The Joy of Sorrow Epilogue

I stop in the doorway to Tansy’s dance studio and lean against the frame. The soft tap of our omega’s ballet shoes carries over the classical music as she moves across the room.

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This room used to be an at-home theater, with dark walls, heavy curtains, and seats no one ever used. Cass had it torn down to the studs and rebuilt for Tansy. He put mirrors on one wall, a barre along the other, and pale wood floors that still smell faintly new. Grason even built a few shelves along the back wall.

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In the center of the room, Tansy dances in a black leotard and a soft wrap skirt that brushes mid-thigh. Her hair is pulled back tight, with no loose strands, and she looks clean, strong, and focused as her arms lift and open and her body turns with control and precision.

Seeing her like this makes my shoulders drop.

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She looks so good, not just beautiful, but actually happy.

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The last year hasn’t been easy for our girl.

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When she learned that her father, Ken, had disappeared, it cracked something open in her. The alpha vanished without a trace, leaving no note or indication of where he went. She spiraled for weeks, waiting for him to show up at the house, at the store, in the driveway, or around every corner.

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She jumped at the tiniest sound and checked the locks several times a day.

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She was terrified.

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Cass finally sat her down and told her that Ken was gone, and the way he said it made it clear that her father was never coming back. Tansy didn’t ask for any details, and Cass didn’t offer them. She cried hard that night, but when she woke up the next morning, she was calmer, almost relieved.

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I swear she seems happier.

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“Hey,” Grason whispers, and I startle when his arms slide around my middle. His chest presses to my back, then he dips his head and kisses the side of my neck, his breath warm against my skin. “I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says, before resting his chin on the top of my head.

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“That’s okay.” I lean into his big body. He smells like pine trees and fresh winter air.

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Tansy shifts into a turn, her skirt fluttering as her ballet shoes barely tap against the floor. Her eyes are closed, completely lost in the music.

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Grason’s arms tighten just a little. “She looks stunning,” he murmurs.

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“Yeah,” I say. “She really does.”

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Tansy finishes a spin and pauses, her hands settling at her waist as she catches her breath. She glances toward the mirrors and then turns, her eyes finding us in the doorway. For a split second, she looks surprised, but then her face softens and a slow, genuine smile spreads across it.

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“Hey.” She lifts a hand and gives a small, almost shy wave.

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Grason loosens his hold on my middle, but he doesn’t step away.

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“You done for the day?” I ask.

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She shrugs, rolling one shoulder, then the other. “I think so.” She looks down at her skirt, smoothing it out. “I was just in the mood to dance. It felt good.” She drifts toward the shelves by the door and grabs her water bottle, twisting the cap loose and taking a long drink.

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“Did you finish the picture frames?” she asks before taking another quick sip.

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I wince a little. “Define finish.”

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Grason shifts, releasing me. “What picture frames?” I can practically hear the smile in his voice.

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Tansy caps the bottle and tucks it under her arm. “The ones in the living room. Beck decided they all needed to be black.”

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“Needed is a strong word,” I say, stepping back when Tansy turns off the lights. “I was thinking black and matte.” We move down the hallway as I keep talking. “I painted two. Then I painted half of a third. And then I realized they all look…kind of bad.” I grimace.

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“How bad?” Grason asks.

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“They’re patchy and covered in streaks,” I say with a huff. “They’re still in the garage. I might strip them. Or repaint them. Or forget they exist entirely.”

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Tansy snorts softly as we cut through the living room and head up the stairs. “I’m sure they aren’t nearly that bad,” she says sweetly. “And black would be nice. You also don’t have to get them all done right now. You could do a few this week and then a few more next week.”

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“See, that’s dangerous,” I tell her. “That’s how projects die.”

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She laughs again and turns into Cass’s bedroom, already peeling the wrap skirt loose from her hips. “I’m going to shower,” she says, making her way to the bathroom door. “Once I’m out, I’m happy to lend a hand if you need it.”

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“Thanks.” I plop down on the foot of Cass’s bed while Grason follows Tansy toward the bathroom.

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Grason’s eyes trace the line of her throat as she pulls the hair tie from her bun. “Need any help in there?” he asks, his voice a low rumble.

