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Maggie’s laugh was full throated. “Wear me out?Hardly. I’ve only just begun,” she purred and turned her hand in Jonathan’s to place a sharp nip on his knuckles. The sting made his hips move against her, and again she laughed. Jonathan risked a glance at Phillip and found him watching him and Maggie hungrily. He felt hiscock, always ready these days, begin to grow, and pulled back.

Maggie sighed. “Oh well, we shall have to wait until later, I suppose. Now, what do you want to tell me?

The suspense is unbearable.” Her gaze was quick and amused as she looked first at Phillip and then at Jonathan.

Phillip started to speak, but Jonathan interrupted him. “It’s a delicious surprise,Maggie, that you shall have to wait until tonight for.” It was his turn to nip at her knuckles, and Maggie groaned.

“You are too cruel,” she said, and turned to Phillip. She stood on her tiptoes and reached out the tip of her delectable pink tongue and licked along the shell of his outer ear. “You want to tell me, don’t you, my love?” she cajoled.

Phillip moaned and pulled back only long enough to turn his head and claim Maggie’s mouth with his own. Jonathan saw their lips part, saw their tongues entwine as they kissed passionately. Without thinking he reached out and caressed them both, onehand gliding down Maggie’s spine and onto her ass, the other hand mirroring it on Phillip’s body. Both of them moaned, and Jonathan pulled his hand from Phillip before Maggie could see it.

Phillip ended the kiss, his breath quick and unsteady. “Oh you are a brazen wench,” he told Maggie in mock anger. “You’ll not seduce my secrets out this day, woman,” he growled, and lunged for her neck to nuzzle her playfully.

Maggie squealed and pulled away from them both. She stood a few feet away and assumed a saucy pose, her leg cocked, her fists resting on her hips. She boldly surveyed both men, spending an inordinate amount of time on the bulges both were sporting in their crotch. “Well, my work here is done for now,”

she told them dismissively and turned toward the door. “But beware my wrath if you don’t tell me your secrets tonight.”

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Before Maggie walked into the dining room she knew something was afoot. Neither Phillip nor Jonathan had appeared to escort her to dinner—instead Phillip’s valet Francois came to tell her they awaited her in the dining room. She walked slowly down the stairs and approached the door with trepidation. Before she could collect herself, the footman opened the door, and she could see both men standing close at one end of the table. They turned to face her and she had the impression she’d interrupted a conversation.

She smiled, bravely she hoped. “Shall I go out again and announce myself?” she asked pertly, trying to hide her unease.

Phillip smiled. The slow, seductive tipping up of the corners of his mouth never failed to set her heart racing. It meant he had delicious things planned, and she was an eager subject for his intimate experiments.

“Nothing could properly prepare us for the sight of you, Maggie,” he said flirtatiously. “Announced or not, your beauty stops all conversation and befuddles the mind.”

She glanced nervously at Jonathan and he gave her the heart-stopping grin she’d only just come to know recently. How light he seemed now, how sweet and open. Just a few weeks ago he’d been serious and brooding. Had she done this? Had finally taking him into her heart and her bed without reservation freed this wonderful man from his demons? She hoped so. His playful demeanor eased Maggie’s nervousness.

Phillip might dissemble if there was something unpleasant to face, but Jonathan was not as good at concealing his feelings.

“Have you no exaggerated praise to ply me with?” Maggie teased Jonathan as she sauntered toward them. Phillip stepped forward to meet her halfway, while Jonathan stayed where he was. He leaned his arms across the tall back of the dining room chair and tilted his head to the side, regarding her with a playful smile.

“I didn’t know I needed to ply you with anything,” he told her, his voice amused. “I assumed you wanted to fuck as much as we do.”

His words made Maggie choke back a laugh. She glanced at Phillip out of the corner of her eye and saw him raise one eyebrow at Jonathan suggestively. Her heart stumbled in her chest at what that gesture might mean. Had her plan worked? Had she seduced them into wanting each other?

She cleared her throat delicately. “Really, Jonathan,” she chided as Phillip pulled out her chair and she seated herself with exaggerated decorum. “Is that any way to speak to a lady at dinner? I can see we’ll have to work on your manners.” She leaned her chin in the palm of her hand, her elbow resting on the table in front of her. “Phillip? Don’t you think we have much to teach Jonathan?” She let her eyes smolder at Jonathan as she blinked slowly, and he responded with a hot look of his own as he bowed his head slightly.

