Christmas with my Three Best Friends (Lucky Lady Reverse Harems)

Chapter 2

2

Shay

A s expected, my morning kickboxing session with Jax is pretty weird. I don’t think it’s weird in a bad way, though. He’s a lot more open, a lot more responsive to my presence—Jax is usually the super professional, the brooding one who rarely opens up. Today, however, he’s telling me about his weekend, about his night out with the guys and the bender he narrowly survived while I practice my leg kicks on a red, suspended punching bag. Jax holds on to it tightly, making sure each of my kicks is met with solid stability.

“I’m telling you, I never should’ve gone for that second round of tequila shots,” he says, laughing lightly.

“Well, we’re hedonists by nature. You couldn’t stay away from it precisely because it was a forbidden pleasure,” I reply between leg switches.

He eyes me carefully, and I catch glimpses of his attention sliding up and down my body. I’m wearing my usual orange gym shorts and light gray tank top, the black sports bra keeping my generous bosom in place while I train hard in his company. “Left leg,” he reminds me. “And focus all your strength in the very last moment prior to impact. Just swing it out first, then put your force into it.”

“Right,” I mumble and follow his instructions to the letter. To my delight, it results in the kind of leg kick that makes him plant his heels deeper into the tatami rug. It takes considerable force to make this man wobble. “What time did you guys leave the club on Saturday night, then?” I ask, trying to keep the conversation away from my naughty list.

“I think it was about three in the morning,” he says. “How about you? How was your weekend?”

That’s enough to make me lose my balance mid-swing. I almost fall over but manage to keep myself upright as I take a deep breath and switch to my right leg, instead, praying to all the martial arts gods that Jax didn’t notice. But he did. There’s a wicked smile creeping across his handsome, stubbly face.

“Nothing special,” I reply. “Just rest and relaxation. Sunday was a bit of a mess. I was getting a lot of phone calls, so I think I got confused at some point…”

“Is this your way of trying to tell me you didn’t mean to send that list over?” he chuckles.

I freeze, both feet on the tatami as I stare at him. Heat rises to my face yet again. Where’s a natural disaster when you desperately need one, I keep asking myself? “Yeah, about that...” I try to speak, but he laughs and slaps the punching bag.

“Keep kicking, Shay.”

I keep kicking, hoping that’ll be the last we ever mention my naughty list. A minute goes by in the most awkward silence while I intensify my kicks from one leg to the other. Jax watches every movement, correcting me here and there with verbal instructions.

“You’ve come a long way in the past six months, you know,” he finally says. “Who knew getting your heart broken would bring out the athlete in you, huh?”

“I guess Vincent was the last necessary boot up my ass.”

“Have you heard from him lately?”

I shake my head. “Not since he ghosted me mid-engagement six months ago,” I reply. “Screw him, Jax, he’s not even worth thinking about it.”

“Yeah, absolutely. I’m just stunned that anybody would do something like that,” he says. “Like, the man chased you for months on end. He even proposed with a ring and everything. Granted, it was the cheapest ring I saw on Amazon, mind you, but still… How does a guy just disappear the way he did?”

“Cassandra says that’s what toxic, malevolent narcissists do,” I tell him. “They love bomb you, they make you doubt your own reality and self-worth, they make you work for every ounce of affection they give you, and they feed on your energy, on your love and your kindness until they wear you out or until they find someone else they deem more useful or interesting than you. And then, they drop off the face of the earth because they lack the basic decency and emotional maturity to end things like proper men.’ I paused my tirade. “Apparently, they’re a whole breed…”

“I’m guessing the absence of closure is meant to make you question yourself, to hurt you on a deep level,” Jax says. “It’s evil, Shay. It’s downright evil, and I’m glad he’s out of your life. He did you a favor.”

“He did me a favor, yeah. It just took a while for me to realize that,” I say, remembering all the hours of therapy, of crying myself to sleep, of forgiving myself for having fallen for Vincent’s lies and gaslighting, of working my ass off at the gym to take care of my body and my injured heart, to pump my self-worth back to its regular levels. “I still can’t believe I let him manipulate me the way he did. I actually thought he was the one. Idiot me.”

“You weren’t an idiot,” Jax replies. “He was the idiot for not realizing what he had and treating you the right way. You’re a strong woman, and I like that the most about you.”

I find myself standing still yet again, staring at him as I process his entire statement. “Do you really mean it?”

