My ears are ringing, and a blinding pain shoots up my left side. Our driver is already out of the car checking on us. The accident could have been so much worse. Even so, my first thoughts are of Rose. There’s a nasty gash above her eye, but other than that, she seemed fine.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” I ask.

“I’m okay, but your arm,” she says.  “We need to get you to the hospital.”

I look down. My wrist is about twice the size it should be, and my hand is hanging at an odd angle. But I hardly register the pain.

“An ambulance is on its way Ms. Morningstar,” the driver says helping Rose out of the back of the car.

“The other driver?” I ask as I exit the vehicle.

“Drove off,” he says. “I’m sorry, Mr. Knight. This white car came out of nowhere. He ran the light. I swear.”

I look over the car. The back end is damaged, and the left side smashed against a light pole. This is a busy intersection, and I know it was our driver’s fast thinking that kept us from colliding with other vehicles.

“It’s alright, Luke,” I say. “I know you did your best.”

Adrenaline is still pumping through my veins as they load us in the back of an ambulance. Leo’s already in route. My wrist is broken and along with a couple ribs. Luckily, my body shielded Rose from the worst of the impact. She’ll only have to get a couple of stitches.

Once at the emergency room, they separate us to treat our injuries. Everything is taking too long. I wait hours to get x-rays and then wait again on the orthopedist. Then there’s another wait to get the bone set. I want to check on Rose and make sure she’s really fine. The nurse keeps assuring me her injuries are minor, but I can’t relax until I see her for myself.

The asshole that ran the red light got away. I keep telling myself it could have been so much worse. Rose could have been killed. But the only reason she was in the car in the first place was because, like an asshole, I manhandled her at the ball and she couldn’t go back. She should have been with Leo, safe. Instead, she left with me.

I’m in way too deep with this woman, and there’s no way she’ll ever be mine. What the three of us have is unsustainable. Eventually, she’ll want more and pick a side. I already know where her heart lies. She might say that she loves me, but she’s confusing passion with love. I’ve seen the way she looks at Leo—with a sense of awe and devotion. That’s love. I can make her come, but she’s never looked at me like that.

After the bone is set and they put me in a cast, I go out in the lobby and find Leo and Rose waiting for me. Leo is holding her, murmuring soft words into her hair. My heart aches at the sight.

“Are you alright?” I ask.

Rose turns, and I see an angry gash on her forehead that’s been stitched together. I feel like someone’s kicked me in my gut. Those big brown eyes filled with tears as she jumps up and wraps her arms around me.

“I was so scared,” she sobs into my chest. “I wanted to come sit with you, but they wouldn’t let me come back and see you.”

Leo presses a hand into my shoulder. “I’m glad you’re okay, man. Let’s go home.”

The ride back is uncomfortably silent. Rose clings to me while gripping Leo’s hand as if we’ll disappear if she doesn’t hold tight. I glance over to Leo. He looks stricken, his eyes never leaving Rose.

At that moment, I know exactly what I have to do.

We arrive at the penthouse, and I try to go straight to my room, but Rose stops me.

“Please, Asher,” she says, gripping my arm, “I need you. Come back to my room.”

“Not tonight, Bambi,” I say, knowing it’s the best thing for all of us if I walk away now.

She blinks up at me, tears shining in those dark saucers. “You know that’s not what I mean,” she sniffs. “Stay the night with me. With us. I need both of you tonight.”

I look over to Leo who just nods in agreement. Fuck them both and their optimism. This isn’t how real life works. The accident shook us all, but in a few months, a year, she’ll want commitment. Marriage, babies. And that will never work with three of us.

I feel like a Grade-A asshole for what I’m about to do, but I can’t help myself. I need to let her go. Those big eyes of hers pull at my heart, and I can’t say no.

“Alright, Bambi. Lead the way.”

In the bedroom, she helps me out of my clothes. I stretch out on the bed and watch as Leo helps her out of her ruined dress. She crawls into bed and kisses every bruise on the way up. “Tonight was scary in more than one way,” she says, reaching my lips. “I felt so out of control before and after the accident. I need to find my center again.”

Leo comes up behind her and plants a kiss on her shoulder. “Tell us what you need, sweetheart.”

Rose lays her head down on the right side of my chest and sighs. “I feel like the closer we get; the farther apart we drift. If that makes any sense at all.” She hides her face and takes a deep breath. “I need you both. I want to feel you both in me at the same time.”

I look up at Leo, and his shock mirrors my own. We’ve talked about it before, but it wasn’t something we were going to press. “Are you sure,” I ask.

