War of Hearts

by Julia Sykes

My car was totaled, but I didn’t give a fuck about that. I was more concerned about the structural integrity of the gates. Now that I’d almost lost Ashlyn, I was more fiercely protective than ever. I couldn’t allow our enemies the opportunity to slip into our safe haven. I couldn’t let them get to her.

  They’d proven they were watching the estate when Ricky had threatened her at the restaurant. So, I’d paid a small fortune to get the gates repaired on the same day she’d smashed into them. The damage to the sturdy structure had been minimal, but I wasn’t taking any chances.

  Our fortress was secure again, and no one would get in.

  Or out.

  If Ashlyn thought she could leave us, she was mistaken.

  “This is our fault, you know,” Joseph told me as I paced back and forth across the bedroom. Ashlyn was taking a shower, her head finally clearing from the drugs. We were waiting for her to come out.

  I didn’t understand how Joseph could so calmly sit on the bed. Anxious energy flooded my system. I had to keep moving, or I’d crawl out of my skin.

  “She tried to run away,” I growled. “She got herself hurt. She has a severe punishment coming for that.”

  “Yes,” he agreed. “But we need to talk to her first. We scared her, Marco. We should have explained more before we played with her together.”

  “That wasn’t play, and you know it,” I snapped. We’d never shared such an intense connection with a woman, and neither of us had even fucked her.

  “I know. But she doesn’t understand. She said she’s worried I think she’s a slut.” His lips thinned and his fists clenched, his calm demeanor slipping.

  I ground my teeth at the word. My innocent little princess was far from a slut. She might submit to our depraved games, but we worshipped her.

  We had to make her understand.

  Then, I could punish her. My body practically vibrated with the need to discipline her, to show her that I’d never allow her to put herself in danger again. She was my responsibility, and I’d protect her from anything, even herself.

  After what felt like an hour, Ashlyn finally emerged from the bathroom. Her hair was damp, her cheeks pink from the heat of the shower. She’d dressed in her camisole and yoga pants instead of one of the sexy nightgowns Joseph had bought for her.

  I didn’t like it, even if I could see her nipples through the thin top and the tight pants hugged her round ass. She’d chosen this outfit as a barrier between us, a denial of the sexual chemistry we shared. If I could have my way, she’d be naked right now, crying out at the sting of my discipline while she squirmed over Joseph’s lap.

  I took a deep breath. There would be plenty of time for that after we explained everything to her. I couldn’t stand the idea that she thought of herself as a slut. We hadn’t meant to demean her, and judging by her ecstatic reaction to us when we both held her, I hadn’t been prepared for that reaction. She’d allowed us to cuddle her between us after her explosive orgasm, so sweet and trusting as she fell asleep in our arms. I’d assumed she’d wake up in the morning, and we could discuss everything over breakfast.

  We never should have left her alone in bed. She’d probably thought we’d abandoned her.

  That had been our mistake. I intended to rectify it right now.

  “Come sit with me, angel.” Joseph patted the mattress beside him. “We need to talk.”

  She hesitated, shooting me a shy glance.

  “All of us,” Joseph added more sternly.

  She crossed the room slowly, but she sat beside him on the bed. I wanted to join them, to wrap my arm around her and hold her close.

  But I couldn’t touch her. Not until I was sure she’d welcome me. If she cringed away from me now, it would tear me apart. I might damage things beyond repair if I pushed too hard. She had to be willing. She might be our captive, but I would never do anything to harm her or cause her distress.

  Joseph wasn’t as hesitant as I was. He reached out and took her hand in his. She stiffened, but she didn’t pull away.

  She still trusted him. She still cared for him.

  Something ached deep in my chest, but I ignored it.

  “You shouldn’t have run from us,” Joseph told her, his voice gentle despite the rebuke. “You got yourself hurt. And if you had gotten out of the estate, our enemies could have gotten their hands on you. We can’t allow that to happen.”