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Tansy looks over her shoulder, eyes bright and mouth curving into a little smile. “I think I can manage,” she says with a flirty lift in her voice. “But you’re welcome to supervise.”

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Gray growls softly, then pauses at the bathroom door. “You coming, Beck?”

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Staring at the pictures that line Cass’s room, I lift a hand without looking up. “I’m good.”

“Suit yourself, beta.”

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The bathroom door clicks shut behind them, and the shower kicks on almost immediately, followed by a soft, very girly giggle. I smile, even though I’m still annoyed with my messy project waiting for me downstairs.

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Feeling a little restless, I move to Cass’s dresser and look at the picture frames lined across the top. They’re all gold, filled with professional photos we took a few months back. Cass stands at the center with Tansy on one side and me on the other. Grason and Warren flank us, close enough that their shoulders touch. Everyone is smiling, relaxed, and looking fucking gorgeous in matching all-white outfits, but all I can really focus on are the frames.

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Tilting my head, I consider the gold. Black would be fine, but gold would match the room better and complement the lighting. I make a mental note to pick up some gold spray paint the next time I go into town. I just hope I don’t forget.

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I hear Cass’s heavy steps about two seconds before he steps into the room. “Hey, Beck.” He moves to me. He barely has a limp now, and most days he doesn’t need the cane at all, only when the weather’s about to turn or he’s pushed himself too hard.

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“What are you doing?” His gaze flickers from me to the frames and back again, his mouth twitching. “Debating another project?” he asks.

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I snort, then roll my eyes. “Maybe.”

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A soft, breathy moan slips through the bathroom door, followed by the low murmur of Grason’s voice.

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Cass’s head snaps toward the sound, his big body going still.

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Without thinking, my gaze drags over the powerful pack alpha.

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He’s in a simple gray t-shirt that stretches snugly across his chest and shoulders. It’s tucked into a pair of dark, fitted jeans that hug his thick thighs and do a shit job of hiding the growing erection straining against the denim. He’s not even fully hard yet, and he’s already packing.

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I clear my throat as a grin spreads across my face. “Grason’s just helping Tansy clean up. I’m sure he’d love it if you gave him a hand.”

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Cass turns back to me, and his dark eyes scan my face. The corner of his mouth kicks up into a slow, dangerous smirk. “I’d rather bother you,” he says, his voice a low rumble that vibrates right through me.

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Before I can say a word, he closes the distance between us, and his strong hands wrap around my waist as he pulls me flush against his body. The hard line of his cock presses into my hip. He leans in, and then his mouth is on mine in a deep, possessive kiss. 

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I can’t help but laugh against his mouth, a breathy, happy sound that gets swallowed by another, deeper kiss.

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Another sharp moan from the bathroom, this one louder, cuts through the room, and Cass breaks the kiss. 

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“Fuck, I need you.” His grip on me tightens, and the bedroom door swings open without a knock as Warren steps inside. 

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The blond alpha stands there for a second, his chest heaving slightly and his hair a mess. His eyes are fixed on the bathroom door, a look of raw, unadulterated hunger on his face.

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I pull back from Cass just enough to speak, a breathless laugh escaping me. “Good lord. I swear, the bond you boys have with Tansy is like a goddamn whistle. One little whimper and you all come running like obedient little puppy dogs.”

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Cass leans down, peppering kisses on my neck and shoulder. “Don’t insult puppies,” he growls, his voice a low vibration that makes my member twitch. “They get a reward for behaving.” Then he nips at my mating bite just hard enough to make me gasp, his teeth sinking into the muscle where my neck meets my shoulder.

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“Do I get a reward too?” Warren moves across the room in three long strides until his chest presses flush against my back. The heat of him seeps right through my shirt. He's wearing those thin, soft joggers he loves, and I can feel every goddamn inch of his cock, thick and hard, pressing insistently against my ass.

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My body responds instantly, my dick swelling against the confines of my jeans, and a low, approving hum vibrates from Cass's chest into mine.

