“Conflict of interest.”

  “How so? You know her?”

  “I saw her at a party a few weeks ago with her date. If it’s her boyfriend, then I know him, too. He hurt a good friend of mine years ago.”

  “Damn it. Does this woman know you’re friends with her boyfriend’s ex?”

  “Not really sure. Not that it matters, she still needs help, but I think it would be a conflict with the whole confidentiality thing.”

  “Then maybe Casey can consult with you privately. I think this young woman is in big trouble, and if what you know about the guy is true, could mean worse for her. Wouldn’t you want to help and stop him before he hurts her, too?”

  “Yes. Of course I would. Let’s keep it confidential for now. I’ll connect with Casey afterwards.”

  “Good. Your friend who was involved with this same guy, did she turn out okay?”

  “Sure did.”

  “That’s great to hear. So many times we hear the sad, unhappy endings. Let’s hope we can save this one, too.”

  Ned walked away and Suzette stood there a moment before heading to her office. If this woman who was currently dating Tye was reaching out for help, Suzette had the opportunity to help her, unlike Lacey, who had to handle it all on her own. Tye was a bad man, a manipulator, a conniver, a master at control and abuse, and he needed to be stopped.

  She walked to her office and her cell phone buzzed. It was Miles, asking if she was feeling better and if her headache had eased. She smiled as she texted back, telling him she was feeling a little bit better and thanking him for caring.

  She had been working a case where a woman escaped an abusive boyfriend. She had twin boys and it reminded her of her sister. That was one of the downfalls with being a social worker. She empathized with her clients, took the work home with her, and never seemed to be able to disconnect and forget about all she had to do.

  Except when Miles and Nikko were around and were making love to her together. That’s when she was at peace. That’s when she felt complete.

  She wanted that for Lacey. She wanted her to feel truly loved again. After everything Tye, then Jeb, did to her, and losing her parents’ love because of business, she really needed men that could take the pain away and ultimately protect her from further pain. She prayed that Stone, Louie, and Junior were those men. If they weren’t, and if they hurt her, too, Suzette wasn’t sure if Lacey would survive.

  * * * *

  Stone held Lacey in his arms, her back against his chest, as they lay in bed.

  He stroked his fingers along her hipbone while Junior pressed his thigh between her thighs and caressed her leg.

  Louie lay on his side on the bottom of the bed and caressed her ankles. It was all so peaceful and calm. They were each content, except for that concerning ache in Stone’s gut about Lacey. He wondered who had hurt her and taken advantage of her sweetness. Was it Jeb who forced her to do things in bed she didn’t want to do? Or some bad first experience with oral sex? He wanted to know. He wanted to reassure her that they weren’t like that. They were patient and fully into her.

  “That was amazing, making love to you together,” he whispered against her neck.

  She mumbled a “yes” and eased her back against his front. His cock hardened again, but he knew she was exhausted. They had taken her together three times in a row. The poor woman wouldn’t be able to walk if they continued. He caressed her thigh to her hip bone, then traced along her belly, up her breast, to her neck, then her lips. He tilted her head toward him, her chin upward. Her eyes opened slowly and she looked so sweet, so giving.

  His heart pounded inside of his chest as he anticipated her reaction to him questioning her. He didn’t want her to get angry or upset. He needed to heed caution here.

  “I especially loved this sweet, sexy mouth of yours wrapped around my cock.” He stroked her lips and her cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink.

  She closed her eyes and slowly tried to turn away, but he wouldn’t allow it. Neither would his brothers, as Junior raised upward to look at her and bring her knuckles to his lips as he kissed them. Louie leaned on his elbow and caressed her calf.

  “You liked it, didn’t you?”

  She held his gaze.

  “Yes,” she whispered.

  “That’s good. Really good, because we would never, never force you to do something you weren’t comfortable with.”

  “I know, Stone. It’s different with the three of you. You care about me. You worry, like now,” she replied.

