“Two years, huh?” Gracie asked, pretending not to be in the dark. “That long? Wow. I had no idea.”
“Shit yeah,” Cody laughed. “I thought for sure they’d never get you to give in to either of them. So which is it? Who gets to claim this as a date?”
Chapter Six
Gracie could feel steam coming out of her ears.
A bet?
For the first time that night, she met Grant’s navy blue gaze, hoping like hell she wouldn’t see what she expected to see. But, sure enough, there it was. Guilt.
“You’re a bastard,” she whispered, handing him the pool stick as she walked as calmly as she could manage passed him.
“Gracie, wait,” Lane hollered.
Grace didn’t stop. She couldn’t. They’d made a fucking bet which went to prove that the other night had just been bullshit. They had made a fool out of her, playing her like an idiot. All so that one of them could win some stupid fucking bet.
She had just rounded the side of the building, grateful for the shadows that would hopefully conceal her misery because the tears were right there, threatening to fall.
“Goddammit, Gracie, wait.”
She was just about to up her pace when a strong hand came down on her arm, stopping her. Rather than turning to face him, Grace kept her eyes forward, counting down from one hundred to keep the tears at bay. It was stupid of her to cry anyway. It wasn’t like she had a relationship with either of them. They’d kissed her. That was all. Hell, they had kissed each other, so it clearly meant little to them.
“Look at me,” Grant’s voice was low and deep, an urgent plea in his tone.
“I can’t,” she told him honestly. If she did, she’d surely cry, and she damn sure wasn’t going to let him know his deceit had hurt her so much.
Grant startled her when his body heat enveloped her, his hard body against her back, his heavy arms coming around her gently. “Let us explain.”
Us?
As though she’d welcomed him with open arms, Lane moved around to stand in front of her, efficiently sandwiching her between the two of them. Great. This definitely wasn’t helping.
“Yes, we made a bet. Two years ago. It was stupid,” Grant explained.
“Stupid, maybe. But it wasn’t bad, Gracie,” Lane explained.
“So who won?” she asked, feeling foolish.
“Neither of us,” Grant said, his voice soft against her ear. “There is no winner here. Especially if you walk away.”
“What am I supposed to do?” she asked dubiously. “I’m not your play toy,” she told them both. “You should know me better than that.”
Grant’s arms loosened, but only enough so that he could turn her around to face him. He was standing much too close. So close that Grace had to look up into his eyes.
“The bet was inconsequential, Gracie. It meant nothing. You are what we want, what–”
“We?” she exclaimed. “Are you still on this kick? What the hell does ‘we’ mean, Grant? There can’t be a ‘we’. It doesn’t work that way.”
“It can work that way,” he said softly, his finger and thumb now gripping her chin gently. So gently, Grace felt the tears rush forward.
“This doesn’t make sense.”
Lane stepped forward, closer to Grace’s back, shielding them all with his big body. At least that’s what it would look like for someone passing by.
“One chance, Gracie,” Lane pleaded. “Let us show you.”
Grant leaned forward, pressing his lips to hers lightly, and Grace was so tempted to give in. His mouth was warm and surprisingly soft. It was just like the other night all over again. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to feel his body against hers, his lips, his tongue.
But she couldn’t. Because Lane was there.
And damn it, she wanted him too and it just didn’t make sense. How could she want them both? And they both want her? And each other?
It was too damned confusing.
Grace pushed against Grant’s solid chest, and to her surprise, he stepped back.
“Leave me alone,” she begged and then slipped out from between them. “If you don’t want to hurt me, you’ll stop this game right now.”
Grant and Lane were both watching her. She could hardly make out their expressions in the shadows, but she could feel the heat coming off them. They wanted sex. That was all.
“You’ve got each other,” she said, just before she turned and… ran.
□●□●□●□
Grant watched Gracie walk away. Well, run was more like it. Yeah, the hot little cowgirl was running full out, like the hounds of hell were on her ass.
“We need to go after her,” Lane said absently, still standing beside Grant.
“Yep,” he agreed.
Neither of them moved.
“What happens when she doesn’t open the door?” Lane asked.
“No idea,” Grant offered.
“How ‘bout I lead the way?”
“All right.”
Grant didn’t stop watching Gracie until she was completely out of sight. His feet wanted him to move, but his heart was lodged in his throat. He couldn’t fuck this up. Not after what had occurred between them the last time they went to her house.
“Come on,” Lane encouraged, finally taking one step forward. Then another.
Grant fell into step with him and before he knew it, they were taking the steps up to Gracie’s little cabin that looked like so many of the others on the outside, including his own.
Lane knocked on the door, but there was no answer.
“She’s not gonna answer,” Lane stated unnecessarily.
Grant reached for the doorknob, figuring what the hell. He was shocked when the knob turned easily and the door opened.
“Gracie,” he called, stepping inside because no, he was not going to let this opportunity pass him by.
“Go away.” Her voice was muffled and that’s when Grant noticed she was lying on the couch, a pillow covering her face.
Grant glanced back at Lane and the other man shut the door. Locked it.
