The Very Naughty List

32. Hailey

32

HAILEY

My heart doesn’t stop racing as we make the final turn that leads us back to the beginning of the parade route. Nick’s fingers ease away from my clit, but I can still feel the hot press of his cock against my ass, and it’s all I can do not to grind down against it.

But I’ve already teased him enough, and since the parade is almost over, we’ll have to stand up soon. I’ll have to figure out how to walk on legs that feel like jelly, and Nick will probably need a minute to adjust himself.

I know that Sebastian and Reid could both tell what was happening, and the fact that they covered for the small noises that escaped me is yet another sign of how well all four of us seem to work in sync without even needing to talk or ask for anything. It’s as if we’re all connected by some sort of crazy chemistry.

Nick slides his fingers out from between my legs just as the parade is about to end. That timing couldn’t have worked out any better if I tried.

The end of the parade route is right on Main Street, and a crowd of people gather around the floats, clapping and cheering. Nick slides the blanket off of our laps and gallantly offers me his hand, helping me stand up. I suppress a grin at the gentlemanly gesture—especially since he’s the reason my legs are shaking like a fawn’s.

“Did you have a good ride, trouble?” Reid asks as he and Sebastian join us in trooping off the large float.

I flush, prickles of awareness rushing over my skin at the undertone of heat in his voice. “Yes. It was amazing.”

“Fucking hell,” Sebastian groans under his breath, his voice strained. “I can’t wait to get you back home. Standing up on the float, knowing you were about to fall apart right behind me? Pure torture.”

“He’s right,” Reid adds. “And it’s not easy hiding a hard-on when you’re wearing tights. I think we need to punish you for being such a bad girl.”

A delicious shiver runs down my spine as we join the townspeople drinking hot chocolate and eating holiday goodies at the parade’s end. I’m feeling so good that not even the sight of Dylan gazing dourly at me and the three Cooper brothers can knock the smile off my face. He looks like he just tasted something sour, his face scrunched up and his eyes a bit narrowed. But I just give him a little wave and then turn my back to him, ignoring him completely.

“Hailey! Guys!”

My sister’s voice rises up above the hubbub of the crowd, and I glance around to see her leading my parents and Lucas through the throng of people, waving wildly at me.

They reach us a moment later, and my mother pulls me into a hug.

“You looked lovely up there,” she tells me. “Thank you for representing the diner, it means so much.”

“That was the best Christmas parade in years.” My dad beams. “You all did a great job! And you and Nick made a great Mr. and Mrs. Claus.”

Little does he know what I was actually doing while riding on that float. I feel my cheeks start to flush a little, but thankfully Reid comes to the rescue by immediately turning the conversation toward talking about all the publicity that the float will hopefully bring in for the diner.

My parents excitedly tell him about a few new additions to the menu, and Lucas chats with Nick a bit about the upcoming football season. Sebastian floats in and out of everyone’s conversations while I give my sister a quick report about the new guy at the diner and how he could probably take on a few more shifts to help balance out her schedule.

But beneath all the excited talk, the sexual tension that started building up between me and the three Cooper brothers back on the float keeps simmering. Instead of dissipating now that the parade is over, it only seems to be winding tighter and tighter, making my body hum like a live wire.

It’s a dangerous thing, considering that my brother is standing just a few feet away, and so are my parents. I try my best to ignore the triplets’ close proximity and the ravenous glances they keep shooting me out of the corners of their eyes.

Thankfully, my brother gets drawn into a conversation with a colleague of his from the high school, and my parents head off to greet a couple of friends they spotted in the crowd earlier. But Pippa—well, she’s never been as easy for me to fool.

The moment our brother and parents are out of earshot, she grabs my arm, tugging me to one side.

“Ohhhh shit!” she hisses in a low voice. “You’re with the Cooper brothers for real! All of them?”

My stomach drops . Oh fuck.

“What?” I shake my head, my eyes widening. “No, don’t be absurd. It’s all just acting, like I said before. Something to keep the town gossips from rehashing me and Dylan and that whole mess.”

I give a strained laugh, trying to brush it off, but fail miserably. My sister can always read me when I’m trying to deny stuff. I’m honestly not a very good liar—at least, not when it comes to her.

Pippa arches one brow at me and rests one hand on her hip. She doesn’t say anything, just stands there staring at me with a knowing look until my resolve crumbles.

