Falling For Them

Maya Nicole

Copyright 2024 © Maya Nicole

All rights reserved.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

For permissions contact: maya@mayanicole.com

The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real people, living or dead, businesses, or locales are coincidental.

Edited by Karen Sanders Editing

Cover by Maya Nicole

Falling For Them is a standalone MMF menage. That means all the characters will have a happily ever after with each other. Recommended for readers 18+ for adult content and language.

Created with Vellum

Contents

1.  The Lube’s Fault

2.  Sausage Fest

3.  Future Wife?

4.  Fae Prince

5.  Something in the Wine

6.  Bigger is Better

7.  All the Willpower

8.  Pesky Boner

9.  Worst Best Friend Ever

10.  Packing Party

11.  One Time Only

12.  My Girl

13.  Pleasant and Professional

14.  Crossing the Line

15.  Red Flags Waving

16.  No Regrets

17.  Just a Natural

18.  Two Bouquets of Red Roses

19.  First Date

20.  Where’s the Gas Pedal?

21.  Why the Ellipsis?

22.  Our Little Guys Love Swimming

23.  Begging for Mercy

24.  The Prize

25.  Helicopter Ride

26.  Big Shower

27.  Shocking Love Triangle

28.  Gorgeous

29.  All Ryker’s Fault

30.  Fifty Million

Epilogue

Also by Maya Nicole

Sometimes you just need to take your bra off and throw it at a man’s head.

Chapter 1

The Lube’s Fault

Libby

Never in a million years did I imagine my train would be delayed by a freak accident involving a truck transporting barrels of lube, but there I was.

When the conductor had first announced the reason we’d been stopped for the past thirty minutes, I hadn’t believed it. A quick news search confirmed that there was in fact a truck on its side with literal barrels of Ravishing Whispers personal lubricant scattered across the tracks and roadway. Someone had let their job slip through their fingers with that blunder.

Quite literally.

I stifled a giggle, then immediately felt guilty. Someone had probably lost their job over this. How does one even explain their unemployment to potential employers?

I bit my lip, trying to contain my inappropriate amusement. It was a habit I’d developed during my teaching days, when my students would say something unintentionally hilarious, and I had to maintain a straight face.

I immediately fell down a rabbit hole, searching the internet to see how big of a quantity of lube was available for purchase. Apparently, it was possible to buy a barrel for the low price of one thousand dollars.

My eyes widened at the price. Who needs that much lube? And who has that kind of disposable income? I momentarily forgot that I had that kind of disposable income and was about to move into my rich brother’s condo.

I opened my texts with my best friend, Ethan, already snort-laughing, imagining his response. I needed a good laugh.

My thumbs hovered over the phone screen as I debated how to phrase my message. Keep it classy, Libby. Then, I promptly ignored my own advice.

Me: How big of a dick needs fifty-five gallons of lube?

Ethan: What the hell are you reading?

Me: I’m currently bookless.

Ethan: The horror! So, what are you doing? Don’t tell me you’re watching porn on the train.

Me: There was an accident on the tracks… the train is delayed for who knows how long. Depends on if the lube that spilled is water-based.

I cringed at my own joke, but I couldn’t help but wonder if water-based lube would indeed be easier to clean up. Before I could stop myself, I opened a new browser tab to research lube cleanup methods. This is what happens when I don’t have a book to keep me company.

My phone rang not even a minute later, and I accepted the call from Ethan, glad the train was fairly empty, and no one would have to hear the absurdly random—sometimes inappropriate—shit we talked about. “Does lube have an expiration date?”

Ethan snorted. “Let me look at mine and see...” He must have been near it because a few seconds later, he answered, “Nope. There’s no expiration. Mine never lasts long enough to know if it goes bad if I’m being perfectly honest.”

Heat crept onto my cheeks, and I cleared my throat. “Maybe a porn production company buys these.”

“Or Ryker,” Ethan deadpanned. “I’ll ask him tomorrow. His reaction should be priceless.”

I turned and put my legs up on the two empty seats next to me as I made a gagging noise. “Gross! There are some things that should remain unspoken about my brother and that’s one of them!”

My older brother was in a polyamorous relationship with a woman and two of his best friends. The four of them lived together, and I didn’t even want to think about what they did. Ryker had stolen some of my why choose books before they’d even gotten together—and it hadn’t gone unnoticed that he never returned them—so it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know he was well versed in multiple penis usage.

“How long do you think you’ll be delayed for?”

“Not sure, but maybe I should go stay at the condo instead of coming to your place. I don’t want to cause any more problems for you.”

My brother’s condo in midtown Manhattan was waiting for me to move into anyway, and the guest bedroom still had a bed.

The thought of going to the empty condo made me feel a little lonely, but I pushed the feeling aside. I can handle one night alone in a luxury condo in the city. I’ll just have to pretend it's my townhouse.

Ethan sighed. “I’m still trying to find someone to sublease from me. There has to be someone desperate enough that they’re willing to put up with the roommate from hell.”

“Ryker said you can stay in the condo for free until you aren’t paying on that place anymore,” I reminded him.

“I feel bad doing that, especially after the raise I just got. Plus, I have seven months left on this lease. That’s a lot of money to throw away. It will be fine. This way, you’ll have some time to get settled before I move in.”

The plan had been for both of us to move into my brother’s unoccupied four-bedroom condo in the next few weeks, but with Ethan’s current roommate being an absolute slob and inconsiderate twat waffle, it was difficult for him to find someone to sublease.

The PA system crackled overhead. “Folks, it looks like we’ll be here at least another hour. They’re working as quickly as possible to clean up the product that spilled. We apologize for any inconvenience.”

I rested the side of my head against the cool faux leather seat. “I’ll just go to the condo. It’s only a few minutes’ walk from the train station. I don’t want you to have to deal with your roommate yelling at you for opening the door for me so late.”

“I’m sorry, Lib.” He sounded so defeated, and I wished I could reach through the phone and hug him.

“Even if you can’t find someone, think about it, okay? What am I going to do with the other three bedrooms?” I’d be in the massive primary bedroom, and I didn’t really need the extra rooms.

“You’re going to be okay walking by yourself?”

“I’ll be fine. It will take longer to get a cab or Uber. It’s not like Manhattan is a ghost town on a Friday night.” It wasn’t any worse than where I’d spent the first nine years of my life.

Even as I reassured Ethan, I felt a familiar tingle of anxiety in my stomach. I wasn’t a scared little girl anymore, but truth be told, every time I set foot in the city, it was like I was sent back in time.

“Call me if you need to.” He went quiet for a few seconds too long and my heart sped up. I knew what was coming since he hadn’t asked yet. “How are you doing?”

“Honestly? I’ve been better. I didn’t expect to have all of these feelings about breaking ground on the community center tomorrow.” I’d been excited at first, but the closer I got, the more memories of the squalor I once lived in, and my mom’s death played in my head. No amount of therapy or time would erase my past.

“I meant about…” Ethan went silent, leaving an opening for me to talk about why I’d broken up with my ex.

It had been two weeks, but I couldn’t talk to Ethan about it, especially when he was the reason. While it wasn’t a secret that my ex, Justin, didn’t like my friendship with Ethan, it had never gotten to the point where he’d given me an ultimatum.

Had things been perfect between us? No, but they had been comfortable in a way that I needed. There was little risk of being eviscerated when you kept yourself closed off. It had never been a problem for him since he was always so busy with his family’s business.

But something had changed the second I decided to move to the city. It wasn’t even like it was that far. The issue was Ethan moving in with me.

Don’t cry, don’t cry, I chanted internally.

“It was over long before he broke it off.” I knew that was true, but it still hurt.

There was a loud bang on the other end of the phone and then a man yelled Ethan’s name. I knew the booming voice immediately; his roommate was certifiable. I’d only stayed with Ethan once since he’d moved in, and it was anxiety-inducing, to say the least. He’d been struggling for months with how to handle the situation, and the only thing keeping him there was the lease and the costs involved.

He exhaled into the phone. “I have to go deal with this asshole. I think he’s mad that I washed his dishes, but I wasn’t about to let them sit there and get moldy in the damn sink. It makes no fucking sense why he would be pissy over cleanliness. I’ll see you tomorrow, Libby. Love you.”

“Love you too.” I hung up and shut my eyes. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

Chapter 2

Sausage Fest

Libby

It had to be a bad omen that I was about to embark on a new chapter in my life but stood outside the condo looking and feeling like a drowned rat.

I hated rats.

Do you know what else I hated? Freak summer downpours right in the middle of a short walk from the train station when it was past midnight and there wasn’t a taxi or Uber in sight. Walking a few blocks wasn’t a big deal until the sky opened up. By the time I found somewhere to duck, the damage was done.

I shivered as the cool air from the hallway vent hit my dripping wet body, and I quickly keyed in the code to the door. In a week, it would be my door, and I inhaled sharply at the thought. I never thought I’d be moving back to the city I had a love-hate relationship with, but there I was.

My shoes squeaked in the entryway as I stepped inside and turned on the light. The small area lit up, and I shut the door behind me before catching sight of myself in the mirror on the wall. My blonde hair was plastered against my head and my face was splotchy.

“Lovely.” I toed off my shoes and peeled off my soaked socks just as the light flickered and then went completely out. “For fuck’s sake. Really?”

It was like the universe was trying to tell me not to move back to New York.

I could always get my teaching job back since there were always last-minute teacher openings and not enough credentialed teachers to fill them. I’d just tell my brother I couldn’t handle the stress of the city or the pressure of helping to run a foundation and new community center.

A pang of guilt hit me thinking about leaving teaching behind, but I shook it off. It wasn’t like I hadn’t finished out the school year, but it still felt like I was somehow abandoning the people who needed me the most. Which was ridiculous since I had quit to help develop a community center that would help even more people.

Shaking my head at my ridiculousness, I dug through my purse for my phone which I’d dropped into the depths for safekeeping as soon as I’d left the train. I always held my purse close, but people were sneaky.

When I was finally able to find it and pull it out, I wanted to cry. Ten percent battery was not going to help during a power outage, and I hated the dark.

With a shaky hand, I slipped my phone back in my purse. The power would come back on soon. The building was state of the art, and with so many wealthy people living in it, I wouldn’t be surprised if there were generators that would click on any minute.

I shivered violently, the cold air from the air conditioner that had been on finally registering with my body. Ryker had money, but leaving it on full blast when no one lived there was so wasteful. It felt like I’d stepped inside Mr. Freeze’s lair.

Not wanting to leave a trail of water everywhere and create a hockey rink, I peeled off my jeans and shirt, letting them fall with a plop next to the door. I might as well have jumped into a swimming pool. Even my bra was soaked through, the cups absorbing water like sponges.

I unclasped it and let it slide down my arms, catching it by one of the straps. It felt like it weighed three times as much from the water it had absorbed. It was going to take forever to dry if the power didn’t come back on so I could throw it in the dryer.

As if to remind me of how sensitive they were, my nipples hardened. Small handfuls as they were, they were not the kind of boobs that could go braless; they’d poke an eye out.

A sound came from down the hall, and I froze, my arm outstretched and ready to deposit my bra on my heap of clothing.

What the hell was that?

I heard it again, and my heart leapt into my throat. I was either hallucinating or someone was walking toward me. My mind was telling me to run and scream, but my body wouldn’t listen. I was frozen, listening to the soft thwacking sound coming closer and closer.

The lights flickered back on, and a scream echoed through the empty space.

But it wasn’t mine, at least not at first.

A man, who I was all too familiar with, was standing right across the entryway from me, his eyes wide in terror at finding a half-naked woman standing before him. I screamed right along with him and threw my bra at his head on instinct, my feet finally deciding to work.

Unfortunately, my bag was right in my path, and I tripped over it, falling hard onto the floor.

“Shit. Elizabeth? Are you okay? Why the hell are you naked?”

Damn. For a moment, I’d hoped I’d only imagined things, but I knew the owner of that voice. I’d had to listen to it for hours on end over the last several months at planning meetings I was required to attend.

My cheeks burned to the point where I was certain they were redder than a baboon’s ass. If my undressed state wasn’t bad enough, he was wearing only his briefs that left nothing to the imagination. What was the point of wearing any at all when I could practically see all his goods right through the white fabric?

My God. He was barely contained.

“What are you doing here?” My heart showed no signs of settling down as I quickly rolled so that my back was to him, covering my chest with my arm. Maybe he had been so surprised and scared he hadn’t had time to sneak a peek at the goods.

Sure, Libby. Just like you haven’t checked out his junk.

“I live here,” he said slowly as if he was confused. “At least until next week. You aren’t supposed to move in until next weekend.”

“Yeah, well, I needed somewhere to stay tonight. Last minute change of plans thanks to my train being delayed.” With my shaking free hand, I unzipped my bag to find a dry shirt, only to find nothing was dry. “What do you mean you live here? This is my brother’s condo. Don’t you have a penthouse and an entire hotel?”

“My penthouse is being renovated. Ry offered to let me stay here until it’s done since it’s in the same building and more convenient.” His voice was tired with sleep, and I wondered briefly—very briefly—if this was what he sounded like in the morning.

“He what?” I practically shrieked, looking over my shoulder at the man towering over me. His dark hair was disheveled, and his body looked like something I’d like pressed against me.

No. Absolutely not. I would not lust after one of New York City’s most notorious playboys, my soon-to-be boss, and one of my brother’s best friends. This was the man who annoyed me to no end every time he opened his mouth.

Because you feel guilty about wanting him.

Telling myself no was one thing, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the way a dark trail of hair traveled down into the waistband of his underwear or how the V cuts of muscle seemed to point right to his very impressive bulge.

Nope. There was no way I was attracted to Leo Caponetti.

Only I was, and I had been since the moment I laid eyes on him. I’d been able to suppress my attraction because I’d had a boyfriend, but now that I was single? All bets were off, but I at least had to try to keep him in the no-box I’d placed around him.

“Don’t get your panties in a knot, princess. I’ll be gone by Friday.” Princess? That was a good reason to stir up enough animosity to keep my distance.

He held out his hand to help me up, and I begrudgingly took it, keeping my other arm firmly plastered across my chest.

“Let’s forget this ever happened, okay?” I looked past him toward the hallway. “I should um… get my stuff in the dryer and get to bed.”

He winced and sucked in a breath through his teeth. “About that...”

“Shit. Ryker said he left the washer and dryer. He took them, didn’t he?” My brother wasn’t always the best at communicating, and with him being so busy running his marketing company and getting the foundation up and running, he forgot to tell me important details.

Like the fact that Leo was staying in the condo.

“I wasn’t talking about the washer and dryer; he didn’t take them.” Leo’s eyes dropped to my arm over my chest and then farther down before he stared down at my bag. “Why are you wet?”

It took me longer than I would have liked to realize what he was talking about. Maybe it was a good thing I hadn’t brought a book to read on the train since, clearly, my brain was already in Smut City. “Because it rained? I didn’t just find a pool to fall into on the way here.” I almost added or lube, but Leo and I weren’t on that level of joking yet and probably never would be.

He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ll get you a shirt and shorts.”

Before I could protest that I would not be wearing his clothes, he was headed down the hall, his toned ass looking bitable in his tighty-whities. I decided to blame my lapse in judgment on my tiredness.

I rolled my eyes and busied myself getting the damp clothes out of my bag. Not all of them were wet, but I had packed them by what order I’d wear them, so my sleepwear and clothes for tomorrow were damp.

Glancing back down the hall, I bit my lip. Not once since Ryker announced that Leo would be the executive director of the foundation had I looked at Leo like I wanted to pounce. Yes, he was attractive, but now that I had nothing stopping me from acting, it was like trying to keep a cat away from a can of tuna.

Maybe I needed to get a cat and embrace my inner cat lady to help the situation that was barreling toward me. I was going to have to work with this man every day for the foreseeable future.

If I focused on his flaws, that would help. He’d always rubbed me the wrong way when it came to the foundation and there hadn’t been much we’d agreed on so far. He was also a billionaire who had no clue what it was like to struggle financially. He was so far out of touch with reality that I didn’t know what my brother was thinking when he brought him on to run everything. I mean, the man had a yacht. Enough said.

Leo came out of the guest room, his bottom half now covered in pajama pants. There was no hope of containing my giggle when I saw what was printed on them as he got closer. “Oh my God.”

“What?” Leo held out a shirt and shorts to me. “I know they’re going to swallow you whole, but all of my spare women’s clothes are in my penthouse.”

That abruptly ended my giggle. Was he that much of a man whore that he had a lost and found for clothing his conquests left behind?

I snatched the clothes away and held them against my chest. “I was laughing at your Ninja Turtle pajamas.”

He looked down, smoothing his hands over his thighs. “Paige got them for me. She thinks it’s hilarious my name is Leonardo.”

Paige was my brother’s girlfriend and the woman I owed a whole hell of a lot to. If she hadn’t come into Ryker’s life, I don’t think he would have ever confronted what happened to us when we were younger and the impact it still had on him. It was why I was now moving to New York to help with the foundation and the community center being built where we’d grown up.

“Well, um...” I looked past Leo instead of at the turtle head right in the center of his bulge. “I should go put these on. I’m tired.”

“About that. That’s what I was trying to tell you.” He cleared his throat, drawing my attention back to him. “There’s only one bed.”

“Excuse me?” Had I heard him correctly? “What do you mean there’s only one bed?”

I looked into the living room. No couch. I could have sworn Ryker said he left the couch, and it had been there the last time I stayed.

“There’s just the one in the guest bedroom. I didn’t bother moving my bed down here.” Leo shrugged as if a one-bed situation was a completely normal occurrence for him.

“What happened to the couch?” I’d really liked that couch too, damn it.

He shrugged and scratched his stomach as he looked down the hall before looking back at me. “Is this really that big of a deal?”

“We aren’t sharing a bed. This is my condo.” I didn’t want to argue with him practically naked, so with my back to him, I pulled his shirt on. It was soft and smelled like him. What had he done, rubbed it all over himself?

“Your condo? I didn’t know a teacher could afford a multi-million dollar-” His words died on his lips as I turned around. His jaw flexed as his eyes slowly moved down my body. He was looking at me like I was a juicy piece of steak and he was starving.

I threw his shorts at his head since they were way too big; the shirt covered mostly everything anyway. “This is exactly why you shouldn’t be executive director. I didn’t know a teacher could afford a multi-million-dollar condo,” I mimicked in an annoying voice.

He gripped the shorts I’d thrown at him. “You’re mad because I was stating a fact? Teachers are underpaid and this condo costs millions.”

I didn’t want to have an argument with him about how pointing out the obvious was unnecessary. “I don’t know why you’re just standing there when you should be packing.” I picked up my bag, pushing past him to go down the hall to the laundry room.

He was hot on my heels. “I’m not leaving. You’re the one intruding. Did you even tell Ryker you were staying here?”

“That’s beside the point.” I shoved my clothes in the dryer before turning around, only to run right into him holding the wet clothes I’d removed, including my bra right on top. I snatched them and threw them in.

“Do you want me to call my driver to take you to my hotel, then?” His driver? His hotel? What different worlds we lived in. One where he owned massive buildings and an estate in the Hamptons.

“It’s almost one in the morning, Leonardo.” I pushed past him and went to the primary bedroom to see if he was joking about sharing a bed.

“Exactly. I suggest we go to bed. I’ll put a blanket sausage down the middle so we don’t touch.”

After confirming that he hadn’t been lying about the bed, I turned toward him. “A blanket sausage? Is that a euphemism for something?”

“No, it’s not. I shouldn’t even have to put one. It’s not like we’re strangers, and we’re both grown adults. Well, at least, I am.” He sure did sound like he was trying to convince himself of that. He turned and strode toward the guest bedroom, disappearing inside.

“Debatable,” I muttered, sighing in defeat as I followed him. “Do you snore?”

“I don’t.” He went into the closet and came out with a thick blanket. “Watch and learn.”

I set my bag on the floor next to the dresser and watched him in the mirror as he folded the gigantic blanket in half and rolled it before placing it in the middle. It was hardly a barrier. “One of us can just sleep under a sheet and the other on top of it. No need for sausages to be involved.”

He paused, looking up at me for a long moment before clearing his throat and sitting on the side of the bed closest to the door. The covers were turned back on the other side of the bed.

I would not overthink that action. Nope. My brain was too muddled by book boyfriends who did shit like sleeping closest to the door to protect their woman. I was not Leo’s woman, and I doubted he’d want to protect me.

Grabbing my toiletry bag and a pair of underwear that had been spared from moisture, I went into the attached bathroom and shut the door. I needed to get my shit together.

He was right. We were both grown adults and would be working closely together every day very soon. There was no reason for me to be confrontational or upset over him being here.

I put my hands on the cool countertop and shut my eyes. I didn’t do well with abrupt changes in my routine or plans. Too much had been unplanned tonight, and now that I felt safe, I could reassure myself that the world was still spinning in the same direction. My feet were still firmly on the ground. Nothing hurt besides my pride.

I took a deep breath, opened my eyes, and looked in the mirror. My face was flushed from our bickering and the thought of sleeping next to him, but I could handle this. I could handle one night of sharing a bed with a frustratingly gorgeous man.

Chapter 3

Future Wife?

Leo

I’d never met such an infuriating woman in my entire life. It wasn’t just that she called me out on my bullshit or was more stubborn than I was; it was how fucking attracted I was to her—all of her—and I couldn’t do a damn thing about it.

It didn’t help that despite her scaring the absolute shit out of me, I’d manage to catch a glimpse of her rosy nipples and the way her wet underwear clung to her. She was perfect, but she was off-limits and permanently on the do-not-touch list.

Well, I mean, I could touch her, but my life was enough of a clusterfuck.

We’d known each other for years—although not that well—but I’d only recently noticed her as more than my friend’s little sister. She was quiet and she barely spared me a glance when we were in the same room.

My brother was best friends with her brother, and recently, I’d become good friends with him too. He’d even hired me to run his foundation, which was another reason Libby was off-limits since she was going to officially be an employee in a few weeks.

Right then, she was nothing more than my acquaintance, though.

The first time I really started paying attention to her was a few months ago, when she gave me her very best teacher stare through her computer screen on a video call. Our temporary headquarters had been finished, and I’d claimed the corner office without consulting her. It was the most expressive I’d seen her, and she hadn’t needed to speak for me to hear her words.

Even now, she looked at me like she either wanted to hate fuck me or rip my dick off and shove it down my throat. I couldn’t really tell. It didn’t matter anyway since touching her would mean my untimely death at the hands of not only her brother but probably my own brother as well.

It might be worth it.

After what felt like an eternity, Libby finally came out of the bathroom. She’d put her blonde hair in a braid, and fuck, she looked good in my shirt.

She turned on the light in the hallway before closing the bedroom door so only a sliver of light came in.

“Scared of the dark?” I teased as she rounded the foot of the bed and climbed in on the other side.

“It helps me sleep.” She reached over and turned off the light on the nightstand, keeping her back to me.

“It’s not good for your circadian rhythm to have a light on.” I was tempted to get up and turn it off but rolled onto my side to stare at the back of her head instead. It sounded childish, but I was enjoying pushing her buttons, especially since that was what seemed to get her to notice me.

What the hell was wrong with me? I was pushing thirty yet acting like I was twelve. I’d already gone through my quarter-life crisis, so what was this?

“Let me guess, you like it pitch black to match your soul?” She yawned.

“I like it pitch black because I’m an adult.” I rolled onto my back, trying to get comfortable. “Once you’re asleep, I’ll turn it off.”

She sat up and stared down at me, giving me a look that both made my balls retract and my dick twitch. “You’ll leave it on.”

My eyes went to her mouth, and I propped myself up on my forearms. “Tell me why.”

Her eyes traveled to my flexing arms and abs. “It’s none of your business.” She flipped her pillow over and flopped back down with a sigh. “Just... don’t.”

“Fine.” I lay back down, folding my hands on my stomach to stop myself from reaching over and wrapping her braid around my hand.

The more I thought about it, the harder I got, and I turned onto my side to face the door. Out of sight, out of mind. Only, she wasn’t out of mind because I could practically feel her in the bed with me. A queen bed was way too small for two grown adults to share. I didn’t often share my bed, let alone share it with a woman who didn’t want me.

But why would a woman like her want a man like me? She was the girl next door, and I was the rake who wanted to use her braid to guide her mouth to my cock. And then there was the dilemma of us working together.

Fuck. Now I was thinking about doing it in my office.

Was the heater on, or was I having a hot flash?

I hated sleeping in pajamas, and the damn things were already getting all wonky. I freed a leg from under the blankets and rolled to face her again, the cool air hitting my back. When that wasn’t cutting it, I rolled onto my back again, pushing the blankets off me. My dick was hard now, and I contemplated going into the bathroom farthest from the room to take care of it.

“Will you stop moving, please?” Libby didn’t move a muscle, which was for the best since my hard-on was very noticeable, especially with the soft light coming in from the hallway. Picture-worthy, even.

I adjusted myself and turned my pillow on its side to give my head more of a boost. “I’m not used to this side of the bed.”

“Then why did you move there?” The frustration in her voice only spurred me on.

“So you can’t escape so easily.” I honestly don’t know why I’d switched sides; it felt like something I should do.

She looked over her shoulder and rolled her eyes. “And here I thought you might actually have a heart.”

The hard thudding currently going on in my chest indicated that yes, I indeed had a heart despite popular belief. “Why do you hate me so much?”

“Is now really the time to have a heart-to-heart? I don’t hate you.” She rolled over to face me, her eyes immediately going to my crotch and staying there longer than necessary.

“Could have fooled me. Now is as good a time as any. You have my undivided attention.” I pulled the blanket up to cover my lower half. “Tell me.”

She finally looked away from my dick. “You have no consideration for other people.”

“Is this about me taking the corner office? If it’s that big of a deal to you, you can have it.” I drummed my fingers on my stomach. “Or is this about the fundraising dinner?”

We’d had many disagreements over fundraising activities, mostly because she didn’t realize that to get donations, we had to spend money to get the attention of the big donors.

“Forget it. You wouldn’t understand.” She started to turn away, and I reached over and ran my knuckles across her arm. She froze, looking down at where I touched her. “What about the... um... sausage?”

Her skin was so soft and inviting that it took all my willpower not to pull her closer and kiss her. I didn’t know where these urges were coming from, but I needed to lock them down before I did something stupid. My stupid days were in the past.

“Impressive, isn’t it?”

It was only then that I realized I’d fucked up in my lust-filled haze. She meant the blanket, didn’t she?

She knocked my hand away and gave me her back again, scooting to the very edge of the bed. “Go to sleep, Leonardo. And stay on your side of the blanket sausage.”

Had her nakedness earlier short-circuited my damn brain, or was I really that loopy from being woken up? Either was a possibility and now it was going to be even more awkward between us.

“I’m sorry.” I closed my eyes, the silence coming from her side of the bed suffocating. Maybe I should have opted to go to the hotel.

I hoped this wasn’t a preview of what it would be like working with her full-time.

I’d slept like a baby and had already convinced myself it was because of Libby. The blanket sausage had failed miserably, and at some point, she’d ended up in a spooning position on my side of the bed with my arm wrapped protectively around her waist. But instead of making my move, I’d slipped out of bed before my alarm went off at seven and got ready as quietly as possible.

There was a lot that had to be done before the ribbon-cutting ceremony at ten, and the rain the night before had complicated matters. Luckily, when I’d gotten there, my team was already strategically placing cardboard and plywood, although the ground hadn’t been too bad.

Now it was almost ten, and I wondered where the hell Libby was. She hadn’t arrived with her brother and my call to her had gone straight to voicemail.

“Leo, are you even listening?” Carter, my best friend and the foundation’s social media manager and photographer, pulled me away from my thoughts of Libby.

“Can you repeat that? I’m sorry, there’s a lot going on.” I adjusted my tie and turned my full attention back to him.

“We’ll do the group shots right after the groundbreaking. Otherwise, we’ll never get them done. Besides the one with the whole group, I was thinking one with you and the founders, and then a few candid shots of you and them mingling.” He ran down his plan while he opened the bag he had over his shoulder and pulled out an expensive as fuck camera. With some twists and snaps, he had it ready to go with an impressive lens.

Carter had always been into photography, and after one semester at college, he’d switched from business to visual arts. His parents had practically disowned him over it, but he was happy and made good money from his skills. Not that he needed any more money. Neither of us did, which was why we were both working for practically nothing.

“Sounds good. Make sure to get some photos of the crowd too. There are some big names here.” I looked around at the growing crowd, which included prominent New York businesspeople, a few celebrities, and a handful of professional sports stars.

The only one who seemed to be missing was Libby.

“You’re doing it again.” Carter shoved my shoulder and smirked. “Who is she?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Carter could read me like a book, and the last thing I needed was for him to say something about my little crush the next time he was around my mother. He knew how she could be, and he enjoyed watching me squirm.

All it would take was one mention of a woman and my mom would start talking about babies and planning the wedding. That was the last thing I needed to deal with. It used to be my older brother she’d harp on, but with him being in a polyamorous relationship, she’d switched to me.

Carter snorted but then sucked in a sharp breath like he was about to have an asthma attack. “I really hope this chick is glaring at you and not me because, damn, I think that might be my future wife.”

“What are you even…” I followed the direction of his gaze and saw exactly who he was talking about.

Libby.

She stood next to a cab, and she was staring straight at me, her eyes narrowed, and her lips pressed in a tight line. She headed straight for me.

“She’s off-limits.” I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, which was bad news since Carter was looking between me and her.

“Fuck, man. Have you slept with the entire city?” Carter sighed. “Although, until there’s a ring on it, she’s fair game.”

I kept my mouth shut. If I gave him any inkling that I had a hard-on for her, he’d tease me mercilessly.

I looked at my watch as she got closer, and before she could even say whatever she was marching over to me to say, I spoke. “You’re late, Elizabeth.”

“I’m right on time.” She looked ready to kick me in the nuts.

“This is Carter, our photographer and social media manager. Carter, this is Elizabeth St. James, Ryker’s sister, and our program manager.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Ms. St. James.” Carter extended his hand, and she took it. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as he brought her hand to his mouth and kissed the back of it.

“Please, call me Libby.” Her cheeks pinkened as he let go of her hand.

I cleared my throat. “Elizabeth, a word?”

Carter gave me a disapproving glance before turning his attention back to Libby. “I need to get set up. Maybe after the ceremony we can go get lunch and talk about your vision for the social media pages.”

“I’d love that.” She gave him a warm smile and it felt like she was stabbing me in the chest. She never smiled at me like that.

I needed to get my shit together. The whole purpose of me taking this job in the first place was to rebuild my image and reputation and to prove to my father that I could take things seriously for once in my life. Getting in a pissing contest with Carter over a woman probably wasn’t the best way to do that.

“I know a great new restaurant we can go to. It’s hard to get reservations, but I know the owner.” I couldn’t help myself, and both Libby and Carter gave me incredulous looks. If I could have given myself a look, it would have been the same.

Carter shook his head and walked toward where Ryker was talking to one of the few select reporters I’d invited onto the property.

Libby crossed her arms over her chest and stared at me. It reminded me of the stares teachers used to give me waiting for me to explain to them why I’d done something disruptive or stupid.

“You were supposed to be here thirty minutes ago.” I shoved my hands in my pockets to stop myself from reaching out and tucking her hair behind her ear. She’d taken her braid out and her blonde hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders.

“You didn’t wake me up.” She avoided looking at me, and her voice trembled slightly.

“You didn’t tell me you needed me to be your alarm. Did you not set one on your phone?” I tried to keep my voice gentle. All I wanted to do was pull her into my arms and make whatever was wrong better. Clearly, there was something else going on if she was blaming me for not waking her up on time.

“Hey, Lib.” Ryker came to stand beside her with a huge smile on his face and then frowned. “What’s wrong?”

She cleared her throat. “Nothing.”

“You didn’t tell her I was staying at your condo. She got there around midnight, soaking wet.” I didn’t need to tell him about how I found her practically naked by the door or how we shared a bed.

“I thought you were going to Ethan’s.” Ryker looked at me, his eyes narrowing the tiniest bit. “Did you go sleep somewhere else?”

Well, fuck. He definitely wasn’t an idiot.

Libby sighed. “My train was delayed, and Ethan has that whole roommate situation going on. I was a little surprised that the place was cleared out. I wanted that couch.”

“I thought you might want to get new stuff. You deserve it.” Ryker hadn’t taken his eyes off me, and I hoped my face wasn’t revealing anything. “Wait. Why were you soaking wet?” He finally stopped staring at me as if he was about to slaughter me right in front of everyone.

“Oh, look! We’re about to get started. We should go grab a shovel.” She started to walk off, but Ryker stepped in front of her.

“Did you walk from the train station in the middle of the night?” He sounded exactly like my older brother when he was about to give me a lecture.

“It was only two blocks away. I’m a grown woman.” She certainly was, but even I was feeling overprotective.

Her walking with her bag in the middle of the night was asking for someone to snatch it or worse. Hell, even outside of big cities it wasn’t safe for anyone to be walking alone.

“Libby.” He ran a hand down his face. “This is New York.”

“No, really? I hadn’t noticed.” She pushed past him, leaving us both staring after her.

“At least now I’m not the only one she’s pissed at. I put her in a bad mood.” I wasn’t entirely sure why or how to fix it; I’d only been about twenty-five percent asshole.

“You didn’t. It’s a bit of an emotional day for both of us.” He clapped me on the back. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

Ryker hadn’t shared a ton about his upbringing, but the plot of land the community center was going to be built on was where they’d last lived before moving to Connecticut as children. My brother had been tight-lipped about Ryker’s past, but I respected him for protecting whatever story Ryker wasn’t ready to share with me.

This was why I couldn’t fuck this up. It was important to them both, and the last thing I wanted to do was hurt Libby, but as I followed Ryker to the front of the crowd, I worried that somehow, I already had.

Chapter 4

Fae Prince

Libby

There was nothing worse than feeling like you were about to burst into tears and have all eyes on you. While the groundbreaking ceremony had been short and sweet, it was hard to be back in a place that held no good memories for me.

When my mom had told us she’d found a new home for us, I’d still been an optimistic eight-year-old and thought that my mom had finally gotten her shit together. As soon as we’d stepped foot in the abandoned building that was anything but clean and safe, my hope had dwindled that I’d ever have a normal childhood. We hadn’t lived here for very long, but it was probably one of the worst places we’d stayed.

In a way, each place we had lived reflected my mother’s own deterioration. Barely standing and surviving from day to day. Until she wasn’t.

Once my brother was financially able, he had purchased the property, and now we stood in the exact spot where the building had once stood, sharing a shovel to start something new in its place.

I glanced up as onlookers burst into applause as we broke ground. My cheeks trembled with the effort it took to force a smile. It felt strange to be standing alongside millionaires and billionaires when my life could have turned out so different.

I would have liked to think that if Ryker and I hadn’t been orphaned, we’d have still made something of ourselves, but I wasn’t so sure. The statistics for making it out of poverty weren’t good, and that was why this project was so important. Too many lives got stuck in a never-ending cycle, and even if we could help one person, it would be worth it.

After a few pictures with the major donors, Carter arranged Ryker, Leo, and me for more photos. I’d tried and failed to put myself on the other side of Ryker, but Carter moved me between the two men.

Leo chuckled and lowered his voice so only I could hear. “Scared to be next to me, princess? I don’t bite.”

I glared daggers at him before plastering on another fake smile and looking forward. Why did Leo have to smell so good? I didn’t typically like the smell of cologne, but his was so light and tantalizing that it made me want to bury my face against him to get a better whiff of it.

“Leo, move a little closer to her.” Carter snapped away on his camera, oblivious to my inner turmoil.

Leo tried to put his hand on my lower back, and I scooted forward the tiniest bit so he wouldn’t touch me. The last thing I needed was to feel his warm hand against me.

“Perfect! Okay, I think we’re done here.” Carter lowered his camera and looked at me. “I’m going to be around taking pictures. Give me about fifteen minutes?”

My cheeks heated because both my brother and Leo were staring at me. “Sounds good. My friend Ethan will probably want to come. Is that okay?”

“Of course.” He smiled, gave Leo a withering glance, and then turned his back to us, raising his camera again.

I was a bit surprised at how comfortable I already felt talking to Carter. Usually, if someone new invited me out, I’d politely decline. People referred to me as shy, but it wasn’t quite that. I just needed to get a lay of the land first before sharing pieces of myself.

Leo made a sound of annoyance and brushed past me, heading for a group of businessmen. I didn’t know what his deal was, and I didn’t really care.

Ryker cleared his throat, and I turned to him. “What was that all about?”

“Carter asked me to lunch so we can talk about the community center and social media.” I shrugged, knowing exactly what my brother was thinking from the look on his face. “I’m twenty-six, Ry. No need to go all protective brother on me.”

“I’ll still be protective even when we’re in our eighties. I would tell you not to pursue anything with someone you work with, but...” He smiled wistfully as he looked past me, more than likely at his girlfriend, Paige.

I shoved his shoulder playfully. “When did you become so love-sick?”

He laughed and shook his head. “You’ll understand one of these days.” He pulled me into a hug. “Love you, sis.”

“Love you too.” I was looking forward to being around my brother more, even if he worried about me too much and sometimes acted more like a father.

“Ethan is headed this way.” He pulled away from me and cocked an eyebrow. “He appears to be on a mission. Good luck with that.”

Ryker clapped Ethan on the shoulder as he walked into the crowd of people, leaving me with my best friend. Ethan pulled me into a hug, and I rested my head on his chest.

“Are you taller?” I squeezed him tight. It had been a month since I’d seen him in person, and even though we talked every single day, it wasn’t the same.

“Nope, just my new boots.” Ethan pulled back and kicked out a foot, showing me his brown boots that had a two-inch heel. He was already six-foot-three; he didn’t need to be any taller. “They had three and a half inches too, but it was a little too much, even for me.”

Ethan was always trying to find ways to stand out in the crowd, even though he would even if he wore a potato sack. Whether it was with his clothes or his humor, he wanted people to notice him. We were complete opposites of each other in that regard, but he was my person, and I was his. Since the day we met in our freshman year of college, we had been inseparable.

Ethan hooked his arm through mine and led me away from the crowd to stand next to the brick building on the property that hadn’t been demolished. It was still structurally sound, so the plan was to gut it and turn it into the administrative offices and a learning center to use while the rest of the community center was being built. Until then, we’d work from an office building in Manhattan.

An office building that had Leo’s family name on it.

“Now that no one can hear us, spill.” Ethan gave me a knowing look, but I had no idea what he was referring to.

“Uh, spill what? The lube?” I giggled. “I still can’t believe that happened.”

“Trains do take a lot of lube… there’s all those moving parts.” He winked, and the thought of what he was referring to made my cheeks heat. “I’m referring to you and Leo. I saw the look you were giving him.”

“He’s incredibly annoying.” I didn’t even know why exactly. I’d add it to the stack of things I didn’t understand about myself.

He looked over at the man in question. “He’s watching us like someone pissed in his Corn Flakes.”

I leaned against the wall with a sigh. “He’s staying in the condo, and I wasn’t aware.”

Ethan moved in front of me, blocking Leo from view. “And?”

“I was soaking wet, so I stripped down, and he saw my tits.” I cringed as Ethan’s eyes widened. “And there was only one bed. The couch was gone.”

Ethan smacked a hand to his forehead. “Did you-”

“No!” I pushed off the wall, crossing my arms. “We shared the bed and that was it. It was awkward, and then with being flustered over it all, I forgot to plug in my phone and set an alarm. It wasn’t like we petted each other’s hair or anything salacious like you’re thinking.”

“Do you want me to kick his ass?” He looked over his shoulder and then turned back and started shadowboxing in little punches, his face scrunched up and puffs of air rushing from between his teeth. “I think I can take him.”

I burst out laughing at the thought of Ethan trying to fight anyone. “As much as I’d love to see you take him down, let’s forget it happened, okay? He’s probably still traumatized from the experience of sharing a bed with me... and seeing my boobs.”

“I wouldn’t say seeing your boobs or sharing a bed is a traumatizing experience. He probably thinks he’s in love with you now.” He sighed, his hands dropping and his expression growing serious. “Be careful around him. He’s a player.”

“Tell me something I don’t know. It’s doubtful he’ll make a move. Ryker would cut off his balls and hang them up as a trophy.”

Ethan winced, putting his hands protectively over his crotch. “He’d probably use a rusty butter knife to do it too.”

“Do I even want to know what you two are talking about?” Carter stopped to the side of us, a smile on his face that made his blue eyes shine with happiness.

“You really don’t.” Ethan stopped shielding his nuts and extended a hand. “I’m Ethan.”

“Carter.” They shook hands and Carter turned his attention to me. “Ready to go to lunch?”

My stomach growled at the mention of food since I hadn’t had time to grab anything to eat in my haste to make it on time. “Yes! Ethan, are you coming?”

“Of course. We need our energy for our shopping spree.” Ethan rubbed his hands together like he couldn’t wait to help me pick out new clothes. I was glad one of us was excited to shop.

