by Avery Aster
“Never mind what Mom said. I don’t want us to dwell on the past. We both were angry over that paternity test and Mom’s affair.”
During Taddy’s teen years, it had come to Mr. Brillford’s attention that he wasn’t exactly her father, at least not biologically. To avoid facing a painful year of family turmoil, he sent Taddy off to Avon Porter Academy to live with her friend Lex Easton. One thing turned to another and Taddy eventually sued her parents for emancipation and won, telling the judge she didn’t want to see either one of them ever again.
Her father had been heartbroken. She didn’t know that until now.
“You’ll always be my daughter. I don’t care what the DNA test says.”
“I love you, Daddy.”
They sat in the waiting room for an hour or so, as it took some time for Warner to get assigned to a new room. Taddy made a few calls, one to her lifelong friend Lex Easton, the other to Blake Morgan. Within the hour, the two had met her at the hospital.
Once Warner was awake, she went into the bathroom, washed her face, reapplied her makeup, and put on a cream-colored knee-length dress that Lex had brought from her bridal showroom.
“Does he have any idea that you’re doing this?” Lex asked while zipping her Taddy’s dress from the back.
“Of course he doesn’t,” Blake answered for her. “This is so typical of you. You can’t have your wedding at St. Patrick’s Cathedral like every other socialite in this town. You have to go and do it at the Manhattan General Hospital.” He started to laugh.
“Very funny, you two.” She smiled at them. “How do I look?”
“Scared. Worried. Out of your mind,” Blake replied truthfully, as always.
“Beautiful and in love,” Lex disagreed with him.
With Blake on her left side and Lex on her right, they walked into Warner’s room with the priest and Taddy’s father behind them. He had Vive on the phone, streaming the video so she could watch everything from her halfway house.
Taddy fought back the tears as she caught sight of Warner on the bed, the color drained from his face.
“Hey, Red,” he murmured, calling her by her pet nickname.
“Big Daddy,” she played along.
“What are all these people doing here? I’m not dying.”
“I know that, silly. But we are getting married today. Right now, as a matter of fact.”
A smile, broad and white, flashed across his handsome face.
“You sure?” he asked, trying to sit up as best he could.
“When they first brought you in and you were dying, Nurse Ratched wouldn’t let me see you because I wasn’t your wife. I don’t ever want that to happen to us again. I will never be apart from you. I love you, Warner. I’m sorry that it’s taken this shooting to get me this point with you. I really am.” She squeezed his hand tightly. “Please forgive me.”
“I’d gladly take a bullet any day of the week if it means getting to call you my wife.”
“Good. We don’t have time for a prenup.” She grinned back at him.
He laughed. “You know I’m like the third richest man in the world, right?”
“Ah-huh. According to Forbes, you’re right after Warren Buffett.”
He nodded.
“Your lawyers are going to be so pissed at you for marrying me without one. But we can do a postnup.”
“We’re never breaking up, so there’s no need for any of that. Ever.” His temper flared, putting some color in his cheeks.
“Agreed. But before we get married, I have two rules I want to run by you first.”
“Oh God. Here she goes,” Blake sassed. Lex hushed him.
“Go ahead….”
“I’m not taking your last name. Brill is a brand.”
“So is Truman.”
“Not gonna happen, Warner.”
“What happens when we have kids? Do you really want your last name to be different from theirs?”
“You know I can’t have children.” Taddy suffered a miscarriage in college after bring roofied at a nightclub, which caused permanent damage to her uterus. Doctors had said she could never carry a child to full term.
“I believe in miracles. I believe in you. I believe in us. Why don’t we let Mother Nature figure that one out for us, okay?” He spoke with a quiet emphasis of certainty that gave Taddy some peace of mind.
She leaned down and kissed him. “Okay.”
As the priest stepped forward and asked them to exchange their vows, Taddy looked out at her father, Lex, Blake, and Vive on the screen. This little room that they were in was filled with so much love, more than she’d ever known. But there was one nagging thought that she couldn’t shake.
