by Janie Marie
“When you’re ready,” Luc said, releasing her hand.
She bowed her head at him before clasping her hands together, clapping a rhythm: two claps with a pause and then a single clap at the very moment Sin and Than played a gentle melody. It was simple, and somehow it reminded him of Jane before they got together; hiding, sad, but continuing every day, just like the melody.
Damon joined Jane’s claps, relieving her. While Sin and Than played, and Damon clapped out the simple rhythm she’d started, Jane elegantly held her arms in a pose, then Luc strummed his guitar in a more dominant yet still Jane melody, and their girl danced.
Ryder leaned forward. He’d had his arms resting on his legs, but now he covered his mouth, completely in awe of his girl as she twirled like a barefoot ballerina under the moonlight with Luc playing a song that was entirely Jane: brave, beautiful, strong, and magic.
Everyone one watched her, unable to tear their gazes away as she cast her spell. She was dancing for him, for them, and she was showing her parents, her mother and her fathers—the one standing with her mom and the one watching from the stars—that she’d survived her pain, that she’d found love, and she was going to fight for it.
Hazel eyes met his, and they roared with gold fire as her hair flowed free of her bun, fanning out with her skirt. She only grinned wider at the mishap, letting the sweet, wild girl he loved free as she twirled, effortlessly gliding over the flat stones that surrounded the pool. She was a fairy, an angel, a goddess. She was his everything.
Every movement was delicate, like water flowing over the earth. She cut her path toward where they sat, going to Tercero first. It almost upset him that she picked his brother first, but he was instantly entranced by the way she’d pulled Tercero up to dance with her.
His brother only held her, dipping her or assisting her with her poses until she cupped his cheeks and kissed him, murmuring happy birthday before she twirled her way to David.
Now, Ryder frowned. It wasn’t David’s birthday.
His old rival smiled as Jane danced around him. Her pretty face burned pink as David watched her, and she reached up, tracing his lips, beaming when her blue-eyed boy smiled and kissed her fingertips.
The moment she lowered her hand, her eyes met Ryder’s, and Luc and Sin stopped playing, Damon stopped clapping, and only Than played the base melody he’d been playing throughout it all. Her rock, he realized. She was telling him he was the very ground she danced on, even if it was the sun and stars and darkness that helped her glow, it was him that she existed for. It was because of him that she glowed at all.
Jane took the most delicate steps closer to him, reaching for his hand to pull him up. He followed her order, sighing as tingles sparked where they touched.
She moved away, making the prettiest turns he’d ever seen from a ballerina. She wasn’t as tall or as slim as the professionals, but she was his dancing goddess. Her brown hair glowed from the fire, just the same as the gold in her eyes roared for the emerald flame surrounding it.
Spinning faster, she held her arms out and danced just for him but knowing he was letting her other loves bask in the light she was creating.
Finally, she slowed, daintily twirling her way closer to him. She smiled, placing her hand over his heart, and he moved his hand over his spot, swallowing as the music stopped with her.
“Happy birthday, Ryder,” she breathed as he pushed her hair away from her face.
Ryder leaned down, kissing her as the yard filled with applause and cheers. But he shut it all out and kissed his moon like it was only the two of them in the whole universe. He’d bring her back to the others, always, but right now, she was his.
Hoisting her up and pulling her legs around his waist, he deepened their kiss before pulling back to whisper, “Breathe, angel.”
She gasped, giving him a gorgeous smile as she touched his cheek. “Did you like it? I didn’t have money to buy you anything.”
“Sweet Jane, you gave me the moon tonight.” He nuzzled her, still pushing the sound of the crowd away from them. “I was only slightly pouty that David and Tercero got your attention before I did. Especially David—it’s not even his birthday.”
Her laugh was loud, but she kissed his face everywhere she could. “Cutest bad boy in the world.”
“Only for my goddess.” He kissed her again, sweeter. “And I love my gift—best one I’ve ever had.”
“I have one more, if you want.”
