16. Von
A knock sounded on the kitchen door before it opened enough for Erik to stick his head in. It took him a second to find us on the floor, and when I met his gaze, I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. Erik was wearing his mask for the first time since we’d fucked on the cot in the spare bedroom.
“If you want Poe to remain alive, I suggest you two get dressed,” Erik said. “I managed to keep Bear out of the house chopping wood, while you two fucked.”
Erik’s tone was neutral, but I had a feeling he wasn’t thrilled with the situation. At least he knew better than to call me out for doing exactly what I said would never happen.
“Thanks, Big Red,” I said as I got to my feet.
I didn’t feel the least bit guilty as I bent over to pick up my clothes, which gave Erik a perfect view of my cum-coated pussy. When I looked over my shoulder expecting to see the familiar glint in his eyes at my teasing, he wasn’t there. A feeling I didn’t recognize churned in my stomach, causing me to feel unsettled.
Why did I care how Erik was feeling about me fucking Apollo? It wasn’t like he didn’t know I slept with other people. Wait, was this odd, twisted emotion I felt, guilt? What the hell would I have to feel guilty about?
Irritation prickled along my skin as I used a disposable cloth to clean myself up. Typically, I didn’t worry about cleanup, but in a few hours, we’d be at my childhood home, and I didn’t want to be teased by my brothers for smelling like sex. I loved those two idiots, but nothing was off-limits to them when it came to getting under people’s skin.
Dressed once more, I looked around the kitchen and saw the mess we’d made. I shrugged and blew a strand of hair out of my face before turning to Apollo. “You’ve got this handled, right?”
Apollo simply raised a brow at me as he tried to button up his shirt. “I’ll deal with all this if you bring me a shirt I can wear in public.”
“What do you mean? I think the open shirt is a nice touch, makes you look more relaxed,” I commented, fighting the urge to grin.
“Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t be bothered. However, I’m going to meet your family for the first time, and I want to make a good impression on them,” Apollo explained as he advanced until I was boxed in by his body.
He leaned down and rubbed his nose along mine before whispering, “Tell me, treasure, do you have a grudge against shirts? I only ask because Bear hardly wears one and you keep destroying mine.”
“Erik wears shirts all the time,” I countered.
Apollo let out a huff of laughter. “I suppose you can call them shirts even if they look painted onto his skin. Don’t get me wrong, he has a body worthy of displaying, but you see as much with the shirt on or off.”
“Think whatever you like, I don’t have the time or energy to care about what my men wear,” I grumbled then shoved Apollo back. I pulled the key from around my neck and tossed it to him. “We leave in thirty minutes, so I suggest you work quickly. Also ditch the collar, I don’t want to explain it to my family.”
Without waiting for any type of response, I marched out of the kitchen and crashed right into Bear’s chest.
“Omph,” I grunted as Bear caught me before I bounced off him and into the door. “This is why I hate homes with doors everywhere. Seriously, bedrooms and maybe an office are the only ones that need a door.”
The scent of wood, sweat, and fresh air wrapped around me. If the man wasn’t covered in wood chips, I might have licked his skin to see if it tasted the same, but I didn’t need the extra fiber.
“God, you smell sexy as shit,” I shared with a smile as I looked into Bear’s eyes. “I might need to find a few reasons for you to chop wood more often.”
My finger traced down the center of his chest, enjoying the feel of his slick skin. He grabbed my hand before I reached the waistband of his pants. I raised a questioning eyebrow and waited for him to tell me what was wrong. Instead, Bear tossed me over his shoulder, marched up the stairs, and didn’t put me down until we were in the guest bathroom. I was plopped on the lidded toilet and ignored while Bear started the shower.
“Really, Bear, I’m getting the silent treatment?” I grumbled. “How the hell am I supposed to know what’s wrong or how to fix it if you don’t talk to me? Isn’t this what you’ve been harping on about since we decided to be something more?”
Soon steam started to fill the small bathroom, which was normally my signal the shower was warm enough to enter. Bear remained silent as he shoved down his pants and kicked them aside. Next, he turned to me and yanked off my shirt and sports bra, which had a handy zipper down the front.
“ Pants off, ” Bear instructed, with his eyes narrowed like he expected a fight.
“Look, I don’t know what the hell is going on, but if you wanted to shower together then fucking say it,” I snapped as I stood.
Apparently, I wasn’t moving fast enough for Bear since he brushed my hands out of the way and practically ripped off the rest of my clothes. Once naked, Bear grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the shower, but I’d had enough. Pulling my arm back as far as I could, I put all my power into my fist and slammed it into Bear’s jaw. Unprepared for my attack, Bear stumbled, almost falling into the tub, but his hand shot out and grabbed the towel bar for support.
“Enough,” I barked. “You will not manhandle me like I’m some fucking piece of meat, especially while naked. I’ve told you this before, but clearly, it hasn’t made it through your thick fucking skull. If you have an issue with me then find your goddamn balls and spit it out. If you can’t manage that, we can take this fight outside.”
Bear’s frown deepened. “ Did I trigger you? ”
“No,” I said defensively, crossing my arms. “I’m not triggered, I’m fucking pissed. You of all people know the scars I carry from my past. Why does it surprise you I’d be this upset? I vowed the day I killed my Master to never let anyone see me as someone they could force into submission simply because I was a woman and they were bigger than me.”
