by Diane Leyne
Neither of them really wanted him to be a part of the relationship. He was in love with a woman who didn’t love him back. He had forced himself into his brother’s relationship. He was unwanted. He’d devoted his life to his work. It would sustain him. It always had. He would walk away and they would never know that he knew how they really thought about him.
But not before he had one night alone with Eve. He would make memories to sustain himself through the long lonely nights without her. He pushed the door open. The sound of it banging against the wall made her jump. She looked afraid. He immediately regretted scaring her.
But as soon as she saw it was him, a big smile spread across her face and he could almost make himself believe that she loved him, too. He walked up to her and enveloped her in a hug, holding her head to his heart. For this one night, he would love her the best he knew how and then he’d walk away. Chicago had been nice. Maybe he’d open a branch office there.
* * * *
Eve jumped and let out a little shriek at the sound of the door banging against the wall. And then she realized it was Maks. She let out a joyful squeal and launched herself into his arms.
“Maks!”
She expected him to kiss her or maybe rip her clothes off, but instead he folded her into his arms and stood there holding her. It felt nice and yet she felt that something was wrong.
“Maks? You okay?”
“I’m fine, Eve. I just want to love you tonight. Please, let me love you.”
She looked up into his serious face. Something was wrong, but she didn’t know what it was. She wanted to ask but then he was kissing her like a starving man at a feast. He devoured her mouth, his tongue pushing for entrance as his arms held her tight.
After what seemed like forever, he eased away. She started to speak but he held a finger up to her lips.
“Shhh.”
She smiled and licked the finger in front of her mouth. Then she took it into her mouth and sucked hard. She was rewarded with a groan of need from Maks. She reached down to grab the hem of her T-shirt to pull it off over her head, but he stopped her. She looked at her quizzically. He just smiled and removed her T-shirt himself. Then he unfastened the sweatpants she slept in and pushed them down her hips.
Now she stood before him naked. His eyes blazed with need. She reached for his necktie but he pushed her hands away.
“On the bed and hold onto the headboard and spread your legs. Let go and I’ll tie you in place!”
She got into position and then watched as he removed his tie and shirt. Then he toed out of his shoes and removed his socks. When he crawled onto the bed, he was still wearing his pants, though as he crawled onto the bed, positioning himself between her spread legs. She reached out to touch him. She knew she wasn’t supposed to, but she couldn’t help herself.
Sighing, he grabbed his tie and moments later, her hands were immobilized above her head. He settled onto his side, smiling gently before kissing her mouth and then working his way over to her jaw and down her neck. His free hand wasn’t idle, though. He played with one breast and then the other, pinching and twirling and tugging on her nipples until they were throbbing with need.
When she moaned, he moved. It was as if he was waiting for her signal. He moved on top of her, taking his weight on his forearms as he leaned down and took a throbbing nipple into his mouth. For a few long minutes he moved from nipple to nipple until she was begging.
“More, Maks. More. I need you inside me! Please.”
* * * *
Sliding lower, he moved her legs over his shoulders and reached between her spread legs to part her labia so he could see that little red pearl peeking out at him. Her clit was so damned beautiful. He leaned forward and licked it. Then she shuddered with need. He licked it again. He wasn’t going to fuck her until he’d made her come at least three times, he resolved, going to work with his mouth and fingers, touching her, licking, sucking and caressing.
Her cream was flowing from her pussy. She may not love him, but she clearly loved what he did to her body. Maybe he didn’t have to leave. Could he stay and be their third in bed whenever she wanted to be part of an Andreivich sandwich?
Of course not. He had his pride. He had his dignity. Oh, who was he kidding? He would crawl on his hands and knees if that’s what it took to get inside her.
He could feel her body shuddering under his ministrations. He slid a finger inside her. She was so damned wet. He could slide right in, but not yet. He added a second and third finger. Then he started moving them in and out in imitation of the act to come. He continued to suckle her clit and when the shudders escalated and she started begging, he curled his fingers, rubbing them against the special spot inside her.
He was rewarded as her whole body tensed and arced up off the bed as she came and came and came. He used every trick in the book to keep her orgasm going, using his mouth and tongue and fingers until she finally collapsed even as small tremors continued to roll through her. Then, and only then, did he remove his pants and climb on top of her to position his cock at her entrance.
Leaning on his forearms again, he looked down at her passion glazed eyes. She looked almost drugged by passion, her lips so red and swollen. He wanted to roar with triumph. She may not love him, but she loved what he did to her. Could that be enough, he wondered, as he positioned his cock at her entrance and slowly pushed inside, savoring the experience millimeter by millimeter.
This was the last night he would ever make love to her without his brother present. He was going to make the most of it. When he was buried to the hilt, he paused and looked down at her. He leaned down and kissed her softly on the mouth. Then he started moving, riding her hard, his iron control finally slipping, and he pushed into her over and over and over until finally they were both coming hard.
* * * *
He worked her up and made love to her twice more and fucked her once, hard and fast. She knew she’d be sore in the morning, but there was something so desperate about his actions that Eve just held him tight and let him work out whatever demons he was struggling with.
