“Where’s it hurt?”
“Down lower.”
She scooted lower, his ass between her legs. He groaned louder as she kneaded the muscles above his hips. “Right there. Jesus that’s fantastic, darling.”
Thomas’ deep laugh startled her. “I wondered what you were doing to him.”
She blushed but didn’t stop. “I figured I owed him.”
Thomas sat on the bed and watched. “He likes his back cracked, too.”
“Huh?”
“Stay there. I’ll show you.” Thomas changed position, kneeling behind her with his arms around her, also straddling Tyler. He showed her how to position the heels of her palms and then leaned forward with a quick motion. She heard and felt a distinctive pop.
“Ah! Oh, baby, do that again,” Tyler groaned against the bed.
Nevvie laughed, but something in his voice and the combined feel of the men’s bodies started a deep throbbing between her legs. To have them, even like this, was a dream come true.
Thomas showed her different ways to use her thumbs, how to shift her weight to her hands, where the muscles and vertebrae were and how to trace them with her fingers. Between the feel of his arms and hands over hers, and her hands on Tyler, she could barely speak.
Tyler didn’t complain, happily groaning and melting into the mattress. He sighed when they climbed off him fifteen minutes later.
“I’m not moving. That was heavenly,” he mumbled into the bed.
Thomas swatted him on the ass. “Get up. You’ve got an early flight tomorrow. Lots to do.”
Tyler groaned. “You can’t make me.”
“You agreed to speak at that conference. I bet you don’t even have your speech notes printed yet.”
She smiled at their repartee, enjoyed seeing them like this.
“Fuck you, Thomas,” he muttered from the bed.
Thomas grinned and swatted his ass again. “Promises, promises.”
Sitting on her knees at the end of the bed, Nevvie laughed out loud.
Thomas looked at her. “Oh, you think that’s funny, do you, sugar?”
She nodded, unable to contain her giggles. Thomas grabbed her around the waist and tickled her, pulling her down to the bed as she screamed with laughter. Tyler looked over, realized he was missing out, and started in on her too. A few minutes later she begged for mercy. The men relented, and she laid there gasping and giggling, looking up at them.
Then, realizing this was her new life, she burst into tears.
The men exchanged a worried look. Thomas reached for her, gathering her into his arms. “I’m sorry, I thought—”
“No, it was fun.” She cried on his shoulder and felt Tyler press against her back, his arms around them. “I’m happy,” she assured them.
“Overwhelmed?” Tyler asked.
“Yeah. In a good way.” She finally relaxed between them. “You guys have no idea how much you mean to me.” She took a deep breath and sat up, wiping her eyes. “Happy tears, I swear.”
Tyler kissed her forehead. “Good. We want to keep you happy. There’s no better sound in the world than your laughter, pet.” He reached for his coffee and took a sip. “I guess you’re right, I need to get moving.” He looked at Nevvie. “I don’t want you left alone while I’m gone, sweetheart. Not this soon.” Left unsaid, the men’s worry that Alex might somehow track her to their house.
“She can go to work with me tomorrow, it’s Friday. You feel up to learning that end of the business?”
She smiled. “That sounds good.”
“Great. I know Tyler likes to hog you.”
“Balderdash!” Tyler winked at Nevvie.
“Well, you do, Ty,” Thomas said with a wicked grin that belied his words.
Nevvie laughed. “You guys are too funny.”
Thomas stood and helped her up. “Ty won’t be back till Monday, you can go in with me then, too.”
“Take her by the insurance agent tomorrow, get her added to our policy, and her health insurance,” Tyler said as he climbed out of bed. “Oh, and a cell phone, definitely handle that. Will you have time to get her a car this weekend?”
“Don’t you want to help?”
Tyler looked disgusted. “Since when am I a help shopping for cars?”
“Good point.”
She laughed again and the boys looked at her. “You want another tickling, young lady?” Thomas warned in a playful voice. She clapped a hand over her mouth and shook her head. His next question was to Tyler. “Which account for the car?”
