And then spend the night with both Julie and Dante, talking. Ordering pizza. Watching bad movies.
Too many options, not enough time. Not just today, but in general. He locked his rambling thoughts away. He dragged his nails down her arms, and pinned her wrists behind her back.
Dante restrained her. He was pressed close, kissing along her neck.
Julie tilted her head to one side, to give him better access. Her expression—half-here, half-lost-in-sensation—was intoxicating. Christopher yanked open the front of her jeans, hard enough to free the button and rip the zipper down, and dipped his hand under her panties.
She whimpered and ground into him when he parted her folds. He zeroed in on her clit, teasing with his fingertip, and she bucked against his hand.
“You’re so wet.” Christopher kissed along the edge of her ear, brushing his forehead against Dante’s and occasionally breaking from her to kiss him. “Fast and dirty?”
He felt more than saw her nod.
“Undo my pants,” he said.
Dante released her, which left him free to resume his attention on her breasts. Her hands shook, as she obeyed Christopher’s command. While she worked, he continued to tease her, gliding along her slit, dipping near her opening and then back up again.
“Pull out my dick,” Christopher said. Her cool skin met his hot shaft, and he groaned at the tender touch. Fuck. He wasn’t going to last long at this rate. “Now.” He caught her earlobe between his teeth, tugging before releasing. “I want to see you on your knees, lips wrapped around my cock.” He met her gaze again.
“Yes, Sir.” She licked her lips, and he swore he felt her tongue already gliding over him.
“Good girl.” He guided her back until he could drop into his chair.
She knelt at his feet and licked along his bulbous head before taking him in her mouth, watching his face the entire time. He gripped her hair and set the pace. He couldn’t take his eyes off her. He was falling for her. Not because of the sex, though it was tough to think past that in the current situation, but because of everything she was. Intelligent. Independent.
The thought struck him hard, but trailed off when she swirled her tongue around his shaft.
*
If Julie was going to give this up, she wanted one last fling that ended with a hard break rather than warm fuzzies. That, and there was a kind of freedom in kneeling in front of Christopher and tasting him, that she hadn’t found anywhere else. Her pulse pounded in her ears. Need pulsed in her belly and traveled to a focus point between her legs. The way he watched her intensified her arousal.
The faint sound of the filming on the other side of the door drifted to her ears. The possibility of someone walking in on them—the risk of the situation—made her body throb with want.
Dante grabbed her jeans and pulled them and her underwear to her knees. Cool air brushed her bare skin. When Dante glided his cock between her legs and along her slit, she groaned against Christopher’s shaft. He tightened his grip on her hair.
Dante slipped over skin, teasing her clit and her opening, spreading her juices. She shifted her position, to give him easier access, not sure what type of stimulation she preferred. When he nudged her asshole, she gasped. He edged inside in a long, slow stroke, using her wetness as lubricant. A sharp sting spread through her, heightening her senses.
He sought out her clit and rubbed. She didn’t know where to turn her attention. The stimulation overload stole her thoughts until all she knew was a wash of touches.
“Fuck, Julie. You feel so good.” Christopher’s voice was ragged. He thrust against her face.
She didn’t have the brain power to respond even if her mouth weren’t full.
Christopher’s pace increased, and his grunts reached the tempo she associated with his orgasm. Warm, salty fluid spurted against the back of her throat. He loosened his grip.
Dante snaked an arm around her, pulling her upright and into him. He pounded inside her, stretching her further than she thought possible, while he stroked her sex. Christopher leaned in and caressed one breast through fabric. He dragged a thumb over her nipple, and then pinching and rolling it between his fingers.
She leaned her head back, falling the rest of the way into bliss. Climax shuddered over her without warning. Her pussy clenched, and she jerked away from Dante’s touch.
He moved his hands to her hips and kissed along the back of her neck until he reached her shoulder. The combination of his sucking and licking raised bumps along her skin. His thrusting became more frantic, and a moment later, he came, taking his time to slow to a stop.
He rested his forehead on her shoulder, his breathing heavy and falling across her back. He slipped out of her, and her body relaxed. She was grateful she was kneeling, because the rest of the strength faded from her legs.
This was where she should disentangle herself, make her thank yous and excuses, and walk away. That was the point. Hard, fast, and deliciously meaningless. Instead, she let Christopher tug her to her feet, then move his hands on her hips to steady her. She straightened her clothing, and he pulled her into his lap.
This wasn’t the way it was supposed to go. She needed to leave. She didn’t want to, though.
A moment later, Dante scooted onto the edge of the desk next to them, reached for her hand, and tangled his fingers with hers.
Fuck. She was hooked. At the least. “Do we need to get out there before someone notices we’re missing?”
“We have a few minutes,” Dante said.
And she’d use that time to collect herself and stash this pleasant haze she didn’t want surrounding her. It took longer than she wanted, but she managed to find her center and stand.
“Are you sure you’re doing okay?” Christopher asked.
“I’m fine.” At least in the way he meant—mentally gathered, capable of facing the world. She gave him a warm smile. “I promise.”
Christopher sighed. “You’re right. We should get back.”