  “I can’t stay here,” she whispered, pained. “I just want to go back to school. I…” her voice hitched. “I don’t want to be here with you.”

  I could hear the lie in her strained tone, but I didn’t call her on it. We needed to handle this with finesse, so I’d let Joseph take the lead. He’d always been smoother than I was. I couldn’t help being blunt and saying exactly what I thought. If I opened my mouth, I’d warn her about the dangers she faced without us to guard her. That wasn’t what she needed to hear right now.

  “You can’t go back, angel,” Joseph said, soothing. “It’s too dangerous.”

  She stared at him, imploring. “I can’t stay here with you. You think… You don’t respect me. I never should have agreed to stay away from school. No one respects me anymore. I’m just a… a slut.”

  “I never want to hear you say that word again,” I growled, unable to hold back.

  She glanced my way, then quickly dropped her eyes.

  “Marco’s right,” Joseph said firmly. “Don’t use that word. You are not a slut. I respect you. Marco respects you. We care about you, Ashlyn. We want to be with you. Both of us.”

  Her brow furrowed. “But that… That’s wrong. I’m supposed to be with you, Joseph.”

  I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough that coppery blood spilled onto my tongue.

  “But you want to be with Marco, too,” he told her. “It’s okay. We want it to be this way. This is how it should be. You were made for us, angel. Both of us.”

  “I don’t understand,” she murmured, but her cheeks were pink with something other than shame.

  “Marco and I like to share. We’ve always been this way.”

  I remembered clearly how we’d fallen into this dynamic. Joseph and I had always shared a tight bond. I’d taken on the role of his protector when he was a scrawny kid, and I’d become responsible for him. He meant more to me than a brother, but I thought of him with similar affection I might feel for a younger sibling.

  I was five years older, and I’d been with my share of women by the time Joseph was ready to lose his virginity. He’d opened up to me about how nervous he was. He’d asked me for guidance. So, I’d provided it. In person.

  Telling him how to touch that woman to get her off had been the hottest experience of my life. It hadn’t taken long for us to start sharing in more extreme ways. Over time, Joseph had developed his tastes in his kinky toys, but I’d always been the one who was ultimately in charge.

  We might not engage with each other sexually, but Joseph was still mine. Mine to guide and protect. I’d always had his back, and it had killed me when he’d disappeared. During his time hiding out in Cambridge, I’d worried he was dead.

  That still stung a little, as did Ashlyn’s distance from me. She thought she was supposed to belong to Joseph because she’d been with him first.

  We had to make her understand that wasn’t how we worked.

  “My feelings about you haven’t changed because you kissed Marco,” Joseph told her. “I’m happy you want to be with him, too. Don’t you care for him?”

  “I…” She bit her lip against the admission. She still thought it was wrong, a betrayal to Joseph.

  “Tell us the truth,” he prompted in a deeper tone that made her shiver.

  “Yes,” she breathed.

  He trailed his fingers through her hair, and she leaned into his touch.

  “Look at Marco, and tell him how you feel.”

  Her sapphire eyes met mine. They were still dark with confusion, but she uttered the words that made my heart squeeze.

  “I care abo
ut you, Marco. I thought I was scared of you, but I’m not. Not really.”

  I nodded. “So, you understand? We both need you, Ashlyn. We’ll never get jealous or fight over you. We’re supposed to be together. The three of us.”

  “Don’t you want that, angel?” Joseph asked, coaxing.

  She nodded, still too shy to give voice to her secret longings.

  “I need to hear you say it,” I told her. “Tell us you want us.”

  She licked her lips. “I want you,” she whispered. “Both of you.”

  I finally allowed myself to close the distance between us. I wrapped my hand around her nape and bent down to crush my lips against hers. She was soft under my mouth, pliant. She shuddered and opened for me, welcoming me. I kissed her until she sagged into Joseph’s waiting arms.

  When she was trembling and gasping for breath, I finally released her.

  “I think it’s time to punish our naughty girl,” I told Joseph.

  “Past time,” he agreed.

