WITSEC

Bonus Chapter

Bonus Chapter

SHILOH

Birthday Party

So far my birthday had been the best one I’d had in a long time. The number of guests was on the smaller side. Logan and Ian had come and were sitting together on the outdoor furniture the guys had brought here from their old house. Micah was here with his friends, Rick and Dax, who co-owned MAD Mechanics with him. Knox was currently hanging out with them while he grilled food in our outdoor kitchen. Keelan was hanging inside with Derek. Colt and Creed were in the pool. Ethan had been in the pool with them up until a minute ago. He’d kept trying to convince Isabelle to get in and when she’d had enough of telling him no, she’d gone inside. Sighing, Ethan had gotten out of the water and gone after her.

I didn’t like that he was pressuring her even though he knew that she would be uncomfortable in a bathing suit. She had many scars and wasn’t ready to reveal them to the world. I was a little worried he was comparing her situation to mine and how Colt and Creed had helped me get over my insecurities with my scars. What Ethan might not be considering was that when I’d met the guys, I’d had my scars a lot longer than Isabelle had had hers now.

Worried about Isabelle, I went inside the house. Before I shut the sliding glass door that led right into the dining room, where Keelan and Derek were sitting silently with forgotten beers in front of them, I could hear arguing. I closed the door and moved to stand where the dining room led into the kitchen. With how close the arguing sounded, I could tell Isabelle and Ethan were in the hall by the stairs just outside the kitchen.

“I’m sorry, okay?” Ethan said. “I just wanted you to have fun.”

“I was having fun,” Isabelle said, sounding on the edge of tears.

“Again, I’m sorry.”

I heard Isabelle sniffling followed by Ethan sighing. I knew I shouldn’t be eavesdropping, that I should be giving them privacy, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the night Izzy had helped me pack and I’d had to hold her as she fell apart.

“Please don’t cry,” he said, and I could hear a hint of annoyance.

“Why?” Isabelle snapped. “Because you don’t know how to handle it? Let me just dry up my tears yet again so you can feel better, Ethan. God forbid me being upset makes you uncomfortable.”

“You make me sound like a horrible person,” he threw back at her.

Isabelle went quiet for a moment. “I don’t think you’re a horrible person.”

“Well, you just made me feel like one.”

Isabelle inhaled deeply before releasing her breath slowly, as if to calm herself. “In the beginning of our relationship, you used to hold me when I was upset. But that was when the hurdles were easy and stupid. Now, shit isn’t easy and stupid. It’s hard and it’s real and you don’t know how to handle it. Instead, you are making me feel pressured to hurry up and get better.”

“I don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, Izzy. I have been there for you. Every fucking spare minute I had, I was with you in the hospital,” Ethan seethed.

“Yes, you were there physically and I’m so grateful for that, but emotionally I took care of you. I had to reassure you that I was okay. That everything was going to be all right. I did that for you even though I was in obvious pain. I forced a smile for you even though I was fighting tears. And every time, you took my reassurance while ignoring the truth, and you’ve continued to do so ever since.”

“And what is the truth?”

“That I am not okay!” Isabelle bellowed. “I have not been okay, and I won’t be okay for a long fucking time! I almost died! A man stabbed me over and over, trying to kill me one floor above where you were playing beer pong with your friends.”

I had to grab the edge of the kitchen counter for support as my eyes began to burn at the pain in her voice. A hand touched my lower back. I glanced behind me to see Keelan. His hand moved to my waist and pulled me to him, hugging me tightly.

“Are you mad that I didn’t go upstairs with you that night?” Ethan questioned.

Isabelle let a frustrated noise. “Fucking hell, Ethan!”

“If there’s anyone you should be mad at for nearly getting you killed, it’s your best friend.”

Keelan’s body went stiff against me, and I ran my hand up and down his back, trying to calm him down.

“I thought you forgave her,” Isabelle said.

“No, I’ve been tolerating her for you, because for some reason you still want to be friends with her.”

“And Colt and Creed? Have you just been tolerating them?” she asked.

Ethan didn’t respond to that.

“I know you’re angry, Ethan, and you need to blame someone?—”

“She is the one to blame,” he snapped.

“What if I had been the one in WITSEC and we fell in love? Would you have abandoned me after learning the truth?” she asked him.

Ethan didn’t respond to that, either. Instead, he evaded. “We just graduated high school. Shit shouldn’t be this complicated.”

No. It shouldn’t, I thought. But that wasn’t always the case for some people.

Isabelle sniffled again. “I don’t know if I can do this anymore.”

“What?” There was so much shock laced into that one word.

