Tempting Meredith

by Samantha Ann King

  * * *

  Charlie flipped off the TV. Meredith was typing on her laptop in the sitting area of Blaine’s bedroom. He hated to interrupt her, but after two days of convalescing, he was bored.

  “What’re you working on?” he asked.

  She lifted her head and smiled slightly, but her unfocused gaze told him she wasn’t really here with him. He waited for her to transition from whatever she was working on to him. Her eyes were so expressive he knew the moment it happened.

  “Do you need something?” She set the laptop on the ottoman where her feet had rested seconds earlier.

  “Yeah, let’s go sit out on the porch.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “We could take a walk,” he said.

  “Let’s wait for Blaine.”

  God, he hated being an invalid, hated having his strength questioned, hated not being able to make love to her or him. His cock twitched in agreement with that last. “I don’t need Blaine.”

  “Of course you don’t, but he should be here, just in case.”

  Her patronizing tone irritated him. He swung his legs over the side of the bed. Gingerly he stood. Everything worked. The ribs still hurt a little, but there wasn’t any dizziness. He started for the door, focusing on each step so he didn’t fall. Meredith was beside him before he reached it. Her breasts jiggled under the oversized T-shirt. No bra. Damn, the temptation was killing him.

  “You’re too stubborn for your own good,” she said before turning the doorknob.

  Pot calling the kettle black. He walked through the door, feeling as if he’d been set free. He tried to ignore Meredith’s hovering, her breasts. He was glad she cared, but he was ready to be in control again.

  They settled in chairs on the back porch. He listened to the symphony of the country. The rising and falling buzz of insects, overlaid with the trill of birds, occasionally punctuated by a dog’s bark carried on the breeze soughing through the trees.

  “Can I get you some water?” she asked.

  “No thanks.” She’d forced so much water down him that he’d spent most of the last two days standing over the toilet. Who would have guessed she had a thing for hydration? “What were you working on?”

  “Nothing.” She bit her lip and glanced down.

  He was about to tell her what a lousy liar she was when the screen door slapped open. Blaine was carrying Meredith’s laptop. “Hey, your computer’s beeping. I think the battery’s dying.”

  She jumped up and snatched it from him. “Thanks. I’ll go plug it in.”

  The door slammed behind her.

  “That was abrupt,” Blaine said.

  “I think she and I are suffering from cabin fever.”

  “You up to a walk?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Great. As soon as Meredith gets back, we’ll head out.”

  Charlie checked the door before lowering his voice. “You think she’ll let me go?”

  Blaine chuckled. “Nurse Meredith missed her calling. It’s kinda cute.”

  “Easy for you to say. You haven’t been stuck with her twenty-four-seven.”

  “You’re complaining, you lucky SOB?” Blaine shook his head. “You say the word, and I’ll take her off your hands for the rest of her stay.”

  “No,” Charlie blurted. That wasn’t what he wanted. Meredith wasn’t the problem. She’d totally rearranged her life to help him out. Put her work on hold, extended her stay at the ranch for “as long as it takes.” He appreciated it. He really did. And for more than just the help. She was falling for him. And not just him but Blaine, too. He’d watched her the past two days. Hell, all he’d had to occupy his time was sleep, TV and Meredith. Of the three activities, Meredith was the most interesting. She hadn’t said the words, but her actions spoke volumes. He just wished he could enjoy it more.

  “I didn’t think so.” Blaine grinned. “I do think you might need a small diversion.”

  Charlie’s cock perked up at Blaine’s sexy smile, because he was pretty sure that diversion didn’t involve a walk. “I have been wanting to try something with her, but you’d have to do most of the work.”

  “I wouldn’t call it work.”

  “I still want a walk.”

  Blaine nodded. “After dinner?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Just don’t overdo before then. I don’t want you falling asleep before we get started.”

  The last two days he’d slept enough for a lifetime. He might be sore. His muscles might be rusty since he hadn’t used ’em the last couple of days, but he couldn’t imagine more pleasurable physical therapy than rolling around the bed with Blaine and Meredith. “Not gonna happen,” Charlie said.

