Every Which Way

by Sasha White

  “Stop reminding me of my brother’s giant bed. I love him, and I adore his partners, but I’d just as soon ignore whatever it is the four of them do in that dumb bed.”

  Bethany grinned, knowing ‘dumb’ was code word for Gen wanting to say ‘damn’, and wondered once again how her best friend had ended up so happy being paired with a biker.

  * * * *

  “No,” Ranger told Mac. “Absolutely not. We can try to set you up with a female wolf if you just need to get laid, but no way in hell do you get intimate with a human female.”

  “But you heard what she said! She wants us all in bed at once. Are you seriously telling me you’re gonna pass that up?”

  “We’ll come back when you have two more full moons under your belt, see if she’s still interested,” Ranger said. “Drink your beer and relax. You wanted to come to a bar, we’re here.”

  Mac looked at Jonathan, who was looking at the beautiful woman a few tables away, thoughtful.

  “Actually,” Jonathan told Ranger, “with both of us there to help him keep control, I think he’ll be okay. I mean, we’ve heard his and Tyler’s stories of what they did when they were both with the Agency and working together, and I know the two of you have shared a few times. He’s used to handling a ménage, so it’ll be familiar territory. If she’s willing, I vote we give it a go.”

  Ranger sighed, looked back to the redhead, and finally told Mac, “Get her on the dance floor. Any loss of control and you make excuses and come to us, but let’s see how you do dancing. No promises, but maybe this’ll at least let you meet her and get her number.”

  Chapter Three

  Bethany’s heart jumped into overdrive as she looked up and saw the huge, muscled, brown headed man a few steps away — one of the guys she’d wanted in her harem. He kept walking towards her, and she thought her heart might have stopped a few seconds when their gazes met.

  Once again, her instinct told her these guys were bad-asses. Not the kind who think they’re bad, but who are truly rough-and-tumble men capable of handling just about anything. Gen’s boyfriend, Duke, fit the definition, but he was rough around the edges. These guys were much more polished, but they still exuded excitement and danger.

  Mister Muscles didn’t feed her a line, didn’t ask her name. He walked up to her, tilted his head as he gave a friendly smile full of promise, and asked, “Wanna dance?”

  Bethany looked at Gen, and her best friend was laughing as she said, “Go! I have no idea how you do it, but dance with the man, see what happens.”

  Bethany’s head barely came to this man’s collarbone, and she was certain his biceps were bigger around than her thighs. Most white men built like him couldn’t dance, but she was pleasantly surprised to discover he could hold his own on the dance floor.

  They danced three fast eighties metal songs before a slow country song played, and he almost made her feel like a child again when he pulled her into his strong arms. She hadn’t expected this huge, muscled man to be so gentle and affectionate.

  He also wasn’t pawing all over her, but keeping his hands where they belonged. It made her want to let her hands roam, if only to see how he reacted, but she didn’t. The adventurous imp in her took a backseat to his embrace.

  “I’m David MacNeill, but my friends call me Mac.”

  “Hi, Mac. I’m Bethany. It’s nice to meet you.”

  He brushed her hair back from her face, leaned his face towards her, and seemed to smell her. His eyes had an odd look for a split second, but then were normal. He put his mouth to her ear and asked, “If your friends’ll be okay without you a little while, would you like to come back to my table and talk?”

  The slow dance was starting to get to her, and a cool down would be ideal right about now — before she made the first move on him. She had a feeling this man was used to being in control, and she wanted to give it to him.

  “Sure, Mac. I’ll follow you.”

  His smile was deliciously wicked as he said, “And deprive me of watching you walk in front of me? I think not. Lead the way, my beautiful little fiery vixen.”

  “Yours?”

  “Mmmm, so it’s not the fiery vixen you have a problem with, but the idea I’d like to make you mine?”

  “Possession goes both ways, Mac. You know this, right?” Time to back him off, and reminding guys they can’t own you unless you own them works so much better than telling them you aren’t interested in belonging to anyone. Why did guys always take the latter as a challenge?

  “Yeah, it does, but I don’t believe for a second you want to own me.” He pulled his mouth away from her ear and said, “Come on, time to meet my friends.”

