“I realize that, but it doesn’t exactly explain why you act like you hate each other now.”
“It’s complicated.”
There’s a look of guilt on his face, and we drop the conversation. As the helicopter lands on Del Rey, I spot Ellis standing outside, watching us with one hand in his pocket. Before getting out, Nash reaches across the seat, pulling my face toward him and planting a harsh kiss on my mouth.
I let out a moan as he nibbles affectionately on my lower lip. He’s doing it because Ellis is watching, but neither of them really get jealous, so I don’t know the point.
As I climb out of the helicopter, Ellis is there to greet me, placing a kiss on my cheek. Ever since my panic attack the other day, they have been especially affectionate. I could get used to this. In fact, I’m afraid I will. No one could live this life and not get attached. But do I deserve this? Is it wrong of me to want this? The love and affection of both of these men?
“Have fun?” he asks as we walk to the house.
“I did.” Then, as I turn to Nash who is pulling a long white satin garment bag from the back, I say, “You really shouldn’t have bought me that dress. I can’t keep it.”
“Of course, you can. With the way you looked in this dress, it’d be a crime for anyone else to wear it.”
Ellis’s hand rests against my hip, holding me close to his side. As I turn to gaze up into his eyes, I get lost in the dark irises. I run my hands through his warm, honey-colored hair. He leans his face down and kisses me on the lips; they’re soft and warm. His tongue slips into my mouth and I melt. God, I hope he carries me to his bed right now. It’s such a nice day already, and letting Ellis Prior make sweet, slow love to me sounds like pure heaven.
Instead, he pulls away, kissing my nose. “Unfortunately, Nash and I have another business call in an hour, but then we are all yours.” He kisses me again.
I pout in return, reluctantly letting him go.
Nash is watching us, his eyes lingering on Ellis a moment longer than on me, and I feel the tension radiating off of him. Every time things start to feel sweet and perfect, the skeletons in their closet are quick to resurface and mess everything up. Nash is insecure about something, and I can’t tell if it’s guilt or jealousy, but I want him to be able to get over it.
It’s almost like they need to just fuck and get it out of their system.
25
Hanna: It’s past six.
Ellis: Don’t look at me.
Nash: Almost done.
Hanna: You flew me back just to ignore me?
Nash: I’m hurrying.
A picture pops up in the message. It’s a picture of just her legs, long tan and bare as they rest on the mahogany desk in my guest suite. My mouth literally starts to water.
“Can we please wrap this up now?” I ask.
He looks away from his computer for a moment, glancing down at his phone. His eyes widen for a split second. Then they drift up to me.
“She sent this to both of us,” I add.
“Is that a good idea…after her panic attack? What if it’s too much?”
“That wasn’t because of us. The smiles afterward were.”
His mouth twists into a knot as he stares down at his phone. I know what he’s thinking. He’s thinking he really wants to go in there, and he’s thinking he wants me in there with him or else he would be fighting me about it. But I see the hesitation, and I can only imagine it’s because he’s torn between wanting what we had in the hangar and having her love as well.
“It’s just for this week, Nash. If you want my word after the launch, I will walk away, I’m giving it to you now.”
There’s a flinch to his expression as he glances my way. Was that regret?
“Fuck it. We can finish this tomorrow. Let’s go.” He slams his laptop shut and tidies up his desk before texting her back.
Nash: On our way.
I’m already loosening my tie as we cross the helipad toward the house. I follow Nash down the hallway that leads to my room and the office at the end. And there she is, in the chair, silhouetted against the setting sun in the picture window. Her feet are