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“Hard not to do when faced with my exceptional work ethic and charm.” The utterly deadpan delivery cracked Sachi up. Laughing, she sprawled against the blankets, savoring the warmth of the fire and the comfort of having both men there. It had been an agonizing night, but the weight on her chest—the inability to breathe, even the dense shackle around her heart…all of it seemed lightened, if not gone.
“Apparently.” Brad seemed less impressed with Gabriel’s wit, though good humor echoed beneath his dry tone. “Is there still hot water?”
“Yup.” Gabriel detoured to the kitchen. “And hot coffee.”
“Dibs.” Brad said, and she raised her eyebrows at him.
With a rakish grin and a wink, he tugged her upright and nipped her lower lip before stealing a kiss. “You like cold showers. Ihatethem.”
“Ditto!” Gabriel called, and she rolled her eyes.
“Pussies.”
Brad slid a hand down her body and cupped her sex, and she hissed in a breath. With an acquisitive look in his eyes, he asked, “How sore?”
“Oh, not even.” Which was a little bit of a lie, but the hell if she’d admit to it. Not when she had both of them here and the chance to indulge her hedonistic heart out. The freedom in that thought, however, gave her pause, and she smiled.
“Hmm,” Brad said slowly, his expression turning thoughtful. “I may have to see what we have so we can start getting your ass ready again. I haven’t forgotten how fucking fantastic you feel.”
Her heart did a little flip flop in her chest, and her breathing caught in her throat. Her pussy contracted at the thought. No, she hadn’t indulged in a single bout of anal since losing him, which meant it would be a lot like…
Brad’s grin grew. “Oh yeah, virgin ass. Next to yours, it’s my second favorite. When it is yours…” He paused when Gabriel reentered the room and met the other man’s gaze. “We’re still good?”
Something wordless passed between them, but try as she might, Sachi couldn’t decipher the message.
Taking a sip of his coffee first, Gabriel then nodded. “Go take a shower. We have lots of time for play and logistics and rules.”
She groaned, and Brad quirked an eyebrow at her. “What? Heloveshis rules.”
“Said the pot calling the kettle black.” Brad slapped her thigh lightly, then pulled the blanket over her for warmth. “I like rules, too.”
“Breaking them, you mean.”
Brad strode from the room and laughed. “That, too.”
His whistling as he walked away made her smile. Once alone, she glanced at Gabriel and held out her hand. Without hesitation, he took a seat on the pallet with her, and she climbed into his lap. When he passed her his coffee, she took a sip and met his gaze. Gathering all of her courage, she asked the question she knew he would answer with honesty. “Are you really okay with him? With you and I becoming—an us?”
His sober expression worried her, except she knew he thought through his responses, chose his words carefully, and never said what he didn’t mean. “I thought I would hate him. A part of me still does…not him directly, but that he hurt you. That through inaction, he let you be hurt. But I feel for the guy, too. He’s a player, and a skilled one—but he genuinely loves you. I’ve never seen a man look as lost or as desperate as I’ve seen him be the last couple of days. Last night, I saw it click in him. You. Me. Him.”
She held her breath.
“Until I invited him, I didn’t know I would…but it wasright.” The air whooshed out of her lungs, and Gabriel gave her a soft, gentle kiss. “I don’t know how it works long term. I don’t know if he and I won’t end up wanting to kill each other. But I want you happy, and he’s another part of you. He owns that, and it’s his. I have a part of you, and I own it, and it’s mine.”
Hope swelled in her chest.
“You own us, sweetheart, body and soul. Maybe I don’t speak for him, but if we can make it work, I’m going to do my damnedest.”
“I love you so much,” she whispered, wrapping her arms around him, and he rewarded her by embracing her tightly. “I should have told you a thousand times. I love you.” She didn’t deserve him, but fuck the universe, she was keeping them both.
“I know you do,” he whispered against her ear. “I’m a really smart guy. I even speak hardass.”
Laughter rippled through her.
“I’m also a guy who knows what it is to miss you. Go see him in the shower. Rock his world.” The offer shook her, and she pulled back.
“Really?
“Oh, yeah. I plan to rock yours myself later.” He kissed her, the stamp of possession searing to her soul. “But you two need to get to know each other again. Just remember when he shoves his cock into you, mine will be there later. From the sound of his plans…you’ll have both of us soon enough.” He stood, helping her up and balancing his coffee at the same time.