FRAGMENTED Read online

  I grip his shoulder tightly as I arch against his hand. His finger continues to rub, and I cry out his name as an orgasm rips through me, my inner muscles convulsing around his finger. Knight allows me to ride out the pleasure for another few seconds before he pulls his hand out of my pants and releases my hair. Then he's yanking at my pants and works them and my panties down my legs. I willingly step out of them, and then I am completely naked while he's still dressed.

  Knight abruptly grabs me around the waist and hauls me to the nearest car, placing me on the hood.

  He grins as he tears his shirt off, baring that chest that I've been dying to touch. He makes quick work of his jeans, and when I see his erection, my lower body clenches with need. I watch as Knight grabs a condom out of the back pocket of his jeans, and then he's rolling it on impatiently as he gazes at my naked body.

  He's on me a second later, his mouth demandingly claiming mine as he pushes my legs open wider and thrusts into me with no warning. Thankfully, I'm more than wet enough, and it doesn't hurt. His tongue tangles with mine, his hands sliding down to my hips where he grips them as he pumps in and out, deep and firm.

  I wrap my legs around his waist and my good hand grips his hip while I keep my cast out of the way. We frantically ride out the storm, our bodies straining and sweat slickening our skin.

  Knight grunts into my mouth, and then pulls back slightly, eyes-heavy lidded and grim as he hammers into me, his eyes on mine. “Too rough? Do you need help to come?”

  “I'm really close,” I mutter. With every push of his hips, his pubic bone is rubbing my clit. I grip his body, enjoying the fact that he's thrusting hard enough to make the car rock beneath us. He seems to read my mind, because he grinds himself harder against me, and it's all I need. My nails sink into his hip as I throw my head back and cry out as my body explodes and begins to clamp around him.

  Knight lets out a guttural hiss as my orgasm seems to trigger his, and he thrusts into me a few more times before he collapses on top of me, his entire body trembling. We lie there in each other’s arms, gasping and trying to catch our breath. I take a moment to savor the feel of him still inside me, his sweaty chest resting on mine as our hearts pound against one another.

  * * *

  I stir in Knight’s arms, and slowly my eyes open. It’s late evening, and we’d spent most of the day in bed. My eyes wander over him as he sleeps. Those sleek tanned muscles are on display as the sheet barely covers him, and I smile. His hair is a mess from our wild day in bed, and for the first time in a long time, I feel content and know that true happiness is now within reach. I never thought that things would turn around for me, and that I’d make an honest living and lay my past to rest. It’s slowly happening, and I know I have a ways to go yet, but this is the beginning.

  “What are you thinking?” Knight asks, his voice a low rumble from sleep.

  My attention shifts to him, and as I take in those dark eyes and naked body, I feel myself beginning to melt. “I’m thinking that I want to play,” I tease.

  I promptly sit up and climb onto him, straddling his hips as I lean down to capture his lips with my own. His mouth is warm, and he tastes faintly of something sweet. As the kiss deepens, I feel his hands settle on my hips, and he urges me to grind against his hard erection.

  My hips begin to rock, and he groans into my mouth. The sound causes pleasure to course through my veins. I’m desperate to touch his skin, and I break the kiss and straighten.

  I reach for his broad shoulders, and then with fascination, I trail my fingertips over his chest, learning every angle and ridge of his muscles. Earlier, he hadn’t given me a chance to explore. Now, I’m going to do my own exploring. I just wish the cast didn’t hinder me from using my left hand, too. It would have been nice to use both hands to pleasure him.

  Knight’s stomach quivers beneath my touch, and I can’t resist scooting down and lowering my head to brush my lips against his abdomen. The sound of his breath hissing out between his teeth has me smiling. My tongue flicks out, and I savor the salty flavor of his skin.

  “Elena, I should be the one seducing you…” he groans.

