by Opal Carew
“I need as little space as possible between us right now.” He guided her around to face him.
She immediately missed his big, hard cock so close to her wet, needy flesh. She stroked away the errant strands of hair that hung in his eyes and meshed her lips with his, then dipped her tongue into his mouth and tasted him.
“Oh, God, me, too.” She wrapped her hand around his thick cock and stroked, imagining it gliding inside her, then slid her tongue into his mouth again.
He pressed her onto her back and prowled over her.
“Woman, you’re driving me insane.” He slipped his hand around hers and guided his cock to her opening. Then he teased her, gliding the tip over her slick opening but not pushing inside.
“Damn it, Evan. Push that thing inside me before I scream in frustration.”
She drew her hand from his and dragged her fingertips over his balls to entice him.
He grinned. “I do intend to hear you scream, but frustration’s not what I have in mind.”
He nuzzled her neck, seemingly ignoring her demand while he continued to stroke her with the tip of his erection—then he shifted and drove into her. His hard shaft filled her like a thick, erotic stake, his body pinning her to the bed. She whimpered at the intense pleasure.
He grasped her wrists, pinned them above her head, and grinned down at her. “So? Is that what you wanted?”
She shimmied under him. “Almost.” Then she squeezed her internal muscles around him, dragging a delightful groan from him. She nuzzled his temple, then blew in his ear. “Now fuck me.”
“Yes, ma’am!” He drew back, then drove in deep again.
This time she groaned.
“Oh, God, give me more,” she cried.
He drew back and thrust again. Then again. A few more thrusts of his hot, hard cock and joy catapulted through her. She moaned as she pushed against his hold on her wrists, the feeling of being restrained heightening her pleasure.
He kept thrusting, then arched his pelvis against her. Heat filled her as he groaned.
She relaxed and opened her eyes to see Evan staring at her intently. He captured her lips in a passionate kiss.
“God, I love you so much.” He kissed her again. “I want you to be mine, to spend your life with me.”
Her heart clenched. “Oh, Evan, I love you, too, but…” She couldn’t keep staring into those deep green eyes of his. She rolled out from under him and buried her face in the pillow and groaned, tears prickling at her eyes. “I don’t want to choose between you and Brent.”
Evan settled beside her. She felt his hand stroke her shoulder, the contact gentle and reassuring.
“I know you love Brent, too. I get that. I don’t know if it helps, but if you choose me, I would be happy—no, make that thrilled—to have Brent join us anytime you want.”
She turned and gazed at him over her shoulder. “Really? You mean in bed?”
“Of course. I find it hot watching him make love to you. Bringing you pleasure. We’d have to work on the threesome thing—clearly we still have issues there—but I’m game.”
Evan would let the three of them continue together. If she chose him. If she married him. If she chose Brent, however, would he agree to allow Evan into their relationship? And would Evan agree to that?
“You’re thinking pretty hard. I hope that’s a good sign.” He smiled and captured her lips. “Now let’s go have some breakfast.”
* * *
Brent leaned against a palm tree as he gazed out over the glistening turquoise water edged by a white sandy beach. When he’d raced out of the bedroom this morning, he’d grabbed some shorts and a shirt from his luggage in the guest room and jumped in the rental car. Then he’d driven, mindlessly following the road until he’d wound up here, on yet another of the gorgeous beaches the island offered.
The sun beat down on him, and the breeze caressed his face. He sucked in a deep breath, then started to walk.
Damn, here he was in this tropical paradise on what was supposed to be his honeymoon with Crystal but had turned out to be a honeymoon for three. He’d shared a lot of things with his best friend, and the thought of sharing a woman with him had always been a turn-on, but with the reality had come the disturbing truth that … damn it, could he really be attracted … sexually … to his best friend?
Damn it, he should go back and demand that Crystal choose between the two of them right now. She couldn’t have both of them. Not when sharing her meant being close to Evan, too. Possibly touching Evan, as he had this morning.
It’s funny that when he’d fantasized about sharing a woman with Evan in the past, he’d never thought that part through.
Brent sucked in a breath. He and Evan had always been close friends. And he hoped that despite the fact they were competing for the same woman, they could continue to be close.
But not that close.
God damn it, if he kept up this behavior, he was going to ruin his chances with Crystal for good. Clearly, she wanted a partner who was open to new experiences, and Evan had been demonstrating that trait. And Brent had to admit, it was a huge turn-on watching her with Evan. At first, he’d thought that was because anything that gave Crystal sexual pleasure was a turn-on to him. Like watching her with Sarah. That had been hot beyond belief.
He stopped walking and turned to face the ocean, pushing his hands in his pockets.
But now he realized it was more than that. As disturbing as it was, he seemed to be turned on by Evan. Maybe his desire to share a woman with Evan had really been a desire to be with Evan all along. Sharing a woman had just been an excuse. And the reason they had never done it was that even though some part of him might want to be with Evan, he just wasn’t ready for something like that.
Damn it, he really didn’t understand this. He loved Crystal. He had no doubt about that. Why, then, did he have this growing desire to share sexual intimacy with Evan?
