Chapter 21
SAVANNAH
Hunter steers the car into a below-ground parking garage and parks in a designated space. Luke opens his door, and as he slides out, he takes me with him, lifting my weight effortlessly.
We head for a set of elevator doors, and they surround me like bodyguards. Rory stands at my back, Luke at my side, and Hunter in the front. After a palm and retinal scan, we’re inside the elevator and moving upward.
I can’t say I’ve ever been in a situation like this before. I’m not sure what to do or what’s expected. What I am sure of is that these three men wouldn’t hurt me.
A glint of light shines in my eyes from below, and I turn my head to search. “Is that a gun?”
Luke glances down as if he forgot he’s holding a loaded weapon. “Yeah,” he answers composed.
“Did you expect us to show up without some kind of protection?” Hunter asks with a hint of humor in his tone.
“I didn’t expect you to show up at all,” I grumble, “and I never thought I’d see a computer nerd carry a gun.” My comment is out of place, but I need some light amidst all this dark chaos.
Luke leans over and pinches my butt.
“Ouch!” I level him with a harsh glare.
“Brat,” he growls back.
As the elevator doors slide apart, the revealed grandeur makes my jaw drop. The high ceilings, the marble floors, the luxurious furnishings, and the floor-to-ceiling windows. The kitchen sink alone is worth more than everything in my apartment combined.
Wandering in ahead of Hunter, Rory, and Luke, I run my hand over the smooth countertops in the kitchen, admire the view of Manhattan from the window, and gawk at the hot tub on the terrace.
I’m afraid to do more because everything looks so clean.
I feel as if I touch the white couch, I’ll somehow spread dirt all over the fabric.
I shouldn’t be here. I don’t belong here.
Withdrawing my hand, I turn to face them. “This is too much.”
Rory shrugs. “I was going to say that it’s not enough.”
Reminding them as if they forgot, I say, “I’m your employee. I don’t know of another boss who would do this for someone who works for them.”
Hunter steps forward. “You’re much more than that, Heartbreaker, and you know it.”
There’s a shift happening, one that I’ve been ignoring. Change is supposed to be a good thing. So why do I feel like my stomach is twisted in knots?
My brows furrow, masking my nausea. “Do I?”
“If you don’t by now, then we haven’t done a good job of showing you what you mean to us.” Luke crosses his arms.
My eyes bounce around, studying each of their faces. I expect to see a hint of doubt or regret, but there’s none. Instead, I find resolution.
“This will never work.” I shake my head, taking a step back.
They seem to be done with the small distance between us as they rush to surround me.
Hunter stands in front of me. “You won’t know unless you try.”
I hate that he’s right.
Am I willing to try? I guess. But I know that I can’t walk away. There’s something about these men that makes it impossible for me to resist them.
With a heavy sigh, I nod my head.
Rory lights up next to me. “Is that a yes?”
I nod my head again, a slight curve of my lips. “I don’t know if this means I’m crazy or you three are the ones who are out of their minds.”
“Would it be so bad if we all were?” Luke speaks up on my other side, tilting his head.
Rory takes my hand, guiding me up the simple yet elegant staircase. Luke and Hunter follow behind.
Rory’s so giddy that I wouldn’t be surprised if he floated away on a cloud. “We’ll give you the grand tour after you get some sleep. For now, let me show you to your room.”
Oh, yeah. A bed. I may have agreed to see if this thing between us will work, but I’m not ready to take that step.
Clearing my throat, I ask, “Um. Whose room am I sleeping in?”
“Your own,” Luke says, answering like it’s a given.
At the top of the stairs, they guide me past another living room and down a hall.
When Rory opens the door, he ushers me in.
The high ceilings, extravagant fabric on the bed, and the plush carpet make me want to jump on the mattress and never move again.
I bet it’s more comfortable than anything else I’ve ever slept on.
This room could fit my studio apartment and then some.
Two closed doors pique my interest, and I decide to explore.
Through one door, I find a closet with so much space, I doubt I’d ever be able to fill it.
Through the second door, I find the bathroom.
I could spend a whole day just in this bathroom, treating myself to an at-home spa treatment.
The shower is enormous, as is the jetted tub.
I re-enter the bedroom and look around again. “This is a beautiful guest room. Thank you.”
“I didn’t say ‘guest room,’ I said, ‘your room.’” Luke corrects.
That can’t be right. My room?
Another thought occurs to me, and my hands twitch. “Is this where your female guests sleep?”
“No,” Rory replies.
My hands rest on my hips. “So they usually share your bed?”
“That’s not what I said.” Rory folds his arms across his chest.
“It’s implied,” I shoot back. “Why am I here instead of…of…” I can’t finish the thought. I sound like a whiny child, I know it.
