Page 6 of Mastered by Them (Rose and Dagger #2)

Edmund

I can’t fucking believe Troy. He thinks Danica could be with both of us? No. Fuck, no. I saw what happened with my parents. I don’t want that for Danica and me.

Maybe it makes me a selfish asshole. But because I’m selfish, I don’t care.

I catch sight of Troy outside. He’s staring down the street while he talks on his phone. He’s been my best friend for a long fucking time. It hurts to put a sudden limit on the boundaries of our friendship, but I’ll sacrifice everything in the world to make this marriage with Danica work.

There’s something odd in his stance. He doesn’t look quite like himself out there. I stare for a moment, before Danica tugs on my sleeve.

“How about that one?” She points at what is probably the biggest fucking diamond I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“If you want it, it’s yours.”

She wrinkles her nose, like I’ve given the wrong answer. But I’m not lying. As my bride, she’ll want for nothing.

“Over here.” She traipses to one of the smaller tables, hidden in the corner.

I follow the flounce of her skirt, her shapely legs, the bratty little bounce in her step. “What did you find?”

“This is the one I want.” She points to a nondescript ring with a tiny, solitaire jewel. It’s so small, people will be whipping out magnifying glasses to see if it’s a diamond.

This can’t be right. Not for Danica. I shake my head. “What is this? It looks like something out of an old bubble gum machine.”

“It’s the one I want.” She folds her arms across her chest.

Bratty little liar.

The jeweler ambles over in a cloud of perfume, her suit jacket straining over her shoulders. She looks dubiously at the ring. “This is the one?”

“Yep,” Danica says at the same time I say, “No.”

The jeweler’s blond eyebrows move high on her forehead. “Sorry, I didn’t quite hear?—”

“My bride isn’t feeling well.” I wrap an arm around Danica and hold tightly while she tries to squirm away. “We need the restroom.”

“Yes, Mr. Layton.” The jeweler points to a nondescript door. “I’ll buzz you through, sir.”

The door is usually locked for security reasons. I know, because my family set up this shop.

Danica struggles as I take her arm and guide her through the door. “What the fuck, Edmund? I’m feeling just fucking fine. Stop being such a bossy buttstink?—”

“Enough.” I pull her into the bathroom with me, flick on the light, and close the door behind us. “Lean against the counter.”

Her eyes flash. “ Make me .”

“Gladly.” The best way to get her to react, the best way to get her to let me in, is to fight with her.

So I will. I crowd against her until her ass hits the counter.

I stand a full head taller than her, so I lift her up to sit in front of the sink.

Now we’re eye-to-eye. “You sent me that titty picture from Caperna. Did you think I’d ignore it?

I jerked off to it. Twice. Knowing you’ll be my bride. ”

She sets her mouth in a firm line.

“The thing is, Danica, you’re mine. And because you’re mine, I want to spoil you. I want to marry you. I want to start the rest of our lives together?—”

“This is not a real marriage.” She shakes her head. “It’s a sham to protect my family. And yours.”

“But it could be real. I want it to be real. Fuck, Danica, we’re amazing together.” I stroke the inside of her thighs, close to where my hips hold her legs apart. “Tell me you don’t feel that, angel. That you don’t feel the heat between us.”

She’s quiet for a long moment. She doesn’t push me away.

“Let me make you feel good.” I’m desperate to chase away her reluctance, to fuck her into serenity so she doesn’t keep fighting this. Fighting us . “Let me, Danica. Please.”

In answer, she wraps her legs around my waist, pulling me closer. When she tilts her face toward mine, I kiss her. Those gorgeous lips part, allowing me to push my tongue in. Sweetness. God, she’s intoxicating. I’ll never get enough of this girl.

When we pull back for a breath, I ask, “That’s a yes?”

Her gray eyes stare directly into mine. “That’s a yes.”

* * *

Danica

The bathroom counter is hard and cold against my ass—even colder when Edmund hikes up my skirt. He pulls back a little more so he can grab a condom.

I yank at his belt and the button on his slacks, impatient.

I don’t know what this guy does to me, only that I can’t help myself when he’s close. I try and try to push him away, but at the same time I want to tug him closer. My need is so strong, I feel like a volcano, bubbling with lava. And when I explode, I’ll consume everything in my path.

His cock is hard and hot against my palm, even through his boxers. I reach inside to touch him, skin to skin.

He groans and thrusts against me. “Fuck, Danica. You make me crazy.”

“Fuck me already.”

“With pleasure.” He pulls out his dick and puts on the condom. “So much fucking pleasure.”

I grab the base of his cock and line him up with my entrance. He thrusts forward, stretching me. This feeling—so perfect.

Our eyes lock. His green irises hold an entire universe as he stares back at me.

We’re joined, completely. It doesn’t matter where we are—bathroom, bedroom, swimming pool.

Hell, we could be in a rowboat or a Ferris wheel or in the middle of fucking Caro Boulevard.

Being connected to him is magical and wonderful.

And as infuriating as he is, I never want this to end.

He drags out before pushing back in again, never breaking eye contact. I gasp and moan, moving my hips to accommodate him.

“You feel so good.” His voice is raspy and he leans in to kiss me. “Does it feel good to you?”

I nod and kiss him back. If I don’t say it out loud, he can’t use it against me later. He pulls out slowly, then thrusts in again. Farther this time. Harder.

“Fuck, yes,” I whisper.

He presses his forehead against mine. “I can’t wait to feel you come on my cock, angel.”

* * *

Troy

When Faulk is far, far away, I return to the jeweler. I have to knock for her to let me in. Once she does, I take stock of the empty room. “Where are they?”

