“Sweetheart, you need to eat.” Fletch grasped her hand and directed her to the table. He pulled out a chair and seated her.
Their care and concern brought more tears.
They reached her side in seconds. Fletch crouched at her feet, looking up at her while Liam rubbed her shoulders.
Another sob broke free. “I can’t do this. I can’t be with you anymore.”
Fletch and Liam exchanged a quick glance before turning their full attention back on her. Liam pulled a couple of tissues from a box on the counter and handed them to her.
“Can’t do what, sweetheart?” Fletch asked.
“I thought I could be with you both, but it’s too…too hard.” Unable to meet either of their gazes, she bowed her head and stared at her clenched hands until the rapid fall of tears shrouded her view. She blotted her eyes, but the tissues rapidly became a damp, sodden mess.
“Gaby, what’s too hard?” Liam asked.
“I can’t take the insults, the rude remarks.” A shudder went through her, and she swallowed, attempting to force the lump in her throat away. It didn’t work. The lump returned immediately. “The…the tomato throwing,” she croaked. “I’m going to move out.”
“Move out?” Liam’s hand tightened on her shoulder and she winced. He immediately removed his hand and started to pace.
“Wait a minute,” Fletch said. “You can’t let other people drive you away.”
“You don’t know what it’s like. The constant snide remarks. The dirty innuendoes.”
“But we’re good together,” Fletch said, a trace of urgency in his voice.
Gaby swiped a hand over her eyes. “It’s not enough.”
“We love you,” Liam said. “Doesn’t our love count for anything?”
Her resolve softened for an instant. She loved them too. Perhaps she always had. Their love was the one thing in this sorry mess that kept her going. “Sometimes love isn’t enough.”
“Where do you want to go?” Liam asked in a hard voice.
She flinched, his abruptness lashing like a whip. God, why did this have to hurt so much? Misery weighed her down and she felt alone, so alone. “I’ll go to Gran’s.” It was the only place she could count on a welcome. The knowledge twisted and turned inside her. A couple of months ago, she’d possessed lots of friends. She was popular. How quickly things changed.
Fletch and Liam were doing that silent-guy-communication thing again. The silence lengthened, an uneasy one on her part. Finally, she couldn’t stand the hush any longer. She pushed to her feet and walked over to the phone. She picked it up and dialed her grandmother. After a quick conversation, she hung up.
“I’m going to pack an overnight bag,” she said into the silence. When neither man spoke, she turned and fled.
Liam appeared in the doorway of her bedroom a few minutes later. “You’ve had a rough day and you shouldn’t drive. I’ll take you to your grandparents’ place when you’re ready.”
She thought about protesting but the firm set of his mouth told her he wouldn’t take no for an answer. “Thanks. I won’t be long.”
* * * * *
Fletch was prowling the kitchen when Liam returned from taking Gaby to her grandparents. “I can’t believe you let her run away.”
“She needs time to decompress.”
“She could do that here,” Fletch snapped. “I thought we were on the same page about this. You. Me. Gaby.”
“I’m not walking away from Gaby or you.” Liam grabbed Fletch as he stalked past and hauled him to a stop. “No bloody way am I walking away after all the crap we’ve been through together. Gaby won’t give up on us either, not after she’s had a chance to think about things.”
“What do we do meantime?” Fletch snarled, yanking away to stride to the far wall. He turned back, his glare flashing a warning.
“Simple. We go and visit Rachel’s father tomorrow and, meantime, we have each other.”
Fletch straightened. “I thought you might want to sleep in your own room tonight.”
Liam grinned, his heart thumping when Fletch’s usual cockiness returned to his expression. “Why would I do that when we’ll have more fun together in your bed?”
“Good point.” Fletch prowled closer, a glint in his eyes.
“Someone to warm my feet.”
A rumbling growl worked up Fletch’s throat seconds before he grasped Liam’s shoulders and pulled him in for a kiss.
Liam laughed “You’re easy.”
“Where you and Gaby are concerned.”
The amusement died in Liam. “Fancy an early night?” A spurt of surprise crossed Fletch’s face and Liam smirked.
