Bet on Ecstasy (Pact of Seduction 3)

Reaching the corner of the street, a breeze swept over her skin, fluttering the loose strands of hair around her face. She didn’t even know where she was going, only that she needed to get away.

She passed under the streetlamp, about to cross the street, when a hand wrapped around her arm. She turned, catching sight of Smith’s wide, worried eyes. “Kyra, did you not hear us calling you?”

“I…” She closed her mouth, not even knowing what to say.

“Oh, shit, she heard us all right.” Brock breathed heavily. Apparently, they’d been a good distance behind her and had run to catch up. “Why would you take off?”

She stared at both men as they stood under the streetlight, so aware of why she cared for them. Smith was the strong, unwavering dependable rock who seemed to read right into her soul. Brock was the playful, lighthearted one who held a charming confidence.

Together they made up her perfect man. The one she’d always wanted and dreamed of, and the idea of ending this with them shattered her heart.

With her throat closing and stomach tightening, she whispered, “What are we doing?”

Smith hesitated. “Attending a charity function.”

“No.” She shook her head, a sudden coldness coursing through her veins. “This…with us…what are we doing?”

Brock exchanged a long look with Smith, then arched a brow. “Dating.”

The breeze that had been warm before now seemed freezing, and the night even darker. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing the chill out of her skin. “We can’t date.”

Smith took off his tuxedo jacket and reached out to her. Kyra stepped away from his touch, and he frowned. “Are you unhappy with us?”

Though her first instinct was to say no, that wasn’t entirely true. Their life, how busy they were with their business, she’d sworn to herself she’d never be that woman. She’d never be like her mother who never saw her husband.

While that made a rock form in her stomach, even how Smith talked seemed upward of ridiculous. “See, like that, you’re talking like we’re all together.” Kyra looked at them as the light above beamed down on their heads. “You honestly think this could work out?” To Brock, she asked, “The three of us in a relationship?”

“Why not?” He shrugged, leaning up against the lamp. “We’ve been doing fine so far.”

“How can you say that? It’s…” She almost said weird, but nothing about being sandwiched between these two men was weird. No, it was so right it terrified her. “How would we live?”

Both men regarded her before slow smiles filled their faces, which was not the reaction she’d expected. Smith moved in close and under the assault of his warm eyes, Kyra froze. He brushed his fingers over her cheek. “Ah, I see the problem. You’re in love with us, aren’t you?”

A hot shiver raced alongside the coldness in her body. “I…”

Brock settled in next to her, unleashing his charming smile. “And that frightens you, kitten.”

Her eyes fluttered as Brock’s smooth voice melted across her, matched with the burn from Smith’s touch. She stepped back to get some bre

athing room, not allowing herself to go there again. When her back hit the brick wall of the building behind her, she snapped her eyes open. “I’m not scared. I’m…”

“Scared,” Smith and Brock stated in unison.

She fought to find a comeback. “Someone asked me tonight which one of you I’m dating.”

Brock nodded. “We saw you talking to Mrs. Hampton, who happens to be the nosiest woman alive.”

Smith’s eyes softened. “Ah, so that’s why you ran. You didn’t know what to say, and you panicked.” He leaned against the wall next to her. “All right, Kyra, what did you say to the meddlesome Mrs. Hampton?”

“That we were close friends,” she replied.

“Good answer.” Brock gave a crisp nod. “Even though I would’ve been fine if you told the lady to take her questions and fuck off.”

“You can’t be serious?” Kyra gasped. “I was your guest tonight, and you two have to be on your best behavior.” Didn’t she know that well from her father? “A scandal like this could destroy your business.”

“Business is the word here, Kyra,” Smith interjected in a hard voice. “These people have no reason to dig into our personal life.” He took her hand, tugging her forward. “Yes, we’ll have to have discretion, but we did tonight, didn’t we? I kissed your shoulder. Brock kissed your cheek. You don’t need to tell anyone anything.”

“What if they ask?” she countered.