Getting Lei'd

Hawaiian Holidays 3

Getting Lei'd Maribelle has always been unlucky in love. Bad relationships, bad men, just nothing good. The latest guy is her fiancé, who she found cheating on her at the chapel with her cousin. After dumping him at the altar, Maribelle swears off love. To mend her broken heart she goes to Hawaii to visit her friends Eddie and Sophia. She never expected Damon and Alex to follow her with seduction on their minds, and she never expected them to want forever. Damon and Alex have been in love with Maribelle for years. When Damon’s stupid brother loses her because of his cheating ways, the best friends decide it’s time to let Maribelle know just how they feel. Seducing her is easy, but convincing her to stay with them is going to be a challenge—one thing neither man has ever backed down from. Genre: Contemporary, Multiple Partners Length: 20,392 words

GETTING LEI’D Hawaiian Holidays 3

Melissa Schroeder

POLYAMOUR

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer. WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at [email protected]

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK IMPRINT: PolyAmour

GETTING LEI’D Copyright © 2011 by Melissa Schroeder E-book ISBN: 1-61926-020-4 First E-book Publication: December 2011 Cover design by Jinger Heaston All cover art and logo copyright © 2011 by Siren Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission. All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Getting Lei’d by Melissa Schroeder from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book. The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment. This is Melissa Schroeder’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Schroeder’s right to earn a living from her work. Amanda Hilton, Publisher www.SirenPublishing.com www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION To my Ohana.

GETTING LEI’D Hawaiian Holidays 3 MELISSA SCHROEDER Copyright © 2011

Chapter One Two-time, cheating, no-good bastard. Maribelle Sawyer looked up at her groom. Aaron smiled down at her, that trademark smile of his, the one that had never failed to make her whole body light up like the National Mall on the Fourth of July. He turned back to the minister, and she continued to study him. He was gorgeous. Not just plain old good-looking-guy gorgeous but movie-star gorgeous. The type of man Brad Pitt would be jealous of. And she had been lucky enough to be picked by him to marry. She had always thought herself fortunate, until she found him screwing her skanky cousin Denise. In the church they were to be married in. The minister kept droning on about love and commitment, and Maribelle’s head pounded. What the hell was she doing there? Why was she standing next to the bastard as if she wanted to marry him? She didn’t. Not now. Maribelle glanced at her two friends, Eddie and Sophia. They looked fabulous, both in deep, dark-purple dresses, their perfect bodies showed off to the best advantage. Maribelle had always been jealous of the fact that both of them could eat anything and it didn’t mar their figures. They were watching her with concern, as if they

Getting Lei’d

9

knew something was wrong. No one else detected it. Not her mother or father. Not even her dumbass groom. She peeked up at him again. He was watching the minister as if he really cared about the vows, about the whole ceremony. It was as if he hadn’t been getting it on with her cousin in the supply closet just thirty minutes ago. She went to look back at the minister, but Damon caught her eye. He might be Aaron’s brother and best man, but he had always been one of her best friends growing up. They were the same age with just six months separating them. He had been her confidant when she had been teased at school. He’d stood up to her skanky cousin Denise whenever she had been mean to her. He was watching her with a solemn expression in his eyes. She turned back to the minister. Why was she doing this? Why did she feel the need to marry a man who couldn’t even be faithful the day of the wedding? How pathetic. She was willing to marry a man who didn’t love her enough to keep his dick in his pants in the church. Why? Lord only knew. But when her father had shown up to walk her down the aisle, she’d still been in some sort of shock. It was starting to wear off. “If anyone has a reason these two people should not marry, speak now or forever hold your peace.” She glanced up at the groom, his stupid smiling face, and her blood started to heat. How dare he stand there and pretend he hadn’t been fucking someone else, as if it was no big deal? As if he had the right to get his rocks off. The minister started to say something, but before Maribelle could stop herself, she raised her hand. The minister looked confused, his gaze looking between her and Aaron. “Maribelle, is there something wrong?” The entire congregation was looking at her. She could feel their gazes burning in her back.

10

Melissa Schroeder

“I object.” “Maribelle?” Aaron’s concerned voice filtered through the air. She thought she heard someone laugh, and she would bet money on Eddie. She had never liked Aaron. “I object to this marriage.” Aaron tugged on her hand until she looked at him. There was a flash of anger in the depth of his blue gaze, and she took a step back. His fingers bit into her wrist. Apparently realizing she was backing away from him, he schooled his features and smiled at her. Leaning down he asked, “What’s the matter, sweet?” She twisted her arm until he released her wrist. “I’m not marrying you.” “Oh, God.” That was her mother. She had always been worried that Maribelle would mess something up, especially this wedding. It was being touted as one of the weddings of the DC wedding season. And she was messing it up. But she refused to feel guilty about it. Well, she did a little, but she would deal with that later. “What do you mean you aren’t marrying me?” “I mean, I refuse to marry you.” Another flash of anger moved over his face, and this time he didn’t even try to hide it. “What the hell are you talking about?” “I won’t marry you. Don’t want to. Refuse to.” Her voice rose with each statement. The irritation on his face dissolved into a look of concern. “I think your nerves might be overset.” “You’re right, they are.” He smiled, and she wanted to punch him. In fact, she curled her fingers into her palm, making a fist. “See, so we can resume—” “I don’t think so.”

Getting Lei’d

11

She turned to Eddie and handed her the bouquet. She was smiling, as was Sophia, but Maribelle didn’t miss the concern in their gazes. Before she could say anything, a hand clamped down hard on her shoulder. She was turned around so fast she almost lost her footing. Several people shouted at that. She recognized the voices of her friends’ boyfriends as she tried to gain her balance. “Just what the fuck, Maribelle?” She shook her head, trying to clear it. “I think you should be careful what you say in church. You probably have some bad marks in that column today, with your behavior.” “My behavior? I’m not the one making an ass out of herself in front of some of the biggest names in DC. You are.” He shouted it, and it echoed throughout the cathedral. “Really? I think I’m actually keeping myself from looking like more of an ass further down the line. So, I call off the wedding.” She turned toward her parents. They were looking at her with mixed expressions. Her mother looked horrified. Well, that made sense. Her mother never expected her to marry, and well, her mother never raised her voice. Ever. Her father, though, looked...satisfied. Odd. She would worry about that later. “I’m sorry. I can’t marry him.” “I think you need to tell me why you picked this moment to tell me. I deserve that much.” Lord, he sounded so putout. Like he was the offended party. She turned back to him. “I don’t think you want to go into this right now.” “Jesus, I should have known you would do this. What the hell is wrong with you? You should be happy to marry me.” Well, hell. He wasn’t going to let it go. He was going to force her to say something. She leaned closer. “I don’t want to go into it.” “No. I want to know now. You have humiliated me enough.”

12

Melissa Schroeder

“Humiliated you? You? Because I am crying off, you think that’s humiliating? I’ll tell you what is humiliating. Finding the man I thought loved me, the one I was ready to spend the rest of my life with, fucking my cousin in the church just thirty minutes before we were going to take vows. That’s humiliating.” Tears welled up in her eyes, and she couldn’t help it. They spilled over and ran down her cheeks. “Knowing that the only reason you were marrying me was my money, that’s humiliating. Being left at the altar by a woman you apparently don’t love pales in comparison.” His face turned an ugly shade of red, his anger and embarrassment easy to see. “What did you expect? You’re so damned uptight about sex. I had to find some kind of relief.” She heard her mother gasp. Lord, she was probably out cold. And knowing her father, he left her on the floor if she was, and was coming after Aaron. But she couldn’t have that. Instead, she walked up to Aaron, braced her hands on his shoulders, and raised her knee to his groin. He went down with a cry of pain, and she turned on her heel and marched down the aisle. When she reached her cousin, she stopped and looked at her. Denise had been considered prettier, with her blonde hair, breast implants, and starved-to-perfection body. “Tell you what, cousin. You can have him. Sloppy seconds have always been your taste.” Denise rose to her feet but then looked over her shoulder. Maribelle knew without looking Eddie and Sophia were there, backing her up. “You might want to think about using those acrylics on my face. I’m pretty sure I can snap you in two.” Without another word, she turned and marched out of the church and down the hall. “Someone has a car? Right? Someone can get me out of here?” Even she heard the panic in her voice. She had to get out of there. Now. Eddie slipped her arm over her shoulder. “Sure, honey. Our guys can figure out a way back. We’ll get you out of here.”

Getting Lei’d

13

When they stepped out of the church, the stretch limo was sitting there, and Maribelle laughed. Even in her state, she knew that there was a hysterical edge to it. “Never mind. We’ve got wheels.” She picked up the skirts of her dress and walked to the limo. The driver looked a little alarmed but said nothing as Maribelle climbed in. Her friends joined her. “I just told him to drive around,” Sophia said. Maribelle barely registered her comment as she pulled the champagne out of the ice. “I think this calls for a celebration,” Maribelle said. “Right on,” Eddie said as she grabbed a couple of glasses. “Honey, you sure you’re all right?” “Why wouldn’t I be? I dumped the bastard. What would have been horrible would have been marrying him and finding out.” Sophia reached over and laid her palm over the top of the champagne bottle that Maribelle was struggling with. “Mari, sweetie.” The concern in her voice had Maribelle glancing up. She looked from one friend to the other. They were an odd group, always had been. Sophia was the business-woman-of-the-year type, with her suits and schedules. Red hair, green eyes, and a complexion Mari would kill for. Eddie was the polar opposite. Short black hair, quick blue eyes, and a loud Texas accent she took pride in. And there was Maribelle, the mess. Fear, pain, and anger clogged her throat. Dammit, she was not a mess. She was not the one who needed to be saved. She had taken control of the situation. Hell, she kneed her fiancé at the altar, in front of some of the most influential people in the United States. She brushed Sophia’s hand away. “Thanks, I’m fine.” She started struggling with the bottle as tears started to burn the back of her eyes again. “I know you’re better off without him, but, honey, you don’t have to pretend with us,” Sophia said.

14

Melissa Schroeder

“Yeah. Sweetie, he’s a swine, but we know.” She looked from one to another. They knew. They always did. She’d thought herself lucky to catch Aaron. Good-looking, nice, romantic, he’d barely noticed her as they grew up. Until last year. Until he needed money. She dropped the unopened bottle on the floor of the limo. The churning emotions rushed forward, past that lump on her throat. She couldn’t stop the sob that escaped and didn’t even try. She collapsed in Sophia’s arms and cried. Eddie rubbed her back as they allowed her to sob. It took several minutes before she could calm herself. “Tell you what,” Eddie said. “Use that ticket to Hawaii and come back with us. We can spend some time together.” She heard the tone in Eddie’s voice. Mari and Aaron had been slated to spend their honeymoon in Hawaii. “I–I don’t know.” Being around all the happiness her friends had found with their men might be a little too much for her. Sophia pulled back and looked at her. “Come on. We’ll have fun, and besides, you should at least do something with those two weeks.” “Yeah, it’ll be fun. The three musketeers take Hawaii!” Eddie joked. She looked from one friend to the other and realized that they weren’t going to let it go. Sophia had that determined glint in her eye that she got when going after a business deal, and Eddie looked ready to hog-tie her and throw her on the plane if she disagreed. “Sure. Why not?” **** Damon Walters looked at his brother and barely held on to his temper. He should have known the bastard was cheating on Mari. He’d never been faithful, not once, and especially to a woman he didn’t really care for. He’d played the part of bemused suitor, but

Getting Lei’d

15

there had been something calculating behind his eyes, his actions. There always was. “What the fuck are you looking at?” His brother still hadn’t recovered from the knee to the groin, so the words came out a lot less strong than he probably wanted them to. “One hell of a stupid man.” “Get off my back.” There was a knock at the door. Damon cracked the door, worried Mr. Sawyer had gone for his hunting rifle. There was no doubt in his mind that Mari’s father was ready to kill Aaron. Well, he had to get in line. Instead, he found skanky Denise. “Is he okay?” He hated this woman. He had never actively hated another human being until he met her. As a paramedic, he didn’t have it in him to hate. It went against the nature of his life’s work. But this woman was mean to the core. She did everything in her power to hurt Mari. “He’s fine.” Her expression soured, her lips pursing. He knew that look. It was always on her face when she struck out at someone. Usually Mari. “I’d like to see him.” “I think you’ve done enough damage for the day.” “Let her in.” This came from his stupid-ass brother. She pushed her way in. “Oh, my poor baby.” She rushed to his brother with all the sympathy of a reality star losing on a show. He knew better. Denise wasn’t any better than his brother. She cooed and kissed him, and Damon tried his best not to vomit. The woman was disgusting, always had been. Come to think it, the things he hated about the plastic Barbie were the same things he could never accept about his brother. They were both calculating, meanspirited, nasty, and plain evil.