“I can’t hold you up when I can’t even hold myself together. I can’t keep pretending that everything is all right and will return to what it once was.”

“Izzy, wait—” Ethan started to say before she cut him off.

“I know you got accepted to the University of Michigan. It’s your dream to play for their team and you’re so talented, I know you will achieve it. The only reason you’re hesitating to accept it is because of me.”

“I was going to talk to you about that,” he said.

“We’re talking about it now and I’m telling you to go. You’re right. We did just graduate high school. Our lives are just starting. Mine hit a speed bump and sent me in a new direction. That doesn’t mean you have to follow.”

“This isn’t what I wanted.” All the fight in Ethan’s voice had vanished.

“It’s not what either of us wanted, but it’s for the best,” she said unwaveringly.

“So we’re over? You don’t love me anymore?” Ethan’s voice wobbled as he spoke.

“It’s because I love you so damn much, Ethan, that I’m giving you an out. So take it.”

Things went quiet until we heard the front door rip open and slam closed. I stepped out of Keelan’s embrace and walked through the kitchen. Timidly, I poked my head out into the hall where Isabelle and Ethan had been fighting. Isabelle was alone, hugging herself and crying. I rushed over to her and put my arms around her.

“I’m sorry,” she said as she hugged me back and rested her forehead on my shoulder.

“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I told her. I caught movement at the kitchen entrance. Keelan and Derek were poking their heads out to see us. I waved a quick hand at them. Telling them to shoo. They disappeared back into the kitchen.

Isabelle stepped away from me. “I think I should go. I don’t want to ruin your birthday even more.”

“Forget my birthday. If you need me or need to talk, we can go upstairs.”

Isabelle shook her head. “I think I need to be alone. I need to process before I can talk about it.”

I put my hands on her shoulders. “All right. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

She ran her hands down her face, wiping away her tears in the process. Then she went to take a step around me, heading for the door, when she paused. “Shit! Ethan drove me here.”

“I can take you home. My purse is in the kitchen. Let me go get it,” I said and went to the kitchen.

Keelan and Derek were in there, leaning against the counter. “What’s going on?” Keelan asked.

I went over to where I had left my purse on the counter next to the fridge earlier. “I’m going to take her home.”

Keelan pushed off the counter. “Why don’t I do that, baby? This is your party.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Isabelle’s voice filled the kitchen. “He’s right, Shi. Go back to your party. Go swimming with the twins or go give Knox a hard time while he grills. Today is the day we celebrate you. Go enjoy it and I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I couldn’t help but frown, feeling torn.

“I’ll take you home,” Derek said as he pulled his keys from his pocket and walked over to where Isabelle was standing in the doorway that led to the hall. He stared down at her for a moment, as if to make sure she was all right with that.

Isabelle stared back up at him before looking down, nodding. She turned around and disappeared back into the hall, Derek following behind her.

After I heard the front door close behind them, my eyes went blurry and tears quickly began rolling down my cheeks.

“Hey,” Keelan said as he came over to me. His hands framed my face and his thumbs wiped at my cheeks.

“I did this to them,” I said, my voice cracking. “They were so in love and perfect for each other.”

“It probably seemed that way because it was new love. When you’re in that stage of a relationship, this euphoric bubble forms around you, making it seem that everything is perfect. It’s when the bubble pops and how you handle things after that determines whether you are truly perfect for one another.”

“Did we have a bubble?” I asked him.

He grinned down at me. “In the beginning we did. When we were getting to know you and spending more and more time with you. But I’m pretty sure our bubble didn’t last long.”

I frowned. “What do you mean?”

His hands dropped from my face to my hips. “Given what life had thrown at us before we met each other, I think we popped that bubble when things began to get serious.”

“Like when I told you I was in WITSEC?”

“That might have been when,” he said as his hands slid down to my thighs. The moment he reached the backs of them, he lifted me up off the ground. “Regardless, I think we’ve proven we don’t need it.” He started walking with me. I thought he was going to take me outside, but realized he wasn’t when he headed toward the stairs.

I wrapped my legs around his waist so he could hold me better and put my hands on his shoulders. “Where are we going?” I got nervous as he started walking up the stairs.

“You’re upset and I’m sure you don’t want your guests to see you that way.”

“We could have stayed in the kitchen until I calmed down.”

Keelan made it to the landing at the top of the stairs and kept walking. “I figured an orgasm or two might cheer you up.”

“You gave me an orgasm this morning on the kitchen island while Knox watched.”

“That was your fault for running around naked.”

I laughed as he walked us into my bedroom.

