Yes, No, Maybe (7 page)

wound tight, had been for hours for that matter. Her mind kept being assailed by memories of Charlie’s

hands on her, of the feel of his fingers opening her up. She blinked, forcing the images away. She had

to think of something else. She hadn’t told Kevin everything, knowing he’d probably go and kill his

friend otherwise. Shit, think of something else! She suddenly recalled her husband’s comment the

night before, the one stating clearly that he and Nick had had threesomes together. Oh, she’d known

Kevin had tried them before, he’d told her himself. She’d guessed it was probably someone she knew

because she couldn’t see him trust another man who he wasn’t friendly with. But Nick…

The doorbell rang, startling her so much she spilled coffee all across the counter. Cursing under her

breath, she quickly grabbed a sheet of paper towel and mopped it up. The doorbell rang again and she

hurried out of the kitchen, suddenly remembering Kevin was supposed to be sleeping upstairs. She

wrenched the heavy door open and snapped, “What is it?”

Nick rocked back. “Hey, is this a bad moment?”

She blinked at the man who she’d just been thinking about. “Uh no, no. Come on in.”

“Are you sure?” She nodded as she took a step back to let him pass. “How is he doing?”

“He’s fine. Well maybe fine is a bit much. He’s coming down.”

“Ah, I see. I thought I’d check up on him. And you, of course.”

She smiled, walking past him to lead the way to the kitchen. “Thanks. Coffee?”

“Sure.” He sat down on a stool and propped his elbows on the counter, his gaze never leaving her.

She busied herself with the coffeemaker and poured herself another cup, all the while trying to ignore

the handsome man sitting only inches away. Damn it, Mia, she admonished herself. This was stupid. He

was sitting there just like always; nothing had changed. No, that wasn’t true. He’d seen her nearly

naked the night before, had implied he liked the way she looked. That she’d given him a boner…Shut

up mind! “There you go.” She handed him a cup and sat on a stool, the one furthest away from him.

His eyebrows rose at the gesture but he didn’t say anything, simply stared at her over his coffee cup. “I told Charlie to leave the country for a while.”

“You didn’t.”

He grinned. “I did. I told him that Kevin would kill him as soon as he heard the truth.”

“He wouldn’t though, they’re friends.”

“Were, I would say. But Charlie knows what a mean left hook Kevin has so he followed my suggestion.

He left for Barbados this afternoon.”

“Thank God,” Mia sighed. “I was getting worried about what might happen.” Or what would happen if

Kevin ever learnt the truth. She hoped Charlie’s sense of self—preservation would mean he’d never tell

him the truth.

“I know.” He smiled gently. “It gives you and Kevin a few weeks to come to terms with what

happened.”

“Could have happened.”

“No, Mia, he tried to force himself on you.”

She shrugged. “He wouldn’t have done anything.”

“Don’t lie to me. I wouldn’t have been there, he wouldn’t have stopped.”

She bit her lip, knowing fully well he was right. She’d been thinking the same thing after all but saying it out loud just made it sound so much worse. And it’s not like she could go to the police or anything.

Who would believe her, a woman who’d gone to the culprit’s house for a sex party in the first place?

“Let’s talk of something else.”

“Do you want me to tell you about it?” His voice was low but his eyes steady.

Her mouth opened but she snapped it shut when she realized she didn’t even need to ask what he was

on about. She knew what he was asking and she was tempted, so very tempted to say yes.

“Tell her about what?” Kevin stumbled into the room, his eyes hidden by a pair of sunglasses. “Thanks

for what you did last night, man. I owe you one.” He slapped Nick’s back in an affectionate gesture.

“Baby, could you get me some coffee? I’m dying here.”

Mia rol ed her eyes but she slid down from her stool to get him a cup.

Kevin took her seat and leaned his head down until his forehead was resting on the cold counter. “I

feel like shit.”

“You look like shit,” his friend commented as he took another sip of coffee.

“Thanks,” Kevin growled back. “I haven’t done drugs in years but now I remember why.” Mia’s hand

stilled on the coffee jug. Say what? “Fuck, remind me to kill Charlie when I feel better, okay?”

