Ah. Now she understood his reference to posing naked. He was a sensualist, in art and in life. “Whether we connect or not, I’d love to attend your showing. As someone who can hardly draw a stick figure, I appreciate the skill of a true artist. Collier and Rodin are my favorites.”
His eyes sparkled, making her tummy flip-flop. “You have much broader horizons than the average person. For fun, I like to play in the rain.”
She couldn’t stop her sudden burst of laughter. “And knock people over with your subtlety. You have to be the most unpretentious man I’ve ever met.”
He grinned. “What you see is what you get. What does the beautiful Raine do for work and play?”
“I work for the state as a civil engineer. I’m also on the town’s planning commission. For fun, I visit the art museum, hike in the woods, and go to the symphony. Sometimes, I stay at home and play with my toys.” She’d spent way too many nights and weekends playing with her box of toys by herself recently.
His eyebrows rose. “An engineer. Cool. Toys? What kind of toys?”
A waiter stepped up to the table, offering menus. “Would you care to order an appetizer or dinner to go with your drinks this evening?”
Saved. Like she could tell him about her box of sexual accessories. Not this soon, anyway. “I’ll have the grilled fruit kabobs. Matt?”
He looked up at the waiter. “Do you still have the spinach dip and flatbread?”
“Yes, sir. Would you care for anything else? Another sangria or beer?”
“I’m fine. How about you, Raine?”
She smiled at his courteousness. “I’m fine too.”
By nine thirty, Raine knew without a doubt that she wanted to see him again. He hadn’t asked her age and didn’t seem to care. His focus had been on her and only her. Why had she ever been attracted to someone like Gil? Matt was interesting, intelligent, playful. Everything she needed in a man.
Walking her to the parking lot, he slipped his fingers through hers. “I had a great time. Are you free Friday night?”
His touch sent tingles up her arm and straight to her greedy clit. Anticipation will make the first time better. I. Am not. Having sex. With him. Tonight. “Sure. What did you have in mind?”
“Oh, you really don’t want to know.” He laughed, tugging her closer. Then he leaned in to kiss her, a light caress of his lips against hers.
Mmm.
“You’re a special lady, Raine. How about if we play a round of miniature golf and get ice cream? My treat.”
How long since she’d done something fun like that? Long enough ago that she didn’t remember. “Sounds perfect. I enjoyed getting to know you tonight.”
They stopped at her car, Matt pulling her into a hug and nuzzling her neck. “Do you want me to pick you up, or would you rather meet there?”
Was that an erection pressing into her hip? Shivers raced over her skin. “Let’s meet. A girl can’t be too careful, you know.” She traced a line down the middle of his back to his belt and nipped at his earlobe. “Seven o’clock?”
“Mmm. Seven’s fine.” He stepped back. “I better go before things get crazy.” His eyes sparkled in the brightness of the security light. He took another backward step and smiled. “See you Friday, Raine.”
Her hormones screamed at her to grab him, but she managed to exercise some self-control. “See you Friday, Matt.”
The seven-minute drive home was too freaking long. As soon as she closed the front door of her house, she started stripping off her clothes. In the bedroom, she dragged her toy box out from under the bed. The butterfly was strapped in place and buzzing away at her pussy within seconds. She cupped her breasts in her hands, rubbing her thumbs across her rigid nipples as the vibrations between her thighs brought her nearer to relief. Closing her eyes, she imagined Matt’s tongue flicking her aching clit as she lay on the bed.
“I want to fuck you, Matt. I want your hard cock inside me. Right there! Don’t stop!” Her orgasm hit like a tidal wave, sending her reeling. She arched, and her muscles contracted, the spasms rolling through her. Aftershocks continued to shake her to the core. Finally, her body calmed, going slack in sated exhaustion.
She didn’t need a crystal ball to know sex with Matt was in her future.
Chapter 4
Rafe paced from the living room couch to the kitchen and back again. He checked the clock on the wall. Almost ten and Matt wasn’t home yet. Had he and Raine hit it off and gone to her place for some—no. They’d all agreed to no sex at the first meeting. Only a unanimous vote to welcome her into their relationship gave any of them the right to sleep with her. No more than a platonic peck on the mouth until they’d each had a turn to meet her and they’d had a chance to discuss their thoughts and impressions of her.