“I need that connection.” She looks up and meets my gaze. “I think we all do.”

I know what she’s asking, but I can’t say the words. The silence stretches on until Leo finally says, “If this is what you need, crawl up on Asher’s lap. We’ll take care of you.”

She gets up on her knees and straddles my hips, planting both palms flat on the mattress. “Is this okay? I’m not hurting your ribs am I?”

“Don’t worry about me, Bambi,” I say and kiss her. Leo’s already retrieved the lube and crawls up behind her. “While he’s getting ready, why don’t you ride my cock? It will be easier if you’re already turned on.”

Rose glances over her shoulder and bites her lower lip. “I don’t think I have to worry about that,” she says a little breathlessly. She lifts her hips and guides the head of my cock into her tight channel. She eases down slowly while staring into my eyes. I slide in easily, her pussy impossibly wet and hot. Thank God we ditched the condoms because the feel of flesh on flesh is like nothing else.

“Lean over,” Leo urges. “Balance on your knees, so you don’t crush him. That’s good.” Leo hums softly and strokes his cock a few times with the lube. “Fuck, I’ve wanted your ass for a long time.”

“Go slow,” I warn.

“I’m good,” Rose says and crushes her lips to mine as Leo presses the head of his cock into her ass. “Oh, God,” she whimpers and squeezes her eyes shut as her muscles clamp down on my cock.

“Easy now. Relax those muscles,” I whisper against her cheek. “We’ll go slow and let your body adjust. You set the pace.”

I can feel her muscles start to relax as she gets used to the feel of two cocks inside her.

“You okay, sweetheart?” Leo asks, trailing his hand down her back. “When you’re ready, just lean forward and push back against me.”

“You still with us?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m good.” She breaths in and out, her eyes still closed. I’m about ready to tell Leo to back off when she finally starts to move—slowly at first.

I lean up, fighting the burning ache of my ribs and capture one of her nipples in my mouth as she moves. Sweat beads on her forehead, but her body opens, accepting the pleasure/pain of both of us.

“How does that feel?” I ask. “Are you ready for more?”

She sucks in a deep breath and nods. “Yes.”

“Rock forward and use my cock to fuck yourself,” I say against the hollow of her throat.

She opens her eyes and moves forward, sliding off my cock and then plunges down again. Leo picks up the pace, matching her thrusts. I go back to sucking her nipples and let her do all the work. Plunge. Slide. A back and forth. Until her strokes became steady. Faster. More rhythmic.

“I’m close,” Leo says, sweat dripping from his forehead.

“I’m almost there,” she pants, face set with concentration. “I just need… something.”

“Let me help,” I say. Wincing, I angle my hips and use my good hand to press against her clit. “Grind down on my hand. Harder.”

She lifts up one more time and slides back down my length, hard and fast. Her muscles clamp down on my cock like a vice, pulsing around me. Leo shouts out his release, just as she cries out. Her head falls forward, her hair pooling around my chest as she rocks back one more time.

“Fuck,” I roar and spill into her as the most overpowering, mind-blowing orgasm of my life rips through me.

Leo pulls out first, and trails kisses down the slope of her spine until she shivers. “You’re amazing,” he whispers.

Slowly, Rose eases off of me. I try to hide my wince, realizing far too late that I overextended myself. But every last ache and pain is worth it.

“That was amazing. Thank you,” she says and curls up at my side. “Will you stay?”

I kiss the top of her head, taking in her soft floral scent. It’s selfish and cruel of me, knowing I’m going to break her heart, but I nod. “I’ll stay.”

With a contented sigh, she closes her eyes as Leo crawls in beside her. They both fall asleep, but my mind is too busy. Rose deserves a normal life. I’m glad I was able to give her tonight, but they’ll both be better off without me.

After I’m sure she’s deep into sleep, I slip out of bed.

“Asher?” Leo says, groggily. “Where you going?”

I glance over to my longtime friend. My partner. And realize everything in my life is about to change. Deep down, I knew it would someday, but it’s still hard.

“Take care of her, Leo.” I turn and walk away.

I collapse onto my bed. My body is physically spent, but my mind is a discordant symphony of conflicting emotions. I know I’m doing the right thing. If my viper pit of a family has taught me one thing, it’s love doesn't fix shit.

When things get hard, and with our complex relationships it’s bound to get hard, people will pick the path of least resistance. Rose deserves so much more that society gossip and public scrutiny. If our relationship goes on any longer, it’s only going to get worse. I don’t want that for her.