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

Chapter 17

17

Shay

D espite our business-related disagreements, Richard has been an emotional comfort lately. I’m at his place for the weekend, starting with a Friday night dinner in his den overlooking the park. It snowed, so all I see is a blanket of white covering the evergreen bushes along the wrought iron fences. The sky is almost black on this side of town, where there’s barely enough streetlight to muddle the stars.

Richard’s house is a two-level villa wedged between a couple of colonial-style properties. Unlike his neighbors, however, he opted for a simpler and minimalist design. The backyard is humongous, complete with a pool and a basketball court, though neither are in use over the winter season. The interior is pretty and bright, with off-white walls and ash-colored hardwood flooring. Every storage space was custom-made to measure, making each cabinet seem like a natural extension of the house’s original structure.

The den was decorated to serve both as a more intimate dining room but also as a spacious breakfast room, with soft seating and plenty of red tartan cushions. The round table is huge, currently loaded with sushi plates and a couple of bottles of sake, though I’ve been partial to the iced tea and sparkling water pitchers tonight. Alcohol hasn’t been my thing for a while, particularly since I started working out. I may have had a few drinks during the Chappaqua break, but that was pretty much it. Lately, even the smell of it doesn’t tickle me like it used to.

“I’m not a fan of sushi, in general,” Richard says as helps himself to another tuna roll, “but I’m glad I went with your suggestion. You were right, Wasabi’s definitely know their stuff.”

“I’m glad you agree. Cassandra bought me lunch there once, and I’ve been in love with the place ever since,” I reply.

We sit naked under our fluffy white bathrobes enjoying a casual evening. The central heating keeps the place warm and cozy, and the wasabi paste only serves to spike our body temperature further. Soft jazz plays in the background, since Richard is adamant about creating a pleasant atmosphere when I’m around. I like that about him. He’s always so attentive and caring; I certainly enjoy being spoiled like this.

I lean into him as we work our way through the rest of the sushi platter, leaving nothing to waste. It feels nice to be with him, especially after the more difficult days I’ve had with Jax and Marius. Richard may have me on edge in terms of our business together, but on a personal level, he has been my rock and source of comfort.

“How’s your work coming along?” he asks me, then downs a shot of sake.

“New clients are always a handful,” I tell him. “Especially the ones who have a complicated relationship with food. They’re so hell-bent on demonizing entire group foods that as soon as I show them a meal plan, they get anxious and doubtful, convinced they’ve come to the wrong nutrition coach.”

He chuckles lightly. “How do you get them to stay?”

“I just point out the flaws in their judgment. Bread doesn’t make you fat. Eating a whole loaf for dinner does. Chocolate doesn’t make you fat. Eating a whole bag of Reese’s Mini-Peanut-Buttercups, however, may add to the scale. The same with fried chicken and French fries and Oreos and anything else they find on the menu that, according to them, doesn’t belong there.”

“Wait, you add Oreos and stuff into their diets?”

I nod and laugh, always amused by how shocked people are by my approach to nutrition. “The first step in getting someone to start eating healthier isn’t to completely cut out the foods that bring them comfort and even joy. They need to make sensible substitutions. Less processed foods. More fiber, in particular. It takes a while, but they get it.”

“And do they stick to it?”

“My track record by now should tell you they absolutely stick to it and love it,” I reply, feeling my chest swell with pride.

“I’m honestly impressed,” Richard replies. “I mean, I’ve seen a couple of your meal plans, and I know your clients love you, but I’ll admit, I never really went too deep into your side of the business because I know you know what you’re doing.”

“And I so appreciate you for that,” I say.

“No wonder they all love you,” he smiles, his green gaze softening as his eyes search my face. “There’s plenty to love about you, Shay.”

“I needed to work really hard on myself to figure that one out. Loving myself the way I’m supposed to be loved by others.”

“Well, it shows, and it’s a beautiful look on you. Have I ever told you how proud I am of everything you’ve accomplished for yourself at such a young age?”

I shake my head slowly.