His fists clenched at his sides. No matter what happened on this vacation, or with his attitudes about sex and his best friend, Brent knew that the only important thing was that he won Crystal back. He needed her to choose him.
Because he loved her with all his heart.
Which was why it had been such a stupid move to fly out of there this morning, leaving her in bed, naked, with Evan. He knew she’d been extremely turned on, so there was no doubt in his mind that Evan had made love to her after he’d left.
He shook his head and stared over the vast ocean in front of him. The thought should make him angry, but things were so screwed up … emotions all around in such turmoil … it just made him realize what a mess this was.
He and Evan had been friends for a long time, and they’d shared a lot of confidences, supported each other through breakups, job problems, family issues, and more. If he needed someone, he always knew he could depend on Evan. That made this whole thing with Evan falling in love with Crystal even more difficult.
He dug his sandaled toe into the sand. The thing was, he understood Evan’s point of view. Brent had had the same dilemma when he’d met Crystal years before. She was already engaged at the time, and he had longed to be with her. Sure, he hadn’t done anything about it, but he hadn’t gotten to know her back then as Evan had in these past two years. Ever since Brent started dating Crystal, the three of them had spent a lot of time together. They’d become very close. If Brent had been paying more attention, he would have realized that the growing friendship between Crystal and Evan had been turning into something more. Brent had to admire the fact that Evan had held off so long.
He’d believed Evan when he’d said he hadn’t intended to act on his attraction at all. As the wedding day had grown close, however, Brent couldn’t really blame Evan for finally falling prey to his own desire for happiness and at least telling her how he felt. Crystal deserved the right to make up her own mind, and she had. If Brent hadn’t been a fool and walked away, then Crystal would have married him that day. He couldn’t blame Evan for what had ha
ppened.
Now Crystal had to sort out her feelings. He had to admit, he didn’t want to win her just because she felt obligated to follow up on her promise to marry him. He wanted her to want him the most.
But she seemed to be in love with both of them.
And Brent really didn’t want to give up his friendship with Evan, which seemed sure to happen no matter how this went.
Unless there was some way to figure out how to let the loser not actually be a loser. If Crystal chose Brent, could he get past his issues about being in an intimate situation with Evan and invite Evan to continue their erotic adventures? If Crystal was his wife, Brent could get over the feeling that Evan was a threat to his happiness. Would Evan consider such an arrangement?
* * *
Crystal and Evan ate a breakfast of fruit and croissants on the patio as they enjoyed the incredible view of the ocean glittering in the sunlight, the dazzling white sand of the beach, and a vivid blue sky devoid of clouds. Brent still hadn’t returned after another hour, so they decided to continue their plans to go swimming with the stingrays, something Crystal had been anticipating since she’d won this trip. Renee had told her about a place where they could stand in waist-deep water and the tame, almost petlike stingrays would swarm around them, then they could feed the rays by hand. Renee had suggested a great tour company and had booked their excursion ahead of time.
The breeze flowed through Crystal’s hair, blowing it back off her face as she and Evan rode the boat with several other tourists to the sandbar. She couldn’t stop worrying about Brent and how he’d stormed out this morning. This whole situation was very difficult for him. For all of them. She really needed to choose, but how could she do that? She loved them both.
God, she didn’t want to hurt either one of them. She just prayed that somehow, no matter what the outcome, they’d be able to find a way to make their long-term friendship work.
Finally, the boat arrived at the shallow sandbar and Crystal climbed down the boat ladder into the warm ocean water, followed by Evan. The bottom was soft and sandy and the shallow water crystal clear. As soon as she caught sight of the large, graceful creatures swimming toward them, Crystal laughed with joy and set aside her worries and simply enjoyed this wonderful experience. The rays swam right up to her, then one bumped against her. Soon she was surrounded by them, as were the others in the group of fifteen or so people on the tour.
“That’s how they tell you they would like some food,” said Henri, one of the tour guides. He had hopped into the water right along with them and circulated around to talk to each of his clients. He handed her a hunk of white meat. She held it in the water, and one of the large creatures raced toward her hand and sucked the meat from her fingers. Its belly was velvety soft as it brushed against her.
After a delightful time interacting with the friendly stingrays, she and Evan boarded the boat again with the others and sailed to a nearby reef. In the clear water, the two of them enjoyed swimming among the brightly colored fish and even spotted a large moray eel.
When they finally returned to shore, Crystal was tired but happy. When they reached their rental car, Evan opened the passenger door for her and she stretched out in the seat, glad he had volunteered to drive back to the villa.
“You’re awfully quiet. Did you have a good time today?” he asked.
She glanced at Evan’s handsome profile as he drove. “Sure. It was fantastic. I loved it.”
But even to her ears the enthusiasm sounded strained. She had enjoyed the day, it was true, but now her thoughts had returned to Brent. For months, Crystal had been looking forward to swimming with the stingrays, and Brent had been just as excited about it as she had. She’d imagined sharing the experience with him. Now she wouldn’t get the chance. As much as she’d loved spending the time with Evan, she’d missed having Brent by her side.
