Tempting the Crown (The Crown 1)

She sat on the couch, drawing her feet under her. She watched Cole. She wondered how he could be so calm. How he could be ok, knowing she had just had sex with his best friend.

“What’s going on in that head of yours?” he asked. “I know you want to say something.”

She hesitated. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“I would go crazy if I thought you were with another woman. I couldn’t stand it. Yet, you know I had sex with Deacon in the shower and you’re completely fine. I’m scared to death I’m going to hurt you. Or hurt him. That I’m going to come between you or lose you both.” She pulled a pillow to her chest.

“Don’t. Don’t do that.” He sat next to her. “Look at me.”

Her eyes locked on his.

“That’s better.” He smiled. His hand caressed the edge of her thigh, rounding to under her leg, pushing the robe out of the way. “Does this bother you?”

She shook her head. “No. It feels good.”

“And it should. When I touch you, it feels good. When he touches you, it feels good. That’s all we want—to make you feel good. We’re not going to be mad or jealous.”

His hand rested on her knee. He squeezed gently. “Is it starting to make sense?”

“I think so.”

“And when I do this.” He cupped her cheek, brushing his lips over hers. His tongue pushed between her lips, finding her tongue with a single flick. She melted into his lips, falling for his kisses. He broke away. “When I do this, it’s about you and me.”

She nodded. “I understand.” She turned her mouth upward, she wanted another kiss, and Cole answered with passion. He growled, inhaling her lips with a fierce kiss.

“I’ve got some work to do.” He rose from the couch. “Are you sure you’re ok with this?”

“I am. Better than ok.” The more she asked questions, the better she felt. The more she talked to Deacon and Cole, the more she realized they meant every word they spoke. They were happy sharing her. It was an arrangement they enjoyed.

“Did I hear dinner?” Deacon walked into the living room a minute later. He was shirtless like Cole.

“Not yet. Should be here in a few.”

Deacon dropped his athletic frame on the couch and turned on the flat screen TV. “What do you think about basketball?” he asked.

“I’ll watch anything.” She cuddled under his arm, inhaling his clean scent. The shower had been amazing.

The entire night was amazing. There was a new kind of peace that wrapped around her. She had found contentment where she least expected it.

Cole typed furiously on his laptop at the dining room table.

“What’s going on over there, man? Why don’t you take a break?” Deacon asked.

Cole’s brow furrowed. “Because the wording is off on the announcement. It sounds amateurish. I need to fix it.”

“Can I help?” Abby offered. She pushed off the couch and stood behind Cole.

“If you have a suggestion for this.” He pointed to the two lines of the opening statement. He was right. Whoever had written, had misdirected the speech.

“Can I try something?”

Cole rose from his seat, giving her the laptop. Abby deleted what was on the screen and started over. Members of the media might only stay for the opening comments. Social media would grab the first seconds and run with them. Cole needed something that would set the agenda for their meeting. The punch needed to come from the beginning, not ten minutes into his talk. And she had a soft spot for the foundation. She wanted it to be their beacon of hope. She wanted other people to see what she saw in them.

“What do you think about something like this instead?” She gave him his seat back so he could read the new introduction she composed.

“Brilliant. Fucking brilliant, baby.”