Corrupt (Devil’s Night Book 1)

Present

I DROPPED MY HEAD BACK, letting the tip of my blade fall to the ground as I tried to catch my breath.

I hated fencing alone.

I hated being stuck alone.

It had been five days since I drove back from Thunder Bay, Michael and the guys following close behind, and if I wasn’t in class, then I was in my apartment.

Per Michael’s orders.

And if I strayed—to the bookstore or the grocery store—he’d be calling or texting, wondering where I was. I think he had Mr. Patterson and Richard alerting him when I didn’t walk in the front door at a certain time every day, and I was about done with it.

Alex had invited me for coffee with her friends tomorrow, and I was going to go.

Now that I knew my mother was safe, and actually sounding hopeful and more energetic, judging from the sound of her voice on the phone, I wanted to keep moving forward. My accounts were back to normal, and several contractors were assessing our house in Thunder Bay, getting ready to make bids on the restoration.

Whatever Michael and his friends were planning for Trevor and Damon, I didn’t care. I didn’t want any part of it.

Sick Puppies You’re Going Down played off my laptop in the kitchen, and I stood at the island, chugging a bottle of water, the light layer of sweat on my back cooling my skin.

I’d spent twenty minutes in front of a floor length mirror, checking my footwork and parrying with a tennis ball before finishing with thirty minutes of sequences.

Fencing wasn’t something I competed at, but it was something I endeavored to perfect. My father had wanted me to study it, and even though I could’ve quit at any time, I refused. It would’ve been closing a door. Leaving him behind in a way.

I just wished I had someone to practice with—a club or a program at a gym or something. It was dull training on my own, which was why I’d barely done any workouts since moving to Meridian City.

My phone started ringing, and I set down my water bottle, staring at Michael’s name on the screen.

Hitting Ignore, I turned off my phone and pushed it away.

Every time he called or texted, it was demands, orders, and updates about where I was, what I was doing, and if I’d talked to anyone today. He never asked me how I was or said anything nice.

Until he finally showed up, late and worked-up from his basketball practice, wanting in my bed.

He’d walk in, lock the door, and start stripping off my clothes, and everything I told myself to strengthen my resolve when he wasn’t here went out the fucking window.

I’d wrap my legs around his waist and let him carry me to my room.

He was winning, and here I was again, playing his game.

I made my way for the refrigerator to get another bottle of water, but three quick knocks hit the front door, and I halted, the hair on the back of my neck standing up.

It’s okay. If it were Damon—or Trevor—the door was locked, and no one could get in.

Walking slowly for the door, I tightened my fist around the handle of my foil and leaned in, peering through the peephole.

Nothing but black. The lapels of his jacket, a shirt, and then there was a sliver of smooth, tanned neck. I couldn’t see his face, six-foot-four as he was, but I’d know Michael anywhere.

“Who is it?” I asked playfully.

“Who do you think?” he snapped. “Open the damn door.”

I shook my head, laughing to myself. Any opportunity to aggravate him was a small victory.

Opening the door a few inches, I stood there, fixing him with a defiant stare.

“A little early, aren’t you?” I challenged. “You usually like your ass around ten.”

He hooded his eyes, not the least bit amused. “Let me in.”

But I shook my head, keeping him at bay. “No, I don’t think so. I’m not interested tonight.”

“Not interested?” He scowled. “What the hell does that mean?”

“It means you can’t keep me locked up to be at your service whenever you’re in the mood.”

He narrowed his eyes. “Is that what you think I’m doing?” He pushed open the door and walked in, forcing me to back away. “You think I’m hiding you?”

He took another step toward me, but I immediately raised my pathetic sword between us, stopping him. Its flat tip pressed into his torso while the hilt nearly pressed into mine, keeping forty-three inches between us.

He let out a bitter laugh, looking down at my weapon. “My games are more fun.”

But I wasn’t playing. “You took Alex out,” I reminded him. “My first night at Delcour, she was in a dress, you were in a suit, and you both had just gotten back here from wherever you were at. You haven’t taken me anywhere.”

He swiped the sword away and walked into me, backing me up against a wall. Leaning his hand above my head, he dipped down, holding my eyes.

“So what do you want?” he sneered. “Flowers? A nice, polite dinner in a pretty dress, and a nice, polite fuck in a hotel room? Then I’ll see you to your door at the end of the night? Come on, Rika. You’re disappointing me. That isn’t us.”

“Us?” I argued. “There is no ‘us.’ You have no idea what makes me happy, and you don’t care.”

“Really?” He nodded with a sarcastic lift to his eyebrows. “So sneaking into Hunter-Bailey for their open bouting event tonight wouldn’t make you happy? Because that’s what I was coming to get you for.”

My eyes rounded, and my mouth fell open.

“But if you’d rather dinner and movie, hey.” He shrugged. “I can go buy some boring fucking flowers, too.”

I broke out a wide smile, squealing as I jumped up and wrapped my arms around him.

He tried to stay stiff and aggravated, but I could see the smile trying to break out.

“You suck,” I teased.

“So do you,” he retorted, wrapping his arms around my waist. “Don’t tell me how to treat you, okay? I know exactly what you like.”

