Page 80 of Kings of Cruelty

Yura sputters. “Only if I’m on top this time.”

“Not even gonna happen,” Nikolai says, his cheeks turning pink.

“Then Kotya can fuck Yura,” Sierra suggests, sounding a little too innocent as she looks between us. “Oh, come on,” she says before either of us can argue. “I’m injured, the three of you are horny, and any hole is a goal or whatever they say, right?”

I shake my head. “No, Sierrochka. I’m not… I don’t…”

I catch Yuri scowl and avert his gaze.

“It’s fine,” Yuri mumbles. “I know Kotya isn’t into… men.”

Sierra looks between us. “Okay, time out,” she says. “You two…” She sighs, shaking her head. “No. I’m not going to force anyone to do anything they don’t want to do.” She stares at me as she says those pointed words. “But it would be hot.”

I let out a frustrated sound. “It is not what men do,” I say, and I know it’s a mistake as soon as the words are out of my mouth.

Nikolai glowers at me. “Gee, thanks, Kotya,” he snipes.

“Real men do whatever the fuck they want,” Sierra adds. “You think anyone would ever dare say anything to my brother’s face about who he’s fucking?” She laughs humorlessly. “Yeah. I know what you think of Kyran, but do you think him fucking a guy has anything to do with the reasons you hate him?” Her expression sobers, though, and she says quietly, “You don’t have to be what people want you to be. And no one outside of this room would ever know.”

Yura looks up at me. “It’s just us. I’m… I’m a man, right? Or do you think I’m lesser because I had sex with a man?”

“No!” I answer quickly. “No, of course not. I would never think less of you, Yura.”

Sierra rubs my bare shoulder. “If you wouldn’t judge him, why judge yourself? Why are you hung up on some stupid standards set by people like your father? The same man you’llneverbe able to impress?”

Her words cut through me. I’ve already decided to stop obeying him on one matter—so why should I continue to try to please him in the bedroom?

I swallow hard, pulling Sierra closer. “It’s difficult,” I admit. “I have always heard… but you are right.” I extend an arm to Yura. “Come here, Yura.”

Yura crawls closer to me and stops in front of me, Sierra between us. “Kotya,” he whispers, his voice trembling and unsure.

I am not blind. I have known for years that Yura is perhaps more dedicated than most underlings. I have happily shared women with him, even knowing that he took as much pleasure from the women as from my own presence.

Perhaps I’d enjoyed the flattery of having Yura’s attention on me. I’d thought for sure that, now that Sierra is with us, he’d forget about all that and focus on her.

I’d been mistaken.

Sierra reaches out to Yura, pulling him in for a kiss. “The two of you need to stop worrying about what other people think,” she says softly. She flashes a rueful smile at Nikolai. “The three of you, I guess. Yeah, maybe I’m being a little selfish, but… I like the idea of all of us together.”

Nikolai’s gaze sweeps over us. “Yeah, I guess,” he says, sounding doubtful, but he doesn’t sound like he’s judging us, either.

Yura kisses Sierra back, then he leans past her to bring his lips to mine, short of them actually touching.

“Please, Kotya,” Yura whispers. “I…”

I close the distance.

This isn’t our first kiss, but it feels more significant than the last one we’d shared in the shower. I hold Sierra tight while Yura opens his mouth for me and allows me to explore, our tongues sliding against each other.

Sierra slides her fingers through the wet strands of my hair, gently encouraging us.

If she wasn’t there, I don’t know that I could do this. But her presence gives me strength to act on something I didn’t even know I’d wanted.

Until now.

I don’t know how long Yura and I kiss, but I do hear Nikolai clear his throat.

Yura backs away and glares at him. “We were busy,” he says.

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