Party of Three
By Daire St. Denis
Determined to end a long dry spell, Tina is thwarted by her best friend, Des, who scares off the only eligible guy at their party. But Des more than makes up for it when she and her boyfriend, Josh, invite Tina to their own intimate celebration. The encounter awakens cravings Tina didn’t even know she had. She’s intrigued when the couple asks her to join them for two days of sun, sand and steamy sex in Santa Barbara. She should say no. But she doesn’t…
The erotic weekend is beyond amazing. But there’s something deeper developing between the trio—something Tina is not yet ready to explore. After all, their party of three can’t last forever—can it?
43,000 words
Dear Reader,
I love May. In my part of the world, May is the beginning of two things: beach season and festival season. Granted, beach season is just barely starting in May, but it’s still starting. And with the unseasonably warm winter we’re having, perhaps it won’t be too cold for the beach, even in early May. As for the festivals, well, in my area we’re spoiled for choice. From April to October we have everything from BBQ and beach festivals, to apple, strawberry and watermelon festivals—even a river festival. It seems like every week there’s something new to look forward to!
But if festivals don’t interest you it doesn’t mean you can’t have something to look forward to as well. Each week in May we showcase a variety of new Carina Press titles.
This month we’re proud to present debut author Cynthia Justlin’s compelling novel Edge of Light. A true spine-tingling and thrilling romantic suspense, this is one that will have you on the edge of your seat and wondering where this author has been! Get ready for a fantastic read.
Kicking off May, we have Brook Street: Rogues by Ava March, which finishes up her fantastic male/male historical novella trilogy. Releasing along with Ava is paranormal romantic suspense author Alexia Reed and her novel Hunting the Shadows.
Later in May are three historical romances joining the Carina Press lineup. From Jennifer Bray-Weber comes a swashbuckling pirate adventure, The Siren’s Song. Alyssa Everett gives us a charming and passionate Regency romance in Ruined by Rumor. The White Swan Affair by Elyse Mady is the third of our historical romance offerings this month.
Not quite historical romance but in the historical period comes Christine Bell’s new steampunk romance The Bewitching Tale of Stormy Gale. Join Christine as she takes you on a romantic adventure through time.
Two erotic romance books are sure to satisfy those craving a slightly naughtier story. Check out Let Me In by Callie Croix, a hot BDSM novella, and Daire St. Denis’s erotic ménage romance Party of Three.
Rounding out the month of May are releases from two returning Carina Press authors. Guarding Jess by Shannon Curtis is the next novel in her McCormack Security Agency series and the follow-up to her debut title, Viper’s Kiss. Rebecca Rogers Maher offers up a satisfying and emotional, yet sexy, read in her contemporary romance novella Snowbound with a Stranger.
I hope you enjoy this month’s new releases as much as we’ve enjoyed bringing them to you.
We love to hear from readers, and you can email us your thoughts, comments and questions to [email protected]. You can also interact with Carina Press staff and authors on our blog, Twitter stream and Facebook fan page.
Happy reading!
~Angela James
Executive Editor, Carina Press
www.carinapress.com
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Dedication
To Peggy Sue, for reading nearly every word I’ve ever written. Thank you.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
About the Author
Copyright
Chapter One
It was Halloween night and my roommate and best friend, Desi, and I were throwing a Halloween party. It was the best damn Halloween party of the century.
“Great party, Tina.”
“Thanks.” I glanced at Kenton and laughed. He was a big man, standing well over six feet, and looked completely ridiculous wrapped in cellophane with a clear inner tube around his knees. The inner tube had him hobbling around like a penguin and on his head, covering his thick blond hair, was an enormous clear, deflated balloon filled with milk. He was a condom. A used one. And he’d been following me around.
“Stop following me.”
“You’re Little Bo Peep. I have to follow you.”
“That makes no sense.”
“Sure it does.” Kenton grinned as he wiped a trickle of milk from his brow before it dripped onto his cheek. “You’re a sheepherder, and I’m a sheepskin.”
“You’re sick.”
“And you love me.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You want me.”
“I’m an innocent sheepherder, sir. I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I feigned coyness as I fingered the lace on the scooped neck of my white bodice, enjoying the act of flirting for the first time in a long time.
“Show me your tuffet, and I’ll change that for you right now.” His voice was low. Dangerous. His eyes took on an unholy gleam as he rubbed his square jaw.
“I’m not Miss Muffet and a tuffet is a stool.”
“If it’s got a hole in it, we’re in business.” Kenton sidled up to face me and gently removed my hand from where it lingered on my exposed flesh. He replaced my hand with his and deftly outlined the tight bodice of my costume, exploring the curve of my breasts where they spilled over the lace.
Somehow he managed to slip a hand down the front of my bodice and grazed my hardened nipple. My flesh burned with his touch and I gasped in surprise. It had been too long.
“Kenton,” I breathed. “Let’s not.”
“How about, ‘let’s.’” He bent down to my level and brushed his lips against my chin and then tilted my head back so he could lick the length of my throat. It felt wonderful. His tongue lapping at me, nibbling, his hot breath in my ear, his hand in my bodice.
