Chapter Twenty-Seven
“Good,” Paul said. “That should make it easier on you when we meet with him.”
Bethany inhaled and closed her eyes. We meet with him? She hadn’t expected that and hadn’t considered the outcome of such a meeting. It would be best to get him one on one and pave the way to such a meeting.
“I’m not sure—”
“It doesn’t matter,” Justin said, not waiting for her to complete her thought. “You’re not going alone. Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.”
“Edward Michaels is not going to tell you what he thinks he knows about us without Justin and I being at your side. That’s just something you’re going to have to get used to. We’re not stepping away for anyone.”
Her insides quivered, and while she should have been annoyed with the caveman attitude, she liked it.
“Sweetheart, look at me,” Justin said, squeezing her hand and standing silently at her side until she looked up. “I know you love your father. And while we do not like the man, we will respect your wishes when it comes to any relationship you want with him.”
“I’m not sure—”
“We’re sure,” Paul said. “We want you happy, so we’re not going to make you choose. We’ll find a way to deal with what we feel.”
Justin led them back to the terrace, bypassed the chairs, and indicated a lounger. Justin straddled the seat, with his back against the cushion. She sat between his thighs, and Paul straddled the length of the seat facing her, placing her legs by his hips. Intertwining her fingers with Paul’s, she leaned her back on Justin’s chest and stared at the setting sun.
Justin reached for their glass and held it while Paul poured. They sat, passed the glass hand to hand, and sipped on the homemade wine, not speaking as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon.
“Am I supposed to feel upset, apprehensive, and nervous as crap?” Bethany finally asked, gaining puzzled looks from both men. Instead of bursting into tears, she burst out in laughter. “Call me crazy, but this feels real good right about now.”
Downing the glass of the wine, Justin shook his head and smirked. “You, my love, are a real wonder.”
“She certainly is,” Paul said, laughing with her, caressing her thighs, and falling on to her. “If we didn’t have Mr. Serious watching us, I’d show you exactly how good it could feel.”
“Show me. Go for it,” she said, cupping his jaw and planting a noisy kiss on his lips. “I swear, either I’m totally nuts, or the wine is really potent.” Free and comfortable, she kissed Paul again, then turned her face up to Justin.
“It’s called shock,” Mr. Serious said. “Sweetheart, you’re in shock.”
She stopped laughing and let the thought sink in. Maybe it was shock? Not only was she in love with two men, but she actually believed she had a chance in hell of getting her father’s blessing.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Well, we missed the catamaran sailing, so we can stay here and harp on your father ruining our immediate plans, or we can enjoy a night out on the town and celebrate how much quicker we’ve realized what’s meant to be,” Paul said, standing and holding his arms out to them.
“Celebrate,” Justin said, cupping her butt and lifting her off the seat. “Take us to that cute little Love Nest perched on the top of the hill that overlooks the port. I’ve wanted to go forever, but for one reason or the other, we’ve never been there.”
“Bethany is that reason,” Paul said, taking her hand and pulling her up to him. “Tis Agapis H Folia is meant to be our special place. The first place we eat as an official…”
“Ménage a trois?” she offered, searching for the right term. “Couple threesome? Triad? Affair? Relationship?”
“No, baby. The name of the place actually translates as Love Nest. And there’s not a term good enough to define what we have. This is not a temporary physical tryst.”
“We’re in this together. Always,” Justin added. “No definitions or restrictions on what we have. There’s no giving up on us.”
“What about other people?” Bethany asked, her chest going tight anticipating their response. “You said no restrictions. Did that mean no commitment—no exclusivity?”
A growl rose in Paul’s throat. “Call me a selfish asshole, but I’m not good with that. I want it to be us. Only us.” His gaze narrowed and fine lines formed on his forehead. “Fuck it. You may think I’m easy going and open to everything, but I’m not. I want my family to be my family. I want you for myself.”
Her thoughts flitted back to the morning. She’d been alone with Paul, made love with Paul, and Justin hadn’t been there. She’d awakened to Paul and Justin entangled in a passionate kiss, and she’d liked it. A lot. There’d been no jealousy or possessiveness. Then, she’d been with Justin in the pool, and there was no denying how good it felt to be wrapped around him, kissing him, loving him. If it wasn’t for the conference call, she was sure they would have ended up doing more than showering together.
“Don’t get that look, sweetheart. He’s not referring to us.” Justin glanced at Paul, and Paul shook his head. “What happens between the three of us, two of us, two of you, well, all that is…well, it just is. And, fuck, but I get hard at the thought of the two of you together. It’s one of the few fantasies I could imagine while I’m working myself.”
