“Hello, beautiful women,” I said, handing them each a glass.
“Hi, handsome,” Ariana replied, before planting a wet smack on my mouth.
It wasn’t enough—I wanted more. But already she was pulling away. Taking a sip of champagne, she turned to Maeve.
“He’s such a sweetheart,” she said, as if I wasn’t there. Holding out her wrist, which was adorned with the silver bracelet, she said, “Look what he gave me.”
“Ooh,” Maeve said, and even I could see the flare of jealousy in her face. She quickly covered it with a competitive smirk. “I met someone, too. His name’s Keith.”
“Really?” Ariana asked, a layer of skepticism in her tone.
I had to hand it to her, she could do the subtle, catty, rich bitch voice extremely well.
“Like your man, he’s a giver, too.” Maeve pointed to the choker at her throat, which was adorned with a giant emerald.
“Is this the guy I heard you brought to Jacques’s party?” Ariana asked. “Harper said he wasn’t your usual kind of boy toy.”
Maeve scowled. “Oh, hell no. That asshole and I met on some stupid site. I dumped his ass to the curb as soon as I met Keith.”
“What was his name again?” Ariana asked.
Maeve’s scowl deepened. “Harry Rocksoff. Avoid that guy, he’s a douche. Or who knows, maybe if your man here gets boring, you could look Harry up.”
Harry Rocksoff? The name was obviously fake, but we’d run it through our computers later, anyway.
“My man will never get boring.” Ariana turned her gaze on me and smiled—a wicked smile that promised heat.
I turned to the side so my boner wouldn’t be so obvious.
“Well, it’s been lovely,” Maeve said in a voice that said it was anything but lovely, “but I’ve got to talk to Francoise.” Maeve waved to someone across the room.
“Of course,” Ariana said. “Take care, Maeve!”
“You, too—” Maeve didn’t know what to call Ariana.
Ariana blew her a kiss and turned, taking me with her. “Well, shit,” Ariana muttered as we walked away. “We got nothing.”
“Not nothing—we still know what Chip looks like. And now we can look for his alias, Harry Rocksoff. Besides,” I added, “I’ve been really enjoying my time with you.”
I rubbed her back, trying to offer comfort. But the feeling of my palm on the skin exposed by her gown ignited something more. She spun toward me, her body so close I could feel the heat of her through our clothes.
One of Curtis’s goons approached, a grim look on his boxy face. Once he reached us, he said in a quiet voice. “I’m gonna have to ask you to leave. You’re interfering with Mr. Curtis’s security.”
“We aren’t,” Ariana said, “but we’ll go.” Her dark eyes twinkling, she looked at me. “Let’s go back to the hotel,” she whispered.
Those words held promise and my cock responded. “Let’s go.”
She took her phone from her clutch and pressed a button. “Just calling Lindenbury.”
Curtis’s goon watched us as we left. Our footsteps were hurried—not because of him, but because of the waves of desire washing through us. I had no idea how much she paid Lindenbury, but the dude was due for a raise in my opinion, when he drove up just as we reached the bottom of the steps. We climbed into the Escalade and Ariana said, “Thanks, Lindenbury. Just take us back to the Marquess.”
Then she raised the privacy partition. When she turned sideways to face me, her dark eyes held desire. I grabbed her wrist and tugged her to me. She clambered onto my lap, lifting her dress enough to straddle my legs. If we didn’t have any clothes on, she’d be in the perfect position and I could slide into her in one smooth thrust.
She clutched my shoulders, her hands strong as a dragon’s claws, her gaze locked on mine. Those lips of hers, the color of plums, looked like they would taste just as sweet.
“You’ve kissed the others,” I whispered, “but not me. They’ve had you alone in quiet, dark places, but not me. Tonight, that changes.”
She nodded, her eyes half-closed. With that smoky voice of hers, she whispered one word. “Yes.”
