Beauty Awakened

by Allyson Lindt

  That night was Nathan’s first big chance to tell Tara the truth. The first hint it was going to impact their lives in more than just a passing way. The first time he decided now wasn’t the right time.

  So much had happened since then, but that first day all rushed back as if it were last night.

  This date was about a type of reset. That was why she wanted to come here, and these feelings reinforced her decision.

  Nathan’s arm around her waist was enticing. She focused on his touch, and it blanketed the past.

  “Our booth is free,” he whispered in her ear.

  “My lucky night.” She meant it. She leaned more of her weight into him as they cut across the room.

  He slid into the bench seat and pulled her down so her legs draped over his lap. Pressing against him sent familiar shivers up her spine, in the best way. She could sink into this sensation—his heat, his touch, his scent—over and over and never get tired of it.

  “Are you going to tell me a story?” she asked.

  He drew a finger along her bottom lip, and she parted her mouth in a silent gasp. “I’m not sure you’re in the right mood,” Nathan said.

  Busted. “I’m close. The story will help.” She scooted to sit more on his lap, and brushed her lips over his. “Weave me a sexy tale.”

  “Are you sure?” He brushed his thumb over her cheek.

  The light contact and his concern erased more of her ill-ease. “I’m positive.” She dragged a nail down his chest.

  He groaned and shifted his weight under her, his semi-hard erection digging into her thigh. “It all started with a kiss.” He caught her earlobe between his teeth and tugged.

  “You make it sound so simple.” Tara had her memories of watching Nick kiss Nathan. The electricity that sparked between them. The need that coursed over her at the sight.

  Nathan shook his head. “It’s anything but simple. There was angst and uncertainty... mine and his.” He glided a hand up the inside of her thigh. “A lot of anticipation.” He danced his fingers along the crease where leg met hip. “And a couple of nervous jokes about it being his first time.”

  “I’m sorry I missed that.” She’d never been into gay male porn, but this was different. This was two men she lo— was intensely attracted to. Seeing them together the once was hotter than hell, and imagining it again... Her nipples strained against her bra and desire throbbed between her legs.

  “I’m sure you’ll have other chances.” Nathan untucked her shirt. He was hard beneath her.

  She liked the sound of other chances.

  He rested his palms on her bare stomach, then moved higher. “Once we got past the false bravado, there was a lot of hands-on.” He brushed over her bra.

  She gasped sharply at the jolt that raced through every inch of her body.

  “That sounded good.” Nathan nuzzled her neck and teased her nipples through lace.

  “I’m extra sensitive lately.” The hormone overload had at least one advantage.

  He slipped under her bra. The skin-on-skin contact tugged a cord that ran straight to her core. His playful touch, combined with the way he sucked on her neck, pushed her close to orgasm.

  He’d gotten to third base, and it was about to get her off. She’d never had such an intense reaction to making out before. Was it because she was so much more sensitive now, or because she’d missed Nathan intensely?

  Both. She whimpered with each shift and touch, pressing into him.

  “I want more. I need the full experience.” Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears. “More than we can do here without drawing a lot of negative attention.”

  “What do you suggest?” Nathan’s question hummed against her skin.

  She saw two choices—head to his hotel or to the apartment. The hotel meant no Nick, and that Nathan wouldn’t be spending the night in their bed.

  She didn’t like giving up either of those things. Despite her resolve to keep him out of the house until he made his decision about the baby, it was too hard to have him here, and think about letting him go.

  And while she loved having Nathan back, she hadn’t gotten this kind of welcome back with Nick. Was she being greedy?

  They were both a part of her life now. If this continued—Christ she hoped it continued—she’d have time with each of them alone, and both of them together.

  “Bella?” Nathan nuzzled her neck.

  She should tell him what she was thinking. “Someplace we can get naked super darn quick. Your hotel.. The apartment...”

  “Do you have a preference?”

  She did, but she wanted him to make this call. “Nick is back at the apartment.”

