45. East

Graduation Day

2 months later

I'D BEEN NO stranger to being called to a professor's office for a stern talking-to throughout my schooling years. So it was no surprise to find a message from Professor Kingston waiting for me on my very last day at Astor, instructing me to see him before the commencement ceremony began.

It had been very specific in nature. The time, the place, the reason why—to get ready for the ceremony together. Not that I'd ever expect anything else from the strict, no-nonsense professional he was within the walls of this university. But when I knocked on his door and slipped inside the office, fully expecting to find him and his gorgeous TA, I instead found an empty room waiting for me.

What the hell?

It'd been a couple of months since my father's arrest and my mother's filing for divorce, and while my family continued to dread more future unraveling whenever my father's epic trial finally began, I was determined to thrive. With the help of my kickass friends, my grandparents' trust fund, and the two delicious men I called mine, I'd made the comeback of all comebacks.

I mean, did anyone really doubt it? I was James Easton, the leader of the Park Avenue Princes, and today I was about to leave Astor the way it was always intended—on fucking top.

I glanced at the clock, making sure I hadn't messed up the time, but no. I was exactly where I'd been told to be with a couple of minutes to spare. So where the hell were they?

I locked the door and wandered around the office, looking at the desk I knew was Zac's—to be vacated after today—and wondered how our illustrious professor was feeling about that. It was the end of an era of sorts, and as I made my way to King's desk, I decided it was time to go out with a bang.

After all, I was here to get ready, right? I might as well help along the process if those two were running late.

With a mischievous grin, I kicked out of my Italian loafers and unbuttoned my pants before stripping them off. Then I made quick work of my shirt and laid both pieces of clothing over the back of the chair, which I pulled out and took a seat in.

I'd barely had time to straighten my ascot and kick my feet up on the desk when the handle of the door moved, then paused, before it was unlocked.

As Professor Kingston's broad shoulders filled the doorway, I slipped my hands behind my head, displaying my body to his hungry gaze.

"You're late," I told him in the most professional tone I could muster while wearing my boxer briefs and ascot.

"So I am," King said as he stepped aside, and Zac followed in after him with two hangers that held our graduation robes.

"Holy shit, East." Zac quickly shut the door and turned the lock. "What are you doing?"

" Waiting , which is not something I'm good at or accustomed to."

"Impatience is not a virtue." King smirked as he came over to me, and I kicked my legs off the desk and wrapped them around his thighs, caging him in.

"I don't think you're with me for my virtues. Maybe my lack of them."

King's hands went to the arms of the chair, and he leaned in like he was going to kiss me, but at the last second he turned his head so that my lips grazed his stubbled cheek. Then he slipped a finger beneath my ascot and said, "You were supposed to meet us already dressed."

"Oh, my bad." I gave him a cheeky grin. "I thought you told me to meet you to get dressed. I just assumed you wanted the honor."

I moved his hand on top of my dick, and Zac snorted out a laugh.

"I told you we should've tied him up somewhere so he couldn't get into trouble before the ceremony." He lifted the plastic from over the robes and then set them on the door hanger. "By the way, you do have to actually wear clothes under your robe. Don't even think about freeballing."

"Damn. I was hoping for a stiff wind to give everyone a show."

King gave my cock a gentle squeeze that I arched into, and then he brushed his lips over mine. "How about we keep what's mine private, hmm?"

"So possessive. You two just want to keep me all to yourselves," I said, as his mouth grazed over my cheek, my jaw, before he pressed a kiss beneath my ear.

Zac buttoned the collar of his shirt and reached for the tie he'd brought with him. "You got a problem with that?"

"No. Just curious if, once we leave Astor for good, you plan to show me off in public. I am quite the catch."

"You won't be leaving anywhere for good if you don't get dressed." King straightened and tapped my legs, and I dropped my feet to the floor. "Up."

"Yes, Professor Kingston," I drawled as I stood up from the chair. But then King fingered the silk at my neck and cocked his head.

"Make sure you're wearing this tonight. Only this." His eyes darkened as he walked over to Zac. "You too."

