by Donn, KL
“Ari,” Ares gasps and rushes over.
Without thought, he climbs in the bed beside me and pulls me into his chest. Closing my eyes, the feel of his pounding heart is soothing in a way that I need. The steady pulse beating through him helps to center me.
“Matthew, you’re safe,” I whisper, and he doesn’t freeze like I suspected he might. I know he doesn’t believe he’s Matthew anymore, but he’s so much more to me.
“Thanks to you.” The warmth of his lips along my neck and jaw until they capture my mouth, is soothing.
Once he’s got me, though, he doesn’t let go. Nipping my lower lip until I open to his perusal, he turns my body fully into his, and my core heats up.
The danger has passed.
We can try and be a real couple now.
Asher slides in behind me and rubs his hands along my body as he bites along my shoulder. I can hardly breathe as they assault my flesh so deliciously.
“Ahem.” Interrupted, I slowly open my eyes to see my father standing there. His gaze is a stormy dark cloud ready to explode.
“Daddy,” I whisper, refusing to be embarrassed or ashamed of how I feel about Matthew and Asher. They’re mine, and I’m theirs. Nothing is going to change that.
“Oh, darling!” Mom cries as she comes rushing forward, completely ignoring what they caught us doing as she pushes both men out of her way to embrace me.
Being wrapped in my mother’s arms brings me the healing I need. “I’m so sorry about Calli. She will always live on in our memories.” For our entire lives, my mom has always mothered my friend as well, so her own sadness at the loss isn’t shocking.
“I know, Mom. It’s hard to imagine life without her.” The tears I’ve been trying to hold back fall steadily down my cheeks as she pulls me back in for another hug, trying to console me.
I’m hit with all my emotions at once, and I can feel the air shift as Matthew and Asher leave the room with my dad, giving us a few moments to mourn the loss of such an important person in our lives.
“Oh my,” she sniffles, pulling back, wiping her tear-stained cheeks while handing me a tissue from the shelf beside my bed. “I’m grateful, though, for everything she did for us, for you. Callista always did right by you.”
“Yeah, but I wish she hadn’t this time.”
“No, don’t say that. I couldn’t have lived through losing you, Arianna. Neither could your father.” I shrug. I don’t know what to say; I can’t find that same gratitude.
Nodding instead, I look out the window. The same window Callista and I spent so many nights sitting in and dreaming of the future. Making plans. Joking. Laughing. Watching the world go by as we were stuck here, in a tower, because I was cursed.
“I think…” I clear my throat because what I’m about to say is not going to be well received. “I think I need to leave for a little while.”
Staring down at my mother’s hand holding mine, the wait for her to respond is excruciating. “You want to leave?” She’s confused.
“I need to find myself. I need to explore some of the world. I need to grieve and not be reminded daily of Callista everywhere I turn.”
“You can’t go alone.”
“I wouldn’t be. I would have Matthew and Asher. It’s us, now, Mom. The three of us. We’re one, and my soul feels complete with them. My heart sings when they’re in the same room, and when they’re not, I miss them terribly. I need to do this.” I hope she understands.
“Your father and I will talk about it.” Which usually means no. The trouble is, I’m eighteen and don’t need their permission.
Acquiescing for now, I lay back down and turn my back to her, staring out the window once again. If they want me to rule Graeline one day, I need to be able to explore other lands. See how others live.
Leaving isn’t a question of permission, more of an inevitability.
Ares
“You’re close to her,” King Stefan says as we enter his office after leaving Arianna with her mother.
“She’s ours,” I correct, sitting down in a chair across from his desk as Asher leans against the window facing a garden.
“She’s a child.” He drops roughly into his chair, a fierce glare in his eyes.
“Actually,” Asher chimes in, “she’s legally an adult. She can make her own choices.”
Silence greets him as Stefan absorbs the facts. There’s nothing this man can say or do to convince us otherwise. We’ve spent days discussing Arianna and what we want for the future.
We know she needs to heal. Mentally and physically. Whatever happens, however, we’ll be by her side no matter what.
Up until these past few weeks, I never believed in soulmates, love, any of that shit, but with her, I can see it, feel it, fucking taste it. And I’ll be damned if I allow some stubborn king to take it away from me.
“Arianna has a country she needs to prepare to rule.” His arguments mean nothing.
“We’d never try to stop that from happening. We’re here for it all. The good, the bad, and the ugly,” I tell him, leaning back in my chair, feigning relaxation when I’m tense and ready to strike.
“How would we explain her relationship with two men? That is too much. If it were just one of you”—his gaze wanders to Asher—“I’d say yes. But both? No. It can’t happen.”
“I’ve killed for less.” My calm words make him pale. “I’m just fucking with you. Arianna is everything to us. Any kill I’ve made previously means nothing compared to what I would…will do for her.” Threatening a king may not be the smartest choice I’ve ever made, but he needs to realize exactly what she means to us.
“He’s not going to kill you,” Asher snaps. I quirk a brow in challenge. “His point is, you asked for us to come here, to help your country, because of an impetuous action you took eighteen years ago. We’ve done our job; we’ve also happened to fall in love with the most enigmatic woman either of us has ever known along the way. Arianna needs us every bit as much as we need her.”
