Love in the Dark

by 12 Book Boxed Set (epub)

  Quinn would always remember. Not for an instant could he blank out Trevon’s determination and the sacrifices he’d made to care for his family, including Devra. Neither would he get over Devra’s bravery or her resilience.

  These two were fighters. They were exceptional. They were people he wanted in his life.

  So Quinn nodded and lied, “Yeah. We can do that. Go ahead. Go get the bike.”

  Without a backward glance, Trevon marched out of the garage toward the cottage where he’d left the 1938 Indian Chief that could be the key to unlocking his destiny before Quinn could attempt to change his mind.

  He wasn’t sure if he was thrilled or pissed off at himself for putting the idea in Trevon’s mind. It did, however, prove to him that once he opened his mouth, he couldn’t always take back what he said. He’d have to be more careful from then on.

  Especially when it came to Trevon and Devra’s relationship.

  No matter how badly he wanted to repair them, he might have to settle for watching and supporting them as they tried to fix themselves.

  Quinn spun away, practically dashing into the break room. He shut the door, slammed his back up against the cold metal, and breathed hard, staring at the ceiling. When even that wasn’t cooling him down, he crossed to the refrigerator and stuck his head in the freezer until his ears were in danger of frostbite.

  It was going to be a long, hot summer.

  11

  Devra moaned as the masseuse worked out kinks in her neck and shoulders that had been there so long, she’d forgotten what it felt like when the muscles unknotted. Hell, she probably had just gotten two inches taller. The woman’s healing hands drifted lower over Devra’s buttocks and the backs of her thighs, turning her into a tingling blob of serenity. If she wasn’t careful, she might fall asleep soon.

  Sally’s friend Kayla, who was married to one of the hunky construction workers the ladies had told her all about, was an expert massage therapist. She’d apparently been mentoring the woman who owned this spa, and the Hot Rods women were doing their part to help her build her clientele by indulging in world class treatments in exchange for some honest reviews on the company’s website.

  Devra hoped “bone-meltingly good” sufficed, because it was true.

  As soon as she had stepped inside the retreat, which felt like an oasis nestled amidst the chaos of the outside world, she’d began to relax. Worries and fears that usually plagued her receded. With her mind clear and her body unwound, she felt her lips loosening, too.

  It was easy to chat with the Hot Rods ladies about their jobs, their kids, and especially their relationships. Okay, so far she’d mostly observed and giggled at their antics, wondering what it would be like to have a circle of female friends that close around her.

  Still, it was nearly as refreshing as the spa treatments they were enjoying together.

  Their easy banter and teasing helped Devra overcome some of her nerves, too. Though she’d been in this country for nearly two years now, she didn’t always feel as comfortable being as free with her thoughts, emotions—and definitely not with her body—as women who’d grown up here generally seemed to be. Customs in her homeland were as dissimilar from those here as the food people ate in each place. Though she embraced the differences, she was still easily scandalized in new situations even if she tried not to show it.

  That was one of the reasons she hadn’t been more aggressive with Trevon.

  This time her groan was not one of pleasure. Damn it.

  Devra desperately clung to the tranquility around her. She needed a few more moments of peace before she allowed her problems to surface again.

  “Are you okay?” The masseuse paused.

  “Yes, sorry.” Devra adjusted the towel draped over her behind, making sure everything critical was still covered. “My mind was wandering and it went somewhere I wish it hadn’t.”

  “Sounds like boy trouble to me,” Sabra muttered from the table beside Devra.

  “When is it not boy trouble that causes the most grief?” Kaelyn snorted. “Remind me why they’re worth it again?”

  “Orgasms,” Sally announced without hesitation. “Alllllllll the orgasms they give us. That’s why they’re worth it.”

  Devra’s eyes widened despite the fact that her face was buried in a soft towel. Had Sally really said that out loud in public? Without thinking, she said, “I’m plenty capable of achieving those on my own.”

  The women, including the masseuse, cracked up at that.

  “True. But it’s so much more fun with them,” Nola practically purred.

