by Lauren Dane
“I should think so! We’ve only been together since May.”
“Pshaw. We’ve been together for years, Erin.” His posture changed. He transformed from sweet and loving to something else. Intense sexuality washed over her just looking at him.
“Mm hmm,” she managed to say as a flush built inside her.
He eyed her from head to toe, a slow, sexy perusal. “On your knees. Suck my cock right now. I want to come in your mouth.”
She knew the door behind her was open. The door leading down to the office where Ben was. He’d be able to hear everything.
She sank to her knees and unbuttoned his jeans, thankful he wasn’t having a client-contact day where he’d have been wearing zip-up khakis or something.
His cock readily sprang from the confines of his boxers, and she took a moment to inhale, loving the warmth of him, loving the way he felt in her hands, loving the way his body smelled.
The floor was hard beneath her knees, but for whatever reason, it only added to the experience.
“Suck me. The head first.” His voice had gone rough and deep, sending a shiver down her spine.
She took him into her mouth, sucking hard against the slick of pre-come on the slit, straight to the crown and then stopped. Suck and draw, suck and draw. She licked around the crown, sucking against the ridge of sensitive flesh there, moving back up to suck the head again. His balls were hot in her palm, slowly drawing up against him the closer she brought him to coming.
“Now take me deep. I want to feel the back of your throat.”
She took a steadying breath through her nose and sucked him down, back as far as she could, keeping her breath even through her nose and concentrating on staying relaxed. When she pulled back, she swallowed, to mollify her gag reflex.
In and out, over and over, the floor digging into her knees, his hands tight in her hair as he guided her mouth on him. He made low sounds, growls and moans of her name, gave her instructions on what he wanted, told her what he’d do to her later that night. All the while fucking her mouth, all while Ben was just feet away.
Could he hear them?
Erin’s pussy bloomed and slickened as she knelt there, sucking Todd off in his kitchen, the late summer afternoon sun flowing over his shoulder and down her back.
“Oh, honey, yes. I’m going to blow right down that pretty little throat of yours.”
His fingers tightened and he pressed deep as he came, filling her with his taste over and over until she was nearly drunk with it. Finally he pulled back and she licked across the head before tucking him back into his jeans.
Strong, big hands took her upper arms and brought her to stand as his mouth crushed over hers. She held on, reveling in the way he felt against her.
“I love you, honey,” he said softly, kissing her once more, this time on her forehead.
“You’d better, buster.”
“I should get back to work. You gonna be okay?”
“Yep. I’m going to make some calls. To Adrian to tell him yes about the shows, and then to Jeremy to have him start getting this all in the works. I may work for a bit; I have a song I’m trying to finish.”
“I owe you one.” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“Yes you do.”
He headed downstairs, where Ben just looked at him with a smirk.
“You’re a right bastard for teasing me like that. Twice now I might add. I’m beginning to wonder if we’re not all playing a game together in some sense.”
“Teasing you? I guess you could look at it that way. I thought I was teasing her with knowing you could hear.” Todd grinned.
“She seemed more than okay with it.”
“Yes.” While sharing in depth with Cope was fine, Todd had been initially unsure of how much Ben knew or wanted to know. He hadn’t heard much about Ben’s sexuality, but Erin had made a mention of Ben being kinky under the surface, and ever since, Todd had been intrigued with the idea. And then he’d been sort of uncomfortable that he’d been intrigued. He was still a work in progress he supposed.
“Too bad there’s only one of her.” Ben shrugged, but the air changed.
“Ah, it’s like that?” Todd hoped he wasn’t blushing. His buttons were being pushed in a big way. There was just one Erin, but could he live that fantasy of sharing her, of seeing her with someone else he trusted?
Ben laughed. “What? You think you’re the only guy who gets off on kink? Seattle is a kinky town . . . or so I hear. Certainly seems that way when I’m out and about.” He paused before continuing. “My ex Caroline and I had a triad, a relationship with another man, for nearly four years. I’m pretty sure I’m a poly kind of guy.”