“Of course. You’re as tough as they come, Shay. That sucker isn’t even worthy to breathe the same air as you.”

“Thanks Jax. That’s really kind of you to say.”

Jax chuckles dryly and comes over. “Kill ’em with kindness is my motto,” he quips, quickly approaching me. All of a sudden, I’m breathless and tense, my muscles tightening with each step he takes in my direction. “I was just being nice because we’re about to practice some tackles, babe, and I plan on winning every time.”

“Bring it on, big boy,” I jokingly tease him, hoping it’ll keep the play fighting neutral.

One more thing I was dead wrong about, because as soon as Jax gets close enough, I’m briefly mesmerized by his bare, tattooed chest and rock-hard abs, his muscular shoulders and strong arms, beads of sweat glistening down his torso—as soon as I look up, I fail to see his left leg swinging low. I’m knocked over, but I don’t go down easy.

I shriek like a rabid monkey, completely graceless in my attempt to wrap my arms around his waist and take him with me. It becomes a tangled, sweaty mess as I manage to keep myself up for another second or two before his leg swings out again.

“Son of a—” I end up falling, but Jax lands on top of me.

A second becomes a minute as I’m pressed under his full body weight. He’s smiling, his muscles crushing me against the tatami floor. I’d move, I’d squirm, I’d do something to save whatever is left of my tattered honor, but my brain has abandoned me once again. All I can do is look into his baby-blue eyes and wonder if I see desire twinkling furiously in his dilated pupils—dark pools threatening to swallow me whole. His scent invades my nostrils. His heart thuds against mine. And his cock feels hard as it’s nestled against my stomach, twitching as we hold each other’s gaze. A minute becomes an eternity…

“I never knew you had those ideas in your head,” Jax finally says, his voice low and gruff, making my ears tingle nervously while his hands move up and down my sides.

His touch is electric, sending jolts through my whole body as he explores it with his palms and fingers, memorizing every inch of fabric and bare skin he comes across. His thigh slides between mine, and I feel my core tightening with excitement as he lowers his head, ever so slightly, his lips so close to mine I’m about to beg for his kiss.

I lay still, though, panting and struggling to keep my scattered mind together. “Those weren’t for you to read,” I tell him.

“We figured that much,” Jax replies, his gaze lowering to focus on my slightly parted lips. “Even so, I’m genuinely surprised. I never knew your mind worked in such dirty ways, Shailene.”

Jax usually calls me by my full name when I’m in trouble, when I’m skipping a move or a whole practice session. He’s a strict man and a dedicated coach, yet this time… the tone of his voice feels different. The way my full name rolls off his tongue has my pussy wet and clenched as he presses his muscular thigh against it.

“I didn’t think…” There should be a second part to this sentence, but I can’t find it.

I’m breathless, melting under him and desperately yearning for more. So much more. Dammit, I should’ve double-checked the email attachment prior to sending it. I’ll consider this a lesson learned and hope they’ll forgive my transgression.

Jax lowers his head deeper, and I feel his nose brushing against my ear as he breathes me in. “You’ve been a good girl this year, Shay. Who knows, maybe Santa will consider granting some of those deliciously depraved wishes of yours,” he whispers, then nibbles on my earlobe for a brief moment.

It’s enough to rip a moan from the back of my throat. My breasts ache slightly, nipples hardening against his bare chest with only a hint of fabric between us. I shudder under him, close to unraveling entirely. Gah , the effect these men have on me is dangerous and undeniable. How the hell am I going to move ahead with my life, now that they know my deepest, darkest desire?

Jax is already gleefully using it against me.

“Let’s get you back up,” he says.

I don’t even register the shift, but I’m back on my feet, my knees turned to jelly as I try to keep a straight face and my chin up. “Good session, sensei,” I manage.

“I agree. Particularly good. I look forward to the next one,” he replies, his gaze unyielding as it searches my reddened face. “I’m sure we can get the best out of you yet.”

Staring at him, I understand this hot mess is just getting started. I’ve unleashed something by accident, and there is no putting this specific genie back in the bottle. I’ll either roll with the punches or drown in the lava current coursing through my body, igniting my flesh and soul and turning my very consciousness to ashes. This is way more than I had expected. I have no idea how to handle it, going forward.

I’m gonna kill Cassandra.

The afternoons are usually reserved for my strength training sessions with Marius. We do them every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in between client meetings. Today is a subtle but clear continuation of this morning’s encounter in my office. He watches me closely, counting my reps but his eyes never leave mine. I love the feeling, I’m just not used to having so much of his attention.

