Chapter 10 : Thongs & Threats

Eden's POV

I wake up in Dante's bed, somewhere I know I didn't fall asleep last night. Ryder's bedroom is light in colors ranging from ivory to beige, while Dante's room sports dark gray walls and stark black bedding. No matter whose room I wake up in, I'm just happy I wake up with both brothers beside me.

Dante has my back pinned to his chest, our bodies flushed together perfectly while Ryder has a light palm relaxed on my cheek, his touch so warm and electric. There's no easy way for me to get out of bed between them without waking everyone up at once.

I stay put until Dante slowly awakens next, kissing the back of my tangled, brunette curls. He drags his hand up my bare thigh, and I realize that although we are under the warmth of his blankets, I'm the only one naked.

We didn't do anything sensual after the blowout argument with Mason yesterday, but I think they like making me blush more than they like having sex with me. It works, too.

I stop Dante's hand as it brushes my erect, awaiting nipple, his large and tattooed hand taking my breast in his entire palm. A little squeal escapes me, and I turn, batting away his chest as he pulls me completely against him yet again.

He mauls kisses into my throat, and I fight a naughty snicker.

"Stop, Dante, you're going to wake up Ryder."

"Would he really protest?"

He snatches my wrist and bends it behind my hip, my hand finding the budding bulge under the fabric of his shorts.

"Go ahead, kitten," Dante breathes into my ear. "Wake him up."

"Too late," Ryder mumbles, his voice groggy still. "I'm up."

I flinch at his subtle tease, feeling that he is indeed, very up. Ryder guides my palm under the elastic hem of his shorts, bringing my fingertips to stroke him free of his clothing. Dante steals a little bit of my focus, working against me as his lips plow into mine.

Soon, they're both in my hands, and their hands are all over me as well. Someone plays with my damp core, while another pinches my nipples daringly. It's so hard to keep track of who is doing what, and where, but I don't mind the confusion.

As long as everyone ends up satisfied, then I'm delighted.

I do notice when Dante's hand yanks my knee sideways, pulling it up in the air awkwardly. Ryder presses his pelvis into my ass, his throbbing erection finding my ripe folds. I inhale with a hint of a yell, filled to the brim with pleasure and overflowing from it shortly.

Dante pulls my hands to focus on his c*ck, having me stroke him wildly while Ryder thrusts hard, jerking movements into my sex. They both moan and grumble, exuding typical tough-guy noises as they become putty in my hands.

I break first, overwhelmed by sensations while two sets of hands grab and guide and grind against me. Ryder bites my shoulder, sparking a yelp from my lips that Dante quickly muffles with his. I feel the warm, sticky come of Dante's d*ck first, spreading between my fingers.

Ryder is the last to come, his throbbing erection buried so deep inside of me that I hardly feel his ejaculation in the depths of my core. Ryder collapses onto his back, pulling out of me in surprise and making me hiss.

Dante chuckles, finding a shower towel on the floor and cleaning off my palm in an instant.

"That's better than coffee," Ryder huffs, standing from bed, stark naked and gorgeous in his natural after-sex glow. "Hell, that's better than whiskey."

"See?" Dante purrs, kissing my forehead before he leaves the bed next, just as stunning in my eyes. "I don't think he minded the wake-up call."

I bury myself into the bed, wishing we could just stay in it forever. "Where are you both going?"

"I have a meeting with Felix downtown," Dante huffs, slipping on a pair of nice, black dress pants.

Ryder returns from his room, fully dressed with the small exception of a few buttons he leaves undone while he checks his cell phone diligently. "Felix also asked me to find a buyer for our heisted treasure as soon as possible, so I'm going to the office by the harbor to look for a lucky merchant."

Something else catches my focus away from their daily work woes. "Why do you call him Felix? He's your dad, after all. Why don't you call him that?"

A cold look passes between the Golden brothers. Neither one of them wants to speak first, and I catch that apprehension quickly. I regret asking such a personal question.

"Never mind," I add, breaking the fragile silence. "I shouldn't ask something so intimate."

"Intimate?" Ryder teases, finally releasing a smile after furrowing so hard moments ago. He leans forward, finding my lips briefly and greeting them with a short, sweet kiss. "You can ask whatever you want, Eden. It's not intimate, it's just…"

"Complicated," Dante says in a thick, unkind tone. "Felix may be our father, but we haven't always seen eye-to-eye with him. We can discuss this topic later when we have more time. Okay?"

I nod in agreement, feeling like we're moving on from that topic forever.

I find the skirt that I first wore over to the penthouse folded at the foot of my bed next to a nice blouse I could pass off as my own. After getting dressed and evening my appearance out to be somewhat acceptable, I see the brothers getting ready to leave the penthouse.

Mason is perched on the couch, looking everywhere but at me directly. Dante comes over, slipping a heavy black credit card into my hand and kissing my forehead, right next to the spot Ryder kisses seconds later.

"Mason is going to take you shopping today. Get whatever you'd like, okay?" Ryder breathes.

Dante offers a risky grin, "And perhaps something we'd like as well."

I force a look of ease as they leave, letting it fall the moment the elevator soars downstairs. The last thing I want to do is spend the day with Mason Golden, especially if it entails looking for clothes and some sultry undergarments for the brothers to enjoy.

"Well, let's get this over with," Mason groans.

