A Bride for Two Studs

Male Order, Texas 

A Bride for Two Studs Seeking to salvage her academic reputation, graduate student Carissa Yarborough is visiting Male Order, studying menageamy for her thesis. Through her research she meets Perry Williams and Del Jacobsen, who are both eager to introduce Carissa to the practice of menageamy, rather than the theory. But Carissa resists their temptations, unwilling to compromise her objectivity. Perry and Del have been best friends all their lives, though in recent years their friendship has been on the rocks. Their common interest in Carissa starts to make them close again, especially as they work together to stop local resistance to her project. Just as Carissa is learning how to strike a balance between love and work, both her thesis and her life are threatened. Afraid to trust her new lovers, she needs to learn to let go of her past and open herself up to love if she’s going to survive the summer. Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Western/Cowboys Length: 36,172 words 

A BRIDE FOR TWO STUDS Male Order, Texas

Olivia Jordan

MENAGE EVERLASTING

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: Ménage Everlasting A BRIDE FOR TWO STUDS Copyright © 2011 by Olivia Jordan E-book ISBN: 1-61034-723-4 First E-book Publication: July 2011 Cover design by Les Byerley All art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of A Bride for Two Studs by Olivia Jordan from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Olivia Jordan’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Jordan’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION For Reesa, whose enthusiasm for my writing sustains me, and whose passion for life inspires me.

A BRIDE FOR TWO STUDS Male Order, Texas OLIVIA JORDAN Copyright © 2011

Chapter 1 Carissa tried not to shake as she guided her car through Male Order. She wasn’t sure if she was more nervous about the interview or about the beat-up blue sedan that seemed to have been following her. She might not have noticed had it not looked so out of place in the wealthy town of Male Order, but it stood out among the polished, well-maintained BMWs and Lamborghinis. It had also followed her through the center of town, towards the waterfront district, where she was driving to conduct the first interview of her thesis project. Half a mile from her destination, the car finally turned down a side street, and Carissa chided herself for worrying about being followed. You have to calm down. You’re not going to give a good interview if you’re a nervous wreck, and you need to do well on this. Not just to graduate, but because you stand a chance of winning that research award. You need this to prove yourself, to show the faculty that your previous academic mistakes are distant memories. Carissa stopped at the door of Perry Williams’s house. After a few deep breaths, she steeled her nerves and rang the bell. When the door opened, she almost fell backwards at the sight of the handsome man standing before her. He had a start on his summer tan, and his brown hair was streaked with sun-kissed highlights. His tight T-shirt

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emphasized his trim, muscled body, and she could tell that his lips would be perfect for kissing. He held out his hand. “Perry Williams. Good to meet you.” “Carissa Yarborough. Likewise.” She shook his hand, hoping her grip was strong enough to command respect. “It seems that Del is running late, but please come in. Can I get you anything? I have some beer and some really nice wine that I’ve been saving for company.” “Just water, thanks. I never drink when I’m working.” She noticed a slight flush in Perry’s cheeks. “Right, of course. An interview is no place for alcohol. Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back with your water.” Carissa settled herself on the maroon leather couch and placed her notebook and tape recorder gently on the glass coffee table. She admired the sparse, chic furniture, the flat-screen television, and the abstract art hanging from the walls. She felt a little guilty about Perry’s obvious embarrassment over the alcohol issue, but she tried to shrug it off. Everyone makes mistakes, she thought. Even suave millionaires aren’t completely cool all the time. She felt reassured at the realization, as though she hadn’t believed that Perry was human until he’d blushed. “Here you go,” Perry said, handing her the cold glass. “Thank you. Thanks also for taking some time out of your Friday evening for an interview. I’m sure you’re a busy person, and that your free time is very important for you. I really appreciate having the chance to talk to you and get some data for my thesis.” “My pleasure. I’m happy to do anything that will contribute to a better understanding of the practice of menageamy. Besides, it’s been far too long since I’ve entertained an attractive young woman in my home.” Carissa felt her face light up. Don’t make a fool out of yourself. Just play it cool. “Oh, I’m sure that’s not true. You must have women

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over all the time.” In her nervousness, she threw back her water glass, drinking so fast that she started to choke. “Whoa!” Perry cried, giving her a few slaps on the back. “Are you okay?” “Yeah,” she gasped. “I’m fine.” Except for the part where I want to die of embarrassment. Great job, Carissa. That was the antithesis of playing it cool. “Are you sure?” “Yes, I promise.” Carissa hoped the blush she felt wasn’t noticeable and wished that Del would hurry up to divert attention from her mishap. She pretended to rifle through her notes, struggling to come up with a conversation topic to kill time while they waited. Suddenly, the sound of a horse’s whinny came from outside, accompanied by the clatter of hooves. “What the hell?” Perry asked, jumping to his feet and running outside. Carissa followed and saw a man trotting a beautiful black stallion up and down Perry’s driveway. He laughed and waved as they rushed out of the house, but didn’t stop right away, putting on a show and grinning with a cocky air. Carissa felt a scowl forming on her face when she saw the ostentatious display, but as she saw the man circling around the driveway, her heart skipped a beat. He was just as hot as Perry, but in a completely different way. He had shiny, dark curls that were just a touch unruly, and Carissa struggled to take her eyes off of the untamed bouncing. His eyes were dark, and he had scruff on his chin, as though he hadn’t had time to think about shaving for a few days. She couldn’t believe he’d show up so unkempt for a research interview. She was used to seeing undergraduates dressed that way, but not wealthy men well beyond their frat-party days. The businesslike side of her personality fumed at the lack of professionalism, but she couldn’t deny that her body was heating up. Perry looked chagrined. “I can’t believe Del sometimes.” “Is he always like this?”

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“Well, yeah, pretty much. When you have as much money as he does and an attitude that carefree, stunts like this are a matter of course, it seems.” “He sure seems to like making a scene.” “Del has always loved attention, especially from women. I don’t doubt part of his decision to pull this little stunt was to impress you.” “Well, it’s not working.” Perry glanced at her. “You’re not amused?” “No, I’m not. I guess for him this is just fun and games, but I’m here to do research, and I’m on a schedule. He’s late, and maybe he doesn’t realize it, but his shenanigans are making him even later. I have a job to do, and to have someone clowning around at my very first interview of the summer is more than a little frustrating. Imagine how you’d feel if he showed up like this to a board meeting or something. I don’t feel like he’s taking me or my project seriously.” “Wow. Most women think he’s hilarious. They just can’t get enough of his gags. Or they think he’s really daring and a little dangerous. He somehow manages to put forth that bad-boy vibe, which is especially easy, since he’s loaded. It means it’s easy for him to throw money at whatever problem he gets into so he can live to make mistakes for yet another day. I think the only law he’s ever broken is underage drinking in college. Admittedly, he got busted more than once and spent a couple of weekends in the drunk tank at the local police station, but he’s not exactly a hardened criminal by any stretch of the imagination.” “That’s exactly what I’m talking about. He’s wealthy, privileged, and phony.” She caught a sidelong glance from Perry. “Not that I think all rich people are phony. I mean, I have family members who are extraordinarily wealthy, and my family has never been hard up. It’s just this image he portrays.” “You’re the first woman I’ve ever heard say that about him.” Carissa shrugged. “I don’t know. He just doesn’t impress me.” She felt Perry step a few inches closer. “What does impress you?”

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Carissa felt a pulsing deep down in her pussy at the sensation of his breath on her ear. “Men who are a bit more mature, who are welldressed and well-groomed, with good taste in art.” “Do I impress you, Carissa?” His breath on her ear, combined with the deep baritone of his voice, sent a rush of blood down to her cunt, which had already started to heat up. If Del hadn’t been there, Carissa would have had a difficult time not jumping him right in the driveway for a midafternoon romp. She knew, though, that as horny as she felt, and as much as she wanted to flirt back, her sense of professionalism inhibited her. Fortunately, Del allowed her to save face. “Hey, guys! Like my new ride?” he interrupted before Carissa had a chance to speak. “Del, what the hell? You can’t just tie a horse up on my lawn! I’m sure it’s against some city ordinance, and anyway, the homeowners’ association is going to be pissed. Plus, I don’t want to clean up whatever crap it ends up dumping on the yard.” “Oh, come on, Perry. I’m not going to be here that long. Plus, he’ll nibble on the grass, save you from having to pay the lawn care company this week. I’ll even clean up after him.” “Okay, but if I get a fine from the city, you’re paying it.” “Sure, sure, no big deal.” Del tied the horse up to the freestanding basketball hoop in Perry’s driveway, then walked over and took Carissa’s hand. “Pleasure to meet you,” he said, dropping to one knee and placing a sloppy kiss on the back of her hand. The sensation of his lips on her skin was electric, despite the fact that it was too wet, too silly. Carissa had to resist, though she could feel her pussy begin to tingle. I’m here on business. I’m not here to fool around, and especially not with someone as silly as him. “I’m Delaney Jacobsen. You can feel free to call me Del.”

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“Nice to meet you.” Carissa didn’t hide the fact that she wiped the back of her hand off on her skirt. It was all she could do not to scowl at his immaturity. “Shall we go inside and get down to business?” “Yes, let’s get a move on. My parents will be here for dinner soon.” “Oh, really?” Carissa asked. “I’d love to be able to interview them, too. Do you think they’d mind?” “Not at all. I think that would be great.” “Awesome. Okay, let’s get to it.” Before she turned to go in, Carissa saw the blue sedan creeping its way down the street. She froze, trying to peer in, but it was too far away for her to get a good look. Yes, she couldn’t deny there was something suspicious about it. Her body broke out in goose bumps, replacing the warm ripples that had coursed over her skin when she had flirted with Perry and shaken Del’s hand. “Carissa, are you okay?” Perry’s voice broke her worried thoughts. “Something is weird about that car. It was behind me since I got into the city, and I was just getting paranoid when it finally turned off onto one of these neighborhood streets. Yet here it is again. Plus, it’s going pretty slow, don’t you think? I can’t explain it, but I get this weird feeling every time I see it.” “Eh, it’s most likely nothing. Probably someone coming to visit family, and they got a little lost. These neighborhoods can get a little confusing if you’re not familiar with the area.” “I suppose you’re right.” She shook her head to clear it out, and then followed Perry and Del inside. **** Perry struggled not to stare at the gorgeous woman sitting on his couch, ruffling through a notebook. He thought her red hair, swept up in a utilitarian ponytail, was exquisite, especially the way it

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complemented her sparkling green eyes and the occasional smile that cracked through her aloof, professional exterior. She wore a plain black skirt and white blouse, along with black flats. She was a striking contrast to the women of Male Order that Perry was used to seeing, with carefully highlighted hair, designer dresses, and precarious high heels. It wasn’t just that she was a novelty, though. He liked her seriousness and her obvious intelligence. There was also another feeling that he couldn’t identify. Though he’d known Carissa for all of twenty minutes, he was more attracted to her than he’d been to any other woman he’d ever met. Perry tried to shake the thoughts from his head. You’re being completely irrational, he thought. Just calm down and pay attention. Del nudged him and raised his eyebrows. “Like what you see, I take it?” he whispered. “Did you have a question?” Carissa asked. “Oh, uh, no, I’m good.” “In that case, here are your consent forms. Please take a look at them, and let me know if you have any questions.” “Do we get to pick our own pseudonyms?” Del asked. “No, that’s something I’ll do when I’m actually writing the paper.” Perry glanced over the consent form Carissa handed him and signed it without really paying attention to what it said. “Okay, then, ready to begin?” Carissa grinned, and Perry thought that he might melt. “Not quite,” Del said, and Perry grimaced. “We’re about to tell you everything about ourselves. Why don’t you tell us a little about you?” “I don’t think that’s really necessary,” Perry snapped. “Let’s just get talking so we have time for everything before my parents get here for dinner.”

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“As I mentioned in my earlier communications, I’m doing a study on young adults who have grown up raised by parents who practiced menageamy, and focusing on their dating and marriage practices. Do you have any other questions about the study before we begin the interview?” “No,” Del said. “I was just hoping to get to know you a little better before we started. Your background, your astrological sign, where you live, your phone number, all those important details.” Carissa frowned. “I’ve already given you the necessary background. I’m working on my thesis in sociology. My astrological sign is completely irrelevant to my research. I’m staying with my aunt and uncles, the Holt-Parkers, over the summer.” “So now that I know where you’re staying, when should I pick you up for dinner?” Perry noticed a slight blush forming on Carissa’s cheeks. “Sorry, but I’m a researcher, not your date for Saturday night.” “So I don’t have a chance?” “Not while I’m writing my thesis.” Del grinned. “In that case, I hope you’re a fast writer.” Perry felt sorry for Carissa as he saw her face grow even redder. He appreciated her willingness to spar with Del, but he also knew that whatever retort she had, he already had three possible responses simmering in the back of his mind. “As for your other questions, you already have my phone number, remember? I gave it to you when I emailed you to set up the interview. In the event that you want to foolishly attempt to read any significance behind that, my cousin Iris suggested I talk to the two of you. So no, I didn’t seek you out based on any reputation that you might have. Unfortunately, my work keeps me too busy to spend my time researching eligible bachelors in cities in which I don’t even live. Anything else?” Del blushed. “No.” Perry gave Del a death glare. I hope his antics don’t change her perception of me, he thought. Maybe I should have picked another

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best friend or something. He immediately felt guilty for thinking such things about someone who had been his best friend for nearly twenty years. After all, he would never have considered choosing a woman over his friend. In fact, his dream was for them to share one woman, whenever they found the right one. Perry couldn’t imagine anything else more fitting for their friendship. So rather than focusing on his irritation, he turned his attention to Carissa, who had turned on her tape recorder and was preparing to ask them questions. “Perry, why don’t we start with you?” He almost melted when she looked in his eyes. “Okay, sure.” He wasn’t sure how he was going to get through the interview, not when she was so beautiful, not when his body was already on fire, and the closest thing to meaningful contact that they’d had was when he slapped her on the back to help her stop choking. **** Del eased back in his chair, listening to Perry prattle on about his family life. Yet he was more focused on the delicious-looking redhead sitting in front of him. She wasn’t quite his type—usually he was into women who were easily swept off their feet. Carissa seemed to be a little grounded, and it was clear he’d have to put forth effort to impress her. What was strange was that he wanted to impress her. Usually, when a woman rebuffed his initial advances, he gave up. There were plenty of other women who would find him entertaining, and he rarely found it worth the effort to accept the challenge of attracting a woman who had better things to do than fawn over him. Yet for some reason, he felt compelled to try again. It was unsettling, suddenly caring what a woman thought about him, with no rational explanation for it. It didn’t help that she was dead sexy. He was typically drawn to the well-coiffed women of Male Order, but something about her more

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casual appearance enticed him. Her smile was alluring, and he wanted to see what she looked like when her face broke into a laugh. Del tried to chalk these feelings up to the fact that Carissa was a fresh face. There weren’t many women left in Male Order who hadn’t fallen captive to his charms, at least for one night. He wasn’t the kind of guy to drag an affair out for too long, and he was starting to run out of options in town. Carissa, however, was brand-new. Del chalked his irrational desire up to the fact that it had been a while since he’d had the opportunity to flex his flirtation muscles. “Del? Del? Are you listening?” Carissa’s words cut through his thoughts. “What?” Damn. That’s another strike against me, he thought when he saw Carissa’s frown. “I was just hoping to get a little bit of background from you,” she said, tension seeping into the tone of her voice. “The kind that Perry just gave, which you’d know if you’d been paying attention. I wanted to know first and foremost about your parents’ marriage, in as much detail as possible.” “I thought you were more interested in studying the younger set.” He winced as soon as he realized what he’d said. Yeah, save face by trying to undermine her research methods. That’s a surefire plan to turn her heart. “I am, but I need to gather background details in order to get a complete picture. Now, if you’re not interested in participating, feel free to leave. I have plenty of other interviews set up for the next few weeks. I don’t think that you dropping out of the study will have any adverse effect on my project.” Del was shocked to find that he was blushing. “No, really, I do want to participate. I’m sorry.” “Look, I can tell that you’re the kind of guy who likes to have fun and goof off. This isn’t playtime for me, though. This project will be the culmination of my graduate studies, and I’m taking it very seriously. My thesis has the potential to make or break my career, and

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the project gets that much more difficult when my subjects are fooling around doing interviews. Does that make sense?” “Of course it does,” Del said, placing his hand on hers. Carissa quickly pulled it away. “We understand completely.” “I’m not sure you do. Please stop flirting with me.” “I’m not flirting. What makes you think I’m flirting?” “Del, be serious.” Perry’s voice had an edge that made Del consider backing off, but only for a moment. He knew he wasn’t going to get anywhere if he didn’t go all-out. Del was never worried about taking things too far. He was only concerned that he might lose out if he didn’t go far enough. “I’m always serious, Perry. You know that. I don’t have time to play games. I never flirt. I only seduce.” With that, Del stood up and leaned across the table. Deciding it was now or never, he rushed his lips toward hers, sweeping in for a kiss. To his surprise, he stumbled and missed, barely grazing her cheek, when he got distracted by the sound of a lock turning in the door.

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Chapter 2 “Hello?” A woman’s voice entered through a slight opening in the door. “We’re in here, Mom,” Perry called. An elegant woman escorted by two gentlemen entered the living room. “Son, we didn’t know you had company,” one of the men said. “Oh, don’t worry about it. We’re just finishing up. Carissa, I’d like you to meet my mom, Camilla, and my fathers, Anthony and Donald.” “Pleasure to meet you,” she said, offering firm handshakes to all three. “Well,” Perry said, “it looks like we ran out of time for the interview. I’m really sorry, Carissa.” Carissa tried not to let her disappointment show in her expression or her words. If Del hadn’t been goofing off, this would have gone much faster, but it’s not Perry’s fault. “It’s okay. I’ll just give you both a call tomorrow and we can work out a time to reschedule.” She began to gather up her things. “Would you like to stay and eat with us?” For a moment, Carissa intended to refuse the invitation. She wasn’t sure she had the finesse to get through dinner when her knees went weak every time she made eye contact with either man. But before she knew it, she said, “That sounds great.” Perry smiled. “Fantastic. Why don’t I get you all some drinks while I get dinner together?” “You cook?” Carissa asked.

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“Yep. It’s my favorite way to decompress after a long day. Now, what does everyone want to drink?” “Martinis for the three of us,” Donald said. “Got any beer?” Del asked. “I’ll take one. If not, scotch and soda is fine.” “I’ll just stick to water.” “Come on, Carissa.” Del punched her lightly on the shoulder. “Lighten up.” “Just some white wine, please, I guess.” Perry poured drinks, and then ushered everyone to sit on the couch while he fixed dinner. Del settled next to Carissa on the couch and was brash enough to put his arm around her. Carissa made a point of removing it and settling his hand back on his lap. “What, you’re not into me?” he whispered. Carissa blushed and hoped that Perry’s parents didn’t notice. “What, I get the silent treatment now? Come on, you know you’re into me. I can see it in your eyes.” “So, Carissa,” Camilla said, “how long have you known Perry?” Carissa was relieved to have someone distract her from Del. “Just since I arrived in town this afternoon. I’m here interviewing Perry and Del for my thesis project.” “Oh, you’re a student?” “I’m almost done with my Master’s degree at the University of North Texas.” “That’s wonderful. Why don’t you tell us a little about your project?” “Well, I’m here doing research on the town of Male Order. I’m interested in the practice of menageamy. Specifically, I’m interested in the perspectives of young adults who have been raised in a menageamous culture but are not yet married, and their plans for marriage in the future. Actually, if you’re available, I’d love to interview the three of you about your lives here, to get some background information on established married couples.”

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All three of Perry’s parents looked uncomfortable. “You’ll be writing about Male Order?” Donald asked. “About the rest of the town? About our son?” “Well, yes, but all names of the people I interview will be changed, of course. That’s standard practice.” “Still…You’ll be writing about our town and our personal lives.” Hesitation weighed down Donald’s words. “I promise nobody will have access to your identities. My project has already been approved by a research board that ensures my work will be ethical.” “That may be all well and good for the university, but just because some board approves of it does not mean that the residents of Male Order will want you poking your nose into their business.” An edge was beginning to form in Donald’s voice. “Well, nobody is obligated to talk to me. Interview participation is strictly voluntary, and those who are uncomfortable talking about their experiences with menageamy can just steer clear.” “Still, even if they decide not to talk to you, maybe people around here won’t be so interested in you writing about them,” Camilla said, iciness coating her words. Carissa was starting to feel unnerved by their hard stares. “Oh…well…I mean…” she stammered. “I know I don’t mind such a lovely young woman writing a paper about our town,” Del said, sliding his arm around her shoulders again. “Especially if it means that she spends some time talking to me.” Exactly what I need, this goofball undermining what little credibility I seem to have with these people. She moved Del’s arm off again, throwing it down on his lap with more force. “Thanks, Del, but I am willing to hear other people’s opinions.” “All of us in Male Order are proud of who we are,” Camilla said. “However, we’re also concerned about public perception of our life here. Many of us might not be so happy with the idea of an academic

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nosing around, writing all about us for a group of people that might not understand. Some of us are protective of our privacy.” “As I mentioned, though, my study will be keep all identities a secret. I already said that I’ll change the identities of everyone who participates in an interview.” “Even so, some of us are unhappy with the prospect of having our lives written about for your thesis.” Camilla’s eyes narrowed as she spoke. “Then of course, you don’t have to discuss the project with me further. I’m not offended.” “I don’t think you understand,” Anthony said. “We don’t think you should be doing this project at all.” “W-well, that’s your opinion, and I’m not going to force you to change your minds. I promise that I’ll be completely objective in my research and writings. I’m not out to slander Male Order. In fact, I’m fascinated by the culture you have here.” “Well, we don’t care what you intend. We’d all feel better if you’d just cut the project and pick something else for your thesis.” Donald smiled, as though turning on the charm would make Carissa agree with him. Carissa couldn’t stand the interrogation anymore. “I think I should go.” She turned to Del. “Give Perry my apologies. It was lovely meeting both of you.” She hurried out, not giving anyone a chance to respond. **** Perry heard a door slam and stepped out of the kitchen to investigate. “Everybody okay?” “Your friend had to take off,” Camilla said. “Oh, that’s too bad. I can’t believe she didn’t even say good-bye.” “Well, you know how people are.”

