“Esteban,” Javier said to him, “as I’m sure you are aware, I’ve been having some issues lately. Alana’s death … hasn’t been easy on me. And I’ve been taking it out on the wrong people. You, I’m sure, plus others. Many, many others. But mostly my poor wife.” Javier gave me a quick smile. “I’ve been unfaithful to her. I’ve been rude and rough and disrespectful. I have failed as her husband.”
The fact that Javier was admitting this troubled me. I knew he had a hard enough time admitting his faults to me in general, but to Esteban? He was the last person he wanted to look weak in front of, but that’s just what he was doing here.
I glanced at Esteban out of the corner of my eye. He was sitting rigid, looking about as worried as I felt.
Javier went on, hands behind his back. “But I don’t want to be that to her anymore. I want to be a better man, so to speak. We’re going to start a family.”
Esteban’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Javier said simply. “Of course, she’s not pregnant yet. At least, I don’t think so. We made love last night but these things can take time.”
I didn’t know where this was going, but it was wrong. Everything that Javier was saying, even though it was the truth, was wrong. He wasn’t acting like himself. He had some ulterior motive, some purpose, and I didn’t know what it was.
“But an heir, particularly a son, will do wonders for us and the organization. Don’t you think?”
Esteban shrugged again though this time it seemed forced. “I guess. It’s the way.”
“It is the way,” Javier said with a sharp nod. “And the way is about family and responsibility and doing what’s right to protect that unit. It’s not for frivolous acts. It’s not for degenerates. There is no place in the family unit for … uncouth urges.” He eyed both of us. “I guess I’m not being very clear. I admit I’m having a hell of a time just coming out and saying it. I’ve done this many times before, sorry Luisa, just not with you both.”
I stared at Javier, waiting for him to put an end to my confusion.
He smiled something wicked. “Before I become a father, I want one last fantasy out of my system. One last rotten immoral urge.” He paused. “I want the both of you tonight. Together. Right here.”
I blinked. Did I hear that right? I glanced at Esteban who was staring back at me with matching confusion.
He couldn’t mean what I thought he meant.
“Uh,” Esteban said, scratching at the scar on his cheek. “Correct me if I’m wrong, patron, but … are you asking for a threesome?”
My brows raised and I looked anxiously at Javier for his answer.
“It sounds so juvenile, doesn’t it?” Javier said. “But yes, that is exactly what I’m asking for. As a favor to me. Do you have any objections?”
“Yes,” I said at the same time Este did.
Javier clapped his hands together and stood right over us, peering down. “I thought you would. But you’re going to be a part of this regardless. There is no saying no to me, you should know that by now.”
I knew that, but it didn’t mean I wouldn’t try. Because nothing good could come of this. And I think that’s exactly what Javier had in mind.
Esteban cleared his throat. “I didn’t think you were the kind of guy who would easily share his woman.”
Javier gave him a cutting look. “Oh, I assure you I am not. But because I’ll be having a piece of you as well, I think it evens out. Now, strip.”
There was no way this was about to happen. Esteban wouldn’t allow it. Forget about the affair, he still wouldn’t allow it. Esteban seemed to spend his days fighting the authority that Javier had over him. He wouldn’t just let Javier call the shots now, especially in a sexual manner. It would humiliate him.
Which was the whole point. Now I knew what Javier was doing.
But why I was involved, I didn’t know.
To my complete surprise, Esteban stood up, and with his eyes on Javier, pulled his shirt over his head and threw it to the ground. Then he undid his shorts, sliding them down until his bare ass was right beside me.
No. No, no, no.
No.
I looked away. I couldn’t do this. It should have been a million girls’ fantasies but there was something so inherently wrong about this. If this had come from a genuine, organic place, then maybe I would have been more than up for it. But was no way in hell this was ever one of Javier’s fantasies and I was completely on edge.
Javier barely gave Esteban the once over — he didn’t look too impressed — and then fixed his gaze on me.
“My queen,” he said, and I wished I could see the glimmer of tenderness in his eyes, what I had seen last night when we made love. But I didn’t see anything there except something wicked.
Devious.
He smiled at me and jerked his chin to Esteban. “Isn’t this what you want?”
I shook my head, my hands gripping the edge of the bed.
“No?” Javier asked, leaning over and putting his hand into my hair, making a fist. I stiffened, my eyes locked with his as I silently pleaded for this not to happen. “You never fancied having a fuck with your friend Este here?”
Oh Jesus. He knows.
He knows.