Second Sets Omnibus

Fifteen - River

“And eight hundred,” Rad singsongs, placing the last twenty-dollar bill onto the white sheet.

Stepping back, he nods a few times, fixing a few bills until they're straight. His arms are wide, showing off his newest masterpiece with pride, just like he promised—a bed full of money ready to roll around on.

“Was that really necessary? Like… you seriously want to screw on money?” I raise a brow, grasping for his logic, but come back empty-handed.

Rad doesn't seem to have a lot of logic to his actions, but I can't fault him for that. Secretly, I like him just the way he is—weirdo tendencies and all. In my eyes, he will always be the kind-hearted hero who scooped my broken body off the darkened lawn.

He turns his energetic smile toward me and winks. Warmth fills my chest at how he smiles, looking at me like I'm already the light of his life, and he can't wait to get boned on a pile of money.

“You christened my bike. Now, you have to christen my money. For good luck!” he proclaims, tossing a fist in the air and doing an odd dance by twirling in a circle and whooping.

I groan, wrinkling my nose. “You know, that money could have been in some dude's ass last night after he stripped and his sweaty balls got stuck to it,” I quip, raising a brow when his face brightens even more, and he laughs.

Looking down at the pile of money, he shrugs, waving my comment off. Sometimes I think the guy needs something to calm him down. But other times, he turns me into a mushy, giggling schoolgirl with his antics. Fuck. What is happening to me? I've kept people at arm's length for years, and these assholes march in like they already own my heart. And I'm giving it to them willingly, without a fight. Here, take my heart into your palms and promise you won't crush it. I can't deny the heart of gold Rad seems to have and his caring yet odd nature. Between saving me and saving my mom, my heart flutters in his presence. Maybe I've spent too much of my life guarding my heart. For good reason, I suppose. But fuck it if I don't want to give in.

“You've won-won every race for two years in a row,” Callum stammers, keeping his wide eyes on the money, refusing to look at either of us.

“Facts!” Rad says, pointing at Callum. “But what's a little extra pussy juice for good luck?”

Callum sputters, turning beet red, and turns away with a huff. Hiding behind his head, he releases a deep, calming breath before turning toward Rad again.

“Ra-Rad, for fuck's sake.”

“Come on, man, we've lived together for three years now.” Rad's grin grows when he places a hand on Callum's shoulder and leans in. “You should be used to me by now.” Rad laughs when Callum shoves him sideways with a grunt, tossing him onto the pile of money.

Rad doesn't seem to mind the assault as he rolls around on top of the money, collecting some bills in his hands and then throwing them above his head. The green bills slowly fall and land on his chest and stomach like snowflakes floating through the winter breeze. His grin never breaks when he rubs it all over his chest with a menacing chuckle, turning all of his attention to me.

Rad may not be as intense as Kieran or even Asher, but the look he levels me with has my heart pounding. All the care and love he can provide shines through, and there's no doubt about how he's feeling.

“Am I sexy like this, Pretty Girl?” he asks, playfully wiggling his brows.

I lick my lips, eyeing his lean body when he props his head on his hand, turning to his side. Something dangerous lurks in the depth of his dark eyes, promising nothing but pleasure in my future.

My eyes trail from the tip of his curly mullet soaked in sweat to the ink blotting his chest and neck. Music notes curl over dark black ink, crawling up his neck and only stopping on the right side near his skull, where more music notes dot his skin. He smiles up at me so brightly it's almost blinding. I suck in a breath, staring intensely at his tattoo, losing myself in the lowest part of my life, brought on by the memory of what I endured.

“Don't,” I warn, frantically trying to kick him off. “Please,” I whisper, gasping for breath, kicking a foot out and landing my kick somewhere on his body.

What a night to leave my knife behind. From now on, I will carry it everywhere. No exceptions.

“Hey,” he whispers softly, running a soft finger down my wet cheeks. His touch momentarily calms my nerves. I heave a breath. “You fell asleep on the way to the hospital. I'm not them, remember? We're at the hospital now.” My eyes roam over his concern-filled face when he crouches in the opened passenger's side door. The warm breeze of August swirls around us, lifting my long brown strands. I shiver as they tickle along my back, and memories of those monsters' hands grabbing and pulling make my stomach turn.

Behind Rad rests the four-story Central City Hospital. Flags wave and lights blink on and off in the night sky filled with sagging clouds thick with moisture. The smell of rain hits my nose, and my chest caves in. Chaos runs free through my mind at the thought of stepping foot in the hospital. Behind those walls rests my salvation—the answer to the pain radiating from between my legs. It throbs and aches with every move of my body.

The softness in Rad's expression makes more tears trail down my cheeks and fall to the leather seats. With a quivering lip, I shake my head.

