Page 273 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

SHANE

S he stands in front of me. Adelaide Byard. Diamonds sparkling at her ears and throat. Dressed in a designer gown that hugs every curve of her body. She looks expensive. She looks like a prize.

A reward.

And yet. . .

This is not what I want.

The irony is staggering. It turns out that I’m a fucking expert at lying to myself.

Because I don’t want the symbol. God help me, I want the real Addie.

The one who keeps herself carefully hidden.

I want the woman who stole a taco off my plate when she thought I wasn’t looking.

The one who inhaled a bar of chocolate before diving into a churro with unabashed glee.

She reaches behind her and pulls the zipper down her back. The dress falls to the floor in a whisper of fabric. She’s naked underneath.

I’ve seen her naked before. There’s no reason seeing her bared to me should take my breath away, but here we are. Like Theo said, none of this makes any sense.

In less than a hundred minutes, this scene will be over. In fourteen hours, I’ll be checking out of my room at Summit, and in twenty-four hours, I’ll be on a plane back to Dublin. A clock ticks in my head, counting down the seconds to the end.

Theo glances over at me, a wordless check-in. I pull myself together. Now is not the time to fall apart. We promised Addie we’d fuck her. Now is the time to deliver on that promise.

“You have the prettiest breasts, Addie.” I suck a nipple into my mouth, and her eyes flutter shut. I rub the other between my fingers, causing it to harden and swell. The sight of it sends a thrill through me. She’s so responsive. So open. She’s so fucking perfect.

“These nipples are made for clamps, don’t you think?”

She bites her lip. “Yes, Mr. Gaffney.”

The clamps I pick don’t have much of a bite. They sting, but the pain’s not unbearable. I chose them because of their looks. Small green crystals dangle from the chain connecting the clamps. I close them over her swollen nipples and cup the back of her neck. “How’s the pain?”

She turns her cheek into my palm, leaning into my touch. “It’s good. Barely a sting.”

Fuck me, she’s beautiful. I eye her with undisguised hunger. “We’re just getting started.” She’s still standing on the inside of the doorway. I beckon her forward. “Step into the room, Addie, and get on your knees.”

She obeys gracefully.

Her eyes are on the bulge of my trousers.

I learned on Wednesday that Addie loves to suck cock, and no, I’m not conceited enough to think that every woman wants to deep throat my dick.

I went down on Addie while she sucked Theo off, and her cunt was a river.

The deeper she took Theo’s cock down her throat, the wetter and more turned on she got.

She wants my cock now; it’s obvious from the way she leans forward, her lips parted, anticipation written in every line of her body. But I don't know if it’s a good idea. I have to be careful tonight to stay clear of anything that seems like intimacy.

Intimacy would make her run. Intimacy would strip me bare.

The bedroom had been Theo’s idea. We didn’t have to offer Addie a choice of location, but he insisted. “She has to want this,” he said. He was right, but I don’t have to like it. “If she doesn’t, then so be it.”

Theo hasn’t said anything so far. I look over at him questioningly, wondering if he’s okay. If we should call it. He gestures for me to continue. Okay then.

Addie’s still kneeling in the middle of the room, waiting for her next order. Her expression is serene. She’s sinking into the sensations, leaving doubt behind. Shedding her cares, one by one, with each passing moment. This is the freedom submission offers.

If this is the last time, it needs to be everything she wants it to be.

“You’re going to take our cocks tonight, Addie,” I tell her. “Go to the cupboard. Find a butt plug and bring it over.”

She starts to get up. I clear my throat. “Did I give you permission to stand up?”

“No, Mr. Gaffney.” She bites her lip in chagrin, small white teeth indenting pink flesh. Fuck me. She’s lush and curvy and gorgeous. Naked, Addie is a fucking goddess. Her body is made for pleasure.

“You can stand up when you reach the armoire to grab what you need,” Theo says.

Is that what it’s called? Fancy prep school education.

She rummages through the cupboard and returns with a butt plug between her teeth. Her cheeks are flushed—she’s mildly embarrassed by this—but her eyes sparkle with desire, and I bet that if I swipe my fingers through her cunt, I’d find her dripping.

