by Decadent
A car spilled into the parking lot, headlights bobbing up and down on the dirt road, and cruised to the far end. Somewhere near, a pair of frogs croaked to one another. Crickets sang and mosquitoes buzzed as the parking lot’s halogens combined with the full moon to rain silvery light down on them.
Now that Deke’s persuasive mouth wasn’t obliterating rational thought, Kimber rolled her eyes at her stupidity. Damn it, she hadn’t intended to heel after Deke kissed and stroked her. She may as well have been doing her own imitation of a bitch in heat.
Well, she’d wanted to leave, anyway. Now was her chance.
She fished into the hidden pocket of her skirt for her car keys. “Okay, I’m not staying with the Catrell brothers. You got your little way. Happy?”
A sly smile quirked up the side of his mouth. Before she could wonder what mischief he was up to, Deke snaked out a hand and snatched the keys from her fingers. They disappeared deep into the pocket of his jeans. The only way to get them back was to slide her hand into his pants. Lovely. Considering the erection bulging the front of his jeans, she didn’t think he’d be at all opposed to having her hands fishing around in his pockets—or anywhere else down there.
“No, now I’m getting my way,” he said, patting her denim-covered keys. “Now you’re not going anywhere until we finish this chat.”
Kimber sighed with frustration. “Look, you high-handed son of a—”
“Hang on before you start name-calling. I’ve come here to offer you my help. If you still want it.”
She paused. Did he mean what she thought he meant? “You came here to say that you’ll teach me about sex? You and Luc?”
He paused, not looking terribly happy. “Yeah.”
Relief or irritation—they ran a close race for her reaction. Relief eventually won, since she wasn’t going to win Jesse’s heart without an education. Letting the Catrell brothers teach her, despite how willing they’d seemed, wasn’t something she wanted.
But she wasn’t about to let Deke know that.
“Maybe it’s too little, too late.”
“You didn’t look too comfortable with Adam and Burke.”
So uncomfortable that she’d blocked out the older brother’s name apparently. “Who cares? Not me, since you purposely tried to scare me off the other day.”
Deke chuckled. “Figured that out, huh?”
“I’d have to be a moron not to. You would never have talked to me like that when you worked for my dad.”
“No.”
Kimber snorted. “You would never even have thought about me in a sexual context if I hadn’t come knocking on your door.”
He stilled. “You’re naïve if you believe that.”
Who was he kidding? Kimber frowned. Big, bad Special Ops man turned bodyguard couldn’t have thought about her sexually before Luc had invited her into his kitchen.
“Oh, c’mon,” she scoffed. “Before yesterday, you never imagined doing the wild thing with me. I was what, eighteen? Nineteen?”
“Seventeen.” His lips twisted in a grim smile. “And a half. And everything that ran through my head back then was illegal in every state, Kimber. My thoughts haven’t changed. I’m just damn glad I won’t go to jail for acting on them now.”
Deke looked serious. Dead serious, with those dark blue eyes burning her.
“All those years ago, you wanted to . . .”
“Fuck you? Oh, yeah. And anything else you would have let me do. I wanted you. Bad.”
Kimber sucked in a shocked breath. Oh my God . . .
She sent a long stare toward the obvious erection about to burst out of his zipper. “So you still want me?”
“Haven’t I already said that?”
She licked her bottom lip. As his hot gaze zeroed in on the action, her belly clenched, her nipples tightened. Fantasy flashed her a vision: Deke leaning over her, sliding into her with hard insistence. She’d come under her own fingers last night to that mental picture. Heat flooded her cheeks. It made no sense, being aroused by a guy who was nothing more than a tutor to her. Temporary insanity, she supposed. Stress after a hectic school year or lingering adolescent curiosity. It would pass.
But suddenly, a few things made sense.
“So you wanting me, that’s why you barely talked to me when you worked for Dad.”
“Yeah.”
“And the reason you’ve changed your mind about my . . . favor.”
“In part. The other part was Luc. He nearly tore the skin off my back with his sharp tongue.”
“Because he didn’t want you talking to me like that?”
He nodded. “And because he wants you as badly as I do.”