16

Melissa Schroeder

“Poor baby? You mean you think Mari did something wrong? Hell, he’s lucky all she did was whack him in the gonads. It could have been worse.” “Worse? How could it be worse?” “Well, I would be careful of Mr. Sawyer. He hunts. And from the expression on his face, you are his next quarry.” What little color there had been in his brother’s face faded. “Shit.” “Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about. He’s just jealous because he’s had a crush on Mari his entire life.” He tried to hide it, had done a damned good job with everyone, except Denise. The bitch had picked up on his feelings for Mari when they were teenagers. “Don’t be an idiot. Damon’s gay.” Another idiotic statement from an idiotic brother. Just because he and his roommate, Alex, shared women, his brother thought they were both gay. Denise opened her mouth to correct him, but Damon didn’t need another argument, another target for his brother’s anger. “You’re screwed, big brother. And I, for one, wash my hands of you.” He turned to leave. “What the fuck does that mean?” “You had a good woman, one who wanted you, would have loved you until the end of your days. But you weren’t happy with that.” “What I said out there was right. She was damned frigid.” Anger swelled, along with a healthy dose of jealousy. He didn’t even want to think about his brother and his best friend having sex. Not when he had wanted her for too long. “It’s your fault, as the man, if she’s not enjoying herself.” “Yeah, well fucking her was like fucking a cold fish.” Denise snickered, and before Damon could stop himself, he took two steps in Aaron’s direction, grabbed the jackass by the front of his shirt, yanked him up, and punched him in the nose. Bone cracked, and

Getting Lei’d

17

blood spurted all over the front of his shirt. Damon threw him back into the chair as a squealing Denise rushed toward Aaron. It took him several minutes to calm himself after leaving the room. He was prepared to tear the bastard limb from limb. He noticed Alex Santiago, his roommate, and headed toward him. “Hey, how’s your brother?” his best friend asked. “His balls are fine. Now he has to worry about the broken nose I just gave him.” Alex’s brows shot up. “Really? You lost your temper? What the hell did he do? “He didn’t do anything. He said horrible things about Mari.” “What kind of things?” He could see the anger lighting in his best friend’s eyes and started to worry. Damon had a temper he usually kept under control. But Alex’s Hispanic temper sometimes got the better of him. They’d both had a crush on Mari for a long time. Since he’d been in the third grade, Damon had been halfway in love with her. From the moment Damon had introduced Alex to Mari, he’d been infatuated. Knowing she would never go for their need to share a woman, they had both opted to be friends. “It was something about sex, wasn’t it?” Damon nodded once. Alex growled, but Damon’s cell phone ringing stopped him. It was Mari. “Hey, sweetie, how you doing?” “Fine, baby,” Eddie said, amusement threading her voice. “Where’s Mari?” There was a beat of silence as he realized how territorial he sounded. “She’s fine. We have her. I wanted to let you know because I knew you would worry. We convinced her to come back to Hawaii with us.” “She doesn’t need to go there. Tell me where you are. I’ll come.”

18

Melissa Schroeder

Another beat of silence sounded over the phone as Alex frowned at him. “No. We’re taking her. You know how crazy it will be here. She’ll be on every news program, they’ll tear her apart.” The pain he heard in Eddie’s voice calmed him somewhat. Eddie and Sophia truly loved her, and now he knew they were only trying to protect their friend. He sighed. “Okay. Tell her to call me. Anytime.” “Sure. Could you talk to her father? She called him, but he talked of shooting off appendages she had damaged.” He chuckled. “Nothing less than my brother deserves. We’ll calm him down.” “We?” “Alex and me.” “Hmm. Okay.” She said nothing for a moment. “You know, if I didn’t think the media would be all over this, I would leave her in your care, yours and Alex’s. I know you both would take excellent care of her.” Before he could respond, she clicked off the phone and left Aaron staring at his. “What?” He looked at Alex. “Eddie. She said they’re going to Hawaii.” Alex frowned. “I don’t like that. But I can understand. There’s press, but it is easier to disappear in Hawaii than here in DC.” His mind barely registered his friend’s comments. He kept going over the tone of Eddie’s voice when she had said they would take care of Mari. Both her friends had shown up with their new loves, two men for each woman. Was Eddie saying what he thought she was saying? “Damon.” “We were going to go on vacation, right?” Alex nodded. They had been thinking of trying to run away after the wedding, trying their best to ignore the fact that the woman they both loved had married someone else. “Well, if Mari isn’t back in a few days, get ready because we’re going to Hawaii to get her.”

Getting Lei’d

19

Chapter Two Maribelle leaned back on her beach chair and lifted her face to the sun. God, this felt good. She had been in Hawaii for three days, and she couldn’t get over the wonderful feeling. Leaving DC had been one of the best decisions she’d made. It had been sleeting the day they left, the cold gray sky mirroring her feelings. “You look like you’re enjoying yourself.” She smiled at Mal, one of Sophia’s lovers. Sophia had met Jack and Mal when she came over for business during Christmas and fell in love with the cousins. Both of them were pretty, but Mal, he was different. He was gorgeous in a way that kept taking her breath away. Still, he never made her feel out of sorts. She never felt self-conscious around him. “I am. I love seasons, but summer was always my favorite. I loved going to the beach with the family. And here, the water is so much prettier.” He chuckled. “Yeah, the Atlantic isn’t very blue compared to our waters.” She closed her eyes again. “I could happily sit on this beach for the rest of my life. I could become the crazy Italian chick who hangs out on the beach in Waikiki.” “Don’t tell Sophia. She would do anything to get you to move here.” “Huh. I think my folks would freak out. All my brothers and sisters moved on. If I did, they would have to spend more time together. That could be a problem.” Mal laughed. “Might be what they need.”

20

Melissa Schroeder

Before she could answer him, she felt shadows move over her. She smiled, thinking it was her two friends, and found herself looking up at Damon and Alex. She blinked, thinking she imagined them. “Alex? Damon?” “What the hell do you two want?” This came from Mal, who’d been pretty protective of her since she arrived three days earlier. In fact, he’d offered to beat Aaron up. “We came to make sure Mari was okay.” Mal rose swiftly to his feet as the other two men crossed their arms over their chests. The situation was escalating for no real reason. She stood and wiggled her way between Mal and her friends. She faced Sophia’s lover. “Mal, they’re friends.” He looked down at her, then back up at the guys. “One of them is related to that asshole.” “Don’t remind me. He has been the bane of my existence my entire life.” Every word seemed to be pulled from somewhere deep, dark, and very dangerous. She looked back over her shoulder at her oldest friend in the world. The mask of anger and barely leashed violence made her swallow. Before she could talk to Damon about why he was there, she had to get Mal under control. “Mal. He and Aaron were never really close. He was about the only person who told me not to date Aaron. Well, and Eddie. She’s hated him from the moment she met him.” Mal hesitated then nodded. “I’ll let it go for now.” “Oh, good lord, what are they going to do? Plead Aaron’s case? And what would happen. He had no way to get to Hawaii. I took his ticket.” Mal chuckled. “Yeah, okay, but I’ll keep my eye on them.” She rolled her eyes and faced the guys. God, what the hell were they doing there? And why did they have to show up on the beach? She hated the way she looked in any swimsuit. Next to many of the small Asian women in the island, she felt like a whale.

Getting Lei’d

21

She pushed those worries to the back of her head. It wasn’t as if either Damon or Alex had those kinds of feelings for her. Granted, she had many wild fantasies, especially after she heard the rumor that they shared women. With both her friends hooking up with two men, it had gotten pretty bad of late. In fact, she’d found herself fantasizing about the two men more than once. It wasn’t that hard to understand why. Damon was an EMT and had the build of one. Unlike his older brother who was tall and lean, Damon was strong, his muscles sculpted. His dark-blond hair was ruthlessly short. Not because he liked it that way, but because it worked better for him on the job. His nose was broken, more than once, but it kept him from looking too pretty. Blue-green eyes were hidden behind dark lenses. She knew without a doubt they took everything in around them. Alex was dark to Damon’s light. There was a bit of Italian blood in the firefighter, which gave him a wealth of thick, dark hair. His dark-brown eyes rimmed in gold had always fascinated her. “What are you all doing here in Hawaii?” Damon took her hand and ignored Mal’s grunt of disapproval. “Why don’t we take a walk and talk about it?” **** Damon could not believe how good Mari looked. He knew from Alex’s frank appraisal of Mari he was barely holding onto his control. From the moment they had spotted her on the beach next to one of Sophia’s lovers, they both had been geared up to strip her naked. He didn’t have to ask Alex, he knew. As they walked along the sand, he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand. She had no idea how good she looked. Damn, she made a tempting morsel, especially because she was completely oblivious of how sexy she really was. Mari was a big woman. Not fat, just overly curvy, one who reminded him of bombshells like Marilyn Monroe.

22

Melissa Schroeder

The bathing suit she was wearing made it worse. It was like one he’d seen in older movies, cut over her thighs, halter top, and in fire-engine red. It was her best color. “What are you doing here?” “I said we wanted to be sure if you were okay.” “A phone call would have accomplished that.” “We did call. No answer,” Alex said. Damon didn’t miss the thread of arousal in his friend’s voice. Just being there, touching her, seeing her, well it was enough to make both of them lose all control. She frowned and looked ahead. “I have been avoiding it a bit. There were a few calls from gossip rags.” “I understand that. But you know our phone numbers.” Damon couldn’t keep the admonition out of his voice. Both of them had been worried about her, and with no contact, there had been no question about it. They’d had to fly to Hawaii. She shrugged dismissively. “Eddie took the phone over a few days ago.” He shared a look over her head with Alex. He would bet a million bucks that Eddie had done it on purpose to get the two of them there. He’d be mad, but since he took that as approval of Alex and his plan, he’d let it go. “So what are you planning to do?” he asked. She shrugged. “Right now, I’m trying to just live in the moment.” Which wasn’t at all like her. Maribelle was a planner. In fact, he had often joked that she planned too much. “How about we get together tonight?” Alex asked. She stopped walking. She glanced between the two of them. “Please don’t tell me you two came here to rescue me.” “No,” he said as Alex shook his head. “Why would you need rescuing?” She shrugged and started walking. “It seems that everyone thinks I’m a mess.” “Who the hell said that?” Alex asked.

