Love and pride swelled inside him. Ken Tanaka was a good man. His man. “You should add Trick to the team,” he offered helpfully. “He didn’t come to either bachelor party and I’m sure Jen would appreciate the gesture.”
Ken kissed his chin. “Good idea. And since I’ll be there anyway, maybe Stephen can give me a few hints about what Seamus might be looking for in a love match.”
“So it begins,” Brady said, laughing. “Let’s start with someone who isn’t a pregnant damsel in distress, and go from there. Seamus deserves to be taken care of for once. And adventure. He needs a little adventure in his life.” The kind this man gave him every day.
Ken’s grin was the definition of trouble. “I think I have an idea.”
Chapter Four
Trick had just gotten the strangest phone call from Tanaka. He smiled as he walked down the second floor hallway toward the staircase. Team Jeremy, huh? As long as he wasn’t forced to eat the cream-filled penis cake Jen told him about, he was up for anything.
He supposed that meant he was officially a member of the club now. Maybe they’d make more t-shirts, because the name Finn wasn’t seen enough in this town. Finn’s pub. Finn Construction. Billboards that read, “Vote for Senator Finn.” If he hadn’t fallen in love with one and grown up with another, it would probably be irritating.
It was still, on occasion, irritating.
He chuckled and picked up his pace. Jen was Team Jeremy too. She already had an overnight bag packed for the pre-wedding slumber party at Stephen’s. There’d been room for everyone to come here, but Stephen wanted his wife to stay in her own bed as long as possible. They were all doing their part to include Jeremy’s closest friend and his best woman—as Tasha love being called—in every aspect of the planning. And she was definitely enjoying herself. Tanaka had told him about the pub full of exotic dancers she’d sent for Owen.
He was glad Declan had decided to stay home to oversee the workmen. But he always had something to oversee lately, and of course he was having something built specifically for the occasion. The good professor had flown in a damn chocolatier and a wedding designer. Not a planner. A designer. Which was another word for way too expensive for Trick to think about.
He’d tried to tell him Owen had only agreed to get married here because he had a media wall that took up half the giant living room—but once Declan started there was no stopping him. He’d spoken to Jeremy and Ellen Finn, Jen’s mother, about his ideas, and a wedding monster was created that someone was eventually going to have to slay or Trick’s happy family might never get their home back.
At least she was talking to Declan now. Nothing soothed a mother’s heart like a professional wedding designer. Mrs. Finn still couldn’t look Trick in the eye. But then, even if he weren’t the other slice of bread in the Little Finn sandwich, he wouldn’t be a mother’s dream come true. An ex-con with tatted sleeves and a seedy job that was anything but nine-to-five. Trick Dunham might be old friends with Stephen, and he might have been a good choice to watch out for her daughter, but he wasn’t husband material.
Professor Kelley was.
He could let himself get hung up on it, but there was no point in denying the truth. Hell, even Declan had taken it for granted that he was the better option—financially speaking—and he’d been right. They’d talked about it more than once, though never with Jen. Jennifer Finn was a beautiful, smart and independent woman who’d been overprotected by her brothers and would no doubt kick both their asses if she found out her men were secretly conspiring to make sure she was always taken care of. But there was no way it wasn’t going to happen. They had to take care of her. Needed to protect her. She was too precious to both of them, and their instincts when it came to her couldn’t be denied. Since Declan had more money than he would ever be able to spend, the problem was easy to solve. Jen would take his name and the multiple bank accounts and real estate that came with it. End of story.
It didn’t bug him. It shouldn’t bug him. Trick knew those two were crazy about him. Just as wild for him as they were for each other. He wouldn’t have brought them all together if he hadn’t been sure of it from the start. Twisted as it probably sounded to the outside world, the three of them fit. Trick had never felt so wholly satisfied. Not even when he and Declan were first together. Jen was always the missing piece. He’d realized it when following her stopped being a job and became his obsession. And even then he’d been aware that she wasn’t his alone. She was meant to be Declan’s too. The fiery, strong-willed redhead who loved seeing her two men together nearly as much as she loved joining them was their match in every way. She filled Declan’s lonely life with love and gave Trick his first real home.
