“I’d never hurt her,” Julian scowled back at him. “I love her. Adore her. This is for her. She needs it. I need it. You can think what you like about our desires, but you don’t get to make either of us feel bad. This is our choice. If Keira didn’t want this, all she would need to do is say her safeword and it would all stop. Her submission is a gift. I would never take it by force. Just because you don’t understand it doesn’t make it wrong.”
Cole’s jaw was tight. He glanced down at her. “You want this?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And you would use your safeword if you needed to?”
“I would,” she said more firmly.
“You’re right. I don’t get it. I don’t understand it. But if both of you need this, I’ll try to understand. Although that doesn’t mean I agree to going to a club and doing any of this in public.”
She wasn’t under any illusion he was suddenly onboard with their needs, but he was trying.
“We need to get Keira inside and fed—and she will eat.” He shot her a stern look, and she barely refrained from squirming like a naughty schoolgirl.
She glanced up into Julian’s face. He was staring at Cole, his jaw firm, his body wound tightly.
“My keys are in my pocket. Will you grab them out?” Julian asked.
For a moment, all three of them were frozen. Then Cole seemed to regain his confidence. He stepped forward, pressing against her. She was the filling in a hunky-male sandwich. And it was like coming home. Their scents mingled, filled the air. Cole’s was slightly spicy. Deep and rich like an expensive red wine. Julian’s scent was earthier. Leather and forest. Both of them had her head spinning.
Was this really happening? Was Cole really coming inside? Was he going to watch Julian punish her? Or would he leave when things got too weird for him? She hated that he felt that way. Personally, she kind of thought he’d make an excellent Dom.
Julian sucked in a gasp and she guessed Cole was reaching into his pocket to get the keys. It seemed to be taking forever, and yet she wanted to savor every second. She never wanted this to stop. She’d never even looked at another man until they’d come to work for Cole. She and Julian had always been honest with each other. When Julian had brought up her interest in Cole, she’d been so ashamed.
Until he’d told her he felt that same pull. But no matter their feelings, they’d never thought anything would happen.
“Little bit, look at me.” She startled back into the present, staring up into Cole’s gray eyes. “Are you all right?”
Worry filled his face and her heart ached. She longed to wake up to that face every morning. A part of her had held some hope after he’d kissed them both after the Christmas party two months back.
But then he’d pulled back. Putting distance between them. It had hurt. So much. But after they’d given themselves some time, they’d decided that maybe they should try something new. Something they both desired but had never acted on. They knew Joel, so it made sense to go to his club. Training sessions had just shown Keira she was definitely submissive, and Julian had naturally fallen into his role.
Even if sometimes she felt like he was longing for something more.
“I’m all right,” she told him.
Both eyebrows rose and he gave her a skeptical look. “Lying isn’t allowed, little bit.”
“But calling someone depraved is?” she countered.
“I should never have said that. I’m sorry.”
“But you think that, right?”
Cole looked away guiltily. “I don’t believe it about the two of you. But there are certain aspects of that lifestyle that make me uncomfortable.”
Julian let out a deep breath. “We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to, Keira. This is completely up to you. You want him gone, he’s gone. No one is going to force you into anything.”
“Of course not,” Cole agreed smoothly. “I’d never want to hurt you, Keira.” He took a step back and it was like a stab to the gut. She immediately reached for him. This was what she wanted. The three of them.
“No, no, I want this. Please don’t go.”
The pleading in her voice was a little embarrassing. But Cole stepped closer again and he cupped the side of her face. “I really am sorry if my words hurt you, little bit. I didn’t mean to. I’d never want to do that.”
She knew his opinions mostly stemmed from ignorance. And possibly had something to do with his relationship with his brother. She just had to hope he was willing to learn from them. To listen. To try to understand.
“Thank you,” she whispered.