EXCERPT

Tanner glared at his wife across the foam and froth of their suite’s balcony hot tub. “You were absolutely evil tonight.”

She sipped loudly from her piña colada. She’d never liked the things before, but ever since that cheesecake she’d been downing them like soda pop. She was on her third.

She touched a finger to the center of her chin and batted her eyelashes. “Who? Me? I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”

He set down his rum punch and floated over to kneel in front of her. He studied her as his chest brushed up against her knees beneath the water. He skimmed a hand along her thigh, and as always marveled at the perfection of her. Her skin felt like silk, her complexion a gently toasted almond in the soft light of the moon. Her clear blue eyes, gazing at him over the sugared rim of her glass, were filled with love and mischief.

“Oh yes, you do.” He lifted the plastic cup from her hands and placed it on the ledge. “You deliberately threw me to the lions.”

“Those weren’t lions. They were very nice girls. More…kittens, really.”

“Uh-huh.” He stroked a finger down her cheek. “Saber-toothed kittens, maybe.”

“You were doing just fine without me.”

“I don’t think so.” He brushed his lips across hers. “I never do fine without you.” He kissed her silky shoulder. “I always need you. You’re part of me. The best part.”

“Stop it.” Her eyes rolled back as his hand cruised over her breast. “You’re distracting me and evading the issue.”

“Am I?” He thumbed a nipple. “What was the issue again?”

She caught his wrist and drew it to her lips to kiss his pulse point. “Ben. Ben Jarvis is definitely an issue.”

The name startled him. It hit the pit of his stomach and twisted. He drew away.

“Tanner, don’t be like that.”

He shook his head. “It’s pointless, Celeste, and you know it.”

“You found him attractive. I know you did.”

“Yeah. I’m not dead, am I? But that doesn’t mean—”

“I know how rare it is for you to meet a man that you’re attracted to sexually. And you were instantly at ease with him. It was obvious. “

“That means nothing!” He was more upset than he wanted to be. Why did he have to feel this way? His life with Celeste was good. Wonderful. Perfect. It should be enough. So why couldn’t he make it be enough?

“You and he had chemistry,” insisted Celeste. “And God knows I felt it. When was the last time that happened?”

“Celeste…” He floated over to her again, grasped her hands between his own and willed himself not to care so much. It didn’t work. “That’s all true and it’s wonderful. But what good is it if he doesn’t feel the same way?”

“He might. We don’t know that he doesn’t.”

Tanner shook his head in frustration. “He’s about as alpha as they come, babe. It rolled off him in waves. How many men like that have bi tendencies? And even if they do, how many will admit it?”

“You do.”

He grimaced. “I’m not sure I’m all that alpha.”

She bit her lower lip and gave him a hooded gaze. “You are with me. You know you are.”

He growled low in his throat.

“And you were with Annali.” She floated off the seat and kneeled in front of him, her breasts brushing his chest, the water—and the energy—churning between them. “Remember that time at the ski chalet?”

He skimmed a hand over her shoulder, down her arm.

He remembered mountains and snow, and skiing until they were all exhausted. The women had fallen asleep in each other’s arms on the couch and he had gotten the idea to indulge them all in a little fantasy role-play. He’d tied them together while they slept, dressed in black, right down to the mask and gloves, raided the bag of toys they’d brought along and— “Oh yeah. I remember.”

“You’re just a little shy at first, that’s all. But once you get to know someone, look out.”

“Maybe.” Her previous words rang in his head. With Ben it had been easy. Deceptively so. But dwelling on that just led to hopes—hopes that were destined to be dashed. So he chose not to think about that.

“And we’ll have a whole day with him tomorrow. Just the three of us. Maybe—”

He pressed his fingers to her lips. “Maybe you should just be quiet, forget about all that, and let me fuck you.”

 

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