Chapter 9
Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
WYATT
Once our order is in, Roarke takes over the conversation like he always does. There’s been a subtle shift in Greer’s mood. She’s still smiling and laughing along at Roarke’s story about the time his costume got stuck on an extra’s and he had to walk around with this person attached to him for hours before they could untangle them.
Something about the fashion being vintage and irreplaceable.
She laughs in all the right spots. That smile never fades from her lips, but there’s something in her soft brown eyes that looks a lot like fear.
I rerun the conversation to see where it might have happened, but not knowing her backstory makes it impossible to figure out the trigger. We don’t know much about our new assistant, to be honest. That should probably worry me more than it does.
I like digging into new people’s thoughts and dreams and histories. Frankly, Greer’s mind fascinates me almost as much as I want to fuck her.
But even though I’m as interested in her as the others, maybe we should dig a little deeper. We basically invited a stranger into our home and gave her a room before all the background checks could be run.
“Mase.”
He meets my gaze and I give him a jerk of my head. He nods and we both move outside. He grabs the wooden box off the end table, which signals to Aiden and Roarke that we’re going out for a cigar.
We don’t smoke often, and we probably won’t actually smoke the cigars if we light them. It gives us a chance to talk alone. Both of us grew up with the smell of cigars thick in the air. So it’s more a nostalgia thing than a habit.
We go to the far corner of the garden and sit on the chairs overlooking the dark ocean. Mason sets the box on the table but doesn’t open it.
“You talked to the lawyers?” I glance back over my shoulder. The house is lit up from within. I can see through the openings the three of them at the table. Their laughter carries on the breeze.
“They’ll have the documents for her to sign in the morning.” He leans back and releases a breath.
“You think we moved too quickly?” I don’t know what all went down between the others while I was giving her the tour. “She’s unknown. It’s not like someone we know recommended her.”
“I called in a favor.”
Mason and his favors. Fuck, he’s like the Godfather out here. His mentor gave him the hookup and Mason ran with it. He spent years being whatever people needed him to be until he got his big break. Meanwhile, the guys worked hard on their careers while I sat in our rented house and worked on my writing credits.
We were all determined to make it, and now here we are. Made.
Finally able to greenlight our own project. My script, Mason’s directing, Aiden and Roarke’s acting.
“What did you ask for?” I tap my finger on the arm of the wooden chair, wishing I had a cigar in my hand for something to do.
“Everything.” He leans forward, lacing his hands between his knees. “She’s going to have access to us. She’s young, but she’s not stupid. We need to protect the others in case she really isn’t what she seems.”
That spark of intelligence in her is what draws me. Too often, the people I meet have no depth. Even some of the smartest people are only one note. Greer has this darkness, not in her personality, but built into her. I want to figure out everything about her.
“She told Aiden her mom was an addict.” Mason rubs his hand down his face. His gaze goes out to the ocean. “He wants her. He hasn’t fucked anyone since Siobhan.”
“We all want her.” Which is unusual for us. I don’t think there’s ever been a woman we’ve all been attracted to. There have been plenty of women in our lives. More who would want to be with us. It’s not difficult for us to find someone to have sex with, but Greer is a challenge.
“This could get complicated.” Mason releases a heavy sigh.
“Or interesting,” I offer. When I glance at them in the dining room, Greer lifts her eyes to mine. Not that she can see anything but an outline of me in the darkness. But I feel her gaze.
“Interesting?” He leans back.
I smile, knowing I’d drawn him in. “Think of all the things we haven’t explored because of who we are and what might get out. It’s not like we can start every sexual encounter with an NDA.”
He faces me. “What exactly are you proposing?”
“Sex. The ability to follow our desires. Sharing a woman. Think about it, Mase. She’s malleable. You could mold her and direct her.”
His brow furrows. “Like porn? That shit always gets leaked.”
I chuckle. “Not porn. Just sex. Roarke loves to be watched. I walked in on him kissing her earlier, and I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the first time.”
“Did she like it?” His tone turns interested.
“She didn’t push him away or demand we both leave her room.” I know Mason will like this next bit. “She didn’t go off on us for being in her room. She asked nicely for us to leave.”
Mason rubs his jaw. “Fuck.”
Most women are willing to do what you want, but it’s rare to find someone who is actually submissive. Greer may not have explored that side of herself, but I think that’s what’s drawing all of us.
