Chapter 4
Felicity blinked her eyes open, her mind hazy as she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling above her. For a moment, she lay there in confusion, her body warm beneath the soft sheets, trying to piece together where she was. Slowly, it all came rushing back—the studio, the recording, the charged atmosphere in the booth. The memory of Nathan's hands on her body, the feel of his touch, and the way his voice had commanded her senses made her catch her breath.
She bolted upright in bed, heart racing as she looked around the room. It was luxurious and far more elegant than her own. The events of last night tumbled through her mind in a rush. She remembered being in the studio, reading the manuscript, and then...Nathan. His hands, his lips. And then John. The intensity of it all.
Her pulse quickened as she remembered being carried to bed by Nathan, her body melting into his as he laid her down. And then everything that happened after—things she’d never expected and hadn't planned. But God, it had felt so good, so right in the moment.
In the soft light of morning, reality set in, and panic bubbled up inside her. How had she ended up in bed with both of them? This wasn’t supposed to happen. She had come to record an audiobook, not...this. Her cheeks flushed, both from embarrassment and the heat that surged through her as she recalled last night’s events.
Felicity pressed her palms to her face, trying to calm the rising tide of arousal and guilt warring inside her. What had she done? Leaping out of the bed, she frantically looked around for her clothes. She needed to leave before she did something stupid… like let what happened last night happen a second time. For a moment, she was caught up in that idea and could almost picture it in her head, feel it on her body and between her legs…
“Oh God,” she moaned as she continued to look for her clothes. “This place is driving me crazy. What the hell is wrong with me?”
A few minutes later, she grew frustrated when she didn’t find her clothes. She remembered Nathan taking them off one by one and dropping them on the armoire at the foot of the bed. But they were no longer there. Instead, she found some clothes folded neatly on top of it. Felicity picked up the clothes and unfolded them, her brows furrowing in confusion when she saw the jean shorts and the pink baby tee with the word “Little Princess” written on it.
It was clear the clothes had been left out for her. They definitely wouldn’t fit either of Nathan and John, she thought, cheeks turning pink when she remembered the sight of Nathan’s naked chest from the night before. In her head, she could hear her voice asking him to take his shirt off, pleading with him to give her a chance to touch his skin.
Shaking her head to get rid of the memories, she quickly put the clothes on. They fit her perfectly, and she walked out of the room and onto a large hallway that stretched out in both directions. Felicity tried to remember where Nathan had taken her when he carried her in from the studio, but all that came to mind was how dainty and little she’d felt in his big, strong arms.
Picking one direction, she headed down the hallway, hoping to find some stairs. The more she remembered of last night, the more mortified she felt, and it would not be long now before she simply expired on the spot from the embarrassment. Felicity would prefer to be in her home when that happened. She’d embarrassed herself enough in this house to last several lifetimes.
She scored her first victory when she found the stairs at the end of the hallway and held the ornate balustrade as she made her way down the steps. Just before she turned the corner, she heard John’s voice coming from downstairs. It was low and muted, but it still did something to her. Stirred up memories of that same voice teasing and instructing her, ordering and demanding nothing but pleasure from her.
Felicity froze, not sure she could face the two men after what she’d let them do to her. It would have been bad enough if she’d only had sex with one of them. Instead, she’d let the both of them have their way with her. Surrendered to their charm and influence. And it was the best damn night of her life.
There was no point running away. She would have to face them sooner or later, and the faster she did, the faster she could get her clothes and leave. Taking a deep breath, she continued down the steps until the dining room came into view.
Nathan and John were seated at opposite ends of the table, the former reading from a newspaper with a glass perched on the bridge of his nose. John was drinking from a cup of coffee when he saw her, and his eyes immediately grew bright, his lips curving in a warm smile.
“There you are,” he said, setting his coffee down. “I was wondering how much longer you were going to remain in bed.”
Felicity froze, not sure how to respond to that. What did one say when they were facing the two men who had made her come multiple times with nothing but hands, mouth, lips, tongues, and the sound of their voice?
“Come on,” John continued, not caring that she’d said nothing. “Come, sit and eat breakfast,” he said, waving her forward. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I had the cook make a bunch of stuff.”
