The Final Twist Untwisted Series Book Five

by Raine, Alice

  Both Rebecca and Stella had attended the previous two meet-ups, and it had been good to have some female back-up to take the pressure off Nathan and me, but also to make Mum feel more at ease. Today we’d decided to come alone, because Rebecca was just four weeks from her due date, and even though our last two meetings had been calm enough, the topics of conversation were wrought with emotion and I knew that Rebecca was like a sponge to my stress. When I felt it, she felt it, and so, wanting to try to keep her shielded from any undue worry, I had asked her to stay at home with Stella today.

  Just then, my mother entered the restaurant. Timidly, she ran her gaze over the diners, looking for us. It seemed from her expression that she still got as nervous about these meet-ups as Nathan and I did.

  ‘Ready?’ Nathan asked, and in response I nodded and raised a hand so mother could see where we were sitting.

  We both stood as she approached, and had to go through the awkward moment where she went to hug us, only to stop when she saw our unresponsive body language. I wanted to tell her it wasn’t just her, that Nathan and I were almost incapable of physical contact with anyone since Dad had banned it during childhood. But that seemed like rubbing salt in the wound, so instead I tried to give a half-handshake, half-hug, which caused her to smile at me with a look of hope on her face.

  I nodded and stepped back. Jeez. This initial first few minutes never got easier. Thankfully, once Mum had a cup of tea in front of her and we all relaxed a little, the conversation started to flow relatively easily, jumping between topics like my work, Mum’s job at a shelter for abused women, and Nathan’s company.

  ‘I heard back from the police this morning,’ Nathan announced, and the air between the three of us filled with tension. ‘The official inquest into father’s accident has been completed. A verdict of accidental death was given, and the case has been closed.’

  Closed. Perhaps we could now put that horrific day behind us and all begin to move on. Just as I was thinking that, Mum made a small, sniffling noise and I looked across to see that her eyes were wet with moisture.

  Surely she wasn’t crying for that fucker, was she?

  ‘I know I’ve said it before, but I’m so sorry that I didn’t stop him coming to your house that day.’ Mum had already explained what had happened, but as she had been forcefully coerced into tricking Marion I could understand why she felt guilty. Apparently, Dad had tracked her down to her apartment in London. He’d forced his way in and told her that he was going to kill Nathan and me, but that he wanted her there, too. He’d already picked up the guns from an old army friend, and he’d told her she had to go with him, or die. He’d made her hold one of the unloaded pistols, then taken the gun back and dragged her to Nathan’s house.

  ‘I’m just so glad you all got out, and that Rebecca and the babies are OK,’ she sniffled, drying her eyes on a napkin.

  Nathan and I suspected that Dad had planned to kill all of us, Mum included, and use the gun that she had touched to make it look like she had murdered her own sons before committing suicide. Luckily, we’d never have to find out.

  ‘Mum, you don’t have to apologise about that again. We know what he was like. I know he forced you. We saw it on the CCTV from your flats.’ We’d seen him smash her phone and slap her around the face so she fell to her knees, too; it had all been caught on the camera feed. Then he’d dragged her from her house at gunpoint. It could all have been staged, of course, but from the terror in her eyes Nathan and I had decided that it wasn’t.

  After that, we shifted the conversation to Rebecca’s impending birth and the tension between us all dissipated.

  Really, the support was … nice. Not that we were going to rush things. We weren’t suddenly going to be a solid family unit, and I’m not sure we ever would, but at least we were in contact again, and airing the past was turning out to be incredibly cathartic for all of us.

  Chapter Twenty Nine – Rebecca

  ‘So how do you think Jean is dealing with the boys without us there?’ I asked, chewing on a nail as I tried to imagine poor Mrs Jackson dealing with a meet-up with the brothers on their own. They were gorgeous, and the perfect men for Stella and me, but they were hardly the most sociably comfortable. To be honest, I had visions of the three of them sitting there in uncomfortable silence until one broke and made an excuse to leave.

