by Jayne Rylon
“Don’t ask, Shar. If it feels right, go for it. That’s what I want for you. For each of us.” Maturity didn’t always suit Ryan. Right then was the exception. He seemed genius to Ben, who’d struggled for so long with trying to simplify things between them. It didn’t last long, though. “Besides, if I wasn’t afraid of shattering this Hallmark moment, I’d probably already have my hands in my pants and be playing with my cock while you two make out. Go ahead, put on a sexy show for me.”
Laughter buffeted Ben’s lips.
Then he was doomed. No way could he help but taste elation that pure and freely given.
He craned his neck upward, closing the gap between himself and Shari. The moist heat of her lips soothed the bruised flesh he’d won as a consolation prize from his tongue twister with Ryan earlier. Her petite hands petted his shoulders, helping him relax and enjoy instead of pillaging her mouth. Despite his fears, she calmed him.
Her passion burned away some of the pain. For them both, he supposed.
As their tongues touched, swirled, and licked, his hands roamed lower, to her waist. He held her hips securely on top of him, keeping her from slipping to the floor when she lost track of their surroundings. Instead, he rolled, putting her beneath him.
Something inside him unfurled, coming back to life. And he wasn’t just talking about his dick, which grew stiffer by the heartbeat. Levered up on his elbows, peering into her pretty coffee eyes, he felt more like himself than he had in ages.
Not only because she was so utterly feminine compared to Ryan’s cut form.
Also because she lent him some of her strength. Damn, did she have a lot of it.
Shari squirmed beneath him. He thought he might be crushing her until he realized her instincts had her attempting to align their bodies so their pleasure points connected. If they’d been naked, he could easily have pressed his cock to her and begun to ease inside.
Fuck, he wanted that.
To feel her pussy sheathing him as she looked at him like this, like he wasn’t the horrible deadbeat he’d convinced himself he must be. Or at least started chipping away at the roadblocks that had been keeping him from her.
From them.
Ben reached out, searching for Ryan. The other man didn’t leave him hanging.
Their hands locked together in an unbreakable grasp that caused him to redouble the attention he was paying to Shari’s kisses and the curvaceous body trapped between him and the mattress. He didn’t stop sipping from her lips until it was that or black out from the lack of oxygen.
When she’d caught her breath, far sooner than he could manage, she smiled up at him while caressing his back.
“It’s not going to go away overnight, this shit they did to you both or the lingering trauma.” Shari kissed him so softly, he wondered if he’d imagined it. “But if we keep working on it and stay honest with each other, we’ll get past it. I can feel it.”
Terrifying hope bloomed within Ben like a tiny crocus trying to be the first to break through the late-spring snow. He hoped he wasn’t peeking out just in time to be slammed with an unseasonable frost. Frozen solid, he’d never manage to thaw again.
Shari refused to let him duck back underground now that he’d sprouted. “We’re here for you. I believe that having you will be good for Ryan, too. You’re worried about taking advantage, but Ben…can’t you see? He needs you. Do what’s truly best for him, since it’s what you also want. Love him. In every way your heart craves.”
“Fuck, yes,” Ryan hissed. “Please. Do that.”
“I shouldn’t. But I have to.” Ben couldn’t resist them both allied against him. “I’m going to go to hell for this—”
“Shhh.” Another kiss from Shari swallowed his negativity.
“Do it.” Ryan stared at them with that endless blue gaze that had reminded him of the sky every time he thought there’d be nothing but midnight surrounding them again. It was no different now. Refreshing and rousing.
“I need you both.” Ben closed his eyes as he breathed hard, waffling between what his brain told him was right and what the whole rest of his being felt was perfection. So close. Attainable. All he had to do was man up and grab it. “Forgive me.”
“Of course,” Shari whispered at the same time Ryan said, “Done.”
So Ben pounced, dragging Ryan down beside Shari so that he could study them both, laid out on the bed before him like his most incredible—and lewd—dreams were about to come true.
Because they were.