“We make sure the NDA locks her in tight and doesn’t give her wiggle room to go to the press without consequences—”
“Which would be?” Mason’s gaze does that thing where he tries to pick apart my brain. It would be intimidating if I hadn’t known him since we were kids.
“Something she wouldn’t like. Monetary, maybe?” Though she doesn’t seem to have much beyond the clothes on her back. I saw the bags she and Roarke brought in. If she’s truly moved out of her ex’s apartment, then she doesn’t have much.
“Or we could just ask her.” Mason narrows his eyes. “Not everything has to be done with blackmail. This isn’t a movie or TV show. Sure, there should be consequences if it gets out and she’s responsible, but it doesn’t have to be part of what we have with her.”
I blow out a breath. He’s right, but in this industry, things can collapse around you fast if you put your faith in the wrong people. “I just want to make sure we’re protected.”
“Let me see what my guys find, and then we can decide whether we need to push that particular destruct button.” Mason glances back at the house. “She might be fairly submissive, but she has a little bit of a stubborn streak too.”
“Just the way you like them.” I laugh. Mason definitely has a type. “What are you going to tell Halley?”
“Fuck.” Mason opens the box and pulls out a cigar. “I’m hoping it’s a nonissue. She’s filming on location for the next month. She doesn’t call when she’s working.”
Taking a cigar, I run it under my nose, inhaling the tobacco before setting it back in the box. “Greer may not like smokers.”
Mason shakes his head but puts the cigar back. “We’ll find out everything.”
#
GREER
The food arrives, and we all sit at the table. While waiting, Roarke barraged me with stories, with Aiden interjecting occasionally. Stories I may have heard on a talk show before and some that I’d never heard. I still laughed and hung on every word.
Both of them have this aura that draws me in.
Aiden brings me a glass of iced tea and sets his own down, while Wyatt grabs a bottle of wine.
“Does that bother you?” I ask Aiden quietly.
He smiles and tucks my hair behind my ear. Tingles follow in his wake. I left my hair down. It’s long and goes halfway down my back. Most days it’s just easier to pin it up.
“No, little warrior. I’ve never cared for wine. My drink of choice was Scotch whisky. Expensive, full flavored.” He taps me on my nose and I back away. “You can have a glass if you’d like.”
“I don’t drink.” I shrug and look at the meal Roarke suggested I get. We replated them out of the packaging the restaurant sent per Mason’s instructions. He was vehement about not eating out of boxes. Besides, at the end of the night, it will be me doing the dishes.
“Not at all?” Aiden’s tone is gentle.
I force a smile. “It’s better not to tempt fate. I’d rather just enjoy my life than find out I inherited that gene from my mother.”
“Fair enough.”
My plate is mostly roasted brussels sprouts and carrots, and a decent portion of greens with sliced green apples and a tart dressing. The steak is a small portion with a demi-glace. It looks delicious and decadent and way too much food for me.
“Poppet, tell me about your hopes and dreams.” Roarke’s voice carries in the house.
My mouth opens and closes. “No one’s ever asked me that.”
Maybe an early foster parent, during the getting-to-know-you phase. But after what I went through, I didn’t really think I had a future. Until their offer today, I figured I’d work until something made sense.
“Great, then your answer won’t be practiced.” Roarke leans back in his chair and takes a bite of his steak.
“Oh.” I push my fork through the vegetables. “Maybe college? I took a few courses a while back.”
“Anything in particular you want to study?” Mason asks.
I set my fork down and lift my gaze to his. “I don’t know, but I have a whole year to think about it while I work here.”
“Best to have a plan going in.” Mason takes a bite and swallows it. “If you want to talk about it, I’m more than willing to help you figure it out.”
My brow furrows. What? Why? I can’t think of what’s in it for him to help me piece together a makeshift future. What will he want in return? “Maybe.”
Aiden clears his throat. “Filming starts Monday. We need to have all the necessary paperwork filled out by then. The bank needs your information on file as the sobriety companion.”
“Is it actually in your contract?” I pop a piece of brussels sprout in my mouth, expecting something not very good. When I bite down, flavor fills my mouth. My eyes widen. Oh my god, I think I’m in love.
