Page 34 of Branson's Promise

“From the moment I arrived, I was constantly being pulled in every direction. This person needed me, and then the next, then there was a problem here, or a situation there. And this was before I’d even taken over.” I snuck my hand under the blanket that was resting on our knees and gripped Noel’s hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. He leaned into me more, as he continued speaking.

“It’s strange to feel lonely when you have people constantly talking to you and calling on you, but I think the loneliness was more a lack of meaningful connection. I partied with strangers masquerading as friends, and I hooked up and still I was lonely. You were not wrong about me and money, Milo. Back then, I threw it around until I had what I pretended were people who cared about me and the next thing I had this reputation as aplayboy. Which wasn’t entirely unwarranted and it fit the person I was claiming to be.”

I tried not to think of all the others Noel had been with in the past. He’d told us about his reputation before, and we knew that he was bisexual and had been with men and women before us, but even knowing all that didn’t make it easier to hear again.

“Anyway, after my father’s heart attack, I was thrust into the CEO position and suddenly the demands increased tenfold. One night, while I was up on the roof catching my breath, Charles asked me if I wanted to see the city from the sky. It was the most freeing experience. For those thirty minutes, no one needed me, and I was still a part of the city but also removed from it - if that makes sense?”

Nodding, I waited for him to continue. From my other side, I felt Branson lean into me, and snake his arm over so he could rest his hand on Noel. Out the window, I caught a glimpse of the Yankee Stadium. “Since then, this is how I like to see the city. I don’t come up often but when you suggested these dates, I knew I wanted to share this with you both.”

We all turned to watch the city laid out below us and my heart galloped at a whopping speed in the direction of this amazing man who had just bared his soul to us.

“What's your favourite part?” Branson asked. Noel thought about it for a moment, looking out of the window before answering.

“Central Park. It's like this big oasis in the middle of the city. It's beautiful from the sky, day and night. From up here, you can really appreciate its size too.”

We were all silent for a moment, taking in the twinkling lights of New York City below us.

“This has been really great, Noel. Thank you,” I said.

“Best first date ever,” Branson added, eliciting a smile from Noel and me.

“It's not quite over yet,” he said. “I got you both a gift.” Leaning forward, Noel reached into a bag at his feet, one I hadn’t noticed before. From inside, he produced two matching white mugs and handed them to us.

Branson broke out in a delighted laugh, holding the mug up to his face. Turning mine in my hands, I grinned at the printing on it. On one side, in big black letters with a red heart, were the words ‘I heart NYC’ and on the other side was printed a photo of the three of us. It was one Branson had taken the night we’d first gotten together, after our weekend away. We were all leaning against Noel’s headboard dressed in fluffy robes, legs draped over each other. We all looked so fucking happy.

My gut churned suddenly and not from the ride, which had now turned and was heading back towards the hotel, but at the crashing realisation that one day, they would learn the truth about me - about how I had caused my mother’s death, and about how weak I really was. And then they would leave me and this warmth in my chest would turn to ice and shatter, leaving me bruised and broken all over again.

“Part two of our evening,” Noel said, spreading his hands widely towards the picnic set up in his hotel suite. A red blanket lay out on the floor, and on top lay spreads of food, three tall crystal glasses and a gold bottle of champagne. Scattered around the open living area, over every conceivable surface were red and white rose petals, and flickering candles. I shook away my earlier thoughts, not wanting to dampen the evening that Noel had obviously put a lot of thought into. Whatever happened when they learned my truth was something I would deal with another day.

“Mr Bennett, I’d say you’re quite the romantic at heart,” I said, stepping into the room and kicking off my shoes, Branson following closely behind me.

“This is amazing and I agree with Milo, very romantic.” He turned to Noel, pressing up on his toes and covered Noel’s lips with his own. “Thank you, daddy,” he breathed before taking the older man's lips again. Noel placed his hands on the back of Branson's neck, then slowly ran them down his back until they were cupping his ass. Fuck, but I loved watching the two of them together. There was something so erotic about the way they moved - giving and taking, commanding and surrendering - that had my body reacting instantly.

Noel squeezed the round globes of Branson’s firm ass, pulling their groins flush with each other. Groaning at the sight, I reached down and rubbed at the bulge in my jeans.

Noel pulled away, breathless, his cheeks flushed and his eyes dark. “Food first and then dessert.” Over Branson’s shoulder, Noel winked at me and I smirked, loving the direction his thoughts were going.

“Dessert first,” Branson countered, and I knew straight away that nothing would deter him now. I also knew that neither Noel nor I had the power to resist our sweet boyfriend.

“Anything you want gorgeous,” Noel crashed their lips together again, walking Branson backwards until they knocked into me. On instinct, I reached up and gripped Branson's hips, just above where Noel had now placed his hands. Branson spun around and planted his lips over mine.

Noel changed positions, coming up behind me and running his hands over my shoulders, until his big, strong hands lay on my hips. I continued to kiss Branson, while Noel went to work kissing and nibbling at my neck. A sting of pain told me he'd bitten down over my pulse point and I whimpered as he did it again all while Bran's tongue battled for possession over mine.We were a hot, electric mix of breaths, lips and teeth and my body sang with pleasure.

Noel broke away first, stepping back from me. “Bedroom, now, you two. Get naked.”

Taking Branson’s hand, we followed behind Noel, who reached down to pick up the bottle of bubbly before leading us to the room.

I made quick work of removing my shirt and then bent down to fight the skinny jeans which were not that easy to just rip off. When I looked up, having won the battle against the denim, I was momentarily knocked speechless, a deep exhale leaving me as my eyes locked on Branson.

He was standing at the foot of the huge bed and he was naked except for a thin, lacey purple thong. I darted my eyes up, taking in his pink lips, his pale skin and the lines of his body, his flat, hairless chest and the thin line of hair that led from below his navel to the top of the purple fabric. I studied him like the work of art he was.

Delicate lace contained his straining dick, and tiny strips of fabric ran along his hips, disappearing behind him and I desperately needed to see where they led to. Arousal hung heavy in the room and I looked to my left, where Noel was standing, his mouth open, his eyes trained intensely on our boyfriend.

My throat was dry, and I swallowed thickly before speaking, “Fucking hell, beautiful. You're a masterpiece. Can you turn around? Show us.”

Branson did a slow, seductive, graceful turn, then bent at the waist and rested his palms flat on the white linen sheets. His ass was perfection. Pale and plump. The purple fabric dipped just above the gap between his cheeks, before disappearing and I could picture it rubbing against his tight hole. Turning to Noel, I studied the pensive look on his face, the way he bit his bottom lip before wetting it with a swipe of tongue. He was still fullydressed, and as he reached up and undid the first few buttons of his shirt, Branson piped up, his words a siren’s call. “Well, who’s eating dessert first?”

Noel growled, the thread holding his composure together, snapping and he stalked forward and dropped to his knees behind Branson’s peachy ass.

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