A Valentine for Two
Page 22
“Women don’t really come into the locker room unless there’s a reason for them to be there. Like Sarah for instance. She works for the Storm. But otherwise, random people aren’t usually wandering around, just team personnel and the press.”
“Good to know.”
Ian set about getting the cream on his face and then picked up the razor. “This feels really nice. More rich or something. I’m not sure how to explain it, but I like it.”
He’d finished about two-thirds of his face when the doorbell rang. Haley left the room and greeted Derek. Then the sound of voices stopped, and Ian peered around the corner of the bathroom. Derek had Haley against the wall as he kissed her hard. Haley certainly wasn’t putting up much of a fight. Ian grinned and went back to his task.
A few moments later, the two appeared in the bathroom door. “I hear I’m going to test something. Looking at you, I think I’ve guessed what it is,” Derek remarked.
Ian took a few last swipes at the hard-to-reach areas, rinsed the razor, and said, “All yours, buddy.”
Haley grabbed another razor and towel. “We’ll be in the living room. I wanted you both to give me some feedback, but it might make more sense to wait and only go through the questions once.”
Ian and Haley returned to the living room. Seeing his opportunity to do exactly as he’d wanted earlier—explore her more—he swept Haley into his arms. She let out a squeak and then covered her mouth, obviously trying not to laugh. Ian pushed her hand aside and kissed her. He wanted to lay her down on the couch and keep going in the worst way, but she had asked them to test the cream, and he wanted to respect that. So he let her go.
“Had to get my time in,” he joked.
“Did it look like I was going to complain?”
“No, and I’d like to keep it that way.”
Derek strolled into the room. “How’s my clean, close shave?”
Haley indicated a spot on the couch with an amused expression and picked up a clipboard. For the next couple of minutes, she quizzed them, making notes on the paper and sometimes asking a follow-up question. She set the clipboard down and said, “I think that try could be labeled a success, but I need more volunteers. I guess my friends’ husbands and boyfriends are about to join my informal focus group.”
Ian jumped in. “Why don’t you give us some for the guys? I’m sure they’d be willing to help you out.”
“Do you think so? I’d want them to fill out the form like you guys just did. It doesn’t take that long, but I don’t want to impose on anybody.”
Derek shrugged. “I doubt anyone would feel like that. They’d probably think it was cool to try it.”
“Awesome! I’ll make up a bigger batch and give it to you. Thanks for the offer. You’re both really sweet beneath those tough hockey player exteriors, you know that?” A smile played on the corners of her mouth.
“Don’t tell anybody,” Derek warned. “We have reputations to uphold.”
She made a zipping motion over her mouth.
Then Ian had an idea. Make her pay. “Sooooo.” He glanced at Derek with a wicked grin. “I think our assistance might cost you.”
Haley feigned surprise. “Oh no! What terrible price will I need to pay?”
Ian rose and picked her up. Haley felt right in his arms, and he shuddered. “You’ll see.” As he started toward the bedroom, he called back to Derek, “You coming, bud?”
Ian could be pretty sure his friend had mumbled that he hoped so, but he didn’t think Haley heard.
She was too busy protesting being carried. “Put me down.”
“You just said we were big, tough hockey players. I’m playing the part.” He reached her bedroom and set her on the bed. “See? You arrived safely. Nothing to worry about.”
Derek stood at the threshold as if unsure about whether or not to enter, and Haley jerked her head toward him. “Join the party.”
He came in and stood next to Ian.
Haley giggled. “You two look like bookends standing over me. How about you come down to my level?”
“Gladly.” Derek indicated for her to move toward the center of the bed, and each of them took a side.
“Wow. This is surreal,” she said. “So, um, how does this work? I confess to having recently viewed some videos of threesomes, but they were pretty, um, pornographic.”
“Only pretty pornographic?” Ian asked with a laugh.
Her eyes narrowed as she held his stare. “Okay, fine. They were porn.”
“This happens however we want it to,” he told her, being sure to take her questions seriously. “Only the people in this room matter.”
