The Choice

by Shayla Black

  As he jogged away, Seth sighed. “Our little hellion needs boundaries. She’s been setting her own for too long.”

  “And she’s in over her head.” Beck scrubbed a hand through his hair. “We definitely need to put her on a short leash. And find a way to keep her from fucking lying to us all the time.”

  “Couldn’t agree more. But first, you were right earlier. We have to be honest with her about who and what we are.”

  They had to out themselves.

  That was fine by Beck. He’d known it was coming, and he was sick of stifling his Dominant nature behind his good-doctor façade. “Yeah. Until we do that, we can’t lay out any rules or expectations. And we certainly can’t spank her for this crap. That’s got to change.”

  Time to find out just how submissive she was, and if she’d be willing to let them teach and guide her. At the thought, a whole new level of uncertainty began uncoiling inside him.

  “I’m over pretending I don’t need to exert control,” Seth admitted. “I can’t imagine the struggle you’re going through. But you’ll have to cage your dark side because she’s nowhere near ready for that, man.”

  “She’s not. And she might never be.” He’d once told Gloria that making the sadist in him stop wielding a paddle or whip would be like the surgeon in him cutting off his hand. He’d been wrong. To his shock, the need to protect, nurture, and provide Heavenly respite had superseded his desire to inflict sweet pain.

  Seth commiserated with a bob of his head. “So, we’re going to tell her everything?”

  “We have to.”

  “It’s risky, especially for you.”

  “We’ll stress the importance of anonymity.”

  “Yeah. And open, honest communication.”

  Beck chuckled. “That’s the first damn thing we start with.”

  “If we’d been ourselves from the start, I wonder if we’d be in this clusterfuck.”

  “You mean if we’d spent our time helping her down her path, instead of trying to win her by peeing on her like a fire hydrant? Probably not.”

  “We could have saved ourselves a shitload of stress.” Seth exhaled, then sent a narrow-eyed glare over Beck’s shoulder. “Is he trying to piss me off?”

  “Who?” Beck turned to see River, one arm slung over Heavenly’s shoulders, as they approached. Thankfully, she’d donned the T-shirt and yoga pants she’d been wearing when they’d dropped her off at Pepp-E-Roni’s. “You’re the genius who offered him a job.”

  “Don’t remind me,” Seth groused.

  When the four of them met up near the hostess stand, Beck scowled at River. “Hands off her, GI Joe.”

  River lifted his arms in the air. “Just trying to keep her from being accosted by a drunk coming out of the john.”

  Beck took Heavenly’s hand. “Time to go.”

  She nibbled her bottom lip once more. “I know. I just feel like…I failed.”

  “Why would you think that? No. You’ve been drowning for a long time, little girl. You stayed afloat as best you could.”

  “Let us give you a life preserver, angel. Hang on and we’ll pull you to safety, all right?” Seth cupped her shoulders.

  “I’ll try.”

  They wrapped their arms around their girl and followed River out the door. Beck and Seth climbed into the back of the massive pickup, situating Heavenly between them.

  River jumped in behind the wheel, then twisted and grinned. “Hey, Seth. I got licensed, like you said. You wanted me to prove I had some PI skills. Did I pass the test tonight?”

  “How did you do it, man?”

  “You’re the one who snitched?” Heavenly gaped.

  “Twice. But I especially owe you an apology for blurting out your personal shit in my sister’s kitchen last night. I didn’t mean to embarrass you or air your business where anyone at the party might have overheard.”

  “And you have the nerve to call Raine a troublemaker,” Heavenly chided. “How did you find out I was waiting tables at Bazookas?”

  “Good detective work.” River preened, then laughed. “And luck. When I called the guys earlier to apologize and they told me where they’d dropped you off for your shift, I was leaving the gym not far away, so I decided to swing by the pizza place and apologize in person. When I got there, I saw you walking away from Pepp-E-Roni.”

  “We watched you walk in,” Seth pointed out.

  Heavenly nodded. “I know. I stayed for about ten minutes.”

  “In other words, long enough for us to leave the area?” Beck raised a brow at her.

