She hoped they wouldn’t mind that she’d taken a few minutes to absorb the scenery through their floor-to-high-ceiling wall of glass. With the sun shining and her problems half a world away, Karolena had started to appreciate that her future might looking equally as brilliant.
“Maybe James was right.” Legend wasn’t staring at the windows, though. He was looking at her.
“Excuse me?” Karolena had been able to brush off Tavish’s earlier flirtations, but the heated stare coming from the man in front of her made her certain she hadn’t been imagining anything after all.
Some uncommon connection arced between the three of them. One that both intrigued and frightened her. Lucky for the guys, she was still high on her progress and the thought of the opportunities stretching out in front of her like that gorgeous landscape. Infinite.
“That fucker usually is.” Tavish saved Legend from explaining or Karolena from speculating further. “He thinks we have a thing for you…because we do…and he encouraged us to spend more time together. The three of us.”
Legend grumbled something under his breath. When he looked up, his rich brown eyes—flecked with greens and golds—emitted a potent stare that locked on her.
In that moment, she realized she was way out of her league. These were experienced, worldly men and she had been isolated and stifled for her entire adult existence.
Karolena should have shoved her cart in between them, then bolted out the door before things could go any further than innuendo or steamy looks. But in that moment, an exceedingly rare one for her, she didn’t want to do the cautious thing. So when Tavish came up behind her and started rubbing her shoulders, she didn’t yank away. Nor did she have to steel herself against his touch.
She would have thought her body would instinctively knot with dread as it did when Vladimir approached her. And yet, it didn’t. How sad was it that she feared these two men she’d only just met far less than she had her own husband?
With very good reason.
Tavish nudged her hair out of the way and slid his hands closer to rub the base of her neck. “You’re not used to this, are you?”
“Being touched by a stranger? No, not at all.” Vladimir would have killed anyone who had dared.
“I was referring to putting in a hard day’s work. It’s probably hell on your body until you get used to it.” Tavish pressed a spot that inspired a soft moan to slip from her lips.
The sound dilated Legend’s pupils as he took a half-step closer and then another. Was he trying to fight the attraction drawing them together as she had thought she would, but no longer cared to?
“There’s a hot tub in the gym. It works magic on sore muscles.” Legend glanced down as if imagining her in a bathing suit. She didn’t own one. Hell, maybe they wouldn’t mind skinny-dipping instead.
“Whatever he’s doing is pretty damn great too.” Karolena practically purred as Tavish proved his come-ons were backed by real skills. How far was she going to let this go?
How far was he willing to take it?
Apparently, all the way. Tavish murmured near her ear, “I could do a much better job if you’d let me take your clothes off and lay you down somewhere soft.”
“And if I said yes, is that where it would stop?”
“Only if you insisted.” Tavish nuzzled the side of her face, and still she didn’t pull away, or break her stare with Legend.
“And would you join us?” she asked him, point blank.
“If that’s what you want.Isthat what you want, Karolena?” Legend wondered. The way her name sounded rumbling through his broad chest made her shiver in Tavish’s hold. There was no denying she craved what they were offering—a chance to be bold, to be brave, and to be a little bit selfish by hoarding two men for herself.
Was it fast? Yes. Was either of them trying to twist her arm or hide their intentions? Not at all.
Somehow that reassured Karolena.
Wasn’t the point of all this to gain her independence? Shouldn’t that include the freedom to sleep with whomever she wanted for a night or more and enjoy every moment she could of the life she’d suffered so long to make her own?
Karolena’s rational side knew it was a horrible idea, but the parts of her that had been caged, dormant and hopeless, were ready to be unleashed. If only for one impulsive fling.
“What would you do if I actually said yes to something that rash and ridiculous?” She crossed her arms to hide her hardening nipples from Legend.
He smiled, wide and slow. “I’d make it worth it. For all three of us.”
“Oh.”
Tavish chuckled. “He’s not bragging either. It’ll be an experience you never forget.”