12 Days: A Dark Reverse Harem Christmas Romance
Page 23
With all the courage I can muster, I turn the door handle and walk in on the meeting.
Everybody stops what they're doing. All eyes turn to me.
"Alyssa," Ethan says. "You're here."
I'm hesitant to walk in. What if they bite my head off? I decide to start by holding nothing back.
"I...I came to give you this back," I hand Ethan the formula.
Ty says, "You're giving us the real formula back? Why?"
"Yeah," Simon chimes in. "I thought you were out to destroy us? What changed?"
I stand sadly before them. I can't take their expressions of despair and betrayal. Hot tears start to stream down my cheeks as I realize what I've done to hurt these guys.
I must look a pitiful sight site because Ethan takes mercy on me and offers me his chair.
"Oh, you guys, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry for everything," I'm crying now and it's revealing and embarrassing, but they have to know the truth.
This may be my last chance with them. If I don't lay it on the table now, I may never get a chance to do so in the future.
I start out by saying, "I told the FDA that this entire investigation came up with nothing. I told them there's no secret to it, and that I tested it in my personal lab. I gave my boss the results showing it's just a regular perfume. I had to come and tell you guys in person."
Tears rush down my cheeks.
"Baby, we felt so betrayed by you," Nico says. "Loyalty is everything. You know you broke our trust."
"I'm sorry. I can't tell you how sorry I am, and I just hope that what I've done can offset the situation."
Ford comes to comfort me, and his big hands around my shoulders feel so good.
"Don't cry, baby. Even though we're pissed off at you, I don't think a single one of us has ever given up hope. We knew you'd be back. And that you had a job to do."
His words give me assurance like I never dreamed possible. Slowly, the world is feeling right again. Maybe it's the pressure of his strong hands on me, or maybe it's their adoring looks, but something tells me I have not lost these guys, nor could I ever.
"You know you were underhanded with us, Alyssa. We can't put up with that, especially not in our business," Owen says to me sternly.
His brash tone takes me off guard, and I realize I might be in more trouble than I thought.
"I'm—I'm sorry. There's nothing more I can say than that."
"If we can't trust you, Alyssa, then this relationship is based on nothing. It has no foundation to stand on," explains Finn.
Ford's earlier words of reassurance are falling through the cracks as I realize these guys are mad. And they have every right to be.
I stole from them, and I cut them deeply with my deceit. I know I deserve everything I get here. I know this relationship might be broken beyond all repair and I lost the best thing that ever happened to me.
"I just hope you all can find some way to forgive me. I want you to know that I quit my job and it's just all over," I attempt to sway them.
But my words seem to fall on deaf ears. While there were some words of comfort, ultimately, I see that I have ruined this. I am solely responsible for my undoing.
"I'm sorry to have interrupted your meeting. I just wanted to give you the news about the FDA. And to say Merry Christmas."
Ethan opens the door for me to leave and his face is sullen. This is the single, worst Christmas Eve I've ever had. I've lost my heart's desire and I see nothing to celebrate.
I leave them and their building feeling crestfallen. And the worst part is I have no one to blame but myself.
I sink into a cab and try my hardest to prevent the tears from falling. It's snowing outside, and people are happily hurrying home to their families. It's hard to witness, considering I've just lost the truest family I've ever known: my true loves, my heart's desire.
Suddenly, the streets of NYC that are normally so magical on this one special night, remind me of the happiness that has slipped through my fingers.
What have I done?
The cab brings me home and I slink upstairs and into my bed, but not before closing every blind as if to close my attention away from this very lonely night.
I don't sleep though. Instead, I restlessly daydream the whole night about my 12 merry men, my 12 heartaches.
Night turns to dawn, and then fades into morning. The bright sun is shining, and I know what I have to do.
I can't lose them all without a fight. I will not go down in flames, but I will give this thing one more shot until I know for sure that all is lost.
Maybe somehow my Christmas wish can be granted.
Chapter 39
Tristan
I stare with bitterness at the falling snow.
There's nothing merry about this Christmas.
It's Christmas Day and I feel awful about how we left things with Alyssa.
But she did the right thing by coming in here yesterday and admitting her untruth.
And showing her cards, her true colors, she fessed up about doing the right thing with the FDA and also quitting her position there. Personally, I couldn't admire her more. But to say the least, we are all pretty jaded about this whole event.
This is one of the bleakest Christmas days in my life. We're at the office working away and it's as if the holiday's not even happening around us. What's to celebrate without Alyssa?
We're back in the conference room as it's the biggest space to accommodate all of us and all the work we have to get done. We sent our assistants and the HR and PR people home. What good are they now?
This is a day that people should be home celebrating with their families. And I guess I'm with my family of sorts. But it's nothing without Alyssa. She really is the glue that holds this group together.
I know what's happened hangs heavy on everybody's hearts and minds. There's a quiet seriousness going on in the room as we work to repair our broken image.
Just when I least expect it, the person at the top of my mind shows up by the door.
It's Alyssa.
She knocks gently on the door and I go to open it.
