What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 5)

by Cathryn Fox

  Confused Dylan frowned. “Of course you’re going with us. Why wouldn’t you?”

  Then he caught the expression in her eyes.

  “You didn’t know. Oh fuck. We never said. Damn, Lily,” he said, apologetically. “It never occurred to me either. You’re part of us now. Part of all of it.”

  Now he understood why she hadn’t talked about it, why she hadn’t done the female shopping thing, even though he knew she didn’t have anything appropriate to wear.

  Curling in close, his hand on her belly, he leaned down to kiss her forehead too.

  “We love you, Lily,” he said, looking down into her eyes. “Get that, Lily. We love you. Where we go, you go.”

  Lily looked up at them, at the warmth in Dylan’s eyes, the intensity in Evan’s, and the love in both and then a different sensation moved through her as Evan’s long, nimble fingers toyed with her clit, teased it.

  She looked at him, at the wicked smile that curved his mouth.

  “That’s not fair,” she said.

  “I think we have to make it up to her,” Evan said as if she hadn’t spoken, with a glance at Dylan.

  “You know,” Dylan agreed, “I think you’re right.”

  Shifting down a little, Dylan licked lightly at her nipple. He slid a hand underneath her thigh, played with the sensitive tissues of her lower lips.

  Heat moved through her.

  Looking at them, Lily said, “You know you don’t have to do this.”

  “Oh, but we do,” Evan said and brushed a kiss over her lips.

  Dylan’s warm mouth closed around the tip of her breast to suck, to nip and nibble. Sharp spears of pleasure shot through her as his fingers slid into her channel to thrust.

  His eyes on hers, Evan’s fingers slid over her swollen, aching nub, slipped down with Dylan’s to the moisture there, then back up to circle, tease ever so lightly at her clit. Heat flooded her as her muscles went taut.

  “I love to watch this,” Evan said, propping his head on his hand, “I love to watch you come. Again and again.”

  Lily’s mind went blank as Dylan found her g-spot and Evan’s expert fingers played her clit. Every muscle tightened. Dylan nipped her nipple.

  She yelped.

  He bit down lightly, tugged on it with his teeth as his fingers stroked inside her, and Evan’s fingers exposed her clit so his middle finger could stroke it ever so lightly.

  She was barely aware of the soft cries that escaped her as pleasure poured through her in heated waves. They drove her up, quivering, trembling.

  “Evan,” she whispered, helplessly, as they held her on the brink. “Dylan.”

  “Do you love us, Lily?” Evan asked.

  “Oh, yes, I love you,” she sighed, looking up into his brilliant blue eyes, into Dylan’s warm brown ones. “I love you both desperately, madly.”

  Evan pressed a kiss to her forehead, Dylan to her shoulder as their fingers stroked. Ecstasy streaked through her, her body going taut as her orgasm exploded through her.

  “I love watching this,” Evan said, “I love watching you come. I love you. We both do.”

  Usually shopping was not one of her favorite activities, but it wasn’t as much of a chore with Evan and Dylan supervising, although it was interesting to watch the haste with which the clerks moved to help. Or the looks she got as one or the other of the men would stop to give her a kiss, or when Evan sent her back into the dressing room with a sharp slap on her ass, or Dylan ran his hands over her hips to check the drape of her dress.

  She’d never seen so many gorgeous dresses.

  To her surprise neither man deserted her as Dylan pulled strings and got her into one of the best salons in the city.

  Until they got home, though, neither man had seen the finished product, dress, hair and makeup, all pulled together. Neither had she. Looking in the three-way mirror, she was astonished at what she saw. She’d never seen this side of herself. With a secretive smile she turned so she could look at her image from behind. She’d prepared a little surprise for Evan and Dylan for later. With satisfaction, she nodded. Nothing showed. It might be a little uncomfortable from time to time, but from what Evan and Dylan said they’d be standing most of the evening.

  She found them in the living room.

  It was a black-tie affair, so both wore tuxedos and looked absolutely gorgeous. Evan was dark, Byronic and brooding, that volatile energy pouring off him, his blue eyes brilliant. Dylan was bright, the darkness of the tux emphasized his fairness, made his eyes seemed even more golden.

