Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Captain’s Hall, Freedom
R obyn
“Happy Birthday to the best sister in the world! Be your unique self!” I read the front of the card.
A sparkling unicorn on the birthday card is winking and holding up a champagne glass.
I knew that Cody would find a way to make a joke out of Dildogate.
Neve has ordered D’Angelo a special unicorn horn butt plug. I can’t wait for that parcel to arrive and for D’Angelo to open it.
Some gifts are priceless…like the expression on D’Angelo’s face will be.
I’ve already received my birthday present from Dad, which was just as perfect: Colton’s official dismissal from the Bay Rebels.
Dad messaged me a picture of the document, then a photo of Colton looking horrified, and the single word underneath it fired .
I’d love to know what Colton said to Dad after he took his photograph like he wanted to keep the happy memory of the moment.
It helps the final anxiety in me unwind to know that Colton will no longer be a staff member at the Bay Rebels.
Not only did Colton betray Dad, being behind the nightmare with the board that almost destroyed all of us, he has also put Shay and D’Angelo through hell in practice. On top of that, he started the drunken argument that drove us into Heine’s arms on Halloween.
Colton deserves to lose his job like he tried to make D’Angelo lose his.
I know Dad. He’s a hard-ass. He won’t give Colton a good recommendation.
In fact, I doubt that Colton will work in a team that’s higher than the minor leagues again.
I can’t forgive my dad for many things. But this morning, he’s made me smile.
It’s Sunday morning on my birthday, and I’m standing in the warmth of the grand lounge in Captain’s Hall.
I’m only wearing Eden’s CATITUTE IS EVERYTHING black t-shirt as I happily peruse my cards that are displayed on the inbuilt-bookcase.
I run my finger along the pale back of Eden’s angel wings shell, which I’ve displayed on the end of the shelf.
The bookcase is Eden’s favorite part of the lounge. He studies the books each evening, running his fingers along their spines like friends. I enjoy knowing that now he’ll be able to see the shell as well and remember his first vacation to the beach house.
The morning light streams across the purple and black furniture. A crackling fire spits in the marble fireplace. A gilt mirror gleams above it.
I wrinkle my nose at the smoky, sweet scent. My eyes sting.
Eden wasn’t in the comfortable tangle of limbs with my other lovers, when I woke up in bed this morning. Unusually, however, both Shay and D’Angelo were naked and snoring still.
Eden had left the bed at dawn, however, for what Shay told me (when he woke up), was a secret birthday mission .
I grin as I stare around at the lounge, which is beautifully decorated like the rest of the house with arctic blue and silver balloon garlands and HAPPY BIRTHDAY banners.
The entire house is filled with the rich, delicious scents of baking.
I think that I’ve cracked the secret of the mission.
I won’t snitch on Eden to Cody, who made Eden promise to rest his shoulder, apart from his physiotherapy exercises.
Cody can be scary, when he’s in professional mode.
Shay promised me another surprise. D’Angelo is preparing it with him now.
I rock on my heels with excitement.
What surprise?
I bet that it’s good.
I need a proper celebration after the hell that we’ve been put through over the last few weeks. We’ve survived it together, however, and we’re stronger.
Last night after the game and the players’ ice bath and massage, we celebrated at home with champagne, chocolates, and cockwarming.
The three ‘c’s’, D’Angelo called them with a smirk.
After all, according to the Guide, they won the game and that meant we must act out a secret fantasy.
This was mine.
I’m certain that we all needed to feel as close a connection to each other as possible.
I’ve never felt anything as intimate as when Eden slipped his cock into me, wrapping his arm around my middle, but then settled down and didn’t move.
I watched, while D’Angelo pushed Shay to his soft cock next to me. Shay stretched his plush lips around D’Angelo’s cock but didn’t suck. Instead, he simply rested his head in D’Angelo’s lap.
My mind became fuzzy. I felt warm and floaty.
Shay’s eyes looked sleepy and half-hooded.
Blissful.
We were all where we should be.
Like this, I could feel deep inside me that we fitted together.
I fell asleep with Eden’s breath on the back of my neck and his cock inside me.
Now, I rearrange the cards, thrumming with excitement.
What’s taking the guys so long? What wickedness are they planning?
When this includes D’Angelo, there will be wickedness.
I glance at the door and then at the piano stool, which stands in front of the gleaming Steinway grand piano in the furthest corner of the room.
Do I have time?
Stealthily, I sneak across the lounge, before dropping in front of the piano stool.
