by Gina Kincade
“Don’t start that, Lea. You know what I mean,” he said, tugging her arm from around her legs and pulling her into his lap. She stilled as his hands landed on her sides, and she ended up straddling his hips. He cupped her face, and his gaze bore into her.
“I am sorry I wasn’t a better man before, Lea, but I do love you. I always have, but I love Josh too, and I think, given the chance, you could love us both.”
Her tongue slowly snuck out to wet her dry lips, “I’ve always loved you,” she admitted. “And I adore Josh... I can’t imagine how anyone couldn’t.”
Ty nodded. “Adore could lead to love, if you give this a chance. But, Lea, I will never pressure you, nor will Josh. I can’t guarantee if you say no that we will stop trying to seduce you or that I will give up flirting with you. But that’s just the kind of guy I am.”
“An unimaginable flirt?”
“Pretty much, however, the flirting will be contained to you and Josh. Always. I can promise you that.”
She nodded. “And you’re sure Josh wants this?”
“Josh wants this.” The deep-toned confirmation was accompanied by the wafting scent of bacon, toast, and eggs.
Setting her gaze on the still half-naked man standing at the side of the bed with a tray piled full of food, she studied him for a minute before nodding. “If you’re both sure, then I am willing to try,” she said, climbing off Ty’s lap and settling back in the center of the bed. Josh settled in next to her and placed the tray on her lap. She picked at the bowl of fruit and popped a grape in her mouth. Her gaze drifted between the two watching her. “What?” she asked.
“My thoughts are dirty, I’ll keep them to myself.” Josh grinned and snatched the bowl of fruit from her.
Ty chuckled, reaching for the bacon.
Chapter Nine
The next few days flew by. They spent their time exploring the city and showing Ty around. Malea booked them on a historical walking tour, and Josh set up a tour of the beautiful cemeteries. They went on what could only be described as dates. Going out to dinner and throwing themselves into the energy the Mardi Gras parades pumped into the air.
Malea grumbled as real life cut into her time with Ty and Josh. Rushing home from a meeting with her editor, she kicked the front door shut, said hello to her fur and feather boys, and then headed up the stairs. Tonight, Josh was going to be gracing Night Sinners once again with his sensual voice, and she was looking forward to hearing him sing again.
Ty’s door was open as she passed by. He lay on his bed, his foot bouncing to the music flowing through his room. His eyes were closed as she walked into the room and drew her fingernail along his denim-covered thigh. His lids popped open and his brow arched. Reaching for the remote lying next to him, he muted the volume on his stereo and sat up.
“How’d it go?”
She shook her head. “She wants the manuscript... I told her something is still missing. She wants to be the judge of that. But she did agree to give me an extension, to be determined after she reads what I have so far.”
“Well, that’s good news, right?”
She nodded, but the look in her eyes betrayed her. Ty reached for her, pulling her on top of him, just to roll over so she was pressed to the mattress and trapped by his hard body.
“Can I help take your mind off it?”
She smiled and gazed at him through hooded lashes. “What did you have in mind?”
His lips devoured hers, his tongue dipping deep into her mouth, tasting her with each rhythmic sweep. She moaned softly, his mouth capturing the sweet noise as his hands slid up her side, his finger grazing her flesh and pushing the hem of her shirt up, to rest just beneath her breast.
“Did that help?” he murmured against her kiss-swollen lips.
“Mmmhmm.”
He dropped his lips back to her flesh, bypassing her lips and teasing the exposed skin above her V-neck collar.
The front door closed and Josh called to them as he jogged up the stairs.
“I’m home.”
Ty barely lifted his mouth from Malea’s heated skin as he called back. “We’re in my room.”
Josh entered the room. Without missing a beat, he dropped onto the bed.
Ty lifted his head. “Malea’s stressed.”
Josh arched his brow, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to Ty’s lips, then turned his gaze on Malea. “What’s got you all stressed out, sweetheart?”
She waved a hand, trying to dismiss the concern. “Something still seems off with my novel... A connection is missing. I’ll get it figured out.”
