Chapter Eighteen

The Evans brothers had released my inner erotic devil, and his fork was prodding at me to take everything I could and think about the consequences later.

When Ben removed his cock from my pussy and sat back on the sofa, his condom-covered erection was rock-hard and jutting upward. I quickly shucked off my skirt and threw my vest top to one side and straddled him. Being completely naked was instantly freeing, the cool air on my hot skin welcome.

His wide hands circled my waist entirely, and he stared up at me, his eyes full of lust and excitement. "I'm yours, fuck me, take everything you need from me."

"Yeah, fuck him hard," Theo added. He was on his knees at my side, his hands roaming my back, shoulders, and down to my butt. "Fuck my brother, it's what he needs."

"It's what I need," I said. A delicious tremble of anticipation tapped up my spine.

My pussy kissed the top of his cock, and I quickly positioned him at my sopping entrance.

"God, you're beautiful," Ben said. "So fucking beautiful."

I'd been told that a million times in my life, but the way Ben had just said it, the penetrating way he looked at me like he really saw me, filled me with warmth.

Slowly I sank down, enjoying the stretch that I had total control over. He groaned long and low. His fingertips tightened on my flesh. When I had him fully inside me, I tipped forward and kissed him.

Instantly, he took control of the kiss, one hand in my hair holding me. I rocked forward, rubbing my clit on his hard body.

A gasp caught in my throat. Yes. That was what I needed, and oh, it was going to be good.

I set up a fast rocking motion, working myself toward orgasm. He was breathing fast, and sweat coated his flesh. My small breasts jiggled, my nipples achingly hard.

"Come again," Theo said. "Come for us, honey."

The instruction wasn't necessary because the pressure was building fast. Theo's roaming hands were adding to the sensations blasting through me. He was stroking over my ass cheeks, exploring and caressing.

"Oh…oh…" I gasped, staring into Ben's eyes. "I'm going to…"

He gritted his teeth, and his jaw tensed. A deep groove had formed between his eyebrows. His cock was solid, and I knew he'd tip over the edge into bliss the moment I did.

"Take it," Theo said, "take what you need." He kissed my shoulder as his fingertip slipped down the crease of my buttocks.

"Come," Ben managed. "Please…fuck…I'm…"

I wasn't quite there, so close but not quite. I rocked harder, upping the pressure on my clit.

And then Theo rubbed over my asshole. He didn't penetrate just tickled over the tight rosebud of flesh.

The surprise of his finger there had me gasping for breath, and then the forbidden sweetness of the dark touch pushed me into my climax.

I cried out, ground against Ben, and let the spasms take over my body. It was red-hot bliss, and I didn't hold back. I came hard and long, grabbing everything I could and crying out in joy.

Ben joined me, his cock throbbing inside me. He cursed through his jagged breathing.

I kept on going, riding Ben's cock. Pleasure gripped every nerve in my body and shimmied over my scalp. My pussy was clenching and releasing Ben's cock.

Theo was breathing hard in my ear as he swirled over my anus. On and on the ecstasy extended until I was struggling to catch my breath and my toes had curled so tight they stung.

"Oh my God," Ben said, cupping my cheeks and kissing me.

I slowed then stilled and tangled my tongue with his.

Theo's touch ran up my back. "I could worship your body forever," he murmured then dotted kisses over my shoulder and up my neck to the flesh behind my ear.

Being surrounded by them, having Ben inside me, their hot, hard bodies pressing onto mine was perfect. I thanked my lucky stars, or fate or whichever divine goddess had mapped out this path for me.

Gradually my heart rate returned to normal, and I broke the kiss. The AC was cooling my skin, and Ben had softened inside me. I climbed off him, and Theo moved so I could flop on the sofa between them. I was damp between my legs, and my hips ached a little.

"Here." Theo positioned a soft gray throw over my naked body.

"Thanks."

I set my feet on the table and crossed my legs, then covered myself and both men with the throw. They were seated close. I blew out a breath and pushed my hair from my brow.

"You okay?" Ben asked.

"Yes…I think so."

"Why only think so?" Theo asked.

"It's just…"

"Please, tell us." Ben reached for my hand and linked our fingers.

