Page 10 of Sunrise (Monarch Club #3)

Sophie

I am so honored to be with these two men.

If they squeeze me out of their dynamic and move on without me, it’ll break my heart, but I’ll find a way to survive. I don’t think they can say the same if they lose each other again. The tension in the room is thick.

Knox is already bratting, playfully pushing Vault’s patience.

Vault is more guarded than I’ve ever seen him.

“Do you want to punish him for biting you?” I sidestep Knox and grab the riding crop from the floor. This man loves a little pain with his pleasure. In that regard, he’s a bit like Dmitri. But he needs heavy praise to go with it or he spirals.

Waiting for Vault to make up his mind, I pet Knox’s head. He likes being called pup. Enjoys rewards for listening. Loves to be tortured and edged.

And he’ll do anything for the ones in this room.

Vault stalls out. He no sooner seems to have confidence when it falters again. That’s okay. I didn’t think he was going to tear the door from its hinges, jump into bed, and fuck us both like a beast. Our dynamic will take time and work to settle into. This is the first of many sessions we’ll have .

I’m just so proud of him for getting this far.

“He’s waiting,” I remind him.

Knox’s gaze drops to the floor. The droop in his shoulders makes me think he’s accepting defeat. “Come with me, Knox.”

He crawls across the floor, following me onto the bed again. “Put your head on my lap.”

It’s strange to have control over him when he’s so unruly out in public.

But I understand why he needs this. Knox has handled a lot of terrible situations in his life.

He needs a safe space where he can let go and just exist. I can’t imagine the weight he’s carried as a boy, or what those responsibilities feel like now.

Running my hand through his hair, I lay back on the pillows and let Vault watch us.

He's never seen what we’re like together until today. Not in the bedroom.

Outside, Knox calls all the shots, but in my bed, I’m the one who pulls his strings.

“Do you want to bite Vault again?”

“Yes, Mistress.”

I almost laugh at how fast he answers. “Why?”

“Because he likes it. And I want to do what he likes.”

Someone here is starting to sound disconnected… “What about what I like?”

He turns his head up to me and waits for more instruction. My role as his Mistress is to protect and care for him. But he’s a pleaser. His love language is physical touch and acts of service.

“What if I want a kiss, pup?”

Knox lifts from my lap to press his mouth to mine, but I turn away. “From Vault.”

Gaze shifting to the man of the hour, I arch my brow and wait. Knox settles back into my lap again, and I continue to pet his hair.

After several long, dragged out seconds, Vault silently climbs into the bed and presses his mouth to mine. Knox doesn’t move.

“Mmm.” I smile against his lips when he pulls away from me a little. “Again.”

Vault kisses me again, putting a little more energy into it this second round.

“Again.”

He dives in a third time and Knox hooks his arm around my back, running his fingers over my heated skin.

“Fuck, again.”

Vault kisses me harder. Stronger. Angrier.

“ Again .”

Now he’s pissed. Pulling my hair, he crushes his mouth to mine and damn near sucks the air from my fucking lungs.

I love it.

He’s my Dom some nights and the only man to claim the honor. Vault has confidence, control, and patience… he just needs to show those things to himself instead of me. At any point, he can call Red, and the scene is over. They know the color system because I use it on them both.

My fingers comb through Knox’s hair while I stare into Vault’s eyes. “Do you miss kissing him?”

Neither answer.

“Your Mistress asked you a question. Do you miss kissing him?”

“Yes,” Knox says.

Vault swallows hard, his chest heaving as he fights what may well turn into a panic attack. I can’t let that happen. “It’s okay to say you don’t want to answer.”

He doesn’t open his mouth.

“You don’t have to use your words this time, Vault.” I tilt my head, keeping my hand steadily stroking Knox’s head to give him comfort and assurance. This is a dangerous line I’m crossing. Words are always necessary in our scenes. But I’ll push the boundary this time if it’ll help.

Vault barely nods.

Knox holds his breath because he sees it.

“Do you want to kiss him right now?”

Vault’s face pales. He nods ever so slightly again.

“Do you want Knox to kiss you back?”

I think we’re both frozen in place, waiting for Vault’s response.

He shakes his head no.

I can work with that.

“Come here.” I crook my finger at Vault, even though he’s practically hovering over me as it is. “Knox is going to stay still for you. Go at your own pace.”

I’ll never forget this moment for as long as I live.

The anguish in Vault’s expression. The heat rolling off Knox because he’s terrified this will fail. The euphoria that alters my brain chemistry when Vault leans down and kisses the top of Knox’s head.

Then his nose.

His chin.

And finally… his mouth.

Knox’s arm is still wrapped around my back. His fingers dig into me like I’m a life raft to hold on to. He gives Vault time and patience and respect to move at his own pace, in his own way. I’m sure he’s desperate to kiss back. I know I would be.

Knox, of all people, knows how important this step is for Vault. Even more than I do. He stays still and only clings to me, while Vault reacquaints himself with Knox’s lips.

A cracked noise slips from Vault’s throat. His mouth lingers on Knox’s lips and he’s shaking. They both are.

My heart hammers, and I look up at the camera. Ryker’s watching. He and I had a talk already, and he was in full support of tonight, but it came with worry and fear for all of us.

If I fuck this up, they won’t survive another second chance.

Neither will I.

There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for the men in this club. Ryker and Dmitri are like brothers to me. Knox and Vault are the prizes of the war I’ve fought for the better part of seven years. I deserve this level of love and devotion.

So do they.

Vault suddenly lifts up and looks away. “Yellow.” He slides off the bed. “Yellow. Yellow. Yellow.”

Knox bolts off me faster than lightning. “Vault.”

I step into action. “It’s okay. Let’s talk about what worked and what didn’t.”

Vault shakes his head. “Yellow, yellow, yellow!” Panic rises in his voice. He shrinks back.

Knox grabs his shoulders. “Vault!”

“RED!” he screams.