“And you tried to scare me off because you think I’m in over my head.”
Deke nodded. “I still do. But as Luc reminded me, you’re an adult.”
“I have been for some time now. I have my own place. I’ve put myself through nursing school. I’m not underage, and I’m not an idiot.”
“I’m not convinced you really understand what you’re getting yourself into, but it’s your life.”
Kimber gnawed on her bottom lip, suspecting that he was right. She understood—in an abstract way—what being involved in a ménage à trois would mean. She’d read an erotic book this morning and found herself aroused by the story of one woman loved by two men totally devoted to her pleasure. What red-blooded woman wouldn’t be?
But, despite what Deke had said about emotion easily not being a factor in a ménage, Kimber knew better. Already she felt a tug toward Deke that made no sense. Probably because she’d always been curious about him. He’d repelled her as much as he’d compelled her back in those days. The bigger factor was Jesse. She really missed him after his nearly four-year absence. Even though they didn’t look alike, she was probably using Deke as a subconscious substitute. That, and Deke had already done more to her sexually in fifteen minutes than Jesse had in years. Kimber sighed.
“I’m also not convinced that Jesse McCall is the right guy for you.”
Deke would think that. To Mr. Practical here, she would look like a groupie chasing a star, like a teenybopper with some silly adolescent, happily-ever-after fantasy. He couldn’t possibly understand how her relationship with Jesse had grown and evolved in the last few years through faithful e-mail and telephone conversations.
Kimber shrugged, trying not to be annoyed. “You’re entitled to think that. But like you said, it’s my life.”
“It is, and you want to learn about ménage. So here’s the deal,” he went on. “Come back to the house. Stay with us for two weeks. We’ll show you what you need to know.”
Relief slid through her. She’d won. It was tempting to tell Deke to shove it, but her pride wasn’t going to solve her issue with Jesse. He’d insisted she couldn’t be what he needed, was too innocent for his lifestyle. She was going to prove him wrong by learning everything. It was the only way to secure a future with the man she adored.
And despite the crappy way Deke had acted yesterday, she knew he was a man of his word. He would teach her everything necessary.
Still, she had questions about his plan . . .
“Stay with you? As in move in for two weeks?”
Deke nodded. “Part of learning to deal with a ménage is satisfying two horny men. Sex with two men at once isn’t easy. Some men also have individual demands they’ll want you to fulfill. Some guys are partial to morning sex. Others to midnight sex or anything in between. You’ll have to learn to deal with two sets of demands.”
His explanation made sense. Two men would definitely be more taxing than one. Odd to be thinking about having sex multiple times a day when she’d never had sex at all, but this was Jesse’s reality.
“Let me guess, Luc is a midnight man. Your favorite time for sex is in the morning.”
Deke shook his head. “Luc is a morning man. My favorite time for sex is every time Luc is in the mood and you’re willing. I won’t fuck you alone. Ever.”
&
nbsp; Like before, he was totally serious. He wouldn’t have sex with her if Luc wasn’t there and participating. What was that about?
His face gave away nothing, but his expression was too empty, almost painfully blank.
Was he trying to hide something? With Deke, who knew?
“Anytime I say yes, you’ll want to . . . ?”
Lust glowed bright and blue from his eyes. “If Luc is ready and you say yes to us both, I’ll be there.”
The suggestion of his words created a heady, melty feeling that swirled delicious heat through her and settled a dangerous ache right between her legs.
“So I’m not just another wet hole?
He grimaced.“No.”
“Okay, um . . . I just finished nursing school, so I’m free. I’ll need to study for my exams, but I can do that anywhere. Let me grab a bag tonight. I can leave a note for my dad that I’m visiting a . . . friend. He’s out of town right now, anyway. I can be back tomorrow and—”
“Wait. We have one rule.”
A rule? There were rules about a three-way? “Like . . . ?”
“I don’t do virgins, so there won’t be any fucking your pussy.”
Kimber bristled. She didn’t like his blunt language, but was used to that. What bothered her more was his tone, as if virginity made her a lower life-form.
“I think I made it clear earlier that I wanted to save my virginity for Jesse. So that won’t be a problem.”
