12. Marla
MARLA
Silence crashes through the cottage like a physical force. All three men stare at me with expressions ranging from shock to disbelief to something that might be amusement.
The only sound is my own ragged breathing and the soft hum of the refrigerator in the kitchen. I can feel heat flooding my face, spreading down my neck and across my chest, and I want nothing more than for the floor to open up and swallow me whole.
But I've never been one to back down, even when I'm humiliated beyond belief.
I lift my chin and meet their stares head on, refusing to let them see how mortified I am.
"Sharon convinced me that casual sex would give me the experience I need to write better romance novels.
I thought if I could just have some one-night-stands with attractive men, I'd understand what I was writing about.
I didn't know who any of you were. I didn't know you knew each other.
I certainly didn't know you were all businessmen in the middle of merger negotiations. "
Russ is the first one to break.
He throws his head back and laughs, a genuine sound of shocked amusement that fills the small space. "You're telling me," he says between laughs, "that you slept with all three of us because you're writing a fucking romance novel?"
"It's not funny," I snap, but my cheeks are burning even hotter now.
"It's a little funny," Russ counters, still grinning.
Alex hasn't laughed. He's studying me with that same intense focus from our night together, like he's trying to determine if I'm insane or just incredibly naive.
"You decided to have casual sex with men you knew nothing about because you wanted material for a book," he says slowly, and it's not a question.
"That's possibly the most reckless thing I've ever heard. "
"Sharon said you were regulars at the club. Rich businessmen. I thought you'd be safe."
"Safe," Nick repeats, and there's something dark in his tone. "We're the furthest thing from safe."
The words hang in the air, and I feel a shiver run down my spine. But it's not fear. It's something else entirely.
The tension in the cottage shifts.
The accusations and suspicion fade, replaced by something heated and dangerous.
All three men are looking at me differently now, and the air grows thick with a different kind of intensity.
Russ moves closer, leaning against the back of my couch with that playful grin that made me fall into bed with him the first time. "You know," he says casually, but there's heat in his light eyes, "if you're really serious about this research, you're missing a pretty significant experience."
My heart starts beating faster. "What do you mean?"
"You've had sex with each of us individually," he continues, his gaze locked on mine. "But you haven't experienced all three of us at once."
The suggestion hits me low in my belly. Goosebumps break out all over my body. I stare at him, my mouth falling open slightly as my brain tries to process what he just said. "You can't be serious."
"Why not?" Alex asks. When I turn to look at him, I can see genuine interest in his dark eyes. "You wanted experience. You wanted to understand passion. This would certainly give you material."
"That's insane," I say, but my voice comes out breathless. "You three were just accusing me of being a spy ten minutes ago."
Nick looks at me, his eyes taking on a predatory gleam. "Right now, we're all interested in the same thing."
"Which is?" I ask, even though I already know the answer.
"You," all three of them say in unison.
The word hangs in the air between us, heavy with promise and danger.
I should say no.
I should tell them to leave. But as the silence stretches and I look at each of them in turn, I realize I'm not going to do that.
Because despite the fear and the humiliation and the absolute insanity of this situation, I'm curious.
More than curious.
I'm aroused in a way I've never been before, my body responding to the idea with an intensity that makes my knees weak.
"Okay," I hear myself say.
Russ's grin widens. "Yeah?"
"Yeah," I confirm. "But if this is happening, we're doing it on my terms. In my space. And if I say stop, we stop."
"Agreed," Nick says immediately, and both Alex and Russ nod.
The moment the agreement is made, the atmosphere transforms completely.
Russ moves first, crossing the space between us and pulling me against him.
His mouth finds mine in a kiss that's both familiar and different, knowing exactly what I like because he's already learned my body.
I feel Alex's hands on my waist from behind, his touch firm and controlled as he presses against my back.
Nick moves to my side, his fingers threading through my hair.
The sensation of being surrounded by all three of them is overwhelming, their combined presence making me feel small and protected and desired all at once.
Russ breaks the kiss, his breathing heavy. "Bedroom?"
I nod, unable to form words, and let them guide me down the short hallway.
The space suddenly feels too small with all four of us in it, but I don't care.
My shirt comes off first, then my jeans, until I'm standing in just my bra and panties while all three of them are still fully dressed.
The contrast makes me feel exposed and vulnerable, but also incredibly aroused. I can see the bulges in their pants, and how their eyes darken as they take in my curvy body.
