Mistletoe & Menage

The Sextet Anthology, Volume 5

Mistletoe & Menage Are there visions of sugarplums dancing in your head? Or are you wishing for a package filled with hot, sweet love for Christmas? If so, then be sure to check your stocking for the latest installment of the Sextet Anthologies, Mistletoe & Ménage. The Sextet elves have been making a list and checking it twice to include something for every taste, whether naughty or nice. They’ve got the man—or men—of your dreams all tied up with ribbons and bows and ready for delivery just in time for your Christmas enjoyment. These guys are guaranteed to jingle your sleigh bells, deck your halls, and take you walking in a winter wonderland of sensuous treats. So, whether you want one, two, or even three sexy Santas beneath your Christmas tree this year, curl up with a cup of steaming hot chocolate and let us fulfill your Christmas wishes like never before!

Home for Christmas by Elizabeth Raines [M/F/M, contemporary] Childhood friends Jayne Reynolds, Steve Mason, and Matt Wagner were always The Three Musketeers, sharing everything. When the three of them become Yuletide lovers, will the consequences tear apart their lifelong friendship or lead them to a happily ever after for three? Angel on Broadway by Cheryl Brooks [M/F/M, contemporary with paranormal elements] Still mourning her late husband, Ariel Nathanson is drawn to the music of downtown Nashville. Alexei and Nico Tomaris are two Greek cousins playing in a country band. Alexei has carried a torch for Ariel for years, but Nico found her first. Sharing her isn’t an option—or is it? Thrice Upon a Yuletide by Bethany Michaels [M/F/M, historical] The best of friends since their youth, Anna, Stephen, and Phillip have always shared everything, including a marriage bed. But when Stephen, Viscount Avonmore, makes a desperate request of his oldest friend on Christmas Eve, the ties between all three lovers begin to fray and they begin to wonder if their unconventional love can weather the approaching storm. A Little Elfin Magic by Mellanie Szereto [M/F/M, contemporary, bondage, sex toys] When Noelle Merriweather's best friends ask her to play Mrs. Claus, she insists that they dress up too—as elves, complete with tights. Christopher Greene and Nick Slater claim the costumes will give them erectile dysfunction, but will they refuse her offer to test-drive their equipment after the party? Two Kisses Under the Mistletoe by Niki Hayes [M/F/M, contemporary] Julie Logan hasn’t felt much since her grandmother passed away, but she’s hoping for a Christmas miracle when she returns home to Iris Hills, where she reconnects with her high school friends John and Keith. Can these two sexy men help her find what she’s looking for under the Mistletoe? Genre: Anthology, Ménage a Trois/Quatre Length: 89,622 words

MISTLETOE & MENAGE The Sextet Anthology Volume 5

Elizabeth Raines Cheryl Brooks Bethany Michaels Mellanie Szereto Niki Hayes

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting

MISTLETOE & MENAGE Copyright © 2011 E-book ISBN: 1-61926-158-8 HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Copyright © 2011 by Elizabeth Raines ANGEL ON BROADWAY Copyright © 2011 by Cheryl Brooks THRICE UPON A YULETIDE Copyright © 2011 by Bethany Michaels A LITTLE ELFIN MAGIC Copyright © 2011 by Mellanie Szereto TWO KISSES UNDER THE MISTLETOE Copyright © 2011 by Niki Hayes First E-book Publication: December 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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HOME FOR CHRISTMAS

Elizabeth Raines

DEDICATION A very Merry Christmas to all the wonderful Sextet readers!

Chapter 1 Welcome to Freedman The sign’s message made Jayne Reynolds’s stomach twist into nervous knots. Two years. She hadn’t set foot in her hometown in two long, lonely years. There had been no reason to go back—other than the ever-expanding guilt trip her mother managed to lay on her with each and every phone call. She drove past the Dairy Queen, an old-fashioned walk-up that lay covered in a blanket of pristine snow. Jayne had worked there when she was in high school. Mixing shakes. Dipping cones. Steaming hot dogs. The DQ always opened in the middle of March, usually in time for a late Ohio snowstorm, and closed in the beginning of November. The perfect job for a studious high-school student. The town had changed a lot in two years, which came as a surprise since the place had always appeared stuck in the 1960s. Mr. Harris’s hardware store had closed—probably driven out of business by the Lowe’s out on the interstate. The bank had changed its name. A McDonald’s and a Long John Silver’s now stood where the drive-in theater used to be. Turning into the Colonial Acres subdivision, Jayne frowned when she passed the house where Steve used to live with his parents. The Masons had moved out—headed to Florida—when Steve graduated from Green County Community College. She wondered if the family that moved in had six kids like the Masons had. The slightly rusted swing set was still in the far corner of the unfenced yard. How many times had she squealed with delight as Steve pushed her higher and higher?

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Steve Mason. One of the reasons Jayne found herself back in Freedman, Ohio. Even if she wasn’t ready to face him again. Reason number two was Matt Wagner. The blue Cape Cod where Matt’s parents still lived hadn’t changed. That came as an odd comfort. The tree house where she, Matt, and Steve had played looked as weathered as the swing set, but it stood stalwart, a monument to the Three Musketeers and the incredible friendship they’d shared since Jayne moved to Freedman in second grade. Is Matt already here? Where is Steve staying? Why in the hell am I seeing them? Didn’t I learn my lesson? Am I some kind of masochist to put myself through this kind of pain again? She pulled her car into her mother’s driveway, shifted into park, and killed the engine. Then she leaned forward to rest her forehead against the steering wheel. I shouldn’t have come back. I should have left things as they are. Two years later and, even though she’d all but disappeared from their worlds, nothing had changed. Steve and Matt were still the rulers by which she measured all men. Every date she went on, every new man she tried to touch… Nothing worked. Not a damned thing. After one passionate night with Steve and Matt, her life had been irrevocably changed. One man would no longer do. Now she needed to figure out what to do about it. About them. The time to keep running away had finally arrived. A knock on her window startled Jayne enough that she jumped, her heart leaping into a frantic rhythm. Her mother smiled and pulled a kaleidoscope afghan she’d probably crocheted herself closer around her shoulders. Jayne jerked the key out of the ignition, jammed it into her purse, and opened the door. After she hauled herself out of the car and slung her purse over one shoulder, she gave her mother a hug. “You’re finally back.” Her mother’s hand rubbed her back. “Yeah. I’m back.” “Did you stop and see your dad?”

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Easing out of the embrace, Jayne winced. Stopping at the cemetery and seeing her father’s grave blanketed in Christmas Eve snow hadn’t seemed at all appealing. “Yeah, I did.” The lie would be a comfort to her mother. “What did you think of the poinsettia?” “It was pretty. Looked very…Christmasy.” “I decorated the headstone with a pine wreath.” Her mother’s knowing smile made Jayne feel guilty. “Let’s go inside. Someone’s waiting to talk to you.” “Did Aunt Stacey come over?” She let her mother lead the way up the porch across the path in the snow she’d obviously cleared with the flat shovel that leaned against the wall next to the kitchen door. “No. Not Aunt Stacey.” Her voice held a hint of amusement. Once inside the warm kitchen, Jayne breathed deeply, loving the smell of her childhood home. Vanilla, lemon Pledge, and a touch of the apple crisp that sat cooling on the counter. Her mother had decorated for the holiday, putting out green and red placemats and setting out some small wooden reindeer as the centerpieces. The paper towels were printed with poinsettias, and even the dishtowel hanging on the cabinet was festive with its embroidered Santa Claus face. She hung her purse and coat over one of the chairs and sighed. Her Aunt Stacey would have been in the kitchen, waiting for her. Which meant someone else waited in the family room. Please don’t let it be Mrs. Mueller. She’ll talk my ear off. “C’mon.” Her mother beckoned with a flip of her hand before sweeping the afghan from her shoulders like a matador’s cape. She folded it and left it on a kitchen chair. “I told you. Someone’s waiting.” Steve Mason stood when Jayne stepped into the room. He’d been sitting on the sofa, and he’d popped up so quickly, he looked a little like a jack-in-the-box. “Jayne. About time.” His voice was strained. Her heart slammed against her ribcage hard enough he could probably hear it from across the room. She wasn’t ready. She wasn’t

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sure she’d ever be ready. They were supposed to meet for supper so she’d have time to prepare—both physically and mentally. It was only three o’clock. She hadn’t touched up her makeup or changed into the black dress. Her hair was probably a mess. She couldn’t remember if she needed to shave her legs. “Hi, Steve.” Jayne felt heat spread over her face as his handsome brown eyes raked her from head to toe. When he smiled, the heat from her cheeks became nothing compared to the fire that flared low in her belly. Two years, and the guy could still make her wet with nothing but a damned smile. Oh, was she in trouble. “I thought we were meeting later.” “Yeah, well…I got a little impatient. Besides…” Steve tossed a wink to her mother. “I wanted to see Karen.” “Well, then,” her mother said, “I’ll just leave you two alone.” Before Jayne could offer any protest, her mom hurried up the stairs—no doubt to her beloved sewing room. Probably because she wanted grandbabies so badly she wouldn’t even care if those babies came from two different daddies. “I don’t even get a hug?” Steve’s question jarred Jayne from staring at the staircase. While she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into his arms and drown in his touch and his scent, she hesitated. “Do you think that’s a good idea?” “I think it’s an excellent idea.” The baritone voice came from behind her, setting Jayne’s heart back to racing. Matt had let himself in through the kitchen door, the same way he always had when they’d been nothing more than kids. “You sure didn’t have any problem hugging us the last Christmas Eve we spent together.” A smile spread across his face when they locked eyes. Clearly, two years hadn’t changed his mind any more than it had Steve’s— otherwise the two of them wouldn’t be here. What Jayne needed to discover was how to make herself stay away from them—or how to convince them that the demands they’d made on her so long ago were

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ridiculous. “The Three Musketeers. Together again,” Steve said. He came around the coffee table to shake the hand Matt offered. The handshake turned into a back-slapping, masculine version of a hug. Then they both looked over at her. They obviously wanted her to join them in the hug exactly as they would have done when they’d been growing up, exactly as they’d done the last holiday they’d spent together. But she wasn’t ready. Not yet. Not until they all had a chance to talk and use fewer hormones and a hell of a lot more intelligence in approaching their…relationship. “I thought we’d made plans to meet later,” she mumbled, more to herself than them. Matt raked his fingers through his short, brown hair, his usual I’m pissed gesture. “It’s been two fucking years, Jaynie. You’ll have to excuse me if I jumped the gun by a couple of hours when we finally got you to agree to see us again.” Steve’s nod was exaggerated, making his blond hair brush his shoulders. “We can just go now. I don’t want to wait a minute longer.” “It’s too early for supper,” Jayne replied, knowing this battle was probably already lost but refusing to give in without trying to maintain some kind of sanity. “We were supposed to meet for supper.” “But it’s not too early to check into my suite and have a chance to talk,” Steve countered, folding his arms over his broad chest. “Besides, restaurants are always too noisy. We can just order in. That worked out well last time we had room service, remember?’ As if she could ever forget. He pressed on. “I imagine we would be better off talking in private, especially with what I want to say to you.” “Ditto,” Matt echoed. “I’d rather we be alone.” Jayne knew what that meant. They were ready to step right back

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into the situation that sent her running away like a coward two years ago. That meant they’d probably try to twist her arm again and force her to make the choice that would ruin all their lives. She wasn’t ready. There was too much to talk about, too many things to figure out and decide. She needed the comfort of being in the public eye to help her maintain some kind of self-control. The men clearly felt it was time to fuck first and ask questions later. If they all went back to a hotel, they’d fall into bed and she’d never be able to find the courage to say everything she needed to say. And if she was going to work up that amount of bravery, she needed a few drinks. Maybe several drinks. “Can’t we just go back to our original plans?” “Nope.” Matt had never been remotely patient. Steve hesitated. “Why, Jayne?” “Why what?” “Why wait?” Because I need to find some courage to bare my soul to both of you! Jayne feigned a shrug. A set of low growls floated her way as the two men with the deep, chocolate eyes that seemed to hypnotize her glared at her. Simply seeing them together made her heart feel fragile enough to fracture into a million pieces at any moment. One question echoed through her mind, over and over like some kind of mantra… Why did I come back? Why?

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Chapter 2 Christmas Eve Afternoon—Two Years Previous “Jaynie!” Matt ran across the snow-covered sidewalk, heading straight toward her car. Jayne was so damned glad to see him that she dropped her bag back on the seat and jogged toward him. Once in his arms, she buried her face against his neck and breathed in the comforting, spicy scent of his favorite cologne. The quick press of her lips against his throat was probably forgivable and surely he would only see it as friendship. Matt couldn’t possibly know that the feel of his strong arms around her and the salty taste of his skin hit her body with the intensity of a branding iron. Instead of a quick hug, she was surprised when the embrace lasted much longer than would have been considered merely friendly. Not that she’d complain. She was, however, curious, although she doubted Matt could feel the same longings for her that she did for him. And for Steve. The Three Musketeers. Best friends forever. In the last few months, Jayne’s dreams had taken a decidedly different path. Swallowing hard, she found the strength to turn Matt loose. She waited for the awkward feeling she always got when she’d hugged any other man—the feeling that he simply didn’t fit. It never came. The only thing going through her mind was a need that was so deep, so visceral, she almost started panting for breath. Matt seemed oblivious to her struggle against his overwhelming

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appeal. His smile was relaxed as always. “I missed you, Jaynie,” he said, his tone low and sultry, sending more fire racing through her. “I missed you too. More than you could ever know. Still fixing everyone else’s fuckups?” “Keeps bread on the table. You’d be amazed the things people can inflict on their computers.” “And you’re just the man to fix them.” “Still love the job?” he asked. “Figured after all that time in the boonies, you’d be ready to head back to civilization.” He reached for her hand, giving it a squeeze as he dragged her toward the back door of her mother’s house. “Definitely ready for city life again, but you know how much I love what I do,” she replied. As they stepped into the kitchen, she smiled at her mother. “Hi, Mom.” “So glad you’re home, Jayne.” After they exchanged a quick hug, her mother went back to whatever she’d been stirring on the stove, no doubt getting things ready for a ginormous meal for the holiday. “Matt, you and Steve are coming for Christmas brunch tomorrow, right?” “Yes, ma’am. Every Christmas. Wouldn’t miss it.” Her mother favored him with a smile. She shifted her gaze to Jayne. “You’re really staying at Pine Springs Lodge tonight?” “Yeah, Mom. I’ve told you a million times that we’re going.” Jayne checked her watch, grateful she wouldn’t have to spend too much time with her mother nagging for her to stay. They’d have Christmas Day together, and Jayne didn’t have to head back to her empty apartment for three more days. There would be plenty of mother-daughter bonding time later. Right now, she needed to be with Steve and Matt. “This reception is important. Matt will be here soon, then we’ll take off.” “You could all stay here, you know.” Her mother banged the spoon against the pot a little harder than probably necessary. Not a surprise she was miffed. Ever since Jayne’s father had passed away,

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her mother had wanted to keep Jayne close. The guilt about living so far away was always there, nibbling at her thoughts, but Jayne knew she needed to live her own life. That life sure as hell wasn’t going to be in dinky Freedman, Ohio. “I know, Mom, and we appreciate that. But this is a big event, and I really have to be there. This project was under my supervision.” It was the first time her bosses had let her fly solo, and she wasn’t about to miss the grand unveiling. “I really want to be there tonight.” “Just because you helped restore it doesn’t mean you have to be there for the dedication, especially when they’re rude enough to throw it on Christmas Eve. I’ll miss having you home tonight, Jayne. We should go to midnight mass together. We always go as a family.” Her mother opened the oven door, and the smell of the pecan pie wafted through the kitchen. “Of course she has to be there,” Matt said. “That pie smells delicious, Karen.” “So you can finally call me that? What’s it been, Matt…seven years?” His face flushed red, making Jayne smile. Her mother had been nagging at Matt and Steve to call her by her first name instead of “Mrs. Reynolds” since they’d graduated from high school. Perhaps he needed to reach the ripe age of twenty-three before he could manage the feat. “I’m just teasing,” Karen said, touching him lightly on the shoulder as she passed by. “I’m going up to finish wrapping presents. I guess I’ll see you all tomorrow.” “We’ll be back by eleven, Mom.” “Check the weather before you leave. I don’t think it’s supposed to snow any more, but better safe than sorry.” On that caution, she left them alone, and the sound of footsteps on squeaky stairs faded into quiet. Before Jayne could even think of what to say to Matt, the back door opened, and Steve strode into the kitchen. “I made it on time!”

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“For once,” Matt quipped. She hurried to him, looping her arms around his neck as he lifted her off her feet in a bear hug. The same desire she’d felt for Matt seeped into her blood as she rubbed her nose against his soft, blond hair. Her guys were such a contrast—one with hair short enough he could barely splay his fingers through it; the other with “hippie” hair, as her father had always called it. Jayne loved the variety. As she realized that she’d once again thought of Steve and Matt as her guys, she stepped back so abruptly she stumbled. Matt caught her before she collided with the table. “What’s wrong?” Steve asked, his dark eyes searching hers. She wasn’t ready to tell them what was truly bothering her. No, there were no words to describe the ridiculous things flying through her mind. “I’m fine. Just clumsy.” Figuring a change in topic might help, she nodded at the door. “Did you gas up that monster of yours?” “It’s not a monster,” Steve replied. “It’s a Humvee. It can get through anything, including Ohio snow.” Matt chuckled. “You know what they say about guys who drive big cars…” “Fuck you, Matt.” Steve’s comment was tempered by a smile, the type that told Jayne that the insult didn’t truly bother him. Perhaps that was because Steve was confident his cock would hold up to any appraisal. Just thinking about how big his dick might be sent heat straight to her pussy. Damn it all if this wasn’t why she’d asked her guys to come with her on this trip. Her life since they were no longer together had become unbearable, nothing but torturous night after torturous night of wanting and needing and denial of feelings and desires. Jayne had reached the end of her rope after only one short year away from them. Besides, they’d been at her side, living with her ups, downs, and mood swings at the beginning of the enormous project of renovating the old hotel. They deserved to be there at the end. And maybe, just maybe, she could convince them to move to Columbus

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with her and be roommates again. She was tired of living alone. Although Matt and Steve could never be for her what she truly wanted them to be—nor would she ever be able to find the guts to tell them what she fantasized in the deep, dark recesses of her heart—they could be there for her as friends again. At least she hoped so, because life without them was slowly killing her. “Where’s your bag, babe?” Steve asked. “In my car. I suppose we should get on the road. The party starts early, and I really need to get ready.” A glance down at her ratty jeans made her regret not dressing up more. At least she had a nice dress to change into for the reception. Besides, her guys had seen her at her worst over the years—from nursing her through some nasty bouts of the stomach flu to seeing her after her wisdom teeth were yanked when Jayne’s swollen face made her look like a chipmunk with a mouth full of nuts. “Don’t forget to grab the garment bag, too.” **** Steve had a hard time keeping his eyes on the road. A light snow had begun to fall, and while the highway wasn’t slick enough to be a problem, he had to keep reminding himself to pay attention to what he was doing instead of looking over at Jayne. God, he had it bad. After being kids together, seeing her every single day for their four years at Ohio State, and then sharing an apartment with her and Matt in Columbus for a year, he still hadn’t grown accustomed to how much she could affect him. How had she never noticed how he felt about her? How had Matt never noticed? Perhaps he’d learned to mask his emotions far too well over the years of constant craving while always denying himself the one woman he truly wanted. Her raven hair was a little longer, a few inches past her shoulders now instead of brushing them. She’d lost some weight, although not enough to take away her soft curves. He’d always loved how she

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didn’t try to starve herself into being skinny. Since they’d always cooperated on the chore of laundry, he knew she wore a size fourteen. Most women might consider that fat. Steve considered it perfect. Glancing in the rearview mirror, he wasn’t surprised to see Matt staring at Jayne too. After Matt had called him right after he’d hung up on Jayne’s invitation to the lodge, they’d had a long and very enlightening talk. As always, Matt had been the first of the Three Musketeers to find the courage to say what needed to be said, and in that conversation, he’d told Steve something he’d already suspected. Matt was in love with Jayne—had been from almost adolescence. The reason it wasn’t a surprise was because Steve loved her too. He’d loved her for the longest time—all the way back to high school. Something about her when she’d turned sixteen had hit him hard. For as long as he could, he explained away the attraction as being nothing more but stupid hormones, just the effects of puberty that saw him grow from five-nine to six-three in less than two years. College had ended that rationalization since puberty was clearly over by the time a guy turned eighteen. Yet as each new year passed, Jayne was still the woman he compared all other women to. And she was still the one who haunted his dreams, making him awaken every morning with a cock as hard as concrete. They’d never been apart. Elementary school. Middle school. High school. Not even higher education could keep them from being together. They’d chosen the same college and pooled their limited funds to share an apartment while she became an architect, Matt became a computer-repair guru, and Steve changed his major ten times. At least he’d graduated, although a degree in general studies didn’t impress too many potential employers. He had, however, become a damn good landscaper since he worked part-time in the business for all four years of college, and he’d risen to be the manager of a fairly large and still expanding firm. He made more money than he’d ever anticipated, and now that he was living a fairly comfortable

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life, he was ready to settle down. So his thoughts kept turning back to Jayne. Steve had never considered himself sentimental, and he’d always figured insipid things like falling in love or raising a family weren’t a part of his personality. But after one very vivid and repeating dream of Jayne holding a child—his child—to her breast, it seemed that she was all he could think about, and making that family with her was suddenly the goal of his lifetime. Not that he was ready to have that kid today. He wanted to spend some time with Jayne alone first, to travel and enjoy being in their twenties together. To make love to her every single night. He shifted uncomfortably in his luxurious seat when his cock rose to attention as it always seemed to do whenever she was near. He looked at Matt again and sighed. Matt meant almost as much to Steve as Jayne did, not that he was ready to start batting for the other team or anything. But he loved Matt in a way he’d never loved another man, including his brothers. He’d give his life for Matt. What needed to be decided at the lodge was whether he would—or even could— give up the love of his life for him. “Isn’t it pretty up here?” Jayne’s question brought Steve back to reality. “Didn’t you get sick of being so isolated?” Matt asked. He popped his seatbelt and leaned forward, the body language not lost on Steve. “It’s not that bad out here. I could hike. There were always deer or raccoons around,” she replied as she turned to face him. “This isn’t Bum-Fuck-Egypt or anything. I had Internet access and—” “I knew that,” Matt interrupted. “We Skyped every night. Remember?” “We did too,” Steve chimed in, not wanting Matt to think he had some kind of advantage in her life. He’d lived for the tone from his laptop letting him know she was calling and that he’d get to share a little of her day. She chuckled. “I know. I hope you guys didn’t mind me bugging

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you all the time. I got kinda…lonely without you two. We’ve been together forever, and being in a place all by myself was…weird.” “That’s funny,” Steve said, “but you clearly don’t remember everything about us all living together. I mean, aren’t you the same woman who constantly told us you wanted a place to yourself?” “Oh, I remember.” Her brown eyes sparkled. “But I was usually saying that when I was picking up your socks or shoving your dirty dishes in the dishwasher or finding the OJ put back in the fridge with nothing but an ounce left in the carton. You know I didn’t mean it. I loved having my guys around.” My guys. Steven didn’t want to be one of her guys. He wanted to be her only guy. Matt reached forward to brush a stroke over her arm, and damn if Steve didn’t feel a flare of blinding jealousy for the first time. He had to struggle against the urge to growl. They’d agreed that tonight would be the night they confronted Jayne with how they both felt and let her know that they were going to start pushing her to choose between them by starting to date her. But the rules were that they talked to her together and that neither of them would try to win her before that important and revealing talk. No kissing. No touching. Nada. Not until she knew what their ultimate goal was. Matt was cheating. Steve’s hand shot out as if it had a mind of its own and smacked Matt’s arm away. Jayne gasped, and Matt slapped the side of Steve’s seat. “What was that for?” he asked. “Keep those mitts to yourself. You know the rules.” “Rules? What rules?” She kept shifting her gaze between the men. “Never mind, baby,” Steve replied. “It’s between Matt and me.” Thankfully, she let the topic drop when she turned to point ahead of them. “There it is! Isn’t it gorgeous?” The stained glass dome on the hotel’s roof was now visible above the naked branches of the trees. “Can’t see much of it yet.” Steve

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slowed the SUV to roll across the old covered bridge that took them over a small creek. “Hope this thing doesn’t collapse.” “It’s fine,” Jayne said. “I worried about it too, but the street department and historical society assured me it can handle the traffic. There!” She pointed again. “Go around to the left. The parking lot is behind the greenhouse.” **** Matt was so nervous that he was having a hard time even finding the proper words to tell Jayne what a fantastic job she’d done helping get the Pine Spring Lodge restored to its Roaring Twenties heyday. The place was gorgeous, but all he could do was stare at the woman he’d known his whole life as if he was seeing her for the first time. He was so nervous, he caught his hand trembling when he reached for her bag. Not a good sign, and so unlike his normal damn-thetorpedoes attitude. Then again, he’d never had quite as much to lose. Steve held her hand, and Matt was tempted to step over to them and knock it aside the same way Steve had hit his away in the car. Such a stupid reaction considering how much Matt cared for the man he considered his brother. Had Steve been after any other woman, Matt would have moved heaven and Earth to get her for him. But Steve wanted Jayne, the woman Matt loved. How either of them had been able to keep their feelings from her was a mystery, but then again, Matt hadn’t realized the depth of Steve’s affection, either. Yet she should have seen Matt’s love in every wistful glance, every forlorn sigh. She’d always been a part of his life, wiggling into his heart from the time they’d been young. Her kindness. Her humor. Even her kitsch. He loved all of it. No woman had ever added up to his Jayne. Not that he hadn’t tried to banish her from his thoughts by fucking any woman who would have him. None of those faceless women had been able to banish Jayne’s image, and he was tired of fighting against the

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overwhelming attraction. When he’d finally accepted that there wasn’t another woman in the world for him, he’d decided to pursue her with the zeal he used to approach everything else in his life, and he immediately called Steve, hoping to convince him to help. The conversation had taken a decidedly different and disturbing turn when Steve listened to Matt lay his soul on the line and then confessed what he felt for Jayne. After over two hours of quarreling, rivalry, and ultimately their familiar camaraderie, they’d come to the only “fair” decision they could think of. They wouldn’t decide— Jayne would. And tonight would be the night. Come the morning, one man would be standing at her side and the other would be resigned to be nothing more than best man at a wedding where his heart would be breaking. What a fucking nightmare. “Matt?” He looked down to see Jayne at his side, staring up at him with those gorgeous doe eyes. “I want to show you the suite we’re in.” He grabbed his bag and slammed the door to Steve’s Humvee hard enough to get a stern glare from his friend. “I’m ready. Are you, Steve-O?” “Oh, yeah. I’m ready.” Matt sure hoped so, because she had no idea what kind of tsunami would be hitting her in a few short hours. **** “What do you think?” Jayne took long strides into the presidential suite—one of her favorite places in the old hotel. Art deco greeted her in soothing blues and golds, and she hoped her guys appreciated how much went into the restoration. Just being in the elegant suite was akin to stepping into the past. “Nice, Jaynie.” Matt came up behind her and rested his hands on her shoulders. “You did good.”

