I looked at my husband.“How long have you been—” I swallowed and went on, “sleeping with each other?”
Nick answered for him, “I shared Eve with him right from the beginning.”
Eve nodded and touched Stefan's chest.“It was a shock to me at first.I didn't really understand.But as time went on—” she shrugged, “and things evolved, I grew to love this lifestyle.And Nick's right.Our love has only grown because of it.Yes, we've experienced some pretty big bumps in the road.”She pushed up and gazed into Stefan's eyes.Her hand lovingly touched his face.“But it all worked out in the end.Because real love is worth fighting for.”She leaned down and kissed him softly.
“There are rules,” Nick said, and I looked back at him.“To avoid any problems.”I didn't have to wait for him to explain.“For example, kissing and touching are always allowed.But anything more—must be agreed on beforehand.No one takes liberties with anyone's partner without prior discussion and consent from all parties.”
I frowned and thought about that for a moment.“So, it's not just one big orgie, all the time?”
Everyone—except me—burst into laughter.The entire bed shook from them.
“I dislike that word.But yes, sometimes it's a bit of a free for all.But no, we do have our rules.And stick by those rules.”
Hmm.A question popped into my mind.So, I asked it.“Have any of you—not—played by the rules?”
Eve sighed and nodded.“Yeah.But Giselle and I didn't know we screwed up.Until we screwed up.She and I are lovers, too.But, like Nick said, that love evolved over time.We weren't always sexual with each other.Until—we were.And the men walked in on us.”She looked over at her husband with remorse written all over her face.“And they set us straight on what was allowed and what wasn't.”
I frowned and had another thought.“So—they didn't want you two to be lovers?”
Nick chuckled and shook his head.“To be clear—we were overjoyed that Eve and Giselle discovered a deeper physical love for each other.But that relationship counts the same as the others.If my wife wants to have sex with Giselle—it needs to be arranged ahead of time.With me.And with Carlo.”
Something else popped into my brain.“And what if you don't want Eve to sleep with Giselle?”
Nick looked at me and asked, “Ever?Or just at the time of asking?”
I shrugged.“Um, either?”
He let out a long breath.Then he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it.“Francesca, I want my wife to experience and express the love she shares with Giselle.If I didn't want that, then none of this would work.Feeling insecure about my wife being with Giselle, or Carlo, or Stefan—”
Yeah.
He'd just confirmed it for me.If I hadn't understood it before.
Stefan had definitely slept with both of these women.
Regularly.
For years.
“Well, then that would mean I'd have to do some real soul-searching.And think about whether this lifestyle was still working for me or not.Letting things go and trying to sweep those feelings under the rug would only create resentment.And then everything we share would fall apart.”
He smiled and added, “But, if Giselle, Stefan, or Carlo ask to be with Eve—but I want to keep her to myself that night,” his grin grew, “then I tell them that.And they listen.”
Hmm.
I wondered about something else.“And do you ever—refuse them?”
Nick nodded.“Yes.Many times.And there are no hard feelings.On either side.We have to be all in.Or it doesn't work.”
Eve spoke next, reaching over to touch my arm, “It's a lot to take in.I can't even imagine being you—coming into all this.But I'm also happy for you.That you get to join our family.And the love we've worked on building.We're excited to have you.And if you have any questions or something feels—off—then please talk to one of us about it.We've all gone through the entire gamut of emotions over this.Trust me.”She gazed down at Stefan and touched his handsome face.“But each time we choose each other—” her voice cracked with emotion, “it only makes us stronger in the end.”
Stefan gave her a sad smile and nodded.“Definitely.”Then his hand slid into her hair, and he pulled her down for a kiss.A deep, sexy kiss.
“How does it feel to see your husband kiss my wife?”Nick asked in a low voice.
I watched them essentially make out in front of me.And when Stefan's hand slid up and covered Eve's huge breast—I actually gasped.
Nick's hand moved up my arm—and then over to my breast.
