by Elle Everton
Her eyelid flicks closed quickly, and I have to wonder if she just winked at me.
I replay her words in my head.
“Are you saying … you matched us with her intentionally?” The suggestion seems absurd — yet Ava has always seemed to have an uncanny understanding of her clientele.
“Not initially,” she admits with a shrug. “But after you and Sam nearly came to blows over her, I saw a way to shine some new light on your little feud. I asked Lila if she trusted me, and she said she did. So I made you and Sam an offer you couldn’t refuse.”
Ava is smiling smugly now, and I shake my head incredulously.
“What am I supposed to do with that information?” I ask finally.
She shrugs. “Nothing. Just maybe think about the fact that someone else saw something in the three of you that worked. That what the three of you have built this month isn’t crazy, and it isn’t fake. And that coming down on Lila for something both you and Sam wouldn’t have hesitated to do is more than a tad hypocritical.”
She turns back to her computer, effectively dismissing me, and I leave her office, chagrined and deep in thought.
As soon as I get outside, back in the bright light of day, I fish my phone out of the pocket of my suit jacket and find Sam’s contact info.
He picks up on the first ring. “Hey Sam, its Bennett. I have an idea. Can you meet up in half an hour?”
“Sure — what’s up? You sound … weird.”
“Shut up.” Despite our chemistry in the bedroom, and the fact that he’s grown on me in ways I never expected, Sam can still drive me fucking nuts. “Just meet me, okay? We have something to discuss.”
Chapter 31
Lila
Working at the diner is even worse now that I have the taste of how life could be with Bennett and Sam. The void from their disappearance leaves me empty inside. I go through the motions mechanically, refilling endless coffee cups and dropping off plates piled high with pancakes and overcooked scrambled eggs.
It’s been three days since I visited Ava at Orchid, and it’s been silence. Nothing from her, but nothing from Brian at Full Boom either. I can only assume Ava has worked her considerable magic. Maybe some day I won’t freeze every time someone new comes in to the diner, won’t expect to be handed a subpoena at any moment.
Of course, I also haven’t heard from the two people I most want to hear from — Bennett and Sam. I guess they’ve written me off completely. Every time I think about them, tears sting my eyes. I still can’t believe I was so stupid.
When my shift is over at midnight, I clock out and wipe my tired eyes. I don’t even bother changing out of my uniform — all I want to do is go home and shower and crawl into bed. I grab my purse out of the employee room and head back into the front of the restaurant. The glass display case filled with desserts catches my eye — there’s one piece of peach pie left, and peach is Dad’s favorite.
I slip behind the counter, and scoop the slice into one of our styrofoam to-go containers. I ring myself up so I won’t bother anyone else, and then fish around in my purse for the three dollars. Pretty much all my tip money for tonight — another slow night stuck at the back — but it’ll be worth it to see the smile on Dad’s face tomorrow morning.
With a quick wave at Colleen, I take my pie and step out into the parking lot…. and find it pouring outside. Because of course it is.
I run towards my car, already fumbling in my purse for my keys and trying to protect the styrofoam container against my chest.
“God fucking dammit,” I swear, as my keys slip through my fingers and onto the wet pavement. I bend to pick them up, and when I stand again, two figures are standing in front of me.
I shriek, nearly dropping the pie, and clutch my keys in my fist, ready to defend myself if I have to.
Until I see who it is.
Bennett and Sam.
Adrenalin courses through my veins, but there’s something else too.
Hope.
“What are you guys doing here?” I say. The rain is pouring down on me, drenching my hair and my uniform, but I just wipe at my eyes as I keep staring up at them.
“We’ve come to take you home,” Bennett says.
“I have my car right here,” I point to it, feeling silly. “I can drive myself home.”
“Lila,” Bennett says. His eyes narrow, in that dark and delicious way I’ve always loved. “We’ve come to take you to my home.”
“Oh.” I feel sillier now, but the thread of desire that’s winding its way through me right now is making it hard to think.