Worse even, or better yet, its leg day, so he’s got me doing plenty of weighted squats and deadlifts. It gives Marius glorious views of my muscular behind, a peach-shaped beauty that has been the talk of the gym since I first started training. It has done wonders for my vanity; I’ll give myself credit where due.

“Well done,” Marius says after a whole set of Romanian deadlifts. “You’re getting stronger, Shay.”

“Thanks. Sticking to my protein target,” I reply, smiling. My glutes burn, my thighs ache, but I adore the feeling in between sets, when my body is primed and working overtime to sustain the immense amount of effort I’m working through.

“I’m honestly proud of you,” he says, arms crossed over his rippling chest. He’s always a pleasure to be around, but there’s a certain degree of intimacy developing between us, and while I don’t know how to handle myself in these circumstances, I must admit… maybe sending that email wasn’t the biggest mistake. “You’ve come a long way in a short amount of time. You’re consistent and ambitious, dedicated and constantly motivated.”

“Vincent almost knocked me out of orbit, but I’m pleased to say I’m absolutely better than when I first started.”

“It shows,” Marius says. “He didn’t deserve you.”

“Aww, thanks Marius.”

“I’m not sure anybody deserves a woman like you, Shay.”

I’ve always been confident and caring with myself, despite my weight issues and emotional fluctuations. Coming from a broken home like mine, being raised by terrible people and understanding I had no choice in the matter to begin with—it all served to build me up, to teach me to focus on myself in order to persevere and remove myself from a toxic environment. When Vincent first came along, I thought I’d healed enough to welcome him, to actually build a healthy relationship. I should’ve known better. Well, I definitely know better now, after I glued my heart back together.

Marius’s kindness, the intensity of his voice, the fire burning in his eyes. He’s got me enthralled and speechless, blushing like a schoolgirl and wondering what it would be like if there was more brewing between us. I’m terrified of doing something wrong here, though. I’m terrified of somehow scaring him or pushing him away—that naughty list would have most guys running for the hills. He’s still standing before me, watching me, telling me things that make my heart sing and my soul swell.

“You’ve been instrumental to my progress,” I say, preparing myself for another set of deadlifts.

“All I do is tell you how to lift and how much to lift,” he replies. “Most of this work is yours and yours alone. I’m but a humble tool.”

I giggle at his choice of words. “Did you just call yourself a tool?”

“I’ve called myself worse,” he laughs, then comes closer—as if he wasn’t close enough—to add another weight to my bar before I lift it. “Let’s get you to the next level while we’re here. I think you can do this now.”

He doesn’t move, though, and it’s making it harder for me to focus. I manage to lift the bar, feeling the weight tugging my shoulders downward before I pull back and assume the deadlift position. My glutes are instantly activated, and while it’s a difficult set, I surprise myself with twelve full reps. At the thirteenth, however, Marius inches even closer and places a hand on the small of my back.

Lightning shoots up my spine, but I keep pulling. “Don’t round your back. Only go as low as your hips will let you.”

“Okay,” I groan slightly as I go down for a fourteenth rep.

“You can do it. One more, babe.”

The word slips past my ear as I manage a fifteenth rep, then set the bar back on its metal rack, exhaling sharply as my muscles begin to relax. “Wow…” I adore the immediate sensation after a deadlift. “Had anyone told me six months ago that I’d love doing this stuff as much as I do, I would’ve laughed in their faces.”

“You’re a natural,” Marius says, still beside me, still focused on me, still consuming me with his very presence while his hands patiently rest behind his back. I can’t help but admire his athletic frame—he was one hell of a tennis player in his early twenties until a shoulder injury forced him to shift lanes and get into fitness training. “And I say this to barely any of my clients.”

“I’m more than a client, though,” I joke.

But he takes me seriously. “You’re right. You’re more than a business partner, too. More than a friend. More than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Oh, now, you’re spoiling me,” I joke some more, though my ears are incandescent.

“I’m not spoiling you nowhere near as what I read on that naughty list of yours.”

And there it is. The blow to the knees. The kick in the gut. The moment of truth. Panic sets in. I could barely handle myself with Jax, but Marius is even harder to deal with—it’s probably because I’ve harbored my crush on him for the longest. He was my first point of contact with the world of fitness, my first pillar of support in my journey of self-growth, and my closest ally when Vincent disappeared six months ago. I found comfort in this man. Kindness. The kind of tranquility I’d never experienced with my ex-fiancé.