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“Anyway, dinner is almost done. Give me five more minutes.” “Excuse me,” Del said, nodding to Perry’s family. “I need a refill. Can I get anyone anything while I’m up?” “We’re fine, thanks,” Camilla said. Del sauntered into the kitchen. “Just came in for a second beer,” he said when Perry looked up from chopping carrots with a furious aggression. “Help yourself. They’re on the bottom shelf.” Perry returned to chopping, slamming the knife onto the wooden cutting board so hard that it kept getting caught in the grooves it made. “Thanks. Need any help?” “No, I’m good.” “Are you sure? You seem a little pissed.” “Well, I was expecting Carissa to stay around. I don’t get why she’d take off before dinner, and why she wouldn’t even say goodbye to me. She was so nice during the interview. I can’t believe that she’d just sneak off like that.” “You’re getting a little upset over someone you barely know.” “I know I’m being a little irrational, but I just really wanted her to stay.” “So you like her.” “Don’t you?” “Yeah, she’s hot, but I’m not broken up that she’s not sticking around for dinner.” “That’s too bad. I had hoped maybe the three of us could have a little fun.” “Yeah?” “Of course. You’re my best friend. Even though I hardly know Carissa, but in that interview, I felt like I was falling for her already.” “Already? I know you’re a total romantic, but even you exhibit a little emotional restraint when it comes to the big L.” “I know, it’s unusual, but you have to admit that there’s something special about her. She’s brilliant, for one thing.”

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“She does seem pretty smart, although that can lead to trouble.” “You’re just annoyed that she kept shooting down all your tricks.” “Maybe.” “She’s beautiful, too.” Del sighed. “You’ve got that right. Even when she’s shooting me down, I can’t stop thinking about how gorgeous she is. In some ways, that makes the sting even worse.” “She’s not like any woman we’ve ever met before.” “You’ve got that right.” “I’d love to share someone that special with you. Maybe she’s not actually all that special, after all.” “You don’t even know why she left.” “Does it matter?” “I think it does. Look, she ran off because your parents freaked her out.” “What?” “Yeah. They asked about her thesis, and none of them were happy to hear that she planned to do a detailed study on the practice of menageamy in Male Order. Even when she tried to explain that everyone’s identity would be protected and that she’d had her work cleared with an ethics board, they were really hostile to her. She got upset and decided to clear out before things got worse.” “Really?” “You don’t believe me?” “I just can’t believe my own parents would be hostile to her. She was so sweet when she introduced herself to me this afternoon, and I know that she doesn’t intend to cause any harm with this project.” “Your parents are very concerned about the ways in which people might perceive Male Order as a result of reading her thesis. Carissa swears she’s going to be objective, but they’re all concerned that people outside of Male Order will make unpleasant judgments about us. They even outright suggested she abandon the project and pick another.”

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“Goddamn.” “Of course, I probably made things worse by flirting with her.” “You did what?” “Hey, man, I thought you just said you wanted to share her.” “Sharing is one thing. Putting the moves on her when she already feels attacked by my parents is a little inappropriate, don’t you think?” “I think so now, but I honestly hadn’t given it much in the way of consideration at the time.” “Geez. So she’s afraid of my parents, and she’s probably creeped out by your untimely advances.” “It’ll be fine, man. I promise. Come on, quit mutilating those vegetables and let’s go eat.” Once they all sat down at the table, Perry’s parents cut right to the chase. “So, your friend, what’s her name, Clarissa?” Camilla gave a slight eye roll. “Carissa.” “Right, Carissa. Well, she’s certainly interesting, isn’t she?” “Yes, I think so,” Perry said, trying to take the defensive edge out of his voice. “Still, that research of hers. I just don’t know about it.” “Oh, come on, Mom. It’s not a big deal. It’s an academic paper. It’s not like more than five people in the world read those, anyway. I don’t know what you’re getting so defensive about.” “I wasn’t getting defensive.” She turned to Del. “What did you tell him?” “Only what I saw.” “Don’t pull that with me. We didn’t do anything wrong.” “The fact that you’re proclaiming your innocence so early on suggests otherwise,” Perry snapped.

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“Honestly, son, you don’t need to be so irritable about it,” Anthony said. “We were just expressing our concerns about her work. She just doesn’t seem to be able to handle criticism very well.” “I don’t really understand what’s not to like.” “We’re just concerned about outsiders poking their noses into our business and then writing about it. Who knows what they’ll say? Who knows if they’ll represent our town faithfully?” “I trust her more than I’d trust some journalist. At least she’s obligated to have some sort of standards.” “Still, we just don’t think that what she’s doing is right.” “I think it was inappropriate for you to scare her off. She’s a sweet woman.” “You’re not interested in her, are you?” “Would that be a problem?” “Oh, Perry.” Camilla sighed. “Really? You hardly pay any attention to the eligible women of Male Order, and the second some interloper waltzes in, you’re all over her.” “I can’t explain it, especially because I’ve only known her for a few hours. Somehow, though, I know that she’s special.” “You just think she’s special because she’s new and exciting.” “Only time will tell. For now, though, I’d like to be able to see her without having to worry about whether or not you’re going to antagonize her.” “You think you have a chance with her?” “Why not?” “She’s not interested in you as a person,” Donald snapped. “She’s interested in you as a research subject, and nothing more. Just because she wants to study menageamy does not mean she wants to practice it. Besides, it would compromise her objectivity if she decided to get involved with you. I’m sure her ethics board would not be happy to hear about that.” Perry sighed. “Maybe you’re right. Even so, I don’t think you needed to be so hostile to her about her project.”

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“We’re just looking out for our own interests. Besides, she’s going to need to get used to it. We’re certainly not the only family in town who is going to have a problem with her thesis.” “Fine, whatever.” Perry dropped his head and focused on the food on his plate. “You don’t need to sulk, son,” Anthony said. “You’ll find other women. She’ll be out of our hair soon enough.” “You’re right.” Perry looked back up and forced a half-smile. **** Del stayed after Perry’s parents had gone home to help with the after-dinner cleanup. “You sure have a lot of leftovers.” “Yeah, I always cook too much. I can’t help it. Put the rest in Tupperware, and I’ll eat them this weekend.” “Actually, I have a better idea. Here, hand me a plate.” “What?” “Just do it.” Perry handed over a dish and watched as Del heaped leftover steak, roasted potatoes, and salad onto it, then covered it with plastic wrap. “We’ll need to take your car as we can’t both fit on the horse.” “What are you doing?” “Just get your keys.” They settled in the car. “So where are we going?” Perry asked. “Are you going to leave that horse in my yard all night?” “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it when we come back. Now, do you know where the Holt-Parker ranch is?” “Sure.” “Then get going.” “Del, no. We are not going to visit Carissa.”

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“Yes, we are. We’re going to visit her, we’re going to apologize for the way your parents acted, and we’re going to make sure she has a chance to have some of the delicious dinner you worked so hard to prepare.” “We can’t. That’s ridiculous.” “We can, and just because it’s a little ridiculous doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it. If you want to have a chance with her, this will be a good way to let her know you’re interested.” “You heard my parents. She wouldn’t get involved with me because it would compromise her objectivity. Besides, they’re right. Why on earth would she be interested in a guy who wanted to be menageamous? She’s an outsider interested in me from an academic perspective, and nothing more. I shouldn’t even bother. I should just focus my attention on the eligible women around town.” “Come on, Perry. Would you really believe your parents after they ran her out of the house?” “Just because they can be a little harsh doesn’t mean they’re stupid.” “Why would they be wrong?” “Would you quit having such a negative attitude? You’re driving me crazy. Let’s just go and drop the food off, and then you can drive off and never hear from her again.” “She’ll have one of my plates.” “If you don’t get it back, I’ll buy you a new one, okay?” “Fine.” They drove in silence to the Holt-Parker ranch. Del noticed that Perry looked pale as they approached the front door. “Chill out, man. What’s the worst that could happen?” “We’ll look like idiots?” “Trust me, that won’t be a problem.” He rang the bell. Carissa’s cousin Iris opened the door. “Hey, guys. What are you doing here?”

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“We were hoping Carissa was home,” Del said with a grin. “Can she come out and play?” Iris giggled. “Hold on.” A few minutes later, Perry and Del heard two voices arguing in the hallway. “Just go,” Iris said, her voice lifting over her cousin’s. “They’re really cute, and they brought food.” “Okay, okay, but only if you go with me,” Carissa said, and then turned the corner, gripping Iris by the wrist. Both men noticed the faint blush in her cheeks. “Hey, guys, what’s up?” she asked. Perry thought he could detect a slight tremor in her voice. He couldn’t help but feel slightly turned on by her nervousness, her vulnerability, the fact that she was a little awkward and rough rather than perfectly polished. “Oh, well, see, we…” he started, but faltered. “You weren’t able to stay for dinner, so we figured we’d bring you a plate,” Del said. “Perry worked really hard to make it, and he’s an excellent cook. We didn’t want you to miss out.” “Oh, thanks. Except that I already ate dinner with my family.” Perry hung his head. “Of course you did. I’m sorry. This was a ridiculous idea.” “No, no! It’s sweet! I really do appreciate it. I’ll just eat this for lunch tomorrow or something.” Perry looked back up. “Yeah?” “Yeah.” “I’ll just go take this plate and stick it in the fridge for you,” Iris said, giving her cousin a blatant wink. “Look, I’m really sorry for the way my parents acted earlier today. I’m sorry they made you feel unwelcome.” “You don’t need to apologize on their behalf. You didn’t do anything wrong. In fact, you were the perfect host. I’m sorry I ran out early without even saying good-bye.” “It’s okay. I understand. It must have been really unpleasant to be in that situation.”

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“I’d definitely prefer to not have to do that again.” “Hey, at least you got the whole ‘meeting the parents’ thing out of the way, right?” Del interjected. “Now you can just enjoy the ride.” Carissa’s expression sharpened. “What on earth are you talking about?” “Meeting someone’s parents for the first time is arguably one of the most stressful aspects of a relationship. Now that you’ve met Perry’s, everything else will seem easy.” “What? Wait a second. Did you come over here to ask me out or something?” “No, we just wanted to bring you some dinner. I promise.” Perry could almost swear he saw disappointment flash across Carissa’s face. “Oh, okay. Well, anyway. I should probably be getting back inside. I have some interview transcriptions to do after all. Have a good night, and thanks again for the food.” She held out her hand for a handshake. Perry complied, trying not to show his dejection. “Well, that was a disaster,” he snapped at Del as they pulled out of the driveway. “Come on, man. You can’t expect things to go perfect every time.” “Everything was going just fine until you busted in with that ‘meeting the parents’ business.” “Aw, come on. Can’t either of you take a joke?” “You scared her off!” “I don’t think I did.” “She practically slammed the door in our faces.” “I think you’re exaggerating. Okay, so she got a little skittish. She’ll come around.” “But what if she doesn’t?” “If she doesn’t, who cares? There are plenty of lovely women around here.” “None of them who took my breath away the first time I looked them in the eyes.”

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“Man, dude, you’re in deep already. What happened to you?” “I can’t explain it. She’s just like nobody I’ve ever met before.” “That’s for sure.” “Let’s just go home. I blew it. I just want to turn in early.” “You sure? We could hit up the Boom Boom Room and grab a few drinks before you head home.” “I just need to be alone right now.” “If you insist. Just drop me off at my place, I guess.” “Aren’t you forgetting something?” “Not that I know of.” “There’s the matter of someone else’s horse on my lawn. I believe that’s the vehicle you’ll be taking home this evening.”

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Chapter 3 “Do you do anything but work?” Iris asked, walking into the office where Carissa had been holed up since noon. “Of course not. I’m a grad student working on a thesis.” “Well, that changes now. Get dressed. We’re going out.” “Can’t we put it off until tomorrow? I still have three hours’ worth of transcriptions left.” “If we wait until tomorrow, you’ll find another way to get out of going. You can’t spend the summer working and not have any fun at all. Come on.” Iris snapped Carissa’s laptop shut. “Fine, fine.” An hour later, Iris opened the doors to the Boom Boom Room. Carissa was surprised at how busy the place was for a Wednesday night. Iris waved to a gaggle of her friends crowded around a table in the corner and started dragging Carissa over to them. “Hey, ladies!” Iris squealed. Carissa tried not to wince. She loved her cousin, but didn’t relish spending the evening with a bunch of undergrads home for summer break. She was at least four years older than most of them and knew she didn’t have much in common with the bubbly, extroverted Iris and her equally effervescent social circle. Before Iris had a chance to finish introducing her, Carissa felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She could smell sexy cologne before she turned around to find Perry staring into her eyes. She wasn’t surprised to find that he was just as attractive as the day before. In fact, this time, he looked even hotter in his clean-cut gray suit and dark blue tie. “Wonderful to see you again,” he said, picking up her hand and brushing his lips across her knuckles.

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Carissa struggled to keep her ankles from buckling in her stilettos as his kiss sent shivers all the way down her legs. “The pleasure is all mine.” “Del and I have a couch near the back. Would you care to join us?” Carissa looked over at Iris. “Go.” Her cousin laughed. “I’m sure we’ll find a way to have fun without you.” Perry escorted Carissa over to the couch and sat down on one end, gesturing for her to take the middle cushion. She sat down, expecting him to wrap his arm around her, but instead, he was a model of discretion, merely resting his hand over hers. The touch of his skin was so electric that she could feel herself flush. “Is this okay?” he asked. “Of course,” she replied, a little too quickly, trying to conceal the smile that was trying to burst across her face. “So where’s Del?” “I’m not sure, actually. His cell phone rang a minute ago. He just grinned and said he had to take the call.” “Girlfriend, maybe?” Perry snorted. “Del isn’t really the type of guy to have a girlfriend, if you know what I mean.” “You mean he likes to play the field.” “Yeah, you could say that.” Carissa tried not to feel disappointed. She didn’t want to feel disappointed. She didn’t even like Del and his goofball nature. So she couldn’t figure out why she was struggling to hold back a frown. “You okay?” “Yeah, fine. I could use a drink, though.” “Great idea. What’s your poison?” Carissa was mortified to realize that her tastes for the past several years had consisted entirely of cheap beer in campus bars. She couldn’t remember the last time she’s been to a place as classy as this one.

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“Why don’t you surprise me?” she asked, trying to sound playful. Perry grinned. “You got it. I’ll be right back.” Carissa watched him walk off to the bar, keeping her gaze focused on the way the crisp fabric of his pants clung to his perfectly formed ass. “Well, hello.” She felt Del’s hot breath in her ear as he spoke. He trailed a finger up her neck before sitting down. Carissa tried to be irritated, but his touch was just as electric as Perry’s. “Good to see you again, Del,” she said, again trying to contain her smile. “I didn’t know you were coming out.” “Well, I hadn’t planned on it, but my cousin Iris dragged me here. I ran into Perry, and he invited me to join you, saving me from an evening of mingling with college kids.” “Well, I, for one, am glad to have your company.” “Likewise.” “Ah, there you are,” Perry said, walking back from the bar with a bottle of Macallan eighteen-year-old scotch and three glasses. Carissa tried not to let her eyes bug out. She couldn’t imagine drinking even a glass of something so expensive, not to mention an entire bottle. “Perry, that’s so sweet of you, but you shouldn’t have, really. It’s so extravagant.” “A little, yes, but I never come to the Boom Boom Room to drink cheap. I can do that at home. When I’m here, I like to step it up.” “Don’t let him fool you,” Del interjected. “Perry never drinks cheap. Nothing but the best for this guy. If he can’t afford the good stuff, he won’t drink at all. He would have been sober all through college if I hadn’t had the cash to fund his expensive taste.” “Oh, I was under the impression that your family had money.” Perry blushed. “They do. My parents just didn’t believe in letting me coast on my family’s hard work. I had to have a part-time job in college for pocket money, and they’ve locked my inheritance until I’m thirty-five. They wanted to ensure I got a good education and

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made something of myself before I could reap the benefits of my ancestors.” “Luckily, he had me, so he wasn’t condemned to a boring college existence.” “Yes, Del took very good care of me.” Carissa thought she detected an edge of sarcasm in Perry’s voice, but didn’t ask about it. After the way things had gotten tense before dinner a few nights before, she could sense that they had some difficulties to work out. Del finally broke the tension by opening the bottle and pouring out the light brown liquid. “A toast,” Perry said, raising his glass. “To the sexiest researcher in all of Male Order.” Carissa blushed, but clinked her glass. Trying to squelch her nerves, she took a big gulp, and then immediately began choking on the fiery sensation that filled her throat. “Easy there,” Del said, as Perry stood up to get her a glass of water. “Macallan is smooth, but not smooth enough that you can just shoot a snifter of it down like that.” Great, now I look like an even bigger klutz, Carissa thought, accepting the glass of water in Perry’s hand and taking a sip, being careful not to send any more liquids down the wrong pipe. “Feeling better?” Perry asked, with genuine concern in his voice. “Yeah, thanks. Sorry about that. I guess I haven’t learned to appreciate good liquor yet. It’s tough when you’re a broke grad student.” “Stick with us the rest of the summer, and we’ll turn you into a perfect snob,” Del said, snaking a hand up her leg and into her skirt. Carissa jumped. “We’re in public.” “Ah, a proper lady,” Del said with a smirk. “There’s nothing wrong with a little discretion,” Perry snapped. “Not that you’d know anything about that.”

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“Fair enough,” Del said, failing to conceal the hurt expression on his face. “I’ve had some great interviews the past three days!” Carissa said with a little too much pep in her voice. She was desperate to break the tension. She poured herself another hearty glass of scotch and drank carefully this time, letting the smokiness roll over her tongue. This is actually pretty good, she thought. “Oh yeah? With whom?” Del seemed just as eager to redirect the conversation. “I’ve actually managed to speak with all of the founding families. It was pretty exhausting, working all five of them into such a short time span, but it proved invaluable. Not only did I get a lot of good perspectives, especially from the younger adults, but I got fantastic background information that I probably wouldn’t be able to obtain anywhere else.” “Nobody gave you any trouble about your project, did they?” Perry asked. “Well, I had a little trouble with some of the Caldwells. Caden, Dylan, and Theresa were actually all happy to talk with me. Their parents were a bit defensive and suspicious, though. They’re very concerned about their reputations, as well as the reputation of Male Order. They seemed a little ameliorated when I emphasized that their identities would be concealed, but they were still much more reserved than the other families.” “I’m not surprised. The Caldwells, especially the older ones, tend to look out for themselves.” “Still, they weren’t quite as bad as yo─I mean, not as bad as some people I’ve talked to.” She cringed, hoping Perry wouldn’t notice her mistake. “It’s okay. I know my parents overreacted. Don’t worry about it. I don’t blame you.” “If it makes you feel any better, I don’t hold it against you.” Perry smiled and took her hand. “Thanks.”

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With his hand in hers and electricity flying through her body, Carissa wanted to tell Perry what she was feeling. She didn’t have time to work up her courage, though, because all of a sudden, Del’s mouth was on hers, his tongue sliding between her teeth. For a moment, she thought of resisting, but then she gave into the scent of his cologne and the taste of his lips. Carissa allowed her tongue to mingle with his, then bit his lips as she pulled away. At first, she was horrified with herself for kissing someone she didn’t even like. Yet she couldn’t resist—he had been too alluring, too delicious. Her second thought was of embarrassment. Perry was right beside her and had witnessed the whole thing. Then, she felt guilty and angry. She had been wanting to kiss Perry from the moment she met him. No matter how irresistible Del could be, she genuinely wanted Perry. She turned to look at Perry, trying to calm the burning in her cheeks. He gave a slight grin. “That’s Del for you.” He started to lean in. “Now, how about another kiss?” “Yes, please.” Perry was gentler than Del. He didn’t grab at her lips with his, but pressed carefully, waiting until she yielded under his soft pressure. Carissa couldn’t help the trembling in her hands that started as she parted her lips and tasted him. When he pulled away, she could feel that her face was flushed, but now it was from arousal. “Wow.” She wasn’t just surprised at how amazing both kisses were. She was shocked at herself. She’d come here to research, not to engage in the practices of the locals. She didn’t want to get involved, especially not after what happened with her ex, Mark. After their messy breakup, she’d vowed never to let academic work mingle with love again. Yet upon finding herself sandwiched between Del and Perry, she realized she couldn’t resist. “Welcome to Male Order, baby,” Del said with a smirk.

