2SpiceRack_bundle

by Karen Stivali

  She shrugged. “I can’t help it. I love it.”

  “You need to start painting again.” His hand slid from her back down to her hand, which he took in his. “I mean really painting. We need to set up a space for you at the house.”

  “What?” She shook her head. “That’s sweet, but it’s not like I was ever any good.”

  “Okay. First off, that’s ridiculous. You’re incredibly talented. Secondly, do you think Georgia O-what’s-her-name worried about being good? You just said that she painted this without worrying what anyone else would think.”

  Her eyes were drawn back to the painting, the gentle curves of a master. It had been years since she’d held more than a paint roller in her hands. Still, the appeal of a blank canvas before her was great. That part of her had never gone away. “But what about the graphic design job?”

  “If you get it, great. If not, you’re going to have to decide what you want to do. But either way, I think it’s a waste of talent for you to not be painting. For you to not be doing what you love.” His gripped her shoulders, tugging her closer. “I know how hard you work with the girls. And you left behind your career so we could have a family. It’s time for more Olivia time.”

  Brian had always been a generous man, but this was more than that—it was gracious and sweet. “Really?” Her heart picked up as she began to think about new possibilities and returning to something she’d left behind.

  “Yes.” With welcoming arms, he pulled her into a tight embrace. “Really.”

  Chapter Seven

  One thing Brian had failed to ask about was attire. What in the hell do I wear to watch my wife pleasured by another man? This was likely not a question asked or answered in GQ’s Style Manual.

  Comfort was a concern for sure. Not a time to be wearing tight-fighting pants. At the same time, he didn’t want to be so overt about it as to answer the door wearing a smile and boxer briefs. In the end, he decided on dark-gray pajama pants and a t-shirt. It wasn’t as though they were going anywhere.

  Of course Olivia’s stress over the very same question was off the charts when compared to Brian’s decision. “I don’t want to dress too sexy. I mean, I like to dress sexy for you.”

  “But this is for me. I’m going to see you the whole time.”

  “I’d rather save the teddy you bought me for a special night at home. When it’s just the two of us.” She sighed, pulling the tie of the hotel robe tighter around her waist. “I wish I would’ve known about this before I packed for our trip.”

  Standing behind her, he wrapped his arms around her as she peered into the closet, seeming somewhat defeated. “Are you doing okay?” Her skin was powder soft when he pressed his lips to her neck.

  She turned and sank against his chest. “I’m fine. I think I just need to get past my nervousness.”

  He was thankful for the absorbency of the robe she was wearing. His hands were again sweaty. “Okay. Just tell me if you change your mind. You know what Michael said. Tonight is about you.” Her sweet smell filled his nose. Am I really going to let someone else have her? Even if it’s only for a little while?

  “If it’s about me then do I get to decide what I wear?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good. Because thinking about this too much is going to make me nuts.” She padded across the room to the dresser and fished out her pale-pink silk pajamas. They weren’t formfitting but the way they grazed her contours was criminal. He knew firsthand the feel of the fabric against bare skin was out of this world.

  “I love you in these. Sexy but not too sexy. Not that there is such a thing as too sexy.”

  “I’m glad.” She dropped the robe to the floor and stepped into the pants, tying the drawstring waist. “Because I’m comfortable in this.” Olivia turned and reached into the dresser again, this time pulling out the very expensive silvery-gray lace bra he’d bought for her yesterday. “I am going to put this on. Just, you know…” She winked and hooked the clasp behind her back. “Because I have to sex it up a little bit.”

  A knock came at the door and Brian’s heart began to pound. His eyes flew to the clock on the bedside table. “Shit. He’s twenty minutes early.” With heavy steps, he bounded across the room.

  He threw open the door after he made sure Olivia had finished buttoning her pajama top. Carson.

  “I have champagne for you, sir.”

  Brian stood squarely between Carson’s cart and the door. “I didn’t order that.”

  “It’s a gift, sir. There’s a card.”

  “Bri, what’s up?” Olivia called.

  “It appears we have champagne.” Brian plucked the envelope from the cart.