Sometime very early in the morning, he made love to her again and then left the bed. She figured he was using the restroom. She thought about it, but it was impossible to get out of bed when your bones had melted. She closed her eyes and rolled over, preparing to grab a few winks until he returned to her bed and took her again.
When she awoke again, Eve was alone. She looked around. His clothes were gone. Maybe he was downstairs having breakfast, but even as that thought ran through her head, she knew he wasn’t there. He’d left without even saying good-bye.
She sat up gingerly. She’d known that something was upsetting him last night and had hoped that by loving him, he’d be comforted and share with her. Was it that bitch Irina? She may be hot for Maks, but if she ever saw her making a play for her man, Eve would tear her hair out.
She slid off the side of the bed and almost fell as she stepped on something metal and lumpy. Her laptop and earbuds. She’d been using it on the bed talking to Alexi. They’d just signed off when Maks had arrived and she’d just placed it on the floor to get it out of the way.
Thank goodness Maks hadn’t heard their conversation. Alexi had been teasing her unmercifully and she remembered declaring that she wanted only him and Maks was second best or something. He’d laughed hard when she said that, clearly knowing that she was joking. She loved them both. Thank goodness she didn’t have to choose because she didn’t think she could.
Showering and dressing, she bounced into the office. It would be a good day. Maks was back. Alexi would be back later today. Then they were all going to dinner and she had high hopes of an Andreivich sandwich for dessert.
She smiled. She’d hit the jackpot. She loved two amazing men and they loved her. Life didn’t get any better.
Chapter Ten
Life sucked. Maks was a grade-A asshole. Her sweet tender lover of the night before was again replaced by the obsessed businessman
. He barely said hello to her before closeting himself with Irina who smirked in triumph as she closed the office door in Eve’s face.
How could he be like this? Last night he’d made such tender love to her. Today he would barely look at her.
Fine. If he wanted to be like that, she could do it, too. She would concentrate on business. She was working in the design department and damned if they would run her out. Mac Whelan had personally requested her services and she’d be the best damned trainee, or whatever the hell her title was, that they’d ever had.
And she’d be happy, dammit. She had Alexi. He loved her, even if Maks didn’t.
If only he wasn’t with that woman.
The day had crawled by excruciatingly slow. She’d seen Irina just once more, thank goodness, but Maks not at all. She couldn’t do this. They had to talk. She enlisted Mrs. Haven’s help. When Irina finally left around noon to look over some fabric swatches that only she could evaluate, Mrs. Haven called Eve. She hurried over, knowing she had only minutes before Irina discovered Beth didn’t really need her help.
Without knocking, she opened Maks’s door and hurried in. He looked tired. There were dark circles under his eyes and he looked a little sad.
When he saw her, the light came into his eyes just for a second, giving her hope, but then it was gone again.
“What do you want? I am working.” His accent was as thick as she’d ever heard it. He was definitely upset.
“I–I wanted to tell you. Your brother. Our dinner plans.”
“Yes, yes. 4:00 p.m., Bistro Maguire. I’ll be there, but not all of us can walk away from our work commitments. I’ll be there when I get there.”
The door opened and Irina entered. She didn’t say anything. She didn’t have to. She just walked over to Maks’s desk and sat on the edge. He walked up behind her and put a hand on his shoulder.
“Is there anything else?”
“No, not a thing. Not a thing.”
She had to force herself not to slam the door as she exited. Walking slowly, she went past a concerned Mrs. Haven and went back to her desk. She wanted to cry. She wanted to scream. Why did he suddenly seem to dislike her?
Her phone rang. “Andreivich + Andreivich, Eve Brookdale speaking.”
“Hello, Eve Brookdale speaking. This is your lover speaking. I’m running just a little late. The flight’s just finished boarding. I’ll be back in Seattle in three hours. Instead of coming into the office, I’m heading straight to the restaurant.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Look, Angel. I have to hang up shortly. Can you tell Maks that I’ve made reservations at Bistro Maguire for the three of us? I’ll meet you both there at four.”
“Tell Maks? But he already knows.”
“Thanks for telling him. Love you.”
She looked down at the phone. If he didn’t tell Maks about Bistro Maguire, how did he know? She hadn’t told him. She didn’t even know about the reservation until last night. Alexi had told her on the phone. Maks couldn’t have heard that because she was wearing earphones.
She might have repeated it out loud. She thought about the conversation. Yes, she’d said it out loud. She suddenly turned pale. She’d said some other things after she’d said the restaurant name. She’d said she didn’t love Maks and only wanted Alexi and a lot of other things at the prompting of his crazy brother. Surely the big lug knew it was all a big joke. Alexi had laughed and laughed as he prompted her to say how much she preferred him.
It had been a joke. Clearly, though, he didn’t realize it.
* * * *
The day had crawled by excruciatingly slow. He’d almost chickened out and skipped out on dinner, but he had decided he wasn’t going to run. He had pride. He would never show them how much he was hurting. He would never let them feel sorry for him.
