Tragic King (The Dominant Bastard Duology Book 2)

by Sparrow Beckett

  Severin seized Rodrigo by the back of the neck and smashed his mouth down on his. Rodrigo fought him, trying to push him away, but Severin backed him against the wall of the building and took his mouth so harshly it looked as if he’d devour him. Rodrigo gave a helpless, moaning cry, but submitted, letting Severin take what he wanted before he rallied and started to kiss him back.

  They came up for air, chests heaving, staring warily into each other’s eyes.

  Minnow stood watching, her hand over her mouth. Astonished arousal flooded through her. It was like having a front row seat to her hottest fantasy coming true. Fear trickled through her next, though, icy and cutting. Did this mean they were done with her?

  “Why now?” Rodrigo finally croaked.

  “If you choose him, I’ll snap his fucking neck.”

  “It’s always been you. You’re the one who doesn’t want me, remember?”

  Minnow’s hand had dropped to her throat, where she was pretty sure her heart had taken up residence. God, it was true! How had she not seen any of this before? The thought had crossed her mind a few times, in a pervy ‘I’d watch that’ kind of way, but...

  Shit, what if they didn’t realize she’d followed them here?

  Did this happen between them a lot?

  No. They were both acting too freaked out for this to be their normal.

  “You know why.”

  “I know now. Before he came along, I was never sure. You can’t stand the thought of being with a man after what happened to you.”

  “That hasn’t changed. You deserve more than what I can give you, and when Loïc showed up –”

  “You thought I’d replace you with the younger, less fucked-up model.”

  Severin gave a curt nod. “You do deserve a real relationship – like you said the other day. More than whatever things have turned into with you, me, and Minnow.”

  Oh, God. This was so sad. For them. For her. Was she some sort of surrogate so they could be together with a barrier between them?

  “Come here, Minnow,” Severin said, holding a hand out to her, but not taking his gaze off Rodrigo.

  Reluctantly, she made her way over the discarded newspapers and fast food wrappers. It was ironic that the two richest men she knew would more or less declare their feelings for each other in a dark, garbage-strewn, cat-pissy alley.

  When she reached them, Severin folded her in his arms. She wasn’t sure which one of them was shaking. Rodrigo started to pet her hair, but the tension in her wouldn’t ease off.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about...this,” Severin murmured.

  “I probably should have mentioned this sooner, Minnow.” Rodrigo grimaced. “I have an unrequited crush on your fiancé.”

  Yeah, right.

  Minnow laughed harshly and pushed Severin away. “It didn’t look very unrequited from where I was standing.”

  “I –” Severin actually fucking blushed. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

  Rodrigo tensed.

  “Not without discussing it with you first, Minnow,” Severin amended. His face was full-on flaming red, and he looked even more uncomfortable than he had the day Rodrigo made her suck Severin’s cock.

  Oh.

  Ohhh.

  Events like that looked slightly different when viewed through the lens of this new information...like their wrestling match the other day. Things had seemed weirdly tense, and Rodrigo’s parting comment had been odd. Had she interrupted?

  “So am I – some sort of surrogate for the two of you so you don’t have to admit you have feelings for each other?”

  “What? No!” Severin hugged her closer.

  “That’s not what you are to either of us, Min.” Rodrigo kissed the side of her face that wasn’t pressed against Severin’s chest. “I never thought things would progress past my pathetic, drunken declaration of feelings for him a few years ago. This might not even change anything.”

  “It won’t change anything at all if you’re not okay with it,” Severin said. “I’m sorry, Ro, but she comes first.”

  They waited for her to say something, but her thoughts were whirling too fast for her to sort out.

  “This is a shock,” Severin pointed out. “Of course you’ll need time to think.”

  “There’s no rush,” Rodrigo added, a hint of desperation in his tone.

  She supposed if Severin had been what he’d wanted all these years, now only she stood in his way.

  God – she did love Rodrigo. If there’d been no Severin, she would have fallen head over heels for him.

