Page 47 of Embracing Desire

His heart cracked.He loved her honesty about what she needed.It was another thing he loved about her.Loved?Yes, loved.The idea didn’t scare Ry; it only made him more determined to show her how good the three of them were together.

Another tremor shook her frame.“You are so brave, sweetheart.”He brushed a kiss over her lips.“I’m honored by your submission.”Ry glanced across the room to Jed.“Are you okay with this?”

“After we talk about what happened yesterday,” Jed said.

“Fuck,” she muttered.

Ry tried not to grin at her whispered curse but failed.“Behave.”He gave her a swat on her ass.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Go down to the dungeon; we’ll be along shortly.”He released her.

She turned and made her way to the door, opened it, and disappeared.

“Shit,” Jed said.

“Yeah.”Ry rubbed his eyes.“Whatever is bothering her is not going to be easy to get out of her.”

“I have to know, Ry.”

“We both do, Jed.We can’t have her running away when she’s scared, without talking things through with us.We need to find out what caused her reaction yesterday so we can move forward.”

* * * *

Katie sighed as she put on the sheer nightgown they had laid out on the bed for her.Hell, why even bother since she was practically naked.She shook her head.This is what they wanted.It was what she wanted.She’d wrestled with her inner demons all day yesterday and had come to several conclusions.

Despite her panic, she trusted Ry and Jed to protect her from prying eyes.Her fear of being seen by others while she was in a submissive role came from what she witnessed in her father’s apartment.None of it wasn’t safe, sane, or consensual.

Ry and Jed practiced SSC.Also, she was very aware she wanted to give control over to Ry and Jed, as it was part of who she was.It had never been that way with anyone else but them.Once she’d come to her decision, she had begun to relax.

Until she stepped up onto the porch.Her hands had shook, and her stomach had clenched.Then Ry opened the door and asked her to let them take control.All her fear practically melted away.They still wanted her.She hadn’t even realized she was afraid they’d reject her until that moment.

She took her position and waited.She didn’t want to talk about yesterday, but they weren’t going to let her off the hook that easily.She’d slept all night, and this morning, when she woke, she knew she’d have to face them and explain what happened.

Heavy footsteps on the stairs caused her heart to flutter.

“Beautiful,” Jed whispered.

“Fucking gorgeous,” Ry said.

A rush of pleasure flowed over her at their words.Was that it?Did she want their approval?Yes, she did.Not many people had given her approval in her life, but these two gave it to her, and it warmed her heart.But she also wanted their love and understanding.Love?Oh, hell.Her breath caught in her throat.She did want their love, because they were the only ones outside of her Gran who mattered to her.

“Look at us, sweetheart,” Ry commanded.

She raised her gaze.They were standing just to her right, both of them in sweatpants and nothing else.But they were tense, their arms held stiff at their sides and shoulders rigid.

“Come to us,” Jed said.

Katie did, and when she got to the two men, her bones grew weak.It was all there for her to see in their eyes, their expressions, the way they held themselves.They wanted to keep her safe, even from them if necessary.Raising her arms, she wrapped one around Jed’s neck and the other around Ry’s neck.Then she pulled the two men into her embrace.

They placed their hands on her waist.She soaked up their warmth and their power, but most of all, their love and desire.

“What happened yesterday, Katie?”Jed asked.

“Do we have to talk about it?”

“Yes.”

---