Foundations: The Power of Three Love Series
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Foundations
The Power of Three Love Series
Leigh Lennon
Foundations
Copyright @2018 Leigh Lennon
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This book is a work of fiction and is the product of the author’s imagination.
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The E-book copy is licensed for your personal enjoyment and may not re-sold or given away.
This book is a work of fiction and is the product of the author’s imagination.
Editing by Jenny Sims at Editing 4 Indies.
Proofreading services by Deaton Author Services and Edits by Erin.
Formatting by Ink It Out Editing.
Cover design by Najla Qamber.
Beta Readers: Nancy George, Megan Harris, Megan Damrow, Michelle Clay, Annette Brignac, Kymberly Dingman.
Created with Vellum
Contents
About Foundations
Playlist
Prologue
1. Daimen
2. Elliot
3. Arden
4. Elliot
5. Arden
6. Elliot
7. Daimen
8. Arden
9. Elliot
10. Arden
11. Daimen
12. Elliot
13. Elliot
14. Daimen
15. Arden
16. Elliot
17. Daimen
18. Arden
19. Elliot
20. Arden
21. Daimen
22. Arden
23. Elliot
24. Daimen
25. Elliot
26. Arden
27. Elliot
28. Arden
29. Elliot
30. Daimen
31. Elliot
32. Arden
33. Daimen
34. Elliot
35. Daimen
36. Arden
37. Elliot
38. Daimen
39. Arden
40. Daimen
41. Elliot
42. Arden
43. Elliot
44. Daimen
45. Arden
46. Elliot
47. Arden
48. Elliot
49. Daimen
50. Elliot
51. Elliot
52. Arden
53. Daimen
54. Arden
55. Daimen
56. Arden
57. Elliot
58. Daimen
59. Elliot
60. Arden
61. Arden
62. Elliot
Epilogue
Bonus Epilogue
A Note From the Author
What I’ve Learned
It Takes a Village!
About the Author
Other Books by Leigh Lennon
About Color Blind
Color Blind
Liz
Israel
About Foundations
Elliot
My career took focus in my life while trying to make a name for myself in a male dominated field. I kept my gender under wraps until I was able to let my expertise speak for itself. But I was knocked off my axis when I ran into Arden, the man I had compared all men to since our one night together. Now he was taken—by another man—a very dominant man.
Arden
The love I had for my man ran deep. But I’d never forgotten her. From the very beginning, Daimen and I agreed to our non-traditional life—two men loving one another until we found that woman we could claim as ours. Now, she was standing in front of me, unaware she was a marked woman.
Daimen
I had loved my best friend from an early age. The day Arden submitted to me, was a dream come true. That was until a sexy and sassy blonde entered our life and turned it upside down. I see something in her that scared me. But I would make her mine, mine and Arden’s. Claiming hatred would follow us everywhere, Elliot fought us at every turn.
Will the three of us create our own unconventional happily ever after or will she leave us heartbroken?
For all my beta readers I’ve had throughout all my books.
Anne Marie, Annette, Auden, Carla, Emma, Erin, Jessa, Jo, Kymberly, Megan D., Megan H., Melody, Michelle, Nancy, Rosemary and Tina.
You all have been a part of this process in some way and your words and advice still stay with me.
As Always—To My Mom
I miss you so much but I know you’re soaring high above—watching over us.
Playlist
Ariana Grande “Dangerous Woman”
Ashley McBryde “American Scandal”
Beyonce’ “Crazy in Love”
Billie Eilish “Ocean Eyes”
Britney Spears “Three”
Elle King “Ex’s & Oh’s”
Iggy Azalea “Fancy” (feat. Charli XCX)
Meghan Trainor “No”
Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball”
No Doubt “Spiderwebs”
Norah Jones “What Am I To You”
Old Crow Medicine Show “Wagon Wheel”
The Speaks “Bizarre Love Triangle”
The Weeknd “Earned It”
Zara Larson, MNEK “Never Forget You”
Prologue
Eight years earlier
Elliot
Crazy sex! In fact, I’d claim it was the best sex of my life! My legs were still in constant nervous flutters. The man was a demi-god of sorts with the way he worked my body out of its dormant status.
His baby blue eyes captured my attention across the bar, and our chemistry was immediate. I knew I was in for a good time when his near touch made it impossible to breathe. The deep timbre of his voice, as smooth as the whiskey he’d been drinking, had sent tingles down to my nether regions.