“Use the money market account, checkbook’s in my desk drawer.” He took his mug and walked to the bathroom, stretching and flexing his back. “Damn, you guys can rub my back like that every morning if you wish. That was simply amazing.” He closed the door behind him.
I’d love to rub his front, Nevvie thought. The fact that they talked about buying a car like it was nothing amazed her.
Stupid. They’ll buy you a cheap used one, of course. Don’t get excited over that.
But she was, because it would still be nicer than anything she’d ever had before. She instinctively knew her boys wouldn’t buy her a piece of junk. They’d buy her something they’d be proud to have her drive.
Thomas kissed her forehead. “Well, sugar, unless you want to help us take a shower…” He winked.
Jesus! The thought weakened her knees. She tried to play it back to him. “Don’t tempt me too much.” She winked back and turned to go when she felt a gentle swat on her bottom.
She jumped. Thomas playfully grinned, his sweet brown eyes holding hers. “How much would it take to tempt you?”
Holy Christ, is he kidding? She swallowed hard as her mouth went dry.
He smiled again. “You’re wonderful, Nevvie. Seriously. The three of us are going to have a blast. I don’t know what we did before you were here.”
She nodded and left, closing their door behind her. Then she went to her bedroom and closed her door, leaning on it for support, breathing hard. She was soaking wet. The fantasy of jumping into the shower between her sweet love gods was unbearably close and tantalizingly real.
It took a few minutes for her shaky legs to regain some strength.
* * * *
She spent the day cleaning and helping Tyler pack for the conference. When Thomas returned she cooked dinner and they all curled on the couch in front of the TV. She was reluctant to go to bed until Tyler patted her thigh.
“I won’t sleep well tonight, sweetheart. I never do before a trip like this. If you don’t mind me setting the alarm early, why don’t I bunk with you? At least you’ll get a decent rest.”
Her heart skipped. “Okay.” Sleep all night with one of her sweet love gods? Hot damn!
“I’ll be there in a while, all right?”
She nodded, and somehow made it to her room on shaky legs. A few minutes later she heard their bedroom door close and assumed the boys were having a private goodbye.
* * * *
Thomas held Tyler, kissing him, caressing his arms. “I’m going to miss you, Ty. This is the one thing I hate about what you do.”
Tyler’s hand traveled lower, between Thomas’ legs, gripping his shaft. “I’ll be home on Monday. You won’t be alone, you’ll have Nevvie to keep you company.”
Thomas moaned as his lover stroked him. “You’ll call me, right?”
Tyler bent down and licked the silky smooth head, swirling his tongue the way Tom loved, using his lips on him. “Of course, love. No speaker phone for you this time. Not unless you want Nevvie listening in.”
“I have to admit, that would be fun.” Thomas sighed. “Way too soon. I promise I won’t push her while you’re gone.”
Tyler looked up. “I never doubted that. I know you would never rush her.”
Thomas ran his hands through Tyler’s hair, loving the soft, smooth texture. “Lucky bastard, you get to sleep with her tonight.”
Tyler deep throated him for a moment, and Tom’s fingers tightened
on the back of his head. When he came up for air, “Ah, yes,” Tyler whispered, his voice husky with passion, “but first I get to make love to you.”
He bent to his task, using his lips and tongue and hands to stroke his lover, gently massaging him, bringing him to the edge several times until Tom’s hands gripped his head and he begged, “Please, Ty, do it. Please.”
“Do what?” he playfully asked, running his tongue from the tip to his balls and back again.
Tom looked down at him, meeting his deep blue eyes. “Make me come. Please, do it.”
Tyler smiled. “Anything to make you happy, sweet.” He worked on Thomas, skillfully stroking and licking his shaft, taking his time, working his lips and tongue along the smooth head and ridge. He swirled his tongue around the head, flicking the tip of his tongue underneath at the especially sensitive spot, then stroking him with his hand to bring him over.
When Thomas landed from his climax, he pulled Tyler up to him and kissed him.
