Page 29

Nicole

Kerrington’s cell going off wakes me from our little nap. Wait. Where are they?

His cell dings again and then it rings. Snagging it from the bedside table, I stare at a number I never thought I’d seen on Kerrington’s phone.

“Mom?”

“Oh, thank heavens!” she exclaims. “Nicole, we’ve been worried sick!”

Sighing, I cover myself up with a sheet, even though I know she can’t see me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry you. I just needed a break from everything and came to Mason’s for a little while.”

“Don’t lie to me, Niki. You’re not there for Mason.”

The silence between us makes me feel like a child in trouble and I have to give some sorry excuse for my actions. But I won’t. I’m going to fess up and tell the truth.

Then I’ll take Mason’s advice and walk away .

My heart is already breaking because I love my parents, and I don’t want this to be the end. But I know when I say what I want, and what I’m going to do, they’ll disapprove, make me choose, and my life will become very different moving forward.

“I’m in love with Kerrington…” My mouth runs dry. “And Landon.” The pause while I wait for her response is enough to make me break out in a sweat. “Did you hear me, Mom?”

“Of course, I heard you.” Her voice is too calm, and that makes me scared. “And how do they feel about you?”

“They love me too. We want a life together.”

“The three of you?”

“Yes.”

“At the same time?”

“Yes.” How else did she see that going? “I’m sorry.”

Again, another long pause. Then my mom sighs and I can hear her pouring a drink for herself. “Sweetpea, what on earth are you apologizing for?”

“I’m sure this isn’t how you thought my life would go.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean you owe anyone an apology for it. It’s your life, Nicole. Your father and I only want what’s best for you.”

“And you thought making me marry Mason was best? Or Jackson ?”

“I never agreed to have you marry Mason’s brother. Scarlett went off the rails that night at the gala, and I’ve never forgiven her for it. You and Jackson would have been a hideous couple.”

I think that was her attempt at a joke, but I’m too scared to laugh. “Are you saying you’re fine with me being with two men at once?” That came out wrong, didn’t it? Shit.

“Are you saying they’re going to treat you like a princess and give you the life you deserve?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Yes. God, yes, Mom. That’s all they want to do.”

“Then that’s all we want for you, darling. Your happiness is all we’ve cared about.”

I think I’m still sleeping, and this is all a dream. Has to be. The fact that Landon and Kerrington are nowhere to be seen in the suite is yet another clue that this isn’t real. So, I go for gold. “I don’t want to work for Greystone anymore, either. I don’t want to work at all.”

“I think that’s best as well,” she responds with tension in her tone.

“Why? Because I haven’t done a good enough job?”

“No.” I hear her take a sip of her drink. Bet its whisky, neat. From Kerrington’s family’s distillery. He sends her a bottle of it every year for her birthday. “We think you’ve done a fine job, Nicole. But you’ve run yourself into the ground, and that is not okay.”

My defenses go up. “I’m only doing what Dad asks of me. ”

“Which has been a bone of contention between us these past six months. He’s allowed you to work yourself into a tailspin.”

“And yet you were the one to suggest I relocate to Japan for our business!”

“Only because I could see you were so unhappy here, Niki. My god, you’re like a machine with no soul.”

Tears prick my eyes, because that hurts.

“I’ve watched you waste away ever since the gala. You’re pushing yourself too far. Proving yourself to God knows who and for no good reason.”

“No good reason?” My temper flares and the first tear falls. “I was humiliated that night! And have been blackmailed ever since.” Before she can ask about it, I talk over her. “I gave up my chance at happiness to be wedded to Mason motherfucking Finch, all because you and his family are so greedy and untrusting.”

“Nicole,” she warns with her mom voice.

“I’m not done.” Standing up, I pace. “Why would you force me to move to the other end of the world if you’re this upset that I’m working so much to begin with? Is it because you’re ashamed of me, too? All those articles got scrubbed from the internet but not from your brain, is that it?”

“Absolutely not.” Her tone and pitch match mine with hostility. “I don’t give a damn what the articles say. They’re click bait and no one cares.”

“Your friends care. The country club members care. Dad’s partners care.”

“Is that what you think?” she huffs.

