Free Dennis, Josie - Wild Heights [Classics Rekindled 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Josie Dennis

Henry had imagined. Cathy was a heap of glorious, trembling flesh in Henry’s arms, his cock still high inside of her. The pleasure etched on his face made Edward smile. Henry roused before Cathy, easing her off of him to cradle her in his lap.
    Unabashedly naked, she kissed Henry then reached toward him. “Come here, Edward,” she sighed.
    He settled beside Henry, taking in slow breaths. He lifted her lovely legs onto his thighs, stroking her as she stretched languorously. “This is so right, Cathy.”
    “Heaven,” she said with a nod. Her eyes popped open. “I believe I shall never forget it.”
    “That sounds ominous,” Henry said. “We shall never let you forget it.”
    “And as much as I enjoy looking at your luscious body, we should get you dressed and back home,” Edward said.
    She pouted prettily, but acquiesced. “I suppose it is best.”
    Edward sensed something in her tone, and when she was reasonably put together he took her hand. “Tonight, Cathy. Tell me you do not regret this. Regret us.”
    “Not regret, not at all! I know this shall come to an end, is all.”
    “It does not have to end,” Henry said, coming close as well. “We do not want it to.”
    “How, Henry? How could it not?” She turned from them, wrapping her arms around herself. “You said you will settle in Yorkshire, stay on at the Grange. Undoubtedly you will each find a woman to marry, as it should be. I, however, will not be one of those women.”
    “No, you will not be one of them,” Edward said. “You will be the only one we marry.”
    She whirled on them. “Are you mad? What is this nonsense?”
    “Cathy, listen,” Henry began. “When we started on this course, we knew full well what we were doing. What we wanted.”
    “When you started?” She blinked rapidly, her color high. “I do not know what your plans were, Henry, but this is not what I wanted. Did I want to be ostracized for the rest of my life? To have all and sundry know of the wanton I became with the two of you? To be the subject of hateful gossip until I can do nothing but hide for the rest of my days?”
    Henry reached for her. “Cathy, please.”
    “Marry the two of you?” she asked. “You are both mad. I will not be your plaything, something to keep you occupied as you rusticate in the country.”
    Edward’s own words on their return to Yorkshire struck him. “You were not simply something to keep us occupied.”
    “A plaything,” she said again, her voice cracking.
    “You should feel no shame,” Edward said, grasping her arm.
    She pulled away from them. “No, no shame. I should feel foolish, however. Foolish to believe the two of you cared for me at all.”
    “Cared for you?” Henry scoffed. “We love you!”
    “Love?” She shook with her fury. “This is not love.” She waved her hand in the direction of the settee. “This is…sexual. No mention of love was made by either of you, Henry. And now you expect me to believe that? Stuff and nonsense.”
    Helpless, Edward watched as everything they’d planned fell apart before his eyes. They had grossly miscalculated, thinking to ease her toward the reality of their futures together. And now? Now it appeared she would never believe them, let alone be their bride.
    “Cathy, let us explain,” Edward said.
    “Take me home, please,” she snapped.
    “Cathy,” Henry urged. “Do not go this way.”
    She closed her eyes, tears spiking her lashes. They had thrown everything away in a single night, and Edward could not pinpoint where matters went so awry.
    “We shall see you home,” Edward said.
    She shook her head. “I cannot bear to be in the carriage with the two of you. Please let me go alone.”
    “As you wish,” Edward said.
    He called for his carriage and saw to her wrap, and then he and Henry watched her ride away from them.
    “I had to open my blasted mouth,” Edward muttered. “I had to blurt out our plans like that, after what was the most astonishing sex I’ve ever