by Summer Alan
Whatever spell had come over her, they'd fallen under it, too. The atmosphere in the room shifted. Maybe this wasn't impossible after all. Maybe, just maybe ... Well, there's only one way to find out.
She rose slowly and picked up the bottle of wine. “Let's take this into the living room. If you have something you'd like to discuss with me..."
Ethan took the bottle from her hand and closed the distance between them. He stood so close she could feel the heat from his body. “I don't need to discuss anything. Do you, Alec?"
Alec grabbed Ethan's elbow and pulled him away from her. Ethan stumbled, then righted himself, and turned on his best friend. “What?"
Alec ignored Ethan and spoke to her in an even softer voice than he had before. “Why don't you go to the living room and sit down for a few minutes? I'd like to talk to Ethan."
Ethan's gaze burned into Alec's, but he said nothing further. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on. But, whatever it was, the two of them had not agreed upon it—yet.
* * * *
"What are we doing in here?” Ethan demanded after he'd followed Alec down the long hallway to her bedroom and closed the door behind them. “What are we—kids, sneaking off to our damn clubhouse?"
Alec scowled at him but kept his voice low. “I want her as much as you do!"
He frowned and gave the room a once-over. “I can see that. So what are we doing in here?"
"If we're going to do this, she's got to be sure. You're pushing her too hard. If she wants us, give her a chance to say so. If she's receptive, I'm fine with it—more than fine. But stop handling her!"
Ethan had never seen his friend behave like this around a woman. They'd had their share of attractive women together before, and it had never been a problem—until now. He had to admit, he wasn't thrilled with this particular edict coming out of nowhere.
"I wasn't the only one handling her, Alec."
Alec looked at him as if he had suddenly grown another head, and not the one throbbing against the fly of his jeans, either. “I'm going to pretend you didn't say that. Have you ever seen me force myself on a woman? Have we ever once had sex with anyone who wasn't totally into it?"
Ethan would admit that his friend was right if he wasn't so completely pissed at Alec for dragging him in here away from her.
That woman was beautiful, and she wanted them. He couldn't understand Alec's cautionary approach. Why wait? He could sense the attraction as soon as they'd walked into her apartment.
While he wasn't in the market for anything permanent, he could certainly go for something semi-permanent if she looked and sounded like the woman waiting for them in the living room. The thought of having her naked and against him on a regular basis was the stuff of his masturbatory dreams. The idea brought an even greater strain to his already straining cock.
The business had been Alec's idea; their going into it together had been his. But Alec had always deferred to Ethan's taste in women, or at least he had in the past. He'd never complained before.
And he'd certainly never acted like this.
"Okay. So, what the hell is all this about then? Since when have you been so protective of a grown woman who's perfectly capable of making up her own mind?"
He hesitated for a long moment then finally spoke.
"I knew it when I saw her picking up all that junk in the living room."
If his friend's words were confusing, his body language left nothing mystifying in their wake. He wanted this woman as much as Alec did. Maybe more. If Alec disagreed with him, they were going to have a brawl right here in the woman's bedroom, and that was the last thing he wanted to do in this bedroom tonight.
"Knew what?"
"She's not just another woman for us to bang."
They stood together silently. Finally, Ethan spoke. “Yeah. I know."
Alec waited for him to continue. Ethan shook his head. “Know what did it for me?"
"The phone call, when she stuffed your nuts back in your pocket for making fun of her?"
Ethan smiled. “Funny. No man, it's just her. She's ready to leave, she calls us, and she's going. Doesn't even know where. Just getting the hell out."
"She's tough,” Alec said.
Ethan agreed, but it was something more. “And vulnerable."
They stood up, once more letting the words and what they meant thoroughly sink in.
Alec nodded. “We let her decide. Whatever she wants, okay?"
"I can take ‘no’ without throwing a lot of shit around. Can you?” Ethan stuck out his hand.
Alec nodded then took his hand. “Agreed."
"Let's get back in there, before she decides to hire another moving team, and we are out on our asses."
Ethan opened the door, and they walked back into the living room. Josie sat on the center couch cushion, her knees pulled against her chest. Her glass of wine trembled slightly in her hands. She looked very small on the large sofa and smiled nervously.
"Everything okay?"
There's nothing to be nervous about, he wanted to tell her, but before he could say a word, Alec lowered himself down onto the sofa cushion beside her and wrapped his arm over the pillow behind her head.
"Everything is fine. Sorry to keep you waiting."
Grabbing both of the wine glasses off the dining room table, Ethan sat on the other side of Josie and handed one to Alec. “What are we drinking to?"
Josie settled herself more comfortably on the sofa. Was it his imagination, or had she just moved a little bit closer under the curve of Alec's arm? Damn, she was so beautiful. If she kept doing things like that, he didn't know if he could keep from pulling her into his arms and kissing her, “let her decide,” be damned.
"We should leave it to Josie,” Alec said tapping his glass against hers, his arm still resting on the pillow, the length of his arm behind her neck. “She's had a rough day. What would you like to drink to?"
