Her Billionaire Bosses: A Menage Romance Page 5

  “He did,” Asher says.

  “And at least two others by my count,” I add.

  “Oh,” Rose says on an exhale. “Bruce seemed so sweet. He’d bring me ice cream from the corner shop.” All the fight seems to leave her as she wraps both arms around her waist. I want to pull her in my arms and reassure her.

  “It’s just one night.” Or more, I think, but keep that to myself. Knowing that she’s coming home with us, puts me at ease. And the fact that Asher was the one who suggested it makes me think he’s a lot more invested in Rose than he’s letting on. “We’re all exhausted. We have a guest suite. You can stay tonight, and we can talk about the rest in the morning.”

  7

  Rose

  I watch out the back window as the motel disappears over the horizon. I’m too exhausted to fight with them. After a few hours of sleep and maybe a shower, I’m going home.

  Leo tries to assure me that everything is going to work out, but I’m not in the mood. I close my eyes and pretend to sleep until he leaves me alone. The ride back seems to last forever, and I should be able to doze off. I’m bone tired. The week of twelve and fourteen-hour workdays has worn me out. But even so, tonight's events have my mind racing.

  Sure, it makes me extremely uneasy that Bruce was hanging out in the parking lot with a gun, but Asher and Leo are over reacting. I’ve stayed in places like that all my life—and not all of the motels were that nice. My mother was living out her rock star dreams with a child in tow. I grew up in hotels and motels all across this country. I took my first steps at a Holiday Inn in Van Nuys, learned to read while holed up at an extended stay in Denver, and lost my virginity at some no-name chain in Cleveland. So I’m just as comfortable in a shabby motel as they are in their penthouse downtown.

  It isn’t long before we’re pulling into said penthouse. I’ve been here once before during the office’s Fourth of July party. Leo and Asher own the entire top floor and converted it into a shared living space, complete with a rooftop garden and hot tub. It’s a beautiful, open space and it’s no hardship for me to stay the night.

  It’s the company that worries me.

  My little crush on Asher has blossomed into full-on infatuation, and now that I’ve gotten to know Leo better… Swoon. It’s one thing to work with them all day long, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep in the next room knowing that they are both so close. Fuck, what I wouldn’t give for my vibrator right about now.

  Speaking of my vibrator (talk about odd transitions), I just realized, I don’t have any clothing. Nothing to sleep in and nothing to wear tomorrow besides my work dress.

  Leo offers me a hand to get out, and I shake my head. “I need to go back.”

  “No. We already discussed this. It’s not safe,” he says, offering his hand again. This time a little more insistently.

  “No, really,” I say, crossing my arms. “There are things I need from my room. A change of clothes. My toothbrush. My hair brush.”

  “We’ll take care of that tomorrow.”

  “And what am I supposed to sleep in?”

  “I prefer to sleep nude,” Asher adds over Leo’s shoulder.

  Great. Now I’ve got that image imprinted in my mind. I shake my head and frown. There’s no way I’m sleeping naked.

  “I have a T-shirt and a pair of boxers you can sleep in,” Lee offers.

  I’m not sure that’s any better. The thought of my naked flesh caressing the same fabric he’s worn causes a blush to creep into my cheeks. Maybe I will sleep naked. Or fully clothed. That’d probably be safer.

  “Come on, Bambi,” Asher says. “We’re all tried. Let’s just go to bed, and we can talk everything out over breakfast.”

  The word bed triggers a yawn that I can’t hold back. I know it’s stupid to keep fighting. It’s almost four a.m., and I can hardly keep my eyes open as is.

  “Fine. But just for tonight.”

  “If that’s what you want,” Leo says and offers the hand again. This time I take it.

  We all pile into the elevator, and Leo inserts his key to access the top floor. An uncomfortable silence engulfs us as the doors close. I’m not exactly sure what to say, and evidently, they don’t know either.