“I just want you to remember that when things get hot.” He grabbed her face in his hands and leaned his taut body closer. The intent glow of his eyes said that he was desperately resisting the urge to kiss her. “And Kimber, they will get hot.”
A sizzling shiver stole through her. “I won’t forget or change my mind.”
“I won’t give in when you beg.”
Kimber tore away from his grasp. “When I beg?”
My, someone thinks a lot of his prowess.
Deke’s grim smile went straight to her nerves. “One of the joys of a ménage. We can make you willing to do anything. But since we’re agreed now that there won’t be any straight sex, then there won’t be any risks.”
What sort of sex would there be, then? Oral. Anal. She hadn’t done either. In two weeks, she’d become a pro at both. The thought made her suck in a sharp breath at the dangerous jolt of desire.
“Risks of what? Pregnancy?”
Deke’s mouth tightened. “That and entanglement. Taking virginity is accepting a responsibility, in my mind. A man shouldn’t fuck a virgin he doesn’t intend to claim and keep. And I’m not in the market to claim any woman, not in the forever sense.”
Amazing. The old-fashioned and commitment-avoidant all in one breath.
“Somehow, I’m not surprised,” she remarked, hearing her own sarcasm.
Deke merely crossed his arms over his chest and stared, his expression closed. Unreadable. Taut jaw, unapproachable body language. His mouth flattened into a grim line. And those deep blue eyes of his, they looked flat, matter-of-fact . . . at first glance. Kimber looked again.
Bleak. Everything about him screamed it. A stiffness in his posture, coupled with some yearning she glimpsed the longer she looked.
Deke blinked, shifted his weight, took a step back. Whatever she’d seen was gone.
Kimber frowned. Lord, she was losing it. It wasn’t possible to see that much from a single glance. And Deke was the last man she should attribute any real emotion to. That look . . . she’d probably just mistaken his annoyance that he had to wait until tomorrow for her to ease his hard-on or that he wouldn’t be getting any vaginal sex from her. The subject of virgins and claiming didn’t actually upset him. She doubted much ruffled him, in fact. He’d probably thought next to nothing about the “risks” of vaginal sex, except to decide that declaring “no virgins” gave him a better shot at no commitment.
“Should I tell Luc you’ll be back to the house in time for dinner?”
His dead expression was back, and this time, Kimber didn’t look any closer. She doubted Deke was sensitive enough to have any demons, but if he did, she didn’t want to know them.
“And pass up his cooking? I’ll be there.”
Deke didn’t smile. In fact, he looked as cheerful as a man facing death row. “We’ll be ready.”
DEKE nursed a beer just inside the kitchen as he watched Luc open the front door. Kimber stood on the other side, looking so damn innocent in a white lace shirt and flirty flowered skirt. He gnashed his teeth.
Having her here had “bad news” written all over it. Damn.
The hint of mischief in her eyes didn’t make him hard—just the thought of her had managed that twenty minutes ago. But the excitement flushing her cheeks slammed a fresh rush of blood to his cock as Luc invited her into the house. She accepted with a smile and stepped her strappy-sandaled feet into the hall.
His good ol’ cuz had been like a panting puppy with the promise of a new toy all afternoon. He’d sweet-talked Wiletta, their old house-keeper, into a midweek sprucing up. Luc had also spent the last four hours preparing some gourmet chicken dish Deke couldn’t pronounce. And dessert—some complicated chocolate torte thing with strawberries. Deke shook his head. Luc had bought four cartons of the berries and handpicked a mere few for the confection.
Deke doubted they’d make it to dessert.
He didn’t have to ask why all the effort on Luc’s part. His cousin wanted to believe they’d finally found the woman who could complete them, discounting the fact that no sane woman would want to play house permanently with a former Army Ranger and a temperamental chef. Apparently, Luc had also forgotten the thousands of times Deke had insisted he didn’t want a permanent relationship.
Still, his cousin persisted in hoping Kimber was theirs. Who knew why? Deke had pointed out repeatedly they wouldn’t be sinking their cocks into Kimber’s sweet pussy. That she was, in fact, coming here merely to experience a ménage so she could be prepared to please another man.