  “It works both ways, Knight,” I say with a throaty laugh, and I lift my head as my fingers dance along his skin. I’m avidly listening to every sound he makes. His hips have tensed, and I run my hand over his erection. It’s hard and probably aching painfully with its need for release.

  I reach out to grasp his hardness, enjoying the velvety feel of him, and I stroke his length. I move my hand up and down and expertly give his balls a little attention every time I reach his base.

  Knight arches his hips, releasing a low groan. “Stop, Elena, or I won’t be able to give you what you really want.”

  He has a point, and I sigh with disappointment.

  “Get over here,” he grits out as he turns onto his side and opens the drawer. I hear him fumbling around and then a wrapper tear before he turns back over to face me and slips on the condom.

  As soon as he’s ready, I straddle him and sink onto his length. His hardness fills me, and I can feel him in the deepest parts of me.

  Knight’s hands settle on my hips, and he urges me to move as he arches against me. I begin to rock on him as he steadily pumps into me. Soon, we both lose our grip on control, and our hips move faster.

  His hands slip around my back, tugging me down to meet his lips. While our lower bodies move in unison, our tongues tangle and we lose ourselves in each other. When we go over the edge, it’s together, and I moan into his mouth as he tenses beneath me.

  THIRTY-TWO

  Nathan

  When I wake up, I lie there for a moment until I recall that I’d been trying to bring Knight to the surface. My eyes slide to the digital calendar on the nightstand. It must have worked because I’d lost two days. The journal is sitting beside it, and I sit up and reach for it.

  Part of me is dreading reading whatever Knight has written. If he’d gotten through to Elena, that means they’re officially seeing each other—that I have to share her.

  The idea still bothers me, but I don’t see any other way. I open the journal and find a short message.

  Talk to Elena. Your uncle was here. I didn’t like the way he looked at her, he might become a problem.

  My forehead creases as I think upon the only conversation I’d had with my uncle over Elena. He’d dared to bring her up once, and I’d shut down the conversation before it could go further. I’m aware that he disapproves of my dating the help as he’d put it. I’d made it very clear that he had no say in who I date.

  Strangely enough, knowing Knight’s just as protective of Elena eases some of the ire I feel over having to share her with him. I also hadn’t considered that having Knight watching over Elena might be a good thing.

  It looks like I also might need to have another conversation with my uncle. Elena deserves nothing but respect regardless of whether she works in this household or not. I won’t tolerate anyone making her feel like she’s lesser than them.

  I study the short note that he’d written. There are plenty of ways that could be interpreted. She either came around to the idea or is pissed. Instinct has me leaning over the bed to look inside the waste basket situated next to the bed. There’s a torn condom wrapper and used condom at the bottom.

  Jealousy slams into me full force, nearly stealing the breath from my lungs. I allow myself to process the emotion, and then I pull myself together as I inhale deeply and then exhale. This is what I wanted, I remind myself.

  We need this.

  It’s what will keep us together, and Knight is a link that Elena and I need. After a few minutes of thinking logically, the jealousy begins to fade.

  We need Elena

  One can’t have her without the other, and jealousy has no place here. Every day, it’ll become easier and easier, I think to myself as I climb out of bed and head for the shower.

  Knowing Elena like I do, she’s probably worrying herself to death over how I
’m going to react.

  The sooner I track her down, the better.

  THIRTY-THREE

  Elena

  Anxiety is eating away at my insides.

  There’s a chance that Nathan could appear today. Considering Knight hadn’t come down for breakfast yet, I’m assuming Nathan possibly took over. It had made more sense for me to spend the night in my own bed in case Nathan did surface. That would be a bad way to start off the conversation that needs to be had.

  It had taken me a while to realize that Nathan was right, but now I have to face the reality of my actions. I’m scared that I’m going to unintentionally hurt him.

  Maybe Knight and I moved too fast.

  Though it hadn’t felt that way. It just felt natural, like it had with Nathan that first time. A little voice in my head reminds me that Nathan’s the one who put me in this situation in the first place.

