Three Against All (Peyton Pointe Book 1), page 11
“Not tall enough, not thin enough, not—”
He cut off my words by taking my hand and making me bring the bottle back to my lips. “No more mom shit tonight. We are going to drink, we are going to punish Walters, and then we are going to go home and get naked. Only fun things from here to tomorrow.”
I turned up the radio, singing along to Lake Street Dive, and drinking from the five-hundred-dollar bottle of champagne in my hands. Every once in a while H would take a break from what he was doing and lean over for a kiss and a sip. I smiled, giving him both happily.
After about five minutes he clapped his hands together, then proceeded to rub them in excitement. “Okay, I’m in.” I leaned over, my tipsy ass in the air, putting my face next to his. He pointed at the screen. “Let’s see, she spent the summer at a drug rehab facility in California. Boring.”
I skimmed the emails that were sent back and forth between her and her mother. “What was her poison? Coke? She seems like a closet coke whore.”
He looked at me, blinking. “I’m a closet coke whore.”
I scoffed. “No, you aren’t. You’re a very open coke whore.” I kissed his mouth, nipping at his bottom lip and making him groan in anticipation.
He nodded. “True. And yeah, it was coke.” He pointed to the screen, showing me a section where it was mentioned. “All in all, kind of a silly thing to have to go to rehab for in my opinion.”
Charlotte was annoyingly smart, even if she was a total jerk. She most likely used the coke to stay thin, stay awake, and have a little fun on the weekends, like the rest of the girls at Peyton Prep. “What are you going to do with it?”
“Nothing, that’s not punishment enough. It’s too fucking lame.” He tapped out a few more commands on the backlit keyboard. “Everyone does coke. No one would care.”
“So what now?”
His grin turned evil, his fingers flying once again. “I’m going to turn on her webcam and see what I can get.”
I made a face. “We have to sit here all night and watch her webcam?”
“No. It’ll go to a file on my computer at home.” He closed his laptop less than two minutes later, handed it to me and then started the car, pulling away from the curb. Just like that, our mission was over. “I’ll get a notification if it records movement.”
“That seems really invasive, Holden.” I understood their need for retribution, I did. I knew Finn and Holden would always protect me, always avenge me. Watching her webcam though? Fuck. If anyone ever watched mine, or the guys? They’d have enough leverage to own the three of us. Seemed big leagues to me, and I wasn’t ready to leave my safe little farm team. “I’m not even convinced it was her that slipped me something.”
“You could’ve died last night, Roe. Do you understand that? You drank a bottle of champagne, did some blow, and then someone dosed you with drugs. We still don’t even know what it was. You could have OD’d, you could have had a bad reaction. You could’ve been raped. The possibilities for how fucking bad that could have gone are endless.”
Holden rarely got upset, which meant I must have really scared them. Even though I was sure Holden had kept his humor in place, downplaying the whole situation while trying to keep Finn from committing rampant murder. “I’m sorry, I never meant for that to happen.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for, babe.” He reached over, squeezing my thigh, a frown marring his perfect face. “I’m sorry I let you out of my sight.”
“Holden, this isn’t on you. I should’ve been more aware of my surroundings. I should’ve slowed down on the alcohol.”
“This isn’t your fault either, babe. You should be able to let loose for five minutes without someone trying to fucking roofie you.” He popped my bare leg, taking and letting out a huge therapeutic breath. “Now all the bullshit we’ve had to deal with tonight is over, how about a little fun?”
I grinned. “More champs and Zaxby’s chicken fingers?”
“Anything our girl wants, our girl gets.”
That wasn’t entirely true though, was it? There was one thing I’d wanted, one thing I’d always thought would happen, and I wasn’t getting that.
Holden would be my first, and I would be his. I wasn’t mad anymore. I wasn’t even sad. I loved Holden. He would make everything perfect.
Only, I’d always pictured it with Finn, with him making everything wild.
