by Ella Frank
“It keeps my hands busy and off more tempting delights, oui.”
Robbie winked, and suddenly Julien had the intense desire to forget dinner and skip straight to the getting-naked part. Maybe they could just join Priest in the bath. But then that wouldn’t be very relaxing now, would it?
“So what are we making?” Robbie asked, and Julien was grateful for the change of subject. They would all be naked soon enough.
“Something relatively simple but délicieux. Steak au poivre.”
“I don’t think you’re capable of making something simple.”
Julien tipped the peppercorns into a small bowl by the cutting board, where there was another one full of salt. “You’re right, princesse, I can’t. This will be the best steak au poivre you’ve ever put in your mouth.”
“Well, it’ll be the first, so—”
“So nothing,” Julien said, then reached for his glass of wine, took a sip, and cast an arrogant look Robbie’s way. “Regardless of whether it’s the first or last, I only ever make the best.”
“Ah ha!” Robbie said, and pointed. “There it is. I’ve been waiting to see the Prick up close.”
“I believe you’ve been closer to my prick than this.”
Robbie leaned his hip against the counter and grinned. “I didn’t mean that.”
“Then what do you mean? What have you been waiting to see?”
“That I’m better than everyone else act.” Robbie placed a hand over his heart and practically swooned at Julien’s feet.
Julien smirked at his theatrics. “It’s not an act. In the kitchen, I am better than everyone else. That’s why I won the show. It’s why I’ve won several culinary awards both here and abroad, and it’s also why I have two—soon to be three—of the top restaurants in America. Next, I plan to take on international markets.”
“Ahh, I love it,” Robbie said. “My heart’s all aflutter.”
“All aflutter?”
“Yes. I love that arrogant, I’m the best, alpha stuff. It’s so hot.”
Which explained why Robbie was interested in them. Arrogant, alpha. If that was what he loved, he couldn’t get more so than the two of them. They were both so dominant in their mind-sets that sometimes neither wanted to relent. Hence the need for someone like this beautiful man to come between them, in all manners of speaking.
Julien walked around Robbie and flicked on one of the gas burners before he reached up into the cabinet overhead to grab an extra wine glass. He then picked up the open bottle of Merlot on the kitchen island, poured a glass, and took it over to where Robbie stood.
“Why don’t you take this in to Priest while I finish up out here? Everything’s ready; I just have to cook it.”
Robbie looked at the glass of wine, and then back up to Julien’s eyes. “Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Oui. It’s either that or fuck you.”
“I wouldn’t object,” Robbie said. “And by the way, that’s the second time I’ve been threatened tonight. I really hope you two aren’t all talk.”
As Robbie went to lean back on the counter, Julien grabbed his arm to stop him. “Be careful there.”
Robbie looked back to see he’d been precariously close to leaning against one of the burners instead of the counter.
“We don’t want to burn that bottom.”
When Robbie looked back at Julien, he winked. “The bottom appreciates that.” Then he took the glass out of Julien’s hand.
“Would you like a glass now, or with dinner?” Julien asked.
“I’ll wait.” Robbie headed out of the kitchen, and when he was halfway across the living room, he said, “That seems to be what you both want tonight, and I really want whatever reward I’m going to get for my good behavior.”
As Robbie disappeared through the bedroom door, Julien went back over to finish up their meal, and found he couldn’t wipe the smile off his face or get his cock back under control. Something he figured wouldn’t happen until this night was over.
PRIEST SANK DOWN in the close-to-scalding water, and as the warmth penetrated his skin and soothed his tense muscles, he shut his eyes and let out a calming breath.
The drive from Robbie’s house back to theirs had been an exercise in restraint, as had that moment in the hallway and every moment up until now. But knowing what was going to happen after dinner tonight had been enough to keep him from acting on his urges.
Priest ran his wet hands through his hair, shoving it back off his face, and tried not to think about how fucking good it was going to feel when he finally got inside Robbie.
