Page 76 of Stealing the Merman

The Brethren of the Coast had never been fond of Anne, and trying her was an acceptable way to dispose of her. No one would’ve batted an eye if Conall ordered Anne to be marooned in turn, to keelhaul her, to make her walk to plank, to hang her. He had half a mind to do that. But killing her brought him no satisfaction. “Return her to the dungeon. Feed her at my expense and treat her well. I want her to live in that cell for a long time.”

He took Darin’s hand, his warm fingers interlacing with Conall’s, and left without turning back. Finn was waiting for them at the entrance, holding the door open and letting bright light stream into the hall. Conall wrapped an arm around his shoulder, and together, they stepped into the sunshine.

Conall believed in living his dreams, and his included Darin and Finn. That was if they let him be part of their lives. He’d made a grave mistake by running from them. Of course, they hadn’t worked with Anne, he knew that. His deep-seated mistrust had made him reject their affection. They’d challenged Anne for him. They’d confronted her and risked their lives doing so. There was no reason to mistrust them, and Conall should’ve put his faith in them.

They were different from Anne. Warm where she was cold, playful where she was dangerous. Yes, Darin’s looks had reminded Conall of her. He’d taken a few redheads in the past—and several blonds too. The superficial resemblance had caused Conall to withdraw. Now that he saw Darin and Finn for who they truly were—the most loyal friends and greatest loves he’d ever had—he regretted his behavior. They deserved better. It took them tearing down Anne to get him to drop his fears of love and commitment. Conall had longed for it, though after Anne, he saw no option but to deny himself life’s greatest pleasure: to love and be loved.

He’d caused damage by pushing Finn and Darin away. He’d kept his guard up, never letting them in. There was a chance that they wouldn’t want to put up with him after what he’d dragged them through. And if they asked him to stay, repairing their connection would be difficult, for all of them. Conall had faced his demons, but that didn’t mean the past wouldn’t haunt him. The idea of trust scared him out of his wits. He’d trusted once, and for that, he’d suffered more than any human could bear. But trust he would.

Their chamber in the town hall looked the same as it had days ago, and yet it felt different. Sunlight flooded the room, and Finn and Darin stuck to his side, hands grazing his back, his waist, his arms. The only time they didn’t touch him was as they fell into each other’s arms, kissing and touching. They’d been separated for a couple of days, which was far too long. Fingers buried in one another’s hair, bodies pressed together, their mouths touched. The beauty of it transfixed Conall. Their lips parted, tongues met, and Conall hardened in his breeches. His boys sighed into the kiss, and then their hands were roaming, exploring each other’s bodies.

Conall shouldn’t watch this intimate moment, but it was impossible to look away from the blooming love and lust between them. Their connection was deep and pure. Sacred. Conall’s presence was uncalled-for; it was best if he made himself scarce.

Finn, his tongue flicking over Darin’s, opened his eyes, and, through half-closed lids, looked at Conall. It was an invitation if he’d ever seen one. He pushed his concerns aside, stepped into their space, and before he knew what happened, his boys nuzzled him. Finn kissed him, his mouth firm and sweet. Then Conall locked lips with Darin, who was timid but eager.

“Don’t go.” Finn’s hand slid over Conall’s shirt. “No matter what you think, we need you. Desperately.”

“Yes,” Darin whispered against his lips. “Need you so much. Who’s going to put me in my place if not you? Who’s going to turn me into their whore and make me happy doing so?”

“And who’s going to fill my hole?” Finn said in Conall’s ear. “Darin has to take breaks. Your strength is my sanity.”

Conall bit at Darin’s lower lip, taking it between his teeth and running his tongue over it. Darin whimpered. Conall let go and let his big hands wander to their asses. He gave them a good squeeze.

Finn made a surprised, breathy sound. “We’re yours.”

