29. Vili
My heart ached upon hearing Gareth’s words. He was right—this did feel like torture. As if these men were going out of their way to make me experience pain I didn’t want to face. Rationally, I knew that wasn’t true, but when your mind and heart were at war, it was seldom your heart that won.
“Wh…” I paused, clearing my throat as fear constricted it. “What if I discover something about myself in all this I can’t accept?”
“Not possible,” Warrick said as he took my hand.
Gareth let his hand slide to my shoulder so we were still touching, but I could look at my sweet, sugary Alpha.
Warrick leaned in and kissed the tip of my nose.
“Even if it were possible, then the five of us would help you find a way to appreciate all aspects of yourself. Bailey-Rose, when you were created to be part of this world, I have to believe every piece that makes up who you are was fated to be just as it is. Now, turn those stunning artist eyes to the mirror and tell me what you see about the woman I’m fairly certain I’m in love with. ”
A tear slipped out as Warrick’s words knit together a piece of my shattered heart next to the one with Yun’s name on it.
Warrick brushed it away, stroking my cheek comfortingly before he gestured for me to look in the mirror.
With a soft sniff, I gathered the courage to face off with myself and find the woman these men could see.
I stared into the dual-colored eyes that reflected back at me, noticing there was a brightness to them.
In a way, they seemed more alive, vibrant, and while a little fearful, there was strength.
Pulling my focus back slightly, I looked at my face.
There was a pinkness to my cheeks, giving me a healthier glow, or it could have been from the heat of the shower.
When I took in the whole picture, I found Yun kneeling before me, the side of his face pressed to my stomach with his arms wrapped around me.
Warrick was to my left, his pinky hooked to mine in a show of solidarity.
Gareth stood tall, guarding my back, his hand still on my shoulder with his thumb absently stroking my skin.
The second my attention shifted to Ulysses, he laced his fingers with mine, reassuringly squeezing my hand.
I couldn’t spot Vili, but he appeared as he came around Ulysses and sat in front of the man who’d blocked his view.
Vili curled his hand around my calf and kissed my hip, letting me know he was here with me just as the others were.
How could I be afraid of anything when I had these men right here to protect me?
“I see a woman who has five men who are absolutely crazy about her,” I shared. “Men who have shown her that she’s never seen what real selfless love looks like.”
“Good girl,” Gareth praised, then sucked my earlobe into his mouth, causing me to inhale sharply. “This time, tell us what you’re good at.”
Thankful for the direction, as slight as it was, it seemed to make this whole thing less overwhelming. “I’m an artist,” I stated.
Gareth clicked his tongue in disapproval as he pinched my nipple, making me yelp. “More, baby girl. I want to hear you boasting about yourself. Say all the things people would consider rude, self-gratifying, or even cocky.”
Yun shifted, releasing his hold on me to move more to the side like Vili was. This meant I was once more on full display as I gazed into the mirror.
“I’m an artist, a damn good one,” I announced. “My skill is to elicit emotions from anyone who looks at my paintings. I can capture the moment, if you will, encapsulating emotion and movement, and draw them in with the way I splash color across the canvas.”
Fingers glided up my leg to tease the outside of my pussy. “Beautifully said, kitten,” Vili applauded as he swirled a single finger around my clit. “Keep going… say more. Tell us everything.”
My legs shook slightly as a soft moan slipped from my lips. Gareth grasped my neck once more, holding me against his body, offering his support. Warrick took my hand to help balance me just as Lysse did.
How the hell am I supposed to be able to think straight, let alone talk with Vili teasing me?
“I can’t cook well, but I’m a fabulous baker.
My mother taught me, but soon I had to look elsewhere to learn more since I surpassed her skills.
Spoiling my family is one of my favorite things to do.
They do so much for me that I take every chance I can to shower them with gifts that make me think of them,” I said in a hurried rush as Vili’s finger traveled from my clit to sink inside me.
The moment I stopped, so did his finger. It was obvious now the only way I was going to get the reward at the end of this was to do as they asked.
“Those are amazing qualities that you should be proud of, Bailey-Rose,” Warrick pointed out, lifting my hand to kiss the back of it. “Tell me, Care Bear, are you proud of yourself?”
