did the same to Rafe before hitting them in the arms again.
“Don’t handle my problems.”
“Hey, they were our problems, too,” Rafe said.
“I told your dad to fix it in the media or I’d make life tough for him. You know I can do that.”
Her eyes widened. “Ian! But what about your company? What about Rafe’s family? What about Midnight? It’s not all about t
hat one article. We could hurt a lot of people.”
Ian narrowed his eyes. “How? How could we do that? The only people we care about love us and support our relationship. Nothing else matters.”
“But Ian—”
“Sassy, it will be okay,” Rafe interrupted. “My family can handle it. They already knew things might get iffy for a bit at the shop if people start to care, but they don’t. Not really. And if things change? Then I can take a back seat and let my brother and father take care of things. My family isn’t going to leave me, and our shop won’t go under because of who I love.”
“And my company and its people are financially secure. That won’t be an issue. It’s in right now to be different in certain circles, and I can use that if I need to. Those people I trust aren’t going to leave me because of who I love. As for my parents? They don’t like me as it is, Sass. Nothing I do will change that and I don’t really care to. You’re my family now. You and Rafe.”
Her eyes filled and she blinked quickly. “I’m not going to cry again. I cried enough for the day.”
Ian cupped her face. “Okay then. Now about that last part. About Midnight? You made that family at the shop and those people fucking love you. They stand strong no matter what happens around them. There’s even a fucking threesome in the group as it is. I think we’ll be fine.”
Sassy blushed. “Okay, so I was reaching with that one.”
“Stop fighting us, Sassy,” Rafe whispered. “It’s okay to be happy.”
“It’s okay to take a chance,” Ian added. “Take a chance on us, Sass. Take a chance on our future.”
She bit her lip and blinked up at him. “I promise not to run away again. I’m in. I’m sorry I ran.”
Ian shook his head. “I’m going to spank that pretty ass pink for scaring me like that, but I believe you, baby. You’re allowed to get fucking pissed at what you read, but we’ll handle it together.”
“That’s what we’re here for,” Rafe whispered.
Sassy pulled Ian down for a kiss, her tongue brushing his, and he moaned. “Love me,” she whispered against his lips.
“Always,” he answered.
“Take me to the bedroom,” Sassy demanded and Ian nipped at her lip.
“I thought I was the alpha one.”
She rolled her eyes. “If you two don’t know by now that I call the shots, there’s really no hope for you.”
Rafe stood, bringing Sassy to her feet. “We’ll see about that.” He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom as she squeaked.
Ian took a deep breath and smiled.
Finally.
She was theirs.
He stripped off his shirt and pants as he made his way into the bedroom, not at all surprised that Sassy was already naked and Rafe was between her legs, licking that sweet pussy of hers.
Her hands were tangled in Rafe’s hair and she grinned at him. “Told you,” she whispered.
“Really? You’re in control?” Rafe asked, then pumped three fingers into her heat and she bucked against him. “Pass me the lube, Ian.”
Ian chuckled and got the bottle and a few condoms from the nightstand. He squeezed a few drops on Rafe’s hand and cupped his dick as he watched Rafe fuck her ass with his finger, nice and slow.
“See? I’m totally in charge,” Rafe mumbled against her thigh.
“You win!” Sassy gasped.
“No, I win,” Ian murmured as he stood behind Rafe and dipped his own lubed finger between his cheeks.
“Holy shit, that’s cold,” Rafe shouted.
“I’ll warm you up,” Ian promised.
He rimmed Rafe’s hole with his finger then slowly pressed against it, the feel of the tight ring of muscles intoxicating. He couldn’t wait to feel it around his dick.
“That feels so good,” Rafe moaned.
“I know exactly what you mean,” Sassy panted beneath Rafe.
Ian worked Rafe until he knew he was ready. He slowly rubbed small circles over Rafe’s prostate and his lover shuddered.
“Don’t do that yet. Fuck. I’m going to come and I’m not even in Sassy yet.”
“Then saddle up,” Ian teased.
“Did you just compare me to a—oh my fucking God that feels good!” Sassy screamed as Rafe slid into her pussy.
Ian gripped Rafe’s hips to steady him. “Let me know if I need to go slower,” he said, then pressed the crown of his condom covered cock at Rafe’s entrance. He pushed, the pressure giving way as he slid past that tight ring.
Both men—and Sassy—moaned as Ian moved. Inch by inch, he sank into Rafe’s ass, the tight feeling so fucking hot he knew he’d have to be careful or he’d come right then. Finally, at fucking last, he was balls-deep and ready to move.
