Chapter 23

23

Dakota

I know it's a bit of a farce, but I believed Reed when he proposed to me. I also know he did it on behalf of his brothers as well. They chose to do it in public for a reason. Callie was present, along with enough people for it to be official and impossible to contest later down the road. Reed and I will be married by Christmas, and all of my financial problems will wither away.

"This is insane," I whisper as we get to their place.

Maisie was already sleeping when Chelsea drove off with her and Trevor in the backseat, about an hour after we wrapped up the charity event.

"What is?" Reed asks, his hand resting on the small of my back as we walk into the living room. "The proposal?"

"Yeah. I honestly didn't see it coming."

Archer chuckles. "We had planned for it to go differently, to be fair. But with a big crowd and your sister there, we figured it was good timing. We needed to get that money shot for the papers, too."

"Oh, God, they're going to write about us in the news," I gasp, briefly horrified until I realize what the headlines won't be saying: that I'm hooking up with all three Faulkner brothers, not just one.

Maddox heads over to the minibar and pops open a bottle of champagne, which he pours into four crystal flute glasses. "This is cause for celebration," he says, "despite the unorthodox manner in which it was done."

"None for me, thank you," I reply with an awkward smile. "I can't stomach any alcohol at this hour. I'm too excited, too nervous."

I sit down in one of the armchairs, practically sinking into it, while Reed, Maddox, and Archer take the sofa, eyeing me intently. This is it. The moment we were waiting for. That awkward silence after a complete flip of the script. It took me a while to put two and two together, though. I'd been so busy worrying about the foreclosure, the pregnancy, and Callie that I failed to notice certain details, which are now so clearly coming into focus.

"Okay, please make this make sense for me," I say. "What's going on?"

Reed takes a deep breath, followed by a sip of champagne. "I meant every word back there, Dakota. I'm going to marry you, and you're going to get that Monroe inheritance because you deserve it more than your sister ever will."

"She's going to question everything. At the lounge, before I passed out, I told her that Archer was my fiancé, and he didn't contest it," I reply.

"That's fine," Archer cuts in. "You don't want Callie having any facts whatsoever."

"Why not? She really seems like she's trying to do better." I want to believe that my sister is genuinely trying to be my sister, though I definitely noticed her not missing a single opportunity to get handsy with my so-called fiancé throughout the entire charity event. "She even said that I will probably spend that money better than she ever could."

The brothers exchange quick and meaningful glances before they set their focus back on me. Archer takes a deep breath. "Dakota, we're your people. We're doing everything in our power to make sure you have whatever it is you need to thrive and to keep Maisie safe and happy. We made you a promise, and we intend to keep it by any means necessary."

"Okay."

"That being said, Callie is not your people," he continues, a frown drawing a deep shadow between his sandy brows. "I know you want it to be true, but I think you can see for yourself that it's not."

"She's a victim of Katherine Monroe, just like me," I say. "I think she wants to do the right thing, but she just doesn't know how. I don't expect her to change overnight, obviously, but I do believe she has good intentions."

Part of me aches to trust Callie wholly. But I know better. I've met my share of people who manipulate others for a living. It only took one interaction with Katherine Monroe for me to understand that she was never the kind of woman I wanted to be around. I think Callie carries deep wounds from her family and those wounds will take a long time to heal, yet I can't fault the Faulkner brothers for their concern, nor can I say anything negative about how they chose to go about things.

"Making the proposal public," I say after a long and heavy pause, "are you sure it was the right thing to do? I mean, I know you're doing it to help me, and I cannot thank you enough…"

Reed shakes his head. "We're doing it because we want to be with you."

"Perhaps marriage wouldn't have been an option this early in our relationship under normal circumstances," Archer smiles, "but if it helps you rise above and accomplish incredible things, we figured it couldn't possibly hurt. If you're happy, we're happier."

"I was going to ask for your help," I mumble. "Once I got over my ego, that is."

"Yeah, we figured that much after we found out about the foreclosure and the inheritance," Reed sighs deeply. "Callie's only goal was to hurt you when she told Archer about it."

"Little did she know that all it accomplished was to bring us even closer to you," Archer adds.

My phone buzzes. This is the fifth message I've gotten from Keith in the past couple of days, and it's starting to raise some red flags. He's never been this persistent before. Something has changed, and I don't like it. For tonight, however, I set the phone face-down on the coffee table and forget all about it, choosing to focus on the here and now.

"So, how do we go about this?" I ask.

"It's pretty simple, even though it sounds complicated," Reed says.

"What Reed is trying to say is that we have to tread carefully going forward," Archer cuts in. "I don't want any of these recent changes to affect our dynamic. We're fun together; we're happy together; we're building something that may or may not last, though we do want it to last."

