Delightful Temptation

by Scarlett Avery

  “I’m fairly sure this is my Cinderella moment.” I drop my eyes to my feet. “At the strike of midnight, these expensive high-heeled sandals will turn into cheap flip-flops.” I look back up at myself. “That might be the case, but that still gives me three whole hours to indulge in what I’m certain will turn out to be an unforgettable fairytale.” I don’t care if this tale doesn’t last more than one night. It’s just great to have the attention of two men who can have any woman they want. A nice dinner, a great bottle of wine, and lighthearted conversation is exactly what the doctor ordered.

  I rummage through my makeup bag and reapply a coat of lipstick, followed by some lip gloss in the same shade of red.

  “Considering this is the first time I’ve ever gone out alone, I’d say so far, this is a home run.” What do you know, I, Delilah Belle Babcock, aka the worst at picking men, am spending the rest of the evening with two guys I never thought in a million years I’d have the guts to talk to. This is definitely a night of firsts.

  I glance one last time at myself before heading back to the restaurant. I take a deep breath, head to the door, grab hold of the doorknob and swing it open with such force I’m surprised it doesn’t come unhinged. “Down, girl. You’re a little too eager for your own good.” I giggle.

  CHAPTER 13

  Xander

  I watch Delilah sashay away from us. Her hips sway with each step like the pendulum of an old clock. Double damn. Some women do a poor job at walking with grace in heels. Others fare decently well. Delilah’s walk is fucking sexy. When she’s no longer in view, Ethan and I pull out a chair at the same time. We sit side by side with our backs to the exposed brick wall. In these seats we get to admire Delilah to our hearts’ content. Her back will be facing the restaurant. She’ll have no choice but to focus all of her attention on us.

  I turn to Ethan, too impatient to wait. “Delilah is amazing.”

  Ethan nods with a cocky smile pulling at his lips. “I already know that,” he mocks.

  “Yes, perhaps, but your description pales in comparison to the woman in the flesh.”

  “For once I won’t argue with you, mate. Now that you’ve met her, you tell me how you would have encapsulated such beauty, charm, wit and those fucking delicious curves in words,” he challenges.

  I think hard for a second before answering. “You’re right. You have to see it to believe it.”

  “Exactly.”

  “Well, one thing is certain, I can never go wrong when I listen to my instincts.” I’m so proud of my forward thinking.

  “What do you mean?” Ethan asks. His head is pointed straight in front of him, but his eyes shift to the right.

  I lean in closer and lower my voice. I want to make sure that no one other than my best friend hears what I’m about to say. “I know you think she’s this shy flower, but from the time we spent together, I can tell there’s a volcano burning deep inside that woman.”

  “Her transformation is mind-boggling. This Delilah isn’t the woman I met at the gallery. Tonight, she’s exactly the type of woman who could satisfy both of us. That said, you and I know from experience very few women have shared two men at the same time in their life. It’s not for everybody. Not that I want to assume, but under all of this polished and sophisticated veneer, I still believe Delilah is used to plain vanilla sex.”

  “Well, she’s single. So I guess we can find out first hand tonight.”

  “She is?”

  “Yes. While I was flirting with her at the lounge, I asked and she confirmed.”

  “Interesting.” Ethan caresses his five o’clock stubble. “I was fishing around to find out, but she never gave me a straight answer.”

  “The private chill-out room is the perfect place to seduce her to the idea of allowing both of us to take her to new heights. This could simply be an introduction. Nothing too hot and heavy, just a sneak peek at what she’s been missing so far,” I suggest.

  Ethan flashes me a heavy half-lidded look I know too well. I’m one hundred percent certain his cock is as hard as mine. “We only do hot and heavy. Have you forgotten or did you get all soft on me in LA?”

  I laugh. “No need to panic. I can still match your feral nature with my eyes closed. I’m just thinking of her. We don’t want to scare her.”

