“Ah, love. This isn’t the end. It’s just the beginning.”
Shane and Noah had thought of everything. When Kitty had packed for the weekend, she hadn’t thought about bringing more than a change of clothes and a toothbrush. Somehow Shane and Noah not only remembered the meal but ambience as well. It didn’t take long for Noah to unpack the candles and linens and for Shane to cook up the fresh bass, steamed vegetables, and saffron rice. She’d never thought of sautéing fish and adding white wine, tomatoes, and feta cheese, but it worked and worked well. Soon the entire cabin smelled like a five-star restaurant. It felt a little odd, having such a meal at five in the morning, but the men insisted, and to be honest, after the incredible sex down in the cove, Kitty felt more energized than tired.
While the men cooked, she took to cleaning the rest of the cabin the best she could. The mess was a big reason why she’d retreated to the lake after she confirmed that Noah and Shane hadn’t arrived. Kitty hadn’t wanted to stay in her father’s hunting lodge any longer than necessary.
Clint Velvet had more than enough money to furnish the cabin with every comfort, but he liked to keep it simple. He often bragged about how the sparse furnishings and drab colors allowed him to remember where he’d come from and helped him to connect with those less fortunate. Kitty saw it more as a reminder of what the future held if she couldn’t get her father to agree to sell Velvet Steel. The thought of giving up on the company made her sick to her stomach, but the company was heading toward bankruptcy. It wasn’t like she had a lot of options.
When she finished arranging and dusting, the place was serviceable, at least for what she had in mind. Maybe with a little luck, the men wouldn’t really care about the cabin’s shabby interior. Neither of them had commented so far, so perhaps fancy things didn’t matter to them. In her world, luxury was everything, and most would scoff at the run-down cabin. The fact that neither man had mentioned it made her heart soften toward them even more.
The leftover white wine was placed on the table to share, along with candles and linen napkins. As she slid into her seat at the kitchen table, Kitty thought her father’s dishes looked like cheap castoffs when the food was placed on them.
“Don’t you like it?” Shane asked from across the table.
She looked up from her plate. “Everything’s great.” She glanced at Noah in the living room. The kitchen and living room were in a large open space with only a long island separating the two rooms. “You should really eat with us,” she said.
“I will. I just want to set up this video equipment first.” He looked up from his camera. “You’re sure you want to go through with it?”
“The videotaping?”
He nodded. “Having sex for the camera isn’t appealing to everyone, but we thought, since you were receptive back at the club, you might enjoy it.”
“I’m sure I will.” Leave it to Noah to be the concerned one. Of the two men, he seemed to be the one most in tune with her moods. Back in the limo, she had sensed him watching her and felt the understanding in his gaze. It both comforted and confused her. How could anyone understand what she was going through? Kitty worked hard at keeping her life private, and the possibility of someone knowing so much about her was unnerving.
“Of course I want to go through with it.” She forced herself to smile and take a bite of the fish. It was good—worthy of being served in a fine restaurant, not some shack in the woods.
“Then what’s the problem?” Shane reached out and took her hand. “You don’t like the food?”
Heat rushed over her skin at his touch. There was something about Shane that was exciting, a devil-may-care attitude that resonated with her. He was spontaneous about spending a weekend with her. She craved that spontaneity in her own life.
“I love the food. It’s just—I had an argument my father before coming here.”
“What did you fight about?” Shane asked.
She stared at the gorgeous Irishman across from her. Should she tell him? It would be good to lay out her troubles, but she didn’t know them well enough yet. The last time she’d confided in someone she thought was her friend, it ended badly. Ashley hadn’t cared about her feelings; all she’d wanted was an internship at Velvet Steel.
Kitty shook away her dark thoughts and took another bite of food. This was supposed to be a fun weekend. The men didn’t need that kind of burden.
“It wasn’t important.” She glanced at Noah, who put down the camera and made his way over to the table. “Nothing that won’t blow over in a day or two.” Like after they signed the contracts that handed over Velvet Steel to S&N Steel on Wednesday. She had never seen the S&N Steel owners in person, but their callousness was legendary. All they cared about was the bottom line. Those men would eat her up and spit her out for breakfast. Her goal was to try to reach a deal that represented the company’s worth and appeased her father’s concerns. It was a tough goal, one she wasn’t sure she’d be able to manage.
Noah sat beside her at the table, disrupting her thoughts. “It’s okay. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to.”
There he went again with those understanding eyes. It was almost as if he could see into her soul. It didn’t matter. They weren’t here to talk about work or her family. They were here to have fun, and she was doing a lousy job of it. Kitty pushed back her uneasiness. “You really should eat.”
Small creases formed around Noah’s eyes as he smiled. “I snacked earlier while Shane was cooking. You should eat, though. You’ll need your energy.” He winked at her.
For the rest of the meal, she fielded questions about her family and the cabin. At first she was elusive, but there was something about Shane’s charm that made her want to open up. She told them how her mother had been a cocktail waitress and had died soon after Kitty was born. She spoke of her time growing up under her father’s thumb and how coming to this cabin was the only real freedom she’d had until she turned twenty-one. Of course, she could have moved out of the mansion then, but she had fallen in love with the family business and found it easier and more rewarding to stay put. She talked about her love for the company and the hopes her family had to one day expand the business. Not once did she mention her financial troubles, nor did the men question her about them.
