She nodded, still hanging onto Zack. "Yeah. I was sad and lonely. Waiting for you to come home and then you phone and tell me you're in Washington with Zack and 'it's all good'. Well, I wasn't in Washington and I didn't know what the hell that meant. I was home all by myself, worried and depressed and crying."

"Sweetheart." He touched her cheek. "I'm so sorry. I just wanted to fix things. For you. For us. I didn't know how it was going to go. I wasn't sure I had the right to ask Zack not to leave, to give up something he loves so much." He paused. "You two have talked?"

"Yeah. Some. But I think all three of us better have a conversation and make sure we're on the same page. I almost had a heart attack when I thought I'd told Zack you loved him before you had."

Aidan blinked.

"I was fucking around with her." Zack smiled.

"Okay." Aidan shook his head, lips quirked. "Let me go change. I've been wearing this suit for two days." He grimaced.

"Yeah, me too," Maddie said. "I mean, I haven't worn this suit for two days, but I want to change."

"You look hot in that suit," Zack said. "And those shoes. But go ahead, change into something more comfortable. Like maybe a sexy little nightie. Or a corset and garters belt and stockings."

She gaped at him, then laughed. "A corset and garter belt does not sound comfortable. Also, I do not own a corset and garter belt."

"We'll have to change that." He lifted her off his lap to stand and patted her butt. "I'll get out my black leather pants and gloves. And my whip." He waggled his eyebrows.

Her eyes widened. "Black leather pants and gloves? Really?"

"I used to have some," he admitted. "Don't any more. Although I'm sure there's somewhere in town I can pick up a few things. The outfit can really help set the scene."

Her eyelashes fluttered and her lips parted. He smiled, knowing he'd intrigued her.

"I'm picturing it." She touched his jaw. "Hot."

"I agree," Aidan said. "Definitely."

"For now, go put on your yoga pants," Zack said. "Those are sexy too."

She laughed. "They are not. But that's what I'm going to wear."

"You're sexy no matter what you wear."

She smiled at him and it was like her smile filled his chest with light and warmth. He smiled back at her.

She and Aidan went to their room to change. Zack had taken his bag into the other room, but had hesitated. How was this all going to work? He had no fucking clue. Not only had he never really had a relationship with one other person, he sure as hell had never had a relationship with two people.

He went to the fridge for a beer. Aidan came back first, in faded jeans and an old T-shirt, barefoot. Zack reached into the fridge and then handed him a beer too. They eyed each other.

"Did you get her calmed down?" Aidan asked quietly. "Or was she okay when she got home?"

"She was okay." More warmth and light hit him remembering how she'd flown at him. "She's amazing."

"Yeah. I know. That's part of this deal, man. We look after her. No matter what."

"I know. I've got some time and some shit to make up for."

They poured Maddie a glass of wine and when she came out dressed in her yoga pants and a tank top, they all went out on the balcony and sat in the evening sun to talk.

"He's thinking of staying," Maddie told Aidan. "For good, right?" She looked at Zack.

"Not saying I'll never travel again. But yeah."

"And you'll stay here with us."

"If you'll have me."

"Want this to be your home," Aidan said quietly. "A place you can hang your pictures. Even if you travel, you'll come back here."

Zack nodded. He wanted that too.

"We need a bigger bed. King size." Aidan met Zack's eyes. "Unless you don't want to sleep with us."

Zack swallowed. "I do."

"When it comes to sex, you're in charge," Aidan said, as if he was negotiating a business deal. "But other than that, we're a team. All three of us are equal partners."

Zack nodded, his throat going tight again. He'd never felt good enough to be an equal partner for someone. In the bedroom or in the dungeon he was in charge. Outside...well, he liked the way that sounded. Partners. He'd do anything for them. "Not good at relationships," he admitted. "I'm too much of a selfish bastard. But I want to try."

