Chapter Twelve

Lily

Eli tags along with me to the thrift store, where I find some nice jeans to replace the ones I ruined. My mood has been sour since my masked men have been quiet, and I wonder if that ship has now sailed. They had their fun and now are done with me. On the upside, I have been spending a lot of time with Harlen and North, and they have made moving to a new town fun.

The second we turn the corner into my street, I smile at seeing both Harlen and North in my front yard, cutting wood. As we get closer, Harlen turns his head like he can sense our presence—or maybe Eli's. He has told me how he and Eli share a bond he can't quite explain. Harlen slaps North on the arm, and he, too, turns to watch us walking down the street.

I smile at them and, without thinking, take Eli's hand in mine as I drag him down the street. "Look who I found," I shout. "He couldn't resist my charm, so I asked him to come hang out with us. Oh, and I'm firmly on the ‘I hate Tom Morgan' bandwagon. The guy's an asshole. Would you believe he tried to warn me away from Eli? Look at him, he is a big teddy bear... well, a muscly teddy bear."

"Lucky for us—we could use an extra set of hands," Harlen jokes. "North keeps bossing me around and I would prefer to finish the entry table."

"You boys can get to work, and I will bake the cookies and bring them out when they are ready. And some lemonade. I'm working through Mavis's cookbook. I'm pretty sure I've nailed the cookies now, or at least they're getting better."

North chuckles. "They are definitely getting better."

I leave the guys outside and head indoors, taking the clothes bags straight to the washing machine and dumping them in after removing the tags. Once that is done, I hurry to the kitchen and remove the cookie dough from the fridge. After portioning it all out onto a lined pan, I pop the tray of deliciousness into the oven. I may have cheated and made an extra-large batch yesterday, but I'm determined to get them right.

While they cook, I run upstairs and get changed into a pair of denim shorts and a bikini top. Today it is unusually warm, and I was hoping to convince the guys to take me to the swimming hole they talk so much about. The oven buzzer goes off, and I head back downstairs. The cookies smell amazing as I remove the tray from the oven. I reduced the cooking time slightly from yesterday, and while I don't want to talk too soon, I think this batch might be the one.

After placing the cookies on a plate, I get the pitcher of lemonade out of the fridge and a handful of metal cups from the cupboard, which look like they are from the eighties. I still haven't had the strength to rearrange the kitchen; it feels wrong to remove Mavis from every part of the house.

Once I open the front screen door, three sets of eyes spring to me and goosebumps line my skin under their scrutiny, but damn it feels good to feel sexy.

"Cookies are ready," I say, and they put down their tools.

Eli has pulled his hoodie off, and the man is ripped. Though the scars on his neck are visible, if he removed his shirt, no one would see past his sculpted torso. It's hard to tear my gaze away from him, and he must feel the same way about me because his dark-brown eyes remain locked with mine.

"Wow, get a room you two, but invite me please," Harlen jokes.

Blinking a few times, I shake off the comment and place the cookies and lemonade on the outdoor table which Harlen made me earlier in the week. The three of them climb the new stairs and join me.

"So I was thinking, if you guys have time, could you show me the swimming hole you were telling me about? We don't have many nice days like this left before it gets cold. "

"If you're wearing that, I'm in," North says, and as I look over at him, he winks.

God damn my ovaries—North is a very attractive man. He is the tallest of the three, with broad shoulders and a slim waist, whereas Eli is almost as tall, but he is a brick wall of a man. He is solid muscle everywhere. Harlen is the slimmest of them all, and his abs are less defined, but still there.

"Can we take a picture?" I ask. North and Harlen jump straight in. I look over at Eli, giving him a second to decide. "You don't have to if you don't feel comfortable, but trust me when I say you are drop-dead gorgeous, Eli. My college friends will be so jealous."

Eli takes a deep breath and smiles as he steps into the photo. Harlen wraps his arm around his friend and pulls him in closer. Just as we snap the picture, the sound of music blaring catches our attention, and when I turn around, I freeze. Only one person I know would drive a car like that. It pulls up to the curb behind North's truck, and Charles steps out. He always looks so put together in his slacks and polo shirt. Today he wears a sweater knotted over the top, even though it's way too warm. But he makes it work, like he always did.