Calm down, he told himself, and then slipped a hand under the water to stroke his angry cock. It’d been a while since he’d denied himself for this long, and as his fist curled around his thick length, he arched up. He gave himself a couple of hard pulls and then made himself let go, then he white-knuckled the side of the tub so he wouldn’t be tempted further. That was when someone behind him said, “You have an aquarium in your bathroom?”
Priest opened his eyes and focused on the wall beside him, where a horizontal tank ran the length of his tub. He watched as one of the black and silver angelfish glided through the water, from top to bottom. “We do. Julien had it installed when we remodeled it. They relax me. They’re so quiet. So graceful. In our next place, we plan to have one in the bedroom.”
Robbie wandered further into the bathroom, his eyes locked on the coral reef that several fish were playing hide-and-seek inside. “It’s beautiful. Magical.”
“I think so.” Priest looked up at him and saw that Robbie was holding a glass of wine. “Is that for me?”
Robbie’s eyes shifted down to him, and when he seemed to remember that Priest was lounging in the tub naked, his eyes widened a fraction and he managed a slow nod.
A smirk crossed Priest’s mouth as he raised a hand and said, “May I have it?”
Robbie’s eyes were fixed on his face, but as he handed Priest the glass, he finally let them rove down along Priest’s nude body.
Priest didn’t say a word. They’d had several intimate moments before now, but this was the first time Robbie was seeing him fully undressed. He took a sip of his wine and let Robbie look his fill, and when the outline of a very stiff cock appeared in Robbie’s pants, Priest said in a gravelly voice, “Robert?” Robbie’s eyes flicked to his. “Take off your sweater.”
Robbie gnawed on his lower lip, but reached for the hem of that cable knit top and tugged it up over his head. When he tossed it down at his feet, Priest took another sip of his wine and said, “Kneel down on it.”
Robbie swallowed, and his Adam’s apple bobbed in his throat, drawing Priest’s attention as Robbie ever so slowly went down to his knees by the side of the tub. Priest switched his wine glass to his opposite hand, and then took the sponge out of the clear water and wrung it out before handing it over to Robbie, who took it without question.
The only sound in the room was that of their breathing and the bubbles in the tank on the wall, and when Priest looked to the soap on the silver bathtub caddy, Robbie reached across to pick it up.
With his eyes still locked on Priest’s, Robbie rubbed the soap over the sponge several times before placing it back on the rack, and then he rose to his knees and began to stroke the soapy suds over Priest’s chest.
As Robbie made even sweeps across Priest’s collarbone, shoulders, and back down the center of his pecs, a rumble of approval left Priest. Then Robbie’s hand dipped a little way into the water, and he brought the sponge back up to rinse Priest off.
Not once did Robbie take his eyes off Priest’s, and when Priest brought his glass back to his lips, he said, “Why don’t you acquaint yourself with what’s going to be in you later tonight? You know you’re dying to.”
Robbie sank his teeth into his bottom lip, and then lowered his eyes to the very erect cock between Priest’s thighs. He slowly dragged the sponge down the center of Priest’s body to where his treasure trail started, and when
Robbie paused and looked back to Priest, his eyes were dark with arousal.
“Touch me,” Priest said, and Robbie let go of the sponge and replaced it with his fingers. He trailed the tips down under the surface, and when he touched the head of Priest’s cock, he gasped.
“More,” Priest demanded, and Robbie stroked his fingers down the long length of his cock, and when he got to the base, Priest said, “Wrap your hand around me.”
As Robbie tried, his eyes flew up to Priest’s, his lips parted with excitement and lust as he squirmed where he knelt. “I can’t. It’s too big. You’re so thick and hard. God, I want it…”
Robbie was squeezing Priest now, his fingers tightening and loosening, testing what he’d said, and Priest gritted his teeth.
“Robert?” Robbie’s hand froze beneath the water at the gravelly sound of his name, and Priest held his empty wine glass out to him. “It’s dinnertime. You better go out to the kitchen before you get into trouble in here.”
Robbie reluctantly let go of him and nodded as he took the glass.