Where are you, Kiki?
Too Late Now
Still in Bed
Kiki
Two Days Later
Kiki hadn’t gotten out of bed much except to use the bathroom, even though she wasn’t in pain or hurt, her wound on the mend. Often upbeat, Kiki was raised to never look at the bad side of anything in life, until now.
Unable to find a bright side to this nightmare, her spirits sank. She was what some psychiatrists would call depressed.
She was unsure of how much time had passed since they’d first brought her there, although she figured it had to be at least two days. Apparently the boys had used a fake name when renting the apartment, so it wouldn’t be traced back to Dejon. Terrified they’d be found digitally with their cell phones, especially from Kiki’s mobile pinging to a Verizon tower for reception, they had been smashed, destroyed, and thrown into the Hudson River along with the gun. Before that, Dejon had allowed her to send one text to her mom and another to Taddy, letting them know that she was alive and not to worry.
A few hours back, after they’d eaten some cold Chinese food from the restaurant on the corner, she’d overheard their conversation about an escape. They’d take a Greyhound bus to Philadelphia. From there, they’d board a flight to Africa to return the diamond; apparently, Dejon had a fake passport, as did Dash. And then they’d never be seen or heard from again.
The Nova stone was originally one big piece, but with their diamond-cutting machine, which made the most god-awful sounds, they managed to cut the rock into three smaller ones.
Kiki should’ve run away from the twins when she had the chance. The police would surely charge her with being an accomplice; she’d seen enough Law & Order to know how it worked. The twins weren’t holding her physically against her will anymore. They both told her they loved her and that she was free to leave at any time.
Then why hadn’t she bolted the hell out of there?
Stockholm Syndrome? Heavens, no. She might’ve been ‘in love’ with Dejon, but she wasn’t brainwashed.
Confusion? Perhaps. All of the events were hard to digest.
Love? Definitely. In some twisted way, she still wanted to marry Dejon. Her mind and soul were dedicated to him. Her body, on the other hand, felt as though it belonged to Dash.
Hope? Yes, that she could still talk some sense into the twins into turning themselves in.
To her surprise, when she rolled over, she was alone in the bed. Huh? She glanced at a clock on the nightstand; it read 2:09 a.m. This was the second night in which Dejon had held her until she’d fallen asleep, and then left the room to go sleep next to Dash on the floor in the living room.
Odd! Kiki got to her feet and stared at them. Dash was on the sofa asleep as Dejon tossed and turned on the floor nearby.
Should I leave? But she wanted to talk to them one last time. If they refused to turn themselves in by morning, she’d have no choice but to go to the authorities. That was the agreement she’d made with herself earlier that day. She’d just have to deal with the consequences.
Startled, Dejon sat up. “Need something?” A warning cloud settled on his handsome features.
“Why don’t you sleep next to me?” She crossed her arms. “This could be our last night together.”
A half smile cr
ossed his face. Standing, he grabbed a pillow and made his way over to her. “Haven’t you noticed? I can’t sleep when I’m in bed next to you.”
“Why?” Motioning for him to come back to bed with her, she didn’t understand, but she listened intently. Together they sat with their knees touching on the edge of the mattress, leaning in to one another.
In a gentle tone, Dejon told her about the Hanzfeld experiments and the negative side effects that still haunted him. Why he couldn’t sleep without Dash next to him. How he’d shared girls with him in the past.
She apologized, not out of accountability—as she’d done nothing wrong and wasn’t to blame—but rather for the unfairness of the situation. Kiki’s heart broke for Dejon over his childhood.
“You’re not freaked out by what I just told you?” he asked with a worried tone. The appearance of being drained etched across his facial features.
“No. It all makes sense now. Months ago, I noticed we’d get close to having sex and you’d pull away. Or when I’d try and play hard to get, you sometimes seemed relieved. When I told you I wanted to sleep and cuddle, I noticed you’d never fall asleep.” Her fingers stroked his. In many ways they were still an item, him and her, and she knew that.
