33. CONAN
Chapter thirty-three
T he elevator doors closed behind Angel with a dull thud. Soon the soft whir of its descent faded away. Returning to the table, I slumped back into my chair and stretched out my legs. Allowing her to leave on her own, to let her sort out her thoughts in peace, was the right decision. She needed space to calm her chaotic thoughts, and I had to respect that.
I glanced around the office at the men who’d been in Angel’s life long before me, regretting making a scene downstairs earlier when I’d seen Lucian kissing her. I’d acted like a jealous high school punk. Not my finest moment. Brawling with a guy she was close to, someone she worked with, had been idiotic.
Lachlan poured me another shot, and I downed it immediately, letting the burn of the alcohol fuel my frustration. I was mad at myself for losing control and letting my emotions dictate my actions. I could only hope I hadn’t ruined things with Angel and that my impulsive display hadn’t pushed her away. There was no explanation for why I cared so much, but I just did.
Lost in my thoughts, I stared into the empty glass. The truth was, my feelings for Angel ran deeper than I had suspected, and I was only now able to admit that to myself. She was Pandora’s box, and I was the one forbidden to open it, tempted by what I couldn’t resist. She was an enchantment, calling to me, whispering promises that would unlock my heart and hand over the power to break me. There was danger involved, yes, but being prudent and safe was for the cautious. And I was a reckless man.
I ran my hand over my freshly buzzed hair, the stubble prickly under my palm. Angel was different from anyone I’d ever met. She wasn’t just a woman I needed to protect; she was a woman who stirred something profound inside of me, something I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to. And God, did I want her.
Rising from the table, I walked over to Lucian, who was staring out at the bar below. I extended my hand. “Look, man, I’m sorry for being a dick earlier. I guess I’m on edge and short-fused. I just want to keep Angel safe, and I have no idea how to protect her from the fucking mafia.”
Lucian grasped my hand tightly and shook it. “Think nothing of it, man. I wouldn’t have respected you if you’d been a pussy and not stood up for Ana. She’s important to all of us.” He turned to the others. “All right, guys, we need to get back to work. The club doesn’t run itself.”
Lachlan, Julian, and Gabriel nodded, heading off to their tasks.
I turned to Braxton. “Time to leave.”
We left the club and headed to our hotel. After we’d checked in and settled into our room, I decided to take a shower to relax. The hot water didn’t do much to ease my restlessness though. My mind kept drifting back to Angel.
As I toweled off, I paced the room. I had nothing better to do than let my mind gnaw on everything I’d learned today. Finally, I turned to Braxton. “I’m going to take Angel some food. She’s probably too wound up to eat.”
Braxton nodded. I decided I would look up the little Italian place Angel had told me she liked to order from. I would order some carbonara since that was her favorite. I grabbed my phone, searched the area, and found what had to be the restaurant. Pocketing my phone, I headed out of the hotel. Instead of getting a cab, I decided to walk; I needed the fresh air and the time to think.
As I strolled through the Chelsea neighborhood, I thought about Angel’s life before the wreck. New York City was a far cry from Tacoma. Would she ever consider moving? Probably not, with her family ties and her job at the club keeping her bound here.
Soon, I entered the cozy Italian restaurant and approached the back counter, where a teenage boy stood. He glanced up at me, eyes widening, and leaned his head back as I neared the counter, clearly intimidated by my size.
“Hey, by chance, do you know Anastasia Genovese?” I asked, trying to sound friendly.
The kid hesitated. “Uh, yeah, I know her. Why?”
“I’m bringing her dinner and wanted to ensure I had the right place. She loves the carbonara here, right?”
“I haven’t seen her in a while,” he said. The boy was all kinds of flustered. This had to be the one Anastasia had told me about.
I smiled. “Yeah, she’s been out of town and just got back late last night. I thought I’d surprise her and bring her favorite dinner. I want to make sure she gets what she loves. She mentioned how there was this nice guy—Elliot, I think his name was—who would deliver it to her and how he always gave her a little something extra. Is that you?”
The kid blushed. “Yeah, it’s me. I know exactly how she likes it. Would you want anything else?”
“Everything looks good. Surprise me.”
Elliot grinned. “She also loves our shrimp Alfredo.”
“Perfect. I’ll take that. Thanks, kid.”
When the food was paid for and packed up, I headed out. On my way to her place, I stopped at a nearby liquor store and picked up a couple of bottles of Chianti Classico, a perfect match for the Italian feast.