  Maybe adding physical affection between them wouldn’t change things all that much? They were already basically in a relationship, the three of them, right? Severin having more people to love him would be good for him.

  Hell, how was this not good for her?

  The only way she’d find out if she was just a beard would be to let this happen. If they just kept her out of pity, she’d be able to tell, right? If she was just a beard they’d get rid of her soon enough.

  She bit her lip, wishing she could drag out her decision, but there was no point in delaying this for nothing. It was best for Severin. She’d survive, even if they ended things with her.

  Wouldn’t she?

  She was a big girl.

  She had some money saved. Not enough to pay for the years of therapy she was going to need if she ended up losing them both, but still.

  “I’m worried about becoming the awkward third wheel.”

  “It’s not so bad,” Rodrigo replied, flashing a hopeful smile. “But third wheel is my place in this, not yours.”

  “Minnow, that’s never going to happen,” Severin said so emphatically she flinched inwardly for Rodrigo. He shoved a hand through his long hair. “Do I even want two submissives?”

  She eyed Rodrigo in surprise. “You’re a switch?”

  He shrugged at her then locked gazes with Severin. “Only for him.”

  Severin sighed. “We need to go back in. Minnow is freezing and Loïc must be wondering if we went home without him. Stupid little fuck.”

  “Okay.” She pulled away, but not before Severin kissed the top of her head.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.”

  Rodrigo turned her toward him. “Me too.” He swept her into his arms and kissed her, his lips firm and hot on hers. He swept his tongue between her lips, coaxing her to give in and kiss him back. Rodrigo rarely kissed her, and never outside of sex. She gave in, letting their tongues meet and explore, setting off shivers of arousal as she tasted the bite of Severin’s whiskey on Rodrigo’s tongue. Severin moved in behind her, his erection pressing against her back. He nipped her ear as Rodrigo tightened a fist in her hair, holding her still for them, both men smelling of alcohol and lust.

  Hell, this was going to be bad news for her if Rodrigo was allowed to do anything he wanted.

  “Too bad you’re both drunk. No fun for you tonight.”

  Severin turned her face so he could claim her mouth, but that only gave Rodrigo access to her neck. He licked the skin above the edge of her dress’s neckline, and she moaned into Severin’s mouth.

  By the time they stopped, her panties were sodden and she had to clench her thighs together to ease the ache there.

  For a moment they stared at each other over her shoulder, and she had the urge to push their heads together so she could watch them kiss from a closer vantage point.

  “Did this little bitch just cut us off?” Severin growled.

  “I think she did.”

  Severin grunted in annoyance. “Did I mention I took her ass the other day?”

  “No, you didn’t mention that, bastard.”

  “It was the night you were gone to your sister’s art show.”

  “Figures.” Rodrigo sighed.

  “You know what that means.”

  Rodrigo’s handsome face brightened. “You think she’s ready for DP.”

  “What? No, I most certainly am not!”

 
; They kept talking over her head, making plans to defile her sometime soon, as though she wasn’t right there listening and voicing her objections.

  “Did you hear something?” Rodrigo asked as they re-entered the bar.

  “I heard a lot of things,” said Severin, the ghost of a smile curling the corner of his lips. “None of them was her safeword.”

  Chapter Three

  “What’s with the face?” Fidel asked, circling Rodrigo as he looked for an opening.

  It was hard to say who was bigger now, considering how much they both worked out, but in Rodrigo’s mind, his brother would always be half his size and goofy looking, with his shoe untied, wearing Rodrigo’s secondhand clothes. Instead, it was possible they were an even match in size, and Fidel hadn’t worn a secondhand anything since he’d landed his first role as an actor.

  “What face? It’s just my face, douchebag.”

  Fidel straightened and backed a step, stripping his dark hair back from his eyes with an impatient hand. “You’re distracted. You’re going to get hurt if you’re not paying attention, then I’ll have no one to work out with and I’ll get fat.”

  “You’re the vainest man I know.”

