Page 198 of Shared By the Highest Bidder

Everyone thinkswe’rea couple. A serious one. My diamond engagement ring is technically from all three of them. One day we’ll figure out a way to come out as the foursome we really are.

We’re all in the spotlight and need to be careful. There’s a lot to lose.

I can’t risk Victoria’s business by drawing negative attention. And then there’s Emery’s ex who is still trying to poison Jess against him.

The fashion show night passes and after I’ve signed the last program, I’m whisked away to Emery’s house in the Hamptons. After weeks of stressing over the show, it’s wonderful to be hanging out at the beach house for the next week.

We arrive in East Hampton close to midnight.

Here at Emery’s weekend hideaway, I keep my own bedroom. It’s easier for me to have my own space for when I come here alone to sketch. I moved into Emery’s mansion officially with Jess’s blessing, but I spend three to four nights with Ford and Ash in his townhouse.

Then there are the nights everyone wants me with them, and we all end up here. Like tonight.

Nell is here with Maverick, who failed out of Guide Dog training.

I was able to adopt him.

Ford took over the training. Not just to sit, roll over, and beg.

With a hand signal, Maverick is trained to attack. Michael’s parents ponied up money to hire him another lawyer. He’s out of jail and out for blood. Mine.

But with my three men and Maverick, he’ll never get near me.

Despite the late hour, Nell leaves us, theMrAustinlimo driving her back to the city.

Exhausted from the eighteen-hour days I put in for this show, I plop down on the living room sectional sofa.

If anyone wants sex, they’ll have to climb on top of me.

But what we have isn’t just about the physical. Ford, Ash, and Emery are my best friends. I can’t imagine my life without them. All of them. We wouldn’t work if we all weren’t as committed to our love the way we are.

Sensing how drained I am, Emery struts up to me with a fresh glass of chilled champagne and kisses me on the mouth. “You did it, sweetheart.”

“You looked amazing on that stage, baby.” Ash sits next to me and skids his teeth along my neck, with Ford sandwiching him between us, kissing his shoulder.

“I say you wear that cerulean dress when we get married this summer.” Ford would try to dictate my wedding dress when we sneak off to the Caribbean and get married on a yacht by a captain who performs gay and poly weddings in international waters.

Too tired to argue, I just smile at Ford.

That man saved my dream.

He and I have something special. He often shows up in the middle of the day at my office in Victoria’s Brooklyn warehouse, where he takes me so hard, reminding me that I’m his as well as Ash’s and Emery’s.

He never stops telling me he loves me.

As much as I love all the times my men like to sneak off with me and claim me as theirs, it’s so much better being together, all four of us. Like right now. It’s tangled and complicated, but when we’re all alone like this, I feel like we’re one.

I sip the champagne, taking a breather before Ford and I give Maverick his last walk for the night. A routine I adore because I walk with a guard dog. Maverick too!

Ash’s kisses turn passionate, with Emery inhaling my neck. My blood starts moving, and I might have the energy to get naked after all.

Before I can spread my legs, there’s a loud thud at the sliding patio door as a body slams into the wide glass panel.

Ford jumps up as Emery and Ash stand to put their muscular bodies in front of me.

With our tensions and adrenaline pumping, Maverick barks, going on alert. Teeth showing, he growls at the...

At the...

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