Chapter Eleven

Chapter ElevenSitting at a table in the lounge with my friends a month later, I stirred my mojito with my straw. “I thought it would be stiff and awkward, but the boys won my grandparents over easily enough.” Just as they’d effortlessly won over my dads when we all had dinner together a few weeks ago for the first time.I’d originally worried that the meal might go horribly wrong, given how protective my dads were—it was a given that they’d put both Trace and Kaleb through the gauntlet. But it all went so swimmingly well that it kind of took me off-guard.“Your dudes are easy to like,” Cat quite rightly pointed out, sitting opposite me. “Plus, considering they look at you like you’re precious, it was inevitable that the people who love you would adore them.”Inaya nodded, her smile all dreamy, and leaned into me. “They’re so sweetly protective and possessive and damn I’m jealous.” Straightening, she let out a frustrated sigh. “I can’t even find oneguy who’s that amazing. You found two.”Unable not to feel a little smug, I agreed, “My boys are amazing.”Beside Cat, Izzy grinned. “I love how you call them your boys when they’re both older than you.”I shrugged one shoulder. “They think it’s cute.”“They think you’re cute,” corrected Cat, “so they say nothing.”“Well they’re not wrong.” I sipped at my drink through my straw. “I’m freaking adorable.”Cat snickered. “Your confidence issues concern me.” Her gaze skipped to something behind me, and her lips twitched. “The groupies still glare at you when you’re not looking.”I rolled my eyes. At first, the bitches weren’t so subtle about it. But then I’d gotten into an argument with one, who’d loudly threatened to pour her drink all over my head. Blake Mercier’s wife, Kensey, had swiftly intervened and not only gave the woman a dressing down but threatened to temporarily ban her from the Vault.The groupie had predictably backed off, evidently not finding me worth such a punishment. Apparently, none of her fellow groupies did either, because they didn’t even make eye-contact with me these days.It wouldn’t have bothered me even if they had chosen to occasionally stare—I was becoming used to that. People often did it when Trace, Kaleb, and I went out together in public. It seemed as if the population still couldn’t quite decide if it was a PR stunt or not, but I didn’t care either way.So far, neither mine nor either of my boys’ careers seemed to have been impacted by it. But I didn’t doubt that it would have some affect eventually.“So, Briar,” began Inaya, “have you taken both guys at once yet?”I blinked. Well that came out of left field. Somehow, I kept my expression neutral even as explicit memories climbed all over me.A slow smile crept over Inaya’s face. “You have, haven’t you?” She twisted in her seat to better look at me, her blue eyes bright. “What was it like? Tell me.”Equally intrigued, Cat leaned across the table. “Yes, details, please! Was it hot? Did it hurt?”Oh, it had hurt each and every time we’d done it, but the pleasure always outweighed the pain. It wasn’t just a physical pleasure, it was the joy of having both men I cared for inside me at one time. “I’m saying nothing.”Izzy threw me a sour look. “You’re so stingy with details.” Shoving her unruly curls over her shoulder, she added, “Not to ruin the mood or anything, but has Alondra’s attitude toward your relationship changed yet?”I felt my lips thin. “I doubt it.” When I’d called my mother and let her know that I was officially with both Trace and Kaleb, she’d gone on a mini rant and had then hung up when I’d refused to reconsider. “I can’t know for sure; I haven’t heard from her in weeks.”To be fair, I hadn’t tried contacting her either, but I simply had nothing to say. She knew how I felt, she knew what I wanted, and she knew what she had to do if she wished for us to still have a relationship—which was quite simply for her to let the situation be. The ball was in her court.“She’s been known to sulk, but it never lasts long,” Cat reminded me. “She’ll probably get in touch with you at some point. Even if only to moan at you about a director or contract or something.”“At least your dads are happy for you,” said Inaya. “It’s so cool that they accepted your relationship with Trace and Kaleb so easily. It’s not surprising that they didn’t bat an eyelid about it, though, given their own unconventional past. Still, not all dads would want that for their daughter.”I was lucky that way. “They said that if my boys make me happy, that’s good enough for them. Really, I think they’d have accepted just about any guy—or number of guys—into my life. It worried them that I’d made a habit of avoiding committed relationships. They didn’t like that I felt I was better off alone. It’s weird how I now look back and wonder why I ever thought that.”“I don’t think anyone’s better off alone,” said Izzy. “Not really. I think sometimes it can seem like it might be easier if we are; we can convince ourselves that we prefer it that way and that we’re not missing out on much. But everyone should have someone.” She slid her gaze to Inaya. “You will as well eventually.”Cat nodded. “We’ll find a dude for you.”Inaya snorted and took a sip of her drink. “Good luck with that. I’m failing miserably.”I frowned. “The guy you were talking to last weekend seemed really into you.”“Bad match, though.” Inaya’s nose wrinkled. “It turns out that Anthony’s a sadist. I’m nothing remotely close to a masochist. There was another guy I liked. He was pretty sweet. But he was also a sub, and I’m no one’s idea of a Domme. Nor am I looking for someone who’s into BDSM. I like my sex rough, but I don’t have any kinks or anything. What I really want is someone who sees past the fame.”I could think of one man in particular who wouldn’t be fazed by it. A man who continued to watch Inaya whenever they were in close proximity. “Have you had a conversation with Kaiser Wolfe yet?”“I’d rather lick my own asshole,” said Inaya matter-of-factly.I blinked. “Wow. What did he do to make you not like him?”“I don’t dislike him, he’s just seriously rude. I’d therefore prefer to not talk to him.”There was more to it than that. I was sure of it. But before I had the chance to push her to share, she spoke again.“Anyway, let’s move onto a cheerier subject. We’re supposed to be enjoying a girls’ night out.” Inaya raised her glass. “Now let’s make a toast.”“To what?” asked Cat.Inaya shrugged. “I don’t know. You think of something.”“We could toast that we’re the most awesome group of friends in the history of ever,” Cat suggested.Izzy lifted her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”“Me, too,” I said, sweeping my bangs out of my eyes.We all reached across the table to lightly bump our glasses together before taking a quick swig of our drinks.“And,” began Inaya, “maybe we could also toast that our girl Briar has been lucky enough to experience taking a cock up both holes at the same time.”I nearly choked on my drink. God, I loved that woman. She was a riot.Cat exhaled heavily at her. “We were having a moment. You ruined it.”Inaya swept her gaze over each of us. “So no one else is thinking that such luck deserves a toast?”After a long moment, Izzy weakly shrugged one shoulder. “All right, we can toast to that as well.”Again, we touched our glasses to each other’s and took a sip of our drinks.Inaya smiled at me, her eyes lit with mischief. “Now be a dear and tell us which of your boys has the longest—”“Inaya,” hissed Cat.Inaya’s eyes widened. “What? I was going to say ‘recovery time.’ Really, Cat, your mind is always in the gutter.”I huffed. “Now you’re just deflecting.”“I’d rather be dancing.” Inaya drained her glass. “We gonna hit the dome or what?”Gesturing at the other glasses on the table—none of which were empty—Cat said, “We need to finish these first.”Again, Cat, Izzy and I took a small sip of our drinks.Inaya groaned. “If you guys can’t even toss back a drink you must be shit at swallowing.”“Inaya,” said Cat.The beautiful singer lifted her shoulders. “It was just an observation.”