"You're not a selfish bastard," Maddie protested. "Look at all the things you've done for the family of that missing journalist. For all the other families. The time you spent online, the fundraiser you want to have to help him. And look at how you are with us. Yes, you're in control, but you aren't just taking. You're giving. Giving us exactly what we need, always making sure we're okay, waiting to get your own satisfaction. That's not selfish."

"When you take control, it's not taking something away from me. You're giving me something," Aidan added.

Zack let their words sink in to his consciousness. Maybe they were right. Maybe he wasn't a complete asshole. Maybe he could have this.

Zack nodded. "I always thought if I wanted to be true to myself, to have the kind of sexual relationship I want-where I can be dominant and in charge, where I don't have to choose between male or female-I'd never have any relationship. So I pretty much fucked up any chance of that ever happening. But now...maybe I can be true to myself and at the same time meet someone else's needs. Maybe I can make you two happy."

"Zack." Maddie reached out and took his hand, then set her wine glass on the table and grasped Aidan's hand. "Let us make you happy too. We all need each other and none of us are going to be satisfied unless we're all together."

She was not wrong.

________.

Maddie sat in the middle of the bed, Zack on one side of her, Aidan on the other. She closed her eyes and let her head drop back as they each sucked on a nipple. Pleasure streaked from her breasts to her pussy, converging in an unrelenting ache. With a hand on each of their backs, her fingers curled so her nails dug into their flesh.

They lifted their heads simultaneously and she opened her eyes to see their mouths joined in a long, hot kiss in front of her. She watched their lips move, their tongues sliding together as they kissed again and again, so close to her she could see every whisker, every eyelash, the slickness of their mouths.

So beautiful. She rubbed her hands up and down their backs.

They drew apart and looked at her and she smiled.

"We're all together," she whispered. "Really together."

Zack's lips lifted into a smile and he leaned in to kiss her. "Yeah. Really."

"Finally." Aidan kissed her too.

Yes, finally. It had taken a long time, but things happened for a reason. The people they'd become were open enough to admit what they all needed, brave enough to give it to each other...and strong enough to accept it.

She waited for Zack to direct things. Like Aidan had said, in the bedroom he was in charge. But to her surprise, Aidan spoke. "I want to fuck you."

He was looking at Zack.

Zack sucked in a sharp breath and his eyes met and held Aidan's. "Yeah?"

Aidan gave a short nod, his hand rubbing over Zack's shoulder. "You like that...don't you?"

Zack grabbed Aidan's face with both hands and gave him a fast, hard kiss. "I fucking love that." He nipped Aidan's bottom lip. "But I'm still in charge."

Aidan's eyes gleamed and Maddie smiled.

"Lie down, Maddie," Zack directed her. "On your back."

She slid down and reclined against the pillows, her body pulsing.

Zack shifted and grabbed the condom he'd set on the bedside table, next to the bottle of lube. He handed it to Aidan. "Put this on me."

Aidan bent his head as he did as ordered, his fingers steady as he rolled the latex down over Zack's straining cock. He fondled Zack's balls and trailed his fingers up Zack's chest. Their eyes met again. "You want me to wear one too?"

Zack's lips parted. She watched his chest lift and fall with his deep breath. "Your decision," he finally said. "I trust you. You and Maddie have been together a long time. You know your history. You don't know mine."

Maddie's eyes moved between them and she reached a hand out to set it on Zack's thigh. "We need to deal with this. Not now. Not tonight. Tonight we all use condoms. Tomorrow we talk."

Both guys nodded and Zack handed Aidan a condom. Aidan's lips tightened, but he suited up. Then, with a dirty smirk, Zack handed Aidan the bottle of lube.

Aidan's smile in reply was equally dirty.

Maddie's heart exploded into a rapid rhythm and heat swept from her hairline to her toes. Watching her two guys together like this, confident and accepting, brought her near to tears with joy.

Breaking eye contact with Aidan, Zack turned his attention to her. His smile gentled as he moved over her. "Gonna fuck you, baby. While Aidan fucks me."

Her pussy squeezed hard. Her gaze moved from Zack's face to Aidan's behind him. Aidan gave another nod and a tender smile.

