Beneath the Vine

by Lillian Bryant

  I felt dizzy. The heat between my legs seared through me. I couldn’t lie to myself. I wanted this. Gage was beautiful, dark, and I’d wanted him, too. If Gage had been the one to pursue me that first night, instead of Bennett, for all I knew, it could have been Gage I’d been spending my nights with. Both these men had something to offer me: Bennett was the future I wanted, and Gage was the mystery I wanted to unravel. The idea of being with both of them… I shouldn’t want this. In the real world, it was wrong. It had heartbreak written all over it, but my heart — my body — was dying for it. The idea of Gage’s and Bennett’s hands on me, my skin pressed against theirs… it would be so overwhelming. They would push me past all my restraints. My lips parted into a small smile and Bennett’s eyes fell to my mouth, and he knew then, he had me… they both did.

  “What time tomorrow should I be here?” I asked, my voice was strong, my choice was made.

  “I’ll really make you dinner this time, so seven.” He gave me a crooked grin. “I’d like you to stay the night tomorrow. Is that possible?”

  “Yes, I’m off work for a few days.”

  He took a strand of my hair between his thumb and forefinger. “Good. You’ll need the rest.”

  His statement made me hot and anxious at the same time. “I’m nervous.” I brought my lips to his and kissed him with a tender mouth as I ground my hips down onto his hard length, and he groaned. I needed to soothe the ache he’d created.

  “Don’t be.” He lifted me as he stood. I wrapped my legs around his waist, and my arms draped around his neck as he walked us to his bedroom. His mouth found mine again. I wasn’t sure what tomorrow would hold. The excited, nervous feeling that was building, for the moment, could be silenced. I’d just focus on how amazing he was making me feel right now. I had two gorgeous men that both wanted me. What was there to worry about?

  “Everything.” He hadn’t heard me speak. It was just a whisper against the curve of Bennett’s neck as he laid me down onto the bed.

  This was the hardest part of my job. Dealing with the local law enforcement, contacting the state FBI agent, discussing plans with men I didn’t trust and had no desire to even have a drink with after a hard day. However, my boss called today and fucking reamed me for not dialing in with the state feds. They knew I was here, and I didn’t feel the need to make contact just yet. But, here I sat, in this stuffy as fuck office, listening to the head of the Organized Crime Division telling me how to do my goddamn job. Prick.

  His suit was too tight; the skin of his neck spilled over his collar. He was in good physical condition, but he struck me as the type that preferred his suits overly starched. Anal and not in the good way. No, this guy looked like he needed to get laid. His hair gelled and combed over. I almost felt sorry for him, almost, until he started talking about Bennett.

  “Well?” he asked in an irritated tone.

  “I don’t have much. I know for a fact the Bartolie’s are getting product from the Sanchez cartel. How they’re shipping it over state lines, getting the coke to L.A., isn’t clear yet.” It wasn’t the full truth. I knew more than I was ready to divulge, but I was still trying to figure a way to keep Bennett out of prison and uphold the law.

  “Is your relationship with Monterosso going to be a problem?” He narrowed his eyes, making it clear he thought it was a problem. It pissed me off that he knew Bennett meant something to me. He was smart, though, and this case was too big.

  “Monterosso is involved. Our past friendship has nothing to do with Bartolie and Sanchez, they’re the fucking criminals. I’ll figure out what the hell he’s gotten himself into. He trusts me. Don’t fucking doubt me, Schmitt, don’t fucking assume—”

  “Calm the hell down, agent. Watch your mouth. Get the intel, Calibri, and if I find out that you’re hiding anything, I’ll get you taken off this case, charge you with obstruction of justice… You shouldn’t even—”

  “I’m damn good at my job. I don’t let personal shit get in the way. So keep your goddamn judgment to yourself.” I stood abruptly. “Or I’ll ask to be relocated. Good luck with the months of undercover work you’ll need to do to get close to Bartolie again, and by that time, who knows, they might have moved on.”

