Page 12 of Mastered by Them (Rose and Dagger #2)

Edmund

M y princess is trying to make me jealous.

It won’t work. She’s safe with Troy. Cared for. He’ll get her off just as well as I could. He’ll keep her happy and content and ours.

I can’t look away from the show she’s putting on outside. Troy set her on the edge of the pool and he’s in the water, his head level with her pussy.

He says something to her, and she slowly brings her hands up to cup her tits. Fucking gorgeous sight. Then he bows his head toward her, burying his face between her thighs.

Danica’s moan is so loud, I can hear it from where I’m standing inside. I’m unable to look away as she caresses her breasts, plucking at her nipples and squeezing herself.

I unbuckle my belt and unfasten my pants. Reaching down, I slide my hand over my aching dick.

Danica lets go of her tits so she can lean back. She grinds her hips forward, demanding more of Troy’s attention. He slaps her thigh in warning and holds her in place.

Her eyes widen as she looks down at him—she wasn’t expecting the slap. She says something.

He slaps her again.

“Yes,” she moans.

She likes it. Goddamn.

I grip my cock tighter while I watch her writhe on the edge of the pool. He brings a hand up next to his mouth—he’s fingering her while he licks her. She cries out and starts bucking against his face. He smacks her thigh again and she settles down with a whimper of need.

Danica Montrose is the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.

I jack my hand up and down my length, riveted by the sight of Danica coming apart at Troy’s skillful mouth and fingers.

I come at the same time she does, bracing myself against the doorframe, eyes glued to my girl.

Fuck, who am I kidding? Our girl.

* * *

Troy

I’m not yet asleep when I hear her cry out in fear.

“Dani?” I fling off my sheet and jump out of bed, hurrying down the hall. Edmund’s right behind me. I knock on her door. “Dani, are you okay?”

No answer. I push open her door and step inside. She’s asleep. No one else is around. No threats. Just whatever nightmare must have her in its grip. She flails her arm, fighting off an imaginary attacker.

“Dani, wake up.” I hurry to her side. “Dani.”

Her eyes fly open and she freezes. “No!”

“Dani, it’s me and Edmund. It’s okay, you’re safe.” I sit down next to her and tug her upright so she’s sitting against me. I put my hand firmly against the top of her chest as if I could calm her rapid heartbeat through the weight of my touch. “You’re safe, I got you.”

Edmund comes to her other side and sits, taking her hand. “Hey, angel. We won’t let anyone hurt you.”

I can feel her heart pounding beneath my palm.

“I’m okay,” she finally says. “You can go.”

“We’d rather not,” Edmund replies.

“Well, then Troy can stay. You can go.” Her voice is faint, but her tone is firm.

It’s hard to see Edmund’s expression in the dark, but I see his shoulders fall. “If you’re sure.”

“I am,” she says shortly.

Edmund gets up and leaves the room.

“He just wanted to help you,” I whisper.

“I don’t want his help.”

“Stubborn girl.” I hold her tighter.

“Yep.”

I don’t like the new distance growing between Edmund and me.

He started it, sure, but things like this are making it harder.

Fucking around with Dani and making him watch wasn’t such a big deal.

We used to do that sort of shit for fun—with our partners’ permission, of course.

But comforting Dani from a nightmare feels a lot more intimate than fucking. And she’s pushing Edmund away.

Maybe he deserves it, but I pity the bastard.

Dani slowly relaxes against me.

“Do you want to talk about the nightmare?” I ask.

“Not really. I don’t remember any details, anyway. I was sinking, basically.” She shivers. “I’d rather not relive it by talking about it.”

“That’s fine.” I rub circles against her back.

Edmund steps into the room with a mug smelling like chamomile. He shrugs. “My nanny used to make this for me when I couldn’t sleep or had bad dreams.”

Dani doesn’t look at him.

“Come on,” I whisper. “He’s trying to help.”

“He can hear you, you know.” Edmund shakes his head and lets out a mirthless laugh. He sets the mug on Dani’s nightstand. “Never mind. Drink the tea, or don’t.”

As he starts to walk away, Dani says, “Wait. I’m sorry. You can stay, too.”

Like before, he sits on her other side. She blows on the tea to cool it and takes a small sip.

Nobody speaks. The three of us sit on the bed in silence, together.

This is how it could be. If Edmund would allow it. If his past hadn’t fucked him up so bad. If Dani would allow it. If she weren’t so determined to get in her own way.

Maybe I just need to be patient and let things happen? Easier said than done. Because maybe the right answer is to take that job with Amber. It’s not like I’d have to date her again. Just work for her.

Guilt spears me. The option of leaving my post with Edmund shouldn’t even be on the table.

Dani scoots over to lean against his shoulder. They look good together, the Aseyev princess and the Layton prince.

* * *

Edmund

If it weren’t for the forced marriage, I could probably bring Danica around to the idea of dating me. We click, even when she’s mad. Even when she’s fighting me.

She still wants me, just like I want her.

I wish there was some way to speed up the process. Moving in together wasn’t my notion; it was my grandfather’s. But maybe he has the right idea. Not just for Danica’s safety, but for helping us grow closer together.

Of course, Troy lives here, too.

As Danica sleeps between us, she curls up close to him, seeking him out even in her sleep.