  One of Rolling Thunder’s bouncers had been close to Bethany since she’d stepped onto the dance floor with Mac, and now he followed not far behind. She turned to look at him, but he only smiled and didn’t alter his pace.

  “This is Ranger,” Mac said as they reached his friends, “and Jonathan. Let’s get you a drink and then maybe you can dance with one of them? Did I see you with a margarita?”

  The VIP seats had a waitress close at all times, and Mac let her know they wanted three more beers and a margarita on the rocks.

  “Three obviously high-class girls in the VIP seats of a biker bar, I’m sure there’s a story,” Ranger said. “And more to the point, why’s one of RTMC’s enforcers shadowing you?”

  Bethany’s brow wrinkled as she asked, “Enforcers?” Her head followed the direction Ranger was looking, and she said, “Oh, you mean Gonzo? He’s one of the bouncers, but I’m not sure why he followed me. As for who I know, my best friend is dating one of the guys who owns the bar.”

  “The motorcycle club owns the bar.”

  Bethany nodded. “Yeah, and she’s dating one of them. Who do you guys know? You’re sitting in the VIP section, too.”

  “Duke made the arrangements for us.”

  The waitress brought their drinks, and Bethany turned to Mac, gave him a smile and said, “Thanks,” as she licked the rim and took her first drink.

  Mac leaned forward with what sounded like a low, animalistic growl, and his lips met hers as she swallowed the sweet liquor. He caught her off guard, and instead of pushing him away with a laugh, her lips molded to his, and opened as his tongue teased its way into her mouth.

  As soon as she put her hand to the front of his chest, he backed off with a mischievous, happy smile. “Been wanting to do that since I first saw you.”

  “I can see now, I’m going to have to keep an eye on you,” Bethany said with a grin as she tried to bring her breathing and heartbeat back to some semblance of normal. She reached for her drink and downed half of it, then realized perhaps more alcohol wasn’t the way to go right now.

  “I can’t place your accent,” she told Mac. “Where are you from?”

  “I’m originally from Florida, but I’ve lived all over the world and my accent is kind of fucked. Your accent says you’ve lived in the south your whole life, though. Am I right?”

  “Yeah. I even stayed in town for school, but my life’s here, so I’m good with it.”

  God, she wasn’t drunk, why was she oversharing? Looking to Jonathan, she said, “I know Ranger has a Texas accent, but I haven’t heard you say more than ‘nice to meet ya,’ which tells me southern, but not what part of the south. Don’t tell me though, I want to guess, but I need you to talk, please.”

  Jonathan’s smile made him go from red headed boy-next-door to bad boy who could do things to you in bed to make you come unglued, and his words backed up the look as he said, “Dance with me and I’ll talk for you, Raggedy Ann.”

  Bethany’s hands involuntarily went to her hair, and her mouth opened to accept his offer when she remembered Mac. Her head swiveled to him, and he smiled and said, “I don’t mind sharing with my friends, and I think it’d be hot to watch ya’ll kiss on the dance floor. Go, have fun.”

  Unsure of what to do or say, she completely forgot to call Jonathan Raggedy Andy bac
k, but let him lead her to the dance floor.

  Gonzo stayed put this time and didn’t follow them, though Gen and Cassie gave her huge smiles as she and Jonathan walked by their table.

  Where Mac had danced in his own space — with her, but not touching her the entire time — Jonathan’s hands never left her body as he moved her with him, against him. The dance floor was packed and he’d shifted them to the middle so no one gawked, but this was down and dirty dancing. She took Mac at his word, though, and had fun with it.

  Bethany had been right about Jonathan’s muscles, he was wiry and strong, and he moved like a cat — all smooth and graceful, with a coiled power he carefully controlled.

  When a slow song finally played, Jonathan pulled her to him and she soon discovered he kissed as well as he danced. She also realized things were getting too hot and heavy for the dance floor, though, and tried to pull back with a laugh.