Click.
Turning at the sound of the front door opening, he waited to see Matty’s face. His stomach tied itself in nervous knots. Then he saw the grin.
“She’s—”
Rafe held up his hand. “Don’t say anything. We form our own opinions of her without any influence from the rest. No details, no comments, nothing.”
Shaking his head, Matt walked toward the stairs. “Fine. I’m painting tonight. Don’t wait up for me.” He jogged up the steps, the door of his studio banging closed a few seconds later.
“Did I hear Matty come in?” Vince walked into the living room from the kitchen.
Plopping on the couch, Rafe nodded. “Yeah, but he went straight upstairs to paint. I think he’s pissed because I told him not to talk about his date with Raine. He likes her.”
“Why do you say that?”
“You should’ve seen the look on his face when he came in the door. He shouldn’t have gone first. He’s too vulnerable. If either of us doesn’t feel a connection to her, he’s going to be majorly disappointed.”
“He knows we love him.” Vince sat in the chair across from the couch. “We’ll help him through whatever happens. For myself, I’m trying not to get my hopes too high. Finding someone to share our life with is complicated. Most people have a hard time connecting with one love. We’re trying to meet a woman who likes all of us and we all like her. The chances are ridiculously small.”
“One in a million can be the first woman as easily as the last. We’ll find out soon enough if she’s the one.” Pushing to his feet, Rafe aimed for the bedroom. “I have an early meeting with my advisor. You coming to bed?”
“Yeah. If Raine inspired Matt to paint, I don’t want to interrupt. He’s been too distracted by the show next month to work on anything new.” Vince caught up, wrapping an arm around Rafe’s shoulders. “Are you as nervous as I am about going out with her? I mean, I haven’t dated a woman in over two years. The whole situation is a little weird. I kind of feel like I’m cheating on you and Matty.”
“Do you think that’s part of what has him pissed off tonight? We’ve been in a committed relationship for a while now, and you’re right. Actively looking for a woman to bring into the mix…Maybe he’s feeling guilty because he really likes her. And, yes, I’m nervous as hell.”
Vince stopped next to the bed, turning to drape his other arm around Rafe’s neck. “Me too, but we talked about this. We all agreed we want, and need, to have a woman as part of our arrangement. None of us can honestly say being only with men for the rest of our lives is enough. Bi isn’t the same as gay. I’m still attracted to the opposite sex. So are you and Matty. The ground rules we set will keep any of us from cheating. I trust both of you, and I know you trust me.”
“I’ll be glad when we can vote. I didn’t think the waiting would be so hard.” Leaning in to kiss Vince, Rafe closed his eyes to savor the softness of his lips. “I hope she’s worth the anxiety and the effort.”
“Mm-hm.” Vince took the kiss deeper, rubbing tongue against tongue. “I want to suck you, Rafe.”
“Only if I get to suck you too. I love your cock in my mouth.”
They tugged at their clothes, stripping off shi
rts and shorts. Pushing Vince to his back, Rafe straddled his chest, his cock hanging over Vince’s mouth and his mouth lined up over Vince’s beautiful dick. With one long swipe of his tongue, Rafe licked from the full head along the veined shaft to the lightly furred sac. Opening wide, he pulled one ball inside to massage with gentle suction.
At the other end, Vince did the same, sending a jolt of desire through Rafe’s gut. He delivered another tongue-lashing to the crown, more flutters across the sensitive skin below the slit, and then swallowed him whole. His hips arched forward, forcing his length farther into the warm, wet tunnel. He groaned. Damn, his lovers gave the best blow jobs.
Focusing on pleasuring the thick dick in his mouth, he alternately sucked and licked, a drop of pre-cum teasing his taste buds. Salty, tangy, uniquely Vince. Smoothing a hand along Vince’s thigh, Rafe cupped his ass, spreading his cheeks. He dipped a finger into the tight opening, easing the tip past the ring of muscle to go deeper. His first and second knuckles slowly slid in and out, working to release the tension and loosen his hole.
