“Real question. I feel sweaty and gross.”
Konstantin leads me to the living room and turns up the A/C. Gio glances at his phone, then kisses my cheek. I roll my eyes and turn his chin so I can kiss him full on the mouth. He draws back after a moment and adjusts his sleeves.
“Are you being shy?” Kon teases.
“This is new. I’m not really a P.D.A person,” Gio defends himself.
“I’ll close my eyes then.”
Gio sighs, but Konstantin actually turns around. Gio rewards me with a better kiss, sucking my bottom lip and pulling me tight against him. He rests his forehead against mine. “Good morning.”
“It is now.” I pat his chest. “You and Kon have made sure of that.”
Gio actually blushes. Konstantin stretches again. “The couch is not comfortable.”
“It is for someone who’s not a giant,” Gio jabs back.
I watch them play bicker and smile. They move around the kitchen, taking away all the stress of making breakfast. It’s hard to imagine them not in the same space when they make it look so natural.
Gio flirts with his eyes, making me feel desirable despite how I woke up. I nibble my bottom lip as I remember him saying he liked me best when I was all kinds of comfortable, makeup free, and in boring clothes.
I’m lucky to have all three of these men. They bring out different sides to me, support me in different ways, and make me feel like I’m good enough being who I am. I don’t have to prove myself constantly or feel like I have to overcompensate for anything.
Gio serves all of us, then looks at his phone midbite.
A chill creeps up my spine, but I cool it. Supported or not, I’m not going to be a damsel in distress. “Is it her?”
“Of course. She thinks I’m flirting.”
“She thinks it’s a booty call?” I grip my fork tighter.
“Use that,” Konstantin advises. “whatever it takes to get her here and cool her suspicions.”
Gio looks between us, types something out, and goes back and forth with the woman while I slowly eat. I put the food away, just to show Gio I appreciate him cooking. Konstantin rubs my back and leans over to whisper in my ear.
“Don’t worry, angel, you’ll be able to pounce soon.”
My hackles cool when I turn to face Kon and our noses brush. “There won’t be anything for you to do, tiger.”
“I’ll get to watch, so I’ll have to cook up some popcorn.”
I laugh and shake my head. I feed the dogs and try to ignore the rolling in my stomach. Her coming is a good thing, no matter why shethinksshe’s been invited over. It means this will be over. That’s all I’ve wanted since the start.
Even though this threat has given me three amazing men, I want them without any pressure or half of this excitement. The sexual excitement is just fine for me. I realize how anxious I am when Charlie abandons Kon and sits with me on the couch.
“I know, boy.” I sigh.
“She’s on her way.” Gio reports. He sits next to me. “I let her assume. You can look at my phone.”
“I trust you.” It comes out of my mouth before my brain decides what to say. But it’s true. “And since I trust you, I don’t have to trust her.”
Gio’s face softens. “Thank you, babe.” He kisses me softly while stroking through my hair. “That means a lot to me.”
I nod, but end up pacing as my dogs try to follow. I’m half convinced Nolan thinks it’s a game. But when he turns and growls at the front door. All eyes go there before Sharon or Jane or whoever she is knocks.
I get dressed in an unnecessarily sexy dress before making my appearance. Sharon wears a short black skirt with her white button up and black blazer. The click of her heels grate in my ears.
That red lip-sticked smile is a little smudged, like she put it on in the car. When she sees me, her smile falls a little. I can’t even deny how good that makes me feel.