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“I was just the architect. This”—she nodded at the room—“was done by the artisans and craftsmen.” “But they were working under your direction. I’m really proud of you, babe,” Steve said. He stepped in front of her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Standing in her pet project, sandwiched between her two men, Jayne’s eyes filled with tears. Why couldn’t things stay like this forever? Just the Three Musketeers. Together. ’Til death do us part. She couldn’t imagine living without them—either of them. And if that wasn’t downright perverted, she didn’t know what was. Why was her heart so confused? For a while, she’d tried to figure the tangle out, thinking if she could decide between them, all her salacious fantasies of the three of them would simply disappear. Matt—her steady as a rock guy. Jayne could always count on him to solve any of her problems. How many times had she depended on him to help balance her mess of a checkbook or bring her laptop back from the dead? Steve—her passionate as fire man. Everything about him was full-throttle, from the way his temper could ignite to how loyal he was to the people he loved. They’d complemented each other as friends their entire lives. Now, Jayne feared if she revealed the troublesome feelings she carried in her heart, she’d tear that friendship apart. It wasn’t right. She shouldn’t love them both. No woman could love two men with the intensity she felt for her guys. “What’s wrong, babe?” Steve asked as he crooked his finger under her chin and raised her face to his. His other hand rose as he brushed away a stray tear with his rough fingertips. “Why are you crying?” Matt’s hot breath brushed over her ear. “Tears, Jaynie? Why? This is your night of triumph.” “I’m just so happy to see things looking so beautiful.” She told them that enormous lie with a straight face. “Let me show you your bedroom.”

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“There’s more than one? Figured we’d be sharing.” Steve’s wink made her heart pound. As if he could possibly know what her true fantasies were… Sidestepping the threesome embrace, she walked toward the bedroom with the two double beds. “Sorry. Not this time. It’s the presidential suite. Two bedrooms.” “Two bathrooms, too?” Matt followed her, his gaze wandering the bedroom. “Nope,” she replied. “Back in the day, bathrooms were really small. We had to enlarge some of the suites to get the garden tubs to fit, and a bunch of rooms had to be redone to even get bathrooms in them. Our bath is next to my bedroom, but let me tell you—it’s something else. C’mon. I’ll show you.” Leading them to the master, she swallowed hard when she saw the king-size bed raised on the dais. Her wanton fantasies flared to life as she pictured them all lying on that bed, naked, bodies entwined. Matt would take charge, rolling to cover her body and settling between her thighs while Steve feasted on her breasts. They’d make her feel like a goddess instead of the woman who always needed to lose a few pounds. When Matt thrust his enormous cock deep inside her, Steve would rise to his knees, letting her draw his engorged dick between her lips and suck him until his hot semen— “This place is a religious experience!” Matt’s voice rose to a near shout as it came from the bathroom. “Jesus! Just look at this tub! All three of us could fit in here!” We should try that out tonight… “Yeah,” she said, walking to the bathroom door and leaning her shoulder against the doorframe. “It’s huge.” Matt actually swung his legs over the side and plopped down in the tub. “Wanna join me?” Um…yeah—especially if Steve joins us! “No, thanks. I already had a shower this morning.” When had she turned into such a damned pervert, picturing two guys fucking her brains out? These men

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believed they were nothing but her friends. Just because her heart was involved didn’t mean anything. They would never understand what she wanted. Never. Only stupid women fell in love with two guys, and only weird ones constantly fantasized about sleeping with them both at the same time. Yet no matter how hard she tried, what she felt for Steve and Matt couldn’t be swept aside—neither by her heart nor by her body. If anything, her love had grown stronger when she’d been away from them. Since she could never fulfill her true desires, she would at least try to get them back at her side by convincing them to share a place again—her apartment for now, then a house she was ready to design and build just for the three of them. Any guy would jump at a free place to live. Right? Hopefully two guys would. “So are you going to get gussied up for the reception? I need to put on a tie, and I don’t know about you two, but I could sure use a few of those complimentary drinks.” Steve came behind her, placing a hand on her waist and pulling her back against his hard body. She had to resist the urge to rub her backside against his groin. What was with both of her guys touching her so much? Sure, they’d both always been huggers, but since they’d met her at her mother’s house, Matt and Steve had been acting like guys who were out with a date trying to seduce her instead of her friends. Those confusing actions weren’t helping her control her wayward thoughts, and her panties were growing damper by the minute. A quick glance down confirmed that her sensitive nipples were already erect, but if either of them noticed, that reaction could be explained by winter’s cold. So could the way she trembled from the erotic pictures flashing through her mind. At that moment, all she wanted to do was confess her feelings, grab them both, and drag them to that enormous bed. She’d fuck them both stupid and say she wanted a happily ever after for three. But this was the real world. If she was honest, Steve and Matt would walk out of her life forever, which she could never risk. She needed them both

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as much as the air she breathed. Jayne swallowed hard. “I need to get dressed. Why don’t you two head to your room and get ready? I could really use that drink.”

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Chapter 3 Steve handed Jayne another vodka stinger. It was probably a little underhanded to get her tipsy, but she didn’t seem to mind, taking the glass and sipping as she smiled at him. The dedication had gone well, and Jayne’s boss had heaped praise on her and the work she’d done. She’d posed for photos while receiving a small plaque from the local historical society, holding it in front of her while she shook the hand of one of the grandsons of the original architect. The crowd was now in the ballroom, most of the people standing around talking and drinking or drifting to the dance floor. Matt had claimed a few dances, and Steve had envied watching him hold her in his arms through a slow song. Seemed as though every time Steve had gotten to dance with her, all they played were bad covers of ’80s hair bands. Once, she’d turned around and ground that gorgeous ass of hers against his groin, and ever since, his cock had been hard as a rock. Judging from how relaxed Jayne seemed, it was probably time to haul her up to their suite and have that life-changing talk. Matt must have felt the same, because his gaze caught Steve’s and he inclined his head toward the door. Downing the last of his dirty martini, Steve nodded in return. “Why don’t you finish that drink, babe? Matt and I…well…we need to talk to you.” “Talk? About what?” Her eyes searched his. “The party’s not over yet.” “It is for us.” Matt tossed back what remained of his whiskey sour.

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“But—” “Drink up, Jaynie.” She obliged him before Steve took the empty glass out of her hand and set it on the bar before he took her hand in his. “Trust me, Jayne. We really should do this in the privacy of our suite.” Her teeth tugged on her bottom lip for a moment as if she was considering not going with them. “Um…fine, I guess. I still don’t—” Matt took her other hand and tugged her off her barstool, probably not realizing how forcefully. She stumbled, falling into Steve’s arms. Taking advantage, he pulled her close, loving how she seemed to fit perfectly in his embrace. He rubbed his chin on the top of her head as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I don’t see why you two are in such a hurry, but…I…I guess we can go back to the suite.” One look at how comfortable Jayne looked in Steve’s arms was enough to make Matt utter a curse under his breath. It was his own fault. He’d been the one so anxious to get her alone that he’d yanked her right off her stool. Of course, Steve had seemed more than willing to catch her and then take advantage of having her close. Why didn’t he just go ahead and kiss her while he was at it? With the ridiculous amount of decorating the hotel had done for the party, there was mistletoe all over the fucking place. The jealousy took his breath away. Never had Matt felt envious of Steve, but at that moment, as Jayne and Steve were locked in an embrace where they seemed to be content to let the world drift by without them, he had to clench his hands at his sides to keep from ripping the couple apart. Couldn’t they see how this was killing him? He loved them both, but even if it would hurt Steve to lose her affections to him, he would survive. On the other hand, Matt didn’t think he could live another day without Jayne at his side. “I’d tell you two to get a room, but you already have one. Want some privacy? I could get another room…” She glanced over her shoulder and gave him a smile that made

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him hiss an unsteady breath. “No, silly. I want you there too. The Three Musketeers should be together.” Coming up behind her, Matt snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her back against him and away from Steve. “I’m right here, Jaynie, and I always will be.” Everything inside him fought the urge to turn her in his arms and kiss her senseless. He didn’t care that they were surrounded by people, and at that moment, he also didn’t care that Steve was there. He looked up and saw some mistletoe. With a grin, he waited for her to notice it as well as he slowly turned her to face him. When she followed his gaze, she smiled. “Convenient, isn’t it?” “Very,” Matt replied. Leaning in slowly, giving her a chance to resist, he lowered his mouth to hers. She surprised the hell out of him by meeting him halfway. Her lips were impossibly soft, and the kiss was all he’d ever hoped for. A nudge against the crease and those full lips opened. Matt swept his tongue inside her mouth, stroking and caressing as he learned her taste and hoped she liked his. The moment he’d waited forever to arrive was over so swiftly, it left him dizzy. As Steve tugged her shoulders, pulling her away, Matt could still savor the lingering taste of crème de menthe. He’d been right all along. Jayne was The One. Problem was, he now needed to turn his best friend into his rival, and that thought drowned out most of the joy that remained from sharing such a passionate kiss with the woman he loved. Tagging along like some damned puppy dog, he followed Steve and Jayne out of the ballroom. As they crossed the enormous public area under the stained glass dome, Matt couldn’t even enjoy the beauty of the historic hotel. People stared down from the balconies of their rooms, but he paid them no attention. All he could think of was what he needed to say or do to get Jayne to accept him. The words crowded each other, making any of the ones he could manage to grasp and hold seem cliché and

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trite. His Jaynie was anything but cliché. Smarter than a genius. Voluptuous as Marilyn Monroe. Witty as any stand-up comedienne. She was his dream, and he refused to let that dream die like so many did in the stark light of a new day. The rooms of the hotel encircled the big dome. Matt continued to follow as his friend led them down the curving corridor until they reached the presidential suite. Instead of opening the door, Steve turned Jayne, backed her up, and planted both hands against the wall on either side of her head. “Now, it’s my turn.” His lips claimed hers. The jealousy was still there, but this time, it was drowned out by a surge of passion. Watching the two of them, their tongues mating in an intimate kiss, made Matt’s blood run so hot, he was amazed he didn’t come on the spot. His dick, already hard from kissing Jayne, grew painfully stiff, and he could feel drops of pre-cum forcing from the crown. What in the hell was wrong with him? The woman he loved was being ravished by his competition for her affections, and Matt didn’t want to pull Steve off her and pound him into a bloody pulp. Instead, he wanted to join them. Damn, but if he and Steve could both be with her, they’d give her pleasure like she’d never known. Jayne ended the kiss, feeling giddy and disoriented after being so thoroughly kissed by both her guys. All her common sense told her to turn and run, to head down to the lobby and demand a room to herself. When had they changed the rules of this game? She was so confused—by her thoughts, their startling actions, and two kisses that curled her toes and seeped into her blood like the vodka she’d drank all night. That was it! She was tipsy, and they were drunk. That explained everything. No, that wasn’t right. She might only be a few stingers short of soused, but Matt and Steve had tempered their consumption. Besides, she’d seen them drunk before and they’d never made a move on her, no matter how much she’d wanted them to.

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“Stop,” she finally said, her voice a breathless whisper as she put her hands against Steve’s chest and pushed. “I…I can’t breathe.” Matt plucked the key card from his pocket and opened the door. “I think we should take this inside.” His eyes caught Steve’s, and for moment, she could swear the men spoke without words. Slow seconds passed before Steve nodded, grabbed her hand, and led her into the suite. The door closing behind them seemed to signal some sort of end to her—perhaps an end of the loving friendship she’d shared with the men. That meant this was also a beginning. Jayne just wasn’t sure what it was the beginning of… Matt tugged her away from Steve and kissed her again with a ferocity that made her body flush hot. Her pussy ached for him to fill her, and before she could talk herself out of it, she worked her hand between them to press her palm against his erection. His tongue stroked hers, coaxing her to grasp it between her teeth to give it a gentle tug. Steve was suddenly there, pushing his groin against her ass. The unmistakable length of his hard cock rubbed against her backside, and her other hand shot back to wiggle between them and touch him through the tight front of his pants. He pushed his hips into her strokes. Sanity came back in a rush. What in the fuck was she doing? The answer was easy—living out the fantasy that had haunted her for far too long. But if she let these men into her bed, their lives would all change. Forever. “Stop,” she whispered again. Matt pulled back to stare into her eyes. “We don’t want to stop, Jaynie.” “We want to make love to you. Both of us.” Steve’s voice behind her was husky with passion. “B–both of you?” Surely, she’d heard wrong. “I…I don’t understand.” “I love you,” Matt blurted out.

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“I love you too,” Steve added. When had the world spun off its axis? “No…no, you don’t mean that.” She tried to look away. Matt gripped her chin between his fingers. “I love you, Jayne. I’ve loved you for longer than you could possibly know.” Steve whispered in her ear, “I love you too. We came here tonight to force you to choose between us. But now…just this once…let’s truly be the Three Musketeers.” “Let us both make love to you,” Matt added. “Then you can decide.” Her heart was torn between elation and devastation. They loved her! They both loved her! But they also made it clear that after they shared in the decadent pleasure she’d only dreamed of, she would have to choose between the two men she loved with every piece of her heart. She’d have to leave one of them behind, probably for a long, long time. After tonight, nothing would ever be the same between them. That meant for tonight, she would grab for all the happiness they could give her with both hands and hold on tight—because after tonight, happiness might be a rare commodity. Jayne opened her mouth to say the words she’d kept inside for too long. “I love you both. And I want the three of us to make love. Together.” A squeal slipped out when Matt swept her into his arms. Her high heels fell almost silently against the carpet as he carried her to the master bedroom while Steve toed off his shoes, yanked off his socks, and then followed close on their heels. Matt tossed her lightly on the bed, and she scrambled to the middle to let both of them join her. Steve came from her right, crawling up on the bed on all fours and approaching her like an animal stalking his prey. The mattress dipped on her left as Matt sat down, tugged off his shoes and socks, and then rolled until he was sprawled on his side next to her. Clothes were in the way and quickly cast aside as she ached to

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finally be skin to skin with Steve and Matt. Her gaze kept moving from one to the other as their shirts came off, followed quickly by their pants and briefs. Steve had the body of a runner, probably because he was one— muscular thighs with slim hips and a lean upper body. A small thatch of light brown hair fanned out over his chest, tapering to a line that skirted around his navel and then spread into a nest for a cock that she could only describe as magnificent. Hard and proud, it rose with a slight upward curve from those brown curls. A drop of his fluid glistened on the purple head, and she leaned forward to rub it with her fingertips, loving how he gasped and then growled at her touch. Her vodka courage kept a strong hold, making her not only recall but want to act out all the wanton fantasies that had ever floated through her mind. About to take him between her lips, she found her other hand lifted and then wrapped around a dick so thick, her thumb and fingers couldn’t quite meet. Jayne looked over to Matt. He wasn’t smiling, instead his dark eyes threw her a sultry stare that all but melted her bones as it sent a spasm through her pussy. Just as had always been the way with her guys, Matt was a contrast to Steve. His upper body was well developed, the muscles defined and his chest smooth. His rugged good looks reminded her of a warrior of old, ready to claim her as his mate. She stroked Matt from the base of his cock to the tip before shifting so she could lick the swollen crown. To be sure Steve didn’t feel left out, she rubbed small circles in his pre-cum before she trailed her touch down the length of him and then cupped his lightly furred scrotum in her palm and squeezed. The men seemed to move as one. Steve fell to her side, pushed her back against the mattress, and dropped his head to her breasts. He licked the valley between them as Matt kissed her stomach, tickling her navel with his tongue. His lips moved lower as he teased her by touching her hips, her thighs, everywhere except where she wanted

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him to kiss. About to demand they stop playing with her and gift her with their intimate kisses, Steve drew one of her nipples deep into his mouth and suckled. Jayne arched off the bed just as Matt spread her thighs. She cried out when his fingers separated her folds and he pulled her swollen clitoris gently between his teeth. Never had she let passion rule her. Her brain always trumped her cunt to the point that sex was often unfulfilling. Perhaps she’d worried too much about what her partner was feeling, whether he hated her plump shape, to just abandon herself in the moment. Perhaps she’d simply had the wrong partner—or needed partners. Or perhaps her love for Matt and Steve made this experience something spiritual. The orgasm roared through her the moment Steve shifted to her other breast and Matt stretched two long fingers deep inside her pussy. With a soft cry, she gave into the feelings washing through her, making her muscles clench around Matt’s fingers as she dug her heels into the mattress and lifted her hips to match the rhythm he set as he finger fucked her. Lights flashed behind her eyelids as their arrogant laughs rang in her ears. She didn’t mind. They had a right to feel cocky. She did, however, vow they wouldn’t leave this bed without her having a moment or two of triumph herself. “Ah, my brown-eyed girl,” Steve said as his kissed his way up her chest to nuzzle her neck. “You’re every bit as full of fire as I knew you’d be. You have no idea how often I’ve fantasized about making love to you.” His soft chuckle filled the air. “Although I never dreamed Matt would be here too.” “I know what you mean, buddy,” Matt said. “I’ve wanted her for so long…but I never once considered sharing her.” He reached over his side of the bed and grabbed his pants. Fishing around in the pocket, he produced two condoms. “I did, however, come prepared.” “Two?” Jayne couldn’t help but ask. “Yeah, well…I figured the first time I made love to you might be a little too…quick for your taste.” His whole face flushed red. “I

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mean…I don’t usually come that fast…I just wanted you so bad…and—” She pressed her fingertips to his lips. “Did you happen to notice that I just came for the two of you at the speed of light?” He nodded and kissed her fingers. “Then that means I understand.” A smile crossed her lips. “Now that we have two condoms, does that mean I get to fuck both of you at the same time?” “Oh, God,” Steve said with a groan. “You keep talking dirty like that and I’m not gonna last long, either.” “Well, then…” Jayne rolled over to push Steve’s shoulders to the sheets. “I’ll have to take care of you first. Then, when you recover…” She kissed a masculine nipple, running her tongue over the brown peak as it hardened. “We can fuck. Both of you inside me at the same time.” A kiss to his stomach. And another to the base of his cock. His musky smell made her close her eyes and sigh. Steve tangled his fingers in her hair and moaned as she rose on all fours to lick his curving dick from the root to the moist tip. Wrapping her fingers around the shaft, she stroked him as she tickled his slit with her tongue, lapping at the drops of fluid that rose to her touch. “Hey! What about me?” Jayne stopped her torture of Steve long enough to throw Matt a salacious smile. “You’re next, big boy.” “I’m not sure I can wait that long,” he replied. “I’ll just have to keep myself occupied in the meantime.” He knelt behind her, tracing the length of Jayne’s spine, sending shivers racing through her, before he grabbed her by the hips. “I better put on a rubber.” Everything inside her tightened at the thought of having Steve’s erection in her mouth at the same time that Matt fucked her. Her heart was slamming in her chest, and she feared for a moment that she would come again before they even got started. Thinking of mundane things didn’t help much, so she surrendered, drawing Steve’s cock between her lips and swirling her tongue around the mushroom head

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as she heard Matt ripping open the wrapper and unrolling the condom over his dick. The gentle prodding of his erection against her cunt made her whimper and suck hard. Steve tugged on her hair, the sting only adding to the sensations ripping through her. “Jaynie? Honey?” Matt asked, his voice squeaking enough to make her heart smile. Not wanting to stop the pleasure of blowing Steve, she wiggled her hips and pressed back against Matt, hoping he’d understand that not only did he have her permission, she needed to feel him inside her. A heartbeat later, that enormous cock filled her completely, making her truly happy for the first time in her life. Her men loved her. She could feel it in every touch, hear it in every word. That thought sent her senses soaring. Matt’s fingers dug into her hips as he thrust inside her, again and again, and when she was sure she couldn’t fight off her orgasm any longer, she squeezed her internal muscles as tight as she could while she sucked hard on Steve’s cock. Both men called her name as they reached their orgasms, forcing her own climax. As her body bucked in release, the heat of Steve’s semen filled her mouth, forcing Jayne to swallow hard to catch every last drop. Matt leaned over her, still pushing with gentle strokes as if he wanted the connection to last and last. After several long moments, Matt withdrew, making her want to cry as she lost that link. She rolled to her back, releasing Steve. A quick glance to her side told her that he seemed content to simply stare at the ceiling. The mattress bounced when Matt came back to drop beside her, snuggling up to her sated body. The magic was broken with two words uttered softly by Steve. “Now what?”

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Chapter 4 Steve immediately regretted opening his mouth. At that moment, his body was still thrumming from one of the best orgasms he’d ever experienced, but his mind was in utter turmoil. Jayne was finally in bed with him. The problem was that Matt was there too. A threesome had never crossed his mind. Never. This trip was supposed to be when the two of them pressed their suits and waited with bated breath while Jayne decided which one of them she wanted. Neither had ever considered that she’d want them both. How arrogant he’d been, thinking that he had so much to offer her. He was ready to settle down, to take her as his wife, and to one day have children with her. He should have stopped to consider how much Matt wanted to share those things with Jayne as well. He also hadn’t considered exactly how difficult it would be for her to make the choice. Steve had simply gone up there to accomplish another goal on his life list, attacking it with his usual tenacity and singlemindedness. His selfishness was probably unforgiveable. He’d experienced the best sex of his life, and he hadn’t even fucked her yet. Damn, but her mouth was sublime. She seemed to know exactly how to keep him on the edge of release without pushing him past the point of no return. When she’d finally given him quarter, the climax she’d gifted him with was so intense, he thought he was going to pass out. And she hadn’t been at all disgusted, had even appeared to savor the taste of his semen. She was such a giving lover, and he had no intention of letting her go. No other woman would do now. Hell, no woman had ever come close to his Jayne.

