Forgiven (The Power of Three Love Series Book 4)

by Leigh Lennon

  In my attempt to ask something, anything, gleaning from the experience of her knowing Bodhi the best, his voice carried from the living room.

  “Are you both going to be in there all night? Thought we’d watch a movie.” I shrugged because I wasn’t sure where this night was going to lead.

  Turning my head to the sink, I saw that all the dishes had been washed or loaded in the dishwasher. We’d sanitized all of the chicken juice Bodhi had scattered on the counter with a ton of bleach. With a limp, Clara’s leg was killing her from the spill just yesterday. It was hard to believe that was just yesterday.

  “Come on, let’s go watch a movie.” I grabbed her hand, leading her to the living room. Her eyes must have been locked on me because when she tripped over Bodhi’s long legs, she landed herself in his lap.

  “Well, fuck,” Clara began and I started laughing so hard when she twisted her face to mine. “You and your long legs, Bodhi Chambers—I always thought they would kill me one day.” But he wasn’t smiling, and when I shifted my gaze to hers, she wasn’t either, not anymore. But neither looked mad; it was the same look Bodhi had when he’d seen us make love earlier.

  I was mute, and the beat of my pulse had to have been audible. I changed my position, moving behind the sectional couch and Bodhi’s imposing body. My fingers danced around the top of his collarbone.

  “What are you feeling right now, foxy?” I had a distinct bedroom voice Clara was used to. It came upon me when I was horny, and with the fire in her eyes, and Bodhi holding on tight to my girlfriend, I was horny as hell.

  At the mention of my term of endearment for her, Bodhi groaned. “Yeah, Triple C, what’s going through your mind?” His words were heady and breathy.

  “I, um…” Clara couldn’t finish when my other hand touched the top of her shoulders, and again, Bodhi moaned, closing his eyes this time.

  “What, foxy? Use your words.” My commands caused my body to both tingle and tighten at the same time, and my erection was on alert for either one of these two in front of me.

  “You know I love you both.” At this moment, nothing about Clara in Bodhi’s lap and my heated gaze on Clara or Bodhi felt wrong. “It was the first time in three years my life was right again.” Clara’s tone was an almost whisper. “My feelings have never changed for Bodhi, but I love you just as much.” Her answer was directed toward us when Bodhi’s hand made contact with her knee. “This is the first intimate touch I’ve allowed from you in three years, and it’s as if I’m back home, but in a new home, all at the same time, with Jack in our presence.”

  “What about you, Bo? With me behind you and the woman you’ve always loved on your lap, what are you thinking?”

  He examined Clara’s gaze, almost for permission to express himself in this odd turn of events that even I couldn’t have predicted. “It’s okay, say how you feel. Just be honest with us,” I urged, and his eyes widened.

  “I don’t want to hurt you, C.”

  She took in a long inhale. “Bo, don’t you get it by now? We could’ve conquered anything, as long as there was trust and honesty.”

  He leaned down, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I’d forgotten how sweet your kiss could be.” And when I thought he was done, he continued, “This for me, right now, with you and Jack, is the best of both worlds. It was something I’d never even entertained because I’d damaged you. But all those nights, when you’d lie next to me asleep, I dreamed of this, of loving a man and a woman alike, and though I can’t say I have the history with Jack, his mere touch turns me on, and more so, the idea of seeing him fucking the woman I love and have always loved turns me on.”

  In his proclamation, the idea caused my already hardening cock to poke against the back of the couch.

  “Jack? You going to weigh in?” Clara asked as Bodhi’s fingers connected with mine.

  “I won’t lie. The love I feel for you, I could love Bodhi just as strong. And I’d never considered this for us because you couldn’t trust him. A relationship with two people is hard enough, so adding a new dynamic, a third to the mix, can be cataclysmic if you aren’t careful.”

  I leaned into Bo, my body bent over the couch, his head turned toward mine, my lips crashing to his. We enjoyed a soft kiss as we both pulled away. “It’s not something to be entered into lightly, especially with the history you two share.”

