Chapter 28
TWENTY-EIGHT
Sophie
The doors open and wait staff come in and clear our plates and replace them with two dishes, one of Carbonara and the other of pasta meatballs.
They smell absolutely divine. I hear the words that Rory has just spoken ping-ponging around my head, ‘we just want to make you happy Sophie,’ and it’s rendered me speechless.
These men, these adorable men, each in their own way have put so much thought and effort into this idea, I can’t imagine any sane, hot-blooded woman turning it down.
And yet here they are trying to persuade me.
I am overwhelmed they all feel this way about me and have for a substantial amount of time when I was completely oblivious.
“I don’t know what to say,” I answer as I look down at my empty plate and spread my palms out on the table trying to find the right words.
“You don’t have to say anything, you don’t need to make any decisions now, we just wanted to get to know you a bit more and tell you how we feel, finally,” says Rory, so sweetly I feel like my heart could burst. He genuinely thinks I need to think about it.
“It’s not that, Rory,” I say as I reach for his hand and then for Flynn’s. “I simply cannot believe this is happening to me; when would four of the most attractive, friendly, interesting, kinky men from the Clarendon declare their interest in me?”
“Right now, Sophie,” Rory replies as Flynn’s hand squeezes mine.
I look between the two men who seem worlds apart in appearance.
Flynn who takes up so much space at the table, built like my own personal bodyguard with his dirty blond hair tied up in a top knot and his broody come-to-bed-with-me blue eyes.
And then there is Rory who is slender, with short clipped hair in tight curls and his eyes that always look like they’re undressing me.
He watches me like a hawk, he enjoys the emotions he can wring out of me, usually torment, pain and pleasure.
And then I think of sweet Tye who never lets a shift go by without seeing me.
And Mack who I’ve tried to see outside of work on so many occasions.
“You know I couldn’t turn one of you down, let alone all four of you,” I say as I look from Flynn to Rory. I feel the hope that brightens their expressions as well as see it reflected in their eyes.
“You’ll consider moving in with us?” asks Rory, the look of disbelief making me smile.
“I’ll consider moving in with you,” I laugh the words out. “Can I get a proper tour first?”
“Of course, you can have the royal tour and anything else you might desire,” replies Rory with a mischievous smile.
“I don’t want to rush into anything or give up my own apartment and jinx it. Maybe we can take things slow and see how they go?”
“Absolutely, sounds like a perfect idea. We wouldn’t want to rush you into anything, Sophie, even making the decision to see all four of us.”
“I know, I am picking up on that fact,” I smile at the two of them.
I don’t feel hurried or pressured. “I should say before it’s completely gone—this is the best pasta I think I’ve ever eaten in my life,” I gush.
I should feel conscious at the volume of food I have eaten sitting here but neither of the two have commented or have paid any attention to my diet, their sole interest it seems is to make sure I am happy to try out this strange relationship they are proposing.
I look over to Flynn. “Please do tell your friend’s nonna how much I enjoyed her food. ”
“I will do. She doesn’t work evenings anymore but I can pass on your compliments.”
“Thank you, do you come here often?” I say and then giggle.
Rory starts to laugh and before long even Flynn has cracked a smile as the giggles take over me.
It must be the bubbles or the relief that feels palpable in the room.
Everything feels lighter, comfortable. It’s like the business has been taken care of and now the fun can begin.
I have to take a sip of water before I start hiccuping.
When the hilarity has died down, Flynn replies, “Yes, I come here often,” which chokes me back into a fit of giggles and then full blown hiccups hit and I’m done for. Lucky for me, I’ve finished eating along with the men.
A moment later, like perfect waiters, a man and a woman enter the room quietly to clear our plates, open a new bottle of champagne, top up our glasses and leave delicate bowls of what looks like chocolate mousse in the centre of the table.
I am not sure I can fit more food in at this time.
When we are alone again, my hiccups subsiding, I look on at my favourite dessert.
“I am not sure I have room for much more,” I say.
“How about you?” I look from side to side.