Getting Lei’d

23

“Everyone is always saying it.” Damon snorted. “Yeah, right. Let me guess, your mother called?” She nodded. “The first day. Then Eddie refused to let me talk to her.” He knew what was going through that beautiful head of hers. Her mother was well-meaning, but she had never understood Mari. The youngest of six, Mari had always been left on her own, forgotten in a lot of ways. Not ever in a mean way, but Mari had always been accommodating, allowing one of her other siblings to take the limelight. Her mother, a former Georgia beauty queen, had never understood her need to be the person in the background. Or her love of cooking. She just didn’t understand her. Period. “Well, it has nothing to do with that.” “What do you mean?” “We didn’t come here to save you. We were already going on a trip after your wedding.” She sent him a narrowed look. “You never told me.” She sounded so irritated he wanted to laugh. They had shared just about every confidence growing up, and up until her relationship with his brother. They’d told each other about their first crushes, their first kisses, and their first times. Of course, the day she told him about her first time with Dustin Abbot, Damon had gone out and gotten riproaring drunk for the first time. “Tell you what, why don’t we do dinner.” She nodded. “That sounds good. It was really sweet that Sophia and Eddie wanted me here, but sometimes I feel like the odd girl out with all those men around.” “We can pick you up,” Alex offered. “Naw. I’ll come into Waikiki. Where are you staying?” They gave her the hotel and their suite number. Her eyebrows rose at that. “Must have been a pretty penny to get that room at late notice.”

24

Melissa Schroeder

Alex’s father was in the travel business and had contracts, so it hadn’t really been that bad, but there was no need to go into that right now. Seriously, he was just happy they had her agreement to meet them. Their friendship had been strained since she’d gotten involved with Aaron. He had worried they would never be able to repair it, but now he had hope. They walked her back to Mal, and it took every bit of control to leave here there with the moody Hawaiian. As they walked away, Alex said, “I think we should have been up front with her.” “No. Mari has no idea how either of us feel.” “She knows about our sharing.” “But you can tell she has no idea about how we feel about her.” Alex said nothing more as they took the elevator up to the Presidential Suite of the hotel. “I think we might lose her forever if she isn’t into it.” It was something that worried Damon, but he knew they couldn’t keep going on the way they were. “Do you want to wait until she finds someone else? I have the distinct feeling that if Eddie and Sophie could, they would convince her to move here. If that happens, what would we do?” Alex frowned. “I thought her parents would throw a fit if she did that.” Damon shrugged as the door opened to their suite. “I am not sure if that matters now. Before the wedding, yes. But doing what she did, not being the good little girl, that was a big change for her.” “Do you really think her mother wanted her to go through with the marriage?” He thought of Millicent Sawyer. She was gorgeous. Even now she turned heads. But she had been raised by strict parents who told her to never make waves. She had instilled that in Mari, but she wouldn’t have wanted her daughter to be in pain.

Getting Lei’d

25

“No. But she would have rather a small annulment or divorce after the wedding. You know how she dislikes scenes.” “And now what? We wait for Mari and ask her to sleep with us?” He knew Alex was worried. Hell, he was worried. Still, there was no way he would—could—go back to the way things were. He wanted her, needed to know if she wanted them the way they needed her. He would die if they didn’t take this one last step. “No. But we will ask her tonight.” And with that, he headed to the bathroom to take a cold shower. **** Mari smiled at Jack, who was frowning for once. “Where are they taking you?” She wanted to giggle at his fatherly tone. Of all the things she had expected, this was not one of them. Jack was laid-back. But each of the guys had taken to treating her like she was their little sister. And while she was the youngest in her family, she’d never had so much attention from her brothers. “Not sure.” “I don’t like it,” Mal said. Sophia chuckled. “I don’t believe Maribelle asked.” “Well, look at the way she’s dressed.” This came from Drew, one of Eddie’s men. Maribelle glanced at him. “What’s wrong with my dress?” In fact, for the first time in forever, she felt...sexy. It was a dress that Eddie had convinced her to buy a few days prior. It reminded her of 1950s actresses, with its halter top and full skirt. It was cut low in the front, showing enough of her cleavage to entice but not embarrass. And it was stop-light red. “Stop it. Y’all are making her nervous, and she looks gorgeous, if you ask me,” Eddie said. “That’s the problem. I mean, you didn’t see the way those two guys were looking at her on the beach.”

26

Melissa Schroeder

“Yeah?” Eddie asked. “How did they look at her?” “Like they wanted to take her to dinner and then have her for dessert.” Maribelle laughed. “I think you’re mistaken, Mal. Damon and I have always been friends.” “Always? How long?” asked Mal. “Since we were kids. We’re like brother and sister.” Okay, saying that felt wrong. She didn’t think of him that way. Not when she had so many naughty dreams about him and Alex. But she knew both men felt the same way. “I think—” “You should be going,” Sophia said, shaking her head in Mal’s direction. She gave Maribelle a reassuring smile. “You look fantastic. For once, Eddie was right about clothing.” “Bite me, Cinderella,” Eddie said without any heat. They kept looking at her like they expected something else. Like she was going off to war. “O–okay. Well, I shouldn’t be late.” “Yeah, right,” murmured Mal, but she ignored him as she headed out to her rental car. She would ignore all these crazy ideas from the guys and enjoy the evening. **** Alex paced the living area of the suite and tried not to lose patience. Mari was never late, and she wasn’t now, but he was anxious. “You’re acting like a groom on his wedding night.” He glanced at Damon. “I feel like it.” Damon chuckled as he went to the bar and poured two shots of whiskey. “I know what you feel like. But you have to chill. She picks up on anything. You know what she’s like. She might freak. We have to take it slowly.”

Getting Lei’d

27

Alex nodded and accepted the drink. “I know, but I just want everything to go right.” “Of course it won’t. This is Mari we’re talking about. Does anything go the way it should around her?” Alex laughed. “Yeah, that’s true. I’m still trying to figure out why she waited until she was at the altar to tell your jackass brother that she wasn’t going to marry him.” The humor in his best friend’s face dissolved. “I have a feeling she was too stunned. The fact that it was with skanky Denise, in the church, it took a bit for her temper to get going.” “It saved her from criminal charges. You know how mean she can get when her temper gets going. It takes a lot, and she got a little crazy at the church, but she still kept it somewhat under control. She would have done a lot more than knee your brother in the groin.” “Hell, he’s lucky that’s all she did. That and the fact I calmed her father down. I think if he sees my brother anytime soon, Aaron’s going to lose what’s left of his manhood.” “But you’re not worried about what he would do when he finds out what we’re about to propose? Face it, Damon, we’re talking about taking his baby girl to bed, together.” Damon shrugged. “Not sure about that, not sure that I care. I do know that for her father, as long as Mari is happy, he’s happy. We just have to keep her happy.” There was a knock at the door, and Alex started. His heart jumped up into his throat as he walked toward the door. His palms were sweaty, his body hummed, and there was a good chance he would pass out from the lack of blood in his brain. He opened up the door and felt as if he had been punched in the gut. There stood Mari in all her splendor. Soft, red fabric draped over her full curves, her dark-brown curls dripped over her shoulders, and she was smiling at him. It took every bit of control he had not to drop to his knees and beg.

28

Melissa Schroeder

“Hi.” Her voice was a little shy, and a blush stole over her fair skin. Damn, she was cute. And pretty, and dammit, he wanted her. He hoped she didn’t notice how turned-on he was right at that moment. Hell, if she did, there was a good chance that she would turn and run for the hills. “Alex?” He swallowed and pulled himself together. “Hey. You look wonderful.” Her smile brightened as he offered her his hand. She stepped into the room with a laugh. “I was worried there for a second. The guys were not too happy with my choice and made me think I made a mistake.” “The guys?” he asked. “Eddie and Sophia’s guys.” “They thought what you wore was inappropriate?” Damon asked. She laughed, and the sound never failed to arouse Alex. It wasn’t a tinkle of a laugh. It was full-bodied and shot straight to his dick. “They thought it would give you all the wrong impression.” She said it as if there was no way on earth either of them would be interested in her. Of course she thought that. They had done everything in their power to keep her from knowing just how they felt about her. It had taken her engagement to Aaron to set them on the right path. “What kind of impression?” Damon asked, and Alex could hear the underlying arousal in his friend’s voice. Apparently Mari had no idea since she paid no heed to it as she approached Damon. “They thought you two were trying to seduce me or some kind of nonsense like that.” She stopped in front of the windows, looking out over the lights of Waikiki. “God, it is too pretty here to even take in. I’ve been all over the world, but nothing speaks to me like Oahu.” Damon stepped close, and Alex could feel the low beat of arousal in his blood. Alex stepped in their direction, but a knock at the door stopped him. Mari glanced back at him.

Getting Lei’d

29

“Expecting someone?” “Just dinner.” He went to the door and opened it, allowing the waiter to bring in their dinner and set it down on table. He could hear the low murmurs of Damon and Mari talking as he signed the bill and then closed the door behind the waiter. He turned and found Damon’s head bent close to Mari’s neck, as if he wanted to take a big bite of her. Of course he did. For longer than Alex had, Damon had suffered. What had started as a crush had bloomed into attraction and now, love. They both loved her to distraction, and the woman had no idea. She didn’t realize that every woman they shared had fallen short of the one woman both of them wanted for a lifetime. Of course, she would after tonight.

30

Melissa Schroeder

Chapter Three “Dinner’s ready.” Mari glanced at Alex, who was uncovering their dishes at the table. “I thought we were going out.” Damon shrugged, one of those shrugs that drove her insane. He did it when he was trying to hide something. And she did not like that idea. What could Damon be trying to hide? “We both figured staying in would be a good idea.” There was something in his voice, humming just below the surface. She couldn’t put a finger on it, but it made her feel uneasy. “And you felt the need to order for me?” she asked teasingly. “I think I have a good idea what you like, Mari.” There was that tone again that told her something else was going on. She didn’t like it at all. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” He widened his eyes in mock innocence. “What else could be going on?” “You want to take me out, or so you say, and then you order dinner in? Are you trying to hide me away or something?” She didn’t want to think of it, especially of her oldest friend in the world. He never showed any embarrassment at her curves, but she saw the kind of women both men dated. Beautiful and thin. “Mari.” Alex drew her attention as he lighted the candles on the table. “With the lead-up to the wedding and all, we haven’t spent much time with you. And to tell you the truth, we are both a little jetlagged. We thought it would be better to stay in.”

Getting Lei’d

31

They didn’t look tired, but both men could hide it. They worked long hours in their jobs and often went twenty-four hours without any decent sleep. “Yeah, when you started dating Aaron, we barely saw you,” Damon said, and she heard the hurt in his voice. She glanced at him then Alex and felt her nerves settle. Maybe they were just trying to reconnect. She smiled. “And how stupid was that?” She walked to the table. “I don’t know what I was thinking dating your brother.” “It isn’t you, Mari,” Damon said. “He has never been faithful to any woman.” “I know. I should have picked up on it, but I wasn’t really thinking.” But she knew what she had been thinking. The similarities in looks between the brothers had caused her to let go of her worries over fidelity. It had taken her a day in Hawaii to realize that she hadn’t really been in love with Aaron, but what she thought of him. That and the fact she had been using him as a substitute for Damon. Which, in her opinion, made her worse than Aaron. She was marrying him to pretend he was his brother. Talk about sick. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” Alex asked as he pulled out her chair. She sighed. She could never tell them. They would never make fun of her, but they definitely would pull away from her. Yes, they shared women. She had figured that out pretty fast when she showed up with breakfast one morning. But she wasn’t the type of woman men like them would want to share. Even if she wanted it more than her next breath. She pushed that thought away and smiled at them as they sat on either side of her. “Okay, I’ll go along with it. But just so you know, you owe me a night out on the town.”

32

Melissa Schroeder

Dinner passed with little to no awkward moments as before, and Maribelle started to think that she might have made a mistake. She had decided that it had been just what they said. The months leading up to her wedding, both men had been mostly absent from her life. And now, it was like the weight of her idiotic courtship with Aaron had been lifted. “Want an after-dinner drink?” Alex asked. She shook her head, knowing that keeping her head on straight was the only way not to embarrass herself. If she got a little tipsy, she got a little horny, and she definitely did not want to throw herself at these two men. “No, she wouldn’t want that, Alex,” Damon said, drawing her attention. His smile turned wicked. “She might worry we put some Spanish Fly in it.” For a second, she couldn’t think. His eyes were warm with humor, and he was leaning closer to her. The scent of him, musky male, filled her senses. Then what he said hit her. It brought the memory of their college days and her worry of drinking something with an aphrodisiac in it. Her face burned in embarrassment. “It could have happened.” He laughed, the one she loved, so carefree, and reached up to tug on one of her curls. “Of course it could. But I told you that I would keep an eye on you.” She tried to think of an answer, but her brain was melting into a puddle of lust. He was touching her, wrapping a curl around his finger. The breath backed up in her lungs as her hormones danced. Heat surged through her blood. She tried to move back but found Alex beside her on the couch. So lost in her reaction to Damon, she hadn’t noticed he’d sat beside her on the couch.

