Page 29 of Ruthless Desires, Vol. Two (Ruthless Desires Series Extended Editions #2)

Wren

Elliot’s eyes are filled with an insatiable lust that takes my breath away. As he moves closer, Rhett slowly pulls out of me with a tired groan and gets off the bed.

“M-more?”

I don’t hide my surprise. I thought Elliot would at least want a break, but apparently not.

Gently, he lifts me to my knees and begins untying me. He’s careful with the ropes, making sure none of them accidentally smack me.

“There’s one more thing I want from you.”

The way he says it sends a shiver up my spine. I look between Rhett and Oliver, but neither of their expressions give anything away. In fact, they look just as intrigued as I am.

Once Elliot has finished removing the ropes, he takes a minute to massage my shoulders and arms. His lips feather along my hairline as I relax into him.

“What do you want me to do?” I ask.

Elliot is behind me, so I can’t see his smirk, but I hear it as he says, “You’ll see.”

The mattress shifts as Rhett crawls onto the mattress with a couple wet washcloths. Oliver is resting on the bed with his hands above his head. Rhett smirks at the spare rope coming off Oliver’s cuffs before taking it into his hand.

“I think we should tie you up like this more often,”

he tells Oliver as he gently wipes at his chest.

“I like being able to pull you around to wherever I want you.”

When Elliot reaches around me, his fingers skirt down my body before he reaches in between my legs. I gasp. I was sure I was too tired to come again, but it’s like my body reawakens under his touch. When his finger brushes against my clit, electricity shoots through me, and I tip my head back with a groan.

“I knew you could take more.”

Elliot’s voice is low in my ear before he kisses my neck.

I grind against his hand in response. I’m not sure what he’s doing—or, I suppose, why he’s doing this now. Elliot already fingered me, and he already came, so I don’t know what exactly he wants.

“Just relax,”

he whispers.

Right before I slow my movements, I realize Oliver is watching us with a sated smile. Rhett is in the bathroom washing the cloths, but when he comes back, his gaze is glued to us as well.

Pressure builds low in my stomach, and my muscles pull tight as Elliot circles my clit. His free arm loops around me, keeping me in place as he builds the tension higher and higher.

“Look at her,”

Oliver murmurs as Rhett steps closer to the bed.

“She’s shaking.”

“Such a needy slut, aren’t you?”

Elliot asks.

Apparently that’s all it takes. I let out a surprised cry as my orgasm slams into me, drowning me in a wave of pleasure.

Elliot slips his fingers inside of me and curls them against my walls, almost forcing my body to surrender to him. I cover my face with my hands as I gush around his fingers.

“Elliot,”

I cry. I don’t think I could hold back even if I wanted to.

“Oh, that’s it,”

he praises as he adds more pressure.

“Squirt all over my fingers. Such a good girl, Wren.”

Something like a sob leaves my throat as I give in. Fuck—it feels so good, but I don’t understand how he’s not grossed out.

Rhett grabs my hands and yanks them away from me.

“Open your eyes. Now, sweetheart.”

With a gasp, I do. “Rhett—”

“Look at me.”

Grudgingly, I force myself to meet Rhett’s gaze. It’s only for a second before I can’t take it anymore and look away sheepishly.

“Does he look disgusted?”

Rhett asks.

I can’t really see Elliot’s face, but when I turn to get a look, he smiles at me. “N-no.”

“Do I? Does O?”

“No,” I mumble.

Rhett lowers his head.

“Then you’ve got nothing to be ashamed of. Yeah?”

Before I can respond, Rhett’s lips meet mine in a slow and gentle kiss. It’s reassuring—loving, even—although I don’t think he’s ready to label it as such. It’s how I feel, though, so I moan and grab his face so he can’t pull away.

By now, Elliot’s hand has slowed to a stop. I’d imagine that while everything down there is still wet, it’s not very slippery anymore.

Elliot nudges my face with his nose. “Love.”

“Hmm?”

He grabs my chin with his clean hand and forces me to meet his gaze.

“Are you embarrassed?”

“I, um…”

The intensity in his eyes is too much, so I squeeze mine shut.

“You don’t have to be, Wren. Not with us.”

I squirm.

“You really don’t… you really don’t care?”

“Not at all.”

He kisses me.

“Like I said last time, I think it’s hot.”

“And the blankets?”

“We’ll wash them.”

“And you’re really not grossed out?”

“Not. at. all.”

To my surprise, he smiles bashfully.

“I like that I can make you squirt like that.”

Slowly, my embarrassment fades, and I turn so I can kiss Elliot properly.

Sometimes, I forget that I’m safe with them. I can be exactly who I am—brave or scared, strong or weak, awkward or confident. Their acceptance and care for me will never fade.