  Bodhi moved Clara to the side, and pushed to his feet. I took this time to rush to both of them, but it was his body that was so close to mine. His face turned to Clara, his words clear, pointing at me. “May I?” I found it odd he asked Clara for permission first, as she stood, but he had no claim on me as Clara had. My two hands found passage to both sides of his face, pulling Bodhi’s head to my own.

  I’d forgotten to breathe, enjoying the fervent yet forceful way we attacked each other’s mouth. I never kissed Clara like that, and I wouldn’t, but the exchange of two men dueling for control, like we were, yet enjoying the torture of it all, was miraculous, and it made me wonder what Clara’s take on this was.

  I pulled Bodhi’s body as close to me as we could get. He threw his hands around my neck, pushing it to one side, all the while grinding his hard-on against me. Did Clara enjoy this sexy show as much as I had?

  23

  Bodhi

  I should be freaking out? In my normal MO, my ass should be down the stairs and halfway home. Never in my wildest fascination had this been part of my plan. Jack’s arms wound around my waist, resting his hands at my ass and flattening his body against mine. But when another hand touched me that was not Jack, I knew it as the familiar touch of Clara.

  I wouldn’t back away. This was too magical, offensive to many, unthinkable to the world. But his kiss—his overpowering kiss, the way his body triggered an overwhelming desire in my own body, was everything I’d ever wanted, all while it excited the one woman on this earth I’d sacrifice anything for.

  His hands moved up my body, backing away and nibbling the bottom of my neck with his teeth. His head turned to Clara as did mine, both of us ready for a reaction from her. And then the funniest thing happened. Jack lifted Clara, twirling her around, placing her where his body just was. “Foxy, it’s time. I know you’ve missed him.” She didn’t lift her head, just her gray eyes, and the nervousness in how she gnawed at her nails or the way her cheeks flushed told me she wanted this, but she worried we were doing something we could never come back from.

  “I’ve missed your touch.” I lifted her chin to mine. “I’ve missed your taste.” The moan from Jack had my growing erection praying for freedom. “I’ve missed us.”

  Her hesitant smile was a turn-on. Anything bringing this woman joy was a turn-on. Shooting my gaze to Jack, I asked, “You okay with this?”

  He nodded in his more subdued way that seemed to be typical Jack. “You two need this.”

  Her body rotated to Jack. “This doesn’t change anything with us.”

  Her words hurt for a moment. Was this a play just to get me out of her system? “But you want him, too?” Jack’s words were no-nonsense, and not one ounce of jealousy hung in the air, only to continue. “And it’s okay. We choose as adults how to live. If we want to pursue this. And that’s still an if, but, foxy, if you want us both, don’t you deserve to have everything you want? Because, Clara Ashley, I want to give you everything.”

  His arm hooked around my waist, bringing me closer, and in turn closer to Clara. “We haven’t forgotten about you over there.” Jack’s words gave me peace, as if he’d sensed maybe a moment of weakness. “Now, I know you love this man, and I’m not threatened by it. Fuck, it turns me on. Show him how you’ve truly forgiven him. Show him we both want him here.”

  I moved my body toward hers and tipped her head to mine again. But this time, she wasn’t shy. Her eyes were locked on mine, and her smile, once hesitant, was everything I’d missed in the intimacy of Clara and me.

  “I’ve missed you so much, Bo. I’ve never stopped loving you.” This made me smile.
“But can you honestly say you’re okay with Jack being a part of this because it’s a hard line if you don’t.”

  There was a strong connection with Jack, so it was a moot point. “Um, I’ve loved you my whole life, Clara, but I’m starting to see how you fell for this man.” I point at Jack, who now had his arms crossed and his mouth downturned.

  “And you say I’m wordy. Now that you’ve practically recited the Iliad, kiss you two. I command it.”

  I’d never missed an opportunity to be a smartass. “Well, if it’s decreed, we better get to this, Clara Ashley.” I didn’t give her the opportunity to speak, only met her lips like I was in the desert and she was the water I needed to survive. Unlike Jack, we were gentle as I inched my way into her mouth, little by little absorbing every bit of the taste I’d missed for the past three years. Her hands linked together at my neck, and as Jack had done to me, I rested my hands over her ass at times, rubbing, squeezing, and even smacking it once as I used to when we were married.