Getting Lei’d

33

She started when her hip rubbed against his leg. As she turned, Damon let go over her hair. Sitting between them had her body heating with lust. Every thought dissolved. “What are you two up to?” Alex smiled, his golden eyes warming. He leaned closer. “We want you, Mari.” He said the words, her body reacted, but it took a second for her mind to catch up. Mortification filled her as she rose from the couch and backed away. “That’s not funny.” The men shared a glance and some kind of silent communication. “What’s not funny?” Damon asked. “I know what you do. You have never hidden it from me, but I know that isn’t something you want from me.” Again, they shared a look. Damon cocked his head to the side, an unreadable expression sliding over his face. “How do you know?” She hated the need to believe, to want this to be true. But she knew better. Men like them did not go for women like her. “I can’t take any joking about that.” “What makes you think we’re joking?” Alex asked. “I know what kind of women you like, what kind you go for, and they aren’t like me. And that’s fine.” Although at the moment, her heart ached to tell that lie. She wanted to be the woman they wanted, the one woman they wanted to share for the rest of their lives, but she knew it wouldn’t happen. “How do you know what kind of woman we want?” Damon asked, a frown marring his beautiful face. She snorted and crossed her arms beneath her breasts. She thought she heard a groan from the couch. “I know exactly what kind of women you two...share.” “Hmm,” Alex said as he rose from the couch. He approached her, an almost-feral look in his eyes. “Do you know what I think?”

34

Melissa Schroeder

She shook her head as he approached her. This wasn’t her friend, the one she could laugh with, the one who always made her happy. This was another man entirely. She heard Damon rise from the couch, but she couldn’t look away from Alex. His eyes had deepened. His face was flushed with arousal. “I think you don’t know jack about what we like.” She opened her mouth, but Damon had joined him, and they crowded her back against the windows. She glanced at him and saw the same look she’d witnessed on Alex’s face. Heat exploded, sped through her blood, twining through her veins. “Listen, I don’t know what this is about. But I am not up for fun and games.” Alex seemed to move away, and Damon slipped in front of her. He placed a hand on either side of her head, against the windows. “But I think you are up for fun and games.” He leaned in, his body effectively caging her in. But she didn’t feel threatened. She felt...alive. “Damon.” He nuzzled her neck, his breath feathering over her sensitive skin, sending a rush of heat dancing over her nerve endings. “In fact, we’re both hoping that you’re into a whole lot more fun and games.” She shivered as he pressed closer. His chest pressed against her breasts, and she knew he could feel her hardened nipples. She closed her eyes, indulged in the fantasy, in the idea that she could have both of them. Liquid heat tugged at her belly, then slunk between her legs. Her panties dampened. Her body pulsed with need. “W–what are you doing?” He pulled away as she felt Alex move close to her side. Damon’s eyes were dark, his sexual need easy to see there in his gaze. “Trying to entice you into bed.” He nuzzled her neck again. “What do you say, Mari? Wanna have some fun?”

Getting Lei’d

35

**** Every nerve in Damon’s body sizzled and burned. Mari was such a wonderful bundle of enticing curves. He’d wanted her forever. He was thirteen when he realized he loved her—not in the best-friend kind of way, but in the way a man could love a woman. She didn’t react. Well, except the way her breath quickened each time he let his lips move over her neck. Lord, she tasted better than he had expected. Sweet and entirely too tempting. For over twenty years, he had been her friend. For at least the last twelve he had lusted after her. And from her reaction, she had no idea. “Damon.” Her voice shimmered with arousal and confusion. Her breath had quickened. Those could only be considered good signs, in his opinion. He moved to her earlobe and nibbled. She drew in a quick, hard breath. When her hands moved up to his chest, he thought it was a good sign. Until she gave him a gentle push. It took a second for him to realize that she was pushing him away. With regret, he pulled back and looked at her. Her face was flush, and unfortunately not with arousal. Anger and embarrassment filled her expression. “I do not need your pity.” His own anger surged, at her and at his brother. Jesus, the woman thought that a man would have to pity her to want her in bed. “That isn’t what it is.” She shook her head. “I don’t want to be a pity fuck.” The irritation he felt was quickly replaced with anger. “I told you that it isn’t what this is about.” She wiggled, slipping away from him. “Forget it. I know better.” “What do you know?” Alex asked. His own anger was easy to hear, and Damon knew that most of it was for Aaron.

36

Melissa Schroeder

“You two like to share women, skinny women, blonde women, tall women. I am none of those things.” He could hear the pain in her voice, knew that it was very real. There was also a healthy dose of fear there. “Sure, we have some women you know about, but do you know about all of them? I don’t think so. And it has nothing to do with their looks.” She crossed her arms over her breasts and frowned at him. Her eyes snapped with anger. “I told you it was okay. I’m going back to the villas.” She moved away again, walking toward the door. Panic surged, tightened in his gut. Without much thought, he strode toward her, grabbing her by the arm, and yanked her around. Her eyes were widened in surprise when he jerked her toward him then slammed his mouth down on hers. He allowed his anger, his lust, his undying need for her, reflect in his kiss. He didn’t pay any heed to his conscience. For a second, she didn’t respond. He pulled her closer, slipping his hand down her spine to her rear end and pressing his body against hers. There was no way she didn’t feel his arousal. Hell, he’d been half aroused since she walked through the door. She gasped in reaction, and he took advantage to slip his tongue into her mouth. In the next instant she moaned, her body shivering as she started to return the kiss tentatively at first. Then he felt her tongue move against his. He was so lost in her and her reaction that he barely noticed when Alex moved toward them. He stepped behind her, tapping on Damon’s hand. He pulled his hand away, and Alex moved in closer and released a loud, throaty moan. With some kind of control, he pulled back and watched as Alex settled in behind her, his hands on her hips and his mouth going to her neck. Her flesh was flush with arousal, her eyes closed, her mouth opened as she dragged in gasps of air.

Getting Lei’d

37

“Although I know that Mari does have her little exhibition fantasy, I say we move this into the bedroom.” She blinked and shook her head. It only took a second for reality to come back to her, and he could see all her preconceived notions about her looks and their tastes come back to her. “Damon,” she said, licking her lips. “I–I’m not sure.” Without thinking twice, he bent at his waist and pulled her into his arms. “Well, I am, and I am pretty sure Alex is, too.” He carried her to the bedroom, his pulse pounding, his blood damned near boiling, and the woman still thought she was a pity fuck. Jesus. Would she ever accept this, accept the love both he and Alex felt for her? His morals surged, and he stopped at the door. He thought he heard Alex muttering. His friend would have stripped her bare in the living room and had at her there, not giving her a chance to think twice. But part of Damon still had a grasp on his conscience. “Mari?” She looked up at him through her lashes. That tongue of hers darted out over her lower lip. With a deep, shuddering breath, she said, “Yes.”

38

Melissa Schroeder

Chapter Four Maribelle’s head was spinning, her body shivering with need. As Damon strode into the bedroom, she wondered at her reasoning. She knew this wasn’t anything but what she said it was. They both pitied her. Part of her hated them for it, but another part, the bigger part, knew they did it out of love. Not a deep-seated, romantic love but one that was forged in friendship, and lasted years. But at the moment, she couldn’t say no. She loved these men. She had wanted them for years. When she realized what they did with women, it had added another layer of need that had driven her to distraction when she was around them. She wanted to be bad, just this once. They weren’t offering forever. Heck, knowing the two of them the way she did, she knew they weren’t even offering to date her. Tonight was about tonight, or at least until they went back to the mainland. With what felt like reverence, Damon laid her on the bed as Alex climbed up beside her. “Are you sure?” Damon asked. She heard muttering again from Alex and smiled. Alex was the hothead, the one that dove in to the water without thinking. Damon, her old playmate, wanted to be sure that she wanted this. “Yes.” Even to her own ears her voice was breathless. And for good reason. She had never been this hot, this ready to be taken. This was her forbidden fantasy. This and having sex in public, but since that was never going to happen, she was perfectly happy to settle for the two men she loved.

Getting Lei’d

39

The moment the thought popped into her head, panic raced through her blood. Holy cow. She loved them. Not in the friendly way she thought. She had lusted after them for years. Any heterosexual woman would. But this was something more, something that was definitely going to leave her heart in tatters. What she was feeling must have shown on her face because Damon started to frown. “Mari, hon, are you okay?” “Not having second thoughts are you?” Alex asked, worry threading his voice. She glanced from one to another then shook her head. “Second, third, and fourth thoughts, but of course, it doesn’t seem to matter.” Both men released a breath they seemed to be holding. Damon reached behind her head and untied her top. He pulled the two pieces down, but she stopped him. “Aren’t you going to turn out the lights?” He shook his head. “No way.” This came from Alex. He was already moving toward her, bending his head to take a nipple into his mouth. His teeth scraped across the tip of it before he pulled it into his mouth. The lust that had been simmering was starting boil. Damon moved down to the foot of the bed, pulled her shoes off and then her dress. His indrawn breath told her that the red lace panties she had chosen were definitely appreciated. “Lord, woman.” His voice was filled with lust and another emotion she could not discern. Before she could question it he was joining them on the bed, his gaze still zeroed in on her panties. He slipped his hands beneath her rear and groaned. Alex lifted his head in question. “She wore a thong.” Alex smiled down at her. “You’re much naughtier than I gave you credit for.”

40

Melissa Schroeder

She opened her mouth to argue that it was just a pair of panties, when Damon said, “That ain’t nothing. I never told you how our little Mari here wants to have sex in public.” Again, her face heated and she scowled at him. “I told you that in confidence.” “Yeah, well, we’re going to give you that fantasy. We are going to give you everything you want.” He leaned down and pressed his mouth between her thighs, his hot breath feathering out over her pussy. The sensitive flesh tingled, and her panties dampened further as he touched his mouth against the red lace. Alex leaned in, his mouth skimming over her jaw then moving to her mouth. Without preamble, he plunged his tongue into her mouth. The taste of him was exotic and thrilling. In a way like Damon but in another way not like him. As Alex tortured her mouth, Damon slipped the fabric aside and pressed his mouth against her pussy. She shivered, moving her hands up to Alex’s shoulders. The dual assault had her senses reeling, her body shivering with anticipation. Nothing in her life had thrilled and frightened her this much. Damon’s tongue darted into her slit, and she moaned against Alex’s mouth. He pulled away and smiled down at her then looked down to Damon. Damon settled beside her, his hand slipping up and over her breast. “Does that feel good, baby?” She nodded, unable to voice her opinion out loud. Damon had added a finger as his tongue teased her clit. Heat and tension gathered in her tummy, her body surging toward her release, when Damon moved away. She moaned in aggravation, but he ignored her as he moved away, and Alex replaced him. Alex pulled her panties away and then settled between her legs. “Damn, baby, you’re wet.”

