Strictly Research (Bad Boy MFM Romance)

by Terry Towers

  Her mouth dropped open and she was silent for a moment. I waited for her reply, even though I could see it in her eyes. She loved me. Her feelings were deeper than maybe she even wanted to admit to herself, let alone me.

  “Me too, Xander.”

  I left elated. I’d been told those oh-so-powerful words dozens of times over the years. Clients had said those words, but they never really meant it. They loved the feeling of being with me. They loved the image I presented to them, but they didn’t love me – they didn’t know me, so how could they? But Monica was different. All those months apart, we never lost contact, she’d become my best friend and confidante, despite being a half a world away.

  Chapter 17

  Monica

  Things were moving so fast. It was like a whirlwind and both my head and emotions were having a hard time keeping up. The guys didn’t have a lot of stuff, as they were quite literally living out of a suitcase, all of their belongings given away or stored at Mitch’s parents’ home. It wasn’t as though I had the room anyhow, so their lack of belongings was actually a relief for me.

  We’d decided that rent would be split three ways, which took a bit of a financial burden off of me, although it’s not like I needed the financial help, but less money towards household costs meant more towards saving – just in case. Self-publishing was a very volatile business: one day you could be on top of the world making more money than you ever dreamed of, and the next day clipping coupons praying your next book made enough to pay off your editor and promotional costs. It was a line of work that wasn’t for the faint of heart.

  A soft knock came at my door, followed by Mitch opening the door and peering in. “Got a moment?”

  I looked down at the single paragraph that had taken over an hour to write and sighed. The intention had been to stay out of the way while they settled in. Looking back up at him, I gave him a smile. “I have all the time in the world.” Writers’ block. I fucking hated writers block, I didn’t get it often, but when I did it was torture for me. Each day without anything new published was another day I risked my readers forgetting about me and never coming back again. Well, shit, I had two incredible, sexy men moving in with me so the last thing I should have been feeling was writer’s block. I should have been inspired with tons of dirty thoughts racing through my mind.

  Proceeding to enter the room, he closed the door behind him and sat down next to me on the bed. “Thank you, Monica.”

  I cocked my head to the side and eyed him. “Thank you for what?”

  “For taking us in.”

  “I’m hardly taking you guys in.”

  “You’re giving us a place to stay when we had nowhere to go, that’s taking us in.”

  “You’re paying me rent,” I countered.

  He didn’t answer for the span of a few beats. “I wanted to ask one final time if you’re okay with everything.”

  “Everything?” I was pretty sure I knew what he was getting at, but wanted to verify we were on the same page.

  “Not just the living arrangement, but our… relationship arrangement.”

  “Are you?” I argued. He was the one who had to share a girlfriend, if anyone should have issues with the arrangement it should be Mitch and Xander. It had been Xander’s idea and he seemed to be very clear that he was fine with how we were going to proceed. Mitchell, however, I had concerns about.

  “It’s had time to sink in and I’m good with it. I’ve had more time to think this over than you have.” I nodded, but said nothing. “Of course there will be jealousy from time to time and problems may arise along the way, but as long as we’re open and honest with each other, all three of us, I believe this can work.”

  Admittedly, I’d considered the jealousy issue. And a part of me felt guilty, so many women had such a hard time getting one good guy and I had two. Two kind, caring, dreamy men and they were mine. I smiled. “So do I.”

  We stared into each other’s eyes a moment. I saw a flash of something, something that warmed my heart and made me sure of this decision, love. It was on the tip of my tongue, the words ‘I love you’ waiting to be said, but I needed more time – I think we all did. Besides, we still hadn’t even been intimate since I left Amsterdam. Of course, there was no rule that you had to have sex before you said those three small words, but still. In our situation I think we needed to make love again before saying it. If for nothing else, to solidify the bond we’d established nearly a year ago.

  “Good.” He gently slapped my leg, just above the knee. Then how about you put your work away for a little bit. Xander made supper and the table is set, we just need you.”

  “You didn’t have to make me supper.” My smile widened, it was nice to have someone make me supper. I felt like a pampered princess. I was always the one to prepare supper when I was with Joseph, so this was such a refreshing change.

  “I didn’t.” His smile turned smug. “Xander did, weren’t you listening?”

  Rolling my eyes, I set my laptop on my night stand and slid from the bed. “Smart ass. Either way, thank you. And I’ll thank Xander personally when I get out there.”

  “Don’t be too quick to thank him, he made lasagna and his lasagna isn’t as good as he thinks it is. I’ll admit is breakfast is incredible, supper on the other hand…” Mitchell followed my lead and got up from the bed trailing behind me to the door and out and into the living room.

