Page 74 of Day Shift

“Who says we can’t have both?” Angel shot back, her tone playful but dripping with innuendo.

We all laughed, but her words had opened a door. Was it one I was willing to walk through? I leaned back in my chair, noting how they looked at each other. Choosing not to fan the flames of where I guessed her comment was meant to go, I drained the last of my wine. From there, the conversation flowed easily as we shared the rest of the food, talking about everything from the club to summertime in the city. Once the second bottle of wine was polished off, the lingering tension had eased, and the air buzzed with an underlying prickle of possibilities.

While we were clearing the dishes, Lucian nudged me with his elbow and handed me a stack of plates. “Think you can handle washing the dishes, or are you too distracted by our lovely hostess?”

“Just trying to figure out if there’s anything she can’t make look good. It’s awfully hard to ignore that tank top she’s sporting,” I shot back, carrying the plates to the sink. “But I’m more than capable of multitasking.”

Lucian smirked, glancing over at Angel as she opened the whiskey. She found three shot glasses and hopped up on the counter, letting her legs and feet dangle off. She poured each of us a shot of the Skrewball Lucian had brought for dessert.

“Hope you boys are ready for this,” she said with a playful grin, handing us each a glass.

I dried my hands on a towel, took the glass, and took a whiff of the sweet drink. I’d never had peanut butter flavored whiskey.

We downed the shots. The warm, smooth taste coated my throat in a pleasing way.

“Damn, that’s good,” I said, savoring the lingering flavor. “Smooth with a bit of a kick, just like our hostess.”

Once everything was clean and put away, we made our way to the living room, drinks in hand. The whiskey was already warming my blood. Angel settled in the middle of the sofa, pulling me down on one side and Lucian on the other. She grabbed the remote and put on Magic Mike, a classic chick flick.

Angel curled up to my side and rested her head on my chest, giving me no other choice but to wrap my arm around her waist. She stretched her legs out toward Lucian, putting her feet in his lap. He started to massage them, and she sighed contentedly. “It’s so nice to have two men who are so attentive and like pleasing me,” she teased.

Lucian chuckled, his hands working on her feet. “We aim to please, don’t we, Conan?”

I took another sip of my drink, letting the burn slide all the way down my throat before setting the glass onto the end table. “Yeah, it’s like she’s got us both wrapped around her finger. Not that I’m complaining.”

She giggled. It was obvious she was enjoying every second of the attention. I watched her, the way her eyes lit up, the way she responded to both of us. Her flirtations were drawing both of us in.

It hit me hard—this wasn’t about making her choose between Lucian and me. I wanted to please her, make her happy, not tear her apart, make her choose between her present and past. Dark thoughts crept in. How awful it must be for her to be locked in a not-so-gilded cage she couldn’t escape from. Her life had been controlled, sheltered, and filled with expectations and restrictions. She deserved to experience everything life had to offer.

I had been in threesomes before, where sex was casual and fun. But now, with Angel, everything was different. So many new and unexplained emotions swirled inside me—possessiveness, protectiveness, worry for her well-being. The idea of sharing her with another man twisted something deep inside me, but I also knew it might be good for her.

I wouldn’t stand in her way if she was interested in something more adventurous tonight. In fact, I’d encourage it. Maybe it would help her feel more liberated, more in control of her own choices. I didn’t want her to feel like she had missed out on any life experience. She shouldn’t be controlled by her family, shouldn’t be controlled by me. She deserved to experience everything she’d been denied. Maybe this could be a step toward her feeling whole. Watching her with another man was a risk, but if it helped her, it would be worth it.

Why force her to choose now, when our relationship was still so new? The night we’d spent together in Tacoma before she fled had been incredible, but she hadn’t had her memories then. Expecting her to commit to me exclusively was unfair.

No matter how much it tore my heart out to watch her with Lucian, at least it would be better if it was part of a shared experience. I could be there with her, for her, making sure she felt safe and cared for. It could be a bonding experience rather than something that drove a wedge between us. And maybe, if I was good enough, she would end up choosing me one day.

I glanced over at Lucian, who was watching Angel intently, and then down at her, nestled against me. I was determined to be whatever she needed me to be tonight.

Gently, I swiped her hair off her neck, exposing the smooth skin there so I could trail kisses along it. Savoring her taste, I nipped my way down to her collarbone. Her pulse quickened beneath my lips. I glanced up at Lucian and cocked a brow, giving him a questioning glance as if to ask, You in? Even though I already knew the answer by his hooded eyes and the way his jaw clenched.

He licked his lips and smiled, his green eyes gleaming with lust. “I’d love nothing more than for the three of us to be together tonight,” he said, his deep Irish accent thickening with desire. His lips turned up into a mischievous grin. He was clearly excited by the idea of sharing Angel with me.

Now only thin rims of blue surrounded her blown-wide pupils. Her eyes, irresistibly captivating, darted between us. Arousal flickered within them before she angled her head toward mine. She reached up with one hand and pulled me down for a demanding kiss. I could taste the whiskey on her tongue, mingling with her unique sweetness. She pressed her lips against mine with a fiery passion while at the same time running her feet teasingly along Lucian’s thighs. Her touch ignited a hunger in me, a hunger that demanded satisfaction.

“Have you ever been with two men before, Angel?” I asked her.

“Never,” she admitted, her cheeks flushing with excitement. “You are the only men I’ve ever been with. But something about you two makes me want to try it.”

“Would you be willing to do this, Angel?” I asked. “We’re here to make you feel good, nothing more. No strings, no jealousy. Just you, us, and a whole lot of pleasure.”

I wanted to make sure she was comfortable with our intentions. Even though she’d never been with two men at once, I could tell she was intrigued by the idea. I was half lit by the wine and whiskey, but my protective instincts needed to be pacified—I needed to know this was what she wanted and that I wasn’t taking advantage of her.

“Show me what it’s like,” she whispered, glancing back and forth between me and Lucian.

“Are you sure about this?” I asked, giving her the chance to back out. But she nodded, a sexy smile playing on her lips as she pushed her body closer to mine.

“Fuck, you’re irresistible,” I muttered, capturing her lips with mine. Our tongues tangled together, and we explored every inch of each other’s mouths. Her taste was intoxicating, making me crave her even more. Lucian watched us intently, his breathing growing heavy. My hands roamed over Angel’s curves, sliding up under her top. I was desperate to feel her soft skin beneath my fingertips. I wanted to fuck her so badly, to have every inch of her body pressed against mine.

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