  “I was just trying to say—”

  “Don’t ever fucking threaten me.” My voice was a low growl. “I’ll get what you need. Hold off your men for now. We’ll take those Colombian fucks down, and the Bartolie family, just give me the time you’d allot any other fucking agent.”

  He nodded. “Fine, just check in.”

  “I will.” I turned and walked out of his office, down the hall, through the front doors and, just as I hit the last step, just before the sidewalk, I grabbed the handrail and threw up the contents of my lunch.

  There was no way I could get Bennett out of trouble. There was no path I was able to carve that led away from any implication. At this point, the only thing I knew that could help him was if he turned himself in — if he took a plea bargain for information, solid evidence that could take down the entire operation. He was so close to telling me yesterday on the phone. Bennett was my best friend, and I couldn’t… wouldn’t let him do a day in prison. Even if it meant he had to go into witness protection, and the future I hoped for him was no longer possible, as long as he was safe, that was all that mattered. Regardless of how greedy he’d become, the man inside was still there, and I wouldn’t let him fall.

  I wiped my mouth and took a deep breath. I normally preferred the subway, but I hailed a cab instead. I’d ditched the rental car two days ago, and the subway took too long. I was in need of a shower and a toothbrush. It was bugging the hell out of me that I hadn’t heard from Bennett since this morning. He had texted me a simple. “She agreed.” I texted him back wondering what the plan was and I hadn’t gotten an answer. A cab pulled to the curb and I hopped in the back and gave him the address.

  I leaned my head back and tried to think of a way to get Bennett to turn states evidence. I had to tell him the truth, and maybe, after tonight I would. My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and unlocked the screen and saw I had a text from Bennett. Finally. There were much bigger issues than Bennie and I fucking this chick, but, having her, sharing with him again, it made all the real world shit disappear for a moment.

  Bennett: Meet at my place, 9 p.m. Do you need the address?

  I laughed. He knew I didn’t.

  Me: Reade Street. No, I got it.

  Bennett: You almost spooked her with your stalking shit.

  Had he told her it was me? I pressed his number with the pad of my thumb and brought the phone to my ear.

  “It was nothing. Stop worrying.” Bennett exhaled into the phone.

  “You told her it was me?”

  “I did. Trust, Gage, it’s important. She asked for a name. How was I supposed to know she’d know it? I knew you were following her. I’d thought this whole time that maybe you’d had an encounter with her, with how impatient you are, but I wasn’t sure.”

  He was right. He couldn’t have known how often I’d spoken to her, or if I even had. “I had to know her.”

  “And you say I never change.” He laughed. “She wasn’t happy. She thought we were trying to play her. I smoothed it over…” he paused and took a breath. “She wants you, Gage. It was almost too easy to convince her.”

  “There’s no room for jealousy, Bennett.” I could hear it in his voice. He was falling hard for her.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you sure?” He had to be sure; I had to be sure.

  “Yes, more than sure. You should have seen her when I asked her. There wasn’t an ounce of fear in her eyes, if anything, she was aroused. The only hesitation was when I mentioned your name, but once I explained… she was more than eager. She was so fucking wet, Gage… she came harder last night for me than she ever has before.”

  The muscle in my jaw ticked. I had just told him there was no room for jealousy. I swallowed down the emotion and chalked
it up to the fact I was eager to have her too. “Nine o’clock then.”

  “She’ll be ready.”

  I pressed the end button, and when I looked out the window, I noticed we were almost to the hotel. I let myself imagine what it would be like tonight, imagine what I would do. Would I watch them first? What would her limits be like? We’d have to take it slow, ease her into it. I wanted to ask her what she needed. I was interested in what she’d desire, what made her tick. My cock twitched and I groaned. In six hours, Gio would be mine; she’d belong to us. In six hours we’d all be in deeper than we probably ever thought possible.

