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Wow, they’ve really committed to this. My heart thumps loudly, and I try not to cry.How did I get so lucky to have not one but two men willing to take such good care of me?

Not only do they both dote on me here at home, but they’ve made sure I’ve not missed college. They’ve given me time to study when all they want to do is fuck. Cooked all the meals when tests popped up. Now they’re going out of their way to make our engagement special.

Max makes sure my coat is zipped up all the way and my boots are on tight enough, then he grips my shoulders and steers me out the door.

“You’re eager to get rid of me,” I huff playfully.

“We’re definitely eager for something, baby.” Maddox follows us out and cups the back of my head, pulling me in for a long kiss that heats my core. When he pulls away, I lean toward Max, and he gives me the same treatment, fueling the fire inside me that will keep me warm while I’m out in the cold.

“Better get running, little whore, you have no clue what you’re in for this time.”

With an eager inhale of air, I turn on my heel and rush down the steps.

“Sweetheart,” Max calls to me. “You’re going to want to head toward the lake. The view when the sun hits the ice is really something.”

I savor a final glance at my two big men dressed in matching black winter gear. Huh. It’s not that often they dress identically anymore.

Max has his hands thrust into the pockets of his pants, his face stern, but with a softness only I can spot. His eyes hold a darkness that hides so many lust-filled promises and makes my blood sing for him.

Maddox grins and runs his tongue along his top teeth like he’s imagining tasting me. He leans casually against the doorframe, not a care in the world, but the tension in his pose tells me he’s ready to pounce.

I run, knowing I have the safety of them right on my heels and the certainty of more taboo desires coming to life when they catch me.

CHAPTER 3

VIOLET

The only sounds on the trail are my heavy breaths and the snow crunching beneath my boots. No sign of any stalkers yet. I’d say I wish I worked out more so this wasn’t so difficult, but screw that. The only workout I need is when I’m squatting over my stepbrothers’ dicks.

It’s still hard not to think of them that way. Our parents are divorcing, so soon enough, there’ll be no legal ties between us. In a way, I’ll miss it. That bond is what brought us together. It also broke us apart. But I’ve accepted every part of what it means to love and be loved by them.

A disturbance in the snow to my right brings me out of my thoughts, and I stop in my tracks. I ran out of speed a few yards back so Max and Maddox could have easily caught up. That’s what I’ve been hoping for anyway.

Looking around, nothing seems to be out of the ordinary. The tall, snowcapped trees are the only figures looming over me.

There’s another sound, a rustling this time. I quickly turn to its location, almost tripping over my clumsy feet as I do. I expect to see the guys behind me, but they’re not there. The sound doesn’t stop, though.

Keeping quiet, I slowly move toward a large holly bush where the noise seems to be coming from. My guys could easily be lurking behind it.

To stop myself from laughing over getting the upper hand on them, I bite my tongue and suppress my victorious smile. In my head, I count to three, then rush around to the back of the bush.

“Oh!” I gasp breathlessly as a little winter hare jumps out from beneath it. “Hey, cutie.” I squat down as it stares motionlessly up at me. Its ears twitch when a large shadow suddenly covers the snow around us.

“Cutie? You’ve never called us that,” a distorted voice mocks.

“Careful you don’t make us jealous.” An identical voice joins in.

The hare bounds off as I turn to face the familiar yet strange voices.

Two figures in black stand over me. Their faces obscured by grinning, yellow neon masks. The same masks that I’ve not seen for months, except for in my wildest nighttime fantasies. My pussy throbs from the memories of what those masks brought to my doorstep the last time I saw them.

“You’re teaming up to catch me? I thought you would have been working against each other.” I attempt to act casual as I stand, but end up swallowing nervously at our height difference. It’s nothing new, but when two creepy masks are hovering above me, it’s more noticeable than usual.

They’re both standing with their backs straight and their hands in their pockets, making it hard to tell them apart. Until the one on the right cocks his head.

“You have to actually catch me if you want to do anything,Max.” Feeling pleased with myself, I smirk at him, and take a sneaky step back.

The other one tilts his head, and they once again become identical statues staring silently at me.