THREE TIMES THE LOVE

DARCY ROSE

FAITH EVERLY

Copyright © 2021 by Bleeding Heart Press

www.bleedingheartpress.com

Cover design by C. Hallman

www.authorchallman.com

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No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

CONTENTS

Three Times the Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

About Darcy Rose

About Faith Everly

THREE TIMES THE LOVE

(PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN THE DISSENT ANTHOLOGY)

All I ever wanted was a happily ever after, and I thought I found that, only it was with three men, not one.

My parents refused to let me see them. The town spread rumors about me, so I disappeared.

I thought they would forget me, but two years later, I realized they never did.

*This is a standalone RH story with an HEA.

1

BLINKING MY EYES OPEN, I try to make out anything besides the white walls of the room. It’s bright and cold. The thin blanket draped over me doesn’t do much to keep the chill away. My fingers are stiff as I move them over the scratchy material of the shirt I’m wearing.

My memory kicks in a second later. The hospital. I had to go to the hospital because… Bradley. That bastard. Did he bring me here? Oh my god, is he still here?

Fear has me moving to sit up. My eyes adjust, and my vision clears. The movement sends a sharp pain shooting through my side, making me sink back into the mattress a moment later.

That asshole probably dropped me off and rolled away while I was too dazed and in too much pain to do much about it. He wouldn’t want anybody knowing he was responsible for this.

“Hello?” I wince from the pain in my throat and the foreign sound of my voice, which resembles a frog’s croak.

When nobody answers right away, I fumble for my purse. Somebody was nice enough to leave it on the table next to my gurney. I can only wonder how long I’ve been here.

A glance at the clock tells me it can’t be more than a couple of hours. There’s so much activity and noise outside the glass-partitioned room. They must have gotten busy and forgotten about me. I guess I’m not as bad off as some of the people here.

But I’m bad enough to be in a room, I remind myself. I pull out my phone, my hands trembling, tears welling up in my eyes. I’m greeted with three unread messages from Bradley. I delete them without opening them. He can rot in hell.

I navigate to the contacts in my phone, hit the name home, and then press the green call button. What will I tell my parents? They were so determined that I went on this date. I know they want me to marry Bradley—that’s what this is all about. Maybe their minds will change once they discover what he did to me. It turns out, I don’t have to worry about that because nobody answers the phone. Finally, the answering machine picks up.

“Mom? Dad? Are you there?” I wait a bit, imagining my raspy voice echoing through the downstairs hallway. Wherever they are in the house, they have to hear me. Still, no answer. “Something bad happened tonight. I’m at the hospital. Please, can you come? I’m all alone.”

When no one picks up the phone, I sigh in defeat. “I’ll call back later.”

The curtain separating me from the hall flies open, and I flinch. “Sorry, miss.” Oh my god, it’s a cop, followed by another one. I try to sit up a little straighter, but everything hurts, so all I can do is lie back against the pillow and pull the blanket up to my shoulders. Not that they can see anything with this gown I’m wearing. I don’t even remember putting it on.

“Why are you here?” I whisper.

The two men exchange a glance. “That’s what we’re here to ask you,” one of them murmurs while the other pulls out a notepad.

“The nurse called us,” his partner explains. “We spoke to the doctor once your X-ray results came through. No breaks, but a lot of heavy bruising that couldn’t have been self-inflicted.” Yes, and although I haven’t looked at myself in the mirror, I’m sure there must be bruises around my throat and on my arms. I look down to find both wrists encircled in purple bracelets. He was determined to get what he wanted, but I wouldn’t give in.

“I wasn’t raped,” I blurt out. I don’t know why that seems so important.

“We know that. The rape kit came back negative.” They exchange another uncomfortable glance. “Are you Thea Price? As in Mayor Price’s daughter?”

Yes, and this will be a messy little scandal for my father. I really wish he’d answered the phone, if only to handle this for me. I know that no matter what I say, it’ll end up embarrassing him.

“I was on a date. He wanted to take things further than I was comfortable with. And when I said no enough times, he…” A memory of last night flashes through my mind. His fist slamming into my cheek. His fingers digging into my skin. His cruel words screamed into my ears. “He did this to me.”

Is all of this real? It feels like it should be happening to somebody else. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine giving a statement to the police, not about something like this. This kind of thing happens to other girls. Not to me, the mayor’s daughter, the good girl who always does what she’s told.

“And who did you go on the date with?”

It doesn’t occur to me to lie. “Bradley Jones.” I even give them his address since that’s where we were when this happened.

“You don’t have to worry about him hurting you again.” I’m not, really, but I see how they’d think that.

Once they’re finished, they leave me alone, but I’m not that way for long. I guess now that everybody knows I’m awake and talking, they’re not avoiding my room.

“You’re all set for discharge,” the doctor tells me a few hours later. He leaves a small bunch of papers on the foot of the gurney. “There’s a prescription here for a painkiller. Otherwise, you should be fine after a few days of rest. Can you call someone to come pick you up?”

This is all happening so fast. “I don’t know. I called my parents… but nobody answered…” The doctor doesn’t even wait until I finish my sentence before he moves on. With his clipboard in hand, he leaves the room as if he can’t get away fast enough.

Great. What am I supposed to do? I guess I could call a cab, but where would I go? I don’t want to face my parents yet. As a matter of fact, I don’t think I could handle what I know would be disgust from my parents. I know they’ll blame me for not giving Bradley what he wanted.

Getting my phone out again, I scroll through my contacts for a few minutes until I come to the conclusion I have no one else to call in this town. I didn’t realize until now how few true friends I have.

Who can I count on if I can’t even count on my own parents?

It wasn’t always like this. There was a time when I was surrounded by people who loved me. People who took care of me, who cherished me for who I am and not for what I could do for them. Now I have no one, and it’s all my fault.

When I left town two years ago, my parents deleted their numbers, but the truth is, I knew Rylan’s cell number by heart… I still do.

What would I give to hear his voice? To have him tell me everything will be okay. He would probably try to make me laugh like he always did. Old memories mixed with new possibilities swirl around my head. Now that the seed has been planted, I can’t seem to let it go. Should I call him? What would I say? What would he say?

So many questions, but only one way to find out.

With nothing to lose, I dial his number and hold the phone to my ear.

Unlike my parents, he answers right away. “Who is this?” he barks. The sound of his familiar voice chokes me up. My lips part, but nothing besides a scared whimper comes out.

It’s him. It’s really him.

“You have two more seconds before I trace this call and teach you some manners.”

“I-It’s Thea,” I finally manage to get out.

Silence settles over us. My palms are so sweaty I almost lose the grip on my phone. He remains speechless. I’m about to end the call and curse myself for being so stupid when he finally mutters, “Why do you sound like that? Is this a joke?”

“No. I…” Shit, what am I going to tell him? Where do I even start? “I’m back in town. I need help, and I didn’t know who else to call,” I admit.

“Where are you?”

Here goes nothing.

