ELLIOT
My heart hurts tonight.The truth I’ve wanted to deny has been tugging at my soul for weeks. Will is gone, and the confirmation of his death has gutted me in a way I should have been expecting. But really, is anyone ready to say goodbye to someone way too soon? I plod along toward our bedrooms, unsure if there’s any way in hell I’ll be sleeping tonight. I’ve been trying so damn hard to hide how badly I hurt, but it’s eating me up inside.
I take a moment to allow my gaze to roam over my guys. Kingston, Cannon, and Archer will be the ones who make me want to keep going instead of curling up into a ball and crying my eyes out. They each hold a piece of my heart, and I have a place in theirs, too.
Selfishly, I wish I’d had a chance to show Nick that I’m better off without him, that he was fuckingwrongwhen he put the thought in my head that no one else would ever love me. In fact, against all odds, I’ve found love with not one but three people. And unlike Nick, none of them require me to act like I’m something I’m not. With them, I never have to fake what I don’t feel. They accept me for me—good qualities, flaws, and all. And I love everything about them, too—the good, the bad, and even their ugly. From the misdirected blame Kingston puts on himself, the shame Cannon feels over a medical condition he can’t control, to the abuse Archer suffered at the hands of his stepbrother. Yet, despite all our individual issues, we’ve done nothing but show each other support and love, caring for each other in a way I know can’t be common. But it’s so very real, this thing I have with them.
Nick only ever cared about himself. I see that now. And I could continue with my inner monologue, but Nick’s gone forever, and I know I’m better off simply letting it go. I don’t want to waste any more time dwelling on him or our horrible excuse for a relationship. There will always be a dark place within me that he created and helped flourish, that voice telling me I’m unworthy.
And you know what I’ll say when it rears its ugly head?Fuck. You. Because I have three guys who remind me every day that I’m more than worthy of their love and attention and so much more.
Taking a deep, cleansing breath, I carefully put all the Nick bullshit in a tiny box in my head, lock it, and throw away the key. I’m done.
We’ve come to a stop in the hall outside our bedrooms. Crime scene tape crisscrosses my doorframe. Nothing horrific technically happened in there that I know of… but hours later, I’m ripe with anxiety over the idea that not only had Will’s medical alert bracelet been so close to me all this time, but for the last several weeks, I’ve been sleeping in the room of his killer. I’ll never go back in that room, crime scene tape or not.
Cannon collars the back of my neck, drawing me close, perhaps sensing my turmoil. He always seems to know what’s in my head without me having to tell him. He turns me to face him, then threads the fingers of his other hand through my hair, holding me where he wants me. “I get it,” he whispers roughly and places a careful kiss on my lips. And because he can hardly ever help himself, he sucks my lower lip into his mouth on a desperate moan.
Undeniable desire crashes through me, and I drag in a deep breath when Cannon releases my lip and stares into my eyes. The pad of his thumb brushes over my cheekbone, and his brows quirk up the tiniest bit over his bold blue eyes, silently asking me if I’m okay. Even though he sometimes talks to me now, I’m completely comfortable when he doesn’t. It’s such a part of him, I will never be mad about it again—because I know him. He speaks when it’s important, when he knows I need it. And right now, I really am okay.
Kingston opens Archer’s door without bothering to ask any of us, but honestly, he knows we need to be together tonight of all nights. I love the way he takes care of us. I cock my head to the side. I know he put a lot on himself today when they didn’t know where I was. He coordinated the efforts to find me, he led the careful charge into the basement. I saw the haunted look in his eyes when he spotted me tied to that chair with Zeke waving the gun and pointing it at me. I’m positive it ran through his head that he might lose me. I’ll make it up to him. We’ll heal, all of us—together.
Speaking of healing, I want nothing more than to soothe Archer’s pain and make sure he knows he never has to go back to his so-called family again. What happened to him is unfathomable, but hopefully being with us is enough to set his world back on its axis, where Damien had so carelessly shoved him off it.