  ‘I think she’ll be OK. She’s been getting more confident each time, and I think they’re genuinely enjoying getting to know her again.’ Stella pulled out the coffee grinder and shrugged. ‘They’ve all been through a lot of hurt, and meeting is going to be hard on them all at first, but I think in the long run it will help them all heal. I know Nathan struggled with all the returning memories. I’m sure Nicholas has too?’

  ‘Yes and no. He’s been so focused on the babies that he seems to have coped really well with their dad’s death. I haven’t seen any anger, or hurt or … well, anything, really. I’m hoping he’s not keeping it bottled up inside, but I genuinely think he’s OK with it all.’

  ‘Nathan was really angry at first, so we went to see Dr Philips to talk it all over, and he was amazing, I can see why Nicholas uses him.’ Stella commented, as she pulled out a bag of coffee beans.

  ‘Nicholas mentioned that Nathan had asked for his number. We spoke to Dr Philips about it all, too, and he said for a victim like Nicholas, the death of the abuser can be like the opening of a pressure valve. It can go either way; intense relief that they can finally move on, or extreme sadness and anger that they will never get the justice, payback, or apology they wanted. It sounds like maybe Nathan is the latter. I think Nicholas is a prime example of the first, though; he’s just so relieved that we’re all OK, not to mention excited about the babies, and that seems to have helped him move on from it all.’

  There were a few minutes of silence as Stella got some mugs out and set the kettle boiling, then she glanced over her shoulder with a smile.

  ‘Anyway, enough of that depressing stuff. How are you feeling? Your bump looks almost ready to burst now!’

  She wasn’t kidding, either. I looked and felt the size of an oil tanker. I actually couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen my toes. Nicholas had to help me get my underwear and trousers on every day now, too, because my bump was so enormous that I couldn’t bend over properly. ‘I am so over this pregnancy,’ I moaned, giving the bump an affectionate rub. ‘The discomfort in my ribs is incredible. I feel like I can’t even take a full breath.’

  ‘I bet. I had that enough when it was just Will inside me, and he was a small baby. I can’t imagine how you must be feeling with twins camped out in there.’

  ‘I almost feel ready to grab a crowbar and get them out!’ I giggled. ‘But no, in all seriousness, apart from feeling the size of a whale, I can’t complain. I’ve had no morning sickness since month five, I’m not as tired as I was, my skin looks incredible, and my boobs are the biggest they’ve ever been.’

  ‘That sounds pretty good going to me,’ Stella agreed with a smile. She handed me my cup of ginger tea then turned back to prepare her coffee.

  Something had been niggling at the back of my mind since the incident with Mr Jackson, but I’d been so worried about the babies and our recovery that I hadn’t had time to give it much thought. Now I knew we were all OK, and had some time alone with Stella while the brothers were with their mother, I decided to follow it up.

  ‘I’ve been meaning to ask you something …’

  ‘Oh yeah? Ask away,’ Stella murmured, distracted by her task of making coffee.

  ‘OK … well, I was just curious … When all that stuff happened with Mr Jackson, he made a comment about Nathan liking to hit you in the bedroom, and I’d expected you to deny it … But, well … you didn’t.’

  There was a clatter as Stella dropped the spoonful of coffee beans that she had been loading into the grinder. She spun around looking bright red and so uncomfortable that I immediately regretted asking.

  ‘Sorry … it’s n
one of my business. I shouldn’t have asked. I knew you guys weren’t exactly vanilla, but I was just intrigued …’

  Drawing in a deep breath, Stella shook her head. ‘Don’t be silly, you’re my best friend. Of course you can ask.’ She bent down and started to collect the scattered coffee beans, which she dumped in the bin before giving me a cautious glance.

  ‘So, which bit had you curious?’

  I had started this conversation, but now I was the one blushing as red as a tomato. ‘Well, Nicholas and I do certain stuff, too, as you know, but it’s mostly just using toys or, you know … objects.’

  Stella raised an eyebrow in amusement. ‘I’m sorry, Becks, but you’re going to have to be more specific there.’

