Chapter Thirty-Six - Epilogue

THEY SAY MOST businesses fail within the first year.

Unforgiving, November winds blow up my skirt. I shiver in my thin sweater and stomp my feet. Putting on tights would have been smart after all.

Headlights flash by, nearly blinding me as I stare up at the red brick edifice. There's still a sunspot from where the old sign used to hang. It was a hard day tearing it down. In many ways, that day served as a funeral for not only Goudafellas but my Uncle Mateo as well.

"How's that?"

I place a hand above my eyes and crane my head back. "A little to the left, I think."

"Like this?" Cheddy yanks the banner to the right.

"No, your other left."

"Um…?" He pulls it even farther right until he's standing with one foot on the ladder.

I wave my hand to try to direct him away from the bright neon sign. Thunder rolls and a fat raindrop strikes my hand. "That's perfect," I shout at him.

Beaming, he ties off the banner advertising the hours for this new, all-night cheese shop. After testing to make sure it's secure, he slides down the ladder. Cheddy peers up at his hard work. He doesn't even flinch as rain pelts his cheeks and tumbles through his hair.

When a fat drop strikes my forehead, I yelp and dash under the cover of the awning. "We should get inside," I call to him. A second clash of thunder strikes and the heavens open.

The rain drenches Cheddy's thin, white tee to his shoulders, pecs, and the swerving terrain of his back. He shakes out his hair already plastering to his head like he's in a shampoo commercial. "Are you cold?" he asks as his body steams in the autumn night air.

"A…a little." I've stuffed my hands under my arms and keep trying to rub my legs together for warmth.

Sweet Cheddy wraps his wet arms around my body. "You should get inside."

"You too," I say. "You don't want to be late."

He smiles wide. Somehow, the exuberance in his green-flecked eyes ramps up another notch. Like a puppy eager for a walk, Cheddy runs for the door, stops, and looks back at me. He pushes open the shop door and bows his head.

I take my time trying to wipe off my shoes on the black rug while Cheddy keeps popping up on his toes to look around. "Go ahead," I tell him. "I've got a few things to check on."

"Really? Okay. Love you, Vi. Bye!" In a whirl, Cheddy vanishes into the hordes of people gathered near the windows. I catch a hint of his blond head bounding through the masses before he flits behind one of the new walls.

It wasn't easy to come back from nothing, but the empty store also gave us opportunities for change. Instead of returning to the way they were, we made this place ours. It began small with soft cheeses in custom sampler boxes covered in art—Brie's idea. With that, we were able to get enough money to make more stock to rebuild the store and, after two years, we have more than a place to sell cheese.

We have a home.

"This book is nothing but bodice-ripping, manhood-swelling smut," Cam declares. He slaps the hardcover book closed and grins. "Which is the best kind of literature." He sits on his vintage, wingback chair. The frame is mahogany and the upholstery a velveteen ivory, making it look more like a throne than a cozy armchair. It doesn't help that he's set it on the floor above the handful of steps that lead to the little book nook where the utility closet used to be.

A handful of regulars, coffee in hand, nearly sit at his feet as they discuss whatever book Cam's found delicious for the night. "I shall read to the oarsman scene. Ahem. Chapter five, page fifty-three. ‘They thrust without purpose, muscles rippling as they stroked. Back and forth. My waters churned as the wood beneath my feet rocked. Back and forth. I…'" Cam looks up from the bent pages and beams his million-dollar smile at me. "Well, so on and so forth. Roger, you continue the reading."

"Me?" a man maybe a few years out of high school squeaks.

"You have it, my good man." Cam claps him on the shoulder. "Put all your emphasis on the knot-tying scene. Violette, my heart," he calls to me, leaving poor Roger to stumble through the next few innuendo-drenched scenes.

Pausing on the edge where the bookstore becomes a cheese shop, Cam eyes me up and down. "You've gone all a quiver. I assume at seeing me in my finery." He tugs the lapels of his smoking jacket that on anyone else would look ridiculous. Instead of a twat, Cam's the eccentric but dashing Count just waiting for his opportunity to get someone alone.

"You've caught me," I say.

He glides in, taking me in his arms like a gentleman about to guide a lady to the dance floor. Then those chivalrous hands traipse under my sweater and his voice dips into smokey honey. "And what does this valiant hunter win?"

"Mmm," I moan, breathing bonfire and amber off of his cheek. Cam caresses my chin and teases the edge of my lips. I turn to kiss him.

"Mr. Cam?" one of his pupils calls for him.

With a smile, I step back. "Your adoring public awaits."

"Duty is a horrific word. Do you have any idea the lengths I went to escape it? Yes, Torrence, what is it?" Despite his protestations, Cam lights up as he addresses the young man.

