Foundations: The Power of Three Love Series

by Lennon, Leigh

  A small knock on the bathroom door startled me. “Ell, beautiful, you okay in there? After such a weeny workout, how could you have any sweat on you?” Daimen teased.

  I opened the door, greeting him with the middle finger. “You think you’re hilarious, don’t you?”

  “Yeah, a little. Now, let’s get out of this house. It’s sunny out—let’s go for a walk on the beach for a while.”

  “I love this idea.” In his arms, he was carrying a small cooler and a blanket. “You come prepared.”

  “By the way, Ms. Arnold, I heard you refer to me as your boss to your mother.” His cocky smile covered his face.

  “I knew that would come back and bite me in the ass,” I replied.

  “I kind of like thinking of me as your boss, but I’d love for you to dream of me as your boss in the bedroom,” he added, opening the door to the deck that led to the beach.

  “Dream on, there, Mr. Executive. But you do seem like the type to want all the control,” I added.

  “Oh, you’ll find out, little girl.” He gave me a cocky smirk, stopping me from going any farther. Before I knew it, I was in his arms. “I want you more than ever.” His seriousness overtook his face. “I worry about outward influences, though. I know your parents are important to you, but always remember, Ell, you make your own happiness.”

  What could I say? It was true; more than I was willing to admit. And for that reason, I said nothing. “I’m ready for the beach. What do you say?”

  “Okay, beautiful. After you.”

  * * *

  At the beach, we walked along Lake Michigan, hand in hand. We’d set up our blanket close to the house, but I wanted to go on a little walk to look at all the beachfront homes. Our conversation settled around small talk until out of nowhere, Daimen said, “You know, you’ll never need to work again.” It was so casual and caught me off guard.

  I stopped, releasing his hand. “What are you talking about? Of course, I do. I’m so much more than someone’s partner. This is me, my job, and it comes with me. And honestly, who’s to say this’ll work out?”

  His eyes searched mine. “I didn’t mean to disrespect you. Of course, your job is important. I just meant with us, you wouldn’t need or want for anything again. That’s all.”

  I turned to him. “But my job is my life. It’s what I do; it’s what I know. I need my own identity. Regardless of whose partners I become or when I’m a mom, I need my job.”

  When we reached the large blanket, we lay down on our backs. I assumed the heavy topic would continue. Looking at the sky, our eyes were locked on the clouds. “Arden and I would play this game as kids. Normally, with both our little brothers and my little sister. We’d look at the clouds and try to figure out what they were.”

  Staring above me, I pointed. “That one over to the left of us looks like Shrek.”

  “Ah, you catch on quickly, little girl.” He started, “That one to our right looks like a Volkswagen Bug.”

  “Ah, so true. Look over to the right of that … it’s an igloo.”

  “To the right of Shrek is a tree; like a pine tree you’d decorate for Christmas,” he added.

  This, right here, was the important parts of life that some would dismiss—the cement in which a firm foundation could begin. In this time with Daimen, we were building something of importance. I couldn’t quite tell you what that would be, but it was something that if built properly, it would last a lifetime.

  35

  Daimen

  After spending an hour laughing over the shapes of the clouds, I held tight to Elliot’s hand. “Ask me anything, Ell. Anything at all.”

  Her question must have been on the tip of her tongue. “Your sex life with Arden. What’s it like?”

  My deep belly chuckle had her sitting up, amusement playing in her emerald greens. “Well, you surely didn’t have to think hard with that one. Gotta say, little girl, we have a very healthy sex life and always have. We make love in our room, and it would continue with you. However, we like certain things. We are dominant men, but in the bedroom, I take the reins.”

  She sat mute. Dammit, Daimen, I thought, I just scared the poor girl.

  With a turn of her lips into what I was beginning to understand as her devilish look, she asked, “So what are you talking? Is the room Arden wouldn’t tell me about something out of 50 Shades?”

  “No, it’s just stuff both Arden and I like. We’ll show you when and if you’re ready. Again, you asked. It’s not a hard line with me. Being without you is the hard line.”

