Was it Good for You Too? (17 page)

He grimaced, then lowered his hands to his sides.

“Once again, I made the mistake of choosing a man who puts the need for family over me. So if we're calling it square—I'll never be enough for you either.”

Chapter 19

Delvin stood outside Tailan's door. His hand hung in the air, halted on its path to the dark green door. He was in shock.

Poly—what?

Had he heard that right? Not only was Tailan with someone else, she was
married
to that someone else. And the man had taken other lovers
with her permission
?!

Surging with anger he was trying hard to contain, Delvin tapped his knuckles against the door. From what he had just heard, their marriage was in a precarious state, and he was going to exploit the hell out of that.

Moments later, the door was yanked open by a tawny man with a muscular build, thick dark hair, and tawny, but rugged features. His eyes burned a hole through Delvin.

“Ah, the real source of our marital problems has arrived,” the man spat, but it wasn't hard to place the thickly accented English as Middle Eastern or East Indian. “Followed you home like a stray dog.”

“What kind of bullshit marriage are you in?” Delvin roared at Tailan as he swept past her husband into the living room. “You're committed to him, but he gets to sleep with whoever he wants?

“How do you know that?”

“How the hell do you think I know?!” he snapped. “Your door is paper thin. And it's not like y'all were whispering—I listened and heard every-damn-thing.”

Amir closed the door and pressed his back against it.

The rising color in Tailan's cheeks advertised an overwhelming embarrassment. She cleared her throat and said, “Only married women.” Her hand shot up to keep Amir from coming closer and she continued, “He can only sleep with married women.”

“Whatever,” Delvin barked, circling a finger to encompass her and the husband. “Is this your life? Really? A man who doesn't put you first?”

“We are in a polyamorous marriage. It's allowed,” Tailan clarified.

Delvin let the words shift like puzzle pieces in his head. “Polyamorous? Isn't that just a five-dollar word for swingers?”

“Polyamorous people are married couples who have multiple
longterm
relationships
with others,” she said, giving him a pointed look. “Swingers are just about sex. Different vibe. Different purpose. But either way, everything's done with permission. Our kind of marriage keeps the primary family together, while allowing the adults to be fulfilled in other ways. But there are boundaries and rules.”

Delvin scratched his head. “So this is why you wouldn't let—”

“Delvin, please don't make things worse for me.”

He purposely ignored her plea and turned to her husband. “This is going to take a minute. You don't mind if I have a seat, do you?” Without waiting for Amir to answer, Delvin planted himself on the sofa and rested his elbows on his knees. He surveyed the space and was disheartened by what he saw.

The place was tidy and organized, but the furniture was simple, almost sparse. A modest dining set with four multi-colored chairs in the small dining room took up almost the entire room.

Delvin's heart did a flying leap out of his chest and to the carpet. He had been living in the lap of luxury while Tailan was evidently living from paycheck to paycheck. The staircase led upward to what he could only assume was a dollhouse-sized bedroom. Outside, there was just enough grass to roll around twice before hitting the wrought iron fence. That should have been his first tip-off to Tailan's station in life. She loved gardens and lots of space—so this home was totally out of character. Evidently, hubby wasn't bringing home enough bacon to make a single layer sandwich.

“Why is he here?” Amir thundered.

“Isn't it obvious?” Delvin answered in Tailan's stead. “She's allowed to be with other men.”

Tailan gasped, and her eyes bulged as that statement confirmed that yes—he
had
heard everything.

Delvin winked to Tailan before turning his conversation back to the husband. “
Married men
to be more precise.” He flashed his award-winning smile. “Since you're being all
open
and honest about everything, I'll just tell you straight up …” his smile widened at the Indian man, who looked like he was ready to jump down his throat. “I. Want. Your. Wife.”

If silence was a percussion blast, then everyone's ears would've been bleeding.

“Out of the question!” Amir growled.

Tailan locked an intense gaze on Delvin as she asked her husband, “Why? I've never asked to be with anyone. Not once!”

