Tempting the Crown

by Violet Paige

  With one thrust he buried himself inside her. He hoisted her hips closer as he moved in and out of her.

  The world fell away. She clung to him in the shower, kissing and moaning. She called his name in whispers when she felt her release come to the surface.

  “Fuck me, Abby. Fuck me,” his voice was hoarse.

  She gripped his cock with all her strength. She loved it. How he felt. How strong and masculine he was, yet in this moment he was hers. He was vulnerable. He was giving her something he’d never given before.

  As they came down from their orgasms, Deacon rested his forehead against hers.

  “I’m already addicted to you.”

  “Mmm. Me too.” She turned around, leaning into his chest.

  He returned to the body wash and lathered her breasts again, soaping every square inch of her until she was clean.

  The water ran between them. Abby knew she had found something so perfect it couldn’t be defined any other way.

  26

  Abby

  Cole wore a pair of pajama pants. She blinked at his bare chest. She wandered out of Deacon’s room completely satisfied.

  “Sounded like you had a good shower.” Cole smiled.

  She blushed. She didn’t know if she should feel guilty or not. It was hard to get used to this arrangement. Obviously, Cole had heard the sounds she made when she and Deacon were in the shower. That moment had been special. He had made love to her like a man in love.

  “Don’t do that, Abby. We’ll have our time too without Deacon. It’s all good. I’m happy when you’re happy. We’ve shared a lot tonight.” He kissed her on the cheek. “Dinner should be here in a minute.”

  She ran a towel through her hair. The perfect outfit she had spent the afternoon putting together was tattered. The makeup washed away. She was a new woman now. A woman she had decided to become.

  She sat on the couch, drawing her feet under her. She watched Cole. She wondered how he could be so calm. How he could be ok, knowing she had just had sex with his best friend.

  “What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked. “I know you want to say something.”

  She hesitated. “How do you do it?”

  “Do what?”

  “I would go crazy if I thought you were with another woman. I couldn’t stand it. Yet, you know I had sex with Deacon in the shower and you’re completely fine. I’m scared to death I’m going to hurt you. Or hurt him. That I’m going to come between you or lose you both.” She pulled a pillow to her chest.

  “Don’t. Don’t do that.” He sat next to her. “Look at me.”

  Her eyes locked on his.

  “That’s better.” He smiled. His hand caressed the edge of her thigh, rounding to under her leg, pushing the robe out of the way. “Does this bother you?”

  She shook her head. “No. It feels good.”

  “And it should. When I touch you, it feels good. When he touches you, it feels good. That’s all we want—to make you feel good. We’re not going to be mad or jealous.”

  His hand rested on her knee. He squeezed gently. “Is it starting to make sense?”

  “I think so.”

  “And when I do this.” He cupped her cheek, brushing his lips over hers. His tongue pushed between her lips, finding her tongue with a single flick. She melted into his lips, falling for his kisses. He broke away. “When I do this, it’s about you and me.”

  She nodded. “I understand.” She turned her mouth upward, she wanted another kiss, and Cole answered with passion. He growled, inhaling her lips with a fierce kiss.

  “I’ve got some work to do.” He rose from the couch. “Are you sure you’re ok with this?”

  “I am. Better than ok.” The more she asked questions, the better she felt. The more she talked to Deacon and Cole, the more she realized they meant every word they spoke. They were happy sharing her. It was an arrangement they enjoyed.

  “Did I hear dinner?” Deacon walked into the living room a minute later. He was shirtless like Cole.

  “Not yet. Should be here in a few.”

  Deacon dropped his athletic frame on the couch and turned on the flat screen TV. “What do you think about basketball?” he asked.

  “I’ll watch anything.” She cuddled under his arm, inhaling his clean scent. The shower had been amazing.

  The entire night was amazing. There was a new kind of peace that wrapped around her. She had found contentment where she least expected it.

  Cole typed furiously on his laptop at the dining room table.

  “What’s going on over there, man? Why don’t you take a break?” Deacon asked.

  Cole’s brow furrowed. “Because the wording is off on the announcement. It sounds amateurish. I need to fix it.”

  “Can I help?” Abby offered. She pushed off the couch and stood behind Cole.

  “If you have a suggestion for this.” He pointed to the two lines of the opening statement. He was right. Whoever had written, had misdirected the speech.

  “Can I try something?”

  Cole rose from his seat, giving her the laptop. Abby deleted what was on the screen and started over. Members of the media might only stay for the opening comments. Social media would grab the first seconds and run with them. Cole needed something that would set the agenda for their meeting. The punch needed to come from the beginning, not ten minutes into his talk. And she had a soft spot for the foundation. She wanted it to be their beacon of hope. She wanted other people to see what she saw in them.

  “What do you think about something like this instead?” She gave him his seat back so he could read the new introduction she composed.

  “Brilliant. Fucking brilliant, baby.”

  He had a wide grin on his face.

  “Really?”

  He stood and kissed her. “It’s exactly what we needed.”

  She reeled from the kiss. She was starting to feel like a pinball, bouncing from Deacon to Cole, jolted by passion from each one. She liked how she reacted differently to them. It heightened everything around her.