And then he pulled away, giving me a light slap on the ass. “Now go shower and change. You stink.”

I couldn’t stop grinning as I spun around and dashed into the bathroom.

“STAND UP STRAIGHT,” Michael scolded, tossing his keys to the valet.

I followed him to Hunter-Bailey’s stairs, immediately squaring my shoulders and clutching my forest green duffel bag over my shoulder.

“Are you sure this is going to be okay?” I asked, facing him.

He reached behind my head and grabbed the black hood of the over-sized sweatshirt he’d put on me, pulling it over my hair.

“Who’s going to stop us?” he shot back.

I twisted my lips to the side as he tucked my long hair inside the hood.

Who’s going to stop us? Would I ever learn to retort with that when I had doubts? No, because I was a worrier.

“Well, what if they find out I’m a woman?” I pressed, my skin tingling as his hands grazed my face.

“Then smile and own it,” he replied. “The only way we find out what we’re capable of is by getting into a little trouble.”

I cocked an eyebrow. “Sometimes getting into trouble can get you into a lot of trouble. Just ask Kai and Will.”

He looked at me like I was an idiot. “Are you planning to beat up any cops or sleep with underage girls?”

I rolled my eyes.

“Come on.” He took my hand, pulling me up the stairs.

Opening the door, he entered, letting me follow, and I kept my head down, hearing glasses clink and boisterous laughter coming from the dining room.

The pungent scent of cigars drifted out, assaulting my nostrils, so I inhaled short, shallow breaths.

Michael laid a hand on my back, guiding me toward the stairs.

“Mr. Crist?” a male voice called, and we stopped.

My heart jumped in my chest, but I didn’t turn around.

“Policy requires that everyone check in, sir,” the man said. It must’ve been one of the attendants.

“This is William Grayson III,” Michael answered, his voice calm and confident.

I could feel the man’s eyes on my back.

After a few moments, he cleared his throat and answered, “Of course, sir.”

Relief swept over me, but I knew he knew. How could he not? If he knew Will at all, he would know I was several inches shorter and eighty pounds of muscle too small.

But he wouldn’t challenge a member. If Michael said I was Will, then I was Will.

“Come on.” Michael nudged my back, sending me up the staircase.

I tightened my grasp on my bag and jogged up the stairs, hearing footfalls above me and chatter coming from the rooms we passed as he led me down the hall.

“Follow close,” he told me over his shoulder. “Don’t look up.”

I kept my eyes down and my head bowed, simply watching the back of his shoes as I shadowed him down the hallway. We walked through a door and across another room.

It was the gym. I could tell by the glossed, wooden floors, the sound of speed bags being hit, and the squeaks of tennis shoes. Following Michael’s order, I didn’t look up, simply walking as quickly as possible to the locker room door as he opened it, rushing me in.

He led me past the steam room, the sauna, and the spas, their water vapor winding up out of the pools like a witch’s brew, and led me past the lockers and the few male voices I could hear lurking about in the vast room. Curving to the right, we stepped into a row of frosted glass doors. Michael grabbed the handle of one and pushed me inside, stepping behind me and closing the door.

Looking up, I spun around, seeing that it was a shower. The rainfall head sat directly above me on the ceiling, and a built in soap dish on the wall held three large bottles with pumps—shampoo, conditioner, and body wash.

Michael took my bag and opened it, pulling out my pants, jacket, gloves, socks, and shoes.

Tossing the bag down, he dropped to a knee and started unfastening my pants.

I laughed under my breath, grabbing at his hands. “I can do it,” I protested.

“But I want to,” he said, sounding playful and making my heart flutter.

I heaved a sigh and stood up straight, letting him take off my shoes and socks before pulling down my jeans and slipping them over my feet. I stripping off my sweatshirt and T-shirt together, dropping them to the floor.

I crossed my arms over my chest, waiting for him to get out my white fencing pants and dress me, but instead, his eyes locked on mine as he slid his fingertips up my legs.

His lips quirked, and heat spread into his hazel eyes.

Curling his fingers under the hem of my panties, he pulled them down my legs, and I simply watched, trying to stay calm despite the butterflies on my belly.

I loved it when he watched me.

His rudeness and course attitude made the rare times he was soft so captivating that I wanted to slap myself. He was a sadist, and my little heart just had to go pitter-patter the second his yanks, grabs, and pulls turned into gentle caresses and his frowns, scowls, and snarls turned into whispers.

I fell, and I never even tried to stop myself.

Lust and logic sat on my shoulders like the modern day angel and devil, one telling me to trust my heart and the other telling me that I would never be able to trust his.

Michael slid his hands up my thighs, and I stood there, completely naked for him as his hot eyes drank me in and his fingers kneaded my skin.

“Don’t even think about it,” I scolded. “I want to fence.”

He broke out in a smile, knowing he was caught. “You’re so beautiful,” he said, sliding his hands up my ass and holding my hips as he looked up at me.

I couldn’t believe it. Michael Crist was on his knees, telling me I was beautiful.

I pushed his hands, heaving a sigh. “Just get me dressed.”