  “I know where you’re coming from. I hate to admit it, Xander, but that was a stroke of genius, considering the fact that you made the reservations only a few days ago. It’s a well-known fact that these private rooms tend to be booked solid weeks in advance. We really lucked out when that poor chum couldn’t make it tonight.”

  “I’m happy we were on the waiting list,” I rejoice. I use the word ‘happy’ loosely. After meeting Delilah, I’m ecstatic at how brilliantly I planned tonight.

  “It also helps to know the right people.” Ethan winks.

  “Indeed it does.” I wink right back at him.

  Kylie Lashbrook is the gatekeeper for these private rooms. Thankfully, I’ve fucked her hard a few times in these chill-out rooms at the end of the night while things were winding down. She’s always claimed I’m the best she’s had. I don’t blame her. It was casual and it was good while it lasted. Everything stopped between us six months ago when she started dating this guy Bruce. They got married not long ago, but she’ll still willingly bend over backwards for me when I need a favor. That’s amazing considering I’d never touch a married woman and she knows it.

  “So you want her as much as I do?” Ethan asks.

  He already knows the answer, but I’ll play along. “You knew I would well before I even met her. You kept selling her to me, remember?”

  “I do.”

  “You’re no longer interested?” Ethan Akuna never hesitates. What’s up with him?

  “I’m dead certain I want her. I’m glad we’re on the same page.” That’s more like it. “She works in my circle. It doesn’t hurt to triple-check. If we start this, there’s no going back for me.”

  “Same here. This is right, Ethan. You feel it and so do I.” He nods. “If you combine that with the unexpected way we bumped into Delilah, it would be a crime for us not to explore how far things can go between the three of us.”

  Ethan ponders for a few seconds before answering. “It will absolutely kill me to hold back, but maybe it’s the only way for us to find out for sure if she would be open to the possibility.”

  I ready myself to respond, but I catch Delilah’s tempting body from the side. She glides towards us and we both stand up before she reaches the table. “You guys are such gentlemen.” She beams. “Men don’t do that anymore.”

  “I beg to differ, love. Perhaps you haven’t been hanging out with the right guys.”

  “What Ethan said.” I grin.

  She laughs. “I’m not going to argue with you.”

  “Please, have a seat. I don’t know about you, but I’m famished. I haven’t had a decent meal since three o’clock this afternoon and that was airplane food, so it doesn’t count,” I say, rushing to her side to pull her chair out. Once she’s comfortably seated Ethan and I follow suit. I make eye contact with Bernard, our server, and he’s at our table in a flash.

  “Good evening, my lady,” he says before turning his attention to us. “Gentlemen.” He hands us menus.

  “Good evening,” all three of us chime in unison.

  “Welcome back, Ethan and Xander. It’s been too long. Traveling the world again?” Ethan and I nod. He smiles. “And who is this lovely lady joining you this evening?” Bernard asks. Although he’s addressing his question to us, Bernard’s eyes are locked on the curvy temptress sitting across from us.

  “My name is Delilah,” she answers with a touch of shyness.

  “It’s her first time here, so we want to treat her like royalty, Bernard.” Ethan winks at her. I love the way her cheeks color when she blushes. The soft pink runs from her forehead and plunges right down to the cleft between her breasts. Damn.

  “That shouldn’t be a problem
, Ethan. We treat all our guests with kid gloves, but we pay particular attention when it’s their first time here. After all, you never forget your first time.” No, you don’t. “Let me go over the menu and the specials with you. Do you already know what you want to drink or do you need a few more minutes to decide?”

  “Excellent, Bernard. I’m starved,” I say, grabbing the wine list. “We’re definitely going to order a bottle of wine or two with dinner. I think we should kick off this evening in style. I vote for a bottle of Dom Perignon,” I suggest. “Ethan? Delilah?” I bounce my gaze from one to the other, looking for their agreement.

  “You’re full of great ideas tonight, mate. I’m always up for champagne.”