“Marius, I… It was a terrible mistake,” I say, trying to mend something I fear I may have broken beyond repair.

“Maybe. But I needed to read it. Jax and Richard, too. We all needed to read it and we certainly needed to become aware of where your head is at. Lord knows I’ve been wracking my brain for months, trying to figure out a way to get closer to you.”

“Wait, what?” I blurt out, suddenly self-aware. “What do you mean?”

Marius’s lips twitch into a shy smile. I’ve never met a man like him, with eyes as dark as sin and a gaze that pins you to the spot. He’s a walking contradiction, a shadow filled with light, a strong man with a soft core… no wonder his female clients swoon over him the way they do.

“I thought you might have noticed by now,” he says. “It’s not like I’ve been indifferent to your presence. Your beauty. Your brains.” He smiles at me. “Shay, there’s plenty about you to like and then some. Getting that naughty list of yours felt like a gift from the heavens.”

“I don’t know what to say.”

“So say nothing right now,” he playfully replies. “You need to do a third set of deadlifts, anyway. We’ll keep this weight for now.”

I nod slowly and get to work, thankful to have my body briefly take over while my brain recovers from the avalanche of advances I’ve been getting since I walked into my place of business this morning. I’m embarrassed as hell—and I’m not usually easily embarrassed.

I’m cautious, perhaps too cautious. I don’t want to ruin anything.

“I don’t want to ruin anything,” I say it aloud as I finish my third set.

“You’re lifting enough, there’s nothing to ruin,” he replies.

“That’s not what I meant. I don’t want to ruin anything between us.” I look up at him, my heart struggling against my ribcage. “I’d rather have you as my coach and business partner if I can’t have you in any other capacity in my life,” I add. “The same goes for Jax and Richard. We’re close, we’re friends, and my… gosh, my sexual fantasies weren’t supposed to be the hot topic of the day. I’m sorry, Marius. It was a terrible mistake.”

He frowns and comes even closer. I can almost breathe him in. The world around us disappears. I forget about other coaches and clients currently buzzing through the gym. I no longer hear the weight disks clanking, the treadmills humming, the grunts and gasps of strength aficionados pushing themselves past their limits. All I hear is the thudding of my own heart, the muscle twitching furiously with every beat as I dissolve under Marius’s discerning gaze.

“I may be so focused on my professional ethics that I don’t notice when a woman likes me, Shay… And you know that about me. You know how creeped out I am about the very concept of trainers hitting on their clients. I can’t even fathom a woman being attracted to me in this place. But I know how you feel now. And there’s no undoing that. There’s no undoing that because you’re not the only one who feels it.”

“Marius…”

“We’ll talk about it later, don’t worry. Let’s keep what’s left of this session professional in the meantime, what do you say?”

I nod slowly, mustering a soft smile. “Okay.”

“Bulgarian splits squats, next.”

“My God, Marius, are you trying to cripple me?!” I croak, feigning despair.

He laughs wholeheartedly, fully aware it’s one of my favorite exercises, especially when he throws a ten-pound weight into the mix. I like our sessions the most, truth be told. There’s always this muted tension between us, this want and need for more, but I’ve never had the courage to voice any of it.

Once I finish work, and Marius wraps up his last training, we meet by the reception area, where Laura, another receptionist, is currently engaged in a phone call with what I’m guessing is a new customer. I feel hopeful about this place, even though we’re not doing as well financially as I’d hoped just yet. The company is still young. The brand needs more time to grow.

And Marius is making my heart skip beats with every glance he steals at me.

“Jax wants to use my car until tomorrow,” I mutter, checking through my phone messages while I wait for Laura to get some files for me from her desk drawer. “His is in the shop, apparently.”

“Leave the keys for him here,” Marius replies. “I’ll drive you home.”

“And pick me up tomorrow morning?” I shoot back with a grin.

“It would be my pleasure,” he replies, meaning every word. His gallantry only serves to further demolish my defenses at this point. “Come on, let’s get you out of this place. We’ve had enough gym stuff for today.”

“Gym stuff,” I chuckle as I leave the keys for Jax and grab the files from Laura’s extended hand. Unlike Alice, Laura is infinitely more professional and efficient in her reception work. They do manage to balance each other out, though, at least for the time being. “Thank you, Laura.”