“Yes, I know,” Amir conceded. His eyes became glazed and predatory. “But I sense you want this man only because you have already slept with him. And that is most definitely against our agreement.”

“I have not—”

“I saw you!” Amir bellowed.

“Excuse me?” Delvin jumped in.

“It was all over the television!” Amir shouted, shaking a fist at Delvin. “My brother called me, told me to turn it on. They played it more than once.” His gaze shifted to Tailan. “You were kissing him in public, shaming me in front of my family.”

“Correction,” Delvin said grinning. “She didn't kiss me; I kissed her.”

“Semantics!” Amir snapped. “She had lips. You had lips. And they were both in the same place at the same time.” Amir trained his gaze on Tailan. “Did. You. Sleep. With. Him?!”

Delvin just couldn't resist. “She sure did!” he offered. “All night long. And it was off the freaking meter.” He slid a sly wink to Tailan before saying to her husband, “Our girl snores a little. Did you know that?”

“Delvin!” Tailan shrieked, and he faked like he was buttoning his lips. Her frantic gaze snapped over to her husband. “I did not sleep with him in the biblical sense.”

Amir stiffened with anger. “What the hell is
that
supposed to mean?”

Delvin leaned back in the sofa, yawned, and gave Amir a sly smile that spoke volumes.

“We didn't make love, have sex, or have
any
physical relations. Does that spell it out for you?” Tailan pulled in a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. She added, “I came home to discuss this with you first because our agreement stipulates that we inform the other party when we intend to bring another partner in.” She went to her husband, placed a manicured hand on his chest. “I want this man in my life. I want a relationship with him. I want your blessing, just as I've given you mine. All. Four. Times.”

“Damn, player,” Delvin smirked. “You've been getting it in.” He sat up and added with a taunting shimmie, “Turnabout is fair play. So let's all play together.”

The vein at Amir's temple throbbed. “Anyone but him.”

“You don't get to choose,” Tailan quickly reminded.

Her phone rang, and she jammed her hand into her pocket. Glancing down, she said, “I have to take this.”

“But we're not done!' Amir growled.

For once, Delvin agreed with her husband.

“It's my boss. You know, the person who signs the checks that help us keep a roof over our heads since your family still has you in the penalty box.”

Oh, that's cold.

She slipped the earpiece in and said, “Hey, David. Now's not a good time. And why the hell did you give Delvin my address?” Tailan faced the two men in her living room. “He showed up at my house, David. My husband was home.”

“Yes,” she barked. “I'm married.”

Delvin could just imagine the look on David's face.

“You know I'm very private. My marriage is not … the usual kind, so I don't mention it.”

Delvin let out a low, throaty chuckle that snatched Tailan's attention from her call. Again he buttoned his lips.

“Yes, I heard you the first time,” she groaned, giving Delvin a hostile glance. “Does the word polyamorous mean anything to you? Then Google it.”

You know, that's not a bad idea
.

Delvin whipped out his cell and hit the internet to do a little more research on their marriage—and to give himself a lot more ammunition.

“Once you look it up, you'll have a better understanding why I don't talk about it,” she said. “People get the wrong idea and see me as untrustworthy because they think I'm on the hunt.”

Delvin lifted his head from his phone and caught Tailan's attention. He showed her his phone and mouthed,
Great idea
.

She gave him a squinted evil eye that should've stopped his heart. His ears picked up the tail end of her conversation with David. “Now I have both my husband and my ex squaring off in my living room, and it's all your fault.”

Tailan rubbed her temples. “What did you call me for anyway?” Her entire body snapped to attention. “Retiring? Oh, so
nooooow
that you've wreaked havoc in my personal life, you're out the door?” She listened for a moment, then said sourly, “I have to go.” Tailan ended the call and to no one in particular said, “David is leaving Nelson. I've been promoted to his position.”

“That's awesome,” Delvin said, getting up to congratulate her with a hug. “I've seen you in action, baby. You're great at what you do.”

