LavenderLaceTrilogy_Bundle

by Lynn LaFleur

  *

  Molly’s stomach gurgled. She’d been hungry when she arrived at Julian’s apartment. Now, after two intense lovemaking sessions, she was famished.

  “Your stomach is growling in my ear,” Julian said, his voice muffled. He lay with his cheek on Molly’s tummy.

  “That’s because you jumped me instead of feeding me.”

  He lifted his head, his eyebrows raised in a gesture that said he didn’t believe what she’d said. “I don’t remember hearing any complaints. In fact, you made it a point to tell me you weren’t complaining about the jumping.”

  “I wasn’t then. I am now. I’m hungry.”

  He chuckled, then kissed her tummy. “Okay, I’ll feed you.” He rose to his knees and helped her to a sitting position. “We need to build our strength back up for later.”

  “Should I expect a round three?”

  Cradling her cheeks in his hands, he gave her a hard, smacking kiss. “Absolutely.”

  Her legs too weak to support her yet, Molly fell back on the bed after he disappeared into his bathroom. She’d had more orgasms with Julian these past few days than in the entire year. She felt so comfortable with him, so free, that it was easy to let go and simply experience everything happening in her body.

  She could quickly become addicted to Julian.

  He came out of the bathroom. “Hey, you’re still naked.”

  “You say that as if it’s a bad thing.”

  “No way.” Sitting on the bed next to her hip, he braced his hands on either side of her and grinned wickedly. “I’d keep you naked all the time you’re here, but you might get cold.”

  “My feet definitely would.”

  “Yeah, I noticed that. What’s with the cold feet?”

  “Just part of my charm.”

  “I guess I can live with that, since you’re warm in so many other places.” He drew over her smooth mound with one fingertip. “Have you always shaved your pussy?”

  “Only for about a year. That’s the result of a bet between my sister and me. We got pretty plastered one night and Shawna bet me that I wouldn’t shave. I proved her wrong.”

  “You certainly did. What did you win?”

  “She had to pay for a manicure, pedicure and massage. Really pissed her off. She wanted to win the bet so I’d have to pay for all that.”

  Julian chuckled. “And you kept shaving after the bet?”

  “Yeah. I like it this way.”

  “Me too.” He leaned over and dropped a soft kiss on her mound. “So when do I get to meet Shawna?”

  “She’s asked me a couple of times when she’s going to meet you. Maybe you could come for dinner over the weekend?”

  “I can do that. It’s time to find out if you can cook.”

  “I can’t do Italian like you but my corned beef and cabbage is magnificent.”

  He chuckled again while he continued the slow caress on her mound. “I’d like you to meet my family too.”

  Meeting family seemed like something a guy and gal did only when they became an official couple. Molly knew she was falling in love with Julian, even though she had no intention of telling him yet. They hadn’t known each other two weeks. It was much too soon to think about anything beyond learning all about each other.

  He slipped his thumb between her legs and brushed her clit. “Will you be with your family on Thanksgiving?”

  The automatic negative response sprang to Molly’s lips, but she didn’t say it. Instead she focused on his stroking. “Are you starting round three?”

  Julian shook his head. “I’m just touching you while we talk.”

  If she could get him focused on sex, he’d forget all about her family and Thanksgiving. “Starting round three works for me.”

  He moved his hand from her mound and laid it on her thigh. “Why don’t you want to talk about your family?”

  She saw nothing but compassion and a gentle curiosity in his eyes. Getting to know each other’s families was part of learning about each other. Yet Molly was afraid if she told Julian about her parents, that compassion would change to pity. She didn’t want pity from anyone.

  “Are your parents still alive?” he asked, his voice soft and soothing.

  Molly pushed herself to a sitting position and leaned against the headboard. Apparently he wasn’t going to give up. “My father was killed in a car accident when I was eight. My mother lives in Everett.”

  “Are you close to her?”

