Page 8 of Dauntless

CHAPTER THREE

“We need to talk,” I said, moving both of their hands away. “I’m going back to Seattle today. Dane, you’re going to New York soon, and Elliott, you’re busy building a case. We won’t be able to see each other.”

“For a short while,” Dane replied. He lifted his hand to my chin and turned my head toward him. “Did something else happen with Angel?”

I cast my eyes downward. “No… I mean not exactly. I just met with my lawyers. You gave me Perfetto back, but there is so much more going on. I have a possible scandal; one I don’t really know the extent of. My ex-husband intends to sue me for the negative press. I don’t know how my father is doing. I can’t reach my friends. I just have a lot on my plate right now.”

“That’s why I don’t think it’s right for you to let either one of us go,” Dane lifted my hand and kissed my wrist. “We need each other.”

“You don’t need the both of us,” Elliott turned toward the window. “If you only want to be with Dane.”

My chest hitched. “It’s that easy for you to say,” I murmured.

Being with just Dane would make things less complicated, but I couldn’t help the sick feeling that rose within me at the thought of Elliott walking out of my life.

“No, but that’s what you want to hear, right?” Elliott replied dully. “I know you enjoyed sex with us, but honestly, could you see yourself with two men?”

“Stop pressuring her to choose,” Dane argued. “Trying a different type of relationship isn’t easy, we know, but we can be there for you, Gia.”

“As what? An experiment? Hell no,” Elliott gruffed at Dane. “We’ve been there and done that. The relationship doesn’t end well for people like us.”

“Meaning what?” I asked.

Elliott’s expression dulled. “Meaning the novelty will wear off, and being with two men will become too much. Which is why we should just enjoy the sex until we no longer want to and discard any other thoughts.”

I pursed my lips. “Is that how it works with you?”

“It has,” Elliott answered. “It’s one of the reasons why I don’t do attachments. It’s why taking this undercover job wasn’t hard for me. It wasn’t by accident that this case became mine. I didn’t keep my sex life private. People around me knew I belonged to adult clubs. I knew Dane and Angel from the East Coast clubs.”

“We met before the clubs,” Dane added. “Elliott’s father and my father, Walter, were in business together.”

“Yeah, but his dad fucked mine over,” Elliott said, and surprisingly there wasn’t a trace of malice in his tone. I had to ask why.

“Over and done.” Elliott squeezed Dane’s shoulder. “Dane didn’t forget us, and we made it through the hard times. We came out better than ever.”

Dane tilted his head downward. “I loathed my father for doing that to you all. I begged him not to. Of all the people I told about Angel’s disappearance, Elliott was the only one that believed me. He fought with the FBI to help build this case.” Turning to Elliott, “I’ll never be able to pay you back for all you have done for me.”

Elliott grinned at Dane. “I will always have your back. I’m just sorry we couldn’t have saved Angel sooner.”

I could feel their bond. It wasn’t just a bromance. There was true friendship there.

Elliott sighed heavily. My skin tingled as Elliott removed a few errand hairs that had fallen in my face. “What I’m saying is that the two of us have already gone through the growing pains of the lifestyle. What Dane usually reminds me, which I now need to remind him, is that we don’t put our interest above what someone wants for themselves. You tried different sex than you’re used to, and it was fun, but you know anything beyond that is too much for you. We get that and won’t stand in your way now that you’re ready to leave.”

Dane frowned. “I don’t think we should just give up without trying. It’s true that Elliott and I both no longer hide our interests from those close to us. My business partners work with me because I’m the best in my field. I built my brand on my work, not on my bedroom preferences. It can be that way for you too, Gia.”

“I don’t know… I don’t know what I want,” I stammered, then took a deep breath. “This is all new to me. I don’t know what to do.”

“It’s new to us too,” Dane pointed out. “We have had threesomes and swapped partners before, but we haven’t been interested in the same woman until now. I won’t pressure you, but I don’t want to give up what we started. You have an open invitation to come to New York and spend time with me. If Elliott can be a part of us together, I’m fine with that, but if you choose to be with Elliott, I won’t stand in your way.”

Elliott shook his head. “We say all that now, but honestly I don’t think this will work. None of my past relationships have worked.”

“Neither have mine,” I told them. “How about you stop telling me how I feel and what I think for a change?”

And just what did I think or feel for that matter? Thrilled. Desired. Overwhelmed. Most of all scared. I was drawn to them. If I became more attached—what if it didn’t work out? I’d be alone. This needed time and I said just about as much, leaving out my feelings for now. “I need time and some space to figure everything out.”

“I can give you time, but not space,” Elliott said. “For all Angel’s ramblings, she did warn someone else may be in play and even if she’s wrong, I won’t risk you. You’ll be guarded by my new private investigation company crew if I can’t be around. You’ll also check in with me daily. I want to know everything no matter how little, agreed?”

“I expect the same,” Dane added. “While you’re seeing both of us, I want you to stay in contact with me as well.”

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