  She raised one eyebrow, giving me the sexy little look I was craving. “I think I’d like it.”

  Where did this minx come from? I’d never have guessed this was her. “Like it rough?” I added, my voice deep with lust. Leaning in toward her, I crashed my lips to hers, and our kiss was like the night before last—hurried and turbulent. I had my answer.

  “I’m not as sweet and innocent as I look, caveman.” She was goading me, and I loved every moment of it.

  After lunch, she sat with her back against my chest. With my arms around her, I encased her in my warmth. We talked about college, dreams, old loves, and family. I didn’t bring anything else up about our possible future together.

  “I enjoyed this a lot, Daimen.” She mentioned as the two of us were folding the blanket.

  “Now, what do you want to do?” I added. My mind was on one thing, but our connection needed to be fortified with more than sex.

  “I was thinking about crawling into bed for a while because I need a little nap. I’m not one hundred percent recovered from yesterday’s freak dizzy spell. That okay? I’ll be fine by tonight.”

  With the backdrop of Lake Michigan, the streaks of sunlight highlighted the splendor of this woman in front of me. “Go get some rest, beautiful. Then when you wake up, we’ll decide,” I said, kissing her on the cheek. It was time to check in with Arden and see how his afternoon went. More than anything, I couldn’t wait to hear about the impromptu visit by Ell’s parents.

  36

  Arden

  “I tried to warn you both. Those crazy bastards were, indeed, Ell’s parents, and they were looking for her,” Andrew said.

  “Oh, they are lovely folks, I tell you,” Scarlet retorted with more than a hint of sarcasm.

  “Yeah, they’re great, always asking me if I’m still gay. I love how I can shock them every time and they act as if I’m contagious when I tell them, ‘Yes, I’m still very much into men,’” Andrew added, and I couldn’t hold it in anymore. With people like that, you just had to laugh, or the anger would overtake all of us.

  “Wow, how’s Elliot so normal coming from them?” I asked Andrew.

  “Normal is relative, I guess. I’m not sure. She and I have been friends for so long that her viewpoint has been opened to a more alternative lifestyle. It never bothered her, and thank fuck because I’d be lost without Ell in my life.”

  My gaze fell on Scarlet. “I know the feeling. That’s how we feel about this girl here.”

  An incoming text from Daimen startled me. I read the text and saw that an audio accompanied it. “Hell, Daimen recorded Elliot’s side of the conversation with her mom, telling me it’s hilarious.”

  After we listened to it, an explosion of giggles and laughter filled my office. Between our snorts and chuckles, Andrew almost wept in tears. “I can’t wait until the day Ell and I fornicate and give her mother a baby from me.”

  I looked at him with a smirk on his face. “Not if I have anything to do with it.”

  * * *

  Spencer showed up to the club ten minutes late and had Lana with him. Fuck, he did this on purpose. I’d never told him I’d be taking Daimen’s place. How that fucker loved rubbing it in with Daimen that he won. And he was late, which I detested, and he knew it.

  “Hey, Lana,” I greeted. I’d cared deeply for her at one time, and I would’ve accepted her as the third part of our relationship even though I never loved her. After the crap
she pulled with Spencer and Daimen, though, there was no love lost between us.

  “Arden. Where’s Daimen?” Lana asked like I wasn’t part owner in our company.

  “He’s taking some time off at the lake,” I mentioned and immediately wanted to kick myself.

  “I miss that place. Fond memories,” Lana added, looking over her water glass like we were mere acquaintances in life.

  What a fucking bitch. “I have a couple of business items to discuss with you, Spence, but for now, why don’t we get a drink?” I added since Spencer had yet to say a simple pleasantry my way.

  “Sure.” Ah, the fucker wasn’t mute. “But I wanted to check on the new architect first. Is he working out for us?”

  “Actually, she’s doing a great job. We’re working closely together on design. As you know with the financials that we sent over to you, we had to increase the bottom line, but the buildings will be a better quality than we would have gotten from the first architect.”

