Forbidden Legacy (23 page)

“I don’t have a choice.”

“Because of me.”

Harrison didn’t respond, didn’t want to put that load on her shoulders. It wasn’t her fault.

Before he could reassure her, Price nodded. “If you were a member, maybe some of what happened last night could be salvaged. As it is, there are too many Trinity Masters who know you were here, know you’ve seen too much.”

“Then I’ll join.”

Harrison smiled. “That’s your choice. I sincerely hope you will. For Michael.”

Alexis frowned. “Michael?”

“He still has a year before he has to be settled into a triad. I have to be married immediately, Lex.”

She stood up and took his hand. “And I’m not in the available pool.”

He shook his head. “Not yet.”

“Actually she is.” Price held up an old book. Harrison recognized the binding. It was the bylaws of the Trinity Masters. Price thumbed through the pages. “There’s a loophole.”

“I don’t know of any—” Harrison started.

“Here.” Price pointed to the page.

Harrison skimmed the section, hope emerging. “Does she qualify?”

Price lifted one shoulder. “I think so. And for this very brief moment in time, according to the phone call I received from Giles this morning, I’m the acting Grand Master. Or at least I will be once you submit your resignation to me.”

Harrison knew the job promotion brought Price no pleasure. “Are you sure about this?” he asked, pointing to the bylaws. “You run the risk of pissing off a hell of a lot of people.”

Price gave him an annoyed look. “Does that seem like something that will cost me sleepless nights?”

Harrison chuckled. “Fine. I resign my post as Grand Master. Do you want it in writing or is my verbal renouncement good enough.”

“Verbal is okay for now, though you’ll have to write the letter later.”

“Harrison,” Alexis said. “Wait.”

Harrison shook his head. “This is the right thing to do, Lex. Trust me.”

Price turned to Alexis. “My first duty as Grand Master is to declare Dr. Alexis Jenner an honorary member of the Trinity Masters for her acts of bravery as she sought to protect our society.”

Alexis snorted. “What acts of bravery?”

Price ran a weary hand through his hair. “Jesus. Are you sure you want to marry her? She strikes me as the type who’ll make everything a fight.”

Michael laughed, wrapping his arm around Alexis’s shoulders. “She will. That’s why life with her will never be boring.”

She shot Michael a dirty look. “Does someone want to tell me when I left the room? Oh wait, that’s right. I didn’t. I’m still standing right here.”

“Gunner forwarded me the video feed of what happened in Harrison’s office with Ryan. I saw you kick the man in an effort to stop him from stealing our personal information. That counts as bravery. Can I continue?” Price asked.

Alexis seemed to consider his response and then nodded. “Sure. Go ahead.”

Price rolled his eyes but continued. “As an honorary member, I hereby grant you all the rights and privileges of a full-fledged member until such time as permanent status can be awarded. Do you agree to obey the laws of the Trinity Masters?”

Alexis looked at Harrison and then Michael before saying, “Um, I do?”

Price sighed heavily. “Was that a question or an answer?”

She shrugged. “An answer?”

Michael and Harrison laughed.

“It was an answer.” Harrison was too happy to even bother calling Price to task for his Spark Notes version of the initiation. He was overwhelmed by everything that was happening. He’d spent months anticipating the day when he’d have to leave the Trinity Masters and walk away from Michael and Alexis. Now, faced with the reality that all of his dreams were coming true, he was finding it difficult to focus on anything too closely.

Michael reached for the bylaws. “You can really do that?”

Price nodded. “My second act is to ask each of you to join me in the ceremony room for the bonding. Do you understand what that means, Alexis?”

“Yes.”

Price gave Harrison and Michael a disapproving look. “Told her everything, didn’t you?”

Harrison lifted one shoulder, incapable of feeling guilty for sharing anything with Alexis.

“You have a month to get your lives in order. Then you’ll return here for the marriage ceremony. At that point, Harrison will have satisfied the requirement that states he must be married before his forty-fifth birthday and all’s well that ends well.”

Harrison slapped Price on the shoulder. “Thank you, Price. I know you’ll take a few hits for this.”