“I'm sorry,” I gasp out. “I…” Without a second thought, he brings me into his arms, holding me close when he stands at full height, closing the door behind us.

For one split second, I panic at his touch. My mind begs me to thrash and save myself, but the adrenaline that once coursed through my veins ebbs away, leaving my muscles tired and my brain in a foggy existence. I sag into him and realize he's holding me tight and secure without really touching me. Not sexually, no. He's touching me protectively like I'm his little injured bird needing rescue.

“If you ever want to name names, I'll kill them for you.” His voice wavers for only a second, something arctic taking over like he's plotting my revenge on the walk through the front door. “My name is Ashton Radcliffe,” he says in a rare moment of vulnerability, swallowing a large lump in his throat.

If I were in a better state of mind and not slowly drowning in the grief of my rape, I'd have told him I knew who he was, that we go to the same high school and have all year. But he didn't seem to recognize me, and that was fine. I hold my tongue, feeling oddly comfortable in the arms of my savior.

The heat of his gaze staring down at me with curiosity seers through me. He doesn't utter another word until we're standing in front of the emergency room desk, refusing to let my feet hit the floor.

“Can I help you?” The nurse says I'm sure looking us over with an inspecting eye.

“I…” he begins, but his beautiful face twists, and his dark eyes dart to mine for permission.

I swallow all the hurt, aches, and pains, burying them in the pit of my stomach. Tears burn the back of my eyes, and my nose tingles against his shirt. If I could stay covered and protected in his arms, I would.

“I was raped.” And those words hit me harder than anything my life has brought me. It's real now. I've said the words, and they carry a heavy weight. The truth of my situation now hangs in the air.

“I found her. We were at a party. They…” He takes a shuddering breath.

“Pretty Girl,” Rad whispers, cupping my cheeks, grounding me in the present. “Why're you crying?” Two seconds ago, he was light and happy, rolling on his side in the money he insisted on laying down, and now he's sitting on the edge of the bed with me nestled between his legs. I hover above him, planting my feet on the ground.

Wetness coats my cheeks and chin. Shit. I'm really fucking crying right now. How'd I get so trapped in the past that I didn't realize what was happening?

Seeing his tattoo brought everything I had buried for so long back to the surface. When I opened my eyes after the rape happened, it was the first thing I saw hovering above me. I should have been frightened, but something was soothing in his words and gentle in his touch when he placed his coat around my exposed parts.

“I'd never force you to do anything,” he whispers with concern, taking over his tone, “Pretty girl. We can watch a movie. We can…” I lose his voice in the vivid memories of my past. His lips keep moving, but nothing registers in my mind. Nothing but the words he's uttered before flash through my mind.

“You’ll never have to worry with me, Pretty Girl. I’ll fight off the monsters.”

His words hit me hard in the chest, knocking the remaining oxygen from my lungs. My lips pop open, fighting to bring much-needed air into my body. Fighting the memories floating through my mind evades me, and I once again fall into their depths as Rad strokes fingers through my hair and Callum rests at my back. He whispers encouraging words into the nape of my neck, seeming to know exactly where my brain went.

Nervously, I peek around the empty school hallway, standing before Rad's locker. Hearts and other notes decorate the outside.

Every inch of me trembles at the prospect of him catching me standing here with a tiny note clutched in hand—a small message filled with the two names I never wanted to see again.

After returning to school a week ago, their faces were the only thing I saw. When they passed in the halls, they discreetly checked me over—even being as bold as cornering me and reminding me of what they could do as punishment for opening my mouth. Every detail plays like a damn movie.

The police refused to do anything about the situation. Instead, laughing me away after I had given them their names and showed them their faces. My innocence was lost, and it was nothing but a joke. Who wouldn't want to lose their virginity to the star football player? Or two? Even better. Now, I have no other options.

No one else is on my side.

With one last breath, I shove the note through the top holes of his locker, silently begging that he finds it. And then finds them. I don't know what I want to accomplish with this, but I want justice.

“I never told you thank you.” My voice breaks in half as my fingers trace over the musical notes on his chest.

“Oh, Little Star,” Callum whispers with encouragement, wrapping his arms around me in gentle support. “Tell him.” Rad's brows furrow in confusion, darting his eyes between the two of us.

“Thank me?” Rad asks, shaking his head. “Today was…”

“Not for today,” I whisper, my voice full of unshed emotions I let no one see. Callum tightens his hold on me, burying his face in my neck and helping me breathe evenly.

“Did you hear?”

“Oh, my God!” Tessa says in a hushed voice, turning toward the front doors with Sara right beside her.

