Page 10 of Bound by Them (Rose and Dagger #1)

Danica

T he truth is, I don’t hate him. And the way he asked me to say it over and over again only made it clearer.

I don’t hate Edmund Layton.

But I should.

He’s a rich prick. And he’s part of a crime family that has historically hated my own. If it wasn’t hard enough learning that my granddad is the head of a crime family, it was even harder when Dmitri told me the Laytons are our sworn enemies.

I should hate Edmund. Troy, too. And yet…

then I’ll know if it sounds different when my tongue is teasing your clit .

Holy hippos in a hamster wheel. My mind flashes back to that night, over a week ago.

The way his fingers pressed against me, into me.

Even now, he rubs a finger over one of my knuckles as if it were my clit.

And I feel it there . As if he’s touching me intimately.

With every circle of his fingertip on my knuckle, an insistent thrum grows between my legs.

“Do you hate me, Danica?” Edmund’s voice is a whisper, but it’s all I can hear.

I scramble to come up with the right answer. Do I hate him? I don’t. But it’s not like I can tell him that.

We pull into a parking garage. This is their building. Like last time I came here with Troy, we bypass the public elevator and use a private one, protected with a code. Troy’s body blocks the keypad as he punches in the numbers. By design, probably.

I am the enemy, after all.

The elevator looked big enough until the three of us stepped inside. Now it feels tiny. These two men are larger than life, taking up all the space. It’s hard to breathe without inhaling their sharp, clean scents.

Edmund takes my hand again. And again, my pussy throbs in response. I squeeze my thighs together, trying to relieve the wanton ache.

Edmund leans down and rasps in my ear, “I’m going to kiss you.”

“The absolute nerve .” Yet I feel myself melting. Maybe it’s pheromones. Freaky fucktastic pheromones. Because the idea of a kiss with Edmund? And…maybe with Troy? It’s doing all kinds of things to my body.

As if he can read my thoughts, Edmund smiles. “If you want me to kiss you, tell me again that you hate me.”

There’s absolutely no question in my mind. “I hate you?—”

His mouth covers mine in a kiss so scorching, it’s a wonder the elevator doesn’t burst into flames. I cling to his shoulders and kiss him back, parting my lips and sending my tongue forward to seek his. He sucks at me greedily, then thrusts his tongue alongside mine.

The elevator chimes softly, breaking the moment. I pull back, embarrassed, only to find Troy staring openly at me with a heated gaze.

I want to kiss him, too. I don’t know what’s come over me.

I want them both .

No. Impossible.

But a tiny voice in the back of my head whispers, Yes. Possible.

Edmund smiles and tugs me out of the elevator with him. Troy follows us. I turn around to look at him. How can he look so calm? And how can Edward look so carefree? My heart is hammering a thousand times a second. My panties are soaked, and they’re getting wetter with every step I take.

We’re back in their penthouse. Troy flicks a lightswitch and soft, muted lamps illuminate the room.

“Hungry?” Edmund asks.

I shake my head.

“And you’re sober?”

“Yes.” I love that he’s asking again.

“Can you swim?”

“Can I swim ?”

He waits.

I laugh, feeling awkward. “Yeah. I can swim.”

He and Troy pull off their shirts and toss them to the couch. Damn, they’re gorgeous. Troy walks to the large picture window and hits another light switch. The lights in the living room go off, and a soft, blue-green outdoor light comes on.

I gasp.

Beyond the window is a massive balcony, complete with a pool. A glass barrier separates it from the sky beyond. I didn’t see any of this last time I was here. I was too focused on the guys and the lasagna. And with the deck lights off, I wouldn’t have noticed it anyway.

Troy slides open the floor-to-ceiling window—which I guess is actually a hecking door —and holds out a hand. “Coming?”

I stare at his bare torso, his thick muscles.

Heat at my back clues me in to the fact that Edmund is close.

“Go ahead, princess.” His tone is half-mocking.

I want to punch him in his stupid, perfect chin. I’d probably end up hurting myself. Might be worth it.

But Troy steps outside and takes off his pants and boxers while he faces the pool.

