by Mia Ashlinn
Sweet Serenity 2
Shannon’s Fairy-tale Foursome
Once upon a time, in an unorthodox Kansas town, there was a teenage girl named Shannon Roberts who fell in love with her best friend’s three larger-than-life brothers. But a deranged killer’s threats destroyed any chance she had for happiness with Jared, Drew, and Randy Dalton.
Thirteen years later, Shannon receives a life-altering phone call telling her that her parents' murderer is dead. Instead of feeling relieved, Shannon is left heartbroken. She’d pushed away Jared, Drew, and Randy for nothing, and the triplets have moved on without her.
When Shannon’s best friends dare her to have a makeover, she is forever altered—mind, body, and soul. With a new sense of empowerment, Shannon realizes it is time to fight for her fairy tale.
Will a spicy invitation entice the men back into Shannon’s arms and save their happily ever after, or will outside forces tear them apart once again?
Note: This book contains physical abuse of the heroine by the villain.
Note: There is no sexual relationship or touching for titillation between or among siblings.
Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre
Length: 101,975 words
SHANNON’S FAIRY-TALE FOURSOME
Sweet Serenity 2
Mia Ashlinn
MENAGE EVERLASTING
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting
SHANNON’S FAIRY-TALE FOURSOME
Copyright © 2012 by Mia Ashlinn
E-book ISBN: 978-1-61926-925-5
First E-book Publication: August 2012
Cover design by Les Byerley
All art and logo copyright © 2012 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
Dear Readers,
If you have purchased this copy of Shannon’s Fairy-tale Foursome by Mia Ashlinn from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.
Regarding E-book Piracy
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DEDICATION
For my husband…You have given me a real-life fairy tale that inspires me every day of my life. Who knew that a high school nickname would stand the test of time and eventually inspire an entire book? I certainly didn’t. But knowing you, you did. I love you, my prince. Now and forever.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
“I would thank you from the bottom of my heart, but for you my heart has no bottom.” –Author Unknown
My fellow Righteous Perverts, I don’t even know what to say to thank you all. Honestly, I think that words are inadequate for the sentiments I hold in my heart for each and every member of this group. But I will try my best to sum it up in the shortest, sweetest way possible—I love you all. XOXOXO!
I want to extend a special thanks to Tara, Sheri, Luna, Dawn, Heather, and Corinne for being such lovely friends. You all make my life easier and more beautiful.
Tina, you have been a tremendous blessing in my life. With your unconditional friendship, unfailing support, and unparalleled help, you have become an integral part of my insanity. So thank you for everything.
I want to thank my betas for their honesty, guidance, and patience. Having you by my side has proven to be a true pleasure, and I am thankful to have you in my life.
Finally, I want to thank Diana DeBalko and every single person at Siren Publishing. You have all treated me so well, and I could not be happier or more proud to say that I am a Siren author. Thank you for giving me a chance and making my dreams come true.
SHANNON’S FAIRY-TALE FOURSOME
Sweet Serenity 2
MIA ASHLINN
Copyright © 2012
Prologue
Shannon Roberts dropped the telephone receiver into its cradle with a clang. Her shaky legs wobbled beneath her then gave out, causing her to stumble into the bright-orange dining chair behind her. When she bumped into the square pedestal table and the sharp corner connected with her side, she yelped, “Ouch!”
Glancing around the retro-style kitchen, everything looked distorted through her unfocused eyes. The pot filled with water boiled over and the oven timer blinked at her rhythmically, but both of them seemed to be miles away. She could barely make out the noise of the liquid sizzling on the scalding-hot stove eye and the annoying alarm buzzer going off over the roaring her ears. In that moment, she felt like she’d stepped into The Twilight Zone.
He’s dead. My God, the bastard is dead.
A handful of pills had destroyed the devil she’d called “Uncle,” the malignant beast who’d killed her parents after three long, horrifying years of abusing her. But the torment hadn’t ended there. He’d haunted her, despite his disappearance only days after their murder.
A full decade had passed since the day she found her parents mutilated in their own home. Every single moment had been wasted on waiting and worrying.
Day after day, she had pushed away Jared, Drew, and Randy Dalton—the only men she’d ever loved. She finally succeeded in ridding herself of those too-sexy-for-their-own-good triplets, and what happened? The monster killed himself, ending his reign over her soul.
