Fifty Shades of Fairy Tales Omnibus (21 page)

I wait for more but he just stares at me--more like grimaces--as if he thinks I should be reading the answer out of his thoughts. I’m no psychic, unfortunately. “And so…” I wave my spiced meat skewer at him to indicate he should continue.

“
So.” He heaves a large sigh that makes his massive chest colossal, then he drops his gaze to his plate before he once more pins me with his green-brown eyes. “We were lovers.”

I almost choke on my meat skewer. Then a hot vision of him and Jacques kissing and fucking pop into my mind. I felt my panties grow damp before I shake the erotic thought from my mind. “Wait a minute, but you and I…” The truth dawns on my momentarily sluggish brain. “You’re bisexual.” I shrug. “Okay, so what’s the big deal?”

He rolls his eyes at me and grumbles, “You know how it is when you’re in MMA, in sports of any kind, and you’re a guy. You can’t be gay or bisexual. The press and the other fighters would smear this all over, and I don’t want the hassle it’ll bring.”

“
Sweetie, this isn’t 1980 anymore.” I pat his hand and give him a compassionate smile. “You can come out. Hell, gay marriage is legal in some places. The GLBT community is more and more accepted and influential than it ever was.”

He snorts at this. “Not in sports, yet. You remember what happened to Robbie Rogers?” He leans his mighty elbows on the table and I have to hold it down on my end so it won’t lift. “Or how about Justin Fashanu?”

I look at him, feeling the sadness in my gaze. There is nothing I can say to that, at least nothing springs to mind. The two men he has mentioned were former English football players who had come out as gay with some devastating consequences. In Robbie’s case he left the sport, but in Justin’s case he took his life.

Then I think of another case in hockey. The son of a hockey general manager named Brian Burke had come out and received a great response. Brendan Burke had raised more awareness of homosexuality and homophobia in hockey and had been lauded for it. I tell him of this, but his face just sours more.

“
Yeah, and he died in 2010 in a car accident.” He clenches his jaw and pauses.

I feel more deflated than ever and realize he is right. Not a great example, I decide, as I play with my fork and search for words.

“
Sorry,” the Beast says. “I didn’t mean to be an ass.” He reaches over and covers my small hand with one of his huge paws. “I just really want to keep this low key, and so does Jacques. Maybe one day we can come out, but…” He shakes his head sadly. “I just don’t think the MMA world is ready for it yet.”

I nod, feeling compassion for him in that moment. “I promise no one will know beyond me and Daniel. But Daniel has to know, and why has this been bothering you so much? I mean, in terms of effecting your fighting?”

He drains his wine glass before he speaks again. “Things between Jacques and I ended badly. We haven’t seen each other since.” He shrugs. “I guess I’ve been self sabotaging, being a coward. I wasn’t ready to face him.”

I reach over and stroke his beefy bicep. “It’ll be okay, hon. You guys are both amazing fighters. Go in there and bring us a heavyweight title belt home. I know you can do it.”

He nods, smiles a smile that is wide and genuine in the relief it shows. “Thanks, Bella.” He strokes the fingers of the hand he clasps. “It felt good to get that out to someone. I’m not ashamed, and I hate acting like I am, but sometimes you can’t reveal all your secrets, you know?”

“
I understand, sweetie.” I get up and hug him, placing a big kiss against his temple as I do so.

***

I return to the head office of Strength Inc., ready to tell Daniel about what is bugging our Beast, but when I enter his office I find it will have to wait. One of our top investors, Richard Winfrey, is here. He’s a billionaire who’s had his fortune passed down to his through old money. The investments he puts into sports he considers his “toy fund,” but the amount he’s sunk into Strength Inc certainly isn’t chump change.

Daniel looks concerned as I near the desk. “We’ll keep this quiet,” he tells Richard. “Between us.”

“
I hope so.” Richard crosses on leg over the other, rubs his lantern jaw. “It wouldn’t be good for their upcoming heavyweight championship match if this gets out.”

Daniel scoffs a bit at this. “Come on, Richard. It’s 2013. The GLBT community is way more powerful and out in the open these days.”

Richard nods. “Nevertheless, we both know sports is somewhat behind in accepting gay and bisexual players. I’m not saying it’s right. Just that it’s a fact.”