"I just…well, you must think I'm some kind of sex addict."

"Why?"

"Well, back in Cardiff I spent the night with Dylan, and it wasn't to drink hot chocolate and read poetry."

Theo chuckled. "No, that really wouldn't be Dylan's style."

"And then Eduardo, that photograph…"

"Was just the start of something that got pretty heated, right?" Ben said.

"Yes, I mean…we didn't fuck in his car but…"

"It's okay." Theo rested his hand on the throw, over my thigh. "We wouldn't expect you to judge us so why should we judge you?"

"I know but…" I frowned, struggling to find the words. "I haven't…I mean…Steven and I, it had been a while, we'd both been traveling with work and I'd been so busy planning the wedding that sex had been pretty low on our list of priorities." I paused. "I was hoping to end the drought when we went to the Maldives and I presumed he was thinking the same, except now I know he wasn't experiencing a drought, hell, he was flooded with sex…sex with Cheryl."

"He's a douchebag. A lying, cheating douchebag and he was crazy to let you go. A woman like you…what an idiot." Ben clicked his tongue on the roof of his mouth. "If you were mine, ours, I'd spend my life making sure you were happy and satisfied and never wanted to leave."

I saw the truth in his eyes. Ben was a good guy, a million times better than Steven.

"So you're just ending your drought with us," Theo said with a shrug. "And hell, I'm not complaining."

"But…but you don't mind that I'm also attracted to Eduardo and that I've promised Dylan we'll have a night together on Saturday?"

Both men were quiet for several heartbeats. My stomach dropped.

"You're a free woman," Ben said. "You can spend time with who you want, doing what you want."

I didn't say anything. I sensed there was more.

"And we're all consenting adults, single, too," Theo added. "But Dylan…"

"What about Dylan?" I asked.

"Just have a safe word," Ben said.

"I've already spent a night with him and I didn't need one then. It was all pretty vanilla if I'm honest."

"You'd been through a trauma, he was going easy on you." Theo lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. "I suspect next time he'll want more."

A now familiar tremble went through me at the thought of Dylan revealing his kinks. The feeling was hot yet laced with spikes of nervousness. Was he a sadist? Did he want to tie me up and whip me? Maybe he had a thing for leather or strap-ons and would want me to do him up the ass?

"You'll be fine," Ben said, seeming to sense my imaginings. "He's a respectful guy, he won't hurt you, not in a bad way at least."

"Oh fuck, would you stop?" I poked first Ben and then Theo with my fingertip. "I've never had a threesome before and I reckon I coped just fine with you two."

"You haven't?" Theo said.

"No." I paused. "But I'm guessing you two have." It was the way they'd moved, spoken, seemed to know how to share me without negotiation. We'd all been satisfied, we'd all enjoyed the orgasms.

"Do you wanna drink?" Ben said. He stood suddenly.

"Oh I see, you're changing the subject now it's about you." I raised my eyebrows at him.

He laughed. "I'll get us all some water." He strode from the room refastening his jeans.

"Theo?" I turned to him. "Tell me."

"Okay, okay, honey, you got us, we've had a threesome before, a few times actually."

"With a few different women or just the one?"

"A few." He shrugged. "What can I say, we're attracted to the same type, so rather than fight we share. Seems to have suited everyone so far."

I nodded. "I guess if everyone is happy."

"Oh yeah." He leaned forward and spoke onto my lips. "Everyone is always very happy, especially the woman in our lives. We love hard, the way we play."

Ben soon came back with three glasses of water. I was glad of the cool liquid on my dry throat. I remembered what I'd said about the Maldives, and how I should be on the beach right now with Steven—naked probably because we'd paid top whack for a seriously private water villa.

My heart squeezed. The future I'd believed was set in stone had evaporated in an instant. How precious dreams were, how fragile the future was. And right now he was probably there with Cheryl. The woman who'd fooled me into thinking she cared about me, was my best friend, would walk on hot coals for me the way I would have her.

Bitch.

