The wind howled and shrieked, and the sky was lost in a grey-white haze, but the heater blew full-blast. A small fire burned in the fireplace. Inside the cozy cabin, Perry used the enforced confinement to take Nadia and Lincoln through some jujitsu moves.

“Again,” he said. Nadia stepped out and brought her arms over her head. Perry tapped her stomach to encourage her to tighten her core. He moved to Lincoln and ran a hand down his thigh, bending his knees some. “Very good.”

They practiced take-downs for another few hours. As a cool draft swept along the floor, Perry reveled in the feel of his lovers’ bodies against his. What should have been exclusively self-defense training also turned into intimate caress-and-fondling training.

It was late noon when they stopped, but the raging storm made it seem closer to midnight. Perry finally collapsed beneath Lincoln’s lithe frame and chuckled softly as his lover stole a kiss. Giggling, Nadia dropped on Lincoln’s back, and both men groaned as if her slight weight was unbearable.

“When do you think the snow will stop?” she asked, rolling away.

Perry rested his face on the palm of his hand. “I have no idea. Want some lunch?”

“I have a taste for something,” Lincoln murmured, “but it’s not food.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter. We need to eat. Can you toss another log on the fire?” Perry tapped his chest and rose to his feet.

Another log clunked into the fireplace, sending up sparks. Lincoln dusted his hands and followed Perry to the kitchen while Nadia stayed in the living room. “We’re gonna run out of firewood,” Lincoln observed.

“We’ll make a move when the snow lets up. I’ll be glad when I can get you two safely out of here.”

Lincoln wrapped his arms around him from behind. “And after that?” he asked.

“What do you mean?” Perry opened a can of tomato soup and upended it over a pot as Lincoln massaged his shoulders.

“After we leave. Will you let Nadia and I make you a celebrity?”

Perry shrugged away from him and grabbed a loaf of bread, cracked the fridge a fraction and retrieved the cheese. “You two have to give up this notion of saving me. If my business tanks, I’ll find something to do. Maybe go work at, say the supermarket or the post office. This little town has things to do.”

Lincoln tucked a finger under his chin and forced him to meet his gaze. “Nadia stood up to her dad for you.” There was silence as they both absorbed what that meant, but Perry shook his head and went back to fixing lunch.

“It doesn’t matter because her father will never support her doing anything other than what he tells her to do.”

Nadia stepped into the kitchen. “Luckily, I learned I don’t need my father’s permission to go after what I want. What about you? What’s holding you back?”

Perry smiled wryly as he buttered the skillet and dropped slices of bread into the fragrant oil to make grilled cheese sandwiches. “The operative word in your statement is ‘want.’ I don’t want to be famous. I can’t fathom what it must be like to be the two of you—your lives are not your own.” He blew out a breath.

When he turned around, two sets of eyes filled with disappointment stared at him. Nadia crossed her arms and was the first to look away. “Perry, this reality show will give us an excuse to be together a while longer to see if this works.” She turned back to face him, her eyes full of challenge. “Or, maybe that’s what you don’t want?”

The knife he was holding clattered to the countertop as he turned back to the kitchen peninsula and dropped his head. “I know you’re both all wrong for me,” he said, almost to himself. “You’re too cultured and coddled. If you had asked me two weeks ago if I wanted to be with someone like the two of you, the answer would have been no.

“But you’ve made me stare down wolves,” he continued with quiet intensity. “I’ve chased you through the woods, and I’ve never chased a soul in my life. You make me wonder how the hell I can survive anything without you. So, don’t pretend you don’t know. I want to be with you.”

“Then, get out of your comfort zone.” Lincoln slipped between him and the kitchen countertop. “Do it for us. We’ll help you make the transition. Besides, you won’t get famous overnight,” he chuckled. “You’ll have plenty of time to adapt.”

“I talked to my assistant,” said Nadia. “Everything is all lined up. Next week, weather permitting, I can fly you out to Houston to meet a brand specialist. I’d love for you to meet my best friend Maria, as well. Both of you. She’s read quite a bit about you.”

“I knew you were writing about us,” Lincoln stated.

Perry laughed and ran a hand over his face. “Alright, fine. I’ll fly out to see you. I’ll meet with your PR team and your best friend, and we’ll pretend television producers are lining up around the corner to make another survivor show, which they aren’t,” he pointed out.

“They may not be, but I have a secret weapon,” Lincoln confided. He threw an arm around each of them and pulled them closer. “I happen to know the daughter of one of reality TV’s most powerful super-producers.”

Nadia smiled conspiratorially. “This could work, guys. I can feel it. Who is she?”

