Playing With Fire (Siren Publishing Ménage and More)

by Serenity Snow

  “I do,” Kal said quickly. “I just don’t want you to regret.”

  “I regret Connor did this, and he can’t even follow through, but I accept his decision.”

  “I regret he’s hurting as well,” she said. “You want to go dancing after we leave?”

  Leigh shook her head. “No. I was on my feet most of the day. I mean, if you want to.”

  Kal laughed. “I want only what you want tonight.”

  Leigh laughed. “Then, I want a foot rub.”

  “You’ll have one.”

  * * * *

  Over the next four days, Leigh had a checkup for the cold she thought she was developing and moved into Kal’s home. Leigh thought the split-level brick with the wraparound porch was a haven. The pool and hot tub were divine. The only thing that wasn’t was the constant calls and hang-ups. And she missed Connor. He would love it there. It was too bad he was determined to be apart from them.

  On the fifth day after leaving Connor, Kal picked Leigh up after work. They had dinner and then Kal took her for ice cream for dessert. They sat in Kal’s car at the drive-in, savoring their treat with Kal talking about her day and Leigh only half listening as she thought about what the doctor had told her. She wasn’t sure Kal would like it.

  “Why are you so quiet, baby?” Kal asked. “You can talk to me, you know.”

  “I had a doctor’s appointment a few days ago,” Leigh said. “I wanted to get a checkup since I wasn’t feeling well.”

  “Your tests were all normal? Are you anemic or something?”

  “I’m pregnant.” Leigh shook her head. “Six weeks.”

  Kal smiled, but she knew why Leigh had that sad look in her eyes. “You have to tell Connor,” she said. “He deserves to know.”

  “He won’t back off, Kal,” she said. “If I tell him, he’ll insist on being part of the baby’s life.”

  “Good. The child should know who its father is,” Kal told her. “And the more involved he is with you, the greater the chance of the three of us getting to spend time together. He might come around.”

  “Why would you want him in our lives?”

  “You love him.”

  “I love you, too, and I won’t cheat on you with him,” she insisted.

  “I’m not worried about that, Leigh,” Kal said quietly. “I think the three of us were so good together those few nights. We could be a happy couple. I will never love Connor as deeply as you do, but I will love him enough to have a fulfilling relationship with him as a companion, as the father of our children.”

  “I think he’ll be a great dad.” Leigh smiled. “A great husband to both of us. It would almost like those Sister Wives, except we aren’t Mormon.”

  Kal smirked. “And all three of us can make love together.”

  Leigh chuckled. “The fun part.”

  “You should call him and ask him to come over to my place,” Kal said. “He should celebrate with us.”

  * * * *

  “You’re quiet tonight,” Danica said that evening.

  Connor glanced at her, feeling numb. He’d love to say he was all cried out, but there were still some tears left in him even as he struggled to accept that Leigh had left him. He’d thought a night out was just what he needed, but it didn’t really matter where he was.

  “You still thinking about asking Leigh to marry you?” Vinessa asked.

  “We broke up,” he mumbled.

  “See that’s why you shouldn’t have done that shit,” Danica said. “It’s always a bad idea.”

  Connor nodded. “I wanted her to be happy, and I guess she is.”

  “Where—I mean, Kal?” Vinessa asked.

  “They’re living together.” He took a swig of beer. Kal had his woman, she had his life. “I know, Dani, it was stupid. I found Leigh’s diary. I knew how into Kal she was even before this.”

  “What the hell were you trying to prove?” Dani asked.

  He shrugged. “I don’t know.”

  “Trying to prove your heart can take a beating.” Vinessa grumbled. “Dumbass.”

  “The only way I can be with her now is if I accept Kal, too.”

  “So, what’s the issue in that?” Danica asked. “You get two women, and one of them has a better income than yours.”

  “How do you feel about Kal?” Vinessa asked carefully. “Do you like her? Lust her? Falling in love with her? Could love her?”

  “That’s not how a family is supposed to be,” he said.

  Danica and Vinessa snorted. “Right. Our parents swing, were swingers all our lives, Connor. Your father sleeps with my mother more often than he sleeps with yours, but our parents don’t divorce because of status quo. Both of our fathers have nice incomes, but when they pool them they’re pretty well off. So, why divorce? Your mom will take your dad to the cleaners.”