I wrap my arms around him, thanking the fates or the universe or whatever is out there for placing me in the arms of these three men. I never want to be anywhere else. And, thankfully, I’ll never have to be.

***

After we all clean up, I check my phone and realize I have multiple missed calls from my mom. I almost ignore them, but if she tried to contact me more than once, it’s possibly about something important.

After telling the guys I’ll only be a few minutes, I slip into the library and settle on a window seat. I’ve barely talked to my mom since her attempted intervention, and I really don’t want to talk to her now.

Oh, come on, Wren. You can handle her. It’s not like she’s here.

Still, I find myself scrolling up in my contacts list until my thumb is hovering over Ava’s name instead of my mom’s. It’s been too long since we’ve talked—I just haven’t had any time. And how the hell am I supposed to explain that I’m dating three hitmen, plotting the downfall of one of the most powerful men in the city, and I got kidnapped? Oh, and the time she thinks I got kidnapped that I was actually getting railed in a cabin in the woods?

I sigh. Even if I could tell Ava, this isn’t the time. I just need to check in with her and give her as much of an update as I can. She deserves more, but this is the best I can do.

Wren: Hey. I know it’s been a while, and I’m sorry I haven’t reached out.

I’m in the process of writing a second message when multiple texts come through.

Ava: GIRL!!! You literally dropped off the face of the earth. What’s going on?!

Ava: I was beginning to think those three guys kidnapped and murdered you or something.

Ava: I’m SO glad you’re okay. I miss you.

Wren: I miss you too.

I add a heart emoji, hoping that it conveys just how much I mean it. My focus has been elsewhere, but I haven’t forgotten about Ava. I just haven’t had the time or energy to come up with a way to explain my sudden absence.

Is this what it’s been like for the guys for the past decade?

The thought breaks my heart. I know they have Finn, but do they have many other friends? I imagine I would’ve at least heard about them by now if that’s the case, but who knows? Until today, I hadn’t met any of the guys’ parents, either.

A memory unfolds in the back of my mind—something about Elliot saying they closed their relationship because they didn’t have the energy or time to give to other partners. Maybe it is the same way with their friendships. There’s no denying that their revenge plans have overtaken their life in every way possible.

My phone buzzes in my hand.

Ava: Are you coming back to work soon?

I type out a vague reply before deleting it. Ava deserves as much of the truth as I can give her.

Wren: I’m quitting. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you in person, and I know it’s out of the blue.

Ava: WHAT??? What’s going on? Are you sure everything is okay?

Wren: Everything’s fine, my life just took a couple unexpected turns. I promise I’ll see you as soon as I can and explain everything.

Ava: Is this because of the guys? Are they making you quit?

Wren: No! They’re supportive either way.

Ava: Okay. They didn’t give shitbag vibes, but I wasn’t sure.

Wren: Everything should calm down in a week or so, and then you and I can get together, okay?

Ava: All right. If you need anything, I’m just a text away, okay?

I send a heart emoji and then close out my messaging app. However much I want to, I need to get this conversation with my mom over with. My chest tightens as I finally press the call button. As I wait for her to pick up, I tap my fingers against my knee.

Please don’t answer. Please don’t answer. Please—

“Wren! Finally, you have some time to talk to your mother.”

“I was busy. Do you need something?”

I’m not usually so blunt, but she lost her right to civility from me. Besides, I want to get back to the guys. Elliot suggested watching a movie before bed, and that sounds like a lovely way to end his birthday. I didn’t want this call hanging over me all night, so they’re waiting on me.

“Am I not allowed to call just to talk to my daughter?”

Maybe you shouldn’t have that privilege. I bite my tongue before the words accidentally slip out.

“I suppose.”

As expected, Patricia scoffs.

“You suppose? I’m your mother! Why is it so hard for you to give me a few minutes of your time here and there?”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now.”

There’s not enough time—nor is it a conversation I’m particularly looking forward to having.

“Wren Marie, you’ve been avoiding me for weeks! Do Tom and I need to come back to Philadelphia again just to get you to talk to us?”

“No,”

I blurt too loudly. The guys definitely heard that. After a deep breath, I level my voice.

“It was bad enough that you brought him along for that god-awful intervention. What part of me saying I never want to see Thomas again do you not understand?”

I can practically hear my mom rolling her eyes as she says, “Honestly? All of it. There’s no reason for you to feel unsafe around him. You hit your head, and your brain came up with a story it thought made sense. I wish you’d stop trying to turn me against him.”

The same white-hot fury I felt all those years ago courses through me again, like it’s always been there, just waiting to resurface.

“I didn’t misremember,”

I grit out.

She sighs.

“Don’t you think it’s time to let this go? It’s been years.”

“He hurt me,”

I seethe as my free hand curls into a fist. My fingernails dig into my palm, but I barely notice the bite of pain.

“Why would I let that go? Why would you even ask that of me?”