  “Apartment it is.”

  Desire sang through her veins. Sure, she’d have to deal with Nathan leaving in the morning. But tonight, she could have the world.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Nick was working in the living room.

  Sort of.

  He’d started out trying not to think about where Tara and Nathan were. Failed experiment. His mind drifted back to them no matter how he tried to distract himself.

  Sure, it was just dinner, but they’d missed each other. Nick didn’t have any illusions or problems with that. Odds were high their night would end with sex.

  There should be jealousy with that thought. Instead, Nathan was picturing it in so many ways, his pulse hammered in his ears—Tara, sexy and unrestrained, naked and writing in pleasure. Nathan, gorgeous, cut and hard—body and cock—lavishing her with attention.

  Nick stroked his semi-hard cock through his slacks. He was tired of fighting the teasing images. His eyes fluttered half-shut, and he leaned back into the couch cushions. Did he want to take care of this aching erection? Would concentrating be any easier after?

  The door clicked open, dragging him from the decision. Tara and Nathan’s voices drifted upstairs.

  He didn’t expect them to come back here. Not with the way Tara put her foot down about Nathan staying. Their presence didn’t detract from his arousal.

  They walked into the living room. Tara’s face was flushed, probably from the cold, possibly desire as well. A few strands had come loose from her braid, but it was mostly intact. She wore the foxy, playful grin that always sent Nick’s pulse into overdrive.

  Nathan stood behind her, one hand at her waist, under her untucked blouse. His lips were swollen and so were hers, as though they’d been making out.

  In the few seconds it took for Nick to assess the situation, his mind ran rampant with a billion fantasies about what they’d gotten up to so far. Every option made him harder, until his cock ached. “How was dinner?” He forced his voice to stay steady. Barely.

  “Good.” Nathan wore a smirk. “But we thought we’d come back here for dessert.”

  “Do you want to join us?” Tara asked.

  Fuck, did he ever. “Are the two of you on the menu?”

  Tara’s playful grin grew. “That’s the implication.”

  Nick slammed the lid shut on his laptop, crossed the room in a few short strides, and pressed his body to Tara’s.

  She tugged the short strands of hair at the base of his neck, and crushed her mouth to his. Her hip ground into his erection. She broke away with a gasp. “Someone got started without us.”

  “I don’t blame him.” Nathan dropped his hand to brush Nick’s dick. “We started earlier too.”

  “I was building my own version of what the two of you were up to,” Nick admitted.

  Tara kissed up his jaw to bite his earlobe. “You do have a vivid imagination.”

  “Care to share what you were thinking?” Nathan asked.

  Talking and storytelling were fun, but Nick was in the mood for something more physical. “I’d rather make it a reality.”

  The three of them stumbled into the bedroom in knot of limbs, gropes, and desperate kisses. Nick couldn’t get enough.

  “Were you a removed third party in this fantasy of yours?” Tara asked Nick.

 
“It was about the two of you, so yes. Complete, unseen voyeur.”

  “How was that?” She turned to Nathan and crushed their mouths together.

  Nick kissed along the back of her neck while he undid her blouse. His fingers scraped Nathan’s chest with each twist of a button. “Turns out I’d rather be hands on than sitting on the sidelines.” He pulled her top off and tossed it aside.

  “You just don’t appreciate the beauty of watching,” Nathan yanked off his own shirt.

  Tara pushed him back onto the bed, straddled his legs, and dipped her head to kiss up his bare chest. “That sounds like a request.”

  Nick stripped off his clothes, and his cock sprung free, eager for release. He unbuttoned Tara’s jeans and slid down the zipper as she worked her body down Nathan’s.

  “It’s never off the table with me.” Nathan unhooked her bra. He slid the straps down her arms.

  The instant she was free of the lingerie, she twisted her hands, wrapped the elastic around Nathan’s wrists, and tied him to the bedpost.