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Perry picked up the half-empty bottle and swirled the last of the scotch. “Do we want more? Or should we go somewhere a little more private?” “I’m thinking privacy, at least if Carissa agrees.” Carissa took a deep breath, prepared to refuse. She’d already crossed the line, and their kisses were so good she was afraid she wouldn’t be able to stop. “Sure.” Carissa immediately clamped her mouth shut, not believing what had just escaped her lips. “Great. I’ll pay the tab.” Del stood up, flashing his credit card at the bar. “You sure you’re okay with this?” Perry asked, taking her hand. “You look worried. We don’t have to go anywhere if you’re feeling uncomfortable.” “Just nervous. My love life since starting grad school hasn’t exactly been busy. I’ve never kissed two guys in the same night before.” “I have a feeling you’re going to enjoy it.” “Somehow, I believe you.” Del returned and held the door for both of them, cupping Carissa’s ass as she exited. “Let’s go to my place,” Del said. He got out his phone and called for a cab. Nobody spoke as they waited, but despite their silence, Perry and Del managed to communicate volumes about their desire. They spent the time discreetly running their fingers up and down her arms and stroking her back. Carissa struggled to control her breath as little sparks burst across her skin with each caress. Del was even bold enough to takes some swipes across her breasts. Carissa blushed and tried to be irritated, but it was difficult to care when the sensation of his touch drove her so wild.

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Carissa’s attention was caught by the sudden slowing of a beat-up blue sedan. She recognized it as the car she thought had been trailing her on the way in to Male Order a few days before. Although she’d shaken off her nerves and put the incident out of her mind, she couldn’t deny that the car was nearing a halt as it passed. Carissa tried to peer in, but the car’s windows had been tinted, and she couldn’t make out a thing. “What’s wrong?” Perry asked. “You’re so stiff all of a sudden.” Carissa nodded to the car. As though it had been waiting for a signal, the vehicle suddenly accelerated away, tires squealing and leaving the smell of burnt rubber. “That’s the same car we saw earlier.” “Are you sure?” “Yeah, it got on my tail while I was still on the highway and only left about half a mile from your place. Plus, that car is too beat-up to belong to a resident here.” “It’s not like your vehicle is all that extravagant,” Del said with a laugh. Carissa shot him a glare, and he began backpedaling. “What I mean is you’re not the only person in from out of town. It’s not ridiculous to imagine that some other family might have a relative visiting for the summer.” “I suppose. But did you see the way the driver slowed down as he approached? That person recognizes me somehow. I think I’m being followed, but I can’t figure out why.” “First of all,” Del said, placing a kiss on her neck, “I think anyone who doesn’t slow down to get a better look as they pass you on the street is crazy. You’re gorgeous.” “Plus, we are making a bit of a scene,” Perry remarked. “It could just be a rubbernecking effect. Maybe we should cool it until we get to your place.” “We’re not making that much of a scene,” Del said with an eye roll. “Hell, this is complete discretion for me.”

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“Either way, there are reasons why someone might be staring at us.” Carissa could hear Perry trying to conceal the irritation in his voice. “What about the fact that people here don’t want me writing about Male Order?” “My parents are the only ones who have given you any resistance so far, and they’re not the type to hire a stalker to scare you off. Besides, you said you saw the car the day you drove in. They didn’t know about your project until after you’d arrived in town. So if they hired someone to come into town and freak you out, then they probably have ESP.” Carissa sighed. “I guess I’m being a little paranoid.” Just then, the cab pulled up. Carissa climbed in, and noticed that Perry and Del were shooting looks at each other, silently arguing about who would get to sit in the back with Carissa and who would get to ride up front. “I’ll squish into the middle,” she called. “Hurry up and get in.” Before she knew it, she was sandwiched between them. They were both so tall and broad-shouldered there was barely any room to move. That didn’t prevent them from showering Carissa with kisses along her neck and ears and tracing their fingers around her thighs. She did her best to suppress the tiny sighs that were building up inside of her When they arrived at Del’s place, Carissa’s nerves suddenly returned. I can’t believe this is actually happening, she thought, and settled herself on the edge of the leather couch, sitting with a rigid spine. “What’s wrong?” Del asked, sitting down and sliding an arm around her shoulder to cup her breast. Carissa caught her breath in her throat, wanting him to go further but afraid to let herself relax into his arms. “I’ve never done anything like this before.” She let a small smile form on her face.

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“You sure you’re okay with this?” Perry asked, settling his hand on her knee. The texture of his smooth palm on her bare skin sent all of her worries out the window. Nothing had ever felt so perfect, so right. Her smile brightened at his touch. As much as Del excited her, she found Perry both sexy and trustworthy, putting her at ease. “Definitely.” She leaned forward and gave him another kiss. Del leaned forward and nipped her neck. Pulling away, she turned to kiss Del, and Perry cupped her breasts. As Del’s tongue explored the depths of her mouth, Perry slipped his hand down the front of her dress, reaching inside of her bra and pinching her nipples, twisting gently. The sensation was so intense that Carissa was forced to pull away and catch her breath. “You like that?” Perry whispered into her ear, his breath sending chills down her spine. “Yes,” she gasped. “I bet she’ll like it if I do this,” Del said, giving Perry a wink. While Perry nibbled on her ears and neck, Del slid his hand up Carissa’s skirt and into her panties, finding her throbbing clit within seconds. She moaned, letting heat wash all over her. She was already on the verge of orgasm. She was sure he could bring her to climax with just a few strokes of his strong finger. “Maybe we should take this upstairs,” Del whispered, planting a nip on her neck. “The bed is much roomier.” “Hey!” Carissa cried out as he pulled his hand away and stood up. “Don’t worry. We’ll make sure to satisfy you once we’re upstairs.” He held out his hand to help her to her feet. In the brief time that the spell was broken, Carissa came to her senses. “No, I can’t. I can’t do this.” She pulled her hand away and shrugged off Perry’s finger that had been caressing her neck. “What’s wrong?” Perry asked. “Are we going too fast?” “No. It’s that we’re going at all.” “What?”

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“I can’t do this. I can’t get involved, not with you two, not with anyone. I need to leave. I’m sorry.” Carissa bolted for the door and let herself out before either Perry or Del had a chance to react.

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Chapter 4 Carissa hoped that everyone would be asleep by the time she returned home. She didn’t want to have to face her aunt, uncles, or cousin and explain what had happened. As the taxi approached, her body flooded with relief at the windows, all dark except for her own. Careful not to make too much noise, she crept inside and hurried towards her room, looking forward to passing out and putting the crazy night behind her. When she walked in, she found her cousin sitting on her bed, reading a magazine. “Did you have a good night?” Iris asked with a grin. “What are you still doing up? What are you doing in my room?” “I wanted to make sure I got all the juicy details about your night right when you came home. I figured if I holed up in here, I wouldn’t have to worry about not hearing you when you crept in.” “Lovely. Well, there’s nothing to tell.” “You can’t sneak in so late at night and say that nothing happened.” “I didn’t say that nothing happened. I said that there’s nothing to tell.” “So it was bad?” “So I don’t want to talk about it.” “Come on, there’s nothing wrong with a little kiss and tell. Especially since everyone in that bar saw that you kissed one guy, and then the other.” Carissa felt her face flush. “They all saw?” “It was a public bar. Did you expect people not to look?”

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“I figured they’d be all focused on their own evenings and not paying attention to mine.” “Carissa, you’re an interloper. Even the people that like you are curious about you and your research and are going to have one eye on you at all times. So, yeah, they’re going to pay attention when you make out with two eligible bachelors at a bar.” The burn moved up to Carissa’s ears. “Damn, I’m so stupid. What was I thinking?” “You’re not stupid at all! You’re a very pretty girl who’s captured the attention of two very hot men. What else would you do?” “I’m not just a pretty girl, Iris. I’m a researcher. I’m here to work on my thesis. I can’t just fool around with men I barely know, especially when they’re my research subjects. I need to be an impartial observer at all times.” “You’ll never have any fun if that’s the way you insist on living your life.” “Life isn’t always about having fun. It’s also about working and about making something of yourself. I’m not going to get very far if I let myself get distracted. I almost screwed up my career once. I’m not going to do it again.” Iris placed a hand on her cousin’s shoulder. “What do you mean?” “Look, I’m tired. I don’t want to talk about it.” “Tomorrow, then. We’ll have lunch and get this all straightened out.” “There’s nothing to straighten out. I let things get a little too personal tonight, but I won’t let it happen again. From now on, I’m going to remain completely objective. Nothing is going to stand in the way of this project.” “Fine, if that’s the way you want it. You’ll be missing out, though. Sleep well.” “You, too.” As exhausted as she felt, Carissa couldn’t make her mind settle down. Her body was still buzzing from their sexy kisses, from the

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memory of their hands all over her body. She wanted them, and to her surprise, she wanted both of them at once. Her desire was stronger than it had been for any man she had known in the past. It outweighed her passion for her thesis, for her desire to prove herself as a first-rate academic. I’m never going to get any sleep if I don’t do something, she thought. She got up and reached into the suitcase where she’d packed her vibrator. Stripping off her clothes, she eased herself onto the cool silk sheets that covered every bed in the house. Turning the vibrator on low, she teased her inner thighs, imagining they were Perry’s fingers sneaking up her skirt. As she brought the vibrator to her labia, she turned it up slightly, and imagined that Perry’s hands were stroking her soft folds. When she couldn’t take any more teasing, she turned the device all the way up to the highest setting and started circling it around her clit. She grabbed a nipple with her free hand, pinching and rolling the same way that Perry had done just a few hours before. The intensity of the vibrations combined with the amount of pent-up arousal that had been waiting in her body sent a rollicking orgasm all the way down her legs and up through her neck, and it was all Carissa could do to keep from shouting and waking her family. **** “You are such an idiot,” Perry snapped after waiting a few moments to be sure that Carissa really wasn’t coming back. “Me? What the hell did I do?” “Everything was going great until you suggested that we go upstairs.” “She was totally into both of us and mere seconds away from having an orgasm. I fail to see what was so wrong about suggesting we go upstairs. Especially because that couch was really crowded. The bed is far more suited to three people.”

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“Well, it doesn’t matter now, because you clearly scared her off. You went way too fast.” “I did not go too fast.” “Yes, you did. You always do! You’ve been pushing Carissa from the moment you laid eyes on her. You tried to kiss her during the interview. You know, when she was working. You came onto her while my parents were antagonizing her. Then you were all over her tonight at the bar.” “Oh, like you never flirted with her while she was working.” “Well, not as much as you did.” “You were still flirting. Nor did I see you shrinking off into a corner when we were at the bar. You were just as active as I was in bringing her here. You have no right to criticize me.” “I still took a more tactful approach than you did. You’re too aggressive.” “I don’t think you have a right to criticize my relationship style. At least I can get dates every now and then. Carissa is the first woman who has shown any interest in you in how long?” “Maybe I’m just picky. At least I haven’t hooked up with every woman in town. At least I don’t need to go elsewhere to find dates who I haven’t already gone home with and then regretted screwing.” “There’s nothing wrong with wanting to play the field.” Perry snorted. “I can’t believe I ever wanted to share Carissa with you. You’re not serious enough. You don’t deserve her. You’d just treat her like one of your typical Saturday-night conquests.” “You don’t know that.” “Yes, I do.” “Well, if you disapprove of my life so much, what are you still doing in it?” “I don’t know, man. I don’t know.” Perry turned and stomped out. He was halfway down the driveway before he realized his car was still parked at the Boom Boom Room.

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“Shit,” he muttered, and pulled out his cell phone, intent on calling a cab. Remembering that he only lived half a mile from Del’s condo, he decided to just walk and burn off the excess energy he’d acquired as a result of the kissing and the fighting. After walking and sweating in the humid Texas night, Perry was still wired when he opened his door. He decided to take a cold shower to calm himself down. Even stepping into the full-blast chill, his cock was persistent, standing upright, demanding attention. Switching the water to a more comfortable temperature, Perry soaped himself up and traced his slick fingers up and down his shaft. As the tension built in his body, he wrapped his fingers around his dick, starting at the tip, and slowly inched his way down the base. He repeated the painfully slow strokes until his legs were trembling so hard that he didn’t know how much longer he’d be able to stand. As Perry’s body twitched with arousal, he increased the intensity of his strokes until the pressure was overwhelming. As he reached climax, his cock shot cum to the other end of the shower wall. Perry’s knees gave out, and it was all he could do to catch himself on the edges of the tub as he fell. He lay there for a while, letting the water wash over him, until exhaustion proved to be too much, and he turned in for the night. **** Del stared around his empty living room, shocked that a night that had started out so well had fallen apart so quickly. Not only had Carissa freaked out, but now his best friend seemed to hate him. He was too worked up to sleep, both physically and mentally, so he grabbed a beer from the fridge and turned on the TV, hoping he could find some late-night talk show to bore him to sleep. Try as he might, he couldn’t ignore the heat still built up in his body. He still remembered the sparks that had alighted on his hands as he had run them up and down Carissa’s body. Closing his eyes, he remembered

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her perfect taste, the perfect combination of softness and firmness in her kiss. Within minutes, his cock was straining in his pants. Giving in to the demands of his body, he turned off the TV and unzipped his fly. His cock practically sprang out, desperate for attention. He closed his eyes and imagined what Carissa might look like naked, pondered the shape of her breasts, the curves of her inner thighs. He stroked himself slowly, remembering her scent, the feel of her hair against his skin, the small sighs and groans she made as he and Perry had played with her. Stroking harder and faster, he let images of her overwhelm his mind and then take over his body. The release was so powerful that Del was rendered paralyzed for a moment, the orgasm locking up every single muscle in his body. Finally sated, Del got up and climbed the stairs to his room. He was only mildly upset that he had ruined his shirt. **** After a few hours of unsettled sleep, Carissa finally dragged herself out of bed and into the shower. She hesitated before stepping in. As wrong as the previous night was, as dangerous as it had been for her objectivity, she regretted that it couldn’t happen again. Carissa loved the smell on her skin, the way Perry’s and Del’s scents mixed with her own, and she wanted to cry at the thought of washing them off of her forever. She knew, though, that she had to do what was best for her career, and part of that involved washing off all evidence of the night before. She made sure to turn up the water extra-hot to burn all traces of them from her skin. She didn’t need memories tempting her to go back for more. Good thing I don’t have any interviews today, Carissa thought as she toweled off and dressed. I’m a complete zombie. She fumbled down to the kitchen in hopes of grabbing breakfast and sneaking off to her room before Iris had the chance to confront her again. To her

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relief, she heard light snoring coming from behind Iris’s bedroom door and was sure she was safe from interrogation. She didn’t expect to find her aunt at the kitchen table, lingering over the newspaper and a pot of tea. “Aunt Wendy! This is a surprise. I thought you usually left the house with Uncle Arthur and Uncle George.” “Usually, yes, but I don’t have any meetings scheduled until after lunch today, so I thought I’d indulge in the luxury of sleeping in.” She glanced at the clock. “Not that I stayed in bed especially late. Still, I got a few extra hours.” “That’s great.” “You came in late last night.” “Yeah, I was out having fun.” “I have to admit, I was a little worried when Iris came home alone. She assured me that you were in the company of some truly lovely gentlemen. Is that correct?” Carissa didn’t want to lie to her aunt, and even if she did, she didn’t have the mental energy to come up with a plausible story. “Yes, I was. I ran into Perry Williams and Del Jacobsen, the guys I interviewed last weekend. They invited me to join them, and we hung out and had a few drinks.” “The way Iris tells it, the three of you had a little more than just drinks.” Carissa sighed. “Yeah. We kissed at the bar, and then we went back to Del’s place and made out for a bit. It was a mistake, and I’m not going to let it happen again.” Wendy narrowed her eyes. “Why? What happened? Did one of them take things too far?” “No, not at all. I mean, Del was a little pushy at times, but it was easy to put him in his place. Perry was a perfect gentleman at all times.” “Was it just not very good, then? No real spark?”

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Carissa had to sit down. The thought of the spark that had occurred made her weak in the knees. “That’s not it at all. The whole evening was wonderful. They were great. The chemistry was amazing. I could have stayed all night if I hadn’t freaked out. Just when things were getting really good, I stopped and left. I couldn’t let myself screw up my career.” “What on earth do you mean?” “I mean that I can’t fool around with them. They’re my research subjects. Getting physically or emotionally involved could compromise my objectivity and ruin my project.” “Would it really?” Iris asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she stepped through the kitchen door. “That’s what you said last night, but somehow, I don’t believe you.” “Come on, Iris. You’re majoring in psychology. I know darn well you’ve been trained in how important it is to be objective in your work and the ways in which emotional entanglements could compromise everything.” “I’m sure you could compartmentalize your sex life and your research life. You can’t be the only academic that’s been in this sort of situation. Well, maybe not with two men at once, but I’m sure you get the idea.” “No, I couldn’t. I tried that once. It was a total failure. I thought I was going to get kicked out of grad school, and I vowed I’d never do it again.” Wendy stood up and pulled two more teacups out of the cabinet. “Sit down, both of you, and let’s talk this out.” “Aunt Wendy, there’s nothing to talk about.” “Yes there is, Carissa. I saw the way your eyes lit up when you were talking about the wonderful time you had last night. You might not know where your feelings for Perry and Del are going, but the feelings are there, and you shouldn’t squash them down. It will only make you miserable. So we’re going to figure out what to do.”

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“I can’t do anything. Even if it hurts to squelch my feelings, that’s what I need to do for my career. Last year, I made a big mistake getting involved with one of my fellow students. His name was Mark. We were collaborators on a major project together, but one afternoon, I showed up early for an interview. Mark was early, too. Early enough that he thought he had time to have sex with our interview subject for that afternoon.” “Oh, god,” Iris murmured. “I’d kill any guy who did that to me.” “Well, I didn’t quite go that far. I stormed out of the room, and he chased after me, desperate to explain. I broke up with him on the spot and refused to answer his calls or emails. I even ignored him when he came by my office on campus.” “I suppose he didn’t take that very well, did he?” Wendy asked, giving Carissa a supportive pat on her arm. “No. Of course, our professor noticed that something was up. When she asked what had happened, I decided to come clean and tell the truth. I figured if I did that, maybe I could be given a new assignment so I wouldn’t have to deal with him. That turned out to be a huge mistake.” “She wouldn’t let you switch projects?” “No, it’s even worse than that. When she went to talk to Mark about it, he accused me of lying, and said that he had caught me having sex with our interview contact.” “Didn’t you fight it?” Iris asked. “Of course. I told her to go speak to the contact person, knowing that my name would be cleared if she confirmed what had happened. I guess she was pretty smitten with Mark, though, because she played dumb. She obviously didn’t want to get Mark in trouble.” “Shit. What happened?” “Since our professor couldn’t definitively prove what had happened, we both failed the project and were put on probation for a semester. It messed up my grade for the class and obviously has

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screwed up my GPA, but I’m grateful that I didn’t get kicked out of the program.” “I’m sorry, hon,” Wendy said, placing a hand on Carissa’s shoulder. “That’s terrible. You’re right, though. It could have been worse.” “So what happened with Mark?” “I don’t know. He actually withdrew from school at the end of the year. I guess he just couldn’t deal with the consequences. This sounds callous, but I’m glad he took off. Every time we were together, even if we were sitting on opposite sides of the classroom, his presence reminded me of what I had almost lost.” “Okay, I see why you wouldn’t want to be around him anymore after that,” Iris said. “That was then, and this is now. It’s an entirely different situation. You’re smarter, you’re a better researcher, and I bet you could handle a relationship with Perry and Del while not compromising your research. Why not at least give it a try?” “This project is a chance to really redeem myself. I’ve done good work since then, but this is my chance to prove to the faculty that I’ve overcome my problems from the past. I want to show them that Mark was wrong, and that my reputation can overcome some tarnish. I can’t do the exact thing I was falsely accused of last year. My career would be ruined.” “What if you just cut Perry and Del from your interview?” Wendy asked. “From what I understand, it’s not like you were able to finish your interview with them anyway,” Iris said. “Just don’t bother to reschedule it, throw out the notes, don’t use their perspectives when you write the paper.” “I don’t know. I would hate to lose the ideas of two eligible bachelors. Throwing out the interview recordings and the notes, pretending they’d never existed in the first place, wouldn’t be ethical.”

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“Fine, keep the notes, just don’t use the interviews in the thesis. Believe me, they’re not the only eligible bachelors in town. You know that.” “Is there a reason you’re being so resistant?” Wendy asked. “I think Iris’s idea sounds great.” “She’s just afraid,” Iris said with a sigh. “And she’s letting that get in the way of her happiness.” “I’m not afraid. I’m trying to protect myself and my interests.” “Who’s protecting your heart?” Wendy asked. Carissa turned to her with a blank stare. She had no words. All she could do was shrug. “Think about it,” Wendy said. “There are plenty of people in this town you can write about in your thesis. There are only two who make you feel special.” “I should go do some work,” Carissa said. “I think I’ll go to a coffee shop.” “Just think about it,” Iris called out. Iris didn’t need to remind her, though. Carissa’s mind was already reeling with the possibilities that had opened up before her.