“Are we waiting for Leo? He didn’t seem thrilled that I asked you out to lunch.” Carter smirked.

My stomach flipped in a weird way, and I released an exasperated breath. “I’ve been a bit of a bitch to him, so maybe we should wait.”

Ethan leaned against the wall, propping his foot up on it. “He probably deserved whatever sass you gave him.”

Carter looked over at Ethan and raised his hand to his chin, tapping a finger on his lips. “Have you ever modeled?”

Ethan snorted, a grin spreading across his face. “Why? Do you think I’m hot?”

Carter looked him up and down. “You have this ethereal beauty about you that’s hard to look away from. Like you’re a fae prince.” Carter unzipped his camera bag. “Can I take some photos?”

“Hell yes. Did you hear that, Lib? He thinks I look like one of those fae book boyfriends you swoon over.” He was never going to shut up about this now.

I punched him playfully on the arm before I moved out of the way.

Ethan laughed as Carter started snapping photos. Now that I was standing farther back, I could see what Carter was talking about.

I’d always found Ethan attractive, but with the way the light hit him as he leaned against the wall, he was breathtaking. His smooth skin practically glowed and his brown eyes sparkled with mischief. His short brown hair was expertly tousled without being messy or too put together. Really, all he was missing were pointed ears.

“So perfect.” Carter moved around and captured Ethan from different vantage points, including some where he squatted and took them from a lower angle. “Libby, let’s get you in there with your fae prince.”

“Uh, what?” I’d barely processed what he was asking me to do before Ethan pushed off the wall and grabbed my hand, yanking me toward him with a little too much enthusiasm.

I smacked into him, my free hand settling on his chest. What the fuck was happening? How did I suddenly get roped into a photoshoot and why was my body erupting with goosebumps?

“Turn so she’s against the wall and lean into her with your arm braced above her.”

Did Carter know all the things that made women swoon? He was having way too much fun with this.

I felt hot and flustered as Ethan grinned like this was the best day of his life. He moved me against the wall and my knees went a little wobbly from the way he was looking down at me. The look he was giving me was intense.

“Ethan,” I breathed, my hands pressing into the bricks behind me as he leaned his face even closer to mine.

“Now, tuck her hair behind her ear and cup her jaw. Fuck, yes. Perfect.” Carter sounded like he was about to have a picture orgasm or something.

Ethan’s touch made me shiver, and I bit my lip to stifle the whimper that so badly wanted to escape.  I hadn’t felt like this around Ethan… ever.

Was he going to kiss me? If Carter told him to, would he? Would I let him?

Ethan’s touch was gentle as his hand moved to the side of my neck, and he pulled my lip away from my teeth with his thumb. His thumb hovered right below my lip, and his brows pinched as a look of contemplation swept over his face.

I wanted to duck away from him, but at the same time, I couldn’t move. My heart raced as I waited to see what he would do next.

He deserved an Academy Award for this performance. There was no ignoring how my skin tingled, and how my body had reacted to his touch. The rain the night before must have washed away all my common sense.

Or I just craved the intimacy.

“What the hell are you three doing?”

Leo’s voice was like a bucket of ice water, and I jumped, my brain switching back on.

Ethan pushed away from the wall, his fingers lingering for a second before he spun around. “Leo. What an unpleasant interruption.”

Leo looked pissed, and I wished I could vanish into thin air. There was this weird twisting sensation in my stomach again, and I didn’t know why I felt like I’d been caught doing something wrong.

Only maybe I had since we were right in the middle of an event. I’d let myself get swept up in the excitement of the photos and completely lost my mind.

Carter took some pictures of Leo, ignoring the way he was glowering at him. “This brooding asshole look is romance cover-worthy. I can probably get two or three grand for one of these pictures.”

The thought of Leo being on the cover of a billionaire or enemies to lovers romance made me irrationally possessive. “No one would read a book with him on the cover.”

Lies. All lies. And if it was him in the underwear he had on the night before? Instant bestseller.

“Gee, thanks.”

Was that hurt that crossed his face? Now I felt like an asshole.

Carter lowered his camera. “If it were monster romance, people would buy it like crazy.”

Leo lunged for Carter, who ran away, laughing his ass off. Either Leo was very unprofessional, or they knew each other outside of work. There was this air of familiarity between the two of them, and it was doubtful Leo would chase an employee like that. But then again, last night, he’d shared a bed with me.

“Well, this has been an interesting morning. I say we ditch Dumb and Dumber, get lunch, and go shopping.” Ethan took my hand and started walking toward the sidewalk.

I wasn’t a stranger to holding hands with him, but this time, it felt different after the weird photoshoot. With my emotions all over the place from everything else, I was probably reading too much into everything. “We’ll have a quick lunch with them and then go shopping.”

Ethan sighed dramatically. “If that’s what you want.”

I looked up at him as we stopped on the sidewalk. His jaw was clenched, which I didn’t think I’d ever seen him do. “What’s wrong?”

He pulled out his phone, avoiding my stare. “Nothing.”

That was utter bullshit. Ethan was always very open about his emotions and feelings, so him brushing off my question was concerning. Maybe he’d also woken up on the wrong side of the bed.

I looked back over my shoulder as Carter came running after us, Leo right behind him. I couldn’t help but smile at the two men in suits running around like children. Thankfully, most of the people had cleared out and the only ones left were the clean-up crew.

“You two trying to ditch us?” Carter breathed heavily, stopping beside me. “I have a car service, unless you two wanted to take an Uber.”

“We’ll take my car.” Leo adjusted his suit as he walked past us and stepped between two cars parked against the curb. A black SUV came to a stop in the street and Leo opened the back door. “Let’s go.”

Was he always so damn bossy?

As we all climbed into the back, I was hit with a sudden wave of nervousness. Not only was I alone with three very attractive men, but the alpha male energy coming from both Leo and Ethan was doing things to me.

Hopefully, it was just a side effect of being hungry, but part of me knew it was a hunger for more than food.

Chapter 5

Something in the Wine

Ethan

Only someone with Leo’s confidence and bank account could decide on a whim to get one of the hottest new restaurants in Manhattan to open exclusively for us. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little intrigued by the idea of private dining, but it was completely unnecessary and a waste of money.

As we stepped out of the SUV, Leo went to the ornate iron doors leading into Quintessence and keyed in a code before pushing one of the doors open.

Carter walked in the door Leo held open, shaking his head. “Really, Leo? You made the staff come in early?”

Leo shot Carter a weary look and shrugged. “The kitchen staff were already here prepping for tonight’s service. Don’t worry, they’ll be compensated accordingly.”

I stopped in front of Leo and lowered my voice so only he could hear. “What are you up to, Caponetti? She’s out of your league.”

He finally looked at me after having ignored me the entire car ride. “I’m treating my new employees to lunch.”

My eyes were going to seriously get stuck from how much I rolled them at this man. “Libby doesn’t like this kind of shit.” I didn’t know why I was telling him something that could potentially help him.

“We’ll see.” He let the door go and it nearly hit me as he strode toward where Libby and Carter waited in front of the hostess station.

Libby looked around the opulent restaurant in complete awe like she’d never been in such a place before, even though she had. It never got old seeing how she reacted to things. What did surprise me was that she was already comfortable showing her emotions in front of Leo and Carter.

Since the moment I’d met her, Libby had been hesitant and distant around new people, which usually presented as her being shy. It hadn’t taken long for me to break through her walls and gain her trust, but it seemed like these two were managing the same feat a lot faster than I could have ever imagined.

On one hand, I was glad that she felt comfortable around them, but on the other, I couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed that they were able to get through her walls so easily. There must have been some kind of rich playboy voodoo at work. Carter hadn’t said he was wealthy, but the expensive watch on his wrist told a different story.

A woman with long dark hair dressed in a black dress came from the back of the restaurant. “Mr. Caponetti, your table is ready for you, if you’ll follow me.”

“Thank you, AJ.” Leo put his hand on the small of Libby’s back, urging her to follow the hostess. I wanted to smack his hand away, but she was a grown woman and seemed fine with it, to my utter horror.

“He knows the staff?” I muttered to Carter as we followed Leo and Libby.

Carter made a dismissive sound. “He owns it.”

I tried not to be too obvious about my disdain and managed to give Carter a half-smile instead. He was friends with Leo, so I needed to watch myself.

I took in the modern interior of the restaurant as we walked between the tables. It was warm and inviting with deep blues and dark wood tones. If it hadn’t belonged to some rich asshole, I’d say it was the perfect spot for a romantic dinner.

We walked through two opaque doors that opened to a private dining room at the back of the restaurant. There was an electric fireplace on the back wall, modern art, and some sort of exotic flower arrangement in the center of the round table that probably cost more than my entire outfit.

“This is gorgeous.” Libby took the seat Leo had pulled out for her.

Leo gave me a smug smile. “I wanted to make sure you got the full Quintessence experience.”

I quickly took the chair next to Libby, and Carter practically tripped over his own feet to get the other one while Leo pushed her chair in. Leo muttered something unintelligible under his breath and went around the table to sit across from Libby.

AJ handed each of us a leather-bound menu before looking at Leo. “Sir, would you like your favorite bottle of wine for the table?”

“Yes, please.” Leo smiled across the table at Libby. He did have a nice smile, so I could see how Libby was faltering in her previous disdain for him. “The wine is from my family’s vineyard in Italy.”

Yeah, this was going to be a boozy lunch if I was going to sit through an hour of boastful chit-chat. “Is that Shania Twain I hear?” I put a hand to my ear as AJ disappeared to get us wine and water.

Leo gave me a confused look. “The music playing? It’s Debussy.”

“Oh! From Twilight. Right?” Bless Libby’s little book-obsessed heart.

Carter’s eyes had been narrowed on me in thought but then suddenly widened before he threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, man. I’m going to use that from now on any time Leo doesn’t impress me much.”

“Haha,” Leo deadpanned, flipping open his menu. “And yes, Debussy like in Twilight.”

Libby’s eyes lit up like they always did when someone got a book reference. It was a sure-fire way to break the ice with her. I’d even taken to reading a few of the books she talked about so I could understand what she rambled about half the time.

AJ came back with a pitcher of water and two bottles of wine. After filling our glasses, she left us to decide on our meals.

I skimmed the single page of the menu, every item sounding ridiculously fancy. There weren’t even prices next to the items. If cost mattered, this restaurant was not for you. “Leo, do they not have chicken fingers and fries?”

Libby kicked my foot under the table and gave me a death glare, and I couldn’t help but crack up. She always ordered chicken fingers whenever we went out, and I knew it drove her crazy when I teased her about it.

“Very funny,” Libby muttered. She kept her eyes on her menu but couldn’t hide the small smile playing on her lips.

“If you want chicken fingers, the chef can make them for you. They won’t be deep fried but will probably taste just as good if not better.” Leo gave me a bored look as if teasing was beneath him.

“No, that’s okay. I think I’ll try the quail. That’s like chicken, isn’t it?” She shut her menu and reached for her wine.

I don’t know why, but something inside me stirred as she brought the glass to her mouth and gently placed her lips against the rim. I’d been so close to those lips when Carter had taken photos, and damn it if I didn’t wonder what she would have done had I kissed her.

I looked away because what the hell was happening?

I felt like I couldn’t breathe, but no one seemed to notice my complete and utter identity meltdown that was happening right in front of them. Did I think women were attractive? Yes. Did I ever find myself wanting to ravage their mouths? Never.

I stared hard at the menu, hoping it would give me some guidance.

“If chicken tenders are your go-to meal, I’m not sure the quail is a good choice.” Carter swirled the red wine in his glass and looked around the table. “What if we get one of everything and share?”

“I’m always down for sharing.” Libby started to giggle.

My head whipped up, finding her hiding behind her menu, the visible part of her cheek flaming red. It was enough to snap me out of my existential crisis… for now.

I picked up my butter knife and pointed it at her. “Elizabeth Frances St. James. There will be none of that at this table.” Especially when the thought of it made my cock twitch to life.

“I’m sorry,” she managed to say as she slouched in her chair, laughter nearly choking her words.

“If the woman wants to share, who are we to deny her of such pleasure?” Carter grinned and winked at her.

Leo cleared his throat and loosened his tie. “I can have the chef bring out smaller portions on individual plates.”

“Well, that’s no fun.” Carter crossed his arms, leaning back in his chair. “You’ve never been good at giving women what they want.”

If Leo’s eyes could have shot laser beams out of them, they would have. His jaw clenched so hard, I swear I heard a crack. He’s also not good at giving men what they want.

“I’m okay now.” Libby closed her menu and sat up, fanning her red face. “What’s in that wine?”

Carter leaned over and put the back of his hand to her cheek. “Just making sure you don’t have a fever. You’re almost as red as the wine. What exactly were you thinking about? We were talking about food.”

She swatted his hand away. “Bullshit.”

Both men were practically drooling over her, and she was cracking jokes about sharing. Or was this her way of flirting? Had I even ever seen her flirt?

No, but she always flirts with you. The thought bounced around in my head, pinging off the way she teased me, touched me, looked at me. But the same was true for me too.

I grabbed my glass and drank the rest of it as AJ came back and took our order. At this point, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to even eat because my stomach was turning into a ball of nerves for a multitude of reasons.

“Want some more?” Leo asked me, grabbing the second bottle AJ had left and standing to open it.

“Sure.” I watched as he expertly removed the cork and then came around the table to pour me another glass. “Thanks.”

He looked like he was about to say something but returned to his seat and refilled his glass before sitting back down.

God, he was so frustrating. And to think I’d almost slept with him after the company Christmas party last year. He shouldn’t have been there in the first place, but seeing as he was running the foundation one of my bosses started, he’d been invited. Luckily for the both of us, we’d been drunk off our asses when he’d invited me up to a room, and then he’d promptly passed out before anything had happened.

He acted like nothing had happened. Did he even remember how he’d flirted with me or shoved his tongue down my throat as he stroked me through my pants as we’d taken the elevator?

I stared into my glass. If I were an observer in this situation, I would have squealed with delight over the potential drama and fireworks sitting at the table. But seeing as I was smack dab in the middle of whatever the fuck was happening, I wanted to go find a fire extinguisher before someone got burned.

Libby leaned toward me, putting her hand on my forearm. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” I downed my wine like it was a shot. I was already feeling better.

Carter caught my eye again from the other side of Libby. “I’d love to do a photoshoot with you two sometime. Just for fun. Your chemistry was off the charts.”

Why me? Why right now? Couldn’t he tell I was about to sprint out of here?

Libby pushed her hair behind her ears. “I don’t know if I’m the photoshoot type.”

I was stuck on him saying we had chemistry together. Did he mean in the besties kind of way or the I want to rip your clothes off kind of way? Could he tell?

I finally found my words. “Don’t sell yourself short, Lib. You’re gorgeous.”

Leo made a noise that sounded like a grunt. I looked at him with raised eyebrows.

“Just agreeing that she’s gorgeous.” He shrugged his shoulders as he pulled his buzzing phone out of his inner jacket pocket. “Shit, I have to take this.”

Leo stood, and I watched as he walked out of the room, my eyes lingering on his broad shoulders and muscular back. The way his suit hugged him made me want to run my hands all over him. I couldn’t ignore the way my body responded to him.

I also couldn’t ignore the way my pulse picked up at seeing Libby looking at him the same way.

Maybe there really was something in the wine.

Chapter 6

Bigger is Better

Libby

Walking into the condo, I stopped in the entryway and listened for any signs that Leo was there. After an interesting and awkward lunch, I’d had a great afternoon shopping with Ethan and now had a few hours to spare before my train left back to Connecticut.

I toed off my shoes and then headed down the hall to my new room with my shopping bags. There was no point in taking them back to Connecticut with me just to bring them back in a week.

I walked into the empty primary bedroom and stopped dead in my tracks halfway to the closet. Leo wasn’t gone. He was in the en suite and was climbing out of the tub.

Naked.

Leo was naked.

The sight before me left me frozen… but only my muscles. Other parts of me were not frozen. I didn’t know if it was the man himself or some post-breakup voodoo at play.

Sex with my ex had been decent enough, but never once had I looked at Justin and gotten turned on in the way Leo was turning me on at the mere sight of his dripping wet body.

Leo grabbed a towel and began drying off, oblivious to my stares. His back was to me, and I’d never seen such a glorious specimen in my life. My mouth hung open like a cartoon character as I took in his exquisite ass and the family coat of arms tattoo that spanned his entire back.

I’d seen him without a shirt the night before, but this was different. He was wet and his body was on full display.

Had there been some kind of fumes that had come from the spilled lube the night before that had altered my brain without me knowing? I didn’t walk around ogling guys. Yet there I was, being a voyeur and watching my boss without his permission.

With that thought, my legs started working again, and I went into the closet that was right next to the bathroom. The custom closet was the size of a small bedroom and had built-in cabinets, dressers, and custom hangers that matched.

Shutting the door most of the way, I got to work taking out my clothes and admiring them as I laid them across the center island. I couldn’t even remember half the things I’d bought. Between the wine at lunch and the complimentary champagne one of the stores had given us, I’d happily purchased almost everything I’d tried on. It helped that Ethan had an eye for fashion and what would look best on me.

My wardrobe had just gotten a major upgrade. I typically hated anything that wasn’t pants, but the dresses and skirts I’d tried on looked too good to pass on. Now that I was going to be working in an industry where my clothing might be the difference between someone giving us a donation or not, jeans weren’t an option anyway.

After folding my empty bags and leaving them on a shelf, I turned to grab a handful of hangers, only to find Leo leaning against the doorframe watching me intently, his arms crossed over his naked chest and a slate gray towel wrapped around his waist.

“Hi,” I squeaked, at least an octave higher than normal.

His lips turned up in a smirk. “Hi.”

He pushed off the doorframe and came toward me, causing me to hold my breath. He brushed past me, the faint scent of lavender wafting from him as he went to where my new clothes were laid out.

“Did you take a lavender bath?” Why was he even taking a bath anyway? He didn’t strike me as the relax in a bubble bath type. “Why are you in my room? There are other bathrooms with bathtubs.”

He delicately ran his fingers over a blouse. “I didn’t see your name on the door… plus it’s bigger. Bigger is better.”

“Right.” I wasn’t exactly sure what he was doing, but he looked through my clothes, stopping on the red dress and pulling it from the stack. “Well, um… I’m going to get going. I just wanted to drop off my new clothes.”

I turned to leave, not wanting to stay and watch the towel fall off him. It was perched precariously on the shelf of his toned ass, and all it would have taken was one small breeze or movement in the wrong direction and it would be a goner. The last thing I needed was to be face-to-face with his dick.

“Did Ethan pick this out?”

I spun back around, eyeing him suspiciously as he held it up. “Why?”

His green eyes met mine. “I find it curious that a man in love with you would pick something like this for you to wear to work when he knows I want you.”

“Wh-what?” I spluttered.

“Ethan. He’s in love with you.” He stepped toward me, and I stepped back but didn’t make it very far before bumping into the wall next to the door instead of escaping. He held the dress up in front of me, his brows furrowing as if he were trying to picture me wearing it.

I swallowed the shock of his words, my eyes falling to the floor. Ethan was my best friend. My ride or die. We couldn’t be in love with each other and still have that same relationship. Romantic feelings complicated things and love had the potential to destroy people.

It destroyed my mom.

“We’re best friends, and with that comes a certain level of intimacy,” I whispered.

Leo lifted my chin, the warmth of his touch sending a shiver through me. His gaze bore into mine, and I felt myself getting lost in his eyes.

“This is more than best friend intimacy… why do you think he hates me so much? I’ve done nothing to him.” He dropped my dress and leaned his arm against the wall right next to my head like Ethan had done during the impromptu photoshoot. “It’s in the way he looks at you... touches you... protects you.”

I gulped as he slid the hand that had been touching my chin to my hair. His fingers dug into my hair, angling my head slightly, his eyes on my lips.

I knew I should pull away, but there was a part of me—a very hungry part of me—that wanted him to kiss me. My heart was racing as he leaned in closer, his warm breath fanning across my face. Every nerve ending felt alive, hyper-aware of his proximity and the way his fingers were digging into my hair.

He was my boss and my brother’s friend. In the dictionary, his picture would be under off-limits, and yet, all of those rational thoughts seemed to melt away.

“I think you’re seeing things that aren’t there,” I whispered, focusing on the way his green eyes had darkened, the intensity of his gaze as it searched mine. “He’s only ever looked at me as his friend.”

I should have stopped this and found the willpower to pull away before we crossed a line that could never be uncrossed. But an even stronger, more primal part of me was aching for him to close the distance.

“It’s more than that… it’s the same way I look at you.” Before I could even process what he was saying, he leaned in and pressed his lips to mine.

The kiss was gentle at first, as if he were testing the waters, but then his body pressed me into the wall, his tongue sliding past my lips.

I gasped as his tongue tangled with mine. I was on fire, and the flames leapt through me like wildfire racing through dry brush.

My body trembled and my hands slid up his chest. He gripped my hair, angling my head to deepen the kiss even more. He groaned as my body made contact with his cock straining against his towel.

“Elizabeth.” The way he said my name as he moved his lips to my neck sent a shiver down my spine. “Just this once...”

He’d just told me he thought my best friend was in love with me and insinuated that he was too, even though we barely knew each other. I hadn’t even moved back to New York yet and my life was becoming a chaotic mess. What would it be like when I lived there?

I pushed at his chest to break the hold he had on me. “We can’t. You’re my boss.”

He sighed and took a step back. “You’re on the foundation board of directors, so technically, you’re my boss.”

The details of it didn’t matter. In the office, he would tell me what to do. There weren’t any guidelines for workplace relationships, but that didn’t mean it was a good idea to get entangled with each other.

I wasn’t the casual sex type like he was, and I had only been with three people—one of them not even all the way. He probably needed the hands of everyone on the block to count the number of people he’d had sex with.

“This can’t happen between us... not just because you just told me that Ethan is in love with me, but because you sleep around and the whole world knows it.”

He wasn’t a celebrity by any means, but his family was well known, and I’d seen his name come up in gossip columns over the years for various indiscretions. I didn’t want to be another conquest.

“The whole world is a bit of a stretch. Maybe the city, but I’m not like that anymore.” He shook his head in defeat. “There’s a chemistry between us that I can’t ignore.”

I bit my lip and looked down at my dress before bending down to grab it. “Chemistry is overrated.”

Leo’s towel chose that exact moment to come undone and fall to the floor, leaving me face to face with his glorious cock. The briefs he wore the night before really did a good job of containing him.

There was no way that would fit.

Wait, what? Why was I thinking about that? And why was I now imagining taking him in my mouth? There I was bent over, my hand poised to pick up my dress, but instead, I was staring like I’d never seen a dick before.

“Shit. Well, I guess we’re even for me seeing your nipples.” He chuckled and backed up a step. “Mind grabbing my towel?”

My face burned; I’d really hoped he hadn’t seen anything.

Before I did something ridiculous like grabbing his cock, I picked up his towel and looked away as I stood. Not that looking away helped—his dick would forever be in my head now.

I laid my dress across the island before running my fingers through my hair. “I need to get going.”

“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea.” He adjusted his towel around his hips, notably tented.

My heart sank for no good reason at all. What did I expect him to say?

“Right.” I moved past him out of the closet. The sooner I got away from him, the better, because the last thing I needed was to be getting silly romantic thoughts in my head after a freaking kiss.

Chapter 7

All the Willpower

Leo

There’s only so much willpower a man can have, and apparently, with Libby, it’s damn near zero. What had happened to caring about my job and my friendship with Ryker?

I’d seen her rushing toward the closet, and as much as I tried to ignore how mixed up she made me feel whenever I was in her presence, I couldn’t stop the impulse to let her see me in my towel. Now it was going to be even more awkward between us because I couldn’t keep my damn lips to myself.

I followed Libby to the spare bedroom since my clothes were there and she quickly shut herself in the attached bathroom. I hastily pulled on jeans and a T-shirt, my mind racing.

What had just happened between us? I didn’t regret it per se, but I couldn’t help worrying about how this would create even more tension between us. There was definitely chemistry, but it was volatile—one wrong move and it would implode.

And then there was what would happen if Ryker found out.

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath. If he knew I’d crossed the line with his sister, he’d probably kill me, or at the very least fire my ass. I considered him one of my best friends, but it was only recently that we’d become close.

I ran a hand through my hair and sat on the edge of the bed to wait for her. We needed to talk this situation out more, and I needed to make sure she was okay. Had I pushed her too far into it where she hadn’t felt like she had a choice but to kiss me back?

Oh, God. What if we had kept going?

The thought sent a jolt of lust through me.

The door to the bathroom opened, and Libby stepped out, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. It was clear she was upset, and my heart clenched.

“Hey, are you okay?” I asked softly, standing and stepping toward her.

“I’m fine.” Her voice came out shaky as she went to the dresser where her bag was and packed it. “I need to get going.”

“Libby, come on.” I reached for her arm. “Talk to me.”

She jerked away from my touch and zipped up her bag, avoiding eye contact and going to the nightstand to grab her phone and charger. “There’s nothing to talk about, Leo. I’m fine, really.” Her voice cracked on the last word, and I knew she was anything but fine.

I’d fucked up epically this time. All my hard work to change my ways and I’d thrown it all out the window. But the thing was, it didn’t feel like some random make out—it felt like more.

She looked around the room to make sure she got everything, and I moved into the doorway. “I can give you a ride instead of you taking the train. New Haven, right? It’s not a big deal.” I didn’t like that she was going to leave upset, and I hoped a car ride would give us some time to clear the air.

“You must have things to do. I don’t want to ruin the rest of your Saturday. I’ll just take the train.” Libby tried to push past me, but I didn’t budge.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You aren’t going to ruin my Saturday. Now, tell me why you’re upset.”

She bit her lip but didn’t look away from me. “We shouldn’t have done that.” Her eyes swam with tears, and she sniffled. “Things were already... weird between us. Now it’s just going to be even more awkward and uncomfortable.”

I reached for her hand, and surprisingly, she didn’t pull away. “It will only be awkward and uncomfortable if we let it be, and I don’t plan on letting it.”

She looked to the ceiling, blinking rapidly. “I don’t know if I can.”

I probably should have thought this all through a lot better, but in the heat of the moment, I’d reacted solely on my desire for her. “I’m sorry for not having any willpower around you, but I don’t regret it.”

“But...” She bit her lip, and with how many times I’d seen her do it in just a day, I was surprised she didn’t have a hole in it.

“But what?” I squeezed her hand, urging her to tell me what was going through her head.

She pulled her hand away. “Nothing.”

“We can get to know each other better when I drive you home. It will probably be good for us... both personally and professionally.” I wasn’t above begging this woman to let me drive her.

“Can we really do that? Get to know one another and keep it non-physical?” Her voice was barely above a whisper, uncertainty laced in her question.

“Of course we can. We’re both adults, and we can handle this. I won’t kiss you again. Cross my heart.”

“What heart?” She rolled her eyes and huffed. “Fine, you can drive me. It will be faster, and I really don’t want to deal with the train anyway.”

My shoulders relaxed and I stepped around her to grab my wallet, phone, and keys. “Let’s get going then.”

We made our way down to the garage, and I led Libby to my private stall which had my SUV and car. After entering a code, the door rolled up and Libby made a squeaking noise.

“I don’t know shit about cars, but this is a really expensive one.” She walked closer to my blue Lamborghini Aventador.

“It is.” I pressed the button to open the doors. “I don’t drive it often. Just on special occasions. The SUV is my normal ride when I need it.”

She snorted. “You have a Lambo and a Kia. Interesting dichotomy.”

“Most of the time I use a car service that has their own fleet of cars. I take the SUV to the Hamptons since people usually come with me.” I popped the front trunk of the car. “Let me have your bag.”

Libby eyed the front trunk suspiciously. “If you rear-end someone, my stuff is toast.”

I gasped in mock outrage. “My driving skills are superior.”

“I’m sure everyone says that before they crash... how much did this cost?” She put her bag in the trunk herself. “Wait, that’s rude of me to ask.”

“It’s not. It was six hundred.” I shut the trunk and gestured to the passenger side.

She coughed as if she had eaten my words and choked on them. “Thousand? Are you sure this is necessary? The Kia seems safer.”

“You only live once, Libby. Plus, it’s way better than any train.” I smirked as I climbed into the driver’s seat.

Inside the car, everything was black with accents of blue that matched the exterior. I looked over at Libby, who was frowning. “What’s wrong?”

“This car costs more than a house. Two or three decent houses in some parts of the country.” She shifted uncomfortably in her seat, clearly not used to such luxury despite her brother being wealthy.

I didn’t have a response since she was correct, so I pressed the ignition button. The purr of the engine gave me an instant car boner. “Buckle up, princess.”

She rolled her eyes. “Please, no nicknames.”

“Libby is a nickname.” I fastened my seatbelt and then pulled out into the main garage.

She sighed and put her head back against the seat. “When me and my brother moved to Connecticut, there were three other Elizabeths in my class. Beth and Liz were already taken.”

I glanced over at her as I pulled out and headed for the highway. “Why not Lizzy?”

“My mom called me that.” Her voice was devoid of emotion and my heart ached for her.

As much as my mother drove me bonkers, I couldn’t imagine losing her so young. I reached across the console with my palm up, and surprisingly, she put her hand in mine. There was a jolt of electricity as our skin touched and I looked over at her again to find her eyes closed.

I gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “I’m sorry, Libby.”

“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.” There was a slight hitch in her voice.

Not wanting to upset her more than I already had, I let the radio and sound of the engine keep us company as I headed out of the city.

After a few minutes, Libby’s attention went back to the passing scenery. It had been so long since I’d been in a car with a woman who wasn’t keen on idle chatter that I didn’t quite know what to say.

“Are you excited about moving to Manhattan next week?”

She shrugged, her eyes still locked on the landscape. “I guess. I’ll miss the quietness and having a car.”

“I thought Ryker owned a parking space in the garage.”

“He does, but there’s not really a point to having a car in the city for us common folk.” She looked over at me with a smile. “I’ll borrow yours if I need to.”

I rubbed my hands over the leather-wrapped steering wheel. “Maybe the Kia.”

“Wow, and here I thought we were becoming friends.”

“We are.” Fuck. It wasn’t like I couldn’t buy myself another car if something happened to this one. “You can have it.”

She snorted. “You’re ridiculous. I was joking, and besides, if you were going to give me a Lambo, I’d want one that was hot pink. Or maybe orange... or I bet they could make one that was pink with orange flames.”

I made a gagging noise. “If that’s what gets you off, then I can make it happen.”

Her eyebrows shot straight to her hairline. “Interesting choice of words.”

I cleared my throat because we did not need to start flirting or spewing sexual innuendos. Especially if I wanted to keep this platonic. “Just a phrase... Anyway... are you already packed? I’m free the rest of the evening to help.” Spending more time alone with Libby was probably not the best idea.

“Thanks, but I think I can manage.” Her eyes met mine for a moment before she looked away.

In that split second, I saw the uncertainty and vulnerability in her expression, but I couldn’t tell if it was from talking about the move or from crossing the line earlier and where that left us now.

An hour later, after a mostly silent car ride, I pulled into the narrow driveway of her townhouse. It was in a quiet neighborhood and there were clusters of connected two-story houses that had one-car garages. Living in the city was going to be a big change for her.

I got out of the car and grabbed her bag from the trunk. Libby led the way to her front door, fumbling with her keys before finally unlocking it. As she stepped inside and disarmed the alarm, I hesitated in the entryway, unsure if I was invited in.

“Thanks for the ride.” She took her bag from me, avoiding eye contact.

“Anytime.”

The silence dragged on for a moment too long, and I knew I should probably leave before making things even more uncomfortable. Should I hug her? Kiss her cheek?

I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her in a hug. She hesitated for a moment before hugging me back.

“I’ll see you soon, Elizabeth,” I whispered into her hair, inhaling her scent.

Without looking at her again, I turned and walked away before I did something really stupid like kiss her. As I slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine, I couldn’t shake the thought of what it would be like to hug her every day.

Chapter 8

Pesky Boner

Libby

The doorbell rang, slicing through the chaos around me. I shuffled to the door, stepping over a precarious pile of old textbooks, and swung it open, already knowing it was my fae prince in shining armor.

Ethan stood there, his smile fading as he looked past me at the mess that was in my entryway. I’d dubbed it the “donation zone”, and it had gone from manageable to barely being able to open the door.

Normally, my place was neat and organized, so the fact that I’d let packing erupt into a mess said a lot about where my head had been over the past week. The contents of the boxes were even spilling out like the thoughts that swirled in my head.

Leo. Ethan. My breakup. My new job. A new place.

It was all too much, and now here I was, the day before the moving company came, and I wanted to curl into a ball and cry. So, I did the only thing I could think of and called my most trusted friend to come help me.

“Hey, Ethan.” My voice was a mix of relief and embarrassment.

He stepped inside, navigating through the labyrinth of my moving mess with a careful grace before stopping in the middle of the living room. His eyes scanned the space as he turned around in a circle, the usual twinkle in them replaced by a hint of concern.

He set his overnight bag on the coffee table and then put his hands on his hips. “When you said you needed help, I didn’t know it was this bad. I was expecting organized chaos, not actual chaos. I should have brought reinforcements.”

“I know it looks like a tornado passed through here, but it’s not that bad.” It really was, though, and I bit my lip to stop it from quivering.

“We’ll get it all packed in no time now that I’m here.” He picked up a shirt that was hanging from the flap of a box. “We’ll call this packing strategy chaotic chic.”

I rolled my eyes, my anxiety melting away. I grabbed the shirt from him and tossed it into a random open box—not where it belonged, but who was keeping track anymore? “The good news is my bedroom and office are all packed.”

“Let me guess, you spent four days on your books and moved most things out here.” He moved around, looking into boxes and pulling out a stapler to back up his assessment.

“Don’t judge me. I started strong and had a system going, but then... I don’t know, it all exploded into this, and I just started throwing things into whatever box was closest.” I gestured helplessly around the room, my original attempt at organization now a distant memory.

Ethan stopped in front of another open box and snorted. Somehow, that box had become a temporary home for a bizarre assortment of items. He reached in and pulled out a whisk with a roll of toilet paper on its handle, some of it wrapped around the whisk part in a tangle. It was an unfortunate consequence of me spinning it on the end, trying to rewrap some of it after dropping the roll.

“Is this for a new fusion cuisine for Leo’s restaurant? A combination of two of the most essential rooms, kitchen and bathroom, side-by-side. Their world-famous faucet fajitas and shaving cream soufflé will be the talk of the town.”

My cheeks felt hot at the mention of Leo. “Always have to stay ahead of the culinary trends.” I took the whisk from him and put it on the end table.

Ethan watched me for a moment, the humor in his eyes softening into something more concerned. “How are you doing?”

“Everything’s fine. Just the usual moving chaos.” I hoped my smile looked more convincing than it felt.

Besides the stress of moving, I hadn’t told Ethan about kissing Leo and wasn’t sure if I could. A part of me wanted to spill everything about the mess of feelings I couldn’t seem to neatly pack away, but the words caught in my throat.

Ethan didn’t seem entirely convinced, but he didn’t press further. He was always good at reading me, and right then, I wasn’t ready to dive into it. Especially not with the way my heart did somersaults every time I even thought about telling him.

“Let’s get this mess under control. I’m half tempted to send a picture of it to your brother.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket.

“Oh my God, don’t.” I lunged for him and nearly fell over a box.

“What I’ll do is take a before photo and then an after... that way he will only freak out for a minute or two before, boom! I send him rows of neatly arranged boxes.” Ethan backed up to the entryway. “Grab that whisk toilet paper thing and lift it in the air like you’re Libby, Warrior Packing Princess, ready to ride off into battle.”

I couldn’t stop my giggles as I grabbed the whisk and stood in the middle of my living room, one foot propped onto a box, arm in the air.

“Perfect. This is going to be your new contact photo. And now for some packing music.” Ethan put on a playlist, and we got busy packing the rest of my life into boxes.

Time flew with the company, and an hour later, we had made some serious progress. I was halfway through packing a kitchen cabinet when the unmistakable opening beats of one of Ethan’s favorite songs came on. It had only been a matter of time.

I groaned in protest before I even turned around to find Ethan already swept up in the choreography. He pointed at me, his teeth bared before making monster hands and jerkily moving toward me.

“Nope!” I escaped around the other side of the island.

The grin he shot me didn’t bode well for me. “Oh, come on! It’s a sin not to dance to this!”

I tried to suppress the smile that was fighting its way through. “We have like a gazillion more boxes to pack. I can’t stop to—”

But he was already striding after me with determination. “Dance break now, pack later. It’s a necessity. We don’t have that much left.”

He extended his hand with a flourish as if he were a prince asking for a dance. The music’s catchy nostalgia mixed with Ethan’s undeniable energy was my undoing.

“Fine. One song, and only because it’s this one.”

We moved around, dodging boxes and laughing as Ethan’s dance moves grew more outrageous by the second. My movements were just as ridiculous.

“You’re dancing like a dad at a wedding,” I teased between laughs. He was doing it on purpose to make me laugh; he usually tore up the dance floor.

Ethan spun around so wildly that he nearly hit me in the face with his outstretched arms. As the song neared the end, he grabbed my hand and twirled me around.

I wasn’t the best dancer in the world, and the momentum of the spin caused me to trip over my own feet. I reached out for something stable to keep me from falling, but there was nothing in arm’s reach. The only thing left to do was fall into Ethan. We tumbled onto the couch, Ethan grunting as I landed on top of him.

We both lay there for a moment, our faces inches apart. Ethan’s gaze moved from my eyes to my lips and my breath caught in my throat as he brushed hair out of my face.

“Ethan,” I whispered as his fingers lingered on my cheek.

“Libby.” His voice was low and husky, and there was something in his eyes that I couldn’t quite read.

He’s in love with you.

“I kissed Leo,” I blurted.

His hand fell away, his brows furrowing. “Did you... want him to kiss you?”

“It just kind of happened. It’s not like we discussed it before it happened.”

“He didn’t force himself on you, did he?” His jaw clenched.

My eyes widened at the accusation, and I struggled to get off him. “No, he didn’t.”

“Stay still.” He grunted, widening his legs underneath me.

And that was when I felt it. The unmistakable press of his erection against my thigh. I sucked in a sharp breath, stopping my movement.

His cheeks flushed as he looked away. “We should probably get up and finish packing.” He shut his eyes and took a deep breath in through his nose.

I nodded and rolled off him, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’ll uh... get back to the kitchen cabinets.”

He jumped up off the couch as soon as I’d rounded the island and disappeared down the hallway and into the bathroom.

I sat down on the couch, my mind racing with the possibilities of what could have happened if I hadn’t ruined the moment.

The good news was everything was packed and ready to move. The bad news was that things had become awkward between me and Ethan.

He hadn’t said much after our moment on the couch, and I had no idea what he was thinking. I wanted to ask him about it, but I was afraid of what his answer might be. So, I avoided the topic altogether, pretending that nothing had happened.

It was time to go to bed, and I was nervous to share a bed with Ethan. It wasn’t like we hadn’t shared before, but maybe sleeping on the couch would be a better option.

My mind made up, I grabbed my pillow and a blanket. I couldn’t expect Ethan to sleep on a couch he could barely fit on.

The bathroom door opened, and Ethan cleared his throat. “What are you doing?”

I stopped at the door, looking back at him. He was wearing only basketball shorts like he usually did when we had sleepovers, and I was no longer immune to how good he looked.

He was tall and lean but also had muscles peeking through in all the right places. He didn’t enjoy working out, but when he did, he’d go for a run, practice yoga, or do bodyweight strength movements.

“Libby?” Ethan’s voice held a note of confusion, and I turned to fully face him as he leaned against the bathroom doorframe. “Where are you going?”

“I thought I’d sleep on the couch. It’s been a long day and... yeah.” The words felt clumsy, and I wanted to bury my face in my pillow and scream at how awkward I was making this.

“We’ve shared a bed before. Is this about what happened earlier? Because if it is, we can talk about it… or not. Whatever you need.” He pushed away from the doorframe and walked toward me.

Was he talking about telling him about my kiss with Leo, or about me feeling his erection? Both were embarrassing, and I wanted the ground to swallow me whole.

I sighed, my face heating. “I don’t know what I need.”

He stopped right in front of me, his gaze searching mine before he reached out and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. His fingertips ghosted along my jaw, and it was all I could do not to lean into his touch.

“How about we just get some sleep, and we can talk in the morning.” His voice was gentle, like he was talking to a scared puppy.

Part of me wanted to dive into the conversation, to unravel the mess of feelings between us and get it over with. But another part wanted to keep it all buried.

I nodded and followed him to the bed, both of us getting under the covers and lying on our backs. I focused on slowing my breathing, but my heart continued to race.

Ethan turned on his side, his hands tucked under his head, his eyes on me. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable with uh... the little situation on the couch.”