  “What are you—” Before she could finish her question, Joseph had her over his lap.

  She tried to kick out, flailing in surprise more than struggling to be free. Joseph caught her wrists and pinned them at the small of her back before settling his other arm around the backs of her knees, effectively ending her struggles.

  “What are you doing?” she panted.

  I stepped in front of her so she could watch me unbuckle my belt. I took it off slowly, allowing the leather to whisper against my jeans.

  Her wide eyes fixed on my movements, and she licked her lips. My cock throbbed, but now wasn’t the time to explore the silky heat of her mouth.

  “You shouldn’t have tried to run away, princess,” I told her. “You put yourself in danger. You were hurt. We can’t allow that kind of behavior.”

  I doubled the belt over and touched the leather beneath her chin, lifting her face so she had no choice but to stare up into my eyes.

  “We’re going to punish you because we care about you. We care enough to correct your rash behavior. You want that, don’t you?”

  “I don’t want you to hurt me,” she said, her voice small.

  “This is going to sting, babygirl.” I wouldn’t lie to her. This was going to smart, and she’d be sore for a little while after. “You’re going to feel the heat of our discipline. I’m not going to beat you, but I am going to teach you a lesson.”

  Joseph peeled her pants down her thighs, exposing her pert ass. He dipped two fingers between her legs, testing her pussy.

  “You’re wet, angel,” he told her, his voice husky with his own lust. “You want Marco to punish you while I hold you down.”

  “But why?” she asked, her eyes tight with confusion. “I don’t understand why I’m like this. It’s wrong.”

  “It’s not wrong,” I countered firmly, increasing the pressure of the belt beneath her chin to keep her attention on me. “There’s nothing wrong about the connection we share. I’m going to give you five lashes for trying to run away from us. I think you’re ready for that. If you’re not, say the word now, and everything will stop.”

  She stared up at me, and I watched her emotions flicker over her lovely face: doubt, embarrassment, longing.

  She was ready.

  “Okay, babygirl. Take a deep breath.”

  She obeyed, and I withdrew the belt from her chin. I laid the leather flat on her exposed ass, letting her feel its cool caress. Joseph took a few more seconds to stroke her pussy, making her squirm.

  Our eyes met in silent communication, and Joseph nodded his agreement that she was prepared. He moved his hand out of my way and braced his arm behind her knees again. She was trapped, locked safely in place for my discipline. Joseph wouldn’t let her flinch or wiggle away, and I didn’t have to worry about any of my blows landing in the wrong place.

  I let the first lick fall, and the pop of the leather against her skin mingled with her sharp cry. A bright red line bloomed across her bottom, contrasting with her creamy flesh.

  “That hurt,” she gasped out, her voice catching.

  “It’s supposed to hurt, princess. You were a naughty girl, and you have to learn your lesson. Four more.”

  I let the second hit land, and she squealed. She jerked in Joseph’s arms, but he held her fast. I lashed her a third time, putting a little more force behind the belt. She didn’t make any sound at all for a second, then a long wail left her chest.

  “Just two more,” I told her smoothly, reassuring her. “You can cry if you need to.”

  A harsh sob made her small body shudder. The sight of her tears didn’t upset me. She needed this. She needed the correction, the attention, the affection. Because even though I was causing her a little pain, I was taking her in hand to protect her.

  I landed the last two lashes in quick succession, spreading out the sting. She shrieked, and her back arched as her muscles tensed for a moment. Then, she went limp against Joseph, her head dropping forward as her tears dripped down onto the sheets.

  I let my belt fall from my fingers and held out my arms. Joseph passed her to me, and I cradled her against my chest as I settled down on the edge of the bed. I cuddled her close and kissed the wetness on her cheeks. She didn’t shudder or shy away from me. She tucked her face against my neck, and her fingers curled into my shirt.

  Warmth expanded in my chest. I’d been right about her from the very beginning. Ashlyn might have given herself to Joseph a long time ago, but she was meant for me, too. She was mine. Ours.