The click of the deadbolt got Gracie’s attention because she lifted the pillow enough to peek out, but then she promptly put it back in place. “I don’t have anything to say to you. Either of you.”
Lane being Lane walked right over to the couch, lifted Gracie’s legs and plopped down before resting her booted feet on his lap.
“What are you doing?” she shouted, shooting up to a sitting position which gave Grant the opportunity he needed.
He took a seat where her head had just been, then pulled her back down so that her head was propped on his thigh.
“Y’all are impossible, you know that?”
“Oh, gorgeous, there’re plenty of possibilities where we’re concerned.”
Grant laughed at Lane’s garbled words. He clearly hadn’t been intending for them to hear him.
Unable to resist, Grant slid his fingers through Gracie’s shiny gold hair. Her eyes widened as she stared up at him. “What are you doing?” she asked again, this time her voice was soft.
“What does it look like?” he asked, continuing to brush his fingers through her long, silky tresses.
Gracie nearly came off the couch, her attention turning to Lane once more. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I’m takin’ off your boots. What does it look like?”
“Why the hell are you doin’ that?” she squealed as she tried to pull her leg back.
“They kinda get in the way,” he told her directly, again making Grant laugh.
When she looked back at him, he couldn’t hide his amusement. “Sorry. You can leave ‘em on if you want. Boots are optional.”
“Oh. My. God.” The exasperation in her tone dripped from every word, but Grant was pretty sure he saw a small smile turn the very corners of her lips.
Gracie flopped back down, and Grant had to shift to avoid some serious damage to the family jewels.
No one said a word while Gra
nt continued to stroke her hair and Lane finally managed to remove both of her boots, tossing them onto the floor. Gracie was watching them both, her eyes darting from one to the other as though she were going to be able to predict what came next. And if Grant had to guess, she assumed they were just going to jump on her like dogs in heat.
They didn’t.
Grant used his fingertips to massage her scalp while Lane slipped her socks off and then began to rub her bare feet.
“This isn’t fair,” she muttered.
“What’s not fair?” Grant asked.
“Y’all are seducing me.”
“Is it working?”
“No.” Gracie sighed and her eyes closed.
“Looks like it’s working to me,” Lane offered.
They both peered at one another when Gracie didn’t argue.
There was so much heat in that one look, Grant was surprised he didn’t spontaneously combust.
This was going to happen. And it was going to happen tonight. Right here.
Part of him was anxious. Another part was scared.
But only because he feared that what they were about to do was going to change all three of them forever.
□●□●□●□
Lane had been with plenty of women. He’d also been with plenty of men.
Never once had any of those situations felt remotely similar to this.
He was nervous.
That was new.
He was also a little reticent.
Only because what he assumed was about to happen was going to change his life irrevocably.
There would be no turning back. Not for him.
Part of it was due to the fact that he was already a little bit in love with both of them. Had been for quite a while although he hadn’t admitted it. Hadn’t had any reason to. Until now.
Lane continued to massage Gracie’s small, delicate feet. They were soft and her toenails were painted a shiny blue which suited her perfectly. He’d always thought that she was tough on the outside but fun and flirty underneath it all, even if she didn’t let many people see that side of her.
As he continued to move his hands just a little higher, rubbing her ankles, he circled her bare calves, his eyes sliding up her toned legs, stopping at the frayed hem of her short jean shorts. He loved these shorts. Fucking loved them. By the time he was at her knees, Gracie was moaning softly. Lane looked up her slim body to see that Grant had also ventured to other parts. He was methodically rubbing her chest, just above her pert little breasts. Gracie’s ribcage was rising more rapidly now, her body bowing every time Grant started to move a little lower.
“Please don’t stop,” Gracie whispered, surprising them both.
Hoping she was talking to Grant, Lane released her feet, shifting so that he could ease out from beneath her legs. Without leaving the couch, he managed to place one knee between her legs as he moved over her. Her eyes were bright and clear as she stared up at him, Grant’s hand wandering just a little lower until he was cupping her breast through her shirt.
“I’m gonna kiss you, Gracie.” He said the words and paused momentarily so that she’d have a chance to tell him no. If she did, he’d back off and wouldn’t push. If she didn’t, he was going to kiss her. And he probably wasn’t going to stop until she was naked.
She didn’t say no and she didn’t say yes. She didn’t say anything at all, but Gracie did nod her head. It was nearly imperceptible, but Lane was watching her closely, praying she wouldn’t push him away.
With one hand on the back of the couch, the other planted on the cushion just above her shoulder, Lane held himself above her while he brushed his lips over hers gently.
And that’s when the fire erupted.
Gracie reached for him, pulling him hard enough to throw him off balance. Lane managed to catch himself, scared he was going to crush her. But then all fear dissipated, the only thing that was left was her tongue in his mouth and Grant’s hand in his hair.
He growled, unable to control himself. They were both touching him and he thought for sure he was going to go up in flames. It was everything he’d ever wanted and it was more than he expected.
