Deadmen's Queen: A dark college reverse harem romance

Chapter Eleven

Ahand stroked gently over my hair and I smiled as I opened my eyes to find Tristan lying next to me.

“Hello sunshine,” he said.

“Too early,” I mumbled, burrowing back into the pillow. Tristan laughed.

“Paige, it”s midday.”

I lifted my head to look at him, but although he grinned at me, he sadly didn’t seem to be joking.

“Midday?”

“Yep.” Tristan propped himself up on one elbow, watching me. It occurred to me that after what had happened between Nate and I last night, and the very quick bath afterwards, that I must look a right state. It also occurred to me that I was completely naked under the covers.

“Stop staring,” I said.

“I can”t help it. You look beautiful in the morning.” His gaze drifted over me, warm and appreciative. “Especially with that just fucked look.”

My mouth fell open at his words, and I blushed as I pulled the sheet higher. The memory of last night”s activities flashed through my mind, and Nate’s suddenly conspicuous absence had me squirming uncomfortably. Had he gone downstairs and told Tristan what we’d done. What I’d let him do?

“Where’s Nate?” I asked.

“Got up early and headed over to the gym. Said he needed some time to think.”

“Oh.” My heart sank as my slight embarrassment sank further down into shame. I’d pushed him too far, hell I’d practically thrown myself at him, and now he couldn’t even stay in the same room as me.

“Yeah, it’s not often Nate gets up before ten, and it’s even less often that he wakes up in a good mood, though I can’t say I’m surprised after what I heard last night.”

Tristan winked at me and my face heated.

“You heard?”

“Couldn”t help it.” He grinned. “My room is next door and the walls are surprisingly thin.”

I felt the heat crawl up my neck, turning my cheeks bright red with undeniable evidence of my embarrassment.

“Oh, God, Tristan, that”s... I’m…” I struggled for words.

“Relax,” he said. He leaned forward, brushing his lips briefly over mine. “Whatever you did, or let him do, I’m grateful. It”s not every day Nate wakes up without a storm cloud over his head.”

“Really? He was in a good mood?”

“Really.” Tristan grinned. “He’s practically beaming, thanks to you.”

“Now you’re teasing me,” I said, smiling. “I don’t think I’ve seen Nate smile, let alone beam.”

“Closest thing to it I”ve ever seen.”

“I”m glad, I was worried when I woke up and he wasn’t here.”

“Well, he’ll be in classes now. I’ve already had two, but Bast said to let you sleep today with everything that’s happened. He said once you’re up and dressed to go down and find him, he wants to sort you some more clothes. I bought yours up from yesterday.” He gestured to a small pile on the dresser. “They’re clean, and there’s some underwear from the clubhouse too.”

A warmth spread over me that had nothing to do with embarrassment.

“You’re too good to me,” I said softly.

He reached out, pulling me into his arms, and stroking my hair as I snuggled into him.

“It’s not difficult to see that you’ve been through some shit, Paige, but please try and believe me when I say, this is not unusual. Any decent human being would do the same, and although we might not count as decent human beings, we want you to feel safe and comfortable. You deserve that at the very least.”

I wasn’t sure I completely agreed, but he was warm and smelled amazing and I was loving the feel of his arms around me, so I stayed quiet. I was relieved to hear Nate wasn’t upset with me, and I felt a little calmer at the memory of what we’d done.

“Thanks for the clothes,” I said. “And I’m sorry we disturbed your sleep last night.”

Tristan laughed and looked down at me. “I’m not. It was thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. One day you’ll have to tell me what he did to make you scream his name that many times though.”

I blushed hard, the memories of exactly what Nate had done suddenly filling my head.

Tristan grinned. “Oh, that naughty was it? I’ll admit, I was imagining all kinds of things while I was… well, shall we say, playing along?”

I blinked. “You were… while we were…”

“I was. It was a hell of a turn on hearing you with him, Paige.” Tristan leaned down, his forehead pressed against mine, murmuring his words against my lips. “I came so hard in my hand, imagining you on your knees sucking his cock, mine sliding deep into that sweet pussy of yours.”

I sucked in my breath, pressing my thighs together as his words set off a spark inside me. I was aching and sore from Nate, but my body didn’t seem to care as Tristan pressed himself closer to me. He was fully dressed under the covers, but I wasn’t and I shivered as he ran his hand down the side of my body and over my hip.

“I wanted to wake you up by licking you till you woke up coming over my face…” he trailed his fingers down the crease of my thigh and over my hair and I gasped.

