by Sasha White
“I’m surprised he said anything to you at all. When did you guys talk about this?”
“Yesterday, when he drove me to work after my tires were messed up.”
Peter’s frown deepened. “About that.” He fiddled with the label on his beer bottle. “Did he find your tires like that, or did you?”
Lara’s shoulders tensed. “I did. Why?”
Peter took another long swallow from his beer then met her gaze. “Because it’s not just any woman I’ve been fantasizing about, it’s you, and Graham knows it.”
“Huh?” Her mind went blank. Her?
They’d flirted, and she did think Peter was kind of hot, but she’d never really thought about joining them. Watching them together, yes. But not being with one of them.
Wait a minute!
She held up a hand for silence while she picked her jaw up off the floor. When she could, she spoke slowly, clearly. “You asked me if it was me who found my tires slashed or him. Does that mean you think he might’ve done it?”
Peter scrubbed a hand over his face. “I don’t think so. I don’t know. He’s hurt and angry, and he likes to throw his little tantrums sometimes, so yes, the thought crossed my mind.”
Lara shook her head. “No way. I don’t believe he’d be capable of that. I can’t believe you think he is!”
“I can’t believe it, either.” Lara’s head swiveled and she spotted Graham just inside the door, staring at Peter.
* * *
Karl slouched on the bar stool, beer in hand, and watched his friend count beer and weigh liquor bottles in preparation for the bar’s opening.
The workday had finished without Lara responding to his latest email, and that stressed him a bit. He wanted to call her, but he really had no clue how to go about dealing with her. He was used to play partners and dates, not starting a relationship. Especially one with a woman who was also pretty inexperienced in that department.
“I have a little problem,” Karl finally said.
Val didn’t miss a beat. “I figured.”
“I think I’m in love.”
“The woman with the emails?” He returned the Baileys bottle to the back bar and grabbed the Kalhúa one. When it was on the scale and measured, he moved on to the Grand Marnier, not even looking up at Karl.
“One and the same.”
Val glanced at him. “I knew there was something special about her. So what’s the problem?”
“She doesn’t feel the same.”
That made Val stop what he was doing and stare. Heat started to creep up Karl’s neck and he avoided his friend’s gaze, until finally he couldn’t stand the silence anymore.
He gave Val a look. “What?”
“I’m in shock.”
“Well get over it, man. I need help here.”
“Now, now boys, play nicely.” Samair stepped behind the bar and rubbed a hand over Val’s back while she smiled at Karl. “What’s new, Karl?”
Val answered before he could. “He’s in love.”
Great. “Tell the whole world, why don’t you?” He glared.
Samair’s smile turned slightly evil. “It’s about time.”
“I said I think I’m in love.” He gave backtracking a try. “For all I know, it’s just a stress headache coming on.”
He was lying and they all knew it. He’d never even hint at being in love unless he was one-hundred-percent certain.
“When do we get to meet her?” Samair asked.
“There’s a little problem. Apparently she doesn’t feel the same way about him.”
“Really?” Samair didn’t bother to hide her glee. She grinned at Val and then turned to Karl, blond eyebrow arched and devil in her eye. “So you’ve finally met a woman who won’t get on her knees and say ‘Yes, Master’ to your every command?”
Lara had no problem getting on her knees for him, but he wasn’t going to tell them that. Hell, he didn’t even know why he said anything.
Then he saw the way Samair shifted closer to Val, her hip bumping his until Val’s arm went around her waist. That was why he said something. They were a couple that had gone through the whole damn song and dance of “it’s just sex” before they finally admitted their feelings. They had knowledge he needed. So he needed to be honest.
“Lara has no problem getting on her knees for me, or any other position. I’m pretty sure she’d even call me Master if that was what I wanted.” He looked Samair in the eye. “Which it isn’t.”
“Then what do you want?”
What did he want? Lara had asked him, and his first instinct was to say, “Everything.” But was it really possible to have everything?
