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“Let’s go home, Kitten,” Julian says happily.

Eleven

Eliza

When we get home,I go upstairs and change into an oversized shirt and knit shorts before I go down to the kitchen and start dinner. I decide on blackened chicken Alfredo with homemade sauce and a Caesar salad with homemade dressing. I’ve always enjoyed cooking, but I never got a chance to cook what I like with Troy. He was always commenting about the number of calories and how I didn’t need to get fatter. I am choosing to do everything he hated. I’m going to eat the food he said would make me fat and I’ll wear the clothes he made fun of me for wearing. I will live my life in spite of him, and I’m going to be happy.

Once I have music playing, I focus on cooking and block out the world. I know the guys are in here watching me, but I don’t pay them any attention. By the time I am plating food, arms wraparound my waist and a gentle kiss lands on my neck. “It looks incredible, Liza,” Calder says sweetly.

“I hope you like it,” I say, turning to face him.

“Go sit down. I’ll bring the plates,” he says, kissing me again.

“This is nice,” I say. “The affection. I didn’t realize how much I needed it.”

“Good. There is a lot more coming your way, Kitten,” he says with a warm smile. When I step past him, I go to walk past Julian, but he hooks his arm around my waist and pulls me in front of him. His hand comes up to cup my cheek, and I can see it on his face that he wants to kiss me. He’s trying, but he’s scared. I smile softly before going up on my tiptoes and gently kissing him.

“Thank you,” he says quietly, kissing me a second time.

When I sit down at the dining room table, Calder sets my plate in front of me before they take a seat at the table too. For a while we eat in silence, and I can tell they’re enjoying their meal based on hardly breathing between bites. They glance up at me occasionally to grin but say nothing. When they sit back and push their empty plates away.

“Enjoy it?” I ask, taking a bite of my salad.

“That was incredible. I’m going to need you to cook more often,” Julian says happily.

“Why, is it the woman’s job to cook?” I ask.

“What? No. Liza, no. I just…”

“I’m kidding,” I laugh. “I like cooking. I didn’t do it often because Troy spent more time calling me fat and judging me than eating.”

“I’m sorry if I…”

“Juli,” I say softly. “I know you know what a joke is. You don’t have to walk on eggshells. Tell me to shut the fuck up and kiss me if I argue. It’s okay.”

“You’re right,” he sighs.

I stand and gather the plates after I take my last bite and walk them to the kitchen. As I start washing everything, Calder steps behind me and places his hands on the counter to either side of me. “What’s up?” I ask.

“I’m warning you because I think it’s only right,” he says. “You have two options. I can bend you over this counter and fuck you to tears, or you can come upstairs where I can still fuck you to tears, but you can play with Julian, too.”

“Such a good boy doing your homework for Ryan,” I muse. When he smacks my ass, I squeal and push my hips back on him.

“Go upstairs, get undressed, and put Julian where you want him.”

“Are you going to fuck your best friend?” I ask.

“Unless you think he has earned more,” Calder says. “I’ll help you dominate him. Go.”

“Yes, sir,” I giggle. I turn, and he steps back. I grin at Julian, and he chuckles softly. “Come on, Juli.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he says coolly.

Julian and I go upstairs, and I do what I am told by getting undressed before turning to Julian. “You look nervous,” Julian remarks as he looks over my body.

“I don’t know how to dominate. I don’t want to mess it up,” I say.

“Baby steps,” he says. “What do you want me to do?”