This time, Kane stepped in.
“We never should have done that,” he apologized. “I’m sorry, that was wrong.”
But my hurt was so great that I couldn’t hear. I couldn’t even look at them right now, the pain still so fresh, so raw.
“Katie?”
They waited for me to turn their way. Slowly, I raised glaring brown eyes to meet theirs.
“We’re sorry Katie, for everything, and we want to make it up to you. We want to try,” Kane offered. For a minute, I could only gawk before snapping once more.
“What makes this time different? You just stood there before when I confronted you. You’ve done this with other girls before, you can’t deny that. So what’s different this time? What makes me different?” I crossed my hands over my chest, waiting for an explanation.
Silence. I was met with nothing but silence again.
Oh god, no.
Please let them say something.
Please let them make it right.
But no words were forthcoming, and my heart plummeted into the ground, burying itself ten feet deep. Because I thought maybe, just maybe, the billionaires would say something about feelings or love. Maybe, just maybe, they’d give some indication that they wanted a relationship, something that was more than a fly-by-night gangbang.
But there was nothing.
Silence rang loudly through the room.
And I resolved to kick them out. Get them gone so I could lick my wounds in privacy. After all, they couldn’t even tell me what set me apart from all the other girls. I was just another notch on their bedpost, another name in their black book. And as the rage in my chest grew, Mason spoke.
“As we got to know you, we fell in love, Kitty-cat. We love you.”
“You’re so beautiful and giving,” Tyler took over from Mason.
“So innocent and wholesome. The way you selflessly give with such a pure heart,” finished Kane.
But I was hardened now. Words are words, and I’d practically forced them to say these phrases. Clearly, it meant nothing. So I turned away, eyes dead.
“Thanks, but no thanks. It’s not necessary. No need to dress things up.”
But the alphas didn’t get to where they are without tenacity and persistence. They don’t give in, not that easily.
“You’re an amazing woman and we were a bunch of fucking idiots for not seeing it sooner,” Kane bit out. “I’d shoot myself in the head if it’d make a difference.”
I snorted again.
“No thanks, not necessary,” were my words. “No need to be dramatic.”
Man, it felt different being on the front foot. For the first time in our relationship, I had the upper hand, confident and proud. Or maybe it was all a mirage. Maybe Mason, Kane and Tyler were letting me feel like I had the upper hand in order to get what they wanted. My head spun with confusion.
But the billionaires persisted.
“We want you Katie, we care about you so much. Will you give us a chance?”
They stood, three in a row, a massive dark wall in their black suits. But there was hope as well. For the first time, there was something boyish about the men, standing with their hands in pockets, waiting for my words to drop.
And I wanted to be kind, I really did. Even after everything that had happened, there was no reason to stomp them into the ground. That’s no way to treat human beings. But I had to be direct, it was the only way to be true to myself given the circumstances. After all, I’d been hurt badly, and that doesn’t just go away with a couple sweet words.
So taking a deep breath, my gaze met theirs. Oh god, the blue swept over my curvy form, knees going weak. I almost gave in, throwing myself into the vortex once more. But common sense prevailed, and I uttered my truth into the silence.
“I’ll think about it,” were my soft words. “I’ll think about it.”
The billionaires didn’t move for a second, completely stunned. Obviously, they’re used to getting what they want with women, so my response was unexpected. What the hell? The three shared a glance, brows drawn, big forms tense.
But it was necessary. I couldn’t just fall back into their arms because they said they were sorry. Sorry only goes so far, and it’s action, not words that count.
The men sprang into motion then. Like three hungry lions, they circled my form, big bodies possessive.
“We’ll help you get to yes,” Mason ground out, eyes trailing fire over my curves. “The old-fashioned way.”
“You’ve never been able to say no to us,” growled Kane. “And this time will be no exception.”
“Why resist?” added Tyler. “You know you want it, baby girl.”
And want it I did. Despite everything that had happened, I was powerless when it came to the physical with these men. Because in an instant, we were nude, four of us on the carpeted floor, going at it like mad.