All rational thought comes to a screeching halt at the sight of his broad shoulders and back tapering to a tight, muscular ass.

The light on the balcony only illuminates the water.

It shows off Troy in silhouette, so all I’m getting is curves of smooth skin and shadows.

And skin and shadows are plenty . My God, he’s beautiful.

I can only stare.

Laughing softly, Edmund walks past me to the balcony and takes off his pants, too. A second later, he’s as nude as Troy—and just as sexy although he’s leaner. A tight ass, a muscular back, strong thighs.

I don’t get to stare for long because Edmund dives into the pool. Troy immediately follows him.

I blink, trying to call my brain back from Lustville.

The guys both pop their heads out of the water. Edmund grins. “Coming?”

I hope to be. Very soon.

I tug off my t-shirt and shimmy out of my jeans. Letting them land on the floor, I walk outside in my bra and panties.

Early April in San Esteban isn’t cold, but there is a chill, and goosebumps cover my skin. “Is the pool heated?”

“Jump in.” Troy raises his eyebrows in a challenge. “Find out.”

* * *

Troy

Her plain black bra and underwear are stark against her skin, which glows teal in the pool lights. She stands at the edge of the pool, indecisive. I wait to see what she’ll do.

I like watching Dani’s face when she decides to act. She frowns while she’s thinking. Then her forehead smooths, like she’s made her choice. Then something happens. Usually that something surprises me.

Like her battle cry followed by a cannonball.

Water splashes everywhere. The pants I dropped by the side of the pool are soaked. Edmund splutters and coughs because the dumbass had his mouth open while Dani leaped.

Dani surfaces with a smile so big, I feel it in my heart. Then the little brat splashes water in my face.

Oh, it’s on.

When I lunge toward her, she shrieks and dives back under the water. Edmund laughs and joins me in chasing her across the pool.

She’s a decent swimmer, but not half as good as Edmund. He catches up with her first, grabbing her leg. I watch them flail underwater and wait at the surface on the other side of Dani.

When they come up, she’s right between us. Exactly where I want her. She looks from me to Edmund, realizing she’s caught.

“Well.” She laughs. “Here we are.”

“Here we are indeed.” Edmund and I steer her toward the edge of the pool.

Her gray eyes are luminous, reflecting the soft pool light. “So…now what?”

Edmund strokes a finger along her cheek. “We have an item of importance to address, princess.”

“We do?”

“You called us some very rude names.” Edmund nudges her toward me.

Guessing what he has in mind, I spin her around so her back is to my chest and she’s facing him. I brace my left arm on the side of the pool and hold one of her hands there. I join our right hands together. Now she’s lightly restrained.

“Um, do I need a safe word?” Dani asks.

I loosen my grip. “ Stop or no will work just fine.”

She nods, satisfied. “So, what rude names did I allegedly call you?”

Edmund narrows his eyes. “I believe you called me a ‘ball-gargling gangster asshole.’ I have the evidence in my text messages.”

“Saved it, did you?” Dani huffs out a laugh. “I’m not sorry for what I called you. You are ball-gargling gangster assholes, both of you. And you hid that from me, like complete dicktwigs. I probably shouldn’t even be here because your family hates mine.”

“And you hate me.” Edmund stares directly into her eyes.

“Yes. I hate you.” Her voice is soft.

“So you’ll hate me doing this.” He reaches out and places his palm over her stomach.

She gasps as his hand slides down to her underwear. “Yes. I hate it very much.”

“And this?” His fingers dip beneath the fabric.

Dani’s mouth falls open and her eyes go wide.

I nudge my legs between hers, spreading her for Edmund’s attention.

My cock, hard as it’s ever been, presses against her panty-clad ass.

I could rut against her and come right now if I wanted.

I hold back, though. If things keep on like this, we’ll be doing a lot more, and soon.

Soft little gasps fill my ears as Dani pants for whatever Edmund is doing to her.

“Feels good, little girl?” I bite her shoulder.

She presses back against me. “Yes.”

“Do you still hate me—hate us?” Edmund asks.

“Yes.” But she doesn’t sound so sure.

Edmund stares directly into her eyes, his expression intense. “Do you think you can fuck two people that you hate?”