by Brynn Paulin
“Nic—”
“No, Leo,” Nic snapped when he started to interrupt. “This needs to be said.” His glare returned to Briony. “I thought you were so strong, facing life and your disability headfirst. But it’s more about martyrdom, isn’t it? You can be a victim in this. Then you can keep yourself away from the world and feelings and anything that might demand something of you while you hide behind your disability—which in all truth is small compared to some. You can pretend to be strong, brave Briony, but in fact you’re a coward who’s afraid to step outside her comfort zone.”
She didn’t try to deny it. “Look what happened when I did.”
Leo moved to stand beside Nic. He might not have said the words, but he obviously agreed with his friend. “Yeah,” he said. “The best thing in my life. You’ve made your choice, I suppose. I’m sorry, I didn’t get that before.” He gestured toward the front of the house. “And for the scene. I guess we should go. I’m sorry this couldn’t…work out.” He choked out the last words then darted out the back door.
Briony knew it was to conceal the same pain that tore at her. She closed her eyes to block out the anguishing sight of his departure. When she reopened them, Nic was gone, too.
* * * *
Was she a coward? Briony couldn’t deny that perhaps she was. She did use her disability to keep from doing things that might make her uncomfortable.
Unable to do anything else, she went through the motions of working, but the numbers brought her no pleasure as she pushed herself to resume normalcy. Every time she saw the department dean, he gave her a feral grin that spoke of his triumph. He watched her with predator’s eyes, as if waiting to move in for the kill.
But he’d already killed her.
A week after his ultimatum and her confrontation with Leo and Nic, she made an appointment to see Dean Butler.
The hallway seemed eerily empty as she hobbled toward his office. Butterflies battered her stomach; still she knew she had to see him. She wished she’d see either Nic or Leo. Right… She hadn’t seen either man since the scene in her kitchen. They seemed to be steering clear of her, and changing whatever patterns that used to take them across her path. Their absolute absence made her wonder if they’d left school altogether.
Of course, that wouldn’t make sense. It was a big campus. It was easy to avoid her.
The dean’s secretary looked up at her and smiled when Briony entered the office suite. “He’s expecting you,” she said. “You can go on in.”
Briony nodded and headed past the desk to the office beyond.
That same feral smile was on Butler’s face as she entered. “Shut the door and have a seat,” he said, gesturing toward the leather upholstered chairs facing his desk.
She wasn’t sure she wanted to be closed in with him, but she complied. Despite his distasteful proposition and the position he’d put her in, he was a respected member of the college staff. She highly doubted he’d attack her, especially not with his secretary on the other side of one of the notoriously paper-thin walls.
“What can I do for you, Briony?” he asked once she’d settled into a chair.
Her fingers clenched around the barrel of the cane she’d placed across her thighs, her knuckles turning white. She’d thought about this for a week. All she had to do was say the words, to tell him, and it would be over with.
She studied his unlined face and the dark brown hair that belied his age. He looked like a man who was in his early thirties rather than one who was in his late-forties. Impeccably dressed, he was a good-looking man. A catch. Why did he want her? Was it a game? She’d tumbled it around over and over and it never added up. But she did know one thing. She didn’t want to be alone.
“Professor Swift,” he prompted. “Are you here because of what we discussed?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“I’ve been keeping an eye out. You’re no longer with Mr. Potter and Mr. Phelps?”
She shook her head. “No.” She took a deep breath. Desperate heat clawed up her back and her stomach lurched, staging a revolt she wasn’t sure she could stop. What would he think if she puked all over his desk?
Luckily, she hadn’t eaten today. In fact it might have been yesterday morning when she’d last eaten. She wasn’t sure.
“I’ve thought about it quite a lot,” she told him. Now or never. Just do it Bree. “I…quit.”
He blanched, his eyes wide with surprise.
“I resign,” she reiterated. “So I guess this is my two weeks notice.”
“No,” he snapped. “Clean out your office today. I’ll have a replacement in for the rest of your classes this semester. I must say, I’m highly disappointed with you.”
“Why? Because you thought I’d fuck you? I like to choose my partners, thanks.”
“No, because I never thought you’d let a relationship interfere with your career. You know damned well I never would have pressed you for sex.”
“Yes, I do.” But he would have done everything he could to interfere with her life and eventually turn her to his will. If she was alone long enough, she had to admit, she might bend to his desires. He wasn’t utterly repulsive, and loneliness could get overwhelming.
Quitting wouldn’t really change things between her and Nic and Leo. God knew if they’d even realize she was gone since they’d been avoiding her like the plague. But she had to do it.
“So we won’t have any problems?” Butler asked. Would she press sexual harassment charges after all? That’s what he wanted to know. He wasn’t as self-assured as he pretended to be.
She regarded him archly. Two could play at this. “So I won’t have any problem with a good reference?” she countered.
“Glowing,” he growled.
“I want a signed letter of reference on college letterhead.”
“Done,” he said, obviously irritated.
She nodded and rose, heading for the door. She had a lot to do.
“For what it’s worth,” Butler said as she reached for the doorknob, “I’m sorry to see you go.”