God. He was making me…wet.
“Hey. You’re leaking all over me.”
He stood and grinned as milk ran down his face. “Sorry about that.” But his hand had slipped down to my wrist, and he held it tight, pulling me closer.
“Kenton!” Just then my roommate, Cleopatra, appeared. Her face was flushed, her eyes flashing. “Take your grimy hands off Tina.”
“Hey, Desiree,” Kenton said, taking his time removing his hand from my bodice. “Long time no see.”
“Not long enough,” Des said through gritted teeth. “Who invited you?”
“I did,” I interjected, confused by the way Desi was acting. Everyone knew Kenton; he was the ultimate party host throwing huge bashes at least once a month. While I’d never attended one of his soirees, I knew Des had been to at least a few.
“I want you to leave,” she said, her chin jutting out.
“Have I done something to offend you?” Kenton asked, his expression flipping from playful to serious.
Before Des could answer, a man dressed as Marc Antony appeared from the kitchen, carrying two plastic cups. He passed one to Des and slung his arm protectively around her shoulder. It was Josh, Desi’s latest.
“What’s going on?” Josh asked.
Des glanced up at Josh and then turned so that her back shut Kenton out of our little circle. “Nothing,” she said. “I was just looking for Bo Peep here. I hadn’t seen her all evening.”
I raised my brows at this statement, but Josh and Des only had eyes for each other. When I looked over my shoulder, Kenton was gone. I had no idea what just happened, why Des was mad he was there or why she didn’t confront Kenton in front of Josh.
Desi stood on tiptoe and whispered something in Josh’s ear. One side of his mouth turned up in a grin and he bent to kiss her, nice and slowly. I was starting to detect a real attachment between these two. Josh had been around longer than any other guy she’d ever been with. I liked him. He was good for Des. Sweet with her. Strong. Wouldn’t let her push him around. Good sense of humor. Josh was the full-meal deal, and I really hoped he was going to be the one to stick it out with her.
It didn’t hurt that he was seriously hot too. Any man who could make a short, white pleated skirt look as manly as he looked in his Halloween costume was a keeper. His legs and chest were bare and I couldn’t help admiring his toned body as the two of them kissed right in front me.
I didn’t even realize how hungry my gaze was as it meandered slowly up his fine form until I caught Des watching me while Josh whispered something in her ear.
Ah shit. She’d caught me ogling her boyfriend. Not cool.
Embarrassment, added to a long-standing sense of guilt, made me turn to leave but Des stopped me. “Hey, Teen, have you been out dancing yet?”
“Huh?”
“The Voodoo Dolls. They’re awesome. Come on, let’s go.”
Apparently I had no say in the matter. Des grabbed my hand and with Josh leading the way, she pulled me along through the throng of people outside to our patio, where there must have been about fifty bodies careening into one another. Makeup-plastered, toga-wearing, fang-toothed, black-clad, bare-skinned dancers moshed to a hip version of “Werewolves of London.” The lead singer of the Voodoo Dolls jumped around the temporary stage and howled “Aaa-rooooo, Werewolves of London, Aaa-rooooo…” while four other ghoulish vampires rocked it out. God. It looked like fun.
“Come on,” Des said and tugged.
I dropped my sheep’s crook and allowed myself to get pulled into the fray of nameless, faceless bodies bumping and grinding against me.
“Having fun?” Josh asked, his hands resting for a mere second on my hips.
“Mm-hmm.” I doubt he heard me over the din.
“You need to get laid,” a familiar voice whispered in my ear. It was Des. She stood so close behind me I could feel the whole length of her pressed up against me. She circled my waist with her arms so that we got knocked around together.
“What?” I yelled.
Des flipped me around so I was facing her and gave me her usual patronizing gaze, made even more potent by her Cleopatra makeup. Even though I’m older and, I’m fairly certain, wiser, her six inches of extra height gave her withering looks credence. “A decade of celibacy is way too long.”
This time I couldn’t pretend I didn’t hear her. “It hasn’t been a decade.”
“No?” Des cocked her head. “So, how long has it been?”
“I don’t know.” I knew exactly. To the day. “Three years…maybe less.”
“Really? Three years, huh? And what was the name of the last guy you slept with?”
My face grew hot. Scorching hot. Why did this topic always have to come up at the most inopportune moments? It’s not like I could tell Des who the last guy I’d slept with was. If she knew, it would ruin our friendship. Forever.
So instead of telling her the truth and instead of lying, I deflected. “If you think I should get laid,” I shouted, “you shouldn’t have chased off the only bite I’ve had all night.”
“Kenton?” Des made a face. “Don’t even think about it.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He’s a complete ass.”
“What happened?”
She shook her head, but if she responded, I didn’t hear because a couple of hard male bodies slammed into the side of me, making me stumble.
Josh caught me before I fell. “Careful.”
I was incapable of a coherent reply because his arms were around me and my hands just happened to be pressed against his oh-so-lovely bare chest.