They continue to whisper until Bradley and his best friend Kyler march through the doors with matching black eyes and limps. I hold on to my gasp, watching with wide eyes as they walk by without passing off another threat.

“A long time ago, I slipped two names into your locker, and you…” I roll my lips together as his thumbs brush across my cheeks. “And you…” My heavy tongue refuses to cooperate, but Rad picks up.

“My locker?” He looks down, scrunching his cute button nose. Losing himself in his thoughts, he finally stiffens when realization smacks him. Jerking back, his lips pop open, and he stares at me in disbelief, shaking his head. “We beat the ever-living shit out of those assholes. Kieran, Asher, and me… we cornered them and made them regret what they did to… to… Wait…” More realization swiftly takes over his paling face, and he clasps my cheeks tighter as if I were about to run away from him.

The night of the party, he could have turned the other cheek and walked away, leaving me exposed to the world. He could have had his fun, too, and I would have had no power to stop him. Instead, he cradled me in his arms and took me away from the party like my personal protector.

“You?” he breathes. “No, I would have remembered. I looked everywhere for you.” He shakes his head. “I would have recognized you anywhere.” But he didn't, because I didn't want him to. That night, he may have been my hero, but I wanted to shrink into the shadows and pretend it didn't happen.

Tears stream down my cheeks when the first cut snips off ten inches of hair, landing in a spiral on the bathroom floor. They used my hair as a weapon to hold me down and inflict pain. Now, I'm ridding myself of the weakness that caused me so much harm. By the time I'm finished, my brown locks lay lifelessly by my jaw, framing my face with uneven strands and imperfections. But I don’t give a shit. I raise my chin, eyeing my new stony exterior. No one will ever get something over on me again.

My fingers run through his curly mullet, tracing down his neck and onto his chest. The warmth of his skin bleeds through my fingertips, taking away the darkness of my memories. Terrible things happen to everyone every single day. It's what you do with those dire situations that count. I drowned in my misery for an entire year, blaming myself for everything. If I hadn't done this… If I hadn't done that… But it happened. And it wasn't my fault. Through shitty therapy provided by the reluctant state, I made it through to the other side. I embrace who I am now and who I was. We're one and mentally stronger than before. Sure, I've had my fair share of hurdles, but I always make my way through them.

“I cut my hair after it happened and wore big clothes.” I swallow hard, keeping eye contact, but my fingers still wander down his flesh. Callum squeezes my waist in support, holding me as I talk through it.

“Why don't I remember?” he whispers, seeming pained that he can't remember me or my face.

“Because I didn't want you to,” I whisper with a break in my voice, cupping his crestfallen cheeks so tinged with hurt his eyes water.

“I went to the police,” he says, swallowing his emotions. “They…”

“They laughed me away. How dare I accuse the two starting football players of something so heinous? Their words, not mine.” Rad gently wipes the remaining tears from my cheeks with understanding. “I wanted to disappear, Rad. I wanted… To forget about it. They haunted me…”

“And when you saw him at the bar?” he questions, tensing up.

“It was like seeing a ghost from my past, but that's it. Nothing more,” I murmur, vividly remembering the terror I felt when Bradley bumped into me that night, shattering glasses from my tray. And then again, down the road where he stood next to another man draped in shadows.

“Oh, Pretty Girl,” he urgently whispers, putting his forehead on mine. “You saw him, and then you… God, I didn't force you into anything that night, right? I didn't…” My desperate lips pounce on him, shutting down his train of thought until I pull back breathlessly. Wild, nervous eyes inspect mine.

“I decided a long time ago to take my body back. I didn't want the memory of those assholes holding me back from doing what I wanted. Trauma healing comes in many forms, and I took mine by the horns.” I search his eyes, hoping he understands my meaning.

I've never thought twice about the men I sleep with. As long as we're safe and clean, I take what I want and give my body the pleasure it deserves. Some might say it's too much and I shouldn't heal in the arms of another. But what do they know?

Leaning in again, I lay my lips on his, waiting for the moment he gives in. His fingers softly roam, not daring to delve into other places. Tracing softly up my leg, he leaves goosebumps in his wake with the tiny circles he rubs against my skin.

“I'm not a breakable doll,” I whisper, nipping at his bottom lip. Securing it between my teeth, I nibble more, forcing a groan from the back of his throat.

“I know you're not, Pretty Girl,” he whispers, bravely cupping my ass and squeezing until he pulls me into his lap. “You're the bravest girl I know.”

I fall into his kiss, letting him overtake my mouth. My fingers rake through his hair. He touches me everywhere except the places I need him. I pull back, panting when his mouth descends my jaw toward my neck, nipping the whole way.

