“Holy shit,” Craig muttered, lifting his head from Jenn’s pussy.
Aiden met Jenn’s gaze. Her expression was expectant, excited. She licked her lips, and he wished he could kiss her right then and there. He pushed again, sliding deeper. With each inward stroke, he came closer and closer, until his groin hugged Craig’s hard ass.
Once he was as deeply embedded as he could be, he straightened, gripped Craig’s hips and began to rock.
Craig sank again, his mouth open, his tongue desperately searching Jenn’s folds, seeking her pleasure and sweet distraction from the powerful surges taking him from behind.
Aiden was huge, stretched him until he burned and ached, and the pleasure of it was indescribable. Jenn’s belly began to quiver, and he concentrated his efforts on the swollen nubbin at the top of her folds, sucking it hard, drawing it from beneath the thin hood, sucking until it was fully erect like a tiny, blunt penis. He gripped the base with his lips and slathered the tip with his tongue, rubbing soft then hard, ignoring the fingers pinching his earlobes and the way she squirmed and jerked beneath him.
He needed to focus on something besides the thickness reaming his ass, because he wanted to blow.
A hard hand reached beneath him and ringed the base of his cock, and Craig sighed, thankful the responsibility of holding back was off him. Until Aiden began moving his fingers on Craig’s cock in powerful, twisting strokes.
Fuck, fuck, fuck! Craig’s lips clamped harder around Jenn’s clit and she sobbed.
“Not yet,” Aiden said loudly. “Not yet…”
The thrusts grew more powerful, thudding against his ass, driving deep—hard, rapid penetrations that drove him crazy, made thinking about anything else, anyone else impossible.
Craig bit Jenn’s clit and she howled. Her body arched, writhed. Her hips slammed up. Her orgasm had his balls cramping painfully hard.
Craig braced a hand on the floor and grasped Jenn’s shoulder to shove her under his body because he needed her there. Jenn complied, wriggling wildly to get into place.
The hand on his cock pulled free. Fingers clenched on his hips and thumbs dug into the bruises on his buttocks. The strokes deepened, lengthened. Craig raised his head, closed his eyes and prayed to keep it together.
Another stroke and he knew he was going to lose it.
“Now, boy,” Aiden panted. “Now!”
Aiden’s hips crashed into his, jerking his whole body. His balls burst, semen spurted in scalding pulses. Craig pushed up on his elbows and tilted his ass, wanting more, needing the crush of Aiden’s thrusts.
When the other man’s movements slowed, Craig opened his eyes. Jenn lay beneath him. A beautiful, sweaty mess, come streaking her belly and breasts.
Aiden’s body shuddered behind him then slowly withdrew.
Craig didn’t watch as his Dom walked away. He backed up and knelt, gave Jenn his hand and pulled her up to sit beside him.
“He’s going to need a little space,” she whispered, her fingers smearing the whitish streaks on her skin.
He gave her cheek a kiss. “So will I.”
Her smile was slow and sweet. “Don’t give him too much time or we’ll have to start from scratch again.”
Co-conspirators now, lovers who were falling in love, he kissed her mouth. “Take care.”
He pushed off the floor and turned. Aiden was washing at the sink again and didn’t look back. Wishing he knew exactly what he should say, instead, Craig kept silent and left the room.
Chapter Seven
Throughout the next week, Jenn and Craig kept in close contact, calling and texting each other. But after Saturday’s marathon, per Jenn, Aiden hadn’t mentioned Craig’s name once, and then he’d left Jenn for his two-day shift at the firehouse.
Craig was beginning to think that one night was all Aiden would allow. Craig had spent the intervening days trying not to imagine an arrangement where the three of them could be together. In the moments when he was weak, he dreamed of living with them, caring for Jenn’s needs when Aiden was gone. Serving Aiden’s along with Jenn whenever the fireman returned. But the picture in his mind was only a dream.
Aiden hadn’t felt the same attraction. The same screaming need.
This night, Thursday night, he met with his closest friends at Marti’s bar. Everyone was there—Jackson, Beau, Gus and Mondo.
