Brie watched as Camille Truing entered on Hudson’s arm. She was lovely and it was visually stunning to see the petite light-featured woman standing beside her powerful, dark son.
Their relationship filled her heart with hope. Their life could have been very different had Hudson not refused to allow it.
Shortly after Camille’s arrival, Natalia’s mother entered to celebrate her daughter’s life and love. Watching as mother and daughter approached Hudson and Camille held Brie enthralled.
He was formal with his future mother-in-law, taking her hand and kissing her cheek. After a big smile, she hugged him tightly and he smiled softly as he returned it.
Jane Roman held Camille’s hand in her own and they spoke softly for several minutes. Tears were shed by both women and then they hugged for a long time.
Sipping a glass of wine, Brie grinned.
“Fascinating, right?” Tawny stood at her side staring at the small group with wide eyes.
“Like seeing a unicorn or something,” she answered truthfully. “Have you met any of them before tonight?”
Clearing her throat, the redhead hedged. “No, I’ve never officially met but I know of them.”
“One day, you’ll spill.”
“You’re the third person to say that to me this week.” She shrugged. “You’re the only one who’s patient for me to do it.”
Brie chuckled. “I imagine.”
She linked her arm through her friend’s and they clinked their glasses. Tawny’s observations on people and situations could leave her gasping for breath.
They visited with Marci, Fahad, and Nuri who’d taken their relationship to the next level in the prior months. “The three of you are so dignified all the time.” Shaking her head, Brie added, “I don’t know how you do it. I’m such a spaz.”
Marci chuckled. “Nonsense. You’re lovely, Gabriella.”
She crossed her eyes. “Total spaz.” Looking at the cousins, she whispered, “The graphics prototype kind of makes me weep with happiness.”
Fahad gave a slight bow. “Your opinion means much to us. We knew you’d be the right person to test it.”
“I’ll write an essay filled with inappropriate adjectives for you. Holy crap, the pen is so responsive, it feels like I’m truly drawing.” Hand on her hip, she gestured at Tawny with her wineglass. “This one tried to steal it when I let her play for a few minutes.”
Laughing, Nuri said, “You’ll have one tomorrow.”
Dramatically trembling her lower lip, Tawny sniffed loudly. “That…yes, that.”
“I’m going to excuse myself to talk to Max and Micah but it always makes me happy to see the two of you.” Marci winked and the threesome walked away.
Tawny went still and muttered, “Shit. You’re about to be introduced to the moms. I’m out so I don’t scare them.” She made a rapid retreat as Hudson and Natalia escorted the older women to meet her.
Camille hugged her hard. “Seeing you back on your feet makes me so happy.”
“Thank you. I’ve missed you.”
Leaning back, the blonde touched her cheek. “You’re missed by everyone but your sister keeps us up to date. How pretty you look.” After another hug, she stepped back to Hudson’s side.
Natalia announced, “Mother, this is Gabriella.”
Jane took her hand and held it in silence for a long moment. “You remind me of Hudson when he was a boy.”
In absolute seriousness, Brie replied, “I take that as the highest compliment, ma’am.”
“As you should. I’ve heard so much about you from these two.” A huge smile spread over her face. “I hear it’s your influence that made them pull their heads out of their asses and get the fuck on with it already.”
Brie burst out laughing. “I should have known. It’s a true pleasure to meet you.”
Natalia’s mother was a deceptively quiet woman who gave all outward appearances of being sedate and vintage. It was clear to see where her daughter inherited her quick wit.
After a few minutes chatting, Brie told her friends, “I beg you, please introduce them to Tawny. I need that in my life.”
Chuckling, Natalia and Hudson bent to kiss her cheeks and led their mothers away.
This should be interesting.
Brie watched, holding her breath, as the foursome approached the redhead from behind. Hudson saying her name in his stern way caused her to whirl with a movie scream and put her hands up in a classic boxing style.
Then the silly bitch nodded earnestly and curtsied for Camille and Jane. It was a damn good curtsy.
Over his shoulder, Hudson winked at her and she grinned.
Few people would ever understand what a truly fun person he was and she was grateful to have the knowledge.
* * *
A warm arm circled Brie’s waist through the thin material of her gown at the same moment Elijah whispered, “You look incredible. Good enough to eat and I happen to be starving.”
He tugged her and she followed him without hesitation.
In the small alcove behind the kitchen, Harper waited with tension surrounding him.
“Is that vibration for me or because you’ve found yourself in Hudson’s lair?”
He laughed and it made her feel wonderful. Elijah bodily lifted her, placing her between them against the wall. They instantly leaned in, their forearms braced above her.
Harper stroked the back of his hand along the strap of her dress, raking warm fingers over her skin. “Gabriella.”
She didn’t speak at first. Everything inside her wanted to touch them and after a brief hesitation, she allowed herself to do so.
“I didn’t think you’d make it.”
“We landed less than two hours ago and we’re flying out again tonight. We wanted to surprise you.” Elijah’s lips trailed along her shoulder. “Are you surprised, Brie?”
“Happily.” Placing her palms on the center of their chests, she stroked up and over their shoulders beneath their jackets.