“I'll leave you two,” Callum whispers behind my ear, kissing me one last time.

“Wait,” I say through an exhale, my breaths shuddering in my chest when I reach for him, grasping his forearm. Warily, I look at Rad, who stops his kisses on my neck with one last loud pop.

A slight smile picks up the edges of his lips against my flesh. “Yeah, dude. You can see the live show this time. No more hiding behind walls.” I roll my eyes, squeezing Callum's arm in reassurance.

“Stay,” I murmur, staring into the abyss of his gray eyes, darkening with a maddening lust at the sight of us together.

“Ok-okay,” he murmurs, stumbling over his words as a red tint fills his cheeks and stains his neck.

Callum stays close when I remove my grip from his forearm. Licking his lips, his eyes drop to mine, and I seize the moment before he can think anything about it. Gently, I press my lips to his, savoring the shudder that runs through him. His tongue dives into my mouth as Rad's hands wander down my body, pulling at my shirt.

“Pause the tongue town session, and let's get our Pretty Girl naked,” Rad murmurs, forcing Callum to break his kiss. Callum pants against me when Rad pulls off my shirt and tosses it aside.

“I'll be over here,” he whispers, pointing to the beat-up recliner in the corner.

“Oh, no, you don't. This is a teachable moment, dude. Lay down,” Rad says, pointing to the bed.

“But-but, I…” Callum turns such a dark shade of red I almost swear he's going to run away.

“No buts, well, maybe hers,” Rad chuckles, and I swat him in the chest. “Just lay down. You want to learn the logistics of fucking? Then you need to be deep in the trenches when I fuck her,” Rad says in a no-nonsense tone. “Watch as I fuck our girl and learn a little something.”

“It's okay,” I say with an encouraging grin, nodding toward the middle of the bed.

Tentatively, he sits on the edge of the bed, keeping his distance, staring with such intensity I swear my skin is about to go up in flames. Every caress of my skin lights me up until I'm completely naked, sitting in Rad's lap. Callum sits back with wide eyes, staring like a deer in headlights. From here, I see the tension lining his face and the enormous bulge pressing against his jeans.

“Touch yourself,” I demand softly, aching to see his hand stroke his length.

Callum's Adam's apple bobs with a heavy swallow, and his teeth sink into his lips. Nervousness takes over his trembling fingers when he tries three times to grip the bottom of his black T-shirt. Finally, with one last frustrated huff, he throws his shirt next to him, exposing his beautifully toned chest and stomach. His tattoos come to life with every move he makes. And I want nothing more than to lick every inch of him if he'll let me.

“Pants too, dude. Show our girl your dick,” Rad snickers, rubbing up and down my body. “Again,” he adds, causing Callum to cover his reddened face with his hands.

With one last curse, Callum slowly undoes his jeans and shoves them down his legs. Sitting back, his long fingers curl over his dick, trying its hardest to come out from his boxers.

“Now sit back and watch the show. If you're lucky, maybe Pretty Girl will let you come all over her titties again.” Rad wiggles his brows playfully, turning his attention to me. His large, brown eyes take me in, and it's as if a switch was flipped when his fingers caress my cheeks with deep concern etching across his face.

“You're seriously good with this?” Rad whispers, pressing light kisses on my lips. “We can stop. You just told me a lot of heavy shit, Pretty Girl. And I'm a damn gentleman.”

I smirk against his lips, forcing him back into the bed. Money lifts into the air when his back lands against the mattress, and he grins at me, running his hands down my bare sides. His thumbs swipe across my nipples, and shivers roll down my spine, causing goosebumps in their wake. Over and over, he swipes against my sensitive nipples until their painful buds beg for the warmth of his mouth.

“Maybe I don't want a gentleman right now.” I cement that fact by leaning down and running my tongue over his hard nipple. His sharp intake of breath eggs me on, and I pull it between my teeth until his moan and whimpers fill the room.

“River,” he moans my name, thrusting himself against my center with desperation, seeking friction.

My hand runs down the length of his lean body and over his jeans, still secured around his waist.

“Why aren't you naked?” I whisper, rolling my tongue down his chest and over his abdomen, nibbling near his pants line where his muscles flex and tense from the sensation.

A deep groan vibrates his chest when he lays back, putting his hands under his head. With glazed-over hooded eyes, he watches my every move. Piece by piece, I remove his leftover clothes, tossing them aside with haste. Saliva pools in my mouth when his dick springs free from his boxers, begging me to taste it. Pre-cum drips down the side of his engorged and purple tip, pulsating with need.