“I thought…” He shrugged.
“You thought what?”
Fletch swallowed, glanced away. “I thought we might need Gaby to bind us together.”
“We still need Gaby but there’s no reason why you and I can’t be together or you and Gaby or me and Gaby.”
Fletch remained serious but he slid his arms around Liam and tugged him into his embrace. “I’m glad. I’ve loved you for a long time. I don’t want to lose you now.”
Liam tightened his arms around Fletch, enjoying the flex of muscles beneath his fingers. He pressed a kiss to Fletch’s neck then nipped lightly. “I love you too.” He pulled back and grabbed Fletch’s hand. “Let’s go to bed.”
In Fletch’s bedroom, they raced to rip off their clothes. Fletch won, but only because he wasn’t wearing shoes. They fell onto the bed, laughing and wrestling, their naked bodies rubbing together.
Liam hissed when their cocks brushed. Suddenly the playfulness went out of them. They stared at each other, their chests heaving. “I want you to fuck me.”
“But…are you sure?”
“I trust you. I love you and I want to be together in all ways.”
“You really sure? You haven’t done it before.” Fletch’s words held clear doubt.
“You know I haven’t. But we’ve both taken women this way. It’s the same process.”
“I guess,” Fletch said. “We’ve both tried Gaby’s toys. That wasn’t so bad.”
“I want to show you I’m committed to us,” Liam said finally. “This is the only way I can think of showing you. Actions speak louder than words.”
They stared at each other, and Liam’s stomach roiled. He raised his hand to cup Fletch’s cheek before leaning closer to kiss him. This time was slow and easy and had none of the frantic pace. It was as if they were taking time to explore each other, really learn and savor the experience. Liam flicked his tongue over Fletch’s lips. Fletch opened for him and Liam slid his tongue inside. His fingers trailed lower to Fletch’s jaw and stroked over the rapid tic of his pulse point. Lazily, he rocked his hips, skidding the head of his cock over Fletch’s belly.
Being with Fletch was different than a woman. He didn’t feel as if Fletch was judging his performance and he just went with the flow. “Tell me what you want. Tell me where you want me to touch.”
“Everywhere,” Fletch said, his words a warm breath of air across his jaw.
“Oh, that’s real helpful.”
Fletch’s eyes opened and he grinned with lazy charm. “Smart-arse, what would you say?”
Liam hesitated then went for it. “I’d want you to kiss me, tug on my nipples until they sting. I’d like you to take my dick into your mouth and finger me, getting me ready for your cock. And when your mouth isn’t too busy you can talk dirty to me.”
“You like dirty talk?”
“I don’t know. I want to find out.”
Fletch chuckled and rolled without warning, placing him on top of Liam, looking down at him. “You want me to shove my cock up your ass?” His eyes glittered with arousal. “You want me to fuck you?”
“Yeah,” Liam muttered, heat suffusing his cheeks. His cock jerked at the idea.
Fletch reached over to grab the lube and another of Gaby’s experimental condoms. After a quick glance at the code—Gaby had trained th
em both—Fletch tossed them by Liam’s head.
“Remember when we were talking about seducing Gaby, before she came to us with the idea of testing products for her?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, at the same time I was trying to work out how to get you in bed without losing our friendship. I can’t believe you’re actually here and telling me you want me.”
“Believe it.” Liam understood Fletch’s tentative manner. He felt the same way, but there was also the happiness that made him want to smile, despite the bigotry from some of the locals.
Fletch ran a hand down Liam’s back and skimmed a finger between his buttocks. A jolt of pleasure struck him when Fletch pressed against his pulsing entrance. He flexed the muscles of his rump, the intrusion of Fletch’s finger hard enough to spike a spear of pleasure through him.
“You feel my finger?”
“Yes,” Liam whispered.
“My cock will push past that ring of muscles soon. I’ll slide right inside you, and once you’re good and used to me, I’ll thrust until we both come. Tomorrow your arse will probably feel a bit tender.”
“Do it,” Liam said.
“Soon. I promise.” Fletch paused. “Do you think Gaby is okay? Do you think she’ll come back to us?”