"What do you think of this?" Torrence passes over his phone.

Twisting it around, Cam reads the screen and sighs. "You are trying to woo a lady, not place an order with the Amazonians. How do you first greet her?"

"You up?"

A soul-quaking groan bursts from Cam. He covers his eyes. "No. Dearest creator above, what clay have you given me to work with? We begin with a compliment, of course."

"Right. Right."

It took a little while for Cam to figure out his place in this new world. He'd seemed happy bouncing from job to job, doing everything he could to avoid work, and swinging a hammer when Roq was looking. But after Brie's book club took off, Cam somehow wormed his way into not only leading it but creating a poetry-slash-wooing seminar for woefully unprepared men.

"You ask if she would like to receive a portrait of your Johnson. You don't just send it unwanted. Youths!"

"Um, excuse me." A young woman clinging to her bag approaches me. "Do you know where Brie is?"

I try to stand up taller as if that'll help me see around the people milling about by the cheese stands. For a second, an elbow flies out between two people from the back of the store and I smile. "I think I do. Give me a minute, and I'll fetch him for you."

"Thanks." She blushes and slips away to the other small half of the store where four easels wait in anticipation of another class.

"Excuse me, excuse me." I have to worm my way through a crowd who's not here for the free samples. Instead, they're watching the wild arm movements and careful brush strokes. Judging by how animated Brie is, he has no idea they're here.

"Brie?" I call out to him.

He waves his head back and forth and curves a line of paint up the wall. I walk over the tarps, my shoes squeaking from the rain, and cup his shoulder. Brie jerks and tugs out one of the earbuds with a pop. "Violette?" He smiles at me, then he catches the crowd watching him.

Poor Brie's face turns bright red and he tries to duck into the collar of his painter's shirt. "What…what's going on?"

"With them? I think they like watching you work."

"Oh. Okay. That's…" Shaking, he tries to put his brushes down and nearly knocks over his water cup. "Don't look at it!" Brie suddenly throws his arms up as if he could block the fifteen-foot-long mural. "It's not done."

"Are you sure?" I start to step back to take it all in, but Brie snatches up my hands. He cups his palm just above my eyes to protect his unfinished work from me. The rest of the world's opinion doesn't matter. Only mine.

"I…I want to get it right. Perfect. Before you see it."

"Brie." I ruffle my fingers through his hair, nearly undoing the ribbon at the back. "There's no such thing as perfect."

His eyes drop for a second, then he peers up at me. "Maybe not." Leaning into me, he bites his lip and whispers, "…but you're pretty damn close."

Brie goes in for the kiss just as the crowd cries out for more. His lips land on my cheek instead. I hold his jaw to keep him there for a second before he slips away to his adoring audience.

"Wh-why are you back here?" he asks while wiping off his hands.

"Oh, I think your painting class is about to begin." I point to his eager student who gives a little wave.

"Damn, I didn't even notice." Brie takes off, offering a thousand apologies for being a few minutes late. A couple of other people join him for the evening, two having to disentangle from Cam's reading. That man's sitting sideways on the chair, one foot swaying in the air while he recites a tale of every throbbing manhood on the rowing team.

A great clap cuts through the air. "Who's ready for this!" Cheddy shouts to a chorus of cheers.

He's standing at the center counter. Instead of the single long one from before, we switched it to a U with a little pedestal for the center person to be visible from all directions. Cheddy nods to the people, mostly men of the thick-necked, backward-cap variety. They paid good money to be here for this and are ready for anything.

From the cabinet, Cheddy pulls out a black box. The people ooh and ahh as he tugs a key out from under his wet shirt, then inserts it into the lock. All for show, of course, but the roll of smoke from the hole is certainly a great spectacle. A few claps follow, then they all whoop as he lifts the first cheese.

"We're gonna start this challenge off easy. This cheddar is made with ground scorpion chilies." He slices off a piece of the yellow cheese and pops it in his mouth. "Not bad," Cheddy declares. His lips heat to a neon red as he cuts a piece for everyone who paid to be tortured.

One by one, they down their one-inch cubes. High fives are exchanged, screams are shouted, and people shake their hands. "That's not so bad," one of the men declares even as tears drip from his eyes.

Cheddy nods. "Now this one…" He holds up a brick of cheddar dyed blood red. "Contains the ghost pepper." Without pause, he cuts off an entire two inches and swallows it. "Woo! Kicks like an armored horse."

As he carves the next round for people, one man exclaims, "Dude, I eat ghost peppers on my cereal." He points to the final and mysterious black cheese. "What about that one?"

"Oh, we'll get to it," Cheddy assures him as he hands out the ghost pepper cheese. "If you survive." A few people smile and nod as they bite down, but just as many lunge for the complimentary cups of milk.