Rad moans when my fingers wrap around his shaft, and I pump a few times, marveling at the feel of his smooth, warm skin beneath my touch. Leaning down, I lick the sweet curve of his dick, slightly leaning to the right. Running my tongue from base to tip several times, I lick him like I'm eating my favorite ice cream. Faintly, I taste the vanilla I crave so badly and continue sucking his tip into my mouth and running my tongue along his weeping slit, swallowing his pre-cum. Nothing beats the desperate sounds Rad makes when I take him into the back of my throat and squeeze around him. He writhes beneath me, silently screaming, with his head thrown back and fingers pulling at my loose hair.

“Pretty Girl, I'm desperate,” he moans, tossing his head back again and arching his back. His cock throbs in my mouth, on the brink of spewing into my throat. Anticipation settles through me when I use my tongue, swirling around the base. A tight grip grasps my hair, pulling my mouth away. “I need you,” he reaffirms, guiding me on top of his body and my legs straddling his hips. “I need to be inside of you now.” Rad reaches over to his bedside table, flicking through the contents. Pulling out a condom, he carefully rolls it down his length and grips my waist tightly. “Next time, Pretty girl, I'm going raw. This time, we'll be careful,” he murmurs, sucking my nipple into his mouth and swirling the tip of his tongue around my hard bud. “I won’t have a barrier between us from this moment on.” Something wicked sparks in the depth of his deep brown eyes, sending shivers down my spine when he surges forward and enters me with one thrust. His words ring through my mind on repeat. Raw. Nothing between us. Fuck. My pussy flutters around him, and he groans. “Yeah, Pretty Girl. You like that, don’t you? I want my cum dripping out of you and down your legs.”

Relief floods through me the moment he thrusts into me over and over. Pleasure sensations roar through me when I lift my hips and slam back down on his length, jamming him further into me. Stars brighten my eyes, and my brain turns to mush.

“I'm on birth control. I have been for years,” I gasp out, tossing my head back and letting my hair cascade down my back. The white ceiling comes into view when my eyes flutter open, and I swallow hard.

Memories try to come through, but I force them down. There's no way in hell I'm thinking about that right now. Not when Rad is taking me away from this world thrust by thrust. I swear I see stars when he grunts, pounding into me from underneath. The sweet curve of his dick hits that spot deep inside me perfectly, making me want to let go.

“Thank fuck,” Rad gasps, thrusting up into me. “You feel like a goddamn angel wrapped around my cock. I'm going to live in your cunt any time I can,” he confesses, groaning when I lift my hips and slam back down.

“You don't feel too bad yourself.” That's a lie. He feels fucking amazing. The curve of his dick hits right inside me. I'm two seconds away from orgasming and exploding all over him.

“Well, let me make it feel even better,” he grunts, pulling out with a gasp. “On your hands and knees. Maybe we should include our watcher.”

My eyes find Callum immediately when I get to my hands and knees. His soft, pink lips part in ecstasy as he pumps his hand up and down his shaft, swiping the pre-cum from his slit for friction.

“Scoot closer, bro,” Rad demands, beckoning him with a finger curl.

Callum settles closer, brushing his thigh against my fingers, curling in the sheets. Lust brews deep behind his stormy gray eyes as he watches with an intense stare, taking in every touch Rad places against my flesh.

Rad's hands settle on my hips when he gently reenters me from behind with a long, drawn-out moan.

“Seriously, I'm never leaving. I'll sleep with my dick inside you if I have to,” he groans, resting his forehead between my shoulder blades.

Reaching around, his hand grips my breast again, squeezing hard. All the breath leaves my depleted lungs when his hips snap forward harder and harder, driving into me like a man on a mission. Until he stills, laying his front over my back, leaning against me. Soft fingers swirl over my clit, beckoning my orgasm closer to the surface. And then backs off. Repeatedly, he swirls his fingertips over my clit until it's a throbbing mess and backs off.

“Rad, please,” I moan, rocking into the sensation threatening to take me over. Every swirl has my eyes rolling into the back of my head and moans spilling out.

“River,” he rasps in a deep voice. “You're so fucking beautiful. And you're mine,” he grunts the last part quietly, easing into his thrusts again. “Should we invite him to join? I think he wants a repeat. Maybe you should ask him?”

Callum's eyes widen, and ragged breaths spill from his lips when his hand stops pumping his length, and he swallows hard.

“Callum,” I moan his name, blindly staring in his direction as my vision blurs.

Callum's movements stop completely, frozen by his name on my lips, and he stares when I wiggle my finger, beckoning him forward more. He stumbles, scooting even closer. A deep red tint takes over his cheeks and neck and spreads on his chest. Lust swims deep in his eyes when he sits on the edge of the bed, staring at Rad and me with a curious but watchful eye. With every drive of Rad's cock forward, Callum watches closely.