He looked at Val and Samair. A couple that had started out as a “just sex,” or “just entertainment” couple. They had it all. They were in love, they lived together, and they even worked out of the same building, Val having leased his extra storage room to Samair for her design office. They had it all.
“I want it all.”
Samair leaned forward and put her hand over his. “Then tell her. Make it clear what you want, and don’t let her get away.”
He looked into her eyes and hope stirred in him. Could it be that simple? If he just spilled it all out for her, in his own way, since some of what he wanted was a bit out of the norm, would he get it?
He stood up and nodded to his friends. One thing was clear…if he didn’t go for it, he’d for sure never get it.
29
The bottom dropped out of Peter’s stomach at the sound of Graham’s voice. Damn it! How come he hadn’t heard the door open? He’d been to damn focused on Lara, that was why.
“I think it’s time for me to leave,” she said, rising from her chair.
“No, you stay.” Graham’s hand came down on her shoulder, his fiery gaze pinning Peter to his own seat. “Obviously it’s me who isn’t wanted here.”
“Don’t be silly, Graham. You know damn well I don’t want you to leave. And Lara’s right, I think this is between us.”
“Oh, no!” He waved his finger in the air. “Not if you think my not wanting to share you with her, or any other woman, would drive me to violent vandalism. Is that why you said the knife still being there was threat? Did you really think I was threatening Lara to stay away from you?”
“No! Yes, no. I don’t know, Graham.” Peter’s palms began to sweat and his head hurt. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to think so, but it happened right after we had that fight, and my mind…” He let his words trail off. He had no words to explain. He’d fucked up and he knew it.
As Graham stood there, looking down at Peter, he could literally see the anger drained from Graham. His shoulders slumped, his eyes teared up, and his bottom lip began to quiver.
“How could you possibly think I was capable of something like that, Peter? You’re supposed to know me, to love me.”
Heart pounding and blood pumping, Peter shot out of his chair and rushed to stand in front of Graham. He grabbed Graham by the arms and gave him a small shake. “I do love you! Don’t ever doubt that!”
“How can you love me and think I’d ever want to hurt Lara?”
Graham tried to shake off Peter’s hand, but Peter would not let go. He was never going to let go. His heart cracked and pain filled his chest. He had so not meant to hurt Graham. Graham was his boy, his love. “I’m sorry, baby. I’ve just been so wrapped up in this thriller and my characters are messing with my head, that I think I was seeing crime and menace everywhere.”
Graham sniffled and gave another half-hearted try at getting away from him.
“I guess I’m just a bit messed up with the way things have been lately. You’ve been so cold and distant,” Peter admitted softly.
Graham’s eyes grew wide. “What do you expect when you tell me your lusting after Lara, and I’m right here?”
“I’d never want Lara more than you, Graham. And I’d never want to lose you over any woman!” He grabbed Graham by the back of the neck and kissed him long and
hard. He put everything he had into that kiss, all of his love and loneliness, his passion and his hunger for his boy. It was home.
“Uhmm, I’m still here guys,” Lara’s voice intruded. “I’d leave, but you’re blocking me in.”
Peter pulled back from the kiss and shifted Graham so he was leaning against the kitchen counter. “Don’t move,” he whispered before turning back to Lara.
“I’m sorry about this,” he said.
Lara stood and raised her hand. “Don’t be sorry. I didn’t mean to start anything or get in the way at all. I’ll just head back down to my place.”
“Okay, but before you go I need you both to know something.” He did want Lara, and they all knew it, but there was something else that he needed everyone to understand. “Yes, I find you attractive, and I’d very much enjoy fucking you. I know we’d both enjoy it. But I love Graham, heart and soul, and I’ll never jeopardize that, and I’ll never doubt him again.”
Lara looked at him, her smile almost wistful. “That’s good, Peter. You know I’m always up for flirting with you, with both of you.” She glanced over his shoulder at Graham. “But that’s all it is.”