I draw in a breath. These three, they make my heart so full.
Archer runs his hand through his already wild hair, his eyes zeroing in on my pink cheeks. His lips twitch up at the corners into a playful smirk, then winks at Kingston and gives Cannon a little nudge. The nonverbal communication among these three has always astounded me. Now, I can read them almost as well… and my body warms, awareness spreading through me that there’s no way we’re going straight to sleep. I will never get over the way these men want me.
Archer crooks his finger, beckoning me to him, a twinkle in his eye. “You tired, baby?”
I draw in a breath as Cannon and Kingston surround me and chew on my lip, considering how to answer. My heart begins to thrum faster at their perusal. “Um. No?”
Kingston huffs out a light laugh, leaning down next to my ear. “Are you worried that if you say you’re tired we’ll actually let you sleep?” His lips graze my shoulder. “Do you need us, Elle?”
I will always need them. I wet my lips and look up at him from beneath hooded eyes. “Maybe.”
“Tonight’s definitely all you, Peaches. I think it’s time we have some dessert. Come on.”
Dessert?I frown but follow as he leads the way into the room, not knowing exactly what he’s talking about.
Cannon chuckles quietly but lets Archer take my hand and lead me over to the windows on the far side of the room.
“If it gets to be too much, you tell us, okay?” Kingston catches his full lip between his teeth, looking me up and down. His eyes are bright with intensity. He tears his gaze from me, as if checking in with Archer and Cannon, a faint smile tipping the corners of his lips. The easy grins on both of their faces let me know I’m totally in for it, and possibly out of my depth. But one thing I know for sure, I’m willing to let them take me wherever they choose and do with my body whatever they like. I trust them wholeheartedly, without any misgivings whatsoever. Every piece of me belongs to them.
Kingston lifts the hem of my T-shirt and pulls it over my head at the same time Archer peels my boy shorts over my hips and ass. In no more than a blink, I’m naked before them. Kingston gives Cannon the nod, and he silently moves in, smacking me right on my ass. I suck in a breath, and my eyes seek out his. He points to the windowsill in front of me and gives me a tiny nudge, his hand to my shoulder. My brows dart together, and my eyes widen as he guides me until we’re looking out the window together. Then he proceeds to show me what he wants—my hands resting on the sill, bent in half with my ass in the air.Oh, god.A shudder of excitement moves through me as I stare out the window. I have no idea what the plan is, but I have no doubt all three of them are staring at my pussy. Just the thought of their eyes on me like this has me craving every single dirty thing they might have in mind.
Cannon grips my hip and places his other hand on my ass cheek. Just when I’m about to turn around, he delivers another smack that has me gasping for air.
“Good one,” Kingston grits out. I sense them moving around behind me and find that the anticipation of what they’ll do next heightens each of my senses.
Archer shifts over to my side, and I turn my head to see him palming his dick over his boxers. “You like that, Peaches?”
I nod, color rising on my cheeks as my arousal begins to seep from me. I feel it, but I wonder if they can see it. The thought has my vision clouding. Archer’s gray eyes are still trained on me when Cannon spanks me a third time. A whoosh of air escapes from between my lips. Kingston steps in on my other side, hand cupping the back of my head. “You like that, Elle?”
“Yeah,” I say raggedly.
And just as I answer, Cannon’s tongue dips inside me. Pleasure streaks through my body as he licks, and my knees buckle. Archer and Kingston are right there, though, holding me up when I can’t trust myself to stay on my feet. Cannon lets out a loud groan, squeezing both my ass cheeks in his hands as he opens me wider for better access. His tongue is everywhere, sending me into this place I’ve never been before, terrified that I’m going to black out or something.
I try to focus on a point outside the window, only to discover that if I look carefully, I can see what’s happening behind me in the reflection of the window. Oh, shit. That’s hot. Shallow intakes of air are all I can manage. I’m practically panting with how right this feels.