Darin snuggled closer. “The two of you, you’re my home, my family.” He was an orphan and had never experienced the security and warmth of a place and people to call his own. Conall could provide that. The tavern they’d built in the south was large and held several private rooms. Conall realized he hadn’t built it for just himself, it was too big for that. Without thinking about it, he’d constructed a place large enough for three people.

Conall was going to provide Darin with a home. With safety. He’d protect him and give him what he yearned for, inside and outside the bedroom. And Finn… Conall knew that if it weren’t for him, Finn would suffer from relentless desire. It took more than one man to satisfy him, and neither Darin nor Finn wanted to share with anyone but Conall. He was their missing piece. It was a fact: his boys needed him. Anne hadn’t needed or wanted him. She’d been after his ships, his gold. But these two required and desiredhim.

A deep sense of belonging settled in Conall’s heart. He had nothing to fear from them. Opening up would not be punished but rewarded.

Nimble fingers worked open his fly while warm hands gathered the fabric of his shirt, pulling it over his head. Somewhere in between, Darin and Finn undressed. Clothes tumbled to the floor, and the boys led him to the mattress. There’d be a proper bed in the tavern’s private rooms, Conall decided. He’d build one as large as a room for the three of them and lie the softest mattress he could find on it. There, he’d take his boys, day and night, whenever their bodies demanded his hands on their skin, his cock in their sweet little holes.

They pushed him onto the sheets with gentle force. Then they were on him, kissing, stroking. Their touch disarmed Conall. He was helpless under the hands and lips caressing every inch of him. Skin to skin, Conall wrapped his arms around Darin and Finn.

Finn claimed his mouth, his sweet taste flicking across Conall’s tongue. When had he stopped being in control? Darin kissed his neck, his shoulders. But that wasn’t what made Conall’s breath hitch in his throat. Darin was kissing Conall’s sunburn scars. He knew how weak Conall had been, and yet he gave him unwavering devotion.

Finn pecked him one more time, then he was on his feet, strolling over to the window. What was he doing? His silhouette was dark gold in the afternoon light, and he pulled at the tassel tieback holding one half on the curtains. The purple velvet swayed forward, covering one side of the glass panes. But instead of closing the other half as well, Finn tugged at the tieback he held, pulling it out of its hook.

Finn returned with a lazy smile on his lips and the tieback in hand. Conall stiffened when Finn’s fingers closed around his arms and pulled them above his head.

“Relax.” Finn skimmed his fingertips over Conall’s pulse points. “We love you.”

Darin planted a kiss on his chest. “Yes, we love you.”

They gave him no time to panic over their words. Velvet circled Conall’s wrists. He waited for his inner voice to scream, waited for the impulse to struggle, to fight, to hurt. It didn’t come. Tension melted out of his muscles as Finn bound his hands to the foot of a heavy oak table at the head of the mattress.

The rope was loose, and Conall could’ve slipped out of it with a twist of his hands. It wasn’t a restraint but a symbol. Yes, Finn and Darin were his, they belonged to him, but he was equally theirs.

A shudder washed over Conall, and he surrendered to the velvet binding his wrists, to the hands and mouths worshiping him, to the boys that were claiming him. Sweet promises of tenderness and care fluttered against his ears.

Finn slid down Conall’s body, fingers trailing across his skin, a warm mouth sucking and biting at his torso. Darin took a pink nipple between his lips, flicking it. Conall groaned, and Darin, encouraged, carefully grazed his teeth over the hardening nub. The sensation held a hint of pain and shot straight into Conall’s cock.

Then Darin joined Finn in his descent, sliding between Conall’s burly thighs, spreading them. Conall struggled to look. The sight of his sweet, slutty boy between his parted legs made his heart flutter. His insides clenched, keenly anticipating what was to come.

“Raise your hips,” Finn said.

Finn handed Darin a pillow. Conall lifted his buttocks off the mattress, and Darin slipped the cushion underneath him. His back pressed into its softness as he sank. The pillow elevated his rump, and Conall knew where this was going, though he’d rather not overthink it.

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