Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5)

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Emotions clogged her throat.

  “You think, or you know.” She wasn’t sure why she’d said that, only that she needed to. This was all so crazy, and yet it fit. There was something there, something she couldn’t quite name, and she needed to figure it out with not only Border but Jake, as well.

  “I know. I came back for both of you.” Border closed his eyes and shook his head. “That sounds like I believe in fate for some of this, and I don’t know if I do. But what I do believe in is that no matter what happens, we need to work for it. Things happen for a reason sometimes, and other times we make them happen because we need them to. I don’t want to step in whatever you two have, but I also know I can’t walk away now.”

  Maya looked at Border’s outstretched hand before turning to Jake. “And what about you?”

  Jake looked at her so intently, she was afraid he could see everything. She was bare before him, without taking a stitch of clothing off. That was what she’d always had with Jake, but now it was more intense, now it meant something far beyond what the two of them—the three of them—could comprehend.

  “I saw you across the bar all those years ago and knew I needed you in my life. I took you home because I wanted to make that happen. What you don’t know is that I figured I’d find a way to keep you there for longer than just that night. Then shit happened with Murphy, and we had to call it quits.”

  She squeezed his hand, her lips pressed together. “I would have fought to stay then,” she whispered. “I felt the connection, too.” It was the first time she’d said that; the first time she’d revealed what she’d hidden for so long.

  Jake’s eyes flared. “And then I was too late, and I get that. So I stayed because I knew you were something, Maya. I wanted to be a part of your life, even if it was just as your friend.”

  “There was nothing ‘just’ about the way I felt about you, Jake. About the way I feel about you.” She paused, not wanting to dive too deep into that before they’d gotten through the practicalities of what was going on in the room right then.

  Jake’s mouth tilted in a smile before he let out a deep breath. “No matter what happens between us, if this is just a short-term thing, or something more, I don’t want to lose you as my friend. Fuck, Maya, you know me better than I know myself most days, and I’m not going to lose that. So we’re friends first. Got me? If we find out after we do this, this thing between the three of us, that we suck together and we’re better off as friends, then we’d better damn well stay friends.”

  He blew out a breath.

  “Friends first, Maya,” he repeated.

  “Friends always,” she said firmly. “That I promise you. We’re going to stay friends. I know it’s easy as hell to say that now, but we’re not like most people.” She at least hoped that was the case. Because if she lost Jake, she wasn’t sure what she’d do with herself. Hell, she’d become a shadow of who she was when she’d thought she lost him to Holly. While she didn’t like the fact that part of her relied on Jake like that, she knew there wasn’t another way for her to be. He was too ingrained in her soul.

  And maybe it was time to do something about that.

  And about the man on her other side.

  Because no matter what, he was there, too, and she had a feeling that the fact that he hadn’t been there for so long was the reason she’d never felt like it was time to be with Jake.

  She’d focus on those feelings when she could, but for now, she needed to make sure she’d have her friend at her side in the end. And perhaps, just maybe, have Border, too.

  Holy hell, she didn’t know exactly how this had happened, but if she kept agonizing over it, she’d break.

  Instead of continuing down a spiral of thoughts that would only confuse her, she turned to Border and slid her hand into his.

  “Friends,” she said softly. “With something a little more, I think. But friends.”

  Border silently stared at her with such intensity she could feel her cheeks heat. Damn it. She wasn’t the kind to blush, but now she couldn’t help it under his stare. While she knew Jake inside and out, she only knew what Jake had told her about Border. The unknowing, the mystery, just turned her on more. More than she’d ever thought possible. Add in the idea that she’d be sleeping with her best friend at the same time? It was a wonder she didn’t combust right there.

  Jake let out a rough chuckle. “Can I just say how fucking hot it is to watch the two of you look at one another. Because the idea that you both want each other just as much I want the two of you turns my crank.”

  Maya snorted at Border, who raised a brow at her. She turned to look at Jake. “I thought we were the ones supposed to play with your crank.”