I wasn’t sure why he wanted me completely naked—no bra or panties—but arguing would tell him I was nervous, and screw that.

If he wanted me naked under my gear, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle.

He helped me get into my socks and then my pants. I slipped into my jacket that zipped up the front and then twisted my hair into a bun on the top of my head and wrapped a rubber band around it, securing it before sliding on my white gloves.

We got my shoes and mask on, making sure any stray hairs were tucked in.

“Let’s go,” Michael stood up and turned for the door, grabbing my hand.

But I yanked it out, smiling even though he couldn’t see my face under the mask. “Do you normally hold Will’s hand?”

He paused, as if realizing what he’d done. “Good point.”

He opened the shower door, I followed him out, past the lockers, spas, and steam room and sauna again. Just as we were heading for the door leading back into the gym, Kai walked through, entering the locker room with a bag over his shoulder.

“Hey, what are you doing?” he asked, stopping in front of Michael.

Michael shook his head, blowing him off, but then Kai’s eyes flashed to me and instantly narrowed.

Without hesitation, he reached out and lifted the mask up, seeing my lips twist to hide my smile.

“Nice.” He laughed, dropping my mask back down. “Well, this should be fun.”

Shaking his head in amusement, he walked around us into the locker room, and Michael stepped forward, opening the door to the gym.

Leading me through the maze of treadmills, weight machines, and the large boxing ring and supply of punching bags, he entered another room, a little darker, with a large wooden floor and a few fencers already sparring and lunging. Cushioned brown leather chairs sat around the floor, while some men enjoyed the bouting while drinking and talking.

Michael led me to the wall where a plethora of epees, foils, and sabers were displayed and gesturing for me to choose one. Glancing back at the men on the floor, I noticed most were using foils.

My heart started racing, hearing the clang of swords in the background, and I reached out, taking a foil with a pistol grip.

“Hey, are you up for sparring?” a man’s voice said at my back, and I whipped around, my heart jumping into my throat.

“Uh…” I looked to Michael.

But he just smirked and leaned in. “Have fun,” he whispered in my ear and walked off.

What? I straightened, suddenly nervous and feeling alone.

“Collins,” the guy said, holding out his hand.

He had light red hair, balding on top, with a shiny, pale face. He offered a wide, close-lipped smile, and I noticed he had a mask secured under one arm and a foil in his hand.

“Uh,” I stammered and then shot out my hand. “I’m Erik.” And then I lowered my voice, repeating for extra measure, “Erik.”

He grabbed my hand, damn near pulling it out of its socket as he shook it. “Well, come on, kid,” he urged, turning around and putting on his mask.

Kid? I wasn’t sure if it was my voice or my smaller frame, but at least he didn’t think I was a girl.

We stepped onto the sparring floor, and I glanced around, finding Michael sitting in a chair at a table to my right. A waiter brought a drink, and he looked up at me as he took a sip.

The rough threads of my fencing suit rubbed against my skin, and I started breathing harder, feeling the seam in the pants graze my clit.

I held back a groan, a drop of sweat gliding down my back.

“I don’t think I know you, do I?” the guy, Collins, asked.

I whipped my head back around, assuming the on-guard position. “We going to fence or what?” I bit out, holding up my foil.

He chucked and got into position as well. “Okay.”

I immediately advanced, using the footwork I’d been taught and had practiced for years as I challenged him, taking the offense. I parried, moving my foil in small circles and forcing him to defend as I pushed further and further. His arms were longer as well as his legs, so I moved fast, trying to be bold.

Trying to be the little dog with a big bark.

I circled and played, and just when I thought he was caught up with trying to keep up, I lunged and darted out my sword, sticking it into his chest.

“Whoa!” he exclaimed. “Nice.”

The thin blade bent, and I pulled back, breathing out, “Thanks.”

I backed up, setting us in position again and continued to advance or retreat as we bouted, him getting more comfortable and more aggressive.

He continued to challenge me, and I retreated, backing up as he advanced. But then I surprised him when I shot out and scored, stabbing him in the stomach.

“Dammit!” he growled.

And I stood up tall, tense that I might have pissed him off.

He pulled off his mask, his hair wet with sweat as he laughed, and I relaxed.

“Nice job, kid,” he granted, breathing hard. “Now I need a drink.”

I nodded, smiling as I let him walk off the floor. My mouth was also parched, but I wasn’t ready to take off my mask to get a drink yet

I turned my head right, realizing I’d forgotten Michael was even watching. He swirled his amber drink as he stared at me with heat in his eyes, and I couldn’t get my breathing to calm down. At that moment, every inch of my skin was aware of him.

I was damp with sweat, and the clothes stuck to my body. Every little hair was sensitive, and I wanted his mouth everywhere.

“Care for a match?” a man asked.

I twisted my head, seeing another guy with tousled black hair and dark eyes.

I nodded, not saying anything.

Positioning my feet, careful of the other fencers around us, I began sparring with him, but I was no longer thinking about fencing.

Michael. Michael, Michael. Always on my mind. Always inside of me.

I could feel his eyes on me now, and all I wanted was to strip out of these clothes and feel his skin on mine.

Forever.

