Chapter 18
Promises
GREER
I’m in the kitchen, cooking dinner. My insides are a jumbled-up mess after Aiden brought me back and disappeared upstairs. I want to do what he said. Give him pleasure while taking my own. He came down, changed, and headed downstairs to the workout room.
The others haven’t come around while I prepare dinner. I imagine both Mason and Wyatt worked today. I’m not sure what else Roarke got up to, but he probably had to review his script too. Or whatever actors do to prepare for a role.
I’m not sure what time they expect to eat, but I finish cooking around six thirty. I bite my lip. Should I call for them? Is there a bell to ring? Maybe text them?
I only have the one number.
“What’s wrong, mouse?” Mason’s dark voice sends chills coursing down my back, half because he startled me and half because his voice makes my toes curl.
I turn around and he leans on the counter, watching me with those piercing eyes. My insides melt at the heat in them. How long did he watch me before he spoke?
“I don’t know how to let everyone know dinner is ready.” I shrug.
Mason stalks across the kitchen, closing the distance between us. My breath catches in anticipation. He tips my chin up. “I’m sure they’ll be down. It smells delicious.”
His gaze drops to my lips. Is he talking about the food?
When his thumb grazes my lower lip, I suck in a breath.
“Fuck, that smells good, poppet.” Roarke’s boisterous voice dispels the web Mason wove around me.
Flustered, I take a step back, and he lets me with a cocky grin. Each of these guys is different; maybe that’s why I find them all attractive. Or maybe they all are just fucking hot and my hormones didn’t stand a chance.
Grabbing pot holders, I lift the pasta bake off the stove to carry to the table. Wyatt and Aiden come from the direction of the stairs and join us.
“Did you make this, poppet?” Roarke hovers behind me as I lean over to set the pasta down. His hands curve over my ass, and I only flinch a little at the intimate touch. His need to touch me is becoming familiar.
“Yes.” I straighten and turn.
Roarke smiles, blocking my way.
“I need to get the focaccia.” I gesture to the island.
He tips my chin and brushes his lips across mine. I suck in a breath at the tingles chasing through my blood. “We need to spend some quality time together, poppet.”
His darkened blue eyes give away his intent with quality time. My cheeks burn, but he lets me slide past to bring the rest of dinner to the table. They all take their seats, and I sit beside Aiden, next to Wyatt.
Roarke spoons a huge portion onto his plate before passing it on. I did some research on the internet to figure out what I could feed these guys, as they all seem healthy. Their diet preferences all call for certain things. Feeding them might be a full-time job in itself.
I take a small portion, and Roarke gives me a disapproving look. I add some more, and when he smiles in approval, I almost preen.
While we eat, Roarke tells another story about a time on set when he had to work with the stunt coordinator. The producer was against him doing this particular stunt, but he insisted.
“Fifteen stitches and a broken ankle.” Roarke pulls his shirt aside to show the white scar right beneath his pec.
My fingers twitch to trace the line, and I lift my wide eyes to Roarke. He grins with that knowing look.
“Don’t worry, Mason won’t allow me to do stunts this time.” He winks before turning to Mason. “Pretty sure he’d lock me in my trailer before he let that happen.”
“Good.” I’d hate for him to get hurt.
Everyone’s plates are almost empty or empty. They ate most of the pasta and all of the bread.
When I begin to rise to pick up the dishes, Mason clears his throat, drawing my attention. I lower back in my seat.
He pushes his plate toward the center. “We need to discuss this situation.”
My heart trips over itself. Me and them and what happened today and what more we want to happen. There’s still this fear that they’ll decide they don’t want me.
“Why don’t I get dessert and we can talk then?” I stand and grab plates before anyone can tell me to stop.
“I love dessert.” Roarke’s hand caresses my hip as I take his plate. “You can just sit on the table in front of me and I’ll take all the dessert we can handle.”
My cheeks burn, but I’m getting used to Roarke and him wanting an audience. I’m kind of into it, especially if that audience is the other three at this table. Quickly, I put the plates and the leftovers in the kitchen before bringing out the small chocolate cake I made.
The guys are talking low, but it’s about next week.
I hurry back and grab the plates and forks. When I turn, Wyatt takes the plates.
“Go sit down, kitten. We have a lot to discuss.”