  The elevator buzzed. Deacon hopped over the back of the couch. “About time. I’m fucking starving.”

  He pressed the button to let the waiter into the secure suite.

  He wheeled in two carts of food. Abby looked at Cole. “You two are going to eat all of that?”

  He shrugged. “I might have ordered a few things for you to try.”

  She pressed her lips in a straight line, but she wasn’t angry. It was sweet. He wanted to do something special for her.

  “Thank you.” She reached on her tiptoes to kiss him. “I’ll try all of it.”

  He laughed. “You’ve been so adventurous tonight I didn’t think you’d want to stop.”

  27

  Cole

  He stood on the stage, looking at the audience. Deacon was next to him. Cole looked over his shoulder. Abby was standing in the wings beyond the view from everyone else.

  It had taken years for this moment. They were about to announce the creation of Soar. And it was crazy, but he felt as if Abby had brought it all together. Deacon had chosen her design for the branding because she was supposed to be a part of the project. Yes, she had the best concept. Yes, he saw something in her art. Cole had no doubt she was the missing link they had been searching for.

  He smiled at her before turning toward the audience. She gave him a thumbs-up and a soft smile. Last night was extraordinary. They were bonded in a way that could take him to his knees.

  The words to the speech she had helped with started at the top of the teleprompter. Deacon nudged him. It was time for the announcement.

  The cameras in the front row began to flash and Cole heard the constant click and snapping sounds the photographers made as they adjusted their shots.

  “Welcome, everyone.” He grinned widely.

  Deacon waved.

  “This is one of those times we don’t what happens here to stay here. Deacon Rockford and I have an announcement that we w
ant you to take with you. Something that we hope transforms your lives the instant you leave this conference.” Deacon shook his hand as he began to take over the next part of the speech.

  “Cole and I have been working on a project that’s going to take HiTech Global to a new level.” Deacon beamed at the crowd. “It’s time you know about Soar.”

  ***

  Cole didn’t think he had shaken this many hands since his college graduation. He and Deacon were in a receiving line, thanking for everyone for coming. He guessed the pledges for Soar were already in the millions.

  “Where is Abby?’ Deac asked.

  Cole looked for her. She was trapped in in the corner talking to Andy Gallagher. “I think she needs rescuing. I’ll be right back.” He left Deacon to pry Andy away from their girl.

  “Hi, Andy. Glad to see you again.” He slapped the businessman on the back.

  “Excellent presentation. I like your vision. I was just talking to Abby here. I was wondering if she had any suggestions for one of my global projects.”

  Cole slung his arm around Abby’s shoulder. “She has an exclusive with HiTech Global I’m afraid. You can understand though why we wouldn’t to let her get away, can’t you?”

  He felt the softness of Abby’s eyes land on him.

  Andy backed up. “Of course.” He pressed his lips together. “Well, if you get out of that contract, Abby, give me a call.” He pushed a business card in her hands.

  “Thank you, Mr. Gallagher. I appreciate it.”

  He walked away and Cole pressed a kiss to Abby’s temple. “Was he bothering you?”

  She laughed. “No. Boring me, yes. Bothering me, no. Were you worried?”

  Cole felt his chest tighten. Maybe this was what jealousy felt like. He’d never had it with Deacon, but seeing how Andy looked at her. How his eyes took in her legs and breasts, did something to him. He had an urge to punch the man who was about as interesting as a bologna sandwich.

  “Never worried. Protective is all.”

  “I think I like you being protective,” she whispered.

  Cole looked around the room. Deacon was still talking to the media. He would keep them entertained for a while.

  “Come with me.” He tugged Abby toward him, taking her behind the stage.

  “Is something wrong?” she asked.

  “Yes. Very.” He crushed his lips into hers. “You’re all I can think about.” He came up for air. His hands tangled through her long hair. “I want to be inside you again, Abby.”

  He reached for the buckle on his pants.

  She nodded, eager for the same thing. She reached toward his zipper, letting her palm slide over the full length of his shaft. He groaned, stepping backward. He needed to find a place more private for them.

  There was a stage closet he spotted from the corner of his eye.

  He staggered, dragging Abby with him. She pumped her fist over his cock, drawing it to its thickest width.

  “Fuck,” he growled. “Everything you do…”

  “What?” she whispered.

  He shoved his pants to the floor.

  “Makes me want to bury myself in your ass. So deep, baby.”

  She whimpered. “Now?”

  He shook his head. “Not yet.”

  She sought his lips again, throwing her arms around his neck. His hand roamed over her back, trailing between her legs. He grinned. She wasn’t wearing her panties.

  He gripped her hips, hoisting her around his waist. Cole didn’t wait, he pushed her onto his cock. Abby reared back, sinking onto him.

  “Oh shit,” she hissed. “You’re so big, Cole.”

  He knew she was probably sore after last night, but he needed to be inside her. She felt fucking incredible how she gripped his dick with her strong pussy walls.

  “Oh yeah.” His fingers dug into her waist.

  She held his shoulders, gripping so she didn’t slide from his hips. He pumped into her. Only two more thrusts and he felt his spine tighten with an explosive pinch before he erupted inside her. He slammed his hand against the wall, fucking her with all the strength he had left.

