EPILOGUE

 

Six months later …

Penelope inspected her reflection and smiled. The ball gown was one of the last pieces she'd had created before leaving London at the end of the Season. Emerald green silk set her hair on fire, the beaded bodice drawing the eye to the swell of her breasts—left quite exposed by her low neckline. The skirt hugged her hips before falling away in a flowing curtain of silk. Brilliant diamonds—a gift from her husbands—glittered around her neck and wrist. Perfect.

They had arrived at Kesbridge a fortnight ago, content to remain until Christmas, after which they would prepare to return to London. Though Colin might have to return before them alone. The War Office kept him quite busy, and Sir Henry Torrens had taken him firmly beneath his wing. A promotion in rank loomed on his horizon, and Penelope could not be more proud.

Meanwhile, Edmond continued to prove he was more than ready to step into the role of earl once his father had passed. The current earl still seemed to struggle with his gambling habit, though Penelope could see he tried his best to remain on the straight and narrow. Meanwhile, he had done the best thing for his family and the estate by placing Edmond in charge of managing the lands and income—which meant Penelope's dowry remained firmly in her legal husband's control, not her father-in-law's.

Under his diligence, the estate would flourish again, she felt sure of it. He worked hard each day, visiting the tenants to inquire about their needs. Every debt had been paid, all their accounts now in good standing.

Tonight, her mother-in-law was throwing a ball in her honor, a way to introduce the future countess to their neighbors. She looked forward to her first public ball with Edmond and Colin—who would be in attendance, as well. While they had to continue practicing discretion, Edmond's parents remained oblivious to the arrangement that existed between the three of them. Here in the country, the sprawling manor held plenty of far-flung wings and chambers where they could go to be together, blissfully undisturbed.

The sound of her dressing room door opening stole her attention, drawing her gaze. She found Edmond framed in the doorway, dressed in impeccable black and white evening attire. His gaze raked her from head to toe, his green irises darkening to emerald as they came to rest on her exposed bosom.

"You, are in big trouble, wife," he murmured, stepping into the room.

From behind him came Colin, drawing her admiring gaze in his scarlet dress uniform coat, his golden hair an overlong sweep of blond strands caressing his neck and forehead.

"Indeed, you are," he agreed, closing and locking the dressing room door behind him. "I do hope you have steeled yourself to receive your punishment."

Widening her eyes, Penelope played coy. "Whatever could I have done to deserve punishment?"

She backed away toward the bed, shivers wracking her as they began to stalk her like two jungle cats after a meal. Edmond began removing his coat, while Colin rounded to the other side of the bed.

Arching one eyebrow at her, Edmond chuckled. "Do you not recall leaving a pair of your drawers on my washstand, you little minx?"

Pressing one hand to her lips, she gasped. "Oh, dear. Is that where my drawers disappeared to? Heavens, I couldn't find them, so I simply opted to go without them this evening."

Having climbed up onto the bed after removing his coat, Colin grasped her from behind, lifting her up onto the mattress. Still removing his clothing, Edmond stood at the foot of the bed, watching as Colin yanked her up against his body, tilting her head for access to her neck.

"Yet another reason to punish her. Such a scandalous hussy, going about with no undergarments on. What a naughty girl you are, Penny."

She moaned when his lips and teeth found the side of her neck, nibbling on the straining tendons. He cupped her breasts, groaning in her ear as he discovered she went without a corset, as well.

"Nothing," Colin rasped. "She hasn't got a thing on under this gown."

Through his breeches, she could see Edmond's erection clearly outlined. "That does it. Something must be done. We simply cannot allow her to go to the ball looking like that. Every man in the room will be salivating to have her."

Pressing the length of his hard cock against her arse, Colin ground it against her, continuing on his path across her shoulder with his lips. She felt her gown loosening as he worked at the fastenings.

"No," Colin rasped, tearing at her clothes to get her out of them. "They can't have her. She's ours."

Unfastening his breeches, Edmond removed his final garment, causing a surge of moisture between her thighs at the sight of his cock, standing proudly beneath her hungry gaze. Realizing how the sight affected her, he grasped the organ in one hand and gave it a stroke, grinning when she whimpered and licked her lips.

"Shall we remind her who she belongs to?" he murmured, approaching the bed.

He plucked her from Colin's grasp, forcing her to her hands and knees before climbing on the bed with her, coming behind her. His hand caressed her spine, causing her to shiver. Grasping her hips, he smoothed his palms over her arse, his breathing growing ragged and harsh.

Pressing the head of his cock against her entrance, he teased her by entering her and withdrawing fully. She whimpered, swaying back into him, searching for what he kept from her. The sound of his hand cracking against her buttocks echoed along with her sharp cry from the room's high ceiling. Edmond caressed her flaming skin, leaving a soothing balm and a warmth that spread straight to her quim.

"Now, now," he murmured, pressing himself into her again. "Don't forget who is in control here. Are you in control, Penelope?"

Now undressed, Colin returned, kneeling in front of her, his erection straining toward her hungry mouth. She met his gaze, wiggling her hips again and taking Edmond in deeper.

He slapped her again, this time while Colin grasped the back of her neck and thrust toward her lips. She opened to take him in, moaning at the warmth, fading sting, and the smooth caress of Edmond's hand on her arse.

