Chapter 5 #2
“That you don’t want anyone touching us but you.”
Chloé’s mouth parted and then she nodded. “It’s true. But I wasn’t sure it was my place.”
“Red, you live with us. Why wouldn’t it be your place?”
“Because I’m your sub.”
“Yes, you are.” Ethan got up from his stool and touched his fingers to the gold cuffs surrounding Chloé’s wrists. “But that doesn’t mean you don’t get to voice your thoughts and feelings. You have as much of a say in this relationship as we do. If you don’t want someone to touch us, you tell us.”
“Okay.”
“So tell us.”
Chloé swallowed then said in a rush, “I don’t want anyone to touch you but me and Zayne.”
“And what about Zayne?”
“I don’t want anyone touching him either. No one but you and me.”
“I like the way you think, gorgeous,” Ethan said right by her ear, then he looked over at Zayne, and fucking hell, he had to reach down and grip his dick tight. “We don’t need anyone else to drive him crazy.”
“No.” Chloé’s breasts pushed up against her silky nightgown like one of those dresses he’d been fantasizing about. “We can do that all on our own.”
Zayne coughed and cleared his throat. These two were making it really difficult to remember what they were talking about. Oh, that’s right, The Office.
“That’s why we asked someone else to be the new exhibitionist. I won’t be tying up anyone on a stage again until you can walk up on it.”
“We hope that’s okay with you.” Ethan smoothed a hand down her back, and when Chloé nodded, he kissed her cheek. “Good. Now finish that coffee or I’m going to be tempted to distract you from your work.”
Damn it. Zayne was tempted too. But they could see how important this was to Chloé, so they finished off their coffees and let her get back to it.
Not quite ready for breakfast yet, they headed to the couches, where Chloé curled up with her laptop. Ethan had grabbed his also, but Zayne wasn’t in the mood for work, so he switched on the TV and set it down low—and not two seconds later, he was fast asleep.
Dreaming about handsome aristocrats and beautiful duchesses…
* * *
ETHAN LOOKED OVER his computer at the two on the sofa across from him and took a second to soak in the moment.
Zayne was lounging in the corner with one arm resting along the back of the seat and Chloé was cuddled up into his side.
It was a quiet moment, one that had lasted the past hour or so. But it was a comfortable one, and that was how he knew this was right.
When he was younger, his life had been full of so many uncomfortable moments that when he’d found someone—or something—that caused ease in his mind, his life, he grabbed on to it and never let it go.
His eyes shifted to Zayne.
His constant. His safe haven.
When he thought about how far they’d come and the obstacles they’d faced, this felt like the perfect time to start a new chapter in their life.
One where they would both finally gain some semblance of peace. One where the only family they dealt with was the kind that was loving and true—and that had been brought into their lives through the beautiful woman cuddled up beside his man.
Zayne must’ve sensed Ethan’s attention, because his eyes opened.
I love you, Ethan mouthed, and Zayne returned the sentiment as he ran a hand down Chloé’s hair.
Ethan’s heart skipped a beat, because while there was an ease between the three of them, there certainly wasn’t a sense of calm in knowing his heart now belonged to two people instead of one. Not when he knew how devastating it could be to lose that in the blink of an eye.
As if sensing the change in his mood, Zayne sat up a little and cleared his throat.
“So, hey, what are your thoughts on heading down to the estate this week? We could enjoy the sun, swim in the pool or the lake…”
Chloé sat up and put her laptop aside. “I mean, I’d love to, but I have to work.”
“That wouldn’t be a problem,” Ethan said. “Our driver can bring you to and from the city. As long as you don’t mind the commute.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I wouldn’t mind, but are you sure? I could just stay here and come out to your place—”
“ Our place,” he corrected her, shutting his computer down too. “The estate is no different to this apartment or the one in Paris. You are ours, so they become yours.”
“Uh…” Chloé looked at Zayne, who nodded, then turned back to Ethan with a frown. “That’s very nice, but…that’s a lot. What if you decide—”
“Whatever you’re about to say, Red, don’t even bother.” Zayne smirked. “He’s already decided, which means the only way this will end is if you say so. Everything from here on out is a choice. Your choice.”
Chloé seemed about to refute that, but then something seemed to click, and she nodded. “The submissive holds the power.”
“ And our hearts,” Ethan added. “We’re in this, petite fille . One hundred percent. But if for some reason you decide this isn’t what you want—”
“I won’t.”
“ If you do, then that will be your choice. This week, though, I think it’s a good time to go over a few things.” His eyes shifted to Zayne, whose expression had softened. He knew exactly what Ethan was talking about.
“Things?” She chewed on her lower lip. “ Good things?”
“Yes.” Ethan nodded. “No need to worry. Just some paperwork on the housing situation and business things.”
“Oh.”
“But if you’re not comfortable with that, we can wait.”
“No, that’s not it,” she said. “Of course you have paperwork. You should have paperwork—you’re very wealthy.”
“I am.”
“And you should protect yourself.”
“From you? Why? Do you plan to sneak off like a thief in the night with all our valuables?”
Chloé opened her mouth to respond, a clear “no” in her eyes, but at the last second she stopped herself and arched a sassy brow. “You never know. I just might.”
Ethan’s lip curled. The idea of Chloé trying to sneak out of their bedroom and he and Zayne capturing her appealed to him a little more than it probably should.
“I invite you to try. I don’t believe we’ve ever taken part in that kind of role play, have we, Zayne?”
Chloé shifted on the couch, the idea clearly one she wasn’t opposed to either.
“Not that I can remember.” Zayne reached over and twirled one of Chloé’s loose curls. “But I’ll be sure to pack the appropriate restraints for such a sneaky little wildcat.”
“Hmm, indeed. So, what do you say, petite fille ? Would you like to head down to the estate tonight and stay for the week?”
“Maybe two,” Zayne added.
“I’d love to.” Her flirty smile was the perfect accessory to her flushed cheeks. “As long as you promise to untie me in time to get to work.”