  Nick felt like he’d blinked, and missed the mechanics of how that worked.

  Tara dragged off the rest of Nathan’s clothes, then extracted herself from him. “You should watch for a while, then,” she said.

  Nick didn’t think he could be harder, but when she approached, letting her trousers drop to the ground with each sway of her hips, he discovered otherwise.

  Nathan watched, eyes wide and lips slightly parted.

  Tara molded her naked body to Nick’s. Fuck, this felt good. He captured her head, claiming her mouth. Biting her swollen lips. Licking down her neck to draw one nipple into his mouth.

  She gasped and pressed into him, gripping his hair and holding him tight.

  He lavished licks on the swollen nub until she was whimpering. She grabbed his wrist and brought his hands between her legs. She was soaked. With each new suck on her breasts, she ground into his fingers. She was fucking his hand with hungry abandon.

  Apparently it was possible for his dick to be jealous of his fingers.

  He spun her away from him, and dug his fingers into her hips. The curve of her soft ass teased his erection. When she shifted her weight, a drop of precum smeared along her fleshy behind.

  “Kneel on the bed,” he murmured against her ear.

  She did as requested, pointing her perfect ass in the air.

  He slid into her from behind Her pussy clenched around him at the sudden intrusion.

  Fuck, he wasn’t going to last long this way. He reached around to seek out her clit. When he brushed the protruding button, she arched back into him, and squeezed his cock tighter.

  Nick didn’t dare thrust or even move inside her. His head already swam with looming orgasm.

  He stroked her slit, using her whimpers and moans to drive him.

  She covered his hand and pressed harder.

  He loved everything about fucking her.

  When she spasmed around his shaft, screaming and grinding back into him, he let go of his own restraint. He pounded inside her as she came. Skin slapped against skin. Heat rose in his veins. His pulse hammered in his ears.

  When he climaxed, stars danced behind his eyes. He gripped her tighter, not easing up on the pace or the pressure until her screams of pleasure subsided, and he was spent.

  NATHAN’S DESIRE WAS cranked higher than should be physically possible. Watching Nick fuck Tara, the joy on her face when she came and the relief on his...

  If anyone touched Nathan, he’d probably come. He and Tara had played a little with restraints in the past, but being bound and seeing her with Nick was incredible.

  Tara crawled across the mattress, and up Nathan’s body. Her skin was flushed a stunning shade of pink, and her mouth was quirked in a wicked grin.

  Nathan was vaguely aware that Nick watched them, but he was mostly focused on Tara. Half her braid had come loose. Loose strands fell in messy locks around her face, and caressed his chest as she kissed her way up.

  When she pressed her lips to his, owned him, he fell into her.

  She hovered over his erection, her heat teasing him, but not making contact.

  He thrust his hips up, and she pulled away with a cluck. “Not until I say.”

  “Please?” He was willing to beg. Plead. Whatever she made him do, to feel her wrapped around him.

  “Hmm...” She dragged a nail down his chest. “What if I turned off the lights right now and we went to sleep?”

  Nathan’s chuckle was strained. “That’s up to you. I’d be disappointed.”

  “I don’t want that.” She lowered herself onto him one agonizing inch at a time.

  And then he was buried inside her. She was slick and warm, partly from her own arousal and partly because Nick had come inside her. That made the entire thing hotter.

  Tara rocked slowly against him.

  “No.” Nathan tried to keep his hips as still as possible.

  “Why not?”

  “Because if you do that, I’ll be done in about ten seconds.”

  Her evil smile grew. “That’s the point.”

  She straightened to ride Nathan, setting a fast, steady pace.

  Nick knelt next to her, kissing her hard. Massaging her breasts and twisting her nipples between his fingers.

  Tara moved her fingers back between her legs to play with her clit.

  When she climaxed, she squeezed him tight, milking him.

  Nathan couldn’t hold back. He grunted as he spilled inside her, coming hard.