I wouldn’t call him a playboy. His boyish grin told me he was playful, choosing me as his one and only playground for the night.
Invading my space, he ran his fingers over my skin. “I could use any number of cheesy pickup lines, but I’m sure you’ve already heard them tonight, hot stuff. I’ve got to say, besides being fucking gorgeous, you’ve gotta be smart as a whip to be here at this conference. So this is what I propose. You and me. One night. Wild sex, no names. Tomorrow, we go back to our respective lives.” His warm breath lingered on my body. I had a small taste, and I needed more.
The hotel bar housing the architectural conference was full of mostly men. In an occupation where I was one of few women, I’d be lying if I said he was the first guy to hit on me. I held firm, though, rejecting all of them because it was a boy’s field, and I’ll be damned if I let those men think I was only a piece of ass. But this perfect male specimen did things to my common sense.
Now, lying in my bed, after I watched his fine bare ass get dressed, I had no regrets. Not one. Sure, I’d like more, but he was heading back home, and I was returning to Chicago to my own life. But I’d never
forget how he owned my body, even if it was only for one night.
1
Daimen
Staring out my corner window, I was startled when large strong arms wrapped around my waist. I turned to my partner and the love of my life with a smile. “Hey, babe.” My voice had warmed to him from our fight just minutes before.
Arden’s playful eyes reminded me of our past and the future we had in one another. We might spew hateful words when we fought, but now it meant very little to me, especially with Arden’s body embracing me. In the minutes his tall frame enveloped mine, I was reminded of the past—my thoughts on a time in my life I believed I’d never be whole again.
I’d loved Arden my whole life, but it took me years to convince him to take a chance on us. As coincidence had it, around the same time Arden finally came to terms with his sexuality, I’d fallen in love with a girl we shared. What was more complicated was that we shared her with our other business partner, Spencer. We’d always assumed the four of us would make it work, and we did. But when Arden admitted he loved me, he only asked for one thing—that we’d share our life with a girl in a committed relationship. It was the reason for our fight just minutes before.
“Daimen, honey,” Arden began, and the hopelessness I once experienced was gone with one look at my guy. My own body softened when he lovingly called me his term of endearment. “I never wanted this to come between us. It’s a hard line for me.” Arden’s face snaked around mine, and the kiss of his soft lips on my cheeks made it impossible not to forgive him for his anger. “Honey,” he whispered, and with one small look at my crotch, we both understood I was turned on.
I’d agreed with Arden about bringing a committed woman into our fold years ago. But with a pain that encircled me, I wasn’t sure I wanted to return to this lifestyle. I would constantly question if we were forever in a storm. The hurt was still prevalent. I turned and backed away from Arden, still holding his hands. “But we allowed her to come into our lives, and she turned it upside down—her and Spencer.” Although I knew that was not the complete truth with her, it was what I started with. Lana, the girl we shared, was always a wildcard. Even I knew that.
Though Spencer was not into men, he seemed content with the four of us—until he wasn’t.
Lana was standing at my desk, her arms crossed and unwilling to compromise. “It’s Arden or me, Daimen. This is your last chance. Pick me and leave Arden behind. I’ll leave Spence, and we can start our life together. Three—hell, four—people in a relationship will never work.” I watched her shut the door on our life and the future I’d dreamed about with her and Arden. In a matter of seconds, it was over, and I was left to pick up the pieces of my heart. But I still had Arden.
His eyes turned to saucers as he pleaded with me. “I watched for three months as you withered into a ball of hurt and anger, honey. Believe me, it’s not something I ever want for you again, but,” he placed my hand against his chest over his heart and continued, “life is worth living. And, fuck, it may hurt. Hell, I may be the one with scars next time, but, shit, Daimen, we’ve always wanted a girl and I’m not giving up that dream,” Arden insisted, caressing my cheek. His constant habit of affection was one of the many reasons I loved this man with all I had.
Arden’s hands rubbed ferociously at his forehead, narrowing his eyes on mine. “You have always taken the lead, and I’ve let you because it makes me comfortable. You’re sexy as hell when you’re bossy—which makes you sexy all the time,” he teased. “It suits your domineering personality and allows me to be more free and playful.” Arden’s hand finds passage down my arm, and even in a suit, his touch is everything. It’s fire and ice combined, and it’s lethal for me. “You take good care of me, but this isn’t negotiable. I know you’re attracted to women too, so it’s not like I’m asking you to do something you haven’t done before.”