“I can’t.” Gently he touched her shoulder and reminded her in a quiet voice that he was in many ways connected to his brother.
“So you’re at Dash’s mercy for the rest of your life?”
He shrugged, pulling the bedsheet up to his midsection. “I guess so.”
“If I want you in my life, that means I have to accept having Dash in our lives, as well?”
He pushed a swath of black hair casually off his forehead. “I could go to therapy.”
“Yeah. Maybe they’ll have someone for you to talk to in prison.”
Eyes rolling, he retorted, “Kiki, we saw on the news earlier today that Warner is fine. He and Taddy even got married. No one got hurt. We’re going to get this diamond home to where it belongs.”
“Then what?” she persisted.
“Blimey. We haven’t gotten that far.”
“Are you going to live in hiding for the rest of your life?” She tried to remain calm, but the urge to slap him up the backside of the head, to scream at him, came over her so fast and hard it was virtually impossible to keep it together. However, the last thing she wanted to do was make him feel worse. He already felt bad enough. She could tell.
“Maybe.”
“Oh that’s smart, Dejon. Live like a fugitive forever and ever.”
“Well, what else are we supposed to do?”
“Turn yourself in.”
“We can’t.” His flat, uneasy eyes prolonged the moment of despair. There had to be a solution.
“Who appointed you the Robin Hood of Africa?”
“My father, by way of Dash.”
She felt her lips curve into a smile.
“I hate that, after all that’s happened, I still have feelings for you.” She exhaled a long sigh of frustration.
“You do?”
“I do. I love you very much. I also think I’m in love with Dash.” The heavy lashes that shadowed her face flew up.
“What? How?” A low, breathy gasp escaped him.
“That day in the conference room. It was special, Dejon. I can’t get it out of my mind. I know it wasn’t you when we—I mean he and I—made love. But in my mind, in my heart, and in my soul, I thought it was. I want my time with him to mean something. Giving your virginity to your husband is supposed to be special.” She wiped a hot tear from her eye.
Dejon looked up at the doorway. So did she.
Confident, strong, Dash stood leaning against the door. His very presence filled the room, causing her nipples to pebble into hardened nubs.
“Did you overhear everything?”
He nodded and made his way over to the bed, reaching for Kiki’s hand. A shock flew through her.
Jealous, perhaps, or merely marking his territory, Dejon kissed her.
She kissed him back as Dash slowly removed the T-shirt and shorts they’d given her to wear earlier.
Naked. Unfamiliar. She sat there, looking at both of them getting undressed, and asked herself, “Seriously, are we going to do this?”
Double Penetration
Dejon
His ex-fiancée bit her lower lip to stifle a grin.
“Making love,” his brother replied as his jaw clenched and eyes slightly narrowed.
“All three of us?” Kiki asked.
Yikes. “Bloody hell. Dash and I don’t touch each other.” He felt his own face twist wryly. “We’re not bisexual. Plus, that’s freaky.”
She laughed. “Maybe this is what Duckie means when he refers ‘nice ‘n’ nasty.’ Taddy has these porn movies that have twins who fuck.”
“Does it turn you on?” Dash asked.
Dejon’s expression stilled and grew serious. “Gross!”
“Twins? It’s taboo, don’t you think?” Kiki turned to face Dejon, her heart-shaped face reddened at the thought.
“What about being with two men at the same time?” he probed further, looking her over seductively.
“I always thought the person I gave my virginity to would be the man I’d share the rest of my life with.”
“That still could happen, babe.” Dash stared longingly at her. It didn’t bother Dejon as much as he thought it would. He was pretty much over the fact that they had slept together. On the grand scale of drama that had done down that week, it was on the list, of course, just not at the top of it. At least not anymore.
“Not in a million years.” Kiki rolled her light-colored eyes.
“Why not?” He peered at her intently.
“Because I love Dejon.”