“All right, fine ,” I whisper, glancing around to make sure no one is eavesdropping on us. We’re standing far enough from the Cooper brothers that they can’t hear us, but I can feel them watching us, heat and curiosity still lingering in their eyes. “It’s true. But you have to swear that you won’t tell anyone!”

Her jaw drops open, her eyes flashing with excitement. “Why would I tell anyone? This is amazing! Holy shit! Lucas doesn’t know, does he?”

“God, of course not.” I shake my head emphatically. “He would absolutely flip. Swear to me that you won’t utter a word of this to anyone, especially not him.”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.” Pippa makes a crossing motion with her fingers over her chest, and I check to make sure that I can see both of her hands and that she’s not crossing fingers anywhere. It’s a trick she used to use when we were kids.

But this time, she seems to really mean it.

“You can trust me,” she promises, her expression turning a bit more serious as she drops her head, leaning in closer. “I won’t say anything. I promise on our sisterhood. How long has it been going on?”

I shake my head. “I don’t really know exactly. It feels like it’s been going on forever, at least in my head. I’m not sure when it started getting real.”

Wait, what am I saying? None of this is actually “real.”

I clear my throat, quickly correcting myself.

“I mean, it’s not real. Not really. It’s not like we’re all in love or anything. We’re just, um… having some fun. We agreed to mess around a bit while they help me rewrite the story of me being Dylan’s jilted bride.”

“Holy shit.” Her eyes are like saucers. “So you and… all three of them? Like— together? ”

My cheeks flame, but I know there’s no point in starting to lie now. She’s already seen through me, so it’s a little late for that.

“Yes,” I admit, and she squeals quietly. “But it’s only temporary!” I quickly add. “I wasn’t anticipating this at all. I had no idea it would ever happen, and definitely not with all of them.”

Only temporary .

The words stick in my throat a little as I say them, echoing in my head like a clock chiming down the hours.

I keep trying desperately to remember that this is just a bit of temporary fun, nothing more.

The only problem is that every time I tell myself that, it feels less and less true. Now, not only do I feel like I’m lying to everyone else, but I also feel like I’m starting to lie to myself as well.

“All right.” My dad’s deep voice interrupts our conversation as he makes his way back over to us. “Who’s up for some food? Should we all go grab something?”

I see Reid and Sebastian shoot me a look, and I can practically feel the tension crackling between us. Honestly, ever since Sebastian said that he couldn’t wait to get me back home, I’ve been dying to be alone with these men, to finish what Nick and I started on the float.

“Um…” I swallow, turning to my dad. “Well, I guess we could?—”

“You must be pretty wiped out after riding in the parade, Hailey,” my sister interjects, giving me a pointed look. “I bet you and the guys are pretty cold too. It must’ve been a bit windy up there on the float, and you’re probably anxious to get out of those costumes. So if you’re not up for going out for food, we totally understand. We wouldn’t want you getting sick right before the holidays.”

“Oh, yes.” My mom, who’s rejoined us as well, nods. “We definitely don’t want you getting sick. You four should go warm up and get changed.”

A burst of love for Pippa swells in my chest. She knew exactly what to say to get us out of having to join everyone for food, appealing to my mother’s protective instincts and constant worry about any of her children catching a cold.

She’s being my wing-woman, and I fucking love her for that.

“Yeah,” I say, latching on to the opening that Pippa has given me. “We should probably just head home today. But I’ll see you guys again really soon—I’ll pop over to the house or come by the diner.”

“Okay, sweetie.” My mother gives me a hug. “That sounds good.”

Lucas, my parents, and Pippa head out a few minutes later, and the Cooper brothers and I finally get out of our silly parade costumes and head home. The car is quiet on the drive, and the air seems to thicken with each passing moment. I don’t know about the three men, but I’m definitely replaying every single second of the parade.

As soon as we get back to their place, Sebastian holds the door for me as we pile out of the car. Reid walks into the house first, with Sebastian and Nick behind him and me bringing up the rear.

I close the door behind me and move to follow them into the living room, but stop short when I realize that all three of them are standing shoulder to shoulder, gazing at me with ravenous, expectant expressions.

“What?” I whisper.

Reid doesn’t smile, but a spark of amusement flashes in his eyes. “I told you that we’d have to punish you for being such a bad girl on the float. Did you think I was kidding?”

My thighs clench, anticipation twisting in my stomach. “No.”

“Good.” He lifts his chin, gesturing to me. “Then strip off everything except your panties.”