Page 9 of Her Double Desire

Shawn hooks Jared's elbow to bring him closer, talking under his breath. “You really think we can pull this off?” He's clearly doubtful, but I sense hewantsto believe in this arrangement. “Can she really be made suitable for Oliver in time?”

“It's going to take a lot of work, but... I think we can do it.” Jared gauges me. When he speaks again, it makes my lower belly twitch. “How many men have you been with, Veronica?”

“I—been with? Like, a relationship?” My cheeks are burning, especially as the two of them chuckle.

“She's blushing. We're doomed,” Shawn sighs.

“Stop,” Jared hushes him. “Veronica, I'm trying to ask how experienced you are. Have you ever been shared by multiple men?”

“You mean... like threesomes and stuff...?” I trail off.

“Yes, like being stuffed by two men at once,” Shawn says, flashing a devilish grin.

I shift in place, trying to keep my breathing normal. All this sex talk is way beyond my comfort zone; I'm getting hot and bothered. “Then, you two,” I swallow, pointing at them one by one. “Are together?”

“God, no,” Jared says, shaking his head.

“We both like women.” Shawn nods at his friend, his smirk a full crescent. “Or are you asking if we've fucked a woman together? Because yes, yes we have. Thoughsomeof us think we'respecialbecause we prefer monogamy.”

“Stop it, you're just going to confuse her.” Turning back to me, Jared offers his hand. His skin looks smooth, his nails clean, his fingers enticingly long.

I don't know why he wants a handshake, but I can't resist; carefully, I wrap my palm in his. The chemistry that flows from our contact makes me pull in a breath. I'm imagining all the things his skilled fingers can do. My attention flicks to his face, then when that's too intense, back down to his tailored vest. He's dressed to kill. He could audition for a James Bond role and land it.

His chuckle is pleasant in my ears. “Listen to me,” he says gently, sandwiching my hand between both of his. “It doesn't matter what the masters and guests are into. Here, what matters is thatyouservethem. For that reason, we need you to understand what you're agreeing to.”

“I already asked you to tell me that,” I whisper, gazing at our linked hands.

He lifts the top one away, his fingertips touching my chin, forcing me to look into his eyes. I try to break away from his smoldering green irises, but I can't. “Five years, Veronica,” he says seriously. “That's the length of time your contract requires you to work for us.”

Five years?

It's an insane length of time. Except it also isn't. Not if I think back to the job I was being fired from. I'd had a multiple year contract with Mickame Insurance, too. In exchange, they'd paid for two years of business school for me.

I'd expected to work there into my old age.

And then Sonya had warned me that our boss was going to fire me in front of everyonetoday,shaming me in front of my coworkers, ruining my reputation.

When you think of it like that, it isn't as if this arrangement is so weird. Plus, they said I'd get room and board. A place to live is more than many people can ask for.

“Okay, Jared,” I say, staring bravely into his eyes. “Be blunt. Tell me what you're asking me to do for five years.”

“First, I'm not Jared to you. It's Sir, from now on. All the people you meet here are above you except the other servants.” He grips my chin harder.

Getting the point, I wince and say, “Sorry. Sir.”Asshole,I think, relishing the privacy of my own thoughts.

Jared's smirk makes my heart race. “Better. Now, you said be blunt. Alright. The men expect you to pleasure them however they desire. You need to know how to do that. You have to be capable of wrapping your lips around a stranger's cock without turning crimson.”

“That's not true, some will enjoy it if she blushes,” Shawn says, winking at me. On cue I turn pink, making him laugh. “Yes, like that. Perfect.”

“I can't do that,” I gasp, shaking my head side to side.

Jared releases me, his hand drifting up to press at his temple. “Shit. You're not a virgin, are you?”

My whole face is scalding. “No. But I've only ever slept with one guy, my first boyfriend, and we barely did it twice.”

“Are you god damn kidding me,” Shawn groans. “That's worse than being an actual virgin! We could at least spin that as a positive to Oliver.”

“We'll figure it out,” Jared says. I tense up under his glare. “You'll have to get good at pretending you love everything you're doing or having done to you. If Oliver finds out you're playing at this, if you reveal you're some frigid prude—”

---