It's the subtle doubt in their voices that wraps itself around my heart and tightens, squeezing until it hurts. "I get it."

"Dakota, there are many factors to consider here," Archer says. "Our feelings and our physical chemistry can't be the only deciding aspects. We're planning to adopt Trevor by the end of next year. And if we want this to work between us, we need to make sure that our kids get along. Last time I checked, there was a bit of friction between Trevor and Maisie, through no fault of Maisie's, I might add. We also need to consider the future."

"The future," I repeat after him.

Maddox nods slowly. "Reed will marry you before Christmas. In the meantime, we want you to move in with us. As far as the world is concerned, you'll be living with Reed. You'll be married to Reed. And Maisie and Trevor will have this whole place to call home while they get to know each other better."

"Sounds fair."

"After you get your inheritance, however, you will have the option for an official divorce," Maddox continues, his greyish-green eyes searching my face. "I'm not saying we want that—"

"But it's an option," Reed finishes.

"We want you to know you have that choice. Maybe someday you'll meet someone who can give you a perfect legal frame for what society considers a real relationship and a real marriage. We clearly don't fit that mold, given that we're—"

"We're a package deal," Archer drives the point home, a muscle ticking nervously in his jaw. "And while it may be fun for now, it might not be what you want later down the line. And we will understand, Dakota."

I don't know why the words are hitting me so deeply. It feels like a bittersweet victory to me. I'm getting an eighty-million-dollar inheritance. I'm keeping my house, and I'll be able to afford full tuition at Prescott Academy for Maisie. My daughter will have every tool at her disposal to help her grow into the extraordinary woman I know she is destined to be. I will have what I need to grow, as well, to build my own business, to make something of myself after having wasted enough years catering to Keith's wild, unrealistic dreams.

But I'd hoped it wouldn't be just Maisie and me. I'd hoped it would involve Reed, Archer, and Maddox, too. I'd hoped it would give us an opportunity to give Trevor the family he so desperately needs and deserves, complete with a little sister. Of course, these are wild dreams. The situation we're in is already such a complicated mess, one that might find all of us in complete ruin.

I have to admit, the brothers' cautious approach isn't exactly an easy pill to swallow, but it is commendable.

"So where do we go from here?" I ask, feeling as though there's an expiration date on our relationship all of a sudden.

Reed smiles and gets up from the sofa, then walks over and kneels before me. "For now, we want you and Maisie to move in with us. You can rent out your grandma's house, or you can invest in a hefty renovation once you get the money. Either way, we're going to have to sell this relationship and future marriage as a real thing."

"Got it," I mumble, my cheeks burning hot as his hands rest on my knees.

"We'll get married a week before Christmas," he says, and I pull in a deep breath.

"That's three weeks from now."

Archer chuckles dryly. "We'll make it an official, albeit small, ceremony. We need time to draw up a prenup with our lawyers, among other things."

"Oh, right, a prenup," I whisper.

"We have to protect our interests and yours, too," Reed insists. "You'll be coming into a lot of money, and we want you to have the utmost certainty that we'll never ask you for anything if we get a divorce."

"I never would've thought you'd—"

"And that is your mistake," Maddox cuts in, giving me a worried look. "You assume that all people are good. Yet you can never know for sure."

"Are you telling me I shouldn't trust you?"

"No, I'm telling you that we're making sure your gorgeous ass is covered, no matter what. Even if it might come across as unpleasant or offensive," he replies and stands up.

At the same time, Reed's hands start moving farther up my thighs, kneading the tired muscles through the fabric of my jeans. Each squeeze sends a flurry of heat signals into my core.

Maddox comes around and stands behind me, then bends over and gently cups my face, tilting my head back so he can kiss me. I cave in, moaning against his lips as our tongues swirl while he trails invisible lines with his fingers down my neck. He cups my breasts, squeezing both tightly through the silk of my shirt and the soft lace of my bra.

"Whatever happens, Dakota, we will protect you," Maddox whispers against my lips. "But you'll be the one who decides when and if it's time to pull the plug. It'll always be up to you."

Archer joins his brothers and starts unbuttoning my shirt. "We know this is a difficult situation you're in," he says. "But I admire the way you power through, even though you border on the reckless side of things sometimes. You should've come to us straight away with this whole inheritance nonsense."

"I didn't know how to tell you. I want to marry for love, not for money," I manage as Maddox kisses the side of my neck, his teeth nipping at my skin.

My nipples harden, poking through the white lace, but Archer peels the bra away, leaving my breasts full and out in the open, tender and perky pink under his smoldering gaze.

"Life isn't that simple, though, is it?" Reed replies and takes off my jeans.

A minute later, I'm melting into this giant armchair with three sets of hands and three pairs of lips teasing me into absolute submission, my naked body becoming theirs to play with as they wish.