“He’s already left for Barbados.”

Kevin took the glasses off, all the better to glare at his friend. “You told him to leave, didn’t you?”

Nick shrugged. “I might have. There’s no point in your talking to him. He screwed up and he knows it.”

“He put drugs in my drink so he could be free to fuck my wife!”

Mia winced at his roar. Shoot, he really needed to calm down. He already felt bad enough as it was and

it’s not like he could have known something like this would happen. “Kevin, it’s okay. Just—“

He glared at her. “It’s not okay, don’t you see? If Nick hadn’t saved you, what would have happened?”

“I didn’t save her, she was already pushing him away.”

Mia glanced at Nick, acknowledging his lie with a nod. “Nick’s right, I’d never have let Charlie get to

me. You know that.”

“Do I? You were checking him out only moments before, it’s normal the damn guy thought you were

fair prey!”

She gasped. “Are you freaking kidding me?”

“Kev, you’re obviously still not feeling well. Why don’t you go back upstairs?” Nick slid down from his

stool.

“So you can fuck her too?”

“That’s it.” Mia slammed her palms on the counter, the shock reverberating in her forearms. “Who do

you think you are, McIntyre? Are you even listening to yourself? I understand that you feel bad

because you weren’t there to look out for me but still, that doesn’t give you leave to insult me or Nick here! And who are you to talk like this when you’re the one who invited him to share me last night?”

“I what?” Kevin’s face turned even paler.

“You pawed me in front of him as if I was a freaking blow-up doll!”

“Mia—“

“No, I’m tired of his excuses.” She glared at her husband. “I’m the one who nearly got raped, Kevin. I’m the one who was half-naked in front of you two while you were spil ing secrets about our sex life left

and right. I’m the one who spent the entire night with you snoring at my side when someone was

trying to break into the fucking room! So shut up, will you?” With a soft cry, she whirled around and

fled the room.

* * * *

She’d locked herself in her study. Kevin sighed as he butted his head against the door. He’d screwed

up. Again. “Mia?” he called out but all he could hear was sniffles. Shit, she was crying. He hated when

she cried, it always made him feel helpless.

“Do you want me to try? Or should I leave?” Nick appeared at his side, his eyes somber.

“I don’t know.”

“I think she just realized what real y happened. The shock, you know.”

“Stop being so damn nice, Nick. I shouldn’t have said that, it’s my fault.”

“You’ve hit the paranoia stage, you’re not yourself. She’l understand.”

“I hope so.” Kevin rubbed his tired face, his body feeling leaden. “Did I really do al those things?”

“Yeah.”

“Shit.”

“You were out of it, Kev, don’t berate yourself.”

“I asked you to share her?” Nick nodded, trying his best to keep a blank face. “And you didn’t take the

opportunity offered?”

Nick reared back. “What?”

Kevin turned around, leaning against the wall as the room started to whirl. “You know what I’m talking

about. You want her.”

“I do but I would never do that to you!”

“Not even if I ask you?”

“What? Fuck, you’re still high, aren’t you?”

“No.” Kevin paused. “Well, not really. Let’s go back downstairs. I need to lie down and I want to show

you something.”

* * * *

It took hours but Mia finally found the courage to leave her study and face the outside world. She

stopped at the bottom of the stairs and froze when she heard male voices coming from the kitchen.

Nick was still here?

She stepped into the room, only to find both men chatting away as they–hold on a second. “You’re

cooking?”

They turned around at her voice, both beaming proudly. Kevin wiped his hands on a towel before

motioning her forward. “Come here, baby.” She took a few hesitant steps but he was faster, wrapping

his arms around her and pulling her close. “I’m sorry,” he whispered in her hair. “I shouldn’t have said those things and I apologize.” He drew back, nudging her face up until their gazes locked. “Forgive

me?”

She bit her lower lip, hard. She knew he hadn’t been feeling good, knew he probably hadn’t even been

himself at the time but he’d hurt her. “I don’t know.”

“Mia, come on.” He closed his eyes for a second. “I know I screwed up. It was my idea going there and

you were right, it was a spectacularly bad idea but you know why I did that. I love you.”