She shrugged, her gaze low. “I did have a pretty terrible day.” She looked from one of them to the other, placed her hand on Ethan's knee, and squeezed it as she held her glass in the air. “What would you like to drink to, Ethan?"
He wanted to shout in triumph—these were not the moves of an uninterested woman, and she wasn't just interested in Alec. Alec picked up on it, too, and his hand dropped off the pillow and began to stroke her shoulder. Smiling at them both, she held her glass up a little higher, her hands still trembling slightly. Ethan imagined what she would feel like in his own hands. They were both here to give her pleasure and get pleasure in return, and all signs pointed toward one amazing, wonderful fact; she was willing.
Ethan cleared his throat. “Maybe something like, ‘to your happiness,’ unless you have a better idea, Alec?"
"Maybe I do.” Alec placed his long, thick index finger on her delicate chin. “Why drink to happiness when there's something we can do to make this day happier ... for all of us?"
He turned her face toward him, then leaned over and kissed her. Ethan stared as she inclined toward his body, tilting her head slightly as the kiss deepened.
He and Alec had watched a few porn movies together as kids, had been fascinated by them for a short time, but he'd never seen anything quite as good as this. Porn had nothing on his best friend kissing this beautiful woman.
Her hand began to move on his knee, and then she slowly slid her fingertips along the inside of his leg. Her hand reached the apex of his thigh and slid over to cover his cock, now straining the fabric of his jeans to an alarming tautness. The question was answered with finality. She wants us both.
Ethan placed his hand over hers and began to move with her, stroking the length of his erection.
She ended the kiss with Alec and turned to him. “Will you kiss me, too?"
Cradling her face in his hands, he caressed her cheeks. Though she'd initially sounded so tough and demanding on the phone, he could see that this was one fragile woman. Today something had hurt her enough to call a moving company, pack up everythi
ng and leave her home behind. Whatever it was couldn't be remedied by what they were about to do.
They'd never mixed business with pleasure before, and they never had sex without full consent. Consent for him wasn't just agreeing ... it was a clear statement of agreement. As hot as she was and as hot as she'd made them both, this was no time to start breaking the rules.
"I want to kiss you. Don't doubt that. But we have to be sure this is what you want.” He looked to Alec. “What you need."
Alec nodded and stroked her back. “We're not here to take advantage. As much as I want you, as we...” He nodded toward Ethan. “We both want you ... at the same time. You understand this right?"
She hesitated a moment then moved forward to kiss him. Ethan wanted to take this as consent, but what they were about to do would require clear agreement, not just her body's unspoken desire. Only moments ago, he'd been ready and willing to accept the first indications of her desire at face value, but Alec was right. She wasn't just another woman.
"Wait, love,” he said, holding back those luscious lips with extreme effort. “Before we begin, make sure you understand what you're getting into."
Alec looked up at him. “What?"
"Something happened today.” Ethan knew Alec understood what he meant, but she must also understand. “You need someone to take care of you for a while, to remove any need to make decisions on your own."
Alec nodded slowly. “Yeah, you do."
"Whatever happened to you today, it was bad enough that you wanted to leave. I wonder if you should clear that out of the way before we begin the game."
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Chapter Three
"Game?” Her eyes were wide as she licked her bottom lip.
"Ethan and I will be your masters, and you will be our slave. You won't have to worry about anything because we will care for you, and in exchange we will require your complete and total submission. Do you understand what I'm saying to you? Complete submission."
"A game?"
"Yes, it's a game, a great game if done for the right reasons. Submitting requires you release all responsibility for your happiness to us, which includes not thinking of another man; if you do, we'll know it, and you will be punished. This game is for the three of us, and only us. Maybe you'd better tell us how you came to call us, and then we can all decide if we want to continue."
Alec made a frustrated, angry sound in his throat, but Ethan ignored him. They both wanted her, but Alec had been right to be cautious. There was no doubt she was willing. Alec was now convinced. But if he wanted her, then he would have to take his own advice and be patient.
A game? she wondered. They would be her masters? She would be their slave? The idea sent a burning through her limbs like a flash fire.
She'd already tasted the heat in Alec's kiss, and the smoldering in Ethan's eyes was evidence enough. Both men wanted her, yet both maintained a controlled distance awaiting her answer.
The idea of this game thrilled her more than she wanted to admit, but she could see that nothing would happen without her full consent. She glanced out the front window and took in a deep breath. After the day she'd had, their offer was something quite amazing to come home to.
They waited, and she tried to figure out how to respond. However she worded it, she knew that it had to be the truth. She owed them that much.
"I quit my job today.” She looked from one to the other of them. Both listened, nodding encouragingly.
"I was dating my boss, secretly, and today, he gathers everyone together in the front foyer and announces he's engaged—to his assistant. He didn't even look at me, as he stood there holding her hand. I don't know how many people knew about it before I did, but as I stood there, my mouth probably hanging open, I'm sure I saw one or two people checking out my reaction. It was horrible.
"I walked immediately to the human resource office, put in my notice, and got my last check. I couldn't stay there and look at him every day. So I decided to come home, pack my things and get out of here—make a fresh start. That's what happened and why I called you."
