Double Trouble: A Menage Romance (14 page)

An orgasm rose up from the remains of her last, demanding she let go. Holt reached between their slick bodies to wrap his arm around her waist. He squeezed as he picked up speed, pumping deeper, claiming every inch Jess could give.

Jess cried out, clawing at the sheets as Gage planted his hands on her hips. She was stretched to the limit and each slice of cock through her heat sent a new, stronger surge of pleasure through her. Her nipples scraped against Gage’s chest, her legs quivered, and she surrendered to everything: joy, love, the future.

The orgasm stole her breath and Jess froze, muscles clamping hard and fast around both men. Her vision flared white, her ears hummed and as she screamed, Holt and Gage came.

V
oices filtered
into the bedroom and Jess rolled over with a groan. The past twenty-four hours whirled through her mind.
Wow
. Holt and Gage were a pair of never-ending surprises. The suite at the St. Regis was definitely a good one.

She stretched out on the fluffy expanse of white, body sore in all the right places. This wasn’t some temporary assignment any longer. Gone were the what ifs, the worry, the knowledge it would all end in a few days. Holt and Gage loved her and she’d promised to come back to New York with them.

Thank God she didn’t get a real cat.

At last, she slipped on a robe and padded out into the kitchen. Holt stood at the counter, his face full of excitement and hope. Gage paced, his phone glued to his ear, his eyes bright and shining.

“Are you sure?… When did it happen?… And the board?” Gage closed his eyes. “Thank you, Wilson.”

"What’s going on?”

He opened his eyes and rushed to her before picking her up, white cotton robe and all. “You, my darling, are magical.”

“Put me down!”

He spun her around. “Thanks to you, Nicky Gordon was arrested this morning.”

Jess’s mouth fell open. “Are you serious?”

“He’s a bit giddy, to be honest, but it’s the truth.” Holt stood up and joined them in the kitchen. “The board convened an hour ago. They are recommending the sale be approved. We’re going to buy MacIntosh Hotels after all.”

Jess jumped up and hugged Holt with all her might.
I did it!
After all the drama and heartache, she had put her skills to work and uncovered the truth. It wasn't the type of piece she'd planned, but in the end, her interview was a success.

“This is all because of you, Jess.” Gage slid up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “If you hadn’t dug into the development here... If you hadn’t gone after Nicky Gordon, he would have gotten away with everything.”

Holt agreed. “He would have run our father’s company into the ground, launched his own hotel line, and we would have lost you.” He bent to kiss her lips and all the gratitude his words expressed blossomed inside Jess’s heart. “We owe you the world, Jess.”

“I only wish I’d figured it out sooner. He bought so many buildings in my neighborhood. Some were so beautiful. Yes, they needed work, but they had history. Each one of those houses had seen countless families and lives pass through them.” She frowned. “Now they’re all gone.”

Gage ran his fingers up her back. “Get dressed. There’s somewhere we want to go.”

“Now?”

Holt nodded. “Right now.”

* * *

J
ess stepped
out of the limo into the bright Atlanta sun. A worn down old house with grand columns and peeling paint stood in front of her. From the boarded-up windows to the sagging roof, she would know it anywhere. It was one of the houses Nicky had purchased. The big orange condemned sign gave it away.

In a matter of days, it would be torn down like the two behind it and the three down the line on the street. The last gasp of history in her neighborhood would be gone forever.

“What do you think?” Gage stopped by her side.

“It’s a shame money bought off the city planning department. All those memories, lost.”

“No, about the house itself.”

Jess frowned and looked up. “It’s beautiful. Look at the detail along the roof line and around the windows. It must have been a showplace a hundred years ago.”

“Built in 1924 as a vacation home for a wealthy family, I believe.” Holt nudged her in the ribs. “Do you like it?”

“I love it, but what does that have to do with anything?”

“We hoped this would be the start of a new enterprise for us.”

“What, some kind of home renovation company? You can’t be serious.”

Gage chuckled. “Boutique hotels, actually. Think quaint bed and breakfasts but with all the amenities of a five-star hotel. Ultra-exclusive, the best food and spa, even top-line security.”

Jess glanced back up at the dilapidated mansion. “You would turn this into a hotel?”