My sexy bastard was right. We’d shared girls, but Arden was addressing a different idea—finding someone like Lana—who’d be our forever. Though it was when we were sharing girls that he fell in love with me. I’d loved Arden well before I was comfortable with my sexuality—but it took Arden longer, trying to deny his own sexuality. I’m very much the alpha, and once he gave into us, we flourished. Though it was cliché, it was easy since we were made for one another.
Though we were physically close at that second, I put my arms around my partner’s neck and pulled him to me. “Babe, you know I’m very possessive of you. I don’t like sharing what’s mine.” That was true, even in just normal friendships. I’d always been territorial of things that were only for me. “And you know the odds of us loving the same girl are very improbable,” I whispered. I could admit, even in my stubbornness, that it was more than sex. It had always been about that connection for us when it came to a girl. And if I was honest, I missed a woman’s touch too.
“But not unlikely,” Arden replied optimistically, which was my man’s best quality.
I needed a reason to end this conversation. Looking at him, I scoffed at his remark. “You do understand that improbable and unlikely are synonyms for one another. So, yes, it’s very unlikely and improbable.”
With an upturned face, his smile was contagious. “But you know me. I’ll find a way to win you over.” His justification was both seductive and suggestive. If there was ever a weakness in my life, it was the man standing in front of me.
“I know, honey.” Arden moved closer, teasing me with his arm by reaching for the zipper of my pants. “But someone is awake.” His mouth turned up in a small but devilish grin. “These mornings may be getting old, but I can do something to help you out fairly quickly.” My man would always play if it were an option.
As much as his mouth on my cock excited me, I have a no sex in the office policy. And it would be easy enough to push him over the table and pound him right now. “You know my rule, babe. But, fuck, we’re going home after this, and that’s exactly what we’ll do. Hell, we may not even make it to our room.”
His evil smirk turned into a wide smile when I changed the subject. “Once we get the new architect on board, we’ll have a little bit of our life back. I’m still pissed that we had to fire Joel Nelson.”
Arden groaned, thinking about the mess that this famous architect left us. “This new guy we’re interviewing today is a good choice with all his credentials.” Arden was optimistic, pushing this particular architect on me.
It was my fault we were in this mess. “I’m the one who wanted to hire him, and you warned me.” And, although I was stubborn as fuck, I could admit my mistakes. “Babe, I learned my lesson.”
“Good.” Arden leaned back, winking at me but with heat scattered in his eyes. I knew what he wanted. “But don’t think you can butter me up with this.”
“Maybe leaving early today will do exactly that.” I winked back at him, knowing that was his one weakness with me. Fuck, the electricity was flying in the room. Right when we were about to share a kiss again, my intercom surprised us. Scarlet, our secretary began, “Elliot Arnold and her assistant are here.”
I was confused. “Why two people?”
“His assistant is a little bit of everything right now as he builds his company. More like a protégé that he emailed me about. He doesn’t go anywhere without her.” Changing his tone toward me, he pleaded, “Can you please be on your best behavior? Believe me when I say Elliot Arnold is the best person for this job.”
I tried to flash him a flirtatious grin. Shaking his head, he understood the answer to his question—knowing I’d be difficult at first. It was my own personal test to determine if he would be a good fit. Still staring at me, he tapped the intercom. “Scarlet, it’s Arden. We’re ready. You can send Mr. Arnold and his assistant back.”
2
Elliot
The second the masculine voice referred to me as a man, I motioned to the secretary not to correct him. The call ended, and she looked at me when I explained. “Don’t worry, I get more business this way. It’s the main
reason I don’t have a picture on my website.” I paused to catch my breath, and it was a shame in this day and age having a man’s name worked to my advantage. “I love seeing the shock on their faces when they realize I have boobs. Most of the time, they think Andrew is the boss, and I’m his assistant.”
“Ell,” Andrew’s deep tone warned, “you get too much pleasure out of shocking men.”
I could almost imagine my eyes sparkling with mischief at my best friend’s caution. “I like shocking them. It’s too much fun,” I teased back.
“Alright, Ms. Arnold and Mr. Peters, let me show you in.” Scarlet knocked on the door, then opened it at one of the men’s request. “Mr. Blakely, Mr. Torano, let me know if I can get you anything,” she said, leaving quickly, but their eyes were averted down, still not on Andrew or me.