  Molly shook her head. “No.” She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. “Mom started drinking when Daddy died. It was her way of getting through the grief. It was more important to her to have a bottle of bourbon than take care of her daughters, who were hurting just as much as she was.”

  “She’s an alcoholic?”

  “That’s what Shawna says. I don’t know if she’s an alcoholic or just a drunk.”

  “If she’s been drinking heavily for the last eighteen years, she definitely has a problem. She needs professional help.”

  “She hasn’t been open to that suggestion.” Chuckling without humor, Molly pushed her hair back from her face. “The last time I mentioned her getting help, she rewarded my suggestion with a hard slap.”

  His eyes widened in shock. “She hit you?”

  “Yeah. Before that, we had shouting matches. Loud ones, but there was never anything physical. The slap proved to me she has no desire to get help or be a mother. I haven’t seen her in almost a year. That’s fine with me.”

  Her voice broke on the last word. Molly quickly blinked to fight back the tears that were trying to form in her eyes. She would not cry over her mother, and especially not in front of Julian.

  “If it was fine with you,” he said, caressing her cheek, “you wouldn’t be trying so hard not to cry.”

  The man was entirely too smart. Molly lifted her chin, determined to show Julian that she was a grown woman who didn’t have to run to her mommy for coddling. “I don’t need her.”

  “You’re a strong, independent woman, Molly, but we all need our mothers. No matter what happens, that’s a bond that can never be broken. Cracked maybe, but not broken.”

  The damn tears flooded her eyes again. “Can we not talk about this anymore?”

  “Sure.” Still caressing her cheek, he kissed her tenderly. “Are you ready to eat?”

  Molly nodded. Doing something normal like eating would help get her mind off her mother and back on Julian.

  “How would you like to try my mom’s cannelloni with marinara sauce and tiramisu for dessert? All homemade, of course.”

  In answer to his question, her stomach growled loudly. Julian laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  “I’m easy.”

  He bobbled his eyebrows. “Easy is very good.”

  Just like that, he made her feel like laughing again. “I mean about food.”

  “Oh. Darn.”

  His little boy grin earned him a kiss. “Any chance you have a robe I can borrow so I don’t have to get dressed again?”

  “Yeah, I can manage that.”

  He crossed the room to his closet and returned with a navy blue terry cloth robe. One look at the threadbare garment and Molly knew it had hung in Julian’s closet for years. “You obviously haven’t shopped for a robe in a long time.”

  “Don’t pick on my robe.” Julian slipped on his pants. “It’s old, but comfortable.”

  Molly tied the belt around her waist and slid her hands into the pockets. Her left hand didn’t stop. She wiggled her fingers at him from the bottom of the pocket. “I take it you don’t do a lot of mending.”

  “Be nice to me or I won’t lend you any socks for your cold feet.”

  “If that’s the case, then this is the most comfortable robe I’ve ever worn.”

  He tilted up her chin and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “That’s better.”

  Molly donned the socks Julian gave her while he pulled his polo over his head. He held her h
and and led her to the kitchen. She chose the stool at the center island that had become her spot. “Can I help?”

  “Not this time. Everything is done. I just have to pop a couple of things in the microwave.” He removed a glass baking dish from the refrigerator. Molly got a glimpse of the cannelloni before Julian placed the dish in the microwave. “Want a glass of wine?”

  “Yes, please.”

  Julian had removed the cork from a bottle of Chardonnay when there was a knock on the front door. “Are you expecting someone?” Molly asked.

  “No. It might be Ellen from down the hall. She borrows things.”

  This was the first Molly had heard of someone named Ellen. “What kind of things does she borrow?”

  “Flour, sugar, stuff like that. She bakes a lot.” He laid the corkscrew on the island. “Be right back.”

  Molly grabbed his arm as he walked past her. “Should I be jealous?”

  A gleam of humor lit Julian’s eyes. “I think I might like that.”

  Before Molly could form a sharp reply, he kissed her. “Ellen is old enough to be my grandmother.” He gave her breast a quick squeeze. “But I do think I like you being jealous.”

