Chapter 4

Four

Warren

M y confession makes her brows pinch in this cute way that has me wanting to reach out and rub her confusion away. Instead, I lower the zipper to her dress an inch at a time until the curve of her breasts blooms from the opening, revealing her pink nipples like blossoms.

"You know then?" She rolls her eyes like she sees how obvious her statement is.

I nod.

"But the question is, did you?"

It was pure luck that had Jemma walking through my front door two nights ago.

We agreed to host a New Year's masquerade party at our manor. All students and faculty were invited. A small token of appreciation toward the university for putting up with our demands. And an easy way to monitor the brighter minds. Ones we want to mine for ourselves. The cyber security community is only as good as its coders and Jemma is the best we've come across in a couple of years with great potential. But that's neither here nor there at the moment.

Up until that night our girl never attended any of our parties so imagine our surprise when the queen we want for ourselves showed up.

We didn't get to the top of the world's elite by not taking opportunities when they presented themselves.

We kept our distance. Bided our time for two years. Before that moment, we hadn't planned to act on our lusts. We all agreed to wait until she graduated. Let her stretch her wings and find what she wanted out of life. At twenty-four how could a family or even a complicated relationship with three overbearing assholes be anywhere near what she wanted?

But then she showed up in the skimpiest outfit ever made and the amount of men falling over themselves to ask for a dance or hand her a drink forced us into action, throwing out our inner voices of reason.

Going that long unable to act on our desires left my insides raw for too long and marred all our better judgement, but what was done was done.

The second we had her in our arms a quiet peace calmed the animalistic part of me that kept me from ripping her little outfit off and coming deep inside her pussy.

Our little nerd dressed up as Queen Frost was anything but cold under our hands and tongues. She melted so sweetly and I'm desperate to get her back under me. The sight of a blue cape, sparkly blue lipstick that looked drop dead gorgeous on her perfectly bowed lips and a skirt that barely covered her pussy lips will forever be burned into my memory. And that top. My back molars grind together. The skimpy white piece of cloth tied under her breasts was more of a tease than anything that actually covered her.

It pained me to let her walk away when we all wanted to cuff her to our bed for a longer session. But we somehow stood back as she slipped out the door wearing our milk.

Marked. Claimed.

She's ours now whether she knows it or not. Nothing will stand in our way from here on out.

I want to tell her all of this, but first we have a plan.

I brush her hair away from her face and she raises those thick black lashes, showing me more than she realizes in those deep green eyes. She trusts us and for that gift alone she has my heart.

How she thought we wouldn't recognize those jeweled beauties behind a mask, I don't know.

Whatever happens in the next few minutes, one fact remains: I'm not giving her up. They don't have to say it—I know my best friends feel the same way. Jemma has been on our radar for longer than we care to think about. Going the two years since joining the Westmoore faculty ignoring our lust for a woman better off without us is hard to admit to.

Fear of what comes next has her worrying the delicate inside of her bottom lip.

"Professor Thurston." Her eyes are wide, glazed over with lust. I can smell her arousal like a wolf ready to claim its mate. We all knew it was her that night, but did she know it was us fucking her like the world was ending at the stroke of midnight? The question burned in my brain for two long days. Only Preston and Black kept me from ripping across town to find her and the answers I need.

"Let's try an easier question first. Why aren't you home with your parents instead of being here?"

We all know she spent Christmas at the small diner she works at. It tore us all up, but at least we knew she was among friends. But our girl is tight-lipped about anything beyond the code she's working on. Hell, even that she keeps close to the vest. A trait we admire.

Her sharp intake of air is heavy with frustration. "Home?" It looks like she wants to laugh for a second before a seriousness washes over her face. Erik and Daemon scoop her hands into theirs and the small movement visually relaxes her.

"They work nonstop. Nothing really to look forward to with them, so I stay, use my time for me."

I recognize the clipped answer for what it is—an appeasement with the desire to move on. I sense a deeper story and one we'll get to. Eventually.

I offer a small smile. "Another question now that we know your voice works."

Her cheeks turn a pretty pink in the dim light and her mouth dips open like she either wants a kiss or to share a secret. Maybe both.

"Professor Thurston."

"Yes?"

"What are you going to do to me?" Her voice is quiet but strong and the brave way she holds my gaze makes me want to lock her away from the problems of the world and everything she ever needs will come from myself and my two friends.

"Answer my question and find out." I rub strands of her hair together and draw my fingers back. "Glitter," I muse.

"Fine," she blurts out. "Yes. I was at a party."

"Our party."

She huffs with sass. "A detail my best friend failed to share at the time."

Fire and spark. I like it.

"And?"

Her gaze drops to the floor by my feet and I take her chin, lifting it, waiting until her eyes are on me.

"You have nothing to be ashamed about."

"I'm not that kind of girl, though. You have to believe me."

Erik draws her back against his chest. His arms come around her and Preston reads my silent cues. He reaches forward, pushing her breasts up so I can feast.

"What kind of girl is that?"

"You know, one who just does things with strangers."

She bites her lip nervously.

"But you liked it."

"Well, yeah."

Her head falls to Erik's shoulder, her eyes drifting to half-mast. She arches in such a way her breasts are high and her eager little nipples look so hungry for my mouth.

I take one between my lips and roll my tongue over it.

"Did you know who fucked you so thoroughly, Jemma? Who you were giving your beautiful body to? Or did you do so willingly to complete strangers?"

"Tell the truth."

