Isaac made his way over to me while Ian moved toward Heaven. As though their movements were choreographed, they stepped up behind us, Isaac pulling me against him. Skin to skin. His arm slipped over me in that protective gesture, crossing over my chest. He held me tight as he backed toward one of the concrete benches along the side. Ian did the same on the opposite side of the pool.
“Dante,” Isaac called out. “Come here.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Isaac’s head dipped beside mine, his mouth near my ear when he said, “Have you kissed him before, fairy princess?”
“No, my Liege.” I was breathless as Dante approached.
“Do you want to?”
That was a tough question. To put it simply, yes. I’d wanted to kiss Dante for a long time. However, I also didn’t want to do anything to jeopardize our friendship.
“Answer me,” he growled in my ear.
“Yes, my Liege.”
“Then I’ll leave it up to him,” Isaac said.
Dante stared into my eyes and I saw the battle brewing there. I knew how he felt about me. The same way I felt about him. Was it the same as what I felt for Isaac? No. Significantly different. But there was a connection between me and Dante, a love that had built from friendship, grown. We’d never crossed that line.
“Dante?” I whispered his name, wanting him to say something.
He stepped closer, the water warm and still between us.
His gaze shifted over my shoulder briefly.
“I can see it,” Isaac said. “The chemistry between you. More than friendship, but not enough to where either of you acted on it.”
“Yes, Sir,” Dante whispered, his eyes meeting mine again. “It’s always been that way.”
“Then why don’t you explore it?” Isaac suggested.
“I don’t want to lose her,” he said, his voice full of torment.
“You won’t,” I blurted, reaching for him without thinking. “You’ll never lose me, Dante.”
He moved closer, his hands sliding up my arms, over my shoulders, down my sides until they rested on my hips beneath the water. I was sitting on Isaac’s lap, could feel the hard ridge of his erection against my back.
“You don’t have to do this,” I told him, hating the anguish I could see on his face.
“I want to. I’ve wanted to since the day I met you.”
I swallowed, leaned into Isaac. For whatever reason, having him there made it all okay. As though he was my anchor and his approval made it all right. As though he would be able to keep me and Dante together, not let something like this come between us.
“It’ll always be there. That need, that desire,” Isaac whispered. “It won’t go away. It’s easier to accept it than fight it.”
Dante’s eyes locked on Isaac’s face. “May I have your permission to kiss her, Sir?”
“You have my permission.”
Dante leaned in, our mouths hovering for breathless seconds before he finally closed the distance, sealing his mouth to mine. I whimpered, emotion slamming into me as I slid my arms around his neck and let him feel everything I was feeling.
Isaac’s hands slid over my ribs, holding me firmly as though he was grounding me, ensuring I knew he was there. Or perhaps he was simply ensuring he was part of it. Giving permission, keeping us close. He had the control we both eagerly wanted him to have.
“Everly,” Dante whispered, changing the angle before plunging his tongue into my mouth.
I could taste his passion, his protectiveness. From the day I met him, Dante had watched over me, but he had always kept his distance. He wasn’t now and I needed this, needed him. Although Heaven didn’t seem to understand the dynamic here, I did. It felt right, as though it wasn’t meant to be picked apart, piece by piece, and analyzed. It was simply meant to happen.
When we came up for air, Dante pressed his forehead to mine, cupped my neck with both hands.
“You’re my angel,” he whispered. “I can’t lose you.”
“Never,” I promised.
He pulled back, slid deeper into the water once more, his gaze meeting Isaac’s. “Thank you, Sir.”
“No need to thank me,” he said firmly. “I don’t want anything coming between you. It’s evident you’re both worried about it.”
Dante nodded, then turned when Ian called his name.
Isaac lowered himself back into the water as I turned in his arms, wrapping myself around him.
He brushed my wet hair back, stared in my face.
“I want you,” he whispered, his voice rough. “Not just your body or your submission. I want all of you, Everly.”
I could hardly breathe, his words washing over me, warmer than the water we were in.
“I figure it’s best you know that now. No reason to pretend otherwise.”
“No pretending,” I agreed.
“It seems easy now, fairy princess. But I’m not an easy man.” He nodded toward Ian. “He’s the one who talks. I tend to hold it all in. But you’ll always know where you stand with me. You’re the most important to me.”