Getting Lei’d

41

She wanted to be embarrassed, knew that she should be, but she couldn’t seem to care. All that mattered was gaining her release. He slipped his tongue into her sex as Damon started to undress. He watched the scene as he drew off his clothes, his gaze watching Alex’s head between her legs. The idea that he was watching her, the little bit of exhibitionism, sent another wave of heated lust spiraling through her body. Damon tossed his shirt behind him, toed off his shoes, and then his gaze zeroed in on her face. He watched her as he unbuttoned then unzipped his pants. The intensity of his stare, the way he was watching her, she knew that he was getting off on it. But soon she had to look and watched as his hands shoved his pants down, revealing his hardened cock. Well, she should have known Damon wouldn’t wear any underwear. His cock jutted out from the nest of dark brown curls and bobbed against his belly. He shoved his pants aside then wrapped his hand around his impressive length. She watched as he stroked himself. She couldn’t help but lick her bottom lip as she watched a small pearl of semen wet the head of his penis. He chuckled as he moved closer. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you have a taste.” He joined her on the bed as she felt Alex move away. Maribelle cut a quick glance in his direction then lingered when he started to undress. He didn’t take the time that Damon did. His clothes were on the floor behind him in a flash. Damon handed him a condom package. She had seen both of them shirtless before, but she was struck almost dumb seeing them nude. Alex was all brawn and muscle with dark, olive skin. His strong jaw, slightly crooked nose, along with his brown eyes, had always drawn her. He was such a sharp contrast to Damon. But then, maybe that is what attracted her to them both. Where she felt safe with Damon, Alex left her a little uncomfortable. He moved between her legs and pulled up her hips. He thrust into her to the hilt. Before she could adjust, Damon’s fingers were

42

Melissa Schroeder

skimming over her jaw, urging her face toward his cock. She willingly opened her mouth, enjoying the first salty-sweet taste of the pre-cum as he slowly worked his way in. As he began to move in and out of her mouth, Alex joined him. Heat filled her as she opened her mouth wider, trying to take all of Damon into her mouth. Alex’s fingers dug into her flesh as he began to move faster, his thrusts no longer in the same measured rhythm. She slipped her hand down to Damon’s sac, caressing him. She felt Alex’s fingers slip over her then press against her clit. Her orgasm slammed into her. Damon’s cock was still deep within her mouth, and she moaned against him. Her body was flush with heat, and she was shivering with her release, but apparently it wasn’t enough. Both men continued to torture her, push her. Damon pulled back from her. She opened her eyes and frowned at him. He smiled. It was the one that always melted her heart. A little bit crooked and a little bit wicked, that grin always made her want to kiss him. “You are a very naughty girl. I had no idea just how bad you could be.” Before she could respond, Alex rolled over on the bed, reversing their positions. Damon joined them on the bed. She wasn’t sure just what he was going to do, but the smack to her ass wasn’t what she expected. Little ribbons of heat filtered throughout her body. He did it again, the sting of pain a little more intense, as was the pleasure. He rubbed his hand over her hot flesh. The light touch was at odds with his actions just seconds before. The touch of his fingers over her stinging skin made her blood heat again. Alex started moving inside her again. But it wasn’t enough to satisfy. He barely entered her pussy then pulled out again. He pressed his finger against her clit, again, not enough to give her any kind of satisfaction. Her body already started to prepare itself again. Her blood was heating, and her muscles were starting to tense again.

Getting Lei’d

43

As Alex started moving inside her farther, Damon climbed to the top of the bed. His cock was in his hand, and he said, “Now, you’re going to suck it until I come.” The words were demanding, so unlike the tone she was used to from Damon, that Mari hesitated. “Now, Mari.” She didn’t even think this time. She opened her mouth wide and took him in. This time, his movements were not as measured as he moved in and out of her mouth. She relished the feeling as Alex thrust in and out of her pussy, teasing her clit, and sucking her nipple. He had her climbing again, and without warning, another intense orgasm slammed through her. About the same time, Alex thrust up into her, joining her. But Damon wasn’t there. She added her hand as she continued to take him into her mouth. Soon he let loose a long, satisfied groan as he thrust into her mouth one last time and came. She lapped it up, happy to feel the hot liquid as he slid down her throat. Soon, he pulled out of her and leaned down to cup her face and give her a kiss. “Wonderful,” he said, his voice hoarse. Alex turned her head toward him and said, “I can agree with that.” He pulled her down into his arms as Damon slipped into bed with them. Alex settled her between them. She knew she should say something, but she just couldn’t think of anything. A moment later, she felt herself drift into sleep. **** Maribelle woke several hours later when she heard her phone vibrating on the bedside table. She cracked one eye open and reached across Damon to get it. He stopped her hand and pulled it up to his mouth, kissing her fingers. The gesture was so sweet that she felt her heart turn over. But she knew better. She knew that this was just for

44

Melissa Schroeder

fun and there could never be forever. She wasn’t the kind of woman who inspired forever. “You don’t have to get that,” he said. She shook her head. “You would have to contend with either some really mad Hawaiians or former Marines if I don’t.” He shrugged. “Alex and I can deal with them in the morning.” She shook her head as she reached across his chest. “No. They’ll show up here.” “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She shook her head as she turned on her phone. It was Mal. “What’s up, baby? Do you need us to come get you?” It still cracked her up how her best friends’ husbands had adopted her as their younger sister. They gave any guy the stink eye if they even glanced in her direction. “Everything’s fine.” There was a pause, and she heard Eddie in the background. “Give me the phone, you goofy Hawaiian.” There was some jostling of it, and then Eddie was on the phone. “I take it you’re all right?” “Yep. Oh, but I’ve decided to get a tat on my ass and live at a nudist commune. Tell one of those overgrown idiots that.” Eddie laughed. “They have all been horrible. They’ve been worried to death about you. I figure we won’t see you until the morning.” She glanced at Damon, who smiled then kissed her neck. He slid down, taking her nipple into his mouth just about the time she felt Alex kissing her shoulder. “Uh, yeah. I think, maybe.” “Oh, okay. I am now going to let you go because I have a feeling those two men are going to make sure you’re all right. Call if you need anything, and turn off the phone if you don’t want these guys bugging you again.”

Getting Lei’d

45

She clicked off her phone and tossed it on the floor as Damon pushed her back on the bed. Alex latched onto her other breast. The dual pleasure of having both men touch her, please her, had her arousal soaring to new heights. They both trailed their fingers down her stomach to her pussy. First one then the other slipped a finger into her, and she arched. God, she had never felt something so wonderful, so amazingly sensual. She was growing damp in her need for them when one of them slipped his finger from her pussy and slid it to her ass. She stilled. The secret fantasy she had always had were two men, or more, and anal sex. When she had suggested it to Aaron he had made her feel dirty for wanting it. “Just relax,” Alex said. She drew in a deep breath, and he slipped his finger into her ass. God, they were slowly killing her. They worked together, sliding in and out of her in tandem with each other, pushing her closer to the edge. She wanted to come, wanted to just fall apart in a million pieces and enjoy the free fall that would let her lose herself in the pleasure these two men could give her. They stopped just about the time she almost made it, and she moaned in displeasure. When she opened her eyes, she found both of them grinning down at her. “I think our little Maribelle isn’t happy with us,” Damon said to Alex. She wanted to blast him, but he raised his finger to her mouth and gently pressed it against her lips. “Nope. You’re going to learn some discipline, so let’s play a bit. No talking, unless we ask you a question. I don’t want to have to spank you.” She frowned at both of them. “Like that will work.” Both their grins widened. Alex easily lifted and turned her on her stomach. She let out a muffled gasp. “You’re going to learn how to be a good girl, Maribelle. You never have followed orders very well.” He smacked her hard, the

46

Melissa Schroeder

sting of it feathering out over her skin as Damon smacked her again. They took turns spanking her, never really hitting the same spot twice. Her body was shuddering, her clit throbbing after the treatment. She was ready to come right there and then, and they had barely touched her. It was from spanking. Then they were pulling her up to her knees, and Damon was moving from the bed. He had a pretty scarf in his hands. She frowned at it and opened her mouth, but Alex smacked her ass. The sting was definitely painful. She could imagine her ass was redder than a fire truck, but there was also pleasure in it. “Don’t talk unless I ask. We’re just going to play a bit. And this I know you will like.” He slipped the scarf over her eyes and tied it behind her head. Then she heard the guys moving around behind her, and she realized this way she wouldn’t know who was touching her. They were doing this to drive her crazy. That she was sure of. Hands moved over her throbbing ass. Then there was more shifting, and one of them settled between her legs. She gasped when he entered her in one hard thrust. She was wet and ready, but she hadn’t been completely expecting that. From the size of him she could tell it was Alex. He was thicker than Damon, and she could tell this felt different than earlier. She felt Damon pull her up to her hands then rub his cock against her mouth. She eagerly took him, ready to taste him. The salty taste of his pre-cum danced over her tongue as he started to move. She shuddered as Alex’s thrusts increased in tempo. She wanted to make Damon come, but he didn’t allow her. He moved away, and soon Alex’s thrusts stilled, and he groaned her name. Long moments later he was moving away, and she was still needy. Her clit was hard, wanting, and she knew that now it was Damon’s turn to drive her insane. He flipped her over onto her back, pulled her to him. He entered her hard and forceful enough to smack the headboard against the wall.

Getting Lei’d

47

She planted her feet on the mattress and pushed against him. He growled. “You don’t have permission to do that that.” He lifted her legs to his shoulders, and she felt Alex take her wrists in one hand above her head as he leaned down to kiss her. It was hot, wet, and sent waves of heat rolling through her body like high tide. Damon thrust just hard and high enough to rub against her clit but not enough to satisfy. Alex pulled up from the kiss, and his free hand went to her breasts. He plucked, teased, pinched. The small action arrowed right down to her pussy. “Come on, Mari, come for us. Show us how pretty you look. Damon’s dying for it.” She wanted to see everything, but they had taken that ability away from her. She was trapped between them as Alex teased her with his words and hands and Damon teased her with his cock. “He wants that pretty little cunt to grab hold of his cock. Do it, baby.” Damon shifted slightly and pressed his fingers against her clit. She came apart with a scream, convulsing with the force of it. “Fuck, you’re beautiful.” Damon groaned, and he thrust into her one last time then stilled. She felt him jerk as his orgasm took over him. Alex took her blindfold off so she could watch Damon. His head was thrown back, his throat exposed, the epitome of hot, American male. When Damon recovered, he released her legs and looked down at her with a wicked smile. “I knew you had it in you, Mari.” She wanted to deny it, to tell him this was just Maribelle in Hawaii. When she finally returned to DC, she would go back to being pudgy, boring Maribelle. Two men like Alex and Damon would never be interested in her there. Before she could open her mouth, he smiled at her. The action wasn’t something hot, or even that sensual, but it had her heart turning over in her chest. She could feel the tears stinging the backs of

48

Melissa Schroeder

her eyes, but she stifled the almost overwhelming need to sob. She would not mess this up with emotions or worries. This was about the moment. As both men settled in on each side of her, Maribelle allowed sleep to overtake her.

Getting Lei’d

49

Chapter Five Damon skimmed his hand down Mari’s thigh. The skin was soft beneath his skin, and he knew now, sweet to taste. He still couldn’t believe they had convinced her to take them to bed. There was a lot that was traditional about Maribelle but apparently not her tastes in bed. He couldn’t stop his lips from curving. He pulled the sheet down to reveal her breasts. He loved the way she was made. While other women starved themselves to lose weight, Maribelle had the body of a 1950s movie star. All soft and curvy. He could see her tan lines and squashed the idiotic need to growl thinking about the men who had seen her in her bathing suit. He had never been a possessive man, but now that he thought about it, he was never attached to any woman like he was with his Mari. He had been waiting for this night for years. He brushed his knuckle over her nipple and smiled when it tightened. “She’s amazing,” Alex said. His voice was barely audible. Damon lifted his head and smiled at his friend. “Yeah, she is. She doesn’t realize it, which makes her even more delicious.” “You know she thinks that this is temporary?” “Fuck that.” He looked back down at her. “Do you think she really does?” “Sometimes I’m convinced you’re too close to her, my friend. You don’t see some things.” That caught his attention, and he frowned at his best friend. “I know her better.”

