Light My Fire
: Chapter 43

I’m nervous, but also so excited.

My guys are on their way.

After my talk with Elise, I’d realized that I needed to make the next move. I need to be the one that says ‘yes, I’m ready to do this’. I had asked for a break and the guys have given me that. But now I’m ready to go ahead. I know what I want. I want to be with them—even when it’s complicated or overwhelming.

In fact, being able to say I need time and space and having them give that to me, after the cabin when I was dealing with exams and now, has shown me exactly how well my guys listen and that they respect my needs.

I also can’t stop thinking about what Elise said about imagining my life both ways—with and without the guys.

I can do that, but my life without them is sad, lonely, and cold. I don’t want that. And I know I’ll never replace another man, or men, like them.

Life with Wyatt, Jackson, and Luke might be a little chaotic and busy at times, but they’ve proven that I can get time and space when I need it.

And… I love them.

So it’s time to tell them all of that. And I’ve chosen the perfect place—the cabin where it all began.

I look around the room.

I have the table in the kitchen set up like a poker table with a green felt tablecloth, poker chips, and cards. I even found a cute party banner that says Poker Night to hang on the cupboards. It’s silly but I’m feeling… festive.

I’ve got some finger foods, and their favorite beers and drinks.

But I think their favorite part will be the dealer. And the prizes.

I’m currently dressed as a casino poker dealer in a white shirt, black bow tie, black vest—though I did forego a bra and this shirt is a little see-through, not by accident—and a short black skirt with sheer black stockings that leave some thigh bare between the top of them and the hem of the skirt. Probably not found on the floor in most public casinos, but tonight it’s a private party and we’re going to have fun. We all have things we need to say, things we need to figure out, but we also need to be together. In all the ways we want to be together.

I’ve started a fire in the fireplace—it’s the end of April but nighttime is still chilly in Northern Minnesota—and just put on some low, sexy jazz music when I hear a knock on the door.

They don’t have a key to let themselves in this time.

I smile, and press my hand to my stomach where the butterflies are suddenly swooping. I cross to the door and take a deep breath before swinging it open to replace all three of them standing together on the front step.

My smile is big and genuine. “Hi. Welcome.”

Wyatt is in front. His smile is sweet, but he seems a little nervous. Jackson is right behind him. His smile is big and bright. Luke is at the back. Not smiling, but he meets my gaze directly, his eyes full of heat. They all seem strangely relieved. To be here? To see me? That I’m smiling? It’s only been six days but it feels longer. If they’re unsure of what’s going to happen here tonight—and that it’s all going to be very good—I will soon assuage their doubts.

“Hi,” Wyatt says. He looks back at the other two as if not sure what to say or do. “We’re here.”

I push the door open and move back. I feel three sets of eyes track over me from head to toe. I let my lips curl up, feeling confident and powerful.

“I’ve been waiting for you,” I tell them as they each step through the door. I’m just out of reach and I can tell they’re not quite sure what to do but they all also want to touch me.

I hold out one hand. “I’ll need your entry fees upfront, please.”

They all kick off their shoes and shrug out of their jackets. Everything gets piled just inside the door.

Then Jackson steps close and hands me a long thin box wrapped in bright red paper. He gives me a grin and a wink. “I know you already have at least a couple of these. But the three of us picked this one out together.”

Tingles dance through my body. Obviously, it’s a vibrator or dildo, but the idea of these three picking it out together is hot.

I smile. “You can choose your seat,” I tell him, gesturing toward the table across the room.

“No kiss hello?” he asks, crowding close.

The important thing about tonight is to remind myself that I have control. Even when it’s all of us together and I have a big surgery on Monday morning to prepare for, I can spend a weekend away with my guys and call the shots.

I smile. “I’ll explain the rules in a little bit.”

He shakes his head, but looks curious. That’s Jackson, always up for anything and willing to go with the flow. He saunters over to the table and chooses the middle of the three seats I have set up across the table so that I can stand on one side and deal to them.

Wyatt is next. He moves in close, towering over me and doesn’t hesitate to lift his hand and cup my cheek. I give him a warning look.

He grins. “Okay, I can wait to hear the rules.” He loops a gift bag over my wrist and I hear the soft sound of metal clinking. He winks. “But let’s get this going.”

Then he turns and heads for the table as well, sitting to Jackson’s right.