  About halfway up, Leo is the first to break the silence. “Explain to me again why you were staying at the no-tell-motel. Especially one in a crappy part of town. Do you realize the kind of people who stay there?”

  “People like me,” I say, not amused. “I’ve been there for ten months, and other than the time some drunk guy serenaded the woman who was staying in unit 23, it’s been pretty quiet.”

  “You seemed cozy with that Bruce guy,” Asher says. “Based on his tatts, he’s probably muscle for some gang.”

  “What do you know about gangs? He’s a nice guy. He looks out for me,” I insist. And I’m not lying. Asher looked at guys and just saw tattoos. It’s easy to assume he is some kind of thug, but Bruce is a good guy. He is one of the reasons I stayed. He likes me and goes out of his way to keep people from bothering me.

  “I’m glad someone has been looking out for you,” Leo says, surprising me. The doors open into the entry, and he exits, leaving me to wonder exactly what he means.

  The penthouse is as spectacular as I remembered. Large, floor to ceiling windows line the far wall, offering light from the city below. The space is open and inviting. But it feels different being there with just the two of them.

  Asher drops his bag on the sofa and slips off his tie. Leo enters a code on an alarm keypad by the elevator and then does much the same. And I just stand there, unsure what’s going to happen next.

  “I’ve set the alarm, so don’t try to slip out in the morning. When you’re ready to go tomorrow, we’ll take you back. Promise,” Leo says walking across the open common room. He points to a dark wood door on the north side of the room. “Asher’s suite is over there, and I’m over here.” He points to an identical door on the south end of the room. “If you need anything, just knock. The doors are unlocked.”

  I nod, watching Leo as he opens another dark wood door on the far end of the room. He waves me over, and I shuffle across the hardwood, exhaustion finally hitting me.

  “This is the guest suite. There’s a private bathroom that should have a toothbrush and any other necessities you should need. Help yourself.”

  Leo flips on the light, and I’m greeted with a large room as tastefully decorated as the rest of the house. I can’t help but wonder if they hired someone or picked out the furnishings themselves. The guest suite, as he called it, is bigger than the apartment I shared with Billy. A large king-size bed dominates the center of the room. There’s even a small work area and separate sitting area.

  “If you get hungry, the kitchen is the next door over. Please make yourself at home.”

  I sag against the doorframe and close my eyes. The weariness of the day is catching up with me.

  “Are you okay?” Leo asks. “If this doesn’t work, you can take my room.”

  “This is fine,” I say, but he doesn’t seem like he’s buying it. “Really. I’m just tired.”

  “Stop hovering,” Asher yells from the living room. “Let her sleep. You can talk to her tomorrow.”

  Leo shakes his head and takes a step closer. “I want you to be comfortable,” he says in a low voice. His hot breath whispers across my skin, causing every nerve in my body to take notice. The air between us is charged with an untapped energy, and it’s all I can do to stop myself from leaning into him like some drunk stripper.

  As if reading my thoughts, a grin spreads across his face, and he steps away. “Sleep tight.”

  It wasn’t until he’s already closed the door to his suite that I realize, I still don’t have clothes to sleep in. There was no way in hell I am going to go knock on his door. With a sigh, I close the door to the guest room, resigned to sleep in my underwear.

  But soon after I brush my teeth and wash my face, there’s a knock on the door. Much to my surpris
e, Asher is standing there when I open the door.

  “I figured you’d want something to sleep in,” he says and holds out a bundle of clothes.

  “Thanks, I could have managed.” I reach out to take the clothing. My hand brushes his, and a chill runs up my arm. It’s not like we’ve never touched before, but this time there is something different in his touch. Something more. I glance up, wondering if he felt it too. The heat in his eyes steals my breath, and I pull back. But as he lets go of the stack of clothes, his fingers slide down my arm.

  “I’m sorry,” he says, catching me by surprise.