When they made their way to the edge of the kitchen, only one person glanced up. Andi studied Julie for a moment, brow furrowed. Andi smiled, then turned her attention to the cookie in front of her and Luke.
About ten minutes later, the director called the day a wrap. A new buzz of activity rolled through the room, as filming broke up and the crew put equipment away. Julie winced every time someone bumped a light into the wall or scuffed their shoes across the tile. It was going to be a long night cleaning up so she could bake in the morning. She’d much rather curl up with Christopher and Dante for the rest of the evening.
Which was exactly why she needed a different place for her focus. Cleaning up was perfect.
Andi and Luke approached, and Luke draped his arm loosely over Julie’s shoulders. “This was amazing.” Enthusiasm rang in his voice. “My television debut. Soon I’ll be a cooking star and a TV star, thanks to you.”
“I’m glad it worked out.” Julie ducked away from his touch and put extra space between herself and everyone else.
“I want to thank you. Treat everyone to dinner. Am I allowed to take the big network star out too?” Luke said.
“Contractually? No.” Dante shook his head
Luke’s smile wavered, then he laughed. “That’s awesome. Seriously, where’s good around here?”
“He is serious.” Christopher’s voice held an uncharacteristic edge. “Besides, we have a lot to get done here, now that the cameras are off.”
Julie should be irritated either one of them spoke as if they represented everyone. But a tiny part of her couldn’t shake the feeling Dante and Christopher were being protective. She liked the thought, even if it was her imagination.
Andi looked from one face to the next with a slight frown, then turned to Luke. She shook his hand. “It was good working with you. If you’re still interested, I need a behind-the-camera artist starting in two days.”
“I’ll be here,” Luke said.
Julie let out a breath she didn’t
realize she was holding when Luke walked out the back door. She didn’t know if having him here was more stressful because of their shared past, because he seemed to want to forget there was bad blood between them, or because of the way he and she broke up. All of the above.
“Are you all right?” Andi studied Julie with concern. “You look... I don’t know. Off?”
“Just looking forward to finally wrapping this up.” The words and their underlying implication tasted wrong, rolling off Julie’s tongue. “It’s all getting closer, and it’s kind of big and daunting.”
Andi seemed to relax. “Yeah. I get that.”
And once again, Julie was lying to her best friend. She’d stop soon. Explain everything when Dante and Christopher weren’t lingering nearby—the past, the now, how she knew poly relationships didn’t last. As soon as Julie made sense enough of her own thoughts to be able to share them without fumbling over the words.
Chapter Twenty
It was nearly ten at night, when Julie declared the kitchen restored to acceptable condition.
Not that Dante blamed her for the level of precision and cleanliness she insisted on. He could also see why, if most of her days were this long, she tended toward a short temper where he was concerned. Hell, he’d only had a few nights like this, and he was already worn out.
Andi had said her goodnights about an hour ago, when Julie assured her there were only a few minor things left to clean up. Dante and Christopher should do the same, but Christopher hadn’t made any move to go, and Dante wasn’t interested in hurrying.
He dropped onto a nearby stool, letting the tension drain from his joints. “I’m not sure this physical-labor thing is for me.”
“Poor baby. Slumming it with us working slobs for the night.” Julie sounded tired, but the corners of her mouth tugged up. She leaned back against a nearby counter and tucked her hands into her pockets.
Now was when they needed to wrap things up and head home. The words stuck in Dante’s throat. Would Julie balk if they asked her to leave with them? Spend a night in their bed, rather than letting one distraction or another tear her away?
“I need to tell you something,” Christopher said. “We both do.”
Dante’s insides clenched, and he knew without question which confession hovered in Christopher’s mind. “No we don’t.” There was no reason to share what happened with Rachel. It was a way for Christopher to unburden his guilt and ruin this pocket of pleasantness they had with Julie. It would be over soon enough, anyway. Why bring it to a quicker end?
Christopher met his gaze. “I have to.”
“Don’t leave a girl in the dark.” Julie’s laugh was nervous. “Let me in on the secret?”
Dante clenched his fist until his knuckles ached. Why now, of all times? But protesting more would make Julie’s curiosity worse and make her angrier once she realized they’d kept the story from her.
Christopher furrowed his brow and worked his jaw several times before sound came out. “Remember I told you I used to work as a sex therapist, and that Dante and I met through work?”
“Yes... Though I also remember you implied work meant what the two of you do now.”
“It wasn’t. IT work, that is. We met when I was still doing therapy.”
“Sexy doctor-patient fantasies. A tad unethical, but fun.” Julie stood a little straighter and didn’t make eye contact.
Christopher sighed. “A lot unethical. It’s why I don’t do it anymore. Dante and his then-wife, Rachel, came to me, to work through a couple of things. She had control issues, and he refused to admit he was bisexual.”
“I see.” Julie spoke through clenched teeth.
“The problem came when Dante fell in love with me, and I fell for—”
“No.” Julie shook her head. “No, no, no.” If the situation wasn’t so serious, it might be ironically amusing, to see her mimic the woman from the office that afternoon.