A single fingertip traced the raw silk of their ties and she realized they were identical to the fabric of the gown she wore.
Flicking her eyes up, Harper smiled. “Natalia had them made when she ordered your dress.”
“She always thinks about little details,” she murmured. “Thank you for the easel. It’s beautiful, Harper.”
“You’re welcome.”
The day before, deliverymen arrived with a stunning art frame that featured built-in steps. She’d be able to position enormous canvases and raise or lower them to reach the top. It took up one wall of her studio and she’d already envisioned several pieces it would hold for her.
“You had it made for me.”
He gave her a charming half-smile. “I needed to buy you something and you apparently abhor Tiffany’s.”
It made her laugh. “I can use the easel daily. Diamonds will only end up covered in paint. It was thoughtful of you.”
“You’re so fucking refreshing.” He stroked his hand over her shoulder while Elijah rubbed his palm back and forth across her belly. “Your recovery proceeds quickly now. You need the flexibility to paint whatever inspires you.”
“I’ve been painting a lot recently,” she told him.
“Anything in particular?” Elijah nuzzled his face against hers and she sighed, her eyes drifting shut.
“Mm hmm,” she murmured. She smoothed over them, touching skin she wanted naked more than she wanted her next breath. “How have you been?”
Their hands stroked over her sides and they bent to plant open-mouth kisses on her neck.
“Struggling away from you,” Elijah answered.
Brie nodded. “Stay focused. The thought of either of you distracted scares me.”
“Harper keeps us busy. Don’t worry, Brie.”
“I’m familiar with the routine of twenty-hour workdays. I try to stay busy myself. It helps.”
Harper lifted his head to say, “I barely get a fucking thing done, Gabriella.” Aga
inst her ear, he growled, “My mind is consumed by thoughts of you.”
Her response was shaky because it wasn’t something she expected Harper to admit. “I’m sure that annoys you.”
“Not as much as being perpetually hard. That’s more than a little inconvenient when you’re meeting with dignitaries and shit.” The image made her snicker. “If I don’t have you soon, I’ll lose my fucking mind.”
Then Harper’s lips were on her and she held him tightly as he demolished all rational thought about where she was and why. They massaged her skin through her dress and large palms cupped the cheeks of her ass. She tried to hold back her moan and failed.
“Do you think about us when we’re gone, Brie?” She tried to nod and thought she might have succeeded. “Do you touch yourself when you think about us?”
“Yes. I think I’m developing a problem.” Both of them groaned. “I’ve never been so desperate. I need you.”
Her nails dug into Elijah’s back under his jacket as his fingers slipped beneath the bodice of her gown. A warm, strong hand cupped her breast and rolled her nipple between his finger and thumb. She pressed into the touch, needing more.
Harper obliged, gently gathering her hem in his hand until his palm rested directly on the skin of her thigh above her stockings. A blunt fingertip traced the line of her garter, moving higher until he trailed it along the outline of her panties. Nudging beneath the scrap of material, he rocked against her when he met the smooth, damp folds.
“Fuck, you’re wet.” He dragged his finger along the crease of her, dipping just the tip inside her pussy. Her heart beat too hard. “Hot enough to burn. My cock throbs for you, Gabriella.”
Her forehead rested on his shoulder, straining for air as she tried to withstand lust these two men never failed to inspire inside her.
“Please…” She hadn’t meant to say it aloud but they responded instantly.
Hands firmed on her skin as they increased their attention. Elijah maintained a firm hold on her breast and moved his other hand down, sliding under the back of her dress and inside her panties. From behind, he stroked two fingers into her pussy and she jerked in their arms.
Holding her tightly, Harper claimed her mouth as he made maddening circles over her clit. Releasing her lips, he stared down into her face. She watched him, breathing rapidly, as she fell over the edge of an orgasm that stunned her.
She struggled to get herself under control as they continued to touch her. When a second climax hit before she recovered from the first, she felt faint.
Harper never broke eye contact as they tore down everything Brie thought she knew about herself and replaced it with something new and different.
Where these men were concerned, Brie knew she was in serious trouble. More than sex. More than love. With a sense of dread, she realized she needed them and that made the stakes so much higher.
“You’re the most naturally sensual woman I’ve ever met,” Elijah told her as she stroked her hand up to hold the back of his head. “You bask in pleasure unlike anything I’ve ever seen.”
The men removed their hands from her clothes and she watched as Elijah sucked his fingers.
Harper stroked his across her lower lip and watched as her tongue darted out to taste herself. Pulling him down, she kissed him slow and easy until he moaned into her mouth. Planting small kisses over his lips, she turned to Elijah.
Resting her palm on his face, she whispered, “Please kiss me.”
“Gladly.”
Their arms surrounded her, crossing at her back and neck. She liked that they were getting more comfortable touching one another in front of her.
When Elijah lifted his mouth away, she whispered, “I love having you touch me at the same time. Feeling the three of us so close to each other. I want so much more.” She closed her eyes and inhaled carefully. “A few more weeks before I can experience everything. I can make it.”
He murmured, “I wait for you, Brie.”
