by Lia Davis
Jake pulled into a spot two places over from where Hunter stood and shut off the engine. When he didn’t move, she covered his fisted hand. She twisted to face him in the seat, giving Hunter her back. “Avery spilled. Well, all she told me was that you two were plotting against me.”
“We aren’t plotting against you.” Jake laughed, his gaze darting over her shoulder to Hunter. “We just plan to seduce you.”
She studied him for several moments. “Good thing we’re in public.”
Uncurling his fingers, he linked them with hers and brought their joined hands to his mouth. “Yes. Although I wish we were somewhere more private.”
Like it always had with him, defeat overtook her. All he had to do was flash his smile, and she was done for. “Frankie has private dining rooms. I’ll ask for one.”
His features softened as if he were relieved. There was something much deeper going on between the men, and Tessa wanted to know what. She wasn’t willing to let either of them go. Jake was her best friend. He knew all her secrets. Hunter...well, he stirred a passion deep inside her that she wanted to explore more—despite throwing him out of her office that afternoon.
“Come on. I’m hungry.” She kissed Jake’s cheek before exiting the car.
When she straightened, she jumped at the sight of Hunter so close. He chuckled and snaked an arm around her waist. Their bodies meshed together, making the heat in her core flare. With his free hand, he stroked her cheek with his knuckles.
Hunter’s gaze flicked to the side at Jake, and a hint of regret entered the man’s grey depths. Tessa cupped his cheek, drawing his attention back to her. “He told me about last summer. We have a lot to discuss over dinner.”
She extracted herself from his arms and walked toward the restaurant entrance, leaving the men to follow. She refused to be stuck in the middle. Something they were both about to find out.
***
Hunter followed behind Jake and Tessa as the waitress led them to a private dining room in the back of the restaurant. A whisper of unease teased his senses, while regret ate at his insides. He should have called Jake and let him know what was going on. Yet, Hunter was afraid to hear the depths of other male’s pain and learn what he might have said.
Yes, he was weak when it came to Jake. However, the man Hunter wanted—and still wanted—like no one before or after was back in his life. Or was he?
The space was small but inviting. A single round table covered with a white linen tablecloth stood in the middle of the room. Double doors opened to the beach. The roar of the ocean sounded in the distance, calming his nerves a little.
Tessa took her seat first, then Jake sat to one side of her. Hunter sat on her other side, across from Jake. The tension weighed on him like an invisible twenty-pound bag of wet sand. Words failed him, and it was several moments before Tessa let out a heavy sigh before she spoke.
“There is one thing I have to make clear to both of you. First,”—she looked at Hunter—“Jake is my best friend and has been since we were thirteen. He will always be a part of my life. Second,”—she turned to Jake—“I like Hunter. I don’t want to not be his friend.”
Hunter met Jake’s narrowed stare. Anger darkened the blue depths. “I’m sorry for leaving Texas without a goodbye.”
Jake shrugged. “No, I acted like an ass. I was perfectly capable of picking up the phone and calling you. Then, I would have known about your sister and could have been there for you.”
They sat in silence, their hands still linked for several moments before Jake broke the quiet. “I lost both of my parents in a house fire a few months after you left.”
Hunter’s heart broke all over again. When Jake had needed someone, he wasn’t there. “Look, I’m sorry—”
“No. I’ve been a jerk.” Jake glanced at Tessa and then down to her and Hunter’s linked hands.
“So now what?” Hunter asked, not knowing what else to say. Plus, he wanted to let Jake know it was his decision.
The other man moved his gaze from Hunter to Tessa. One corner of his lips twitched. “I say we give it a go. The three of us.”
Tessa coughed and squeaked out, “What?”
Hunter smiled. “I think that would be a good step.”
Tessa tugged her hands away from them and folded her arms across her chest. “Hello? Do I get a say in this?”
Both men scooted their chairs closer to hers. Hunter caressed her cheek as Jake fingered her hair as he spoke. “Of course, but before you do, think about what you get. Two men who would do anything to please you. And each other.”