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She had to stay with him. She just had to. While what he really wanted to do was tug her into his arms and hold her ’til his dick got hard again, Steve couldn’t bear the quiet any longer. So he opened his goddamn mouth. “Now what?” he asked again, not sure what he wanted Matt or Jayne to say. “I…I…don’t know,” she softly replied. “I don’t wanna think right now.” “Me, either,” Matt added. “Let’s just enjoy this for whatever time we’ve got left.” “Got left before what?” she asked. Before we make you choose. “For tonight,” Steve said. “I need another drink.” Jayne sat up, crawled to the end of the bed, and got to her feet. Striding to the nightstand on Steve’s side, she picked up the phone and punched a couple of numbers. “Please send up two Vodka Stingers and—” She covered the receiver with her palm. “What do you guys want?” “A couple of dirty martinis,” Steve replied. “Whiskey sours. Why don’t you get something for us to eat, too? Maybe some mozzarella sticks?” “Or some chips and artichoke dip?” she asked. When the men nodded, she spoke a long order into the phone and then hung up. “Everything will be up shortly.” Heading to the closet, she opened the mirrored door and grabbed one of the white terry robes hanging inside. While it seemed a shame to cover all that alabaster skin, Steve didn’t think she’d want to answer the door naked. Suddenly feeling a bit vulnerable himself, he tugged at the sheet, making Matt roll out of the way so he could get it loose. After sliding under the sheet, he propped a pillow against the headboard and leaned back against it. “Now what?” This trip hadn’t been at all what Steve expected. Knowing Matt’s charm and success with women, how they seemed to…melt for him, he’d figured Matt would walk away with the prize. Jayne was

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supposed to break Steve’s heart. Instead, the Three Musketeers had gone from friends to lovers, and Steve had no idea what that meant for all their futures. “Let’s not worry about things now.” Matt sounded irritated. “I agree,” Jayne added. “Words will only…complicate things.” She disappeared into the bathroom. Steve popped out of bed to grab his briefs. His own nudity made him feel far too exposed, something he truly hated. Matt followed suit, dumping his condom and donning his underwear. An awkward silence descended between them, which was unusual. He and Matt always had something to talk about and were either talking or texting several times a day. Of course that camaraderie might have just died a swift death when they both ended up naked and in bed with a woman they both loved but only one could have. “This is weird, isn’t it?” Matt asked. “Understatement of the year.” Before the inane conversation could continue, Jayne came out of the bathroom, her robe tied tight and covering her from neck to calf. “Room service should be here soon.” “That fast?” Steve asked. “Even on Christmas Eve?” “Yeah. They’re pretty quick here, and the place is fully staffed for the grand opening.” Matt plowed right into the emotional minefield with his usual straightforwardness. “You know, Steve’s right. We probably should talk about…this.” “No,” Jayne replied, “we shouldn’t. At least not until I’ve had another drink.” “Or two.” Steve winked at her, hoping to relieve some of the tension. “Jaynie…we can’t ignore this,” Matt insisted. She just shook her head. “He’s right.” Steve sighed. “We all slept together. That’s not

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something we can pretend didn’t happen.” An insistent knock on the door brought a smile to her face. “Yes, we can.” She left the bedroom, shutting the door behind her. “Now what?” Steve asked yet again. Matt was getting fucking tired of hearing that question. Normally, he was the one who demanded action, but at that moment, he didn’t want anything to intrude on the happiness he felt after making love to Jayne. While his body was sated, he knew all it would take was her to crook her finger, and his cock would rise to the challenge. Just thinking about how beautiful she was and how wonderful her body had felt made heat rush to his groin. “She’s in denial,” Matt finally said as he sat on the corner of the bed. “Aren’t we all? She still has to choose.” Matt tried to rein in his anger. “You think I don’t know that? It’s not as though we can share her like we did tonight.” Wouldn’t that be a great solution? In a perfect world, they could all be together—three people who needed each other. But this wasn’t a perfect world. A threesome might be a hell of a treat as a sexual experience—a once in a lifetime experience—but it sure wasn’t a way of life. Not if any of them wanted to stay in touch with their families and keep their jobs. He, Jayne, and Steve couldn’t settle down and raise some kids. Matt couldn’t suppress a smile as he thought about what the other parents would say at the P.T.A. meetings when their kid presented his two daddies. “What in the hell are you smiling about?” Steve asked. “This is a fucking mess, isn’t it?” “That’s what’s making you grin?” Matt heaved a sigh. “Yes. And no. So what are we going to do about Jayne?” “I honestly don’t know.” “You know what I think about tonight?” Steve quirked a brow.

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“I think we should use each and every minute we have until tomorrow morning to make Jayne happy.” “Meaning?” Matt pressed his point. “Meaning that once we leave this suite, everything between the three of us will change. Forever. We’ve got one night to still be the Three Musketeers, then two of us will live happily ever after, and one of us will have to pick up the pieces.” “So you think we should all end up in bed together again?” Steve asked. “Fuck, yeah! We make love to her until she tells us she can’t take any more.” Such a simple plan… “And then we go back to her mom’s house and pretend it never happened?” “No,” Matt replied. “Tomorrow at her mom’s house, we have her make her choice.” **** Jayne shut and locked the door, then she leaned in to rest her forehead against the cool surface. “What have I done?” Steve and Matt were surely talking about her, judging from the deep, muffled voices coming from the bedroom. After what had just happened, what else could they be discussing? How sucky the Browns would be in their next game? This Christmas Eve had truly been memorable, and not only because of the hotel’s grand opening. Matt and Steve loved her. Not one of them. Both of them loved her. Wrapping her mind around that was going to take her a good long while. As would figuring out what she was supposed to do about their declarations. Deciding where to go from here was going to take some time. Lots of time. Choices like this couldn’t be rushed, no matter how difficult those choices could be. All her plans to invite the men to move back in with her had to be

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abandoned now. It was one thing to ask them to be platonic roommates. It was another thing altogether to ask them to move in so the three of them could romp around in the sack as if it were perfectly normal for three people to share a happily ever after. Whatever dreams she’d held of home and family were now out of her reach, lying crumpled like discarded love letters at her feet. She wouldn’t have a husband. Or children. What would she have? Loneliness. Because after Steve and Matt, no other man would ever do. She’d stupidly pictured the three of them being friends until they were old and gray, sharing an assisted living condo and chasing each other around with their walkers. What she hadn’t pictured was Steve and Matt with wives. The mere thought of them binding themselves to other women turned her stomach. They loved her. Now she needed to figure out exactly what that meant for the future. Jayne grabbed one of the vodka stingers and downed the entire glass in four big swallows, then coughed as the liquid blazed fire down her throat, settling in her stomach. She steadied herself before calling out to the men. “Food’s here.” So are the drinks… **** “That hit the spot. Damn, they’ve got great cooks here.” Matt tossed his empty plate on the end table. “Thanks for ordering a pizza.” “As if I don’t know how much my guys love their pepperoni.” My guys. After tomorrow, Steve and Matt might not be her guys anymore. She blinked back the tears stinging her eyes. Steve wrapped his arms around her waist and hauled her back against him. His hard cock ground against her ass. “I know something else your guys love.” “Oh?” Swallowing her hurt, Jayne decided to live for the moment,

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because now could be all she had. She cast a coy smile over her shoulder. “What exactly would that be?” “Fucking your brains out.” She squealed when he suddenly flicked open the belt on her robe, brushed the garment from her shoulders, and set his palms against her breasts. Her nipples hardened as she laid her head back against his shoulder. His touch sent tingles zinging to her clit, making her squirm as she thought about all the things the three of them could share. Matt stepped forward, framing her face with his hands as he gently pulled her toward his mouth. “Is that want you want, Jaynie? You want the two of us to fuck you again?” “Yes,” she said in a breathy voice. “Oh, yes.” His lips covered hers, barely touching before Matt’s tongue invaded her mouth, stroking across her tongue. He tasted of vermouth, and Jayne gently sucked his tongue, loving how he leaned in, pressing his stiff dick against her lower belly. Since she didn’t have on a stitch of clothing, she wanted Steve and Matt to be naked too. But she also didn’t want to stop kissing Matt or have Steve stop stroking her breasts long enough to get them that way. Fumbling with the waistband of Matt’s briefs, she tried to stretch the elastic enough to get it over his cock. With a chuckle, he obliged her, yanking the tighty-whities down and kicking them aside. Such a glorious cock. Full and hard with a drop of pre-cum gracing the tip. Since Steve had turned her loose to remove his own underwear, Jayne fell to her knees, licking the length of Matt’s cock while she reached between his thighs to rake her fingernails across his soft sac. He groaned, encouraging her to take him into her mouth. His salty taste and masculine scent were intoxicating. Heat rushed straight to her pussy, and her clitoris throbbed in anticipation. Steve’s fingers tugged gently on her hair, so she released Matt, reaching out to stroke the other dick she loved. Instead of blowing him, she ran her tongue over his scrotum, smiling against his skin when he let out a ragged moan.

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“God, Jayne. Keep that up, and I’m gonna explode.” “We’re taking this to the bed,” Matt said. His hands were under her arms, dragging her back to her feet. He scooped her up and carried her into the bedroom. Steve tossed her a smile. “I believe our lady promised us something special this time. Something about both of us being inside her at the same time.” “Do you guys have more rubbers?” she asked as Matt set her on her feet. “I’ve got it covered.” Matt disappeared into the living area and came back with a short string of condoms. He tore one off and tossed it to Steve before taking another from the stash, ripping it open with his teeth, and rolling it over his cock while Steve donned his. Jayne scrambled to her bag, fished around for a moment, and plucked out the bottle of aloe she always had with her. “Well, then. I’ve got the lube.” Matt crawled to the middle of the bed and flopped to his back. “I call bottom.” “That’s fine with me,” Steve said. “I would love to fuck that gorgeous ass of hers.” Jayne’s cunt clenched, making her grow wet enough she knew the aloe would only be to ease Steve’s entrance. She’d provide plenty of moisture for Matt to fuck her pussy. “I can’t wait to have you both inside me.” Tossing the lube to Steve, who caught it midair, she knelt on the mattress, leaned forward, and threw Matt a smile. She kissed his chest, sucking a masculine nipple until he hissed. His fingers tangled in her hair, tugging until she rose to settle her mouth on his. The kiss curled her toes and sent pleasure shimmering through her veins. Matt’s fingers caressed her hips, urging her to straddle him. She rubbed her cunt against his cock, letting his length slide between her folds, stroking her sensitized clitoris. “I want you inside me.” Matt shifted slightly until the blunt head of his dick rested against

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her opening. “Then here I come.” “Oh, I hope not yet.” She loved how the chuckle he gave her in response quickly changed to a gasp as he plunged deep inside her. “Damn, that feels good.” “Well, then…” Steve crawled up behind her, bent forward, and kissed her back. “Let’s see if we can make that good a fantastic instead.” Jayne pushed herself up enough to glance over her shoulder. She’d thought about this before—about having her two guys make love to her at the same time—but she could hardly believe she’d had the courage to ask, let alone follow through. While she wanted them, she was still a little afraid. “You’ll be gentle?” “You mean you’ve never—” “Never,” she interrupted. “But you suggested it anyway?” Matt asked. Turning back to him, she gave him a shy smile, which was odd considering his cock was deep inside her. “I…I read about it. And then I thought about the two of you and…well…I figured it might work. But just with you two.” “I’ll be gentle,” Steve said. He grabbed the bottle of aloe while Matt cupped the back of her neck and dragged her down for a kiss. Jayne let herself drown in the insistent way his tongue stroked hers as if he knew she needed the distraction. A cool, wet finger slid between her ass cheeks, making a low whimper fall from her lips against Matt’s mouth. “I won’t hurt you, baby,” Steve said. His finger circled her anus, smearing the cold aloe around and around until that finger slipped inside her. She gasped at the unexpected flurry of excitement that accompanied the sensation of him invading her most intimate place. Working slowly in and out, his finally sank his finger all the way inside her. Jayne turned her head and let out a startled gasp. “You okay, Jaynie?” Matt asked.

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Before she could answer, a second of Steve’s fingers joined the first. “Oh, my God…” “Tell me, Jayne,” Steve said. “Tell me if that feels good.” His fingers wiggled, finding some sweet spot that made it impossible for her to speak as her inner muscles began to clench. “Wow,” Matt said, his voice full of wonder. “Whatever you’re doing back there, trust me…she likes it. You should feel how tight she’s squeezing my cock right now.” Since the words wouldn’t come, she simply smiled and kissed Matt again, letting her tongue thrust in and out of his mouth to mimic what Steve was doing with his fingers. Too soon, he pulled them out, but before she could protest, his dick nudged against her anus. “I’m going to fuck you now, baby.” His fingers dug into her hips as he eased inside her. As the head pushed past the tight ring of muscles, he easily slid inside until his balls slapped against her upper thighs. “Holy shit. You’re so tight.” Could her guys feel their cocks sliding against each other deep inside her, separated only by her thin tissue? The three of them were now as close as they could ever be, the Three Musketeers united in body and mind. She wanted the moment to last forever. Matt and Steve began to move, awkwardly at first until they caught a rhythm that quickly made everything inside her tighten like a wound spring. In and out, together they moved until that spring suddenly unwound, fanning fire through Jayne. Her body bucked, her internal muscles contracting around the men as she let out a small scream that sent the men into a faster pace. A heartbeat later, her name spilled from both of their lips as they joined her in release.

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Chapter 5 Jayne led the guys into the kitchen, hanging her purse on one of the chairs. “Hi, Mom. We’re here,” she called out. The place smelled wonderful, and even though her stomach was a bit queasy after all the vodka she drank last night, she wanted to eat everything she could get her hands on. Her mom’s cooking would fix her up. She pulled out the chair and winced as she sat down. Damn, but a long night of lovemaking had left her sore. Happy but sore. The fact Steve and Matt threw her arrogant, knowing smiles made her smile in return. They had a right to be smug. She’d never experienced anything like Christmas Eve making love to the two men she adored. Her heart sank as she wondered if she could ever know that kind of joy again. “Merry Christmas,” her mother said. She came into the kitchen, kissed both men on the cheek, and then pressed her lips to the top of Jayne’s head. “I missed you at midnight mass.” A laugh slipped out as Jayne thought about what she’d been doing and with who while her mother had piously sat in church. The next time Jayne went to confession, she’d definitely choose the anonymity of the confessional instead of a face-to-face. As if she could possibly tell a priest she’d just fucked two guys at the same time. She’d be saying Hail Marys and Our Fathers as penance for a year straight. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Reynolds,” Matt said. “Merry Christmas, Mrs. Reynolds,” Steve echoed. “I’ve told you boys that you can call me Karen.” As if. Jayne understood, because she could never call the guys’ mothers by their first names, no matter how long she’d been a grown-

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up. If those women ever found out what she’d done with their sons, they’d probably shun her for the rest of her life. She headed into the living room, sat down on the couch, and looked at the Christmas tree. Her mother collected Hallmark ornaments, so the pine was graced with everything from Peanuts to Star Trek. Such an eclectic mix, but her mother turned acquiring each new series into a quest, even circling in red the day in July when Hallmark released its new ornaments. Matt plopped down to her right as Steve sat on her left. Both men reached for her, but she slipped her hands between her thighs to keep them out of their grasps. Shit, all they needed was her mother seeing the three of them acting all lovey-dovey. Things were complicated enough as it was. “Jayne, dear? Would you set the table?” her mother called from the kitchen. Just the excuse Jayne needed to get away from the overwhelming heat of being sandwiched between the men. Popping to her feet, she went to the china cabinet, pulled open the drawer, and grabbed a handful of the good silver. She moved around the dining room table, setting utensils down while trying not to blush from the intense stares Matt and Steve threw her way. “We need to talk about things, Jaynie,” Matt finally said. Steve nodded. “No,” she replied, casting a furtive glance toward the kitchen. “We don’t need to talk, especially not here and not now.” “Then when?” Steve asked. Never. “After brunch. Mom will go to Aunt Stacey’s house to watch the kids open their presents. We can talk then.” **** “So…” Matt grabbed Jayne’s hand and dragged her back into the living room. He’d grown impatient, hardly even noticing the great-

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tasting food Mrs. Reynolds had served for their meal. The cleanup seemed to take forever, and he and Steve had dried dishes to help the women get things done. All he could think about was the choice that he and Steve were now going to ask Jayne to make. Last night had been the most incredible experience of his life, but no matter how wonderful it was, that was all it could be. One night of heaven. Now, his Jaynie had to decide which man had pleased her the most and claim him as her husband. God, he didn’t know if he could face another day if she chose Steve—yet Matt would also hurt knowing that Steve would suffer heartbreak if Jayne rejected him. A paradox, to be sure. But it wasn’t as if the three of them could ever be together the way they had been on Christmas Eve ever again. Holy hell. What if she walked away from them both? What if she didn’t want to marry either one of them? No. Not after last night. The three of them had shared something special. He arrogantly believed that a woman who could show that much passion and declare her love to them could never walk away from that kind of bond, even if she had to give up one of the men. Jayne was going to have a happy marriage when this ordeal by fire was over. Both he and Steve were men who would honor the vows they took, and both were also ready to settle down and someday start a family. Who would she choose? “So,” Matt said again. “It’s time to talk about last night.” “Do we have to?” Jayne sat on the easy chair, folded her legs under her, and wrapped her arms around herself in a hug. “Yes,” Steve chimed in. “We do.” She heaved a sigh. “Look…it happened. Can’t we forget it? Can’t we go back to being the Three Musketeers?” “You really think Steve or I could forget making love to you?” Matt shook his head. “Jaynie, everything changed last night. We can’t

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be just friends anymore. I told you I loved you, remember? How could you possibly expect me to take that back?” “I love you too,” Steve added. “I do, and I don’t want to forget what happened. I came here with one purpose. I came to ask you to marry me, Jayne.” Her eyes flew wide. “Marry me? Are you nuts?” He growled low in his chest. “I love you. Of course I want to marry you.” “So do I, Jaynie. I want you to marry me,” Matt said before turning to Steve. “We talked about this, remember? Neither of us was supposed to say the M word yet.” “I know…but…” Steve dragged his fingers through his hair. “She needs to choose. I can’t keep worrying about this. Shit, I need to know which one of us she wants!” “You think this is easy on me?” Matt shook his head. “Fuck…I haven’t slept since the moment we agreed that we’d let her decide who she wanted.” Jayne gaped at Matt and Steve, wondering exactly when they’d had this little discussion about the M word. They couldn’t possibly have known what would happen last night. No way. Their threesome had merely been a product of their isolation and far too much alcohol. When had they decided that their friendship—this bond that they’d shared almost their whole lives—was no longer important? Last night should have shown them that her idea would work, if only she had talked to them about her plans for the three of them to live together. Of course that was before she’d fucked them both. But even then, they shouldn’t be talking about her having to choose one over the other. Yet there they sat, talking about which one was going to marry her. “Marriage? You’re kidding, right?” Two sets of angry eyes turned on her. Her anger and fear bubbled out as she shouted, “You want to marry me? Both of you want to marry me? Are you nuts?”

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“Don’t be silly,” Steve replied with a nervous chuckle. “You can’t marry both of us. That’s illegal.” “Except in Utah,” Matt added, his laughter sounding forced. She narrowed her eyes. “Quit being facetious. You know what I meant. How in the hell could you possibly think I’d choose between you?” Matt got to his feet and paced the length of the room and back, his hands on his hips. He finally veered from his path to lean over the back of her chair. “I want to have a family with you, Jayne. It’s all I can think about. Us. Together. A nice house. A couple of kids.” “Hey!” Steve was on his feet and in front of her faster than she thought possible. “I want those things too.” He reached out for her hand, and she reluctantly let him have it. Funny thing was that Matt took her other hand and squeezed it. Jayne had no idea what to say, even less of what to do. She felt like a doll two kids were fighting over. Her heart was being ripped right down the middle. “Steve and I talked about this,” Matt said. “A lot. About what we wanted.” “About what?” Jayne asked. “Talked about what?” “You. About what we’d do with you.” She glanced over to Steve. “So you two had a nice long talk about me?” He nodded. Snatching her hands back, she took a couple of deep breaths that did little to calm her hammering heart and spinning thoughts. “When did the two of you decide that you could plan my future? Did either of you think about talking to…oh, I don’t know… me, for instance?” As he stepped around the chair, drawing closer, Matt said, “C’mon, Jaynie. It wasn’t like that. We just…wanted to be on the same page.” “Yeah,” Steve added. “It took us a while to figure out how we both felt about you. Then we needed to decide what we were gonna

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do about it.” Men could be so damned stupid sometimes. “Did it ever dawn on either of you that I might have something to say about all this?” “You do get a say,” Matt insisted. “You get your say right now. You get to choose which one of us you want to marry.” “That’s not a choice,” she retorted. “That’s an ultimatum.” Both men looked confused enough they might as well have been scratching their heads to complete the cliché image. “You guys don’t get it, do you?” Matt and Steve shook their heads. Jayne enlightened them. “Let me ask this… What happens to the Three Musketeers if I choose?” Matt folded his arms over his broad chest. “You’re the one who doesn’t get it. There isn’t any Three Musketeers anymore. Never again.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” “That means,” Steve said, “that you choose. Then you and your choice live happily ever after, and the third wheel goes his own way.” “You’re serious, aren’t you?” “As a heart attack,” Matt replied. Taking a shuddering breath, Jayne wished she could get either of the stubborn men she loved to put himself in her shoes. “What you’re telling me is that the minute I choose one of you, I lose the other?” “Of course.” Matt looked over to Steve. “There’s no way I can stick around and watch you with him. No way I can watch you two walk down the aisle and buy a house and have kids. You choose him, Jaynie, and I’m gone. Forever.” “He’s right,” Steve said. “You can’t expect me to watch you marry Matt and not be eaten alive by jealousy every damned time I see you two together. If you marry him, I have to leave. And I won’t be coming back.” When had her best friends lost their fucking minds? “I can’t live with losing either of you. I can’t make that kind of choice. So I

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choose…neither of you. That way I get to keep both of you. The Three Musketeers live on. We’ll just keep being friends. We’ll forget what happened last night and just be what we were before.” “Guess what, baby?” Steve set his lips into a stubborn frown. “We know you better than you think.” “Yeah,” Matt added. “We knew you’d hate losing one of us, so we made a choice too.” She quirked a brow. “Oh, so you two made another big decision without me? Care to share it with me?” Matt nodded, but he looked to Steve. “We decided that if you don’t choose—if you don’t decide to marry one of us—we’re outta here.” “I beg your pardon?” “You get one of us,” Steve said, “or you get neither of us. That way you have to choose.” Both men took a step closer, making her feel claustrophobic. She hurt so much she was amazed someone couldn’t see it like a wound to her body, bleeding and gaping to reveal her pain to everyone. “So which one is it, Jaynie?” Matt asked. “Which one of the two men who love you gets to be your husband?” “And which one gets his heart broken?” Steve asked. “You’re both insane!” She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to ward off the cold shivers racing through her. “I’m not choosing one of you. I’m not! I just want things to be the way they were. I won’t do this!” “This isn’t like middle school,” Steve insisted, his face flushing red. “It’s not ‘The Lady or the Tiger’ where the story doesn’t end.” “Who’s it going to be, Jaynie?” Matt asked. “Steve’s right. You have to decide. You know I love you—” “I do too!” Steve interrupted. “—and would make you a great husband.” “You can’t make me choose! I love you both! I was coming here to ask you to move into a house I’ll design. I wanted the Three

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Musketeers to be together again. Like college.” All they did was stare at her in that stubborn way they always had when the ball had been firmly planted in her court. They were going to stick to their guns, come what may. “Don’t do this,” she begged. “Please don’t do this.” “I love you, baby,” Steve said. “I can’t go back to being friends. I can’t. It would kill me.” Matt nodded. “I feel the same. There’s no going back now. You need to pick one of us. That’s all there is to it.” They were really going to make her choose. They were really going to make her open her mouth and say which of them she loved more, and then the other would never be a part of her life again. There was no Solomon solution to this predicament. No way to get Steve and Matt to listen to reason. No way to convince them she loved them equally and would feel like a limb was removed if either wasn’t in her life. She was good and trapped. And she’d had more than enough. “Fine.” Both men eyed her warily, but Matt spoke. “Are you going to marry me?” “Or me?” Steve quickly asked. She didn’t reply, simply walked into the kitchen with them trailing along like puppy dogs. She donned her coat, slung her purse over her shoulder, and turned to look at two confused faces. Opening the kitchen door, she had one foot in the snow when she announced her decision. “I choose not to choose. If I can’t have you both, I won’t have either of you.”

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Chapter 6 Christmas Eve evening—Two years later “I still think this is a stupid idea,” Jayne grumbled as she watched the scenery fly by in the passenger window. “I don’t think revisiting the scene of the crime will help anything.” “The ‘scene of the crime’?” Matt leaned forward and glared at her, forcing déjà vu to sweep over her. He’d sat in that same position two years ago in the same car as they went to the same damned destination. Look how well that had turned out. “I have much fonder memories of the Pine Springs Lodge,” he said. “So do I,” Steve added. “In fact, those are the best memories of my life.” “Yeah? Well, you weren’t the one who spent the next two years—” She bit back the word, not wanting to let them know how difficult it had been for her to walk away from them. They’d tried to force a choice, and she simply couldn’t make one. She loved them both. If she couldn’t have Steve and Matt, she’d take neither, no matter how much it was killing her to be without them. “The one who spent the next two years what?” Matt asked. “Suffering.” She damned herself for letting the word slip out. “You don’t think I suffered?” he retorted. “Then let me enlighten you… I’ve been fucking miserable since the day you walked out of your mom’s kitchen.” Jayne snorted her disbelief. “I don’t want to do this.” She turned

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her head to watch out the window again. Matt’s intense stare and the looks Steve tossed her when he stole a moment to take his eyes off the road were making her insides hurt. “Take me back.” “Nope,” Steve replied. He took the turn to cross the old covered bridge. “This time, you don’t get to run away. I’ve waited—” “We’ve waited,” Matt interrupted. “We’ve waited two goddamn years to talk to you, and you’re going to listen. If you hadn’t disappeared, we would have had this discussion a long time ago.” “Yeah,” Matt added. “What the hell was that all about? Didn’t you think we’d like to see you? Talk to you? You just…disappeared.” “I didn’t…disappear.” I just tried to. “Yeah? Well, why couldn’t either of us find you?” Steve asked. “And trust me…we looked. Hard.” They’d looked for her? Of course they had. They’d been friends forever. Knowing her guys, they’d want to push her to make a choice again. That was one of the reasons she’d hidden so completely. Plus, there was no way she could tell them that she’d fallen into a deep depression after the last time she’d seen them. While she hadn’t needed to seek professional help, she’d suffered enough that she’d walked away from everything else in her life. Quit her job. Moved away. She’d started a brand new life by moving to Cincinnati, and with the exception of her mother, she gave no one her new address and phone number. Using her experience in renovating the old hotel, she’d taken a job restoring other landmarks for the state, but she kept a low profile. She even Googled herself from time to time to be sure she wasn’t popping up on some website. Only her mother knew where she lived, and Jayne had made the woman swear to keep her new life a secret. Now that she’d finally pulled her world back together, here came Steve and Matt to destroy it again. She wasn’t sure she had enough

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strength left to pick up the pieces once they shattered her heart for a second time. As Steve dealt with checking them in at the front desk, Jayne stood in the huge atrium she’d helped re-create, staring at the beautiful stained glass. Then her eyes moved to the Christmas decorations that gave the old hotel such a holiday spirit, her heart ached. Christmas used to be her favorite time of year. She’d loved helping her parents decorate their home and yard. She and her mother made batch after batch of cookies to give to friends and neighbors. Her father always played Santa Claus at their church, passing out gifts donated by the parish to unfortunate families. She’d loved being his “elf” and handing him the festive packages. Now, her father was gone. The sadness swallowed her whole on some Christmases, at least it had until two years ago when she’d had the best Christmas Eve of her life—making love to the two men she loved with all her heart. Last Christmas, she’d spent alone. She hadn’t even so much as put up a garland in celebration. She’d baked a frozen pizza and watched sappy DVDs until she cried herself to sleep. “We’re in the same suite,” Steve announced proudly as he came striding up with Matt. They placed themselves on either side of her, causing a wave of heat to rush over her as Jayne remembered the feel of being sandwiched between their two strong bodies. If she stepped foot in that suite, the memories would drown her. “I…I can’t. Take me back home. Please,” she begged. Her bag was jerked from her hand. Then two strong hands gripped hers. She closed her eyes, savoring that connection they’d always shared—three people who’d needed each other and now had nowhere to go but their own separate ways. “Why are you doing this to me?” she choked out. “Doing what, baby?” Steve asked.