Vince mimicked the action, slipping a long, tapered finger into Rafe’s anus. He rubbed the callused pad back and forth across the prostate, sending blood rushing to Rafe’s swelling cock. So fucking close. Rafe returned the favor, stroking the distinctive gland just below the surface of his inner wall.
They both moaned, and Rafe’s pulse pounded in his chest. Sensation flooded his shaft, sending his wad into Vince’s throat. A second later, hot cum shot into Rafe’s mouth, their groans loud and harmonic. Man, sixty-nine was his favorite number.
Disengaging, Rafe rotated to lie beside Vince, sharing their tastes with a kiss. The feeling in his heart slowly worked its way into words. “I love you.”
Vince smiled. “I love you too. Why don’t you take the bathroom first? I’ll get the lights and make sure the alarm clock is set.”
Rafe nodded, heading to the master bath to clean up and brush his teeth. A few minutes later, he and Vince lay sprawled in the king bed with more space than usual. Would Matt come to bed tonight? Or would he work out his frustrations on his canvas?
* * * *
Closing his eyes, Matt pictured Raine in his mind—her wavy red hair, brilliant green eyes, engaging smile. She was easily the most gorgeous woman he’d ever seen. Smart, funny, sexy. He was crazy about her. Why did he feel like he’d broken a vow to Vin and Rafe? No, they weren’t married. But since the day they’d met two years ago, they’d been a trio. Inseparable, indestructible, in love. How the hell would they keep a woman from ruining their near-perfect relationship? Raine had already made him think twice about the promise to wait until they all agreed before sleeping with her.
With a small brush in hand, he loaded it with paint. The bristles skimmed over the canvas, leaving behind a graceful curve. Another stroke. And another. Colors blended to bring life to the creation.
Still, he immersed himself in his craft, the seconds turning into minutes, the minutes into hours. Light seeped in through the blinds and faded with the rising and falling of the moon, the dawning of morning.
Stepping back to study his nearly completed work, he smiled. He’d managed to capture the inner fire in Raine’s eyes along with her fiery hair and spectacular body. Well, except for the mermaid tail. Not sure why I gave her that, but it looks damn good on her. He’d never sell this painting, even if he was alone in his attraction to her. He might have to hide it from Vin and Rafe, but he’d keep it forever.
With a glance at the mess of paint tubes and brushes, he started cleaning up the studio. Sleep could wait a few more minutes.
Chapter 5
Dependable Dan, or another round with Expandable Ed? Sorting through her box of toys, Raine debated giving in to her hormones rather than masturbating. She could have real sex with a real man tonight if she relaxed her rules. Of course, she also might end up in an awkward position of not liking Rafe enough to go out with him again when he might truly like her. Crap, she just didn’t have it in her to be a slimeball.
Grabbing her Lickety-Split, she shoved the box back under her bed. No masculine-named toy this time. With fresh batteries from her nightstand, she leaned against the mound of pillows at the headboard to power up one of her favorite sexual partners. A woman had surely invented this amazing hands-free, fluttering, plunging tongue vibrator.
She strapped the contraption to her hips, placing the tip of one appendage at the opening of her pussy. The second, she lined up over her clit. She turned the remote on low for control number one, opting for a bit of tongue-fucking before she activated control number two. The smooth rubber pushed into her cunt, slowly moving in and out. She cupped her right breast and bent her neck forward to circle her own tongue over her nipple. One of these days very soon, she would have a young stud do it for her, teasing and pleasing and pleasuring her.
Her other hand adjusted the controls to start the fluttering on her achy clit and speed up the plunging into her wet tunnel. What she wouldn’t give to have a couple pairs of male hands on her. If her evening with Rafe went well, she’d consider inviting him to join her and Matt for a three-way.
Closing her eyes, she let her imagination go wild. Matt eating her pussy while Rafe or Vince played with her nipples. Maybe the third boy toy would enjoy a blow job. They morphed into the trio of delectable men from the coffee shop. All of her blind dates as handsome as those guys? Ah, to be that lucky.
