Page 99 of Ruthless Desires: Vol. One

“Being with two partners is already a lot. It wasn’t fair to the other people we were seeing, because we couldn’t give them the attention they deserved. Especially when Oliver was dealing with some… mental health problems. And for me, personally, I never met someone who made me feel the way I do about Oliver and Rhett. So we closed things off. And that’s how we’ve stayed since.”

I wonder what mental health problems he’s referencing, but I figure Elliot isn’t who I should hear that from. Instead, I say, “Oliver told me you’ve never shared someone before.”

Elliot smiles down at me. “He wasn’t lying. None of us have ever been attracted to the same person the way we are with you.”

I open my mouth, but then I close it. Do I desperately want to knowwhythey’re all attracted to me? Absolutely. But I don’t want to fish for compliments when, in my opinion, I just got a pretty good one.

“You know how to make a girl feel special,” I say.

He chuckles, kissing the top of my head.

With a sigh, I snuggle closer to him. He traces his fingers up and down my arm, and we fall into a comfortable silence. He’s so warm and comfy. So…safe.

After a few minutes, my eyelids begin to droop, and my head drops farther on his chest. “I’m sorry,” I mumble. “I’m always so… tired… on the first day.”

He strokes my hair, pushing it back from my face. Then he pulls the blankets over me. “It’s okay, love. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”

I moan. And then, with his words reassuring me, I drift off within seconds.

I don’t stay out for long. Thirty minutes, I think. Maybe a little longer. I groan, trying to roll over, but find myself still curled up in Elliot’s arms.

“Hey.” He kisses the top of my head. “I texted Rhett to come get me. We have some work to do tonight, and you need to rest.”

“But…” I let the word hang in the air.

But what?

But I don’t want you to leave.

But I don’t want to sleep alone.

“It’s for the best, love.” As he says it, he smooths a hand down my back. “We have a lot of work to do tomorrow, but after that, we have a little break. Trust me, we’ll make sure we see you before the week is over. Okay?”

“I’d like that,” I whisper.

His phone vibrates, and he glances at the screen. “Rhett’s here.”

I make a move to get up, but he places a hand on my shoulder. “Stay in bed. I’ll turn off the lights and make sure your front door is locked.”

“Thank you.”

He gets up, plants a lingering kiss on my head, and moves toward the door.

“Wait. Elliot?”

“Hmm?”

“I really like you. Like, reallyreallylike you.”

With a soft smile, he says, “I really really like you too, Wren.”

And then he’s gone. I barely hear the sound of the front door closing behind him. The last thought I have before falling asleep again is that for the first time in a while, I finally feel…happy.

***

Unfortunately, that happy feeling doesn’t last.

It would’ve been enough to get me through work if I didn’t wake up to a text from my mom saying she’s going to be in town for the next few days.Andthat she wants to meet for dinner tonight.