“What did your editor say?” Josh asked.
“She told me to do what I need to, but she wants to read what I have so far and see if she can pinpoint what I am feeling with it. I got an extension on it.”
Josh smiled softly at her. “Can we help?”
“I was working on distracting her,” Ty rumbled, his lips dropping back to her neck to tease her sensitive flesh.
Josh dropped his head, kissed her tenderly, and stroked her cheek while resting his forehead against hers. “I gotta go grab a shower. If you’re up for it when I’m done, we can all grab dinner before heading to Night Sinners.”
“Mmm, sounds good.”
Josh pushed off the bed and started stripping his clothes off as he headed into the bathroom.
Ty captured her lips again as the shower started up.
Breaking the kiss, he arched a brow. “You need a better distraction.”
“You are more than distraction enough,” she assured him.
Pulling her with him, he stood from the bed with a sinful curl to his lips. “Maybe so, but I have an idea. You trust me, Lea?”
“Of course.”
And she did, but that didn’t stop her mind from wandering to things that made her nervous.
Cupping her ass, he lifted her against him, her legs wrapped around his waist. Ty made his way into the bathroom. Allowing her feet to hit the floor, he began undressing her. The glass door to the large, marble shower stall popped open, steam licked through the opening as Josh stuck his head out and watched Ty continue to strip her down.
“Mmm, am I going to get some company in here?”
Ty grinned and nodded. Once Malea’s shirt and bra had been discarded somewhere behind Ty and she had stepped out of her jeans and panties, long fingers wrapped around her arm and pulled her into the heated shower. Josh cupped her face with both of his warm hands and kissed her. The water rained down on them, slicking their naked flesh. Malea found her hands following the drops of water down Josh’s body. Her fingers grazed along the ridges and valleys that created his chiseled abdomen. Her hand stalled briefly before her fingers wrapped around the hard, heavy length of his cock. His hips jerked in her palm, and his kiss deepened.
Ty entered the shower, his cock jerking at the sight before him. Josh was being slowly stroked by Malea’s delicate hand, but he could see her nerves causing her to shake slightly. Ty moved behind her, pressing his own hard length into her backside. She groaned at the contact, and her gaze fell to where Ty’s hand joined her in caressing Josh.
Josh’s head fell back, and a low moan slipped past his full lips. Malea turned her face to capture Ty’s mouth, kissing him deeply as they stroked Josh closer to climax.
Malea released Josh and pulled back from Ty. Her gaze dropped in fascination as she watched Ty continue to caress Josh. Biting her lip, she suppressed a moan as the sight shot tendrils of heat and desire through her body.
Josh’s arm snaked out and wrapped around her waist. Pulling her to his side, his lips found hers, ravishing her mouth with deep sweeps of his tongue. She gasped as his hand grazed over her hip, and then lower to briefly cup her mound before his long fingers slipped past her folds and slid deep into her heated sheath. His thumb focused on her clit, sending spikes of pleasure through her body as he gently circled the bud of hypersensitive nerves.
Still kissing Josh as her body crested towards release, her hand struck out
. Grasping Ty’s hard shaft, she began caressing him towards a release of his own. Pulling back from her mouth, Josh let out a guttural groan that was swiftly followed by Malea’s body shattering at the overload of pleasure. A million tiny shards blasted fire through her veins. Her legs threatened to give way, but Josh held her tight to his side, his hand joining hers as they pushed Ty over the edge with them.
Heavy breathing filled the room as Ty stepped closer, wrapping his arms around both Malea and Josh and pushing them deeper into the hot spray of water.
“Fuck,” Malea breathed, still attempting to slow the thrumming of her heart and damn thankful the two men were supporting her. She was sure she’d be in a heap on the shower floor if not for the strong arms surrounding her.
Ty chuckled and pressed his lips to her forehead. “I second that,” he murmured.
Josh nodded. “I can’t think of a better word at the moment,” he said before cupping her chin, lifting her face to his, and kissing her once more, before moving his hand to stroke Ty’s cheek and leaning into kiss him deeply.
