by Marie Carnay
I don’t think that’s possible. “Okay. There’s more iced tea if you’re thirsty. You should, um, tell Bruce too.”
His eyes sparkled. “I will. Thank you.”
Hank leaned back on the porch rail. “She’s interested. In me at least.”
“You came onto her?” Bruce couldn’t believe it. “So all that pessimistic talk—telling me to just build the porch—that was what? A lie?”
His partner shrugged. “I didn’t expect her to be so…everything. God, Bruce, the way she moves in that dress. All I can think about is ripping it off her.”
“You’re a bastard, you know. I bet you didn’t even mention me, did you?”
Hank pushed himself off the rail and bent to grab a hammer. “I didn’t have to. She did. And there’s plenty more iced tea if you’re thirsty.”
Bruce shook his head. Sometimes Hank still surprised him. But could he follow in his best friend’s wake? Would she just turn him down cold? Rebecca had been an accident. One night at a bar and too many drinks turned into a threesome back home that knocked everyone’s socks off. And they all had wanted more. Not just another tumble into the sheets, but a relationship. Something lasting. Until she’d had enough. Would Raven be willing? Would she see the potential in two men?
He tried to push his snowballing thoughts aside and helped Hank cut the new boards. But after a few he couldn’t stand it. And he was damn thirsty. A nod at Hank and he pushed open the sliding glass door. “Raven?”
Her voice sounded from down the hall. “In the kitchen.”
Bruce found her seconds later, bent over the open oven with a pair of potholders in her hands. She spoke without turning around. “I felt useless. So I made brownies. Hope that’s okay.”
He knew he should say something, but his gaze was locked on the round swells of her ass. Sweet and plump and turning him on. He wanted to reach out and stroke those ample curves. Slide in and grind his whole body against her. Fuck. He pinched the back of his neck as she stood up with a tray of gooey chocolate in her hands. “They smell delicious.”
“Thanks.” She shut the oven and set them on top. “It’ll be a few minutes before they’re cool.” She slipped off the potholders and turned to him. “Can I—get you anything?”
Your body. Trapped between me and Hank. “Yeah…Hank mentioned iced tea?”
She nodded. “It’s right here.” She reached up and pulled a glass down from the cabinet. “So, um, are you two business partners?”
“Friends, too. We’ve got a shop across town and we share a house back behind it.”
The iced tea pitcher paused mid-air. “So no girlfriends?”
Bruce swallowed. Would she run if he told the truth? “We were in a relationship for a long time, but Rebecca left. Said she needed the big city and a change of pace. So, no. Right now we’re single.”
Raven handed him the glass with a curious look. “I’m sorry, I don’t understand. Who’s girlfriend was she?”
Bruce took a sip of tea and grinned. “Both of ours. We like to share.”
CHAPTER TWO
RAVEN PACED BACK and forth in her kitchen. They like to share. She still couldn’t believe it. After both men had left, she’d spent the whole night and most of the next morning cleaning and unpacking and turning it all over in her mind. Two men. One woman. Just the idea sent a thrill through her. She never thought she’d be that kind of woman. To be adventurous and daring. But something about Bruce and Hank had her weak in the knees.
She closed her eyes and imagined them all over her. Kissing. Touching. Taking her places she’d never been. It was enough to make her forget all about why she’d come to Mill Creek. How she’d vowed to stay away from men. Live the single, simple life. She smoothed the skirt of her dress and glanced up in time to see the pickup truck pulling into her drive. They’d finish her porch, she’d make them dinner. If she could muster up the courage, maybe they’d do more.
She opened the front door as both men hopped out of the truck and waved. “I’ll stay out of your way, if that’s okay.”
Bruce gave her a nod. “No problem.”
Just do it. Ask them. “As a thanks for all you’ve done, how about I make dinner? You could both stay? I make a mean Alfredo.”
Then men glanced at each other and Hank spoke up. “You don’t have to make us dinner.”
She bit her lip. “If you have plans—”
Bruce held up his hand. “We don’t. Dinner sounds great. We should be done by five or so.”
