Page 48

“Bower,” Weston says in warning. “I don’t think that’s a wise idea.” His concerned eyes take me in before he turns back to him.

“Actually,” Bower says, leaning back on his palms, “I think it’s a perfect idea.

Right, Zee?” He smirks at me and I swallow heavily.

After what we shared in the hammock, I felt like something vital had clicked between us.

Like he gets me on a deeper level now, he understands my need to keep moving forward and not stay stuck in the past .

“Bower and I spoke about this, after I told you guys about my past.” I look at Weston as I speak, as I’m in Kingsley’s lap and can’t see his face.

But my words are meant for him, too. “I know you’ve just found out about it, but for me, it happened a very long time ago.

Yes, it was still giving me nightmares… until I started sleeping in here with you three.

But I don’t want to let it hold me back any longer.

I don’t want to let them have any control over what happens between us.

So please, don’t hold back because you think I’m not ready.

Instead, can you just ask me, and trust that I’ll tell you if I’m not? ”

I take a deep breath, realizing I said a lot more than I meant to. But I wanted them to understand where I’m coming from and stop worrying so much. It gives the assholes that assaulted me power, and I’m more than ready to leave them in the past.

Weston doesn’t respond, he just nods, seeming to understand my request.

Kingsley kisses my head. “Of course, sweetheart. Whatever you need, we’re here for you.” I let out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding as he speaks again. “So this is like strip King’s Cup now?”

“Any better ideas, smart guy?” Bower asks with the rise of an eyebrow.

“No, no, it’s fine.” Kingsley wraps an arm around my waist, his large, warm hand resting against me. Even though he isn’t touching any skin there, it still sends a tingle of awareness through me.

“Hut,” Bower says, starting the game.

“Gut,” Weston says next, then looks at me.

“Butt!” I say excitedly.

“Shut.”

“Cut.”

“Rut,” Weston says, looking at me .

“S—” my eyes widen when I realize shut was already used. “Fut.”

“Fut?” Kingsley asks with a chuckle.

“Sorry Zee, I think you lose this one,” Weston tells me as I look at him with wide eyes.

Looking down at my body, I realize I’m at a huge disadvantage here. They’re all wearing pants, boxers, socks and a shirt. All I have on is a long t-shirt and a pair of boxers.

Swallowing nervously, I stand up and quickly slide them down my legs, tossing them on the desk before carefully placing myself back in Kingsley’s lap, being very careful to keep my legs together, and not flash anyone.

They might have seen me naked before, but it feels different this time. Not in a bad way. It was like there was a level of tension in the air that was thickening with each glance.

Weston breaks the weird haze I’m in by flipping over the queen of hearts. “Hmm, the queen,” he says, his lips twisting in thought. “I think the queens should represent our little queen.” He stares at me intently as he speaks. “Whoever flips it has to say one thing they love about Zee.”

I inhale a sharp breath of surprise. “And if I flip it?”

“You have to say something you love about yourself. As for me, I love how big your heart is. How, after everything you’ve been through, you still helped us survive here, even when you knew nothing about us.”

My cheeks heat at his praise, and unsure what else to say, I give him a small smile. “Thanks.”

He nods, then points to the cards. “Your turn.”

I reach forward and flip over a King. “Okay, whoever flips this over, I will tell you something that I love about you . ”

“And if you flip it over?” Kingsley asks, his arm around my waist giving me a small squeeze.

I smile over my shoulder at him. “Then I have to say something about each of you. Kingsley, I love how caring you are, how you always make sure that I’m taken care of.” I turn my head to Bower next.

“Bower, I love how you can make me smile and laugh, even when I’m upset. You can turn my mood around in a single heartbeat.”

Lastly, I look up at Weston. “Weston, I love how you take care of me, and always make sure I’m okay, that I’m safe.”

I glance around at each of them. “I haven’t had anyone like you three in my life for a very long time.”

They give me sad smiles, as if they hate that I went so long without that sort of care, then Kingsley reaches forward and flips over a three, breaking the tension.

“Three… I want a kiss, for three seconds.” He turns me sideways in his lap, his hands cupping my face as he tilts my chin up towards him.

“You sure you don’t want a kiss from Bower?” I whisper. Bower chuckles behind me as Kingsley grins.