We’re almost through the doors when Richard rushes out of his office and catches up with us. “You two! Stop right there!” he barks, prompting Marius and me to sheepishly turn around like kids caught ditching school. “Where are you off to in such a rush?”

I admire Richard’s affinity for tailored suits—it takes an expert to fit any kind of fabric in a flattering manner on a body like his. A former bodybuilder, Richard is stacked like an ox and exceptionally imposing, his Viking frame, red hair, and piercing green eyes softening his presence. The whole of him makes my knees quiver. I’ve spent countless nights imagining him bending me over and taking me six ways from Sunday.

“Marius is taking me home,” I tell Richard. “Jax needs my car.”

“I wanted to talk to you about the holiday hours,” Richard adds. “How are we handling Christmas? I’ve had a couple of people asking.”

“Oh, we’re definitely taking the twenty-fifth through the twenty-seventh off. Then the thirty-first of December and first of January, as well,” I tell him. “But we could cut the twenty-fourth short, too, if needed? I don’t know, what do you think?”

“I was hoping we wouldn’t close at all,” Richard sighs, sounding somewhat disappointed.

Marius shakes his head. “It won’t make much of a difference, Rick. Day passes don’t even cover our operating costs for the day, especially around the holidays.”

“See, that bothers me. We really need to get more people through the door,” he says.

The words fall heavily on my shoulders because I understand his frustration. Richard put a lot of his money behind this place, and the absence of a return on his investment has put him slightly on edge. If there is one thing I know for certain where he’s concerned, it’s that he never lingers in an investment he doesn’t consider fruitful. I’ve never met anyone as emotionally unattached as Richard in terms of building a company from the ground up.

It scares me, sometimes, but it’s also a good reason for me to stay on my toes and always work toward growing the brand altogether.

“It’ll get better in the new year,” I try to assure him. “Winter is always tough on new businesses, and Christmas and New Year’s celebrations don’t make it any easier. But we survived last year. We’ll survive this year, too.”

“We survived last year because of a hefty cash infusion, not on account of higher sales,” he replies. “We should definitely meet up later this month and put together a strategy for the new year. I honestly can’t afford another quarter like this.”

Marius’s brows furrow deeply with concern. “We’ll sit down and discuss our options, sure. I am already working on something that should boost our revenues.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Richard claps his hands once, then switches back to his usual, friendlier self as he looks at me. “Shay, we need to talk about that naughty list of yours, too. I’m honestly intrigued.”

“Oh, God,” I mumble, once again flustered and ashamed.

“Oh, no, I definitely plan to speak to Santa about it and see how many of those spicy desires we can tick off the list when Christmas comes around,” he says.

Marius slips a hand around my waist, subtly pulling me closer, while Richard takes a step forward. I feel small and vulnerable yet protected and conquered at the same time as I look up and lose my senses. Richard’s wild green eyes burn brightly, his lips parted slowly as he smiles.

“I’ve already warned her there’s no turning back,” Marius says.

“Absolutely not,” Richard replies, tucking a lock of my blonde hair behind my ear. His touch alone is enough to have me quivering on the inside with anticipation. “I’m particularly determined to make item number one happen. I assume it’s what you desire the most since it’s at the top of your list.”

“I don’t even know what to say to any of this,” I mumble.

“That’s okay. All you need to do is say yes when Santa comes to town,” Richard says. “I’ll make sure he’s got a sack filled with goodies to your heart’s desire.”

Richard has a way of riling me up in every possible way. I’ve never met someone as fluid and as multifaceted, as fiery and as playful as this man. His outward appearance is a reflection of his character and personality. Big, generous, kind, and funny. Dirty-minded and light-hearted. Witty and sharp as a Japanese katana. A charmer and a warrior. Few women are able to resist his advances, but I was never on the receiving end of such attention until now—I am feeble and helpless, fully understanding how easy it is for him to get what he wants. Richard always gets what he wants.

I stand between them like a deer caught in the headlights, unsure what to do or say next. My mind is wandering all over the place, my body betraying me. Every inch of flesh on my bones trembles and aches for their touch, for their kisses and caresses. These wild imaginations of mine may be my undoing, but I cannot bring myself to turn back, to pretend it was just a tasteless joke, a prank of sorts.

It’s not like I didn’t consider chickening out of the whole thing. But who am I kidding? That wish is at the top of my naughty list for a reason. It makes zero sense to back away when the three of them are so clearly responsive and willing.