“I love you too,” she replied, tears pooling in her eyes.

“Cheese!” The voice interrupted the tender moment and they both turned towards Nick, who happily

took a picture of them with his phone.

“Hey!”

“Sorry but you were too cute.”

“Cute?” Kevin asked, his left eyebrow cocked.

“You know what I mean.” Nick winked before pocketing the phone. “So, dinner anyone?”

“Stop it!” Mia giggled as she tried to avoid Nick’s tickling hands. “Nicky!”

“Stop calling me that and I’ll stop tickling you.” He’d cornered her against the back of the sofa, Kevin rolling his eyes at their childish antics. “So what will it be?” he asked just as he slid his hands up her sides.

“Argh! Don’t! Don’t! I’ll stop!”

“Promise?”

“Hell no.” She laughed at his shocked face and managed to get away from him, running for her

husband who was standing nearby. “Kevin, hide me!”

“Children, behave.” He grabbed her hands and pulled her close. “Come here you.” He fel down on the

sofa behind him and pulled her on his lap.

She fidgeted in his hold, never sure she wasn’t too heavy sitting like that. Which was stupid of her

because he’d never minded before. “Kev—“

“Shush,” he murmured, tilting her face to the side before claiming her lips for a hard kiss.

She groaned at the sweet assault, twisting around so she could loop her arms around his neck. For one

brilliant minute, she completely forgot about the other man in the room, too caught up in the

sensations brought to life by her husband and his very skilled tongue. Drawing back, she gazed at his

parted mouth, looking al shiny and wet. She surprised him when she caught his lower lip in her teeth

and tugged.

“Fuck, baby,” Kevin growled, his hands clenched around her hair. His cock was rock hard, just imagining

what might happen that evening and now this... “I want you.”

“I can feel it,” she whispered against his mouth, rubbing her thigh against the front of his jeans.

“Uhm,” Nick coughed behind them, startling her so much she yelped. “Should I leave?”

Mia turned around, a pained expression on her face. “I’m sorry, Nicky, I completely forgot you were

there.”

“No kidding. And stop calling me that!”

“I thought I was the only one who could call you that?”

Nick rolled his eyes as he settled himself in the overstuffed armchair directly opposite from them.

“Maybe but don’t do it when we’re in public.”

“I wouldn’t dare.” She grinned back at him. The smile left her face when she felt Kevin’s hands wrap

around her midriff, pulling her back against his chest. “Kev?”

“Just lean back, baby. I wanna feel you close.”

“I can’t get any closer than that,” she muttered, arranging her legs so they hung to the side. She settled her face in the crook of his neck, inhaling his earthy scent.

“Sure, you could,” Kev answered with a grin, his left hand coming to rest on her thigh.

“Very funny.”

“It wasn’t meant to be funny. Sexy maybe but not funny.”

She bit her lip, fighting the will to laugh. “What’s up with you?”

“Just making sure you know what’s going to happen tonight.”

Looking up at his face, she shook her head. “I’m not stupid, babe. And Nick isn’t either so no need to

spell it out.”

Both men froze. Kevin licked his lips before saying, “What do you mean?”

“Do you really think I don’t know what you have in mind?” She grabbed his hand in hers and traced his

knuckles, ignoring the intense gaze of the other man in the room.

“We don’t—“ Kevin tried then stopped. “I don’t want to lie to you. Not today, after everything’s that

happened.”

“Then why do you think I would be okay with something like this, today of all days?” She was genuinely

curious. She’d understood what was going on when she’d realized Nick was going to stay the night.

Between that and the fact he kept stealing glances at her, staring at her legs or cleavage when he

thought no one was looking, it hadn’t been too hard to guess. But what she didn’t understand was why

Kevin thought today was it. Did he think this would help her?

“I want to rid you of Charlie’s image. Of what he would have done if Nick hadn’t intervened.” Kevin

intertwined their fingers together. “I thought you deserved being seduced, pleasured...loved, today of

all days.”

She gulped at the emotion on his face. “Nick?”

“Yes?” The younger man was sitting upright, his hands gripping the armrests.

“Are you sure you wanna do this?”