Destiny for Three Read online

  “That would be nice, Rad. I would like it very much if we could forget the past and all be friends,” Elise answered honestly, emphasizing the last word in the hope Rad would catch her meaning.

  “I think it’s safe to say Trey thinks of you as more than a friend.”

  “He told you that?” Elise wondered how much Trey had actually revealed to Rad about their relationship.

  “Mm-hm. We’re brothers as well as business partners. We learned a long time ago that keeping secrets from each other wasn’t good for our relationship.” He gave her a sly look. “Tell me, Elise. What are your intentions toward my brother?”

  Elise gulped, not expecting the conversation to take such a personal turn so quickly. “I have… feelings for him as well.”

  “You would like to pursue a relationship with him?”

  “Yes. Yes, I would, but…”

  “But?” Rad prompted.

  Elise took a deep breath. There was no point in beating around the bush. “But Trey doesn’t want to move forward until I resolve my relationship with you. He’s afraid you won’t accept us and he doesn’t want to alienate you.”

  Rad’s eyebrows lifted at that bit of information. “Is he now?”

  Elise nodded. “So much so, in fact, that he’s convinced there’s no future for us. Did he tell you of his plans to try to marry me off as soon as possible?”

  “No, he did not,” Rad replied, not looking happy that evidently Trey had kept something secret from him after all. “It seems a bit hasty to me, seeing as how he hasn’t even given the two of us a chance to work things out between us.”

  “That’s what I said.” Elise was glad Rad saw things her way. “But he’s insisting I go to the Vanderbilts’ ball to meet eligible men.”

  “Well, I’ll talk to Trey,” Rad assured her. “There’s really no need to push you into something like that. But eligible men aside, you should go to the ball. It’s an experience everyone should have at least once. They spare no expense. A seven course meal prepared by French chefs, orchestral music, dancing…”

  “Dancing. That’s a problem, I’m afraid,” Elise confided. “Since the accident, I don’t know how anymore. I’m sure I’ll make a complete fool of myself, stumbling around with two left feet.”

  “No need to fret. You have a whole week to learn.” Rad leaned closer and she could smell the slightest hint of spicy cologne and something sweet on his breath, like candy. “At the risk of sounding boastful, I’ve been told that I’m an accomplished dancer. I could teach you.”

  Elise bit her lip against the warmth that was starting to gather in her stomach from his nearness.

  He reached for her hand. “It’d be my pleasure.” Lifting her hand to his lips, he turned it up and brushed a kiss against the pad of her thumb, his warm brown eyes revealing just a hint of smoldering heat.

  Realizing her breath was coming out in short little bursts, Elise panicked and stood up. The rose bouquet dropped to the floor at their feet.

  Rad stood with her, not letting go of her hand. “Is that a yes?”

  Through sheer force of will, Elise calmed her breathing and gave him a smile she hoped wasn’t too shaky. “Um, yes, I-- that would be fine. If you really don’t mind.”

  Rad’s grin slanted knowingly then he kissed her hand again. “Darlin’, I really, really don’t mind.”

  ****

  The next day, Elise stood outside the wide double doors of the third floor ballroom. She could hear the tinkling melody of a music box inside, and she paused, her hand on the door, composing herself before she went inside. Her heart was beating like a rabbit’s. Maybe this was a mistake. Radcliffe Kingston was gorgeous, and hot as hell. She’d gotten just a tiny taste of the effect he could have on her when he’d kissed her hand yesterday. Those eyes, so much like Trey’s… and that single dimple that creased his cheek when he grinned that bone-melting smile of his. He was the kind of guy that could have a girl’s panties hanging from the bedpost before she knew what hit her.

  Her face heated with shame as she remembered the dream that woke her up the night before: She was with Trey, and they were making hot, delicious love. And then there was another set of hands on her, stroking over her skin, cupping her ass, another mouth moving along the back of her neck, licking, nipping. She arched her back, twisting her neck around so she could capture that talented mouth with her own, and when she opened her eyes, it was Rad’s face she saw, Rad’s mouth that ground down upon hers, ravishing her with a intensity that made her climax burst upon her like an explosion.

