by Opal Carew
Sassy smiled, her eyes warm. “You can’t go wrong with Ian.”
Dean smiled back, enchanted. “That I know. I’m sorry for interrupting your dinner, and I hope you two enjoy your evening. Ian, when you’re settled, give me a call. I’d love to talk in a more…appropriate setting.”
They said their goodbyes and sat down again. “Sorry about that,” he said as their server brought their meals.
Sassy waved it off. “Don’t worry about it. It wasn’t like you could ignore him and he didn’t outright say I wasn’t right for you, so we’re fine.”
Ian raised a brow. “And if I’d said your last name, he’d put two and two together and figure out who you really are.”
She shrugged, but he could see the spark fading in her eyes. Damn it. He shouldn’t have brought it up.
“Whatever. I’m not that girl anymore and we both damn well know it. But he did seem like he didn’t think of me like something on the bottom of his shoe or a hooker by the time he left.”
Ian snorted. “Baby, you don’t look like a hooker.”
“I’m not as polished as any of the woman in here, but I don’t really care.”
He held her hand and brought it to his lips. “Do you think I care? I love you, Sassy. You know that. I love Rafe too.” He’d whispered both, but if someone heard, it didn’t matter to him. “Sassy, whatever happens from here on out, I’m not going anywhere. I made mistakes before. We both know this. I’m not going to make them again.”
“And if people like Dean freak out about the three of us?”
“Then fuck them.”
“Ian,” she whispered, then shook her head.
“Really. Fuck them. They will get used to us. As long as they don’t hurt you or Rafe, I don’t care what happens outside of the three of us.”
“You can’t really mean that, can you?”
He let out a breath. “I’m not going anywhere. You’re not going to truly believe that until you see it, so why don’t we finish eating our meal, then go back to my place for dessert.”
Her gaze heated and he had to adjust his pants. “Well, fuck, I’d actually meant caramel ice cream, but I like where your mind went just then.”
She bounced in her seat. “Caramel ice cream? Can we have both?”
The image of licking the sweet mixture from her nipples filled his mind and he coughed. “Should I just ask for the check now?”
“Now, sugar, or I’m gonna run out of here on my own and have you follow.”
The waiter quickly came when he was called and Ian left enough cash to cover the bill and then some. They made their way to his car and piled in before he drove like a bat out of hell to his place. He purposely kept his eyes and hands off Sassy the whole time or they wouldn’t have made it in one piece.
By the time they made it upstairs and behind closed doors, they were both panting and his cock was going to have a permanent zipper scar.
“We’re acting like teenagers,” Sassy gasped as she tugged his shirt off.
He pulled hers off too and they both took off their own pants. Their hands were shaking and Ian chuckled.
“Why do we want each other so much right now? It’s like there was something in the wine,” he mumbled, then crushed his mouth to hers, unable to wait any longer.
She smacked his ass and he pulled back. “Did you just say you needed drugs to get hard for me?” She had a grin on her face but still, one didn’t anger The Sassy.
He gripped her ass in his palms and lifted her so she wrapped her legs around his waist. They both swallowed hard as his cock pressed against her pussy.
“I’m saying you’re my drug, baby. Now, I’m going to put you down because holding you like this when I’m not wearing a condom was short sighted of me.” He lowered her but she slid down his body slowly, and he had to suck in a deep breath not to bend her over and fuck her there. “Plus, I promised you ice cream.” He smacked her ass like she had him and grinned. “Now go lay down on the floor in the bedroom and I’ll be right there.”
She raised a brow. “You’re going to take a chance and ruin your expensive carpets for ice cream?”
How little she thought of him. No, how little she thought of how he used to be. “It’ll clean, Sass. If I play my cards right, I’ll be able to lick every drop off your nipples so it won’t be problem. Now go lie down and spread out. I’m ready for my dessert.”
