Lucky Boys (Il Fortunato #1)

12. Brooks

CHAPTER 12

brOOKS

I didn’t know what to expect after the group hug in the conference room. I was still feeling some type of way and a little itchy. I really needed to find a way to get to a club or have one of the guys here to do more than flirt with me. Though, I didn’t know if that was truly an option. I had the vague idea that Skye, Maverick, and Luca didn’t have a traditional relationship, outside of it already being three people, but what that meant, I didn’t totally know.

What I didn’t expect was Skye to grab my hand and literally drag me from the room.

“Come on.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, but I didn’t really fight getting dragged along. Anything would be better than standing in that suffocating room with Luca staring at me with sad, pathetic eyes. They were worse than a puppy’s. I wanted to give that man everything when he watched me like that.

Skye pulled me through the entire fucking mansion until we hit the outside. I hadn’t really had a chance to be out here yet, and it was unsurprisingly gorgeous and extravagant, though the pool looked sick as fuck. I would be checking that out for sure.

Apparently, not now, though, because Skye led me past that gated area, around some garden that looked like it belonged in Versailles, and past a no shit, for real gazebo. Who the fuck had a gazebo at their house?

“Skye . . . ” I whined. “Can you tell me where we’re going?”

He looked at me over his shoulder, grinning. “Nope.”

I rolled my eyes and continued to pout, but I really didn’t mind. It was nice out, and it was good to be out of the house. It might have been huge, but it still felt suffocating when I knew I was pretty much stuck. Finally, we got to a range of some sort. Most of it looked like any normal gun range, but there were two additional sections with wooden targets that weren’t positioned as far away. Thankfully, Skye headed there.

Next to the targets was a weapons safe. Skye put in the code and then opened it. I took a step closer, whistling at all the goodies.

“Holy fuck.” I couldn’t help it. I reached out, brushing my hand lightly across the sheaths. There was just about everything in there, from small throwing knives to machetes and axes.

“Can I?” I asked Skye, trying and failing to contain my excitement.

“Of course. That’s why I brought you here. I figured you were like me and preferred something physical to let out your stress. It was between this and fucking you. Since I wasn’t sure how you felt about that, this won out.”

My head snapped up to Skye. He looked completely serious. “Um, is option number 2 still on the table?”

Skye laughed. “After we talk some, and I talk to Luca and Mav, then absolutely. In the meantime, throw some weapons, Brooks.”

He was gonna trust me with an axe after getting that in my head? Seriously? Like I didn’t already have 5,000,362 questions before Skye had dropped that bomb, casual as you please. I eye- fucked Skye, making it very clear I was still on board with the other option. When he only responded with an eyebrow raise and a gesture to the safe. I grumbled about him being a tease but was honestly a little too excited to put too much heat into it. I picked up one of the axes.

I’d never thrown these before. They weren’t practical weapons; it wasn’t like I could hide one on me, like my knives. But I also really couldn’t resist the chance to play with it.

I tested the weight in my hands a few times. It was pretty heavy. I would have to adjust my throw to make up for it.

I stepped away from the safe and Skye and moved over to the target. I didn’t throw yet, just spent a little time adjusting my stance and seeing what was comfortable. Skye didn’t say a word, just watched me with a heated stare that, if he continued, was going to make throwing this thing even harder.

I flashed him a saucy smile. “If you keep watching me like that, I’m going to have a very public boner very soon.”

Skye waved his hands. “Public? This is private property, sunshine. Only things around us are trees. And trust me, they have seen way more than an erection.”

Okay . . . now I had even more questions, that I clearly wasn’t getting answered. Damn this man.

I picked up the axe. Throwing axes. And knives. Playing with weapons and getting my mind off the people going after my brother and me and, maybe even more importantly, Luca Castellano. Definitely not thinking about what Skye would look like without clothes and how filthy he probably was when he fucked. Nope, not thinking about that at all . . .

It was probably no surprise to anyone that my first throw missed the target, by a lot. Couldn’t help that I was distracted. The second was better, and by the third, I actually hit the bottom of it.

“That’s it, sunshine! You got this.”

I looked over, a little out of breath. Damn, this was a workout. “Can you do this?”

Skye shot me a flirty grin. “Wanna see?’

“Fuck yes.”