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“Don’t call me that!” Her voice echoed loud enough for the few people at the resort to turn and stare. “God, I don’t understand. Why are you doing this to me?” A tear spilled over her lashes, and she quickly wiped it away. “C’mon, with us. Let us explain.” Matt tugged until she finally followed him. An elevator ride and a stroll down the corridor found them in front of the door to the presidential suite. Steve let them in. The door closing behind them was the only sound for several long moments. Matt wanted nothing more than to scoop her into his arms and have Steve follow them into the bedroom. There was so much the two of them needed to say to her, but from the moment he’d seen her again, his cock had taken the lead, leaving his brain a distant second. At that moment, he wasn’t sure there was any blood north of his navel. He couldn’t stop himself. Striding over to Jayne, he swept the purse from her shoulder. It dropped to the ground with a thud. He pulled her into his arms and settled his mouth on hers. She tasted just as sweet as he remembered, and although her body had been as stiff as a board, she slowly melted into him. Snaking her arms around his waist, she pressed her breasts against his chest and moaned. Not surprisingly, Steve stepped up behind her. While Matt ravaged her mouth, Steve brushed aside her hair and nibbled on the side of her neck. He pushed his hips hard enough against her ass to make her lower belly rub against Matt’s dick. No way were they talking now. With a growl, Matt tore his mouth away and lifted Jayne into his arms. He hurried to the master bedroom as Steve followed hot on his heels. “We can’t,” Jayne whispered. “I…can’t.” As he stood at the side of the bed, he set her back on her feet. Then Matt looked into her eyes. “You can. I want you, Jaynie.” “I want you too, baby,” Steve added.

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She closed her eyes as a tear leaked from the corner of each. “Don’t say that.” “Why?” Matt asked. “It’s the truth. I haven’t stopped thinking about you. Not for two fucking years. If I could have found you, the first thing I would have done is make love to you.” “You’re all I’ve thought about,” Steve said. “I know we need to talk, but damn. All I want is the three of us to be together again.” She sniffled and hid her face against Matt’s chest. He tried another tack. “Tell us that you don’t love us anymore. Tell us that, and we’ll stop.” Jayne raised her face to stare him in the eye. He hoped she could see the sincerity in his expression. He kissed her again, hard, just to show her how much she meant to him. So many words needed to be said, but they all crowded together until they blocked a single one from falling out. All he wanted to do was sink deep into her warmth, to wrap his arms around her and hold her close. And this time, he and Steve would never let her go. Steve set his hand over hers. “Tell us, Jayne. All you have to do is tell us you don’t want us.” When she took longer to think it over than he’d hoped, Matt figured he should kiss her again. Leaning in, watching closely to see if she’d reject him, he smiled when she met him halfway. Her tongue was the first to heighten the kiss, and Matt drank her in like fine wine, dying for her taste and wanting desperately to feel her silken skin beneath his fingertips. Although he didn’t want to end the soulful kiss, he pulled away long enough to grab the hem of her bulky sweater and yank it over her head. “I missed looking at you. God, you’re beautiful.” Steve crawled behind her from the other side of the bed, and he was the one to grab her wrists when she tried to raise her hands to cover her breasts. “No,” he said. “Matt’s right. You’re beautiful.” The frown on her face told Matt she didn’t believe them. By the time she left that bed, he was going to be sure that she understood her

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own sensuality and just how gorgeous both he and Steve thought she was. Whipping his own shirt over his head, he fumbled with his belt before it finally gave up the battle. A few moments later, every stitch of clothing he’d had on was piled on the carpet. Matt took over the delicious chore of undressing her while Steve bounced off the bed to strip. Her bra was gone, no doubt removed by Steve. Matt knelt next to her, gently removing her shoes and socks while she unbuttoned her jeans. He took over the task, laying her back on the mattress as he peeled them down her body. Her panties were all that remained between him and the woman he loved. Delicate and lacy, the pink barrier was almost as enticing as seeing her naked. Steve was back on the bed, and he sprawled his naked body out next to Jayne while Matt removed her panties. As Steve pulled one of her pretty pink nipples into his mouth, Matt nudged her knees apart and knelt between them. She must have realized his intent, because she tried to squeeze her legs together. He kept them braced apart with his shoulders, separated her folds with his fingers, and drove his tongue deep into her cunt. Steve watched Matt making love to Jayne with his mouth and almost stopped what he was doing. He’d never considered how erotic it would be to watch until the last Christmas the Three Musketeers had spent in this room. Perhaps that was one of the reasons he’d never been able to bring himself to have sex with another woman. Not that he hadn’t tried. Each time, he stopped short, knowing the experience would leave him unfulfilled. He needed something…more. He needed love—the kind of love he felt for Jayne. In his own way, he loved Matt, too. To watch him giving Jayne so much obvious pleasure had Steve’s dick close to exploding. Knowing he wasn’t going to be able to wait much longer to be inside her, he hopped off the bed, hurried to get his bag, and retrieved a strip of condoms. He also grabbed Jayne’s bag, hoping she might have more

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of that wonderful lube she’d brought last time. In the short time he’d been out of the room, things had changed. He groaned when he saw Matt now spread-eagle on the bed with Jayne leaning over him as she dragged her tongue up the length of his erection. “Holy shit, that’s hot!” Jayne smiled for the first time since he’d seen her so long ago. “Well, then,” she said, “why don’t you show me how hot you think it is?” She wiggled her ass. Steve growled, ripped a condom off the strip, and tossed it to Matt. The second one, he opened and rolled over his own cock before he crawled back on the bed. Grabbing Jayne’s hips, he rubbed his sheathed erection against her pussy. “Jaynie?” “Fuck me, Steve,” she said before she swallowed the entire length of Matt’s dick. She was so wet, so ready for him, that he slipped right inside her. Her channel cradled him—snug, hot, perfect. He wanted to tell her how great she made him feel, how much making love to her was like coming home. No words would come, so he tried to tell her with his body, filling her completely before withdrawing until he was almost free of her, then thrusting back inside. “Wait…please…” Her words were so soft, Steve almost missed them. He stopped moving. “What’s wrong?” She eased forward until their bodies separated. He felt the distance between them all the way to his soul. “What’s wrong?” This time, Matt asked. “Nothing’s wrong. I just…I want you both,” she said. “At the same time. Like we did before.” Steve was amazed he didn’t come on the spot. Matt moved first, grabbing his condom and ripping it open. “Where’s the lube?” She didn’t answer, just got off the bed and dug into her bag. After retrieving a bottle, she held it up. “Who’s on bottom?”

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Turning to Matt, Steve quirked an eyebrow. Matt winked. “Your turn.” Like he needed to be told twice. Scrambling onto the bed, he flopped to his back and held his cock up. “C’mon, baby. I want back inside you. Now.” “Gladly,” she said, a purr in her voice. She straddled his hips, letting him guide his dick inside her. Moving in a slow, seductive rhythm, she smiled down at him. For the first time since he’d seen her after far too long, the Jayne he loved was back. He rocked his hips up until he went as deep as he could go. “Wait for me, you two,” Matt said. He knelt behind Jayne, and as he eased her forward with a hand against her spine, his eyes locked with Steve’s. In that moment, Steve felt connected with Matt in a way he knew was special. They were forever united in their love for this woman, and that love extended to make the two of them as important to each other as any lover. There were no words to describe what he was feeling, but he smiled at Matt, hoping his friend—his best friend— understood. Matt’s lopsided grin was quickly replaced with a moan as Jayne pushed back against him. “If you don’t join this party soon, Matt,” she said. “You’re going to get left behind.” “Not about to let that happen, Jaynie.” All Jayne knew was that her heart, her mind, and her body were screaming for completion. Two long years of never being with her guys had taken their toll, and the need for release, the need to reaffirm her love for them, raced through her. Matt’s wet finger gently pushed past the tight ring of muscles, and she sucked in a breath. “You okay?” he asked. “Fuck me, Matt. Please,” she pleaded. The blunt head of his cock replaced his finger. He nudged at her until he pushed past her body’s resistance. A few more tender thrusts

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and he surged into her. “You feel so good. I’m not gonna last long.” Neither was she, but she couldn’t find any words. Matt and Steve quickly found a cadence that made her body soar, higher and higher until everything inside her contracted into a tight knot. With a gasp, she gave herself over to pleasure as the knot snapped, sending wave after wave of bliss racing through her. Matt came next, grunting as he squeezed her hips and kept pushing into her channel in small strokes. Steve’s cry of release followed right behind. **** “Now what?” Steve asked when he plopped down next to Jayne. Matt fell to her other side, making her bounce and forcing a giggle. She was lighthearted, her body sated and relaxed for the first time in literally years. She heard the teasing tone to Steve’s question, and she knew that after they’d just shared something so beautiful, the men weren’t going to force her to walk away again. All the angst and anger that had remained for so long had burned away in the fire of their passion, and Jayne was not going to let them take charge of their situation again. She was damned sick and tired of running away, and she wasn’t going to let them run away, either. Fuck propriety. Fuck their families. Fuck the rest of the stupid world. She loved Matt and Steve, and she didn’t give a shit what everyone else thought. After two years of feeling sorry for herself and wallowing in depression, she was alive again, and she wasn’t about to give that up. She was going to be with them. Both. And that’s that. “Now,” she replied. “We find a way to make the impossible possible.” “Meaning?” Matt asked. “Meaning, I’m not leaving this bed until the three of us reach an understanding. I’m not living the way I’ve been for the last two years.

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I love you. Both. And I can’t live without you. Without either of you.” “Meaning?” Steve echoed. “Meaning that you’re coming back with me. You can call yourselves my husbands or my boyfriends or my roommates, whatever you want. But you’re both going to live with me again.” The men burst into laughter, the sound so full of relief, she couldn’t help but wonder if they’d brought her here to announce something similar. “What?” she finally asked. “What’s so funny?” “We figured we might have to argue ’til we were blue in the face to get you to agree to the same damn thing,” Matt said. “After so long without you, I knew that once we got you back in our lives, we’d never let you go again. You belong with us, Jaynie.” Steve nodded. “We weren’t letting you leave this bed until you told us we could all be the Three Musketeers again, and that means more than just being friends. We both love you, and we both want you in our lives.” “Look,” Matt added. “We both know we fucked up something royal last time we were together. We shouldn’t have made you choose.” It was her turn to nod. “That was despicable.” “We know that,” Steve said, sitting up. “We thought that we could bring you here. Maybe grovel a bunch, even beg if we had to. All to get you back in our lives.” Matt sat up, tugging on her arm until she did as well. “We know it’s a bit… unconventional. The three of us being a family…” “To say the least,” she said with a grin. “But that’s what Steve and I want. A home. Kids someday. All with you. Only you.” Her heart swelled until she feared it would burst. “I’m in Cincinnati now. I’ve got this great house I’m gutting and renovating. It’s plenty big enough for all of us.” “Cincinnati, huh?” Matt asked. He turned to Steve. “What about your job?”

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“They need landscapers everywhere,” he replied with a shrug. “I’ve been wanting to branch out on my own anyway. That’s as good a place to start as any, so long as the three of us can be together.” “I know what might work,” Jayne said. “We can turn our house into a showcase. You can do the exterior and show potential customers just how good you are.” “What about you, Matt?” Steve asked. “I deal with computers. Hell, I can work anywhere.” A glance to the clock told Jayne that the witching hour had come and gone. She turned to Matt and gave him a quick kiss, then she kissed Steve. “Merry Christmas, guys.” “A very Merry Christmas.” Steve reached out to stroke her shoulder. “All we’re missing is the mistletoe,” Matt added. Happiness was now hers. Wrapping her fingers around two hardening cocks, she hummed her approval. “From the looks of it, I doubt we’ll need any.”

THE END WWW.ELIZABETHRAINES.COM WWW.THESEXTET.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Elizabeth Raines makes her home in the Midwest. A fan of all genres of fiction, she enjoys blending her love of science fiction with romance in the books she writes exclusively for Siren Publishing. Her favorite movies are Pride and Prejudice and Love, Actually, and she spends far too much time watching shows like The Tudors and Mad Men. Elizabeth has been happily married for almost thirty years and tries to express that kind of enduring love in all her stories, hoping to help all her heroes and heroines have their own happily ever afters.

Also by Elizabeth Raines Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 1: Locked In Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 2: Marooned Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 3: Bounty Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 4: Sold Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 5: Wanted Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 6: Captivated Ménage Everlasting: Wicked Missions 7: Covert

Also by The Sextet Ménage Everlasting: The Sextet Anthology, Volume 1: Sharing Ménage Everlasting: The Sextet Anthology, Volume 2: Dirty Dancing Ménage Everlasting: The Sextet Anthology, Volume 3: Occupational Hazards Everlasting Classic: The Sextet Anthology, Volume 4: Entanglements

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

ANGEL ON BROADWAY

Cheryl Brooks

DEDICATION For anyone who wishes to find a touch of magic waiting beneath the tree on Christmas morning.

Chapter 1 Ariel couldn’t remember ever being quite so cold, almost as if the chill had seeped into her bones and gone straight to her soul. Nashville wasn’t supposed to be this frigid—not even in midDecember. But the weather matched her mood. Strolling down Broadway should have helped—the lights, the music, the general gaiety—all those things were designed to help her forget her grief, if only for a short while. The impulse to call a cab and head downtown had been so strong, there ought to have been magic involved, but it simply wasn’t there. Tears stung her eyes, occasionally causing her to miss her step and stumble as she walked along on the uneven pavement. She had seldom been more in need of company, yet in spite of the crowds, she felt totally alone. Legends Corner was full—every seat taken. Four couples occupied the dance floor while a mediocre band played Toby Keith’s “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” without much enthusiasm. They’d only drawn a crowd because it was warm inside and there was no line at the door. She stayed long enough to get some feeling back in her fingers and then moved on. Crossing the street, she turned left, pulling her hood up against the bitter wind. One more pass and she’d hail a cab and head for home. She knew she shouldn’t have come downtown by herself, but on nights like these, she simply needed to walk, whether she was alone or not. As she drew nearer to Dilly’s Bar, she noted the queue outside— not good on such a cold night. The door opened briefly, letting the music out into the street. The bandstand was center stage in the huge,

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street-level window at the front of the building. Anyone passing by could walk right up behind the band while they were performing. Todd had never liked that feeling. Her breath fogged the glass as she paused there, standing right behind the drummer. Something about him drew her eye. Was it his muscular arms, the set of his shoulders, or the way his black T-shirt hugged his sculpted body? With olive skin and prominent veins running down his arms, he appeared healthy and vibrant. Even his neck looked strong, yet graceful, and no less masculine for having a fine chain hanging from it. She was mere inches from him, separated only by a thick pane of glass. So close, and yet so utterly distant. She watched him play, becoming absorbed in his movements and the vibration that reached her even out there in the street. Calm settled in her. Just watching him made her feel different, better somehow. The song ended with a crash on the cymbals and the beat of the kick drum. The spell now broken, despair descended once more. She realized she’d waited a moment too long when he finally became aware of her presence and turned. Catching a fleeting glimpse of his face, she saw that he was foreign and exotic, with heavily lashed dark eyes beneath well-defined brows and a straight, prominent nose above his full, sensuous lips… His gaze met hers for a moment. She knew better than to make eye contact. It only intensified the bleak loneliness. This momentary connection was different, though—a meeting of the souls, accompanied by a brief lightening of the spirit. Then, as quickly as it had come, it was gone. She turned away. Time to go… Passing a group of boys with one coatless girl who wore a revealing wrap top made her shake her head and smile grimly. Silly child, didn’t she feel the cold? The boys weren’t wearing coats, either. Was it youth or alcohol keeping them warm? Ariel didn’t know. She had neither of those things to ward off the chill. Not anymore. Alcohol only dulled the pain, making it that much stronger when it

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returned. And youth? Had she ever felt that young? Was it her thirty years, or the mileage on her soul that made her feel so old? Then again, young, childless widows probably all felt that way. But surely not for this long. Not for five years… Todd’s death was still like an open wound that no amount of grieving could heal. She’d gone through the denial, the anger, and the bargaining, but had stopped there, right smack dab in the middle of depression. Acceptance had never come. He’d died a hero’s death, which was supposed to make his loss easier to accept. Ariel didn’t see it that way. He was still the only man she’d ever loved—the one who’d loved her the way she’d dreamed of since childhood. No, his loss cut her every bit as deeply as it had the first moment she’d heard the news. Perhaps that was why she’d avoided coming downtown until now, when the pain became unbearable. She’d met Todd here, playing in a band that was good but not great, even with his talented performance on lead guitar. Competition was fierce in Music City, and simply being good wasn’t enough to be noticed by anyone—at least by anyone who mattered. To make it in this town, you had to be outstanding. Running footsteps interrupted her thoughts. Instinctively, she shrank against the side of the nearest building as a masculine form skidded to a halt in front of her. His hand touched her shoulder, forcing a startled gasp from her throat that was almost a scream. “Sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to scare you. I just didn’t want you to leave before I could ask you…did you feel that?” The streetlight above him made a halo of his dark curls and outlined the breadth of his shoulders. Had there been an earthquake? What else could she possibly have felt that someone else could feel? “I…I don’t know what you mean.” Ariel cursed the quaver in her voice. At one time, she’d been confident and strong. Now she jumped at loud noises like a nervous kitten, almost as though she expected a sniper’s bullet to take her life,

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just as an Iraqi bullet had taken Todd’s. She peered up at him again. A dime-size pendant embossed with an odd starburst design hung from the chain around his neck in stark contrast to his black T-shirt. The foolish man wasn’t even wearing a coat… **** After the jolt of pure sexual energy that one glimpse into her eyes had triggered, the last thing Nico had expected was for her to be afraid of him. Telling her exactly what he’d felt would sound ridiculous now, if it didn’t scare her off completely. Best to keep his mouth shut about the fact that his body had leapt to attention when their eyes met and focus on the other aspect of it. He’d been playing much better than usual, and the vocal harmony he and his cousin Alexei had achieved was extraordinary. How long had she been standing there, working her magic on them? “Are you a…a pixie or an elf or something?” He pushed back her hood to examine her ears. They seemed normal enough, but her perky little nose and crystalline blue eyes shouted “elf.” She shook her head, still looking like a frightened doe. “Not a pixie, not an elf…then why do I feel like you’ve just thrown pixie dust all over me?” He snapped his fingers. “No, wait. You’re a fairy, right?” This drew a hesitant smile from her. “No. Not a fairy, either.” A frown furrowed her brow. “You’re the drummer.” He nodded. “Yeah, I’m the little drummer boy and—oh, I get it now. You’re the herald angel.” “I’m not an angel—herald or otherwise.” Her smile was a little less tentative this time, revealing the most adorable dimples Nico had ever seen. Pale blonde curls that begged to be touched peeked out from beneath her fur-trimmed hood. “Then why do I feel like I know you from somewhere?” He stopped with a grimace. “Boy, did that ever sound like a pick-up

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line—and an old one at that.” He studied her face again. “But it’s true. Have you been here before? Maybe seen us play?” She nodded. “I used to hang around downtown a lot. My husband played guitar in a band.” The memory clicked. “That’s it! You’re Todd Nathanson’s wife. I knew I’d seen you before. Say, whatever happened to him? I haven’t heard anything about him in ages. He was a damn good picker.” Her weak smile vanished, and Nico wanted to kick himself for being such an idiot. The fact that she was there alone should have clued him that something had changed, but the words were out. He couldn’t very well take them back. “He was killed by a sniper in Iraq about five years ago.” Nico didn’t know what to say. He’d expected bad news, but nothing that bad. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.” She nodded and took a breath as though about to say more, but the words died on her lips. Even her subsequent shrug and attempted smile seemed forced. The streetlight shone down on her face as Nico studied her carefully. He knew her now, even though almost everything he remembered about her had changed. Clear blue eyes that used to sparkle were now dull and lifeless, and her ready smile had been replaced with a wooden expression. Five years was a long time, yet apparently not long enough to get over her loss. The sweat he’d worked up while playing had almost turned to ice on his skin. “Look, it’s freezing out here. Do you want to come inside?” She shook her head. “No, I think I’ll go home now. I’m kinda tired. I had to work late today.” Her objection seemed a little hesitant. Obviously, she didn’t trust him. “You don’t remember me, do you?” She scanned his face without a trace of recognition. “No, I don’t.” “Well, don’t feel bad. I’ve changed quite a bit myself—I used to have a full beard and lots of long hair hanging around my face. I’ve, um, filled out some, too.” With what he hoped was a disarming grin,

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he held out his hand praying she’d actually take it. “Nico Tomaras. My cousin Alexei is our band’s lead singer and plays rhythm guitar. You’ll probably remember him.” His pained expression drew a genuine smile from her. “Not jealous, are you?” “Nah, you know how it is with frontmen. They get all the girls. We drummers are in the back where no one can see us.” “Not in that bar,” she said, nodding toward Dilly’s. “At least, not from out here.” “True.” He gazed down at her, thankful that for once, he’d been the frontman. Sort of. No way was he letting her disappear. The magic was still there. He could feel it, weaving a spell between them, whether she felt it or not. Despite being stuck behind the drum set, Nico had met a lot of women who would’ve been happy to kneel down and suck his dick. He’d never been into anything quite that superficial—but Ariel wasn’t like that. She was no groupie, she was magic. There was no other word for her. “Come on inside,” he cajoled. “I’m probably not the only one who remembers you. I’m sure the guys would love to see you again.” He hesitated, unsure if this was the right thing to say, but it was the best argument he could think of. “Todd had a lot of friends, you know. He was a helluva nice guy, and, like I said, he was a damn good picker.” Her wistful smile pierced his heart. “Yes, he was.” Nico could see she was toying with the idea of simply saying “No” and leaving him standing there in the cold. He couldn’t let that happen. “Come on, little angel,” he whispered. “A couple of talent scouts walked in right before the set ended. We need you to bring us luck.” She actually laughed—a sound that affected him like the jingling of sleigh bells. For the first time that season, he felt the spirit of Christmas. She was cookies, spiced tea, mistletoe, and the scent of pine all wrapped up in one darling package. It wouldn’t have

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surprised him to find ribbons and tinsel beneath her hood. “Please come with me.” Captivated by her smile, Nico almost forgot he was still waiting for her to shake his hand until he felt her fuzzy mitten brush his palm. “Ariel Nathanson.” “Ariel,” he whispered. “I’m so glad I found you again.” He blinked. Where did that come from? Tugging off her mitten, he pressed her hand between his palms. Raising it to his lips, he kissed each of her fingers. “You’re cold. C’mon. Let’s get you inside where it’s warm.” Without waiting for her reply—or letting go of her hand—he started off down the street. To his surprise, she came willingly. A couple of those standing in line voiced halfhearted protests as Teddy the bouncer waved them through the door. “He’s in the band,” Teddy said. “Gotta let him in.” “Yeah, but what about her?” one of the men asked. He was big, belligerent, and probably already half drunk. He had trouble written all over him. Nico hoped he’d get tired of waiting and go somewhere else. He was no match for Teddy, however. “She won’t take up as much space as you will, so just be quiet and wait your turn.” Once inside, Nico almost wished he’d stayed on the street. He’d never be able to hear a word she said over the din in the bar. He glanced at his watch. He didn’t have a lot of time to talk anyway. What if she left while they were playing? He couldn’t very well run after her then. Perhaps she’d had the same thought. What could he possibly do to make her stay? Get her drunk? Tie her to a bar stool? No, you idiot. Just introduce her to Alexei. She won’t go anywhere after that. Alexei Tomaras was not only Greek, he could have passed for one of the gods—or even Adonis. Nico hadn’t been kidding about the frontman effect, either. Unfortunately, in Alexei’s case, it was deserved. He was a terrific singer and a bona fide chick magnet. The

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trouble was, neither of them were the typical country music type, which might explain their lack of recording contracts. Nico knew they had talent, but they drew the line at putting on cowboy hats in order to look the part. Too bad Ariel couldn’t cast her spell on the bigwigs on Music Row. Spotting his cousin, Nico grinned at Ariel and escorted her over to where Alexei stood at the bar. “Hey, Alexei! Look who I found peeking in the window.” **** Alexei didn’t have any trouble remembering Ariel. After all, she was the standard by which he judged every woman he’d met since he’d first seen her on Todd Nathanson’s arm—it had to be, what?— six or seven years ago? He’d dated several girls in the intervening years, but none had quite measured up. Now here she was, reminding him all over again of what he couldn’t have. She smiled at him in the same way that made his heart pound and his balls twitch, but the light in her eyes had dimmed slightly. Great. Now even she didn’t measure up to the memory he had of her. Still, he’d enveloped her in a big bear hug before he realized that Nico had practically shoved her into his arms. Oh, God. The time since he’d seen her last evaporated in an instant, taking him back to the moment when he’d hugged her like this once before. Todd’s band had been playing in some backstreet joint on her birthday, and they’d had a private party after the gig, giving him the perfect excuse to hug her. He’d never forgotten it, and so what if her beautiful blue eyes had lost some of their sparkle? She still felt the same, taking his breath and his heart in one fell swoop. “So, this is why Nico went tearing out of here like a madman. It’s so good to see you again, Ariel! How’ve you been?” He added “How’s Todd?” as a complete afterthought. It didn’t take anything beyond Nico’s bleak expression to inform

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him that he’d blundered. He just didn’t know how. “Todd was killed in Iraq,” Nico said gravely. “Five years ago. It’s hard to believe.” Alexei was incredulous. Not that he’d wished Todd ill, but Ariel had been a widow for five years. Five years. Did she have a boyfriend? Had she remarried? How the hell did a guy ask a woman that without sounding like a callous jerk? “I’m sorry to hear that, Ariel. The last I heard, you two were talking about having a baby.” She nodded. “I went off the pill about the time his unit got called up. We never had the chance.” Her voice cracked on the last word. Alexei looked past Nico, wondering if the new man in her life was somewhere nearby. He didn’t see anyone—at least no one who was staring daggers at him for holding on to her for so long. “What’ve you been up to since then?” She stepped back from him, and Alexei had to let her go. The immediate sense of loss hit him like a sledgehammer to the chest. “Not much,” she said with a shrug. “Just working.” “You haven’t…remarried?” He held his breath waiting for her reply. She shook her head. “No.” As miserable as she seemed, Todd might have died five days ago, rather than five years. Maybe she didn’t want another man. Maybe Todd was the only one for her. Ever. If Todd had divorced her instead of getting himself killed, Alexei’s chances would have been much better. The memory of a man who’d done a woman wrong was easy enough to supplant. It was tough to compete with a dead hero. Or a cousin. He hadn’t missed the way Nico had held on to her hand or the excitement in his eyes. Exchanging a look over the top of her head, he knew Nico wouldn’t give her up easily. He not only wanted her, he’d found her first. Unfortunately, the timing couldn’t have been worse. The band was starting to gather quite a following, and there was even talk of a gig at the Wildhorse Saloon. The last thing they needed right now was

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for a fight over a woman to break up the band, no matter who she was. Nico couldn’t possibly have known that Alexei was carrying a torch for Ariel. Coveting another man’s wife was wrong on a multitude of levels, so he’d kept his feelings to himself. And now that Ariel was available, Alexei was probably going to lose her to another man. Again. Only this time, it was his cousin. Damn.

