Bound by Their Kisses(31)

She reluctantly smiled up at him. He was always doing that to her, knocking the wind out of her sails so that she couldn’t be upset for long with them. Zander especially didn’t play fair.

“We’re going shopping Monday after work, Zander,” Tag said.

Although he hadn’t directed his statement toward her, Tessa knew he meant shopping for her. They weren’t going to start loading her up with things she didn’t need or have any use for. What would she do with them if it didn’t work out between the three of them? If she got used to having unnecessary things again it would kill her to have to leave them behind.

“Don’t look at me that way,” Tag groused.

“Like what?” she asked, working hard at not letting him see what she was thinking about.

“Like you’re about to lay into me about taking you shopping,” he said.

“I don’t need to go shopping, Tag. You and Zander can go if you want to, but I don’t need anything.” She crossed her arms and stared at him, daring him to say something about her clothes.

Zander obviously knew his friend well enough to anticipate that he was about to say something that would either piss her off or hurt her feelings because he jumped in between them and urged Tag to carry the boxes to the truck.

“We’ll be right out, Tag. Go on and load those up.” Zander pushed on his friend’s arm.

“I’m serious, baby. We’re going shopping tomorrow. You might as well be ready when we come to get you.” Tag picked up the two boxes and stomped out the door, muttering to himself all the way out.

“Tessa. Don’t get upset and take it wrong. He isn’t judging you or saying you don’t look good like you are. He just wants you to have the best of everything because we happen to think you deserve it,” Zander said, wrapping his arms around her until she was flush against his chest.

Tessa had no choice except to lay her head against the sculpted flesh. It felt so good to be there—so right. She had to admit that it felt just as good, just as right in Tag’s arms, too. But Tag pushed all her buttons. If they tried to make this, this thing that they had work, she and the other man would be at each other’s throats all the damn time. She knew in her heart that he didn’t mean anything hurtful when he spouted off, but she couldn’t help but take it wrong.

Sighing, she realized that meant it was mostly her fault when they argued. She pulled back enough to look up at Zander’s concerned face. Because of her stubbornness he was the one getting hurt. He had to mediate between his longtime best friend and the woman they planned to share. He did it so well that half the time she hadn’t really noticed it.

“I’m sorry, Zander. I know it puts you in a tough spot when he and I argue. I can’t help it sometimes. The man really rubs me the wrong way sometimes. I’ll work harder at ignoring it as much as I can. I’ve never been overly sensitive before, but for some reason I am with the two of you.” Tessa pushed up on tip toe and kissed his chin since it was about all she could reach if he didn’t bend down to meet her.

“Don’t apologize, kitten. It shows that you care what we think and that means you truly do care for us. If what we thought or said didn’t matter, you wouldn’t get upset and that would hurt.” He did bend down now and kiss her softly on the lips. “Let’s go before he trashes the truck or kicks the tire and breaks his foot.”

She giggled at that then sobered. It really wasn’t funny. In the mood Tag was in, he very well might do something stupid in a temper. She grabbed her purse and the laundry bag that held her underwear before following Zander and her box of books out to the truck. Once they’d loaded everything and dropped off the key at the manager’s office, Tag drove them back to their place.

Home. My place now. I’ve got to get used to that. At least I hope to get used to it. Please let this be the right decision.

She couldn’t stop the worry in her head that it wouldn’t work out. They still hadn’t really tackled the BDSM issue, yet. That had her worried. If she couldn’t handle them tying her up or doing God knows what to her, then a relationship between the three of them would never work. Dominance was in their blood. It defined them. Even if they wanted to, they would never be happy doing without it and she would never be able to handle them working with another woman when they wanted to play. She knew that it wasn’t always about sex, but she was too possessive to allow another woman to be the center of their attentions even if it was only for a few hours and there was nothing between them.

When she started to climb down from the cab of the truck, Zander stopped her. With a grin, he dipped his shoulder and the next thing she knew, Tessa was upside down looking at the ground. She frantically grabbed hold of the belt at his waist and held on so she wouldn’t bang against his back.