“She died when I was eleven.”
Fresh tears flowed from my eyes, but this time, they were for him. “I’m so sorry.” I could tell he wasn’t ready to talk about her, about his pain. But it was enough that he’d shared his loss with me. I understood him better now. I understood why he wanted me in this particular, strange way.
He blinked and focused on me again, but his jaw was still clenched. “I have a surprise for you, princess.”
He got to his feet, guiding me up with him.
“What is it?” I asked.
A ghost of his smile returned, but his eyes were still tight with worry. “I’ll show you. Come on.”
He led me through the massive house. I thought he must be taking me to the backyard, but instead, we entered the glass-walled conservatory.
At first, all I could see was the indoor garden. A large, rectangular patch of dirt was raised about four feet off the ground, walled in by patterned, pale blue tiles. A variety of floral bushes grew from the soil. I couldn’t identify them, but the colorful blooms were pretty. I hadn’t seen them up close before, because I’d never entered this space from inside the house. I’d only peered in at the pool when Joseph and I went for walks outside.
Marco led me around the indoor garden, and I sucked in a surprised gasp.
The pool.
It had been cleaned and filled, and the glowing blue water called to me, practically begging me to dive in.
I turned to him with a delighted giggle. “You fixed it for me,” I exclaimed. “Thank you.”
His lips curved in a smile, but tension lingered around his eyes. He seemed upset about something, and I didn’t understand.
“What is it?” I asked, some of my joy deflating. “Why didn’t you want me to go swimming?” I remembered the way he’d glared at Joseph when he’d asked Marco to get the pool serviced. I’d thought it was because Marco didn’t care about my happiness, but now, he’d made it clear that wasn’t the case.
He brushed a kiss against my forehead. “I like seeing you smile, princess. So, I changed my mind.”
He hadn’t really answered my question, but he didn’t give me a chance to press him.
“Go on,” he urged. “Get in.”
“But I don’t have a swimsuit.”
A wicked grin chased away the last of his tension. “No, you don’t. Strip.”
I hesitated.
He leaned in close, his warm breath teasing over my neck. “Are you feeling shy, babygirl? Daddy’s already seen you naked. I want to see you again. Be a good girl, and do as you’re told.”
My fingers trembled as I reached for the hem of my camisole, but I wasn’t scared. Lust coursed through me, making me tingle all over. My entire body was aware of his nearness, his heat, his strength.
I wanted to make him happy. I wanted to be naked for him, so he could admire me. No one had ever looked at me the way Marco and Joseph did: like I was the most precious thing in their world.
They didn’t think I was a slut they could use for their dirty games. They wanted to share me because they both revered me. It was heady knowledge, and my mind spun as I grew intoxicated by Marco’s open admiration.
I tossed my shirt aside and shimmied out of my yoga pants. Since we’d been lounging around the house, I hadn’t bothered to put on shoes, so I was fully bare for Marco in a matter of seconds. I no longer minded that Joseph hadn’t provided me with underwear. I liked knowing that there was only a thin barrier between my body and my men’s hands.
My men. Joseph and Marco. They were both mine. I could hardly believe it.
I reached for Marco’s shirt, but he guided my hands away.
I glanced up into his dark eyes, puzzled. “Don’t you want to get in with me?” I liked the idea of skinny-dipping with Marco. It seemed fun and silly and naughty.
“I’ll be right here watching you, princess. Now, go on.”
“Oh. Okay.” I guessed it wasn’t necessarily out of the ordinary. Not everyone liked to swim. And while I’d like to be more playful with Marco in the pool, I wouldn’t at all mind swimming a few laps for the first time in months. I’d neglected my routine ever since I’d met Joseph at Harvard, and I longed to get back in the water.
I left Marco’s side and stepped to the edge of the pool, at the deep end.