  Jake laughed outright. “Let me say one thing, then you can touch, suck, lick, and fuck my crank as much as you want, honey darling.”

  She narrowed her eyes even as Border laughed. “What did I say about the pet names?”

  Jake just smiled at her sweetly. “I’m working on finding the right one, cinnamon bun.”

  She took her hand from his to smack at his chest. He just laughed, and Border moved so he could wrap his arm around her waist. She looked over her shoulder at him, and he shrugged, seemingly relaxed at having her back against his hard chest and one hand on her hip.

  Jake groaned at the sight of them, so, of course, Maya had to snuggle closer to Border. The heat in Jake’s eyes made her want to groan with him, but instead, she ran her fingers up and down Border’s arm. Border’s hand tightened on her hip, and she had to swallow hard so she wouldn’t squirm in his hold.

  Jake licked his lips. “I’m going to fuck you, Maya,” he said finally, his voice low. “I just want to get the practicalities out of the way.” He met Border’s eyes. “And soon, I’m going to fuck you and have you fuck me. I don’t know if you and Border are going to fuck, but I think you should put that out there. Have the boundaries laid out so we don’t accidentally cross something we can’t fix. Because I want you both in my bed. If it can’t be at the same time, I get that, but I need to know now.” His gaze went to Border’s arm on her waist. “But I might be just blowing smoke right now.”

  Maya looked over her shoulder again at Border, who had his chin down. “What do you say, Border? Do you want to fuck me?”

  In answer, Border lowered his lips to hers while using his other hand to cup her breast over her shirt and bra. She gasped into his mouth, arching her back, needing more of his touch. His kiss was rougher than Jake’s, his taste different. And yet she wanted both. She didn’t care if others might have a problem with the fact that she wanted both men and those men wanted each other. They could go fuck themselves.

  She wanted Jake and Border, and damn it, she was going to have them.

  Border’s tongue snaked across hers, and she kissed him deeper, wanting more. When he pulled away, she was left breathless and horny as hell.

  “I think that should answer your question, but yeah, I want to fuck you, Maya. And I want to know you. So this isn’t just for the bedroom. You get me? Because if that’s all you want, then we need to talk more rather than getting naked and using that monster of a bed Jake has. So, you want more than just sex? Because if so, I’m taking you to the bedroom and putting my head between those thighs of yours. I want to know what your pussy tastes like, and while I’m doing that, I want you to suck Jake off. I love the look on Jake’s face when he’s fucking someone’s face, and it’s been too long since I’ve seen it. So, what do you say, Maya? You want my mouth on your cunt and your mouth on Jake’s dick?”

  Maya pulled back and stood up, doing a little shimmy as she did so. Jake and Border each stared at her, then each other before bursting out in laughter.

  “What was that?” Jake asked, wiping a tear from his eyes.

  “Oh my God,” Maya panted. “Did you hear him? I am one fucking lucky bitch. I get not one, but two dirty talkers. And you know me and oral, I need to know what Border can do down there because, honey, if he needs hel
p, you can teach him a thing or two.” She did another little hip shake. “Two dirty talkers with big dicks who want to fuck me and have me in their lives? Hell yes to all of that. Now let’s get naked because I’m so wet, I’m dripping down my thighs. If I don’t come soon, I’m going to have to get myself off, and I’d rather have one or both of you do it for me.”

  She reached for the bottom of her shirt and tugged it over her head. Before she could reach for the button on her jeans, Border had his hands on her hips, and she was over his shoulder, gripping his back so she didn’t fall.

  She looked up at Jake as Border carried her to the bedroom fireman style. Jake stared at her like he wanted to eat her up—and maybe he just would. He stripped off his shirt as he followed them, and she had to bite her lip from screaming in joy with what was about to happen.

