Total pages in book: 36
Estimated words: 33526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 33526 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 168(@200wpm)___ 134(@250wpm)___ 112(@300wpm)
“Absolutely, Princess,” Alaric replies.
“We’ll make it a family affair,” River interjects.
My face immediately grows hot as I gaze at him, regretting my suggestion when he wags his eyebrows. River is the joker of the three. Sometimes, I wonder if he has any moral compass or shame, but I like him because he doesn’t care what people think. River lives his life the way he wants. Does what feels good. Says what he believes is right and walks his own path without worrying about where it might lead.
“I’m sure Asher would like to join too,” River whispers so only I can hear. “If I remember correctly, you enjoyed his idea of fun the last time all three of us hung out together.”
Asher is the most unnerving of the three men. He doesn’t talk much; his words cut into short answers. When he peers at me, I can’t help but think he’s pondering innovative ways to hurt me—ways I want to fall into, like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole. Out of the three, Asher has the key that unlocks all my inhibitions. It was he who lulled me toward them. It was he who coaxed me to believe that every act of debauchery was acceptable. Asher is the serpent who convinced Eve to take a bite of the apple.
I lock eyes with him. The back of my neck prickles, and I have an urge to run—not out of fear but the necessity of having him chase me until I’m caught. Asher smiles and winks as if he senses my thoughts, and I quickly avert my eyes.
“Don’t worry, Sis,” Alaric chimes in. “I’m sure we can keep you busy.”
Alaric is the subdued one but also the most charming. I found myself tangled in his web before the other two were added to the mix. Alaric makes me comfortable and frightened at the same time. He emits a sense of safety while living on the edge of fear. Alaric is the calm before the raging storm of River and Asher.
The air is thick. My lungs are balloons begging for their heated breath to fill me. My skin crawls, not from discomfort, but from becoming entrapped in a situation that could turn at any moment.
Celeste jumps at the clatter of my fork hitting the china plate. All eyes turn to me.
“I’m sorry,” I stammer. “I’m not feeling too good. Please excuse me. I need to rest for a bit.”
Without waiting for a response, I push back my chair and run for the sanctuary of my room. I rush up the stairs and down the long corridor until I reach my haven. My bed shifts as I fall back on it, hoping to recall my father. Almost a month has passed since he died, and I’m scared that if I don’t keep my memories of him in the forefront, I’ll lose him all over again. But it’s not images of my father flooding my mind. It’s visions of that night and the three men seated at the oak dining table downstairs.
Why haven’t they attempted to be with me since then? Sure, they’ve been kind to me. We’ve exchanged light touches and had deep conversations, but nothing like that night.
“Charles must have some sort of power over Celeste,” River said as he plopped on the sofa beside me and shoved his hand into the popcorn bowl on my thighs.
“It is weird,” Asher agreed as he sat on my other side. He put his arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “Looks like it’s just us kids, all alone.”
Alaric’s eyes were fixed on the paused TV screen. “You gonna start the movie or yak all night?”
Asher rolled his eyes and hit play on Scream, one of my favorite movies. When the guys asked me what I wanted to watch, the title rolled off my tongue, but I was rethinking my choice as I clung to River or Asher every time there was a jump scare.
“Sorry,” I whispered, readjusting myself between them.
“No need to apologize. I like it,” River said with a wink.
My body heated, making me grateful that the lights were out because I was sure my face was an embarrassing shade of red.
I desperately tried to focus on the film, but River’s hand gripped my thigh while Asher’s fingers played mindlessly with my hair. I couldn’t concentrate on anything but them and the realization that my panties were damp with lust.
“I’ve gotta get some air,” Alaric announced, storming from the room.
“What’s his problem?” I asked, frustrated at how he always pushed me away and made everything so uncomfortable.
River chuckled. “You.”
“Me? I’ve only ever been kind to him. He’s the one who kisses and touches and follows me. How is it my fault?”
Asher tightened his arm around me, pulling me closer. “We’re not used to being gentle with someone we care about. Alaric cares more about being good than the two of us, so he’s fighting it.”