What was I going to do?

“Hey, hey, hey…ease up,” the guy demanded. “I’m trying to enjoy myself here.”

I slowed my advance, breathing hard. “Sorry.”

I scored two times and he once, but I could barely concentrate anymore. Michael was watching, and now, instead of sparring and scoring, I wanted something else. The sweat on my bare skin under the clothes made the fabric chafe, and the threads rubbing my clit made me wet. I could feel my pulse between my legs throbbing, and I turned my head quickly to see Michael’s jaw flex and his chest rising and falling faster.

The corner of his mouth lifted smugly, and he knew I was getting worked up.

But then I grunted, feeling the flat tip of a sword digging into my stomach.

“Ugh,” I growled, backing away. “Dammit!”

The guy laughed at me, and I scowled at Michael, seeing him smile to himself.

My skin was so hot, and frustration nipped at every nerve on my body. The suit and mask felt like a pile of blankets on top of me, weighting me down so much that I was suffocating, and I wanted to rip everything off just to breathe.

I clenched my fists, seeing the challenge in Michael’s eyes. Oh, no. It’s my way this time.

“Good match,” I ground out to the guy, and then I walked away, leaving the floor.

“Hey?” I heard the guy exclaim.

But I didn’t turn around.

Tossing my sword at Michael, I saw him catch it before passing his table and walking out of the room, knowing he’d follow.

I made my way through the gym and into locker room, turning my head and seeing him come up behind me with fire in his eyes. He didn’t have the sword, so he must’ve left it at the table.

Twisting back around, I headed for the showers again, knowing we’d have privacy in the separate stalls, but he grabbed me by the hips, stopping me instead. Swinging open the door to the steam room, he forced me inside, and I glanced around quickly, making sure it was empty.

Steam hung in the air of the huge beige-tiled room, several areas difficult to see with all the water in the air. The rectangular area was scaffolded like a movie theater with four levels of seating and plenty of room to lie out.

But it was empty. The door didn’t lock, but we were alone for the moment.

I spun around and grabbed the bottom of my mask, tearing it off my head and letting it fall to the floor.

“Games, games, games…” I scolded, unzipping my jacket. “You’re driving me crazy.”

He grabbed me, pulling the white fencing jacket down my arms and coming down on my lips hard. The jacket fell to the floor, and I gripped his shoulders as he pulled me up and into him, covering my mouth with his taste and heat. His tongue slid in, flicking mine as he moved strong and powerful, devouring me.

“I like you crazy,” he gasped, pulling back an inch. “And I like you wet. How are you feeling down here?” He pushed his hand down the front of my pants, having no problem finding how slick I was. “Yeah. These pants rubbed against you good, huh? I knew they would.”

I shot back up, meeting him full force as we continued to kiss, bite, and play. I worked the rubber band out of my hair, finally freeing it and letting the long tendrils fall down my back.

His needy hands covered my skin, damp with sweat, and then slid down my pants, cupping my ass and pulling me into him.

The thick ridge of his cock nudged my clit, and I groaned, it felt so good.

“Somebody could come in,” I whispered against his neck as I pushed his black jacket down his arms. “We should go to the shower.”

“No,” he growled low, ripping open his shirt, the buttons flying. “I want to see you sweat.”

I glanced nervously at the frosted door, knowing someone could enter at any second, but my pussy was throbbing, my nipples were so hard from brushing against his clothes, and I didn’t care about anything except having him inside me.

Within seconds, my pants, shoes, and socks were gone, and Michael had shed his shirt before picking me up and wrapping my legs around him.

He stood there, in the center of the room, gripping my ass and kissing my neck, my jaw, and then my lips. I could feel my hair sticking to my back, and the air in the room grew thick, every inch of my skin coming alive as I tilted my head back.

“Rika,” he whispered against my neck. “I need you. I need you every day, every hour, every minute…”

I brought my head back up, hugging him close and wishing time would stand still.

He was everything.

My entire life, I only felt completely alive when he was close, and while I knew nothing would ever be easy with him, I also knew nothing would ever be good without him, either.

Dipping my head into his neck and closing my eyes, I whispered, “I love you, Michael.”

He remained still, his hold on me not changing, but it felt like he’d stopped breathing.

Tears sprang to my eyes when he didn’t say anything, and I held him tight. Please don’t push me away.

I wasn’t sorry I’d said it. I’d owned it, and there was no other choice. But I couldn’t face his silence. Or the truth that what was in his heart might not be what was in mine.

But I wasn’t sorry.

“Rika…” he said, sounding like he was searching for words.

But I shook my head, dropping my legs and forcing him to let me down. “Don’t say anything,” I told him, not meeting his eyes. “I don’t expect you to.”

His hands stayed on my hips, and I knew he was staring at me.

“Tell her you love her,” a deep voice echoed. “Jesus Christ.”

I shot my head up, Michael doing the same as we scanned the billows of steam and finally made out a pair of legs on the top level swinging over the edge as he sat up.

“Is it that fucking hard?” Kai set his feet on the tile of the next level and leaned down on his elbows, staring at Michael. “You’re so tortured. Had it real tough, haven’t you, Michael?”

