The Collection (Contemporary Reverse Harem 5)

Chapter 28

MARLON

All right. Kealy was tripping on the sharing thing. It was to be expected.

It wasn’t easy to be unconventional. I knew that firsthand. Coming from a family like mine and not following everyone else’s footsteps into the world of movers and shakers, floored my parents. My dad would judge me for the rest of my life.

Which just goes to show, you can’t live for someone else. Kealy had to do what was right for her. Whichever way she went, we’d support her. Of course, I knew what I hoped she’d do.

But it was her choice.

“I’m sorry,” she said, plopping back down at the dining table where the rest of us had put down our forks—something we never did when we’d been served Rand’s lasagna.

“Don’t look so sad, baby,” I said. “I brought you some good news tonight.”

As all eyes spun in my direction, I caught a spark of hope in Kealy’s beautiful green eyes. I had to love that about someone who, in the face of hard times, kept looking for the silver lining.

I hoped I could get her the silver lining she deserved.

“I can fund your start-up,” I said simply.

Her mouth opened slowly, then closed just as slowly.

Rand whistled softly. Wasn’t sure what that meant. But, honestly, I was focused on my girl.

Our girl.

She shook her head quickly, throwing her blonde hair all over her face. “No. No, I can’t accept something like that.”

I said nothing, giving her time to run through all the possibilities. She’d clearly leapt at turning down my offer, a knee-jerk reaction I’d half-expected. She was proud. She wouldn’t want charity.

But this wasn’t charity. It was a business proposition, and from what I knew of her work, and the fashion industry, it was a smart business proposition.

She picked up her fork and took a mouthful of lasagna.

She was a stubborn one, apparently.

“Kealy, don’t you want to hear about what Marlon has in mind?” Cross asked. I eyed him across the table with the slightest nod of thanks.

I needed my brothers’ support to convince our girl to accept help.

She didn’t look up from her plate. “It’s…um…weird. I couldn’t do that. I don’t even know what’s going to happen among all of us. How could I let you get involved with the collection I want to create?”

And when she finally did look at me, I saw torment on her beautiful face. That about killed me. But I stayed silent. I was nothing if not patient.

“Love, if I could speak for Marlon, I think he’s trying to say he believes in you,” Shane said.

“Just tell me you’ll think about it,” I said. It was a lot to take in. I knew that.

A small smile grew on Kealy’s face. “Thank you, Marlon. You’re so incredible.” She looked around the table. “You all are, really. So amazing.”

“We think the same of you, doll,” I said.

“On that note,” Rand said, rising from the table, “let’s retire to the living room for some after dinner drinks.”

Rand’s place had killer views of Upper Manhattan, all the way to Harlem and beyond. We grabbed seats where we could enjoy the city so far below us, while he poured us guys some scotch. Kealy surprised me by taking one, too.

“I’m going for the hard stuff, guys,” she said, raising her glass in toast.

Got to love a woman who drinks scotch.

Rand went over to his stereo, where he turned Pandora to the Buddha Bar station. Sexy world music filled the room. Kealy’s shoulders relaxed as the tension she’d been carrying withered. Christ, she might be able walk away, but I was getting to where I didn’t think I could breathe without her.

Cross had taken the sofa seat next to Kealy and brought her hand to his lips. He brushed them over her soft skin, and she dropped her head back, letting her eyes flutter closed.

Fuck, it drove me crazy to see her getting turned on. I shifted in my seat to take some of the pressure off my growing cock. Shane saw me doing it and stifled a laugh.

Fucker. If he wasn’t hard yet, he would be soon.

“How you feelin’, baby?” Cross asked, taking Kealy’s drink from her and setting it on the coffee table.

She looked up. “Awesome, really. It feels to good to be here with you guys.” She looked at us all, one by one.

“Yeah? How would you feel about standing up for us and taking off some of your clothes? Not all of them. Just some.” He’d always been an instigator. Loved that about him.

She shrugged shyly, but the smile on her face screamed she was game.

“Well, I don’t know about that, Cross. I mean, would you respect me in the morning?”

Christ, her mood had improved.

Cross threw his head back and laughed. He then reached for our girl and pulled her to him. Their lips crashed together with a fury that about killed me.

I crossed the room in double time, took the other side of the sofa from Cross, and turned Kealy to kiss me. Cross’s face broke into a huge smile when she began to work the buttons on her blouse.

“Stand up, baby,” Shane said, gently pulling her from me to get her standing. I remained in front of her and returned to our kiss, as he opened her jeans. Together, he and Cross shimmied them down her hips. Her shirt fell to the floor at the same time, leaving her wearing nothing but black lace panties that rose over her ass cheeks just enough to expose her beautiful little globes of flesh.

I was an ass man; I had to admit it.

I immediately knelt behind her, covering her bum with little kisses and bites. Every time I put my teeth to her, she tensed a bit and then relaxed, leaving her cheeks dancing with little wobbles.

It was more than I could take.