He nods and takes a slow breath.
“You don’t have to say yes,” I remind him. “You could get any woman you want. Looks, charm, sweetness, not to mention being amazing at cuddling.”
He smiles softly. “Then I guess I better say yes to the woman I want.”
Kon kisses me softly, pulling me into the warmth of his arms. I moan a little and give in. He’s as sweet as I’m not and I’d have to be a raving idiot to push him away. He draws back and hugs me. “Do you want me to stay?”
“Stay?” I repeat.
“To help with Gio. I don’t want him being mean to you.”
He’s going to make me gooey if he keeps this up. I rub Konstantin’s hard chest. “I can handle it. It’s my choice and I’m willing to defend it.”
Konstantin nods. “You have my number. If you need anything.”
“Thank you, Kon.”
He starts to leave, but ends up spending another five minutes petting my dogs and promising he’ll be back to play and love on them. The attention he gives them makes me feel warm all over.
When Konstantin leaves, Gio comes out. He opens his mouth, points at me, then turns around. I let him go through that process again and again, watching as he manages to get one and two words out before he sits.
He shakes his head. “It would have been better not to know.”
“But it wouldn’t have been fair to you, Gio.”
He nods. “It would have sucked to find out later.”
“I feel greedy as hell, but I’m not sorry for saying it. I’m sorry that it hurts you. You’ve been my best friend for so long and I don’t want to lose what we have.” I admit.
“Your mom always told you not to settle for the first person who came around. And I knew you didn’t really get to date. Hell, your dad had more than one talk with me about how he’d kill me if I ever touched you.”
“I know. I’m good at eavesdropping.”
“I just ... Things keep going through my head. That you’re just going to use me, all of us really to satisfy whatever boredom you’re feeling, then toss us to the side when someone else comes along.”
“I know what it’s like to be used for sex. It’s hot and fun at first, then sucks. You missed out when I was Paris Hilton wild and ready to flirt and tease and play with whoever looked yummy at the time.” I sit next to him. “That selfish only child thing.”
Gio chuckles once. “I didn’t miss it. I just stood in the corner and pouted.”
“Right.”
“And this is ... not that?”
“Nope,” I assure him. “I do want something serious eventually, but right now, with all this bullshit going on, how can I resist three gorgeous men who actually care about me?”
When the silence continues, I swallow, suddenly feeling a stab of insecurity.
“You do care about me, right? This isn’t just because Dad-”
“I can count on one hand the things I’ve done just because your father told me to.” Gio leans back. “I don’t want to think about you with them. So if we can agree that when we’re all together, there’s no making out or any of that with the others, I’m on board. I don’t want to know about you fucking them or kissing them or any of that shit.”
“Okay.” That rules out any overlapping fun, but since I like being in charge and definitely enjoy one-on-one time with the guys, I’m perfectly fine with that. “I can agree to those terms.”
“And your father can’t find out. Not about any of us.” Gio meets my eyes. “I don’t want to deal with that can of worms. If he finds out about you and Max or Konstantin or me, he’s going to lose his shit.”
I nod and move a little closer to Gio. “So ... yes?”
“You’re not getting in my pants with that question,” He says seriously.