  Three hours later, when Charlie led Blaine and Meredith into the bedroom, he was convinced Meredith needed this. Something was bothering her. Something beyond his injuries. She hadn’t said much at dinner, hadn’t seemed to even follow the conversation. She’d been somewhere else. He’d tried to figure out what it was. Maybe work? But it didn’t feel like work. It was something deeper, more personal.

  Meredith stood in front of him and flicked open the top snap of the western shirt he’d put on this morning because it hurt too much to lift his arms for a T-shirt. It bugged him that her efforts were so efficient and businesslike. Not an ounce of sexy. He placed his hand over hers, stopping her.

  “Blaine can do that.” He nodded toward the bed. “Relax.”

  She wandered to the bed, toed off her shoes and picked up the TV remote before plopping at the foot and crossing her bare legs. Her hair spilled over her shoulders. She hadn’t worn makeup the last two days, and she looked younger, like a teenager, not a college professor. The picture was complete when she pointed the remote at the TV.

  “What do y’all want to watch?” she asked.

  Blaine closed in behind him, his heat seeping through the thin fabric of the old, frayed shirt. His hands snaked around Charlie’s waist, tantalizing. The bottom snap popped, gave way. Charlie’s skin tingled in anticipation of Blaine’s touch. It still amazed him that a man’s hands on him, a man’s bare skin against his, could affect him sexually. Hell, just the thought of Blaine affected him. He licked his lips and breathed through the temptation, determined to make this about Meredith. They needed to get her out of her head.

  “Meredith,” he said, his voice firm.

  “Hmm?” she said before glancing at him. Her eyes widened.

  Blaine kissed his neck, and Charlie closed his eyes a moment to savor it. When he opened them, Meredith’s red lips were parted.

  “Turn off the TV,” Charlie said.

  Click. A black void replaced the flickering images. Pop, pop, pop. Three more snaps gave way. Blaine spread his hands on Charlie’s abdomen, his touch lighter than normal because of the injuries, but pleasure crackled through Charlie. Blaine’s hands smoothed up over Charlie’s chest to his shoulders and slipped the shirt over his arms, then let it drop to the floor.

  Meredith’s mouth snapped closed, and her gaze focused. Not good. “No. We can’t,” she said. “You need to take it easy.”

  Blaine’s hands slid to the button of Charlie’s jeans, and her gaze followed before she jerked it up. As Blaine unfastened the button and began unzipping the fly, Meredith scooted across the bed to the side farthest from them and landed lightly on the floor with the bed between them.

  “I’m not doing this,” she said sternly. “Charlie needs to rest. The doctor’s instructions were clear. So unless you have some superpowers you’ve been keeping under wraps...”

  “Ouch,” Charlie said. “I believe she just threw down the gauntlet. What do you think, Blaine?”

  “Definitely heard the gauntlet hit the ground.” Blaine shoved the denim over Charlie’s hips and down his legs.

  �
�You wanna pick it up while you’re down there?”

  “Oh, yeah.” His voice reverberated through Charlie as arousing as the man himself.

  Charlie stepped out of his jeans and reveled in the feel of a man’s rough hands. He would spend the rest of his life thanking Meredith for this. For bringing him and Blaine together. For bringing the three of them together.

  Meredith glared at his groin. “That is the cock of a man who thinks he’s about to get laid.”

  As Blaine’s hands roamed Charlie’s body, Charlie shook his head and said, “Actually it’s the cock of a man whose girlfriend is about to get laid.”

  She frowned. “Same thing.” Her gaze flicked to the man behind him. “Stop that.”

  “You want me to stop, Charlie?” Blaine asked.

  “Not yet. In fact...” He covered one of Blaine’s hands and guided it to his dick. So good. Charlie moaned at the pressure and heat. “Yeah. That’s it.”

  “I swear I’ll leave if you don’t stop,” Meredith said.

  Charlie sighed. It wasn’t an idle threat. She’d leave or use her safe word. “We can’t have that.”

