Chapter 23
JARED
“ I knew it!” Dylan exclaimed, his world-famous smile on full display. “Man, you guys are hot together.”
“Keep your voice down,” I hissed. “Do you want to wake up everyone on this ship?”
Dylan chuckled and walked over to stand beside us.
“I don’t think they’d mind. They’d all be very interested in what’s going on here,” he teased as he pointed between all three of us.
He reached for a grape off the platter we’d assembled but Aiden swatted his hand.
“Ouch! That hurt,” Dylan complained and rubbed said hand.
“I barely touched you, so quit overacting. And that food is for us. Get your own snack,” Aiden growled.
“But I thought you liked sharing,” Dylan teased. “Or is this triad an exclusive thing? Inquiring minds need to know.”
“Inquiring minds will get their arse kicked,” Alex muttered, but his icy glare had no effect on Dylan.
“Lighten up, guys. It’s me. Who am I going to tell?”
“Max, Rowan, Rafe, Tate,” I named off Dylan’s family and friends.
Dylan shook his head.
“I don’t need to tell anyone anything. Your swollen lips and beard burn will say it all,” he reasoned. “So, is this an official thing? Are you guys a throuple?”
I felt Aiden’s body tense and he withdrew his hands from my waist. Alex moved and so did Aiden, stepping away from me.
I felt the loss of their touch more than I cared to admit.
“It’s brand new, so we don’t even have a name for it yet. All we can say is we’re keeping things quiet,” I replied, glancing at Alex and Aiden.
“Didn’t sound quiet when I walked by your room earlier,” Dylan quipped.
Aiden threw a grape at Dylan’s head but the actor quickly caught it.
“As I was saying, we’re keeping this between us for a number of reasons.”
Dylan’s smile faded. “I was just teasing. I wouldn’t tell anyone. You know that, right?”
“Of course I know that,” I replied and slipped off the counter to stand in front of Dylan.
Dylan nodded. “And I’m happy for you.”
Aiden scoffed and everyone turned their heads to stare at him.
“You have something to say?” I asked.
“Can we discuss another topic?” he grumbled, reaching for a wedge of brie.
I glanced at Alex, and the concern I saw in his eyes reflected mine.
I wanted to make a go of this relationship, even if we had to keep it under wraps for now. But we still needed to talk about what we wanted and our expectations.
Aiden didn’t believe in love, or so he said. Except for that affair he had told us about, I don’t think he’d ever been in a long-term relationship with a lover.
Even though I knew in my gut that Alex and I meant more to him than a one-night fuck.
My mind began to race with all kinds of questions.
What if Alex was all in but Aiden wasn’t? How would this work once the case was over? I lived in L.A. and so did Alex (for now), but Aiden was based in the UK. Would Alex return there if he didn’t work for me anymore? What would happen then?
Long distance was difficult enough, but with two lovers?
Suddenly I had no more appetite.
As if sensing my distress, Alex slipped his arm around my waist and gave me a quick squeeze.
“What about Tate and Reed? What’s going on there? Anyone else think they’re in love with each other?” Dylan asked as he nabbed a chunk of cheddar and popped it in his mouth. “Fifty bucks says they announce their relationship before the film is done.”
Dylan had picked a similar topic, but at least it wasn’t about me.
“You are the nosiest SOB I’ve ever known,” I quipped.
“I’m from Texas, y’all. Gossip is life’s blood.”
Just as Dylan was about to reach for another piece of cheese, Aiden picked up the plates of food and motioned for the door. “Let’s eat this back in our room. In private.”
“Sounds great,” Dylan clapped his hands.
“Four is a crowd, Dylan. Go back to your own bed,” Aiden replied as we all made to leave the kitchen.
Alex grabbed a bottle of sparkling water and turned out the light.
“Don’t you have a fiancé you can call?” Alex commented as we wandered down the dark hallway.
“Of course, but not now. Max is on his way to class. Maybe I’ll hit the gym. I’m tired but so fucking wired. And I need to get the image of what I saw in the kitchen out of my head, or I’ll never get to sleep.”
Aiden sighed. “Alex, can’t you put Dylan in a headlock or something? Make him shut up.”
Dylan nudged Aiden with his shoulder as they walked side by side. Alex and I followed.
“Come on, Aiden, I’m teasing. But not about the fact that you guys look good together. I meant what I said earlier. I’m happy for y’all.”
“Let’s not make this into more than what it is,” Aiden bit out.
My heart ached at that comment. Alex and I shared a brief glance.
We reached the stairs and Dylan turned, cocking his head. “Fair enough. But your trip isn’t over yet. You’re still on this ship.”
“What does that mean?” Aiden replied.
“Have a good night,” Dylan replied with a low chuckle, and gave a wave as he headed down the stairs.
“What the bloody hell is so funny, Dylan?” Aiden asked.