“I’m in the emergency room at Memorial Hospital. They want me to leave, but I’m pretty banged up, and my parents aren’t answering their phone. I need somebody to pick me up. Can you help me, please?”

When he doesn’t answer immediately, my heart sinks. I should’ve known better. The way I got up and disappeared on him and the others. I have no right to expect any of them to give a damn about me anymore.

“I’m twenty minutes away—but I’ll make it in fifteen.” I close my eyes, and a tear trickles down my cheek. I still have a friend in the world, after all.

2

AT LEAST IT’S dark out here. I don’t want anybody to see me if I can avoid it. My left eye looks the worst, blue and swollen, just like my right cheek. To round up the look, I have a busted lip to go with it.

My throat burns like it’s on fire. I still can’t believe he did this to me. A part of me blames myself for being so stupid and agreeing to go to his house. I should have known better. I’m twenty years old, but instead, I acted like a naïve teenager. What makes things even worse is that I made better choices when I was a teenager. I was happy with Ry and the guys, but I let my father come between us.

When a blood-red Mustang skids to a stop in front of the bench, I’m sure it must be a mistake. Someone who’s coming to pick up another patient. Except when the driver emerges, I’m face-to-face with Rylan himself.

My heart bangs against my rib cage painfully, and my eyes fill with tears for a different reason. He’s here. He came for me. A saving grace I don’t deserve.

Two years haven’t done much to change his looks—same unruly dark hair and same athletic build. His features are darker and more mature. There’s a sharper edge to him than there ever was before, and the rage on his face is different.

“Thea! You didn’t tell me… what the fuck?” He closes the distance between us in a few long strides until he hovers over me like a tall oak tree. He takes me by my shoulders and gently helps me off the bench, his dark eyes darting over my face.

I suck in a breath of air, but all I get is the soothing, familiar scent of his cologne. It takes every ounce of strength not to give in to the urge to lean into him, to bury my face into his chest and let him hold me until everything around us fades away.

“You said you were banged up, but I figured maybe it was a car accident.” His gaze lands on my throat and stays there—that’s when his eyes narrow, becoming slits, and his nostrils flare. “Who did this to you? Tell me.”

“It’s not important right now. Please don’t make me talk about this again. I just want to get out of here. I’m so tired.” All I want to do is jump in his arms and cry myself to sleep.

He sighs like he’s disappointed but helps me to the car. He’s overly gentle and considerate before closing the door and jogging around the front of the car. He doesn’t give me much time to come up with an excuse for why I don’t want to go home.

I can’t bear to look at him once he gets behind the wheel. “I don’t want to go home. We can go anywhere, just not there.”

There’s a heavy moment when it seems like he’s contemplating his next move. “Right,” he grunts before peeling away from the curb and rocketing us through the parking lot. I’m too embarrassed to say much else and hope he’s not in the mood to ask any further questions. Closing my eyes, I rest my head against the seat and try to think of the good times.

Only when the car comes to a stop and he kills the engine do I open my eyes to find us in a downtown parking garage. If I was with anyone else, I’d be worried right now, but with Ry, I only feel safe. “Where are we?”

“It’s where I live with Landon and Vex. Top floor.”

“All three of you?” My heart seizes. I don’t know if it’s happiness or dread gripping it. We didn’t leave things on good terms—actually, we didn’t leave on any terms since I pretty much ran away after high school graduation once the whole town decided I was a whore for being in love with all three of them at once. We tried to keep it a secret for as long as possible, but there was no keeping anything from my father. He never did confirm it, but I know he must’ve had me followed.

“Yeah, we built a company from the ground up. Startet small but ended up with a multi-million dollar firm.” He always was a joker, but I don’t think he’s joking now. There’s no smirk, no chuckle. “Come on. They’re working up there now.”

“This is a lot,” I whisper, my lip trembling. It seems like he’s forgiven me, but what about the others? I never thought I’d see any of them again, but all three at once, all while looking like I was hit by a bus.

“I know. I didn’t expect to hear from you, either.” Still, he gives me no choice, getting out of the car and coming around to help me out. “Nobody is going to bite your head off. Right now, I’m just glad you’re okay, and I know they’ll feel the same way.”

I hope so. I really do. Because now I understand how much I’ve missed them. Just having Ry’s arm to hold as we walk through the garage to the elevator means everything.

“I don’t get it, though,” I murmur once we’re in the elevator, where he presses the button for the penthouse. “You guys didn’t go to college? What about your football scholarships?” That was their ticket, their way out. What they wanted more than anything, or so I thought.

“Shit happened. But this is better.” He hits me with a strange look, his dark eyes unreadable. “Sometimes things turn out the way they were always meant to.”

As the elevator doors begin to open, I only hope the other two loves of my life feel the same way.

3

“THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE?” I look around the place in awe. The open floor space is huge, and the sleek furniture and modern art have this apartment looking like a catalog for upscale home interior design.

“Come on. Let me show you around.” The penthouse has incredible views of the city. It’s wide open, with high ceilings, shining floors, a fireplace, and so many other things that all come at me at once. I’m too overwhelmed to make much sense of it. I only know this place puts the mayor’s mansion to shame.

God, I wish my father could see this. He was always so proud of his wealth. He’s a pauper compared to these men.

“What exactly do you guys do?” I ask as we pass the kitchen, full of stainless steel appliances.

“You remember how Landon was always a big computer geek, even when we played ball?” I nod, and he continues. “He came up with a big idea. We figured it made sense to start our business right away instead of waiting to finish college. There’s no need to worry if that’s what you’re getting at. Our entire gig is legit.”

Yes, and a far cry from the way life used to be for them. Back then, they were from the wrong side of town—something Dad held over my head when he found out I was seeing the three of them. He said they weren’t our kind of people. What would he think now?

“This was supposed to be a master suite,” he explains, leading me into a large, airy room. “But it made more sense to turn it into our base of operations.” Instead of a bed, the room is full of computer towers that line one wall and a long desk that lines the wall perpendicular to them. There are three stations set up, each with multiple monitors.

And at two of those stations sit Vex and Landon. The other two pieces of my heart.

Landon practically jumps up from his chair, arms outstretched—until he gets a good look at me, then his arms fall to his sides. “Who hurt you?”

Vex hasn’t moved except to clench his jaw while staring at me.

“Bad date.” That’s all I can bring myself to say. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go. Ry was nice enough to bring me here.”

“Ry is such a nice guy, isn’t he?” Vex glares at him, which only ends up hurting me. I didn’t expect a warm welcome, but his venomous tone has my heart aching in my chest. He hates me.

Landon puts himself between us, smiling warmly even if he still looks concerned. He reminds me of a sexy teacher with his glasses and the rolled-up sleeves of his button-down. “It’s good to see you, and you can ignore the asshole.”

“Shouldn’t be hard. She has plenty of practice ignoring us.” I can’t help but flinch at Vex’s hateful comment. I wish he knew how much I missed him and how often I thought about him. How many nights I cried myself to sleep wishing I’d never left.