Haley looked around. “Oh, good. No one else is lurking in the shadows, so I only have to contend with you two.” She blushed and looked away.
Ian turned her face back to his. “Don’t be intimidated. You take the lead.”
“I guess I can do that,” she answered with a slow nod. “I’m not used to calling the shots, though, you know?”
“If you’re not comfortable, don’t,” Derek said. “We can love on you, and if we do something you don’t like or want, just tell us. Kind of like a sexual focus group.”
His banter seemed to ease the mood, and Ian sent his friend a grateful look. Ian had an inkling being serious only worked for so long before it would start to freak her out.
Angling her gaze at Derek, Haley asked, “There’s no test or anything, right? Will I need to complete a form?”
“In triplicate,” Derek answered with a straight face.
She laughed. “I hope my hand doesn’t cramp up.”
She ran said hand down Derek’s chest, and he held still, letting her explore. Ian also stilled, staring at the tableau in front of him with rapt attention.
Then Haley did the same to Ian, her gaze switching back and forth between them. “I have to admit, there are perks to this whole ménage thing, though I’m not sure they apply for you guys since you have to share me. I get twice the man, you get half the woman.”
Derek shook his head. “That’s not how we look at it. We chose this. It turns us to watch you with the other. There’s nothing sexual between Ian and I, but that doesn’t mean we don’t enjoy a little voyeurism.”
“I’ve been wanting to ask about that since Ian introduced the topic, but hadn’t figured out a way to phrase the question politely.”
“Screw polite,” Ian said. “If you want to know something, ask. Be direct.”
“It’s hard.” She chewed her lip. “I’m not really the type to use a lot of dirty language.”
“And you don’t have to. Just blurt out whatever. We’ll figure it out,” Derek assured her.
“Seriously, this is so weird, you guys.” Her glance darted from one to the other again and her next words came out in a rush. “I want to know what it’s like to have sex with two guys at the same time. I mean,” she made a face, “not strictly at the same time, or, um, at least not in the same place. Ow. But I wanna know what it would be like. I think we all need to remove some clothing if that’s gonna happen. Do you mind being under the covers? I’d feel self-conscious otherwise.”
“Not at all.” Derek stood and held out his hand before pulling Haley to her feet.
Ian then took the opportunity to clear most of the pillows off the bed. “Why do women have so many pillows?”
Neither of his cohorts answered, and Ian looked up. Haley was staring into Derek’s eyes. Ian stopped and watched. She pulled his fleece over his head and then his T-shirt.
“This is way better than doing it with you wearing all those layers,” she remarked as she caressed his torso. Without looking away from Derek, she said, “Ian, get over here.”
He wasted no time, taking up residence behind her. They’d found oftentimes it put the woman at ease when she didn’t have to face both of them. “I’m here, baby.”
Haley spun to face Ian. “Take off your shirt.”
“Yes ma’am.” Ian made quick work of the task, and she cast an appr
eciative gaze at him. They’d gone this far in the past before Derek had arrived on the scene, but he wouldn’t complain if Haley wanted to ogle him.
“Oh yeah, there are definitely points in favor of this,” she whispered.
Ian barked out a laugh. “I’m glad you approve.” He paused, unsure. “Now you?”
She took a breath and then pulled her shirt over her head. Underneath was a light purple bra, and Ian traced the outline with his finger. So soft. He shifted, trying to relieve the increasing pressure of his erection.
Smiling hesitantly up at him, she asked, “You approve?”
“Oh, honey, you know how beautiful I think you are. I’m sure Derek would second my opinion.”
“Hell yeah.”
“You don’t ever have to worry about that,” Ian agreed.
“Not even for a second,” Derek said, caressing her shoulders. She reached up and popped the clasp of the bra, and the garment fell down her arms. She let it drop.
Ian dropped to his knees and took a nipple in his mouth, swirling his tongue around the hardening peak. Haley arched her back, pushing herself farther inside, and he gladly took up the challenge. He felt Derek’s hand on her belly, and Ian shifted to make a little more room for his friend. Ian watched as Derek’s fingertips disappeared into the waistband of her yoga pants.
