"You are the woman of my dreams, Tori. I just can't wake up from my nightmare. God, I wish I'd met you when I was twenty." His hand smoothed down her hair. "I'm not a good man."
"You are. I've seen you. You can be kind when you want to be."
"I don't want to be most of the time. I'm also not a strong man. I know it's best if I step aside, but I don't want to. I think that makes me selfish."
"What are you saying, Oliver?"
"I'm saying my brothers want you and they're willing to let me play. I would be faithful. I wouldn't have any other lovers. I promise I would take care of you this time."
She blinked up at him, suddenly stopping in the middle of the dance floor. Of all the reasons they could be here, she hadn't even considered this one. "Are you saying Rory and Callum want to share me?"
His lips curled up in the most delicious smile. "You hadn't figured that out? Yes. They're serious about it. They've spent the last couple of weeks negotiating."
"Negotiating?" Her mind was humming. It was a horrible idea. Right? Horrible. She might tear the brothers apart, so the idea was only, like, ten percent interesting. Twenty, tops. The other eighty percent of that idea was pure stupidity.
Unless … Could they keep it quiet? Could they be secret lovers?
"I think it's what Doms do. I'm not sure. I haven't really been to a club, though my brothers have explained the philosophy. I'm afraid Callum might talk you to death before he drags out all those toys he likes to use. Either way, don't expect they'll let you go without a fight. They're willing to let me in. I'm asking if you'll let me, Tori. I don't know what will happen between us precisely. I can promise that I'll respect you and care for you. I'll always be your friend. No matter what your answer is. I'm always going to be a man you can count on."
For anything but love.
Then again, she wasn't looking for love. She couldn't afford it. By the end of the week, she would be back in Dallas and moving on with her life. No matter how intrigued she was by everything Oliver and his brothers plotted, she knew she couldn't handle this life.
"I don't need a pledge of devotion, Oliver."
"But you deserve one." He frowned, his eyes crinkling as though he was attempting to figure out what to say. "I'm trying, Tori."
She'd been so angry with him these past few weeks, but that was a useless emotion. She'd figured out a long time ago that a person had to want to be saved. Her father hadn't wanted it. He'd given in to the grief of losing their mother. Nothing his daughters had said or done made him want to live again because he'd no longer had the will. Nothing would alter Oliver's outlook unless he wanted to change.
Sorrow for what might have been weighed on her. The best she could do was give him some peace.
"I forgive you," she murmured. "We've both made mistakes. I suspect going to bed with you again would be another."
He sighed and leaned forward, kissing her forehead. "I hope you reconsider. I think my time is up. Tori, if I could change anything in my whole life, do you know what it would be?"
She could imagine. "Your first marriage."
He shook his head. "No. I deserved that. I was careless and stupid and I married for all the wrong reasons. I would change what happened between us. I would go back and be gentle with you. I would make it good for you. Whatever happens, know that it's not supposed to be like that. Your lover should make you feel like the goddess you are. I wish I had shown you that."
Tears blurred her vision and she gripped him when he started to move away. "Why do you think you're a bad man, Oliver? Yasmin did those things to you. They weren't your fault."
A shadow seemed to cross his face. "My father used to say you don't know what kind of a man you are until you face death. How you face it is the sum of your soul. I don't have much of a soul, I'm afraid. I don't have much to give you and I don't deserve you. I'll be honest, if it weren't for my brothers I would never have considered touching you again. Not because I don't want to. I want you so badly I ache with it, but I care about you. I'm not good for you, but Callum and Rory won't let me hurt you, so I'm being selfish. If you decide to give them a go, I'd like to be there. I need one good thing and I think bringing you pleasure could be it."
"May I cut in?" Rory stepped up.
Oliver released her, moving her hand into Rory's. "Of course. Where did Callum go?"
"He went back to our room to prepare a few things. Tori has made her appearance at this event. I spoke with Talib and he's still trying to get all the photos from her mishap. He's already dealt with the local photographers. There won't be any pictures of her in Bezakistani newspapers," Rory reassured.