"Hi baby," I say with a kiss on her cheek.
No matter what happens, no matter what she's done, no matter how far she's fallen, she'll always be my baby.
"Hi Tristan," she says with tears in her eyes.
Oh no, the tears are already forming. This poor girl has been through enough. I wonder what she came here to say?
She tentatively walks in and addresses the group.
"Hi guys, I understand if you don't want me here, but I just thought I’d come by and just say one more thing."
The room is silent, rapt with attention. Every one wants to know what's on her mind.
"I just want to apologize to all of you, I am so sorry for my actions. I know there's no excuse. I know that what I've done was a horrible thing and that I betrayed you all. But I just want you to know that it doesn't change the fact that I love each of you in 12 different ways. You have each won my heart and I can't imagine my life without you. I understand if I can't be forgiven for this, but I just had to come here and say my piece."
She looks beautiful and vulnerable standing up at the front of the room in front of all 12 of us hulking figures. It must be quite a sight. She has a lot of courage and bravery to come down here like this to make a final apology.
It's etched all over her face, the fact that she feels bad. To see this girl in pain, well it pulls at my heartstrings and I just want to embrace her.
"Oh baby," I say. "I forgive you. You could do no wrong in my eyes, don't you understand that by now?"
I fold her into a hug and she seem to melt within my arms. She needs our safety and security. She's too sad right now for a girl to be on Christmas day.
Owen comes next, walking to the front of the room. He pulls her to him.
"Alyssa you're the love of my life. You have to know that by now. I will forgive you for anything."
She looks up at him with wide eyes, and he
plants a kiss right on her beautiful lips.
Tears are still streaming down her face as Ty approaches.
"That apology was heartfelt, and you have to know that I will forgive you for anything you've ever done. I love you Alyssa."
They kiss and slowly her tears start to dissipate. It's starting to feel like we're a real family now. It's starting to feel like this could work out.
Theo gets up and comes to his knees in front of her and holds her hand.
"Alyssa, I never want you to leave my life again. These past few days have been so awful without you. I love you."
He pulls her softly down so that she’s sitting on his knee when they kiss. It's tender and magical and a part of me wonders at their connection. She's connected to all of us but in different ways.
Ford is already at the front of the room as he pulls her off Theo's knee.
"You have my heart. You always have. Apology or no apology, I love you Alyssa," says Ford.
She looks up at him with happy eyes and a smiling face. It feels so good to see her like this, happy at last. He kisses her long and hard. It's a sight that makes my own cock twitch against my pants. I'm dying to get this girl naked.
Finn pulls her away from Ford and clutches her waist as he looks into her adoring eyes.
"You did the right thing by coming down here. I love you, Alyssa. Don't ever forget that."
She looks a little taken off balance by this. Who wouldn't be with 12 giant alpha males aching for your attention?
Simon comes to the front of the room and he takes her hand.
"Alyssa, you've made my Christmas complete. You make me complete. I love you."
She has to be in her tip-toes to even reach his lips as he bends down to meet hers. There's a passion between them, a fire that ignites my own.
Sean's next, and he's already waiting in line.
"Baby, it's always been you. Don't forget that. I love you so much. You did the right thing."
They kiss, and he tries to go farther. He's massaging her breasts and I get a little jealous like I want to jump in. But before I can, Easton is lining up for his own profession of love.
Easton says, "Alyssa, I love you so much. I wanted to say that for so long. You have to know you have my heart and everything else."
She's beaming now, and he lifts her up into a twirl. His masculine frame dwarfs her own and slowly she's loosening up to the fact that she safe with all of us.
She looks around the room because there's a few missing.
"My heart will not be complete unless I can have all of you. Please guys, tell me forgive me," she says.
Before she can finish her sentence, Nico is up and at her side.
He says, "Alyssa, I never imagined we could be this happy. I can't live a day without you. You must know that by now. I love you."
Before he can tear himself away from her mouth, Tate is upon her. He lifts her up into his arms.
"You're the love of my life. You always have been, and you always will be. I will do anything for you."
They kiss, and my cock is getting harder and harder. I need to have this girl, now. It's a good thing there's only Ethan left.
Not to be one to be left, out he approaches her and delivers his message.
"Baby you had my heart from the beginning. You should never doubt me. I never doubted you even in the midst of your betrayal. It's all set right now. I love you."
He has to hold her up because she's so dizzy with happiness. It's evident from the expression on her face. She has her 12 guys and that's what she needs to be happy.
Even if one of us was missing, if one link in the chain was gone, none of this would be the same. We need each other to function and most of all we need Alyssa.
"You guys, I'm in love with all of you. I couldn't ask for a happier Christmas. I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for understanding. I promise to always be transparent with you from this day forward."
That's all she ever needed to say. Together, we embrace her and what started out as a bleak and sad day has turned into one of the happiest I can remember. As long as Alyssa's in my life, and I don't care how, I'm happy.
Ford whips out a couple bottles of champagne, Crystal, only the best. Someone gets the champagne flutes and we start to celebrate this merry holiday the way it should be, by being with Alyssa forever.
