“Cash, she loved being with us as much as we loved being with her. We’ve never felt such a connection, a jolt of awareness and completion like when we made love to Chiara. That has never happened to us. It means more. She means more.”
“You think she’s scared about the whole ménage thing?” Cash asked.
“Probably. She definitely wasn’t experienced sexually.”
Cash smiled. “We gave her some major first experiences this past weekend.”
Zane smiled. “I want more nights like that.”
“But, Zane, how do we know that she’s the one. We’ve talked about finding the perfect woman that had all the qualities we looked for in a partner. The chance is like a billion to one. What if this is just lust?”
“Oh, it is lust, and so much more. I think our odds in finding that perfect woman to share just got a hell of a lot better. Let’s not fuck this up. I’m going to call her office. I’ll see if she’s available for lunch, otherwise, we’ll do dinner.”
Cash took a deep breath and released it. For such a powerful-looking man, standing there in his five-thousand-dollar William Fioravanti Bespoke suit, Cash sure looked unsure of himself.
“We can’t stop thinking about her. Saturday night and Sunday were perfect. We’ve never allowed a woman to stay so long,” Zane stated as he began to dial the number to Chiara’s office.
“We never cared to ask a woman to stay,” Cash said, and then smiled as if he suddenly realized what Zane had. Chiara was special already.
* * * *
Chiara felt bad for declining Cash and Zane’s offer of lunch. Zane seemed disappointed, but she couldn’t help feeling like they wanted another round of sex. Not that she would mind it one bit, but after thinking it over, she realized she wanted more. As great of a morale booster it had been, she’d never given so much of herself intimately to anyone. Even Emanuel, whom she headed toward as she entered Bravado’s. It was an elegant restaurant, and was located in the prime business district, where corporate people met all the time. It was high priced and surprisingly the food was great.
As she caught Emanuel’s eye, she saw him look her over in appreciation, then lean back in his chair and smile. She knew she looked good today. Everyone around the office had complimented her smile, and her outfit. She wore a slim-fitting sleeveless burgundy Italian designer dress that hugged her figure. The high-heel Italian shoes in black accentuated her calves and made her feel allover sexy as she strutted through the restaurant. She felt her cheeks warm, not only from Emanuel’s obvious perusal, but from other patrons of the restaurant. She was a little bit late for their lunch date, but traffic from across town was brutal this time of day.
“You look sexy as damn hell, woman,” Emanuel whispered in her ear, as he hugged her hello. His hand roamed over her lower back, squeezing her to him. She wasn’t her normal relaxed self as he gave her a hug she almost always looked forward to receiving. Emanuel was gorgeous. He looked a lot like Cheyenne Jackson, from that movie United 93. His bold ocean blue eyes stood out like beams of light. They drew people in. He was gorgeous and very wealthy.
“It’s so good to see you. You look stunning, Chiara. I love the dress, and the heels. Very sexy.” She smiled up at him. Emanuel was tall, but not as tall as Cash and Zane. Her smile fell and she had to clear her head, to forget about Cash and Zane. She had to put them out of her mind.
Emanuel held her seat out for her, and then he moved closer, after signaling the waiter to bring over some wine.
“So, how is everything going?” he asked her. She smiled at him. This would be great. Having lunch with her best friend, a sexy good-looking man, would ease her mind away from Cash and Zane.
“Things are good, I guess. I mean I’m busy with work. It seems that my father may be selling the company.”
He made an angry face then covered her hand with his.
“He’s selling the company, and not to you?”
She shook her head. Emanuel knew how hard she had worked over the years to gain her father’s trust and respect. It just seemed an unobtainable thing to do.
He caressed his thumb over her hand. She felt a bit uncomfortable for the first time ever with Emanuel. Why? They were best friends. They were connected like nothing before.
Not connected with me like Cash and Zane were. Oh God, I love them, and I can’t have them.
“Hey,” Emanuel whispered as he placed his fingers under her chin. She looked up at him.
