by Tara Rose
She stared into his eyes for a long time, watching the conflicting emotions cross his face. All this time he’d regretted letting Santos drive him away from her, but he was still clearly torn. Her words had touched something deep inside him. She could see it in his eyes. Would he make the same choice as Kade and Elliot? Would he give this up for a woman he loved?
“Hey there. I was beginning to think you weren’t coming after all.”
They both turned toward the sound of Estevan’s voice. He was dressed in painter’s overalls, and they were spattered with every imaginable color. So was the cap on his head, and he even had some fawn-green paint in his hair. Jade thought it was the sexiest thing she’d ever seen.
“Jade…I’m so happy to see you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Thank you for the text. I explained to Liam that Santos and I had a rather disagreeable phone call last night after I left your house, so I turned off my phone. I’m sorry I did that. Leave your house I mean.”
He shook his head before she finished the sentence. “You have nothing to apologize for. We’re the ones who owe you an apology.”
“It’s all right now. Honestly. I’d be happy if we could all forget yesterday and just start fresh today.” Santos wasn’t here, and she didn’t want to think about him for the rest of this day. She only wanted to enjoy the company of the two sexiest men on the island.
Estevan’s grin made her weak in the knees. “I can live with that. Come on in. I’ll show what I’ve done so far.”
“Where are we?” she asked, glancing around. Drop cloths covered everything in the room except his ladder and paint supplies.
“The legal department. This is Lucie Durante’s office. She’s the queen bitch here. I mean, she runs the department.”
Jade shook her head as she grinned. “One day someone is going to hear you say something like that.”
“They already have,” said Liam. “But he’s family. He can say anything he wants.”
“Can’t they disown you or something?”
Estevan took off his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. “Nope. My trust fund is secure. They can’t do anything to me.”
“Except not give you painting work.”
“That won’t happen, either.”
“He’s right,” said Liam. “No one on this island can paint a room as fast or as perfectly as Estevan. He lives for this.”
“And all Asa has to do is cut me a check. No worries over unions, or insurance, or any of that stuff.”
“I guess you have it made then.” She glanced around the room again. “I love this color. It’s very soothing.”
“The entire department is being redone in the same general color scheme. Lucie decided her employees were too stressed.”
Liam snorted. “That has nothing to do with the color on the walls. She really is a bitch.”
“But the best damn attorney on the island, and she’s one hundred percent loyal to the company.”
“But not to her employees,” said Jade.
Liam and Estevan frowned. “What do you mean?” asked Liam.
“Are you kidding? You mean there’s a piece of gossip about one of your family members that you haven’t heard? Celina Vallee is a very good friend of mine. Lucie pretty much offered her up as bait to try and win that ridiculous bet of hers.”
“I thought that was a joke,” said Liam.
“Oh no. It was true. She bet Arizona and Dallas that they couldn’t share her for a week, in and out of bed, without killing each other. They refused, citing cruelty and deceit. But Celina overheard Lucie talking to them, and the guys found that out. They went to talk to her as she was leaving work, and she offered to help them win the bet just to spite Lucie.”
“How intriguing,” said Liam. “I had no idea they started out that way. I just assumed they knew her from working in marketing since she did so much legal work for them.”
“They did, but nothing happened between them until Celina overheard that conversation in this very office. Celina had a job interview coming up in New Orleans that week, and Lucie just dismissed her out of hand. Like it meant nothing to her that she might be leaving, and it wouldn’t bother her to see Arizona and Dallas use her like that.”
“I didn’t realize Lucie’s involvement in all that,” said Estevan.
“Me either. Like I said, I heard the story, but thought it was a joke.” Liam gave her a long, thoughtful look. “So do you agree or disagree with Lucie? Can two men share a woman in and out of bed without killing each other?”
Jade had to avert her gaze. Her pussy was soaked now, and she knew if she looked either of them in the eyes, they’d see the decadent images racing through her mind. “I believe the argument had more to do with two Doms sharing a sub. Lucie felt that one would have to be more alpha. That they both would never allow the other Dom to have an equal…share. Not the best word, but I don’t know how else to put it.”
The room was suddenly too warm, and the paint smell made her nauseous. She walked into the hallway, content to breathe in the scent of leather and carpets that needed cleaning, rather than stay in that room one second longer.
She swore she could sense the testosterone oozing from them, and more erotic images raced through her head as she imagined fucking both men at the same time. What the hell was she going to do here?
Chapter Eight
Jade heard a soft chuckle, but ignored it. Instead of turning to face them, she walked toward a desk. “Liam, did you still want to help me find an online program? Can we use someone’s computer, or will that get you into trouble?”
“Online degree?” asked Estevan.
“I told Jade I’d help her find a program.” He repeated to Estevan what she’d said about her interests, then turned on the machine. “I’m sure if we use it just to search for that, it won’t be any trouble. I can sign on with my own password to any computer in the building.”
As he logged into the computer, she pulled over a chair from the small table next to the two desks. “Thanks for helping me look.”
