Chapter 10

DINNER WAS BEAUTIFUL, as was David’s restaurant. It was extremely sophisticated and high class for such a small town. His declaration that he was upset about having missed out on the early stages of meeting me was heartbreaking. David, despite being a perfectionist and possessing an emotionally intense personality, obviously had the biggest heart.

“What are we going to do about David?” I asked Tommy as we got out of his new car and started the short walk up to the front door of Nancy’s house. I’d declined Tommy’s invitation to stay at the brothers’ home even though he’d told me there was an empty third bedroom that I could stay in. I just wasn’t sure how I’d sleep knowing the only man to ever give me an orgasm was only one room away.

Even with my huge pregnant belly, my body wasn’t exactly dormant. I still had yearnings and being around Tommy and David tonight had made me wriggle in my seat more than a few times. It would be embarrassing if I were to make a move not knowing how they felt about me.

Are they simply willing to commit and look after me because of the baby and this pre-destined perfect pairs thing, or are they truly interested in me as a lover? Is what I’m feeling even real?

“What do you want to do about him?” Tommy asked in return with a grin.

I put my hands on my hot cheeks. “Oh my God. This is such a weird conversation to be having with you. Aren’t you jealous that I’m asking about your brother?”

Tommy chuckled and shook his head. “Not at all, Stacey. I grew up knowing my wife would be loved by the both of us. It’s a natural and normal circumstance to me.”

I gulped at the use of all those very serious words, then my own jealousy kicked in. “Oh, so you’ve shared girlfriends before?” I ventured.

He shook his head again as we slowed to stand on the patio outside Nancy’s house. “Not at all. Never. We were waiting for you.” He reached out and took my hand, drawing me closer.

I went willingly into his arms without fear or shame because it was Tommy. The only place, the only man whose arms I’d ever felt truly safe in.

He slid one hand around what was left of my waist and the other cupped my face.

I reached for him, laying my hands on his broad chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my palms.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered. Dropping his head, he pressed his lips against mine, kissing me softly.

My fingers curled into his shirt as I pressed myself closer, desiring a deeper kiss—more connection. Something real.

Tommy complied, reading my body language perfectly. His tongue swept between my lips, tasting me, and causing me to shiver with anticipation and wanting.

I slid my tongue against his, moaning in pleasure. Heat curled in my belly as I moved my hands up to his face, cupping his jaw before sliding them into his hair. My nipples ached, and I wished he’d touch me there.

But instead of tugging me into his body and stripping me like I wanted, he pulled back with a gentle smile, his eyes glassy with the same attraction I felt. “Damn, I wish you’d come home with me,” he lamented, though there was no pressure in his words. He was simply sharing his feelings.

I swallowed hard. I wanted him too, but we’d already made it as far as Nancy’s porch, and if we were going to follow our attraction to the end that it so desperately desired, I wanted to be better prepared. “Maybe tomorrow?” I answered with a rueful smile.

He nodded. “There’s no rush. I don’t want you to feel stressed or pushed into anything. Besides, hopefully we’ve got the rest of our lives, right?”

I laughed. “Right... yeah, I guess,” I said, not willing promise or agree to anything just yet. There were still so many uncertainties, and they niggled at me like an itch I couldn’t scratch.

He kissed me again, more lightly this time. “Well, if you happen to change your mind, just text me. I can be here in three minutes.” He winked and turned on his heel. “Goodnight, Stacey,” he called over his shoulder.

My body slammed for me for a traitor as I waved goodbye. I needed him so much it was maddening. And even though my body had changed dramatically since I was last naked with Tommy, surely he wouldn’t mind too much? After all, it was his baby inside me.

David...

Somehow, it didn’t feel right without him. That was part of what was bothering me, I realized. I couldn’t be intimate with Tommy knowing David was out in the cold, just waiting to be included. To be brought into the triangle he’d dreamed of his whole life. I sighed and as I turned around, the door flew open.

Nancy grinned at me. “I’ll get a key cut for you tomorrow. I don’t want you finding yourself locked out.” She waved me inside.

“Thanks,” I said. “But I don’t want to put you out. I might not be staying too much longer anyway.”

Stacey grinned. “Yeah, I figured the boys would want you close by. Do you need help packing, or...”

“I’m not moving in with them yet,” I said, rolling my eyes. “I’m not that easy. I’m still trying to figure this out.”

Stacey burst out laughing at that one. “It wouldn’t matter if you were a thirty-year-old virgin. If a set of perfect pairs want you, you don’t stand a chance.”

I shook my head at her certainty as she led me to the kitchen to make a cup of tea.

Tanner walked into the room with a grin. “I just got a call from Markus. Lexie’s in labor!”

“Oh, she’ll be so relieved,” Nancy said with a sigh. “She’s been wanting that baby out of her for weeks now.”

“Who’s Lexie?” I asked before I gratefully accepted the cup of tea from Nancy and sat on a stool at the counter. “Thanks.”

“Oh, you have to meet her!” Nancy gushed. “You’ll love her. She’s tough as nails, but super sweet too.”

I smiled and took a sip of tea, waiting for an answer to the question I’d asked.

Tanner answered me. “Lexie is mated to our cousins, another set of perfect pairs actually.”