  “Could someone give me a hand,” she said, turning a little to show her exposed back, “and zip me up?”

  They turned and smiled as they came to meet her.

  She felt like a fairy princess as she walked toward them.

  “I think that can be arranged,” Dylan said, sliding the zipper up before twirling her around so that they could see the dress from all sides.

  “Amazing,” Evan said, kissing the back of her hand and then her forehead.

  “You look perfect, Lily,” Dylan said. “Absolutely lovely.”

  The admiration in their eyes was all she needed to see.

  Knowing what lay beneath the dress only added to the excitement of the evening.

  When they reached the hotel where the charity ball was taking place, Evan offered her a hand out, Dylan a moment behind him. Deliberately, both men tucked her hands in the crooks of their elbows as cameras flashed and voices shouted, calling to them.

  Evan covered her hand with his, patted it. “You’ll get used to it.”

  “Wait until Emmy night,” Dylan said, ominously, as they walked inside, but he smiled in anticipation.

  This would be Lily’s first big event, he knew, a good opportunity for her to get used to the attention of both the legitimate press and the paparazzi.

  Evan, of course, was long used to it.

  Neither of them had any worries about Lily, though, she was tough and she looked wonderful with her rich brown hair tumbling to her shoulders in thick waves. The vibrant gold of the gown brought out the gold and hints of red in her hair, and deepened the brown of her eyes. It draped sweetly between her breasts, over her bottom, the simple shape emphasizing her curves as the fullness of the skirt swirled around her legs.

  She looked classic, like a movie star from the forties, glamorous. He tucked the memory of that thought away in his mind, an idea stirring. Something for another day.

  Then Lily laughed as Evan introduced her to someone and she became honest, open, and approachable. The woman they knew.

  A number of eyes were on her, the relative unknown in a sea of fame.

  Dylan had leaked elements of their stories to the press, with their consent, so most people knew who Lily was and had been, but not what her true relationship to them was.

  No one knew where she lived that they knew of, not yet. Once it leaked out, things would get interesting. It would eventually they knew.

  They’d agreed to keep everyone guessing, to keep the secret of their relationship to one another going. Most people would assume she was or would soon be seeing one or the other of them, but not that she loved them both. With luck they could keep the mystery going for years.

  It was Evan, though, who as the star of the show swept her out onto the dance floor first. It was something he and Dylan had discussed, an attempt to make up for the past and for the misunderstanding that had hurt Lily’s feelings.

  The simple romance of the gesture couldn’t be denied as Lily looked up into Evan’s blue eyes and his arm closed around her in the dance. He looked down at her, a roguish smile teasing at his mouth.

  “Do you know how much I want to kiss you right now?” he asked, his eyes glinting.

  She smiled up at him. “As much as I want to kiss you?”

  Cameras flashed around the room.

  “I think we’re being watched,” he said, eyeing the flashes.

  “Ya think?” she teased, feeling the eyes on them as much as
he did.

  Deliberately, he dropped his hand lower on her back, pulled her hips a little closer. He grinned.

  “Get that smirk off your face, Chef Taylor,” she said, shaking her head at him.

  “Make me, Cavanaugh,” he said, and she laughed.

  “You’re enjoying this,” she said.

  He nodded sharply at her and his grin turned wicked. “I am. For once, we’re in control of what’s being said about me. Just the three of us, you, me, and Dylan, no one else. For years people have whispered, rumored, said things, made assumptions about me. Talked about me. Am I gay, am I straight? Am I dating this one or that? Dylan moving in only complicated things. So yes, I’m enjoying it immensely.”

  A touch of his characteristic anger kindled in his blue eyes. As if she had a hair out of place, he smoothed it back, as an excuse for touching her and to calm himself, she knew.

  “Do you mind?” he asked, his eyes darkening in concern.

  Tightening her hand on his, on his shoulder, letting everything she felt show clearly on her face, she smiled and shook her head.

  “No, Evan, I don’t mind,” she said.

