Nicole Edwards - Entrusted

“And Beth loved movies. Any movie, she didn’t care. At Christmas, she would insist that we watch all of the classics. Every year.”

“What about you? Do you like movies?”

“Yes,” Elijah said softly. “I guess I do. I enjoy concerts more. And I’m not talking about the opera either.”

“So, you’re into music?”

“Yes. I’m a huge Eagles fan.”

“Logan loves the Eagles, too,” Sam told him. “We went to a concert in Vegas just a couple of years ago. I don’t think his smile faded once the entire trip.”

“And you? What do you enjoy doing? Besides attending art shows.”

“Aside from work,” Sam said, “I don’t have much of a preference. I’m spontaneous, I guess you could say. I enjoy going to the clubs, even if it is just to socialize. I also enjoy movies, music, and yes, I’ve been known to enjoy an opera or two.”

“Do you even realize how beautiful you are?” Elijah asked, staring back at her, his golden eyes sparkling.

“I do when Logan looks at me,” she admitted, a little stunned by the abrupt change of the subject. “And you.”

Elijah leaned in and kissed her. It was a soft, gentle press of his lips to hers and it made her insides tingle and her heart do a strange flip in her chest. When he pulled back, she just stared up at him.

“I want to know everything there is to know about you, Sam.”

“Ditto.” Sam smiled. And it was the truth.

She wanted to know everything.

And then some.

* * *

Elijah hadn’t expected to enjoy the art gallery. And he’d been hesitant about taking Sam out without Logan, for whatever reason. But now that they were there, his reservations had dissipated and the only thing he cared about was talking to the most beautiful woman in the room, the feel of her hand on his arm, the way her eyes sparkled when she laughed. It was more than he anticipated.

Even after the fireworks they’d created when the three of them had been together.

This was more. So much more.

They’d made their way through most of the gallery, stopping at all of the pieces that Sam seemed interested in and their conversation had continued. Elijah had actually been surprised by how interested Sam was in him as a person. It had been a long time since a woman had reacted to him that way. Or maybe he just hadn’t noticed it because, until Sam, he’d kept himself closed off to women.

A waiter passed and Elijah handed him their empty glasses before taking Sam’s hand in his. They continued to peruse the art that graced the walls and the various structures erected in the corners.

“So, tell me this… You said you had never had a threesome before you met Logan, correct?”

“That’s right.”

Sam didn’t seem bothered by the subject, so Elijah continued.

“Your first time… What was your reaction?”

“I think I was so overwhelmed, I didn’t know what to think. It was similar to that first night. Only Logan kept the blindfold on me the entire time. I didn’t even know what was going on until I realized there were more than two hands on me at one time. It actually wasn’t until later that I actually saw Luke face to face. I had no clue Logan had a twin.”

Elijah stopped. “You were in a threesome with Luke McCoy?”

“Yes,” she said simply. “Long before Sierra came into the picture. Although Luke did have a thing for Cole at that point, but he was in denial about that too. It didn’t last long.”

Sam’s gaze left his as she glanced around the room.

“There was another time?” Elijah implored.

“Yes. I was introduced to Tag Murphy and things ignited rather quickly, however that fizzled out even faster than it had with Luke.” Sam started walking again and Elijah remained at her side. “Once that was over, I realized I wasn’t cut out for those emotional roller coasters. I love Logan. He owns my heart and soul. That will never change, but we both enjoy this… other activity. Only I don’t do casual sex well at all.”

“And Logan didn’t want to share all of you?” Based on how possessive Logan was about Sam, Elijah had thought he’d had a good understanding of what Logan did and didn’t want from this, but his recent interactions with Logan had caused him to doubt his original belief.

“We don’t see it as sharing me,” she told him truthfully. “That sounds as though he doesn’t love me. I know he does. I’ve never doubted his love for me. This is something we both want. We’re experiencing it together.”

“But you want more than just sex.”

“Logan does too,” Sam said defensively. “He hadn’t expected more from Luke or Tag. They weren’t the forever type, if you know what I mean. At least not for me.”

Elijah stopped Sam when she started to walk away. “But I am?”