I follow them wordlessly across the parking lot to Bennett’s Audi. Sam holds the passenger side door open for me, and, when I’m nestled inside, he climbs into the backseat behind me. Bennett climbs into the driver’s seat and eases us out of the parking lot.
We don’t talk the entire way to Malibu. I finger the soft styrofoam of the pie container that I’m clutching in my lap. My mind races — what does this mean? Have they forgiven me? Or are they going to chew me out again? I’ve already apologized a million times, but I’ll do it a million more if it means getting them to forgive me so that we can go back to the way things were before.
I start to get more and more nervous as we pull in past the gates of Bennett’s house. He parks outside the garage and leads us silently up the path and inside the front door.
The lights are still off in the house, and Bennett doesn’t turn them on now. The only light comes from the wall-sized aquarium, which casts an iridescent glow throughout the foyer.
I’m afraid to speak, in case I ruin the delicate equilibrium we have right now. Instead I turn to Bennett and Sam, my eyes trying to ask them all the questions my voice can’t quite seem to muster.
They too, answer with their bodies instead of their words. Their hands come up, slowly unzipping my soaking wet waitressing uniform and peeling it away from my body. Someone runs warm hands along my cold arms, someone kisses my neck. Someone unclasps my bra, someone bends a mouth to my breast. Someone shucks my panties down over my hips, someone runs a hard palm along my stomach and over my mound.
I’m already whimpering, so glad to feel their touch again but so afraid that it might be the last time. I tell myself that even if it is, I’ll make the best of it, that I’ll savor this last gift with every fiber of my being.
I turn to Sam first, pressing my lips against his and letting his tongue read all my secrets. Bennett’s hands are on me, roaming my body, and my nipples are hard as rocks as I lean into Sam. Bennett pushes my wet hair out of the way and kisses a trail down my back.
I’m still too afraid to say anything, so I’m silent while their hands work my body. Sam’s fingers are between my legs now, pushing through my slick folds, running soft circles over my clit. My whimpers are silent, nothing more than ragged breath, as they bring me to the brink of orgasm and then push me over the edge. My legs turn to jelly as angelfish graze against the glass in front of me.
Bennett picks me up off the floor and carries me upstairs, with Sam close on his heels. He lays me gently on the bed, and for a moment both of them just stare down at me. I shiver under the intensity of their gaze, and with the cold of my damp, rain-drenched skin.
The men don’t waste any more time. They both climb onto the bed with me, and then the three of us are lost in an embrace that’s beyond words. There are hands everywhere, lips pressing against my cool skin, hard cocks emerging and begging to be fisted by me. We’re in constant contact with each other, touching and kissing and stroking and loving.
Bennett lays down on his back and abruptly pulls me on top of him. His cock finds its way inside me instantly, burying itself in my slick heat. Sam disappears for a moment, and his absence is like a sharp pain until I feel the bed shift as he returns to us. I hear the sound of a bottle of lube opening, and realize immediately what he was doing.
I still my body on Bennett’s, leaning forward to offer my ass to Sam. The thought of being between them right now
is sheer perfection, and even the thought of pain or discomfort isn’t enough to stop me.
There’s isn’t as much of a warm-up as last time — just Sam’s fingers lightly massaging a bit of lube into my asshole — and then he plunges his thick shaft inside me.
I’m determined not to be the first to make a sound, so I swallow my cries. Instead I focus on rocking my hips against Bennett, and finding a rhythm between the three of us. A perfect sensual rhythm.
We find it. We find it and it’s perfect and it’s all I can do to stop the tears from flowing down my cheeks. Because I know in that instant that this is what love feels like — love feels perfect, even when it hurts. Love feels perfect, even when it’s unexpected, when it defies logic, when it shouldn’t work but it does.
It only takes a minute before my body is coasting towards another peak. I let go of everything and shudder violently on top of Bennett, until my convulsions nudge him over into his own climax. We shake together, nearly delirious, until finally I feel Sam tighten behind me. He cries out, finally breaking the silence, and unleashes everything into me.