16
Shari clasped Ryan’s hand as they reclined side-by-side, looking up adoringly at the man who’d bruised their hearts because his own had been mangled. They’d almost left him to the phantoms of his past, which haunted him. Blame had no place here anymore. It had already caused enough harm.
Of the three of them, she was clearly the one who needed the most guidance now.
She had no idea where the heck to start when presented with two gorgeous men like these—experienced maestros of seduction, even the one with the submissive streak. Especially that one.
“Last one naked gets a spanking,” Ryan joked, breaking the tension while tossing her a hint.
She didn’t need any additional instruction. With a shimmy and a couple of yanks, she had her eyelet dress peeled over her head and fluttering into a heap on the floor.
Ben paused with his shirt a few inches above the waistband of his jeans, baring his six-pack as he admired her in her underwear. “Damn.”
“Guess I was in a hurry.” She shrugged one shoulder.
“Or you don’t like spankings very much,” Ryan teased.
“Don’t worry. He likes them enough for you both.” Ben shook his head slightly. “I know your tricks, boy.”
Ryan, who hadn’t removed a single stitch yet, only smiled.
“Would you mind if we didn’t get around to that today?” Ben seemed genuinely curious. “I’m in the mood for something less…denigrating.”
“I’m a fan of anything that means I wind up in bed with the two of you.” This time there wasn’t a hint of sarcasm or playfulness about Ryan’s confession.
Shari sort of regretted her hastiness as her gaze ping-ponged between the two still-clothed men, though she supposed she’d bared her body while they bared their souls. Certainly a harder task.
“Besides, I kind of liked the vanilla topping Shari gave me last night.” Ryan winked at her.
“You already went for food in bed?” Ben grunted. “I know you’re a chef but—”
“He’s not talking about Cool Whip,” she interrupted before he could put more mouthwatering ideas in her mind. Too late, now she wanted to try that too. Later.
“Although now that I’m horny and thinking about that, it sounds kind of kinky, huh?” Ryan tapped his index finger on his chin. “Possibilities.”
Shari laughed at how alike their thought processes were.
“Tell me what you mean.” The directness of Ben’s request didn’t allow her to consider objecting, not that she would have anyway. Still, he was much better at this domineering thing than she had been.
So good that Ryan answered immediately, beating her to it. “She totally mind-fucked me. Subtly yet really effectively, by getting me to share a fantasy, while sort of acting it out.”
“Was that kind of thing enough of a power exchange to get you off?” Ben asked as he continued where he’d left off, deliberately walking his T-shirt up his torso. As distractions went, it was pretty phenomenal. Shari forgot to be nervous about Ryan’s response, too busy staring at the impressive display of well-muscled man Ben revealed bit by bit.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Ryan laughed. “She watched me shoot about a gallon of come across my chest.”
“True story.” She pinched his upper arm, so much more relaxed around him after that adventure. “You did seem pretty pleased with yourself and that long cock of yours. But seriously, is it good enough, Ryan? Or do you need more? I kind of liked finding out what I have to
give. I just worry I’m not everything you need.”
“Right now, I’m happier than I’ve ever been. That’s all I know.” He turned his head and kissed her knuckles, then took her finger in his mouth and sucked lightly. “I think we might be about to shatter that record, though.”
“What can I do to make today better?” she wondered.
Before Ryan could answer, Ben said, “Let me guess, his naughty little daydream included being tied up.”
As he spoke, he shucked his jeans and underwear simultaneously. When he stood fully upright again, he wasn’t the only straight and tall thing in the room. His cock jutted from his body, erect and…massive. Thick and dark, his erection had her licking her lips.
“Eyes up here, Shari,” he mocked her. “I asked you a question.”
She shivered. Was this what it would be like to give someone else control?
“Okay, I can see why this turns you on,” she muttered in Ryan’s direction without taking her eyes off Ben.
Who knew she might like to sample each of their flavors? Huh.
“You’d better answer him, Shar.” Ryan, still fully dressed, rolled toward her. “Or he might put you over his knee yet.”