Price shook Harrison’s hand. “I figure I owe you. You gave me Gunner and Deni. I hope you’ll be as happy in this match as I am in the one you created for me. Come on. Let’s get the three of you bonded. Give me a few minutes to get everything ready.” Price walked out of the room to prepare for the ceremony.

Michael went to a closet and pulled out a white robe. “You take off your T-shirt and put this on. When you hear the bell, you walk through that door.” He pointed to a different door than the one to the hallway.

“Michael and I will meet you in the center of the room,” Harrison added, “and then we make this official.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She was going to be his. Harrison wasn’t sure, but he thought he could fly if someone asked him to. He’d never felt so light, so happy. So complete.

“Official,” she repeated. “Sounds good to me.”

Harrison and Michael left her alone. When they reached the hallway, Harrison glanced at his best friend. “How the hell did we get from last night’s misery to this?”

Michael chuckled. “No idea, but I’m sure not going to complain. Let’s go get ready and do this before Price comes to his senses.”

Harrison started to turn away but then reached out to grasp Michael’s arm. “I’m sorry for the past few months.”

Michael waved his words away. “Water under the bridge.”

“You’re my best friend, Michael. And I can’t wait for us to start our lives together with Alexis.”

Michael grinned. “Ditto.”

Harrison watched his friend walk to another dressing room with a distinct spring in his step. Apparently, Harrison wasn’t the only one who felt like flying.

*****

Alexis’s heart raced when she considered what she was about to do. Just yesterday, she’d been faced with spending her life without Michael and Harrison. Now, she was pledging herself to them. Forever.

She should be freaking out, searching for the exit. Instead, she’d never felt happier. She took a deep breath, letting it soothe her, and her heart soon calmed. She was ready for this.

Alexis slipped off her shirt and slid the white robe over her body. Before she knew it, a bell sounded.

She walked into the room, amazed by the grandeur of the place despite its small size. It was an intimate space with a solemn beauty that spoke to her. How many generations of Trinity Masters had pledged their loyalty and their love in this room?

She walked to the center of the room, studying the metal medallion emblazoned with the Trinity Masters’ symbol and illuminated by light that adorned the floor. The marble was cool on her bare feet.

She smiled when Michael and Harrison joined her. None of them had raised the hoods of their robes, though Harrison had explained that was usually part of the ceremony. The revelation of the partners’ identities was a major part of the bonding, but Alexis wasn’t standing here with strangers. She knew and loved the men flanking her.

Price stepped forward, completing the circle. He bid them to put their right hands out. He took a long gold chain from around his neck and used it to bind their wrists together. “You now belong to one another.”

Michael squeezed her hand and then used his free one to cup her cheek. He leaned forward. “I love you, Alexis.”

She smiled, sniffling as happy tears filled her eyes. “I love you too.”

He kissed her gently, the soft touch in direct contrast to the rough lover she’d come to know and adore.

When he released her, Harrison was there. He stroked her hair. “I never thought, I always hoped…”

She nodded, not bothering to hold the tears at bay. “So did I, Harry.”

Harrison pressed his forehead against hers as they closed their eyes, soaking up each other’s scents and warmth. Then he kissed her.

Price unwrapped the chain. “You have one month to get your affairs in order. At that time, you’ll return here to be formally bound in the marriage of the Trinity Masters.”

*****

Price’s words were still ringing in Alexis’s ears as she entered Harrison’s apartment. She saw the note she’d left them the day before. She shuddered when she recalled how Ryan had tricked her, how close she’d come to losing the men she loved and her own life.

Michael walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “You’re ours,” he whispered.

She smiled as she twisted and placed her palms on each side of his face. “And don’t you forget it.”

Harrison cleared his throat and they turned to see him walking down the hallway toward his bedroom. “Anyone care to join me?” he called out over his shoulder.

Michael winked at Alexis. “Race you.”

“Loser does whatever the winner wants.”

“Deal,” Michael said, laughing when Alexis took off. He caught up to her halfway, picked her up at the doorway and threw her over his shoulder.

“You cheated,” she cried out, laughing when he tossed her to the mattress.