  A gift to set the mood. Don’t worry about saving any for me. Best, Michael.

  “Oh hello, Carson,” Olivia chirped as she set her hands on Brian’s shoulders.

  “Ma’am,” Carson said.

  “How nice of Michael to do that,” Olivia said. Tugging on Brian’s arm, she steered him out of the doorway.

  The room service cart clunked noisily over the threshold as Carson entered the room. One heartbeat of a glance at Olivia and his face was flushed. Again. He watched her every step as she sauntered to the other side of the room. Get in line, buddy. Get in line.

  “Is there anything else I can bring you, Mr. Saunders?” Carson asked as he appeared to give in to the fact that he was working and not being paid to ogle Olivia.

  “No. You can leave now,” Brian answered, boring an imaginary hole into Carson’s forehead with his eyes.

  The touch of Olivia’s hand around his biceps and her hot breath in his ear ended his vengeful thoughts. “Champagne with my husband. Perfect.”

  Brian slapped a five-dollar bill into Carson’s hand. She’s mine, Mr. Puppy Dog Eyes. “You can go now.”

  Brian peeled back the foil from the bottle as Olivia spread her hand across his chest and nudged his ear with her nose. “You especially excited for a drink?”

  She traced her finger down his midline. “I guess. It’s just…” A half giggle, half purr came out of her. “I think I’m finally at the point where I’m excited about tonight. I think it’s the pajamas. They make me feel good.”

  With a swivel of her hips against his body, the silky fabric brushed his forearm. Every damn hair on his arm stood at attention. And that wasn’t all that was close to being erect. He filled each champagne flute close to the brim. He handed her a glass and clinked it gently. “To us.”

  “To my amazing husband.” She knocked back a good glug, but didn’t take her eyes off him. With a deft swoop of her tongue, she licked a drop of champagne from her lower lip.

  Warmth washed over him as she dug her fingers into his hair and kissed him softly. Her lips were supple in a way that told him she was eager for surrender. Through his t-shirt, he could feel that her nipples were hard. The desire to tear away those silky pajamas and take her right then and there was overwhelming. It was on the verge of consuming him, but he needed to keep things on an even keel. Michael was supposed to warm her up for him, not the other way around.

  “Liv,” he murmured, pressing his forehead against hers. “Whatever happens tonight, just know that this is all because you are the most amazing thing that ever happened to me. I want you to enjoy yourself. I want you to enjoy how sexy and beautiful you are.” He twined his fingers with hers. “I want you to give in to pleasure, knowing just how much I adore you.”

  Fighting a smile, she pecked him on the lips. “As long as you promise to not get jealous, we’re going to do just fine tonight.” She drained her glass in a long sip. “And after Michael’s gone, I’m going to make you very happy.”

  Now he had to fight the smile. “Promise?”

  There was a knock at the door.

  “Yes,” she said, reaching for the champagne bottle. “One last drink.”

  Taking a deep breath, Brian strode to the front door and opened it. Michael was wearing his familiar grin, a feature Brian remembered countless gir
ls in college swooning over, a smile that had always seemed to say, “I’m better-looking than you”.

  “Hey, man,” Brian said. “Come on in.” He slipped the “Do Not Disturb” sign onto the doorknob and trailed his friend into the room.

  “Olivia,” Michael said, taking her hand and kissing it. “You look incredible. I swear you haven’t aged a day since I last saw you.”

  She blushed and caught Brian’s eye, seeming uncertain as to how much she should react to something like a compliment from Michael. “Thanks. I try to take care of myself.”

  “Well, it’s working,” Michael said. “Your husband is a very lucky man.”

  “Indeed I am.” Brian nodded, watching as Michael and Olivia made eye contact, both of them standing mere feet from the bed.

  Her nervousness was fading. He saw it. She was more comfortable. Her shoulders had dropped their tension. The pretense in her smile was gone. It brought out the most peculiar feeling, from a place near the pit of his stomach—a combination of territoriality and titillation, wondering what would come next, including what his own reaction would be.

  “So, uh, should we go ahead and get started?” Michael asked, his gaze roving back and forth between Brian and Olivia but certainly concentrating on her.