He grinned. “I have more for you, too. I bet we’re regifting all night.”
She giggled, kissing him again and again. “Best regift I’ll ever have then.”
Ryder chuckled, kissing her as the sounds around them finally cut through. “You better go kiss my brothers and Papi. You did miss David’s eighteenth birthday entirely. I guess I can allow him in on the celebrations. He is my wingman.”
“You’re mine,” David interrupted, but it was Tercero who stole her.
Well, it was Tercero he let love her because he did like that his brother made her feel so much of him, David, and even Luc. And he knew Tercero and Luc had been the ones to help her gain the confidence to finally show off her secret.
So, he sat back, watching her glow for her other boyfriends and her men. She sat taller, welcoming praise when Luc was at her side, she gave and received sweet kisses with Tercero whenever it looked like she couldn’t go another second without one, and she warmed as David wrapped his arms around her.
His brother from another mother kissed her proudly, even in front of his dad, his stepmother, his sorta ex, and teammates. He showed her off like she was his princess, and Jane’s eyes shone with love and admiration each time David smiled down at her.
All through the celebrations, she ruled over her men, even some of the Black Hills boys, and that fucker Jason who had managed to sneak over.
The night went on like that, and Ryder took it all in, loving that his girl was glowing her brightest. Those hazel eyes drifted his way, and she bit her lips as though they suddenly tingled.
Narrowing his gaze, he shook his head, smiling only when she laughed and released them.
“You’ll see that she’s taken care of tonight?”
Ryder looked away from Jane and up to Kingston and Sarah. “I’ll take care of her every night.”
“Not yet, boy.” Kingston huffed and took his wife’s hand in his before leading her toward the door. “And no babies.”
He grinned, hollering, “Okay, I’ll start with one baby. Let you get used to being a grandpa.”
Kingston shook his head, pointing at Archer who was leaning against the doorframe. “You, no. Don’t even think about wooing her.”
Archer’s smug look annoyed Ryder, but he knew his brother only lived to pester all around him. “Papa Bear, don’t be like that. I can’t stay away from that gorgeous ass of hers.”
Kingston turned, giving Ryder a look that said, you better not let him near Jane.
Ryder nodded. “I’ll kick his ass later. Scram, Pops. I gotta have naughty time with your daughter.”
The big man’s face reddened with fury, but he merely growled and stalked off with Sarah. The woman had kept her trap shut, and he felt thankful for that. Everything with Jane and Sarah would take time to mend, but he’d see that his girl had her mom the way she was supposed to.
A shivering girl was suddenly crawling onto his lap, sliding her icy fingers under his shirt. He didn’t flinch, never really bothered by heat or cold, and hugged her tightly as David laid a blanket over them.
“So romantic, Papi.” He snickered, sliding his hands up and down Jane’s legs.
David flipped him off as he sat. The bastard was eating that raspberry cake again. “We both know who makes her melt.”
Jane shivered, grinning against Ryder’s chest as she snuggled closer. “David is my heating pad.”
David winked at her. “That’s right, baby. But I know who makes you tingle. I’ll warm you up in a bit—let’s wait until the others leave.�
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Now her body flushed with heat, and Ryder peeked down at her. “You want both tonight?”
Her eyes were glassy from fatigue, but they flashed up at him. “What about all of you?”
He flicked his eyes toward David, noting the stiff posture of his old rival, then he glanced at Tercero and Luc; they were sitting in the dark, talking, but they looked over. It was like they knew she’d just made the request for them to join in.
“Never mind,” she whispered, ducking her head when she caught sight of David’s face.
Ryder sighed, tucking the blanket around her. “Babe, don’t hide from us.”
“You’re mad,” she said, closing her eyes. “He’s pissed.”
“Baby, I’m not pissed,” David argued. “I just don’t know how to be ready for this.”
Honestly, Ryder didn’t either. He could see himself with Jane while Tercero was there, which was weird to him, but he was curious to see how she’d react to having not only him and David but then Tercero who gave her his own unique presence as well as reminding her of them all. He imagined her falling into ecstasy like he’d never thought possible. But Luc?