“Jesus, I love you, Ty.”
“I love you too. You are my life.”
Thomas worked his way down his lover’s body, kissing him, massaging him, taking his time and also bringing him close several times without release. “You gonna think about me sucking you when you’re in that hotel room all alone?”
Tyler nodded, closing his eyes and enjoying what Thomas did to him. “Yes.”
“Gonna think about me working my tongue all over your balls?” He proceeded to do just that.
Tyler shivered. “God, yes!”
Tom wrapped his hand around Tyler’s rigid shaft and fisted it, taking the tip into his mouth, breathing in his familiar, musky scent. “I’m going to fuck you so good when you get home, sugar. You keep that in mind every night when you’re talking to me on the phone. I’m going to be so horny and I’m going to take good care of you.”
With that he deep throated him, his other hand gently squeezing his balls and Tyler moaned. Thomas knew how to make him last, alternating gentle, light licks along his shaft and head with firm strokes of his hand.
Tyler jerked his hips as he came, his whole body shuddering from the sensation.
After a few moments Thomas lay next to Tyler, holding him, cradling his lover to him, kissing him. “You stay safe. I worry when you go to New York. Don’t forget to lock the door. You always forget that.”
“I’ll be fine. I doubt I’ll leave the hotel where the conference is. It’s a hectic schedule. You take care of yourself, and our girl.”
Thomas hugged him. “You know I will.” He stared into his eyes. “You’d better get some sleep. When are you waking up?”
“Five. The car will be here at six.”
He hesitated. Tyler knew he wanted to say something. “What is it?”
“I don’t want to fuck up while you’re gone. Say the wrong thing.”
Tyler laid a hand on his cheek. “Thomas,” he whispered, “you love her as much as I do. You won’t fuck anything up. Be your sweet self, that’s all. Take care of her. Let her come to you as she needs you.”
“How much can I spend on the car?”
“There’s over ninety thousand in that account. I seriously doubt you’ll spend that much. You’ll have a fight on your hands to put her into a new car. Do not get her a used one. Don’t let her talk you into something tiny, either. I want her safe. Get her into a four-door.” He sat up and thought about it. “Take her to see Rollo, he’s a persuasive fellow. I’m sure he’ll be happy to have the repeat business. He’ll help you talk her into something appropriate.”
Thomas nodded and kissed him one last time. “Wake me before you leave.”
“I will.” Tyler pulled on his boxers and headed for the door. “Sleep tight, love.”
* * * *
Nevvie had left her door open. Tyler set the alarm then carefully slipped into bed. She’d been dozing but immediately snuggled against him. He put his arm around her and fought to keep his cock from coming alive again.
She mumbled, “Good night, Tyler,” and squeezed his hand.
He kissed the nape of her neck. “Good night, sweetheart.”
Tyler laid there, listening to the sound of her breathing, the feel of her heartbeat under his hand, now trapped by her fingers laced through his. She was a perfect fit for his body in the same way he fit Thomas. He would miss her every bit as much as he’d miss his lover.
Thomas told him about the flirting after their impromptu tickle fight. That was a good sign. There’d been a few times Nevvie had engaged in playful banter with him, but he expected as much because they were closer and spent more time together each day. He wanted her to be as close to Thomas as she was to him, otherwise they could never take things further. To have her play favorites would rip all three apart, and that would devastate him.
Before a trip like this Tyler usually didn’t sleep well, but he soon dozed with the warmth of her skin against him and the scent of her hair caressing his thoughts like a dream.
Chapter Seven
Tyler reached across Nevvie the next morning and slapped at the alarm clock, eventually finding the off switch. He didn’t dare hit the snooze button or he’d be late. His clothes were laid out, his luggage sitting in the front hall, and he would grab a bagel—
Nevvie rolled under him, shifting position. When she opened her beautiful green eyes he was nose to nose with her.
“Good morning,” she said, melting him. It would be so easy to kiss her.