“Ready?” Ian gritted out.
“Ready!” Sassy and Rafe yelled together.
Ian pulled out, the motion forcing Rafe to move back as well, his own cock deep in Sassy. Ian set the pace, each thrust thereby thrusting inside of Sassy. He pushed hard, his balls tightening as he forced himself not to come.
Sassy writhed under them, her fingers digging into Ian’s arms. He loved that she was touching him as well, connecting them in body, soul, and future.
“I’m going to come,” Sassy breathed, and then her body flushed, her nipples darkening as Rafe leaned back to rest his head on Ian’s shoulder.
Rafe pounded into her and Ian pushed the man down on top of her so he could do the same. Rafe shouted, his ass tightening around Ian’s cock as he came and Ian followed soon after, his body going lax as he filled his partner’s ass inside the condom.
Ian pulled out then laid on the bed beside Sassy with Rafe lying on her other side.
They rested there for a few moments before each man got up, took care of their condoms, then came with warm, wet towels. They took turns cleaning Sassy and each other up before throwing the towels near the hamper and lying back down on either side of their woman.
“I’ve missed that,” Ian panted. “God, I’ve missed that.”
Sassy laughed between them and patted both of their chests. “Next time I get to be the creamy center of our cookie. Then Ian can be. We’ll switch it up.”
Ian closed his eyes. “I think I need a nap first.”
Rafe snorted. “You’re getting old, man.”
Sassy reached down and cupped him, his dick hardening. “Naw, you’re both getting hard at just one touch. But don’t worry, I’ll let you rest. We’re not going anywhere.”
Ian turned on his side so he could look down at them both. “Never, Sassy. I’m not leaving you. I love you, both.”
Rafe turned as well. “I love you both, too.”
Tears filled her eyes and she smiled. “Happy tears. I promise. I love you both so fucking much. So. Fucking. Much.”
Ian let out a breath and took her mouth.
That’s what he’d waited to hear and knew that no matter what had happened, what would happen, as long as they had those words, they’d be fine.
They’d be better than fine.
They were together again.
Finally.
Epilogue
“Yes, Ian, darling, getting a tattoo hurts. Suck it up,” Sassy teased. She laid on her stomach as Shep inked her ass with the same tattoo Caliph was putting on Rafe, and Austin—their guest artist for the time being—drew on Ian.
While Rafe was smiling as Caliph inked their tattoo on his lower hip, Ian kept closing his eyes and gritting his teeth.
“What’s the matter, dude? Don’t like someone touching your ass?” Caliph snorted.
“I have a preference for who touches my ass, thank you very much,” Ian gritted out.
Austin threw his head back and laughed. “I’m touched that you’re letting me ink you then. I know your ass belongs to Rafe and Sassy. I promise to leave your dignity intact.”
“Fuck you,” Ian mumbled.
“I think we just said I wasn’t going to that, bro’, but thanks anyway. And you have this whole pie
ce on your back. You’d have thought you’d already be used to ink.”
Ian let out a breath. “I’m relaxed. I promise. I just don’t like seeing Sassy wince.”
Sassy grinned as the men let out a collective “Awww”. “That’s sweet baby. Yeah, it hurts, but its okay. Shep’s hands are magic.”
“They better not be too good with the magic,” Rafe pointed out.
“Fuck you, Chavez,” Shep said and flipped him off. “Don’t let Shea hear you say that or she’ll kick you in the nuts.”
“And since I like his nuts, I’ll be sure to keep him from acting like an idiot,” Sassy put in. “How’s it looking?”
Shep grunted. She knew he didn’t like talking about how his work looked until it was done. He was temperamental that way. Between him, her men, and Austin, and Caliph, they’d come up with a design that would work for the three of them.
They’d finally found something small, but perfect. It was a ring of fire interlocking with a ring of ice encircling a red lily in the center. It was mostly black with subtle color shading so the red really stood out, and Sassy freaking loved it.
It was perfect for them.
They wanted the ink because after all, it’s what Rafe and Ian had come in for in the first place. Now she was part of it. And because they weren’t planning on a wedding until they could work out the details of their own lives and the legalities of it, the ink would represent their promises.
Their devotion.
She turned to look at her men as they got their ink and smiled.
Her second life began at Midnight Ink and she’d never forget that.
Her second chance at a true happily ever after, walked through Midnight’s doors ten years later. They were three in one, united and loved.
They were reunited and yet still themselves.
There really wasn’t anything else in the world she could have wanted.
Midnight Ink had given her love, life, and happiness.
Rafe and Ian were her center.
This was her future. After all,
The Sassy always knows best.