My cheeks burned because there was nothing little about it. “No worries. Pesky boners happen all the time, right?”

He snorted a laugh. “Yeah, I guess so.” He reached across the space between us and took my hand.

I shut my eyes as he rubbed his thumb over my wrist. “We should get some sleep. The movers will be here at eight.”

He let my hand go and rolled onto his back. “Goodnight, Libby.”

“Night.”

As we both got settled to go to sleep, the closeness of being in the same bed with him felt different. It was charged, uncertain, and yet somehow felt right.

Chapter 9

Worst Best Friend Ever

Ethan

Every time I looked at Libby, my brain couldn’t let go of the fact that having her on top of me had made me hard. Which was a lot since I couldn’t take my eyes off her. There was no way to pinpoint when the shift in my feelings for her had started happening, but they had, and now I had to decide if it was worth risking our friendship to tell her how I was feeling.

I knew I should tell her, but the thought of her rejecting me made me want to puke. I couldn’t keep it in forever, but now wasn’t the time with all the anxiety she had about moving and starting a new job.

The best thing for me to do was to help her get settled. But the prospect of Leo swooping in, or even Carter, had me wondering if I was making a mistake by holding back. Neither man was her type, but then again, Libby just got out of a relationship with a man who wasn’t her type. She probably couldn’t even tell me what her type was.

The movers were almost done bringing everything in, so I grabbed a box next to the island that was labeled cups and put it on the counter. There was the perfect cabinet right next to the refrigerator, but when I opened it, there were several mugs and cups already inside.

“Libby! What do you want me to do with the crap your brother left in the cupboards?” I leaned back and looked down the hallway.

She appeared in the doorway to her bedroom. “Huh?”

The movers shuffled in with the couch as I started taking the stuff out of the cupboard. The coffee mugs were interesting to say the least. One said, ‘nice tits’ and had a bunch of bird pictures. I’d had no clue that some bird names had the word tit in them. Another one had a cactus and said, ‘don’t be a prick.’

“Is here okay for the sofa?” one of the movers asked. It was facing away from the kitchen and was in a good spot for both skyline viewing and watching TV.

“Uh... sure.” I put the mugs down and started opening drawers and cabinets. There weren’t a lot of things, but enough that it would take a box to clean out.

Libby came down the hall and eyed the stuff I was pulling out of the cupboards. “What’s that?”

“Ryker apparently wanted you to have some coffee mugs about tits and pricks.” I wiggled my eyebrows, and the two movers laughed.

“We’re all done. We need you to sign off that everything was unloaded and nothing was damaged.” One of the movers handed Libby a clipboard.

“Thank you so much. You guys did a great job.” Libby scribbled her signature and handed it back to him. “I’m never moving myself again.”

Libby walked the two men to the door before coming back to the kitchen. “I didn’t even think to look in the cabinets last weekend.”

She went to the refrigerator and opened it. “Uh...”

I frowned at all the drinks and prepared meals stacked in the refrigerator. “Maybe Leo left them. What day did he move back to his place?”

“I don’t know.” She grabbed two sodas and handed one to me. “Ryker should be here soon with lunch; I’ll make him deal with it.”

“Thanks.” I popped the top and took a long drink, leaning against the counter. “You still doing okay?”

She mirrored me against the other counter. “How many times are you going to ask me that?”

“Rawr.” I raised my free hand and made claws.

“Sorry.” She sighed and looked past me out the windows. “But really, I’m fine. I’ll let you know when I’m not.”

“Yes, ma’am.” I pushed off the counter and grabbed the rest of the cups out of the cabinet, Libby’s eyes boring into me. “Is this cupboard okay for your cups?”

“Is it big enough?” She walked to the stacks of boxes for the kitchen and grabbed another box. “I have a lot.”

“How many is a lot?” I knew she had a collection of resin tumblers that she liked to match with her work outfits, mood, day of the week, or whatever.

She cringed and sliced open the tape. “Last count... about fifty.”

“Elizabeth!” I turned to her, my hands on my hips to find her hugging one of her precious cups to her chest. “Give it here.”

She stuck out her bottom lip in the most adorable pout. “What are you going to do?”

I held out my hand and made a give it here motion. “See if it even fits on the shelf.”

She reluctantly handed it over. “If they don’t fit, I was thinking that I could get a shelving unit or one of those hutch things for the dining area... if you don’t mind.”

“It’s your place. I don’t mind, though.” I slid the tumbler that had a picture of a chicken onto the shelf. “They’ll fit, but it won’t leave any room for normal glasses.”

“I can put the book related ones on my bookshelves. Hand me the chicken one back.” She started to sort her cups.

“The chicken one is from a book? Please don’t tell me some hot man with a big dick shifts into a chicken... or rooster.” I started grabbing the ones closest to me to put away.

“That would be hilarious.” She started giggling and then couldn’t stop. “Cock a doodle doo!” she crowed.

“What in the world is going on in here?” Ryker came into view from the entryway, Paige, Luca, and Garrett right behind him.

“Just Libby discussing cocks as usual.” I tried to keep a straight face and failed.

“I’m always up for a good cock discussion.” Luca grabbed one of the tumblers and examined it. “Imagine if this was someone’s cock.”

“Please don’t.” Ryker put a bag on the counter along with one Paige had been carrying before he hugged Libby. “Welcome home, sis.”

Luca ran a hand over the island like he was caressing it. “A lot of memories are in this condo.” He gave the counter a quick pat.

“Do I even want to know what that was for?” I’d worked with these four for almost a year now and knew more about their sex lives than I should have.

“Nope. That’s between me, Paige, and the counter.” Luca smirked and picked up the tit mug. “I’m surprised Leo kept this.”

“Maybe you can take it up to him.” I didn’t like the look Luca, Garrett, and Ryker exchanged. “What?”

“You didn’t tell her?” Paige gave Ryker a look and sighed when he looked confused. “Typical man. You didn’t tell her about Leo staying longer?”

“Oh!” Ryker’s face held a mix of apology and resignation. “So, about Leo... his place isn’t ready yet. The flooring was delayed.”

Libby’s reaction was subtle but noticeable with a slight tightening of her shoulders and a quick flash of discomfort in her eyes. “Delayed? How long are we talking?”

“A couple of weeks. He said the flooring is on a container from Italy. Honestly, I didn’t think it would matter much since he’s in the guest room.” Ryker shrugged like it was no big deal that he’d given permission to a man to stay with his sister.

“But can’t he live there with no floors? The bedroom doesn’t have flooring?” I crossed my arms. This wasn’t ideal. Not for Libby and not for me. Especially not now that she’d kissed him.

“He had heated floors installed, so the entire place has wires everywhere.” Luca opened one of the bags they’d brought. “My brother isn’t home very much anyway.”

“Can’t he go stay in your hotel, or with your parents... or you?” I didn’t like the idea of Leo being here alone with Libby.

Luca shrugged. “I mean, he could, but he has stuff here already. It should only be a few more weeks. Is that okay?”

Libby forced a smile. “I guess it’s not the end of the world. It’s temporary, right?”

I cleared my throat. “Actually, that’s not going to work.” All eyes were suddenly on me. “I’m moving in. Tomorrow.”

Libby’s eyes widened, but she quickly caught on and started nodding. “The room Leo is in is Ethan’s.”

“Yeah!” I was a bit more excited about kicking Leo out than necessary. “One of you will need to call him to come get his stuff.”

Ryker narrowed his eyes at me. “You told me you weren’t moving for a few months because you couldn’t find anyone to sublease.”

“My roommate threatened me.” It wasn’t a complete lie. He said he was going to shove my Swiffer up my ass if I bothered him one more time about sharing dusting duties.

“Oh, shit.” Paige pulled away from Garrett and came over to hug me. “That must be so stressful and uncomfortable. We should get you out of there today.” She was such a sweetheart; it was no wonder she had three men wrapped around her finger.

“He probably has movers already lined up.” Ryker didn’t look convinced that this had been the plan all along. “You can stay in one of the other bedrooms until Leo moves out.”

Movers? Shit. I hadn’t thought this idea through all the way. If I couldn’t find movers on such short notice, I could bring what I could and sleep on the couch or in Libby’s bed.

There was an awkward minute of silence before Luca started handing out sandwiches from Pastrami Palace. Thank the all mighty pastrami gods everyone’s mouths would soon be full of meat.

I heard noises sometime around six in the morning and carefully slid out of Libby’s bed. On top of the moving festivities, we’d stayed up late unpacking, and both of us had passed out before we could even discuss what to do about Leo.

I knew what to do about him, though.

I’d wanted to pack all his shit and leave it in the hall, but Libby talked some sense into me, at least for the time being.

After shutting Libby’s bedroom door with a soft click, I tiptoed down the hall, noting the guest bedroom door was shut as I followed the noises to the kitchen.

I found Leo leaning against the island in jeans and a button-down shirt, making coffee. His hair was a mess, and I hazarded a guess that he was coming and not going.

He was so focused on his task that he didn’t notice me until I cleared my throat. “Leo.”

He jumped and turned to face me. Why did such an asshole have to be so good-looking? His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, showing his strong forearms, and the top two buttons were undone. Even worse was that he was barefoot; there was something about a man in jeans and no shoes or socks that made me want to bite my fist.

“Jesus Christ! What are you doing here?” He narrowed his eyes and looked past me like he could see down the hall from where he stood.

“I live here. Luca called you and told you as much.” I crossed my arms over my chest, which drew his attention back to me, his eyes falling to my naked chest before meeting my stare. “Your shit is in my room.”

The coffee maker dinged, and he grabbed the steaming tit mug from under it. “I’ve been busy.”

I sneered, looking him up and down. “Clearly.”

He sighed and put his coffee down on the island before pinching the bridge of his nose. “It’s too early for this.”

“You kissed her.” I wasn’t going to beat around the bush about this.

His hand dropped and a smirk spread across his face. “Ah, I see. This has nothing to do with me and everything to do with you.”

I wasn’t a violent man, I never saw the point, but there was a first time for everything, and I snapped.

Grabbing him by the shirt, I slammed him—okay, it was more of a gentle backing up—into the refrigerator. A few clinking sounds came from inside. Leo’s smirk fell, his eyes widening.

“It has to do with you not being able to keep your dick in your pants.” I was pissed, and I wasn’t even sure why. It wasn’t like this guy was important to me, but I would never forgive myself if I let Libby get her heart broken by some tool. I had no doubt that when he kissed her, his intentions weren’t to stop there.

Like when he’d kissed me at the damn Christmas party, his intentions hadn’t been to stop. Luckily, he’d been so shit-faced that he’d passed out before anything had happened.

“Not that it matters, but Libby is the only woman I’ve kissed recently.” He grabbed my hands and pried my fingers off his shirt before giving me a small shove. “And it’s none of your business who she chooses to kiss or fuck.”

“And men?”

His brows furrowed. “What do you mean ‘and men’?”

“You don’t remember?” With the way he was looking at me, I didn’t think he had any idea what I was talking about. “You know what? Never mind.”

Shrugging, he grabbed his coffee and walked toward the hallway. If he thought this conversation was over, he was wrong.

“Why’d you kiss her?” I followed right on his heels.

“Fuck off, man,” he growled under his breath, opening the guest room door and walking inside.

I didn’t want to wake Libby up, so I followed him in and shut the door. “I wonder what Ryker will think.”

“Oh, please.” He looked at me and rolled his eyes as he set his coffee down on the nightstand. “We’re grown-ass adults.”

He started unbuttoning his shirt as he walked toward the closet. He slid the shirt off once he was inside and threw it in the hamper before turning to face me.

The banging in my chest was so loud I was sure he could hear it as I took in his sculpted body that looked like something straight off one of Libby’s romance novel covers.

“You’re jealous.” His hands went to the button on his jeans, and I sucked in a breath through my gritted teeth.

I was officially the worst best friend ever for wanting to see him take off his pants, but I turned around so I could keep my cool. “What?”

“Are you jealous of me kissing her or her kissing me?” The sound of his zipper made me bite my lip.

I spun around so fast I made myself slightly dizzy. “What the hell are you talking about?”

He pushed down his jeans before kicking them off into the depths of the closet. He stood there in front of me wearing only a pair of baby blue briefs that showed the outline of everything, and I mean everything.

The fucker smirked.

He tried to brush past me on the way to the bed, but I grabbed his elbow to stop him. “You’re awfully handsy, Ethan.”

“I won’t let you hurt her.” Was that a growl that just came from me?

Leo’s eyes went straight to my lips and my cock decided at that moment to come to life. “I think you need to let my arm go.” His voice dropped low, and his tongue peeked out to wet his lips.

I was frozen, under the spell of this frustrating man whore who had probably fucked at least three people in the past twenty-four hours despite him saying he had changed his ways. That thought sobered me and I stepped away from him, backing into the door.

All my fight was gone, especially when he looked down to where I was sure he saw the evidence of my arousal.

“Stay away from her, Leo.” I opened the door, not taking my eyes off him. “And go stay somewhere else. For your sake and for hers.”

As I stepped out into the hall, Leo laughed. “And apparently yours.”

I closed the door, standing there with the knob in my hand, my cock aching.

That man was going to cause some serious problems.

Chapter 10

Packing Party

Leo

Ireally needed to stop working so hard. The restaurants I was invested in were doing the best they’d done in years, but I wasn’t. Working at the foundation five days a week, sometimes until late evening, and then working at night and on the weekends on my side ventures was starting to wear on me.

The truth was, I didn’t even need to work, but the alternative was festering in a pool of cash and self-loathing. Staying busy kept that from happening… mostly.

After the confusing and frustrating confrontation with Ethan, sleep had come hard and fast. I had no clue why Ethan had decided to hate me, but it was clear he was going to be a major issue over the next few weeks until my penthouse was done being remodeled.

At least I was only home to sleep.

Hushed talking from the hall woke me, and I rolled over, checking the time on my phone. It was barely nine, but way too early for Ethan, or anyone for that matter, to be having what sounded like a meltdown.

Groaning as I got up, I went to the door, throwing it open. “Can you keep the dramatics down? Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest.”

Ethan and Libby were at the end of the hall and turned toward me. Ethan did a quick sweep of my body before rolling his eyes. “Can we all agree on wearing clothes when you come out of your room?”

“Well, seeing as how this is apparently your room…” I stepped into the middle of the hall, not caring that my boxer briefs were rather tight in the crotch. “Why would you not want to see this beautiful display of masculinity every day?”

Ethan made a gagging sound, and Libby covered her mouth, her eyes lighting up in amusement as she tried not to laugh out loud. She had quite the fun personality when she wasn’t angry at me.

“This is not funny.” Ethan sighed dramatically, putting his hands on his hips. “I don’t need this added stress today.”

“I told you that the stress could be solved with a call to Ryker. He can be very scary to people who don’t know him. And you know Luca would be game to scare the shit out of your roommate.” Libby walked toward me, her eyes narrowing conspiratorially. “Or…”

She stopped in front of me, searching my face. I didn’t even care what she was considering because whatever shampoo or fragrance she used made me want to bury my face in her neck and breathe her in.

“Or what?” Ethan came to join us in the hall. Why did they both smell so good, and why was I even noticing? I didn’t notice people’s smells. “I don’t like that look. It’s the look you get when you have an idea that doesn’t end well for me.”

“What are you talking about? I only have great ideas.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and I couldn’t help thinking about seeing her without clothes the other night. “Leo has an SUV. We can probably get most of your stuff in there in a few trips and then worry about the bigger things later.”

Ethan shook his head. “If I don’t get it in one fell swoop, Eugene will probably destroy everything that’s left.”

I was still a little lost with what they were talking about, but whoever this Eugene guy was, he seemed to cause Ethan a lot of stress. Was it his ex? A roommate? His dog? Probably a cat. He matched a cat’s energy.

“Who’s Eugene?” I rubbed a hand over my face, needing to wake the fuck up.

“My roommate. He’s… a bit unhinged.”

“A bit? He’s threatened to shove a Swiffer up your ass, and to choke you with the vacuum cord.” Libby wasn’t joking; her face was more serious than I’d ever seen it. “You should have gotten a restraining order.”

Irrational rage bubbled in my chest. “You live with someone who threatens you bodily harm?”

Libby made a noise in the back of her throat. “He does more than that.”

I raised my eyebrows in question, looking from Libby to Ethan to elaborate. When they exchanged a look, I put my hands up in surrender. “I don’t need to know the specifics. I’ll come help.”

“Absolutely not.”

“That would be great!” Libby elbowed Ethan, more silent conversation passing between them with just a look. “We need to get boxes too.”

“You haven’t even packed?” I narrowed my eyes at Ethan. I wasn’t an idiot, and I was pretty sure he had decided only to move in now because I was staying for longer than expected.

“It won’t take me that long.” He shrugged.

“Bullshit,” Libby coughed out.

He looked at me, ignoring Libby’s dig. “We can just borrow your SUV.”

So, Libby had told Ethan about my cars too? I snorted. “I don’t know either of your driving histories or driving skills, so I don’t think so.”

Ethan rolled his eyes. Man, his attitude was infuriating. “It’s a Kia.”

“Doesn’t matter if it’s a Kia or a freaking tank, you’re not driving it.” I walked into my room. “I’ll be ready in five minutes.”

There was a nervous energy in the car as I drove us to Ethan’s apartment. I couldn’t tell if it was because of Ethan’s roommate situation or because of me.

“So, this Eugene guy,” I said, breaking the tense silence. “Is he just your roommate, or an ex-boyfriend?”

Ethan let out an exasperated sigh. “No, just my roommate from hell. I stupidly found him on Craigslist. He seemed normal at first, but then his true colors started to show.”

Libby, who was in the front passenger seat, turned slightly to look at me. “He flies off the handle over the smallest things. Last week, the guy left a spoon in the sink and Ethan washed it. Eugene threatened to stab him with it if he ever touched it again.”

I gripped the steering wheel tightly, anger rising inside me again. “Why the hell have you stayed living with him so long if he’s dangerous?”

“I’m in a lease.”

“Leases can be broken. I can put you in touch with my lawyers.”

“Must be nice,” Ethan muttered under his breath.

“What was that?” I glanced in the rearview mirror to meet his eyes.

“It must be nice to call up your lawyers anytime you have a problem. Some of us can’t afford such luxuries.”

“I never said you had to pay them.” I looked back at the stoplight we were at, not knowing why the hell I’d offered to pay thousands of dollars on his behalf.

As I pulled up to the apartment building and surprisingly found a spot across the street, Ethan grew more anxious.

Libby reached into the back seat and gave his knee a supportive squeeze. “It’ll be okay. If I can handle a room full of kids the day before Christmas break, I can handle one unhinged adult.”

Ethan gave her a small smile, but I saw the worry in his eyes. “You say that now, but wait until he throws a wet sponge that was sitting in a bowl of rotting Cheerio milk at you.”

Gross.

After parking, we lugged the packing supplies to Ethan’s apartment. It was quiet when we got inside, and Ethan quickly led us to his room right off the living room. He unlocked the door and gestured for us to enter.

“I don’t think Eugene is here, so let’s pack fast. Maybe we can avoid him entirely.” Ethan immediately started putting together a box. “I’ll do my dresser. Everything else should be safe for you guys to touch.”

“What about your furniture?” I looked around the small room that was barely big enough for the three of us.

There was a lofted twin bed like a dorm room with storage underneath, a dresser next to it that acted as a nightstand, and a small desk. It couldn’t have been more than sixty square feet. My shower was about the same size, give or take a few feet.

“If he doesn’t destroy it, I’ll have to get it later this week once I find movers. All of the stuff in the living room is mine too.” He was referring to the loveseat, two-person table, and small entertainment center.

“We can get you new stuff.” I opened a drawer of his desk and started placing everything into a box.

“I don’t need new stuff,” Ethan said between clenched teeth. What the hell was his problem?

We worked quickly and quietly, packing boxes and the suitcases Ethan had under his bed. Before long, we had almost everything packed and in the living room so there was a bit more space.

I kept glancing out into the living room, half expecting Eugene to burst in at any moment. Libby seemed to be thinking the same thing, her eyes darting in the same direction. Despite his earlier unease, Ethan appeared calm, methodically packing as if he’d done this a million times before.

We were nearly finished with the bedroom when the front door slamming announced Eugene’s presence. Ethan froze, a partially folded sweater in hand, his face draining of color.

My protective instincts surged, and I stepped in front of Libby and Ethan, ready to be the punching bag—literally or figuratively.

“What the actual fuck is this? Ethan!” No introduction was needed for the owner of the voice that sounded like a male version of a mean girl, but with a heavy Brooklyn accent.

“I’ll handle this.” I stepped into the doorway, my voice low but firm.

Surprisingly, Ethan didn’t protest. He probably wouldn’t have minded seeing his roommate throw a moldy sponge at my head.

Eugene stood by the front door, his hands on his hips. He was shorter than I’d expected, with wild eyes and disheveled hair that made him look like he’d stuck his finger in an electrical socket.

“Who the hell are you?” he demanded, his nostrils flaring like an angry bull.

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “I’m the guy wondering why you’re interrupting our packing party.”

Eugene’s face turned an impressive shade of red. “Packing party? What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought it was obvious.” I gestured to the boxes and luggage. “Ethan’s moving out.”

“He can’t move out!” Eugene came toward me at an impressive clip considering how short his legs were. “We have a lease!”

I pushed off the doorframe, blocking his path into Ethan’s room, and stuck out my arm, which he ran right into with his chest. “A lease that I’m sure, doesn’t include threats of violence. Tell me, Eugene, do you often threaten to stab people, or is Ethan special?”

Eugene’s eyes widened, darting between me and the others behind me. “That... that was a joke! Ethan knows I was joking! I didn’t threaten to actually stab him with a knife!”

“Hilarious,” I deadpanned. “Now, if you don’t mind, we’d like some peace and quiet while we finish packing. We’ll knock on your door once we’re finished.”

Eugene’s face contorted with rage. “You can’t just come in here and-”

“Actually, I can,” I interrupted, my voice dropping to a dangerous tone. “Now, run along.”

Eugene’s eyes narrowed. “Who the fuck do you think you are?”

I wish I would have worn a suit, but instead, I straightened to my full height. “I’m the man who can make your life very comfortable or extremely difficult with a single phone call. Your choice.”

“Oh, please.” He rolled his eyes. “You’re probably just a-”

“Leonardo Caponetti.”

Given his thick accent, he’d lived in New York all his life and probably had heard the name. Rich Italian men tended to evoke fears about cement blocks and bullets to the forehead. While I’d never held a gun in my life, I did own a yacht.

Eugene gaped at me for a moment, and I patted his cheek a little harder than necessary. He backed up a few steps.

“Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to sign whatever paperwork is necessary to release Ethan from the lease without penalty. In return, we won’t pursue legal action regarding your threats or general psychotic behavior.”

Eugene snapped out of his stupor. “But the rent!”

What I really wanted to tell him was that he was out of luck on that, but I was also done dealing with this man. Ethan did have some legal ground, but since he hadn’t contacted the police as far as I knew, it would be harder to make a clean break.

“I’ll cover Ethan’s portion of the rent until the lease is up or until you find a new roommate—whichever comes first. And for your sake, I hope it’s the latter.”

“Is that a threat?” He narrowed his eyes. How the hell was Ethan intimidated by this guy? He was like a petulant teenager, not to mention Ethan was almost a foot taller than him.

“Does it need to be?” I pulled out my phone to message my legal team about what documents were needed to release someone from a lease. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’d like to move out without being harassed.”

Eugene harrumphed and marched off to his room, slamming the door behind him. I turned back to Ethan and Libby, their faces a mix of awe and amusement.

“That was an impressive display of alpha male,” Libby said, a small smile playing on her lips.

“I wouldn’t go that far.” Ethan unfolded and refolded the sweater that was still in his hands. “Thank you. I can still pay the rent, so no need to.”

I shrugged and was unable to fight my smirk. “It’s nothing. Think of it as a gift for letting me stay in your room.”

“I’ll have to stay in Libby’s bed until I can get my furniture.” Ethan smirked right back.

Libby cleared her throat, her cheeks pink. “We should finish up before Eugene gets a second wind.” She put her hand on Ethan’s arm and stared up at him. “What do you want us to pack next?”

I felt a twinge of something in my stomach. Jealousy? Longing? I pushed the feeling aside, reminding myself what was at stake.

Chapter 11

One Time Only

Libby

Istepped into the condo, my arms filled with grocery bags cutting off my circulation. Next time I needed groceries, I was having them delivered or sucking up my pride and taking my rolling teacher cart.

“Libby, is that you?” Ethan came into view as he stood from where he had been lying on the couch.

I hadn’t expected him home for another hour and had wanted to surprise him with dinner. It had been a few days since we’d moved in, and we’d been only eating takeout.

“No, it’s a burglar with a key who likes to bring groceries.” I kicked the door shut behind me.

“You look like you’re about to topple over.” Ethan took some of the bags from me, our fingers tangling in the process. “Sorry.”

He’d been apologizing a lot the past few days any time he touched me. We still hadn’t talked about what had happened when he’d fallen on top of me, but I didn’t know if that was why he was acting weird, or if it was from the stress of moving so suddenly.

“You’re home early today. I was going to surprise you by making dinner.” I was a damn good recipe follower and was planning on trying a new chicken recipe that was pretty much fool-proof.

“I had to go by my old place and sign some paperwork with management. Luckily, I didn’t have to see Eugene.” He shuddered as he put the bags on the island and started taking things out, avoiding looking at me.

“Is everything okay?” I put my hand over his and he paused, looking up. “With us?”

His brows furrowed the smallest amount. “Why wouldn’t they be?”

“You’ve been… distant.” Why did this feel like a conversation between two lovers instead of two best friends?

He sighed and took a stray tendril of my hair between his fingers, twirling it. “I have a lot on my mind.”

My heart raced at his touch and the intensity in his eyes. “We never talked about what happened.”

His eyes fell to my lips, but he looked away so fast that I couldn’t be sure what that meant. The question was, did we want it to mean something?

“I don’t want to talk about it. Not yet.” He pushed the piece of hair he was playing with behind my ear. “We should get the groceries put away.”

Before he retreated, I grabbed his hand, holding it to my cheek. “I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

The sound of the front door shutting had us jumping apart like two teenagers caught doing something they weren’t supposed to.

Leo strode in, his presence immediately filling the room. He took in the scene before him, his eyes narrowing. “Am I interrupting something?”

“Just putting away groceries.” I quickly grabbed a bottle of wine from one of the bags. I was going to need it sooner rather than later.

The tension in the room thickened as Leo’s gaze darted between Ethan and me.

“You usually aren’t home so early.” I’d only seen Leo once since Sunday when we’d moved Ethan in. Now it was Thursday, and I hadn’t expected to see him until the next day for my first day in the office.

Starting a job on a Friday was a brilliant plan. It would be overwhelming, but then I’d have the whole weekend to recuperate. It had also been nice to get settled into my new home as much as possible.

Leo’s jaw clenched as he held up a folder. “I remembered I had some paperwork for you to sign. Figured I’d drop it off and see if you’d like to join me for dinner at one of my restaurants.”

Ethan practically threw the package of chicken and carton of cream into the refrigerator. “Well, isn’t that thoughtful of you. Always going above and beyond for your employees.”

Leo gave him a bored look, and I felt like I was caught in the crossfires of their ongoing war. The question was, why? Ethan was more bothered by Leo than the other way around.

“I like to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

Ethan snorted. “Yeah, I bet you do.”

Leo’s face darkened. “Is there a problem, Roberts?”

“Why would there be a problem, Caponetti?”

I felt like I was missing a crucial piece of information. I had no idea how to navigate the hostility. I’d never seen Ethan act this way before, and Leo seemed to enjoy getting a rise out of him.

“I was going to cook dinner for me and Ethan if you’d like to join us. I’m no Michelin-star chef or anything, but it will be edible… I hope.” I laughed but quickly stopped when both men continued to glare daggers at each other. “How about some wine?”

“I was about to head to the gym. I’ll be back later.” Ethan stormed out of the kitchen, grabbing his gym bag from the floor next to the couch.

It was best to leave Ethan alone when he was in a bad mood—on the rare occasion he was in one—so I didn’t say a word as he walked out of the door.

I turned to Leo, completely bewildered. “What the hell was that about?”

Leo ran a hand through his hair, looking suddenly exhausted. “I’ve literally done nothing to warrant his ire. Well, except kiss you.” He lifted the flap of his bag and pulled out a manila folder, thick with papers. “I didn’t think you’d want to spend your whole morning tomorrow going over these.”

My annoyance with him came back full force. “I’m not at work right now.”

I didn’t know if it was the kiss he’d brought up so nonchalantly or the suggestion that I do work when it wasn’t working hours. I’d spent the last few years working well past working hours and I wasn’t about to start down that path with this job, no matter how invested I was in it.

I yanked open a cupboard and grabbed one of my sparkly wine cups. Might as well try to salvage what was supposed to be a relaxing evening by drinking an entire bottle of wine.

“It can wait until tomorrow.” Leaving the folder where he’d set it on the counter, he came around the island and grabbed the opener from the drawer. He uncorked the bottle of wine and examined the label. “I’ll have to bring home some bottles of wine for you.”

I snatched it away from him. “This wine is perfectly fine.” I poured myself a full glass.

He went to the cupboard and helped himself to one of my tumblers. “Mind if I have a glass with you?”

I shrugged. “Seems I don’t have much of a choice.”

“You’re mad.”

I took a sip of wine and sighed. “I’m not mad, just frustrated.” He raised his eyebrows in question. “You haven’t been around all week and then come home and make things even more strained.”

“Things are strained?” He took a drink of wine and grimaced. “Jesus, this is horrible.”

“Keep drinking it, it will grow on you.” I knew it wasn’t the best wine in the world, but spending over ten bucks on a bottle was insane. “Ethan has been… different.”

He swirled his wine and sniffed it. “Well, princess, it appears he is threatened by me and doesn’t want me anywhere near you. If I hadn’t come home, what would you two be doing right now?”

I leaned against the counter as I drank more of my wine. At the rate I was drinking it, I would be floating on a tipsy cloud very shortly. “Cooking dinner.”

He laughed and moved in front of me, taking my hand and bringing it to his cheek just like I’d been standing with Ethan. “Keep telling yourself that.”

My breath caught in my throat as he trailed his fingertips up my arm until he rested his hand on the side of my neck. There was something possessive about it, and my traitorous pussy clenched.

“What are you doing?” I whispered, unable to step away from him.

“Not entirely sure.” His thumb stroked the pulse point in my neck and his eyes fell to my lips.

The way my body was reacting to him was annoying, but I couldn’t stop it. I wanted him to kiss me again. When he looked at me like he was right then, I felt like the only woman in his world.

With all the willpower I had left, I stepped out from between him and the counter and went to the refrigerator. I’d already gotten carried away with him once, and I wasn’t about to let that happen again.

“Elizabeth.”

God, the way he said my name was like he was stroking me with his damn tongue.

“I’m going to make dinner, so you can either help or go do whatever it is you do.” I took out the groceries that Ethan had put away.

I turned back to Leo, my heart racing as I clutched the ingredients to my chest like a shield. His intense gaze hadn’t wavered, and I felt a flush creeping up my neck.

“Well?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. “Are you going to help or not?”

A slow smile spread across his face. “I suppose I could lend a hand. What’s on the menu?”

I explained the recipe as I set out the ingredients, grateful for something to focus on besides the way Leo’s presence seemed to fill the entire kitchen. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing tanned forearms that I definitely didn’t stare at.

As we worked side by side, chopping vegetables and preparing the chicken, the tension gradually eased. Leo kept refilling our wine glasses, and I found myself relaxing.

“You know…” I reached around him to grab the salt. “For someone who deals with restaurants, you’re surprisingly bad at mincing garlic.”

He caught my wrist gently, his thumb brushing over the sensitive skin. “I have other talents, I assure you.”

I swallowed hard, suddenly very aware of how close we were standing. “I’m sure you do,” I murmured, pulling away reluctantly.

The wine was going to my head now, making everything feel warm and slightly fuzzy around the edges. I found myself stealing glances at Leo, admiring the way his forearms flexed and his brows furrowed in concentration.

Once the chicken dish was in the oven, I started cleaning up the mess so there would be less after we ate.

“Here, let me.” Leo stepped behind me, taking the cleaning cloth from me. His arms bracketed me on either side as he squirted dish soap on the rag.

“What are you doing?” I knew exactly what he was doing after all his stolen touches, but all I could think about was the heat of his body and the intoxicating scent of his cologne.

“Helping.” His breath was hot against my ear as he put the rag in my hand and guided it to the cutting board I’d been preparing to clean.

My hands trembled slightly as I let him control my movements, hyperaware of every point of contact between us. I should have stepped away, but I leaned back into him instead, relishing the feeling of being enveloped by his strong frame.

We washed the few dishes quietly, although there was nothing quiet about my heartbeat pounding in my ears. Resisting him was futile; the combination of wine and proximity had weakened my resolve.

With the last of the dishes in the drying rack, we dried our hands, but instead of stepping away, Leo’s hands fell to my hips, turning me to face him.

Pushing him away would have been the wise choice, but my body was too amped up and my inhibitions lowered from the wine.

Leo’s grip tightened on my hips, pulling me flush against him. “Tell me to stop,” he said, his lips barely brushing mine.

All I could manage was a breathy, “Don’t stop.”

His mouth claimed mine, and I melted against him, all thoughts of resistance forgotten. With the taste of wine on our lips and the heat building between us, I couldn’t bring myself to care about consequences.

How long had it been since I’d let myself do something so selfish and self-destructive?

My fingers fumbled with his belt, and he took over as I pulled his shirt from his pants. He leaned back against the counter as I pushed his pants and boxers down. I didn’t really enjoy giving blow jobs, but that didn’t stop me from dropping to my knees in front of him.

I wrapped my hand around his shaft and looked up at him. “Just this once, Leo. To get it out of our systems.”

His jaw clenched, and he nodded. “One time.”

Channeling all the power of the blow job gods, I licked the tip of his cock as I slid my fist up and down his length.

He groaned and fisted my ponytail. “Fuck, you look so perfect on your knees.”

The praise made my stomach erupt in flutters. My tongue ran over his shaft, from head to base and back up again. He held my head, firmly but gently.

He moaned as I took him fully in my mouth. “You’re so good with your mouth, princess. Yes, just like that.”

The slight pull of my ponytail spurred me on as I sucked. I felt the tension in his body as his hips began moving, seeking more from me. I took him as far as I could handle, my cheeks hollowing as I worked to push him to the edge.

“Fuck, Elizabeth. I want to come down that pretty throat so bad.” He pulled out of my mouth, his hand moving to my cheek. “But I want to come inside you even more. Do you want that?”

“Yes.” My voice was raspy with need but also with nerves.

He held out his hand, helping me to my feet. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

I nodded.

He kissed me as he lifted me, my legs wrapping around him. I kissed down his jaw to his neck as he carried me out of the kitchen and down the hall to his bedroom.

Even if this was a horrible idea, it was too late to stop now.

His eyes were dark with need as he laid me down and kicked off his pants that were somehow not around his ankles. “You have way too many clothes on.”

He knelt in front of me as he tugged off my pants and panties. His hands slid up my legs before lifting one onto his shoulder. “Beautiful, and so wet.”

I gasped as he pushed a finger inside me. “Leo... I’ve... I don’t- oh God!”

I was going to tell him that I didn’t expect him to go down on me, but his mouth was already on me, flicking my clit with his tongue. I gasped, my hips arching into the sensation. Having a man who knew what he was doing between my legs was better than I expected.

I closed my eyes, giving myself over to the pleasure as he pushed in a second finger and hit the spot inside me that made flecks of light flicker in the corners of my vision.

He kept up the steady rhythm until I was panting and squirming against him. “Come for me, Elizabeth.”

His fingers moved faster, and I felt the orgasm build inside me like a pressure cooker. He sucked my clit hard, and I detonated, my entire body trembling and clenching as the pleasure rushed through me.

“Leo!” I gasped, my hands grabbing at his hair to pull him closer to me. I didn’t want it to end.

His fingers slowed and he pulled away, his grin cocky as he looked up at me and sucked his fingers clean.

I stood on wobbly legs while I pulled my shirt and bra off. Leo dug in the nightstand and pulled out a condom. There was something so sexy about watching him tear it open and roll it on his hard cock.

He stood in front of me, bringing his hand to cup my cheek. “You’re sure?”

Right now? Yes. Tomorrow? Probably not.

“Yes.”

He kissed me, silencing any doubts. The taste of myself on his lips made heat pool between my legs, ready for more of him.

He spun me around suddenly and pushed me, so I was bent over the bed. “We’ll have to pretend this is my desk.”

His desk? Jesus help me. Had he imagined fucking me on his desk? How was I going to look this man in the eye when we started working together every day?

“Yes, sir.” It fell from my lips before I could stop it, and I cringed.

“Fuck, that sounds good coming from you.” He smoothed his hands over my ass cheeks. “You’ve been a bit sassy, don’t you think?”

His hand came down against me and I yelped, my hands digging into the comforter. The sting was instantly smoothed by the tender touch of his hand rubbing it.

“I asked you a question, Elizabeth.” His voice held barely contained desire, and I couldn’t help but play into the roles we’d fallen into.

“Yes, sir,” I whispered.

“Good girl.” His voice was low and gruff, sending a shiver up my spine.

He grabbed my hips and filled me with one smooth thrust. I cried out, my arms threatening to buckle as I braced myself on the bed.

“Are you okay?” He stayed where he was, buried inside me, his hips moving in small circles as I adjusted to him.

“Yes, sir,” I gasped out, my body trembling. “Fuck me, please.”

Leo pulled out slowly and then drove back in, over and over, each thrust harder than the last. I gave up trying to hold myself up and lowered to my forearms, the slight change in angle making him hit the spot that sent me spiraling toward the edge again.

“You feel so good. Your pussy is so tight wrapped around me.” He was breathing hard, his words a struggle. “Fucking perfect.”

I lowered my forehead to my arms, my hands clenching around the blanket. Words failed me as he reached around and rubbed my clit with the same intensity as his thrusts.

“Come for me. Scream my name, Elizabeth.” He took my clit between his fingers and squeezed.

My orgasm crashed into me, leaving no nerve ending untouched. I screamed his name, my voice hoarse and desperate as I rode out the waves of pleasure.

“Fuck!” Leo thrust in one last time before shuddering against me as he came.

We stayed there, connected and panting, until our breathing somewhat returned to normal. As he pulled out, I whimpered at the loss of him and crawled a little further onto the bed to collapse into a puddle.

“I’ll be right back.” He walked into the bathroom, the sink turning on as the reality of what we’d done wiggled its way back into my brain.

When he returned, he had a warm cloth, and he gently wiped between my legs. He did it so tenderly that I wanted to cry.

“Thank you,” I whispered, my face heating with embarrassment.

He sat on the edge of the bed, his hand trailing up and down my calf. “That was amazing...”

I felt like he wanted to say more, but he didn’t as he continued to rub my legs. It was way too intimate for a one-time encounter, but that was all it could be—all I would let it be.

Chapter 12

My Girl

Ethan

It felt like a betrayal as I stood in the foyer, clutching my gym bag to my chest so I didn’t storm down the hall and rip Leo off of Libby.

Was she so damn loud because he was that good in bed, or was she faking it?

Oh, God. She’d let him put his dick inside her.

My cock twitched at the mental image that brought, and I wanted to throw my bag across the room. Without my permission, my feet carried me down the hall and stopped in front of Leo’s door.

I could barge in there and pull them apart like some scorned lover who caught his girlfriend cheating.

Girlfriend.

This time, it didn’t just mean my best friend who happened to be a girl. This time, it meant I wanted her as mine, and I still didn’t know what to do with that.

I stood there, frozen, my mind reeling from the sounds. I felt like I’d just finished my run, a mix of anger, jealousy, and... arousal? Was there something wrong with me?

For twenty-seven years, I’d never felt this way about any woman or female-presenting person, let alone my best friend. Libby had always been special to me, but this was different; this felt primal, and it scared the shit out of me.

I slumped against the wall, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor, my gym bag clutched to my chest like a shield. The moans and grunts from Leo’s room continued, each sound twisting the knife in my gut a little deeper.

“Fuck,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair that was still damp from sweat.

How had I not realized my feelings before? All those times we’d shared a bed, all those movie nights cuddled up on the couch, and not once had I felt the stirring in my loins that I was experiencing now.

But now? Now I couldn’t stop imagining what it would be like to be the one in there with her. To be the one making her cry out in pleasure. To feel her soft skin against mine, to taste her lips, to...

“Leo!”

“Fuck!”

I squeezed my eyes shut, but closing my eyes only made the mental images more vivid. I could picture Libby’s blonde hair splayed out on the pillow, her brown eyes dark with desire, her lips parted as she came all over my cock.

