by Wendi Zwaduk
His heart beat for Steve, but having the both of them in his arms…he felt complete.
Her hair tickled Ronan’s arm. He broke the kiss with Steve and cradled Trista to his chest. “We should head into the bathroom if we’re going to shower.” He walked the three of them into the room adjacent to the bedroom.
Steve untangled first and made her way to the shower stall. He twisted the knob, turning on the water. “Good thing we had the rain installed.”
“Rain?” Trista’s gaze vacillated between them.
“New shower head.” Ronan opened the fly of her jeans. He eased the tight denim past her hips. “When you’re in the stall, it feels like you’re standing in the middle of a rainstorm.”
“Ooh.” She shivered and grasped his shoulders.
Ronan removed her riding boots, then her jeans, socks and panties. The sweet smell of her arousal filled his nose. He’d tasted her juices. Soon he’d be balls deep in her cunt once more. He slid his middle finger between her nether lips.
He nodded to Steve. “Climb in,” Ronan instructed. “Don’t want to waste water.”
“Wouldn’t want that,” Steve replied, a smirk on his lips. He twined his fingers around Trista’s wrist and helped her beneath the spray.
Good thing he’d built the shower for more than two people. Ronan hefted his shirt up over his head. The farmhouse had been built over a hundred years before, but the open layout suited his purposes to a tee. The master suite took up nearly the whole second floor. When he and Steve had renovated, he insisted on lining the shower stall with granite tiles, and a bench along the far wall. He stepped out of his pants. The bench would be mighty handy tonight.
When he joined Steven and Trista, his partners were already soaped and glistening. “You started without me.”
“A small head start.” Trista shrugged.
A dollop of soap slipped down her shoulder and over her breast. She reminded him of a shimmering goddess. Steve shook his head, sending droplets of water from his hair onto the shower walls. The man embodied the looks of a god. Where the hell did he fit into this twosome? He wasn’t good looking—not by a long stretch. His time with the horses showed in the various scars on his body. The divot above his right eye marred his brow. He wore his hair to cover the mark, but the memory remained. Would the painful past he shared with Trista come to mind and ruin things?
“Come here, stud,” Trista purred. “We want to show our appreciation.”
She and Steve knelt at Ronan’s feet. Both gazed up at him.
Ronan threaded his fingers into Steve’s hair then massaged the top of Trista’s head. His demons and self-doubt could wait. He had the people he cherished wanting to please him. “Appreciate away,” he murmured. “As long as you’d like.”
Chapter Four
Trista and Steve massaged Ronan’s aching muscles beneath the heated spray of water. Ronan braced his shoulders against the wall. He couldn’t have asked for more.
Except maybe Steve’s mouth on his dick.
Steve lathered a washcloth then rubbed the bubbly soap over Ronan’s lower belly. He took care to scrub Ronan’s aching dick and balls. Ronan’s skin tingled. The sensual touch turned him on and made him crave more.
He stood silent as Trista and Steve rinsed his body. Instead of a playful shower, the steam between the three of them matched the warmth billowing from the water. Trista licked her lips then kissed Ronan’s upper thigh. She wrapped her fingers around his erection.
The gentle pressure spiked the temperature in Ronan’s body. He gripped her hair. “Suck me.”
“I will.” She smiled up at him.
First, her breath fanned over the length of his dick. When she reached the bulbous head of his cock, she flicked her tongue. The soft velvet of her mouth resonated to his core. She sucked him into her wet heat.
Ronan couldn’t think. He closed his eyes and groaned. He’d forgotten how she felt when she gave him oral sex. Trista scraped him with her teeth then moved to his balls. She curled her tongue along his sac and hummed.
“Holy shit,” he murmured and opened his eyes. Ronan glanced down at her, entranced by her.
Trista attended to Ronan’s testicles and Steve flattened his tongue along the bottom side of Ronan’s erection.
Another groan ripped from Ronan’s throat. He’d been in his share of ménages, but nothing compared to Trista and Steve. The two worked in perfect harmony. When one took a break from sucking his dick, the other swooped in to keep Ronan hard.