Meeting his gaze, she saw the intensity there and understood what he meant. “You’ve always had your relationship and it’s the perfect way to seek relief. It won’t hurt me, Elijah.”
“As I’ve attempted to explain several times without success.” Her eyes darted to Harper’s and he shrugged. “He refuses to break his word.”
She could see that not having access to Elijah was taking a toll on him. Smoothing her fingers along his temple, she said softly, “I never want to cause you pain, Harper. I know a lot about loneliness.”
“It’s alright.” She frowned and he added, “Don’t worry, Gabriella.”
“Your reward for your fight back is going to be incredible, Brie. I want to share that celebration with you.” She stroked her fingers through his blonde hair. “I’m so proud of you.”
Staring into his green eyes, she considered. “Thank you. Your opinion means more to me than you can imagine.” He smiled. “You’ve given me hundreds of orgasms in the last months. I’ve had time with you together and time with you alone, Elijah.”
“Gabriella.” She met silver eyes. “The new rules are firmly in place.”
“I like imagining you together. Don’t deny yourselves. I’ve had explosive orgasms thinking about it. Take what you need. I-I wish I could give you more.”
Growling, Elijah’s entire body pressed her to the wall and he kissed her until she didn’t know if her legs would keep her standing. Beside him, silver eyes practically glared at her with sexual need. The rawness of it made her heart skip.
The gentle rocking of his hips pushed the hardness of his cock over her clit through her gown and her eyes rolled back in her head.
“When you’re healed, I plan to fuck you on every available surface until you’re too physically weak to consider leaving my bed, Brie.”
Harper breathed raggedly. “After the pleasure of your mouth, I ache to know what it feels like to fuck your pussy, your ass. To take you myself, to take you with Elijah. I want to see you sexually obliterated.”
Inhaling sharply, she gripped the base of their necks tightly. “Then I hope to hell we have someone we can call for help because I’ll make it my fucking mission to see both of you in the same condition. There may be two of you but I’m starving for you so be prepared.”
Both men shook with their lust and took turns devouring her mouth. Touching her through her clothes, they pushed her into another climax and she rode the ecstasy and agony of it with her teeth gritted.
Her forehead against Elijah’s chest, she mumbled, “I want to know everything. I expect the two of you to take until I have nothing left to give, until I can’t remember my name.”
Working to slow her breathing, she smoothed her hands over them, her heart tender.
Shakily straightening from the wall, she checked the state of her clothing, smoothed her hair, and checked them over as well. Adjusting their ties and jackets, raking her fingers through their hair, she stared at them for a long moment.
“I selfishly took all the pleasure but I think you know I’ll make it up to you at a better time and place. I hope you think about me when we’re not together but I also hope you love each other, touch each other, when I can’t touch you. Both of you need that and I’ll imagine you do either way.”
She smiled but it felt funny on her face. “I have to get back. I love you and I miss you already. T-tell me goodbye before you leave.”
Then she kissed them with all the pent up passion, love, and uncertainty that was slowly driving her insane.
Returning to the party, she stopped in the downstairs guest bath to freshen up.
Her emotions were in chaos.
* * *
It took a couple of minutes for Elijah and Harper to pull themselves together enough to rejoin the gathering of more than forty people less than twenty feet away.
Shooting his cuffs, Harper said quietly, “She doesn’t understand the strength of your will yet. As if you would touch another.” He shook his head.
“You’ve been st
rong, honorable, since I asked it of you. I know it must cost you.”
“It’s almost funny how little desire I have to find other women. I consider it sometimes but quickly dismiss the idea.” Their eyes met. “I’ll suffer the wait with you.”
“Her touch lessens the agony of it for me.”
Nodding, he turned to pour himself a scotch from Winters’ bar. “Not having you with me around the clock would lessen my own, Elijah.” He saluted him with the cut crystal glass. “It’s a form of heaven and hell. I’ve earned the punishment, I suppose.”
“It isn’t intended to be punishment.”
“And yet…”
He shook his head and watched as Gabriella emerged from the downstairs restroom and was immediately pulled into a small group consisting of Chadwick, Scottsdale, their woman, and the redhead. They were laughing warmly in seconds.
She was a woman who fascinated him, drew him, even as he resented her existence. He wondered if he would ever understand how her mind and heart operated. He wondered if he would ever want her love as much as she wanted to give it to him.
As the days passed, Harper’s fear grew.
Chapter Twenty-Four
June 2015
Bachelor parties with grownups like her best friends were far different than those held by young brides and grooms. Hudson chartered a yacht and everyone assembled to partake in an entire day of live music, alcohol, five-star food, and laughter.
Brie did her best to hide her sadness when she learned Harper and Elijah wouldn’t make it before the small ship disembarked. Her sunglasses helped and the people gathered together eased her melancholy.
The warm weather and location called for summer clothes and she was happy to find an elegant ivory sundress that draped to the floor and pretty leather sandals.
She hated exposing the scars on her legs.
“Darling, your skin is positively glowing. Excellent choice.” Natalia kissed her cheek as Brie stepped on deck. The blonde wore a coral sundress that draped to mid-calf and made her eyes glow brightly from her face. “Thank you for helping with the planning.”
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