“Not now, prick,” Rylan snaps before turning his attention back to me. “What do you need? Do you want to get cleaned up? Are you tired? We have plenty of room if you need a place to stay.”

“I’m tired.” And I’m sure nobody will miss me at home, anyway. “If you don’t mind, I’d love to lie down for a little while.”

In unison, Rylan and Landon reply, “Of course.”

While Vex growls, “Sorry, we have no vacancies.”

They both turn to glare at him, and even through the heavy bruising on my face, I can feel my cheeks heat.

“Again, ignore Vex. He seems to have a hair up his ass.” Ry curls his lip as he speaks. “You can stay in my room. Let’s get you some rest, and then we can talk about what happened.”

Though I’m not looking forward to the talking part, I am very tired. I let him lead me to his bedroom—another room with killer views and the addition of a king-size bed—before showing me to the adjoining bathroom and grabbing an oversized tee for me to wear. “Take your time.”

Now I have the opportunity to look at myself in the mirror. Aside from my blond bob, not much of me is recognizable. My face is bruised and swollen.

But it isn’t full of fear. Not anymore. For the first time in two years, I feel like myself. Black eye and all. And I know it’s because of them. Like my heart’s been frozen, waiting for this all these years.

When I’m finished washing up, I find Rylan waiting for me, sitting on the edge of the bed. Seeing him like this stirs up countless memories.

Judging by the way he looks at me, I think he feels the same way. “I turned down the bedding for you. It’s clean.” I climb in, chuckling, though I’m a little dazed at how this is all unfolding. There’s still a tiny part of me that feels like this should be more difficult. That we shouldn’t be able to slide straight back into our old relationship so easily.

The rest of me knows there couldn’t be another way. Nothing ever ended between us. We put it on pause because we had to–I had to, there was no choice. But now we’re back to that easy, natural flow we always found together.

Only when he starts stripping off his Henley and jeans do I freeze in confusion.

He notices, eyeing me from his spot beside the bed. “You okay?” he asks, gentle, tender with concern.

Tenderness that loosens my tongue. “Are you… I mean, do you want to…”

A smile twitches his generous lips. “I could use a nap as well, and since it’s my bed…”

I can’t help but smile, moving over to make room for him. As always, he knows exactly what I need, and right now, his nearness is what I need more than anything. The comfort of his familiar arms around me. What a surprise gift this is. I think after what I went through tonight, I deserve it.

Of course, he’s reading my thoughts because he always did. “I could kill that fucker for what he did to you, whoever he is.” His arms close around me and I sink into his embrace. The years between us sort of fall away effortlessly. I’m back where I belong.

Bradley seems a hundred miles away now. Almost like he’s from another lifetime. “He’s not worth it. As far as I’m concerned, I’ll never see him again.”

“How will your parents feel about that?” When I go stiff, he sighs. “Sorry. Sore subject?”

“You do know they were the reason I ran away, don’t you? They told me everybody in town thought I was a whore for being with you guys. I was ruining my father’s career, causing a scandal. This isn’t how I wanted it.”

He presses a soft kiss against my forehead, and I melt into his embrace. “I knew it had to be something like that.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize. You did what you thought you had to do.”

The door opens, and we both turn to find Landon walking in. “You’re having a sleepover, and you didn’t invite me?” He’s already unbuttoning his shirt before he reaches the bed.

“Who said that wasn’t on purpose?” Ry teases.

Landon only grumbles before lifting the comforter and sliding in behind me. I’m sandwiched between them, and nothing in the world has ever felt so right. I’m me again. Like they saved space in their lives so I could come back and be myself.

“We’ve missed you.” He places a hand on my hip, tender and comforting, before grazing my ear with his lips.

“I’ve missed you too, all of you. So much.” I reach behind me and cup the back of his neck with my hand. Our eyes meet, and I want nothing more than to kiss him, but my lips are too sore.

Instead, he touches his lips to my cheek while his hand slides down my thigh. I feel him growing against me, his hard cock poking against my ass.

After what happened earlier, this should be the last thing I want. Turns out it’s the only thing I want. I’ve craved them for two years. Nobody has ever lit me up inside and made me feel connected and cherished the way the three of them did.

Just as suddenly as it touches me, though, Landon’s erection stops pressing against me. “Sorry,” he murmurs as he pulls his hips back. “A biological reaction. Can’t be helped.”

“That’s okay.” If anything, the proof that he still wants me goes a long way toward wiping away the last of my anger and outrage at what Bradley did to me. Here we are, three of us in bed with my half-clothed body between theirs, and they’re both being gentle. Respectful. Careful of me.

While all Bradley could do was try his hardest to take what wasn’t his and never will be.

I’m way too sore and tired to even think about entertaining one man, much less two. For now, it’s enough to stay like this. Wrapped in love that comes without strings attached, the way it always did.

4

IT’S like no time has passed. It’s like a lifetime has passed.

We’re not cuddling in a twin bed anymore–or on blankets spread on the floor, which we did a lot more often. We needed the room.

Now, we’re in a penthouse apartment. The entire city lies outside the window, twinkling, shining. The king sized bed is so comfortable, I feel like I’m lying in a cloud covered in silk sheets.

“Like I was telling Ry, I was ashamed,” I explain to Landon while he spoons me from behind. It’s just like before, with the two of them holding me like I’m the most precious thing in the world. Even with my bruises, they treat me like something worth cherishing. “If there's one thing my parents are good at besides ignoring me when they have something better to do, it's making me feel bad about myself.”

Landon strokes my arm, grunting softly as he takes this in. “I mean, I knew things could get bad. I never thought they'd get that bad.”

“Yeah, you have to expect the unexpected with them.” I'm trying to laugh, to be lighthearted. It's not easy. Explaining things to them the way I feel like they deserve also means churning up memories I've tried to forget.

“It's not like we weren't used to people thinking we're shit,” Ry points out. His warm breath on my shoulder is almost painfully welcome. Like my body’s starting to wake up again now that I’m back where I belong. “I mean, we were bad news. Nobody ever wanted to learn more about us.”

Landon’s breath stirs my hair when he snorts. “You were the only one with a reputation to protect.”

“You know I've never cared about a reputation.”

“I know. So we cared about it for you.” Landon presses a gentle kiss against the back of my neck, and I can't help but smile. It's a reminder of the years I've gone without any real love. I’d be ashamed of how eager I am for them to love me if I didn’t remember how good it felt before. How right it was.

I only wish Vex was here with us. He’s too busy being mad at me, I guess. As incredible as this is, it won’t be perfect until he’s here. He’s the missing piece.

I'm too choked up to keep talking about my screwed-up situation, so I change the subject before I get all emotional and weepy. “Nobody thinks you guys are shit anymore. Look at everything you did. And look at what you built. It's...”

