by Opal Carew
He chuckled. “Yes, and they’re very lovely eyes.” He reached for the sheet and tugged it down. “Almost as magnificent as your beautiful breasts.”
He leaned down and kissed the soft flesh, close to but avoiding the budding nipple. If he took one of those in his mouth, then Austin would wind up waiting a lot longer than fifteen minutes.
He sat up and grinned at her. “But I’m not going to give in to your seductive persuasion right now.” He stood up and walked toward the dresser, knowing she was watching his naked ass. “I promised Austin we’d meet him for dinner.”
“What? I wasn’t seducing you. It was you who pulled the covers down.”
He chuckled. “Whatever you say, baby.”
He grabbed a pair of clean boxers from the drawer and pulled them on.
“Quinn?”
He turned to see her sitting up in the bed, the covers around her waist. His cock immediately lurched.
Her expression was serious, and she opened her arms. Like a man in a spell, he moved to her, then sat beside her and took her in his arms. She squeezed him tightly. Her warm, soft breasts against him filled him with a deep yearning to be inside her again.
Then she gazed up at him, her blue eyes gleaming. “What we did earlier…” She shook her head, her golden-blond hair shimmering over her shoulders in sun-gilt waves. “It was amazing.”
She tipped up her face, and her irresistible pink lips called to him. He dipped down and captured them, kissing her with growing passion. His cock sprang up, ready for action, aching for her.
He stroked her hair back and gazed into her eyes. “I think Austin can wait a few more minutes.”
She smiled and nuzzled his neck, sending tingles dancing across his skin. Then her head popped up, and her smile turned to an impish grin.
“Oh, I don’t think that would be fair to Austin.”
To his shock, she slipped from his arms and hopped from the bed. Totally naked, she strolled across the room toward her dress, which was lying in a heap on the floor. As he watched her delightfully round ass sway, she glanced over her shoulder.
“You see? If I were going to seduce you, that’s how I’d do it.”
18
Quinn laughed. Damn, but she was a delight.
April picked up her dress and then glanced around the floor. He noticed her bra lying near his feet and leaned over to hook his finger through the strap and then held it out to her.
“Looking for this?” he asked, stepping toward her.
She took it and slipped it on. He leaned against the dresser and watched as she straightened her breasts in the cups, wishing he was the one handling those soft, round mounds. Then she pulled her dress on and smoothed it down.
“Aren’t you going to put on panties?” he asked.
“Austin has them. Remember?”
“Right. And the black ones you wore in the pool still aren’t back?”
“Apparently, they got damaged in the wash. But you don’t really want me to wear panties anyway, do you?”
He grinned. “Well, that’s true.” He stepped close and slid his arms around her waist, drawing her close to his body. “But you really should get some new ones. And some clothes, too. I love this dress, but you need something else to wear.”
She drew away from him, a little stiff.
“That would be nice, but I don’t have any money.”
He could feel her withdrawing from him, and he hated it. She tried to step away, but he caught her hand.
“You know, I’m happy to pay for some new clothes for you.”
She drew her hand free and put a little distance between them.
“I’m not borrowing more money from you.”
“Sweetheart, be reasonable. You can’t go an entire month with just one dress and no underwear.”
She drew in a breath and shook her head, but he caught her quick glance in the mirror and the doubt flickering across her eyes. He wanted to insist, but now was not the time.
“When did you say we’re meeting Austin?” she asked.
He glanced at his watch. “In about three minutes.”
She arched her eyebrow. “You should get cracking then.”
Quinn walked to the closet and retrieved a fresh shirt, then donned a charcoal-gray suit and a silk tie in a gray and violet pattern. He offered her his elbow. She curled her fingers around it and accompanied him to the door.
They’d have a nice evening, then in the morning, he’d ensure that one way or another, she had some nice things to wear.
* * *
Austin saw Quinn and April walk toward the table, accompanied by the hostess. April had a subtle glow, and Quinn seemed more relaxed than Austin had seen him in … forever.
“I’m sorry we kept you waiting,” April said as she sat down.
“It was my fault,” Quinn said. “I was a little slow getting dressed after our nap.”
Austin smiled. “If I had been napping with April, I would resist getting back into my clothes, too.”
The waitress appeared and set two drinks on the table.
“I went ahead and ordered drinks for you,” Austin said.
“Would you like a refill now, Mr. Wright?” the waitress asked.
“No, I’m good, thanks.” Austin’s glass was still half-full.
“This doesn’t have the same liquor I was drinking last night, does it?” April asked, eyeing the cocktail.
“No, I didn’t think you’d want something that strong tonight. I ordered you today’s special, which has mango, pineapple, and vodka. If you’d rather have something else, we can change it.”
“No, it sounds delicious. Thank you.” She sipped it, and the look of delight on her face made him smile.
“I thought we might catch a show after dinner,” he suggested. “I hear they have a great new magician.”
“No gambling tonight?” April asked.
“No, that’s what I’ve been doing for the past couple of hours. I wanted to reserve the rest of the evening to spend with the two of you.”
