39. Maeve
MAEVE
My heart is still pounding hard and fast, and my knees could definitely still buckle at any moment as I work to regain my equilibrium.
Four orgasms in less than an hour .
I didn’t know my body was capable of experiencing such intense sensations. And now that I do know, I’m not sure I can ever go back to being the woman I was before—the one who settled for mediocre everything, including mediocre sex.
Gabriel pulls out slowly, and I whimper at the loss. I want to keep him inside me forever, as ridiculous as that sounds. I feel too empty without the stretch of his thick cock filling me.
Before I can overthink it, he turns me around and kisses me deeply.
I sink into the kiss without hesitation.
It feels so natural, like we’ve been doing this for years instead of having just started.
There’s something about this moment that feels complete, now that he’s fucked me too.
As if some fundamental part of the universe has clicked into place, balance finally restored.
I let myself get lost in the kiss for a moment, but then we part for air, and I murmur breathlessly, “You left the game.”
Gabriel chuckles, the deep sound making my stomach flutter. “We weren’t going to win anyway. Charles will probably blame me as the reason we lost, though. He refuses to see the writing on the wall when it comes to strategy.”
Charles strikes me as that kind of man in general. The type who never admits when he’s wrong. “I think you did win,” I say softly. “With me.”
Gabriel grins and kisses me again, sweet and quick. “Fuck, yes. What a team we make.”
That innocent comment makes my heart twinge a little. Both because it would be wonderful if he meant that in a way beyond the physical, but also because a team suggests two people. Just two.
I’m still worried about how this whole arrangement will turn out, what it means for all of us. But in this moment, basking in the euphoria of my climax and the afterglow of fantastic sex, I can’t quite bring myself to voice those concerns.
Gabriel disposes of the condom and we quickly clean ourselves up, then straighten our clothes and try to make ourselves presentable. Hopefully nobody noticed exactly how long we were gone.
I slip out first, and after about thirty seconds, I hear Gabriel following behind me. I’ve just reached the end of the hallway when I bump into someone coming around the corner.
Two familiar hands steady me, and I look up to see Liam. I quickly take a step back, putting distance between us. “Oh, sorry about that.”
“No harm done.” Liam gives me a small smile, but then his gaze flicks up behind me as Gabriel approaches. “What are you two doing back here?”
“I thought I should check if Maeve needs soup or medication, after she got sick earlier this week,” Gabriel says smoothly, his tone casual. “But she insists she’s feeling well enough to rejoin the game.”
“It was silly of me to leave in the first place,” I add quickly. “I’m fine—I shouldn’t have panicked like that. I need to get more comfortable being around people when I’m not feeling well, that’s all.”
“Oh, well, that’s good then.” Liam glances between us with mild interest, then shrugs dismissively. “Hayden and Lydia won the game, by the way, but I’m finished for the night.”
He pushes past us to continue down the hall. Gabriel’s eyes narrow as he watches him go, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “Not a single word of concern for you? No asking how you’re feeling?”
“Leave it,” I say quietly, touching his arm. “I’m used to it from him by now.”
At least I’m not dating Liam anymore. Now he’s just the annoying man I have to tolerate for another week or so until this whole charade is over.
Gabriel doesn’t look satisfied with my answer, still glaring in the direction Liam disappeared. I change the subject before he can say anything else.
“Thank you for covering for us,” I say in a low voice. “I don’t think—I mean, I’m supposed to be Ford’s fiancée. I don’t think his family would really understand this situation.”
I don’t think most people would understand it. Three men sharing one woman? It sounds crazy even to me, and I’m living it.
“I agree completely,” Gabriel says quietly. “Americans are much more uptight about sex and relationships than the French.” He winks at me playfully. “Especially since we can’t let word get back to Silver Start. Ford told you their CEO is very traditional, right?”
“Yes.” I nod emphatically. Even if Ford’s family might eventually accept the fact that I’m sleeping with all three men—which is a big if—the way Ford described George Watterson, I know for certain he wouldn’t approve.
“Let’s go back and rejoin the others then.” Gabriel places his hand briefly at the small of my back, guiding me along the hallway.
I swallow hard and follow his lead. It does make me feel a bit melancholy, all this secrecy and sneaking around.
