Easton Read online

  “You want to tell me the deal is off?” Easton asked.

  “No. I’m wondering when you’re going to realize we don’t have secrets. I don’t believe in prolonging what I want. You’re going to need to realize this if you decide to be part of us. I can make all of your wishes and desires come true, Easton, but only if you’re honest with yourself and truthful with me.”

  Liam hung up.

  Dropping his cell phone onto the table, Easton dropped his head back, wanting nothing more than the world to open up and swallow him.

  At every turn and corner, he was fucking up.

  He grabbed the letter out of his pocket and slid it open, tearing into it.

  It was a single piece of paper.

  Easton,

  I’m sick and tired of all this shit. If you were any good at anything, you’d be seeing your friends are not really your friends. They only want the company. Your share of it. They will try to take you down, steal your stuff, and spit you back out. I need out of here, and you need to grow some balls.

  I didn’t raise a quitter, or did I? Do I need to remind you of what punishment will await if you don’t do as I ask? Get a lawyer and get down here. I’ve got plenty of stories to tell, or I’m going to make sure Axton says goodbye to his wife and kid.

  There was no signature. The threats were all the same. He had no doubt his father had some influence on the outside. He’d need to show this to the cops and to Axton.

  Everything had gotten so fucked up, and he didn’t know why.

  ****

  Scarlett threw her bag to the floor and growled as she did. She kicked off her shoes, removed her jacket, and slammed the palm of her hand against the wall.

  “What did the wall ever do to you?”

  “It got in the way,” she said, turning to find her husband without a shirt. “You’re working out again?”

  “I’ve got to keep in shape for my young lover.” He winked at her.

  “Yeah, right. I don’t see your little plan working at all. Easton wanted me to know the facts of my husband.”

  She tried to walk past him, but Liam picked her up and carried her back toward his gym.

  “Liam, put me down.”

  He slapped her ass, and she sighed. Heat flooded her pussy, and as he put her on the press up bench, she stared at him. He trapped her between his hard body and the bench. His lips felt like a brand against hers.

  She banded her hands around his neck, moaning as he slid his hands down her body, cupping her hips.

  “Do you have any idea what you do to me?” he asked.

  He moved his hips between her thighs, and the hard press of his dick against her core had her moaning.

  “Why did we wait five years?” she asked.

  “You weren’t ready. Time, Junior, life, it all got in the way, but it meant that you got the chance to fall in love with me instead.” He lifted up her shirt, tossing it across the room, before he pushed her skirt up. It was one of the wraparound skirts, and he unbuttoned it, the skirt sliding open. Next, he tore at her panties, and when he got to her bra, she helped him remove it.

  She was now naked for him, spread out.

  “You’re the prettiest feature in my gym.”

  He sat down and rested her legs over his. Liam stroked his fingers down her sides, his thumbs rubbing across her full hips.

  “You’re sexy as fuck,” he said. “I wish I didn’t have to wait, but for five years, I’ve made you mine. I showed you how to trust me.”

  “And I fell in love with you. I never lied when I told you my feelings. They’re all true.”

  “You own my heart,” he said.

  “It’s not enough though. You want more.”

  “I always want more.” He stroked his fingers through her wet flesh. “And you deserve it as well. If Easton was here right now, he’d be able to lick and suck at your tits. Your mouth would be full of his cock, and I’ve got a feeling he’s got a nice big one. I bet you’d choke on it as well trying to swallow as much of him down as you could.”

  He thrust three fingers inside her, and she moaned, arching up, wanting more.

  “Please, fuck me, Liam.” She would gladly beg for more of him. When he’d told her about his discussion, she had thought Liam was insane to even suggest it. Only now, she saw the potential there.

  The kiss she’d shared with Easton, no matter how brief, had meant something. She’d liked the hard touch of his lips against hers, the rush of pleasure being in his arms once again.

  The crush she had on him when they were younger had never gone away, and it had only gotten stronger.

  What Liam offered was the chance to explore this with Easton but to do it in a way that wouldn’t cost her her heart.

  She couldn’t handle any more heartbreak and had told Liam the same.

  “I will, all in good time. The trick to having a nice good fuck, darlin’, is to not rush it. You rush it, and you’re going to miss all the pleasure points.” He turned his fingers within her and played her body, rubbing against her G-spot, heightening her pleasure without even stroking her clit. “It’s about getting you used to my touch and preparing you for what I’m about to do to you. Think about Easton. Yeah, that’s it, think about him watching as I play with you. I’ve seen the way he looks at you when he thinks no one is looking, and he’ll want this with you, Scarlett. To finally get you after all this time.”

  His thumb teased her clit, and she cried his name.

  “Keep your hands on the bench. Don’t move a muscle. You’re at my mercy, and I get to see those perfect tits shake as I play with you. You were designed to be fucked, Scarlett.”

  “Then stop teasing me and fuck me.”

  “All in good time.”

  “We’re supposed to be making up for what we lost.”

  “And we will. I’m not in any kind of rush. I feel how tight your pussy is getting. You’re soaked through. Is it me or Easton you want?”

  “Both.”