She rolled her eyes without looking at him. “Thank you,” she murmured and slipped out of the office.
True to his word, a manila envelope containing several signed letters of reference was delivered to her office within an hour of her leaving the dean’s office. She experienced a strange mix of euphoric freedom and panic at the sight of them. Carefully, she slipped them into her briefcase, and then looked around the office. She had precious little to take with her today. Knowing this moment was coming, she’d taken personal items home the last two days while she worked up the nerve to actually meet with Butler.
With a canvas bag slung across her body and a briefcase in her hand, she shut her office door for the last time and fought back nostalgic tears. This was for the best. Who knew what the future held, but she wouldn’t regret it.
Determined, she headed for the parking lot and ran smack into Nic as she stepped out into the brisk, morning air.
“Briony,” he exclaimed as he held her upper arms, steadying her.
What was it with running into him when she was trying to make a getaway? The universe had a sick sense of humor.
The electricity that filled her whenever he touched her tingled through her body and filled her with longing. She summoned a brave smile. It never made it to more than a lift of one side of her mouth. “Nic.”
“Aren’t you supposed to be teaching?” he asked.
In other words, he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t think he was safe from…this. It was really over. She shook her head. “No.” Oh God, I need to get out of here. She glanced at her watch. “I’m on my way to an appointment. I’ve got to go.”
Nic immediately released her and stepped back, a strange look on his face.
She tried to brighten her smile, which was damned near impossible. “Bye. See you around.” Or not.
“Yeah…see you,” Nic said faintly as if he didn’t quite believe her.
She didn’t lo
ok back as she headed for her car. Her shiny, six-month-old Prius. Dear God, she hoped she could make the payments. On the car. On her house. Her math said she was fine for at least six months. Her heart was scared to death.
And for what? She looked over her shoulder to see Nic still watching her, his eyes narrowed now.
So that was that. He was still pissed, and she realized sadly that all hope of eventually telling them what she’d done and repairing things skittered away like dry leaves on a brisk wind. At least she was free of the restraints she’d put on herself.
They were right: She’d been a coward.
Nic stared after Briony, his brow furrowed. Something was wrong. He knew damned well that she should be teaching right now. Like a lovesick fool, he’d stood near her classroom door over the last week and listened to her as she spoke to her class.
After he watched her drive away, he headed into the building. Stopping outside the classroom where she normally taught Freshman Algebra, he peeked through the window. To his surprise, that asshole, Dean Butler, was teaching her class. Was she sick? She hadn’t looked sick. Well, she’d looked peaked. He probably looked like shit, too.
Maybe she really had an appointment. She’d checked her watch…
Leo was in class for forty-five more minutes. Nic decided to call him on his cell as soon as the class let out. They still hadn’t decided what to do about Briony, but they’d both agreed it wasn’t over. They just didn’t quite know what to do. It wasn’t like they could force her to quit her job and trust in them. Time, they’d concluded, would help the situation. If Briony missed them as much as they missed her, she might be willing to listen when they confronted her again.
Letting that asshole win was untenable.
He left the classroom and headed toward the study area at the end of the corridor. As he passed Briony’s office, a janitor stood at her office door. Nic watched in horror as the man removed the nameplate from the door.
Oh shit!
Her forced bravado and odd departure merged with the reality before him and his stomach dropped. At the same time, an odd, dread-laden hope dawned.
Pulling out his phone, he punched in a hasty text message to Leo. This couldn’t wait.
* * * *
Briony had just finished unpacking her things and booting her laptop in her office when she heard a strangely familiar pounding. Since she wasn’t normally home right now, there were very few people who would come impatiently banging at her door.
Was she ready for another round of confrontation? Damn straight. If they cared enough to come here, she cared enough to make them stay. The entire drive home she’d kicked herself for not telling Nic the truth about what had been going on. What would it have hurt? It would have given him a fair chance at either resuming their relationship or reiterating that it was over.
The knocking didn’t pause as she made her way to the front of the house to let them inside. Déjà vu hit full force as the newly framed picture beside the door rattled, but this time it didn’t fall before she got there.
The pair looked beautiful when she opened the door. Beautiful, perfect, her dream. Just beyond reach.
“Did he fire you?” Leo asked without greeting.
“No.” She lifted a shoulder. “You were right. I was using my job as a safety net—protection against facing life. So I quit.” She stepped back to let them inside. “Come in. You don’t have to stand on the porch. I mean, well, I couldn’t care less if anyone knows you’re here, but it might be more comfortable inside.”
Briony wanted to be very clear that she wasn’t hiding their relationship from anyone, if indeed there was a relationship to be seen. They could make love in the front yard for all she cared. She just needed to feel the warmth of their adoration once more. Physically and emotionally. She’d been utterly bereft the last week, and she didn’t think she could bear it if they walked away again.
But they’d done all the reaching out so far. It was her turn.
“I’ve missed you,” she told them. “I’m sorry I couldn’t see past my comfort zone.”
