She took the medication.
It’s my first thought as the doorknob twists beneath my grip. It opens silently, and River and Kai follow me inside.
The three of us spread out without speaking, each of us silently drinking her in. Briar’s chest rises and falls in the soft light of the amber glass lamp beside the bed, the glow illuminating the faint sheen of her golden skin against the sheets. The emerald-green silky sleepwear set she’s chosen from the selection glimmerslike the real thing, offering me yet another image I know I’ll be considering often.
I want to see her draped in emeralds and nothing else. In an emerald fucking crown, the jewels nestled against her dark hair.
She looks like a queen, and yet so fucking innocent at the same time. There’s a slight rosiness to her cheeks, the room warm enough that one lithe golden leg is wrapped around the outside of the sheets, already tangled.
My fist curls to stop me reaching out as I take in the way her dark hair fans out against the pillow, silky strands perfectly tousled. Exactly how I imagined her.
Better.
It’s an effort to wrest my eyes away, but I look at the camera in the corner of the room. A small red light blinks back at me. Tomorrow morning, she’ll wake and watch this back. Watch us, with her.
She has nothing to be concerned about. But the words slip out, wanting to give her that reassurance, remembering that small, whispered worry the first time we met. “You look fucking perfect in our bed, Briar Rose. Better than I could have imagined.”
There’s a hoarseness to my voice that I didn’t expect, and River murmurs his agreement. Even Kai makes a noise, the sound pulled from deep in his throat.
They take the chairs set out, our plans already agreed and shaped by Briar’s preferences.
One at a time, for this first time. A little crossover, but not much.
And in this moment, I’m fucking grateful for it. Grateful to be the man who gets to touch her first. I throw a smirk over my shoulder, and River rolls his eyes at me. “Possessive bastard.”
Yes. It sends a small slither of worry down my spine, but I shove it away as I approach her. Her skin is warm to the touch,silky smooth as I press my fingers to her pulse and check the steadiness.
“She’s alright?”
I nod in response to River’s question. Our little acquisition is fine. Her dose was perfectly calculated, her breathing even as I stand over her, debating my options.
She’s spread out before me like a buffet. And I get to decide where to start.
I get to touch her however I want, withoutfear. Knowing that no hands will reach for me. No cold lips will press to mine—
My eyes catch on her face, sliding away before they move back. Carefully, I brush my fingers down her cheek. Run them over her lips, tracing the plumpness before slipping my thumb inside. Her mouth is hot and damp, and my breathing speeds up as I watch my fingers disappear inside before I pull them out and repeat the action.
For the first time, I wonder if perhaps I’d be able to handle Briar kissing me.
But that’s not a thought for now.
All the while, she lays there. Unaware. Helpless. Vulnerable.
And in this moment, all fucking mine.
My cock turns to fucking stone, even as the trust she’s placed in us threatens to overwhelm me.
We’re all here. River and Kai will step in if it looks like I’ll break any boundaries, even unintentionally.
I move to the bottom of the bed before climbing on. Taking my time, I nudge her onto her back, listening to her steady breathing as I reach out and run a finger down her throat, between her breasts. Her nipples peak beneath the fabric as I brush the pads of my fingers over them. Hard little nubs, her body betraying her even in sleep.
My groan vibrates against her skin as I lean down and suck one into my mouth through the green silk, running my teeth over it until it’s completely stiff and I move to the other.
Moving up, I use my time wisely, exploring every inch of her skin with my lips the way I’ve thought about for days. Planned out with military precision, not to waste a second, or an inch. The hollow of her throat has the faintest taste of salt, and I drink it down like the greedy fucker I am, my hand sliding down to her hip and gripping the top of her thigh. My hips thrust against the soft barrier of her underwear, and I push onto my knees, sliding my sweatpants down and shifting until I can kick them off onto the floor.
My eyes raise up to the camera as I grip my cock and stroke it. Once, twice, kneeling over Briar like a man ready to worship.
It’s easier, with her asleep. The memories stay back as my breathing speeds up, and I tug on the ribbon holding the material in place over her breasts. “Prettiest gift I ever saw.”
