Tempest of Vengeance (32 page)

“Yes, I’m awake,” Devlin said, moving closer
to us. “Get ready for round two, Sar.”

* * * *

It was late afternoon before I left the bed.
Even then, it was only because Devlin had made reservations for the
three of us for dinner and was not about to miss our first foray
into the world as a triad.

“I can’t move,” I said with a long yawn, my
entire body aching gently. “I don’t think I can go.”

“I’ll carry you, then,” Lash said, sliding
his arms under me. “You need to eat something.”

“We all do,” Devlin said, yawning himself.
“I’m ravenous.”

“I could use a few steaks myself,” Lash
hissed, as he carried me into the bathroom. Then he helped me in
the Jacuzzi, and climbed in himself. “Ahh!” he said as he slid into
the water beside me.

Devlin slid into the water on the other side
of me. “We’ve got about an hour,” he said, yawning again. “Then
we’ll need to leave for the restaurant.”

“Where are we going?” I asked playfully.

“The one by your old house,” Devlin said, as
if it were the only restaurant we could have possibly chosen.
“That’s your favorite, so Lash says. I’ve never been there.”

“You’ll like it,” I said, reaching out to
take hold of his hand in mine. “They have a good wine list.”

“Are you sure, Sar?” Lash said, lifting me
slightly and scooting himself under me, so I was sitting on his lap
in the water. “You have friends that used to go there with you that
knew you and Theo, and your parents sometimes go there, too. You
and I ran into them that one time at brunch.”

I kissed him on his scratchy cheek. “This is
my life now. You’re both part of my life. I’m happy to go there
with you.”

“Good,” Lash replied. “I thought you might
prefer not to have everyone know that you were with us...um, until
your divorce is final.”

“I’m not hiding what we are now, not from
anyone. That would be pretty shitty behavior, if I did that,” I
said sharply, grimacing in distaste.

“Sar’s not like other women you’ve known,”
Devlin said, squeezing my hand. “She wouldn’t have agreed to be
with you, Lash, if she was ashamed of you.”

“I know that,” Lash said, still holding me
close. “But on some level, I’m still surprised.”

I thought about reminding him I loved him.
But then I’d have to hear his silence, because he couldn’t say it
back to me, so I remained silent.

Chapter
Eleven

We sat in the Jacuzzi for another half hour,
just luxuriating in the water and bantering playfully. Even sated
as we both were, we were too happy not to want to tease one another
and share laughter.

“Come on you two! We’ve got to go!” Devlin
called from the bedroom.

Reluctantly, Lash helped me out of the tub,
and we both walked into the bedroom. Devlin was already dressing,
and from the clothes strewn all over the room, it looked like he
was having trouble deciding what to wear. “What do you think, Sar?”
he said, holding up two shirts. “I’d like us to match. Do you want
to wear red or blue?”

“Wear black, so we can all match,” Lash said
in irritation.

Devlin gave him an annoyed look.

I cut in, determined to nip this in the bud
before it got any farther. “Stop,” I said gently. “Both of you
listen to me.”

Both of them turned to me.

“I don’t want any jealousy between the two of
you,” I said calmly, but with force behind my words. “I want to be
with you both, and to not have the endless bickering that Theo and
Danial have done since the moment Danial found out I’d let Theo
move in with me.”

“Fine, what should we wear—?” Devlin
started.

“Let me finish!” I interrupted sharply. “It
doesn’t matter, if I wear certain clothes to please one of you, or
spend more time with one of you on a particular day, or have more
sex with one of you than the other—”

“Well, we all know which of us that would
be—-”

“Shut up, Lash!” I rebuked him. “I gave you
both my promise for a reason: there isn’t any need to fight over me
now. I want you both to be happy, and I’ll do my best to make sure
neither of you feels like you’re less important to me than the
other is. But you both need to help me make this work. I can’t do
it all on my own. Theo’s jealousy ruined what he, Dev, Danial, and
I could’ve had. I don’t want that to be us in a few years. I want
what we’ve made to last.”

Devlin came over to me and hugged me. “As
much as I wanted it to work before, and as hard as Danial tried,
you’re right, Sar. It wasn’t good for any of us trying to share you
three ways, but none of us men wanted to be the one to walk away
and lose you. Most nights, the three of us will sleep together here
in my bed. But I’ll let you be just with Lash sometimes, and
sometimes I’ll want him to leave us alone, too.”