“You really seem to love the company,” Shane observed.
“I do. It’s my whole life.”
“It shows. It must be hard work to keep such a large company viable.” Noah held out his hand. “Are you all done?”
Kitty felt a stab of pain in her chest at his words. She nodded, and he took her plate from her. Shane tugged on her fingers, drawing her attention back to him. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell us what’s on your mind?”
“She said she didn’t want to talk about it.” Noah glared at Shane and then put the dishes in the sink.
“But she’d feel better if she did.” Shane took her hand. “Sometimes talking about things can help.” He shrugged. “Who knows, we may be able to offer suggestions.”
“I don’t know.” She wanted to trust them, but she had trusted Ashley, and look where that had gotten her. Kitty sensed these two were different but didn’t know if what she was feeling was because of the sex they’d just had. By speaking of her childhood, she had already divulged way too much information about her past.
“Does it have anything to do with the financial troubles of Velvet Steel?”
Noah marched over and picked up Shane’s plate. “She said she didn’t want to talk about it.” He frowned at his friend and then stalked back to the sink.
They were embarrassed for her; she knew it. Her family’s skeletons were in the news. When reporters smelled a story, they were relentless. Kitty’s whole family history had been brought to light, and some even questioned her ability to make decisions and lead. It stung and she had hoped to prove them all wrong, but she just couldn’t see how.
Shane’s features softened, and Kitty realized that while she had been rumin
ating, he had been studying her. “I’m sorry, lass. You don’t have to talk if you don’t want to. I just thought perhaps…” He winked, his green eyes sparkling with promise. “If you want this weekend to forget, then we’ll help you to forget. Right, Noah?”
Noah visibly relaxed. “Right.”
Shane tapped the table. “Then I suggest we get to it.”
“It’s almost six a.m.,” Kitty said.
“Are you tired?”
She thought for a moment. She was depressed but not tired, and the thought of another round of passionate sex sent a tendril of heat through her core. “No.”
Noah glanced at Shane, then dried his hands on the towel. “I’ll get the camera.”
Shane touched his arm as he walked by. “No.”
Kitty stood up from her chair. “Are you two all right?”
“Of course,” Shane said, never looking away from Noah. “It’s just that I think Noah should start in front of the camera. I want to make sure we have the right angle.”
Noah opened his mouth to speak but then quickly shut it again.
“That’s fine with me,” Kitty said.
Noah glanced at Kitty, then refocused on Shane. “Okay,” he said after a moment. “The camera is on the small table by the couch. I’ve already set up the stand in the bedroom, but you’ll have to—”
“Don’t worry, buddy.” Shane slapped Noah’s shoulder. “I’ve got it.” He whistled as he went to pick up the camera in the living room. Soon he disappeared around the corner.
After a long moment, Kitty turned to Noah. “Are you okay?”
He met her gaze and smiled. “I’m fine, love. It’s just…” He shook his head. “Sometimes I think that boy’s crazy.”
Kitty smiled. “Me too. When he first suggested the camera during sex, I thought he was out of his mind.”
Noah’s smile faded. “And now?”
“Now…” Kitty thought about it for a moment. She wanted to escape from her troubles. What better way to do that than with two gorgeous men surrounding her? The thought of doing everything on camera was exciting. They could watch the video and relive every moment again and again, perhaps even use it later to put one another in the mood. At the end of the weekend, she’d have something special to remember them by. “Now I think it’s a great idea,” she said.
Noah raised his brows. “You do?”
Kitty moistened her lips and let her gaze roam over Noah’s rock-hard body. “Yeah, I do.”
“Are you two coming?” Shane called from the other room.
Noah smiled and shook his head. “Like I said, crazy.” He held out his arm. “Shall we?”
Kitty wrapped her arm around his. “That’s okay. I like crazy.”
“So do I, love.” He winked, then led her down the hallway to the bedroom. “So do I.”
Chapter Six
Noah watched Kitty as she walked into the bedroom. Her eyes lit up at the display before her, and his heart warmed. He had put a lot of work into the room while Kitty cleaned and Shane cooked, and he was glad his efforts weren’t wasted. The sparse room had been made over into a sanctuary fit for a queen. It was decorated in soft greens and blues, creating an atmosphere of comfort and warmth. A camera stood off to one side on a small but functional stand, its lens pointed toward a large four-poster bed in the center of the open space. The bed’s dark wood complemented the lighter bedding Noah had acquired. Shane was fiddling with the smooth satin sheets along the edge of the mattress.
“It’s beautiful,” Kitty said.
Noah let go, and she ran her hand over the sheer fabric that decorated the four posts and draped over the easy chair, dresser, and window.
“It was our pleasure.” Shane patted the mattress. “Give it a try.”
“Don’t let Shane fool you,” Noah said as Kitty hopped up on the bed. “I did a lot of it while you two were cleaning and cooking.”