  “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” Fidel waggled his perfectly sculpted brows. As well kept as Rodrigo was, compared to Fidel he was low maintenance.

  “I don’t hate you because you’re beautiful. I hate you because you’re a fucking prick.”

  “It’s part of my brand,” he said, feinting left and taking a jab at Rodrigo’s shoulder. He connected, but it glanced off rather than landing squarely, stealing most of the impact. “Let me guess – a girl?”

  He didn’t respond. He wasn’t entirely wrong.

  Rodrigo dodged back and forth, advancing, backing his brother almost to the fence before throwing a punch at his perfectly symmetrical face. Rather than damage Fidel’s main asset, he held the punch inches from the bridge of his nose, letting him know that even though they were matched in size, Rodrigo was still to be respected.

  “Fuck.” Fidel laughed long and low, then pushed Rodrigo’s fist aside. “Good thing your hatred for me is tempered with a fear of Mama’s wrath.”

  Rodrigo grabbed his towel and wiped the sweat from the back of his neck. It was good he’d gotten the last shot in before the end of the match. It had been close, but there was no doubt who’d won now.

  “You two need to chill out and start playing video games or something,” Mayte said, peeking her head out the door and shaking her head in mock disapproval. Their sister would have been in on the action if she weren’t heavily pregnant with her second little brat. “Dinner is ready. Mama said to put some clothes on before you come to her table. Be quiet when you come in, though. Santiago is having a nap, thank God.”

  “We’re gentlemen,” Fidel called back. “Of course we’ll be presentable.”

  Hurriedly, they dried off then dressed in fresh clothing. A shower would have been ideal, but they always lost track of time when they were sparring, and being late for dinner was a capital offense in their mother’s house.

  “So what then, if it’s not about a girl. Him again?”

  Rodrigo threw his brother a withering look.

  “There are other dicks out there, if that’s what you want. It’s not like you don’t have options, and it’s been what – six years? Eight? You are firmly in the friendzone.”

  He held up a hand, hoping to silence his brother in case someone else came outside. Surprisingly, he dropped the subject and went ahead into the house.

  As wealthy as her children had become, Mama still lived in the house they’d grown up in. They’d tried to move her into a nicer place, but she loved her garden, the trees their papa had planted for her, and her nosy neighbors. Half her joy of living came from neighborhood gossip and bragging about her kids, even if her boys were childless and unmarried. She always had plans to fix the latter.

  “Rodrigo is angsting about the beast again,” Fidel said as he fell into his childhood seat at the kitchen table. Rodrigo flicked his ear, and Fidel cried out in feigned agony and clamped a hand over his imaginary wound. “Fuck off!”

  Mama flicked Fidel’s other ear. “No swearing at each other at the table!”

  Fidel’s mouth fell open in betrayed disbelief. “You’re supposed to lecture him, not wound me. I’m your favorite!”

  “You aren’t,” she said bluntly, piling food on his plate. “Your sister’s my favorite because she’s got enough good sense to give me grandbabies.”

  “Well Ro isn’t giving you any grandbabies, at this rate.”

  “Neither are you, even with all your catting around. You’re on your third relationship scandal this year.”

  “Mama – the last one was for publicity. I never even slept with her. Fake relationship and break-up to help advance her career, remember?”

  “Well, next time a pretty girl wants to ride your coattails, you tell her you need a baby to make the story believable. If she doesn’t want to raise one, tell her to give that bundle to me. And Rodrigo, you need to move on, mijo. La bestia isn’t even a good friend to you. Why would you take that trouble into your bed?”

  “Quit calling him that,” Rodrigo said irritably. He hated when they called Severin a beast. Maybe Sev wasn’t used to interacting with other people, but that didn’t make him an animal.

  “He’d take that trouble into his bed because love isn’t just blind, she’s an idiot,” Mayte grumbled, taking her place at the table and biting the end off a celery stick as though it had done her wrong.

  Mama tsked at her. “Sour grapes, Mayte. Dax will be back in a week and he knows you have me to help. You know that man loves you.”