Beau’s slightly flat features and slanted black eyes studied him. So closely, he drew Mondo’s attention too. Jackson was too busy giving Marti sultry looks. Gus had his pretty Domme, Ash, perched on his knee. His hand was beneath her skirt, so the two didn’t notice the extra attention Craig was getting.
Craig gave Mondo and Beau a hot glare. “What?”
Beau shrugged. “Just wondering. Heard you had a date with Jenn and that fireman who wiped the field with you. Wondered how that went.”
Mondo grunted and his gaze roamed away a little too nonchalantly.
Craig shook his head, his stomach plummeting. “No. Tell me you weren’t watchin’ with security.”
Mondo shrugged. “You’re my friend. Think I wasn’t going to make sure that bull played nice?”
Heat suffused his face and neck. “Then you saw.”
“Everything. Yes.” Mondo’s gaze cut back to him with only the barest hint of a smile. “I would have intervened, but it looked like you were enjoying it too much.”
Jackson swung his head toward Craig. “What’s that? You and Aiden Byrne? I thought it was just…playin’.”
Craig’s cheeks burned hotter, but he prayed the dim light in the bar didn’t betray him. “That’s all it was,” he grumbled. “Playin’.”
“Then how come you’ve been so quiet?” Jackson asked. “Even Marti asked me if you were unhappy. I didn’t know anything was wrong.”
Guilt added to his embarrassment. He and Jackson had been friends a long time. They’d always shared everything. He’d even helped Jackson land his girl. “There’s no fixin’ this. Nothing’s broke.”
Mondo’s dark gaze, always so astute, didn’t give him any wiggle room. “Then you won’t mind that I invited Jenn to drop by.”
Craig shifted backward in his seat. “Why’d you do that?”
“Aiden’s sleeping after his shift. I thought she might be lonely.”
“Jenn’s Aiden’s girl.”
“Jenn’s her own woman.” The voice was soft but firm and coming from right behind him.
Craig glanced over his shoulder at Jenn. She looked gorgeous. Her dark hair fell in a soft cloud around her bare shoulders. The slim blue sheath she wore ended several inches above her knees. Rising to his feet, he asked, “Should you be here?”
“Because Aiden might wake up and decide he needs service?” Her nose wrinkled. “He has two hands.”
The table erupted in laughter. But not for the reason Jenn might have thought.
Craig’s glance darted past her curvy figure to the tall man striding toward the table. His heartbeats hammered against his chest. By Aiden’s taut expression, he was furious.
Aiden came up close to Jenn’s back, his expression controlled but with angry splotches of color in his cheeks.
When her gaze noted the men weren’t looking her way, she glanced warily behind her shoulder. “Oh…hi, hon.”
“Think I didn’t notice you sneak out of the apartment?” he growled.
Craig’s body reacted to that tone, heating, his cock stiffening.
“I figured you needed your rest, baby,” she said, patting his cheek.
“Then why not go to the grocery store? We’re out of milk.”
Jenn’s bottom lip protruded. She tilted her chin high. “I’m not a servant. Not your slave.”
“But you want to be.”
She flipped back her hair. “Well, I’ve changed my mind. I want a smarter master.”
Craig pursed his lips. Lord, she’d gone and done it now.
Aiden lifted his hands and gripped her upper arms.
Gus pushed Ash gently o
ff his lap and stood. The two men had a table between them, but Craig didn’t think that would be much of barrier if they decided to wade in to fight.
But it wasn’t Gus’s fight.
Craig set aside his chair and faced Aiden, keeping his expression carefully neutral. “Jenn stopped in to have drinks with friends. Why don’t you join us too?”
Gus cussed under his breath, and Craig thought maybe Mondo was chuckling, but he wasn’t going to break stares with Aiden when the other man looked mean enough to chew rocks.
“Jenn, let’s go.”
Jenn slipped onto Mondo’s lap and put her arm around his shoulder. “Mondo here’s a smart Dom.”
Mondo shook his head. “Bad move, sweetheart,” he whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear.
Aiden curled his fists at his sides. Mondo hadn’t tried to seize control, but he sure hadn’t backed him up.