“I know she loves us. It might take time, but we’ll go ahead with our plan to woo her. She can’t resist us.” A good plan.
Fletch kissed Liam, taking it slow, although Liam sensed the urgency simmering in the depths of him. He pressed a trail of kisses down Liam’s neck. One finger strummed over a flat nipple while he licked the other, giving him a hint of teeth. He played and explored until Liam’s cock ached, the gleam of pre-come painting his stomach. Fletch reached in front of him to fist Liam’s shaft. He handled Liam without hesitation, his grip firm and deft. Up and down until Liam couldn’t concentrate on anything except the proficient hand shoving him toward climax. His breathing turned harsh, his muscles locked and he pushed back against Fletch’s chest.
“I’ll come if you keep that up,” Liam said with a groan when Fletch’s hand caught a sensitive spot.
“That’s the idea.” A smile simmered in his tone and he lowered his head to suck a bite on Liam’s neck. The sharp pain when he added teeth shot straight to Liam’s balls. Another downward pump of Fletch’s hand and Liam lost it. He came in hard spurts while Fletch’s arms enveloped him in heat.
Before he could catch his breath, Fletch nudged his legs apart. The lube bottle squeaked a fraction then cool lube washed across his entrance. Liam relaxed as Fletch stretched him, the graze of a finger across his prostate swirling sparks of pleasure through him.
A sliver of unease worked through his gut, but he shoved his trepidation away, consciously relaxing as Fletch removed his fingers and ripped the condom out of its protective covering. Fletch wouldn’t hurt him, not on purpose, and Liam suspected his friend would want Liam to do him in the near future. He sucked in a breath and let it ease out.
“Tell me if this hurts too much and I’ll stop.”
Liam nodded and attempted to remain relaxed. Fletch’s mouth brushed his ear and Liam shivered, his trepidation laced with excitement too. Fletch pressed his cock against him and pushed inside a fraction. He pulled back and slipped inside Liam again.
“You feel great. Tight. Hot.” Fletch nibbled his neck. “So good.”
“Feels okay.”
“Only okay?” Fletch reached around to stroke his cock, gripping it in one hand, sliding his fingers up and down while he burrowed deeper into Liam.
Despite his recent climax, Liam moaned, his hips pushing back against Fletch. A fine sheen of sweat coated him now, Fletch increasing the friction on Liam’s cock. Fire and chills ran through his body, and when Fletch hit the right spot, every part of Liam lit up in excitement.
“You don’t have to take things so slow,” Liam said, not sure whether to shove his pelvis forward into Fletch’s hand or push back to take more of Fletch’s cock. Excitement rocked him as pleasure started to build, layer upon layer.
“You’re not sore?”
Liam chuckled, choosing to push back and force Fletch’s dick deeper inside him. “You’ve got skills, man.” Right choice. The pressure and heat combined, taking him to the fine edge of pain. An ache that felt good. So good. “Aw, hell. Fletch, don’t go slow. That feels great.”
Fletch took him at his word, moving with confidence and no longer holding back. “You feel perfect on this end too.” His thrusts became erratic, his breathing hoarse. “Liam,” he whispered.
His kiss hit Liam’s neck, another on his shoulder. Then his climax burst over him, taking him by surprise. This wasn’t as intense as the first one but still sweet.
Fletch cursed softly in his ear, and Liam felt the pulse of his lover’s cock in his channel. Finally he stilled, pressing against Liam’s back. “That was amazing. Thanks for trusting me.”
“Anytime.” A wave of love swept Liam. All these years he’d known Fletch—worked and played with him yet he’d never felt closer to him than he did right now.
Chapter Fourteen
Gaby popped two slices of bread into the toaster and settled back on the stool at the breakfast counter. Her grandmother poured two cups of coffee and took possession of one of the other barstools.
“I said I’d meet Alice at the cafe,” Gran said. “We’re going to talk about our float for the Christmas parade. Do you want to come with me?”