As the car moved us through dark streets, Ariana’s lips met mine in a kiss so brutal it was tender. I was patient. I was in a rush. I wanted to savor this. I wanted everything now. Ariana’s green apple scent was a drug, an aphrodisiac, a miracle. As our lips danced, I slid a hand up her leg and reveled in her muscular smoothness.
She gasped against me. “Taylor…”
I kissed her again, and touched my tongue to her lips. She opened for me and our kiss deepened. I slid my hand higher on her leg, so high that my fingertips brushed against the edge of her lace panties. She wriggled on my lap as if eager to increase the contact, so I moved my fingers slowly toward her center to stroke her through the lace.
“Yes,” she said into my mouth.
“Are you sure?” I asked, praying with every cell in my body that she was.
She pulled away slightly and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure.”
I stroked her lightly as we kissed. Her movements on my lap and against my fingers became more frantic, and I used my free hand to grasp her breast through her dress, lightly pinching one of her nipples. She moaned and writhed. I pulled out of the kiss so I could watch her face. She gazed back at me, her deep brown eyes half-lidded, all wild, her lips kiss-swollen. With another moan, she pressed her lips to mine again.
My fingers moved faster and faster against her folds, and I slid them inside her panties. “Yes,” she said, throwing her head back. “I’m...nearly there.”
The car came to a stop, and the engine shut off. Blinking, I looked out the window to see the grand front of the Marquess Hotel.
“Nooo,” Ariana whined.
“There’s time,” I said, my voice a growl. “Come for me, Ari.”
With my free hand, I slammed the lock button so Lindenbury couldn’t open the doors, and stroked her clit three more times. She tensed and cried out my name. I held her tight until her aftershocks faded, and then pulled away slightly. I kissed her nose, her lips, and then she slumped against my shoulder.
“I don’t know how I can face Lindenbury now,” she said. Quieter, she added, “Or myself.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong,” I said, but she didn’t look convinced as I helped straighten her dress.
I unlocked the doors and followed her out of the car. She gave Lindenbury a tight smile and then she and I walked hand in hand through the giant doors of the Marquess.
In the elevator, I gently nudged her chin until she faced me. Her cheeks were flushed, her hair a bit wild—just how I liked it.
But she looked uncertain, and seeing that look on her face crushed me. The severe case of blue balls I was experiencing was nothing compared to the heartbreak I felt at making her sad.
“You regret what we just did,” I said. “I’m so sorry. I thought you wanted—”
“No, I did. I wanted it,” she said. “I just...I’m confused, I guess.”
The elevator chimed, signaling our floor, so we stepped out. I walked her to her room, but even if she asked me inside, I wouldn’t go. Not tonight, not when she was so unsure. She unlocked her door and then turned around. Surprising me, she stepped up onto her tiptoes and planted a passionate kiss on my lips. My cock stirred to attention, but I could take care of that on my own later.
“What about you?” she asked, as if reading my mind...or my cock.
“I’m good,” I said.
“It feels so one-sided.”
“I got just as much pleasure from watching you come on my hand,” I said. “Truly.”
She blushed, her cheeks turning a faint pink. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That was the most glorious car ride I’ve ever experienced.”
I hugged her tightly before releasing her. Despite her obvious uncertainty about what we’d just done, she flashed me a brilliant smile that was as beautiful as it was reassuring. Maybe she didn’t know exactly how to feel at t
he moment, but her smile told me that everything was going to turn out all right.
I waited until I heard her door click shut, and then I walked back to my own room, knowing that our story had only just begun.
Chapter Eighteen
Ariana
His vibrant emerald gaze was there every time I closed my eyes. He peered right through my barriers, through everything, and he saw me—raw and unfiltered. I’d let things go too far. I’d wanted it, oh how I’d wanted it. I still did. But I couldn’t give myself over completely to Taylor.
The guilt of what we’d done the night before was heavy on my conscience. It wasn’t fair to Quentin. It wasn’t fair to Slade. And part of me knew that to move forward was to accept that Marc was gone forever. Marc was my soulmate. There wasn’t supposed to be anyone else. On some level, I believed that allowing myself to fall in love again betrayed that bond, and the thought terrified me.
