“We’re more than friends.” Reid’s voice had taken on a hard edge. He got to his feet. His normally perfect hair was a mess, and he looked all the hotter for it.
She shook her head as her tears began to fall. It felt like the world was falling apart. At least through all of the pain, she’d thought they were honest with her. “No, we’re not anything at all. I can see that now.”
She turned and ran. She would not let them see her cry. She fled, trying to avoid the crowds of people watching scenes. Her eyes blurred and suddenly the room seemed too hot. She couldn’t breathe. She made it to the door.
“Jessica, are you all right?”
Vaguely she registered that Erik was looking at her with something akin to pity. This was what he’d been talking about. Reid and Gideon were lovers and probably had been for a long time. All the time she had been their friend, they’d hidden it from her even though they had to know she wouldn’t care. She would have been so supportive. She wouldn’t have judged them. The only reason she could think of to hide it from her was in order to use her.
“I need some air.” Jessica rushed past him. She couldn’t stand to see the look in his eyes a second longer. She must seem pathetic to someone like him.
“Jessica!”
She ignored Reid’s shout. She found the first door that led outside and pushed through it. The cold hit her like a tidal wave. It rushed across her skin and filled her lungs. She kept running though the snow was above her ankles. Her little flats weren’t much protection against the cold snow. It didn’t matter. She might never be warm again.
A strong hand caught her elbow and pulled her around. She nearly fell, but Reid dragged her into his arms.
“Stop, Jessica,” he said, his voice softer now. “Please stop for a minute.”
She pushed against him. She wasn’t going to let him charm his way out of this. “Leave me alone. I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Too bad,” Reid said, but his voice was so sad. “I’m sorry you found out that way. We were going to tell you tomorrow night.”
Her laugh was anything but humorous. “I’m sure you were. I’m sure you were going to come straight out and ask if I would serve as Gideon’s beard.” The word was bitter on her tongue. It perfectly described the relationship they wanted with her, though.
Reid looked stunned. “No. That’s not what we want at all.”
Sure it wasn’t. “What about Anna? Are you trying to tell me Gideon had a real relationship with her?”
“No, you’re right about her.” Reid’s hands tightened on her as though he was afraid to let go. “Gideon intended to marry her strictly for career reasons. He knows that was wrong. He was trying to fit into his family. He’s not trying to do that anymore. He’s trying to make his own family with you and me. He loves us both. You didn’t see the look on his face when he realized you were watching. He was devastated. He thinks you’re going to turn from him like his family did. Please don’t do it.” Reid pulled her close. “I love you, Jessica. It’s not only Gideon I love. I want to be with you, too. I’ve loved you for years. I can’t let this fall apart now.”
“God, Reid, you’ll do anything for him, won’t you?” Jessica was stunned at how far Reid was willing to go. He was willing to sleep with her to please his lover?
Reid shook her gently. He forced her to look up into his eyes. She had to admit that he looked tortured. “I’m not doing it for him. I’m doing this for me. I’ve been plotting and planning this for three fucking years. I am not going to let some misunderstanding blow it all to hell now.”
“So you admit you befriended me because you thought I would be the perfect cover for your relationship with Gideon?”
Reid’s bitter laughter ran through the night. “You think I’m trying to cover up my relationship because I’m scared of what society will think? Society can go to hell. I’ll shout my relationship with Gideon from the rooftops. What I want is so much more taboo, darling. I want a threesome. I want to fuck you both, often and regularly. I want to take it from him while I’m giving it to you.”
Despite the freezing temperatures, she felt her body flush with heat. How could she believe him when he’d lied to her for years? “I don’t believe you.”
“Believe this,” Reid muttered as he ground his hips against her. She could feel his erection. “I’ve spent months dying to fuck you while I had to play the friend. I don’t want to be your friend. I want to be your lover.”