I take the plug from her. “No lube?” I quip. “Fine, if that’s the way you want it.” Her eyes widen. “It’s a joke,” I add hastily. “I’d never be that reckless.”

“Right, of course.” A small smile touches her lips. “I know that. You wouldn’t hurt me, neither of you.”

The trust in her voice takes my breath away. Goddamn it. I’m thirty-nine. I’ve lived enough, seen enough, to recognize how rare this is. This is special, this thing between the three of us.

She doesn’t want the same thing, remember?

Theo takes the plug from me and examines it. “Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad plug. But I want you to feel it.” He walks over to the cupboard— armoire —and returns with a thicker glass plug.

Her mouth falls open.

“Check in with me,” Theo says. “You’re good with anal?”

“I’m as green as a meadow.”

I chuckle. While Theo tears open the package and lubes up the plug, I lift Addie onto the bench. She squeaks in surprise. “I’m too heavy,” she protests.

I roll my eyes. “Nonsense. How do you want her, Theo?”

“Hands and knees.”

“You heard the man, Addie.”

She gets in position. Gravity tugs the chain connecting her clamps downward, elongating her nipples. My cock hardens. I step in front of her and squeeze her full, round breasts, running my fingers over her swollen nubs.

Her tongue runs over her lower lip. I follow her gaze. My cock is inches from her face, her eyes are hungry, and fuck it, I can’t resist.

“Want to suck my cock?”

“Yes, please.”

“Hmm.” I make my own trip to the cupboard and return with a Hitachi and a stand. I position the stand, which looks like a small tripod, between Addie’s legs and rest the powerful vibrator on it, adjusting its position to nestle between her plump pussy lips.

“Now, that’s a pretty picture.” Can she hear the satisfaction in my voice? “Here are the rules, Addie. You stop if it gets too much. You lift yourself off the vibrator if you need to. But you’re not allowed to come. Obviously.”

“Obviously,” she repeats, her voice snide.

Theo grins. “I don’t think I like that tone.” He smacks her butt, harder than before. Addie sucks in a breath, but she doesn’t break position. Her ass stays where it is, and the big bulbous head of the vibrator stays nestled between her folds.

Yeah, she’s fine.

“To distract you,” I continue, as if that interlude didn’t happen, “You can suck my cock while Theo presses that plug into your ass.”

“It’s too much. . .” A full-body shiver runs through her. “I can’t. . .”

I cup her cheek gently. “Do your best, baby. I have complete faith in you.” I turn on the vibrator, unzip my trousers, and free my aching cock. “Here.”

Her mouth closes over me, warm and fucking perfect.

Theo’s lube-covered fingers stretch her open.

The room has mirrors everywhere. I can see it, and it’s such a turn-on, almost as hot as the feel of her tongue swirling over my head.

I grit my teeth and will myself not to come. Not yet. Not in her mouth.

Theo presses the plug in. Addie’s eyes are glazed with lust. The Hitachi buzzes away.

Three times, she has to pull herself off it before she explodes.

A sheen of sweat covers her skin, and her mouth works my cock with frantic intensity.

The closer she is to the edge, the deeper she takes me down her throat.

I can’t take much more of this. I can’t. . .

Before I explode, I pull away. Just as I do, Theo thrusts two fingers into Addie’s cunt. “Come for me, Addie,” he orders.

“Thank you, Mr. Keppel,” she breathes. And then she explodes.

Watching her come is almost enough to send me over the edge. I close my eyes to block out the sight of her beautiful body. It takes me a full minute or two to calm myself.

When I open my eyes again, Theo has Addie on the Saint Andrew’s Cross, facing away from us. He’s removed the nipple clamps—I see them lying on the bench. He warms her skin with a suede flogger until it’s pink and her breathing is heavy.

I run my hands over her ass. Her skin is warm, so warm.

“Does this turn you on?” I thrust a finger into her and find her dripping.

“Oh yes, it does.” I move closer, breathing the next words into her ear.

“Is it the flogger or the anticipation? We’re going to fill you now, Addie.

We’re going to fill your pussy and your ass. ”

She turns her head toward me. “Please, Shane,” she whispers. “I need the two of you. Please don’t make me wait.”

Shane. Not Mr. Gaffney. Fuck it. I can’t resist any longer.