I feast my eyes on their hard muscles, their chiseled arms and shoulders, as their fingers touch and tickle and pinch while their tongues lick every inch of my skin.

"Let's get one thing straight," Archer says. "You may be married to Reed on paper, but you'll still belong to all three of us."

"I wouldn't have it any other way," I promptly shoot back, licking my lips as I look up at him.

"Good. Now get on your knees," he says.

I am compelled to obey. I do as I'm told, kneeling before them as they take the rest of their clothes off.

"Take what you want," Archer says.

"Yes, sir," I reply and take him in my mouth first while consistently stroking his brothers.

With slow and steady moves, I bring Reed and Maddox closer to the edge. I feel them growing bigger and harder in my grip as I taste the salty precum on the tip of Archer's throbbing erection. Liquid heat trickles down the inside of my thighs, but I need to make sure my men are well taken care of because I know they will do the same for me.

Maddox is thicker, causing my lips to stretch a tad more as I take him in my mouth next.

Reed loves to slide deeper and fuck my throat until I moan around him. "I love that sound," he growls as he keeps my head still with his hands and has his way, going faster. I feel the veins along his shaft pulsating against my tongue.

"And I love the taste of you," I gasp when he pulls back, tears of raw pleasure streaming down my cheeks.

Archer helps me up. "Your turn, the future Mrs. Faulkner."

That's enough to make me even wetter. The mere mention of their name attached to me does things to my heart, igniting fantasies I never dared to say aloud because they sounded so untouchable in my head. Yet here we are. This could blow up in my face on so many levels. But if we do pull this off, if we do get away with it, my life will forever be changed for the better.

He keeps me standing and kneels, then spreads my legs and kisses me below. As soon as his tongue slides through my wet folds, I shudder. His lips close around my clit, suckling voraciously as Reed and Maddox go to town on my breasts. I hold on to their hardened cocks, stroking them both into a frenzy as their teeth nibble on my sensitive skin, nipples perking against their lapping tongues.

I cry out as I come, the center of my very being unraveling. Archer's fingers are priming my entrance for so much more as he drives me over the edge. He strokes and finger fucks me until I quiver and shake and fall apart at the seams, my knees weakening until I can barely stand.

"Climb on top of me," Archer commands as he gets up and kisses me.

I taste myself on his lips and give him a lascivious smile.

But Maddox jokingly pushes him out of the way. "She's riding me first tonight," he says.

I clear my throat to get their attention. "Maybe let the lady decide?"

"I'm all ears," Archer shoots back, lips curled into a devilish smile.

"I'm riding Maddox first. But I need you, Archer, to fuck me from behind," I pause and kiss Reed, letting my tongue tease the corner of his mouth for one long second. "And I want you to come in my mouth. I want to drink all of you, Mr. Faulkner. Every last drop."

"Yes, ma'am," Reed growls.

A moment later, I'm mounting Maddox, his massive cock stretching and filling me to the brim. I gasp, easing myself onto him until I'm full, but then Archer positions himself behind me and joins him. My pussy stretches, widened by two gargantuan cocks, my juices flowing freely and shamelessly as I welcome them both.

Reed stands above and takes hold of my chin.

A rhythm ensues. My heart thunders through each thrust as I'm fucked six ways from Sunday. I fondle and play with Reed's rock-hard balls, swollen and aching to release their simmering load, while Archer drives harder and deeper into me.

My clit is pressed against Maddox's groin, and every sway of my hips causes friction, bringing me closer to another mind-shattering orgasm. Archer's hand comes down. How he loves to smack my ass, knowing it's going to make me come.

"You're too fucking good for this," Maddox growls, heels planted into the floor as he starts pounding into me faster and harder.

My breasts bounce as I bring Reed closer to a veritable explosion, sucking him with sheer greed, my tongue lapping relentlessly. I loosen the back of my throat to let him go deep, just the way he likes it. My screams are muffled as Archer slaps my ass again. The third smack sends me into overdrive, and I come hard as the brothers lose the last of their control.

Their hands hold and squeeze and grip, their fingers digging and pinching and ravenously scratching. They claim me hard and deep. I cry tears of joy as I come, over and over, as my pussy gushes over their cocks, as I feel Reed spilling his hot seed down my throat and listen to his ragged breaths, his fractured moans as he holds me by the head and gives me everything.

Archer comes next, shooting himself deep within. Maddox is last, and it is explosive. My core tightens as I clench myself around them, squeezing the throbbing cocks of each delicious droplet.

Whatever this is, I can't let it end.

I dread the possibility, especially now that I know I'm carrying a Faulkner child in my womb. We move into the bedroom, where we continue with our rampant lovemaking. They take me every which way late into the night.