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Chapter 5 After spending the morning too distracted to work, Perry broke down and called Del. “What do you want?” Del snapped when he picked up the phone. The anger in his friend’s voice made Perry ache with guilt. “I just wanted to say I’m sorry, man. I totally overreacted, and I was out of line yelling at you like that. No matter how upset I was about Carissa taking off like that, you didn’t deserve to have me take it out on you.” “No, I didn’t. Your apology is still accepted, though.” “Can I buy you lunch?” “Of course. Meet me at the diner in fifteen minutes?” “You got it.” Feeling relieved that Del had at least agreed to meet with him, Perry began to relax and was finally able to concentrate on the mountain of paperwork that faced him that morning. Throwing himself into his work, Perry forgot his trouble and didn’t give another thought to Del or Carissa until his calendar alarm went off, reminding him to get up and go to lunch. Perry and Del exchanged a tight hug outside of the diner before heading in and ordering. As soon as their entrees arrived, Perry’s cell phone rang. He rolled his eyes. “Figures.” When he saw Carissa’s name on the display, though, his irritation faded. “Hey, Carissa.” “Hey.” “How–how are you?”

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“Oh, okay, I guess. I’m really sorry for running out on you and Del last night. I just got really freaked out.” “It’s okay, really. We understand. No harm done.” “Are you sure?” “Of course I’m sure.” “Oh, thank goodness.” She sighed. “I mean, would the two of you like to have dinner with me tonight?” “That would be wonderful. How about Hester’s?” “That’s the steakhouse everyone keeps raving about, right?” “Yep. Shall we pick you up at seven?” “I can’t possibly afford that.” “Luckily, you happen to be hanging out with a couple of guys who prefer to pay for dinner.” Carissa couldn’t hide a slight giggle. “Okay. I’ll expect you at seven, then.” Perry hung up his phone. “I hope you didn’t have plans for tonight.” “As a matter of fact, no.” “Well, you do now.” “Let’s take my Jaguar. Give her the grand tour in style.” “I have style.” “I think my Jag trumps your Lexus any day.” “Fair enough.” **** Carissa paced around the living room, constantly fidgeting with the straps on her dress. “Calm down,” Iris said. “You’re making me batty. Want a martini to calm you down?” “Yes, that’s exactly what I need, something to impair my thought processes and motor control. I already made an idiot out of myself twice last night. I don’t need to do it again.”

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Iris shrugged and dropped some olives into her cocktail. “Suit yourself.” The doorbell rang and Carissa darted to answer it. Iris reached out and caught her elbow, preventing her from getting very far. “Don’t let them think you’re too eager,” she admonished. “You don’t want them to know you were waiting by the door.” “I don’t need to take my dating advice from a silly 1950s rule book, thank you very much.” “Because desperation is so very sexy.” Carissa rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t deny that Iris had a point. “Fine.” The doorbell rang a second time, and finally, Carissa went to answer it. She gasped a little when she opened the door to find them both looking heartbreakingly handsome, dressed in suits and grinning at her. Perry and Del each took one of her hands and kissed it. “Shall we be off?” Del asked. “Definitely, I’m starved.” Perry hopped in the front seat next to Del, and Carissa couldn’t help but feel awkward being stowed in the back, as though she was being chauffeured somewhere. She sat back and tried to enjoy the comforts of the luxurious car, as well as the scenery of Male Order in the evening. Then she noticed something out of the corner of her eye. The beatup blue sedan she’d seen twice already was definitely following them in the other lane, keeping a slight distance, but not far enough away to be truly discreet. “There’s that car again,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. Del and Perry checked their mirrors. “Shit, you’re right,” Del said. Carissa tried to turn around to get a better look at the driver through the untinted windshield, but as soon as she did, the car took a sharp left onto a side street, cutting off another driver and causing a cacophony of horns to admonish the driver’s recklessness.

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“Damn it, I didn’t manage to see the driver,” Carissa whined. “It’ll be okay,” Perry said, reaching back to stroke Carissa’s arm. “Look, tomorrow you can go to the police and maybe file a report. I doubt that there’s anything they can do, especially as nothing has happened yet, but I’m sure they’ll keep an eye out for the car. After all, it really could just be a series of weird coincidences.” “Yeah, you’re right. I just need to keep my wits about me and not panic.” Carissa was relieved when they arrived at Hester’s. The opulence of the place took her breath away. She didn’t know if she’d ever been in a restaurant so elegant. From the glimmering china and glassware to the richly upholstered furniture and perfectly starched napkins, Carissa felt out of place, even when accompanied by two dates who clearly belonged here. “Good evening, Mr. Williams, Mr. Jacobsen,” the maître d’ said. “Who is this lovely young lady accompanying you this evening?” “This is Carissa Yarborough,” Perry said. Carissa offered her strongest handshake possible. “She’s from out of town and will be here most of the summer.” “Wonderful. Now, I see that you’ve booked a private booth for the evening. Excellent choice, if I do say so myself. Right this way, please.” Carissa struggled to hide her amazement as she, Perry, and Del settled into the booth and the maître d’ pulled the curtain closed. She realized too late her face must have been especially expressive, because both of her dates chuckled. “What?” “You just look so cute when you’re surprised,” Del said. “I can’t help it if I’m experiencing a little bit of culture shock. I’ve never been in a place that had private booths.” “If only we could have gotten you one of the private rooms reserved for the founding families,” Perry said with a sigh. “Then you’d be really amazed.”

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“This is perfectly amazing, thank you.” They all went quiet for a moment while they studied their menus, and then Del gestured for a waiter to come take their orders. Both Del and Perry looked shocked when she ordered a porterhouse steak. “What, surprised to find a woman who eats?” “Well, maybe a little,” Perry admitted sheepishly. “I’m in graduate school. I’m perpetually hungry.” She laughed a little too heartily at her own joke. Their drinks arrived almost immediately, and Carissa restricted herself to dainty sips, not wanting to have any more choking incidents. She was glad to have something to focus on, because an awkward silence had descended over the booth. Finally, she couldn’t take it anymore. “I just want to say again that I’m really sorry for running out on you guys last night. I totally freaked out.” “I already said that you don’t have to apologize.” Perry smiled and placed his hand on hers. “I just want to explain myself.” “You don’t owe us an explanation, either.” “I want to give one, though. Look, last year, I fell for the wrong guy. I caught Mark cheating on me with a participant in our research study. When I told a professor about it, Mark said I was the one who had gotten involved. Our professor couldn’t prove it either way, so we both failed the project. Mark and I have long since split up, of course, but I’ve spent the past year trying to reclaim my stellar academic reputation.” “You freaked out because you knew getting involved with us would interfere with that, right?” Carissa could hear that Perry was trying to be supportive, but he was obviously struggling to hide the disappointment in his voice. “I understand. We both do. We won’t bug you anymore. The last thing either of us wants is to ruin your career.” “No, it doesn’t have to be that way at all.”

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Perry’s face perked up. “Really?” “While I appreciate the help and insight you’ve given me, please consider yourselves exempt from future research. We will not be rescheduling that interview.” “That’s such great news,” Perry murmured, leaning in to kiss Carissa, letting heat flow between their lips and settle in their groins. When they pulled apart, she turned to kiss Del and felt the same effect. Just as Del tried to slide his hand up her skirt, the waiter arrived with their food. They went silent again for a few minutes as all three of them dug into their food, relishing their meals. But even the amazing cuisine couldn’t turn them away from each other. Now that they were free to do what they wanted, they didn’t want to wait, not even for a highclass steak dinner. Draining the last of his wine, Del turned to Carissa and placed nibbles along her earlobe. Perry followed suit, gently biting her neck and collarbone. Carissa couldn’t hold back anymore. Despite her fears, despite the intellectual part of her brain telling her she was making a terrible mistake, she had no choice but to give in to what her body and heart wanted. She reached out to each side, stroking up and down both of their thighs. “You’re sure about this?” Perry asked, taking her hand. “Yes.” He leaned forward and kissed her while Del snaked his hands up her body to play with her breasts. Reaching into her dress and under her bra, he pinched both of her nipples. She gasped and pulled away from Perry, and then her lips and tongue mingled with Del’s. Perry reached up inside her dress and pushed aside her panties to find her already wet and waiting. As Del’s mouth roamed Carissa’s body, nipping at her neck and earlobes, Perry placed a thumb on her clit, holding it there until it pulsed with such insistence that Carissa couldn’t resist letting a low moan escape her lips.

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Perry wasn’t afraid of indiscretion and began to work her clit. Del kept kissing her and returned his hands to her breasts. Carissa rolled her head back against the soft leather of her seat, trying to keep from shrieking as stimulation hit her from all directions. When the pleasure overwhelmed her, she couldn’t keep from moaning as the electricity shot from her clit all the way down to her feet, all the way through her hands, all the way out through the top of her head. “I hate to put a halt to things,” Carissa said, trying to catch her breath. “But could we perhaps go somewhere a little more private? She saw Del smile at Perry over her head. “Your place or mine?” Del asked. “My place this time. Let me pay for dinner, since you got the drinks a few nights ago.” Perry took out his wallet, and Carissa tried not to gasp at the large denominations of bills folded up inside. “That should cover it,” Perry said, laying some bills on the table. “Come on, let’s go.” They hurried into Del’s Jaguar, Carissa taking the back seat again. This time, she balanced herself in the middle and slid her hands between the seats. Her seatbelt gave her just enough leeway to stroke their chests and necks. She even managed to brush her fingers up and down their thighs a few times. “I can’t wait to get out of this car and find out what you can really do to me,” Dell murmured, glancing back at her. “Eyes on the road,” Carissa admonished. “Yeah, man, we’re not going to be able to enjoy any of this if we’re dead.” Del smiled and turned back toward the windshield. Carissa continued to fondle and stroke her men, her own pussy getting hotter and wetter with each brush of her fingers. By the time they pulled into the driveway, she wanted to simply hop up on the hood of the car and beg them to fuck her right then and there, regardless of whether or not the neighbors would see. Perry,

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however, seemed to be all propriety as usual, and hurried out of the car to unlock the door. Carissa barely made it into the house before Perry’s and Del’s hands were all over her. She braced herself and closed her eyes, not caring who was touching her where, just enjoying the sensation of four strong hands running down her thighs, around her waist, across her neck, over her breasts. She reveled in the feeling of four lips speckling her shoulders, her collarbone, and her jaw line with kisses. She didn’t open her eyes until someone’s arms lifted her up. She found herself secure in Perry’s grasp with Del’s fingers playing with her hair. Perry carried her off to the bedroom. Perry set her down and unzipped her dress, letting it fall to the floor. Carissa stepped out of her shoes and settled on the edge of the bed, arching her back to push her breasts forward and strike an alluring pose. “I’m not going to be the only one in underwear around here. Why don’t you both take a few things off for me? Start with your ties.” Del, always eager, hurried out of his jacket, tie, and belt before Perry let his own tie flutter to the floor. “You’re not a very good listener, Del,” Carissa chided. “I said I wanted you to just take your ties off. You’ve jumped the gun a bit.” “Is that a problem?” “Not necessarily, but it does give me cause for concern. How do I know you’re not going to jump the gun when you’re inside me?” Del tried to hide a blush, but Carissa could see twinges of red threatening to burst out on his cheeks. “I promise that will never happen. I always leave my lovers satisfied.” “Then you’re going to have to satisfy me to prove it.” “How would you like me to do that?” “Go down on me.” Del dropped to his knees in front of the bed, grabbed her panties with the tips of his fingers, and slid them off with one quick motion. He placed the tip of his tongue on her clit and held it there for a

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moment before flicking it in tiny strokes. When Carissa gasped, Del pulled away and ran his tongue up and down her slit, featherlight at first, then faster and harder, before delving back to her clit. Carissa gripped Del’s shoulders for balance, her nails digging into his skin. “Perry,” she gasped through the pleasure. “I want to watch you strip.” Perry slid his jacket to the floor, and then turned around in a circle to give Carissa a view of his elegantly clad body. Then he began to unbutton his shirt, taking his time to let the fabric fall open and expose hints of his toned abs and chest. Carissa smiled, certain that she was finally going to get to see him shirtless, but then he flashed an impish grin and started to close the buttons again. “No!” Del immediately pulled away, looking nervous. “Did I hurt you?” “You’re amazing. Your friend here seems intent on teasing me, though.” Del grinned. “You know you like it.” “I’d rather see him naked.” “Just enjoy yourself.” Del looked over his shoulder, flashed a wink at his friend, and dove back between Carissa’s thighs. This time, he slid his tongue into her cunt, occasionally pulling away to nip her swollen lips before pushing back in. Finally, Perry unbuttoned his shirt and slid it down to join his jacket. “You’re beautiful,” she gasped just as Del’s tongue gave a particularly forceful jab that sent miniature sparks throughout her cunt. “You haven’t even seen the best part.” Perry eased open his belt buckle, drawing it out of his belt loops and running the dark leather across his muscular chest before tossing it aside. Then he let his pants drop to the floor, stepping out of them to reveal a substantial bulge in his underwear.

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“Yes,” Carissa whispered, her orgasm starting to build as Del’s tongue thrust inside her and Perry’s cock hardened beneath the thin cotton fabric. “You want to see my cock?” Perry slid his thumbs into his shorts. “Yes, please.” Perry slid his boxers down so the head of his cock popped out, but then pulled them back up. “Are you sure that’s what you want?” “Yes!” This time, Perry pulled his shorts farther down, and she got almost a full glimpse of his erection before he slid them back up again. “Are you really sure?” “Yes!” With the final exclamation, Carissa’s orgasm overtook her, and she let out a scream as the tremors coursed through her body and Perry finally dropped his shorts for good. “That was amazing,” she gasped, flopping backwards on the bed. “I hope you’re not tired out already,” Del said, standing up. “We’ve only just begun.” Perry slid onto the bed and Carissa sat up, settling her head on his chest and feeling his erection press into the small of her back. “You have another performance to watch, after all.” Del stood up and slowly began to remove his clothes, though he had a bit more of a flair for the dramatic. Although there was no music, he turned his striptease into an actual dance, throwing slightly uncoordinated shimmies and leg kicks into the mix. After he removed each article of clothing, he swirled it over his head like a lasso before throwing it off to the side of the room. Carissa couldn’t help but laugh and was surprised to find that his silly antics were arousing. She was starting to like his sense of humor. As Del stripped, Perry unhooked Carissa’s bra and began to play with her nipples. As Del spun and gyrated and threw off his clothing, Perry pinched and tweaked and twisted. Just as Del was slowly beginning to remove his boxer briefs, Carissa’s whole body

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contracted, and a small orgasm burst through her body. She leaned back into Perry for support, enjoying the sight of yet another magnificent cock as sparks of pleasure ricocheted through her muscles. Perry moved out from behind Carissa and lowered her onto the bed. He slid a finger up inside her, stroking her walls and inner muscles, before sliding a second in, fondling her G-spot with an achingly slow pace. Del joined them and began teasing her inner thighs with his fingertips, running all the way down to her knees before scurrying his hands back up again and then sliding back down. Then he began to explore the soft folds of her cunt, massaging the soft lips, making her whole pelvis tense up from the stimulation. Then, she felt something completely unexpected. Del’s fingertip snaked beyond her pussy, all the way up to press against her asshole. She was so surprised that she jerked with shock. “Are you okay? Did I hurt you?” Del asked. “No, not at all! I mean, no, you didn’t hurt me. I’m definitely okay. I was just surprised. I wasn’t anticipating that.” “What, do you think us rich boys are too uptight for something like that?” Perry winked to put her at ease. “No, I mean…well, nobody has ever…I’ve never felt that before.” “Oh, really? I thought you academic types were all secretly sluts who had tried anything and everything.” “I think you’re confusing academic stereotypes with librarian stereotypes.” “Still, would you like to experience more of it?” Del asked. “If the rest of it feels half as amazing as just your finger, then yes.” Del grinned. “Awesome. Just let us know if it ever gets to be too intense for you, okay?” “Of course.” Perry handed Del a bottle of lube from inside the dresser, and Del slicked up his hand. Perry returned his attention to Carissa’s cunt,

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teasing at her clit and thighs, not wanting to distract her from the new sensations that Del planned to offer. Once he was ready, Del pressed his finger back up to her asshole, working in slow circles. “More,” she gasped. **** Del slid a finger in, stopping at the second knuckle joint. “Is this good?” “More.” “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Del slid his finger in a little deeper, and Carissa sucked in her breath. “Everything okay?” he asked. “Okay? This feels fucking fantastic. I want more.” Del slid his finger all the way in and marveled at the way her muscles contracted around him. He began to work his finger in and out, first in halting motions, speeding up only when her muscles started to relax. When Carissa started to moan, Perry got more involved, putting direct pressure on her clit, scratching the insides of her thighs. Taking their timing cues from each other, they gradually increased their respective paces until Carissa was thrashing so hard that Del was afraid she might injure herself. Instead, she let out a howl, her muscles clenching their fingers even harder than they had before. Del’s cock got even stiffer as he imagined what it would be like to feel her clench down on it. “That was amazing. I want more.” “Greedy little thing, aren’t you?” “Yes I am, and I demand more. Right now.” “As you wish, my lady.” Del slicked up another finger and slid it directly into Carissa’s ass. “Yes!” she moaned.

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As Del worked both fingers inside of her, Perry slid a finger inside her cunt, keeping another pressed down on her clit. Again, they based their pacing on each other’s movements, not wanting to overwhelm Carissa and put her out of commission for the rest of the night. It seemed that their fear was unwarranted, though, because within minutes, she had thrown her head back against Perry’s shoulder and was screaming. “Oh my…fuck. Yes, yes, yes.” As the orgasm abated, she went limp. “You okay there, sweetheart?” Perry asked, brushing her sweaty hair out of her face. “I feel better than I ever have in my life. I’m beginning to feel like I really am being a greedy lover, though. I think it’s time for the two of you to get off.” Turning around, she pushed Perry down on the bed and straddled him. She grabbed his cock and gave it six hard, quick strokes before she slid him inside her. Del was so turned on by the sight that he had to restrain himself from coming on the spot. Del slicked up his cock and grabbed Carissa’s hips from behind. With a gentle touch, he leaned her forward, until she was presenting her ass to him. Kneeling on the bed, he placed the tip of his cock right up against her hole. “You ready, babe?” “I’ve been ready.” Del didn’t need any further encouragement. He slid in, slowly at first, his body trembling as her ass took his cock in and clenched down around him. “Goddamn, you feel amazing,” Del moaned. “Doesn’t she feel amazing, Perry?” “You’re fucking right, she does.” They let Carissa set the pace this time. Del timed his thrusts into her with the way she rode Perry. After just a few minutes of her frenzied up-and-down movements, he gripped her hips a little tighter.

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“Slow down just a little bit. We want to be able to last for you.” Carissa complied almost too well. For a moment, she completely stopped, before finally starting to move with movements so tiny and precise that Del could barely feel them. “I didn’t mean quite that slow,” he said, playfully pulling on her hair. “That’s not how it works with me,” she whispered. “I ride hard, or I don’t ride at all.” “Then ride hard, baby.” Carissa returned to her almost-frantic pace, and Del held on as long as he could before the tightness and the quickness overwhelmed him. “I–I can’t last anymore,” he gasped. “Me neither,” Perry groaned. “I want you to come for me, right now,” Carissa demanded. “Do it. Come in me.” With simultaneous groans, both men exploded into her. As his cock gave one final sputter, Del’s thigh muscles gave out, and he collapsed on Carissa’s back as he slid out of her. The weight caused her to fall on top of Perry’s chest. “Mmm, I think I like this configuration,” she murmured. “Although I don’t think I can breathe in this position for very long.” Del rolled off to the side and pulled Carissa off Perry so that she was snuggled in between them. Perry reached for the light, and they started drifting off. “You’re beautiful,” Del whispered right before he fell asleep. “I bet you say that to all the girls.” “I never mean it with them the way I mean it with you.” ****

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Carissa wanted to ask for an explanation, but Del was already snoring by the time she got up the courage to say something. She lay awake for another hour, ecstatic yet unsettled.

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Chapter 6 Carissa woke up the next morning sandwiched between both of her lovers. Her body immediately started to tingle as she felt the warmth of their skin on hers and recalled the amazing night they had shared. Intent on giving herself another jolt of pleasure, she carefully eased her hand down towards her clit. Another strong hand grabbed hers before she had a chance to touch herself. “Were you really going to pleasure yourself without giving us a chance to join in?” Del whispered. Perry stirred before she had a chance to answer. “What’s going on?” “Carissa here was going to get herself off without giving us a chance to participate.” “I didn’t want to wake anybody up,” she protested. “Well, we’re both awake now,” Del said. “How about a quick romp before we have to get up?” He guided Carissa’s hand to his already-hard cock. Perry frowned. “I hate to break up the party, but I have a board meeting today. It’s one of the few times a year I absolutely cannot be late. I shouldn’t really linger in bed.” “Oh, come on,” Carissa protested. “Morning sex is the best.” “She speaks the truth,” Del said with a wink. “I don’t know.” “How about we be efficient about it and just do it in the shower? We can get dirty and clean at the same time,” Carissa said. “Now that’s an idea.” Del grinned and hopped out of bed. “I don’t know,” Perry said with a frown.