“Thank you for the wine,” Priest said, as though that were the only thing Robbie had brought him. “It was exactly what I needed.”
Robbie got to his feet and adjusted his hard-on the best he could, and when he went to pick up his shirt, Priest shook his head.
“Leave it off. I want to look at you through dinner and imagine how you’re going to feel under me.”
“Fuck me.” Robbie sighed.
“I’m going to, very soon.”
Robbie nodded as he slowly backed away from the tub, and when he ran into the wall, Priest chuckled.
“Careful. See you soon, princess.”
Chapter Seventeen
CONFESSION
I was always the one who got in trouble; that’s nothing new. But never has it felt so good to be…punished for it.
ROBBIE HIGHTAILED IT out of the bathroom as though his ass was on fire, and when he got to the living room, he propped a hand up on the wall and took in a breath.
Fuck. Fuck. That was… What the fuck was that? He’d gone in to give Priest his wine and flirt with him outrageously while he was in the bath, and two seconds in, his tongue got stuck, his voice got lost, and he was stripping and kneeling and washing the guy as though he lived to serve him—and shit, it’d been one of the hottest things ever.
“Robbie?”
Julien’s voice had Robbie raising his head.
“Everything okay, princesse?” Julien said as he walked around the island.
Robbie licked his suddenly dry lips and blinked, trying to shake himself out of whatever hypnotic daze Priest had him under, and when Julien reached him and took his hand, Robbie let him lead him across to the dining room table.
Julien didn’t blink at the fact Robbie was now minus his shirt as he pulled out a seat, and when Robbie sat down, Julien said, “I think it’s time for that wine now, oui?”
“Yes, please.”
“Very good. Wait here. I’ll get it for you.”
Robbie nodded, thinking that wouldn’t exactly be a problem, considering he could barely move his legs, and before he could overthink things, Julien was walking back with two glasses in hand.
“Here,” he said, and took the seat beside Robbie. “If it helps, I felt just as confused as you the first time I was with Priest.”
“Is it that obvious?” Robbie laughed. “Is he a fucking hypnotist or something?”
Julien leaned back in his chair and brought his glass to his lips. As he took a sip, Robbie placed a hand over his thumping heart.
“Feels like it, doesn’t it?”
“Yes,” Robbie said. “I gotta say, I’ve never been into being bossed around except with Log— Well, once before.” Robbie stopped, took another gulp of wine, and then met Julien’s eyes. “But two words out of his mouth and I was on my knees doing what he told me. No questions asked. How does he do that?”
Julien put his glass down and got to his feet. He hooked a finger under Robbie’s chin and tilted his head up. “Because he sees you, mon cher petit. He understands what you need from him. Didn’t I tell you so?” Julien straightened, winked at Robbie, and said, “Drink up and I’ll bring you another.”
No problem, Robbie thought as he drained the glass, and as he placed it on the table, he saw Priest walk out of the bedroom in a pair of loose black pants and not one other thing. Jesus, when he was like this, minus his suit, and prowling around like a tiger, Robbie found it difficult to look anywhere but at him just in case he pounced.
Robbie followed Priest’s path as he walked over to Julien, who was pouring sauce on the steaks, and when he stopped behind his husband, Priest kissed his cheek and Julien turned his head.
Words Robbie didn’t understand were exchanged, and then Priest picked up two plates and headed over. As Priest put one down in front of him, Robbie’s eyes travelled up his powerful body and he managed to say, “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Priest walked to the head of the table, pulled his chair out, and sat as Julien returned with his plate and a new bottle of wine. Once they were all seated, Robbie glanced at the two men on either end of the table, and then held his glass out to Julien, who started to laugh.
Julien refilled Robbie’s glass and then raised his own. “Here’s to a night for the senses. Délectons-nous de nourriture, de vin, et de tous les plaisirs de la chair jusqu’à ce que nous soyons trop épuisés et rassasiés les uns des autres pour bouger.”
