CHAPTER FOURTEEN
KAREN
It was the knocking that woke Simon and me. I sensed him stir into consciousness.
Impatiently, they didn't wait for a reply before walking in. On instinct, I pulled the covers up over me making doubly sure I was decent even though they had all seen me naked and very indecent the day before.
Decker entered the room first, followed by Cedric. Under the sheets, in Simon's bed, I sat up naked and embarrassed.
After going to bed with one man, nothing in my life experience prepared me for being caught in someone else's bed the following morning by that same man from the night before. And yet, the brothers seem cheerful and relaxed as if it were all normal in their apartment.
I liked it.
"Good morning sweetheart, just bringing you coffee." Decker brought a large mug of it to my side of the bed.
I liked their version of ordinary, but it would take some time for me to get used to it.
"Good morning sweetheart, I drew the short straw and get to give you a kiss this morning, Simon." Cedric placed a mug next to Simon and leaned over to kiss his forehead.
Simon brushed Cedric off. "I'll forgive you for that, but only because you bring the hot brown stuff that I crave."
There was an ocean of bed space between Simon and me, so I moved closer to him and patted the bed for Decker to sit next to me.
My bed companion sat up. "Sleep well?" He asked turning to me.
"Yes, in the end, I did." He didn't ask for an explanation, but I felt Decker deserved one. "I woke up in the middle of the night. I was hot and bothered, and my mind was working overtime. I sat talking to Simon for a while."
"We talked about our Master's degree program and our portfolios," Simon said. "Bro, we need to discuss how we're going to use the photographs we've taken of Karen. She's been a brilliant model and signed a contract allowing us unlimited use of any of the images. Since then things have changed. Her mother has become part of our family. And Karen herself is no longer a stranger."
While Simon paused to sip his coffee no one spoke. What he had said was sinking in and he apparently hadn't reached a conclusion. "What I'm getting at, Cedric, is I don't want anyone outside of the four of us seeing the more intimate photographs of my girlfriend."
"My girlfriend," Decker repeated.
"Hold on, Simon." Cedric made for the door. "I'll be back. Hold that thought."
I practically held my breath wondering what was going on. Simon had made it sound as if it were him that didn't want other people to see the photographs. He made no mention of my concerns. It was as if he wanted to take all the backlash if Cedric didn't agree.
There was barely time to sip our drinks before Cedric reappeared holding a tablet. "I'm not going to deny it; I have some lovely erotic photographs locked down in my private files. I don't intend to share them with anyone. These are the images I'm working with. I'd say they were all intimate." He reached across the bed, passing me the tablet. "Let me know what you think, Karen, as you are the person in them."
"Scroll through them. You'll want to scroll quite quickly there are a lot of them. It's my long list, not my short list. I haven't narrowed it down beyond these at the moment."
I swiped across the screen and swiped and swiped
"They're good." I didn't recognize myself. It was me, and I started to understand that they saw me differently to how I pictured myself.
Cedric sat down on the very edge of the bed by Simon's feet. "They're intimate, but I think you'll agree they are all family friendly. There's nothing more explicit here than you might see in any magazine."
The pictures were amazing and not at all what I expected to see. Obviously, he hadn't included shots of my breasts or more private areas. I'd prepared for pornographic images.
Simon was looking over my shoulder. "What do you think of these?" I asked.
"Those are exactly the sort of images I intended to use as well if you're happy for us to use them. If you'd like us not to use your image at all, I'd be disappointed because it will be hard to find another model."
"Yeah, any other model will be second-rate after you."
I was so flattered by their comments, but I had to admit, it couldn't be all bullshit. The pictures were amazing. "I'm perfectly happy for you to use photographs like that, photographs that I wouldn't mind my mother and sisters seeing."
And I didn't want any woman posing in the way I had in front of my guys. I cringed at the thought of them finding another model, and I would protest at the idea of my boys seeking another model like me.
"If you're happy with them, then I'd like to use those images. Nothing that would be adult rated. Agreed?"
"Yes, you can use them. I don't want you guys finding another model. And I don't want to think of any of you taking pictures of another woman like those you took of me. Or films, for that matter." I looked at Decker.
His hands shot up in defense. "I've no interest in making porn. I don't even watch it. Although I'd happily make home movies for our private entertainment." He winked.
Decker stood up. "Right. If you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Karen, you can use my bedroom as your own whenever you are ready," he said diplomatically without stating my clothes were still lying on his bedroom floor where we tossed them in the heat of the moment the night before.
His robe was lying on the floor by the bed. I was naked in bed with Simon, but we hadn't done anything. I'd merely dropped the rope as it was too hot to sleep in.
Decker leaned over and kissed me tenderly on the lips before departing.
Cedric got up to leave as well. He looked awkward as he stepped towards the door.
"Cedric, if we're going to make this unconventional relationship work, I'd like kisses from you even when I've slept with your brother overnight."
"Right you are." He grinned. He rolled his shoulder back and walked around the bed with confidence now he had a clear invitation. "I'm new to this type of thing and just working out the morning etiquette." He leaned over and kissed me in just the same way Decker had.
As he walked back around the bed toward the door, Cedric winked. Perhaps he thought something had happened between Simon and me.
Nothing had happened between me and the virgin triplet, yet.