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“Please?” Carissa looked up at him and batted her lashes. “Okay, okay.” He sounded irritated, but he couldn’t hide his smile. “I don’t know why I thought I could resist you, anyway.” Perry opened the bathroom door to an expansive suite, which contained a mosaic-tiled shower and a hot tub. Carissa gasped at the opulence. “We need to fool around in that tub when we have more time.” “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Perry warmed up the shower water and then invited Carissa and Del to join him. Carissa smiled when she saw his cock already growing stiff. “What do I want to do with this?” Carissa mused, running a hand up and down his shaft. Perry shuddered so hard that he almost slipped on the wet tile floor. “I think you know,” Del said, running a finger down the length of her slit and making her cry out. The surprise and intensity of the touch managed to knock her off balance, and though Del kept her from landing on the shower floor, Carissa found herself staring directly at Perry’s cock. As if acting on instinct, she slid the tip of her tongue around the head, then slowly licked her way down the shaft. Perry braced himself against the shower wall and groaned. “More. Please.” Not needing to be prompted twice, she continued, though at a slower pace, inching her way up and down, one finger tracing swirls on his balls. Del reached one hand to cup her breast and the other to rub her clit. He matched the circles of his fingers to the speed of her mouth, and Carissa realized that if she wanted more from him, she’d have to give more to Perry. She swallowed Perry’s impressive length and increased her speed just slightly, not wanting to rush. As Carissa neared the point of orgasm, she went all-out in her thrusting, taking Perry in and out of her mouth as fast as she possibly could. The last bit of pressure from Del sent her over the edge, and as she screamed out as best she could with her mouth full. As her own

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pleasure subsided, she felt Perry’s increasing, and his cock gave one final throb as he reached his apex. Gripping his thighs, she felt his leg muscles clench as he groaned out her name. Carissa swallowed every drop he gave, licked him clean, and then turned to face Del’s cock. She immediately took his length into her mouth, causing him to stumble back with surprise. With some effort, she managed to keep him, her tongue making circles around his shaft as she started her slow thrusting. Perry twisted her hair around his hand, pulling just hard enough to send sparks all the way down her neck. Having some degree of control over her motions, he set her pace, sometimes barely letting her move up and down the shaft, sometimes upping the speed to a moderate tempo, and sometimes thrusting her mouth up and down as fast as he could manage. With his free hand, he reached down and pressed gently against the entrance to Carissa’s ass, rubbing in circles to loosen the muscles. She groaned, and Del gasped. Perry didn’t enter her, but kept rubbing her hole with more and more pressure. Just as Carissa started to reach the edge, Perry pulled away and slid two fingers inside of her, going straight for her G-spot. Carissa had been so aroused that the immediate pressure on her G-spot caused an instantaneous orgasm. The intense waves of electricity shook her so hard that she had to grip Del’s ass to remain upright. As she dug her fingernails into his flesh, she felt his cock surge and felt his whole body seize up with the intensity of his orgasm. He moaned as Carissa swallowed every drop, and then licked him clean. As Carissa stood up, she felt all four hands running up and down her body, and she realized they were cleaning her, rubbing sweetsmelling soap over her skin and working shampoo through her hair. She leaned back against Perry, enjoying the way it felt to be washed, especially by such strong, sexy hands. When she was rinsed off, Perry shut off the water. Reaching outside the shower, he handed her the fluffiest towel she had ever seen.

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“Hey, I didn’t actually get to wash either of you.” Perry glanced at the clock. “The two of you can stay and keep fooling around, but I’m officially going to be late for work. I’m just going to have to go in like this today.” “I’m sorry I made you late.” Perry cupped Carissa’s face in his hands. “Don’t be sorry. I had a wonderful morning, and I wouldn’t trade my time with you for anything. The only thing I feel guilty about is that I’m not being a very good host. I really don’t have time to make you breakfast. I apologize about that. It’s not very gentlemanly of me.” “It’s really fine,” Carissa said, giving him a kiss. “Well, the three of us will just have to make plans for the weekend, so we don’t have to worry about getting up early.” “Are you sure?” “I’m not a big breakfast person, anyway. Sunday brunch is more my style.” “I think we have Saturday night plans, then.” Carissa walked out of Perry’s front door, exhilarated and happy. She and Del made small talk as he drove her home, making small caresses along each other’s legs and arms. Unfortunately, the happiness she had woken up with only lasted halfway home. Then, Iris called. “Hey, what’s up?” Carissa asked. “Was Aunt Wendy upset that I didn’t come home last night?” “No, but something bad happened. Something really bad.” “What’s wrong?” “You’re on your way home, right?” “Yeah.” “I think it’s better just to show you.” When they pulled into the driveway, Carissa couldn’t believe the wreck that was her car. The tires had been slashed, and the paint had been scratched. Across the hood the words “Go home” were scrawled in red paint.

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At first, Carissa couldn’t even move. She was too shocked, scared, and upset. Her car wasn’t exactly a fancy machine, but it was reliable. She’d had it since college, and loved it. “Holy shit!” Del cried. He pulled out his cell phone. “Hey, Perry! Get over to the Holt-Parker ranch! Now!” “What? What’s wrong?” “You’ll see when you get here.” **** Carissa tried to keep cool as Perry zoomed into the driveway. “What about your meeting?” she asked, trying to keep her voice steady. “This is an emergency. Some things are more important than quarterly reports. Has anybody called the police yet?” “Yeah, my mom took care of it,” Iris said. “She also called a tow truck. They’re both on the way.” When the police car pulled up, Carissa lost her cool. She suddenly realized that she hadn’t been paranoid. Somebody in this town really was out to get her. She started sobbing and shaking so hard that she needed to lean on Iris to remain standing. The police collected reports from everyone at the scene. They all answered as best they could, with Carissa taking long breaks to blow her nose and take deep breaths. “Miss Yarborough, do you know of anyone who might want to wish you harm?” “W–well,” she gulped, “I think someone in a blue sedan has been following me around. It’s an older-model Ford Taurus or something, maybe mid-90s. I’m not very good with cars, but it definitely stands out in a town as wealthy as this one. I haven’t been able to get a license number or make out the driver, but I’m definitely being followed.”

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“That’s good to know. We’ll keep an eye out for the vehicle and send some extra patrols down this street, especially in the evening. Anything else?” Carissa froze for a moment, unsure of whether she could bring herself to really suspect Perry’s hostile parents. “No, sir. I think that’s all.” Perry jumped in. “Carissa, it’s okay.” He turned to the officers. “I would never believe that my parents are the type who would be willing to commit vandalism, but they’ve been opposed to Carissa’s project ever since she got into town. One of my fathers even suggested that she pick a new project and leave town. Like I said, they’re not violent people, but in light of this, I can’t just pretend that it never happened.” “It’s important that we have the most detailed information possible. Thank you for telling us.” “Of course, officer.” “Well, we’ll check things out, but there’s not a whole lot we can do right this second. We’ll call you.” “Thank you so much, officer,” Carissa said, trying to steady her voice. “Honey, will you be okay if we head off for the day?” Wendy asked. “Your uncles and I can rearrange our meetings if you need us around to feel safe, but—” “Don’t worry, Aunt Wendy. I’ll be just fine.” “Okay. Call us if you need anything.” “I’m going to take a shower and then go shopping,” Iris said. “You should join me. A little retail therapy might do you good.” “I think I’m just going to handle the tow truck and then relax,” Carissa said. “Okay.” Iris disappeared into the house, leaving Carissa in the driveway with her men. ****

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Del was frustrated by how ineffectual the police seemed. They’d taken all of their statements but didn’t seem to be making the case a top priority. “What did you expect?” Perry asked. “Vandalism isn’t exactly as bad as murder.” “No, but there was definitely a threat involved. This wasn’t just some dumb college students. Carissa was targeted.” “The police have promised to dispatch some extra patrols around her family’s ranch, and they’ll be talking to my parents. What more can they really be expected to do if we didn’t witness the crime taking place?” “I guess you’re right.” Perry checked his watch. “Shit. I really need to get into work. I just can’t miss this meeting.” He rubbed his temples. “Don’t worry about it, man. I can give Carissa a ride to the repair shop and then take her home. You go ahead.” Perry turned to Carissa. “Is that okay? Do you mind?” “Of course it’s okay,” Carissa said. “You go on. I’m sorry I made you late at all.” Perry took her face in his hands. “It wasn’t your fault. I’m just glad you’re okay.” He kissed her. “I’ll call you tonight.” Hopping into his BMW, he sped off. “Well, now what?” Carissa asked, suddenly looking exhausted. As if in answer to her question, the tow truck pulled up into the driveway. “Where to, Miss?” the driver asked, hopping out of the vehicle. Carissa looked at Del. “Um, I don’t know. I don’t actually live here.” “Take it to Ike’s, off of Twelfth Street,” Del said. “You got it.” “We’ll follow along behind you.”

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As they pulled onto the street, Del took Carissa’s hand. “You doing okay?” “I think so. I guess I’m still in shock, though.” “That’s normal. I’m here for you, though.” “Thanks.” “You know, you don’t have to get your car fixed if you don’t want to. It looks pretty old. You could sell it for parts and buy a new one.” “For one thing, I love my car. It may be old and a little beat up, but I’ve had it since college. It was the first substantial purchase I made with my own money, and we’ve had a lot of good times together. Second of all, I couldn’t afford a new car right now, even if I wanted one.” “I could take care of the money thing.” “No, you couldn’t. I’m not going to let somebody I barely know buy me a car.” “Why not?” “I’m just not okay with it.” “I like being generous.” “Do you buy cars for all of your one-night stands?” “Who said anything about last night being a one-night stand?” “You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who likes to stick it out for the long haul.” “I know I have a bit of a reputation for not being serious. Still, I think it’s a little unfair of you to just write last night off as something casual. I know Perry didn’t see it that way.” “Really?” “Really.” “Wow.” The car was silent while Carissa processed the information. Finally, she said, “I didn’t expect to get two major shocks in one day.” “Are you really so surprised that Perry likes you?” “As more than a hookup? Yes.”

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“Why?” “Because I’m just an outsider, an interloper here for the summer. To top it off, I’m not nearly as glamorous as the other women around here.” “That’s one of the reasons he likes you. Not the interloper part, but because you’re so different from any other woman he’s ever known.” “Oh. So, how do you feel about me?” “Let’s just say I don’t make up my mind quite as easily as Perry does. I do like you, though, and I would like to see you again.” “Okay.” “How do you feel about me?” “I guess I’m a little slow to make up my mind on that as well. I do know that I’d definitely enjoy another night like last night again.” Del smiled. “I’m thrilled to hear it.” They pulled into the lot of the auto body shop, and Carissa filled out paperwork. They sat on a ratty, vinyl couch waiting for an employee to come back with an estimate. “You want to go get some coffee or something?” Del asked. “Just leave your number, and they’ll call when it’s ready.” “I know, but I don’t feel like leaving. I just want to sit. I’m suddenly really tired. You can go get coffee if you want some, though.” “No, I’m fine. I need to cut back on the stuff, anyway. I’m staying here with you.” He laced his fingers through hers, and when she leaned her head on his shoulder, he felt more content than he ever had in his entire life. He even dozed off in the warm sun pouring through the plate-glass window. **** “Miss? Miss?” Carissa woke up to the sight of a mechanic staring down at her. “We have an estimate for your car. There was no

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significant structural damage. The tires will run you about four hundred dollars, and it’s about a thousand dollars for the paint job, since the damage is so substantial.” Carissa’s eyes widened. “What would the estimate for the paint job be if we just took care of the red paint on the hood, but left the scratches? I can deal with those. They’re not a big deal.” “No, take care of everything,” Del interjected. “Give it the nicest paint job possible, and put everything on the credit card I have on file.” “Del, you can’t—” “I can, and I will. You don’t deserve to drive a scratched-up car. You deserve to show that vandal that he can’t stop you.” “Very good, Mr. Jacobsen. Now, if you’ll just sign on the dotted line, we can begin work.” He turned to Carissa while Del read over the papers. “We should have your car fixed within five days.” “Thank you.” Carissa looked sullen as they walked back to the car. “Were you seriously going to let your pride force you to drive around in a scratched-up car because you didn’t want to ask for help?” Del asked, taking her hand. “Yes. It’s not a matter of pride, though. It’s about my independence. Just so we’re clear, I intend to pay you back every cent you spent to get my car fixed.” “No, you don’t. That was a gift.” “That was too generous a gift from someone who barely knows me.” “The way I see it, living well is the best revenge, and I intend to help you get that revenge.” “You should have asked if I was okay with it.” “Can’t you just enjoy the fact that someone wants to take care of you? Can’t you just accept a gift? I wanted to make you happy. I wanted to do something nice for you.”

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“I do appreciate it. I’m sorry I seem ungrateful. I just…I don’t understand why you’d want to spend so much money on me.” “When you’re as loaded as I am, giving a woman you like fourteen hundred dollars to fix her car isn’t a big deal.” “Ah.” “What? Do you have a problem with rich people or something?” “No, not at all. I just…I still feel like I’m imposing. Like I’m a gold digger or something if I let you pay to fix my car.” “Trust me, you are not a gold digger. I’ve met plenty of those, and you’re pretty much the antithesis.” “Well, okay, I guess.” “So you’ll accept my money?” “If you insist.” “Wonderful. Where to next?” “Can you just take me back to the ranch? I want to crash on the couch and zone out all afternoon.” “You got it.” He laced his arm around Carissa’s shoulders, glad to feel that comfort when she again rested her head on his shoulder. He was relieved when he noticed that she’d dozed off again, glad she was able to get some rest after a busy night and a difficult morning. There weren’t any cars in the driveway when they pulled in. “Will you come in with me?” Carissa asked. “I don’t really feel like being alone right now.” “Of course, don’t worry about it.” “I’m not distracting you from work, am I?” “I’m never one to complain about distraction. Seriously, don’t worry about it.” “Okay.” She opened the door and immediately walked into the living room and collapsed on the sofa. “Sorry, I’m being a bad hostess. Do you want a soda or anything?” she asked. “Or a glass of water?”

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“Don’t you worry about me.” He sat down on the couch next to her and wrapped her up in his arms, pulling her into his chest. “You just relax now.” All of a sudden, Carissa started to sob. “S-s-someone wants to hurt me,” she bawled. “I don’t know who it is, o-o-or why they really hate me so much that they’d vandalize my car.” “We’ll figure it out,” Del said, stroking his hands up and down her arms, trying to soothe her. “N-no we won’t. We don’t have any witnesses. It could be anyone.” “It was probably just some dumb kid. I promise you’re going to be fine.” “Wh-what if one of Perry’s parents did it?” “What, because they don’t like your project?” “Yeah.” “They’re not the type to resort to vandalism, especially not for something like a thesis project they happened to not like.” “What if it was because they found out I’ve gotten involved with the two of you?” “I doubt Perry’s parents even knew you were over last night. It’s not like they send spies out to follow him or something. He has his own place, and they don’t talk every day.” Carissa took a deep breath. “I’m sure word got around about me kissing you guys at the Boom Boom Room the other night. I know people saw us leave Hester’s together. They’ve probably figured out that something is going on.” “I still don’t think they’re the kind of people to sneak onto someone else’s property late at night and slash their son’s girlfriend’s tires. They might be hostile toward you and they might not like Perry seeing you, but he’s their son. Besides, they’re more the type to do the passive-aggressive thing, rather than something so overt.” Carissa giggled. “Fair enough. You’re probably right. I just can’t stop worrying. If Perry’s parents were behind this somehow, it might

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have serious consequences for whatever this thing is that’s happening between the three of us.” “I’m sure whoever is doing this would love to throw a little extra tension into our mix, yes. I’m sure it’s not Perry’s parents. I’ve known them since I was a little kid. I vouch for them completely.” Carissa gave a little smile. “I believe you.” “Excellent.” He leaned down to kiss her, reveling in the sparks that flew between their lips, despite the morning’s stress. “Thanks for taking such good care of me, by the way,” Carissa said as she snuggled back into him. “My pleasure, really. I’m glad I was able to take care of you when you needed support.” “I have to admit. You never quite struck me as the heroic type.” “Oh?” “You’re just so goofy and carefree, you know?” “Yeah, but I’m also always there to support people when they need it.” “I can see that now.” Carissa yawned. “Mind if I just doze for a while?” “No problem.” “You can put on the TV if you want. It won’t bother me.” “I’m happy to just lie here.” “Okay.” As Del felt Carissa’s heart rate slow and heard her breathing change, he began to relax as well. Yet there was something nagging at the back of his mind that kept him from falling asleep with her—the realization that he had made up his mind about how he felt about her. To his surprise, he loved her as he hadn’t loved anyone before.

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Chapter 7 Carissa woke up to the sound of someone knocking on the door. “I managed to take off work a little early today,” Perry said as Carissa opened the door and let him in. “I wanted to check on you.” “I’m okay. Del and I got my car to the repair shop, and we basically crashed after that. The shock of this morning, combined with staying up too late last night, really left me drained. Not that I regret the staying up too late part.” She grinned. “None of us do.” “Hey, man, could I ask you something?” Del said, trying to conceal the nervousness in his voice. “Sure, what’s up?” “Um, I meant in private.” “Carissa—” “Believe it or not, I can go hang out in my room for a few minutes while you boys chat. Just come grab me when you’re done. Don’t take too long, either. Maybe we could get a quickie in before anyone else gets home.” She winked and hurried up the stairs. “So what’s wrong?” Perry asked. “I think I might be in love with Carissa. No, that’s not true. I am in love with Carissa. I’m in love with someone for the first time in my entire life, and I don’t know what the hell to do about it.” Perry’s face broke out in a grin. “Del, man, that’s fantastic. I’m so glad to hear you say that. I’ve been hoping for this since the second I met Carissa. I knew right away that she was the woman for me, and I always wanted to be in a ménage marriage with you. I’m thrilled that you love her the way I do.”

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“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Who said anything about marriage? I’m freaking out over the simple fact that I love her. The thought of marriage is completely terrifying.” “Oh, come on. You love her. What could be wrong about getting to be with the love of your life and your best friend every night?” “I’m not really a commitment kind of guy.” “Carissa’s different, though. You know that.” “Obviously. I mean, the fact that I feel anything for her is completely unprecedented. I mean, what’s my next move? What’s my strategy?” “Generally, when you find that you love someone, you make a point of letting them know.” “Yeah, but–but what if she doesn’t love me back?” “That’s a risk we all have to take with every relationship. Sometimes, you get hurt. It’s always worth it, though.” “I’m not so sure about that.” “You wouldn’t know, because you’ve never tried. I have quite a bit of experience with this sort of thing, though. You’re just going to have to trust me.” “You already knew you loved her?” “From the moment I saw her standing on my doorstep.” “Why haven’t you told her yet?” “I wanted to wait and see if you were going to fall for her, too. Carissa is the one for me, but I couldn’t imagine settling down with her if you weren’t interested. I had to wait and see how you felt.” “So you want to tell her.” “Of course I do. I can’t wait.” “It’s worth the risk of her not feeling the same way?” “First of all, after last night, I’m pretty sure she feels the same way. Even if I’m wrong, yeah, it will be worth it.” “Okay. But no more talk of marriage just yet, okay? I need to take this one step at a time.”

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“Fair enough. No talking about marriage until you feel more secure.” They both turned at the sound of a key turning in the door, and Wendy, Arthur, and George walked in. “Oh!” Wendy exclaimed, “I was wondering whose car that was parked in the driveway. Is Carissa okay?” “She’s fine,” Del said. “She’s just upstairs. I spent the day relaxing with her to help her calm down after the chaos of this morning.” “Thanks for being there for her. I know she was trying to be strong so we could go about our days, but I hated to leave her alone when she was clearly distressed,” Wendy said. “What are the two of you doing down here, then?” George asked. Del hesitated for a moment, but finally decided to try being both honest and discreet. “We needed to have a private chat about something.” George raised his eyebrows. “Oh? Anything we need to be privy to?” Perry blushed. “Well, technically yes, but we think Carissa should hear about it first.” “I take it you have feelings for our niece, then. Feelings of a serious nature, perhaps?” “You could say that, yes,” Del said. “I know it’s very soon, that she’s just getting to know us, but we can’t help it.” Wendy smiled. “I’d be lying if I said I’d never heard of a whirlwind romance before. We’re just glad that she makes you so happy.” Perry’s grin matched Wendy’s. “So are we.” “Well, I think that this news calls for a celebration,” Wendy said. “Arthur, call the Williamses and the Jacobsens. George, call our daughter and figure out why she’s not home yet. I’m going to throw an impromptu dinner party.” She hurried into the kitchen and came

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back with a chilled bottle of champagne and three flutes and shoved the bundle into Perry’s hands. “If we’re going to be celebrating your love for our niece, she should probably know about it in advance. Why don’t you tell her in style?” As they hurried up the stairs, Del realized that he was actually nervous. He was relieved that Wendy had given Perry the glassware, because he could not stop his hands from shaking, even as he knocked on the bedroom door. “Finally,” Carissa said as she opened the door. “It took you long enough. What were you doing down there?” She glanced at Perry, who was setting the champagne flutes down on her desk. “What on earth do you have champagne for?” “Th-there’s something we want to tell you,” Del said, silently cursing himself for suddenly having developed a stutter. “You need champagne to tell it? Seriously, what’s going on?” “Del, why don’t you go first?” Perry asked, popping the champagne cork with such finesse that it barely made a pop. Del tried not to glare at Perry. “Oh, I don’t know. I could always wait if you wanted to start.” “Will the two of you hurry up and just tell me already? You’re driving me crazy.” Del took a deep breath and took Carissa by the hand. “I love you.” “I love you, too,” Perry said. “We both do.” “I–I know this is sudden,” Del continued, wondering why his usual finesse had abandoned him. “We both know it’s a little irrational to fall so hard so soon. But we both think you’re perfect.” “We understand that you might not be ready yet,” Perry said. “That’s fine. Take all the time you need. We don’t want to rush you. But we couldn’t wait any longer to let you know how we feel.” For a moment, Carissa sat completely silent. Finally, she said, “How about you pour me a little champagne?”

