Page 41 of The Companion Love Trap

“No, sweetie. I’m just messing with them. If anyone needs the bed, it’s you. This is an important trip, so you always come first.”

“The lady should always come first, Firecracker. Has Brazilian Ken not been treating you right?”

“Caralho! You’re not going to be able to sit for a week when I’m done with you, Meu Dengo,” Cruz growled, sending shivers over me. Holy hotness Batman! I thought Cruz being dominant with me was sexy; seeing him turn it on Jace made me need to change my underwear.

Jace gulped but kept his gaze steady, making me throb even more. Whatever this dynamic was, I was here for it. Day. Night. Afternoon. Any time, really. I would be there.

“So, is this a thing?” I asked, happy to have the heat off me.

“No.”

“Yes.”

Snorting, I peered up at Kieran. “And where do you fit into all of this? Are you and Jace together?”

His forehead creased, and he shook his head. “Not like that. I mean.”

His face reddened so brightly that I almost felt bad for asking. Almost.

“We, um, you know…”

“We have a physical relationship when it suits the other, but our friendship is our foundation, Firecracker. Ideally, we want to find a woman to share between us who wouldn’t mind our connection. Our lives work better together, and we like to share.” His eyes heated on me, the implication loud and clear.

Me. He wanted me in the middle of them.

“Oh.” I swallowed, shifting my eyes to Cruz, only finding more heat there. I was back to believing I hit my head. Dick smorgasbord was nowhere on my cruise bingo card.

“And where do you come in?” I asked Cruz.

“Inside, outside. I’m not picky as long as I’m coming,” Cruz purred. I rolled my eyes, needing the reprieve from his smolder. Fuck, that man was hot. But at least I was used to dealing with him. I knew what to expect.

“I’m not sure I like sarcasm from you.” I narrowed my eyes to convey my answer.

“Too bad, Meu Tudo. Now that I know you can’t run, I won’t be holding back any longer. You will be mine. It’s up to you how hard you fight it.”

Swallowing, I tried not to think how exciting it sounded to have the full impact of Cruz. Or what it would be like to be with all three of them. It was becoming dangerously close to coupling up for me.

Activate brat mode 2.0.

“Hmm, do I have to remind you that I don’t do commitment? I’m as unattached as they come, baby.”

Cruz smirked like he’d been prepared for me to say that.

“Meu Tudo, you’re thinking too small. You don’t like relationships because you don’t want to settle on one person. You like to be free and explore. So explore with us. You could be with the three of us, and we’d be with you… and possibly each other. But you’d be our glue, our center. Don’t say anything now. Just think about it. Relationships haven’t worked because you haven’t found the right one. This could be it, Meu Tudo.”

He stood, and I wondered if his legs were asleep from the squatting. I know mine would be after being in that position for so long. Buns got up from her resting place by my feet and did a perfect downward dog pose as she stretched her front, sticking her cute butt in the air. Cruz having such a cute dog was ridiculously unfair. The man didn’t need anything else to pull women in.

“Dinner is soon, so we should all get ready. I won’t openly pursue you while you’re with Kieran. I respect your boundaries and the job you’re here to do. But your after-hours are a different story. If you run from me, Meu Tudo, I’ll just keep chasing. There’s nowhere to hide on this ship where I won’t find you and then fuck you right there, not caring who is around.”

He dropped a kiss on my lips before I could respond, the image of him fucking me replaying in my head. He sauntered his fine ass right out the door without even a backward glance.

I looked between the two men I’d come to care about in a short time, even if it was supposed to be fake with one of them. There were still a lot of questions, but I couldn’t seem to remember them at the moment. All I could think about was how this relationship would never work the way they wanted—not without Phantom.

But I couldn’t deny that it intrigued me in a way nothing ever had before. And that was scarier than being stuck on an airplane with a crying infant in need of a diaper change.

thirteen

EVERLY

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