Todd just stared at Ben, dumbfounded. Erin had known his best friend better than he had.
“I can’t believe you never said.”
“That what? I’m bi and lived in a threesome? You lived in Boston and until you came back here you seemed very straightlaced about sexuality, so I didn’t think it was something you’d want to know.”
Todd wondered what that tug low in his gut meant, but then only felt shame that he’d not been open enough for a friend to come to. “I’m sorry, Ben. Sorry you didn’t feel safe enough to come to me or to be open around me. I don’t care that you’re bi. I don’t care that you’re kinky. God knows I’m not one to judge; I get off when I bite my girlfriend and when I think about watching her have sex with other people.” He shrugged. “I only care that you’re happy. What happened? With Caroline, I mean.”
Ben grinned. “She got a transfer to Austin and I stayed here. I loved her and Greg, our third, but we all sort of went our separate ways. It was time to end it, I suppose. As for you, you kinky bastard, who’d have guessed? If you ever . . . Well if you’re ever looking for a third, let me know.” Ben blushed a bit and suddenly the front of Todd’s jeans seemed a lot tighter.
“Really? I mean, if she was up for it, you’d . . .” Todd sent a questioning glance at Ben.
“Would I love the chance to see Erin naked? To see her nipple rings and hear her gasp around the cock in her mouth?” Ben raised a brow in his direction. “To quote the kids these days: duh.” He hesitated but then continued. “Uh, if you were interested in more, I’d be good with that, too.”
A flush worked through him at the image of Ben’s mouth on him.
“Okay. I’ll think about it.” He cleared his throat.
19
Erin had settled herself into the big overstuffed chair in a corner of the living room and was strumming the guitar, breaking to scribble something down occasionally, when the workday finished and Todd came back upstairs with Ben.
She stopped when she noticed them both smiling.
“Hey, you two.” She moved to put her guitar down and Ben put a hand on her arm.
“Wait. Will you play something?”
She blushed.
“Please? I love your voice.”
“I’d love that, too.” Todd sat across from her and Ben joined him.
She licked her lips and pulled the guitar back to her lap, dropping her legs to the floor. “Any requests? Covers? Sometimes playing my own stuff is odd.” She shrugged and Todd realized a lot of the stuff she sang on the Mud Bay CDs was about Adele and then about losing her.
Ben moved forward and touched her leg. “Yeah, I get that. How about ‘Untouchable Face’? I love your cover of that one.”
She smiled and started to play and Todd loved the magic she made. The song was sad but playful and her body language changed when she got to the title punch line.
When she finished, he and Ben both clapped and she laughed, putting the guitar in the case.
“Thanks. Stop now! I’m better on the bass, not singing, but I do love that one.”
“You write using a guitar, though? Not a bass?” Ben asked and then looked shy. “Sorry, I don’t want you to feel like I’m nosy. I just love your music.”
Erin leaned out to drop a kiss on his cheek. “Nothing to apologize for. Rea
lly, I’m flattered you’d actually care.”
“Good. I do care. I find the whole process fascinating.” Ben stood, clearing his throat. “I’m grabbing a beer. You want one? That is, if I’m welcome for dinner. I do smell something really good.”
Erin laughed and a rush of love poured through Todd for her. For Ben too. How fortunate was he to have such people in his life?
“Of course you’re welcome. I always make enough for you guys too. And I’d like a beer.”
Ben brought back a beer for everyone and sat back down again.
Erin took a drink and then wiped her hand off, tracing a fingertip across the strings of the guitar before picking it up. “This Gib son was a gift from Adrian after our first CD went platinum. It’s very earthy, it fits me right. But Adrian is the real guitarist. I can plunk around enough to write songs though.”
Ben snorted. “Puhleeze. Adrian is really talented, no doubt. But you’re no slouch.”
“He and I have complementary talents. Which is why working with him has always been such a joy. Don’t get me wrong; we’re siblings, and there have been plenty of times when our fights would clear a room.” She laughed. “But in the end, we’re family, we share a vision and that simply works out even if I want to punch him sometimes.”