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The bathroom fills with filthy sound as the rhythmic slap of skin on skin mixes with Tansy's breathless cries and Grason's deep, guttural groans. The sound alone is enough to make my head spin, and having two alphas pinning me between them while it happens only makes it worse.

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Warren leans down, his hot breath ghosting over the other side of my neck before his lips find my skin. He kisses me there, a soft, wet press of his mouth that contrasts with the sharp sting of Cass's teeth. His hands slide under the hem of my shirt, palms rough and calloused as they map out my chest and stomach. His fingers slip down my stomach, his touch exploring and possessive, sending shivers of lust straight to my dick.

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Cass's arms are still locked around my waist, holding me steady.

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Warren's hands roam my torso as I remain trapped between them, surrounded by their scent and their heat while we listen to our omega getting fucked just a few feet away. The air in the room is thick with excitement and heavy with promise. Every moan from the bathroom makes their hands rougher and their mouths more demanding, feeding the want building between us.

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Suddenly, Cass grabs the front of my shirt and rips it over my head. I don't even have time to process it before Warren's hands are at my waist, fumbling with my belt and button. He yanks my jeans and my boxers down in one rough motion, the denim scraping my skin before they pool around my ankles. Both alphas move together, coordinated and deliberate, leaving me bare and exposed between them.

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Before I can take a breath, Cass drops to his knees in front of me.

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The world tilts, and then his mouth is on my cock. He doesn't tease. He doesn't hesitate. He just swallows me down, hot and wet and fucking perfect.

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I moan, loud and unchecked, my head falling back.

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I hear the soft thud of fabric hitting the floor as Warren strips himself down. Then the bare, hot skin of his chest presses against my back. His heavy cock slots right against the cleft of my ass.

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My senses are already overloaded.

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Cass's mouth is relentless, suctioning heat as he bobs his head, his tongue swirling around the head of my dick on every upstroke. Warren's hands are everywhere at once, roaming my sides, gripping my hips, sliding up my stomach to pinch my nipples. One hand snakes around to wrap loosely around my throat, holding me in place, while the other traces the crease of my ass, his fingers teasingly close to my hole.

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The sounds from the bathroom, the mouth on my cock, the hands on my skin, and the thick dick pressing against my ass blur together into raw, overwhelming need.

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Pressure builds at the base of my spine, a tightening coil that tells me I’m about to come. I’m right on the edge, my balls drawing up tight as a ragged groan tears from my throat. Just as the first wave of my orgasm starts to crest, Cass’s mouth is gone. He pops off my cock with a wet, filthy sound, and the sudden rush of cool air over my slick, throbbing dick shocks me.

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I barely have time to whine in protest before his hands are on me.

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Cass grabs my thighs and hoists me up with ease, holding me suspended for a brief second before flinging me onto the bed. I land on the mattress with a soft whoof of breath, bouncing once before scrambling onto my elbows.

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Both alphas move toward me immediately.

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Cass approaches from the left and Warren from the right, their attention fixed on me as they close the distance to the bed. They’re stripped bare, all corded muscle and raw strength, and their focus never wavers.

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Cass’s salt-and-pepper hair is slightly disheveled from where he was on his knees, and his dark blue eyes stay locked on my face. Beside him, Warren moves with the same intent, his blond hair mussed and his own blue eyes burning with possession. They move together with practiced certainty, and I stay where I am, waiting for them.

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They don't climb onto the bed so much as they surround it.

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Cass kneels on one side, Warren on the other, their shoulders brushing as they loom over me. For a moment, they just look, their similar blue eyes drinking me in.

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Then, in perfect, silent coordination, they move.

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Strong hands grip my thighs, spreading my legs wide and opening me to their gaze. I'm breathing hard, my heart hammering against my ribs as heat and anticipation flood my body.

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Then I feel it.

 

Two sets of hands.

 

Two fingers.

 

One from Cass and one from Warren, both slick with lube they must have grabbed from the nightstand as they circle my tight hole.

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They tease me for a second before pressing in, just the tips at first, a shared intrusion that makes my back arch off the bed. A strangled moan escapes my lips.

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"Look at that," Warren breathes, his voice thick with awe. "So fucking tight. You feel that, Cass? That little hole sucking us in?"