“I don’t know,” she whispered, her gaze colliding with his. “I just know that I feel something for you. There’s a connection I’m not familiar with. At least not with anyone other than Logan. But I feel it with you.”

“Does that bother you?”

“No,” she said quickly.

“Does it bother Logan?”

“No. I asked him this morning. After you called. We don’t assume to know what you’re looking for, Eli, but I can tell you, this isn’t casual. Not for either one of us. It’s taken me a little by surprise, to be honest, but I take things one day at a time. At least now I do. Logan flipped my world upside down when I met him. I was confused, even scared about what I wanted when I was with him. But I’ve stopped fighting that part of myself. I don’t care what other people think about me or my lifestyle. I just know what I want. What Logan wants.”

Elijah took a step closer and placed his hands on Sam’s hips. “I want to take you home,” he said softly. “I want to explore your body with my hands, my lips, my tongue. I want to make love to you all night long, Samantha. I don’t ever want to stop.” Elijah paused, waited for her to argue. When she didn’t, he continued. “But Logan isn’t here, so I’m not expecting anything whatsoever. I can wait. As long as I have to. I’ve done this before. I understand the concept. I will never expect all of you, but I want more of you. I do know that much.”

Sam’s light green eyes glittered. What caused it, Elijah didn’t know. What he did know was that she wanted this as much as he did.

“Take me home, Elijah,” Sam whispered as her eyes dropped to his mouth and then back up again. “Take me home and stay the night with me. That’s what I want right now.”

Elijah took one step back. “I’ll be glad to do just that,” he told her, “but I need to call Logan first.”

“I talked to Logan earlier today.”

“I understand that. But you’re his wife. I owe him the respect of calling him. Making sure he’s all right with this. And then, once I’ve told him my intentions, we’ll take it from there.”

Sam nodded and Elijah didn’t waste any time. He grabbed his cell phone and excused himself for a moment.

He didn’t necessarily mind Sam overhearing, but Elijah did want a little privacy. For the most important phone call he feared he would ever make again.

By the time the limo dropped them off at her house, Sam’s nerves were staging a protest.

Elijah had talked to Logan briefly before they left the gallery. As had she. He gave them their blessing, whispered a few naughty things into Sam’s ear, and now that she and Elijah were walking into the dimly lit house, Sam felt like this was her first time ever being with a man.

How she had managed to keep her hands off Elijah in the limo was beyond her. She’d wanted to crawl into his lap and devour him whole. It would’ve been absolutely perfect if Logan had been there.

But he wasn’t.

And this was new for her.

Despite the fact that she had Logan’s approval, and she knew her husband would go wild when she gave him the play by play later, this still felt oddly like a date. As though Logan played no part in it whatsoever.

And that’s what had her all mixed up inside.

“Would you like a drink?” she called to Elijah as she quickly made her way through the house, making a beeline for the kitchen.

“Sure,” he said, his voice warm and sexy. “I’ll have what you’re having.”

“Logan’s got some scotch. You know, in case you prefer something other than fruity vodka.” Sam did her best to lighten the mood, but it wasn’t helping. Much. “But I’m sure we’ve got some whiskey or…”

When she reached the cabinet where they kept the liquor, Sam paused with her hand on the door handle. She took a deep breath. Let it out.

“Samantha.” Elijah’s voice came from right behind her.

Sam released her grip on the handle and turned to face him.

“Come here.”

He didn’t move closer, but she only had to take two steps before she was practically up against him.

Without another word, Elijah’s big, warm hands cupped her face as he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss started slow, but it didn’t take long before they were crushed together, her hands twisted in the lapels of his jacket, trying to get closer.

“I don’t need anything to drink. I just need you. I want to make love to you, Sam.”

Sam was breathless from his kiss, ready for more. If he’d expected her to argue, well, he had another thing coming “I want the same thing.”

“Do you have a guest bedroom?” Elijah asked.

It took Sam a moment to make out his question, but when she did, she just stood there, her mouth partially open.

“I won’t make love to you in your bed, Sam. That’s for you and Logan. I’ll never cross that line. Do you have a guest bedroom?”

This time Sam nodded her head.