I shut my laptop and looked out over the forest beyond my office. There was so much orange and red and yellow. Overnight everything had changed, and it wasn’t just the leaves on the trees.
I grabbed my jacket and headed for the door. I couldn’t focus on the specs for the new jobs I was supposed to be deciding between. I’d spent all morning and half the afternoon staring at the screen without any of the information soaking in. It was a waste of time to continue.
When I stepped out, Slade’s scent still lingered from the place he’d sat in the hall that morning. I felt guilty for not seeing him, but I really needed some time to think things through. I couldn’t think when I was with him. I couldn’t think when I was with any of the three of them.
Maisie was busy on the phone when I stepped out of my office.
“Yes, Mr. Bellpowder,” Maisie said. “We appreciate you sending the schematics.”
His was one of the jobs I was considering, especially if Pelletier didn’t pay the rest of what he owed for the Brightwater job.
“I’ll need your bid as soon as possible,” said the man on the other line. “If you don’t get back with one soon, I’m going with Curtis.”
“We appreciate your business and the importance of the task you’ve asked us to assess,” Maisie said, handling his nasty attitude like a pro. “To properly determine risks and costs, and to decide if your project is the right fit for our company, Mrs. West handles these cases personally. I’m sure she will return your call as soon as possible, after all considerations have been taken into account.”
“Curtis—”
“If Mr. Curtis has already given you an estimate, then perhaps you should request documentation on the details he’s willing to arrange. Surely it’s more important to be thorough than fast. Thanks again for calling, Mr. Bellpowder.”
Maisie hung up the phone and spun around in her chair to face me.
“How come the big money always comes from the biggest turds?”
“That’s a good question,” I said.
Maisie’s forehead lined with concern and her slate-hued eyes narrowed when she looked at me.
She rose to her feet. “Everything okay?”
“How much time do you have?”
“As much as you give me, boss lady.”
“True enough,” I said. “Let’s grab a beer.”
“You buying?” she asked, and nudged my arm with her elbow.
“Consider it a work meeting,” I replied. “Boss won’t mind if we use the company credit card.”
“Hmmm,” she said, “maybe I’ll have to get two beers.”
“Now you’re talking.” I felt a little better already. Talking things out with Maisie always helped. If she had only accepted my offer of the partnership position, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Though it was true, I only half meant it. I couldn’t imagine not sharing the evening at the gala with Taylor, or exploring the secret garden with Slade, or stealing kisses in dark corners with Quentin.
We slid into our usual corner booth in Hiber-Nation. Classic rock music played softly from the small speakers in the corners of the room. The worn bench cushion sank beneath me. The late lunch crowd had dispersed, while the Friday night drinkers were still at work for an hour or two more, leaving Hiber-Nation relatively empty. Three men in suits sat along the bar, and only two other booths were filled.
I looked down and realized I was wringing my hands together on the metal table. My knuckles were white. I flattened my palms and placed them on my thighs.
I opened my mouth to tell Maisie everything, but before I could, Ben showed up. The big grizzly shifter pulled a pen from his bushy beard and a pad of paper from his pocket.
“Maisie, Ariana, good to see you,” he said.
“You, too, Ben,” said Maisie. “How’ve you been?”
“Good,” he said. “Business has been steady. Gerald’s planning a trip for Christmas. Apparently, we’re going skiing.”
“Right on, Gerald,” Maisie said, waving to the red-haired bear shifter as he stepped out of the kitchen.
“Hey, Maisie,” he said, before dropping a plate of steaming-hot chili cheese fries at the booth by the door. The greasy, cheesy scent made my stomach growl.
“Not a fan of skiing?” I asked Ben.
“He’s terrible,” Gerald said, sliding his arm around his mate’s waist. “He’s somehow mastered being stiff as a board while flailing wildly.”
“Flattering,” Ben said, “thanks.” His tone was dry, but the love between them was clear. It was in the way they looked at each other, the way they talked about each other, and every stolen kiss in the kitchen. They’d been mated as long as I’d known them, and still there were times when they had that look of new love.