I have one more thing to add that will make this girl even happier than she already is.
"You guys, do you think it's time to tell her?" I ask the group.
They are eager to comply. None of us can keep this big of a secret and for much longer.
"Alyssa," I say. "We want you to know that you have our undying love and affection, but that's not all. We want you to be a part of our organization and we want to ask you to be our official spokesperson. Will you do it?"
"Yeah," Simon says. "You will make the perfect representative for us. Say you'll do it?"
She's blushing now. I love to see her like this, right on the brink of exposure. I like to see every emotion that she's feeling.
"You guys really mean it?" she asks as if she doesn't believe it.
"Of course we do!" we say in unison.
With that, she happily responds.
"Then I accept. And most of all, I accept all of you into my heart forever."
We clink champagne glasses and it's as great of a celebration as you can imagine. But what I love most is that things are only getting started with Alyssa. I have my whole life to make her come in ecstasy and to scream out my name.
I know all of us are excited about the same thing.
Alyssa's ours to cherish, forever.
Chapter 40
Alyssa
We're about to celebrate New Year's Eve.
Though I had the best Christmas imaginable, receiving the gift of my 12 men, I'm excited to turn over a new leaf.
And there's nowhere better to do that than Bora-Bora.
After Christmas, the guys and I developed a plan for where we're gonna live. We're buying an estate outside of the city that we can always go to as a kind of retreat. There'll be various penthouses within the city, also for us to go to. It's all about figuring out the logistics of how this relationship is gonna work.
But we decided first thing's first, and that means getting away and celebrating our new lease on life, our new relationship.
Owen booked us a huge vacation house in this magical destination. There's enough space and room for everyone, and though we've only been here a day, I can already feel the ocean breeze permeating my very soul, putting me at ease and in a complete vacation vibe.
Right now, I'm standing by the outdoor bar, looking out over the ocean. The sun is beginning to set, and it's a magical scene.
Ty comes over to me, looking really hot in his casual slacks and beachy shirt. I can just make out the lines of his abs through the thin T-shirt. Seeing him turns me on immediately.
“Alyssa, can I make you something from the bar?” he asks.
He kisses me on the cheek, and fluttery sensations form in my belly, just as they do every time he touches me.
“I'll have whatever you're having, Ty. What should we drink tonight?”
He thinks a second, “Let's see…we could make Sex On The Beach cocktails.”
I smile at the innuendo. What does he have in mind?
“Sex On The Beach it is!”
Theo comes out to join us for the most beautiful sunset I think I’ve ever seen.
He says, “What are we making out here?”
“Ty is making us a couple Sex On The Beach cocktails. Want one?”
He gets a ravenous look in his eyes and says, “Of course.”
Theo pulls me in for a kiss as Ty mixes up the cranberry juice, orange juice, and other ingredients in a shaker.
He hands me the drink, and I pull away from Theo's gorgeous lips to take his hand.
“Do you think we should drink these on the beach?” I ask.
They agree, and Ty ta
kes the silver tray to the sandy shores where the rhythmic ocean is washing back and forth.
We sit on the beach for a while, just the three of us staring out across the ocean and the flaming orange and pink sky. Nothing could be better. Nothing could be more beautiful.
I finish my drink, and it takes the edge off. Being with 12 guys at once always comes with a potential risk factor―the risk that my heart will explode out of pure lust and bliss.
Theo and Ty are kissing me and stripping me out of my bikini. I feel a warm sensation rise within me, and I already feel ready to come.
Then I see Ford and Finn coming out to the beach to join us. They're taking in the view with hungry eyes.
“Are you guys enjoying the sunset?” Ford says.
“We're doing more than that,” Theo says.
He's untying my top, and soon, my bare breasts are exposed to the sinking sunlight. The guys look at me with lust, and I know what I'm in for. Some sexy sandy fucking.
Ford joins in and pulls off my bikini bottom with his teeth. It's just me and my tanned skin against the sand. They stare at me for a moment, taking in the view.
Finn says, “You're fucking gorgeous, Alyssa. We're so lucky to have you.”
Before I know it, Ford is pushing his giant cock inside me.
I gasp out in pleasure. He knows how I like it, gentle at first, and then nice and hard.
Before I can moan too much, though, Ty's sinking his huge cock down my throat. I have a cock inside my pussy and one inside my mouth. Nothing could be better except for the feeling of the other men watching me. And maybe a third cock in my ass. But we’ll get there.
That sense of voyeurism turns me on, as well as them. I know they like to watch me with other men.
Ty's pumping in and out of my mouth, and it's all I can do to contain him. I'm gasping and gagging for breath. It's all so fucking hot.
“Tell me you want it, Alyssa,” he says with authority in his voice.
He always takes me so hard and I love it that way.
Of course, I can't respond to his request, but I moan around his cock, hoping that will appease him.
Ford and Ty fuck me rhythmically, and I start to feel waves of pleasure rise within my body. It's too much to contain, and I'm just on the verge of coming. I moan loudly and Ty can tell what's about to happen.