by Mari Carr
Elyse responded to the words as well as the touch. She came apart beautifully, her eyes drifting closed, her back arched, her lips parted though no sound came out.
As the waves began to ebb, Grant stepped out of the shower and grabbed a towel. Sebastian placed their sleepy lover into Grant’s arms, and then he claimed a pile of fluffy white towels.
Grant carried Elyse down the hall to his bed. He and Sebastian took turns drying her and then themselves before crawling in on either side of her.
Elyse was asleep within seconds. While he was tired, Grant was finding it more difficult to shut his mind down. Sebastian obviously had the same problem.
“Listen, man,” Sebastian started as Grant steeled himself for whatever was coming. “That kiss…” Sebastian paused. If he was waiting for Grant to let him off the hook, to fill in the sentence with a lie about it being a fluke or a one-off, he was going to be sorely disappointed.
Finally, Sebastian continued, “I’ve never kissed another guy. I liked it.”
It was a simple statement. And…the truth. Yet another first. Sebastian was being open and honest.
“I liked it too,” Grant admitted.
“You’re going to want to do more than that, right?”
“I’m open to exploring different avenues in this relationship, but I’m not going to force you if you’re not into it, Seb.”
“You’ve been with other guys before?”
“Yes. A couple.”
Sebastian fell silent as he considered Grant’s confession. “I gotta think about it,” he said at last.
Grant respected his honesty. “Take your time. We have plenty of it.”
Grant thought he heard Sebastian mutter something, but the words were spoken too low and mumbled. It sounded like “not really”, but Grant dismissed it. Now that he and Sebastian had cleared the air, exhaustion—physical and emotional—was setting in.
The last thing he heard before he drifted to sleep was Sebastian’s soft snore. It was surprisingly soothing.
And nice.
Chapter Eight
Sebastian walked out of the bathroom as he finished buttoning his shirt. He was surprised to find Grant standing in his room, looking at something on the desk.
The map.
Sebastian had pulled it out to study before grabbing a shower. The three of them had eaten a leisurely breakfast, delivered by room service, before deciding to get dressed and head out for some more sightseeing.
Though the winter had been brutally cold, this week’s weather was an anomaly, no chilly wind, no snow and temperatures in the fifties. They were taking advantage of it.
Grant hadn’t seen him return to the room yet, so he took the time to gauge the man’s reaction as he looked at the map.
Sensing his presence, Grant turned to him, frowning. “Where did you get this?”
Sebastian walked over and slid the map back into the file folder, assuming the role of spy. “That’s work related. You weren’t supposed to see it.”
“Work related?” Grant’s tone was suspicious. “Why would the CIA be interested in something like that?”
“Like what?”
Grant didn’t respond. “What does the CIA think it is?”
It appeared they were going to dance. Sebastian was ready to tango. “Clearly, they think it’s a map.”
Grant chuckled. “Do you know what it’s a map of?”
“Do you?”
Grant pointed to the file folder. “May I?”
Sebastian nodded.
Grant took the map out of the folder and began studying it again. “I’ve seen this before. Well, not this part of the map, but another section of it. According to my grandfather, the whole map originally belonged to his father, Richard, but all he had found was just a piece of it among his sister Jessica’s things after she died.”
“What does it lead to?” Sebastian asked.
“I have no idea. My grandfather simply said it was a treasure map.”
“Treasure?”
Grant sighed. “Yeah. I’ll admit that until this moment I thought it was all just a story, something my grandfather made up to entertain his ten-year-old grandson.”
“And your grandfather still has one of the sections?”
Grant didn’t reply. “What is it a map of, Seb? And why would the CIA be interested in it?”
Sebastian debated how to play this. If this were a true CIA investigation, he wouldn’t have been careless with the map, wouldn’t have allowed anyone to see it. He’d been well trained.
But those lessons were useless to him in this situation. So did he pretend to take Grant into his confidence or did he continue to be aloof in order to ferret out more information?
Four days in Grant’s presence had drawn a definite picture of the man. He was honest, friendly, smart, but more than that, he’d proven he was willing to do whatever it took to form a lasting bond with him and Elyse.
After last night, Sebastian found himself responding to it.
So he went the buddy route, reciting the backstory he’d made up in case Grant asked. “This map was stolen from the White House during World War II. This section only recently reappeared. The agency has been charged with finding the rest of it and returning it.”
“So it really is a treasure map?” Grant asked sardonically.
Sebastian grinned. “I guess. In a way. Did your grandfather tell you what sort of treasure it protected?”
Grant shook his head. “No. He didn’t. All he said was it kept the Breton family secrets safe.”
Sebastian took the map from Grant, studying the intricate lines. Then he pointed to the initials at the bottom. “R.B.”
Grant looked more closely. “You think that’s my great-grandfather.”
Sebastian shrugged. “Do you?”
Grant rolled his eyes. “I have no doubt you’re a great CIA asset, Seb. Because trying to have a frank discussion with you is frustrating as hell. Do you ever just say what you think without putting everything in code?”