  No time like the present. “Liv? Ready?” Goose bumps popped up on his arms as he waited for her answer.

  “I am,” she said, much more confidently than he ever would have guessed she would. “I really am.”

  Olivia swore she could hear Brian swallow after she’d given her answer. Oh shit. I really hope he can handle this.

  He stepped closer and went in for a kiss. “Enjoy yourself, darling. I’ll be over on the couch. Watching.”

  So that’s how he’s going to play it. She and Brian had discussed his physical proximity and involvement before Michael had arrived. Would he want to be on the bed next to her? Would he rather play the role of voyeur? He’d made at least one joke about not wanting to cross swords with Michael. Still, unsure of how he would feel in the situation, they’d decided he would make what he’d dubbed a game-time decision.

  Michael inched closer as Brian sat and draped one arm over the back of the sofa. Her heart thundered as a rush of thoughts took over. Brian is watching. I can feel his eyes on me. She set her sights on Michael, starting at his well-made black leather shoes. Have his feet always been so big? She surveyed his lanky legs in a pair of jeans that seemed to be quite snug in the crotch. God, he’s hot. I forgot how hot he is. Her gaze traveled north, from his trim waist to broad shoulders, all of it wrapped up in a gray cashmere sweater. He was close enough now that she could see his chest rise and fall with every breath—close enough to touch. I’d forgotten about the mole at the corner of his mouth. Close enough to kiss. God, his mouth.

  Michael stroked her arm gently, now standing toe-to-toe with her. “I’d be lying if I said I haven’t thought about what this would be like.” He brushed her upper arm with the back of his hand, grazing her breast in a way that felt as though she were being touched for the first time. “You are so beautiful.”

  She watched his hand as it traveled back up her arm, again caressing the side of her breast. Her breath hitched when he extended his thumb and rubbed her tightly peaked nipple. The instant she looked back at him, his mouth was on hers.

  Olivia tensed. She couldn’t help it. I’m kissing another man. Michael’s arm snaked around her waist and he tugged her closer. The heat from his chest was another reminder that this was really happening. Brian wanted this. Michael softened the kiss, his wet, hot lips only gently meeting hers. His tongue trailed along her lower lip and her defenses dropped. A man who knew to take things slow had always been one of her weaknesses.

  She wrapped her arms around Michael. With his torso pressed to hers, she felt how taut and hard his body was. His fingers clutched her nape and she dropped her head to the side. He made his way along her jaw and down the slope of her neck with delicate kisses that were also warm and wet. He stepped back and toed out of his shoes, removed his socks. Clothes are coming off. He lifted his sweater and t-shirt over his head. Clothes are really coming off. She hadn’t seen Michael without a shirt in years and damn him, it was just as impressive now.

  “Let’s see what’s beneath these magnificent pajamas,” he murmured, carefully unbuttoning her top.

  Olivia sneaked a peek at Brian. His eyes were dark and hooded and he’d reclined. He’d even removed his own shirt. The soft lighting in the room made it difficult to see much more than that. She returned her focus to Michael, who was now inching the pajama top past her shoulders. The garment collapsed to the floor.

  Michael’s eyes became filled with desire as his fingers traced the delicate lace edge of her bra. “Damn, you’re sexy, Liv.” He eased a strap off her shoulder, leaving a trail of goose bumps behind. Before she knew what was happening, he pressed kisses to her chest and unhooked the clasp of her bra, which he quickly tossed aside. “Even better than I imagined.” With no hesitation, he took one taut nipple into his mouth and flicked at it with his tongue.

  Possessive hands gripping her rib cage, his hot mouth on her breasts—it all left her overheated and flustered. Yes. Yes. She arched her back and closed her eyes as his tongue went to work on her other breast. Her most base instincts told her to pull him to the bed and let him pin her down. Her mind told her that such an unchecked show of enthusiasm and lust would hurt Brian’s feelings. It felt as though she had an unbroken pony, penned behind stable gates, bucking to break free from her belly.