Chapter Ten
Sitting in a corner booth near the stage, Malea and Ty listened to Josh sing lead for Trent’s band. Jenna was behind the bar tonight, which left them alone in the dark corner. Malea’s body was full of electricity. The feel of Ty pressed against her side with his arm wrapped around her shoulder as they watched Josh command the stage was beyond anything she ever imagined would describe her life. Her fantasies couldn’t even begin to touch upon the way she felt being in his arms. For the first time in many, many years, the deep longing she’d always felt ebbed, and warmth replaced the cold she’d suffered due to her aching heart.
Her mind kept wandering back to the shower. What some would later regret as dirty or wrong still felt like perfection to her. What she missed and longed for over the years was nothing compared to what she really needed. These two amazing men—they were light and dark. Both so different. Where Ty was the playful joker, Josh was the more serious sweetheart. Yet the comment about being the sin to Ty’s saint made more sense after the shower. His fingers were wicked and tantalizing. Shivers danced down her spine just thinking of those long digits caressing her body.
“I felt that,” Ty whispered in her ear. “What are you thinking about?”
“I’m sure you know,” she admitted.
His fingers thrust through her hair, fisting it at the nape of her neck and turning her face to his. His lips found hers in the dark, kissing her tenderly. She moaned softly before dipping her chin to break the kiss.
“You can’t do this to me, not here.”
“Do what, Lea?” he asked with a husky rumble to his deep voice.
“You can’t get me all worked up in public... it’s not fair or nice.”
He chuckled, his breath fanning over her face and sending another lust-filled shiver down her spine. “Later then.”
“Later,” she agreed, setting her gaze back on the stage and the other piece to her newly found love life.
JOSH COULDN’T PULL his gaze from the corner booth that Ty and Malea sat cuddled at. All he wanted was to finish up this gig and drag them both back to the house. He’d felt Malea’s nerves when she first touched him in that shower. The way her beautiful eyes locked with his. Ty had been right. She was the missing link. She was perfect—beautiful, caring, giving, compassionate, and sweet to her very core. He’d hoped to explore her the moment his eyes found her sitting with Jenna that first night, and then knowing she was the Lea Ty always talked about... Well, it all just made sense. All the pieces were finding their place.
Josh smiled as his gaze locked with Ty’s briefly, and then drifted to Malea’s hooded gaze. She smiled as her pink little tongue snuck out to wet her lips. He grinned and shook his head as the move sent heat coursing through his veins.
The song ended and a slow beat filled the air, followed by Josh’s melodic rendition of Fall.
Malea looked to Ty in surprise. “This is a country song.”
Ty shook his head. “Not the way Josh sings it,” he said, lacing their fingers and pulling her from the booth.
Ty lifted her arms around his neck and locked his hands behind her lower back, embracing her as they swayed on the dance floor. Something that Josh had initially sparked in his heart flamed to life with Malea in his arms. What he had long denied and fought against was thriving in his soul as he gave into the love he was feeling. He fucking loved her.
Josh all but called him a coward for not admitting what he felt for Malea all those years ago, but as they moved and he caught Josh’s gaze over her head, he thanked God for his past. If not for all his mistakes, they wouldn’t be here now, and he wouldn’t have the two people who made him whole.
Malea lifted her face from his chest and studied him for a second. Her thumb brushed his cheek, drawing his attention back to her.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Like you don’t know.” He echoed her words from earlier.
She shook her head. “I don’t know... not for sure. So tell me. I want to hear it.”
“I’m thinking about the past, and you, and Josh, and the three of us.”
“That’s a heavy load.” Her voice almost sounded sad as she pasted a soft smile on her full, pouty lips.
“I’m sorry, Lea. I get now... that I hurt you before—”
She cut him off, shaking her head. “Don’t. You don’t have to apologize.”
“Leeaa,” he drew her name out, with an almost scolding tone. “Let me finish.”
She huffed. “Sorry.”