My eyes stung, and I bit on my bottom lip. Much as I knew I'd had a close shave with a doomed marriage, the thought of Steven and Cheryl in the very villa—partial glass floor to marvel at the fish and turtles, a ladder into the azure ocean, a hammock to sip champagne and watch the sunset—picturing that, them there together, that hurt…a lot.

"Hey." Ben stroked his bent thumb down my upper arm. "It will be okay."

"It will all work out," Theo said.

"I know, I know it will." I paused to gather my emotions. "But I can't ignore the fact that my heart has been broken, that Steven and Cheryl have chipped at the trust I can have in people."

"You can trust us, all of us. I speak for Dylan and Eduardo, too," Ben said. "We'll never hurt you. From the moment we all saw you we just wanted the best for you and to protect you."

"I felt that, and I do know it…here." I tapped my head. "But you'll have to be a little patient with me."

"We know that. This situation, with us, it must have an element of rebound, it would be weird if it didn't," Theo said. "But we understand that, totally."

"Thank you." I smiled at him and dashed at a tear that had broken free. "I really appreciate that."

"And stay as long as you want, we love having you here," Ben said. "No more talk of finding a hotel or…or whatever. This is your home every minute, every hour, and every day you want it to be."

I touched his cheek. "I don't want to sleep alone tonight."

"So don't."

I hesitated then. "Will you both sleep with me, in my bed?"

Ben nodded. "If that's what you want."

"Yes." I stood and kept the throw around my nakedness, clutching it at my sternum. The AC really was chilly. "I feel like I'm on the verge of falling apart, like the glue that keeps me together has been eroded by Steven and Cheryl's treachery."

"We'll hold you." Theo stood and set his palm on my cheek. "We'll hold you tight, don't worry."

And then in one quick movement he swooped me into his arms, knight-in-shining-armor style.

"Oh!" I wrapped an arm around his neck. "What are you doing?"

"Carrying you to bed. We'll hold you, carry you, fight for you, whatever you need."

I didn't answer. His words were like a balm and his strong arms like a Band-Aid. As we went up the stairs, Ben was close behind, and I knew I'd swapped a night of sobbing into my pillow for a night of being wrapped in strength and truth.

When I woke the next morning I was wrapped in Ben's arms, our legs were tangled, and the scent of his flesh filled my nose. I'd had a deep, dreamless sleep, and it took me a moment to want to open my eyes.

When I did, I realized that Theo wasn't there.

"Theo's headed off for practice early, he has ground to make up because he missed yesterday."

"Ah, I see. When did he leave?"

"A few minutes ago, maybe that's what woke you up." Ben kissed my brow. "You slept well."

"I did." I rolled from his arms, enjoying the slight ache in my hips from riding Ben the evening before.

"Want some more sexual healing?" His warm hand snaked over my abdomen.

I giggled. "Definitely, but I need food first, I'm starving."

"You wake up starving?"

"Always."

"Fair enough."

He propped onto his elbows and watched as I stood and stretched, going onto my toes and elongating my torso.

"Fuck, you need to be careful doing that," he muttered.

"Why?" I lowered my arms.

"Because starving or not, it's taking all my willpower not to drag you back onto this bed and fuck you hard."

I threw him a wink. "A big bad hockey player like you, I'm sure you can resist a little thing like me."

"Don't bet on it." Darkness brimmed in his eyes, and I knew if I didn't make a swift exit, a hard fucking was exactly what would happen.

I grabbed a pair of panties and then slipped on the robe I'd bought for the Maldives—patterned with palm trees—and strode from the room. "Come on, I'm making pancakes."

The big house was quiet and bright, the morning sun streaming in through all the windows. My phone was on the kitchen island, and out of habit I tapped the screen. No messages for once.

Soon I'd whisked up pancake batter and was chopping fruit.

"Wanna coffee?" Ben asked. He'd showered and pulled on a red Viper t-shirt and black sweats. His hair was damp.

"No, I've got tea." I pointed to a mug.

My phone rang.

"That's odd." I glanced at the big clock on the wall. "It's the middle of the night in the UK, who could it be?"

"Answer it, perhaps it's about Mae's shoot." He slid it over the marble surface of the island to me.

I didn't recognize the number. "Could be." I hit answer and then speaker so I could carry on slicing strawberries.