Peter met her gaze. “We’re good?”
She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “We’re good.”
He didn’t bother to watch her walk away, instead he turned to his boy. He had a point to make.
* * *
Halfway down the stairs Lara realized she forgot her phone on the kitchen table and started back up to get it, but when she reached for the doorknob tell tale groans and whispers stilled her hand. Unable to stop herself, she gently turned the handle and peeked in.
Her breath caught in her throat. Peter was on his knees in front of Graham his mouth full of cock.
Goose bumps rose on Lara’s skin and she bit her lip. She shouldn’t watch. She really shouldn’t…but she couldn’t take her eyes off them. It had always been obvious that Peter was the dominant one of the pair, so seeing him on his knees, loving Graham so thoroughly, was both touching and so very hot.
She tore her gaze from Peter’s mouth and watched Graham’s face tense face as he worked to prevent himself from coming. His hands were braced on the kitchen counter and his eyes were glued to what Peter was doing to him.
“Enough,” he begged. “Get up, please.”
Peter pulled his mouth away, saliva dripping on his chin as he gazed up at Graham. “I’m yours, just as much as you are mine, baby. I need you to know that. To believe it.”
“I do believe it. But I need you the way I love you. I’ve never wanted you on you on your knees for me, Pete. I need you on top, I need you in me.”
Her eyes widened as what Graham said hit home. She’d said almost the same thing to Karl. She’d certainly thought it, felt it. Hearing someone else echo her thoughts, made them feel less, scary. Her neediness, her hunger for Karl wasn’t so unusual.
Lara watched as Pete got up off his knees and kissed Graham. He’s hands framed Grahams head, and she saw mouths open, tongues rub and she licked her lips. God, it was hot! Who knew watching two men would be so hot? But, really, it didn’t matter that it was two men, it was the feeling, the emotion that was so thick in the air.
Peter’s hands shifted from Grahams head to his hips, and he suddenly spun him around.
“Get rid of the pants and bend over,” he commanded. “Spread your cheeks and show me the way home, my boy.” Peter reached for the bottle of olive oil that was next to the stove and unscrewed the cap. He made quick work of his own zipper and generously coated his prominent cock.
He dribbled a bit of oil over the puckered hole displayed for him, and rubbed it in with a gentle fingertip. Graham moaned, and Peter took up a solid stance.
She watched him grip his hard cock and inch closer to the hole in front of him as her own hand skimmed across sensitive nipples, pinching them through her shirt.
Another moan echoed through the kitchen this time louder and clearer, as Peter slowly fed his cock into the well-slicked hole. The moan was cut off as Graham bit his lip and his head dropped forward onto the countertop.
Lust kept Lara’s feet rooted to the floor, one hand teasing her nipples as the other rubbed the seam of her jeans over clit. She wanted to undo her pants and reach in, but too much movement would draw the boys’ attention, and then the action would stop…and she was enjoying the show way too much.
She desperately wanted to either leave or join in, but her feet wouldn’t move in either direction.
Her gaze was glued to Peter’s ass as he thrust fast and hard into Graham. He hadn’t come yet and the effort it took showed in his tense muscles. She watched as he reached around to grip Graham’s erection and give it a few tugs, and her mouth watered. For a split second, she wanted to be on the floor between Graham’s legs, sucking on his cock while Peter fucked him.
She closed her eyes, savoring the image as the sounds of skin slapping skin and male grunts and groans filled her head. A loud groan sounded and Lara opened her eyes in time to see Graham’s cock jerk and twitch as white come shot from the tip and hit the counter. Peter’s eyes slid shut and his buttocks clenched on one last thrust. His mouth opened and a victorious shout filled the room.
Then he collapsed forward, his chest covering Graham’s back, his arms going around them. Lara saw his lips moving, but he couldn’t hear the murmured words. Suddenly, she felt that she was intruding.
