A Life Beyond Us novel · Chapter 19 of 24

Chapter 19: Nobody Sleeps

Bridget drove the desk woman back to the Lodge and texted that she was sleeping at the hospital.

It was her way of leaving the house to us.

The three of us stood in the front hall at midnight with the door shut behind us, still in our good clothes.

Nobody turned on a light.

My ears were ringing from the ballroom.

My hands were not steady, and it had nothing to do with fear.

"I can't sleep," Hugh said.

"No."

"I don't want to sleep."

Tom was leaning on the wall by the coat hooks, with his tie pulled loose.

"Neither of us does," he said. "Go on, Maura. You say."

I looked at them both.

Everything I had held in since the car and Tom's mouth at my ear rose in me at once.

"Bedroom," I said. "Both of you."

I didn't hear them follow.

I didn't have to.

In the dark of the room I switched on the lamp and turned around.

They had come in side by side, and they stood just inside the door, waiting for me.

"Hugh," I said. "Sit on the bed."

He sat.

"Tom. Take your shirt off."

Tom's fingers went to the buttons.

I took my time.

I stood in front of Hugh with my back to the lamp, reached behind me, and drew down the zipper.

The green dress slid down my hips and onto the floor.

Hugh's breath left him in a long, shaky exhale.

"Look at me," I said. "Not the floor."

He lifted his eyes and kept them on me while I unhooked my bra and let it fall.

"You said you were going to take this off with your teeth," I told Tom, without turning.

"I did."

"You're late."

His laugh was low and rough.

Then he was at my back, warm skin against my bare shoulders.

One hand lay flat on my stomach, and his mouth found my neck.

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