  Border set her on her feet and went to his knees. “I need my mouth on your cunt,” he growled. She wiggled to help him get her jeans over her hips. He had her shoes off quickly and her paints down around her ankles in the next blink. Jake worked on her bra, and she had to take deep breaths so she could take it all in.

  Holy hell, this was happening.

  Jake kissed her hard before lowering his lips to her breasts. He tugged on her nipple rings and she gasped.

  “Border, you see these piercings? If you tug just right, she’ll come on your fingers without you even having to touch her clit.”

  Border grinned up at her from between her legs before licking her cunt. She shuddered, her legs going weak. Jake caught her and kept her steady, and she knew she’d trust him to the end of the world right then.

  “I’m surprised she doesn’t have her hood pierced,” Border mumbled before eating her out like a starving man at a buffet. His tongue worked like magic, and she had to control her breathing or she’d pass out.

  “I used to,” she panted. She gripped Jake’s arm even as Jake sucked on her nipples. It was all too much and yet not enough. “This man can do oral, Jake.” She laughed when Jake hummed along her piercing. “You both pass. Now make me come because I’m so fucking horny right now.”

  Jake’s hand slid down her belly and rubbed on her clit, even as Border tonged her. The dueling sensation forced her over the edge, and she screamed out, not using their names because she couldn’t even use the English language right then. What were their names? Who the fuck cared, she knew what mattered.

  They were hers.

  And fuck yeah, they could eat a girl out.

  Her mind whirling and her limbs heavy, Jake laid her out on the bed and finished stripping. She licked her lips, her hands roaming over her body and plucking at her nipples. She might have come, but she was far from done.

  Now naked, Jake knelt on the bed, his cock in one hand and a strip of condoms and a bottle of lube in the other. “For later,” he said as he tossed the condoms and lube on the bed.

  Maya raised her head even as Jake put his hand in her hair and guided his dick to her mouth. She swallowed greedily, using her tongue ring to bring him closer to the edge. She moaned around his cock as Border knelt between her legs, using his mouth and three fingers to get her off once again. Before she could get Jake off, however, both men pulled away, and she whimpered.

  “I’m going to fuck you first,” Jake whispered before kissing her softly. “Then Border will.”

  He cupped her face, and she leaned into his hold. “That sounds like a plan to me,” she slurred, her body a little drunk on ecstasy. “What about you two?”

  Jake looked over at Border, who was currently moving to kneel in front of Maya. “Next time,” he said softly. “There are hundreds of positions for us. For now, let us love you, and then next time, you can watch us fuck each other.”

  Maya sighed. “Oh, what a hardship,” she crooned. “Okay, if you must.” She let her legs fall, spreading herself even more. “Hop on, Gallagher. Let’s get this train moving. And Gentry? Bring that dick over here. I haven’t had my mouth on it yet.”

  Border chuckled. “I’m just meat to you, then?”

  She narrowed her eyes and gripped him at the base of his cock, tightening her fist. His eyes crossed, and she waited for him to meet her gaze.

  “You’re more than a cock to fill me, Gentry. Now, while I can’t wait to ride this, because, hello, look at this girth, you’d better get it through your mind that I expect dinner and conversation, as well.” She looked over at Jake. “Both of you.”

  Jake pressed his condom-covered cock against her. “Got you, baby. Now keep your legs spread so I can fuck you.”

  Border tapped her cheek with the tip of his dick, and she raised a brow at him. “I want to know you, Maya. We already discussed this. Now get that mouth around my cock and make me come.”

  The tone of his voice sent delicious shivers down her spine so she didn’t argue. Instead, she opened her mouth and took him deep at the same time Jake speared her. She gasped around Border’s cock.

  Jake made love to her, and she met him thrust for thrust, even as she sucked Border off. Border paid attention to her breasts and reached down to play with her clit. Even as she started to come, Jake pulled out of her, and the guys moved her around. She ended up straddling Border’s now condom-covered cock, and Jake had taken his condom off so Border could suck him down.