50

Melissa Schroeder

“You know who better?” Mari asked, sleep threading her voice. He looked up at her, that tangle of brown curls around her face and over the pillow, her face flushed with heat. The arousal that had been simmering now went full boil. It was dark in the room, but he could see her. He now knew every inch of her, but Damon knew her face best. She was classic through and through, with those gorgeous doe eyes, that cute turned-up nose, and that mouth made for sin. He had dreamed of what that mouth could do to him for years, and now he knew. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers. She moaned, the vibrations moving over his mouth and throughout his body. That one little action had him wanting to plunge into her over and over, take her up and over the peak so fast she wouldn’t be able to stop it. But he held back. He knew that if he pushed too hard that she wouldn’t be able to handle it. She arched against him, and he pulled back to watch his best friend kiss down her spine. The purr that rumbled in her chest had his own arousal soaring to new heights. He didn’t think he could get anymore turned-on than before, but now, just seeing her pleasure had his own body begging for another taste, another touch, another taking. Damon bent his head and took one of her ripe nipples into his mouth. She moaned. The sound was so erotic that he almost came then and there. For all the years that he had wanted her, needed her like he needed his next breath, he had never thought it would be this good. He grazed his teeth over her nipple and couldn’t stop the smile that curved his lips. She couldn’t pretend her reactions. It wasn’t in Mari. She was the one woman who was always open to the world. He kissed his way down her body, nibbling at her soft, supple skin. God, she was amazing, a body made for the most decadent needs. He stopped when he reached her pussy, and took a deep breath. Musky arousal filled his senses. It was familiar but so completely unique to her. There was a hint of her own scent mingled with the arousal, and he groaned.

Getting Lei’d

51

Damon buried his face between her legs. He didn’t even think, didn’t even try to seduce. The need that he thought had been filled just a few hours earlier now had his blood heating to the point he could barely think. The only thought he had was to take her, and it was overriding any good sense he had. The moment his tongue slipped between her pussy lips, he couldn’t stop the shiver. The taste of her danced over his tongue— sweet, spicy, with just a hint of shyness—and had his brain almost melting. She was such a luscious treat he didn’t know if he would ever be able to get enough of her. And even in this decadence there was a bit of innocence to her, something that told him she would always have a part of her that seemed untouched. Her hands molded to the back of his head, and she shuddered against his mouth. He wanted to taste her cum, wanted to push her over that edge. It didn’t take much. He added his finger and then pulled her clit between his teeth. The moment he did, she came apart. Her moan was muffled, but he ignored that for a moment. He kept eating her, enjoying the way her pussy flushed with her new arousal. He lapped up her juices. When he pulled back, Alex was moving back to allow her to fall back onto the mattress. She hummed and arched up, stretching out. “If that is the way you’re going to wake me up, you can do it anytime you want while we’re here.” He opened his mouth to correct her. He could tell from her tone that Alex had been right, but he noticed his friend shake his head. Now wasn’t the time to argue or insist, now was the time to love, to be loved, to make her feel like she was the most special woman in the world. Because that was what she was to him. He moved up to the head of the bed and leaned down for a kiss. He wanted her to taste herself and know just how delicious she was. When he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she hummed against him. He felt the vibrations all the way to the soles of his feet.

52

Melissa Schroeder

He felt the bed shift and knew that Alex was going for more of the toys they had bought. If she had turned them down, Damon wasn’t sure what they would have done. They had waited a fair amount of time before the wedding, and when she was free, they had known she needed time. Now, though, they had their lover, and they wanted to play. Lifting his head, he looked down at Mari. There was a soft glow of sunlight filtering through the curtains, allowing them to watch her as she opened her eyes. Damn, the passion there just about did him in then and there. He wanted to tell her. He wanted her to know what Alex and he wanted, how they needed her, not just for their vacation, but forever. But as Alex said, she wasn’t ready. He was impatient, almost in a needy way, but he would do as his best friend suggested. He would wait. “We brought some other toys,” Damon said. Even to his own ears his voice was hoarse. Her eyes widened, and she glanced at Alex. He knew the moment she recognized what Alex was holding. A fresh blush stole over her face. He didn’t know if she was embarrassed they wanted to use the butt plug on her or by her desire to do it. He was hoping for the latter. Alex coated the plug with lube, and Damon said, “Let me have it. You lay down.” His friend quirked an eyebrow but said nothing. Damon couldn’t explain it. He wanted to be the one to do it. He wanted to feel it ease into her ass for the first time. He took the plug from Alex and waited for him to settle, and then he looked down at Mari. “Babe, you don’t have to do it, but I think you’ll like it.” She pulled her bottom lip through her teeth, and he wanted to groan right there. She kept shifting her attention from the plug in his hand to his face. Then she nodded.

Getting Lei’d

53

He let a sigh of relief escape, as did Alex. They would never be able to take her at the same time if they couldn’t prepare her. He was hoping that they would be able to. And soon. “Mari, babe, why don’t you come here,” Alex said, urging her over him. She hesitated for just a moment then did as Alex requested. Once she was settled, Damon moved closer to them. “You just need to relax.” She pulled in a deep breath and then let it go. “It’s hard to do.” Alex cupped her face and pulled her down for a kiss. “I know, it’s strange and scary, but as Damon said, I think you’ll love it. If you don’t, we can stop.” He started to kiss her. The sound of their lips moving, their tongues seemed loud in the silent room. Damon skimmed his fingers down her spine and watched them kissing. It was an erotic sight in the moonlight, with the scent of Hawaii in the air. Even in the room he swore he could smell the plumerias. And he would always associate it with Mari. He slipped his finger between her ass cheeks and was happy when she didn’t tense. He took a little of the lube from the plug and coated his finger with it. He slipped it into her ass, his entire body focused on the feel of her muscles clamped around his digit. She tensed briefly, but he didn’t look up. “Calm down, Mari, it will be good. Damon’s just getting you ready for the plug. Take a deep breath and release it.” He said it in between kisses as Damon reached her sphincter muscle and slowly pushed his finger past the tight ring of muscles. Soon, her tension eased. Next, he knew he needed to put the plug in. Fuck. He wished he didn’t have to do this, take the time. Everything in his body was screaming to thrust his cock deep inside her ass. But he didn’t do it. Instead, he gently pulled his fingers from her and then positioned the plug. “This is going to be a little bit bigger.”

54

Melissa Schroeder

He slipped it in, happy that she didn’t tense up again. Instead, she was moaning as Alex continued to kiss her, his hands moving over her body. Damon inserted the plug all the way and then moved back. Damn, she had barely noticed, or if she did, she was so into kissing Alex it didn’t even affect her. Alex drew back. “She is going to be the death of us.” She laughed, and the sound of it was so filled with joy Damon knew their Mari was back. He was moving up to the head of the bed as Alex grabbed hold of her hips, lifting her off him far enough that he could ease his cock into her. She sighed, the sound of it a mixture of fear and pleasure, telling him that she was enjoying the new feeling of having both her holes filled. As Alex started to thrust in and out of her, Damon moved closer to her, taking his cock in his hand as she rose up. He didn’t have to say a word. Mari slipped her hand around his shaft and bent her head. The small cascade of breath slipped down his sensitive flesh the moment before her mouth took him in. She started slowly, barely taking him in her mouth. She swiped her tongue up and down the length of him, teasing the tip of his penis every time she pulled back. Then she moved her hand to his balls, caressing them as she continued to take him in and out of her mouth. She hummed as he started thrusting harder and harder into the wet, hot pleasure of her mouth. He lost control a moment later, thrusting so hard he bumped the back of her throat. She paid no attention to that, moving her hand back to his shaft and using it to pump his cock. He vaguely heard Alex shout her name, but Damon barely registered it as he continued to thrust into her mouth. Instead, he was lost in the pleasure of having those hot, sexy lips wrapped around his dick. She shuddered and moaned against his cock, telling him that Alex brought her to another orgasm. He looked down at her and found her looking up at him with those mermaid eyes of hers, and he lost it. With a shout, he thrust into her mouth one more time and lost himself, pouring his seed into her, enjoying the idea it was sliding down her

Getting Lei’d

55

throat. And she kept it up, pumping him through his orgasm then lapping at his cock to clean off all the cum. Moments later, he collapsed on the mattress beside her as she slipped off Alex. She kissed Alex first, a long, tongue-tangling kiss— he was sure of it—then turned her attentions to him. “Thank you,” she said to both of them when she pulled back. He knew the gratitude was for both of them, for the act of lovemaking. He wanted to ask for more. He needed to know just what the hell was going to happen to them. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the right time for it. Instead, he heeded the words of Alex once again and cupped Mari’s face. “No, thank you.” She gave him a smile and glanced at Alex. Then, she snuggled down between them. “Now, leave me alone. I want to sleep.” Both men chuckled and obeyed her command.

56

Melissa Schroeder

Chapter Six The next morning, they were driving around the island. Sun shined down on Alex’s back as Damon whipped around an older compact car. He never thought he’d go for Hawaii. Sure, it was beautiful, but he had always thought that it wouldn’t be something that would pull him in. But there was a hum beneath his skin that seemed to start the moment he stepped off the plane. “If you take H-2, we can head up to the pineapple fields and the North Shore.” He watched Maribelle as she gave Damon more directions. God, she looked good. Better than good. She seemed to be in her element. Her skin was golden from the few days she had spent there, and he couldn’t remember her ever smiling this much. Well, at least not since she’d been engaged to Aaron. She laughed and shook her head, her hair flowing behind her. This was the Mari he knew from years earlier. The one before she had been engaged. Although, she seemed lighter than he ever remembered. “What’s there up in the pineapple fields?” She turned to look at him, a small smile curving her lips, and he felt it all the way to his toes. She held back the hair whipping around face. “Lots of things. The North Shore, for one. I love Sunset Beach, but we can follow the road through Haleiwa. That leads to several places they’ve shot movies, including Jurassic Park. It has become one of my favorite parts of the island.” “You’ve gotten to know the island well in a short amount of time.”

Getting Lei’d

57

Her smile widened, and he could imagine her blue eyes dancing behind the lenses. “It helps when one of your best friends has a couple of husbands who lived here most their lives. Their whole family has been wonderful. Including their cousin. He took me out and taught me how to surf.” “He?” Damon asked. “Is this an old guy or a young guy we’re talking about?” Alex could hear the thread of jealousy in his friend’s voice, and he understood. Mari had no idea just how sexy she was. Years of being involved with assholes like Aaron had made her think that men weren’t that interested in her, but they were. He’d seen her when she stopped by the firehouse a few times and all the guys vied for her attention. Of course, being the way Mari was, she always thought it was her cookies she brought by. She didn’t even see that most of them just wanted her attention. “Younger, by a few years than you or me, or even Alex. He’s training to be one of the tour guides they have at their new resort, so I was a trial run.” Damon took the exit to H-2, and they started the climb in elevation. “He even took me to some of the locations in the first season of Hawaii Five-0. I really would like to hit one of the locations where they are shooting before I have to go back.” He heard it there in her voice, the way it dipped, and he knew she didn’t want to go back to DC. Hell, she had been in Hawaii for less than a week. Both he and Damon had been convinced she wasn’t ever coming back. “I bet your mom will be happy.” She shrugged and looked away out the window. “I guess. She’s still upset with me.” Anger whipped through him. Mari had never stood up for herself until that day of the wedding.