“Unbelievable?” Landon suggests with a soft chuckle. The warmth and strength of his firm chest against my back is like heaven. I’m safe here. Protected.

“I wasn't going to say that. I always knew that the three of you have potential. I just figured it would be fulfilled through football. That seemed like all you guys ever cared about, really.”

“Besides you.” Landon nuzzles my neck, chuckling softly.

“Our priorities changed.” Ryland looks at Landon over the top of my head, and there's something in his eyes that makes me wonder a lot of things. It's not that I never gave them any though—just the opposite, especially at first. Those early days without them were torture, like my heart was getting ripped out of my chest three times over.

“How come? Be honest with me. I've told you everything. What about you guys?”

“It was my idea,” Landon explains. “When you went away, it affected all of us. I don't blame you,” he quickly adds when I stiffen and groan softly. “Believe me. I knew it wasn't your fault. You didn't make that choice.”

“We wanted to be better. Soon, too, not after four years of college ball and then hopefully, maybe getting drafted.”

“We were all good,” Landon adds, and he’s being modest. The three of them were superstars on the field. “But it was too up in the air. There wasn't any security.”

“Even if you get drafted there’s no guarantee you’ll get time on the field—if you don’t end up getting hurt,” Ry points out.

“I guess we wanted to be ready if another perfect girl came along.” There’s a wistfulness in Landon’s voice that goes straight to my heart.

“I don't know what to say.” On one hand, I’m hurting for them. It never seemed like they cared either way what people thought about them, but it was one more reason for me to love them. My entire life was always based on what people thought. Whether there were rumors, gossip, things that would somehow affect Dad and his career. I’ve spent most of my life being told what to do and knowing I didn't have a choice.

Part of what drew me to the three of them was how carefree they were. They would flip off anybody who got in their way—literally, a lot of the time. I wished so much I could be that way, that free.

But they did care. They cared very much, more than they ever even showed me. We shared everything, but they always pretended not to car what anybody thought. Turns out they cared so much that they felt like they had to change themselves.

But then again, look at everything they have accomplished. “I guess everything happens for a reason,” I muse.

And, because I can't help myself, I have to add, “I bet girls love coming up here.”

“What makes you think that?” Landon asks with a gentle laugh.

“Because it's a gorgeous apartment, obviously. Like something out of a dream or a fantasy.”

“But who says we bring girls up here?” Ry counters.

“Don't tell me you've been celibate for the past two years.”

“And what if we have?” Ry lifts his head, looking down at me while wearing a smirk. “What about you?”

“We're not talking about me,” I retort. “I was just wondering.”

“You know, it might be a couple years since we saw you, but you haven't changed all that much.”

“Yeah, you don't ask a question like that unless you mean something else. Why don't you just come right out and ask?” Landon teases. “You want to know who's been keeping our beds warm while you were out of the picture?”

They have always been able to see through me. I can't even feel embarrassed, especially since they make me feel so seen and understood. I have not been this happy and contented since the last day I set eyes on them.

“Well?” I prod, even poking Ry in the ribs when he laughs. “Tell me. How many girls have taken a tour of this apartment?”

“It's a penthouse,” Landon retorts with a snort. “And the answer is none. Zero. Nada.”

“Come on,” I laugh. “You don't have to lie to make me feel better. I'm not going to get jealous.”

“He's telling the truth,” Ryland confirms, and this time he's not laughing. “Why would we do that? You're the only woman who's ever mattered to us. Nobody else in the world could compare with you.”

It's so frustrating, the way my eyes well up with tears. I duck my head, burying it in Ry’s neck. I'm sure he feels my tears against his skin, but nobody needs to see them. “I don't know what to say. What if we never came into each other's lives again? What if I never called for help?”

When neither of them says a word, I look up and find them having a silent conversation again over the top of my head. “I guess we would have found you,” Ry murmurs while Landon grunts his agreement. “We never really talked about it. I guess we all just... knew.”

“Even Vex?”

“He'll come around,” Landon assures me, hugging me tight against him. “You know how he is. A lot of things about us have changed, but that hasn't. He's a stubborn fuck when he feels like it.”

“Try working with him,” Ry snickers. “It’s amazing I haven’t thrown him out the window by now.”

“I just want to try to for to him. And he won't give me the chance.”

“Yeah, he'll fuck himself over just to make somebody else feel shit” Ry strokes my cheek with his thumb, smiling with a little sadness. “That's only because he feels like shit.”

“I know.” that much, I don't need to be reminded of. Of the three of them, he was the most wounded. The one with the thickest walls built up around him. It took time for him to soften up and let me into his heart, but once he did, he loved me harder than the others. That's who he is.

But what happens to somebody like that when they’ve dared to let themselves love, then feel betrayed? Does that fierce love turn to an even fiercer hatred? I can’t stand the thought. “Maybe I should go out and talk to him?”

Ryland sighs, shaking his head, and I can feel Landon doing the same since he's resting his head so close to mine. “Give him space. I know you want to make things right again, but the harder you push, the harder he'll push back.”

“He will come around after a little while,” Landon promises. “We'll talk to him. Get it through his head this is the best thing that’s happened to us in years.” He’s getting ahead of himself—there haven’t been any promises made. We’ve only been back together for an hour. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but then I guess we never do.

I have to tease him, though. “Better than all the money you three have made?”

Ry rolls his eyes. “You know the answer to that.”

I hope so. I really hope so.

Because now that I'm back where I belong, I want what was taken from me. I want my guys, all three of them. All this time, I didn't realize I needed them to heal up the broken pieces of my heart.

5

I DIDN’T KNOW I fell asleep.

I only know I wake up alone. I must’ve slept like a rock. It’s unusual for me to sleep that deeply—I usually toss and turn, but last night I didn’t move a muscle. I’m still curled up on my side the way I was while cuddling with the guys.

It's a beautiful day according to what I see outside the window once my eyes focus. There’s not a cloud in the brilliant, blue sky. I wonder if anybody else is waking up as happy as I feel right now. Even if I do have this entire king size bed to myself instead of sharing it.

I roll onto my back, stretching and groaning, then extend my arms out to either side to touch the places where Ryland and Landon slept last night. The sheets are cool, as are the pillows. They’ve been gone for a while. I had no idea they left me here.

They probably have to work early in the morning. I don't have the first idea what goes into operating a business as big as theirs, but I'm guessing it involves a lot of time in front of the computer.

It still amazes me to think about it. Those three, living at their desks? Back in the day they hardly sat still. They had endless energy, both on and off the field. My face flushes at the thought and my nipples tighten in anticipation.

I’m getting ahead of myself. As great as this is, nothing has changed. Nothing permanent. I want to be with them more than anything, but that doesn't mean it's going to work out. There are still obstacles in our way—namely Vex, who for all I know wishes he had never set eyes on me.

There’s also my parents, who would never go for it.

Why do I even care?

My phone is still in my purse, sitting on the nightstand. It’s no surprise that I never got a phone call back from them. Not a text. Nothing.