“I’ll just go and paint then,” said Estevan.
She finally made eye contact with him. “As soon as we’re done here, can I watch you paint?”
“You want to watch me paint? Seriously?”
“Sure. Oh, and Liam brought food.”
“That’s right.” He stared at the tote bag he’d placed next to the desk as if he’d just figured out it was there. “Let me put this in the fridge. Be right back.”
Estevan moved next to her as Liam disappeared around the corner. He kissed her neck, and she bit back a moan. “I wish we hadn’t been interrupted last night. Who knows what might have happened?”
She glanced up into his eyes, shivers running up and down her spine. “I was thinking the same thing this morning.”
“Oh good. But tell me the truth. What do you think of two men sharing a woman?”
She turned to face him. “Depends on the men.”
Both surprise and delight lit up his face, but before either could say another word, Liam returned and took his seat next to her. “All right. Let’s search.”
Estevan returned to his painting, and Jade inhaled Liam’s cologne, light and very sexy, as they looked for programs. There were plenty of online options, and all offered a wider field of study than Jade had ever considered. She made a list of the ones that interested her on a Word document and emailed it to her own account. Then Liam logged off the computer and they went into Lucie’s office to see Estevan’s progress.
“Wow. You’re almost done.”
He grinned in Jade’s direction. “Liam told you I was fast.”
“What else do you have to do today?”
“I can start on the other offices once I’m done in here. Asa said I’ll need to wait to do the reception and paralegal areas until they figure out where to temporarily relocate those desks while I paint.”
She glanced at her cell phone, surprised to find it was already two in t
he afternoon. “No wonder I’m hungry. Can you stop to eat?”
He winked at her. “I can do whatever I want.”
“Then follow me,” said Liam. “Our feast awaits.”
Liam had brought a large salad with feta cheese, cold shrimp, mangoes, pineapple, and mixed greens, plus chicken salad sandwiches on dark bread. “What a great idea,” said Jade. “We don’t even have to nuke any of it.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I brought extra food because I wasn’t sure how long we’d be here, but the rest of it will need to be microwaved. I also brought along a bottle of rum and some Cokes.”
“Party in the empty offices on a Saturday,” said Estevan. “I love it. I knew you had some rebel in you.”
Liam laughed, and Jade reflected this was the most relaxed she’d seen him since last evening. The three made small talk about the approaching storm once they turned on the TV and tuned into The Weather Channel, and then Estevan turned the subject back to Lucie by saying he hoped she liked the color he’d chosen for her office.
“Didn’t she pick it out?” asked Jade.
“Not exactly. She told me to go with soothing colors, and nothing too vibrant or bold. Nothing dark, she said, because the offices were dim already due to there not being too many windows in this wing.”
“Why is that?”
“It gives the impression of dusty, old-fashioned law offices,” said Liam, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just kidding. They claim it keeps all those old law books from being hurt by direct sunlight, or some such nonsense.”
“Well, it certainly does make me want to whisper and tip-toe when I’m out there. Nothing cheery or upbeat about this place. Hopefully you can change that with different colors on the walls.”
“I’m trying.” He leaned back in his chair and grinned as a commercial for condoms aired. “You never did answer my question.”
Jade concentrated on watching the last piece of her sandwich, still on the plate. “Which question is that?”
“The one where I asked you what you think about two men sharing a woman.”
“When did you ask her that?”
“When you went to put away this food.”
“I did answer it. I said it depends on the men.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“He’s right. It’s not.”
“Oh, I see. Now you’re both going to gang up on me.”
Estevan laughed. “No we’re not. We’re trying to pin down a real answer. There’s a difference.”
“Exactly. ‘Depends’ is what people say when they don’t want to choose a side.”
“But that’s what I mean. It depends on the men. Arizona and Dallas sharing Celina works because of who they each are. With two different men, it wouldn’t work. I’m sure Kade and Elliot sharing Giselle works for the same reason.”
“She’s got a point,” said Liam. “Alaina Pembrooke could never be a sub to just anyone. What she has with Taj and Jeff works because of who they are.”
“She’s tough as nails,” said Estevan. “Taj is Kade’s cousin, and Kade told me that Alaina keeps him and Jeff on their toes.”
“Dallas told me the same thing about Celina.” He glanced toward Jade. “Dallas is Jeff’s cousin.”
She held up her hands. “Don’t even try and explain the relationships. I can’t keep you all straight. Celina has tried, but I need a spreadsheet or something.”
Both men chuckled. “We can’t keep us straight,” said Liam. “I actually have a spreadsheet and I still can’t figure it out.”
“And you’ve still avoided giving us a direct answer.”
She forced her gaze to Estevan’s face, struck again by how damn sexy he looked with paint in his hair. Both men were gorgeous. She’d always thought so. And her fantasies had starred each one separately but never together, until recently. But how could she tell them that?