  I wasn’t going to be the first one to pull away. I’d attach myself to her, so in turn, I wouldn’t have to wake and realize this wasn’t my new reality. Releasing her grip from my neck, she pulled away gently, and as she did, she pushed back for a second, then touched a sweet, hurried kiss on my lips.

  Clara was back to the shy little girl she was before Jack got involved, ordering us to kiss. But I didn’t care if there were three of us, and we’d shared this together. This was the union I’d always dreamed of.

  “Clara, honey, look at me.” Her eyes popped up at my demand. “I won’t let this moment be cheapened by embarrassment. I’ve been urged in the past twenty-four hours to voice what I want. It’s what got us in this mess three years ago. So, I’m going to put this out here. I want you.” Bringing her tight against my body, Jack squared next to me. “And I want Jack.” I stopped again because I never imagined I’d say what I was about to acknowledge. “And I want you and Jack together.”

  I’d fought hard against the connection that was present each time Jack and I were near one another, almost as hard as I had against the love that still consumed me with Clara.

  “It’s not easy.” Jack’s words were quick and concise. “It’s a lot of give and take, and honestly, I know what we need to do for it to be successful.”

  I was waiting for a special formula, an equation of some kind. Clara and I anticipated his answer as I clung to her body. Now that I got her back, I wasn’t letting her go. Jack waited a beat longer, and when his lips opened, I just knew this would be the magic spell. “For the three of us to be together, we need to shed all selfishness and put the other two before ourselves.”

  Well, fuck. That was all? Oh, yeah, that wouldn’t be difficult at all.

  What could we do next? The possibilities were endless, really. Of course, they were. Jack was just watching his girlfriend make out with her ex-husband. We both turned our bodies to Jack as he fell back on the couch. Grabbing the remote, he turned on the television to a reality show about best friends hell-bent on embarrassing one another.

  My attention was not on the show. Was this a test of some sort?

  “You’re kidding me right now?” My question hung in the air. At least I wasn’t sweeping it under the rug. Rotating my head to his, I watched as a sly smile fell on his face.

  “Okay, I’ll bite. What would you like to do?” The glint in his eyes was a product of way too much amusement.

  He shrugged his shoulders, but it was Clara who started to express her surprise with a question of her own. “Did this really just happen?” Her fingers reached for her lips where I had just devoured them.

  “Yeah, foxy, it did. Do you regret it?” Jack asked.

  I was still within a foot of each person, and I could have easily pulled one or both back into my embrace.

  My glance moved to Jack, and with his question looming with her answer, I held my breath.

  She turned her attention to me, with his question of her regretting what we just let occur. “No, I don’t. Not one bit,” she answered.

  It was my turn to weigh in on it. “I don’t know what this means.”

  Jack had to sense the doubt in my words. “Bodhi, breathe.” He pushed to his feet, grasping my hand. I didn’t blanch. “It’s okay, guys.” He leaned in and gave me a peck on the cheek. “I think we take it slow. That’s if we all want one another equally.” His gaze didn’t leave Clara. He took that moment to bring Clara into his space, but then her phone rang, interrupting whatever this was between us.

  Walking over to the end table where her cell was, she spun around to me. “It’s Declan, Bo, and he’s FaceTiming us.” She sat down on the couch immediately, and I crowded in as both of us crooned at the same time, “Hey, buddy.”

  Jack settled over on the smaller side of the sectional, watching both of us with our son. I’d never thought a threesome, a committed triad, was in my grips, but looking at Jack’s intense stare on us as Clara was cuddled in close to my space, I never wanted something more than I had then.

  24

  Clara

  I was snuggled into Jack’s side, on the shorter end of the sectional, and Bodhi was sprawled out on the long part of the couch. Every so often, his legs connected with Jack’s thighs, and I would reach around him and tickle his feet.

  “Still ticklish, I see.” The flirt in my voice was evident.

  “I’m not sure you grow out of being ticklish,” Bodhi responded.