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Perry and Del glanced at each other, and then Del handed her a glass. “Is the whole bottle for me, or are you two going to have some as well?” Del reluctantly filled the other two glasses, terrified that his feelings really were about to go unrequited. “A toast,” Carissa said, raising her glass. “To the two men I love more than I ever thought possible.” Perry and Del broke into grins as they clinked their glasses to hers. “Are the three of you about done up there?” Wendy called up the stairs. “Our guests will be here any minute.” “Guests? What guests?” Carissa asked. “Your aunt got wind of our feelings for you,” Del said. “So she’s invited our families over for dinner to celebrate.” “What?” “Is that okay?” Perry asked. “I’m sure we can get out of it if—” “No, no, it’s fine. I’m just…wow, if that’s what Aunt Wendy does because we’re in love, what on earth is she going to do if we get married?” “So you’d consider marrying us?” Perry asked. “Of course I would. I mean, this whole thing is moving really fast and I’m not sure that’s what I want just yet, but I’ve already thought of it, and I’m going to keep thinking about it until I make up my mind.” Perry grinned, and Del broke into a cold sweat. “Quit dawdling!” Wendy called up. “Don’t forget to bring the rest of that champagne. We can serve it with the cocktails.” Carissa turned to Perry. “Are you sure your parents are going to be okay with this?” “Honestly, I’m not. That’s their problem, though. I love you, and if they love me, they’re just going to accept the fact that you’re a really important part of my life now.”

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**** The Jacobsens had already arrived as Carissa, Del, and Perry trooped downstairs. “Del!” Elizabeth Jacobsen said. “We had no idea that you’d be here! Wendy just said that she had a surprise for us. Do you know what this is about?” “If I told you, then it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it?” “So you’re partially behind this little scheme of hers, I see.” “You’ll just have to wait and find out.” The jovial mood tensed slightly when Camilla, Anthony, and Donald walked through the door. Carissa and Perry both stiffened, and even the easygoing Iris was on her guard. Fortunately, Wendy was a perfect hostess and greeted her guests as though nothing was out of the ordinary. “Thank you again for coming on such short notice,” she said. “I’m so happy you could join us tonight.” “It’s our pleasure, really, though I don’t know how you managed to get dinner for all of us together on such short notice.” Wendy smiled. “I have my secrets. Now, let me get drinks for everybody.” She busied herself, making sure everyone had a glass of champagne. “Are we celebrating something?” Donald asked, looking slightly nervous. “I don’t keep secrets well, do I?” “So what’s going on exactly?” Anthony’s eyes narrowed on Carissa, and she felt droplets of sweat starting to form on her skin. Del took the lead. “This evening, Perry and I told Carissa we loved her. We know it’s soon, that he and I have only known her for about a week. She’s very special to us, though, and we’re looking forward to seeing what happens as we spend the rest of the summer together.”

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“And?” Anthony raised his eyebrows. “That’s it, Dad,” Perry said. “I know it’s a little unusual to make a huge pronouncement over falling in love, but Carissa is extremely special to both of us, and we wanted to let all of you know that.” “So you’re not getting married?” “We’re not planning on it at the moment. The thought has crossed all of our minds, of course. Still, we’re moving pretty fast already and don’t see any sense in rushing even faster.” “Thank goodness.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Perry snapped. “Well, dinner’s done,” Wendy said, jumping in, apparently to try to salvage the increasingly tense situation. “Shall we go sit down?” Carissa watched as most of the guests departed for the main dining room, her stomach sinking as Perry placed his hand on her shoulder and whispered “Please stay” in her ear. “My parents and I will be along in just a second,” Perry said. As he turned to his family, Carissa’s stomach tightened even further. The icy look he cast on his parents only added to the tension in the room. Carissa already felt humiliated. She didn’t want to stick around to see the verbal altercation. She also didn’t want to run away in fear. Instead, she took Perry’s hand, letting his warmth give her a sense of security. “What is it, son?” Camilla asked. “I will not have you humiliate Carissa, nor will I have you degrade my relationship with her ever again. I know you are not a fan of her thesis project, but she is an intelligent woman, and she has a right to pursue the work that interests her. Furthermore, I love her.” “You might change your mind,” Donald said. “There are lots of women out there.” “Only Carissa makes me feel the way I feel right now. Look, you don’t have to like her research. You have to respect the fact that I love her, and that Del loves her, and that the three of us are serious enough about each other to tell you all.”

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Camilla sighed. “You have a point. I suppose that if you care for Carissa so much, we should be more open to accepting her. The three of us raised you well, and we should realize that if you trust someone, they’re probably worth it. I’m sorry, Carissa. Can we start over?” “Of course,” Carissa said. “I’m sorry, too,” said Donald. “You do seem like a fine woman. I appreciate your bravery in sticking by my son even in the face of resistance from us.” “You do seem pretty special,” Anthony said. “I look forward to all of us turning over a new leaf.” “We really should be getting to the table now,” Camilla said, taking her husbands by the arm. “Wendy always has such delicious food, and I’d hate to keep everyone else waiting.” To Carissa’s surprise, dinner ran smoothly. Del’s family was even excited to learn about her thesis project, and Perry’s parents seemed to genuinely accept her presence in their son’s life. The best part was that she was seated between Perry and Del, and they subtly teased her all the way through the meal. Taking care to keep their families from noticing, the men alternated running their fingers down her forearms, around her back, and along her thighs. Each caress sent chills along her skin and made her cunt start to heat up. As dinner progressed into dessert and coffee, they both had the audacity to slide their hands up her skirt, and she could feel traces of her wetness as they slid their fingertips away, spreading her juices along her skin. She could barely concentrate on her gelato and was half certain she’d half to sneak off to the bathroom and masturbate in order to make it through the evening with grace. Finally, the Williamses and the Jacobsens got up to go. “Your place or his?” Carissa whispered in Perry’s ear as they waved at the cars driving off into the night. “Your aunt and uncles won’t mind?”

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“They didn’t have a problem with me staying out all last night, did they? Look, I’m twenty-seven, and I’m dating two very eligible Male Order men. They’re not going to interfere.” “In that case, I say we go back to my place.” Carissa leaned over towards Del. “Mind if the three of us head back to Perry’s for a little nightcap?” “If you weren’t going to suggest it, I was.” “Shotgun!” Carissa called as they made their way out to Perry’s car. She could barely contain her excitement for what she had planned. As soon as they were out of the neighborhood Carissa unbuckled her seat belt and unzipped Perry’s pants. “What the hell are you doing?” he gasped as she massaged his cock out of his fly and into complete rigidity. Carissa didn’t answer, just slid her mouth slowly over Perry’s ready cock. “Fuck, Carissa, this is dangerous.” “Just relax and enjoy it.” “What about me?” Del protested. “I’m sure you can find a way to take care of yourself,” Carissa said. She went back to tasting Perry’s cock, and out of the corner of her eye, she saw Del unzip his fly and free his bulging cock from the constraints of the fabric. The sight of him slowly beginning to finger himself sent a rush of blood and energy to her cunt, which spurred her licks and thrusts. Occasionally, she looked up and caught Del’s eye, relishing the sight of his own hand thrusting up and down, matching her tempo. Carissa reached through the space between the seats and grabbed his free hand, connecting the three of them together as she sucked. “Fuck!” Perry screamed, and stomped on the brakes as his cock gave a final shudder. Carissa almost lost control of his dick as the force of the stop jerked her around, but she managed to drink every drop of him.

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“Yeah, baby, drink him down,” Del groaned. Carissa exaggerated the motions of her tongue as she licked him clean, and smiled as Del found his own climax. The orgasm was so powerful that he lost control of his hand. His head rolled back as all of his muscles snapped to attention and then released, and splattered a few drops of hot, white liquid on the leather interior. “Shit, I’m sorry. I’ll pay for the cleanup,” he gasped, trying to pull himself together. “It’s cool, it happens.” Perry was still short of breath. “Fuck, that was amazing.” “I knew you’d enjoy it,” Carissa said with a grin. “I won’t be able to make it home. I need you again.” Perry gestured to his cock, which was already beginning to harden. “We’re not going to fuck in the middle of the street, are we?” “Not quite.” Perry started driving again. He’d only gone about a mile before he pulled off onto the side of the road. He navigated through some tight, uneven road, before coming to a clearing that was completely dark, except for the brilliance of the moon and stars. He parked the car and then reached into the glove box. “I have a little gift for you,” he said, presenting her with a flat jewelry box. Carissa opened it and saw three strands of pearls that looked almost like a necklace, but wasn’t quite long enough. It was definitely too big to be a bracelet. Plus, the clasp didn’t look like any she’d ever seen on a piece of jewelry before. “Oh, man, that’s fantastic,” Del said. “You have excellent taste, sir.” “What is it?” Perry and Del grinned at each other. Then Perry hopped out of the car, took a picnic blanket from the trunk, and spread it out over the grass. “Come over here and we’ll show you.” Carissa settled herself on the blanket, and immediately, their hands were all over her. She closed her eyes and let them wander all

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over her body, unzipping, unbuttoning, tugging clothes down. Before she knew it, the night air was all over her naked body. Perry took the strange jewelry out of the box and handed one end to Del. They placed each clasp on her hard, pebbly nipples. “Oh my god,” Carissa gasped. The pain was intense, and yet she was surprised to find that it felt good. “Does that feel okay?” Perry asked. “If it hurts, you don’t have to use them.” “No, it feels fucking fantastic.” She loved the way her breasts started to throb with the pressure. “Let’s get her warmed up the rest of the way, then,” Del said. “Fuck, you don’t need to. I’m already burning up.” “In that case, do you want my hard cock in your cunt?” “Of course,” Carissa moaned. Del hurried out of his clothes, dropped to his knees, and plunged into her wet cunt. They both cried out as her muscles clenched down around him. Sliding a hand beneath her shoulder blades, Del pulled them both into a sitting position, and Carissa started riding him. She went frustratingly slow, taking her time, waiting to see what Perry would do. Perry undressed a little more slowly, and Carissa’s body heated up even more when she realized he was watching. Then he pulled a bottle of lube from his pocket, slicked up his fingers, and settled down on his knees, with one fingertip positioned against her asshole. Even though she was moving slowly, her body was so receptive to Perry’s touch, his finger slid right in as she thrust downward on Del’s cock. “Yes!” Carissa moaned. She loved being filled by both men at the same time, and with the nipple clamps lighting her breasts on fire, she had never felt so aroused in her life. Perry slid another finger into her waiting hole. “I’m ready for you,” she gasped. “I just want your cock inside me. I want both of your cocks inside me right now.” “Are you sure?”

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“Yes, yes, yes. I have never been so sure about anything in my life.” Perry slicked up his cock, and Carissa stopped her thrusting to give him easier access. “Damn, I love how tight you are,” he gasped as her ass muscles clenched around him. “I love how big you are. I love how big you both are.” Carissa started to move again, still slowly, allowing her body time to accommodate the fullness. As she loosened up, she increased her intensity, sliding up and down their cocks as fast as she could possibly go. The sweet pain she felt in her nipples increased with every movement, and her body was suddenly overwhelmed with physical sensation. “Oh, fuck me, yes,” she screamed, throwing her head back and shouting her joy to the moon. The electric pulsing in her muscles pushed Perry and Del over the edge, and they both gripped her body, Del’s nails digging into her hips, Perry’s digging into her arms. The trio of voices filled the clearing, echoing into the night sky. Del gently unhooked the nipple clamps, and then they gently pulled away from Carissa’s body. “That was the most amazing thing I’ve ever felt,” Carissa said, curling up between them. “I don’t think I can be with one man ever again.” “We’re glad to hear it,” Del said, stroking her hair. “I hate to break up the afterglow, but unless you two want to camp out here, we should probably get to my place. I’m suddenly exhausted.” They reluctantly got up and returned to the car. This time, Carissa flopped into the back seat and dozed off. Her body was so spent that she barely even woke up when Perry lifted her up and carried her upstairs to the bed.

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Chapter 8 Carissa woke to her cell phone buzzing at 4:00 a.m. Iris’s name flashed on the screen. “What’s wrong?” “You need to come home. Now.” “What happened?” “Just come home, please.” Carissa jumped out of bed and started getting dressed. “What’s going on?” Perry asked, his voice groggy. “Something is wrong at the ranch. I need to go.” “Well, let me drive you.” “No, no, you stay here. You need your sleep.” “You don’t have a car, remember?” “Shit. You’re right. Okay, hurry up and get dressed.” “You two aren’t planning on running off to Mexico and leaving me here, are you?” Del asked, sitting up in bed. “Iris just called and said that something is wrong at the ranch. I need to get home now. Perry is driving me.” “I’ll go, too.” “You should stay and get your sleep,” Carissa protested. “No, I want to be there for you. Whatever’s going on, we’re in it together.” He hopped out of bed and threw on his clothes. Carissa’s heart sank when she saw the fire trucks parked in front of the house, though she was relieved to see the house still standing. The three of them ran up to where the rest of her family was standing. “Aunt Wendy! What happened?” “Come look.” Wendy nodded toward the front yard.

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The flames had been extinguished but the message was no less clear for the lack of fire. “Get out” had been slashed across the grass in gasoline, and then set ablaze. The air still stank of smoke and gasoline. Carissa wasn’t sure if her eyes were welling up from the shock or from the fumes. Carissa broke down in tears. “I–I’m so sorry,” she sobbed. “This is all my fault.” “No it’s not, sweetie,” Wendy said, gathering her niece in a hug. “You didn’t cause this.” “I did, though. I caused it by coming here, for taking up this project when people around Male Order were so resistant to it. When my car was vandalized, at least it was just me being hurt. I can’t stand the fact that I’m bringing danger to all of you. I should just give up. I’ll find a new project and go back to Dallas for the rest of the summer. That way you’ll all be safe.” Wendy’s voice took a sharp tone. “You will do no such thing, young lady. You will not run away scared. If you do that, this psychopath wins.” “I don’t want any of you to get hurt.” “I don’t want to see you hinder a great career because you’re afraid. Your uncles and I can take care of ourselves. Don’t worry.” “At least let me pay you back for the lawn.” “Nonsense. That’s what our expensive homeowner’s insurance is for.” “What if something really bad happens?” “I don’t think that’s going to be an issue,” said an officer. He gestured a few feet away, where another cop was dragging someone up the street. They could hear the arrested man’s voice before they made out his features. “I told you, I was just out for a walk! I couldn’t sleep, and rather than keep my spouses up pacing around the house at all hours, I decided to get out and enjoy the night air.”

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Carissa’s heart sank when she realized she recognized the voice. It was one of Perry’s fathers. “Dad?” Perry asked. “What the hell?” “Don’t tell me my own son doesn’t believe me,” Anthony snapped. “You really think I’d hurt this family? We’ve been friends for years. Plus, I apologized to Carissa last night. Just because I’m not sure I approve of her project doesn’t meant I hate her, and I certainly wouldn’t harm her. Nor would I harm the friends I have known since I was a teenager.” “Then what were you doing out here so late?” Perry interjected. The officer turned to Perry. “Sir, let us handle this, please. Now, Mr. Williams, would you mind telling us why you’re out and about at this hour? “I told you, going for a goddamn walk!” “I see,” the officer said, taking out a notepad and writing something down. “Then what were you doing with these matches in your pocket?” Anthony blushed. “I haven’t quite been able to kick my smoking habit, okay?” He reached into his pocket and sheepishly showed off a few crushed cigarettes. Then, his face snapped back into sharpness, as though he remembered that his addiction was the least of his troubles at the moment. “Those matches are hardly decent evidence. You’ve got no reason to suspect me.” “You were at the scene of the crime, sir, and you have matches on your person. We have probable cause, and we shouldn’t have any trouble getting a judge to give us a search warrant to look at your property tomorrow morning.” “This is madness! You don’t have enough evidence.” “Probable cause is enough to arrest you.” “I have no criminal record!” “We do have reports of you acting in a threatening matter toward Miss Yarborough.”

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“Threatening? I’ve never threatened her. We had our differences at first, but we worked past those.” “Even so, sir, we want to bring you in. Mr. Williams, you have the right to remain silent.” Carissa turned to Perry with tears streaming down her face as the officer read Perry’s father his Miranda rights. “Perry, your family did this?” “I–I don’t know. I mean, yeah, I guess they did. Only my father, though. My mom and Donald had nothing to do with it. I’m so sorry, honey.” Perry reached out to embrace her. “Don’t you touch me!” she snapped. “Carissa, are you mad at me?” “More like furious.” “What did I do? I was with you when this happened.” “I know it’s not your fault, but I’m still angry at you for not protecting me from your family.” “I thought everything was okay! We talked everything out with them earlier, and they gave us their blessing to keep seeing each other. They were reserved, sure, but they really seemed to accept you and your importance in my life.” “The key word is seemed. They only seemed as though they were okay with us being together. They only seemed like they were okay with my research. They were just putting on an act to lure me into a false sense of security. You should have known better. You should have known they were faking. You didn’t, though. You failed me.” “Carissa, I’m so sorry.” “Sorry isn’t going to cut it.” “What do you want me to do?” “There’s nothing you can do. Nothing at all.” “Come on, don’t do this.” “Do what? I think I have every right to be angry after all that’s happened.”

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“Yes, you do. I’m not denying that. You don’t have a right to be angry with me, though.” “Well, I am angry with you, and I think I’m going to feel that way for a few more hours. So maybe you should just go.” “What?” “You heard me. Go home, please. Let me spend some time with my family and get some rest. We’ll discuss this later.” “If that’s what you want.” “It is.” She turned on her heel and stalked towards the house. **** Perry watched her go until the door shut behind her, then turned to watch the police car pulling away. “Don’t worry, man,” Del said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “She’s mad now, but she’s also just had a pretty traumatic hour. Give her a chance to calm down, and everything will be fine. All she needs is a chance to settle down and get some more sleep. She’ll be fine when she wakes up.” “I’m not so sure that’s the case. She’s really upset.” “It will be fine, I promise. Now, let’s go bail your dad out of jail.” “Why would I want to do that when he tried to harm my girlfriend and her family?” “Because, man, he’s your dad, and that’s what family members do for each other. You can’t just throw him to the wolves.” “Yes, I can. He tried to harm the love of my life.” “You don’t want to have to wake your mom and Donald, do you?” “Let them deal with it, for all I care. They were mean to her, too.” “Then they apologized and decided to try and start over.” “Or maybe Carissa’s right, and they were just faking it. Let them be woken up at five o’clock in the morning and have to start their day by bailing him out of jail.”

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“You know, in this country, we do operate under the principle of innocent until proven guilty. Have you forgotten about that? Your dad definitely hasn’t been convicted of anything, and he’s right. The evidence they have against him isn’t very good.” “Well, who else would do something like this?” “I don’t know, but nobody has any solid proof that the culprit is your dad, either. I know that I believe they got the wrong guy.” “You do?” “Yeah, I do. I’ve known your dad since I was ten years old. He’s one of the most honorable people I know. Yeah, he was a little nasty to Carissa at first, but this is not like him at all. Besides, what about the blue sedan following her around? Your dad doesn’t own one, that’s for sure.” “The blue sedan could be entirely unrelated.” “It could, but it’s not very likely. What? Do you want your dad to be guilty?” Perry hung his head. “No, I don’t. I just have no idea what to do or think about any of this. For some reason, I don’t have as much faith in him as you do.” “Let’s just take this one step at a time. Let’s just do the rest of your family a favor and bust him out of jail. Even if he is guilty, I seriously doubt your mom and Donald knew anything about it.” “Fine, but only if you go with me. I can’t do this alone.” “I’ve got your back. Besides, it will be nice to be the one doing the bailing for once. It should be interesting for me to see what it’s like to experience jail on the other side of the bars.” “You’re not even ashamed of your record, are you?” “They were just some college pranks. Nothing I haven’t been able to live down. Now come on, quit stalling. The sooner we take care of this, the sooner we can go back to bed.” ****

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Perry hadn’t been able to fall back to sleep. His memories of the past night seemed completely surreal. He still couldn’t believe that his father would do such a terrible thing, especially to someone that Perry loved. Deep in his gut, he knew his father was innocent, but he also had to admit that the evidence against him wasn’t good. The thought that his father was actually guilty was horrifying. It wasn’t just the possible guilt that bothered Perry. He had never imagined having to see his father in handcuffs or being shoved into a police car. He never imagined he’d have to bail his father out of jail. He never imagined that his father wouldn’t speak to him because Perry decided to side with the woman who had captured his heart. What hurt most of all, though, was the way that Carissa had looked at him before she’d gone into the house. The way she’d been unable to conceal her anger and fear, and the way that she seemed incapable of separating Perry from his aggressive father. He hated the way she’d told him to go home, the way she refused to let him comfort her. After showering and drinking two cups of black coffee to wake himself up, Perry dressed for work. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to go into the office without talking things out with Carissa and proving to her that he and Anthony were two entirely different people. So he drove out to her house, cringing at the charred remains of the front lawn. Iris answered the door. “She doesn’t want to see you. None of us really do, actually. It might be best if our respective families had some time apart.” He winced at her candor. “Please, just let me talk to Carissa. Let me make things right with her.” “I don’t think you can.” “Just let me try.” “Fine, but you’re wasting your time and your breath.” Iris disappeared back into the house.