She could finally have a life, if she wanted to, but it was too late. They didn’t want her anymore, and she couldn’t blame t
hem. A person could only take so much rejection before giving up and moving on.
Her dearly departed Uncle Pauley had won, and there wasn’t a damn thing she could do about it. It was over.
No, she decided, it wasn’t over, because it hadn’t ever begun.
Chapter 1
Shannon Roberts glanced up from the plate filled with manicotti she hadn’t touched and gazed longingly across Dolce Serenità’s crowded dining room at Jared and Drew Dalton. The two nearly identical, blond-haired, blue-eyed gods relaxed in a corner booth next to the roaring fireplace with their date. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as they talked and dined on three of Stellina’s trademark dishes.
Shannon’s head throbbed, the blood beating severely in her temples. She, somehow, managed to resist massaging the hollow area on each side of her eyes. What I wouldn’t give for some Tylenol right about now.
Seeing the men she loved was bad enough now that they’d given up on her, but having to watch them with another woman was as much fun as shoving bamboo splinters under her fingernails. Although, right now, she believed the sharp pieces of wood lodged in her nail bed sounded more pleasant than enduring this torture.
“Shit, Shannon, would you stop looking at my brothers like a fucking wounded puppy. If you don’t, they might get the impression that you actually like them,” Jaycee Dalton said, flipping her long, curly blonde hair over her shoulder. With a scowl, she narrowed her blue eyes on Shannon. “Then again, they would discover the truth. That you love them as much as they love you.”
Across from Jaycee, Katie-Anne Blakemore sat in all her stunning glory. With her dark hair curtaining her face, she partially hid the frown marring her beauty. But Shannon could still see it. “Leave her alone, J,” Katie-Anne scolded.
Jaycee slammed her drinking glass onto the table forcefully, the Chinotto Neri citrus soda splashing out and spilling on the snowy white tablecloth. “Why? Damn it, I am so sick of this. She walks around like some heartbroken zombie while two of my brothers date that psychotic bitch.” She pointed not-so-subtly toward the woman eating with Jared and Drew.
“Don’t be a bitch, Jaycee.” It was the first time Shannon had spoken since Jared and Drew had arrived fifteen minutes ago with Mary Anderson. They’d walked by Shannon without a word or glance, shredding her heart in the process. “This isn’t exactly your business.”
Jaycee’s wholesome, girl-next-door face turned livid. She leaned back into the extravagant dining chair and crossed her arms. “Oh, really? Like it was your business with me, Gray, and Cade?”
Instead of responding, Shannon’s eyes wandered back to the trio in the tiny booth. She studied Mary closely, appalled to find that their date now bore a striking resemblance to herself.
Gone were the dyed mahogany hair, the artificial, slate-colored eyes, and the drawn-on beauty mark. More weight clung to Mary’s bones, not a large amount but an obvious change from the nearly anorexic body of two months ago. Mary now had red hair similar to Shannon’s, but the flat red differed distinctly from the orange undertones in Shannon’s ginger hair.
The wannabe look-alike had wasted her time and money imitating Shannon in an apparent bid to win over Jared and Drew. What a fruitcake. They didn’t want to be with Shannon. Why would they want a replica of her?
Realizing Randy wasn’t with them, curiosity overwhelmed her, and Shannon had to know why he wasn’t there. She whipped her head back toward Jaycee and demanded impatiently, “Wait! Where’s Randy?”
Jaycee smirked, leaning toward her. “Oh, he won’t go within fifty feet of your wannabe clone. He says he wants the real thing and not some cheap imitation.” She settled back in her chair before adding, “I always knew he was the smartest of my buffoon brothers.”
Buffoons. Shannon couldn’t help it. She giggled despite her headache and heartbreak. So did her two friends. She, Jaycee, and Katie-Anne delighted in coming up with absurd names and descriptions for the seven men in their lives. They’d practically made a sport of it, just like their ongoing game of Truth or Dare.
I just had to go there. Remembering the game that she kept pretending she wasn’t playing, Shannon’s amusement died away, and she trembled as dread pervaded her mind. Why in the hell did I agree to play Truth or Dare with them? Oh, yeah, I know why. I’m a glutton for punishment.
Almost three months ago, she and her two best friends had decided their lives pretty much sucked. They’d all strayed from the paths they had paved for themselves and wanted to get back on track. Katie-Anne had an insane idea to play Truth or Dare, and she’d convinced them at their weakest point to play along with her on a drunken girls’ night at Jaycee’s apartment.
