Page 123 of The Holy Grail
“Oh.” Malcom now looked slightly embarrassed. “I thought you were going to say because you’d be ordering us around in the bedroom like Christian Grey, or something.”
“You’ve readFifty Shades of Grey?” Jules asked.
“Hasn’t everybody?”
With a quick shake of her head, she told Malcom, “I haven’t.”
“Me, either,” said Evan.
“Well, I have,” Malcom admitted with a hint of defensiveness. “And you can both just shut-up.”
Evan shared a quick grin with Jules before saying, “Um, so full disclosure … Ihavehad a long time to think about what I’d like to do to both of you, so pulling a Christian Greycouldpossibly happen, which is another reason why I won’t be the leader. The power might go to my head, and the next thing you know, you’d find yourself restrained on your bed with a couple of your expensive silk ties.”
“I would?” Malcom’s face flushed a little. “Oh.”
Evan found himself slightly turned on at the hint of shyness and knew he was going to enjoy breaking Malcom in. “Anyway, like I said, there’s no formula to what we’re doing, so the three of us will have to figure out what works as we go forward … as equal partners. Sound good?”
Malcom and Jules both nodded.
“That being said,” Evan continued slowly, setting Dawn Corleone onto the floor so he could lean forward and rest his arms on the table, “in the spirit of equality, I need to ask something of you both.”
Jules leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table as well. “What is it?”
“That you don’t have sex again until it’s with me.” Evan took a deep breath. “I don’t know when that will be, but until it’s the three of us, it would kind of kill me to know you two are having sex without me. Having thatintimacywithout me. I already have some catching up to do, in order to establish myself here, and it will be harder—mentally—if I have to do that while you two are still technically in the relationship without me.” He looked from one to the other. “Does that make sense? I just don’t want to be home alone or at work, wondering if you two are you know, fucking, while I’m making my twentieth Cosmo of the night.”
Silence settled over the table for several moments before Jules broke it. “I think that’s a legitimate thing to ask, and I’m fine with it, because it does make sense,” she said, absently tapping her fingers on the table. “But what about my just sleeping here? I’ve been spending the night like three times a week—and sex isn’t always involved, just so you know.”
Truth be told, Evan didn’t love the thought of them snuggling together without him, either, even if it was just for sleep, but before he could give voice to that (hopefully in a way that didn’t make him sound like a complete and selfish twat), Malcom was taking one of Jules’ hands in his and raising it for a kiss.
“As much as it pains me to say so,” he told her gently, “I think that should probably stop, too. I don’t want Evan sleeping alone while we sleep together.”
Jules gave that some thought before conceding. “All right.”
“I can tell you’re not thrilled,” Evan said.
“It’s just that I’m in a relationship for the first time in … ever … and I’ve gotten used to the benefits.” She gave him a half-smile. “But, going without said benefits for a little while will be motivation to get you ‘established’ as soon as possible, I guess.”
Evan reached over and picked up her free hand and gave it a kiss. “Well, I’m motivated, too.”
“Can I also ask for something?” Jules wanted to know.
“Sure.”
“Can we keep this to ourselves for a little while? Just until we get really comfortable with it?”
“You don’t want to tell anyone? Not even Cat Lady?”
“Who’s Cat Lady?” Malcom asked.
“Paige,” Jules answered.
Malcom frowned at Evan. “You call Paige ‘Cat Lady’?”
Evan took a moment to explain the nickname, before looking back to Jules for her answer.
“No, I don’t want to tell Paige, which means you can’t tell David,” Jules said.
Evan really didn’t have to think about it, because keeping it on the down low would simplify life for a while as well. “Okay. We’ll keep it to ourselves until we’re more comfortable. Although …”
