55

Five months later
Ava
“How exciting. It looks like Maria Sandler is exiting the limousine. Let me make certain. Yes, it’s Maria from Halo!”
I heard the reporter’s voice as Weston wrapped his fingers around mine, pulling me onto the red carpet leading to the auditorium. The number of photographers snapping pictures was overwhelming. In all the years of attending awards ceremonies, the reception this year was even more glamorous. I’d been coined the ‘It’ girl of the Grammys, Halo the band to beat for the major awards. We were up for seven of them, which continued to shock me.
I waved at the crowd, taking it all in as both Christian and Clinton took their positions beside me. They’d become celebrities as well, People Magazine calling our unusual relationship ‘Caustic Evocative Evolution’.
My hunks had rolled their eyes reading the article while I’d sipped champagne, dancing around our house in Key West in a bikini. They’d stayed true to their word, allowing me to pick out the various houses we owned.
As the crowd swarmed around us, Clinton took my other arm. Always the most protective, his dark eyes sweeping the crowd as if anticipating his father would come back to life.
We’d been lucky, his shoulder injury healing within a few weeks.
But the house had never felt the same, getting sold weeks later.
They’d saved my life as they’d promised to do, but I think I managed to save their souls. They were entirely different than they’d been before, the huge weight of the past finally releasing its claws.
While Clinton had yet to find out the identity of his real father, it didn’t seem to bother him. He was content in the fact that if we were lucky enough to have children, then his blood wouldn’t taint the child.
“Maria. Can I ask you a few questions?” The reporter was one I knew, adamant that he speak with me.
When Christian started to step in, I pressed my hand against his chest, rising onto my tiptoes and kissing him on the lips. The gesture was caught by at least fifteen photographers. Not to be outdone, Weston grabbed me for a passionate embrace, driving his tongue inside my mouth while every woman swooned.
They looked delicious in their tuxes, good enough to eat. Which I planned on doing later.
Or perhaps they’d devour me.
The thought sent a thrill all the way to my overheated core.
Clinton pulled me away, doing nothing more than drinking in my perfume, rolling his knuckles down my cheek in a sign of possession. As always, I trembled from his touch. His dark eyes bore into mine, but there was a look of mischief that I wasn’t used to seeing.
“This is your night until we’re on the jet.” His words were whispered.
Heat crested across my jaw, and I was happy that the lights likely hadn’t caught my flustered look.
“Hi, Steve. I’d be happy to answer a few questions.” I waved to the crowd again, smiling from the cheers.
“How does it feel to be expected to win every major award tonight?”
“It feels fantastic, but I couldn’t have done it without my band. They are the best in the world. Aren’t they?” I jazzed the crowd until the cheers drowned out every other noise.
Steve shook his head, waiting as the virulent applause and loud catcalls died down. “There’s a sense that your music has taken a new path. Even Rolling Stone mentioned there’s a significant increase in passion to your words and to the sound itself. What would you attribute that to?”
I took a deep breath. “To the three men I’ve fallen madly in love with.”
The crowd went wild.
“Did you see that metal band’s reaction when Halo won for Album of the Year?” Weston asked as he refilled my champagne glass. I was sitting on Christian’s lap, bouncing to the music, still holding one of my awards. His cock was already throbbing, and I couldn’t help but shift back and forth, teasing him relentlessly.
“I thought they were going to storm the stage,” Christian said, laughing.
“I almost beat the crap out of the lead singer.” Clinton grinned after making the statement, but I knew he would have given the chance.
Weston rolled his eyes and flopped down in one of the seats. The evening had been everything I’d ever wanted, a dream come true. Mostly because I’d been able to share it with the three men who’d stolen my heart.
However, Clinton had been moody for the past two days, as if he had something on his mind. He’d pulled away more than once, needing time alone. I was certain he was going to leave our foursome, which would break my heart.
When he suddenly jerked up out of his chair, walking towards the bar, I quickly gave Weston a look. He shrugged, but I could tell he knew what was going on.
I eased off Christian’s lap, placing my champagne glass on the table and walking towards Clinton. When I placed my hand on his shoulder, he tensed. “What’s wrong?”
He took several deep breaths, remaining quiet. “I can’t do this any longer, Ava . I’m sorry, but I can’t.”
Instantly, tears drifted into my eyes. “I don’t know what to say. You don’t love me any longer, or you just can’t handle sharing?”
He shrugged and didn’t give me a response.
“Look, the only thing I asked out of this relationship was that you tell me the truth at all times. What is going on?”
The brooding man continued to remain silent. Now, I was getting angry.
“I demand you tell me what is happening. Is there another woman? You waited until this night to tell me this? What is wrong with you?”
Clinton finally spun around, barely able to keep the look of amusement off his face. He thought this was funny? I reacted without thinking, returning to my champagne and tossing the entire glass in his face. Then I gasped when I saw his expression. He was truly shocked.
When the other two started laughing, I realized I’d misread what he was doing.
“Oops,” I said quietly, backing away from Clinton and directly against the two beefy hunks I shared a bed with.
As Clinton dragged his tongue across his lips, I chewed on my lower one, uncertain what his reaction would be.
“It seems our little pet needs another lesson in not jumping to conclusions,” Christian said from behind me.
They were as dominating as I thought they’d be, keeping me in line with rules and delicious punishments. They’d also introduced me to their darker cravings, aspects of BDSM that left me breathless.
“Yes, it does,” Weston said before smacking my bottom once.
“Ouch!”
“There’s more where that came from.”
Clinton held up his index finger, shaking his head. Champagne glistened on his chin, and I wanted to lick off every drop. “Our beautiful lamb will get her punishment after I’m finished.”
I folded my arms, waiting to see what he’d have to say. When he dropped to one knee, I couldn’t have been more shocked. After pulling a small box from his pocket and opening it to allow me to see the stunning ring inside, he lifted his gaze. I could swear there were tears in his eyes.
“As I said before. I can’t do it any longer, not unless you become our wife.”
I turned around towards the others, gasping for air as I fanned my face. Tears were definitely in my eyes, the joy of realizing that after everything we’d been through, we were very much in love overwhelming.
I’d been scarred from an event that I’d had no control over. Maybe I should have tried to shove them out of my life, but the thought hadn’t entered my mind.
Fleeting visions of the past, the stormy night over ten years before floated into the forefront of my mind. Unlike before, this time I was able to shut them down, putting them in their padlocked place. The past couldn’t hold me prisoner any longer. There was only the future in a house full of love and laughter.
“Yes.” The word came easily, my heart skipping several beats as Clinton slipped the ring on my finger. As they wrapped their arms around me, I’d never felt so much love.
That was good since I had a little secret they wouldn’t hear until the right time. It didn’t matter who was the biological father. There would never be any tests, no challenge in court. As far as I was concerned, he or she had three daddies.
And I had the loves of my life.
All because fate had intervened, allowing our hearts and souls to heal.
“Now, about that spanking,” Clinton said as he lifted his head, winking at the others.
“I’m a good girl!”
“That’s what we keep hearing,” Weston growled.
As Christian sat down, yanking me over his lap, all I could do was smile.
Who knew a girl would find not just one but three perfect Prince Charmings?
Now, onto the happily ever after.
The End