“Both of us,” Dante finished for Christopher. “It was a three-way street. Or it should have been. Neither Christopher nor I wanted to cut her out. She wasn’t interested in sharing, though. She divorced me.” Once upon a time, the memory hurt. It still bothered Dante that he inflicted that on the woman he used to love, but her name hadn’t left a gaping hole in him in years. What hurt now was seeing the pain on Julie’s face.
“I gave up my practice and turned to my second choice—internet security,” Christopher said.
“Why are you telling me this now?” Julie choked on the question. “Why not when I told you about Luke? Or before then? I should have seen this coming, after the other night and the two of you comparing me to some unknown she. I was stupid to convince myself that conversation didn’t mean anything.”
“Stop.” Christopher rested a hand on her arm.
She jerked away and took several steps back. “Don’t.”
“I’m telling you now, because I care. I can’t speak for Dante, but I’m going to, anyway. I think we both do. I don’t want to keep this kind of secret from you.”
A mask slipped in place across her face, freezing her jaw, her mouth—even her eyes—in ice. “That’s ridiculous.” Her tone went flat. “You could have kept your mouth shut, and no one would have been the wiser. It’s not as if there’s anything between us.”
Her words sliced deep. It was like when Rachel left, except this cut Dante to the core. “How can you say that without flinching?”
She stared at him, and the seconds ticked away. “Because whatever we did doesn’t have a long, sweeping story. It ends abruptly. The way we agreed up front. There’s fucking. There’s fun. There’s the two of you going back to your real lives once this segment is over. I think you need to leave for the night.”
“Julie, please.” Dante wasn’t sure what he was asking, but he was ready to beg for it.
“Good night.” She gestured to the door.
* * * *
It was easier for Dante to be annoyed with Christopher, for telling the truth, than it was to admit it needed to be out there. They exchanged few words that night, and Christopher had left when Dante woke up in the morning. The rift they’d been repairing—finally—felt wider than ever.
And dealing with it had to wait, because work called, and putting that off meant losing his TV show. Dante got ready for the day on autopilot, and his commute was a lot the same. At least, barring any disasters, things would be simple today. They were nearly done with shooting, and everything would be done with a single camera—footage of Julie doing prep, sweeping shots of the bakery, and bumper one-liners for commercials.
When Dante walked into the shop, the small crew that was there was huddled in the corner, looking at something between them. They glanced up, and their whispering stopped. They broke apart and moved back to their stations. A few wished him a good morning, but no one made eye contact.
Elisa was talking to Christopher, at the other side of the room. Dante caught snippets of reassurance from her, along the lines of I’m so sorry and It’s not your fault. Christopher had his arms crossed over his chest and wore a faint frown.
Dante didn’t have the patience for this. “Someone. Anyone. What the fuck is going on?”
Elisa crossed the room and gave him her phone. There was a video paused on screen. The still was Julie and him. He pressed Play and watched with a combination of fascination and horror. It was security footage of the two of them in the conference room, pretending to dip candy. The quality was incredible, as was Julie. The question was, how did it get on YouTube?
Reality plowed in, screaming the consequences of this needed his attention more than anything else. The views on the clip were in the six-digit range, so the staff here weren’t the only people who saw this. He was flirting—pretty heavily—with a woman he’d recently signed an investment contract with and given her shop a full-episode segment on his show. That didn’t scream of favoritism or anything.
And then there was the fact his relationship with Christopher was public knowledge,
which made Dante a cheating asshole, too. It didn’t matter none of that was true; public perception was everything.
“Did we miss something?” Andi asked, as she and Julie walked in the room.
Every head swiveled in the women’s direction.
Fantastic. Things would get much worse before they got better. Dante let sarcasm ooze through him. “May I?” he asked Elisa.
She shrugged, and he handed her phone to Julie. The tinny audio filtered to his ears again, as Julie played the clip and Andi watched over her shoulder. Julie’s expression twisted to shock, but Andi’s became irritation. Andi returned the phone.
“How did this get out?” Dante asked Christopher.
“I don’t know. I found out about two seconds before you did. I need to be back there, digging into it.”
“Why is that your first question? Why are you so calm about this?” Andi looked at Christopher. “There wouldn’t be a question of how it got out if it didn’t exist in the first place. Doesn’t anyone else wonder about that?”
Elisa raised her hand. “I kind of did. I mean, you work for a guy for so long, you think you know him.”
If Elisa and Andi assumed he was cheating on Christopher, a lot of other people would draw the same conclusion. He needed to explain.
“Why do you think it exists?” Julie asked Andi.
Andi pursed her lips. “Nothing I want to discuss publicly.”
“Then let’s talk upstairs. Or anywhere not here?” Julie glanced around. Every eye in the room was on the group.
“We don’t have to talk about it at all. Easy peasy.” Andi turned and stalked up the stairs.
Julie glanced at Dante and Christopher with a scowl, then followed Andi.
Christopher looked between them and Dante. Concern lingered in his gaze. “I’m going to see if I can figure out how this happened.”
“He doesn’t sound mad at you. Or he hides it well.” Elisa’s soft statement startled Dante.
He’d forgotten she was there. “He’s mad, but not for the reasons you think.” Fuck, this was such a mess.
Control Games (Game for Cookies Book 2) Page 14