Gemini (22 page)

Bryce ground his jaw. He had his arms crossed over his chest and his face was lined with anger. Quinn was a little afraid spit would fly when he spoke. “Take her,” he said. “She’s really less than adequate as a wife. I’m sure you’ll lose interest soon enough, too.” He looked like he was about to walk away, but he leaned in to get a look at Gemini. “Don’t come back.”

“As if,” Quinn said. He’d put his hand on Gemini’s shoulder. “Come on, Gem.”

“Wait.” Clay made sure Tomlinson knew he was included in the command. He took Gem’s hand and pulled the rings from her left ring finger.

The diamond had to be three carats or better. Quinn would have liked to fault the man for it, but hell, he figured Gemini would be wearing another very much like it before long. He totally got how there was nothing like a big rock on a woman’s finger to mark her as yours.

Clay apparently didn’t have the same sentiment—or maybe he did, but he had an objection to another man laying claim to his woman. He took the rings and walked over to the heavy table that held the marble sculpture pieces. He set the diamond down on a flat piece of marble. He picked up another that looked like a downtrodden alien woman, only squat, like a troll. Watching Tomlinson as he did it, he took the marble piece and smashed the diamond.

It shattered into something like stardust.

Tomlinson jerked like he’d been gut shot. Apparently, that had hurt.

Clay nodded his head toward the door, and, after one more stunned second, Quinn nudged Gemini in that direction. Jace came along. “I didn’t know you could do that,” he said in obvious surprise—or maybe awe. “I thought diamonds were stronger than anything.”

“Strong,” Clay said, “but fragile.”

* * * *

Both Quinn and Jace had a hand on her as they followed Clay out the front door. Gemini caught a glimpse of a strange car parked haphazardly in the circular drive before Quinn stopped at the foot of the steps and pulled her into his arms.

“Are you okay, baby? Did he hurt you?”

Even before she could answer, Jace took over. He hugged her hard, and Gemini just wanted to burrow there, safe and loved.

But then it was Clay’s turn, and he wasn’t into sweet, loving hugs. He held her firmly by her upper arms and inspected her. “Answer the question, Gemini. Did he hurt you? Because we can go back and kill him right now.”

“No,” she said. “He didn’t hurt me.” She looked into Clay’s eyes and answered the question they hadn’t asked, very glad she didn’t have to lie about it. “He didn’t touch me.”

She was in his arms, then, another hug that squeezed the breath out of her and made her feel safe and loved. The three men hovered around her. Even as she was in Clay’s arms, Quinn lifted her face for a kiss.

“Don’t ever do that again, Gem. Don’t ever leave us.”

She sighed, knowing they wouldn’t understand that she’d needed to go. “I was so afraid. For you,” she clarified. “There was a man with a gun in the bar.”

“We know,” Clay said. “But it’s our job to protect you, not the other way around.”

Gemini understood, but she knew she wouldn’t change what she’d done. They were too important to her to put at risk.

“Let’s go,” Jace said. “We have a balcony suite at the Citizen.” He took her hand and opened the back door of the car for her, then climbed behind her. She was entirely sure three pairs of eyes had enjoyed watching her ass in that tight dress. Clay got behind the wheel and started the car.

On the drive downtown, she heard from the three of them how they’d discovered and foiled Bryce’s plan to incriminate them as meth dealers. She asked about the woman, Paula, and Clay told her he’d learned that Bryce had always kept a woman in the downtown condo he owned. Every two or three years the woman would change, and Clay said he figured that was about as long as any woman would take what Bryce dished out.

“Did she truly say that?” Gemini asked. “That when I left, he beat her in the face? Because he couldn’t beat me that way?”

Clay didn’t answer until he pulled to a stop at a light and could turn to look at her. “It wasn’t just when you left. It was always true. Tomlinson didn’t hit you in the face because he didn’t want you to have visible marks. He didn’t have any scruples about it with the other women, though, and Paula said it was what always gave him the most pleasure.”

Gemini shuddered and let Jace pull her close. “Did you really get her away, Clay? Is she gone? Safe?”

“Yeah,” he said, looking at her in a way that let her know what he said was true.

“But he’ll just find another woman to replace her.”

Clay nodded. “Probably so. And one to replace you, too. We can’t control everything, Gem.”