"Nah, man." The proudest dude bro shoves away the ghost pepper cheddar. "I want the black one."

Cheddy shrugs. "As you say." He slits open the packaging and the air sizzles. I clasp a hand over my nose to stop it from burning. The others do the same, eyes watering just from being near it. Cheddy cleaves off two pieces, puts one in a paper cut, and hands it over.

"Might want to take a little nibble first," he instructs.

The man snickers to his bros, then he tips the cup back. Regret instantly knots up his face. His mouth drops in a dry scream. Only smoke rolls out. Waving his hands frantically in front of his face, he nosedives for his cup of milk. Half pours down his chin. But even as the glass empties, he shakes his head as if he wants to run away from his own esophagus.

"Bro, how is it?" his friend asks with a snicker.

"Bad?" another answers for him, laughs starting as the panic ramps up.

Cheddy watches it all with a curious look. He pops the jet-black cheese in his mouth and swallows. "Hmm, not bad," he says with a strained laugh.

I slide in beside him while keeping upwind from the black cheese. As I run my palm over his gurgling stomach, I ask, "Where's Roq?"

"Where he always is," Cheddy answers before raising his hands to the crowd. "Who's ready for round three?"

The applause is more muted for the next go, especially as the man who cut the line is redder than a tomato and sweating buckets. "It's fine," he sputters. "I've got it."

I know better than to go anywhere near one of Chedward's extra-spicy concoctions. The day after we visited that pepper festival, it became his life's mission to create the hottest cheese that didn't also burn through its metal mold. There had been a few close calls over the year.

"Excuse me." I ease my way around a couple enjoying one of the in-store charcuterie boards and wines. They're wisely watching instead of participating in Cheddy's challenge. At the open trap door, I call out, "Roq?"

"Down here." His voice echoes off of the installed stairs.

Running my fingers down the banister, I make my way into the cellar. Edison bulbs dangle by the dozens from the roof, chasing away the dank. Standing front and center, Roq's got an apron strapped across his wide frame. He tugs on a pair of gloves and adjusts the little paper hat nestled on his head.

"What is the first step?" he asks the five people standing before him with notebooks in hand. They flip back through the pages and try to read. I start to count down, watching a few lift their heads and move their lips.

"Warm the milk," Roq interrupts. "It has to be a proper temperature for the cultures. Alan, could you be so kind as to flip the switch?"

Instead of striking a flint on old coals, Alan presses one of the buttons on the vat that starts up a proper heating coil below the floor. "Please keep your distance from the vat as it warms. I don't want anyone to get burned," Roq says. "This is a good time to go over cultures. What do we use to create feta cheese? Elaine?"

"Um…"

"A blend of mesophilic and thermophilic cultures." I step forward into the light. Roq's no-nonsense professor act wavers as he spots me. For a moment, he gives me a heartwarming smile.

In a snap, he turns back on his students. "That's correct. Why do we use that particular blend? Derek?"

"Because of…phils?"

Roq sighs in utter exhaustion. "No. Please open your pamphlet to page six. Cheese requires…"

Leaning back, I rest on the table and watch Roq in his element. While the others found joy and freedom in their new endeavors, he stuck with his first love. But he also realized that, more than creating, it's teaching others that sings to his heart. After winning a few prestigious ribbons, we could charge quite a bit to teach all of those homesteader and cottagecore types how to do it themselves.

Has any of this been easy? Hell no.

That first year, I'd get at best a few hours with them before I'd pass out. And, despite their assurances all was well, I could tell they were still fighting. But—by and by—things got better. I shuffled around the hours and hired someone to work from noon to five. Erin is an absolute lifesaver.

Most importantly, we got to live. Cam can spend his nights reveling in printed debauchery. Brie paints the most electric sunsets. Cheddy regularly challenges others to all kinds of dangerous stunts. And Roq…Roq's able to let go of the guilt and smile.

On occasion.

He'd lose his mystique if he did it all the time.

As for me…

My phone alarm goes off. I twist it around in surprise to find it's already midnight. Roq's the first to catch on. "All right, everyone. We'll pick this up tomorrow with the curd. Please read sections three through five in your packets so we don't waste any time."

His students deposit their aprons on the table, thank Roq, and climb up to the ground floor. For a beat, Roq rubs the back of his neck. He pauses and watches me standing there. A lopsided, almost drunken smile twists about his lips. "Thank god it's closing time," he says.

I walk to him, planting my palms on his chest. My fingers dig into the straps of the apron and I pull myself onto my toes. "Don't act like you aren't loving this," I tease him.

"Mm, ignorant fools who stumble through every simple step I give them." Roq grumbles.

"Exactly." I playfully pull off his hat and drop it on my head.

