he speaks. I hide my excitement as best I can, but I won’t lie, my insides are dancing with hope.
Elijah walks behind the couch, pressing his hands against the back of it.
Papa tosses the surprise into my lap. I catch it and bring it up so Elijah can see it too. A book.
“The Kamasutra?” Mark reads out loud. He takes it from me and flips through the pages.
“Mark, don’t be a prick. Let your sister look at her present first,” Papa snaps.
Mark hands it back to me. “Sorry, Papa.”
I open the book and start turning the pages. It’s not a storybook. My throat closes at the pictures on the pages. It’s an instruction manual.
“The boys will like this as much as I will. A gift for the whole family.” Papa laughs.
My face heats. These are the ways they are going to use my body. I close the book and stand from the couch. Stepping around the coffee table, I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss my Papa on his cheek.
“Thank you, Papa,” I say, shoving my disappointment as far into my soul as I can. He can never see it.
“I knew you’d love it. I saw it in a used book store and thought of you right away.” He smiles at me like he’s overly proud of his find.
“It’s real nice.” I hug the book to my chest.
“Good. Now, why don’t you go on up to Mark’s room and wait for the boys.”
My eyes widen before I can stop them.
Luckily, he’s not mad at my surprise. Shouldn’t I be going to his room?
“You acting out yesterday hurt them as much as me. You’ll be getting your forgiveness from them, seeing as you’ll be a wife soon.” He pats my stomach. “Your bleed hasn’t started this month yet.”
His statement kicks the air from my lungs. He’s right. My hand moves to my belly. A baby could be growing beneath my fingers.
“Go on now.” He jerks his head toward the stairwell. With heavy feet, I make my way up the steps, listening as Papa explains to the boys they aren’t to give me any sort of reward.
He’s giving them another lesson on how to deal with me. Because I’m not a good woman.
My mind drifts to my body. Can I be carrying a baby and not know it yet? My breasts don’t hurt, my stomach isn’t any bigger, and I haven’t been ill…other than hunger pangs.
I leave Mark’s door open—a small gesture to show how much I want them to love me and give me their forgiveness. I place the book down on the dresser, feeling too queasy to open it.
The boys don’t give me any time before they file into the room. Elijah shuts the door quietly and leans against it while Mark stands in front of me.
“Once we know you’re carrying our baby, things will be different, Nicolette,” Mark says, touching my chin. “You’ll be completely under our protection. We’ll be your husbands. Papa will always be your papa, and you’ll love him like you always have, but he won’t be responsible for your lessons. That will fall to us.”
“And your forgiveness,” Elijah adds, his eyes lowering to my breasts. “How long before we know?”
Mark’s fingers work on the buttons of my dress. “Papa said he forgot to buy the test, so he’ll go back to the store first thing in the morning.”
I swallow back the bile rising in my throat. Are they both going to take me? They’ve never done that before.
Mark finishes unbuttoning my dress and pushes the sleeves from my shoulders. The thin cotton fabric puddles at my feet.
“Elijah,” Mark says, brushing my hair behind my ears. “Front or back?”
“Back,” Elijah answers without hesitation.
“Okay.” Mark grabs hold of my hair in his fist and shoves me to the bed. “On your hands and knees, Nicolette,” he says to me in his rough voice. He’s not messing around. There won’t be any loving touches tonight.
Elijah and Mark quickly work themselves out of their clothes while I take my position. I try to lower my face, not wanting to see them, but I don’t have a choice. Mark kneels in front of me on the bed and yanks my hair back until my eyes are level with his cock.
“Open,” he orders, fisting his shaft and pressing the soft round head against my lips. Tears well in my eyes, but I don’t hesitate. His cock thrusts inside my mouth before I can open all the way. I choke when