“No, sweetheart, you’re the one that I want.” He tilts his head down and my eyes slide shut right before his lips press against mine. His kiss is so heated and passionate I can almost feel tears forming in my eyes at the emotion it stirs within me.

All too soon he pulls back with a smile, placing one last quick peck on my lips, then turning to Bower, gesturing for him to pick a card.

Bower grunts, adjusting himself in his pants, which makes me bite my lips to hold in the laughter .

He flips over an eight, then looks over at me with a big smile on his face. He reaches his arms in my direction, making grabby motions with his hands. “Come to daddy.”

I let out a burst of laughter as I gently climb out of Kingsley's lap and knee walk towards Bower. “Please never call yourself that again.”

When I’m in range, he grabs my hips and drags me into his lap so I’m sitting sideways and can keep my legs closed.

“Is it cause Weston is clearly the daddy here?” he asks.

I glance over to Weston, who’s glaring back at Bower. “Weston?” I ask, making him look at me instead. “You want me to call you daddy?” I ask with a straight face.

He groans, running a hand down his face as he stares up at the ceiling. “Lord help me.” He drops his hands, and his eyes meet mine again. “Unless that’s something you want, Zee, no. West or Weston is fine.”

“What about sir ?” I ask, tilting my head. The name just popped into my head and it feels fitting for him since he’s always telling me what to do.

He stares at me without blinking for what must be a full ten seconds before he finally nods. “Yeah, you can call me that, if you want, baby.”

For some reason, the thought of doing that makes my cheeks heat and by the satisfied look on his face, he loves my reaction to it. He turns his eyes to the cards and flips up a six, tossing it into the coconut in the middle, along with the other used cards.

“ Six can be strip . Normally I’d make it drink, but since we seem to be playing a strip version of the game, I think it’s fitting.” He reaches down and pulls off a single sock, tossing it onto the desk with my boxers.

I frown, realizing if I reveal a six now, I’m done for .

Reaching down, I flip over a jack, letting out a sigh of relief. Leaning back against Bower I admit, “I don’t know what to do.”

“Well,” Bower starts. “You could have it make the person do something, like give a lap dance.”

“What’s a lap dance?” I ask, trying to picture exactly what that means.

“Hmm, another first for you, Tink. How about whoever flips the jack has to give you a lap dance, and if you flip it, whoever’s lap you’re in has to give you one?”

“So I never have to do one?” I ask in relief.

“No, I don’t want you doing something you aren’t comfortable with or don’t know what it is. Let us do this one for you.”

I take a second to think about it, but don’t see any downside, so I nod. “Okay, let’s do that.”

“Great, now stand up,” he says, giving my hips a squeeze. He follows me to standing then places the chair in a way that it faces the other two, then guides me to sit in it. I frown. Is he going to sit in my lap? I’m not sure the chair will take the weight of both of us.

“This is a little hard without any music, but I’ll do my best,” Bower says, coming to stand in front of me.

Without warning, he starts rolling his body in a way I’ve never seen someone do before. My eyes widen in shock as he continues, his hips rolling in a seductive dance as his hands slide down his tight shirt, highlighting his strong abs.

Wetness pools between my legs and I snap them closed, afraid that something might leak out. His hands land on my knees and he slowly slides them up my thighs. When he starts to push the bottom of my shirt up, I gasp, pleasure shooting to my core .

He smirks at me, then lowers his hands back down to my knees before standing up tall and stepping over me, one leg on either side of mine.

I swallow heavily as I try to figure out where to look. His jean-covered crotch is inches from my face as he starts rolling his hips again and I freeze, unsure what to do.

He reaches down and gently grabs my hands, placing them on his abs. “You can touch me, baby. If you want.”

I let my fingers slide down under the hem of his shirt before pushing them up underneath so I can feel his heated skin. I grow even wetter as he continues his seductive dance and my hands explore his body.

“What is happening right now?” I whisper, more to myself than anyone.

“You like my dance, baby?”

“Uh huh,” I say, nodding my head like I forgot how to speak properly.

Finally, he comes to a stop and I just blink up at him as he steps back. “That, my dear Tink, was a lap dance.”

“And…” I trail off, needing a second to get my brain working again. “This is something people do out there, in the real world?”

