Chapter 3
Chapter Three
Cami
I was through eating twenty minutes later when my doorbell rang.
My heart jumped. I set down my mug and checked the peephole.
Majesty and Lex stood on my porch again, and Majesty was holding my black leather clutch.
Oh no. I’d been so caught up in the moment, so distracted by how well the evening had gone, that I’d completely forgotten it in their car.
I opened the door, embarrassment heating my cheeks. “I’m so sorry. I took my keys out and must’ve set it back down.”
“Don’t apologize,” Majesty said, handing it over with an easy smile. “Happens to everyone. We didn’t realize it until we were almost back to the hotel.”
“You drove all the way back?”
“Of course,” Lex said, his dark eyes steady on mine. “We weren’t going to make you wait until tomorrow to get it back.”
I clutched the purse to my chest, suddenly very aware that I was still in my dinner outfit and they were standing on my porch and the night felt unfinished somehow. “Thank you. Really. You didn’t have to do that.”
“We wanted to,” Majesty said, and there was something warm and genuine in his tone that made my chest tighten.
A moment passed. Neither of them moved to leave. I could tell from the way they lingered they were in no hurry to leave. I didn’t want them to either.
“I was just having some cheesecake and hot cocoa,” I heard myself say. “If you want to come in for a bit? I mean, you drove all this way back.”
Majesty’s smile widened. “Homemade cheesecake?”
“With cherry sauce and Golden Oreo crumbs,” I confirmed.
“Well, now we definitely can’t say no,” he said.
Lex’s expression softened slightly—not quite a smile, but close. “If you’re sure we’re not imposing.”
“You’re not.” I stepped aside, holding the door open. “Come in.”
They exchanged one of those wordless looks again before stepping inside. I led them to the kitchen, suddenly hyperaware of every detail of my space. There was mail on the counter, the coffee mug in the sink, the evidence of my very normal and ordinary life.
“Nice place,” Majesty said, looking around with genuine interest. “It suits you.”
“Thanks.” I pulled out two more plates and cut generous slices of cheesecake. “Hot cocoa okay for both of you, or would you prefer coffee?”
“Cocoa’s perfect,” Majesty said, settling onto one of the barstools at my kitchen island.
“Same,” Lex agreed, taking the stool beside him.
I made their drinks, handed over plates and mugs, and watched as they took their first bites.
Majesty’s eyes closed briefly. “Oh, that’s dangerous.”
“Agreed,” Lex said, his usual measured tone carrying a hint of appreciation. “This is excellent.”
“Thank you.” I picked up my own plate where I’d added another piece, suddenly unsure what to do. Standing felt awkward. “Do you want to sit in the living room? I was watching a movie.”
“Lead the way,” Majesty said.
We migrated to the couch, and I grabbed the remote, pulling up my streaming queue since the TV had powered off. “Fair warning, my taste is all over the place. Action, comedy, drama, horror…”
“What were you in the mood for?” Lex asked, settling into the opposite end of the couch while Majesty took the other side, leaving me in the middle.
“Honestly? Something I don’t have to think too hard about. It’s been a long day.”
“Comedy it is,” Majesty decided. “How do you feel about this one?” He pointed to a ridiculous-looking buddy cop movie I’d been meaning to watch.
“Perfect.”
We settled in, and for the first few minutes, I tried to focus on the movie.
But I was intensely aware of them. Majesty’s easy laughter, Lex’s quiet commentary that was funnier than it had any right to be, and the comfortable way they’d made themselves at home in my space.
Their shoes were left at the door, sweaters and jackets were off, and they both had another slice of cheesecake with more cocoa.
Somewhere around the halfway point, I realized I’d relaxed completely. My legs were tucked under me, my plate empty on the coffee table, and I was laughing at something Majesty said about the absurd car chase on the screen.
“Okay, but seriously,” I said, “do you think anyone has ever actually survived that in real life?”
“Physics says no,” Lex replied dryly. “Common sense says absolutely not.”