  Our sweet little girl.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Ashlyn

  “Why did Joseph have to leave?” I asked as I sat down at the kitchen island. I winced when my sore bottom settled onto the padded stool, but the discomfort was accompanied by a rush of heat between my legs.

  I still didn’t understand why I was like this, and I’d wanted to talk to both of them more. But after my tears had dried, Joseph regretfully told me he had to leave me with Marco for the day.

  Just last week, the thought of being alone with Marco would have made me anxious. Now, he still made me a little nervous, but I craved more time with him. I wanted to understand him better. I wanted to understand what was happening between us better.

  Us. The three of us. Joseph, Marco, and me.

  I could still barely wrap my head around it. This was… Well, Marco had told me it wasn’t wrong. But it was certainly unconventional, to say the least.

  How could I have feelings for two men at the same time? And how could they possibly be okay with that?

  Marco had promised that they wouldn’t get jealous, that they wanted to be with me. At the same time.

  The memory of their hands holding me down—Marco kissing me while Joseph licked my pussy and fingered my ass—made me flush, and not with shame.

  I’d been a fool to try to run away without giving them the chance to explain. And even though my bottom smarted from Marco’s belt, I felt more centered and at peace than I had since I’d arrived at his estate. I’d spent weeks skirting around Marco, hiding behind Joseph. I’d told myself he frightened me, but I was actually scared of the dark chemistry we shared.

  I still didn’t fully understand it, but that didn’t change my feelings or the intensity of my sensual connection to both men.

  “Joseph’s father asked to meet with him,” Marco answered my question as he made his way to the refrigerator. “They need to talk business.”

  “Oh.” My heart sank a little. I couldn’t help caring for both Joseph and Marco, but the reminder that Joseph had other responsibilities shattered the illusion of my happy little reality. No matter what he wanted for his life, he was still part of the criminal underworld. And so was Marco.

  “What’s wrong, babygirl?”

  I blinked and focused on Marco again. I didn’t want to bring up their violent lifestyle, not when I knew there was nothing they could do about it. At least, not right now. Joseph had made it clear that he wanted out, that he
wanted to go back to Cambridge with me when the danger had passed. I hoped Marco would feel the same, because I didn’t want to leave him behind, either.

  “Why do you call me that?” I asked instead of telling him what was really bothering me.

  “Because you’re my girl, and I want to take care of you.”

  “Is that why…” I blushed, but I pressed on. “Is that why you want me to call you Daddy?”

  He nodded. “Exactly. I don’t just want you to be my girlfriend, Ashlyn. What I want is so much more than that: a deeper bond. I know this is new for you, but I want to show you what that means. I have a special day planned for us.”

  “What did you have in mind?” I fiddled with my fingernails, feeling suddenly nervous. So far, Marco had spanked me and whipped me with his belt. “Are you going to punish me again? Because I’m sorry for trying to run away. I really am.”

  “I know you are, princess. And no, I’m not going to punish you again. Not unless you decide to be very naughty. I know your bottom is sore right now, and I don’t want to discipline you again so soon. What I do want is to take care of you, in the way I need to. I want you to let me.”

  “But what does that mean?” I liked the idea of Marco taking care of me—his affection for me was like nothing I’d ever known. Joseph had been obsessed with me from the very beginning of our relationship. He’d wanted me to belong to him, to submit to him. I understood that now.

  But Marco wanted something different from me. Something dark and strange. Something that made me tremble, even as my entire body heated for him.

  “I’m your Daddy. I’ll show you what it means. All you need to do is be a good girl and do as you’re told.”

  “What if I don’t want to do what I’m told?”

  He gave me a lopsided grin that made my heart melt. How had it taken me so long to appreciate how handsome he was? Joseph might be gorgeous, but Marco possessed his own dark beauty.

  “You can pout all you want, princess. It’s adorable, but it won’t get you anywhere with me. You’ll do as you’re told, because it’ll make me happy. And you want to make Daddy happy, don’t you?”