FullDisclosure (31 page)

The investigation into her kidnapping, Rufus’ crimes and Cyril’s death was still ongoing, but it was apparent that most of the questions had been answered and that little new information was likely to come to light.

The police had located Cyril’s assistant, Taylor Brandt, and confirmed that the second wineglass, as well as fingerprints on much of the furniture and toys in the room, had belonged to her. She had told a tale of sexual perversions and coercion that had chilled Sadie to the bone.

Taylor confessed to intending to use the good favor earned through sex for her own career advancement, but that she had decided it had gone far enough when Cyril hauled out a whip and had proceeded to beat her that fateful Sunday afternoon. He’d been in a rage, apparently high on cocaine and worry over what Sadie was up to, and had decided to take it out on Taylor. The welts and cuts on her back had lent credence to her story. As well as the testimony of a dozen of Cyril’s former secretaries and assistants. Even his wife had told of his disturbing tendencies toward extreme sexual experimentation and sadism.

The hotel staff had confirmed seeing Taylor leave almost two hours before Cyril’s estimated time of death.

It all made sense. Frustrated with the refusal of his current plaything, Cyril had taken matters into his own hands. His judgment impaired by too much wine and cocaine, he’d lost control—and ultimately his life.

It was unfortunately an all too common tale. And an end that Sadie had to admit seemed fitting. Today she was going to sign a few final papers and pick up a rather substantial check. Her rightful settlement from the life insurance policy that Cyril had been trying so hard to cheat her out of, along with a supplement offered to her very graciously by Cyril’s widow.

Ellen was mortified by the injustices her husband had wreaked on Sadie, and it was her small attempt to make amends.

Sadie had refused at first, but it had seemed so important to Ellen that she had relented.

That money would pay for her schooling and leave a nice chunk left over for her to invest in Jake’s wine business. They were going to be partners and they were going to expand their market into Europe. She was going to have a career. She was going to have a business and she was going to travel. She couldn’t be more excited.

But truly, what made it all so satisfying and exciting was the fact that she was sharing it all with two men whom she loved and adored to distraction, and who loved and adored her right back.

They loved her so much in fact, that that weekend Evan was hosting a little party here at the condo. It was to be the equivalent of his “coming out” party, and as such he intended to introduce her and Jake to all the people in his life that he considered friends. It was to be a sort of…culling. If people disapproved and chose to judge him, then they could “kiss my ass,” as he put it. He would shed no tears for the parting of those who couldn’t accept the real Evan Valerian.

Sadie truly hoped that his friends would be supportive, and eventually become her friends as well.

Everybody needed more friends.

She rolled over and planted a soft, languorous kiss on Evan’s lips. Finally roused from his sleep, he responded in kind. His arm circled her waist more tightly, drawing her breasts to his chest and nestling his morning erection against her mound. She wrapped a leg around his thigh, pulling his hips to hers and opening herself to him.

When he entered her, she sighed with satisfaction. How was it that she had been denied this kind of joy for so long? But maybe that was why the joy was now twofold. The intimacy with Jake was no less special, no less intense. And there was no jealousy between them. It didn’t seem to matter whether all three bodies were engaged in the physical intimacy or, if there were only two, which two it happened to be. No matter who they were with or where they were, the trust and emotional intimacy was complete.

She’d never known anything like this before. She never knew it was possible.

Evan’s kiss deepened along with his thrusts. As the pleasure intensified Sadie arched her back, breaking the kiss and exposing her throat. He bit her neck, just hard enough to let her know he meant business but not hard enough to cause pain. Her nails dug into his back in reciprocal pleasure.

She heard the door to the bedroom ease open and then snick shut once again. Jake had come in but there was no need to stop. He would either join them or watch and allow them to finish, as he saw fit. Either way, knowing he was there merely added to the pleasure.

She was pleased when he slid into bed, spooning his body against hers and neatly forming the “Sadie Sandwich,” as they had so aptly named the position. His chest was firm against her back, strong and reassuring like his presence in her life. His arms encircled her, one hand across her waist in a sign of possessiveness that she relished, the other sweetly cupped her breast in a show of tenderness. His rigid cock nudging her ass was a signal that could not be confused with any other.

Evan, his cock momentarily stilled within her pussy, glanced quickly at Jake before asking a question that had already become familiar. She nodded, allowed her head to loll back against Jake’s shoulder as she opened her thighs still farther to permit Jake’s lubricated cock to ease into her alongside Evan’s.

The process was slow and strangely succulent, momentary discomfort giving way to an intense sense of fullness and intimacy that didn’t come with any other form of lovemaking. For the three of them this was the ultimate in sharing, the ultimate way to express their love.

Once they were both embedded to the hilt, it was up to her. It was her hips and muscles that controlled the thrusts, dictated the movements. She moved very slowly. With this intensity of tension and excitement there was no need for haste. The momentum built gradually yet steadily—sweetly. And when the climax finally came for all of them it was more like a blooming rose than exploding fireworks. The result more delicate yet just as breathtaking.

They lay together, their bodies and emotions intimately and inextricably entwined as they allowed their heart rates to calm and their breath to mingle.

When the men had, at last, naturally withdrawn from her, Jake spoke for the first time since he’d come in. “We really should get up.”

“Oh?” Sadie allowed herself a luxurious stretch. “What’s the rush?”

“Well, we’re expecting company in a couple of minutes.”

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. That startled both her and Evan. “Huh?”

Evan blinked in surprise. “We are? We weren’t expecting anyone.” He looked to Sadie. “Were we?”

She loved how they had fallen into this living arrangement so naturally. “I” had transformed into “we” and no one had even noticed. She shook her head. “Not that I know of.”

Evan asked, “Who is it?”