After several hours of sleep Gaby actually felt better, although anyone looking at her probably wouldn’t say the same. Her black eye was a beauty and certainly attention-grabbing, the bruise covering her eye and spreading down to her cheekbone. “Sure, but I thought you’d already discussed the parade at the board meeting.”
“Huh!” Gran rolled her eyes. “The men wanted to toss condoms. That would really make us popular. Alice and I are nailing down the final details. Katarina would have been there but her daughter’s baby is due and she promised she’d be on hand to babysit.”
In the light of day, Gaby decided she wasn’t going to run away, despite the sliver of anxiety in the pit of her stomach. The locals could chuck as many tomatoes at her as they liked. She’d spend the day with her grandmother and return to Liam and Fletch later this afternoon. She’d made a commitment to them both. Walking away at the first setback was cowardly.
Yep, in the early hours when the morning chorus of the birds had woken her, she’d decided she couldn’t let other people rule her life. So what if they didn’t like the idea of a committed threesome. Too bad.
Her life.
Her right to choose how she lived it.
Alice was already at the cafe when they arrived and had taken possession of a corner table with a view of the entire place. Festive decorations and the rocking beat of a modern Christmas carol added to the usual ambience.
“Cripes,” Gaby said, sliding onto a chair and nervously watching the reaction of the other customers. “Why don’t we just stake out a goldfish bowl?”
“You haven’t done anything wrong,” Alice said in a defiant tone. “And you have a black eye because of stupid women with a pack mentality. Does your eye hurt?” Alice took her hand and squeezed it. “Are you okay?”
“There were a couple of men present, but I’m not sure if they tossed tomatoes,” Gaby said, wanting to be fair on her sex.
“Your mother just came in with your sister,” Gran said.
Gaby turned her head and forced a smile while inside some of her morning confidence shriveled. To her surprise, her mother saw her and changed direction, heading for their table.
“I heard about yesterday,” her mother said, frowning at Gaby’s black eye as she juggled several parcels wrapped in bright red paper. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” In truth the incident had shaken her, which was why she’d run out on Fletch and Liam.
“It’s your own fault,” her sister said. “You’re lucky those cult women haven’t sued you from what I hea
r.”
Great! The gossip vine was alive and working well in Sloan.
“Elsa,” Gaby’s mother said. “That’s a terrible thing to say. It’s lucky her injuries weren’t much worse. Look at her eye. And she’s got bruises on her arms. I can only imagine how many bruises she has beneath her clothes.”
“You would side with her,” Elsa muttered.
“I’m not siding with anyone,” her mother said. “If it were you instead of Gaby, I’d be saying the same thing.”
Gaby’s gaze went from Elsa to her mother and back, feeling as if she were at an interesting tennis match. Her mother was actually concerned about her.
Elsa snorted. “She’s an embarrassment to our family.”
“And that would be why you did the Ms. Knowall column?” Gaby asked sweetly, needled by her sister’s callous attitude.
The color fled Elsa’s face, surging back in a dull red tide when everyone turned to stare at her. Gaby hadn’t lowered her voice. She hadn’t been one hundred percent sure of her sister’s guilt. Until now.
“You?” her mother said faintly. “You caused this horrid publicity for your sister? Why would you do that?”
“Jealousy,” Gran said.
“I’m not jealous of Gaby. Why would I want to emulate her?”
“It doesn’t matter,” Gaby said. “As long as you stop, I’ll forget the column ever happened.”
“What about the consequences?” Gran asked, full of indignation. “She hasn’t only hurt you, she’s caused problems for Fletch and Liam too. She’s practically ruined their business and their good names.”
“Fancy Free has received free publicity,” Elsa said snidely. “Besides, from what I hear Liam managed to bring this trouble down on his own head by refusing to marry Rachel.”
“Enough,” her mother snapped. “I’m sorry, Gaby. We might not see eye to eye about many of your choices, but that doesn’t mean I don’t love you. I don’t tell you I love you often enough.” She glanced at Gran, her face softening for an instant. “It’s not as if I didn’t have a good example. Excuse me. We’ll let you enjoy your morning coffee in peace.” She grabbed Elsa’s forearm and dragged her away to the far side of the cafe.
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