April lifted the spear of fruit from the top of her drink and pulled off a chunk of pineapple. As she chewed, the spear fell from her fingers and landed on her skirt. She glanced down and swept the fruit from her lap into a napkin.
“Oh, no. The maraschino cherry juice will stain.” She stood up. “Excuse me.”
They watched as she hurried in the direction of the ladies’ room.
Austin turned to Quinn. “I take it things went well.”
Quinn nodded, his gaze lingering in the direction April had disappeared.
“They went spectacularly well.”
“That’s great. Unless that means I’m spending the rest of our trip in the guest room.”
“I’m glad you mentioned that, because I didn’t want to ask.”
Austin’s jaw dropped. “Really?”
Quinn chuckled. “No. I’m kidding. But you should see your face. Do you really think I’d shut you out like that?”
“Well, if I was in love with the woman—which you are—and especially if I was married to her—which you are—then, yeah, I’d probably shut you out.”
“First, you’re married to her, too. Second, we don’t need to start bandying about the love word. We have a month together.”
“Are you still denying you love the woman?”
“I’m just saying we need to take it slow.”
“Despite the fact you married her within twenty-four hours of meeting again?”
“Especially because of that,” Quinn insisted. “She just got out of a really bad relationship, and we’ve just connected again. She can’t really trust my feelings for her. She knows what I believed about her before. If I jump in now with talk of love, she’s not going to believe it and she might bolt. Or more likely, in the position she’s in, she’ll stay, but feel trapped. I want to make this as easy on her as possible.”
“So we proceed as if nothing’s changed?”
“That’s right.”
> Austin was happy for Quinn, who seemed to have finally come to terms with his feelings for the lovely April. It also made Austin a little sad. He’d have the next month with her, and probably fall deeper under her spell, only to have to give her up at the end.
* * *
April stood at the door of the suite, her fingers curled around Austin’s bent elbow as Quinn unlocked the door. The magician had been talented and funny, amazing them with spectacular illusions.
Quinn opened the door, and they followed him inside. Then Austin turned and drew her into his arms and stole a kiss. Then he deepened it. She reacted to his masculine heat and melted against him, gliding her tongue along his, but when he drew back, guilt surged through her. Her gaze darted to Quinn. After this afternoon’s tender lovemaking, would Quinn assume the threesome was off?
But he smiled, then stepped behind her and nuzzled her neck. Austin kissed her again, and her body ached being between these two powerful men.
Quinn took her hand and led her across the living room toward the bedroom, Austin right behind them.
* * *
April sat up in bed and glanced from Quinn to Austin in the morning light. Quinn was turned away from her, and Austin was stretched out on his back on the other side of her. She tried to slip out from under the covers without waking them, but as soon as she freed her legs, Austin’s arm slid around her and pulled her close.
God, she’d never get used to waking up between these two hot, hard men.
“Morning,” Austin rumbled from his chest. “Where you going?”
His eyelids were barely open, so she could only catch a glimpse of his teal-blue eyes.
“Bathroom,” she whispered. “Trying not to wake you and Quinn.”
“Okay.” But he pulled her closer. “Don’t be gone long.”
Then he rolled her over his body and set her on the edge of the bed. The feel of his hard muscles and warm skin pressed against her as he’d spun her over left her breathless. She scooted to her feet and headed to the bathroom, her heart pounding. When she returned to the bedroom, she didn’t feel like going back to sleep, so she glanced around for her clothes. She couldn’t see her dress or bra anywhere. Nor could she find one of the men’s discarded shirts to put on, and she didn’t want to walk around naked.
She looked in the closet and found a white velour robe supplied by the hotel. She pulled it on. It was miles too big for her, but it would have to do. She tied the sash around her waist and wandered into the living room, hoping to find the clothes in a heap out there somewhere.
No luck.
“I thought you were coming back to bed.”
She glanced up to see Austin standing a few yards away, naked and sleepy-looking. And oh, so sexy.
“I didn’t want to go back to sleep, and now I can’t find my dress.” She peered behind the couch.
“Well, there are other things we can do in bed besides sleep,” he suggested.
She glanced at him with a grin. “Are you saying I didn’t do enough to satisfy you last night?”
His lips turned up as he walked toward her.
“Oh, sweetheart, you did more than satisfy me.” He pulled her into a kiss. When he drew back, he gazed down at her. “I just can’t get enough of you.”
“What are you two doing up?” Quinn asked from the bedroom doorway.
“It seems I’ve woken the whole household,” April said. “Sorry, Quinn.”
“Not a problem.” He walked to the couch and sat down. “I’ll order some breakfast.”
Austin took her hand and led her to the couch as Quinn dialed the phone. She sat down between Quinn and Austin. Quinn ordered a breakfast platter for three and coffee.
“She’s looking for her dress,” Austin mentioned as Quinn hung up the phone.
“Yeah, I sent it out with the other clothes to be cleaned.”
“But that’s the only dress I have to wear,” April protested.
“That’s why I did it. Now you’ll have something clean to put on, even if it is the same dress.” Quinn grinned. “You’re welcome.”
