Page 49 of Broken Truths

“I could’ve waited to do this properly, but I told you once that I do things by my own set of rules. My grandfather and your mother won’t plan our wedding. They can’t plan our future together, Eden. Whatever our families want us to be doesn’t matter. They can’t take away the fact that what we have is real. I meant it when I said I was at your mercy. My life depends on you. Call this an engagement. Call it a promise. It’s whatever you want it to be. One day, I will fucking marry you. On our own terms.”

His hand squeezes my fingers. This is the second time Leo has gotten down on his knees for me, which is something this hard-headed bastard never does for anyone.

“You’re…ridiculous,” I say, smirking.

He smirks right back. “You know you want to marry me.”

I push my tongue against my teeth. Behind him, Oliver and Alaric stand watching. This arrangement is more difficult than I imagined, but I didn’t get here by being meek or not speaking up for what I want.

I’ve always wanted something real. Something outside the fancy parties and the foil invitations. I want rough and raw, a slice of everyday life where people spill their feelings to each other because speaking your mind is one of the most important things you can do, especially in a relationship.

“I do,” I tell him, squeezing him right back. “I want you.” I peer behind him. “And Oliver. And Alaric.”

He stands so fast, pressing me against him and lifting me so that I have to wrap my legs around him to steady myself. He carries me back into the house, my body involuntarily shaking from the emotions coursing through me coupled with the frigid rain.

Leo heads straight for the couch by the fireplace, sitting while I straddle him. “Tell them what you just said to me,” he prompts.

Alaric and Oliver stand to the side, soaked but looking more handsome than I’ve ever seen. “I want Leo. And you,” I say, smiling at Oliver. “And you.” I peer at Alaric, swallowing. “I want all of you.”

Leo works his fingers through my wet hair and then pulls me down for a searing kiss. He moves his hips against me, and I can feel every little thing through the pajama shorts that cling to my body like a second skin. I tremble in his arms.

“Here, let me help,” he says, reaching behind to drag my drenched shirt off me. He works my bra off next, fingers playing over the goosebumps gracing my skin. I can’t have me being the only one topless, though, so I grab the hem of his shirt and tug upward. He lifts his hands over his head until I slip it off and throw it on the floor next to us.

My hands work up his pecs, then stop on the initials his grandfather carved into his skin.

My heart hardens. Franklin Jarvis thinks he can do anything he wants, but he can’t.

“Someone get me a knife.”

Leo stares at me, then when he notices where my attention lies, he grabs my hips.

Oliver and Alaric peer at each other until I say, “Now. Get me a knife.”

My best friend retreats and then returns. My gaze never leaves Leo’s until Oliver hands me the kitchen knife, handle pointing toward me. I reach to take it, then pull him down to kiss him on the lips, a promise that he’ll never be left out. Not when it comes to me. I have enough for all three of these guys.

FJ

I bite my lip, then press the blade of the knife at the bottom of the F, making another horizontal line, blood dripping from the cut as I make it.

“Harder,” Leo says, lifting up and tearing his joggers down his hips until his cock is free. He runs his fist down his length while he watches me scar him.

“Should I keep the J?” I ask, wondering if I’ll have to change my name. Do I want to change my name? Honestly, it doesn’t fucking matter.

Leo quickens his movements as I go back through, deepening the cut as he requested.

“I need to be inside you,” he growls.

Behind me, hands lift me while another pair tugs my shorts off. When I’m lowered again, I’m directly in line with Leo’s cock, and he slides inside me, his piercing dragging all the way through my core.

“Mark me, Eden. Mark me while I fuck you.”

I’m still cold to the touch, but I’m molten inside, working against Leo’s cock as blood stains my fingertips.

Names don’t define people. I’m starting to understand that. Everything that the Elders have made up is exactly that. It isn’t reality. Reality is waking up to someone you love. Reality is finding out your sister died and having the three men you care about most helping you get through the dark times.

I turn the J into a D, carving as deep as the first cut, and then I continue.

E.

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