“You choose,” I say, feeling decidedly antsy in close proximity to all three brothers. Granted, I’ve been alone with each of them separately these last couple weeks, but the air seems charged differently tonight and I’m not sure what to make of it. Probably a mixture of guilt from stealing that money and the strange looks the guys keep givingme.
Bryce presses a button on another control, which dims the lights and closes the curtains automatically, whilst Max picks a movie. I don’t pay much attention to his choice, acutely aware that both Hudson and Max have somehow moved in closer to me. Bryce is resting his hand on the floor so close to my foot that I can feel the warmth of his finger as it brushes against my skin. That touch alone has my heart hammering in my chest. It’s so loud, I am certain they can hearit.
About halfway through the thriller we are watching, a scene comes on where the main character is seducing a woman. The sex is graphic, and I find my heart rate increasing, not because of what I am watching, but because the atmosphere in the room has changed from charged to electric. I breathe in sharply when I feel Bryce’s warm hand curling around my ankle. That sudden intake of breath seems to ignite something within theroom.
“Damn it, Louisa,” Hudson groans into my ear at the same time as Max presses a kiss against the side of my face. Stunned, I clutch onto the hot water bottle, pressing it into mybelly.
“What are you doing,” I whisper. It’s a stupid question, it is pretty damn obvious what they are doing, but I need them to answerme.
“You must know how we feel about you,” Hudson says, pressing his soft lips just behind my ear. A thousand traitorous tingles rush down my spine and pool in my belly at his words and histouch.
“I don’t know what you mean…” My words are lost in the warmth of Hudson’s mouth as he gently turns my face to him and pulls me in for a kiss. His kiss is slow and gentle, and sweet, and nothing like I expected. As Hudson’s kiss deepens, as his tongue explores my mouth, I am acutely aware that Bryce has shifted position and is now kneeling between my parted legs, his hands massaging my calves. They are firm and strong as they knead my flesh. Hudson pulls his mouth away and presses his forehead against my own, breathing heavily. He leans back and as I turn away from him, he gently pushes aside my hair and kisses my neck again, sucking slightly on the skin there. My eyes flutter closed until I feel Bryce’s hands rest on my knees. When I open them, I find myself staring into Bryce’s hazel eyes. As he moves towards me, the dim golden glow of the table-lamp casts a soft warmth across his features, making him impossibly handsome. Something catches in my throat as his gaze flicks from my eyes to my mouth. In a sudden rush of decisiveness, he has his hands tangled in my hair and his tongue shamelessly probing my mouth. The feel of his coarse beard against my skin only seems to heighten the kiss. I let go of the hot-water bottle and wrap my hands around hisback.
Just at the point I find that I am losing myself entirely to the kiss, Bryce pullsaway.
“I’ve wanted to taste that damn smart mouth of yours ever since you first talked back. For someone full of ice, your kiss is like fire, Louisa.” He smiles at me then, letting out a small laugh to show me he means no harm by hiswords.
My hands fall away as he leans back down and begins massaging my legs again. I can’t help but notice the bulge in his slacks and a small voice of warning pulls at my consciousness. A voice that is telling me this is what these men do, that I am no different from any other girl who has melted under their touch. But I am distracted again by the featherlight touch of Max’s fingers as they trail over the side of my breast. I turn to face him, can see the desire in his eyes as he slants his mouth over mine. He pulls at my bottom lip with his teeth, the tips of his finger now grazing over my hardened nipple. Somewhere in the back of my head, a quiet voice gets louder. I am making out with three men, three men who had promised not to make a pass at me. Three men who I am beginning to grow fond of and who are now ruining our blossoming friendship with their need tofuck.
“I can’t…” I say into his mouth, the little voice in my head stronger now. “Stop!” I push away at Max and his eyes open in surprise. I stare at Bryce, anger mixing with an overwhelming sadness that boils inside my chest. “Stop,” I say again. He immediately drops his hands away. He too looks at me with a mixture of horror andconfusion.
“Louisa, we didn’t mean…” Hudson starts, but I turn on him. Holding my hand upright, I ignore the pain in his greeneyes.
“Don’t say another fucking word,” I shout. I don’t know why I’m so angry, Ihadbeen enjoying it, I hadwantedthem to touch me and yet, I am angry at them for going back on their word, for treating me like all therest.
They’re using you. They’ve planned this all along. You’re no different from all the other women they’ve fucked. You’re nothing but a piece of meat to them. They just want you for sex, for what they can get out of you. Just like those countless number of men who have used yourmum.
I stand up, tears pricking at my eyes. “You promised you wouldn’t. I am not like all the rest… I am not like my mother,” Iwhisper.
“Louisa, it isn’t like…” Hudson starts. But I can’t look at him, I can’t look at any of them. Instead, I run from the room, angry tears pouring down myface.