Hunter cupped Jake’s cheek and ran his thumb over his bottom lip. Jake sucked on the tip of his thumb, drawing a soft moan from Hunter. “Don’t give us your answer until Valentine’s Day. Let us show you all the benefits of having two lovers.”
“Oh, God. This is not happening.”
Jake laughed. “It is, beautiful.”
Hunter leaned in and pressed his lips to her ear and whispered, “Two days of being pampered and pleasured.”
“What if I decide I don’t want to be with both of you?”
Hunter’s heart skipped a few beats and dread burned in his gut. “Then we’ll have to accept your choice.”
“That’s not fair,” she replied in a low tone.
“It’s a gamble we are willing to take.” Jake kissed her cheek.
Hope bloomed in Hunter’s heart. Although he and Jake had more to resolve. One thing was for sure, Hunter wasn’t going to fuck up a second time.
***
Heat spread through her as a mix of desire, intrigue, and concern whirled around like a cyclone. Two men? At the same time?
“What about jealousy?” There had to be some kind of resentment, right?
“Hunter and I have some things to talk through. No matter how mad and hurt I was when I saw him in your office, the feelings I developed during our weekend in Texas are still there. I’m willing to give it another go, see where it leads.” Jake glanced to Hunter then locked gazes with her. “I’ve loved you since we were kids. Probably from the moment we met. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t care about you.”
Tessa’s heart melted. Jake had always been there. Even when he moved away, he was there on the phone to cheer her up or just be silly. He always knew what she needed.
Hunter leaned into her. “I’m willing to overlook how much of a jerk Jake can be.”
Jake laughed and cupped Hunter’s cheek. Their gazes locked for a moment before they hugged Tessa between them. Her heart warmed. She couldn’t explain it, but she knew it was important that they work things out. If they were going to date—which still blew her mind—the three of them needed to find a balance.
“It’s not going to be perfect, but no relationship ever is,” Hunter stated a moment before the waitress came over to take their orders.
After she’d left, Tessa studied Hunter before asking, “What were you doing in Texas?”
“Helping out a friend of my father’s who needed some work done on a few of his rental properties.” Hunter sat back in his chair and glanced to Jake. “We met in a grocery store.”
Tessa laughed. “Do tell.”
Jake frowned. “Hunter cut in front of me in the checkout line.”
“We happened to be heading to the same one. I just got there first.” Hunter sipped his water before continuing. “Jake called me an ass. It was a whisper and not meant for me to hear, but I did.”
A soft chuck escaped Jake. “When I got to my car, I noticed Hunter standing beside his truck, waiting. I thought for sure I was going to get my ass kicked.”
“Instead, I asked him out for a drink.”
Tessa glanced from one to the other, then shook her head. “Men are so weird. You know if that were two women, they’d have had a cat fight in the checkout line.”
They laughed, and Tessa felt the tension in the room dissipate. Both men relaxed beside her. She caught them stealing glances at one another. A sense of joy and love flu
ttered inside her. Could they really make it work?
She definitely wanted to find out.
Chapter Eight
An hour later, Tessa followed Jake into his fifth-floor condo, her stomach in knots as desire twirled inside her. The thought of dating both him and Hunter at the same time swirled in her head. She wasn’t sure what it meant, not really. Hell, Jake had never told her before that afternoon that he was interested in starting a relationship.
God, she was confused and turned on.
Hunter had turned down Jake’s offer to come to his place, saying he had some work to do before bed. Tessa sensed that he was just giving her and Jake some time alone.
She would have to make tomorrow night all about Hunter.
After Jake had shut the door, he stalked toward her. His shoulders rolled with each step, and his eyes locked with hers. Heat flooded her as he snaked an arm around her waist and pressed his body to hers.
His mouth covered hers in a seductive yet unapologetic kiss. A groan escaped as a fiery need to have him inside her took over. The first sweep of his tongue against hers chased away all reason. She fisted one hand in his short, black hair and pulled.