And after the New Year she’d be Declan’s wife. The plan was already in motion. Trick would handle any uneasy twinges that cropped up on his part, because the only other option was losing what they had together, and that was unacceptable.
His steps slowed when he saw Declan standing on the landing looking down at the floor below. Trick knew what he was seeing. Lines of florists and caterers and cleaners. The queen bee planner and her hive doing their last minute checks and preparations for tomorrow. They’d been buzzing around all day, which was why Trick had spent most of it upstairs playing some childish gem game he’d found on Jen’s tablet. That shit was addictive.
He bit his lip, studying Declan’s backside and feeling his cock stir in his jeans. He’d always been an irresistible piece of ass. Brilliant, big in all the right places and sexually aggressive in the best way. He still remembered his initial reaction to Declan Kelley. How he’d fantasized about taking off those glasses and giving the buff bookworm a lesson in passion to pay him back for his tutoring sessions. He thought he’d be the one in control. That he’d be doing the seducing.
Trick had never been happier to be wrong.
He moved silently until he was standing right behind his lover. Declan was too lost in thought to notice he was no longer alone. He didn’t like not being noticed and had to do something about it immediately.
Trick had one hand covering his mouth and the other cupping his dick and squeezing before he could make a sound. “Hey, Professor Hot Lips,” he whispered, scraping his teeth over Declan’s earlobe. “How’s it hanging?”
The it in question was in his hand and getting harder with each passing second. Declan lifted his hands to cover Trick’s on his mouth, but didn’t struggle. “This brings back memories for me, Kelley. Frustrating memories of playing the bad boy, stringing our girl along with all her kinkiest fantasies until you finally gave in and let us all get what we wanted.”
Declan’s growl vibrated against his palm and Trick laughed. “I know you were jealous. But it was your own fault for trying to resist my plan.”
Trick was surprised when Declan jerked out of his grip and leaned against the wall. He’d been turned on by Trick’s touch, but something was definitely bothering him. “What’s wrong? Do you need me to take out the wedding designer? Because I can and I will. Say the word and she and her entourage of ice artisans and pastry patsies will disappear like that.” He snapped his fingers.
Declan’s frown darkened. “Okay, not the problem. Care to clue me in, Professor?”
“Jennifer.”
Trick moved closer, worry instantly gnawing at him. “What about her?”
“She said no.”
Trick leaned heavily against the wall, unable to conceal his surprise. “You did it today?” Without me? “You actually asked her the day before her brother’s wedding? Been sniffing one too many orange blossoms, Professor?”
Declan shrugged and pushed up his glasses, the confusion and embarrassment in his expressive gray eyes doing nothing to dim his good looks. She’d turned him down? Had Little Finn gone off her meds? It didn’t make any sense.
“It slipped out. We were talking about last minute errands for the wedding and she mentioned being relieved that she’d been spared from marrying the wrong man.”
&nbs
p; “Let me guess,” Trick said wryly. “You asked if she’d have a problem marrying the right one?”
Declan looked irritated. “Something like that. She laughed until she realized I wasn’t joking. When I explained that you and I had discussed the benefits, that I’d gotten her father’s approval… She didn’t react well.”
Trick was no longer questioning Jen’s sanity. He was questioning Declan’s. “Hell, man. You have all those degrees and I keep trying to give you the benefit of the doubt, but you’re making it hard.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I can’t imagine a less romantic way to propose, unless you brought out a list of pros and cons. Tell me you didn’t make a list. I’m begging you.”
“I didn’t get the chance,” he answered, still brooding. “She told me she needed some space to think. And now she’ll be spending the night with her sister-in-law, working herself up into never speaking to me again.”
“I won’t give her the chance,” Trick assured him. “I’ve been invited to join them.”