What could they be doing? Why do I care? They don’t care about me. They never have. The perfect daughter, the perfect image. That’s all that’s ever mattered.

Who ignores a call from the hospital? If I had a daughter and she called saying she needed my help, I’d be there. No matter what I was doing, it would have to come to a stop.

And now, I never came home last night. They still aren’t bothered. My nose wrinkles and a bitter taste fills my mouth. What if they assume I’m still with Bradley? Gross. I bet that would make them happy. They’re probably planning the wedding.

It's already past nine o'clock, way later than I usually sleep. I must have needed it. There is a bottle of ibuprofen sitting on the nightstand, most likely a gift from one of the guys. I take two and wash them down with bottled water, since the throbbing in my face might have eased a little overnight but is still there.

My reflection in the bathroom mirror isn't exactly thrilling, but it's not as much of a shock as it was last night. Everything will fade, and eventually I'll put all of it behind me. At least, the part Bradley played in it. I don’t want to forget all the talking and cuddling. Not ever.

If I needed a reason to never let my father force me into anything ever again, I have it now. I should take a picture of my bruises and send it to him, just to get the point across.

But that would mean having to explain where I am, and I'm not ready to do that yet. He doesn't even deserve to know.

I'm trying to decide what to do next—do I put my clothes on from last night? Do I get back into bed?—when the bedroom door opens.

“I thought I heard you in here.” Ry flashes a shy, adorable grin. He's carrying a tray of food: a bagel and cream cheese, yogurt, coffee. “Sorry, we don't usually have anything but protein shakes and shit like that for breakfast, but I went down to the store to grab a couple things I remember you like. I hope you still do.”

“This is perfect.” He could hand me a spotty banana and stale toast, and I would be grateful. The gesture alone is enough to bring tears to my eyes. I really need to get my emotions under control. Am I this unfamiliar with being treated well? I never really thought about it.

Landon wanders in, sipping his own coffee. From the looks of it he just got out of the shower, hair damp, his body clad in nothing more than a pair of gray sweatpants. I can't help but steal a look at the bulge swinging back and forth under that gray material. Is there anything sexier in the world?

Maybe his bare chest, come to think of it. His broad shoulders. His arm…

My heart sinks, though, when I cast a hopeful look over his shoulder and find nobody there. “Should I bother asking where Vex is?” I murmur before taking a bite of my bagel. It's fresh and soft, cinnamon raisin. My favorite. He even remembered that.

“Oh, he went for a run.” Landon looks down at his feet, flexing his bare toes.

“You're still a really bad liar,” I point, smirking. “There’s one thing that hasn't changed.”

“He really did go for a run,” Ry insists. “But it's because he was in a shit mood. I'm sorry. He will come around, I'm sure of it.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to see him when he’s in a shit mood and doesn’t try to work it out.” Landon sets down his coffee and stretches out on the bed, lying close enough that he can stroke my arm while studying my face. “You’re already looking better.”

“You are entirely full of shit.” The three of us laugh, but mine dies first. “I’m so pissed that I let it happen.”

“You didn’t let anything happen.” Ry’s brows meet over the bridge of his nose as he lowers himself to the bed, sitting on my other side. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“If I never went out with him, it wouldn’t have happened. If I had never listened to my dad.” I’m not so hungry anymore. When I nudge the tray aside, Landon moves it to a table near the window before returning to my side.

“You can't beat yourself up. It's not fair.” Ry leans in to plant a kiss on my cheek. It's the simplest, most innocent gesture, but it lights me up inside.

“You were always too hard on yourself,” Landon agrees. “All you did was the best you could do. Your dad is not easy to fight against.”

Both of them snort and have one of those silent conversations again. “Tell me the truth. Did he ever screw with you guys?” I have to ask, my gaze bouncing back and forth between them.

“He screwed with us by taking you away.” Ry leans in again, but instead of kissing my cheek, he brushes his lips over my jaw. “We lost two years with you. That's the kind of thing I can't let go.”

Maybe I should try to defend him, to tell them he has his reasons, but I don't have it in me. He hurt me, too.

“You should rest today. Take it easy. You don’t have to lift a finger—we'll take care of you.”

That's the funny thing. Right now, there's only one way I want them to take care of me. Last night, I was too hurt and too tired to consider more than being held, being touched. Their nearness was all that mattered.

Now? After a full night's sleep?

All it takes is one look for them to understand what I'm thinking. Landon winces. “Thea, after everything that happened last night?”

“I just need you to touch me,” I tell them, and if it sounds like a whimper that's because I’m desperate. Desperate for them, for what I know only they can give me.

I need to make a choice. I need to be the one making the choice to be with them.

“You have no idea how much I want to be inside you,” Ry grunts as he stretches out next to me, running a hand up my bare thigh. I could cry again, this time from relief. It's like I've gone two years without air or sunshine or water. It's that fundamental.

“But.”

My eyes fly open wider and I can't hold back a groan of dismay. “But what? I need you,” I whisper, reaching for him, running my fingers through his hair.

Landon groans, bracketing me on the other side. “You need time.”

“I know what I need. It's you. Both of you.” All of you. That would be like beating a dead horse. Vex is going to have to come around on his own.

For now, I'm with two of the three loves of my life, and I want nothing more than to feel good with them. The way we used to before everything got so messed up.

“How about this, instead?” Landon's hand runs slowly up my inner thigh, his touch as light as a feather but hot enough to make me arch my back. Oh, my God, it's been too long. I have no idea how I went this long without being touched this way.

“Just relax,” Ry whispers in my ear before gently nipping the lobe. I shiver, moaning softly, and he sucks gently before his lips trail over my jaw.

I'm on fire, my skin burning from their touch, my pussy going hot and wet all at once.

“I don't know if that's possible,” I confess in a choked whisper, and they both laugh softly. I forgot what this was like. So much sensation, all at once. Landon's fingers sliding up my inner thigh until I eagerly part my legs to give him more room. Ry’s mouth on my neck now, raining fiery kisses against my sensitive skin. His hand finds my boobs and right away he massages them, toying with the nipples through my T-shirt.

“More, please,” I beg in a whisper, closing my eyes and sinking deeper into the bliss already rolling through me in waves. It's not just the way they touch me—like they were born to, like my body was made for them.

It's getting back to what matters. Being seen, being understood. Being loved for me, just for me. Not because of what I can do for them or because they have to if they want to look like good people. They just love me.

The way it sounds, they've been loving me all this time.

“So good.” My lips are still too sore for kissing, but Landon manages to brush his ever so gently over mine. It's his groan that gets me. When I know he wants me just as badly as I want him.

They've been waiting for me. From the sound of it, they haven't even dated anybody. And still, they're taking the time to be so careful with me. There's no using, no coercion.

“Do you still get wet the way you used to?” When Landon slides his fingers under my panties, my hips shoot up and I can't hold back a broken cry. It's almost too much. It almost scares me, the intensity of my reaction.