They exchange a look between them which I catch.
“You’re welcome to mine if you’re still hungry,” I offer.
“Believe me, you are not going to want to miss out on dessert,” says Rory, a wicked smile spreading across his face.
“I would ordinarily hate to. Can we let our main meal go down a little before we go in for the finale of Nonna’s?” I plead.
“We can do that,” replies Flynn as I sit back in my chair and sip on my champagne and take in the view out on the street as people walk by and go in and out of the different restaurants across the street.
We spend the next hour chatting about small things, big things, families, friends and everything in between.
Flynn and Rory ask about my parents, ask where I grew up and what I enjoy to eat.
It feels easy and my heart feels lighter as I get to know these two men who I’ve known but never really known anything personal about in all this time.
When the second champagne bottle is empty Flynn looks at me, “Are you ready for dessert?” I take a deep breath and wonder if I really have any more room left in my stomach for more food.
Not wanting to be rude, I reply, “I think I’m ready.”
My agreement seems to satisfy him as he looks to Rory and then back at me. “Good, because I’ve been looking forward to dessert all evening.”
Seems like a strange thing to say. Maybe he really enjoys Nonna's mousse? I wonder.
“You need to stand Sophie,” Rory asks.
“Stand… why?”
“We don’t want to get anything on your pretty dress, as gorgeous as it is. I don’t trust Flynn and his big muscles to keep it intact on your body.
“I’m getting undressed?”
“Yes,” comes Flynn’s quick reply. I stand, feeling a little lightheaded at the sudden change in direction our dinner just took.
“Here, allow me,” says Rory standing from his chair to move mine and undo the zip on the back of my dress.
The silk falls open easily, his warm fingers on my shoulders helping the straps lower over my arms as Flynn stands up too and then lowers to his knees to help me step out of my dress.
I stand in just my thong with two hungry sets of eyes looking back at me, predators ready to pounce.
“What’s going to happen now?” I ask in a small amused voice, unable to hide the smile tugging at the corners of my lips.
Suddenly my blood thrums with excitement, my heart begins to pound with anticipation as I try and guess what is going to happen.
There is no rope or electro toys in sight, this is unchartered territory with these two men, if the dinner wasn’t already.
I’ve never been out to a dinner where my dress was stripped before dessert.
Rory moves everything off the table whilst Flynn’s eyes travel up and down my body, greedily soaking in my bare skin.
It’s how he looks at me on his jobs, it’s the way he always makes me needy for him without him laying a finger on me.
I always want him closer to me, crave him touching me, today is no different and I wonder if every day with him will be no different.
Finally Flynn steps into me, I raise up on my toes to be able to reach his mouth as he bends into me and takes my lips.
He kisses me softly as the large frame of his body curls around mine, his arms holding me to him, his body pushing up against mine.
He gives me a taste of his tongue but pulls away too soon.
I continue leaning into him, following his lips for more.
He bends and picks me up under my bottom and places me on the corner of the table, my legs hanging down on either side.
Rory has stripped off his shirt, he stands next to Flynn as he runs his tongue across his bottom lip, eyeing me like I am dessert.
Rory picks up what looks like a spare folded check tablecloth and walks it round to the diagonal side of the table to his left.
“You can lower back on the table now,” Flynn instructs.
I do as he says, tentatively lowering myself so my back is flat on the table and my head lands on the rolled up tablecloth.
I can feel Flynn’s hands work on the straps of my heels as I turn my head to see Rory appraising me spread out across the table.
When my feet are free from my shoes, Flynn reaches for the delicate lace of my thong and pulls it down my hips.
I bring my legs together to help him tug it off.
Then he lowers my feet back down to hang on either side of the corner of the table and I know the view he’s getting right now.
My body is heating like it’s on fire and I’m slick and ready between my legs.
Flynn stands, staring down at me as he takes his time unbuttoning his shirt.
One by one they reveal the muscles in his wide neck that run into his thick shoulders and form into his wide hairy chest. This man is dessert for my eyes to look at.