“Three sets in one family?” I gaped at Tanner. “How many more are there?”

“That’s it, here anyway,” Tanner said with a grin. “Though we’ve got distant cousins in the Rockies, and there’s three sets there too.”

“Wow. That’s incredible,” I breathed.

And how lucky are all those women? It’s like threesome city!

There was a knock at the door, and my stomach fluttered with butterflies. Was that for me? I didn’t want to ask because how self-centered would that seem?

Tanner went off to answer the door, because after all, it was his house. He came back however, staring at me with a sparkle in his eye. “You’ve got a visitor.”

I got to my feet, assuming it was Tommy coming back for another kiss or something more. But it was my handsome chef, dressed in a casual shirt and trousers. “Hey,” I managed.

“Hey, David!” Nancy called out. “You want a drink? Coffee? Tea? Wine?”

He glanced over at Nancy and offered her a perfunctory smile. “Thanks, but I can’t stay long. I have to get back to close up soon.” Then his dark eyes slid over to me. “Can I get a moment with you, Stacey?” He seemed anxious but also very determined.

I had a feeling that was how he would often be unless our connection grew. I smiled at Nancy and took my cup of tea with me as I walked toward David, “Yeah, sure. Ah... I was about to go upstairs to lie down. Do you want to come up with me so I can take my shoes off? My feet are kind of killing me.”

He nodded and his gaze flared with heat.

I swallowed the squeal that rose in my throat and made my way up the stairs and into my room without glancing backward. “The bedrooms here are huge,” I said, jabbering away with nerves. “There’s a full sitting room as well.” I pushed open the door and indicated to the two lounge chairs. “Please, have a seat.”

I set my cup of tea on the bedside table and sat on the mattress so I could pull off my sandals. As soon as I was done and my feet sank into the soft, plush carpet, I sighed. “Oh, that’s better.” Despite my pregnancy fatigue, I managed to get back to my feet and walk back over to where David still stood, paused in the middle of the room. “Are you okay?” I asked hesitantly.

He moved so fast I didn’t see him coming. In the next instant his hands were on my face, cupping my jaw and holding me close. His mouth was a hairsbreadth from my lips and his eyes were staring straight into mine. “I need to kiss you,” he said. He wasn’t asking permission, that was obvious, but he was waiting. He wouldn’t claim me against my will.

I melted and couldn’t prevent myself from saying the only thing that made sense. “Okay.”

The next moment, his lips were on mine, and I was robbed of breath, reason and sanity.

Oh, God! He tastes divine.

My eyes slid closed, and I moaned as pleasure swept through me.

David’s hands moved to my arms, then down to my waist where he grabbed me and held me tight to his hard body.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, running my fingers through his long, silky hair.

He broke our kiss abruptly, making me stumble forward and onto him. His breathing was labored, his chest rising and falling. “I have to go.”

“Why?” I asked, my fingers still digging into his shirt for balance, for some kind of anchor in the storm of passion I’d just found myself.

His eyebrows lowered as he stared at me. “I came here to see if you wanted me like you want Tommy.”

There was only one way I was going to be able to prove to David just how much I actually wanted the man in front of me—a man I’d only met today—who lit my body on fire. “I want you,” I said, biting into my lower lip. “But I’m afraid my belly’s going to put you off.”

“Show me,” he said.

Fear gripped me.

Holy shit, this is really happening.

But I couldn’t back out now. I’d thrown down the gauntlet, and I couldn’t pick it up again. I took a step back and grabbed my dress, pulling it up and over my head before dropping the fabric on the carpet beside me. I stood before his hungry gaze in only a tiny pair of maternity panties and a bra that barely contained my overflowing breasts.

His gaze grew dark as he stepped toward me, unspeaking. His hands went to my belly, cupping both sides of the bump and staring for a moment as if concentrating before lifting his gaze to mine. “You’re exquisite.” Then he kissed me again, and I melted into his arms.

I wanted him so much, but how could I be with David while Tommy was at home? I turned one brother down tonight only to become entangled with the other.

Are there rules about this?

David’s hand slid down between my thighs and my knees buckled as his fingers slid over the crotch of my panties. He caught me, his erection pressing against me. “Damn, I need you,” he said, then tugged me toward the bed. He threw back the covers and knelt down so he could peel my flimsy underwear down my pale legs.

I stepped out of them, then undid my bra, letting it whisper off me and to the floor with a great sigh of relief.

David rose to his feet again. “Lie down,” he whispered.

I did what he wanted, all the while wishing he’d get naked too. I yearned to see him in all his hard, muscular glory.

He kicked off his shoes and peeled the shirt from his body.

The breath caught in my throat as I stared in awe and desire at the skin he’d revealed. “You’re so beautiful,” I gasped.

He smiled as he climbed onto the bed beside me, his pants still on. “Not like you,” he all but purred, his voice husky with desire as he set his lips to my sensitive breast.

Can I handle two beautiful, strong, and fiercely protective men?

But the instant he sucked one rosy, pink nipple into his mouth, any remaining worries about perfect pairs or threesomes flew from my mind.

Then his hand slid back between my thighs, and I was lost. Nancy was right. Between Tommy and David, I was a goner, and their touch felt nothing but right.