Quinn spoke next. “I sure as hell hate to see him let off the hook. The bastard could be running this state in a few years.”

Clay looked at him and then at Jace and Gemini in the back seat. “We need him to have something to lose. To keep Gem safe, to keep us safe.”

The car behind him honked, but he let his words settle in before he drove on.

Everyone was quiet after that, and Gemini struggled with a debilitating burden of regret and responsibility. She just couldn’t explain, even to herself, how she’d ever come to be involved with a man like Bryce. She’d thought she loved him. That he loved her. She fought against despair and wasn’t sure she would win.

“Clay, is what you have—the photos, the recordings—is that enough to bring criminal charges against Bryce?”

Clay took a moment to answer. “Well, we don’t want to do that, right? But yeah, it is. Or would be, if any of the women agreed to testify.”

“It’s okay, sweetheart. He can’t hurt you anymore.” Jace held her close and kissed her temple. “Remember this is not your fault. It wasn’t from the beginning. He’s a master manipulator, and you were alone and vulnerable. You’d just lost Cap, and you didn’t have us. You’re stronger now. Nothing like that will happen to you again.”

Gemini nodded. She understood his meaning and appreciated his insight and assurance. But it was a new, sharp pain, a fresh wound, to know that her choices had made matters worse for another woman—women. It might not happen to her, but it would happen to others.

“It’s done. Stop thinking about it.”

She felt Jace’s lips again at her temple and then trailing down to her cheek.

“Think about this instead.” He took her lips in the softest, sweetest kiss. By the time Clay stopped the car at the portico to the hotel, Jace’s magic had worked. She was thinking only about the kiss, wallowing in the sweet pleasure of it, and wishing he’d do more with his warm, gentle hands than tenderly stroke her neck and arms.

It took long moments to realize the car had stopped. When Jace lifted his mouth, Gemini saw that Clay and Quinn watched intently from the front seat.

“Let’s get her inside,” Clay said.

They were men of action. Within minutes, Gemini found herself in a suite high above the city. Floor to ceiling windows on two sides opened to balconies. They could see both the dome of the capitol and the lighted spire of the cathedral. She had only a moment to enjoy the view before she was surrounded by three, large, handsome, predatory men.

“Do you need to eat?” Quinn asked. She shook her head as they closed in on her. “A shower?”

“No.”

They all touched her. Clay was behind her with his hands on her hips. Quinn had a hand caressing her neck and jaw, and Jace had her hand folded against his chest.

“You belong to all of us now.” Quinn touched her lips with his. “You get that, right?”

“Yes,” she said, closing her eyes as someone’s hand trailed down to cover her breast. “That’s what I want. I want all of you.”

She couldn’t argue with it. She would never be able to choose among them, would never be able to say no to any of them. She was sure of it. If they would have her, she would have them. “I love you all.”

“I love you,” Quinn said. He kissed her again and leaned in so his body pressed against hers. It was his hand on her breast, his thumb stroking to find her nipple.

“I love you, too,” Jace said. He tilted her head away from Quinn and gave her his own kiss. He opened her mouth with his and foraged with his tongue. He pressed into her, also, and found her other breast with his hand.

From behind, Clay’s fingers followed the slit in her dress, pushing it up until they slid between her legs. He stroked her, stimulating her ass and pussy. “Give me your mouth, babe,” he said into her hair. When she tilted up for him, he kissed her roughly. He was breathing hard when he lifted up, his gaze hot. “Love you, Gem.”

Someone’s fingers rubbed her from the front now, and she arched back, wallowing in the adoration of her three men. She stepped out of her dress as Clay unzipped it and they slid it off her shoulders and down her body. Then fingers and lips were at her breasts, seeking her nipples through the satin of her bra and drawing them to peaks. Clay reached around her to brush his fingers down the center of her silk undies.

“All of us, babe,” he said. “You can take all of us, right?”

“Yes,” she moaned. Clay’s rough fingers were inside her panties now, stroking over her clit, reaching lower to push into her wet pussy. “Yes, all of you. That’s exactly what I want.”

“Triple penetration,” Clay said. “I fucking want her ass.” His hands were behind her now, tugging her thong aside. He pushed his middle finger deep into her pussy, wetting himself with her desire. Then he slid his finger back and circled her anus. Spreading her moisture, he dipped in.

“Oh.”

