Page 50 of Revenge & Truth

He shook his head. “Not tonight. I need you to believe me when I tell you I’m in this for more than your sexy body. So, I’ll end this night with a kiss and a promise that next time our evening will end with you naked and moaning in my bed.”

I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him to me as he held me by the hips. His kiss was like torture, promising me all that he described, but I knew this wasn’t going to end that way. I was thankful my dress wouldn’t allow me to hook a leg around his hip, drawing him closer so I could grind my pussy against him.

Jace was right—we needed to prove to each other we weren’t in this for just the sexual chemistry that sparked between us.

With a final sweet kiss goodnight, Jace left, not even trying to hide the boner that tented his pants.

Chuckling to myself, I retreated inside, taking a moment to lean against the door like the smitten fool I was.

seventeen

When I entered my bedroom, I found Ryker under the covers working on his laptop with Atticus on the opposite side already asleep. Pausing at the sight, I wasn’t sure what to make of it. “Hi.”

He looked over at me with a smile appearing on his face. “Damn, you look amazing, Tin-Tin.”

“Thank you,” I said, still slightly confused. “I really don’t mean to sound like a bitch, but why are you in my bed?”

Ryker flinched at the question and grabbed the covers, tossing them back. “Fuck, I’m sorry. I’ll head back to my room. I knew I shouldn’t have taken Atticus seriously when he said you didn’t care if we slept here with you.”

Taking a second to go over the conversation with Atticus, I saw right away where he’d taken what I said literally. “Ry, stop,” I ordered, walking over to block his exit. “He’s not wrong. I just didn’t consider the fact he’d choose to do this when I wasn’t even home. I told him both of you are welcome in my bed anytime, and I meant it. This is on me. I need to adjust to the fact I’m in a relationship with seven men and understand what that means.”

Ryker let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders relaxing. “You’re not the only one who needs to remember there are more people involved in this than just me. Atticus was reading in your bed when I got here, and it made me feel the need to prove I belonged here too. What I should have done is texted you to see if you were up for it after your date.” He paused for a moment, his eyes going wide with some realization. “Oh fuck, you were on a date.”

“Yes, I was,” I agreed, waiting to see what other revelations might occur to him.

“Astin, I’m so sorry. Did we ruin things for you being here? Goddamn, why didn’t I consider you and Jace would come back here and want to be alone?” Ryker muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose.

I reached out, pulling his hand away from his face so he could look at me. “Ry, it’s fine. Jace decided that tonight he was going to prove a point and dropped me off at my room with a goodnight kiss. He has no idea that either of you was in here, not that he should have a problem with it if he did since this is bound to happen. As you said, this is new for all of us, so it’s going to take a few awkward situations for us to figure it out. We’ll deal with it tomorrow. Right now, I want to change into my pajamas and snuggle up with you two.”

Ryker leaned in, brushing his nose along mine before kissing me sweetly. “Sounds good to me, love.”

With a smile, I stepped into my closet, kicked off my shoes, stripped out of my clothes, and selected a set of cream silk sleep shorts and tank top. Then I remembered the full face of makeup I was wearing and stomped out toward the bathroom. However, before I could get more than two steps, Ryker appeared with a pack of makeup wipes.

“Figured you might want these,” he said in answer to my surprised look. “Tin-Tin, do you really think I’d forget how you made me swear that, no matter how drunk or tired you were, I was never to let you go to sleep with makeup on.”

My heart melted into a puddle on the floor at the gesture. “Thank you, Ry.”

Grabbing my hand, he tugged me toward the bed and pulled back the blankets gesturing for me to climb in. Once settled, I cleaned off my face and threw my hair in a messy topknot. Ryker took the dirty wipes and the pack from me as he kissed my cheek. There was something about this whole situation that felt like the picture of domestic bliss, and it was amazing yet also terrifying at the same time.

Atticus rolled over to face me, some of his blond hair falling in his face. I couldn’t help but smile at how cute he was sleeping, his face so relaxed and peaceful. I gently brushed my fingers through this hair, clearing it from his face before I kissed him. “Goodnight, Atty,” I whispered.

His eyes cracked open, and he let out a contented hum before wrapping his arms around me. “You’re finally back. I missed you, Asta,” Atticus mumbled as he snuggled his face against my chest.

I chuckled, knowing he was still pretty much asleep and probably didn’t know what he was saying. “Asta, is that my new nickname?”

“Mm-hmm… it’s a rule boyfriends give their girlfriends a term of endearment or nickname. I like the way Asta sounds… it’s pretty like you,” Atticus shared. “Now sleep. You have an important weekend ahead.”

“He’s right. We can’t have you off your game,” Ryker agreed, kissing my shoulder as he settled behind me. “You’re the only one who can make this all go away and bring Luca home. That means it’s our job to ensure you’re taking care of yourself, so rest easy, knowing we’ve got your back.”

While that sentiment should have been motivation to do as they suggested, my brain decided to go over the plans in extreme detail. Even with the deep, even sound of the two men sleeping next to me, I struggled to do the same. It wasn’t until I was so exhausted my body gave me no choice but to succumb to the weariness enveloping me in blissful darkness and quiet.

The guys weren’t happy I decided to skip breakfast, but I needed some time to myself before facing the day. While I slept deeply once I managed to finally get to sleep, I felt oddly drained and slightly anxious.

Glenda appeared at my door with a tray of food and coffee she left on my desk without questioning my mood. It was a blessing to have her in my life, having grown up with her by my side and having experienced my bouts of anxiety on many occasions previously.

I started to go over the blueprints with the added information Ivy gave us, but my attention wasn’t focused on that problem. Instead, it drifted to the fact I’d be in the same room with people who’ve been trying to destroy everything my father slaved to build. The comment Ivy made over the new CEO played on a loop as I stared off into the distance.

Pulling up a search on my computer, I typed in Byklyn Ventures Inc. Various articles appeared, noting the change in CEO but never mentioned the man’s name. On the fourth page of searches, I spotted a small article from a blogger in Nepreea which had me clicking faster than a shoe sale. Scanning the article, it looked like a conspiracy website about the criminal powers within their country. What got me to believe this person might be right was the fact he mentioned Domenico De Santis conducted a board meeting in the dead of night. The next morning, he was the CEO of Byklyn Ventures Inc., marking this his first step in a hostile takeover to remove his grandfather.