But I don't have anything to be afraid of. Not with them. No matter what happens, they'll hold me through it all.

Ry pulls the panties away, sliding them down over my ankles and tossing them aside. The two of them stroke my legs, letting their fingertips graze my bare mound before moving away. It's torture, plain and simple, like pouring gasoline on a fire already raging out of control. I can't take it, it's too much, too good, I haven't felt like this is so long.

“Yes... yes...” I manage to whisper, grinding my hips, until finally Ry lets his fingers graze my clit. “Yes! Yes, more, more!”

Landon's breathing hard as he works two digits deep inside me, slowly moving them in and out and licking my neck while Ry massages my clit, whispering in my ear.

“Come for us,” he whispers. “I need to hear it. I've been dying to hear it.”

His words are what does it. His breath, hot against my skin. The need in him, need I feel in Ry, too. Both of them holding back for my sake.

That's what takes pleasure and turns it into unbearable tension that finally has to break, has to shatter me in the best way. I'm drowning in ecstasy, lost in it, and the two of them guide me through until I come out on the other side smiling, breathless, blissful.

Once I finally catch my breath, they smile down at me with obvious satisfaction. They’re proud they made me come for the first time in so long. It doesn’t seem to bother them—much—that I didn’t return the favor. Just when I thought I couldn’t love them more.

“Now you got some rest. Take it easy. If you need anything, we’ll be right on the other side of the door.” Ry closes my legs and kisses my cheek before he starts to move away.

I prop myself up on my elbows, suddenly dismayed that they’re leaving me. “All I want is you. Both of you. That's what I need.”

Landon shrugs. “I don't have anything I need to do today. We can just watch movies if you want.” Almost like he already came up with the idea but wants to sound like it suddenly hit him.

“That would be amazing.” I look to Ry, pleading with my eyes. “What about you?”

He sighs before shrugging, too. “What's the point of having your own business if you can't take a day off?”

6

I MUST STILL BE DREAMING.

No, I'm so happy that I feel like this could be a dream, but it's very real. I am really lying here, stretched out across the bed, and there's a faint blue glow in the room thanks to the TV. The three of us must have fallen asleep before the movie ended. I lost track of how many we watched during the day.

They would come in and out, sometimes needing to make a phone call, and more than once I had the feeling they were checking on Vex. He never stepped foot in the room, though I did hear him stomping around a couple of times. I wonder if he thinks all three of us are betraying him somehow, and it hurts. I don't want to think of him in pain.

Right now, it's not pain that's on my mind. It's the sleeping men on either side of me.

I guess spending the last two years without them made me appreciate them more. They never pushed me today, they didn't invade my space. If I wanted to cuddle, I could, but they never tried to make it more than that. Even though I know they were both hard and ready to go by the time they made me come, they never pushed for anything else. They can't possibly know what that means, what a relief it was. To be allowed to just be.

Ry is on his back with an arm folded under his head, his other hand resting on his stomach. For a while I just lie here watching him, staring at his perfectly sculpted profile.

Landon is on his side, facing me, and he's also beautiful when he sleeps. I reach over to gently remove his glasses and he stirs but doesn't wake up, only snorting softly. I have to bite back a giggle.

Could it be this easy? I want it to be, I want it so much. Sliding back into their lives like no time has passed, hanging out, watching romcoms to pick up my spirits. They complained, but it was all in fun. They'll do anything to make me happy. Part of me feels like I don't deserve it, but that's just the past talking. I've been treated like an inconvenience for most of my life, so of course it's going to take time for me to get used to being loved again.

I really didn't realize until now, lying here with them, that I’ve missed showing love. It's not enough to be held and cherished. I need to hold them and cherish them, too. To take care of them. There's so much in my heart, all of it stored up over years.

Now, I stroke Landon's hair, soaking in its softness, thickness. He sighs before his eyes open, and soon he's giving me a sleepy smile. “I guess that last one wasn't very interesting,” he murmurs in a voice thick with sleep.

“Or your brain shut itself off after watching hours of mindless entertainment for my sake.”

“It was fun.” He grins when I roll my eyes. “It was. Like old times. Having you back.”

“What are we talking about?” Ry rolls over until he’s pressed behind me, wrapping an arm around my middle and pulling me close. He’s warm, welcome, and I sigh happily. “Is there a Sandra Bullock movie in existence that we haven’t watched yet?”

“Shut up,” I warn in a whisper. “Don’t act like you didn’t laugh a few times.”

He chuckles close to my ear, and the feeling of his breath fanning across my skin makes me shiver. “Next time, we watch a Marvel movie.”

“You guys are such nerds,” I groan, and they both laugh softly.

“I've never denied it,” Landon says with a shrug. The big, tough football players who never cared what the world thought about them, geeking out over superheroes. They're an endless contradiction, and I love it.

Almost as much as I love the presence of Ry’s erection poking me in the ass. I'm not sorry to feel that—just the opposite. It stirs up the deep, almost endless longing in my body, my soul. It's like touching a match to a powder keg. Pretty soon, I'm going to explode.

I meet Landon's gaze and in his eyes I see all of my need reflected back at me. It only occurs to me now how hard the two of them might have been fighting today, doing their best to keep from touching me again the way they did before.

“Touch me again,” I whisper, taking his hand and placing it on my hip. “Please. I want to feel you. Both of you.”

“Are you sure about this?” he asks with an edge to his voice. He’s fighting with himself, that much is obvious. I want him—need both of them—to stop fighting it.

“Yes. Touch me,” I whisper to Ry, whose hand slides up my stomach to cup my breast.

“You know what you’re asking?” he whispers, already breathing faster while Landon’s fingers dance over my hip and down my thigh.

“Yes. Remind me of all the good things about us.”

Landon responds by delving into my panties, and the slightest touch is like an electric shock running through me. Just being this close to them was enough to start getting wet, but now it’s like a flood pouring from me.

He’s gentle, stroking my slit before dipping deeper. I arch my back, straining against Ry, whose soft caresses over my ass cheeks leave me whimpering for more. He begins rubbing himself against me, sliding over my satin panties, and even that is almost too good. Knowing they still want me the way I want them.

They work the panties off together, and Ry tosses them aside while Landon works the shirt up over my chest. He fondles my nipples with one hand while running the head of his dick through my wetness. “Oh my god,” I rasp, already so close to the edge when they’ve hardly done anything to me.

“Slow down.” He chuckles before rolling his hips and thrusting, filling me like only he can. Tears of joy spring to my eyes, and my mouth falls open before my gasp rings out.

Meanwhile, Ry works his dick up and down between my ass cheeks. “How many nights have I dreamed about this?” he whispers in my ear. “Jerking off. Imagining you. Your body, your taste, your scent…” He runs his lips over my shoulder, followed by his tongue. I answer with an approving whimper while Landon fucks me slowly. Sweetly. I feel every inch of him, and it’s so good. I forgot how incredible it felt having him inside me.

