Three's A Crowd. (Now Published On Amazon)

Chapter Three.

Skye

"Hey, stranger."

I jumped as Cole's voice sounded in my ear before turning to face him, sucking in a sharp breath. He was looking and smelling so good this morning, I felt ready to climb him like a tree.

"Oh, hey," I replied a little breathlessly. He smiled at me, his green eyes twinkling behind those damned glasses. He knew I was hopelessly attracted to him. Maybe even halfway in love.

"Marco, do you mind if I steal Signorina Madison for a minute?" Cole asked without taking his gaze off me.

Marco glanced from me to him, grumbled something under his breath in Italian which sounded like how easily girls like me fell prey to smooth talkers like Cole and then he shook his head and walked away.

Cole grinned at me and I could not help the answering smile on my face. "Sorry about yesterday," he told me in a wry tone. "I was with my boyfriend and he didn't know anything about you until that moment so he freaked out. And so did I."

My eyes widened at his words. "What?" I managed to choke out.

His expression turned sober. "Skye, I'm with someone," he explained calmly. "I've been with him for a long time and this...," he gestured between us with one hand, "...this wasn't supposed to happen. But it did and Jasper knows about it and told me it's fine."

Cole paused to gauge my reaction which was nothing short of shocked and bewildered before letting out a sigh. He hung his head. "I should've known this was a bad idea," he muttered to himself and let out a snort. "What was I thinking?"

"Cole-"

He held up a hand. "No. It's fine if you don't want to. It's not fair on you, anyway. I never considered for a moment that you wouldn't want to be with me." He grimaced. "That sounded so arrogant and presumptuous. I'm sorry, Skye. I shouldn't have led you on." Without waiting for my response, Cole began to walk away.

"Wait," I said quietly.

He stopped in his tracks and his back stiffened as I walked around to face him once more, studying his torn expression. Those green eyes carried so much gravity. So much pain. It was for me. It hurt him to have to let me go.

I was stunned because I had no idea Cole felt so deeply about me. He had hidden it so well.

"Jasper." I tested the name on my tongue. The name of my creeper. The tall, muscular image of him entered my brain and I didn't know what to think of it. "He's...your boyfriend."

Cole nodded. "We're in love," he said in a husky voice and then cleared his throat. "I know it's confusing and hard to believe but I care about you too. I want you both in my life."

His confession rocked me. He wanted me. He cared about me. What it must have taken for him to come out and say all this...to his boyfriend. To me. Despite the fact that it was not a conventional scenario. That some people might go berserk at the idea still, no matter how much the modern age intruded upon their values. I admired him for his honesty.

"Does he...will he...?"

He seemed to understand my unspoken question because his expression turned dark. "No. Never. You'll be with me. You'll lack for nothing. I will try to keep you as satisfied as possible."

My cheeks burned at his earnestness. Did he mean satisfied as in sexually or in general? I wanted to ask but now was not the time to flirt. This was serious. He was suggesting a ménage à trois which would not actually be a threesome because Jasper and I wouldn't be involved like that. We would just be sharing Cole.