“What she really needs is to buy some new clothes,” Austin said. “April, I know you don’t have any money, but we can arrange for you to charge them to the room.”
“I already told her that, but she refused.”
Austin turned to her. “Sweetheart, we’re happy to give you the money. But if you won’t accept it, we can consider it a loan. You can pay us back whenever you can.”
She glanced from Austin to Quinn. She didn’t want to be in any more debt to Quinn, but she knew she was being stubborn. What Quinn had said yesterday was true. It didn’t make sense to keep wearing the same dress for a month. And she missed wearing panties.
“When will the clothes be back?” she asked. “I don’t relish wearing this oversize robe for long.”
Quinn smiled. “I think you look adorable in it. But they’ll probably bring up your dress with breakfast. I told them to rush it.”
“Good. Thank you.”
“And then after breakfast, you’ll go out shopping?” Austin persisted.
She hesitated.
“We could always refuse your dress when it arrives,” Quinn said. “Then you’ll be stuck wearing this robe.” His lips crept up into a grin. “Or nothing at all.”
“No fair. The two of you are ganging up on me.”
Austin laughed and slid his arm around her. Quinn did, too, and they moved in closer, their bodies pressing tightly against her.
“But, baby, we love ganging up on you,” Quinn said. “Especially in bed.”
“You’re both terribly wicked, you know.”
“And you love it,” Austin teased.
Quinn took her hand, then turned her to him. “Seriously, April, we’ve come so far. Let me do this for you.”
She gazed into his solemn blue eyes and bit her lip. Finally, she nodded.
“Okay, I … uh … thank you.”
* * *
Once she was finished breakfast, April donned her clean dress and headed to the shops in the hotel. Austin and Quinn wanted to come with her, but she refused. Although it could be fun, she didn’t need them helping her pick out bras and panties or trying to talk her into more expensive clothing than she was comfortable buying. She intended to pay this back, and the fact she had to shop in the hotel meant it would already be a hefty bill.
By the time she walked out of the third store, she wore new lingerie and a simple, fitted, royal-blue dress that could be worn during the day or dressed up for evening. It was comfortable and flattering. She wore new shoes, also royal blue. She knew it was more practical to stick with her one pair of black, but she’d indulged, mainly because she loved the iridescent panel along the front that shimmered like a fairy’s wings.
“Ms. Smith. Wait.”
She turned to see the salesperson who’d been helping her standing in the store entrance.
April walked back to her. “Is there a problem?”
“Could you come back inside for a moment, please?”
“Why?” But she followed the woman into the store again.
“I don’t know why. I got a call from the manager.”
April’s stomach clenched. Were they going to confiscate her packages? Tell her she couldn’t put them on Quinn’s bill?
But that didn’t make sense.
Unless Quinn had changed his mind.
Her head started spinning, but she knew Quinn wouldn’t do that. She was just gun-shy from the way the manager had treated her on Saturday.
The woman led her to a pair of comfy chairs, and April sat down, her stomach fluttering. She set her bags down on the floor beside her.
“Ms. Smith, I’m glad I caught up with you.”
She turned to see Mr. Gunter, the hotel manager walking toward her. She cringed inside.
She felt conspicuous with the many shopping bags around her, sure he believed she was a gold digger taking advantage of yet another wealthy man.
“I
needed some clothes,” she babbled as he stopped in front of her, knowing she shouldn’t be trying to justify her actions.
“Of course, Ms. Smith. I hope enjoy your purchases.”
“I’m sure I will.”
He sat down in the chair beside her. “The reason I wanted to find you is that Mr. Dubois called me. He asked if I knew where you were, and I told him you’re still in the hotel.”
Her heart stammered, her chest was so tight. “What does he want now? Does he think I’m still holding something back from him? Because your staff already went through my luggage—”
“No, nothing like that, Ms. Smith.”
Now that he was sitting beside her, she realized he seemed a little nervous, and she saw the look of deference in his expression.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded sheet of paper. “He asked me to give you this message.”
She frowned. “Why didn’t he just email me? Or call?”
“He told me he didn’t think you’d take his call after all that happened. And he very much wants you to read this.”
Anger surged through her, and she stood up. She snatched the paper from his hand and tore it in two, then handed it back to him.
“Well, Mr. Dubois doesn’t always get what he wants.”
Then she stormed from the store.
* * *
When April entered the suite, Quinn glanced up from his book. Her heart raced as his heated gaze glided over her. It was very clear he liked her new dress.
And she was sure he was wondering what she wore under it.
“That dress looks lovely on you,” he said.
“I second that,” Austin said with an appreciative smile.
“Thank you,” she said. But she couldn’t muster a smile. She was still unnerved by Maurice’s attempt to contact her.
She took off her new shoes and put them in the closet, then walked into the sitting area and sank into an armchair.
“Did your shopping trip go well?” Quinn asked.
“Uh … yes. I bought three dresses, a pair of shoes, and a nice assortment of lingerie. They’re sending the packages up.”