I need to handle this carefully, like I would something made of delicately spun glass. “This is a beautiful view. Do you miss Chicago?” I say to Asher just as Brayden says, “So are we gonna talk about how you fucked my wife?”
Asher doesn’t even flinch. “No,” he says, “We should talk about how I fucked your wifetwice.”
Brayden sets down the can he’s drinking from. Rises like he’s holding himself carefully. “Is this a joke to you?” His voice is low, steady, controlled.Angry.
“It’s not.” Asher’s expression goes hard. “Hence me not laughing.”
I get up from the couch, ready to intercede.
Brayden hasn’t moved. “What would it take for you to leave her alone?”
“Show me that I should,” Asher says.
Brayden’s hands ball into fists. “Show you what, exactly?”
“That you can treat her right, then I’ll back off.” Asher smirks. “If she wants me to. Ifyouwant me to.”
“What’s that mean?”
Asher puts down his bottle of water. Walks to where Brayden is standing and reaches, taps Brayden’s clenched knuckle with the pad of his finger exactly once. “You know full well what it means—stop pretending you don’t. In fact, stop pretending that you’re not just as interested in this—aseagerfor this—as we both know you are.”
“So, what, we both just—” The words are out before Brayden seems to fully register them. He snaps his jaw shut like he can’t even think about what Asher’s suggesting.
“Yeah. We bothjust…” Asher tosses a lazy look my way. “That is, if Mrs. Forsyth is into that idea.”
I fiddle with the lock pendant hanging around my neck. Pick it up and release it. It thumps against my sternum.Being with Brayden and Asher separately is already courting scandal. Being with themtogetherisn’t just courting scandal—it’s throwing open the door and inviting it in.This will end badly. Yet, I can’t help the want now pulsing under my skin.
If we’re going to do this, it can’t be because the two of them are having some kind of fight—using me as a proxy to work out their issues. I’m not either of theirs, not Brayden’s property or Asher’s way of getting revenge.
I roll my shoulders, sharpen my grin. I was taught country club manners and boardroom schemes: smile, because youknow you have the upper hand. That’s who I was. No, that’s who Iam.Someone who goes after the things she wants. “It’sSavannah Burke,” I say finally. “Be sure to get it right.”
Asher cocks an eyebrow at me. “So,Savannah Burke, what do you say?”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Savannah
For all my bravado,myyesgets caught in my throat. What I told Brayden all those months ago:Yes,I’ll marry you, then felt like I stepped off a cliff.
I’m standing at the edge of another cliff now.Say yes and there’s no going back.Outside, the city sparkles, full of people who’d judge me for the choices I’ve made. Yet, here I am, making another.
Brayden comes to my rescue. “You want us both?” he asks as if he needs to hear it.
I smile, not that sweet plastered-on smile I use with his family, but something imperious. In charge. “If you think you’re up to it.”
One of my dress straps drifts down my arm. That seems to be all the opening Brayden needs. He gets up, goes to where I’m standing by the window, presses himself against my back the way he did when he first dropped that locket around my neck.
Slowly, he lifts my hair, kisses the back of my neck, mouth around the links of my necklace chain. A kiss like a claim. I rollmyself back against him, relishing his answering hardness.“You like this dress?” I ask.
“What dress?” he says teasingly, then sends both straps down my arms. He kisses me again, a bit of teeth against my neck. A mark like he wants the world to know I’m his. Then he stops. Seems to realize Asher is standing there looking at us, eyes like twin flames in the dark.
“You just gonna watch us?” Brayden asks him.
“No”—Asher peels himself away from the wall—“I’m not just gonna watch.” He stalks over, reaching for the fabric of my dress, hitching up the hem. He runs his palm up my thigh, high, but not high enough.
“Don’t touch her.” Brayden, behind me, the words coming out in a growl. He seizes Asher’s hand, and for a moment I think they’re going to go back to antagonizing one another, until Brayden shoves Asher’s fingers up to the sheer fabric of my panties. “Don’t touch her unless you do it right.”
They both touch me—fingers against my clit, Brayden’s hand working over Asher’s. Close, but not quite enough.