I sucked in a breath and dived down, picking up Michael’s black shirt and covering myself.

Oh, my God. He’d been here the whole time? What the hell?

“A beautiful girl looks at you like you’re God her entire life,” Kai continued, shifting something small and red from one hand to the other over and over again, “and you’re never going to get anything better, because there is nothing better, and you still can’t say it? Do you know how lucky you are?”

Michael stood silent, his eyes narrowed on Kai. He wasn’t going to argue with him. He never would. Giving Kai’s accusation any attention would give it credibility.

Kai dropped his eyes, still spilling the small red items from hand to hand and looking solemn.

Do you know how lucky you are? Had it real tough, haven’t you?

“What are those?” I asked, tightening the shirt around my chest.

“Shells,” he answered.

Shells? I peered more closely at them, seeing the gold ends and tattered heads, scrappy and blown out.

Shells. Shotgun shells.

And they’d been fired. My heart started thumping.

“Why do you have them?” Michael demanded.

But Kai just shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”

“Why do you have them?” I demanded, stepping in.

I knew Kai was struggling, but why the hell did he have shotgun shells?

“They’re from the last time my grandfather took me shooting clay pigeons,” he explained, no emotion in his voice. “I was thirteen. It was the last time I remember being a kid.”

He stood up and walked down the levels, a white towel wrapped around his waist and his black hair slicked back.

“Sorry I didn’t make myself known sooner,” he said, approaching us. “I guess I…”

He trailed off as if thinking better of what he was about to say.

“You guess you what?” I asked.

He shot a glance at Michael before averting his eyes, admitting, “I guess I wanted to see if it would turn me on.”

Heat spread up my face, and I remembered what he’d said about not touching a woman in three years.

Had it really been that long?

He moved to walk around us, but I instantly stepped in front of him, not sure why.

He was so fucking lost and guarded, and if he was going to talk, I didn’t want him to stop until…

Until he felt good again.

“Did it?” I asked, barely audible. “Did it turn you on?”

His eyes shifted, and I saw him swallow like he wasn’t sure what to say. Maybe he was afraid of Michael. Maybe he was afraid of me.

I didn’t know why I did it, but I slipped off Michael’s shirt and let it fall to floor, feeling Michael tense next to me.

Kai kept his head level but his eyes were on the floor, staring at the shirt.

Every hair on my neck stood up, and I worried about what Michael would say or do or if he’d hate me, but something made my push forward.

I inched closer to Kai, the steam sitting like a cloth on my skin as he refused to look up.

“Why won’t you look at me?” I asked softly.

He breathed out a small laugh, looking nervous. “Because you’re the first woman I’ve said shit to since I got out, and I’m afraid…” His chest rose and fell faster, “I’m afraid I’ll want to touch you.”

I turned my head slowly, looking at Michael. Droplets sat on his chest, and his piercing eyes watched me as if waiting for what I was going to do next.

I faced Kai again, trying to catch his eyes. “Look at me.”

But he just shook his head and tried to veer around me. “I should get out of here.”

I put a hand up, touching his chest and stopping him. “I don’t want you to leave.”

His chest rose and fell under my palm, and his whole body was rigid as he continued to avoid my eyes.

I didn’t know what I was doing or how far this was going to go, but I knew Michael wouldn’t hold me back.

And I wasn’t so sure I wanted him to.

“Why are you doing this?” Kai finally raised his eyes, looking down at me.

“Because it feels right,” I told him. “Do you feel comfortable with me?”

He glanced at Michael who had inched closer to us, and then turned his eyes back on me. “Yeah.”

But he didn’t say anything else, and I wondered what he wouldn’t talk about? Where was the old Kai?

He looked so alone all the time, and tears lodged in my throat, because we’d all been changed forever. Michael had hated, because he couldn’t take being helpless. Kai had suffered, because his limits had been pushed, I’d gathered. And I had struggled to find out who I was and where I belonged for so long.

We’d all been so alone and so lost, wandering aimlessly, because none of us could admit that—not only were we not alone, but we couldn’t be happy alone. I needed Michael, Kai needed his friends, and Michael needed…

I wasn’t sure what he needed. But I knew he felt. He felt a lot, and I wanted that from him, and I wanted Kai to release everything that was holding him back, and I wanted the three of us to vent the pain and frustration, because it had been bottled up inside of us for so damn long.

I reached out and wrapped my arms Kai’s neck.

Burying my face in his neck, I held back the tears pooling in my eyes as I pressed my body into his and hung onto him like I was the one that needed him.

“Touch me,” I whispered. “Please.”

I heard his heavy breathing, and the pulse in his neck throbbed against my lips. His skin smelled like the salt from the spas, and the wet heat of his body melted to mine as he slowly relaxed.

He swallowed, and then I felt his hands rest on my hips. He stayed still for a few moments, catching his breath, but then I felt his fingers spread out over my back, his fingertips digging into my skin, growing stronger and more urgent.

His touch lowered, his hands running down my ass, and I started to follow suit. My hands came down over his shoulders, gliding down his chest, feeling the smooth skin of his collarbone and the ridges of his abs and slim waist.