  She nodded and sent him a little grimace.

  “I followed you,” River told her. “Imagine my surprise when you went inside Bazookas. When you didn’t come back out, I peeked in and saw you in your…um, uniform. Since I’d already violated the guy code once, I called Beck and Seth back and invited them to join me for a beer.” River turned an expectant stare to Seth. “Did I get the job?”

  “All right. You’re hired. Now drive.”

  “Where to?” River asked.

  “My condo.” Beck tried to tamp down his impatience.

  Heavenly clasped her hands together and nervously worried her thumb over her finger. Long minutes of thick silence stretched through the car. She broke it with her soft voice. “I know you’re both upset with me right now, and—”

  “We’re not happy. But we’re not going anywhere.” Seth threaded his fingers through hers.

  Beck seized her other hand, strumming his thumb over her wrist. “Later, we’ll talk about what happened tonight. Right now, there’s something more important.”

  She tensed, trepidation crawling across her face.

  “Stop,” Beck admonished. “We’re not leaving or kicking you out or even asking you to pay us back. Get those fears out of your sexy little head.”

  “We’re simply going to open more lines of communication,” Seth assured. “So we don’t have any more…surprises.”

  “Okay.” Heavenly lowered her lashes and nodded.

  “Is there anything—big, small, or seemingly insignificant—you’re still keeping from us?” Beck prodded.

  She shook her head.

  Oh, no. If they were going to let their kink flag fly, reinforcing rules started here and now. “We expect verbal answers, little girl.”

  She jerked her stare up to him. Yes, she remembered the way he’d made her speak each response at Angelo’s when he’d bound her wrists.

  “No. You know all my secrets.”

  His nerves were pinging like the signal off a cell tower. He and Seth shared a pensive stare as another uncomfortable silence filled the air.

  “You two are starting to scare me. What’s with the serious expressions? What’s going on?”

  Having this private conversation in the back of River’s truck wasn’t his first choice, but Raine’s brother already knew about their kink. Besides, Heavenly had chosen to give him first dibs on her virginity, so he must not make her too self-conscious.

  “We have to be honest, too.” Seth squeezed her hand. “I know you went with Beck to a BDSM art exhibit. He said you two had a good time.”

  She stared at the two of them as if they were from Mars. “Yes.”

  “Was it educational, angel?”

  A pink flush crawled up her cheeks. “I-it definitely made me think about things I never had.”

  “Some of those works turned you on,” Beck pointed out. “Your pulse quickened, your breathing slowed, your eyes dilated, and I could smell your sweet pussy.”

  Heavenly’s eyes widened. “You really were watching how I reacted?”

  “I cataloged every shiver and gasp.”

  “B-but…” Suddenly, she seemed to confront the unavoidable truth and swallowed tightly. “You’re into that stuff?”

  “We both are,” Seth confirmed, cupping her chin and turning her to face him.

  “Oh, my gosh.”

  “We’re not saying this to frighten you,” Beck explained. “If we ex
pect you to be honest with us—”

  “Which will be an absolute from now on. No more lying,” Seth interrupted sternly.

  “Ever.” Beck nodded. “That means we have to be totally honest with you.”

  A soft shiver wracked her body. “I’m not sure what to say.”

  “Then listen. There are rules. Like Seth said, one is always telling the truth,” Beck began. “Another one, which is sacred, is anonymity. You always protect the identity of those in the lifestyle.”

  “So you can’t talk about Beck’s proclivities at the hospital. It could ruin his career. You understand? We’re sharing our secret with you, and trusting you to keep it.”

  Heavenly blinked. “Raine, Liam, and Hammer. They’re…in the lifestyle, too?”

  The two men shared a glance. Finally, Seth shrugged. “The morning Bill attacked Raine, that fucking newscaster basically spilled it to the world.”

  “True,” Beck bit out. “Ignorant prick.”

  “So, the answer is yes?” Heavenly prodded.

  “Raine, Liam, and Hammer are,” Beck confirmed. “Hammer owns a BDSM dungeon here in LA. Where I’m a member.”

