Page 62 of Three Hearts Hideaway

“Move to Little Greenfield,” Roman said, rolling onto his side so he could look into Ava’s eyes. “Be with us. Really be with us.”

She held his gaze. Tenderness reflected in her stare. His heart jumped when she focused on him like that.

He couldn’t imagine her saying no.

A half an hour had passed since their barrier-shattering sex, and they were still lounging in bed together, the three of them descending from their high.

“There’s a lot to consider, Roman. I’ve never thought about leaving Ottawa before.”

“What’s there that’s better than here?” Logan asked, reclining against the headboard, stroking his finger lazily across her bare breast. “Be specific.”

“I—” Her forehead wrinkled, like she was trying her hardest to think of a suitable answer. “Actually, I don’t know. I would’ve said my career, but that’s gone now. I would’ve said my boyfriend, but he’s history. I guess some of my friends are in the city, but I’ve alienated most of them. I couldn’t tell you where any of them are in their lives.” She groaned and buried her head in the sheets. “Am I a terrible person?”

“No,” Logan said. “You aren’t. Sebastian is a terrible person. That’s what people like him do. Slowly take you away from your friends and family. Then his friends and family become yours. Your hobbies must be his hobbies. You go places with him or not at all. It’s death by a thousand cuts. You don’t see it coming.”

Ava lifted her head. “Wow. That’s exactly it. How do you know that’s what he did?”

Logan shrugged and rose from the side of the mattress. “Let’s just say my father was a piece of work. There’s a reason my mom divorced him, other than the gambling.” He snatched a pair of black sweats off the floor and pulled them on, neglecting to put on underwear first. “She was a shell of herself by the time she found the strength to tell him to leave. I don’t know how, or what the last straw was, but she did it.”

Ava sat up, giving him her attention. “How old were you?”

“Eight.” He threw a long-sleeve shirt over his head and yanked it down. “I thought the divorce was my fault. Typical kid shit. When I was much older, my mom finally told me how he treated her, and in hindsight, his behaviour was easy to see. But what eight-year-old recognizes narcissistic behaviour? They just see their dad being mean, or their mom being sad, and don’t understand why.” He sat on the bedside and kissed her shoulder. “What happened with Sebastian is not your fault.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever heard Logan share so much. Three-way sex must really soften you up, eh?” Roman teased.

“Shut up, Banks.” Logan chucked a pillow at Roman’s head, catching him full in the face.

Roman laughed and flipped him off.

Logan refocused on Ava. “The point is—I get it. It’s hard to start over, and it’s your choice, but we’re here if you’re ready.”

She wrapped the sheets around her middle. “There really isn’t anything tying me to Ottawa anymore. My apartment, sure, but that’s easy to deal with. My family’s in Toronto, so we already live in different cities.”

“Are you considering it?” Roman asked, careful to keep the excitement out of his voice until she made a definitive decision.

“I…am considering it,” she echoed back.

“Fuck yeah! That’s my girl.” Roman shot up and embraced her so quickly, they toppled onto the bed. He kissed heranywhere he could find. Her neck, her lips, her chest, her shoulders.

She broke out in a fit of giggles, pushing at him playfully. “Get off! You’re too heavy.”

He ignored her and pressed his body flush against hers, pinning her to the bed.

“You’re squishing me!” she laughed.

The feel of her squirming under him was quickly getting him going again. He grew hard against her thigh, and his kisses became heated and needy.

“Roman,” Ava warned between kisses.

“One more time, love. One more.” He sucked at one of her breasts, swirling his tongue over her nipple.

Her breath caught in her throat, and she hummed against him.

“I’m going to make us supper,” Logan called, already halfway across the room. “Tidy my bed when you’re done.” He shut the door behind him.

She caressed his beard and whispered, “You need to be gentle with me this time around.”

“Anything for you, love,” he promised, pushing inside her with a sigh.

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