Page 22 of Tormented Kings

“What?” Declan’s brows furrow.

“Of course, he fucking did. Let me guess, he already pissed on you and claimed you as his. Again.” Grayson rolls his eyes.

“Well, not quite.” I laugh. “We talked, and he told me about the photos being altered in some ways. About how his dad played a part in it and how it was just a ploy to get me out of the way so Collin would do as his father wants.”

“It’s true,” Preston agrees. He’s been very quiet this whole time. My eyes glance over to him where he sits in the chair, leaning back and watching us like we’re not having this big meaningful confession. One that I realize he isn’t taking part in. I hate how much that hurts me. “Whatever my father told you, it’s a lie. As much as I hate to admit it, Collin is crazy about you and wouldn’t fuck you over like that.”

I nod my head and bring my attention back to Grayson and Declan. “He did tell me he wanted me, that he wasn’t going to stop fighting for me.” I can’t help the smile on my face. “But he knows I like you guys.” I don’t dare look towards Preston. I don’t think I can handle his rejection right now. I’m not admitting shit to that man until he does. “He said he doesn’t care, that he just wants me.”

“So he’s trying for your hand, too?” Declan asks, brows furrowing.

Grayson snorts. “No, dude, he’s not trying. He’s taking. He’s not fighting for anything because he already owns her.” Grayson looks at me. “Isn’t that right, Pretty Girl?”

Grayson brushes the hair off my shoulder, fingers lingering.

“I’m so lost.”

“It doesn’t matter if Sadie picks me or you in the end. Collin will be a part of the equation,” Grayson explains.

Understanding dawns on Declan. “Wait, you mean... share her?” he asks. “What the fuck? I suggested that, and he shut it down fast.”

“You did?” My brows jump in surprise.

“Yes,” Declan sighs. “I.. ah, I didn’t want to risk you not picking me, so I offered up the idea. Because I’d rather share you with these assholes than not have you at all.” He looks over at Grayson. “But you brushed off the idea.”

“No, I didn’t.” Grayson’s brows furrow.

“Well, you didn’t respond? Collin laughed it off like it was the most ridiculous thing, and you didn’t say anything about it,” Declan grumbles like he’s hurt. Poor baby. I lean in and kiss his forehead. He blushes harder. “Collin is an asshole.”

“Huh, guess I didn’t.” Grayson cocks his head to the side. “I don’t hate the idea. We’ve been sharing her as it is. I don’t mind continuing to do it.”

“We shared her for a deal we made.” Of course, Preston has to be the one to piss all over my happy little bubble. “This is real life. It’s one thing breaking off your engagements—that's going to cause enough backlash as it is—but to share the same girl?” Preston shakes. “It’s not logical. It’s risky, and it’s going to blow up in your face.”

“Just because you want to continue to be a miserable prick doesn’t mean you get to come in here and try to make us be the same,” Grayson growls. “You don’t want to move things past the arrangement, that's your problem. I know what I want, and it’s Sadie. Declan knows what he wants, and it’s Sadie. Same goes for Collin.” Grayson looks at me. “You want the three of us? Me, Declan, and Collin?” I nod, the urge to correct him and say the four of them is on the tip of my tongue, but I don’t. So I just nod. “And if we decided to make you choose one of us over the idea of trying to see if we could all share you, how would that make you feel?”

I swallow hard, hating the spotlight on me. “As soon as I started to feel more for you guys, I tried to shut it down. It was pointless.” I laugh. “But I kept telling myself it was better to pushthe feelings down and try to move on rather than be hurt by having none of you even wanting me in the first place.”

“That's out of the question because we’re crazy about you.” Grayson grins, and my belly flutters.

“Or having to pick knowing I liked you all. I was selfish and wanted all or none.”

“Not selfish,” Declan corrects.

“It kind of is. Because how is it fair that I get you three.” Again, I hate that number. “And you only get me? Because I can’t do this if you're with another woman.” The idea makes me sick, seeing them touch someone else. It was already hard enough to see Preston with other women and he made it clear I was nothing but an arrangement to him.

“It’s fair because we don’t want anyone else, Sadie. Leaving our engagements like this is not an easy thing to do. We have a lot to work on to make it happen, and it’s going to take time. But we know what we want. You're worth it. You’re worth the whole damn world, Sweetheart.”

Emotion clogs in my throat. “But you hardly know me,” I whisper. “What if you get to know me and realize you hate me.”

“We could never hate you, Pretty Girl. It’s impossible.” Grayson chuckles.

“But you don’t know that,” I argue. I don’t want to sound like I’m trying to push them away, but this is a big deal. There are so many factors to consider.

“Hey,” Declan soothes, rubbing his hands on my thighs again. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. How about we do this right. Let’s take some time, and get to know one another outside school, outside the Host Club. Be friends like we always should have been. We date, have fun, and let us show you that we’re going to want you no matter what. And everything we learn about you is just going to make us like you more.”

“Okay.” I smile, actually liking the idea of not just jumping into things and spending time getting to know them properly.

“We better wrap this up,” Preston says. “Or continue it later. The members will be here soon.”

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