Her eyes widened, and with a saucy grin, she sashayed naked as the day she was born into his bedroom. He took a deep breath, willing the control he’d honed, and went to the freezer for Sassy’s favorite ice cream.
She lay on the ground, her hair splayed out around her. She rolled her nipple with one hand, while she slid the other in and out of her lower lips, her hips rocking to the motion.
He almost dropped the carton and spoons right there.
There was nothing sexier than a woman who knew exactly what she wanted and knew that she didn’t need a hard cock to get it…yet when she saw his dick she smiled and winked.
“Took you long enough,” she purred.
He fell to his knees, took the lid off of the ice cream, and scooped out a small bite. Before she could tell him what she wanted, he dropped it on her belly button—totally not sexy but she’d egged him on after all.
She rocked up and wiggled. “Holy fuck, that’s cold.”
“Let me warm you,” he licked the cream over her stomach then swallowed so she wouldn’t be too cold. She moaned as he pulled back and placed a smaller drop of the melting dessert over her breasts and gorged himself. The sweet taste of her skin mixed with the caramel made for a decadent combination that was as heady as any drug.
They played with the ice cream, taking turns licking and tasting until they were full. He found the small of her back the best place for a scoop and would have to make sure he let Rafe know that for later.
“I’m all sticky,” Sassy said as they both panted. Neither of them had come and their ongoing foreplay made them both hot as hell.
“I’m going to grab a condom and then we’ll make sure you don’t get too much stickier.”
He chuckled as he stood up. She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. “That was crude, but I liked it.”
As he walked back to her, he slid the condom over his length, liking the way her gaze tracked the movement. In fact, she seemed to like watching him a lot.
“Get up, face the mirror on the dresser, and grip the edge,” he ordered.
She grinned and did as she was told. He came up from behind her and placed his hands near hers so he could get a good grip but not crush her.
“Ready, my darling?” he whispered, then kissed the small spot behind her ear. She shivered in his hold and he rocked against her so his dick slid between her cheeks.
She bent for him slightly and he sank into her heat. He moved his hands so he could grip her hips and then pulled back. Their gazes met in the reflection and he grinned back at her.
“Ready, Ian. I’m ready for anything.”
God, he hoped so, but those doubts weren’t meant for then.
Their gazes in the mirror never wavered as he pumped into her. Their breathing synchronized, and he increased the pace. His balls tightened and the base of his spine tingled and he knew he was about to come.
He reached up and cupped her breast. She licked her lips and then they came together, their moans echoing in the room as he filled the condom. He couldn’t wait to fill her up when he was bare, but that was for later.
Right now he had the woman he loved in his arms, his cock fully inside her, and her body pressed against his. He’d take that for now and pray that one day it would be more, that she wouldn’t leave him. That she would trust him to do the same.
He shook of the melancholy thoughts and kissed her softly. “Mine,” he whispered.
“Yours and mine too,” she panted back.
“Yours, Sassy. Always yours.”
Chapter Eight
“So Sassy’s working tonight?” Ra
fe asked though he thought he already knew the answer considering she wasn’t in the loft with him and Ian.
Ian sat on the couch next to him, his tie undone and looking mighty sexy and disheveled. He took a swig of his beer and leaned his head back. “She closes tonight with Shep who is then taking her to his place so his girl, Shea, and Sassy can have a girls’ night. His cousin, Austin, is in town again and they are going out so the girls can have some time alone.”
“That’s right,” Rafe said then took a sip of his own beer. “He invited us along too, right?”
“Yeah, but I declined for us since I know we’ve both been working our asses off trying to acclimate to the move.”
He closed his eyes, his head aching like a bitch after the day he’d had. His dad still ran the shop in New Orleans even though Rafe bought him out years ago since Rafe owned the other two in the franchise he’d made. The blend of two dominant men in one workspace wasn’t working out as well as he’d hoped.
He’d run from Sassy and Ian—only to end up living near Ian for a decade anyway. He’d come back to New Orleans so he would quit running from his problems. When he’d been gone, he made sure he kept distant from his family because he’d shamed them.
