Page 20 of Room One Hundred and Eleven

Given our businesses and our three-way relationship, our lives are already complicated enough.

“So we’re doing this?” Knox breaks the spell as if he can’t stand to wait another moment to seal the deal.

Neither can I.

The instant our beauty nods, I raise my hand.

When I make eye contact with the man in the corner, he wastes no time in joining us. He’s wearing a leather apron, complete with slots for various tools and supplies.

Aiden blows out a breath long and deep enough to ruffle his hair. Pure relief.

“Poppy, this is the Club Sin jeweler.” I mean, technically, he’s a welder but now’s not the time to get pedantic. “We’d like to give you a reminder of our time together before we start. A token of our commitment.”

“That’s not necessary.” She tries to wave him away.

“It is,” I insist. “He specializes in permanent jewelry. No clasps.”

“Then how do you take it off?” She tips her head.

“You don’t.” Aiden seems to be in tune with me. No surprise, the three of us often are. “We’ll always be your firsts.”

The welder shows her a fine golden chain with a tiny charm that has 111 stamped into it. Aiden picked that, of course. For the room number, and to represent the three of us. He’s deeply sentimental, something I probably don’t appreciate enough.

Poppy seems to, though.

She softens when she sees it and nods. “That’s really sweet.”

“You’ll wear it?” Knox asks.

“Yes.”

Aiden sweeps her hair off her neck so the welder can work.

He slips a piece of leather between the chain and her skin then uses a jump ring to connect the two ends of the necklace, which fits perfectly around her slender throat. He holds one end with a pair of pliers while welding our jewelry around her, never to be removed.

Tonight is going to change all of our lives forever.

She’ll no longer be innocent.

We could complete our family with someone to continue our line.

“Enough talking.” Knox is getting antsy. I’m shocked he’s held back this long.

I stand. “He’s right. Let’s go.”

“Now? Like straight into it?” Poppy fans her face.

She’s scared but still, she wants us. There’s no way the heat between us is fake.

“We’re not about to rush things, beauty. We’ve gone through quite a lot of trouble to make your first time special.” I can fix our rough start.

“You did?” Why is she so surprised? Doesn’t she know the value of the gift she’s giving us?

“Mostly Aiden,” Knox admits.

“Let’s not let his effort go to waste.” I hold my hand out to her. Without hesitation, she lays hers in mine. “We’re going to make this so good for you. And if more comes of it…”

Suddenly, I don’t dread that idea as much as I did before.

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