  “Wow. Are you sure?” Delilah’s eyes widen so much, I fear they’ll take over her face.

  “Of course I am. There’s only one way to do this. Go big or go home.” I grin. “Isn’t that what they say in your part of the world?”

  Her laugh resonates throughout the restaurant. And soon Ethan and I join in. This is going to be a great night.

  * * *

  After we place our order, we sit for a few long seconds in silence. Delilah leans in and when she does she gives us a perfect view of her cleavage. My God, it’s going to be surreal to have those in my mouth. I wonder if she’s ever climaxed just by having a guy suck on her nipples? “This might sound a little innocent, but everybody here seems to know you. It’s amazing. Actually, it’s a little intimidating.” She lets out a nervous giggle. “Ethan, are you moonlighting as a rock star and is Xander your backup singer? Is that it or do you come here every single night of the week?”

  “It’s a little of both. Xander and I are regulars. We come here three to four times a month, but you’re not too far off on your first question. We were in fact pop stars in our previous life.”

  “What do you mean? Are you vampires?” Delilah’s repartee is sharp and quick.

  We all get a good laugh at her joke.

  “We were performing and singing since we were twelve. We were willing to put on a show for anyone willing to listen,” he chuckles. “With hours of dedication and practice, we became really good. We used to watch every single old school video of boy bands and learn from them. Then we’d shake everything up and stamp our own unprecedented brand on our sound and moves. When we were sixteen our band, 4Ever, won second place during the first season of Britain’s The X Factor. It was Xander, two other mates and me. We were four friends with a big dream. We thought coming in behind the winners was the end of it, but on the contrary. Our career exploded. We topped the charts for five years straight. Our uniqueness lay in the fact that we were two white guys and two black guys. We were all best mates from school who were lucky to have some showmanship abilities. Xander’s rap got us up the charts and I worked my street dance moves. Edward made the girls swoon with his ocean-blue eyes—he was the main singer of the group. The rest of us were backup vocals. Bryan is blond with green eyes and he was a wall of muscle even as a teenager. In fact, he’s still as ripped today as he was back then. That definitely got the girls all worked up… especially when the three of us ripped our shirts off as Edward serenaded them.” Delilah explodes in laughter. “No, seriously, it’s amazing what a six-pack and some toned biceps can do. The secret sauce behind our success is truly how sharp and business-minded our managers were. They strategically packaged us as a teenage girl’s wet fantasy. And it worked.”

  “Quite well, may I add,” I interject. “During our five years’ rise, we sold twenty million records. We had eighteen Top 20 singles and four Top 10 albums. We were a big deal. Your Love is My Salvation and Love Got No Boundaries were constantly playing on the radio. Our ballad, I Swear To You My Love, was ridiculously popular and it became the first song in so many weddings across Britain as our fans grew from teenagers to adult women. Had we had the jet-fueling boost of social media back then to push us even further, we would have undoubtedly gone viral.” Our legion of female fans was completely gaga about us.

  “Seriously?” she asks with wide eyes. Ethan and I nod. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this close to celebrities.”

  “Technically we’re former celebrities.” Ethan chuckles. “We retired eight years ago at the age of twenty. It was the most exhilarating time of our lives, but it’s better to leave when you’re still at the top. Making the transition from teen sensation to an adult star is quite the challenge. After returning to school for a few years, I pursued a career as an art buyer and auctioneer.”

  “That’s incredible. Are you also in the art world, Xander?” Delilah’s blue eyes are now focused on me.

  I shake my head. “Like Ethan, I went back to school, but I stayed in the industry by becoming a music talent agent—”

  “You mean a very successful and sought-after music talent agent and talent scout,” Ethan adds.

  “All right, I’ll admit it. I’m quite good at what I do because I love it so much.”

  “What happened to the two other guys who were in your band?” she asks.