He loved this woman so damned much. But then he looked over toward his brother. Alexi loved her, too, and it seemed that she wasn’t interested in a long-term ménage and he wasn’t going to force her to choose between the two of them.
He felt a swell of love for his Alexi. The six-year age difference had always meant Maks looked after his baby brother, guiding him, bickering with him, but always loving him fiercely. He couldn’t take this woman from him. Either she chose them both or he walked away and left her to Alexi. Maybe he should just walk away.
“Well, I’ve never been with two men before meeting you two, although”—she blushed so brightly that he could even see it in this dim light—“I’ve fantasized about it before. But you know, only as part of a scene. I’ve never considered that I would ever get the opportunity for an actual relationship with two men.”
“You’ve seen it at the club, though. Connor, Liam, and Cin, and Luke, Zach and Serena. Hell, even Mac, Sean and Michelle. There are all sorts of examples of long-term ménage relationships working,” Alexi pointed out.
“But it isn’t easy. Do you really think we can make it work?”
“What thing that’s worthwhile ever is?”
Maks looked over at Alexi and then back at Eve. He knew that she didn’t think a ménage relationship could work outside of the playroom. She was trying to be nice to him. He took a deep breath. He also knew that he loved them both enough to give their relationship a chance, even if it meant walking away from the love of his life. He knew there were no guarantees in life and that not all relationships worked out, but he’d give his brother all the help he could.
He looked over at Eve and told the biggest lie of his life. “Yes, Alexi, but those are the exceptions to the rule. Not that it matters because I’m not interested in a ménage outside of the playroom.” He turned to Eve. “I think you are an amazing woman, Angel and I enjoy playing with you, but I don’t love you.”
* * * *
“Liar! You are the biggest liar I’ve ever met, Maksim Dimitri Andreivich!” Eve wasn’t just angry. She was furious. How dare he say that? He loved her as much as Alexi did, as much as she loved them both! She knew that. But he’d obviously gotten his feelings hurt. Or maybe he believed Irina’s lies. Or maybe both. Regardless, she wasn’t going to stand for it, not for one single second.
“How do you know what I’m feeling, Eve? You’re just a sub to me. Granted, you are hot and sexy, but so are a lot of women.”
“Still don’t believe you.”
“You love my brother.”
“Yes, I do. But I love you, too, you dumbass!”
“I am not a dumbass!” Maks thundered.
“Sorry, brother, but she’s right if you think you can lie to her about not loving her.”
“I can’t believe you are siding with her.”
“What if I told you that I’d decided that I didn’t love her and was going to move to San Diego and oversee the building of the next Club Libertine? What would you do then, brother dear? Would you leave Eve alone here on her own to pine for me?”
“The question is moot since you aren’t moving, Alexi.”
“Mac needs someone in San Diego and asked me to recommend someone. What if I take the job myself, Maks? You know how much I hate the rain here. Sorry babe.” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. With his back to his brother, he met her gaze and winked. “And there are lots of other subs in San Diego. I’ll do okay. In fact, I met one when I was down there last week. Damn, she was hot. One of those California beach girls, all blonde and skinny with big tits. Oh, well, Eve. It’s been fun.”
“I can’t believe it,” she wailed, playing along with Alexi. “You are both dumping me?”
“You’d never leave Eve. She’s a goddess. How could you abandon her?” He took a step forward. “You love her more than life itself.”
“I thought you loved her, too, but I guess we were both just having fun.” He turned to Eve. “Sorry, but that’s the way the chips fall. You are a great sub. I have no doubt you’ll find a new Dom in no time. Let me know if you need a reference.”
Eve felt the tears roll down her cheeks. She’d been the s
tar of her high school drama society because she could cry on cue.
“Yesterday I had two men who loved me and today I’m all alone. Oh, god. What did I do to deserve this?”
“Hey, babe. It happens. Hey, Maks. Can you give me a ride? The car’s in the shop.”
“You can walk home for all I care. Get out of my sight, you young idiot. How can you throw over this goddess for some fake-titted beach bunny?”
“You dumped her!”
“Yeah, because of you. I didn’t want to stand in your way. I overheard Eve talking about how hard she was finding it with two men and how much she loved you, so I was stepping aside. I was making a sacrifice for the woman I loved, but damn, if you are going to walk out on her, then I can tell her the truth.
“Eve, I love you so much that I was willing to walk away because I thought that’s what would make you happiest. But now that my idiot brother is walking out on the best thing to ever happen to him, I have no more need to sacrifice.”
“Is this real, Maks, or is this your sacrifice? Are you proclaiming your love because you feel sorry for me? Or maybe because it was your brother who hurt me?”
“Hell no. I love you, dammit. I think I started falling for you when you cuddled in my arms during aftercare after my brother walked out and left you in Gordon’s incapable hands. I fell more in love with you when you walked out in front of that whole group of assembled Doms wearing only a thong and a transparent tank top and pointed out all the mistakes in our presentation. I knew I loved you hopelessly and completely after you threw that bucket of water on us when we were brawling.
“Evangeline Brookdale, please take me back.”
“Do you promise never to lie to me again, especially about matters as important as love or if you think you are doing something for my own good?”