Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69621 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 348(@200wpm)___ 278(@250wpm)___ 232(@300wpm)
“No. Would you?”
The smile is still on my face.
“No.”
Josh braces himself on the tabletop.
“I don’t know where things are gonna go from here though, Ells, seriously. What can we do? Heath’s a client. We’re hookers, bound by Agency standards. And even if we weren’t, Heath’s never going to want this in the spotlight. Not in a thousand years. Even visiting us in Belgravia would freak the fuck out of him, terrified the press would be snapping at his heels. He hates it.”
I hold up a hand, with a shhh.
“Don’t worry about it yet. We’ll figure it out. Until then, we just enjoy it. All three of us, together.”
He lets out a sigh.
“You sound more like me than I do myself.” He shakes his concerns away. “You’re right. Let’s just enjoy it. All three of us, together.”
As it should be. That’s what I want to say.
This isn’t Weston the entertainer talking to me, any more than it’s Holly the hardcorer talking to him. We’re just us. Like Heath wanted it.
Ella and Josh.
Truth be known, we’ve been Ella and Josh since we first pulled up in the driveway.
I’m glad to hear Heath’s footsteps approach from the kitchen area, as I could do with some drink to get me underway. I turn to face our host as he arrives, expecting wine bottles and glasses, but instead he has a tray of candles. Three of them. Solid white pillars, with flecks of rose petals, lined up on slate.
He places the slate on the table and lights one candle before handing the lighter to me, and it’s like a scene from Nighttime Whispers. The fated love of The Count and Polly Anna…
Bloody hell, this is getting deep.
Josh takes the lighter next and lights his.
Three flames.
Three lovers.
One night left.
I’m going to give my all to making the most of it.
“All set for a lovely meal?” Heath asks, as Josh and I stare at the flickering flames.
As if on cue, the bell sounds out from the main gate, and Heath heads off to collect our food. I wonder if Josh is going to voice anything more to me about what lies ahead or suggest how things could pan out, but he doesn’t. He seems to have pushed his trepidation aside for now – back to the usual Joshua. He has a spring in his step as he walks over to pick up the wine tray.
Jeez, Heath has gone all out with the meal choices. I’ve never tried Sole Meunière before, but it’s absolutely delicious. I munch away as we split the dishes, and the conversation flows between us like it always does. We laugh about how Heath first introduced Josh to mussels several years back, and how our vampire lover had never seen anyone so edgy with a fork in his life.
“They looked weird as fuck, to be fair,” Josh says. “I’ve had them in restaurants since, but seriously, Heath. With your wacko dining set they looked like mini demons from the Little Shop of Horrors.”
Heath pats his lips with his napkin, looking at me.
“He’s exaggerating.”
“No, I’m not! Get that dinner set out next time we’re at yours and serve them to Ella. She can be the judge.”
“He’s talking about a green cauldron serving bowl,” Heath tells me. “And they were in a broth.”
“Hiding in the depths like mini demons, yes.”
“You enjoyed them!”
“I was pretending.”
“That’s the biggest pile of crap I’ve ever heard. I can read you like a book, Josh. You loved the demonic bastards. And you fucking know it.”
Fucking hell, the spark between these two guys in the candlelight is beautiful. The way they match each other’s smiles, eyebrows so alive as they chat together. And their eyes so attentive when they bring me into the conversation along with them.
One day I only pray I know Heath as well as Josh does. I’ve only just scratched the surface, and he’s consumed me.
We have ice cream for dessert, relaxing on the terrace as the sun dips down on the horizon. I look out over the infinity pool, and remember how overwhelmed I was by Heath’s haven when we first showed up here. I never believed it would feel like home.
But home is where Heath is, as well as Josh. That’s at the heart of it.
I want some time to get ready for our ‘non-proposal’, so I let the guys know I have a surprise of my own I want to share with them. It’s one piece of evening lingerie I haven’t revealed yet, and it will fit the bill just right.
I reach Heath’s bedroom and flick on the lights, casting my eyes over the massive bed taking centre stage. I’ve never slept so well in my life as I have since I’ve been here. With its deluxe sheets and its cloudlike mattress, it’s the perfect canvas for lovemaking. It’s this spot I’ll be coaxing the guys into later.