Ethan nodded then looked to Alec. “Were you in love with this boss of yours?"
She looked from one to the other of them. “I thought I was, but I've never been so humiliated in my life. I thought I knew him, but I was just kidding myself. He was a liar and a user. I don't ever want to see him again. I feel like an idiot for not seeing the truth sooner."
"No, don't.” Ethan lifted his hand to caress her cheek. “You trusted him, and he betrayed that trust. He's the fool for losing you."
"He's the idiot and an asshole,” Alec agreed.
Alec stood up from the couch, walked to the window, and yanked the curtains closed. “Maybe we should start with something simple."
"She hasn't agreed to anything, yet,” Ethan said. “We aren't doing anything until she agrees."
Alec turned around and faced her. “He's right. Officially, we're movers, not relationship gurus. Timing is everything, Josie. If this isn't the right time, then it's not the right time."
"All I'm saying is maybe she's not ready for the game,” Ethan said. “Maybe we should start out with something simpler, something that will make her more comfortable."
Something simpler? What could be simpler than letting these two tell her everything to do and when to do it? She had so many decisions to make—she'd quit her job and was going to leave. Every responsibility rested squarely on her shoulders and no one else's. The idea of letting someone else make all the decisions was very attractive and titillating in the extreme.
This discussion was almost surreal. She'd never done anything like this game they were talking about in her life, but to be honest with herself, she'd already considered it and was well on her way to saying yes. However, one thing was certain; they would do nothing until she said so.
She quickly pushed all thoughts of what's-his-name aside and focused her attention on the two handsome men in her living room. She hardly knew them, and yet she had the distinct feeling ... No, she knew—they would never hurt her.
It was time to let them know the direction of her thoughts. Everything seemed to hinge on her desires, and although she'd touched them both, nothing further was going to happen here until she conveyed her wishes verbally.
"I want to put myself in your hands—I want to play the game. I want to touch you, and I want you both to touch me.” The brazenness of the words surprised her, but she didn't want to take them back.
"Clear enough for you?” Alec asked his friend, a quirky smile crossing his lips.
"Yes, I think that's clear enough.” Ethan stood and took her hand in his. “First, we need to establish a safe word."
"Safe word?"
"Whenever you want the game to stop, if it becomes uncomfortable, or if you become unwilling for it to continue, use the safe word. The game ends, and we will leave if you want us to. If this isn't pleasurable for all of us, then we're not interested. Do you agree to this?"
"How long does the game go on if I don't use this safe word?"
"We play it until we're tired of playing it,” Alec said. “As our slave, you will do what we want you to do when we want you to do it, for as long as we want you to do it; we say when the game ends. You may ask for things so long as you do it respectfully and use the title of Master. We will determine if it pleases us to grant your wishes, and above all, you will please us or you will be punished. Unless you use the safe word, then everything stops immediately."
Ethan squeezed her hand, and she found his warm and inviting. His gaze was friendly, with an edge of desire he managed with effort to contain. “Do you accept this? This is your last chance to change your mind."
Give over all control to these two men, let them decide what she could do or could not do? Knowing that she could stop the game at any moment was the final decision maker. “Yes, I accept these terms. The safe word I want to use is cloud."
"Cloud? Okay, cloud is the safe word. The game b
egins right now. Josie, get off the sofa and remove your clothes."
"Remove...” she started to say, but the flash in Ethan's eyes stopped her. “Yes, Master."
His smile was instant and bright. “Excellent, slave. Very good response. We will never punish you if you react like this to our desires. Right, Alec?"
Alec walked toward her as she peeled both socks off her feet and dropped them to the floor. “Nope, but a little quicker would be nice. Step it up, slave, or you will get bent over my knee."
Bent over his knee? The words brought a burning, aching heat between her legs. The words echoed over and over in her mind—bent over my knee. Punishment. Forced over his lap, his hand on her ass ... Her pulse raced with the promise of the forbidden.
She stood slowly, purposefully unzipping her slacks one short click at a time, then slid them inch after measured inch over her thighs to the floor. “The panties, too?"
Both men looked at her, waiting.
"Uh, Masters?"
"There will be a punishment for your slow response, but later. Yes, take off all of your clothes and present yourself before us."
She sighed and moved slower still. Disobedience and punishment had never sounded so illicit and inviting.
"I told her to go quicker, didn't I, Ethan?"
"Yes, you did."
"My patience is now gone.” Alec stepped forward, took hold of her blouse and ripped the front open, the fabric tearing as buttons flew across the carpet. “Ah, now that looks much better."
He took hold of the front clasp of her bra and unfastened it with one hand, pulling the cups away and allowing her breasts to spring free. His audible sigh sent a wave of heat along her flesh. She started to smile then wondered if that was allowed without asking permission.
"Do I satisfy you, Master?"
"Oh, yes, you satisfy me.” He tweaked her already hardened nipple with his fingers then rolled it between them. A stroke of heat from his hand spun through her limbs and settled low in her pussy. As she grew wetter and hotter, she struggled to stay standing, her knees turning to liquid.