  I sigh and pick up the tote filled with cleaning supplies and make my way out of the guest room. There’s a lot that needs to be discussed.

  When I see the focus of my thoughts walking towards me, my feet pause, and I freeze in the hallway.

  He’s dressed in jeans and tee, so he could either be Knight or Nathan. The smile that curves his lips is affectionate. “There you are.”

  His smile reminds me of Nathan. “Nathan…?”

  “Yes, it’s me. We need to talk,” he says with an easiness that surprises me. “Studio?” he questions.

  I nod in agreement, and he politely takes the tote from my grip and leads me to the studio. I’m quiet as I walk beside him. The last time we’d been with one another, I’d been furious with him. Now things have changed, and I’m not sure how to go about this conversation.

  Once inside, Nathan closes the door and sets down the tote. He then comes over to stand in front of me. “I know,” he says gently as his eyes soften.

  He must know how far things went with Knight, and my mouth falls open before I give him a crestfallen look. “I…was supposed to be the one to tell you. Did he…?”

  He quickly shakes his head. “No,” he says, his voice firm. “I figured it out on my own. All Knight wrote in the journal was that I needed to talk with you,” he assures.

  “Oh. Then how…” I look at him questioningly.

  He reaches out and tenderly brushes a strand of hair away from my cheek. “It doesn’t matter. What’s important is how you’re feeling about it.”

  My eyes widen with dismay. “Me? What about you?”

  Something shifts in his gaze, and I see an unwaveringness that hadn’t been there the last time we’d spoken. He no longer looks torn over sharing me with Knight. “Elena, I suggested this whole thing, remember?”

  “Yes, but now it’s become reality, Nathan.”

  He nods in agreement, but his eyes remain steadfast. “I’m not going to lie and say it’s easy, but I assure you that I can live with it.” Speculation becomes apparent in his gaze. “You feel something for him, don’t you?”

  I silently nod.

  Much to my surprise, he looks relieved. “That’s good. I would have hated it if you were only doing this because of us.”

  “I don’t think I’m capable of that,” I say truthfully. “My past plays a huge part in who I am today, and casual is no longer something I can accept for myself.”

  Nathan looks pleased by my admission. “Good, because you deserve nothing but the best.”

  I naturally look away as I always do when it comes to compliments.

  Nathan tilts my chin with his finger so I have no choice but to look up at him. “We need to work on the way you see yourself. You’re a beautiful soul, inside and out.”

  I give him a sad look. “Maybe someday I’ll believe that.”

  His eyes burn into mine. “And maybe someday, I’ll believe I’m worthy of you.” My lips part to reply, and his finger stops them. “Maybe we can help each other get there,” he says before he pulls me into a hug.

  The second his arms wrap around me; I lean against his chest and press my face to his shoulder. For the first time since this entire thing began between us, I honestly feel like we’re on the right track. We stand there, embracing for a long time until Nathan pulls back and looks at me with questions written all over his handsome face. “How did it go with Knight?”

  My nose immediately wrinkles. He can’t be serious.

  “Not that,” he says with a grimace. “The other stuff.”

  I look at him searchingly. He really wants to know?

  “This is never going to work if we avoid talking about him,” he reminds.

  I wet my lips and ask, “Do you really think it’ll work? That it won’t somehow all fall apart?”

  “We can’t think like that or it will fall apart. How can any of this be bad?” He gives me one of his disarming smiles. “You’re the only thing that feels so damn right. You’re the glue between me and the others. You accept us.”

  “What about Oliver? He’s already spoken of interest with girls… And then there’s Corbin.” I can’t ignore the fact that those two alters might very well cause problems down the road.

  “We’ll take it as it comes. There’s no point in trying to predict anything. When the time comes, we’ll work through it together.”

  Knowing he’s right, I nod in agreement.

  “Back to Knight. I take it he did something right?” Nathan asks dryly.

