Chapter 1
The beginning of the end of Alexander Sheldon’s perfectly orderly life came on an ordinary Saturday evening.
His girlfriend was snuggled up against his side, her head on his shoulder, as they watched her favorite series.
“Honey?” Mila murmured during a commercial break.
“Hmm?”
“I’ve been thinking...”
Alexander looked at her dark head. “What?”
Mila’s fingers played with the hem of his shirt. “I... what do you think about trying something new? I mean sex.”
Alexander studied her curiously. Mila normally wasn’t shy when it came to sex.
“Sure,” he said with a slight smile, burying his fingers in her hair and stroking her nape. “What do you want?”
Mila chewed on her lip and looked up at him, her gray eyes full of hesitation. “How about a threesome? With a guy?”
Alexander’s smile froze on his lips before slowly fading.
“You don’t have to decide anything right now,” Mila said quickly. “Take your time and think about it. No pressure, though.”
If she hadn’t said that, Alexander would have refused outright. But he knew her. It was obvious she really wanted it.
Alexander averted his gaze. He wasn’t very good at sharing his things and he believed in monogamy. But he owed it to her to at least give it some thought, regardless of how much he disliked the thought of another man touching her.
“All right,” he said. “I’ll think about it.”
He did think about it.
It was constantly at the back of his mind over the next few days, even when he was at work. The thought of Mila having sex with another man left a sour taste in his mouth, but he wasn’t jealous per se—just uncomfortable, displeased and faintly irritated with Mila. She knew what Alexander thought of having multiple sexual partners at the same time, but she had asked for it anyway. On the other hand, ignoring his girlfriend’s request wasn’t something a good boyfriend would do.
Dammit. He was thinking in circles. He needed a fresh perspective on this.
Alexander ended up calling Jared, his cousin and closest friend. Lately they rarely saw each other face-to-face, since Jared worked in England, but they had been close since their childhood. He could always count on Jared.
“If you’re jealous, just say no,” Jared told him.
“I’m not jealous,” Alexander said, leaning back in his chair. “I never get jealous, you know that. I just hate sharing what’s mine.”
“It’s not like she can force you. If you don’t want to share her, just tell her that.”
“You don’t know her,” Alexander said with a sigh. “If I tell her I don’t want a threesome, she’ll sulk, pout and give me the cold shoulder for weeks. And I hate when she does it.”
“Is it really such a big deal for you?” Jared said. “Some men like watching their women have sex with another man.”
“Not me,” Alexander said shortly.
Jared was silent for a moment before saying, his voice careful, “You know, it’s not cheating if it’s done with your partner’s consent.”
Alexander looked blankly at the picture on the opposite wall. He had to make a conscious effort to keep his voice casual and offhand. “You got any other advice, Captain Obvious?”
Jared heaved a sigh. “I don’t think she has the right to pressure you into doing something you don’t want, but on the other hand… good relationships are based on compromise.”
“I know,” Alexander said, pinching the bridge of his nose. That was why he was considering it at all. “When are you coming home? You’re getting a stuffy British accent.”
Jared laughed. “In a few months, actually. Got a vacation coming up.”
When Alexander hung up a few minutes later, he closed his eyes and sat still for a while, thinking. Jared was right: relationships were based on compromise.
Alexander turned off his computer and left his office, after making sure it was locked behind him.
“Going home, Mr. Sheldon?” his secretary said, smiling at him widely and batting her eyelashes.
He nodded, choosing to ignore her flirting, as usual. Erica was an excellent secretary; that was the important thing. She was fast, she was smart, and she required little direction. She was good at dealing with clients, despite the fact that most of them didn’t speak English well. In time she would learn that her flirting was pointless: Alexander didn’t cheat. Ever.
“Anything urgent, Erica?”
“No, nothing urgent. Neville said he’s almost done with the Russian translation. It should be finished by tomorrow.”
Nodding, Alexander left the office.
He drove straight home. He often picked Mila up from school, but if he remembered correctly—and he always remembered correctly—her classes had finished early that day.
Mila was at home, as he had expected.
Alexander kissed her briefly, removed his tie, and started unbuttoning his shirt.
“I’ve thought about your idea,” he said quietly.
He heard her breath catch in her throat. “And?”
“I have a few conditions.”
“Okay.”
Alexander removed his shirt and put it in the laundry basket. “First, he will not have full-on sex with you.”