Neither can Theo. I unbuckle her from her restraints.

Roll a condom over my cock. Remove the butt plug and drizzle more lube between her cheeks.

I tug her onto the carpeted floor and pull her down over me, facing away from me. “You want my cock, Addie? Take it.”

I guide my cock into her tight hole. “Fuck, yes,” she hisses. Her face, mirrored all around me, is etched with lust. I run my hands up her soft curves and cup her full breasts. She rocks herself onto my length, slowly lowering herself deeper. It feels unbelievably good.

It feels so good that I almost forget that this is the first and last time we’re going to do this. I almost forget the timer. Almost.

Oh fuck. I’m all the way in. “I’m going to move,” I say, my voice hoarse. I thrust up into her, short, shallow strokes that send desire raging through my blood. Fuck it, Theo better hurry. I’m not going to last much longer.

Theo moves between her legs and looks down at her, his gaze inscrutable.

The clock ticks on. “Lie back on Shane,” he orders.

“Spread your legs for me, Addie.” He sheathes himself and thrusts.

Addie clenches, and her muscles tighten on my rock-hard cock.

Fuck me, this is perfection. She’s milking my length, and I dig my fingers into her hips and thrust. Theo coordinates his strokes to mine.

Her soft moans fill my ears, blotting out everything else. Even that damn timer. Blood pounds in my cock, in my brain. Thought is obliterated, and all that is left is sensation. Heat. Pleasure.

But it’s not possible. Not when she writhes between us. Not when she whimpers and moans and begs for more. I make her come once, and then, when her muscles clench again, I erupt, Theo not far behind.

Addie sits in my lap, her head resting on my shoulder. I wrap my arms around her, feeling time slipping between my fingers.

I sometimes joke that Theo is a sunny optimist, a consequence of his privileged background.

But here’s the thing. Theo dared to try.

He ran all over town, setting up that bedroom.

I asked him about it, and he said it was a scene from her book.

It takes a lot of guts to wear your heart on your sleeve the way Theo does.

And me? My parents were assholes, and my childhood was hell. Work was no picnic, either. But those things are in the past.

In the present, there’s Addie.

And I want her to be part of my future.

I have to do something. I have to tell her. “When I first saw you seven years ago, I was young and stupid. You were beautiful, a symbol of success, and I wanted it. I wanted you.”

Her body stiffens, but she doesn’t speak. Her face stays buried in my shoulder. I can’t see her expression, so I have no idea what she’s thinking.

The timer counts down, inexorable, unmoved.

“Last week, you weren’t real to me. When you walked into Xavier’s office, I saw Elliot Meyer’s girlfriend.

I didn’t see you, Addie Byard.” I take a deep breath.

“A real, living, breathing woman. In the last seven days, I’ve heard you moan.

I’ve seen you smile and laugh. I see you, Addie.

And I don’t want that to end. You’re a woman I want to see more of. ”

For a long moment, I don’t know if she’s going to reply. Finally, she lifts her head. “You don’t know anything about me,” she says. “Sex doesn’t change that. We don’t know each other.”

“I want to.”

“No, you don’t,” she replies. “The real me spends a lot of her time in a tattered dressing gown trying to write a book. The real me gets absurdly hurt when people ghost her. The real me forgets about birthdays and anniversaries. I’m a barely functioning human being, Shane. I’m not a prize.”

I open my mouth to tell her I get that. I want to tell her I’m no fucking prize either. I don’t form attachments. I’m surly before my first cup of coffee. I spend too much time at work. I’m rubbish at Christmas presents.

But she doesn’t let me. “Please don’t,” she whispers. “Please. . .”

I weigh my needs against hers. It’s no contest. Hers wins. Her needs will always win.

And she doesn’t want this.

This is the end.

Later, much later, when Addie is gone, and it’s just the two of us, Theo stops me. “Do you want out?” he asks.

“It’s over, man.”

“No,” he says, his voice resolute. “There’s still time on the clock. In or out?”

How can he still hope? I don’t get it. “If you want me to back away?—”

He shakes his head. “In or out, Shane?”

Maybe the sunny optimist knows something I don’t. Or maybe he’s just stupidly hopeful. I don’t know. I don’t care. “I’m in.”