“Does this hurt?” he asked.

I brought my head up to look at him, but he wasn’t looking at me. He was looking at Michael.

I twisted my head, seeing Michael’s mouth open a little, taking in quick, shallow breaths.

“Yeah,” he said in a low voice, his eyes meeting mine.

“But you like it,” I stated, feeling one of Kai’s hands trail up my belly between us. “You like the sting. It turns you on.”

Taking Kai’s hand, I hung onto him with one arm around his neck and pressed my forehead to his as I brought his hand up and put it on my bare breast.

He immediately exhaled a hard breath and started slowly kneading the skin, my nipple tightening and tingling under his touch.

I closed my eyes, the pleasure seeping into my muscles and making them float. “That feels so good,” I told him.

And then I opened my eyes, feeling a chest at my back.

Michael took hold of my hair, and my head jerked back as he wound the strands around his fist. He then pulled, forcing my neck to bend back and my eyes up to him.

“You’re fucking perfect,” he said and then reached around in front of me, sliding his hand between my legs.

His mouth came down on mine, Kai dived into my neck, and I moaned in surprise, the sound getting lost in Michael’s throat.

Oh, my God. My knees nearly buckled, and I couldn’t help arching my back, doing everything to meet Michael’s mouth, kissing him and feeling the sensation of his tongue, while my breasts pressed into Kai’s naked chest. Pleasure, like a cyclone, swept through my belly and down between my legs as he devoured my neck.

It was too much. Their lips sucking on me, tasting me, greedy and going back for more and more, and their hands groping and taking. I raised one arm, circling Michael’s neck behind me while my other hand clasped the back of Kai’s neck in front of me.

Michael slid his fingers inside of me, and I could feel how wet I was when he brought them back out. My head might be in a cloud and running on instinct right now, but my body definitely knew what it liked.

Michael’s tongue dived into my mouth, making me groan as the pulse between my legs got faster and harder. Kai took one of my breasts in his hand and dipped his head down, covering my nipple with his mouth.

“Oh, God,” I groaned, stilling as Michael continued to flick his tongue over my lips.

With the heat of Kai’s mouth and the play of Michael’s, I was ready to explode. Every muscle in my pussy tightened, and I looked up at Michael, begging, “I need to come.”

He pawed my ass, kissing and nibbling my lips softly. “You hear that, Kai?” he asked but still looked at me. “She wants to come.”

I felt Kai’s breathy laugh against my skin as he switched from one breast to the other. He darted out his tongue, licking the pebbled flesh before sucking the whole thing into his mouth and dragging it out with his teeth.

Then he stood up, pressing his body into my front as Michael locked me in from behind.

“You need to come?” he taunted, nibbling my jaw and chin.

And then he went for my ear, whispering a low growl, “I can handle that, baby. I’m going to lick you so good.”

I moaned, my stomach shaking with butterflies. I watched Kai drop to a knee and stared wide-eyed as he whipped off his towel.

Jesus. His erection and the size of his cock, full and hard, had my body on fire.

“Open her for me,” he told Michael.

Michael reached down, took my leg under the knee and lifted it, spreading it to the side and opening me for Kai. All I could do was dig my nails into his neck behind me and close my eyes as his friend covered my clit with his mouth, sucking it into his mouth hard and making my legs go weak.

He was going at me like he was starved, gliding his tongue along, swirling it around my clit, and making me so hot and ready.

“You like my friend sucking on you?” Michael taunted in my ear, groping my tits with both hands. “Yeah, I think you fucking love his mouth on your pussy.”

I let out a groan, my back arching and my tits jutting out as Kai’s tongue slid inside me, moving and licking. I pressed my pussy into him more and more, trying to keep him in that exact spot.

Heat filled my womb, my entrance throbbed, and I started moaning and gasping as I rolled my hips, chasing the orgasm that was coming.

“Yes, yes,” I cried softly.

I felt Michael’s hand lower to my ass behind me and slip between legs, rubbing one of his fingers up and down my length.

He stopped at the tight entrance, the one Kai wasn’t eating out, and I blinked, a moment of alarm settling in.

My mouth went dry as he pressed there, and I sucked in a breath as he fit the tip of his finger inside me and just stayed there, not forcing it further.

“Come on,” Michael urged, leaving soft kisses on my cheek. “Show me how much you like my friend eating your pussy.”

“Yes,” I whimpered, feeling my clit hum with need. “Kai, fuck, you feel so good.”

I rolled my hips, gritting my teeth together as the orgasm got closer and closer.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

“Ah. Oh, God!” I cried out, fisting Kai’s hair, grinding and jerking as the orgasm spilled over me, filling me with pleasure that racked through every nerve and over every inch of skin.

Michael’s finger pumped behind me, but it didn’t hurt. Not at all.

I ground my ass into him as well, feeling the need build there as both of my entrances filled with longing, lust, and then satisfaction.

My heart pumped like crazy, and I relaxed into Michael’s chest, feeling weak.

“Kai,” he choked out behind me.

And I looked down to see Kai pull back, his eyes closing for a split second as if he’d enjoyed that just as much as I did.

