whatever the cause, I leaned back on both men, pressing my body against them as we rode to the top floor. I turned my head to rest on William’s shoulder, taking in his scent. Josef meanwhile began to do the same, leaning in to inhale me at the place where my pulse beat strong in my neck. I could feel the electricity of his lips hovering above my skin. He pressed himself against me, so that I was folded neatly between them.
I felt the question in my bones before it was asked, but I wasn’t sure of the answer. I briefly thought of Lily and wondered whether Josef meant something to her. I picked my head up to face William. He kissed me deeply, his thoughts clear that it would be my decision. I turned toward Josef, knowing what he desired. I leaned in and kissed him as well, too curious not to have a taste. He raised his hand to cup my face as our lips met. His hands were as cold as William’s, but did not feel the same upon my skin. William, meanwhile, was holding my hand, a reminder that he was by my side.
The elevator door opened as, absorbed in our own world, we spilled out into the entryway, an unruly threesome. Composure regained, we strode out and approached the door, silent, focused on what would happen next. William reached into his pocket for the key and opened the door to the apartment. We stepped inside and I turned to William and kissed him again. Josef stood behind me running his hand along my spine. Together they removed my dress so that I was standing between them in little more than my suede boots. William slowly began to caress my arms, moving his hands along my shoulders, then down my back and along the curve of my backside. Josef, ever impatient and hungry, bypassed the niceties and slid his hand between my legs. His hand grew wet within seconds, my body eagerly responding. He easily tempted my body, and he knew it. Like a hungry cat playing with its prey, Josef fixed me with a ravenous stare.
It was the ferocity of his gaze that brought me out of my trance. Two vampires and one woman, not to mention a best friend back home…I recognized it as the recipe for a melodrama I didn’t want to partake in. I smiled at Josef and placed my lips gently against his before speaking.
“I can’t do this,” I said. “I am attracted to you, I won’t deny it, but…”
“But you love my brother,” Josef said gruffly.
“Please don’t paint me so provincial,” I scolded. “You know I want you, but I am not ready for that kind of life.”
“Another time then, perhaps,” Josef said, kissing me again on the lips. I let him, drinking in his lust. There was a part of me that regretted sending him away, but I knew I’d made the right decision.
Not long afterwards, Josef left the apartment, no doubt in search of someone to relieve his tension. William and I quickly fell into bed, making furious love to each other. Later, as I was on the edge of sleep I asked him, “Did you expect me to refuse him?”
“I hoped,” he whispered in my ear, spooned up against me.
“It wasn’t a hard decision,” I said, and drifted away.
The next afternoon, the aroma of freshly baked pain au chocolat lulled me out of a deep sleep. I turned over to find William’s side of the bed empty, but I hadn’t expected him to stay the night.
Too much Champagne, combined with jet lag, made my exit from bed a slow affair. Eventually I tumbled out and threw on a beautiful grey cashmere robe that had been left nearby on a chair. It was a lovely gift, made sweeter because I hadn’t asked for it. I tied the robe at my waist and walked into the hallway, on alert for the prowling brother. I was hoping he had gotten what he wanted the night before. I strolled into the kitchen and found the plate of patisserie. William had set a note on the platter, along with an apartment key, letting me know he was out for the day to run some errands. There was no sign of Josef. I grabbed the key and a croissant and went back to our room to dress.
It was time, I decided, for me to find Gabriel, return to work, and locate Aidan’s killer.