“And the five or six houses still standing. A few were knocked down, but we can turn the open space into a garden and a pool.”

Jess peered down the street. She’d walked down this block five days a week on her way to the train. Every time she passed the houses with their boarded up front doors and falling apart porches, she’d wished for something like this.

She looked back at Gage. “Why are you doing this?”

“Nicky did a lot of damage here. He didn’t care about the houses. All he wanted was to build another big-box high rise and cram as many guests inside as possible. Every one of these houses was scheduled to be demolished in a week. This way we save the history and remember it.”

They had each spent their lives held back by the past: Jess staying out of the limelight because of her father’s fears, Holt and Gage at war with each other over their father’s legacy. But it wasn’t all bad—this little city block of history brought them together.

Without Nicky and his fraud, Jess would never have met the two men she loved. She smiled. And now they were going to take his destruction and turn it into something wonderful. “Thank you, both.”

“What about calling it The Woodson?”

Jess laughed. “That’s a joke, right?”

“No.”

She laughed harder and patted Gage on the chest. “I’m flattered, really. But no one is going to come to a boutique hotel with my last name on it.”

Holt shrugged. “Anything better in mind?”

Jess considered it. “Well, you do own MacIntosh Hotels again. Why not call it what it is?”

“What’s that?”

“A MacIntosh Boutique.”

Holt reached out and tugged her to him. “You’re sure we can’t name it after you?”

She smiled. “I’m sure. I’ve gone on national television, I’ve told the whole world I’m head over heels for you two. I think that’s enough attention on me for a long, long time.”

Gage stepped closer and nuzzled her ear. “I think MacIntosh is the perfect name.”

“You do?”

He kissed her neck. “At some point, it’ll be your name, too.”

Jess smiled. “Don’t get ahead of yourself, Mr. MacIntosh. I’m not marrying either of you yet.”

“We can be patient, isn’t that right Holt?”

“As long as it takes.”

Jess couldn’t get over how much her life had changed. A few weeks before, she’d been lonely and stuck in a rut. Now she was wrapped up in the arms of two men who wanted to make all her dreams come true. It wasn't typical, but neither was she.

She couldn’t wait to see what the future held for all three of them.

“
A
re you ready Ms. Woodson
?”

Jess nodded at the publicist. “Two minutes?”

“Sure. Take all the time you need.”

She glanced out the stained glass window to the lush grounds. Holt and Gage had outdone themselves. The first MacIntosh Boutique was beyond her wildest expectations.

Every house had been meticulously restored back to its original glory. What once was a neighborhood eyesore, was now the jewel in its crown.

Jess glanced up as her two amazing men stepped into the room. They had never looked more dashing. “I think they’re waiting for us.”

“Let them wait. There’s one more thing we need to do.”

“What?”

Both brothers dropped to their knees.

Gage spoke first. “This.” He pulled a box from his suit jacket pocket and handed it to Holt.

Holt opened it and ring inside sparkled beneath the antique chandelier. “We told you a few months right outside these walls that the MacIntosh name would be yours someday, too.”

Gage continued. “Now we’re asking. We love you, Jess. Will you marry us?”

Her eyes pricked with joy as she held out her hand. “Yes. A million times, yes.”

* * *

* * *

D
aphne had
her life all planned out. She’d check the boxes, stay on the straight and narrow, and make something of herself. Ending up on a hedonistic singles cruise wasn’t part of the plan. Falling in love with the pair of sexy ship owners wasn’t even one of her fantasies. When reality and her vacation collide, will she weather the storm or end up capsized and alone?

Damon and Tony had all but given up on finding a woman to complete them. When a sexy redhead with a temper to match walks onto their cruise ship, everything changes. She could be the woman to satisfy all their needs. The only catch? Convincing her their unconventional love has a chance off the ship.

Find out if Daphne gets her happy ver after in
Two If By Sea
now.

G
rowing
up surrounded by three generations of romance fans, Marie learned early on what an escape a good book could be.

After a stint in a high-pressure career, she traded in the suits and late nights for her first passion, writing. If she’s not working on her next steamy romance, she’s spending time with her family in the great outdoors.

If you liked this story and have a few minutes, please leave a review. Every one helps new readers discover Marie’s work and helps her keep on writing.

Happy Reading!

• mariecarnay