  “No, Bethany,” Jonathan said, his mouth at her ear. “Mac wants to see us kiss. Do you know how hard he’s gotta be right now, watching this?” His lips wrapped around the cartilage of her ear, his teeth bit with enough pressure to hold, and his tongue caressed the edge.

  Bethany shivered, her skin erupted in goose bumps, and her clit throbbed as she leaned into him and moaned.

  “That’s it,” Jonathan practically purred into her ear. “Ranger’s gonna come dance with you, now. Let you get to know all of us one-on-one before we hit you up three-on-one.”

  Jonathan literally handed her to Ranger as he stepped away, and Bethany’s world imploded as one of Ranger’s arms went around the small of her back, the other to the back of her head, and his lips took her, owned her, possessed her.

  The music faded, the people around them disappeared, and nothing existed except Ranger’s arms, his lips, his tongue as he kissed her with a sensual passion as if she were the only woman on the planet. Her arms already around him, she stroked his back through his super-soft shirt, traced muscles with her fingers. He was pure heat and sensation, and her body pressed closer.

  Time ceased to exist, but the magic spell broke when someone bumped into them. Bethany was embarrassed to realize a fast song was now playing, and they’d just been standing there, kissing.

  When she backed off, he let her pull away. With a smile, he led her back to their table, and as they entered the VIP section, Bethany saw Duke sitting with Gen, now, and Cassie in Isaac’s arms. Ranger slowed, then stopped, tugging her to him. He put his arms around her, his mouth at her ear, and asked, “Your friend is Duke’s woman?”

  Bethany nodded, and Ranger looked dismayed. “Okay. Go on back to the table with Mac and Jonathan. I’m gonna stop and talk to Duke a minute.”

  “I can go with you. I want to talk to Gen, anyway.”

  He looked at her a few seconds before nodding.

  “Apologies,” Ranger said to Duke as they approached. “I wasn’t aware she was your woman’s friend.”

  “Why are you apologizing?” Bethany asked Ranger, then put her hands on her hips as she looked at Duke and raised her voice to ask, “Why is he apologizing! Please tell me you haven’t done something asinine like make me off limits in your bar!”

  Duke had been seated between Gen and Cassie, and now he stood and walked behind Gen to pull Bethany into his embrace as he said, “Of course not, Bee, but as Gen’s best friend, everyone knows you’re under my protection.” He put his mouth to her ear and said, “No judgment from me, but he’s probably worried I’ll object to the three of them taking you to their bed at once, which I’m guessing is where this is headed. I’ve heard you say you want a harem — if you’re serious, this is your chance. Say the word and I’ll give you an easy out, or tell me to butt out and I will.”

  “Do you know them? Are they safe?”

  “We have a mutual friend, which is who they went through to get the table tonight. I’ve asked around and found out Ranger’s a hard-ass Dom, but he’ll respect a safeword. They all work for a security company, and two of them have top level clearance with the government. You should be safe if you go with them, and I’ll make it clear I expect to have eyes on you tomorrow, and there’ll be hell to pay if you aren’t still in one piece.”

  “Gen’s brother says protection doesn’t come free. What do you want from me, for keeping me safe?”

  Duke laughed and tousled her hair. “You’re Gen’s best friend, which makes you part of the family. It’s all good, Bee.” He turned her towards Ranger, put his hands on her shoulders, and said, “You have my blessing, but either I or my woman expect to see her in person tomorrow. He’s good for seven weeks, and I’m impressed, but she’d better be in one piece tomorrow. Tired is good, hurt isn’t. Catch me?”

  Chapter Four

  The plan had been for Isaac to drive her drunk ass home tonight, so Bethany didn’t have her car. This meant riding with the men back to their place was easier, but it also meant she’d be dependent on them to get her home in time for work, tomorrow.

  In reality, as she walked to their car holding Mac and Jonathan’s hands, she was stressing over the lack of a car instead of thinking too much about going home with three men, with the understanding she’d be doing it with all three.

  They were in a big, black, SUV, and Mac got into the backseat with her, while Ranger drove and Jonathan talked to them from the passenger seat.

  Mac was kissing her, overwhelming her, when she pulled away and asked, “Whose house are we going to?”

