He’d meant she better get used to being attached at the hip.
Somehow, at this moment, she couldn’t stir up enough indignation to protest. She needed them as much as they wanted to be with her.
Tess nodded. “Okay. Thanks. I’d appreciate the company. Is Bastion’s dad okay with him staying, too?”
She didn’t ask about the twins. Mr. Saxton’s help earlier with the police had forced the beginnings of a more accepting acquaintance. The twins seemed to be talking more openly and easily with their father, too, so they’d be able to argue their own case for spending the night if needed.
Mr. Wilkinson himself answered her question regarding his son staying with her at the hospital. “Her fiancé will stay, naturally. All of them are friends and were involved in this mess together. Seems natural they’d want to talk through what happened once we’ve given them all some privacy.”
What a change in tune! He may as well have switched instruments, like a brain and heart swap, coming out with a completely different interpretation of the music he’d played earlier in Hendersons’ office.
That girl was now Bastion’s fiancée. It sounded more like Mr. Wilkinson was trying to establish precedence.
Marla must not have told him that War claimed her as his girlfriend first.
The adults all looked at each other.
War took charge. “We still have our bodyguards until the police finish their investigation and our private security deems the situation to be returned to low risk. It’ll be very safe at the hospital for us tonight. Nobody will leave tomorrow morning without a bodyguard and calling a parent first. Shall we make the nursing staff happy and break off for the night?”
Mr. Saxton patted both of his sons on their backs. “I will go home. I need time to review those tapes.”
He made an exit after hugging both of his sons.
Ruby smiled at War. “Please call me in the morning. I’ve taken the week off work. We should convene at the house so that the security team can review things with Tess in person.”
Tess hadn’t thought about talking with the private security as well as the police, but it made sense, especially given the evidence-gathering aspect of their investigation done on her and the other guys’ requests.
Ruby hugged all of the guys and Tess last. “Take care of yourself, Tess. These boys owe you another weekend at the island ASAP. I’ve already cleared it with Gray. He’s coming down to see you tomorrow.”
“Thanks for taking care of my mom and the kids,” Tess told her, returning the hug.
“My pleasure. I miss my big family. It’s nice to have more people in the house.”
War had expressed something similar. It really must be lonely for them.
Just as if her thinking of him invoked him, War came up behind his mother and clasped her shoulder.
“Come on, Mum. I have your guard waiting in the hallway. I promise we will call in the morning. Please, go home and get some rest. Da is gonna rip a strip off me otherwise if he sees you with those dark circles when he gets here.”
Ruby put her hand on top of her son’s holding her shoulder and gave it a reassuring tap. “Okay, I’m going. You don’t let her out of your sight,” Ruby insisted.
That sounded ferociously protective. Ruby could be a real mama bear.
“Of course nae,” War replied, accent rumbling out as he took on the responsibility to keep her safe.
Ruby finally left, waving once more to all of the boys.
There was only one parent left. One very quiet, uncomfortable man.
Mr. Wilkinson cleared his throat, establishing his turn to have the floor. “I owe you an apology, Miss Sinclair.”
Nothing else. Not even what he was apologizing for so suddenly.
What had Mr. Wilkinson been told?
“Thank you, but I don’t need any apologies, sir,” Tess replied, looking over at Bastion.
His features were drawn tight and he wasn’t looking at anyone, peering out the reflections from the windows instead. Perhaps he was watching them all indirectly.
Tess stopped short of suggesting Mr. Wilkinson apologize to his son rather than her. Bastion had been through enough. He didn’t need to be pushed. She wanted him to feel safe and comfortable.
“I hope you will let us start anew in the future,” Mr. Wilkinson calmly requested. “Sebastian is set upon his engagement to you, as well as refusing to move back home. I realize that I need to give you a better chance than I offered earlier if I want to maintain a relationship with my son.”
Not overly sentimental, but honest. Bastion blinked a few times, still staring at the windows.