  She slid down Border and rode him, her hips working overtime even as she leaned down to kiss up Border’s neck. This man, these men, made her more than she was, and she knew she’d never be the same without them.

  And that was okay because she shouldn’t be the same person alone. They were special in her life for a reason.

  Jake’s face went into absolute bliss as his lover sucked him off, and Maya couldn’t help but feel grateful she was part of this. Jake was her best friend, her other half, and yet she knew she’d have to fraction herself off once more for Border and know that was what was needed.

  These two in her life were there for a reason, and as she came with her men following her, their shouts of bliss sending her over the edge yet again so close to the initial orgasm, she knew that no matter what happened, there was no going back.

  They fell together in a panting mess of limbs, her body tucked between the two of them.

  They were hers as well as each other’s.

  For now. And maybe, just maybe, forever.

  “Holy shit,” Jake panted.

  Border snorted and kissed her neck, their silent giant calmer than she’d thought possible.

  Holy shit indeed.

  Chapter Twelve

  “What the hell am I doing here again?” Border asked as he tugged on the bottom of his button-down shirt. He hadn’t tucked it in, and he’d rolled up the sleeves to let his forearms breathe, but he was still in a damn button-down shirt.

  “Because Maya invited you,” Jake said with a smile. He hadn’t tucked in his shirt either but still looked a little more…civilized than Border did. “And once Maya invites you to something, you know it’s more of a decree. In fact, it’s the same way with all the Montgomery women.”

  He might not be wearing a tie, but he still felt the need to pull at his collar. He couldn’t breathe. Damn it. He wasn’t some teenager meeting the parents of the girl he was dating. No, he was meeting the parents and the seven siblings of the girl he was seeing. Not to mention all the significant others and children that came with the Montgomery clan. Oh, and he wasn’t going alone, he was bringing his other lover with him. The same lover who happened to be Maya’s lover, as well.

  Because that wasn’t confusing or daunting or anything.

  Jake leaned forward and kissed him. Hard. “Stop overthinking it.”

  “I can’t help it,” Border mumbled. “It’s what I do.”

  “And you’re usually not so antsy about it, so get your head out of your ass and remember this is for Maya.”

  “We’ve only been together for a week,” Border mumbled, though he knew that was just a copout.

  “And we’re far beyond what others would be at a w
eek, and you know it. So stop freaking out.”

  “What are you two doing out here talking to yourselves?” Maya asked as she made her way toward them.

  They’d been standing on the sidewalk in front of the Montgomery house since they’d rode together, and now Border wasn’t sure what he was thinking about beforehand.

  Maya’s hair was down around her shoulders, and she’d curled the ends so they bounced as she walked. She had on a flowing top and tight leggings with a lace pattern on them. It wasn’t a dress, but it wasn’t her normal low-slung jeans either.

  “You look beautiful,” Border blurted.

  Maya blushed, and Jake chuckled and brought her in for a kiss. Seeing the two of them in each other’s arms sent a sense of peace through Border. Surprising, yet not all at the same time.

  When Maya came into Border’s arms and kissed him, as well, Border knew that he’d fight for this, fight for what they could have, because nothing had ever felt this right before in his life.

  “We must be scaring the neighbors,” Maya said dryly. She looked around the empty street and waved to people who might be staring through their windows. “We’re already the loud house on the block with all those damn inked Montgomerys, and now I’ve kissed you both out here on the sidewalk.”

  “Well, I kissed Border already, so it’s a threesome,” Jake said with a grin, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “Should we not have done anything in public? I know you said you were fine with this, and we weren’t going to hide anything from your family, but I don’t want it to be an issue.”

  Maya shook her head and took both of their hands in hers. “I don’t want to hide anything. It really can’t hurt my job, or yours, Jake, since we’re artists and people think we’re going to do what we want anyway.” She met Border’s eyes. “I know you said you were finding a new career of sorts, though, you know, at some point, you should elaborate on that, but will this hurt it?”