None of that mattered. Luc was still convinced Kimber could be The One. Sweetly curious, soft on the outside with a tough inner core, Kimber was everything Luc insisted was perfect for a life with two difficult men.
Deke snorted. Yeah, this sure was headed for a fairy-tale ending. Not. But Luc would have to figure that out for himself. Deke was tired of pointing out the obvious.
Still, he admitted privately there was something about Kimber that utterly flipped his switch.
Grimacing at the hard-on straining the fucking slacks Luc had insisted he wear, he lifted his beer for a long swallow. Hell, he was as hard as he could ever remember being and he’d done nothing more than watch Kimber walk through his door with a hesitant smile.
“Hi.”
Her voice was breathy, soft, a little shaky. Good. She had every reason to be nervous. He was. His insides were like a lit powder keg on a short fuse. What would happen to his restraint and self-control after he and Luc laid her out on the bed? Kaboom. He was all jacked up on adrenaline, just as he was after a mission. He needed to fuck, and he could only deny it for so long. Worse, the need seemed fixated on her.
It wasn’t a matter of if she begged to be fucked, but when. And when she begged for a hard cock in her pussy . . . could he keep to his vow to leave her a virgin? Despite his tough talk, he wasn’t sure.
Could he fuck her, claim her, and risk the consequences?
Hell no! No more risks where virgins were concerned. Abso-fucking- lutely not. Never again. She’d learn what they could teach in two weeks and be gone. He’d resist . . . somehow.
“Come in,” Luc said, taking the duffel bag that weighed down her slender arm and setting it in the hall. “We’re glad you’re here. I’m thrilled you’ve agreed to stay with us.”
And if Luc had his way, Kimber would never leave.
“Thanks for changing your mind.”
She looked self-conscious, tucking her silky reddish hair behind one ear, her hazel eyes darting around the living room an
d into the kitchen.
Her gaze found his, and their stares connected. At the visual jolt of electricity, she sucked in a breath. He felt her gaze like a sucker punch to the gut and a hard tug on his cock.
Oh, hell. He was in major shit here.
Luc tucked Kimber’s hand in his and led her to the kitchen. “My mind never needed changing. As far as I’m concerned, you’ve always been welcome.”
Thanks for the public hanging, cuz.
“Deke.” His name trembled from her lips.
The sound went straight to his dick.
Not trusting himself to keep quiet every dirty thought screaming inside his head, he just nodded.
“Wine?” Luc asked her, leading her deeper into the house, into the middle of the kitchen.
“Sure. Thank you. Do you have any white?”
“I have a great chardonnay.”
“Perfect.”
Luc slanted a chastising glance his way. What the fuck did his cousin want him to do? Deke didn’t like wine. Luc was the slick one with all the verbal skills, so Deke was letting him do the talking. It was smart, since Deke only spoke caveman. Besides, he had nothing to say. If he touched Kimber at all right now, Luc would only hear two sounds: him ripping her clothes away from her body and her scream as he covered her clit with his mouth until she came.
“Everything smells delicious,” she murmured and slanted a shy glance in Deke’s direction.
Smiling with all the charm of a damn talk show host, Luc handed her a glass of wine. “I hope you’ll enjoy it. Make yourself comfortable. Or, if you prefer, hit Deke up for a tour of the house.”
Kimber took a sip of the chardonnay, then cut another anxious glance in his direction. Her tongue dragged along her plump lower lip— nearly sending him to his knees.
“I’d love a tour.”
What he’d really love was to see that tongue sliding across the head of his cock. He swallowed at the image gnawing across his mind and right through most of his self-control.
“Sure,” he said, trying not to grimace at his scratchy voice.
He made his way across the kitchen and, because he couldn’t stand not touching her for another minute, he molded his palm to the small of her back. Warm, firmly curved. Responsive. Deke glanced her way and couldn’t miss the fact that her nipples hardened the instant he touched her. And her smell . . . He inhaled peaches, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Homey, spicy, comforting, and arousing. Another sniff. Holy shit, if he got any harder, his zipper was going to leave permanent indentions on his dick.