Felicity stared at the food on the table and heard her stomach rumble. It was a king’s feast. There were boiled and scrambled eggs, waffles, pancakes, and bacon. There were croissants, fresh fruit, and an assortment of pastries that looked like they’d come straight from a French bakery. Jars of honey, jam, and whipped butter sat beside a basket of warm bread. A platter of smoked salmon and cream cheese caught her eye, along with a steaming pot of freshly brewed coffee and pitchers of orange juice and what looked like freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.
Her stomach rumbled again, louder this time, betraying her hunger. It was impossible to ignore the enticing smells wafting from the table. But even as her mouth watered at the sight, a knot of anxiety twisted in her gut. How could she sit here and enjoy breakfast like nothing had happened?
She cleared her throat and slowly shook her head. “Actually, I was thinking it’s better if I get going as soon as possible. I have book reports to grade…”
“Nonsense!” Nathan said, raising his head from his paper and scowling at her. With his glass perched on his nose like that, he looked like a principal reprimanding an errant schoolgirl… or a father scolding his daughter. It would be funny if Felicity forgot just how many times he’d called her his little girl and how her pussy had creamed at the sound of those words. “You’re going to sit down and eat breakfast.”
Even now, she could already feel the faint stirrings of her arousal, and Felicity wondered if she’d suddenly gotten a new kink. “It’s fine,” she insisted, her cheeks growing red. “I’m not that hungry.”
“It wasn’t a request, missy,” Nathan retorted, his gaze going dark, and she wondered what he would do if she defied him. The possibilities sent a shiver down her spine, not from fear but anticipation. “You’re going to sit down and have breakfast.”
“Easy now,” John said gently as he played peacemaker. “But he’s right, Felicity. You need to eat something.” He got up and pulled out a chair for her. “Trust me, you’ll feel better after you eat.”
She thought about it and had to admit he was right. She was famished, and the food looked amazing. It would be a shame to leave without having some. Besides, there was no way she would pass up on a chance to eat breakfast with her two favorite idols. Felicity stepped forward, thanking John for holding her chair as she sat down.
John poured orange juice in a glass and handed it to her without saying a word. Felicity collected it from him, only then realizing just how thirsty she was.
“Thanks,” she said to him.
He gave her a curt nod before returning to his newspaper.
“Looks like those fit you perfectly,” John said as he picked up a plate and began piling food on it. “I saw a stain on your dress and sent it to be laundered. It should be ready any minute now.”
“Okay,” Felicity said with relief.
“You’re welcome.” John dropped the plate of food in front of her and returned to his chair. “The driver is waiting to take you home whenever you’re finished eating.”
Felicity was already wolfing down her food and had to stop to nod her head in response. “Got it.”
“Slow down,” Nathan warned, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. “The food isn’t going anywhere.”
“I know that,” Felicity retorted, unable to help the snark in her voice.
“Then act like you do,” he replied, moving the paper to the side to give his full gaze.
For a moment, Felicity got the urge to stick out her tongue at him. She was not a big fan of being treated like a child, but somehow, the more he provoked her, the more it made her want to act like one.
John reached beside him for the book he had been reading, and Felicity gasped when she saw the front of the hard-covered book.
“Is that The Lamplighter ?”
John raised his head and nodded, his lips tugging in a knowing smile. “It is. Do you know about it?”
“Know about it?!” Felicity exclaimed excitedly. “I’ve read it like a dozen times. But only on my tablet. I’ve been searching for a hard copy for years. I still have no clue why they made a book as good as this a limited release.”
“You can have this one,” John said, closing the book and pushing it across to her.
“Oh, I don’t…” Felicity quickly shook her head. “I can’t take that from you.”
“Why not? Don’t worry, I have a second copy in the library.”
Her jaw dropped. “You have two copies of The Lamplighter ? I can’t even get one.”
John grinned. “It’s all about knowing the right people. It also helps that I have a lot of money. To be fair, I used to only have the one copy until Nathan checked it out of the library and forgot where he left it.”
“I didn’t forget,” Nathan replied. “I told you, it was in the study.”
“Then explain why we found it in the garage?”
