Free Taken by Two by Sam J. D. Hunt

makeup to apply. Nate took me from The Penelope without even a purse—I rarely bring much down to the club since I live upstairs and don’t pay for anything in the hotel. Just a little eyeliner would make all the difference , I thought as I cringed in the mirror before walking from the room.
    Nate was standing in the hallway outside, his dark suit shining as his face lit up when he saw me. “Penny, you look…you just took my breath away.” He dipped down to kiss me, his tall frame bending to wrap around me. “Wow, just wow,” he whispered as our lips parted. “You’re so eloquent tonight,” I teased. His eyes roamed over me before settling on mine, his expression serious. “I’m speechless, yes, but Penny, I’m falling in love with you.” My heart pounded, my palms went sweaty. I felt the same for him, but I couldn’t stop thinking about Rex. I never believed you could truly be in love with more than one person, but now I wasn’t so sure.
    Nate took my arm and started us walking. “Can’t be late for King Rex, babe, he doesn’t do late.” He walked me to a wall of glass at the back of the house and outside. The night was warm and sticky—the raw sounds of the jungle all around. We went down a short pathway lined with lighted palm trees. We turned a corner and my eyes drank in a large infinity pool, lit from underneath, with flowers floating across the smooth surface of the water. In the corner, a cabana was lit with candles, and the vision of Rex standing from a chair surprised me. I almost didn’t recognize him—he was in a suit. Not a shiny designer suit like Nate wore, but a simple dark suit that strained to fit around his muscled body.
    “It fit,” he said gruffly, pointing at the dress as he approached. “ You left the dress?” He nodded, reaching for me and pulling me toward him. “Yeah, and I don’t fucking shop much, so…I did my best. I’ve wanted to see you in something fluid—your curves deserve to be set free, worshipped—not contained in a too-tight dress.”
    I leaned in to give him a kiss on the freshly-shaven cheek he offered. The scent…it was the same as the cologne smell in my room. “I wish I had some makeup,” I pouted, rubbing at my eyes. “Cover up that divine skin? Penelope, there’s no cosmetic that could improve the perfection of your beauty tonight.”
    Soft Rex always threw me off balance, and I never knew how long it would last. “Thank you,” I said quietly as the two men led me to a table covered in tall candles and fragrant tropical flowers. Nate pulled out my chair as Rex pulled a bottle of Champagne from a silver ice bucket. With little flourish, he popped the cork and poured the bubbling contents into three crystal flutes. He handed us each a glass, my eyes darting to Nate. “Alcohol isn’t his drug of choice, Penny. Life would be easier if it were,” Rex answered in response to my unspoken question. “Amen to that,” Nate chuckled. “Okay, here’s my goddamn toast. To whatever the mother fuck this thing is,” Rex raised his glass as we did the same, clinking them together.
    Rex quickly abandoned the bubbly for bourbon, with Nate and I splitting two bottles of wine as we ate. I wasn’t sure if the house staff made the meal, or if it had been catered in, but the food was as good as the best starred restaurant in Vegas—and I dined at them far too frequently to be good for my figure. By the time we made it to dessert, a warm crème brulee served by Maria, Rex’s hand searched my inner thigh, snaking its way up to my skimpy panties as I struggled to focus on finishing dessert. As I slid my dish back, Nate’s long fingers skimmed my other thigh.
    Rex’s hand slid down to my knee before leaving my skin wanting his touch. He stood up and slid off his suit jacket, carefully placing it over his chair. “Do you swim, Penny?” I nodded, unable to speak as he removed his cufflinks and placed them on the table. “Good exercise, and an important