Sighing, Sebastian pulled out the desk chair and sank down on it. What would it feel like to just come clean? He knew he couldn’t, but damn if he wasn’t tempted. Regardless, he felt compelled to give Grant as much honesty as he could. “Yeah. I think those initials might stand for Richard Breton.”
“Did you just come to that realization or did you suspect it before?”
Now that was a dangerous question. “Why on earth would I suspect that before? No. It didn’t occur to me until you mentioned having part of the map. Do you think the other initials represent the people who hold the rest of it?”
Grant looked at the initials more closely. “Perhaps, but I don’t have a clue who M.H. or C.W. are.”
“Would your grandfather know?”
Grant’s expression grew troubled. “If he did, I suspect he doesn’t anymore. He had a stroke a year ago. It wiped out his memory. He suffers from very serious dementia. My grandmother had to place him in a nursing home. He can’t speak or walk. He’s a shell of the man he used to be.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.” Sebastian couldn’t get a read on how close Grant was to his grandparents, but there was definite sorrow in the man’s eyes. “What about your great-uncle? Or your grandmother? Would they know?”
“My great-uncle died of a heart attack nearly five years ago. I could ask my grandmother if you want, though I don’t think she’ll give us the answers.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because she gave me the map when she moved my grandfather into the nursing home. Said it was something that needed to be kept safe. Hidden. In truth, I got the impression my grandmother was glad to be rid of it. She’s a fairly private person. If she’d wanted me to know more about the map, she would have told me when she handed it over. As it is, I was simply charged with keeping it out of sight.”
Grant had a section of the map?
Sebastian hoped his poker face was in place because it was taking all his strength not
to stand up and demand the man give it to him.
“You have the map? Here?” Sebastian asked.
Grant shot him a funny look. “Why the hell would I have it here? I thought it was a sentimental keepsake from my grandfather. It’s not something I carry around with me.”
Sebastian kicked himself for the stupid question. He needed to play it cool. “Of course not.” Then, he added, “I really need that map, Grant. For my investigation.”
Grant crossed his arms. “I’ll give it to you on one condition.”
“What do you want?”
“I want to know what that map leads to.”
He had no idea, but Sebastian had prepared an answer just in case. Even so, the lie tasted bad on his lips. “Documents that were stolen from the White House. If they fall into the wrong hands, it could be extremely dangerous for our country.”
He hoped that vague answer was enough because he hadn’t made up anything more detailed than that.
“Sounds dire.”
Sebastian nodded slowly. “I work for the CIA, Grant. Most of what we deal with is dire.”
“The map is in my apartment in L.A.”
“Can we go there?”
Grant’s forehead creased. “Now? You do realize this is supposed to be our honeymoon. You can’t take the rest of this week off?”
“My job doesn’t afford me that luxury.” He had thirty days to get the information Juliette needed.
“Fine. When do you want to leave?”
“Today,” Sebastian said without hesitation.
Grant’s eyebrows rose. “Damn. You don’t mess around, do you?”
Sebastian already had his phone in his hand. He called Devon and asked his boss if he could set up three flights to L.A. for them. Sebastian wouldn’t even consider leaving Elyse behind. If he only had this time to be with her, he was going to savor every single second of it.
Sebastian listened as Devon clicked a few buttons on his computer. Then he said, “Done. I’ll text you the flight details. You have a lead?”
“Yeah,” Sebastian said. “I do.”
“On the map?”
“Yep.” Sebastian was careful to keep his answers to short, one-word replies that wouldn’t tell Grant anything.
“I’ll tell Juliette we can expect a report from you when you return.”
“Do that.” Sebastian disconnected the call. “We’re all set.”
“Okay.”
“Hey. Are you guys ready to go sightseeing?” Elyse asked, standing at the doorway, bundled up in tight jeans, knee-high boots and a cashmere sweater. She had draped a pretty scarf around her neck that was obviously more for fashion’s sake than warmth. She looked so beautiful she took his breath away.
“Change of plans,” Sebastian said when Elyse walked over to join them. “Pack an overnight bag. We’re going to take a little trip.”
She gave him a curious grin. “Seriously? Where to?”
Grant took her hand and kissed her palm. “L.A. My place. The three of us are going on a treasure hunt.”
Elyse crinkled her nose, the expression completely adorable. “Is that code for kinky California sex or something?”
Grant tugged her toward him, expanding on the playful kiss he’d placed on her hand. Gripping her waist, he turned her toward the bed, his intention clear.
While Sebastian appreciated Grant’s stamina, he wasn’t sure he could spend another night in bed with the two of them and still manage to walk away once the month was over. Juliette didn’t intend for this trinity to last forever, but damn if he wasn’t starting to want it to.
He had to walk away before he got in too deep. Before they all did.
Sebastian placed a hand on Grant’s shoulder, holding him back from his target. “If you toss her down on that bed, we’re not going to make our flight.”
Grant shrugged. “So we’ll catch the next one.”
“We’re…taking a commercial flight?” Elyse asked, slightly surprised.
“You have a better idea?”
“My family has a plane.”
Grant looked at Seb. “Private plane. Wouldn’t have to worry about missing the flight.”
Sebastian’s cock twitched, temptation raging. He was seconds from saying California be damned when Elyse’s cell phone rang.