Then again, what harm would it do? Hadn’t she just made a vow to stop living her life the way Santos and others thought she should? She’d stood up earlier for the disdain she felt over this silly division between the Durantes and Raleighs, and everyone else on the island. Wouldn’t that make her a hypocrite if she hid these desires from them? She’d be perpetuating the myth that a native can’t be with a Durante or a Raleigh. Giselle and Celina had both proven that to be bullshit.
Both men had gone out of their way to make this day fun for her. And Liam had apologized more than once for backing off two years ago. Estevan had charmed the socks off her already, and wasn’t backing down, even with Liam here. Didn’t they each have a right to know how she felt?
They’d asked more than once now. This was real. She could confess her most decadent fantasies, and neither man would laugh at her or think she was a freak. She knew that, as sure as she knew the coming storm would sweep over the island, bringing fierce winds and a shitload of rain.
“All right. Yes, I think it can work. I also think it would take a lot of hard work and soul searching. Each person would have to be very sure of who they are, and what they want. And I think it takes a lot of communication. Open, honest talking. About everything. By all three.”
She stopped before she started rambling, glancing from one man to the other, waiting for a reaction. Any reaction.
“I agree,” said Liam. “Communication is the key to any relationship. One where there are two alpha males would take constant communication to avoid misunderstandings.”
“To avoid either man becoming territorial,” said Estevan. “No wonder Lucie was confident she’d win the bet.”
“But she lost the bet.” They both grinned at her comment, and Jade thought she’d lose her mind as desire swept through her again. “Arizona and Dallas didn’t kill each other, and now Celina lives with both of them, and works for them in the marketing department.”
“And Giselle is going to run the club with Kade and Elliot,” said Liam. “So that brings us to the real question here.”
Estevan scooted his chair closer to her, brushing a finger along her arm. “Yes, it does. What do you think about us? Would we be able to share a woman without killing each other?”
She bit back a moan at the look in his eyes. The sounds from the TV faded away, and there was only Estevan and Liam. Every fantasy she’d ever had flashed through her mind at lightning speed. She had no idea if they were serious, but there was only one way to find out. “When did that become the real question?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Somewhere between the time Liam showed up at my house while we were in the middle of a hot kiss, and right now.”
She cut her gaze toward Liam, who hadn’t even flinched when Estevan had revealed that he’d kissed her. That meant he’d told him about it. They’d talked about her since last night. But had they talked about sharing her as well? “Is that what you both want? To share me? What are we talking about here? Let’s do this and see how much fun it is kind of thing, or something else?”
Liam chuckled softly and averted his gaze, but Estevan kept his attention on her face. And he didn’t take his finger away. Each pass across her skin sent new shivers up and down her spine.
“We didn’t really talk specifics,” said Liam. “We simply acknowledged that we both wanted to pursue a relationship with you, and realized that we had a dilemma on our hands because of that.”
“And then we joked about sharing you like Kade and Elliot share Giselle, and Arizona and Dallas share Celina,” said Estevan. “But we also acknowledged that you might slap our faces and think we were nuts if we suggested it.”
“I don’t think you’re nuts. And I don’t want to slap your faces.”
Liam moved closer and cupped her face. This time she couldn’t stop the moan. “Then what do you want to do? Please tell us because we’re dying here.”
Jade could barely breathe. “I want you both to kiss me. And then we need to figure out whether we stay in this building to have sex, or go someplace high up and out of the way of the coming floods.”
Chapte
r Nine
The spell was broken when a loud clap of thunder shook the room. All three laughed, but it was nervous chuckling. Jade glanced toward the TV where a tropical storm warning had been issued for the island. “How much more painting do you have to do today?”
Estevan rose, and her gaze was drawn to the bulge at the front of his overalls. “I’m done. Let’s get out of here. This complex isn’t exactly on high ground.”
Liam rose as well, and Jade couldn’t help notice he was also aroused. “I’ll gather the rest of the food.”
“Where are we going?”
The men exchanged a glance. “Um, my place?” asked Liam. “It’s on the highest ground of the three of us, and I have a storm shelter in case this gets really nasty.”
“Can we stop by my apartment first?”
“Sure.”
She watched concern pass across Estevan’s face. “I need to run home for a moment and then I’ll join you at Liam’s house.”
“Will your condo be okay?”
His smile was quick and genuine. “Don’t you worry about that, okay? Everything in there can be replaced.”
Except his medallion and his swords. She wondered if he was going to bring them with him, but didn’t ask because she had no clue if he’d ever told Liam about the medallion. Once they had Estevan’s painting equipment and the food Liam had brought, they left the building. Jade was shocked by how quickly the storm had already progressed. Heavy rain pounded the pavement, and the sky was dark, as if it was approaching sunset instead of the middle of the afternoon. The air had a heavy, unsettled feeling to it. “This is going to be bad.”
“Yep. Let’s go.” Liam didn’t speak as he drove her across town. When they reached her apartment, she told him she’d be out in ten minutes. Before she slid over to open the passenger door, he placed a hand on her arm and she stopped, turning to face him.
“Are you sure about this?”
“Aren’t you?”