She stood, grabbing her beer. “Okay, I’m going to toss the salad for dinner. You two need to set the table. Just three, Cope’s got a date.” Erin laughed when they looked surprised.
“How do you know?”
“He came by the café earlier to ask my opinion on places to take her to dinner. Why do you act so surprised? It’s not like he and I had a mad tryst in the four minutes I wasn’t rushed off my feet today.”
She began to shuffle around in the kitchen and Todd snorted. Of course Cope would seek her out to talk to her. She was his friend too, and Cope was outgoing and friendly.
“I like that he sought you out.” Todd shrugged and began to put plates on the table. Ben followed up with silverware and began to ferry in food Erin handed him.
“What’s this?” Todd forked up something lovely with tomatoes and ribbons of something green.
“Tomatoes I got fresh from my favorite stall at The Market earlier this week, with some fresh mozzarella, aged balsamic vinegar and basil I grow on my balcony.”
“Holy crap, is this eggplant parm?” Ben mowed through his food with gusto and Erin smiled at him, clearly pleased he enjoyed it.
“My condo is air-conditioned, and I had all this fresh mozzarella and tomato. It seemed a good way to use it, and if you have a nice cool kitchen it’s not too hot to bake. I made strawberry rhubarb crumble too. It’s cooling.”
Todd looked at her. “You’re the sexiest woman to ever draw breath.”
She laughed. “I also brought vanilla ice cream.”
He sighed happily and continued to eat.
After dinner they retired to the TV room to watch a movie. They all collapsed onto the big couch.
Erin tried not to be aware of the building sexual tension in the air, wondered if perhaps she was just imagining it after the episode earlier when Todd ordered her to suck him off so Ben could hear.
Maybe she was projecting. Ben probably hadn’t heard at all, and even if he had, there was no reason to think anything sexual was building between the three of them.
No, she was being horny and stupid.
So of course the movie Todd rented had to be one with lots of sex in it. She drank her beer and tried not to squirm too much. He hadn’t yet made her come. That was it. She was tipsy and sexually frustrated. Damn that alcohol and sexual frustration!
She snuck a look at Todd, who was already looking at her quite hungrily. Well.
“What?”
He slid his fingers through her hair. “Just looking at you. I like to, you know, in case you hadn’t noticed. Looking at you and fucking you are two of my favorite things.”
She blushed. “Um.”
Ben laughed and she realized how close they were all sitting. Ben’s arm was hard and very warm against her side.
Something passed between Ben and Todd then; Erin knew it as she caught the interplay.
“So, anyone want to share with me what’s going on?” She meant to sound pissed, but instead her voice came out breathy and aroused.
“Funny you should use the word share,” Todd said as he moved closer, banding her waist with his arm. His lips hovered just barely above hers. “Because sharing is what’s on my mind. What do you think about that?”
She blinked. Ben had moved so she rested, her back to his chest. His broad, muscley chest. Todd couldn’t possibly mean what she thought he meant.
“What do I think about sharing what?” Her voice was breathless.
Ben laughed but didn’t touch her any more than his chest to her back.
“Sharing our bed with Ben.”
The breath rushed from her lungs. Cope was hot. Of the two brothers, she’d often watched his tight belly and ass more, because he was more in your face with his sexuality and attractiveness. And also, she knew it was harmless. He wasn’t her type.
But Ben was something else altogether. A total package of guh inducing looks, but he was also smart and thoughtful. He didn’t say something unless it needed to be said. He was tall and imposing and had a sort of smoldering hotness she instinctively responded to. She’d developed a friendship with him, but she’d been very careful not to flirt the way she did with Cope. Because Ben was her type. She’d often thought, the way Todd was in Ben’s presence, that the two of them played a sort of sexual game with each other without coming out and actually saying so. But fantasy was not reality. Reality had consequences.
She took a deep breath. “I think we should tread carefully here.” Erin pushed Todd back and scrambled to sit on the low table so she could face them both. Christ, they were like sexy bookends.
“Why?” she asked Todd.