  Her lips were soft and sweet on his mouth. She panted as he brought her feet to the floor.

  “I feel drunk,” she murmured, falling into the wall.

  Cole leaned against the opposite side of the closet. He closed his eyes. “Fuck, baby. I’ve never had such a high. The press conference and now this.”

  She laughed. “Maybe it’s a good thing we’re leaving Vegas tomorrow.”

  He pulled his pants to his waist and fastened his belt.

  “I have everything I came here to get,” he admitted.

  Her eyes rose to his. “Did you come here to get me?”

  “Abby.” He brushed her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. He felt his belly warm with a new fire for her. He knew he could take her again and again. It may never end how much he wanted to satisfy her. “I’ve wanted you since the day you were thrown in front of Deac and me. We both have. If it took this trip to help you see how much we were meant to be together, then I’m not ashamed to say yes. I came here to get you. I came here to win you over every possible way I could. With lingerie. With champagne. With complete adoration.” He pushed his thumb to her lips as her tongue flicked over it.

  He groaned. “What matters is we’re going home with you.”

  She nodded. “You are.”

  He pulled her into his arms. “That’s all I wanted to hear.”

  28

  Deacon

  He pulled a clean shirt from the closet. He remembered Abby mention she liked how he looked in crisp white. He threw it on, realizing he had never once cared how he dressed for a woman.

  Cole had agreed to push back the flight so Deacon could take Abby to the Bellagio exhibit. It was a date. Not something he was known for doing for a woman. The last time he tried to impress a girl was in high school. And yes, this was backward. He had already fucked her.

  He didn’t care. He was ready to show her there were more sides of him. They both had a love for art. It was something they shared. And today he had a special surprise for her.

  He walked out of his suite. Cole was on the couch with his laptop.

  “We’re headed out, man,” he reported.

  Cole looked up for a second. “Ok. I’ll have the valet take everything to the lobby and get the bags to the jet. Take your time at the exhibit. I have work to do.”

  “Any word on Soar?” he asked. Last night they had spent their time in Abby’s bed, fucking each other senseless. He hadn’t read yesterday’s headlines.

  “It’s all good. We have five million in donations.”

  Deacon’s eyes widened. “Fuck. That’s insane.”

  “It is.”

  He heard her voice before he saw her. “Did you say five million in donations?” Abby walked into the room wearing a white sundress. Her breasts looked lush and ripe. His cock twitched.

  “That’s right.” Cole grinned. “Soar is kicking ass and it hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”

  She walked toward them. Deacon held his hand out for her.

  “Ready for the exhibit?”

  She nodded. “I can’t wait to see it. Cole, are you sure you don’t want to go?”

  “Yeah, that’s your thing. I have plenty to do. When you get back I’ll take a break.”

  Abby twisted her lips together. Deacon knew she was still struggling with how to spend her time between them. She was great when the three of them were together, but the one-on-one time was harder to navigate. He knew it would get easier.

  “Let’s go, sweetheart.”

  She pulled her purse on her shoulder and they left the Rapture Resort for the Bellagio.

  ***

  “I have a surprise for you.” Deacon held the door open for Abby as they walked into the lavish hotel.

  “Is there an addition to the collection?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Guess again.”

  “Do we hav
e a tour with the museum curator?”

  He laughed. “I don’t think so. Not really my style.”

  “Then what is it?”

  He guided her through the hotel and toward the museum. “What if I told you I rented out the museum for the afternoon? It’s ours.”

  “What?” Her eyes lit with amazement. He loved all the shades of green when she was happy.

  “Just for you. You can take your time and look at every single painting with no one looking over your shoulder. No one rushing you on to the next work. It’s all yours.”

  “This is too much. You didn’t have to do that, Deac.”

  He nodded at the guard who unlocked the exhibit for them.

  “I know I didn’t. But I wanted to.”

  “It’s extravagant. I’m fine looking at the paintings like everyone else. It’s what I’m used to.” She hesitated at the entrance.

  “Abby, enjoy it. This is our day together. Don’t worry about the money. It’s not like I robbed the museum.” He winked.

  She giggled involuntarily. “Ok. Fine. I’ll enjoy all the priceless works of art if you insist.”

  “I do.”

  The guard nodded, leaving them alone inside the recesses of the museum. Deacon wound his fingers through Abby’s and led her through the first row of paintings. They examined each one, discussing the lines and the colors. Abby told him what she liked and what she would have used instead, or remarked on how she wished she had come up with a particular color combination.

  They strolled, taking in each canvas. Walking through the hushed halls.

  Abby sat in front of one of the ballerina paintings.

  “I think this is my favorite,” she whispered. “She’s sad, but I see the control and strength she has.”

  Deacon sat next to her. He inhaled the shampoo from her hair as he brushed the strands away from her shoulder. He planted a kiss on her neck.

  “I don’t think she looks sad,” he commented. “I think she looks serious.”

  Abby shook her head. “No, she’s sad. Trapped almost.”

  He tilted her chin toward him, grazing his lips against her mouth. She tasted like the sweetest honey, especially when he was between her legs.