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Author’s Notes

For new readers or those looking at the realistic side of this relationship, I should provide a word that could help you understand what I am driving at. I say this because when I was discussing this concept of a story with a couple of writers who don’t write or understand Why Choose, I needed this word to help me, so I went on the hunt to find it.

I’ve spoken to a lot of dedicated polyamorous couples, and especially those where the female is the center of the relationship, and I find that there really is no jealousy. Now there is competition, but no actual jealousy, and I wanted to bring that love to light.

I love how they need one another and then need her in different ways. She isn’t just some tool or connection, but much, much more. And I love that Tori is so complex and knows she can never settle for one man, having realized that one man could never truly make her happy.

I love that I have created a perfect, delicious opportunity for her… let the games begin.

What draws you to Why Choose romances? I’d love to know.

As always, enjoy and happy reading. Your author, Sylvia Hubbard

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Chapter 9.2 The Threat

Tori stopped eating and glared at him. “You what?” she asked, gravely bawling her fingers into tight fists.

Kevin looked at her hand and had the nerve to smirk. “I told him,” he said as if it were obvious.

As hard as she could, she hit him in the chest, and he pretended it hurt.

“What in the hell was that for?” he asked, playfully pouting, but the smirk was all over his face, and the humor was dancing in his eyes. “I was doing you a favor. You should be kissing me, not hitting me, Tori.”

“I didn’t ask you to help me out. You had no right, Kevin! Oh my gawd! He hates me for sure.”

“It’s a fake marriage, Tori.” And he paused as if realizing something. “Oh, I get it.”

“You get what, you stupid lughead?”

“Since you wanted it to be real, you think this ruins your chances with Shawn?”

“Well, duh! Why would he want me after sleeping with both of his brothers? It’s called sloopy seconds.”

“It’s called compression,” he explained as if this were the simplest word. “When one desires the other to be happy, no matter what. If we can share a king-size bed most of our lives, we can share a woman.”

Tori hit him on his chest again. “I’m not some two-bit whore you guys can pass around, Kevin.”

“We never called you that. Matter of fact, you’re the only one calling yourself derogatory names, and I’d like you to stop that,” he ordered.

“We’re not in your bedroom, Kevin. You can’t order me to do any damn thing.”

“But I can put you over my knee and whip that negatively out of you to your bare bottom,” he threatened.

Why did her eyes travel to those big ass hands? “You’ve got thirty more minutes until you get out of my house, Kevin. What else is there to talk about?”

“Last night. I saw Norman come out, and I know he told you something.”

“He told me about his relationship with Shawn,” she revealed.

Kevin turned away, and since he was close to the box of chickpeas, he stole a large handful.

“I don’t like to share,” she pouted, closing the box so he couldn’t steal any more snacks.

“I know,” he said and moved over to the dining room set she hardly used. The chair protested under Kevin’s weight.

She closed her box and came over to join him, sitting on the other side of the table as he began to speak.

“It’s true about the relationship. Shawn and Norman met in medical school while Shawn was getting his mouth off our Momma’s tit and Norman was still reeling from the breakup with Malea. So Shawn kept their relationship on the down low, but another friend from medical school wanted to impress her strict Christian parents. Shawn didn’t mind the facade because he said it gave him greater access to Norman, and for a while, things were going great until Malea came back into their lives – well, Norman’s life. At the time, Shawn was practically running all of Norman’s practices, forsaking building his own clientele and making Norman look like the shit, plus a boatload of money. Shawn assumed all the money Norman was making was being put away for their life together. Norman lost his ever-loving mind over your sister and blew everything on her.”

“And was it all because of the money?”

“What money?” he inquired.

“Norman said Malea was using him like a bank account because Scott put her family in debt with all the gambling.”

“I don’t know about that part. Norman broke it off with Shawn only because of Malea. By this time, the business was suffering, and Norman had to give it up. Come to find out that his parents had initially bankrolled him and still retained rights to the buildings and equipment. So, when they discovered his relationship with Shawn, they refused to sell to him. Norman told them Shawn was a bitter ex. As for the hospital job, Norman had applied first, but I encouraged Shawn to apply as well to piss Norman off. We didn’t believe when Malea came on Shawn’s side because things weren’t working out with Norman, and she needed to make sure he didn’t get into the position.”

Tori took a mental moment to digest the information.

Kevin was watching her the whole time as if he could hear her thoughts.

“Shawn wanted to buy the business to get it back on its feet?”

“Yes, which Shawn would have done easily, and it was something we could all help with, which we wanted to do. Owning his own practice was his dream. Not only was it the main building, but it was three smaller locations, which we could turn into community centers for residents in poorer neighborhoods.”

She liked that idea and wished she could help somehow, but other concerns on the table needed her attention before she could dwell on that.

Occasionally, Tori glanced at him to shoot him a glare, which seemed to amuse him, but that wasn’t her point. She wanted him to understand she was clearly fucked.

“So at this point in the shit storm, you all know I slept with you and Duncan?”

“Yes,” he said, leaning back in the chair.

She would have to rethink getting new furniture if any of the brothers were going to be in her home.

“And none of you have a problem with it?”

“No, we don’t.”

His calm demeanor was confusing her. “Kevin, are you shitting me?”

