Page 26 of Painless
MARIPOSA
All three of them snapped their heads in my direction, shocked at what I just said. But my eyes were only on the blonde man sitting across from me.
“Why?” Gunner’s tone was quiet, curious. He looked calmer than the two men standing on either side of me, squeezing each of my palms in a death grip.
“Because I told you two weeks ago,” I replied. “We could take this slowly. You could ask us whatever questions you had on your mind, and we’ve answered them honestly. But at some point, you have to make a decision.”
“I know, Mari. But what’s that got to do with watching you all have sex?”
“To see if you canhandle it, as you put it. Because this is a regular part of our relationship. And until you’re there to experience it for yourself, you’ll have no idea how you’ll react to it.”
Jandro chuckled darkly at my side, leaning in to whisper, “Smart girl.”
Reaper’s face remained stony on my other side, his signature resting scowl revealing nothing about what his thoughts were.
“Um, okay.” Gunner shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “You’re right, I guess.”
“After tonight,” I swallowed thickly, trying to conceal my own nerves, “there’s no more dancing around this, Gunner. You’re either with me or not. I want to be with you too, but I—”
Each of my men squeezed my hands reassuringly as my throat tightened up. It didn’t matter that Gunner was the third man I had feelings for. I was giving him an ultimatum, and it was just as difficult as if he was the only one I wanted. If I said my whole piece, I’d have to follow through, no matter the outcome. My heart had already cracked from him pushing me away before, and I had to risk that pain again if he said no. But having Reaper and Jandro’s support made a world of difference in strengthening my spine.
“I can’t keep waiting and hoping for you to say that you want this.Allof this.” I lifted my hands to show how Reaper and Jandro held me, clasped between them. “So after tonight, you’re either telling me yes, or,” I pulled in a shaky breath, “or any other answer is a no.”
Gunner watched me speak the whole time with rapt attention. His jaw clenched just before he rose to his feet.
“Okay,” he breathed. “I’m in.”
“Hold up.” Speaking for the first time, Reaper raised his index finger. “I have one rule.”
Gunner’s eyes shifted to him. We all waited with bated breath.
“You don’t touch her.” Reaper’s voice had the sharp edge of a growl that heated my core. “You do nothing but watch. I don’t care if you jerk off, but no one excepthermen touches her in the bedroom. Am I clear?”
“Crystal,” Gunner nodded.
With that, Reaper led the way through the pool gate toward his house. He tugged me by the hand and Jandro followed after me, with Gunner bringing up the rear. Once out in the street, Reaper released my hand to wrap an arm around my shoulders. He pulled me in close and murmured close to my ear, “You sure about this, sugar?”
“Not really,” I admitted. “I just didn’t know what else to do.”
“It’s probably the only option left to get a straight answer out of him,” he said. “But it could go badly. If he’s not cut out for this, it could fuck with his head.”
“Well, he’s agreed to it. That must mean something, right? That his gut instinct wasn’t to shoot it down.”
“Maybe. We’re about to find out.” His hand slid down my back, gliding gently over my tattoo and following my curves until he grabbed a handful of my ass. “You ever been watched before?”
“No.” I pinched his side to make him let go of my ass, wondering if Gunner saw. “Have you?”
“Nope.” He shot me a lopsided, cocky smirk. “I think it’s a first for everyone involved.”
The momentall four of us walked into Reaper’s house, Jandro insisted we all take a shot of whiskey before heading up to the bedroom.
“I’ll have two,” Gunner grinned, following him into the kitchen.
“Make yourselves at home, why dontcha?” Reaper grumbled, but he pulled my body flush to his, nuzzling my neck before kissing under my jaw.
“Can I get wine instead?” I scratched over his scalp, making him hum against my neck. The vibrations of his voice traveled all the way to my toes.
“Nope. Won’t work quick enough.” Jandro emerged from the kitchen, holding shot glasses for me and Reaper.