I’m not jealous. Puzzled, though. I know she likes me. But she also likes him.

I’m a fucking idiot. She’s never going to be happy if I kick Troy out of the relationship.

But then...where does that leave the wedding, and our vows?

* * *

Danica

“So let me get this straight.” Leah pauses to lick a wayward drip of ice cream from her waffle cone. “You’re now living with Edmund. And Troy.”

“Yes.”

“Well, are you at least making the most of it?” She waggles her eyebrows at me.

“Are you serious right now?” I shove her—gently, so she doesn’t trip.

Blackberry Park’s trails are full of weekend pedestrians.

From time to time, Leah and I have to lower our voices so we don’t scandalize other people.

Not that much scandal is happening in my life.

I haven’t fucked around with Troy or Edmund in a couple of days.

I don’t want to make the first move again, but it’s getting hard living with the two of them and not touching them.

Today, the three of us stood in the kitchen waiting for the coffee machine. Neither of the guys had a shirt on. I had to count to three hundred in multiples of six to keep myself from jumping on them.

Leah and I talk about the wedding. We still don’t have a date, but I get the sense that Granddad and the Laytons are discussing it. Hopefully, Granddad’s trying to put it off. He’ll give me more time. If they can just get rid of Vorsong Circle, the marriage won’t be necessary.

“When are you dress shopping again?” Leah finishes her ice cream and smacks her lips. “I want to be there this time.”

“Soon, maybe? I don’t know, everything’s up in the air.” My voice breaks. Shit. What’s wrong with me?

“Hey.” She wraps her arm around my shoulders and leads me to a bench in the shade. “Come here. What’s going on?”

“I don’t know, I’m a wreck. It’s stupid.”

“It’s not stupid. Tell me. Whatever it is, just tell me.”

I look at my friend’s kind face, at her understanding smile. “I haven’t been sleeping. Lots of nightmares. And the guys comfort me each time. But now they aren’t touching me or romancing me or anything.”

“I thought you were mad at Edmund and you didn’t want that?”

“Like I know what I want?”

She laughs, but she tightens her hold so I can’t stomp off. “I think you do know what you want, but you’re afraid to ask for it. And I don’t blame you—this is a weird-ass situation and you’re just doing the best you can, you know?”

I shrug. Maybe I am afraid to ask.

One thing’s for sure—I’m tired of floating around, waiting for whatever comes next.

I already know the answer, but I have to ask her again. “Leah, you’re happy with Dmitri and Gage. Two guys. Right?”

“It’s pure bliss.”

That’s what I want. Unfortunately, it looks impossible from where I’m standing.

* * *

Troy

Samuel Grinnote has always struck me as too easygoing for someone in the police force who is also on the Layton Family payroll. Seems to me he should be nervous all the time, looking over his shoulder.

But no, he’s cool as anything at his family barbecue when Edmund and I drop by.

“Come in, come in.” He opens the door wearing swim trunks and a Hawaiian print shirt, unbuttoned to show off his trim physique. Sunglasses are perched on his head of blond hair. “My dad’s grilling in the back. You guys want a burger?”

“Nah, we can’t stay long,” Edmund says. “You said you wanted to tell us something?”

“Yeah. Out here, though. My wife will kill me if I leave the party too long.” Grinnote leads us through a generically nice house and into a generic back yard. The American dream, complete with wife, kids, and a golden retriever.

“Sure you don’t want something to eat? You look like you could use a burger or three.” Grinnote eyes me up and down. “I bet you need twenty-thousand calories a day just to survive.”

Funny. Not. I don’t smile.

Grinnote sighs. He’s used to me not engaging. “Fine, yeah. Business as usual. So, you know the Vorsongs are moving in? Well, we think your new friends are stirring up trouble on purpose.”

“We’re aware.” Edmund grimaces.

“Daddy, Daddy, watch!” A blond kid in superhero swim trunks stands on the diving board at the far end of the pool. A couple of kids wait behind him.

“I’m watching, bud.” Grinnote waves at the kid. “Go for it!”

Our conversation halts while the kid dives and comes up for air. Grinnote claps for him, and because we aren’t monsters, Edmund and I join in the applause. The kid grins and blushes as he comes out of the pool to wait in line at the diving board again.

“There was another murder downtown, this one closer to Salding.” Grinnote shakes his head. “Like the last one, no real suspects, not a whole lot of clues.”

“You think the Vorsongs are behind it?” I ask.

“Honestly? No. It’s not their style. Or yours, or anyone’s.

This is a sick bastard. It isn’t public yet, but the last one had some ritualistic looking shit left around.

This one did, too. But no doubt, the Vorsong presence is complicating matters.

People who used to inform for us no longer want to.

We used to have friends in low places, but they all scattered. ”

I don’t like the sound of this. The first stages of a Vorsong takeover are happening before our very eyes. I don’t want to be a part of a war for San Esteban.

Edmund and I say our goodbyes, waving again at Grinnote’s son.

My phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and glance at the screen.

Amber: Five times what you’re paid now. I need you.

I shove the phone back in my pocket.

“Was that Danica?” Edmund asks.

“Nope.”

When I don’t volunteer more information, he doesn’t press. But he doesn’t look happy, either.