“They’re right.” Our love’s soft tone washes over me, and instantly, I feel calm.
“Baby,” I growl, jumping to my feet. Asher and I both rush to her side. “You shouldn’t be out of bed.” She ignores my scolding even as she leans into our touch. Embracing our strength.
“Because of their determination and Callista’s sacrifice, we’re free. For the first time in nearly two decades, our lands are clear from hate and evil. Contentment abounds, and if you’ll listen outside for five minutes, you will hear it. Feel it even. Our lands are healed because of them, and now, it’s time the three of us are allowed to enjoy what we’ve worked so hard to overcome.”
“You can’t know this is what you want. They’re more than a decade older than you.” He tries to reason, but she only shakes her head.
“There are so many reasons why they’re perfect for me, but Father, the only one that should matter is that they love me, and they’ve proved it every day since I challenged Asher on the phone.”
Feeling her energy drain as she slumps into my frame, I pick her up and sit in the chair I vacated, holding her close to my chest. “Rest, baby.”
“I need to leave, Father.” Her statement is punctuated by a deep breath rattling her chest as silent tears begin to track down her cheeks.
“What do you mean, leave?” Puzzled, Stefan sits forward as his wife enters the office.
“She wants to leave Graeline. I told her we would discuss it.”
“But you always say no. I’m not asking permission this time. I’m going home with Matthew and Asher, and I’ll return when I feel ready. If you wish for me to fulfill my legacy, and, one day, rule Graeline, I need to experience other cultures.” When we met this girl, she showed us her backbone. She gave Asher and me hell whenever she liked but seeing her stand up for herself to her parents is a true thing of beauty.
“We’ll take care of her,” my friend says as he stands behind us, one hand stroking through Ari’s downy blonde hair, the other o
n my shoulder. We’re one unit now, and we need to present a united front.
Birds can be heard chirping from outside as the sun shines brightly through the window. The simplicity of it holds such meaning now. Life can be seen and heard from the villagers below, and I think that’s why the king agrees to his daughter’s request.
“I want weekly phone calls.”
“Done,” I agree.
“I want pictures and videos. I want to see my daughter exploring the lands she so desperately seeks.”
“Done.”
“I want you all to come back and visit in two months’ time. We’ll re-evaluate where everything stands then.”
“Thank you, Father.”
I can feel the heavy burden release from her shoulders.
19
Asher
One Week Later.
I’ve been nervous about very little in my life. I could probably count on one hand how many times, but today could be the trigger to many more nerve-racking days.
“You sure about this, baby?” I ask Arianna again. I’m sure, Ares is sure, she’s fucking eager. We’ve been home in Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia—a small tourist town about an hour outside D.C.—for five days now, and while I’ve been focused on getting Arianna settled, Ares has been prowling the property like a caged animal. And Arianna? She’s been begging us to finish what we started in that dungeon hell.
We denied her. Fuck did we try to deny her. But the desire we both have not only to protect her but satisfy her, as well, is just as strong. We want to give her the world. We also want to explore what we began to discover in Ireland with her, together, as a trio.
The explicit eroticism of whipping her drove me with a hunger I hadn’t realized I possessed. And I want more. This is a tenacious woman looking to kneel before her men, and we aim to satisfy that curiosity in all of us.
“I’m positive, Asher.” Her seductress voice and nude body strapped to the padded table in front of us is all I need.
Ares is sitting in a chair a few feet to the side of her, watching her face for any indication of distress.
Picking up the flexible leather whip I bought yesterday, just for this occasion, I glide the buttery soft material from her foot to her hip and stop short of her back. The bruising gives me pause until she raises her ass in the air, silently asking me to continue.
Stepping back from the table, I flick my wrist a couple of times to loosen it up and raise my arm, watching as the soft leather comes down quickly across her lower back.
“Harder,” she whispers.
I gaze up at Ares who has leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees as he watches her with rapt attention. When he gives me a nod, I do it again, the tail always hitting the table because I don’t want it to split her skin.
The perfectly lined red marks across her lower back climb upwards, causing my heart to race and blood pumps directly to my cock. Never did I imagine hurting a woman—let alone the one I want to spend my life with—would turn me on so passionately. It’s about more than leaving a mark on her; it’s Arianna’s trust in us.
Slowly working back down her body, I crack the whip a little harder as I get to the fleshiness of her voluptuous ass. Her earthy moans fill the room as I continue my descent down her body to the middle of her thighs. Ruby marks cover her from shoulder blade to thigh, and it’s like a fucking piece of art. She should be photographed and framed in art galleries across the world. This woman is gorgeous on any given day, but to see the imperfections I’ve christened her with because she asked, makes me appreciate her a hell of a lot more.
“Nice work,” Ares says as he stands and prowls closer. Touching her heated flesh, his fingers trail down her body until he reaches her unmarred skin, and an enticing shiver wracks her from head to toe.
“Now it’s my turn,” my friend growls as he releases his survival knife from its holster at his side.