“I know I hurt you and that part, I am so sorry about. For the rest of my life, I will work to show you how sorry I truly am, that you had to suffer in any way because of me. But I can’t be sorry for where my choices have led me. If not for my past, I wouldn’t be here with you while we listen to Josh serenading us, and at the end of the night, all three of us will be together. The heart loves who it wants. For me, it loves both of you, and I am damn lucky for the connection between the three of us.”
Her eyes widened. “Oh my God,” she exclaimed, grabbing his face and kissing him quickly. “That’s it. I gotta go,” she said, rushing back to their booth to grab her coat.
Ty followed, dumbfounded. “What the hell, Lea? Where are you going?”
She turned and smiled brightly. “I get it now, the missing connection. I’m so sorry that I am totally bailing on you both, but I will see you at home.” She pecked his lips again and started for the door, but stopped and glanced over her shoulder to catch his stunned gaze. “I love you, too, by the way.”
The music ended as she weaved through the crowd. “Malea? Where do you think you’re going, sweetheart?” Josh called over the mic after telling the crowd they were taking ten.
Whirling around, she looked to the stage and the expectant gaze of her dark-eyed man.
“Sorry, baby,” she said, still backing up towards the door, smiling wickedly at him. “I found the missing connection.” She blew a kiss at him before turning back around and hurrying out the door.
Josh shook his head and watched her go before exiting the stage and making his way to Ty, who still stood by their booth, also watching her retreat.
“What was that about?” Josh asked as he stepped up next to Ty.
“I don’t really know. We were talking about everything leading up to today... and it was like a light switched on in her. Then I was suddenly standing alone on the dance floor, scrambling to catch up with her at the table.”
Josh shook his head. “She found the missing connection.” He repeated her words, his brows rising to his hairline. “I wonder what the hell she’ll be writing about tonight.”
Ty’s eyes widened. “Oh shit.”
Chapter Eleven
The house was dark when Josh and Ty finally returned home. It was now past four am. Josh had texted Malea to check in around one, and she said she was on a roll and for them to have a good time. Silence enveloped the dark hall and the second f
loor as the guys moved quietly through the house.
Stopping at Malea’s door, they peered inside. The lamp on her nightstand lit the room in a low glow. She was curled up on the bed with her laptop long asleep next to her. Making their way to her bed, Ty closed her computer and moved it to her desk. Josh shifted Malea to pull the covers back. Stripping down and kicking off his boots, Josh slid in next to her, pulling her back to his chest and kissing her neck lightly. She whimpered softly and rolled towards him.
“What time is it?” she mumbled, nuzzling her face against his smooth, toned chest.
“It’s late,” Josh murmured, kissing the top of her head.
“Or early,” Ty added as he slid into bed. Leaning over Josh, he pushed a lock of hair from Malea’s face. “Did you get some work done?”
“Mmhmm, you two are pure inspiration. How was the rest of the show? Sorry I bailed.”
“No worries, sweetheart. The show was great. Now get some sleep. We have a ball to attend tonight.”
“I can’t wait,” she said sleepily.
JOSH STIRRED AS LIPS softly pressed against his chest. Peeking through sleepy lids, he smiled as sable-colored curls fanned out, tickling his chest. “Good morning,” he mumbled. “Be careful, sweetheart. I could get used to waking up like this.”
Malea laughed softly against his chest, moving past his nipples.
“Where’s Ty?” he asked.
As he shifted under her to lay flat on his back, Malea moved with him and lifted her head. “He went to get us some lunch. It’s almost two; I told him I would find a way to rouse you.”
He chuckled. “It worked.”
She slid lower. “I’m not done with you.”
“God, I hope not.”
Moving lower, she kissed past his naval and over his hip before grasping his hard length and lowering her mouth to kiss the tip of his cock.
“Mmm,” Josh groaned.
Malea’s tongue snuck out to lick along the pulsing vein of his throbbing cock. His hands gently fisted in her hair and his hips jerked at the sensual touch of her warm mouth closing over the head of his hard length. Moaning softly, she began a methodical rhythm, taking him deep into her mouth, then pulling back and swirling her tongue over the tip, just to take him deep into her mouth again.