  Junior kissed her knuckles and then leaned forward and kissed her lips. He released them and gave her a reassuring smile.

  “Can you tell us what happened to make you so fearful about oral sex?”

  Stone’s chest tightened and he held his breath. Was she going to run, panic, scream at him, at them? She was silent and then swallowed hard.

  “Years ago, back in college, I met someone. I thought he cared about me. Things were wonderful for a while, but then he started to make me do things, things I wasn’t comfortable with.”

  “Like what?” Louie asked.

  She looked down the bed at him. “Like make me kneel in front of him, act submissive, and punish me when he felt I did something wrong.”

  “What?” Junior asked, his tone kind of harsh.

  “I know it was bad, I was in deep, and, well, there were other things and other people to consider, but when he wanted to tie me up and whip me, I freaked out and broke up with him.”

  “Okay, so he left you alone and you never saw him again?” Junior asked.

  She shook her head and closed her eyes.

  When she opened them, they were glistening with unshed tears. She took a few more unsteady breaths.

  “Lacey?” Stone whispered and caressed her hip.

  She turned to look at him.

  “I broke things off, ignored his calls, and one night when I returned home from work, he was there.”

  “Oh, shit,” Junior said and lifted higher on the bed, as if feeling the same fearful, intense feeling Stone was.

  “What happened?” Louie asked slowly, as if fearful of the response she would give to his question.

  “He attacked me. Tied me to my bed, punished me for leaving him and raped me.”

  “Oh Jesus, baby.” Stone wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her tight. She reached up and covered his arms with hers as Louie and Junior touched her, caressed her skin, and held her, too.

  “You must have been so scared,” Louie whispered.

  “Baby, I’m sorry if we pushed you last night,” Stone whispered.

  “No. No, Stone, last night was beautiful. This morning was beautiful. Every time we all make love, it’s perfect. I’ve never felt so loved before. If anything scares me the most, it would be losing you guys, doing something to displease you or make you leave me.”

  “No, Lacey. You’re perfect and you’re a survivor. We’ll take good care of you,” Stone told her.

  “Did you press charges against the guy who did this to you?” Junior thought to ask. Stone felt Lacey tighten up. She didn’t answer and Stone immediately was concerned.

  “Lacey? Did you?” Stone asked. When she shook her head no, he heard his brothers release sighs of disappointment.

  Stone tilted her chin up toward him. “What happened? Why didn’t you press charges?”

  A tear rolled down her cheek and his heart ached.

  “It’s embarrassing, too painful to get into.”

  “Just tell us. We want to know, we want to help you heal,” Louie pushed.

  “He was doing with business with my father. The deal was that this man was never to come near me again or try to pursue a relationship, and the business deal would continue and no one would ever know what happened.” More tears spilled from her eyes and this time, Junior pulled her toward him, wrapped her in his arms, and held her tight.

  “The bastards. Your own damn father? Fuck, that pisses me off.”

  Stone caressed her back as he locked gazes with Louie, who had an angry, disgusted expression on his face. Stone mouthed the words “She needs us.” He nodded and they lay there with her in silence, then slowly kissed along her thighs and back, and began to prepare her body to be taken by the three of them again.

  “We’re going to protect you always, Lacey. You’ll never feel alone, or such betrayal and pain again,” Stone whispered.

  Lacey sat up on top of Junior and lifted herself, then slowly sunk down on his cock.

  “Lacey, oh, sweet Jesus, baby, you feel so wet and warm. I need a condom, though, baby,” Junior told her as he cupped her breasts and she rocked her hips up and down on his shaft. She shook her head.

  “No more condoms. I’m on birth control. I’ve never had sex without protection. I’m safe.”

  “We never have, either. We’re safe,” Stone told her as he ran a hand down her bare back.

  “You sure about this?” Louie asked.

  She smiled.

  “I don’t want anything between us ever. What I told you, only Suzette knows about. I trust you’ll never tell a soul.”

  “Never. Now come here.” Junior reached up and pulled her lower so he could kiss her as he thrust his hips upward.

