49. Chapter Forty-Nine

I'm a ball of nerves by the time Rafael makes his way to the table.

Enzo and I have been here for a few minutes, and Kat has already brought the food out, but we were waiting to eat until Rafael showed. Apparently, his plane was late, which is why he's late for dinner now.

I don't know why I'm so nervous, but maybe it's because this is a weird conversation to have with one person, never mind two. One who is my husband, and the other is my husband's lover? Boyfriend? Partner? What are they to one another? Contractual obligation. That sounds so cold.

Maybe it's that way for a reason.

"Sorry I'm late," Rafael says smoothly, taking a seat beside me.

I cringed when I saw there were two plates set up on this side and one on the other. I thought Enzo wanted to sit next to me for once, but when he came in and sat across, it was clear who would be on the side of me. I don't know if he's doing this because he wants us to bond or what, but it's only making me more uncomfortable. Though, maybe it is better not having to look this man in the eye while we talk. I'm not fully comfortable having these conversations with Enzo, never mind a stranger.

Who I slept with.

Multiple times.

Who gave me lots of orgasms by the order of Enzo…

Okay, so maybe this whole thing won't be such a bad idea. I mean, how many women get a husband who is willing to allow them to sleep with another man?

But do I want to sleep with another man?

A flash of Enzo's face at the club pops into my head. He was so turned on watching us. He loved telling us what to do. Loved that both of us obeyed him.

Maybe it's like getting two cakes for your birthday.

One is amazing. But two? Two is even better.

Yep. I'm going with that. Totally two birthday cakes.

"How was your flight?" Enzo asks casually. Simply. So easily…

"Terrible," Rafael answers, reaching for the bowl of sweet potatoes. He scoops some onto his plate, blindly reaches for mine and does the same. The gesture is polite, and I should be thankful, but it makes me feel weird. Totally throws me off guard. Why is he doing this? "The guy on the side of me had the worst case of body odor I've ever experienced. I didn't think a man could smell so bad. It was a full flight, so there was nowhere else to sit. The only toilet in the plane"s front stopped working mid-flight, and the turbulence was atrocious."

"And this is why I told you to let Bernice handle it. You'd have sat first class, on a better flight, not had to worry about anyone bothering you, and had a separate toilet."

"Do you have a remedy for the turbulence too?"

Enzo chuckles. "Can't say I do."

I blink a few times as their exchange sinks into my head. So easy and carefree, like they're old friends. They aren't sitting here and being all sexual and flirty and lovely. They're talking like friends.

Rafael grabs the asparagus, gives some to himself, then to me. Why is he serving me food? Enzo usually does this and that's normal, but why is Rafael doing it?

"I've told you a hundred times I don't want your money and I don't want you buying me things," Rafael argues as he returns the dish of vegetables.

"And I've told you a hundred times I don't care."

Jesus, they fight like an old married couple.

Should I be bothered by this? Because I'm not. I'm entertained. Seeing them like this now is so extremely different from how they were at the club. How do they know when to be like that and when to be like this? Are the terms written in their contract?

"How's your mom?" I find myself asking as Rafael puts a pork chop on my plate.

He sighs. "Not well. I'm glad I visited her when I did."

"Rafael, I tol—"

"It won't make a difference, Vincenzo. I already told you. Please stop bringing it up."

He holds his hands up in a surrendering way.

"One thing you'll learn about Vincenzo, if you haven't yet, is he thinks money can solve anything," Rafael says to me while eyeing Enzo.

"It can," he argues.

"It cannot," Rafael fires back.

"He's right," I say meekly, gesturing to Rafael.

"Oh? And what do you know about it?" Enzo asks with a gleam in his eye.

"I know I offered to pay off my father's debt, and you didn't want the money. Therefore…"

"Money can't solve everything," Rafael finishes for me. I smirk at Enzo. I feel the smile from Rafael.

Enzo points to the both of us. "You're both going to be punished later."

"I hope that's a promise," Rafael says, cutting into his meat.

Enzo raises a brow at me, but I pull my attention away and focus on my food. Not ready to admit that yet, but yeah. I kind of hope that's a promise too.

"We actually need to discuss that," Enzo says.

"I'd assumed that's why we were dining together," Rafael adds, reaching for his wine.

Nice of Enzo to give me a heads-up, but why didn't he give Rafael one?