Steve nibbled on one side of Ronan’s cock and Trista kissed his dick, too.
“Touch each other,” Ronan coaxed. He couldn’t have all of the fun. Besides, seeing the two of them between his legs turned him on and on.
Trista rested on one knee and slid her right hand between Steve’s legs. She pumped her fingers on his dick in time with bobbing her head on Ronan’s shaft.
“Fuck,” Steve moaned. He tipped his head backwards. “That feels like fucking heaven.”
“Come here.” Ronan grabbed Steve’s hand and hoisted him to his feet. He wrapped his arm around his lover. No delicacy, just raw passion. Ronan captured Steve’s mouth in a kiss. “I love you,” he said then feathered more kisses over Steve’s face.
“Love you, too.”
Together, Ronan and Steve gazed down at Trista. She pumped Steve’s dick in one hand and used the other to assist her as she sucked on Ronan’s cock.
Ronan shivered. The taste of Steve’s kiss lingered on his lips. He needed to come. Sweet Jesus, he needed to come.
“Suck me into that pretty mouth,” Ronan grunted. “Oh fuck.” He pumped his hips and clutched a hank of her hair in his hand. At the same time, Steve pinched Ronan’s nipples, adding a new dimension of desire.
Steve growled. “Keep your hand on me.” He moved his torso in time with Ronan’s. “Gotta…come.” He doubled over and his seed spurted in a thick rope onto Trista’s shoulder. “Oh shit.”
Seeing his lover come apart was the last nudge Ronan needed to reach orgasm. He buried Trista’s nose in his pubic hairs and came. His sperm shot down her throat and he shuddered. He’d orgasmed hard plenty of times before, this time was different.
Ronan groaned. His now limp dick slipped from between her lips. He wobbled into the bedroom then sat down hard on the bed. He gasped for breath. “Damn.”
“Yeah, damn.” Steve climbed onto the mattress beside Ronan and planted a kiss on his lips. “We’ve got to do that so many more times.” He reached for Trista. “Join us?”
She sat on the floor at the foot of the bed and didn’t move. Didn’t she believe them? Didn’t she want to be with them? Did she want Chad instead? She hated Chad. Christ, he had too many irrational thoughts in his head. Ronan settled against Steve, finding solace in his lover’s warmth.
Trista shrugged then crawled into Steve’s embrace. She didn’t say a word as she cuddled to his side.
“One big, happy family.” Steve grasped Ronan’s hand and leaned against Trista. “Everything we want.”
The words sounded perfect. The concept suited Ronan, but He still felt uneasy. He pushed the doubt down deep in his gut. She wasn’t a prized horse they were buying. Trista was the other half of the love of his life. As soon as he came to terms with accepting what he wanted, he’d be fine. Perfect. But did he deserve perfect? He’d walked away from her. He’d broken her heart. He craved the both of them. He’d figure himself out—later.
Steve blew out a long breath. He and Ronan had plenty of sex, but the marathon session with Trista had him just about worn out—and they weren’t to the big show yet! He loved every moment of their time together. Hell, he loved both Trista and Ronan. He never thought he’d be able to think those words together. Trista should’ve been a faded memory and Ronan was about to become his husband. The threesome shouldn’t work out and yet it felt right.
Ronan disengaged from Trista and sat up. The bones in his back stuck out in the moonlight. He hunched over, both hands on his he
ad then tugged his boxer shorts up past his hips. When he stood then left the room, Steve untangled from Trista and stepped into a pair of boxer shorts from the dresser. He followed his lover down the stairs and through the house to the main living space on the first floor.
“Hey you.” Steve eased up behind Ronan. “You left.”
“I did.” He placed his hands on Steve’s. “You know I love you, right?”
“Absolutely.” Steve rested his chin on Ronan’s shoulder. “And I love you.”
“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
“What?” Steve let go of him and strode around Ronan. He didn’t understand Ronan. He’d heard the words and knew what they meant, but nothing made sense. They were good together. Adding Trista to the mix sweetened the dish. Besides, bringing her into their bed was Ronan’s idea.