Daniel frowns but nods ruefully. “Okay. Nothing’s confirmed yet anyway. I wasn’t planning on going public with this information. I wouldn’t do that to the Beast or Jacques.”

At the mention of the two men’s names, my stomach tightens and my heart pounds. So they already suspect the very truth I’ve come to confide in my boss. I clear my throat and step away from the door, moving farther into the light of the room.

Daniel looks up and smiles. “Bella, have a seat. Richard and I are just finishing up here.”

Richard stands and flashes me his best smile, enhancing his chiseled good lucks. “Bella.” He holds out a hand, which I shake. “Always good to see you.”

I return the pleasantry and we exchange some small talk before he leaves. Once the door shuts behind him, I turn to Daniel and prepare to reveal what I know. “I heard what you two were talking about when I came in. He suspects Jacques and the Beast were lovers?”

Daniel scratches his bristly black hair and nods. “Yeah, someone anonymously sent him pictures. He wants it kept quiet. He’s worried about losing money if our viewers find out. I’m not saying it’s right, but what can I do?”

“
They were lovers,” I blurt out, making Daniel’s eyes widen. “Beast just told me over lunch. I guess it ended badly and that’s why he’s been acting the way he has.”

“
Wow.” Daniel rubs his chin. “What else did he say?”

“
He wants it kept quiet, too. He’s worried over how the media and our fan base will react. He reminded me of Justin Fashanu and Robbie Rogers.”

Daniel gives a grim frown. “Two guys in sports who came out with disastrous results.” He puts his elbows on the desk, tents his fingers, and rests his chin on them. “Okay, let’s respect everyone’s wishes then. Keep this low key as planned. And thanks, Bella. Now, can you do one more big favor for me?”

“
What’s that?”

“
Get the Beast and Jacques talking again?”

I gulp hard. “That isn’t going to be easy. And wouldn’t it work to their advantage and ours if they go in the ring angry with each other?”

He gives me a slightly exasperated look. “You really think so? With how the Beast has been acting, I doubt it. Whatever happened between them is knocking him off his game. And Richard told me there are rumors Jacques is not happy about fighting the Beast either. We need to at least heal the rift between them if we’re gonna get a good fight out of those guys.”

I sigh and sag in the chair. “All right, boss, you got it. I’ll work on this over the weekend.

***

The very next day, I call a meeting with the Beast.

“
So how exactly did you and Jacques break up?” I ask as we sit in my office.

Beast stares at my marble paperweight a long time. His deep frown reminds me of a gargoyle. “You really want to know?”

“
Yup.”

He sighs and runs a hand through his short, wavy black hair. “It was ugly. I told my mom about him and I because she’s always known about my sexuality. Jacques found out and he flipped over it, saying the truth could leak out to the media now and ruin us. I told him my mom would never do that to us, and she would keep the truth private. He left me right then and was shacked up with some woman ten days later. We haven’t really talked since.”

“
Well, apparently Richard Winfrey was anonymously sent a picture of you and Jacques together.”

“
Oh, fuck.” The Beast looks surprised as he rubs a large hand down his face. “Just great.”

“
Don’t worry.” I reach out and touch his hand. “Daniel got the picture from Richard and they destroyed it. But, besides your mom, can you think of anyone who’d have the ability to expose you? Anyone who’d want to blackmail you like this?”

He scratches his cheek as he thinks about it. “No one comes to mind.”

“
Well, I think we better talk to Jacques. Tell him what’s going on and see if he can think of anyone.”

“
He’ll blame me for this,” the Beast grumbles. “Accuse my mom of having loose lips or something.”

I lay a hand on his big one. “Tell you what, I’ll come with you when you two meet. I’ll be your moderator or whatever. I don’t know your mom well, but I know her enough to be sure she’d never sell you out like that.”

His deep frown turns to a smile. “Thanks, Bella. I appreciate it.”

Jacques sounds reluctant at first when I call him, but he agrees to meet with me and the Beast at my place. Neutral territory.

Things are going fairly smoothly over a nice dinner of
Fettuccine Alfredo when we break the news about the picture to Jacques. His reaction somewhat puzzles me, after what the Beast had told me.
 

“
Impossible!” His jaw hangs open and he slams the table with one fist. “Who could’ve done something like this?”