Nic stepped forward, and relief filled her. He’d been the one hurt the most. He slid his hands down her arms then reached up to cup her jaw. His thumbs brushed over her cheeks. “Let us be your comfort zone,” he said. “We can take care of you. You’ll be with us and we’ll see that you never want for anything.”
Lost in his eyes, she nodded. “Okay.”
He stepped back and picked up a large duffle bag she hadn’t seen before. Leo picked up one as well. He grinned at her questioning look. “We’re moving in, baby.”
“Okay,” she said again. She smiled her first real smile in days. She could definitely go along with that. If they were going to have a relationship, she wanted it all. Together in everything—and that included living as a family. Lovers. Husbands and wife. Well, maybe they weren’t ready for that last part.
As Nic leaned forward to kiss her, the look in his eyes told her that maybe they were. His lips skimmed over hers, and his tongue traced the seam of her mouth before she opened and let him in. He tasted wonderful as he reclaimed her. She moaned, pressing into him.
He pulled back and kicked the front door shut. “Go get undressed, sweetheart. I need you bad. I need to know this is real.”
“Wait,” Leo interrupted. “I need a kiss first.”
She went into his arms as naturally as she had gone into Nic’s. She belonged to them both. His fingers slid into her hair, keeping her where he wanted her as he plundered her lips. Her body reacted, warming and softening and growing wet.
“Damn, you’re so hot,” Nic whispered. He pushed against her back and reached around to cup her breasts. He rolled her nipples between his fingers.
She needed them now. Anxiously, she pulled open her shirt, jerking the fabric when a few buttons wouldn’t release. They plinked to the tile, percussion to amplify her arousal. She shrugged out of the garment. Nic’s hands immediately slipped inside her bra. Moaning her delight at his manipulations into Leo’s mouth, she opened her pants and shimmied out of them. Her panties immediately followed.
“The couch,” she panted against Leo’s mouth. He lifted her into his arms and carried her into the living room. Nic went ahead of them. He ripped off his clothes and stretched out on the couch. Leo set her astride his friend. Hovering over Nic’s cock, she unhooked her bra and tossed it aside. She moved her hips back and forth, teasing his tip with her wet pussy. She wasn’t at all concerned about the large picture window directly across from them. Let people see how much she loved her men. She didn’t care right now.
“Vixen,” he growled.
“Me? Surely not.”
Scowling, he grabbed her hips and dragged her down his rigid staff. They both groaned from the tight friction. She could fuck him forever.
As they moved, skin to skin, she looked down at him with wide eyes. “Condom?”
He grinned. “You gonna get pissed if I don’t stop and put one on?”
“Nope.” She was theirs—whatever happened. It was unlikely she’d get pregnant right now, and she’d get on the pill ASAP. If they decided to go down that route. Maybe they wouldn’t. The thought of a dark-haired, blue-eyed baby didn’t terrify her as it once might have.
And right now, she needed to feel Nic this way, too.
From the corner of her eye, she saw Leo’s clothes drop to the floor. A zip split the air, then the sound of ripping foil. His legs came on either side of hers on the wide couch. She tensed momentarily as his hands on her ass. As she rode Nic’s cock, Leo parted her. His cool fingers slid over her anus. She realized immediately that he was lubing her. There. For that. She’d known anal sex was a possibility with three of them, but the thought was somewhat frightening. She’d never done it. Still, decadent sensations raced along her pelvis as he worked a finger inside her. Leo’s fingers on one end, Nic fucking the other…she closed her eyes and drowned in the wonder of it all.
“Baby, you’re so hot,” Leo rasped.
“Are you ready? Please, God, be ready.”
Overwhelmed, she nodded.
“Nic, pull out,” he told his friend. Immediately, Nic freed his rod from her clutching folds. She whimpered at the emptiness. She needed to be filled with them. She needed to know she wasn’t alone and that the men she loved were really with her. Committed. Loving her as much as she did them.
His sticky cock tapped against her belly as Leo positioned himself. She willed herself not to tense when his tip pressed to her opening. “Relax, baby,” he urged.
Nic pulled her mouth down to his for a torrid kiss. For several moments, his lips and tongue claimed her mouth, but Leo didn’t move. She’d completely lost herself in Nic when Leo finally inched forward. The head of his shaft was inside her before she could think of tightening up. She moaned at the illicit impression of him inside her there. Her body quivered as she fought for breath.
“More,” she begged. Slowly, ever so slowly, Leo inched forward, moving and pausing until she’d accepted all of him. And when he’d completely filled her…oh, the pleasure that assailed her. And the need. She needed him to move. She wiggled her ass to urge him to piston in and out of her, but he didn’t move.
At least not his hips.
Bending forward, he pressed his lips between her shoulder blades. “Nic, now,” he said.
Nic shifted beneath her, and she gasped when his tip bumped against the opening of her pussy. Two of them inside her at once.
Oh, yes.
As slowly as Leo had entered her, Nic worked his way into her doubly tight sheath, stretching her sensitive tissues. Soon both men were completely seated within her. The fullness nearly did her in, and she wondered how she’d handle it when she orgasmed and her whole body constricted. It was already so damn tight. She might just pass out from it.
It didn’t matter. She knew they’d take care of her.
