by Lolita Lopez
“Thank you.”
The car pulled to a stop under a covered awning. The driver hopped out and opened the door on Frank’s side. Frank unlatched Lexi’s belt and his own before slipping out of the car. He reached back into the backseat and gathered her into his arms. She made a whimpering sound that tore at him. “It’s all right, sweetheart.” He kissed the top of her head. “You just sleep. I’ll carry you inside.”
She made another soft sound before quieting. The driver led him through the bustling staff area to the elevator bank. He ignored the interested glances and kept his gaze fixed forward. The driver used his badge to activate the elevators and reached in to hit the button for the penthouse suite. “You’ll have to use your key when you get up to the top.”
“Got it. Thanks again.”
“Anytime, sir.”
Frank made a mental note to have a hefty tip added to their car service bill. The ride up to their suite didn’t take very long. When the elevator doors opened, it was into a small workspace that he assumed the cleaning and maintenance crews used. One door off to the left led to a supply closet stocked with toiletries and cleaning supplies. The door up ahead was made of frosted glance and opened into the short hallway outside the suite.
He shifted his precious burden and retrieved his wallet and the key card. The card reader beeped and flashed a green light before unlocking the frosted door. He opened the door and used his foot to hold it open as he shifted Lexi in his arms again. At the suite, he did the same, using the wall to brace her body as he swiped his card.
He made sure the door clicked shut behind them before carrying her upstairs to the master bedroom. She barely roused as he stripped her naked. “Not tonight, Frank.”
He laughed and kissed her cheek. “No, honey, not tonight. I’m just trying to help you get comfortable. Does your head hurt? Would you like me to get you something?”
“No, I’m fine. It’s not too bad. I really just want to sleep.”
“Okay.” He jerked down the comforter and tossed aside the pillows before placing her in the center of the bed. “Go to sleep.”
“Frank?”
“Yeah, honey?”
“Where are my shoes?”
He glanced at the pile of clothing on the floor. Dress, bra, undies but no fuck-me shoes. “I think we left them at the hospital.”
“Crap.”
He didn’t blame her. They were sexy shoes. Hoping to ease her disappointment, he said, “It’s just shoes, Lexi. If you loved them that much, I’ll buy you another pair. It’s a just a couple hundred bucks that you lost. Not a big deal, right?”
“I paid sixteen-hundred dollars for them.”
“What?” Frank shouted in shock. “You spent two grand on a pair of shoes?”
She lifted her head from the pillow and smiled meekly. “They were pretty.”
“Pretty? Were the buckles made of pure gold?”
“No,” she said with a laugh, “but they have the prettiest red soles.”
He just shook his head and tucked her in a bit tighter. “We’ll see if they have a lost and found at the hospital when we go back tomorrow.”
“Mmkay,” she replied, her eyes already closed.
Frank was still shaking his head as he gathered up her clothes and carried them to a bench in the corner of the room. Two grand on shoes? He’d once paid five-hundred bucks for a pair of leather loafers but he took exceptional care of them and still wore them when the occasion called for it. God, Tom would just croak when he heard about Lexi’s shoes!
As he fingered the expensive fabric of Lexi’s dress, he wondered what her spending habits were like. They’d been dating a while but he’d never delved into her finances. She’d definitely never asked them about theirs. Sure, he and Tom were doing better than most people. They were successful in their individual endeavors and took care of their money but dropping a couple thousand dollars on shoes? That wasn’t something he and Tom would ever be comfortable doing. Their middle class upbringings simply wouldn’t allow it.
What was it going to be like once they were sharing one roof? Difficult at first, he assumed. Living with Tom hadn’t been easy. They’d bickered over the stupidest things like wet towels on the floor and who should buy the next gallon of milk. No doubt they’d go through a similar adjustment period when they moved into Lexi’s place.
He peeled out of his clothes, flipped off the lights and climbed in beside her. She murmured something he couldn’t understand as she snuggled up against him. He rubbed her arm and tried not to think about how empty their bed felt without Tom.
*
Lexi woke to a dull ache on the side of her face. She opened her eyes and squinted. Bright sunshine spilled into the bedroom. It took her a moment to remember everything. She carefully rolled onto her back and found the other side of the bed empty. Figuring Frank was in the shower or already downstairs, she gingerly touched her temple and winced. Her fingertips moved over the injured side of her face. Though there was some swelling, it didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as the injuries she’d sustained after Ramon got a hold of her at the lake house.
She sat up carefully. The sheet dropped to her waist, revealing her bare breasts. She briefly remembered Frank undressing her and the discussion of her mission shoes. Man, she really loved those high heels!
She spotted a robe draped over the nearby chair. She slid out of bed and slipped into the fluffy robe before leaving the bedroom. She followed the sound of Frank’s voice to the large living area downstairs. He grinned the moment he spotted her and crossed the room to embrace her. She melted into his familiar warmth as he finished his call with his realtor.
He pocketed his phone and cradled the back of her head. “How are you feeling this morning?’