Nathan shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Pay him no mind,” John said to Felicity. “He does stuff like that all the time.”
As Felicity listened to them bickering, a smile tugged at the corner of her lips. They sounded just like they did in their podcasts. Felicity was glad to see that the chemistry between them was real and not manufactured.
“So what are your plans for today?” John asked her.
“Nothing much. I have some assignments to grade, and then I need to review my lesson plans for the next week. Then there’s laundry and a couple of other things.”
“That sounds boring as hell,” Nathan commented, and Felicity’s cheeks turned red.
“Yeah,” she said, chuckling awkwardly. “I live a pretty boring life compared to most people's standards.”
“Didn’t say you were boring,” he said, holding her gaze and speaking slowly. “I said what you are choosing to spend your weekend doing is boring.”
“Do you have a better idea?” she asked.
Nathan glanced at John, who quickly stepped forward.
“Well, Nathan and I were thinking you could spend the weekend here… with us if you’re up for it.”
Felicity’s eyes widened. “You want me to spend the weekend here?”
“Yes,” he replied. “But only if you’re up for it.”
“And what are we going to be doing?” she asked.
The three of them exchanged a knowing look, and she knew they were all thinking about what they had done the night before.
“It’s a big house.” John’s voice broke the spell. “You can go for a swim, spend time in the garden… Better yet, you can do what I like to do on weekends like this. Find a book in the library, curl up, and read.”
“Oh, I think I’d like that very much,” Felicity said.
“Good. I’ll show you the library after breakfast.”
“Thank you,” she replied, taking a bite of her croissant. It tasted like heaven, and she groaned in delight, glad she’d let them talk her into staying.
The meal continued as did their conversation. It was just like dinner at the restaurant the night before. Nathan said little, leaving John to do most of the talking, and somehow, Felicity found herself revealing more about herself than she’d ever done with anyone. It was a lot of fun too, and several times, Felicity burst into laughter at something John said.
Just as breakfast was about to end, Nathan got up from his chair, muttering something about getting to work as he moved away from the table. He stopped when he passed behind her and lowered his head to kiss her forehead.
Felicity froze, unsure what to do, but he was gone before she could react, walking away from the dining room and toward the door in the back.
“He’s a strange fellow, isn’t he?” John asked with a hint of amusement in his tone.
“Oh, no…” Felicity said immediately, panicking a little.
“It’s okay to admit it. He can be an enigma sometimes, but that’s what makes him special.”
She stared at him, noting how easy and carefree he’d been all morning. “So are we going to talk about it?” she blurts out.
He looks up with a frown on his face. “Talk about what?”
“You know what,” she replied indignantly, ignoring the tingling that swept across her back and face. “I’m talking about what happened last night.”
He faced her squarely, his expression serious but still warm. “Do you want to talk about what happened last night?”
“Yes… I don’t know…” Felicity stammered, feeling confused. “I mean… shouldn’t we?”
“That depends. Did you enjoy what happened last night?” he asked softly.
The tip of her ears turned impossibly hot as she flushed with embarrassment. “Of course I did. You know I did,” she hissed. How could he have missed the way she screamed out every time they made her orgasm?
“What’s there to discuss, then?” he continued, his lips curling with amusement.
“I don’t know… I just…” She couldn’t meet his eyes as she tried to think of a way to say what she wanted to say. “I’m straight,” she finally blurted out.
John cocked a brow. “Okay… Not exactly sure why you felt the need to announce that, but I’ll be sure to keep it in mind.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She looked at the floor. “I mean, I’ve never been with… you know… two guys… men…” She cleared her throat, wondering why she was finding it hard to say what she wanted to say. “I’ve never been with two men at the same time. I just…”
“Did you enjoy it?” he asked, and she looked up at him, slowly nodding.
“Yes, I did,” she answered softly.
“Is there a part of you that feels like you didn’t want it to happen?”
She paused for a moment, thinking about it, and eventually shook her head. “No.” In the moment, it all felt so right, so natural… So good. And even now, weird as it sounded, it all still felt right. “I mean, I feel like I should feel that way. But I don’t.”