“My apologies, Maggie.But that was no lady in our bed last night. It was a wildcat.”

It was Phillip’s turn to choke back a laugh. “Oh yes, Maggie, we definitely need to teach Jonathan a few lessons tonight.”

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Maggie watched Jonathan give Phillip the same hot look he’d directed at her, and she couldn’t breathe past the excitement choking her. Phillip moved out from behind her chair with a light stroke of her shoulder, adding to the thrum of heat racing through her. Jonathan moved away from the chair at the head of the table and pulled it out for Phillip. Phillip rested his hand on Jonathan’s for a moment before he turned and sat. Once he was sitting, Phillip looked directly at Maggie. His look spoke volumes and Maggie had her answers. She realized Phillip was waiting for an answer from her as well.

She very carefully unfolded her napkin and laid it across her lap. Without looking directly at either of them, Maggie said, “ Mmm, yes, tonight. I have some ideas how to educate Jonathan in the finer points, Phillip, but if you already have plans I’m more than willing to entertain those as well.” She looked up at Phillip then and saw the slow quirk of his lips. Oh yes, he’d understood. She looked pointedly at Jonathan, and it was clear he understood as well.

“Maggie,” Jonathan began in a choked voice.

Maggie interrupted him. “I’m utterly delighted you and Phillip apparently found a mutually satisfying way to spend the morning while I was sleeping in, Jonathan. But next time please wake me up.”

Phillip openly laughed.“Not mutually satisfying, my dear, not yet. We let you sleep in and made sure you didn’t miss anything.” Jonathan was blushing, which Maggie found endearing.

“Good,” Maggie said succinctly. “I’d hate to have to punish you both.”

“I wouldn’t,” Jonathan said quietly, and Maggie looked over to see him mimicking her pose earlier, his chin in his hand as he regarded her adoringly. She ate up that look, letting it fill her with contentment and love and lust. Jonathan continued when he had her attention. “As long as you kissed it better afterward.

Or even during.”

Maggie could feel her face flushing but not with embarrassment. “Jonathan, if you don’t stop looking at me like that we shall find another dinner interrupted, and I’m hungry.”

Jonathan chuckled. “I can’t make any promises, Maggie, but I’ll try. Eat fast.”

Maggie reached for the bell next to her to ring for dinner to be served. “I intend to,” she said with a smile.

During dinner the conversation turned to lighter topics. Near the end of the meal they speculated about the presence of the two young men, Kensington and Tarrant, with the visiting party today.

“Clearly they are no strangers to Jason’s house,” Phillip said as he sipped his wine. “Their interaction with Veronica, and even Jason and Tony and Kate, was very familiar, almost familial as a matter of fact. I wouldn’t be surprised if some intentions have already been declared.”

“Oh I don’t know,” Maggie responded. “I wasn’t present for much of their visit, it’s true, but I sensed a hesitation on Kensington’s part and some confusion from both Mr. Tarrant and Veronica. I think they’re still testing the waters there.”

Jonathan laughed. “Not much more testing, I hope. I think Kensington tested Jason and Tony’s patience enough several months ago when he and Veronica were caught in a somewhat compromising position.”

“No, really?”Maggie breathed, scandalized. “What has Mr. Tarrant to do with them? Is he also a
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suitor?”

Phillip smiled wryly. “Much the same way Jonathan was also a suitor for your hand, my dear, only you didn’t realize it. I believe Veronica realizes it.”

“Oh.” Maggie sipped her wine as she considered his statement. How would she have acted if she’d realized both Phillip and Jonathan were courting her, with the intention of sharing her—her bed and her life? Probably with the same confusion Veronica was showing. She said as much to Phillip and Jonathan.

“Perhaps,” was Phillip’sresponse.

Jonathan sighed. “Not perhaps, but in all probability. Veronica is young, Phillip, and if she already knows the nature not just of the relationship they wish to have with her but the relationship that already exists between Wolf and Kensington, then she’s understandably hesitant.”