A week later, Jaycee had lost a round of Draw The Dildo, Katie-Anne’s twisted version of drawing straws, and been pegged as the first victim or player, depending on who was asked. Lucky for Jaycee, the two men of her dreams had united with Shannon and Katie-Anne to play a game of their own. With two matchmakers and two determined men, Jaycee had ended up back in the arms of Gray Blakemore and Cade McCoy.
Like that would ever happen to someone like me.
Several months had passed, and Shannon’s friends had yet to dole out her dare, but she was no imbecile. Her life existed on borrowed time since she was up next. With her luck, she would wind up in a situation far worse than the last time they’d played Truth or Dare ten years ago.
She’d been nineteen when her best friends had dared her to have an “adult” makeover and go into Spurs, Chaps, and Cowboy Hats, the only bar in Serenity at the time. But that had been the easy part. Once inside, she was to seduce the first man she spotted.
Taking off from her waitressing job at Lou’s Café, Shannon had spent hours in front of a mirror primping. She’d given herself more pep talks than she could count or even remember before she stepped a foot inside that bar. As always, luck hadn’t been on her side. She’d seen Jared, Drew, and Randy at the counter as soon as she crossed the threshold.
Shannon could still remember the way her heart had thumped in her chest, the way her breath had hitched in her throat. She’d swayed from the fear and excitement coursing through her veins. Then she’d gathered all her courage and approached them.
* * * *
Ten years ago…
Shannon sucked in a quick lungful of air and sashayed right across the room to where the Dalton triplets sat at the bar, nursing a mug full of beer. She knew her easiest target would be the youngest brother, Randy, so she moved in behind the man in the middle and slid her arms around his tight, muscular abdomen.
“Well, hi there, fellas,” she drawled as seductively as she could manage. “What does a girl like me have to do to get a drink around here?”
All three men froze, and they stopped talking. Jared, Drew, and Randy turned their heads toward her, looking at her coldly, so coldly that she wished she’d worn something far thicker than the black sequined mini-dress and sheer panty hose she had on.
Each brother’s eyes locked on a different part of her body. The eldest brother, Jared, eyeballed her head, alternating his glares between her heavy makeup and elaborately coiffed hair. Drew, the middle brother, gawked at the too-small dress she’d stolen from her mother’s closet. Because of their size difference, the skimpy halter-style top barely concealed Shannon’s cleavage, the bodice clung to her every curve, and the hemline rode up drastically. The last brother, Randy, openly ogled her legs but kept a fierce scowl on his face.
When none of them spoke, Shannon lowered her voice then whispered, “My good friend, the bartender, won’t serve me anything.” She huffed, sticking out her lower lip in a petulant pout. “How about you guys get me a little something? Or we could just head to my place and drink a little wine then make a little love.”
Three identical masks of pure, menacing fury appeared on their faces. They swung their entire bodies around and stood to their full heights, towering over her.
Randy shrugged off her hand. “There are so many things wrong with what you j
ust said that I don’t even know where to start,” he snapped.
“Would you prefer we just fuck?” Shannon asked boldly, her sanity fleeing in the face of their anger. She reached into her purse then snatched her keys up and offered them to Randy. “Here’s the keys to my house. I’m ready if you are.”
“You have to be kidding me,” Jared said fierily. “You aren’t ready for a damn thing, Shannon.”
“Yeah,” Drew agreed, his words coming off as a snarl. “You’re acting like a child. This is why we’ve stayed the hell out of your bed and your life.”
Shannon snorted. “Oh! Woe is me. How could a girl like me take on three, big strapping men like yourselves?” She waved the keys in front of Randy, daring him to take them from her. “Let’s find out.”
“Shannon,” Jared said warningly. “Stop this bullshit before you really piss us off. When you’ve grown up, we will have this discussion again. But not now, not when you’re dressed like that, and certainly not when you’re pretending to be something you’re not.”
“What do you mean by that?” Shannon demanded as she yanked her hand back and dropped the keys back into her purse. “I’m acting like myself. You just don’t know who the fuck I am.”
“Yes, we do,” Jared rebutted, appearing calm in his demeanor but livid in his words. “We’ve watched you for years, Shannon. We know who you are and how you talk. We know how you act and the things you love. This is not you.”