“Richard, we’ll see you tomorrow,” Marius cuts in, as if picking up on my awkwardness. “Ease a girl in, why don’t you?”

“I’ll see you both tomorrow,” Richard says and plants a quick kiss on my cheek.

It only lasts a split-second, yet it manages to kickstart a wildfire. The blaze ravages through my entire being as I smile and wave goodbye, slowly leaning into Marius as we leave the building behind us. His jeep awaits on the other side of the parking lot, lusciously black under a graying evening sky.

We get in, and for a moment’s worth, silence settles between us. I like it. There’s a sense of calm accompanying it, of peace and balance in the middle of an otherwise stormy day. I never expected my week to start out like this, but here we are, sitting awkwardly and shyly glancing at each other as we both try to figure out what we’re supposed to do next.

Marius starts the car, the engine roaring to life, and puts it in reverse. “I’ve never even considered something like this before,” he says. “And somehow, it’s all I’ve been able to think about since I read your naughty list.”

“I’m not very good at expressing precisely how I’m feeling,” I reply, hands resting in my lap. “Except that I’m genuinely embarrassed.”

“I know, and I get it. But it was an honest mistake. No one could ever fault you for it,” Marius says. “Besides, it also gave me a pretty intimate glimpse into your soul, Shay. It’s not like there wasn’t enough for me to like and want in the first place. That list only made the fire burn brighter.”

“Aren’t you the poet…”

“I pick up on things,” he chuckles softly. “Quick learner, remember?”

“Indeed you are.”

He drives me home with music playing on the radio, a mixture of indie and rock tunes from a previous decade. I find the guitar riffs quite soothing at this hour, and I briefly travel away with the lyrics until Marius’s voice returns me into the real world.

“Here we are,” he says as we pull up outside my townhouse.

“Home, sweet home,” I reply.

Once I get out of Marius’s car, I hold my breath as I notice him getting out as well. The keys jingle in my hand, that’s how badly I’m shaking because of the intense look in his eyes as he walks over to my side.

“I’ll walk you in,” he says.

“You don’t have to,” I manage meekly.

“Nonsense, it’s my pleasure.”

He’s on a mission, and I’ll be damned if I’m gonna stop him. Marius has come to my place before, but never after moments of unexpected intimacy such as those from earlier. I have a hard time breathing as I unlock the door and go in. He follows quietly and closes the door behind him.

“Do you want coffee? Tea? I’ve got some non-alcoholic beer in the fridge, but nobody ever wants that,” I say, half-smiling as I stand in the lobby.

“I didn’t come for drinks,” Marius says.

“What did you come for, then?” I ask, my heart thumping.

I know what he came for. And he knows I know. It’s written all over his face, and it’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever had the fortune of seeing. Determined and incredibly hot, Marius comes closer and takes me in his arms. Within seconds, I’m damn near crushed against his muscular chest, his embrace tightening as his mouth captures mine.

The kiss obliterates every last sense left flailing within me. I’m helpless and breathless as we devour one another, lips pressing and tongues clashing as we taste the sweetness that has been brewing between us for so long. I realize it’s been as intense for him as it has been for me, because his chest echoes with a frantic heartbeat and his breath is ragged, the moans slipping from his throat, causing a fire to light in my core.

I’m wet already, panting softly between rushed inhales before I kiss him again, deeper and deeper until I lose myself in him. It happens so fast, his movements so swift I barely register the moment I slip out of my shoes. The moment he peels the clothes off me and takes a second to admire me from head to toe.

“I’ve wanted to do this for so long, Shay, you have no idea,” Marius says, his voice raspy and dripping with desire. “You’re so fucking beautiful and you’re all mine tonight.”

My breasts fill the lace cups, nipples perking under his gaze. My panties are slick, and there’s an ache between my legs in desperate need of release. I’ve pleasured myself rather efficiently over the years, and I almost went all the way with Vincent more than once, but there was always a sliver of doubt where he was concerned, the kind of hesitation that made me pull back each time. It’s nothing like that with Marius, however. Whatever we’re about to do, I want it. Wholly and fully. I need him to dismantle me and claim me as his. And I know as soon as we cross that threshold, I will want more and more. Of him. Of Jax. Of Richard, too.

I might just get my wish after all…

“Come here,” Marius commands me. I’m turned on by the fact that he’s still fully dressed, though the bulge in his pants is telling me he is as turned on as I am.