Aiden turned to face us, and I shrugged my shoulders even though I knew what Dylan was referring to.
The love spell.
Aiden would dismiss that notion without question. Even I did.
Okay, maybe I was starting to believe in the love spell.
I mean, the record spoke for itself.
And I couldn’t deny that I was falling for Alex and Aiden. Would it be too much to hope that they would return my feelings? Was there some kind of prayer or intention I could murmur into the universe and the ship, like a genie, would grant my one and only wish?
If only life were that simple…
I didn’t feel like Alex and I were lumped into Aiden’s casual conquests. But he was obviously uneasy about putting a name to what was happening between us.
We would have to tread very carefully.
We headed back upstairs, but now there was a tension between the three of us that had nothing to do with fucking.
Heading towards one in the morning, now was not the time for a major conversation about relationships. It would have to wait.
Back in my suite, which smelled like our sex, I slid under the covers of the bed. I felt the mattress shift once, then twice.
I smiled into my pillow.
Alex wrapped his huge arm around my waist and pulled me in tight. Then I felt Aiden’s hand touch my hip.
Aiden could deny it all he wanted, but I knew the truth.
And my sleep had never been sweeter.
The next morning, I woke up to find myself in the middle of the bed, with Alex on one side and Aiden on the other.
While my brain started whirling with anxious thoughts about what last night meant and where this relationship was going, my cock had no such concerns. He knew what he wanted, and he wanted it now.
I leaned over and gave Alex’s sleep-sexy pout a soft kiss, then kissed his nose, his eyelids, and his forehead. His thick black eyelashes fluttered open, and then all I could see were oceans of blue.
Instead of his usual scowl, I was treated to his smile, which made his laugh lines deepen. My heart throbbed as painfully as my dick.
I knew that I wanted to wake up like this every morning. He glanced at me with longing in his eyes, then looked over my shoulder.
I turned to look at Aiden.
He was still gently snoring, but I decided I was going to be brave and poke the bear.
I treated him to the same wakeup, kissing Aiden gently. Tasting the freckles on his cheekbones, on his sharp nose.
Showing him, without words, what was in my heart.
Long, auburn eyelashes flickered, then he blinked.
Then I was staring at pools of green and gold.
They were just as captivating as ocean blues.
But where Alex was happy at my wakeup, Aiden was cautious. I heard his breath catch and watched as he nervously licked his lips and swallowed. Still, he didn’t look away. Then I felt Alex’s chin on my shoulder and Aiden stared at the two of us.
I understood; it was a lot.
Falling for not just one man, but two? Not to mention the security concerns and the lawsuit. Complicated was just the beginning.
But I’d never been one to shy away from what I wanted. And I had enough patience to let Aiden be Aiden. Even if he claimed he had no feelings for me or Alex, or pushed us away, it wouldn’t change how I felt.
I wanted these men in my life. I needed them like nothing and no one that had come before.
Instead of giving in to the fear, I leaned forward and claimed Aiden’s lips.
I felt Alex’s body behind me, pushing me closer to Aiden.
Aiden kissed me back, tangling his tongue with mine and mauling my lips in an aggressive way, frantic and fierce.
It spoke of so many things we didn’t have the courage to voice yet.
He shifted me until I was on top, straddling his waist, our morning erections rubbing against each other.
Alex moved in behind me, straddling Aiden, and reached around, taking both Aiden’s cock and my own in his callused grip. I pumped my hips faster, and then I felt cool lube covering my dick. I looked down to watch Alex jerking us off and I shuddered.
Every sensation was more powerful, more intense, with these two. A simple hand job was anything but.
Alex’s other slick hand slid to my ass, his finger teasing my tender hole.
I chased Alex’s hand and Aiden’s cock and now the thick finger that was drilling deep into my ass.
There were too many sensations going on at once.
Between that and the tidal wave of emotions building up inside me, it didn’t take much to push me over the edge.
One, two more thrusts of my hips and I was coming, unloading my cum all over Aiden’s cock, his stomach, Alex’s hand. Aiden shouted my name, and I felt his cock pulse, his cum mixing with my own.
Alex’s finger withdrew from my ass.
I was still panting and shivering from the quick but dirty orgasm when I heard Alex behind me, and the sound of him rubbing one out.
Not five seconds later, Alex moaned loudly and hot cum lashed my ass cheeks. All I could smell was our sex and I wanted more.
More kissing, more touching, more everything.
Aiden pulled me down and took my lips again, devouring my mouth until I was short of breath.
Finally, he let me go and I sat up, taking huge gulps of air, filling up my lungs.
Then Alex lay down beside Aiden.
I watched as they kissed each other with the same ferocity, bordering on desperation. Mutual moans had my body shivering again. Alex reared back and then leaned over Aiden’s stomach, licking up our combined cum.
Filthy and gorgeous.
These men were all mine.