The three of us collapse into a spent, exhausted heap. The silence has returned now, with only the sound of our labored breathing and the dull roar of the rain through the open window.
We lie there for a long time, until all I can do is gnaw at my lip in nervous anticipation. Every once in a while, I sneak glances over at them, but neither of them seem to be in any hurry to say anything.
Finally, I can’t take it anymore.
“I’m so sorry,” I blurt. “About the stupid article. I quit the contract, and I told Ava everything.”
I hold my breath, waiting for them to say something, but instead they just roll over onto their sides, leaning in to face me.
“I never would have agreed to do it if I’d known how things were going to go between us. You have to believe that. I thought I was just going to check out a sex club — I never thought I’d fall in love.”
The words fall out of my mouth in a tumble, until I realize it’s the first time I’ve said them out loud to Bennett and Sam. Their expressions seem softer now, but maybe that’s just my endless optimism? I take one more deep breath.
“Because I really do love you. Both of you. I honestly can’t imagine my life without you — if this last week is any indication, it’s going to suck balls.”
Bennett and Sam have been quiet during my confession, but now both of them snicker. A tension breaks in the room, and both of them move in closer.
“Ava told me everything,” Bennett says. “It was very brave of you to admit to everything to her.”
I shake my head. “It wasn’t brave. I just didn’t know what else to do.”
Sam brushes a tear away from my cheek, one I hadn’t even noticed had fallen. I reach my hands up and am shocked to find my face wet with tears.
“Why are you crying?” he asks.
“I don’t know,” I sniffle. “I guess because I don’t want to lose you guys.”
“We aren’t going anywhere,” he says gently.
“You’re not … you’re not mad at me anymore?”
He shakes his head, then glances over at Bennett. “We talked about it a lot. We both understand where you were coming from. And to be honest, I think we may have overreacted a little because we were still feeling vulnerable about our own feelings.”
I nod quickly. “I totally get that. Maybe … maybe the three of us could try to figure it out together?”
Bennett and Sam share another look. I hold my breath, waiting for them to answer. It’s a long few seconds, the longest of my life, it feels like, but finally they break into smiles.
“I think I’d like that,” Sam says. I turn anxiously to Bennett, and he nods.
“Me too.”
Relief floods my body. Tears flow from my eyes again, but they’re happy tears this time.
“I love you guys so much,” I blurt.
“I love you too, fox,” Bennett says, tilting my head so he can kiss me.
“I love you too,” Sam says, taking his turn when Bennett pulls away. “Christ, I think I might even love you too, McCardiff.”
I bite my lip in a grin, turning to see Bennett’s reaction. His cheeks have gone an adorable shade of pink.
“Yeah, yeah,” he says. Sam chuckles, and I poke Bennett lightly in the ribs.
“Be nice,” I tease.
“Fine,” he huffs. “I love you too, okay? Doesn’t mean I don’t still hate you too.”
Sam snorts. “Don’t worry, the feeling’s mutual,” he jokes, but he leans over me and plants a sweet kiss on Bennett’s lips. One I notice Bennett is only too happy to return.
The air in the room feels lighter now, or maybe it’s just me. I feel like I’ve lost a thousand pounds of dead weight — all the doubt and anxiety and heartache that’s hung around my neck is gone now, washed away like the tide. I’m happier than I’ve been in ages.
Judging by the smiles on their faces, Bennett and Sam feel the same way.
Sam props his head up on one arm and gazes down at me.
“So, Lila…” he says. “You were really going to let yourself get sold at a sex club just for the sake of a magazine story? I have to admit, that’s pretty gutsy.”
I giggle. “I guess it was. It wasn’t even about the money though — I just wanted the story.”
“I’m impressed at your dedication,” he admits. “Kinda reminds me a little of me. Back in the day, there was no low I wouldn’t stoop to to get a deal.”