“You’re teasing me,” she muttered. “That’s not nice.”
Ian suppressed a chuckle as he switched to the other breast, covering the first with his hand and tweaking the peak.
Derek leaned in and said softly, “I’m not teasing. We’ll give you everything you want, and more.”
“Oh, my.”
“But first, we need to get you revved and ready. By the time things go further, we want you panting.”
Haley made a low sound like pure sex, her eyes closing.
“Yep, you heard right. We want you to be so turned on that your breath is going like you just ran a marathon. We want you wet for us.”
Ian wasn’t sure how far Derek should go with this and considered sending his friend a warning look, but Haley melted in Derek’s arms, leaning her weight against him.
Derek pushed her yoga pants down, and Ian followed them with his lips. Her panties slid to the floor, and Derek lifted Haley before gently setting her on her back on the bed. Ian only needed to turn in order to find paradise. Instead, though, he moved onto the bed and kissed Haley. Derek followed, and soon, Haley writhed in their arms.
His friend pulled away for a moment, shedding the rest of his clothing before coming back and tugging Haley to the edge of the mattress.
“Ready? You okay?”Derek asked.
“Oh yeah...” Haley’s breath sawed in and out, her breasts heaving with exertion.
Derek quickly put on a condom before slowly moving between her legs and parting her, entering her while watching her face.
Ian sat back to observe the action, leaning his head on his hand. Judging from her slack mouth, Haley enjoyed the attention. He couldn’t wait to have his own turn with her, to feel her slick heat all around him. His jeans were uncomfortably tight, and after Derek had established a rhythm, Ian decided to divest himself of the annoying garment. He removed the rest of his clothing and then returned to Derek and Haley.
She looked at his crotch, watching as he slowly stroked himself. “You look...enthusiastic.”
Ian laughed. “Well, yeah. Did you expect different?”
“No, but it’s a pretty big ego boost. You guys are fun.”
“We aim to please,” Derek said. “I’m gonna give my best bud the floor, so to speak.” He withdrew and scooted over to Haley’s other side.
Ian knew when to take advantage of an opportunity and slid inside Haley, closing his eyes as his mouth fell open. He hadn’t allowed himself to even dream their fit would be this perfect. To finally have her, to really have her, and to share the experience with his best friend—little could beat the perfection of this moment. “So good...”
The two men took turns driving Haley higher and higher until finally they double-teamed her—one inside her and the other plying the rest of her—roving up and down her body until she began to shudder. He wanted to watch her come, wanted to make her do it a million more times. The thought made his heart skip a beat.
Derek gasped and then grimaced, but Ian recognized the look, and it definitely didn’t convey pain. He took over quickly while Haley continued to wriggle. It didn’t take long for him to be sent over the edge, too, and as he spilled into the condom, a deep sense of satisfaction stole over him.
He and Derek had shared before, but this was different. When the two men had talked after practice, Ian had seen no need to hide his feelings, and he’d told Derek he was falling in love with Haley. The falling was over. He was all in.
Derek now looked similarly enchanted. Haley hadn’t even opened her eyes, though a little smile played over her features.
Ian stroked a hand up her thigh. “How you doin’, baby?”
“Mmm. I need a nap.”
He chuckled. “You set your own hours, so go for it.”
“No, I’ll get up.” She opened her eyes and started to rise, but Derek pushed her back down.
“We’ll leave you to sleep. How about one of us stops by tomorrow and picks up the shaving cream? We’ll take it to practice and show it to the guys, ask if they want to try it.”
“Okay. I’m not gonna argue with you.”
“You better not,” Ian said. “We wore you out, I think.”
“Well, having sex with two guys at once will apparently do that.”
The guys dressed and left her apartment. As they walked back to their cars, Derek glanced at Ian. “I didn’t expect that to happen today, but I’m not complaining.”