  As soon as I entered the living room the delicious aroma of the lasagna greeted my nose. My stomach grumbled; I didn’t even realize I’d been hungry until I smelled the food. Nothing smelling that good could be anything short of delicious. “Ohmygod, that smells incredible, Xander.”

  Xander finished cutting a loaf of garlic bread and looked up to meet my gaze, a grin creeping onto his face. “I hope you like it. You two take a seat and I’ll bring the bread and wine over.”

  I sat down and with each of them on one side of me, sandwiching me. The thought of being sandwiched between these two men in the bedroom again was vivid, despite it being close to a year after the fact. I squirmed in my chair as flashes of them pleasuring me bombarded my consciousness. Those memories were imprinted into my head. I swore, even if I lived to be ninety those images would be vivid in my mind. As if they’d happened only yesterday. I’d used those memories as my masturbation material since the very first night with them.

  Xander caught my attention by placing his hand on mine. “So, how about the three of us take a walk through Central Park and finish catching up after supper?”

  “I’d like that.”

  ~*~ TT ~*~

  “It’s beautiful here in the evenings. I’d forgotten how nice it was here and how much I enjoyed walking through the park,” Mitchell said draping his arm around my shoulders and pulling me to him, giving me a quick kiss on the top of the head.

  “I don’t spend as much time here as I used to.”

  “Hey, they still have the remote-controlled boats here, don’t they?” Xander asked, looking over his shoulder at us. He didn’t seem perturbed by the fact that Mitchell and I looked like a pair of lovers hanging out with a buddy.

  “They do.”

  “Good, let’s go.” We changed our route and headed for the boats which were a rough ten minute walk from where we were.

  “So, tomorrow we have to go to the school and grab books and start preparing for classes.” Mitchell stated.

  “Yeah, it’s been a few years since we’ve been in school so a little refresher and discipline now will help in the long run. Even if it’s only a week of preparation,” Xander added, then went off to set himself up with a boat.

  “Which one of you is the book worm and which one the partier?” I sat down on a bench with Mitchell sitting next to me, facing toward the boat pond.

  Mitchell laughed. “Is that how it’s supposed to be? Can’t we both be dedicated to studies?”

  “You could. But I’m thinking you’re the one who always kept Xander in line.”

  He gave me
a look that said I was dead on. “I would never say that.”

  “He doesn’t have to.” Xander chimed in, looking over his shoulder at us as he began to navigate the boat over the calm water. “I’ll admit it. If it wasn’t for Mitch I may not have graduated.” He turned from the boats to look at us directly.

  “He has the potential,” Mitch said.

  Xander shrugged. “I just had other things on my mind that tended to take up priority.”

  “Like?” As if I didn’t already know, I just wanted to see him admit it.

  “College chicks. Frat parties. I was a whore, I’ll admit it.”

  “And what has changed?”

  He shrugged, taking a step toward me, and then another and another until he was standing directly in front of me. Leaning forward, he slid his hand into my hair bracing the back of my head and lowered his lips to mine. His kiss was hard, frantic and demanding. He kissed me like he’d done back in Amsterdam, with virility and passion.

  As our tongues danced, Mitchell slid his hand onto my lap, slowly inching its way to the juncture between my legs. I was vaguely aware of the people walking past us. Normally, I would be hesitant and shy over such public displays of affection, but not now, not this time. Not when in the matter of seconds I was being taken from an easy going, light mood to burning up with desire. All I could really comprehend was them – Mitchell and Xander.

  A week had gone past since they arrived at my doorstep and it had been a week of yearning. I’d waited long enough, I needed them both. Waiting to get back home would be torture, though I suspected the feeling would be mutual.

  With each step we came closer to my place – no, correction, our place – the more nervous I became. My god, I’d been with these men before, a couple of times, on their turf. We were now in New York and going to our place and so you’d assume I would be okay, or at least less nervous than I had been that first time I walked into the brothel, but I wasn’t.

  “What are you thinking, beautiful?” Xander asked, giving my hand a gentle squeeze. The roles had been reversed and Mitchell was up front, chatting on his phone as Xander and I trailed behind. It made me wonder if they preplanned this, to give each other equal opportunity.

  “Nervous.”

  Xander frowned. “Why?”

  I could feel my cheeks growing warm. “Because... I kinda figured.”

  “Kinda figured what?”

  “That, umm, we might be...” My God, I was feeling like a schoolgirl. Get a grip, Monica, I chastised myself. They’re here because they want to be.

  “Might be what?” He cocked a brow at me, a sexy smirk appearing on his lips.

  “Are you seriously going to make me feel like an idiot and say it?”

  He didn’t even skip a beat in responding. “I think so.”

  “You’re cruel.”

  “I don’t think so. Though I will admit that I may be having a little fun with you.” His cocky grin and wink made the heat in my cheeks grow warmer.