58

Melissa Schroeder

“Did she expect you to marry the cheating bastard?” Damon asked. Alex heard a reflection of his own anger in his best friend’s voice. “No, not really.” Mari shrugged again. “It was more that I did it at an unseemly time.” Alex didn’t say anything because he was ready to explode. The fact that her mother thought fit to blame her for what happened was about par for the course. The woman never did understand Maribelle, and she never showed her much affection. He didn’t want to say she was a bad mother, but what mother would say things like that? In his mind, a bad mother. “But I have to decide what I want to do. I’m really not interested in working for the hotel anymore. I don’t really need a job.” There was a hint of something in her voice, something that had panic tickling the back of his throat. “You wouldn’t leave DC would you?” he asked as he caught the worried look from Damon in the rearview mirror. “I don’t think so, but I really like Hawaii. I never thought I would, because you know me, I have to have my seasons, but there’s something to be said for spending Christmas at the beach, ya know?” He wanted to tell her very loudly that she couldn’t go, that if she left, he would freak out. But Alex knew she wasn’t ready for that. “Your family must have been pissed that you decided to spend Christmas in Hawaii,” Damon commented. She shook her head. “They were kind of upset I wasn’t going to Germany to see my cousin Brett and his wife. The whole family is there, but I just didn’t feel like it. I couldn’t bring myself to leave here. I just didn’t feel right.” “But you wouldn’t like living here, would you?” Damon asked, calmer than Alex could. His palms were sweating at the thought of her leaving. “I don’t know. You know how I feel about bugs, right? But for some reason here, I’m just used to them. Plus, you’ve only been here

Getting Lei’d

59

a day. There is nothing to describe what it is like to wake up every morning and see that sunrise. I mean, lord, who could say no to something like the sun peeking over the mountains, the sound of birds in the air, and that salt-water taste in the air?” No one except Mari. She had always loved snow, loved to get out in it, play, then come in and make homemade hot chocolate. But here she was, talking about Hawaii like she wanted to be here for the rest of her life. That was just unacceptable. He shared another look with Damon in the mirror. At least there, he knew there was an agreement. Neither of them was going to let her stay in Hawaii without a fight. **** Maribelle was having a really hard time concentrating on the book she was reading. No heterosexual woman would be able to concentrate sitting between Damon and Alex, that was for sure. They had been quiet since the ride up H-2, and now at the beach. Very odd for them for both of them to be this somber. Was it that she was coming back to DC? Did they think she was staying here, so they felt it okay to do the things they did the night before? She had heard rumors of their sexual exploits for years, but she had never really guessed it was true. Of course, once again, she had been proven wrong. But even though they had apparently shared women, they had never kept one around long. In fact, in all the years she had known the two men, she had always thought their relationship was more important to them than their threesomes. Alex stood. “I’m going to go in and cool off.” He said nothing else as he sauntered toward the waves. She watched him go, trying to figure out his strange mood. Both men had been beyond moody. “It’s hard to just hang out on the beach with you dressed like that,” Damon said, reading her mind as usual.

60

Melissa Schroeder

She looked at him and couldn’t help the way her heart did the little jump at the sight of him. He was gorgeous. There was no way around it. Sculpted muscles, that strong jaw. She wished she could see his eyes, because she could tell what he was thinking, but he kept them hidden behind his mirrored sunglasses. “What?” She realized then she’d been staring at him for several minutes. She shook her head and hoped she wasn’t drooling. “You have a problem with the way I’m dressed? Alex, too?” She couldn’t keep the skepticism out of her voice. She glanced down at the black retro bathing suit that reminded her of what a movie star would have worn in the fifties. “Hawaii agrees with you. Nice little glow to your skin, and you seem...happy. It’s been a long time since you were happy.” Her heart did a little jerk, but this was different from the feelings from before. This had more to do with love, the kind that could ruin a good time in Hawaii. She moved away from that. “I like it, as I said. But my life is back in DC.” He nodded and looked out over the water. Of course, it didn’t sound that great going back. Now she wanted to live in a place that allowed her to go to the beach every day, and be near Sophia and Eddie and their husbands. She was going to miss them. “Is this where they have the big surfing contests?” Damon asked. She nodded and tried to get out of her thoughts. Lord knew she was lucky to have them for this short amount of time. She needed to be happy with it. “Yeah, I really enjoyed it when I tried it. I was amazed that I was any good at it.” “Why do you do that?” Damon asked. “What do you mean? Do what?” “You put yourself down all the time. Why?” She shrugged. “I wasn’t putting myself down.”

Getting Lei’d

61

“Yes you were. Living with that bitch all these years has made you doubt everything you do.” Shocked at his vehemence, she stared at him. He was still watching the waves, not looking at her, but she could see his jaw flexing. There was part of her that wanted this, needed this validation from someone outside of her family and her two best friends. But at the same time, a sliver of guilt wormed its way into her gut. “Damon, you can’t talk about my mother that way.” “Someone has to.” He glanced at her then, and his expression softened. “I don’t mean to put your mom down. Lord knows she put up with me enough times, crashing at your place in college. But she isn’t that nice to you, Mari. You both don’t realize how much she criticizes you.” She knew it was true, but it was the way she and her mother communicated. “I don’t care what you think.” She turned away from him and searched out Alex. Damon said something under his breath. He waited five long seconds then said, “You see yourself as she sees you. You need to stop that.” She turned and stared at him, amazement spreading through her. Damon had never said anything so strongly to her before. “I had no idea you found me so deficient.” He made a noise that was close to a growl. “That’s not what I said. I said that you think that way, you and your mother. I don’t know how to get it across to you that your mother is a poison when it comes to you.” “I said I can’t have you putting down my mother.” He shook his head. “I know, call me the bad guy. I just can’t hear you put yourself down. You’re bright, beautiful, and have more personality than most women have in their pinky finger. It’s your mother that makes you think that you have faults.” She could feel the tears burning the back of her eyes. The mixture of feelings that moved through her caused her to pause before she said anything else. She had waited so long for someone else outside of her

62

Melissa Schroeder

family, and her two best friends, to acknowledge her. But she also couldn’t let anyone put her family down. “My mother loves me in her own way.” He said something else under his breath. “Don’t do that. I hate when you get pissy like that.” He shot her a warning look, but he said nothing else as he stood and marched out to the ocean. The sick feeling in her stomach now expanded, and she felt her head start to pound. What the hell was she doing? Wait. She didn’t start the fight. She refused to take the blame this time, to allow him to tell her she should do something. She had spent a lifetime doing that, and now she refused. After a month in Hawaii reassessing what she needed, she had realized that she had been trying to gloss over other people’s emotions to make things easy. Not anymore. Still, a fight on a public beach would just not be the thing to do. She might be ready to take a stand, but she would not make a spectacle of them. Her mother had raised her too strictly to go against the grain like that. Instead, she took a deep breath, grabbed her eReader, and lost herself in a story. **** Damon looked out over Waikiki Beach as he sipped his coffee. It had been three days, and his mood hadn’t gotten any better. He hid it well, knowing that with Mari, he had to take small steps. Pushing her to stand up to her mother was just not something she was going to be comfortable with. Small steps. It was bad enough that they were going to confront her with the possibility of being their lover on Christmas. Tomorrow. Alex had picked the day. Well, he had picked it after they had argued. Alex had wanted to wait until New Year’s Day. Or Eve. The starting a whole-new life thing was important to Alex, but Damon couldn’t wait another week. He needed to know now. He couldn’t

Getting Lei’d

63

wait, not knowing, waiting to find out if they would actually have Mari for a lifetime. Of course Alex wanted to wait. He hadn’t been waiting as long as Damon. And when Damon’s brother had started courting Mari several years ago, it hadn’t bothered Alex nearly as much. There was something very wrong knowing that a bastard like his brother had been able to even touch her, let alone take her to his bed. He couldn’t stop the smile that curved his lips. His brother had been as bad as Damon expected. If Mari’s reaction to them was anything to go by, Damon was pretty sure his brother was a buffoon in the bedroom. Of course, he was a selfish bastard, so that made sense. “You’re looking really smug.” He turned around to find Mari watching him. She was wearing a T-shirt and he was sure, nothing beneath it. “Just thinking about the last few months.” She glanced out at the ocean. “Was the scandal that bad in DC?” It was something she had not asked, and Damon was pretty sure that her friends Eddie and Sophia would have protected her. “No, not really. You made some of the gossip columns. But it was all gone within a week.” Damon didn’t mention that he was pretty sure that her father made some threats to make that happen. “Where’s Alex?” She made a face. “Out for a run.” He laughed. “You could have gone along.” She shook her head and moved her gaze back to him. “I don’t want to run unless one of you is chasing me.” Her bold honesty was nothing new, and neither was his reaction to it. He held out his hand, and she took it, allowing him to tug her onto his lap. His hand was shaking when he lifted it to her face to cup it. He gave her a gentle kiss, keeping his gaze on hers, watching the

64

Melissa Schroeder

moment the tears filled her eyes. There had been a few of these moments for them, all three of them, and he was sure, but she seemed more melancholy the last day. All he wanted was to make her happy. He wanted to hear her laugh, watch her dance, and hear the pleasure in her voice when she moaned his name. His cock hardened as she shifted against him, then her eyes closed, and he followed her into the pleasure of the kiss. There had been many moments of passionate embraces, but these small moments of sweet kisses Damon loved more than anything. Both he and Alex had enjoyed them, and because of that, they both felt closer to her now than ever before. She shifted against him again, and her breasts brushed his bare chest. Her nipples were hard, and the way she was squirming showed him she was aroused. Damon slipped his hand down to her breast, cupping it and brushing his thumb against her nipple. At the same time, he traced the seam of her lips with his tongue until she opened them, taking him inside. She moaned against his tongue as he pinched her nipple, but she pulled back from the kiss. When she stood, he moved to follow, but she shook her head. Instead, she reached down and unzipped his pants. His erection sprang free. She wrapped her fingers around him and pumped. “Mari, it won’t be dark very much longer.” His voice held no conviction though. How could it? Her hand was sliding up and down his cock. “People from the other balconies could see us.” She smiled at him then, and he felt his breath back up in his chest. That cocky look and the glow of her entire body struck him. This wasn’t the sad little girl he had grown up with. This was Mari, the sex goddess they were in love with, their lover, their mate. “Then you’ll just have to be quiet, huh?” Without another word, she straddled him on the chair then slowly sunk down on his cock. Just an inch at a time, excruciatingly slow and somewhat painful. He knew he couldn’t take over. This was her show.

Getting Lei’d

65

She was in charge. And damn if that didn’t make her the sexiest woman in the world. When she finally sunk all the way down on him, she arched back and sighed. Then she moved. Slowly, but surely, she moved over him, pushing him close the edge but not going fast enough to make him come. She braced herself by placing a hand on the back of the chair, changing the speed and angle of her movements. Soon, though, he could tell she was getting close to her orgasm. She looked down at him then attacked his mouth. He slipped his hand down between them and pressed his finger against her clit. She shuddered once, twice…Then exploded. He muffled any shout that would have escaped as he continued to kiss her. Her pussy muscles clamped down on his cock, spasming over his sensitive flesh, pulling his orgasm from him. He followed her into that bliss, his body bowing off the chair slightly with his orgasm. She collapsed against him, her sigh of contentment feathering a breath over his neck. “I will say that mornings with you and Alex are a good reason to get up.” He smiled. “How about a shower?” She lifted her head. “You’re not brooding anymore?” That took him back. “You think I was brooding?” She smiled. It was small, and one of the secret ones she used to give them when they were kids. But it did all kinds of different things to him now. Before, it had been his safe haven, his one bright light in the storm. It was now, too, but at the moment, his heart was turning over too much to take notice of anything else. “You always brood. You get all moody and pissy, and then you don’t want to talk about it.” He cleared his throat. “No. No, I’m not brooding anymore.” Mari’s smile widened. “Good. And yes, I would like a shower, as long as you scrub my back.”

66

Melissa Schroeder

She slipped off him then held out her hand. He took it and followed her back into the hotel room, his earlier worries pushed to the back of his mind.

