Ways in the Guardian: A Menage Romance Book Collection

by Barbara Downey

  “Hi Finn,” he said. “Can I have a word with you?”

  “How’s it going, lover boy?” Finn drawled, leaning against the wall with a smirk on his face.

  John kept his eyes locked with Finn’s for fear of watching the droplets of water slide down the man’s body. He tried not to think of Angela’s hands stroking the abs that trailed down towards the damp towel that hung low on the man’s hips. He was finding it really hard to concentrate and that wasn’t the only thing that was hard.

  “You have a date with Angela tonight, right?”

  “I do, are you jealous? I can let her down gently,” Finn said, leaning closer.

  How the man made his words so provocative he had no idea but John was starting to sweat. The tension in the room was electric and the thought that all there was covering Finn’s body was a flimsy towel, loosely tucked around him was driving him crazy. Eyes up John, he thought to himself, fighting for control.

  “I’m not jealous, I don’t really get jealous. I just wanted to say go for it, have fun,” he said.

  “Sure thing, Johnny boy,” Finn said, grinning. “I thought we’d stay home and watch a movie. I get to stroke that cute pussy, Lucy, right? And she will get the pleasure of my expertise in films.”

  John was not imagining the seductive tone Finn used or the leering look he gave him. Finn might appear shallow on the surface but sometimes John thought the man could see inside his soul and it gave him shivers. He just wasn’t sure if they were shivers of fear or anticipation. The man made him feel like a teenager and he was blushing like one, just to make matters worse.

  “She’ll love it,” he replied but his voice came out more of a husky whisper.

  Finn smiled liked the devil and looked him over; John felt stripped bare. Finn’s gaze had lingered slightly on his bulging pants and John could swear he physically felt that gaze. His cock twitched and a ripple of desire ran through him once more, causing him to close his eyes. When he opened them Finn was gone.

  ****

  It was becoming a long shift. Nothing was happening in the town and he was too distracted to sit with his colleagues. The thought of Angela made him warm and sent a pleasant feeling through him. He really liked her and he was pretty sure she liked him too. The thought of Angela with Finn gave him an instant hard-on and in his line of work he didn’t want the distraction. Finn had been teasing him but it was like he knew about John’s secret. That thought scared him; he couldn’t work closely with the men in his unit if they thought he was a pervert.

  When the call came at around midnight that evening he almost welcomed the distraction. He suited up and jumped into the truck, fully focused and alert. He was good at his job and he loved it. It had been his dream since he was a young boy although his father had hoped that he’d take over the farm. The sirens always kick started his adrenaline, so he was primed for the work the minute his feet touched the ground.

  This time, it was different. When they pulled into Angela’s driveway, his heart plummeted and he didn’t feel focused or ready. He felt like he’d been kicked in the chest by a horse. Smoke flooded into the area and fogged up the trees on the green that separated the car park from the small row of houses.

  He couldn’t see the house but he knew it was hers. There were flames; he could feel the heat. He’d seen the candles dotted around her home and felt responsible. If he had given her the statistics about fires started through the use of candles, then this wouldn’t have happened, he just knew it.

  It didn’t take him long before he remembered that Finn should be there too and that worried him even more. The man should have been able to put it out without any fuss; he didn’t know what was happening in there but he needed in. He started running.

  “John, focus,” he heard his boss snap. “Protocol.”

  He rushed towards the heat without any breathing apparatus or other equipment. Just before he reached the door someone pulled him back and he realized what he had been about to do. He was an idiot; he was no use to them and he would only get in the way. He fell back and let his team get closer with the equipment.

  “This your girl’s house?” someone asked.

  “It is,” he replied, starting to cough.

  *****

  When Finn had left John to stew back at the station, he’d only been teasing. Everyone knew the guy was a little on the odd side but Finn knew more because he’d seen it before; hell he’d seen everything before. Finn had his own hang-ups so he knew how hard it could be to accept them, to accept yourself.

  Finn didn’t have a complicated sexuality. That side of his life was A-okay but he didn’t do commitment and he wasn’t ready to address the issue. He was pretty sure that his own issues ran deeper than John’s voyeurism and the fact that the man was desperate for a little bi-action.

  Finn had planned to stay home with Angela, watch a movie and christen the sofa but when he got there all he could think about was John’s shyness and he figured there was definitely something he could do for the guy. Angela was wearing clothes that were suitable for watching a movie: comfortable and easy to remove. He’d helped her pick out a new outfit and then fired up the bike.

  The club wasn’t your average nightclub and he’d tried to explain beforehand but in reality all he’d done was drop hints. Her eyes were truly opened when she stepped through the door but she didn’t balk and she hadn’t run, so far.

  “What do you think?”

  “I certainly wasn’t expecting this,” she said, squeezing his hand.

  “Sometimes it’s fun to try something new,” he said. “This is the place to dabble.”