  “That’s okay. You’re going to get us both.” He pulled his hands from her pussy, and Scarlett could do no more than follow the movements as he put her into another position. This time, she straddled the bench and his hands held her in place. The angle was a little uncomfortable until he worked his cock inside her.

  She didn’t know how he managed to work so fast to be inside her.

  He banded her hair around his fist, tugging on the length, and he gave her ass a slap. They both cried out.

  “You like a little pain, don’t you, sweetheart?”

  He couldn’t fuck her hard like this, but his long, slow strokes nearly brought her to the peak. He gave her ass another thwack, and she cried out, the burn doing wonders to her pleasure.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’m more than happy to give you what you need so long as you’re willing to take it.”

  He let go of her hair, and she pushed it off her face to look at him. At the same time, he spread open her ass, his thumb stroking over her anus.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “There is so much pleasure you don’t even know about, but that’s okay. We’re going to explore it together.” He spat down on her ass, and she gasped as he pushed his thumb inside her.

  At first it burned, as if she was a little too tight for him. He didn’t pull away or stop, working her anus until the burn turned to ecstasy and she wanted more.

  His lips brushed across her ear before he bit down on the lobe. “You feel that burn, the ache, the need.”

  “Please, Liam.”

  “I know what you want, and don’t worry, I will fuck your ass very soon. I’ll consider it a pleasure, but for now, I’m going to get you used to the feel of me inside you.”

  She didn’t know if she was going to be able to last.

  All too soon, he pulled away and lifted her up so she was on her knees. Liam stood, and as he grabbed her hips and began to fuck her, she was blown away by the pleasure. He held her hair, and she pushed back as he th
rust forward, begging him to not stop. This fire between them, it was indescribable. She couldn’t believe this man had been in her bed for all this time and only now she was finally getting to know what it would be like with him.

  The trust, the love, everything combined together, and as she came, Liam let out a growl, his cum flooding her pussy.

  Afterward, he picked her up in his arms and carried her out of the gym.

  He took her upstairs to their en-suite bathroom.

  “We’re going to have to pick up Junior soon,” she said. “You don’t need to keep carrying me everywhere. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

  “It’s no trouble,” He put her in the shower, stepping in behind her.

  “You promise me this isn’t going to cost us anything?” she asked.

  “It’s not going to cost us a damn thing. I’ve got it covered, and Easton won’t tell anyone,” he said.

  “How can you be so sure?” She had no reason to doubt Liam, but he didn’t know Easton like she did. Eleven years was a long time, but he’d been through a lot, and she didn’t want to put any kind of pressure on him. She already felt guilty for not telling him about her son. At any point in the last eleven years she could have told him.

  “Because he’s still very much in love with you and as any man in love, you do crazy things. Even if it means sharing the one you love most with another man.” He cupped her face, tilting her head back and kissing her hard.

  She moaned against his mouth, never wanting him to stop.

  Liam was the one to break the kiss first. He trailed his lips down her body, picking up the soap.

  “How long has it been since you were with someone else?” she asked.

  “A very long time. The moment I realized my feelings for you, I stopped. I didn’t want to have to make a choice,” he said. “When we first married, there was someone. He didn’t want to make a commitment, and it was fun. You’d said you didn’t want a relationship of that kind. Also, I’ve never been with a woman in all the time we’ve been together.”

  “It didn’t last with the other man?”

  “No. I didn’t love him, and I ended it before things turned ugly.” Liam pressed her up against the wall. “You’re all I want.”

  “And Easton. You want him. You can’t deny that.”

  “I’m not going to.”

  “What if he doesn’t want you?”

  “He will.”

  “Are you going to manipulate him?”

  “No. I’m going to make him happy. It’s all I want.” He kissed her harder, and Scarlett forgot about everything else.

  ****

  On one of the rarest of occasions, Liam was in the city. He stood outside the Four Kings Empire again, waiting for Easton to come out and join him. He’d already called ahead to make sure he was available for lunch.

  Scarlett had gone to the school for Junior, and they’d be back late. He had errands to run in the city and didn’t see a reason why he couldn’t take Easton out to lunch.

  Easton appeared in the doorway. He was alone, and Liam admired the sheer strength of the man. He wasn’t well-kept. The suit he wore didn’t fit him well enough. It was too tight around the arms and chest, and looked over large when it came to fitting him around the waist.

  He’d have to take the man shopping. Easton looked up, and Liam held his hand up.

  Several women had tried to approach him. Even though he wore his wedding ring, it didn’t exactly work as a deterrent for the women. With him being married, they saw it as a challenge, which he didn’t get. For the most part, he was an old-fashioned kind of guy with family values.

  “I’m surprised you called,” he said, approaching.

  “Why not?”

  “I told Scar about us.”

  Liam chuckled. “I told you. No secrets.”

  “You think it’s the success to a happy marriage.”

  “It’s one of them. The other is making sure your woman is happy as well. Are you ready to go to lunch?”

  “Yeah, I know a good sandwich place if you’re okay with that?” Easton asked.

  “Lead the way.”

  “How can you walk around without any guards?” Easton asked after a few seconds of silence.