She nodded and watched them walk around to the back. A few hours later and she was pulling chicken out of the fridge, turning on the stove, and digging her pans and spatulas out of the nearest box. As their hammers wailed in the background, she cooked. Easy. Delicious. Distracting.
Both men walked in as she plated the pasta.
“That smells wonderful.” Bruce wiped his brow with a handkerchief and Raven smiled.
“Thanks. I hope you don’t mind, it’s nothing fancy. Just pasta and wine and chick—” She cut herself off and frowned. “Please tell you both eat meat.”
“We do.”
Thank goodness. It’d been so long since she’d cooked for someone new, she’d forgotten to even ask. She turned to the dining room and winced. And also forgot to plan. “You know what? I don’t even know where my chairs are.”
Hank motioned out back. “The porch is done. We could sit out there.”
“Great.” She handed each man a steaming plate, grabbed the wine, and smiled. “Lead the way.”
The rest of the evening sped by in a blur. Eating. Talking. Enjoying each other’s company. Raven hadn’t laughed and relaxed like that in months.
She should be satisfied. Two handsome men, good food, and porch she couldn’t fall through. But she couldn’t stop replaying Bruce’s comment in her head. We like to share. Two men and one woman. What would it be like to date two men? Sleep with two men? Be bold, Raven. Just ask it. With a swallow of wine, she turned to Hank. “So, this is way too nosy, but I have to know. How does the whole sharing thing work?”
Hank glanced at Bruce and the man shrugged. “I might have mentioned something.”
“Figures. Pretty women always make you nervous.” Hank dodged the wadded up napkin Bruce launched his way and turned back to Raven. “You probably won’t believe me, but it’s easy. We get a sexy woman and she gets double the attention.”
Raven blushed. He can’t be talking about me. “Like your ex?”
“Sort of. We kind of fell into it all with Rebecca. We both liked her, went out on a few dates and one night we all ended up together. After that, the relationship just…evolved. We became a unit. And it worked.”
“Until she left.” Bruce shifted on the deck and swatted at a bug.
“I’m sorry.” Raven knew how breakups left a mark, even when they were your own idea. But Bruce dismissed her concerns with a wave of his hand.
“Don’t be sorry. If she hadn’t moved on, we wouldn’t be here.” He stretched out his legs and leaned back on his palms. “So, Raven, why move way out here to the edge of Mill Creek? It’s not like we’re a hot new travel spot.”
Raven glanced away. They’d both been so open and honest. Telling her stories about their childhood in rural Washington. How they’d built their carpentry business one client at a time and never once wanted big city life. She could tell by the way each man talked that they were gentle and caring. Decent. All the things Greg was not. Dredging him up wouldn’t do any good. “I don’t see how that matters.”
Bruce angled his body toward hers and reached out. His fingers brushed a bit of hair off her face. It was intimate and bold and Raven pressed her lips together.
“You can trust us. If you didn’t come here to be with someone, then you’ve come here to get away. Whoever it is? It’s not us. We’re not those kinds of guys.”
She ran he fingers over the new wood, tracing the vibrant grain. “I don’t know what kind of guys you are.”
“Then how abou
t you get to know us?”
Raven swallowed. “Why do you want me to?”
“Because you’re beautiful and sexy and genuine. And neither one of us can stop thinking about you.”
Before she could respond, Hank gave her shoulder a nudge. “And you’re named after a bird. That has to count for something.”
A tiny laugh slipped past her lips and the tension broke. “You told him to tease me on purpose, didn’t you?”
Bruce grinned, but Hank answered. “It’s a lovely name.”
“Thanks.” Raven pushed herself up to stand and held out her hand for their empty plates. Both men stood up and handed them over. “Ready to head in?”
“We’re ready for anything.”
Raven turned around before either man could see her blush. Just walk. Through the doorway and into the kitchen. One foot in front of the other. She put the dishes in the sink and leaned on the counter to steady her nerves. All she wanted to do was turn around, grab the closest one and drag his lips down to hers. Forget all about her insecurities and worries. The nagging fear. Everything except the weight of their bodies pressed against her. The heat of their union.