"If that's what you want, sir," Zac said, dropping his hands when King took over knotting his tie.

With an exaggerated sigh, I tugged my pants back on and slipped into my button-up. "I can't believe you're asking me to put clothes on . We're really going backward in this relationship."

"Can you believe he's actually saying that word without having to down half a bottle of tequila first?" Zac cracked to King.

"I heard that," I said.

"You were supposed to." Zac reached for one of the robes and pulled it off the hanger. "I wanted to make sure you didn't bolt for the door when I pointed it out to you."

"Just because I don't say the word often?—"

"Ever," King said, taking his robe from the hanger he'd hooked onto his coat rack.

"Okay, ever . Doesn't mean I haven't realized what this is or what I want and don't want. And just like you"—I ran my hand down King's arm as I passed him by—"I don't want anyone touching your big poppa cock except me and Zac."

Zac's lips twitched as he shook his head at me.

"What? That would make this a relationship, right? Exclusivity?"

"Well done," Zac said, in full teacher's assistant mode. "Maybe I should have you write a paper on it."

I put a hand on his chest and leaned up to nip at his lower lip. "Only if I get to thoroughly research the subject. You know, study dates, tutoring with my professor…"

King chuckled, and when I glanced over my shoulder to see him draped in black and pulling up the zipper, I licked my lips.

"If we promise to wear only ascots tonight, can you take us wearing that—and only that?"

King inclined his head. "I believe I can make that happen. If you manage to behave yourself for the rest of the day."

"Since that's only about two more hours, consider me a fucking Boy Scout."

"I can't exactly imagine you as a Boy Scout."

"No? What about a member of some all-powerful secret society?"

King looked between the two of us, his expression turning serious. "You're not ready yet. Remember, patience is a virtue."

"Well, since Zac is patient, does that mean he's ready?"

"He told us we wouldn't know anything until we graduate," Zac pointed out.

"Which is today. So is there something we should be doing? Some kind of quest or trial by fire to move this along?"

"You'll know when you're supposed to know," King said.

I let out an exasperated groan. "Okay, cryptic Batman."

"Just because you're sleeping in my bed, doesn't mean I'm about to give up all my secrets, little prince."

"You give up nothing."

King smirked. "Just my body and my heart."

I couldn't tell if he was being serious or not, but the way my heart responded to that declaration was to skip a couple of extra beats.

"Come on, you need to get into your robe," Zac said as he fastened his and then reached for mine. I slipped my arms inside the garment and pulled the zipper up, and once we were all wearing way too many layers for my liking, Zac reached for the door.

"Hey, before we go—" The words tumbled out of my mouth before I could seem to stop them, and Zac paused and turned back to face me."I just wanted to, you know…" I glanced back at King. "I wanted to thank you both for being here for me over the last couple of months, but especially when my father was hauled off in handcuffs."

Zac reached for my hand. "We wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere else."

"Zac's right." King came over to us and cupped our faces. "I don't know how the two of you managed to?—"

"Seduce you into loving us?" I said flippantly, before realizing exactly what I'd said.

Zac's head whipped in my direction, and King's eyes seemed to glimmer at me. "Is that what I'm doing?"

"I… Uh… I don't know. I'm the last person who would know."

"I don't necessarily believe that," Zac said as he squeezed my hand, and something in my stomach flipped.

"Well, you should. The only thing I really know about myself is that I'm a greedy bastard."

"You're only just working that out?" Zac asked.

"No, but it's become a little more apparent of late. Like the two of you, for instance. I always assumed a threesome would be way too much work for very little payoff. But now I can't imagine having one of you without the other. You both put in equal effort, and I appreciate that."

I looked between them and patted their chests. "I appreciate the both of you . Plus, the private island doesn't hurt either. And the restaurant your family owns, Zac, so I never have to cook again? All qualities that have made you practically irresistible."

"So what you're saying is…" King said, reminding me of where this conversation had started.