  He sensed the tension slip from her body as she spoke. “Good. It’s not that I’m not interested, but we need to wait until you’re one hundred percent.” She pursed her lips together as if reconsidering. “Or maybe ninety-five percent.”

  Imagining a worksheet with multiple choice questions about his health, he chuckled. Did she grade on a curve? He sure as hell hoped so. “I need to wait. You and Blaine...” He left the rest for her to fill in the blank.

  Blaine stepped in front of him, wrapped his hand around the back of Charlie’s head and kissed him. Charlie savored the taste and texture of Blaine’s mouth, still so new to him. The fly of Blaine’s jeans rubbed against Charlie’s cock. Blaine’s free hand palmed Charlie’s ass and squeezed. Every bit of soreness fled under the onslaught of sensual pleasure.

  Blaine released him. “You good?”

  Charlie nodded, reminding himself that this wasn’t about him. It was tough with his cock stretching eagerly toward Blaine.

  His friend grinned as if reading Charlie’s mind. Not difficult, considering his thoughts were written on his dick. Blaine’s hand cloaked Charlie’s erection, and he swiped his thumb over the head, spreading pre-come and making him forget his injuries. “Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this after.”

  As Blaine started toward Meredith, he unbuckled his heavy silver belt buckle. She froze in place, like a deer in the headlights. With each step he took, her eyes widened and her eyebrows rose.

  Charlie settled into bed, his back propped against a pile of pillows. Better to conserve his energy so he could see this to the end. He’d thought he’d be able to get through it without coming, but if his cock was to be believed, he’d end up with a serious case of blue balls. He stroked it and vowed to take care of it. Later. Blaine had promised.

  Heavy leather rasped against denim as Blaine dragged his belt through the loops. Meredith’s gaze went to the loose leather strap as Blaine slapped it against his thigh.

  She backed up a step. “I told you, I’m not into pain.”

  Why would she think they’d use it on her delicate skin? Ah, yes. The way Blaine smacked it against his leg was somewhat threatening. Blaine must be nervous. The guy didn’t have a mean bone in his body. If his life depended on it, he wouldn’t be able to hit Meredith. Charlie, on the other hand, did want to spank her pretty round ass. Not for the pain but because he loved how squishy it was under his hands. Plus he’d love to have her laid out across his lap, squirming. But not tonight. Fuck. So many things he wanted to do with her and Blaine. It would take a lifetime.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Meredith couldn’t take her eyes off that thick leather strap. It would hurt. A lot. Yes, there were people who were into pain and sex. She didn’t understand it, wasn’t even tempted to try it. She’d use her safe word. It was on the tip of her tongue.

  “You think I’d let him mar that beautiful skin?” Charlie asked.

  She relaxed infinitesimally. “No?”

  “Let me know when you’ve resolved that question mark.” Charlie crossed his arms and waited.

  Regret skipped across her heart. She knew better. It didn’t matter what they did with that belt, it would be solely for her pleasure. And they knew a helluva lot more about what turned her on than she did...or what she’d admit to.

  She licked her lips and cleared her throat. “I trust you.”

  His eyes widened and his jaw dropped. A cricket chirped. Charlie closed his mouth and nodded. “Then you won’t mind if I test that theory.”

  It wasn’t a question.

  When his drawl deepened like that, her body responded. Her skin became hypersensitive, aware of even the slightest breeze, their gazes, the proximity of their bodies. Her pussy became heavy, achy with the need for more. And neither man had touched her yet.

  But she knew it was coming. She didn’t know what or how. That didn’t matter because whatever they chose to do, it would be incredible. She waited. The belt dangling from Blaine’s fingers was no longer a threat.

  “Look at her eyes,” Charlie said. “She’s almost there.”

  She didn’t care that they knew it. She just wanted them to get on with it. They weren’t a threat. They were the promise, her haven, her ecstasy.