He helps guide me back to the floor in his lap as Kingsley answers for him. “Yes, and no. It’s not like people would do that out in public, but you might see it a little at certain clubs.”

“Definitely at strip clubs,” Bower adds.

Ohhh. I get it, it’s something an exotic dancer does. I’d heard about those before I was stranded here. My eyes move to Kingsley, then Weston, wondering what their lap dances would be like. I wonder if I’ll ever be able to do one for them. Silently, I add that to my list, too.

The rain hammers on outside as we continue our game through a few more rounds.

I’m lucky enough not to have to strip anything else off, but the same can’t be said for them.

I think they are assigning values to try to make it easier on me, which I appreciate.

When Bower loses a round of the rhyming game, he ends up in just his boxers and shirt, and I have to wonder if he really couldn’t think of another rhyme for beer, since I could think of at least four more without even trying.

Kingsley has lost both socks, and Weston, who’s lap I’m currently sitting in, is only in his boxers, thanks to some new values assigned to cards that seem to only disadvantage them, and not me.

Which I can’t say I’m mad about, considering he has his strong naked chest and arms wrapped around me right now.

I lean forward and flip over a six, my hand freezing the second I let it drop into the coconut.

I stare at it in disbelief, somehow I didn’t think it would actually come to this, me having to strip naked in front of them.

Weston's arms tighten around me, his mouth moving to my ear as he whispers, “Baby, you don’t have to do it. We only want you to do things you’re comfortable with.”

His willingness to concede to my worry makes me relax against him. This was part of the reason I loved these guys, they never pushed me beyond my comfort level.

My eyes widen and my fingers dig into Weston’s arm. Did I just say love?

Crap shells, when did that happen? But… It's not a bad thing, is it? Not unless they didn’t feel the same. Of course, there was the whole ‘ them getting rescued while I stay here’ thing that I was actively trying not to think about anymore.

Wanting to push that train of thought away, and suddenly feeling bold in a way that sends heat curling through me, I slowly ease Weston’s arms off my body.

I stay seated, letting the anticipation build between us.

Then, keeping my eyes on the other two, I lift the shirt over my head in one smooth motion and toss it onto the desk with the rest of our clothes.

Now I’m completely naked, except for the shell necklace I never take off.

Bower and Kingsley eyes trail down my body and I slowly reach out and grab Weston’s arms, pulling them back to wrap around me, using one to cover my chest, giving me a small sense of modesty back.

“So brave,” he whispers in my ear, his voice low and warm, as his fingers slowly trace along my sides, right where his palms rest against my heated skin.

“Kingsley,” I say breathily, nodding to the remaining cards. “Your turn.”

He clears his throat, tearing his eyes away from me. “Ah hem. Right.” He flips over a two, it’s the first one we’ve seen so he needs to make a new rule.

“Two…” he says, his eyes moving to where Weston’s arm is wrapped around my chest. I lick my lips nervously, wondering what he’s thinking about.

“I want to—” A crash of thunder suddenly erupts above us and I scream, my hands shooting up to cover my ears.

I squeeze my eyes shut tight as Weston moves me. I know they’re all talking, but I can’t make out any of their words as a memory fills my mind.

I stare down at my hands, they’re stained red even though the rain is crashing down loudly around me. I feel so utterly lost and hopeless. What am I supposed to do now? How does one get past something like this? Something so utterly devastating that it feels like a part of you has died?

Thunder crashes above me, making me jump. Where’s Mo-Mo? Fuck, I’ve never needed him more than I do in this very moment. He’d know what to do. Me? I have no idea how to survive this.

The sky flares white with lightning and another boom shakes the ground beneath me.

My body jerks and my eyes land back on the ground in front of me.

I can’t just leave this mess here. I dig my fingers into the mud, clawing at the ground until I’ve made a shallow hole.

Every time thunder cracks the sky, I flinch like it’s inside me.

When it’s finally covered , I can barely stand.

The pain is too much, both in my body and in my chest. I stumble forward, aimless, until my foot catches on a root and I fall hard to my hands and knees.

Another crash of thunder tears through the sky and I drop to my side, curling into a ball, covering my ears with both hands.

“Please, stop,” I whisper to the wind. But it doesn’t listen. It rages on, wild and merciless, just like the storm in my head.