“Pretty good.” She nuzzled their noses together and pecked his lips. “You?”
“Fine. Tom called earlier. He had an uneventful night but complained about the nurses coming into take his temperature and blood pressure all night.”
She could just imagine how beastly he was this morning. “Is he coming home today?”
“Probably.” Frank gestured to the dining table. “I ordered breakfast a little while ago. Come eat.”
Breakfast was short and sweet. Her stomach felt more settled after she had some waffles and orange juice. The fresh fruit and bacon were a nice complement. She tossed back a couple of ibuprofen to finish off her meal.
Frank insisted in helping her shower. In the end, there was more fooling around than getting clean. His soapy hands gliding over her breasts and belly ignited her lust. She didn’t feel good enough to go all the way but damn if Frank didn’t make it feel just as good to tease.
Eventually, they climbed out of the shower and got dressed. She picked a simple orangey pink dress and paired it with flats. While she styled her hair, Frank packed a bag for Tom. In the end, she decided not to even bother with makeup. She’d learned enough from the after-effects of the nightmare down in the lake house wine cellar to know that there were some things makeup couldn’t cover. She styled her hair and applied some lip gloss. Wearing her usual tortoise shell sunglasses proved tricky. She had to slide them on carefully to avoid pulling her skin.
Downstairs, they made their way through the opulent lobby of the hotel. There were only a few overt stares and loud whispers. She hadn’t seen the papers or blogs this morning but assumed news of Tom’s locker room collapse was all over them. A similar black car from the night prior waited for them. She clung to Frank’s hand during the ride to the hospital. Her stomach ached at the thought of Tom and his possible long-term injuries. Frank’s fears seemed to have come true. He’d been so worried Tom would get badly hurt, and he’d been right. If this wasn’t enough to make Tom quit fighting, she didn’t know what would.
At the hospital, they waited for an elevator with a small crowd in the main lobby. Up on Tom’s floor, they navigated the hallways by following the colored lines. When they reached Tom’s room, the door was partially open
. Even so, Frank knocked before poking his head inside. “Is it all right if we come in, Tommy?”
“Get in here,” he said with a laugh.
Frank chuckled and stepped aside so she could slide into the room first. Tom’s smiling face crumpled at the sight of her. He shoved off the mattress and quickly tried to stand. She hurried over and put a hand on his chest. “Stay in bed, Tom. You’re hurt.”
“I’m hurt?” He scoffed. His warm, rough hand cupped her cheek. His thumb stroked the uninjured side of her face. “Sugar, look at your face. You’re the one who got hurt last night.”
“It’s not that bad, Tom.” She leaned into his touch, reassuring herself that he was fine.
“I’m so sorry I hurt you, Lexi.” Tom’s voice was thick and filled with guilt. Her heart ached at the anguish on his face. “I put you in the hospital, Lexi.”
“Tom,” she said softly and climbed up onto his bed. He welcomed her with open arms. It felt odd to snuggle up against the stiff fabric of the hospital gown. “What happened last night was an accident. Let’s just leave it at that. I know you’d never hurt me.”
He held her gaze and finally nodded. “I wouldn’t, Lexi. I would never put my hands on you.”
“You’re not your father,” she said softly. She understood only too well those doubts reflected in his dark eyes. Like Tom, she’d endured a dysfunctional childhood. Neither of her parents had ever laid hands on her but she’d seen them emotionally blackmail and abuse one another for years. “You are your own man, Tom. Falling on me and causing this accident,” she gestured to her head, “is nothing like deliberately putting your hands on me to cause pain.”
“It still feels awful.” Tom pulled her close. “I keep thinking about how you and Frank asked me not to fight, how you both said it was a risk. I thought I was just risking myself but look! I put you at risk, Lexi.”
Lexi realized this was her chance. It was now or never. “So what are you going to do about it?”
The corners of Tom’s mouth lifted in a knowing smile. “Boy, you’re good. Just slipped that right in there, didn’t you?”
He teased his mouth across hers before kissing her insistently. Her toes curled against the flat soles of her shoes and her belly flip-flopped. He pulled back and glanced toward Frank. Holding out his hand, he beckoned Frank closer. Frank bent down for a kiss, this one just as passionate as the one Tom had shared with her.
Tom glanced between them. Serious and determined, he announced, “I’m retiring. Last night was it for me. I’m done. I’ll pay the penalty to break my league contract. And I’m losing Billy’s number.”
“Did the neurologist have bad news this morning?” The lines marring Frank’s face betrayed his anxiety. “Is that what caused this sudden change?”
“The doctor told me what I already knew, Frank. I’ve sustained damage over the years. I’ve been lucky so far, but if I keep getting the shit knocked out of me in that cage, I’m going to end up in a nursing home by forty-five. I have to stop.” He looked sad. “It won’t be easy to give it up. I love fighting, but I love you two more.”