Tess turned her head to face Mr. Wilkinson. For a moment, she could see some of the resemblance between son and father. Statues that needed help finding the cracks in their stone skins to let out the emotions they hid inside.
“I will talk with Bastion. Naturally, it is his decision, sir,” Tess explained.
“That is all I ask. I bid you adieu,” Mr. Wilkinson said, making a quick, barely-lowered bow of his head to the others and an exit.
Bastion only turned from the windows once his father left. He smiled at her, a little reassurance he directed her way.
Perhaps that hadn’t gone too badly?
“Tess-girl, close your eyes and rest,” War said.
“I’m okay. I want to talk,” Tess said.
“We need to get set up for the night with some futons,” Kade explained.
“And food. You have to be starving. What do you want?” Keir asked.
“We’ll choose,” Bastion said before she could answer. He approached the bed, grabbing the sidebar with a white-knuckled grip. “You need to rest after all this talking. You’ve been kept way too busy for a girl that’s been drugged and concussed just hours ago. Close your eyes and fake sleeping if you must, but I don’t want to hear a peep from you other than snores.”
“Bossy!” Tess stuck her tongue out at Bastion.
He reached over, yanked her sheet off, and scooped her legs up from under the knees, baring her ass in the inadequate hospital gown.
Three hard smacks on her bottom followed.
He kept her legs held up, rubbing the smacks into her bottom while the rest of the guys crowded around the bed and got a good look at her flustered face.
“She’s already hurt, Bastard!” Keir protested, shooting Bastion a dirty look.
“Not her arse,” War said, shocking her.
Kade kissed her on the forehead. “Just rest. We promise to wake you as soon as the food is here. Give Bastion a break, please.”
Tess sighed and closed her eyes. She went under almost immediately, just barely feeling the soft whisper of Bastion’s lips against her bottom before he lowered her legs and tucked her in.
She was safe, warm, and cared for by her protective, loving guys. Things weren’t perfect but they were going to be okay.
24
Tess
Victory Lap
Greg lived.
He ratted out everyone and took a plea bargain. At least, that was what Maddy told her.
Mom was the only one still visiting him. She was out of the hospital for good now, just counselling as an out-patient. They were back at the townhouse.
The kids had their visit and reassurance at the hospital. Tess hadn’t been quite as brave, peeking through the ICU windows.
Hooked up to all of those monitors and lines had been a broken man.
She decided to leave off at not quite hating him. He didn’t deserve the right to apologize, either, even if he wanted to make amends.
They were better off sticking to phone calls one day.
Her guys had been quick to push her wheelchair back to her room as soon as she voiced her preference. None of them wanted her to give Greg a chance, not even Bastion.
Tess thought Greg might have bonded a tiny bit with Bastion in that dirty basement when Bastion had put on his show and razor-knuckled that gangster down in front of Greg in a show of streng
th and solidarity.
Protect Tess, even if we have to be villains.
Maybe she had read too much into it. Years of abuse and neglect couldn’t be made up in one grey-shaded act.
Bastion told her that the worst moment of his life was finding her slumped unconscious under the table. He wouldn’t tell her anything of what happened afterwards, when the sudden force of her brain slamming into her skull left her without a resolution.
She was rescued. She woke up in the hospital. He was sorry.
The other guys did their best to fill in their parts.
War had gotten the fake bag of drugs Bastion substituted and tossed it into Larry’s topless car from a motorcycle he’d borrowed—Jacobson’s bike, of all people—per the instructions Bastion had relayed over his phone during the frenetic ride Greg had taken them to get to the hideout.
How the fuck Bastion managed to do anything but hold on during that ride was a mystery he was also unwilling to discuss.
Where the naloxone came from and in that quantity? Street contacts were all he would say.
Throwing the fake drugs into Larry’s car had been a good distraction. Bastion had been a step ahead of them all.
