“Start from the beginning.” Con settles his weight between Dante and Bastian who have both taken the arm rests as seats. Their suits are impeccable. Black with black shirts and all three have white ties. The matching has to be planned.
Bastian twirls his skull ring and I know it’s only a matter of time before Dante reaches for his knife.
“Why this room?”
Con is trying to help me relax and it’s working. The walls are a soothing cream color while everything else is either rich burgundy or gold. To the left of the door is a small sitting area where the men currently look between me and the single sheet of paper on the table at their knees.
Behind me is a bed that can hold twice as many people as us and to my left is a large arched doorway that leads to a bathroom.
“Room Seventeen?” I smile and let the nerves go. “I think you know why.” A sly smile tweaks the corners of my lips.
“And because it comes with these.” I pull out three blindfolds from a hope chest at the foot of the bed. “We’ve spent the last three months having a lot of sex, but not a lot of conversations. You have questions. I know you do. I have a hard time talking. So let’s work on our trust.”
Con is on his feet. He paces across the large carpeted room. He stops at the door and I hold my breath until he turns around and leans a shoulder against the black wood. “You know you can trust us. Why all the games?”
“Do I trust you with my life? Yes. You never let me out of your sight. Something you guys need to work on, by the way. But one step at a time. I never fear for my life with you, but I need to know I can trust you with my heart. My secrets. And I think—no, I know—you want the same. Or I would have been left back in New Orleans the night you found me crying in my car.”
I slide out of my dress and slowly let the rich material drape over a nearby chair. I stand in front of them with nothing on but my boots and my heart on my proverbial sleeve.
“I don’t want to hide who I am from you anymore. But if you want what I have tucked away inside I need to know you are willing to work for it. I’m more than just arm candy. Night one is our trust. On night two, I want to show you off as mine before I bring you back here for dinner on mepreparedby me. Night three is a surprise that involves cuffs, a safe word, and a hidden key.”
Con's voice dips to a husky smolder. “And night four, little birdie? What do you have planned for your men?”
A twinge of pain arrows through my heart. “And night four…Night four is the biggest night of all.” I tell them they are to be a father and see where we go from there.
I settle on the edge of the large bed and work the zipper of one boot down, slipping it off and letting it fall to the floor with a light thud. Their attention is intent on my motions and not my words. I take the other off and kneel in the middle of the bed. I spread my knees but don’t assume the submissive position. I want these men to consider me their equal in every way. But I also want them to know when it comes to our dynamic, I am willing to show them how much they affect me.
“Before you sign on the dotted line, you should know we won’t be needing the Four Seasons room. I’ve made arrangements for lodging here for the four nights. “
Con sheds his suit jacket and stays silent for a moment. “We have work to do. As much as we would love to play house with you, we can’t lock ourselves away from the world for four days, sweet little birdie.”
He wants to play hardball. Okay.
His tie comes off next and joins his suit jacket. I watch as his nimble fingers work the cuff links loose and then the buttons of his shirt.
I drag my eyes off the sliver of taut pecs and abs showing through the hanging sides of his shirt long enough to make sure he understands my next words.
“The days belong to you. But if you want my secrets you have to be willing to trust me as much as I need to trust you before handing them over. Your call.”
Dante is the first to pick up his pen. He doesn’t glance at a single word on the contract before adding his signature to the contract.
He pushes to his feet. “Done. Tell me what you need and I’m there,malyshka.” I love how when he’s turned on his words grow heavier with his native accent. And the way his words drip with sincerity has my heart growing in size.
His suit jacket joins the pile and it’s a mere few seconds before his tailored pants, tie, and shirt are gone, revealing irresistible plains and dips of tanned skin.
I hold a hand out to him and he crosses the room to me.
“Thank you,” I whisper against his lips when our mouths touch. I move my hands through his loose hair and our breath mixes. I can physically feel his shields drop around me and mine begin to crack and grow weakened.
I turn to the other two who seem more reserved. Damn if that doesn’t hurt big time. What else do I need to say to get them to give me a little control?
Con peels himself off the wall he’s leaning on and settles next to Bastian. The older of the three takes the pen from Bastian. He touches the blue tip to the paper and raises his gaze to mine. When the gold of his eyes mixes with the turmoil of his soul the results are stunningly haunting. Someone hurt him deeply. And now I understand the hesitancy.
I will never force someone into doing something they don’t want. I refuse to be that person.
“I can understand if you would rather not. There’s no right or wrong here. You can go and I will only remember you fondly and cherish the time you looked over me and loved me.”
He lets me finish before speaking. “Foolish woman.” Tinged gold turns to deep bronze. The heat I find there plays with my senses and causes warm juices to spill over my thighs. I must have moved in a way that clues him in on my body’s reaction. The line of his mouth turns up with raw, predatory hunger.