He brought up a hand, easily catching the condom that Michael tossed him.

“I need you,” Michael breathed out against my hair, sounding desperate.

I felt him take off his pants and drop everything to the floor, while Kai stood up and ripped open the condom with his teeth, sliding it on the hard length of his cock.

He grabbed my wrist and pulled me into him, picking me up by the backs of my thighs and lifting me up. I wrapped my legs around his waist, holding onto his shoulders as I stared into

his dark eyes.

“Thank you, Rika,” he said, sincerity clear in his eyes.

And then he kissed my lips as he positioned his cock at my entrance and worked the head in, going nice and slow as he slid inside.

I groaned, feeling him enter me as he grabbed my ass, holding me tight on him.

“Do you want me, Rika?” he asked, our stomachs and chest molding together.

“Yeah.” I nodded, knowing what he needed to hear.

Did I want him?

I wanted this. I wanted him and me and Michael and making something good out of the last three years, and I wanted him to know he wasn’t alone.

He was loved, and he had people he could count on.

But I wasn’t in love with him. My heart was always Michael’s. But I was his friend, and I wanted this.

Michael came up behind me, and I felt his dick on my back.

“So fucking hot,” he said as he held my hips and kissed my shoulder. “Drop one leg for me, but hold onto Kai.”

My heart skipped a beat, but I obeyed, knowing he needed me at a certain height to make this work.

Keeping one leg around Kai, with him still inside me, I dropped my right leg, lowering a bit. Kai held me tight, the cords of the muscles in his arms flexing as he kept me up.

Michael rubbed his cock against my tight entrance, my body already nice and wet from the steam and from Kai. I was so relaxed from my orgasm, and I was too exhausted to be too afraid.

I’d never done this before. Two guys—or this—but I knew it was going to happen.

“Hurry up,” Kai told Michael. “I have to start moving. This feels too good.”

Michael’s dick pressed into me, and I sucked in a breath, holding it.

“Relax, babe,” Michael pawed my behind. “I promise, you’re going to love this.”

I let out a breath, forcing my muscles to uncurl and remain still as Michael pressed harder and harder.

I winced at the burn as he pushed the head through and sucked in a breath. “I don’t think—”

“Shhh,” Michael soothed in my ear as he reached around to play with my clit. “Your ass is so fucking tight. You think I’m going to let you stop this after I’ve had a taste?”

And then he fisted my hair, pulling my head back. “Huh?” He bit my cheek, taunting me. “No one can hear you scream, Rika. We’re both going to fuck you, and you’re going to love every second if it. No one’s coming to help you.”

My heart jumped, and I gasped, feeling my clit throb harder with the fear. “Yes.”

Goddamn him.

The fear. The fucking fright got me hot, and he knew exactly what to say to get my body needy again.

Slowly—so slowly—he sunk deeper and deeper inside me, and I was so turned on as Kai dived into my neck, sucking and kissing my skin. He pulled out and thrust into me, and I moved with the motion, backing up into Michael’s cock. I felt the groan in his chest as he came down on my mouth.

They went slow, finding a rhythm and moving in and out of me at the same time, and I circled an arm around Michael’s neck again, pulling Kai closer with my other hand.

I was stretched and filled and my entire body tingled with the friction of skin and sweat and my hair sticking to my neck and back.

“Harder,” I groaned, sucking in air through my teeth as I arched my back for Michael and dug my nails into the back of Kai’s neck.

They moved faster, and it fucking stung where Michael was entering me, but it felt so good, too. Like my orgasm was coming from ten different places, all leading to one spot where they’d come together and explode.

“Jesus,” Michael gasped, his hands squeezing my hips as I backed up into his thrusts, taking everything he was giving me.

“God, Rika,” Kai growled, one hand under my thigh at his waist and the other on my breast.

He dipped his head again, taking it in his mouth, and I pushed up against him, begging for it.

Tipping my head back, I hovered my lips against Michael’s. “Are you going to blame me for this in the morning?”

“And if I do?”

I breathed hard, Kai’s and Michael’s thrusts growing more powerful. “Then I’ll leave,” I told him, “and I won’t come back until you chase me down.”

His lips quirked in a smile, and he wrapped his arm around my neck, whispering in my ear, “I wanted this as much as you. I wanted to see how much this would hurt me.”

“Does it hurt at all?”

He stopped breathing, looking pained. “I want to kill him.”

And I smiled. “Good.”

He dived down, capturing my mouth, and I had to force myself to stay upright, because he was kissing me so hard that I could feel it down to my toes.

And then he pulled away, dropping his head back and thrusting his dick inside me, caught up in the pleasure. I turned around, taking Kai’s lips next, moaning into his mouth as his tongue caressed mine and my pussy started to build with pressure deep inside.

Kai held me by the back of my hair, forehead to forehead, our hot breaths mixing together. “Rika,” he panted. “Jesus, you feel so good. I can’t believe I went without this for so long.”

Sweat made his body shine, and I sucked his bottom lip between my teeth. “You’re so deep. Make me come again, Kai.”

He tightened his fist in my hair. “You don’t even have to ask, baby.”

