Chapter 45
Due Diligence
Wyatt
The coffeepot is almost empty when Sara comes out of her room holding Drew’s hand. I pour a cup for her and add her cream and a little sugar. When she smells the coffee, her eyes grow wide and she steps forward with her hands outstretched.
“Not so fast, trouble.” I pull back the cup.
Her smile falls but her eyes look so fucking interested. Probably hoping for a repeat of yesterday. I shake my head. Not every day can be a funishment.
“Panties?” I cock my eyebrow. How much trouble is she going to be in?
She smirks and lifts her skirt to show me her bare hip. I would have preferred her ass or pussy, but she followed at least one rule.
“Take your coffee and drink it in the corner.” I point to the corner beside the kitchen. Her smirk fades. “Face the wall and consider what your rules are and how you are going to work to abide by them in the future.”
Her eyes narrow. I can see the fire of defiance light in her eyes. I almost want her to fight me on this.
“Did you have a count for me?” I ask.
Her lips press together. Yeah, I didn’t think so.
“If you don’t take your punishment like a good girl with your nice cup of coffee, I will bind you to a chair with a ball gag in your mouth and force you to sit in the corner.
” I arch an eyebrow, wondering if she’ll test me.
Part of me really looks forward to her testing me.
I might even take a picture of her bound up so prettily.
She chews on her lip before taking her mug. “Sorry, sir.”
She goes to the corner and sips. Her brown dress hugs her hips and ass and flares out at her knees. Her back is slender with her red hair falling in waves down it. Honestly, it’s not a bad view in the morning. Not quite as good as her naked and bent over the table, but still very nice.
Finn comes out of his room and glances at Sara with a frown. “We need to discuss these punishments of yours. This one lacks creativity.”
I shrug, starting a new pot of coffee. I heat the pan for breakfast. “She won’t learn if she always has a good time.”
“I’m thinking the coffee was more of a motivator than behaving.” Drew settles into a chair. “What’s for breakfast, fuck buddy?”
“Not your servant.” I give him a look before returning to Sara’s omelet. Sara doesn’t speak. How long will she stay there before she talks? And how will I punish her when she does?
Technically, I didn’t tell her she couldn’t speak, but I did tell her to contemplate and to do that she needs to focus.
Dante walks in the front door and takes his shoes off. He chuckles when he sees Sara in the corner. “Did she fail to report or fail to count?”
“Both.” I add the veggies to the butter in the pan. They sizzle and fill the air with their scent.
Dante nods. “This might be a more effective punishment.”
Sara turns to glare at Dante, but he just chuckles and heads into his room to shower. When our gazes collide, her eyes widen and she returns her stare to the corner.
Drew stands and moves toward the counter.
“I thought you were going to come in and fuck her last night.” Drew grabs a mug from the open shelf and pours himself a cup of coffee. He leans against the counter next to me but his attention is on Finn.
Finn shrugs. “Figured you deserved a night to yourself.”
I laugh. “We’ve had to lock him out on our nights.”
“I need practice making our girl come without waking her up.” Finn smirks as he drinks. Sara squirms in the corner. “We have a lot of time to make up for.”
“I agree. For the record, I don’t have an issue sharing or watching.” Drew glances my way. His gaze lands on the omelet. “You’re seriously only going to make one of those for yourself.”
“No. I’m making one for me and one for trouble.” I meet his eyes. “I don’t cook for other people.”
“Well, I’m a horrible cook.” Drew walks over to the table and pulls out his phone. “I’m going to put in an order. Anyone want anything?”
“There’s toast. Surely, you can’t screw that up.” Finn looks delighted in this knowledge.
I plate our omelets and bring them to the table. “You can eat at the table, trouble, but your time-out isn’t over yet.”
Sighing, Sara comes over, dropping gracefully into her chair and putting a napkin across her lap. Her pale green eyes lift to mine. “Thank you for breakfast.”
I grunt and dig in. There’s this need in me to make sure she’s fed. I don’t understand where it comes from, but I’m only satisfied when she takes a bite.
She moans softly at the taste. Her eyes lock on mine. That’s my girl.
“How are we doing this tonight?” Drew puts his phone down on the table and glances at Finn and me. “The fundraiser?”
“We’ll arrive together.” I take a bite and watch Sara carefully. “We’ll pick up our dates on the way.”
