Marcus leaned across and took Naomi’s hand. It felt so right in his. “Naomi, love, your stepbrother returned to your home earlier today, after I’d left. He was ranting and raving, demanding the servants give him information they didn’t have. The guard was called when he began making threats. Thaddeus confessed to killing not just the Earl of Walridge, but Sir Martin Hadley and Patrick, as well.”
Her breath caught, her eyes glistened with increasing tears. “Portia said he had murdered them all. I hoped she was wrong. That both of you were wrong that he’d do such a thing in my name. He confessed then. So it means it was my fault.”
“No,” Everett burst out and Marcus said, “Never!” at the same time.
She bent her head. “Perhaps in time, I will feel that way. But for now I simply mourn for them. For what was stolen from those men whose only crime was marrying me.” She was silent a moment and then she lifted her gaze once more. “What will they do about Thaddeus?”
“He was frenetic, by the account of the magistrate.” Marcus sighed. “For now he has been taken to Bedlam. If he calms, I assume there will be a trial. Perhaps they’ll make some bargain for transport. But, he cannot hurt you. He never will.”
She leaned forward, into his arms. He closed them around her, rocking her as she wept. Then he lifted his gaze to Everett, locking eyes with his other love. Everett held that stare as he put his arms around them both, and they rode the rest of the way to Marcus’s home in a circle of comfort and protection. One he had realized, in a moment of terror, that he wanted for the rest of his life.
He just didn’t know how to make that possible.
Chapter 12
Naomi woke slowly and as she opened her eyes, found that she was in Marcus’s arms, with Everett curled around her from behind. The events of earlier in the day rushed back and she squeezed her eyes shut as if that could block them out.
“It’s all right,” Marcus whispered, kissing her forehead. “I know. We’re here.”
She cuddled into his chest, pressing her lips to his neck as Everett tucked himself closer, as well, and kissed her shoulder. The desire that seemed a constant between them lifted inside of her, making her sex tingle, making her want to find this one, beautiful way to forget the ugliness of earlier in the day.
But there was too much unresolved to do it. Too much to be said.
She lifted her gaze to Marcus. “You saved me. You saved both of us.”
For a moment all there was in his crumpled expression was vulnerability. Raw on every handsome feature. Loss and pain and fear and regret, all bundled into one.
“When I thought she would kill you, that Everett would block the shot and perhaps both of you would die, my world shattered,” Marcus murmured. “I realized that if I lost you, either of you, both of you, then I would have nothing of value.”
Everett rested his chin on her shoulder and watched him. “But you’re willing to walk away.”
Marcus’s attention turned to him. “I…I don’t want to walk away.”
Joy flooded Naomi’s entire body and she sat up, turning so she could face both men. “Are you saying, Marcus, that you are finally open to a life together? Truly together?”
He hesitated, and she felt Everett tense beside her. Knew what he’d gone through loving this man through the years and being denied that love over and over again.
“Yes,” he said at last, slowly. “I think there is a way for us. To love you, to share you. To both have you.”
She wrinkled her brow and cast a quick glance at Everett before she shook her head. “No. No, Marcus. That isn’t what I want. It isn’t what any of us need.”
Marcus stared. Here he had finally succumbed to what Naomi wanted, and now she denied him?
“Don’t look at me as if I’ve sprouted a second head,” she said with a smile. “And don’t deny what is in your heart. You and Everett have loved each other far longer than you have known or cared for me.”
He shut his eyes. And there it was. The truth said in the sweetest voice in the world. The truth laid bare.
“Look at me,” Everett said, his voice rough.
Marcus opened his eyes and did so. Looked into the bright blue eyes that had held his interest and his heart for so damned long. He saw fear in them, hurt, and love. Always love. There had always been that.
“You know I love you,” Everett said softly. “I have always loved you. Do you love me?”
Marcus’s lips parted. “Is that in question? Do you really not know?”
“I know that you’ve pulled away from me for years,” Everett said. “That you’ve denied me, denied yourself, at every turn as you tried to keep us in the realm of friends.”
Marcus bent his head. “Of course I love you.”
Naomi touched his chin and he lifted his gaze to her, then back to Everett. “We will never be complete if the love between you isn’t part of the equation. I know that in the past this revelation hasn’t gone well. That there hasn’t been understanding. But I’m not those other women. I see your connection and I think it’s beautiful. I want to be in this circle, but if I’m the only center, it will never be complete.”
Marcus stared at her. What she was offering was something he’d never dared to hope for. Something that would serve all his desires. All of Everett’s.
“You could really accept this?” he asked.
“I do accept it,” she whispered, and took his hand. She moved it across herself and gently placed it on Everett’s thigh. Everett hissed out a harsh sound of pleasure at the touch, and Marcus’s body responded immediately.
He knew he had two choices. To accept this, surrender to it. Revel in it and all it could bring.
Or run. But he’d run for a long time, doing what he thought was best for himself, best for Everett. And it had only brought misery, that denial of his true self.