“What-what do you want me-me to do?” His beautiful gray eyes dilate when Rad moves his hips, and my eyes roll into the back of my head.

“Whatever you want,” I moan breathlessly, digging my fingers into the money and sheets beneath me.

He licks his lips again, staring at mine with raw desire.

“Either kiss her, come on her tits, or let her suck you off, bro,” Rad directs, squeezing my tit in his hand, breathing heavily into my neck. “Because I won't last much longer,” he whispers, snapping his hips forward several more times, grunting my name.

Callum stays close, dryly stroking himself from base to tip. His eyes never stray from Rad's erratic movements, dilating when Rad picks up the pace, shoving his cock further inside me.

“Rad, stop,” I gasp out, and he instantly stops, pulling out.

“Shit, you okay? Sorry! Did I hurt you?” he asks with desperation, grazing his hand up and down my back.

“I'm fine,” I insist, looking over my shoulder at his twisted face. “But Callum needs some lube,” I say, raising a brow.

Rad's gaze finds Callum's dry hands rubbing his dick raw. A slow smile spreads across Rad's lips, and he nods. “For Callum, of course. Come here,” he says to Callum, beckoning him forward.

Callum trembles, crawling to my side, close to where Rad resides. Looking over my shoulder, my gaze connects with his dilated eyes. Nodding, I give him a soft smile when his fingers brush over my ass cheek.

“Right here,” Rad says in a soothing tone, taking hold of Callum's wrist and directing him to my dripping pussy before stopping. “Are you good with this? I'm not trying to push, man.”

Callum licks his lip, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip. “Yes! Oh-oh, Jesus,” Callum groans when he brushes against my pussy lips. “Oh God.” His eyes roll back when Rad directs his fingers into me.

I groan when he shoves his long fingers inside me and twists them around, gathering my juices with Rad's. Four fingers from two different hands push the boundaries of my fluttering pussy walls.

“Feel that, man? She fucking loves it. She's going to cum all over them. And then you're going to finish yourself with her cum. Okay?” Rad asks through the fog of my mind, and I hear him moan in the distance.

Fire spreads throughout my limbs, and everything trembles as Rad and Callum pick up their pace, slamming into the depths of my cunt and turning me inside out. A moan lodges in my throat the moment my pussy contracts, and fireworks explode behind my eyes. My pussy clamps down on them, earning more groans from behind me.

“Fuck, River,” Rad grunts, stilling inside me.

“Oh, f-fuck,” Callum gasps, pulling in and out with urgency, staring at the wetness coating his entire hand with wonder.

“Use it, bro. Slather her pussy juices all over your dick, and then come on her ass while I come in her pussy.” Rad doesn't waste a second when he buries himself deep in my cunt and pounds harder than before.

Callum moans, confidently putting the tip of his dick against my ass cheek, pumping as hard as he can. I watch his every move through my limited view of him over my shoulder. His head falls back, and his mouth drops open in ecstasy, lathering his dick with my juices.

“Come for me,” I rasp, staring into his gray eyes. “Come, Callum.” Heavy breaths pour from his mouth until every muscle in his body locks tight. Deep moans pull from his chest when he sprays his cum all over the flesh of my ass, dripping down my crack and toward Rad's chaotic thrusts and mixes.

Leaning over in desperation, Rad buries his teeth in my shoulder, spilling his seed into the condom with labored breaths and moaning.

“You’re goddamn amazing,” he murmurs, licking the wound on my shoulder. Rad kisses my shoulder, moving my hair from my neck. “Don't move. I'm staying here,” he rasps.

I roll my eyes, wiggling my hips. “You can't seriously stay inside me. We have lives to live.”

He snorts. “You underestimate my commitment,” he murmurs, gently pulling out with a groan. “But for today, I'll let it go.”

For one brief second of silence, Callum's wide eyes stay transfixed on the cum sliding down my flesh, through my crack, and mingling with my juices. I shiver when his finger bravely runs through the line, swirling it into me.

“Come-come on,” Callum murmurs, grasping my hand with a blush, pulling himself from the visual. “Let's get cleaned up.” I swear he sounds breathless when he helps me off the bed. My legs wobble when I take my first step, but Cal is there to catch me when I tumble.

“I'm going to take that stumble as a win,” Rad says with a tired grin, throwing the condom into the trash. Sighing, he throws himself back into the bed with a groan. “Thanks for christening my money, Pretty Girl. You're officially my good luck charm.” Warmth fills me when his earnest eyes find mine, and I see nothing but honesty reflecting. For some reason, he honestly believes I'm his good luck charm.

“Any time,” I quip, clinging to Callum as he leads us into the oversized bathroom fitted with a large tub, stand-up shower, and a nice-sized closet connected to it.

