“Come here,” she whispers to him.

Of course, he listens.

My pulse beats heavy in my throat, vibrates deep within my ears, and only grows louder with each slow step closer he takes.

“She’s gorgeous,” Mallory says to him, and his features tighten, gaze flying between mine only to cut to hers. “Isn’t she?”

Her fingers suddenly slide along my outer thigh and he follows the contact as he gives an almost unnoticeable nod, and they dip beneath the band of my underwear.

It takes everything inside me not to wrap my arm around her neck and choke her on the spot, but then I’ll have to sit back and break a little more as he comes to her rescue.

So, as she begins to pull them down, pushing them along my thighs, I allow it. They fall to my feet.

Captain’s eyes fly to mine, a twisted expression taking over his face.

She blocks my exposed body with her own, and asks him, “Are her eyes on yours?”

His features pull, but he nods, and then her hand slides behind her.

I grind my teeth together, fighting back tears as she violates me and right here for him to see.

Her hand slides along my center, and shame colors my neck and cheek as my body reacts to the sensation. My core heats without permission, and I can’t stop the shuddered exhale from escaping, but it helps hide the slight cry that slips out in the same second.

Mallory’s chest inflates with a heavy inhale, proud of her piece of shit self, and her blue eyes lock with mine over her shoulder. A wicked glint glares into me as she lowers her hand, now cupping me completely.

Her smile is slow and then she quickly spins to grip me better, still hiding me completely. She brings her lips a fraction from mine, and my eyes fly over her shoulder.

Captain doesn’t stop her, but why would he?

He didn’t come here to sleep with me.

He came for her.

“Grab me, Victoria,” she commands in a quiet purr.

Fear and fault make for a heavily polished shield within his eyes.

If I can’t kiss your lips, Cap, I’ll settle for the travesty of tasting you on hers.

My hands lift, landing on her naked ribs, and I yank her to me, wishing it was her throat I was squeezing instead.

Her eyes fire with a taunting gleam, a low, purposeful “yes” following.

I take her mouth as he did, and when she moans into mine, my heart cries.

I tear away from her, swallowing back pitiful waterworks that threaten to expose me.

I’m strong, but not this kind of strong.

Mallory’s palm finds my outer hip, squeezing as she grips the hem of my shirt, and begins dragging it up.

“No, wait!”

We both freeze when Captain finally speaks, and in a loud, panicked tone.

One that gives him away.

Gives us away.

Slowly, Mallory pulls back, her eyes falling to the floor, shifting to him in the next second.

“So you have touched her body,” she says quietly, my shirt still tight in her grasp. She looks to her finger, at the proof she touched me staring back at her, and glides it along her lips. “But have you tasted her?”

Captain’s eyes snap to mine, widening, and then narrowing in the same second as he realizes the girl standing between us, the one he once loved, isn’t after him, but me.

Captain

If I could speak, I wouldn’t know what to say.

Mallory and Victoria.

The girl I thought I loved, and the girl I now know I do.

I look into Mallory’s eyes, at the burning jealousy staring back and for the first time, I realize she’s not doing this in a deluded attempt to ‘win’ me.

She’s jealous of me.

All of this, the lies, the manipulation, her trying to slide back into my life, our daughter, it had nothing to do with me or us, or Zoey.

It was about Victoria, and the ache losing her leaves behind, a feeling I know good and fucking well.

I look to her, and everything shifts into place.

My life, all the ways I was tested as a boy, as a man, and father, all led me here. To her.

She came into my town to ruin my family but felt a moral obligation in her gut to save it instead. She turned her back on all she ever knew, the man who gave her a chance at life, even if it wasn’t a good one, for me, a guy she’d never even spoken to, but felt inclined to help.

She convinced the girl I so frivolously loved to give my daughter the gift of life, forever changing mine in the process.

Victoria was born, raised, and ruined, all so in the end, she’d be right here today.

Five feet from me, staring into my eyes with such fervor, a heavy burning need and not for what Mallory is promising, but for her king, happy to be nothing more than a peasant when she deserves a crown of her own.

Willing to share with a girl she thinks I’ve chosen over her if it means she’ll have a single piece of me, if only for a moment.

She came here and protected our name without being asked, without permission, and without pause.

With selfless intent and a pure heart.

My Beauty.

My Brayshaw.

I watch as Mallory gently nudges Victoria, my eyes glued on her as she scoots back on the mattress, lying flat on the plush pillows, her lower half bare.

Mallory climbs up beside her, laying at her side, her fingertips running along Victoria’s thigh, and Victoria tenses.

“She deserves more than she’s been given,” Mallory whispers, her voice cracking with emotion, and my eyes tighten, darting to hers and quickly back to Victoria’s. “Doesn’t she?”

“Yes,” I rasp instantly, and Victoria’s features twist, but I lose her when Mallory’s hand comes up, forcing her face and attention toward her.

I want it back.

“Let us have you,” she murmurs, but the edge of her eyes crease. “Say goodbye, have closure.”

I don’t want closure.

I want today, tomorrow, always.

But then Victoria’s eyes meet mine, no hesitation shining within them, and damn if it doesn’t fucking sting.

She wants this?

I swallow, my lips flattening.

How can I deny her a single thing after the shit I’ve put her through?

I can’t.

I have to give her whatever she needs, and then I’ll take her home and give her more.

So when Mallory calls me over with a crook of her finger, tugging on my arm, I climb onto the mattress, lowering my body on Victoria’s free side.

“Taste,” she whispers, and my eyes fall to the glistening sheen on her lips.

My gut twists, but when Victoria’s hand finds mine on the mattress, I take reprieve in her touch, lacing my fingers into hers and lean across her body, locking my lips on Mallory’s, tasting Beauty on her, and a low rumble settles in my chest.

Mallory smirks against my mouth, slowly pulling away.

She leans down, preparing to kiss my girl, but I can’t take it and nudge Mallory’s shoulder.

I want her away.

She doesn’t get angry as I thought she might, but a smile covers her lips and she glides her hand along Victoria’s thighs until she can grip around the back of her leg, holding onto it as she falls beside her on the pillow.

She’s opened her for me, and when I look to Beauty, she silently begs me to take my place, so I don’t hesitate slipping between her thighs, my arms at her sides, shielding her. Guarding her.