Lexi’s heart leapt in her chest at his admission. “There are so many ways you can stay involved in fighting, Tom, without, you know, fighting. You’ve got the classes you teach at the gym. If that’s not enough, maybe we could build a proper training school for elite fighters. You’ve already got Jacko and Benson, right? How hard would it be to lure some other trainers and their fighters to a new state-of-the-art training facility?”
Tom and Frank gawked at her. Frank finally spoke. “Lexi, you’re talking millions of dollars to build, equip and staff something like that.”
“And?”
Frank snorted. “That would be your response, Miss I Spent Two-Thousand Bucks On A Pair Of Shoes.”
“You what?” Tom looked appalled. “Jesus, Lexi, my first car didn’t cost that much!”
Now, she was the one who looked appalled. “Really? For a car?”
Tom laughed. “Hell, sugar. You really have no idea how the other half lives.”
She bristled at that. “I’m not spoiled, Tom. I know what it’s like to work hard. I live modestly.”
“And drop an entire month’s paycheck on shoes,” Frank interjected. “That I’ve only seen you wear twice, by the way. Last night and Valentine’s Day,” he clarified.
“Well, they’re special occasion shoes.” As she defended herself, she caught Frank’s teasing grin. She smacked his arm. “Be nice to me. I’m about to build Tom a big ole training center.”
Frank’s face softened. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. “Why not? I have all that stupid money just sitting in the bank. If I can’t use it to make the people I love happy, what the hell is the use of it all?”
Lexi squeezed Tom’s hand. “What do you say, Tom? Want to be my partner?”
He arched an eyebrow. “In business or in bed?”
She leaned forward and held her lips mere centimeters from his. “How about both?”
He smiled and nibbled at her lower lip. “I’d say you’ve got yourself a deal, sugar.”
A timid knock on the door interrupted their kiss. Lexi glanced over her shoulder as a young nurse entered the room. She held the exquisite high heels Lexi had thought were lost forever in her hands. “Excuse me, but I just wanted to return these. Miss Cortez, you left them in the ER last night. I cleaned them up for you.”
Lexi slid off the bed and met the nurse halfway. The black shoes with their bright red soles were gleaming. Lexi noticed the way the nurse longingly stared at them. She held out her hand to shake. “Thanks for taking care of them. I’m Lexi, by the way.”
“Ashley,” she said. Lifting the shoes, she giggled. “You don’t have to thank me for taking care of them. I was hyperventilating just wiping them down. I never thought I’d ever get this close to a pair.”
Lexi eyed Ashley’s feet but they were in cased in clunky clogs. “What’s your shoe size?”
Ashley’s forehead creased with confusion. “Eight.”
“Well, Nurse Ashley with size eight feet, today is your lucky day. Would you like to keep them?”
“What? Me?” She shook her head. “No, I couldn’t.”
“Sure you can.” Lexi pressed them back toward her.
“But they’re so expensive,” she protested.
“And lucky,” Lexi added with a grin. “I’ve worn them twice, and both times, they’ve brought me so much luck. Now it’s your turn. Let’s see what kind of luck they bring you.”
“Well…okay. Thank you.” Beaming, Ashley left the hospital room with the shoes hugged to her chest..
“You should contact her supervisor and let her know,” Frank warned. “I know I’d be skeptical if one of my hourly employees told me that a client wanted them to keep a pair of designer shoes.”
“I will,” Lexi promised. “We’ll stop in on the way out.”
“Did you mean it?” Tom asked. “About the shoes bringing you luck?”
“Are you kidding me?” Lexi gazed adoringly at the two men she loved so fiercely and who loved her back even more. “I’m the luckiest girl in the whole wide world.”
The End.
BACKLIST
Catch up with Lexi, Tom and Frank in Trick or Treat Trio, Book 4 of the Holiday Ménage series releasing in October 2012. Until then, enjoy similar books by Lo including:
Ménage Erotic Romance and Erotica
Between Friends
The Big V
Be Our Valentine
Margaritas and Mayhem
Fireworks for Three
Holiday Ménage Boxed Set
M/M Erotic Romance
Swap Meet
Hotshot
ABOUT LOLITA LOPEZ
While browsing bookstore shelves as a teenager, Lo discovered the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin and A.N. Roquelaure. Certain her mother would not approve, Lo smuggled the books home and squirreled them away in the most likely of places: unde
r her bed. Late at night, she delved into the sensual worlds both writers created.
As a co-ed studying biochemistry and genetics at Texas A&M University, Lo dabbled in creating naughty tales to entertain her friends. Study for a midterm or pen a deliciously dirty story to delight her small band of fans? Not surprisingly, Lo is now on an extended sabbatical from college.
Luckily, Lo stumbled onto the world of erotic romance publishers. She realized there were other readers and writers who loved and craved breathtaking romance with the spiciest of love scenes. She took a chance and submitted her first novella. The rest is history.
Find Lo online at http://www.lolitalopez.com/ or her blog Lo Writes. Sign up for Lo’s newsletter or follow her online at Twitter (@lowriter) for updates on new releases, freebies and giveaways.