Leaning down, Callum runs a bath and plugs the drain. He stands, collects the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, and places them around the edge of the tub with care. His fingers brush through the rapidly rising water, and he nods, approving of the temperature.

“I think it's ready-ready,” he says, taking a deep breath when he stands back, gesturing for me to climb in.

He helps me ease my legs over the tall bathtub with gentle hands until the water laps at my calves and feet. I sigh when my feet are enveloped in warmth, tingling my toes and legs. When I turn, Callum watches me with an intense stare, watching my every move as I slowly sit down in the water's warmth.

“Are you coming?” I ask, raising a brow and gesturing to the spot behind me.

His eyes widen for a fraction of a second, and I think he’s about to tell me no until he marches forward with determination on his face. Deep down, I think Callum fights with himself and what he wants. Something holds him back from jumping into the fray and getting his too.

Settling behind me, he gently eases my back to his front and carefully wraps his arms around me. Resting his hands on my stomach with trembling fingers, I can tell he's trying not to touch anything he shouldn't.

Resting my head against his shoulder, I savor the warmth and protection he offers me. Callum is a gentle soul, and I never want anyone to take that from him. This world is a cruel, evil mess, and he’s the only goodness left to bring me light. Besides the other two, I’ve seemed to have fallen for them in a short time. Sometimes I can’t stop my heart from falling for the wrong people.

“Can I ask you something?” I whisper, running my wet fingers up and down his tense thighs on either side of me. His hardening dick rests at my back, but he makes no move to do anything about it. In fact, I'm sure he's ignoring it.

“Sure-sure,” he says, stumbling over his tongue again. “You can ask me anything.”

“What holds you back from sex?” Turning, I peek over my shoulder at his red-tinted face. Worry lines the creases in his brows, and he nods like he knows this is coming. “I’m not trying to pry, Cal. You don’t have to talk about anything if you don’t want to,” I murmur with encouragement, turning back to face the wall.

I’d never force him to tell me anything. We all have hidden secrets, guidelines we live by, and boundaries we like to keep. Some people can’t stand to be touched because of sensitivities. Some people are saving themselves for the right moment. And some haven't found the perfect person to connect with. Whatever the reason, he’s still a virgin. That's up to him.

He leans his forehead against the back of my head, laying a sweet kiss on my hair. His shuddering breath blows across my wet neck as he composes himself to answer. Deep down, I suspect he’s again hiding the embarrassment from his face.

“I want it to be right,” he murmurs into my hair. “It probably sounds-sounds so stupid, but I want the moment to be something that I’m proud to remember. I…” He stops himself, taking a deep breath. “I never forget a moment.”

“Never forget?” I ask, trying to look into the depths of his eyes, but he hides again and nods.

“Every life event. Every day. If you asked me what I did on March fourteenth two years ago, I'd be able to tell you in great detail how my day went,” he murmurs, almost ashamed of what his mind can do.

Absentmindedly, I rub my fingers along his, tracing the wrinkles on his knuckles, trying to ease the rising tension. His muscles bunch, and his breaths grow haggard behind me, attempting to hold back all the frustrations that must come with his unique ability.

“So, what did you do on March fourteenth?” I quip with a smile, tugging at the edges of my lips.

Finally, after a few seconds of silence, he snorts, lifting his face from my hair. Those gray eyes connect with mine, filled with relief, spilling everything without saying a word. People must judge him when he confesses what his mind can do, expecting a lot from him. I could never imagine having the ability to remember every moment of my life. Our brains are meant to forget and ease away from painful moments.

He hums under his breath and closes his eyes. I wonder if the memory is right there in reach, and all he has to do is open a file and view it, much like a computer. A slow smile spreads across his lips, indicating it must be a wonderful memory.

“Woke up as usual at seven a.m., had cereal without milk, drank a cold coffee, and then celebrated my little sister Jenny's birthday.” His eyes squeeze shut, and he takes a deep breath, reliving the memory vividly.

“And July second?” I ask, raising a brow, secretly knowing the answer.

“Woke up, had cereal with no milk, drank a hot coffee with two packets of sweeteners and a splash of vanilla creamer, and then went to the May Fair event out on route seven. We had one of our first gigs. Kieran stumbled over his words while singing. Rad got so hot and sweated so much that he threw his stick off the stage. My string broke. And Ash's dad scolded him for embarrassing him in public,” he rambles in detail about the first day I ever saw them perform on stage, but my brain neglected to remember the chaos of their first performance.

“Ah, I didn’t think you guys sounded too bad,” I say with a shrug, nestled deeper into his tight embrace.