“Then why question it or try to define what it is?” John asked. He got to his feet. “Come on, I’ll show you to the library. You’ll love it there.”
He led her down a long hallway and into a room that took her breath away. The library was nothing short of magnificent. It was vast, with towering, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves that stretched up to the high ceiling, each shelf brimming with books of every size and color. Rich mahogany wood framed the walls and floors, and the faint smell of leather and old paper filled the air, giving the space a timeless, comforting feel.
A grand ladder on wheels was positioned against one of the shelves, its polished brass gleaming in the soft light filtering in from tall windows. There was a large, ornately carved fireplace on one side of the room, with two plush armchairs and a low table set before it, perfect for long evenings spent reading in front of the fire. Several antique globes and statues dotted the corners, adding to the charm and richness of the space.
In the far corner of the library, tucked away from the towering bookshelves, was a cozy reading nook bathed in sunlight. Three large windows surrounded the space, flooding it with natural light and offering a tranquil view of the gardens outside. Plush bean bag chairs in rich shades of blue and burgundy were scattered around, inviting anyone who sat there to sink in and lose themselves in a good book. The space felt like a hidden sanctuary, perfect for getting lost in a story.
Felicity stood frozen for a moment, awestruck by the sheer number of books. It was as if the entire world of literature was at her fingertips. "I think I just died and went to heaven,” she whispered in awe.
John chuckled. “I feel the same way every time I come in here.”
Felicity ran her fingers along the spines of the nearest row. “This is incredible. I’ve never seen so many books in one place outside of a public library.”
He smiled, watching her take it all in. "It’s one of my favorite rooms in the house," he said, walking over to a shelf and pulling out a beautifully bound volume. "Nathan and I built this collection over the years. There's something for every mood, every interest. Take your pick—you're welcome to any of it."
Walking over to a small desk near the entrance to the nook, he pointed at a leather-bound journal and a pen. "This is where you sign out any books you take with you," he said with a grin. "Just your name, the title of the book, and when you sign it out. You’ll sign it back in when you return it.” He flipped open the notebook, revealing page after page with only his neat handwriting filling the columns. "As you can see, Nathan doesn’t care much for the system."
Felicity chuckled, her fingers grazing the pages. "I solemnly swear I’ll follow the rules," she said, her voice playful but sincere.
John smirked, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "I’ll hold you to that. If you need anything, just hit this extension," he added, gesturing to the phone resting on the nearby table. "Dial 3, and I’ll come running. Or, if you get bored of the books, feel free to come hang out with me. We could play around in the studio if you want. I’ll be editing the new tape for the podcast later today."
“I’ll do that,” Felicity said excitedly.
“Good.” John smiled at her. “Well, relax, enjoy yourself, and have a good time. This is supposed to be fun.”
Felicity nodded, feeling a warmth settle over her as she glanced around the room again. She could already imagine spending hours here in this magical place. "Thank you," she said, meaning it deeply. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”
“And you have no idea how much your being here means to Nathan and me,” John replied softly. “This is the least we can do for you. This place is yours as long as you’re here.” With that, he strolled toward the door, leaving her to explore the vast collection in peace.
Felicity wandered through the endless rows of bookshelves, her fingers tracing the spines of the volumes as she marveled at the collection. Every turn revealed something new—a section dedicated to classic literature, another filled with historical texts, and yet another boasting of novels she had only heard about but never had the chance to read. Her eyes widened as she discovered books by her favorite authors that she’d never seen before, rare editions that made her gasp in surprise.
When she reached one shelf, her breath caught in her throat. There, displayed in pristine condition, was a first edition of The Time Traveler's Wife . She reached out to gently run her hand across the cover, feeling a sense of reverence wash over her. She couldn’t believe it—John’s collection wasn’t just impressive, it was legendary.
After an hour of exploring, she eventually found a novel that caught her eye, plucked it from the shelf, and made her way to the cozy reading nook. Settling into one of the plush beanbag chairs, she curled up with the book and began to read. It didn’t take long for her to lose herself in the pages, the outside world fading away as she became absorbed in the story. The sunlight pouring through the windows shifted as the day wore on, but Felicity didn’t notice—she was completely entranced.