  Bennett had actually cooked. It was a pleasant surprise when I had arrived; the smell of oregano had filled the air and when the scent hit me, I’d felt as if I’d walked into my mother’s front door. Lasagna. It was a comfort food, and after my horrible night’s sleep, shit day at work, and the nervous energy that had been flowing through my veins all day, comfort was all I craved. I may have wanted more for my life than my mother had, but that didn’t mean I didn’t miss her every day, her traditions, or her smile.

  “Are you okay?” Bennet’s low voice pulled me from my thoughts.

  “Yes, sorry. I was just thinking.” I gave him a small smile.

  “You looked sad. Are you worried… about tonight?”

  “No… well, yes, but that’s not what I was just thinking. This dinner…” My smile grew. “…it made me think of my mom. You’re a very good cook.”

  He chuckled. “Thank you, I had a good teacher. Don’t be worried about tonight. Like I said, you don’t have to do anything out of your own comfort zone.”

  This whole thing was out of my comfort zone. “Do I need a safe word?”

  His laugh was harder this time. “No, at least, not for me.”

  My eyes widened. “What does that mean?”

  All night last night I tossed and turned. Part of the problem was I was so turned on with all the scenarios I had in my head, but the other part was a mix of anxiety and the fear that I would disappoint them. What if they wanted something I wasn’t willing to give or what if I didn’t perform as they wished? I had insecurities just like every other girl, and I was about to lay myself out there, exposed, to two men. Two sexy as hell experienced men. I was in over my head.

  “It means that I’ll treat you as I always do.” He took a sip of his wine.

  “How will Gage treat me?” This was my biggest concern. I knew Bennett, and I’d met Gage, but I had no idea what he was like, sexually or in any capacity, actually. I was giving him my complete trust. “I mean, I know nothing about him, what if—”

  “He’s more aggressive, but he’d never hurt you. We both like to control the situation, but he prefers it if there are restraints involved.”

  My heart began to flutter inside my ribcage. “Restraints?” I picked up my wine and took a large sip trying to calm down.

  “Listen. This evening is more about us just experiencing each other. He most likely won’t ask for too much tonight.” He stood and started to clear the table.

  I followed behind him. “Ask?”

  “Gage always asks me for permission in these situations. It makes it easier, one person leading.” He scanned my face. He placed the dishes in the sink and wiped his hands on the dishtowel next to the sink. He took a step toward me and placed his hand to my cheek. “Selene, if it makes you feel better, pick a word. Pick a word and if you say it we’ll stop whatever we’re doing.”

  A word. My eyes fell to my empty glass. “Merlot.”

  His lips spread into a pleased grin. “I like that word.” He lifted the nearby bottle of Merlot and filled my glass about half full. “Do you feel better?

  I actually really did. I had an out. “Yes.”

  “Good. Let me clean up. Did you want to take a minute to prepare? He’ll be here at nine. You could shower while I finish up out here.”

  My morning shift at Felix turned into a lunch and then a partial dinner shift. Two servers had called in sick, and I always needed the money so I stayed and helped out. Otherwise, I’d have just sat in my apartment all afternoon, dodging Renee’s knowing glare, and my mind would’ve been going nine thousand miles an hour. It had been a good distraction, but, unfortunately, I hadn’t had a chance to get ready. I’d taken a cab straight here.

  “That sounds really good.” I lifted my glass and drank deeply from it.

  “Use anything you want, and if you need it, I have extra razors in the third drawer to the left.” He leaned down and kissed me on the cheek. It was such a nice, normal thing to do. You’d never guess that he was the kind of guy that wanted to share you with his best friend. I took another deep breath. This was going to be intense, and yes, my heart was flipping out, but there was a small part of me that knew this would be something amazing.

  My glass of wine in hand, I turned and walked toward his bedroom. Once I was in the bathroom, I placed my glass on the counter. I stripped down and grabbed a razor from the drawer. The glass door of the shower echoed as it shut behind me. The warmth and pressure of all the jets felt magnificent and the grime of the day washed away as I lathered my body with Bennett’s blood orange soap. The smell of it saturated the steam and it soothed me. I took my time and shaved every inch of my body. I was taking a long time and the water was starting to cool. It was then I felt their eyes dust across my naked flesh. I could actually feel their stare. It was like having several feathers run along my skin, and a shiver of pleasure ran down my limbs. The steam had created a slight condensation on the glass surface of the shower walls making it difficult to see them, but I knew they were there.