  Louie got up off the bed, grabbed the lube, and returned as Junior scooted down, then to the side of the bed so his legs lay over the side.

  Louie passed the lube to Stone. “My turn to feel these sexy lips on my cock.”

  Lacey smiled, then reached out toward Louie, who stroked his cock in his hand and crawled on his knees and shins to get closer to her. Stone watched as Lacey didn’t hesitate to take from Louie what she wanted. Part of his cock slowly disappeared into her mouth as Junior pumped his hips upward and with each thrust licked or pulled on Lacey’s nipples.

  Stone moved off the bed and caressed Lacey’s ass cheeks. He spread them, then pushed them together and watched her cream drip from her cunt down between her thighs.

  “You want me, too, baby?” he asked, and she nodded and moaned.

  “Get inside her, Stone. She feels so fucking great with no condom on. I’m not going to last.”

  “Me fucking either. I love this mouth, baby. You’re perfect,” Louie told her as he gripped her hair and slowly rocked his hips.

  Stone pressed the lube to her ass and worked it into her anus.

  She moaned louder and so did Junior. “Fuck, I feel the pressure. Get in her, Stone. Fuck that ass,” Junior roared out.

  Stone chuckled and aligned his cock with her anus and slowly pushed into her. He worked his cock in and out, clenching his teeth, trying not to moan as an overwhelming urge to claim her, possess her, took control of his thrusts.

  Lacey shoved back against him and he couldn’t hold back. He shoved into her ass and Junior grunted. Lacey’s legs widened and all three of them began to move into her together. It was even better than the three times they made love to her earlier. It was deeper, stronger, maybe psychologically, because of the lack of physical protection. He didn’t know, but it felt amazing. His cock pulsated and Lacey shook as she orgasmed while Louie held his cock in her mouth and came, calling her name.

  Junior followed next and Lacey cried out. “Oh God, Stone, harder, harder.”

  He grabbed her hips, and he and Junior pumped into her, then it was solely Stone thrusting, balls slapping against her ass as he came with a roar, shaking and pulsating in her ass.

  The sounds of soft moans and heavy breathing echoed in the quiet room. Lacey lay over Junior’s chest, Junior’s hand caressing her back and ass.

  Louie pushed her hair from her cheeks and leaned over to kiss her.

  “Love you, baby,” he said. Her eyes popped open and a tear rolled down her cheek.

  “Really?”

  Junior and Stone chuckled.

  “I love you, too. You’re my everything, Lacey,” Junior said and kissed her.

  Stone eased out of her ass, caressing her cheeks with both hands, then giving them a light slap. She looked up at him.

  “I love you, too, and I love this ass.” He smacked it again and his brothers chuckled.

  “I’m scared, but I love the three of you, too. You…complete me.”

  Stone smiled and no longer felt that uneasiness, like something lay between them, anymore. She was their woman, and from here on out their job was to always love her and protect her no matter what.

  Chapter 10

  Lacey answered her cell phone, juggling it with her shoulder as she placed items around the showroom. The grand opening was tomorrow.

  “Hey, girl, are you making any progress or did you change the display by the door again?” Suzette asked and Lacey growled.

  “I changed it again, but this time I think I finally got the look I wanted,” she said as she stepped back, held the phone to her ear, and took in the sight. There was one of Stone’s beautifully handmade wooden mirrors on the wall and a faux mantle below it. She added gold pillars and a small set of faux berry branches along the center, since fall was approaching and soon winter, but she was most touched and thrilled by what her men had done for her.

  “So, I heard you had a nice surprise this morning when you arrived into work.”

  “How did you hear about that? Oh, wait, Junior told Miles and Nikko.”

  “You got it. God, Lacey, they’re so in love with you. I can’t believe they took photos of design work you did in your home, plus ones you had in your scrapbooks, and blew them up and made that extra-large photo album people can view in the store. You’re going to be a great success.”