She turned to him and smiled, and his heart warmed despite himself. He had been reluctant to come up here because he was worried Shane might grow too attached to Kitty. Now he was worried that he, not Shane, might be softening too much toward the gorgeous blonde. Normally he felt rather indifferent toward women, but there was something about Kitty—the way she smiled when she looked at him, as if they both shared some deep secret—that made him instantly connect with her. It was as if she understood his loneliness and frustration and wanted to comfort him.
“Thank you, Noah. This is…” She waved her arm around. “This is amazing. No one has ever gone to so much trouble for me before.”
“They should have.” Shane stepped forward and took her hand. “You deserve to be spoiled.”
A stab of jealousy ripped through Noah’s core. He wasn’t sure where it was directed. Did he feel jealous that Shane seemed to show a lot of interest in Kitty, or was it because he had developed strong feelings for her and wanted her for himself? Maybe it was a little of both. He bit back a curse and moved over to the camera.
Shane dropped Kitty’s hand. “What are you doing?”
Noah looked up from the lens and saw both Kitty and Shane staring at him. “I’m adjusting the lens. It’s out of focus, and the angle has to be just right or we won’t see anything.”
“I’ll take care of that.” Shane crossed the room toward him.
Noah hesitated. “This is old and outdated equipment. I just wanted to make sure that—”
“I said I’d take care of that.” Shane stepped between Noah and the camera.
“What’s gotten into you?” Noah whispered as Shane looked through the lens. “I thought you wanted to be with Kitty.”
“I do.” He straightened and rested his hand on Noah’s shoulder. “But I meant what I said back there. I want you to go first.”
Noah looked into Shane’s soft green eyes. “What? You always go first.”
“Not this time.” Shane glanced back at Kitty. “I want to watch you enjoy her.” He turned to Kitty. “Is it okay if Noah goes first?”
Kitty looked up from where she was running her hand across the smooth sheet. “Of course.” She shrugged out of her top.
Noah stared at her for a moment, dumbstruck. She was beautiful, more beautiful than he ever thought a woman could be. He watched as she slid out of her pants and then moved to unfasten her bra. His mouth went dry. Noah hadn’t felt like this since he was a schoolboy. Being with her, knowing Shane was watching him, made his skin hot and his cock swell. It was better than being with a woman, better than being with a man. It was the best of both worlds.
Shane slapped him on the backside. “You better go to her.”
Noah dragged his gaze back to Shane. “Are you sure?”
Shane shifted his hand on the camera and ran his fingers over Noah’s knuckles. The touch was soft and intimate and made Noah hard all over. “You need this, Noah. I can tell. Let me work the camera for a while and go have some fun.”
Noah swallowed the lump in his throat. Shane was right, he did need this, but Noah was used to playing on the sidelines to Shane’s intense personality. He wasn’t even sure he could please Kitty without Shane’s help. “But—”
“Scoot.” Before Noah could react, Shane had looked back into the lens, effectively dismissing him.
“Is there a problem?” Kitty asked.
“No problem, love.” Noah turned to face her. She had completely removed her clothes and sat in the middle of the bed, snuggled underneath the sheets. He moistened his lips as he studied the outline of her curves under the covers. It was like Christmas, and soon he’d be unwrapping the best present imaginable.
Shane was right; he did need this. Kitty was a gorgeous enigma to him. How could he have such strong feelings for her and yet still feel a deep longing for Shane? Was it possible to crave two people at the same time?
She patted the space next to her. “You coming?”
“Of course.” He began to strip, all the while watching her gaze flick over his body as he removed each piece of clothing. Shane’s
touch might have gotten him hard, but Kitty’s needy gaze kept him hard. He crawled into bed next to her.
“Do you like what you see?” he asked.
“Very much.” She reached up and cupped his cheek. “There’s no need to be afraid.”
Noah snorted. “I’ve done this many times, sweetheart. I’m not afraid.”
“Then neither am I.” She lowered her hand.
“Good.” He captured her lips in a soft, gentle kiss. It was meant to test her, to rediscover her taste and let their bodies adjust to each other, but as Noah nipped and laved her lips, a sense of urgency overcame him. He tilted his head and coaxed her mouth open, eager to taste more of her sweetness. She sighed and reached up to thread her fingers through his hair. Then she leaned back on the pillows and opened herself to him.
Noah kissed her long and deep, running his tongue over every inch of her mouth. She tasted divine.
“Ah shit, Noah. That’s good.”
Noah broke away from the kiss and gave Shane a hard stare. Shane popped his head up from behind the lens and offered a quirky smile. “Just lose the sheets and pretend I’m not here.”
Knowing Shane was watching them, that he approved, just made the whole experience more erotic for Noah. “Not a problem.” He turned back to Kitty, suddenly unsure. He wanted this, but only if she was willing. Kissing him in front of Shane was one thing, but having Shane watching them have sex was something else entirely. Since they would be recording the encounter, anyone would be able to watch them at any time. Did she realize what she was getting herself into? He needed to know—no, needed to hear—that she wanted this as much as he did. “Are you sure you want to go through with this?”
Velvet Steel Page 9