She bit her lip and spun around. “Are you really saying you both want me?”
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t.” Bruce strode toward her and took her by the arms. His body pressed into hers and he tilted his head and—Sweet Jesus. The man could kiss. Lips so determined and fierce, pressing into hers, demanding her acceptance and submission. Wow. She’d forgotten what passion meant. Greg never kissed her like that.
A moan slipped from her lips and Bruce gripped her harder. Bodies crushing against bodies. Day old stubble scraping her cheeks and chin. All the power and passion she’d been wanting, but denying herself. She moaned louder and reached for him, but found Hank instead.
Hank grabbed her by the hands and tugged her away from the counter as Bruce deepened his kiss. He slipped behind her, running his thick fingers up and down her sides, cupping her ass. Squeezing. She stuck her butt out and ground against him. Shameless. Fevered.
Raven had thought two men would be overwhelming and awkward. Not a chance. Hank tore his hands over her body, dipping beneath the fabric of her dress, teasing her naked thighs with rough calluses and smooth fingertips.
Bruce slipped his hands into her hair, tugging her face closer. Harder. Her breasts pressed against his chest and her nipples hardened. She burned.
Oh, God. He tasted like wine and sex and everything she’d meant to ignore. But every lap of his tongue and every squeeze of Hank’s hands broke down her resolve. She wanted them. Right there in the middle of the kitchen. Doubts be damned.
All too soon they were pulling away. Bruce pinched the back of his neck and Hank grumbled a curse.
“I’m sorry, Raven. I—we—shouldn’t have done that.”
She frowned at Bruce. “W—why not?”
“Because pretty soon none of us are going to be able to stop.”
“Maybe I don’t want you to.”
Bruce stepped back. “Don’t say that unless you mean it.”
“I do. I mean it.”
He wanted to believe her. But she barely answered any questions about herself. Did she have a husband? A boyfriend? Someone back home who missed her? He knew she was running, but what the hell from? He glanced up at Hank and went with his gut. “I don’t want tonight to be a regret. Something you have to explain to someone later.”
“I won’t. There isn’t anyone else anymore. It’s just me.”
Hank stepped out from behind her and gave her a small smile. “Neither one of us want to be a rebound, Raven. After Rebecca, I never thought I’d find a woman willing to go down this road. It’s okay to turn us down. I mean, I’ll be crushed, but…”
She laughed and shook her head. “Okay. Fine. I left Seattle because of my ex. He’s no good for me. But it’s over. It had been for a long time. I just finally got up the courage to leave."
Bruce stepped forward. “So no cold feet in the morning?”
Raven held up her hands. “Hey, I didn’t say that. Two men…who both want me? It’s crazy. But if I do wake up in a panic, it won’t be because of another guy. Greg and I are done. No matter what. He’s finally not my problem anymore and he’s definitely not yours.”
Hank puffed out his chest. “If he ever gives you any trouble, I’d be happy to make him my problem.”
She smirked. “Am I supposed to think that’s sexy?”
“You can think whatever you want, honey. But I’m done talking.”
Leave it to Hank to get it all back on track. That man was all business, all the time. Hank slid up and took Raven by the arms. “It’s no fair Bruce got to kiss you.”
“And it’s no fair he got to run his hands all over that amazing ass.” Bruce stepped behind her and pressed his body against her backside. Mmm. Plump and round and plenty of it. Just what he liked. As Hank kissed her, Bruce explored—running his hands up and down, squeezing and caressing every inch of Raven’s body.
The fabric slinked up her sides higher and higher and he groaned. Miles of tanned, gorgeous skin. Acres of softness he could squeeze all night. With rough hands, he grabbed her naked thighs, plumping her flesh and rubbing against her. His erection strained against his jeans—the hard shaft pressing against the buttons and driving him insane. Bruce wanted to yank her panties off and take her right there. But then they’d never have another time.