Roq drapes his hands on the top of my ass. He keeps peering down at me even as we glide back and forth. "I don't know if I can claim to love teaching fools," he says sternly, then a chuckle wafts about his face. Bending over, he collapses his forehead to mine and whispers, "But I do love you."

We kiss by the glowing vat of warm milk. Roq, the always serious one, runs his hands up my back. I lick around his lip. His palms flatten and his biceps tighten like he's about to throw me onto that table right now.

"Violette? Is it midnight?" Brie calls down.

I break off the kiss to lean back and shout, "Yes, I'm sorry."

"I'm not." Roq reaches for my zipper when the clomp of feet and a shift in music breaks up above. He tosses his head back with a sigh. "I suppose you need to check on them."

"Who knows what trouble they could get into."

"I have some ideas," he says with a laugh. "I'll clean up down here and join you."

Giddy, I can't stop giggling as I back up for the stairs. My eyes don't leave him until I have no choice. The second my head pops up through the floor, arms pull me out.

I'm swaying on my feet and halfway in a twirl before I realize Cheddy's brought me dancing. "How are you feeling?" I ask.

"Delightful," he exclaims, then spins me into his arms for a side dip. "Why?"

From the corner of my eye, I catch the man who ate the black cheese. He's hanging between the helping shoulders of his two bros, his face a sickly green. Staring into Cheddy's always dewy visage I shrug. "No reason."

Brie waves to his two students as they pack up their things and walk to the door. "We'll work on the streams tomorrow night." After they slip away, he takes in Cheddy and me. A coy smile flits about his lips and he stuffs his paintbrush behind his ear.

"Read chapters ten through fifteen." Cam leaps off of his throne to land on the ground below. "Or don't. I'll read them to you anyway. Cari?a." He lunges past Cheddy and steals me away mid-step. "How I've missed your sweet touch. It's been agony being without you."

"You saw me two hours ago."

"Two years you mean. And seeing is nothing without touching, holding—" Cam pins his hips to mine, making his intentions obvious and throbbing. "Peeling off all of our clothes and crying into the night." He bends me clear over until my fingers trace the floor. Staring deep into my eyes, Cam aims his lips right at my not-so-modest neckline.

"Sorry, I forgot my…" A man stops dead in the threshold and eyes up the woman about to be devoured by her cheese vampire. "I'll get it later." He dashes away, his face bright red.

"I should probably lock the door," I say.

"Very well." Cam heaves me back to my feet. He flounces into his chair and waves his fingers like he's conducting an orchestra or flagging down a taxi. "But I get first dibs."

"You had those last night," Cheddy argues.

"And?"

I pull out the keys, but pause and look to Brie. He's finished wiping the paint from his fingers but keeps staring out the window. "Brie? Are you ready?"

Tossing the towel aside, Brie smiles. "Always."

The floor creaks as Roq rises to stand behind Cheddy. One by one, all four of my men stand to watch as I slip the key into the lock. I turn it once and they start to count.

"Two," Brie says.

"Three," Cam adds.

"Four!" Cheddy cheers.

"Five," Roq declares.

The keys dangle from the lock, their reflection bouncing back. I peer into the dark but focus on the light behind me. Taking a deep breath, I start to turn to them. Arms wrap around me. Fingers tug on my zipper, pull my dress, and lips kiss wherever there's skin to find.

The lights dim until only a single bulb of soft orange hangs above me. I fly through the air as they call out orders.

"Clear the counter."

"Did you wipe this down?"

"I think my belt's stuck."

"You're not wearing a belt."

A loud smack sunders the bickering, and I glance over my shoulder. Roq catches my eye and he releases the slate board he dropped to the counter. I bite my lip, doing my best to keep cool even as I tremble down to my panties.

"If I may…" Cam pushes back my purple hair and kisses the nape of my neck. Two men fight to my dress's zipper and start to pull. As he goes down, Brie places a steadying hand on my back. Cam's kisses drift across my shoulder. He hooks onto the bowing sleeve of my dress, tugging it just far enough for him to kiss me—first at my upper arm, then my elbow, before he toys with my fingers.

I dance my fingertips through the air, each one landing on his cheek. As he gazes into my eyes, I press into his skin, hollowing his deadly dimples while he sucks harder than ever.

"Boobs!" Cheddy exclaims. He face dives right for my chest, not letting my bra slow him down for a second. His tongue laps across, then down my cleavage while he wiggles his fingers up my bra band. I gasp at the tight elastic trying to compress my ribs.

"Slow down," Roq chides him. "This is an experience, after all." From behind me, he pops open the hooks with just one hand. My bra springs forward and Cheddy grabs it. He tugs both straps right down my arms, not caring that Cam's still at the end of one. The entire armhole goes clear over his head until he's wearing my bra like a necktie.

