Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 49943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 49943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 250(@200wpm)___ 200(@250wpm)___ 166(@300wpm)
I reached out and grasped Milo’s wrist. “It’s not your fault, you know.”
Milo looked up at me, confused.
“What she did to them. And to you. None of it’s your fault.”
Milo blinked several times, then swallowed hard and looked at the cobblestones at our feet. He didn’t nod but shrugged noncommittally. “I was older and I knew what she was like. I should’ve protected them better.”
My heart broke for him as I shook my head. “You were just a kid too. You weren’t supposed to be the adult. She was.”
He shrugged again, and I could tell he wasn’t taking in what I was saying. He couldn’t, probably. Narcissists programmed their children from such a young age to take the blame they refused to accept themselves. They were perpetual victims, even at the expense of their children. It was our fault, they claimed—and it took us until we were adults to realize that was total bullshit. That a little child couldn’t be at fault when the adult was supposed to be the responsible, grown-up one.
“We were all just kids,” I whispered, and Milo looked up at me sharply.
“We?”
I’d showed too much of my hand and I stood up abruptly. “I’ve been in the sun too long. Why don’t we head back to the apartment?”
“Hope,” Milo started but I just grabbed his hand with one of mine.
“Let’s go home,” I said, trying to shove away all unpleasant thoughts and recapture the day. I smiled saucily at him. “I think I’m feeling up to a bath.” I lifted my eyebrows. “That is, if you’re up to helping me bathe?”
He grinned back at me. “Always at your service, beautiful.”
“And maybe,” I took his hand as we started to walk back, tossing my plate in a waste bin as we passed, “you and me could take walks in the afternoon now that I’m feeling better? Maybe you could show me the city?”
He squeezed my hand. “It would be my honor.”
SIX
HOPE
“What the hell?” Janus said as he came in the door.
I gasped and looked up from the couch… where Milo was bent between my legs eating me out.
“That’s what I’m always fuckin’ saying,” Leander laughed, pushing in behind Janus. “Now you know what it feels like.”
Milo just looked over his shoulder at them both, making no move to swipe at his chin that glistened with my juices. As soon as we’d gotten home from my impromptu walk, he’d pushed me down on the couch and tossed my dress up.
And his mouth felt—oh God, I’d forgotten how good it was to be eaten out. I always thought it couldn’t possibly feel this amazing. Then I was reminded every time any of them put their mouth on me.
But Milo was an especially giving lover in this way.
“What are you waiting for, then?” Milo asked Janus before turning back to me, his eyes bright. “You can join in.”
He grasped the tops of my thighs and dipped his head back to my sex, blowing warm air even as he pried my puffy sex apart with his thumbs.
I shivered and my eyes rolled back in my head.
“Goddamn,” Janus said, immediately grabbing his shirt in the back and shucking it off over his head in one motion, along with his undershirt.
Leander just stood there indecisively on the threshold even as Janus came towards us with a grin.
“You feelin’ better, baby?” Janus asked as he dipped a knee down on the couch beside where I was writhing. Because, oh God, Milo’s lips had suckered around my engorged clit, his tongue flicking back and forth, and back and forth—
I reached out a hand and dug it into the back of Janus’s hair desperately as soon as he got close enough. “Kiss me?” I begged.
“You never have to ask twice,” he said huskily and bent over to kiss me deep. Devouring me.
“What?” Leander said from where he stood near the door, crossing his arms. “Am I the only rational human being left here? We just got home. We haven’t had dinner yet.”
Janus pulled away from my kiss only long enough to grin back at his brother. “If you ask nicely, I’m sure Milo will let you have a turn so you can eat too.”
Leander’s eyes flared and I wasn’t sure if it was with fury or interest at his brother’s proposal. Hell, maybe it was a mix of both.
“Oh, grow up,” Leander said, then stormed off in the direction of the kitchen.
Janus laughed and bent down for another kiss, while at the same time he reached to tweak my exposed nipples.
If only Leander could get over his crap, we might have a real chance at this. Things with Janus and Milo were so excellent. And sure, Milo had explained a little of what was behind Leander’s mood…but Janus had lost his parents too, and he wasn’t always acting like a little—