Skye took the axe from me, stood in front of the target, and threw it effortlessly. I swore the motherfucker hadn’t even aimed. Of course it had landed right in the center with a loud thunk. I groaned. It was as hot as it was annoying.

“It was a fluke,” I told him, even if I didn’t believe it.

Skye’s eyes lit up. “Oh, is that a challenge? Bring me any of the weapons there. I guarantee I’ll hit the center of the target.”

Oooh, this sounded fun. “Bet!” I scanned the safe and found a bulkier blade with a heavy hilt, not meant for throwing. I handed it to Skye, who just smirked. Then the smug bastard hit the center of the target again.

After five more weapons, and five more perfect shots, I was desperate to find a way to get him off his game . . . and also horny as fuck. Seriously, this was better than watching porn. Competence was hot. Danger was hot. Combine them in one sexy package? Yes fucking please.

“You know you’re not human, right?” I grumbled after a while. Skye laughed and took a sip of water.

“I just practice a lot. My dad was somewhat of a survivalist.”

My eyes widened. I hadn’t been expecting that. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. After 9/11, he kind of freaked out and moved my family to the wilderness. He was the one who taught me how to fight. Ironic, since he hated my MMA career.”

I chewed on my lip, unsure what to say to that. But Skye just shrugged. “It’s fine. I found Il Fortunato. Luca and Mav are much more my family than that grumpy bastard ever was.”

I had so many questions, but I decided to focus on the present. I didn’t want to pry about Skye’s past—that was his business. But he’d mentioned Luca and Mav, and that was as good of a segue as I was going to get for some of the things that had been on my mind.

“Speaking of, is it super inappropriate of me to ask what y’alls deal is? Like, I know you’re all together, but I’ve been going crazy trying to find out the dynamics.”

Skye grinned. “Since I’ve been flirting with you since minute zero and Luca made out with you in the kitchen, I think it’s a totally fair question. You have a right to know.” The mention of Luca made my stomach sour, but I ignored it. I was wondering if Skye and Mav were aware of what had happened, and I felt some relief knowing that they did and Skye didn’t seem bothered by it.

“Ugh, I knew I shoulda asked earlier. Diego told me I needed to respect boundaries and that I couldn’t just ask about your personal lives.”

Skye laughed and scrubbed my hair affectionately. Probably should’ve pissed me off, but instead I pushed further into his hand. Damn, I really was touch starved. Skye seemed to pick up on it and wrapped an arm around me, bringing me into his side. I just resisted the urge to bury my face into his chest. I was insanely proud of my self-control. “Normally, that’s good advice, but I don’t think it applies here.” He took a breath. “You heard of ethical nonmonogamy?”

I wiggled my hand. “I’ve heard the term, yeah.” Mainly in the smutty audiobooks I listened to when working out, but still.

“Basically, Luca, Mav, and I are in a committed relationship with each other and love each other very much, but we also agree consensually to have other relationships or play partners outside of us. It’s all about trust and honesty. And talking. A lot of fucking talking.” Skye laughed and shook his head like he was thinking of an inside joke. “In our case, we’re also all open to adding others to our dynamic, though it’s something we’d need to talk and agree to before bringing another person in fully.”

Hmmm. “Like another person in your relationship, with all three of you? Not just a hookup or dating individually?”

“Exactly.”

“Have you had anyone like that?” Totally innocent question. No selfish reasons for asking at all. It wasn’t like I’d been quietly, or really, not that quietly, lusting after Skye and Mav since the moment I’d walked into their house. The insta-lust trope was real, and I had been feeling it. Though, was it insta-lust since it wasn’t like I hadn’t met Mav and Skye before? I didn’t know them well, but well enough to be aware of how hot they were . . . . I was getting off track, and what Skye was telling me was important, so I tried to focus.

It wasn’t just their bodies either. I was really starting to like them. Especially Skye, since I’d spent more time with him. Which, we’d just met and the situation was wild, but I was attracted to him, and I always had a hard time not jumping into things when I felt a person. Probably why I’d had so many shitty experiences, but somehow I just knew it wouldn’t be like that with these men. We just vibed, and I was interested in seeing where this was going. Of course there was the elephant in the shape of a 6’4” Italian sex god in the room, but what was that but a minor detail?

