by Marla Monroe
Lamar began to rotate his hips as he shuttled his cock in and out of her. The slight movement prolonged her climax to the point of pain, but it was a delicious sort of pain. One she didn’t mind one bit. Then he was shouting her name and pouring his cum into the condom. She could feel the heat of it against her cunt as he filled the rubber. He leaned over her panting in her ear as he fought to breathe as well.
“Your pussy nearly sucked my fucking dick off.”
She smiled but couldn’t say anything yet. Her arms gave way under Lamar’s weight, and she turned her head just in time to keep from burying her face in the covers.
“Get off of her, Lamar. You’re going to suffocate her.” Brody’s chuckle made it obvious that he wasn’t seriously fussing at his brother.
Lamar got back up and carefully backed off her. As if his cock was the only thing holding her up, Caitlyn fell to the bed in a heap with her ass still in the air. She was sure she didn’t look very ladylike, but in that instant, she didn’t care. All that mattered right then was catching her breath and relaxing her muscles. They were still strung tight from her shuddering climax.
Brody pulled her body up the bed until she was lying prone with her head on his shoulder. He ran a finger up and down her arm. When Lamar came back to bed, he released his possessive hold on her and let his brother wrap a leg over hers. They both seemed to want to touch her.
“Caitlyn, what happened with your marriage?” Brody asked after a few minutes of silence.
She froze. What did she tell them? Somehow the truth seemed too much like a reality TV show. Still, it wasn’t in her to outright lie. She must have been quiet too long, because he tilted her head up so that he could look into her eyes.
“Nothing you can tell us will change how we feel about you, Caity. It’s okay.”
“I’m not sure where to begin. I married Harold thinking we were well suited for each other. I guess I thought it was love, but I figured out later that I didn’t really love him. Still, for better or for worse, you know.” She licked her lips and continued.
“Anyway, he was a medical supply salesman and was on the road a lot. I never once thought he would cheat on me. He was devoted to me to a fault when he was home. We rarely argued over anything. We just seemed right together.” She paused to gather her thoughts.
“Were you happy?” Lamar asked quietly.
“I thought I was. I realize now that I was fooling myself because I thought it was forever.”
“What happened?” Brody squeezed her shoulder.
“Several years ago I was ready to start a family. Harold wanted to put it off another year or two. We argued about it for several months, but then he changed his mind and agreed. He said he was just worried that financially we weren’t ready yet. I knew we were doing fine, so I didn’t think anything of it.”
Caitlyn thought back to that time and realized she should have suspected something was wrong by the about-face that he had pulled. He’d been too eager to get started, but she hadn’t seen it. She had been too excited about the idea of having a baby.
“After several months of trying and I hadn’t been able to get pregnant, I went to the doctor. He said that I had a tilted uterus but that with time I should be able to conceive. I was worried, but he had assured me that it was possible. We kept trying, but after another year, I felt like a failure, because I couldn’t manage to get pregnant. I was devastated. Harold was supportive and understanding. He talked about adopting and said maybe I just needed to relax and not focus on trying so hard. I really thought he understood and cared that I was upset.”
“Having a baby was important to you. Still, there are other ways. There’s artificial insemination. Did he even suggest that?” Brody asked in a strained voice.
“No, and at the time, I wasn’t thinking straight or I would have thought about it or gone back to the doctor and he probably would have gone over our options with us. A year later, I came home to find Harold there waiting on me. He looked different, worried. I thought at first he had lost his job when he told me he had something to tell me, that I needed to sit down. I felt my stomach drop to my toes. I knew it would be bad.”
She drew in a deep breath knowing it would be easier to say if she just spit it out. Still, she hesitated. She realized then that what they thought about what she had to say mattered to her. Would they think she was stupid for having not suspected something?
“He told me that he was married to another woman in another city. He’d been married to her when he supposedly married me. He said he had fallen in love with me but loved her, too and couldn’t give either of us up at the time. I never suspected that he was already married. Nothing pointed to it.”
“The bastard!” Lamar rose up on his elbow and stared down into her eyes. “He used you, Caitlyn. You trusted him. Don’t beat yourself up over not knowing.”
“There’s more. He hadn’t planned on telling me ever, but his real wife found out he was seeing me and threatened to take away his son and daughter. Finding out that he had children with her hurt just as much as finding out that I had never been married to the bastard in the first place. I spent five years of my life living with him without being married. I just stared at him. I couldn’t believe it. Then he told me the rest of his news. He’d had a vasectomy right after his daughter was born. It had never been my fault that I couldn’t conceive at all. He let me think that for years.” Tears formed in her eyes. She wiped them away.
Why it felt like only yesterday that she’d learned the news, Caitlyn didn’t know. It felt fresh again, but somehow telling them lessened the sting this time.
“I hope you turned him in for bigamy. He deserves to go to jail.” Brody had stiffened up all over.
“I couldn’t do it. I thought about his kids and just couldn’t do it to them. They would have ended up the ones to suffer for it in the long run. Plus, I just wanted to forget all about it. I wanted it to all just go away.”