  Molly swatted at his butt, but he was too quick for her to connect with his flesh. She turned on her stool and faced the front door so she could see this grandmotherly neighbor of Julian’s.

  A gray-haired older woman didn’t stand on the other side of the door. Instead a buff, blond-haired hunk stood there. He smiled at Julian. “Hey, man.”

  Julian seemed to freeze in place. Several seconds passed before he said one word.

  “Lane.”

  Chapter Nine

  It seemed to Molly that Julian took much longer than necessary to step back and invite the blond into the apartment. At the other man’s friendly greeting, Molly had assumed he and Julian were good friends. Julian wasn’t acting that way. He almost seemed… dismayed to have the man here.

  “Lane, this is Molly Ross. Molly, Lane Edison.”

  “Hi, Molly,” Lane said with a smile. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Hi,” she said, also smiling. She would swear the temperature in the room had shot up twenty degrees with two gorgeous hunks so close to her. She had to fight the urge to fan her face.

  “Lane is in the Navy.” Julian turned from Molly to the blond. “Are you on leave?”

  “Until January 2nd.”

  “You still a lieutenant?”

  “No, I’m a lieutenant commander now.”

  “That’s great. Congratulations on the promotion.”

  Molly decided now was a good time to slip from the room to dress so the two friends could talk. She slid off her stool. “If you guys will excuse me, I’ll be right back.”

  “Hey, Molly, I’m sorry,” Lane said. “I didn’t mean to butt in on your and Julian’s evening.”

  “No, it’s fine. You two haven’t seen each other in a while. You must have a lot to catch up on. Trust me, I won’t stay quiet for long. I’ll get in my say over dinner.” She looked at Julian. “Lane is staying for dinner, right?”

  Julian blinked, as if the idea had never crossed his mind. “Yeah. Sure. Of course.”

  Not exactly an enthusiastic response. But perhaps Julian was as disappointed as she that their evening together had been changed. Still, she wouldn’t be selfish. She’d have Julian all to herself once they went to bed.

  “I expect everything to be on the table when I get back,” she said to Julian.

  He grinned and saluted her. “Yes, ma’am!”

  Lane chuckled as he watched the fiery redhead disappear down the hall. “She’s cute.” He turned back to Julian. “I see you still have that ratty robe.”

  “Yeah.” All evidence of humor faded from Julian’s face. “You want a glass of wine or a beer?”

  “Whatever you and Molly are having.”

  Silently, Julian took another wineglass from the cabinet. Lane could feel the tension flowing off his friend. Julian had asked the right questions and made the appropriate responses about Lane’s time in the Navy, but Lane could tell his friend was simply making idle conversation. Maybe he should’ve called first instead of just dropping in, but he’d been afraid Julian would refuse to see him. Their friendship before he left for Europe had morphed into something different, something neither of them had foreseen.

  It had been the most intense, satisfying time in Lane’s life.

  Julian splashed Chardonnay into three glasses. “How did you find me?”

  Lane thought that a dumb question, considering both of them were in computer security and knew how to find out practically anything. Yet he hadn’t gone into any personal files. He’d found Julian the honest way. “I went to see your parents. Your mom gave me your address and phone number.”

  With a nod, Julian handed one glass to Lane. He took a long sip of the cold liquid. “Good.”

  “Molly brought it.”

  “She has good taste.” He couldn’t help but notice how Julian avoided looking directly into his eyes. “So are you two serious?”

  Julian sipped his wine before answering. “We haven’t known each other long, but I’m hoping it’ll turn into something serious.”

  “You’re ready for the white picket fence and the two-point-five kids?”

  Now Julian looked at Lane. “Yeah, I am.”

  Which leaves me completely out of the picture. Lane took another long sip of his wine. Maybe that was a good thing, since Lane was confused about what he wanted in a relationship. He’d grown up thinking he’d marry and have kids someday. Getting involved with Julian had changed his beliefs, his desires…everything he’d always thought a relationship should be.