  “I don’t need guards. I keep my life private, and it has served me really well so far. I don’t have to worry about everyone trying to hurt me. I don’t make public appearances. Any donations or charities I support are all behind the scenes. I like my life. No one would have any reason to recognize me.”

  “Is that why you’re wearing the glasses?” Easton asked.

  “No, it’s just bright out, and I don’t want to be blinded by the sun.” Liam chuckled. “Not everything has to have excess meaning.” He noticed how people stopped and stared at Easton.

  None of them really saw the broken man, but they certainly admired him.

  Easton, along with the other Four Kings, had been in plenty of magazines and newspapers. Their exploits at one point had been legendary. There was also a kiss and tell exposé on them done a few months ago.

  Liam had read about three of the four men who liked to share a woman. She’d gone into graphic detail, which only served him well. If Easton liked to share, it would make this new venture even more fruitful.

  He would have to share though. Liam wouldn’t be pushed aside.

  Liam’s love for Scarlett was pure, and he would die for her, it was that strong. With Easton, it was the same. All he needed was a little time to help Easton shine as well. For him to know that he wasn’t alone anymore. Yes, he had his friends, but now he also had Liam and Scarlett, and they weren’t going to let anything happen to him.

  “I don’t know why I bother trying to be honest. The press will get their story regardless.”

  “You haven’t used the right methods in protecting yourself. Being wealthy makes you a target for greedy people. You’ve got to learn to spot them. It’s how I knew Scarlett was the real deal,” he said. “She came to me for a job as my housekeeper. She had so many bruises on her face. She looked a mess. I saw the kindness in her eyes.” He smiled. “It was cute watching her stumble over her words. It was refreshing.”

  “When we were in camp, she didn’t know who I was or my wealth. I kept so much from her, only telling her what she needed to know. She deserved so much more from me.”

  “You are aware Scarlett was once wealthy in her own right?” Liam asked.

  Easton stopped walking. “What?”

  “Her family, her name wasn’t always Knight. Her name was Tallia. You should recognize the name. They’re not rich on your scale, but they are well-known.”

  “No fucking shit. You’re kidding me?”

  “Nope. Scarlett Tallia, heiress to a small fortune. She was set to marry some bachelor. I forget his name. The family lost all of their wealth in the housing crash. Her family is struggling to stay afloat.” Liam smiled.

  “Let me guess, you’re the one making sure they have a hard time?” Easton asked.

  Liam had made it his mission to hurt all of those who had hurt Scarlett. With Easton, he always held back because he knew Scarlett loved him. There was no denying his woman’s attraction to this man, even after what she’d told him he’d done. She never wanted to admit it, but she did love Easton, and no matter what teenage assholery had happened between them, the love hadn’t died, and Liam had no intention of pushing Easton away, especially as he saw the other man loved her. With Easton becoming part of them, he wanted to do something to show Easton that he was loved and wanted by the both of them.

  “I have a way of prolonging my torture,” Liam said. “Her parents disowned her without a backward glance. I take exception to their treatment of her. Since learning the truth of who she is, I’ve made sure to make their life uncomfortable. Victory is not in a quick death. It’s in learning your opponents’ weaknesses, drawing them close, and taking their fortune right from under them.”

  “Wow.”

  “Scarlett could ha
ve died because of them. She had no choice but to survive on her own.” Liam looked at Easton. “You got a problem with how I handle those who hurt the people I care about?”

  “So long as it doesn’t break the law.”

  This time Liam threw his head back and couldn’t control his laughter. “You’re funny.”

  “I’m being serious. She would hate it,” Easton said.

  Liam shrugged. The Tallia fortune was crippled, and he loved to watch them search for an investor. No one would touch them, and it’s exactly how Liam wanted them. He had a meeting set up for three weeks, where he would reveal the cause of all of their problems. By that time, they would be broke, and Scarlett would be free.

  “Easton, I’m not a crook or a criminal. I will never do anything wrong, I promise. I have spent my life making sure I protect this country. I won’t let anything jeopardize that, and I know how to protect the ones I love.” He would simply do whatever it took to take care of those he loved, regardless of what others said.

  Chapter Eleven

  Over eleven years ago

  “Tell me one of your hopes and dreams,” Scar said.

  Easton glanced across the picnic table, not really sure what her question was about.

  “My hopes and dreams?”

  “Things you hope to achieve for the future. That kind of thing.”

  “You tell me one of yours.”

  “That’s cheating. I asked you first.”

  He chuckled. “Tell me something and then I’ll know what you mean.”

  “It’s not a hard question.”

  “To you, maybe not, but to me, it’s pretty fucking hard.” He didn’t believe in hopes or dreams. He was nothing more than his father’s puppet who liked to play with him from time to time.

  “Fine, fine. One day I hope to settle down, fall in love, and be in an actual loving relationship.”

  “Seriously? That’s a hope and dream.”

  “If you knew my family, you’d totally understand why I have that kind of dream.” She pushed some hair off her face. “Come on, it’s your turn.”

  “This is a lame game.”

  “It’s not. Come on. We clearly don’t have great lives back at home. Tell me what it is you’d love to do if your family or friends had absolutely no control over anything you did.”