“She’s touching you. I’m touching you. Both of us. Tell me you haven’t thought about that.”
Rafe couldn’t because he had. In fact, he’d jacked off to that very fantasy the night he’d watched them in the pool together. Rafe had imagined himself eating Bailey’s pussy while Holt fucked him.
Holt kissed his neck, and Rafe tilted his head.
“I’ve thought about it,” he admitted. “More than once.”
“Then let’s go to her apartment, have dinner, and see where the night leads us.”
Rafe sighed, leaning against Holt, although he didn’t want to.
“There’re only two ways this ends,” Rafe mused.
“How’s that?”
“We do this, and we need more. It works out. Or we do this, and it’s awkward, and we end up unable to look each other in the eye. What then? There are no other options. It works, or it doesn’t. The middle ground disappears completely as soon as we’re together.”
Holt’s arm tightened, his breath rasping against Rafe’s neck when he said, “You don’t have faith it’ll work.”
No, he didn’t. Because never in his life had he wanted anything as much as he wanted Bailey or Holt. And the two of them together? That was his version of nirvana. How could this possibly work out when he didn’t deserve either of them, much less both?
“Minute by minute,” Holt repeated.
Clearly, Holt needed proof that Rafe could fuck this up. Who was he to deny the man that? Maybe then he would get it.
“Okay,” he said reluctantly. “One night.”
Holt released him when Rafe turned to face him.
“But Bailey’s in charge. What she wants…”
Holt nodded. “Understood.”
“And I’m drivin’ myself.”
Another nod.
Since Rafe had no more demands, he headed for the door. And this time, Holt didn’t stop him.
Chapter Nineteen
By the time Holt and Rafe appearedat her back door, Bailey was seconds away from giving up.
She was also on her third glass of wine, which meant she was feeling no pain, and forgiveness came quickly and easily.
“Come in,” she said, motioning for them to join her.
Holt crossed the threshold carrying two large plastic bags filled with Styrofoam containers. Rafe wasn’t quite so enthusiastic. He remained outside the door, his gaze skimming what he could see of the inside.
“It’s an apartment,” she said. “Two bedrooms, one bath. A kitchen and living room. Rex had the ceiling redone to accommodate. I can’t imagine it looks anything like before.”
Rafe’s gaze slipped to her face.
Bailey held his stare, willing him to know that she would take care of him no matter what. The last thing in the world she would ever want to do was hurt him, and if she thought for a second he couldn’t handle being inside, she would’ve willingly gone to his apartment. And yes, maybe she was selfish in wanting him here, but Bailey didn’t know how they could possibly have a chance at a future if he couldn’t come inside the place she lived, much less where she worked.
“Please,” she whispered, holding out her hand.
Rafe took a deep breath and twined his fingers with hers as he stepped into the space. While she closed the door, he continued scoping the place out. When he didn’t move, Bailey released his hand so she could help Holt with the food.