“I met her on the set of Vengeance with a Vengeance, although she got her start in reality TV, too. Now she works for my agent, so I have a direct line to her. It’s Carmen Wilde, the daughter of Herschel Wilde.”

Nadia’s face dropped. “I am not working with her!” She marched, fuming, to her bedroom.

* * *

The icy anger running through her veins rivaled the cold outside, and Nadia climbed into bed and drew the covers over her face. In her mind’s eye, she saw Carmen—the smiling starlet on Jason Stratham’s arm. She saw the tabloid headlines, the cameras and mics in her face.

She heard the snide questions she could not answer. Did she know he was cheating? How did it feel being replaced by a reality TV star? What did her father think about her Wall Street fiancé leaving her for another woman? The hurt and shame descended like an anvil, again.

Nadia had dated Jason for two years before discovering his final treachery. An entire two years of suspecting he was a cheater, but sticking around anyway. What hurt most after the breakup was the fact he was exactly the kind of man her father wanted her to marry—all front, business acumen, and conservative values.

His affair made Nadia feel like she had somehow failed at a game she never even wanted to play, let alone win.

She shook her head at the memories. She wanted to invest in Perry’s future in television, but she wished she had known Lincoln’s insider was the same woman who had landed her in the tabloids six months ago. And what would you have done if you’d known? Would that have stopped you from trying to help Perry? Nadia sighed.

The door to her bedroom opened quietly. She kept the covers over her face, but she felt the mattress depress. “You want to talk about it?” Perry asked quietly. She shook her head, sniffed. “Same girl, huh?” She nodded. He gently tugged down the blanket.

“I’m sorry I overreacted. It just caught me off guard,” she replied. He swept a tear from her cheek, and she cupped a hand over his. Lincoln stepped into view.

“It’s my fault,” he said. “If I had only known.”

“Enough about the show,” said Perry, softly and tenderly. “Making sure Nadia is okay is more important to me.”

“I’m fine.” Nadia sat up. “Honestly, I am. I feel nothing for Jason, and if I let my anger toward Carmen get in the way of us getting you a show, that means I’m letting what he did to me control me. I’m done letting anything or anyone control how I live my life.”

Perry smiled. “Atta girl.”

“Just make sure I never have to see her or talk to her.”

Lincoln nodded, serious and earnest. “I’ll do my best, promise.”

“I’m kidding!” Nadia rolled her eyes at him. “But, seriously, I’m wondering if you guys really want to date a damaged billionaire,” she quipped.

Lincoln laughed out loud, and Perry replied, “You’re not damaged, honey. Someone broke your heart, and you built a wall, thinking that could stop you from getting hurt again. I did the same thing, and look where that got us.”

“In a position,” said Lincoln, “to learn it takes someone having your back when the pressure’s on.”

“What do you mean, Lincoln?” Nadia asked.

“I think he’s trying to tell you we’re not Jason,” Perry stated. “You can trust us. Now, let’s go grab a bite to eat while the food is still warm. No telling how long the electric will stay on, so don’t count on the microwave. Come on.”

Perry led them back into the main room of the house, and Nadia slowly walked over to the patio door. She pulled back the heavy drapes and she scrubbed away at the frost on the glass.

“Guys, the snow is halfway up the side of the cabin. How many feet is that? About three or four?”

“Mm-hmm. Do you like chives in your tomato soup?” Perry called out. It was then that the lights flickered several times before finally dying.

* * *

The trio made a fort near the fire in the living room as it was the only source of heat. Perry and Lincoln chatted quietly on a pallet of blankets and quilts. Nadia curled on the sofa with her notebook on her knees. Lincoln ambled over to her and clutched her knees, peeling her legs apart. She fell back to the throw pillows invitingly.

“Writing more juicy stories about us?” he asked playfully. He kissed his way up her inner thighs to the happy place between her legs while she squirmed in pleasure.

“I’m not. I was simply writing to let Maria know how much she means to me.”

He pulled a face.

“In case we don’t make it out of this,” she said soberly.

Perry and Lincoln shared a look, and Perry moved to the sofa to sit beside her. “Hey, what happened to believing we can survive anything?”

“I still believe that,” she whispered.

Her voice held a tremor, despite her smile. They were all wearing their brave faces. Snow days were usually for vegging out with junk food while binge-watching TV, but supplies were too low for gratuitous eating and there was no TV. The snow was still falling, the power was out, and the firewood Lincoln and Perry had brought into the house would only last a few more days.

“I think it’s time we tuck this princess in bed so she can stop worrying.” Lincoln tugged her nightshirt over her head and removed it. She half-turned toward him, pale, satiny skin exposed.