“She, um, wasn’t feeling well.” The jeweler smirks and flicks her gaze to a door behind the counter.

I start toward it.

“Sorry.” She taps her nails on the glass case in front of her. “It’s probably best you wait for them here.”

“No. I need to check on them.”

“Trust me, they’re absolutely fine?—”

“If you don’t let me through, I’ll break down the fucking door.”

Her eyes widen and she hits a button beneath the counter. “It’s your funeral.”

The lock clicks free. I round the counter and tug open the door.

“Thank you.” I give her a polite wave as I step into the hall.

The bathroom door is on my right. I can already hear faint moans—Dani. And grunts—Edmund. I hesitate. I haven’t been invited. Edmund basically told me that once they’re married, he isn’t sharing.

But they aren’t married yet.

I yank open the door and see Dani sitting on the counter, her flirty little dress cinched up around her waist. She leans back, her perch wobbly like she’s losing strength, losing control. Edmund stands between her legs, pumping his hips.

The first look he gives me is one of possession, jealousy. Then the look relaxes into a smile. “Hello, Troy.”

Dani gasps and turns her head to face me.

I stride toward her. She’s all I see, all I want. “Think you can use a hand?”

“My fiancée’s arms are about to give out.” Edmund nods toward her precarious stance. “Maybe you could help hold her up.”

“With pleasure.” I slide in to stand next to Dani. Wrapping one arm around her back, I easily hold her weight. In this position, I can feel her body jerk with each of Edmund’s thrusts.

She turns her face to mine, eyes glazed with lust. “Troy.”

“Yes, little girl. I’m here.”

“Kiss me.”

I meet her lips with mine, tasting and teasing her.

She moans and wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer.

Edmund does something different that has her gasping.

She turns her attention to him, and kisses him next.

He cups one of her tits through her shirt, fingers squeezing around her nipple.

I reach to where they meet, find her clit, and swirl my fingertip over it.

“Yes!” She throws her head back. “I’m—I’m coming—I’m—yes!”

Edmund buries his face in the crook of her neck and groans out his own orgasm. I take advantage of her free mouth, covering it with mine, drinking her pleasure in a deep kiss.

My cock presses painfully against the front of my pants. I push a hand against myself, trying to ease the ache.

Edmund pulls out of Dani and disposes of the condom. His face is flushed from exertion. I help put Dani’s panties back in place and smooth out her skirt.

She hops down from the counter and drops to a squat in front of me.

“What are you?—”

“Your turn.” She looks up at me through her lashes and fights with my belt.

Fuck, feels good just seeing her like this. “You don’t have to?—”

“I want to, Troy.”

Edmund watches, face impassive, while she takes out my cock and licks along the side.

I want to close my eyes in pleasure, but I don’t want to miss a single fucking second of this. She parts her lips and puts her mouth over the head of my cock. Already I’m stretching her.

“Fuck, that’s hot.” Edmund has already put his dick away, but if this lasts longer than a few minutes, he’ll be ready for another round.

I won’t last long, though. It was too arousing to watch Dani get fucked by my friend. Then I kissed her while she came. So I’m already halfway to coming, myself.

She does her best to fit me in her mouth, but there’s just no way. She resorts to gripping the rest of my cock in her hand, jacking me while she sucks on the end.

“This is amazing.” I thread my fingers in her hair. “Your tongue is fucking magic, Dani. Yeah. Just like that.”

She makes a hmm of pleasure and cups my balls with her free hand, squeezing gently.

“I’m gonna come fast, baby girl. If you don’t want to swallow me?—”

She tightens her grip on my base and hollows her cheeks as she sucks me harder. Her gray gaze is fierce.

I touch her hair, her cheeks, and trace her lips where she’s stretched around me.

This is Dani in front of me, offering me this gift of her mouth.

She closes her eyes and hums, like this is pleasurable for her.

So fucking hot. My orgasm is seconds away.

My dick feels thicker and harder and hypersensitive.

“Look at me, Dani,” I rasp.

Her eyes open once more—and there . Sharp pleasure ricochets through my body, thrumming through my veins.

“Fuck.” I spill over her tongue and down her throat.

She keeps me in her mouth until every drop is gone. Then she pulls away. She presses a kiss against my stomach. The gesture is surprisingly sweet after this perfectly dirty blowjob in the bathroom.

“Thank you.” I help her stand before kissing her swollen lips. “That felt so fucking good, Dani.”

She gives me a wink and leans against me.

A knock sounds on the bathroom door. “Excuse me, Mr. Layton—is everything okay in there?”

The jeweler.

I get my cock put away and pull up my pants, fastening them, before I go to the door. Opening it a crack, I say, “He’s fine.”

“I’d like to hear it from Mr. Layton?—”

“Mr. Manchester can speak for me at any time.” Edmund’s voice carries a tone of annoyance. “My fiancée is feeling much better after her physical therapy session. We’ll be out in just a moment.”

Dani looks part horrified, and part on the brink of giggles. She mouths, “ Physical therapy?” and covers her face with her hands.

The jeweler’s footsteps fade as she returns to the front of the shop.

“All right, princess.” Edmund loops his arm through Dani’s. “Let’s get you an engagement ring, shall we? Don’t try to make a statement, and I won’t hassle you on your choice. Pick one that you really like. Small or big, it’s up to you.”

She shoves him, but she’s smiling at the same time.

I follow them out the door, watching the fluid, satisfied grace of her walk.

If I work for Amber’s company, I’ll never see Dani again.

The thought slices through me.

But never seeing her might be better than seeing her all the time and knowing I can never call her mine.