I don’t want to have to worry about hiding my relationships—plural.
Before, I was just concerned about pretending to be engaged to someone I’m not, although that’s gotten much easier now that Ford and I are actually sleeping together.
Now I’m worried that I have to hide my connections with Hayden and Gabriel too.
And that weighs heavily on my heart.
We make our way back to the living room, where Lydia and Ford are now engaged in an intense chess match, while Hayden, Charles, and Elaine play what looks like a heated card game.
“Ah, Maeve! Gabriel said he was going to get you some medicine—are you feeling better now?” Elaine smiles warmly at me as she deals another round of cards.
“Deal us in for the next hand,” Gabriel says, leading me to sit down at their table.
“I’m okay now, thank you so much for asking,” I tell her sincerely. “I just got a little overheated and panicked.”
I catch Gabriel, Ford, and Hayden all trying to hide smirks as they focus intently on their chess pieces and playing cards.
“I was worried I was getting sick again,” I continue, fighting back my own smile. “But I just took some medicine and I’m feeling much better.”
“I’m so glad to hear that. We really do tend to go full speed ahead like energizer bunnies around here,” Elaine laughs good-naturedly. “If you’re ever needing to lie down or skip an activity, you can always take a break and just rest.”
“Thank you, I really appreciate that.” She has no idea that I might need to take her up on that offer, but for entirely different reasons than she’s imagining.
As much as I might still worry that it would be smarter to back out of this whole arrangement, to say we should keep everything platonic—I know deep down that I won’t really be able to resist. I’m too far down the rabbit hole now, and even though it makes my stomach swoop with nerves, I know I’ll definitely be staying on this ride until the end.
We play several rounds of cards while Lydia and Ford finish their chess game. When they’re done, Lydia announces she’s going upstairs to shower, and Elaine and Charles say they’re heading to bed.
“It’s a big day tomorrow,” Elaine says happily, although her enthusiasm sounds slightly ominous.
The men and Lydia all exchange glances that tell me this feels both entertaining and somewhat threatening. I can’t help but smile at their expressions.
That leaves just the four of us—me alone with all three men. Hayden, Gabriel, and Ford.
“I’m going to get myself a drink,” Hayden announces, standing and stretching before heading toward the kitchen. “Anyone want to join me?”
“Sure, why not.” Ford also gets to his feet with fluid grace.
I follow along with Gabriel. “I suppose it’s too much to hope that you’re thinking of a nice glass of wine?” Gabriel asks with exaggerated hope.
“Wine is for having with food,” Ford teases, shooting his friend an amused look. “I thought you of all people should know that basic rule.”
“Oh, come on, Gabriel’s not that French,” Hayden adds with a grin. “He’s been in America longer than France at this point in his life.”
“You two think you’re hysterical,” Gabriel shakes his head in mock despair. “It’s truly sad to witness such a complete lack of culture, especially from my two best friends. Despite all my years of hard work and effort to educate you.”
“We’re having good whiskey,” Hayden insists. “And that’s final.”
“Can it at least be Scottish whisky?” Gabriel tries to negotiate.
“Absolutely not. We’re having Tennessee whiskey, and that’s the end of it.”
All three men laugh, none of their banter actually sharp, just the comfortable teasing of friends who’ve known each other forever. It warms something deep in my chest to witness it.
“I don’t know much about alcohol,” I admit as Hayden grabs some crystal glasses from the cabinet. “I know there’s supposed to be a difference between things like black label and blue label, but I’m not sure what it actually means.”
“It’s all about aging,” Ford explains, moving to a locked cabinet. “Here, hold on—we have some really top-shelf stuff in here. Hayden, grab a few more glasses.”
My eyes go wide as Ford retrieves bottles that I’ve seen displayed on the highest shelves at upscale bars, sometimes even locked away behind glass.
I’ve seen how much a single glass of this stuff costs at those places.
This is wildly expensive alcohol. “You really don’t have to break out the good stuff for me. ”
“Nonsense,” Gabriel says. “You deserve the very best.”
“And you should know what properly aged alcohol actually tastes like,” Hayden adds with conviction. “Don’t let her watch.”
Gabriel turns me away with a playful grin while Ford and Hayden remove caps from bottles and pour various samples into glasses for me to try.