“But…what about marriage and children?” she demanded, still not believing her ears. Their story rang true, but she still had trouble wrapping her head around it.
“I would like children, and Grant would too. Any children that would come out of the relationship would have two fathers and we’d raise each of them as our own, regardless of DNA. It simply wouldn’t matter. We’d be a family in every sense of the word. It might not be a traditional arrangement, but we’ve given this a lot of thought. We want you to be that woman, and I think you knew from the start there was something between us.”
India was speechless. What could she say to that? She’d just allowed both of them to make love to her, no, she’d begged them for it, so what was the point of saying she didn’t want them too? But a relationship?
“Say something, India.” Grant searched her face with anxious blue eyes.
“I don’t know what to say. It’s a lot to take in. This lifestyle you speak of is alternative to say the least, but I don’t know if it’s right for me.”
Rafe threw a stick into the dying fire. “Are you saying that because it’s what you’ve been programmed to think? Tell me, how did it feel when you had Grant’s dick in your pussy and mine in your mouth?” Amber eyes flashed.
India looked away from his steady gaze. “Don’t make me say it.”
“It has to be said. You may be able to brush aside what happened, but I sure as hell won’t.”
“And neither will I.” Grant placed a hand on her knee. “Tonight proved we’re compatible sexually, but it was much more than that. Since we’ve been on the island, I’ve learned a lot about you and what I’ve found out I like. You’re smart, sweet, compassionate, and I’m already on my way to falling in love with you.”
Grant’s confession made her jaw drop. She hadn’t expected to hear that. India turned to Rafe. “And you? How do you feel?”
“The same. I felt a connection with you almost immediately when we met at the airport.”
“I see. This gives me something to think about, but you’re asking me to throw away all my ideals about what a committed relationship is and fall in line with what you two want. But how do I know for sure this would have happened if we weren’t stuck on this island? Or perhaps if another female had survived, you’d be with her?”
Grant gave her hand a light squeeze. “I know it’s a lot to mull over, but believe me when I say that what we feel for you is real regardless of the setting.”
“But what if we never get off this place?”
Grant’s mouth thinned to a tight line before he answered. “It may be something we’ll have to face in the coming weeks if we’re still here, but until then, we have each other.”
“I did enjoy what we did,” she admitted. “But I…I feel so guilty about it. Good girls don’t do things like this. I’ve spent all my life trying to be the person people think I should be. It’s hard for me to let go completely.”
Rafe reached over and brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “We can help.”
India wanted more than anything to give in to them, but did she dare? So far she was unlucky in love. If there was a fallout between the three of them, she’d always come up the loser if sides were taken.
After being with two men, she discovered she wanted more of the titillating passion they shared, but giving her heart was another thing. She ran her tongue over parched lips. “I do want the both of you but…until I get my feelings sorted out it can only be physical.”
“We want more than just your body, India,” Grant countered softly.
She nodded. “I know but it’s all I have to give right now. I think I’ve done a pretty lousy job in the relationship department so far and I’m just not ready to have my heart engaged in something I’m not sure will sustain beyond this island.”
Rafe looked as though he wanted to protest, but then shut his mouth. Finally he nodded in agreement.
India turned to Grant, silently questioning him.
“It’s not what either one of us wants and what we feel for you is something much bigger than our circumstances, but if this is all you have to offer right now, we’ll take it,” he finished with an exasperated sigh.
Quiet swept over the cave once again only to be interrupted by the growl of her stomach. India wrapped her arms around her midsection. “I know we agreed to be careful with our rations, but I’m starving. How much coconut do we have left?”
Grant stroked his lightly bearded face. “Just one more coconut. We could share it, but in the morning we’re going to have to find other things to eat. It doesn’t seem like these coconut trees are dropping any more of their fruit.”