Page 17 of Room Twenty-Eight: Her Beautiful Surrender

The sound of a ringing phone penetrates my tired brain. We were home before lunch, and I crashed almost immediately, but I can still see a few rays of the setting sun from my open curtains—the pink and purple hues something I’ve always found beautiful—so it mustn’t be too late.

Closing my eyes again, I block out the irritating ringtone, not wanting to get up yet, but it persists. Once it stops, it starts again. “Ugh,” I groan, throwing the blankets off and rolling out of the day bed I use for a couch as well as bed. My feet hit the floor, and thank goodness for the excellent heating in my building, or I’d be freezing.

When we landed this morning, I wasn’t prepared for a snowstorm to make its presence known. The clouds are now dark and ready to pelt the state with freezing rain and snow as wind blisters through the streets like a whirlwind of fury and vengeance.

The ringing stops, and I nearly crawl back into bed. I don’t work tonight, and my shift at the coffee shop is later in the morning tomorrow, so I can be lazy for once. I finished most of my blog post for Club Sin; it just needs to be edited before I submit it to the owners for approval.

I rush to grab the phone when I notice the name, answering breathlessly, “I’m so sorry.”

“Sweet girl.” Colton’s warm voice washes over me like a gentle caress. “Where have you been?”

“I came home and slept. I just woke up.” Crawling back into bed, I lean against the cushioned backboard to settle in for what I hope is a long conversation.

“You’re okay then?” Major’s stern tone sends shivers down my spine.

“Perfect now that I’m talking to you guys,” I sigh. I never would have imagined feeling this way about the man, the men, who took me so thoroughly without even knowing their identities for the first twenty-four hours. But here I am, ready to lay my heart at their feet and allow them to take me away.

“Good, because being out of contact like that for so long will not be happening in the future. You understand, baby?” Diesel’s tone holds a threat.

Sinking down in bed, I close my eyes and imagine they’re here with me. “And if it does?” Three sharp growls filter through the line, and I swear I feel it as if they were here and against my skin. I let out a little moan of breath as I dream of their mouths on my body. Kissing, touching, licking, biting. God, what I wouldn’t give to have them mark me.

“Asta.” Major’s demanding voice has my clit throbbing. As my free hand wanders down my body, I rub small circles across the tiny nub, needing relief. “Are you touching yourself, kitten?”

“Mmmm,” I moan out, unable to form a coherent thought.

“Jesus,” Colt hisses, and I hear rustling in the background.

My body is on fire with need for them. Flames lick up my flesh from between my legs as I try to focus on what they’re saying to me, but I don’t comprehend a word of it. They’re making demands, and I follow their instructions, but nothing else makes sense.

I’m almost at my peak as my fingers slide in and out of my tight hole, but I’m startled back into reality when I hear pounding on my front door.

“The fuck is that?” Major groans, as annoyed as me over the interruption.

“Asta, open the door. We need to talk.” Leon’s voice breaks through, and I swallow nervously.

“It’s my brother. I’ll call you back after he’s gone.” I hang up before they can argue with me, hating this rivalry between them.

He bangs again, forcing me to call out, “I’ll be right there.” Grabbing the sweatpants off the reading chair by the window, I slip into them as I head for the door, knowing my face is flushed from the recent…activities. Is it considered phone sex if you don’t reach completion or if only one person is involved in the act? Weretheytouching themselves? I might have to ask Cecily these questions.

Unlocking the door, I push the thoughts aside as I take a deep breath and greet my brother. “Hello, Leon.” I plaster a smile on my face because even though we hardly spoke on the way back to New York, I do love him.

“You weren’t answering your phone,” he states, walking inside and closing the door behind himself.

I cross my arms defensively. “I was sleeping until a few minutes before you got here.”

“We need to talk.” I hate his tone; it’s going to lead to an argument. He’ll storm out, I’ll cry, and then our relationship will be strained. It won’t affect him the same way it will me, though. I only have Leon and Cecily in my life. They’re my family, my support system. Losing Leon will be like losing…well…my brother. I wouldn’t be able to survive it.

“About NOLA?” I sigh as I enter my cramped kitchen. This conversation will require a stiff drink or caffeine. And since I can’t buy alcohol yet, coffee it is.

“Yeah.” He sits at the small two-person table. I feel his eyes on me as I move around the room, making a fresh pot. After hitting the start button, I throw sandwiches together. I haven’t eaten since breakfast, and I’m starving.

He doesn’t begin speaking, so I take the lead. “I love you, Leon. You know that, right?” I glance over my shoulder to see him nod. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you or your career. I agreed to remain a secret so there wouldn’t be some huge scandal. I stay in the shadows, never making a fuss when your parents get to go to your games in the family lounge, and I’m sitting alone in the stands.”

“I know, Asta.” I can tell the pain in his voice. Everything that’s been asked of me is by our father’s demands. To be in Leon’s life, I’ve conceded to everything he wants. I just want my brother.

“Then why can’t I have this?” I turn as the coffeemaker beeps its completion.

“Three of them?” he finally says. “My past with them doesn’t matter; I know that. We were competitive assholes, always have been, always will be. But why all three? Is it just for fun? Is it more? How long have you guys known each other?”

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