The twins told their parts with a lot of emotions, not holding back as much. Tess felt herself tear up as they revealed how their father finally revealed what happened to Haunani from his perspective. To explain why he’d kept such a tight rein on his sons. The admission that he’d been so wrong to lock them out of his grief.
Tess told them not to be upset that they’d been stuck at War’s house listening to the bug instead of acting like cowboys coming to ride in to rescue her at sundown, guns flashing.
She knew that her father would truly be dead if they hadn’t gotten that evidence of Larry’s and Jensen’s guilt, the admission of running a drug-ring on tape. Now it wasn’t just a dirty cop’s word against two lawyered-up crooks.
The twins had sent help, called 9-1-1. The moment Bastion said his ‘codeword’ that they all knew meant to call in the cops.
The timeline was a blur to Tess. Bastion felt it went slow as molasses for help to arrive—he'd never planned for them to go into the basement. The twins said everything happened so fast that War barely made it in time to plant the fake drugs.
Tess finally let it go. They’d talked until 2 a.m., rehashing the what-ifs and has-beens until it no longer mattered.
It was over.
Their victory lap was complete.
She’d won.
Spring break
“This is just like the Blue Lagoon.”
Bastion turned over onto his side where they were all lazing about after a swim and gave her a speculative look.
Well, most of them had swam. She’d mostly learned not to drown. Floating, dog-paddle, and practicing in the curled-up position with a life jacket on to prevent heat loss while waiting for a rescue. This hadn’t been the sexy beach trip she’d been hoping for so far.
“We’re not on a deserted island,” Bastion said, shoving his bangs out of his eyes.
“Near enough,” she rejoined. “Use your imagination.”
Hint. Hint.
“You’re not naked enough,” Keir said. “I remember some epic clothing impairment in the best part of the movie.”
Thank you, Trouble.
“I can help set the scene if you like,” Kade offered.
“You’re already naked,” Tess pointed out. He’d whipped off his swim shorts as soon as his brother mentioned the word naked.
“Halfway there, then,” Kade said.
Keir stripped off his shorts.
Twin, pierced dicks winked at her. The barbells caught the sunlight as their dicks moved when they both shifted closer to her. Kade was at her feet and Keir was closer to her head.
Bastion was in the middle, behind the twins. He put a hand on both of their hips without an ounce of embarrassment.
“Hold them,” War encouraged, his voice coming from behind her. “Tess told me she liked seeing them jerk their dicks in the shower. Let them give her a little show while I pet this sweet pussy in front of them for incentive.”
Voyeurism had definitely become one of their kinks in their group intimacy. The guys didn’t usually get themselves off in front of her unless they were fucking. Especially the twins. The little taboo seemed easier if they weren’t facing each other directly.
Last time she’d been between them.
This time they’d watch her together as they masturbated.
War rolled her over onto her back. He used his teeth on her shoulder strap, one after the other, palming her breasts as he popped them out of the top. Her hips thrust up between them, seeking for the hard cock pushing War’s swim shorts out an obscene distance, barely kept under wraps.
“You’re overdressed,” Tess complained when he met her thrust and drilled her into the sand. “I want you inside!”
A slap echoed. Tess turned her head to see Keir moan, arching his ass back towards Bastion.
“Keep your hand on your dick. No cheating by giving into Kitten before she’s been properly petted,” Bastion demanded.
He smacked Keir’s ass again.
He added two for Kade, who growled out his response to the unexpected spanking.
“Just to be fair,” Bastion purred.
“You’re begging for us to hold you down while she takes an unrestricted ride,” War taunted.
Just like that, the twins turned on Bastion. They were dirty and fast, used to jockeying for first place when it was important, like the last piece of desert.
Taking Bastion down a peg was like winning fucking ambrosia.
“Pumpkin, would you like to do the honours of either giving Bastard a wedgie or...?” Keir trailed off for his brother to complete the question.