He started thrusting harder, and I hooked my arm around Michael’s neck again, feeling them both fill me up, going deep and hitting me so good inside.

I bit my bottom lip, squeezing my eyes shut as my blood rushed and my pussy pulsed and throbbed around his cock.

But it was Michael that made it spread throughout my body. His dick slammed into my ass, his skin on mine, and my entire belly and thighs burned until I’d gotten into a rhythm and was fucking them both back.

“Oh, God,” I moaned. “Harder, harder!”

“Come on, baby,” Michael urged me on.

“What the hell’s going on in here?” I heard from behind us, and it momentarily registered that someone had walked in.

But I was another planet. I didn’t care.

“Get the fuck out here!” Michael shouted.

“Goddamn!” Kai dropped his head back, fucking me harder, and I knew he was close.

No one even spared the intruder a glance, but I heard the door close, so I knew he was gone.

“Yes,” I gasped. “Yes!”

The orgasm crested and then exploded, down my thighs, up my back, and all over inside. I stilled, letting it ride out, as they kept entering me again and again, the sensation making my eyes roll into the back of my head.

Michael.

Holy shit. I would never fight him again when he wanted to go in that way. That was the best orgasm I’d ever had.

Michael thrust into me a few more times and then dug his fingers into my hips, stinging the skin, as he came.

“Fuck,” he choked out, gasping for breath and sinking his weight onto me as he dropped his forehead to my shoulder. “Jesus.”

But then Kai pulled me away, and I winced at the burn of Michael leaving my body. He laid me down on the tile bench, lifted up my knee, spreading my legs, and thrust his cock inside me, entering me again.

I arched my back, moaning.

He laid down on top of me, plastering his body to mine and wrapping an arm around the top my head as he covered my mouth with his.

He fucked hard and fast like he was possessed, and I couldn’t even look up to see where Michael was, because Kai had taken me over.

I felt his moan in my mouth as he thrust harder and harder and then jerked, his whole body tensing and his skin burning up as he came, filling the room with a loud groan.

I held his back, continuing to kiss his still lips as he tried to catch his breath.

“Holy shit,” he panted. “That was better than anything I remember.”

After a few moments, he slowly pushed himself up, sliding out of me, and sat back.

“Are you okay?” He looked at me with concern.

I closed my legs and turned my head, seeing Michael sitting in a tiled seat off to the right, leaning his elbows on his knees, watching us.

I nodded.

Bending up my legs, I gazed up at the smoky ceiling, feeling warm, blissfully exhausted, and satisfied.

Kai got up and disposed of the condom in the trash right outside the door and grabbed his towel off the floor, wrapping it around him as he came to sit next to me.

We all just sat there for few minutes, letting our hearts calm down.

My body was floating like a balloon, and I felt my cheeks warm again, thinking about what had just happened. My heart pumped, and there were still butterflies in my stomach.

What would people think if they saw us now?

Alex would be proud. She’d want in.

Trevor would call me a whore.

My mother would have a drink, and Mrs. Crist would blow it off like she’d just walked into a pillow fight.

But a calm washed over me when I realized that the only opinion I cared about was the one that never made me feel shame. The one that always pushed me to take what I wanted, and the one that only ever asked that I never quit on him.

Never tap out.

With anyone else—at any other time—I might be scared that our relationship was in danger, or that he would feel threatened by Kai, but Michael knew where my heart was. He didn’t doubt me.

He doubted himself.

Kai finally stood up, turning around to stand over me. His eyes were heated, and a smile danced across his face. He looked young again.

“Aren’t you worried?” he said, glancing to Michael. “I could try to take her from you.”

“You could try,” Michael shot back.

And Kai smiled, leaning down and kissing my lips softly.

“Your dick’s working now,” Michael warned behind him. “Go find someone else.”

I heard Kai snort and his mouth shake on mine as he laughed. Pulling his lips away, he looked down at me with calm and a new confidence. “I have no words,” he said. “Just ‘thank you.’”

He turned and walked through the frosted door and into the locker room.

Michael and I sat in silence for a few moments, and I heard voices outside, suddenly remembering that we’d been caught before. Someone might’ve gone to get security.

Sitting up, I swung my legs over the bench and stood, my legs shaking and my body aching from what we’d just done. I could feel Michael’s eyes on me as I walked to my clothes on the floor.

“You know,” I started, slipping on my pants. “I don’t remember a time when I didn’t love you.”

I didn’t look at him but kept going, slipping on my jacket and grabbing my shoes and socks, sitting down on the bench to put them on.

“When you look at me,” I continued, “when you touch me, when you’re inside me, I’m completely in love with my life, Michael. I never want to be anywhere else.”

I finished pulling on my socks and shoes, bending down to tie them.

When I was done, I sat up straight and looked at him. “Will you ever feel that for me?” I asked. “Will you ever need me or fear losing me?”

Kai had made me feel good. He’d needed me. Been grateful for me.

Michael held my eyes, nothing but a dead calm in his depths, and I couldn’t tell what was happening inside of him.

“Will you ever let yourself be vulnerable?” I pressed.

And when he just sat there, not answering, I finally got up and walked toward the door.

“I’ll meet you outside.”