Page 56 of Triple Threat

“You’re not getting this genie back into the bottle,” I told him gently. “Please, just tell me what he said.”

He took a deep breath and let it out in an explosive rush and repeated himself, “Lach thinks he and I should share you. Told me I should recruit you to come around to the idea of it.”

I was shook.

I stared at Roan for several silent moments that felt like minutes but was likely barely two seconds…

“What like a timeshare?” I asked sarcastically.

“That phrase was mentioned,” he said unhappily. “Three days with me, three days with him and one to yourself if you’d like.”

I swallowed hard and stared at Conan Roan for what felt like forever as something likereliefflooded me…

You don’t have to choose… you could have your cake and eat it, too.

“How long do I have to decide?” I asked, turning the thought over and over in my mind. “I mean…” I shook my head as though to clear it, and asked, “Is that whatyouwant?”

“It doesn’t matter what I want, love. It matters what’s best for you.” I tore my gaze from where it’d fixed itself to my knee and swept it back to the utter, solemn sincerity in his eyes and whatever misgivings I had started to crumble and break.

“If you had to choose, though?” I asked.

“If I had a choice? I’m a selfish bastard Sadie Brooks… I would have you any way I could get you,” he confessed. He swallowed hard and looked like he was vaguely ill as he said, “But it’s not my choice, and you’re not to be passed around like some… some…”

“Joint?” I suggested. “Or bottle?”

He pursed his lips, and I closed my eyes and shook my head slightly.

“Shut up, just stop being so… so…noblefor one god damned minute and be honest with me.” He looked at me, and I swear he was holding his breath. “Do you think it could work?”

“Aye,” he murmured, barely above a whisper. “Aye, I think it could work.” His voice held caution as though he dared to dream.

I nodded slowly and scooted closer and he twisted, putting his good leg up onto the couch and opening his arms to me. I laid down against him gingerly, and put my ear over his heart, tucking one arm between him and the back of the couch, laying the other along his chest.

“Play the movie,” I murmured quietly, and he hit the button on the remote to play the film, turning up the volume that he’d had all the way down while we’d talked. His hand fell lightly against my back and I closed my eyes for a moment, relishing the comforting touch.

He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t either; instead, we watched his old film and cuddled on the couch, each of us lost in our own thoughts. Mine, particularly bizarre and whirling in circles over what Roan had told me. I had no reason to doubt him, I mean he was loyal and honest… and it was so something Kyle with his pragmatic ways would say.

“You alright, love?” he asked midway through the film, pausing the screen.

“Yeah, why? You need to get up?”

“Aye.”

“Oh, sorry!” I went to push my way off of him and sank into the couch awkwardly. He chuckled, and I sputtered a laugh and I put my hand on his chest to try again and froze, catching the look in his eyes. We stared at one another from inches away and his hand swept along my cheek in a light caress. I leaned forward slowly, cautiously, and he met me halfway, our lips touching and all the tension and worry I carried about this attraction and whether it was mutual simply drained away.

Roan made a strangled noise, as though her were a man who had been dying inside only to receive the breath of life. The kiss was sweet, and merciful to me, too… and all too damnably short.

“I’ll return shortly,” he murmured and with his help, I levered myself up. He got to his feet and limped in the direction of the first-floor bathroom, adjusting himself carefully once his back was to me. I blushed furiously and covered my face with my hands as I flopped back down onto the couch with an explosion of breath.

Holy cow! That just happened!

Everything was moving at the speed oflightin this new life and it was both exhilarating as it was terrifying.

So many ‘what-ifs’ played out in my brain.

What if Kyle couldn’t adhere to the deal? What if Roan couldn’t? What if I couldn’t keep them happy? Would I be alright with letting one or both of them go? Was I strong enough for this?

I took my hands away from my face when I heard Roan’s uneven, shuffling gait returning across the hardwood. I sat up and looked at him from over the back of the couch. He smiled at me and I couldn’t help but smile back. He looked equal parts pleased and nervous and that surprisingly, somehow, helped allay some of my fears.

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