He responded by lifting her skirt, cupping her ass, and picking her off the ground before walking them farther into the living room.
Damn, if she’d known how wonderfully erotic it was to kiss him, she’d have done it ten years ago. The passion Jake stirred in her at that moment mirrored the fiery passion Hunter’s had the night before.
Without breaking the kiss, Jake lowered her to the sofa and pressed his hips into her. She moaned at the feel of his denim-covered cock through her thin cotton panties. Liquor fire ran through her blood. She moved her hips against him, needing more.
He broke the kiss and stared into her eyes, his lids as heavy as hers felt. “I’ve wanted you for so long, but I was too shy to make a move when we were in school.”
“Me, too.”
Standing, he hiked her skirt up and removed her panties before dropping to his knees between her thighs. “So beautiful.”
He slipped two fingers into her folds, rubbing from the top to her entrance. She gasped as pleasure washed over her.
“So wet.” His warm breath touched her inner thigh, sending a jolt of electrified need straight to her pussy. Then his mouth was on her, his tongue teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves as he slid his fingers inside her.
She dug her fingers into his hair, pulling gently as she moved her hips in time with each lick of his tongue and thrust of his fingers. Fire raced through her veins, and pleasure built, threatening to throw her over the edge.
Tightening her grip on his hair, she rode the wave of an orgasm as it ripped through her.
He stood and held out his hand. When she took it, he tugged her up hard enough that she fell into him. Her legs were like jelly from the after-effects of the orgasm. She pressed her lips to his, savoring the minty taste of him and the faint taste of her on his tongue.
A heavy knock on the door startled her. Jake drew his brows together before releasing her and marching to the front of the condo. Tessa adjusted her clothes, making sure everything was covered as Jake peered through the peephole. He let out a sigh and paused briefly before opening it.
Hunter stormed in and slammed the door behind him. With his grey, desire-filled gaze locked on Jake, he cupped the other man’s face in his hands and kissed him.
Tessa’s body ached, and she pressed her thighs together as her pussy pulsed with need. Shit. She hadn’t expected them to look so damn hot together.
Their mouths moved in sync, and she caught glimpses of tongue. Tessa cupped her breast through her blouse with one hand and rubbed her clit with the other, trying to ease the fire a bit.
Hunter broke the kiss to glance at her, and his eyes burned with passion as they lowered to her hand. “Someone is starting without us.”
She stilled as both of them walked to her. Hunter was the first to reach her. He snaked an arm around her and hovered his mouth inches from hers. “You taste good on Jake’s lips and tongue.”
Holly hell. She almost came at his words. Pleasure rolled through her, increasing the achy desire consuming her. “I need—”
Hunter locked gazes with her as he unbuttoned her blouse and slid the silky garment off her shoulders. Her heart hammered, and her breaths increased in anticipation. From the corner of her eye, she saw Jake move to stand behind her. When he swept her hair aside and kissed her neck, she melted.
She tried to think, but it was next to impossible with their hands on her body. Hunter dipped his head and kissed the other side of her neck. He placed a kiss farther down until he unhooked the front clasp of her bra, freeing her breasts. He captured a nipple in his mouth, and she was thankful that Jake was behind her because her knees went weak. She sagged into him, and he supported her.
Jake bent and hooked an arm under her knees then scooped her up in his arms. “We’d better take her to the bedroom before we all fall to the floor.”
Hunter nodded and followed them into the bedroom. Tessa considered protesting against being carried but decided to enjoy it. Let them have their fun.
Jake lay on his bed while Hunter moved to the other side. After removing his clothes, Hunter climbed onto the bed. She drank him in, her mouth watering at the view of his hard muscles and the erection on display. He was beautiful—in a manly kind of way.
Rolling to her side, she rose to her knees in front of Hunter. Their eyes met. Desire blazed within his grey depths, stirring the craving within her even more. Her pussy ached, and heat spread throughout her.