  After a couple of drinks, the surprise wore off and she began to enjoy herself. She kissed a girl who was wearing a bunny outfit and she seemed to enjoy the amateur strip show. If she was cool about the club then she wasn’t going to freak out when John’s little secret popped out. He didn’t want to overstay their welcome, she only needed a little taste. When he thought she’d had her fill they climbed back on his bike she leaned into him sliding her hands inside his jacket.

  “Let’s take you home little lady; I’m not finished with you yet,” he said before easing the bike onto the road.

  He’d always loved being a firefighter. He lived for adrenaline and every time he smelled smoke it put him on high alert; he functioned well like that. This time, when the smell hit him it triggered alarm bells, and he slowed the bike. As they pulled into the driveway she gripped him harder, digging her fingernails in and he understood why.

  There was no fire because his colleagues had already taken care of it but the house was ruined. What wasn’t burned was wet and there would be no salvaging clothes and personal items. He didn’t have time to catch her when she tried to jump off the bike on unsteady legs. She fell to the floor and crawled forward.

  “Lucy!”

  “Holy shit!” he watched as the terrified little cat ran straight into her arms.

  “Angela!” John’s voice echoed through the trees and he appeared soot stained and panicked.

  Seeing the two of them hug made him feel like he was in the way, intruding on something private. They were meant to be together, that was for sure, but he wasn’t about to leave them; she needed help and he couldn’t abandon her.

  ****

  It turned out that cats didn’t much care for motorcycles, even when they were going as slowly as they can without falling over. When they arrived at John’s apartment, they were both covered in scratches and the feline barely resembled a house cat anymore. He figured now was as good a time as any to start calling the thing Lucifer. Or maybe fire starter, or demon cat.

  He didn’t feel right about leaving Angela when she’d just lost her entire house, especially when it was probably his fault. He’d made her leave the house to go to the club; if they’d have just stayed there and watched the movie everything would have been fine, unless the fire trapped them in the bedroom while they were doing the dirty.

  “I’m sorry I took you to the club,�
� Finn said, reaching out to stroke Angela’s cheek.

  “It wasn’t your fault. I guess I left one of the candles burning but they were in glass holders so I just assumed they would be safe,” she replied.

  “They usually are but if the glass breaks,” he said, shrugging. “Or demon cat here knocks it over or pushes something against it.”

  “Maybe I should think about returning you to the shelter Lucy,” she told the cat.

  “Nah, but you really need to change his name. Maybe that’s why he’s acting out,” Finn said and made her smile.

  He pulled her into a hug which was something he usually reserved for people he was hoping to sweep into bed. He wasn’t planning that this time. He just wanted to offer her some comfort and he was surprised that he’d managed to show a little depth, for once. Of course, the boner was back, but the sentiment was still there.

  When John had handed his keys to Finn and told him to take care of his girl, he’d probably meant to make her a cup of tea, not test out the springs on his sofa. He kissed her anyway and she kissed him back but it wasn’t passionate and it didn’t feel like it was leading them anywhere, it just felt warm and good.

  John appeared from nowhere and sat down on the other side of the sofa and Finn took it as his cue to leave. Angela didn’t notice him go and he thought it best that way but the damn cat eyeballed him all the way to the door.

  *****

  It was a difficult start to a relationship but her first week of living with John was going smoothly despite the fact that they hardly knew each other and that Angela didn’t own anything of her own anymore. She had all the emotional support she needed from him and they always fell asleep in each other's arms after plenty of fun in the bedroom.

  When she’d first told him about the club he’d been confused but after a while he admitted that he was curious. She knew he still had a secret and since experiencing a different side to her sexuality she had a pretty good idea what it was.

  He was still shy and she wasn’t about to upend the peace in his home when she didn’t have a home of her own to run to. The fire had just about gutted the house and nothing was salvageable. She was just grateful that the neighbor’s homes had been untouched.

  “Finn’s coming around; I hope you don’t mind,” John said snapping her out of her thoughts. “He wanted to check in on you earlier but he’s been on day shifts.”

  “Okay,” she replied. “Is that okay with you?”

  “Sure, why wouldn’t it be?”

  “Just checking,” she said and placed a firm kiss on his lips.

  John looked more than okay, he was positively glowing and it just reaffirmed what she thought she knew. She could be wrong and if she was, then what she was planning on doing later could potentially destroy her relationship. She just wished he’d be more forward with it but that wasn’t John’s way and it would take time for him to trust anyone with his best-kept secret.

  When the doorbell chimed she jumped. The last time she had seen him they had kissed on the very sofa that she was sitting on but it felt so long ago that she was nervous now. She needn’t have been; he was the same over-confident Finn that had taken her to a fetish club. He walked right up to her and kissed her on the lips. She glanced over at John and he stared back at her hungrily.

  “How’s it going?” Finn asked, but he wasn’t asking her, he was leaning over to tickle Lucy’s ears.

  She wrapped her arms around Finn, pulling him close to her. Finn looked over at John and they shared a look that Angela couldn’t quite decipher. She didn’t have time to think; Finn picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, fireman style, spanking her bottom lightly as he went. She giggled as he plopped her on the bed.

  “Come on Johnny boy, I know you want to,” Finn said.