“You’re so beautiful when you sleep, Paige. One day, I want to slide between your legs so you wake up with my cock inside you.”

His fingers dipped gently between my lips and I moaned softly.

“Would you let me do that one day, Paige? Wake you up with my head between your legs, or my cock buried deep in this soft, wet pussy?”

“Yes,” I gasped, as he slid one finger inside me.

“Well, that”s good to know,” he said, bringing his finger up to circle my clit. “Nate said I couldn’t this morning. He said I needed to ask first, and that you’d be too sore. Are you too sore, Paige?” He pushed two fingers inside me this time, and I pushed my hips forward, needing more.

“A little,” I admitted. I did. I felt bruised and tender, but Tristan was being so gentle, it didn’t hurt.

“Can I be gentle?” he asked, and I nodded.

“Thank heavens,” he murmured. “Because you feel utterly divine.”

He slid his fingers back inside me, stroking me tenderly as I gasped for air. His lips found mine in a searing kiss and I opened my mouth to him, his tongue exploring me as his fingers stroked and caressed.

His fingers worked slowly building up the tension inside me as he kissed and nibbled my ears. “Are you sure you”re okay with this?” He asked once more, his voice low and husky.

I nodded, barely able to bring out the words. “Yes... please...,” I gasped, pulling him closer.

I opened my legs wider, wanting him deeper inside me. He grinned down at me, his free hand moving to pull the sheet away from my body.

“I want to see you,” he said, his gaze intent on me. I blushed but did not resist. Tristan”s breath hitched as he took in the sight of my naked body sprawled beneath him.

“Beautiful,” he muttered under his breath, his eyes drinking me in. My body heated under his gaze, the feeling of being desired was something new and exciting.

His fingers continued their exploration, moving slowly and deliberately inside me. I closed my eyes, focusing on each stroke as it sent pleasure rippling through my core.

There was a soft knock at the door, and it opened almost immediately. I gasped, reaching for the sheet, but Tristan didn’t move, continuing to slide his fingers in and out, one leg stretching over mine to keep my legs spread wide as Bast walked into the room.

“Bast,” Tristan greeted casually, as if we had been merely chatting all along. “I was just delivering your message.”

Bast gave us a knowing smirk. “I bet,” he drawled before turning to look at me with a soft smile. “You need to get showered and dressed, Paige. Kate’s arriving in a little while to take you clothes shopping.”

“She is? Why?”

“After having a look at the items removed from your room, it would appear a lot of clothes were ruined by the… paint the intruder spread everywhere. Sadly, it would appear to be mainly your designer items that were ruined.”

I was struggling to concentrate on what he was saying with Tristan’s fingers still slowly exploring me, but I nodded before realising what Bast was trying to say. A smile spread across my face as I realised he was giving me an excuse to replace all the clothes my mother had bought me with ones of my own choosing.

“That”s… that”s a shame,” I managed to say. Tristan”s fingers curled inside me and I gasped. Bast smiled and moved closer to the bed.

“I agree. So you’ll take my credit card and replace your wardrobe. I can’t have my Persephone living in my housemate’s sweats the rest of the term. I have an image to maintain.”

“Yes, Bast,” I said, squirming under Tristan”s touch.

“Good girl. Tristan, you’d better get a move on, Paige needs to get ready. Maybe I should give you a hand?”

Tristan grinned. “Sure boss,” he said.

Bast kneeled on the bed, pushing my legs further apart, his eyes moving down over my body to where his friend’s fingers were buried inside me. I blushed fiercely under his gaze.

“You”re simply exquisite, Paige,” he murmured before leaning down and running his tongue around my clit. I moaned, but Tristan leaned down, capturing my mouth and swallowing my sounds as he drove me onwards.

As they worked in tandem, I felt my body spiralling. I was helpless under their touch, their tongues and fingers driving me to a place I’d never been before. Bast’s tongue circled my clit while Tristan’s fingers drove in and out of me. It was too much, the sensation overwhelming, and I clenched around Tristan’s fingers.

“Come on Paige,” murmured Bast against my clit. “I’ve got classes this afternoon and I want the taste of your cum on my lips when I go. Let go for us.”

Hearing his voice, I let go of the control I’d been holding onto and surrendered to the waves of pleasure washing over me. My hips bucked against Bast”s mouth as I cried out my climax. Tristan continued to move inside me, keeping the pleasure going as best he could while I shuddered beneath him.

Bast finally lifted his head from between my thighs, smirking up at me while he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “You taste incredible,” he said in a hushed voice that did nothing to hide his satisfaction.