Daemon is a little blunt in his demand, but softens when he pushes her long hair out of the way and nibbles at her neck.

When her answer doesn't come fast enough, I flick the tip of one nipple and tug on the other.

Despite being turned on, she squares her shoulders and pride shoots through me. A woman strong enough to go after what she wants is a beautiful thing and makes my cock rock hard. A fact our Jemma doesn't fail to see. Her gaze drags down my body and damn if she doesn't have pre-cum spilling from my dick. Pleasure will come later. Right now, I want to hear what she has to say.

"What does it matter?"

She likes verbal tugs of war. Okay.

"It matters to us. Did you give your body to us? Or to strangers? There's nothing to be ashamed of for seeking what you desire. There's no judgment, sweetheart. We just need to know." Daemon draws her chin toward him and I'm temporarily jealous of the way she lifts her lashes up and peers into his eyes. I see she has the same effect on my other friend too. His raging hard on is demanding attention. Erik is no better off. None of us are immune to the powers of our little coder who'd rather sit in a quiet corner than step outside her comfort zone.

Which has nagged at me for two days. Why now? What changed for her. I shove the thoughts to the side for now.

"Answer us. Did you know it was us?"

Fear mars her beautiful face then it's taken over by confusion. "Yes. But how…? I'm nothing special, Professors. How did you know it was me?"

"There's only one beautiful soul on this planet who smells of heaven and puts us in hell at the same time." I lean in and run the tip of my nose up the side of her neck, giving her earlobe a small nip.

Her cries are sweet and addictive.

Those green eyes of hers flash with the memory of our stolen time together. "And this." I run the tips of the silver charms over my fingers. "You never go a day without your charm bracelet and there's only one person I know on this campus who has a diamond in the center of a snowflake."

Her breath hitches and she's stunned silent for a moment.

"Your false belief there's nothing special about you is a misconception we are all going to challenge."

"Really?"

She thinks we're kidding.

"Hmm. It's a fact." Daemon takes her by the shoulders and nudges her back into Erik's arms, and she falls willingly. He takes her weight, tipping her chin claiming her mouth before she spills all the questions I know she has ready. She's the same in our classes. First to give an answer and the first to ask questions none of the rest of our students have the wherewithal to think of. Her beautiful brain is a marvel but right now we don't want her thinking too hard or she might run out of here and never look back.

"Every chance we get. On the plane, in the hotel, in the middle of dinner. We didn't get to where we are in life by letting prime opportunities slip us by."

"Plane? Hotel? What are you guys talking about?"

I cup her face and feel the soul deep power of her draw on me the second our eyes connect. Her lips part like she wants me to kiss her.

So I do. Slow at first, but she's hungry. Starving and only a couple of strokes of my tongue over hers and she's winding her arms around my neck, taking things deeper. I pull her close, loving how her perfect, curvy body molds into mine so easily. Almost a muscle at a time I can feel her relax in my arms and I like to believe it's her instincts telling her she's safe with me. With us.

She breaks the kiss and reaches for Daemon and Erik, consciously or not, I don't know but it looks almost natural.

"Meet us at the private hangars at the airport tomorrow evening at six."

"Better yet." Erik tilts Jemma's lips toward him and claims her mouth before passing her to Daemon who does the same, only he takes his time to really taste her sweetness before releasing her.

"I have a better idea. Why shouldn't we leave now? Call in a flight change. Move it up a day. Don't give her time to run."

"Flight? What are you guys talking about?"

Jemma's hands are buried in my shirt. "You're coming to Europe with us."

She breaks away and backs up. But there's no way we are taking a no for an answer. I can tell she wants to take us up on our offer, but the second her brain clicks on the brakes get pumped.

"I can't go anywhere. I have class."

"Not for two weeks. Besides, I thought you wanted to work with Thurston and Black Tech? When we passed around a student questionnaire, yours was on the top of the pile."

"I do. That's no secret. Are you blackmailing me?"

"Not at all." Erik skims a finger around the edges of her nipples, plucking them.

She sighs.

"Walk away. That is if you can. Or stay and find out more about all those dark cravings we've stirred awake inside you."

She's breathing heavily now and looking between us. "Why me?"

I cock my head to the side at her question. "Come with us and let us show you."

"I can't just up and leave. I have responsibilities. Rent to pay. Tuition. A job."

"Ones we can easily take care of."

"I can't just be bought, I'm not some hooker. I have limits." Hurt crawls over her face and stabs me in the heart.

Unleashed rage flares to life deep in my gut. Whoever hurt this woman so deeply she can't see what a brilliant, beautiful woman she is needs his ass kicked. "Don't ever degrade yourself like that. We're simply cutting through any obstacles that will keep you here."

I take her hands between mine. "Please don't say no. Come with us. We have clients to see during our break. Paris, London."

Her green eyes swim with curiosity and I swear I see them shift and sway like molten emeralds. "How the hell do you expect someone to think when you do all...these...these things to them? I can barely get my brain to work." Her knees are visibly shaking and I notice Erik take more of her weight in his arms.

As usual, Daemon takes the more direct approach. "Don't you want to know what all three of your professors would feel like? The party was just a sample, baby girl." He hauls her into his arms and her legs wrap around his waist. She's comfortable in his embrace, his mouth on her neck whether she wants to admit to it or not.

I smile to myself. She might be giving up a bit of a fight, but Jemma has already made up her mind. Or her body has at least.

"As long as the dean doesn't find out…" she draws out, looking at each of us for a long moment. "One week. That's all I can give."

We'll see about that.