The kiss continued for longer than he had originally planned and when they both pulled back, they were breathless, staring back at one another. Gracie’s eyes were the first to stray, and she was looking up at Grant which caused Lane to do the same. When he did, he realized just how close they were. Hovering above Gracie on one hand, Lane used his other to grip the back of Grant’s neck, pulling him close until their mouths crashed together.
He was growling again. Or maybe that was Grant. He wasn’t quite sure, and he really didn’t care because Gracie had pulled his shirt free from his jeans and she was working on his belt buckle which made him realize… Fuck. He didn’t know what he realized, but he knew he needed to stop. It was the right thing to do.
For now.
He couldn’t break free from the kiss because Grant tasted too damn good. And Grant kissed him back as though he was starving for him, the same way Lane had been all week.
But he knew he had to stop. He had to.
Or shit, it would be over long before it started.
Chapter Seven
Grace knew she wasn’t thinking clearly.
She had accepted that fact the moment they put their hands on her.
But unlike the other night, her good sense had taken a midnight ride right out the door and here she was eager and willing to get close to both of these men. Closer than she ever imagined she would with just one of them, much less both of them.
But there it was. A simple, yet very complicated, fact. Something she could no longer deny.
They said this type of… Did they call this a relationship? No. She was probably getting ahead of herself by assuming too much. Not that it mattered. She was taking Grant and Lane at their word that this type of relationship – for lack of a better word – was possible, and despite the fact that she had no idea how it actually worked, she was going to trust them.
Or maybe she just trusted her hormones.
One way or the other, Grace was going to see where this went. And if her good sense returned by morning, she’d deal with the repercussions at that time. For now… For now, she just wanted them.
“God, that’s hot,” she whispered, surprising herself when she spoke aloud.
Grant and Lane pulled back from one another just a little, and Grace immediately wished she could watch them some more. Or participate. Yes, participate would be good.
The next thing she knew, she was a willing and active participant because Lane’s mouth was on hers again, but his hand was snaking between their bodies as he grabbed both of her wrists. She’d been attempting to undo his pants and when she tried again, he laughed, his chuckle reverberating inside of her mouth, making her laugh too.
“Not yet, sweetness. Too much too soon and I’ll be out of commission long before I’m ready,” he told her with a grin the size of Texas on his extremely handsome face.
“Help her sit up,” Grant instructed, clearly talking to Lane.
Lane got to his feet in a rush, and, with ease, he took her hands and pulled her up until she was standing right in front of him. Grace knew she should’ve been appalled at her behavior, but she couldn’t seem to find it in her to care. It was like she was at a buffet after spending an eternity without food. She wanted it all and she wanted it right now.
Obviously realizing she was ready to get on with it, Lane eliminated the space between them as he leaned down to claim her mouth once more. Her hands immediately went around him while his came down to cup her butt, pulling her against him.
He was hard. Everywhere.
As she got lost in Lane’s kisses again, another hard body came up behind her and she wished she could turn around and kiss Grant at the same time. But she couldn’t seem to break away from Lane and not because he was holding on to her. No, she seemed to be the aggressor at the moment which was so completely unlike
her, she wondered if maybe she’d hit her head.
Grant’s mouth was on her neck. Hot and so, so soft. She released Lane’s hair so she could reach behind her, grabbing hold of Grant’s head and pulling him closer. Somewhere along the way, they’d both ditched their hats and she had no idea when that happened, nor did she care. The only thing she could think about was the fact that they had on too many clothes.
A firm hand snaked between her body and Lane’s, and she had no idea whose it was, but she didn’t care. Whoever it was began unbuttoning her shirt and she wanted to help him along because she needed to get closer, to feel the heat of their bodies against hers. And they weren’t going fast enough as far as she was concerned.
When Lane’s mouth broke free from hers, Grace whimpered, hoping they’d find encouragement in her elusive plea.
“You’re making me crazy, Gracie,” Lane whispered, his head coming down until his forehead rested against hers. “I need to feel both of you.”
Yes. That’s exactly what she was thinking.
“We need to get more comfortable,” Lane mumbled, and Grace realized what he was requesting.
Grace’s gaze slid toward the bedroom door just as Grant pulled her shirt open. Releasing her grip, which was still tightly twined on Grant’s head behind her, she allowed him to slide the cotton down her arms until it was a mere memory on the floor at their feet.
“Bedroom,” she whispered, turning her head so she could see Grant. He leaned in and kissed her, his mouth warm and soft against hers and she immediately wanted more of him. In a flash, she spun around, her arms wrapping around Grant’s neck as she tried to form her body to his. He lifted her with ease and she wrapped her legs around his waist, their mouths fused as one.
How he managed, she had no idea, but the next thing she knew, they were in her bedroom and she was back on her feet, pressed up against Grant’s hard body while Lane was at Grant’s back. They were sandwiching him between them, and Grace found it difficult to focus on anything but watching as Lane leaned in and pressed his mouth to Grant’s neck.
For whatever reason, Grace had never considered the overwhelming heat of watching two men together but ever since that night she watched them in Grant’s kitchen, she found herself frequently replaying the scene. And now they were giving her a front row seat to a superbly erotic show once again.