Zack kissed her, his mouth firm and hot, his tongue sliding against hers. "So sweet, baby. I love you."

"I love you too." Her breathing had gone short and choppy with excitement.

He kissed her cheek, her jaw, the side of her neck, then reached down between them for his cock.

She lifted her head to watch the head as he slicked it up and down through her wet folds where she was aching and burning for him.

"So wet." Zack probed at her entrance. "Love this tight, hot pussy."

His words inflamed her even more. She moaned as he eased inside her inch by inch, until he was fully seated. Flames licked over her body, heat spiraled through her and every nerve ending tingled.

He stretched out over her, sliding a hand down to pull her thigh higher against his hip, his mouth on hers, his other hand on the top of her head. Her hands framed his face, his stubble rough against her palms. Their eyes met in a shower of sparks, pausing in a moment of connection and beauty, then drifted closed as their mouths met in deep, reaching kisses.

"Okay, Aidan." Zack lifted his mouth but didn't look away from her. "Fuck me now."

Oh god.

Zack smiled into her eyes. "Felt your pussy squeeze me when I said that. It makes you hot, doesn't it?"

"Yes."

She heard Aidan snap open the bottle of lube, and felt the bed move as he knelt behind Zack. Zack drew in a sharp breath as Aidan touched him. Maddie swiped her tongue over her bottom lip and swallowed. Her gaze moved past Zack to Aidan, his expression tight and focused on where he was entering Zack.

Zack's cock swelled inside her and his head lifted. His jaw tight, he gritted out, "Oh yeah."

"Okay, Zack?" Aidan stroked his back.

"Yeah." He paused. "Been a while."

Aidan slowly worked his way inside. Zack's body shuddered against her and he buried his face in the side of her neck, one arm around the top of her head, the other on her jaw. She slid her hands into his thick curls and held his head.

"There," Aidan said in a low, hoarse tone. "There. You've given us so much. Want this for you. Want you to feel good."

"Fuck." Zack opened his mouth on the side of her neck. "You have no idea..."

They were all joined, so close, throbbing together in almost unbearable pleasure. She sensed they were both holding themselves motionless, fighting for control. Bliss flowed through her veins, hot and sweet.

"Do it," Zack groaned. "Fuck my ass."

He started to move inside her, rocking his hips into her, pushing back against Aidan. Aidan picked up the rhythm, one hand on Zack's back, the other holding his hip.

"It feels so good." Maddie stretched a hand out to find Aidan's strong thigh. "I feel you both. Oh my god..."

"Both...fucking...you." Aidan's hands ran up Zack's back and curled over his shoulders as his thrusts grew harder. "Love you, Maddie. Love you both."

Zack made a noise against her neck that almost sounded like a sob and she petted him, the nape of his neck, his hair, his shoulders.

Aidan pushing into Zack where he pressed against her clit had pressure building fast and hard inside her. The hot throbbing glow intensified, spreading through her body. She burned, sensation coiling inside her, twisting up into a tight, exquisite point of pleasure that burst into a million sparkling pieces. She cried out, her body trying to arch up but unable to beneath the weight of her two men.

"Sweet baby," Zack mumbled against her skin. He stroked her hair. "Gonna come too."

"And me." Aidan pumped faster. "Christ. Unbelievable..."

Zack's body went taut and still against her and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and held on tight. His groans of pleasure filled her ears, her body still pulsing, and then she came again, shocking her. This orgasm was softer, ripples of pleasure, a second sweet tingling climax.

She dragged her eyes open to watch Aidan's face as he came, his mouth open, jaw clenched, eyes squeezed shut. The tendons in his neck stood out and he shouted, holding himself still against Zack's ass.

"I love you," she choked out. "I love you both. So much."

Her eyes met Aidan's above Zack. The open adoration that blazed there was for her. But also for Zack. And that was perfect and right.

Her heart swelled with love. This was how it should be, for them. Others might not comprehend. But they both knew. Zack was who they needed. He fit them together. And they fit him.