  Lacey smiled. “Thanks, Suzette. I was so shocked when I saw that album and how big it is. I set it up near the front of the store so people can browse through it and not feel pressured. I’m so nervous. I want to call Penelope’s shop again to make sure she’ll have all the desserts and finger foods ready and delivered tomorrow by ten. I hope people show up.”

  “Oh, they’ll show up. I’ve seen your flyers, the ones Louie made up for you, all over town. Sonya and Bethany are going to be at the opening, too.”

  “Great. I have to text Bethany back. She texted me last night but I was a bit busy.”

  “Hmm…thanking your men for their loving gift, I assume.”

  “You betcha!”

  “I’m so happy for you. I’m sorry I brought up that other situation a few days ago. I didn’t want to make you think of him during this happy time.”

  “No, don’t be silly. I completely appreciate you telling me about her. I feel badly. I mean, that was me years ago. No one to turn to, not even my own parents, until it was almost too late. I know you can’t share what you know about the woman he is dating, but I’m glad she’s seeking help. A man like him can’t continue to get away with this.”

  “I know. I think she’ll be okay if she listens to the social worker’s advice. Anyway, I will be there for the opening all day with you. I took the day off, and Ned is going to stop by, too, plus some of the others from my office. Did you decide on your outfit or are you still torn between the blue dress and the beige?”

  “I was torn, but Stone convinced me that the blue brought out the color in my eyes and made me look classy and sexy.”

  “You tried on your dresses for him?”

  “I did a sexy fashion show for all three of them.”

  “Whoo hoo! I might just try that with Miles and Nikko. Maybe I will tonight as I pretend I can’t figure out what to wear to your grand opening.”

  Lacey chuckled. “You go, girl!” she said and then saw a delivery guy approaching the front door and carrying a huge floral arrangement.

  “I have to go. A flower delivery guy is here.”

  “Don’t get off the phone with me. Let me know who sent them.”

  Lacey opened the door for the delivery man and grabbed her purse, gave him a few dollars, and thanked him.

  Her heart pounded inside of her chest as she saw the expensive arrangement.

  “Well?” Suzette asked.

  “They’re stunning. I’ll send you a picture right now.” She took the picture and sent it to Suzette.

  The flowers were all in white, from roses to gardenias, and one very thick, bold red rose in the center. There were sprays of gold scattered in the arrangement and it matched her décor perfectly.

  “They are gorgeous. Who are they from?”

  “I’m looking for the card. Okay. I got it.” She opened it up.

  “‘I wish you great success in your new business venture. I look forward to seeing you soon and perhaps working with you.’”

  “That’s it? No name?”

  Lacey flipped the card over and didn’t find a name on it.

  “That’s strange. Maybe some wealthy person who wants you to decorate their entire log cabin mansion in Wellington? They’re buttering you up and will show tomorrow?”

  “I don’t know, but whoever these are from, they seemed to know my color scheme in the store as well as my tastes. This is an arrangement I would have picked out if I had hundreds of dollars to spend on flowers.”

  “Well, use them in the store for the grand opening. Maybe the sender will reveal themselves?”

  “Maybe. I better get going. I want to have everything set up tonight so I’m not crazy tomorrow morning.”

  Suzette chuckled.

  “Great idea. Good luck with that,” Suzette teased, and Lacey chuckled, then said good-bye.

  She put her phone on the front counter and looked at the flowers. They were gorgeous, and they looked fantastic right there by the front desk. She stared at them a moment, wondering what was with the long-stemmed red rose in the center when she heard the door open. She turned around, expecting another delivery, when she saw Tye and gasped.

  He smiled that million-dollar, white-sparkling-teeth smile that he used to charm the pants off everyone.

  “Tye, what are you doing here?” she asked, feeling her heart race and her palms sweat.

  He looked around the place as if he had every right to and they were friends.

  “I wanted to see your new place. I’m flying out tonight for business and will miss your grand opening. But I did let a lot of friends know about it.”