Page 65 of Spiteful Lies
I put my hands on my hips. “Excuse me, but I have something to say.”
Pierce takes a step back and hands the floor over to me.
“I agree too,” I scowl so I won’t cry. “This is what I wished for, and my wishes never came true until now. I love each of you for very different reasons. Bryce taught me to expect more because I do deserve it. Justin taught me that kindness doesn’t mean you’re weak. Pierce.” I shake my head, “You are so like me that I know I have to be okay. And Wyatt, you’re the true badass. You are truly brave. I love all of you, and I could never choose. I need and want you all.”
Pierce wraps his arm around my waist and wipes the tears off my face with his thumb. “I say we take this somewhere else and celebrate. Bryce, do you have a key to the basement?”
“What?” I squeal. “You’re kidding, I hope. Come with me, and I’ll show you the door that your keys open.”
Chapter 41
Astrid
The guard at the gatehouse smiles when I hand him a Christmas card. He doesn’t need to know it’s a last-minute gift. It hadn’t occurred to me before to tip him for Christmas. I’d never done that before. I signed my name and Charlotte’s to the card and slipped a hundred inside. He lifts the gate and waves as Pierce drives all of us in his new Lexus into Alva Park.
“I’ve never been in Alva Park before.” Justin peers out the window. “The mansions are impressive enough to draw.”
“Did your father buy you this Lexus for Christmas?” I sit beside Pierce in the passenger seat while Justin, Bryce, and Wyatt sit in the back.
“Yeah, we had a bet, and I got all As, so I won,” he replies.
“Didn’t you have all the answers to the exams?” asks Bryce.
Pierce smirks at the rear-view mirror. “You want to walk? So, Astrid, you must’ve seen Howland.”
I nod. “I had to, but I’m glad. He plans to buy a townhouse by the hospital if he recovers. He’s in remission, so it might happen. It’s a big house.”
Bryce laughs. “It’s your home, Astrid.”
I don’t say anything. My home is in Weymouth, or it was. Mom’s decided to rent another apartment on the slightly better side of town. The part of town that’s closest to Rockingham. People will look out for her if she stays in Weymouth. They won’t give a shit about her if she lives in Alva Park.
The car turns the corner, and Howland’s huge white house with all those columns comes into view. No Christmas lights or a tree, but a lot of houses don’t have anything on their lawns. Is it a lack of holiday spirit, or do uber-rich people not want lights clashing with the décor?
Last year, I would’ve shown off, driving up to a house like this with my Monarch friends, but I’m past that shallow phase. I brush my fingertips over the rings on my fingers and smile, knowing that we’re about to create a special memory in that house. I have the only gift I really wanted. Finally, Santa got it right.
Pierce glances over at my hands. “You should probably take them off when you fight; you don’t want to do some damage.”
I furrow my brow. “You are mouthy.”
“I can wear that tie again.”
The house is stuffy and thick with stale air. And though it’s cold outside, we throw open the windows on the first floor, letting fresh air in. Bryce knows his way around the house. He turns the heat up and then heads upstairs as we shut the windows. He brings down an armful of bedcovers and tosses it on the rug in the living room.
“We can camp out here in front of the fireplace,” he says. He understands that there are too many memories lurking upstairs in the empty rooms. The house feels different with the five of us in it. But I doubt it will ever feel like home.
Wyatt figures out how to turn on the gas fireplace, and Pierce searches for alcohol. Justin leans against the kitchen counter while I check the fridge. It’s almost empty except for water, condiments, and frozen vegetables. I stick out my tongue in disappointment and miss Gary for the first and last time.
Justin orders delivery on his phone—pizza, pasta, and calamari. “Somewhere is always open. Even on Christmas Day. It’s a shame we don’t have a tree.”
I snuggle against his strong shoulder and watch his long fingers gracefully tap the keys. “You can draw one.”
He grins. “Or we can decorate you.” Justin leans in and kisses me, slipping in a little bit of tongue. I giggle, liking where this is leading. We start making out, and his hand slips under my skirt. He pushes my panties to the side and gently strokes my slit with his fingertips. He sweeps his fingers into my plump lips, making them slick.
I hold onto him tight, gripping onto his T-shirt as my knees bend. Taking a deep breath, I moan. “Put it inside me.” I shudder as he slips his finger in. He’s never rough, always gentle as he explores me. He adds another one, and his fingers glide in and out, teasing me. I moan as he grazes my swelling clit with his thumb, his hot breath hitting my ear. Justin pulls his hand out of my skirt and puts his glistening fingers in his mouth, sucking on each one as I watch.
“It’s our secret,” he smiles, “You’ll know what I’m thinking about when I do this.”
Leaning against the counter, I spread my legs. And his hand is back between my inner thighs. I’m going mad as he touches my clit, and it doesn’t take long before my hips are shaking against the counter. Only Justin can make me shudder with a swipe of his thumb. I open my eyes, and my gaze locks on a smirking Pierce, standing a few feet away.