Page 23 of Shared

Standing in the living room of our apartment, I stare out of the window and listen to the hum of the city below. Elena has been giving me space to think things over. She disappeared into the kitchen a bit ago to start dinner and has been singing along to Taylor Swift as she prepares our meal.

Walking onto the terrace, I lean against the rail and stare into the void of the skyline, my thoughts repeatedly drifting to the conversation I had with Elena this morning. Her words repeatedly echo in my mind…

You can try to ignore this all you want, but I know you, Victoria. As well as you know me. I can see it in your eyes. I can see it every time he looks at you. And every time you look at him. Hell, even when you watch him look at me. You feel something for him as clearly as you feel something for me.

I didn’t want to admit it—not to her nor to myself—but it was true. There was something between Conor and me. There was something between the three of us. I lie to myself every time I say I don’t want to complicate things. In reality, I am runningaway from something that scares the ever-loving hell out of me.Losing control.

The only way to approach this requires me to admit that I can’t plan what is going to happen—with him and with her. A soft sigh slips from my lips, and I rub my hands over my face, trying to wash the fog from my thoughts. It’s not that I don’t want to try, but that I’m afraid of what this might cost me. But Elena is right… I can try to pretend that I don’t feel something for him, but I can’t ignore how I feel when our eyes meet or his warm breath blows over my skin. It’s the same pull I feel with Elena—different, but unmistakable. Conor Evans is like an extra piece to an already completed puzzle.

After several minutes, I head into the kitchen where Elena is chopping vegetables with her back to me. She glances over her shoulder when she hears me come in and gives me a soft smile. “Everything okay?” she asks, placing the knife on the counter and wiping her hands on a towel.

Swallowing my hesitation, I nod. “Yeah. I’ve been thinking about what we talked about earlier. About Conor. About the three of us.”

Her eyes glimmer with hopeful anticipation. “And?”

Gripping the counter before me, as though it will stabilize my feelings and thoughts, I exhale slowly. “I don’t want to complicate things,” I share, watching the glimmer fade from Elena’s eyes. “But I also don’t want to keep pretending… I need to stop running from my feelings. I don’t want to lose you, sweet girl. I don’t want to lose us. But I think you’re right… Maybe we need to see where this goes. See where he fits into our lives.”

Taking a step toward me with her eyes softening, Elena reaches out to grab my hand. “I know it’s scary…”

“I just… I don’t want to mess this up,” I mumble. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“You won’t. You aren’t capable of hurting me.” Elena squeezes my hand, full of confidence in me and certainty about us. “But you need to stop carrying that fear on your own. If we’re doing this, we’re in this together. The three of us.”

I nod, her words soothing my hesitation and some of the anxiety in my chest. Taking a deep breath, I lift my phone from the counter. I pull up Conor’s contact information. “I’m going to tell him.” I hesitate for a moment, my nerves twisting in my stomach, quickly dialing his number before I can change my mind. The phone rings for an eternity before he answers. “Hello,cailín dáigh.” His voice echoes through the phone—warm and familiar—yet laced with curiosity.

“We’re in,” I blurt, getting the words out before I have a chance to second-guess myself and chicken out. There is an unsettling silence on the other end, and it causes my heart to race. I suck in a breath and feel myself holding it, suddenly afraid that he’s going to back away from what he asked for.

“You are full of surprises,mo cailín dáigh,” he praises when he finally breaks the silence. “Ismo cailín leanbhthere, too?”

“Yes,” I answer, putting the phone on speaker and placing it on the counter. “Elena is right here with me.”

“Can you come for dinner? At six-thirty?” I ask, glancing at the clock. It’s just past five, and this will give us time to finish dinner and change before he arrives.

“Six-thirty works,” he replies, unable to hide his chipper excitement. “I’ll be there.”

“We’ll see you then.” I end the call, staring into space for a moment.

Dinner is casual, just the three of us sitting around a small table on the terrace. Our unease fading as we share a bottle of wine and a simple meal. Conversation flows freely, despite the undercurrent of our dissolving agreement and budding relationship—although somehow that feels like it doesn’t need to be discussed right now.

I don’t know when it happens, but at some point, the words don’t matter. It’s just us—me, Conor, and Elena—enjoying one other’s company.With our clothes on. Small glances and soft smiles are shared across the table, connecting the three of us more than words ever could.

With the sun falling over the city, and the terrace lit only by the small gas firepit and city lights of the surrounding buildings, we sit comfortably snuggled against each other on the couch. I’m on Conor’s lap, and Elena’s lying beside us, her head resting on my thighs as Conor strokes her hair. Conor’s hand brushes mine, just the faintest of touches. Staring into his soft, yet intense eyes, something inside of me snaps; the last remaining thread of tension unraveling. Leaning in, I close the distance between us and press my lips to his.

He kisses me back—slowly and gently, unlike any time before. This isn’t out of neediness or for gratification. It’s something else—something more intimate. Pulling back, both of us breathless,Conor looks at me with a steady gaze. “The two of you…” he muses, his hands roaming over us both.

Needing more of him, I crash my lips back onto his. This isn’t soft or gentle. It’s anything but. Both of us paw at each other, pulling Elena from the couch to join us. Our tongues tangle as the three of us share in each other. My breaths heavy, I pant against their lips, “Please… Take us inside.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

CONOR

The night air turns cool by the time I pull into the valet at the club. Opening the rear door of the Tahoe, I take Elena’s hand and help her from the backseat. With her arm tucked into the crook of mine, we round the SUV to Victoria. The two of them walk with me, one on each arm, and we pass through the velvet ropes when the bouncer parts them for us.

For the past two weeks, the three of us have dived headfirst into this relationship—in secret. Dinners, drinks, and conversations until sunrise happen nightly at their place or mine. Sometimes together. Sometimes just one of them. All of us getting to know each other intimately, a connection I’ve never sought with any of the women I’ve seen before. And the sex.Fuck… The sex.Individually, they are incredible. But together… The three of us fit in a way that is natural and electric—perfectly.

The two of them look so fucking good tonight. Elena, in a simple black dress that hugs her figure. It’s the perfect fit for the quiet confidence that she exudes. Victoria is dressed in a low-cut red top and black leather pants, a bold look that matches her fire and raw intensity. My heart races—and my cock twitches—with everyheated look I take at the two of them. Together, the two of them alone will draw the eyes of every man, and most women, inside the club. Only tonight, it isn’t just the two of them.

Pausing at the door, I rub my fingers over both their arms. What we are about to do is big.Huge, especially for me.It’s going to put us on the center stage. No more secrecy. I glance at them both and softly ask, “Are you sure?” They both stare up at me—Victoria with a bit of hesitation behind her hazel eyes—and silently nod their response.

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