  Ethan tackles that one. “We’re still very close friends. Edward and Bryan got a degree in hotel management, packed their bags and moved south. They bought a hotel in Ibiza six years ago and they’ve been living under the Spanish sun ever since.”

  “I can’t believe I’ve never heard of your band before.” Her lips drop into a frown.

  “Our songs got some play in the US, but not much. Our success resided right here in Britain. We also had a string of smash hits in Ireland and Australia,” I say.

  “How come no one’s mentioned your former stardom at the gallery? I mean, at least I have an excuse because I’m American, but everyone else I work with is British… well, other than Katrina.”

  “I know it’s hard to believe, but not everyone was a fan. Not to mention that eight years is a lifetime in the world of entertainment. Many acts have followed us, which makes us much less memorable.” Ethan chuckles. “Ashley, Benjamin and Gemma recognized me immediately the first time they met me. The others haven’t got a clue who I am. Once people get over the initial shock, they start treating me like a normal person. This wouldn’t have been the case during the heyday of our popularity. That said, some are still as awestruck today as they were back then.”

  “Wow.” Delilah shakes her head. “I’m just a junior curator who lucked out on a summer internship in London and it was like winning the lotto. I might be wrong here, but you don’t look that old.”

  “We’re both twenty-eight,” I answer.

  “Double wow. You guys were superstars and now you’re already on your second successful career. You’re not even thirty. It makes me feel like a kid instead of the twenty-four-year-old I am.” There’s nothing remotely childish about your body or your charming personality. You’re all woman in my book.

  “Don’t be so hard on yourself, sweetheart. We were at the right place at the right time,” I say. “Reality TV made it possible for us in a blink of an eye. Before these types of shows, we would have had to slave for years before making a name for ourselves.”

  “What he said.” Ethan points his thumb at me. “All four of us were smart enough to ride the waves to their fullest and make the most of it once it was over.”

  “Thanks for making me feel better about your impressive life.” She sighs. The way her shoulders lower, I can only assume it’s relief. She looks back up at us and scrunches her nose. “Now that you’ve mentioned it, I think Gemma asked me if I knew of this group when she was helping me set up the conference room for the meeting you had at the gallery on Wednesday. I had some questions about you.” She points at Ethan.

  “You were talking about me?” Ethan puts emphasis on each word. His sentence comes out in a very deep voice. He leans into the table and Delilah sits back against her seat. My best friend is much taller than the little curvy redhead. Watching them like this is like watching kids playing on a seesaw. Even though there’s a good distance between them—since they’re sitting on opposite sid
es of the table—Ethan fully dominates her.

  Delilah fidgets nervously with her hands. “Y-yes. Gemma was nice enough to answer them.”

  “Did she answer all of your questions?”

  “I-I think so,” Delilah answers hesitantly.

  “I see.” When Ethan curls up one side of his mouth like this, he means business. “Now that we’re officially good friends, I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to come to me if there’s anything else you want to know. And I mean anything at all.” He nearly growls that last part of his sentence.

  She nods. It’s just a quick jerk of the head and if I weren’t carefully observing her, I would have missed it. “Yes. I will,” she says softly.

  “Why don’t I put my number in your phone? That way we’ll have an open line of communication between us. No need for surrogates.” Smooth. “And for good measure, why doesn’t Xander do the same, just in case you have questions about him as well?” It’s not a suggestion. It’s the first step in claiming her. Ethan extends his hand, waiting for her to drop her phone in his palm. Leave it to him to turn up the heat.

  “Oh,” Delilah lets out in a whisper. There she goes turning that lovely shade of red again that makes my cock hard. Damn.

  When she’s still staring at Ethan and I like a lost puppy, he presses. “Now, Delilah. I’d hate for us to get sidetracked and forget.” That’s unlikely to happen, but that’s a convincing argument.

  “Oh, of course,” she babbles, reaching for her bag. She’s very obedient. Another thing I like about her.

  CHAPTER 14