Page 38 of Four Money (Ever and Always 1)

He chuckled, then added the barest hint of his teeth as his hands shifted, gliding down her ribs, his fingers grazing the sides of her breasts until he cupped her hips and his thumbs wandered onto the top swells of her ass.

Owen caught her sighs and the moan that slipped from between her parted lips, taking the opportunity to venture inside and tease her with his tongue. And when he needed a second, his breathing harsh and his eyes dilated, he let Lorenzo take a turn.

The contrast of his suave, almost elegant kisses compared to the rawness of Owen’s was a potent aphrodisiac.

Owen trailed his fingers down her neck then between her breasts, over her shirt, making her shiver. “If Trent keeps insisting this is only a practical arrangement, without attachment, then I don’t see why we shouldn’t take him up on his assertion that we should explore, do whatever feels right.”

His reasoning sounded so much like Trent’s that it both reassured her and also disappointed her. That must have been what Trent had been trying to communicate when he’d given her permission to do…well, exactly this. Same as he’d apparently told his friends. So why the hell should she restrict herself, as if she was putting her sex life on some kind of starvation diet?

You can only sleep with one man at a time, even if you’re not really exclusive or, for that matter, married.Nope, there were no rules. No limits. No constraints. Her moral compass was freewheeling, trying to bend itself to a whole new set of rules than she’d considered before.

So she surrendered to her instincts and did what felt natural.

She reached for Owen and let Lorenzo support her as she arched her back and angled her face up to receive his next kiss. Whereas the first one she’d had with Trent had been sweet, and the one she’d shared with Lorenzo earlier had been passionate, making out with Owen was like a revolution.

His hand skimmed the bottom of her shirt before slipping beneath it and wandering upward until he could cup her breast. He squeezed as he kissed her. His fingers dipped beneath the lace edge of the cup the next time he let Lorenzo take his turn.

As she sucked on Lorenzo’s tongue, which had invaded her mouth, she realized he’d slid his hand into her pants and was fondling her ass like Owen was doing to her breast.

Exactly how far was she going to let things go?

Was she going to have sex with them right there in the same spot Trent had fucked her while they watched? Maybe her husband would be the one to come home while they were otherwise engaged this time. Would he regret running out on her then, knowing he could have joined them if he’d been there with her? Or would he pass them by, go into his bedroom, and leave her to his best friends?

Somehow she didn’t think he would do that.

It would destroy her if Trent was able to walk away when she was all in.

A sound in the background pulled her from the sensual haze they were enveloping her in.

And when it repeated, she groaned. She’d forgotten to text her mother when she’d arrived. Mom was probably going bananas. Or worse… Maybe something had happened.

“Wait, that’s my phone. It’s my mom’s ringtone.” Holly rummaged around blindly in the couch, looking for her purse. Owen found it first and handed it to her. Her mom never called her, preferring for Holly to reach out when it was convenient. It must be an emergency.

She fished in her bag for her phone. The instant her hand landed on the device, she was answering. “Mom? Are you okay?”

“I—” Her mother started bawling. Holly had only ever seen the woman cry at funerals and when Holly had graduated from college.

“Oh no, what’s wrong?” Holly bolted to her feet, already searching for her shoes.

Lorenzo and Owen were right there with her, desire instantly replaced by concern on their handsome faces. They weren’t pissed, but ready to spring into action with her. For the first time in forever, Holly felt like she had a support system in addition to being one for her mother.

If she wasn’t so damn scared, she would have kissed them all over again.

“Nothing. Nothing.” Her mother laughed and cried at the same time. “It’s my turn. I got the call. They have a kidney for me.”

Then she sobbed along with her mother.

Owen raced to her side and gathered her close, his strong arms sheltering her even though he didn’t know from what. Lorenzo was right there, too, bookending her and surrounding her with their protection even in Trent’s absence.

“The aide is outside waiting for our cab.” A tiny sliver of uncertainty slipped into her mother’s tone. “We have to hurry. It’s already being transported.”

“I’ll meet you at the hospital,” Holly promised. “Everything is going to be fine. Better than fine. Congratulations, Mom. I’m so happy for you. I’ll see you in a few minutes, okay?”

“I love you, Holly.” Her mother added, “Bring Trent with you. You might need him.”

“Yes, Mom. I’ll bring…um…someone.” She flashed a wobbly smile through her happy, and anxious, tears at Trent’s best friends. They beamed down at her before squeezing her tight, obviously having realized what was about to happen.

“Someones,” Lorenzo told her before putting his boots on while Owen opened his rideshare app and flagged the nearest driver.

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