  He was here; they were here — for me. My heart pounded in my chest and the anticipation began to build in my lungs making it difficult to calm my rising anxiety.

  The faint, cool breeze of the shower door being opened alerted me to Bennett’s presence. His fingertips traced down the curve of my spine and across my hips. The scorching touch sent a familiar pulse between my legs. “Are you almost ready?” His voice was like flint to flame, and that need... that ever present ache for him… became almost unbearable.

  “Is—is he here?” The nervous stutter in my voice was unmistakable.

  “He is.” It was the answer I was expecting.

  I turned the shower off and turned. I was met with Bennett’s hard, dark chocolate eyes. His gaze seared across my naked body. He was shirtless, and his tanned chest was taut as he brushed his thumb across my nipple then down my wet stomach to my parted legs. Dipping his fingers between my legs, he hit that tender spot and I sighed. “Are you still nervous?” he asked as he slowly moved his thumb across my clit, and I shuddered. “Don’t be.” I gripped his shoulder as he slipped two fingers inside me. “We’ll take care of you... I’ll always take care of you, remember?”

  I couldn’t speak as he pushed his fingers slowly in and out of my body. I bit my lip, my grip on his shoulder tightened, and my head fell forward, the cool air not affecting my overheated body.

  “Come for me, just me, right now. Let me have this one, for myself,” he whispered and lifted my chin with his other hand. He kissed me hard, my climax hitting me as he curled his fingers inside me.

  My moans were loud, and I knew that Gage could hear them and it turned me on more than I ever thought it would. Deep brown eyes met mine over Bennett’s shoulder as I raised my head. Gage’s stare locked on mine and I almost forgot how to breathe. My body was still trembling as Bennett pulled away from me. He brought his fingers to my mouth and traced a line along my bottom lip. I could taste myself. “You taste so good, Selene.” I boldly licked his fingers and watched as Gage’s jaw pulsed. I liked how I affected him. He couldn’t see my body yet. I was shielded by Bennett, and for some reason, I liked that, too. These men were taking their hold on me.

  “May I taste?” Gage’s voice was deeper than Bennett’s and sounded foreign in the familiar bathroom. The tone of it warmed me to the core.

  Bennett grasped my chin and brought my
gaze back to his. “I’ve told him your request. He knows the word.”

  The heavy feeling in my chest dissolved and all that space filled as I took in a deep, long breath — excitement and resolve settled over me. I nodded.

  Bennett smiled as he spoke, “Yes, Gage, you may.”

  My nostrils flared as Bennett stepped to the side and revealed her to me. I swallowed nervously for the first time in my life. She was phenomenal, more than I could have hoped for. She was small but full of curves, her limbs long, her wet hair hung over her shoulders, her cheeks red from her orgasm, her skin splotched with pink from her shower. Her mouth was slightly open but she did that thing she always did, chewed at her bottom lip nervously as I approached her.

  “Don’t fear me. I’ll never hurt you. I promise.” I placed the palm of my hand to her cheek, and her eyes widened at the touch. I leaned down and whispered in her ear. “I’ve been dying to have you, to see… see if you can take it all, Gio.”

  She gasped, and I brought my mouth to hers. Her lips were still as I kissed her at first like she wasn’t sure what to do. I pulled her upper lip through my teeth gently and she groaned. She wrapped her hands in my hair, her naked body pressed against me, her mouth moved eagerly now. She tasted so unique, spiced, like a clove, and I was lost to the flavor until I felt Bennett move behind her. My eyes opened and he gave me a nod.

  She pulled away, her eyes searching mine, and I lifted her hands from around my neck and laced my fingers with hers. “Come on.”