Chapter 50
Aleksandr
Family Meeting—The Next Day
We were smack dab in the middle of the last set of interviews for the night. Music pulsed around me, and the woman I was interviewing stood poised and ready for questions. Thankfully, the same questions I’d been asking for days now flowed from my mouth without me even having to think about it.
“Thanks for coming today. If you were to be hired, what is something unique you think you could bring to the table?”
The responses varied—some nervous, others confident.
I maintained my composure. My outward appearance was attentive and focused.
Nodding at the right time, I asked follow-up questions and jotted down notes on them.
Beneath the surface, though, my thoughts were on Kinsley.
I punched my security code into my phone, unlocked it, and pulled up our group message thread.
An uneasy feeling settled in my stomach as I reread the texts.
KINSLEY:
Family meeting after dinner tonight. Need to discuss some important parameters in our relationship.
REAPER:
Kitten, what game are you playing?
CROW:
Is this about what we discussed a few nights ago?
BLADE:
Will there be dessert?
KINSLEY:
No games, Reaper. Yes, Crow, we will touch on that subject. Blade, I do owe you dessert. What would you like?
BLADE:
You.
REAPER:
Fat chance, Blade, I already gave you my day. The schedule’s shifted. That’s all mine tonight.
CROW:
Sharing is caring, Reaper. Just saying.
I’d told her this morning to make sure she was packed and ready to come home tonight. Now that she and Ivan had made up, it was time. I switched to a private message and texted her.
REAPER:
What are you doing?
Nervous flutters erupted in my stomach when she didn’t respond right away. My finger hovered over the call button but stopped when the dots finally danced. I smiled, then groaned when her answer came through.
KINSLEY:
I’m taking a hot bath and using the oils you left for me.
Knowing she was sitting in the tub right then had me aching to hold her. We’d rearranged the schedule so she could have an additional night with Ivan, pushing each of our nights back by one, so that made tonight my night. I wanted her home with me in my bed.
REAPER:
Fuck, I always seem to catch you doing that. You should lie naked on your bed and wait for me.
KINSLEY:
But we have dinner.
REAPER:
I need you.
KINSLEY:
Dinner and then family meeting first.
I frowned. Damn her, she was definitely up to something.
REAPER:
Pretty sure the terms of our relationship don’t allow for you to deny me, sweetness. Especially since I gave up a night already.
KINSLEY:
I would never deny you. It will be a quick meeting. I promise.
REAPER:
Fine, no panties.
KINSLEY:
As you wish, my King.
With practiced ease, I continued my interviews while my brain conjured up our futures.
It started with bringing her home, which was something the three of us agreed on.
I sighed with relief when the last question was asked, then shot out the door.
An hour later, I pulled the car through the gate.
Ivan and Nik had come together, but I was surprised to see Marcus drive up with Sebastian and Marcel.
“Didn’t realize you would be coming tonight. Something we should be made aware of?” I asked as they drew closer.
“Tiny tot invited us,” Sebastian stated as I raised my eyebrows. We stepped inside and headed to the drawing room, where my mother’s voice rang out.
“Would you like something to drink, dear?” she asked Kinsley, who hadn’t noticed us yet.
“Yes, please,” she said.
I took a moment to appreciate her beauty. The guys’ presence suddenly made sense. The little shit was using them for leverage against us. It was a calculated choice, and I actually admired her effort. Unfortunately, she should have known better.
When I made up my mind about something, I rarely changed it. With the way Nik was staring at her right now, I knew he’d be in my corner. The fitted bodice of her dress accentuated her curves perfectly, and I itched to run my hands up and down them.
The neckline gave it a touch of whimsy and was fitting for my little kitten. My eyes narrowed in on the slit I knew was there. As she moved to take the drink, the fabric swayed gracefully, revealing a hint of leg.
Her pretty hair was styled with me in mind, a classic ponytail with some flair to it. Her eyes held an array of emotions, primarily nervousness. Mother noticed us first.
“Boys. Marcel, Sebastian? What are you two doing here this evening?”
She blanched before looking at Kinsley and then at the two of them. We all began laughing. It made sense she probably thought we’d all gone crazy.
“Tiny tot here called in the cavalry. Something about needing backup for a discussion she needs to have with this lot,” Sebastian said, kissing her on the cheek.
So I was right. Marcel followed suit, while Kinsley avoided our eyes. We greeted our father, and Sebastian and Marcel made small talk with him. Nik, in his boldness, wasn’t going to wait.