We stay at least two feet apart during the silent elevator ride, and even more quiet when we're pinched into a tight, flashy sports car.

"I don't hate you," he breathes, shattering the wall I've put up in my mind between us. "Dante mentioned that you think I hate you, and it's not the case, Eden. I just have a really hard time trusting people."

My shoulders relax with his explanation. "I have a lot of trouble doing that too, Mason."

It's quite the opposite when it comes to the brothers, though. I trusted them faster than anyone I've ever trusted in my life, and I can't pinpoint why. It was a gut feeling that just told me to let go, to fall forward because I knew they would catch me.

They certainly did, too.

"Considering I've been promoted to your bodyguard and chauffeur," he says, a hint of irritation nagging at his words, "I guess we should start getting more trusting with one another as soon as possible. Otherwise this will continue to be uncomfortable for us both."

"I agree. That sounds nice."

He pulls the car over at one of the longest stretches of upscale stores in the city. My breath hitches, eyeing the credit card with a hint of skepticism. I know Mason said the family is wealthy, but how wealthy?

No matter our squabbles with one another, Mason still opens my doors and takes me shopping. We stop at every store, Mason diligently packing the bags into the trunk as we continue and hanging out at every waiting area possible that includes a pretty saleswoman and expensive champagne.

I try on a short, casual dress and Mason nods in agreement, tossing the credit card to the blonde nearest to him with an uncaring look. I fall onto the couch beside him, watching the petite, beautiful woman stalk away.

"She's cute," I breathe, nudging his arm. "Why don't you get her number?"

He scoffs in rolling laughter. "You think she's my type?"

I shrug, not really sure what Mason's type would consist of. Anyone who can handle a permanent scowl and a bit of sarcasm would probably be his perfect match.

"She's not really what I look for," he jokes. He turns, pointing to a tall, albeit, muscular man across the store. "That's more my type, Eden."

My eyes widen in realization. That makes a little more sense considering the brothers teased me into getting some sexy apparel and then pushed me out the door with their cousin to buy it with me. Of course, seeing Mason smile coyly as the male catches his gaze across the store does soften his edges.

"Well, go make your move then," I breathe, poking at him to go.

He rolls his eyes, taking the card back as the woman returns with the receipt for the dress I'm wearing now. "I'm alright. There's too much going on for me in the family business to worry about getting laid. Plus, I'm taking you shopping. One task at a time."

He grabs the bag now holding my old shirt and skirt, leading me back down the sidewalk as the night closes in over the city.

Mason points to the last store on the block, a wide window sporting lingerie and cute panty sets that I just know the brothers would love to tear off of me.

"Might as well," Mason shrugs.

I nod, following his lead as I feel somewhat overwhelmed inside this sexy, sensual store. I'm accustomed to cheap, mismatched sets that I buy on clearance, but this place is nothing like where I've shopped before.

My fingers drag down the pink, sheer bodysuits that would expose everything it's meant to cover, rummaging over the black lace corset with garters that would dangle over my thighs. A pit swells in my stomach. I'm not nearly attractive enough to pull any of these outfits off.

"What about this?" Mason suggests, holding up a little package of vibrating toys and plugs.

My eyes widen as my face goes burning hot. "Oh, my god, Mason! Put that down."

He shakes his head, laying it on the checkout counter. "No can do, Eden. The brothers gave me a list."

"A list? A list of what, exactly?"

"Will you just go pick out some underwear, please," he groans. "I'm not in charge of getting those things, so you may as well go try some on."

I grumble but pick a few sets out, the saleslady defiantly judging my options as she leads me into a changing room. Mason plops down on the couch and sexual preference or not, I am not modeling any of these lacy sets for him.

Slipping into a red corset with a black lace garter, I feel my insecurities brim in the reflection of the mirror.

The door pops forward right as I turn and I hiss, ready to shove Mason back, but I become stricken with fear when I see Asher Donahue parading into the dressing room without hesitation. He shuts the door, closing us in, and my back presses into the cold mirror as I stare at him in silent shock.

"Mas—"

"Shh," Asher hisses, snapping his palm over my lips. He leans forward, his eyes darker than I recall. "Mason is going outside for a little talk with my guys. Don't worry about him. I'm more worried about you, sweetheart."

I yank my face from his large hand, shaking all over as I watch him drink in the sight of me dressed so provocatively. He doesn't hide his delight either, pinning me between his chest and the brittle mirror.

"You look nice," he breathes, his hot exhale brushing my forehead. "I can see why the Golden brothers chose you as their little sex toy before the bank robbery."

"It didn't happen like that," I correct him.

He rolls his eyes, uninterested in the truth. "I really wanted to believe that you didn't know any better, Eden. Looks like you're just as gullible as my father said you were. Whenever the brothers get tired of bending you over, they'll throw you back to the street to handle the mess they've created."

I don't know why, but his words wound me.

He leans his lips forward, letting them graze the edge of my cheek while his hands rest on my hips. "Dante and Ryder Golden will pay for stealing from us. If I have to make an example out of someone close to them, then I will."

I think back to Dante's assurance that Asher wouldn't hurt me. I can only hope that's true.

"I'd get dressed and head out of here pretty soon," Asher hums. "Something tells me Mason needs a hospital right about now."

Dante was right. Asher leaves the dressing room in a hurry, leaving me unharmed, but I shudder at his threat towards the brother's cousin.

What did Asher do to Mason?!