“You have?” Declan didn’t look too happy about that. “So you’re both leaving me?”
“You just want me to stay and help move those chairs around,” Trick teased.
Declan started to walk away but Trick pushed him back against the wall, using his body to hold him where he wanted him. “Hey, it’s only for the night. But I’ll give you something to think about while we’re gone.”
Declan melted into the kiss, moaning as Trick’s tongue fought a sensual battle with his, tilting his head and offering everything. A question kept swimming around his desire drenched brain, refusing to disappear. “Did she use those words? Space to think?” Trick asked when he lifted his head to drag in some much-needed oxygen.
“What?” It was gratifying to see him so dazed.
“Is that exactly what she said?”
At Declan’s nod, Trick smiled. “Follow me, Professor. We can fix this.”
His first instinct was to pull Declan to the floor and distract him. It was his second and third instinct too. It always was. He could spend a lifetime enjoying Declan’s body. But then his deep-thinking lover would spend the rest of the night angsting himself to death over what he should have said. Jen would act tough, but she wouldn’t be much better.
Relationships were a lot of fucking work.
She was exactly where he knew she would be. Downstairs in the library, curled up in a chair and staring at Declan’s art collection. He remembered when he told her about those paintings. That they were all of her, in one way or another. That he and Declan had always been waiting for her. Was she thinking about that now? Or wondering if they could still be together after she’d rejected Declan’s offer?
“Hiding from the wedding chaos?” Trick asked lightly, his grip bruising on Declan’s wrist as he dragged him inside and locked the door behind them.
Jen jumped and pushed back her mane of fiery hair, biting her lip. “I guess. I was just thinking about heading toward Tasha’s.”
Trick strode over to her and pulled her to her feet. “You’re not dressed.”
She looked down at herself with a frown. She was in yoga pants and a festive green Christmas shirt that said, Just Say Ho. “Yes I am. I’m only goi—”
He kissed her and she gasped into his mouth. One instant of surprise and then her stiff muscles were melting and her arms were lifting to wrap around his neck. Neither one of them could resist him. He used that to full advantage, pulling off her shirt and pushing her stretchy black pants down her legs. “Oops,” he said wickedly. “I meant, you won’t be dressed for a while.”
“Do you know how many strange people are in this house right now?” She moaned when he dropped to his knees and bit the inside of her thigh as she stepped out of her pants entirely. “Trick…”
“Trick,” Declan echoed, though his voice had an edge that told him he wasn’t unaffected by his actions. “Maybe this isn’t the best time.”
He stood and palmed Jen’s braless breasts, pinching her nipples roughly and making her back arch in reaction. “Because she said no to that sad proposal?” Jen jerked under his hands. “If you think that’ll stop me, you’re insane.”
“He told you?” Jen’s blue eyes went wide.
“Of course he told me. Clearly the man has issues with romantic proposals, but if he were perfect he’d be boring. And he has other qualities we both enjoy, so I guess we’ll have to forgive him and fuck instead.”
Her fair skin flushed and she glanced at Declan. “I’m not sure he’d be okay with that.”
Trick tried not to smirk and failed miserably. “Declan? Take off your clothes and get the lube from your desk. She’s not sure you’re okay with having some quality Jen time before we’re inundated with wedding guests and we have to monitor our behavior.”
Declan’s expression darkened dangerously and he started to unbutton his shirt in silence. Jen licked her lips, watching him. “He’s upset.”
“He’s turned on. I’m upset,” Trick murmured, lowering his head to lick one hard, ripe nipple. “No one’s asked me to take my clothes off yet.”
Her hands immediately reached for the button of his jeans. “That’s more like it.”
He got lost in her taste, his mouth full of lush flesh, his fingers slipping through the wet heat between her thighs. She was just as turned on as he was. When Declan pressed himself against his back Trick groaned, hating the restraint that had him saying, “Not this time. On the floor, Declan. She’ll be the one in control.”