  Everything he’d always thought about himself.

  “If you’ll set the table,” Julian said, taking plates out of the cupboard, “I’ll get dinner finished.”

  “Sure.” He almost said he wouldn’t stay for dinner since he hadn’t been officially invited, but changed his mind. Maybe if he stayed, he’d have the chance to talk to Julian without worrying about Molly walking in on them any moment.

  Hoping to ease the tension a bit, Lane tried joking with Julian. “I hope this is your mom’s cooking and not yours.”

  “Hey, I’m a great cook.”

  Lane placed the plates on the table and went back into the kitchen for silverware. “Since when?”

  “I’ve had a lot of practice in the year you’ve been gone.”

  “I can vouch for that,” Molly said, walking into the kitchen. “He made this incredible chicken dish the first time I came to dinner. It was delicious.”

  Lane’s gaze quickly passed over Molly. He approved of the way her sweater and jeans fit her slim body. “He used to burn a lot of food,” he said to her.

  “I had a shitty stove that didn’t work right.”

  Lane winked at Molly. “Always an excuse.”

  She grinned at him. Lane thought her adorable, and completely different from the women Julian had dated in the past. She had incredible red hair, sparkling green eyes and a scattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks. He wouldn’t describe her as drop-dead gorgeous, but very pretty.

  The tickle of awareness led to an image in his mind of the one time he and Julian had shared a woman. He’d dated Claire several times when he’d invited her and Julian to dinner at his apartment so his best friend could meet his new girlfriend. He hadn’t planned for the evening to end up with the three of them in bed. A little too much wine, a little too many sexual innuendoes, and clothes began to come off.

  Claire had been wild, wanting to fuck both of them again and again and again. Lane doubted if his cock had ever been as hard in his life. He’d come so many times, he’d lost count. He’d been so into fucking Claire that he hadn’t paid attention to the many times he’d touched Julian, their slick bodies sliding together. It didn’t seem to bother his friend if his hand passed over a hard dick or tight balls while positioning Claire for deeper penetration.
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br />   Then the next morning, after Claire left…

  “Lane, you want a refill?”

  Julian’s question brought Lane back to the present. He looked at Julian to see him holding up the bottle of Chardonnay. “Yeah. Thanks.”

  Lane waited a moment until both Julian and Molly were occupied, then discreetly adjusted his hardening rod to a more comfortable position. He had to forget about what happened between Julian and him the next morning—and the four months after that—or he’d embarrass himself with a raging hard-on.

  After Molly and Julian had chosen their chairs at the table, Lane took the one on Julian’s left. He lifted his wineglass. “To old friends,” he said, looking at Julian before switching his attention to Molly. “And to new ones.”

  Julian gathered up the dessert saucers and carried them to the sink. Molly and Lane continued their conversation as he went back to the table for the rest of the dirty dishes. The three of them had talked and laughed all through dinner and dessert. Once he’d gotten over the shock of seeing Lane again, he’d forced himself to relax and try to act normal. He and Lane had been best friends before the ménage with Claire changed everything in their relationship.

  He’d always wondered if things would have progressed as they had if not for that time with Claire.

  A warm hand between his shoulder blades made him turn his head. Molly stood next to him, a perplexed look on her face. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure. Why?”

  “You were staring out the window, a thousand miles away.”

  “Was I?”

  “He’s probably waiting for me to leave so he can be alone with his girl.” Lane grinned and stood. “I can take a hint, Forrest.”

  “Hey, man, I didn’t say—”

  “You didn’t have to. It’s okay. I should be heading to Olympia anyway. I told my mom I’d be back before midnight.”

  Lane brought his coffee mug into the kitchen and set it on the cabinet next to the sink. Julian suddenly realized that even with all the talking they’d done over dinner, he had no idea where Lane would be stationed now. “You headed back to Europe after your leave?”

  “Nope. I’ll be in Bremerton.”

  Which was where he’d been stationed before he went to Europe. Once again, Lane would be close to Julian.