  John stepped into the bedroom uncertainty etched into his features. Finn joined her on the bed and she kissed him while fumbling with his clothes. His shirt fell to the floor, as did her sweater, but before he set to work on the clasp of her bra, Finn signaled to John. He perched on the bed biting his bottom lip and she reached out to touch him.

  “There are some things you can’t keep a secret because people like me will always spot it,” Finn said, freeing her breasts from her Wonderbra. “I work with you, not often, but enough to know you like to watch but the question is, Johnnie boy, do you want to join in?”

  John’s eyes flicked from Finn to Angela’s finally resting on her chest. His cheeks were flushed pink and he looked as nervous as a virgin but he nodded. She was glad; she’d been dreaming of this since the moment she’d met both of them; who wouldn’t? Two sexy men at once; she was in heaven. Finn reached over and unbuttoned John’s shirt and let it fall from his shoulders and she stroked the fine hairs that trailed to where his jeans were bulging.

  “I think there are too many clothes on this bed,” Finn said.

  Finn stood up and released his jeans. He’d not bothered to put boxer shorts on so his manhood sprung out looking ready for action. She reached and stroked it before removing the rest of her clothes. John was slower to undress, and he looked from one to another before dropping his pants. He was also ready for action and she didn’t know where to put her hands first.

  The bed soon became a writhing mass of tangled limbs, kisses, and incredible touches. She didn’t know who was doing what but when Finn kissed John she vowed she would never leave the bed again. She was exactly where she wanted to be, forever. John’s hands on Finn were soft and careful, exploring another man’s body for the first time and it was beautiful to her.

  When Finn entered her, she wrapped her legs around him and then turned to John. She climaxed more times that night than she ever had in her life and much to her surprise Finn stuck around. They ate when they got hungry and relaxed on the sofa naked under a blanket. Finn was at ease with the pair of them together, more so than he had been with her. It was as if he wasn’t worried he would have to commit to a relationship now that she was with John.

  When he finally left the next day, she was exhausted but happy and John was still glowing. He’d become increasingly confident in asking for what he wanted and they had even arranged to go to the club together on their next joint night off.

  When her parents had given her the cat they must have had some insight because he had opened her world up completely. Of course, her house had burned down which may have had something to do with him but she was still happier than she’d ever been.

  “I’ve got a lot to thank you for, Lucy,” John said, hand feeding the cat a tuna treat.

  “Maybe we should call him something else now; what do you think?” she asked, kissing the top of the cat's head.

  “He’s not much of a Lucifer; how about Luke? It’s gender specific but you know what? There’s a lot to be said for breaking the rules and gendered names are stupid anyway,” he said.

  “You’re right, he’s too pretty to be anything but a Lucy,” she replied.

  The cat blinked at them before going back to sleep and John leaned in for another heart-melting kiss. She felt so happy that she could spontaneously combust but at least she’d have her two firefighters to put her out afterward and, boy, did they know how to handle a woman on fire. She was ready for action, again.

  THE END

  See the next bonus story at the next page!

  23 of 25 Bonus Stories

  First and Goal

  Boston. The city of my heart. My mom and I moved out East from Denver when she and my dad got divorced almost 17 years ago and I’ve loved the city ever since. The opportunity to stay in my favorite town for college and then my career was a blessing from the universe. I had started building a successful career for myself at a local law firm and had my sights set on a townhouse right down the street. Everything was working out.

  Until my mother’s engagement.

  I was happy for my mom, don’t get me wrong. She deserved to be happy and her fiancé, only five years older than her, treated her like a queen. No, that’s not
why I loathed her engagement. It’s just that at the same time my perfect little world of success fell to pieces.

  I wasn’t usually one for partying but my coworker, Jess, invited everyone out for drinks one Friday after work – first round on her after winning a massive case – so I figured, why not? Get a free drink, hang out for a bit, and head back to my place. Except that’s not what happened. Not even close.

  Jess and I originally met in law school at Boston College. Getting hired at the same firm was just a happy coincidence but she was one of the few people I trusted whole-heartedly. So when I was sitting beside her in a bar booth and she insisted on buying my drinks if it meant I would stay longer than originally planned, I accepted.

  The burn of tequila seared my throat, even after my fourth shot, and I turned to Jess with a giddy smile.

  “You’re going to be broke by the end of the night,” I laughed.

  “Are you having a good time?” she asked, to which I nodded in reply. “Then bring on the bankruptcy!” A few of our remaining coworkers joined us in raising our drinks in alcohol-induced cheers before throwing back the bitter drink.

  After that moment, it didn’t take much more for Jess to get me on the dance floor. I would never have acted like that sober but the alcohol rushing through my veins changed everything. My ten minutes of dancing with Jess was interrupted when a tall, muscular man stepped up to us with a smile.

  “Is it alright if I steal your friend from you for a second?” he asked Jess. She just shrugged and walked off, throwing me a quick wink before she disappeared into the crowd.

  The man rested his hands on my hips and leaned down to my ear to introduce himself over the loud music. “I’m Luke.”