“You were there?” he asks in a soft voice, leaning his head on the edge of the tub.

“How do you think I knew to email you guys? I mean, you handed me your card,” I ask with a laugh. “Although I didn’t remember you guys messing up too much, I remember being enamored by you all.” Enamored was an understatement. Like before, they drew me in with their magical voices and strumming fingers. They hypnotized me every step of the way, leading to now. Perhaps our unions are inevitable, and fate brought us together.

“It was me, wasn’t it, Pretty Girl?” Rad asks, waltzing into the bathroom, still naked and swaying his hips—among other things. He marches toward a door next to the tub, proceeds to pee without shame, and reemerges, washing his hands.

I scoff. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, Ashton Radcliffe.” He grins, splashing water on my face, causing me to yelp from the sudden warmth.

“Be nice,” Callum murmurs, splashing Rad back with warm water.

Rad scowls, pulling back to dry off his face. He rests by the tub for another few minutes and helps Callum wash me. They run shampoo and conditioner through my hair, washing it away. Soon I'm scrubbed clean with Rad's body wash, which he smugly rubs into my skin, promising he'll get me a bottle, so I smell like him at all times. Plus, he swears it'll piss off Kieran to no end.

Soon enough, we’re all out of the tub, dried off, and lying covered in Rad’s bed. We don’t bother to get dressed, instead lying lazily around and cuddling. Callum nestles into my back, draping an arm over my stomach and Rad stays to my front, looking deeply into my eyes.

“Well, how was your day off, Pretty Girl?” he asks, brushing my wet hair behind my ear.

I smile. “It was one of the best days I’ve had in a long time,” I freely admit, letting the happiness settle in my gut.

I’d never tell them I haven’t had this much fun in years. I’ve always had to worry about work and school and never had downtime, never ridden on a bike, gone to the races, or hung out just to hang out. Especially now with my mom, her illness, and her dependency on me. I’ll never have another day like today. So, I’ll savor it forever.

Rad hums happily under his breath, softly putting his face on my neck. “Just lie here with me. I see the exhaustion in your eyes and the hurt in your bones. Lie here with me and feel my warmth.” Rad sucks in a breath, reaching for something on the shelf above my head with urgency. Cranking my neck, I see the moment a dark notebook lands between us. “I need to write this down,” he mumbles to himself.

“Lyrics?” I ask, scrunching my nose.

Rad grins, not breaking his concentration by repeating the lines repeatedly.

“Lyrics come from the heart, Pretty Girl. Unexpectedly. Beautiful. Raw. Lyrics appear out of nowhere,” he murmurs, scrunching his brows.

A light flickers above us, highlighting Rad like a spotlight when he uncaps a pen with his teeth. Pages ruffle when he turns to a blank page and sighs in relief. Writing this down is the most important thing he's done all day.

A sparkle of excitement lights up his mahogany brown eyes. No one else in the room exists. Not me. Not Callum. These are just the words he casually said. Watching him scribble lyrics down fascinates me. One day they'll be someone's favorite song, sung worldwide, and it all started here in this tiny bedroom.

I take the unexpected chance to take all of him in, in his most vulnerable state. His dark, curly mullet sticks up from our romp in the sheets. His bare shoulders and chest, splattered with his tattoo, are tanned from his time in the sun. Freckles dot the tops of his shoulders and sprinkle down his tanned arms.

“There,” he says victoriously, putting the notebook back above our heads and settling in. “Let's nap now,” he grumbles with a small yawn.

I nearly jump out of my skin when a piano riff echoes through the room until I realize it’s my phone sounding off with a message. I swallow hard at the ominous sound, knowing precisely who's texting me this time.

“Your-your phone," Callum mumbles, blindly reaching behind him and grabbing it on the end table.

“Pretty Girl, that thing is so damn cracked and beat up,” Rad says, closing his eyes with a yawn. “We’ll get you a new one…” his voice trails off when his hand brushes up and down my thigh, slowly stopping when Rad completely conks out and snores.

“Fat chance,” I mumble, unlocking my phone. Peeking behind me, I make sure Callum’s face stays buried in my neck, and he slowly drifts off with even breaths.

Swiping on my cracked screen, I bring the message up and wrinkle my nose.

Van

I need to talk to you.

Why won’t you talk to me anymore, Riv?

You’re like a stranger.

Please talk to me.

I saw you go to Callum's, Rivey….

I shake my head and silence my phone. I don’t need Van in my ear, whispering things I don’t want to hear. He broke my heart. He’s the one who left me because his parents couldn’t stand the fact, I was who I was. And now he’s suddenly crawling back on his hands and knees, begging me to talk to him?

Hell no.

Van Drake can drown in the depths of the misery he put me through.