As I approach the table, they all watch me, and part of me wants to sink into the floor and disappear. Another, quieter part wants to slide onto the table and let them do what they want with me. Instead, I sit back in my seat and cut the cake.
Wyatt hands me a plate, and I put a piece on it. We do that until everyone has a piece.
“Fuck.” Roarke chews his cake but looks at Mason. “Quick, make her sign the NDA so I can ask her to marry me. This cake is spectacular, poppet.”
I’m resigned to being a permanent shade of red around Roarke.
“While he’s not wrong about the cake, we should get you to sign the NDA before we discuss things.” Mason walks to the island and grabs a stack of papers. He licks his finger and shifts through it to separate a small section. “Nothing unusual here. You’ll be living with us and working for us, so just don’t talk to the press and everything will be fine.”
When he sets the papers next to me, I push my cake to the side, wiping my hands on a napkin. I skim the first page that seems like legal mumbo jumbo.
“If you’d like to have your lawyer look it over…”
I laugh at Mason’s words and lift my gaze. “I wouldn’t know where to get a lawyer if I needed one.”
He nods thoughtfully. “If you’d like, I can have our lawyer come over and explain to you the details.”
“Oh.” I sit back and look at him in shock. He would do that for me? He has to know I can’t afford his lawyer either.
“I’d rather you be informed of your rights and duties, rather than steamroll over you because you don’t have money.” Mason’s eyes hold me locked in place. “We’re not here to take advantage of you, little mouse.”
I breathe out. “I’ll just read it myself, and if I have questions, I’ll ask.”
Mason lifts his fork. I concentrate on reading while they discuss some things to expect on set next week. The NDA seems fairly straightforward. If I break the NDA, there will be repercussions. A fine and, depending on damages, charges being pressed against me.
I have no intention of selling my story to anyone, but I could see someone in my situation with dollar signs in their eyes and the need for fifteen minutes of fame taking advantage. They trusted me these past couple days.
I could have run off to the press and there would have been no repercussions. But that’s not who I am.
“Do you have a pen I can use?” I ask when the conversation lulls.
Mason slides one across the table, but when I reach for it, he doesn’t let go. Our eyes meet.
“You understand the risk you’re taking if you sell your story, little mouse?”
I swallow and nod. “Fines and a potential lawsuit.”
“They’ll offer you a lot of money. Far more than what we’ll pay you.” He studies me, but he won’t find a crack.
“Loyalty means something to me. If I sign this, that means I’ll keep my word to you. I wouldn’t want you to betray me, so I’ll give you the same respect in return.”
“What if one of us betrays you?” Mason raises an eyebrow in challenge.
I sigh. Lying won’t do any good. “I still won’t break my word, but I’ll either deal with it or move on. Chad cheated on me, but we stayed in that apartment because I had nowhere else to go. If one of you betrays me, I may stay for the others. But you’re giving me enough money that I can leave if I need to.”
He releases the pen with a nod. My shoulders ease, and I quickly sign next to all the tabs on the NDA. Could I get rich selling my story? Maybe. But I would have to betray them to do that, and I can’t do that.
Almost everyone I’ve known betrayed me. I know how deep that can cut.
I hand the pen back to Mason and slide the papers across the table to him. He adds them to the bottom of his pile and lifts off another section.
“This is our employment contract. The money we’ll pay you plus the expectations and terminating offenses.”
I take the stack and slowly read through it while eating my cake. The numbers are the same. Everything we’ve discussed is in there. The chores I’ll be expected to complete. My main priority is Aiden and making sure he stays sober. Nothing about sex as an expectation or anything like that.
When I finish, I reach for the pen. This time he lets me take it, and I sign on all the flagged areas. The opportunity to have a nest egg to build a future with is just too irresistible.
I pass the papers to Mason and he adds them to the bottom.
“Before I give you the next document, we need to talk.”
I straighten and push away my empty plate. The others have been quietly eating their cake. Wyatt rises and takes the plates. When I try to help him, he puts his hand on my shoulder and shakes his head.
I return my focus to Mason.
“Tell us your sexual experiences so far.”
Uh. My brain blanks as my mouth drops open.
“She’s had five lovers.” Roarke leans back and gives me a grin. “Obviously, Chad was a dumb fuck who couldn’t give her what she needed.”