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Chapter 2 Ariel had not only come with Nico willingly, once he’d taken her hand, letting go wasn’t an option. The surge of happiness that accompanied his touch—from both his hands and his lips—formed an instant attachment, a glorious feeling she simply couldn’t deny. On top of that, Alexei’s wonderfully satisfying hug had raised her spirits to heights she never thought she’d experience again. The mention of Todd’s death had allowed her melancholy to return, but to a markedly diminished degree. Once she’d met Alexei, she made the connection between the two men—vaguely remembering Nico as a rather skinny, hairy fellow who hid behind his drum set as though in need of its protection. Something had obviously occurred to bolster his self-confidence, though the way he’d talked about his cousin, she was fairly certain it was his ability as a drummer that had improved, rather than his luck with women. Which was ridiculous. He was every bit as gorgeous as his cousin and neither of them had any business being single. Someone should have snapped them both up long ago. Perhaps someone already had… A deep breath steadied her nerves. Alexei had asked her a similar question. He probably expected her to ask him the same thing, although she did take a more subtle approach. “What about you two? You sounded terrific—it’s obvious your music has come a long way since I saw you last. Is everything else going okay? Still breaking hearts right and left?” Alexei grinned. Smitten as she’d been with Todd, she hadn’t forgotten Alexei’s killer smile and seriously doubted that she was the

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only one affected by it. Dark, wavy hair long enough to caress his neck coupled with shockingly blue eyes had slain less susceptible women than Ariel. Nico may have looked like a Greek god, but Alexei was a Greek hunk. Even so, he was surprisingly modest—at the moment. He shrugged and held up his left hand. “Still single, but I’ve had a lot more competition from Nico since he decided to get a shave and a haircut. Cleans up real nice, doesn’t he?” Ariel suspected there’d been more to it than a visit to a barber. Nico’s comment that he’d filled out some probably had more to do with time spent at the gym than any improvement in his appetite. “Yes, he does. But then, I always thought he had potential.” She couldn’t recall ever having had such an idea before, but Nico’s reaction made her glad she’d seen fit to tell this tiny white lie. He seemed inordinately pleased, smiling at her in a way that set off a delightful fluttering in her chest—a feeling that was compounded when he raised her hand to his lips once again. Charming. Her recollection of Alexei was that of a guy who had always known he was a handsome devil—a happy turn of fate that he’d used to his advantage. Sex appeal oozed from his pores while Nico was more…innocent. Not as practiced and smooth as his cousin, nonetheless, the way his sensuous lips lingered on her skin as his gaze met hers drove that flutter further down, touching off a rush of warmth deep inside her. His eyes held hers with an expression of genuine affection mingled with—what? If she’d considered herself to be beautiful or alluring, she might’ve called it admiration, but settled upon appreciation as its more likely source. Men probably enjoyed being considered attractive, just as women did. He simply liked what she’d said about him. A moment later, she was sure she’d imagined all of it. I’m no good at this sort of thing anyway. Besides, he didn’t know her well enough to feel affection. Yet she couldn’t quite shake the notion that it was precisely what he’d been attempting to convey. Lowering her hand, he didn’t release it, giving it a meaningful

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squeeze instead. “Thank you.” He glanced at Alexei, smiling impishly. “Did you know she’s our good-luck angel? She’s the reason we played so much better tonight.” Alexei seemed puzzled. “No, I didn’t. But that doesn’t surprise me. Even Todd played better whenever she was around.” Since Todd had never said any such thing—at least, not to her— Ariel was inclined to disagree. “Don’t be silly. There’s nothing magical about me. Not for Todd and not for your band, either. You guys are just plain good.” “That’s a matter of opinion,” Nico said lightly. “I still think you’re an angel.” As he laced his fingers between hers, heat stole up her arm, eventually finding its way to her heart. An infusion of joyous, sensual warmth followed. He might have thought she was an angel, but there was something magical about him, as well. His powerful sexual nature and natural vibrancy coursed through her veins like a virus—or a magic potion. If she was an angel, then he was most definitely a wizard… I’ve obviously been watching too many Harry Potter movies. Still, she couldn’t help glancing behind him to see if he had a wand stuck in his back pocket—or perhaps he used his drumsticks to channel his powers. Alexei, on the other hand, only needed proximity. Even from three feet away, Ariel could feel his aura reaching out to envelop her. His emotions were almost palpable. She could sense his desire, his passion, and his…regret? She gazed at him curiously, realizing that she could even see it in his eyes. Why would he feel regret? Todd’s death was the obvious answer, but she couldn’t help feeling there was more to it than that. Then, ever so slightly, his gaze shifted downward to where her fingers twined together with Nico’s. No. That couldn’t possibly be the reason, and even if it was, it was simply his compulsion to seduce every woman he came in contact with—or at least attempt it. If anything, he regretted that his cousin seemed to be doing better with her than he was. He seemed to respect

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that claim, however, not turning on the charm as she suspected he normally would have done. Ariel blinked and shook her head as though emerging from a trance. Where were these thoughts coming from? She’d never felt so perceptive before, almost as if she’d suddenly acquired the ability to read minds and emotions—a latent talent that had just burst into bloom. Experimentally, she studied other people standing nearby and got nothing, but with these two… Mistletoe. She heard the word almost as though it had been spoken aloud and glanced at Nico, who was clearly the source of that thought. Mischief twinkled in his eyes and a roguish smile curled his lips as his gaze darted upward for a moment. “Kissing an angel has got to bring us even better luck.” He tipped her head back with a knuckle beneath her chin, bringing a sprig of mistletoe into her line of sight. Suspended from the ceiling just above her, the mistletoe was surrounded by sparkling motes that swarmed around it like buzzing bees. Magic. As she gazed at the strange phenomenon, one of the tiny particles seemed to become aware of her, pausing briefly in its flight before taking a nose dive, striking her right between the eyes. Just before it hit, it flared out from the center like a tiny, sparkling sunflower. Blood rushed to her cheeks as, a moment later, Nico’s head descended, those same sensuous lips unerringly targeting her own. Her body came alive with his kiss—tentative at first, then stronger, becoming more confident and seductive as he nipped at her lower lip and then teased the seam of her lips with the tip of his tongue. Without a second thought, her lips parted, allowing him access. He tasted like cinnamon and sugar. Snickerdoodles. The hand beneath her chin slid up to caress her cheek before moving on to cup the nape of her neck. His other hand moved from her grasp to unzip her coat, then wrapped around the small of her back, pulling her close.

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The ensuing whoops of laughter and catcalls faded into silence as passionate images flitted past her mind’s eye. Nico’s muscular arms and chest, minus the shirt. His beckoning smile, the curve where his neck met his shoulders. Thighs generously dusted with ebony hair. The slope of his back as it flowed down to his buttocks. All these things conspired to make her mouth hunger for him and her body crave him. The lure of his hot, seductive body threatened to overwhelm her with the need to taste every last inch of him. Her eyes opened the moment another twinkling mote burst into flower and struck, coinciding with the touch of a hand peeling her coat down until it slid from her arms. A solid form pressed against her back, molding itself to her shape while scorching lips touched her neck, sending flames racing to her core. Strong hands sought her shoulder and hip, pulling her firmly into his embrace. Nico’s kiss trailed down her cheek while the other lips—they had to belong to Alexei—burned a path from her neck to her mouth. A different flavor mingled with the taste of cookies—minty and pungent. Wintergreen. Pinned between the two men, Ariel slipped her arms around Nico—more for the need to hold his chest snugly against her breasts than for support—though the onslaught of sensations aroused by Alexei’s kiss liquefied her core and turned her knees to jelly. She hadn’t had a single sexual impulse since Todd’s death, but now, this dual assault on her senses—the fire, the passion, the lure of ecstasy— stripped away her resistance and began to heal her wounds, ushering in a resurgence of hope for better days to come. The blare of feedback from a microphone cut through the fog that clouded her mind. “You guys cut that out, now. Break time’s over.” She sagged in their arms as they relaxed their hold. She could sense their reluctance—or was it her own unwillingness?—to release her. Nico’s lips brushed her ear. “Please don’t leave yet.” The emphasis he placed on the first word made it sound more like a

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desperate plea and less like a command. Alexei bestowed one last kiss on her cheek. “We’ll make sure you get home safely. Did you drive downtown by yourself?” She shook her head. “No, I took a cab. I don’t like going into parking garages alone at night.” “I can’t blame you for that.” He handed her coat to her. “Sometimes even angels need protection.” He smiled, tracing the curve of her cheek with a fingertip. It was a simple gesture, but combined with his sensuous gaze, a very compelling one. “So, you’ll stay until we’re finished?” Somehow, Ariel didn’t see that she had a choice in the matter, mainly because her feet simply refused to move. “I’ll wait for you,” she promised. “You guys go sing your hearts out.” **** Nico kissed her hand one more time before releasing it. As he climbed back up on the stage and took his seat behind the drums, he tried to sort through the tumult of emotions raging through his chest. Alexei had cast his usual spell, luring Ariel into his web, but this time, Nico didn’t object. His gut told him that Ariel would never choose his cousin over him—though she wouldn’t have been the first woman to do so. He should’ve felt angry or jealous when the inevitable happened and the eyes of any girl he felt an interest in turned toward Alexei, but he never had. He knew Alexei had something he didn’t possess, yet he’d felt Ariel’s reaction to his kisses. Even when Alexei had joined in, he hadn’t stolen her attention from him completely. It was as though she was willing to accept both of them… Alexei was making the usual small talk with the audience, alluding to Ariel as a long lost friend. Or lover. Had he been her lover? Nico had seen the shock of recognition on his cousin’s face when he had hurled Ariel into Alexei’s arms, a look

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that was later replaced with one of wistful resignation—neither of which were typical expressions for Alexei. If Alexei had ever lost his cool with a woman, Nico had yet to see it. He was always smooth as silk and ten times as sexy. Nico had never had that brand of confidence and often suspected that it was the reason women usually weren’t attracted to him. Unlike his cousin, he simply wasn’t the alpha male type. His initial reaction to seeing Ariel again might not have been typical, but the way Alexei had kissed her under the mistletoe was perfectly in character. Still, there was something unusual about the entire scenario. He couldn’t quite put his finger on the difference. They began the set, and though Ariel might not have been an angel, whatever she wielded certainly qualified as magic. The band was good—Nico knew that for a fact—but they’d never sounded this good. Carl played lead guitar like he was channeling Eric Clapton, and Chuck never missed a beat on the bass. Nico had to glance at Rick a time or two to assure himself that Jerry Lee Lewis hadn’t replaced him at the keyboard. It was uncanny. The way Alexei sang, Nico almost believed his heart had truly been broken by some honkytonk angel. He could see Ariel over by the bar. She’d put on her coat—since the door opened frequently the place was a little chilly—but at least she was sitting down. Someone must’ve vacated a barstool and she’d snatched it. Either that or the cowboy wannabe standing next to her had offered it to her. Nico couldn’t help noticing that the guy kept his eyes on Ariel, only occasionally glancing toward the bandstand. It was times like these that being in the band was a definite disadvantage. He couldn’t very well sweet-talk a woman while he was banging on the drums. But he could sing to her. He put everything he had into each note, hoping he and Alexei sounded as good to the audience as they did to him. Adding variations that he’d never even attempted before worked somehow, and though Alexei usually sang the verses alone with Nico

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joining in on the chorus, Nico instinctively added a little extra here and there. He had no idea where all of it was coming from—unless it was Ariel. Aside from the dancers and Ariel’s cowboy, every pair of eyes was riveted to the stage—including those belonging to the two talent scouts they’d spotted earlier. Honest to God, if their big break didn’t come now, it never would. The end of the song was met with a roar of approval from the audience, sending a shiver racing up and down Nico’s spine. Launching into the next song, they out-Brooks & Dunned even Brooks & Dunn on “Brand New Man.” Nico tried not to think about the two original songs coming up. He and Alexei had cowritten them with Rick, and after that, they were playing a song they’d gotten from a friend who was trying to make it as a songwriter. So much was riding on this night, and to have it all come together like this was a dream come true. Ariel smiled, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Nico grinned back at her. He’d never been happier in his life. And we only kissed her. Imagine how well we would play after making love with her. That thought reverberated through his mind like a bass note that never seemed to end. He swallowed hard, averting his eyes, unable to even meet her gaze with an idea like that in his head. He knew quite well that there were plenty of musicians who’d done much kinkier things than simply sharing a woman, but Ariel? Somehow kinky and Ariel weren’t words he would’ve used in the same sentence. Alexei turned and winked at him as though they were coconspirators in…something. Was it simply playing the next song, or was it somehow getting Ariel to fall for both of them? He blinked and shook his head. What a crazy idea. If they ever broached the subject, she’d think they were nuts. Sweet angels like Ariel weren’t… Okay, what’s the word I’m looking for? Sluts? Whores? Funny how there wasn’t a nice word for a woman with a voracious appetite for

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sex. Even nymphomaniac implied that such a woman was insane. A stud, on the other hand, was viewed with admiration. He frowned. There was something inherently wrong about that. He risked taking another peek at her. She was still there. Still smiling. Still beautiful. Still…angelic. He gave himself a mental slap. Guys didn’t double-team angels. It simply wasn’t done. Alexei cued the next song and Nico began playing, doing his best to put his carnal thoughts aside. His dick had other ideas, though. She might have been an angel, placing him under an enchantment that enabled him to sing and play better than he ever had in his life, but she still made him want to fuck her. A lot. And with his hunky cousin hanging around, sharing her seemed like the only way he’d ever get the chance. Yeah, right. In your dreams, buddy. **** Thank God for mistletoe. Without it, Alexei would never have had an excuse to get anywhere near Ariel’s lips, let alone taste them. Her flavor lingered on his tongue—spicy, sweet, and oh, so sexy. She was like candy, and he not only craved her, he was starving. He almost wished Nico had slugged him. Maybe that would’ve knocked some sense into him. As it was, he simply couldn’t resist the temptation. What amazed him was that neither Nico nor Ariel seemed to mind his intrusion—almost to the point that they’d welcomed it. Still, it was Christmastime, and kisses beneath the mistletoe were allowed, even expected. If this had happened in June, the outcome might’ve been different. The bittersweet pang that surrounded his heart came out in his voice. If he’d been singing any other song, it could’ve been a disaster, but it fit in perfectly with the one he’d helped to write. He’d never told anyone that Ariel was the woman he’d had in mind when he penned those lyrics. Now he was singing it to her and it was still the

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saddest song he could possibly imagine, especially with her sitting right there in front of him—so close, and yet so utterly inaccessible. Her deep blue eyes gazed first at him and then at Nico. Nico got the smile, and Alexei’s heart sank to his knees. Why had his sex appeal failed him when it mattered the most? For the first time in his life, a woman he wanted only had eyes for his cousin. How ironic that it wound up being Ariel. Even reminding himself that she had responded to his kiss didn’t help a whole lot. She’d enjoyed it—he was certain of that—which should have been some consolation. Unfortunately, it was probably the only kiss he’d ever get from her. It wasn’t enough, of course. It would never be enough.

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Chapter 3 Alexei certainly hoped those talent scouts were paying attention. He and Nico enjoyed working in his father’s deli—a thriving business Alexei would eventually inherit—but making a living as musicians was the real dream. The crowd had cheered with gusto after every song, and someone even bought a round for the entire band. Oddly enough, now that they seemed to be on the brink of getting discovered—which was a strange way of putting it seeing as how they’d only been trying to become the latest overnight sensation for the past ten years—the only person whose approval he really cared about was Ariel. He’d sung every song for her—even the crying-cheatingbrokenhearted-drinking songs. One way or another, they all applied to his relationship with her—or rather, the lack thereof. There’d been times he’d tried to drink her off his mind and others when he’d felt like he was cheating on her when he was with another woman. He’d done a fair amount of crying, too—though most of that occurred on those rare occasions when he’d been drunk enough to acknowledge his broken heart. The happy songs only applied to his dreams. In the past, he’d imagined what might’ve happened if he’d met her before she and Todd got together. Now he would have to replace Todd with Nico in those dreams. That was, if she was still there. In the rush of well-wishers toward the stage following their performance, she could’ve slipped out unnoticed. Even Nico might not get another kiss from her. Telling himself she promised to wait didn’t keep his eyes from searching the crowd as he pushed his way toward the place he’d last seen her. His

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heart nearly stopped when he saw that Nico had, once again, arrived ahead of him. Ariel stood by the bar, laughing, as Nico took her in his arms, holding her tightly to his chest. Pain shot through his heart like a poisoned arrow. Damn. He’d had to endure enough of that crap when Todd was alive. Why couldn’t he simply walk up to her and tell her the truth? I love you, Ariel. I’ve wanted to tell you so for years. I’ve compared every woman I’ve been with to you ever since we met. None of them could even begin to measure up or make me forget you. Sure. That would sound great to a woman who was still mourning the loss of her husband and had maybe—finally—found someone new to take his place. Someone other than himself. God, she was beautiful. Her eyes were shining now—just like the old days. Maybe music was all it took to make her happy. Good music. Anyone’s music—even his. He’d almost reached her when the two talent scouts suddenly materialized right in front of him. The tall, bearded guy on the left stuck out his hand. “Dan Acrotle,” he said. “Talent agent for Renown Records. You guys sounded really great tonight.” Although Alexei tried to appear pleased, his fingers speared through his hair in frustration. His impatience was clear—though it could have easily been chalked up to nervousness at finally gaining the notice of someone like these two. He shook the man’s hand, nodding his thanks. Dan held up a business card. “Don’t know if you boys are interested in a recording contract, but if you are, we’ll definitely be in touch.” Chuck reached past him, snatching the card before Alexei could even raise a hand to take it. “Hell, yes, we’re interested. And by the way, it’s me you need to be talking to, not Pretty Boy. I’m the business manager.” Alexei grinned at his friend. “I never was any good with

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numbers.” Dan took this in stride, shifting his attention to the bass player. “You’re damn good as a cover band, but of course we’d want original material.” “Got plenty of that,” Chuck assured him. “Alexei and Nico have written a ton of songs—and we’ve got a friend that writes, too. It’s just a matter of picking out the ones you want.” “As good as what you played tonight?” Dan eyed him expectantly, but Alexei could only shrug, his usual confidence having deserted him. A glance toward Nico and Ariel instantly replaced minor selfdoubt with panic. Too late… Then Chuck did what Alexei should have done to begin with. “Hey, Nico! Get your ass over here.” Alexei raked a hand through his hair. Again. At this rate, he’d be bald before they ever made it to a recording studio. He watched Nico shouldering his way through the crowd, praying he’d brought Ariel with him. He had. The top of her head was barely visible, but as soon as she was close enough, she rushed toward him with her arms open wide. Alexei didn’t hear what she said to him, and didn’t care. He inhaled her scent, focusing on the way she flung her arms around him, the kiss she pressed to the side of his neck, and the feel of her body, soft and warm in his embrace. Her kiss still tingled even after she released him. He didn’t have to stop and think to know why the saddest songs were about loving someone who didn’t love you back. He was living it. He could steal her from Nico. He knew he could. He’d done it a dozen times before—mostly out of fear that another of his friends would find the perfect woman for him, just as Todd had done. Unfortunately, almost as soon as each seduction was complete, he realized his mistake. Maybe that was why he couldn’t bring himself to go through with it again. Aside from the fact that he was pretty sure it wouldn’t work. The one time that really mattered, too.

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God, I need a beer. Where the hell are all those drink offers now? Rick and Carl joined them. To say they were ecstatic was putting it mildly. Now that the moment they’d all worked toward had finally arrived, Alexei felt like he’d just lost his best friend. Unfortunately, it showed. Nico’s eyes narrowed. “You okay?” “Yeah. Just a little…stunned.” “You shouldn’t be,” Nico said. “I knew it would happen tonight. First Ariel and now this. It’s fate, man. Don’t knock it.” “I’m not knocking it, I just…I don’t know.” He glanced at the rest of the band. As excited as they were, the party would probably last until closing time. There was a song in that, but then, there were a lot of songs about closing time. He knew the one he’d write—all about a guy whose cousin went home with the love of his life, leaving him with a broken heart, stale beer, and a recording contract. Bound to be a hit… **** At first, Nico had only suspected there was something between Alexei and Ariel. Now he was convinced. Although it was a situation he had no idea how to handle, he knew it would be best to deal with it in a quieter, less public place. If only they could simply drop everything and take her home. Unfortunately, it wasn’t that simple. There were tips to be counted and divided and equipment to break down. A possible recording contract didn’t mean that a gang of roadies would suddenly appear to do it for them. “We’ll talk about this later. Right now, we need to get our gear packed up and get Ariel home.” Alexei simply nodded and headed back to the stage, leaving Nico and Ariel to follow him. The crowd had thinned considerably and as he packed up his own equipment, Nico stole a glance at Alexei. For a guy who should’ve been grinning from ear to ear, he looked awfully

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grim. He’d never seen his cousin look quite so down—which was odd, given the circumstances. Ariel stood next to the stage chewing her lip, looking lost and uncomfortable. Having been the wife of a Nashville musician, she would know they couldn’t take her home immediately. She’d been fine a moment before, but he wasn’t so sure about that now, and, apparently, neither was she. “You guys probably want to stick around and celebrate for a while. I don’t mind getting my own cab.” Nico’s chest constricted painfully. She must’ve thought all they’d intended to do was to hail a cab for her and make sure she got in it. She was wrong about that. He’d had something far more personal in mind. “We meant we’d drive you home, Ariel. I know you didn’t intend to stay out this late, and I’d rather you didn’t go home alone. I’d…we’d worry about you.” Worry, hell. He wanted to spend the night with her so badly he could almost taste it—and her. Not that he had any chance of doing either of those things, at least not tonight. She wasn’t a one-night stand or a sex on the first date kind of woman—if tonight’s events could even be called a date. It was a reunion of sorts, but that was as far as it went. Unless he’d been right about Alexei and Ariel being lovers in the past. Had she had an affair with him while she was married to Todd? Or had it been something before their marriage? Nico couldn’t remember ever knowing either of them that long ago, but that didn’t mean Alexei hadn’t. Alexei glanced up as he stowed a cable in his guitar case. “Let us take you home, Ariel. This won’t take long.” She frowned slightly, seeming more uncertain than ever. “You two, um…drove here together?” Nico nodded. “We share an apartment.” “Oh.” Nico had no idea what she meant by that, and her blank expression didn’t help any. When in doubt, tell the truth and smile.

