Shameless. Tori Carrington

were taking the next step….

      She realized she was holding her breath and let it out slowly, the action bringing little relief to her singing nerves.

      Over the past few days she’d often found herself wondering about the change in climate around the store. She’d begun to question whether it had been wise even to discuss a union between the three of them. Because surely that one conversation was to blame—or to credit—for the change in their friendship.

      But just like a hiker who’d found herself halfway up the mountain, it was easier to go forward than back. There was no retreat from such a journey once it was begun.

      Were Kevin and Gauge as restless as she’d become? She’d wanted to ask them, but hadn’t had the courage, afraid that perhaps they’d ignore the fact that the conversation had ever taken place. But there was difference in the way they both looked at her now. While there had existed a mild sexual interest in her movements, now she felt their gazes as surely as if they’d reached out and touched her.

      But it wasn’t until she surrendered her mind to her dreams at night that she got to play out a more intimate connection to one or the other, often both at the same time.

      Until now.

      Nina swallowed hard and turned the envelope over, noting that it had only been sealed at the end of the V. So simple to open.

      Then why did she feel as if she were Pandora and that the contents of the envelope would forever change her life?

      She absently worked her fingernail under the flap, the slight tearing of the seal filling the quiet store. She peeked inside to find a simple, white sheet of paper.

      Simple. Now that was a word that didn’t seem to fit the situation.

      Then again, maybe it was custom-made for the state of affairs. Perhaps she was making far too much out of this entire thing. She might even venture a thought that she was doing exactly what the guys had originally accused her of, the entire reason for their discussion at all: the fact that she confused sex with love.

      Is that what she was doing? Reading more into a simple matter that involved nothing more than the meeting of two needy bodies?

      Nina dropped her head onto the sofa back. “Oh, for God’s sake, Nina, just read the damn thing and get it over with.”

      For all she knew the letter would be a truce of sorts. A retraction of the offer and regrets that it had ever been extended to begin with. An attempt at a return to normalcy when everything had been far from it over the past few days.

      She reached in and tugged the paper out, carefully opening it. It had been typed rather than printed. She smiled at the formality. Done to keep her from knowing which of them was speaking? She chanced a yes.

      She licked her lips and smoothed the single sheet out and read:

      Nina,

      You are invited to a one-night-only, not-to-be-missed event. At midnight tomorrow, leave your apartment door unlocked and your inhibitions behind and put on the enclosed blindfold…and nothing else….

      Nina shivered all over. She picked up the envelope again and looked inside. In the shallow depths lay a single silk ribbon that didn’t seem wide enough to shield her eyes. She shook it out, realizing that it was folded and that it was, indeed, wide enough.

      The slinky material warmed beneath her touch as she raised it to her eyes and then fastened it around her head. The front had been cut as a mask, making allowances for her nose so that she wouldn’t be able to peek out the bottom.

      For all intents and purposes she was blind.

      Anticipation spilled over her like warm honey as she sat for long minutes. Her own breathing sounded loud to her own ears. She was keenly aware of the thrum of her heartbeat. Made out the sound of a car passing outside.

      She gasped and quickly took off the mask.

      Could she really do this? Turn herself over to whichever one of them planned to enter her apartment? Put on a blindfold and trust that whoever arrived would bring her pleasure and no pain?

      Her throat tightened as she picked up the letter again.

      Lights off, heat on, be prepared for the most erotic night of your life….