  “Good,” he said and brushed his cheek against her hair.

  When the music stopped they caught up with Dylan where he stood talking among a group of people. Here he was clearly in his element.

  Without thinking about it, Dylan casually slipped an arm around her waist, drew her close to press a kiss to her temple as cameras flashed. He finished what he was saying before he introduced her and Evan to those they hadn’t met. Some clearly recognized Evan. Eyes went back and forth in question as Dylan kept his arm around her and Evan kept his hand on her hip, but they were all too polite to ask.

  Comfortably ensconced between them as they talked, watching the eyes roam from one to the other of them, Lily carefully kept amusement from reaching her own.

  At the next waltz Dylan smiled, excused them and swung Lily out onto the dance floor while Evan watched them go, apparently unperturbed, and kept talking.

  “By the time we’re done tonight every talk show in the country will be dissecting this tomorrow morning,” he said, grinning every bit as wickedly as Evan, if for different reasons.

  She laughed and shook her head at him.

  “You’re incorrigible.”

  He gave her a wink and lifted an eyebrow at her suggestively. “I am, my heart, but you knew that about me.”

  “I did,” she said, with a smile.

  “As long as we’re happy what does it matter?” he said.

  She smiled at him, enjoying the dance. Dylan was every bit as good a dancer as Evan, in an age when few men learned to dance.

  “But it does seem Evan needs rescuing,” Dylan said, his mouth tightening in anger, turning her so she could see.

  A woman had Evan trapped, cornered almost literally, corralled by a planter on one side and the woman standing in front of him. To step past her, he’d have to be noticeably rude to the point of pushing her aside, something that wouldn’t go unnoticed.

  The woman was tall, slender, her face a seemingly perfect mask, her blue eyes nearly a match for Evan’s. Her hair was as dark as his, flowing to her shoulders in perfect waves. Her dress was a brilliant red, the perfect match to her lipstick and the color in her cheeks. In heels, she was nearly the same height as he was, lissome and elegant. She was beautiful and so was he, except that his eyes were empty, distant. Hers weren’t.

  Standing as they were they made a beautiful couple. Something inside Lily twisted, a touch of envy.

  Lily recognized the woman immediately. Gloria Talbot. She’d once been one of the country’s top models, and although she still worked the runways now and then the last time Lily had seen her she’d been a judge on one of the cable modeling shows.

  Gloria Talbot’s features were almost expressionless, save for her eyes, which burned hotly. Her body language was possessive. Her hand was on Evan’s forearm, her body close against his.

  For a moment Lily hesitated.

  Dylan caught her chin. “He’s too polite to shake her off where people can see. Evan loves you, Lily. I love you. Look at his face, Lily.”

  Evan’s expression was stony, his jaw tight, his eyes dark, averted. He looked fierce, furious, and implacable. Only politeness held him there, he clearly didn’t want to be forced to make a scene.

  “Let’s go rescue the poor bastard, love,” Dylan said, kissing her forehead and giving her a gentle swat on the butt to send her on her way.

  If there was one thing that was certain, since her arrival Lily had become both the focus and the balm to Evan’s temper.

  She gave him a mock glare, but she smiled and went, with Dylan close on her heels.

  It was also clear that Evan’s fragile temper, held in check only by their location, was fraying rapidly. He looked ready to bite Gloria’s head off.

  His voice low, Dylan said, softly, “Don’t do it, Evan. Not here. No matter how much she deserves it.”

  With a hand at the small of her back, he propelled Lily forward.

  Whatever Gloria Talbot had been saying stopped the minute Lily and Dylan drew close. Gloria glared at Lily, hotly.

  The minute Evan’s eyes met Lily’s, relief washed over his face. That was all Lily needed to see.

  “Lily,” Evan said.

  The relief in his voice was barely hidden as he slid an arm around her waist, drew her close to kiss her cheek, just missing her mouth. The gesture was deliberate, she knew, possessive and provocative, designed to put the other woman on notice.

  “Evan,” Lily said evenly enough, her voice soft, and smiled.

  His lips moved to her ear, brushed over it in a quick caress as he whispered, “Thank you.”