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Perry waited, the hot summer sun causing perspiration marks to dot his collar. Finally, he heard voices. “Just give him a chance.” “Why are you advocating for him? You’re just as angry as I am.” “He loves you. At least let him speak his mind, even if you’ve already made up yours. I’ll go with you if you want.” “No, I’m okay. I’ll be right back. This shouldn’t take long at all.” Carissa finally appeared in the doorway, looking exhausted. “What on earth do you want?” “How are you?” “Not doing so great, actually. So make it quick so I can go back to bed.” “I want to apologize on behalf of my family. I also want you to know that I believe you, and that I’m furious with him for putting you and your family in danger. It’s going to take me a long time to forgive him, and I understand if you never do. He’s my father, but you’re the priority in my life right now. I love you.” “Maybe you should try to stop, then.” “Stop what? Loving you?” “Yeah.” “I don’t understand.” Carissa burst into tears. “Y–you might love me, b–b–but I can’t be a member of a family that hates me.” “I don’t hate you.” “You don’t, but your parents definitely do. Especially now that I’ve put one of them in jail. If we were to get married, there’s no way that any family gatherings would ever be happy occasions.” “That’s not your problem. If they have issues, they need to deal with them. Like mature adults, that is. I won’t let them ever get away with arson again.” “It’s not just my fear of them that’s the problem, though. Who’s to say that in five or ten years, you won’t come to resent me for it?”

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“I won’t resent you. He did something wrong. He has to pay the price.” “I’m just not sure you’ll always feel this way. I’m sorry, Perry. I love you, too. It’s just not going to work out between us. I just can’t become part of a family that doesn’t want me.” “What about what I want? They might not want you, but I do. Doesn’t that count for anything?” “Perry, you couldn’t even protect me from them while I was supposedly safe in your arms. If you couldn’t keep me safe last night, there’s no way you’d be able to keep me safe for the rest of our lives. I just can’t do this. I’m not going to put myself in a position where I’m living in fear. You’re wonderful, but you’re just not worth it.” Carissa wiped the tears from her face and closed the door without giving Perry a chance to respond. Perry walked to his car in shock and turned on the ignition without thinking. He was halfway to his office before the realization of what Carissa said finally hit him. He swerved and pulled into a parking lot, and then pulled out his phone and called Del. “She broke up with me,” he said as soon as Del picked up. “What?” “She told me that she didn’t want to be a part of a family that didn’t want her. She doesn’t care that I want her, that I stand by her, that I think what my father did is wrong. She still has decided that she doesn’t want anything to do with me. So that’s it. She and I are over. It’s done before it ever really had the chance to begin.” “Where are you? Do you need me to come get you?” “I’m in a gas station parking lot. I’m fine. Just shocked.” “Okay, dude, you’ve had a rough night and an even worse morning. Take a personal day from work, go home, and get some sleep.” “I have so much to do at work.” “You also need to take care of yourself. When was the last time you played hooky? I don’t think you even cut class in high school.”

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“No, I didn’t.” “Well, it’s time you cut loose and took a day off. So go call in and get some rest. I’ll talk to Carissa and get this all straightened out.” “I don’t want to get you involved. This is my problem.” “It’s not just your problem. Carissa is involved with both of us. She loves both of us. What happens between the two of you affects things with me. That’s just the way it goes. So if something’s up, there’s a good reason for me to talk to Carissa about it.” “I suppose you’re right.” “Now go, okay? I’ll come by sometime this afternoon once I’ve talked to Carissa and figured out what’s going on.” “Okay, man. Thank you.” “No problem.” **** Del decided to wait until after lunch to talk to Carissa. He figured she could use the extra sleep, and that breaking things off with Perry a few hours before had been stressful enough. He wanted to give her some time to decompress before he butted in. After grabbing a burger from the diner, Del drove out to the HoltParker ranch, taking the scenic route. He couldn’t deny that he was nervous. Normally he was confident about every interaction he had with women. He was never rejected, and whenever things inevitably fizzled out, there was always someone else right around the corner. Carissa was special, though. Not only was she special, but this was the first time in his life that he’d ever considered a woman to really matter to him. He had to admit that he wasn’t sure what was going to happen with Carissa that afternoon. For once, he doubted whether or not he could use his charms on Carissa to convince him to take Perry back. He didn’t know if he could smooth things over. He didn’t know what would happen if Carissa made him choose between her and his best friend.

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Del was so nervous that he was almost shaking as he approached Carissa’s door. He didn’t even ring the bell right away. Finally, though, he worked up his courage, if only because he didn’t want anyone in the family to discover him just standing there, looking like a fool. Iris answered the door. “Yes?” Del decided this wasn’t the day to try and fool around or flirt. “Is Carissa home? Is she willing to speak with me?” “I don’t know. I suppose Perry called you about what she said to him this morning.” “Yeah, he did.” “She’s not going to change her mind, you know.” “I’m prepared to accept that possibility. Can I talk to her anyway?” “Hold on.” Carissa walked to the door a minute later, a somber expression on her face. “Del, I’m glad to see you. Thank you for stopping by.” “Do you want to take a walk?” “Sure.” Del reached for her hand, but she didn’t reach back. He didn’t acknowledge her resistance, and tried not to think about it as they walked down the driveway. He tried not to notice the tears silently streaming down her face, either. Everything will be fine, he thought. Everything will be fine. “So how are you doing?” he asked, hoping to get her to open up right away. “Not so good, honestly.” She sniffled, and the tears started flowing faster. “I’m not surprised, after everything you went through last night.” Everything will be fine. He repeated the words over and over in his brain like a mantra. “Did Perry send you here?”

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“No, I came over out of my own volition after he talked to me. He didn’t want me to get involved. But since what happens between you and him affects what happens between you and me, I realized I didn’t have a good reason not to get involved.” “So you’re here to beg me to take him back.” “Am I that transparent?” “Yes, but it’s not going to work.” “That’s what Iris said.” “Listen, Del. I’ve been thinking all morning. I can’t take Perry back. I’m not going to put myself in an uncomfortable family situation like that. The thing is, if I can’t have Perry, well, I don’t want you, either.” “You can have Perry, though. Just call him and tell him you’ve changed your mind, and he’ll be yours in a heartbeat.” “You’re not listening. I can’t have Perry because, if I married the two of you, I’d be a part of his family, and I’m just not going to put myself through torture. Perry is out of the question from now on. To make things even more complicated, you complement each other. Something would always be missing if I tried to continue a relationship with you that Perry wasn’t a part of, too. I can’t be with you if I can’t bring myself to be with him. I’m really sorry, Del, but it’s over between us.” “No, Carissa, please, just give us another chance.” “I’m sorry, Del. That’s just not possible.” Carissa turned and started walking back towards her house. Del sensed that she didn’t want him to walk back with her so he waited there, letting her words sink in, until she was back inside. Only then did he get in his car. He drove immediately to Perry’s place and let himself in with the spare key. Perry was lying on the couch, still in his work clothes, looking dejected. “Make some room for me, man,” Del said. Perry shifted, and Del flopped down next to him.

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“Talk didn’t go well, I take it.” “Nope.” “She won’t take me back, then.” “Not only will she not take you back, but she called it quits with me as well.” Perry looked up. “Are you serious?” “Why on earth would I lie about something so shitty?” “Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry, man.” “So am I.” “So what do we do now?” “Wallow, I guess. Figure out the rest tomorrow.” “Sounds like a plan. Want a beer to help?” “Definitely.” Perry came back from the kitchen with his lower lip trembling. “How are we going to live without her?” A tear slid down his cheek. “I have no idea.” At the sight of his always-stoic friend overcome with emotion, Del let a few tears slip out, too. “I’m going to get her back.” “What if she doesn’t want to come back?” “I don’t know, but we have to try.” “Maybe we should just let her go.” “Of course you’d say that,” Perry snapped. “You’ve never tried to keep a woman around ever in your life. That’s your whole philosophy. Screw them, and then let them go.” Del clenched his fists together, trying to restrain himself from punching his best friend. He knew that Perry was grieving, and that he was being irrational as a result. “You know that’s not true, Perry.” “You’ve never kept a woman around for more than a month.” “Damn it, stop. You heard me tell Carissa yesterday that I loved her. You were standing right there. The three of us were discussing marriage, and we’ve only known her a week! We both know that falling so hard so fast for a woman is completely irrational, but it’s

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what happened. Carissa is so special that she transformed me overnight. I went from being a playboy goofball to a guy willing to consider marriage. This is the first time I’ve ever felt like this before, and I know it’s the real deal. So don’t try to claim that I’m ready to let her go and move on.” “Then why won’t you fight for her?” “Do you want a restraining order taken out against us, too?” “It’s a risk I’m willing to take.” “Really?” “Of course. I’ve never loved someone so much before.” “Then I guess it’s a risk I’m willing to take, too.” They clinked their beer glasses in a hopeful toast.

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Chapter 9 Carissa was despondent. The revelation of the culprit hadn’t made her feel any better. Nor had going to the courthouse and filing a restraining order. Even knowing that he couldn’t touch her again, Carissa couldn’t help but feel sad at the way everything seemed to be falling apart. She would almost have preferred to have been stalked, ignorant of the culprit’s identity, than know who it was and have that cause the demise of her relationship. Even going to the auto shop to pick up her car didn’t make her feel better. Iris was chatty on the ride over, but her bubbly nature couldn’t fix the situation. When Ike handed Carissa her keys and sent her on her way, it was just a painful reminder of Del’s generosity and of what had almost happened between the three of them. She couldn’t be with just Del, though. Part of what attracted her to him was the way he complemented Perry. She couldn’t love one without being able to love the other. “Do you want to go get some lunch or something?” Iris asked. “No, thanks. I’m not very hungry.” “Come on, cheer up.” “I had to break up with my boyfriend because I don’t want to be a part of his psychotic family. As a result, I had to break up with my other boyfriend, because having one without the other just isn’t possible for me. You try being cheerful in my situation.” “I guess you’re right. I’m sorry. Are you sure you don’t want some lunch? A nice meal might do you good.” “Thanks, but I think I’d rather go off alone for a few hours. Especially since I now have the freedom to do so.”

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Iris smiled. “Good idea. See you at home for dinner, then?” “Definitely.” Carissa drove around aimlessly for a little while, not sure where she wanted to go. Finally, she decided to get a latte at a coffee shop and spend some time working on her thesis. Making progress on her work would distract her from the pain she was feeling. Maybe I should have just gone home, Carissa thought as she opened the doors and saw all of the patrons staring at her. Nobody seems especially happy to see me. She didn’t want to be ruled by fear, though, so she went to the counter, ordered a latte, and settled herself down with her laptop. She figured that if she could throw herself into work, she would finally stop brooding, even if the nature of her thesis was bound to remind her of the time she spent with Perry and Del. Sipping away at her coffee and focusing on creating the outline for her paper, Carissa managed to work for two solid hours before the need to pee pulled her out of her trance. She didn’t want to lose her table, but glancing around the shop, she realized that she didn’t trust anyone to not steal or break her laptop if she left it sitting out, even for a few minutes. So she gathered up her belongings and headed for the restroom. As she opened the bathroom door, she had the unsettling feeling that she was being watched, but tried to shake it off. Of course people are staring. You had an established member of the community arrested, and you took a restraining order out on him. That’s unfortunately going to raise some eyebrows, whether you like it or not. After finishing up in the bathroom, Carissa hurried out, hoping that her table was still available. But she didn’t even manage to get that far. All of a sudden, she found herself pressed against the door, a knife to her throat, staring Mark right in the eyes. She couldn’t even draw a breath. The slightest movement might have caused a deep, fatal gash. “Nice to see you again, Carissa,” Mark said with a sneer. “Or not, actually. I can’t say that I’m especially happy to be in your presence

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right now. You did ruin my life, after all. Fortunately, I’m learning to find joy in life again. For example, I do look forward to what I’m going to do to you as revenge. Now I want you to listen to me. I have this knife, and I also have a gun. I can take you and any number of people in this coffee shop down. So you’re going to do exactly what I say. Head out the back exit as though everything is normal. If you try to scream, cry, or get help, I will shoot you, and then I’ll probably lose control and shoot a couple of customers, too. Hard to tell with my temper these days.” He slowly drew the knife away from her neck and tucked it into his jacket pocket. Reaching into his other pocket, he pulled his gun out halfway, to prove to Carissa that it was there. As she started walking, Carissa debated trying to cut and run. She wasn’t sure of her ability to dodge a bullet in her state of anxiety, and she didn’t want to test whether or not his threat to hurt the innocent people in the restaurant was true. Her legs were shaking so fiercely that she thought she was going to collapse, but she knew that drawing attention to herself would only increase Mark’s ire. By sheer force of will, she navigated her way out of the coffee shop. Once they were outside, Mark grabbed her by the elbow and navigated her over towards a beat-up blue sedan. Carissa’s heart sank when she realized that this was the exact vehicle she had seen following her around Male Order for the past week. Mark unlocked the doors. “Get in.” Carissa stood still and refused to speak. The parking lot was empty. There weren’t any innocent people to target with his rage. She wasn’t giving in. “I said, get in the goddamn car.” “No.” He opened the back door, gripped her arm tighter, and threw her in. “You don’t get to talk to me like that.” “Funny, I just did.”

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“Shut up.” Mark got in, started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot. Carissa was frantic. She thought about pulling out her phone and calling 911, and not caring whether or not he heard her, but she feared for her life. She wasn’t sure what might put him over the edge, and he could kill her long before the cops arrived. When he finally slowed for a stop light, she formulated a plan. As he drove through town, she waited patiently until he slowed down again, then popped open the lock on her door and rolled out while the car was still in motion. Unfortunately, she didn’t hit the ground gracefully, and she twisted her ankle on impact. Carissa didn’t care about the pain. She took off and started running, tearing through the neighborhood and screaming for help. Despite how hard she fought against the pain in her ankle, it kept her from running at full speed, and she didn’t manage to get very far before Mark tackled her, holding a knife to her throat. “Bitch!” he screamed. “If we weren’t in public, I’d slit your throat right here and now!” He looked up at the people who had heard Carissa’s screams and had stepped onto their front porches in order to investigate. “Get up,” he snapped, and pulled her to her feet. Mark took off running, gripping Carissa’s wrist so she was forced to follow, and he was running much faster than her injured ankle could move. Mark shoved her back into the car that had been left parked in the middle of the street, much to the annoyance of other drivers. Once they were both in the car, Mark hit the gas and ran a red light, just barely avoiding a collision with another car. “What the fuck were you thinking?” he screamed. “I was thinking that maybe I should try to get away from my crazy ex who’s holding a knife to my throat!” “Tough shit. You’re not getting away.” “What do you want? Do you want ransom? Because I’m not exactly loaded.”

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“Oh, I know you’re not, because you’re still in graduate school. Which is where I belong, too. Unfortunately, you decided to ruin my life.” “You’re the one who fucked our interview subject. You weren’t kicked out of the program.” “I had to leave because I couldn’t stand being around you. You broke my heart, and I couldn’t concentrate. Between the failing grade on that project and the fact that I got behind in all of my other classes because I was struggling to get over you, my GPA plummeted, and I was actually asked to leave. I wasn’t formally expelled, but the faculty put a lot of pressure on me to withdraw.” “That’s still your own fault.” “No, it’s yours. You left me, and you ratted me out to our professor. I was too distraught over the breakup to really recover from that little scandal you created. You caused all this. Now it’s time for you to pay.” “Well, I don’t have any money to give you.” “No, but your boyfriends do.” “I don’t have any boyfriends.” “Don’t lie to me, you little bitch. I’ve seen you with them. I’ve been watching you from the moment you got into town. Funny, how you’re doing the exact same thing you got me in trouble for last year.” “It’s different, really. Listen—” “No! You do not get to speak. You had your chance to save yourself, and now it’s too late. I tried to scare you out of town. I tried to get you to give up and run away. If you’d given up, I would have left you alone, and you wouldn’t be in this situation right now.” “You ruined my car, you asshole.” “Good thing you had your nice rich boyfriend to fix it for you.” “I could have taken care of it myself.” “You didn’t, though, did you? You just kept getting yourself more and more entangled with these guys. Well, I’m not going to let you

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get away with it. I’m not going to let you get away with doing the exact same thing that cost me my academic career.” “What? Are you going to call the department chair and report me? Nobody will believe you.” “I thought about that. Then I realized I didn’t really have sufficient proof. So I’ve just decided to get rid of you entirely.” “What?” “You ruined my life, Carissa. Not only did you destroy my career, but you’re thriving, doing the exact same thing I did that was apparently so wrong last year. I don’t want ransom. I probably could get a nice lump sum from your boyfriends, but honestly, I’m not all that interested. I just want you dead.” “So why haven’t you killed me yet? You’ve had the opportunity several times already. I don’t think you have the nerve.” “Oh, I do. But I have a very elaborate little plan worked out, and it’s much more fun if I torment you a bit beforehand.” Carissa knew she had to try the cell phone. She risked setting off his temper and getting shot, but if she was about to die anyway, she certainly wasn’t going down without a fight. Reaching into her pocket, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed 911. “911, what is your emergency?” Carissa wanted to cry at the sound of the dispatcher’s firm but calm voice. “I’ve been kidnapped. I’m stuck in the back seat of a blue car, and—” “What the hell are you doing?” Mark screeched. He reached back to swipe the cell phone from her hand, but she darted away just in time. “You’re not allowed to call the police! Put that phone down or I’ll shoot!” Mark swatted for the phone again, and when he missed, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his gun. But he wasn’t paying attention, and when he turned to aim the gun, he rammed the car into a tree.

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Carissa’s seatbelt wasn’t buckled, and her head slammed into the back seat on impact. After crashing backward, she steadied herself, her whole body singing in pain. She peeked into the front seat and saw that Mark was unconscious. Wasting no time, she opened the door and ran away from the site of the accident as fast as she could with her injuries. “Are you still there?” she asked, hoping that the phone hadn’t been disconnected during the scuffle. “Yes, I am. What happened?” “I was kidnapped, and the person who abducted me ran into a tree when he tried to shoot me.” “Where are you now?” Carissa peered around for street signs. “Near the corner of ThirtyThird and Oak.” “Are you injured?” “Yes, I twisted my ankle and got banged up pretty bad during the crash.” “What about your assailant?” “I think he’s unconscious.” “Okay, stay put and rest. We’ll have officers and an ambulance there in a few minutes.” “What if he wakes up?” “Then you run and call back. For now, though, stay put.” Carissa dropped onto the grass, hoping that she didn’t freak out whoever owned the house. She suddenly found herself completely fatigued. She knew she had to stay awake, because she probably had a concussion, but the exhaustion was just too tempting. Even as she heard the sirens coming up the street and knew that help was just seconds away, she succumbed to her body’s desires, curled up on the grass, and passed out. ****

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“We still don’t have a plan,” Perry said with a sigh. “You know what? We don’t need one.” “What?” “We don’t need a plan.” “Of course we do. We need to prove to her that we love her and that we can take care of her, and we need a grand gesture to show that.” “When was the last time I had a plan for anything?” “You do tend to fly by the seat of your pants most of the time. You’re also a master of the grand gesture. I mean, what about that horse you rode over on last week?” “A total impulse. I was just driving past a friend’s house on the way to your place, and thought about how hilarious it would be to show up riding one. So I asked for a loan. That’s all there was to it.” Perry’s jaw dropped. “Seriously? You pulled that off spur of the moment?” “Yeah. I always do. The horse didn’t impress her, though. I was disappointed about that. I thought I was going to make an awesome impression.” “Oh, it miffed her a bit, but I was watching her the entire time. I could tell that part of her was amused by your antics, even though she didn’t want to admit it. In the end it all worked out, didn’t it?” “Well, not quite,” Perry said, with a sigh. “The point is I like to improvise. It’s not like careful planning has gotten you particularly far in your love life.” “I suppose there’s some truth to that.” “So let’s go with my idea. Let’s make it up as we go along.” “You mean just show up at her house and see what happens?” “Pretty much, yeah.” “I don’t suppose we have anything to lose by trying it your way.” “Now that’s the attitude I want to hear!”

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They hopped in Del’s car and headed over to the Holt-Parker ranch. Neither wanted to admit to the other how nervous they were when they rang the doorbell. Iris came to the door. “She’s not home. Though even if she were, she doesn’t want to see you. You’re not welcome here right now.” “Wait, Iris, please. Just give us a chance,” Perry pleaded. “The chance isn’t mine to give, and anyway, it doesn’t matter since she’s not even at home.” “Where is she?” Del asked. “I don’t know.” “Do you really not know, or are you just saying that to get rid of us?” “I don’t know, okay? I took her to go pick up her car, and then she said she wanted to drive around alone for a little while. So I don’t know where she is, and I don’t know when she’ll be back. If you plan to camp out here pining for her, I suggest you do it closer to the curb, so you won’t get in the way of the gardener.” “Iris?” Wendy’s voice was frantic as it spilled into the hallway. “It’s just Perry and Del, Mom. I’m getting rid of them.” She raced in. “We have other things to worry about. I just got a phone call from the police. Carissa’s in the hospital. We need to go right now. Get moving.” “What happened?” Iris asked. “Just get in the car. I’ll explain on the way.” Wendy glanced up at Perry and Del as Iris raced off. “I suppose you could follow us, if you wanted. I can’t guarantee that Carissa will want to see you, and I’m not going to force her, but I know how you feel about her.” In an instant, they were back behind the wheel, peeling out of the driveway. “What do you think happened?” Perry asked as Del sped along behind Carissa’s family. “I have no idea, but something tells me it’s not a simple fender bender. Did you see the look in Wendy’s eyes?”

