His cold blue eyes held mine, daring me to lie, to tell him I didn’t like it, that he hadn’t awakened a monster inside me that was as depraved as he was. Astheywere.
“Isn’t that right, sparrow?”
I couldn’t stop my tongue from peeking out to lick my lips or the heat that went straight to my clit when Cole’s gaze zeroed in on it.
“So fucking greedy,” he murmured. “So fucking perfect.”
I took one shuddering breath and then another, unable to discern whether I hated this or loved it.
No.
I hated it, but I’d never been so fucking turned on in my life. Cole’s cruelty did it for me, like Alek’s dominance, and I hated that too.
He leaned forward and nuzzled his nose against mine in a gesture that would have been affectionate were it not accompanied by the threat of choking. “Tell me, sparrow—do you want me to stop?”
I couldn’t lie to him, not when his gaze was fixed on mine, not with the hint of vulnerability that softened his eyes.
“No,” I whispered.
His eyes flashed dark with an emotion I couldn’t read, and then he blinked, leaving only cruelty. He turned me until I faced Tristan, then he pressed up against my spine, his hard cock nestled into my back, his fingers drumming against my throat.
“And do you want Tristan to stop?” Cole’s gravelly voice resonated deep inside me.
“No,” I whispered, hating them but hating myself even more.
“Good,” Cole said, as if that finished the matter. Maybeto him it did. He grabbed the skirt from the bed and held it up to me.
My cheeks turned fire-engine red. I stepped into it, nervous and uncomfortable as I realized it only fell to mid-thigh. “I’m going to flash everyone today,” I whispered.
“The fuck you will,” Cole said. He nudged my feet apart and cupped my pussy, lifting me onto my toes before looking over at Tristan. “This pussy belongs to us, and we don’t fucking share.”
Tristan’s gazeburned into my ass as I walked up to the boutique, each step swishing the short skirt I’d borrowed and terrifying me that I was flashing everyone.
The good news was that today’s shopping trip would be humiliatingly short. We’d all discover very quickly that a fancy boutique like this wouldn’t carry my size. Then I’d be free to go home and bury my face in my satin-covered pillow to relive the last twenty-four hours while I decided whether I should laugh or scream my fury into the abyss.
The bad news was, I still had to live through the humiliation to get there.
Memories of past boyfriends who’d made snide comments about shopping at secondhand stores, who tried to get me to upgrade my wardrobe—as if I had a penny to spare on fucking fripperies—settled into the pit of my stomach as I dragged myself up the stairs, dreading entering the store.
“Fuck, sweetheart,” Cole said from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder, and his eyes were fixed on me. “That ass.”
I blushed but couldn’t stop the fluttery feeling in my chest at his blatant appreciation.
He jogged up the steps and wrapped an arm around my waist. “I bet if I slid my fingers between those pretty thighs, I’d find you absolutely drenched at the idea of shopping without panties today.”
He’d win that bet, the asshole. Instead of answering, I steeled myself to push open the door, but Cole was too quick. He opened it for me, and that simple gesture fucking melted me. It must have shown in my eyes, because his brow furrowed as I walked past him.
“Can I help you?” a pretty brunette saleswoman asked me.
“We have an appointment,” Cole said, popping back up beside me. Tristan stood on my other side, and to my surprise, their towering presence soothed my nerves.
“Of course. Please come with me.” She led us through the boutique to a private room. My fingers brushed against a sparkly dress, and I checked the tag, the price sending me spiraling with panic. I shouldn’t even have been breathing on clothes this expensive.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Tristan said, catching my hand and pulling it to his mouth to brush a kiss over my knuckles that sent butterflies careening in my stomach. He glared over my shoulder at Cole. “Today’s on Cole’s black card, and I’m going to make sure you do some real damage.”
“More will arrive over the course of the day,” the woman said to Cole. “We could have been more prepared if you’d given us more than a couple hours’ notice.”
“More prepared for what?” I asked.