No Simple Sacrifice (Secrets of Stone Book 5) (33 page)

Her lips flattened. “This isn’t the time or place for that, young lady.”

“Maybe it’s exactly the time and place.” Squeezes from both Drake and Fletch encouraged me on. “The world isn’t black and white anymore, Mama. Love is as colorful as the rainbow. It comes in every hue and brightness. You’ve prayed to God, begging him to give me a good man. Well, he’s been abundant. I have two, and I love them with all my heart and soul. They make me feel whole and I want to be with them. And if God’s still willing, they’ll still want me too.”

I concluded by looking up at the guys, waiting with my breath held.

Fletcher, my amazing peacekeeping runway model man, spoke first. “I love you, baby. I’ve never stopped loving you. I want us all to be together too.”

Expectantly, we turned to Drake. He took a few seconds longer to reply, spiking my anxiety even higher.

“Talia.” His words rushed out on an exhale, sounding forced and painful. He yanked me in hard, fitting my body against the muscled length of his. “I’ve missed you so much…and I’m so sorry for hurting you. I thought I was doing the right thing; that you two would find happiness without me.”

Fletcher socked his shoulder before growling, “Impossible.” It was probably the first and last time he’d ever get away with something like that.

“It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.” Drake’s grate was as rough and loving as his hand against my face. “And further, I will never forgive myself for what happened at the gala. If you can find it in your heart to still want me, I want that too. I’ve missed you both so much.”

He looked from me to Fletcher, sending a wordless apology to his best friend. Fletch responded by reaching for his shoulder. Drake returned the move, closing both their big bodies in around me. I twined my hands up, digging fingers into their necks as tears coursed down my face. I never wanted to let go, just in case it was all my imagination. “I love you both so much,” I choked. “I’ve been so lost without you.”

People wound around us as we embraced in the middle of the hotel lobby. None of us would’ve cared if half the world saw, but my parents’ restless shifting grew heavier on the air. I still needed to deal with them, but couldn’t pull myself from the arms around me. The arms I’d ached for, through so many empty days and nights.

“Natalia.
Natalia
!”

Mama’s harsh hissing finally broke through. With teary laughs, we opened our embrace, though the guys still sandwiched me between them. I wasn’t complaining one bit. I was finally back in my ideal spot. “Yes?” I said sweetly to her.

“It’s time for dinner. And you’re causing a scene.”

“People expressing emotions does not cause a scene, Mama.” I stepped forward but slipped my hands down, capturing both the guys’ hands. “Besides, it’s my birthday—and I want us to celebrate together.
All
of us.”

“It’s your birthday?” Fletcher tucked in, kissing my cheek. “Happy
happy
birthday, baby.”

Drake leaned over too—but went straight for my ear with
his
message. “We’ll celebrate properly after the meal. Upstairs. In your bed.”

The butterflies in my stomach rushed to my core. Moisture tingled through my folds. My soul had missed them most of all, but my body definitely had something to say about the reunion party. I’d missed them more than words could explain…in so many ways.

I looked up at Drake’s mischievous grin. His gaze captured mine, full of erotic shadows and illicit meaning. He was dark and lusty and dangerous…and he took my breath away.

My father had walked away and now returned. “They can seat us now, if you’re ready.”

He actually tried to smile—much better than what I’d hoped for, and the best we were going to get in the way of acceptance for now. I grabbed onto the olive branch with both hands, returning his words with a genuine grin.

And then, I squeezed my guys’ hands harder. Let their warmth, strength, and love seep into my skin, my spirit, my heart…right where they belonged.

As we walked into the restaurant, a wider smile spread across my face, until my cheeks actually hurt. There was a soloist on a piano, performing the most perfect song I could imagine.

How do you measure the life of a woman or a man?

In truths that she learned

Or in times that he cried…

Seasons of love, indeed.

Drake

“K
eep your eyes
closed. Are they closed?”

Her nervous laugh was sexy and throaty and made me crave to do very nasty things to her.

“They’re closed, they’re closed. What’s going on? Where are you taking me?”