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“You’re our angel, remember? After tonight, giving you a ride home is the least we can do.” She shook her head. “I’m no angel. If anything, you guys are both wizards. You’re terrific musicians, and you’ve made me feel better than I have in a long, long time.” She paused, brushing a stray lock of hair back from her face, a shy smile gracing her lips. “Thank you so much. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.” Nico knew precisely how she could do it, but had sense enough to keep his mouth shut on that subject. “No need,” he said. “We’re even.” “Not if we take her home.” Alexei zipped up his guitar case and slung it across his back. “I mean, if we’re even now, taking her home will tip the scales. Maybe we should each charge her another kiss for the ride.” Nico stared at his cousin in surprise. It was a terrific idea, of course, but it was the last thing he ever would have suggested himself. Then again, it was exactly the sort of thing Alexei would say. Might be why he has better luck with women. A quick glance at Ariel proved it. Her gaze was directed at the floor and she was biting her lip again, but this time it was apparently to keep from smiling. So, she liked the idea, did she? Or was she simply willing to kiss one of them just so she could kiss the other? The thought of putting her in a cab and never seeing her again gave him courage. “Actually, I think I’d like two kisses and…I dunno…maybe six or seven hugs?” As her smile grew and her dimples deepened, Nico knew he’d said the right thing. For once. His breath caught in his throat and heat pulsed through his cock. In another minute, his dick would be drooling. Oh, yeah… Six or seven long, drawn-out hugs could last the entire night. Even though she’d said she was tired, she didn’t seem tired anymore. She seemed…expectant. It was on the tip of his tongue to ask her to come home with them when he realized it didn’t matter. He wouldn’t care where they were as long as he could hold her in his arms and watch her sleep.

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Unfortunately, with his hunky cousin around, Nico knew he wouldn’t be her first choice. She’d never ask him to spend the night. He could see it now. Alexei would grin wickedly and send him on his way, telling him not to wait up. Nico would drive home. Alone. Best to not give him the chance. “Or, if you like, I could ride home in a cab with you. You know…to be sure you make it home safely?” He glanced at Alexei. That strange I give up. You win look was back. Was this for real? Was his cousin the lady-killer actually conceding defeat? Or didn’t he want Ariel? Nico thought he’d be crazy not to be circling around her like a hound in heat. Did he think there was something wrong with her? If that was the case, Nico would have to drag Alexei off to see a shrink the first thing Monday morning because he had surely lost his mind. **** Ariel couldn’t believe what was happening. All those years of misery, grief, and loneliness had lifted like a fog on a sunny morning. It was nothing short of miraculous. If they could keep the pain at bay, she never wanted to leave either of them—which was ridiculous. She couldn’t possibly need two guys to help her get over the death of one, could she? The odd thing was that she couldn’t help seeing them as an inseparable pair—a one-two punch of comfort and joy. Still, riding home with both of them would be like having a chaperone. Neither would try anything with the other there. But they both kissed me beneath the mistletoe. That was different. Mistletoe changed everything—making silly things like being kissed by two men at once seem sensible. She toyed with the idea of pinning a sprig to the top of her head. Unfortunately, unless she stood on a barstool or knocked it down with one of Nico’s drumsticks, there was none within reach. The tiny sparkles were gone now, yet the sense of enchantment lingered. Perhaps it would follow her home…

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She’d sat at the bar listening to the band, occasionally glancing at the audience. At first, it seemed like the old days when she’d watched Todd’s band as they played. They’d been very good, but there was something about this group that made them unique. The music, their personalities, their stellar performance, and the way they engaged with the crowd and each other—all of it came together to produce something truly extraordinary. Their positive energy lifted her spirits and sent them soaring. Since Todd’s death, nothing had affected her quite so profoundly. She hadn’t been joking when she said she could never repay them. Even if she’d had a fortune to hand over, it wouldn’t have been enough. Now, they seemed bent on taking her home. If that would make them happy, then so be it. She didn’t have it in her to refuse them much of anything. “No need for you to do that, Nico. You guys can just drop me off—that is, if it’s not too far out of your way.” Nico pulled on his jacket. “Hey, as long as you don’t live in Texas, it’s not too far.” He gathered up his gear and stepped down from the stage. “Ready?” Ariel nodded. “Whenever you are.” He grinned and took her by the hand. Threading his way through a few hangers-on near the door, he paused, shaking his head as someone offered him a drink. “Nope,” he said firmly. “No time for that. Gotta take our girl home.” A guffaw from a bystander drew a scowl from Nico, but apparently the fellow wasn’t one to take a hint. “What, only one girl for the two of you? Wouldn’t have thought you’d need to share.” From behind Ariel, a more feminine voice called out. “I volunteer!” Another woman laughed, giving Ariel a sly thumbs-up. “You go, girl!” Two guys in cowboy hats whistled and one of them said something Ariel didn’t catch, but apparently Alexei did. “None of that—unless you want your head bashed in.” His voice sounded

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pleasant, and he was smiling, but if the way Ariel’s scalp tightened was any indication, he was dead serious. “And I’d hate to ruin a perfectly good guitar.” One of the cowboys tipped back his hat and puffed out his chest. “Now, now…no need to get in a huff. We were just funnin’ with ya.” Alexei glared at the man and took a step forward. “There are some things you don’t say about a lady, even in fun.” The taller of the two by about three inches, he held his ground until the guy blinked and backed off. Snorting in disgust, Alexei spun around and led the way to the door. A moment later, Ariel found herself walking along the sidewalk between him and Nico, a bitter wind from across the Cumberland River blowing in her face. “Fuckin’ a-hole,” Alexei muttered. “Damned drunks don’t know when to keep their mouths shut.” Nico gave her hand a squeeze. “Sorry, Ariel. It was my fault for putting it like that.” “That’s okay,” she said. “I don’t—” Alexei cut her off abruptly. “No, it’s not okay. I shoulda beat the shit out of him.” Surprised at his vehemence, Ariel half expected him to growl. She threaded her fingers though his, smiling up at him. Even pissed off, he was still gorgeous. “And risk breaking your hand on his ugly face? Not worth it.” “Yes, you are,” he said. “You’re worth more than—” “Your career?” She shook her head. “I don’t think so. And especially not worth getting into a fight with a drunk you’ll probably never see again.” Raising his hand to her lips, she kissed it. “You’ve got to take care of these hands—and your voice. In weather like this, you really should be wearing a scarf.” He turned to gape at her, his quizzical expression almost comical. “Are you serious?” “Absolutely.” Despite her firm nod, she couldn’t quite hold back her smile.

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Alexei rolled his eyes. “Okay, point made.” “That’s better. Besides, big stars don’t get involved in barroom brawls. Well…most of them don’t.” Nico snickered. “Maybe not, but they probably did at one time.” “You guys are above that now,” Ariel said loftily. “No brawling, no drunken—” She caught herself before completing the list and cleared her throat. “Um…you get the idea.” Ariel was fairly certain that cowboy—if a guy who’d probably never been within shouting distance of a horse or a cow could truly be called that—had referred to her as a whore or a slut. At the time she hadn’t felt much like either one, but an orgy with these two handsome Greek cousins sounded like just what the psychiatrist ordered. Well, maybe not exactly… Chuckling, Nico let go of her hand and draped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close. “Don’t believe I’ve ever been part of a drunken orgy. Not sure I’d care for it, either.” He paused, as though giving the matter careful consideration. A moment later, his big, brown eyes slid toward her and winked. He is so adorable. “I’d much rather be sober so I could remember it.” Is he serious? She held his gaze, unable to decide one way or the other. Might as well play along… She kept her voice light and casual as though this conversation hadn’t taken the turn she thought it had, but she chose her words with care. “I think it would depend on who the participants were. I couldn’t do it with just anyone.” “Oh, me, neither,” Nico agreed, matching her tone. “It would have to be people I was comfortable with. I mean, I don’t show my dick to every Joe Blow—” “Or Jane Doe,” Ariel put in helpfully. “—who comes along.” “What about love? D’you think it’s necessary?” She certainly thought so, but would he? Nico cocked his head to one side. “Hmm… Don’t think I’d need to love the guy—I mean, I’d at least have to like him—but the girl?

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Definitely.” She was fairly certain she understood him but needed to be one hundred percent sure… “So, you’re talking about a threesome, then?” A strangled gulp from Alexei made her wonder if he’d been thinking the same thing. Nico grinned. “Sounds like fun.” Alexei blew out a pent-up breath. “Will you two please shut up? You’re making me crazy.” Nico snorted. “I think you’re already crazy—and have been for some time.” His pregnant pause would’ve put a three-time Oscar winner to shame. “About Ariel.”

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Chapter 4 Nico’s eyes danced with mischief. “Aren’t you?” Alexei’s jaw dropped and he stopped dead in his tracks. He’d never known his cousin to be quite so perceptive. But then, when it came to women, he’d never needed to be. Alexei had always been one to wear his heart on his sleeve. “Come on. Admit it. You’re acting mighty strange, and it’s the only explanation I can think of.” “Not necessarily.” Alexei searched his brain for another excuse, but drew a blank. The only thing left was the truth. Ariel’s eyes darted back and forth between them. “Excuse me? You’re what?” Nico put up a hand for silence. “Hold on a second. Let’s just let him talk.” Turning to Ariel, Alexei gazed deeply into her beautiful eyes and it all came pouring out. He didn’t even know what he said, but he was pretty sure the little speech he’d given himself earlier that evening was in there somewhere. He knew it had to be, because when he finished, her cheeks were rosy from more than the winter winds, and he’d fallen in love with her all over again. Ariel might’ve been rendered speechless, but Nico had no such problem. “Ha! I knew it!” “I’m sorry, Nico. I know I’ve…” He stopped there, not sure he wanted to put it into words. “What? Snatched every woman I’ve ever met right out from under me and then dumped them?” Alexei closed his eyes and sighed. “Yeah. And it was because of

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Ariel.” He knew what he had to do, but it was killing him. “Go on. Take her home. I’ll get a cab.” “And have you moping around forever? I don’t think so.” Alexei stared at his cousin as though seeing him for the first time. Nico’s gaze was direct and honest, but that tiny smirk made him wonder. “You’re giving her up?” Nico glanced at Ariel. “I could be wrong, but I don’t think I need to.” Ariel waved a hand in front of his face. “Hel-lo. I’m still here. What the hell is going on?” “We’re deciding who has dibs on you,” Alexei said wearily. “Just because I’ve carried a torch for you for who knows how long doesn’t mean I win this time. Nico found you first. You’re his angel, not mine.” She hesitated for a moment, her lips parted slightly as her deep blue eyes searched his face. “Don’t you think I should be the one to make that decision?” Alexei looked away, unable to endure her scrutiny without wavering—and he knew he had to remain firm. For once. “Not if I withdraw. And I do. I know how I felt when you were married to Todd. I was miserable. I hate to say this, but I was kinda glad when I stopped seeing you around town together.” “But you didn’t forget her, did you?” Nico prompted. “Well, no. I didn’t. But I’m not going to do that to you. I know just exactly how hard it is to get over her.” Nico nodded. “Meaning you never have.” “Yeah.” Alexei smiled wistfully. Just once he’d like to know what it was like to hold Ariel and love her the way he’d always dreamed. Just once… “See you later.” Hitching his guitar up on his back, he headed for the street corner. “No, wait,” Ariel blurted out. “Don’t go. I know it sounds insane, but I can’t help that. I want you both.” Alexei stopped and turned to face her. “You mean you were

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serious about that threesome thing?” “Maybe.” She nodded toward his cousin. “I thought Nico was kidding at first—but you weren’t, were you?” Nico shook his head slowly. “Nope. I was perfectly serious.” Alexei still didn’t believe it. No one was that generous, not even Nico. “You’d give up the chance to have her all to yourself?” “Yes, I would. The same way you did just now.” He was right about that much. They were both willing to let the other have what was probably the most precious thing they could ever possess. It was…bizarre. “What the hell is wrong with us?” Nico grinned. “Hey, man. It’s Christmastime. You know…the spirit of giving, brotherhood, and peace on earth?” “And don’t forget goodwill toward men.” Ariel giggled. “Get it? Men?” “Got it.” His mind went blank again, and for a moment he even forgot how to breathe. “Okay. So, if we’re taking you home, does that mean you’ll invite us in?” “For a cup of coffee or something?” She was teasing him now. He could see it in her eyes. She knew exactly what he meant. “Or something.” He heard the suggestive note in his own voice, but stopped himself from taking it any further. She didn’t need to be seduced. She needed to be loved. He wasn’t sure he was capable of it, given his history. Then he remembered that she was the cause and the cure of most of his romantic ills—if she would have him. Her slow smile reassured him like nothing else could. “We could talk this to death, but until we give it a try, we’ll never know if it’ll work.” Ariel wanted him—actually wanted him—and Nico, too. Amazing… He studied her carefully. She was clearly willing to do whatever it took to satisfy two men, despite the risk to her own heart. Alexei knew he’d never want to let her go, but no one could predict the future. It could all turn sour overnight, leaving Ariel with more heartbreak than she ever bargained for. Considering all she’d been

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through, putting her heart on the line like that was nothing short of heroic. He wasn’t sure he deserved a heroine’s love, but that could change—he could change. “I promise you won’t regret it. I’ll do anything to make you happy.” “Me, too,” said Nico. “I may not have loved you for years, but something about this just feels right.” Ariel nodded, shivering. “I felt it, too. Like it was meant to be.” Alexei’s sigh froze in the air before him. He could scarcely believe he was standing on Broadway in the middle of the night, calmly making plans to spend the night—and hopefully the rest of his life—with Ariel and his cousin. Not something I do every day, for sure. “Okay, then. We’ll let this play out and see what happens.” Ariel rushed toward him, her arms encircling his neck as she pulled him down for a kiss. Though brief, it was breathtakingly sweet. Alexei never wanted it to end. Nico cleared his throat. “Um, shouldn’t we get going? I don’t know about you, but I’m freezing my nuts off. And considering what we’re about to do, I think I’ll need them.” “Uh, yeah.” Alexei tore his eyes away from Ariel’s face, trying desperately to collect his thoughts. “Now if I could just remember where I parked the car, we men will take you home and give you all the goodwill you can stand.” Ariel’s smile could’ve lit up the street. “Can’t wait.” **** Ariel was sure she was meant to have both of them. The sudden impulse to head downtown, the sparkling mistletoe above her head, how well the way the band had played—all of it added up to fate or karma or destiny or something. She had no idea what those little sparkles were—good fairies, perhaps?—but they’d left her with such a profound feeling of joy, she couldn’t possibly ignore them. Even so, she held off telling Nico and Alexei the whole story. There might

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come a time when reassurance was required, and regardless of how crazy it might sound, it was still her ace in the hole. Despite his uncertainty, Alexei led them unerringly to a dark blue SUV. He and Nico stowed their instruments in the back and they all squeezed into the front seat. Ariel sat in the middle and Alexei drove, which gave Nico the opportunity to get a head start, but he seemed hesitant. “I’m not sure if I should just sit here and behave myself or kiss your lips off,” he admitted. “Is there some sort of threesome etiquette I should know about?” “Dunno about etiquette, but save some lips for me,” Alexei advised. “Besides, if things get too hot in here, I might wind up running into a tree.” “Oh, I hope not,” Ariel said dryly. “Take a left at the next corner and head south. I live in the apartments just before you get to the mall. And don’t worry. We can wait. It’s not that far.” Nico’s head hit the window with a soft thump. “Speak for yourself. I’m about to die over here.” Ariel laughed. She was already having more fun than she’d had in ages—so long ago she’d almost forgotten what it felt like. “Maybe I should drive from now on. That way you’d both have to behave.” The only problem with that was that she didn’t want them to behave. She was starving to death and they were the feast. Her mouth hungered for their hard, dripping cocks as much as her pussy ached to be filled by them. She hoped they were adventurous lovers because she wanted them to take her in ways she’d never even considered before. Simply watching them through the window of Dilly’s had warmed her heart. Sitting between them ignited an inferno of desire. The car’s heater blasted her feet and legs and Nico and Alexei warmed her from both sides. Even so, her excitement manifested itself in a peculiar manner. Alexei chuckled. “We’ll let you drive next time, but right now, your teeth are chattering. Better let Nico kiss you and warm you up.”

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Nico acted on this suggestion without hesitation. As soon as his lips touched hers, blood rushed to her core, flooding it with heat. Hands that had been chilled and nervous now found solace as her fingers threaded through his thick hair, pulling him closer. Luscious kisses rained down on her face, blazing a path to her neck. Just a few short hours ago, Ariel couldn’t even remember having met this man before, and yet she had no fear of him, no distrust. Arching her neck, she exposed it to him like a vampire’s willing victim. Only he didn’t bite. A swipe of his tongue marked the beginning of a different path, one that returned him to where he began. Sucking her lower lip into his mouth, he teased it gently before delving inside to caress her tongue. His hands held her face and then pushed back her hood, allowing his fingers to thread through her hair. Anxious to learn the contours and textures of his skin, she sought to reach more of it, her fingers finding their way beneath his jacket, touching briefly on the chain around his neck before slipping under his shirt. Need forced her words out in a hoarse whisper. “I want you naked.” Again, he didn’t hesitate. Stripping off his jacket, he pulled the shirt over his head and then unbuckled his belt. In seconds, his jeans were around his ankles and his stiff cock stood like a sentinel between them. He leaned back against the door with his knees spread wide. His masculine scent drove her mad, and the soft light from the dashboard cast its glow on a nude male form that was nothing short of… “Perfect.” “Touch me, Ariel,” he begged. “Put your hands all over me.” He shuddered as her fingertips traced patterns across his chest and arms, skimming down his abdomen until they brushed the slick head of his cock. As she ran a finger over the slit, his muscles contracted, sending more moisture flowing down over the smooth glans. Suddenly, touching wasn’t enough. Bringing a hand to her lips, she licked his salty fluid from her fingertips. “Mmm…you even taste good.”

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Nico drew in a ragged breath. “Then suck me—please.” As she leaned toward his cock, a hand on her back reminded her that she and Nico were not alone. Alexei groaned as his hand slid down over her ass. “You’re making me wish this was July, rather than December. You need to be naked, too.” Ariel quivered as he cupped the fullest part of her bottom and squeezed. His touch sent tremors of excitement coursing through her clit until it was so tightly engorged it hurt. She unbuttoned her jeans and shoved them down to her knees. Pulling up the back of her coat, she knelt on the seat, offering herself to Alexei. “How’s that?” His startled gasp told her all she needed to know. “Holy shit. You expect me to fuckin’ drive with your gorgeous ass aimed right at me?” “Uh-huh. Keep your eyes on the road and your left hand on the wheel while I suck the cum out of Nico.” She aimed a wicked grin over her shoulder. “What you do with your right hand is up to you.” Nico’s breath went out in a hiss as her mouth covered his swollen cockhead. His cock syrup filled her mouth, smoothing the way as she slid her lips down his thick shaft. Rock hard and hot as fire, his dick had to hurt every bit as much as her clit did. But not for long. Alexei’s hand delved between her thighs, gliding past her swollen pussy lips, unerringly seeking the source of her need. Her wet cunt drenched his fingers as she wiggled her hips, displaying her delight. Never before had she felt so sensuous, so wanton, so unbearably hot… Desperate to maintain control despite the flames of pleasure licking their way to her core, she tried to focus her attention on Nico. Gathering his lightly furred scrotum in her hands, she massaged his testicles, reaching beneath them to stroke the sensitive space between his balls and anus. As she pressed harder, he arched his back, lifting his butt up off the seat and driving his cock deeper into her mouth. Nico let out a long, tortured groan. “Oh, God. I’m gonna come so hard…”

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With a throaty chuckle, Ariel let go of his penis. “Yes, you are. But not yet.” Dipping her head lower, she licked his balls, spreading his own creamy moisture over his scrotum. When his sac was completely wet, she opened her mouth wide over the soft, pliant skin and inhaled. Hard. Nico’s head snapped back against the window. “Oh, fuck! She’s sucking my nuts!” Closing her lips around his smooth balls, she licked them all over while taking his cock in her hand. Long, thick, and straight as an arrow, it pulsed within her grasp, pouring more slick sauce from the tight, purplish head as she stroked it from root to crown. Moments later, Nico’s short, panting breaths signaled his impending climax just as Ariel’s clitoris reached that exquisite point when orgasm was not only near, but inevitable. Nico came with a hoarse cry, the initial jet of his creamy semen coating her palm to flow out between her fingers. Releasing her hold on his balls, Ariel fell forward just as one last swirl of Alexei’s fingertip sent her hurtling over the edge. With her hand still curled around Nico’s spewing cock, her core contracted in an ecstasy so intense, she lay helplessly on his chest as spasms racked her body and the last spurt of warm cum landed on her cheek. **** Nico’s head was still spinning when Alexei’s voice seemed to come out of nowhere. “You two better get your pants on. I think this is the place.” Ariel raised her head and nodded. As she pulled up her jeans, she told Alexei where to park. Nico was glad he wasn’t the one giving directions. He had no idea where they were and wasn’t even sure they were still on the same planet. Added to that, at the precise moment of his ejaculation, a flash of light reflecting off Ariel’s hair had nearly blinded him. At least,

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that was how he would relate the event, if indeed he ever did. The fact that the tiny star had hit him like a line drive right between the eyes was a detail he figured he ought to keep to himself. Considering he’d just had his cock—and balls—sucked by a woman he was pretty sure was an angel might explain the phenomenon. However, since she denied it—and no self-respecting angel would ever confess—anyone hearing his story would think he was insane. Alexei shut off the engine and Nico shivered as the chill seeped back into the car. Yanking on his jeans, he was a little surprised to find that his dick still fit inside them. Ariel handed him his shirt and jacket. “Sorry about that. It’ll be my fault if you catch pneumonia.” She sounded serious, and her chagrined expression confirmed it. Nico stared at her in disbelief. “The most incredible event of my life and you’re apologizing?” She smiled indulgently and patted his hand. “Now, Nico, you can’t tell me some cute little groupie hasn’t done that to you before.” “I think I would’ve remembered if one of them had, and I don’t. At least, not like that.” She remained unconvinced. “Alcohol can do strange things to a person’s memory.” “What, you think I would have forgotten? I’ve never been that drunk.” “And I’m not that good. Trust me.” Nico was about to disagree when Alexei laughed and opened the driver’s side door, letting in a blast of frigid air. “Can we finish this discussion inside?” Nico glanced up at the windows of the apartment building. Most were dark, but there were a few lights burning. “I hope your neighbors aren’t watching.” “I doubt it,” she said. “We should probably keep the noise down, though.”

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Nico wasn’t sure he could keep quiet, especially if another one of those balls of light hit him in the face. He wished they were in a big old house out in the country with no one for miles around so he could scream all he liked. Or make Ariel scream. He looked forward to doing that. Maybe he could do it in the morning. The neighbors might hear, but at least they couldn’t fuss about the timing. He was about to put on his shirt when he remembered that his belly was covered with cum. “Don’t suppose we’ve got any paper towels, do we?” Ariel laughed softly. “Here. Use my shirt. That’s what I did.” She opened her coat to reveal a wet spot the size of a grapefruit on the front of her pretty pink top. Nico winced. “Sorry about that.” “Don’t worry. I can change it. You only have the one.” With another chuckle, she added, “Guess that’s what I get for not swallowing your juice.” Nico had just come harder than ever before, but between that comment and the way she leaned forward to dry him off with the hem of her shirt, he had a feeling his dick would never be soft again. Then he imagined how she would look with his cream splattered all over her tits and almost spooged in her face. Struggling for control, he pulled on his shirt and got out of the car. The cold air helped to curb his emotions somewhat, but he knew it wouldn’t last. “Keep saying things like that and you’re liable to get nailed.” “Oh, I’m counting on it,” she said smoothly as he helped her to alight. “But let’s go inside first. Then you can both get naked.” Alexei came around the car and took her other hand. “I’ve got a better idea. How about we all get naked?”