My mouth opens and closes. I always figured it was my fault that Chad cheated.
“I’m not that skilled at sex,” I admit softly, looking down at my hands. “I haven’t had the best experiences with it. It usually takes me a while before I’ll even kiss a guy.”
I don’t want to talk about the few guys I’ve been with. Some I’d rather forget entirely. Not all were bad, though.
The guys are quiet. No one touches me. Maybe I’ve finally pushed them away. No one wants a defective doll. They want someone like Zoe (not specifically her) or like Bristol. Open, fun, sexually experienced, and down for anything.
“Greer.” Roarke’s voice is coaxing, and I lift my gaze to his serious eyes.
“Yes?” I won’t break down until I get back to my room. I’ll keep my head up and listen to them tell me they don’t want me. It’s not a big deal. I keep expecting it. Finally it’s over.
“Fuck, poppet. Come here.” His blue eyes soften as he beckons me over.
I rise slowly and walk to stand beside him.
He pats his lap. “Climb on.”
I step back, but he grabs my waist and draws me down to straddle his lap facing him. My back presses against the table.
“It’s just you and me. In the creepy dungeon below your apartment. Only the truth.” He holds my chin in his hand, making me meet his eyes. “I don’t know how to ask this and not sound like an asshole.”
“Then don’t ask it.” I’m afraid of what he’ll ask. I don’t want to lie to him, but what can I say? He could ask me anything or he could ask me the thing I’ve never wanted to admit.
His blue eyes search mine. Whatever he finds makes his lips tighten, but then he leans his forehead against mine. I release the breath I held in.
“Fuck, poppet,” he whispers. He pulls me into his arms and holds me against his heart. “Someday you’ll know you can trust us with your secrets like we’ll trust you with ours.”
The tension leaves my body as I realize he isn’t going to push. A tear slips out, but I rub my face into his shirt.
“I’m not giving up on you, Greer, so don’t give up on me.” Roarke leans back and tips my chin up. “I’m going to ask you questions that are just yes or no about what you’ve done sexually. Only say yes if you consented to the act.”
Tears choke the back of my throat, but I nod to let him know I understand. Relief floods through me.
“You’ve had a dick in your pussy but not your ass. What about your mouth?”
“Yes.” My insides warm.
Roarke gives me an encouraging smile. “See? Easy. Have you ever been tied up during sex?”
“No.” I bite my lip, feeling a rush of awareness flow through me.
“Would you be willing to try it?” Roarke’s hands slide around my waist.
With these guys? “Yes.”
“What about being blindfolded? Have you?”
“No.”
“Would you?”
I squirm a little on his lap. “Yes.”
“Outside of us, have you had sexual encounters with more than one person before?” He slides down in the chair and pulls me closer, so I can feel his erection between my legs.
“No,” I breathe out. My pulse quickens.
“We’ll definitely change that, poppet.” His hands guide my hips over him, sending sparks of arousal burning through me as his darkened eyes hold mine.
“Are you open to me fucking your ass?”
My lips part as he rocks his hard cock against my pussy. There are too many layers between us. “Yes, Roarke.”
“Good girl. Hands on my shoulders.” He grins. “Mason? Have anything to add?”
Roarke’s fingers find the button to my shorts. He opens them and his hand goes inside my panties and his fingers thrust up inside me. I shudder at the feel of him inside me, but my body knows what it wants as my hips rock on his hand, chasing that feeling.
“Aiden wants to wait four months before he takes your pussy, mouse, but we’re impatient men.” Mason’s voice sends dark thrills through me as I rock closer and closer to orgasm. “We want to continue to push against your boundaries. Is that something you’re comfortable with?”
“Yes, sir,” I whisper. My fingers curl into Roarke’s hair as his fingers continue to move within me. It’s right there. I can feel the release barreling down on me.
“We want to fuck you, poppet. Only you. Without condoms. Will you let us?” Roarke’s words roll over me like a freight train.
Moaning, I come on his fingers. He strokes me through it while I pull on his hair and ride him as waves keep crashing over me.
When my hips slow, he pulls his fingers out of my pussy and sucks them into his mouth.
“I don’t know which tastes better, poppet. Your cake or your pussy?”
I watch his lips move before leaning in and taking them with mine. His lips part and he takes over the kiss, cradling the back of my head.