  There was nowhere for her hands to go except deep into Michael’s thick head of hair as his tongue did things to her breasts that made her want to bite her own shoulder out of pure need. Don’t stop. Up until that point she’d kept quiet, choking back every demonstrative thing that sat poised on her lips. Fuck yes. Like that. Michael delicately circled her nipple with his tongue, a whisper-thin touch of skin against skin. It was more than she could take, but Brian’s words came to the rescue, ringing clear in her head. Give in to the pleasure.

  “Oh God,” she moaned, digging her fingernails into Michael’s nape. From across the room, Brian cleared his throat. It was gruff and animalistic, a noise she’d definitely heard from him before and always when he was really turned-on.

  “You like that?” Michael asked. He straightened and settled his forehead against hers. His breath came in gentle puffs on her lips.

  “I do,” she whispered.

  “A lot?” He drew an imaginary line down through the flat plane between her breasts, moving lower until he reached her bellybutton. With a gentle tug on the drawstring, her pants gave way and slid to the floor.

  “Yes. A lot. I like it a lot.” The silk tickled her ankles as she stepped out of the pajamas. A chill ran up her spine as Michael dropped his chin and admired her from head to toe. She was completely naked in front of two men at the same time, two men who wanted her. Badly. It made her nipples hard and pinched, left everything between her legs impatient as hell. The most liberated, educated parts of her brain knew that a woman was much more than the sum total of her sexuality. The parts of her brain that surrendered to the objectification loved having two sets of hungry eyes on her.

  Michael’s hands were quickly around her waist, then sliding behind to her ass. He gave one cheek a squeeze. “Take my pants off.” He positioned his leg between hers and ground against her.

  Olivia’s mouth went dry. Everything up until this point had been about him as the aggressor. He’d even removed his own sweater. He’d also only been asking questions. This was the first direct order and just like when Brian did the same thing, she liked it. A lot.

  Michael smiled arrogantly when her fingers unhitched his button and drew down the zipper. “Kiss me, Liv. I want that sweet mouth of yours on mine before it’s all over my cock.”

  A groan rumbled from the depths of her chest. Nothing like a little dirty talk to move things along. Her lips collided into his, their tongues tangled, all while
she pushed his jeans and boxers past his hips. His stiff erection grazed her leg. Oh shit. I can’t look.

  She hadn’t thought about it until that instant, the fact that she couldn’t really say anything about his dick in front of Brian. I really can’t look. However much men liked positive reinforcement, he was not the Big Bad Wolf and “Oh my, Michael, what a big dick you have” could not leave her lips. She would never do that to Brian.

  She slid her hand down Michael’s hip and around to the front, where the tips of her fingers caressed his balls and her palm pressed his cock against his stomach. Going only by feel, she sized him up while she stroked him, rigid and hard as a rock.

  Michael dug his hands into her hair and tore his lips from hers, which made her open her eyes. “That feels amazing, but I belong in your mouth,” he said with a rasp in his voice. He took her hand and stepped to the bed, sitting and spreading his legs wide. Comfortable as a man could be, he rested back on his elbows and gestured to his cock with a nod. Now she had to look. He was as impressive as he’d felt in her hands, not as spectacular as Brian, but Michael certainly did not want to hear that.

  Across the room, Brian shifted on the couch. Olivia glanced surreptitiously to see that he was now resting back on the pillow and his hand was most definitely down the front of his pajama pants. The vision fortified her resolve to focus on Michael, now that she knew without question that Brian was enjoying this the way she’d hoped he would.

  She knelt before Michael and set her hands on his thighs. The muscles in his legs twitched in response. She flipped her hair back behind her shoulder to ensure Brian had the best possible view before she lowered her head and took the tip of Michael’s cock into her mouth.

  He sank into the mattress the instant her lips met his sensitive skin. “Fuck, Liv. Your mouth is amazing.”

  She smiled on the inside. A good deal of womanly pride was certainly attached to the art of delivering an excellent blowjob. Her hand gripped his cock at the base while she sucked softly and looped her tongue along the ridge. She carefully claimed more of his length and both men groaned in approval. She continued, listening for cues from both of them and using that as the roadmap.