“Well,” I distract myself with the squirmy baby below me, her little fist strangling my finger as I build up my courage.
Where do I even start?
Hey! I know they tormented me in high school, but I’m sleeping with all three of my bodyguards. They’ve all touched me intimately, and I’ve been fucked stupid by two of them! See ya next week!
I need to just rip the band-aid off. I take a deep breath,and I’m not sure what I’m meaning to say, but as the truth blurts from between my lips, I could slap myself. “I’m fucking my bodyguards.”
“Huh…” Evelyn trails before peering at her wife. “I owe you a massage later, babe.”
Charlie smiles. “Damn right you do. I told you they were fucking.”
I blink. “I’m sorry, but did youbeton whether I was fucking them or not?”
“Yup!” Charlie beams. “I figured it out the last time I was here, and you left me alone in the kitchen with them. They’re so easy to read that it’s laughable.”
God dammit!
I should have known she was already speculating. Charlie could sniff out any secret within a ten-mile radius. I hunch forward at the anti-climactic moment. “This isn’t even concerning to you?”
“Oh, it is.” My best friend says, her eyes cutting to me. “I wanted to put them on the next flight out of here ASAP, but Eve told me to wait until you made up your mind on them.”
Her wife gives me a patient expression. “And how are you feeling now? Do you want them gone?”
“I…” The words die on my tongue. Truthfully, with Roman, Kairo, and Maddox around, I feel…safe. Even with my old crew, there was still some lingering doubt about their protection, and it turns out my gut was right on that one. But the three men from my past haven’t given me any reason not to trust them. I know they’re handling my dad behind closed doors, and it feels good to give that fear to them—let them shoulder the hard stuff while I work out whatever the fuck is going on inside of my head.
And my heart…
I once considered them beasts—a terrifying nightmare that tortured me relentlessly. And now…
I’m attached.
Maddox is easy to get along with, and he’s caring in hisown, quiet way. He pricks my finger for me despite having done it alone all my adult life. Kairo is funny and keeps me on my toes with his teasing and quick wit. He also sneaks me the snacks I enjoy without harming my blood sugar. Even Roman has wormed his way into my life with his protectiveness and caregiver tendencies. He’s always making sure my meals are balanced and diabetes friendly while keeping a close eye on my levels.
I’ve never been doted on.
But it feels so nice.
It means you’re ours, Rosalie. No one else will ever possess you the way we do. You belong to us.
Roman’s proclamation slams into me, making my cheeks heat with a blush. I hate that his words have my pulse pounding and my stomach fluttering with something new. I shouldn’t be falling for the men who treated me worse than dirt, but I can’t help it. I’m weak, and I’ve never been taken care of this way. It’s hard not to fall.
“No,” I say as realization zaps me. It’s an awakening moment—something that grips you tightly as your whole world seems to slow to a halt. “I don’t want them gone.”
Evelyn nods. “And do you think you want to pursue them?”
That’s the million-dollar question.
Ever since our night in, I’ve been creating distance to give myself time to think through all of this. They haven’t pushed, but they made it very obvious that I’m with them. I have no problem with their configuration, and I like that they get along so well, but how can I move past what happened before? It still bothers me…
I did my own research on polyamorous relationships and found that communication is key. You have to be open with your partners, and they have to reciprocate. It’s a lot of work, but not something I should skip out on if I want to try this. It’s important that we get it all out on the table. Everything.
“I want to try,” I admit, chuckling under my breath at the overwhelming emotion in me. This is a lot to unpack, but I think I’m doing a pretty good job of it. Having Eve and Charlie to talk through it all is helping.
My best friend sighs as she pulls out her phone. She types up a quick message before turning to me. “I’m having Elijah work on damage control once this becomes public knowledge. If it works out. I’m sure there will be tabloid speculation on your relationship status, and I want to get ahead of it so you can enjoy yourself rather than listening to shitty gossip columns that try to shit on polyamory. You deserve your happiness, and if those three chuckle fucks make you happy, then I’m with you, bestie. Ride or die.”
I slide my hand towards Charlie before she intertwines our fingers. The bridge of my nose stings with unshed tears. “Thank you.”
She smiles fondly at me. “Anything for you, Rose. You deserve your happily ever after, too.”
