Chapter 10
Kalin
I blew out a nervous breath as the elevator slowly took me and Spike up the numerous floors to Richard’s penthouse.
He’d spent millions on this place, and according to the papers, he’d had to fight hard to get it.
It’d been featured in numerous architectural magazines.
The moment it’d gone on the market, several billionaires had scrambled for it.
And honestly, the place was so beautiful, I could see why they had.
Richard was lucky to own such a gorgeous home with an amazing view of the city.
“Breathe, baby,” Spike soothed. His arms wrapped around me from behind, and he drew me back until we were pressed together.
I shivered when he nuzzled his face into my neck, then pressed a kiss there.
“Nothing to worry about. We’ve been here before, and now, we’re openly with him, remember? He chose us, baby.”
“I think that’s why I’m so nervous,” I confessed. “I knew what to expect then. I don’t know what to expect now.”
“Absolutely nothing will be different,” Spike tried reassuring me.
If that was true, then why did it feel so different?
“Within the walls of his place, everything is exactly the same. He’s going to dote on us, just like he always does.
We’ll all go to bed together, just like we always do when we stay over.
And in the morning, we’ll have breakfast together before he has to go into the office. Just like always.”
The elevator eased to a stop, then the doors slid open, bringing us out into a small hall that contained only two doors—one to the emergency staircase and the door to Richard’s apartment.
Swallowing thickly, I stepped forward, reluctantly moving away from Spike’s safe embrace, and before I could talk myself out of it, I typed in the code to Richard’s apartment, letting us in.
If everything truly was the same, he’d expect no different. From the very first time we came over, we’d let ourselves in using his code.
The moment I pushed open the door, the scent of garlic and some kind of spicy sauce assaulted my nostrils, making my stomach rumble. Spike and I hadn’t had lunch yet, and I was hungry, especially since I’d never finished all my breakfast.
“Smells good,” Spike called, announcing our presence.
Richard emerged from the kitchen, smiling at us like we made his entire day just by being in his presence.
In just a pair of black sweatpants, he was hot enough to make my breath lodge in my throat.
His flat, toned stomach was on display, and his strong, broad chest flexed as he tossed the towel he’d been holding over his shoulder.
Thick biceps contracted, damn near making me drool.
“Did you just work out?” I asked, thankful my voice didn’t come out as strangled as I felt. His arms were more veiny than usual, and I was such a slut for veiny arms.
Spike set our bag down by the couch. Richard smirked like he knew exactly what he was doing to me. “Yeah, little one. About thirty minutes ago. Thought I’d start on lunch before you two got here.” He looked at Spike. “Think you two can finish it up while I go shower real quick?”
Spike nodded. “Yeah, of course.” My stomach rumbled again, and my cheeks burned when both men looked at me knowingly. “Got something to snack on in the meantime? I’m afraid Kalin’s stomach will start eating its surrounding organs.”
Richard barked out a laugh. “Yep. Fresh grapes on the counter. I already took them off the vines and washed them up.” When he passed us on his way to his room, he palmed the side of my head and drew me in, pressing a kiss to my forehead. “Missed you, little one.”
My fucking heart melted.
Turning, he pressed a quick kiss to Spike’s cheek, then headed on to his room. Spike pressed his hand to my lower back and nudged me in the direction of the kitchen. “You sit and eat,” he commanded. “I’ll finish cooking.”
When we entered the kitchen, it looked like Richard had been working on spaghetti, my and Spike’s favorite meal.
It was something so simple and inexpensive to make, but nothing ever hit quite the same, especially when it was made with a spicy sauce.
And if there was one thing Richard was an expert at, it was making food spicy.
I was such a whore for spicy food.
Spike set the bowl of fresh grapes on the bar, so I took a seat on one of the stools and proceeded to dig in. Grapes were literally my favorite fruit. They were sweet without being too sweet, and they were soft without giving me an icky feeling when I bit into them.
Spike worked in silence, like he typically did when he was cooking, and I just admired the way he owned the kitchen. Everything he did was fluid, almost like a dancer, though Spike had never danced a day in his life.
I was so focused on him that I squeaked and damn near jumped a mile out of my chair when Richard slid up behind me, his hands on either side of me on the counter. I quickly angled my body so I was twisted around to look up at him.
“Hey,” he greeted, smiling warmly at me. “Grapes good?”
I nodded. He leaned in and pressed a quick kiss to my lips. Then, he lifted his head, looking at Spike. “How’s the food coming along, little tiger?”
“Nearly done,” Spike told him. “But while I’m finishing this up, you mind if we put Kalin’s fears to rest?”
“Spike,” I hissed, glaring at him. Why did he always have to just come out and say shit like that?
What if I wasn’t ready to open up about my concerns?
Wouldn’t it make me seem ungrateful for the huge, precarious step Richard had taken?
I didn’t want to seem ungrateful or make him think I was playing hot and cold with him.
“What fears, little one?” Richard asked, his brows furrowing as he redirected his attention to me. When I tried to look away from him, he made a tsking sound and gently gripped my chin, turning my head back to face him. “Talk to me. What’s going through your pretty head?”
“Nothing,” I lied.
“I’m not a fan of you lying to me, little one,” Richard gently scolded. I sucked in a sharp breath when he tugged me off the stool. Then, he sat where I’d just been and settled me onto his thigh. “I need you to tell me what’s going on. I can’t fix whatever is bothering you if you don’t tell me.”
“He’s worried things are somehow different now because of what you did earlier today,” Spike answered for me when I only remained silent.
I huffed. Fucking Spike.
“Nothing changes,” Richard immediately said, frowning at me. “Why would you think that? I did that today to prove to you I was done hiding you two. That I was proud to be with you. I want to love you openly. Like you deserve.”
I swallowed thickly. “Even if that means damaging your reputation?”
“Even then,” he swore, nodding his head. “You and Spike are what matters, little one. I made the mistake of trying to hide you two, and it damn near cost me what matters most. I’m never making that mistake again, you hear me?”
My lips trembled, but I managed to keep my tears in.
Instead, I cupped his jaw and leaned in, smoothing my lips over his.
He groaned low in his throat before tightening his arms around me, his palms pressing to my back to tug me hard up against his body.
I shivered and moaned when his tongue plunged deep in my mouth.
“As hot as this is,” Spike murmured, suddenly right at my ear and making me squeak in surprise, “dinner is ready, and our boy needs to eat, babe.”
Richard grunted but separated our lips. I was breathing heavily, my dick hard in my jeans. I was so tempted to say fuck dinner, but I knew Spike and Richard would never let me go without eating.
Richard speared me with a gaze so hot, I shivered all the way from the top of my head to my toes. “That’ll hold,” he rasped, then gently set me on my feet. “Head to the living room, little one, and find something to watch. Spike and I will get your food together.”