  I find myself smiling. “He’s not the man you think him to be. He’s more, and better.”

  He doesn’t look impressed. “I’ll have to take your word for it.”

  I quickly sober and look at him apologetically. “I’m sorry for how I reacted when you first suggested this.”

  He immediately pulls me back to him, holding me tightly and pressing a kiss to the crown of my head. “None of it surprised me and was expected. This isn’t a conventional relationship, and I knew you’d struggle with the idea.”

  I snuggle into his shoulder and wrap my good arm around his waist. He smells really good today, and I enjoy being close to him. “I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.”

  “Never,” he murmurs into my hair.

  “So what happens now?” I ask.

  He pulls back so he can peer down at me. “I have that gallery viewing in two weeks. I think for now, we’ll continue as things are, and after I come back from New York, well re-evaluate our current situation and see how we can make it better,” he suggests.

  “I think that sounds like a good plan,” I say with a glowing smile.

  Nathan’s brow creases. “As much a I want to enjoy being with you and being on the same page for once, I need to get to work. I still have five more paintings I need to come up with.”

  We both reluctantly step away from each other. “I need to run errands anyway.”

  “Take Griffin or Cameron,” he says automatically.

  “Actually, I think I’m going to take an Uber instead,” I say thoughtfully.

  He looks at me with a hint of concern. “Are you sure?”

  I give him a wan smile. “I can’t run from my past anymore. If I continue doing that, I’ll only be hiding.” I’m beginning to realize that if I can fight for these complicated relationships with Nathan and Knight, I can fight for my right to lead a normal life.

  Nathan comes over and kisses me tenderly. “You’re braver than you think, Elena Torres.”

  “So are you,” I tell him.

  * * *

  It turns out, my Uber driver is a woman. She’s friendly and chats most of the drive, putting me at ease.

  At the grocery store, I take my time going up and down the aisles. I can’t go through life assuming people are going to recognize me. Like Nathan had stated, I can’t live my life according to ‘what ifs.’ All I can do is focus on the positive aspects of my life, and that would be Nathan, Knight, Cameron, Griffin, and my job.

  The reality is, I’ve been through the worst. If someone recognizes me, all they can do is say something cruel. I’ve been through
much more than that, and if I can bounce back from Brick’s verbal attack, I can handle a few unwelcome comments. I know that I have a long way to go with my self-esteem, but I’m slowly moving forward—and that’s something.

  I’m nearly finished with my shopping when a well-dressed, young man approaches me. “Mr. Lancaster would like a word, Miss Torres.”

  I look at him blankly until it dawns on me that he’s referring to Nathan’s uncle. Everything stills within me. This can’t be good, and I have a feeling that this is where the proverbial rug gets yanked out from beneath me. All this time I’d thought it’d be Nathan or Knight that might unintentionally destroy things.

  I should have known it’d be William Lancaster.

  I straighten my spine and decide to face whatever he’s going to throw at me. I’ve come this far, and it hasn’t been easy. After all the ups and downs of the past month, there’s no way I’m letting Nathan’s uncle destroy the peace we’ve finally found.

  As much as I’d like to decline and outright avoid the drama, I had just told Nathan earlier that I was done running from my problems. It’s best to face them head on these days.

  I glance at my nearly full cart and sigh with disappointment. Perhaps if I leave it by the restrooms, it’ll still be there when I come back.

  A moment later, I follow the man outside and find a limousine in the parking lot. A few people are looking at me curiously, and I inwardly cringe. I’ve had enough attention focused on me to last a lifetime.

  The man opens the door and urges me to climb in.

  Reluctantly, I enter the limo and see Mr. Lancaster sitting on the opposite leather seat, unsmiling. “Miss Torres.”

  “Mr. Lancaster,” I say politely, settling across from him.

  “You’re a difficult woman to get alone,” he comments as his eyes sweep over my usual attire—a tee shirt and leggings.