“Who are these dates?” Drew pulls at the collar of his t-shirt and smiles warily. “I should be prepared, if I fucked any of them.”
“Dante is going with Nancy Anderson.” Finn takes a sip of coffee. “I’m taking Olivia Clark.”
Drew chuckles. “That woman has octopus hands. I didn’t fuck her, but she definitely offered before our night was over.”
“Why didn’t you fuck her?” Sara seems genuinely curious and not jealous.
I’m still not sure what her relationship with Drew really is. He’s already claimed to want her long after the rest of us aren’t able to continue. But could she really love him and make a life with him? My insides churn at the thought. Of having to watch her have a life with someone else.
I swallow my coffee, wishing I’d put whiskey in it.
“I may have been a man whore, but sometimes you just don’t feel it.” Drew shrugs and smirks. His gaze turns to me. “And who are you bringing?”
Sara stiffens and puts her fork down as if the eggs are poisoned.
I brush my hand through my hair. “Tom set me up with Verity Baron.”
Drew whistles. “She’s a hard girl to catch.”
Sara pushes away from the table and returns to the corner without her coffee. Drew’s brow furrows.
“History?” He glances at me and Finn.
Dante walks back in. His gaze lingers on Sara. “Bad blood.”
Drew leans back and his eyes don’t leave Sara. “Well, then we’ll make sure she knows our princess is taken care of.”
“Tom’s a fucking ass.” Finn stands and goes over to Sara, wrapping his arms around her waist and putting his chin on her shoulder. “I’m sure Sara will outshine all the others.”
She rests her head back against his shoulder as he holds her. It’s odd watching Finn give her comfort.
“What am I walking into?” Drew leans back and sips his coffee. His dark gaze never strays from Sara.
“Tom set me up with the bitch that blew up Sara’s life after high school. They used to be best friends.” I push my plate away, no longer hungry either. “But Sara thinks Tom must have had a good reason and that he isn’t just a huge asshole.”
Drew nods. “Verity Baron is a bitch that everyone bows to, but not tonight.”
We can all agree to that.
Sara
My fingers slide through the silk dresses. I haven’t really tried anything on yet.
“Everything okay?” Hope touches my arm softly. Madison and Kayla are already in changing rooms, trying on dresses. At least I won’t be alone at the fundraiser. Morrigan Technology Group has a table and Blake is bringing Kayla along. This time, the others won’t have any date except Madison.
I wish we could be as open as they are, but my family would never approve. Not my mother and especially not my brother.
But tonight, I have something worse to deal with.
“Not looking forward to pretending to be nice to my nemesis.” I give Hope a wry smile.
She grimaces. “Yeah, that wouldn’t be on the top of my list either. I’ve never been to one of these, but it’s a lot of fun watching everyone get dressed up.”
Her expression is wistful.
“You could probably tag along with Madison’s group.” I glance toward the dressing rooms. It’s weird to suggest, but I’m sure Madison wouldn’t mind. If one of my guys didn’t have a date, I’d offer. I’d be much happier with her on their arm, knowing she wouldn’t be trying to take them away from me.
“Oh, no.” She shakes her head. “I couldn’t. I definitely wouldn’t fit in.” She lets out a sharp laugh. “I wouldn’t even know which fork to use.”
“That wouldn’t be an issue.” My fingers linger on a pale green silk dress.
I have to pick something, but this is far more sexy than something I would normally wear.
“My issue is whether Olivia Clark will give me a backhanded compliment if I wear this dress? Will Verity turn her nose up at me or try to poison the guys against me?”
I sigh and pick up the dress and a silver one that’s more in line with what I would usually wear. I bump my shoulder into Hope. “You could at least try on a dress. Pretend to live the fairy tale for a moment.”
She scoffs. “I don’t need a fairy tale when I have an actual future to look forward to.”
Going into business together. That’s the end goal.
“I’ll finish my degree and then we’ll all rule the business world together.” I grin. “As much as I enjoy working at the office with the guys, it will definitely be different when Tom comes back.”
Hope frowns as we walk to the changing rooms. “Any word from your brother?”
I shake my head. “Only the message to our mother. It’s just not like him to go this long without sending me something.”
“I don’t know what I’d do if Jason just up and left.” Hope shivers as she sits on the bench facing the row of changing rooms. “He wouldn’t do that to me. He’s always been there for me.”
