The Initiation (Filthy Rich Americans 1)

The question was loud in Royce’s expression. He needed to know if I could keep going. I gave the subtlest of nods and closed my eyes.

Down, he pulled the lace, dragging it over my thighs and trembling knees. My breath went so shallow I was barely taking air into my body, and I swayed, a reed in the wind. One strong gust and I’d break.

The quick, uneven breath and shuffle of feet was the only thing I could hear when he bent, and my underwear dropped all the way to my ankles. Then Royce straightened, and his voice went nearly silent, like he didn’t want to disturb me or the quiet in the room.

“Have a seat.”

I had to open my eyes to do it. I put my hands down beside me on the tabletop at my back, and my bare skin squealed as I got up, sliding until my knees were at the edge, my feet dangling over the side. I pinched my legs together and my shoulders were tight to my ears. Tension twisted so hard inside me it made my chest hurt.

This command came from Macalister instead of his son. “Lie back.”

Oh, God.

Trepidation was strong, but so was relief. It wouldn’t be long now, and the sooner we started, the sooner it would be over. I’d waited so fucking long, the darkest part inside of me no longer cared how it happened. I was eager for Royce to make me his.

The table was a hard slab of concrete against my heated skin. My shoes and panties were removed, and I curled my awkward hands in fists, resting them tensely over my stomach. I couldn’t really see the Hales at the end of the table, but the other men? They stood shoulder to shoulder at the sides of the table, their curious and thirsty gazes exploring the naked landscape before them.

“Are you comfortable?” Macalister’s tone was pleasant and off-putting.

“Yeah,” I said, punctuated by a nervous, sarcastic laugh. Being naked was beyond disorienting. “This is great.”

Although I couldn’t see him without lifting my head, I felt Royce stiffen at my flippant tone. I wished I could take it back. If the board found me disrespectful, would I lose their approval? I pressed my lips together to keep anything else unfiltered from coming out.

Rather than look upset, Macalister appeared understanding and turned to his son. “There’s a pillow in the cabinet with the hourglass.”

Right, I wanted to say. A pillow was going to make all the difference. I stared up at the chandelier, ignoring the eyes leering down at me. I’d never really been naked in front of the opposite sex. Royce had seen all of my body, but not at one time, and now there were nine men seeing me at once.

Try to enjoy it, Alice had said.

Had she done this? Lain right here on this same spot while Macalister fucked her? Had she been special enough to warrant a pillow? I wanted to giggle inappropriately. My emotions were all over the place.

My eyelids fluttered closed as I drew in a deep breath through my nose and pushed it out slowly through my mouth, hoping to center myself. A cabinet opened and clicked closed, followed by rustling. Then fabric, covering a male form, leaned into me.

“Marist,” Royce whispered.

There was a gold throw pillow in his hands, and when I lifted my head to look at him, he slipped it beneath me. It was marginally better because it kept the pins in my hair from digging into my scalp, but it was also so much worse. It made it so I would be able to view all the men surrounding me more clearly.

Especially Macalister Hale, who stared at me shamelessly with lust burning in his eyes. I flinched from the heat of it, and my mouth went bone dry. I ripped my gaze away from him and refocused on Royce. I didn’t know what the rules were. I wasn’t sure if it was allowed, but I did it anyway. He was within striking distance, so I reached up and threaded a hand through the back of his soft hair.

This was a merger, but it didn’t have to lack emotion or passion. I was supposed to be in control, and I decided to flex my power.

He didn’t resist as I pulled up to meet his mouth with mine. His lips parted and welcomed my tongue when it slid inside, seeking out his. But he leashed his kiss. Everything was guarded about it, yet I still tasted the molten desire beneath. Or at least I wanted to badly enough, I convinced myself I did.

It was just us for a moment.

Hurried breaths, lips moving against lips, and my soft sigh.

And then Macalister cleared his throat, making Royce slip from my grasp.

A chill rippled over me as his heat evaporated, and when he moved back from the table, he knocked over something on the floor.