All three guys follow me down the stairs, and Charles's eyes roam over each of them. Not that he would ever feel intimidated—that is not how he was raised.

"Lily, it's nice to see you."

"Why are you here, Charles? I told you I was done."

Charles grins at me, his dimples on full display. His charm may have worked once upon a time, but now I can see through the act. "We need to talk. We can't just end a year-long relationship that way."

I feel the guys behind me, and someone's hand rests on my lower back, granting me strength. "But it ended, Charles, the second you shamed me. You might not enjoy the same things sexually as I do, but you were not even willing to talk about it. So now I have nothing left to say to you."

"I said I was sorry—you just threw me off-kilter for a moment. I want to make it work, but I think we should talk about this inside, alone."

"She isn't going anywhere with you."

My eyes widen—that voice.

I turn around and face Eli. "It's you," I whisper.

He nods, sadness deep in his gaze. I don't know why he looks sad, but I jump into his arms and smash my lips to his, one hand firmly on either side of his face as he holds me tightly to him. Hopefully, Charles gets the message loud and clear.

"Wow, it didn't take you long. Maybe everyone was right about you being a whore. I can't believe I wasted a flight to come here to fix us when you're already fucking someone else."

"Three, actually," I say as I pull back from Eli. He slides me down his body, and I turn to face Charles.

"I would probably walk away if I were you," Harlen snarks with laughter in his tone. "Eli likes to use his fists over his words."

Charles scoffs. "I'm staying at the Firefly Inn. If you come to your senses, I would like it if you had dinner with me."

Charles walks backward, but Eli angles himself in front of me and blocks me from his view. My heart runs rampant in my chest when Eli finally turns around after Charles speeds off. Then I stare at all three of them. "I think we need to talk."

"I think so," North replies.

"How about I pack a picnic and we can go to the water hole and discuss things there?"

They all nod and I walk back inside. I will let them think I'm mad—which I'm not. However, I want them to explain themselves. They don't seem like the types who would have an ulterior motive for what happened between us, but I would like to hear it from them.

After I make us some ham, cheese, and veggie subs, then pack them into an old wicker basket with some other snacks and four bottles of water, Harlen appears in the kitchen and holds his hand out for the basket. He doesn't say anything, just follows me into the living area where I grab four towels off the clean pile destined for the linen cupboard.

In silence we pile into North's dual cab truck—North and Eli in the front, while Harlen gets in the back beside me. North turns on the stereo and some pop song lightly plays in the background as he drives toward Willow Grove. After fifteen minutes, he turns off onto a dirt road, and for at least another five minutes, there is nothing but trees. Then he turns to the right and pulls up in front of a small lake. It has a simple wooden dock that overlooks the water, and a rope hangs from a large tree. This place would be amazing in summer, and I can't wait to come back and sunbathe.

We all pile out of the truck, and Eli gets the towels while Harlen takes the basket, then we set up our picnic on the dock.

"Oh god! The silence is killing me. Please just yell at us or something," Harlen moans.

Honestly, I was wondering who would break first. "I'm not mad at you—I just want to understand how we got here."

Harlen goes to open his mouth, but Eli stops him.

"Please, let me explain." Eli is seated, but still spins me around to face him. "I don't normally talk much. I fear people making fun of me. But when I spoke to you in the haunted house, the way your body reacted made me feel things I have never felt before. That's why I chased you. We never intended to deceive you. But after you told Harlen how you liked being chased by strangers, we didn't want to ruin it for you. And since we are telling the truth," he says, swallowing loudly, "I like to watch you. Not like a creep while you're asleep or anything, but when you go into town. It's been years since I wandered into town, but I can't stay away from you."

"None of us can," Harlen adds.

"For the record, I wanted to tell you," North says.

I look away from Eli and out over the water as I feel my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "What does this mean for our time with the masks?" I whisper.

This is the reason I wanted it to be with strangers. I feel so much shame about what I like. And for those brief moments, they made me feel like I had nothing to be ashamed of.