Or at least he thought he had.
Damn. His parents were way more tolerant and accepting than he’d given them credit for. That, in itself, would have shamed him more for his lack of faith, but Sassy hadn’t let him pile it on.
After all, they’d chosen to move on and find their own futures. However, working with his father was turning into a bitch all on its own. His old man didn’t have the same visions as Rafe did, and while Rafe accepted his dad would never change, some things in life had to.
He’d work it out or open up a new shop as part of the chain if he had to. No matter what he wouldn’t run away like he had before. He’d been young and stupid then.
He was older now and hoped to God not as stupid.
There was one dominant man in his life, at least, and things seemed to be running smoothly on that front.
He hoped.
He leaned over and rested his head on Ian’s shoulder. Ian shifted so he could wrap his arm around Rafe comfortably. He took a deep breath and inhaled the sandalwood scent that was so…Ian.
“What was your plan for the night then?” Rafe asked, his voice a little drowsy. It was nice, sitting on the couch with the man he loved wrapped around him. They were just sitting there staring at nothing and he felt content. From the way Ian’s body had relaxed around Rafe’s, the other man was comfortable as well.
Ian ran a finger down Rafe’s shoulder but didn’t move otherwise. The tension in the room rose, but it was a heady one.
“I hadn’t thought of anything beyond just staying at home. I’m too damn tired to go out there and pretend to party with the twenty somethings.”
Rafe grinned. Ian had always been something of a homebody and older than his years when it came to being with people, but he wasn’t going to bring that up. Not when they were getting along and just enjoying the evening.
They sat there in silence for another ten minutes or so until Ian shifted and Rafe sat up straighter. Ian let out a breath and then put his forearms on his thighs, his head bowed.
Rafe frowned and ran a hand up and down Ian’s back. “What’s wrong?”
“What are we doing?”
Four words.
Just four words and Rafe felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He blinked, unsure of what to say. From the tone of Ian’s voice, the set of his shoulders, Rafe knew they weren’t talking about what they would do for dinner.
No, this was the conversation Rafe had been afraid to have…even though he thought they’d had it already.
Damn it. Now he was mad. “What the hell do you mean, Ian?”
Ian turned to him, his eyes wide. “Why are you angry? I wanted to know the next step so I wouldn’t be behind.” Ian stood, staggering back. “Fuck, Rafe. You thought I was going to leave again? You really fucking thought that after all of this, everything I’ve said and done, that I’d leave?”
Rafe stood so they were nose to nose. “You fucking left before!”
Pain arched through Ian’s eyes before he shut it down. “Fuck you, Rafe. I thought we were past that. Have I given you any cause to think I haven’t been here?”
Rafe narrowed his eyes but didn’t say anything. He couldn’t come up with a damn thing and that bothered him more than he wanted to say. His own insecurities were biting him in the ass.
“Ian—”
His lover held up his hand. “No, let me talk. I know I don’t laugh and smile as much as you and Sassy do. I know I’m the one on the sidelines who just seems to be…there. But I like it that way, Rafe. I like watching the two of you joke around and smile at the oddest things. I like knowing that I’m there, even if I don’t have to be part of everything at all times.”
Jesus, Rafe was an ass. “Ian, you’re always part of it. I know you’re here. God, I’m so fucking sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” And now he was sounding like a teenage girl. Or boy at this point for that matter.
Ian lifted his lips in a small smile before shaking his head. “I’m not going anywhere, Rafe. God, I made so many mistakes before and we all know it. I was so afraid of what my parents would think about me not only loving a man, but loving that man and a woman at the same time. I was so fucking stupid for not doing what was inside my heart rather than doing what everyone else expected of me.”
Rafe didn’t move, didn’t speak, knowing this was important for Ian…and them.