I was standing at Angel’s doorstep with the bags of food and wine in one hand, ringing the intercom with the other, when I heard footsteps behind me. Curious, I turned around. Lucian was coming up the steps, carrying a bottle of whiskey and a couple of carryout bags.
“No surprise to find you on her doorstep like a lost puppy,” he said, smirking.
“Yeah, well, great minds must think alike. I see you’ve got dinner too. Good thing I know her favorite,” I replied, holding up my bags.
Lucian shrugged. “I’ve got a bottle of Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, her favorite. It’ll make for a nice dessert.”
Anastasia opened the door barefoot. She was wearing a cute pair of pink-and-white sleep shorts and a pink tank top. She rolled her eyes dramatically. “You two are like twins. I swear.”
“Stop rolling your eyes,” Lucian and I said in unison, then exchanged a brief glare.
She sighed. “Come on in, you guys. We’ll make it a smorgasbord. ”
Angel went about getting plates and glasses while we organized the food on a little round table by the window.
I handed Lucian a glass of wine and took a generous sip from mine.
“Conan, first time in New York?” he asked, passing a dish over.
“Yeah, the city’s a beast. Nothing like Tacoma.”
Angel handed me a forkful of carbonara. “It’s not so bad once you get used to it. There’s always something to do, and we are, after all, a cultural and entertainment mecca, with all the theaters, museums, and galleries. Not to mention the culinary diversity. Everything from Michelin-starred fine dining to the food carts at the Queens night market. There’s something for everyone all the time. You know, the city that never sleeps.”
Lucian laughed. “Yeah, hot and crowded in the summer and cold and windy in the winter. But the nightlife makes up for it.”
“And Club Xyst is a whole other world,” Angel said. “Speaking of… Lucian, why did you leave early tonight? Last call isn’t until three.”
Lucian shrugged. “Wanted to make sure you were okay. I know how stressful everything’s been for you.”
“Oh, that’s sweet. I appreciate it, but I’m good, considering…well, the circumstances,” she said, her tone softening as her eyes fell to her plate.
Lucian raised a brow. “So, what exactly happened with the wreck? Why were you in the hospital for so long?”
I jumped in. “She had to be cut out of the car using the jaws of life. The wreck was horrific. She’s lucky to be alive.”
Lucian’s eyes widened. “Damn, that must have been some impact.”
“She was unconscious for days, covered in bruises and burns from the seatbelt and airbags, and she got a big ole gash on her forehead,” I explained.
Lucian nodded. “I noticed the scar earlier at the club.”
Frowning, Angel reached up quickly to touch her forehead, her fingers tracing the thin, raised line as her chin dropped to her shoulder.
Talking about the wreck had upset her, and she was obviously self-conscious about the scar. I cursed myself for bringing it up. Rising from my chair and moving behind her, I gathered her hair in my hand. God, how I loved her thick, long chestnut locks. Taking her chin in my fingers, I turned her face gently and kissed the scar on her forehead, trailing kisses down the side of her face and along her neck. She sighed softly and leaned into it, her body relaxing.
Lucian watched our every move. Angel licked her lips and gave me a come-hither look. Smirking, I pulled back and returned to my seat.
“Damn, Ana, if you keep looking at him like that, we might have to skip dessert,” Lucian said. Although he seemed amused, his words held the hint of a challenge.
“Who says we can’t have both?” Angel shot back, her tone playful but dripping with innuendo.
We all laughed, but her words had opened a door. Was it one I was willing to walk through? I leaned back in my chair, noting how they looked at each other. Choosing not to fan the flames of where I guessed her comment was meant to go, I drained the last of my wine. From there, the conversation flowed easily as we shared the rest of the food, talking about everything from the club to summertime in the city. Once the second bottle of wine was polished off, the lingering tension had eased, and the air buzzed with an underlying prickle of possibilities.
While we were clearing the dishes, Lucian nudged me with his elbow and handed me a stack of plates. “Think you can handle washing the dishes, or are you too distracted by our lovely hostess?”
“Just trying to figure out if there’s anything she can’t make look good. It’s awfully hard to ignore that tank top she’s sporting,” I shot back, carrying the plates to the sink. “But I’m more than capable of multitasking.”
Lucian smirked, glancing over at Angel as she opened the whiskey. She found three shot glasses and hopped up on the counter, letting her legs and feet dangle off. She poured each of us a shot of the Skrewball Lucian had brought for dessert.
“Hope you boys are ready for this,” she said with a playful grin, handing us each a glass.