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“Yeah. Do you think she’ll be okay?” “I don’t even know what’s wrong with her. I’m just terrified.” Once they’d parked the car, Perry and Del raced to catch up with her family. “Anthony didn’t light our lawn on fire,” Wendy said as they walked through the doors of the ER. “The real stalker abducted Carissa from a coffee shop this afternoon.” Perry’s eyes started to well up as he was hit with a mixture of both fear and guilt. “I knew my own father wouldn’t do something like that. I can’t believe I doubted him, even for a second.” “I can’t believe any of us did. We all should have known better. Let’s think about that later, though.” Arthur hurried over from where he had been talking with the doctors. “The nurse says she’s still with the doctors. It will be a few minutes before we can go see her.” “I can’t believe this. I just can’t believe it,” Perry moaned. “The nurse said she’s roughed up, but she’s going to be fine. I’m not worried.” “So what happened exactly?” A police officer approached. “You’re Carissa’s family?” They all nodded. “Officer, can you tell us what happened?” Wendy asked. “Fortunately, yes,” the officer replied. “Carissa wasn’t unconscious for very long, and we’ve already managed to get a full statement from her. It appears that her ex-boyfriend decided to take out a little revenge. He took her from the coffee shop at knifepoint and threw her into his car.” Perry and Del looked at each other, and Perry could tell that Del felt as guilty as he did. “I feel like such a failure,” Perry said. “Me, too. We should have protected her.”

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The officer shook his head. “From what I can tell, Carissa has nerves of steel. She rolled out when he was slowing down at a stoplight. She tried to take off, but twisted her ankle during the fall, and didn’t get very far before he caught her and dragged her back.” “It just keeps getting worse, doesn’t it?” Perry rubbed his temples, trying to soothe the headache that was threatening to get worse. “It was pretty bad,” the officer said. “Still, she managed to cause quite the scene, and as a result, there were witnesses who can back up her story and also took down his license number. When they were back in the car, he told her he intended to kill her, and Carissa actually called the police while she was in the car. As he was threatening her with his gun, he crashed into a tree.” “Excuse me,” the nurse said, coming up to the family. “You can go visit Carissa now. She sustained a pretty bad sprain, and she has a mild concussion from the car accident, and of course she has some cuts and bruises, but she’s going to be just fine.” “Do you know what happened to the guy who abducted her?” Perry wasn’t sure he wanted to know, but couldn’t help but ask. “He sustained a pretty bad concussion and has a few broken bones, but he’s stable.” “We have police guarding his room, and they’re going to be asking him questions as soon as the doctors are satisfied that he’s able to do so,” the officer said. “He’ll be transferred to the jail as soon as he’s healthy enough.” The whole family breathed a sigh of relief. “Now, I’m sure you’re eager to visit her. She’s in room 17, whenever you’re ready.” Wendy turned to Perry and Del. “I’m sure on some level she wants to see you, but perhaps you should wait out here while the rest of us go in. We’ll let her know you’re here and make sure she’s interested. She’s had quite a day, and I don’t want to shock her.” Perry and Del nodded, then sat down on the plush waiting room couch as Carissa’s family disappeared down the hall.

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Perry kept shooting worried glances at Del as they waited, and Del returned them with equally nervous expressions, but neither of them said a word. Finally, Carissa’s family came back into the waiting room, and they all had smiles on their faces. “Carissa is doing remarkably well, considering the day she’s had. She wants to see the both of you. We’ll wait out here and give you three a little privacy.” Perry and Del rushed into Carissa’s room. She was propped up with pillows, and a little pale. The lack of color in her skin made the bruises and scratches stand out. For Perry, though, the fact that she was alive was the most beautiful thing in the world. “Hey,” Perry and Del said in unison. “Hey.” They sat down on either side of her bed, each one taking a hand. Carissa started crying. “What’s wrong, babe?” Perry asked, brushing a tear from her cheek. “I–I–I can’t believe you’re here.” “Why wouldn’t we come visit you?” Del asked. “Because I accused your father of trying to hurt my family, and then I broke up with both of you. I’m really not sure I’d want to come visit me if I was in your shoes.” “I had a feeling that Mr. Williams was the wrong guy,” Del said. “I’m relieved that my hunch was true. I’ll admit it was pretty suspicious, especially due to the way he treated you before.” Carissa nodded. “I’m sorry that I was willing to accuse him with such little proof, and I’m sorry I hurt us all. I was just trying to protect myself and my family.” “It hurt like hell when you called it off with us,” Del said. “We spent the entire day moping around, feeling miserable. In spite of the pain, though, we knew you were just trying to protect yourself.” “So you forgive me?”

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“Of course we forgive you,” Perry said. “We adore you.” He leaned over and kissed her, relieved to feel the warmth of her lips pressing against his again. “In fact, we have a question for you.” Perry looked at Del, both eyebrows raised. What on earth is he doing, and why the hell don’t I know about it? Del got out of his seat, dropped to one knee, and pulled a small velvet box out of his pocket. He flipped it open to reveal a full-carat diamond solitaire ring. “Carissa, we love you. We completely adore you. We never want to be apart from you again. Will you do us the honor of marrying us?” Both Carissa and Perry stared at Del with their mouths hanging open. “How long have you had that ring?” Perry asked. “I was just window-shopping last week after helping Carissa deal with her car repairs. I happened upon it and thought she might really like it. At that point, I wasn’t quite sure about my feelings for her, but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to be prepared, just in case.” “You’ve been carrying it around ever since?” Carissa asked, her voice breaking again. “Yep. You never know when the moment is going to be right. So what do you say?” “Yes, of course, yes.” “Wait a second,” Perry said. “You planned to pop the question this morning, didn’t you? We were going to walk up to her door while she was still mad at us, and you were going to propose, weren’t you?” “I really don’t know. I had the ring, but I hadn’t decided one way or another. I was just going to go until the timing felt right. Everything felt perfect five minutes ago.” “Still, you might have mentioned to me that you bought a ring.” “Why ruin the surprise?”

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Perry couldn’t help but laugh. “I had always hoped to surprise my fiancée when I proposed. I have to admit, it was pretty fun being surprised as well. I’d expect nothing less from you, Del.” “I’d expect nothing less from me, either. So do you think they’ll let us bring champagne into the hospital room?” “Not with the painkillers I’m on. We’re just going to have to wait until I get better for a proper celebration. Now, go get the rest of my family. We might not be able to drink, but I can’t wait to tell everyone the good news.”

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Chapter 10 “In the case of Yarborogh v. Dowler, the jury finds the defendant guilty of all charges. Given Mr. Dowler’s intentions of malice, his continued hostility towards the defendant, and his refusal to show any sorrow or guilt for his actions, we recommend the maximum prison sentence allowed by the court.” The judge banged her gavel. “Thank you. This concludes the case of Yarborough v. Dowler. Court will reconvene on September 8th for sentencing.” Carissa practically danced on her way out of the courtroom. She tried to maintain a demeanor reflecting the solemnity of the court proceedings, but she could barely hide her elation. As soon as she was out of the courtroom, Del and Perry swooped in from either side, pressing her into a tight hug. “Congratulations,” they both murmured in her ear. Hearing both of their deep voices at once got her body going, a warmth already starting to spread between her legs and emanate through the rest of her body. “Thanks. Wanna go back to one of your places to celebrate? I have a few ideas for how I want to remember this night.” Del grinned. “That sounds like a great idea, but you’re going to have to wait a bit.” Carissa couldn’t help but look disappointed. “Why? What’s wrong?” “Nothing’s wrong. We just have a little celebratory surprise for you.” “Can’t the surprise wait? I’m horny now.”

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“Sorry, it’s time-sensitive.” “Well, what if we had a quickie, then?” “Come on, babe,” Perry said, giving her a deep kiss. “You’ll love it. We promise.” “What if I don’t?” “Just come with us.” They each grabbed a hand and hurried toward another wing of the courthouse. Perry knocked on the door of a judge’s chambers. “Right on time,” Judge Stewart said as he opened the door. “Everything is ready.” “Wonderful. Thank you again, sir. I owe you a favor,” Perry said. “Nonsense. You deserve it. Now come on, everyone is waiting.” “What is going on?” Carissa whispered. Perry and Del just grinned at each other as the judge opened the doors wider to let them all in. All three of their families burst into applause as they walked into the office. Carissa gasped as Iris rushed up and handed her a bouquet of calla lilies. “Seriously, what’s going on?” she asked. “Because it looks like we’re about to get married.” Perry grinned. “Well, you did say yes to Del’s proposal.” Del jumped in. “We figured that since we already gave you a surprise proposal, a surprise wedding might be appropriate. Considering the great news, I’d go so far as to call it a victory wedding.” “But…but I don’t even have a dress.” She gazed down at her seersucker suit that looked professional in court while simultaneously keeping her cool in the heart of the Texas summer. “You’re beautiful right now,” they both said. “What would have happened if he’d been found not guilty?” Del kissed her. “That was not going to happen. If it had turned out that way, you would have had a consolation wedding instead.” “What about the fact that I can only marry one of you legally?”

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Perry shrugged. “This is Male Order. The records that get sent to the county courthouse will show you as legally married to only one of us, but the judge will perform the ceremony with all three of us there. Just because the government doesn’t legally recognize what we do doesn’t mean we’re not going to do it.” “And no, it doesn’t matter which of us you choose to make your legal spouse,” Del said. “We know it doesn’t really matter.” Carissa laughed. “Should I flip a coin?” Del tossed her a quarter, and she launched it into the air. “Call it!” “Heads,” Perry said. Carissa caught the quarter and opened her hand. “Perry’s got it!” “Now that we’ve resolved that all-important issue, let’s go,” Del said with a laugh. “You remembered to invite my parents, right?” Carissa asked as they started walking. “Of course we did,” Perry said. “How could we forget?” “I don’t know. I didn’t think you would. I just want to make sure everything is perfect.” “Look, if you’re upset by us springing this on you, we can call it off and plan a more formal event.” Carissa giggled. “I’m shocked, but I’m not upset. I’m thrilled. I wouldn’t expect anything else from someone like Del.” “Hey, this was actually my idea for once.” “He’s right,” Del said. “Mr. Play-by-the-Rules came up with this one all by himself. I just went along for the ride.” “It’s good to know that both of my men are so full of surprises. Now come on, let’s go get married.” Carissa linked arms with Perry and Del and walked up to the front of the room. She caught smiles and nods from everyone, even Anthony Williams. “Welcome, everyone, and thank you for joining us in the marriage of Carissa Yarborough to Perry Williams and Del Jacobsen. Menageamy is a time-honored institution in Male Order. Although

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Carissa was not born and raised in this town, we are all thrilled that she has come to embrace our chosen marriage practices, and found happiness with two of our town’s most prominent young citizens. Now, if there is any reason why anyone here believes that this ménage should not be married, speak now.” The room was completely silent. “Wonderful. In that case, Perry and Del would like to take this moment to say a few words, which they have composed for the occasion.” “Carissa,” Perry said, “I knew I loved you from the moment you first knocked on my door. You’re so unlike any woman I had ever met before, and it was your uniqueness that drew me to you right from the start. I know this has been a whirlwind romance and marriage, but nothing has ever felt so right. Your presence has taught me that sometimes I just need to let go of my rules and let life take me on a journey.” Del took a deep breath before speaking, and Carissa thought she saw him blinking back tears. “It took me a little longer to realize just how important you are to me, but that doesn’t mean I love you any less. In fact, you’re the person who taught me to love in the first place. You’re the only person who has ever made me want to settle down. I love how calm and stable you make me feel. “I know your first few weeks in Male Order were stressful, and that’s putting it mildly. We will always be grateful that you faced your struggles with courage, and that you didn’t turn and run when it was all over. We are so happy that you’ve decided to stay and become a part of our lives. “Perry and I promise to love you forever, to make you the center of our world. We promise to support you as you finish your thesis and then develop any career you want. We promise to make sure that you’re happy, and that you’re safe. You mean everything to us, and we look forward to many happy menagemous years with you.”

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“Now, Carissa,” the judge said, “I know you’ve been put on the spot, so don’t feel pressured to come up with anything off the top of your head. Is there anything you would like to say?” “Yes, there is.” She took both of their hands. “I never pictured myself marrying one man, much less two, and certainly not at the same time. Yet life always seems to take us in directions we never thought possible. Although my time in Male Order got off to a rocky start, I’m grateful that I came out here. I might have been safer staying in Dallas and working on another project, but it meant I would never have had the chance to meet and fall in love with the two of you. That made the entire experience worth it.” “Do you, Carissa, agree to take Del and Perry as your husbands, to honor, cherish, and care for them always, for as long as you all shall live?” “I do.” “Del, do you take Carissa as your wife, to honor, cherish, and care for her always, as long as you all shall live?” “I do.” “Do you, Perry, take Carissa as your wife, to honor, cherish, and care for her always, as long as you all shall live?” “I do.” Iris stepped up and handed Carissa two platinum wedding bands. Perry and Del held out their left hands, and Carissa put their new rings on. Then, Iris handed the men a ring that consisted of a strand of diamonds woven around a circle of plain platinum. Both holding the ring, Perry and Del slid the token of their eternal love onto her finger. “By the power vested in me by the state of Texas, I now pronounce you husbands and wife. You may kiss the bride.” Carissa leaned in and kissed Del, then Perry. The whole room burst into applause. The happy threesome linked arms and headed towards the door. As they passed, Arthur stepped in front of them and held out his hand.

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“Welcome to the family, Carissa. I know that you and I have had our differences. That’s in the past, though. You’re one of us now.” “Thank you,” she said, and hugged him. “I’m honored.” The three of them hurried into the limo Perry and Del had booked, and Carissa positioned herself in the middle, enjoying the feeling of her husbands curling up around her. “Where to now?” she asked. “Well, there’s going to be a reception for us at Hester’s,” Perry said. “We even managed to snag the Abrams’s private room,” Del added “Fancy.” Del leaned in and gave her a quick kiss. “We thought, however, that perhaps you would want to take a little detour first.” “Especially as we prevented your initial celebration plans.” “What did you have in mind?” Carissa asked, trying to imagine all the possible places they could take her. Del pressed a button and a screen slid between them and the driver. “But…but what if the driver—” “The driver is paid for his discretion,” Perry said, and swooped her up for a kiss. Del reached over and began to fondle her hips, working his way up her back and around to her breasts. When he pinched her nipples, Carissa regretted that they didn’t have the nipple clamps on hand. “We have a new gift for you,” Del whispered in her ear. “Just a little wedding present.” Carissa opened the box to be dazzled by the sparkle of a dozen diamonds. The stones were clustered into groups of six and dangled from thin, silver chains, which hooked to a looped piece of metal.” “It’s a clit clip,” Perry said. Del was already pulling off her stockings and panties. Carissa hurried out of her skirt and blouse, eager to try her new toy. Once she

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was exposed, Perry and Del both teased her hot, swollen lips, parting her slit and brushing against her clit. Carissa knew her juices would soon be soaking the seat of the expensive limo, but she didn’t care. Perry slid the clip over her engorged clit and tightened it. The pressure around her already-throbbing bead skyrocketed, and as she thrashed in response to the new stimulus, the diamonds slipped along her inner thighs, sending more sparks of electricity through her body. “You are so beautiful when you thrash like that,” Del whispered in her ear. “I love watching you squirm.” “So do I,” Perry said. “So how do we make her squirm more?” Del unhooked Carissa’s bra and went straight for her nipples, pinching until the delightful pain made her pussy start to throb. Carissa writhed, and the sensation of diamonds jumping against her thighs made her knees twitch. Perry leaned over and touched the tip of his tongue to her deliciously sore clit. Carissa tried to repress a moan, afraid of the driver hearing what they were doing, but she finally had to give in and let it out. Perry licked faster and harder, sliding two fingers up into her throbbing cunt and stroking her G-spot with a hooking motion before pressing in deep, slow circles. Perry pressed her nipples even harder, giving them short, intense twists. Her entire body locked up and then released in a burst of orgasmic fire. She screamed so loud she was sure the people outside the limo could hear, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Her entire body was shaking as she came down from her climax, but she wasn’t done. “I want to ride both of you, right now,” she gasped. “That’s just what we hoped,” Del said, pulling lube out from his jacket pocket. “Do the two of you just carry that stuff everywhere?” “We were boy scouts. We’re always prepared.” Del lubed up two fingers and pressed gently against her asshole, warming up the muscles. Perry continued to tease her cunt, flicking his tongue at her aching clit and brushing his fingers against her slit.

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When she was ready, Del settled back and slowly lowered her onto his rock-hard cock. “Fuck, yes. That’s perfect,” she murmured as her tight muscles made room for him. “Are you ready for me too, babe?” Perry asked. “You know I am.” Although he needed to crouch a little bit beneath the limo’s low ceiling, Perry managed to find a comfortable position behind Carissa. Balancing against the seat, he slid into her, setting his hands on her shoulders, pressing her farther down Del’s dick. She gripped Del’s thighs for balance and thrust back against Perry, then slid herself back down Del. Perry’s lips gripped hers, his tongue explored her mouth, and he nibbled her earlobes. Del focused on her neck, leaving tiny bites along her shoulder blades. He kept his grip on her breasts, massaging her soft, heavy mounds and occasionally giving her nipples the kind of hard pinches that he knew she loved. She gradually increased her pace, throwing herself back against Perry’s strong body, crashing down into Del’s. The diamonds bounced and danced along her skin, and her men gripped her flesh tighter and tighter. “I want us to come together,” she gasped. “All three at the same time.” “I’m so close, babe,” Del moaned. “I can barely keep it in.” “Neither can I,” Perry cried. “On my count, then. One, two, three.” Del’s body surged up into her and Perry collapsed on top of her as their cocks surged and then spilled out inside her. As she felt those final pulses, her cunt and ass locked up, milking every drop of cum out of them. She froze, sandwiched between her men, as her body shivered and convulsed, the electricity shooting through every muscle. As each man pulled out of her body, her pussy and ass clenched up with aftershocks, causing still more tremors to vibrate through her muscles.

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Finally sated, Perry picked up a phone and called up to the driver. “Take us to Hester’s, please.” Carissa fidgeted all the way over, smoothing her hair and clothes, touching up her makeup. “Relax, you look beautiful,” Perry said. Del concurred. “You always look beautiful.” “The two of you would think I was gorgeous even if I was wearing a paper bag.” “Now that would be hot,” Perry said with a laugh. “Will you do that for us sometime?” Carissa couldn’t help but giggle. “If you insist. That’s not exactly something I’ve ever fantasized about, but if will make you happy, it might be fun to try.” The car pulled up at Hester’s, and as Carissa stepped out into the beautiful Male Order evening, it suddenly hit her that this fairy tale was real. Her thesis was almost finished, Mark was behind bars, and she was married to the most beautiful, caring men she had ever met. “I just might be the luckiest woman in the world,” she murmured. “I think we’re luckier,” Perry said. “It’s tough, when you want to live a ménage life, to find a woman who suits both men perfectly, especially if she’s an outsider to Male Order. I’m so grateful I could find a woman who loves both me and my best friend, and who suits us both so well.” “So am I,” Del said. “I never saw myself as the marrying kind, but now that I am, I can’t picture anything better than sharing my wife with my best friend.” As they walked into the restaurant, all the patrons on the first floor turned and burst into applause. Carissa couldn’t help but blush. “Are they all here for the reception?” “Hardly,” Perry said with a laugh. “It’s family and close friends only. Word has a way of getting around in this town, though, and they’re happy for us. Now come on. Let’s get upstairs.”

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They walked up into the Abrams’s private room. Alexander was close friends with both Perry and Del and had been more than happy to open up the space to their reception guests. Carissa gasped as everyone in the room turned and cheered when they walked in the door. The gorgeous room had been accented with tea lights and calla lilies, and a sumptuous-looking cake with gold icing rested on a table at the front of the room. Carissa pulled Perry and Del towards the dance floor and wrapped their arms around her. She started swaying in time to the music of the string quartet in the corner and closed her eyes, letting their warmth and love surround her as they enjoyed the first dance of their married life.

THE END HTTP://OLIVIAJORDANAUTHOR.BLOGSPOT.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Olivia Jordan was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Her librarian mother made sure Olivia had regular access to a wide range of books, which instilled a love of good stories at a young age. With an attorney for a father, Olivia learned early on about the ways that language can be used to entertain, enlighten, and manipulate. Although Olivia initially dreamed of being a ballerina, she realized in her teen years that her talent was for the written word, and her path to the writing life began before she even had a driver’s license. After finishing her formal education, Olivia decided that it was time to get away from any and all states that got more than an inch of snow a year. She now makes her home in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a small menagerie. Although a city girl at heart, she also loves taking her convertible out to the country. Nothing inspires her more than the wind in her hair, the sun on her face, and the open road in front of her.

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