  “I’ll give him that, those bids were not fair ones. Daimen is so worried about that bottom line. I love Daimen, but he is such a cheapskate.” Oh, Spencer was closer to Daimen than I was growing up, so parting ways with this dick was not as heart wrenching for me. It was hard, but not like it was for Daimen. And I’d be damned if I let Spencer call Daimen names. I could call him names and challenge him, one of the benefits that came from him sticking his cock into me daily, but Spencer didn’t have that same privilege.

  “Hey, watch it,” I said, my voice deep with a warning. “He may have made a slight miscalculation, but he’s made us both a shitload of money. You’d do well to remember that.” I stopped for a second, just for mere dramatics. “And he’s mine, so no one ever fucking bad-mouths him, you feel me?”

  His hand rose in defeat. “Okay, don’t get your feathers in a frenzy,” Spencer returned.

  After the business end of the meeting, we were about to part ways when Spencer asked, “Is Daimen still feeling slighted? It’s been two years. I’d think he’d be over it by now but to send his bitch to do his own work is really beneath him.”

  I was not a violent man. In other words, I was a lover, not a fighter, but with my hands clenched in fists under the table, I could beat the shit out of him without batting an eye. “Spencer, no reason to be gloating over your wife’s choice. Daimen would have never left me, and I know this for a fact.” I stood, buttoning my suit jacket. “And from now on, you little fuck, you’ll be dealing with me on all matters. Daimen is off-limits to you.” I looked at Lana. “Both of you, as a matter of fact.”

  In a small way, I was happy with the outcome of the business dinner. Profits were up by ten percent from last quarter. And Daimen didn’t have to deal with the fucker known as our business partner, especially now that Elliot would be a factor in our life.

  37

  Elliot

  “I’m stuffed,” I exclaimed after a very satisfying dinner of a New York strip, a baked potato, and a Caesar salad.

  “Really? You only ate half your steak and a couple of bites of your salad. You normally have quite the appetite. I love a girl who’s not afraid to eat.”

  Looking down at the cow that was sacrificed for our dinner, I started, “Considering the steak was the size of the plate you served it on, I think I ate pretty well.” Hell, these men could shovel it in. “And I may still be a little sick from whatever I had yesterday.”

  I sauntered over to him and grabbed his belt and pulled him toward me. “It’s early, you know.” I gave him a suggestive wink.

  “Wow, you can’t keep doing that winking thing to me, beautiful. It’s a new kind of sexy on you,” he said to me in a husky voice.

  “I’ll try,” I returned, kissing him gently on the lips.

  It looked like Daimen physically had to find his composure by adjusting his pants when he countered, “What would you like to do? It’s just nine p.m. Want to call it an early night, or we could play a board game, go for a swim, or watch a movie?”

  I thought I’d made my intentions quite clear, but maybe I was reading too much into it. “How about a movie?” I suggested.

  “I’ll make popcorn, and you pick one out. We have almost everything,” he said, showing me how to choose a movie on their state-of-the-art satellite remote control. When he returned, he shuddered at my choice. “Goonies, really? We have all these new movies, and you pick this?”

  “It’s my favorite,” I whined, making my case.

  “Well, I guess there’s no arguing with your logic,” he conceded, a smile lacing his face.

  We snuggled up on the couch, and I worked my arms over his muscular abdomen. “You’re so sexy,” I started, working my other hand up his knee. I was initiating foreplay this evening, and it would be epic.

  “Don’t you want to watch this?” he questioned, stopping the progression of my hand.

  “I guess I do.” Not really, but that was how I responded. Moving my hand from on top of his stomach, I worked my hand up the inside of his shirt, finding his chiseled chest. Resting my hand there for a couple minutes, I then lowered it to his zipper.

  He moved it, interlinking our fingers together. I was confused. We’d made each other come earlier, and his signals were anything but radioactive hot.

  “Um, actually,” I lied, feigning a yawn, “I’m not feeling well. I should go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.” Kissing him on the cheek quickly, I moved to my room opposite the master bedroom.

