Page 43 of Savage Fire

Back and forth, his thoughts ping-ponged. Give her up. Keep her. Give her up…. Then, he remembered how she felt in his arms, his lips tasting hers, his cock sliding into the perfect heat of her sweet, tight pussy. Never in his life had he felt such an immediate and awesome connection than he had with Tessa that night. Could he really give up all he felt for one woman, just to appease five others?

Goddammit, he knew the answer to that.

Biting back a curse so his Bees weren’t even more worried, he offered both ladies a simple smile—nothing like the panty-melting wolfish grin he usually gave. Today, his approach had to be different, because in an hour, there would be a room full of unhappy women. Two massive L shaped tan leather couches (Anise’s touch) sat place of pride in the room. The 70-inch TV was anchored over the huge tile fireplace, complete with a huge, thick railroad tie-sized mantel. The décor was for the women, but he made sure all the electronics were of the highest quality. TVs in each of the girls’ rooms, the security system—installed by SP—and the house wide AI assist system all accessible via a tablet they kept in the kitchen.

“Libby is coming in from her office, and Anise is picking up take out,” Sipha answered, sidling up to where he’d planted himself on the couch. She moved to sit in his lap, but he stopped her, pointing to the cushion beside him. Sipha hesitated, shock coloring her cheeks, but she sat where he pointed, ever the submissive woman. Lacy sauntered past him, making sure to flash him her ass checks from beneath the tiny pink silk robe she was wearing. From the obvious projection of her nipples, she was naked beneath it.

“Stella is out back by the pool. She got your text but she’s feelin’…cranky. Give her a few minutes to soak up more sun, and she’ll be right back to the old Stella,” Lacy supplied, settling into the cushion on his other side, completing the sandwich.

“What’s this about, Papi?” Sipha asked, her exotic features highlighted by her high cheekbones, narrow eyes, and small bones. She was a beautiful and stylish woman, which was why when she wanted to open a clothing boutique, he’d given her the money, investing in her store. Her fashion sense and business savvy netted him tens of thousands a month.

“Let’s wait,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest to keep either of the women from reaching for his hands. “I want to talk to all of you at once.”

“Is it about Tessa?” Lacy asked, cocking her head thoughtfully. “She seemed nice…up until she started getting mean. What was her problem, anyway? I thought she was coming to join us—that’s why you brought her, right, Papi?”

Madre a Dios, Lacy was poking and poking.

Dragging in a steady breath, he answered, “I will talk about this once all of you are here.” His tone allowed for no further arguing. Thankfully, Stella opened the slider door that led out to the massive patio and pool area. She was wearing a white bikini and sheer white cover up. Large Gucci sunglasses on her face. Spying them, she removed the glasses, her gaze landing on Fang.

“Other two here yet?”

He shook his head, his gaze on Stella sharpening. He hadn’t been home in over a week, but he could tell that something was eating at his oldest Bee. Her usually bright features had taken on a hardness that no amount of facial injection could create.

He’d speak with her one-on-one once the larger clusterfuck was over. Stella deserved it. She’d not only been with him the longest, she’d dealt with more of his shit than any of the others. She knew things about him that he hadn’t shared with any of the others, and the same was true for her. He knew her history, her truths, and what she really wanted. While he’d kept his history from her, he offered her enough bits and pieces for her to puzzle out that his life had been grossly immoral before he found Vegas, his brotherhood, and his Bees.

Another ten minutes and a week’s worth of idle chatter later, the other two women arrived, seating themselves in view of him. Each of his Bees gazed upon him with a mixture of desire, yearning, wariness, and concern. They knew something was going on—his ghosting them each all week told them that. But he hadn’t touched any of them or allowed any of them to touch him. That was telling.

“Hey,mamitas, sorry I haven’t been her all week, but I needed some time away. There’s some shit going down at the clubhouse that I needed to get a handle on and, well…as you know, things with Tessa did not go as I expected.”

Yes, they did. She acted just like you knew she would. The truth of her was right there in your face from day one, but you ignored it because you saw only what you wanted to see. Would accept only what would benefit you.

Tessa was too good for him.

But if anything from his past and current lifestyle taught him anything, it was that he was a selfish motherfucker. He’d take her however he could, even if it meant removing parts of him she would never accept.

Parts of him his own mother couldn’t accept. Those women who’d taught him all he needed to know about pleasuring a woman…his mother hadn’t approved, but what could one whore say about other whores? He’d been adamant, eager for pleasure, for knowledge of giving pleasure, and he’d ignored her. Much to his future detriment.

A chorus of “we missed you” and “we understand, Papi” and “you’re here now, let us pleasure you” went up at his explanation.

He raised his hands for silence, and his Bees obeyed. In that silence, he took long moments, gazing at each woman. Taking in her features, reliving memories he would forever cherish. With them, it hadn’t always been about the sex—though that was the biggest part. It was also about the companionship. Each of his Bees brought their own life flavor to the Hive, and he’d enjoyed them all. Despite his insistence in no-strings, no-commitment when he’d brought them each on, he’d essentially been in a committed relationship with each woman. A twisted sort of poly-monogamy. It had worked for years, too. Until Tessa.

He would miss them…but he missed Tessa so much more.

Over the course of an hour, he told them of his decision to break his contract with them. They would be allowed to remain in the house as long as they wanted, he would still invest in their businesses, like with Sipha, Anise, and Libby, and he would remain their friend.

Libby seemed quiet, withdrawn, but understanding. She realized she had some work to do on the legal end, to make sure all his bases were covered—shewashis attorney after all. She admitted that the lifestyle was wearing thin, and that she’d like to attempt a more traditional relationship. She even named a man she’d partnered with on several cases. Libby deserved happiness. They all did. Anise and Sipha had cast each other looks he couldn’t interpret until Anise admitted, “I think…Sipha and I will find a place of our own.” Apparently, the women hadreallyenjoyed the threesomes he’d shared with the two of them, during which he’d enjoyed watching them pleasure one another before they took turns pleasuring him. Now, they wanted to explore a relationship with just the two of them, and he wished them well.

Lacy was pensive, but accepting, remarking, “Well, I’m sad that I won’t get to play with my Papi anymore, but there is a bouncer at the club who’s been real nice to me. He’s asked to take me out a lot since he started working there. I think I’ll take him up on that.”

Four down, one to go.

Stella hadn’t said a word, staring at him, her expression shuddered, her body tense.

Before he could open his mouth to speak, Stella jumped to her feet and hurried from the room, running up the stairs to disappear into her suite. The sound of her slamming door an obvious indication of her mood.

The other women didn’t comment, only giving him looks of“oh shit, Papi better handle that.”And he would. He had other shit to do first, while she had some time to simmer down enough to talk.

Fang headed upstairs to his suite, almost angry that someone had come in and changed the sheets and made the bed. The last person to sleep there had been Tessa.

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