“Quick, get something on and come out to see.” Jake had already rolled out of bed, grabbed his robe and headed out the door. “I’m cooking breakfast for everyone.”

“Everyone?” asked Evan as he slipped out of bed and headed to the en suite bath to wash off the evidence of their lovemaking. Apparently there wasn’t time for a shower. “How many guests are we talking about, anyway?”

“Everyone could be just the three of us plus one guest, you know.”

“I don’t know. There was something about his tone.”

Sadie looked at him as if he was crazy, and then confirmed it. “You’re nuts.”

“I just don’t like unexpected guests, that’s all. I never have.” He slipped on his robe and handed Sadie hers. Damn, she was sexy. She was still a bit too thin, and he could still make out the marks and bruises that were evidence of her ordeal, but she was definitely on the mend. She was happy and healthy, and he’d had something to do with that. He took pride in that fact.

Sadie accepted his complaint in silence, following him and the scent of coffee out into the main living area. There were two figures seated at the island, their backs to Evan as they sipped from enormous mugs of Jake’s famous brew.

At his approach they turned around—and froze Evan in his tracks.

He blinked, not believing what he was seeing. “Rachel? Wh-what are you doing here?”

“Hi, Daddy.” Rachel’s voice was barely a whisper, and tears brimmed in her eyes. “I figured out it was time to come home.”

His mouth opened but no words came. He finally sputtered out, “I-I didn’t think you considered this home. I thought—”

“So did I. I thought home was with my mother, and that’s why I went back. But when I got there I realized that the real reason I wanted to go back was to see if it still felt like home.” She reached out a hand to Noah, who was now standing beside her. “And when I was there a few days I realized that it didn’t. I saw my mother and the way she lives with new eyes, and I realized how bitter and angry and how very, very
old
she is. She stopped living after she had me, and I can see that now. She hid away from the world and the thing is…” She gently withdrew her hand from Noah’s and took a tentative step forward. “The thing is, I realized that the world isn’t all evil and sin and ugliness. There’s a lot of beauty out here if you just open your eyes to it.”

Evan swallowed, felt Sadie’s hand slip into his. Her love and strength flowed into him. “So you’re willing to accept me? Who I am—and the people I love?”

“Yes. You’re a wonderful man, and I’m so glad that you’ve found love with these people. It doesn’t matter who you find happiness with…as long as you find it. I’m just sorry it took me so long to figure that out.” She sighed. “Now if only I could convince my mother of that.”

“She doesn’t like that you’ve come back here.”

Rachel shook her head. “No. Apparently I’m dead to her now. My decision to fornicate and enter into a relationship with a man whose father is gay is just more than she can accept.”

Evan gave Sadie’s hand a squeeze before withdrawing and crossing the room to his daughter. He touched her cheek. “I’m so sorry you had to make that choice. It shouldn’t be like that. But I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t glad you’re here.” He glanced at Noah. “You made the right choice, Rachel. I hope you believe that.”

“I do. I’m so happy to be with Noah—and with you. I’m just sorry I hurt you so much in the process.”

He drew her into a hug. “Enough with the apologies. Let’s just enjoy what we’ve got and move forward from here.”

“Great!” It was Noah’s enthusiastic voice. “Thank God we’ve got that out of the way. Now my dad has invited us all to their place for dinner tonight to celebrate. He’s cooking steak.”

Evan kissed Rachel’s forehead and laughed. “Isn’t he a vegetarian?”

“He figures the occasion merits a little indulgence. If Rachel can be flexible, so can he.”

Evan glanced from Jake to Sadie and knew that they felt his happiness as much as he did. “We’ll be there.”

Ellen Ballantyne pulled into the parking lot of a large park far outside the Toronto city limits. Rattlesnake Point sat high atop the sandstone cliff that was the Niagara Escarpment. It was a Monday morning so the park, which was a common destination for picnicking families and avid hikers, was all but deserted. Leaving her car, she followed the winding pathway that led past a small stream, through the dappled shade cast by a sea of poplar trees, and over enormous sandstone outcroppings to a popular lookout spot on the edge of the cliff. She sat down to wait, enjoying the view of forests and farmland as she sipped her coffee from its cheap paper cup.

It was almost twenty minutes later when, at last, her companion arrived.

The other woman sat down in a huff, popped the tab on her own coffee and took a long, loud gulp.

“You’re late,” observed Ellen.

“The cops are still watching me. I wanted to be sure no one was following me.”

“All right. That’s understandable, I suppose.”

“Well, I’m fuckin’ glad you approve. You know, lady, I’m sick of this skulking around and waiting bullshit. I just want my money and I wanna get the hell outta here.”

Ellen turned slowly. “There’s no reason to take that tone with me, Taylor. I apologized and I meant it.”

Taylor took a deep breath, closed her eyes and let it out. “You’re right. I’m sorry. You’ve got to understand how stressful this is. I’m still scared.”

“Well, I hope you’re less scared of me than you were of my husband.” Ellen tried to smile warmly, but Taylor’s response was less than convincing.

“I…suppose.”

Ellen chuckled. “You know, maybe I should be flattered. I never thought of myself as a particularly manipulative or even particularly smart person. I never schemed or plotted a day in my life. I barely even lied. It took having to deal with Cyril to bring that out in me.” His years of philandering that had mutated into what Ellen eventually came to see as a dangerous and risky obsession had planted the seed of an idea. She’d known she had to get rid of her husband, she just wasn’t sure how.

Divorce, however unpalatable, had been the best option—until she had come to suspect the full nature of his crimes. A man who could engineer the death of his own father had no place in her children’s lives. No court—and no ocean—could put enough distance between them. Death had been the only option. At that point it had just become a matter of how and how soon.

“And I never thought of myself as a killer,” remarked Taylor.