"Pippa."

A sudden coldness hit my core.

"Pippa, we need to talk."

"Steven?" My grip on the knife tightened. "What…why are you calling?" My heart pounded, and I was aware of a throbbing in my temples.

"Cheryl feels just terrible about this whole thing."

"I…I…I don't care how she feels or how you feel for that matter." I stared at the phone. It seemed to come closer, back away, come closer again. My vision had blurred.

"That's harsh, Pippa, you've never been cruel, but that is how you are being now."

Ben came to my side and curled his hand around my waist in a firm grip. He knew I needed grounding. He stared down at the phone the way I was.

"You think I'm cruel?" I could hardly believe my ears.

"Yeah, you could have called her."

"She didn't call me."

"She was upset, she hoped you would call. You should have."

"And say what?" I snapped. "Thanks for being the worst best friend ever. Thanks for being a liar and a bitch and a total fake and for smashing the future I thought I had into a million little pieces."

There was a strange sobbing sound in the background.

"Fuck, is she there with you now?" My knees weakened, and my belly clenched. I was glad I hadn't eaten because it might have come up.

"What…I…er…" Steven stammered.

"Don't deny it." My voice was rising. "And where are you? In the Maldives? Enjoying the holiday I picked out for us . Last time I spoke to you, you told me you didn't care about Cheryl, that she meant nothing to you."

"Shut up, what does it matter what I said last time?" He was getting frustrated, his voice higher than usual.

"Fucking loser," Ben muttered.

"Who is there with you ? Tell me." Steven demanded.

"Nothing about my life is any of your business, Steven, you saw to that, so piss off and leave me alone."

"I've seen it, you know."

"Seen what?" I frowned at Ben.

He kind of shrugged.

"Him. You and him. How long has that been going on for?"

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Huh, it's not exactly a coincidence that the guy who nearly strangled me in Cardiff is the same guy the paps find you fucking up against a wall."

"Oh shit." I rubbed my forehead and leaned harder on Ben. Me and Eduardo. It was a damning photograph that was for sure. Trevor obviously hadn't managed to keep the tight lid on it he'd hoped he could.

"So how long? Three months? Six months? Longer? You meet him on a shoot?" Steven was saying.

"Where did you see that picture? Trevor had it shut down."

"Trevor might pretend to be your fairy godmother, Pippa, but he's not a magician. Once something is on the internet, it's there."

Ben frowned, and his jaw tensed. A flush of color had risen on his cheeks.

"And," Steven went on, "if you don't apologize to Cheryl for being a bitch to her, I'm going to change my OKAY interview so they know that you didn't just leave me at the altar, you left me for another man that you were having an affair with and—"

"Are you crazy? That's the pot calling the kettle black. And don't you dare even mention me in an OKAY interview, we're done, over before we ever started as far at the masses are concerned."

"We have, or rather I have, an obligation to give OKAY a story. Luckily, you're helping me make it juicier with all your carrying on. So if you don't apologize nicely to Cheryl, I'll pad out the details I don't know and I have a very good imagination so—"

"Are you threatening Pippa?" Ben hunched forward, fist clenched on the work surface like a gorilla. "'Cause I'm fucking all ears if you are." He glared at the phone as though he could see Steven through it. "In fact, it would make my damn day."

"Ah, so he is there with you." There was a note of triumph in Steven's voice. He was pleased he'd been proven right.

"You have no damn clue who I am," Ben said through gritted teeth. "Or how much I can fuck you up with just my little finger."

Steven huffed. "I'm not scared of Pippa's new boyfriend, put her back on the phone."

"You should be scared, really fucking scared, and she won't be speaking to you again…ever." Ben kind of snarled the last word.

"You can't speak for her."

Ben looked at me.

I nodded.

"I can, and I damn well will, moron, because she's finished with this, with you. But for the record, I also have the photographs of you and this Cheryl woman, and unlike Pippa, I couldn't give a flying fuck if they hit the public domain. No skin off my nose. So if you think it's okay to call this number again, think twice."

"What? I was told they—?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever, now go fuck yourself and have a happy fucking life, douchebag." Ben hit end on the call.