“Yes, I have a sobriety clause. It’s explicit, and there are monetary consequences if I fail to live up to them. It’s one of the reasons we all decided to move in together.” Aiden cracks his neck to the side. “It doesn’t matter the underlying circumstances. I behaved unprofessionally on set and cost my previous film money. To back this film with me attached, they wanted assurances.”
I’m listening to Aiden and trying to focus, but I’m also trying not to stuff brussels sprouts and carrots into my mouth as fast as possible. I don’t remember when I last had something to eat, and whatever it was, it wasn’t this good.
I’m mostly speechless, anyway. I feel for him. His marriage fell apart, and it makes sense that so did he. His future was taken away from him.
I know that feeling.
“Given that we all want to fuck you, poppet, I think—”
I choke on a carrot, not expecting that to come up again. At least not while eating. I cough around the perfect food.
“Fuck, Roarke, can’t you think about anything else?” Aiden stands and rubs his hand down my back.
I cough but manage to swallow the food. Aiden hands me my glass and I wash the carrot down with some tea.
“Better?” Aiden sits back in the chair next to me.
I nod and dab my napkin at my watering eyes.
“Not to be an ass, but we do need to talk about this.” Roarke’s blue eyes sparkle when they meet mine. “After all, we’ve kissed.”
The world slows down and there’s this whooshing noise in my ears. Damn it, I knew he wouldn’t keep this to himself.
“Her ex was a dick, and so I helped Greer orgasm to prove to him that he’s a worthless lover. I offered to let her fake it first.”
Wyatt laughs. Aiden arches an eyebrow, clearly offended on my behalf. Mason leans his elbows on the table, intensely interested. I wonder if I can disappear.
“Are we talking full penetration?” Mason asks.
“Oh God!” I cover my burning face. What the hell did I walk into?
“I kissed her, teased her breasts, and finger fucked her tight little pussy until she came on my hand.” Roarke’s eyes dance merrily when I lift mine to look at him like he’s completely lost his mind. “Purely for theatrical effect. Apparently, she thinks she’s quiet in the bedroom.”
I close my eyes and wish to wake up on the couch in my old apartment. Dealing with Chad was way easier than this level of sharing. Aiden reaches out and takes my hand. I almost pull away, but he’s not pushing for more, just offering comfort. I’m not used to that.
“You certainly have a way with words, Roarke.” Aiden leans back in his chair but doesn’t release my hand. “I’m glad you put the asshole in his place, but I’m not sure we needed that level of detail.”
“I appreciate detail.” Wyatt’s smile is mischievous. His hazel eyes meet mine. My pulse quickens as I can almost see the wheels turning inside his mind.
Roarke smirks.
“Fine, do you want to discuss this now?” Aiden turns to me. “Greer, do you want to discuss this?”
My mouth opens but words don’t come out. I’m not sure whether to be humiliated or turned on. I shut my mouth and nod. Might as well get this out of the way.
Aiden laces his fingers with mine, and I draw from his strength. “What matters is what Greer wants to do about this attraction, not how far each of us gets with her. Is that agreed?”
“But—” Roarke blurts.
“We all know how much you love to discuss your sex life, but that’s something you need to discuss with Greer if she’s part of it. She needs a say in this. In all of this. She’s going to be living with us for over a year. We can’t just steamroll over her whenever it’s more convenient for us.”
Feeling exposed, I lean back in my chair and resist the urge to draw my feet up and wrap my arms around my knees. Instead, I cling to Aiden’s hand like a lifeline. I don’t know why he feels like the safe wolf among these predators. Maybe I just have a soft spot for him after what he went through and what he’s going through.
“If you aren’t going to eliminate any of us, then we need some ground rules, mouse.” Mason leans his elbows on the table. His eyes hold me in place. “Is there anyone you don’t want?”
If I say no, what does that mean? Am I really willing to put my new motto to the test with these men? All of them? It’s not like I’ll be able to ghost them if it doesn’t work out. I’ll still need to live here.
“I don’t know what I want,” I admit because they’re all watching me, dissecting me. “This is a lot for me. I’m not used to being wanted. I’m curious, but I want to think it over.”
Aiden’s hand tightens. His blue eyes hold mine, reassuring me. “It’s been a long day. Maybe we should watch something and keep our hands to ourselves for the evening. Have a sleep on it and maybe things will be clearer in the morning.”