“No questions, remember? Any more and I’ll have to gag you as well, young lady. Hmmm, maybe you’d like that? I could take your panties off, maybe…then stuff them in your mouth.” The mental image had my cock engorged with blood, straining against my slacks.

For our three-month anniversary, Fletch and I had planned a uniquely erotic night during our quick getaway to Cozumel. Life had been chaotic lately, with a lot of work, a lot of play, and
a lot
of travel. The three of us were still trying to balance our schedules between Chicago and San Diego, until we decided where we’d be best located on a permanent basis. Each city had its merits. None of us was compelled more toward either. This trip had provided a
very
nice break from the grind.

“It smells so good. Is that amber? And…piña coladas? Seriously, where are we?”

“Were those more questions?” I teased the tender spot just under her ear with the tip of my tongue. The growl in my voice made her shiver, and I couldn’t resist the chance to move in, grinding my erection against her sweet, tight ass. “Thank fuck you’re still wearing these panties, little girl. You know what would happen if you weren’t? You feel what you do to me, Talia?”

The sweetest, highest gasp tumbled off her lips. “Ohhhh…Drake. God, you feel so good. Please, unhook the handcuffs so I can touch you.”

“Not a chance. Unless you need me to, and you know what to say if that’s the case.”

We’d been playing a little more over the past few weeks, and I’d decided she needed a safe word after Fletch and I discussed the subject of the abusive ex again. I never wanted to spook her, much less lose her trust, and he’d agreed—though I was ecstatic that our little journeys into Power Exchange had worked their desired effect. By surrendering to us in the bedroom, she’d learned what real strength she actually possessed—turning her into a little dynamo in other areas of her life. She’d become more confident at work, with her friends—and most importantly, with her family.

“I remember.”

Her words helped manage my lust. Hearing her conviction, given with such surety, was a reminder of how much she gave me with this…and exactly what Fletch and I wanted to do with her tonight.

“Good.” I lifted her hair, kissing her nape. “So for now, those cuffs are staying right where they are. Besides,”—I stepped around in front of her, trailing a finger from her ear lobe to her chin—“you
like
my little games.”

She leaned toward me, parting her lips. “Yes,” she whispered, “I do.”

I trailed my finger slowly down her neck, but stopped at the first button on her shirt. Correction: Fletcher’s shirt—which looked a
hell
of a lot better on her than him. “I’ll bet your pussy is wet…waiting for what I’m going to do to you next.”

“
Yes.
” Her breaths came out in sparse little puffs, her excitement growing.

I glanced over at Fletcher. He stood quietly in the shadows. We’d agreed on how we would handle her tonight, toying with her mind before completely blowing it. The mind fuck was her favorite part, and we adored her for it. No matter how much she begged for our cocks by the time we fucked her, the build-up was what made her the craziest. And us too…

I pulled a satin sash from my pocket and wrapped it over her eyes. She jumped a little when she first felt the material but stilled as I tied the soft fabric at the back of her head.

“How does that feel?”

Her breaths came faster, pumping her tits harder against the shirt. Just when I thought the woman couldn’t get any fucking sexier…

Coherent words. Focus on
speaking
, dumb shit. On
her
pleasure…

“There. Now you can’t peek either. So…no touching, no seeing. All you can do is soak up the feeling.”

“Well that’s not completely true.” She grinned like she’d gotten the better of me.

“Explain.”

“I can still hear you. And taste you.”

“Who said I was finished?”

“Oh.” She sucked in a shaky breath, belatedly realizing she might have just planted new ideas in my head. And hell, how she had.

With studied deliberation, I slipped one of the shirt buttons free. “Talia. Maria. Perizkova,” I whispered, “you are the most beautiful thing I’ve ever laid eyes on.”

Her head rocked back. The column of her neck was like brushed bronze in the muted light, showing me every inch of her aroused swallow. “I feel beautiful…always…with you.”

I pushed another button out. Parted the white fabric in order to view the dusky peaks beneath, centered by erect nipples that all but begged to be sucked and licked and further aroused. I held back, setting my goal on deeper treasures of her sinfully hot body. “So perfect,” I growled. “So fucking amazing. We want you to enjoy tonight. Every damn second.”

