Page 5 of Ride Me

“He won’t. But if he does, then he’s a bigger fool than I ever imagined and I’ll be more than happy to be the vessel upon which you relieve all of your pent-up frustrations.”

“Big of you.”

She tried for an authentic smile, but she couldn’t manage it. Where was the nerve she’d always been famous for? The stuff of legends, Michelle had once called her. No challenge was too dangerous, no mountain too steep.

That’s who she used to be before she’d taken one risk too many.

Her feelings for Rousseau made her ache for the old Allegra. The one who’d never compare herself to the flawless women she’d seen clinging to him each night when he closed the coffee shop and find herself lacking.

Now there was a new voice inside her head that—instead of telling her to leap—begged her to walk away before it was too late. That a skinny girl with scars and a limp would never hold his interest. Hell, even if she was whole, he would still be Rousseau. The man who did not stick around for seconds.

Ben tsked as if reading her thoughts again. “You are beautiful, body and soul, Allegra. Never doubt it. All strawberry blonde curls, delicate freckles and determination. He has a penchant for freckles, you know. He’ll want to lick every single one.” He leaned in closer. “Your eyes alone would make him fall in love with you. So big and blue and a little lost. They’ll turn him inside out with the need to protect you and make you smile.”

Allegra glared. “I’ll admit to having a temporary case of insecurity, Adair, but I’m not broken. Not lost or fragile. If that’s what he wants...”

Ben laid his hand over hers. “He wants you, Legs. Everything that you are is exactly what he needs. And I’m going to give you to him.”

“But not for free.” When he’d first mentioned his price for helping her, she’d thought he was joking. Teasing her about wanting to be included in the seduction. But on the contrary, he’d been kind of insistent about it.

“Not for free,” he agreed in a low voice that made her shiver in spite of herself.

Allegra couldn’t deny that she found him attractive, but three wasn’t the number she usually thought of when she imagined being with Rousseau.

Please. Like you’ve never fantasized about two gorgeous men focused entirely on your pleasure. And sometimes each other’s. Don’t lie.

She wasn’t going to lie. But as far as actually experiencing it? A threesome was just one of those adventures she’d never sought out until now.

He has.

Ben hadn’t admitted anything directly, but from a few of their conversations, Allegra had a feeling it wouldn’t be the first time the two friends had shared a woman. What if Rousseau actually took him up on it? What if that was exactly why he’d been holding back? Could she really go through with it?

What would Michelle think?

She bit down hard on her lip. “Are we sure this is a good idea?”

“Bah.” His smile was devilish. “Good ideas are boring.”

Allegra shook her head and pushed her chair away from the table. Incorrigible was the perfect word for Ben. “On that note, I should head back to the apartment. If I’m actually going to do this, I need a long soak in the tub. No man wants a woman who creaks when she walks.”

Ben dug into the cheesecake in front of him. “He will if you do it, Legs. I’m telling you, darlin’, you have to trust me on this. And don’t be late.”

She dropped a tip on the table, grabbed her cane and walked away, mumbling under her breath. “Definitely shouldn’t be late. Wouldn’t want to miss my biggest crash and burn of all time.”

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