  “Sorry for what?” Sure, they may have brought me here against my wishes, but now that I’m here, I admit, I’m glad I came. For the first time in years—hell, probably ever—I feel safe, protected.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t notice you before,” he says and steps in closer. For a second I’m sure he’s going to kiss me, but instead, he tucks a stray lock of my hair behind my ear and kisses my forehead. “But I see you now, Bambi.”

  And with that cryptic comment, he goes back to his room, and I am left to wonder exactly what it was he saw.

  8

  Leo

  As promised, early the next morning, we took Rose back to that shithole she’d been living in. It is even worse in the harsh light of day. I’d be surprised if the building could pass city inspection. The whole structure looks ready to collapse. Several of the units have boarded up windows, and the institutional green paint is peeling in big chunks.

  I realize that this way of life is a reality for a lot of people. Unlike Asher who was born into money, I came into it later in life. I lived in a shitty house not far from here with five other foster kids. I was almost ten when the Masons adopted me, so I’m no stranger to this world. But this isn’t the place for Rose. She is gentle, and places like this tended to use up people like her.

  The limo pulls around the side into the parking lot, and we are greeted by police. It turns out that Bruce is an undercover cop who’d been looking into a sex trafficking ring. The group has been using the motel to move women.

  It turns my stomach to think that Rose was anywhere near monsters like that.

  “Pack your stuff. You’re coming home with us,” I say as soon as the officer is done questioning us.

  “I can’t stay with you,” Rose argues, heading straight to her room.

  She’s fucking insane. There’s no way either of us is leaving her here. “I’m not taking no for an answer. This place isn’t safe.”

  “Ten months,” she says holding up both hands. “Ten. I’ve managed to survive this long.”

  I am ready to toss her over my shoulder and drag her back kicking and screaming if need be when Asher steps in.

  “You need a real apartment,” he says. “Stay with us until you find a place.”

  “I have a—”

  “It would make my life a lot easier,” he says. “These 18 hour days are killing me. If you’re staying with us for the next week or two, we can move our evening conference calls to the penthouse. No bad takeout every night. No long commute. You’d be doing me a favor. And in the meantime, we can ask our real estate person to show you some listings.” Asher shoots her a smile, and she loses a little of that hard defensive edge. “It’s a win-win really.”

  I think she’s been looking for a reason to stay, because just like that, Rose agrees.

  However, this new development gives me pause as far as the get-Rose-naked plan goes. She is living with us now, and I don’t want to make her think sex is part of that arrangement. So instead, I decide to play the long game.

  Over the course of the next two weeks, it’s business as usual, with a few exceptions. She rides into work with us now, and we moved the conference calls with China to the penthouse. That also meant we could have cozy dinners at home.

  And that’s how we found ourselves late Friday night, lounging in the living room after eating a tasty chicken cacciatore Rose cooked. It’s a rare night when there isn’t a conference call or a meeting or a report that needs to be finished. It is just the three of us enjoying some time off.

  We’ve gone through a bottle of wine and had started on a second. The mood is languid and heady from all the pent up sexual tension between us.

  This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.

  I fill up my glass and sink down into the sofa next to Rose. “If you keep cooking like that I’m never going to let you move out.”

  “You both have been great hosts,” she says, “It’s the least I can do.” A soft pink blush colors her cheeks, and she bites her bottom lip.

  “You don’t owe us anything.” I take her hand and slowly massage her fingers. Not long ago, this kind of casual touching would have her guard up, but tonight is a different story.

  Rose leans back into the sofa and closes her eyes. “Hmm,” she hums under her breath. “God, that feels good. You’re spoiling me.”

  “I can think of a hundred ways to spoil you. If you want,” I say, bringing her hand up to my lips and kissing each finger. She sucks in a breath and opens her eyes, but doesn’t draw her hand back.

  “Spoil me?” she says, nervously.

  The question is clear in her big brown eyes. We’ve reached the point of no return. If I push this and she’s not ready, there will be no second chances. All of this, the work, her company could end. But it’s a risk I’m ready to take.

