AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m not judging, and from what you’ve told me, your guys are totally into all of this. You shouldn’t worry.”
She hadn’t told Bethany everything yet. After the past month and still on lockdown, she wasn’t entirely sure they were going to want to stay. They hadn’t shown any signs of not wanting to be with her.
One or all three were always around her, which she loved. Moments like now were so rare. She didn’t miss being alone. She actually liked having the company.
“You’re thinking,” Bethany said. “It’s never good when you think.”
“It is good.” She sighed. “I’m going to have to take a test and then face the facts. I don’t know what I’m going to do.”
“Babe, you’ve got three sexy guys who want you. I think there is only one clear path. Keep them all.”
Daphne snorted. “I can’t do that.”
“Why not?”
“Because … it’s not right.”
“Do you love them?” Bethany asked.
She hadn’t told her friend how she felt because she wasn’t sure how she felt about all three men. Love and relationships were two things she hadn’t delved into.
“Don’t, Beth, please,” she said.
“Okay, fine. Let’s break this down. If you love them, and by that, I mean you can’t imagine waking up without all three of them, that they make you laugh and they’re great in bed, and you enjoy being around them, I say keep them. If you can’t stand them, then it’s only great sex, I’d say keep them.”
Daphne burst out laughing.
“I mean it, it’s a win-win.”
“You’re no help at all, Beth, but I love you.”
“I love you too, and if it makes you feel any better, I do think you’ve got feelings for them. If anything, you’re just scared. You’ve been hurt by them in the past, and you’re afraid to get hurt again. Also, your parents died, your grandma died, you’re scared of being left again, so if you don’t connect with anyone, the risk isn’t there.”
“Are you my shrink now?”
“Nope, just what I’m learning from the internet. I swear I need to change professions and be a guru. That sounds awesome. Do you think you could hire me to give classes and shit like that? Tell people about the power of positivity?” she asked.
“I’ve got to go. I’m getting hungry, and no, not unless you’re qualified.”
“You’re no fun.”
She laughed, said her goodbyes, and hung up.
Love.
It was such an easy four-letter word and yet, it had so much meaning. Everyone used it in everyday life. They loved takeout. They loved to read. They loved music and movies. An endless list of loves that were, to a certain extent, just words.
Staring back up at the bed-and-breakfast, she stilled. Everyone she’d ever loved deeply had gone. Each death had taken a little piece of her.
Eric, Micah, and Dean were taking pieces of her. They didn’t even know it, and it scared her. She didn’t know if she could allow herself to let go long enough to trust them.
The pain of losing them, if she finally let herself fall, would be too much. Yet, not telling them seemed almost cruel.
Daphne didn’t have a clue about what she was going to do.
Chapter Twelve
Eric came to a stop outside Daphne’s bathroom. Each night, after they had sex, she’d escape to her room, making the excuse that she needed some time to think. He sat on the edge of the bed, listening to her throw up.
She’d been like this for a couple of weeks. Dean had the pregnancy test, but so far, he hadn’t even given it to her.
He ran his hands down his thighs, waiting for her to finish.
Once he heard the shower run, he made his way into the bathroom, leaving the door open.
“Who is that?”
He removed all his clothes and proceeded to climb into the shower. Completely naked, he stared up and down her body. So far, he couldn’t see any indication that she was pregnant.
The facts were in, though. There was no denying it.
She couldn’t drink coffee anymore. Certain food smells set her off, and she was throwing up in the mornings.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, reaching out to grab the soap, lathering up his hands.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“You can lie to me all you want, but it’s not going to change the fact that we both know what’s going on. You just need to tell us.”
“It’s not very polite to speak like that,” she said.
He spun her around so she faced the tiled wall. Putting his hands on her stomach, he rubbed in the soap, slowly moving up to capture her breasts, soaping them up. Pinching her nipples, he heard her gasp, followed by a deep, guttural moan.
“You think we don’t know what is happening, Daphne? We do. We all do.” He licked her neck before sinking his teeth into the flesh.
Gliding one hand down between her thighs, he began to stroke her clit.