Having both of them inside me. I barely know what’s happening before he slips out, and Ry takes his place, skewering me with his slightly longer cock. My eyes roll back, and I’d swear I’m speaking in tongues. Landon takes the opportunity to play with my clit while tenderly sucking my nipples. I take hold of his slick shaft and begin pumping him in time with Ry’s thrusts, the vibrations from his groans running through me.

My body is on fire, conscious thought forgotten in favor of sweet, searing pleasure. They go back and forth, with me stroking whoever isn’t inside me. There’s nothing in the world but this, the three of us tangled together, both of them focused on my pleasure. On making me feel good. Safe. Wanted. Whole.

The tension builds and builds, the heat growing until there’s nothing for me to do but give in to what I need most. “Make me come,” I beg in a whisper as Landon withdraws and Ry surges forward. “Please, I want to come.”

“Come for us.” Landon fingers my clit in tight circles, his tongue darting out to meet mine. I might not be able to kiss, but I can do this, and one touch is all it takes to throw me over the edge. I scream wordlessly, my body going stiff before the tension breaks, and I’m left shaking, sobbing in relief while bliss rolls over me one delicious wave after another.

I’m still trembling when Ry pulls out, and immediately I roll onto my back and take both of them in my hands to jerk them furiously, now desperate to make them come like they did for me. It happens all at once, both of them letting out one final groan before ropes of cum splash across my stomach, mixing together in a cocktail that is uniquely ours. I relish every second of it, satisfied beyond anything physical by the time they’re both spent.

Halfway through the two of them cleaning me up, I drift off into a happy, deep sleep.

7

“YOU’RE STILL HERE?”

It takes all my concentration to keep from wincing at the way Vex says it. Like I’m something dirty, disgusting, and not fit to be in his presence. After three days, he hasn’t softened up even a little bit. Landon and Ry keep telling me he will, but I don’t believe them. He won’t even hear me out the way they did—and if they told him anything, it hasn’t made a difference. What else does he need me to do?

Rather than be sarcastic, I shrug. “Yup. Still here. In the flesh and feeling better every day.” Not that he’s ever asked.

“And when will you not be here?” I’d like to think he doesn’t know how much he’s hurting me, but that’s not the truth. He knows exactly what he’s doing, and I guess from his perspective, I deserve it.

I look down into my bowl of cereal, but there aren’t any answers there. “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

“Nothing. I don’t want anything from you. That way, I know I won’t be disappointed.” He makes a big deal of slamming his way around the kitchen—closing cabinet doors much louder than he needs to and banging the refrigerator shut hard enough to make me jump. He was always the biggest and strongest of the three of them, and he’s making sure I know it now.

“Are you ever going to give me a chance to explain myself?” I’m a little tired of this now, dropping my spoon into the bowl and turning myself on the stool in front of the kitchen island to face him. Or rather, to face his bare back, which he keeps turned to me while putting together a protein smoothie after his workout. Even now, with all this tension and unspoken anger between us, I can’t help but drool a little over his defined muscles.

“Can your explanations erase the past two years? Can they make up for you disappearing? You never even warned us you were leaving.” He snaps the carafe into the blender and almost punches the button to turn it on. For a few moments, there’s nothing but loud whirring between us.

He can’t run the damn thing forever. Eventually, it goes quiet. “Do you think it was easy for me? I didn’t want to leave. But I had to. I was humiliated. My parents were about to kick me out.”

“You could have come to us.” He spins around, smoothie forgotten in favor of glaring at me. “Why didn’t you come to us?”

I hate hearing the pain in his voice, but at least the truth is coming out. “For one thing, I was afraid of what would happen to you if I did. Do you understand how determined my father was to make sure I never saw you guys again? You had your whole future ahead of you. Football scholarships and everything. He told me he’d find a way to get them revoked.”

Vex shrugs. “Not that it mattered. We never used them.”

“Which I now know, but I couldn’t have known that at the time.” I already heard the story from Ry and Landon, but I need to hear it from him. I want the words to come from his mouth. “Why didn’t you go to college? You had your whole life planned out. You wanted to go pro.”

He’s been glaring at me this whole time, but that question is enough to make him lower his gaze. “Nothing mattered as much anymore. What was the point? And then Landon got his big idea by the time summer was over, so we figured there was no point in going to college. We could make all the money right away. A lot less wear and tear on the body, too. A lot more security.”

I’m too overwhelmed to speak, but then my phone rings and grabs my attention.

When I see who’s calling, my stomach churns. “Shit.”

“I wondered when they would start asking questions.” Vex snorts before turning away, going back to his smoothie. He didn’t need to ask who was calling. Only one number makes me feel sick when I see it on my screen.

“Hi, Dad.” He hasn’t bothered checking on me in three days even though I flat-out said on the answering machine that I needed help.

“Exactly when do you plan on coming home? I know you’re no longer in the hospital.”

How could a man this stupid get elected mayor in the first place? “No, I’m not in the hospital. I’m staying with friends.”

“What friends?” He makes it sound like I don’t have any at all. Like who would want to be friends with me?

“Does it matter? I’m healing. Feeling better. Thanks for asking,” I add, making Vex snort.

“Do you know how embarrassed your mother and I have been since the disaster you caused? I’ve been on the phone night and day, doing damage control.”

“Disaster? How did I cause a disaster?” The look on Vex’s chiseled face tells me he can hear everything Dad says, but then, he’s not trying to be quiet, either.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Why are you spreading all these nasty rumors about Bradley?”

I almost can’t believe it. I should be able to, right? I’ve known the man my whole life. But this is low, even for him. “I didn’t spread any rumors. I told the police the truth about him beating me when I wouldn’t sleep with him.”

Vex stiffens but says nothing, though his jaw twitches like crazy while he runs a hand through his sweat-dampened black locks.

“Thea! Don’t forget who you’re talking to.”

“I’m talking to somebody who couldn’t bother to answer the phone when I needed you at the hospital.” My chin trembles, and there are tears in my eyes, but this needs to be said. “And now you’re taking his side over your own daughter. How could you?”

“Bradley is the only chance of you having a future.”

“No. He’s the only chance of me having the future you want, and it’s not going to happen. Sorry to disappoint you, but then we’re all used to that.”

“How dare you? You ungrateful little—”

Vex snatches the phone from my hand before my father finishes cursing me out.

With my mouth hanging open like a fish out of water, I stare at my empty hand while Vex starts yelling into my phone. “From now on, if you have anything to say to Thea, you can say it to me. And as far as I’m concerned, you can fuck right off. What kind of cold-hearted bastard blames his daughter after some douchebag beat the shit out of her? You are an even bigger prick than I remember.” He ends the call, snarling, then drops the phone on the island before storming around, grunting, baring his teeth like an animal.

I can’t believe he did that. Nobody talks to my father like that, but he did. He defended me.

He still loves me. At the very least, he still cares for me. He proves it when he comes to a stop in front of me, buries his hands in my hair, and draws me close.