I dried my hands on a towel, took the glass, and took a whiff of the sweet drink. I’d never had peanut butter flavored whiskey.
We downed the shots. The warm, smooth taste coated my throat in a pleasing way.
“Damn, that’s good,” I said, savoring the lingering flavor. “Smooth with a bit of a kick, just like our hostess.”
Once everything was clean and put away, we made our way to the living room, drinks in hand. The whiskey was already warming my blood. Angel settled in the middle of the sofa, pulling me down on one side and Lucian on the other. She grabbed the remote and put on Magic Mike , a classic chick flick.
Angel curled up to my side and rested her head on my chest, giving me no other choice but to wrap my arm around her waist. She stretched her legs out toward Lucian, putting her feet in his lap. He started to massage them, and she sighed contentedly. “It’s so nice to have two men who are so attentive and like pleasing me,” she teased.
Lucian chuckled, his hands working on her feet. “We aim to please, don’t we, Conan? ”
I took another sip of my drink, letting the burn slide all the way down my throat before setting the glass onto the end table. “Yeah, it’s like she’s got us both wrapped around her finger. Not that I’m complaining.”
She giggled. It was obvious she was enjoying every second of the attention. I watched her, the way her eyes lit up, the way she responded to both of us. Her flirtations were drawing both of us in.
It hit me hard—this wasn’t about making her choose between Lucian and me. I wanted to please her, make her happy, not tear her apart, make her choose between her present and past. Dark thoughts crept in. How awful it must be for her to be locked in a not-so-gilded cage she couldn’t escape from. Her life had been controlled, sheltered, and filled with expectations and restrictions. She deserved to experience everything life had to offer.
I had been in threesomes before, where sex was casual and fun. But now, with Angel, everything was different. So many new and unexplained emotions swirled inside me—possessiveness, protectiveness, worry for her well-being. The idea of sharing her with another man twisted something deep inside me, but I also knew it might be good for her.
I wouldn’t stand in her way if she was interested in something more adventurous tonight. In fact, I’d encourage it. Maybe it would help her feel more liberated, more in control of her own choices. I didn’t want her to feel like she had missed out on any life experience. She shouldn’t be controlled by her family, shouldn’t be controlled by me. She deserved to experience everything she’d been denied. Maybe this could be a step toward her feeling whole. Watching her with another man was a risk, but if it helped her, it would be worth it .
Why force her to choose now, when our relationship was still so new? The night we’d spent together in Tacoma before she fled had been incredible, but she hadn’t had her memories then. Expecting her to commit to me exclusively was unfair.
No matter how much it tore my heart out to watch her with Lucian, at least it would be better if it was part of a shared experience. I could be there with her, for her, making sure she felt safe and cared for. It could be a bonding experience rather than something that drove a wedge between us. And maybe, if I was good enough, she would end up choosing me one day.
I glanced over at Lucian, who was watching Angel intently, and then down at her, nestled against me. I was determined to be whatever she needed me to be tonight.
Gently, I swiped her hair off her neck, exposing the smooth skin there so I could trail kisses along it. Savoring her taste, I nipped my way down to her collarbone. Her pulse quickened beneath my lips. I glanced up at Lucian and cocked a brow, giving him a questioning glance as if to ask, You in? Even though I already knew the answer by his hooded eyes and the way his jaw clenched.
He licked his lips and smiled, his green eyes gleaming with lust. “I’d love nothing more than for the three of us to be together tonight,” he said, his deep Irish accent thickening with desire. His lips turned up into a mischievous grin. He was clearly excited by the idea of sharing Angel with me.
Now only thin rims of blue surrounded her blown-wide pupils. Her eyes, irresistibly captivating, darted between us. Arousal flickered within them before she angled her head toward mine. She reached up with one hand and pulled me down for a demanding kiss. I could taste the whiskey on her tongue, mingling with her unique sweetness. She pressed her lips against mine with a fiery passion while at the same time running her feet teasingly along Lucian’s thighs. Her touch ignited a hunger in me, a hunger that demanded satisfaction.
“Have you ever been with two men before, Angel?” I asked her.
“Never,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with excitement. “You are the only men I’ve ever been with. But something about you two makes me want to try it.”
“Would you be willing to do this, Angel?” I asked. “We’re here to make you feel good, nothing more. No strings, no jealousy. Just you, us, and a whole lot of pleasure.”
I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with our intentions. Even though she’d never been with two men at once, I could tell she was intrigued by the idea. I was half lit by the wine and whiskey, but my protective instincts needed to be pacified—I needed to know this was what she wanted and that I wasn’t taking advantage of her.
