“Hi, Lila,” he murmurs, a smile dancing on his lips.
“Hello, Captain,” I purr, sounding much cooler and sexier than I feel.
“Come in.”
He steps aside. The interior of his apartment is more or less exactly what I expected. Simply furnished. Comfortable, but practical. A bit sparse, maybe, and slightly impersonal, but it definitely helps that the main area is currently also occupied by Evan, Noah, and at least a hundred tiny tea lights.
When I step over the threshold and get a closer look at the candles, I huff out a laugh.
Electric candles, of course.
Firefighters would never allow a hundred open flames inside a historic building.
In the middle of the living room, the large coffee table has been turned into our dining area. It’s set for four, with a massive bouquet of peonies in the center.
I step closer, accepting a kiss on the cheek from Noah and Evan.
“How did you know those are my favorite?” I ask, pointing to the flowers.
“I texted Lou,” Noah explains.
“I didn’t realize you’d built up such a good rapport with my best friend.”
He smirks. “Of course I did. She’s cool as hell.”
I laugh.
Hale comes up behind me, gently coaxing off my coat. I shrug it off and try not to blush too hard at the way they admire my dress. Maybe I chose it because the hem, while cute and lacy, is short enough that it’s flirting with danger. Maybe I also chose these specific heels, too, because they make my bare legs look fantastic.
Evan clears his throat. “Should we eat first? Or perhaps talk first?”
I haven’t been able to eat much today, too full of anticipation, and I still don’t have much of an appetite now.
“Let’s talk,” I answer.
Noah flops down onto the sofa. Evan joins him on the other end. Hale comes around and lowers himself in the armchair opposite them.
I remain standing. When Noah pats the open spot between him and Evan, I shake my head.
“I’m too antsy to sit,” I admit.
Hale’s head tilts to the side. “Antsy in a bad way?”
“No… no, just…” I swallow hard, take a deep breath, and force myself to get a grip. If this is what I want, I need to stop being so skittish about it. “So, if I’m going to be in a relationship with all three of you, what does that mean for your dynamic? I think that’s the question I need answered first.”
As if they prepared for this ahead of time—which they probably did—Evan and Noah look to Hale.
“Well,” begins the captain, drumming his fingers on the armrest and letting his gaze trail lazily down the length of my body. “We’re all straight, so the romantic and sexual aspects will only go in one direction—toward you. But, of course, there’s a platonic aspect to all relationships. Evan and Noah are friendsof mine. We share the love of a woman and we trust our lives in each other’s hands, so maybe friends doesn’t even cover it.”
“But it feels a bit weird to use the term ‘brother’ in a situation like this,” Noah quips.
I nod once, clasping my hands behind my back so that I stop fidgeting with them. “So, in terms of sex… I would only do that with you guys one at a time.”
Another loaded look between the three of them, the same mischief mirrored in their gazes.
“Not necessarily,” Hale answers. “We’re all comfortable with any possibility you’re comfortable with.”
My breath stutters. My cheeks warm. I go molten between my legs.