Chapter Fifteen
Holden
Roe got quiet as we turned down Finn’s street when moments before she’d been singing and dancing in her seat with her chicken strips in the air. I could feel all the carefree laughter and sexual tension I’d built on purpose dissipating. We were eighteen-year-old virgins, in a three-way relationship with our best friend. I understood now why Finn went out of town for the weekend. If roles were reversed and I knew the two of them were planning on having sex without me, I’d end up losing my ever-loving mind and demanding to sit in the corner and watch. Not because I would get off, not because it was a kink. Although…it was. I’d want to be with them because I’d want to make sure they were okay. I’d want to be part of their lives, their experiences.
I waited for her questions, I knew they’d come, I was prepared for them.
“Where are we going?”
I cleared my throat. “Finn’s house.”
She turned from the window, quickly, her long hair nearly knocking me out. “Why? Why are we going to Finn’s?
I gripped the steering wheel, twisting as my knuckles went white. “Your mom is home, and so are my parents. We’d be staying the night there anyway, whether he was home or not.”
“I thought we’d go to a hotel or something. I didn’t, uh, it doesn’t seem…” She was flustered, she was uncomfortable, and that was the last thing I wanted for her. Tonight or otherwise.
“He told me to bring you here. He wanted me to bring you home.” I didn’t mention I was nervous too, and was slightly terrified of the step we were taking. I was scared everything would change, that there’d be no going back. The truth was I wanted to be in Finn’s bed, I wanted to be where I felt safe. And she needed to be there with me. He’d known that, about both of us. He knew us as well as we knew him. “Everything is going to be okay, babe.” I would reassure her over and over. Maybe if I did it enough, said it enough, I would be able to convince myself too.
I’d gotten her the chicken strips she wanted, so as soon as we got into Finn’s house I went into his chilled wine room and grabbed another bottle of the Krug ’96. It was her favorite and we always kept it well stocked.
My house was all marble and stark white walls. Roe’s house was old world charm and original details. Finn’s was modern and sleek, everything glass, steel, and concrete. I didn’t turn on any lights as we moved wordlessly through the home, stepping up the floating stairs to Finn’s room with Roe’s hand in mine. She immediately kicked off her heels and turned on the TV.
“Free me?” She dragged her long hair to the side and I slid her zipper down the length of her dress, pausing to kiss the back of her neck before letting her step into the bathroom.
I took off my tie and tossed my crisp white Ferragamo button-down into Finn’s closet. His housekeeper would get it dry-cleaned for me. I was sure our hired help could no longer tell the difference between his clothes and mine. I plopped down on his huge bed, thumbing the old quilt he kept folded at the bottom. His mom made it while she was pregnant with him, and it was one of the only objects he valued.
“You want to watch a movie, babe?” She’d turned on the TV like she had a plan. Maybe she needed the distraction.
Roe stuck her head out of the bathroom. “Something funny.” She disappeared only to reappear seconds later. “And pop the champs.”
I reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the cold dark glass bottle, easily popping the cork. I took a long swig off the top and then turned my attention to the large flat screen. I scrolled through, trying to find something that would make Roe laugh.
She came out a few minutes later, her face scrubbed clean and wearing a plain white tee. I loved she wasn’t wearing sexy lingerie. There were plenty of years for that. Right now, I wanted the real Roe, the one in a shirt so old I couldn’t tell if it was mine or Finn’s. “Come here, gorgeous.” I scooted over to my left, getting a little more on my normal side of the bed.
She climbed up and took the Krug from my hands, turning it up and then giggling when it started to bubble. “What are we watching?”
“It’s an old-school toss-up, Get Him to the Greek orrrrrrr Easy A?”
“Although I do love your Russell Brand impression, I think I’ll go with Easy A tonight.”
I looked over at her, pressing play. “You picked the movie about the high school chick losing her virginity? Little on the nose, don’t ya think?” I bit my lips together when she collapsed beside me. I hit play as she passed me our drink, settling against my chest. I held her close, stroking my fingers against any skin I could reach. I could feel the tension slowly leave her body.