  Elise shivered at the memory. Holy moly, she’d never been this sexed up in her life! What was it about the Kingston brothers that made her so utterly wanton and slutty? She had to focus on her goal: cultivate a friendship with Rad, so he would accept her relationship with Trey graciously. She wanted Trey. Only Trey.

  Taking a deep breath, she entered the ballroom. Rad stood next to a table across the room, tinkering with the music box. He’d dressed casually in a pair of brown trousers and a white shirt. The sleeves were rolled up to his forearms and the top two buttons were open, revealing just the slightest shadow of golden-brown chest hair. He looked up and smiled, and Elise felt her knees quiver beneath her.

  “Elise. You’re late, darlin’,” he scolded good-naturedly.

  She bit her lip. “Sorry.”

  He strode over, took her hand and pulled her close, drawing a surprised gasp from her as her body pressed up against his. “Hmm, not good enough.” He looked down at her with mock seriousness. “But I’ll let you make it up to me.”

  Recovering from her shock at his boldness, Elise realized her hand was resting against his chest and his arm had snaked its way around her back. Oh, he was a shit. Completely shameless. He knew exactly how he affected her. “Rad…”

  “What?” His dimple deepened. “I won’t ask too much. Just a kiss.”

  “Rad!” she gasped. Her breath came in frantic puffs again. She wanted to say ‘no’. She should say ‘no’. But the word got lost somewhere between her brain and her lips.

  Rad’s grin softened a bit, as his expression became more intent. “Kiss me, Elise. You know you want to. I know you don’t remember, but we did plenty of kissing once, and you used to like it very much.” His voice lowered to just above a whisper. “Your mind may have forgotten, but your body remembers. I can feel it.”

  Say something, you twit! Say No! A faint noise escaped her, a noise of weakness, of surrender. Rad’s nostrils flared slightly then he cupped her head in his hand and brought his lips to meet hers. Gently, as if he was afraid he’d frighten her, he brushed his mouth across hers, and Elise could smell the candy sweetness of his breath. Then she felt the tip of his tongue trace the seam of her lips, coaxing them to open, drawing a small shuddering moan from her as she let him inside. His hand tightened in her hair, angling her head as he sealed his mouth over hers, his tongue delving inside in a boldly possessive manner. Oh, Lord, he was sweet, tasted so sweet, like…like butterscotch… and sex.

  Her hand fisted in the front of his shirt and her body trembled against him. She was in trouble with this one. Deep trouble. They were to be friends, just friends. But he was right, her body was reacting to him on a sexual level. Her traitorous pussy pulsed and grew wet, wanting him to take her, fill its empty, aching walls.

  Rad lifted his head and Elise gulped for air. His breathing was heavy as well. He gazed into her eyes, searching her face then curved those wicked lips into a smile. “Consider yourself forgiven, sweetness.”

  Her senses returning, Elise weakly slapped his chest and pushed away. “Good God, Rad! I-I came for a dance lesson. If you can’t behave, I’ll find someone else to teach me.”

  Rad chuckled and pulled her back into waltzing position. “All right, darlin’, we’ll save the other lessons for another time.” He checked her posture and shifted his hand to her lower back. “That's good. Very nice. You may move a bit closer, you know, I won't bite. Unless you want me to."
/>   Face flaming, Elise tried to stay serious, not look into those damn sexy eyes of his. "Rachael told me the prescribed distance between partners is twelve inches."

  “Yes, of course. But I would indeed be remiss as a teacher if I neglected to prepare you for the occasions in which you'll find yourself in the arms of an unscrupulous partner who may take advantage of the relatively intimate posture of this dance to...shall we say, gain a more physical appreciation of your beauty."

  "Right. I hardly think the Vanderbilts’ ball will be swarming with lechers," Elise replied pointedly, finally gaining some control over her runaway emotions.

  Rad chuckled. "It saddens me to inform you there are far more reprobates masquerading as gentlemen than any lady would imagine. And since you're a lady of considerable beauty, I'm afraid you'll meet more than your share."

  "It seems I already have."

  He laughed louder. “Touché, darlin’. All right, I’ll try to curb my lecherous urges.” He shifted his hand on her back up into proper position and retreated to the more respectable twelve inch separation, then announced. “Here we go, then. Just follow my lead. One-two-three, one-two-three…”

  Rad did behave himself after that, and proved to be a graceful dancer indeed and very patient instructor. Elise stepped on his toes more than once, but he was gracious and encouraging, laughing and making silly jokes to put her at ease.