“I’m proud of many things,” I started. “I’ve lived longer than any doctor predicted I would. Graduated college top in my class with people begging to buy the work displayed in my end-of-the-year project. I—”
My words were cut off as a second finger joined the first, along with Vili’s thumb brushing over my clit. When I tried to continue, no words came out, just breathy moans and whimpers as Vili teased me.
“What were you saying?” Ulysses asked as he massaged my breast, letting the rough skin of his hand bring my nipple to a peak.
“I have five sexy-as-hell Alphas who are determined to shatter me in the best way possible,” I managed, fighting to keep talking so all this was worth it in the end.
The sensation of someone probing my asshole was nearly my undoing.
Instantly, my legs no longer wished to offer any kind of support, and if it weren’t for the guys, I would have crashed to the floor.
Gareth caught me around the waist while Vili placed himself directly under me, his shoulder preventing me from total collapse.
“You’re doing amazing, Rosie. What I need you to do is open your eyes, look right at yourself, and repeat what I say. It’s important that you don’t just say the words but mean them,” Ulysses instructed. “Let me know when you’re ready.”
Nodding, I took a second to compose myself before meeting my own gaze once more. “Ready.”
“I am strong and resilient.”
Licking my lips, I swallowed, knowing I wasn’t ready for this, but there was no backing down now, so I repeated the phrase. Ulysses kept giving me one affirmation after another, each of them becoming harder to say to myself.
“I am at peace with my appearance.”
“I-I…” Pausing, unable to speak, I was overwhelmed by the power of these phrases. That and the combination of these men showering me with love, support, and encouragement as they stirred my body with their touches was going to be my ruin.
One wouldn’t think having a man with his fingers in your pussy, sucking on your clit, while another was knuckle deep in your ass, introducing you to a whole new level of pleasure would be exactly what I needed right now, but it was.
Gareth’s possessive hold on my throat as he purred, stroking my pulse point, grounded me as did Ulysses with the occasional jolts of welcome pain to clear away the panic these words induced.
Warrick had latched himself onto my other breast, letting his hot tongue swirl around my nipple then sharply suck on the tender flesh, making my whole body shudder.
“God, look at you all flushed, need in your eyes, and those sexy sounds coming out of you,” Ulysses said as he gripped my chin, turning me to look at him. “You have one more affirmation to say, and then you can have your reward. Think you can manage it?”
Eagerly, I nodded my head only to cry out as Yun pulled his fingers out, leaving my ass empty and pulsing with the energy of a climax it was being denied. He stood, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “You need to focus now, sweetheart. Finish this task, and I promise we will finish what we started.”
Before I could beg for him to finish me now, he left my field of vision, making me whimper.
Then Vili also slid his fingers from my pussy, and I watched him stand as he licked them clean.
To my dismay, everyone but Gareth removed their hands from me, cutting off their touch and forcing me to focus solely on the next phrase given to me.
“Repeat after me, Rosie,” Ulysses ordered.
Taking a shaky breath, I looked in the mirror and said a truth I’m not sure I ever truly believed.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as my hands fisted in determination to make it through this affirmation.
“My mind, body, and soul deserve love and respect. Furthermore, I allow myself to feel deeply and openly, choosing happiness.”
A sob burst from me as I covered my face with my hands, unable to keep facing this raw version of myself.
I’d done as they asked, cut through the bullshit to face the truth of what hid underneath.
Within seconds, I was surrounded by my Alphas, their scents and warm bodies shielding me from any danger.
They started to purr all at once, and I could feel how proud they were of me.
Kisses were showered over my skin, and hushed words of love and praise were whispered in my ear.
Then I was scooped up only to be laid out on a soft blanket.
Everyone curled around like a pile of puppies.
I also realized they’d stripped out of their clothes so our skin pressed together in the most fulfilling way.
Vili lay facing me, his fingers tracing the features of my face while Gareth was at my back, face buried in my neck.
Warrick laid above my head, a smirk on his face as he combed his fingers through my hair.
“You really are so goddamn fucking adorable, you know that?” Warrick murmured.
A smile tugged at my lips. “I think someone has mentioned that a time or two.”
He tweaked my nose. “Troublemaker.”