I blow out a breath. “Yeah, Tom’s done this before, but not like this. Not when he thinks we’re in danger.”
Madison steps out of the dressing room in a sleek red dress that hugs her curves. She looks down at it and then steps in front of the three-way mirror. “What do we think?”
She glances over her shoulder at her ass. Her blond hair flows in waves down her back.
“I don’t think you’ll make it out of the apartment.” Hope laughs.
Madison smiles and smooths the fabric over her hips. “I mean, that’s the point, isn’t it?”
I lean against the wall. It may seem like I have what she has, but there are no conditions on her relationship. Those men belong to her one hundred percent.
Her blue eyes lift and find mine in the mirror. “Are you going to try those on?”
I nod but something inside me breaks a little. Fuck. It’s easy to pretend they’re mine when we’re all together, but it won’t last. Part of me has to wonder if Drew will be enough after having all of them. I don’t like thinking of him as my parting gift.
“Hey.” Madison’s voice is gentle as she walks over to me. “Is this about those women tonight?”
I shake my head because if I speak, the lump in my throat that I’m pretty sure is holding back tears will dislodge.
Madison’s eyes soften and she draws me into her arms. “I wish I had some advice for you. But I know what you have with your guys is different. You can always call me when you need someone to lean on though.”
I tighten my arms around her but don’t unleash the flood. That’s not how I was raised. I was raised to suck it up and go on as if my world isn’t spinning off its axis. I inhale her soft floral perfume and straighten.
She rubs my arms as she searches my eyes. “You good?”
I force a smile. “Yes. Thank you. I’m just glad you and Kayla will be there, even if you’re at a different table.”
Kayla walks out. Her dark hair falls in silky waves down the backless black dress she has on. Her green eyes sparkle as she takes us in. “If any of those bitches at your table cause a problem, I’ll be there. I can seduce a society girl in thirty seconds or less.”
My smile widens. “I might need you to hold off Olivia from trying to conquer Finn.”
Kayla moves to the mirror and turns so she can see her back. She gives me a smile. “In this dress? Definitely.”
Madison laughs and Hope coughs.
Kayla grins at them. “I haven’t forgotten you two. You all are my ideal harem, but since you all seem to prefer dick… ” She shrugs and winks at me. “I can find someone else to have fun with while you come to terms with your curiosity.”
“You’re welcome to any of the other women at my table, but I need to warn you, Verity Baron is a bitch and will stab you in the back while smiling to your face.
” I straighten and go into a dressing room.
I need armor to deal with Verity tonight.
Drew will be my shield, but I’ll be prepared for whatever she has to throw at me.
The others are waiting for me when I come out in the green dress.
The dip in the front goes almost to my belly button.
I’ll need some tape to make sure my breasts stay covered.
The straps wrap around my shoulders, leaving my back and sides completely bare.
There’s a V right above my low back before the skirt slides down over my hips and to the floor.
It’s bolder than anything I’ve dared to wear before, but imagining how the guys will look at me has me heated.
“Fuck,” Kayla whispers. “You sure you aren’t looking for a fifth in your harem, because damn girl.”
My lips curve into a smile as I check myself out in the mirror.
“You might cause a catfight at your table when the women realize your men can’t take their eyes off you in this dress.” Madison’s eyes light with determination. “You should take it. Teach them that the only woman worth having is you.”
I smooth the dress over my hips. The silk feels like a caress against my skin. I won’t be able to wear much, if anything, under this.
“It’s a shame really.” Hope grins. “That dress won’t survive once you get home.”
No, it probably won’t. My smile widens.
“I think we should place bets on if they even let her out the door in it.” Kayla smirks. “I know if you were mine, I’d have you out of it and in my bed where you belong.”
My cheeks flush.
Kayla laughs. “I know. I know. Not your type. But every woman is going to be envious of the looks the men will give you in this dress.”
My brows furrow. Do I want that much attention?
Madison steps up next to me and touches my arm.
“Tonight is going to be rough. My first night out with the guys and their dates was hard. I almost lost it so many times. You look sexy and gorgeous and amazing in this dress. You need something to make you feel powerful, and trust me, that bitch won’t see you coming. ”
I smile and turn, taking Madison’s hand and squeezing it. “I’m going to need jewelry to make this even more of a mindfuck for those women.”
Madison’s blue eyes sparkle. “I know just where to go.”