“But movies say hell yes,” Majesty added with a grin.
The conversation drifted away from the movie to other films we’d seen, ridiculous action sequences, and stories from their travels.
Lex told a story about a workshop in Seattle that had gone hilariously wrong when the ropes they’d ordered turned out to be yacht rope instead of bondage rope.
Majesty contributed his own tale about a custom furniture order that had been way more complicated than advertised.
I found myself sharing stories too, about difficult clients, fashion emergencies, the time I’d accidentally styled someone in an exact replica of an outfit a celebrity had worn to the same event.
The movie ended, but none of us moved to turn it off or suggest leaving.
“I should probably let you get some sleep,” Lex said eventually, but he didn’t stand.
“Probably,” I agreed, not moving either.
“Or,” Majesty said slowly, “we could put on another movie. If you’re not tired yet.”
I should have said no. Should have let them leave, should have maintained some kind of professional boundary. But I didn’t want them to go.
“I’m not tired yet,” I admitted.
Majesty’s smile was warm and genuine. “Good. Neither are we.”
We put on another movie that was animated and light. Somewhere during it, I stopped fighting the drowsiness creeping in. My head dipped toward the back of the couch, and I caught myself, blinking hard.
“Here.” Majesty shifted, grabbing one of the throw pillows. “Lie down before you hurt your neck.”
“I’m fine…”
“Cami.” Lex’s voice was gentle but firm. “You’re exhausted. It’s okay to be comfortable.”
I hesitated, then let myself stretch out on the couch, my head on the pillow Majesty had positioned. The next thing I knew, there was a blanket being draped over me which was the throw from the back of the couch.
“Thank you,” I mumbled, already half-asleep.
I felt more than saw them settle in around me. Majesty on the floor near the couch, his back against it, Lex stretched out on the other side of the coffee table. The movie played on, but I was barely aware of it. The last thing I registered was feeling safe and highly cared for.
I woke to early morning light filtering through my living-room curtains and the smell of coffee. For a moment, I was disoriented. Trying to remember how the night had ended, I mentally retraced my steps. I’d fallen asleep on the couch, still in my dinner clothes, and…
The memory came back in a rush. Majesty and Lex. The cheesecake. The movies. Falling asleep. I sat up quickly, the blanket falling away, and found Lex in my kitchen, two mugs of coffee in his hands. He was freshly showered, hair still damp, and looking sinfully good.
“Morning,” he said quietly. “Hope you don’t mind. I found the coffee.”
“No, it’s okay. Where’s Majesty?” I asked, attempting to distract myself from the thoughts trying to assault me. Because I shouldn’t be visualizing kissing this man while his hands traveled my body. I bit my lip wondering if his palms were calloused or worn from working with his hands.
“Shower. He went second,” Lex added, a hint of amusement in his voice. “He’ll be out in a minute.”
I ran a hand through my hair, trying to process. There were also the thoughts of joining Majesty in the shower. “You both stayed.”
“We did.” Lex handed me one of the mugs. “You fell asleep, and it seemed wrong to wake you. We figured we’d stay until morning, make sure you were okay.”
“You slept on the floor.” Guilt twisted in my stomach.
“We’ve slept in worse places,” he said simply. “And you needed the rest.”
I took a sip of coffee and it was perfect. Somehow he’d made it exactly how I liked it and I tried to find words. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be a bad host.”
“Don’t.” Lex’s dark eyes held mine. “Last night was good. All of it. Don’t apologize for that.”
Majesty emerged from the hallway then, looking unfairly put-together for someone who’d spent the night on a floor. “Morning, sunshine. Hope you don’t mind that I raided your shower.”
“No, it’s fine.” I gestured helplessly at the situation. The two of them towering over me made me feel small. That was tough to do when I was 5’8” and two hundred sixty something pounds. “This is weird, right?”
“Is it?” Majesty asked, guiding me onto the couch with him. “Feels pretty natural to me.”