He was shaking as he leaned across her and cupped Everett’s cheek, and then he kissed him. Everett opened immediately and his hands came up to grip Marcus’s arms, fingers digging in as if he feared Marcus would run. But of course, Everett would feel that way, because Marcus always had.
After today, he never wanted to run again. He shifted and felt Naomi move, sliding aside in the bed so she was no longer between them. He glanced at her, saw that her hand had come up to her breast as she watched them. He remembered Everett watching him take her. Remembered all the times he’d watched the same. Why would he deny her that pleasure if it was what she wanted, what they all wanted?
He caught Everett’s hips and dragged him closer. Their kiss grew frantic, passionate, desperate because it had been so long since he surrendered to this need that pulsed within him. Everett’s fingers tangled in his hair and Marcus slid his hand up his thigh and smoothed across his hard cock.
“You’re wearing too many clothes,” he complained against Everett’s lips.
Marcus felt him smile, and they drew apart for a moment to tug away trousers. Naomi licked her lips as she watched them, leaning in to brush her fingers along Marcus’s spine when he took Everett’s mouth again. Her touch electrified the room, increasing the connection that had always been between them.
He caught Everett’s cock, now bared to him, and smoothed his hand along the length. Everett tensed, breaking his mouth away to gasp. They locked eyes. Marcus watched Everett shiver, his pupils dilating with pleasure. With relief.
And then Everett’s hand folded over him, and the jolt of pressure and pleasure was instant. They stroked each other for a few moments, and it was like picking up where they’d left off the last time they were lovers. It was easy. He knew exactly what Everett wanted. And how to give it to him. But also how to receive him, lifting his hips to meet Everett’s certain, heavy strokes.
Naomi shifted to her knees and moved so she was before them. At some point she had shed her chemise, and now she was naked. She snaked a hand between her legs, playing her fingers along her clitoris as she became a voyeur to them.
Marcus bit his lip, his e
yes on her as he lowered his head. Everett groaned as Marcus closed his lips around his cock and took him into his throat. Slowly he worked at him, drawing back until Everett nearly left his lips, then back down, all the way down, as deep as he could go. Everett’s hands dug into his hair, driving the rhythm. And then he felt Naomi’s hands on him, reaching out to touch his cock.
He stiffened at the feel of both their hands on him, stroking him as he sucked Everett’s cock. It was nothing like he’d ever felt before, and he bucked against the seeking fingers, nearly unmanned.
She rode the fingers of her opposite hand even as she stroked him, and suddenly she let out a cry. He lifted his head from Everett’s cock, and together the two men watched as she brought herself to orgasm.
“I want to fuck you,” Everett growled. “I want us both inside of you.”
Her lips parted, and then she smiled. “All of us, together. As it should be.”
Marcus nodded and leaned in, cupping the back of her neck to kiss her as Everett continued to stroke his aching cock. He ground against Everett’s hand while he slid his fingers up Naomi’s thigh and then along her soaking wet slit. He grinned as he pulled back.
“Our naughty girl likes to watch, I think, Everett.”
“She likes more than that,” Naomi whispered before she bit his lower lip gently.
He thrust harder into Everett’s hand as he chuckled at her cheek and her confidence. How had he ever lived without it? Without her? Without this, the three of them as one?
“Have you ever had a man inside your arse?” Everett asked, releasing Marcus’s cock and shifting Naomi so she sat between them.
She looked over her shoulder at him and winked. “My second husband very much enjoyed such things. But it’s been a while.”
“We’ll go slowly,” Marcus promised, kissing her before he got up and went to the side table by the bed. He pulled out scented oil and poured some on his fingers. He left it within arm’s reach and returned to the bed where his lovers, his loves, waited.
She kissed him, kissed Everett and then got on her hands and knees. He moved behind her, stroking his fingers against the tight circle of her arse.
“Ready?” he asked, though he already knew the answer from her expression.
Chapter 13
Naomi tensed against the powerful sensation of Marcus’s thick finger against her bottom. She’d never wanted something more, and bumped back against him with a cry. His finger slid inside to the first knuckle, stretching her gently. She tingled at the sensation, aching for more.
“Slow down,” he chuckled. “Let me ready you.”
“I’m ready,” she protested.
Everett laughed, too. “Let me distract you,” he whispered, and moved to lie beneath her, his face below her sex. She shifted over him, grasping the cock that was now below her.
He began to lick her, circling her clit gently as Marcus worked her ass with his fingers, stretching her with delicious slowness. She arched against them both, grinding toward her pleasure.
Reaching for theirs.
She brought her mouth over Everett’s cock, taking him deep, just as Marcus had earlier. The memory jolted her, and she let out a cry as Marcus added a second finger to stretch her.
“Take her,” he whispered to Everett. “I want to see you take her, feel you inside of her while I do this.”
Everett shifted, sliding out from under her. She moaned as the cock she’d been sucking was taken away. She looked over her shoulder, watching as the two men kissed deeply. Her pussy twitched, especially when Marcus pulled away and grinned.
“Delicious,” he said, arching a brow in her direction.
Everett moved to her, kissing her in turn so she could taste the faint remnants of her pleasure on his lips. For a brief moment, Marcus removed his fingers from her arse and pushed back.