With a snicker, Cam lets go of my finger and sits back. "Chedward."

"What?" He barely looks back before diving to me. Lips on mine, hands teasing then clinging to my tits—Cheddy shoves my panty-covered ass into the counter. "You've worn worse," is his cutting remark before he returns to ravishing me.

"He's right," Roq says getting a slow glare from Cam.

"Babe, your legs are…" Cheddy sweeps his hands down my bare thighs, reminding me why I never wear tights. Not that they'd last long with this group. "I want them up here. No, here!" He lifts my calf toward his waist, nearly pushing me to the floor.

"Whoa, whoa." Brie follows, catching me before I wind up sprawled at their feet with my legs in the air. Though I wouldn't be against that eventuality.

Holding my hand, he reaches his palm around the small of my back and lifts me. "Wait your turn," Brie says and kisses my knuckles.

"Right." Cheddy runs his hands back through his hair. His trousers are straining so hard, I spot the red flesh of his cock nearly prying the buttons apart by itself. "You know me."

"Far too well." Cam clasps a hand to Cheddy's shoulder and pulls him back. As he does, he reaches down to help alleviate the strain on Cheddy. Even with Brie nibbling down my neck to my breast, I watch Cam not only guide out Cheddy's cock, but give it a few good pumps.

The way the crown jumps with each touch and how Cheddy throws his head back sets my body on fire. I dig into Brie's hair, clinging for dear life as Cam whispers something in Cheddy's ear. Then he stares down at the red, rock-hard cock before giving me a smile of pure mischief.

"Call it," Roq says from behind.

"Prep," Brie cries out with his lips around my nipple.

"Prep," Cam says right after. He draws his palm down his tight chest, teasing the lithe muscles before pawing just under the waistband of his pants.

"Yeah." Cheddy nods hard. "That one."

Roq sighs. "We can't all do prep."

"Why not?" Cam asks. Brie lets go of me and stands so they can all look at Roq. He blinks a moment, then rubs his chin.

"Well…hmm. Why not indeed? We're all on prep tonight."

Four famished men turn their gaze at me. I haven't a clue what they've got planned, but I read a lot of mischief in their eyes. Except for Cheddy who's just excited to be here.

Hands draw down my thighs, thumbs digging into the center. Just as I start to part them, two palms curl under my ass and heave me onto the charcuterie board. I yelp in shock, then moan as the pearls roll over my clit.

"Ohhhh, take me," Cam stutters. "She's wearing them." He teases the red lace edge of my panties while staring at the cutouts. Roq hooks onto my arms, pulling me back, and my throbbing vulva spills out of the hole. Another whimper breaks from Cam. He places his finger against one of the two strings of pearls and rolls them up my vulva before sliding each one over my clit.

Fuck me. My toes curl and I drop my head back, fighting for air. The touch shivers through me, soft but also strong. Each cool sphere glistens with my arousal before he runs them up and down my whole slit.

Cam's gone damn near giddy. He unbuckles his pants but doesn't slide them off. Instead, he dips to his knees and runs his hands up my thighs. "Lucky for you I'm experienced at licking with balls in my mouth. Right, Roq?"

A single grunt is all Roq gives before he tongues my lip and bites. At that second, Cam twists the string of pearls into his mouth and licks upward.

"Oh, fuck. Holy…this is…!" I cry out, slapping my palm into the first thing I hit. Then Cam tugs on the string. With a single pearl between his teeth, he rubs the precious stone up and down on my clit. All the while, his tongue teases the hood from the sides. "Yes!" is all my draining brain can shout.

My nails dig into flesh that hardens fast. Worried for a second, I peer back to find I'm clutching onto Cheddy's biceps. Where's Roq?

"Move aside," Roq orders. He catches my eye before he descends just beside Cam. My thighs strain across both men's shoulders and I struggle to look. While Cam continues to do his pearl dance, Roq runs his cheek up my inner thigh. He pauses, slips off his glasses, and folds the earpieces while his impenetrable gaze pins me down.

Oh, god. I try to brace myself, but it's like hanging on in a typhoon. With dedicated precision, Roq plunges his tongue straight inside of me, dragging both strings of pearls with him. The stones roll up and down from inside my vagina to my inner lips while he fucks me with his tongue. All the while, Cam keeps flicking both the pearls and the tip of his tongue off of my clit.

"Yes! That's it. All of that is…" More. Right there.

Grab their hair and ride those faces until dawn.

My back starts to pitch lower, propping up my ass. Hands nestle my head and help to guide me until my spine molds around the cold slate. My body's on fire and the touch of frost jolts it to another plane.