Maybe Des was right and it had been too long because, heaven help me, the innocent contact between us had my heart beating erratically and my thoughts going in improper directions.
I struggled out of Josh’s grasp just as the song ended.
“You two stay here and dance. I’ll go get us some drinks,” Des called, moving off before I had a chance to stop her.
The band started up the opening riff for “Thriller” and the crowd went wild. I joined Josh as he moved to the beat and I soon realized what a terrific dancer he was. Not only did he have the groove but later on in the song, at the part in the video where the zombies dance in the street, Josh knew all the choreographed moves.
Most guys would have looked ridiculous doing it. Not Josh. He looked hot.
“How do you know this?” I called, breathlessly trying to keep up.
“My volleyball team performed it at a fundraiser in college.” He said it like it was something he was both proud of and a little embarrassed about.
“No shit.” I laughed as he mimicked a silly zombie face. “Does Des know about your secret life as a dancer?”
Josh came closer and said with a wink, “No, and don’t tell her. She’ll never let me live it down.”
Even though I knew he wasn’t flirting, my heart skipped a beat. For all of Josh’s many talents and good looks, he could have been an arrogant ass but he wasn’t. Damn, Des was one lucky woman.
No sooner had I thought her name than Des appeared with three plastic cups full of punch. I took mine and headed off the dance floor.
“Where are you going?” she called after me.
“Someone’s got to play hostess.”
“That’s silly. Everyone’s taking care of themselves.”
“Still, it’s my house, my party.”
“Our house. Our party,” Des corrected.
“Right. So, if you want to dance, dance. Have fun. I’ll take care of myself.” What I didn’t say was that I had to get out of there before my full-blown crush on Desi’s boyfriend became too apparent.
I spent the next few hours overseeing the party. I loved playing hostess, loved filling my home with people, loved making sure they were having a good time. It filled up some of the empty holes that had gaped ever larger inside me for the last few years. The party was a success. Apart from the police showing up and ending it at about 3:00 a.m., the only other glitch happened in our haunted house/chamber of torture, and it involved Kenton and the rack. Or, should I say it involved Kenton, a buddy of his named Gerard, a girl named Alyssa Henry and the rack.
So, Kenton liked it kinky. Was that why Des had warned me off him, why she wanted him to leave? It wasn’t like I heard any complaints from Alyssa or Gerard or any of Kenton’s other friends, for that matter.
By the time we unstrapped them, got them out of the house and then cleared up the worst of the mess, I was exhausted. I barely had the energy to wash off my makeup and was too lazy to bother with a nightie. I stripped down to my panties and crawled between the cool cotton of my sheets. When I finally closed my eyes, it was well after four. But sleep eluded me. My ears still rang with the heavy bass of the Voodoo Dolls and images flitted through my mind like a movie on fast-forward. I groaned and rolled over, attempting to get comfortable, when a knock sounded at my door.
I ignored it. I was asleep, or at least desperately trying to be.
Someone knocked again.
“Taken,” I shouted. Although most people had called cabs, a few die-hard partiers and out-of-towners had crashed on sofas and on the carpet on the main floor. Someone was probably stumbling around in a drunken stupor, looking for a more comforta
ble bed.
The door opened. “Tina?”
I immediately recognized Desi’s voice. Clutching my blanket to my bare chest, I sat up. “What do you want?”
As if my question was an invitation, Desi tiptoed into my bedroom, pulling Josh in after her. She giggled when she saw me and collapsed against Josh’s broad chest.
Des was tipsy.
“Des, go to bed.”
“We want to use your bed.”
“Mine?” I frowned. “You have your own. Good night.” I lay down and waited for them to leave. They didn’t.
The two of them stood in the dark by my door, whispering and laughing in that inebriated way that was actually loud when they meant to be quiet.
I sat up. “Go. To. Bed.”
“Okay.” Desi did a little hop and then landed on her stomach beside me. She still wore her Cleo makeup but her toga had been replaced by a lacy black teddy.
I smiled despite my annoyance. “Des.” I gave her a shove.
“Aw, come on, Teen. Your bed’s way better than mine.” She turned to Josh and waved him over. He approached cautiously and sat on the edge beside her. Her hand immediately found its way to his bare thigh and began to caress.
“I don’t care if my bed is better.” I groaned, trying in vain to avoid staring at Desi’s hand sliding up and under the short skirt of Josh’s costume. “Buy a new one.”
“Fine. I will. First thing tomorrow. But for tonight—”
“No.”
“Yours is a king.” Desi said this while Josh groaned and eased his pelvis forward as her hand jerked beneath the linen.
“I said no.”
“It’s memory foam.” Desi pushed Josh onto his back and flipped up his costume, revealing plainly—actually, quite splendidly—that he wore nothing underneath. Had he been going commando all night? Dirty boy. Dirty, dirty boy! And apparently I was a dirty girl because I couldn’t tear my eyes away from his impressive erection. His cock was thick and stiff, and I realized this was the first time I’d seen a naked man since…
I rolled away. “Sorry.” I shoved at them with my feet. “Get out. Now.”
“But your bed is a four-poster. We love four-poster.”
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