“Honey, you know that none of it was your fault, don’t you?” Lamar wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
“I can’t help but think that I should have suspected that he was cheating on me at the very least. A woman should sense those things. Except for my inability to get pregnant, there had never been any stress between us. He didn’t make secretive phone calls or go out late at night. He was gone a few nights a week, but he had hospitals that he visited all over the state.”
“Stop it. You’re not to blame and women don’t always know. It doesn’t mean you were to blame or that you deserved any of it.” Brody pulled her farther onto him so that she was almost draped across his chest. “I don’t want you to think about it anymore. It’s in the past. This is now, and Lamar and I care about you and want a chance at proving to you that we are serious.”
“Don’t you see? I’ve just gotten out of a bad situation. I can’t think about getting into anything serious right now. It’s too soon.” She slid off of him and sat up.
“It’s too late, Caity. You already are. We’re serious about you, serious about a relationship with you, and I’m not giving up,” Lamar said.
Chapter Eleven
Both men sat up next to her. They didn’t try to touch her. For that she was grateful. She needed some distance while she calmed back down. Only Lamar’s words were far from soothing to her already troubled mind.
“I should go.” She started to scoot to the bottom of the bed to get out.
Brody stopped her by wrapping an arm around her waist. “Whoa. You’re not going anywhere ’til we finish talking.”
“We are finished. I knew better than to get involved, but I did it anyway. I mean, what’s one more affair. I just came off of a five-year one.”
“Stop it right now, Caitlyn. I’m not going to let you belittle yourself. You had no idea what was going on. That’s final.” He turned to Lamar. “Go run a bath, Lamar. She needs something to help her relax.”
Lamar nodded and slipped off the bed to pad quickly toward the bathroom. Brody
pulled her closer to him, burying his face in her hair.
“A bath isn’t going to change my mind, Brody. I need to go before we all do something that makes it even harder.”
“Makes what harder?”
“My leaving when the time comes. I’m moving to Austin, Brody. I’ve already told you that I’m not going to live this close to Brian. I love him, but we would drive each other crazy.”
“We aren’t asking for forever right now, Caitlyn. All we’re asking for is a chance to get to know you and show you how serious we are. I know you can’t see it right now, but we belong together.”
“See, that’s what I’m talking about. You’re talking forever or something, and I can’t give you that.”
“Just forget about forever and concentrate on the here and the now.”
“What about me? Don’t you think that it’s going to hurt me to get more involved with you and then leave in a few weeks?”
“So you’ll throw away the possibility of something wonderful because you’re scared you’ll get hurt?”
“Hurt again, Brody. It’s too soon for me. Can’t you understand that?”
Lamar walked back into the bedroom. He looked from her to Brody and back again.
“I’ve got the bath ready, Caity. Come on. You’ll feel better after you’ve relaxed for a while.”
She closed her eyes for a few seconds, and then scooted off the bed when Brody released her. She followed Lamar to the bathroom and let him help her slip into the welcoming water. The tub was big enough for three, but only Lamar got in with her. Brody didn’t even come into the bathroom.
Lamar pulled her into his arms. She leaned back against him, using his chest as a pillow. He didn’t say anything at first, but after a few minutes, he began to talk.
“Brody and I have been looking for someone to share our life with for a long time. He had about given up on finding anyone but kept looking for my sake. I refused to give up. I could tell that he had lost hope, though. Then you ran into that ditch and I saw interest in his eyes for the first time.”
“Lamar…”
“Wait, Caitlyn. He cares about you more than I would have believed so soon after meeting you. I knew almost immediately that you were the one for us. I know you’re not ready for anything long term yet. I get that. He will, too. Just give him time. When the time comes for you to leave, we’ll drive to Austin and see you as often as we can. Just give us the chance to court you. Eventually, one day you’ll be ready for more.”
She mulled his words over in her head. Could she do that, date them for a while and see where it took them? Was her heart strong enough not to succumb to their charm and charisma? If she fell for them and it didn’t work out, it would break her heart. She didn’t think she could stand much more heartbreak.
Caitlyn sighed and tried to measure her words. She wasn’t sure if she was making the right decision, but she’d already come this far with them. She admitted to herself that if they stopped seeing each other now, she’d still be hurt. She was already emotionally invested in them even after only a few days. She didn’t know how it had happened, but it had.
“I can’t promise you forever, Lamar, but I will give you a chance. It’s the best I can do. If you’re still interested by the time I move, then we can talk about dating.”
Lamar squeezed her. “That’s all we’re asking.”
They soaked there for several more minutes until the water began to cool. Then Lamar helped her out and dried her off. They walked into the bedroom to find it empty. Brody was gone. She wondered if he had left the house entirely or if he was downstairs. Somehow the idea that he’d walked out bothered her. If she were honest, she’d admit that it hurt.
They dressed with Lamar hindering her more than helping her. She had to smile at his playful nature. He and Brody were the exact opposites. Where Lamar was lighthearted and relaxed, Brody was stiff and serious. The fact that she had seen him relaxed and in a playful mood reiterated that he was serious about her. She was sure he didn’t let down his guard with many people.
