Page 18 of Devotion

The idea of a threesome that includes this abhorrent man is enough to nauseate me.

I glance at Poppy. She’s as dismayed as I am but not hiding it as well.

“Okay,” Cliff says with a lecherous expression. “Ask him. Maybe we can arrange something for tonight.”

He says the words like there’s no doubt that Gabriel will agree to the arrangement, but I have absolutely no idea how Gabriel will react.

Most administrators would want to be diplomatic and not make waves, so they would agree. But Gabriel is not like most of the others.

Cliff grips a handful of Poppy’s hair and uses the hold to push her toward their room down the hall. I don’t like the way he’s manhandling her.

I don’t like it at all.

When his back is to me, I snarl at him. Then I hurry back to Gabriel in our room.

He’s working at his desk—hardly a surprise—but he looks up when I enter.

“What’s wrong?” he asks before I can come up with a way to ease into what just happened.

“It’s nothing major. Just…” I hug my belly and shudder again as I relive Cliff’s hand on my face.

“It’s something.” Gabriel’s tone is clipped and cool, but his eyes are resting on my face like I’m a real person rather thanan object. The difference between his and Cliff’s expressions is palpable. “Tell me what happened.”

“I was walking with Poppy. She’s Cliff’s?—”

“I know who Poppy is. She’s your friend you’ve been walking with. Are you both all right?”

“Yes, we’re all right. I mean…” I take a deep breath and settle my mind enough to speak more clearly. “We ran into Cliff as we were coming back. He wants… he wants me to join them.”

Gabriel frowns. “Join them for what?”

“Jointhem.” I don’t know why I’m so hesitant to put it into words, but I am. “This evening.”

“For some sort of sex thing?”

I’m so relieved that he appears both shocked and offended that I make a silly sound that’s almost a giggle. “Yes. That’s what he wants.”

“But you’remypartner. He can’t just ask for you like that, can he?”

“He can ask. It’s sometimes done. But you’re the one who has to give permission.”

His features are still twisting slightly, like he’s working through instinctive reluctance. “Do you want to join them for a threesome?”

“It’s not about what I want. It’s your decision.”

“No. It’s absolutely not. It’s sex you’d be having, so it’s your decision.”

I swallow hard and search his face in an attempt to read what he’s thinking. “Okay. Well, honestly, I’d rather not do it. But I don’t want you to get the reputation for being hard to get along with. So maybe it’s?—”

“Okay. It’s done. You’re not doing it.” He’s still as clipped and professional as he normally is, even discussing this awkward topic.

I let out a rush of air with the relief that washes over me. “Thank you. I really don’t like Cliff at all, and even if I did, I’m not really into… I’m a one-person girl.”

There’s a flicker of feeling on his face that disappears so quickly I can’t quite name it. Maybe relief? Satisfaction? He murmurs, “Good.”

We stare at each other for a minute.

Then he asks in a different tone, “So do I need to talk to Cliff and tell him it’s a no-go?”

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