My cock was hard, and I groaned in frustration, struggling to my feet. This was Libby, for crying out loud. My best friend. The girl who’d seen me at my worst, who’d held my hand when I came out to my parents, who’d always been there for me. And now, there I was, fantasizing about her like some horny teenager.

But it wasn’t just about sex, was it? No, this feeling went deeper than that. It was the way she laughed at my terrible jokes, the way her eyes lit up when she talked about her students or a book she was reading, the way she always knew exactly what to say to make me feel better.

I’d always loved Libby, but I was starting to realize that maybe I was in love with her too.

The sounds from Leo’s room finally quieted, and I sucked in a sharp breath since I’d apparently forgotten how to breathe. What was I supposed to do now? How could I face Libby knowing what I knew about myself, about my feelings for her?

And knowing she’d just had her brains screwed out… by a man I’d almost let screw me.

This whole situation was a clusterfuck of epic proportions.

I needed to get out of the hallway, that was for damned sure. Maybe a long shower would help sort out the jumble of emotions swirling inside me.

Once safely in my room, I set my gym bag on my blowup mattress that was way too small for my tall ass and shuffled into the bathroom. My furniture would be moved over the weekend, and I couldn’t wait for my feet not to hang off the end.

After taking off my shirt, I glanced in the mirror. I looked like a man who’d had his world turned upside down. Libby had awoken something in me that I never knew existed, and now that it was awake, I had no idea how to put it back to sleep.

But did I even want to?

I turned on the shower, letting the water heat as I peeled off the rest of my sweat-soaked gym clothes. I couldn’t help but groan in frustration; despite my best efforts to think of anything else, I was hard as a rock.

“Traitor,” I muttered, glaring at my dick.

Stepping into the shower, I hoped the water would wash away the confusing cocktail of emotions swirling inside me. But my mind kept replaying what I’d overheard in the hallway. Libby’s moans, Leo’s grunts, the sound of skin on skin...

I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the mental images, but that only made them more vivid. Except now it wasn’t just me and Libby. Leo was there too, his hands roaming over both of us with hungry eyes.

“Fuck me.” My cock ached at the idea of two hands on it.

And then the image switched to me buried inside Libby, her head thrown back in ecstasy while Leo took me from behind.

My hand moved of its own accord, wrapping around my throbbing erection. I knew I shouldn’t have been doing this, shouldn’t have been thinking about my best friend this way, let alone fantasizing about a threesome with her and Leo. But I was too far gone to stop.

As I stroked myself, the fantasy continued to unfold. I pictured Leo’s strong hands on my hips, guiding me as I thrust into Libby. In this make-believe world, there was no jealousy and no confusion. There was pure, unadulterated pleasure.

I groaned, my hand moving faster as I neared the edge.

The erotic imagery switched to Libby’s lips wrapped around my cock while Leo fucked her from behind. As my orgasm built, I braced myself against the shower wall with my free hand, my breath coming in short, sharp gasps.

The line between reality and fantasy blurred, and for a moment, I could almost believe that Libby and Leo were really in the shower with me, both on their knees, taking turns sucking my cock.

With a strangled cry, I came hard, my release washing away down the drain along with the last of my denial. I slumped against the shower wall, feeling both satisfied and utterly confused.

What the hell was I supposed to do now? How could I face Libby—or Leo, for that matter—knowing what I’d just done? And more importantly, what did this mean for my sexuality?

I had more questions than answers. Normally, I’d have immediately run to Libby, but for obvious reasons, that was out of the question. My other friends would probably give me shit before giving me advice, and I didn’t think I wanted to tell them yet.

It looked like I was on my own in figuring out what the hell I was going to do. But what I did know was that I’d be a masochist for leaving my room. I was no stranger to staying in my room all night and eating snacks I kept on hand because I knew that if I ran into Leo, I was going to go to prison for murder.

I was in a shit mood, even though it was Friday and the office was quiet. I’d gone for the mature approach and avoided both Libby and Leo. There was a wee bit of guilt for not eating dinner with Libby since she’d cooked it, but at that time, I couldn’t trust how I’d act around them.

It was almost lunchtime, and I was torn between whether to text Libby to go to lunch or to continue my quiet contemplation. My mind was anything but quiet, though.

Frustrated at myself for acting like a child instead of a grown-ass man, I popped into Paige’s office, hoping she could shed some light on my situation. Since she started working at LRG Marketing last year, she had become my work bestie.

“Hey, you busy?” I shut the door and sat down before she even answered.

She looked up from her computer screen with a smile which quickly fell. “What’s wrong?”

Jesus, was I that transparent? “Nothing.” I ran my fingers through my hair. “Everything.”

I hoped I didn’t end up regretting talking to her about this, seeing as one of her three boyfriends was not just my boss, but also Libby’s brother. There was literally no one else I trusted not to laugh or talk about it in the break room, though.

She bit her lip. “Is it Libby?”

I sat up straighter. “Why? Has she said something to you?” Libby had grown closer to Paige over the past year, but I didn’t think they shared too much information with each other.

“She texted and asked if you were okay today; said you weren’t feeling well last night and went to bed super early. What’s going on?” She closed her laptop and gave me her undivided attention.

“You can’t breathe a word of this to anyone, especially not your boyfriends.” I was putting a lot of trust in this woman, even though it very well might come back and bite me in the ass.

She rolled her eyes. “As long as no one is hurting Libby, my lips are sealed.”

“I’m in love with her.” The words tumbled from my lips before I could stop them.

Paige’s eyes widened. “Oh, Ethan,” she said softly, her voice filled with understanding.

“I know, I know.” I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “It’s ridiculous, right? I’ve never thought of her that way before. Well, and there’s the small detail that she’s a woman, but lately...” I was unsure how to explain the shift in my feelings without sounding insane.

“What changed?”

I uncovered my face and gripped the arms of the chair to stop myself from hiding behind my hands again. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s her moving here, or seeing someone else show interest in her, or...” I paused, remembering the moment that had truly shaken me. “At the event last weekend, there was this moment when everything clicked into place.”

Paige nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. “Sometimes it takes a catalyst to make us see what’s been in front of us all along.”

“But what do I do?” I asked, feeling lost. “I can’t risk losing her. Plus, how do I explain to her that, surprise! Apparently, I do like women, even if it just seems to be her.”

“Love is always a risk, but it’s also the most amazing thing in the world when it’s right. As for your sexuality… should any of us label ourselves and define our entire lives based on that label?”

I sighed, slumping back in my chair. “No, but… but what if it’s not right? What if I’m just confused?”

Paige shook her head. “I don’t think you’re confused about her or how you feel. What would you say to one of your straight friends if they came to you and said they were having feelings for their best friend who was the same gender?”

“I’d say go for it.” I ran a hand down my face with a chuckle. “You’re right. Damn it, Paige. When did you become so wise?”

She sat up straighter, a smirk coming across her face. “Well, this morning-”

“Nope.” I jumped to my feet not needing to hear about any sextivities she had been up to. “Thanks, Paige.”

“Anytime. What are you going to do?” She opened her laptop back up as I stopped in the doorway.

“I’m going to go take my girl to lunch.”

It was going to be awkward as hell, but I would never forgive myself if I let Leo sink his claws into her before I had a chance to see where things might go between us.

Chapter 13

Pleasant and Professional

Leo

Istared at my computer screen, not really able to pay attention to the various tabs of news I was trying to sift through. My mind kept drifting back to the night before and the way Libby felt under me, her intoxicating taste, the way she’d called out my name as she came.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. This was exactly why I shouldn’t have given in to temptation.

“Goo’ ‘orning, ‘oss.” Carter’s voice interrupted my thoughts. He stood in my office doorway, looking worse for wear with a cup of coffee and his tongue hanging out.

I was grateful for the distraction. “You know they make iced coffees.” I picked up my own iced drink and sipped dramatically. “Ah, so good, and it doesn’t burn my tongue when I’m an impatient bastard.”

Carter dropped his bag and slumped into a chair. “How’s the roommate life treating you?”

I sighed, running a hand down my face. “You don’t even want to know.”

“The offer still stands to stay with me.” Carter removed the lid on his coffee and blew on it. “Maybe you’re onto something with the iced coffee.”

“You literally live in a warehouse, and I’m not going to move my shit when I’m hardly there. Besides, my flooring should be here in the next few weeks.” I turned back to my computer, hoping to end the conversation. “Why are you here today anyway?”

“What kind of man would I be if I wasn’t here to help our new employee get settled?”

I side-eyed him. “What? There’s no fraternization, Carter.” Suddenly, I felt like I needed twelve cups of coffee. I did not have the mental fortitude to deal with his need to push my buttons.

“Says the man who kissed her.”

Would it be a bad look for the director of a non-profit to jump over the desk and strangle an employee? I wished I had never told him that, and I was for sure not telling him I slept with her.

“Carter.” The warning in my voice made things very clear, yet he didn’t care.

“I think she’d really like to see my warehouse. A nice candlelit dinner on the roof with the skyline should really set the mood.” He drank a big gulp of coffee before sitting back in his seat, looking smug as fuck.

My jaw clenched.

“Now is the time for me to make my move, before time runs out.” He reached into his bag and pulled out his tablet. “It’s only a matter of time until the fae prince claims his princess.”

He handed it to me, and right there on the lockscreen was a picture of Libby and Ethan from the ribbon-cutting ceremony. It served as a reminder of how fucked up it had been for me to make any kind of move on her when her best friend looked at her like she was his entire world and he wanted to eat her for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

I couldn’t be certain, but I was sure he’d come back from the gym and heard us going at it, if his sudden headache and locking himself in his room was any indication.

Unfortunately, now that I’d spent more time with Libby and tasted her sweet lips—among other things—I only wanted her more.

I stared at the picture longer than necessary. Seeing them together sent a pang of longing through my chest. “It’ll never happen.”

“Sure it will, especially since they are living together now.” Carter stood, moved around my desk, and swiped open his photo album.

“They sleep in the same bed all the time and nothing has happened.”

“Oh, really? This picture right here says they’ve done more than innocently share a bed.” He pointed to a shot of Ethan touching Libby’s cheek.

“It doesn’t matter.” I handed the tablet back, unable to look at any more photos. “I have work to do.”

Carter glanced at my screen. “Dude, you pay someone to monitor that for you.”

“I know that.” I minimized the browser, embarrassed to be caught. “It might still get missed.”

My worst nightmare was waking up one morning and finding my dirty laundry plastered all over the internet. On slow news days, the paparazzi and gossip columnists were sharks waiting for any bloody morsel to latch onto.

“I still think the wiser choice would have been to go to the police or FBI instead of giving them what they wanted.”

“Hi.” Libby’s voice from the doorway made my heart nearly stop, and not just because it was her, but because… how much of that conversation had she heard?

I straightened in my chair, trying to regain my composure, even though the red dress she was wearing made it hard to form words.

She looked between us. “Am I interrupting?”

“Not at all. Carter was on his way out.”

Carter, ever the troublemaker, squeezed my shoulder. “I was showing him the amazing photos from the event this weekend. Would you like to see them?”

“Uh... Maybe later?” Libby looked uncertain, and I felt a surge of protectiveness.

“Perfect! I can show you at lunch if you want to grab a bite to eat?” Carter offered smoothly.

I shrugged off his hand and stood, shooting him a glare. “You’re fired.”

“On what grounds?”

“You’re a pain in the ass.” I grabbed my iced coffee and rounded the desk, focusing on Libby. “Let me show you to your office and give you a tour.”

“I’ll see you at lunch, Libby,” Carter called out as we walked out.

I clenched my jaw, leading Libby down the short hallway to her office. “How are you today?” Might as well have asked her how she felt about the weather.

I went to put my hand on the small of her back and she entered in front of me. I pulled my hand away like I’d touched a hot stove.

“I’m good…” She didn’t sound so sure. “What were you talking about the FBI for?”

I didn’t want to lie to her, but I also didn’t want to tell her the truth. “Just some bullshit that happened last summer on my yacht.”

“You didn’t use concrete shoes on anyone, did you?” She went to the desk and put down her bag, turning to face me.

“No concrete shoes.” Although it was fun to imagine doing that to people who took advantage of a situation to get millions of dollars. “Is this office okay? I really did mean it when I said we could switch.”

“I don’t need a corner office. I think it’s excessive spending when we could have rented out a smaller office space in Queens, closer to where the permanent office will be.”

“This building belongs to my family, and with the discount I was able to work out, it’s cheaper here than it would be renting a space elsewhere. It’s a little inconvenient for some meetings, but I just go there or rent out a day space if needed.”

“Oh…” She stared down at the desk and picked at an invisible sticker on the top. “I guess I should have looked at the financial paperwork Ryker sent me months ago.”

There was an awkward silence that I didn’t know how to fill. We didn’t talk about what had happened between us, even when we had eaten dinner. Instead, we’d put on a comedy and ignored each other.

“Do you want me to show you around or…”

She finally looked up, her cheeks pinker than they had been. “I think I’d like to explore for myself, if that’s okay?”

“Of course. I’ll, uh… leave you to it.” I gave her a small wave and backed out of her office, feeling like a complete fool for the gesture.

I quickly turned on my heel and practically ran back to my office. Luckily, Carter had gone to his own, and I shut my door, leaning back against it.

I thought my days of making bad decisions were behind me, but I was pretty sure this was one of my worst.

The temptation to follow Libby and Carter to lunch was so overwhelming, I had to lock myself in my office and pretend to be on a call.

The morning had gone smoothly with Libby already getting started on reaching out to schools to set up meetings and working on job descriptions for employees that would need to be hired.

But then lunchtime had come, and Carter had swooped in and whisked her off to lunch. Was I jealous as fuck? Maybe. If anything, I was pissed at him for using Libby to get a rise out of me. In the past, I did the same to him, but this was so much different.

There was a firm knock on my office door, and I glanced at my calendar reminders, seeing no one on the agenda. “Come in.”

The door opened slowly at first, as if the person were peeking inside, and then opened fully. I should have known Ethan would eventually confront me again. The look on his face left no question that he knew about the night before. Whether it was Libby who told him or the noise, I wasn’t certain.

“Where’s Libby?”

“Wow, what a pleasant and professional greeting.” I shut my laptop and stood. “What can I help you with?”

“Where’s Libby? She didn’t answer my text and she’s not in any of the offices.” He had some balls wandering around my office suite without permission.

“I really need to hire a receptionist… or a security guard.” I rounded the desk and leaned against the front of it. “Libby went to lunch with Carter.” I couldn’t keep the annoyance out of my voice and had to remind myself that Libby wasn’t mine.

His frown deepened. “Is he…” He shook his head, reconsidering whatever he was about to say. “It doesn’t matter. I’ve decided I’m going to take the next step with Libby.”

I crossed my arms over my chest, not surprised but also feeling like he’d just punched me. “How are you going to go about that?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“It is my business when I’m taking the next step too.” What the hell was I doing? “Also, how do you plan to explain to her you’ve been pretending to be gay all this time?”

He reeled back like I’d smacked him, but then his expression turned indifferent. “And how are you going to explain to her you’ve been pretending to be straight?”

“Excuse me?” There was no way he could know about what happened on the yacht with the woman and her husband.

“You tried to fuck me.” He looked me up and down in disgust.

“What the hell are you even talking about, Ethan?” I was frozen in place, even though I wanted to shove him out of my office and lock the door.

“The Christmas party.”

The Christmas party? I tried to remember that night, but it was a bit of a blur, mainly because I’d gotten into yet another argument with my father over what a fuck-up I was.

“I don’t remember, but I don’t fuck men… and I would never fuck you.” What I left unsaid was that the one time I did fuck a man, it ended up biting me in the ass—no pun intended.

He rolled his eyes. “Jesus, you really are a piece of shit, aren’t you? Did you forget that you fucked Ryker’s sister last night?”

The way he chose to refer to Libby immediately put me on guard, and I pushed away from my desk. “You wouldn’t.”

He shrugged. “If I feel like my best friend is being taken advantage of, there’s nothing I wouldn’t do.”

Why was this man so damn infuriating? “I’m not taking advantage of her; I can guarantee you that.”

“Yet you let her go out to lunch with another man who was flirting with her at lunch last weekend?” He shook his head. “Not caring shows exactly how you felt about last night.”

“You need to leave before I make you leave.” I adjusted my tie. “Now.”

The asshole threw his head back and laughed.

It triggered a flash of a memory buried somewhere in my mind. One of him laughing the same way as I sat next to him at the hotel bar, shot glasses spread out in front of us like we’d been drinking water and not tequila.

I tried to imagine it—me and him stumbling up to the hotel room I always had on standby—but it was hard to picture given how he had been treating me.

“This is the last time I’ll tell you to keep your hands and your dick away from her.” He turned to leave and ran right into Libby.

Chapter 14

Crossing the Line

Libby

What in the world had I walked in on? I’d been looking forward to getting back to the office but had stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Ethan’s tall frame filling Leo’s doorway.

Why was my best friend threatening my boss?

A boss that I now knew he was very aware that I had slept with.

My stomach twisted, and I found myself angry instead of upset. How dare Ethan shut me out and ignore me all night and morning and then march into my place of work to threaten Leo.

Ethan turned to leave, his eyes widening in surprise. “Uh, hi.”

I didn’t have any words for him, so I did what any mature twenty-six-year-old would do and went to my office. There was a time and place for personal discussions, and in the middle of the office on my first day was not it.

“Libby! Wait!” Ethan was right on my heels, and he didn’t let me shut the door on him. “He’s taking advantage of you, and I can’t let-”

I wheeled around, pointing my finger at him. “You have no right to barge into my sex life! Especially at work!”

He looked down at his feet. “I’m sorry. I snapped and… don’t be angry with me. I was trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need protecting.” I sat down heavily in my chair, opening my laptop even though I knew it was going to be a while before I calmed down enough to focus. “I have work to do, so if you could shut my door on your way out, that would be great.”

“Libby-”

“Leave!” My voice cracked and tears welled in my eyes. “Please, just leave, Ethan,” I whispered.

He stood there for another few seconds before sighing and shutting the door softly behind him. The words on my laptop screen blurred as my tears threatened to spill over. What the hell was happening to my life?

He’s in love with you.

A hysterical laugh bubbled up in my throat, but I swallowed it down. This wasn’t funny; it was a disaster.

Not even a month ago, I had been dumped because Justin didn’t like that I’d be living with my male best friend, and now I was in the middle of some bizarre love triangle with my boss and my best friend. The image of them facing off in Leo’s office flashed through my mind, and my chest tightened.

I buried my face in my hands, trying to steady my breathing.

“Stop it,” I muttered to myself, but it was no use. The dam broke, and I found myself sobbing quietly at my desk, my shoulders shaking with the effort to keep it silent.

Ethan meant everything to me, and if it came down to a choice, it should, no questions asked, be him. But then there was Leo. While I didn’t know him that well yet, I felt this undeniable pull toward him, no matter how much he got under my skin.

How could I be feeling things for both of them? What kind of person did that make me?

I knew I was having foolish thoughts—people could have feelings and love more than one person—but the guilt and feelings of uncertainty were still there.

A knock at the door made me jump. “Libby? Are you okay?” It was Carter, and I hastily wiped my eyes, trying to compose myself.

He had conveniently forgotten his tablet when we went to lunch and still wanted to show me the photos from the weekend. Lunch with him had been nice and he’d definitely been a flirt, but I didn’t feel anything for him other than perhaps becoming friends.

“I’m fine!” I called out, wincing at how obviously not fine I sounded. There was no point in trying to hide it now. He’d probably heard everything anyway. “Come in.”

The door cracked open, and Carter’s worried face appeared. “You don’t sound fine.” He slipped inside, shutting the door behind him. “What’s going on?”

I opened my mouth to brush it off, to say it was nothing, but instead, I found myself spilling everything. The confusion, the guilt, the anger—it all came pouring out in a jumbled mess of words and fresh tears.

When I finally ran out of steam, he gave me a sympathetic smile. “It’s okay to be confused. You’re human, and sometimes, we catch feelings for more than one person at a time. It doesn’t make you a bad person. Isn’t your brother in a multi-person relationship?”

“Yes, but they wanted that from the beginning. Ethan and Leo hate each other.” I took a deep breath, feeling some of the tension leave my body. “What am I supposed to do?”

Carter shrugged. “Kick them to the curb and date me instead.”

I laughed and wiped my nose. “Carter…”

“Don’t worry, I know when I’m not wanted. Story of my life.” He smiled, even though it was forced. “Anyway, do you want to see these pictures? I can send them to you instead since Ethan’s feelings for you are a sensitive subject right now and his feelings are very clear in these photos.”

“Sending them to me would probably be better. I don’t know if I can emotionally handle them at the moment… and thank you, Carter.”

He winked as he stood. “Anytime, princess.”

I couldn’t help but smile as he left my office.

I left work feeling emotionally drained. Not just from the situation with Ethan and Leo, but from a job I felt I wasn’t the least bit prepared for.

I had absolutely no clue how to be a program director of a community center, and it had been painfully obvious when I spent the afternoon trying to figure out what positions were needed and their job descriptions. On top of that, knowing I was going to have to supervise whoever I hired was a lot. Imagining myself firing someone who wasn’t up to par was enough to give me hives.

In time, I knew I’d figure it out, but right then, I wanted to march right up to my brother and tell him he was insane for wanting me in that role. At least he’d had enough brains not to make me the foundation director.

And now I had to deal with my incompetence in my personal life.

As I approached my condo, a knot formed in my stomach. Ethan would be home, and I’d have to face him and the feelings that had put distance between us. It would either push us further apart or bring us together in a way that I was scared shitless about.

What if we tried for more than friends and it didn’t work out? What if I couldn’t ignore my feelings for Leo? What if everyone left me, just like they always did?

Taking a deep breath, I unlocked the door and stepped inside. Ethan was sitting on the couch, staring at the blank TV screen. He looked back over his shoulder as I kicked my shoes off and dropped my bags on the console table.

“Hi.” His voice was soft and uncertain. “Can we talk?”

I nodded, joining him on the couch. We sat in awkward silence for a moment, the tension between us growing.

Ethan finally broke the silence. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have confronted Leo like that, but Lib… he’s…”

“He’s a womanizer? I’m aware of his history.”

“But you’re not aware. I’m not sure how much of that conversation you heard, but he didn’t even remember when we almost…”

“Almost what?”

“Slept together after the company Christmas party... We were drunk and he wanted to go up to his room. He passed out as soon as we were there.” He reached for my hand, which I pulled away. “I should have told you.”

I stood, my frustration bubbling over. “So, that’s why you’ve been a complete asshole to him? Because you wanted him?”

Ethan got to his feet. “I’ve been an asshole to him because I’m fucking in love with you!”

“Well, you have a really great way of showing it.” I turned to leave but didn’t get very far before he spun me around and his lips met mine.

For a moment, I was frozen, my mind racing to catch up with what was happening. Then, a rush of warmth spread through my body as if my feelings for him were finally being unraveled.

His lips were soft, yet insistent, and I gripped his shirt as his hands went to my waist, pulling me closer. He was still Ethan, my best friend, but now he was something more. Something exhilarating and terrifying all at once.

The room spun around us, my world tilting as I let myself get swept up in the moment. His hands moved up to cup my face, and I felt the urgency in his kiss, the pent-up emotions finally breaking free.

But even as I kissed him back and let myself melt into his embrace, there was a nagging voice in the back of my mind.

What about our friendship? What about all the risks and complications that came with crossing this line?

Guilt gnawed at me, but so did desire. I wanted this, wanted him, more than I’d ever admitted to myself. But I was also scared of what this meant, and of how it could change everything.

I pulled back slightly, my breath catching in my throat. “Ethan, we can’t...” I whispered, my voice hoarse with desire and doubt. “I mean, I want to, but...”

Ethan’s forehead rested against mine, his eyes closed as if he was savoring the moment. “Libby,” he sighed, his voice thick with emotion. “I know we’ve got a lot going on, and I’m scared too, but I can’t keep pretending what I feel isn’t real.”

I felt like I was standing on the edge of a cliff, looking down into the unknown. One step forward could mean freefall, but it could also mean flight.

He took a step back, giving me space. “We don’t have to figure everything out right now, okay? We can take this slow.”

“I think I need some air.” I rushed to the entryway, hastily slipping on my shoes and grabbing my purse, my mind still reeling from what had just happened.

“Libby!” Ethan called after me, his voice concerned with a hint of desperation.

But I couldn’t stay. I needed space, air, and time to process the whirlwind of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. Without looking back, I yanked open the door and bolted into the hallway.

I quickly walked to the elevator and jabbed at the button repeatedly, silently willing the elevator to arrive faster.

Ethan hadn’t come after me, and for that, I was grateful. I felt like complete trash for running, but I needed a minute or two. I hoped a quick trip to the lobby would be enough. Then, I could deal with everything like a well-adjusted adult who wasn’t completely terrified of love and the potential loss that love brought.

The soft ding of the arriving elevator was like music to my ears. As the doors slid open, I lunged forward, ready to escape, but collided with Leo, who was exiting.

“Whoa there.” Leo’s strong hands steadied me, his eyes turning from amused to concerned. “Where’s the fire?”

Of all the people I could have run into, it had to be him.

“I... I was...” I stammered, trying to regain my composure. But my mind was blank, unable to come up with a coherent reason I was panicking.

Leo’s eyebrows furrowed as he took in my flustered state. “Are you okay?” His tone softened with genuine concern.

I nodded quickly, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. “Fine! I’m fine. I... need some fresh air.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, clearly not buying it. “Didn’t you just get home?”

I bristled at his questioning, my earlier frustration with him resurfacing. “I wasn’t aware I needed your permission to go for a walk, Leo,” I snapped.

He held up his hands in surrender, a smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. “Easy, princess. I’m not trying to stop you. But if you’re looking for company...” He left the invitation hanging in the air between us.

“No. I need to be alone.” I moved into the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor. “I’ll be back in a bit.”

I thought he wasn’t going to listen, but he stepped out of the elevator. “I’ll order us dinner.”

The door closed before I could argue, and I leaned back against the elevator wall, exhausted.

Chapter 15

Red Flags Waving

Leo

The urge to run after Libby and make her forget whatever was on her mind was strong, but I knew I shouldn’t. After she’d gotten back from lunch and overheard Ethan threatening me, she’d shut herself inside her office for the rest of the day. I hadn’t even had the chance to check in on her with all my scheduled meetings.

She was going for a walk for a reason, and I was probably part of it. The other part… well, I had been trying not to think about him. I didn’t stand a chance against a man like Ethan.

Putting my business face back on, I walked into the condo to find the man in question slumped on the couch, his fingers buried in his hair like he was about to yank it out.

So, he had been the cause of her running off.

I marched into the living room, dropping my bag on the island on the way. “What did you say to her?”

Ethan didn’t respond besides a slight shake of his head. So, I did what any rational businessman would do in this situation and rounded the couch to stand in front of him.

I kicked his foot to get his attention. “I asked you a question.”

The son of a bitch snorted.

I grabbed a handful of his hair, yanking his head back to look at me. “What. Did. You. Say?”

He batted my hand away. “I kissed her.”

“You… what?” I don’t know why I was so shocked; it wasn’t like I wasn’t aware he was in love with her.

“I kissed her, and she ran.” He went back to gripping his hair.

“And you let her?” I started pacing on the other side of the coffee table. It was better to have a barrier between us. “Why didn’t you go after her?”

He threw his hands up in frustration. “I don’t know, Leo. Maybe because I know her well enough to know when to back off?”

My jaw clenched. Part of me was relieved that Ethan had finally made a move—at least now everything was out in the open. But another part of me, a selfish, possessive part, felt like I’d been punched in the gut. My chances with Libby were already slim, and now they had dwindled to practically zero.

But that was right where they should have been. I wasn’t good enough for her, but that didn’t stop me from latching on to the tiny tendril of hope that maybe I was… or could be.

“And you know her so well?” I was unable to keep the bitterness from my voice.

Ethan’s head snapped up, his eyes blazing. “What would you know about it? Your idea of knowing a woman is memorizing her bra size.”

His words stung more than I cared to admit. “At least I have experience with women,” I shot back. “How exactly do you plan on satisfying her if you’ve never even touched a woman before?”

As soon as the words left my mouth, I knew I’d crossed a line. Ethan’s face flushed red, a mix of embarrassment and fury. He rose to his feet, all six-foot-three of him towering over me.

“You don’t know a damn thing about me or what I’m capable of,” he growled. “How many women have you left in tears after your one-night stands? How many hearts have you broken?”

What argument did I have for that? He wasn’t wrong, even if I was trying to turn over a new leaf. “Women are complex creatures. They need more than puppy love and stolen kisses.”

“Stop.” Libby’s soft voice cut through the hostility. What had she done? Gone on an elevator ride and come right back?

I stepped back from Ethan, who was practically standing chest-to-chest with me. “I thought you needed a walk.”

Her eyes, usually warm and inviting, now blazed with an intensity that I swear simultaneously made my dick twitch and my balls hide themselves. She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “What I need is for you two to grow the hell up!”

Ethan and I exchanged a glance, momentarily united in our shared surprise and discomfort.

“Do you have any idea what it’s like to be caught in the middle of... whatever this is?” Libby gestured between us, her voice rising. “It’s exhausting! Every time I turn around, you’re at each other’s throats. And for what?”

I opened my mouth to speak, but she cut me off with a sharp look.

“No, I don’t want to hear it. All I see are red flags. Everywhere I look, it’s red flags waving in my face!” She ran a hand through her hair, frustration evident in every movement. “I feel like I’m refereeing a boxing match between two overgrown toddlers.”

I couldn’t deny the truth in her words. We had been acting like idiots, letting our rivalry spiral out of control.

“I’m sorry,” I started, but she held up a hand to silence me.

“Save it, Leo. I’ve heard enough apologies to last a lifetime.” She took a deep breath, and I saw the hurt behind her anger. It made my chest ache in a way I wasn’t used to. “I think you should stay somewhere else.”

For a moment, I was sure I’d misheard her. “What?”

“You heard me,” she said, her voice steadier now. “You have the means to stay anywhere you want.”

It felt like she’d ripped my heart out. “Libby, come on. That’s not necessary-”

“It is necessary. I can’t deal with this behavior anymore. It’s not fair to me, and it’s not fair to anyone who has to be around you two.”

Ethan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. “Libby, I-”

“No, Ethan. You’re not off the hook either.” She turned to face him, and I saw him flinch. “You’re both responsible for this.”

She looked between us one last time, disappointment evident in her eyes. “I need some space. From both of you.”

With that, she turned on her heel and stormed off to her room, leaving Ethan and me standing in stunned silence.

The sound of her door slamming echoed through the condo, making me wince. I looked at Ethan, expecting to see triumph in his eyes at my impending departure. Instead, I saw the same shock and regret that I felt.

“Well,” I said, breaking the silence. “I guess that’s that.”

Ethan nodded, running a hand over his face. “Yeah, I guess so.”

We’d both royally fucked up, and I had no idea how to fix it.

Being told to leave hurt more than expected, and I found myself unable to sleep. My hope was that in the morning, Libby would cool off enough to change her mind. It wasn’t like I would be staying that much longer anyway.

But I wanted to.

I’d suddenly found myself wanting to be at home instead of elsewhere, but now I’d fucked that up. I’d never considered myself a lonely person until I started living with Libby and Ethan.

Knowing I wasn’t going to fall asleep anytime soon, I reached over to turn on the lamp to find it out. With a sigh, I grabbed my phone, turning on the flashlight so I didn’t run into anything on the way to turn on the main light.

I flipped the switch, and nothing happened. “Well, shit.”

Were Friday night power outages going to be a new amenity for the building? I looked at my messages, and sure enough, there was one from the building saying power would be restored as soon as possible.

I stepped out of my room and into the hallway, the light from my phone guiding me through the darkness. The condo was eerily quiet, save for the soft padding of my bare feet against the hardwood floor. As I made my way toward the kitchen, a distressed cry cut through the silence.

“Ryker? Ryker!”

My heart skipped a beat. It was Libby, and she sounded terrified. Without hesitation, I changed course and headed toward her room.

As I reached her door, Ethan emerged from his room, looking disheveled and worried. “I’ve got this.”

I frowned, confused by his certainty. “What’s going on?”

Ethan shook his head, trying to reach around me for the doorknob. “It’s complicated. I’ll handle it.”

But I couldn’t walk away. Not when Libby sounded so distraught. I gently knocked on the door before pushing it open, ignoring Ethan’s frustrated sigh.

The beam from my phone’s flashlight cut through the darkness, revealing a sight that made my chest tighten. Libby was curled up in a ball on her bed, her body shaking with sobs. Her hair was a mess, sticking to her tear-stained face, and she looked so small and vulnerable that it physically hurt to see her like that.

“Libby?” I called out softly, taking a step into the room.

Before I could get far, Ethan shoved past me, making a beeline for the bed. Without hesitation, he climbed in next to Libby, pulling her into his arms. She immediately latched onto him, burying her face in his chest.

“Shh, it’s okay,” Ethan murmured, his voice taking on a gentleness I’d never heard from him before. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

Libby’s words came out in a jumbled mess between sobs. “The lights... they’re out... I can’t... Ryker... please...”

I stood there, frozen, feeling like an intruder in this intimate moment. It was clear that Ethan knew exactly what to do and how to comfort her. It was equally clear that I had no place here.

As I watched Ethan stroke Libby’s hair, whispering soothing words into her ear, a mix of emotions swirled inside me. Confusion, concern, and a twinge of jealousy. I wanted to be the one comforting her, but I didn’t know how. I didn’t even know what was wrong.

“It’s just a power outage,” Ethan said softly, his eyes meeting mine over Libby’s head. There was a clear message in his gaze: I told you I’d handle this.

I nodded, feeling useless and out of place. “Do you... do you need anything?” I wanted to help in some way.

Ethan shook his head slightly, still cradling Libby against him. “We’re good. Thanks, Leo.”

I couldn’t bring myself to leave, so I stood there, watching as Libby’s sobs gradually subsided into hiccups. It was obvious that this was far more than a fear of the dark.

Ethan scooted down in the bed until they were both lying there entwined in each other’s arms. They settled into the mattress, their bodies intertwined in a way that told me this wasn’t his first time holding her like that.

Before I could second-guess myself, I made a decision. I wasn’t going to give up so easily.

Taking a deep breath, I approached the bed. Ethan’s eyes widened as he realized what I was about to do, but I ignored his warning glare.

I set my phone on the nightstand, the flashlight casting a soft glow across the room.

“Leo, what are you-” Ethan started, but his protest died on his lips as I climbed onto the bed behind Libby.

Her body stiffened as I positioned myself behind her, and for a moment, I worried I’d made a huge mistake. But I was there now, and I had to see this through. “Is this okay?”

“No,” Ethan said firmly, at the exact same moment Libby whispered, “Yes.”

I was unsure of how to proceed. Libby’s body was still rigid against mine, but she hadn’t pushed me away. Ethan, on the other hand, looked like he wanted to throttle me.

The silence that followed was possibly the most awkward I’d ever experienced in my life. I swallowed hard, wondering if I should say something, do something, or get up and leave.

“We didn’t have electricity sometimes when I was younger… and I’d wake up to noises in the middle of the night and it would be so dark…” Libby’s body relaxed, and the movement wedged Ethan’s hand between her back and my bare chest. “Ryker would tell me stories until I fell back asleep.”

I ran a comforting hand down her arm. “Where were your parents?”

“Never knew my dad, and my mom…” She sighed and leaned back into me, uncaring that she was causing Ethan’s arm to rub right against one of my nipples. I could have moved away but didn’t.

“You don’t have to tell me more if it makes you uncomfortable.” I honestly hadn’t expected her to say anything about what had caused her to yell for her brother.

“It doesn’t make me uncomfortable as much as it makes me sad for that little girl and boy… my mom was usually either high or out securing her next fix.” Libby rolled onto her back so she could see me. “I haven’t had a nightmare in a long time, and waking up to my nightlight being out… I thought I was right back in that place.”

I moved some stray strands of hair behind her ear. “The stress from two idiots probably didn’t help.”

“No… it didn’t.” She took my hand, held it to her cheek, and reached for Ethan’s hand. “Thank you.”

I moved my thumb across her bottom lip. Fuck. I wanted to kiss her so bad and take any thoughts of her nightmare away, but that would cause more problems, right?

Screw it.

I leaned in and brushed my lips over hers.

Chapter 16

No Regrets

Ethan

Shock. That was the only word that came to mind when Leo started to kiss Libby right in front of me. Who did this guy think he was?

She’d literally just told him something that made her vulnerable and now he was shoving his tongue down her throat? I was about to do something about it, when she turned her head toward me, grabbed a handful of my hair, and pulled me to her lips.

I shouldn’t have been shocked that this was the direction Libby chose to take things, but I was. It’s one thing to read about it or be an outside observer to a woman with more than one man, but something else entirely being faced with the situation.

My brain could barely process the fact that I was kissing a woman and getting hard from it. On top of that, there was another man watching. A man who made me inexplicably angry and who I had almost slept with in a drunken stupor.

Libby’s tongue pushed into my mouth, and I groaned as our kiss deepened. I almost forgot Leo was lying right next to us until he grabbed my hand and moved it to Libby’s breast.

It fit perfectly in my hand, and I circled her nipple with my thumb through her shirt. She arched into my touch, and all of my doubts that this might be a bad idea vanished.

I broke our kiss, moving my lips below her ear. “Is this too fast?”

“No.” Her voice was pleading, and she turned her head, giving me better access to her neck. “Too slow.”

Leo chuckled next to us, and I looked up, finding his heated eyes locked on us. My cock thickened even more, and I let my eyes take him in.

He was attractive, I had to give him that. His dark hair was disheveled, and he was a few days past where he normally kept his facial hair. His body was more muscular than mine, but not in a bulky way, and the thick bulge behind his boxer briefs promised a fun ride.

“Do you want me to leave?” Leo was looking at me, not at Libby.

“That’s not my decision.” I returned to kissing Libby’s neck, not liking that my immediate thought was no.

“It’s both of yours, but…” He left the rest unsaid since we both knew he was referring to it being my first sexual interaction with a woman.

Was I a little nervous? Sure, but I’d studied up on some things and was fairly confident. Besides, Libby could show me if I got lost.

I pulled up Libby’s shirt, exposing her chest. She was absolutely perfect, and my mouth watered at the thought of taking her nipples in my mouth. Would she like them bitten? Because I sure as fuck would like to do that.

“I need to know-”

“Stay. Someone needs to show you how it’s done.” I latched onto one of her nipples, and she gasped, her hands going to my hair.

I couldn’t get enough of Libby’s soft skin, her sweet scent, the little gasps she made as I lavished her nipples with attention. I was so focused on exploring her body that I barely noticed when Leo slipped off her shirt and panties, leaving her completely bare.

I pulled back for a moment, taking in the sight of her. She was absolutely stunning, and I wanted to taste every inch of her.

Leo, now naked as well, was watching me with a hungry look in his eyes. I felt a strange mix of excitement and apprehension, but I pushed it aside. This was about Libby, and if I focused on making her feel good, nothing else mattered.

I hooked my thumbs into the waistband of my shorts and boxers, shimmying them off and tossing them to the floor.

Libby’s eyes were wide with anticipation, her breath coming in quick pants. I leaned down to kiss her again, and she melted into me. I felt Leo shifting on the bed, moving down toward the foot of it. I broke the kiss, looking down to see him settling between Libby’s legs, a wicked grin on his face.

“What are you-” I started, but Libby cut me off with a moan as Leo began to kiss her inner thighs.

“Oh, God.” She gasped, her hands gripping the sheets.

I watched, fascinated, as Leo trailed kisses up her thighs, his hands gently spreading her legs wider. I felt a strange sense of curiosity and arousal, watching another man touch her like this. It was something I’d never considered before, but it felt… right.

Libby’s hips bucked as Leo’s tongue found her center, a low moan escaping her lips. I wanted to make her feel that good too, so I moved down to join Leo.

He looked at me, a question in his eyes, but I started on her other thigh, mirroring Leo’s movements. I was pretty sure I could figure out things on my own, but now that we were in this situation, I was glad he was there.

Clearly, the pheromones in the room had done something to my brain.

Heat radiated from Libby’s body, and I could hear how wet she was as Leo’s tongue worked her. I moved closer, my tongue joining his. I’d never tasted something so sweet, and I wanted more.

Trying to find a rhythm that worked for both of us was a little awkward at first, but soon enough, we were working together like we’d done this before. Leo pulled back, replacing his tongue with two fingers inside her.

Libby’s moans filled the room, her hips chasing his fingers. She was getting closer, her body tensing, her breath coming in quick gasps. She cried out, her body convulsing as she came hard against my mouth and around Leo’s fingers.

We slowed our movements, bringing her down gently. I looked up at Libby, her face flushed, her eyes glazed over with pleasure. I’d never seen her look so beautiful.

I glanced over at Leo as he brought his fingers to his lips and sucked them. Holy fuck, that was hot.