“She always is.” He heard Declan’s soft complaint and chuckled against Jen’s skin.
He straightened and looked into her eyes. They were dilated, but he could still see a trace of uncertainty. “It’s okay, I promise. Show him how much you love him, baby.” He knew she did. Whatever reasons she had for turning him down didn’t change what the three of them had together. When she didn’t move he lowered his hands to the only clothing she had left—her lace underwear—and ripped it down the center. Her lips parted and he knew she was theirs. “Take these off and show him.”
Jen got rid of the tattered panties and straddled Declan’s thighs. Trick could see the big body beneath her trembling with restraint. The professor was used to being in charge. Being on top. His hands were clenched into fists and Trick sympathized, knowing how impossible it was not to touch her. Not to lose control around their wildly passionate woman.
He kicked off his boots and finished undressing swiftly, kneeling behind her and hissing out a rough breath when his erection brushed against her heavenly ass. “Do you remember that first night? In this room, watching us? I want to watch now, Jen. Touch him for me. Take him.”
Declan’s growl made her shiver, but she wrapped her fingers around his thick erection and lowered herself slowly onto him. They moaned in unison. “Declan,” she gasped.
He didn’t speak but Trick could see the fire in his eyes. “That’s it,” he whispered in Jen’s ear. “He’s holding back, but he needs you. Give him what he needs.”
She put her hands on Declan’s broad chest and started to move. They were beautiful together. So beautiful Trick couldn’t look away. He watched Declan’s hands, unable to remain still, grip her hips as he helped her set a powerful rhythm that had them both shuddering.
“So good, Jen.”
“God, Declan.”
Trick kissed her shoulder and pressed his erection into her back, his arm slipping around her waist. “I don’t know how you do it, Jen. Just watch. I’m more of an action man myself. Greedy.”
“Trick, please,” she moaned, turning her head and kissing him. “I want you both.”
He met Declan’s stormy eyes and saw the approval. Thank-fucking-God. Trick grasped the bottle beside them and pressed Jen forward. “Kiss him. Kiss Declan while I get you ready for me.”
Jen collapsed, kissing Declan almost angrily, biting his lower lip until he snarled and took control. That’s right, bad girl, Trick thought in a lust-induced haze. That’s how we work
out our problems in this house.
He slipped one lubed finger between her cheeks and moaned when her ass tightened around it. He could feel every thrust of Declan’s cock, the way her body reacted to their dual invasion, and he knew she didn’t want him to go slow. He added a second finger and thrust deep.
“More,” she cried out raggedly. “God, that’s so good.”
Declan was growling like a predator. He cupped Jen’s ass and spread it for Trick, impatience in every rough movement. “I fucking love teamwork,” Trick groaned with that first thrust, his body shaking at the tight squeeze. His hands tangled with Declan’s on her hips and they all fell together. Lost. Then there were no more words, no misunderstandings, just garbled cries of need and the raw sounds of sex.
Trick closed his eyes and let it consume him. His desire for the two of them grew stronger every day they were together, but it didn’t scare him. It made him as insatiable as Declan. As hungry as Jen. This was how he wanted to live and die. Feeling this. Knowing they were his.
“Fuck, she feels good, doesn’t she, Professor. Isn’t this better than brooding in separate corners?”
“Jen,” Declan moaned. “So tight.”
“Please don’t stop,” she gasped.
“Never, baby.”
“Never say never.” Trick wasn’t going to last. He started a new rhythm meant to drive all of them up to the edge of the cliff and over.
“Trick.” Jen cried out and Declan swore beneath them, finding his release as Trick’s thrusts jarred his body. Then Jen joined him with their names on her lips and Trick followed less than a raspy groan later. He couldn’t think of anything clever to say, couldn’t do anything but survive his body exploding apart and slamming back together.
Afterward they all collapsed on the library rug, Jen between them with her hands curled and trembling on their chests. “Where the hell did that come from?” she breathed drunkenly.
Finn Again (The Finn Factor Book 5) Page 6
