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Maeve looks like she might faint. “You mean…”

She glances at Ford and Hayden. I know they’ve heard every word, but they don’t say anything, making it clear they’re going to let Maeve make this decision herself.

“I want to watch them fuck you,” I clarify quietly. “Together.”

This close to her, I can smell her berry and vanilla scent and pick up the telltale signs of arousal in her expression. She looks exactly like she did when I caught her in the bathroom, her cheeks flushed so prettily.

I turn her so she’s facing forward and place my hand on the small of her back, allowing me to lean in and whisper directly in her ear. “You dirty girl. Were you thinking of more than just me that day in the bathroom?”

Maeve swallows hard, leaning back against me a little. “Yes,” she whispers finally.

I love how torn she seems between her deliciously filthy desires and her natural modesty. I’m confident we can work on that second part. She shouldn’t feel ashamed of what she wants. What she wants is incredibly sexy, and she should have the confidence to ask for it.

Ford and Hayden both go still. I can practically see the gears turning behind their eyes, processing what Maeve just admitted. My own mind is racing as well.

I don’t want them to have Maeve without me. But I also don’t want to take her away from them. It wouldn’t feel right to deprive my two closest friends of something—or someone—they want. I want them to be happy, damn it. I just also want to be happy myself. I want to explore Maeve’s gorgeous body, hear her cries and moans, bring her to the heights of pleasure.

“Sounds to me,” I continue quietly, angling my head so I’m addressing all three of them while keeping my back to the crowd, “that we have something of an opportunity here.”

“An opportunity,” Hayden repeats, a hint of curiosity in his tone, as if I’m about to propose some insane business venture.

“We’re all here for the holidays. And Maeve is not currently employed as our assistant. Aren’t the holidays meant for having fun? So let’s have fun. Let’s do what we want, no strings attached.”

I watch all three of them as I speak. There’s shock on every face initially, but then I see their surprise replaced by contemplation. Ford’s lips curve upward a little, and Hayden’s eyes glint.

Then they both look at Maeve.

I follow their gazes, agreeing with their unspoken decision: this has to be her choice. We’re all powerful men with money and influence. We’re accustomed to taking what we want when we want it. But we won’t push her into anything. All three of us, the intensity of our personalities, the baggage we all carry… she might decide it’s not worth the potential complications.

Maeve lifts her chin and a determined look enters her eyes. A hungry one too. The moment I see that expression, a grin tugs at my lips, because I’m pretty sure I know what she’s about to say.

“Yes,” she murmurs. “I do want that.”

“Good girl.”

My grin widens, my entire body thrumming with excitement. I haven’t felt this alive, this electrified, since—well, I honestly can’t remember when.

“Gabriel?” Someone says my name, cutting through my thoughts. “I believe it’s your turn to choose something.”

“Right. Of course.”

I glance back at Maeve as I select my gift from the pile. Her cheeks are flushed again and she’s staring at me with what could easily be mistaken for excitement about the present I’m about to unwrap, but I know is really anticipation for what we’re about to do together. The pact we just made.

Oh yes. This is going to be a hell of a lot of fun.

35

MAEVE

The rest of the party passes by in a haze.

I’m sure it’s easier for the men to focus. All three of them actually know people here from past Christmas visits and years of growing up together. But I don’t know anybody other than Ford’s family, so it’s impossible for me to form real connections with anyone.

Although I suspect the whole party would still be a blur anyway, even if I knew every single person here and considered each of them a close friend.

It’s impossible to concentrate on anyone or anything other than these three men.

There’s the rest of the white elephant exchange, and then we all gather around the piano to sing Christmas carols, and there’s more food, and chatting, and a game of charades for anyone who wants to play. Then one of those games where you stick the name of a character on your forehead and you don’t know who you are, but everyone else does, so you have to ask questions and they help you figure it out.