  “That’s lovely, Elise,” Rad announced after a half-hour had passed in a blur of swirling movement and tinkling music. “You’re catching on quickly.”

  “You really think so?” Elise was breathless when they finally stilled.

  “Most definitely. A few more lessons and you’ll be more than ready for the party.” He let her go and drew his watch out of his pocket. “But I must call an end to this lesson and get back to work or Trey will have my hide.”

  “Oh gosh, yes. You go on. I didn’t mean to keep you from your work. Thank you for doing this, Rad. I do appreciate it.” They walked to the entrance together. “Same time tomorrow, then?”

  "Why wait for tomorrow? They say experience is the best teacher. Why don't you and I go out on the town this evening? I know of several establishments where we can practice what you've learned so far and perhaps learn a few new steps."

  Elise hesitated for an instant.

  “I can assure you, Trey won’t mind,” Rad added, as if reading her thoughts.

  Yes, she was doing this for Trey, after all. Finally, moved by his persuasive smile, Elise answered, “Um okay, I guess. Sure. But just as friends, right?”

  “Mm, of course,” he agreed, then paused and grasped her elbow lightly. “Wait. I have a reward for you for being such an apt pupil.” Her breath caught as he turned her to face him. His expression was playful, and just a bit mischievous.

  “Rad, please-”

  “Close your eyes,” he coaxed. “It’s all right. I promised not to bite. Remember?”

  Releasing a nervous breath, Elise went against her better judgment and closed her eyes.

  “Now, open your mouth.”

  Elise’s eyes flew open, but he just laughed.

  “Elise, please. It’s perfectly innocent. You’ll like this. I promise.”

  She gave him a skeptical look then slowly closed her eyes. Her stomach was doing flip flops and that deep ache between her legs started to throb again. Hesitantly, she opened her mouth.

  Something small, hard and smooth nudged her trembling lips, making her jump slightly. She timidly touched it with her tongue and was rewarded with a sweet rush of butterscotch flavor that made her hum with delight. She opened her eyes. Rad’s gaze was fastened on her mouth, where he held the candy between her lips. Elise let her mouth close around the small lozenge and caught just the tips of Rad’s thumb and finger between her lips. Heat flared in his eyes and she could hear the small hiss of breath he sucked in before he caught himself and let his hand drop. He grinned and Elise had the strangest sense of deja vu.

  The dream! The young boy with the butterscotch candy and messy blonde hair…

  There couldn’t be a connection, could there? It was just a dream, after all.

  “I’ll see you eight o’clock, then,” he said, breaking the spell.

  Elise could only smile dumbly and nod. He laughed softly, then tapped her chin playfully with his thumb and started down the stairs, whistling, leaving her alone, her tongue curling around the delicious buttery candy, wondering what the hell she’d gotten herself into.

  ****

  “Where have you been? It’s two-thirty. We’ve got too much work to do for you to be taking a long dinner break,” Trey admonished when Rad stepped into his office.

  “You’ll thank me once you hear what I’ve been up to.” Rad ignored Trey’s skeptical look and took a seat in front of the desk. “I’ve been tutoring Elise.” He smiled at the instant scowl that darkened his brother’s expression. “At dancing. For now,” he added just to tweak Trey’s temper.

  Trey chose to ignore that last suggestive comment, but his tone was tense when he replied, “Fine. She needs to learn to dance before next week. I guess you’re the most qualified teacher, seeing as how I’m unfit for the job.”

  Rad knew he referred to the painful physical reminder Trey bore of their ill-fated romance with Elizabeth. Trey was reminded everyday of the consequences of their decision, which was why he was so hesitant to entertain the idea that it may work out this time with Elise. Rad knew that on his own, Trey would never take the steps necessary to make it happen, so it was up to Rad to forge ahead if they were to ever be happy.

  “I kissed her,” Rad stated bluntly, facing Trey’s glare with a steady gaze. “And she liked it.”

  “God damn it, Rad!” Trey stood and leaned over his desk. “I told you to leave it alone. It will never work.”

  “You don’t know that. You said yourself she’s not the same. Elise may have a very different reaction to our proposal.”