She imagined what that might feel like. His heavy hand on her lower back, pinning her to those massive thighs. The heat of his palm caressing her cheeks before a stinging impact caused her to wriggle on his lap. It might be worth it to feel his cock at her hip, knowing she had the power to turn him on.
Damn, she could be in trouble.
“Shari.” Ben crawled to her on the bed, his knees on either side of her and that imposing shaft searing her belly as gravity pulled it toward her.
“Oh. Yes. He mentioned handcuffs.”
“I’ll have to ask Mason to lend me some.” Ben smiled, then kissed her lightly. “Good girl.”
Ryan groaned. Though she could see the erection clearly stretching along his groin beneath his denim, he didn’t cup himself. Expectantly, he stared up at Ben.
“You were the one who didn’t strip. Not my fault.” He shrugged. “Help me finish Shari, then I’ll see about having you join us. Next time maybe you shouldn’t screw around when we’re about to get serious with each other.”
“Yes, sir.” The title rolled off Ryan’s tongue, clearly more than a simple sign of respect, and certainly not a smarmy mockery. He paid Ben respect, and meant it.
Shari pressed her thighs together, trying to curb the ache between her legs.
These two might kill her. But she would die happy.
“Go ahead.” Ben lifted his chin toward Shari.
She squeaked when Ryan swooped over her, lifted her shoulders, and unwrapped her for Ben. The scrap of lace panties she’d worn just for him followed shortly after.
It was the first time Ben had seen her nude, and she found herself reluctant to meet his stare. What if he didn’t like what he saw?
“No wonder you didn’t answer the phone, you lucky fucker.” His envy turned his tone warm as he rubbed the nape of Ryan’s neck.
“She’s gorgeous,” Ryan affirmed.
“Better than I pictured the million times I imagined her naked, even,” Ben agreed. “Her body is compact and strong. You can tell she works on the ranch. But still curvy. Stacked.”
“So soft,” Ryan murmured before leaning in to pillow his head on her breasts. While he was there, he put his lips around her nipple and suckled.
Shari sighed. Could it be this easy?
For months she’d wondered about how she would be able to handle the pair of them when she’d barely slept with one man in the past. She wasn’t a temptress like Lacey, or a Mistress like Lily, or as no-nonsense as Jambrea. Whatever she was, they seemed to like it, though.
When things went right they were every bit as effortless as they had been tense before. Why the hell hadn’t she confronted them sooner?
Because they hadn’t been ready.
Ben might never have been if he hadn’t believed he’d lost everything the night before. Sometimes people had to hit rock bottom before they were ready to tackle their fears and make tough changes.
She didn’t know if she was supposed to be still, but she didn’t feel like it, so she went with her gut. Shari buried her fingers in Ryan’s hair and held him to her chest. With the other, she reached out. Ben entwined their fingers.
“I should look at you two all day. Just like this.” With his free hand, Ben wrapped his fist around his cock and began to stroke. Leisurely.
“Don’t. Please,” Ryan begged.
“Only because I can’t,” Ben said. “I’ve waited long enough already.”
“Amen,” Shari muttered under her breath.
Ryan’s soft laughter jiggled her breasts.
“Fine.” A wicked grin curved up one side of Ben’s mouth. “I might not have any cuffs, but I’ve got something even better. Want to see what happens when Ryan loses his mind?”
“Mmmhmm.” She did. She definitely did.
“You might be a sadist yet.” Though he ragged on her, Ryan didn’t seem to mind.
Ben reached across them both to yank open the nightstand drawer. He took from within a short length of rope and a bottle of clear liquid she pegged for lube. On the way back, he trailed the rough hemp over Ryan’s hip. The slightest contact—even through his clothes—made him gasp.
“Didn’t think I knew this was in there, did you?” Ben snapped it so it whipped Ryan’s thigh. It couldn’t have stung much, since he was still dressed, but it had an impact. “I hope you weren’t doing anything that could get you in trouble.”