“Relationship?”Maggie asked. “What do you mean?”

Phillip smiled wryly at her. “He means they’re lovers, my dear.”

Maggie nearly dropped her wineglass. Phillip watched,his amusement fading as Maggie’s face went blank. “They are?” she asked, her voice betraying her confusion.

“Maggie, I thought…I mean it seemed as if you…” Jonathan looked at Phillip in consternation.

“Maggie,” Phillip took over, his voice serious, “does that alarm you?”

Maggie looked genuinely surprised. “Why should that alarm me? I hardly know them. I was just surprised.” Both men visibly relaxed. Maggie’s face lit up with comprehension. “Oh you thought…” she laughed delightedly. “No, no, I thought I made myself clear earlier. I’m very eager for the two of you to become lovers. There, is that clear enough? I just hadn’t any idea that Kensington and Mr. Tarrant were.

They showed no signs of intimacy.”

Phillip hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until Maggie spoke and he suddenly felt the constriction in his chest. He hadn’t read her wrong then. She did want the same thing they did.

“As for the last, darling, I have no answer. Each pair,” he paused and smiled at both Maggie and Jonathan, “or trio of lovers is different I suppose. As for your first comment,” he pushed back his chair and stood, tossing his napkin to the table, “I think we should explore the feasibility of that plan immediately.”

Maggie laughed again, and Phillip could see the wildcat of which Jonathan had spoken earlier lurking in the sparkle of her eyes. “Oh most definitely,” she concurred, gently placing her napkin next to her empty wineglass on the table. Phillip came to pull her chair back, and she stood.

Phillip rested his hand on the small of her back and glanced over at Jonathan, expecting to see him rising as eagerly as he and Maggie had. Instead Jonathan sat frozen in his chair, staring at them incredulously.

“Jonathan?” he asked quietly, unconsciously slipping into the calming, lover-like voice that hadpreceded this morning’s lovemaking session.

Jonathan looked up at him, his expression rueful. “I’ve been thinking about it all day, but now that it’s
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finally happening, I find myself rather nervous.” He glanced between Maggie and Phillip helplessly. “I’m not sure what to do.”

“Oh darling,” Maggie cried, rushing to his side. Jonathan pushed his chair back as she approached, and she knelt next to him, her hands on his thigh. “Don’t be afraid, dearest, it’s just Phillip and me, and we love you. We won’t do anything that you won’t like, I promise.”

Jonathan reached down and raised her up then pulled her into his lap. He buried his face in her neck, and Phillip could see him press a kiss there on her pulse point. As always the sight of the two of them together made Phillip’s blood heat, his cock hard and aching for what was to come. Jonathan’s next words forced a laugh from him, however.

“Does anyone else see the irony of sweet, innocent Maggie trying to soothe my jangled nerves over a new sexual exploit?”

“Hardly an exploit, darling,” Maggie purred as she ran her fingers through Jonathan’s hair. “It’s the first time for you. Trust me, I understand that. And let me reassure you, Phillip is very good at taking your virginity.”

Jonathan raised his head, his expression shocked. Phillip had been moving in their direction but he too paused.

“My God, Maggie,” Phillip rasped, suddenly overcome by a lust so consuming he’d had to stop or stumble. “I never thought of it like that. That I would be Jonathan’s first, his only.” He looked at Jonathan. “Jonathan, darling, I’m humbled by the gift you give me.”

“I…I never thought of myself as a virgin either,” Jonathan confessed sheepishly. “What an odd notion, but apropos I suppose. I never even considered taking another man as lover, only Phillip. It was always his to take. He told me this morning we were already lovers—that this was just a formality—and I guess in my heart I feel the same way. My head, however, recognizes the truth of Maggie’s observation.” His gaze traveled between the two. “I can’t think of two nicer people to lose my virginity to.”

His playful grin as he said this caused Phillip’s heart to constrict with feeling.
I’ve got to get myself
under control
, Phillip lectured himself.
I can’t let myself be overcome by emotion every time I’m
with them
. But even as he tried to think logically he felt his eyes mist and his hands tremble. He crossed the room in quick, lengthy strides and it was his turn to kneel at Jonathan’s feet, his and Maggie’s who was still in his lap.