I’ve spent my whole life fighting for power in a man’s world. I rebel and push the boundaries, but with my guys, it’s like I can let go and just be Sadie Ray, instead of club princess Sadie Ray Dalton.
Rhett is quiet behind me, but the dark cloud usually circling him has dissipated. I might even say he’s… relaxed.
“What?” he asks as a small chuckle leaves my lips.
“Nothing.” I glance back at him, inhaling a sharp breath at the remaining intensity in his eyes.
“Careful, princess, or I might think you want to be spanked again.” His lip quirks.
“I wouldn’t complain.” I bat my lashes and Dane lets out a howl.
“She’s got you wrapped around her fucking pinky. How does it feel to be pussy-whipped, bro?”
“Dane,” I warn. I don’t want anything to ruin this rare moment of peace we’ve found ourselves in.
“He’s not wrong, princess.” Rhett drags his tongue up my throat, nipping my jaw before smacking my ass. Hard.
I jolt forward in the water, yelping. They all laugh.
Assholes.
Dane prowls forward in the water, holding his arm around my waist and turning me into him so my back is against his chest. “Come sit with me, Sadie, girl.” He sinks back against the shallow rocks.
“Hi,” Wes says, smiling.
“Hi.” I fight a grin. “So what did Ray really say?” I ask the question nobody seems to want to discuss.
“Oh, you know, he threatened to cut off our balls if we so much as hurt a hair on your head.”
“That’s all?” I lift a brow.
“Don’t worry about Prez,” Rhett says. “He knows the deal.”
“And what is the deal, Savage?”
His eyes flare at the way his name rolls off my tongue. “I think you know, princess.”
“I think you should spell it out for me.”
He’s here, which speaks volumes, but he still hasn’t said the words I so desperately need to hear.
I hold his stare, refusing to back down. I need him to be all in on this. More than I ever realized. It’s like they each hold a piece of me, completing me somehow. Dane makes me laugh. He shows me how impulsive and wild and reckless life can be. Wes is like my anchor. He’s quiet and intense and he makes me feel grounded. Then there’s Rhett. He pushes me the way no one else ever has before. He feeds the darker parts of me. The part of me that wants to be dominated.
“Shit, princess,” Dane smirks against my neck, “you really shouldn’t push him.”
“Really? Because I think it’s exactly what I should do.”
“She’s right,” Rhett says, and the cave falls so quiet I can hear the steady beat of my heart.
“I am?”
“Don’t look so surprised.” He glowers. “You forced my hand when you outed us to Daddy Dearest.”
“Asshole,” I snarl.
“Didn’t ever claim to be anything else, princess. But I’m your asshole now, so suck it up.”
A triumphant smile tugs at my lips. “Damn right you are.”
Dane snorts while Wes laughs quietly beside me. Part of me wonders what he makes of all this. He isn’t a Sinner. He isn’t in this life.
But he’s in my life now.
And I refuse to give him up for anything.
“Do we need to figure out some kind of schedule?” Dane asks with a hint of humor.
“Schedule?” Rhett balks.
“Yeah, like who gets to fuck her and when.”
“Hey, asshole.” I jam my elbows into his stomach. “We don’t need a schedule.”
“I don’t know, princess,” Wes says, finally finding his voice. “It’s not a bad idea.”
“Seriously, we are not having a schedule.”
They’re joking.
They have to be joking.
“Sounds reasonable to me,” Rhett adds. “So long as you’re in my bed the most.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re going to have to learn to share your toys, Savage.”
“The way I see it, princess, there’s enough of you to go around. Pussy, mouth… hands.”
They’re all chuckling again. Feeling indignant, I push out of Dane’s arms and swim off toward the mouth of the cave.
“I’m getting wrinkly, and I’m hungry… and before you say anything, I’m hungry for actual food. Not dick.” I wink before diving under the water and swimming out of the cave.
Wondering how long it’ll take for them to follow.
When we’re all dry and dressed, we walk back to the compound together. There are a few guys milling around the shop, but they pay us little attention. But once we enter the clubhouse, the noise quiets down as everyone watches me walk ahead of my guys. Power thrums through my veins, knowing that Rhett, Dane, and even Wes are behind me. With me.
“Nice swim?” Pacman hollers from behind the bar. Someone snickers and then a crack rings out.
“Enough,” Dad booms. “Unless someone wants to get their dick blown off, I suggest everyone keeps their goddamn mouths shut.”
Rhett moves ahead of me, making a beeline for the bar, and the noise starts up again. Quinn and River beckon me over and I go to them, dropping down on the leather banquette.
“Where the hell did you go?” Quinn seethes.
“For a swim.” I shrug.
“With all three of them.”
I don’t like the accusation in her eyes. “Quinn, I’m with them. All of them.”
“You’re fucking crazy,” she murmurs.
“How does that work exactly?” River asks, intrigue glittering in her eyes.
“Ew, gross, Riv. That’s your brother—”
“Relax, I’m not… forget it.” She blushes.
“I agree with Quinn,” I say around a smirk. “You probably don’t want to hear about how your big brother makes me—”
Quinn claps her hand over my mouth and frowns. “How are you so okay with all of this? We’re on lockdown because there’s a psycho out there who wants to hurt you, and you’re acting like this is one big party.”
“What would you rather I do? Sit around terrified, shaking and crying in the corner?”
“No, but this is serious, Sadie.”
“I know that. Trust me, I know.” My teeth grind together. “But I refuse to be a victim, Quinn.”
“Because you’d rather be a dirty whore, right?” Tasha appears out of nowhere, snarling in my direction.
“Seriously, Tash,” Dane says, coming over to our table. “You need to take a walk before you say something you’ll regret.”
“Maybe I’ll go keep Rhett company.” Her eyes light up.
“Try it, bitch,” I hiss, my fist clenched at my side.
“Relax, Sadie, she isn’t worth it.” Quinn shoots Tasha a cold look.
“Whatever.” She flicks her long, dull hair off her shoulder and walks away, swaying slightly.
“Jesus,” Dane breathes, dropping down beside me.
“She’s either drunk or high,” Jax says, shaking his head.
“I don’t know why Uncle Ray keeps letting her come around,” Quinn adds.