  Trey let go a humorless laugh. “Jesus, Rad, no decent woman would-”

  Rad shot from his seat. “Are you calling our own mother indecent?” he barked, then lowered his voice, mindful of the employees in the rooms outside the office. “She did it out of love, for both your father and mine. How can you call that indecent?”

  Trey sat back down, appropriately chastened. He sat quietly a moment then said, “Elise isn’t our mother. I think it’s safe to say there are not very many women willing to risk society’s scorn to enter into a relationship that is viewed as immoral and perverted.”

  “Fuck society. I thought we already went through this the first time we contemplated the arrangement. I thought we agreed it was worth the risk. You remember what our parents had together. Don’t you think it’s worth some risk to have something like that for us, and Elise?”

  “Yes, we agreed. And I took the risk willingly. I’m the one who went to Elizabeth with the proposal, remember? And I ended up a crippled outcast from society. It’s taken me a long time to learn to live with that, to rebuild some kind of decent life for us all. I’m not sure I can risk it all again.”

  “I do remember. That’s why I’m asking you to let me handle it this time. I’ll lay the groundwork, prepare her, so she’s not so shocked by the whole idea.” Trey scrubbed his hand across his face and shook his head, but Rad persisted. “Elise is different than Elizabeth. She’s capable of loving someone other than herself. She’s already in love with you.” Rad pressed Trey a bit more, asking, “You’ve been with her intimately. Is she a hesitant lover, easily shocked?”

  A reluctant laugh escaped Trey. “Easily shocked? No. She’s very responsive, to say the least.”

  “Excellent. I thought as much from her reaction to my kiss this afternoon. I could tell she was hesitant because of her feelings for you. But she wanted more. Her body was trembling with it.” Rad stood up, more confident now in his plan than before. “I’m taking her out tonight, dancing.” At Trey’s lifted eyebrow, he added with a smile, “Just dancing for toni
ght. But after that, I’ll ease her into some other more enlightening forms of entertainment.” Trey started to open his mouth to protest, but Rad cut him off. “Trust me on this, Trey. If Elise comes to you tonight afterward, don’t turn her away. No matter what she does or says, just love her.”

  Chapter Ten

  A terrified squeal pierced the easy rhythm of the horses' hooves upon the paving stones, startling Elise out of her restless musings.

  From outside of the carriage came the gruff shout of the driver. "Ho! Look out there, ya' blasted vermin!"

  "What in the world was that?" she exclaimed, peering out the coach window into the gas-lighted street.

  Rad cast a glance out the window on his side. "Just a pig, I imagine."

  "A pig! In the middle of New York City?" Elise asked in astonishment. "Poor thing must have gotten himself good and lost. This is an awfully long way from the farm."

  "That hog wouldn't know a farm from a hole in the ground," Rad said with a chuckle." He was probably born in an alley not far from here and has spent his entire life roaming and scavenging the streets of our fair city--a swine-about-town, if you will. There are hundreds of them."

  "And people just let them roam?"

  "Certainly. Always have. They do serve a function, after all. I shudder to think of how fast the refuse would pile up without them."

  Elise shook her head. “Amazing.” She settled back and let her gaze drift over to Rad, lounging casually in the seat across from her.

  Thinking back on their outing so far, Elise had to admit that despite her deep reservations about actually going through with their night out, Rad had behaved himself. First, he'd taken her out to supper at a very nice restaurant, but Elise had been so nervous, her appetite was far from hearty. Rad had seemed to sense her unease over supper. He’d ordered a bottle of wine for them to share and did his best to lighten her mood. He knew an amazing number of corny jokes and, in spite of her nerves, Elise had found herself first groaning then chuckling along with him. After their meal, he’d taken her a few blocks down Broadway, past the painted lamp signs directing passersby to the various shops, taverns, basement oyster bars and bowling saloons, to The Fandango Club. Elise hadn’t been sure what to expect upon entering the slightly run-down building, but she soon discovered, to her relief, the club provided a clean, if not fancy, place where mostly middle-class men and women gathered to enjoy dancing, music and refreshments. Adequately convinced it was a respectable establishment, more so than many of the nightclubs she and Tanya had frequented, she'd actually relaxed and enjoyed herself.