Luke is last, but certainly not least. He steps close, taking up even more of my personal space than Jackson or Wyatt did. He hands me a small black box with a red bow on top. “I love playing, but I’ve missed the hell out of you, so let’s not drag this out.”

I love that they are impatient. I’ve missed them too. Especially when the time apart was filled with uncertainty.

But this is going to be fun. My guys love to compete, and after all, they are the ones that taught me that delayed satisfaction can be oh so delicious.

I take my gifts and cross the room, setting them on the counter, then turn to face them.

They are all blatantly studying me in my very short skirt and stockings.

“You don’t want to open your gifts?” Jackson asks.

I shake my head. “I know that I will love them. You guys picked them out for me. And we’ll be using them together. So I know it’s going to be fun and wonderful. I don’t need to know anything ahead of time. I trust that whatever happens will be perfect.”

Obviously there is a lot of underlying meaning to my words, and I love that I can look into their faces and see that they understand that.

I take my place across the table from them. In poker, obviously, the players don’t sit right next to one another, but in this kind of poker, it won’t matter. I pick up the deck of cards and shuffle them. “Does anyone need anything to eat or drink?” I ask sweetly.

“Let’s just do this,” Wyatt says, a little gruffly. “Whatever has to happen before I can kiss you.”

I lift a brow at him. “We’re going to have fun,” I promise him. “Tonight is very important.”

“If you need to direct this a certain way you go right ahead, sweetheart,” Jackson says, giving the other guys a look. “We’re so excited to see you and be here together. You’ll have to forgive these two.”

I smile at them. “I’m really happy to see you too. I promise it will all be worth it.”

“Tell us what’s going on, Angel,” Luke says, his tone also a little short, but I know it means he’s just impatient.

I shuffle again and tell them, “I’m going to deal five cards. You have the chance to exchange up to three cards just like in five-card draw. Winning hand gets the first prize.”

Wyatt sits forward. “No bidding?”

I shake my head. “Luck of the draw.”

“And what does each winner get?” Luke asks, his gaze sliding to the gifts they’ve brought me.

I grin. “Those are for later. Winner gets to hear me say something very important to him, gets to say whatever he wants to me or anyone else at the table, and then…” I look at each of them with a little smirk. “I’ll take one piece of clothing off.”

They all sit forward, and Luke growls, “Deal the cards.”

The way they want me is addictive. My body is already hot and tingly, and the tiny thong I am wearing is already wet.

“How do we know when the game is over?” Jackson asks.

“When I’ve said everything I need to say,” I tell them.

“What if you’re bare-assed naked and Jackson hasn’t won a hand yet so you haven’t said anything to him?” Wyatt asks.

Ah, yes, my less competitive, plays-poker-only-for-fun boyfriend. I smile at Jackson. I love all of their different personalities so much.

I lift a shoulder. “We’re all a team now. If we all have an ultimate goal in mind…” I glance over at the gifts sitting on the countertop, then back to them. “Then we need to come up with a way to get to it. Together.”

I’m making a point here but also counting on the fact that while they do love to compete, they love our team more.

Luke smacks the table with an open palm. “Deal the fucking cards, Brooke.”

Oooh, Brooke, not Angel. He is impatient now.

I grin and start tossing cards down in front of each of them.

They turn them over, Luke asks for two new ones, Jackson wants three new ones, and Wyatt stays.

They turn them face up and Wyatt wins.

I smile and round the table. I slide into his lap and actually feel him shudder as he pulls me close and puts his face against my neck.

God, this man.

I slide my fingers into his hair and hold him close. “Wyatt, I’m in love with you.”

His head comes up quickly, his gaze clashing with mine.

I nod. “I’m madly, completely in love with you. The way you love me, the way you make me feel like a queen, the way you always put me first. And the way you love Luke and Jackson. I can’t imagine my life without you. Without you taking care of me, without trying constantly to think of ways to take care of you and having you always get there first, but still wanting to try because you deserve that. Just being in your orbit and being the recipient of some of this amazing heart. I want to be with you. I know that now for sure.”

He looks like he is about to say something, then pauses. “Can I talk now?” he asks.

I smile, feeling tears prick at the back of my eyes. “See? Even when I know that it’s taking everything you’ve got to hold back, you’re still putting me first, and really listening.” I press a kiss to his lips but then pull back before it gets deep. “Yes, you can talk now.”