“I heard dad call me a whore.”

“He’d never call you such a thing.”

“He did. I heard him. It broke my fucking heart.”

“Then he and I will have words once I hang up.”

Silence spreads between us.

“Niki, I don’t give a damn about any of that gala nonsense. I only wish you would be the same way.”

I’m struck stupid. “Mom.” This dream has gone off the rails. Leaving the suddenly too tiny bedroom, I pace in the living room instead. “You said you paid to have the articles wiped.”

“I certainly would have, but Kerrington and Landon took care of it before I even had the chance. They refused to accept money for their service, too.”

“I know,” I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. “But why go through all that effort if you don’t care what people think?”

“Because you care,” she claps back. “We did it for you , Nicole.”

I have to sit back down. “But…”

“And now you’re telling me you’ve been blackmailed? Ugh, I’ll bet my diamond collection it’s that reporter from the HBK Daily. What was his name… Tim something.”

“Timothy Wade,” I say, feeling my cheeks grow numb.

“Fucking twatstick. I should have had security teach him a lesson a long time ago. I’ll be making calls and putting an end to that man by midnight.”

But I don’t hear what she says after that because my blood is swishing too loudly in my ears. The world stops spinning. I think the sun stops shining too. My vision dims, zeroing in on a stack of photos sitting on the coffee table along with a note that has some café written on it.

“Oh my god.” Picking up the pictures, my blood starts to boil.

“Nicole Antoinette Greystone, are you listening to me?”

No, I’m not. “Sorry, Mom. What?”

The door opens and in walks Kerrington and Landon with blood all over their outfits.

I think I’m going to pass out.

“I said I want you happy and safe. If Kerrington and Landon are the ones to make you that way, then you have our blessing.”

This isn’t a dream. It’s a nightmare.

The photos fall out of my hand and onto the floor. I can’t feel my legs when I try to stand and walk over to them.

“Scarlett lost Mason and Grace because of the way she treated them. She’ll likely lose Jackson, too, if he has any sense,” my mom says, having no clue what I’m looking at. “She loves no one but herself, but we love you more than anything in the world, Niki. Dad and I want you happy. And I will not lose you just because I wanted a different path for you that you’re not willing to take. I’m not disappointed, baby. I’m proud of you.”

I can’t think straight.

Kerrington sits down on the couch and pulls me into his lap. Landon’s hovering over the discarded breakfast, plucking fruit and popping grapes in his mouth.

I think I’ve lost my goddamn mind.

“Every parent wants their child happy, Nicole. My only wish for you is that you’ve finally found it.”

“I have,” I say numbly.

“Good. Now tell those boys I’ll be seeing them at Christmas this year, understand me?”

I nod, dumbfounded. “Yes.”

“I love you, Niki.”

“Love you, too.”

She hangs up and I honestly have no idea where the cell I’m holding goes because it’s suddenly out of my hands and Kerrington’s kissing me.

“What happened?” I ask once he comes up for air. As far as I can tell, there isn’t a scratch on either of them, so why is there blood all over their clothes?

Ignoring my question, Kerrington kisses me again and rolls me onto my back, already unbuckling his pants. “ I need to get inside you, baby.”

“Are you hurt?”

“No.” His kisses are desperate and make me dizzy.

“Landon?”

“Right here, Duchess.” He peels his shirt off and joins us. “You’re going to have to give him some alone time first, though. He’s been through it this morning.”

Kerrington’s like a wild animal, kissing, biting, licking me. I’ve seen him turned on before, but this is next level, even for him. It awakens this primal part of me that I’ve only ever let these two see. “Harder. Bite me harder.”

His teeth sink into my neck and white stars burst in my vision. My pussy floods. “Again.”

“Don’t want to hurt you.”

“You can’t,” I say, coaxing him to put his mouth on me again. “I want you to bite hard enough, so when I touch it tomorrow, I get flashbacks of today.”

“Fuuuck.” Kerrington sinks his teeth into me again, and my hips instantly rise to meet his pelvis. “What’s your safe word, baby?”

“Teapot.” My heart hammers in my chest when he presses his dick against my pussy, seeking entrance.

