by Jayne Rylon
The entire time, Josh was petting her, rubbing her legs and calves, soothing her as they arranged her open and waiting for their attention. When her flesh was bared to them, he traveled upward, his parted mouth washing her with his warm breath, which feathered over her sensitized skin.
And when he reached the edge of her skimpy lace panties, he breathed deep before skipping over them to press his face against her stomach while his hands kneaded endlessly at her hips and thighs.
Kari spread her legs wider, hoping for more contact. They were driving her wild, making her want things she shouldn’t hope for. She didn’t care. All she knew was what her body demanded.
Better yet, Ford knew, too. “Brady, get her bra next. Show me her tits.”
A breath wheezed out of her, but rather than tensing, she went slack, relying on Ford’s arms to hold her up even as his control kept their interaction in line with her desires.
“Yes,” he whispered as he kissed her neck, making her shiver. “Let us take care of you. I swear we will. We won’t let you down again.”
Kari wanted to argue that they never had, but she couldn’t find the words right then. Especially not when Brady whisked away her bra and replaced the fabric with his mouth. All she could do was hold on, her fingers clasping his head to hold him close to her chest as he suckled first one nipple and then the other until they were hard, aching peaks desperate for more stimulation.
Ford’s hand snaked around her and squeezed the tip of one, enhancing the work his partner had done to get her ready for his firmer touch. She moaned and bucked, her hips shifting restlessly on the couch. She might have slid off it onto the floor if it hadn’t been for Josh, who held her steady.
With Ford enjoying her breasts and flooding her with pleasure, Brady moved on to her panties. He coordinated with Josh to lift her as he slid them down her legs. Then there was nothing between them. Any of them.
Kari gulped, then reached for Brady’s cock, which was hard and long and looked like it could use some attention. Ford made a guttural sound that Brady understood, even if she didn’t. He sidestepped her touch and shook his head as he smiled down at her.
“Not tonight, Kari.” He leaned down and kissed her until she forgot to object before murmuring, “Tonight is yours.”
She gasped into his mouth as Ford cupped her breast fully in his palm and squeezed. Josh smothered her in kisses starting at her pubic bone, heading lower, lower.
When she pried her eyes open and peeked at him, she saw him looking up at Ford, who nodded. “Show her how good you are at eating pussy.”
Kari might have made a fool out of herself with her gasp if Brady hadn’t been there to devour it. He made love to her lips as Josh put his mouth between her legs and began to prove that Ford hadn’t been exaggerating. Ford’s other hand stroked down her ribs, then to her thigh. He cupped it and pulled, spreading her open for Josh to enjoy.
“Are you okay with this?” he whispered into her ear.
“Yes!” she shouted into Brady’s mouth as her hips arched up, fusing her core tighter to Josh’s skilled lips. He took the opportunity to extend his tongue and begin lapping her slit. By the time he had wrapped his mouth around her clit and began to suck, she knew she wasn’t going to last long in their arms.
Simply being between them had her more turned on than full penetration with other people had in the past. Whether it was because it was so taboo to be the object of desire of three wickedly sexy men or because she cared so much for each of them, she wasn’t sure. But she wasn’t about to stop to think about it then.
Kari arched into Ford’s hold.
“You like this, don’t you?” he asked. “Are you going to come so soon? You’re fucking amazing, Kari.”
She wished she could make this feeling last forever, but her body wasn’t going to be able to resist the promise they were making with their coordinated efforts.
Josh lifted his head long enough to say, “Ford, you’ve got to feel her. I can see her clenching. I bet she’d love your fingers inside her.”
It was obvious he could have inserted his own digits within her if that’s what he wanted. No, he needed his friend to do this with him. With them.
And Ford must have needed it, too.
Kari grasped his hand and dragged it toward her pussy. She stared into Brady’s eyes as Ford pressed into her. She shuddered when he filled her, curling his finger to touch just the right spot to make her see stars.
“Fuck, you’re so hot. And tight. And wet.” He breathed just below her ear as he explored her from within. “I can’t wait to feel you come on my hand, and Josh’s face.”
Well, that was a good thing. Because Kari couldn’t resist such blatant desire or the way they amplified her arousal. She splayed her legs over Ford’s thighs, arched her spine so her mound pressed as tight as possible to Josh’s mouth and the wonderful things he was doing to her.
Then she deepened her kiss with Brady, feeding him every bit of her pleasure. He groaned, his eyes desperate on hers.
Ford rumbled, his voice huskier than before. “Brady, slide your hand under my leg. I bet you can work a finger in her too.”
When the blunt tip pressed against her opening, Kari shuddered, on the verge of losing control. Her mind blanked and all she could do was revel in the euphoria they were inducing. It was exactly what she’d asked for. They were everything she’d needed, even if she didn’t understand exactly what that was before.
She held Ford and Brady within her while Josh toyed with her clit.
When he licked lower and wriggled his tongue against her opening, pressing the slightest bit inside between his partners’ fingers while his nose nudged her clit, she lost all semblance of control.