  With a groan, I rubbed at my flaming cheeks, not wanting to elaborate but knowing I had to. ‘Like vibrators, or nipple clamps. He’s used a flogger a few times, too, but that’s it. I … I was just surprised when you said you submitted to Nathan. I mean, I know that’s how you met, but after he asked my advice on mainstreaming I thought you guys were more regular now?’

  Stella’s eyes shot open wide and she held up a hand. ‘Woah! Time out! Nathan asked your advice on mainstreaming? When?’

  ‘Gosh, it was ages ago now. Back when you and I first met at that dinner party at Nathan’s old apartment.’

  Stella smiled goofily and blushed. ‘Wow. I’m actually quite touched that he went to that much trouble to try and adapt for me.’

  ‘It was rather sweet,’ I agreed with a fond smile, leaving out the part where Nathan had terrified me with the drilling intensity of his pale blue stare.

  ‘I would really like to be having this conversation after a few glasses of wine, but seeing as you’re preggers and it’s only ten-thirty in the morning I guess super-strong coffee will have to do.’ Stella took a sip of her coffee and chewed on her lower lip. ‘But in answer to your question, yes, we do still do that stuff. Not full time, but occasionally if we’re both in the right mood we’ll do a scene and I’ll submit to him.’

  I was lost already. ‘A scene?’

  ‘Yeah, Nathan likes to be in control in the bedroom, and I really like the release that handing over power to him gives me. So sometimes we play in those roles. He’ll be the dominant and I’ll be his sub. It’s all with full consent, and fulfils a need that we both have. It’s one of the reasons we’re so well suited, I think.’

  Wow. Just wow.

  I enjoyed Nicholas’s more demanding side, so perhaps I had more of a submissive inclination than I’d realised. We’d never explored it much further than using a few toys and him taking the lead, though.

  ‘Do you have to kneel for him?’

  Stella paled slightly and shook her head. ‘No. Nathan doesn’t like that … Their father … he used to make them kneel for him when he was beating them.’

  That was a new nugget of information. I’d known Mr Jackson used to beat them both with his belt, but I hadn’t known about the kneeling part.

  ‘I call him Sir. But only when we’re doing a scene.’

  As she spoke, I remembered the one occasion when Nicholas had taken me to his spare room to show me his darker side. He’d instructed me to call him Sir or Master, and I’d had to wear a gag when I forgot. I’d been terrified at first, and hadn’t been keen on the gag, but the rest of the time in there had been remarkably erotic.

  ‘And you like all of that?’ I asked in a curious whisper.

  The flush on Stella’s cheeks was all the answer I needed, but she nodded her confirmation, too. ‘I do.’ She tipped her head to one side and assessed me through narrowed eyes. ‘With all these questions, I’m starting to wonder if you’re a little curious to try it yourself, Becky …’

  The mouthful of ginger tea that I had just sipped practically flew from my mouth in shock as I clutched one hand over my lips and the other over my belly. ‘I’m pregnant!’

  ‘So? I was super-horny during pregnancy. We might have tamed things down a bit while I was carrying Will, but we certainly didn’t stop having sex.’

  I was really regretting ever starting this stupid conversation now. ‘I am, and we are, but just not any kinky stuff. Nicholas is being very loving and gentle with me. It’s … sweet.’ If somewhat frustrating on occasion. ‘ I guess after Mr Jackson said that you must let Nathan hit you in the bedroom I wondered if it was that straightforward? You said you guys do more extreme stuff … what does it involve?’

  ‘He doesn’t beat me, if that’s what you’re asking. It’s more …’ Stella shrugged awkwardly. ‘More erotic than that. Nathan is very good at building anticipation. He uses floggers or his palm to do just that … It involves a certain degree of pain, but as that mixes with pleasure and arousal it’s really quite amazing … It’s pleasure like I’ve never experienced before, indescribably good.’

  Wow. OK, then.

  Stella started to gather her things up, then gave me an apologetic look. ‘I’m sorry to rush off, but I’m meeting Nathan and the traffic will be a nightmare this time so I need to go. We’re popping in to see Kenny. I can’t believe he actually moved in with Tom; it’s so exciting!’