One last button, then the shirt flowed free. It bunched at her lower back, where her wrists were clipped together. I quickly unhooked the ring, let the shirt fall completely, then locked her back together. I watched the conflict skitter over her face—the worries about not doing enough to please me in return—and answered them with an extended
ssshhh
as I trailed my lips down her body. In that sound, as well as the soft bites and sucks on her skin in between, I conveyed that she already did that…and more. Could she comprehend what a gift she had already given to Fletcher and me? That despite the darkness of her past, she let us take her back into a physical version of the stuff…trusting in the light we’d show her in the end? Didn’t she know how significant that was…how special?

If she didn’t already…she would by the end of tonight.

I swore it with every fiber in my body and soul.

I lowered fully to my knees in front of her. Scooped fingers under the tiny black strings at her hips, barely bridging the two triangles covering her ass and pussy. They needed to be gone. I needed to see all of her. To touch every soft, perfect inch…

In one slide, I tugged the material down her creamy thighs, all the way to her ankles. “Step out, baby.” She obeyed, taking a tiny step to the side. I wadded the satin then stashed it in my pocket, in case I really did need a gag later. “Now, your only job is to just lay back. Let us shower you with attention and affection.”

I walked her a few steps backward, until her knees contacted the edge of the platform sun bed. There was no sun now…only the moon glowing above, a sky bursting with stars, and a balmy breeze blowing in from the ocean, crashing against the shore about fifty yards away.

The resort normally reserved this private deck for larger private parties, but we’d gotten money into the right hands to ensure it was ours for the night. Best money I’d ever spent, and was certain Fletch agreed, as Talia knelt on the wide bed. Flickering light from a hundred candles, lit by Fletch when I’d gone to fetch our girl from the bungalow, danced across her elegant mocha nudity. The candles filled the air with her favorite amber fragrance, blending with the heady perfume from jasmine vines crawling up hidden trellises. There was one more scent on the warm air too…the most important one. The sweet bite of her rising arousal.

I’d never get enough of that one.

“Fletcher?” She looked back over her shoulder, arching right toward where he stood. “Please…come be with us.” It didn’t surprise me that she sensed him already—nor did it freak me out, like it had in the past. Both of us had our special connections with her. It had taken breaking them to know that.

Fletcher paced over on steady, quiet steps. As he hitched his knees up on the bed, joining her, a breathtaking shiver coursed down her body. Her nipples pebbled tighter. My pants officially hit torture device status—even more so as he took her face in his hands, cradling her lovingly.

“Hey, beautiful.” He kissed her softly at first, but grew more fevered as soon as her lips parted, inviting his tongue in for a deeper taste. Fletcher moaned. I skipped straight to a growl. Damn, how she drugged us with her sensuality and passion—though even now, it was twined with her open heart, her generous spirit…and always,
always,
that edge of gorgeous innocence…

It filled our heads with the lewdest ideas.

The breeze kicked up, billowing the gauzy white curtains attached to the four posters of the platform. They scattered droplets of the ocean moisture, a salty mist with a tropical tang.

Perfect.

We helped her lie back on the bed, attaching her cuffs to the sturdy eye hooks in the frame. Her arm position forced those perfect breasts up, her back now slightly arched, offering herself to us like a slice of fresh fruit.

Even more perfect.

“Fuck,” Fletcher rasped. “You make my mouth water, Tolly.”

She inched up a tentative smile. “I like doing
anything
with your mouth, Mr. Ford.”

While he worked through processing that erotic tidbit, I brushed a hand down the outside of her thigh. “Are you comfortable, love?”

“I am,” she assured. “But I’d be so much better if you two were on either side of me.”

Fletcher, now recovered, rumbled out a low chuckle. I watched as he ran fingers lightly from her elbow and through the curve of her armpit, scooping down her ribs before resting at the soft nip of her waist. It was my mouth’s turn to water, as I envisioned following the same path with my tongue.

But tonight, Fletch and I had an agreement. I was directing; he was the action man. Our end goal was clear: to have her so ramped up by the time we sank into her, she’d explode in seconds.