“I’m down with that,” Paul said, flashing her a big grin. “I’m not putting a number requirement on what happens between us. Two. Three. I’m happy with that. I don’t feel the need for anyone else. Justin and I have had the opportunity to discuss what we want from a family, so I believe he feels the same.”
“I do,” Justin agreed. “All I want and need is the two of you. But Bethany, do you want something different?”
They both looked at her, uncertainty and concern written all over their faces. The irony of the situation didn’t escape them, so they felt the same guilt she’d had at the previous thoughts. Damn, she loved them. Loved the way they loved each other. And loved the way they loved her.
“No. You are what I want.” They released synchronized breaths and the fist squeezing her chest also released. “I want you. Need only you.” And then she couldn’t hold back the tears. “Tears of happiness,” she managed between sniffles. “You’re everything I could ever want. Even more.”
“You and Paul are my world, I will do everything in my power to deserve you.” Justin’s thumb feathered over her cheek.
She turned into his hand and placed a kiss in the center of his palm. “This is crazy, but I’m totally and completely in love with two men.”
“Yup. It’s great.” Justin grinned and Paul laughed.
She took their hands and led them inside. “Where?”
“Upstairs,” Paul said. “Second door on the left.”
* * *
Tis Agapis H Folia was everything Justin had hoped for. They looked across at the illuminated windmills and the lights of the harbor glittering on the water, enjoying their first meal as an official…couple…threesome…team…whatever…the name didn’t matter. They were them. Pure and simple. Together.
“I knew there was a reason I always preferred peanut butter and jelly as my afternoon snack. It’s just like our initials say. Together we rule the world.”
“Hey, I like that,” Bethany said, a big smile warming his heart. “That’s what we are. We’re an official PB&J. That’s us. Just us.”
“PB&J? I think the two of you have had too much wine,” Paul said, laughing and shaking his head. “But, hey, I’ll stick.”
“And then will you drive us home and take advantage of us?” Bethany cooed, sounding so cute and corny.
“Sweetheart, I think it’s you who is going to take advantage of us.”
She nodded in eager agreement, and once again they all laughed.
Paul raised his hand and cocked his head, a sober look settling on his handsome face. “I hate to put a damper on our night or stop the laughter, but we have some serious decisions to make.”
“I may be the one obsessed with details, but he connects the dots on the whole picture.” Justin smoothed his hand over Bethany’s nape and urged her to relax. “Go on. We’re listening, love.”
“Being on the island, having the villa to ourselves, and enjoying time alone has the tendency to shield us from the daily challenges we’ll encounter.” He poured water, rather than wine, and drank the whole glass. He was clearly feeling the strain.
“Okay,” Justin said, resting his forearm on the table, because the same concerns had played on a continuous loop in his mind since the moment Paul and he had realized that Bethany was not an option, but a necessity for them. “First, we need to agree on where to live.”
“Where do you live in New York?” Bethany asked.
“We’ve been renting near the office,” Paul said. “It’s nice. Large enough for all of us, and we can—”
“I just bought a place on the Upper East Side,” she said. “It’s in need of a lot, and I mean a lot, of work, but it has three bedrooms and a killer view.”
It was Justin’s turn to stress, but clearly sensing his hesitation, Bethany placed a hand on his arm and squeezed.
“J, it’s mine, not my dad’s,” she said in a low voice. “I know how you feel about accepting anything from anyone else, but it’s part of me. Me—not a stranger. If we’re doing this, we accept what we each bring into this relationship. I bought the coop knowing I wouldn’t be able to fix it for a long, long time, but it’s a sweet little piece of heaven for me. I want that little piece of heaven for us.”
Justin met Paul’s gaze. This trust thing had to go all ways for it to work. He nodded.
“Hold on, Bethy. We can find a place to live that will be that little piece of heaven and won’t need a lot of work. Will that make you happy?”
“This place makes me happy,” she said, and the bubbly smile, which reached all the way to her eyes, returned. “The view is magical.”
“It needs work?” Paul asked.
“It does,” she said, shrugging and fitting her hands beneath her thighs. She rocked side to side as she explained how the balcony was perfect, but the bathroom and kitchen nozzles needed a little extra wiggling to work properly.
“Renovations don’t scare me,” he said, clearly happy to see her so enthusiastic. “I will take care of the nozzles when we get back. We’ll hire contractors as needed, and we’ll make it beautiful. Your dream place.”
“Our dream place,” she corrected.