  “Uh-huh.”

  “So, to get back to it, might be what?”

  Having sex. Fuck. Make love. Shit, I didn’t even know how to describe it, what category what we were going to do belonged in. “Spend the night together.”

  “Of course we are, we all live together. Or have you forgotten?”

  Rolling my eyes at him, I huffed. “You know what I mean. In the same bed, the three of us, or a subset of the three.”

  A roar of laughter erupted from him, making him stop in his tracks. “Oh god, that was funny! A subset. You’re so damn cute, sweetie. So damn cute.”

  I merely shrugged, unsure if I was amused along with him or embarrassed. Maybe a little of both.

  He stopped laughing, wiping at his eyes to rid himself of the stray tear that had formed. “I didn’t mean to laugh, I’m not making fun. You took me off guard.” He gently pulled me into his arms. “If you’re asking if we’re going to make love to you when we get to the apartment, the answer is yes. I know I am, and pretty sure Mitch is going to be in on the action, as well.” He lowered his head, ghosting his lips across mine. “You’re the one in control. But this time it’s not because you paid to be. It’s because we want you to be. We’re yours, Monica.” He kissed me then, making it impossible for me to think, just feel.

  He may claim that I was the one in control, but I had never felt so out of control in my life. That being said, I don’t think I’d ever wanted anyone more than I wanted them both, my desire overriding my fear and insecurities. His closeness, his occasional kisses, and random caresses as we walked were turning the need within me into an inferno of desire. By the time we were back to my apartment I had to hold myself back from jumping into his arms, wrapping my legs around his waist and begging them both to show me pleasures like they had in Amsterdam.

  Chapter 18

  Mitchell

  “Yes, mother. Yes, I’ll try to take the time to see you and dad before classes begin.” I sighed. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to see my parents. I did. It had been a year since I last saw them; I was coming back from a visit the day I met Monica on the plane heading for Amsterdam. The problem was that I had so much to do, driving a couple of hours to see them would be a lot right now when we were just settling in.

  Mom: “I don’t believe you, Mitchell Terrance Cook.”

  “I said I’d try.”

  Mom: “Fine. Have you found a place yet?”

  “In fact, Xander and I have.”

  Mom: “Where? Perhaps your father and I can stop by for a visit since I know you won’t be coming out here,” she said pointedly.

  “We’re living in Manhattan. Midtown.”

  Mom: “How did you manage to be able to afford that area?”

  “We have a friend.”

  Mom: “Friend?”

  “She’s a good friend.”

  Mom: “She?”

  My mother’s tone turned inquisitive.

  “A subset of the three,” I heard Monica say from behind me and chuckled to myself. “Mom, I gotta go. I’ll fill you in later, okay.”

  She didn’t answer straight away, but I could tell she was itching to know more.

  “I promise, I’ll see you soon.”

  Mom: “Fine, we love you Mitchell.”

  “Love you too, mom.” I pressed the end button on my cell phone and stuffed it into the back pocket of my jeans. How would my parents react to the fact Xander and I were both dating the same girl? Maybe they didn’t have to know. I looked over my shoulder to see Monica and Xander huddled together as they walked like a couple of conspirators. Seeing them together didn’t give me the pang of jealousy that I would have expected, and made me realize that we’d figure out how to present things to the world. When it came right down to it, we were a happy trio and that was all that really mattered.

  I slowed my pace, giving them time to catch up.

  “How’re your folks?” Xander asked as he and Monica caught up to me. As they reached me, Monica slid from Xander’s grasp, hesitated, and then slipped her arm around my waist. I gave him a questioning look, which he simply shrugged off and smiled.

  “Good. They want us to come out.”

  “Us?” Xander nodded to Monica.

  “I haven’t told them about the mechanics of our situation, but I told my mother we moved in with a female friend of ours. We still need to figure out how to present the situation to them.”

  “Why do we need to?” Monica cut in. I looked from Xander and down at her, meeting her gaze. “We don’t even know what’ll happen a year from now. If you want my honest opinion on this, I think perhaps we should allow people to think we’re all just very good friends. No one needs to know any different, at least not now. Besides, New York is a big city, so I could go out with either of you on a normal date, acting like a normal couple and no one would know any different.”

  I looked up at Xander and he nodded his agreement.

  I chuckled and gave my head a shake. “All right. I guess you guys already hav
e it all figured out.”

  She grinned. “Not all, but I think it’s a good start.”

  ~*~ TT ~*~

  Monica

  My nervousness had finally settled down and I was feeling good, until our apartment building came back into view and we approached the front steps.

  “What’s wrong?” Mitchell whispered down to me.

  “We’re home,” I whispered back, a little embarrassed he sensed my nervousness.