  Mayte cut a piece off her serving of roast beef and drenched it with gravy. “If I have to push this baby out while he’s in Seattle, he’d better buy me a big fat diamond.”

  “You don’t even wear the ones you own,” Mama pointed out.

  “It’s the principle of the thing.” She sniffed.

  They ate in silence for a few minutes because the food was too good to ignore, but there was no way his family would drop the subject of Rodrigo’s love life so early in the evening.

  Eventually Mama laid aside her napkin. “I thought you’d finally admitted to yourself that a relationship with la bestia was impossible? Why are you letting yourself get your hopes up again?”

  “And why do you want a man who’s such a mess?” Mayte demanded for the umpteenth time. “He’s an ass and he’s ugly as sin.”

  “Well, he is kind of hot,” Fidel disagreed, “if you like rough men and don’t mind playing therapist. But is all the work worth it? I get the idea of a fixer upper, but come on. He hasn’t even looked your way, and isn’t he as good as married at this point? I thought you liked that girl.”

  Rodrigo kept eating.

  Mayte gasped and put down her fork. “Look at his face! Something happened!”

  Now they were all staring at him, eyes narrowed. He felt his face heat under their scrutiny.

  “It was nothing.”

  “Oh like that’s going to fly with these two?” Fidel said, waving his fork at their mother and sister.

  “You’re worse than we are, Fi,” Mayte laughed, throwing a dinner roll at him.

  He caught the roll and took a bite of it. “Thanks. I wanted one of these but was afraid to reach a hand too close to the pregnant woman’s food.”

  Mayte rapped his knuckles.

  “I bet he’s a freak in the bedroom,” Mama mused. “He looks the type. Papa was into some weird things, but damn, he was so hot I just let it happen.”

  “Mama!” Mayte winced, clapping her hands over her ears. “No one wants to hear about your sexcapades with Papa!”

  “Did I ever tell you about the time he brought me to Vegas and –”

  Fidel coughed. “Tell your friends, not your children!”

  “The three of you are such prudes. How do you think you got here? I’ll tell you now, i
t wasn’t because I did my duty with the lights off.” She stood and put more food on their plates even though no one had finished their first servings. “You just wish you had a mama who went to church and was easier to scandalize.”

  “No. That kind of mother would have disowned us,” Fidel pointed out. “And then we’d die of malnutrition because we’re all too lazy to cook.”

  “True.” She sighed. “I’m just saying you know damn well why you’re all so open minded about love. Papa’s genes won out there, even if you’re all pretty like me.” She smiled, but there was still sadness there.

  He’d been gone five years, but they still struggled with it – their mother most of all. Their father had been an artist – wild, gifted. Mayte was just as talented, even though their styles were completely different. Rodrigo had his own fair share of artistic talent, which he’d turned into money with tattooing, but he’d realized he’d never go far in the gallery circuit. His art was too fanciful and dark for most buyers. So much art had happened in this house. Growing up, their home had never been lonely or boring.

  Well, now was as good a time as any to broach the subject. “Mama, have you heard of poly?”

  “Poly?” she asked, frowning. “Is that something you buy at one of those sex stores?”

  Mayte laughed. “No! That’s when you’re in a relationship with more than one person at the same time.”

  “Like a threesome? Sure. Four. Whatever. Depended on who was visiting. That was back before Rodrigo came along though. No wild parties after the babies came.” She shook her head, smiling as though at a fond memory. “When Papa was stuck on a piece, sometimes he’d invite Joe and Qiang over and they’d take turns –” She cut herself off, blinking. “Sorry. Forgot you didn’t want details.”

  They stared at her in mute horror. Joe and Qiang were like uncles to them, and Rodrigo really didn’t want to know how that sentence had been about to end.

  “I think Ro meant an actual relationship, Mama. Not a gangbang.” Fidel raised his brows and sipped from his wine glass.

  “Is four people even enough to qualify as a gangbang?” Mama asked sweetly. “I think there needs to be at least five.”