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Chapter 5 After so many years of fantasizing about Ariel, Alexei realized the one thing he’d never imagined was her home—that, and the fact that she’d be sharing a bed with him and Nico. He wouldn’t have come up with that on his own in a million years. However, the moment he set foot inside her apartment, he also discovered that aside from having been Todd Nathanson’s wife, she was an artist and very feminine in her tastes—the style, the colors, and the textures. If she’d shared this apartment with Todd, every trace of him was gone. Everything except his guitar. The classic Fender he used to play so well rested silently on a stand in the corner of the living room. There wasn’t an amplifier in sight. The dining room had been put to use as an art studio. Two works in progress sat on easels and several finished paintings were propped against the wall. A stack of fresh canvases sat in the far corner. The scent of paint filled the air. Alexei gestured toward the paintings. “You said you had to work late today. Is this what you were doing?” She shook her head. “No, this is what I do for, um…therapy. I’m a freelance commercial artist. I had a project due today.” Smiling sheepishly, she added, “It took longer than I thought it would.” “You mean you don’t make a living with these?” Alexei was no art critic, but they looked damn good to him. “Oh, heavens no,” she said, laughing. “I’ve given away lots of them, but mostly I just stick them on the wall.” A quick visual sweep of the two adjoining rooms confirmed this. Several paintings hung there, all of them done in the same style. “I

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like them. Bet you could sell them if you tried.” “Maybe.” She shrugged as though the money didn’t matter. Typical artist. Alexei knew a lot of good guitar pickers who preferred playing on street corners for whoever would listen over making a career of it. He knew the feeling. Doing what you loved for a paycheck had a tendency to turn it into just another job. Still, earning enough to give up the day job was a goal for most musicians, though comparatively few ever achieved it. Nico circled the room, studying the paintings one by one. “Ever do any portraits?” Alexei hadn’t noticed what was missing, but Nico was right. Among the landscapes, still lifes, and the more abstract works, there wasn’t a single portrait. He glanced at Ariel, noting the wince that accompanied her reply. “Some.” That subtle change in her demeanor could only mean one thing. There was least one portrait somewhere in her apartment, and it was most likely a painting of Todd. It was probably hanging in the bedroom too. Yet another reason we should have taken her to our place. Nico chuckled wickedly. “You should do Alexei’s portrait. I know a bunch of girls who would get into a bidding war over it. You’d get rich overnight.” Alexei rolled his eyes. “I doubt if any of them have that much money.” Ariel apparently disagreed. “Wait until you guys have had a few big hits. You might be surprised.” “All the more reason why you should do it now,” Nico insisted. “While he’s still young and handsome.” Nico seldom missed the opportunity to make a remark like that, and Alexei was never sure how to take them, though his wink and impish smile took away some of the sting. Normally, he laughed them off, but this one made him wonder. Was it a testament to his attractiveness to women or a reminder that he wasn’t immune to the

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effects of age? Ariel nodded. “Actually, I should paint portraits of both of you.” Narrowing her eyes at Nico, she added, “While you’re both still young and handsome.” Nico grinned. “Yes, but he’s older than I am—thirty-two to my twenty-eight. Better do his first. You’ll make more money on him anyway.” Nico was joking, but Alexei finally understood. The realization of what he’d done to his younger cousin hit him like a hammer to the chest. “I’m sorry you feel that way, Nico. Sorry I’ve made you feel that way.” Nico stared at him in surprise. “What the hell do you mean by that?” Alexei hesitated, unsure of how to put it. Fortunately, Ariel didn’t have that problem, phrasing it quite succinctly. “What he means is that he’s sorry he’s made you feel like you were incapable of holding on to a woman by stealing them away from you all the time.” She shifted her gaze to Alexei. “Am I right?” He nodded. “That about sums it up.” “It was rather tacky of you,” Ariel chided. “Not to mention bad for his ego.” Nico blew out an exasperated snort. “Look, if I’d really cared about any of them, it would’ve been different, but I didn’t. The way I see it, I’ve gotten attention from women who ordinarily wouldn’t have given me the time of day. And it’s all because of you.” Alexei gaped at him. “You mean you think they were using you to get to me?” Nico shrugged. “Well…yeah. Some of them even admitted it.” “I had no idea.” Alexei couldn’t quite believe it, either. It was inconsiderate to say the least. At its worst, it was downright cold— heartless, even. “I’m really sorry.” Ariel’s pretty blue eyes snapped with righteous anger. “Of all the nerve! I’d like to slap the shit out of those girls.” She paused for an

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instant before glaring at Nico. “You don’t think that’s what I’m doing, do you?” “No, I don’t,” Nico insisted. “This is completely different.” He paused, shaking his head. “I had no illusions about any of the others, Alexei. I knew exactly what they were doing—and so did they. Guess I should’ve told you that before.” “Excuse me?” Ariel’s voice was so high-pitched, it was almost a squeal. “Do you mean to tell me that no woman has ever wanted you for yourself?” “Well, maybe some of them did, but they were never right for me.” Nico gazed at Ariel with his heart in his eyes. “I never felt the magic like I did with you tonight—ever—and that’s what I’ve been waiting for.” Alexei had never witnessed a declaration that was more sincere. If she doesn’t believe him, there’s no hope for either of us. Apparently she took him at his word because Nico got a hug from her similar to the one she’d given Alexei earlier that evening. When she finally let go of Nico, Alexei noted that he’d felt no jealousy whatsoever while watching them together—which under the circumstances was a good thing, if a bit unusual. She smiled at them expectantly. “So…does anyone want coffee? Tea? Tequila?” Alexei sighed. Choose any of those things over a few more moments with Ariel in his arms? Never. “We only want you.” He glanced at Nico. “Right?” “Absolutely.” Nico yawned and stretched—rather dramatically, Alexei thought. “Dunno about you two, but I’m ready for bed.” Ariel grinned. “If nothing else, this should be interesting.” “Oh, I certainly hope so,” Alexei said. “Lead the way.” As they entered Ariel’s bedroom, Alexei was very glad he always carried more than one condom. He didn’t know if Nico had any on him or not, but with two dicks to cover, they’d probably run through a whole box of them in a week. He still couldn’t believe what was

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about to happen—what had already happened. He’d actually driven down Hillsboro Pike with his hand on Ariel’s pussy. He’d even made her come. Not surprisingly, his dick was about to explode. Ariel’s long-sleeved knit top hugged her body like a second skin, its scooped neck drawing attention to her softly rounded breasts. The fact that Nico’s cum was smeared all over the front of it was an even bigger turn-on—as if he needed any encouragement. If anything, he could’ve used something to cool him off—though the discussion they’d just had might’ve helped a little. He’d discovered more about his cousin in those few short minutes than he’d learned in the past twenty-five years. They’d practically grown up together, but Nico had still surprised him. So had Ariel, and not simply because she’d admitted to wanting two men. He’d always suspected she had a lot of passion in her, but not having seen her for several years, he wasn’t sure if what he remembered about her was real or simply a part of his ongoing fantasies. Obviously, the uninhibited part was real. She’d proved that much already. Her beautiful body was real—and he’d only seen the bottom half of it. What was the most surprising was that she’d taken control of the situation—in the car, and even now that she was in her bedroom with two randy Greek cousins. She turned on the lamp by a bed that, thankfully, looked big enough for all three of them. “So, do we all get naked now?” Nico asked with an expectant gleam in his eyes. “Sure,” Ariel replied. “Unless Alexei wants to go first.” She might as well have given him a command. Without another thought, Alexei unbuttoned his shirt and stripped it off. Unfortunately, even the chilly air on his bare chest didn’t stop the fire in his groin. If anything, her eyes on him made his dick stiffer than ever. She licked her lips. “Nice.” Nico pulled off his own shirt. “What about me?” Ariel rolled her eyes and chuckled. “Didn’t I say you were

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perfect?” “Oh, yeah. Right. I forgot about that.” As Ariel walked toward Alexei, a playful smile curled her lips and her smoky blue eyes promised him that the best was yet to come. “If you don’t mind, I’ll take it the rest of the way.” He held his breath as she approached. Her eyes never left his as she unbuckled his belt and then unfastened the button on his jeans. As she slowly pulled the zipper down, his dick strained against the fabric, soaking his briefs with pre-cum. “You’re making me crazy, Ariel. You know that, don’t you?” “Oh, I hope so. You made me kinda crazy on the drive over here. I’m just returning the favor.” Her hands circled his waist and then slid downward over his hips, pushing his clothing off as they went. His pants fell to his ankles, his heavy belt buckle hitting the hardwood floor with a loud clunk. She didn’t bother to look down at what she’d uncovered, apparently preferring to explore with her hands. His next breath whistled in through clenched teeth as her fingers traced the contours of his cock. She seemed to like what she felt there, for her expression held a trace of awe. She cupped his balls as though feeling their weight. “How could one woman possibly deserve to have a Greek god and a Greek hunk in her bedroom at the same time?” Alexei opened his mouth to speak, but any words he might have spoken were swallowed up in his sharp inhale as she rotated her palm over the head of his cock. Quivering with anticipation, he watched as her mouth curved into a slow, sensuous smile. Ariel had never been one of those loud, flamboyant women. She’d been quiet, almost shy, but she was certainly proving the old adage that still waters ran deep. His nuts twitched as she spread the slick syrup down the underside of his shaft. Nico moved in behind her. He hadn’t wasted any time losing his boots and jeans. “Alexei is obviously the hunk, so I guess that means I’m the god, huh?” “Mmmhmm…” She may have sounded like a purring cat, but

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Nico was right. She was an angel. Blonde hair curled in soft tendrils around her face, the longest locks skimming the soft swell of her breasts. Just above the valley between them, a heart-shaped silver pendant hung from a delicate chain, a glittering sapphire embedded in one side. Nico began undressing her. Slowly, steadily, he pushed her jeans to the floor and then lifted the hem of her shirt. Alexei had to stifle a groan when she let go of his cock and balls to raise her arms, but the visual was worth the loss of her touch. Almost. Alexei only had a brief moment to admire the way her lacy bra cradled her luscious tits before Nico unhooked the back and pushed the straps down her arms. Alexei drank in the sight of her, branding his memory with the vision of rosy, erect nipples begging for his touch and his kiss. Nico’s hands got there ahead of him, though. As he stroked the length of her body, she leaned back against him, stretching her arms up and back, draping them around his neck. In sharp contrast with Nico’s olive coloring, her creamy skin almost seemed to glow. Dipping his head, Alexei captured one succulent nipple with his lips. Ariel’s gasp of pleasure sent another pulse through his dick as Nico’s hand splayed over her other breast in a shockingly erotic manner. Ariel sighed, arching her back. “Tired, angel?” Nico murmured. “Want us to put you to bed?” “I’m not tired, but bed sounds wonderful.” Alexei was more than happy to comply since he was having difficulty remaining vertical as it was. After all, this wasn’t just any ordinary girl, this was Ariel. He’d dreamed of this since the moment he first met her, and he wanted to do it right. Unfortunately, his dick was the one calling the shots. Nico seemed much more relaxed, but then, she’d already gotten him off once in the car. Perhaps that was the answer; a quick fuck to take the edge off his emotions. After that, he could do the deed with a little more finesse. Maybe. Somehow or another, all three of them wound up in Ariel’s bed.

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Alexei was losing it. Rapidly. In another moment he would plunge his cock into Ariel for the first time. Nico handed him a condom, but his hands were shaking so badly he could hardly tear open the wrapper, let alone put it on. He’d never been more frustrated in his life. Ariel was waiting for him, and he was all thumbs. All he wanted was to roll her onto her back and fuck her until he couldn’t fuck anymore. Even then, he wasn’t sure it would be enough. Nico was laughing his ass off as Alexei finally finished the job of unrolling the condom over his dick. “I never thought my studly cousin would have so much trouble putting on a condom. God knows you’ve had plenty of practice.” Nico gave Alexei a pat on the thigh. “Come on, big guy. Have at it—and make it quick,” he added with a wink. “I’m next.” Alexei was gazing at Ariel, almost afraid to move, or even breathe, when her pendant drew his eye. He stared at it, wondering if Todd had given it to her when a spark with a tail like a comet flew out of the glittering stone and hit him right between the eyes. He blinked and glanced at Nico, who had apparently seen nothing. Telling himself it didn’t matter and that this was not the time to discuss unexplainable phenomena, he reached for Ariel, but could barely make her out through the spots before his eyes. It was as though he’d been staring into the sun. “I’ll try.” A moment later Ariel’s puzzled face swam into view. “Are you okay?” Alexei rubbed his eyes. “I don’t know… I was fine until…well, you’re not gonna believe this, but a little comet just hit me in the face.” “A comet?” He didn’t blame her for sounding skeptical. After all, he was beginning to think he’d gone nutso himself. Might as well admit it. “Yeah. A teeny tiny comet flew out of your necklace and hit me. I think it fried my brains.” It had certainly affected his eyesight. If he’d expected derisive laughter, he didn’t get it. The two of

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them faced him in silence. Complete and utter silence. “Did you hear what I said?” “Yeah, we heard,” Nico replied. “So why aren’t you laughing? Or are you trying to figure out how to have me committed?” He blinked a few more times. The spots seemed to be clearing, but the looks on Ariel’s and Nico’s faces made him wish he’d kept his mouth shut. Nico cleared his throat and sat back on his heels. “Practically blinded you, didn’t it?” The spots were definitely clearing now. Once again, that wasn’t the reaction he’d expected. “Did you see it, too?” “Well, no, but I had a…a similar experience. Recently.” He glanced at Ariel. “Very recently.” Ariel’s expression was a peculiar mix of surprise and foreknowledge, like she was somehow responsible—or guilty. He waited for her to explain. She didn’t say a word. “I…I thought the light I saw was a reflection off her hair,” Nico said. “But maybe it was the necklace.” Ariel’s fingers closed around her pendant as though trying to shield them from further comet strikes. “Todd gave it to me on our first anniversary. Does it bother you? Do you want me to take it off?” Alexei shook his head. “Not necessarily, I’m just trying to figure this out.” That is, if it could be figured out. “When did your comet hit you, Nico?” He smiled sheepishly and his color deepened. “Right about the time I came like a damn fountain.” And mine hit me before I ever got started. Crap. “Well…I’ve never been one to believe in the supernatural, but I think this means something.” He took a deep breath. This was harder to say than when he’d relinquished his rights—if he actually had any—to Ariel. “Maybe the timing is significant. You got yours just as you were finishing, and mine…” He stopped there, unable to complete that thought. It felt like a death sentence to his love for Ariel.

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“Happened just now.” Nico nodded. “I see what you mean.” “I’m definitely taking off this necklace,” Ariel declared. “Putting it in a box and never wearing it again.” She gazed wistfully at Alexei. “Look, if you don’t want to go through with this, just say so.” Tears began to pool in her eyes. “It was a stupid idea anyway. Guess that’s what I get for being so greedy.” Alexei understood how it must’ve seemed to her. At the moment of truth, he’d backed off—and for the most ridiculous reason in the world. “No, it isn’t a stupid idea, and you aren’t being greedy. I’m the one who’s being an idiot. I’ve loved you for years, but I was about to nail you to the fuckin’ bed, and damn the consequences.” He paused, sifting through the possible meanings. He was about to go with his original interpretation when, suddenly, the light dawned. “Okay. Got it. Message received—loud and clear.”

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Chapter 6 Ariel waited as long as she could before asking the question he obviously wasn’t going to answer without prompting. “Care to share that message with the rest of us?” Alexei shook his head. “Nope. It was intended for me.” “I see…Let me put it another way. Are you planning to stick around, or have I seen the last of you?” Alexei grinned wickedly. “No, you haven’t seen the last of me. And you won’t. Not for a long, long time.” She sighed with relief. “You had me worried there for a minute.” “Me, too,” Nico said. “I was really looking forward to being part of a three-way with you guys—er, you two.” “Just as long as you don’t fuck my ass, we’re good,” Alexei said. Nico snickered. “Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of fucking Ariel’s ass.” Ariel bit her lip but couldn’t hold back a whimper. “What? You don’t like that?” Nico whispered. “Oh, please tell me you do.” Wincing, she nodded. “You have no idea how much. It was something I used to fantasize about, but Todd wasn’t the threesome type.” At least, she didn’t think he was. She’d been too chicken to ever broach the subject so she didn’t know for certain. However, even though jealousy hadn’t been a problem, he had his limits, and she knew they didn’t extend to sharing her with another man. Alexei slid his hand up her arm, fixing her with a sultry gaze that made her heart pound and her pussy ache. “So, you want us both at the same time?”

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“Oh, yeah,” she said with a moan. “Maybe not every time, but once in a while, for sure.” His slow, deliberate nod made her shiver. “I think we can handle that.” He paused, running his tongue over his lips in a manner that was far more erotic than it should have been. “The choreography might be a little rough the first few times, but I bet we have a ton of fun figuring it out.” “I’m counting on it.” Ariel focused on his eyes as he closed the short distance between them, waiting until the last instant before their lips touched to allow her own eyes to close. Soft, pliant, but at the same time demanding, he made love to her with his mouth, eliciting moans and sighs over which she had absolutely no control. Hot kisses traced a path to her breasts, teasing her nipples, flooding her pussy with moist desire. The mattress dipped and a warm breath on her shoulder assured her that Nico hadn’t been content to sit and watch. His tongue traced the shell of her ear as his hands slid downward, cupping her bottom before kneading it with his fingers. She could feel his cock pressing into the cleft, its slick heat making no secret of the fact that though he had a condom handy, he had yet to don it. His blunt head found her anus, gliding over her sensitive flesh—tantalizing, promising, but not yet seeking entry. Her entire body was crying out for both men, but it was Alexei who answered her need first. Giving Nico an apologetic smile, he pulled her beneath him. “We’ll do the rest of it in a minute. Right now, there’s something I have to do or I’m just gonna up and die.” **** The moment of penetration shook Alexei to the core. Unlike so many women he’d only wanted until he lay between their legs, he knew this was only the beginning with Ariel. She was his one enduring dream; the only one that had ever truly mattered. As she

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welcomed him inside and wrapped him in her warmth, his years of wandering ceased in one joyous, miraculous homecoming. The soft purr from deep in her throat urged him on, and he rocked into her, slowly, carefully, each new sensation more exquisite than the last. She lay beneath him, her eyes gentle and contented as he filled her. Rotating his hips, he swept her inner walls with his cock, watching as her expression progressed slowly from blissful to orgasmic. Every sound she made, every touch of her fingertips, even each breath she took filled him with an emotion more powerful than any he’d ever experienced. Lust was strong, but highly overrated. This was love. As she reached her climax, he saw it all in her eyes—the laughter, the tears, the joy, and the pain. Life. The fact that Nico would be there to share it with them made the prospect of a life together that much sweeter. It was time to bring him into the fold. Alexei slowly ramped down his thrusts. There would be more pinnacles to reach on this night. Hers was only the first. Nico lay propped up on one elbow beside Ariel, his fingertips exploring her hair while his eyes feasted on her face. “My God, that was beautiful.” He shifted his gaze to Alexei. “I’ve never watched it happen before. Incredible…” “Now I get to watch you do it,” Alexei said. “Better get that condom on. Hold tight, Ariel.” He rolled onto his back, taking her with him. He glanced at his cousin. “Ever gone in the back door before?” Nico smiled sheepishly. “No. But I understand the basic principle.” Ariel giggled. “Oh, I’m so glad to hear that.” **** Nico sat up, reaching for a condom, half expecting another twinkly little star to hit him in the eyes. At least my hands aren’t

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shaking. “These things are lubricated, but I’m not sure they’ll be enough. I don’t want to hurt you, Ariel.” Alexei cleared his throat. “Uh, I’ve got some extra lube in my jacket. It’s in the inside pocket. The one with a zipper.” Ariel began laughing hysterically, but Nico just shook his head. “I should’ve known you’d be prepared for anything,” he muttered as he got up from the bed. After tripping over his own jeans and nearly falling on his face, he finally found Alexei’s jacket on the floor. A quick search of the inner lining revealed a treasure trove of goodies. “Holy shit, there’s all kinds of stuff in here! Lube, extra condoms, and—oh, my God—you’ve even got a vibrating cock ring.” Nico had a hard time getting up the nerve to buy condoms over the counter, let alone cock rings. Leave it to Alexei… “Where the hell do you get all this stuff?” Alexei chuckled. “Walmart.” “You’re shittin’ me! Wally World carries vibrating cock rings?” “Yep. Right next to the Trojans.” “Well, I’ll be damned. Learn something new every day.” He gave the package a quick examination, then eyed his cousin askance. “It’s pink.” “So?” “So you wear a pink ring around your dick when you’re fucking?” “Well…actually, I prefer to put them around my balls.” The damned thing didn’t look big enough to fit around Alexei’s dick, let alone his nuts, which were kind of big and dangly. “And your balls still work?” “Those rings stretch, Nico,” Alexei said patiently. “A lot.” By this time, Ariel had her head down on Alexei’s chest, laughing so hard she sounded like she was crying. It was a wonder she hadn’t laughed Alexei’s dick right out of her pussy, but it appeared to still be firmly ensconced. “Oh, God,” she gasped. “You guys are killing me.” Ariel’s ass jiggled enticingly when she laughed. Nico stared at it for a long moment then glanced at the package in his hand. “Can I

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open it?” “Sure, go ahead,” Alexei replied. “The switch is on the end of the vibrator barrel.” In the process of finding the switch, Nico discovered something else. “It’s got lips on it!” A closer look revealed teeth and a tongue. Kinda creepy… “Yeah,” Alexei said. “You aim that part wherever you want a little extra stimulation.” “Meaning at her clit if you’ve got it on your dick,” Nico surmised. “Which way do you turn it when you’ve got it on your balls?” “Back toward my ass,” he said with a grin. “It makes me come really hard.” Nico quirked an eyebrow at his cousin. “Sounds sort of gay to me.” Alexei rolled his eyes. “I’m not gay, just…adventurous.” He nodded toward Ariel, who was wiping the tears from her eyes. “Are you going to fuck her ass or not?” “Yes, I’m going to fuck her ass. If you’ll quit distracting me with sex toys.” “Actually, you might want to use that ring,” Alexei said helpfully. “Your dick needs to be really hard to stay inside an ass.” “The voice of experience speaks,” Nico quipped as Ariel dissolved into helpless laughter once again. “I’ve got news for you, dear cousin. My dick could penetrate steel at this point. I don’t need a fuckin’ cock ring.” Tossing the pink toy aside, he ripped open a condom package and had his dick sheathed in record time. Then he doused his cock with lube and dribbled some more on Ariel. “Yep, my dick is plenty hard. So, how about it, Ariel? Hard and fast, or slow and careful?” “Slow and careful and then hard and fast,” she replied. “It’s…been a while.” “Gotcha.” Nico had always liked fucking from behind, but he hadn’t been lying when he said he’d never done an ass. Most girls

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totally freaked out at the mere mention of it, but Nico had always been something of an ass enthusiast. Ariel’s was world-class, too— smooth, round, firm, and amazingly hot. And she’ll be my first. Oh, wow… He nearly lost it when he crawled up behind her. “That is one astonishingly beautiful ass, Ariel.” He paused to kiss both cheeks and then nipped at her playfully. Getting up on his knees, he pressed his blunt cockhead against her tight ring. “Here goes.” Nico knew it would take some time to get her loosened up, but he wasn’t prepared for how much she would moan while he was doing it. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” “Oh, heavens no,” she groaned. “That feels so incredible.” Cheered by this revelation, he pushed in deeper. Almost there… He glanced down at where his cock joined with her ass and almost shot his wad. “It looks incredible too.” “I’ll take your word for it,” Ariel said, panting. Alexei chuckled. “Got your phone handy? You could take a picture for her.” “Yeah, right,” Nico snorted. “Like I’m gonna stop and go get my damned phone now. I’m almost in.” “Don’t stop,” Ariel begged. “Whatever you do, please, don’t stop.” “I won’t. Like I said, I’m almost…ahhhh….” Nico’s eyes rolled back in his head as she finally relaxed enough that his cock slid inside her tight hole. Ariel made a sound the likes of which Nico had never heard before. “Are you okay?” “Yes,” she hissed. “Don’t stop.” Nico couldn’t have stopped even if he’d wanted to—at least, he didn’t think he could. He’d had a few genuinely erotic experiences in his life, but this one topped them all. “Don’t want to.” Then Alexei joined in and Nico had to bite his lip to stifle a scream. He hadn’t been prepared for the idea that he would actually be able to feel Alexei’s cock sliding beneath his. He hated to admit it,

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but it felt fantastic. Gripping Ariel’s hips, he worked her slow and deep. If she was going to let them both fuck her, he knew he had some serious competition in Alexei. To hold a candle to his more experienced cousin, his performance couldn’t simply be good, it had to be artistic. He had to love her, too. She’d asked if it was necessary back when they were verbally sparring, trying to decide if either of them was actually serious about engaging in a ménage à trois. It wasn’t something Nico had ever considered before. Hell, he would have counted himself lucky if Ariel had married Alexei and he only got a hug and a chaste peck on the cheek from her now and then. Being part of this was far beyond his wildest dreams. Ariel was pretty damned dreamy, too—and Nico didn’t really know her at all. Despite the magic, it was tough to commit to something like this for the long run. He should have loved her simply for taking pity on him, but it wasn’t like that. He’d said it simply felt right. And it did. Deciding he needed more freedom of movement, he stood up on the bed with his knees slightly bent. It wasn’t the most comfortable position, but it certainly enabled him to do some seriously artistic fucking. If her moans and sighs were any indication, she liked having two dicks in her. Nico tried to imagine how that would feel and couldn’t. He had no frame of reference from which to judge, unless someone were to suck his nuts while someone else sucked his cock. Somehow, he didn’t think that was going to happen in the current arrangement, but then he remembered how it felt when Ariel had sucked his balls while she jacked him off… Oh, yeah, that would do it. He’d always imagined that having your ass fucked was something best completed in a hurry, but if he wasn’t mistaken, the longer it lasted, the more Ariel seemed to be enjoying it. She wasn’t simply lying there between them, passively accepting their cocks into her body, either. No, she was pushing back against him, forcing him in