  “We all live together,” Mac murmured as he took control of her lips again, but she once again backed away.

  “Do ya’ll do this a lot?” she asked. “Take one girl back and share her?”

  Mac looked to the front of the vehicle, and Bethany saw his eyes meet Ranger’s in the rear view mirror.

  “Mac and I’ve worked together on some assignments in Europe,” Ranger said, “and we’ve shared more than a couple of times. Jonathan’s new to town. This’ll be the first time the three of us have shared.”

  “So, I’m not the first person who hasn’t done this?”

  “Sorry, Raggedy,” Jonathan said as he turned in is seat to look at her. “It’s only you. Just because I haven’t shared with these guys doesn’t mean I haven’t shared with anyone. We’ll use condoms, we’ll be safe. I know you want it, but if you’re getting cold feet we won’t be mad.”

  She didn’t want to back out, she just wanted to know a little more of how this worked, and how they made decisions.

  “How did ya’ll decide Mac would be back here with me? It feels like you’ve done it before, the three of you. It doesn’t feel like anyone is jockeying for position. I guess I’m just trying to understand.”

  “Mac’s in the backseat because you seem the calmest with him,” Jonathan said, still turned so he could look at her while he talked. “Ranger turns you on more, but he also intimidates you. I started to get in the backseat, with you in the middle, but I was afraid we’d all be mostly undressed before we got home, and I want to sink into you in a bed, not a backseat. So, it’s Mac with you now because we know you want it, but we know you’re also nervous. It’s about what you need right now, not us.”

  Mac chuckled and rubbed her thigh. “Focusing on what we need comes later. I can’t wait to watch you please three men at once, but this is about taking care of each other. You need calming right now, so you get me. It won’t always be me when we think you’re nervous, but right now, it is.”

  “You all live together? Are ya’ll…” She was pretty sure they weren’t bisexual, but needed to ask, but then lost her nerve.

  “No, we’re straight,” Mac said, threading his fingers through hers to hold her hand as he sat up. She missed his warmth, but was glad he was answering her questions. “Our jobs send us out of town on assignment a lot. I haven’t lived in-country for years, and most of my stuff is still overseas until I arrange to either go get it, or have someone box it up and ship it to me. I’m kind of in limbo right now, waiting for my release papers from my form
er job so I can accept a position here. Ranger’s been in and out of the country a while, and had been mostly staying in long-term hotels when not on assignment. Jonathan just moved here from South Carolina, but bought a big house up on Lookout Mountain. He had spare bedrooms and offered to let us pay him rent for them.”

  “When you were talking to Duke,” said Ranger, “he mentioned something about you wanting a harem? Or did I misunderstand?”

  “I didn’t think he was talking that loud!”

  Ranger grinned at her in the rear view mirror. “And yet, I heard it.”

  “You must have fucking bionic hearing or something. Shit.”

  Mac leaned towards her again, kissed her cheek, her jaw, and just under her ear. “Don’t change the subject, my fiery little vixen. Spill. You want a harem?”

  He kept with the little butterfly kisses, but when she turned to kiss him on the lips, he sat up and said, “Spill, Cupcake, cause I’m not sure I’m up to wearing harem pants.” His eyes were laughing at her, but she could hear the undercurrent of arousal.

  “Fine,” she said as she rolled her eyes. “Cassie, the other friend with us, is in a relationship with three men. Isaac was with her tonight, but there are four people in the relationship. One’s a dancer and he had a performance tonight, and the other owns a restaurant and was working. Watching the four of them together made me joke I wanted a harem, but the truth is, the idea of three people in bed has been kind of a fantasy since I first met them. Of course, Cassie’s guys are bisexual, so it isn’t just her satisfying three men.” She looked at Mac and let him see her worry. “This is different, you’ll all be focused on me, so, yeah, I guess I’m starting to psych myself out, a little.”

  “It’ll be okay,” Mac assured her. “I’m a voyeur, I like to watch, so there’ll be at least some of the time you’ll just have two of us working you. Bottom line, if you want us to stop, we will. Whether you want no to mean no, or whether you want a safeword, is totally up to you.”