“I’m…I’m not sure.” Ronan lowered his gaze.
“Not sure what’s not a good idea? Not sure you want to continue? What? You can’t leave me hanging like this and not say a Goddamned word.” Steve fought to keep his temper at bay. “I don’t understand.”
“I’m not sure we’ll get through this unscathed.” Ronan, his normally stoic man, bowed his head and clasped his hands.
“Unscathed?” Steve snapped. “This has to do with Trista, doesn’t it?” He hoped like hell she wouldn’t hear them talking. “You wanted to do this. You said we’d have a good time. You don’t waffle, but you sure are now. What the fuck is going on?” He never should’ve taken the heavy-handed approach, but shit. Ronan was the stronger of the two. “Explain everything.”
“Do we have to do this in our underwear?”
“Yes,” Steve growled. “We do.”
“Steve.”
“You’re not the one who waffles. That’s my job. If something is bothering you then we need to discuss it. I’m your partner, not your enemy. I care about you and need to know what the deal is.”
Ronan sat on the arm of the overstuffed chair. He rested his elbows on his knees and bowed his head. The moonlight through the picture window threw odd shadows across his body.
“She’s in love with you. Still,” Ronan said, finally.
“So? She loves you, too.”
“Not the same way she cares about you.” Ronan looked up at Steve. “I can tell. When Trista is around you, she glows. She’s radiant. When the three of us are together, you and she become this little team. She complements you and I end up being the third wheel.”
“Fifth wheel, and you’re not.” Steve stared at his boyfriend. Ronan’s gruffness made sense, though. He battled to include her when he wasn’t sure how he felt. He wanted to be with her but needed her to want him in the same way. Steve patted the cushion of the chair then sat. “Come here.”
“I’m already beside you.”
“There’s the Ronan I know and love.” He tapped his thighs. “Please?”
Ronan tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, then scooted onto Steve’s lap. He groaned. “I’m not weak, you know.”
“Never said you were.” He ensnared Ronan in his embrace. “You’re so strong. You make the decision and stick with it. If there’s fall-out, you deal with it. Don’t question, just do. I love that about you.”
“Steve.”
“Let me finish.” He pressed his cheek to Ronan’s shoulder. “Trista is one of those decisions that felt good at the time, but you’re not sure was right. Compound the situation with me and our collective friendship and you’re thrown for a loop.”
Ronan sighed. “Pretty much.”
He’d made a breakthrough by getting Ronan to admit the truth. His heart swelled with love for his man. “Makes me fall even harder for you.”
“Why?” Ronan shifted in his seat and stared at Steve. “This whole thing is making me wimpy. I can’t think straight and I keep debating my decisions. I hate feeling this way. I need order and I need to know the outcome.”
“No one knows the outcome. Trista might decide you and I are full of shit and walk out the door.”
“Or you’ll admit you love her.”
“Do I detect jealousy?”
“Yes.” Ronan jumped up from his seat. “I’m jealous. I haven’t seen that sparkle in your eye in a long time. She shows up and everything is wonderful. Nothing makes sense.” He wiped his face with his hands. “I’m scared you’re going to realize I’m a shit and leave. I want us to get married and be together forever, but I know I’m not the forever kind of guy. I push away everything I want. I don’t want you to go, but I feel like I’m showing you the door.”
“That’s not like you.” After five years together, Steve knew Ronan pretty well. Hearing him admit to his limitations shocked him. He stood and snagged Ronan in his embrace. “Is that what happened with Trista? You freaked out and shoved her away only to realize she was someone special?”
“She’s special and I’m bisexual. She needs a more stable man than me.”
“Which is why she’s got you and me.” Steve hated being the strong one, but if it meant building up the fragile parts of Ronan’s ego, he’d be everything his lover needed. “I’m not going anywhere. The wedding will happen. If there’s an addition, then fine. If Trista decides in the morning that she’s had her fill of us, then so be it. You’ve got me for the long haul.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Yeah, but I love you too much to quit.” Steve kissed along Ronan’s temple to his mouth by way of his stubble-covered cheek. “Tell Trista how you feel. Show her you still care about her and are willing to do what she needs for this threesome to work. You said so yourself, we’re better when we’re together. Show us.”