"Oh, right—that while I'm not overly familiar with the emotion, if I were to base it off the way my annoying friends all act around the people they claim to love, I think I might l-l-l-l…l-l-l-l…lo?—"

" Love ?" King said.

"Yeah, that's it." I nodded, proud of myself. "Both of you."

A deep frown pulled between Zac's brows. "We're going to have to work on that."

King shook his head, but I could see his affection for me in those dark depths. He swiped my cap from the desk and placed it on me. "You're right, you know. Not that you had to seduce me into it, but that I love you. Both of you."

"But...you do?"

King's lip curled as a soft chuckle escaped them. "Trust me, I'm just as shocked as you are. But somewhere along the way, somewhere on that island and back in this city, I stopped doing the smart thing and followed my heart instead. And my heart's telling me that I love you."

I think my heart stopped with those three words, and I could only stare, slack-jawed, as he reached for Zac and told him the same thing. My ears were ringing and I could only read his lips, so I assumed that was what he was saying, but… Holy fuck. No one had ever said that to me. Not my parents; not my grandparents. Obviously none of my previous hookups.

A warmth I'd never felt before flooded my veins and my chest tightened, my heart kick-starting again but in a weird stutter.

So this was what everyone had been going on about. This feeling. It was strange, but not unwelcome at all, and I even felt tears prick my eyes. I swallowed hard to get rid of them as King and Zac waited for my response to a question I hadn't heard.

"East?" Zac said, touching my arm.

I cleared my throat, but it didn't help the way my voice rasped as I said, "Not you too. I can only take one person falling in love with me within the span of an hour."

He grinned and cupped my face with both hands. I tried not to think about how ridiculous I had to look in this dumb cap while he stared at me, looking handsome as ever. "Guess that's just too bad, because if this is the time for I-love-yous, I'm not letting you leave the room until you know that I do."

Goddammit. I blinked furiously as my eyes began to sting again, then I pulled my lower lip between my teeth and bit down hard. That helped with the tears, at least, but my body had started involuntarily trembling, and that I couldn't seem to stop.

But King and Zac drawing me into one of their all-consuming embraces did. The tremors instantly eased at their touch, and I took in a deep breath, inhaling their scents.

I was addicted. There was no denying that.

"Well, fuck," I said, and their answering chuckles had me grinning as I looked up. I tried to pin Zac with a stern look. "You just couldn't help yourself, could you? Just had to go and put it out there."

"No regrets."

I let out a huff, but there was no irritation behind it. "Fine. Since you really want to hear me say it, I love you. Both of you. It ruins my plans to remain unaffected and unattached for my adult life, but there you have it. And it's all your fault."

The wide smile that crossed King's face combined with Zac's beaming grin made something inside me fall into place, and any discomfort I thought I'd feel from opening myself up to them, putting my heart on the line, vanished.

A knock on the door had us all jerking our heads in that direction.

"Tyrone? We're heading down to faculty lineup."

"I'll meet you there," King called out, and then arched his brow at the two of us. "Don't even think about misbehaving in the five minutes before you join with your classmates."

"Would we do that?" I said.

" You would." Zac winked at me as King reached for Zac's cap on the desk and placed it just right on his head.

Or just wrong, really, because they weren't exactly the most attractive accessories. Somehow Zac pulled it off, though, but only because he was gorgeous anyway.

King tucked his own cap under his arm and began to back away, appraising us. He unlocked the door, then said, "I'm really proud of you both. And I'm really proud to call you mine. Enjoy your big day."

As the door clicked shut behind him, Zac took in a deep breath and then surprised me by wrapping his arms tight around me. He just held me, and I rested my chin on his shoulder as we stood there in the middle of King's office.

"None of this would've happened if you hadn't been such a little shit, you know," he said.

"You're thanking me for being a shit?"

"I am. And I wouldn't have you any other way."

"You just want me to say it again, don't you?"

"Would it kill you?"

I grinned against his shoulder. "I love you. Even more than I used to love hating you."

Zac laughed and gave me a squeeze before letting go. He straightened my robe and gave me a once-over before nodding. "Ready to go graduate?"