They showed her who was in control, who she belonged to without holding back—Edmond gripping her hips in a tight grasp as he began moving inside her so hard and fast, the sound of their bodies meeting created a rapid cadence in time with the swing of his heavy bollocks against her cunt, Colin fucking her mouth while his hands fondled her breasts, heightening her pleasure by tweaking her hard nipples. Screams burned in her throat, trapped by Colin's cock and the fact that she could hardly breathe through the intensity of her pleasure.

Edmond gave her another slap, harder this time, sending her crashing over the edge. Whimpering, she shuddered while her sheath captured him in a fist-tight hold, contracting around him in wild spasms. Grunting, he quickened his strokes, increasing the pleasure until she could bear no more and collapsed onto the bed. Colin withdrew from her, while Edmond lifted her.

She'd hardly caught her bearings before she realized Edmond had situated her on top of him. Entering her again, he grasped her hips and urged her to move, bouncing her up and down in his lap.

Hovering on the edge of a second climax, she braced her hands on his chest and rode him, waiting for Colin to join them for what had become her favorite way of being with them both. Nothing could compare to the way taking them both into her secret places felt, and she grew even wetter just thinking about it.

"Hurry, Colin!" she urged as he climbed over them, his body settling against hers while he positioned himself at her back passage. "I need you … please."

Colin shuddered against her, his lips caressing her ear, shoulder, and neck as he slowly probed to enter her, as well. His cock, still wet from her mouth, forged a path through the tight ring of flesh offering entrance to her rear opening.

Becoming accustomed to making love this way had taken some getting used to, with both Edmond and Colin taking turns with her on alternating nights—allowing her to enjoy first one finger, then two, then eventually a cock invading the forbidden passage, introducing her to a new sort of pleasure. A pleasure she had always wondered about, and had come to enjoy as much as her husbands did. The first time they'd penetrated her at once, Penelope had enjoyed it so much that they endeavored to give her that same pleasure as often as she wanted—which proved to be nearly every time they made love.

Colin took his time, knowing he must ease his way in with her already filled with Edmond in one channel. Every time Edmond drew back, he gained an inch, until both of them moved back and forth inside of her, the pressure filling her, stretching her to the limit. They found a rhythm, one pulling out while the other thrust in—like a synchronized dance.

Holding on to Edmond, she laid her head back against Colin's shoulder and let them take her, her body overflowing with sensation, her heart near to bursting with love for them both. Beneath her, Edmond lifted his head, taking one of her breasts into his mouth, tickling the nipple with his tongue. Colin grasped her hip, his fingers sinking into her soft flesh, undoubtedly leaving fingerprints behind.

"I love you," he murmured, taking the shell of her ear between his teeth. "I love you, Penny."

Panting, she reached back to stroke his hair, her fingernails caressing the back of her neck. "And I love you, Colin. Always."

Turning her gaze to Edmond, she released Colin, reaching down to cup his face.

"And you," she moaned. "I love you, too, Edmond. Always."

Grasping her chin, he stroked her lower lip. Flicking out her tongue, she caressed the tip of his thumb, drawing a groan from deep in his chest.

"I love you," he replied. "Penny … our Penny. Say it. Tell us …"

He broke off on another moan, trembling as climax gripped him.

"Yours!" she cried as she and Colin followed Edmond closely, first her and then him. "I am yours!"

As they rose and spiraled over the edge together, Penelope knew they understood that she referred to both of them.

She collapsed onto Edmond, and Colin braced himself over her, though the tension melted from his body.

After a while, Colin slowly withdrew from her, then collapsed on the bed beside her and Edmond. Disengaging from Edmond, she lay between them, facing Colin, while Edmond wrapped his arms around her from behind. Colin's hand found her hair, stroking it as she burrowed her face against his chest.

"Well, I am certain it's safe to say we are late for the ball," Edmond murmured.

"Let them wait," Colin replied, lifting her chin to take her lips in a tender kiss. "I'm not ready to share her yet."

Edmond kissed the back of her neck, burying his face in her hair. "Hmm, me, neither."

She giggled. "Come, gentlemen, we must rise and dress. There will be plenty of time for more later."

Edmond groaned, and Colin sulked, but she managed to prod them from the bed. When she'd gathered her gown and slippers, Edmond laid her drawers and chemise over her arm, as well.

"Put them on, you little tease."

Appearing at his side, Colin held up her corset with a raised eyebrow. "Don't forget this. Else you'll need to be punished again."

Reaching out as she breezed past them, Edmond swatted her bare backside, sending her off with a stinging bottom.

As they dressed, she studied them from where she stood in the dressing room door, devouring them both with her eyes. Two perfect, beautiful men, both who belonged to her. How had she become so fortunate?

Making her way to the washstand, she quickly washed away the evidence of their encounter, then took up her 'forgotten' undergarments. As she dressed, her hands lingered over her belly, and she wondered when Edmond's seed would take root. Colin still continued to pull out of her to avoid impregnating her, while Edmond did everything he could to get her pregnant. The future earl required his heir, after all. Then, they'd decided, she would carry Colin's child. While it would carry Edmond's name, the three of them would always know the truth, and it would be enough for them.

A perfect, balanced family. Perhaps not by society's standards, but what did that matter? They were hers and she belonged fully to them both.

Besides, she'd quite decided whoever had come up with the number two when it came to love was a nitwit. It had become obvious to her that love was so much better experienced with three.