He puts an arm around my shoulder and pulls me closer, the emerald pools of his eyes darkening with desire. “Other women are still out there, wandering and trying to figure themselves out. You’ve got your self-development down to an art. You’re strong, Shay. You could build an entire fitness industry all by yourself. You wouldn’t even need me or Jax or Marius.”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t mean I want to do it alone.”

Richard’s gaze settles on my lips. “I’ve missed you,” he whispers. “It’s been pretty tense between us lately. And I’m sorry for my part in that.”

“It’s okay. We’re here, now.”

I kiss him first, not wanting to let the conversation slide into unpleasant territories. I’ve had enough of that with Marius and Jax. This moment of peace is just what I needed, so I let everything go as I wrap my arms around Richard’s neck and deepen the kiss. Our tongues play and swirl around each other, tasting the sake and the spicy condiments. I breathe him in, his orange-scented cologne filling my lungs with thoughts of a warm spring somewhere on a Greek island.

Before long, we’re in the bedroom, our bathrobes on the floor.

I’m on my knees, my hands resting on his thick, muscular thighs as I take him in my mouth. I have to open my jaw wide to fit all of him, relaxing the back of my throat as I listen to his ragged breathing.

“Damn, I’ve missed this,” he groans, running his fingers through my hair.

I feel him thrusting, ever so slightly, testing my gag reflex as I let him. The more I allow, the more he gives, the veins along his gigantic cock throbbing against my tongue. I slurp and lick him delightedly, then tighten my grip around the base of his shaft and fondle his rock-hard balls as I suck the head firmly.

“Fucking hell, Shay, you’re all I want in this world,” Richard gasps.

He’s close to finishing first, so I pull back with a devilish smile and look him deep in the eyes. “Your turn, good sir. There are parts of me in dire need of your attention.”

“Really?” Richard grins coolly. “Which parts?” He lifts me off the soft carpet and sits me on the edge of the giant, king-size bed, kneeling before me. “These?”

He kisses my left breast while his hand squeezes the other, massaging gently as he closes his mouth around my nipple. I gasp and arch my back, my bare flesh pressing against his lips. He moans harshly as his tongue draws wet circles, just before his teeth graze and playfully nip, sending thousands of sharp electrical signals through my body.

I’m already wet, the liquid heat glazing my pussy and trickling down my inner thighs as I spread my legs for him. “Or this?” he asks, spotting my movement. He goes lower, careful to kiss every inch of my skin before he lets his tongue slide between my slick folds.

“Oh, that, definitely that!” I croak and throw my head back before I lay down.

He takes his sweet time devouring my core, tongue lapping hungrily from top to bottom as sweet pressure gathers in my lower belly. His fingers slip inside, two at first and curling upward. It’s enough to push me into a raw, ecstatic frenzy as my hips rock against his rhythmic movements. He suckles on my clit.

“Don’t stop,” I cry out.

Richard growls and slides a third finger in, stretching and probing while he teases my swollen nub to the point of electrifying release. I come hard, quivering and tightening around his fingers. He licks and drinks me whole, feeling my climax.

I barely catch a moment’s breath as he climbs on top of me, spearing me with his full length. I freeze, momentarily shocked by the sudden stretch, my eyes wide as they lock on his.

“Make yourself come again,” Richard orders me, guiding my hand to a very tender clit still throbbing from the previous explosion. “Now.”

“Gladly, baby,” I reply.

I rub it hard, delighted by the wetness I encounter. He pins me down, one hand gently holding him up over me and the other on my hip, fingers digging into the flesh as he fucks me decisively. My breasts bounce under his gaze, and I revel in the look of absolute pleasure imprinted on his handsome face as he claims me.

Riding the coattails of my first orgasm, I flick my clit firmly, causing new pressure to ball up in my core and send a knot right up to my throat.

“I’ll never get enough of you, Shay.”