“I am madly, completely in love with you, too. And as I guess you figured out, I will do anything for you. I have realized that seeing you happy is the most important thing to me, and I want to make you the happiest woman in the world. And I realize that to do that, I need Jackson and Luke. So I’m in. I’m all in with this. With us. All of us. However, you want that to go.”

I wrap my arms around him and give him a huge hug. “How I want it to go, is all of us together, starting right now.”

I push back and stand, though.

I look at all of them. “Now that the talking portion has started, I do want to say to all of you, I do think eventually we will end up living together. But I think for now, we take it slow. We keep our own places, but stay together whenever that feels right. We go on group dates more often than individual. Or we just stay home. But sometimes individual stuff makes sense. And sometimes it will be the three of you without me. And maybe sometimes it will be me with two of you and not one because he’s off doing something else. And all of that is okay. We’ll just take this day by day, but I want us to be together, committed, and monogamous…” I laugh softly. “Or whatever it is when I only have three boyfriends.”

They all, thankfully, chuckle.

“We can do that,” Wyatt says.

I breathe deeply and then start to round the table back to my dealer’s position.

“Um, excuse me,” he says, reaching out and grabbing the back of my skirt. “I believe you’re supposed to take something off.”

I lift a brow, then look down at his hand. “The zipper’s right there. Help me out.”

He gives a little growl and the next thing I know, the zipper on my dress has been yanked down and my skirt is lying in a black, silky pool at my feet.

I step out of it and saunter back to my position behind the table. But I know all of my guys got a very good view of me in only my black thong, garters, and black stockings.

“Jesus Christ,” Luke mutters.

“Please tell me she’s keeping the stockings and garters on later,” Jackson says, his eyes glued to me.

“That can definitely be arranged,” Wyatt agrees.

I pick the cards up and shuffle again, then deal five cards to each man.

They look at their hands, exchange a few cards, then lay them down.

This time Luke wins.

I round the other side of the table. He shoves his chair back and practically yanks me into his lap. One big hand cups the back of my head, fisting my hair, and he brings me in for a hot kiss before I can protest or lay out any further rules. As his tongue plunders my mouth, his other hand grips my thigh and he turns me so I’m straddling his lap.

His hand strokes up and down my thigh, his thumb coming close to my center three times before his thumb finally brushes over my clit through the black silk.

I gasp and pull back. I stare into his face. “You’re cheating,” I say, practically panting. “This is supposed to be for talking.”

He gives me a jerky nod, then says, “I saw Marci.”

My eyes widen.

He goes on before I can come up with words.

“I’m good. I got the closure I needed. Years too late maybe, but just in time for you. I’m ready, Angel. Ready to move on, ready to let you in, ready to love you with everything I’ve got.”

My heart flips, my stomach swoops, my pussy clenches, and I swear my brain blanks for a moment.

He brings me in until our foreheads are touching. “Please tell me I haven’t completely fucked this up. I tried to hold back, but I couldn’t. You’re way too strong a force. And I’m so fucking grateful for that.”

I cup his face with both hands and pull back so I can look at him. “I love you, Luke. I love your strength, I love your loyalty, I love that you are our rock, our leader. You make me feel safe, and I can’t imagine facing the storms of life without you as my anchor.”

He takes in a deep, shuddering breath, then crushes me to his chest. “Thank God. I love you so much, Angel.”

With my cheek pressed against his heart, I can see Wyatt and Jackson watching us. They’re looking on with a mixture of relief, happiness, and affection.

I squeeze Luke, and after another moment, he lets me go.

I stand and he holds both my thighs.

“Vest, tie, and shirt,” he says.

I lift a brow. “That’s three things.”

“You want out of them as much as we want you out of them,” he tells me. “And that will leave only this soaking wet, tiny little thong for Jackson.”

I look at Jackson. “You are so sure he’s going to win next?”

Luke reaches up and tugs my tie, unhooking it and tossing it to the floor. “Yeah, I am.”

I certainly hope so. I step back from Luke, unbutton and shrug out of the black vest, then slowly unbutton the white shirt.

I enjoy every second of teasing my men, especially the low groans when they see for sure I’m not wearing a bra.

I let the shirt slip down my arms and toss it to the side.

Now I am standing in front of them in only the thong, stockings, and heels.

“She’s keeping the shoes on too,” Wyatt says.

“Fuck yeah she is,” Jackson agrees.