About halfway through the movie, we finished the whole bottle and she hopped up. “I’ll go get us another one.”
We’d split two now, not to mention the few glasses she’d had at dinner with our parents. “No, Roe. No more.” I shook my head, propping myself up.
She stopped, spinning to face me. “What? Why?”
“You know why.” Her head dropped, her hair hiding her face. “I want this with you, and I understand needing a little something to take the edge off. But I won’t go through with it if you’re drunk. It wouldn’t feel right.” I held out my hand. “Come back to bed, babe.” I waited for her to climb under the covers next to me. I lay next her, our heads resting on the same pillow. “Are you okay?” She nodded. “We don’t have to do this.”
“I want to, but I’m nervous.” She bit her bottom lip, making me jealous. “We waited too long, we made it a bigger deal than it needed to be.”
I took her gently chin in my fingers. “Hey, this is a big deal. This is special, Roe, this means as much to us as it does to you. Do you understand that?”
She nodded again.
Finn and I made the choice to wait for her, to wait for her to be ready. Roe knew that. The douchebags at school? Nah. They assumed Finn and I had plowed our way through fashion week. We may have messed around a bit, two horny kids unsure of where things were headed with our girl. This though? We’d never have betrayed her when it came to this. Neither one of us wanted to be with another girl, ever.
“I love you, babe.” Her gaze softened. “If you want to wait another eighteen years, I’ll wait with you. You’re that special to us, Roe.” I made a vow to myself I wouldn’t bring Finn in here, well, not any more than he was already. We were in his room for crying out loud. Telling her what she meant, not only to me, but to him too. It seemed right.
“I don’t want to wait.” She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m ready.”
My heart started to pound, it was beating so hard I was afraid she might see it. I closed the distance between us and kissed her sweet lips. I slid my tongue along hers, rolling my body on top of hers. She spread her thighs, making room for me, trailing her hands down my bare back. Her touch was electric, making me come even more alive with every inch she caressed. I kissed her neck, her chest, taking advantage of the deep V in our old shirt. I made my way down her body, pushing the soft cotton up so I could lick and nip at her stomach. I wanted to worship every inch of her. I wanted her to feel how loved she was, how special. I peeled off her lace thong, smirking to myself at how wet she was, glistening before my eyes. I used two fingers, curling them the way she liked, making her arch off the bed with a beautiful whimper.
“Holden.”
The way she said my name, like it was a plea, made me still my movements. “Tell me what you want, babe.”
“You.” I prayed that was true and she wouldn’t regret it being me. That she wanted me. Her eyes were hooded, her lips were swollen and pink from my attention. She looked so fucking sexy, pliant, and ready spread out on Finn’s sheets like a waiting feast. I’d thought about this moment, dreamed about it for years. Now that it was finally happening, everything felt surreal, as if I was moving in slow motion with a secret seductive song playing in my mind.
My hands were shaking as I took off my briefs, settling back between her creamy thighs, positioning myself at her core. “Trust me?” She nodded. Roe had been on the pill since she was fifteen. We came home from school one day and there was a birth control packet sitting on her bed. Her mom was nowhere in sight. Finn and I had read the instructions, helped her learn how to take them. We’d been taking care of her since the day we first saw her. And I’d take care of her for the rest of her life if she’d let me. “This might hurt, there’s not much I can do about that. But if you try to relax, I promise to make it all better. Okay?”
“It’s okay. I’m okay.” I kept my eyes open, I watched her every expression as I entered her body. I went slowly, letting her get used to the foreign feel of someone inside of her like this. I stopped breathing, completely overwhelmed by the sensation of her pussy griping my dick. I didn’t know how long I’d last. I knew it would be different and amazing. But this? This was mind-bending. When I filled her completely, I stilled. I didn’t want to hurt her, but it was more than that. Taking this from her, it was such a big moment that it made me almost afraid to keep going.
“Holden.”