Skye wasn’t fooled and smiled fondly, kissing the top of my head. Holy fucking crap, I swooned. My cheeks heated and I ducked, hoping he didn’t notice.

He finally answered my question. “Not really. There was always Wes in the background, but it kind of goes without saying if he and Luca ever get their heads out of their asses, he would be a part of us. Besides that, there were a few people we scened with together, but it was always just a scene. There hasn’t really been anyone we wanted to pursue less casually.” Skye paused, all dramatic as fuck, and I could tell he was watching me. “Until now.”

Hope bloomed in my chest, but I couldn’t bring myself to look up at Skye and see his expression.

I managed to stay quiet for a while, waiting, but the fucking bastard didn’t elaborate anymore, and I didn’t have it in me to ask. Besides, that wasn’t my only question, so for now I decided to move on. I could have patience when it mattered.

“And kink? I’ve been trying to figure that out too.”

Skye laughed again. “Yeah? What do you have so far?”

I rolled my eyes. Of course he was going to make me spell it out. “Well, I know Luca is a Dom. Unless something changed, he prefers stricter D/s situations and is about the control more than pain or whatever. Not that he’s against that, but it’s secondary.” At least, that was how he’d explained it to me while cuddling me close to his chest and casually playing with my spent dick. “Mav is definitely a Dom too. But I don’t know his kinks. I’ve never run into him at one of the clubs, so I have no idea.”

That had Skye fucking snorting. “You pretty much have it on lock for Luca. We also all love primal play. Maverick is the scariest motherfucking primal player I’ve ever seen. It’s so hot. He’s also a sadist. Unlike Luca, he needs the pain. But he loves the control aspects too. They’re both bossy as fuck. Mav is a little better at reining it in though.”

Skye nodded toward the targets. “C’mon, help me clean up. We should be heading back to the house soon. Unfortunately, there’s some boring shit we have to take care of before we can start following the Covingtons, and I want to walk you through it.”

I tried not to show my excitement. I’d been a little worried when I’d called Luca that he would try to keep me from being involved in this. But I was desperate to help. I wanted to be part of the team, and I was relieved that they were letting me, even if it meant boring shit or sitting in a car for way too long.

As we cleaned up our mess, Skye brought the conversation back to before. “What about me? With kink. Got any ideas?”

“Yeah, you’re the wild card. I can’t figure you out at all. For all the times I ran into you, I’ve never actually seen you play.” Which, now that I thought about it, was pretty suspicious.

Skye wiggled his eyebrows. “It’s all part of the mystery. I like to keep y’all guessing.”

I pouted for about 2.5 seconds before Skye relented. “I’m a switch. Primarily during primal play or any CNC scene. I can be the hunter or the hunted depending on who I’m playing with and the mood I’m in. I’m not as structured as Luca or even Mav, but they get me in my sub headspace pretty fucking easily. I’m also a maso.”

Okay, that was hot as fuck. And yeah, I could see how he tended to be more submissive with Luca and Mav as partners. They certainly had me squirming in my seat all the damn time.

“What about you?” Skye asked. “I know you like to play a little rough, but that’s all.”

I shrugged, not knowing how to answer. “I really don’t know what I like. I’m definitely a sub. I have masochistic tendencies for sure. Love getting tied up, a good impact session, and a rough fuck. I think I like the structure. My brain is always going a million miles an hour, you know? It would be nice to just not have to think and let someone else make those decisions. But I never really had the chance to explore that.” Because the one person I’d trusted and had promised to teach me, had walked out the next day like nothing had happened . . . . I shook my head. Not going there. “Anyway, that’s all I know, honestly. Oh, and I like toys.”

That got Skye’s attention.

“What kind of toys?”

“Pretty much everything. But it’s more fun if I have someone else controlling it.”

“Like, the speed of the vibrator or determining how deep the dildo goes in? Or like a cock cage?”

I squirmed and pressed my palm into my dick. I was going to have to wear loose pants all the time around these guys. Jeans would be torture. “Yes. All of the above.”

“Hmmm.” Hmmm? What the hell did hmmm mean?

Skye didn’t answer, just hummed quietly to himself while he finished cleaning. We walked back shortly after that, my head reeling, though I did feel much better than I had before I’d talked to Skye.