I slide my hand over the cool leather seat.
I hid the rings in here yesterday. I liked the idea that D’Angelo could sit on them without knowing, while he played.
How satisfying is it that the cocky D’Angelo could literally have his ass seated on my secret but not know it?
Since our time in the beach house and my epic fail at giving my men their rings, I’ve been unable to find the perfect time to try again.
I want to do this right.
My three lovers mean everything to me. They each meet my needs in different ways. I can’t imagine my life without them.
I know more firmly than ever that this is what I want.
I need them to believe that they’re worthy and deserving of this life and love.
I hope that these rings will show them more than my words can.
I understand more than anyone after my ex-husband how empty words are.
I’ve had to move the ring box at least a dozen times because of how scarily neat, eagle eyed, and paranoid about our security D’Angelo is. Then there’s Eden, who cleans and tidies this house until it gleams.
Eden even does my laundry.
Hiding the rings in my clothes drawer or closet wasn’t safe for long.
On the other hand, Shay didn’t notice a thing. He’s not into details. He’s more likely to be tracking muddy footprints into the house or singing loud Arctic Monkey songs, while dancing in his own world.
I’ve had three further failed attempts to give my men the rings.
Attempt one: Eden was too focused on his book to notice the ring that I’d tucked underneath it.
Attempt two: I did the traditional dropping into the bottom of wine glass trick one evening but by the time I carried the glasses upstairs, the three men were snoring together in bed.
Attempt Three: I went full out romantic and knelt in the center of the kitchen, only for D’Angelo to trip over me because he was engrossed on his phone…and tipped a carton of milk over my head.
My eyes glint with determination. “Sixth time lucky.”
Today’s the day.
I edge the heavy lid of the piano stool open, peering with satisfaction at the elegant, silver box.
“Happy birthday,” Eden calls from the doorway.
“Shit.” I drop the lid, yelping as it narrowly misses my fingers.
I fall backward onto my ass.
Am I flashing Eden in a sexy or humiliating way?
I flush, pulling my t-shirt down.
Eden arches his pierced brow. “Why are you rolling around on the floor?”
“Why are you carrying that by yourself?” I retort.
Deflection is my friend.
I hurriedly scramble to my feet and rush across the lounge to Eden.
Eden is dressed in nothing but a pair of gray joggers. His sling and bandages are more obvious like this, as if the medals of honor for a warrior.
He has bruises that make me frown with worry because I don’t know when he got them.
Was it when Heine scratched his wrist?
Neither D’Angelo nor Eden have told me in detail what happened in that mansion’s room.
What happens in a billionaire’s playroom, stays in a billionaire’s playroom…
It seems to have made them closer than ever.
“Eden has my back,” D’Angelo simply said. Then he added, “Also, can we get him some therapy about not killing people?”
“We could try,” I agreed. “I don’t think that it’ll work.”
Now, Eden is balancing a cake box on one hand and breaking Cody’s clear instructions by using his arm, which should be resting, to steady it.
“Let me help with that.” I take the heavy cake box from Eden.
I take a deep sniff of the strawberry and chocolate aroma. “It smells delicious.”
“It’s my birthday gift. A cake. Shay said that you’d prefer it, if we made you something, rather than bought it. Was he wrong?” Eden’s brow is furrowed, as he follows me across the lounge.
“He couldn’t have been more right.” I gesture around the beautifully decorated lounge at the balloons and banners. “I missed your cock in me, when I woke up. But knowing how early you got out of bed to do all of this for me means the world. You always put me first. No one looks after me the way that you do. I can’t wait to see my cake. I don’t think that anyone’s made me a homemade birthday cake before.”
Eden looks shocked. “Never?”
“Birthdays were grand events in our house. Mom was more into appearances I guess, ordering in from the local baker’s. Then after she… Well, Dad barely remembered things like birthdays. With Wilder, he’d take me out for an extravagant dinner somewhere I knew that his secretary would have booked. Once, I asked if I could choose, and he told me that I shouldn’t make everything about me .”
“Do you want me to kill him?” Eden growls.
D’Angelo may have a point about the therapy.
Although, I don’t want to change Eden. He’s perfect just as he is.
Plus, honestly, who’d miss Wilder? Really?
“Huh, there’s a thought. How about we save that for next year’s present? You don’t want to spoil me.”
“I do.” Eden stares at me hard. “Next year?”