Amir stepped into the fray. “Tailan, if you love me, you will respect my wishes.”

She moved away from Delvin and faced her husband. “Amir, if you love me as much as you proclaim, you'll allow me this experience.”

Delvin spooned his chest to her back, signaling to Amir he was not going away.

All parties remained silent when Tailan calmly added, “You were the one who suggested we have this fluid marriage. Now you want to put restrictions on it because I want to take advantage of what it has to offer. That's beneath you, and you know it!” Her head tilted. “That's not the real issue, is it?” she whispered. “We both know what's tearing us apart.”

“I want you to leave our home,” Amir directed at Delvin. “We no longer require your presence. I need to speak with my wife. Alone.”

Delvin looked to Tailan. “Tai?”

“For me, Delvin, please leave,” she pleaded softly. “Amir and I need to clear the air. I'll call you later.”

“Promise?” He nuzzled her ear. Amir's eyes shot daggers in Delvin's direction.

Tailan released a long, slow breath, her shoulders finally relaxing as she whispered, “I promise.”

Delvin walked to the door, snatched it open and was nearly run over by a pint-sized, golden-skinned child barreling into the house with an olive-skinned child right behind her. “Mama! Papa!” they screamed. The girls ran towards Tailan and Amir as a horn tooted three times, signaling a goodbye from whoever dropped them off.

Everything
stopped for Delvin—his lungs, his heart, his brain, and the blood flowing in his veins.

Delvin snapped around and bellowed, “You wouldn't give
me
children, yet you had them for
him
?!”

One child froze a few feet away from Tailan and slowly turned back to Delvin as if noticing for the first time that there was a stranger in the house. She looked up at him, seemingly frightened by the outburst. But then her lips split into a smile so wide that his heart did a little backflip.

Terror streaked across Tailan's face. She rushed to collect the girl, but it was too late.

“Daddy?” the child said in an ecstatic whisper. “You finally came for me! You came!”

In a split second, Delvin's gaze swept across the child, assessing the features that were a perfect blend of his and Tailan's. His nose, her almond-shaped eyes, his lips, Tailan's dark silky hair and honey cream coloring.

This breathtaking little being was
his
daughter—
his
!

The other little girl was now in Amir's arms, watching Delvin intently. The resemblance between those two was obvious.

Delvin's eyes widened as his daughter inched toward him as though in a trance. He lowered to his haunches so they were at eye level. He stroked a finger across her smooth skin before taking her into his arms. The emotions tearing through him collided. Anger, rage, shock, wonder, and the one gaining ground on all the others—pure love.

Minutes passed before Delvin looked over his shoulder at a scowling Amir and a panic-stricken Tailan.

Offering a deceptive calmness that he in no way felt, he looked at his child as he gently said to the grownups, “That leaving thing? That's
definitely
off the table now.” He smiled, but it in no way mirrored what he truly felt. “Looks like I'm not going anywhere anytime soon.”

Chapter 20

Delvin held his little girl like he would never see her again. He cast a condemning glare at Tailan. His heart was pounding in his ears. This wonderful little angel was his, and he never even knew she existed.

“You hated me so much that you'd keep my child from me?” he asked.

“Neena, Devi, go upstairs for a moment,” Tailan directed to the children.

“Mommy,” Devi whined, wrapping her arms tighter about Delvin's neck.

He returned the warm gesture before setting her down on the natural hardwood floor. “Go on. Do as your mama says.” The child's face flashed with fright and he quickly added, “I promise,” he shot a hard look to the other adults in the room before redirecting to the little girl, “I'll still be here when you come back down.”

Her relieved smiled kicked him right in the gut.

She nodded, then ran to Amir and tugged at Neena's hand, causing Amir to put her down. They scrambled up the stairs, and soon steps overhead signaled they were in a bedroom.

Delvin closed his eyes, trying to calm his raw emotions. He lifted his lids to Tailan. “Devi?”

Tailan nodded. “It means
goddess of power
.”