  * * *

  I refused to cry over something I didn’t fully understand. In bed, with my phone turned off, I pondered what in the world had come over me. I was basically serving myself on a silver platter for him, and he refused. Crash and burn multiplied by a million and it was brutal as hell.

  “Hey, beautiful,” Daimen called out, “can I come in?”

  “Sure,” I replied. What was I going to do, tell him no in his own house?

  “Beautiful.” The bed dipped with him on the side when his hand found my hipbone. “I wasn’t blowing you off. The thing is”—he raked his hand through his jet-black hair—“I’m so turned on by you, I may not be able to stop, and it’s not fair to Arden.”

  I sat up in bed. “You mean, you weren’t blowing me off?”

  “Oh, fuck no, little girl. You initiating foreplay with me is so sexy. Just thinking about it makes my cock want to come out to play.” He pulled me onto his lap. “I’ll tell you what, when I finally stretch that little pussy of yours, it’ll be epic; like fireworks going off around us, epic. One more night, beautiful, and Arden will be here. If it leads to something tomorrow, then it’s okay, but until then …”

  I silenced him with a kiss. Pulling back, he began, “So sleeping alone tonight only. After that, you’re not leaving our bed.” It didn’t take long for me to agree with this.

  38

  Daimen

  I hated being in bed alone. After our morning orgasms, that was it. Sure, we’d kissed, and it would have to be enough to get me through the night. Part of me wished Arden could come back tonight but giving Ell a full night to think was best. After all, my heart was too fully vested, and once I had her, took her, every bit of her, I’d never be able to give that up. I texted Arden from bed.

  Me: Had a good night, actually a great night.

  I don’t tell him about Ell’s little meltdown. We got the situation resolved, and there was no reason to worry him. Before I could put my phone down, the little dots on the bottom of the screen appeared.

  Arden: You’ve been on my mind all night. I would love to sink in her as you sink into me. Think about that and then make yourself come. Believe me, I’m going to do the same thing.

  Me: On it now. Believe me, with the vision you just gave, it won’t be hard. Well, it actually is hard, and that makes it easier right now.

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at that comment.

  Arden: Fuck, you’re killing me.

  I wasn’t sure if I should shut and lock the door, in case Elliot came in, but I had to
be open to share my sexuality with her. Arden and I made love almost every night and being without his touch was odd, so it was a no-brainer to grab the lube next to the bed. I started to work my hands up and down and moaned, thinking of Arden coming. She appeared in my line of sight. “Caveman, you okay?”

  I came right then and gave a slight release of a pleasurable moan. I heard her laugh. “I guess, you’re more than okay.” My text alerted me as I turned to answer it.

  Arden: Fuck, man, I came so hard. You?

  Me: Yeah, I had an audience.

  Arden: She sure is quite the voyeur. Why is she not in bed with you?

  Me: I wanted our first time to be with you.

  “Arden thinks you dabble in voyeurism,” I mused to Ell, still staring at me when a return chirp alerted me that Arden had more to say.

  Cocking her head, she looked so cute. “I just may. You’ll just have to wait and see. Night, caveman.” I watched her out of the corner of my eye when I started to read Arden’s response.

  Arden: Fuck no. Take her. She wants it—you better fucking take it. Let her have you one on one.

  “Wait, Ell,” I almost yelled. She turned around slowly, still in the doorway, and I lurched out of bed so quickly. She was in her short shorts and a T-shirt that barely covered her belly as I made my way to her. I also decided our personal shopper needed a tip for this ensemble she’d picked out for my girl. I was only an arm’s reach from her. Extending my hand to hers, she reached for me.

  “Daimen, this is a bad idea,” she warned.

  “Actually, it’s a fucking brilliant idea.” I grinned. “Well, in all honesty, it’s Arden’s brilliant idea.” My hand that was linked with her gentle fingers brought her closer to me. My free arm wrapped around her neck. I could tell her this was what Arden wanted, and I would, but for now, I was lost in all things Elliot Arnold.