Cam pops up higher, his chin planting on the crease of my thigh. For a moment, he gazes at me and I stare deep into his eyes. He winks, then sucks both my clit and the pearl into his mouth. The orgasm hits mid-breath. I gasp out in shock at how hard it slams me to the counter before levitating me out of my own body. Cam keeps his lips pressed then starts to thrust a finger inside even while Roq's tongue keeps working.

I try to grind back, to keep this freedom and ecstasy flowing through me forever. "It's a…a…achoo!" I crumple up, sneezing like mad.

Both Cheddy and Brie rub my back while the sneezing orgasm takes me. But Cam and Roq don't stop. No. Inside of me, Roq licks around Cam's finger, coating my trembling inner walls. I sigh, then sneeze harder than before.

A loud zipper sound cuts through the air. I try to peer over to figure out who it is. Then I catch the smirk in Cam's eyes. His fingers slip out of me and his elbow starts to pump up and down.

"Oh la vache!" Roq shouts, his shock reverberating around my vulva. Gulping, his eyes roll back as Cam tugs harder on his cock.

Warm hands caress down my bare shoulders. I stare up at Brie and Cheddy both smiling. Just as my sneezing fit comes to an end, Brie brushes his knuckles down my cheek toward my jaw. I part my lips for a kiss when Cheddy leans over and sucks on my nipple.

"You cheating bastard!" Roq cries out with a laugh.

"All's fair, so they say," Cam responds, his voice twinkling with mischief. Hands clench around my thighs, pulling them tighter together. Soft, wavy hair brushes against my sensitive skin and I realize that Cam's squeezed out Roq.

"Brie?" I flail my hand out, knocking into his bare hip. He inches closer, his cock weaving in a circle just above my head. I close my fist around the base and smile at the little "Oh" that stumbles from his parted mouth.

Wetting my lips, I toss my head back off the edge of the table. Just as I taste the soft curve of Brie's crown, Cam sucks on my throbbing clit. "Holy—" My curse opens my throat and down goes Brie.

"Sweet merciful…" Brie cries out. Tears build in my eyes, but I fight to keep going. Brie's the one to pull his hips back. A panicked little laugh dances in the air. "I thought I was going to burst. Whew." He smooths back his wild hair and smiles at me. "You're amazing."

"Shove off."

Cheddy gently pushes Brie to the side, but that forceful order didn't come from him. "Jesus hell," I gulp as Cam and Roq duel to be the one between my legs. Their arguing becomes shoving, then lips sucking and tongues rolling with each other. And my clit's in the middle of it all.

There's nothing I can do but hang on, one fist in Cam's hair, the other in Roq's while they tongue fuck both me and each other's mouths. Two pairs of lips take up my breasts. Cheddy is erratic and zeroes in on my nipple while Brie takes a more tender approach that involves kissing the whole of my breast.

Little zaps shoot down my body. I keep flexing my toes and wriggling my nose to stop the next sneezing fit. It's too good. I don't want this to ruin this.

"Cheddy," I cry out, cupping under his balls. He gets the hint right away. Taking himself in his hand, he cushions the back of my head, then brings himself closer. I part my lips like I'm about to take the biggest gulp of water.

Teasing, Cheddy circles the crown of his cock around my mouth. "Damn, that's so…beautiful," he groans tracing it back and forth like he's swiping on lipstick. I strain my tongue out and touch the tip right below his bulging crown.

"Woo!" Cheddy cries out and thrusts into my mouth. "Yes, babe. Suck it hard. Slather it up good. Umph!"

I'm happy to do as he asks, pulling away to take a deep breath, before I dive back in. He holds himself steady while I collapse my cheeks around the crown, then lick circles up and down the shaft with my tongue. All the while, Roq and Cam trade in either sucking on me or jacking each other off—sometimes both.

Brie's tender kisses vanish from my chest. He must have sat up. Slapping him on the shoulder, Cheddy says, "You can do this."

"I know. I just, need a second." Brie shakes out his hands then he smiles down at me. "Do you have any idea how ravishing you are?"

A nervous blush burns up my stomach and I shake my head. "Just…let me suck your dick," I say.

"The lady knows what she wants," Cheddy cheers. He slips in behind Brie and strains over to take both of my nipples in his hands. For a moment, Brie's eyes close at either my hot breath caressing his cock, or Cheddy damn near spearing him from behind. Probably both.

I'm gentler with Brie, but slick him up just as good as Cheddy. Long, slow licks with the tip of my tongue send him moaning. When I tug on his balls he clenches onto Cheddy's hard-working biceps. "Switch," Brie cries out, sliding out of me.

I work them both over, one at a time, each one walking away before they can blow. The pulse of the vein in Brie's forehead and how bright red Cheddy's chest becomes makes me feel invincible. I am the edging queen!

