Maddy Collated: The Complete Trilogy by Ava Lore Page B

you mean?"
    Sam reached down and took her hand. "We've been exploring our options with each other over the past week," he said, "and we both reached the same conclusion. It's not the same without you."
    Maddy raised her eyebrows. "I see," she said slowly. "You mean you need me as a catalyst to make you two work ?"
    "Are you purposefully trying to be difficult?" Chet asked.
    "No," Maddy said. "I have no idea what you're asking me."
    Sam sighed. "Just what Chet said. We want to date you. Together. You dating us. Us dating you. Us dating each other." He paused. "Perhaps dating isn't the right word," he said, "but it's the closest I can think of. We would like to explore a relationship between the three of us."
    Maddy looked down at her hand in his. "Wow," she said. "Are you serious?"
    "Yes," Chet said. "You sound like you've never heard of polyamory before."
    "Only on TV," she said. "And it always looks like it doesn't work out." But she couldn't help but be tempted. The idea, that the two of them might want to be with her, was tantalizing, tempting. Heady and sweet. She wanted to be with them, too. The way they all clicked together... it was a rare thing to find other people who could fill that role. That she'd found two of them, and they both wanted to be with her, not just as friends but as lovers, was astounding.
    Perhaps she should just be counting her blessings.
    "I..." she said . " I don't know."
    "It's okay," Sam said immediately. "You don't have to answer. We were going to take you out to dinner and ease you into the idea. It was supposed to be a night where we sort of courted you."
    "You don't think you've already sort of started?" Maddy asked. "I don't know about you guys, but you've both been kind of preoccupying my thoughts. Even when you didn't call." She gave him a mock glare from the corner of her eye.
    Sam reached behind her and smacked Chet in the shoulder. "I told you we should have sent flowers," he said.
    "We didn't know what was going on last week," Chet replied. "Remember? There was a lot of, er , fluctuation in our relationship last week."
    "Drama," Sam said. "Chet's allergic to drama. I still think it's inevitable that a little bit of drama happens, but you know."
    "Of course," Maddy said. "Drama." She thought about it. "What sort of drama?"
    Next to her, Chet laughed. His voice, rich and deep, warmed her. "Sam was very worried he wouldn't be good in bed," he said.
    "Chet!" Sam sounded horrified.
    "What? She was going to find out at some point. That's what a relationship is. Knowing all the dirty little secrets of your partner. Or partners." He paused. "He is good in bed," he conceded. "It just took a little practice."
    "You dick!" Sam sounded apoplectic.
    Maddy reached out and put a hand on his knee. "Don't worry," she said. "I'm sure you are great in bed."
    Sam looked pained. "Wouldn't you know?" he said. "You've slept with me."
    Maddy patted him. "There, there," she said.
    Chet laughed. " Maddy , you really are a wrecking ball." And then his hand was on her cheek, pulling her away from Sam and toward him. His face loomed, his icy blue eyes piercing hers. Waves of dizziness lapped at her as he drew closer and closer, and then his lips were on hers and the undertow reached out and grabbed her, pulling her under.
    Shivers raced over her skin where they touched, his mouth nibbling and tasting, hungry and seeking. Behind her, Sam's hands went around her waist, kneading and massaging her hips as he leaned in and planted a kiss on her ear. Tremors of pleasure shimmied under her skin, and Maddy felt herself pulled further and futher under by the fantasy of the three of them.
    Could she really have it all? Could she risk her heart on two men, not just one? They wanted to try it. They wanted to be with her. But what if it didn't work out? What kind of terrible fallout would knock her life off its course?
    Sam's fingers snaked their way under her t-shirt, sliding against her stomach, traversing the soft skin