He smirked and my eyes dropped to his lips. The urge to kiss him was so overwhelming, I sat up before I did.

Leo moved up Libby’s body, settling between her legs as he kissed her. I rubbed her calf, suddenly nervous about what was next. This was Libby’s first time with two men and my first time with a woman. And Leo? Who knew with him? He seemed to be a seasoned pro.

After a solid minute of making out, Leo broke the kiss. “What do you want, Elizabeth?”

He really needed to not call her that in his sexiest voice, because it made me wish my name was Elizabeth.

Libby looked at me. “Ethan?”

“I’m not ready to um… you know.” I gestured to her crotch and then mine.

Leo rolled off of her and she sat up, cupping my cheek. “Are you ready for me to suck your cock, then?”

My ability to formulate a coherent thought left me, and I could only nod. She kissed me as she wrapped her hand around my cock.

Shit. Her hand wrapped around my cock was enough to make me see stars. “Stand up.”

I was pretty sure I might actually combust. I was so overwhelmed and so turned on, that I could barely think straight. Her mouth was about to be wrapped around my cock, and I felt like it was my first time getting a blow job.

Standing on shaky legs, I turned back toward the bed, noticing that Leo was gone. Where had he gone? The thought was quickly forgotten because Libby positioned herself on her hands and knees, her mouth mere inches from my cock.

“Fuck, Libby,” I groaned, my head falling back as she took me into her mouth.

The warmth, the wetness, the sheer fucking pleasure of it was indescribable. I looked back down, watching as she worked me, her lips sliding up and down my shaft. It was better than I had ever imagined, and I’d been imagining it a lot lately.

Leo walked back into the room, a string of condoms in his hand. He ripped one off and tore open the packet, his eyes locked onto where Libby’s mouth met my body. I should have felt like he was intruding or even be jealous that he was about to fuck her, but all I felt was an intense wave of arousal.

He rolled the condom onto his cock, his eyes never leaving us. There was a hunger in his gaze, and I couldn’t look away.

Libby’s mouth felt incredible, but watching Leo, seeing the effect we were having on him, intensified everything. He climbed onto the bed behind Libby, his hands caressing her ass. She moaned around my cock, the vibration sending a jolt of pleasure through me.

I reached out, tangling my fingers in her hair, guiding her gently as she took me deeper. Her eyes flicked up to mine, and the desire there made my legs tremble.

Leo positioned himself, his hands gripping her hips. His eyes met mine as he slowly fed his cock into her pussy.

I was so consumed by the sight of Libby, the feel of her mouth, and by the knowledge that Leo was inside her, that I could barely breathe. My orgasm was building already, the tingling at the base of my spine a clear warning. But I didn’t want this to end, not yet.

Leo began to move, his hips thrusting slowly at first, then picking up speed. Libby moaned around my cock, and I gripped her hair tighter, my hips involuntarily thrusting forward, fucking her mouth gently.

“Your mouth feels so good.”

“You look so sexy with Ethan’s cock in your mouth, princess.” Leo punctuated his words with a sharp smack on her ass.

Libby took me deeper, and I gasped, my hands tightening in her hair. “Oh, God,” I choked out as her throat moved around me.

“You like that, Ethan? You like seeing me turn her ass red for you?”

I nodded. I did like it, more than I thought I would.

Leo smacked her ass again, this time on the other cheek. Libby moaned, her eyes squeezed shut as she pulled almost all the way off my dick before taking me all the way to the back of her throat.

My hips moved of their own accord, matching the rhythm of Leo’s thrusts. “You’re taking me so deep. It feels so fucking good.”

“Your pussy feels amazing. I can feel you gripping me, begging for more.” He smacked her ass again, harder this time, and Libby cried out, her body trembling.

I was close, too close. The sight of them, the sounds, the feelings, it was all too much. I tried to hold back and make it last longer, but I was losing the battle. “I’m not going to last much longer.”

Leo reached around, his fingers finding Libby’s clit. She jerked, her body tensing, and I knew she was close too. Leo’s fingers moved in quick circles, his hips never stopping their relentless pace.

“Come for us, princess,” Leo commanded, his voice rough. “Come all over my cock while Ethan fills your mouth.”

Libby’s body convulsed, her orgasm ripping through her. She screamed around my cock, the sound muffled. The sensation was too much, and I came hard, my body shaking as I spilled into her mouth.

Leo tensed behind her, slamming into her one last time. He groaned, his head falling back, his hips moving in small circles as he rode out his orgasm.

I stumbled back as Libby and Leo collapsed onto their sides, still connected. My legs weak, I sat down on the edge of the bed, trying to catch my breath.

“Come here.” Libby patted the spot in front of her, and I maneuvered my body to lay flush against hers. “Are you okay?”

“Better than.” I kissed her gently.

With a grunt, Leo got up and headed into the bathroom, returning moments later minus the condom and with a washcloth.

We lay there in silence for a moment, the only sound our ragged breaths as Leo cleaned between her legs. It surprised me how thoughtful he’d been this whole time, asking for consent and taking care of her.

“Well…” Libby’s voice was still breathless. “I can’t believe we just did that.”

Leo lay back down behind her, his hand lazily caressing her hip. “You don’t regret it, do you?”

“No,” we both said in unison.

Leo kissed her shoulder. “Good,” he murmured. “Because I have a feeling we’ll be doing this again.”

This was the beginning of something wild and intense, something... more. And even though I wasn’t completely sold on the idea of Leo, I found that in my post orgasmic state, I didn’t care.

Chapter 17

Just a Natural

Libby

Being sandwiched between two men and being so comfortable that I didn’t want to move was a tough position to be in. Especially when I had to pee.

I moved back a little, which caused Leo to make an annoyed noise in his throat, but he rolled onto his back. Then there was Ethan who was using my boob as a pillow and had a leg between mine. As careful as I could be, I scooted out from under him and somehow managed to get out of bed without kneeing someone in the balls.

Looking down at the two sleeping men, I couldn’t stop my smile and had to cover my mouth to stop my giggle. I’d had a threesome. Sweet little Libby had been spit-roasted, and I’d loved every second of it.

Had the idea crossed my mind every so often given my reading tastes? Yes, yes it had. However, being with more than one man seemed like a lot of work. It already was a lot of work with them.

What if they made me choose between them?

My smile faltered and I quickly locked myself in my bathroom. I needed to get my head on straight and decide what I really wanted.

Did I have the emotional capacity to handle two men? The risks with both of them were too great to just fall into this casually. There was nothing casual about taking a giant leap to a relationship with Ethan. He’d been my best friend since we were eighteen. He knew practically everything about me and now he knew what I looked and sounded like when I came. I didn’t think we could go back from that even if one of us wanted to.

And Leo? He woke up something inside me that I didn’t even know was there. I wasn’t confrontational even on a bad day, but something about him made me comfortable enough to show that side of myself.

Twenty minutes later, I stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a towel and feeling somewhat refreshed. Leo was gone, but Ethan was sitting up against the headboard, scrolling through his phone. My heart did a little flip at the sight of him.

“Hey.” Greeting Ethan should not have felt so awkward.

He looked up, his eyes widening slightly as they took me in, a small smile forming on his lips. “Hey.”

I padded over to my dresser, suddenly very aware that I was only in a towel. “Where’s Leo?”

“He got a call and muttered something about a work emergency. I don’t think it’s the foundation, though, but who knows.”

I started toward my closet, hating to admit to myself that I was a little disappointed Leo had left without at least saying goodbye.

“Come here.” Ethan’s voice had dropped to a rumble, and I stopped in my tracks, glancing back at him with a raised eyebrow. He patted the spot next to him on the bed. “We should talk.”

“Let me get some clothes…”

“What you’re wearing is fine.”

My nipples immediately hardened, and I turned around slowly. “Oh?”

For a moment, we just stared at each other, years of friendship and the events of the night before hanging between us.

Ethan made the first move, the blanket falling away from his naked body as he rose to his feet. His gaze held mine as he stepped closer, his intent clear. I was frozen in place, my excitement and nervousness making me forget how to move.

He stopped in front of me, his hand wrapping around mine that clutched my towel closed. My fingers opened, and the towel pooled at my feet, leaving me bare.

I resisted the urge to cover myself, instead watching the way his pupils dilated as he took me in. He wrapped his hand around the back of my neck as he stepped closer. “You’re so beautiful.”

I reached out, tracing the line of his jaw, and he leaned into my touch, his eyes never leaving mine. Our lips met in a slow kiss, and I melted into him.

This moment between us was too intimate and raw to share with anyone else, and I saw that now. Had I made a big mistake letting Leo be a part of what had happened the night before? I couldn’t think about that now, and I definitely didn’t want to interrupt this moment by bringing up another man.

I angled my head, deepening the kiss and pressing my body close. His hands roamed down my sides to my hips and then to my ass as if he couldn’t get enough of touching me.

Ethan pulled away slightly, his forehead resting against mine. “I feel like a virgin again. If I do something you don’t like, tell me.”

Was it possible to love him even more than I already did? “You’re perfect, but I will.”

He let out a shaky breath, a small smile playing on his lips. “I want to taste you again.”

His words sent a surge of heat through me, and I nodded, unable to find my voice. Ethan dug his fingers into my ass and picked me up, my legs wrapping around him. He carried me to the bed and laid me down, his body covering mine as our kissing turned frantic.

I gasped as Ethan’s lips left mine, his warm breath ghosting over my skin as he trailed kisses down my neck. His hands slid down my body, resting momentarily on my hips before moving further down, grazing my sensitive thighs and spreading them wider.

“Ethan...” I whimpered, needing him to touch me.

He paused, his lips hovering over the curve of my breast. “Tell me what you want.”

I swallowed hard, my body tingling as his fingertips skimmed my inner thighs, edging closer and closer to where I needed him. “I... I want you to... keep going.”

Ethan’s low chuckle vibrated through my body. “I aim to please.” With a quick flick of his tongue over a nipple, he kissed all the way down my body, taking the same path as his hands had.

I arched my back as he nipped next to my belly button, sending a jolt of pleasure straight to my core. His hands gripped my hips, holding me steady as his lips continued their journey, lower and lower.

By the time his mouth reached my aching center, my breath was coming in short, rapid gasps. He flicked his tongue against my clit, sending shockwaves of pleasure coursing through my body. I cried out, my hands grasping at the blankets as his tongue danced over my sensitive bud.

He listened to my body, to the way I gasped and moaned, and adjusted his movements accordingly. He was so attentive and so eager to please that it was almost overwhelming.

I hadn’t expected him to be this good, but then again, this was Ethan—the man who knew me better than anyone else. He had always been able to anticipate my needs and desires… now they were needs and desires of a different kind.

His fingers joined the party, first one then a second as he ate me out.

“Ethan,” I moaned, my voice ragged as I teetered on the edge of release. “I’m close...”

“That’s it. Come for me. Let me feel how much you like this.”

His words were my undoing. With a final flick of his tongue and crook of his fingers inside me, I shattered, crying out his name.

“Ethan,” I gasped, my hands gripping his hair. He looked up at me, a satisfied smirk on his face. “How are you so good at that?”

He shrugged and crawled back up. “I guess I’m just a natural.”

I looked over at the nightstand where Leo had left the strip of condoms. “I bet you’re a natural at something else too…” I didn’t talk to Ethan about his sex life often, but I knew he wasn’t a virgin when it came to another hole.

He let out a shaky breath as he reached for one. “Are you sure? You’ve had a lot of action the last few days.”

I laughed because he was absolutely right; I didn’t even think I’d had sex three times in one week before, let alone three days. “It’s fine. I’ll ice her later.”

Ethan tore open the condom wrapper, his hands trembling slightly. He rolled the condom on and positioned himself between my legs. He hesitated for a moment, and I could see him starting to overthink it.

So, I did what I always did when Ethan got too stuck in his own head—I took matters into my own hands.

Literally.

I reached down and wrapped my hand around his length, guiding him to my entrance. He let out a shaky breath, his eyes fluttering closed as I rubbed the head of his cock against me, coating him in my wetness.

“Libby,” he breathed.

“I want you, Ethan.”

He opened his eyes, looking down at me as he slowly began to push in inch by inch, stretching me in the most delicious way. “Fuck. You feel so good.”

I wrapped my legs around him. “Don’t hold back. I want all of you.”

Something in him snapped at my words, and he gripped my hips, his fingers digging into my flesh as he thrust into me, hard and deep. His eyes never left mine, and there was something primal, something possessive in his gaze.

“You’re mine,” he grunted, his voice barely recognizable. “You’ve always been mine.” He was fucking me like he was claiming me. “Say it. Say you’re mine.”

I gasped, my nails digging into his back. “I’m yours, Ethan.”

He let out a groan, his pace quickening, his thrusts becoming more erratic. I felt my orgasm building again and he moved a hand between us and began circling my clit.

“Oh, God, yes! Like that!” I bucked my hips to meet his thrusts, needing him deeper.

“Come for me, Libby. I want to feel you come all over my cock.”

His words were my undoing, and I shattered around him, my body trembling with the force of my release. He followed me over the edge, burying himself one last time as his body tensed and his cock pulsed inside me. It was the most satisfying orgasm I’d ever had, and I didn’t want it to end.

He stilled and settled between my legs, his forehead coming to rest against mine as we regained our breath. “So... that happened.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah, it did.”

He ran the back of his fingers up and down my arm before taking my hand and entwining our fingers. “I meant what I said before; I’m in love with you.”

“I love you too. I just hadn’t really given a lot of thought to it because you never showed interest in me... or any other woman.”

He squeezed my hand. “I’ve thought about it a lot this past week. I only really have the way I feel towards you to go from, but I’m still not attracted to women… just you.”

“And how are you feeling about that?”

“After last night and this morning, I can’t imagine going back to only being friends.” His eyes were hopeful, yet there was uncertainty there too. “How are you feeling?”

“The same as you. But there’s a problem… I mean, what are we now? Boyfriend and girlfriend? That doesn’t seem like a strong enough label.” I was feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness about all of this. “Partners? Soulmates? Lovers?”

“Anything you want.” He brought our hands to his lips and kissed my fingers. It felt so natural and right that I knew that for us, a label didn’t matter.

I hesitated, trying to decide how to ask the next question. It was probably on his mind too, so I ripped off the Band-Aid. “What about Leo?”

Ethan sighed. “Honestly? I have no fucking clue. I worry about his intentions, and now that we’re going to try this… I don’t know if he fits into that equation.”

My heart dropped, but I nodded. “It was only supposed to be a one-time thing anyway… plus, there’s the whole work situation.” I wasn’t doing a great job at convincing myself that Leo was a quick fling.

“We should get cleaned up and go get breakfast. I’m starving.” Ethan kissed me as he pulled out.

He went into the bathroom, and I lay there for a minute, thinking about the past twenty-four hours. Ethan was right, I didn’t know Leo’s intentions. I couldn’t risk what I had with Ethan to chase some fleeting feeling I got from a man I barely knew.

Chapter 18

Two Bouquets of Red Roses

Leo

There was no work emergency.

I woke up with my arm and leg thrown over Ethan’s instead of Libby’s, and I’d freaked the fuck out. The last thing I needed was to be cuddling with someone who probably still hated my guts. Although, he had suspended that hate for at least one night.

I still couldn’t get the way Libby had been so open and willing to be with us both out of my head. Or the way Ethan had hardly hesitated to please her… or the looks and sounds of pleasure from both of them.

Damn it.

I slid into the booth across from my brother, who was already on his second mimosa. He probably thought he needed them after I frantically started texting him as soon as I was out of the condo.

“You look like shit.” Luca signaled to the waiter who promptly brought me my own drink.

“Do I?” I’d literally thrown on the same clothes from the day before—minus the jacket—and had brushed my teeth.

After downing half the champagne flute, I ran my fingers through my hair. “Long night.”

“I thought those days were over.”

“They are…” Now that I was sitting across from him, I didn’t know why I’d called him instead of Carter. I would have preferred to hash out my feelings with Ryker, but that was not an option seeing as I’d railed his sister for a second time.

Luca stared at me as I opened my menu, considering how to talk about Libby and Ethan without him figuring out who I was talking about. It would be damn near impossible.

“I think we need an NDA for this conversation.” I pulled out my phone, ready to send him a generic one I kept ready at all times.

“I’m not signing a damn NDA.” He reached over the table and snatched my phone. “You’re the one who texted me about ten times this morning asking if I wanted to go to brunch because you needed to talk. So, talk.”

“You can’t tell Paige, Garrett, or Ryker.”

He rolled his eyes. “I swear on my Prince Albert, I won’t tell them… well, unless you are laundering money through the foundation or…” His eyes narrowed. “Tell me you didn’t.”

“It’s not like that.” I finished the rest of my drink and caught the waiter’s eye. I usually hated how we were watched like royalty, but right then, I was grateful for the quickly supplied alcohol.

“Unless you’re putting a ring on it, that’s exactly how it is and exactly how Ryker will see it when he finds out. And he will find out, you know that, right?”

I cringed and gave a grateful nod as the waiter set down another glass for me. “The only way he’ll find out is if she tells him, and she won’t.”

“And what about Ethan? Libby will tell him, and I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he doesn’t really like you.”

Jesus, what did Ethan do, talk about hating my guts all day at the office? This was another layer of complication with Ethan working for Ryker and my brother.

Luckily, the waiter returned to take our orders so that I could have a minute. There was really no good way to get around telling my brother everything.

“He knows because he was there too.”

Luca coughed as he swallowed a drink. “What?!”

“He’s in love with Libby, and I really like her. We both were in her room and it just… happened.”

“Who exactly were you with?” he asked carefully.

“Libby. Ethan would rather lick the bottom of his shoe than touch me… and besides, I’m not into that.” Even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. I’d always thought men were attractive but had only explored my bisexuality over the last year. Unfortunately, in both instances I’d been intoxicated.

“I know that you and Ethan went upstairs at the Christmas party.” Luca dropped that tidbit so casually that it made my head spin. Even more surprising was that he hadn’t given me shit about it or mentioned it.

“Nothing happened. I didn’t even know about it until yesterday.” I still wasn’t completely comfortable acknowledging my attraction to men, even to myself.

“Maybe you should try not getting shit-faced before hooking up with a man. Seems to always land you in some sticky situations… and not in the good way.” He was most definitely referring to the yacht incident which had cost me millions of dollars to resolve.

Yet, there I was again, putting myself in another situation with a couple. Libby and Ethan hadn’t declared anything, but it was only a matter of time. This wasn’t the same thing, though; it couldn’t be. They wouldn’t purposely record us with the intention of blackmailing.

“Leo?” Luca’s concerned voice snapped me out of my quickly spiraling thoughts.

“What do you suggest I do? Ask them on a date?”

“Why not? You certainly shouldn’t keep pursuing only Libby if she’s involved with Ethan.” He shook his head in disbelief. “But dude… you slept with Ryker’s sister? I can’t protect you from him.”

“I know.” I put my head in my hands. “I’m a fuck-up.”

“You’re not a fuck-up. Everyone in their twenties makes bad decisions sometimes. Hell, I’m in my thirties, and I still make them occasionally.”

I snorted and dropped my hands from my face. “Yeah, but your bad decisions don’t typically involve sleeping with the wrong people.”

Luca winced. “Fair point. But seriously, beating yourself up about it isn’t going to solve anything. What you need to do now is figure out what you want and how to move forward.”

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t even know where to start trying to date them both, especially Ethan. It’s like trying to make cannoli.”

“Don’t bring cannoli into this.” Luca leaned back in his seat. “It doesn’t have to be complicated… ask them both out.”

I blinked at him. “Ask them out? It’s not that simple. How did you, Garrett, and Ryker come to the conclusion you wanted to share a woman?”

“I don’t like the term share; we don’t divide her up. The feelings grew with time… completely different than your situation. I think you need to show them you’re serious about pursuing something with both of them. Woo them.”

“But what if-”

Luca held up a hand, cutting me off. “No ‘what-ifs.’ You’re overthinking this. They’re already interested enough to sleep with you, right? So, build on that. Show them the Leo I know—the thoughtful, caring guy behind all that bravado.”

I felt a tiny glimmer of hope. Maybe he was right. Maybe I was making this more complicated than it needed to be.

“My biggest piece of advice? Communication is important. Like, ridiculously important. You need to be upfront about your intentions, your feelings, and what you want from them.”

I nodded slowly, absorbing his words. “You’re right. Running away this morning probably wasn’t the best move.”

“Probably not. Tread carefully, okay? This isn’t just about you and your feelings. You’re dealing with two other people’s emotions here.”

As our food arrived, I still had no idea how this would play out, but at least now I had the start of a game plan. A place to start was really all I needed.

I walked down the hall, two bouquets of red roses cradled in my arms. My stomach churned as I approached the condo door. What if Libby still wanted me gone? What if the night before hadn’t changed anything?

I took a deep breath, steeling myself to face whatever was waiting inside. Fumbling with entering my code, I nearly dropped one of the bouquets in the process. Smooth. Real smooth.

Finally managing to unlock the door, I stepped inside.

The living room was quiet except for the sounds of gunfire and explosions coming from the TV. Ethan sat on the couch, controller in hand, completely engrossed in whatever game he was playing. He didn’t strike me as a gamer, but the headset and his focus not wavering as the door shut said otherwise.

There was no sign of Libby.

“Hey.” My voice sounded unnaturally loud.

“Uh, hi.” He paused his game and turned on the couch, rolling his eyes as they landed on the flowers. “Seriously? Roses?”

I should have bought him black roses to match his attitude. “These are for you and Libby.” I held out one of the bouquets toward him.

Ethan stared at me like I’d grown a second head. “For... me?”

“Yes, for you.” I felt more awkward by the second. “I wanted to do something nice for both of you after... you know.”

He set down his controller on the couch and stood up, slowly approaching me as if I might bite. When he finally took the flowers, his expression was a mix of confusion and suspicion. “Thanks, I guess. But why?”

I took a deep breath. It was now or never. Communication was key, and beating around the bush was going to get me nowhere with him. “I was wondering if you’d like to go on a date with me.”

Ethan’s eyebrows shot up so high they nearly disappeared into his hairline. “A date? With you?”

“Yes.” I was trying to keep my voice steady, but fuck, I was a nervous wreck. “An actual date. I was thinking we could go out separately and then we could all go out. Me, you, and Libby.”

He narrowed his eyes. “So, let me get this straight. You woke up this morning, had a ‘work emergency,’ and came back a few hours later with roses wanting to go on dates? Including a date alone… with me.”

“Yes?”

“Is this some kind of joke? Or are you looking to experiment and then forget about it?”

The jab about forgetting our Christmas party fun was well-deserved, but it stung. “Look, if you’re going to be an asshole about it then never mind.” I reached for the roses, and he took a step back with them. “I’m being serious, Ethan.”

Ethan set the flowers down on the island. “First off, I’m not interested in being anyone’s test run. I’ve been down that road before, and it doesn’t end well. Secondly, me and Libby talked this morning and are together now.”

My heart sank because of course they already talked about their feelings and probably agreed to kick me to the curb. “What if we try and see what happens? Look at how happy Paige is with her three men.”

“And how long is that going to last? If anything, it’s a way for all of them to do one third of the work that goes into a relationship. Eventually, it’s not going to work, and Paige will be left to pick up the pieces.”

Why the hell was he so cynical? It was clear as day that each of them gave one hundred percent and also respected being their own people.

“Who the fuck hurt you?”

He studied me for a long moment, and I felt like I was under a microscope. Finally, he sighed dramatically. “Fine, but if at any point I feel like you’re not being genuine, I’m out, and so is Libby.”

It wasn’t a whole-hearted endorsement, but it was a start.

Chapter 19

First Date

Libby

My life was currently making up for all the years of the mundane. For years, I’d been living on autopilot and could easily predict what each day would bring, even in the chaos that was being an elementary school teacher. But stepping foot back in New York City had set off a chain of events that I hadn’t seen coming.

Ethan and I had gone from besties to something more so quickly and seamlessly; it felt like we’d been together for years. It had only been a week since we’d decided to become more than friends, and now we were sleeping in the same bed and making decisions together… as a couple.

One of those decisions sat next to me at the conference table as my brother sat across from us. Every time Ryker looked at me or Leo, I wondered if he could tell we’d slept together twice and were going on a date after work.

I still couldn’t believe Leo had asked not just me out on a date, but Ethan as well. The prospect of the three of us together filled me with a yearning I’d never experienced before… as well as guilt.

There I was, in love with my best friend and entertaining the idea of bringing another man into the situation.

“Libby, you said you had some concerns about the fundraiser?” Ryker kind of looked like a golden retriever when he tilted his head in question, and I bit back the comment. He was my brother, but right then, we were in business mode.

Or at least he and Leo were.

I looked at the projected image of Leo’s yacht with a mockup of where tables would be positioned. “I don’t think it reflects the right message to have a lavish dinner on a yacht where a seat costs ten thousand dollars.”

I knew it would raise a ton of money, but the whole thing made me feel uneasy for some reason.

“That’s the whole point… to raise money. Selling candy bars or wrapping paper door to door isn’t going to cut it for a project of this caliber.” Leo turned slightly toward me, his thigh connecting with mine under the table. “Our goal is to maximize donations utilizing the least number of resources. This is the way we do that.”

I shoved against his knee in annoyance. “We should involve the kids and their families.”

Ryker cleared his throat, his head tilting even more. “How do you suggest we do that?”

“They should be there, and I don’t mean to be servers or whatever. Each school can select two or three of their most deserving students with their parents. We can provide them with transportation to and from the event as well as the funds for clothing.” Thinking of the excitement on those kids’ faces spurred me on. “I can find businesses willing to contribute. Maybe suit or dress rentals. I bet I can find a limousine service willing to donate their time as well.”

Both men were quiet, and I didn’t know if it was to consider my idea or figure out a way to shoot me down without crushing me.

Ryker finally spoke. “That’s a great idea, but a lot to take on. We’re already working with a tight timeline, and adding all these extra elements could complicate things.”

My heart sank. I should have known better than to suggest something so ambitious six weeks before the event. Just as I was about to agree with Ryker, Leo reached over and squeezed my thigh.

“Actually, I think it’s a great idea. If we do it on a smaller scale, maybe one per school this time around, it could work. Having members of the community there and the donors hearing their stories... that’s powerful stuff.”

I turned to look at him, surprised. His eyes met mine, and I saw a softness there that made my stomach do a little flip.

“Really?” I couldn’t keep the shock out of my voice.

Leo nodded, his thumb making a soothing circle against my leg. Too bad there was fabric in the way. “Absolutely.”

Ryker leaned back in his chair, considering. “How do we make this work logistically? There’s not a lot of time and more attendees adds more tables and food needed.”

“We divide and conquer.” Leo tapped his pen a few times on the table. “Libby, you’ll be in charge of contacting the schools and coordinating the student selection process. I’ll reach out to my business contacts about transportation and clothing donations. Ryker, you can speak to the event coordinator about the changes so they can adjust the seating and notify the chef. It might be good if they add a few choices for kids to the offerings.”

Ryker still looked a bit uncertain, but he seemed to be coming around to the idea. “All right. Let’s give it a shot.”

Leo stood up, gathering his things. “I’ve got some calls to make if we’re done here.”

He gave me a subtle wink as he headed for the door, and I felt my cheeks warm slightly. Our date later suddenly felt very real and very soon. It was ridiculous that I was a little nervous considering he’d been inside me twice now.

As Leo opened the conference room door, Ryker cleared his throat. “Actually, Libby, do you mind sticking around for a minute? I wanted to chat with you about something.”

“Uh… sure?”

Leo glanced between us, his expression unreadable. “I’ll catch up with you later, Libby. Ryker, always a pleasure.”

If my brother was unsuspecting before, Leo’s random bout of formality changed that. Ryker glanced behind him with a look of confusion as Leo stepped out and shut the door.

I looked at Ryker, my stomach flipping again. What did he want to talk about? And why did he look so concerned?

Ryker began, leaning forward in his chair. “I’m really proud of you for speaking up. That was a great idea.”

“Thanks, Ry. I was worried it might not be well received…” It was difficult switching from a career where I never felt heard to one where I was a person who had some sway in big decisions.

I could sense he was gearing up to say something else and I prayed it wasn’t about Leo. There hadn’t been any discussion about how to handle my brother if he didn’t like my dating situation.

“How’s the living situation going? Everything okay with you and Ethan?”

My heart rate picked up. Did he know something? Had Ethan said something to him? I mean, Ethan and Ryker were friends too; it wouldn’t be completely out of the ordinary for them to talk.

“It’s going well.” I tried to keep my voice steady. “Why do you ask?”

Ryker’s brow furrowed slightly. “You seem a bit... I don’t know, distracted lately? I wanted to make sure everything was all right at home.”

“Did Ethan tell you anything?”

Now Ryker looked genuinely confused. “Tell me what? Is there something I should know?”

Oh, God. I’d walked right into that, hadn’t I? I closed my eyes for a moment, gathering my courage. When I opened them, Ryker was looking at me with concern etched across his face.

I sighed. “Ethan and I... we’re kind of together now.”

Ryker’s eyebrows shot up. “Together? As in...?”

“As in together. Boyfriend and girlfriend.” I felt a mix of relief and anxiety at finally saying it out loud to someone, especially my overprotective big brother.

“Wow.” Ryker leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his jaw. “That’s... wow. When did this happen?”

“About a week ago. It’s still pretty new, and we’re still figuring things out.” I shrugged like it wasn’t that big of a deal. “I should have seen it coming, honestly.”

“You just got out of a relationship…” Ryker had never liked Justin in the first place.

I scrunched my nose. “It wasn’t a very good one, and that’s why we broke up… because I was going to live with Ethan. Maybe I just never saw that Ethan and I were headed down this path.”

“I bet you’ll be happy when Leo is out of there.” Ryker wasn’t an idiot, and I could tell from his tone of voice and expression that he suspected something.

I wasn’t sure how to react to that. Leo was already supposed to be gone, but after I’d gotten home on Saturday and seen the roses, I’d caved and told him he could stay as long as he needed. Despite that, he’d gone back to not being around much.

The best course of action when it came to my brother was avoiding discussing how I felt about Leo because even I wasn’t quite sure. “He said his tile should clear customs this week and then the following week they will be installed.”

“I’m really sorry about that. It didn’t even cross my mind that there might be delays. I hope he hasn’t made you uncomfortable… because if he has…”

“He hasn’t,” I said a little too quickly. Quickly enough that Ryker’s eyes narrowed. “He’s hardly there.”

“Hm.”

I rolled my eyes and stood. “Stop it.”

“Stop what?” He stood too and his stern look softened. “I’m just checking on my little sister.”

“You are so annoying.” I punched his shoulder on my way to the door. “You don’t have to worry about me.”

He rubbed his shoulder. “Apparently not with a punch like that.”

“Baby.”

I looked over my shoulder as I stepped into the hallway. “If either of them hurt me, you’ll be the first to know.”

His eyes widened, but before he could say anything, I scurried down the hall like a puppy who got caught tearing up a couch cushion.

My first date with Leo started surprisingly well. I hadn’t quite known what to expect from him, but when we pulled up outside of a diner that had the best chicken tenders in the city, I knew it was off to a good start.

I’d been surprised he hadn’t chosen one of the restaurants he was involved with but was grateful he’d taken me somewhere low-key. It wasn’t that I disliked trying new restaurants, I just was a creature of habit. Chicken tenders were that habit.

Leo had ditched his suit jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and was halfway through a giant hamburger. I never knew watching someone eat a hamburger could be such a turn-on.

As I dipped a tender into the ranch that was probably some of the best I’d ever had, I held back a moan. Whoever made it deserved not only their pillow always being cold but a lifetime of puppy snuggles.

Leo chuckled, watching me as I chewed.

“What?” I wiped at my mouth self-consciously. It wouldn’t have surprised me if I was sporting a ranch mustache. “Do I have something on my face?”

“No, you just look like you’re really enjoying that.”

“I am.” I took a sip of my soda. “You’re at a ten on the date scale right now.”

Leo paused, his hamburger halfway to his mouth. “Wait until you see what we’re doing next.”

“There’s more?” I hadn’t expected to do anything other than have dinner.

“Of course. Unless you’re too tired. It’s been a long week.”

“Tired? Please, I’m just getting started.” I popped the last bite of my chicken into my mouth.

“Oh, yeah? Ms. Party Central?”

I snorted. “I’ve never really been into parties, even in college.” There was something about so many people being out of control and under the influence that made me remember all the times I’d seen my mom like that. I would bet Leo probably had enough parties under his belt for the both of us. “When you aren’t working or partying, what do you do for fun?”

“Fun?” He repeated the word as if it were a foreign concept.” I haven’t really been part of the party scene for a while now, and I don’t have much time for hobbies these days.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Really? No secret passion for underwater basket weaving or fridgescaping?”

“Fridgescaping?” He smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “I mostly work, but when I have the time, I like to travel or go to the house in the Hamptons.”

“Why work so much? I mean, you’re clearly successful. Why work so much when you could be out there living it up?”

Leo’s expression shifted, a vulnerability I’d never seen before flickering across his face. “It’s complicated.” He set down his hamburger and leaned back in the booth, his eyes fixed on a point somewhere over my shoulder.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I was just curious.” I hadn’t realized asking about his free time would upset him.

“My dad has always been a hard man to please. Growing up, nothing I did ever seemed to be enough. He built this empire and expects me and Luca to continue to grow it. I’ve always felt the weight of his expectations, but then, of course, I go and make it ten times worse by making bad decisions and have to prove myself all over again.”

“Bad decisions aren’t always so bad.” I reached across the table, placing my hand over his. “You’re pretty accomplished for being so young. Surely, your father must see that.”

He gave a wry smile. “Unfortunately, one lapse in judgment can change everything. But that’s enough about that… what do you do for fun besides reading and playing video games?”

“Those take up most of my free time. I love getting lost in a good book… even if some people don’t think it’s a good use of time.” I could still hear my ex telling me that I read too much, and it wasn’t a good way to spend my life.

“Maybe you can loan me one of your books.”

I popped a fry in my mouth, already running through a list of books I thought he would enjoy. “You sure about that? They’re spicy… sometimes with weird shit like men who can knot and purr to comfort their omega.”

He looked rather concerned. “Sounds… interesting.”

I threw my head back and laughed. Maybe he and Ethan could buddy-read some books together. Their reactions to some of the things I read would be pure entertainment gold.

After we finished eating, we left the diner and walked down the block instead of going to his car. He grabbed my hand, entwining our fingers as we walked.

We approached a quaint bookstore nestled between a coffee shop and a vintage clothing store. The warm glow from the windows beckoned us inside, and I felt a flutter of excitement in my chest.

“We’re going to a bookstore?” Either way, I was excited he’d brought me to a place I loved. I mean, who wouldn’t want to go to a bookstore and browse all the pretty books?

“Of course, unless you’d like to go somewhere else.”

We stopped inside the entrance, and he pulled me to him, kissing me gently. “Anything you can fit in a basket is yours.”

I stared at him, mouth agape. “Are you serious?”

He nodded, his smile widening. “Absolutely.”

“Books are expensive, and-”

He cut me off with another kiss. “Libby, I think I can handle a basket of books.”

“Are you sure? I don’t think you understand how quickly the total can get out of control.” I didn’t want to pick out a bunch of books and have his eyeballs pop out at the register.

He grabbed a basket and handed it to me. “Go, princess.”

With a giddy laugh, I took the basket and made a beeline for the romance section. This was like being a kid in a candy store, except so much better.

I started pulling books off the shelves, barely containing my excitement. The latest release from my favorite author? In the basket. That enemies-to-lovers story I’d been eyeing for weeks? Definitely in. The omegaverse romance everyone had been raving about? You bet that made the cut.

Leo was wandering nearby, picking up books and reading their back covers. The sight of him with a book in his hands, sleeves rolled up, and tie loosened, made me want to find a dark corner and thank him.

He looked up, put the book he was holding back on the shelf, and walked toward me. “What’s that look for?”

“Nothing. Was just writing a naughty bookstore fantasy in my head.”

Leo raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Here, let me carry the basket.”

“Thanks.” Our fingers brushed as he took the basket from me, and it sent tingles up my arm. With that brought mixed feelings about what we were even doing on a date. I knew at some point I needed to bring it up. “So… are you actually serious about dating Ethan too?”

He looked surprised at my question. “I wouldn’t have made a fool of myself asking you both out if I wasn’t.”

“But you two don’t get along.” It seemed they had both forgotten how they were at each other’s throats.

“He has a lot of reasons not to like me, but I don’t have any to not like him. I figure that’s a start, and it helps that you are open to trying this.” He leaned in and kissed my cheek. “You’re an amazing woman.”

I took a deep breath, trying to figure out how to voice my concerns. “I’m glad you’re open to this, but I’m not sure how it’s all going to work.”

Leo set the basket down at his feet and gave me his full attention. “What’s worrying you?”

“Ethan and I have gone from friends to more than so quickly, and it’s amazing, but it’s also a big change. I’m worried about how bringing someone else into the mix might affect that, especially with the dynamic between you two already.”

He nodded, his expression thoughtful. “That’s understandable. It’s a lot of change all at once on top of moving and starting a new job.”

“Yeah.” I was relieved that he seemed to get it. “But I do feel better knowing that Ethan agreed to go on a date with you. It makes me think maybe this crazy idea could actually work.”

A small smile played on Leo’s lips. “I’m glad to hear that. I promise I’ll do my best to make it work.”

“Oh, you better. And let me tell you something, mister.” I poked him playfully in the chest. “You better have a damn good date planned for Ethan. He has high standards for who he lets into his heart. He doesn’t want some polished, perfect version of you either. He wants to see the real Leo.”

He looked more than a little nervous. “And what if the real Leo is a disaster?”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a disaster sometimes. Be yourself. If you remember that, Ethan will come around.”

And I really hoped he would.

Chapter 20

Where’s the Gas Pedal?

Ethan

It had been a long time since I’d been on an actual date, and I hated to admit that I was a little nervous about what Leo had planned. When he’d texted me to wear something casual, I’d been surprised and then spent thirty minutes staring into my closet for something to wear.

Casual could mean such a wide range of things, but I settled on a pair of dark-wash jeans and a plain light-blue T-shirt. It wasn’t like I needed to impress this guy.

Right at six-thirty, Leo knocked on my bedroom door, and I felt ridiculous being picked up by my pseudo-roommate.

I opened the door to find Leo standing there, looking like he’d raided my closet. We were dressed almost the same, except he was wearing a black T-shirt and light jeans.

We stood there for a moment, neither of us quite sure what to do. The air between us crackled with an awkward energy that made me want to crawl back into my room and hide under the covers. Why had I agreed to this?

Leo cleared his throat and offered me his arm like we were about to waltz into some fancy ball. “Shall we?”

I stared at his outstretched arm, fighting the urge to laugh. Or maybe cry. This whole situation was so absurd. “Uh, thanks, but I think I can manage walking on my own.”

Brushing past him, I headed down the hallway, the sound of his footsteps following close behind. The scent of his cologne wafted over me, and damn him for smelling so good.

As we entered the living room, Libby looked up from her spot on the couch, a book open on her lap. Her eyes lit up with amusement as she looked us over.

“Don’t you two look adorable.” A grin spread across her face, and shit, if matching with Leo got this reaction out of her, maybe we’d have to do it more often. “Have fun on your date, boys. And remember to be safe!”

I felt my cheeks heat up at her innuendo. “Lib, please.”

She giggled, clearly enjoying my discomfort. “Don’t worry, I won’t wait up. You crazy kids stay out as late as you want. I have a date with this book and Bob tonight.”

“Bob? Who the hell is Bob?” Leo crossed his arms over his chest.

“Her battery-operated boyfriend.” I patted him on the chest.

I walked over to the couch and leaned down to give Libby a kiss goodbye. “You sure you don’t want to come with us?” I was half-joking and half-serious. Having her there would make this whole thing a lot less awkward.

She shook her head. “Nope, this is your date.”

I straightened up, turning back to face Leo. “Ready to go?”

He nodded, hesitating a moment like he wanted to walk over to the couch to Libby, but instead, he gave her a small wave and then gestured toward the door. “After you.”

As I headed for the door, I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell I’d gotten myself into. I was going on a date with a man who’d been driving me crazy and making my blood boil for weeks. To make it all ten times worse, I couldn’t seem to get him out of my head since the night we’d had with Libby.

God help me, I was in trouble.

We took the elevator down to the parking garage in silence, and I wondered if I was going to have to be the source of all entertainment for the night. He seemed so nervous, which was unnerving when the guy practically oozed confidence in his sleep.

I followed him to his parking bay, my eyes widening as we approached the sleek blue Lamborghini. I’d seen it before, but it never failed to impress.

“Nice ride.” I tried to sound nonchalant, even though I was more than excited to ride in it.

Leo smirked, fishing the keys out of his pocket. “Want to drive?”