  “Yeah, she would,” he agreed. “But she’s not happy. She hasn’t been since she got her heart broken.”

  “And you think that’ll be you?” Danica asked softly.

  “Won’t it?” he demanded. “She took a chance—” He broke off. His mother had been involved with Vin’s father as well as his own. She was sharing the two men with Vin’s mother. Vin’s mother loved the situation and still did as far as he knew, but his mother had grown tired of the sharing. She was still in love with her husband and even cared about Vin’s father. She just wanted to be number one instead of being number two.

  “Your mom made her choices, Connor. All of our moms did. She could walk away, but she doesn’t.”

  “That’s not your life,” Vinessa said. “You have two women and one of them already makes you happy. Kal can share all the financial burdens with you.”

  “And you already seem to like Kal more than you want to,” Danica said. “Why keep fighting your feelings?”

  He shook his head. He was afraid even though he’d walked into this knowing feelings were involved and hearts would quickly be at stake.

  “Hurt is hurt,” Vinessa said quietly, patting his leg. “You can go out there and get your women, or keep suffering.”

  He sighed roughly. His phone vibrated on the table, and he glanced at the display. “It’s Leigh.”

  “Go to her,” Vinessa urged.

  He answered the call. “Hey.”

  “Hi, Connor,” Leigh said. “I need to talk to you. Can you come over to Kal’s?”

  He thought about it for a moment. “What do you want to talk about?”

  “I’m pregnant.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  “At least he’s coming,” Kal said as she pulled into her driveway.

  “At least,” Leigh agreed. “I hope he’ll give us a chance. If he doesn’t, then we’re in for a fight.” She released her seat belt.

  “Well, we’ll deal.” They climbed out of the car and headed inside. Leigh captured Kal’s hand. Kal kissed her knuckles and then groaned. “I’ll get that.”

  “It can’t be Connor already.”

  “My thoughts exactly.” She gave Leigh a wicked smile. Leigh grinned. Kal led the way to the front door. She looked out the peephole and then said. “Stay back, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Kal pulled open the door. “Craig what are you doing here?” She stepped out onto the porch, leaving the front door open.

  “I just found out today that my son is going to die, and you didn’t drop the charges,” he said, rage in his voice. “He’s going to die and I won’t be there with him!”

  “I’m sorry, but you should have—”

  “I took that money to try to save him. The medical bills were astronomical. We needed the money, and you have enough to share,” he snarled. “You bitch. If you’d given me the raise—” He reached behind him and pulled a gun from the waistband of his pants. “I told you, you’d regret this,” Craig snarled. “I’m going to take everything away from you.” He fired, aiming through the open door at Leigh.

  Kal’s eyes widened in horror because she knew she’d never be able to stop thi
s. But she had to try. Leigh cried out and Kal rushed him, forcing his arm up. He tried to shake her off and they stumbled backward into the railing of her patio. Craig punched her and Kal stumbled back with a grunt.

  “Your bitch is going to die!” He pointed his gun into the house again and Kal drove her fist into his stomach, and he grunted as he dropped the gun as a car door slammed shut.

  Kal punched him in the balls and backhanded him. He fell into the railing as Connor came racing up the walk to the patio. Kal grabbed the gun and pointed it at Craig.

  “Leigh. Check on Leigh, Connor.”

  “I hope the bitch dies,” Craig said tightly.

  Kal punched him in the stomach. As he swung at her, Connor grabbed his wrist and twisted it. He wrestled him to the ground. Kal rushed to Leigh’s side, rage eating at her. If her woman was dead, she was going to kill that son of a bitch Craig.

  She stopped short at the sight of the blood staining the wood floor in the entryway. Leigh lay on her side next to the wall where a bloody handprint had been pressed. Kal rushed to her.

  “Leigh.” She felt for a pulse. “Baby,” she cried frantically.

  “Kal!” Connor screamed. “Shit! Leigh!”

  “Call 9-1-1!” Kal screamed. “She’s bleeding. Honey, hold on!”