Kari stretched tight, her back bowed, her head resting on Ford’s shoulder. She sucked on Brady’s tongue while Ford’s hand clasped her breast and his other began to slide in and out of her. Josh increased the pressure of his tongue and face, buried in her pussy, until she shattered.
She flew apart as she came on them, pressing them together within her until she thought they might fuse into a single tool that brought her more pleasure than she could have dreamed was possible. Her orgasm went on and on. It wrung her dry, left her exhausted and so sated that she couldn’t have moved if she wanted to.
That didn’t stop the guys from taking care of her, though. They withdrew from her body and began to tend to her. Cleaning her up and arranging her between them on the oversized sectional. She hummed, floating in a daze of rapture.
Ford stroked her hair, Brady told her over and over how amazing she was, and Josh stared at her with pure awe and admiration in his gaze. It was one of the few times she’d seen him this serious.
“That was…” She huffed. “Wow.”
They deserved something more eloquent than that simple declaration. Except they’d wrecked her. Utterly destroyed her capacity to do anything other than bask in the gift they’d given her. And before she realized what they were doing, they were redressing her as if to ensure they didn’t break their own rules and take things further than they’d already gone.
Once she was safely zipped into her dress once more, Ford kissed her shoulder. “You’re everything we’ve been looking for. Thank you so much for trusting us. I can’t wait to see where we go from here.”
Kari nodded. He was right. She had to think about that, too.
Now that she’d taken this step toward them and away from the life she’d had before, she had a lot to figure out. And quick. She asked quietly, “Would you mind having Bronson give me that ride home now?”
Though Josh turned his face, it wasn’t fast enough for her to see the flash of hurt and disappointment there. If she didn’t get this right, she would ruin things before they’re gotten started.
To do that, she needed some space to think. And plan.
She reached out and hugged Josh before promising, “I don’t regret this. I just need some time to adjust to how much our lives are about to change,
okay?”
“Of course,” Brady answered for him. “Just so you know, though…our lives haven’t been the same since we met you.”
Ford nodded his agreement, then rose, offering his hand to help her from the couch. Her legs shook but held as she strode, spine straight and head high, toward her purse while Josh called Bronson and asked him to take Kari home and see her safely inside.
She felt stronger than ever knowing how deeply they desired her and what they were willing to do to have a shot at making this last for the long run. Kari couldn’t be any less brave and still deserve all the promises they’d made her that night, so she kissed them each goodnight, then left to get her world in order.
17
Ford sat at his desk and checked his watch. Again. “Brady, still no word from Kari?”
“Not yet,” he called from his office next door. The sound of his executive chair scooting was followed by him, and then Josh a few steps behind, tromping through Ford’s office doorway. “What the fuck is going on?”
“Guys. She’s only twenty minutes late.” Josh held his hands out, but this time he said it with a hell of a lot less conviction than he’d said, “Guys, she’s only five minutes late,” fifteen minutes before.
Brady rubbed his temple. “She’s worked here for five years and never once gotten here after us. Never. Never called in sick either. And today…”
“It can’t be a coincidence.” Dread settled in the pit of Ford’s gut. He knew he was right. “I don’t think she was joking last night.”
“About what?” Josh asked.
“Quitting. She’s not coming back. Today or any other day.” Ford rose from his chair and punted his aluminum trashcan into the wall. “Fuck!”
While the night before had been one of the best of his life, he hadn’t realized it meant sacrificing seeing Kari all day, every day. Not to mention her surrendering her job. One she was incredible at.
“The last thing I wanted was for us to cost her anything.” Brady put his face in his hands. “I was thinking more emotionally, not wanting to freak her out or bring back bad memories. But this…if she’s unemployed because of us…”
Josh groaned. “She’s going to resent us for this.”
“I wouldn’t blame her if she did.” Ford pounded his thigh with his fist. “Maybe it’s not too late to fix this. Brady, can you call her? You’re the best at talking shit out. Make her understand that we need her here as much as at home. And if that means she doesn’t want to see us again after hours…”
The three men exchanged pained looks. Josh nodded and Brady grimaced before sighing. “Yeah. Okay. You’re right.”
He drew his phone from the pocket of his meticulously tailored suit pants, then tapped the only speed dial icon on his home screen. Ford held his breath as Brady swallowed hard. Hopefully he was thinking about what to say when Kari picked up.
Except she didn’t.
The sweet sound of her voice requesting that he leave a message was barely audible from where he stood across his desk from Brady. Damn it! “Try again.”
Brady hung up and redialed. With the same results. Except this time her greeting floated from the speaker after just two rings. She was sending them straight to voicemail. Son of a bitch!
“Uh oh.” Brady frowned at the phone in his hand. They hadn’t devised a plan by the time her voicemail beeped, letting them know it was recording. So he improvised, “Kari, it’s us. We’re waiting for you at the office. Please let us know you’re okay and when you’ll be here. Thanks. I know it’s only been a few hours but…I miss you. We miss you.”
Ford reached across the space between them and disconnected the line. “You can’t do that! Don’t blackmail her with feelings. She told us she couldn’t fuck her bosses and we told her we’re not going to force her to do anything she doesn’t want to do. I should have taken her seriously last night.”