I move behind the table, shuffle the cards, trying to ignore how tightly beaded my nipples are and the fact that I can barely make the cards stack together because of the adrenaline pumping in my system now. A mixture of love and lust, relief, and giddy happiness is coursing through me.

Somehow, I manage to give them each five cards.

No one asks for any additional cards and Luke places his face down on the table. “I’m out,” he says.

I frown and start to reply when Wyatt does the same. “I’m out too.”

I realize quickly that they are throwing the hand so Jackson will win and I meet his eyes and grin.

He turns over five cards that amount to absolutely nothing in poker. He smiles and sits back in his chair. “Come here, sweetheart.”

I start around the table and Wyatt shoves his chair out of the way so I can get to Jackson in the middle.

I sit on his lap, and he pulls me around to straddle him. He slides a hand through my hair, then cups my cheek. “What do you want to say?” he asks, letting me go first.

“I love you so much, Jackson. You are happiness and fun and goodness all rolled up into one amazingly hot and sweet man. And I can’t live without your smiles and your heart and your sunshine. I need you in my life and I need you in the lives of the other two men that I love with all my heart.”

His smile is bright and full of love. “Well, that’s a good thing, because I’m not going anywhere. I love you too, Brooke. You’ve helped me replace passion and purpose, and I look forward to all of the amazing projects and causes we’ve all got ahead of us.” He looks from side to side at the other two. “Together.”

My eyes well up, and I have to blink rapidly. I wrap my arms around his neck and give him a long hug, then pull back and press my lips to his.

I stand and take a deep breath. “So we’re doing this? The four of us, for good, no matter what? We can be honest when we need little breaks or when having a relationship with three other people gets to be a lot. We can also be honest when we need each other for something and someone isn’t stepping up.” I give them all a pointed look. “Even if that someone is me? You guys have to tell me when you need something I’m not giving you.”

They all nod.

“We’ll all keep our own interests and schedules and space for now, but we’ll also combine our lives and our families and our time as much as we’re able.”

They all nod again. Such agreeable sweethearts. I almost laugh.

“We’re all yours, Brooke,” Wyatt says. “We all revolve around you like you’re the little sun in our universe. You call the shots.”

I smile slightly, and then hook my thumbs in the top of my thong. I start to push it over my hips. “Well, that sounds great. With one exception. I really like being bossed around in the bedroom and I am really hoping that the clinking noise I heard in that gift bag means you brought handcuffs.”

My thong drops to the floor.

I hear three growls, three chairs scraping, and then I am scooped up, thrown over a fireman’s shoulder, and carried into the living room.

My millionaire gathers the gifts.

Wyatt puts me down on the sofa.

“We’re not going upstairs?” I ask as he kneels before me and spreads my knees. Not that I’m complaining.

“We’re bringing this all back to exactly where it started,” he tells me with a smirk. “This living room, this couch, in front of this fireplace.”

Suddenly, all the lights go off.

I gasp, but the fireplace gives off enough light that I can see Wyatt and Jackson, both grinning. And I realize that Luke isn’t in here with us.

Jackson starts opening my gifts and lays out a vibrator, a pair of soft fuzzy handcuffs, and… oh my god… nipple clamps.

Luke strides into the room with two flashlights and two burning candles.

“The only disadvantage to our plan is that we won’t be able to see every gorgeous inch of her,” he says, setting the candles on the two end tables.

Wyatt grasps my legs and pulls me down so I’m lying along the couch. Then my guys gather around.

“Well, I guess it’s a good thing that we’ve got forever then,” Jackson says. “Plenty of time to love this girl in so many ways, and so many places.”

That’s so sweet and romantic…

I feel the handcuffs circle my wrists and then hear little clicks as Luke cinches them. I tug and replace he’s fastened them to something solid, probably the side table.

Sweet, romantic, and really fucking hot.

Luke leans over me and says, “Yeah, we’re definitely doing this again with the lights on.” Then he kisses me deeply.

And then, in the firelight, with the three loves of my life, I lose track of who is touching me where and who is saying what, because it doesn’t matter in this moment. I’m surrounded by love and happiness and pleasure beyond my wildest imagination.

I came to this cabin initially to study so I could pass my exams. But it turned out that I’d learned even more—about myself, love, and life.

And I really think that together the four of us are going to get an A+ on any tests to come. It’s all a group project now.