Perry laced his fingers through her hair and gently drew her head back. His fiery lips blazed over Nadia’s mouth, over her chin, down the side of her neck. “You don’t have to be afraid, darling. We’ve got you,” he murmured. His mouth covered hers, swallowing her soft whimper.

Lincoln sank to the floor and eased her panties aside. He tongue-kissed her snatch, letting the tip of his tongue sweep over her delicate anatomy. He buried his face between her legs. Her scent clouded his senses as he drowned in the smell of jasmine and roses and closed his mouth over her engorged clit, greedily sucking.

All the while, Perry guided his head up and down to satisfy her. Nadia’s plaintive whimpers became breathless sobs for more. Her pelvis rocked ever faster against Lincoln’s face, and she clutched Perry to her breasts.

Lincoln ran a hand over Perry’s cock, and he jerked reflexively. Sliding a finger into Nadia’s hot, tight snatch, Lincoln turned his attention to his other lover. He brought Perry’s erection free and hummed with anticipation as he stared at the throbbing cock bouncing near his face.

Perry emitted a rough groan as Lincoln teasingly sucked the head of his erection. He wove his head back and forth, taking more and more of him with each approach. Finally, he let Perry slam to the back of his throat. Perry cried out and hugged him to his pelvis. He held still, afraid to move, afraid he would come.

Nadia slipped from the sofa. “Yes, bedtime sounds like a good idea,” she whispered. She fluttered kisses over Lincoln’s back as she drew him to the makeshift bed on the floor.

The pile of pillows cushioned them, and warm blankets kept away the chill. She parted her legs, and Lincoln stroked her deep and long with his two middle fingers as Perry rested on his knees next to them. She tightened around Lincoln’s digits. He felt the minute tremors that signaled she was a ticking time bomb.

“Didn’t he tell you, you’re in good hands?” he asked seductively. Nadia moaned and canted her pelvis higher.

As she rode Lincoln’s hand, Perry thrust into his mouth. Lincoln squeezed his eyes closed and groaned with anticipation. His dick hardened and lengthened in the loose lounge pants he had worn to bed. He took them off and let his beautiful member swing.

Lincoln touched himself. At the same time, he smoothly bobbed back and forth at Perry’s cock with expert finesse. Perry’s rod re-emerged glistening wet from his mouth, and the survival instructor brought him up and guided him to Nadia’s body.

She eagerly wrapped around Lincoln like a vine. Her pelvis ground against his in search of completion, and her excitement took him to his back. Lincoln clutched her hips and let her ride him hard and fast. “Mmph! Nadia,” he sputtered. His brow furrowed in ecstasy.

She writhed above him, while Perry positioned himself between the other man’s legs. Lincoln moaned hoarsely as he eased inside. He gathered Nadia closer, giving Perry room to make love to him. It was mind-blowing to have her silky pussy caressing his rock-hard cock as Perry drilled him with slow, passionate mastery.

Perry touched something within him that made him want to let go. Every thrust pushed him closer to the edge, making him jerk and quiver in Nadia’s pussy. Pre-cum mixed and mingled with her nectar between their legs, soaking them with lust.

Lincoln closed his eyes and his exhilaration climbed. Nadia whipped her hair over her shoulder and braced a hand against his muscular chest. Her heart-shaped ass slammed against Perry’s stomach, and she looked back at him with unconcealed lust.

Growling, Perry leaned forward and kissed her hungrily as the three of them plowed together. She squeezed Lincoln with inner muscles that rippled around him from tip to base, milking him with slow precision. When one spasm ended, another began.

“Ooh, shit! Yes!” Lincoln gasped.

Perry’s fingers dug into his thighs. Quaking tremors wracked him as the pleasure made his toes go numb from clenching them so tightly. He bucked against Nadia, against Perry. She stroked and he pounded, and Lincoln lay back and took it, lightheaded from the blood-rush to his dick.

“He’s ready, baby,” Perry grunted.

Lincoln hissed his name through clenched teeth and clutched the bedcovers as his lower body rose. Higher and higher, he hovered. He could not breathe for a few seconds. Spots swam before his eyes. Perry sent him higher, and Nadia brought the explosion.

“Hah!” Lincoln cried out.

He erupted inside of her, triggering her climax. He felt the blast strike the apex of her pussy and melt down around his pounding cock. Perry hugged his leg, kissing his inner knee and rocking harder and faster, and Lincoln felt him let go. They forgot about the storm. They climbed above the weather. Perry’s chest heaved as he fell to the pile of blankets, and Nadia slumped in Lincoln’s arms. The darkness closed peacefully around them, and they fell asleep.