“I want to give you that, to share that with you and with him. I see how he looks at you.”
“Would you feel more comfortable if I left?” Ben asked her.
She shook her head. “No, I think since Todd brought it up in your presence it’s important to include you now.” Erin looked back to Todd.
“Our relationship isn’t a tourist destination, Todd. Inviting someone in takes a lovely fantasy”—she looked over Ben slowly and fanned herself—“and makes it reality. Reality is complicated. Reality has consequences you can’t begin to understand until it’s already happening. I love you, Todd. I’m attracted to Ben, yes. Lord, look at him, how could you not be? But are you going to be able to handle it? Seeing me with someone else?”
He nodded eagerly and she wanted to laugh.
“I know I am, and that’s why it’s so fucking hot. I can’t explain it; it just makes me hard every time a man looks at you and wants to fuck you. I want to see you with another man eating your cunt.” He blushed and she licked her lips.
“You’re blushing. Just when I think you can’t surprise me anymore, you blush. We can do this in ways that don’t involve your best friend. We can fuck when people can hear, or even see. Like this afternoon. There are clubs, things like that.”
“I don’t want you to fuck a stranger. I want you to fuck someone I know and trust. I know and trust Ben. I know and trust you. If it’s too much, it’s okay. I understand. I just wanted to be honest with you. To share that fantasy.”
“You don’t know how much it makes me want to crawl up your body and impale myself on your cock right now just hearing that. Since we’re discussing particulars and all, let me say I don’t want to see you with another woman. I’d have to hurt someone, you too.” She shrugged. “It’s not fair, I know. But I don’t want you with any woman but me.”
“Good. I don’t want any other woman but you. But I’m not talking about me being with another woman, and now that I know you don’t want it, we’ve gotten that out of the way. But what if Ben and I . . . if we were together too?” He paused, waiting for her to s
peak again.
A flush bloomed over her at the idea of her man and Ben all over each other. “I can’t lie and say it doesn’t turn me on to imagine myself sandwiched between you and Ben. Or um, imagining you and Ben. But what does this mean? Have you been together before? Do you envision this to be a one-off or what? What do you think, Ben?”
“I haven’t thought it all out down to the combination of sexual positions. To be honest, I haven’t really had fantasies about men before, but I’m not ruling out a kiss or a touch. Three people naked in a bed, it’s only natural that people would touch. I just want to know what you’re okay with.”
Erin did like that answer a lot. Showed her he wasn’t just all whee—three-way, but was really thinking on what may happen and how to keep it okay for everyone.
“You’ve done this before?” Todd asked her.
She burst out laughing. “No. Why would you say that?”
“Aren’t threesomes like communion to rockstars?”
She snorted. “The whole rockstar thing—that’s dude rockstars, or so I hear. But I’m not a dude. I did suck a guy off in full view at a club in Amsterdam. That was before fame. Once I got famous I had to be very careful. And in truth, I’d only want that with someone I felt very secure with. I like being watched.” Now it was her turn to blush. “I used to finger myself in the tour bus when I knew Jeremy could see me but couldn’t do anything.”
Todd made a desperate sound and Ben groaned.
“He didn’t like it. He was always too worried. It was his job though.”
“Did you finger yourself like the way you did at the tavern playing pool the other day? Feel free to finger yourself anytime you want in my line of vision. Or anyone else’s vision as long as I’m with you. I don’t want you unsafe. You like being watched, honey, I like watching. You’re perfect. My perfect little artsy-fartsy freak.”
She wasn’t offended by his words; it pleased her that he felt comfortable enough to tease her, and she liked that she was an artsy-fartsy freak.
Ben cleared his throat. “You asked what I thought? I’ve been attracted to you since day one. I love that Todd loves you. He’s my best friend, which makes me care about you all the more. But I adore you independent of that too. Todd and I have never been together like that, but I can’t lie and say I don’t find him attractive that way. You should know I’m bi, so I’m certainly not against a true three-way between us. But I don’t think Todd is ready to jump into sucking cock.”