As she raised the speed another notch, goose bumps raced through her body and over her skin. Tingles built to quakes, and quakes brought her closer to the edge. Her breath came in shallow pants as her pulse thrummed in her ears.
“Oh, yes! Oh, hell, yes! I’m coming!” She groaned under the wave of orgasm flooding her veins. Her muscles shuddered with aftershocks, the imagery in her mind so erotic. What a fantasy. If she ever got the opportunity, she’d damn well take it.
Powering down her toy, she relaxed into the pillows for several minutes, her body recovering from the power of her imagination. The chances of mutual attraction with Matt, Rafe, and Vince were slim, so she’d probably never get to experience three men worshipping her in bed. Her best hope was a genuine connection with one of her two remaining younger men. But first, she had to dress for tonight’s meeting at the arboretum.
A V-neck tee, shorts, and running shoes fit the outdoor venue and Rafe’s preference for an athletic woman. Combing her hair into a high ponytail, she took a last glance in the bathroom mirror before donning a baseball cap. She’d rather jog to the gazebo to meet her date, but she decided to drive for safety’s sake.
She parked in the lot near the greenhouse and walked down the hill toward the pond, the gazebo coming into view as she rounded the curve. A tall, lanky blond stood near the structure, tossing chunks of bread to the ducks. Rafe?
He turned toward her, a charming smile lighting up his handsome face when their gazes met. Her stomach wobbled, partly from attraction, partly from recognition. This was her date? The fair-haired door opener of the polite coffee shop men? Were they stalking her? She wasn’t normally suspicious, and he didn’t seem like a dangerous type, but neither had any number of rapists, murderers, and general creeps.
Taking several steps toward her, he held out his hand. “Hi, I’m Rafe. You must be Raine. I hope?”
His welcoming grin warmed her blood, and his open posture eased her wariness. Her instincts were seldom wrong. “Yes, hi, Rafe. Nice to meet you.”
He raised his left arm, lifting a covered basket. “I brought a picnic snack. Cheese and crackers, some fruit, a bottle of wine. I thought we could sit over in the butterfly garden. Talk. Get to know each other.”
She’d pegged him right. A romantic philosopher. Or he knew all the moves to get a woman to sleep with him on the first date, which she wasn’t going to do under any circumstances. “Sounds like a good plan.”
Rafe swallowed his whoop of excitement. Raine was the redhead from the coffee shop. No wonder Matt had been so enthusiastic about his evening with he
r. He, Matt, and Vince had agreed she was classy, beautiful, and sexy. Were they destined to meet her? Was she the one?
Shifting his gaze from her strong, lean legs to her mesmerizing green eyes, he offered her a couple slices of stale bread. “Want to feed the ducks? I always bring a loaf with me in hopes they’ll decide I’m a friend. They get a little aggressive when you show up empty-handed.”
She laughed, the contagious sound making him smile. “They like to chase you too? Once, they followed me all the way to the greenhouse and stood guard over the door for at least half an hour.” Tearing the bread into pieces, she tossed it to the birds in the water. “Needless to say, I don’t jog here very often.”
“Athletic and intelligent.” Remembering the wording of his personal ad, he wondered how adventurous she was. Enough to share her life with three men? Ready to get to know her, he waited for her to throw the last of the bread to the mother mallard and her ducklings. “Let’s make our escape while they’re busy eating.”
“Good idea.” She fell into step beside him as he aimed for the Japanese garden. “This is one of my favorite places. I’m not much of a gardener, but I love the bright colors and the smell of the flowers.”
She likes flowers. A way to woo her? “I like to come in the spring when the forsythias are blooming. And then the lilacs. This time of year I enjoy the butterfly garden. I live in a rental house near campus, so the closest I get to flowers at home is a yard full of dandelions.”
“I had to tell my yard service to quit killing them all. They’re the only flowers in my yard.” Her giggle tickled his insides. “They might be weeds, but I still prefer them to plain grass.”
The Sextet Presents... Playing in the Raine [A Toy Story] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour) Page 3