“I’m okay with that,” Lash interjected,
nodding once.

“—
so we’ll make it work,” Devlin
finished. “But tell us—both of us—if you’re feeling pressured or
overwhelmed like you were before. I don’t share well, I never did.
Lash is probably better at it than I am—”

“Dev,” Lash hissed dangerously.

“What? You’ve been in similar situations,”
Devlin said, shrugging. “And I might need reminding.”

“Then I’ll remind you with my fist,” Lash
hissed meaningfully, though he was smiling. He came over and
clasped my hand in his.

“So, please tell us if you’re unhappy, and
we’ll try harder,” Devlin said, brushing his fangs over my neck
lightly in a teasing motion. “But now we have to get moving or
we’ll lose our reservation. So what color are we wearing?”

I looked over at Lash, and then back to
Devlin, considering. “You wear white, I’ll wear silver gray, and
Lash can wear black?” I offered.

“Sounds good,” Lash said, nodding. “I’ll go
get my clothes.”

“You should move some of them in here, since
you are going to be sleeping here,” Devlin called after him as he
left. “I’ll make some room, or we’ll get another wardrobe.”

“Ok,” Lash called back.

“Is he just going to walk over naked?” I
asked.

“Sure,” Devlin said, smiling widely. “He’s
proud of that young body he has now, Sar. Much of it is a were
thing. They feel comfortable not wearing clothes.”

Theo hadn’t been like that, save in bed. I’d
chalk it up to experience. But I did have a concern about tonight
to voice to Devlin that had nothing to do with Lash. “Dev, if we go
to this particular restaurant, you have to behave. I mean it. I’m
not embarrassed, but—”

He nodded. “I’ll act more as your friend, not
your date. Nowhere else, Sar, but I understand it will take some
time for you to let go of your human morals. So I’ll do this for
you and Lash. I will also wait to feed until tomorrow night.”

“Thanks,” I said softly.

Lash came back in a few minutes to find us
dressed and waiting for him. Devlin had put on a pair of white
jeans, and a white sport coat with a golden turtleneck that brought
out his eyes. He’d also strapped a gun and shoulder holster on, for
extra precaution. I’d put on a long denim skirt and the silver gray
chenille sweater that was Devlin’s favorite, over a black
turtleneck. Lash was in his trademark black: polar fleece
turtleneck, heavy wool sweater, and black jeans.

“We need to get you into some other colors,”
Devlin said mildly, as we three walked down the stairs. “That
funeral attire is okay sometimes, but it’s depressing day after
day.”

“Fuck off,” Lash replied just as mildly. “I
like black. I’ve always worn black.”

“I think you’d look handsome in red, or blue,
and maybe green,” I said hesitantly. “And especially in white.”

Lash was quiet, considering my words.
It’s
a start.

“Get in the back with me, Sar,” Devlin said,
opening the back door for me. “Until Ulysses is caught, I want
anyone who may be observing to assume that Lash is just your
bodyguard, like he is mine.” He grinned. “One that I allow certain
liberties to, though, of course.”

“He’s right, Sar,” Lash said, nodding. “Even
after Ulysses is caught, I will want to keep our being mated under
wraps. Otherwise someone may come after you to get to me.”

The restaurant was a good hour from Hayden,
but Lash made it in a little over forty minutes via some backroads
shortcuts, and some fast driving. As soon as we walked in, a friend
and favorite waitress, Lori, noticed us. She tried not to look too
shocked as she led the three of us to our table.

“Good evening! Good to see you, Sar.
Um...what can I get you to drink?”

Lash looked at me uneasily.

It’s obvious she remembers him.
Devlin’s so eye-catching, she won’t be forgetting him
either.
“Lori, this is Devlin, and you probably remember the
man sitting next to him—”

“Tristan,” Lash supplied softly, when he saw
I wasn’t sure what to call him in front of her. “It’s good to see
you again, Lori.”

“Tristan. That’s pretty,” Lori replied,
smiling. Lash tried not to grimace.

“A bottle of your best Shiraz, with three
glasses,” Devlin said winningly. “It’s good to meet you, Lori. Sar
has often said this is her favorite restaurant, and I have wanted
to come here with her for years. But better late than never.”

Lori gaped at him, clearly at a loss for
words for what he had implied.
I need to excuse myself to
explain a little. But what to say? That they were both my
lovers?