  Things slowed to a stop, and he struggled to find his thoughts. They were lost somewhere in a fluffy cloud of ecstasy, floating out of reach.

  He still had to leave in the morning, but for tonight, he was going to stay wrapped in this buzz, and in Tara and Nick’s affection.

  TARA WAS GETTING TIRED of people pounding on the front door, especially when it woke her up. She swore they’d had more unannounced visitors in the last two months than the entire rest of the time they’d lived here.

  She extracted herself from Nathan and Nick. A happy ping squeezed her heart with the memories of last night, and the rightness of waking up between them.

  “Back soon. Don’t go anywhere,” she said, as she pulled on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved T-shirt.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Nathan’s voice was drowsy and sexy.

  Nick was more alert, watching her every move.

  The combination was perfect.

  A tiny smile played on her face as she headed downstairs. “I’m coming,” she shouted, smirking to herself at the phrasing, when someone pounded again.

  She unlocked the door and swung it open, and her grin froze on her face. “Mom.” Her pulse hammered in her ears as the entirety of the Christmas Eve fight rushed back in a single wave.

  “Hi a leanbh. Is now a good time?” She didn’t sound angry or judgmental.

  Tara stepped aside to let her mother in. “Yeah, come upstairs. I’ll make tea.” And if both Nick and Nathan were up, whatever this was would be over before it started.

  “Yes. Thank you.” Mom was uncharacteristically quiet as she headed up to the apartment with Tara.

  The sound of water running, and then tiny clinks greeted Tara as they stepped into the apartment. Her tension cranked until she worried something might snap. They reached the kitchen to find Nathan setting out cups and heating water in the kettle.

  Nick was nowhere to be found.

  Tara breathed a mental sigh of relief. She wouldn’t hide the relationship—she’d never made a secret of her lifestyle and wouldn’t start now—but she’d woken up in too good a mood to want to fight.

  Her mom smiled when she saw Nathan. “I’m so glad you’re back. We missed you at Christmas.”

  “I missed being there.” Nathan was all smiles and sweetness. He gave Tara’s mom a brief hug and kissed her on the cheek.

  Nick would be in the other room, listening to all of this. The fake formality. The underlying awkwardness in an exchange about missing
the biggest blowout fight the family ever had.

  Speaking of, all was not forgotten, and it was most certainly not forgiven. “What’s up, Mom?”

  Her mom looked at her again. “I’m sorry. I want to apologize, and find out how to make this right. I don’t want to go into the new year with this hanging over us. I hate having my babies mad at me. Your brother gives me the cold shoulder at the office. I haven’t seen you in a week. I hate the idea that you’ll never speak to me again. That I might never meet my grandchildren.”

  “I don’t think we’ve fallen that far yet.” Tara wished it was as easy as saying it’s all right. “I don’t want to fight either.” She dragged in a deep breath mixed with courage. “But you need to understand, this isn’t just a phase. Not for me. Not for Antonio. Not for the people we love.”

  Including the one listening in the next room. She was both terrified and comforted that Nick was in her thoughts with Nathan each time she thought Love.

  “I want to understand.” Mom took a seat. “If you could help me, I’ll listen. I’ll go back to your father and explain it to him as well.”

  Tara’s thoughts stalled. What was she supposed to say that she hadn’t already? She’s explained this up one side and down the other so many ways in the last few years.

  Nathan set the cups and tea on the table, and met Tara’s gaze.

  She read the question in his eyes without thinking about it. Do you want me to stay or go?

  She squeezed his hand, and he sat next to her.

  “I don’ know what you want to hear, Mom.” Tara would love to help her understand, but how?

  Her mother mixed honey and milk into her tea, and sipped. “I just can’t imagine loving anyone as much as I do your father. I can’t fathom sharing that love.”

  “And you don’t have to.” Tara could handle this part of the conversation, but it would lead them in the same circles it always did. “Just because I practice it doesn’t mean you need to. Every person is different.”