  * * * *

  Twenty minutes later, Kal paced impatiently as she waited in the waiting room with Connor. Her fists were clenched tight as she went over the events in her mind again.

  “It’s not your fault,” Connor said gently as he put a hand on her arm to stop her pacing. “How do you know?” she demanded.

  “I saw enough,” he said. “Anyway, this guy is in custody. He’ll pay for what he did.”

  Kal pushed out a rough sigh and turned to Connor. He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

  “If she loses the baby…”

  “She won’t, but if she does, there will be others,” he said softly.

  Kal looked up at him curiously. “You’re going to stick around?”

  He nodded. “I’m scared of where this might lead, but I think I always hoped it would lead right where it’s gone. You and Leigh in my bed.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Connor.”

  He smiled. “Forgive me?”

  “This time,” she said softly and hugged him tightly.

  * * * *

  Leigh had only suffered a concussion and a broken arm from tripping and falling into the wall. The bullet had grazed her, but she was otherwise okay. So, they were able to take Leigh home two days later, and Kal decided to take a few days off to be with her.

  “You didn’t have to take off work to stay home with me,” Leigh protested the next morning.

  “Of course I did,” Kal insisted. “You have a cast and you need help.”

  Leigh gave her a grateful smile as she looked up at her. “I need help taking a bath,” she admitted. “But I swear you don’t have to stay with me all day.”

  Kal rolled her eyes and set coffee on the round table in her sunny kitchen brightened by the pot lights on the cloudy morning. “Why don’t we spend the day in? We can watch some movies and relax.” She reached across the table and caressed Leigh’s hand.

  “That would be a great idea,” she said and then frowned at the sharp rap on Kal’s front door.

  “Be right back.” Kal left the spacious kitchen to see who it was.

  “Hi, Connor,” Kal gave him a smile. “What are you doing here?” she asked looking at the bag in his hand.

  He shrugged, giving her a sheepish look. “I took a few days off, and I thought I’d come over. Is it okay if I stay the night?”

  She grinned. “Yes. Come in.”

  He smiled tentatively. “Is Leigh in bed?”

  “She’s in the kitchen. We’re having breakfast, but you can join.”

  “I’d like that,” he said.

  They headed to the kitchen and Leigh smiled. “Hello, Connor.”

  “Hi.” He went to drop a kiss on her forehead. “I don’t know how this is going to work, but I’ve been thinking. I don’t like being without you Leigh, and I don’t think I want to be without you, Kal.”

  Kal went to stand next to him. “That sounds promising.”

  He gave her a grin. “Smartass.”

  “Yeah, well.”

  He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her against him. “I want both of you in my life if you’ll still have me.”

  “Of course we will,” Leigh exclaimed, and he pulled her to her feet and into his embrace. He kissed her and then smiled. “I love you, Leigh. You’re my world, and I can’t live without you.”

  “I love you so much, Connor,” she whispered, tears misting in her eyes. “I love you, too, Kal, and my parents are going to freak.” She laughed.

  Kal grimaced and wrapped her arm around Leigh. She kissed her. “I love you, too, girl.” She kissed Connor’s jaw. “Connor—”

  “Yeah, I’m your man, woman.” He kissed her. “By the time our baby’s born, maybe your parents will have come around. If not, it’ll be too bad that they have to miss out on knowing our child and having us as family.”

  “My thoughts exactly,” Kal said with a smile. “You two will get married, but we’ll all have a commitment ceremony. How’s that sound?”

  “Perfect.” Connor kissed Kal and Leigh hugged her, putting her head on Connor’s shoulder.

  THE END

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Serenity Snow is a voracious reader of romances, especially paranormal romances. She loves a happy ending, but she doesn’t have anything against a happy for now ending either. Serenity thinks fall is the perfect time of year for romance because the weather is still warm enough for walks in the park and pretty enough to create a romantic atmosphere for outdoor dining.

  Serenity loves a good debate, has a quirky sense of humor and loves a good joke as long as it’s not on her. Possessing a creative mind, scrapbooking is something Serenity finds allows her creative spirit to soar as much as writing does.

  For all titles by Serenity Snow, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/serenity-snow

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