She pulled the phone from her back pocket to glance at the screen. “Oh, sorry. I need to take this really quick.”
She answered the phone but didn’t leave the room. “Hi, Katherine. I’m so glad you called.”
Grant and Sebastian were quiet as she spoke. Sebastian assumed Katherine was Mrs. Wythe. Elyse’s friendly tone as she spoke told him how much she adored the woman.
Katherine Wythe had to be ninety if she was a day, but she could pass for sixty. She had buried her two husbands at least three decades earlier, but their deaths hadn’t slowed her down, hadn’t kept her from being a driving force in the Trinity Masters. Many members looked to her for leadership, advice and counseling. With longevity came wisdom and experience.
“I’m afraid I won’t make it to tea this afternoon,” Elyse continued. “I was called to the altar this week.”
Sebastian couldn’t hear Katherine’s response, but it was clear she was curious.
Elyse looked at them as she told the other woman their names. Then she added with a blush, “Yes, I’m very happy with the match.”
Sebastian’s chest tightened. He hadn’t considered the fact that other people would know about this triad. While Juliette had the right to dissolve the union, it would still come as a shock to the other members.
Sebastian couldn’t recall the Grand Master ever breaking up a trinity prior to the formal marriage ceremony. There were going to be a lot of questions and concerns raised if Juliette did it, especially so soon after taking over leadership of the society. It might make her look as if she didn’t know what she was doing. She clearly hadn’t considered that when she’d hatched her plan to have Sebastian spy on Grant.
Juliette was already on thin ice as the members waited to see how the first female would fare as a leader. If she dissolved the very first triad she created—apart from her own—would it cause an uproar amongst the membership? He made a mental note to discuss it with her.
Then he pretended that conversation would occur simply because he was attempting to protect Juliette in her new role and not because he wanted this trinity to stick. Desperately.
He sighed. Grant had a portion of the map. There was still a chance that he was part of—or at least aware of—this purist sect.
“We’re taking a quick trip to L.A. this afternoon,” Elyse said, and then laughed in response to something Katherine said. “I have no idea why. Something about hunting for treasure.”
Sebastian winced. He couldn’t fill Elyse in on what was going on, but her close relationship with Katherine was going to be an issue if she felt the need to tell her friend everything.
“I’ll call you when I return,” Elyse said. “Goodbye.”
“Sorry,” she said, as she hung up the phone. “So much has happened in the last few days, I forgot I had plans with Katherine. I swear it feels like time has stopped and the world outside this hotel suite has ceased to exist. It’s sort of a surreal feeling, isn’t it?”
Elyse and Grant had committed to this time together, putting their lives on hold and throwing themselves into building something. Meanwhile, Sebastian was the usurper, the cheater, the one dragging in too much shit from the outside and lying at every turn.
Worst of all, there was part of him that wished this were a true honeymoon and that his future was set.
With them.
Chapter Nine
Grant had valeted his car at LAX, so they’d piled in and pulled out onto the highway. He was strangely excited about Sebastian and Elyse seeing his downtown apartment. It felt like one more way he was letting them in, making them a permanent part of his life.
For so many years, he’d worried about the arranged marriage part of
the Trinity Master’s membership. He was a man accustomed to making his own decisions, forging his own path. At eighteen, allowing someone to choose his spouses had seemed like a benefit, something that took the pressure off dating and searching for the one. As he grew older, letting someone else select his partners felt a bit like making a deal with the devil.
Both Sebastian and Elyse had spent some time in L.A., so they’d decided to skip doing any sightseeing on this excursion. Sebastian was determined to get the map and get back to Boston. Grant had been shocked to discover the old piece of parchment on Sebastian’s desk. At first, he’d thought it was a copy of the same map his grandfather had. However, when he studied it, he realized it was actually a different portion of the same map.
He wasn’t sure he bought Sebastian’s story about what the map led to. Grant wasn’t sure why, but his gut told him Sebastian was lying, that he was still hiding something. Aside from his intuition about Seb’s motives, there were several gaping holes in Seb’s story, not the least of which was that if the map had been stolen from the White House, it would be the FBI, not the CIA, who were investigating.
After last night, Grant had hoped they’d scaled that wall. He’d felt a definite connection with Sebastian as they’d taken Elyse together. Grant had felt an attraction to two men in his past and while he’d acted on it, the sex had been purely physical. Emotions hadn’t played a part. Both men had been members of one of the sex clubs Grant frequented occasionally and they had been submissives. The sparks he’d experienced with them were nothing compared to what he felt for Sebastian.
Unfortunately, he couldn’t quite get a read on Sebastian. There wasn’t a doubt in Grant’s mind the guy was straight—or at least, he had been—and that he’d never even contemplated kissing a man before they’d done so in the shower.
The other problem was, while Sebastian had responded to Grant’s commands, he hadn’t asked the man to do anything he hadn’t wanted to do. Sebastian had a healthy amount of alpha blood pumping through his veins and try as he might, Grant couldn’t see him agreeing to being tied up or dominated. Grant’s only experience with other men had been based on him being the top.