“Who is he, and what did he do to you?” he asked so firmly and with such anger it both worried her and made her feel good inside.
“I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Oh, really. I do believe that Keith and I talked over Marla with you about three weeks ago. You were filled with great advice and were right on the mark about her being a fake.”
“Oh God, she did something? You two broke things off with her?”
“Hell yeah. She was a conniving bitch. She tried to say that we got her pregnant. We always used condoms and there was a week that we were away from her due to our trip to Rome. In that time, she was sighted with another man. An older man.”
“Oh what a slut.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, she sure was. So back to you, and I don’t want you to leave a damn thing out. You hear me? I know that you don’t sleep around. I know that the time we shared years ago was your only sexual encounter.”
“Emanuel, please,” she whispered then lowered her eyes. He moved closer and placed his fingers under her chin.
“I adore you. We’re best friends, and that will never change. I’ve never regretted making love to you for the first time. It was the best decision for both of us. Even though we’re only friends, we’ve shared something amazing, and I care about you. So does Keith.”
“I know that. I never really felt comfortable enough to have sex with anyone else. I felt too exposed, I guess.”
“You felt like you could lose your heart, and get wrapped up in emotions that might not be reciprocated.”
She locked gazes with him. “Exactly.”
The tears filled her eyes, and Emanuel squinted his eyes at her then opened his mouth to speak then closed it. He seemed to be deciding what to say, and then he whispered, “Oh shit, you’re in love.”
She tried to speak but her throat got all closed up.
“Tell me who. Tell me about him. I want to know everything.”
“I don’t know if I can. It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how?”
“It just is, Emanuel.”
“Chiara, you had sex, after years of holding out, waiting for that special someone. I respect that. So tell me his name. Tell me how you met him? What does he do for a living, and why are you so upset? Did he hurt you? If he did, I’ll fucking tear him a new one.”
Chiara chuckled. She looked around them then leaned closer.
“Not one, but two.”
Emanuel’s eyes widened.
He scanned her face, and then gave a small smile. “You sneaky little devil. It’s true then. What I heard about the fund-raiser?”
“What do you mean?” she asked then swallowed hard.
“That two billionaires gave a million-dollar donation to the children’s hospital in your honor, and that you left with them from the event.”
Chiara gasped then covered her mouth. She was in shock. That meant that everyone knew about her little love affair.
“Hey, if you’re going to break your vow of chastity, that was a hell of a way to do it. So who are they?”
“Oh my God, I should have never listened to Heather. She was pushing me day after day to have a one-night stand. She wanted to set me up with one of her ex-lovers. I was so close to doing it, Emanuel. I felt so frustrated and then Cash and Zane show up. They wowed me with their charms. I met them once before that night. They’re potential buyers for my father’s company.”
His eyes widened. “Holy shit.”
“Exactly.”
She began to e
xplain everything that had happened, and every detail as she only paused for the waiter to take their order and then bring their lunch meals. She even told him about the sex, and about her emotions and how she left things with them.
“It doesn’t seem like they wanted more?”
She shook her head. “These men are suited to this lifestyle. Hell, Emanuel, you and Keith are into the same thing.”
“Wait, you don’t mean Cash Corbin and Zane Heston do you?”
“Yes. Oh my God, you know them?”
“Yeah, I know who they are. They are major hardball. If they want a business, they get it. They have an out-of-this-world security firm, too. They’re fucking loaded. And they do have a bit of a reputation with the ladies. But I’ve never heard anything bad.”
“I can’t see them again. I declined lunch and Zane tried to push about dinner, but I told him I would see, and that I had plans.”
Emanuel caressed her hair then held her hand again. He was staring into her eyes as he spoke to her.
“Chiara, maybe they do want more with you?”
She shook her head. “You just said that they do like to share women, and that they always get what they want. Maybe they just want what they can’t have. Maybe they’ll get bored of me. Maybe, it was just lust, and because of my inexperience, I went and took it too seriously.”