“So what do you say? Want to practice making all those babies we’re planning to have?” he asked as he tossed me on the bed.

“Keelan!” I squealed as I bounced on the mattress.

He quickly toed off his shoes before crawling over me and giving me a scorching kiss. He pulled away to trail his mouth and tongue over my jaw and down my neck. “Do you not want to?”

“It will have to be quick,” I said as I panted.

“I’ve never been asked to make a baby quickly. Way to put pressure on a guy,” he said as he pulled the strap of my navy blue summer dress off my shoulder, followed by my bra strap.

A throat cleared. “I thought we were waiting to have a baby?” said a deep voice.

I glanced toward the door and saw Knox standing there with his arms folded over his chest.

Keelan leaned away just far enough to grin at his brother. “We’re practicing.”

“We have guests in the backyard,” Knox reminded us.

“I was told to make it quick,” Keelan said.

“Or,” I said, grabbing their attention, “you can join us and we can recreate what we did on Halloween.”

Keelan groaned. “I love it when your sexy minx side comes out to play.”

Knox didn’t respond. Instead, he closed and locked my bedroom door.

Keelan brushed a finger along my lips. “We can recreate Halloween, but I want this beautiful mouth this time.”

“I think she should take you as you’re lying down on the bed,” Knox said.

Keelan chuckled and crawled off of me to lie in the center of the bed. “I’m pretty sure he wants your head low and that beautiful ass in the air, baby girl,” Keelan said. “And I can’t blame him.”

That gave me flashbacks of when Colt and Creed had woken me up at twelve this morning. Just remembering was an intense turn-on, but I couldn’t do what we had done for a second time today.

After toeing off my sandals, I got situated on my hands and knees between Keelan’s legs. In this position, my Superman underwear was on full display. I glanced over my shoulder at Knox, who was standing at the foot of the bed. “Like this?”

The corner of his mouth twitched. “Just like that.”

I reached for the waistband of Keelan’s pants and unbuttoned them. He lifted his hips to help me pull his shorts and boxers down. The moment his cock sprang free, I leaned down and ran my tongue along his hard length before taking him into my mouth.

Keelan’s breath hitched. “Fuck, I love that mouth.” He put an arm behind his head so he could watch me while his other hand went to the nape of my neck.

I gave him a few firm strokes while I sucked on his tip. The grip on the back of my head flexed and his hips bucked.

The bed dipped behind me before I felt Knox’s hands gently run up the sides of my thighs. He pushed the skirt of my dress over my hips, exposing my Superman underwear fully.

“You’ve soaked your favorite panties,” Knox said, his voice deeper than normal. His finger went to my slit, and he stroked me over the thin fabric.

Groaning, I took Keelan deeper in my mouth. The tip of him kissed the back of my throat before I retreated.

He let out a hiss. “You can take me farther than that.”

Removing him from my mouth, I barely touched him with my lips. “Can I?” I slowly ran my tongue along the underside of his length from the base up. “Maybe you should show me?”

Keelan let out a curse and used the arm behind his head to help him sit up. “What a dirty girl,” he said in a way that made it sound like praise. The grip he had on the back of my head fisted my hair.

Knowing my boyfriend well, I put my hands on his hips and took him halfway into my mouth, preparing for him to take over. He guided my head up and down gently while he bucked his hips. I relaxed my throat as I felt him moving deeper and deeper with each thrust.

Keelan let out a slew of curses as he fucked my mouth, which then turned into praises. “Such a fucking good girl taking all of me like that.”

Meanwhile, Knox pulled my underwear down to about mid-thigh, just enough to expose me and hold my knees together. Just in case my underwear wasn’t enough, Knox framed his legs outside of mine.

He pushed two fingers inside me while his thumb gave attention to my clit. I moaned around Keelan and rocked my body back to meet the thrusts of Knox’s fingers.

Knox brought his other hand down on my left butt cheek at the same time Keelan plunged his cock deep down my throat. It took a lot of effort to stay relaxed. All I could do was squeal, making Keelan groan at the vibrations of my throat.

“Keelan,” Knox said in a low voice and right away Keelan stilled. Knox pulled his fingers from me, and I felt something bigger run along my folds, wetting itself with my essence. I also went still when the head of Knox’s cock began pushing into me. With my legs pushed together, I felt tighter around him. He took his time easing into me, stretching me. Moaning, I removed my mouth from Keelan.

When Knox bottomed out inside me, he didn’t move. Needing him to, I tried to rock my hips. Knox’s tight grip on my hips kept me still.

“Knox!” I whined.