Popping the blade open, he slices through the ropes holding Arianna in place, and together, we gently roll her over to her back.
A fresh canvas for Ares to create his own masterpiece.
Ares
I’ve been different my entire life. Better at causing pain than offering comfort. When I met Arianna, I had an immediate reaction to her. Not just because she was beautiful or something conquerable, but because I felt her energy deep in my blood. She was always meant to be ours.
Hurting her in Ireland had never been part of the plan, but I can’t deny it awoke something in me. And finding that she enjoyed it as much as we did, is like icing on the cake. I can’t imagine not making her bleed now. Not seeing her flesh marked by us would be a sin.
Lifting her arms above her head, Apollo grabs hold of them, gripping her rib cage as she wraps them around his head. Peeling my shirt off, I climb onto the table and kneel between her legs.
Immediately, my senses are assaulted by her womanly essence. It’s that scent that drives every man wild. Her way of letting us know that she’s enjoying everything we do to her tonight. Her dewy lower lips are covered in light blonde curls, screaming with her innocence, and I can’t wait to dive into her body again.
“No words. Nod yes or no,” I instruct as I lift her thighs, so her feet are flat on either side of me.
Placing my open blade on her belly, I glide my hands along her body, memorizing every dip, each curve, all the imperfections and everywhere in between. As my fingers caress her hip, she nods and shivers again.
Whisking the blade off her body, I bring it down to where my hand just was, tilt it sideways and leisurely caress her flesh with it. A bright red line follows, not quite breaking the skin but leaving enough of an imprint to be visible for a few days.
Apollo brushes her temple with a soft kiss before asking quietly, “Does it hurt?”
Her eyes close as she answers. “It burns, but it brings sweet euphoria to my body. Is that weird?”
Bending down, I lick from her pubic bone to her belly button before biting the small bit of flesh and shake my head no. “It would be weird if you didn’t act on your desires. We’re just here to be your servants.” I wink as I sit up.
“Servants, huh?” Her eyes roam our positions before she smarts off. “Seems to me I’m the servant since I’m the one being tied down and whipped.”
Shaking my head, I continue my journey. Running the blade across the side of her ribs, she nods, and I do the same as before. Tilt the knife and stroke her flesh like the kitten she is. Tiny beads of blood dot along the wound this time, but not enough to drip down her skin.
Apollo grabs a cloth from the table beside him and dabs at the cut. As he pulls it away, she’s already stopped bleeding.
“You really are the perfect canvas.” My eyes lazily peruse her body as a blush breaks out across her neck and climbs to her cheeks. Even partaking in dirty and depraved delights, she’s still filled with naïve innocence.
Lowering her gaze, Arianna wonders, “How can you be so sweet while still being so dark?”
“It’s you, baby,” Apollo utters in her ear. “It’s always been you.”
It will always be her.
Arianna
I burn, sting, throb, pulse. Every sensation crashes through my system like a tidal wave, and I crave more.
Asher with the whip left me breathless and pleading for more.
Matthew with his knife had me on the edge of ecstasy with every moment of pain.
These two men were brought to me at a time when I was about to lose everything important in my life. They didn’t just rescue Graeline and my people, they saved me from a sure death that would have been catastrophic. And even though I’m still processing Callista’s passing and her absence in my life, they make me feel loved and cherished more than I ever have before. I’ve found peace within their arms, and I couldn’t have asked for more from my warriors but their desire to lavish me with a pleasure I would never have known I needed if not for my abduction and imprisonment in that hellhole. Although hesitant at first, they do it with a
skill and precision I admire and desire.
“I’ve waited my entire life for Prince Charming,” I whisper to them as their hands slowly glide across my tingling flesh.
“Prince Charming?” I hear the humor in Matthew’s voice. He is anything but charming.
“Yes. I never imagined I’d get two. I could have lost everything, and I was willing to, but you both brought me back. You gave me purpose when I felt lost.” My eyes close when Matthew’s grip on my hips slides my lower body up his thighs, so my core rests against his hardness.
“That so?” His husky voice against my stomach makes me quake.
“Absolutely. One day, I want to rule my country. I want to lead them into the new ages, and I would really like the two of you to do it at my side. As my equals.” I hold my breath, waiting for them to digest what I’ve asked.
“As your equals?” Asher repeats. “As kings.” I nod my head. “That’s a big gig, baby.” I can’t read the tone of his voice, so I open my eyes and tilt my head to meet his gaze.
I needn’t have worried because his eyes are bright with approval. He wants it, but I can tell he’s waiting on Matthew.
“We’d be honored, princess.” Matthew’s assured tone makes my heart sing.
“Make love to me,” I beg. We have years before I’m set to rule Graeline, and in that time, I plan to marry these men of mine, explore the world, and learn all I can about being the best leader I can be to my people.
But first, I need them.
Their heat.
Their love.
Every dark desire the three of us can think of.
“Whatever you command, my queen,” Asher agrees as he stands and pulls me gently off the table. Carrying my languid body to our bed, he places me down as Matthew comes over with silk ties.
“I kind of like you tied up.” He winks again, and butterflies burst through my belly.