“Show me what it’s like,” she whispered, glancing back and forth between me and Lucian.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, giving her the chance to back out. But she nodded, a sexy smile playing on her lips as she pushed her body closer to mine.
“Fuck, you’re irresistible,” I muttered, capturing her lips with mine. Our tongues tangled together, and we explored every inch of each other’s mouths. Her taste was intoxicating, making me crave her even more. Lucian watched us intently, his breathing growing heavy. My hands roamed over Angel’s curves, sliding up under her top. I was desperate to feel her soft skin beneath my fingertips. I wanted to fuck her so badly, to have every inch of her body pressed against mine.
“Let’s get this off,” I said, leaning her forward just enough to slide her top off and over her head. The fabric fell away, revealing her perfect breasts. They were round and pert, more than a handful, her nipples already formed tight peaks. Lucian growled with lust.
Angel nervously curled her fingers around a necklace I’d never seen her wearing before. I gently placed my fingers around hers, seeing that the pendant was a wolf. I wanted to ask her about it, but decided that was a story for another time. Instead, I let it fall between her breasts before drawing a lazy circle around one with my finger.
“Damn,” Lucian breathed, his eyes locked on her exposed flesh.
As I continued to explore her body, I watched Lucian’s hands trace up her legs while he planted soft kisses on her inner thighs. His fingers roamed up under her shorts, grazing over her pussy. His touch sent shivers through her body.
“Ana, I need complete access to you,” he grunted, yanking her shorts off in a rough move. He dropped them onto the floor next to the sofa, pushing her legs apart to reveal her core. “You’re so fucking beautiful…and so wet for us.”
I moaned at the sight, cupping one breast in my hand while I licked and nipped at the other. My mouth closed around her hard nipple, sucking and biting gently as I continued to watch Lucian.
He shifted, positioning his mouth at her entrance, tantalizingly close but not yet touching her. “God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured before diving in for a taste. I could only stare, utterly enthralled, as his tongue flicked over her clit. Then he buried his face in her folds and devoured her.
Pulling back, he glanced from me to her, his lips coated with her juices. He groaned, “You have the most delicious pussy I’ve ever tasted.”
Angel’s eyes fluttered closed, an invitation for us to continue .
Together, we feasted on her, our tongues and hands working in tandem to bring her to the edge. She was caught between us, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps, and it only made me want her more. And as she trembled and moaned beneath us, I felt a surge of pride in giving my Angel such an indulgence.
I mimicked the rhythm of Lucian’s licks, my tongue taking care of one nipple while my fingers pinched and teased the other. She squirmed, her breathy moans filling the room as Lucian plunged his tongue deep into her center. The scent of her arousal was intoxicating; I wanted nothing more than to taste her for myself.
Lucian grasped her ass cheeks, holding her in place as he continued his exploration. He slipped a finger inside her, and I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the sight of him finger-fucking our beautiful girl.
“Mmm, fuck,” I muttered, unable to resist touching her pussy any longer. My hand slid down her belly and over her mound to her swollen clit. I swirled my finger over the sensitive nub in tight circles.
“Fuck, don’t stop,” she begged, her breath coming in ragged gasps. It was intoxicating to see her like this, so uninhibited and craving more, her body writhing against our fingers and mouths.
It was clear she was close to the edge of orgasm, and I felt the urge to take control. My finger dove into her wet heat alongside Lucian’s. We moved in unison within her tight channel, plunging deep within her as she rolled her hips against us.
Her body trembled with need as I curled my finger just right, brushing against that sensitive spot inside her. That was all it took for her to shatter, her body convulsing while she came undone.
Reflexively, I captured her lips in a passionate kiss, swallowing her cries as she rode out her climax on our fingers. When I finally pulled back, her eyelids were heavy with gratification. A satisfied smile spread across her face.
“Nice dessert,” Lucian commented with a grin.
“Absolutely,” I agreed, trailing my fingers up her belly, over her curves, and pausing between her breasts. “But we both know you need more, Angel.”
Giggling, Anastasia replied, “You two play my body like a finely tuned instrument.”
I lifted her up in my arms and headed toward the stairs. I glanced back at Lucian, raising a brow in question. He dropped his head to the side, smirking at me but making no move to follow. Frowning, I called over my shoulder, “Lucian, get your ass up here. Angel deserves to be properly worshiped.”
“Right behind you,” he replied, finally rising to join us in what promised to be an unforgettable night.