Ryan moaned. He shook his head then said, “I can’t pull it tight enough by myself, and I only did it when you were home. Never anywhere crazy like my neck. Only my ankles or sometimes my wrists as best I could.”
“Let me guess, you used the slack in the rope loop so that you could fuck between your wrists and the rope? Did it get you off faster to chafe your dick with this scratchy thing?”
“Yes.” Ryan didn’t bother to deny it.
Shari pictured him going to those lengths to find some relief. To secure a clearly half-assed release. If she had suspected, she would have come to his aid.
“I might have been humiliated, but I could have called you for help if I had to. How did you find it?”
“It was sticking out of the drawer one day when I passed by. You must have been drunk on the pleasure of using it and not noticed before you passed out one night. I tucked it back in so Julie wouldn’t notice and ask a thousand questions I can’t answer for at least another twenty years.” Ben dangled the rope in front of Ryan, who tracked its arc back and forth as if it hypnotized him.
She couldn’t pinpoint what prompted her to say it. The words flew from her lips before she could stop them. “I think you should let me strip him and bind him for you. If working on a ranch is good for something, it’s learning how to tie solid knots. There won’t be any getting out of my handiwork if you don’t let him out.”
“Fuck, Shari.” Ryan literally twitched beneath her, his entire body jolting as if she’d shocked him with one of the cattle prods she kept out in her barn. For that matter, he might have liked that too.
Ben hummed his approval. “I admit, I didn’t expect you to be quite so…”
“Enthusiastic?” she supplied.
“Perfect,” Ben finished instead.
“I’ll assume that’s a yes from you, then.” She grinned, feeling significant and sexy in a way she never had before. To be sure, she asked Ryan also, “Would you let me do that to you? Right now?”
“Yeah,” he groaned. “But if you do, you’d better be ready for the fuck of a lifetime.”
She raised her brows at him, imagining her thighs spread around his trim hips getting a workout. Being on top wasn’t her favorite, but she could manage. “You mean the ride of a lifetime?”
“Hell, no. Well, unless that’s what you want. I like that too. But it’s been so long, I won’t be able to keep myself calm or st
ill. So either tie all of me really well, or go for my wrists. I love having them bound. Then let me fuck the shit out of you like that.”
“Endurance is one of his finer qualities.” Ben smiled down at them both, his eyes slumberous as arousal began to take hold.
Shari beamed as she faced Ryan and unbuttoned his shirt. She did it deliberately. Slow and with intention, so that he could savor the anticipation. After last night, she knew how that factored in to building his arousal. And she wanted this experience to shake his foundation. Life could be crazy sometimes, each of them knew that. If she only ever got one chance to share this with these two men, she wanted to do it right. “I noticed last night.”
She laid a string of kisses down his sternum as she revealed his smooth chest. Did he wax?
He must, and she liked it.
Shari kneaded his pecs while Ben started at the other end, taking off Ryan’s socks before working on his belt. The sight of those long, olive-skinned fingers threading the leather through Ryan’s buckle hit her hard. She shuddered and moaned.
Ryan matched her as Ben moved on to the button. Then the zipper.
“You could use that on me,” Ryan offered just before the wad of leather, metal, and denim hit the floorboards.
“Not today. I’ve got other plans for your ass,” Ben declined as he appraised Ryan, who didn’t attempt to hide a single speck of himself from either Shari or Ben.
Naked and unafraid, Ryan left himself open to their scrutiny.
Shari couldn’t have found a single thing wrong with his lithe body or his new attitude. Both were marvelous to her.
“Do those plans involve my favorite position?” he asked on a half-groan, half-whimper.
“Maybe.” Ben shrugged, though his hungry stare made it clear he was into it too, whatever it might be.
“Which is what?” she couldn’t help but wonder aloud.
Ryan looked to Ben, pleading for him to respond since he seemed incapable of coherent speech while the majority of his blood rushed straight to his exposed cock.
“He loves to fuck while being fucked.”
