“Three?” The word feels weird on my tongue. “Huh?”
“Don’t choose between us, choose both.” Jace shrugs casually, as if the solution is obvious.
“Both. As in I take turns with…” My eyes bulge as they meet Jace’s serious gaze. “Together? At the same time together?”
I should probably be repulsed by that, but I’m actually intrigued. Two men at once? Who wouldn’t be curious about that—all those hands, and mouths, and… other parts. Until right this second I didn’t realize I’d be into that, but there’s no denying that idea paints a slew of erotic images in my head. Images I don’t think I’d mind re-enacting. And if I’m going to indulge in that particular fantasy, I prefer to do it with two men I trust, both of whom I happen to be insanely attracted to.
No, wait. It’s one thing if it’s just sex, but I actuallylikethese guys. Blake is tender and sweet, an old soul in a young man’s body. Jace is darker but no less deep, and makes me feel protected. They each have qualities that draw me to them as people, and while sex with both of them was incredible, I’ve never thought of myself as ajust sexperson, and that’s all that’s on offer here, right?
Can I do that? Can I havejust sexwith two different people?
I suppose I’ve already done that, and it wasreallygood, but I would’ve loved more if that was on the table. It wasn’t then, and I don’t think it is now, so I’m not sure…
Blake comes around the table to kneel before me, gently rubbing my knee. “I was skeptical at first too, and if we didn’t all have this connection from before we all lived here, I probably wouldn’t be open to pursuing it now. But I saw the way you looked at Jace the other day, and the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention. I can tell you still want both of us. And I can tell Jace wants you as much as I do. So, maybe the three of us being attracted to each other doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”
“The way I see it.” Jace kneels next to Blake and puts his hand on my other knee. “This town is too small to avoid each other, and we’ll struggle to hang out together if we pretend this attraction doesn’t exist. So, let’s not ignore it.”
Trapping my lips between my teeth, I mull over his words. “I see your point, but like you said, this is a small town. I’m not sure I want to be known as the guy sleeping with two guys right off the bat.”
“We don’t want that for you, either.” Blake’s mouth forms a thin line as he shakes his head back and forth.
“Actually, it’d be best if no one knows any of us are sleeping together, since he’s not out.” Jace tilts his head toward Blake.
How could I forget about that?
“Yeah, about that.” I turn to face Blake. “I figured since Carter’s gay and Axel’s dating Lennon this isn’t a place that frowns upon guys having sex with each other, but since you’re not out… Is there something I should be aware of?”
“No.” Blake’s shoulders slump a bit on a heavy sigh. “Coming out is something I never felt the need to do until recently, and I haven’t figured out how to approach it. Especially if—” he points to each of us in turn “—this were to get out.”
“This being, what?” I press for clarification.
“Whatever we want it to be,” Jace says. “Anything goes, as long as it stays inside these walls.”
“Especially since we work together,” Blake affirms.
“Speaking of work—” I squint at Blake “—why the sudden change of heart? Aren’t you still concerned about messing up our jobs?”
“I probably overreacted about that.” He gives my knee a gentle squeeze. “We may not know each other very well yet, but I get the sense you’re not the kind of person to let private things spill over into work.”
“I’m not, but you were right to be concerned about our careers. I don’t think they’d be in jeopardy, but I want this job same as you, which means we’ll be working together for the foreseeable future. Can we do that and…this?” I shift my gaze from Blake to Jace.
“Honestly, I don’t know.” The corner of Blake’s mouth lifts a slight fraction before falling back to a straight line. “But like Jace said, the attraction is there, and I’m not sure I want to ignore it.”
“So, what do you think?” Jace asks.
My brain is screaming at me to say no, but my heart, at least I think that’s what it is, understands where they’re coming from. Putting chemistry aside, I feel like I have a connection to each of them, and ignoring that—altogether or in favor of one of them—would make me just as miserable as choosing not to explore this, as unconventional as it may be.
And yeah, there’s maybe a little bit oftake that Brianat play here, but only because I'm somehow desired by not one, buttwomen when he thought I wouldn’t be desirable byany. It boosts my fragile confidence. That makes me want to explore the role of the self-assured, daring man, and say yes.
This is the craziest thing I’ve ever considered saying yes to, but I did come here to get out of the personal and professional rut I’d been living in for the past year, and I know it takes a bold move to get out of a rut. On the bike anyway. You can’t halfheartedly try to get your tires back on level ground, you have to commit to the new direction and put some energy into forcing the bike to change course. That’s even more true when the rut is the result of everyone following the same route, so it’s deeper and harder to escape. I think the same can be said for life. I’ve been following the expected route for so long, it’s going to take some bold moves to forge a new path. I made one of those moves already, professionally speaking, by coming here for a new job. This thing the guys are proposing could be a chance to jumpstart my way out of the personal rut.
“Okay.” My voice is weaker than I intend—a sign that my brain is lagging behind my libido at the moment—though the heated looks cast my way when I give consent quickly shut my brain up.
Dear Lord, I’m about to be devoured.
Despite his near ravenous expression, Jace leans forward slowly, cupping the side of my face as he touches his lips briefly to mine. When he releases me, Blake mimics him, tipping my chin in his direction for a soft, chaste kiss. I have the sense that both men are waiting to see if I freak out, so I take care to keep my breathing steady, and my expression neutral. Evidently, that satisfies them.
“Come with us.” Jace offers me a hand as he stands, and before I consciously decide to comply, I find myself doing as he says. Blake rises as well, taking my free hand in his, and leading us through the living room and down the hall to a bedroom. He stops only when we reach the side of the bed, guiding me to stand with my back to the mattress. With both of them facing me, Blake’s hands drift to the hem of my shirt, where they pause as he looks at me with lifted brows. My head dips once, and the fabric glides over my skin as he lifts it up and over my head.
