Page 26

“Fine then, truth,” I said, knowing they both had to answer. Gage smirked.

“Go for it.”

“Would it make either of you jealous if Devyn got me pregnant?”

They took surprisingly long to answer. For a few long seconds, I didn’t think they would.

“No, not really,” Maverick eventually said. “You’re not looking for a father, you’re looking for adonor.That’s different.”

Gage scratched at his chin as he nodded his agreement. “It wouldn’t be like he had a child, except biologically,” he answered. “So there really wouldn’t be anything to be jealous of.”

The guys were on their feet now, and together they came over by the fire. They smelled absolutely incredible — all musky and salty and faintly of sweat, the way men always should. As they sipped the last of their beers, I became hyperaware of the proximity of their bodies in relation to mine.

“Why no girlfriends?” I asked abruptly.

Together they shook their heads. “No time.”

“That can’t be true,” I frowned. “Obviously you’ve got time. I mean you’rehere, aren’t you?”

“For now,” Maverick acknowledged.

“But—”

“Ever try explaining to your girlfriend that you got called away for three, six, nine months at a clip?” Gage murmured. “Not be able to contact her for weeks at a time, and yet somehow expect her to be there waiting for you when you got back?”

I frowned again, imagining the scenario. In the meantime, every nerve ending in my body seemed to be coming alive.

“Sounds lonely,” I said at last.

“Itislonely,” Maverick answered. “Especially the coming home alone part.”

We stared into the fire some more, letting the heat absorb into our bodies. I felt warm. Cozy. Eventually the boys emptied their bottles and set them down on the mantle.

“What about you?” asked Gage. “Why haven’t you been scooped up by some savvy, New York City—”

“Same reason as the two of you,” I cut him off. “There’s just… no time.”

I felt a tingle as an arm slid around me, and a hand clasped mine. Before I knew it I was swaying to the music again, only this time Gage was leading.

“No time, huh?” he murmured, his nose buried in my hair.

The music was perfect. The feel of him against me, even more so.

“No,” I practically choked. “None.”

I’d surrendered to the enjoyment of dancing with him when another body slid up behind me, pressing softly against mine. Maverick’s chin was over my shoulder, his stubble tickling the skin there. His lips were mere inches from my ear.

“So you know something about loneliness yourself, then?”

I shivered involuntarily as we swayed in unison, the three of us, gliding gently back and forth through the living room. I was sandwiched between them now. Pressed firmly and quite willingly against Gage’s beautiful chest, as Maverick folded his body around me from behind.

“Yes,” I said at last. “Loneliness and I gowayback.”

Maverick’s stubble disappeared, replaced by a pair of warm lips on my neck. He kissed me hotly, wetly from behind. My body exploded with happiness, even as a tiny voice screamed in the back of my mind.

Juliana!

There was no time to think, no time to protest. Not that I could’ve anyway. Especially not when a second pair of lips closed over my own, and Gage’s hot tongue pushed its way into my mouth…