  She lowered her lashes and smiled at the caress and the sentiment, a shiver going over her.

  Cameras flashed.

  She turned her head to look at Gloria Talbot.

  “We haven’t met,” Lily said, gently, knowing exactly how the other woman felt.

  Gloria’s blue eyes went cold, her expression icy. If looks could kill Lily would have been dead a thousand times over.

  His voice emotionless, but his arm tight around her, Evan said, “Lily Cavanaugh, Gloria Talbot.”

  The woman ignored Lily, looked at Evan. “This isn’t over, Evan.”

  “Yes, it is,” he said, tightly.

  She looked at Lily’s offered hand then at Lily before she turned on her heel and walked away.

  “Manners,” Lily murmured, “she gots none.”

  Her light words startled a chuckle out of Evan and he pulled her into a quick hard hug.

  “Lily,” he said, grinning, “you’re priceless.”

  Just to see that cold expression driven off his face was enough for her.

  They went in to the late dinner, sitting with Lily between Evan and Dylan, who greeted her with a kiss, while Gloria Talbot glared at them from across the room.

  “Good job,” Dylan said, in her ear.

  She smiled.

  Evan gave him a nod. “Thanks, Dylan.”

  “What are friends for, Evan,” Dylan said, “but to rescue each other from dragons, or dragon ladies?”

  Evan covered a laugh at the description with a cough, but it lightened the evening considerably.

  Certainly enough to enjoy the meal and the dancing afterward.

  It rapidly became clear that Gloria had decided Lily was to blame for her failure with Evan. The first time Gloria Talbot tried to corner Lily, an unpleasant expression on her face, Dylan rescued her, greeting Gloria warmly with a smile.

  It became a game. The next time it was Evan, smiling broadly.

  “Cavanaugh, staying out of trouble?” he asked as he swept her into a deep dip, kissing her soundly and thoroughly as a dozen people watched and applauded. More cameras flashed.

  He winked at his nemesis. “Gloria.”

  Lily slapped his arm then elbowed him teasingly as he pulled her close, her eyes twinkling.
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  “Back off, Evan. Behave yourself. You’re in public,” she said and slanted him a mischievous look from beneath her lashes.

  The attending members of the press loved it. Gloria did not.

  They walked away, well aware of Gloria Talbot looking daggers at them.

  “You said what?” Dylan asked, laughing when they recounted the episode for him as they tumbled into the limousine at the end of the night.

  They were all a little drunk, on success as well as alcohol.

  “Wonderful. Oh, that’s perfect, Lily,” he added, chortling. “They’ll all be wondering what he does with you in private.”

  He and Evan shucked their tuxedo jackets, tossed them onto the seats at the front by the driver, loosened their ties and unbuttoned the top few buttons of their dress shirts.

  “Privacy, Bob,” Evan said, his eyes on Lily, his gaze skimming over her as the screen by the driver went up. “I know what I do want to do, I’ve been waiting all night to get Lily out of that dress.”

  As he slid his hand inside the deep drape between her breasts to cup one of them, his eyes closed in pleasure.

  “I love this,” he groaned, “I love the feel of your breast in my palm, the weight of it there.”

  Dylan’s hand slid beneath her dress and up her thigh, over the silk clad skin beneath.

  They hadn’t spared on her underwear. Although they hadn’t seen it on her, saving it as a treat, they knew she wore the thinnest of bras, enough to just hint at her nipples and only a scrap of panties, garter belt and silk stockings.

  Evan lifted her breast free of the bra and dress and flicked her tightening nipple with his thumb. He cupped it and looked at Dylan, knowing Lily watched.

  Lily quivered in anticipation as she slid her hands into their laps to find them both hardening.

  With a smile, Dylan lowered his head to lick the tender tip Evan offered him as he unbuckled his belt, and then unbuttoned his pants to let her play.

  On the other side of her Evan did the same before he slid his free arm behind her.

  Dylan slid his arm lower, urging her hips forward, opening her to him.

  Her hands dove inside their slacks to find their cocks, freed them to stroke.