Knox pulled out of me just a little and pushed back in slowly. I let out a frustrated noise. His hand came down on my ass again, making me jump a little and Keelan chuckle.

“Use your words,” Knox ordered.

Stubbornly, I kept my mouth closed.

Keelan’s hand released my hair and went to my chin, making me raise my head. He kissed me passionately, stroking my tongue with his. “Tell him what you want, baby.”

“And if I don’t?” I challenged.

A naughty smile pulled at the corner of Keelan’s mouth as he stared at his brother over my head, and he gave Knox a single nod. Before I could ask what they were silently telling each other, Knox’s hands tightened on my hips. He withdrew until he was almost out of me and then slammed back in. He did that over and over, pumping into me. Keelan didn’t let go of my chin or let me take his cock back into my mouth. He kept my head up so he could eat at my cries and moans.

Knox didn’t let up until I felt like I was a thrust away from coming. Then he suddenly stopped.

I ripped my mouth from Keelan’s. “Knox!”

Keelan huffed a laugh. “You’ll have to beg now.”

I kept my mouth shut and that made Knox chuckle. “Always the brat.” He began thrusting into me again. Yet again he brought me to the edge of coming and when he stopped, I gave up.

“Please! I want to come! Please make me come!” I begged.

“How do you want me to make you come, Shiloh?” Knox asked as he made shallow thrusts in me.

“Fuck me hard, Knox. I want to still feel you between my legs tomorrow.”

“How could anyone say no to that?” Keelan said as he stroked my cheek with the back of his hand.

Knox apparently couldn’t, because he gave me what I’d begged for. He began pounding into me.

Keelan leaned in to kiss me. Just before he reached my lips, I said between pants and whimpers, “I want you to fuck my mouth.”

Keelan froze at my words until his mouth stretched into a grin. He gave me a quick kiss before he let my head drop back to his lap. As I took him into my mouth, I moaned and began bobbing my head.

The way Knox fucked me was making me delirious. It was hard to focus on anything other than the need to climax building inside me. Keelan fisted my hair at the back of my head again and the slight pain added to the pleasure. His hips bucked, pushing himself deeper until he touched the back of my throat. After that, he didn’t waste any time fucking my mouth. I sucked and licked him the best I could as he chased his own release.

Knox was quickly bringing me to the edge of coming again and I was slightly worried I was going to black out.

I knew Keelan was just as close as I was. Maybe even closer. I could tell by his uneven thrusts. Some would try to make me gag. Most were shallow. Keelan’s grip on my hair tightened a smidge more and he drawled out the word fuck just as cum hit the back of my throat.

I swallowed as quickly as I could before my own release hit me. Ripping my mouth off of him, I cried out loudly as I began to shatter so hard I saw spots. I tried to pull away from Knox as my orgasm kept going and going. He held me where I was as he kept fucking me until he slammed into me one last time, spilling himself inside me.

For a moment, the three of us just breathed heavily.

“Are you guys finished?” Colt asked from the other side of my locked bedroom door.

“You do realize we have guests over, right? Shi’s uncle being one of them,” Creed grumbled next.

Keelan and I laughed. Knox pulled out of me, and my laughter was cut off as I gasped. Knox moved his hands up my body until he was able to sit me up and lean my back against his chest. “Are you hurt?” he asked me.

I shook my head. “No. Just sensitive.”

He placed a kiss on top of my head and the three of us got cleaned up before heading downstairs.

“Do you feel better?” Keelan asked as we stepped into the kitchen.

I nodded.

“What happened?” Knox asked.

Keelan told him he would tell him later. Knox took him at his word and headed back out where everyone was.

Keelan grabbed my hand, stopping me from following Knox. “Everything will work out. Not everyone ends up with who they dated in high school. Isabelle will meet someone who is better for her. Someone who will be there even after the bubble pops. The same goes for Ethan, and maybe one day he’ll forgive us.”

I sighed. He was right. I pushed up to my toes and gave him a quick kiss. “Thanks for the babymaking practice.”

A big smile took over his face. “What you and I did was not how you make a baby.”

“Cheese and rice, Keelan!” I said, trying and failing not to smile. So he wouldn’t see, I walked away from him, heading for the back door.

The moment I stepped outside, arms scooped me up bridal-style. “Got you,” Creed said, and then he began to run toward the pool.

“Creeeeed!” I squealed as he jumped off the ledge.

For a split second before hitting the water, I saw that Colt had jumped with us. When we went under and sank deep, I felt at peace. I was safe. I was happy. I didn’t have any issues looking toward the future.

A hand grabbed each of mine and I felt so light as we swam toward the surface.