I obey and come closer. He touches my breast, gently at first. A finger, then two brushing over the nipple, feeling the lace before hooking under the hem. He pulls it down, revealing my naked flesh. A second later, his mouth is locked around the nipple, his tongue and teeth teasing. I whimper softly, my back arching as his hands lock on my hips, pulling me closer.

He suckles delightedly, tongue flicking and causing electrical storms to unravel in my loins before he pulls the fabric off my left breast and repeats the same delicious operation. I’m putty in his hands, surrendering to this man as he tastes me, as he explores my body and marvels at every curve.

I run my fingers through his black, curly hair. I’ve been wanting to do this for ages… my fingertips tingle with excitement as he comes back up and kisses me again. He’s hungry. Ravenous, even. And I am his to do with as he pleases. I don’t even have to say it. He knows. He sees it in my eyes.

“I know you’re inexperienced,” Marius whispers. “So, we’re gonna ease you into that foursome fantasy of yours.”

“How?” I mumble, half-drunk on his arousal.

He pulls my panties down. They end up on the floor, drenched with my desire. “Spread your legs for me,” he says, and it’s impossible to resist.

As soon as my knees are apart, he kneels before me. I feel weak, light-headed as I look down at him. Subconsciously, my balance wavers, and I lean back against the base of the staircase railway, holding my breath as I drown in his dark eyes.

His hands creep up my creamy thighs, the muscles sore from strength training. His fingers dig into the flesh, squeezing, feeling, touching, and exploring every inch until I’m shaking with the desperate need for more. As if he can read my mind, Marius slides his tongue between my wet folds, and I lose my mind completely.

I’ve never been touched like this before. “Oh, wow…”

He moans harshly as he tastes me, lapping at my slick pussy until my clit stiffens and swells, a ball of lightning unfurling in my core. He kisses and licks, then suckles on my sensitive nub until I run my fingers through his black curls. His eyes are locked on mine, and I see myself within him. I don’t want this moment to end. It’s so intimate, so devastating, so all-consuming. I never imagined I would feel this way, I never thought we’d get to this point. But it’s happening.

His left hand moves slowly, slipping between my legs. His fingers work their way up my inner thigh, his gaze never leaving mine as he licks me harder and faster. I gasp when I feel his index and middle finger probing my entrance. I am so wet, so primed and ready for this. He goes in while suckling my clit, and I hear myself gasping and moaning. My hips sway, rocking back and forth against a rhythmic movement of his fingers.

The tension rises. The temperature spikes.

His mouth makes love to my pussy, destroying any sense of reality I’ve got left in me. I’m closer to the edge, closer…

“Don’t stop, baby,” I whisper, feeling myself slipping away.

Moments later, I feel it coming. The unstoppable earthquake, the shattering of my defenses as the orgasm explodes through me with the strength and the intensity of a tidal wave. I cry out in sweet agony as he finger-fucks me into sheer madness, suckling my clit and feeling my core as it ripples against his mouth. His moans are like music to my ear as I unravel and squirt my juices, and he licks and drinks me whole.

I’m not sure how long it takes for me to come down from this deflagration of raw pleasure, but I feel the stars burning in my eyes, and I see them in his as he stands up and takes me in his arms. We kiss, and I melt in his embrace, my legs too weak to hold me. I taste myself on his lips, on his tongue, which only serves to further stoke this devastating fire he lit within me.

“Dammit, Shay, you’re gonna be the death of me,” Marius says, trailing kisses along my jawline.

“I was about to say the same thing.”

“This is only the beginning,” he replies. “You started it, and we’re gonna see it through. All the way to the end, whatever the end may be.” He pulls back and plants one last kiss on my lips.

I’m a shapeless puddle at this point, a smile stretching across my face as I notice traces of me glistening on his lower lip. His beard tickled, but I loved every second of it. I’m getting even more aroused by the memories of mere moments ago.

“I’ll come pick you up tomorrow,” Marius says. “We’ll grab coffee on the way.”

“Okay.”

It’s all I can say as he smiles and walks out, careful to quickly close the door behind him. I’m left naked and feverishly satisfied in the hallway of my house, wondering what the hell I’m going to do with the rest of my evening. I’ve never been treated this way. Vincent and I got past the kissing stage more than once during our relationship, but he was never as tender nor as intimate with me. Not like Marius. No, Marius knew precisely how to handle me, which buttons to push to give me the utmost pleasure.

I’ve been missing out on too much for too damn long.