* * *
As soon as Crystal stepped in the door, she glanced around for Brent, but he wasn’t in the living room. The other car was in the driveway, so he should be here. She walked toward the back of the house and peered out the patio door, but he wasn’t in the back, either.
“He might be taking a nap.” Evan leaned against the kitchen doorway, watching her.
She nodded, feeling a little sheepish, as though she were cheating on Evan by missing Brent.
As if reading her thoughts, he strolled forward and rested his hand on her arm. “It’s okay. I get it. He stormed out of here this morning, now you’re worried about him.”
She nodded, then walked down the hallway toward the master bedroom, immediately noticing that both bedroom doors were open. She stole a quick glance in the guest bedroom as she walked by, but Brent was not there. She went into the master bedroom and through to the en suite bathroom, where she pulled her wet bathing suit and towel from her bag and hung them over the shower door to dry.
As she walked down the hall again, she heard Evan’s voice.
“Crystal, Brent just came in the backyard. He must have been at the beach.”
Nineteen
Crystal hurried to the patio door and peeked out to see Brent, a towel tossed carelessly around his neck and his hair wet and tousled, walking past the pool toward the house. Her heart pounded.
“Evan…” She glanced toward him. “I really need to talk to Brent. Do you think…?” Damn, how did she ask him to make himself scarce?
“Yeah, sure. I can find something to do with myself.”
He walked through the house to the living room. She stepped to the doorway between the kitchen and the living room and watched him grab a set of keys from the bowl by the door.
“I’ll probably be back about eleven. I assume I’ll be sleeping alone.” He opened the door.
He was cooperating, but clearly not happy.
“Evan.”
He paused and glanced back.
“Thanks for understanding.”
He nodded, then closed the door behind him.
* * *
Brent walked across the patio, the stone slabs hot under his bare feet. When he’d returned to the villa this afternoon, Crystal and Evan hadn’t been there. Then he’d remembered that this had been the day they had scheduled the trip to see the stingrays.
His stomach twisted as he remembered how excited Crystal had been about that, and how often they’d talked about it. Anticipated it. Then he’d taken off this morning, leaving Evan to share that unique experience with her. To share memories that would last a lifetime.
Damn, but he really needed to get his act together, or he’d lose her.
Rather than sitting in the lonely house, he’d gone for a walk on the beach, then enjoyed a swim in the warm ocean water. He slid open the patio door and stepped inside the cool house.
“Brent.”
He glanced at the doorway to the kitchen to see Crystal watching him.
“Crystal, honey, I’m sorry about missing the stingrays today.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s okay. I understand. You needed your space, you needed—”
“I needed to be with you. I needed to show you I want to do the things we’ve dreamed of doing together.”
She stepped toward him and glided her hand lightly along his upper arm, almost as if she were afraid he’d disappear again. She shook her head. “A silly trip is not important, not in the scheme of things. What’s important is that I love you. And I was afraid that with what happened this morning … well, over this whole trip”—she gazed at him, her eyes glimmering—“that I’d driven you away.”
He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her into a kiss, reveling in the feel of her soft lips under his. “You’ll never drive me away.”
She gazed up at him uncertainly.
“Ever.” He captured her mouth again, and this time her arms came around him and she melted into his embrace.
He opened as her tongue slipped inside and glided over his. His groin tightened at the sweet intimacy. She pushed her tongue deeper, then slid her hand down hi
s chest, heading for his steadily swelling cock. Longing to feel her fingers wrap around him … to feel her soft body open to him as he glided inside her … grew to an excruciating need.
He drew his mouth from hers.
“Where’s Evan?”
“He’s gone out.”
Relief washed through him. After walking and thinking all afternoon, Brent had finally realized that he had to come to terms with whatever was going on inside him in relation to Evan. Maybe the urges he’d experienced were just a normal part of being in a heightened sexual situation, or maybe there was something more going on, but no matter which was the case, Brent needed to face it head-on.
Brent smiled and scooped Crystal into his arms.
But not right now.
* * *
Evan returned around eleven. He’d driven along an ocean-view road for a while, then stopped at a nice little restaurant with a bar overlooking the ocean. He’d had a couple of drinks, then ordered dinner. After that, he’d killed some time walking along the beach, watching the moonlight glitter on the water, and allowing the ocean waves to wash away his worries.
Now that he was back at the villa, however, they came crashing back. He kicked off his shoes and walked down the hall. The master bedroom door was closed. Of course, it would be. Because Crystal was in there with Brent.
And he was outside. Isolated and alone.
He closed the other bedroom door behind him and flopped on the bed. Damn it, it was torture knowing Crystal was in there with Brent, while he was in here. He kept expecting Crystal to suddenly realize that Brent was the one she wanted and cut Evan out of the relationship. After all, she had already agreed to marry Brent. She’d been confused for a while, but it was clear when she looked at Brent that she was in love with him.
Just when Evan had started to believe that he had an edge, because he shared Crystal’s desire to explore the wild situations they discovered, he realized that those were just fleeting whims. Something she wanted to do while here on the island, but once they returned home—when she finally had to choose between them … Damn. He flung his arm over his eyes.