I raise my eyebrow. “Not thinking of going anywhere, are you? I’m twenty-eight today and I expect you to be here, when I’m eighty-two. You’re stuck with me, phoenix.”
Eden smiles.
It’s like his whole face lighting on fire.
I almost drop the cake.
I don’t need a single other present. Eden’s smile is the only gift that I need.
I smile back just to hold onto his smile for another moment longer. I imprint it onto my memory.
It’s precious.
Then I drop to sit on the sheepskin rug in front of the fire. I place the cake box carefully next to me.
Eden sprawls beside me. The firelight dances across the planes of his hard chest, tattoos, and his silver pierced nipples.
Eden leans over and kisses me, pulling my CATITUDE t-shirt over my head. He caresses down from the hollow of my throat, pausing to trace over the pendant that I never take off. Then he tosses my top to the side, before stroking lower between my breasts and then down to my stomach.
The fire warms my bare skin.
I bask in the heat, widening my legs to encourage Eden to touch between my thighs.
Instead, he pulls back and pushes the cake box toward me. “Gifts first.”
I try hard not to pout.
Then I pull off the lid of the box.
My eyes widen.
The cake is gorgeous.
It’s chocolate in the shape of an open book with a phoenix sitting on top of it. A robin perches on the phoenix’s shoulder. They’re reading the book together.
Embers from the phoenix are falling like fireworks and making the book curl and blacken at the edges.
The cake is a work of art.
“Phoenix,” I whisper in awe. “You actually designed this for me…?”
Eden entwines our hands. “It’s us at our book club.”
“It’s dark and beautiful.” Like you. “It’s too incredible to eat.”
“I used strawberry jam.”
“Well, maybe we could cut into it for the strawberry jam…”
“The others have a surprise for you first.”
I perk up. “More presents?”
Eden nods, before calling out, “She’s ready.”
What…?
I peer at the door.
Normally, I don’t like surprises. But this type, I love.
D’Angelo swaggers into the room. He’s dressed in his favorite navy suit and tie. He looks immaculate and dominant with his glossy curls pushed behind his ears.
What’s he holding in his hands? It looks like a thick red ribbon.
I notice the way that Eden lets go of my hand to gently edge the cake off the rug.
What exactly does he think is going to happen?
Is it going to be wild enough that he needs to make that much space?
“Here’s the birthday girl. Would you like the rest of your presents now?” D’Angelo asks.
I clap my hands. “Yes, please.”
To my shock, D’Angelo’s eyes twinkle devilishly, before he yanks on the ribbon in his hand.
Shay stumbles into the lounge.
I gasp.
“Here’s your gift. It wasn’t standing still, while I wrapped it, so its ass matches the ribbon. It’s pretty.” D’Angelo saunters closer, leading Shay.
Soft, red ribbon is looped around Shay’s neck like a collar and then held by D’Angelo in a leash. Shay’s hands are bound in front of him by the same ribbon.
He’s holding in his bound hands a large present, which is wrapped in gleaming scarlet paper, a card, and the arctic blue and white Guide. Balancing next to them is a large cardboard Wheel of Fortune, which looks handmade and has symbols on it that I don’t understand.
Shay has glittering red bows attached by clamps to his nipples.
Now that’s dedication.
I wince, catching Shay’s eye.
He gives me a playful wink. “Are you looking forward to unwrapping me, love?”
“See how bad it is?” D’Angelo swipes Shay’s ass, which matches the deep red of the ribbon. Shay lets out a moan that is definitely all pleasure. “It can’t remember that objects don’t talk.”
Shay winks at me again.
I laugh.
It hits me then.
This is the best birthday that I’ve ever had.
Already, simply being playful and relaxed, having fun — this is the best birthday .
I’m surrounded by men who will get up at dawn to decorate and bake for me. Men who will allow themselves to be dressed in ribbons and bows on nipple clamps to become my gift. Men who will make it their mission to give me the most pleasurable day that they can.
I love and I’m loved.
It has nothing to do with money, power, or success.
It has everything to do with these three men.
I’ve never fallen so hard, and it’s frightening and wonderful at the same time.
My expression softens. “Objects can be kissed though, right?”
Shay’s smile is like the sun coming up.
D’Angelo rolls his eyes, but his expression is indulgent.
He manhandles Shay, pushing him between the shoulder blades across the lounge, before shoving him down beside me.
Shay carefully places the items that he’s carrying in front of me.
I grasp Shay by his ribbon leash and tug him gently toward me.
He opens his mouth in expectation of my kiss. His petal-soft lips are so fucking kissable.
