Page 47 of Hotwife

We stoked the flames of our passion until the orange morning light drenched the dark hardwoods in morning rays. I awoke alone and crawled my sore body across the bed. Smiling, the aroma of bacon and coffee wafted up the stairs as I reluctantly ignored it to turn on the shower on scalding hot. The water hit my aching muscles just right as my mind recalled the events of the day prior. It was a lot to wrap my brain around and while it had been the most magical, sexiest night of my life, the logistics of our life forward still hung in the salty, humid southern air.

I loved both men. Cedric with his loyalty and his deep generosity and goodness had loved me in a way I’d never known possible. Cedric accepted me, all of me, always. His love planted deep roots of trust in my heart, even though we’d just endured our hardest marriage trial yet. I was confident he and I could get through anything together.

Desmond had come crashing into my life on the beat of a thumping bass and the rumble of a motorcycle engine. Des was wild and free with the heart of a man who’d known loss and pain. Des had fought death and loneliness and won. So when he met me, he reacted easily and with a familiarity few would know how to give. I was lost, aimless, and in a dark place when he found me teasing sharks with my bare legs. Des had pulled me from the literal and metaphorical depths of despair and showed me what life could be. Outside of the walls of my model home, outside of the title of doctor’s wife, Desmond taught me so much over such a short span of time. He lit a fire within my soul and melded himself into every fiber of my being. In a way, Des saved my marriage, along with my life. A sense of adventure that had been there my entire life reemerged, and I suddenly wanted… more.

But would this work? Like, really work long term? Could Cedric and Des learn to love each other like I loved them? At least in a deep and mutually respectful way. Most men wouldn’t be okay with a polyamorous lifestyle. Maybe they feel that way now, but what about when we go through another rough patch? There were still a lot of questions to sort through once my sex haze faded.

Drying off and slipping my clothes back on. I padded down the stairs and stopped when I heard familiar laughter. Peaking around the corner and into the kitchen, Cedric stood at the stove, stacking pancakes on a dish, while Des pulled mugs from the cabinet. Desmond made a joke and Cedric tilted his head back in a laugh that warmed me from the inside out. They looked so natural together. It was clear they had a history. In my brain’s frenzy to piece this situation together, I hadn’t considered that in a platonic sense, Cedric and Desmond had been together longer than either of them had been with me. Their friendship was established before I came along, and their respect for the other shown through.

“Good morning, Dot,” Cedric smiled, sliding a small stack of pancakes onto a plate. Desmond smiled and poured a cup of coffee. I yawned and tiptoed over, planting a kiss on each other their cheeks, before sitting down to my breakfast. My stomach growled in appreciation.

“Good morning,” I murmured, thankful for the pile of food. “I think it’s technically afternoon,” I said between bites. “How long do we have this place for?” Something in my heart gripping. A part of me wanted to stay in this little world we’d created between the three of us.

“Well, that depends,” Desmond drawled, taking up the seat next to me.

I raised a curious eyebrow at both of them. “On what?”

Cedric grabbed his coffee and took the other seat next to me. “On you. On us, and what you want to do.”

“I want this,” I replied easily. “Every day, I want exactly this. Breakfast with you both. But is that too much to ask?” Worry etched my tone. Surely one or both of them were about to pull the curtain back and tell me this was just a one time thing.

They both let out a small chuckle. “Don’t you think we’ve talked about this at length while you’ve been gone?” Cedric responded, eyes full of care. “It’s not too much to ask for because you’re not asking. We are. Desmond and I have decided we want you and we want you forever.” He shot Des a glance. “And I suppose there’s some benefit in joining forces… for Desmond at least.”

“Ouch! Good one, old man. Act like you don’t want to take my Harley for a spin.” His sly expression darted between us before catching my gaze. Des took my hand in his. “I know I’m stepping into something already established, and I don’t want to bulldoze that, not anymore. I realize how unfair that was of me to ask of you, and it was a shitty thing to try to pull on my friend, too.” He gave Cedric a sympathetic look. “But what I want, is for this to work with all three of us. I know I can only hope to gain the kind of love and respect you have for your husband, but I’d like to try for as long as you’ll allow me.”

My heart swelled and fluttered above the table. “And you’re okay with this, Cedric?” I asked, looking into his blue eyes.

“I am. Des wasn’t the only selfish one. I clearly recognized the need for another in our relationship, it just took my heart some time to catch up with my mind. Seeing you with him makes me happy. And I know he makes you happy too.”

“God, you guys are too perfect,” I responded, feeling sniffly and overwhelmed with love. “Let’s just stay here forever,” I joked, though neither of the guys laughed. “What?”

“I mean, we could…” Desmond shrugged, leaning back. “Because Ced and I bought it.”

“You what!?” I yelped, almost spilling my coffee.

“You love Georgia, Dot, and you should be close to your family. We need a space big enough for all of us so… Des and I bought it. With Odette’s help in finding it and telling us you ladies were flying down here. Do you like it?”

My sister would be a double agent. “Like it? I love it so much. And it’s in both of your names?”

“Sure is, Queen. We told you, this is the real deal. Though, the realtor did congratulate us on our marriage to each other,” Des laughed. “Didn’t he, honey dear?”

“I punched you pretty good once, I could do it again, hotshot,” Cedric smirked.

“What about work? Cedric, the hospital. Oh, my god… your promotion I completely wrecked it all…”

Reaching a loving hand over my knuckles he gripped lightly. “Actually, Dr. Gregory was so thankful for the distraction from his impending divorce, he offered me the promotion on the spot. I turned it down.”

“Why the hell would you do that? It’s everything-”

“You are everything, Dot. I was working so hard towards something I didn’t even want. I want to travel again. I want to make good on my promise to take you to Paris. As far as work, I want to go back to what I was doing before we met and work as a travel surgeon for a while. And then maybe open a private practice somewhere once we all decide to settle down. But I know one thing for sure, I’m never ignoring you for work again.”

Was it possible to die from happiness? “Cedric, you’ll be so great at that. The world deserves your talents, not just rainy-ass Seattle.”

He smiled and planted a kiss on lips. Before I allowed it to get to heated, I pulled back. “Okay, well, all of that sounds great. But I have some things to share as well,” I spoke up, everything falling together like puzzle pieces in my mind.

“We’re listening,” Cedric smiled, crossing his arms. The happiness around the table warming me like cinnamon dark roast.

“Odie and I are a package deal now. So where I go she goes and vise versa. And well, she’s married now, so that means Caroline too.”

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