“You’re on the wrong lap,” Aiden bit out.
Jenn’s gaze got meaner, narrower, and she slipped off Mondo’s lap and slid her arm around Craig’s waist. Craig didn’t lift his arm to make room for her, but he didn’t push her away.
Something Aiden noted with a deepening frown. He took a step back and raked a hand through his hair.
For the first time, Craig read indecision in the emotions scrolling across Aiden’s face.
Aiden took another backward step then turned on his heel and left.
Mondo canted his head, studying Jenn’s face then Craig’s. A smile began to twitch on his lips. “Can I give you two a little insight?” he whispered, this time low enough only the two of them could hear.
“Please,” Jenn breathed.
Mondo hunched toward them both. “We Doms like to think we’re in control. We like knowing that we understand the dynamics of any sexual situation. But when our hearts enter the mix, it’s confusing. Sometimes, we need leading… Not topping from the bottom, which you try to do a little too often, Jenn, though I know you like a tender ass. But you ambushed him on Saturday. He wanted to play, expected a sexy romp, but you two made it about so much more.”
“We made it about what we needed…” Craig said softly.
“Yes.”
“How do I make this right?” Craig asked, turning to Mondo.
“Give him a way to take back control. He’s already in deep. He wouldn’t be so angry if he weren’t into you both. But he wants to be the one to make the next move. It’s all subconscious. I’m sure he doesn’t feel anything now but frustration and anger, and more than a little regret that you had to stand up to him. Give him something that puts him back on solid ground.”
Jenn leaned closer to Mondo. “How?”
“You’re a smart girl. Craig’s still pretty green. You better than him can figure this out.”
“Now?”
“Find him. Alone. Give him back his sweet little sub.”
Craig felt his heart crash to his toes. Maybe they weren’t meant to be, not if he was going to come between Jenn and Aiden. He’d never wanted that. He gripped her upper arms gently. “Jenn. Go find him. You two had each other first. Maybe this wasn’t supposed to be anything more than what it was.”
Regret filled her dark eyes. “I’m sorry, Craig. So sorry. I guess I got excited thinking I could fix him.”
“Maybe there’s nothing there to fix. Maybe you two just need to talk. Figure out what’s missing in your relationship together.”
“But…”
He kissed her mouth. Just a gentle touch. Then he mustered a bitter smile. “I’ll be all right. Swear.”
However, as he watched her walk away, he knew he’d lied. He’s miss her like a hole in his heart. He didn’t dare to consider the loss of Aiden. The Dom had never really been his. His dreams had been a fantasy. Completely, hopelessly out of reach.
Mondo’s hand patted his shoulder. “Losing someone you love, even to someone worthy of her, isn’t easy.”
Craig’s gaze slid to Ash, who sat again on Gus’s knee while the big guy rubbed her back. Mondo had loved Ash but stepped back because he knew she’d be happy with Gus. “Does it get easier?”
Mondo’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “No. It really doesn’t.”
Jenn didn’t find Aiden’s car at the usual places—the apartment building or La Forge—so she drove to the firehouse. There, she found his black pickup parked outside. She pulled in beside it then let herself out. So she’d found him. But she still didn’t know yet what she’d say.
Hoping she hadn’t completely fucked up their relationship, she walked through the bay, down the hallway to the rec room. She peeked inside, noted the TV blaring and gave a wave to one of the men who started to stand. He knew her and eased back into his armchair.
The clank of weights dropping drew her attention. Moving farther down the hall, she stood at the door of the small gym room. Several other firefighters were inside, mostly sitting on benches and talking. One of them noted her appearance, slapped the man next to him, and suddenly they were trailing past her, leaving her alone with the man who pretended she wasn’t there.
The barbells he lifted in rapid succession were heavily weighted. He was sweating. Shirtless. Wearing just a pair of plain gray sweatpants and sneakers.
Her mouth watered because she wanted to lick at the sweat. But she shook herself. Aiden needed something from her.
Trying not to think about what she was doing, she went with her instincts. Her submissive heart. She strolled slowly inside, dropped her purse beside the door and closed the door before she stripped to the skin. Naked, she walked toward him and knelt beside the bench where he reclined.