I could imagine having that with Taylor, maybe even with Slade or Quentin. Somewhere along the way, attraction had turned into affection. I cared for all three of them, which made choosing between them so much harder.
“Tell me you ladies are having the special,” Gerald said.
“We’re having the special,” Maisie said.
“What’s the special?” I asked.
“Turkey,” Ben said, just as dryly as he’d responded to the flailing comment.
“Not a fan?” I asked.
“Don’t let him sway you,” Gerald said. “He’s just sour about anything that doesn’t moo.”
“I like cheese,” Ben said.
“Or come from something that moos,” Gerald said. “Anyway, it’s a turkey burger, with avocado, swiss, and mushrooms with this special sauce that’s to die for.”
Ben groaned. “The sauce is good.”
“Okay,” I said. “I’m sold.”
“All right,” Gerald said, then he turned on his heel and headed back toward the kitchen.
“Two IPAs?” Ben asked.
Maisie nodded. “Two for her, too.”
Ben smiled and looked to me.
“Yep,” I agreed.
He poured four glasses from the tap and dropped them at the table before returning to the bar.
“Okay,” Maisie said. “We’ve got beer. Spill it.”
I took a sip. The smooth flavor of the hops went down easy.
“Did Slade take it okay this morning?” I asked.
“When I told him you weren’t seeing anyone?” Maisie asked. “Well enough.”
“Thanks,” I said. I wanted to see him, but I wasn’t ready.
“So, what happened at the gala?” Maisie asked. “Did Taylor do something? Need me to put him in his place?”
“No,” I said. “He was...wonderful. We found Maeve, and Taylor was everything I’d hoped he’d be.”
“You deserve it,” she said. “Happiness, I mean.”
“That’s not what I’m feeling,” I said. Well, part of it was. “It’s more like crazy lust on the brink of something more. That’s the scary part. What if it is more?”
“You’re not the type that sees a connection that isn’t there,” Maisie said. “Not even a little.”
“Maybe I was,” I said. “But, Maisie, I’m pretty sure I’ve
gone into dragon heat or some shit.”
“That’s not a thing, is it?”
“A few weeks ago, I’d have laughed and told you no.” I leaned in a little closer and spoke softly. “But something broke, some piece of my sanity. Now I can barely be around any of the three of them without thinking about sex.”
“They’re hot,” she said. “It makes sense.”
“No,” I said. “It’s intense. It’s that spark of undeniable pull, almost like—”
“Like you’ve found your mate?” Maisie asked.
I nodded.
“No one can ever replace Marc, and they don’t have to,” Maisie said. “If you find something special, it’s okay to explore that. It doesn’t change what you and Marc had.”
“Maybe I’d agree with you if it was just one of them. But three?”
Ben dropped our plates on the table. The burgers were huge, twice the size of my palm. And the pile of home-cooked potato chips made the display more mountain than meal.
Maisie wasted no time digging in.
“Oh my,” she gasped between chews. Watching her eat always made me smile. She was thin, with petite features. But put a monstrous burger down in front of her and she devoured the thing like she was starved.
I took a bite of greasy goodness, and I agreed with the sentiment. “Oh my, indeed,” I said. Soft, savory turkey mixed with the warm crisp bun, sharp swiss, and the most delicious mushroom sauce in existence.
“So, what are you going to do?” Maisie asked between bites.
I couldn’t keep going like this, and I couldn’t pick one over another. If I could, I’d pick all of them, but that was just fantasy. There was only one real choice.
“I have to offer them a fair solution,” I said. The words were acid in my throat. “Put together whatever we can afford in severance. I have to let them go.”
Chapter Nineteen
Taylor
Defenders of Aerasummit was the perfect distraction. One night ago, I’d had Ariana on my lap, kissing me and letting me make her feel good. Our ride back from New York had been quiet. Not in an uncomfortable way, but in a way that had told me she was thinking about things. Her close-lipped smile had been enough of a sign that she didn’t want me to pry.
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