Page 6 of Room One Hundred and Twenty Six: Denied

"Tavi, I just woke up, and you're dropping all this on me. My focus needs to be on healing, then improving and upgrading the bookstore's security." I shifted carefully, unsure what to do with the bomb he’d just dropped on me. What was I supposed to do with it all? I was into it, but I technically couldn’t. It’d been a few weeks since I’d signed all the paperwork, but I’d yet to be contacted to set up a time and place for my date with my so-called husband.

"I'll take care of you if you let me." Tavi caressed my non-injured hand. “I don’t know if things will work out, but I’d like to try. I just don’t want the opportunity to pass us by without giving it a go.”

"Let you?" I sighed to release the tension. This was… a lot.

“Sam, you’re an amazing woman. I see it in everything you do. The store, your friends, your customers… You take care of everybody but yourself. I’m asking you to let me do that. As your man, I’ll make sure that you’re taken care of in every way.”

“My man? Tavi…”

“Yes, my sweet girl.”

I paused. It was the way he said it. I’m a grown-ass woman, and he’d made me hush up with three words. His…

If I was honest, I’d been attracted to the twins since they started working with Ward. Hell, the three of them were individual wet dreams, that played continuously in my head. Someone should deem it illegal. Ward was black, and his chocolate baldhead made me want to caress it while he hid his bearded face between my thighs. He’d gone and found himself a woman, and I respected it. She was nice, and I’d helped her a few times in my store. I liked her. Plus, I wasn’t a home-wrecker. So I’d let it go.

It left the twins, and while I wasn’t against polyamorous relationships, I hadn’t considered being with the two of them at once. They were identical, so being with one was like being with the other. How would that work, though? I couldn’t handle them doing things to each other. That was overkill. But if their focus was on me… I’d fantasized about being with multiple men more than once. The more stimulation, the better.

However, Tavi was here trying to persuade me that being with them was a good thing. He’d discussed his needs, but how did Caesar feel? Caesar usually held back when I was around. I’d seen him flirt, experienced small doses of it, but nothing that would make me give away the farm. If it were just Tavi, I’d probably be all in. I’d seen the man dance a little, and he knew how to groove. If that’s how he moved when he had sex, I was in trouble. Who was the friend?

All that aside, I wanted to be wooed by the next man I was with. I didn’t want it to be a business arrangement like the one that I was currently in. And this kind of felt like one.

“Tavi, words won’t win me over. You'll have to show it if you’re truly interested in me. I don’t need grand gestures and expensive things. I need genuine interest and affection. That way I won’t waste your time and you won't waste mine. Plus, right now things are complicated with me.”

“I can do that.” He lifted my hand and kissed the slightly bent knuckles, warming the skin there.

Maybe…

“And if Caesar wants to date me, he’ll have to do the same. I can’t have you being his wingman–you being the go-between. He’ll need to speak up for himself and make his own moves. I don’t even know the third person. It sounds like you're the voice of reason for them and I need them to step up and show me that it's what they want.”

“But you’re not against it?”

Hell no. “I’m not opposed, no. I can’t say I’m for it, either. I’m not sure that I believe it can work. So, if the three of you were up to showing me it can, I’d have been open to the possibilities. However, not now. I’m going through a lot and need to handle what’s already on my plate.”

“All we need is the chance.”

“I understand, I’m not saying that I wouldn’t have gone for it before. I’m saying I can’t now.”

“I think this is a risk worth taking. Especially since I don’t plan to let you go.”

Possession. While I knew it could be bad, I also loved when a man owned all of me. Maybe I needed help, mental health-wise, but if a man wasn’t afraid to claim me and make it known, I became a melted mess all over him as long as he wasn’t overbearing. There was such a thing as going too far.

“Tavi…” a chilling tremor started low in my spine and warmed as it spread. This could be the worst decision or the best one I’d ever done.

“Yes. I’ve never been more sure about any other woman. Maybe it’s the feisty behavior, red hair, the way you lick your lips when you’re nervous, or the way you calculate every bold move you make. Sam, you’re like a rainstorm in the middle of the desert. And I’m thirsty, baby.”

His eyes seemed to peer into my soul. He held me steady with them and dared me to say anything different. Feeling caught, I squirmed, which only intensified his hold on me. He pinned me with just his eyes, and it made me wonder… What would it be like for him to use the rest of his body? That’s when I firmed my decision. As much as I knew, the guy that I was supposed to marry didn’t exist and it was all a ruse to scare me. Maybe I could date them to see what it was like before the marriage stuff kicked in.

“Dating the three of you is a lot. If you’re demanding everything from me, I need you to honor it, too. I don’t want to be hurt unnecessarily. I'd like a heads up if you’re going to be dating outside of us.”

“We’re hyper-focused. Giving what we want all our attention means there’s no room for anybody else. Can you handle being the center of attention for all of us?”

I was failing under just his assessment. To have Tavi and Caesar? And Tavi was the lesser evil. Maybe this wasn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. That didn't even factor in the third person.

“We’ll see.” I lifted my head, putting my best foot forward. “Why are you avoiding talking about the third person?” I asked.

“I’m not. I only need to verify with him that he’s onboard with all this.”

“Will I ever meet him?” I asked, wondering if the third person existed.

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