  I was only half watching Infinity War, my concentration on the man to one side of me and my ex on the other side of him.

  I wasn’t the first one to vocalize it when Bodhi purposely pushed on Jack’s leg a little bit harder. “Am I the only person who’s not into this movie?”

  Just as I had done all night long, I giggled. “I thought it was just me.” That said a lot because I loved my superhero movies.

  Jack had demanded no more drinking after dinner. He didn’t want alcohol to be the reason someone might regret this. “If we don’t watch a movie, then what should we do?” I asked. No one answered, and my eyes stayed fixed on Captain America.

  “I find him sexy, too,” Jack began. “How about you, Bo?”

  “Hmm…” Bodhi replied, “I think I’m more of a Thor kind of guy. How about you, Clara?”

  “I could be sandwiched between both of those men, and I’d be fine with this.” I’d meant it as a joke, but when Jack moaned and Bodhi did a sexy little groan, all bets were off. Instantly, Bodhi pushed himself up into the sitting position and started crawling over on the couch to get to Jack and me.

  “I want to be sandwiched between you and Clara. How do you like them apples?” Bodhi’s question was laced with need and so much desire, I couldn’t resist letting him crash his mouth to mine and giving him full control. Jack’s hands were in my hair, with almost painful strokes on my scalp which I found erotic.

  I loved the overwhelming savage nature of a man. These two men were going head to head with one another, and it was so different than when they were with me. Jack could go all out with Bodhi, and he’d never hurt him, and though Bo is taller and broader, Jack was strong as an ox, needing to overcompensate his upper body strength for his lost leg.

  Bodhi was rushed in his actions, almost manic, and I was turned on by it. Both of Bodhi’s hands cupped Jack’s face, and like his mouth, his hands weren’t gentle either.

  I let out a hiss, but in my rational mind, I understood we’d have to put on the brakes eventually. I hated this thought in my mind but knew it was necessary.

  But I didn’t have to back up when Jack and Bodhi pulled away from one another, and the smile that emerged on Jack’s face was adorable.

  “You’re going to be the voice of reason and tell us to slow the fuck down, aren’t you?” Bodhi asked, his attention on Jack.

  Jack caressed Bodhi’s cheek with his thumb. “I don’t want to, but you two aren’t ready for…” He was careful in his statement, not finishing it.

  “All three of us fucki
ng,” Bodhi said it for him.

  “Yeah, and I think we need to chat about how to move forward, making rules and such.”

  Bodhi fell back on the sectional couch, away from Jack and me. “You take all the fun out of everything.” He was playing dramatic, more to be funny because he was always the funny one in hard situations.

  “You are cute when you pout.” His flirtation with Bodhi was more than sexy, and I loved their repartee. Jack turned his attention toward me. “What about you? Ready for this?”

  I nodded reluctantly, and with a tight smile, I knew I’d follow Jack anywhere.

  Bodhi’s words didn’t hide his reluctance. “How’s this going to work?”

  Jack turned to me, and I didn’t need to be encouraged. “I want one-on-one time with both of you, but I won’t slow down with Jack. You two need to establish a relationship both on your own and together with me. But…”

  I stopped. I thought I’d have a hard time setting parameters, but this part would be difficult to say. “But what, foxy?” he asked.

  “I don’t want to stop the progress of what we’ve built together, either…” Now it was my turn to stutter, not sure how to word it right.

  “So what I’m hearing from you, Clara…” Bodhi’s tone started out harsh and only got stronger with each syllable he uttered. “You will continue to fuck Jack?” He jolted from the couch, his stare so heated, so full of an emotion I couldn’t quite read. I wasn’t sure why he was mad because me being with Jack still should be a given, and I wanted to dig deeper.

  “Bodhi, this is still so new with us. We’re starting over. I want to be careful.” In the quiver of my voice, and the way I clung to Jack’s body, he pushed to his feet, ready to challenge my ex.

  “Does this upset you?” Jack’s question was as harsh as Bo’s were.

  He shook his head, quiet while he paced in front of the length of the sectional couch. “Then what has you mad?” Jack asked.