Yeah. You could’ve heard a pin drop on carpet.
In China.
NINE
Clarissa
HIS SUBMISSIVES?
Both of us?
I could admit that I was a little caught up in everything that was going on. The reporter, the bodyguard, having been practically swept out of my house and over to Trent’s. Going over the limit list. Then to watch as Troy had a minor meltdown thanks to that news report. Well, in all fairness, it was an entertainment channel. Not exactly news. I doubted most of the world cared about Trent Ramsey’s sexual orientation.
However, I was certainly curious.
“Your submissives?” Troy asked, a slight tremble in his voice.
I admired him, though. I couldn’t speak if I’d wanted to, so I was grateful he was voicing the same thoughts I had.
“Yes.” Trent’s blue eyes traveled over and landed on me. “However, that’s not something I intend to discuss this evening. I want to spend our time getting to know one another. After all, this is our first date.”
Did that sound strange? Our first date? I figured lunch yesterday would’ve qualified. Or was he referring to the three of us?
Oh.
He was referring to the three of us.
My eyes cut to Troy. He was as shocked as I was, so I could only take that to mean he wasn’t privy to this information beforehand. It certainly explained his reaction.
Or maybe I was dreaming and my warped subconscious—which obviously thought Troy was hot, too—was trying to find a way to work the three of us together.
I discreetly pinched my arm and winced. Not asleep.
My gaze wandered to Trent, then over to Troy and back again.
I had yet to figure out what Trent could possibly see in me. The man had dated supermodels. I was the furthest thing from one of those that any woman could be. I carried a few extra pounds and no amount of Pilates seemed to help. However, I wasn’t the type of girl to fret over it. I ate healthy, indulging when I wanted, and exercised a few times a week. I never felt the need to starve myself or become rail thin.
A chime sounded from somewhere and both Troy and Trent glanced down at their watches, as though they’d received some sort of alert there.
“The food’s here,” Trent acknowledged, glancing over at Troy. “If you wouldn’t mind meeting Donald. He’s bringing it up to the house.”
“Of course.” Troy pushed to his feet, his eyes bouncing back and forth between Trent and me.
I wondered what he was thinking. He was clearly still rattled, but I wasn’t sure from what. Perhaps the accusation that he was in a relationship with his boss. Or maybe Trent’s declaration that he intended to take us as his submissives.
Realizing I was ogling Trent’s assistant as he exited the room, I returned my attention to him. Unfortunately, he was watching me and I doubted those smoky blue eyes missed a thing.
I took a sip of my wine, grateful when Trent didn’t question me.
Thankfully, Troy walked back into the room a few seconds later carrying several fancy bags. He motioned toward another room, not looking directly at Trent. “I’ll get everything set up in the dining room.”
“Thank you,” Trent said, eyeing him as he moved through the room.
Once he was out of sight, those blue eyes turned to me.
“Come here, sunshine. I didn’t get the chance to greet you appropriately.”
Even that simple command had my nerve endings dancing with delight. I wasn’t sure how I’d been programmed to respond to that sort of stimuli, but I was and I’d long ago stopped trying to fight it.
He patted the cushion beside him and I inched over without thinking about it. When Trent leaned in, his big hand sliding around my neck, I closed my eyes. The next thing I knew his mouth was on mine. There was no thinking on my part, I simply parted my lips and allowed him access. Kissing Trent was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. The man was the most exquisite kisser. Smooth, demanding, yet sweet and gentle at the same time. I couldn’t resist him.
When his lips released mine, he pulled my head forward until our foreheads touched.
A chaotic burst of energy took root in my belly. It fluttered, then dipped and rolled, making me feel strange. Trent Ramsey was a man I’d fantasized about for years. In fact, I’d had some dirty thoughts of him late at night when I was alone. But as far as my mind was concerned, that was all he was. A fantasy. Not someone I would end up spending the rest of my life with.
Did I even want that? I’d seen what fame did to him, how it had formed him. He wasn’t a diva, but there was something about him that said he usually got what he wanted.
And what about the news reports about him and Troy? I was sure they’d have a field day once they got wind of the three of us together. Would they question me and Trent the way they had Trent and Troy?