Eli wraps his hands around my hips, pulling me into his lap, then grabs my chin so I'm forced to look at him. "This means not only can we chase you with the masks on, but if you want, you can watch us too."

I know exactly what he means. Earlier, in front of Tom at the diner, I made a comment about watching them together being something I would be interested in.

"What is she watching?" Harlen asks. "I think I'm missing something."

Eli smirks. "Lily wants to watch me suck your cock."

My eyes widen, and Harlen leans forward, running his finger down my shoulder blade. "Would you like that?"

I nod.

"Use your words, trouble," North adds.

"Yes, I would like that."

"Never be embarrassed to tell us what you might like, or what you need. We would never make you feel the way your ex did." North grabs me by the hips and pulls me out of Eli's lap. "I think you need to show our girl just how well you can take Harlen's cock."

Harlen stands, grabbing the back of his shirt and pulling it over his head, while North sits me between his open legs, his hand resting on my stomach. Eli gets on his knees and undoes Harlen's jeans, sliding them to the ground. I lick my lips in anticipation, my heart pounding in my chest. North's fingers tease the waistband of my shorts as Eli spits on Harlen's cock. I don't know why that is so sexy, but it sends a thrill of pleasure straight between my legs.

"Wrap those lips around my cock and show the pretty girl how well your throat works."

Harlen's fingers twist in Eli's hair, and I watch as he wraps his luscious lips around the head of his cock, my mouth practically watering when he slides down to the base.

"Do you like that?" North whispers in my ear, and I nod. "I think I should find out for myself."

He dips his hand beneath my bikini bottoms, his fingers running through my slit before they land on my clit. The slow circles North rubs make me whimper, and Eli looks my way, while Harlen thrusts deep in his throat.

"Eyes on me," Harlen demands. "You don't get to look away from me while I'm fucking your throat. This mouth belongs to me."

Harlen's words have me spasming around North's fingers as he pushes them inside me. "Knowing it's us changes nothing, trouble."

North's fingers stroke my internal walls, slowly caressing as we watch Harlen throat fuck Eli. "What a good boy choking on my cock, putting on a show for our girl. Lily, remove your shorts so Eli can see how wet he is making you."

Shimmying my shorts and bikini bottoms down, I kick them off and let my knees fall open. "So fucking perfect and pink. Look how needy her pussy is. Taste her, North, and tell Eli how good she tastes. "

North pulls his fingers out of me and brings them to his lips, sucking my juices off his digits, humming as he does. "So damn sweet, Eli," North groans out.

"Do you want to taste her?" Harlen asks, and Eli nods around Harlen's cock. "Then go eat her needy cunt until she creams all over your face."

Harlen pulls back and Eli turns to face me. His eyes dip to my pussy and he licks his lips as he gets to his feet. He moves right in front of me, dropping to his knees, then lies on his stomach, his head moving straight to my pussy, his tongue sweeping the entire length of my slit. Harlen moves to stand over us, his length now in hand as he strokes himself above us, and North remains behind me, his hands cupping my breasts.

"Look at how perfect for us you are, Lily. You couldn't be more in tune with our needs."

I buck up as Eli sucks my clit into his mouth, but my gaze remains on Harlen as the leaves of the trees around us rustle from the light breeze. Harlen looks down at me, and as his eyes trace my body, there is a softness in his expression that makes my heart flutter. North's fingers trail over my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake, and I shiver under his touch. I twist my fingers in the towel beneath me as my body tries to adjust to the attention of all these men—one watching me, one touching me, and one licking me until I'm pushed over the edge.

"Eli," I cry out as my body shudders and my legs clamp his head between them.

"Fuck," Harlen grits out, and I look up in time to see him step closer and shift his hips .

North has his mouth open and Harlen comes on his tongue. Fuck, if that isn't one of the hottest things I've ever seen.

Before I moved to Maple Hollow, the sex I had was predictable, nice even, but not the intense, mind-blowing experience I always thought sex should be. Since moving here, my eyes have been opened to a lot of things, and now I know I could never go back. I think it's time I make sure Charles understands I am no longer his, and I never will be again.