He chuckled. “No, Tori. Shawn and Duncan are fine with it. Duncan was concerned I hurt you and was about to come over, but I let him know you stomped up the stairs after throwing something at me, so you weren’t broken… yet.”

She ignored the last part. “It’s not happening again with us.”

“Oh, but you’re going to give Duncan another round because of some beans?” he asked.

“That’s none of your business. And since I know Shawn at this point is off limits-“

He cut her off. “Who said that?”

“He can’t want to be with me after all this.”

“When I said compression, I meant all of us. We all want the best for each other. Shawn is still attracted to you. The pup wouldn’t stop talking about you all last night. How you’re funny and smart, and you have great feet. What the hell did he do to know you’ve got perfect pinky toes he wants to suck on?”

She flushed a deep red and was glad she had socks on, because his eyes looked in that direction. “But a relationship with Shawn is out of the question. He wouldn’t want his brother’s sloppy seconds.”

He growled. “Didn’t I tell you to stop talking negatively about yourself, Tori? That’s my last warning, princess. You aren’t sloppy seconds. Well, you do get a little sloppy the more you’re turned on.”

Blushing even more, she partially covered her face.

“Duncan was right about you getting really wet,” Kevin casually continued as if he were discussing the weather and used his big hand to shift his groin around. “But as far as used goods, you’re not even close. Plus, this is as close to being heterosexual as my little brother has ever gotten, and I’m not about to let you stop this life journey for him.”

Shocked, Tori questioned, “You’re encouraging a real relationship with him?”

“Hell, yes! My little brother can get whatever the hell he wants, and he wants you.”

Why did it feel like it could make sense when it was all insane?

“Are you still interested in being with him?” Kevin asked.

“I like him,” she admitted, flustered. “I had a really good time despite everything that happened.” It felt weird having a conversation about her desire for Shawn when she’d just had sex with his big brother. “Kevin, I don’t think discussing this with you is appropriate.”

“Who else are you going to discuss this with? Your sister?”

“Oh gawd! Malea can never know what I’ve had done!” she cried.

“She won’t. We don’t gossip, except between each other,” Kevin assured her. “But at any time, you can talk with us about this, Tori. I know this looks morally wrong, but in our eyes, it all feels right.”

Shaking her head like she was trembling because she couldn’t understand any of this. “It should have never happened, and I feel awful for what I’ve done.”

“Do you really?” he questioned skeptically. “I find that hard to believe when you are a willing participant, Tori.”

“And that’s what I can’t understand. I mean, I’m attentive to my sexual needs, and I just don’t sleep with anyone. I’m very picky and meticulous, but it’s like being around you all has made me overly horny. Gawd, my father would be so disappointed in me.” She gasped. “And we’ve had unprotected sex! You don’t know what I have, and I don’t know what you all have.” Tori hit her fist on her head. “I’m so stupid.”

Sympathetically, Kevin leaned forward and took her hands so she would stop hitting herself. “You aren’t stupid, Tori. Duncan saw your test results, which you printed out on your desk, when he was in your office.”

She flushed. “I printed that out for any upcoming dates in case-“

“No need to explain, but it showed your bloodwork results, which is why he freely decided not to use a condom on your second excursion.”

“Did he tell you everything that happened?”

“He was descriptive. I don’t think I’ve heard him say that many words since he was a tween and…” Kevin rolled his eyes in exasperation, and he huffed a deep breath before continuing. “I can assure you, we all got tested recently, and there’s nothing to worry about on our end. Are there any other concerns when it comes to our relationship?”

“There are a million questions. How is this so easy for you all to understand?”

“I told you. We enjoy seeing others happy and would do anything to make it happen. We learned that we’re better together than apart and have vowed to always be there for each other. The outside world can go to hell because no one saved us when we were little, so we don’t care how others judge us now.” He rubbed his finger over her ring fondly. “Duncan, Shawn, and I enjoy you in different ways, and you seem to be attracted to us in different ways. Why fight it?”

He made it all sound so simple and easy, but she knew there was so much more to it. Yet, he was right. Tori couldn’t talk about this with anyone except them. “I still can’t wrap my head around everything, but I think I need to concentrate on Shawn and me. You said he liked me, right?”

“He does, and it means a lot to Duncan and me that he’s showing some interest in women. He never showed any sexual interest, even to his wife.”

“Can I ask you one more question?” she asked hesitantly.

“Of course. That’s one of the reasons I’m here.”

“Did you have an interest in me when my father was dating my mother?”

“No,” he said disgustedly. “You were just a skinny little girl who was spoiled and very selfish to Duncan and me. We were more interested in Malea’s full hips and thick thighs.” His eyes moved down to hers. “Now that you’ve grown into your gorgeous womanly body, and you’re just this amazing complex woman, we’ve caught our attention.”

His lascivious looks were making her blush to the bone. “Kevin, we were just discussing Shawn and me.”

“Are there any more questions?” he asked impatiently.

“No, not at this time. I don’t feel guilty because you’re right, I really wanted to have sex with you and Duncan. I need to accept that I did it and it’s out of my system,” she proclaimed, yet why didn’t her body believe one word she had said?

___ *** ___

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Her Substitute Husband… His Brothers (c) 2025 Sylvia Hubbard All Rights Reserved

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