"If that means we can get to the afterparty quicker, then yes."

He gestured for me to go first. "After you, little shit."

WITH THE SUN blazing overhead, I used the printed program to fan myself as the class valedictorian finished up her speech, and then clapped with all the politeness I could muster. I was sure it was a decent speech full of "go conquer the world" encouragement, but I'd had different points of focus. Namely, the handsome-even-in-regalia professor sitting on stage, and the striking teacher's assistant sitting farther down the same row as me. Every time I caught Zac's eye, he smirked, and I wanted to pass him a note to tell him to keep the honors cords he'd added to his robe for us to play with later.

When I leaned forward again to tell him just that, West kicked the back of my chair and I found myself turning around instead.

But he only tapped his watch. I glanced down at mine to see the message come through our group thread.

Let the countdown begin.

Good. Now they needed to get this show on the road so the timing would work out perfectly.

The first couple rows of graduates got to their feet—including Preston, since they'd sat us alphabetically—and formed into a line leading up to the stage. With it being King's final commencement, he had the honor of standing with the dean—JT's mom—to hand out the diplomas. I kept a check on my watch, the minutes ticking down as, one by one, each of the graduates crossed the stage. Daire followed not long after Preston, and we all had no shame in bringing the noise with each prince that crossed the stage. West had somehow commandeered a horn, and every time the damn thing blasted, security wandered the aisles to figure out where it was coming from.

My row inched closer to the stage, and I looked out to where all the families were sitting and spotted my mother in the front of the section, along with my grandparents, whom I had yet to actually meet in person since they'd reinstated my trust. Which was set to be active three weeks from today.

Being poor was just not for me.

"James Easton," Professor Livingston called out, and as the crowd began to clap and the princes went wild—including that damn horn—I straightened my shoulders and sauntered across the stage, reveling in the attention. But to my surprise, not the attention of everyone there, just two in particular, and one of them was looking at me proudly, a diploma ready in his grasp.

"Congratulations, East," Dean Hawthorne said, giving me a tight smile. I wasn't her favorite, but that was fine by me. She'd miss my antics when I was gone.

I grinned and headed down to the next person waiting for me, and when King's large hand shook mine and he looked at me with that heady stare, it was a wonder I didn't melt right there on the stage.

"Congratulations, James," he said low in my ear as he handed me the diploma and we both turned to smile at the camera. I was going to need that one framed.

"Thank you, sir."

"It's been my pleasure." King winked at me as the next name was called, and I left the stage with weak knees. I made it back to my seat just in time for Zac's turn, and I, along with my friends who were starting to come around to the idea that he and King weren't just phases of mine, let out cheers as he crossed the stage.

No, I'd thrown out the big L-word, hadn't I? Something I never actually thought I'd do. With anyone. And I'd said it twice, and to two different men.

The same two men currently shaking each other's hands and posing for the camera, and damn, they looked good together. Even better with me.

West soon followed, and then Travis, Caleb, and finally Donovan bringing up the rear for our crew. I checked my watch again, and with only a minute to go, they called out the final student's name.

Right on time… My execution was impeccable. They were all welcome.

The second the final student walked off the stage, the loud boom of fireworks behind the elaborate setup had everyone jumping in their seats and turning, as the shell whistled up into the air in a stream of smoke and then sprinkled the sky with the school colors.

I smiled and looked behind me to see the rest of our crew whooping and hollering as more fireworks ascended into the air, sending our class out of Astor with a bang.

I mean, really, had they expected us to go out the same way as last year's class, with some tearful speech and orchestral tribute that put everyone to sleep? I didn't think so.

This was the end of our reign here at Astor. A reminder of who had ruled this place for the last four years, and now it was up to the rest of the student body to pick up the baton and try to follow in our footsteps.

Good luck with that.

As the show headed to its epic finale, I checked my watch again for the last surprise. Moments later, the plane flew across the sky, trailing behind it our final message to the place we'd graced with our presence—and maybe terrorized a few times along the way:

PARK AVENUE PRINCES—OUT!