Page 39 of Triumphant Kings

“Why what?” he asks as I get off Declan’s lap to sit in his.

He pulls me down greedily, like he needs to touch me, to hold me.

“Why would you do that for me?” I whisper, eyes filling with tears. “Why go through all that trouble to make it easier for me to be with everyone, when you don’t even want to share me with the others?”

“Because I love you.” He cups the back of my head and brings me closer to his face. “Because I want you to be happy.” He presses a kiss to my lips, and I melt into his touch. “They make you happy, right?” he whispers against my lips, and I nod. “Then I’ll do whatever it takes so you can be with them, too. We’re not doing anything wrong, Sadie. And I refuse to hide from the world like we are. These people would rather slit our throats than pour water on us if we were on fire. So, why would I change how we live, just to please them? We live for ourselves, no one else.”

“I love you.” I’m crying softly now, grabbing his face and pressing kisses to his lips. “I love you so much.”

He holds me to him, deepening the kiss until I’m gripping his suit jacket, ready to grind down on his thick cock.

“Do you two mind not fucking right here? There are people around,” Preston grumbles.

We break apart, panting heavily. Smiling, I lean my head on Collin’s shoulder, looking over at Preston. He’s not upset, but I can see the longing in his eyes, and it breaks my heart.

I’m about to say something, but Collin beats me to it.

“Soon, brother. Soon we will get you out of your shackles and free of these fucked up people.”

Preston’s eyes flick up to his brother. I can tell he’s not used to this, his brother caring about him. That anyone cares for him.

He really is going to have to get used to it, because I meant it when I said we were a family.

“Whatever it takes,” I whisper to Preston. His eyes find mine.

A small smile lifts on his lips. “Whatever it takes.”

And we mean it.

Chapter 9

Collin

“Are you even allowed to be doing that?” Preston asks, his voice filled with annoyance.

“You're just jealous, baby brother.” I grin at him over Sadie’s shoulder. She’s sitting on my lap, facing the rest of the guys. I refuse to let her go. I’ve hardly seen her the past week, and I miss her so damn much. I’d glue myself to her side if I could.

He narrows his eyes at me. “You’re a teacher. Don’t think people are going to take too well to you openly groping a student.”

“This student is my wife.” Keeping my eyes on Preston, I kiss the side of Sadie’s throat. “So, I can do whatever I want.”

His jaw tenses, eyes growing harder. I love fucking with him. We might be in a better place, but he’s still my brother.

If I have to get used to sharing her with the others, Preston needs to get used to sharing her with me.

“Stop it,” Sadie scolds, but her words come out breathy as I run my thumb lazily against her inner thigh. “No fighting.”

“And no throwing the wife card around,” Grayson grumbles.

“Fine, fine.” I sigh in surrender.

We spent the lunch hour talking, mostly me filling everyone in with what I’ve been dealing with for the past week.

Most of it is business. Even though I don’t actively play a part in any of my mother’s business ventures, I’m still part part-owner in almost all of them. After taking her last name, it caused a wave. I’ve had to make sure things with investors and business partners stayed smooth.

After getting rid of my father’s last name, there are a handful of people who refuse to do business with me, saying I betrayed my legacy and they can’t trust me.

It took everything in me not to laugh in their faces because the Killian empire is my legacy, not the Joneses.