Page 52 of Sweet Possession (Criminal Underground 1)

"I'll see you in the kitchen in a bit, Mare," Archer murmured, kissing me one last time before moving past Ian.

Unlike the others, Ian didn’t talk or ask me if I was okay. He stood there, towering over me and staring. Stormy eyes trailed over the planes of my face, as if memorizing each feature and freckle. Standing there in the hall, it finally hit me. They were scared. My hardass men were taking extra care to check on me as a way to show they cared. My heart squeezed, my eyes filling as Ian continued to stare.

“Come here, love.” Three words was all it took for the tears to flow freely down my cheeks as I barreled into his open arms. He held onto me like his life depended on it, like I was the air he needed to breathe. And right now? They were that for me, the rock that kept me from floating away.

I had missed this. Missed them. Memories from before swirled, hurtling to the front of my mind as I inhaled the familiar warm and sultry scent that was wholly Ian Marshall.

Archer and Jensencontinued to hold me steady, waiting for Ian. Aftershocks from my orgasm continued to wrack my body, Archer’s feather light tongue teasing the crease of my thigh where it met my core as Jensen continued to fondle and caress my breasts. The blue gaze burned me from the inside out as Ian watched from behind Archer.

There was no going back. I would give them my virginity in a few short moments. From this night, from this moment forward, I knew they were mine. That I wastheirs. I wanted it, wanted them, the sense of freedom and power I felt that came with us together like this. They didn’t care that I was inexperienced, they didn’t judge or laugh, letting me give myself over to what they wanted wholly and without doubt.

“Are you ready, Mare?” Ian asked, his words thick with heat. I nodded, my brows dipping down at his frown. “I want you to say ‘yes, Sir’ if I ask you a question or to do something. Understood?” Another pulse of desire flooded me, my heart racing at the command. I loved it, I realized, the dominance that practically rolled off of him in waves.

“Yes, Sir,” I murmured.

“Good girl.”

Those two little words were the final piece I needed, and I melted between Archer and Jensen. The three of them could bring me to the edge for the rest of my life, and I would gladly balance on that precipice if I got to see the gleam of appreciation in their gazes.

Just me and them.

The memory faded,and a pang of something deep within me ached. They might piss me off and push me to the edge of my limits, and while it would take time to adjust fully to our relationship after so many years apart, I didn’t want to be anywhere else in that moment or for the rest of our lives. They were here, and I was safe.Theywere safe from my father; they had skills and connections, and we would weather this storm. Together. At the thought, my resolve started to build, this was only the beginning but I was determined to end this. Once and for all and with them at my side.

“What did you need to talk to me about?” I murmured, my words garbled against the soft material of his shirt.

“Let’s head into the kitchen.” Without fully letting go, Ian shifted so I was tucked under his arm, nestled into his side.

Archer and Jensen were quietly talking amongst themselves, both holding a bottle of beer. The conversation stopped as we walked in, their gaze immediately coming to me. A renewed sense of warmth filled me at the gesture.

“So, what did we have to talk about?” I asked once more. I could tell based on the thinned lips and tension that built in the room that they were worried about whatever it was.

“We want you to quit,” Archer stated simply.

“But we know you also value your independence,” Jensen took over, “so after we ensure your safety, we can find you a job if you want one.”

“You agree with that?” I questioned, glancing up at Ian. He didn’t talk, but his barely there nod was enough. I appreciated their willingness to work with me, asking me instead of just demanding, and quite frankly, I agreed with their assessment. It wasn’t safe to keep working at Brutello’s until everything was dealt with.

“So … is that a yes, or an ‘I’m going to argue a shit ton?’” Jensen’s tone was teasing, but there was the slightest hint of worry underlying his words.

“You guys are right.”

“I’m sorry, what was that?” Archer joined in on the teasing, cupping a hand around his ear and leaning forward on his stool. “Did Mare just say we were right?”

“Fuck off.” I appreciated their teasing, the lightheartedness keeping my negative thoughts and emotions at bay. Archer chuckled at my exclamation, Jensen’s smile grew, and Ian hugged me tighter, all three happy to see I was doing alright. “But I agree, it’s not safe, and as long as I can get a different job down the line, I’ll quit. Only thing is, I have to go in to do it. Donny wouldn’t accept anything else.”

“Absolutely not—”

“Listen to me,” I said. “I’ll go in and quit in person.”

“You don’t need to quit in person,” Ian argued.

“No, but I do need to get my bugout bag,” I said, pursing my lips.

“What?”

I sighed. “I left an extra bugout bag in the locker at work just in case I needed to run and couldn’t go back to my place.”

Ian’s eyes held mine and I could tell he was thinking of all of the risks. He cursed, shaking his head as if he couldn’t believe what he was about to say. “One of us will go with you,” he snapped, his attention shifting from me to the others. “I want eyes on her at all times when you go tomorrow. Understood?”

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