Everett took a place, half-propped up on the pillows. She straddled him, moving herself into position. Behind her, Marcus edged up. He fisted Everett’s cock, guiding it inside of her as the three of them moaned together. She fully seated herself and then stilled, looking back at Marcus with a naughty smile.
“You’d better hurry, Captain. I’m planning to unman him.”
Everett laughed, and Marcus saluted before he spread her cheeks and went back to work on her backside. Now he pushed three fingers inside and she gripped against the magnificent stretch of it.
“Can you feel him?” she gasped out.
“Yes,” both men moaned in unison.
She cried out in pleasure, caused by their touch, but also brought on by the knowledge that they were pleasuring each other at the same time. Everett gasped as he lifted into her, while she ground down against him. Her orgasm was building now, arcing, and she didn’t want it until all three of them were bound together.
“Now,” she moaned. “Please now.”
Marcus moved, opening her wider, and then she felt his cock at her backside, slick with oil. He pressed it there, and she and Everett stilled as he slid inside. For a brief moment there was a flush of pain and then he glided past the tightness. He filled her, slowly but completely, and they stayed that way for a moment.
“Oh God,” she whispered.
“Indeed,” Everett groaned. “I can feel every inch of both of you.”
“Move,” she murmured, grinding down, clenching back. “Someone please move.”
That was all the men needed to hear, apparently. They did exactly as she’d asked. As Everett withdrew, Marcus thrust, and they slid along each other’s length through the thin barrier over her body as they claimed her over and over.
Immediately she was rocked with an orgasm more intense than anything she’d ever felt. She scraped her nails along Everett’s chest, riding harder, faster, as the never-ending waves of pleasure rolled through her entire body.
Everett lifted harder, his thrusts becoming less careful and controlled. Behind her, Marcus was also losing control. He gripped her hips and powered into her, his breath short, his cries alternating between her name and Everett’s.
They came at the same time. She felt them each stiffen, and then they both began to pump, reaching for each other, locking hands as Everett sat up. She turned her face, and the three of them kissed, tongues tangling together, sweat mingling as the promise of their future was sealed in this moment of pleasure and surrender. A moment she knew would stay with her forever. As would they.
Everett curled his body around Marcus’s, stroking his hands along his chest. Naomi lay in front of Marcus, three spoons tucked together in Marcus’s bed.
They’d made love all night, sharing their bodies freely. Pouring into each other and pleasuring each other without thought to who was touching who. Now she slept, exhausted. But Everett was awake, and he knew Marcus was, too.
“So what do we do now?” Everett whispered as he kissed Marcus’s neck and felt him grind back out of instinct. God, he would never tire of this.
Marcus was quiet for a moment, long enough that all of Everett’s old fears and disappointments rushed back. What if Marcus’s surrender was only temporary? That would kill him.
“My greatest fear, one of the reasons I resisted this connection with you, was that one day you would be expected to marry. To produce heirs.” Marcus sighed. “I couldn’t picture you having some wife who possessed your name and your body except for every third Wednesday, when you came to me.”
Everett touched his hip, massaging there as comfort. “I know. I know that when I inherited it changed everything.”
Marcus nodded. “It did. I already had hesitations. Not what I felt for you, not about what I wanted, but how it would work. Whether it would damage us, because Society may allow this sort of thing in the dark, but in the light it could be dangerous to us both.”
“And now?”
“Now there are three of us. That’s an army against the world.” Marcus glanced back at him, smiling. “Be with Naomi. Once the mourning period is over, of course. Perhaps even marry her if she is
amenable to the idea of it after all she’s endured. Be with her in public because we love her, and it will protect her. And us.”
Everett nodded, for he’d come to the same conclusion. “She and I together, perhaps as man and wife, and you, our old friend and my business partner, living as our permanent houseguest.”
“Some will talk, of course,” Marcus said. “Whisper. But with a relationship that looks like it fits what Society requires, there will be little that can be said or done about it.”
“But we’ll be together. We three.”
Marcus nodded. He leaned in to kiss Naomi’s shoulder, and she made a small sound in her throat and rolled away, freeing him to face Everett.
“We three,” Marcus vowed, as seriously as if he were marrying this man. In a way, Everett supposed he was. After all, they would be together for the rest of their lives. “We three,” said Marcus, “until the sun stops rising.”
Joyful tears flooded Everett’s eyes. He’d almost stopped hoping for a life like this. And Naomi had returned that hope to him.
“We three until the sun stops rising,” Everett repeated. Then he leaned in and kissed Marcus. The future was laid out in front of them. And he had never been more thrilled to face the next day.
Also by Jess Michaels
The Scandal Sheet
One wicked little paper, six stories of the scandals within.
The Return of Lady Jane
Stealing the Duke
Lady No Says Yes
My Fair Viscount
Guarding the Countess
The House of Pleasure (coming November 2019)
The 1797 Club
For information about the series,
go to www.1797club.com to join the club!
Guarding the Countess: (The Scandal Sheet Series Book 5) Page 8