"I can't want a meal with you and my wife?"

"You don't tend to do things for the hell of it. There's always a reason."

My stomach sours. He knows Enzo well. Better than I do. They go back and forth like they've been at it for years. I find I'm more jealous of that than the sex. I want to know Enzo like that. Hell, I want to know anyone like that.

"You're feisty tonight," Enzo comments.

"Sorry," Rafael says with a shake of his head. "I'm just tired."

"This is a safe space. You're allowed to express yourself as you see fit. You know this," Enzo adds.

That is somehow relieving to even me. Is that how it'll be like with us too? A safe space? Come to think of it, yes. I haven't been kind to Enzo while being here, granted I had a reason, but he never punished me for anything. Not really. There were no repercussions for my actions. To destroying his hot tub, the kitchen, and hurting Antonio. Enzo has let me express my anger how I needed to. Which is why I felt I could. I never felt unsafe over it.

"Which I appreciate." He smiles at Enzo, who winks at me.

What the hell is going on with these two?

Enzo decided we'd talk after we ate. Kat has just finished cleaning up all the dishes from the table. Enzo is opening another bottle of wine and filling Rafael's and I's glasses.

"Everyone needs to be honest here. Honest and open and not afraid to hurt someone's feelings. On the other end, we need to be accepting and non-judgmental of what someone has to say. The only way this will ever work out is if we do that," he explains.

"Agreed," Rafael says.

"I agree," I add in a small voice.

"Good. I'll start." He shoves the wine stopper into the bottle. "Ideally, I'd like to keep the contract with Rafael, though change a few things to include Jordan and whatever stipulations she comes up with. I think the night we spent together at the club says a lot, and I don't see why we couldn't enjoy one another like that whenever we wanted to." He sips his wine. "Rafael?"

Thank you for going to him next.It seems he knows me better than I think he does.

"I have no issues with that and am open to any changes suggested by Enzo or Jordan. We should talk them out after, of course."

They both look at me.

"Oh, wow. I thought I'd have more time to think about this."

"Take your time," Enzo says gently. "No one is rushing you."

I take a mouthful of wine. I should have drank more or ate less.

"I'm still not sure how I feel about any of this. It isn't about not enjoying it, because I did, but it's more about what I'm comfortable with."

"Which is where the changes in the contract would come into play," Enzo says. "What would you be comfortable with?"

"I…" I shake my head. I have no idea.

"Would you be comfortable with the scenario that took place at the club?" Enzo suggests. "That sort of dynamic?"

"I think so. Yes."

Enzo smiles. "I'm going to take a guess and say you won't be comfortable being with Rafael alone or me being with him alone?"

I don't answer that.

"I won't be offended if you say yes," Rafael explains. "I understand my view on relationships isn't normal. I know most people aren't okay with any of this. But Enzo is right about being honest." He turns to face me more, and for the first time tonight, I get a good look at him, and damn, his eyes are so green. "The last thing I want is for you to not be honest here and me do something that upsets you. Something we could never come back from, or something that could ruin your marriage."

I nod slowly. "Okay. Then yes, you're right."

"Is it safe to say one day it may change?" Enzo questions.

"I guess it could. Would you be okay with Rafael and I being together without you?"

He looks from me to Rafael, back to me.

"No."

That makes me feel better, but not what I was expecting. Rafael doesn't respond either way.

"Not right now, anyway, but that's because things with us are new," Enzo adds. "And though I trust and respect you, it's time and comfort I need before I'm okay with that. But I'm confident in saying I'll be okay with it one day."

"So…" Rafael begins. "Contract renegotiation?"

"Or we could get rid of it and have a verbal contract," Enzo suggests.

Rafael chuckles. "Nice try, but no."

"Angel?"

"Hm?" I look up to see Enzo watching me carefully.

"How do you feel about watching Rafael and I together?"

"Uhm, I think that would be okay."

"How about right now?"

My eyes widen. "Right now, as in…"

"Right now," Enzo adds, his gaze darkening. "Do you have something better to do?"

"Well, no, but…"

"You can say no," Rafael adds, looking at Enzo. "Don't guilt her into this."

I look from him to Enzo, and though my head is telling me this is crazy, that I shouldn't be okay with any of this, my body is responding in an entirely different way.

"Actually, I think I would like to watch."