Page 17 of Shared With His Friends
Jet throws his hands on his hips. “What do you mean?”
Wade takes a big sip and sighs like he just got off, ‘cause he did. “She’s ours.”
Dane and Ash peek at him, and both relax back into their seats, Dane taking me with him. Wade reaches behind the seats and tugs my hair. “Isn’t that right, priss?”
Jet glares at me, and I am utterly speechless. Swallowing, I try to come up with something, but no words form in my mind, other than some vague feeling of comfort, something I haven’t really felt before. Wanted?
Jet remains frozen for another moment before Ash says, “We’re sharing her.” Then he slides his tattooed hand over my thigh as Dane squeezes my waist tighter with his large palms. Dane’s thighs spread wider until he and Ash are rubbing their legs together.
Without a word, Jet takes off upstairs, and when I try to follow, Dane pulls me back. “Pretty lady, you’re our girlfriend now. You okay with that?”
Facing him, I give him a small smile and press my lips to his cheek. “Dane, I need to talk with him first. Things are a mess… I just want it to work out.” Nodding, he loosens his grip on my hips, and I stand, then follow my boyfriend.
I find him on his balcony leading off his bedroom, his cut arms spread wide on the railing as he stares at the thick woods surrounding us. “Jet, I’m sorry, but you decided toshareme with your friends. And now…”
“Now they know how amazing you are.”
“What?”
Turning around, I’m stunned at the look of hurt in his eyes. “Dane’s been simping for you forever. Ash will love that you’ll go down the gutters with him. Wade and you are from the same side of town… But me,me,baddie,I’mthe one who loves you.”
Crossing my arms, I feel heat rising to my scalp. “Jet, you love nothing, and you’re just mad you’ve lost full access to your toy.”
“Part of that is true. And part of it is you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.” With a long stride, he almost presses his firm chest into me, but takes a strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear before lifting my chin up to meet his caressing gaze. His gray eyes sparkle in the sunlight. “But mostly, I’m in love with you.” Swallowing, he shows something I’ve never seen before.
Vulnerability.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I wouldn’t think you would, and why should you? I’ve put you through the wringer, through every harsh test. Made you jump through hoops and played games with your feelings.” Lowering his voice, he asks, “Why do you think I call you baddie?”
“Because when you found me, you said I wasdown bad.”
When he shakes his head, his light brown hair waves in the breeze. “No. Because you’re a fucking badass that hassurvived. Do you think a wife of mine could live in my world without being tough as nails? You’re going to face catty bitches at every celebration, sleazy Senators at every soiree, manipulative assholes at every meeting, and you need to have the toughest skin to be Mrs. Jet Harrington and mother to my heirs.” His arm surrounds me, and he spreads his palm against my lower back, pulling me tight to him. Tenderly, he touches my lower lip. “I know how to choose the right people for the job. And I chose you. I don’t want anyone else, just you, Amber.”
Leaning down, he worships my mouth, teasing apart my lips, he prays little pants on my skin, and sings something new between us as we kiss. This one feels genuine, less like what Jet desires and more like he’s giving of himself to me. And in that new sensation, that agreement between our souls, I give something back.
When we break apart, I allow myself to speak up, claiming exactly what I want now. “I want to marry you, Jet and I want it soon.”
Barely above a whisper, he replies, “Okay.” The corners of his lips tug up slowly.
“And I want to be with all of you.”
His pecs rise up as he takes a deep breath in, a smile stuck on his face. “That’s your bargain? You’ll marry me if you can have all four of us?”
“Yes. This way, no matterwhosebaby I carry,you’llbe taking care of us.”
“I’ll one up you, Amber, to let you know how serious this is. If you don’t want to marry me, I’ll give you five million dollars for what an asshole I’ve been. You can walk away from this place and leave us with the money... and no baby. If that’s what you want, I’ll make the call.” Dropping his arms, he steps back from me, giving me space.
Everyone uses him for money. Wade, even Ash, and Dane, in a way, his reputation, and his superiorthings. His connections… Jet’s well used. And accustomed to getting what he wants, too. I could use him. I could take the money and leave and never look back on this place. Five million would be more than I’d get if I had to sign a pre-nup and got divorced. It would be like I had earned $250 thousand in the time I spent with Jet.
“I’ll take the money.”
eight
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Dane