I blinked rapidly and looked between him and the car, sure I’d misheard him. “What?”

“Do you want to drive?” He dangled the keys in front of me.

Was he actually serious? When he didn’t move from where he held out his keys, I knew this wasn’t a joke. He was going to let me drive his expensive as fuck car. A mischievous idea popped into my head, and before I could think better of it, I snatched the keys from his hand.

“Sure, why not?” I tried my best to keep a straight face.

As we settled into the car, I couldn’t help but run my hands over the leather steering wheel. It was a gorgeous machine, and part of me felt a little guilty for what I was about to do. But only a little.

I pressed a random button on the steering wheel and then sat there.

Leo looked at me expectantly. “Everything okay?”

I turned to him with wide, innocent eyes. “So, uh, which one’s the gas pedal again?”

The color drained from Leo’s face. “You’re joking, right?”

I furrowed my brow, doing my best to look confused. “No? I mean, I’ve driven before, but it’s been a while. And never anything this fancy.” I reached out and started randomly pressing buttons on the dashboard. “What does this one do?”

“Ethan, stop!” Leo’s hand shot out to grab mine. “Maybe I should drive.”

I bit the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. “I’ve got this. It’s like riding a bike, right?” I finally pressed the ignition button to turn it on and giggled with deranged glee.

“Um-”

I pressed the gas with it still in park, and the engine revved. “Whoa! It’s so loud! Why isn’t it moving?”

Leo’s knuckles were white as he gripped the handle of the door. “Ethan, I swear to God—”

I couldn’t hold it in any longer. A snort escaped me, quickly followed by full-blown laughter. Leo’s panicked expression morphed into one of confusion, then realization, and finally, amusement.

“You asshole,” he said, but there was no real heat behind it. “I can’t believe I fell for that.”

I wiped tears from my eyes, still chuckling. “Your face was priceless. I thought you were going to have a heart attack.”

Leo shook his head, his smile making his whole face and demeanor look different. “I’m surprised you didn’t drive us straight into a wall to really sell it.”

“Nah, I wouldn’t do that to this beauty.” I patted the dashboard affectionately.

As our laughter died down, I noticed Leo looking at me with an expression I couldn’t quite read. It made my stomach clench in a way I didn’t want it to, and I quickly turned my attention back to the car.

“So, where to?” I hoped like hell he hadn’t noticed the slight flush creeping up my neck.

Leo pressed a few buttons on the display in the car to pull up the GPS. “It’s a surprise.”

I raised an eyebrow as I saw the marina come up on the screen. “The marina? We’re going on your yacht?”

“I’m not telling.” Leo typed a few things on his phone and one of my favorite singers came on. “Now, drive.”

I pulled up to the valet stand at the marina. “We’re totally going on the yacht.”

While I was impressed, it also seemed a bit much for a first date. It took a lot to take an eight-five-foot yacht out on the water for a casual evening.

Leo looked far too pleased with himself. “Surprise.”

I shook my head, trying to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “This is too much. I thought we were going for casual.”

“This is casual.” He was already getting out of the car, and I followed. “We aren’t taking her out.”

I reluctantly handed the keys to the valet and followed Leo down the dock. The Holy Cannoli loomed before us, all sleek lines and gleaming white paint. I’d been on it before, but never like this.

Never on a date. Alone.

“Welcome aboard, sir.” A man in a suit greeted us at the end of the gangway leading onto the yacht. “Everything is prepared for you on the flybridge, and dinner will be served shortly. Please let me know if you need anything else.”

“Thank you, Tom.” Leo gave him a firm handshake as we passed.

“Seriously, Leo,” I tried again as we approached a staircase. “This is-”

Leo stopped in front of me and turned around. “If you say ‘too much’ one more time, I’m going to push you into the water.”

I held up my hands in surrender. “Fine, fine. Wouldn’t want to make the rumors about you and Luca turning people into fish food true.”

He rolled his eyes and turned back to the stairs, leading me up to one of the several decks.

The yacht wasn’t as deserted as I’d expected. A few crew members bustled about. “I thought the boat would be empty.”

Leo shrugged, leading me across a deck and toward more stairs. “Someone’s using it for the next week. The staff is getting things ready.”

I nodded, trying to ignore the tiny pang of disappointment. For a moment, I’d imagined it was all for us, which was ridiculous because the last thing I wanted was to be completely alone with him… right?

We made our way up to the top deck, and the view was spectacular. The sun was starting to set, painting the sky in brilliant oranges and pinks. But what caught my eye was the cozy seating area that had been set up, complete with a picnic spread on a coffee table.

I stepped beside him and nudged him with my elbow. “This is proposal level romantic, Leo. At least suck my cock first.”

“Oh, uh…” He rubbed the back of his neck and looked around at what he’d had set up for us. Clearly, he wasn’t ready for joking about that yet, and it gave me a good idea of where he stood with it.

Damn it, why was I now picturing him on his knees for me? I was here for Libby because she wanted to give him a chance. I wasn’t here to be wooed. “I was kidding. It’s perfect.”

“I’m glad you approve. Shall we?” He gestured to the seating area, ever the gentleman.

I settled onto the L-shaped couch, trying not to think about how intimate this all felt. Leo sat across from me, reaching forward and pulling the lid off a tray that had a charcuterie board.

“What would you like to drink?” He stood and went to a bar cart that had been set up with every beverage imaginable, including alcohol. “They’ll be serving us salmon for dinner, so I have a Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc if you want wine.”

“Whatever you’re having.”

Leo poured us each a glass of the Pinot Noir like he was a top sommelier. As he handed me my glass, our fingers brushed, and I desperately tried to ignore how it made me feel.

We clinked glasses and sipped the wine in silence for a few moments, both of us staring out at the horizon. The setting sun cast a warm glow over everything, and it was almost too perfect.

One of us had to break the ice, and it looked like that person was going to have to be me. “Are we going to talk about the elephant on the yacht?”

Leo chuckled, but his shoulders tensed. “I suppose we should, now that I’ve plied you with wine and food.”

I took another sip of wine. “Look, I’m just going to be blunt. What is your end game here? With me, with Libby... with all of this? Because I honestly don’t get it.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. “Honestly? I’m not entirely sure.”

“That’s not very reassuring.” I tried to keep the edge out of my voice, but given our heated exchanges up until this point, it was difficult to do. The last thing I wanted was to waste time and energy on something that was headed nowhere.

“I know, and I’m sorry.” Leo’s eyes met mine and I found that I couldn’t look away. “I’m not used to dealing with... overwhelming feelings like this.”

“Overwhelming feelings?”

Leo nodded, his gaze dropping to his wine glass. “It’s hard to explain. I’ve pushed a lot of my feelings to the side, but what I feel for Libby is so intense and happened so fast, that I can’t ignore it. There’s this sense of comfort around her, and I want to be near her all the time. And as for you… when I let myself go there, I can’t deny I’m attracted to you.”

Holy shit. I wasn’t prepared for that level of honesty. My mind immediately conjured up images of what we could do with that attraction. I shifted in my seat, trying to will away the heat rushing to my dick. “That’s... a lot to process.”

“It’s easy to ignore when I want to, but I’m so tired of ignoring my feelings for the sake of other people.”

“What other people?”

“Family… and then as you know, I’m sometimes subjected to celebrity status when the paparazzi are bored. I also always have to worry about people’s intentions, and if they’re going to screw me over. I don’t quite know how to reconcile everything.”

“But your parents are okay with Luca’s relationship, aren’t they?” I hadn’t heard otherwise, and I heard practically everything being the receptionist at LRG Marketing.

“Yes and no. They are fairly traditional, so the idea of Luca never marrying and being in an unconventional poly situation doesn’t make them too happy. But he’s also not fucking Ryker and Garrett as far as I know, which is probably why they tolerate it.”

“Ah.” Now I understood. “I’ve been lucky in that regard, but obviously, I’ve had my fair share of people voicing their not-so-nice opinions about who I am. It sucks, but at the end of the day, you have to do what makes you happy because it’s your life, no one else’s. If that means you lose some people from your life, then they are only making your life better in the long run.”

He nodded and swirled the wine in his glass. “I also understand your concerns about my intentions. My reputation isn’t exactly stellar.”

“That’s putting it mildly,” I muttered.

He winced. “Fair enough. But I want you to know that I’m trying to be better and not just chase the next thrill.”

I studied him for a moment, trying to gauge his sincerity. “And what if what you want is just a fling with me and Libby?”

Leo shook his head. “That’s not what this is. It scares the shit out of me, to be honest.”

I could relate to that fear. My own feelings for Libby were a mess that I was still trying to sort out. Before I could respond, though, we were interrupted by the arrival of our dinner.

The server set down two plates of perfectly grilled salmon with roasted vegetables, the aroma making my mouth water. As the server poured more wine, Leo’s eyes never left me.

The intensity of his gaze made my pulse quicken. Maybe it was the romantic setting, or the raw honesty of our conversation, but suddenly, the air between us felt… charged.

Maybe there was more to him than the womanizing playboy persona he often projected.

I settled back against the plush cushions, my mind whirling. The evening had taken an unexpectedly intimate turn, and I couldn’t deny the way Leo’s honesty and vulnerability had started to chip away at my opinion of him.

Chapter 21

Why the Ellipsis?

Ethan

Iwould have laughed if someone had told me I’d actually be reconsidering my thoughts on Leonardo Caponetti. While I still wasn’t entirely convinced about his intentions, he seemed serious about at least trying not to hurt Libby.

That was really all I cared about—her not being hurt. She had enough reasons to keep people at arm’s length and didn’t need another. The fact that she was willing to give Leo a chance spoke volumes in his favor, but maybe she was in a rebound period after her last relationship.

Thank fuck that ended. I hated that guy, and I was pretty sure he hated me too.

The sun had fully set now, leaving Leo and me in the glow of strategically placed lights around the deck as we finished our dessert. I hated to admit it had been the perfect dinner, but it had. It would have been way too noisy at a restaurant to talk.

Leo stood and stretched, his shirt lifting enough to show off a sliver of skin. “How do you feel about going for a swim?”

I raised an eyebrow. “Is this your sneaky way of getting me naked? Because I hate to break it to you, but I didn’t exactly pack my swim trunks.”

Leo’s lips quirked up in a smirk. “As tempting as that sounds, I do have some extra trunks on board… Unless, of course, you’d prefer to skinny dip.”

I stood, trying to push down the swell of lust at the thought of being naked with him. “In your dreams, buddy. Lead the way.”

We made our way down to the deck with the pool where there conveniently were towels, swim trunks, and more drinks.

I grabbed the blue pair that had anchors on them and followed Leo inside the gym area where there were changing rooms. The yacht was like a cruise, and it had everything.

Once in the room alone, I pulled out my phone to find I had several messages from Libby.

Libby: I hope you are having a good date.

Libby: I wanted to clarify that when I said to have fun, that meant any kind of fun.

Libby: Like… if he kisses you or you kiss him… or whatever.

Libby: Ignore me.

Me: You’re so adorable. The date is good…

Libby: Why the ellipsis?

Me: *face with tears of joy emoji*

Libby: Did you kiss him?

Me: OMG Libby. No… not yet.

Libby: Ethan!

Me: I promise I’ll tell you all about it when I see you in the morning…

Libby: Ethan Roberts!

I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face as I changed into my swim trunks. I was probably going to pay for teasing her.

When I emerged back onto the pool deck, Leo was already there, his toned body making my mouth water. I swallowed hard, forcing my eyes up to his face.

“Race you to the other end?” I challenged, desperate for a distraction.

Leo grinned. “You’re on.”

We climbed the steps to the raised infinity pool and got into position. The water was the perfect temperature, and I found myself relaxing. Well, as much as I could considering I was about to race Leo.

“Ready?” I looked over at him and my mouth nearly hung open at how fucking sexy he looked with water dripping from his hair and face.

“Yeah.” He took off without waiting, and I cursed.

The pool wasn’t huge, but it was big enough for a few good strokes before we reached the other side. I touched the wall a split second before Leo, letting out a triumphant whoop.

“Suck it, cheater!” I splashed water in his direction, happy my long limbs helped me seal my victory.

Leo laughed, running a hand through his wet hair. “I let you win.”

“Sure you did.” I rolled my eyes.

We swam a few more laps before settling into a comfortable float. The lapping of the water against the pool’s edge was oddly soothing.

I glanced over at Leo, who had been mostly quiet since we’d gotten in. His brow was furrowed slightly, like he was lost in thought.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

Leo seemed to snap out of whatever reverie he’d been in, his eyes focusing on me. He hesitated for a moment before speaking. “What exactly happened that night at the Christmas party?”

The question caught me off guard; I hadn’t expected him to bring that up, especially not now. “The Christmas party? What do you mean?”

“I don’t remember any of it besides small flashes here and there… like how did we go from the Christmas party up to the room to you hating my guts?”

“You really want to know that badly?” Unlike him, I remembered every detail, even though I had been drunk too.

“Yes. Tell me everything.”

Nine months earlier

I slid onto a barstool at the Diamond Lounge at the Bella Grand Hotel, not quite ready to end my night after the company Christmas party. It had been too long since I’d gone to a bar to see what the night brought, but after several drinks at the party, I was feeling… festive.

The bar was more of a lounge with comfortable seats and no nonsense for rowdy behavior. I’d expect nothing less from one of the most expensive hotels in Manhattan. A hotel that one of my boss’s families owned, along with several others in the city.

“What can I get for you?” The bartender was cute and gave off ‘fuck me’ vibes, which had me straightening in my seat.

Usually, I stayed away from bartenders since they were sneaky and flirted just to get tips, but this one exuded bottom energy. I could have gone either way at that moment, honestly.

“A shot of your best tequila.” I started to get my wallet out when a hand landed on my arm.

“Make that two, Trey, and it’s on the house.” Leo slid onto the stool next to mine, throwing a hundred on the counter. “And keep them coming.”

I turned, my knees bumping into his thigh. “Maybe I only wanted one.”

“Who just has one shot of tequila?” He looked over at me, his eyes sweeping down my body.

I grinned, taking my shot glass from where the bartender set it and clinking it against Leo’s. “I guess not us.”

We downed the shots, the tequila burning a path down my throat. I set the glass down on the bar with a thud, grabbing a lime. The bartender immediately refilled our glasses.

Several shots later, I was feeling good, and it seemed like Leo was too.

“So, Ethan.” His eyes were glossy, and there was a playful smirk on his lips. “Tell me something about yourself that no one else knows.”

I laughed, leaning in a little closer. “If I tell you, then someone else will know.”

Leo’s hand found its way to my knee, squeezing gently. “I promise I won’t tell a soul.”

I looked down at his hand, then back up at him, feeling a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the tequila. “Only if you tell me something in return.” Like if you’re a top or bottom.

“Deal.”

I leaned in closer, my lips nearly brushing against Leo’s ear. “I find you very attractive, and I wonder what you’d look like from my knees.”

Leo’s grip on my knee tightened, and he turned his head slightly, his lips grazing my cheek. “Is that so?”

I pulled back enough to look into his eyes, a smirk playing on my lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

He chuckled, his hand sliding up my thigh. “I would, actually. In great detail.”

I didn’t know Leo that well, but I did know I’d never seen or heard about him with a man. But who was I to question it?

“But it’s your turn now, so if you want to hear more, you’ll have to share something.” I took another shot of tequila, feeling the liquid courage spread through me.

He took two shots in a row while he thought of what to say. “You… are a very beautiful man.”

I threw my head back and laughed, causing him to join in. “That’s cheating.”

“It’s not. There weren’t any rules.” Leo’s hand found its way higher, his fingers tracing patterns on the inside of my leg very close to my dick.

“My turn.” I trailed a finger down his arm and leaned in again, my lips brushing against the shell of his ear this time. “Move that hand one more inch and you’ll feel what you’ll be choking on later.”

Leo’s breath hitched, and I could see the effect my words were having on him. His pupils were dilated, and his hand on my thigh was gripping me tighter. “Fuck, Ethan,” he growled.

My cock strained against my pants. “Your turn. Tell me something no one else knows.”

“I have a room upstairs. We could continue this conversation in private.”

I thought he’d never ask. He was sexy as hell, and the thought of what we could do behind closed doors sent a wave of heat through me.

“Lead the way.” I downed the last of my tequila and stood up, discreetly adjusting myself.

Leo did the same, throwing another hundred on the counter and leading me out of the bar. We made our way to the private elevators, bumping into each other as we walked. Once inside, Leo pressed the button for one of the top floors, and as soon as the doors slid closed, he turned to face me.

“I’ve been wanting to do this all night.” He leaned in, his lips brushing against mine, soft and gentle at first, then more insistent. I kissed him back, my hands finding their way to his hair, pulling him closer. He tasted like tequila and a bad decision, and I couldn’t get enough.

I pushed him back against the wall of the elevator, my hips pressing against his. I felt his arousal and it sent a surge of desire through me. He moaned softly, his hands gripping my ass, pulling me closer.

Kissing down his neck, I moved one of my hands to rub him through his pants. Fuck. He was the perfect size for all kinds of fun.

The elevator dinged, signaling our arrival at his floor, but we didn’t stop. We stumbled out into the hallway, our lips still locked together, our hands exploring each other’s bodies.

Somehow, we made it to his room, and he fumbled with the key card, finally managing to open the door. We practically fell inside, and I kicked the door shut behind us.

By some miracle, we ended up next to the bed, and I pushed him down. Climbing on top of him, I straddled him, pressing our hard cocks together through our pants.

I ground against him, eliciting a groan from deep within his chest. His hands gripped my hips, fingers digging in as he pulled me down harder against him.

“Fuck, Ethan. You’re driving me crazy.”

I leaned down, my lips brushing against his ear. “That’s the point, isn’t it?” I nipped at his earlobe.

His hands slid up my back, pulling me closer, and our lips met in a heated kiss. His tongue invaded my mouth, and I met it with my own.

One of his hands slipped under my shirt, and I gasped as his fingers brushed against my nipple.

“You like that, don’t you?” He trailed his lips down my neck, his teeth grazing my skin.

“Yes.” I wanted more. I wanted to feel him inside me.

As if reading my mind, Leo lay back on the bed, rolling and pinning me beneath him. His eyes were dark with desire and his breaths came in ragged gasps. “I need to be inside you, Ethan.”

I nodded, my heart pounding. “Inside where?”

“Your ass.” He claimed my lips in another heated kiss.

His hips moved in a slow, sensual rhythm that had me anticipating what was to come.

“Condoms,” I gasped, tearing my lips away from his. “Lube. In the bathroom?”

Leo nodded, his eyes never leaving mine. “Yeah, on the counter.”

I extracted myself from beneath him, my body protesting at the loss of contact. I hurried to the bathroom and found the condoms and lube right where he’d said they’d be. I grabbed them, my hands shaking with anticipation. I took a moment to steady myself, taking a deep breath before returning to the bedroom.

But when I stepped back into the room, Leo was sprawled out on the bed, his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling with steady, even breaths. He was fast asleep.

You have to be fucking kidding me.

“Leo?”

He didn’t stir and started to snore softly. I sighed, running a hand through my hair, my body still humming with desire, my cock still hard and aching.

I set the condoms and lube down on the nightstand, disappointment washing over me. I had been so ready, and he had been too.

It wasn’t the ending I had hoped for, but I realized that maybe it was for the best. We were both drunk, both caught up in the moment. Maybe it was better that we hadn’t.

Chapter 22

Our Little Guys Love Swimming

Leo

My goal for this date had been to find some common ground when it came to each other and Libby, not want to finish what we’d started all those months ago.

How could I have forgotten all of… that?

It made me feel like a complete asshole and now Ethan’s previous animosity toward me made complete sense. The fact he hadn’t murdered me in my sleep after I slept with Libby the first time was a miracle.

“I’m sorry.” I ran a hand down my face and hoped like hell he couldn’t see below my waist through the water because his retelling of the Christmas party made me hard as a rock. “I’m a shit human.”

“I wouldn’t go that far. We were both drunk, so it was for the best. I just didn’t think you’d act like nothing happened. I didn’t know you had literally blacked out.”

“I was talking and walking, so how could you have known?” I had been incredibly lucky I’d been with Ethan and not some random man. “I have cut way down on my alcohol, but that day was a shit show, and I needed to escape.”

His head tilted. “Escape from what?”

“Family shit and my bad decisions. Which is funny considering getting drunk wasn’t a good decision either.” At some point, I was going to have to tell Libby and Ethan about the video that would hopefully never be released. I didn’t think either of them would care about it, but it made me a bit nervous. Would they think differently of me to know I’d been such a fool?

Ethan nodded. “So, now what?”

My eyes went to his lips. “Can we see if I still like it?”

Ethan’s eyes heated and he moved closer to me. “Like what? I want to hear you say it.”

I blew out a breath. “If I like kissing you.” I sounded so lame, but how else was I supposed to approach this with him?

He nodded, and that was all I needed before I leaned in, pressing my lips tentatively against his. It was a soft, unsure kiss, so much unlike how I normally kissed. But I was out of my element and kissing Ethan made me feel like I didn’t know what the hell I was doing.

Ethan pulled back slightly with a smirk, his eyes searching mine. “Well? What’s the verdict?”

Guilty.

I couldn’t hold back anymore. I snapped, grabbing Ethan by the back of the neck and pulling him into a fierce kiss. The tension, the uncertainty, the fucking need that had been building inside me was at boiling point.

I was always the one in control, the one calling the shots, but this man was driving me insane. This time, there was no hesitation and no softness. It was all heat and hunger, teeth clashing and tongues tangling.

Ethan met me with equal hunger, his hands gripping my shoulders and nails digging into my skin. His hard cock pressed against my thigh, and it sent a jolt of lust straight to my own.

“Fuck, Leo,” Ethan growled against my mouth, his hands starting to roam. They slid down my back, tracing the line of my spine, then gripped my ass, pulling me closer. The sensation of his strong hands on me was different and electrifying. “You feel so fucking good.”

His words sent a shiver through me, and I moaned into his mouth as he kissed me again, my legs wrapping around him. Ethan’s touch, his voice, his fucking presence, had me so hard it almost hurt.

Ethan traced around the waistband of my trunks to the front, his fingers toying with the drawstring peeking out of the top. “Do you want this, Leo?” he murmured as he kissed my neck. “Do you want me to touch you? To jerk you off right here in the pool?”

I was pretty sure all the remaining blood in my body rushed to my cock. I nodded, breathless and unable to form coherent thoughts, let alone words.

Ethan smiled against my neck, his fingers dipping into my trunks. “Then let’s give you something you won’t forget.”

He pushed down my trunks, my cock freed between us, and I gasped as his fingers brushed against my hot flesh. Doing this in the pool probably wasn’t the best idea, but at this point, I was done caring about anything other than his hands on me.

Ethan pushed down his own trunks, and then he was gripping us both in his large hand, stroking us together. The contrast of his warm, firm grip against the cool water was mind-blowing, sending waves of pleasure coursing through me.

“Oh, fuck,” I groaned, my head falling back.

“That’s it,” Ethan rasped. “Do you feel how hard you make me? How much I want you?”

His words were driving me insane, pushing me higher and higher. I could feel my orgasm building, my balls drawing up tight. Ethan’s thumb circled the head of my cock, and I stifled a strangled cry against his neck.

“You’re close, aren’t you? I can feel it. Your cock is throbbing in my hand. You’re going to come for me, Leo. You’re going to come so fucking hard.”

I was a panting, writhing mess in Ethan’s arms, completely at his mercy. His words, his touch, his fucking voice—everything was driving me to the edge of insanity. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this desperate for release.

Ethan’s other hand moved to my ass, running up and down the crack before circling my hole. I tensed; no one had ever touched me there before, and the intimacy of it was both terrifying and exhilarating.

“Ethan,” I whimpered, my voice barely recognizable. I was losing my fucking mind, overwhelmed by the sensations of his hand stroking our cocks together and his finger teasing my ass.

“Shh. I’ve got you. Just feel.”

I took a deep breath, trying to relax and to trust him. He slowly, so fucking slowly, pushed his finger into my asshole. It burned, an intrusion that made me gasp and clutch at his shoulders.

He gave me time to adjust, his other hand still sliding along our cocks. “That’s it, breathe. You feel so fucking tight. I can’t wait to bury my cock right… fucking… here.”

I hadn’t given much thought to that and wasn’t sure that would ever happen. Fucking someone else’s ass? Sign me up. Someone else fucking mine? No, thanks.

But then, his finger hit something inside me, and I saw stars. A wave of intense pleasure crashed over me.

“Ethan! Oh, fuck, yes. Right there. Holy fuck.” I wasn’t even entirely sure what was coming from my lips. All I knew was that I needed more of whatever he was doing.

He stroked the spot inside me again and again, and I was gone. My orgasm hit me like a speeding yacht, tearing through my body with a force that left me shaking and gasping for breath. I came violently, my cock pulsing in Ethan’s hand, my cum mixing with the pool water.

“You’re so fucking sexy.” He stroked our cocks harder and faster, chasing his own orgasm. “Fuck!” Ethan’s body tensed as he groaned.

As the haze of lust slowly lifted, I became aware of what we’d just done. Holy shit. I’d let him get me off and finger fuck my ass. All I felt was boneless and utterly satisfied.

Ethan slowly pulled his finger out of me, and I winced slightly. He kissed along my neck and up to my jaw before kissing my lips. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah,” I managed to say, still trying to catch my breath. “That was... fucking intense.”

He chuckled. “I guess we got a little carried away with a simple kiss… and now we’re swimming in our own cum.”

I pulled back to look at him, a smile spreading across my face. “Our little guys love swimming.”

He laughed, and I loved seeing it. “I can’t believe you just said that.”

“We should probably get out.” I needed a minute alone with my thoughts.

We climbed out of the pool, both of us shaky on our feet.

“So, uh... shower?” I offered, gesturing toward the outdoor shower stall.

Ethan nodded, a small smirk playing on his lips. “Separately, or are you looking for round two already?”

My body was screaming yes, yes, yes, but my mind was starting to spiral with what all of this meant. I hadn’t mentally prepared myself for anything to actually happen between me and Ethan. “You can go first.”

After Ethan was done, I stepped into the shower, my mind wandering.

The first time I’d been with a man, I’d been drunk, much like I had been at the Christmas party. I’d been in bed with a woman… until I wasn’t, and her husband joined us. But this wasn’t like that. There was no trickery or ulterior motives.

Both Libby and Ethan made me want to show up for them and be a better man. Seeing the way Ethan loved Libby and vice versa was something I wanted so badly it hurt.

I smiled at the thought of them both, a warmth spreading through my chest. Was this what it felt like to fall for two people at once?

The realization hit me like a ton of bricks, and suddenly, I felt vulnerable in a way I never had before. What if this didn’t work out? What if, in the end, I was the one left alone and brokenhearted?

Ethan and Libby already had such a deep connection with years of close friendship and understanding between them. They knew each other’s quirks, fears, and desires in a way that I was only beginning to scratch the surface of. How could I fit into that when I was so far behind?

Was I just an intruder in their relationship? A temporary distraction that would eventually be cast aside when they realized they were better off without me?

The thought made my chest tighten painfully. There was a reason I’d never been in a long-term relationship before. Keeping things casual kept me in control and I could walk away unscathed. But this? This felt like it could break me if it went wrong.

As I went inside to get changed, I tried to shake off the doubts that had crept in. When I made my way back up to the flybridge, Ethan was already there, lounging on the couch as his thumbs flew across his phone screen.

He looked up as I approached, a small smile playing on his lips. “Everything okay?”

I settled into the seat next to him. “Yeah. I’m processing.”

Ethan put his phone down and turned to face me more fully, his expression turning serious. “You aren’t regretting it, are you?”

“Not at all. I’m trying to wrap my brain around it and sort out my feelings. I want to try this between the three of us. I know it’s not conventional, and it might be complicated, but I think it could be amazing if we all give it a real shot.” I hoped he was willing to at least try because he was the person that was going to determine if we did.

Ethan nodded slowly, considering my words. “And if it doesn’t work out?”

“Then I’ll be the one to walk away.” I surprised myself with how quickly and firmly the words came out considering I was scared of having to be the one to do just that. “If this doesn’t work, I won’t come between you two.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” Ethan’s eyes met mine, and I knew without a doubt he would. “We really need to all sit down and talk about this. There are a lot of issues that could come up… jealousy, communication, expectations... We need to be on the same page about everything.”

I was glad he was taking this seriously, but the thought of laying everything out on the table made my stomach churn. It was funny that in business I was nothing like this. I was always confident and sure of myself.

“Yeah, you’re right.” I ran a hand through my hair. “So, uh... should we head back?”

“We should. I’ve been teasing Libby about what’s happened, and she is going insane.” Ethan stood up and held out his hand to me.

I stared at it for a second before grabbing it and letting him pull me to my feet. He didn’t let go and I didn’t pull away.

This was actually happening. I had gone from eternal bachelor to being in a relationship with not one, but two people.

Chapter 23

Begging for Mercy

Libby

I’d never been so excited to go on a date before. Everything was happening so fast now, and I found myself leaning into my feelings instead of away from them.

Ethan made everything so easy, and in turn, my heart was open for possibly the first time ever. Of course, it was scary, but I could think of no one else I’d trust my heart with.

Maybe all the years of keeping everyone at arm’s length had finally come to a head and my heart was craving what I’d never let it have. Even with my adoptive parents, I’d never opened up fully, always fearful of my heart being broken beyond repair.

This could all end very badly, but I was now in a place where I was willing to risk it to find my happiness.

Even if that happiness was with two men.

And currently, happiness was entering an adults-only arcade. There was nothing I hated more than trying to relax and enjoy myself with kids running around. Don’t get me wrong, I loved kids, but the teacher in me could not relax. I always felt like I had to watch them or correct their bad behavior.

“I was thinking we could do laser tag first. I reserved one of their smaller courses meant for less than eight people.” Leo rubbed his hands together with a grin. “I want to see how much of those video games you two play translate into real life.”

I could barely contain my excitement. I hadn’t played since college, but the gamer in me was itching to get my hands on that laser gun. “I’m ready! Where do we pick up the gear?”

Spotting the laser tag area, I headed straight for it, Ethan and Leo right behind me.

“So, this was a good idea for a date?” Leo was definitely proud of his date-planning prowess.

“You’re three for three, Caponetti.” Ethan put his arm around Leo’s waist, and Leo stiffened. “Relax, or you’ll make it awkward.”

“Just takes some getting used to is all.” Leo looked around as if making sure no one was watching. “I’m a little worried about photos.”

Ethan sighed and stepped away from Leo. “Sorry. Didn’t even think about that.”

I stopped in the short line at the laser tag kiosk and turned to face the two of them. “Maybe we should get you a hat and a fake mustache.”

Leo smiled, but I could tell he had other things going on in his head. “That might work, but then I’d attract attention for looking weird.”

“You’d be really hot with a baseball hat on backwards.” Ethan moved beside me and took my hand. “I personally don’t care if my picture is plastered all over the internet, but I’ll tone it down.”

Leo nodded, his eyes darting around again. “It’s not that I don’t want to hold hands or whatever. You really never know who will recognize you and take a picture for a few bucks. I’m not worth a lot, at least.”

“Can I help you?” the lady at the kiosk called out to us.

After getting our arena assignment and gear, we headed to the room and got into our vests. My adrenaline was already pumping as I looked out over the space that was designed like a forest.

“So, I was thinking that we could make this game a little more competitive by having a prize.” Leo powered on his vest and gun. “Are you two game?”

“Tell us more.” Ethan was stretching his legs, and I giggled at how ridiculous he was.

“Winner gets to decide what goes on in the bedroom tonight.” Leo looked between us. “And I mean everything… who fucks who.”

I raised an eyebrow at Leo’s proposal, heat rushing to my core. “You’re on. But don’t come crying to me when you lose.” I was never one to back down from a challenge, and this one? Well, this one had a particularly enticing reward.

Ethan chuckled, slinging an arm around my shoulder. “You’re going down. You’re good, but not that good.” His eyes sparkled with competitiveness, and I knew he was in it to win it.

“Let’s get started then.”

With all of our vests and guns turned on, the game was activated, and a countdown clock began. We scattered, the sound of our feet drowned out by the music that began playing.

The room was about the size of an average house with all the walls and ceiling painted black. The neon lights were strategically placed to give just enough light to see, but if you were careful, you could stick to the shadows. There was fake foliage and obstacles perfect for hiding scattered throughout the room.

I found a spot to hide behind a fake tree, my laser gun at the ready. The game started with a loud buzz, and my heart rate shot up. I knew it was all fake, but the vest would vibrate when I got shot and would scare the shit out of me.

“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Ethan taunted, his voice nearby. He was more of an offensive player versus defensive, so I wasn’t surprised he was already coming after who he perceived as the easiest target. He could easily chase me down with his long legs and speed.

Before he was right on top of me, I sprang into action, moving from my hiding spot to try and catch Ethan off guard. I spotted him darting between two barriers, and I took aim, firing a shot that hit him square in the back.

I ducked back behind the tree as he turned to return fire. There was no way I could stay where I was now that he knew my location, so I zig-zagged as I ran to the edge of the room and hid behind a wall, staying as low as possible. My quads were burning, but I hadn’t been hit.

Peeking around the side, I caught a glimpse of Leo darting between barriers, but he was so fast, I’d never hit him. Not wanting to stay in the same spot for long, I was on the move again.

Ducking behind a bush, I went as still as possible. I could hear footsteps approaching, but I couldn’t tell if it was Ethan or Leo.

“Oh, princess,” Leo’s voice rang out, a teasing lilt to his tone. “I’ve got plans for that sweet ass of yours when I win this game.”

I bit my lip to stifle a giggle. “In your dreams!” I quickly darted away from the bush.

As I moved, I caught sight of Ethan’s tall frame. I took aim and fired, managing to hit him again. I was feeling pretty damn good about hitting him twice already.

“You’re going to pay for that later. On your knees, begging for mercy.” His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I momentarily lost focus. That was all Leo needed to get a shot in, my vest vibrating as it registered the hit.

“Fuck!” I hissed, ducking behind another barrier.

“Language, princess,” Leo taunted. “Or do I need to put that dirty mouth of yours to better use later?”

“Always so vulgar with wanting to shove your dicks in my mouth. Maybe I’ll suffocate you both with my pussy.” I moved again, someone hitting me before I could duck.

The sexual tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Every taunt and comment had my body humming with anticipation for what was to come after our date.

As the game went on, I managed to get a few more shots in on both of them, but Ethan was proving to be a force to be reckoned with. I wasn’t surprised at how ruthless he was. He liked to win, and besides that, he could cover more ground faster than me and Leo. His height should have made him an easier target, but he knew how to move his body behind barriers and was so fast it was hard to hit the target.

“You know,” Ethan called out, his voice closer than I expected considering I’d just run the length of the room for what felt like the hundredth time. “I’m thinking when I win, I might sit back and watch you two put on a show for me.”

The thought of being watched by Ethan sent a jolt of arousal through me. I was so distracted by the mental image that I didn’t notice Ethan sneaking up on me until it was too late.

“Gotcha,” he whispered in my ear as he shot me point-blank.

I spun around, finding myself trapped between Ethan and the wall. His eyes were dark with desire, and for a moment, I forgot we were in the middle of a game.

“You cheated,” I accused breathlessly.

Ethan’s lips quirked into a smirk. “Is that so? Seems to me like you’re losing on purpose.”

“Ten seconds left!” Leo shouted.

“Prepare to be at my mercy!” Ethan jumped back and fired at my chest before I could react, his voice filled with triumph.

I couldn’t even raise my gun before he was gone, leaving me flustered against the wall. The buzzer sounded, and the lights came on.

We made our way to the scoreboard, and I couldn’t help but groan when I saw the results. Ethan had absolutely demolished us, his score nearly double mine and Leo’s combined.

“Well, well, well.” Ethan grinned, looking entirely too pleased with himself. “Looks like I’m calling the shots tonight.”

Leo shook his head but laughed. “I didn’t want to win.”

“No?” Ethan’s gaze swept over Leo and me, his eyes darkening with desire. “Good, because I’ve got plans. Big plans.”

It was going to be tough getting through the rest of this date, especially knowing that Leo and Ethan had been intimate.

“I need a snack and a beer.” Leo gathered our equipment. “I’ll go return these and then meet you two at the bar?”

“Sounds good.” I kissed him and Ethan did the same. It felt so normal, even though it was anything but.

Ethan took my hand, and we walked back into the main facility, where it was loud with the sounds of arcade games, music, and other adults having a good time. Would the three of us ever be able to be affectionate in public like we had been in the privacy of the laser tag room?

New York City was a lot more accepting than other places, but did that extend to two men and a woman who were in a throuple? I hadn’t talked much to my brother or Paige about what it was like when they went out, but maybe I needed to.

“He let me hit him.” Ethan came to a stop in a short line to order food and drinks.

“What?” I was confused.

Ethan rolled his eyes. “In the game. He literally stepped out and spread his arms wide for me to get points.”

I glared up at him. “So, you admit you cheated and I’m the winner?”

He laughed. “I didn’t say that. I was informing you that he wants whatever happens later.”

“Are you going to…” I looked around and then lowered my voice, “fuck him in front of me?”

He smirked and leaned down to my ear, nipping at it. “You’d like to watch that, wouldn’t you?”

“Maybe.” I shrugged as if I didn’t care either way, but I wanted everything with these two whether it be watching or involved.

Leo cleared his throat from next to us. “It’s our turn to order.”

We placed our orders, Leo paying with his fancy black credit card. Ethan, although a bottomless pit most of the time, didn’t get anything to eat while Leo and I ordered chicken wings and pretzel bites, along with beers.

“You don’t want anything?” Leo double-checked as we took the order number card and found a table.

“Nope.” Ethan sat and took a sip of his beer. “This kind of food can be iffy for my stomach.”

I narrowed my eyes at him because I knew for a fact that he was lying out of his ass. He loved chicken wings and pretzel bites and had never once complained about them. “Well, we’ll just enjoy our snack while you watch.”

“Oh, I intend to.”

I got the feeling he wasn’t talking about us eating food.

Chapter 24

The Prize

Libby

Two hours later, we were back at the condo. I had a blast at the arcade and loved watching Leo slowly come out of his shell around me and Ethan. The competitiveness between the two of them was intense, and I couldn’t help but think about how that might look in the bedroom.

I’d never thought about sex so much in my life but found it harder and harder not to constantly have it on my mind anytime I was around the two of them.

“I am beat.” Ethan hopped over the back of the couch, plopping onto it. “Time for my prize.”

“Right now?” I pushed open the lid of my tumbler and moved into the living room to join him on the couch.

“Not so fast. Give me that and go stand in front of the TV.” Ethan grabbed my cup after I took a drink.

“Why?” I craned my neck to look down the hall. Leo had disappeared to his room but hadn’t come back yet.

“Because I’m in charge and I want to look at you.” Ethan took a sip of my water before putting it on the coffee table and pushing the table out of the way.

I blushed as I moved where he asked. “You look at me all the time, Ethan.”

“Get undressed.” He leaned back on the couch, his arms spread across the back like he was some kind of royalty. “Everything off.”

I bit my lip, and we stared at each other. When he didn’t say anything, I sighed and started to take off my clothes. It was different getting undressed so far away from him where he could see everything.

“I got what you requested, sir.” Leo snorted a laugh as he came back into the room and placed a bottle of lube and a strip of condoms on the coffee table.

“Sir? I like that. Thanks for the idea. You’ll both call me sir.”

It was my turn to snort, and Ethan raised his brows. “Don’t forget who’s in charge tonight, Elizabeth.” He so rarely called me by my full name, and I was glad he didn’t because I felt it between my legs in the same way I did when Leo called me it.

“Yes, sir.” I saluted him with a smirk. “Now what? Am I just going to stand here and freeze my tits off?”

“No. Leo is going to join you so I can see my prizes.” Smug Ethan was very sexy, and I squeezed my thighs together.

“You’re ridiculous.” Leo stripped out of his clothes, coming to stand next to me. He was already hard, and I was tempted to drop to my knees and take him in my mouth, not only to see his reaction, but to see what Ethan would do.

His gaze was intense, his eyes roving over us like we were his personal playthings. I couldn’t deny the thrill that ran through me at the thought.

“On your knees,” Ethan commanded, his voice husky with desire. “Both of you.”

Leo and I exchanged a glance before we slowly sank to our knees. The area rug was soft beneath me, but the position felt anything but comfortable. It was submissive, but excitement pulsed through me.

Ethan stood up, towering over us as he began to unbutton his jeans. “Crawl to me.” His voice was laced with a dominance I hadn’t heard before, and I found myself complying, my hands and knees pressing into the carpet as I moved toward him.

Leo followed suit, his breath hitching slightly as we made our way to Ethan. Being at Ethan’s beck and call must have been driving him crazy, but I heard no complaints.

When we reached him, Ethan had his pants down, his cock already hard and straining against his boxer briefs. He pushed them down, revealing himself fully to us. I licked my lips, my mouth suddenly dry as I stared at him.

