Page 27 of Lilacs and Leather
Rhett seems to shake himself before smiling and finishes taking his bite. We eat in silence for another few minutes, and I think more about what Rhett said. It has always seemed like a lot of pressure to put on one person when you fall in love. You’re asking them to deal with every facet of your personality, even the ones that aren’t pleasant. And, more times than not, if there are parts that don’t fit, you have to give up those parts of yourself if you want to coexist.
“So, when you say you’re in love, what do you mean?” I ask after a long moment.
Rhett puts his fork down and turns in his chair to face me more fully.
“I’m in love with Lucas. He pushes me, keeps me from becoming complacent in my relationships, and makes me work to be better for him. I’m in love with my best friend, Mateo. We’ve been together for years, and he’s my business partner, and my brother in all but blood. His endless energy and creativity works well with my drive to innovate and do the impossible. I’m in love with my pack leader, Lex. She grounds me and her generosity makes me remember those less fortunate and keeps me humble. I’m in love with each of them, but in unique ways. They give me fulfillment and joy, without having to be someone they aren’t. And I’d like to think that I give them the same in return,” Rhett explains, patient and calm.
“And how do I fit in?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.
Rhett’s answering smile is kind, and I melt a little under it. “I don’t know yet, Lydia. But, if you’re willing, I’d like to find out.”
Eleven
Lydia
Our conversation is light as we finish our meal, but I can’t get Rhett’s words out of my head.He’s absolutely right about there being different kinds of love, and how unfair it is to expect one person to provide all of them. I think about my relationship with Jason. He gives me the steady, unconditional love of family, but he could never be a true protector and provider in the ways my instincts crave. Gabby has been my rock through many storms, my ride-or-die, willing to go to the mat to protect me. I love her dearly, but it’s always going to be platonic between us for many reasons. It doesn’t mean that the love I have for them is lesser, just different from romantic love.
“Hey, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to stop over and see what you thought about your dinner,” an unfamiliar male voice says, pulling me from my thoughts.
I look up at the sound and draw in a sharp breath. The man standing before us is beautiful, with dark, slightly sweat-damp hair that curls a little at the ends. It falls over his brow into his blue-gray eyes, and his dark lashes look like they jumped right out of a mascara ad. He’s clean shaven, with sharp cheekbones and an impressive jawline. He’s lanky with legs for days, but I can see the slight bulge of muscles under the sleeves of his white jacket. His scent washes over me, and I can’t help the little sigh that escapes my throat as I relax. This beta smells of freshly laundered towels and summer campfires, smoky with hints of chocolate and marshmallows. My mouth waters slightly, but I swallow as I realize Rhett is staring at me, a smirk tugging at his mouth.
“Lydia, this is Lucas, my beta,” Rhett says, and I swear I hear a hint of laughter in his tone.
I clear my throat and look back at Lucas. “It’s nice to meet you. Dinner was wonderful,” I say, tucking my chin a little.
“I’m so glad you liked it. Did Rhett let you have any of his? I’m experimenting with a new dry rub for beef,” Lucas asks, eager and genuine.
“I was going to ask about that. I tasted the white pepper and garlic, but why was it so sweet?” Rhett asks, his attention turning to Lucas as his brow furrows.
“I’m trying to see if I can use powdered dehydrated pineapple chunks as a tenderizer, rather than just using the enzyme. Was it too sweet? I’m not sure of the ratio yet,” Lucas admits, rubbing the back of his neck.
I watch them discuss Rhett’s meal and Lucas’s work, absolutely transfixed. Lucas is still standing, but Rhett’s body is turned in his seat toward him, one leg crossed elegantly over the other. Their smiles are so easy, and I can practically see the sparks flying between them as they gently tease each other in the way that only lovers can.
Why do I want to be between them?
The thought makes my lower belly clench almost painfully. My experience in the bedroom has been fairly vanilla, and involving multiple partners hasn’t been something I’d given myself permission to think about. But the image of Rhett and Lucas together, both of their hands on my body, in my hair, lips gliding over my stomach and lower—
Rhett’s gaze snaps to me, stopping mid-sentence. “Lydia?” he asks.
Lucas looks at me then, and I see his nostrils flare.Oh no. He looks me up and down once, and I shiver under his assessing look. I can feel Rhett’s eyes on the side of my face as I keep Lucas’s gaze. There’s a challenge there, and I hold my ground. A sparkle in the depths of Lucas’s eyes makes my head tilt to one side, and I school my features into innocence. His scent turns smoky, almost with a hint of pine, and his pouty lips pull up in a slow, sensual smile.
“See something you like, sweetheart?” Lucas questions, head tilting down to look at me more fully.
“Could ask you the same thing,sweetheart,” I return, mouth working before my brain.
Lucas’s chuckle is dark, low in his throat, and the sound goes right down my spine to settle between my thighs. Rhett’s gaze feels nearly molten on the side of my face, but I don’t look away from the challenge in Lucas’s eyes.
“Youaredifferent, aren’t you,” Lucas mumbles, almost to himself.
“I’ve been called worse.” I shrug, trying to let my flash of confusion show in my voice.
Lucas hums his response, mouth sliding down into a serious line for a few heartbeats before that joking slash of a smirk makes its return. Test passed, it seems.
“I’ll let you get back to it, then. It was wonderful to meet you, Lydia. Let’s do this again soon, when we’ve got more time to really get to know each other,” Lucas purrs.
My thighs clench with the promise laced through every word. Rhett growls, and Lucas’s gaze slides languidly to the alpha. I follow his look and barely hold back another whine. Rhett’s eyes are dark, a fist clenched on the table. He’s looking at Lucas with enough heat to set the beta’s clothes on fire. It’s not anger—there’s too much molten desire in his eyes for that—but there’s a tension in his posture that makes me want to drop my gaze and expose my throat in submission. Lucas doesn’t back down; if anything, he seems to be laughing at his own private joke. Rhett tilts his head, the motion of a predator assessing prey.Why is that so attractive?
“If she ever decides she wants to play, you know I’m always open to whatever games you can come up with, sir,” Lucas says, his voice a husky whisper that goes straight to the apex of my thighs.