  “A dungeon?” Heavenly blinked.

  “Yes. And Raine has worked for him for years. He took her in off the streets and kind of…adopted her when she was seventeen, but he never touched her until a few months ago.”

  Seth nodded. “I met Liam and Hammer both at a BDSM club in New York years ago.”

  “Wow.” Heavenly looked stunned. “That’s… Wow. And Raine is…”

  “Their submissive.”

  “I guess that explains why you four are so dang bossy…”

  Despite the tension, Beck laughed.

  “I’m not bossy.” Seth looked mildly insulted.

  “Oh, no. Never.” She snickered, then covered her grin.

  Her teasing was way closer to acceptance than Beck had expected, especially this quickly. Of course, they hadn’t given her enough information yet to really comprehend what she might be getting into. Heavenly would have a million more questions, but his fear that she’d instantly run away in horror had been laid to rest.

  She sobered. “What happens now?”

  “Anything you want,” Beck promised. “We can go back to the condo and explore the things that turn you on. Or we can grab some drinks, sit on the balcony, and listen to the ocean. Like the women in the images you saw at the gallery, ultimately you hold all the power.”

  “You said that but…” She grappled for words. “What does that mean? How does everything work?”

  “Good questions,” Seth praised. “BDSM is simply an exchange of power. The Dominant and submissive build their relationship on a foundation of honesty, trust, and communication. You, as the submissive, agree to hand over your control to us, the Dominants. Boundaries and safe words give you the ability to stop everything if you’re scared or overwhelmed or…”

  Beck sat back and listened to Seth explain the dynamics to their girl. He caressed her hand, watched her face, and hoped like fuck this worked.

  In many ways, he would be starting at zero, too. Usually, by the time a submissive sought him, she’d traveled her path of enlightenment and grown self-aware enough to crave the wicked edge he wielded. While Heavenly might end up at that crossroads someday, Beck refused to pin his hopes on that. Instead, he’d put his whole soul into helping Heavenly grow and blossom—and enjoy the fuck out of the journey.

  “It’s a lot to take in,” Heavenly whispered.

  Beck smiled and cupped her chin. “In time, everything will make sense. For now, just let us be by your side,” he murmured, leaning in low, hovering just above her lips. “We’ll stay here, helping you, until you wonder why you ever worried.”

  He pressed his mouth to hers, reveling in the texture of her soft warmth. He glided his tongue along the seam until she parted her lips and welcomed him. Heat enveloped his body. His cock stirred, growing thick and hard. Heavenly moaned and squeezed his hand, then suddenly gasped, sucking the air from his mouth. He opened his eyes.

  Seth’s fist was cinched in her silky mane. “That’s fucking hot.”

  Yes, and they were supposed to share her.

  Slowly, Beck eased back, staring at her glistening, slightly swollen lips. “I still want to spank your ass.”

  “Why?”

  “To punish you for lying.”

  Sadness tugged at her mouth. “I see it from your perspective. I do. But I don’t need more punishment. My mom left and my dad is dying. Isn’t that enough?”

  Jesus, she was right; life had beaten her bloody for years. But even when she’d run out of options, Heavenly had never given up. Beck didn’t love the choices she’d made, but he admired the fuck out of her moxie.

  From this day on, he would protect, nurture, and adore this amazing woman…at least for as long as she let him.

  “Then let us pamper you.” Seth slid his hand free and cupped her nape before slanting his lips over hers.

  Watching their passion evolve was erotic, but seeing them filled Beck with a strange sense of peace. He and Seth needed to ease her into womanhood beneath their capable hands gently, thoughtfully, reverently—not like she’d been shoved into adulthood as a child. Together, they would broaden her horizons…open up her mind, body, soul, and, god willing, her heart.

  The smooth, soft flesh of her neck called to him. Beck leaned in and glided his tongue up the milky column, nipping and laving all the way to her ear. Under their combined onslaught, Heavenly squirmed, her muffled whimpers of delight a potent aphrodisiac.

  Fuck, he wanted to feast on her day and night. “You like that, don’t you, little girl?”