“Malyshka,” he said, grabbing and kissing her thoroughly. She flushed, trying to push him away. “Something tells me you’re up to no good tonight.” He grinned.
“Going to get my kiss in, too, before Alek starts hogging you all to himself,” Ivan said, grabbing her face in his hands and kissing her breathlessly.
I cleared my throat. “Really, Blade?”
“Mother, I think Alek’s forgotten our rule,” he teased, releasing her and giving her a gentle shove toward me.
“Yes, well, that rule was not intended for young ladies, Son, so I suggest you behave yourself now and wait your turn. I’m sure that was one of the major lessons I taught you all.
” She shook her head like she couldn’t believe she was even saying something so ridiculous.
“I’m going to go check on dinner. Christopher, would you join me? ”
I waited for them to leave before pushing Kinsley up against the wall. My hand immediately found the side slit and trailed up her thigh toward her bare pussy.
“Such a good pet,” I murmured in her ear as my fingers dipped into her warm, wet flesh. She flushed with embarrassment and tried to push my hand away.
“Alek, not here in front of Marcel and Bash.” She whimpered as my thumb lazily stroked her clit.
“You’re lucky I don’t eat you out right here, kitten. I’ve got a taste for you, so this will do for now,” I said, removing my fingers from deep inside her. Bringing them to my lips, I sucked them into my mouth.
“Tasty,” I said, staring into her pretty eyes.
She swallowed hard and straightened her dress. I sat down, and she busied herself at the bar, pouring us drinks. She handed them out and then poured herself another glass of wine.
“You’ll take it easy tonight,” I warned.
“Yes, of course,” she said, blushing.
“Kitten, I suggest you tell us why you invited Sebastian and Marcel for this evening’s family meeting. Nik, correct me if I’m wrong. Kinsley is overly concerned with keeping her legs closed or ensuring we wear condoms this week. Not sure why you need backup for that conversation.”
“Yes, Sir,” she blurted, her hands shaking as she lifted her glass and sipped the wine.
“Kitten, you know I don’t like waiting, and you’ve already pushed your luck with me tonight.”
“Can we talk about it after dinner, please?” she begged, finally peering up at me through her thick lashes.
She shifted under my intense gaze. “Nik, you were there when I spoke to Kinsley about being packed and ready to go tonight, were you not?”
“Yes, Brother, I was. I recall you mentioning that her refusal was not up for discussion.”
Sebastian chuckled. “Tiny tot, you failed to let me know those specific words were said. If I had known, I wouldn’t have agreed to back you.”
She fumed, her eyes growing angry. “Maybe next time I’ll record the conversation for you, Torturer. We’re not only going to have to work on your loose lips but your loyalty too.”
I had to cover my mouth and cough to keep from laughing hysterically.
“Now, I know I’ve told you before, young lady, I don’t do sass on any level. So watch your tone with me,” he warned. Her eyes widened, and I shook my head, watching her test her boundaries with us. Fucking fascinating; every bit of it turned me on.
“Alek—”
“Not up for discussion means exactly that. Now, I’ll indulge you on the topic you wanted to discuss as far as this week’s activities, but the other is nonnegotiable. Let’s get this over with. It’s been a long day.”
She seemed to wither a bit under the weight of my words. Her eyes darted away, and she fidgeted, tugging at her dress, stalling.
Then, in true Kinsley fashion, she jumped up. “Cookies, that’s what we need. I made some. I’ll be right back.” She dashed out of the room like the hounds of hell were nipping at her heels.
I turned to Bash and Marcel, my frustration bubbling over. Exactly whose best mates were they? “I swear to god, the two of you have done more traitorous things in the last few weeks than ever. We may have to reevaluate this friendship.”
“Quit being a baby. That’s Ivan’s job,” Marcel said as the rest of the assholes laughed.
Thank goodness she didn’t keep us waiting long. I was losing my shit. She made a cute presentation of passing one to each of us like it was snack time. Then she set the rest down on the coffee table.
“Damn, these are good, Kinsley,” Marcel said, taking two more.
“You take requests? I’d love some white chocolate macadamia cookies,” Sebastian murmured, shoving one in his mouth.
“The floor is all yours. You’re cutting in on my evening. Why don’t you start talking?” I prodded.
She shifted her feet, rocking on them. “Okay.” She paused and took a deep breath. For one quick second, she made eye contact with Sebastian and Marcel. “I’m not coming home with you,” she whispered.
“Kitten, I’ve already told you that isn’t up for discussion. You will come home with us tonight, it’s—”