He wrapped his hand around the base of his cock. “I want you both to suck me. Together.”

I looked up at Ethan, my eyes wide with surprise. Beside me, Leo let out a soft groan, his cock twitching at the command. I turned to him, our eyes meeting briefly. He was nervous, and I couldn’t blame him; I knew this was Leo’s first time giving a blow job.

We both leaned in, our mouths meeting around the sides of Ethan’s cock. It was awkward as we tried to find a rhythm.

“That’s it,” Ethan groaned, his hand fisting in my hair. “Show Leo how to take me deep, Lib. Fuck, yes, just like that. Now his turn.”

Leo looked unsure as I popped off Ethan’s cock. “You’ve got this. Take him as far as you can.” I kissed him, our tongues tangling as he deepened the kiss.

“I could watch you two make out all night.” Ethan stroked his cock while he waited for Leo.

Finally, Leo pulled away and hesitated only a second before taking Ethan all the way to the back of his throat. It was impressive to say the least, and I reached down between my legs to play with my clit.

“Are you nice and wet? Let me see.” Ethan’s hand threaded through Leo’s hair, and he groaned as I showed him my wet fingers.

He grabbed my wrist and bent down, bringing my fingers to his mouth and sucking them. My body lit up and I let out a whimper. This was beyond the sexiest thing I’d ever experienced.

“I need both of your mouths on me again.”

We followed his instructions, Leo and I returning to sucking him from the sides. I could feel Leo’s mouth against mine, his tongue sliding against Ethan’s cock in a way that sent heat pooling between my legs.

Ethan grabbed my hair, his grip tightening. “You both look so fucking hot like this. On your knees, sucking my cock. Fuck, I could come from just the sight of it.”

I moaned around him, my body responding to his words. My nipples were hard, and my clit throbbed. Beside me, Leo’s breath was coming in ragged pants.

Ethan suddenly pulled back, his cock slipping from between our mouths. “I want you both to watch me.”

He pulled off his shirt and kicked off his pants and boxers that had pooled at his ankles. When he reached for the lube on the coffee table and propped one of his legs on it, I realized what he was about to do. My eyes widened as he poured a generous amount on his fingers.

Ethan spread his legs wider, his fingers moving to his ass. I watched, mesmerized, as he began to circle his hole, his breath hitching slightly as he pressed a finger inside.

“Fuck,” he groaned, his eyes fluttering closed. “I want you to watch me prepare myself, Libby. I want you to see what I’m going to let Leo do to me.”

I swallowed hard, my body aching with need as I watched Ethan finger himself. It was erotic and intimate, and I couldn’t look away. Beside me, Leo let out a soft groan, his hand wrapping around his cock as he watched Ethan.

Ethan added another finger, his breath coming in ragged pants as he stretched himself. His eyes met mine. “Lie down and let Leo make sure you’re nice and ready for me.”

Leo grabbed a pillow for my head and then another for under my hips. I lay back, spreading my legs for Ethan to see a full view of everything. I felt exposed but sexy as hell as both men stared at me with hunger in their eyes.

Leo knelt at my side, his fingers trailing up my inner thighs. His fingers reached my center, and he let out a soft groan as he felt how wet I was. “Fuck, Elizabeth. You are so wet and hot.”

He began to circle my clit, and I arched my back, a soft moan escaping my lips as waves of pleasure washed over me. His fingers moved lower, teasing my entrance before slowly pushing inside.

I gasped, my nails digging into the carpet as he began to move his fingers in and out, his thumb circling my clit in a rhythm that had my body writhing beneath him.

Ethan watched us, his eyes dark with desire as he continued to prepare himself. His cock was hard and ready, and I couldn’t wait to feel him inside me. I was lost in the sensations Leo was creating, his fingers hitting all the right spots as he brought me closer and closer to the edge. Right as I was about to tumble over, Ethan’s voice cut through the haze of pleasure.

“That’s enough, Leo. I want her to come around my cock.” Ethan removed his fingers, putting his foot down before tossing Leo two condoms. “Put one on me, then put one on yourself.”

Leo’s hands trembled slightly as he tore open the condom wrapper and rolled it onto Ethan’s cock. He then quickly put one on himself, his eyes never leaving Ethan’s.

Ethan positioned himself between my legs, his hands gripping my hips as he lined himself up with my entrance. He looked down at me, his eyes filled with a mix of lust and tenderness. “You ready, Lib?”

I nodded, my voice barely a whisper. “Yes.”

He pushed into me, his cock filling me inch by inch. I let out a soft moan, my body stretching to accommodate him. He felt amazing, and I wrapped my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper.

Ethan leaned down, his lips capturing mine in a passionate kiss as he began to move inside me. Behind him, Leo positioned himself, his hands gripping Ethan’s hips.

Ethan stilled inside me and his breath hitched as Leo pushed into him.

A mixture of pleasure and pain crossed Ethan’s face, his eyes closing as he adjusted to the sensation. I’d never had anal before, but I was sure it would happen eventually.

I could tell the instant Ethan was ready for Leo because his eyes popped open, and he was practically growling. “Fuck me, Leo.”

Leo began to move and so did Ethan, their thrusts syncing as they found their rhythm. The sight of them together and the feeling of Ethan inside me was all too much. My body trembled as I got closer to pure bliss.

Ethan’s lips found mine again, his kiss swallowing my moans as we moved together. His thrusts became more urgent, his grip on my hips tightening as he chased his own release.

“Fuck, Libby,” he groaned against my lips. “You feel so fucking good.”

My body was on fire, and I could only whimper in response. Ethan’s cock felt like it was pulsing inside me, and with the position he was in, I wasn’t even going to need to touch my clit to come.

One of Leo’s hands gripped Ethan’s shoulder, the other firmly on his hip. His breath was ragged as he fucked Ethan with abandon.

“Come with me.” He groaned into my neck, his voice strained with effort. “Let go, baby.”

“Ethan!” I cried out, my body shaking as my orgasm crashed through me, deep and hard.

“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” Ethan chanted with each erratic thrust, following me down into a pool of pleasure.

Behind him, Leo let out a low groan, his body shuddering as he came. I couldn’t see his face since he had it buried against the back of Ethan’s neck.

Leo collapsed onto the rug next to me, taking my hand and bringing it to his heaving chest. Ethan rolled off me, his arm draping over my stomach as he cuddled into my side.

We lay there in silence, none of us able to speak as the complications and uncertainties of our relationship faded away.

Chapter 25

Helicopter Ride

Ethan

It had only been two weeks since Leo took us on dates, and I was amazed at how well things were going between the three of us. We hadn’t put an official label on what the three of us were, but things felt official. Especially since I knew that Leo’s condo was ready to move back into and he hadn’t moved out yet.

And now he was whisking us away somewhere for the weekend.

“Where do you think we’re going?” Libby was practically vibrating with excitement as we rode through Manhattan.

Leo had told us the night before to pack a bag for a few days, and that his driver would pick us up after we got home from work. He hadn’t told us anything about where we were going besides to pack clothes for similar weather and swimsuits.

“He didn’t tell us to bring our passports, so we’re staying in the country.” I hated trying to guess surprises because my imagination would run wild and then the surprise would never live up to it.

There were only so many places in the country that had similar weather, but the swimsuit was throwing me off. Maybe somewhere with a nice hotel, or he had plans for some jacuzzi time?

Thankfully, I didn’t have much time to think about it because it wasn’t that long of a drive before we turned into a heliport that had a sleek black helicopter waiting on a helipad.

I couldn’t help but grin as Libby’s eyes widened as we were let through a security gate and pulled up next to the helipad.

“Is that... are we...?” Libby stammered, her grip on my hand tightening.

“Appears we’re going for a helicopter ride.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.

She didn’t like flying in airplanes, but maybe being in a helicopter would be different. Helicopters were perfectly safe… who was I kidding? I was even a little nervous about flying in one.

Our driver opened the back door for us as the door of the helicopter opened. Leo hopped down, dressed in jeans but still wearing the button-down shirt he’d been wearing that morning with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. The man was a snack, and his designer sunglasses made him look even more delectable.

Leo strode toward us as we got out of the car, a huge grin on his face. “Ready for a little adventure?”

Libby bit her lip, and I could tell she was overthinking things. “This seems like a bit much, doesn’t it? I mean, a helicopter? Is it even safe?”

I nudged her gently with my shoulder. “Hey, if the man wants to spoil us, who are we to argue? Besides, when was the last time you rode in a helicopter?”

“Um, never?” She fiddled with her purse strap.

“Exactly, so let’s enjoy it. Leo wouldn’t take us in something unsafe.” At least, that was what I was telling myself.

Leo’s face softened as he reached out and rubbed Libby’s arm reassuringly. “I promise the view will be worth it, but if you’re really uncomfortable, we can drive instead.”

Libby looked at the helicopter for a long few moments, no doubt imagining all the possible scenarios where the helicopter did not get us to our destination. “I don’t want to sit by a window.”

I kissed her temple. “Your favorite place is sandwiched in between us.”

The pilot, who had approached while we were chatting, cleared his throat. “We’re ready to depart. I’d like to go over some safety information with you before we board.”

He gave us a safety briefing before leading us to the helicopter and showing us the vital things we needed to know in case of an emergency, like how to open the doors and where the fire extinguisher was.

Once we got settled in the back seats, the pilot and copilot got our bags loaded and prepared for takeoff. My nerves were turning into excitement as we buckled out seatbelts and put on our headsets.

“Lib, if things are too scary for you, you can lay your head in my lap so you don’t have to see anything.” I rubbed her thigh, trying to soothe her. The safety briefing did not help ease her nerves.

Leo turned toward us. “Maybe I should have asked about this. Are you sure you don’t want to drive? We’re going to the Hamptons, so it will only take about forty-five minutes this way if that helps.”

Libby shut her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’ll be fine. It’s usually only takeoff and landing that get me.”

“I’ve flown with these pilots hundreds of times, and I haven’t once had a rough takeoff or landing, even when the weather wasn’t as perfect as it is now.” Leo put his fingers under Libby’s chin and turned her face to him. “We can just take a car.”

“No. I’ll be fine.” She sat up a little straighter. “I won’t know until I try, right?”

“Right.” He kissed her gently as the pilots started the engine. “And like Ethan said, you can always put your head in his lap.”

She snorted and turned forward. “I’m sure the pilots would love that.”

We lifted into the air without issue and were off toward the Hamptons. The view was nothing short of spectacular. As we soared over the city, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the breathtaking panorama below us as the sun started to set.

Libby’s initial nervousness melted away, replaced by childlike wonder as she alternated leaning across me and Leo. On the way back she’d probably fight one of us to sit by the window.

As we got farther away from Manhattan, Leo’s demeanor changed. He always seemed to be in business mode, even at home, but now, he was the most relaxed I’d seen him.

“You good over there, Leo?” I leaned forward a bit to see past Libby.

Leo’s expression was wistful. “I was thinking about how Luca and I used to visit the Hamptons every summer as kids. We were always busy with school and learning the business—even at a young age—but our mom made sure we had a few weeks during the summer to just be kids.”

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. It wasn’t often that Leo opened up about himself. “Yeah? What kind of trouble did little Leo get into?”

He laughed. “We were perfect angels. Those were some of the happiest times of my life, not having to worry about a single thing besides having fun. When Luca and I got older and had our own money, we decided to buy a house we could go to when we needed a break, or one day take our own families.”

“Are you close with your parents now?” Libby asked gently. We hadn’t talked much about them and the little things Leo said on occasion pointed to no.

Leo’s expression tightened the tiniest bit. If I hadn’t been watching him closely, I might have missed it. “It can be strained at times, mainly with my dad.” His tone was indifferent, and he didn’t elaborate further.

Libby and I exchanged a look. There was clearly more to the story, but Leo wasn’t ready to share it yet.

Sensing the shift in mood, Libby jumped in with her own childhood memory. “When I was younger, Ryker and I would camp out in the backyard, and my dad would set up this old sheet on the side of the house and project movies onto it. We’d have s’mores and stay up way too late. Even when Ryker was in high school and too cool to hang out with his little sister very much anymore, he’d do it.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Libby had a rough start to her childhood, and every time she talked about her life post-adoption, I was so grateful she’d been given a second chance to be a happy kid.

“That sounds pretty awesome. What about you, Ethan?”

I snorted. “Disney… every year, sometimes multiple times. Me and my sisters loved it, but our parents are Disney adults to their core. Even now that they don’t have the three of us to take care of, they go at least four times a year.”

We fell into a comfortable silence as we enjoyed the view of the city and suburbs giving way to more scenic landscapes. Even from the helicopter, I could see the traffic on the highways, and I was glad we’d flown instead of spending hours sitting in a car.

A short while later, we touched down at a small airport, where a car waited to take us to Leo’s house. As we settled into the plush leather seats of the car, Leo’s phone buzzed. He glanced at it and chuckled.

“What’s so funny?” I asked, curiosity piqued since Leo looking at his phone didn’t usually equal laughs.

“Just Luca.” Leo shook his head, still smiling. “He’s telling me to not have sex on the couches.”

Libby giggled but then stopped abruptly. “He knows about us?”

Leo cringed. “He’s the only one I can trust, and I needed advice. He won’t tell Ryker… but we really need to do that soon before he finds out…”

“I should probably be the one to do it.” Libby sighed and put her head on my shoulder. “I kind of hinted at it a few weeks ago when I told him about Ethan and me after a meeting, but he didn’t say anything since then. Did he say anything to you, Ethan?”

“He hasn’t said a word. Not even a ‘you hurt her, and I will kill you’ warning.” I was honestly a bit disappointed he hadn’t brought anything up. It felt like a rite of passage to be threatened by your girlfriend’s brother.

“He probably feels he doesn’t have to threaten you. Me on the other hand…” Leo shook his head as if trying to get the mental image of being castrated out of his head. “We’ve both been so busy, and hockey hasn’t started yet, so we’ve been on a bit of a friendship hiatus.”

“I don’t watch hockey, but Paige’s best friend, Nora, is the Tri State Titans’ new skating coach, so I might watch. I’ve seen videos of when they’re stretching on the ice. Pretty much is the best part of the game.” Libby giggled.

“You really shouldn’t objectify men like that, but tell me more about this stretching.” I wasn’t the biggest fan of hockey players after my few interactions with my boss’s brother, who played in the NHL.

The airport wasn’t far from Leo’s house, and as we pulled down the long driveway, my jaw dropped. I’d pictured a sleek modern house, but instead, what greeted us was a white Cape Cod- style two-story that felt homey. The lights were on inside, casting a warm glow around the exterior.

I whistled as we stepped out of the car. “This place is beautiful.”

Leo shrugged, a small smile playing on his lips. “Wait until you see the inside.”

He wasn’t kidding. The living space was wide open with a large living room and a kitchen that was meant for entertaining. The decor gave beachy modern vibes and had a warmth that even our own condo didn’t have.

“This is incredible.” Libby went straight to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out into the backyard. “It’s gorgeous.”

The backyard was lit up with fairy lights in the trees and strands running along the edges of the patio. Most striking was the large pool, which was lit up and had fountains shooting water across.

“Thank you.” Leo shoved his hands in his pockets, a proud look on his face. “I had the caretaker turn on everything for us, including the pool heater. Let me show you two where we’ll be sleeping.”

We grabbed our bags and followed him upstairs to two French doors that opened up into the most luxurious bedroom I’d ever seen. It was all crisp white with the same décor as downstairs. And most striking was the bed that was so large it was comical.

“Wow.” I was unable to keep the amusement out of my voice. “That’s... a big bed.”

Leo laughed. “Luca had the king swapped out for a family-sized one that sleeps four.”

Libby’s face scrunched up. “Oh, God. My brother sleeps in this bed.”

“Don’t worry, there’s a waterproof mattress cover.” Leo burst out laughing.

“That makes it worse!” Libby groaned, burying her face in her hands.

Libby’s mortification made me crack up right along with Leo. I couldn’t help but tease her. “I’m sure they change the sheets.”

“You’re not helping,” she groaned, but the corners of her mouth twitched as she fought a smile.

Leo chuckled and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “If it makes you feel better, the caretaker changes all the bedding after every visitor, and the mattress cover is top of the line.”

“Slightly better,” Libby mumbled, but she was smiling now. “Should we unpack?”

Leo rubbed his hands together like he couldn’t wait to get the weekend started. “Why don’t you two unpack and go for a swim while I get dinner started?”

My stomach growled in agreement with his plan, although he hadn’t shown us any of his culinary skills so far. He was in the restaurant industry, so he couldn’t be that bad of a cook, he just didn’t have to cook. “Do you need help?”

“No, the chef got everything prepped for me. I just need to pop it all on the grill. It’s about the only thing I’m good at cooking-wise.” He shrugged with a sheepish expression.

“Sounds great.” Libby kissed his cheek before grabbing her bag where she’d dropped it and heading into the bathroom. “Holy shit, this is a big shower.”

When I stepped inside behind her, my jaw nearly hit the floor. The place was massive, with gleaming white marble surfaces and a shower big enough to host a small gathering.

After changing, Libby and I made our way down to the pool. I dipped my toe in, and the water was perfect. I shoved Libby in and dove in after her.

Leo busied himself at the outdoor kitchen, which was fully equipped with a massive grill. I should have been right there next to him, learning how to barbecue, but was there even a point? It was rare to ever have the opportunity to do it in a condo high-rise. Plus, there was something about starting a fire in the city that made me uneasy.

“This is nice.” Libby floated on her back, staring up at the star-filled sky.

“Yeah, it really is.” I swam closer, making the water lap over her body. “How are you feeling about all of this?”

“All of what? The weekend getaway?”

“Yes. He’s spoiling us, isn’t he?” I was wary of Leo doing that at first, but realized it was how he showed he cared. He had the means, and he really did try to tone things down for us.

I wouldn’t be opposed to him taking me on a shopping spree, though.

“Honestly? It’s a lot to take in, but I’m happy. Happier than I’ve been in a long time.”

I reached out and pulled her to me. “Me too. I never thought I’d be in this situation, but it feels right.” I watched as Leo disappeared into the house. “Do you think it’s going to work? This throuple thing?”

Libby looped her arms around my neck and played with my hair. She was quiet for a moment, then smiled. “Yeah, I do. I don’t think I’d be able to do it if you weren’t involved. You make me so comfortable, and I don’t feel as nervous letting someone else in. What do you think?”

I wrapped my arms around her, kissing her neck. “I’m hopeful. I trust him more and more each day. He’s different than I expected he’d be… attentive, and he listens.”

“I think someone hurt him… bad.” Libby’s lip trembled, and I put my thumb against it.

“He’ll tell us when he’s ready. I think letting people in is just as hard for him as it is for you.” It was difficult for me too in some cases, but once someone showed they cared more about getting to know someone than about sex, I was good to go.

Leo came back out of the house, a platter of food in his hands. He’d changed into a T-shirt and swapped his dress shoes for a pair of slides that were the brightest green I’d ever seen.

He looked so different in this environment that it caught me off guard. Us there together felt like a whole lot more than just three romantically involved people getting away for the weekend. It felt a lot like a family; not the kind you’re born into, but the kind you choose and build.

I caught Leo’s eye as he lifted the lid on the grill, and the smile he gave me told me he felt it too.

Chapter 26

Big Shower

Libby

Icouldn’t believe how perfect the day had been with Leo and Ethan. We had spent the morning wine tasting before horseback riding on the beach and then ended the day with a romantic dinner. Now, we were back at Leo’s house, and I was buzzing with anticipation for what the rest of the night might bring.

We entered the house, and Leo kicked off his shoes in the mudroom. “So, I was thinking… we can spend the rest of the evening in the backyard and watch a movie on the inflatable screen I had delivered. Maybe make some s’mores…”

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth and my eyes burning. “That’s really sweet, Leo.”

Leo pulled me to him, kissing my forehead. “It’s not too much?”

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Too much would be if you chartered a rocket ship to take us to outer space to stargaze.”

Libby laughed. “Don’t give him any ideas… I want to shower first. I feel gross after being at the beach.”

“The shower is big enough for all of us.” Ethan’s voice was casual, but the underlying suggestion was clear.

A flush crept up my cheeks, but the idea sent a thrill through me. The three of us hadn’t taken a shower together yet, and I didn’t think we’d be doing a whole lot of showering once we were all naked.

Leo took my hand, and I found myself being led upstairs, Ethan close behind.

As we stepped into the bathroom, Leo’s hands were gentle as he turned me to face him, his fingers tracing the hem of my shirt before he slowly pulled it up and over my head. His eyes never left mine, and it was clear in the way his pupils dilated that he didn’t only have showering on his mind.

Ethan came up behind me, his fingers running along my bra strap before he unclasped it, kissing my shoulder as the straps fell. His touch sent a shiver through me, and I leaned back into him, feeling the solid strength of his chest against my back. He slid his hands down my sides and to my front, where he unbuttoned my jeans. My breath hitched as his fingers brushed against my skin.

Leo began to undress as he watched us, his shirt coming off first to reveal his toned chest and abs. I couldn’t help but reach out to touch him, my fingers tracing the lines of his muscles. He captured my hand in his, bringing it to his lips and kissing my fingertips and wrist before releasing me to continue undressing.

I turned my attention back to Ethan, helping him push my jeans and underwear down my legs. His hands lingered on my thighs, his thumbs drawing small circles on my skin. I kicked my clothes to the side and turned to face him. His eyes were filled with a mix of tenderness and heat that made my stomach flutter.

Leo, now completely undressed, stepped into the shower to turn on three of the showerheads, plus the rainfall overhead. I’d showered the night before, but I’d only used a single one, not wanting to bother him to figure out all the controls.

Ethan and I quickly shed the rest of our clothes, and I stepped into the shower, the warm water cascading over my body and instantly making the aches I had from riding a horse disappear.

I tilted my head back, letting the water run through my hair and down my face. I could practically feel Ethan and Leo’s eyes on me, and I stole a glance at them.

How was I so lucky to have not one, but two absolutely stunning men who looked at me like I was their everything?

The water ran down Ethan’s body in a way that made me want to chase the rivulets with my tongue. He caught me looking and winked, a playful smirk on his lips that made me laugh.

Leo stood under the third showerhead, his eyes closed as he let the water wash over him. His dark hair was slicked back, and water droplets clung to his lashes, making them look even darker.

They seemed content to shower under their own streams of water, so I grabbed my shower gel and began to lather up. Even with me rubbing the suds all over my naked body, they were both acting so casually, like we weren’t all naked and inches apart.

It was driving me a bit bonkers.

With a heavy sigh that I made sure they both could hear, I stepped back under the water to rinse my body.

Ethan turned to say something to Leo, and their eyes locked. The air between them crackled, and before I could blink, their lips met. It wasn’t a soft, gentle kiss; it was hungry and demanding.

I stood there, frozen, as their hands gripped each other’s arms, their bodies pressing closer as they fought for dominance. The water made their skin slick, and their muscles flexed as they moved against each other. It was the most erotic thing I had ever seen.

Unable to look away, I reached for the detachable showerhead. I lowered it, letting the warm water hit my sensitive skin. A soft gasp escaped my lips as I leaned back against the cool tiles, my eyes still glued to Ethan and Leo.

They were lost in each other, their kiss deepening and their hands exploring. Leo’s fingers trailed down Ethan’s chest, and Ethan responded by pushing him against the wall, their bodies pressed tightly together.

I adjusted the showerhead, changing the pressure of the spray, and let out a soft moan. The sound caught their attention, and they both turned to look at me.

Ethan stepped away from Leo and came to me, taking the showerhead from me. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Well, you two weren’t helping so…”

Leo joined us, slipping behind me and pulling me back against him. His arousal pressed against my ass, and I leaned into him.

Ethan knelt in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine as he brought the showerhead between my legs. He spread my lips, and I let out a gasp, my hands gripping his shoulders for support.

Leo’s lips found my neck, his kisses soft and teasing. “We’re going to take care of you.”

The sensation of the water, combined with their touches, was overwhelming as my body tensed with anticipation. Ethan’s fingers joined the water, two easily sliding into my slick channel.

Leo’s hands moved up to cup my breasts, his thumbs circling my nipples, drawing out a moan from deep within me. They were driving me wild.

“How bad do you want to come, princess?” Leo nibbled my earlobe and pinched both my nipples at the same time.

“Please.” I was almost there.

Ethan’s eyes were locked on mine, his fingers moving in a perfect rhythm at the right angle. “Come for us.”

The pleasure crashed over me, my body trembling as I cried out their names. My knees went weak, and if Leo hadn’t been behind me, I would have slid down the wall into a heap.

I pushed Ethan’s hand and the showerhead away. “I want both of you inside me.”

Over the last two weeks, we’d done everything except have both their cocks inside me, and I needed it at once. My lower body was a little sore from our day, but I didn’t care.

“Are you sure? We haven’t done anything to your ass…” Ethan looked very concerned.

“Not my ass.” I took his hand and lowered it back between my legs. “Both of you right here.”

Leo paused his kissing along my neck and cupped between my legs from behind, his finger circling my entrance. “You think you can take us both in this tight pussy?”

“Yes.” I was wet enough and had managed to get three of my fingers in next to my toy the other day. It would be a tight fit, but I was wet enough and totally willing to try.

There was silence as they both processed my request. I bit my lip, hoping they wouldn’t turn me down.

Leo’s finger pushed inside me. “You’re so wet already, but we need to make sure you’re ready for us.”

“Yes,” I practically hissed, my hips chasing his hand. “I’m ready.”

Ethan stood, replacing the showerhead. “We’ll go slow, and if at any point-”

I kissed him, done with their concern for my pussy’s safety. It was capable of great things, and taking two cocks would be easy. I was determined.

A second and then third finger slipped inside me, and I ripped my mouth from Ethan’s, moaning and pushing back against Leo. Ethan knelt in front of me again, lifting one of my legs onto his shoulder.

I forgot how to breathe as one of Ethan’s fingers joined Leo’s. “Oh, God, that feels… oh, more. I need more.”

“That’s it, baby,” Leo whispered in my ear. “You’re doing so well. You feel so good. How many fingers do you think you can take?”

Ethan leaned forward and flicked my clit with his tongue. He slid a second finger in and hit that perfect spot.

“So close.” I was panting, my limbs shaking as the coil inside me wound tighter than it ever had before.

As I was about to snap, their hands were gone. With a frustrated cry, I reached down to finish myself, but Ethan pinned my arms to my sides as he stood.

“Not so fast.” He kissed me quickly before spinning me around to face Leo.

I wrapped my arms around Leo’s neck and pulled him into a kiss. It was fierce and passionate, filled with all the emotions swirling inside me. Behind me, Ethan’s hands slid down to my thighs, gently lifting me. I wrapped my legs around Leo, feeling his cock pressing against my entrance.

Leo broke the kiss, his forehead resting against mine as he reached between us and slowly fed me his cock. My pussy easily stretched to accommodate him.

Ethan trailed the head of his cock between my legs and pressed the tip right where Leo was buried inside me. I tensed slightly, and Leo kissed me again, distracting me as Ethan slowly began to push in.

The sensation was unlike anything I’d ever felt. It was intense, almost too much as my body struggled to accommodate both of them. I broke the kiss, burying my face in Leo’s neck, my breath coming in short gasps. “Oh God.” My voice was barely audible over the sound of the water and my heartbeat.

“You’re doing so well, Libby.” Leo’s voice was strained. “Breathe, baby. We’ve got you.”

Ethan’s hands gripped my hips tighter. “You feel so good. So fucking tight.” He pushed in a little further, and I whimpered.

“Too much?” I couldn’t even tell who asked; I was so focused on the pressure between my legs.

I shook my head, unable to speak. It was intense, yes, but it was also incredible. I felt every inch of them.

Ethan pushed in the last little bit, and his hips pressed against my ass. They both stilled, giving me a moment to adjust. I took deep breaths, my body slowly relaxing around them.

I bounced slightly, experimenting with the sensation, and they both groaned in response. I’d done it. I’d taken both of them inside me. “I feel so full.”

Leo pushed my hair out of my face. “You have no idea how incredible you look right now taking both of us like this.”

Ethan’s hands slid up to my waist. “You’re fucking amazing, Libby. Now, let’s make you feel even better.”

Slowly, Ethan began to move. It was a gentle rocking motion at first, and it had me gasping and moaning in no time. I held onto Leo tightly, my face buried in his neck as Ethan picked up the pace.

I was lost in the sensation, lost in them, as they drove me higher and higher. “Ethan,” I gasped, my body tensing. “I’m so close. Please, don’t stop.”

Leo’s fingers tangled in my hair, pulling my head back so he could look into my eyes. “Are you going to come all over our cocks?” His voice was rough, filled with desire, and it sent me spiraling.

“Yes!” My vision felt like it was tunneling, and I squeezed my eyes shut as my walls squeezed around their cocks.

My scream of pleasure echoed off the tiles as Leo joined in with the thrusting, my body a shaking, breathless mess between them.

“Fuck!” Leo’s head fell back, his muscles tensing as he came inside me.

Ethan’s hands gripped my hips tightly, his thrusts out of control as he chased the same pleasure he had given us. His body pressed against my back, his mouth open against my shoulder in a silent cry as he came.

We stood there for a moment, our bodies still connected, our breaths coming in ragged gasps. I was exhausted and my body spent, but I was also filled with a sense of euphoria... and their cum.

Leo kissed me softly, his voice a gentle murmur. “You’re amazing, Libby. Absolutely amazing.”

Ethan didn’t speak but pulled out of me slowly, his hands gentle as he helped lower me to the ground, Leo slipping free as well. I winced slightly, my body sore from the intense experience and the aftermath dripping from between my legs.

We’d made the decision a week ago after being tested that condoms were optional, but now I was slightly regretting that decision.

I sighed, leaning into Leo’s chest as Ethan leaned into me. I’d never felt so connected to them, and I was completely falling in love… with both of them.

Chapter 27

Shocking Love Triangle

Leo

Ihated Mondays, especially Mondays after the most perfect weekend with my boyfriend and girlfriend. Smiling, because I really liked the fucking sound of that, I opened my laptop and turned it on.

It was the first weekend in what felt like forever where I’d done absolutely no work and completely turned off anything that would take me away from Libby and Ethan.

There had been nothing urgent that had happened over the weekend and nothing that the employees I hired to run things couldn’t handle. Still, it was hard to disconnect when, for the past year, I’d been laser-focused on proving to my father that I had what it takes to run the hotels when he eventually retired.

But was that even what I wanted?

He didn’t trust me, which was made clear when he told me he was done babysitting a grown man. After what happened with the blackmail, he wasn’t going to let me touch anything to do with the hotels until I proved to him that I could live a life where I wouldn’t end up losing everything or end up the hot gossip.

I ran my hand down my face as I waited for my emails to load. My gut was telling me that I didn’t want to be the same as my father—his life was ruled by the business and the number of zeros in his bank account.

As it was, I had plenty of money to retire and still live like I had been.

And then there was my mom. She was probably more concerned about our family image and business interests than my dad was, but at least she was still a little in touch with her heart.

I was about to start digging into my emails when a sharp knock at my office door jolted me out of my thoughts. Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Ryker walked in, his face a mask of indifference.

My stomach dropped. This couldn’t be good. Had Libby gone and talked to him that morning?

“Good morning, sunshine. What brings you by? I didn’t think we had a meeting scheduled.”

He said nothing as he strode across the room, and without a word, placed a piece of paper on my desk. He took a step back, crossing his arms over his chest.

Confused and more than a little unnerved by his silence, I picked up the paper. As soon as I saw what it was, the blood drained from my face.

It was a printout from some trashy online tabloid that I was no stranger to. They were obsessed with the rich and elite in New York City, and in turn, made their readership crave any juicy gossip.

The headline screamed, “PLAYBOY BILLIONAIRE’S SHOCKING LOVE TRIANGLE!” Below it were two photos of me kissing Ethan and Libby. Both were taken during our weekend in the Hamptons.

My mind raced, trying to figure out how anyone could have gotten those pictures without me seeing. They were grainy, indicating they were taken from a distance.

I looked up at Ryker, desperately trying to read his expression. But his face remained impassive, giving nothing away.

“Ryker-” I started, but he held up a hand, silencing me.

“Did you read the article?”

My eyes returned to the short article under the pictures.

Well, folks, buckle up! The glittering streets of Manhattan are buzzing with news of Leonardo Caponetti entangled in a messy love triangle. That’s right, it’s debauchery at its finest!

Sources spotted the dashing Caponetti canoodling not with one, but two gorgeous companions during a wild weekend in the Hamptons. Reports are flying in about who the man and woman are, and we are here for the tea!

Friends are shaking their heads, wondering how he’ll explain this latest escapade to mommy and daddy dearest. Rumor has it that dear Leo’s claim to the Bella Grand Hotel empire has been in jeopardy for a while now.

With scandalous photos already spreading like wildfire on social media, the big question is—can our charming billionaire come back from this, or is he about to watch his empire crumble in the wake of his roguish romance? Seems like the city can’t get enough of this drama! Stay tuned for more on this developing story.

I rolled my eyes because it was the same ridiculousness they always tended to write. “I’ll have my PR team take care of this.”

“My sister’s face is plastered all over the fucking internet!” Ryker’s demeanor finally cracked, and he pointed an accusatory finger at me. “I trusted you and you’ve been fucking her!”

I cringed. “It’s not like that at all. We-”

“We?”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. This was not how I wanted Ryker to find out about us. Hell, this wasn’t how I wanted anyone to find out about us.

“It’s complicated.” I knew how weak it sounded even as the words left my mouth.

Ryker’s jaw clenched. “Complicated? That’s my sister, Leo. And her best friend. What the hell are you playing at?”

I ran a hand through my hair. “We’re not playing at anything. We’re in a relationship. All three of us.”

Ryker’s eyes widened slightly. “A relationship. All three of you.” His tone was flat, and that scared me more than him yelling or punching me in the face.

I nodded, bracing myself for whatever came next. “Yes. We’ve been trying to figure out how to tell you, but-”

“But you thought it would be better for me to find out from some sleazy gossip story?” Ryker’s voice was sharp now, anger breaking through again.

“Of course not,” I said quickly. “We had no idea anyone was watching us and taking photos.”

This was a disaster, and not just for us. It could affect the foundation and the community center. People were barely accepting as it was.

“What are you going to do?” I hated how uncertain my voice sounded.

Ryker’s eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw a flicker of something that might have been sympathy, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. “I don’t know, but you better figure out how you’re going to fix this. And fast.”

With that, he turned and walked out, leaving me alone with the damning article and a sinking feeling that the perfect weekend had become the beginning of a nightmare.

Was I going to have to step down from my position because of this? If things had spread too far already, there would be no choice.

I turned back to my laptop, my heart beating so hard I thought it might escape. Damage control was what I needed to focus on. I had to get ahead of this before it spiraled even further out of control.

A meeting invitation notification popped up in the corner of my screen from my father, marked as urgent. For a moment, I hesitated, my cursor hovering over the invite.

Was this about the article, or something else entirely? Either way, I knew I couldn’t ignore it. With a resigned sigh, I accepted the meeting invite.

Thirty minutes. That was all the time I had to try and get a handle on this mess.

Grabbing my phone, I dialed my PR team, my fingers drumming impatiently on the desk as I waited for someone to pick up. When they finally did, I didn’t bother with pleasantries.

“Why the hell is there an article about my personal life plastered all over the internet?” I snapped, not bothering to hide my anger. “I want it and any other photos gone. Now. And I want to know why it was up long enough for someone to print it out and bring it to my office. I expect a full report on my desk within the hour.”

I hung up without waiting for a response, knowing they’d get the message. Running a hand through my hair, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. This was bad. Really bad.

Glancing at my watch, I realized I needed to head out if I was going to make it to my father’s office on time. It was in the same business park of buildings, but with elevators and people going to work, it might take a while.

I grabbed my phone and headed for the door, my mind already running through potential explanations and damage control strategies.

As I stepped into the hallway, lost in thought, I nearly collided with Libby.

“Hi. I was just coming to say good morning since you were gone before me and Ethan woke up.” She looked up at me with a smile, completely oblivious to the storm that was brewing around us.

I was tempted to tell her what was going on, but she was in such a good mood. Plus, I didn’t know the extent of things yet, and why ruin her day? The gossip website could have just posted the article for all I knew.

“Good morning.” I kissed her and forced a smile that I hoped she couldn’t see through. “I’ve got an urgent meeting with my father. I’ll be back in a bit.”

Her face fell slightly. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just some business stuff.” Either way, it would boil down to business, so it wasn’t a complete lie.

Before she could respond, I was already moving past her, heading for the elevators. I could practically feel her confused gaze on my back, but I didn’t turn around. I couldn’t risk her seeing the panic I was sure was written all over my face.

As I stepped into the elevator and hit the button for the lobby, I took a deep breath. Whatever fallout was coming from this article, I had to be ready.

Fifteen minutes later, my father’s executive assistant led me into his office where both he and my mother were waiting. Shit. This was bad.

Their faces were a mix of disappointment and anger. I’d seen this look before, but somehow, this time felt different. I was almost thirty, yet they made me feel like a wayward thirteen-year-old all over again.

I plopped down in the chair next to my mother, crossing my arms over my chest like a petulant teenager since that was how they were probably going to treat me. “What’s this about?”

“Leonardo.” My father’s voice held a warning, and I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. “Care to explain this?” He slid the same article Ryker had shown me across the desk.

“No.”

“No?” My mom’s voice was shrill. “This is scandalous! Two people, Leonardo? One is a man!”

“It’s not scandalous. We’re in a committed relationship with each other. Committed people kiss publicly.” My temper, which I usually kept in control, was rising to the surface, and I had to remind myself that blowing up at them wasn’t going to help matters.

My father pinched the bridge of his nose. “Leo, have you forgotten about the couple that blackmailed you? What if they resurface now? This kind of publicity is exactly what they’d capitalize on.”

I hadn’t thought about that. The memory of that nightmare made my stomach churn.

“And what about your future?” My mother chimed in. “How are you supposed to find a suitable wife and give us grandbabies when you’re gallivanting around like this?”

“Luca’s in a poly relationship,” I pointed out, frustration coloring my voice. “Why is it different for me?”

My mother’s face fell. “Don’t remind me. Your brother has already jeopardized his chances. We can’t have both of you throwing away your futures.”

“So, I’m held to a higher standard?” I scoffed. “That’s bullshit and you know it.”

“Watch your language,” my father warned. “Luca has made it clear he has no interest in running things. He also doesn’t have his indiscretions plastered all over the internet. You, on the other hand, seem to attract scandal like a magnet.”

I ran a hand through my hair. “What do you want from me? I can’t live in isolation because some idiots don’t understand the concept of privacy.”

“We want you to be responsible and to think about the consequences of your actions. You’re supposed to take over when I retire. No one is going to respect a man who-”

“Who loves two people? Who fucks men?” Since both of them were skirting around the major issue, I’d say it for them.

My mother leaned forward, her eyes gleaming with what I recognized as her ‘I have a solution’ look. “There is a way to fix this, Leo. You’ll marry Clara Accardo.”

Not this again.

If I had a dollar for every time my mother tried to get me and Luca to marry Clara, I’d be an independent billionaire.

“Mom, I’ve told you before, I’m not interested in Clara.” And she’s not interested in me… or men. “I’m not marrying someone to appease you or the press. I’m in a relationship with two people I care about deeply. Why can’t that be enough?”

My father slammed his hand on the desk. “Because it’s not! This isn’t just about you, Leo. It’s about our legacy. Every time you pull a stunt like this, it affects all of us.”

I stood up, unable to sit still any longer. “What do you want me to do? End my relationship? Pretend to be someone I’m not?”

My parents exchanged a look, and I knew whatever they were about to say, I wouldn’t like it.

“We’ll announce your engagement to Clara and do damage control if the photos from the weekend have spread wide. You’ll also return to work with me and begin working with a publicist to fix your image.” My father’s voice was firm and held no room for argument. He couldn’t be serious about controlling every aspect of my life.

“And if I refuse?”

Neither of them spoke, and that was all the answer I needed. Unlike my brother, I did want to take over things for my father and had been preparing for it practically my whole adult life.

“I see.” I straightened my jacket, my jaw set. “And what about what makes me happy?”

My mom reached out and took my hand. I should have pulled away, but she had tears in her eyes, and I was a damn sucker when she got emotional.

“How long would something like that really last, Leonardo?” She squeezed my hand, but it did nothing to comfort me.

I honestly didn’t have an answer to that question. Things had barely started between us, but I was already falling for them. But was I only falling for the idea of being loved too? Of having someone to come home to?

“How long do I have?” I couldn’t think with the pressure coming from all angles.

My father looked at his Rolex. “The statement has already been released.”

Fuck.