Aiden continued to ignore her.
For her part, she ignored the hardness of the polished concrete floor beneath her knees. Other things weren’t so easy to push out of her mind as she waited. His body was so beautiful. So strong. A study in rippling, übermasculine muscle.
Every flex heightened her awareness of the things she loved about his body. The strength of his embrace. How safe he made her feel. The sheer power he kept tightly controlled every time he touched her. Aiden didn’t trust that strength. Not when it came to her. And she’d resented it.
But that restraint was a testament to his desire to protect anyone weaker than he was. Proof of his deep feelings for her. How selfish had she been to want to push him into losing his control for her own pleasure?
He settled the weights into their bracket then jackknifed to sit with his legs straddling the bench.
Jenn didn’t dare glance up. Not until he said something. Gave her permission.
“Why are you here?”
She closed her eyes. What was the right thing to say? Rather than the apology she wanted to give him, she whispered, “I’m here to be punished.”
After a long, pregnant silence, he asked, “Did you even lock the door?”
She shook her head. “I deserve the humiliation.”
“If you deserve it, why did you close it?”
Jenn dropped her head another notch. “Because I wanted you to make that choice.”
Again, he remained quiet. So long that she thought maybe coming here had been a huge mistake.
“Go open the door, Jenn.”
She held still for a moment—shocked he’d actually made that choice—but then she rose unsteadily and walked to the door. Taking a deep breath, she opened it. Thankfully, the corridor was empty. But it was a firehouse. Men had work to do. The doorway to the gym was one away from the kitchen. Eventually, someone would see.
She left it open and returned to kneel beside him again.
He raised a finger, touched her nipple and rubbed the tip. It hardened beneath the second and third soft brush. Then he pinched it between his thumb and forefinger and held it.
“Back up.”
With his fingers still squeezing her nipple, she crawled backward, mindful her ass faced the door but seriously beginning not to care. He rolled the tip between his fingers then released it to spring back. He stood and slowly rolle
d down his pants, freeing his cock.
The long column bobbed in front of her face, already partly hard. More than anything, she wished she could rub her cheek on it, seek a little solace from the warmth. She licked her lips then heard a soft grunt.
Glancing up, her gaze locked with his. His smile gave her pause. Chilled her. Oh, he was going to take back his pride in spades. His expression held too much satisfaction. She’d behaved boldly following him here and then giving him her subservience in such a potentially embarrassing way. But she’d wanted to prove how much she loved him, how willing she was to let him lead. If she’d waited, his anger and disappointment in her might have festered. She’d give him this moment. Sacrifice her pound of flesh.
Aiden lifted his head. “Sorensen!”
Her body jerked, and she swung her head to look behind her.
Heavy tread came quickly down the hallway. Billy Sorensen’s broad frame filled the doorway. His gaze dropped to the floor and widened. “Holy shit. Um, what did you need, Aiden?”
“Block the doorway. But you watch.”
Blond brows shot upward, but Billy leaned a hip against the door, signaling his willingness to stay.
Turning back, she watched as Aiden reached down, palmed his balls, then gripped his shaft and stroked himself hard. Lord, he had her full attention now as he lifted the tip to her mouth. “Suck it, slut.”
He’d called her that often, but again, it was all about context. This time he’d done it in front of his friend. But wasn’t she deserving? Humiliation burning in her cheeks, she opened her mouth.
The firehouse wasn’t the right place for this kind of punishment. They both knew that. At the club, she’d have done this gladly, but Billy Sorensen wasn’t a member of their club. And Aiden had never asked her to go public outside the club’s environs.
But that was the point. She’d instigated this, and now he wanted her embarrassed. Wanted her cowed.
Closing her eyes, she closed her lips around his cock and sucked.
Anger boiled inside Aiden. She’d dared him into this. Stripping where he worked. Offering service here where he’d been so careful to keep his secrets. His crew was a horny bunch, but they lived in a vanilla world. They kept their affairs private, or at least as much as bragging men ever did.
A Perfect Trifecta: Delta Heat, Book 3 Page 7