This isn’t me. This isn’t how I am. I don’t get hurt over men's choices.
But I can’t help it.
“One of our beds?” Rory asks with a raised brow.
Luke holds his hands up and takes a step away from Rory. “I don’t bring people home. This hole is all yours.”
My narrowed eyes harden in Rory’s direction.
Rory pushes out a sigh and throws his arms out at his sides. “Okay, fine. You’re not sleeping in bed with one of us because I don’t want to rush you.”
I should be happy that he’s being so thoughtful, but a different feeling pushes its way to the surface.
He knows I’m inexperienced, and I wish he didn’t.
“Rush me? What makes you think you’re rushing me? What gives you the right to choose for me?” My voice gets louder, “Maybe I came here because I wanted to have one big orgy!”
“I get to make these choices because I fucking care and because I had your virgin blood on my dick the other night.”
All the blood drains from my face. I want to sink through the floor, right to the core of the earth, and burn. That would be easier to handle than this.
Because now it’s out there in the open. There’s no denying it. Not that I could’ve done that before.
Hunter finally steps away from the threshold and into the room, closer to me. “You’re a virgin?”
“I’m not a virgin…anymore.” My feet move me backward.
Hunter’s eyes narrow on Luke, who seems unaffected by Rory’s outburst. “Did you know?”
Luke shrugs. “We may have talked about it briefly.”
I finally find my backbone again. “I don’t have to tell any of you shit.”
“You made her swear,” Luke whispers, not so quietly.
Pointing to my chest, I shout, “It’s my virginity, not yours.”
“But don’t you think it should have been a conversation first?” Rory rages back.
He’s angry, and I understand why. And despite his outrage, I know I’m not in any danger. None of them would ever hurt me. I know that to the depths of my dark soul.
“No,” I shake my head, “And you don’t have to worry about me getting attached. It’s not like I’m going to suddenly start writing ‘R+S’ all over my journal.”
We can now add “sassy brat” below “whiny child” to my list of adjectives.
Rory moves toward me, aiming his words right at my face. He towers over me, but I’m not scared. I should be, but I’m not. “And what about my journal? What if I’m the one who gets attached? What if I suddenly get ‘R+S’ tattooed on my chest?”
My mouth opens, but I can’t speak.
A tattoo? That’s much more permanent…
“That’s not the same as writing it in a journal,” I mutter.
Hunter’s hand appears on Rory’s shoulder and pulls him backward, creating a gap.
“Stop it. You’re both acting like children.
” He turns to me, holding up his finger.
“Savannah, a woman isn’t the only one who can develop feelings when being intimate.
I’m sure you already know that because you’re not stupid.
So stop lashing out just because you’re embarrassed.
” Then he spins the other direction. “Rory, use your goddamn words. Just tell her that it meant something to you. If you want her to be honest, then you need to be honest.” Hunter lowers his voice and sighs.
“Now that I’ve played mediator, I’m going to bed.
If anyone tries to wake me up before noon, it’s your funeral.
” He’s out of the room and gone, leaving us in awkward silence.
Rubbing my eyes, I take a moment to let Hunter’s words sink in.
He’s right. I am embarrassed.
Using my hand to rub my other arm, I stare down at my feet. “I should have considered your feelings. I’m sorry.”
“What was that?” Rory pushes.
My head snaps up. “You heard me.”
Rory looks me in the eye, hopefully recognizing the sincerity behind my apology.
His body deflates. “It meant a lot to me that I was your first. I can’t begin to describe what it did to me when I realized that my cock was the first one inside you.”
I chuckle and joke, “You could try.”
Rory’s body shifts. He leans toward me, and his eyes darken.
“I don’t want there to be anyone else. Besides Hunter and Luke, no one. I’ll give you everything, Savannah. I’ll make you scream for God’s mercy. Just don’t let another near your perfect little cunt.”
This kind of attention would normally send me running for the hills. But right now, I have a strange urge to push him further.
I feel my lips turn into a smirk. “But what if—”
“Don’t test me, Dream Girl,” he growls, getting closer.
His warning doesn’t deter me.
“Show me,” I challenge.
“With an audience?” Rory tilts his head toward Luke, and a knot twists my stomach.
Sweet baby Jesus. I forgot he’s here.
My gaze connects with his, and the knot inside me loosens as warmth spreads through my belly. The fire in Luke’s eyes is potent.
My focus shifts back and forth between the two men in front of me. Neither seems dissuaded by the presence of the other in the room.
Oddly, this doesn’t feel wrong—the thought of being with them. A few weeks ago, I would have never considered something like this. But now…
Biting my lip, I nod my head.