Ian snickered. “You looked pretty freaking thrilled.”
I’m sure we both looked like love-starved idiots, but I’m okay with that.
“I’m feeling a lot of things right now. I want some time to come down from this high and figure out what’s real, but I have a feeling we’re on the same page.”
“She’s it, man. We’ve found our girl.”
Derek considered for a moment before answering. “I think you’re right.”
***
The next day at practice, Ian took the container of shaving cream into the bathroom where all the grooming supplies were kept. He’d printed out an explanation to go with the container and included a couple of the questions Haley had asked him to share. She’d mentioned she didn’t expect all the guys to fill out anything, but Ian and Derek would do what they could to gather quality feedback for her.
Throughout the past couple of weeks, they’d slowly made it known the type of relationship they preferred and that they were dating someone. Everyone in Colorado knew about Derek and him, and he hadn’t even considered how it would feel to go through that process again. So far, they hadn’t encountered much pushback, and Ian felt closer to his teammates than he had at any time since the trade.
Jordan wandered into the grooming area first. “What’s this?”
Ian had camped himself out to answer just those kinds of questions. “Haley’s a naturalist. She makes all sorts of organic, personal care products.” Haley had warned him not to use the term “beauty products” since it might prejudice some of the guys against wanting to try the shaving cream.
Jordan picked up one of the razors Haley had provided. “I wasn’t going to shave today, so I hope your woman appreciates my sacrifice.”
Ian grinned. Jordan had to be one of his favorite teammates. The guy was the perfect combination of goofy and talented.
A couple other guys came in, and soon, they stood four across in front of the large mirror, all dutifully scraping the hair off their faces. Their final opinions matched those of Ian’s and Derek’s that Haley had a winning product.
Then more men heard about the shaving cream, and before Ian knew it, the entire container had disappeared.
He pulled out his phone.
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It’s gone. All of it. Here’s the feedback.
Grinning, Ian hit send. Only a few seconds later, his notification went off.
I take it they liked it?
He chuckled and replied: I have more than that, but you’ve done it, baby. They all love it and want to know when you’ll start selling it. Rick asked if we could negotiate a team volume discount.
Leaning against the wall, he waited for another text.
No one has ever asked me for a volume discount. I’m sure we can work something out. Thank you so much! Thank Derek, too. He probably had a part in this, if I know him.
Ian nodded and texted: He did. It’s possible some of the guys tried it just to shut him up. He’s really proud of you. So am I. We’re going to lunch, but I’ll call you later with more information.
Rob clapped a hand on Ian’s shoulder, and he jumped.
“Skittish much? Who ya texting? Or is it sexting?” Rob waggled his eyebrows, and Sebastian, fast on Rob’s heels, cuffed him upside the head.
Sebastian rolled his eyes. “Don’t pretend you weren’t just having some lovey-dovey text conversation with Alaina. I can always tell, because you look like someone hit you with a fairy stick,” Sebastian retorted to Rob.
Rob didn’t waste time answering. “Dude, I would not go down that road. We all have to live with you and Sarah being around each other all the time. It’s nauseating.”
Ian shook his head. One of his favorite parts of playing hockey, aside from the obvious, was spending time with the great guys in the league. He’d been to two All-Star Games, and almost every player he’d met in the League was the same.
“Are we going to lunch?” Ian asked. “I’m starving.”
“You coming, Romeo?” Rob elbowed Sebastian.
“Yeah, Sarah’s going home. Her knee is sore from where she fell on it the other day.”
“Have you ever mentioned the word klutz to her?” Rob asked with an evil grin.
Sebastian scoffed. “What do I look, stupid? I like sleeping in the bed, not on the couch with the cat.”
“Hey, are we going out?” Derek inquired as he joined the group.
“Yes, and hopefully soon,” Ian told him.
“I saw a new restaurant on Elmwood,” Rob replied. “It’s one of those places where you choose what you want, and they cook it for you on a huge flat top in the middle of this round counter. There’s meat, veggies, sauces, stuff like that.”