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deeper. He could only assume Alexei was getting it, too. She was fucking them. The moment that realization struck, his need went spiraling out of control and suddenly, he couldn’t fuck her hard enough or fast enough. He tried to slow down, focusing his eyes on her body, the gentle curves of her waist and hips and the way her blonde curls cascaded down her back, but it didn’t help. Especially when his eyes drifted down to her beautifully rounded ass with his hands splayed out over it, his fingers gripping tightly as he slammed into her. When her head flew back and she cried out in ecstasy, Nico’s control snapped completely and his cock erupted, spewing out a jet of cream with such force he wasn’t sure the condom could contain it. Somehow, someday, he wanted to do this without any barriers. Wanted to feel his cum bathing her deep channel. Wanted to watch it leaking out of her as she lay sated and exhausted in their bed. Wanted to see her slow, sensuous smile when he asked if he’d pleased her. She wouldn’t even have to answer him. He would know. No, this wasn’t the first and only time he would make love to her like this. It was the first of many. He would make sure of it—and if he wasn’t in love with her now, he would be soon. Very, very soon. **** Alexei was glad she’d left the light on. If he’d had to do this in the dark, he probably could have, but he would have missed the privilege of watching Ariel lose herself in the throes of passion. He’d been with plenty of women who insisted on total darkness, but the mere thought of what he would have missed this time humbled him in ways impossible to quantify. She was wild and beautiful, completely out of control, and he loved it. The added factor of Nico doing her ass…well, that was enough to make a man come simply from being there to see it—and hear it. He’d always enjoyed the more vocal women, but Ariel outdid them all. Not so loud as to seem fake, her

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reactions to the efforts of two men doing their utmost to give her pleasure were open, honest, and thrilling to hear. Alexei knew her enjoyment was far more important than his own. He already loved her; she had no need to seduce him or tease him—or even to do anything unusual to impress him with her technique. Her pleasure was his pleasure, and when her pussy squeezed his cock in climax, his wasn’t far behind. As he gazed up into the face of the only woman he had ever truly loved, his body gave up the fight and poured his love—and his seed—into her with deep, gut-wrenching spasms that seemed to go on forever. He was only dimly aware that he and Nico had come at the same time, but as Ariel lay relaxed and sated on his chest, he wasn’t surprised. Her orgasm had triggered theirs, as surely as sunrise followed the night. They were connected in a way that astonished him—and it wasn’t only physical. There was something mystical and fantastic about the way they’d come together. It wasn’t simply a great fuck, it was a great event. Thinking back to the tiny comet he’d seen, he knew he hadn’t imagined it, particularly after hearing Nico’s story. Ariel hadn’t said much about it, nor had she scoffed. There was something she hadn’t told them yet. But she would tell them eventually. He knew it. Ariel lifted her head, her eyes soft in the afterglow of passion. “So, what was the message?” “Message?” Her wry grin warmed his heart. “The one delivered by the teeny tiny comet.” “Oh…that message. Don’t know who sent it, but I think it was telling me to slow the fuck down and make love to you, rather than fucking your brains out.” Alexei threaded his fingers through her hair, pulling her into a deeply satisfying kiss. “It was good advice.” Nico planted a kiss on Ariel’s shoulder, and then slowly withdrew. Crawling up beside Alexei, he rolled over onto his back. “I’m pretty sure I know who sent it—and the little star that hit me,

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too.” Alexei snickered. “Who? The Ghost of Christmas Present?” Nico shook his head, pointing at the wall opposite the bed. “No, I think he would probably qualify as the Ghost of Christmas Past.” Following Nico’s gesture, Alexei finally saw the portrait he’d been so sure would be there. Todd Nathanson was smiling down at him, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

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Chapter 7 The likeness was uncanny. Ariel had somehow managed to capture the sheer essence of the man. It wasn’t simply a portrait of Todd; it was Todd—at least, the way Alexei remembered him. It might have been simply because she’d loved the subject, but still… “You have got some serious talent, Ariel.” She shrugged. “Maybe. Unfortunately, there isn’t a huge market for portraits these days. Too bad I wasn’t alive and painting two hundred years ago. I might have actually had a career.” “Well, for our sakes, I’m glad you were born a little later,” Alexei said. “But I see what you mean.” She traced a fingertip over his chest, making him shiver. He wondered if her touch would ever become commonplace and sincerely hoped it wouldn’t. Her eyes met his for a moment before she glanced at Nico. “Do you really believe that ghost thing?” “Don’t you? It’s the only thing that makes any sense.” “If the existence of ghosts or spirits makes any sense, then yes, I suppose it does.” She hesitated, tracing patterns around the medallion that lay on his chest, occasionally pushing it from side to side. “Generally speaking, I don’t believe in ghosts, but I talk to that painting all the time. I was feeling really down earlier today. I was…angry with him.” “Angry?” Somehow Alexei couldn’t imagine her ever being angry with anyone, especially Todd. “Yes.” She heaved a sigh that held a shudder of sadness. “I was angry with him—not for getting himself killed, but for making me love him, grieve for him, and miss him for so long after he was gone.

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I told him it was unfair—that I needed to move on. I’ve just never been able to do it.” “Until tonight,” Nico said. She nodded. “Yeah. Tonight was definitely different.” Her gaze shifted back to Nico. “After I’d ranted at him for a while, I called a cab. I just had to get out of here. I didn’t even know where I was going at first, but when the cabbie asked if I wanted to go downtown, I just nodded and told him to drop me off at Legends Corner—it was the first place I thought of. He probably figured I’d go there and get drunk, and then hail another cab to take me home.” She laughed ruefully. “I never even bought a drink.” “There was definitely something spooky going on—but a good kind of spooky,” Nico said. “I’m sure other people walked up behind me like you did, but I felt your eyes on the back of my head—and the way we played…” He paused, shaking his head. “I wonder if we’ll ever sound that good again.” “You will,” Ariel said with conviction. “That wasn’t magic. That was talent.” “I sure hope you’re right,” Nico said. “Guess we’ll find out the next time we play.” Ariel didn’t say anything else for a few moments, her eyes seemingly riveted to his chest while Alexei studied her face. “Something happened to you too. Didn’t it?” he prompted. She wet her lips, chewing thoughtfully on the lower one while she formed her reply. Alexei tried not to see it as sensual, but it was— amazingly so. His cock was still inside her, and though it had been getting softer, the blood began to surge through his groin. Again. “It happened when you guys kissed me under the mistletoe. I looked up and there were these tiny sparkles fluttering around it like moths. One dove down and hit me while I was kissing you, Nico, and another one struck when Alexei came up behind me. I didn’t know what it meant, but I felt such joy…you can’t possibly know how much.”

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“Oh, yes, I can,” Alexei said. “I felt it the moment Nico threw you into my arms.” He closed his eyes as that same rush of emotions washed over him—joy, elation, love—only this time, without the underlying agony. She tapped the medallion with a fingertip. “Nico wears one of these, too. Does it have some meaning?” “It’s a Macedonian starburst—a Greek symbol that dates back to the time of Alexander the Great, maybe even earlier. We’ve had them since we were kids. Our grandmother gave them to us. Why?” “I don’t know… I remember seeing it on Nico and thinking it had some…significance. Then I saw those little twinkling stars in the mistletoe… They looked just like this right before they hit me.” Nico’s jaw dropped as if he’d been hit by another one. “Sounds pretty significant to me,” he said. “Definitely not something we should ignore.” Alexei wasn’t so sure. “How come mine looked like a comet?” Nico shrugged. “Damned if I know. I didn’t get that good a look at mine. Could’ve been either one.” He narrowed his eyes in a reproachful glare. “If I were you, I’d quit being so nitpicky and take it on faith. I mean, how many times has a star or a comet hit you right between the eyes?” Alexei certainly couldn’t argue with his logic. “Point made.” Nico’s expression brightened. “So, we’re just going to assume that our threesome was meant to be and go ahead with it?” Ariel chuckled, shaking her head. “Somehow, I don’t think it’ll be quite that easy.” “You might be surprised,” Nico said. “I’m thinking about a nice, big house in the country, the three of us—maybe some kids. All you’d have to do is marry one of us, and then we’d all have the same last name. We wouldn’t even be able to tell who fathered the children—at least, not just by looking at them.” “Yes, but which one of you would I marry? I’m not sure I can choose.”

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Nico grinned wickedly. “Hey, my star hit you first.” “But I was in love with you first,” Alexei pointed out. “That ought to count for something.” “Tough call, either way,” Ariel said. “Too bad our culture doesn’t allow for this sort of thing.” Alexei nearly had a heart attack when she sat up. Not only was she the most incredible sight he’d ever beheld, her movement drove his cock in deeper than ever. Her eyes widened in surprise. “Damn. Is it always hard?” “Give me a break, Ariel. The love of my life is sitting on top of me and my dick is still inside her. I hate to say it, but I want you again. Probably ought to use a new condom, though.” **** Nico took that as his cue and got up. “Me, too. But this time, I get to face her. I’ll be right back.” A few minutes later, he returned with a squeaky clean cock, two condoms, and a towel. “Want the pretty pink cock ring?” Alexei chuckled. “Don’t think I’ll need it, either.” Ariel groaned as she dismounted. “I’m gonna be so sore tomorrow.” “We’ll stay out of your ass, then,” Nico said cheerfully. No way did he ever want her to regret letting him nail her ass. It was entirely too hot to only do once. “You can suck Alexei while I fuck you. Then maybe we can switch.” “If I last that long,” Alexei said as he stripped off the condom. “All this talk is making me horny as hell.” “Better go wash your dick first, big shot,” Nico advised. “Gotta keep our woman clean and healthy.” Ariel hopped up. “Dibs on the potty.” Alexei waved her on. “Ladies first.” Nico tossed him the towel as the bathroom door closed behind

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Ariel. “That was absolutely beautiful. She’s beautiful. It’s easy to see why you’ve loved her for so long.” Alexei nodded. “It’s hard to believe that you weren’t in love with her, too. Hell, I can’t believe any man who ever laid eyes on her wouldn’t feel the same way. And it’s not just the way she looks, either. She’s simply…perfect.” Nico couldn’t have agreed more. “Back then, I didn’t have the guts to fall for an angel, perfect or otherwise. Don’t know how I ever found the courage to do it now. And I have fallen for her. Hard and fast.” He climbed back onto the bed, sprawling right in the middle. “And I like being here; I like her bed, her paintings…everything.” He took a deep breath. “What I still can’t believe is that you aren’t jealous. You’re sure I’m not in the way?” “I’m sure. Besides, I think she needs both of us. I only hope she doesn’t change her mind.” “I don’t think she will. Crazy as it sounds, she seems to have his blessing,” Nico said with a nod toward Todd’s portrait. “And I’m beginning to think we do too.” “I hope you’re right about that. I’m just glad I didn’t notice him hanging on the wall when we first came in here.” Nico chuckled. “What, you think it would’ve made your dick soft?” “Maybe. I wish I knew what I did to deserve his blessing. I haven’t exactly been a saint, you know.” “Yes, but she’s the reason for all that,” Nico reminded him. “Getting hooked on an angel will make you do peculiar things.” The bathroom door opened and Ariel came out, scowling. “For the last time, I’m not an angel,” she growled as she came back to bed. “I’m a real, live woman with flaws and quirks that you don’t even know about yet.” Snuggling up beside Nico, she hooked an arm around his neck, pulling him close. Her sigh ruffled his hair, sending waves of warmth flooding through him. “If you guys keep on saying things like that, I might start believing it. And trust me, you wouldn’t

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want a woman who thinks she’s an angel.” “An angel of mercy, then.” Nico kissed her cheek with more tenderness than he’d ever allowed himself to display. He would have done anything for her—even worn a shiny pink cock ring. All she had to do was ask. “One who took pity on two cousins who firmly believe she’s the best thing that ever happened to them.” She smiled, but shook her head. “I think you’re wrong about that. The way I see it, the best is yet to come.” “True. Especially for you. Not many women get to have two lovers at the same time.” She snorted a laugh. “If men weren’t so damned possessive, it would probably happen more often. Then again, there are plenty of women who can’t put up with one man, let alone two.” “We’ll be good, I promise,” Nico said. “You are good, actually.” Alexei grinned and headed toward the bathroom. Nico kissed her again. Just being able to do that anytime he liked was incentive to be the best man he could possibly be. He promised himself never to give her any cause for complaint—particularly when it came to sex. “If anything, this has been enlightening,” he said as he rolled over and grabbed a condom. “I never would’ve guessed that I’d have a bigger dick than Alexei.” Chuckling, he added, “All those girls who dumped me for him must’ve been real disappointed.” “I heard that!” Alexei shouted from the bathroom. “He’s got a pretty nice one, too,” Ariel said. “I love the dangly balls.” Nico retrieved the cock ring from the tangle of sheets beside him. “He probably stretched them out using these things.” Ariel took it from him, studying it closely before stretching it out with her fingers. “Maybe so. I’ve never used one before. Want to try it?” “Not around my balls. I want them to last a few more years. Cutting off the blood supply doesn’t seem like the best way to do

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that.” “I doubt if it cuts off the blood flow completely, but I see your point.” Ariel switched on the vibrator. With a mischievous grin, she ran it up the side of his cock. “Want to see if it makes you hard enough to penetrate titanium?” “Not sure it needs to be that hard,” he said. “Last time I checked, you weren’t made of titanium.” “True.” She switched off the vibrator. “Guess we’ll leave that for Alexei.” Nico hoped she wasn’t disappointed. “I don’t like a lot of…stuff on my dick—not even condoms. Matter of fact, I’d just as soon not wear pants.” “You won’t get any arguments from me if you want to dispense with either of them,” she said. “I wasn’t kidding when I said you looked like a Greek god.” Alexei returned sporting a hard-on and a smile. “And I’m a Greek hunk. No wonder you can’t choose between us.” “Don’t want to.” She patted the bed beside her. “I love having both of you here. I never realized just how lonely I was until tonight. I even work alone most of the time.” She glanced up at Todd’s portrait. “It’s no wonder I talk to that painting.” “Nico can help with that,” Alexei said as he stretched out on the bed. “He’s a real chatterbox.” “Oh, yeah, and like you’re the strong, silent type,” Nico scoffed. Giving Ariel a nudge, he added, “You should hear him carry on when he’s drunk. Won’t shut up for shit.” “I probably won’t need to get drunk anymore now that we’re with Ariel. She’s the one I’ve been trying to drink off my mind.” Ariel winced. “Wish I’d known that. I’d have looked you up sooner.” “Some things have to happen in their own time,” Alexei said with a shrug. “After tonight, it’s not hard to believe in fate.” He paused for a moment. “I think there’s a song here that’s just dying to be written.”

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“You can do that tomorrow,” Nico said. “Besides, it’s getting late. We need to fuck Ariel so she can go to sleep.” “Yet another example of why you’re the drummer and not the lyricist.” “Yes, and I’ve got a rhythm stuck in my head that Ariel is gonna love.” Rolling over, he kissed her luscious tits—something else he could now do whenever he liked. The mere thought of it had the blood pumping through his groin like crazy. “Mmm…Want me to play it for you?” She ran her fingers through his hair in a provocative manner—one he was rapidly coming to believe he couldn’t live without. “On the drums?” “Nope, just think of my dick as a really thick drumstick.” “Ooh…sounds like fun. Go for it.” Nico crawled up over her and nudged her thighs apart with his knees. “I need better leverage for this.” Kneeling upright, he lifted her legs, resting her heels on his shoulders. Inching forward on his knees, he pressed his cockhead against her slit. “Ready?” With her nod, he pushed into her slowly, savoring every moment until he was deeply embedded in her warm, wet pussy. One look at her face almost made him forget about doing anything fancy. However, as soon as he began, the rhythm took over and soon he was rocking her so hard she couldn’t even suck his cousin’s dick. Alexei didn’t seem to mind, though, simply pressing his cock against her cheek and letting Nico do the work. Watching Alexei’s cock glide over Ariel’s face was more effective than a vibrating cock ring could ever be, making his own dick so engorged, it was a wonder the condom hadn’t split. No doubt about it, playing the drums had never been this much fun, and nothing had ever felt this good. **** Ariel was drowning in a sea of men. Buffeted by waves of

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passionate bliss, although she would have loved to give as good as she got, her body was so caught up in the heat it refused to obey her commands. After a few feeble attempts to caress Alexei’s balls and squeeze Nico’s cock with her strong inner muscles, she reached a pinnacle of ultimate surrender and simply let it happen. But surrender didn’t include closing her eyes. Gazing upward, she could see dark curls scattered across the surface of Alexei’s muscular chest and rippling abdomen, his firm jaw, and his thick hair framing his face. His gleaming cock slid over her cheek, occasionally brushing her lips, luring her tongue from her mouth for a taste of its salty slickness. A glance toward Nico revealed his strong arms encircling her legs, holding them firmly in place while he drove his cock into her with a force that shook her entire body. His head was thrown back in total abandon, exposing his neck to her gaze as beads of sweat formed near the center of his chest, sending tiny rivulets coursing down his dusky treasure trail to the place where their bodies joined. If she’d imagined that feeling both men inside her would make the efforts of only one of them seem disappointing, she’d have been wrong. Nico was doing just fine all by himself, pounding out a beat that spoke not only to her body, but to her heart and soul as well. When his cry of passion signaled his release, his final series of plunges left her writhing in complete ecstasy. “Oh, God, that was hot.” The words seemed to burst from Alexei’s throat. Turning to straddle her head, he pressed the swollen crown of his cock to her lips. “Suck me, Ariel. Suck me hard.” Although most of her body was still lost in the throes of her orgasm, Ariel seized his cock with both hands and opened her mouth. The slick glans pushed past her lips, his slit pouring its salty syrup onto her waiting tongue. Following his request, she applied as much suction as she could until his own thrusts made it impossible to do anything but keep her lips closed around his hard shaft while he fucked her mouth. Moments later, he gasped and fell forward onto his hands, pulling his cock from her lips. Hot cum splattered her face and

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neck, triggering a chain reaction that jackknifed her body and forced a feral cry from her lungs. Nico growled his approval. “Now, that was hot.”

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Chapter 8 Ariel woke the next morning feeling sated, loved, and…alone. She glanced up at Todd’s portrait. “Do not tell me that was a dream.” Todd, of course, made no reply, but continued to smile at her in a most infuriating manner. However, when she rolled over in bed and attempted to rise, her stiff muscles ached in protest. “Nope, definitely not a dream.” But where were they? Checking the floor, she found no jackets, no shirts, no shoes—nothing to prove either of them had ever been there. It wasn’t until she heard Nico’s voice coming from the kitchen that she allowed herself a sigh of relief. “Can you believe she didn’t have any feta? I mean, I know she’s not Greek, but geez…” Note to self—in a Greek household, feta is not only a common staple, it’s a necessity. “Hey, at least she had olive oil,” Alexei said. “It’s even extra virgin.” “But it’s Italian,” Nico complained. “No doubt about it, our girl needs to brush up on her Greek. She’s probably never even tasted moussaka.” Having eaten it at least once, Ariel took exception to this unjust accusation, but was somewhat placated by being referred to as “our girl.” Nico continued his lament. “And I bet we never get her to try ouzo.” “Will you shut the fuck up?” Alexei said in hushed tones. “Lots of people don’t like ouzo. I’m not real crazy about it myself.”

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Donning a robe, Ariel padded into the kitchen. They really were fixing breakfast—omelets, no less. “Sorry, Nico. If I’d known I’d be hanging out with two Greek boys, I’d have stocked up on the right stuff.” Nico flashed her an apologetic grin. “No worries. Alexei’s dad owns a deli. We both work there.” His grin broadened. “And we get a discount.” She smiled back at him but sobered quickly. Family disapproval could turn this dream into a nightmare in a hurry. “You two ought to do the shopping. Once Alexei’s dad finds out what we’ve been doing, he’ll probably bar the door whenever he sees me coming.” Alexei shrugged. “I’m not saying our families will approve, but as long as we’re happy, I can’t see that they’ll fuss too much.” He nodded at Nico. “Our mothers have been after us to get married for so long, they’ll probably be delighted.” Ariel didn’t share his optimism. “Let’s suppose the three of us go to visit each of your parents—or better yet, all of your parents together. When you say to them, ‘Mom, Dad, we’re both in love with Ariel, and she loves the two of us. We are willing to share her love and live together as a family.’ What do you think they’ll say?” “Greeks invented rational thinking,” Alexei said. “The only rational answer is that we do whatever makes us all happy.” “If I know my father, he’ll get into a logical discussion of why it will or won’t work,” Nico said. “He’s very Greek that way.” Suddenly all the objections anyone might raise began rearing their ugly heads—practical, moral, legal, and religious. While none of these problems had occurred to her the night before, viewed from her current perspective, they seemed insurmountable. “Yes, but what happens if we have children? What if your parenting ideas aren’t the same?” “It wouldn’t be the first time children were raised in a communal setting,” Nico pointed out. “If we need to determine who the actual father is, we can do that.”

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“And another thing; you guys are performers. Do you really think your fans won’t have something to say about it?” Country-music fans tended to be somewhat conservative in their views, and Nashville wasn’t referred to as the Buckle of the Bible Belt for nothing. Nico shrugged. “Possibly, but without you there won’t be any fans to care one way or the other. You’re forgetting the magic.” “That’s how you’ll explain it? Magic?” “Ariel, love is the last thing anyone can explain,” Alexei said. “We’ve only been together for one night, but I’ve loved you for years.” “No, you haven’t. You’ve loved the idea of me for years. The real me isn’t something you’ve ever been in love with. You may think we have a history together, but we don’t.” “If one of us has to give you up, it should be me,” Nico said. “You can marry Alexei. I won’t get in the way.” “How do you know I’d prefer Alexei over you? Just because he’s had a crush on me for ages doesn’t necessarily mean I’d love him more.” Alexei frowned. “Are you trying to tell us you don’t want to go through with this? That you don’t even want to try?” “No, I just want to be sure we all understand exactly how difficult it will be to maintain this kind of relationship. Hell, it’d be easier if the two of you were lovers. Gay marriage is in the news all the time, and then there’s the occasional story about a man being charged with bigamy. But this would be polyandry—not a common thing at all.” Alexei took her in his arms. “Do you believe this could work?” While gazing into his eyes, it was easy to be convinced that such an unusual relationship was possible, but Ariel knew how important it was that she feel it in her own heart. “Yes, I do, but I’m not sure the rest of the world is ready for it.” “You’re right. The world probably isn’t ready for it. But it’s none of the world’s damn business. The question is, are we ready for it?” “I don’t know. I’d like to think so, but—”

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Nico moved in behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders as he leaned his head against hers. It was a friendly yet somehow intimate gesture, reminding her that, unlike the events of the past several years, she wouldn’t be facing this alone. “Do you believe in magic, Ariel? Because I didn’t. But I do now. Whether you see it as fate or logic or magic doesn’t matter. What happened last night was extraordinary. I can’t imagine that it was only intended to bring the three of us together once. Shooting stars and comets don’t fall out of the mistletoe every day. It has to mean something. It just has to.” “All we really need to do is decide to give it our best shot,” Alexei said. “None of us can do any more than that. Are you at least willing to try?” Ariel shook her head slowly. “It won’t be easy.” “No relationship is ever easy. Trust me, I know all about that.” Alexei smiled as he traced the line of her brow with his fingertips, banishing not only her frown, but many of her worries. She smiled back at him, amazed at how deeply his caress could move her—though she knew she shouldn’t have been surprised. The touch of a man’s hand was simply one of those things she’d gotten used to doing without since Todd died. “You guys are the best thing that’s happened to me in a very long time. I’d be a fool to let either of you go, wouldn’t I?” “Absolutely,” Nico said. “So we’re not leaving. After breakfast, we’re going shopping together. There are a few things we need.” “Yeah, I heard,” she said with a wry smile. “Feta cheese and olive oil—Greek olive oil.” His laughter tickled her neck. “That’s not what I meant. This apartment needs something else.” “Oh, really? What’s that?” “A Christmas tree—unless you’ve got one stashed in a closet somewhere.” “I’m afraid I don’t. I haven’t felt like celebrating for a while now, and when I moved here, I didn’t have room for it. I sold it in the

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moving sale—along with the ornaments.” “We’ve got ornaments that have been in the family for generations,” Nico said, clearly aghast at the thought of ever selling them in a yard sale. “You mean they didn’t have any sentimental value at all?” “Not really,” she replied. “I bought most of them before Todd and I were married—you know the kind of cheap stuff you get when you first leave home. There was nothing special about any of it.” “There will be about this tree,” Alexei said firmly. “Nico and I have a plan.” “Yeah,” Nico said eagerly. “We’re going to decorate it with white lights and mistletoe, and maybe comets and stars if we can find any. And we need a blonde angel to go on top.” Ariel hugged Alexei and then turned around to hug Nico. In less than a day she’d already gotten more hugs than she’d had in the past several years—yet another thing she hadn’t realized she’d missed. “You guys are so sweet, but I’d also like to have a little drummer boy and at least one guitar ornament on the tree. Okay?” “I think we can probably find those,” Alexei said. “After all, this is Nashville—Music City.” He paused for a moment, a curious smile curling his lips. “And the Athens of the South. I mean, where else could a girl find a full-size replica of the Parthenon and two Greek boyfriends who play country music?” “Nowhere else on Earth,” Nico declared. Ariel chuckled. “I remember the first time Todd took me to see that