“Honey,”

she says, and the odd mix of condescension and mock pity in her voice sends chills through me.

“You were young. You had a lot of anger toward Thomas, and you let it all build up. I understand we weren’t perfect parents, but lying to drag him down is ridiculous. You should be more mature than this by now.”

“Which one is it?”

I reply dryly.

“Did I hit my head and misremember, or did I intentionally lie?”

“Well, why don’t you tell me?”

“It was neither! He scared me, and then he proved to me that I had every reason to be afraid of him. Don’t you find it odd how far I fell? That I woke up terrified? Why did you never even consider that maybe I was telling the truth? Because you never believed me. Not even for one goddamn second. Why, Mom? Why?”

She sputters. I roll my eyes, catching three figures standing in my peripheral vision. When I turn to them, my stomach drops at the concerned looks on their faces.

“I was yelling, wasn’t I?”

I ask softly, watching as Elliot approaches.

“Yes,”

my mom snaps in my ear, “you were. And it was quite rude of—”

“Oh, shut up, Patricia.”

I end the call before stuffing my phone in my back pocket.

Elliot’s touch is gentle as he cups my cheek.

“He hurt you.”

I nod.

Oliver and Rhett draw closer and stand on either side of us. Oliver looks like he wants to wrap me up in a hug, whereas Rhett looks ready to find my stepfather and beat the shit out of him. Probably more than that, honestly.

“I’m okay,” I say.

“How often?”

Rhett asks. His voice is low. Dangerous.

“What?”

“How often did he hurt you, princess?”

Oliver takes my hand, frowning when his thumb brushes against the indents my nails made in my palm.

“Once. It was just really bad.”

My gaze falls to the floor.

“Him and my mom were helping me move into my apartment. The elevator was crowded, so we were taking the stairs. Thomas and I went down to get more stuff from his car while my mom stayed in the apartment to organize stuff.

“We were fighting—I don’t even remember about what. But Thomas tried to corner me on a landing. He was always trying to intimidate me into doing what he wanted. That time… I don’t know, it felt different. I got scared, so I pushed him. And he pushed back. Really hard.”

Elliot’s eyes slide closed, and his chest rises as he takes a deep breath.

“Then what?”

“I, um. I tripped. And then I… fell. Down a flight of stairs.”

“He pushed you down a flight of stairs?”

Rhett growls, and when I look at him, his expression is murderous.

I nod silently.

A concerned sound leaves Oliver’s throat, and he squeezes my hand.

“Your mom didn’t believe you.”

“Not even for a second,”

I whisper.

“Or maybe she did, but she decided it wasn’t worth it to fight with Thomas. She loved him. Still does. And he’s also the only reason we were able to have any stability, so I understand why she wouldn’t want to leave him. He was her financial security.”

“She still should’ve believed you.”

Oliver wraps me up in his arms.

“I’m so sorry, princess. That sounds awful.”

“The worst of it was being stuck in the hospital. I was so afraid that Thomas would do something else, especially when he refused to admit to what he’d done. But I couldn’t make him leave. He was my financial security, too. If I kicked him out…”

I choke on the rest of the words. Sometimes it still feels like it happened yesterday.

“If you kicked him out and made Thomas too angry, he could’ve left you in a pile of medical debt,”

Oliver finishes for me.

I blink back tears.

“He played the part of the concerned stepfather—the only time he ever did—so of course he paid for everything. Not paying would only make him look like an asshole. But I was afraid to push him too far, and he wouldn’t leave the hospital room. I was stuck.”

“Never again,”

Rhett says firmly. He steps closer so I’m basically surrounded by the three of them.

“You never have to see him again.”

“That was my plan, but then he was at that dinner.”

“And that’s never happening again,”

Elliot says.

“I’ll kill him before I let him lay his eyes on you one more time.”

My heart melts at the sincerity in his tone.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“He means it,”

Oliver says softly.

“We’d all do it.”

I kiss each of them with the hopes that it’ll convey the words that I can’t seem to get out right now. Rhett was worried the other day that I’d be scared of him, but I’ve never felt safer.

All three of the guys hug me at once, and I relax into their hold. Eventually, I manage to whisper, “Thank you.”

A single tear makes its way down my cheek before dripping onto Elliot’s shirt. I blink the rest away before resting my head on Oliver’s shoulder.

I love you all so much.

I don’t say the words out loud. Rhett isn’t ready, and I can wait a little longer. What matters is that I know how I feel. Two months ago, I never would’ve predicted falling for the three regulars from work. But now? I’m deeply and irrevocably in love with each of these three men.

I’m not sure if I believe in soul mates or fate, but I do know that I believe in us. And as I feel Rhett press a kiss to my hair, a soft smile touches my lips, because I think that’s probably the only thing that truly matters.