  She moaned into Seth’s kiss. He released Heavenly gradually—a nip, a brush of lips, a peck. When he pulled away, her eyes looked half-lidded in bliss. Her lips shimmered red in the shadowy night.

  “This is a little bit like torture,” she murmured.

  “It is, angel. The sweetest, most amazing torture on the planet.” Seth darted a glance up at River. “How much farther, damn it?”

  “Just around the corner. Thank god,” he murmured. “It was getting awfully—ahem—hard to drive with you three sucking face back there.”

  “Shut up and keep driving,” Beck growled.

  Seth cut Heavenly’s laughter short when he swooped in to claim her lips again. Beck palmed her thigh. Desire hung ripe in the air. He was feeling impatient as hell.

  Finally, River pulled up in front of the condo and shoved the truck into park. “Have fun, you three. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t enjoy.”

  Seth laughed and bailed out of the vehicle.

  Beck shook his head as he stepped onto the pavement, too. “If you’re going into battle tonight, make sure you cover your junk, soldier.”

  “I never let my gun get dirty,” River quipped. “Heavenly?” When she paused and met his gaze in the rearview mirror, he smiled her way. “Tomorrow, you’re going to thank me for turning you down, I promise.”

  With a blush, she left the backseat and watched him drive away.

  Beck and Seth each wrapped an arm around Heavenly’s waist and led her into the building. As they ascended to the top floor, they glided their lips, tongues, and mouths over every available inch of Heavenly’s skin—neck, lips, and the velvety flesh above the V of her T-shirt.

  By the time they reached the top floor, she was breathless and clinging.

  Retrieving the keys from his already tight jeans, Beck nearly groaned as the fabric pulled tighter. He was primed and more than ready.

  After he unlocked the door, they’d barely made it inside the condo before Seth pinned Heavenly against the wall. “Balcony or bedroom, angel?”

  “Bedroom.” She clutched his shoulders. As Beck’s heart stopped, she turned to him, losing herself in his eyes. “I don’t want to be unfair since I can’t promise you tomorrow, but I want you both so badly right now.”

  Beck sauntered closer. He’d take right now. It gave them
time and opportunity to show Heavenly what she was missing. It gave them the chance to finally have her. He wanted this girl more than he wanted his next breath. And tonight, he planned to claim her.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “We want you, too, angel,” Seth whispered against her mouth, his voice seemingly magnified by the dark.

  Then the big PI cinched his hands in Heavenly’s pale curls and plundered her mouth. Beck knew how fast and how completely Seth was falling under her spell because he knew the texture of her soft lips and the slick warmth of her tongue. He knew the feel of her lush body molding to his. He’d never forgotten, because the first time he’d kissed the girl, she’d left an indelible mark on his soul.

  As she lost herself in the mind-stealing kiss, Seth swallowed Heavenly’s needy moans. Beck watched, heart chugging and cock throbbing.

  This was really happening.

  His whole body tingled as he approached the two. The moment felt huge, and even if Heavenly thought tonight would change nothing, he knew better. It was going to change every fucking thing between them. It would answer a lot of questions.

  For better or worse, what happened next would shape their future.

  The first thing he and Seth were going to find out was whether they could truly keep their jealousy at bay and share her for more than a kiss or two. If they could, they’d worry about trying to make this thing work longer.

  Of course, that only mattered if Heavenly stayed. When she’d told him and Seth that she didn’t see a future with them and walked out the door, it had messed him up. Sure, she was with them now, locked in Seth’s passionate kiss, but could they really fuck her into the kind of love that would make her want to stay?

  No clue, but they were out of options.

  “Seth….”

  Heavenly gave a breathless little plea as she dug her nails into the PI’s wide shoulders. Then she pressed her eager mouth to his again and climbed his big body, lifting her legs and wrapping them around Seth’s waist. The kiss turned feverish. Heavenly whimpered, rolling her hips against him. Seth’s guttural groan hummed with low agony.

  Jesus. Watching them all but fuck with their clothes on zipped arousal up Beck’s spine. But he wanted some of that for himself, too.