“Good morning, sweetheart. I’m sorry about the early wake-up. Go back to sleep.” Her eyes didn’t leave his. He lost the will to move.
He felt her hand on his arm, as if to keep him there. “Thank you for staying with me. I sleep better with one of you.”
“Believe me, it’s no imposition.” Tyler tried to find a reason, any reason, to stay where he was, locked in her eyes and her sweet lips so close. He wanted to kiss her.
She touched his cheek, then lifted her head and brushed her lips across his. “You mean, like that?”
He nodded, speechless.
“Wait till we start finishing each other’s sentences. You might not want me around that long.”
“Nevvie, we want you forever.”
She sat up, her back to him. “You say that now.” She wouldn’t look at him.
He put his arm around her, still reeling from their kiss. “Sweetheart, I know this is a bad thing for a writer to admit, but I am at a loss for words to describe how much you mean to us. We will do anything to keep you with us.”
She finally met his gaze, and her eyes bore the sheen of uncried tears. “Not anything, Tyler,” she whispered. She patted his thigh and headed for the bathroom.
He wanted to go after her, confess what they felt, still afraid she would reject them. It was one thing for her to be horny for one of them at any given time, totally another for them to overwhelm her with their need and emotion, to love her the way they wanted to.
It was too soon.
He started coffee and went to take his shower. Thomas was asleep and Tyler felt a momentary stab of guilt as he fingered the ring on his left hand. He loved Thomas, his soul mate. He would never trade what he had with Thomas for anything.
But he never had with Thomas what he had with Nevvie, that deep, unspoken connection. He knew Thomas loved him beyond reason, and Tyler would never change a thing about Thomas, not in a million years. The possibility of having two people so perfect in one lifetime boggled his mind.
Perhaps this was for the best, that he was going out of town. His plans could only take things so far. He couldn’t manage the relationship Thomas had with her—they must define on their own. Just as what he had with Nevvie was separate from Thomas. He knew Thomas could do and be things for her that he could not. He was okay with that because he also knew the converse applied.
He took his shower and dressed, checking the time. He had twenty-five minutes before the car arrived, and he still needed to eat. Taking a moment to sit on the bed next to Thomas, he reached
over and gently stroked his lover’s chest.
Thomas stirred and opened his eyes. “Mornin’.”
“Good morning.”
“What time is it?”
“Close to six.”
Thomas crooked his finger and Tyler leaned in for a kiss.
“I love you,” Thomas said. “Have a safe trip and call me when you get there.”
“I will.” This was one of the many things he loved about Thomas, that he made him feel safe and secure, that he cared. “Why don’t you cook dinner for Nevvie while I’m gone? A good southern meal.”
He cocked his head at Tyler. “You hate fried okra.”
“Maybe she’ll like it, I won’t be here to eat it. You don’t like blood pudding.”
Thomas made a face. “The name makes me want to barf, sorry.” He propped himself on his elbows. “What’s going on? Is Nevvie okay?”
“I think she’s starting to slip into the next phase of her emotional recovery. Perhaps this weekend you can keep her distracted, take her out for some fun.”
“You won’t mind?”
“Why would I mind?”
“Leaving you out.”
“If I’m not here, how am I being left out?”
Thomas chewed his lip. “I thought about taking her out on the bike, if that’s okay.”
“She might enjoy that.”
“That doesn’t bother you?”
Tyler glanced at the time. “Thomas, I know you’ll keep her safe. She needs to have a relationship not only with us, but with you and I. Just as you and I will have a relationship outside of her. Nothing else can happen until we know she loves and wants us both. Right?”
“I love you, Tyler. She won’t change that.”
Tyler stroked Tom’s stubbly chin. “I know.”
* * * *
Tyler poured a mug of coffee and toasted a bagel. Nevvie had donned a robe over her T-shirt and boxers, and he poured her a mug, fixing it the way she liked.
She accepted it without meeting his eyes. He waited to let go until she looked at him. “Anything,” he whispered. “You have to trust me.” He let that sink in. “Do you trust me?”