“Saddle this pony by yanking off his wrapping?” Kade finished asking.
Tess laughed.
Bastion did his best not to look flustered but pale skin showed red easy.
War stood and gave her a hand up. He immediately turned her around and stripped off the rest of her swimsuit, making sure the guys all got a good view of her naked body.
“Spread your legs,” War suggested as he worked his way back up behind her, hands trailing all that bare skin he’d revealed.
She stepped apart.
He rewarded her by cupping her pussy from behind, fingers finding her clit with ease.
Bastion groaned. “Get over here, Kitten. I’m going to try a new position.”
“Still bossy even on your back?” Tess taunted.
War yanked his own shorts down the bare minimum necessary with one hand and rubbed his cock against her pussy lips from behind. He used his grip on her from the front to wiggle her into position, just teasing her entrance with the big head that wanted to breach her first.
“Want to take me in your ass while War plows your pussy? You can suck the twins and have all of us at once,” Bastion proposed in a last-ditch effort.
“Fuck, yes,” Tess agreed.
War nipped the back of one of her shoulders. “We’re gonna have to let the Bastard go so he can hold you up if you wanna do this right.”
She was already sold on the new position. Some kind of reverse-cowgirl. All that mattered was no waiting to have her guys. The swim had been one long tease.
“Let him go,” Tess ordered.
The twins released Bastion together. Kade went over to their beach supplies and pulled out a condom and lube, tossing it at Bastion to prepare.
War backed her up into position. She peered behind to watch her way.
Bastion’s dick was almost hitting his navel in his new pose, half sitting up, legs sprawled out in front of him. Enough room for between his thighs for Tess to stand and for War as he kneeled in front of her.
War licked her pussy lips, swiping his tongue for her clit. His chin came away wet as he pulled away and looked up at her.
“You taste plenty ready, Tess-girl,” War said.
“Wigg
le that hot ass in front of my face one more time and I’m going to spank it,” Bastion threatened. “Get on my dick and bite your lip, Kitten. It’s going to be a tight fit.”
They all helped her down. Bastion gripped her firmly under her arms from behind. War had her knees hooked over his arms as he tipped her. Keir spread her bum cheeks, tickling her tight entrance with a lubed finger first, and then, she felt Bastion’s thicker cock probe. Kade kissed her lips, cupping her chin as he gave an order for her to relax against her mouth.
Bastion eased her down, slow inch-by-inch of his cock filling her until she was finally seated on his thighs, full and feeling that burning stretch of pleasure-pain.
She threw her head back. “Fuck me,” she hissed as even that movement tugged at the cock impaling her ass. She was connected intimately to Bastion as long as he wanted her.
“Is that an invitation, Tess-girl?” War asked. He rubbed the head of his cock against her pussy lips, waiting to be given permission to double stuff her.
“Give me a moment,” she said with a wiggle.
“Bite that lip for her, Kade. And Keir will get to tease your pretty tits. We’ll take it slow and easy, Kitten,” Bastion said.
“I want it,” Tess agreed.
Bastion grabbed her hands and drew her arms up and around the back of his head. “Hold ‘em there or we’re going to tie you up,” he warned. He leaned backwards further, with her following by the pull on her hands clasped behind his head.
She was left open like a feast splayed out for the other guys.
War nudged the head of his cock inside her. She gasped against Kade’s mouth, focusing on the feel of Kade nipping her bottom lip between his teeth and his piercing. Keir sucked one of her nipples into his mouth, fingers rolling the other.
Bastion rocked his hips underneath her.
She clenched Bastion’s cock, tightening everything, so War’s next push met greater tension. War growled. He pivoted his hips to slip in further from a slightly different angle. Fingers on her clit plucked at her resistance.
Bastion rocked his hips again, groaned, like it was as much a tortured pleasure for him as it was for her, for him to be fucking her tight ass.
Duplicity (Victory Lap Book 2) Page 40
