Page 69 of Five
The chirp of crickets and the song of cicadas form a background to the low rumble of the guys’ conversation, along with the distant sound of waves beating against the shoreline. They’re—all of them—at the other end of the space, grouped around a bubbling stone fountain as they wait, hands in pockets, for me.
Me.
I feel like a girl on prom night, hovering at the top of the staircase while my date waits below. Shyness seizes me as I linger on the threshold, taking a moment to steady myself and pull Wild Neve to the fore.
I have no idea what Jesse has planned, and given his contempt for me, it’s probably not going to be nice. I’ll take whatever he dishes out, though, just so I can prove him wrong about me.
I’m here, and I’m ready.
The long table is covered with a gleaming white cloth that drapes the edges and falls nearly to the floor. Scattered at intervals over its surface are several squatty white candles, flames flickering in the slight, warm breeze. Interspersed among the candles, blood red against the white linen, are rose petals. It’s beautiful…a kind of shrine…and I’m thankful suddenly for the pretty clothing Caroline shoved in my bag. Whatever they’re planning, the scene demands loveliness.
I draw in a deep breath and prepare to move forward, to whatever Jesse and the others have in store for me. The movement catches Jesse’s attention and he steps toward me.
“Ahhh…” he says. “The guest of honor has arrived.”
He takes my arm, markedly more cheerful than usual and leads me to the table where the others have gathered. Everyone says hello, with Oscar leaning in and kissing me on the cheek. Beside him, Oliver eyes me intently, his dark blue eyes knowing and filled with awareness. I feel a blush warm my cheeks at the tacit reminder of last night.
“I’m here,” I say, spreading my arms out in front of me with what I hope is a confident smile.
“You ready to prove yourself?” Jesse asks.
I laugh nervously and glance around at the men’s faces.
“She doesn’t have anything to prove—“ Remi starts, but Jesse cuts him off with a slash of his hand.
All of the men are focused on me with unwavering regard, their expressions varying degrees of solemnity and intensity. Oz shifts, but doesn’t say anything, and I realize that he…they…are giving this to Jesse. They trust me as implicitly as I do them, want me here as much as I’ve come to want to be here in the last couple of days. They simply want Jesse to have what he needs to arrive at the same place.
“I have one question,” I say finally.
“Ask.”
I focus my stare on Jesse. “Are you planning to hurt me in any way?”
Jesse’s lips twist slightly. “Only if you want us to.”
“Jesus, man,” says Remi. “Stop being a dick.” He turns to me. “We’re not going to hurt you, Neve. We’d never do that.”
I nod faintly. “Then I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”
Oz studies me, his gaze dropping to the faint tremor of my hand. I ball it into a fist. “You don’t have to do this,” he says. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to, Neve. We know you’re—”
“He’s right,” Jesse interrupts. There’s a challenge in his tone. “This is your choice. Your decision.”
Now, make it.
I hear the silent taunt as loudly as if he had screamed it and lift my chin. “I said I’m ready.” I pause. “Although I would like to know exactly what it is I’m agreeing to.”
There’s that same wicked twist of his mouth. “You’re agreeing to everything you ever wanted but were too afraid to ask for,” he replies. “You wanted to know what it’s like to have a group of men worship you, right? That’s what we’re going to do. Fucking worship that hot little body.”
My mouth goes dry and my pussy clenches hard on nothingness. I nod, faintly, and find my voice. “Let’s get on with it, then.”
Jesse laughs outright. “Oh, Neve. We’re gonna have so much fun with you.”
Oliver holds up a blindfold. “Do you trust me?” he asks.
A flash of his face as I took him in my mouth last night, tender even in his lust, hits me. I look at him steadily. “One hundred percent.”
His smile is blinding. He takes my hand and pulls me closer, dipping his head to drop a quick, reassuring kiss on my mouth before turning me so I’m facing the other men. Behind me, I hear a whisper of movement, and then the blindfold settles over my eyes.