“Coming right up,” Lori said, and dashed off
to get the wine.

“I knew we shouldn’t have come here,” Lash
grumbled.

“Hush,” I said, getting up. “I’m going to the
ladies room. I’ll be right back.”

Lash looked worried, like I might decide to
slip out the back. It was sad but also comical.

“Women do this all the time, go to the ladies
room when they’ve just arrived,” Devlin said, perusing the menu.
“Look at the menu, Lash, and don’t worry about it.”

Lash hissed at him, then turned his attention
to his menu.

I visited the ladies room, and managed to
grab Lori as she was walking past from the bar. “Hey. Wait a
minute, Lori.”

She looked at me, clearly unsure what to
say.

Wing it and try not to sound like a
slut.
“I’m not sure how to say this, so I’ll just say it. Theo
left me for another woman. We’re separated, truthfully, we’ve been
separated a year. But we were working on getting back together this
past fall, when you saw us.”

“You guys looked worn out that day,” she said
sadly. “I’d heard about your home, being lost in a fire. I didn’t
get a chance to tell you that day, but I’m sorry.”

“We’re getting divorced in a few days,” I
continued. “Theo’s getting remarried the very next day.” At least,
according to what my mother had told me, he was.

“I’m sorry,” Lori reiterated, then smiled.
“But it looks like you’ve moved on yourself.”

“Yes,” I said giddily, then blushed. “I’m
really happy.”

Why the hell did I say that? Post-coital
bliss, probably.

“You should have fun with him, Sar, and not
rush into anything. Divorce can be painful.”

“It is,” I agreed, biting my lip.

“I didn’t want to say anything, but Theo has
come here once already with that other woman, for lunch one
day.”

Stricken at her words, I got control of
myself with effort.
It’s a free country. He can bring her here,
so long as he never shows up here with her on a Friday night,
anyway. Or a Sunday morning, either. Tristan and I might want to
come here for brunch again sometime.

“He didn’t say anything to me about who she
was,” Lori continued. “But I saw he wasn’t wearing his wedding
band, and that his woman had a diamond on. The waitress told me
later that they were celebrating getting engaged, and I figured you
two had split up, and that it had to do with another woman.”

I couldn’t bring myself to say anything, so I
just nodded.

“I’m glad you have someone,” Lori said
pleasantly. “Have a good time tonight.”

I nodded, and followed her back to our table,
letting out a weary breath when I reached my seat. Lori poured the
wine, and we all had a taste.

“Very good,” Devlin said, smiling charmingly
at Lori. “I already ate, but they are ready to order, I
believe.”

“What can I get you two?”

“I’ll have the buffet,” Lash said, handing
her his menu. “Your brunch was excellent.”

“I’ll have the chicken Madeira,” I said,
handing her my menu. “And an order of stuffed mushrooms, crab. Will
Dave be here later singing?”

Lori nodded, smiled, and left.

“What did you tell her?” Lash whispered
urgently. “She’s being friendly now. And who is Dave?”

Devlin leaned in close, curious, his
wineglass in his hand.

“I told her Theo and I broke up, and I’m with
you. He’s already been here with Jenny, so it was easy. Dave is a
singer who comes here on Fridays. I love to listen to him
sing.”

“He’s not as good as I am,” Devlin stated,
half irritated, and half jealous.

“No human is as good as you are,” I said,
giving him a smile. “But you’ll like him, Dev.”

Lash finally got some words out. “You told
her you’re with me? Really?”

“Yes, really,” I said, and then I grabbed his
head and kissed him quickly.

Lash held perfectly still, until I drew back
from him. “Breathe already!” Devlin said, and Lash let out his
breathe in a whoosh.

“Go get some food,” I said, smiling at him.
“Make sure you eat some salad. You’ll like the fish, I hope.”

“Bring her a crab cake,” Devlin said. “She
likes them.”

I looked over at Devlin, surprised he knew
that.

“Danial gave me a complete list of your
favorite foods, back in the Spring,” Devlin said with pride. “I
memorized it.”

Lash rolled his eyes, and went to get some
food. He was back in a little while with a ton of meat and fish, a
crab cake for me, and a single piece of lettuce. I laughed,
thinking at least it was a start. I had gotten a salad for myself
from the salad bar, and Lash and I dug in. The food tasted
wonderful, as always.