Chapter 28

Gorgeous

Ethan

My weekend trip with Leo and Libby had been absolutely perfect. So perfect that I wanted to spin around in my office chair and kick my feet, but I resisted. Not everyone appreciated such excitement on Monday mornings, especially not the man who just stepped off the elevator with a scowl on his face.

“Ryker, what a ball of sunshine you are this morning.” I took a sip of my coffee, trying to hide the smile on my face.

I’d worked for Ryker since I’d graduated college and decided to move to the city, and it had always been hard to get a smile out of him. These days, I had about a fifty-fifty chance thanks to the woman in his life, but today was not my day.

“My office. Now.” Was that a growl in his voice?

Either way, it had me straightening in my chair. “Am I in trouble?”

When he didn’t respond and walked down the hall toward his office, I jumped to my feet to follow him. There wasn’t a single thing I could think of that would piss him off so early on a Monday morning.

In his office, he was staring out his window, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Shut the door.”

“You’re really freaking me out right now. Are you going to fire me?” I shut the door and sat down in the chair across from his desk, wondering what the hell was going on.

“I need you to be honest with me.” He turned around, his eyes concerned. “How serious is it?”

I raised an eyebrow. “What are you referring to? Your glowing personality? I would say it’s at a critically low level.”

That got a lip twitch, but it was quickly gone. “You, Libby, and Leo.”

“Uh… what do you mean?” I didn’t know if he was referring to the three of us living together, our relationship, or something else. I definitely didn’t want to tell him about the three of us if Libby hadn’t talked to him yet.

And I knew she hadn’t because on the way to work, she’d told me she was going to tell him later that night.

“The three of you…” He pinched the bridge of his nose and started to pace the length of the wall of windows behind his desk. “You’re together.”

“Define together.”

“Damn it, Ethan! You know what I’m talking about.” He stopped in front of his desk and moved his computer screen around until I could see it. “You’re together.”

“What the fuck?” I stood, leaning in to read the short article under a ridiculous headline about a love triangle with pictures of me, Libby, and Leo kissing. It was a lot to process, so I said the first thing that came to mind. “They think we’re gorgeous.”

“That’s all you got from that?!” His face was starting to turn red, and his eye twitched a few times. I had entered the danger zone.

While it was fun to push Ryker’s buttons, I knew where the line was, and I was kicking at it. I might have been his little sister’s best friend—and now boyfriend—but I was still his employee, and I liked my job.

I slowly took my seat and folded my hands in my lap. “That’s such an invasion of privacy.”

Libby was going to lose her shit when she saw the article and pictures. She was always worried about the image she put out into the world, and this would devastate her. The article hadn’t said anything bad about the two of us, but I was sure the internet trolls would be all over this.

Ryker sighed and sat down in his office chair like he’d just run a marathon. “I don’t know what to do here, Ethan.”

“There’s nothing you really can do. Unfortunately, Leo is sometimes in the spotlight, and he has a history. Libby and I were aware of that when we decided to give him a chance. I guess we didn’t think we’d end up being a breaking story so soon.” He stared at me, so I continued. “We’d all talked about telling you. Libby was going to tell you tonight.”

“She texted me and asked me if I wanted to go to dinner.” He picked up a pen and tapped it against his desk. “If Leo doesn’t get this cleaned up, I’m going to have to fire him.”

My stomach dropped. “Fire him? For being in a relationship with us?”

Ryker dropped the pen with a loud clunk. “No, because he runs a charitable foundation and the last thing it needs is a director who brings negative press. Donors and the parents of the kids we’re going to serve won’t care about his relationship status, but they will care that he is plastered all over the internet for it.”

I could understand that, but that didn’t mean firing him was the answer. “You asked me if things were serious… I can’t speak for Leo or Libby, but for me they are. I was unsure about him at first, but he has grown on me. And you know how I feel about your sister.”

“I do.” He was the most fidgety I’d ever seen him, and he stood again to pace in front of the window. “What I don’t understand is how you could want another man involved.”

“You have other men involved in your relationship.”

“That’s different. We were best friends already. This came out of nowhere.”

“He’s really trying, Ryker. He took us on dates, including taking Libby to a bookstore for a shopping spree. And this weekend, after Libby shared about camping in the backyard when you two were younger, he ordered an outdoor movie screen, and we had s’mores. He listens and he cares.”

Ryker stopped and turned toward me. “I don’t want to see her heartbroken…”

“She’s stronger than you give her credit for, and I don’t plan on breaking her heart.” I stood, knowing that Ryker probably needed some time to himself. “I’m going to go down and check on Libby and Leo, if that’s okay?”

Ryker nodded. “Thank you, Ethan. You might be a pain in the ass most of the time, but my life and Libby’s wouldn’t be the same without you.”

Was he trying to make me cry? “I knew you loved me.”

“Get out of my office.” He cracked a smile, and I took that as a win.

I stepped off the elevator on Libby’s floor, thankful that Ryker and Leo had set up the temporary office in the same building. The floor was quiet, which was to be expected since there were only currently three people working at the foundation.

Libby was in her office, her eyes already glossed over as she studied something on her computer screen. It had to be a rough adjustment going from reading about a duck and goose fighting over an egg which was really a soccer ball, to sitting at a desk in front of a computer most of the day.

“Hey.” I leaned against her door frame. “You have a few minutes?”

She jumped, her eyes darting to me. “Jesus, I didn’t even hear you.”

“You were really zoned out there.” I walked in and sat down in a chair across from her desk. “What are you working on?”

“Budget stuff. I have to present my operating budget for the academic side of things on Friday.” She scrunched her nose. “I thought when I agreed to help run this, I’d be more hands-on with the community.”

“That will come eventually… after you do all the hard work first.” I wasn’t quite sure how to bring up the news. She clearly hadn’t seen or heard about it yet. “Where are Leo and Carter? It’s quiet today.”

“Leo had an urgent meeting with his father, and Carter only comes in when there are meetings. He’s more of a contractor type of employee at the moment.” A smile broke out across her face. “You didn’t come down here for a quickie, did you?”

I cringed. “I wished that was the reason I was here…”

Her face fell. “What’s wrong?”

There was no easy way to tell her, so I spit it all out. “Someone took photos of the three of us kissing this weekend and there’s a gossip article online. It doesn’t name us.”

She looked taken aback and then turned to her computer, typing furiously, no doubt searching for the article. She gasped, her hand going over her mouth. “Ethan.”

“It’s not that bad. It even calls us gorgeous.” I stood, walking around the desk to comfort her.

The article she’d pulled up wasn’t the one with us, though. It was a new one that had been released not even ten minutes ago.

Leonardo Caponetti, Heir to Bella Grand Hotel Empire, Announces Engagement to Clara Accardo

The Caponetti family today announced the engagement of Leonardo Caponetti, youngest son of Lorenzo Caponetti, of the Bella Grand Hotel Group, to Clara Accardo, daughter of prominent business leader, Carlo Accardo.

The announcement comes after recent media speculation surrounding Mr. Caponetti’s personal life. In a statement, the Caponetti family said:

“We are delighted to share the news of Leonardo’s engagement to Clara Accardo. As he prepares to take on a larger role within the family business, we believe this union will provide stability and position Leonardo for future success. The Caponetti and Accardo families have enjoyed a longstanding relationship, and we look forward to welcoming Clara into our family.”

Mr. Caponetti and Ms. Accardo met through their families’ shared business interests and have been dating for the past eleven months.

“I am excited to take this next step with Clara,” said Mr. Caponetti. “She is a wonderful woman, and I look forward to building a life together as we continue our careers and commitment to philanthropic endeavors.”

Further details will be provided at a later date.

“This can’t be true.” I read the press release twice, trying to make sense of what I was reading.

Libby didn’t say anything and clicked back to the search engine, adding Clara Accardo to the search. A ton of pictures of Leo with a gorgeous woman came up and my stomach dropped.

Had we been a final fling before he was married?

“I should get back to work.” Libby’s voice was flat and emotionless.

“Libby…” I spun her chair around and knelt in front of her, taking her hands, which were shaking.

“We trusted him.” She shook her head, and her eyes filled with tears.

“I’ll wait here with you, and we can talk to him when he gets back.” I wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I was struggling not to throw something across the room.

“I want to get back to work.” She blinked a few times and gave me a small smile. “I’ll see you at lunch?”

And just like that, I watched the walls go back up around her heart.

I reluctantly stood up, my heart breaking at what this was going to do to her, even if it was all a big misunderstanding. “Okay, I’ll give you some space. Text me if you need me before lunch.”

She swiveled back to her computer, her eyes already back on her screen. “Please shut the door on your way out.”

I did as she asked, my mind reeling as I walked to the elevator. How could Leo do this to us? To Libby? We’d let him into our lives and our hearts. And for what?

The elevator dinged, and as the doors slid open, I came face to face with the man himself. Leo looked like absolute shit with his hair a mess and his tie askew.

Good. He deserved to feel as awful as we did.

Before he could step off, I pushed my way in, forcing him back against the wall, and jabbed the button for my floor.

As soon as the doors closed, I rounded on him. “What the fuck, Leo? An engagement? Eleven months of dating?”

Leo’s eyes widened, and he fumbled for the emergency stop button. The elevator jerked to a halt. “Ethan, please. It’s not what you think-”

“Oh, really? Because it looks pretty damn clear to me. You’ve been lying to us this whole time!”

“No!” Leo ran a hand through his hair, making it stick up even more. “I swear, I’m not engaged. My parents dropped this on me out of nowhere.”

“Out of nowhere? And you expect me to believe that? That an engagement to another person comes out of thin air?”

“Yes!” His voice cracked. “Because it’s the truth. My parents have been trying to get either me or Luca to marry Clara for years! Clara is a lesbian, for crying out loud!”

I studied his face, wanting so badly to see a lie there that would justify the anger and hurt coursing through me. But all I saw was desperation and sadness.

“Ryker is going to kill you.” I sighed and reached past him to restart the elevator. “You can’t let your parents dictate your life like this.”

Leo nodded, looking relieved that I was at least listening. “I know. I’m going to fix it.”

The elevator started moving again, and we rode in tense silence until it reached my floor. As I stepped out, I turned back to Leo. “I want to believe you, I really do. But this is a clusterfuck I don’t know how you’re going to fix, especially with Libby.”

The doors closed on his stricken face, and I headed to the front desk, my head and heart a mess.

Chapter 29

All Ryker’s Fault

Libby

Ishould have known better than to think for one second that I’d be able to trust anyone with my heart. I couldn’t trust my biological father, who left as soon as my mom was pregnant with me, or my own mother, who didn’t even try once he was gone. He’d broken her completely, and in turn, she’d broken me completely. If my own flesh and blood didn’t care, then how could I expect anyone else to?

As soon as the door shut behind Ethan, I let the tears fall, unable to hold it in anymore. I’d been so hopeful that the three of us would find some way to make things work, but even if the engagement announcement wasn’t real, how often were we going to have to deal with shit like this?

I needed to get out of there.

I quickly sent an email to Leo telling him I would be working from home, then closed my laptop. There was no reason I couldn’t work from home when all I was doing was administrative work with the budget.

Wiping my eyes, I shoved my things in my tote. Maybe trying to work today would be futile. I could go see a movie or wander around the city instead; anything to keep my mind off Leo.

I opened my office door and rushed out, but instead of the empty hallway I’d expected, I ran right into Leo.

“Libby.” Leo’s voice was strained as his hands came up to steady me.

“I’m taking the rest of the day off.” I tried to step around him, but he moved to block my path.

“Please, let me explain. My parents sprang this on me without warning.”

I looked up at him, seeing the desperation in his eyes. “That’s not even the only problem, Leo. We’re all over the internet apparently.”

His jaw clenched. “I know, and I’m so sorry. The pictures should be down by now.”

“That doesn’t change the fact that they were there in the first place.” I wasn’t sure if the rich had some secret way of removing all traces of a photo, but I doubted it. People took screenshots and saved images all the time.

“I should have been more careful. I’m used to being photographed, and I completely forgot to watch myself.” He ran a hand through his hair, which looked like he’d already done so about a hundred times.

“It’s only going to get worse, isn’t it?” I hugged myself, suddenly feeling very small. “And with the foundation and community center... we’re supposed to be working with kids. How’s it going to look when their program manager and executive director are splashed across gossip sites in compromising positions?”

“Kissing is not a compromising position.” Leo stepped closer, his hand coming up to cup my cheek. “I promise I’ll fix this. All of it. The photos, the engagement announcement... I won’t let anything hurt you, Ethan, or the foundation.”

The sincerity in his voice made my breath catch in my throat, and I found myself wanting to believe him. Maybe we could figure this out and find a happy medium. Maybe.

The elevator dinged, and my eyes drifted past Leo to see who was arriving. My stomach dropped as a stunning woman in a designer suit stepped out. I recognized her immediately from the photos online—Clara Accardo, Leo’s supposed fiancée.

“Leo!” Her voice carried down the hallway, bright and cheerful. “It looks like we have a party to plan!”

I stepped back from Leo’s touch as if I’d been burned. “I can’t do this,” I whispered, watching as Clara approached us with her perfect runway-worthy strides.

“Libby, wait-” Leo reached for me, but I was already moving.

I ducked around him and practically ran for the stairwell, ignoring his calls. The stairwell door slammed behind me with a satisfying bang, and I let the echo drown out the sound of my breaking heart.

My heels clacked against the concrete steps as I fled downward, not caring how many flights I had to descend. The adult thing to do would have been to stay, but I couldn’t watch Leo with his perfect fiancée or deal with the reality of what I’d gotten myself into.

My legs were burning by the time I reached the ground floor, but I didn’t slow down. I burst through the stairwell door into the lobby, probably looking like a complete mess.

The security guards gave me a concerned look as I hurried past them and exited the building into the bright mid-morning sun. I started walking with no destination in mind—I didn’t really feel like going home now. I had the desperate need to put distance between myself and the clusterfuck upstairs.

My phone buzzed in my bag, but I ignored it. It was probably Ethan or Leo, and I couldn’t deal with either of them right then. What I needed was space to breathe and to figure out what the hell I was doing with my life.

My life in Connecticut hadn’t been bad by any means. If anything, it had been safe and boring. I wasn’t happy or sad, I just was.

But moving to New York, although scary at first, had turned into something exciting and filled me with happiness. Until today. How could something so good turn so quickly? Was this always how it was going to be with Leo?

The photos. The engagement announcement. Clara showing up looking like she’d stepped off a magazine cover.

I found myself at the entrance to Central Park and found an empty bench. I finally allowed myself to really process everything. “I’m such an idiot,” I muttered to myself, dropping my head into my hands.

My phone buzzed again, and this time I pulled it out, ready to tell whoever it was to leave me alone. But it wasn’t Ethan or Leo—it was my brother.

I rolled my eyes before I even opened his text.

Ryker: Are you okay?

Me: Peachy.

Ryker: Where are you?

Me: Central Park and then headed home. Really, I’ll be fine.

Ryker: I’m going to fire Leo.

Me: *face with rolling eyes emoji* No, you aren’t. He’s your friend.

Ryker: They say don’t mix business and friendships. It almost ruined my own company, and now it’s likely to ruin the foundation before we’ve even really done anything.

Me: Things worked out for you, though. He said he’s going to fix whatever the hell is going on.

Ryker: I wish you would have told me about him…

Me: It’s new and we didn’t want it to cause issues. Besides, you’re the one who is at fault here.

Ryker: How is any of this my fault?

Me: You let him stay at the condo, and because I didn’t know he was there, he saw my boobs. The rest is history.

I grinned as my last text sat on read, but he didn’t respond. He was probably pinching the bridge of his nose and pacing, trying to delete what I’d sent from his brain.

He had no place to judge Leo when he, Garrett, and Luca had all been just as casual about women before they met Paige. Now they were in love, and it was all because she gave them a chance.

A chance like I had given Leo.

A couple walking past my bench caught my attention. They were probably in their seventies, holding hands and laughing together like teenagers. The woman said something that made the man throw his head back in laughter, and my chest ached at the sight.

That was what I wanted—someone to grow old with, and who would still look at me like I hung the moon, even when we were ancient and wrinkled.

But I didn’t want one someone, I wanted two.

A squirrel darted past my feet, making me jump and reminding me that I couldn’t sit sulking in the park forever. As much as I wanted to avoid everything, I knew I couldn’t keep running from my problems, no matter how terrifying they were.

Taking a deep breath, I stood up and started walking toward the condo.

It felt like it took forever to walk home, even though it was right by Central Park. Uncertainty was still clouding my brain, but there wasn’t much I could do about it until Leo got home and explained everything fully.

When I stepped inside the condo, Ethan was on the couch, playing video games. He immediately put his controller down and came to meet me in the entryway.

“What are you doing home? Lunch isn’t for another hour.” I’d planned on texting him to meet me halfway between the condo and office to eat.

“Ryker sent me home early to check on you. I was starting to get worried.” He leaned in for a quick kiss. It still amazed me how we so easily fell into things. At least there was no uncertainty when it came to him.

I dropped my bag and kicked off my shoes, feeling the tension leave my muscles by being in Ethan’s presence. “I’m starting to think running away from my problems isn’t the best coping mechanism.”

“Hey, sometimes you need space to process.” He gestured to the couch. “Want to talk about it?”

I nodded, following him to the couch and curling up next to him. For a moment, we sat in a comfortable silence that came from years of friendship and understanding.

“Clara showed up at the office,” I finally said, picking at a loose thread on my blouse. The thought of her made me sick to my stomach. “She’s exactly what you’d expect Leo’s fiancée to be. Tall, gorgeous, and probably a model.”

“Lib.” Ethan’s voice was gentle. “You know that’s not real. The engagement thing.”

“But maybe it should be.” I looked up at him, tears threatening again. “They make sense together. I mean, do we really think this is going to be a good idea anyway? The three of us?” The question hung in the air, heavy with my insecurities and fears.

Ethan took my hand, and his thumb traced circles on my palm. “First off, I know you don’t feel that way. We had the most perfect weekend with Leo, and having this happen when we all finally agreed that this was going to work is tough. And secondly, Clara is more likely to marry you than Leo; he told me.”

I let that sink in. “Why would their families do this to them? It said they’ve been dating for eleven months, Ethan.”

Ethan shrugged. “Luca used to bring up Clara from time to time and how his mom wanted him to marry her. They want to further their business interests through marriage and don’t care who gets hurt in the process. Even if they end up hurting their own son.”

“It’s selfish.”

Looking at Ethan, I thought about all the times he’d been there for me. He’d never left and never made me feel like I wasn’t enough. Through every laugh and every tear, he’d become my person. Didn’t Leo deserve a love like that too?

The thought of losing what we’d so quickly built together made my heart ache. “So, what are we going to do?” I hadn’t the faintest clue how to help Leo with the predicament he was in.

“We wait for Leo to get home, and we figure things out together.”

Together. It was such a simple word, yet it held so much power.

Chapter 30

Fifty Million

Leo

Iwas absolutely fucking exhausted, and my day still wasn’t over.

Clara and I had come up with a plan that would hopefully make both of our families not look like complete assholes. Even though they deserved to look like fools, neither of us wanted to deal with that level of fallout.

Apparently, both of our parents had been planning this marriage coup for a while, and my weekend had been the trigger they’d been waiting for. If it hadn’t been me who’d set it in motion, it would have been her.

It still hurt that they had done this to me. I knew I was far from perfect, but no one deserved to have their life dictated, especially when they were making great strides in personal growth.

What hurt the most was I’d been doing everything my father had asked of me over the last year, but all he saw was that I was a fuck-up who needed hand-holding.

I really hoped Libby and Ethan didn’t see me that way.

My stomach was twisted in a knot as I made my way down the hall to the front door. Libby and Ethan were waiting for me so we could talk, and I had a sinking feeling that this was it. There was only so much they should have to put up with, and I wouldn’t have blamed them for kicking me out and carrying on without me.

I opened the door to the condo and was immediately hit with the smell of something cooking. Following my nose to the kitchen, I found Ethan and Libby moving around each other with practiced ease as they pulled food from the oven and poured soda into cups.

“Hi.” I tried to keep my tone light, but there was tension there to match the tightness in my shoulders that wouldn’t ease.

Libby glanced at me, giving me a small smile. “Go change. We’ll talk over dinner.”

I didn’t argue, heading straight to my room to swap my suit for sweats and a T-shirt. When I returned, they had plates set out at the kitchen island and were already seated.

“So...” I settled onto the empty stool, staring at the plate of what was definitely frozen chicken tenders. “Clara and I came up with a plan.”

“To get married and live happily ever after?” Ethan’s voice was teasing, but Libby elbowed him.

“We’re going to break off the engagement at the end of the week.” Needing something to do with my hands, I grabbed a fry and swirled it in ketchup. “We’re going to release a joint statement about remaining friends and focusing on our careers.”

“That’s... surprisingly simple.” Libby dunked a tender in ranch dressing but put it down. “That’s all there is to it?”

“Yeah, well, the complicated part comes after.” I took a deep breath. “My father wants me to come back to the company. He says it’s time I took my rightful place or some bullshit like that.”

Ethan put his hand on my arm. “Isn’t that what you’ve always wanted? You practically grew up in those hotels.”

“I thought I did… Most of my adult life, it was assumed I’d take over since Luca made it very clear he didn’t want it. But now that I’ve seen what it’s like to do work that matters and to have time for this…” I gestured between the three of us. “Running a multi-billion-dollar company means eighteen-hour days, constant travel, and never-ending pressure. I watched it eat away at my father until he became someone I barely recognize.”

“So, what do you want?” Ethan’s question was simple but loaded.

I looked between them, these two people who’d somehow wormed their way into my life and made me question everything I thought I knew about myself. “I want to stay with the foundation if Ryker will let me, and I want both of you, but…”

“But?” Libby bit her bottom lip.

“I need to be one hundred percent honest… about everything. That includes things that are embarrassing as fuck for me to share and possibly bad enough to scare you both away.”

Libby took my hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “We’re still here after today, aren’t we?”

“Yes, but this is a million times worse.” I laughed uncomfortably. “Last year, at a party on my yacht, I got drunk and went to my room with a woman. Things were progressing as normal, but then she got up and let her husband in the room. At first, it was just him watching, but then he joined in and… well, I fucked him. At some point, one of them set up their phone to record and then they blackmailed me for millions.”

Ethan jumped to his feet, his hands balling into fists. “They did what?!”

I’d thought I’d seen Ethan angry before, but this was next level. He looked ready to pick up his barstool and chuck it across the room… or at my head.

“They were going to release it unless I paid them off, so I did.” I slowly got to my feet and put my hands up in surrender. “I should have told you both sooner.”

“But that’s illegal. Blackmail is illegal.” Libby stood and put a hand on Ethan’s chest.

“Of course it’s illegal, but things get complicated when you have even a little notoriety and money. They were visiting too, so it would be an international case.

“At first, I refused to believe it, thinking it was a joke, but then they contacted my father. They didn’t send him the full video, but they sent him enough.” I ran my hand through my hair and walked to the other side of the island since Ethan looked murderous. “We could have tried to stop them by contacting the FBI, but something like bribery and a sex tape doesn’t stay under the radar. It would have been a huge court case.”

Ethan had calmed down considerably and looked at me with pity. “How much?”

I cringed. “Fifty.”

“Fifty thousand?” Libby gasped, and I could tell by her widened eyes that she only hoped it was that small of an amount—not that fifty grand was a small amount by any means.

“Million.” I shook my head, still in disbelief it had even happened. “Supposedly, it was deleted, but sometimes I still worry it’s going to be released. My lawyers assure me it won’t because then we can go after them for blackmail.”

“Jesus.” Ethan came around the counter and pulled me into a hug.

Libby joined our embrace, pressing against my back as she wrapped her arms around me. The three of us stood there in silence, and for the first time since this mess started, all the tension left my body, and I finally felt like I could breathe.

“I get it if you want to walk away,” I said quietly, hating how vulnerable I felt, but also knowing it was safe to be that way with them. “My life comes with more baggage than anyone should have to deal with. The gossip and my family... it’s a lot.”

“We’re not going anywhere.” Libby’s voice was muffled against my back, but I could hear the truth in it.

Ethan pulled back enough to look at me. “You think a sex tape is going to scare us off? Please.”

“It’s not just that. When the engagement ends and I tell my father I’m walking away from the hotels completely, it’s going to get ugly. The press will be relentless trying to figure out why, and they’ll dig into everything and everyone in my life.”

“Let them dig.” Libby moved around to face me. “I have nothing to hide.”

“You say that now, but-”

“No buts.” She put her hand on my chest, right over my heart.

Looking between them, I saw nothing but acceptance in their eyes. They now knew exactly what they were getting into, and they were choosing to stay anyway.

I didn’t deserve them, but I was going to spend every day trying to.

“So,” Ethan clapped his hands together, breaking the moment. “Now that we’ve got all that sorted, can we please eat? The chicken and fries are getting cold.”

Libby rolled her eyes but laughed. “Way to ruin the moment.”

But the moment wasn’t ruined. It was perfect and it was us.

Spending the evening cuddled up on the couch watching movies and then soaking in the most amazing bubble bath after a stressful day was just what I needed. Was the tub a little crowded with Ethan and Libby in it too? It sure was, but that was the best part.

“I’m starting to see the appeal of baths.” Ethan was reclined against the other end of the bath, his arms relaxed on the sides of the tub and his head resting on a rolled-up towel.

Libby was between my legs, her head against my chest as I traced my fingers along her skin. “It’s making me sleepy.”

“We need a bigger bed.” Ethan sat up, the water sloshing against me and Libby. “I think one of the ones like in the Hamptons will fit… unless you don’t want to share a bed. Paige told me they each have their own separate rooms and then one they all share.”

“What do you think, Leo?” Libby turned slightly to look at me.

“I like that idea… I should have told you guys that my penthouse has been done for over a week now.” I cringed because it was yet another thing I had kept from them.

Ethan snorted. “I knew it! This was all a ploy to get in our pants.”

Libby sloshed some water at him before her attention came back to me. “Are you going to move back?”

“I was thinking you two could move with me… unless you want to stay here, which is fine too. It doesn’t matter as long as I’m with both of you.”

Libby traced her fingers along my jaw. “We don’t have to decide tonight, especially when we haven’t seen your floor yet. It might look awful.”

I grabbed her wrist playfully and bit at her fingers. “Take it back.”

She giggled and then kissed me, turning so she was straddling my lap. I let go of her wrist and deepened the kiss. My hands moved to cup her ass, pulling her flush against me. She moaned softly into my mouth, her fingers tangling in my hair.

She ground against me, her breasts pressed against my chest, her nipples hardening. I desperately wanted to taste them and kissed down her neck before capturing one between my teeth.

Ethan, who had been watching us with a heated gaze, moved across the tub, his hand skimming up Libby’s back. She shivered at his touch, turning to look over her shoulder at him. He leaned in, kissing her, while his other hand reached between me and Libby and found my cock, stroking it slowly.

Libby pulled away from Ethan, her breath ragged. “I want you inside me, Leo.” She shifted, positioning herself over me, and slowly slid down onto my cock. I gripped her hips, guiding her as she began to ride me.

Ethan moved his hands on her waist, helping her move up and down. The water in the tub started to slosh around us, spilling over the sides. Libby’s moans filled the bathroom, her pace quickening.

“We should move to the bed,” I managed to say, my voice strained. Libby nodded, her cheeks flushed.

Ethan stood up, water cascading off his body, and stepped out of the tub. He grabbed towels, wrapping one around his waist and holding the others out for us. I lifted Libby off me, missing the warmth of her immediately. We stepped out of the tub, quickly drying off before following Ethan into the bedroom.

We lay on the bed, Libby and Ethan on either side of me. Libby leaned down, her lips finding mine again, her hand trailing down my chest to my cock. Ethan’s mouth was on my neck, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin. I was in heaven, their touches and kisses setting my body on fire.

Libby broke away from our kiss, her mouth moving down my body, her tongue tracing a path along my abs. Ethan moved lower as well, his hands spreading my legs and pushing them so my feet were flat on the mattress.

I was so exposed, and I tensed for a moment, unsure of what he was planning. Usually blow jobs didn’t require me to put my legs up.

When his tongue flicked out, licking a stripe up my inner thigh, I relaxed.

Libby’s mouth enveloped my cock, her head bobbing up and down. I groaned, my hips bucking slightly. Ethan’s tongue moved higher, licking and sucking at the sensitive skin of my balls. I was a writhing mess, my hands fisting the sheets.

Then, Ethan’s tongue moved even lower, licking at my tight hole. I gasped as he circled the ring of muscle, his tongue probing gently. “Fuck, Ethan.”

He looked up at me, his eyes dark with desire. “Do you want me to get you ready so I can fuck you?”

All I could do was nod and then his tongue was buried inside me, my whole body lighting up with pleasure. He’d fucked me with his fingers before, but nothing prepared me for his mouth there. Was I even ready to have his cock?

I was a panting, trembling mess as Ethan’s tongue worked its magic, probing and preparing me. Libby’s mouth on my cock was driving me wild, her soft moans vibrating against my sensitive flesh. I couldn’t believe I was about to do this, but I wanted it—needed it—more than anything.

“Please,” I begged, my voice barely recognizable. “Please, Ethan. Fuck me.”

Ethan pulled back, his eyes meeting mine, a wicked grin spreading across his face. “Since you asked so nicely,” he teased, reaching for the lube on the nightstand.

Libby released my cock with a pop, looking up at me with lust-filled eyes. “I want to ride you while he takes you.”

“God, yes.”

Ethan lubed up his fingers, circling my asshole gently before sliding one in. I tensed briefly, the intrusion still foreign but not unwelcome. Libby straddled me, her wet pussy sliding against my cock, distracting me from the initial discomfort.

“You okay?” Ethan slowly moved his finger in and out, lightly brushing against my prostate.

I took a deep breath, relaxing my muscles. “Yeah, I’m good. Give me more.”

He added another finger, scissoring them gently, stretching me. Libby leaned down, her lips finding mine, her kiss hungry and passionate. She slid her pussy against my cock, her wetness coating it.

Ethan’s fingers slid out, leaving me feeling empty. I heard the cap of the lube snap shut, and then he was there, the head of his cock pressing against my entrance. I tensed again, my heart pounding in my chest.

“Relax,” Ethan murmured, his hands rubbing soothing circles on my thighs. “Push out against me.”

I took a deep breath, doing as he instructed. Slowly, he pushed in, the initial burn making me gasp. Libby kissed me deeply, her tongue dancing with mine, her hands caressing my chest.

Ethan stilled, giving me time to adjust. The burn faded, replaced by a fullness that was intense but incredibly pleasurable.

I resisted the urge to whimper. “I think I’m ready.”

Ethan began to move, his thrusts slow and steady, and Libby reached between us, guiding my cock inside her. She slid down, her tight heat surrounding me.

I groaned, completely gone to both of them. “Fuck, you feel so good,” I moaned, my hands gripping Libby’s hips. She leaned back, her hands resting on my thighs, her head falling back in ecstasy as Ethan kissed along her neck.

Ethan picked up his pace, his thrusts matching Libby’s rhythm. The sound of our bodies coming together filled the room.

Libby leaned forward again, bracing her hands on my chest as she rocked and swiveled her hips. “Right there. Oh, God.”

Ethan’s grip on my legs tightened, his thrusts becoming harder, more urgent. My orgasm built, the tingling sensation starting at the base of my spine. Libby’s walls clenched around me, her body trembling as she rode me faster.

“Yes, baby. Ride my cock like you own it.” I gasped, my body tensing.

“Your ass is so fucking tight. Come for me. I want this tight hole to choke all the cum out of my cock.” Ethan’s voice was practically a growl, and that was all it took.

My orgasm hit me, and my ass clenched around Ethan as I spilled into Libby. She cried out, her climax following mine, her body shaking with the force of it.

Ethan thrust into me a few more times, his body stiffening as he found his release. Libby fell forward, burying her face in my neck.

We lay there for a moment, our bodies entwined, our breath slowly returning to normal. I had never felt so connected and so completely and utterly satisfied.

Ethan pulled out of me gently, going to the bathroom to grab some towels. Libby lifted off me, plopping next to me and snuggling into my side.

“That was...” I began, but words failed me.

Ethan chuckled as he returned and cleaned me and Libby before lying on my other side, his fingers tracing patterns on my chest. “How are you feeling?”

“Fantastic, even though I’m not sure how I’ll ever walk normally again.” I laughed, my heart full.

I had never expected to find this—to find them—but now that I had, I never wanted to let go.

Epilogue

Possibilities

Libby

Ihadn’t been convinced that having an exclusive dinner fundraising event on a yacht was a good idea, but now that the event was in full swing, I was pleasantly surprised.

All of the previous furniture inside and outside on the main living deck had been removed and the space completely transformed. There was enough room for one hundred and twenty-four attendees, which brought in a million dollars, and that didn’t include whatever additional funds people had donated.

Everyone was enjoying the sunset cruise down the Hudson and mingling before a dinner by a James Beard Award winning chef would be served. That wasn’t the highlight for me, though—the highlight was seeing the excited faces of our special guests from the neighborhood schools we’d be supporting.

I smoothed down my black cocktail dress, feeling both overdressed and underdressed at the same time. I wasn’t used to these types of events and still felt out of place, even though I knew I didn’t look it.

“You look like you’re plotting an escape route.” Carter came to join me where I was looking out across the glistening water. “The closest lifeboat is on the port side.” He handed me one of the champagne flutes he was holding.

I accepted the glass, taking a small sip. “That’s not helpful unless you tell me which side is port. And I’m not plotting an escape. I’m...”

“Avoiding both your boyfriends who are currently in a heated discussion with Ryker?” He gestured toward the far corner, where Leo and Ethan were engaged in an animated conversation with my brother and a few other men.

It had been three weeks since Leo broke off his sham of an engagement and the gossip columns had quickly moved on to more exciting stories. If my brother had any hangups about me being with Leo, he had gotten over it quickly.

I groaned. “They’re probably talking about hockey again.”

“Speaking of hockey… you know Nora.” It wasn’t a question, but more of a loaded statement.

“Yes. I mean, I don’t know her super well, but I’ve hung out with her and Paige a few times. We might start a book club soon.” I narrowed my eyes at him. “Why?”

He shrugged, looking across the room where Nora was talking with a hockey player, neither seeming too happy to be in each other’s presence. “I think she might be my future wife.”

I rolled my eyes. “You say that about every woman.”

“I’m serious this time.” He was so unserious that, even if he really meant it, I would have to see it to believe it.

“Well, good luck with that.” I didn’t know Nora that well, but from the things I’d heard her say, she loved the single life and was very focused on her career as a specialist coach for an NHL team.

“The ladies love me. Maybe you can put in a good word for me.” Carter looked at me hopefully.

I snorted. “I’ll do that.”

Carter held up his camera. “I need to get some pictures of you, your brother, and Leo.”

Groaning, I made my way across the room, weaving between clusters of well-dressed people engaged in conversation. As I approached, Leo caught my eye first, a warm smile spreading across his face that made my stomach do a little flip.

“Carter needs us for photos,” I announced, interrupting whatever sports debate they were having. “You too, Ry.”

Ryker and Leo excused themselves from the group, and they followed me back to where Carter was waiting.

After a few shots, Carter wandered off to take more photos and Leo was pulled away by one of the donors.

Ryker touched my arm. “Hey, can we talk for a minute?”

“Sure.” I followed him to a quieter spot near the railing.

“I wanted to tell you how proud I am of you.” Ryker’s voice was soft in a way that made my throat tight with emotion. “You’ve really found your place here, and seeing you thrive... it means everything to me.”

“Ryker...” I blinked back tears, not wanting to ruin my makeup.

“Having you closer now…” He shook his head, smiling. “It’s like having my little sister back.”

I threw my arms around him, hugging him tight. “I love you, you big sap.”

“Love you too.” He squeezed me back before pulling away. “And for what it’s worth, I think you made the right choice by choosing both of them.”

I followed his gaze to where Ethan and Leo were now standing together, their heads bent close as they looked at something on Ethan’s phone. My heart swelled at the sight of them.

“They’re good men.” Ryker sighed as if he really hated to admit all of this to me. “Different as night and day, but they both love you. Anyone can see that.”

I was unable to take my eyes off them. Even after these past weeks, it still felt surreal having them both in my life this way.

Ryker nudged my shoulder. “Go on, be with your men. I need to make my rounds anyway.”

I gave him one more quick hug before making my way toward Ethan and Leo. As I approached, they both looked up, smiles spreading across their faces.

“What are you two up to over here?” I craned my neck to see Ethan’s phone. “Halloween costumes?”

Ethan wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me close and kissing my temple. “We were discussing who would be Mario and who would be Luigi.”

“Well, Luigi is taller… and I’d clearly make a superb Mario.”

Leo snorted. “And who would I go as? Princess Peach?”

I couldn’t help but giggle at the mental image of Leo in a pink princess dress. “I think you’d look stunning in a tiara.”

“You know what? I think I’d rock that crown better than both of you.” Ethan stood taller, puffing out his chest. “It would go with my fae prince vibes.”

“Oh, geez. Not this again.” I wished Carter had never told him that.

Ethan’s hand moved to my hip, his thumb drawing lazy circles against my dress. “What do you think, princess? Who would make the better Princess Peach?”

I pretended to consider it carefully, tapping my chin. “Well, Leo does have that whole ‘royalty’ air about him already...”

“Betrayal!” Ethan gasped dramatically, clutching his chest. “And here I thought what we had was special.”

Leo smirked, sliding closer to me. “Face it, I’ve got the natural grace and elegance required for the role.”

“You’ve got something all right,” Ethan muttered, his eyes quickly darting to Leo’s crotch then back up.

“I think we all know who the real princess is here, though.” Leo leaned in, his breath tickling my ear.

Between his proximity and Ethan’s hand on my waist, I was finding it increasingly difficult to maintain my composure in this very public setting. “Careful,” I warned, though I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. “We’re supposed to be maintaining a professional appearance tonight.”

“Professional went out the window the moment you put on that dress.” Ethan’s fingers dug into my hip.

I was about to remind them that we were surrounded by donors and community members when I spotted a familiar figure making her way toward us. “Heads up,” I whispered urgently. “Mamma Caponetti at twelve o’clock.”

The guys straightened immediately, putting a more respectable distance between us. We’d had brunch with her a week ago, and while it had been awkward at first, she was surprisingly accepting of our relationship. Leo’s father was still a work in progress, especially with Leo not wanting to take over the hotels.

“Leonardo, darling!” Bianca’s voice carried across the deck as she approached, her designer dress floating elegantly around her. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you. Elizabeth and Ethan! Don’t you both look wonderful.”

“Mother.” Leo greeted her with a kiss on the cheek. “You look lovely as always.”

She patted his cheek before turning her attention to me. “We must do lunch soon.”

“Oh, uh, yeah, sure.” I hadn’t the faintest clue how that would go.

“I’ll have my assistant set something up.” She squeezed Leo’s arm and then was off to mingle.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad.” I was nervous she’d pull another stunt to get her son to marry someone of her choosing.

“She adores you.” Leo moved to stand beside me. “Both of you, actually. I’m honestly a little surprised at how she’s taken it, but I think I made myself pretty clear that I wouldn’t be following in her and my father’s footsteps and having an arranged marriage.”

We hadn’t met Leo’s father yet, but hopefully, he would get over everything and see how happy we made his son.

“I can’t believe how much has changed in just a few months.” I looked between the two men who had completely transformed my life. “If someone had told me when I moved back that I’d end up here...”

“You mean you didn’t plan on falling for your best friend and the squatter?” Ethan teased.

I shook my head, smiling as Leo’s hand found mine, threading our fingers together. “I love you. Both of you.”

Ethan’s arm tightened around my waist as Leo squeezed my hand. “I love you too,” they said almost in unison, then laughed.

My life hadn’t always been happy, but it had turned out better than I could have ever imagined. I had two amazing men who loved me and a future full of possibilities.

Thank you for reading Falling For Them!

Nora’s book, Hooked On Them, is coming soon and will have Carter and two hockey players.

When you're one of the only female coaches in the NHL, hooking up with players is firmly on the "don't even think about it" list.

So naturally, as a woman who enjoys herself way too often, I did just that.

A charity gala, two men, and enough champagne to fill the Stanley Cup later... here I am, staring at a positive pregnancy test and questioning every life choice that led to this moment.

Did I mention that last part? Because yeah, I'm pregnant. And the father could be either one of them.

Between morning sickness during crucial practice sessions, a billionaire who buys the whole damn hockey team to save my career, and a player who makes me want to break my clipboard over his stupidly handsome head, I thought my life couldn't get more complicated. Then the sweetest guy on the team volunteers to pretend to be the baby’s father, and well...

I thought coaching hockey players was challenging... too bad none of that prepared me for this particular hat trick.

Hooked On Them

Also in this world and appearing in Falling For Them are Paige, Ryker, Luca, and Garrett. Read their why choose book, Stuck On Them.

Also by Maya Nicole

Check out my website for an up to date list of books.

www.mayanicole.com