“We spent the night. Fully clothed, completely appropriate, but still...” I couldn’t quite process it.
“We spent the night getting to know you,” Lex corrected. “Building trust. That’s important for what we’re going to be doing at the Ranch.”
“Is that what this was?” I asked, searching their faces. “Trust building?”
It felt more like courting and I couldn’t shake the feeling that it was.
Let me explain. I thought their intention was true, to get to know me.
I knew mine was pure, in that I wasn’t looking for anything serious.
However, the way they’d been attentive and sure was intense and landing harder than I felt like it should.
Was I opposed? No, and that was where it got weird for me.
“Partly,” Majesty said honestly. “But also, we were having a good time. None of us wanted it to end. That’s allowed.”
Lex nodded. “What happens at the Ranch will involve a lot of vulnerability. Knowing we can spend time together comfortably, that we can be in each other’s space without it feeling forced, that’s valuable. Plus, we’ll be sharing a cabin together as well.”
I hadn’t realized that we’d be sharing a cabin. I clutched my coffee mug, trying to organize my thoughts. “So this was what? A test?”
“Not a test,” Lex said firmly. “An opportunity. For all of us.”
“And for the record,” Majesty added with a gentle smile, “you passed with flying colors. Not that there was anything to pass. You were just... you. That’s all we wanted. We were all comfortable with how things played out.”
My throat tightened unexpectedly. “I don’t usually let people I just met spend the night on my floor.”
“We don’t usually spend the night on floors,” Majesty replied. “So I guess we’re all breaking patterns.”
I smiled and Majesty returned the gesture.
He winked at me and warmth ignited in my core.
It was the perfect time to take a sip of my coffee and let the taste ground me back into the moment.
I didn’t take my eyes off him as I did, looking over the rim of the cup.
His eyes held mine, unwavering from the challenge, and I was happy to hide my amusement in my cup. Why was he so fine?
Lex checked his watch. “We should probably head out. Let you have your morning. But, Cami”—he waited until I looked at him—“last night meant something. I hope you know that.”
His serious expression was more deliciousness. His intensity made my insides swirl like I was a kid about to get in trouble with my daddy. Yeah, that was hot too.
“It did,” I whispered, after removing the cup from my mouth. Wondering if he was the spanking type, I diverted my eyes back to his hands.
Majesty stood, offering me a hand up. “When you get to the Ranch, it’s going to feel overwhelming at first. But remember that we can just be together without all the structure and protocol. That underneath all of it, we’re just people.”
I set down my coffee and let him pull me to my feet, and somehow we ended up in a brief hug with Majesty’s arms warm and solid around me.
Lex was there behind me, and his hug was different.
More reserved but no less genuine. Feeling them at the same time sent my libido through the roof and I settled into them both while trying to calm down.
When they let go, I swayed on my feet a little.
Their release of me brought on a sense of withdrawal that I didn’t like.
Their warmth needed to come back in aces, enveloping me in safe quarters, complete with a kiss.
At the door, they paused.
“Thank you for the cheesecake,” Lex said.
“And the cocoa,” Majesty added. “And the company.”
“Thank you for bringing back my clutch,” I replied. “And for... everything else.”
They smiled. Majesty’s bright and easy, Lex’s subtle but real, and then they were gone.
I closed the door and leaned against it.
That’s when I noticed the huge bouquet of roses sitting on the table here in the foyer.
There was a thank you card that had their names on it.
The arrangement was beautiful. Huge. Three dozen easily.
That must’ve been why they’d both walked on that side, so I wouldn’t see it as we passed.
Two weeks suddenly felt like both forever and not nearly enough time to prepare.
My phone buzzed.
Majesty:
Best accidental sleepover ever.
Lex:
See you soon, Cami.
I smiled at the screen, something warm and hopeful blooming in my chest.
Me:
See you soon and thank you for the roses.
Lex:
You’re welcome, beautiful.
Beautiful…
Whatever was coming, I was ready for it.
Or at least, I was ready to try.