Quiet as she could, she pulled the door closed, and eased down the stairs. Again, it wasn’t the sex that had seemed so intimate to her, but the closeness the boys shared afterward.
Her knees weekend and she sat down on the bottom step—hard.
If she couldn’t handle even watching the two of them be so open and loving, so intimate, how the hell was she going to ever have a real relationship with Karl?
30
All day long Friday Karl waited for a response from Lara, and got nothing.
As he drove home he couldn’t stop himself from driving by her house. Her car was there, but he didn’t stop to go in side. Create the need, then fill it. The way to train a submissive.
He was creating her need for him by staying away, and he would fill it as soon as she acknowledged it. What shocked him was how being away from her was creating such a strong need in himself.
He knew himself pretty well. A person had to when they played in the BDSM world the way he did. And that was the biggest truth he learned in the last day of soul searching. He would happily give up playing in the Dungeon for her.
He was a Dom, and he would always be a Dom, but he didn’t need the polyamorous lifestyle. He didn’t need multiple playmates, he didn’t need the title of Sir or Master. It did send a thrill through him every time Lara called him Sir, more so than any other, but it was because he’d told her right from the start that she didn’t have to.
Which meant when she did it, it was natural.
Just like her submitting to him was natural.
Them, together, was natural.
So why the hell didn’t she responded to his email?
Simone had said he’d just been skimming the surface with his play, and she was right. He knew the physical techniques of what he was doing, he knew the protocols and the etiquettes. But that stuff didn’t matter when it came to Lara.
She’s wasn’t from the scene, she’s wasn’t a trained submissive, or even someone who came to him already well aware of her desire to submit. And the more he thought about it, he was glad for that. He liked that her submission was all natural, and that he was the only one who had ever aroused it in her. It stirred a primitive need in him that only her willingness could fill.
He pulled into the driveway of the nice old bungalow-style house he called home. It was the one his parents had bought and lived in their whole lives. He’d lived in it his whole life, no matter how much money he made.
He’d renovated it a bit, upgraded some things and soundproofed it better, but it was home. He could totally picture Lara in it,
too; she’d love what he’d done to the kitchen.
She’d probably love the playroom he’d built in the basement, too. Karl hadn’t missed the gleam in her eye when he’d been roping Jan, and he’d been fantasizing about binding Lara. She’d love it, he just knew it.
If he could ever get her down there. Where the hell was she? Finally, just before nine o’clock, he called her.
“Lara’s phone.”
Heat flashed through him. That was not Lara, that was a man. A dead man. “Who is this?”
“Who’s this?”
“This is Karl. I’d like to speak with Lara please.”
“Hi, Karl, this is Peter, Lara’s friend. She’s not here right now. Can I take a message?”
A message? Oh no, not this time. “Where is she? I’d prefer to speak with her myself.”
“She’s not here, but I’ll tell you where she went, after we have a quick talk.”
Sounds of a short tussle and a very firm “Peter!” could be heard clearly, then a voice Karl instantly recognized came over the line. “Mr. Dawson, I’ll be happy to tell you where Lara is after you tell me what you did to her.”
His heart skipped a beat. “What does that mean, Graham? What happened?”
“You tell me. She was fine yesterday. Then today she completely avoided us, and went out to hustle pool looking like she was going out to turn tricks. Lara hasn’t dressed that outrageously since she moved in here two years ago. We’ve worked long and hard to build a friendship, and now she’s on the run emotionally.”
“Damn it!” He’d been so careful to not scare her. “Where does she shoot pool?”
Graham named the pub where he’d met for drinks the night he’d told her he was a Dom, and he hung up quickly. He was done being careful.
* * *
Peter stared at Graham in amazement. “That was…”
Graham did a quick pirouette in the middle of the kitchen and took a bow. “Ingenious? Brilliant? Inspired?”
“Evil,” Peter said. Then he grinned. “And very inspired. But why?”