Emanuel caressed the small tear at the corner of her eye.
“Then forget about them. You had a night of passion and there will be others. Let it be and see what happens. Why don’t you come out with Keith and I tonight? We’re going to Phantom’s and meeting a bunch of other guys.”
“Are you trying to set me up?”
He smiled. “I haven’t tried to in years.”
He brought her knuckles up to his lips and kissed them. She smiled.
“Who the fuck is this guy?”
Chiara was shocked at the sound of Zane’s voice behind her. She turned as she pulled her hand from Emanuel’s and there stood Cash and Zane. They looked downright pissed off.
She swallowed hard, but held her ground despite the anger and spears of death both men were shooting toward Emanuel.
“Cash, Zane, meet Emanuel Botanno. A very good friend of mine.”
* * * *
Zane was furious. He and Cash could hardly concentrate on their meeting with the lawyers as they saw Chiara walk into the same restaurant that they were in. They watched as this wannabe model took her in his arms and hugged her with his hand practically over her ass. She looked like a supermodel, with her long brown hair in some fancy updo, the tight designer burgundy dress, and the way the designer black high heels made her look fucking sexy. The woman had all the right curves in all the right places and every fucking guy in the place took notice. Including this asshole that held her hand, whispered in her ear, and somehow brought tears to her eyes that he wiped, like he had every right to touch her and care. What the fuck?
The man reached out his hand as he stood. He was tall, but both Cash and Zane had a good three inches on him.
Neither reached out to shake his hand, and he smirked then took Chiara’s hand.
“Chiara, what is this? Who is this guy?” Cash asked.
“I told you, he’s a good friend of mine. What are you two doing here?” she asked, trying to lower her voice. Apparently Zane’s words had brought the restaurant’s complete attention to the four of them.
“We had a business meeting. And you?” Zane asked then eyed Emanuel over. The guy had class, and he had money. But who was he to Chiara? Zane couldn’t believe how jealous he felt.
“Pleasure. As she said, we’re old friends,” Emanuel stated, and then Zane noticed how Chiara’s cheeks turned a shade of pink. But she appeared stiff. Could she really care about his guy? Could Saturday and Sunday have meant nothing to her?
“We need to talk. Can you come outside with us for a minute?” Cash asked, appearing pretty damn calm. But Zane knew his best friend well. Cash was not calm. Cash wanted to hurt Emanuel.
Chiara looked at Emanuel. “I’m having lunch right now. Perhaps I can call you later?”
Zane looked at their plates. They were finished eating. Emanuel stared right at him but still held Chiara’s hand. That fucking pissed him off beyond belief.
“That’s not a good enough. You look like you’re finished eating and meeting your old friend. Come with us so we can talk,” Zane said firmly. He saw her body tighten, and even though the burgundy color of her dress was dark, he could see her nipples pebble. She shifted from one foot to the other, and he knew she was getting wet. She wanted them, despite whoever this asshole was.
“I can’t, Zane.”
“We want to talk with you. It’s important. It’s about the last two days. You know, that we spent together.”
Her eyes widened and she looked at Emanuel. Emanuel leaned closer to her. He whispered something and she looked at him appearing shocked.
“Let me pay the bill, and you can talk to your two friends outside. I’ll meet you, and then give you a ride,” Emanuel said to Chiara then kissed her cheek.
Did that fucker mean give her her a ride, as in sex or as in a car ride? Zane was seeing fucking red. After one look at Emanuel, he knew exactly what Zane was thinking.
“Come on. Outside now,” Zane said through clenched teeth.
Chiara looked at Emanuel and he smiled as he flagged the waiter over. Zane took her hand and led her outside with Cash to their awaiting limo.
* * * *
Chiara’s heart was racing. Emanuel was holding his own and pretending as if they were more than just friends and she loved him for it. Except, now both Zane and Cash looked about to explode. She stopped just shy of their limo, despite Zane’s and Cash’s firm grips on her arms.