“So did you. No one said go.” Michael tickled her and both of them wrestled on the bed. Neither of them noticed Harrison had taken off his clothes until he turned on music and came to stand at the end of the bed.

Alexis and Michael sat up. One look at Harrison took her breath away, and suddenly the reality of what she’d done, of where they were caught up to her.

“We’re getting married.”

Michael chuckled at her astonished tone. “That’s still a good thing, right?”

“It is. Yesterday was so horrible.”

Harrison smiled, his face filled with understanding. “Stand up, Lex. Let’s find a way to forget about that.”

She rose and walked to him. Harrison undressed her slowly, taking his time to kiss each revealed piece of skin. By the time she was naked, she was having trouble remembering her name, let alone the day before.

Harrison led her to the bed, where a naked Michael waited for them. She crawled across the mattress into Michael’s open arms. He kissed her as Harrison spooned her from behind, his tongue and teeth teasing the nape of her neck.

Then Harrison flipped to his back. “Climb on, Lex.”

She turned, so ready for what her lover was offering. Alexis straddled Harrison’s hips, reaching down to direct his hard cock to her pussy. They both sighed loudly as she sank onto it, taking him deep on the first pass. She started to rise, but Harrison gripped her waist, holding her in place.

“Wait for Michael.”

She paused, confused for only a second. During their past sexual interludes, Harrison and Michael had taken turns. The only time they’d all participated together had been that steamy afternoon in the doctor’s lounge when she’d sucked Harrison’s cock as Michael fucked her.

But Michael wasn’t in front of her now. Instead, he was kneeling directly behind her. She recalled his wicked promise. They’d both take her only after they had made the commitment to spend their lives together.

She shivered—with anticipation and a tiny bit of fear—when Michael pressed on her upper back, directing her downward until her breasts rested on Harrison’s chest. She jerked slightly when the cold lube Michael had found somewhere touched her anus. Harrison wrapped his arms around her, offering her a soft kiss and a quiet
shh
.

Michael took his time, adding lube, stretching the taut hole with his fingers. Her fear vanished, replaced by a white-hot need that grew more intense with each stroke of his fingers.

Soon, she was panting, begging, but Michael didn’t stray from his task, didn’t rush things. She wanted to appreciate his thoroughness, his care. She didn’t. She tried to thrust her hips against Harrison’s thick cock, trying to satisfy some of the aching need. But Harrison was clearly playing on Michael’s team. He tightened his grip until she couldn’t move. All she could do was take what they were giving.

Frustrated, she bit Harrison’s shoulder, eliciting a chuckle from the infuriating man.

“I think our little wildcat is ready, Michael.”

Michael withdrew his fingers from her anus. She groaned, missing them the moment they were gone. Then he slapped her ass—three quick, hard, hot taps that pushed her too close to the edge. Her pussy clenched.

“Jesus,” Harrison murmured. “Get inside her, Michael. Now.”

She lifted her head, kissing Harrison, grateful for his help.

Then she gasped as Michael placed the head of his cock at her ass. She held her breath as he slowly pushed inside. She’d been a fool to rush this, to think it was a good idea. Both men were well endowed—thick and long. She felt filled to the brink with just one lover inside her. There was no way they could both fit. At least not comfortably.

Michael must have sensed her sudden distress because he stopped moving.

“Alexis.” His voice had assumed that deep, commanding tone that made her panties wet. “If it hurts, you simply have to say the word ‘stop’.”

She sucked in a deep breath, her head fuzzy with longing and confusion and God only knew what else.

He still didn’t move. “Do you understand?”

She nodded just once, but that response didn’t seem to appease him.

“Say ‘yes, Michael.’”

“Yes, Michael. I understand.”

“Does it hurt?”

She nodded again. “Yes. A little. But don’t stop.”

Michael gently stroked her ass as Harrison caressed her hair. He started whispering words of encouragement as Michael began his journey forward once more.

Between their soft caresses and slow motions, Alexis found herself drifting away, losing herself in a place she’d never been. Slight twinges of pain morphed into pleasurable sensations that touched parts of her that had never known arousal. For several moments, she actually felt as if she were floating above her body, watching the sensual show rather than experiencing it.