“It’s fine,” she said. “I’m kinda tired anyway.”
Ryder watched his brothers. They knew. He could tell by the way they sat, their muscles stiff, holding back but also ready to flee. They weren’t sure about it either. Tercero hadn’t been with her, Ryder could tell. He didn’t know why his brother was holding back, but he was. And Luc wasn’t interested in sharing his queen.
“We can try,” David murmured, reaching out to caress her head.
“No, it’s okay.” She gave David a tight smile. “Really.”
“No, it’s not,” David said, caressing her cheek. “I won’t lie—I don’t like the idea of Luc with you, and I’m confused about Tercero, but I want you happy. And I think I need to see they’re good with you.”
“I have a feeling you’re the roughest,” Ryder cut in before Jane could ask what he meant. “They will worship her.”
Jane’s cheeks flushed as David kept staring at her; she liked that her stepbrother was rough. Just like she liked that he was sweet with her. Ryder liked to manhandle her, and she loved it, but she was always awed when he’d turn gentle before he’d consume her. But David, the guy she’d dreamed up was a noble prince, proper and polite, he was an animal with her, devouring her. Even though David made sure he never hurt her, the fucker was worried she’d shatter if anyone else was as rough with her as he was, and he didn’t trust that someone else would be able to be rough and careful.
“I think they’d only be rough alone with her,” Ryder added. “Dirty, if she wants it.” He peeked at her as her breaths hitched. David saw it too. She wanted dirty. He squeezed her ass under the blanket, feeling like a king when she moaned the second his pinky grazed her sex. He already felt that beautiful fluttering inside her. “Fuck, babe, fall apart,” he said, shifting her panties so he could sink a finger inside her. And, damn, if she didn’t come right then and there, her whole body tensing as she moaned again.
He reveled in her trembling body as she continued fluttering around his finger. “David,” he muttered, knowing David would need no instruction.
David leaned over, tilting her face up before kissing her senseless, swallowing her cries as Ryder fucked her with his hand.
“Fuck, Jane.” Ryder nearly groaned as she started rocking her hips, practically riding his hand. “It turns you on knowing others are watching, doesn’t it?”
She clenched around him as David chuckled at her strangled cry.
“She said getting caught,” David said before kissing her again.
Her kissing David while in his arms was hotter than Ryder remembered. He wasn’t the only one watching. Some of them were full-on staring while others were more discreet.
But Ryder wasn’t going to let everyone watch. Sliding his fingers out and fixing her panties, he grinned when she stopped kissing David to growl at him. “I’m not loving you in front of everyone—I know Archer will record and Sin will probably drop his pants and fuck the nearest, willing body. I don’t do orgies.”
He spanked her ass and made sure her dress was down but still kept the blanket around her as he got up. “Let’s go to our room. Luc and Tercero will watch. If they’re willing to join, and you want that, they will.”
“How do you know they’ll watch?” She wrapped her arms around his neck, totally unashamed that she’d just had an orgasm in front of her guests.
“Because they already went up to my room.” Ryder carried her toward the door, but he hollered out to David, “Grab some waters.”
“And condoms.” Archer snapped a photo of Jane’s post-orgasmic smile. “Thanks for the birthday present, gorgeous. You got me all ready for some lucky gal.”
Ryder shoved him. “Sick fucker.”
“The sickest.” Archer winked, passing by and heading straight for a group of girls who sat with Savaş.
His giant brother waved at them. “Be good to her or I’m breaking bodies.”
David arrived, pushing Ryder and only stopping when Archer threw something their way.
“You’re welcome,” his twisted brother shouted once David opened his hand. Lube.
Thirty-One
Jane swallowed as she shifted on her knees. She was kneeling on Ryder’s bed, but she wasn’t alone.
A tingle trailed along her shoulder, and she smiled as a new tingle—a kiss—was pressed against the back of her neck.