“Wait, I can’t leave Emanuel. We have plans to discuss.”
Zane’s dark blue eyes widened.
“Oh no you don’t. You’re coming with us,” Zane said, like he had the final say as Cash opened the limo door, and Zane assisted her inside. As she looked out the limo door, she saw Emanuel. He was staring with a concerned expression and then a smile as she waved to him.
She looked back at Zane who really seemed upset.
“I’ll go, but I don’t have a lot of time. I had to squeeze in lunch with Emanuel,” she told him. Cash placed his hand under her elbow and looked her in the eyes.
“Please, we really need to talk.”
One more glance to a smiling Emanuel and she took a deep breath and got into the limo. A few seconds later, the limo took off.
She leaned back against the custom leather seats.
Zane was fuming, she could tell, and Cash was no better. They didn’t say a word, and that both worried her and aroused her. They were jealous. They were angry, and she wanted to know why. Weren’t they the ones who didn’t like commitments and did one-night stands regularly? For crying out loud, they were the ones with the reputations. Even Emanuel knew about them.
Oh God, what was Emanuel thinking right now?
Her cell went off and she reached into her purse to read the text.
Are you okay? Call me if you need me. Keith and I will see you at Phantom’s tonight. Love ya.
She was about to text back, when Zane took her phone from her hands.
“Who is texting you?”
“Hey, that’s my phone and that’s none of your business.”
He raised his eyebrows at her. “You want to go there? I’m about two seconds away from throwing you over my lap and spanking that ass, Chiara. Don’t push me.”
She was about to say something but he gave her such a look she leaned back and crossed her arms in front of her chest. In her mind she wanted to smile. Zane’s words aroused her. She was either heading toward total abomination or she was headed into ecstasy with two of the sexiest men on earth. Either way, she was going to die coming. She wanted them, and their jealousy, their expressed interest turned her on entirely too much.
“You’re not going to Phan
tom’s with him and this other guy Keith,” Zane stated as he scanned the other texts from Emanuel.
He placed her cell into his suit jacket pocket then fixed it as the limo continued on its way. Beside her, she heard Cash talking to someone and canceling his afternoon appointments.
She swallowed hard as the limo stopped.
“We’re going to get to the bottom of this. As soon as we’re upstairs,” Zane stated as Cash opened the door then offered his hand for her to step out. Behind her she felt Zane’s hands on her hips, assisting, and her pussy clenched with need.
They headed up the elevator and into their penthouse. Both men pulled off their designer suit jackets, tossed them onto the couch, and then loosened their ties. Zane held his tie in his hand. He caressed it back and forth across his palm. His eyes held her gaze as she slowly kept stepping backward into the room.
Cash had his hand on his hips. He was nibbling his bottom lip and breathing kind of heavy through his nostrils.
“I want to know who Emanuel is to you.” Cash said in a controlled tone. Zane continued to caress that damn tie back and forth. She imagined him using it to tie her up to their bed and make love to her as they restrained her.
She took a deep breath. She needed to know what these two men expected from her.
“Give me my phone.”
“No,” they both stated firmly.
“I need to touch base with my office. I need to tell them that I’ll be a little bit longer.”
Zane stomped toward the couch, got her phone from his jacket pocket, then stopped short right in front of her.
“Call them and tell them that you’re tied up for the rest of the day. Forward all your calls to voice mail,” Zane whispered firmly, then wrapped the silk tie around his hand and pulled it tight. She nearly gasped with excitement. She had never been so turned on. This was what these two men did to her.
She swallowed hard. “Is this what you do to all the women you bed? You make demands on them whenever you want them to bid your needs?”
Cash stepped closer. “Make the fucking call or don’t. We really don’t care.”
Holy shit. Now Cash was getting tough, too.
A Billion to One [Power Surge: The Billionaire Club 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10