  Devra wouldn’t know. She’d never been intimate with a man. Not even her own husband. She was careful to keep that fact to herself. These women would never understand. And the factoid would not only ostracize her, but it could also endanger her if someone was to get the wrong idea and report her to Immigration. Everything she and Trevon had struggled for could be for nothing.

  The room lights gradually increased as their massage session ended. Devra heard rustling around her and tipped her head. Squinting, she realized the other women were sitting up, so she did too, careful to hug her towel over her otherwise exposed skin.

  She swayed slightly on the table, amazed at how different she felt.

  “Looks like you really needed that,” Sally said with a soft laugh that wasn’t unkind.

  “More than I realized.” Devra sighed and tipped her neck from side to side, thrilled to find it didn’t ache anymore. “Wow.”

  “Maybe I need to have a talk with that studly husband of yours,” Nola teased, but the possibility that they’d assume Trevon was to blame only served to introduce some of the tension back into Devra’s muscles.

  She choked.

  “Shit, sorry.” Kaelyn smacked Nola’s thigh, then reassured Devra, “She’s only joking. What happens during girl trips stays at girl trips. We cross our hearts.”

  “Oh. Right.” Devra smiled, but it felt wan even to her.

  “I hope you don’t mind me saying, though, that Trevon is mighty fine.” Sabra added and the other Hot Rods ladies nodded in appreciation.

  “I don’t. Mind, I mean. It’s true.” Devra’s smile brightened some. “I’m the luckiest woman alive. He takes such good care of me.”

  Trevon was sinfully sexy. He was so damn tall and strong, he made her feel like no one could ever hurt her. There had never been anyone who came close to him. At least until he’d introduced her to Quinn.

  Now they were probably pretty even in her opinion. Some of that, of course, had to do with how they were such good men in addition to how enticing they were. Both of them were decent, honorable, and—yes—very attractive.

  “So why isn’t he releasing your…tension,” Nola wondered. Her sister, Amber—Gavyn’s wife—elbowed her in the ribs.

  Was it that obvious? Crap.

  The other woman hissed, “Not our business.”

  “Sorry.” Nola held her hands up. “I’m not trying to be nosy. Around here we don’t have many secrets from each other.”

  Since they’d opened the door a crack, Devra figured she might do a little digging of her own. “You do seem to be very close. I envy that.”

  “You can’t live together and survive without being blunt and very honest about…well, pretty much everything.” Kaelyn spread her hands out in front of her, palms up, as if she was an open book.

  “So you all live above the Hot Rods garage then?” Devra had heard them talking about their home but wasn’t sure if she had it straight.”

  “Yep. Everyone except for me and Gavyn. Obviously, since you’ve seen our house at Hot Rides,” Amber confirmed. “We’re the boring ones in the bunch.”

  “So maybe now you see why I needed that damn massage.” Sally chuckled, her eyes sparkling. “I mean, with only one man to handle, you should have half the aches and pains!”

  “Are you saying…?” Devra didn’t dare suggest what she was thinking in case she was wrong. It seemed impossible.

&
nbsp; “Oh. Quinn didn’t tell you?” Sally shrugged. “Oops. Yup. I have two husbands.”

  “Is that legal?” Devra asked. Had she misunderstood the law?

  “Technically, no,” Kaelyn explained. “We have nontraditional relationships. Sally is in love with Eli and Alanso. She is their partner and they’re each other’s. They love each other equally.”

  Mind. Blown. Devra sat up straighter. “Is that common here? Have I been missing something? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

  Nola laughed. “No, it’s unusual, but we do what we like. And we like sharing. A lot.”

  “Sharing what, exactly?” Devra wondered. Their living space, obviously. She was getting the feeling there was more she didn’t know about them yet.

  Kaelyn was the most logical, so she stepped in to help. “I guess in order to fully understand, we need to back up some. Tom, Eli’s dad, lost his wife to cancer when Eli was young. Before she got sick, she ran the youth crisis center down the street. And after…Tom took over her mission. He provided a safe place for a lot of kids with troubled pasts, several of whom really bonded with Eli. Alanso, Sally, Kaige, Bryce, Holden, Carver, and Quinn’s older brother, Roman. They started the Hot Rods garage together. Over time, their friendship turned into something…more.”