After three rounds, Cheddy pulls out, but Brie doesn't step in. "Are we ready?" he asks with a vehement nod from Brie.

The other two don't respond.

"Guys? Hello!"

Roq and Cam both pop up from between my legs looking a lot worse for the wear. Bewildered, they stare around before catching Cheddy's eye. "You ready for the main course?" he asks.

"Yes, I fucking am," Roq growls. Cam rushes around the counter while Roq takes his time rising to his feet. He wipes a hand across his jaw and chin, stops, and smells it. His wicked smile squirts a pint of arousal down my legs.

"Violette?" Roq takes one hand, then the other. My body rises only using his strength. All of my energy is drained. By the time I'm standing, I try to not shake out of fear I might crumple to the ground. Roq pulls my hands around his waist, then he walks backward. One of the guys slips in behind me, holding my hips.

Caressing my chin, Roq focuses my eyes up at him. "Are you ready for three sausages and one stuffed eclair?"

"Yes!" I cry out, excitement topping me off faster than any Red Bull.

"Mmm," Brie moans behind me. He traces his hands around my ass and spreads the cheeks wide. Cool liquid slips down the vast canyon before he catches it all on his finger and swirls over my anus. "You've been preparing." He thrusts his finger in with care, before finding he can add another two.

"Yeah. Duh." This is my idea after all.

The others laugh at my exuberance, then Brie clasps his hands around my midsection. Next thing I know, I'm flying backward. His cock slicks down my asscrack as we land on the counter. I stop just before I crush him thanks to three naked, straining men.

"Little help," Brie calls out.

A hand slides down between us, taking Brie's cock and guiding the head to my anus.

"Take it nice and slow," Cam instructs. He glides his slicked palm out, then kneads my ass.

I take a deep breath. It's just like in the shower, or the bed, or while riding Cheddy. The first ring pinches. They all take a step closer as if to pull me off. "Wait. Wait. I've got it." Giving in, I let my ass fall. It sucks Brie's cock in until I'm sitting on his thin hips.

"Holy shit. Get in her, now!" Brie cries out.

Cam takes my head and Roq catches my legs. While the latter curls them up over his hips, Cam dips his thumb into my mouth so he can guide his cock to me. Both men look at the other, give a nod, and thrust.

Fuck me. I thought I could handle Brie, but I forgot Roq would be joining in. My body's stuffed to the point of bursting, both their cocks damn near spearing me to pieces until they cross. "Ohhhh…" I cry out, sucking Cam down my throat.

"You're so beautiful," he moans. Biting his lip, he glances over to Cheddy who grabs his hips. With far less fanfare than I got, Cheddy thrusts into his ass. Watching Cam's eyes roll back into his head causes me to clench around Roq, Brie, and Cam all at once. Four men groan and I'm in heaven.

"Please tell me I can thrust," Brie shouts from below my hair.

"Do it. Let's give this angel her creamy desserts," Cam says.

Roq tugs on my legs, lining me up so I'm damn near floating off of the table. Below me, Brie jerks his hips a little, then starts to swerve them in a circle. My entire body is alight, pleasure springing from my ass to my vagina, but also down my thighs and up into my chest. I take Cam's balls in my palm and he laughs.

"Give it to me," I demand.

"But the presentation," he insists through gritted teeth. His cock thrusts harder into my mouth from Cheddy's manic bucking. Behind Cam's shoulder, I catch the scrunched and focused face of the man fucking him.

"Violette," Roq breathes. He rocks back and forth on the balls of his feet, his eyes closed. Suddenly, he lunges forward, grabs the strings of pearls cradling his cock, and tugs them up. Oh shit! They ride over my primed clit and I want to scream, but my mouth is full of cock.

"My lady, Violette," Cam gasps as I suck him deeper than I ever have. Tears spurt from my eyes and I keep going, lapping up the pliant skin and heady musk rising around me.

"Vi." Cheddy gulps. "Vi, vi, vi!" He chants my name in time with his thrusts.

"Vio…lette!" Brie shouts. He bucks so hard, my ass rises until I'm level with Roq.

That move causes Roq's cock to thrust balls deep. His eyes shoot open and he twists the string of pearls. They clamp around my clit like Cam's mouth. I scream in shock as the orgasm hits harder than a satellite plummeting from orbit. My orgasmic pleas buffet around Cam's hard cock.

He digs one hand into my shoulder, jerks to the base, then gives a single, "Damn." White cream spurts down my throat. Cam tries to pull back, but I tighten my grip on his balls, holding him in place. I drink it all down, always surprised at how sweet his white sauce is.

Roq pulls out at the last second, his cum spraying up my belly until it drips through my cleavage. His sweat-coated body trembles as he shakes out every last drop. Running a hand through his hair, he watches his work dry on my skin. Then he bends down to lap it up.