“Oh shit.” Josh sank into one of the guest chairs in front of Ford’s desk. “What did we do?”
“Don’t freak out yet. First, we need to find her and make sure she’s okay. If she regrets her decision, we have to give her job back and promise to keep our fucking hands off her from now on.” Ford stared at Brady and Josh.
Brady shook his head. “I don’t know if I can. Maybe I’ll be the next one to quit.”
This time Ford knew his friend wasn’t kidding.
What they’d done, though it had only seemed like dipping a toe in the pool of their desires, might already have led them to disaster. Ford didn’t want to lose any of them, Kari or the guys. They’d built this place together and they all deserved to enjoy their success while helping it grow.
It wasn’t often he felt helpless.
None of them got much work done as they waited to hear from Kari. The hours that passed without her returning their calls seemed to stretch for a month. If it was this bad after a single evening spent in her company, what would happen if they got in deeper and then lost her entirely?
Ford realized then how high the stakes were in this game they’d been playing.
Did that mean they should take things slower or get a hell of a lot more serious?
18
Kari beamed as she reached across the table and shook her new boss’s hand. The CEO’s wolfish grin made her sure he considered himself just as lucky to have her on board, ready to organize and streamline the shit out of his company.
The morning hadn’t gone anything like she’d imagined. It was crazy to think that just a few hours ago, she’d called Andi hoping for a sounding board and had instead ended up with a new job. Just like that.
One with a raise, even.
And extra responsibilities.
Well, damn. Maybe last night hadn’t been the biggest mistake of her life after all.
Of course, her position as the office manager of the scientific research and development firm Andi worked for didn’t have the intangible benefit of three sexy bosses to drool over all day. However, it did allow her to work in a place uncomplicated by her personal desires.
After the night before, she was sure she could never look at Ford, Brady, or Josh impersonally again. The things they’d done to her…the way they’d made her feel… No, not possible to forget that.
She couldn’t wait to share her news with them and, hopefully, spend tonight celebrating this next step toward a healthy relationship with them.
“You just have to promise me one thing,” her new boss said as he walked her to the door.
“What’s that?” She hesitated. Could there be a catch?
“When the lawyers over at Westbrook, Arman, and King try to sue me for stealing you away from them, you have to protect me.”
Kari cracked up. “That’s not going to be a problem. They’ve probably already replaced me.”
That thought caused a lump in her throat that she wasn’t able to clear easily. Her smile wilted some imagining some other person taking care of her guys’ business.
“I’d be willing to bet my corner office that’s not the case. But their loss is my gain.” The CEO chuckled as he walked her to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow for your first official day, okay?”
“I can’t wait.” She pivoted on her heel, trying not to do a little boogie on her way out.
Kari made it to the lobby of the building before fishing in her purse for her cellphone. When she unlocked it and swiped her finger over the settings to turn the ringer back on, she saw she had seven missed calls. All from Ford, Brady, and even a couple from Josh.
Oops.
She pasted a smile on her face when just moments before she hadn’t had to try. Glee had poured out of her. Now, nervous electricity zinged through her like it had before her stellar interview. What did they need to say to her?
Were they calling to tell her to come back to work because last night had been enough?
They better not be.
Now that she’d had one taste, she needed more. A lot more.
Not only of the mind-blowing sex
they’d introduced her to the night before, but also the fun they’d had. The laughter and easy familiarity they’d shared ranked right up there with the tender, intimate moments, and the lust-fueled ones, too. She’d be lying if she didn’t admit it had a lot to do with security as well. Ford had made her feel safe. Even in that awkward moment when she’d let her imagination run wild and the darkness inside her had threatened to ruin everything.
After climbing into a taxi, Kari allowed herself to stop speculating about what they wanted and find out. She pressed play on the first voicemail recording. She’d received it at 8:05. “Hey, Kari, it’s Ford. I just wanted to check and make sure you’re okay since you’re never late. Anyway, let us know if something’s up. Otherwise, I’ll see you soon.”
Professional. But still with an underlying hint of worry. Uh oh.
Kari thought back to when she’d tendered her resignation. They’d laughed.
Oh fuck. It wasn’t because they didn’t care or because they saw it as some kind of a victory to have her at home instead of at work. They hadn’t taken her seriously.
She drooped forward, her forehead thunking onto the seatback in front of her.
Sure enough, one after the other, the guys’ calls had grown more urgent. Most of all she felt bad that she’d stressed them. Somewhere around the fifth voicemail, this one from Brady, she realized they’d figured it out.
“Hey, Kari. I think you’re really not coming in anymore. That’s…okay. I understand. But could you please just call so we know you’re all right with…everything? Thank you.” He sounded so defeated. Not at all his usual, confident self.
Even after facing a loss in the courtroom, he never sounded like that.
Desolate.
For the first time, Kari understood that she had the power to hurt the guys, too. Maybe even more than they could do to her. The revelation shocked her. And made her certain that this morning’s meeting had been exactly the way to go.