Ian cupped Rafe’s face, his strong hands an anchor when Rafe felt as if he were drifting, not knowing what was coming next.
“You and Sassy are my everything. You were before and I didn’t understand what that meant. I’m in this for the long haul, Rafe. But I need to know what that long haul is. We’re fucking crazy to just show up at Midnight Ink and want to start a whole life with Sassy without even talking about it with her first, but that’s what we did. We made the big moment rather than waiting for something to happen.”
Rafe turned his head to kiss Ian’s palm. “I know. In retrospect, we could have gone about it a bit differently.”
Ian grinned. “You don’t say. It’s been two months since we came back and tried to make this work and I’m not going anywhere. You’ve got to believe that or everything I’m doing isn’t enough, Rafe.”
“Jesus, I’m a fucking asshole.”
Ian grinned. “Yeah, you are, but I love you.”
“I love you too, Ian.”
Ian lowered his head and captured his lips in a fierce kiss. When he pulled away he leaned his forehead against Rafe’s. “We’re taking this slow, Rafe.” He snorted. “Well, as slow as we can since we’re all already sleeping together.”
Rafe grinned. “Well, we did have a past, so it’s not that slow.”
“I’m putting everything out there, Rafe. I’m in. I know you are, too, or you wouldn’t be so scared of what could happen if I didn’t.”
“I know that. I do. I just had a panic attack or some shit.”
“If you don’t trust me, it’s gonna make it fucking hard to move on. I know I deserve it in some respects, but I’m here. And I hope to God Sassy is too.”
Rafe closed his eyes. “We have to give her the same benefit of the doubt we’re giving each other.”
“I know. We are. But you’ll notice that while the two of us have said we loved each other, and Sassy as well, she hasn’t said the words.” The pain in Ian’s eyes was too hard to take, and Rafe kissed him softly.
“It crossed my mind.”
Ian pulled back and shook his head. “Look at us. It’s been two fucking months of dating, the best sex of our lives and connecting in a way that means something and we’re harping on the fact that she hasn’t said she loves us.”
“The words matter with Sassy.”
“And that’s what hurts so fucking much because I don’t kno
w if she’ll ever say them. It’s so much easier to go back to what she was doing before we came back rather than face the trials we’re going to go through once the world finds out.”
Ian wasn’t being self-centered with that fear. He worked in a very public arena, and people had already been commenting that he was dating a secret woman named Sassy. It was only a matter of time before they found out about Rafe…and who Sassy was. They weren’t hiding it in fear that they’d hurt each other. In doing so though, they’d allowed a new set of problems to creep up. They would deal with those problems, and Rafe knew it would be worth it.
He just prayed Sassy would feel the same.
“I’m not going to push her to say anything she doesn’t mean…or if she does mean it, but isn’t ready to admit to us, or even herself,” Ian said.
“What do you want out of this?” Rafe asked. He knew what he wanted—the whole damn thing, vows, babies, and a way for the three of them to work and live together. The world could fuck itself for its views on what was right or wrong. They weren’t hurting anyone with what they had, and everyone else could just get over it.
Easier said than done, but if Rafe’s family was fine with it, that was their greatest hurdle. Ian could give a flying fuck about his parents, Sassy the same. Her true family at Midnight Ink was fine with ménages considering there was a triad at the shop already.
Ian ran his thumb over Rafe’s cheek. “I want everything, Rafe. I want it all. Just like you. It doesn’t mean I deserve it, but I want it. I don’t know how it will work beyond what we can do as the three of us work together, but we will find a way.”
“In terms of the three of us, it’s just more communication if you think about it.”
Ian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we’re not the greatest at that.”
“Plus more sex since there are three of us.”
Ian threw his head back and laughed—one of the sexiest things ever in Rafe’s opinion. “There is that. And we’re pretty fucking great at it.”
Ian pulled him close and Rafe rested his head on his shoulder. They stood there for a while in silence, their bodies swaying to a beat only they could hear.