Gently, Tristan withdrew his fingers from inside me, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Come on beautiful girl,” he said. “In the shower.”

“We’ll leave you to it,” said Bast, standing up, his tongue running over his bottom lip. “Kate should be here in half an hour.”

They left the room, and I lay there a few minutes longer, enjoying the solitude and the lazy, satisfied feeling that engulfed my whole body. I could still hear my mother in the back of my head, disgusted with how I’d acted, her voice condemning me, but it was quieter than it had ever been. Whether that was because the guys made me feel so cherished and wanted in their arms, or because she’d admitted she’d played me into this position, I had no idea. All I knew is that despite my initial misgivings about this position, I was to my surprise, thoroughly enjoying myself and had every intention of experiencing everything these men had to offer me. Even if it was only temporary.

I felt a little sad at the idea that at the end of the school term, all this would end. Although I’d just moved in, I had spent so much time with the three of them over the last month, it felt like we were actually dating, and I liked their company. I sighed, and dragged myself up and out of bed. I also liked Kate”s company, and I needed to get ready.

***

Five hours later, I was exhausted and my feet were sore, but happy and more relaxed than I’d felt in days. Weighed down by more shopping bags than I was entirely comfortable with, Kate and I made our way to one of the pubs on the high street, desperate for a drink and a sit down.

Settling into a plush booth, Kate ordered two pints of cider while I surveyed our shopping conquests. Bags of every size and colour cluttered the space around us, filled with all manner of clothing - jeans and tops, dresses and underwear. It was an eclectic mix of styles and designers that made my heart sing. Clothes that I wanted. Clothes that I had chosen. This was my first taste of independence from my mother”s stifling control over my wardrobe, and, God, it felt good.

“I think we did well,” Kate said as she returned to the booth, sliding one frosty pint towards me. “Between your taste and my negotiating skills, we’ve made quite the dent in Bast’s bank account.”

I laughed at her assessment, taking a long swallow of the sweet apple cider. She was right; between the two of us, we had found some incredible deals on some very stylish outfits. And it was liberating to know I wouldn”t have to wear another tight pencil skirt or uncomfortable heels unless I wanted to.

“It was fun,” I admitted. Shopping had always been a chore for me; what with having to please my mother’s tastes and her constant criticism hanging over my head. But today... today was different. With Kate by my side it felt more like an adventure.

Kate chuckled softly, raising her drink in toast. “To new experiences,” she proposed.

“To new experiences,” I echoed, clinking my glass against hers before taking another sip.

Kate sank back against the velvet covered booth with a sigh.

“I forgot how exhausting shopping can be.”

“I can”t believe how much we bought,” I said, glancing at our bags piled haphazardly on the floor. It was more belongings than I”d owned in a long while. I felt guilty for spending so much of Bast”s money but Kate shook her head when I voiced my concerns.

“He wouldn”t offer if he didn”t mean it,” she told me. “Bast takes care of his own, and he told me to make sure you spent a decent amount.”

A thrill went through me at the thought of being one of ”his own”. I wasn”t sure exactly what that meant to him, or where I stood with Tristan and Nate, who were both parts of this strange arrangement, but the idea that they all cared enough about me to want me safe and happy was more than I ever could have hoped for when I”d left home.

“So tell me, just how much of a drag is it living with three insanely gorgeous sex gods?” Kate asked with a smirk.

I nearly choked on my cider, the liquid going down the wrong way as I spluttered out a response.

“It”s... uh... not exactly boring,” I admitted while wiping at my watering eyes.

“Figured,” she replied, grinning at me mischievously from across the table. Her eyes were twinkling with curiosity and delight. “So, who”s the best in bed?”

“Kate!” I yelped, my cheeks burning hot.

“It”s Bast isn”t it?” she guessed, her grin never faltering.

“I”m not telling,” I huffed, crossing my arms and trying to look sternly at her.

“Just a little hint!” she pleaded, her hands clasped together in an exaggerated begging pose.

“No!”

“I suppose Tristan has the experience, or maybe Nate? Tell me, Paige, is he all in proportion? Cause if so, I‘m amazed you can still walk!”

“You”re incorrigible.”

“And you love me for it.”

“I do,” I grinned. I reached down for my bag, rifling through it to find my phone.

“What’s the matter?”

“I thought Bast might have called me by now. He thinks I might be in danger from this creepy stalker guy, and he said he’d check in over the day, but I’ve not heard anything… Kate, you don’t have my phone, do you?”

“No, why?”

“I think it’s missing. Shit. I must have dropped it in one of the shops. I’m so fucking stupid!”