As dug his fingers into her sides, she pressed back against him, stroking his cock with every roll of her hips. She moaned and thrashed between both men and Hank reached up to fondle her breasts. Huge and round and barely contained beneath her dress, Bruce couldn’t wait to touch them himself. But tonight was all about Raven. Her needs. Her desire.
Bruce tore down her body, hands and lips leaving a trail of heat until he reached her ass. He grabbed her panties—black and skimpy and made for taking off—and he tugged. They fell to the floor in a heap. Mmm. Yes. Ever since she’d opened the door the day before, he’d wanted to taste her. Dive between her legs and lap at her sweet juices until she cried out.
Nudging her legs wider with his shoulders, he slipped between her legs, turning around beneath her until his head lined up with her slick mound. With wide eyes, he leaned in and licked. Slow and broad across her swollen lips. She bucked into him, pumping her hips and shoving her clit against his tongue as Hank leaned against Bruce’s back. Perfect.
He’d missed this. A woman so eager and welcoming. Letting two men pleasure her with no hint of shame or embarrassment. Maybe she could be what they wanted. Needed. With his best friend kissing her senseless and Bruce nestled between her legs, Raven let out a garbled groan. That’s it. Bruce picked up speed, lolling her clit around his tongue and flicking it back and forth inside its little hood.
Raven shook and trembled with every lap and stroke. Her pussy so swollen and wet, he knew she was close. As she slid her legs wider, Bruce added his hand, slipping first one and then a second finger inside her. Her muscles clenched around him and she exploded. Body shaking, voice cracking. Her orgasm rocked her forward into Hank’s arms and Bruce clambered out from beneath her.
“Oh my god. I can’t—I don’t—” She stammered as Bruce slipped her panties back over her feet and up her legs.
“I take it that’s good?”
She giggled and bobbed her head. “Yes. So good. Wow.”
Too bad they couldn’t stay. Bruce stepped back and gave Hank a nod. It was time to go. He turned to Raven. “We should go.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Hank smiled. “We’re not being silly. We’re being smart.”
Raven frowned. “No! You can’t leave.” She tugged on his hand and motioned down the hall. “My bedroom’s kind of a disaster, but it’s got a bed and…” She trailed off and stared.
As much as Bruce wanted to take her hand and follow her down the hall, he knew they shouldn’t. Raven was worth a hell of a lot more than a one night
stand. And she needed to know it. “We’re leaving because of how much we want you, Raven. Not the other way around.”
“I don’t understand.” Her confused gaze flipped back and forth between the two men.
Hank filled the silence. “I said it before, Raven. We’re long-haul guys. I left one-night stands behind me a long time ago. You’re different. Special. I really think we could have something here and the last thing either of us wants is regret.” He stepped forward and ran his fingers over her cheek. “Go to bed and think about us. If this is still something you want to explore tomorrow, we’re a phone call away.”
Her pout deepened and all Bruce wanted to do was kiss it away.
“That’s not fair!”
Hank shrugged. “Sorry? Besides we both stink like a pair of sweaty carpenters.”
“And I’ve got sawdust in places it shouldn’t be.”
Raven laughed and Bruce took her hand.
He tugged her towards him and kissed her lips. Slow and deep. He lingered, sucking on her lower lip until she whimpered. “Just one night, Raven. Think about it for just one night. If you still want us tomorrow, we’ll be here. All it takes is one call.”
“Fine.” She stepped back and crossed her arms. “But only because of the sawdust. That stuff gets everywhere.”
Bruce laughed and Hank joined in as they both headed toward the front entrance. After they’d both climbed in the truck and shut the doors, Bruce groaned. “Are you sure we did the right thing? Leaving her like that?"
Hank started the engine and the old truck rumbled to life. “My dick sure doesn’t think so. But I knew if we didn’t leave right then, I’d never want to. She’s perfect.”
“Tell me about it.” Bruce leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. The way her body melted into his, the way each kiss brought out whimpers and moans. The way she accepted them both so naturally. Chatting and laughing and giving each of them attention. Just like Rebecca. Better. He hoped to hell in the morning Raven still felt the same way.