6. Conal
CONAL
“Only when we’re sharing a woman.”
There’s another long silence before Hazel asks, “And is that something you do regularly …share women?”
“We have in the past.” Pretty frequently, in fact, especially when we were starting out, but no need to mention that right now.
“But it’s true that nothing happened last night.
My brothers are into you, and last night, you seemed to be into them, too, so that’s how we all ended up in one bed, even though it was just to sleep. ”
As I give that time to sink in, I read her body language and check Bron’s face for his reaction to what he can see on hers. Wisely, he’s focused on the foot massage and not putting any pressure on her with a lot of eye contact .
“If you’re interested in my brothers, I’m not going to be greedy and keep you all to myself,” I say. “I see your sister’s in a poly relationship, so I figure it’s no big deal.”
“Is that what this is, a poly relationship?”
“This can be whatever you want.”
“It isn’t just about sex,” Bron says, “not by a long shot, but the three of us can make you feel real good.” He slides one of his hands up her leg, past her knee, toward the bottom of her dress, and I give him a warning look, not because I’m possessive, but because Hazel isn’t ready for this.
“Anything physical will move at your pace, and only when you want it,” I tell her, glaring at my brother until he backs off.
Hazel sits up, shifting into a position where she can see my face, as well as my brothers’. “This whole situation, waking up married to someone I just met, doesn’t seem real. It’s true that I’m attracted to all of you, but I’m not sure I can stay.”
The way my stomach sinks takes me by surprise.
“I was only in Vegas for the night. I live with my mom a few hours from here, and she’s probably worried about me. My younger sister is there, too, and I feel like I need to be there to help out. I can’t just run off …”
Her words trail off. She’s not using this as an excuse. She has responsibilities.
“How old is your sister?” Bron asks.
“She’s fifteen.”
“Oh. She doesn’t need you to take care of her, does she?” he asks.
Hazel shakes her head. “No. Maybe we’ve babied her, but she’s capable of stepping up.”
“And you’ve just graduated,” I point out. “Surely your mom will be okay without you there for a while?”
“Yeah … it’s not as if I need her permission. I’m just afraid she’ll worry.”
I take Hazel’s hand, both to reassure her, and because there’s some strange kind of magnetic pull there. “Why don’t you call her? Put her mind at ease.”
“Our mom still worries about us, too,” Bron says with a grin. In fact, she still calls to lecture us on occasion, but Hazel doesn’t need to hear about that.
“What do you say?” I give her hand a squeeze. “Stay for a while? ”
When she eventually nods, I have the same feeling I get when a crowd’s energy peaks after we put out a particularly good set. It doesn’t make sense, but I decide to go with it, because my brothers are looking pleased themselves, and it’ll be especially good for Rafe to have Hazel with us.
I must have been drunk enough last night to be more impulsive than usual when I asked her to marry me, but I’m glad I did. She’s stunningly beautiful, of course, but there’s something about her that makes me feel calm.
She treats my brothers and me like normal people. When she looks at us, I don’t see stars—or dollar signs—in her eyes.
Last night, she was just a woman having fun, and today, she’s more concerned about her family than she is about what we can do for her. But we can do a lot for her, and I’m looking forward to it.
Which reminds me. “Want me to send out for some clothes for you? Is there anything else you need?”
Hazel shakes her head. “Bliss said she has my things. She’ll probably bring them up soon.”
“Excellent. And we can go shopping later, if you want. I’m assuming you only packed enough for one or two days. ”
“Yeah. I guess I will need some things. In the meantime, I’d like to get cleaned up.”
Bron gets to his feet. “I’ll make a bath for you.”
“A bath sounds wonderful.” Hazel reaches for her tea. “If Bliss comes while I’m in there, can you send her in?”
After Hazel and Bron head off to the bathroom, Rafe gets up and opens the curtains, filling the room with light. “You talk to Alan yet?” he asks.
“Fuck no.”
“Roddy?”
“I sent him a text. He was annoyed. I think he was trying to take a day off.”
Rafe snorts at this, and the two of us are silent until Bron returns. When I shoot him a look, he raises both hands in a sign of innocence.
“Calm down. I just helped her with her zipper then left her alone,” he tells me.
I keep my voice low. “She was close to freaking out when I first saw her this morning. The alcohol must have loosened her up last night, because I’m getting the idea she hasn’t had a lot of experience.” Rafe nods. For Bron’s benefit, I add, “We need to go slow with her. ”
“Or we could join her in the bath and make her feel so good, she’ll be begging for more.”
I pierce him with a look that erases the smirk from his face. “No, that’s not how it’s going to be. Not yet.”
“You think she’s a virgin?” Rafe asks. When I shrug, he arches a brow. “The idea of a virgin has never appealed to me, but fuck if I don’t love the thought of showing her how good it can be.”
He has a point. Images of particular lessons come to mind, but I can’t indulge in those fantasies right now, or I’ll be walking around with a dick that doesn’t want to stay in my pants.
My phone buzzes, and I’m expecting another nastygram from Alan, but it’s Jack. “Hazel’s friend is coming up,” I announce. “I’ll let her in.”