"Beautiful," Alex murmurs, his hands sliding up my sides to cup my breasts through the lace. "Even more beautiful than I remembered."
Nick's hands are at my back, unhooking my bra and letting it fall to the floor.
Russ drops to his knees in front of me, his fingers hooking into the waistband of my panties and dragging them down my legs.
The cool air hits my heated skin, and I shiver.
They guide me to the bed, and I lie back against the pillows as they finally start removing their own clothes.
I watch with fascination as each of them strips, revealing the bodies I've already explored individually but never seen all together.
Russ's powerful build with the light dusting of hair across his chest and the tattoo on his left shoulder.
The scar along his ribs, another on his abdomen. Alex's lean, muscular frame marked with scars that tell stories I don't know.
The scar along his jawline, barely visible.
Nick's broader shoulders and the tattoos that cover his left arm from elbow to wrist.
All three of them are hard, their cocks standing proud as they move onto the bed with me. The sight makes my mouth go dry and my core clench with anticipation.
positions himself between my thighs, his hands gripping my hips as he looks up at me with that playful grin. "Let's start with what we know works," he says, and then his fingers are on me, working my clit with the same skill he showed our first night together.
I gasp, my back arching off the bed, and feel Alex's hands on my breasts, his fingers rolling my nipples as his mouth finds my neck.
Nick's hand threads through my hair, tilting my head toward him, and then his mouth is on mine in a kiss that's demanding and possessive.
The sensation of all three of them touching me at once is almost too much.
Every nerve ending feels like it's on fire, pleasure building in waves that keep surging and growing.
Russ's tongue works magic between my legs while Alex's hands and mouth worship my breasts, and Nick's kiss swallows every moan and gasp that escapes me.
When Russ finally pulls back, I'm trembling and desperate.
He positions himself at my entrance, and I feel the familiar stretch as he pushes inside.
The angle is different with Alex and Nick still touching me, still kissing me, and it makes everything more intense.
Russ sets a steady rhythm, his hips moving as he fills me completely. Alex's mouth moves from my breasts to my ear, his voice low and rough as he tells me how beautiful I look, how perfect I feel.
Nick's hand slides down my body to where Russ is moving inside me, his fingers finding my clit and adding pressure that makes stars explode behind my eyelids.
The orgasm hits me hard and fast, my body clenching around Russ as pleasure crashes through me in waves.
I cry out, the sound muffled by Nick's mouth on mine, and feel Russ's rhythm falter as he follows me over the edge.
But they're not done with me.
As Russ pulls out, Alex is already moving into position, his hands gripping my thighs and spreading them wider.
He enters me in one smooth thrust, and the sensation is different, more controlled and precise.
He knows exactly what angle to hit, exactly how much pressure to apply, and within minutes I'm building toward another orgasm.
Nick moves behind me, propping me up against his chest so Alex has better access.
His hands roam my body, touching everywhere he can reach, while Russ recovers beside us and watches with obvious appreciation.
The combination of Alex's controlled thrusts and Nick's possessive touches pushes me over the edge again, and I come with a cry that echoes through the small bedroom.
I'm panting and gasping, trying to catch my breath while my body hums and throbs.
Alex follows moments later, his grip on my thighs tightening as he finds his release.
When he pulls out, I'm boneless and trembling, but Nick isn't finished.
He positions me on my hands and knees, his large hands gripping my hips as he enters me from behind.
The angle is deeper, more intense, and I can feel every inch of him as he moves.
I didn't think I could get close again, not after the orgasms I'd just had, but damn if these men don't know what they're doing, playing my body like a well-tuned fiddle.
Russ and Alex watch from either side, their hands stroking my skin, their mouths finding mine in turn.
The sensation of being filled by Nick while the other two touch and kiss me is overwhelming in the best possible way.
When Nick's hand slides around to find my clit, applying firm pressure, I come apart for the third time, my body shaking with the force of it.
Nick follows with a low groan, his fingers digging into my hips as he empties himself inside me. When he finally pulls out, I collapse onto the bed, completely spent and unable to move.
All three of them lie beside me, their bodies warm against mine, and for a long moment, no one speaks. I can feel their hands still touching me gently, possessively, like they're claiming ownership of every inch of my skin.
As my breathing slowly returns to normal and reality starts to creep back in, one thought dominates my mind.
I can't believe I just had sex with all three of my one-night-stands at the same time.