Quinn unfastened her bra and drew it away. “Jesus, you’re beautiful, baby.” He cupped her breast in one hand and lifted it to his mouth. With his other hand, he worked her clit.

Moaning, she lifted her arms to circle back around Clay’s neck, offering herself, letting the men take what they wanted.

Jace leaned in to kiss her and held her gaze to his. “I want her cunt.” Watching her squirm, he pinched her nipple. “I haven’t had her yet.” His eyes were hot. “Not since that first night.”

“You get her mouth, Quinn.” That was Clay, speaking as he ran his lips along the crook of her neck and took hold with his teeth. He had another finger in her ass now, fucking her deep.

“I can tell you, she fucking knows what to do with it,” Jace said.

“Let’s find out how she handles three cocks at once.”

“Fuck, yeah.”

One of the bedrooms had a four-poster king bed, and Gemini found herself there without knowing exactly how it happened. Her world was a blur of mouths and hands, heated breaths and rough words.

Clay and Quinn held her, touching and kissing her everywhere, while Jace stood back to undress. His suit coat and tie were already gone, but he unbuttoned his shirt as he watched his friends play with her. Then he kicked out of his shoes and slid down his slacks and briefs.

His cock was huge and pulsing, thrust up in need. “Bring her here,” he said. “Hold her for me.”

Clay and Quinn stepped close with her. Jace’s eyes were locked on her pussy. “Spread your feet, babe. Tilt her back, guys.”

Held in strong arms, Gemini leaned back. Jace put his hands on her, rubbing down her wet center with his thumbs, then circling around to grasp her hips. His fingers gripped her ass.

With a fierce gaze, he watched as his cock closed in on her opening. He dug in, stretching her with the full circumference of his big cock head. “Fuck, she’s tight,” he breathed. “I’m going to fucking love this.”

He thrust deep and up, lifting her so she was fully suspended on his cock. He held her hips as her legs dangled, the upper half of her body supported securely by Quinn and Clay.

“Jesus. Jesus, baby.”

He slammed into her, filling her cunt so full, his hard thrusts tugging at her clit and sending shockwaves up her body that jiggled her tits. He fucked her roughly, growling in pleasure. His eyes flared with satisfaction as he watched his cock bury itself in her cunt, then he looked at her, grinning at the way her tits bounced as he thrust into her, meeting her gaze as she arched in ecstasy.

It was almost more than she could bear. But she remembered their intent. Triple penetration. Her body accommodating three big, hard cocks.

Jace seemed to remember it, too, just before it was too late for both of them. He thrust in deep, so he possessed every last inch of her, and held. He looked at his two friends. “Bring her up.”

He backed up to the foot of the bed and sat, drawing her legs up so she straddled him. When she settled on the bed, he was deep inside her. He liked what he saw then, she could tell. Her tits were right in front of him, her nipples already ripe and red. He took a good look then grasped hold with thumb and fingers on either side, and watched her face as he plucked at her.

Gemini shuddered, almost overcome already. But she knew there was more to come, and she wanted it. She was aware of her other two men behind her, and she wanted to please them all. In a siren move that came surprisingly naturally, she lifted her arms and dropped her hair over her shoulder. Then she flexed, grinding down on Jace’s cock, and giving a view of that action to anyone who was interested.

Apparently, someone was.

She heard Clay growl. “Fucking bitch. She’s asking for it, isn’t she?”

Quinn answered. “I think she is.”

With no warning, Clay wrapped his hand in her hair and brought her head back against his chest. His mouth was at her ear, his breath hot. “I’m going to give it to you, just like you want it. You want my cock up your ass, don’t you? You want both Jace and me tearing into you, double fucking you. Don’t you?”

“Yes, Clay. Yes.” She moaned as Jace worked her nipples, shivering when she felt Clay’s fingers ream her ass, wetting her with his spit. “Fuck my ass. Hurry. I want it.”

Quinn was alongside her. She grabbed his arm to steady herself, and he came in for a deep, taking kiss. Then he leaned back to watch as Clay took her ass.

“Relax, baby.” Clay was pressing into her, but she was already so full with Jace’s cock, it was an impossibly tight fit. She whimpered a bit at the pain/pleasure of it.

“Lean back a bit, Jace.” That was Quinn’s instruction. He reached across the bed, grabbed a couple pillows, and piled them behind Jace’s back.