  “I’m not going to beat around the bush. I want you,” I say, looking her straight in the eyes. “I have for a long time. Having you here in our house, sharing our space, just reinforces that need. We have chemistry. I know you feel it too.”

  Rose licks her lip and quickly glances over to Asher who’s been watching our exchange this whole time. “What exactly are you saying?”

  Asher leans forward and sets his glass down. “We want you in our bed, Bambi.”

  Her mouth goes wide, and those big doe eyes return to me. Bambi indeed. She really does look like a deer in headlights.

  “So both of you?” she says, straightening up.

  Suddenly, the wide-eyed look is gone, and there’s a wariness about her. “Is this why you wanted me to stay here? So I can be your live-in sex toy? What if I say no, are you going to kick me out?”

  “We wouldn’t kick you out,” I assure her.

  “I’m not sure how I feel about this,” she says, looking down at her hands. “It’s all, I don’t know, sudden.”

  “Sudden my ass,” Asher says, eye narrowing. “We’ve been dancing around this for almost two months. The sexual tension is so thick in the house I’m choking on it.”

  Rose purses her lips as if trying to keep from saying something, and moves so she can look at both of us. “There’s more to life than sexual attraction,” she says, coolly.

  Asher leans forward, refusing to back down. “Not a lot in my book.”

  Rose closes her eyes, and after a deep breath schools her expression. “What about my job?” she asks. “How do you think it would look to other people in the office if they find out I slept with my bosses? They are going to assume that’s how I got the promotion.”

  She’s right, of course. The optics on this one are questionable, but it doesn’t stop me from wanting her. She’s the right woman for us. I can feel it, and these past weeks have just reinforced my belief.

  “Your job is safe,” Asher says. “When things end—”

  “If things end,” I say.

  Asher shoots me a look but continues. “I had legal draft an employment agreement. We’ll keep you on as long as you want and if you decide to leave there’s a generous severance package.”

  “I don’t want a severance package,” she says, glaring at Asher. “I just want to know why? Why me? Why now?”

  “The why is simple,” I say catching her hand and bringing it up to my lips. “It’s because you’re a cook.”

  Her brows crinkle and then she smiles. I feel the tension leaving her, but she still pulls back her hand and stands. “I
need to think on this,” she says. “Tomorrow, I’m looking at apartments. I’ll be gone most of the day. When I get home, I’ll let you know.”

  I get to my feet, sure that if I give her time to think, she’ll talk herself out of it. But before I can stop her, she steps away from the sofa. “Rose—”

  “No,” she says, holding up both hands, and backs away. “I need to think.”

  I open my mouth to say more, but Asher speaks up. “Tomorrow then.”

  Rose leaves, and a heavy silence falls over the room. I’ve screwed this up. I should have kissed her until she couldn’t think straight. I shouldn’t have pushed her. I should have pushed her harder. I don’t fucking know anymore. But as I watch her door close, I’m terrified that this is it.

  “Give her time,” Asher says.

  “You know as well as I do that if she thinks about what we’re asking, she’s going to say no.”

  “One thing I’ve learned about Rose is that she doesn’t make rash decisions,” Asher says. “If you had tried to pressure her into sleeping with us before she had time to process, she would have flat out told you no. Or worse, agreed and then regretted it.”

  “I know you’re right, but I have a bad feeling,” I say, staring at the closed door.

  Asher finishes off his wine and then stands, stretching. “She’ll say yes,” he says, confidently. “I was watching. She’s into both of us, and curious. The perfect combination. We just need to give her time.”

  I pick up the other glasses, my eyes pulling back to the closed door again, and sigh. The cat’s out of the bag now, and there’s not much I can do. I just hope I’m right about Rose.

  9

  Rose

  I can’t sleep.

  How can I with Asher’s words buzzing around my brain like a jar full of angry bees?

  “We want you in our bed.”

  I can’t believe I’m even considering it.