Chapter 36
The hotel suite was just as impressive as the plane, with sweeping views of Paris. The Eiffel Tower glinted nearby, the entire view like a fairytale come true.
So far I hadn’t lifted a finger on this trip. I’d been treated like a true passenger princess.
After our epic romp in the bedroom, Sinclair had carried me to the bathroom and run a steaming shower, the two of us going at it up against the bathroom wall as the water sprayed us.
Now, I gripped the edge of the wrought iron balcony railing, staring at the rooftops of Paris.
Did life get any better than this? Yes, the Aston family’s wealth made for luxurious living, but even without it, things would be pretty damn great right now. With Sin and Dacre and Pres I was happy. Happier than I’d ever been. And I didn’t want to give them up. Our connection was unconventional, but it was true and strong. I didn’t care if we had to spend the rest of our lives keeping it a secret, I would do anything if it meant we got to spend it together.
Footsteps sounded behind me, Dacre coming to wrap his arms around me, his chin on my shoulder.
“Pretty impressive, huh?”
I smiled. “It’s stunning.”
“It’s got nothing on you.”
I turned in his arms, his eyes shining with sincerity. “You’re a real softie, you know that?”
“Only when it comes to you.”
His mouth descended on mine, and suddenly I was kissing my stepbrother, who I knew I was falling hard for, on a balcony in Paris.
Dacre’s mouth moved over mine, his arms possessively wrapped around my waist. His kiss was sweet and tender and loving, just like him, and I realized if I died tomorrow, it would all have been worth it for us to wind up here.
I had to tell them about the threat against me. Had to tell them about my father. I’d been wrong to keep it from them for so long, even if I believed I was protecting them from it in some way.
But I hated the idea of tainting this magical moment with my sordid history. Besides, all of that felt like it was a world away.
I’d tell them on the plane ride home, I decided… if we could keep our hands off each other long enough.
Dacre broke the kiss, but didn’t let me go, pressing his lips to my forehead as we surveyed the view.
“You need to go inside and get ready. Pres organized a glam team for you.”
My eyes lit up. “A whole team?”
Dacre nodded once. “A whole team just for our favorite girl.”
I went to pull away, to go inside and get ready, but Dacre’s arms tightened around me.
“I have to tell you something first.” His eyes were more playful than you’d expect from someone uttering those words.
“Oh?”
“Those phantom deliveries you’ve been getting?”
My eyes narrowed on him, and I nodded.
“They’re from us.”
I paused. “You’ve been sending me granola and coconut shampoo and peach lip gloss?”
He groaned. “God, I love the smell of your shampoo. One sniff and I’m half hard.”
I let out a small laugh. “Okay, weirdo.”
His arms tightened around me. “We know you love those things, and we love making you happy, so we bought them for you.”
I melted at his words and at the kindness of them supplying me with the things they knew I loved.
“Don’t get too blissed out about it. Sinclair has ordered you about twenty sets of lavender lace underwear like the ones he apparently tore off you in the bathroom the day you wore the vibrator.” He shook his head, trying not to laugh.
“How romantic… I think…”
He smiled down at me and I kissed him once more. “All part of taking care of our girl. Now, time for a party in Paris, I can’t wait to see you in your dress.”
He reluctantly let me go so I could get ready, a promise in his gaze.
Two hours later when I’d been primed and prepped and buffed and stuffed into my stunning gown, I descended in the elevator to meet my stepbrothers in the lobby.
Byron and my mother were staying at a different hotel. Apparently, Byron had his preferences in just about every city in the world, based on how well they served him. He and my mother would attend the event, then jet off tomorrow in Byron’s plane for a belated honeymoon.
Au revoir, Mother.
The elevator doors opened, and I stepped out, my smile fading as I surveyed the lobby and adjacent bar area.
Dacre and Sinclair stood on the other side of the lobby looking damn near perfect in their tailored tuxedos that fit them like a second skin. But a deep, roiling sense of possession filled me at the sight of Veda on Sinclair’s arm. He told me that he’d spoken to her, that they were calling things off between them, but that the process would take time given it was all for her parents.
Right now, she was pressed up on her tiptoes whispering in his ear. It didn’t matter to me that their relationship was fake, or that Sinclair was only pretending to be with her to help a friend. Seeing it right in front of me now that he was mine caused my blood to catch fire. I wanted to march over there and rip her away from him, finger by manicured finger.
Then my eyes landed on Dacre beside him, deep in conversation with… his ex.
He’d pointed her out to me that day at Trenton’s after we’d fucked in the bathroom.
Belinda looked incredible in a deep magenta dress that hugged her figure. Her black hair fell down her back like a midnight waterfall. Dacre’s eyes were focused solely on her as he listened to whatever she was saying. The all-too-familiar cocktail of jealousy and possession reared its ugly head inside me and I turned away, looking for Presley. I knew if I found him, he’d scoop me into his arms with that giant grin of his and tell me I looked pretty, along with all the dirty things he wanted to do to me.
But when I scanned the bar, I spotted him there with two women. Presley had his back to the bar, elbows propped against it, the women surrounding him on either side. He smiled—not the same devious grin of his I loved so much and made my heart melt in an instant—but a smile nonetheless. He wasn’t shooing them away like the annoying gnats I clearly thought they were.
One reached out to touch his arm, and my anger flared.
What the hell is going on here?
We’d laid the ground rules that day in the library. They belonged to me, and I belonged to them. No fucking around with anyone else. No flirting with anyone else. And no one could ever find out about us or it would ruin everything.
Yet here all three of them were, chatting to exes, indulging fake girlfriends, or letting other women flirt with them.
Hurt mixed with the anger and I bolted before any of them noticed me, heading for the front doors to the lobby to get some air. I pushed outside, sucking in several deep breaths to get a grip on my emotions.
Being with all three of them was overwhelming. Being possessive or jealous with one boyfriend was bad enough, but experiencing it three times over was all-consuming.
I hated being jealous, but when it came to them, I couldn’t help it. It had come on fast, but Sinclair, Dacre, and Presley meant everything to me now, and I hated the idea of them looking at anyone else. Veda had clung to Sinclair like he belonged to her and not me. Those women at the bar touched Presley like he was theirs. And Trenton’s words about Dacre and Belinda played on repeat in my mind.
My chest heaved and tears pricked the backs of my eyes. I moved down the path out of the lights and people coming in and out of the lobby.
I wouldn’t let anyone see me cry.
The darkness swallowed me as the path narrowed through a small garden near the front of the hotel.
I was being stupid, I knew it. All I wanted was for one of them to find me, wrap me in their arms and tell me it was all in my head. I wasn’t a damsel that needed rescuing though, and they weren’t mind readers who instinctively knew what I wanted from them. If I needed them, then I had to tell them that. I knew they wouldn’t hesitate to give it to me if I asked.
Chastising myself, I turned back up the path to tell them exactly that when a figure stepped in front of me. No, make that several figures.
My stomach dropped as I stared up into Algor’s dark eyes. “Time to go, Dempsey.”
I shook my head. “I’m not?—”
But I couldn’t get the words out. Algor’s gloved hand closed over my mouth, the other wrapping around the back of my head. I sucked in a breath to scream and the overwhelming stench of chemicals filled my nose and lungs. My head spun and my limbs turned heavy.
My body slumped in Algor’s arms, and he swung me off my feet, the world spinning around me as he carried me through the dark.
My head lolled against his chest as we moved, and I fought to keep a grip on consciousness. The sound of a trunk popping echoed in the darkness, and I was lowered into it.
It slammed shut, everything slipping away.