“Oh yeah?”
He nods, laughing to himself. “Oh yeah. One time I even screwed one of my competitors out of a huge deal by having my assistant call him, pretending to be the real estate company, and change the time of the meeting on him. He didn’t show up, but I did, so I landed the deal over him.”
Before I can say anything, Bennett lifts himself up one muscular arm.
“Uh, that was me, you asshole. I’m the one you screwed out of that deal.”
Sam’s face pales, and then he bursts out laughing. “Shit. You’re right.”
“I knew it was you,” Bennett mutters under his breath, but to my relief, he’s laughing too.
“Well, I don’t think you have to worry about me taking on any stories for the foreseeable future,” I say, gnawing at my lip. “I’m pretty sure between Ava and the editor at Full Boom, my name is going to be mud for the next twenty years or so. Looks like I’ll be staying on at the diner for good.”
I try to keep the note of disappointment out of my voice. I may have struck gold landing two amazing men like Sam and Bennett, but giving up on my other dream is a tough pill to swallow.
But now Sam and Bennett exchange a guilty look.
“What?” I ask, looking back and forth between them.
“Okay, don’t get mad,” Sam cautions me.
“Mad about what?”
Bennett glares at Sam. “Why would she get mad? We did her a favor.”
“I don’t know,” Sam retorts. “Maybe she’ll think we went overboard?”
“We didn’t go overboard,” Bennett huffs. “We were fixing things.”
“Can someone please just tell me what’s going on?” I squeal, slightly louder than I intend.
They stop bickering.
“We bought the magazine,” Bennett announces matter-of-factly.
“Wait … what?” I ask in disbelief.
Bennett shrugs. “We wanted to make sure the story was good and buried. Ava worked her magic but that Brian Fuller guy you were working with was a real douche bag.”
I grimace, thinking of the way he’d chewed me out on the phone the other day. Yup, can’t argue with that.
“Wow, so … wow. You really bought the magazine?”
“Yeah. Cleaned house too. It’ll be a long time before Brian Fuller finds himself another job in media, that’s for sure.”
I giggle. I don’t wish ill on my enemies but … okay, I kinda do.
“Anyway, we won’t
be involved in running the magazine at all. We hired a new editor. An old friend of Sam’s who used to work at Vogue. I think you’re really going to like her.”
It takes a minute for his words to sink in. “Wait … she’s going to give me an assignment?” I can barely keep the excitement out of my voice, until Bennett shakes his head.
My heart sinks, but then his lips twist up into a smile.
“Not an assignment, Lila. She’s going to take you on as a full-time contributing writer. Assuming you want the job, of course.”
“Of course!” I scream. I bounce up and plant a huge kiss on Bennett and then on Sam. “I can’t believe you guys did this. This is unbelievable.”
Sam pulls me back down into a tight embrace.
“There’s just one condition,” he says darkly.
My excitement stalls. “What’s that?” I say nervously. I’ve had enough of conditions over the last month.
“No stories about Orchid,” he grins.
I breathe a sigh of relief and laugh. I look back and forth between the two gorgeous men lying on either side of me.
“No way,” I assure them. “That story is all ours.”
Chapter 32
Epilogue
“Come on, Daddy, we’re going to be late,” I say, prodding my Dad along.
“I’m coming, I’m coming,” he huffs. He looks handsome in a Dad sort of way, in his jeans and wooly cardigan. To be honest, it’s just nice to see him in something other than his plaid pajama pants.
We’re off to the clinic to get his vitamin B shot, and then we’re meeting Sam and Bennett for dinner.
The guys had insisted on getting Dad a new oncologist when I confessed to them how poorly he was still doing, despite being in remission. Sure enough, his new doctor was horrified at the lack of follow up care from his other doctor, and immediately put him on a range of hormone and vitamin therapy to help with his energy levels, and antibiotics for a minor lung infection. She also referred to him to a therapist to deal with what she thought might be some undiagnosed depression.