Alyssa
I wake up at 5 a.m., my nerves already prickling with anticipation. Marina will be here soon, and even though I'm not entirely sure what this meeting will entail, I know I need to look presentable. The weight of what's ahead presses down on me, making the early hour feel even heavier.
The warm water steams over me as I lather soap on my washcloth, trying to clear my mind. What questions will Marina ask? How much does she already know? Gray must have filled her in on some of the mess that is my marriage, but will she look at me differently once she knows everything? Will she see me as just another broken, naive woman who made bad decisions, or will she understand the depths of Isaac's cruelty? The thought twists my stomach in knots.
When I met her yesterday, her piercing gaze made me feel both small and seen at the same time. She exudes confidence and control—the kind of person who could break someone with just a word. But will she really be able to stop Isaac's plan? Or will she, like so many others, believe his lies?
Lost in my thoughts, I barely register the glass door of the shower sliding open. Niko steps in, entirely naked, grinning like the Cheshire cat.
"I feel like the cat who just caught the canary," he teases, his voice a low purr.
I roll my eyes, but a small smile tugs at my lips. "I don't recall saying you could come in."
He leans against the wall, his grin widening. "That's okay, I'm just here to fuck you real quick and be on my way."
My pussy throbs in response. The greedy bitch.
I should be focusing on Marina's arrival and the meeting ahead. But...maybe letting Niko fuck me will help me relax.
Quietly closing the shower door, Niko closes the distance between us, trapping me between the tiled wall and his damp, muscular body. The heat from his skin rivals the steaming water. "Does your ass still hurt, sweet girl?"
"Not really—"
I don't get a chance to finish. Niko lifts me effortlessly, my legs wrapping around his waist without thinking. His hard length presses against my belly as he pins me there.
His lips claim mine in a heated kiss, and I moan, clutching at his shoulders. "I've wanted to do this since last night," he growls, nipping my bottom lip.
I smirk. "I guess in a way, you were punished too, then."
"Not as much as I should've been." There's a flicker of something unspoken in his eyes, but he doesn't elaborate. Instead, his mouth moves to my neck, and he sucks hard, likely leaving a mark as he continues exploring my body. The sensation sends shivers racing through me, my nerves tingling with a mixture of pleasure and anticipation.
His fingers slide inside me, plunging deep without preamble. "Nikolai," I moan, arching into him.
"I know, sweet girl," he murmurs, his voice like gravel as his fingers curl, expertly stroking that sensitive spot inside me. "Tell me what you need."
"Your cock," I pant, already trembling. "I need your cock so fucking bad."
His chuckle is dark and full of promise. "Oh, yeah?"
Without hesitation, he pulls his fingers away and enters me in one fluid, brutal thrust. The air is punched from my lungs, and I part my lips to scream, but his hand clamps over my mouth.
"Wouldn't want to wake the others, would we?" he murmurs, his lips brushing my ear before claiming my mouth again.
The wet slap of skin echoes in the small space, each punishing thrust pushing me closer to the edge. My nails dig into his shoulders as I hold on, the pressure inside me building like a geyser.
"Good girl," Niko growls. "Come for me."
"Nikolai!" I come hard, my orgasm ripping through me in waves as I convulse in his arms. My muffled scream is swallowed by his palm, and the raw intensity leaves my legs feeling like fucking jelly.
"Fuck, Alyssa," he groans loudly, his thrusts growing erratic before he stills, his release flooding into me.
Gently, he lowers me to the shower floor, taking his time to wash every inch of me before he cleans himself. The intimacy of his touch soothes the lingering tension in my chest, leaving me momentarily weightless.
When we return to the bedroom, Mason is gone, but King is still knocked out cold, his face peaceful. He rarely sleeps in, and I realize just how exhausted he must have been when I forced him to bed last night. The sight stirs something protective in me. He's always carrying so much for us, and it's rare to see him this unguarded.