  Blaine tossed the belt on the bed and crooked his finger at her. She stepped into him, laid her head on his chest and hugged him around the waist. He’d taken a shower when they got back from their walk and smelled fresh and clean. He pulled back and kissed her, light brushes of his lips and nips of his teeth, not settling on one spot but keeping her guessing. She followed his lead, trying to keep up until she forgot to think and just reacted. His hands slipped under her loose T-shirt, and she shivered when they skimmed over her ribs to the fleshy sides of her breasts. He whisked the shirt over her head and plucked her nipples. They did his bidding, contracting even as her breasts swelled. And then they were both all hands, removing each other’s clothes, stroking and petting as they uncovered more skin, until there was nothing left but heat between them.

  Blaine’s smile warned her seconds before he retrieved the belt. She didn’t care anymore. He wrapped it around her wrists in a figure eight. The leather was thick and cool. He led her to the bed and waited. She shouldn’t like this, shouldn’t want it. She was a freakin’ Ph.D, an associate professor on the tenure track. She was financially independent. She didn’t need men or sex. So why did she feel like she needed these two men more than food or water? She craved them, craved this relinquishment of control, this sexual objectification of her body that made her more than a brain.

  Blaine nudged her onto the mattress then raised her arms above her head and forced her down on her back. As he belted her hands around an iron spindle, Meredith glanced at Charlie. The black and blue bruises covering the right side of his torso reminded her why they shouldn’t be doing this. They must be painful, but she saw none of that pain in his eyes.

  “Your ribs,” she whispered.

  “Are great,” Charlie said. To prove it, he leaned over her, and his hand slid between her legs and stroked. She relaxed in spite of herself, the roughness of his fingers a sensual contrast to the soft vulnerability of her sex. Her thighs inched farther apart.

  Blaine spoke. “I’m thinking a blindfold.”

  She was so relaxed, so immersed in pleasure, she almost missed it. When his meaning computed, she stiffened. “Wait.” She jerked against the restraints and when they didn’t give, she panicked. She maneuvered her wrists, twisting, trying to slip free.

  Charlie’s face hovered over hers. “Shhh. Relax.” He stroked her face and brushed his lips against her cheek, her lips, her eyes. His beard swept along her skin. “Trust.”

  And then she remem
bered. She could stop this anytime. One word. That was all it would take. She had all the control. Not Blaine. Not Charlie. That word was useless without trust. She’d told them she trusted them. Now was the time to prove it. To Charlie. To Blaine. To herself. As she freed her mind from fears and expectations, she melted into the bedding.

  Charlie rewarded her with a smile. “That’s my girl.”

  Smooth fabric cloaked her eyes, and the room disappeared behind darkness. Blaine tied it on the side of her head. Her eyelashes fluttered against the cotton as she tried to see out the bottom, the top, the sides. Nothing. She rocked her head from side to side, up and down. Still nothing, not even cracks of light along the edges. She closed her eyes and sensuously stretched, relishing the feeling of her body on display. She rubbed her legs along Charlie’s, her skin smooth against his crisp hair. When his heat withdrew, she tried to follow it, but her bindings stopped her.

  Something skittered across her belly, tickling. She giggled, sucked in her stomach and pressed her back into the mattress. “What’s that?”

  It was cool and soft—cloth. It slid up, circled her breast, did a figure eight to the other breast, then was gone. Her thighs were next, first one then the other. She began to anticipate the next touch until she craved it. Her body relaxed, her thighs parted. Finally, her reward—the exquisite torture as it dragged over her swollen, hot pussy. She bent her knees, dug her heels into the mattress and lifted her hips.

  Suddenly, it was gone. She groaned in frustration. The bed bounced. She held her breath in anticipation. Waited.

  A feather-light kiss on her mouth. No beard. Blaine. She tried to return it, but it was gone. She licked her lips, tasted him and wanted more. She waited. Every nerve in her body reached for him.

  A hot, wet tongue lapped at her nipple, circling, teasing. Blaine again. But Charlie was watching. She couldn’t see him, but she knew, could feel his gaze on her. She loved knowing that while Blaine touched her, Charlie watched and was just as turned on as she and Blaine were.