“You have control in this,” Ryder murmured against her skin as she stared ahead, her eyes locked on David.
He sat at the foot of the bed, emanating confidence and patience, and above all, love. He, like the others, wanted her to himself, but he put her first when he realized she was meant to receive and give more love. ‘I love you,’ he mouthed, making her smile then her body flush with heat when he smirked.
“If there is any time,” Ryder continued, “you want to stop, just say the word. If at any time you want one or several of us to leave, say so.”
Jane darted her gaze to Luc who stood at the foot of the bed with arms crossed. Watching. He was the one making the others uncomfortable. He was the one who didn’t want to be there, yet he was. He was there because it was her birthday, and she had asked him to be with her tonight. He’d amazed her by playing a melody to match her dancing like he already knew what song played in her mind when she danced under the moon. She couldn’t imagine her life without him, and she hoped to one day be as great as he saw she could be.
Luc’s expression went unchanged. He might not want to be there, but now that he was, she saw he wasn’t leaving. Even if she asked, he’d make her take back her words because he’d decided to see this through.
Ryder slid a hand around her side and held his spot. “I mean it, Jane. I don’t give a fuck if I have to physically remove someone from this room. What you say goes. I’ll even remove myself if I have to. I’ll be in the hall, listening, but I’ll leave if you ask me to.”
“Kinky, brother,” Tercero said, amused.
She slid her gaze over to her sexy, quiet boy. He sat on a corner of the bed, his ankles crossed but knees raised with his arms around them.
“Baby girl knows I’m into the kinky shit with her,” Ryder said, pressing another kiss to her neck. “Now, shut the fuck up and listen because I’m saying this to all of you. I will destroy you if you take her choice away—if you push something on her that she doesn’t want. Each of you know you stand no chance against me, even together. So, don’t try me.”
Turning her head slightly, she nuzzled her bad boy. He deserved so much, sometimes more than she thought she could give him. It would be too much to accept from him, but he always made sure she knew just how much she meant to him. It didn’t matter that he was more amazing than she was; she was the one he wanted, and she happily gave him everything of herself and thanked the heavens he offered back more so she could give to the others.
He sweetly kis
sed her nose then her lips. “You ready?” When she nodded, he smiled. “I’m gonna show you off then.”
She shivered at the sudden drop in his tone. So dark. So smooth. Her bad boy was returning for her, and he was going to help her get what she wanted. “Okay,” she whispered, gasping at his lips pressing just behind her ear as he breathed her in.
“They’re going to touch you,” he murmured, sliding a hand along her stomach as the other held onto her shoulder. “I might push them away if I don’t like where they touch you just yet, but you trust me, all right? You understand you’re mine before you’re theirs, yes?”
Her lips parted as she stared at each of her men across from her; they weren’t upset by Ryder’s declaration, and she knew in her soul it was true. Even if David had first owned her heart, it was Ryder who was there through everything; she just refused to see him.
David smiled, and it was that smile that won her heart when she was a little girl and the one he’d given to her when he’d started becoming a man. Only recently she realized that smile was showing her he loved her more than she could truly fathom, just the same way Ryder’s attitude was there to protect her or to push her to open her eyes and see him.
Luc tilted his head, taking in everything, but it was those silvery-gray eyes that said what he was thinking: be a queen.
She shivered again as Ryder nuzzled her neck, and her eyes locked on Tercero’s. So many times she’d seen Ryder in him, but he was so amazing, and one of the incredible things about him was that he wanted her to embrace his brother because he knew Ryder was her match. That faint smile her quiet boy often teased her with came and went, and he inclined his head, reminding her that Ryder was waiting for a response.
“Yes,” she breathed, trembling as tingles bloomed in her chest. “Yes, I know I’m yours first. I trust you.”
He nudged her with his head. “Took you long enough.”
“Sorry,” she laughed, her whole body buzzing from his presence now. “I’m a dummy.”
“Maybe a little bit,” he said, bringing his mouth back to her ear and whispered, “but I’m keeping you anyway.”