"Woo! Fuck yeah!" Cheddy shouts, pumping his fist so hard, it causes Cam to buckle.

Cam manages to pull out of my mouth before he chokes me, but he turns back to the man. "Do you mind getting out of me before you do that?"

"Sorry. Just…whew. For being such a strumpet, you've got a tight ass." Cheddy slaps Cam hard on his buttocks, then slips out. "Vi's is sweeter though." He beams down at me as I struggle to get a sense of anything. My entire lower half is clenching onto anything it can find, trying to ride the waves crashing through me until the end of time.

"I survived?" Brie squeaks out from below me.

"Up we go." Roq gets a hand under my back and pops me off of Brie. The poor man's starfished on the counter with the biggest smile.

I'm strung across Roq's shoulders like a naked scarf while all three men check on Brie. "Are you okay?" he asks.

Cam digs out the towels and passes them around. "How was it?"

Taking a deep breath, Brie declares, "Better than a thousand dawns." The towel hits his chest and he sits up. Staring around wildly, he asks, "Can we do it again?"

Both Cam and Cheddy help me down to my shaking feet. "I think we might need a nap first," Cam says.

It's Roq who laughs. "You're getting old. I seem to remember a certain someone bragging about how he could last until dawn, then go again the next night."

"Maybe with your weak jaw," Cam says with a wrinkled nose. Then he gazes into my eyes. "Yours is like…thrusting into god's fist."

"Thanks." I bow my head as if I can mentally pray that blasphemy away.

"I love you." Roq cups my chin to lift me to him. As he kisses me, he wipes down my stomach and chest.

"Well, I love you more," Cam says.

"It's not a fucking competition," Roq complains.

"Sure it is. And I win." Cam kisses me, then he snaps his fingers. Someone drops my bra into his hands. He starts to cup it over my breasts, then throws his hands up. "I cannot do it. Denying the world such perfection goes against everything I stand for."

He slaps the bra to Cheddy's chest. Accepting the challenge, Cheddy lines up the arm holes well, slides it up onto me, then gulps. "I really, really, really…" Winking, he leans closer to whisper in my ear, "...love you." After quite a bit of fumbling, he manages to fasten one hook.

When his back is turned, I finish off the other two just as Brie returns from his orgasm trip. His pupils are still dilated and he's grinning like a hyena, but he pulls my dress over my head. Roq steps in behind to zip me up.

"Violette, you…" Brie shakes his head. "I can't think. You broke my brain."

"Her body can cause sudden amnesia and loss of consciousness. It should come with a warning," Cam says. "Ooh, a skull and crossbones tattoo across those heaving buttocks." He can't help but slap one of said buttocks with a leer.

Laughing, Brie's cheeks turn pink and he teases my hair. "I love you," he says. "All this time we were chasing after perfection…"

He lets go as Roq wraps a hand around my stomach. "When it was right here the whole time."

"I'm not perfect," I giggle.

"Mm, close enough," Cam says.

They wrap me up in a hug, their heads landing on my shoulders. I close my eyes, breathing them in. Even knowing that in a few hours they'll go back to being cheese, I don't care.

My life is perfect…enough.

"Hey," Cheddy calls.

I open my eyes and gasp. They've turned me around so I'm facing Brie's ‘unfinished' mural. It's us. The painted version of Cheddy holds a tray of his dangerous cheeses. Cam poses with a book in one hand and a sword in the other. Roq wears his apron with his arms crossed and the little hat. Brie's got a brush in hand like he's painting the world outside the wall. And, at the center, is me holding open the door to the shop looking as beautiful as these crazy guys see me.

"It's almost two," Cheddy says. I fight to blink back the tears and spot him with his cheek plastered to the window.

"Really?" I reach for my phone to check the time. "I can't believe we took that long."

"I'm surprised someone lasted," Cam says, looking at Roq.

"It was touch and go," Brie says instead as he wipes off his forehead.

My pleased smile dims. Two missed calls and a voicemail from my mother. My finger shakes, wanting to press the button to call her back.

"Violette?" Roq asks. Both he and Cam peer down, realizing what's paused me.

I close my eyes and breathe deeply. Like my therapist said, I don't owe her my time. She has to deserve it first.

With a giddy laugh, I toss my phone aside and scoop up my keys. Drunks tossed from the bars lurch down the sidewalk. I unlock the door and open it wide for them.

"Gentlemen, ladies," I cry out. Their heads turn, noses catching the delectable scents of creamy and salty cheeses awaiting them inside. Brie, Cam, Roq, and Cheddy all lift platters with our best drunk food.

I point to our new sign and smile. "Welcome to Why Not Cheese!"

THE END