Getting Lei’d

67

Chapter Seven “So, we were thinking that maybe you should move here,” Eddie said. For a second, Maribelle couldn’t think. What was Eddie talking about? “What?” Sophia groaned. “God, Eddie you have no tact. I thought we were going to approach her better than that.” Eddie shook her head. “You wanted to be sneaky.” Mari laughed as she watched a blush crawl up into Sophia’s cheeks. Being a natural redhead, it was hard to hide it with her fair skin. “It’s called being tactful.” “I say sneaky.” Sophia opened her mouth to argue, but Mari decided to cut them off before she lost too much time watching them argue. “What are you two talking about?” They looked at her at the same time. From their expressions, she realized her friends had forgotten she was there. “Uh, what we were trying to do was get you to stay here with us.” “Just move here, no job?” Sophia threw Eddie a threatening look and stepped forward. “We need someone to set up a good menu, handle box lunches for people. We have some good cooks, but we need someone who will handle the planning. You have a good head for that.” Move to Hawaii? No more beautiful falls? No more crazy DC traffic, snow and ice, no more family issues?

68

Melissa Schroeder

“You would love it. And you know you could keep your apartment there, find something furnished here. Just to try it out,” Eddie said. It would be a change. That was for sure. She would never have to deal with the big jackets, and there was always a beach to go to. Not to mention there was a fair amount of great things to do, and no one here knew her. She wasn’t DC royalty there. She was just Maribelle Sawyer. “You can take time—” “No,” she said interrupting Sophia. “I think it would be a good idea.” Sophia looked stunned. Eddie looked triumphant. “Yes.” She grabbed Mari and gave her a big hug. “This will be fantastic. Gotta tell the guys. They will be thrilled.” She ran down the hallway, and Mari looked at Sophia. “Are you sure?” Mari nodded. “It’s a big change, I know. And I am not a person who does big changes. But I think this is right. It feels right.” The moment she said that, she realized how much that was true. The rightness of the decision settled in her chest. This is what she was supposed to do. She felt it in her bones. Her family would freak, and she was sure that soon she would, too. Still, she knew it was right. She smiled at Sophia. “This is right.” Sophia studied her for a second. The next moment, she laughed and pulled her into her arms. “Fantastic.” **** Mari frowned as her mother’s cell phone went straight to voice mail again. It had been like that for three days now. When she had told her mother she was thinking of moving to Hawaii, she had taken

Getting Lei’d

69

it rather well, but now Mari was wondering about her easy acceptance of the announcement. Millicent Sawyer did not handle change well. In fact, her parents still lived in the same Georgetown mansion, not because of their love of the house, although they did love it. No, it was because her mother would probably have a breakdown if her father even thought of moving. “Something wrong?” Eddie asked. “Mom’s phone is going straight to voice mail.” “She’s probably mad at you. You know your mother was never going to accept you moving here.” Mari shrugged. “I didn’t say for sure.” Eddie looked around her kitchen then grabbed Mari by the elbow and pulled her back into her bedroom. “You said you were going to come here and work with us. You were going to handle the food part of it. What is keeping you from being sure about it?” Her voice was soft and gentle, telling Mari that her best friend knew she was close to breaking down. “The guys.” Eddie nodded. “If I were you, I wouldn’t want to give them up either.” “But they have lives there. And there is no way I can have a relationship with them in DC. Can you imagine that?” “I can, but I know you can’t, sweetie. If they would move here with you, would you do it? Be with both of them?” She shook her head. “I can’t think that.” Tears burned the back of her eyes. Eddie rubbed her arm. “Why not?” “I’m afraid if I do, I’ll lose them. If I ask them to be mine…what would they do? There is a good chance they will just walk away. I mean, why would the two of them want me?”

70

Melissa Schroeder

She hated the way her voice was whining, but she couldn’t seem to stop. Tears started to fall down her cheeks, and Eddie pulled her into a hug. “You’ll never know if you don’t ask them.” “Yeah, but is it worse not knowing or knowing they don’t want you?” Eddie sighed. “Oh, honey.” “I love them both so much, but I just don’t know.” “What the hell is going on?” Damon said as he barreled through the door. “What did you do to Mari?” Alex didn’t say a word. As she looked up, he was already reaching for her to pull her into his arms. She glanced at Eddie to see how her friend was taking it, and the little smile told her she wasn’t upset. “I didn’t say anything. She just got a little emotional about a decision she has to make.” “What decision?” Damon demanded. “I’ll let her explain.” She moved to pat Mari on the back, but Damon stepped in her line, and her friend chuckled. “Call if you need anything.” **** She left them alone. Mari could hear the voices of the others attending the Christmas Eve celebration and the music from the stereo. But neither man said a word. She pulled herself out of Alex’s arms, immediately regretting the loss of heat. Not to mention she didn’t want to face the guys after being so weepy. Men did not like weepy women. “What’s she talking about, Mari?” Alex asked. She looked from one to the other, but it was hard to tell what they were thinking.

Getting Lei’d

71

“They asked me to come here and handle the food and beverage of the new business they want to build.” The beat of silence was very telling. Neither of them looked very happy about it. “When were you going to tell us?” Damon asked, his tone angry. “I hadn’t decided just yet. I was trying to call my mother, but she isn’t answering. I told her a couple days ago, but now I can’t get a hold of her.” “You called your mother and you didn’t tell us?” Alex asked, and he sounded more hurt than mad. “I wanted to give her a heads-up. You know my mother. She can’t handle changing her hair color, let alone her baby girl moving to Hawaii.” “And you were just going to do it, not tell us?” Alex asked. “No, I was going to talk to you, but I hadn’t decided.” “Of course you have. You were just along for fun, huh? Nothing but two willing guys to fuck,” Damon ground out. She couldn’t seem to grasp what was happening. Why the hell was he so angry? Why did they just assume that she was leaving without them? “I am not going to take that kind of tone from you, Damon. You always assume the worst.” There was a loud noise, people talking, shouting, and then the door burst open. A very harried Sophia almost stumbled into the room. “You are going to die when you see who just showed up.” She frowned but allowed her friend to tug her by the hand out of the room. Anything was better than having the two men she loved mad at her. When she stepped into the living room, though, she wanted to go hide. Her parents stood surrounded by the guests for the night. “Maribelle, I have come for answers,” her mother said. Stunned, she could barely take in the scene. Her brain wasn’t working, so she asked, “What the hell are you doing here?”

72

Melissa Schroeder

She thought she heard someone laugh, pretty sure it was one of Eddie’s husbands, but she ignored them. “Alex? Damon? Are you going to talk some sense into her? My baby is trying to leave DC.” “She just told us about it,” Damon said. “I think it is a horrible idea.” Her mother smiled. “See, your best friend says to stay in DC.” She tossed Damon a look, and he gave her an equally nasty one. When she turned around she looked at her father first, who was eying the two men behind her. She realized then they had moved in behind her, as if to back her up. Anyone with any sense would see it as more territorial than just being a friend. And now she knew what she had to do. She had to tell her parents, and all the people in the world who were important to her, just what these men were to her. She also had to ask them the thing she had been afraid to do. It was now or never, and Maribelle was sick of living in purgatory. She wanted a taste of freedom and heaven. “Damon isn’t just my friend, Mom.” Her mother looked past Maribelle’s shoulder at Damon, then back at Maribelle. “I don’t understand.” “Damon came here with Alex, and well, I was going to ask them to move here with me.” “What? You want to live with two gay men?” She sighed. “They aren’t gay. I want them to live with me. As my husbands.” She glanced at her father, who gave her a nod. Well, that was beyond odd. She didn’t think a man would be happy to know his daughter had become a sex toy for two men. The scary part came next. She turned to face her lovers and saw them looking at her. Their faces had no expressions. “Okay, so apparently I’m into big scenes at family functions, but I was planning on asking you this. I know it might not be what you want, and it might have just been a fling for you two. But my plan

Getting Lei’d

73

was to see if you wanted to live here with me. They always need willing workers in your fields here, and you could get a job fast. I want to be with you, but I can’t do it in DC. I want to stay here, in Hawaii. With you.” Alex swallowed. “You’re serious?” She nodded, and he gave her a smile as he leaned forward to brush his mouth over her cheek. “I love you, Mari.” When he stepped back, Damon was still staring at her. “What the hell, Mari?” She settled her hands on her hips. “Do not take that tone with me. Since Alex is coming, then you have to come. You have no choice.” “You ruined our surprise.” He glanced at his friend. “I told you we should have said something earlier, but no, we had to wait. Then, look what she does. If I didn’t love you so much, I think I might just beat you.” Before she could comprehend what he had said, he pulled her into his arms and gave her a loud, smacking kiss. “Say it,” he ordered. She looked at him then looked at Alex. “I love you both.” Damon bent his head to kiss her again, but her father cleared his throat. She turned around as Alex stepped up on the other side of her. He slid his hand around her waist as Damon took her hand. Her father had always been the calm in the Sawyer storm of her house. If she disappointed him, it would hurt her more than she could probably stand. But she couldn’t live without Alex and Damon. “What?” she asked. His lips twitched. “Do they make you happy, Maribelle?” Tears clouded her vision, and she tried to blink them away. “More than I can say.” He gave both her lovers a look, and they did step back. He grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. “That’s all I ever wanted for you, honey.” Relief swept through her as she stepped back and looked at her mother.

74

Melissa Schroeder

“We’ll work on your mother.” Then he looked at the two men behind her. “Make her cry, and I can bury your body where it will never be found.” She laughed as the Akaka family took over, pulling her parents into the kitchen for the Christmas Eve celebration. She moved to follow, but Damon grabbed a hold of her hand. She looked at his solemn expression. “I’m sorry for what I said in there.” “Oh, you didn’t mean it. Damon, the one thing I know about you is when you mean something. It hurts to hear, but I know now you were hurt, too.” He nodded. “Just don’t let him get away with that shit,” Alex said. She laughed as she slipped her arms around each of their waists. “Well, there is one thing I do have over him.” “What’s that?” “You’re stuck with me for the rest of your life, so I have a lot of time to make you pay.” Both men sobered. First Damon turned her toward him and kissed her, then Alex. “We love you, Mari.” “Thank you for spending the rest of your life with us,” Alex added. Again, the tears came, but she ignored them. “So, why don’t we get that life started?” she asked. “Anything you say, Mari,” Damon said as the three of them walked toward the laughter and into the rest of their lives together.

THE END MELISSASCHROEDER.NET

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born to an Air Force family at an Army hospital, Melissa has always been a little bit screwy. She was further warped by her years of watching Monty Python and her strange family. Her love of romance novels developed after accidentally picking up a Linda Howard book. After becoming hooked, she read close to 300 novels in one year, deciding that romance was her true calling instead of the literary short stories and suspenses she had been writing. After many attempts, she realized that romantic comedy, or at least romance with a comedic edge, was where she was destined to be. Since her first release in 2004, Melissa has had close to 30 short stories, novellas, and novels released with seven different publishers in a variety of genres and time periods. Since she was a military brat, she vowed never to marry military. Alas, Fate always has her way with mortals. Her husband is an Air Force major, and together they have their own military brats, two girls, and they live wherever the military sticks them. Which, she is sure, will always involve heat and bugs only seen on the Animal Discovery Channel. In her spare time, she reads, complains about bugs, travels, cooks, reads some more, watches her DVD collections of Arrested Development and Seinfeld, and tries to convince her family that she truly is a delicate genius. She has yet to achieve her last goal. She has always believed that romance and humor go hand in hand. Love can conquer all, and as Mark Twain said, “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand.” Combining the two, she hopes she gives her readers a thrilling love story, filled with chuckles along the way, and a happily-ever-after finish.

Also by Melissa Schroeder Ménage Amour: Texas Temptations 1: Conquering India Ménage Amour: Texas Temptations 2: Delilah’s Downfall Ménage Amour: Hawaiian Holidays 1: Mele Kalikimaka, Baby Ménage Amour: Hawaiian Holidays 2: Sex on the Beach Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 1: Seducing Their Mate Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 2: The Alpha’s Fall Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 3: Convincing Ethan Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 4: Shane’s Need Siren LoveXtreme Forever: Great Wolves of Passion, Alaska 5: Rand’s Craving

Available at BOOKSTRAND.COM

Siren Publishing, Inc. www.SirenPublishing.com