“You are dangerously addictive, Richard,” I manage, his grip on my hip tightening. It’s enough to push me closer to a second, infinitely more explosive release. “Oh, baby, harder… Give it to me harder… Deeper…”

A devilish grin slits his face, his reddish beard twinkling with sweat as he goes deeper and harder like I asked. I’m stretched beyond belief, raw on the inside and feeling every glorious inch as I tighten my pussy around him. He listens to my ragged breathing, and I refuse to take my eyes off him as I pleasure myself and he pounds into me.

Harder.

Deeper.

Faster.

Until we both come at once, crying out and calling each other’s names.

He fucks me like there’s no tomorrow, and I welcome it all like a ravenous animal, succumbing to the decadence and the shameless pleasure, letting the orgasm wash over me in waves of hot and cold until I’m practically gushing my juices all over him. Richard holds me close, collapsing on top of me with the last of his thrusts, and I glance out the window, smiling as I see the snow fall through the night.

It’s not even midnight yet, and we’ve only just begun.

I’ll be tender and sated by sunrise, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. This man knows how to push the right buttons inside me, and I certainly know how to get his engine running. No wonder we’re nuts about each other. I miss the four of us, though…

I wish we’d find another moment to recreate Chappaqua.

Later in the night, we lay in bed, our bodies glistening with sweat and the shimmer of a sweet afterglow as the snow intensifies outside. I listen to the sound of his heart drumming, my head resting on his chest. I’m limp and soft like a marshmallow, melting against his body while my own heart sings songs of its own. I wish Jax and Marius could be with us. I’d like nothing more than to be sandwiched between them.

“How are you feeling?” Richard asks me.

I look up and find him staring at the ceiling. “Completely relaxed. I don’t think I have a spine anymore.”

“Good,” he laughs.

“And you?”

“I don’t want tomorrow to come,” he says, then glances at me. “I found a hall on the south side of the city. It’s huge. Third floor of a new industrial complex, next door to the business quarter. The owner said he wouldn’t mind leasing it to me if I intend to open a gym there.”

And just like that, my good mood withers and all the fears I’ve pushed down to the bottom of my consciousness return with a vengeance. Slowly, I lift my head and shift my weight slightly onto him so I can better look at him. “A gym?” I manage.

“Another West Key gym, to be specific.”

“Why would you want to open another one when this one isn’t turning a profit yet?”

Richard thinks about it for a moment. “You’re right. I could give it another name,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity. The structure of the building is brand spanking new, the central heating and air conditioning systems already installed. It has enough room for three weight rooms and three fighting rooms, plus massive locker rooms, sauna, solar, whatever. The reception area alone would be double the size of ours. We could do a proper lounge and café there with a focus on protein treats. Your recipes would work beautifully there.”

“Hold on,” I say, and sit up, increasingly alarmed by what I’m hearing. “How’d you come across that space?”

“I met a guy at a business meeting. The conversation just led there, and he said he knows someone who’s looking for new leasing opportunities for his building. Next thing I know, I’m in my car and driving over there. I was skeptical at first, but the place is fantastic.”

“Richard…” I swallow before I continue. “We’re already running a gym together and working hard to get it off the ground,” I tell him. “You’re not willing to invest in West Key anymore, but you’re willing to invest in a brand-new gym, instead?”

“It wouldn’t be competition for West Key, since it’s on the south side.”

“That doesn’t matter. What are you thinking? I thought you were going to give us until spring before you make a decision on the matter.”

“This place popped up, and I know it’ll be leased really fast unless I make them an offer,” he says with a shrug. “The thing is… I don’t want to do it alone. I mean, I could, I’ve done it before, but I’d like for you to join me. Your experience as a nutritionist, your unique approach to healthy eating… I need that.”

“And what did you mean by giving it another name?” I ask, trying to wrap my head around this sudden deluge of startling and genuinely unpleasant information. “It wouldn’t be another West Key gym, then. It would be something else entirely. And you wouldn’t bring Marius and Jax along, from what I’m hearing.”

