Total pages in book: 18
Estimated words: 16919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 16919 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 85(@200wpm)___ 68(@250wpm)___ 56(@300wpm)
Holding her in my arms last night, sharing her warmth with my brother…it changed me.
Everything we did last night altered me in some way.
I’ve been divorced for five years. My ex-wife grew exasperated with my need for anticipation. Ironically, my patience bred impatience in her. When I asked to be teased, when I asked her to withhold sex until the arousal hit a fever pitch, she called me disgusting. A pervert. And for a long time, I wondered if she was right. What man wants to hold back his release for days on end, wanting to be broken by it? Shattered when he finally allows it to happen?
Last night, I might not have felt normal. This threesome is a little too twisted to be defined as such. But I felt a sense of belonging I’ve never experienced before.
She’s the glue
Not only the glue for my cracks, but the ones in my relationship with Jacob.
And now, she’s gone and jumped off a fucking cliff.
My blood is cold in my veins.
But it turns to ice when I see Catherine there. My mother never comes to product testing. There’s no reason for her to be there. But she watches Zoe sail down into the canyon with a gleeful expression.
“No!” I roar, rushing to the edge.
Jacob does the same and we skid together at the end of the platform.
“M-Mister Onasis,” the instructor stammers. “I didn’t realize—”
“Get her back up here!” Jacob bellows, wild-eyed and still not wearing a shirt. Once we discovered Zoe missing, neither one of us took the time to do anything but shove our feet into shoes and run, me shouting into the phone for our limo to be brought around.
I watch with my heart in my mouth as my petite stepsister reaches the bottom of the canyon and rebounds with a hard bounce, her laughter clear and beautiful in the morning sunshine. A balm of relief spreads over my raw insides.
That is, until I hear the snap.
“What the fuck was that?” Jacob rasps.
It doesn’t escape my notice that the instructor has turned pale.
My pulse is punching me in the temples as I watch Zoe swing up and catch the line in one hand, wrapping it around her fist—right as the harness around her body drops away. Leaving her hanging fifty yards above the canyon with nothing but her grip to keep her from falling.
“Jesus Christ,” Jacob chokes out. “The harness broke? Not the fucking line we’re testing? What the hell happened?”
I have a good idea, but my main focus right now is Zoe. Getting her back up here safely so I can shout myself hoarse. “She’ll never be able to hold on long enough to raise a ladder beneath her. Not even sure there’s a way to get a fire truck into the goddamn canyon.” My mouth goes dry, horrible images projecting themselves on my mind. “Goddammit. We have to reel her up.”
“Did you see her?” the instructor comments, sounding awed. “She’d already be dead if she didn’t think fast.”
“Not helping,” Jacob grates, lunging for the apparatus securing the cord. “I think her hold is pretty secure. For now. Let’s move.”
My brother and I get to work reeling in the line and several other men join the effort. I’m relieved when I see Zoe wrap the line around her waist. Though it costs her an effort, it takes some of the strain off her arm. The closer she comes to the platform, I can see the tears shining in her eyes, the way she’s trying to look brave with the dangerous drop looming beneath her. She whimpers my name. Jacob’s.
I fall in love with her. Right then and there.
In that moment, she needs us as badly as we need her. And I’ve never wanted someone to need me so badly in my life. I’ve never truly required another person, either. But I can see now that she’s filled the gaps in my life, my brother’s, that there’s been a Zoe-sized hole waiting all along. I’m possessive and worshipful of her. I’m greedy and hopeful.
She’s mine.
She’s ours.
And when we finally pull her up onto the platform, me and Jacob could care less who’s watching. Right there, in plain view of my mother, Jacob pulls Zoe onto his lap so she’s straddling him. He rocks her, admonishing her, praising her. I move in behind them, wrapping my arms around the pair. I murmur reassuring words into Zoe’s ear, then I grip her ponytail and haul it back, commanding without words for Jacob to kiss her.
He does. Eagerly.
I feel that kiss like she’s giving it to me. I hear his satisfied groan and the wet slide of their tongues and I am in the kiss, I’m giving and taking it with them. Zoe reaches back and takes my hand, bringing me into the moment even more.