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"I feel it," Cass growls, his eyes locked on where their fingers disappear into my body. "He's trying so hard to be good for us, isn't he? Gonna stretch you open real nice, Beck. Get you ready for two alpha cocks."

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They work together, scissoring and stretching me as their fingers move in and out, curling and brushing against that spot inside me that makes stars explode behind my eyes. It's overwhelming, a double-sided pleasure that has me writhing on the sheets. They add a second finger each, the stretch becoming a delicious burn that borders on too much and still isn’t enough.

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"That's it, take it," Warren grunts, twisting his fingers just right and making me cry out. "Such a greedy little ass. Already hungry for more, aren't you? Can't wait to be stuffed full of us."

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"He's gonna look so pretty gapping afterwards," Cass adds, his thumb stroking the sensitive skin behind my balls. "We're gonna fuck you so good, beta. Gonna make you feel it for days."

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"Please," I gasp, not even sure what I'm begging for. Release. More. Everything.

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They seem to understand.

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Their fingers withdraw, leaving me feeling suddenly and achingly empty, but not for long. 

Cass positions himself between my spread legs and notches the thick head of his cock against my slick, loosened hole before pressing in. The stretch is slow and relentless, stealing my breath as he sinks into me inch by inch until he's buried to the hilt, his weight settling over me. I groan as my body adjusts, my hands fisting in the sheets.

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Before I can fully catch my breath, Cass lifts me, his muscles flexing as he hauls me up and hugs me to his chest. A surprised gasp escapes my throat as my hands fly to his shoulders to steady myself. I'm dizzy, a mix of shock and a dark, delighted thrill coursing through me at being so completely manhandled.

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“Move,” Cass commands Warren. “I want to feel your cock next to mine.” 

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Warren moves behind me and settles on the bed, and then Cass lowers me back down until my back is pressed flush against Warren's chest, trapping me between them.

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My head lolls back onto Warren's shoulder as a second cock is pushed inside my ass, right alongside Cass's. A choked, broken gasp tears from my throat as my eyes fly wide as I’m stretched so impossibly full it borders on pain. 

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For a moment, my body struggles to accept the overwhelming intrusion, my inner muscles clenching and fluttering around the thick, dual pressure. They're packed so tightly inside me that I can feel every ridge and vein, the distinct heat of each of them, the way they shift against each other with every shallow breath. 

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"We've got you, beta," Warren murmurs into my ear, his voice a low, steady rumble. "Just relax for us."

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Easier said than done.

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Cass pushes his hips forward, and my body resists for a moment as a sharp, burning pain makes me whimper. “Lift that ass.” Cass pushes my knees up to my ears, and some of the sting eases. 

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"Yes," I breathe, and my eyes float closed. 

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“Better?” Cass chuckles, but before I can answer, Cass thrusts into me. Hard. 

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The two alphas start to move, finding a rhythm.

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One thrusts in while the other pulls out, creating a steady exchange that drags against my inner walls with every motion. The sensation builds into something that borders on too much as my own cock leaks against my stomach. I can't think about touching it. All I can do is lie there and take it, my body fully given over to them.

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Cass leans down to capture my mouth in a bruising kiss while Warren nips at my neck, his teeth scraping my sensitive skin. 

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Their hands grip and hold me, bruising my hips and thighs as their low groans mix with my broken sobs. 

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Every thrust pulls another sound from me, and every movement sends another jolt of sensation through my body as I remain pinned between them and wanting more. The dual pressure inside me is a constant, overwhelming friction, a perfect, agonizing drag against my prostate with every coordinated push and pull. 

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"That's it," Warren growls in my ear, his voice a deep, possessive rumble. "Come for us, baby. Squeeze those cocks.” 

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My pleasure builds, a hot, tight coil low in my gut, winding tighter and tighter with every snap of their hips. My own hard cock strains against my stomach as the pressure builds inside me. 

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I can't stop it. 

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My back arches, a strangled cry tearing from my throat as the coil snaps. My orgasm rips through me, sharp and violent, and a fresh, weak spurt of cum paints my heaving stomach.​​