“Or we can find a place that doesn’t need as much work,” Justin said. “As long as we’re together, I’m happy.”
“Don’t listen to him, koukla mou.” Paul glanced at Justin and made a slicing gesture across his throat. “You should have seen the dump Justin made us live in until City Wings got off the ground. We’re not leaving the housing decision to him. It’s us, baby. You and me. Not him.”
“Hey,” Justin said, trying hard to find a compromise and defend himself at the same time.
“No hey,” Paul said. “It’s two to one, Justin. That’s your compromise.”
Fuck he was screwed. The man could read his mind.
After all the years together, after all the compromises Paul had made so Justin could contribute the same amount of money for their lifestyle, it was his turn to compromise. Taking a deep breath, he nodded, and draped his arm around Bethy’s back.
“Our dream place,” Justin said, touching his lips to her cheek. “Ours.”
“Finally.” She smiled, turned, and kissed him full on the mouth. “Thank you.”
From the way she gushed happiness, one would think he’d bought her dream home. Paul just shook his head, beaming like a proud patriarch, because he also knew what it meant for Justin to agree. There was nothing simple about it, but fuck it was worth being subjected to hurt in order to have them. Anything was worth it.
“Cut it out,” Justin groaned, staring at Paul, but holding Bethy against him.
She kissed his forehead, then his chin, kissed along his jaw, and returned to his mouth. “I love you, J. Love you so much.”
“Now that we have a place to live, we need to discuss work, careers, objectives.” Incredibly prepared and discerning, Paul always amazed with his attention to the big picture. “We’re already accomplished and making our way in the business world. And we need to merge our lives, while no one sacrifices anything dear to his or her heart that can cause resentment. I know this kind of talk isn’t romantic. I’m sorry if I’m killing the buzz. I promise a long, sexy getaway…location of your choice…when it’s all settled.”
“How about Santorini?” Bethany asked. “A cave house on the Caldera?”
“Done,” Paul said. “Now let’s deal with the boring stuff. I don’t want any more surprises from the outside.”
“You’re right.” Justin placed his hand palm up on the table and waited for Paul to smooth his own over it. He did, gripping his wrist in a show of understanding. “And we need to be in agreement on what we want before tomorrow. Details and all.”
“Yes,” Paul said. Nothing else was needed.
Bethany placed a smaller hand over both of theirs. “Let’s get down to business.”
The gold specks in the brown depths of Paul’s eyes seemed to spark, as he cleared his throat and looked at Bethany. “Christo, Sheridan, and most likely Kosta by now, know about our relationship, but I’d like to suggest we tell anyone else that matters together.”
“Specifically my father,” Bethany said, straightening and pulling back her hand.
“Your father has separated us in the past.” Justin knew the words hurt her, but he couldn’t ignore the truth. Honest and forthcoming. They had to be. “Whether because of communication, timing, or intent, we were both hurt. I won’t let that happen again.”
“Neither will I,” Paul said, still holding her gaze.
Bethany worried her lower lip, closed her eyes, and nodded. “Okay.”
Paul exhaled and rose from his seat, reaching across the table and caressing her neck. He came beside her and lowered his head.
“Way to compromise, koukla mou,” he whispered against her mouth. “I love you. Never doubt that, Bethany. I love you.”
Her chest heaved and she closed the distance between them, caressing his cheek and touching her lips to his. “I love you, Paul.”
Sliding his chair close, Paul sat beside them. “We are three, and there are three things to consider: Luxury Homes, City Wings, and Vaso’s Dream.”
“Luxury Homes is Bethany’s domain,” Justin said, hoping that Paul would present her with the opportunity to run Vaso’s Dream. “She can deal with it as she sees fit. I have City Wings. Trust me?”
“Completely,” Paul said, grinning at him. “And I’ll see to Vaso’s Dream.”
“I guess that means you want me to walk away from the acquisition,” Bethany said, sad, but acquiescent. “You are what matters most to me. I will.”
“No walking away from what we want. You don’t ever walk away,” Justin said. “Kosta has offered the resort to Paul. Are you okay with spending our summers in Greece?”
“Yes,” she breathed. “So okay.”
Paul stood, dropped some bills on the table, and hurried them from the restaurant.
“You do know the waiter was just bringing out the main course, right?” Justin asked, chuckling as they walked, each with a hand at Bethany’s elbows, her feet barely skimming the ground.
“My appetite is for something else,” Paul replied.
Without any objection from Justin or Bethany, he took them home and showed them exactly what he was in the mood for. Hours later, he carried a platter of cheese, olives, sausage, and bread to their bed.