She snorted. “Please, this is Jana we’re talking about. Besides, that would be rude. And my life doesn’t revolve around you and Ry, you know.”
Bram chuckled, apparently not concerned by her testiness. “Ah, darlin’. Seemed like you were revolving between us just fine last night.”
He would have to bring that up. Biting her lip, she resisted the urge to press her legs together when her clit throbbed in response to his smoky words. She hadn’t entirely been joking when she’d mentioned buying one of those harness swings. The experience they’d given her in it last night? Talk about out of this world. Of course, it might be a little difficult—not to mention awkward—explaining its function if her parents were to accidentally see it. Somehow she doubted they’d believe her if she said it was a plant stand.
“Earth to Lacey.”
She snapped out of her mental musings and peered up at Bram again. “Hmm?”
“I asked where you and Jana are going tonight.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Nice try. If I tell you, you and Ry will just decide to barge in on us.”
Bram tried for an innocent look. “Now would we ever do something so devious?”
“Yes. Hence the reason I’m not telling you jack shit.”
Ry chose that moment to rejoin them. “Not tell him what?”
She opened her mouth, but Bram beat her to the punch. “Where my wayward sister is taking her tonight.” Bram gave an exaggerated shudder. “I bet it will involve—gasp—drinking. And excessive man ogling.”
“Har har, Colton. Just for that you can bite me.”
Bram waggled his eyebrows. “I would, darlin’. But you’re going out tonight. See what you’re missing out on?”
She shot a covert look around to see if anyone was paying attention to Bram’s overt flirting. Not that it was so unusual. Except he was doing it with her. Something that definitely hadn’t occurred before they started sleeping together. She was gratified to notice that everyone’s attention was focused on the Secret Santa exchange. Ry suddenly cleared his throat. Twice. She glanced in his direction and became ensnared in his penetrating gaze. “What?”
“I think the three of us need to have a powwow in your office.”
“Right now? But the party—”
“Will continue without us,” Ry finished. “Besides, you know they’re all waiting for the bosses to leave so they can spike the punch bowl.” He inclined his head toward the double doors leading from the Dockside’s rear banquet room.
Taking the hint, she led the way out into the hall and to her office. Once they were inside and Bram shut the door, Ry pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Quite thoroughly. By the time he finished, her head was spinning and she was having a hard time remembering their purpose for leaving the party. Her breath ragged, she straightened the lock of hair that’d escaped the butterfly clip anchoring it and shot Ry an accusing stare. “I thought we were coming in here for a powwow, not some bow chicka wow wow.”
“We did. But you looked like you needed to be kissed first.” He stroked her cheek. “And I wanted to be the one to do it.”
The tender yet hot look in Ry’s eyes left her feeling all jiggly-kneed and melty inside. She sucked in a deep breath, trying to compose herself. “You guys need to stop affecting me this way at work. It’s not helping me in the least.”
“I’m glad you brought that up because that’s what I wanted to talk to you about.” Ry crossed his arms over his chest, the posture equal parts casual and commanding. His assessing gaze drilled into her. “Is there a particular reason you freak out whenever there’s a chance someone might look at one of us with you and speculate?”
She blinked at him. “I haven’t been freaking out.”
“Close enough. You were practically ready to jump out of your skin when Bram teased you seconds ago about biting you.”
“Well what did you expect me to do? It’s not like any of our staff knows what’s going on between us. Or should.”
“Why not?”
Ry’s calmly worded request nearly knocked her on her ass. “Hello. We’re engaged in a threesome. Probably not something we should go public with. Particularly to our employees.”
“I’m not suggesting we tell them what’s going on. Or anyone else for that matter, unless we choose to. But it doesn’t mean we have to keep it hidden like a dark, dirty secret.”
She gaped at him. “Won’t that defeat the purpose? If we start acting differently with each other, people will figure it out.”
Bram stepped next to Ry, providing a united front. “So what if they do? What’s the worst that can happen? A few jealous busybodies whisper behind our backs? Hell, I’m used to it.”
She swallowed. “Yeah, so am I.”
Ry stared at her for a long moment before swearing softly beneath his breath. “This isn’t another repeat of what you went through with Dan. Bram and I would never bring that kind of hurt onto you, baby. Believe that.”
“Does it matter? In the end, people will see it however they want, just like they did with the Dan fiasco.” She despised how her voice cracked on the last two words. She refused to give her ex the power to affect her after all this time.
Bram and Ry crossed the room in two long strides and wrapped her in the middle of their bear hugs. Ry was the first to speak. “I’m sorry. I wasn’t even thinking when I brought it up. The last thing I want to do is upset you.”
Bram nuzzled the back of her head. “That goes double for me, Lace. What the three of us share—it’s special. I don’t want to lose it. If that means keeping my mouth shut, I’ll gladly do it.”
His proclamation should have made her happy. So why did she feel so awful inside? Because you’re asking them to live a lie. The taunting admission churned her stomach and made her feel like the most terrible person on the planet. But it didn’t lessen her determination to protect herself from the inevitable fallout that would come once their sexy adventures came to a close. No one would criticize Ry and Bram for their part in this affair. Being men, they could get away with a lot more than her when it came to having multiple bed partners. Yes, it was hugely unfair. But it was also reality.
In this regard, at least, fantasy definitely had its advantages. No painful repercussions could come from sex that only existed in her head.
Lacey was just popping her earrings in when her front doorbell rang. She glanced at her watch, surprise flickering over her. How unlike Jana to actually be on time for once. After indulging in a quick spritz of perfume, she hurried down the hall and swung open the door as the chime went off again. She gave Jana a frazzled look. “You do realize you’re supposed to wait at least a few seconds in between pressing that thing, right?”
“Sorry, but it’s freakin’ cold out here. I can’t even feel my ass anymore.” Jana reached behind herself and smacked her butt through her leather trench coat. “Yep, nothing. I’m assuming it’s still back there.”
“Part of your problem is your coat. It has hardly any lining.”
Jana offered a cheeky grin. “I know, but my ma insists it makes me look like a streaker. I find that kinda amusing.”
“You would. So are you driving or me?”
“I will. Heat’s already on.” Jana pivoted and clunked down the driveway in her combat boots. Lacey quickly locked up her house and hurried toward Jana’s vintage Mustang. As promised, the interior was toasty warm. That slightly made up for having to listen to several tracks of the Chipmunks’ Christmas album before they pulled into the packed lot of Hooligans. She gave Jana a pointed look as the CD ejected from the player. “I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for anyone over the age of twelve to own that CD. If not, it should be.”