Steve didn’t say anything else in order to give his lover space. His pep talk could be the nudge Ronan needed or a shove in the wrong direction.
Ronan straightened and wrapped his hand around the base of Steve’s skull. He massaged the soft spot at the top of Steve’s neck. “You’re right.”
“About?” Steve toyed with the thin patch of hairs between Ronan’s pecs. He didn’t care about the scars or Ronan’s demons. He loved his man too much to let the little things get in their way. But he also needed to understand Ronan.
“Splitting with Trista was the right thing to do. She led me to you and you showed me being different is what I need. I kept telling myself that tying another one on and making our twosome a threesome was wrong. I was the one who was wrong.” Ronan nodded then kissed Steve on the lips. His eyes twinkled in the low light. “Let’s make our girl truly ours.”
There was the man he’d fallen in love with. Steve tugged lightly on Ronan’s chest hair. He’d follow his boyfriend anywhere—especially if Trista was involved. “Absolutely.”
Chapter Five
Trista counted the swirls on the ceiling. She’d heard every word between Ronan and Steve. Well, all of the words they’d said loud enough for anyone within a mile radius to hear. They weren’t sure about her. Ronan saw her as the other woman. Steve wanted them to form a permanent triad. Knowing she’d hurt Ronan’s feelings cut her to the marrow. She’d loved him even when he’d dumped her. Now she understood why he acted like an asshole. Was he still trying to protect her? Did she want him to? Chad wasn’t a great guy, but he wasn’t a threat. Hell, he was in the past.
The sound of their voices grew louder as the men headed back to the bedroom. She weighed her options. She could pretend she’d been asleep and hadn’t heard anything—except the knowledge would eat her alive. She could confront them and risk the friendship. But screwing around with them changed their platonic relationship to something more. She clutched the sheet.
“Guys, I get it. This was a one time—well, two-time thing.” She scooted to the side of the bed and covered her nude body with the sheet. “I’m okay with it. Really.”
“Tris—wait.” Steve stopped her.
His eyebrows knotted. She knew that look—the I’ve-got-to-let-her-down-easy look.
“It’s fine. Really.” She needed to find her clothes. Trista wri
ggled from his grasp and stood. “You two belong together. I’m the ex that should’ve taken the high road and left you alone.”
“No. You’re not.” Ronan snagged her in his embrace. He pinned her between his body and Steve’s legs. Instead of hiding or averting his gaze, he stared into her eyes. “I’m in love with Steve, yes. He and I are going to get married. It won’t be legal since Ohio doesn’t accept us yet, but we will. But that doesn’t mean you’re going to be left out.”
She shook her head. “I’m not going to marry you.” She wasn’t sure where that line of thinking came from. “I mean, I’m not going to be anyone’s beard.”
“Beard?” Ronan caged her in his arms and walked her to the bed. He didn’t sit, just pressed his body to her hip. “Trista, we want you to be our third. I’m shitty at explaining my feelings. Passion is a fucked up thing for me. I freak out when I tell someone the truth, especially when I know they won’t like it. Most people can’t handle my asshole attitude. You were different. I lied to you about who I was and proved I shouldn’t be trusted, but you did trust me. You and Steve made me realize I didn’t need to hide. I’m sure as hell going to do whatever it takes to keep you in our arms and away from a jerk like Chad. You’re ours.”
Trista toyed with his fingers. She wasn’t sure what to say. Their friendship happened because she couldn’t let go of the men she cared about. Hearing Ronan pour out his heart shocked her. He truly didn’t talk about his emotions. The more he talked, the more she cared about him.
“Being with Steve is good. The best. But we both knew something was missing.” Ronan squeezed her tight. “You.”
“Me?”
“Yeah, sweetheart.” Steve stood and eased up beside her on the other side. “You’re the glue holding us together.”
“I thought it was cum.” Okay, so that was a horrible joke, but what else could she say?