She gripped him in her hand and slowly stroked. A hiss of a groan escaped Hunter, and he moved his hips in time with her strokes.
Jake knelt on his knees behind her and lifted her skirt up over her hips and slid two fingers into her folds. Pleasure washed over and through her, and she almost came.
“She’s wet for us,” Jake growled from behind her. God, if it wasn’t the sexiest thing she’d ever heard.
Hunter cupped one of her breasts, rolling the nipple between his fingers. Pinpricks of pleasure crawled over her skin. Pulsing need grew, almost becoming too much.
“Suck him.” Jake leaned over her, his chest pressing into her back, his free arm wrapped around her middle.
Focusing on Hunter’s hard cock, she smiled and lowered her head. She licked the tip, teasing and drawing a moan from him.
“It’s not nice to tease.” Hunter fisted a hand in her hair.
She took him into her mouth at the same time Jake rubbed her clit. Good God, she’d never felt as she did in that moment. Desired. Sexy. And...wild.
While she sucked Hunter, she heard the zipper of Jake’s pants, and she whimpered. Want turned into need.
When Jake guided his cock into her, she released Hunter on a gasp as pleasure assailed her.
Hunter moved so he could take a breast into his mouth and began stroking his cock.
Tessa was on the edge. So many sensations. She didn’t know whether to hold on and let it keep building or just succumb to the pleasure and dive over the edge.
Jake seemed to be making the decision for her—or making it harder to hold onto the control—he increased his thrusts, pounding into her. The moment she cried out in release, both her men did, too.
Jake stilled at her back, his cock buried deep inside like he didn’t want to lose the connection.
Hunter reached up and cupped her face. He laughed and said, “The two of you are beautiful.”
He heart melted more. For once, she didn’t question the nature of their relationship or the beginnings of whatever it was between them. Because in that moment, she wanted nothing more than to be with both of them.
Chapter Nine
Jake kissed Tessa’s temple, inhaling the soft, floral notes of her perfume. He tightened his hold to snuggle into her. From behind him, Hunter threw his arm over both of them. A sense of completeness filled him.
Making love to Tessa a
nd Hunter was amazing. Yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Tessa wasn’t on board. She was too quiet. Was she having second thoughts? Anxiety chased away the happy and content feelings. He couldn’t lose either of them. Now that he’d gotten a taste of the bliss between them, he’d do anything to make the relationship work.
Tessa’s warm palm rested on his cheek, drawing his attention to her. She frowned and kissed him on the lips before asking, “What’s wrong?”
Caressing her cheek, then tracing her lips, he forced a smile. “I feel a little guilty for being happy right now.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “It feels like I don’t deserve to be. Not after losing my parents. It was my fault they died.”
“Tell me what happened. Please.” Her green eyes held sadness, and he wanted to chase it away.
“The fire at the farmhouse was electrical. The fire department said it was a short in the old wires. We had a plan to get out and meet at the barn several yards away from the house.” Jake blinked back tears as Hunter hugged him and Tessa closer.
Tessa’s lip trembled. She’d loved his parents, and had always been treated like family. “Oh, hon.”
He closed his eyes briefly. “Mom and Dad didn’t make it out. Hell, I’m not sure they even woke up. I never checked on them, just—”
“Stop.” Tessa hovered over him, her hands framing his face. “It’s not your fault. You said you had a plan to meet.”
He covered her hands with his own. “The alarm woke me up, and I followed the plan, escaping out my window. The fire chief said the fire started in their room. I didn’t check on them.”
“Please, don’t do this to yourself.”
“It’s hard not to.” He brushed a red curl from her face, then traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “I’ve spent the last few months in grief counseling, but I couldn’t stay there anymore. Too many memories. So I sold the farm and moved back here.”
Sadness entered her gaze, and she sank down and cuddled into his side. “I loved your parents.”
“Me, too.”
Silence fell over them for several long moments. There was so much he wanted to tell her, so many regrets he wanted to share along with successes. “Tessa.”