Downstairs, Mason glances up from the couch as we enter. Zuri is sprawled across his lap, drinking her morning bottle. He's gently stroking her hair, a soft smile on his lips that makes my heart ache.
"Good morning, little warrior. Have a good shower?" he asks me.
Heat rises to my cheeks as I cross my arms over my chest. "It was good...until Niko decided to join in uninvited."
"And then it got better," Niko adds with a smirk.
I can't help but giggle because he's not wrong. "Yeah, and then it got better."
"You eating breakfast today, baby?" Niko asks, already heading toward the kitchen to start our coffee.
"Something light, but I promise I'll start snacking when I'm hungry."
His brow arches, surprised. "I see that spanking really changed some things."
I shake my head with a small smile. "It was actually my talk with King last night. I realized I've been scared to get attached to this baby, but I trust you guys to be there for me, no matter what happens. I did tell him, though, I want to wait until my butt heals before seeing the doctor."
Niko nods thoughtfully, and Mason murmurs his agreement.
King suddenly emerges from upstairs, shirtless and in black shorts, his hair messy, sleep still lingering in his eyes. It's different from the usual way he's so put together in the morning, but also so damn sexy my thighs clench together with need.
Ugh. Pregnancy hormones.
"Well, good morning, Daddy," Niko drawls, practically eye-fucking him. He pours a cup of coffee and sets it on the table in front of King, who accepts it with a smirk.
I glance at the clock—5:45. Marina will be here any minute, and he's sitting at the table half-naked. If they had sex in the past, she doesn't exactly need another look at his body. The thought of her perfectly slim frame wrapped around him flashes in my mind, and jealousy courses through my veins like poison.
"Umm, we're going to have a guest soon," I say, trying to sound casual. "Maybe you should go put on a shirt?"
King takes a measured sip of his coffee. "This is my house, kitten. If she has a problem with it, she can get the hell out."
A sharp, sudden frustration flares inside me. "Now, King," I snap.
The room seems to freeze as all three of them turn to look at me, and I blush profusely.
Fuck. Jealousy doesn't look good on me.
Niko feigns a pout, breaking the silence. "That's not fair. I wanna give her a reason to yell at me too."
I shoot him a look. There's definitely something wrong with him.
King slowly rises from his chair, making his way over to me. He leans down, capturing my lips. "Kitten," he murmurs against my mouth. "Marina and I have never slept together, if that's what you're worried about. She's not even my type."
Of course, I believe him about not sleeping with her, but not his type? She looks like a runway model, the kind of woman who'd fit perfectly in King's manwhore days.
So, what doesn't he like about her?
Relief floods me, and I let out a breath I didn't even realize I was holding as Mason chuckles softly. "He's right. That woman doesn't have a submissive bone in her body."
Oh. That makes sense now.
At least I can survive today without imagining them together.
Amusement glints in King's eyes. "I love when you get possessive," he teases. "It's sexy as hell." He kisses me again before heading upstairs to make himself not look like a Calvin Klein model.
A sharp knock at the door pulls my attention. My heart drops. It's Marina, and she's here right on time.
I brace myself before Niko opens the door. "Marina," he greets.
Marina strides in, exuding confidence in a sleek, low-cut black suit and matching heels. She plops a stack of binders on the coffee table, her serious expression softening just slightly when she meets my gaze.
"Good morning, Alyssa," she says briskly. "Are you ready?"
I swallow the lump in my throat and nod. "Yes."
Marina's lips press into a thin line, and her eyes flick to the others briefly before settling back on me. "Good," she says, setting her bag down. "We have a lot to discuss, and some of it won't be easy."
Her words cut through me like cold icy water, but I force myself to stand taller. Whatever comes next, I need to face it head-on—for me, for Zuri, and for the life we're building here.
Niko's hand brushes against my lower back, a subtle reassurance I didn't know I needed.
Mason flashes me a faint smile from the couch. "You've got this, little warrior."