A silent standoff raged between Bear and me, but I wasn’t going to bend first, not about this.
“ You fucked him, ” Bear stated.
“And…” I asked, settling my hands on my hips.
“ So you’re not going to deny it? ” Bear pressed.
With a sigh, I rolled my eyes. “Why the hell would I bother keeping it a secret? We fucked. Since when has getting off with a fling ever meant something more than meeting a need?”
Bear’s lip turned up in a snarl, he did not like my answer. “ It’s different because he is an Accardi and a con artist. He’s using your lust to get closer to you so eventually you’ll let down your guard. ”
“I’m aware, but two can play that game,” I pointed out. “Apollo begged me to claim him as mine, and if I did so he’d tell me anything and everything I wanted to know. So I’ll get all the information I need, let him take us to his brother, then I’ll kill both of them, easy-peasy.”
“ I don’t like it, ” Bear signed, adding a deep sounding grumble to his words.
Cocking my head slightly, I narrowed my eyes. “Now who’s the one not being honest about their emotions? Is this really about me fucking Polly?”
Bear stepped forward so we were nose to nose in the small bathroom. “ Things are different now. Before I didn’t have any right to comment on who you slept with. All I could do was ensure they’d never get the chance to fuck you over after you were done with them. ”
“So that was your reasoning,” I mused. “I always thought it was jealousy.”
A hand gripped my jaw, holding my face still as Bear leaned down to kiss me. It was charged with his possessiveness, which made my knees weak. He broke the kiss far too soon, but I didn’t have a chance to complain as he placed his other arm under my ass and lifted so we were eye to eye. I hadn’t forgiven Bear for the stunt earlier, but my body was a whore for this man so I wrapped my legs around his waist.
Bear turned and used the wall to support me while he needed his hands. “ My dark goddess, I have always been a jealous man when it comes to you. Yes, I killed those men to protect you, but I couldn’t stand the thought of all those worthless men seeing your face as you came. Only men worthy of a goddess should be allowed such a privilege. Which is why I refuse to share you with just anyone now that we’ve admitted our feelings for each other. ”
“I’m sorry, are you trying to tell me the only men I can fuck are the ones you approve of?” I demanded, my hackles rising.
In retaliation for my comment, Bear pinched my nipple hard enough to make me growl. “ You’ve told me time and time again you couldn’t be with just one person. In case you haven’t noticed, right now you’ve got two men who share your bed, body, and heart. I can set aside my jealousy if it is the best thing for you. The moment I realized Erik wasn’t just a pawn in your chess game, I began to watch and test him. Erik was caught in your web long before he realized it and took no issue with being below me in the pecking order. Apollo is chaos, a man who follows no rules but his own. How could a man like that ever be part of the family you’re building for yourself? ”
Bear’s words shocked me a little, I had no idea how committed he was to making this whole polyamorous concept work.
“Was that why you’re really mad, because I fucked someone who wasn’t you or Erik?” I questioned. “Do I have to ask permission from you two before I screw an outsider?”
“ I’m mad because you endangered yourself and made Erik feel like he had to hide what was going on from me. ” I almost flinched at Bear’s words, but I hadn’t asked Erik to distract Bear. He’d done it all on his own. “ What you’re doing is making it harder for Erik and me to trust each other with your safety. Von, neither of us wants to keep a leash on you or stop you from being the woman we fell for. However, the reality is, you’re not alone in your choices when it comes to sex. What if you get an STD or something worse and give it to us? ”
I opened my mouth to argue because he knew I got tested regularly. Yet the small voice of Good Von pointed out it was a valid concern. “I see your point,” I admitted. “Are we going to take a shower now? The hot water probably isn’t going to last much longer.”
“ There’s one more thing that needs to be said. Don’t. Fucking. Lie, ” Bear gestured vehemently.
“ Let me repeat that again, don’t lie to Erik, and don’t you fucking dare lie to me. My goddess, you know my reason for existing is to keep you safe, alive, and satisfied, ” Bear reiterated. “ Oh, just so you know, whenever you snuck off for a quick fuck, I was never far away. It wasn’t because I didn’t think you could handle yourself. I needed to ensure no one used the opportunity to get you alone so they could jump you. ”
My eyes studied Bear’s face as if it would help me understand why he’d want to put up with a woman like me. How many other men had to sit their lover down and discuss how to handle random hookups? Not to mention how obvious it was that Bear had put a lot of thought into his feelings on the matter.
“Okay, so now what?” I asked, unsure how to move forward. “Do I need to cross my heart? Pinky promise? Maybe sign my name in blood on a contract you put together?”
Bear’s chest expanded as he took in a deep breath, then let it out slowly, letting me know I’d said the wrong thing.
“ Now we get in the shower where I’m going to remove any and all traces the snake left behind on your body. Then I’m going to bend you over and fuck the shit out of you until my cum is leaking out of your perfect pussy. I might even decide to put in a plug so my cum covers any trace of him left deep inside you, ” Bear said with a predatory grin.
“Fuck, you always know just what to say,” I said as I leaned close enough my lips brushed against his. “Can we end every fight this way?”
Bear growled his approval as he carried me into the shower. I doubted there would come a day when I didn't crave this man and how he could make my body beg for his touch. Too bad this shower didn’t have any handholds. Oh well, at least it had the stickers that help your feet grip the slick porcelain of the tub. Traction was always important when it came to getting a proper dick down.