  My concerns for Stella were laid to rest, but my inquisitiveness was well and truly piqued, and strangely, I was feeling quite horny. I’d have to pounce on Nicholas when he got back. Well, perhaps not pounce, roll might be more appropriate, but I’d definitely be initiating some loving later today. Perhaps after the birth, when things had settled down again, Nicholas and I could even do some experimentation of our own. We did still have his box of toys in the house somewhere. We hadn’t used them in ages, but maybe it was time for them to make a reappearance.

  Chapter Thirty – Nicholas

  All in all, the coffee meet with Mum had gone well. There’d been a few strained pauses, but mostly it had been relatively pleasant, and I think it was helping Mum too, because she had definitely seemed surer of herself this time.

  As I arrived home and slid my key in the lock, I realised I was whistling to myself. I really was in a good mood recently. Rolling my eyes at how drastically my life had changed, I shook my head and grinned. It was about to change even more dramatically in the next month once the twins arrived.

  I was distracted from my thoughts as my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I saw Rebecca’s number on the display and frowned as I stepped into the hall. As I pulled the message up, I came to a halt. It contained just four words: I’m in the bedroom.

  The bedroom? It was barely gone lunchtime. Was something wrong? Was she ill? Immediately, I charged for the stairs, fear slicing through me as I bounded up them two at a time. I threw open the door so fiercely that it bounced off the wall and rebounded back into my arm.

  ‘Becky? Are you all ri …? Holy fuck …’ My question dissolved at the sight before me, morphing into a heated curse as my mouth fell open and my cock instantly hardened.

  Rebecca was sitting on the bed. No, not sitting, kneeling … Rebecca was kneeling on the bed completely naked, her gorgeous hair trailing down over her shoulders and breasts and just tickling the top of her beautiful bump.

  She looked almost submissive with her head slightly lowered and her hands splayed on her thighs, and fuck me, she looked so glorious I couldn’t drag my eyes away.

  ‘I’m horny, Nicholas.’

  A startled laugh stuck in my throat as I struggled to get a grip on my spiralling arousal and the mix of emotions that came with it.

  ‘Becky, fuck, you look incredible.’ And she did. I loved her pregnancy body, and I mean really fucking loved it. She was beautiful like this; her bump that contained our precious babies, her rounded hips that I found myself having to touch every time she was close, not to mention her breasts which were even larger and more perfect than ever.

  ‘We shouldn’t, though… the babies,’ I choked out, wanting nothing else at that precise moment than to bury myself inside her, but not able to fully rid my mind of the image of her bleeding after my father’s attack. The small rupture
to her placenta was healed now, according to our most recent scan, but still …

  Finally, Rebecca raised her eyes and nodded. ‘I was worried about that, too, but we’ve waited longer than the doctors recommended, and the last two scans have been fine.’ As if sensing that I might need more persuasion, which I did, she pushed her hair back from her face and grinned at me. ‘You were there when Karen said sex was fine again.’ She knew how much I respected our midwife’s opinion, and it was true; Karen had been adamant that we were good to go again.

  It was certainly tempting, seeing as my cock was as stiff as a board and Becky looked well and truly irresistible kneeling there like that.

  Rebecca stared at me imploringly. Seeing my continued hesitation, she slowly trailed her hand down her thigh and slipped it under her bump and between her legs. A groan rose in my throat, and I shifted on the spot as I watched my girl pleasure herself with heavy-lidded eyes. God, it had been so long since I’d been inside her. Too long …

  ‘I had to get Stella to help me take off my leggings and knickers, which was pretty mortifying. Please don’t say that all my preparations are going to be a waste?’

  Stella had helped undress her? My eyebrows rose, and as an amused grin stretched on my lips, I gave in and practically threw my jacket from my shoulders.

  I undressed in probably the quickest time I’d ever managed. Gone was my usual control. All I could think about was reconnecting with Rebecca.

  ‘Well if you’re feeling horny, it’s my job to sort you out, isn’t it?’ I conceded with a smile as I climbed onto the bed and knelt before her. I slid a hand to the nape of her neck and gently tilted her towards me so our lips met in a slow kiss.