Chapter Three

Char scowled and cursed herself for being so foolish and greedy that she might have ruined her second chance with Dexter. Could Dr. Hunky have worse timing?

Well, ten minutes earlier would have been even shoddier, but either way, he threatened her new-found chance at happiness. Helplessly, she stared at Dexter’s rigid back as he stood facing away from her and glowering at the door as if he had killer x-ray vision.

Suddenly feeling bashful, she wrapped the sheet around herself as best she could, but the blanket didn’t want to untangle and so she had a fight on her hands. “I-I’ll get rid of him. I didn’t really want Ben. I just wanted to make you jealous.”

Dexter half turned and tilted his head at her as she pulled the sheet from the blanket’s maw. “Oh, really? Why bother to buy me at all? What were you thinking, Charity?”

She groaned. It wasn’t a good sign when he called her by her full name. Nor was the tic by the side of his right eye. It also wasn’t a good omen that he tapped his foot or crossed his arms so tightly over his chest.

She sidled up to his back and laid her head on his shoulder willing him to forgive her. “I told you. I wanted to make you jealous, to get your attention.”

“To pay me back for my supposed indiscretions?”

Mournfully, she nodded and bit her lip. “That, too. I’m so sorry. I’d take it back if I could.”

Ben hammered on the door so loudly he surely woke the rest of the hotel. “Charity Reynolds, are you in there? Is this the right room?”

Still naked, Dexter marched to the door, his feet leaving indentations in the deep pile carpet. “Damn. Doesn’t the upstart ever go away? Can’t he take a hint?”

As dangerous as she knew it was, she couldn’t help but crack a grin. Dexter was too darn cute for his own good.

With a growl, he rounded on her, his flaccid penis bouncing against his powerful, hairy thighs. “What are you laughing at? What’s so funny?”

Her gaze devoured his cock, willing it back to life, and she longed to taste it once more. On fire again, her pussy starved for his cock, she wrapped her arms around him. “You. You’re so extremely adorable when you’re jealous.”

“I’m not jealous.”

“Are, too.”

He heaved a big sigh. “Okay, so I am a little bit.”

She cocked her head to the side and willed him to tell the truth. “Only a little bit?”

“Are you okay in there?” Ben asked with a tinge of alarm in his voice. “I’m going to get housekeeping to let me in to make sure you’re okay.”

She tapped the sexy cleft in Dexter’s chin. “We have to let him in unless you want half the hotel staff in here.”

“Then can I kill him?”

“He isn’t that bad. What’s so terrible about him that you can’t stand him?”

Dexter spread his feet into a parade-rest position and looked down at her with an inscrutable expression. “For one, he’s here with the expectation of having his wicked way with my woman.”

My woman…

She loved the sound of that but wondered just how far he was willing to take it. Unfortunately, she was afraid to ask since this was all still so sensitive.

She reached out and opened the door to Ben. Vaguely she realised she wasn’t dressed to answer the door, but she’d drunk too much wine to care. “Entrez-vous, Monsieur.”

Something rumbled in Dexter’s chest which she chose to believe was hunger since they’d worked up quite a sweat. She herself had a raging appetite and that lobster called to her. “Join us for dinner. I spared no expense for your pleasure, gentlemen.”

Ben sniffed appreciatively even as he looked askance at Dexter. “I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”

Dexter’s gaze stayed glued to Ben. “You did.”

Ben looked to her as she shut the door with a hushed click and then locked it. “Do you want me to leave? The limo took off, but I can call for a cab.”

Char didn’t feel right dragging the man across town, ruining his night, and sending him home without even a bite to eat. “Nonsense! There’s a feast here. Dig in.”

Dexter looked at her with a possessiveness that thrilled her. “Cover yourself, woman.”

“You don’t have to dress for my sake.” Ben tilted back his head and popped a chocolate-covered strawberry in his mouth. His eyes closed in ecstasy, and he moaned. “This is so decadent. I’m in heaven.”

Dexter grumbled under his breath, marched across the room to where his slacks lay, and tugged them on. Then he looked around for his shirt and let it hang open since most of the buttons were scattered across the floor.

Char found a wrap, threw it on then belted it around her waist. “Better?”

Dexter only looked slightly mollified and pulled her to his side.

When he bristled against her, she hoped he wasn’t always so prickly. But then, she’d acted upon her jealousy, too, and so she tossed off her reservations. Wanting to lighten the mood before Armageddon set in, she removed the lids from the entrees and passed out the china. She put a lobster, a slice of steak, and some of the rice on her plate. Then she speared a couple of the asparagus with her fork. “Please enjoy. There’s plenty, and we can always order more.”

Ben eyed the sumptuous array of food. He loaded his dish with a bit of everything. “This could feed the hospital staff for a day.”

Dexter picked at the food but gulped down several big swallows of the wine. Then he passed the wine bottle to her and when she’d had her fill, she shared it with Ben. Within a few minutes, all three of them were laughing as if they were bosom buddies.

Warmed and feeling easier, she leaned over and kissed Dexter full on his lips. Then she rested her head in his lap while he fed her strawberries.

“You two look pretty cosy.” Ben leaned back on a few pillows he’d tossed on the floor, and he fluttered his toes inside his socks. “What gives? Are you a couple again?”

Surprised, Char gaped at him as Dexter smoothed her hair away from her flushed cheeks. “You knew we were a couple?”

“Who didn’t? What I don’t understand, though, is why you bought me, too. There’s been a lot of speculation around the hospital this week.”

Char swallowed the wrong way and started to choke. She coughed so hard she couldn’t breathe.

Dexter turned her over and thumped her on the back. When the hacking subsided, he sat her up and passed a bottled water. “Drink. Doctor’s orders.”

As if pained, Dexter rubbed his forehead. “It never fails. The rumour mill is alive and well. Why don’t they get their own lives and stop putting their noses in ours? Do none of them have sex?”

Ben spluttered his wine then cracked a grin. “You can’t blame them. Char did buy both of us. You gotta wonder what that’s all about.” He leaned closer with a twinkle in his eyes. “What is it all about? Did you want to do the naughty with both of us? I’m game if you are.”

Her pussy quivered, and she shivered. She loved Dexter with all her heart, but she couldn’t forget her fantasy about being fucked without mercy by two handsome guys at the same time. But she was scared of what Dexter would think and do so she peeked at him through her lashes. She wouldn’t do anything to lose him again even if it meant her fantasy would never materialise. After all, she didn’t love Ben. It would only be sex, hot and wild, pure and simple.

Dexter remained silent for so long, she was afraid he’d petrified into stone or that he was going to stomp out and never talk to her again. When he finally asked, “Is that what you want, Charity? Would you like a wild night of sex and debauchery?”

Her heart flipped over, and she almost came. But she sensed a trap. Did he really mean it? Or was he testing her?

Before she could formulate a reply, he opened her wrap and massaged her breast so that Ben could watch. Then he looked deeply into her eyes. “I’m okay with it, if you are. As long as he wears a condom and as long as you honestly want this.”