Hearing that made Dejon’s spirits soar. You still love me. Even after all that’s happened.
Dash made a fake pout. “You don’t have any feelings for me?” He stepped closer to the bed.
“I don’t know you well enough, and from what I do know, I’m not so sure.”
Touché, Kiki.
“Pishaw! I’m a good guy. Aren’t I, Dejon?” Dash took a seat on the other end, facing them.
“You have your moments.” He gave his brother the benefit of the doubt. Dash always meant well. Ever since they were little, he’d always tried to have Dejon’s back. Often it just didn’t turn out as though he did.
“You might learn to love me.” Dash’s large hand took Kiki’s face and held it gently for a few seconds.
“Really?” Kiki’s voice rose an octave, and then she swallowed loudly.
“Let me have you again.” Without any hesitation, Dash spread Kiki’s legs apart, slowly making his way up to her crotch.
“What are you doing?” She peered down at him.
“Having my way with you.”
Oh. God. Here he goes….
She closed her legs. “Wait.”
“Didn’t we have fun the last time we were together?”
“Yesss,” she hissed.
“Don’t you want that again? My cock buried inside you, making you shake to your core, all soaking wet, coming for me all over my dick.”
Pupils dilating, her breath quickened. “You sure do talk dirty.”
“You love it.”
“What. Ever. Dash.”
“Admit it.”
“Admit what?”
“You want me.”
Bloody hell.
“Never!”
He held her legs open, burying his face between her folds and making a humming noise as he went to town eating her pussy. Coming up for air, he repeated, “Damn, Kiki, say it.”
“All right,” she moaned. “I want you. I want both of you.”
Cock stiffening like a lightning rod reaching to outer space, Dejon felt his heartbeat race to a new tempo as if it were a dance tune he’d remixed just for the occasion.
“I’m going to eat you out until you forget about the last few days, about the shooting, about me hur
ting you, and all the bad stuff that’s happened. Bloody hell, I’m gonna make you feel good. Is that okay with you, Kiki?”
She gaped down at him and nodded. “I must be insane.”
Closing her eyes, pressing her head against in the pillows, she appeared to enjoy having Dash tongue-lash her privates while Dejon kissed her.
“This pussy is sweet. Tastes like—”
“Strawberries,” Dejon finished for him. They switched places, Dash resting Kiki against his chest while he sprawled out alongside the bed.
So beautiful! “I want to make love to you, Kiki.” Dejon looked down at her lovingly before impatiently driving his cock inside her. “Oh God. You’re so tight. So warm.”
“I love you, Dejon.” She grabbed on to his back as he lifted her gently off Dash, getting her body aligned with his own. “I’ve wanted this for so long. Years, I think.” He thrust once, twice, and then got going.
“I love you, Kiki,” Dash moaned in her ear while he stroked his cock. “I want to watch Dejon fuck you.”
Shifting his hips, Dejon sank farther into Kiki. Missionary suited them well; it was romantic and sweet.
Dash, probably feeling neglected, demanded, “Let’s DP!”
“Uhhh. No,” Kiki said nervously as Dash lay on his back, motioning for her to get on top of him. She glanced up at Dejon, who smiled with encouragement.
“Let me take your anal virginity,” Dejon begged. “Get on top of my brother. Ride him. Let me fuck you from behind.”
“It’s only fair,” Dash added.
Without giving it any more thought, she mounted Dash, letting his cock fill her fully. She arched her back and slowly brought herself up and then down again on his shaft.
“You’re so wet. I love it,” Dash stated.
“No talking. Let me concentrate.” Dejon came up behind Kiki, grabbing her hips and pressing the tip of his cock against her pucker.
“I’m seeing stars,” she groaned between them.
He reached over to the nightstand for the lube, rubbed it over his fingers, and then gently massaged her. First, just the tip of his middle finger went inside her warm hole. Then a second finger as he started to stretch her, just a little.
Fuuuck. This is hot.
