Faking with Benefits : A Friends to Lovers Romance(32)

“Layla,” Josh mutters into my skin.

I turn to face him blindly, crashing our lips together. He inhales sharply, then kisses me back, hard. We surge into each other. On my other side, Zack’s hands curve over my hips. I shiver as his big fingers slip under the hem of my shirt, sending goosebumps streaking over my skin. I arch into him. Zack gets the message, reaching up to cup one of my breasts in one big hand. I start to pant slightly as Josh touches my face, kissing me harder. Our mouths roll together, slow and sensual, tugging at each other as Zack’s hand climbs my chest. When his thumb finally strokes over my tingling nipple, I can’t stop the moan that falls out of me, my whole body starting to shake.

Josh jerks away like I’ve burned him, his cheeks flaming.

“Do… you want dessert?” He says quickly. “I’ve got ice cream.” He jumps to his feet. “Let me just get it.”

He disappears into the kitchenette. I watch him go, gasping. “Crap. Did we go too far?”

Zack nuzzles my neck. “Nah. He probably just wants to make sure you finish your dinner date.”

I smile. “I never thought he could be so domestic.” I always thought of Josh as so uptight and business-oriented. Kind of like me. I’ve never seen this softer side to him before, but it’s very sweet.

“He’s just tryin’ to impress you,” Zack murmurs, stroking his hand over my stomach. “He only ever cooks for girls. I remember he used to make Sunday roast every week when we were dating Monica. Only southerner I ever met who can make a decent gravy.”

I roll my eyes, pulling away from him. “Right. When you were all dating your ex, Monica.”

Zack snorts. “You really think she doesn’t exist, don’t you? Hang on, we’ve got pictures.” Still holding onto me, he pulls out his phone, flipping through his photo album. “Here.” He shows me the screen.

I lean in for a better look. In the picture, all three guys are sitting on a park bench with a dark-haired girl. She’s perched between Luke and Zack’s laps, leaning across to hold Josh’s hand. He’s smiling across at her, his face full of affection.

I freeze. “Wait. You’re telling me that your four-way was real?”

Josh comes back to the table, setting out three bowls of vanilla ice cream. “Yes.”

I look up at him. “Monica wasn’t just a bit for the podcast?”

He gives me an odd look, sitting back down next to me. “We don’t lie on the podcast.”

“I…” I can feel my face heating. My stomach twists as I study the picture. Luke’s hand is on Monica’s hip, and Zack is kissing her neck. All three of them have been naked together in a bed, getting off one girl? It seems like some kind of fantasy.

“Here.” I jump as something cold touches my lips. Opening my mouth, I let Josh feed me a spoonful of vanilla ice cream, letting the sweetness melt on my tongue.

“So you actually all slept with the same woman? For real?”

“Yes,” Josh says patiently. “Repeatedly. For several years. Why did you think we were so happy to share you?”

I gape. “I… but… how the Hell did that happen?!”

He shrugs. “We’d been discussing group relationships for years on the podcast. Once you get used to the idea, it starts to just seem… normal. Logical, actually. We live in a society which tells us that we’re supposed to get everything we need, physically and emotionally, from one person. But that’s impossible.”

Zack nods. “Aye. Monica was a guest speaker at a convention we attended. We had a drink with her in the bar after, and she suggested it. We all said yes, and it went from there.”

“Wow.” I sit back, blinking. “And you liked it?”

Josh feeds me another spoon of ice cream, dark eyes intent on my face. “It was probably the best relationship I’ve ever had. It was a lot easier than you’d think.”

I lick vanilla off my lips. “But you guys broke up? What happened?”

“My fault,” Zack says sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. “I don’t do long-term. I broke up with her, so she left Josh and Luke, too. It woulda been a bit awkward for her to keep dating my roommates and not me.” He sighs mournfully. “It was hard giving up the sex, though. Damn.”

“Right,” I choke out. “The four-way sex. That actually, really happened. Yeah.”

Josh gives me a weird look. I’m not surprised. I probably look like I’m having an aneurysm. I don’t think I’ve ever been so shocked and turned on at the same time.

“Speaking of,” Zack perks up. “Flower boy here ain’t the only one who got you a present. I have somethin’ for you, too.” He leans over the arm of the sofa and rummages around under the coffee table.

Josh stiffens. “Oh God. Please don’t tell me it’s the—”

“Here ya go,” Zack says happily, dropping a brown cardboard box on my lap. I study the label on the packaging. There’s a black logo on the front, of a curvy, stylised woman with devil horns.

“Sinsters?” The name sounds familiar, but I don’t remember where from.

“One of our sponsors,” Zack says. “Here.” He hands me his keys, and I use the sharp edge to cut through the tape, pulling open the box.