I peered down, trying like hell to let my smile tell her how fucking much I loved her. In response she put her hands on my ass, urging me forward. I took a deep breath, pulled out slightly and then surged back in, burying himself to the hilt. I was pretty sure my eyes rolled back in my head. She was so tight, and it felt so fucking good. It was indescribable. I dropped my head to her chest, panting with restraint. “Babe?”
“Make it better, Holden.” She shifted, whimpering slightly. “You promised.”
I pulled almost all the way out again, and then sank back in. I kept up that pace, I was slow and soft. I kissed her mouth and her neck, her breasts. I pushed the hair back from her face and worshiped every inch of her I could reach with my lips. After a couple minutes she started to move with me, meeting me, thrust for thrust. Her back began to arch off the bed again, and her moans got really fucking loud. “God, babe, you feel so damn good.”
She was panting now, like everything I was giving her was too much. “Don’t stop.” She dug her heels into the mattress, making us move together harder. I knew her sounds. I knew she was close. I sunk myself inside her as far as I could go and started to grind, hitting her clit with my pelvis. “Holden.” She called out my name as she came, her pussy fisting my cock so hard I couldn’t help but follow her over the edge. I managed to pull out at the last second, spraying my release onto her toned stomach. I peered down at the evidence of our first time. The smear of blood on her otherwise flawless thighs, my come on her skin. I wanted to take a picture and send it to Finn. Not to make him jealous, never to make him jealous, but to share this with him. This heavy moment, the way it looked to see her this way.
In the end, I chose to keep this memory for myself.
We were both breathless, both sweating. “Don’t move.” I climbed out of bed to grab a warm washcloth from the bathroom. My legs were shaky, the weight of what I’d done making my blood hum and my muscles weak. It had been so good, so perfect.
My god, her body. As the fog begin to clear, the terror set in. What if I hurt her, what if she regretted it? What if in this moment all she wanted was Finn? When I got back, Roe was staring down at her stomach. Was she thinking what I had? That it was a perfect mess, almost beautiful. I cleaned her up and then tossed the rag into the hamper. Guess the housekeeper gets that one too. “You want to soak in a warm bath? You hungry? Thirsty? You can have more champagne now if you want it. I can go get another—”
“No.” Her eyes met mine as she held up the covers. “I want you to spoon me while we watch the rest of this movie.”
I climbed under the blankets, relieved she still wanted me next to her. I lay on my side, facing her, my hand resting on the swell of her hip. “I’ve been nervous all damn day.” I winced. “I told Finn we should hire you a gigolo.”
“Why were you nervous, H?” She reached out and smoothed my hair.
“I didn’t want sex to change us.” It was the truth, and she deserved to hear all of it. “I love what the three of us have. I love our life. I didn’t want anything to change. I was scared you’d be thinking about Finn the whole time, or you’d regret it was with me. I was worried that afterward things would be awkward. That we could never come back from the weight of what we’d done.”
“I didn’t think about Finn, not once. It was me and you, Holden. I love you, and I wanted this. I was ready for this. I don’t regret it, not one single second. Nothing changes, I promise.” She smiled.
So I smiled.
I was so relieved I wanted to cry.
I’d taken Roe’s virginity, and she’d taken mine, and she didn’t hate me. She wasn’t sobbing because she wanted Finn to be here. Things weren’t awkward or strained. She was still Roe and I was still Holden, and she still wanted to cuddle in bed and watch silly movies.
In that moment I thought we were all going to be okay because as long as Roe was good, we would be too.
Chapter Sixteen
Finn
I wasn’t sleeping when my phone rang. I was lying in bed staring at the ceiling like it held all the answers to the universe. I reached over to the nightstand where my cell was charging, grinning when I saw Roe’s gorgeous face. Her contact picture was her leaning out the window of one of my race cars, laughing with her hair blowing in the wind. Holden had taken it a few months back.
“Hey, baby. What are you still doing up? Everything okay?” I lay down, stretching out and running my free hand through my hair.