“He’s never going to hurt you again. None of them will.”

“I should have never left. I’m sorry…” I can barely get the words past the giant lump in my throat, but I force them out anyway. “I want you to know I haven’t been with anyone else. I mean the past two years. My parents set up the date for me with Bradley because they thought I couldn’t find anyone on my own. The truth is, I wasn’t looking.”

He silences me with a deep, searing kiss that curls my toes and leaves me clinging to him like a raft in the middle of a stormy ocean. Finally, I feel complete.

“I love you,” I whisper between kisses, my cheeks wet with happy tears. “I’ve always loved all of you.”

“And we love you.” He presses his lips to my forehead before letting me rest against his chest. “We always will. You’ll always be ours.”

Theirs. I can live with that.

8

I LOOK OVER THE ISLAND, covered in take-out containers. “You think you ordered enough food?” I ask with a giggle. I’m surprised the granite doesn’t crack under the weight.

“Big appetites.” Vex fills his plate, glancing up at me with a grin. “Gotta stay strong for those workouts.”

This is so nice. Now that he’s forgiven me, and I know Ry and Landon have, these past few days have been like living in a dream. A happy one, for once.

I only wish my heart was fully in it, but all dreams have to come to an end, don’t they? I can’t stay here forever without money or a job. I can’t expect the guys to keep paying everything for me.

I’m not getting anywhere by putting off the inevitable, either. “I have to go. You know that, right?” The idea makes me sick, but I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and it’s the only way. I have no other options, as much as I wish I did.

Like magic, the three of them drop their forks in unison. “Excuse me?” Landon finally chokes out.

“Nothing like dropping a bombshell,” Ry mutters, staring at me like I grew a second head.

“I can’t stay here forever. You’ve all been so generous, and I love you for it, but I have to leave at some point. I don’t have any other options. I don’t have any money, a job, or a finished degree. I have to do something besides leech off you.”

“That’s it? That’s the reason you want to leave?”

“I don’t want to leave, but it’s the right thing to do, Vex.” This time when I meet his gaze, he doesn’t look shocked or pissed anymore. Now the corner of his mouth twitches up into a grin.

“Who says we’re gonna let you?” Ry glances at the others before turning to me. “Don’t we get a say in this?”

“Please. Don’t screw around right now. This is serious.”

“We are serious.” Vex gets up, spins me on my stool until my back is against the island, and places a hand on either side of me, blocking me in. “You’re not going anywhere.”

“We really do want you to stay with us,” Landon explains behind me. “We were going to ask you tonight. That’s what this whole feast is about.”

I look up into Vex’s blue eyes, searching for the truth. The way they crinkle at the corners while he grins softly tells me what I need to know. They are serious, at least for now.

“I believe you are okay with me staying here now, but what about in a few months? Eventually, you’ll resent me for spending all your money and eating your food.”

Ry steps up beside me. “Trust us, you can and will stay here with us, and we will never care how much money you spend. We want to take care of you in every way we can.”

“But if you’re worried about it, you could always work for us,” Landon chimes in. “You could help us keep track of the schedule.”

“Fuck yes, like our sexy personal assistant.” Vex beams.

“You guys are serious?”

“Yes,” all three of them agree in unison.

I’m still dumbstruck by all of this. Apparently, my expression shows it. Ry cradles my face with both of his large hands, swiping his thumbs over my cheeks. “Is it too much for you?”

“No! Are you kidding? This is exactly what I hoped for. I just didn’t think you’d want me here. You have your whole thing going on, your apartment, your business. You deserve someone else, someone better.”

“There is no one better than you, Thea. You are our life.” Landon stands at my other side, reaching out to run a hand over my head. “None of it matters without you. You’re the missing piece.”

Just like they were the missing pieces from my life. But again, everything happens for a reason. If I hadn’t blown off college and left town when I did, they wouldn’t have built their business and become millionaires. And if my father hadn’t forced me to come back with my tail between my legs, I would never have found them again.

This is the way it was meant to be. It was always meant to be us.

“I love you.” I look at the three of them in turn and see my love reflected back at me a hundred times over.

I finally settle back on Vex, and now there’s something else in those baby blues. He arches an eyebrow, smirking in the sexiest way. “You know what? On second thought, I’m not so hungry for Chinese anymore.”

Ry and Landon chuckle, but I manage to keep a straight face—though my pussy has other ideas, moistening all at once. “No? Was there something else you’re more in the mood for?”

“Could be…” Never breaking eye contact, he lowers himself to his knees, and parts mine gently but firmly. “I haven’t gotten a taste of this sweet pussy in way too long.”

“Our food’s going to get cold,” I point out in a trembling whisper while his hands begin gliding up my thighs, only covered thanks to my knee-length T-shirt.

Landon snickers before leaning in, tracing his tongue over the curve of my ear. “That’s what microwaves are for, gorgeous. I’m hungrier for you, anyway.”

Ry, meanwhile, is already running his tongue over my throat as Vex places my knees on his shoulders, so my thighs fall wide open.

With a grunt, he tears my panties free before plunging his head down to devour my dripping pussy. His tongue moves through my slickness, giving me no choice but to grasp the back of his head with both hands and hold it in place. His animal grunts only make it all the more intense. Dirtier. Hotter.

He focuses his attention on my clit, sucking gently while driving his thick digits deep inside me. “Oh my god, yes!” I gasp, rocking my hips as he eats me like a man starved. He massages my wall, pressing against my G-spot, and the sensation is heaven. “Harder. Suck it harder.”

“Greedy girl,” Landon whispers. “You do know when the time comes, you’ll have to suck us just as hard, right?”

“And fuck us harder,” Ry adds, removing one of my hands from the back of Vex’s head and placing it over his hard bulge.

My head falls back, eyes closed, mouth hanging open. “Yes! Make me suck you. Make me fuck all of you. Please…” I can’t believe this is coming out of me. Like the dam has broken, and years of pent-up longing are pouring out all at once.

And then it all crashes down over me, and I come until my ears ring, and I have to beg Vex to stop. I open my eyes as he lifts his head, grinning, my juices making his lips shine.

“That was a nice appetizer,” he growls, licking his lips. “Let’s go to the bedroom for the main course.”

Nothing could stop me.

The End

Thank you for reading Three Times the Love, find more why choose stories here.

ABOUT DARCY ROSE

If you like your stories short, taboo and kinky, then a Darcy Rose book is perfect for you. She writes about shy and innocent heroines, to match them up with dark and intense heroes who have only eyes for one girl.

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ABOUT FAITH EVERLY

Faith Everly writes reverse harem and dark romance. She's published the Handymen and Blood Queen series. She loves all genres but of course gravitates toward romance.

When she isn't crafting stories or reading anything she can get her hands on, you might find her whipping up a masterpiece in the kitchen for her husband - or spoiling her very lucky dog.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Contents

Three Times the Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

About Darcy Rose

About Faith Everly