When they got downstairs, she was disappointed not to see him waiting on them. Lamar didn’t seem worried. He led her back to the office and there he was, going over what she’d already accomplished. He looked up when they walked into the room.
He shot a glance at Lamar and seemed to lose some of his stiffness. She guessed that Lamar had somehow reassured him.
“You’ve managed to get a lot done in just a little while.”
“Not really. All I did was start to organize everything. I still need to try to get your books set up on the computer so you can enter them directly into the program and stop trying to use books and journals. It will be easier on you in the long run because the computer can sum everything for you. It will also give you reports to let you know how you’re doing financially.”
“It sounds complicated,” Lamar said.
“It’s not. I’ll show you, but I’ve got to get back to work. I won’t have much time to work on them.”
“What about tomorrow? I know that Brian and them aren’t planning on going in to work the store.” Brody watched her face.
“Um, I’m supposed to go with Tish and her maid of honor to the spa tomorrow morning. Um, after that I suppose I could work on them.”
“You’ll enjoy that,” Lamar said.
“Afterward will be good. Why don’t you bring some things over with you to stay the night?” Brody didn’t look at her this time.
“Don’t forget they have dinner tomorrow night at the house.”
“I guess that would be a good idea. I had planned to stay at a hotel for the night.”
“There’s no need for that. Stay with us. You can work on the books while you’re here.” Brody gave a half smile.
“We can all go to the ceremonies together.” Lamar grinned as well.
She knew she was going to cave. All it really took was the little half smile on Brody’s face to convince her.
“Okay. I’ll stay with you guys. It’s probably the only way Brian will be satisfied with me not eating with them tomorrow night. I don’t want to be in the way.”
“We’ll go pick up your clothes in a little while. Don’t forget you need to bring your dress for the ceremony as well.” Lamar squeezed her shoulder.
“Move out of the way, Brody. I need to get back to work.” Caitlyn shook her head and walked around the desk to push him out of the way.
He vacated the desk chair without a fuss. They positioned themselves on either side of her to watch what she was doing. They worked like that until five that afternoon. Brody finally called a halt to it, reminding them they needed to go get Caitlyn’s clothes.
“I wonder if they will be home yet.” She had a key to the house but hoped the others would be around. She needed to tell Brian what she planned to do.
They arrived at her brother’s house only to find that they hadn’t returned yet. She used her key and hurried to her room to pack a few things in the overnight case. She carried it and her dress downstairs. Lamar immediately took both from her.
“I’ll go put this in the truck. Do you want to call him and tell him you’re staying with us or leave a note?”
She grimaced. She supposed leaving a note would be the cowardly thing to do. She should call him. By the time Lamar had returned, she had made up her mind to call. Brody had been quietly waiting on her to make up her mind. Now he smiled at her, nodding his approval. That made her feel good, much to her chagrin.
She walked into the kitchen and pressed speed dial on her cell phone and waited for him to answer.
“Hey, sis. What’s up?”
“Hey, um, you don’t have to worry about me tomorrow night. I’m going to stay with Brody and Lamar until after the wedding. I’ll go with Tish Friday morning and then come back here to work on their books. We’ll go to the weddings together.”
“I’m glad you three are getting along so well. They’re good men. You’re still invited to dinner tomorrow. You’r
e family, Caitlyn.”
“Thanks, Brian, but I’m going to let you three do your thing. I would only put a damper on the, um, festivities.”
“You’re sure you’ll be okay there?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine. Don’t worry about me. Just enjoy yourself.”
They said goodbye and Caitlyn hit end on the phone. She shoved it back in her pocket. There was no going back now. She hoped she had made the right decision. She had already decided that her heart was in more danger than she had thought. She would need to shore up her defenses to be sure she didn’t lose her heart.
“Ready to go now?” Lamar interrupted her thoughts.
She smiled and nodded. They locked up the house and drove back down to their house. She wasn’t sure how to act now that they were back. It was all still new to her, this relationship that they insisted they had with her.
“I’m going to fix dinner. Why don’t you and Brody relax and watch TV while I put something together?”
“I’ll help,” she said.
“No need. I already know what I want to cook. I’ll have it ready in no time.” Lamar shook his head.
“Come on. Lamar doesn’t like anyone in the kitchen when he’s cooking.” Brody took her hand and pulled her toward the couch.
They sat down and Brody grabbed the remote. He flipped through channels until he found something to watch. She only half listened as she mulled over what she had agreed to. After a little while, Brody interrupted her thoughts.
“You’re not watching TV, Caity. What are you thinking so hard about?”
She hesitated in telling him, but decided he needed to know that she still wasn’t comfortable with getting so involved with them.
“I’m worried that someone is going to get hurt. Long-distance relationships rarely if ever work.”
“It will be okay. You’ll see. Now don’t think about it anymore. I don’t want you stressing over it. Let us doing the worrying if any worrying is going to happen.” He squeezed her around the shoulders and kissed her cheek before settling back into the TV show.