“Oh no, Paige. Any idea which one? It was so busy today. You don’t think someone’s taken it?”

“It’s possible. With the crowds, I might not have felt someone take it out of my bag. I was sure it was in the front pocket.”

My dismay must have shown clearly on my face, because Kate reached out and took my hand.

“Hey, Paige. It’s just a phone, babe. Don’t sweat it.”

“No, but my mum bought it, and I’ll have to call her in an hour…” I pulled my hand back from Kate, scrabbling through my bag, panic flaring in my chest. She’d be so angry, so very angry. Where the hell was it? I had to find it.

“Paige. Paige!”

I didn’t listen, and slid down onto my knees on the floor, starting to tip out the shopping bags onto the floor next to our table, desperate to find it. Panic had taken over and I couldn’t think about anything else except finding my phone.

“Paige.” A different voice this time, one louder, harder. I blinked and looked up. Bast was standing there and he didn’t look happy. “I’ve been trying to call you all afternoon. I didn’t know where you were.”

“I need to find my phone,” I said, and tipped out the next bag. My movements were frantic, and I knew my hands were shaking, but they didn’t understand. If I didn’t find that phone, if she couldn’t call me, she might come here, and she’d be so angry with me. My chest tightened, and I struggled to draw a breath.

“Paige, stop.” Bast leaned down and lifted my body off the floor, sitting down and pulling me into his lap. I fought to get away, pushing at him.

“No! I need to find my phone. I can”t lose it. She’ll be so mad…”

“Paige, I have your phone,” Bast said gently. I stilled, my heart still racing.

“What?”

“Here.” He slipped his hand into his pocket and passed it to me. “You left it on the console table this afternoon when you went out. I’ve been trying to call you for the last two hours, but it was on silent. I saw it as soon as I got home and came to find out.”

I took the phone from him, checking it quickly. Six missed calls from his number. No one else had called. The panic subsided a little. Bast must have sensed it, because he pulled me into his chest, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly.

“You’re shaking,” he murmured. “Breathe, Paige. Just breathe.”

I gulped down a couple of breaths, then looked up at him.

“You’re mad at me.”

“Yes, I am. You’ve got a dangerous psycho following you, and you didn’t even take your phone. You don’t answer your phone, what the hell am I supposed to think?”

“I’m so sorry, I must have put it down when I answered the door for Kate and forgotten to pick it up. I’m so so sorry.” The shaking grew worse again as I looked up at him, and I twisted my fingers together to try and stop it.

“Paige, calm down. I am angry but I am not going to hurt you. You’re panicking and you need to calm down. Breathe.” He pulled me closer, laying my head on his chest, and stroking my hair. I sucked in a few more breaths, trying to do as he said.

“That’s it princess, breathe. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you. I’m angry because I was worried about you. You need to be more careful. But I know you’re safe now. No harm done.”

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered against his chest.

“It was a careless mistake, you didn’t do it on purpose. And now you know never to do it again. Lesson learned.”

Feeling calmer than before, I allowed myself a moment to relax in his arms - something that was becoming increasingly comforting to me. This man, who was so outwardly tough and ruthless, showed me a softer side that felt like a safe haven amidst the harsh realities of my life.

“I”ll be more careful next time,” I vowed, my words coming out shaky from the after-effects of the panic. Bast gave a small nod, his fingers gently combing through my hair.

“Good. We can”t let our guard down, not even for a moment. Understand?” His voice was stern, yet there was an underlying warmth that soothed me.

I nodded, exhaling deeply. The last bit of tension left my body and I sagged against him.

“Good girl,” he said. “Now, seeing as I’m here, I was hoping you might agree to going to dinner with me? If Kate doesn’t mind me stealing you?”

“I don’t mind at all. You ok with that Paige?”

I sat up straighter and looked at her. She was worried about me too. I nodded.

“Yes, I’m good. Thank you so much Kate, and I’m sorry I freaked out.”

Kate grinned. “I’ve seen worse, babe, don’t fret about it. I’ll see you tomorrow, maybe we can meet for lunch between classes?”

I smiled. “Yes, that would be great. See you then.”

She got up, then bent over and rifled through the bags, tossing one over to me.

“If you’re going for dinner, you should change into that. He’ll love it.” She winked at both of us, then left.

“You want to change?” Bast asked me. I nodded. I knew he wouldn’t take me anywhere casual enough to wear dungarees, and I was a little excited about the dress Kate had picked out for me. I hoped he’d like it.

“No problem. I’m parked just outside. Go get changed in the bathroom, and I’ll put the rest of the bags in the car.”