“Allow me to translate.” Priest leaned over toward Robbie, who caught the scent of the soap he’d used to clean that muscled chest earlier. “Let us enjoy the food, wine, and all the pleasures of the flesh until we are too tired and drunk on each other to move.”
Robbie looked between the two of them and shook his head. “Who could say no to that?”
The three clinked their glasses and Julien said, “Many, I’m sure. But as long as it’s not you, princesse, I find I don’t care.”
AN AIR OF anticipation settled between them after that. Eyes darted from one to the other. Lips were licked as they each ate their meal. But clearly they were all thinking about other things in their mouths, and Julien could sense the waves of excitement—tinged with nerves—rolling off Robbie as he studied the food on his plate with great concentration.
With his eyes fixated on his meal, it gave both Julien and Priest the opportunity to observe Robbie as much as they wanted, and it was clear he knew he was under scrutiny by the heat that tinged his face, chest, and neck—although that could also easily be the wine.
Taking pity on him, Julien decided to break the silence, because there was no way Priest would, and no matter how badly the two of them wanted Robbie, and he them, they weren’t going to get him—the real him—if he was a nervous wreck.
“How is your meal?” Julien asked, and Robbie glanced over at him as he chewed the mouthful he’d just popped between his lips. After he swallowed, Robbie grinned, and the expression reached his eyes.
“Wonderful. This is the best steak au poivre I’ve ever eaten.”
Julien chuckled, remembering their earlier conversation, and pointed his knife in Robbie’s direction. “Cheeky.”
Robbie blew him a kiss, clearly relaxing a little, and then cut off another piece of steak. “Why do you get to sit there fully dressed while the two of us have no shirt on?”
“Is that your way of telling me you want me to take off my shirt?” Julien asked.
“If it isn’t,” Priest said, “I’ll do it for you. Take off your shirt, Julien.”
Robbie looked at Priest, who took a sip of his wine, and when Julien pushed out from the table and stood, Robbie’s head whipped back around to him. “Oh, I like this game.”
Julien leaned down and kissed Robbie’s smiling lips. “Of course you do.”
“Julien,” Priest said, his voice soft but firm, telling Julien he wanted him to do as he was told.
Julien straightened, and with his eyes on
his husband, he unbuttoned his shirt. As he shrugged out of it, Julien’s eyes shifted to Robbie, who’d stopped eating to watch, and once it was in his hand, he dropped it to the floor.
“Shit,” Robbie said, his eyes moving over Julien’s tattoos, and then he reached down to palm himself. “Priest said you might let me lick them if I ask nicely.”
“I just might…but not yet,” Julien said, and then winked as he retook his seat.
Robbie groaned in protest. “This is torture.”
“I promise you, it is not,” Priest said, and Robbie rolled his eyes.
“Not actual torture, but God. Next you’ll want to talk about the weather or my family.”
“That’s not a bad idea, actually,” Julien said, and Robbie’s mouth fell open. “We don’t know that much about you.”
“And you want to know now? I was kidding.”
“Humor us.”
“Well, can you at least put your shirt back on? Both of you. Then maybe my dick will stop aching.”
“No it won’t,” Priest said. “But this might keep your mind off it for a few minutes.”
“Fine.” Robbie let out a put-upon sigh. “I come from a big Italian family and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. But they’re all slightly crazy.”
“Really?” Priest said, and when Julien’s eyes shifted to his husband, he noted that Priest had moved in a little closer, intrigued by this new piece of information.
“Yes,” Robbie said. “You already know I live with my nonna right now, and that’s because everyone else is too far out of town. But I’m one of four children, and the only boy.”
Julien laughed at that, and he caught Priest’s lips twitching.
“What?” Robbie said.
“That just explains so much, princesse,” Julien replied.
Robbie scrunched his nose up, and with his meal now done, he reached for his glass of wine. “Yeah, whatever. I love my sisters, and they love me. I mean, how could they not?”
“Indeed,” Priest said, and Julien wondered what was going on inside his head. Priest’s grey eyes were bright, alert, and he clearly wanted to know more. “Are you the youngest?”