The Beast stands up and bangs his fists on the table. “Well I can tell you right now it wasn’t my mother. She’d never breathe a word about us to anyone, and this was photographic evidence anyway.”

Jacques casts a look at him like he’s just said the oddest thing, then his mouth forms an “O” and his eyes go wide with realization. “No, I know that now, Beast. But I have an idea who it might be the more I think on it.”

“
Who?” I ask.

He sighs loudly. “My ex-wife.” He looks to the Beast and his look is filled with sincere apology. “She found some pictures of you and I a long time ago. Told me it didn’t bother her, but when we divorced I couldn’t find those pictures anywhere. I thought maybe she burned them, but now it seems she’s using them to blackmail me--us.”

The Beast nods and quiet wrath seems to settle over his face.

“
I am so sorry, old friend.” Jacques squeezes the bigger man’s shoulder. “You know I never meant for this to happen.”

The Beast covers the man’s hand with one of his. “No, I know you didn’t.”

I place my palms in the center of their broad backs and draw closer between them. “I think, guys, it’s time to let the past hurt between you two go. We should work together on this, help each other bring the blackmailer down. What do you say?”

Jacques boy-next-door good looks lighten up in a wide, sexy smile. He looks at the Beast, who returns the grin, then at me. “On one condition.”

I’m not entirely sure where he’s going with this, but I’m curious. “What’s that?”

“
You join us for the makeup sex.” He casts a glance at his former lover. “What do you say, Beast?”

The Beast’s face is full of carnal intent equal to the other man’s. “I think that’s the best idea you’ve had all night.”

“
Hey, whoa, wait up,” I say, putting up my hands and pushing them both back a bit to give me some breathing space. “Who says I want to be a part of this?”

The Beast takes the hand I’ve placed on his sculpted shoulder and kisses the fingertips before he says, “You’ve been with me before. We’d just be adding someone new.” Then he turns to Jacques and says, “And you should see the toys she’s got stuffed in her two dresser drawers. Whips, paddles, cuffs.” He points at me with a thumb. “Girl’s kinky.”

I can’t help but laugh at this, but I’m still not giving in so easily. “I invited you two here to patch things up, not seduce me!”

Jacques moves in now and takes my other hand, suckling the fingertips, twirling his tongue over them suggestively until my pussy grows wet. He pulls away to speak. “Why can’t we do both? No one has to know.”

“
And no one’s here with a camera, so we don’t have to worry about incriminating pictures later,” the Beast quips before he leans forward to tug on my ear with his teeth.

Should I let these two powerhouses seduce me? I hover on uncertainty a moment longer before Jacques strong hand begins to move up my thigh, beneath the hem of my summer dress.

As the Beast’s tongue slides in my ear, I whisper, “Fine, but only for one night.”

They lead me into the bedroom and the Beast heads straight for my drawers full of toys. He holds items up for my approval, and I select a cat o’ nine tails, fuzzy cuffs, and nipples clamps with a clit stimulator attached by a long, silvery chain.

By the time he returns, Jacques and I are already naked on the bed and beginning to start. He tells us not to get too worked up without him, then slides up my other side as he climbs onto the mattress.

I whisper, “Do with me what you will. I’m yours tonight.” Then I place my wrists behind my back so they can fasten the cuffs. The soft fake fur caresses my skin as they’re clamped on.

I let one of them press a big hand to my shoulder and guide me back onto the pillows so they can fasten the clamps to my nipples and the stimulator to my clitoris. Before he does so, he teases each erogenous zone he intends to fasten the device to. First my nipples are laved with a hot, wet tongue then suckled and grazed with teeth until they stand stiff and throbbing.

The other man takes the end of the silvery chain and gets between my legs. He turns on the clit stimulator with a tiny remote control that belongs to the device, then he runs this vibrating tip up and down my inner thighs, sweeping it ever closer to my swelling sex. His head dips and he presses his tongue to the pulsing bead of flesh at the top of my vagina. He grinds this wet muscle into my clit, making me moan and arch my hips up to meet the stimulation. Now it’s wet and pulsing like mad, he attaches the stimulator.

While vibration zips through my sex, making it drip from erotic stimulation, the two men guide me back to my knees, which they spread wide so they can tease and pleasure me. I tell one to bring his cock closer to my mouth so I can suck and titillate him in return.