  Devra thought that sounded incredible. As someone who’d lost her own family and had to start again, she could only imagine how unbreakable bonds like that would become over time and the love you would have for people who’d gone through those things with you. Like Trevon had with her.

  “What she’s trying to politely say,” Sally interjected, “is that I’m in love with Alanso and Eli, and the rest of the guys have paired up with these other lucky ladies, but…sometimes…we like to put on shows for each other or get involved in group sex stuff together. It brings us more pleasure than being with only our partners and—speaking for myself—it makes me feel secure. Like I’ll never be alone again.”

  A tear escaped the corner of Devra’s eye before she even realized how deeply what they were saying impacted her. It sounded like heaven.

  “Are you okay?” Sabra asked quietly.

  Devra nodded.

  “Would it be okay if I gave you a hug?” Sally wondered.

  Devra nodded again, enthusiastically. It had been so long since she’d experienced physical comfort. Not since she’d left home, really, because Trevon always shied away from her advances. She’d eventually given up trying, realizing her attempts only made him uncomfortable.

  Sally damn near crushed her in a bear hug and the rest of the Hot Rods ladies piled on. “Is everything okay?”

  “Better than they’ve been in forever.” Devra sniffed and someone handed her a tissue. “Our lives are so different this week from last. I’m grateful. For Quinn and luck or fate or whatever it was that crossed our paths. A week ago, imagining myself being pampered at a spa with a group of ladies like you…”

  “Dirty ladies?” Sabra asked with a wink.

  “No, genuine, kind, inclusive ones, who’ve overcome shitty circumstances to find and nurture love in their lives.” Devra sighed. “I want you to know how appreciative I am that you brought me with you today and that you’re so accepting of me. Of us. I want to be more like you.”

  “Careful what you wish for!” Nola snorted. “But seriously, I’m glad what we told you didn’t scare you away. We weren’t sure what your beliefs are…”

  Devra shrugged. “Maybe at one time I would have freaked out. Now I’m more open-minded. I’ve lived through too much to judge other people for finding happiness however they can. I’m still trying to do that.”

  “Do you have any questions?” Kaelyn asked.

  “Tons.” Devra nodded again.

  “Go ahead. Ask whatever you want. We’ll tell you anything you’re interested in. Probably more than you can handle.” Sabra chuckled as she stretched. The woman was so damn flexible it seemed like she could bend herself in half when she did that.

  “How did you figure this out?” Devra couldn’t even manage to navigate her relationship with one man successfully, never mind multiple couples and the intricate ties that would come from such an elaborate set up. “And how did you take action on your feelings?”

  “Honestly, we waited forever on that part.” Sally shook her head. “Eli especially was so afraid that we’d wreck our friendships that he squashed anything extra that started to bubble up. It caused some damage. Almost too much to get over.”

  “What we’ve realized since then,” Nola added, “is that it’s a lot better for everyone if you say what you’re feeling when you’re feeling it and deal with the repercussions as they come. If you let something build up, it can become too hard to overcome that habitual dusting it under the rug. It seems scarier than it is.”

  Devra could relate. Now that their immediate crises of where to find shelter and how they’d afford their next meal had passed, she was going to have to talk to Trevon. The thought alone had her shoulders tightening up again.

  “Remember that you’ve got support. You can’t get rid of us,” Kaelyn promised. “You can talk to us about anything and we won’t tattle to your guys. We’ve got your back.”

  She cleared her throat, willing to test that theory. “Okay, so… Here’s the thing. I’m terrified that Trevon is gay and only married to me because he felt obligated given my situation. What if I’m keeping him from finding love or living a fulfilled life?”

  The women simply stared, wide-eyed and open-mouthed for a few seconds.