I slip my hand around to stroke across the hotness of Shay’s red ass, kneading his buttocks. It’s turning me on to feel his spanked ass at the same time as I’m sweetly kissing him.
Shay has gifted himself to me for today. Symbolically, I understand what he’s saying.
He’s mine, body and soul. I feel like possibly he was from the moment that we met.
Shay fell harder and faster than any of us.
I draw back from the kiss but only so that I can run my hand reverentially over the makeshift collar around Shay’s neck.
Shay’s breath catches. His eyes become glassy.
“Take the bows off it,” Eden suggests.
Shay narrows his eyes at his brother.
I try not to laugh.
Eden never goes easy on his twin. Shay should have learned that by now.
I study the clamps for a moment. They’re going to hurt more when they come off, than when they went on.
I cringe in sympathy.
I remove the first clamp as gently as I can, but Shay still gasps.
“Ouch,” Shay complains.
But then, he moans in delight, when I dip my head and soothe his swollen nub by laving it with my tongue.
Before he even realizes that I’m doing it I ease open the second clamp. Then I quickly lick and kiss over Shay’s nipple in apology.
Mean D’Angelo but also, good D’Angelo because I love my gift.
D’Angelo lounges on the couch like a king overseeing the court beneath him.
He looks more powerful because he’s dressed in his suit, while Shay and I are more or less naked, and Eden is only wearing joggers.
“Why don’t you open your card next, principessa?” D’Angelo says.
“I made it. I hope that you like it, love.” Shay rests his bound hands on my knee. I hate how uncertain he suddenly sounds. “I’m shit at crafts. You should have seen the Santa sweater I once made. But I wanted to do something thoughtful, yeah? Something that you could keep. Only if you want to or—”
“Whatever you’ve made for me,” I say, firmly, “I will love and keep because it’s from you.”
Shay smiles, brightly. “Even if it’s a sweater with holes in it?”
“Even then.”
I pick up the A4 size card and open the envelope, sliding out the homemade card.
“Wow.” I stare in wonder at the front of the card.
It’s an oil painting of the four of us at the beach house. It’s not great art but it must have taken a hell of a long time. It has also caught the spirit of us in a way that I didn’t know was possible.
Our love.
Did Shay paint this for me?
My chest is tight. My eyes well with tears.
I’m going to frame it and put it up in my bedroom. I want to be able to look at it every day.
I flip open the card.
Inside, I read in scrawled writing that I recognize as Shay’s:
Happy birthday to the woman we’ll love forever!
You changed our worlds. We’ll spend 365 days of every year finding ways to thank you for that.
You’re our best friend, the love of our lives, and the center of our universes.
On this special day, we want you to know how deeply in love with you we are.
Your Rebels
The three men have signed it underneath.
I brush away a tear that’s slipped onto my cheek.
“Cara mia?” D’Angelo asks, cautiously.
Eden pulls me against his chest. I take deep breaths of his fresh, vanilla scent.
I’m overwhelmed.
“I’m sorry, love,” Shay sounds distraught. “I didn’t mean to upset you. Do you hate it? Just chuck it on the fire, yeah?”
Shay snatches the card with his tied hands and makes to throw it on the fire.
“No,” I yell, diving toward him and grabbing the card. I hold it tightly to my chest. Shay freezes. “This is mine. You gave it to me. I’m putting it on my wall.”
“She loves it, cucciolo.” D’Angelo adjusts his sleeve. “A possessive Robyn is a happy Robyn.”
I lean to kiss Shay. “He’s right. It just meant such a lot that I needed a moment. It’s awesome. I mean, really special. You are Shay.” I know that Shay must have taken a long time thinking about what to put inside the card. Writing doesn’t come naturally to him. I glance over my shoulder at Eden. “Did you help with the beautiful wording inside?”
“Apart from the bit about universes,” Eden replies.
Shay looks proud. “I wanted to include something about black holes, but that was vetoed.”
I stand, placing the card prominently at the front of the mantelpiece.
Shay beams.
“We’ll be getting to holes soon.” D’Angelo’s lips curl dangerously, “when Robyn opens my present. My main gift was the silver and diamond hair clip, but I have something saved for today as well. Then our Robyn will truly have the real surprise. Did you forget that I promised to plan something for your birthday? A special kink game? I never break a promise. But I may break you in the best way.” His voice drops, becoming dark and honeyed, “And we will be ravishing you. Are you ready for your final present?”