Richard shrugs and sits up, as well. “I’d let them have West Key. They’d be busy enough with that place, but I think they can handle it between them. They did suggest getting a business loan from me to keep the gym going until summer, and I’m inclined to offer them something meatier while I turn my focus onto this new space. It’s really good, Shay, you’d have to see it to really understand its value.”

“What I’m understanding right now is that you’re ready to bail out on us,” I reply harshly.

The tension has filled my body yet again, my muscles tightening as I scoot over to the edge of the bed. I glance around the room, trying to remember where I left my clothes.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“I don’t think I want to spend the rest of my night here.”

“Shay, hold on. Just listen to me. It’s a good business decision,” he says. “Reason alone no longer allows me to invest further in West Key. It doesn’t mean I don’t believe in the gym or the people behind it.”

“Yeah, since you’re one of them. Remember, partner?”

Richard scoffs. “You knew I wasn’t a one-pony show from the moment we went into business together. This move is a natural progression for me, and I want to take you with me. I appreciate your skills and your talents. You wouldn’t have to leave West Key, of course. You could divide your time between the two. Financially, you’d be at a great advantage.”

“Dammit, Richard, you really are considering this.”

“Come with me tomorrow to see the place. I’ll drive us there, first thing in the morning. All you have to do is have a look and convince yourself it would be a dreadful shame to let it go to somebody else. The last thing Seattle needs is another express coffee shop.”

I curse under my breath and walk over to the armchair in the corner where my clothes wait. My boots are out in the lobby by the door, and so is my purse with my phone and keys. I’m already calculating my way back home—I’ll need to call a cab since I left my car at the gym and came home with Richard.

“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” I say as I start dressing.

Richard gets out of bed and tries to stop me, but I push him away. “Shay, come on, don’t be like that. I’m not leaving you or the guys. I just trust you to run West Key without me.”

“No, you’re bored with West Key because it’s not the razzle-dazzle kind of gym you wanted, and so you’ve found a new place to focus on!” I snap. “You’re being selfish and extremely superficial, Richard. Meanwhile, Marius, Jax, and I keep wracking our brains to come up with ways to keep you on board, fully aware that if you leave, we’ll be pretty much screwed.”

“I can give you guys a business loan—”

“It’s not about the business loan! Screw your money, Richard! It’s about your support. About your invaluable input, your sharp mind, your resilience and determination. We didn’t get into business with you because of your fat bank account!”

He snorts a dry chuckle. “Well, my money did play a role.”

“Minor compared to the resources you came in with. Richard, this is heart-breaking, honestly. You know as well as I do that if you walk out, we’ll struggle horribly without you. I can’t stop you, of course… but I have to say… I’m disappointed.”

“Shay, wait.”

“No. I’m done. I have no interest in screwing over our other business partners,” I shoot back and walk out of the bedroom. A minute later, I’ve got my boots and jacket on, phone in my hand and purse on my shoulder as I leave his house behind.

Richard stands in the open doorway as I descend the front steps and tread through the snow until I reach the sidewalk, waiting for my cab. It’s weird to be standing out here in the middle of the night, darkness above and snow still falling around me as I begin to shiver. I glance over my shoulder and see him, only a towel wrapped around his waist as he looks at me.

“Let’s talk about this some more,” he says.

“Screw you,” I reply, then breathe a sigh of relief when my cab pulls over.

Once I’m in the backseat, I let it all out and start bawling, hiding my face in my coat as the driver quietly takes me away from here. I’m miserable and lonely, suddenly afraid and helpless. It wasn’t supposed to go south like this. He wasn’t supposed to do this. I’ve often worried he might, but part of me refused to accept the actual possibility.

It was one thing to voice my concern on the matter, and it’s a completely different thing to witness it happening right after one of the best and most beautiful nights of my existence. It’s not fair. It’s not fair to me, to Marius, or to Jax. It’s not fair to the four of us, either. Worst of all, I’m in love with these men. I’ve managed to accomplish the impossible, the crazy impossible. I’ve fallen for them, deeply.

And now I’m screwed.