  Devra figured she’d gone far enough that she might as well take their advice and be honest. Once she’d started it felt too good to stop pouring out her anxieties, like draining poison from a wound. “We’ve never… I’ve never with anyone, so I don’t even know what I’m doing. Plus, I think he’s attracted to Quinn. And now that he’s found someone he would otherwise have pursued if he wasn’t stuck with me, I’m scared that things are going to go downhill between us. I have no idea what to do. He’s my best friend. I love him. Oh, and, I can totally see why he’s into Quinn. Because…I think I am too.”

  She didn’t realize she’d started chewing her thumbnail until Sally put her hand over Devra’s and lowered it before saying, “There won’t be anything left of your manicure if you do that.”

  Sabra whistled. “Okay, that’s a lot to deal with. No wonder you nearly jumped off the table when the masseuse started in on you. Girl, you have some thinking to do. And then you’ve got to do something about this or you’re going to regret it for the rest of your life.”

  “I’m sorry to say I think you’re right to be afraid.” Nola took Devra’s hand and squeezed it. “If you stay on this road, you’re going to fall apart. You have some hard shit to do if you want to turn this around before it’s too late.”

  “But if you can manage it, everything will be worth it in the end.” Sally looked her dead in the eye. “I’m telling you. Your life could be…incredible. All around. Including in bed. Imagine what it would be like if you had both Trevon and Quinn to keep you company.”

  Devra took a deep breath and crossed her legs tighter. “Does it make me greedy to dream that could even be a remote possibility?”

  “Yes. And there’s nothing wrong with wanting as much happiness as you can find for yourself as long as it’s not at someone else’s expense.” Nola grinned. “It’s a solid bet Quinn would enjoy an arrangement like that. As for Trevon, well, you know him better than us.”

  Except she didn’t. Not when it came to these things, because they’d never discussed it. Had actively avoided it, actually. “I need to talk to him. It’s going to be a difficult conversation, but you’re right. We have to address the situation soon.”

  “Look, our lifestyle isn’t meant for everyone. I’m just saying there are more flavors out there to choose from than being single or married to one man. Feel free to tell your husband about what we’ve shared, too. I’m sure any of our guys would be willing to sit down and answer his questions
if he’s not comfortable asking Quinn about it. Because I’m going to be honest…” Sally looked around at her friends.

  None of them objected.

  So she continued, “We’re nervous. Quinn is practically our little brother as much as he is Roman’s. He has been in a funk lately, and all of a sudden he’s chipper and even maybe kind of hyper. Like a guy who’s…infatuated. I’m not sure what’s going on between you three, and I’m not sure any of you do either. I think you’d be lying to yourselves if you didn’t admit it has the potential to be something. Something great. But if you’re not careful, it could be a disaster, too. We don’t want to see Quinn hurt. Or you. Or Trevon. Please, really take some time to reflect on what you want and don’t be afraid to ask for what you need. If Trevon truly loves you, he’ll listen with an open mind and a gracious heart.”

  That’s exactly what Devra was afraid of. He was so kind and generous. He’d already sacrificed so much for her. Maybe it was time she accepted responsibility for her part in that and told him it was time for him to take instead of always giving.

  She could live with that. He deserved it, even if it didn’t involve her. But if it could… That might be the best of both worlds, more than she’d ever dreamed possible. “You ladies are four lucky bitches, you know that?”

  “So we’ve been told.” Sally grinned.

  “No matter what happens, we’re here if you need to talk,” Kaelyn promised. “Relationships are complicated, and ours more so than most. We’re good listeners. You’ll have to be too if you want this to turn out okay.”

  Devra nodded. “I’m going to try my best. Thank you.”

  She meant it. For opening her eyes and for offering to be there if she crashed and burned while trying to sort things out. She just hoped no one got too badly hurt. Herself included.

  12

  Devra left the spa a whole new woman. Physically she looked different, spiffed up with a bright red manicure and her hair styled. She’d even been talked into wearing some bolder makeup by the Hot Rods women, who’d sworn she looked amazing. She felt different, too, refreshed and invigorated. Mentally, she was as far away from where she’d been that morning as her hometown was from Middletown. She felt enlightened and ready to conquer the world, starting with her own backyard. Or bedroom.