“Use it if I start to go too far. Promise?” Kerrington waits, hovering over me, until I say okay.

Then he slams into me like a rutting beast. It’s brutal. Wonderful.

And the very real possibility that they met Tim and took care of him, just to protect me, sends me right over the edge.

“I love you,” I say while he fucks me harder and harder. “I love you both so much.”

Landon wraps his hand around my throat and tips my head back, kissing me. “We love you too, sweetheart.”

I’ve never felt so high.

“We won’t let anything happen to you ever again.” Landon runs his hands through my hair, kissing me while Kerrington pulls out.

“Turn around and sit on my lap, Duchess.”

I’m on cloud nine as I do what I’m told. Facing the same way Kerrington is, I ease down, impaling myself on his dick, and lock gazes with Landon. “You too,” I say breathlessly.

“Fucking hell.” Landon pumps his length, and I momentarily panic because I have no clue if he’ll be able to fit, but I want to try. “Kerr?”

“What she wants, she gets. That’s the rule.” He reaches over and grabs Landon’s cock, forcing him to climb onto the sofa so he can suck it first.

Then I join him. It’s a crowded situation but Kerrington and I licking Landon’s dick together makes me so wet, I can’t stand it. “Inside me. Now.”

What’s a girl got to do for a little DVP, damnit?

“If it’s too much, say the word.” Landon positions himself in front of us and I plant my feet on either side of Kerrington’s thighs, spreading myself as wide as I can.

“That’s it,” he says, coaching me through it. “Just stay relaxed for us. You’re taking us so well, Duchess.” He works his fingers into me, stroking himself while stimulating me and Kerrington simultaneously. When he gets three fingers in, Kerr makes inhuman noises behind me.

“I think he likes that,” I tease.

Landon pulls out and licks his fingers. “Mmm. Then he’s in for a treat.” He presses the tip of his dick against my pussy and starts working his way in, talking me through it.

“That’s it, baby. You’re taking us so well.” His head pushes in and I feel my pussy stretch. There’s a twang of pain, but it shoots pleasure through my body.

“That’s our girl. Stay relaxed… just like… just like that. I’m halfway in, sweetheart.”

My head’s spinning. Sandwiched between them, I feel like the most powerful woman on the planet.

“That’s our good girl. That’s our good… fucking… girl.”

They’re both inside me completely now.

I can’t breathe, let alone move.

“You were made to take us both,” Kerrington growls against my back.

I think he’s right.

We work slowly, moving carefully until we find a rhythm that works.

“I feel so full.” Leaning against Kerrington, I let them have their way with me.

“Your dick is so fucking hot against mine,” Landon groans. “And our Duchess is so goddamn wet.”

He rubs my clit in slow circles with his thumb while Kerrington pinches and twists my nipples.

I detonate.

The orgasm is so strong I think it tears me apart, breaking me into a million screaming pieces that are all floating like atoms in space. It lasts far longer than any orgasm I’ve ever had, too.

“Fill me up,” I beg, like the greedy girl I am. “Please fill my pussy with all your cum.”

Landon leans forward, cupping the back of my head, and kisses me. His hips turn to pistons and Kerrington’s under me, doing the same. The image of what this must look like drives my arousal to new levels of unhinged.

I know the minute Landon unloads because his entire body shudders and he lets go of my head to grip Kerrington instead. I’m sandwiched between them, in perfect position to bite Lan’s nipple. He roars with his release, flooding me, and Kerrington follows suit.

Kerr groans.

Their dicks throb, twitching as they pour into me. I think I’m going to pass out .

Collapsing on Kerrington, he bears all my weight while Landon holds my face. “Are you okay?”

“Never… better…” Adrenaline drains out of me like a sieve, leaving me exhausted. “I feel so floaty and tingly.”

He pulls out first, making me wince. “Shit. You still good?”

I giggle. “Yes.”

Kerrington gently lifts me off his lap and the absence of them feels like a tremendous loss inside me. Licking my lips, still in my little happy world, I stuff my fingers inside myself to keep their cum there a little longer.

“Fuck me sideways, you’re gonna be the death of us.” Landon kisses me first, then Kerrington.

“Well, at least we’ll die happy,” Kerrington laughs.